Day Seven: Goodbye

NOTE: Well, this was heartbreaking. But we all know what happens to Kili and the book. And though I toyed with the notion that Tauriel would share the same fate, something tells me that she will survive the battle. Which only makes this even more tragic. A challenge to write but one I wanted to try anyway. It follows right after the events of the previous chapter. I did some research on the elven phrase I added at the end but I'm no expert so correct me if I'm wrong.

I enjoyed expressing my love for this pairing throughout this week and I hope you liked my little pieces. Thank you for sharing the experience with me.

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"May I see him?"

"But Tauriel, you are not yet strong enough. Your injuries…"

"Please."

The healer sighed and allowed the determined elf to enter the tent where the most gravely wounded of the dwarves were being tended to. The moment she caught sight of him, she felt the strength drain from her limbs and someone caught her as she fell to her knees. She felt the strong arms of one of the other dwarves help lead her to where Kili was lying, his body covered in blood-soaked bandages, his skin even paler than when he had been struck with the poisoned arrow, and his breathing slow and labored. He noticed her and managed a weak smile. Tauriel's eyes welled with tears as she knelt beside him and took his hand in hers.

She had lost sight of him during the worst of the battle. There were simply too many things happening at once and after several days of endless fighting, many of them had grown weary. Everyone sported at least a few injuries but they continued to struggle, somehow sensing that the this bloody conflict was drawing to a close and that all their pains would bear fruit. So the elf warrior had pushed on, amidst the cacophony of battle cries, the stench of blood and death, the sight of friend and foe falling to the ground, and the sting of each new wound.

When victory was finally declared, it felt like she could breathe again. She had looked around to see if any of her kin had fallen and saw, to her relief, that the elf king and his son were alive and well. She had searched more urgently for the dwarf who had, in such a short span of time, grown dear to her heart. Then, to her horror, she saw his body being carried away from the battlefield, along with those of his brother and uncle. She would have rushed to his side then had she not collapsed from her own injuries.

But here she was now, grateful that she had not been too late. She heard the sounds of mourning from the other side of the room and she learned that both Fili and Thorin Oakenshield had just passed.

She clutched tighter at Kili's hand and watched forlornly as color and life drained from his face. How she wished that she had the power to bring him back from the darkness that was beginning to consume him. But she knew that no amount of athelas and not even the healing hands of the greatest of her kin would be able to save him.

"Tauriel," he whispered feebly.

"I'm here," she answered eagerly, "I'm here."

"Forgive me," he continued, "it seems I may not be able to join you on that trip, after all."

Tauriel burst into tears and raised his hand to her lips, not knowing what to say.

"But it seems I will be able to participate directly in the feast of starlight," he added. Tauriel could not help but smile.

"Yes, and I am certain that you will shine the brightest," she told him, gazing once more at him, trying to carve every detail of his smiling face into her memory.

"I am grateful to have met you," Kili said wholeheartedly.

"And I you, Kili," the elf replied, speaking his name in reverence, "and you will always have a place in my heart."

He looked at her with such love in his eyes that the moment seemed stripped of all sorrow.

"That is more than I could ever have wished for," Kili whispered as he lay his head down to rest, "thank you, Tauriel."

Tenderly she kissed his brow and whispered to the dwarf as he closed his eyes for the last time.

"Namarie mellonim

Tenna'ento lye omenta

Goodbye, my friend

Until next we meet."