Disclaimer: The Hobbit belongs to Professor Tolkien and Peter Jackson.
Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in completing this chapter. Life has been a bit stressful and chaotic lately.
Worth More Than Gold
Chapter 5
Tauriel sank back against her pillows with a tired sigh. It had been a long day, and she had spent a good portion of it training young dwarf archers. Her lower back ached and her feet were sore. Usually time spent training was no bother to her, but her babe would be arriving any day now. The extra weight she carried was making her uncomfortable, and the last few days she had just generally felt fatigued.
The door to their bathing chamber opened and Kili emerged, his bare chest still a bit damp from his washing. "How are you feeling, love?" he asked as he brushed damp hair back from his face and crawled across their comfortably large bed to her side.
"I am tired," she admitted as she rubbed a hand over her swollen belly, "but I am well. We are well," she smiled at her husband.
Kili studied her face carefully as if judging the honesty of her words. He had worried over her constantly throughout her pregnancy. He finally decided she truly was fine and rested one of his hands on the swell of her belly, grinning at Tauriel as the babe kicked energetically.
"We will meet her soon," the red-haired elf murmured as she stroked a hand through her husband's dark hair.
"Aye," Kili replied, his face suddenly becoming pensive.
"What are you thinking about?" Tauriel asked quietly.
"My da passed before I was born," he explained, leaving his hand over his wife's belly where their child was growing day by day. "What if I am not a good father?" He watched anxiously as a smile curved his wife's lips.
"My love, you will be an extraordinary father. I see how you are with our nephews. I see how Thorin is with you and Fili. He was a father to you and a good one. Look at the fine dwarves you and Fili have become. I lost my parents as a young girl, so I really have no idea how to be a mother. I am sure that Sigrid will be willing to give me advice when needed. We will learn to be parents together, Kili."
"You are right, Tauriel," Kili sighed as he leaned forward to press a kiss to her stomach. "Your da loves you so much, little one," he murmured. The baby kicked in response to her father's words, and Kili chuckled happily.
Tauriel ran her fingers through his dark hair. "I wonder who she will look like," she smiled as her thoughts wandered to a dark-haired child with her husband's brown eyes.
Kili propped himself up on an elbow beside his wife. "I imagine she will have her mother's fine red hair and her father's quick wit about her." He waggled his eyebrows at Tauriel playfully.
She laughed and gave him a gentle shove. "Perhaps we will get lucky and she will take after her Uncle Fili."
Kili stuck his tongue out as his wife and tickled her side.
Tauriel squirmed away from his fingers and gasped as her lower back twinged uncomfortably.
"What is it?" Kili asked, suddenly concerned. "Did I hurt you or the baby?"
"No, my back is just protesting a long day on my feet," she assured her worried husband as she cupped his face tenderly with one hand. "We are all right."
Kili pressed his mouth to hers gently. "I love you both," he murmured against her lips before pulling back. "I think you should rest tomorrow. The archers can work on their sword skills until you deliver the babe."
Tauriel shook her head. "There are still a few things I want to show them. Then they can practice until I am ready to rejoin them once again."
Kili sighed. "I will show them whatever it is you feel they must know. The health of you and our child is more important than a skill that can be learned at any time."
Tauriel leaned back against her pillows and fought the urge to sulk. Instead, she began to absently thread her fingers through Kili's dark hair, smoothing it so that she could weave the silky strands into a braid.
"You need to get some rest, Tauriel," he murmured sleepily, the feel of her fingers lulling him into a drowsy state.
She smiled. "You look sleepy as well, my love." Tauriel withdrew her fingers from his hair and slid down beneath the covers.
Kili followed her and rested his head against her shoulder, his large hand moving to rest protectively over the swell of her belly. He managed to stay awake until his wife's breathing evened out in slumber, and then he followed her into the oblivion of sleep.
Tauriel woke early the next morning to the feeling of her husband's lips pressing tenderly to her cheek. She blinked and raised a hand to rub her bleary eyes.
"I'm sorry to wake you," Kili said contritely. "Uncle sent for me." Tenderly, he brushed the elf's red tresses away from her face. "I will return this afternoon to work with your archers," he promised.
"Kili, I am more than capable of training today," Tauriel protested as she pushed to a sitting position and ignored the twinge in her lower back.
Kili pressed a finger to her lips. "No, you need to take care of yourself and our child. You can watch archery practice, but nothing more." He rose to leave and frowned at the scowl on his wife's face. "I'll see you this afternoon, Tauriel."
Tauriel felt like a pouting child as she slowly maneuvered her swollen body from the bed and moved to the washroom. It would feel so good to soak in a tub of warm water, but she was not certain she would be able to get out on her own. It would be best to wait until this evening when Kili was home. The elf stifled a sigh and washed her face before dressing in a gown that had been designed to fit over her rounded belly.
