Thorin stood there in front of the fireplace that gave off soothing warmth. He turned towards his visitors and his eyes immediately landed on Tauriel.
The last time she had seen him, he had laid lifeless on a bed of stone. She swallowed harshly as brown eyes just like Kili's, looked at her.
"Hello" Thorin greeted. "I don't think I ever did properly meet your acquaintance"
Tauriel smiled as he was obviously trying to make her feel more relaxed.
"Thorin Oakenshield" he announced, stepping forward and extending his hand.
Galadriel and Gandalf looked at each other in welcomed surprise.
"Tauriel. Nice to officially meet you"
They shook hands and the tension in the room plummeted. She felt more at ease now but then the King's eyes changed. She could see sadness in them. To know that both of his young nephews had not yet waken but he had must of been heartbreaking.
"Please, you are all welcomed to sit" he then said as they all sat in cushioned chairs that had been dusted off. Tauriel sat directly in front of the dwarven King.
"I have been told of the various times that you saved my nephew" he began. "I would like to offer you my sincere gratitude"
Tauriel was taken aback by the honesty in the dwarf in front of her.
"Of course. It was an honor to save his life" she whispered. Her breath faltered as emotion filled her. "But he also saved my life. He came to my rescue at the battle which ended in tragedy"
Thorin took a deep breath. "He has always been reckless but his kindness is something undeserving of this world. Since he was young he always had a heart of gold"
Tauriel quickly nodded as she brushed away the tears that managed to fall from her overfilled eyes. To speak of him ached terribly, but it also filled her with warmth that she had not felt, even with a fire nearby.
"I carry his child" she then announced. Her eyes were suddenly frantic and more tears fell down her cheeks.
"I know, Tauriel. I am not as angry as I was before" Thorin whispered. "He will wake. I will scold him as soon as he wakes but he is strong and determined"
"And stubborn" Tauriel added with a chuckle. She smiled through her tears. "She will meet her father"
At her words, Thorin's eyes widened.
"She" he repeated, in a soft whisper. "That little lass will brighten this place more so than any Arkenstone"
Tauriel's hand covered her stomach as a smile overtook her lips. The King had allowed her to stay.
"Are you sure?" she quickly asked with a gasp overtaking her voice. Thorin looked to Gandalf who smiled at hearing his statement.
"This is your home" Thorin affirmed. "You have fought alongside my kin. You deserve a place among us and even more so now"
A breath of relief left her. The burden of not knowing if the King would allow her to stay disintegrated.
Thorin then looked at her carefully.
"But if he does not wake" he began. He swallowed back the thick fear that entered his throat and looked at her with an intent gaze.
Her eyes closed at his sentence. Her heart hurt at thinking of such a possibility.
"If he does not, Tauriel. You are still welcomed to stay here"
She nodded slowly and opened her tired eyes.
"He has to wake. I cannot do this on my own"
Her voice grew in volume and she took a desperate breath so she could control herself.
"You are strong" Thorin assured. "I know this. Clinging onto hope does not define weakness, it defines strength. It takes so much strength to have hope even when you know that it will hurt more in the presence of it"
Tauriel's eyes bore into his. She heard every word he said echo around her. It was as if something lit up in her and gave her clarity. She was strong. She knew she was.
"I am strong" she then murmured. A smile pulled at her lips as she looked down to her stomach. She had to keep hope alive for her child that grew in her. Most importantly, if Kili did not wake she knew that she had to keep going on. Determination settled on her shoulders.
"If Kili does not wake" she then said, with pride in her tone at being able to say his name. "Then I will stay. He would want his daughter to grow up in his ancestral home"
Galadriel looked on with a proud smile and turned to Thorin who looked pleased.
"You have my word that we will protect you" Thorin reassured.
Tauriel reached forward and placed her hand on his.
"Thank you. I will leave you to your rest"
It was all she said before she rose. Thorin gave her a soft smile and led them to the door.
Gandalf patted the King on the back.
"You have done good, King Under the Mountain"
"She is kind. She deserves my returned kindness"
Gandalf smiled wisely and followed the elves out the door. Tauriel's busy mind ran over thought after thought.
"Mithrandir, Tauriel wishes to speak to me in private in her chamber"
Tauriel blinked in surprise. It was as if the wise elf could read her thoughts. Gandalf gave them both a swift nod and excused himself.
Galadriel turned to Tauriel with a small side smile and together they made their way to her chamber.
Tauriel walked in first. The second that her feet stepped inside, fire appeared at the fireplace. She looked at Galadriel with wide eyes. The golden elf simply walked past her and sat at the foot of Tauriel's bed.
"Tell me" Galadriel then said.
Tauriel looked at the fire and then at her. She also went to her bed and sat with a deep sigh.
"You've been holding back" she announced with no hesitation. The golden elf rose a brow. Her interest was caught.
"Do explain, child"
Her voice flowed like a swift river. Even if she knew what Tauriel was referring to she wanted to hear her say it.
