Chapter 16:
A few hours later Kili was sitting happily next to his brother, his heart light and manner jubilant as he revelled in the preparations. He knew he shouldn't be so happy, considering the army that was marching to slaughter them all and the solemn mood that had descended on his companions, but he just couldn't help himself. Fili was getting better, Dain was on his way and Tauriel and he had had what, in his mind, was the most passionate kiss in all history. He couldn't help but feel smug as he recalled their meeting earlier and to say it had lightened his mood would be an understatement. Smiling, Kili felt happy and sure of the world, that everything would be alright and that his dreams of living with his family in Erebor happily would surely come true. And now a bubble of hope had begun to blossom in him that Tauriel would be part of that picture.
Legolas saw the look of quiet joy on the young dwarfs face and for a split second doubted himself. He had no love for dwarfs, in fact he doubted he would ever be able to look at one and not want to reach for his bow, but he could not help but feel unsure. He didn't want the little beast anywhere near Tauriel, he knew that much, but Thorin Oakenshield was unpredictable and quick to anger at the best of times, could Legolas really say how far the dwarf King would take it when he found out about their relationship? Suppose he tried to kill one or both of them? Suppose he did nothing at all?
Frowning, Legolas tried to clear his mind and focus on what he attempted to convince himself had to be done. He could not allow Tauriel to give up on her people for this imp, and there was no way they would accept her once they knew. Squaring his shoulders, Legolas walked out of the shadows and approached Tauriel, ignoring the voice in his head asking him if he really thought Tauriel would be able to forgive him for what he was about to do.
"Tauriel." He said loudly, forcing himself to focus as he saw a number of the dwarfs turn to look at him with interest, curious about his angry tone.
Tauriel didn't say anything, she just looked at him with surprise and smiled at him nervously, making his chest tighten.
Legolas noted with grim acceptance that Kili had also looked up and was now glaring at him with distrust. Now or never.
"How could you Tauriel? How could you debase yourself by lying with that little mutant?"
Guilt clawed at his stomach as Legolas saw Tauriel turn white and freeze, panic clear on every inch of her face as she stared at him, helpless to find any words.
The dwarves were all staring now, mouths wide open with shock. He could tell one or two had understood his meaning whilst the others were completely oblivious.
"I…I…" Tauriel stared at him, lost in an abyss of emotion. But Legolas saw the glint return to her eyes and she stood straight, confidence and anger emanating from her every poor.
"I have not lain with anyone, we were kissing, nothing more. Not that it's any of your business. I don't recall having to ask your permission regarding who I see and what we do."
He was surprised she hadn't answered him in their mother tongue and for a second it took him aback. Did the dwarves know about their relationship? Did they accept it? Perhaps he would not be able to rely on Thorin Oakenshields hate of his people after all.
"What in Durin's name are you two on about?" Bofur asked helplessly, glancing about the room to see if anyone else was as confused as he was.
Kili stood up and walked slowly to stand by Tauriel's side, afraid of what the others would say but wanting to show Tauriel that he was not ashamed of loving her.
Realising that that exact reason was why Tauriel had spoken in the common tongue, so that Kili could understand what she was saying, Legolas felt anger return to him once more.
"You disgust me, how could you betray our people with this mongrel?"
"If being loyal to you means being disloyal to myself and my feelings then I know which I should choose." Tauriel answered him tartly.
He knew then, that he had lost her. If she was willing to stand before these dwarves and claim her love for their Prince then she truly was insane and Legolas felt almost proud of her, that she should be so brave.
Shaking his head with contempt, Legolas took a few steps back and looked at the couple with distaste.
"If you choose him, my father will never want you back." Legolas said, grasping at a last ditch attempt not to lose her.
"I won't blame you." He heard Kili say quietly, looking up at his lover with a fierce mix of love and desperation.
Kili loved Tauriel and wanted to be with her but he knew that she loved her people and her home and he refused to ask her to throw all that away for him. If she chose him, fantastic, but otherwise he would not pressure her to stay.
Tauriel smiled at him kindly and stroked his face with her hand.
"Home is where love and happiness is. It is not the place but how you feel about it that makes it special." She smiled at him and looked back to Legolas, defiance clear on her features. He knew instantly what she would say.
"So be it."
In a show of solidarity, Kili and Tauriel held hands and glared at Legolas who simply shook his head and walked over to stand beside Radagast, defeated and disappointed.
"Well, isn't this just… revolting." Came a deep voice from above.
Thorin strode slowly down the mountain of treasure, a look of disgust clearly visible on his face.
Taking a deep breath, Kili stepped forward to address his uncle but Thorin silenced him before he'd even opened his mouth with a blow across the face.