Tauriel raised her hands to braid her hair and nearly groaned as the muscles in her lower back tightened. The feeling stretched around the front of her body across her abdomen. The weight of carrying this child was beginning to wear on her. Perhaps Kili was correct, and it would be best to wait until after the child was born to continue working with the dwarven archers. She rested for a moment and then finished her braids in a simpler style than she usually wore.
Her stomach rumbled hungrily, and she decided that a light breakfast was in order. Leaving the suite she shared with Kili, Tauriel was delighted to find Sigrid and her two youngest boys walking down the stone corridor on their way to the dining hall. Fror happily took his auntie's hand and skipped happily along beside Tauriel.
"How are you feeling?" Sigrid asked the elf with a sympathetic smile. She remembered all too well the misery of the last few weeks of pregnancy.
Tauriel managed a wane smile. Her back was really bothering her this morning. "I feel the strain of carrying the added weight of the child," she admitted. "Kili fusses over me, and it is most frustrating."
Sigrid shook her head. "And did you think he would be any different?" she chuckled. "Fili did the same when I was carrying my boys. He nearly drove me mad."
Tauriel smirked. "I do believe I remember hearing you complain about your prince every now and then."
"Perhaps you should listen to him," Sigrid continued, her voice taking a more serious tone. "You will be ready to birth your child soon. Listen to your body if it tells you to rest."
Tauriel nodded. "Aye, that is wise advice, my sister. Kili insists on seeing to archery practice today."
Sigrid nodded. "And you should allow him. You do not want your babe to be born amidst a field of targets and arrows." She linked her free arm through his sister-in-law's.
"Kili is worried," Taurield admitted.
"All husbands worry when it is time for a child to be birthed," Sigrid consoled the elf.
"But Kili remembers the difficult birth you had with Fror. That is the only time he has observed childbirth." Tauriel remembered the haunted look on her husband's face each time he had spoken of losing her as she delivered their child.
Sigrid squeezed the elf's arm. "All will be well," she smiled. "You are strong and so is your little one. Kili will soon be a proud father, and I will be an auntie." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Do you still believe it will be a girl?"
"Aye," Tauriel smiled. "Kili is convinced as well. I had a difficult time encouraging him to have a son's name prepared in case the babe is male."
Sigrid shook her head. "The stubbornness of dwarves!" she muttered as both she and Tauriel laughed out loud.
The morning passed quickly. Kili had not returned from whatever Thorin has summoned him to do. Instead, a messenger arrived at their suite informing Tauriel to cancel training with the archers for the afternoon. She frowned once the young dwarf left and pushed to her feet awkwardly. Her back had stopped hurting, and there was no reason she could not conduct practice on her own. She gathered her things and made her way slowly to the practice arena that lay deep under the mountain.
"My Lady," one of the trainees, a young dwarf with rust colored hair and a bushy mustache, approached Tauriel with a look of concern. "We heard that you would be resting today and that Prince Kili would be instructing us."
She shook her head. "No, my husband has been detained. I am perfectly capable of conducting your training for the day." Tauriel cast her eyes over the dwarves that gathered before her, all looking upon her with concern and respect. These archers, although it had taken years, had gained a respect for the she-elf due to her keen ability with the bow and her loyalty to their prince. "Stretch your muscles," she ordered, and the archers hurried to obey.
The lesson progressed quickly. Tauriel moved down the line of archers once the targets were at the ready. She admired their form and steadiness with which they held their weapons. A sharp pain cut across her abdomen nearly making her gasp. She sucked in a breath and grasped her long green skirt in her fists as she willed herself to keep walking. The pain passed and Tauriel moved to the end of the line of archers.
She watched quietly as arrow after arrow hit the row of targets dead center. A smile curved her lips and she braced her hands against her lower back. The elf was pleased with the progress her of youngest archers although they still had much to learn before they were ready to join Thorin in battle.
Another pain tightened around her abdomen and speared between her legs. This time Tauriel did gasp at the sudden surprise and intensity of it. She braced her hands against her knees as she leaned over.
"Lady Tauriel!" The young archer nearest her dropped his bow and hurried to her side. "Are you well?"
Tauriel breathed in and out slowly, teeth clenching through the pain. It eased after a moment and she longed to sink to the ground in relief. Instead, she forced a smile for the benefit of the young dwarf at her side. "I am fine. My muscles are protesting the weight of the child I carry. Now, back to work."
The pains continued as the practice wore on. Tauriel forced herself to breathe through them and considered visiting a midwife once she dismissed her group of trainees.
