Chapter 9

Tauriel had found food in the small cottage and together she and Kili ate in silence. Night had fallen fast in the forest and Tauriel had closed the door against the cold and darkness. Tauriel sat beside the fireplace and ate a piece of bread while Kili sat in one of the wooden chairs. Both of them were still exhausted, but Tauriel ate silently as she listened to the nighttime outside the house.

"What do you hear?" Kili asked as he finished eating his half of the stale bread.

"Mostly all I can hear is your breathing," Tauriel replied, staring into the fire, "But outside everything is quiet. The woods get that way when a predator is hunting. Even the wolves are silent tonight."

Kili glanced around, "It's strange staying here."

Tauriel nodded, "It feels oddly to me as well," She turned toward him, "My guess is that the creature chased the horse and was unsatisfied but then came across this place. It was all unfortunate chance."

"They didn't build this house to withstand the beast," Kili muttered, "My guess is that he's never hunted here before."

"He must have followed the armies from the other side of Mirkwood," Tauriel glanced around the house, "Either that or he was drawn by the scent of blood from the Lonely Mountain."

Kili met Tauriel's gaze, his dark eyes serious, "Can it be killed?"

Tauriel shook her head, "Its a creature of darkness. For the past hundred years my kinsmen have tried and failed."

Kili nodded, letting silence envelop them once again.

Tauriel watched him with her keen eyes. He had already changed so much since she had first met him. His features had turned dark, and his entire countenance seemed hardened. He had matured quickly. She had cleaned and dressed his wound earlier and he had remained silent through the entire ordeal. However, at this point she was afraid he might be hiding some other injury from her. "Are you alright?"

Kili shook his head, "I miss my brother."

Tauriel looked away. She never had any siblings, so she could never fully understand the relationship that had been severed.

"It makes no sense," Kili muttered, "It doesn't make sense that Fili died but I lived. He was smarter, a better fighter, and he was stronger. He should have lived."

Tauriel moved from her place by the fire and came to sit beside Kili on the floor. She rested her head against his knee, and he ran his fingers through her long red hair. "I'm sorry that you lost your brother."

"I know his spirit doesn't rest in the Lonely Mountain," Kili muttered, "I've felt him beside me this entire time. He's watching over me still as he always has."

Tauriel nodded, "What was your brother like?"

Kili smiled to himself, "He was a lion. But he took care of me and my mother. He was meant to be the king. I never was."

Tauriel gazed into the fire. She didn't know the words that would comfort Kili, and odds were that nothing she could say would comfort him. Kili would grieve for his brother as long as he lived.

"I may have left the Lonely Mountain," Kili half whispered, "But I will still make Fili and my uncle Thorin proud. To my last day I will strive for that."

"I'm sure you will," Tauriel replied quietly.

The two of them sat in silence after that. The fire burned and the night went on. Tauriel even nodded off once or twice. Kili sat in the chair beside the fire at ran his finger's through Tauriel's hair. The light from the fire caught the beautiful red strands making them shine like gold and rubies.

It was hours later that they heard it.

A scratching, snarling, growling.

Tauriel snatched her bow and leveled an arrow. The beast was at the door now.

THUD! The door shook on its hinges and the wood creaked heavily. THUD! THUD! THUD!

Kili readied his bow, taking aim at the heaving door.

The house shook, and the beast outside howled in aggravation. He couldn't come inside as easily as he had the night before.

Tauriel's blood froze as the creature screamed and all was suddenly silent. "He wouldn't have give up that easy," She muttered as she glanced over at Kili and listened once more.

The roof started to creak and moan above them, and Tauriel's heart sank. "He's on the roof," she breathed, her voice thick with fear.

Looking up, Tauriel could see the boards above them bow and dance as the demon clawed down from above. She could hear its breathing and growling.

The monster was hungry. He was hungry for sweet elvish blood. He could smell her even now inside the house. Caran-Cach could smell her fear, could smell her sweet sweat, and he could hear her heart pumping. How he hungered for her. He wanted to drink the sweet blood and dig his teeth into her. Hungry. Hungry. He would kill the dwarf but he would devour the elf first. Eat her. Kill everything.

Tauriel drew in harsh breaths, keeping her bow readily aimed at the ceiling above her. If the monster came through he would feel the sting of her arrows before he fed on her. She wouldn't go down like a lamb to slaughter.

After several minutes the creature roared again. He was getting angry. Hungry. He had to feed tonight, but the elf was tightly encased by stone and board. Caran-Cach growled. He would come back again. Perhaps just after dusk when there was light in the sky still. She wouldn't expect him then. Yes. Then he would feast upon her flesh. He climbed off the roof and dove back into the forest. He would have to feed on something less than elf tonight.

Tauriel stood in the center of the floor listening for a long time.

Kili watched her intently, knowing not to speak.

"He's gone back into the forest," Tauriel said at last, bringing down her bow, "He's given up for tonight. But I'm sure he'll be back." She walked over to the bed and slumped down onto it.

Kili got up haltingly and then sat down beside her on the small bed. He took her hand in his own, "That wasn't so bad."

Tauriel let out a shaky sigh, "No it wasn't."

Kili reached up and put a stray strand of Tauriel's hair away from her face and behind her elven ear, "You rest tonight."

Tauriel glanced at him and he smiled. She loved that smile. "Tonight we both rest." She shrugged off her boots, wiggling her toes. Shedding her green jacket she sat beside him in nothing on but her white linen chemise and long pants.

Kili took in a sharp breath and looked away.

Tauriel smiled, by the valar he was cute."It's alright," she whispered.

Kili smiled, "You're beautiful."

Tauriel nodded, "I'm tired. And so are you." She took off his jacket and put it on the floor beside hers.

Kili laid back against the bed, letting out a sigh.

Tauriel curled up next to him, pulling the blanket over them both. Leaning her head on his shoulder she wrapped her arms around him. "We're safe for now. But tomorrow is a whole different story."

"I know," Kili ran his fingers over her wrist, "I'm done resting. I need you to help me build something so I can walk."

Tauriel frowned, "If you rip your stitches I will make you sew yourself up."

Kili chuckled, "That's why I asked you to help me."

TBC

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