"How dare you sully our blood with that Elvish filth?" Thorin demanded, murder in his eyes.
"I love her." Kili said simply, holding his face with one hand as he stared at his uncle.
Thorin snarled and reached for a sword on a nearby pile. Pointing it at Kili, he brushed it up against his nephew's throat.
Pandemonium ensued as Tauriel tried to stop Thorin, Gandalf began shouting at the King's lunacy and the other dwarves surged forward to stop Thorin doing something they had no doubt he would regret.
Drawing blood with the blade, Thorin ordered everyone to stand back.
"Uncle stop, leave him alone!" Fili said weakly, his eyes wide with horror as he watched the Uncle who had brought him up with a sword on his baby brother's throat.
"Her or us. I will not have my bloodline, Durin's bloodline, sullied with that." Thorin spat the words at Kili who was still led on the floor, a drop of blood running across his neck where Thorin had pressed his sword down.
"We already made our choice." Kili said simply, a single tear running down his face as he looked into his raging uncle's unforgiving eyes.
"Get out. Get out of these hallowed halls you filthy little worm, I never want to see you again." Thorin stepped back, his sword still pointed at Kili.
Tauriel ran forward and helped her lover up, and together they started backing away from the crazed King slowly, as one does who is faced with a wild beast.
"Uncle please, this is ridiculous." Fili said, shaking his head at Thorin.
"Don't defend them or I'll banish you as well." Thorin growled, turning to storm away from the scene.
"Fine." Fili said, walking to stand next to his baby brother.
"What did you just say?" Thorin asked, turning slowly and glaring at his nephew and heir, amazement colouring his features.
"As I said when you left Kili for dead alone in Laketown, I belong with my brother. I might not personally be thrilled about this union but it's his life and his choice. Tauriel saved his life and mine and if she is his choice then I owe her my loyalty. If you want to banish them that is your right as King, but do not ask me to stay behind. If they leave, so do I."
"You would abandon your family? Our home?" Thorin asked as if he didn't believe what he'd just heard.
"Kili is my family. Where he is is home. If you send him away, you send us both."
"Thorin stop this, its madness. We can speak to the lad later!" Balin begged, looking at his King with hope.
"Aye, we don't have time for this now. The orcs will be here soon." Dwalin agreed with his brother, gripping his axe tightly.
"Tisn't natural, that's for sure, but not something worth banishment!" Gloin said, appealing to the others.
"Tauriel is alright with me, I've no problem with her and the lad." Oin declared, going to stand by Fili.
"It's not natural. But, Kili can make his own choices." Dori suggested, smiling at the young Prince.
"Could be worse, at least she ain't a troll." Nori said happily, grinning at Tauriel.
"She seems really nice…" Ori said shyly, peering out from behind his brothers at the couple.
Bifur said something that sounded supportive and, judging by Gandalf's appreciative nod, it was in favour of the couple staying.
"Come on Thorin, at least let them stay for now. We can make a decision after the battle." Bofur said, going to stand close to Fili. Bombur nodded wildly at his brother's suggestion and the whole company stared holding their breath, waiting.
Looking up at Bilbo, Thorin raised an eyebrow as if to ask his opinion.
"We don't have time for this now, if we survive the battle with the orcs we can talk about it then. But, just so you know, I don't see anything wrong with it. An elf and a dwarf, a hobbit and a dwarf, what does it matter as long as they're happy?" Bilbo smiled at the King and looked to the others, confident that against this much opposition and reason Thorin would see sense.
Thorin began to nod slowly, his eyes down at the floor.
"Please Uncle." Kili said his hand on his throat where blood was still dribbling from the small cut.
Thorin watched and then looked down at the sword in his hand and saw the red ribbon of his own kins blood running down it.
Thorin looked directly into Kili's eyes.
"Leave now and know that if I ever see you again I will not hesitate kill you myself."
He glanced towards Fili and then glared at them both with contempt.
"You are not my kin and you are not my nephews. Your mother, your grandfather and your great-grandfather would be ashamed. I strip you of your names, your titles and your birth right. I would see these halls burn with dragon fire again before I let either of you sit on the throne." Thorin snarled at the boys. Turning, he strode out of the chamber with his sword in one hand and the Arkenstone in the other.
Tears filled Kili's eyes but he refused to let them out in front of his kin so he turned and, with Tauriel's hand in his, walked out of the chamber towards the front gate of Erebor.
The company walked with them until the gate but as they left the mountain Kili, Fili and Tauriel were left alone, walking away from the Lonely Mountain and the sound of Gandalf screaming about Thorin's selfish idiocy.