"I'm ready. I can bear it. I know I can"
Galadriel took her hand. "The pain you have endured has been nothing compared to what is coming"
Tauriel nodded. She now understood. Galadriel had waited until she knew she had the strength to survive it.
"I must fight alongside him. Our babe deserves a father. I will be strong for her and for Kili"
Galadriel looked at the young elf in front of her. A mere child herself. But she knew that she was indeed ready. She could feel the determination that ran within her.
"Very well" she whispered. She rose her hand in the direction of the fireplace and the fire grew bigger and brighter. The flames grabbed onto every piece of wood at the foot of its claws. Her hand stayed still in the air as she turned to Tauriel.
"I know you can do this" Galadriel added with kind eyes. Tauriel took a deep breath and quickly took off her boots and slid off her coat.
"Ready" she then announced and steeled her gaze. Galadriel swiftly nodded and with a quick flick of her hand the fire burned so bright that it turned blue.
Pain attacked Tauriel at her very core. Her eyes closed and her hands turned into tight fists as everything around her grew hotter. She opened her eyes and the golden elf was gone.
She took a deep breath but the pain was so intense that she could not focus. She fell back to the softness of her bed. A cry left her but even then she could not hear herself screaming. She forced herself to think of Kili. His smile and his eyes. His voice and his laughter.
Tears ran out of her eyes. They ran with wild and rapid feet down her temples and ears.
"Return to me" she yelled. Her voice traveled around her and echoed in her ears.
But even then she knew the pain that he endured was worse than hers. She would fight with him through the pain forever if she had to, but it pained her even more so to know that he was suffering. If it was the same battle they were fighting, he had to fight with even more strength.
"But you must know" she then said and sniffed back her tears. "You can let go if you wish to do so. It's alright to let go, my love. You have fought hard but if you must give up then know that I will still love you"
Another wave of pain hit her and stole her breath. She desperately gasped and tried to sit up but it felt as if every force of the world held her down. She moved her hand and fought against the wind, the fire, the sun and the moon and the stars and finally arrived to her stomach. She softly caressed it.
Another wave arrived with the ferocious strength of an ocean and froze her with pain. The fire at the hearth burned brighter with her screams. It was as if it could hear her. It watched her intently, thus changing and responding to her every cry and movement.
Pain burned without mercy. But her determination rose as high as a mountain can grow. Higher than a tree can reach. She clenched her jaw and fought the pain in a raging battle. She thought of starlight and the sound of the rain. Two of her favorites.
A smile took upon her face as tears and sweat glistened on her skin. She also thought of a firemoon. His eyes had sparkled when he had told her about it. Those brown eyes of his that could steal her breath away faster than the pain ever could.
"Amralime" she whispered as her eyes closed. "I know what it means"
And just like that pain seduced her into sleep. Her tired and damp body fell into complete nothingness.
A loud knock awoke Thorin from his slumber.
"Yes?" he grumbled as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
The door opened before he had allowed entry. Bilbo and Bofur were both there with wide smiles and hurried breaths.
"Fili" Bilbo breathed.
Thorin threw his feet off the bed.
"He has woken?" he asked as he slid on his boots. His heart thundered in his chest and his hands trembled.
Both the hobbit and dwarf quickly nodded.
"Hurry Thorin!" Bofur cried as they all ran out the door. They had ran as fast as they had done so down in the goblin tunnels.
And once Thorin laid eyes on one of his nephews he started to feel the tears trying to surface.
"Fili" he gasped and almost pushed the dwarves that were blocking his path.
The Heir Apparent looked at his uncle with a wide smile. His blue eyes were red from crying.
"Its so good to see you again, lad" Thorin whispered as they embraced.
"What happened? Will my brother wake as well?" Fili asked and more tears fell down his cheeks. He could not bear to turn to his side to look at his little brother. He was covered by a mantle but even then the image was too much.
"He is strong and determined, Fili! Just as you were. Gandalf's elf companions have helped us. They have given us a second chance"
Fili nodded as he understood. The pain had been unbearable but he knew that if he could endure so would Kili. His brother possessed such strength both mentally and physically. He was determined and stubborn with everything in life.
Thorin could see the thoughts racing in Fili's mind. He then hugged the younger dwarf once more. He could not get enough of having him close. All the dwarves around them held back tears and some allowed them to fall.
"He will be alright. Do not worry"
Gandalf stepped forward as Galadriel and Elrond walked into the chamber.
"He needs a soft bed and warm food" Elrond ordered with a small smile.
Fili looked to both elves and bowed his head.
"Thank you so much"
Galadriel approached him and placed a hand at his shoulder.
"It has been our pleasure, young one"
"Let's get you to a bed" Thorin then said. Dwalin stepped forward and helped Fili off of the stone bed. His blue eyes quickly went over to his brother's body and took a deep breath.
It was at that second that he heard an invisible voice.
"He has a chance of awakening. Another fights with him"
Fili's eyes filled with confusion but he looked ahead and did not question it as exhaustion overtook his body.
