So so sorry for the late update everyone! Midterms were crazy, but I'm finally on spring break! I shot out this short chapter today to appease you all and will get crackin on the heavy plot stuff today :) thanks for all the lovely reviews!

"I would ask how this happened, but I'm not sure if I want to know." Tauriel wrung out the bloody cloth in the bowl of steaming water, before placing it over Kili's bare shoulder blade. Her dwarf let out a hiss, but thankfully didn't flinch. In a chair on the other side of the fire in Kili's chambers, Fili, who was sporting a black eye and split lip, chuckled.

"Just some friendly combat between brothers, winter starlight," Kili said through clenched teeth as Tauriel pressed firmly against the hot cloth. The wound running down his shoulder blade and along his tattoo wasn't too deep, but it would no doubt develop an infection if left untreated. Like his brother, there were also hints of bruising on his face. "No need to worry."

"Kili, if I didn't worry about you then you would have been dead long ago," she said pointedly, unraveling white bindings she'd gotten from Oin. "Now stop fidgeting."

"You were slashed in the arm a few weeks ago and you didn't seem to care about that," he argued, but doing as she instructed.

"That's because I healed in two days." Tauriel removed the cloth and, making sure her sleeves were rolled up first, dunked it again in the water. The liquid was quickly turning a deep shade of pink. "You two, however, will not. Don't get too comfortable, Fili. You're next."

Kili smirked at his brother, whose smile dropped at Tauriel's words. When Tauriel had been wandering the halls and happened to bump into the brothers, she'd at first only had eyes for crimson, wet stain on the back of her betrothed's tunic. Now, she was noticing the growing spot of red on Fili's front.

"You know, elf, you can't order me around just because you're marrying my brother." Even as he said the words, Fili stood and undid the belt around his middle before shrugging out of his tan colored tunic. Angled across one side of his chest, running near the edge of the foreign language inked onto his skin, was a long gash bleeding steadily.

"I wasn't aware Kili had shared the news, dwarf." Tauriel bit back a smile as Kili grinned at her over his shoulder. She shoved his head back down and started to wrap the clean bindings around his back.

"He didn't," Fili replied. He was examining the gash, wincing as he probed a particularly deep section, "but any dwarf will know what those beads dangling in your hair mean. Besides, you've moved into his bed and carry his child. I think marriage is expected at this point."

Tauriel blushed. She wasn't sure she'd ever get used to the blunt and occasionally crude ways dwarves spoke. With quick hands, she finished wrapping Kili's wound. He turned on the box he'd been sitting on to face her and placed a swift kiss on her lips when she finished.

"Thank you, love. I have no need to worry during battle now that I have you to mend me up."

"Yes," she said slowly," but I'd prefer it not be needed after a friendly practice with your brother. Can we not make this a habit?"

"Aye," Kili agreed, making a face as he stood. "I suppose that would be wise."

Tauriel locked eyes with Fili and jabbed a finger at the box in front of her. He rolled his eyes, but stalked across the room anyways. As she changed the water and prepared a fresh cloth, she watched Kili yank on a fresh shirt and grabbed his bow from against the wall.

"Where are you off to?" she questioned. It was late in the evening. Kili had spent several hours sparring with his brother and she had expected him to be in for the night; especially now that he had a fresh wound that needed healing.

"Night watch, love." Kili shrugged into his coat and as she began wiping the blood from Fili's torso came to press a kiss to her cheek. "I've been slacking on that since you arrived."

"My apologies," she chuckled lightly. Fili made similar sound to Kili's as Tauriel pressed the hot cloth to his skin. "I'll try not to stumble upon any wargs while you're gone."

Kili paused at the door and gave his laughing brother and the mother of his child a pointed look. "Not funny."

The night air was crisp. The time of planting and animals giving birth to their young might have arrived, but evenings on the mountaintop always brought back the sharp wind. Dale was quiet and dark. The occasional flicker of a small fire or a male, drunken yell were the only giveaway that the rebuilt city was occupied.

