"Ignore it," Kili said against her mouth
"It could be important," Tauriel said as she reluctantly stood back up. Kili cursed under his breath as he watched her walk away.
He was silently begging that whoever it was would leave so he and Tauriel could get back to… wherever this was going. But when he heard her gasp of surprise, Kili knew tonight would not go the way he hoped.
"Legolas," she said. She could not keep the shock out of her voice, "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," he replied, "Why are you not out fighting?"
"I…" she struggled to find a satisfactoty answer, "I was treating the wounded."
"We have plenty of healers," he scoffed, "Our kin are being slaughtered, Tauriel, we need you to fight."
Tauriel could sense Kili's presence behind her. If Legolas was shocked to see the dwarf, he hid it amazingly well, "Did your father not tell you, Mellon," Tauriel said, not unaffectionately, "I am no longer your kin."
"What?" Legolas asked, clearly confused.
"I am no longer welcome in Mirkwood," she said, her strong demeanor finally falling, "Effective immediately."
"I…no," Legolas said, at a loss for words, "If there is no place for you then there is no place for me."
"Don't speak rashly like that, Legolas," she replied, "Someone might take you seriously."
"I am serious, Tauriel," he said, "If you are banished, then so am I."
"You are a prince, Mellon," she retorted, "You cannot make rash decisions. Go and fight for your kin, I have other work to do."
She glanced back at Kili who was staring at her in shock. She tried to give him a reassuring smile, but he looked ashamed for some reason. She wanted to reach out to him, and tell him that none of this was his fault. She had acted foolishly and she had been dealt the proper punishment for it.
"I can persuade him," Legolas said. It was a last ditch effort and Tauriel knew it. She looked at Kili again. This conversation was too much for him, and Tauriel decided it was time he stopped listening.
"Go back a fight, Friend," Tauriel said slipping into flawless Elvish, "Your place is on the battlefield."
"So is yours," he insisted. He seemed surprised that she had reverted back to her mother tongue, but he did not mention it.
"I am no longer Captain. I would be unwelcome."
"A warrior is never unwelcome in a time of great need."
"The rest of the Kingsguard has turned on me. I would be worried about a knife in the back from my own people."
Legolas took a small step towards her, forgetting her Dwarven lover who was looking on, and gently touched her cheek, "If any man lays a hand on you, he will have to deal with my wrath."
Tauriel smiled up at him and shook her head, "I cannot," she repeated, "My skills are needed elsewhere."
"With the dwarf?"
Tauriel tried not to react to the scornful tone in his voice, "To the sick and wounded who need me," she corrected.
"So you will give up your position of power to be a common nurse?"
"I didn't give it up, Legolas, it was taken from me."
"I can get it back"
"Thranduil is your king and I will not see you disobey him for my sake."
Legolas stepped back from his friend looking hurt and betrayed, "Fine," he said, "Return to your dwarf, but when you tire of him. Do not expect me to welcome you back with open arms"
Legolas left without another word, leaving Tauriel to look after him. In the centuries of their friendship, they had rarely even fought, and now he hated her. How had she managed to ruin everything?
She heard Kili clear his throat behind her. Oh, she had completely forgotten about Kili. She wondered what he had assumed from the conversation.
"We can't return to what we were doing before, can we?" he joked, but she was not in the mood for banter.
"I'm afraid not," she said.
"Tauriel," Kili said quietly, "You didn't tell me Thranduil had…"
"It wasn't relevant," she replied.
"Wasn't relevant?" he scoffed, "I got you banished from your home, Tauriel. How is that not relevant?"
"Because there was nothing to be done, Melamin," She replied sadly.
"I could have done something," he repeated.
"You sound just like Legolas," She laughed, "Maybe Elves and Dwarves are not so different."
"You should have told me, Tauriel," he insisted.
"What would you have done, Kili? Married me and taken me to The Blue Mountains?"
"Maybe," he said.
Tauriel only looked shocked for a moment before she went back on the offensive, "And how would that have worked out, Kili? I'm sure Thorin would have accepted me as a fine wife for one of his heirs."
Kili flinched from the angry sarcasm that was dripping from her voice. In truth, he hadn't thought that far ahead. He hadn't considered what Thorin would think. He had only known that he wanted to be with her.
"I know you love me, Melamin, and I love you too. But no matter what we do, this will not work."
Kili couldn't think of the words to tell her how wrong she was. It was only moments ago that he had been kissing her, and now they were back to square one.
"I'm not going to give you my passionate speech again, Tauriel," he said, "But when this battle is over, I will speak with Thorin."
"Kili, don't. All that will accomplish is getting yourself in trouble."
Kili gave her a wicked grin, "Isn't that all dwarves are good for?"
Tauriel have him small smile, "This isn't the end of this conversation, Kili."
Kili hesitantly reached for her hand, "I will not abandon you, Zinlaz,"
Tauriel pondered over the strange new pet name for a moment. Speaking Elvish was no sacred thing, not like the language of Dwarves. It was a great honor that he had spoken even that one word in front of her.
It was then that someone else came bursting through the door.
"Tilda, what are you doing here?" Tauriel asked as she stepped away from Kili. As much distress as the girl looked to be in, Kili couldn't help but feel a twinge of resentment at being interrupted again.
"Da…" she said, her breath coming in labored gasps. The poor thing must have run all the way here, Tauriel thought, "He told me to come find help. He said Laketown has been attacked."
Tauriel picked the small child up in her as she began to cry and held her against her chest, "No harm will come to you, child" she said soothingly.
"Then you will go fight?" she asked.
Tauriel hesitated a moment before answering, "Yes," she said uncertainly, then repeated with confidence, "Yes, I will go aid your father."
She set the child down next to Kili and began gathering her weapons
"Tauriel," Kili said, but he was silenced with a glare, "Tilda, go rest in your room." He said. The girl obediently went off.
"I know what you're going to say, and no," Tauriel said before Kili could speak.
"You don't know what I was going to say," he said incredulously
"You want to come with me," she said. Kili only looked at the floor, proving Tauriel right.
"Why not?" he asked. He tried to keep his voice from sounding whiny.
"Aside from being injured?" she said, "What about Tilda? We can't leave her here alone while the town is being attacked.
Kili couldn't think of a comeback for that one, "So you expect me to stay here and baby sit while you risk your life?
"That is exactly what I expect from you, Melamin," she said, "And as I find other children, I will send them here where I know they will be safe. Where is my damned bow!" she cried.
"I'm sure Bard has one around here somewhere."
"No time," she said, "I'll have to make do with my knives."
"There's no way I can talk you out of this?" he asked
"No," she said.
He pulled her close to his and crushed her against his chest, "Then stay safe, Zinlaz, and return home to me."
Translations:
Melamin- Elvish for "my love"
Zinlaz- Khuzdul for "Star"