Fili had eaten and rested enough that his body felt much stronger. He could lift himself out of his bed without help. He had slept for a long time and now he wanted to share some information that was burning within him.
He made his way to his door and swiftly opened it. He followed the sound of conversation and found himself in front of another door. He opened it and stepped inside.
"Lad! Why are you up?" Thorin asked as everyone stopped their conversation.
"Where's Tauriel?" Fili asked. His blue eyes searched everyone and finally landed on his uncle. "Do you know of her?"
Thorin nodded and rose from his chair. "Come sit down, Fili"
"She's with child" Fili then whispered with no hesitation in his voice. "I saw a babe when I was in that place of pain"
Thorin sighed deeply. He remembered it as a field full of fire that burned with every step.
"I knew who that child was" Fili then said with tears gathering in his eyes. "She had Kili's smile and Tauriel's hair. A perfect blend of them both. She led me out of that place even when I wanted to stay. The pain was worse as I moved but she told me that I could not give up. Her small hand tightly held onto mine as she walked with me until I suddenly woke up on that stone bed"
His tears fell down his cheeks as everyone stood quiet. Gandalf looked to the fire at the hearth. Lady Galadriel had been correct. She had also seen the child.
Fili sniffed and shook his head with a smile on his lips. More tears rained down his cheeks.
"You should have seen her hair. Even brighter than Tauriel's. So red like a sunset. She was her image, pale smooth skin and tall like them both. Big brown eyes that shone with recklessness. She told me her name but I do not remember. Uncle, she looked so much like him... especially when she smiled"
Thorin sat there completely speechless. He had not seen who Fili was describing. He quickly approached his nephew to try to comfort him.
"You are right, Fili" he then said. "Tauriel is indeed expecting"
The blonde dwarf nodded and brushed away his tears. He knew it was true and he did not need reassurance. He had a niece; the joy overfilled within him.
"If Kili does not make it out" he whispered as he closed his eyes. "We will have a part of him"
The atmosphere then turned dark. Everyone looked at each other with sadness. Thorin's throat ran dry but he embraced his oldest nephew trying to bring a sense of comfort.
Bilbo then turned to Gandalf who stayed quite as he had no consolation to offer. He knew that Kili was running out of time and when the wizard looked at him, he knew his thoughts were true.
"How long does he have?" Bilbo asked, keeping his voice a mere whisper.
Gandalf looked to the fire and sighed deeply. He did not respond.
They had been walking for some time. Thorin had deemed it wise to rest under a canopy of trees.
"You may sleep!" he ordered. "Fili and Kili. Stand watch"
He rose a brow at the sounds of loud complaints.
"Of course, uncle" Fili then said as he quickly cleared his throat. He threw his pack on the floor and stretched his legs. Kili gave Thorin a sheepish grin and received a glare in return that turned into a small smile that was gone as quickly as it came.
"He's going to regret bringing us along" Kili then whispered with a chuckle.
"Nonsense. We are his heirs, Kili. He needs us"
"You are his heir Fili. Not me. Im just his nephew. I'm not important to this"
Fili rose a brow. "We are his sister's sons. You are a prince Kili and an heir. Do not forget. Just because we have no kingdom it does not mean that Thorin is not King nor you a prince"
Kili shook his head as he then turned to their company that was drifting to sleep.
"He needs the Arkenstone, Fili"
Kili leaned back on the grass next to Fili who stayed quiet and sighed. Darkness surrounded them and the sky was littered with the brightest of stars. Kili looked up to their light. A light that was so far away. It was a cold light that never reached anything below but he had always been fascinated with the stars and the moon. His mother had instilled that interest onto him when he was younger because he had been afraid of the dark. She told him to always look up to the sky whenever he felt afraid. She'd say to never be afraid of darkness because the beauty of the stars and the moon shone brighter in it.
Kili smiled as he remembered his mother. Their last hug had been painful. She did not want to let go and Fili had to reassure her.
"He is too reckless, Fili! He will not listen to Thorin!" she had said.
"Thorin is intimidating and he isn't afraid to hit him in the back of the head to get him to behave!"
Kili had rolled his eyes at that.
With a smile on his face, his fingertips grazed the runestone that she had given him. The written promise on it stared back at him. He turned to his right and saw that Fili was looking at him with a reassuring smile. Kili's eyes then turned to the horizon. The mountain was nowhere to be seen.
"Do you think we will make it there?" Kili asked. His brown eyes turned to look at his brother's ocean blue ones.
"With determination and strength anything can be accomplished, Kili. Always remember that"
:
Notes- Thank you for reading :) I enjoyed writing this chapter and this fanfic itself. Its so different to my other main fic that it gives me a nice break from it lol. I am not sure how many chapters this story will have in total. I did say at least 15 but I don't want to rush to an ending. But I do want to keep this relatively short. Im going to shoot for a total of 18-20 chapters regardless if it has a 'happy' ending or not.
xoxo take care :)