Chapter 5: Guardians

A month earlier.

Tauriel became aware, something or someone called to her. She had expended much energy as Smaug had tried to follow Kíli to claim him. She smiled, knowing the wraith was trapped in his watery grave. She could feel the spent wyrm calling fell spirits to him, about all he could do after expending so much energy.

She felt the presence again. It was familiar, though she could not name how. She let it pull her, all but the small thread of her spirit that stayed anchored to Smaug's bones.

Tauriel found herself standing near the river mouth in her spirit form. A familiar little spark nestled into her own fëa.

Her link to Kíli flared bringing her joy. The little spark grew rapidly and soon she held it as babe in her arms. It grew more, then struggled to be put down. A child neither elfling, nor dwarfling stood before her.

The spirit child smiled. "Hello Mama." Then her expression sobered. "Papa needs you. He is not well."

"How?" Tauriel reached out towards the girl. "This is not possible."

The spirit gave her a sly look, so much like Kíli. "Papa gave me my secret name, but Mahal says I am bound here as long as both your and Papa's spirits are in Arda together. He bound me to Erebor."

Tauriel reached for the girl, brushing her unruly hair from her eyes. "And what name is that?"

She shook her head and shifted away "As long as you bind the dragon I cannot tell you. I have no outer name to tell you." She looked out over the lake and scowled. "Bad things are coming."

"Smaug calls fell spirits to do his bidding. He wants to enslave your father."

"I went to Papa first. He cannot see or hear me." The girl scowled.

"How is it I can see you, little one?"

"We are both spirits." She gave her mother an incredulous look.

"Narithilwen," Tauriel smiled. "That will be your outer name. A Dwarven inner name and an Elven outer."

Narithilwen blinked at her mother.

Tauriel laughed. "When your father first spoke at length with me, he told a story of a rare and beautiful fire moon he once saw. He told it with such wonder in his voice and eyes, that I name you for it. My little Fire moon maiden, are far rarer."

She puffed up with pride. "Come, I'll lead you to Papa."

Tauriel gestured for her daughter to lead the way.

She felt herself shift through the rock. She now stood in a tent next to a cot. Kíli lay still and pale, his breath shallow and ragged. Fíli slept in a chair next to the cot, his own wounds tended, clasping his brother's hand.

"Remember, He won't be able to hear you Mama, but he'll still feel you near." Narithilwen pulled her mother down and placed her forehead, dwarven fashion, against hers. "This is the last I will be able to talk to you and you'll see me."

"Why?"

"You bound the dragon to save Papa. I, like my grandmother, am a stone speller. I am one with Erebor and I will be as a spell of protection against the ones the dragon calls. To do that, I can't stand in this form. I must be completely one with Erebor."

"I am sorry, my daughter," Tauriel averted her eyes, "I did not wish this fate for you."

Narithilwen shook her head. "I am not sad at this Mama." She moved to her father's side. She leaned down and kissed his cheek. Tauriel could see Kíli's brow knit at the touch. Then Narithilwen dissolved into a shower of light that settled into the rocky floor and then spread through the rock.

She moved to Kíli's side then. She could feel the bleakness in his spirit, their bond currently raw in him. She caressed his cheek where their daughter had kissed it. He grew restless, but remained unconscious.

"Tauriel," he called to her in his sleep.

Fíli stirred in his sleep and gripped his brother's hand tighter.

Tauriel stretched out beside her love and wrapped her spirit around him. He fell into a deep healing sleep, his breath evening out.

She stayed by his side for a month. Keeping his spirit from fleeing his healing body. Though she could still feel the grief in him, he stopped trying to die and she knew she couldn't remain any longer. The minute she separated from his side, she felt herself pulled back to her shared watery grave with Smaug.

A/N: I wasn't originally going to do a 5th chapter before posting the Epilogue. However as requested by TaurielKili1976, here is Tauriel. This will be the last chapter. Only the Epilogue will follow this.

Thank you for the reviews Celebrisilweth, TaurielKili1976, & Coldkagome.

Thank you to AnnaBanna90, AnomolyInPi-Minor, Cassandrala, Karebear119, LKHansen, almaelwen,
& ktime27 for following.

Thank you to AnomolyInPi-Minor, Karebear119, & ktime27 for favoriting.

And as always, thank you Summerald, for allowing me to play in the history of your AU.

Again, if you haven't read the AU this is based off, go find Summerald's Erebor 3022 series and read them. She is working on revising theme as well as having them translated to German. The first one is well under way on it's revision and is, Erebor 3022: Curesbearers Story 1.