Chapter 17: Knight on a Shining Motorcycle
She'd read the lines nearly a dozen times before she could even move a muscle.
"Available for rescuing, 24/7"
He knew.
Of course he knew – Sigrid knew to some extent the level of crazy her father was, so of course she would have told Fili. A quiet warmth spread over her as she thought of his kindness only moments ago. He'd told her to watch out, and that she was being followed. The burner phone he'd slipped into her palm had her itching to open it. Acting casually, she slid it into her back pocket along with the business card. Her anger faded slightly, thrumming less insistently in her ears. While she'd been filled with humiliation to find out she'd been followed, it was an unexpected kindness to find out that someone was looking out for her. Someone cared.
And that someone was Kili, who she thought she would never see again before that day. Giddiness filled her as she mindlessly tidied up the area around the register.
He did care. The fact that he clearly wanted to see her, to help her made her feel a sliver of hope. Everything was falling apart, but this – this gave her hope that she would survive her situation. Her father had clearly lost his mind in his greedy search for power that she knew. It was the old him and the memories of he had been that kept her clinging to the hope that he would someday be like that again. Tauriel swallowed, the smile slowly fading. That was a long lost dream. His actions over the past week had proven that. Even if he did love her that didn't excuse the way he'd acted and the crazy things he'd done to try to control her.
Which brought her back to her current situation. As casually as she could, her eyes lifted to survey the small shop from behind the register. Sure enough, the man in the suit Fili had pointed out was still browsing the racks. How had she not noticed him before? She could feel her heartbeat thrumming, her pulse hammering in her ears as she watched him. Plain, dressed in a suit, unconcernedly still browsing the aisles of the tiny shop. She cursed herself for not being more astute.
After waiting a few more moments (to try to be casual) she slipped away to the small bathroom behind the counter and opened the phone. It powered on easily enough, and she quickly found the contacts.
It had only one.
"KNIGHT ON SHINING MOTORCYCLE"
A wide grin broke across her face, and she quickly hit 'send'.
He picked up on the first ring.
"Is it you?"
"It's me," she laughed.
"I wasn't sure if you'd call."
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, I put my number into the phone, well, you saw it….and then it dawned on me that you're the type of girl who doesn't really need a knight, do you?"
She thought a moment, leaning against the pedestal sink. "Well….I didn't use to be that type. Maybe I don't need saving by a knight, but maybe I needed a good push from one to get out on my own and live my life."
He chuckled and she could almost picture the way his eyes would crinkle in the corners when he grinned.
"Very well put. Ah…Tauriel, listen, I ….I feel like a right arse for not getting your number. In the heat of the moment I let my temper get the best of me when I saw yer father and just….yeah. I'm an arse."
"I wondered if I was just a one night thing for you, honestly," she smiled, chewing on her lip. He gave a low, throaty chuckle on the other end of the phone.
"Haven't been able to think of anything but you since that night. Half the guys think I've lost my mind. The way you look, smell, the way you taste-"
She gasped into the phone, biting back a shriek. He laughed heartily on the other end. "Too much?"
Tauriel held the phone against her neck and blew out a quick breath. Damn, but he had her heart racing.
"Yes. No. I don't….no one's ever…"
"Well they should have," he countered quickly.
She grinned as they were both silent a moment. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this much…..this much….anything.
"Listen. I couldn't stop thinking about you and I heard things have been…delicate."
"That's putting it lightly."
He sighed on the other end. "I would have come around and skipped all this…but I didn't want to make a bad situation worse. Sigrid told Fili and Fili finally put me out of my misery and lit a fire under my arse to do something."
"No no, its fine, I just…" she inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. "You're right. I need to make a break, a clean break. I love my dad, but he's…he's different. The man I loved is gone."
He was quiet on the other end of the line, and she licked her lips. "I know I said I don't usually need saving…but…ulgh, he has someone here tailing me and this has just gotten to crazy and-"
"I know."
She paused. "You know?"
He chuckled. "My big brother gave me a phone call and I uh…well, you're not the only one who's being watched."
"You're here?"
"I'm close. Just keeping an eye on the situation."
The sheer craziness of her situation suddenly hit her. All of the anxiety she'd felt the past few days lifted slightly and she was overcome with gratitude for Kili watching out for her. Of course Sigrid tried to help where she could (Tauriel was a little irritated she'd opened her mouth and drawn the brothers into her messy, complicated life, but that was for another day).
"I don't need saving, I just…could use some help."
"Hey, even the bravest of heroes needs assistance in the dark hour when it hits the fan."
She laughed quietly, thumbing Kili's business card. As nice and sweet as he was, she had to remember he was in a motorcycle gang. Something told her he'd been in in more than one situation where it had 'hit the fan' as he said. His words, hastily scrawled in black ink, stared back at her. She'd meant what she'd said – she didn't need saving most of the time, but she could use some help getting out of this. It was evident her father had gone off the deep end and she needed time to plan and get herself together. Having her followed had been the final straw.
"Are you still available for rescuing?"
"I am. Say the words, milady."
"I need some help. Some temporary rescuing, rather. I'm not that girl, Kili. I don't need saving. I can fight my own battles. I only need you," she replied slowly, her mind thinking back to their night together. It didn't seem fair that they'd only gotten one night.
He didn't sound like he believed her, but he didn't point it out. "Then you have me," he replied, as if it was the easiest thing in the world instead of the nearly impossible feat it felt like. "You know, I've thought a lot of things about you over the past few days, Tauriel, but 'weak' was never one of them."
