Hello my dear readers! I hope you had a lovely Holiday and are ready for a new chapter!
I have finally managed to see DOS and I really liked it, even though I would have loved to see a bit more of the book (and more of Beorn! Not enough Beorn, dudes!) in the film… But oh well, it was still great :D I will definitely include a few things in the continuation of this story and we'll see where that leads our beloved characters in the end :D
SelGoesRawr: First of all: Hello! :D And second: I'm really happy to read that you like the story so much that you even go back to reread your favorite parts! Oh my! What are your favorite parts, by the way? I'd be very interested in knowing that :D And don't worry, I've got your wish covered in this chapter, sort of. So take that as a little belated Christmas present from me :D
Guest: Well, I hope you've recovered enough to be alive for the new chapter, then :D Sorry I sent you dead to the floor with the last one :D
Dalonega Noquisi: Haha, I'm glad you liked the kiss :D You're quite right about what Fili said... Namadith means 'sister that is young', so 'little sister' basically :) That will come up again in the next chapter :)
kaia: Yeah, finally Kili got his act together :D I'm glad you liked it! :) And yeah, work can be a pain in the butt, I know that only too well. Have you managed to go see the DOS in the meantime?
Secrets. Are. Hidden. By. Me: Thank you so much! I would never have thought that this story would get such a positive response when I first started it, so it's really nice to read that people like it! And I hope that you'll like the oncoming chapters as well! :)
Angelica Grimm: Oh my goodness, thank you so much for that lovely review! I don't really know how to respond because I'm just so speechless and flattered and… ugh, you're too nice :D I loved to hear that you like Tarya so much and that you think she's a 'real' character because that's really what I wanted her to be :) And yeah, I just always thought of Kili as kind and caring, a bit reckless but with a fierce heart and able to act responsibly when it really matters :) *sigh* Oh, well. Anyway, I really really loved reading your review and I've just noticed that you followed me on tumblr, as well, so thanks for that, too! :D I hope you'll like how the story continues :)
Thanks also to ZabuzasGirl, Angel Bells, Birdy21, Angel of the Night Watchers, the Oz Meister and Jen Baas, Guest, sillystring-roxs-the-earth, 13Nyx13, Hiding in the Shadow, FleurSuoh, BlackBaccaraRose, My Beautiful Ending, Akilah Swiftblade and jesskalynn4 for your numerous and lovely reviews! I enjoyed reading each and every one of them! :D
And also, thanks to the lovely people who followed and favorited!
And now, enough talking, I'm sorry this note is so long :D Enjoy the new chapter and tell me what you think if you like, I'd love to read of you! :)
Tarya numbly followed Kili as he pulled her along the dark corridors, her thoughts whirling in her head as they freed and collected dwarf after dwarf. But the Amarok wasn't really paying attention to her surroundings, her thoughts occupied otherwise and as their little group of five was joined first by Nori, then Ori, Bifur, Oin and Gloin, she barely managed to send her companions more than a small smile.
Her lips were still tingling from Kili's kiss and she couldn't help her thoughts leading her back to what had happened only a few minutes before. She had lingered behind Fili as Kili had stepped out of his cell, nervous and suddenly unsure of how to behave. She had kissed his palm without thinking two days before in an imprudent way of showing him her affection, of offering some comfort in a seemingly hopeless situation. But she hadn't known what Kili had thought of it, whether she had maybe even affronted him in doing it. He hadn't said a word then and over the last two days, Tarya had become quite sure that his reaction had accurately represented the way he felt about her. They were friends, yes, but they did not share affection in this way. They weren't lovers. They couldn't be. After all, they came from completely different worlds and just because she had discovered that she loved him didn't mean that Kili had to return her feelings. And so Tarya had lingered behind Fili as the brothers had hugged each other, deciding that keeping her distance would be best for now.
However, she had not expected Kili to do the exact opposite. Tarya had felt her heart skip a beat and then start fluttering nervously in her chest when he had suddenly stepped towards her, out of his brother's embrace. The Amarok had never seen an expression like that on his face before. Kili had looked absolutely determined and Tarya had not understood what he was doing at first, not even when he had lifted her up, pressing her body flush to his and bringing her so close to him that their faces had been only inches from each other.
