(Hiding behind my hands over here)... So sorry I hadn't done the next chapter sooner! I've just got a lot going on (kids, work, etc) and haven't really had time to be mentally "in" the story. Because, as I've mentioned, I like to be a little ways ahead before I post the next chapter...and I'm not, so hopefully you'll forgive me :) And especially with all the big events coming soon, I want to make sure I get it exactly the way I want it ;)

Thank you always to my readers for being patient and following along {{Hugs}} Special thanks to my lovely reviewers of the last chapter: TinuvielTurner, Celebrisilweth, Margaritasc, Bienniel, Susan, and Rowena!

Chp 64

Again, everyone was in complete silence waiting for King Thranduil to list his conditions for Kili and Tauriel's bethrothal. He was in control of his emotions again, and therefore spoke slowly, "Firstly...Tauriel...you must appear before your own people, as I proclaim my judgement on you for your recent transgressions. And lastly...when Tauriel returns to her homeland, I invite you Kili, soon to be King Under the Mountain, to come with Tauriel, where we may converse as Leaders of our respective subjects and Rulers of strategic lands; for these are tumultuous times, and allies must know where their allegiances lie." Kili looked at Tauriel and Tauriel returned his gaze. They did knew not what this meeting in Mirkwood would hold...but were happy that they had seemed to be offered the King's blessing for the moment. They looked at each other knowingly, smiled and turned to face the King where they both agreed to his terms. Thranduil stood up then and walked over to where the Dwarves sat, he placed his hand elven fashion on his chest and slightly inclined his head to the seated dwarves and Feren did the same. Balin asked them if they were going to stay for the Coronation and Thranduil indicated they will return to the Mountain tomorrow. With that, the three elves swept soundlessly from the room and exited the Mountain, heading back to their encampment outdoors.

Kili took Tauriel's hand and kissed it and Tauriel, for her part, got up and gave him an immense hug. Dis also came over and hugged and kissed both of them. Balin added his feelings, "That went well, better than I thought, actually..." Dis directed her words to the happy couple, "Why don't you two go and enjoy some lunch in celebration. We have much to plan for, for tomorrow, my dears." They nodded and walked off, arm in arm, blissfully happy.

Once again, the trio of dwarves joined in the middle of the room for a private conversation. "What do you think will become of this 'punishment' Balin?" The Lady Dis asked. He replied, "I do not know my Lady...he seemed very contrite and honestly happy for the pair. I wouldn't think it'd be too harsh..." Dwalin interjected, "Ahhnn, I don't think I'd trust that sparkly pointy ear, an'more than I can toss him!" Dis added, "Well...we will just have to see. Certainly either you or I will have to accompany Kili in his meeting with Thranduil. Kili may well be King, but has not been learnt in matters of politics yet, and I don't want that elf lord trying anything with my son." Balin nodded his head in agreement. As there was still a few hours before the Coronation, they all knew they had many pressing duties to get to and they parted from each other.

Meanwhile, Kili and Tauriel were enjoying a hearty bowl of soup for lunch. A heavy weight mostly lifted off their shoulders, so they laughed and enjoyed everyone's company they came in contact with in the Dining Hall. Towards the end of their meal, a page came into the room and made a quick beeline for Kili. Kili waited for the dwarf to deliver his message, "My Lord," the page said, "The guards at the Gate need your permission for a tall feller with a pointy hat and grey robes to enter the Mountain. He is also asking to see you personally." Kili practically jumped up when he heard the news, "Of course! Yes...he may enter...and for goodness sakes tell the guards not to make him mad or they may find themselves turned into frogs or some other lowly creature!" He chuckled as the startled page with enormous eyes zoomed out of the Hall, heading back to the Gate.

Kili clapped his hands, "That is wonderful! I am so glad our old friend has returned, and just in time for the Coronation." Tauriel added, "This is Mithrandir...the wizard? I only saw him briefly in the middle of the Battle. It will be most interesting to converse with a Maiar." Kili had a puzzled expression on his slightly tilted face. Tauriel just rolled her eyes and said with a smiling face, "Come my Love, much have I to teach you." So as they walked to the room they had just left before their meal, Tauriel explained how the Maiar are akin to the Valar, lesser gods as it were, and have existed since Illuvatar created Arda itself. They were rumored to have been sent by Illuvatar at the beginning of the Third Age of Middle Earth, and each have their own special abilities. Kili exclaimed, "Wow! I had no idea Gandalf was such a thing! He always seemed a bit befuddled by things...but we did see a few of his special powers on occasion. He is very good at lighting fires out of thin air, for example."

Tauriel was impressed that Kili had witnessed a bit of true magic, during his time with the wizard. As they were nearing the room, Kili noticed a page walking the Halls. Even though he didn't know this dwarf's name, he recognized the lad's job by the tan clothes he wore and the fact that he was a younger dwarf, with nary a bit of facial hair, not even really stubble. The page saw who had called him and came over meekly. Kili said, "Hello. I need you to do something for me." The young dwarf bowed, "Yes my'Lord..." Kili continued, "Please go to the Garden area and look for my Halfling friend, Bilbo is his name." As the page was unaware where the Gardens were located, Kili had to explain to him. He also gave the page an idea where Bilbo's room was, in case he wasn't in the Gardens. Lastly he said if he couldn't find Bilbo to let Dwalin, Master of the Royal Guard know and he should be able to find him and send him to the Proclamations Room. The page walked away very fast in the opposite direction, as Kili and Tauriel entered the room of their destination.