Kili stretched the arm holding his bow, wincing at the stinging sensation on his shoulder. He'd had far worse injuries over the years, but that didn't change the fact the injury was annoying. Fili had made sure not to swipe too deep, however. Kili was thankful for that. Had his brother done any worse damage to his bow arm, Kili would have retaliated with more than just a cut across the chest.

"I thought Fili would be assisting you tonight."

Kili jumped at the voice. Thorin came onto the stone ledge, walking slowly to his youngest nephew. So often now he was met with narrowed eyes and disapproving looks whenever he was forced to socialize with his uncle, that Kili was surprised to see neither hate nor disappointment on his uncle's features as he approached.

"He got nicked in the training hall," Kili explained, turning back to the dark horizon. Thorin stood beside him, copying his stance. "Tauriel is cleaning him up before he comes out."

"The she-elf proved her skill today." Thorin watched the flickering lights of Dale as he spoke. Kili almost interrupted him to inform his uncle that the she-elf had a name, but thought better of it. There was a time and place for such conversations and this was not it. "She has good judgment."

"Aye," Kili agreed, watching his uncle carefully from the corner of his eye. "Tauriel follows her heart, no matter how reckless the decision is."

Thorin's mouth twitched. "Much like a young dwarf I know."

Guilt suddenly flooded his chest. Kili had spent the last several weeks angry at his uncle, frustrated that he couldn't understand his love for an elf. He'd judged Thorin's temperament on ancient prejudices that were unfair and illogical. Everyone, including Tauriel, said Thorin was only worried for him, but he didn't really believe it until now.

The aging dwarf had been there when Kili was born and had not left him since. Thorin was their mentor and ruler, but most importantly he had acted as their father. For near eighty years, he'd worried over his nephews. His uncertainty of Tauriel, ill feelings towards the child, and anger at Kili was only concern; deep and loving concern for a reckless, danger prone dwarf.

And Kili had been ignorant to it all this time.

"Uncle-," he started awkwardly, trying to find the words to tell him he understood; that while he knew Tauriel deserved respect, Thorin's reluctance was understandable. Kili wanted to apologize. Not for loving Tauriel, but for the family conflict it caused. Before he could stammer out an apology, Thorin interrupted him.

"I am still unhappy about an elf living in our homeland," he said deeply, looking sideways at his nephew, "but I'm sure you already knew that." Kili nodded silently. "They're deceitful, disloyal, and crafty. Dale's ties with Mirkwood strengthened after the battle, but not ours. I do not trust Thranduil."

"I know, Uncle. I don't either."

Thorin paused, narrowing his eyes slightly. "And yet you trust his Captain?"

"I don't think she trusts him, not entirely anyway. Tauriel ran away without telling her people of the child." Kili shook his head as he spoke, dropping his bow and leaning heavily on the stone ledge. "Even though he was her king, she was afraid what he'd do. Tauriel's different."

"I agree," Thorin commented, earning a surprise glance from the young dwarf. "Although it was foolish for you and your brother to put your faith in her so easily, I can see now she is not like the others in Mirkwood."

"You-you accept her then?" Kili stammered uncertainly.

"No." Thorin pushed away from the wall, turning to leave as he did so, "but the blasted elf may stay if she wishes."

He left swiftly, muttering about "damned elves wandering his halls" and "disowning his idiotic kin." Kili waited until his shadow had disappeared before he let the small grin break across his face.

There was pain everywhere.

The physical pain was small. Tauriel had a few cuts and bruises covering her body, but nothing was broken. Blood had been dripping steadily from various spots on her face. The muscles in her arms and legs ached with every step, but it wasn't any of these that bothered her. In fact, she hardly noticed it.

No, it was the gut-wrenching feeling of helplessness that was undoing her. Hours had passed since she quickly grasped Kili's hand and pressed her lips to his. They only had a few moments of uninterrupted solitude before the calls for Kili began. Tauriel had jerked away from the dwarf, feeling the cold realization wash over her.

She'd been caught up in the relief of both her and Kili surviving, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar want for him. Reality quickly crashed over her as the blonde dwarf, the one that had been in the house as she healed his poison wound, emerged from the ruins. Covered in blood that was a mixture of orc and his own, he'd hardly given her a glance before embracing Kili.