Tarya felt her heart flutter excitedly in her chest only at the memory. It had all been so sudden, and she'd barely had enough time to realize what was happening before he had suddenly pressed his lips to hers. Tarya remembered distinctly how, for a moment, it had felt like her heart had stopped beating all together before it had begun thumping so hard in her chest that she wouldn't have been surprised if it had jumped right out of her body.
Tarya had never experienced anything like this kiss. And it was not just because it had been the first kiss she had ever received, but rather because her whole body had reacted to it. Reacted to Kili. The Amarok remembered her body suddenly filling with pleasant warmth as his lips had moved against hers, very different from the heat she was used to feeling when she was angry.
The Amarok had never imagined how a kiss would feel like, never mind a kiss with Kili, but she knew that even if she had, her imagination would never have matched reality. She had been too shocked, too stunned to do anything at first, her hands just falling on his shoulders in surprise and in search of something to hold on to, for if he hadn't been holding her a few inches above the ground anyway, Tarya was sure her legs would have given in beneath her.
Kili's lips had been firm and fierce against hers and yet softer than she would have imagined. It had taken her a seeming eternity to bring herself to return his kiss, her eyes fluttering closed almost of their own volition. Nervous to do something wrong, she had just mirrored his movements, letting her instincts lead her. And when she had, it had felt as if the world had stopped turning for a moment. It had only been him and her, the warmth of his body mingling with hers, his lips moulding against her own. It had been more intense than anything the Amarok had ever felt, the sensation only becoming even deeper as Kili had suddenly slowed the kiss; expertly making her body tingle with only the movement of his lips. It had been perfect and Tarya remembered thinking that she could have spent an eternity wrapped tightly in this dwarf's arms, being kissed by him.
And then Fili had cleared his throat.
Tarya struggled to refocus her thoughts as she bumped into Kili's back when he suddenly stopped walking before her. He shot her a short gaze over his shoulder and she could just smile apologetically at him, fighting the blush that threatened to spread on her cheeks. He looked a bit sceptic but in the end just gave her hand a little squeeze as he turned his head back to where the next cell door was being opened by Bilbo. Tarya stared at the back of Kili's head for a moment, silently reprimanding herself. Ever since the kiss, she seemed to have been reduced to a blushing, speechless mess, which she wasn't very happy about.
It still seemed impossible to her, though, that Kili could ever return the feelings she had only just discovered a few days ago. Only a few hours ago, Tarya had been convinced that a dwarf – a prince none the less, for that was who Kili was even though she had never truly paid heed to it – could never love someone like her, that they were only friends. After all, what was she? In the end, she was just a wolf wandering on two legs. A wolf in sheep's clothing.
But now, everything had suddenly been turned upside down by the very dwarf who was holding her hand and Tarya didn't know how to handle it.
"There you are, little wolf!"
The Amarok's gaze shot up as she was ripped out of her trail of thoughts once more by a very familiar rumbling voice. Dwalin was standing in the middle of the small group of dwarves, looking at her with a genuine smile that didn't quite fit his rough features. She saw his gaze shortly flick down to Kili's and her joined hands and she felt the brunet dwarf beside her stiffen slightly, though she wasn't quite sure why.
"Dwalin!" Tarya exclaimed quietly, a broad smile breaking across her face at the sight of the big dwarf. She quickly took a step forward, her hand slipping from Kili's as she stepped up to the warrior. Dwalin grunted in surprise as she suddenly wrapped her arms around him in an affectionate hug. She felt him stiffen uncomfortably for a second before his broad body relaxed and she felt him squeeze her to him tightly for a short moment before he quickly let go again, patting her back clumsily. She chuckled happily as he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"It's good to see you, Dwalin," Tarya smiled as she took a step back, allowing him to regain his personal space. The bald dwarf just patted her shoulder affectionately.
"Back at you, khael," Dwalin muttered in reply. "Though I prefer you a bit less elf-looking."
"I do, too," Tarya huffed, glancing down at her dress once more. Dwalin just snorted quietly before he put one hand on her shoulder as the group moved on. Tarya came to walk behind the bald dwarf as Bilbo led them along the dark corridors once more, all the while being too aware of Kili's presence as he fell in step right behind her. They made their way through the dungeons as quietly as possible and it took them quite a while until they had finally found and freed every member of the company, Thorin being the last to join the group.
