Kili was painfully aware the she never even looked back to make sure he was following her. Did she truly not care if he lived or not? He wouldn't blame her if she did, but he had believed that their love was stronger than one quarrel. Then again, he had insulted everything Tauriel was, that was not something she would forgive easily. It had not even been a fair insult. The elves Kili had met had been a lot of things, but dishonorable was not one of them.

She could hear his footsteps behind her as proof that Kili had finally realized there was no point in him fighting anymore tonight. She slowed her steps down considerably in order for him to keep up with her. Even angry, Tauriel couldn't just abandon him while he was injured. She would get him back to Lake Town and she would heal his wounds, then she would return to hating him. That's what Tauriel told herself, at least. She couldn't even look back at him for fear that her heart would melt and he would get her forgiveness easily. He had insulted her honor and wounded her pride, he was going to do a lot more than the simple apology he had attempted earlier.

Tauriel walked carefully with her knife poised, knowing that if they were attacked she would have to defend both of them. It all seemed to quiet to her. There were no noises of fighting. Had the battle been won? No, she thought, even if the Orcs had been defeated, Thranduil would never leave the mountain without his gems. Tauriel knew that it was only a matter of time before dwarves and elves turned on each other. Since she had been banished, Tauriel should have felt no need to fight with the elves. But they were still her family and the only home she had ever had. Surely she could get away with not fighting for either side.

Tauriel remained just as silent inside Bard's house as she had been the entire walk. Kili didn't have the energy to try and make conversation, so he just allowed her to sit him down as she began to gather herbs and spices from Bard's cabinets. He should apologize again, but she seemed so focused on her healing that he dared not say a word. Kili knew little of Elven magic, but he could tell that she was attempting some sort of healing spell. He shut his eyes and became mesmerized by the beautiful Elvish words that were spilling from her mouth.

It wasn't anything fancy, and she could barely muster any of the right ingredients. Tauriel would be lucky if she didn't accidentally kill him by mistake, which is one of the reasons she was grateful he didn't talk. She also just didn't want to talk to him.

After a mentally and physically exhausting 45 minutes, Kili's shoulder was healed to the best of her abilities. He took note of how tired she looked.

"Tauriel?" he asked cautiously as her eyes began to drift closed.

"What?" she snapped, then sighed at her own harshness, "How do you feel?"

"Like an ass," he said.

She couldn't help but give a small smile, "I meant your shoulder."

"It will be alright," he assured her.

"Kili," she said softly, "A sword cut you clean through, it's alright to admit that you're in pain. Or is that another thing only elves do?"

He swore under his breath, "Tauriel, I'm sorry" he said.

"I know you are," she replied sadly, "You were right."

"I was right?"

"Not about elves being dishonorable," she replied, "You were right about there being things I didn't understand. Just like there are things you do not understand about me."

"I shouldn't have said it," he said firmly, "I was upset, and I spoke without thinking,"

"Well I've been thinking about it ever since, Kili," she said, "And I meant what I said before you left Laketown"

"So you're denying me again before I've even asked for you?"

"We're too different, Kili, surely you must see that," she said,

Kili stood up suddenly. Tauriel was too startled to move from her kneeling position, so their heights were almost equal, "It is not what I don't see that is the problem," he half yelled, "It's what you don't see."

"I see that we are not even the same species and you have insulted by people," she said, standing. She loomed over him, but Kili's anger was enough that he didn't feel intimidated.

"And you imprisoned mine" he retorted, "But I forgave you"

"You said I had no honor," she replied.

"I said and elf wouldn't understand my need to avenge my family."

"Because elves not love their families" she said, "Did I not love my family?"

Kili took note that she spoke in the past tense, "We're different" he admitted, "But does that mean we cannot be together?"

"I don't know," she said.

He hesitantly took hold of her hands, "This isn't about my insult," Kili said, "there's something else bothering you."

She shook her head, "Everything" she said, "Everything about us is wrong, Kili. This doesn't make sense."

"It is in my experience that the best things in life do not make sense."

Kili gently started pulling her down to his level, "Legolas said something to me," she said, "Something I had not considered"

Kili stopped his decent to her lips to look at her, "Legolas?" Kili asked. He should have known that the Elven prince was the one to put these seeds of doubt in her head. He had always been jealous that Tauriel hadn't loved him.

"I know you dislike him, but he is my best friend."

"What did his highness say?" Kili said mockingly.

"I am practically immortal, Kili," she said.

Kili bit back the clever retort he was going to use. That was not something Kili had thought about either. He was faced with his own vulnerabilities whenever he was in battle, but he had never thought about how Tauriel would live on without him.

"See," she murmured, "He makes a point."

Kili could feel her begin to emotionally pull away from him again and he knew if he didn't say something now, he might never get the chance.

"I love you, Tauriel" he said frankly, for the first time not being afraid to say those words, "I love you like I love the stars and I need you like the moon needs the earth. Yes, we are different, and yes there are downsides, but none of that will chance that I love you. And I don't believe it will change that you love me in return."

Tauriel could only look at him dumbfounded. She knew that dwarves could be exceedingly brash but this…

Kili mistook her silence for denial and she could see his face begin to redden with embarrassment. He was obviously unused to bearing his heart and being rejected. She could feel Kili's grip on her hands loosen, she gripped them tighter and said tenderly, "You asked me once if I could have loved you."

"I believed that was dream" he said.

"It was no dream," she said, "I never gave you a proper answer"

"Do you have one for me now?"

Her only answer was leaning down to him and slowly bringing their lips together. But just as Kili got over his surprise, there was an urgent knock on the door.

A.N. So this was originally only going to be two chapters, but now I have no idea how long I will continue this. I've also discovered that I really really like writing about Kili and Tauriel, so if you leave me some prompts, I just might write a few of them