Tauriel watched as the brothers breathlessly laughed, clasping each other and coming dangerously close to falling over. Stepping further away, putting more distance in between her and the celebrating pair, Tauriel caught Kili's eye over his brother's shoulder. She smiled, although it didn't feel right, and nodded her head. He understood. They would find each other later.

Tauriel moved swiftly through the ruins, stepping over carcasses of dark flesh and avoiding the pools of blood. Her breaths were coming out quicker and her head was growing lighter with each step she took. The past events of the day were overwhelming her at once, flooding her mind with numerous worries as she tried to find…someone. She supposed she wasn't sure who she wanted to find. Tauriel was banished. There was no home, no kin, for her to return to. Legolas may still hold her friendship, but he wouldn't when he discovered her true intentions with the dwarf.

Her intentions. The idea almost made her stop mid-step. What were her intentions? Kili was something different. He was a glimmer of light in her everlasting days of training and darkening forests. He didn't care she was a Sylvan elf, or rather any elf for that matter. In a perfect world, she could see herself spending her life with him, talking of fire moons and deep, mysterious caverns until the end of their days, but his home was restored. He was a royal prince with a duty that did not involve her.

Tauriel swallowed down the urge to vomit.

His kiss lingered on her lips. Sadly, she realized it would be their last. There was no future, not logically. She was an outcast, a traitor to her kind. Tauriel would have to roam the wilderness, stopping in the cities and towns of men until she faded away. That was not a life she could let Kili live with her.

Emerging from the bottom of the ruins, Tauriel started across the frozen river. Before she could think of a way to tell Kili her decision, she stopped at the scene in front of her. Dead orcs scatted the ice, staining the white, pristine ground the horrible color of their rotten blood.

There were survivors. A ways away, the halfling and a burly looking dwarf were struggling to help Thorin Oakenshield rise to his feet. The aftermath of war covered all three of them, but it didn't stop Thorin from struggling against the other dwarf's grasp, half running and limping to the ruins.

"Fili! Kili!" His desperate yells twisted uneasily in her stomach. However, it was comforting to know the king would be receiving a pleasant surprise as soon as he entered the ruins. Tauriel could imagine them all hugging, laughing at how the line of Durin cheated death.

Keeping out of sight, Tauriel edged away from the mountaintop and began to make her descent. Others were coming up to Ravenhill now; the wizard being one of them. Some were dwarf soldiers and people of Laketown, most likely checking to see if the royal line had been severed. For the most part, she was ignored.

It wasn't until she came to the rocky edge of Dale, when she heard a familiar voice address her.

"Most smile when they achieve victory."

Standing in front of her, battered and bruised, but otherwise unharmed was her best friend. Legolas was not smiling, which wasn't anything alarming. It was difficult to see joy in the young prince, but Tauriel knew him well enough to see the relief in his features.

"There was no victory," she murmured. "Too many are dead and the enemy lives. There is nothing to celebrate."

"Is there still a King of Erebor?"

Tauriel nodded. "Thorin Oakenshield is alive, along with his bloodline."

Legolas narrowed his eyes slightly, eyeing her curiously. "The dwarf archer lived."

It wasn't a question. The statement was said to test her reaction and she knew it. Tauriel set her jaw and made to move past him. Legolas was quick and stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the crumbling corridor. She moved her eyes to ground and avoided his gaze along with the heavy lump in her throat. "I do not wish to speak of him."

"Tauriel-."

"No!" The words came out too harsh. The surprise look of hurt disappeared from Legolas's face before she could look twice, but it still made the guilt flame like oil added to fire. Tauriel hadn't meant to shout at her friend, but she had no desire to speak of Kili. For a whole two minutes, there was a bright future before them before reality took it away from here. Taking a shuddering breath, Tauriel wondered if it was normal for her heart to ache so horribly. "I'm-I'm sorry mellon. Please do not ask about him."

He didn't. Tauriel remained silent, even hours later as she carried the dead and mended those who were injured. She stayed away from dwarf ranks, busying herself with the dirty work. She never caught sight of the black hair or stubbly beard and she was glad.