Tarya watched as the dwarf-king shortly touched Bilbo's shoulder gratefully as he stepped past him, sending Dwalin, his nephews and the others a short nod. Tarya couldn't help sending him a small smile as his gaze shortly fell on her, thankful that he had not given in to Thranduil's demands. Thorin hesitated for a moment upon seeing her smile but then he merely shot her a curt nod, as well, before he followed Bilbo who was already hurrying along again.
Kili trailed along behind Tarya as Bilbo led them out of the dungeons and through the empty hallways of the palace, down and down until they quietly entered another room. It was only when the brunet dwarf walked down the stairs next to a few large barrels that he realized that the hobbit had led them to the wine cellar.
"What are you doing?" he heard Bofur ask Bilbo in a hushed whisper a few feet before him. "You're supposed to lead us out, not further in!"
"Shh!" the hobbit just scolded, waving the hatted dwarf off slightly annoyed as they walked past him down the stairs. "I know what I'm doing!"
Kili just shot the hobbit a sceptic look. He wasn't so sure of that as he looked around, spotting two elves nearby passed out on a table, two empty bottles standing between them. The young dwarf couldn't help his eyebrows rising slightly in amusement at the sight before he came to a halt at the foot of the stairs, following the example of the rest of the group.
He came to stand beside Tarya again, noticing the small sideways glance she gave him. Kili would have given his bow – if he still had it – to know what she was thinking at the moment. Did she think about him? About the kiss? Was she angry? Confused? Scared? Happy? It was driving him insane not to know and he silently vowed to talk to her as soon as possible.
"What now?" Dwalin asked from the Amarok's other side and Kili looked up, only to see that they had come to stand in front of a pile of large empty barrels, all lined up neatly on top of each other on the wooden floor. He glanced back to where the hobbit was still standing on the last step of the stairs next to Thorin, sending them an agitated look.
"Into the barrels," Bilbo said and Kili's face fell immediately, his eyebrows rising in disbelief. So, this was the hobbit's master plan? That didn't sound very reasonable to him. "Quickly!"
Agitated hushed murmurs and grumbles broke across the whole group, nobody wanting to stuff themselves into empty barrels. None of the dwarves budged and Kili only saw Tarya spare a curious look at the barrels out of the corner of his eye.
"Are you mad?" Dwalin growled in a whisper, taking a step towards the hobbit. "They'll find us!"
"No, they won't!" Bilbo answered in the same hushed tone over the dwarves' nagging, though nobody seemed to listen to him. Kili almost felt sorry for the hobbit as he watched him, though he wasn't very thrilled at the prospect of climbing into a barrel either. "I promise you, they won't. Please! You must trust me!"
Tarya was the only one that turned around and moved towards the barrels upon his words, and Kili watched her for a moment as she inspected one of them before his gaze flicked back to Bilbo who was now sending his uncle an almost desperate look. Thorin shortly returned the hobbit's gaze, arms crossed before his chest, before he turned his head to the company.
"Do as he says," the dwarf-king ordered lowly and the dwarfs promptly complied, albeit still very sceptically, climbing and helping each other into the empty barrels.
Kili shortly took a moment to count them, coming to the result that there were only thirteen barrels for fifteen people. Quickly, he stepped up to Tarya who was just helping Balin into a large barrel. He waited for her to finish before he snatched her by the upper arm and pulled her with him. Tarya looked at him almost comically bemused, stumbling after him as he led her to another empty barrel.
"There are not enough," Kili explained quickly as he turned to look at the Amarok. "You'll have to share one with me."
She looked at him hesitantly for a moment as around them, the others were getting into their barrels and although Kili knew that it would be awkward, they did not have time to find a better solution or another one she could share her barrel with. She was the only one slim enough to fit into one with someone else and if he was truly honest, Kili didn't want her to share a barrel with anybody but him.
"Get in," he told her decidedly and the Amarok pressed her lips together for a moment before she finally complied reluctantly. Kili helped her as she clumsily climbed into the barrel, having trouble with her dress, before shimmying in himself. The barrel was large enough for the both of them to fit, although it was quite tight and they had to wriggle around for a moment in which Kili was all too aware of her body moving and bumping into his before they found a halfway comfortable position, the bottom of her dress piling up between their legs.