They entered the Proclamations room, and it wasn't an overly large room, but it looked quite a bit bigger without the benefit of the large elven chairs that were in here earlier for their meeting with Thranduil. They both sat in the same chairs they sat in earlier. They didn't know how long it would take for their friends to make it to the room, so they relaxed and talked over the day's amazing event. "I suppose soon after the Coronation, we should head back to your home, Amralime. Although, this judgement he feels he needs to speak in front of your kin worries me. What do you think he intends?" Tauriel felt so proud that Kili felt comfortable with sharing his deepest thoughts and worries so easily with her. She smiled, but replied back with a sigh, "I do not know my Love. For I what I did was grievous lawbreaking...not just not following my King's orders, but pulling arms on him..." She trailed off as she shuddered at the thought of what she actually did. Kili cooed as he stroked her hand, "Thranduil seemed contrite at our meeting. I should think it would not be anything too serious. At any rate...I will be right there, with you. And I should like to see your homeland...at least I'll be able to go through the front entrance not bound and shackled this time," he said as he gave her his best Puppydog eyes. That seemed to make her smile and they leaned in for a passionate kiss.

As Tauriel was putting her hand up and running it slowly upwards the side of Kili's face where the stubble and beard there tickled her hand and always gave her a tingly sensation inside, they were aware of someone coughing in the room. They looked over to see Bilbo and the page had just arrived and both seemed to be doing a bit of huffing and puffing as they must have hurried back. Kili told the page to wait outside the room in case he needed his services again. Bilbo whipped out his handkerchief and wiped his brow, "So...the lad told me I was needed immediately in this room. What is going on?" Kili smiled a big smile, "Well... We just heard that Gandalf has returned and I have sent for him and I thought you would like to see him again." Bilbo let out a surprised gasp, but clapped his hands in joy and sure enough, got that handkie out again.

They filled Bilbo in on their meeting with Thranduil and Bilbo gave his happy congratulations again. After chatting for awhile, the doors opened and there was Gandalf. Tall grey hat perched on his head and ever present staff in his right hand, he came in to the room and smiled immensely when he saw Bilbo. Bilbo ran up to him and Gandalf bent down to hug his Hobbit friend. He then saw Kili and Tauriel and he bowed to Kili and for Tauriel he put his hand to his chest and bowed, uttering some elvish to her. She gratefully acknowledged his words, enjoying hearing a bit of her own tongue, and marveled at the sight of him. Kili arranged the four chairs in a circle so they could all be seated.

Kili began, "We are very glad to receive you here in the Mountain, Gandalf. And you made it just in time too...tomorrow is the Coronation!" Bilbo chuckled, and Gandalf looked over at him with one raised eyebrow, "Didn't you once tell me that a wizard is never late and arrives precisely when he means to?" said Bilbo. Gandalf himself chuckled and told him, "he may have mentioned that once or twice during their adventure." So they talked for awhile about all the amazing things that have happened since the battle ended: Kili being sent back, his mother arriving, all the work going on in the Mountain, Tauriel helping out the patients and Bilbo and his beautiful gardens.

And Gandalf went on to explain what he had been up to after he left the Mountain and of how he had heard the wonderful news of Kili being returned. He told them how he needed to get word to Lord Elrond of Rivendell and the Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien the events of the battle. He had said he was a little puzzled with his Lord Saruman's reaction to the news, but could not stay long to converse with him, as he had heard the news about Kili by then, and wanted to hurry back to the Mountain. He also had sent word of the battle to the Kingdoms of Rohan and Gondor, since riding to both lands would have taken many days time.

Gandalf then said, "And so I was making my way back to Erebor, when I received word a large party wanted to make the journey to the Mountain with me and to meet the soon to be King Under the Mountain." Everyone was surprised to hear this news and waited with anticipation of who came with him. Gandalf smiled and said, "My companions have set up camp outside the Mountain but they request an audience with you tomorrow after the Coronation." Again, they waited for him to explain. He began, "My Lord Kili with have seen a gathering here tomorrow that has scarce happened anywhere in Middle Earth in a long while...Lord Cirdan from the Grey Havens, Lord Elrond of Rivendell and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien; and of course Lord Thranduil is already present." Tauriel was most shocked at the news, being an elf, she knew there were none mightier in all of Middle Earth, and felt very humble they were so near. She inquired about the Lady Galadriel, to which Gandalf squirmed a little and replied that she had had an enormous drain on her power recently, and could not make the journey but needed to stay in Lothlorien to heal; but didn't elaborate much more than that.