Maybe if she never saw his face again, her heart would stop ripping from her chest.

Kili yawned, hanging his bow on the wall and simultaneously kicking off his boots. When he and Fili left the stone gates moments ago, the sun hadn't yet risen but he knew it would be coming soon. With any luck, he'd be able to snag a couple hours of sleep before the day's tasks. Tauriel was already awake, continuing to sew on the dress she'd started ages ago for later in her pregnancy in front of the low fire.

"How was watch?" she asked absentmindedly as he fell back on the bed, arms spread like an eagle. "Did your arm cause you trouble?"

"Uneventful," Kili groaned, "and my shoulder is well on the mend because of you, winter starlight." Sitting up on his elbows so he could watch her from across the room, he smiled at the view. "My uncle came to speak with me while you were stitching Fili back together."

"Oh?" Tauriel paused in sewing, looking up to catch his eyes. "You didn't lose your temper, did you?"

Kili cracked a smile and shook his head. "Nah. He just wanted to tell me what a good job the blasted elf did against the wargs."

"Did he?" She smiled lightly, setting down the fabric and needle.

Kili nodded and patted the empty expanse of bed next to him. "If you come over here, I'd be happy to tell you more about it."

Tauriel raised an eyebrow, but couldn't suppress her grin. "It's early in the morning. I've already had my sleep." Even as she spoke, Tauriel rose and set her sewing aside. She was still in her night dress. It was made of soft, white material that hung loosely from her hips. Kili had to quickly remind himself of his promise to her as he watched her cross the room.

"Aye, but I'll sleep better knowing you're next to me and not off trying to take down every warg pack in Middle Earth."

Tauriel laughed, stretching out on the bed beside him. Leaning on his good shoulder, Kili reached out to string her courting beads between his fingertips. She laid a hand over his, watching his movements with light eyes.

"Did you talk about these?" she asked.

"No," he answered, giving a small tug to the braid. "I will though. Maybe one evening when he's had too much ale to drink I'll bring it up."

"Your poor uncle probably has too much on his mind to worry about your marriage," she laughed softly. "I'm curious as to what the rest of your family will say, though."

"You heard Fili," he answered, dropping her braid. Pulling Tauriel close to him, Kili leaned back into the furs and closed his eyes. "He doesn't have any ill feelings about it."

"You have other family," Tauriel said, absentmindedly playing with the strings on his tunic. "Your mother, for example."

Kili's eyes napped opened and the blood drained from his face. In all of this, he never reached the conclusion he would have to tell his mother of what he'd gotten himself into the past few months. Images of her pulling him along by his ear or Fili's horrified face when she caught them getting into the cookie jar filled his mind. Suddenly, sleep was no longer a priority.

"Oh Mahal."

Tauriel pulled her head away and gazed at him curiously, red hair falling over both of them and hands pausing on his tunic. "What's wrong?"

Kili's arms were frozen around her and he stared wide eyed at the rocky ceiling above them. "I have to tell my mother."

"Yes," Tauriel said slowly, tilting her head. She waited for him to say more, but there was only silence. "This should not be new information, Melamin."

"I have to tell my mother that I impregnated an elf."

Tauriel jutted out her bottom lip and leaned up on her elbow. "I thought you liked elves."

Kili finally looked at her, the horrified expression starting to edge off his features. However, his skin was still quite pale as he reached for the hand still laying across his shirt. "I like you."

"And your mother won't?"

He kissed her palm. The movement seemed to settle Tauriel and she laid back down, tucking her neck to Kili's. "She will. She just might be…surprised is all."

Tauriel knew he was lying. Any mother would be wary of a girl her son laid with out of wedlock and it didn't help the situation that Tauriel was an elf. Thorin, even though he would deny it to anyone, may have been starting to accept her, but it would be a completely new experience when the brothers' m other finally arrived.

As Kili slowly drifted into a light sleep, Tauriel quietly laid in the dark next him, hoping such a domestic act would not come to an end.

Mama is coming home soon

Thorin is letting the blasted elf stay

Kili gets to tell Mama he's been naughty

Stay tuned! Please review!