"What do we do now?" Kili heard Bofur ask from his barrel, sticking his head out of it on the highest point of the pile.
Bilbo walked past the packed up dwarfs, counting them silently to himself. Once sure that everyone was there, he walked towards a lever at the end of the pile, only answering Bofur's question when he already had one hand on it.
"Hold your breath," the hobbit merely said before he abruptly and forcefully pulled the lever, the dwarfs gasping in surprise as the floor suddenly tipped beneath them, the loud splattering sound of water reaching their ears through the opening crack of the trap door. It was only a second before the barrels began to roll and Kili quickly ducked his head, putting one hand protectively over Tarya's at the same time as their barrel started to move with the others before it suddenly tumbled down through the crack, shortly falling through the air before it landed in the river below with a loud splash. Their heads dropped beneath the water for a moment as it hit the surface.
Tarya coughed out some water as their barrel resurfaced and Kili wiped the drops from his face with one hand before he shot her a worried look. Tarya quickly waved him off once she noticed it. The thirteen barrels piled up in the narrow water path they had landed in as the trap door above them suddenly closed with a dull thud.
"Where's Bilbo?" Tarya asked once she'd regained her voice, wiping the water from her face as she looked up, since the hobbit hadn't followed. Kili could only shrug slightly in reply, shooting a glance over to his uncle who was looking up towards the trap door as well.
"We wait for him," Thorin rumbled after a moment, one hand reaching out to grab the rim of Balin's barrel that was threatening to flow off with the slow current. Kili felt Tarya relax slightly against his body at his uncle's words, her torso grazing his as she expectantly glanced up to the door. The young dwarf prince found his gaze shortly transfixed on a drop of water that trickled from her neck, sliding down over her collarbones before it vanished beneath the neckline of her gown. He gulped slightly as her warm breath fanned against his neck, creating a strange contrast to the cold droplets of water that ran down his skin.
He was almost grateful for the sound of the trap door above them opening again and his gaze flicked upwards and away from Tarya, catching sight of Bilbo as he fell backwards into the water with a loud splash. Their barrel rocked slightly as Tarya turned to look at the hobbit as he resurfaced with an ungracious splutter.
"Welcome, Master Baggins." Thorin half smiled before he let go of Balin's barrel, sinking his arms into the water to steer his own forward on the river. Kili bent forward to follow his uncle's example, slightly leaning over Tarya in the process as he steered their barrel along the narrow stonewalls that flanked the river. It was only a few moments before the barrels were caught up in the current that was quickly growing in force and speed.
"Hold on!" Kili heard Thorin yell from up front as a small waterfall came into view right as they exited the dark stonewalls of the water path beneath the palace. Blinded by the late afternoon sun, Kili gripped the edge of the barrel with one hand tightly, the other wrapping around Tarya's back almost out of reflex, holding her close to him as they dropped down the waterfall into the strong and wide current below.
He felt Tarya wrap one of her own arms around his middle as they were immediately swept along, her face pressing into his shoulder as their barrel swayed in the water, bumping against rocks and into the other barrels as the current rushed them along towards the open water gate. It didn't take much for Kili to guess that she wasn't a big friend of the water.
Kili could already see the gate from afar when he suddenly heard a loud voice call over the river in what he recognized as Elvish. He didn't understand the words but it had undoubtedly sounded like an order. And it was only a second later that he found out what the elf had barked out, for suddenly, a horn sounded loudly over the land and it was only seconds later that Kili could watch the water gate closing before them, the guards standing by it readying their weapons as the dwarves rushed towards them in the stream.
He felt his heart sink as the gate closed and he saw his uncle bounce against it in his barrel before the rest of them piled up against it, as well. They were trapped again and as Kili looked up, he saw the elven guards already pointing their arrows at them. Their plan had failed.
"What now?" Kili suddenly heard Tarya whisper to herself, the quiet words colliding with his neck due to how close they were. The young dwarf could only shortly tighten his grip around her in reply, trying to comfort her in that way. He was about to look down and answer her when suddenly, his gaze was captured by an arrow that came flying seemingly out of nowhere, piercing the chest of an elven guard brutally. His brows furrowed in confusion for a moment before his eyes widened in shock as suddenly, several orcs came climbing up from the other side of the gate and the riverbanks, attacking the elves that struggled to fight the unexpected assault.
