Chapter 4

Author's Note: Thank you for your reviews, everyone. :) Writing this stuff is super fun, but your reviews make it even more fun.

The next thing Tauriel knew was that she had fallen asleep leaning against Kili's bed, her head resting against his arm. She hadn't meant to fall asleep, and she had fought hard to stay awake. But what had awoke her from her slumber was the feeling of someone gently running fingers through her hair.

She looked up, afraid that she was still dreaming. As Tauriel's eyes focused she met Kili's quiet gaze, his brown eyes soft and smiling. Tauriel gasped, standing up quickly and taking both of his warm hands in hers, "You're alright, you're alright!" She leaned down and wrapped her arms around him, suddenly feeling sobs rising into her throat. Tauriel kissed him hard on the lips, cheek, and neck. "Don't ever scare me like that again..." Tears streamed down her face, and were lost in his dark hair as she buried her face against his neck, "I thought I'd lost you."

Kili reached up and wiped away her tears, "Why are you crying?"

Tauriel laughed around her sobs, "I'm happy," She whispered.

Kili let out an exhausted chuckle, "You silly elf."

She laughed again, shaking against him as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close. Tauriel closed her eyes, smelling his scent and feeling the warmth of his heartbeat against her skin. "Never scare me like that again you reckless idiot," Tauriel muttered.

"Alright, alright," Kili answered, "I won't."

"Promise me."

Kili sighed, "I promise." He intertwined his fingers with hers, "Never again."

"Thank you," Tauriel whispered.

Kili paused for a long moment, and cleared his throat. "Tauriel...I..."

She paused, and pulled away enough to make eye contact, "What's wrong?"

" I can't feel my legs." This last sentence came out as a hushed whisper, "I need help up."

Tauriel sat up, uncertainty and fear making her bite her lip. "Yes," She answered, and she took his outstretched hands and she pulled him up to a sitting position."

Kili groaned, and glanced around. Bracing himself on one arm he flung away the layers of blankets. He had one leg bandaged in a heavy cast, but where his left leg should have been there was nothing more than a bandaged stump just above the knee. Kili swallowed hard, and what little color had been in his face drained away.

"Kili I..." Tauriel didn't know what to say.

He took in a sharp breath and looked at her, "Well this will make it harder for me to chase you down from now on." He tried to smile, but his dark eyes looked overwhelmed.

"I'll just have to let you catch me from now on," She answered, burying her face in his neck.

Kili shook his head, letting out a sigh. "It will be more difficult for us this way."

"Difficult?"

"Tauriel, I'm the last of my line," Kili said.

Tauriel nodded, "I know."

"The throne of my fathers is waiting for me under the Lonely Mountain."

She would have expected an excitement in his features, or perhaps even a fierce sense of pride or commitment. Tauriel saw none of that in his dark eyes. She only perceived sadness.

Kili looked up at her, "Under the mountain." He waited a long moment, "A mountain is no place for you, Tauriel."

She stared at his hands, "I said I would stay with you to the end of my days, and I meant it."

He exhaled a long sigh, "No. I will not ask that of you."

Tauriel paused, confusion startling her, "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that I set off to regain my family's homeland, and it has been," He nodded to the folded clothes on the empty bed beside his, "Can you hand me those clothes?"

She looked at him, still puzzled, "What are you doing?"

"What I'm saying is...I was left out there for dead with my brother and my uncle. To my kin and all who would have called me king I am dead."

Tauriel helped him put on the larger elven shirt, still not completely understanding him, "What are you talking about?"

"They think I'm dead," answered Kili, grimacing as he inspected his legs, "I intend to stay that way. Please hand me the satchel." He swung his bandaged legs so that they dangled off the bed, trying to figure out what to do next.

She did as he asked, and he opened it. What he brought out of the worn leather bag astonished her elven eyes beyond all that she had ever seen before.

"This is the Arkinstone," Kili muttered, holding the giant stone in his left hand.

Tauriel gasped, her breath was stolen by the beauty of the jewel that Kili held in his calloused hand. The stone glowed from an inward light, and it was the size of both of Tauriel's hands together. "It's beautiful."

"Yes," Kili muttered, and then placed it back into the old satchel, "This stone was the curse that brought down my family. And I want no part of it or the crown."

She looked at him in shock, "But your family, your people?"

"They will again have their home in the mountain," Kili cupped her face in his hands, "Home is where you make it, and I want my home to be wherever you are."

Tauriel was rendered speechless. She was an orphan of the Mirkwood, and a simple Captain of the Guard. But here she stood, and the last heir was offering to leave the entire treasure under the Lonely Mountain just to live a life with her. She suddenly felt so unworthy.

Kili waited for her to reply, and doubt flickered in his eyes at her silence. "It will not be an easy life I know," He looked away, "But I will build you a house to keep us safe and warm in the winter."

Tauriel nodded, feeling her eyes fill with tears again. She wrapped her arms around Kili's neck and hugged him close.

"Are you crying again?" Kili asked, true laughter finally spilling from his lips.

"Yes," Tauriel answered, laughing with him.

"You-"

"Yes I know," She answered, cutting him off, "I'm a silly elf."

TBC

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