The four chatted on for a little longer, then Gandalf made an exclamation, "Oye! I almost forget." As he searched through his robes, which took a moment because he must have many pockets in it. Then he finally pulled out a small glass phial, no bigger than his finger, that shone with an almost blinding light inside of it. Tauriel then gasped and Kili and Bilbo just looked dumbstruck. "Mithrandir...is that...could that be what I think it is?" He smiled and said, "Oh yes my dear. You are learned in the tale of the Silmarils then?" Tauriel replied, "Every elf is taught the stories of the wondrous past history of Middle Earth. It has been many a year since I thought about such things, but I remember them well from my youth."

Kili and Bilbo still looked at the vial with confused faces. Gandalf elaborated for them as he held the small vial up where it caught a ray of sunshine and pulsed ever brighter. "My good lads. These are a few drops from the Lady Galadriel's fountain, which therein contains drops from Earendil's Star, or the light of the famed Two Trees, Telperion and Laurelin; created by the Valar themselves." Tauriel's breathed hitched as a tear ran her down face. Gandalf continued, "I had told the Lord and Lady of Lothlorien during my brief respite there on way back to the Mountain how, when I had visited here many many years ago, I knew of the Garden and how it supplied water and food for everyone in the Mountain. Well, with the dragon and all, we knew what life remained there would be scant, at best. Before I left, she retrieved this small amount of water from her fountain with instructions to pour a few drops into the Rivers here in the Mountain, and to give the rest to the newly crowned King as her gift to you." Kili was finally understanding and asked, "Will it make things more fertile and grow, then, do you think Gandalf?" Bilbo then too, was coming to the realization and also began softly crying tears of happiness, "Oh...I can't wait to see all my hard work come to fruition." Gandalf knew that tending the Mountain's Garden area would have been what was occupying Bilbo's time here in the Mountain since the battle's end, so he said smiling, "Well...why don't we go try now and see."

Gandalf got up and walked over to Kili and bowed, then handed him the small vial. Kili seemed a little taken aback, but took the small vial in his thick fingers and held it up. He looked in wonder at the seemingly intense rainbow of colors and bright gold and silver light that glowed from within. He had a small pocket in his shirt that he placed the vial and cleared his throat and said, "Um...thank you, Gandalf the Grey for the delivery of this magnificent gift." They all smiled and got ready to head to the Gardens, Kili dismissed the page after giving him instructions to find his mother and let her know where they were headed and they would be having a late dinner tonight, as it was already well into the late afternoon.

Kili and Tauriel lead the way, walking arm in arm on the long walk to the Gardens, and Bilbo and Gandalf followed, chatting about many events along the way. They finally arrived at the small door, of which Gandalf even had to duck through. They came out onto the landing and saw that it indeed was late afternoon and the sun had started its' descent in the horizon. Bilbo took the lead this time and gave Gandalf the tour of all the plants he had put in and all the hard work he had done here. Kili and Tauriel followed along, cooing at one another, holding hands. After being shown all around, Gandalf said, "What an amazing job you have done here Bilbo! I can imagine there was not much life here when you started, but I am very impressed at the amount of plants you have been able to cultivate so far." Bilbo smiled and explained how because of Tauriel and the expedition they went on, is how he got a lot of them. Kili added, "And with all of our traders having gone to other realms, I should think they will be returning soon, with more and varied items that can be planted here."

Gandalf then said, "Well...shall we try the Lady's gift?" They all agreed, especially Bilbo who was giddy with anticipation. Gandalf suggested they head over to the Bridge. They stood at the apex of the bridge and all looked at Kili. He retrieved the small vial from his pocket and thought for a moment, then handed the vial to Bilbo, "Why don't you do it, my friend." Bilbo was honored so he gingerly took the vial and unscrewed the intricate gold stopper. As he paused with the vial tilted slightly sideways, he asked, "Umm, well, how many drops...should I, put in?" Gandalf smiled and thought for a moment, "I should think 4 or 5 drops will be sufficient my Halfling friend."

Bilbo slowly tilted the small glass vial until, carefully, five small drops fell out and made the long descent to the waters below. He handed the vial back to Kili and they all looked down and the affect was immediate. The water normally appeared as a slight muddied color, from all the minerals it picked up on its' way down the mountain, but the few drops that landed in it began to turn it bright white as a crystal. They watched as this crystal color quickly spread throughout all the water. The color seemingly even went UP the water raging down the waterfall, and after the change, intermingled with the golden sunlight at day's end. The mist from the waterfall also turned golden and all four watched as the spray, blown by the slight breeze, was carried to the trees and saplings nearby. If their eyes weren't deceiving them, the saplings seem to grow and sprout anew right there and then. By now, too, the waters had seeped into the dirt all around them and again, the small plants Bilbo had tended all seemed to grow and whatever color they were; whether it be green, yellow or brown, their color intensified in hue.

Bilbo whipped out his handkerchief, Tauriel bent down and ran her fingers gently along the leaves of the particularly bright green tops of a carrot plant and she rejoiced at the feeling of the new growth. The birds were happily tittering too, enjoying the effects of Galadriel's drops on the plants and trees of their home. They continued watching the dramatic change in the Gardens for a little while longer, until the moon was close to showing his appearance. Bilbo was loathe to leave, but with coaxing from Gandalf about the promise of a hearty supper and sleep for tomorrow's big day, did he agree to head to the Dining Halls, and so they did.