Kili could only watch with his companions as a fight between elves and orcs broke out, though it was clear that the real target was their company. The elves were just an obstacle to overcome before they could get to the dwarves. Kili's gaze flicked up to the lever that opened and closed the water gate. They had to get out of here as fast as possible, he thought, or else they would helplessly be slaughtered in their barrels by these nasty orcs. He had to do something, Kili thought, and he had to do it fast.
Kili's gaze shortly flicked down to Tarya who was watching the scene that unravelled before them with wide horrified eyes and Kili quickly made up his mind before he started to climb out of the barrel decidedly. Tarya's head immediately jerked around and she shot him a blank look as he wriggled out of the barrel.
"What are you doing?!" she hissed when he was already balancing on the rim of the barrel that was rocking heavily. Kili shortly looked down at her, his expression determined as he took in her scared face.
"Don't worry," he uttered, knowing very well that she was not happy with this answer, before he turned and quickly balanced his way over the edges of two other barrels before he jumped onto the stone platform that framed the water gate. He swiftly made his way up the stairs towards the lever, merely dodging the attack of an orc as he arrived on top of the steps. Without hesitating, Kili punched the beast right in the face before he turned and kicked it off the platform with an angry cry.
"Kili!" Tarya called worriedly as she watched the brunet dwarf fight an orc on top of the platform, her gaze fixed on him as he knocked it down before he moved towards the lever that would open the gate again. She couldn't believe what he was doing, feeling anger welling up alongside her worry for him. How could he be so reckless?
Her alarmed cry alerted Fili to his brother's actions and Tarya heard him call out in shock as he realized what Kili was doing, as well. Tarya saw the brunet dwarf reach for the large lever and she could feel her hope rising again, only to release a horrified cry as suddenly an arrow hit Kili in the leg. Tarya's eyes widened as she heard his pained outcry before he stumbled and fell onto his back atop the platform. She shortly looked around for the shooter, spotting a tremendous pale orc standing on the other side of the river, a black bow in his hands and a content smirk on his ugly face.
Her eyes flicked back to Kili desperately as the fighting continued around them and she could only watch helplessly as an orc came to stand over him, raising his axe to give the young dwarf the final blow.
"No!" Tarya screamed desperately over the noise of the fighting, her cry mingling with Fili's. "No! Kili!"
Suddenly, an arrow pierced the orc's head just as it was about to strike, the abhorrent creature falling backwards, already dead as it hit the ground. Tarya's gaze shot around to see Tauriel running along the bank towards them, shooting arrows at the orcs, Legolas doing the same thing on the other side of the river. She had saved Kili, Tarya realized, a wave of gratitude for the she-elf washing over her. She heard Kili groan painfully above them as he forced himself to his feet and Tarya was about to scramble out of the barrel herself to help him when he suddenly managed to pull the lever, the gate sliding open again before them. The current immediately picked up the first barrels and Tarya shot a helpless look upwards as her barrel threatened to flow off, Kili still on the stone ledge.
"Kili!" Fili called urgently as his brother struggled towards the edge, the worry evident in his loud voice, as he could do nothing to help his little brother. Tarya looked up. He would have to jump, she realized, as she saw the brunet dwarf hesitate at the very edge of the stone ledge. She shortly caught his hounded gaze as he looked down. He would never manage to jump into the barrel from this distance as long as she was still in it, Tarya realized. There was just not enough space for him to land and somehow, she knew that he wouldn't jump if he risked hurting her in the process.
"Fili!" Tarya called quickly and the blond dwarf shot her a questioning look from where his barrel was still floating next to hers. "Hold on to the barrel!" Tarya ordered him urgently before she quickly climbed out of it without hesitation as Fili grabbed the rim in confusion as she let herself fall into the river with a splash. Immediately, she felt her dress get soaked with water and growing heavy on her body, threatening to pull her underwater.
"Tarya!" she heard someone yell, though with the water whooshing around her, she couldn't make out whether it had been Fili or Kili or both of them before the stream caught her body and carried her past the gate. She looked up towards Kili as she was swept away. His gaze followed her, sheer horror written over his features.