She smiled into the phone.
"First, ditch the phone. Can you get to the pub at the end of the street?"
"The Green Dragon? I know it."
"Good. Go there and tell the bartender you want to use the bathroom. Don't lock the door."
"What?"
"Just do it," he chuckled, but his voice was serious. "The bartender will cover for you. Once you're in, climb up on the sink and open the window there. It leads to the alley. I'll be waiting."
Her heart was pounding as she tossed the phone in the bin, covering it with as many used paper towels as she could. Grabbing her bag from behind the counter, she slyly noted her new friend was still watching as she approached Bilbo.
"Bilbo, it's slow…do you think I could take off?"
Her boss was engrossed in re-shelving the new inventory, arranging it so that the books were grouped but still presented nicely. "Hmm? Oh, dear, look at the time. We'll be closing up for the day anyway, it's nearly dinner..."
Easy enough. Making a show of it, she clocked out, grabbed her jacket and bag, and made her way out into the fading light of the summer night. A few people mulled about on corners and in front of the little shops, but the streets were sparsely populated as she made her way down the sidewalk. The bar Kili referred to was one at the end of the street and was yet another bar she wasn't familiar with. She'd passed it many times from working in the area, but it was another bar that she'd classify as having a bit of a rougher clientele than she was used to. Of course Kili knew about it.
Would he really be waiting for her? She didn't have to even look behind her to know she was being followed. Now that she knew, it was like her body was hyperaware of everything that was going on. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up; her senses knew she was being watched. Be calm. Kili wouldn't let anything happen to you.
The thought struck her so much she almost stopped in her tracks. The idea that she already trusted him so thoroughly startled her. Was it the fact that she'd been so starved for human compassion and company that she had given in so easily? She had Sigrid and Bilbo to confide in, but perhaps that wasn't enough? Both of them were as powerless to help her as the next person, but somehow she thought of Kili as being different. He was wild, free, and unlike anyone she'd ever dared talk to.
Even if this…this…whatever they had wasn't for forever, she was determined to embrace it and experience it. Nodding resolutely to herself, she pried open the large, heavy green door of the pub.
She instantly knew why he'd picked this place. The Green Dragon was not so unlike the Prancing Pony; dark, with a smoky haze and dim lighting that reflected off the dozens of bottles lining the bar. It was long, narrow, and lined with wooden stools and not much else. It was mostly empty, save for a few rough- looking patrons who turned and looked at her as she walked in. It wasn't hard to imagine Kili and his people hanging out in a place like this.
The bartender was a big, surly bald man wearing a black, too small shirt that showed off his many tattoos on thick arms. His piercing eyes watched her walk in, not missing a move.
She opened her mouth to speak and he nodded at her, his gaze softening. "Straight through, all the way to the back. Last door on the left," he uncrossed his arms as he spoke, offering a tight smile. She paused, waiting to see if he would say anything else, but he simply nodded his head in the direction she was to walk.
"Thank you," she muttered, darting past him. How strange, she thought. He didn't greet her, question her, or…anything. Something assured her that a man that size wasn't letting anyone follow her to that bathroom. With slightly shaky hands, she opened the door and hurried inside. It was dimly lit and slightly grimy, but she paid little attention to it as she instantly spotted the window. The hook was slightly rusted and creaked when she pushed it, but it worked. Her bag went out first. She grunted a little as she hoisted herself up onto the sink and into a standing position.
"Here goes nothing," she muttered to herself. Heaving up, she pulled and grunted slightly to make it out the window. It was plenty wide enough, but higher than she'd expected. She rolled out onto the hard pavement, the fresh air hitting her nose as she exhaled sharply. She'd done it.
After grabbing her bag, she stood and looked around the small alley. At first glance, it appeared deserted. The sun had almost set behind the buildings, cloaking it in darkness and her eyes strained to focus for a moment as something moved from behind a tall dumpster. She was about to panic until the gleam of his slightly crooked smile caught the dim light coming from the window she'd just rolled out of.
Kili walked into the low light, grinning. He wore a dark sweatshirt with the hood pulled up and dark, ripped jeans that made him practically blend in to his surroundings.
"You did it," he practically growled, stalking up to her. She didn't have time to speak before he'd grabbed the belt loops on her jeans and roughly yanked her to him, planting her with a kiss so deep and claiming it made her squeak in surprise. Not that she minded – his mouth was warm and firm against hers, almost insistent. He kissed her like his life depended on it.
It was over too soon. He pulled away and grinned at her in the darkness. She realized why. Pressed against her abdomen was something hard and long and…oh. She gasped in surprise and felt her mouth drop open slightly as their eyes met.
What the?
Yeah, it is what you think it is, their eyes seemed to say.
He chuckled and grabbed her hand. "Later," he murmured, squeezing her hand. "We gotta bolt."
He led her behind the dumpster to where his motorcycle was parked. Her heart instantly started racing as she remembered the first ride she'd had on that bike and how it had ended. Kili thrust a helmet into her hands and grinned again.
"Gettin' you outta here, princess."
"Princess?" she asked skeptically, eyeing him. "I'm not so sure about that…."
He shrugged, straddling the bike. "If I'm a knight in this scenario, you'd definitely be the princess."
She buckled the helmet into place. "Is that so?"
He snorted as she settled in behind him, wrapping her arms around his torso. His firm, hard torso. She felt her heart stutter slightly.
"Stealing a girl away that's about a thousand times outta my league? Yeah," he chuckled, patting her hand with his leather clad gloved one, "I'd definitely say you're the princess."
