Kili's voiced lacked all of the affection it had earlier. Now we was just angry, Tauriel could hear it. No, not just angry. Angry and hurt. It wasn't until now that Tauriel knew how he would hurt if she died. It was the same hurt she had felt as she healed him.

"Amrâlimê," he murmured, "I cannot live knowing you have died for me."

But I cannot let you die, she thought

"It is not the existence I want," he continued, "I was always going to outlive you."

But this is too soon

"Accept that I will not let you die, Tauriel," Kili pleaded, "Accept that no matter how many times I have to summon an Elven healer, I will force you to take back what you have given me."

I cannot even if I wanted to.

"Come back, Tauriel," he said, his voice finally breaking. She could feel his warm lips on her forehead and his hand grasping hers. She wanted to cry and scream and kiss him. She wanted to yell until he understood why he couldn't give up her Fea. But she could not form the words.

She needed to make someone understand that she was making her way back to the physical world. She was moving slowly and inefficiently, but she was succeeding. She needed someone to tell Kili that she was mortal and they could spent the rest of their lives together.

But instead, all she had was the love of her life angry with her

He didn't meant to sound as angry as he did. All Kili wanted to was get it through her think skull that she was helping no one by resisting. He needed her like he needed air and he could no longer picture a life without Tauriel.

He had hoped that the same had gone for her, but she wasn't so sure. She had kissed him and assured him that the feelings were mutual, but he couldn't help but think there was no way she could ever love him as he loved her.

He froze over her body as he heard breathy mumbling coming from below him. Tauriel's eyes were still closed but her lips were moving, forming words that Kili couldn't understand. Dammit, she's speaking Elvish, he thought. This wasn't the first time he had cursed their language barrier, but this time felt more frustrating. She was probably just muttering in her delirium, but Kili could help but hope she was responding to him.

As Kili's monologue drew on, he became more emotional until he finally let his tears fall. He slowly pressed a kiss to her forehead, noting how cold it was. Elves shouldn't even feel the cold.

"You can come back," Kili said as he wiped the tears from his cheeks. Tauriel was still muttering in Sindarin, but Kili had given up on her switching to the common tongue,

Legolas looked at the scene before him. The voice that had called out to him had been raw from tears, and the Prince realized he had misjudged the dwarf. He was truly in love with Tauriel and felt as guilty as Legolas wanted him to. He felt no victory in Kili's sadness though.

"What is she muttering?" Legolas asked in confusion.

"The hell if I know," Kili snapped.

The healer leaned down closer to her mouth in order to hear, Legolas, the elf said, you must hear this,

Legolas looked skeptical, but moved to his friend anyway. She was speaking soft, slurred Sindarin. Legolas had to pay close attention to catch even a word of what he was saying.

I…am finding my way back… she murmured back to Kili and Legolas.

Legolas froze over her. Just how aware was she of her surroundings? "I am here, Mellon. Why will you not return?

"I am trying," she replied.

"Why will you not let us help you?"

"I…Kili."

"He is not happy like this, Mellon," Legolas replied.

"Mortal…" she whispered, "we will be together,"

Legolas glanced up at the healer, not sure if he had heard right.

"She is mortal?" Legolas asked

"I do not know," he admitted, "But if she is, then there is little I can."

"Maybe she is making her way back," Legolas suggested, "Maybe she doesn't need us."

"I do," she said quietly, "I need those I love. Kili and Legolas."

"We are here, "he assured her

A small smile graced her lips before her speech ceased

Kili could only helplessly look on as Legolas and Tauriel spoke in their mother tongue. His curiosity peaked every time he heard his name, and he wished more than anything that he spoke Elvish,

Whatever they were talking about had Legolas distressed. He could see the worry and confusion clearly on the Prince's face. It wasn't until Tauriel had stopped talking that Kili broke the silence.

"What did she say?" Kili asked hesitantly.

"She's coming back on her own," Legolas replied.

Kili let a few Khuzdul curses slip. Would she ever actually listen to him? Kili didn't need the answer, he already knew. Tauriel would do whatever she liked, no matter what he or Legolas said. Kili sighed and resigned himself to the fact that she wasn't going to accept help.

"Kili," Legolas said hesitantly.

"What?" Kili snapped unhappily.

"If she returns…" Legolas began, "Don't be angry with her. She had nothing now but you."

Kili let the scowl slip from his face. He had forgotten that she no longer had a home, and with that she would lose her best friend. She truly was alone except for him.

"I'm not angry," he said, "I'm afraid."

"You love her," Legolas said. It wasn't a question, just him stating a fact, but Kili nodded anyways.

"With all my heart."

Legolas nodded in return not sure what to say. If Tauriel truly was mortal now, he could see that there was no one better for her to spend the rest of her days with. But it still pained him knowing that in the matter of maybe a century, she would be gone from his life forever.

"I will leave you too," Legolas said, "She no longer needs me."

"Legolas…" Kili said, "Say goodbye to her at least before you return to Mirkwood."

"I will try," he promised before leaving the room.