"Jump!" she screamed as loud as she could over the noise of the fighting and the river, only just catching a last glimpse of him as he finally leapt off the edge before her head was suddenly pulled under water. Tarya held her breath as her gown pulled her down, struggling to get back to the surface as she was swept along the river, swirled around by the strong current. She struggled to take a deep breath as her head finally resurfaced, seeing her companions sweep past her in their barrels. She couldn't stay in the river, Tarya realized, or else she would drown sooner rather than later. Her body was too small, the dress too heavy and the current too strong. And as she noticed the orc troop following the company as they were rushed down the current, she knew what she had to do.
With a few strong strokes that cost her far more energy than she would have liked, she struggled to the riverbank, retching out some water onto the floor as she crawled out of the river on all four. Her breathing was heavy and ragged, her dress clinging to her body and the wet fabric weighing her down but as she let the familiar heat that was always slumbering within her flow through her veins freely, she felt the elven gown rip around her changing form.
There was nothing more left of it than shreds after a few seconds as Tarya shook her dark fur to get rid of the water that clang to her.
A dark growl left the black wolf as she saw the orcs running down the river after the company and she quickly turned in their direction, sprinting after them along the bank as fast as she could. Her paws carried her along the stream in a powerful pace, her gaze always flicking back to the barrels floating in the water beneath her. She could see that the dwarves were now fighting the orcs in the river as they attacked them, all of them working together as a deadly force as they took down the orcs that jumped on them from the banks, depriving them of their weapons along the way. For a moment, Tarya even caught sight of Bombur as his barrel was somehow catapulted out of the river, the large dwarf taking down about a dozen orcs with merely overrunning them in his barrel.
The Amarok would have laughed at the strange scene if she'd had time for it but as she quickened her pace, she lost sight of the large red-haired dwarf along with the rest of the company.
Tarya sprinted along the shore, approaching an orc that was notching an arrow from behind. She jumped on his back before he could shoot and knocked the creature to the floor, her large paws hearing its neck break with the force of the impact. The Amarok didn't spare the orc a second glance as she moved along, swiftly jumping over rocks and low bushes that adorned the riverbank. Further ahead, she suddenly spotted a familiar red shock of hair and the wolf increased her speed once more as she saw Tauriel fighting four orcs at once. After all that this elf had done for her, Tarya felt it was only right that she returned the favour.
The Amarok barely managed to dodge an arrow coming her way as one of the orcs spotted her and tried to shoot her. Using an already dead orc as a springboard, Tarya jumped at it with one giant leap, burying her teeth in its neck as she knocked the orc down. It was dead when she stepped off of it. Quickly, she turned towards the still fighting Tauriel and with another jump, she knocked one of her combatants down, her claws piercing the orc's armour as she heedlessly bit off its head, dashing it into a bush nearby with a vicious snarl.
Tauriel killed her last opponent with a blow of her sword through his neck before she turned to the large black wolf, her gaze full of disbelief and her breathing slightly heavy.
"Tarya?" she asked, wide green eyes studying her carefully as the Amarok simply returned the elf's gaze calmly before she gave a low rumble as she chuckled almost amusedly. Tauriel didn't seem quite capable to match the image of the large black wolf with that of the small black-haired woman she had known before.
Tarya only lingered for a moment, sending a friendly huff towards the elf before she turned abruptly and started to run down the river again. She couldn't see her friends anymore, which meant that she had to catch up with them as quickly as she could. The Amarok jumped over a big rock blocking the way, only to see Legolas fighting an orc on the other side of it while another one was approaching him from behind. Tarya was about to tear that orc apart when an arrow came flying from the river below, piercing the orc's head just as Legolas killed the other one. Both the elf's and her gaze flicked to the river where they could see Thorin holding a bow, roaring almost victoriously before his barrel was swept around a curve and disappeared from their view along with the rest of the company.
Tarya shortly met Legolas' gaze as he turned towards her and she could see that he was about to hinder her once he realized who she was. She growled threateningly and bared her fangs at him as he pointed his sword at her, ready to hurt him if she had to. She had never particularly liked him, anyway. Suddenly, an angry battle cry could be heard, undoubtedly coming from Tauriel somewhere further up the riverbank. Legolas seemed to hesitate for a moment before his gaze flicked to glance up the river. Tarya heard him sigh quietly before he finally lowered his sword and she watched him as he rushed past her, not sparing her a second glance.
The black wolf just huffed after him quietly before she started moving again, running down the river in the direction her friends had disappeared.