She noticed Fili, Bofur, and some other dwarves she wasn't familiar with observing her archers from the sidelines, and the she-elf groaned inwardly. Fili would be sure to tell his brother that she had conducted training despite his demands. Kili would be furious.
Another pain seized her suddenly and Tauriel gasped as she felt a warm rush of water between her legs.
Her brother-in-law heard her and was immediately moving to her side when he realized what was happening. "Tauriel." Fili's warm hand clasped around her arm.
"Fili, my bag of fluids has ruptured." Tauriel gazed down at Fili, her eyes wide with alarm.
The blonde dwarf prince gave her a reassuring smile. "Aye, and soon I will be an uncle. All will be well; do not worry." Without releasing Tauriel, he turned to Bofur. "Find my brother and get him to the healers' chambers. We will meet him there."
Bofur nodded and, after giving Tauriel an encouraging smile, he hurried away.
"Kili is going to be upset with me," Tauriel muttered as Fili led her gently along the mountain's stone hallways.
"He will get over it," Fili assured her with a smirk. "As soon as he's holding a baby in his arms everything else will fade away. He is only concerned for you and the child."
"Aye," she groaned, tensing as another pain tightened around her. "I do not think it will be long before the babe is here."
Tauriel was immensely relieved to reach the bed in healers' suite. Two midwives scurried around her and helped her change into a birthing gown. Her long red hair was quickly plaited into one long braid so that it would not be in her way as she labored to deliver her child. As soon as she was settled against the pillows on the bed, one of the midwives pressed a mug of tea into her hands.
"Drink all of it, Lady Tauriel. It will help with the pain."
The she-elf nodded and obeyed, sipping the hot tea gingerly.
Fili sat next to her on the bed, refusing to leave her until her husband arrived. "My brother is going to be quite addlepated," he smirked gleefully.
Tauriel gaped at him incredulously. "Fili, you are terrible!"
At that moment, the door banged open and Kili flew into the room, breathless and agitated. "Tauriel, what happened? Are you well? Is the baby all right?" His eyes were wide with panic as he pressed his forehead to his wife's and cupped her face in his wide, strong hands.
"We are fine," she assured him as a contraction began to tighten across her abdomen and lower back. She bit her lip and leaned her head against her husband's shoulder.
"Tauriel?" Kili asked in alarm.
"She is having a contraction; let her breathe through it," Fili encouraged his younger brother.
Kili's hands stroked her upper arms gently and rhythmically until the contraction eased and Tauriel pulled away.
"Are you all right, Tauriel?" Kili asked worriedly. Before giving her a chance to answer, he turned to look at the midwives. "Give her something to help with the pain," he ordered.
"Kili, love, they have," Tauriel assured him gently.
"But I just saw you hurting; I could tell by the look on your face," the dwarf prince protested, steadfastly ignoring his snickering brother.
"The contractions are still going to hurt, but the tea the midwife brewed for me will take the edge off of the pain," Tauriel assured her panicking husband, stroking a gentle hand through his dark hair.
"I do not like to see you hurting," Kili murmured, leaning to press a tender kiss to her lips.
"But this hurt is necessary to bring our joy; it will not last long," the elf explained patiently as another contraction began to build. Tensing, she reached for Kili's hand and squeezed as she pressed her lips together to keep from crying out.
Kili sat on the bed beside his wife and held her hand between both of his. He looked frantically from the midwives to his brother. "What do I do? How do I help her?"
Taking pity on his younger brother, Fili moved forward and put a hand on Kili's shoulder. "Just encourage her and hold her hand. Rub her back if she feels like it will help. Bathe her face with cool water between her contractions."
Kili nodded, releasing a breath as Tauriel's contraction eased. "Would you like me to rub your back?" he asked her as he squeezed her hand gently.
She shook her head and relaxed back against the pillow, strands of sweaty hair beginning to stick to her face. "No, but if you'd like to find a cool rag and wipe my face that would be much appreciated."
Kili hurried to find a bowl for water and a rag. He soon returned and began doting on his laboring wife. The afternoon stretched on into the evening. Kili felt sick to his stomach as he watched Tauriel suffer through contraction after contraction. He watched as her face grew pale and strained and she pressed her lips tightly together to keep from making a sound. Fili had left long ago to wait with the rest of the family for news of the child's birth.
Finally, when Kili was sure his wife could suffer no more, the midwife announced it was time for Tauriel to push. Kili remembered how Sigrid struggled to deliver Fror, and his stomach churned with anxiety. He could not stand the thought of losing his wife or child because of a difficult birth. Bile threatened to rise in the back of his throat.
