See...told ya you wouldn't have to wait long. **Please note...mature themes in this chapter!**

Chp 38

Tauriel suddenly sat bolt upright. She shook her head, as if trying to clear it...gone were the heady foresty smells that she had woken up to all of her long life. They were replaced by smells and feelings that were foreign to her; cold and dankness, a smokiness even. She blinked rapidly and could feel her heart beating...such an unusual sensation for an elf! She looked around and could sense the darkness. Again, she struggled to think of where she could be. Even though the first rays of daylight were just beginning to come over the horizon, Tauriel did not need them to survey her surroundings. Slow dawning to realization, she could just make out items around her: a small table with a chair, a large chest sitting on a stone floor and a small window on the far wall.

Then she could feel her heart slow its beating as she came to remember how and why she was here, and she felt warmth fill her heart. She smiled in spite of herself and she thought about her handsome and brave Prince. His long dark hair that she wished to twist around her long fingers, how his scratchy stubble felt against her cheek and slender neck, and yesterday, how it felt when his strong hands so lovingly had cupped her breasts. Her body shuddered, which had nothing to do with the chill in the air. She also could not place that ache deep down inside of her; such a feeling she had never had before. She ran her hands up and down her body. A low moan barely escaped her lips as most of her body felt moist and sticky. She thought of her beautiful Kili, those warm eyes glowing gold, the sweet and playful expressions he shared with just her; and how he lovingly cleansed her yesterday; she so longed for him to be there, next to her, right now. Her hands moved of their own accord toward the place that was exuding the most heat and wetness. She arched her back, lifted up and parted her legs slightly, slid her hand in between and used her fingers to fill the pounding ache she felt...

Just then... there was a soft knock at the door. She made an audible squeak and yanked the covers over herself quickly, only after realizing her door was locked, and no one could intrude upon the intimate moment she had just had, until she herself got up and unlocked the door. She got off the bed, pulled her tunic dress down as far as it would go and ran over to her wash basin where she splashed the cool water on her face. She heard another knock and managed to get out the word, "coming," as she quickly brushed her sweaty and disheveled hair. She placed the brush on her dresser and stepped quickly to her door.

She wasn't sure who it could be at this early hour, apparently the conversation from the previous night, long forgotten. So when she opened it, she was surprised to see her beautiful Prince having materialized right there in front of her, liked she had just so wished. She had never seen him look so stately and handsome. A shiny sword belted to his side, he was also wearing a beautifully wrought metal breastplate of the most gleaming sliver and over it, was a long blue coat silken coat that had many intricate designs weaved into it. His hair had recently been braided too- different than the usual way it's waviness hung down, spilling onto his shoulders. He still only had a bit of stubble, but she could tell it was starting to grow longer on the sides of which some silver beads had been woven into the longer parts. And, on his head was a matching silver circlet that sparkled with the whitest of gems Tauriel had ever seen.

The expression on Tauriel's face made Kili have the hugest grin then and that was it...she grabbed him by both arms and pulled him into her room forcefully, him dropping the package that was under his arm. She backed him up against the inside of her door and wrapped him tightly in her arms. She began planting kisses all over his face and neck, cupping his jawline with both of her hands. Kili was quite taken aback at first, but quickly let his desires rise to her passion and they hungrily kissed each other deeply for long moments. Tauriel started to take his blue overcoat off as both of his hands firmly grasped her hips...but then they were both startled when a loud rapping happened from the other side of the door they were pressing up against.

Kili shook his head to clear it, huffed loudly, and then said, "Damnit. Yes. Yes...we're coming Balin." He looked up towards Tauriel who went back to kissing his neck. He ran his fingers through her hair and whispered, "my love...Tauriel...we need to go." She sighed and pulled away from him. He continued, as he touched her cheek and looked up at her with sympathetic eyes, "Balin has everyone gathered in the Great Hall...they are waiting on us." They shared knowing sighs and smiles as Kili still cupped her jaw in his hand. With his other hand, he took hers and placed it on his breast, over his heart and looked into her eyes, "Soon...my love...soon, and we will be able to be together in that way. For I desire to explore every graceful curve of your body and lay together as one."

Tauriel cheeks flushed slightly at his words as she stroked his cheek with the back of her hand and stammered "I...desire that too...I was...I was thinking about you before you came to my door...and then I saw you...and you looked so handsome...I couldn't...help myself," she bowed her head slightly. He lifted her chin up and gave her a simultaneous smirky smile but puppydog eyes and she could feel herself melting again. "That is wonderful m'lady, that my visage does not cause you to retch up your last meal. Fili always said I didn't look much better than the rear end of horse. But I've gotten the last laugh if the most beautiful creature in Middle Earth wants only me!" She gave him an Oh Kili look but he winked at her, to which she smiled back at him.

"Well my love...I don't know if this will go well or ill today, so you might prepare for the worst. Still...I want you to be there. Bring your weapon...just in case, though." He looked at her with dark eyes, but still kissed her sweetly on the cheek. "We will wait outside as you get ready." He turned to exit and then noticed the package he had dropped on the floor. "Oh...here are your clothes from yesterday, freshly cleaned. And here's a short sword that should be easily concealed. Also, I instructed Dwalin to place a bow and quiver of arrows behind your chair, as you and Bilbo will be sitting off to the side." Tauriel nodded as Kili closed the door. She hurried to her wash basin and cleansed herself, brushed her hair, quickly put a few simple braids in it and put the same clothes she had on from yesterday, but nary a trace of blood or dirt could be found on them. There was a long pocket on the pants and she was able to conceal the sword into it easily. She looked in the small mirror above her dresser and felt she seemed presentable enough. Not ostentatious as to draw attention to herself, but comfortable and ready for quick movements if necessary. She took one last look and then strided over to her door. Upon opening, Balin and Kili who were sitting on benches in the hallway stood up, bowed and ushered her down the hall.

As they approached, Tauriel could hear the talking of many dwarves and she started to feel a little nervous. But, before they entered into the Great Hall, Balin leaned over and said, "You will enter with Bilbo before us and sit in the seats off to the side of ours. Again, I'm hoping this will all go as planned...but if you should need to exit hastily...you know how to get back to your room right? Oh...and keep a look out on Bilbo, please." Tauriel stiffly nodded, and she started to prepare for indeed, the worst. Kili nodded and smiled at her. He reached out and grabbed her hand and squeezed it, she returned his smile just as Bilbo was coming down the hall with Ori. They both said, "Hi," and Tauriel replied in, and dare kind. Bilbo then said, "Are you ready, fair lady?" She nodded and as she looked down at the small and polite figure she noticed a sparkly silver shirt barely peeking out from under his overcoat, and Tauriel gulped as he opened the doors.

Ok...these next upcoming chapters were that really long, hard part I had said before that I was writing. It took a long time to write, encompasses a few chapters and daresay is almost 10k words long! So...you'll get to start reading those soon :)

i hope you liked this chapter and if you're big Aidan fans, I'm sure you can just picture that in your minds the big smile/puppydog expression he had in this chapter, one that aidan does so well! ;) ;) Thanks to Justme, Nenithiel, Christine, Bienniel, Margaritasc, Guest and LisaKathyrn for your wonderful recent reviews- I look forward to reading your comments of the story...interesting about getting an insight into Kili's thoughts...I'll work on that in the upcoming chapters :)