"All will be well," Tauriel panted, reaching for Kili's hand as a midwife propped her up against the pillows. "Soon you will be holding our daughter."
"Hold her leg back when I tell her to push," the head midwife instructed Kili.
He nodded woodenly and moved to where the woman pointed, watching as a midwife took the same position on the other side of Tauriel. As the next contraction gripped the elf, Kili mimicked the midwife and pulled Tauriel's leg back toward him as the she-elf began to push.
"Is she supposed to be in this much pain?" Kili asked after Tauriel had pushed through the third contraction and then fallen back exhausted onto the pillows.
"I believe you will be a father with the next contraction," the head midwife murmured, ignoring Kili's question.
The dwarf prince's mouth suddenly went dry. He was terrified of being someone's father, of not being who the child needed him to be.
"Kili," Tauriel whispered as if reading his mind, "you will be the father she needs. We will figure things out together."
"You are right, Tauriel," Kili assured her although he wasn't quite sure he believed his own words.
The elf bit her lower lip as another contraction began to build. Kili and the midwife pulled back on her legs as she groaned, guttural and deep.
"I have the head," the delivering midwife announced. "Push, Lady Tauriel," she commanded.
Tauriel did as the midwife instructed and could not stop a cry of pain as the baby's wide shoulders emerged. After that, the baby slid effortlessly into the midwife's waiting hands.
"Prince Kili, you have a princess," the midwife smiled.
Kili, still holding his wife's leg, looked down at the bloody baby in awe. The tiny little girl screwed up her face and began to howl her displeasure with the world. He watched as the midwife rubbed the infant vigorously with a towel before placing her in Tauriel's arms.
The she-elf looked at her husband with tears streaming down her cheeks. "She is amazing, Kili," she sniffled as tears sparkled in her eyes.
Kili sank down on the bed beside his wife and daughter and timidly reached out a hand to stroke the baby's soft cheek. "She has red hair," he chuckled. "I was hoping she would." Dark eyes suddenly blinked owlishly up at him.
"And your eyes," Tauriel murmured, lifting the child to place a kiss on the downy head. "I had hoped she would have your eyes."
Kili pressed a swift yet tender kiss to his wife's lips. "She is perfect, my love."
"Aye," Tauriel smiled. "Would you like to hold her?"
The dwarf prince reached for his daughter and took the tiny baby into his arms. "I'm your da," he murmured to the wrapped bundle. The little girl only blinked up at him, her rosebud lips puckered into a frown.
"Which name seems to fit her best?" Tauriel asked, her heart swelling with pride and love as she watched her husband hold their daughter for the very first time.
"Kaja," Kili murmured as he looked down into his daughter's face, mesmerized by her tiny, perfect features.
"Kaja," Tauriel repeated. "Yes, I believe that name fits our little star."
Tiny Kaja was soon whisked away from her parents so that she could have her first bath. Kili helped Tauriel wash as well, and soon the little family was reunited as Kaja was returned to her mother's arms.
Kili wrapped his arms around his wife once the midwives left the room so that he held both Tauriel and Kaja. Their family would be joining them soon to meet the new arrival, but for now it was just the three of them.
"She's perfect, Tauriel," he whispered into the room's quiet.
"Definitely worth waiting for," Tauriel replied.
"And worth more than even the Arkenstone," Kili told her, tracing a finger down Kaja's rounded cheek. The baby waved one fist feebly, and Kili caught it and examined the tiny fingers. "So perfect," he repeated once again.
"I love you, Kili," Tauriel told her husband, her voice quiet and reverent. "Kaja, I love you, my precious star."
"Aye, that she is," Kili replied. "You are both my starlight." He smiled as the baby yawned widely. "Are you ready to introduce our daughter to her family?" the dwarf king asked his wife.
"I suppose we do have to share her," Tauriel agreed sleepily as she rested her head against her husband's shoulder.
"Aye, and they will love her, too." Kili stroked a gentle hand up and down his wife's upper arm.
"Mm," Tauriel murmured as her eyes dipped closed. "Let's just enjoy a few more moments by ourselves."
"All right, love," Kili smiled, his grin widening as his wife fell asleep against him. Carefully, he extracted their daughter from Tauriel's arms and held her close. "I love you, my little princess," he whispered to the red-headed baby. "You are so very precious to me."
Kaja yawned mightily once again and Kili watched as she drifted off to sleep in his arms. He felt as if he needed to pinch himself to see if this perfect life was real. He had a wife and a daughter, a little family. He sighed and settled himself more comfortably on the bed. His family could wait just a little while longer to meet Kaja. He nestled his tiny daughter close and gazed down at her beautiful little face, in awe of the perfect treasure in his arms.
The End
