A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. Enjoy!

2951

Four years passed quickly and Kiliana continued to train and grow stronger. Orc activity had gradually increased in Middle-Earth and Tauriel was growing worried. A darkness was starting to creep into the land, like an eclipse that slowly moved to block the sun. Tauriel could sense it even if she couldn't tell where it was coming from.

Running low on supplies, Tauriel brought her daughter to a human village. She wore a dark green cloak with the hood up to hide her features enough to forgo suspicion. A lone elf in a human market was a rare thing indeed. Kiliana wore an identical outfit complete with the dark green cloak but Tauriel didn't require her to wear her hood up. Tauriel instead styled her hair by pulling it back over her ears. At only nine years old Kiliana was still small, nearly the equivalent to a three or four year old human child, and Tauriel knew that with her excited running around, Kiliana's hood would never stay up anyway. As long as Kiliana's pointed ears were hidden, she could easily pass for a human toddler.

Tauriel kept their weapons hidden in her bag with her twin swords strapped to her back under her cloak. The market was busy as most human markets were. It was a sunny day with a few wispy clouds so many people were out, bartering and even performing for money. There were even a couple of dwarves working on weapons in one of the shops.

Kiliana's head turned back and forth so quickly that it was a surprise that she didn't give herself whiplash. She loved going to the market with her mother. They only went a few times every year and the only other times that Kiliana was around people was when Tauriel performed some task for a farmer for money. Otherwise, it was always just Kiliana and Tauriel. Even at such a young age, Kiliana wanted to travel and see more of the world, meet the people. She and Tauriel might've travelled a lot but they usually kept to themselves.

Kiliana's eyes widened when she saw the dwarves working. She had only met humans before, and one certain wizard, but she had heard many stories of elves, dwarves, wizards, and various other creatures, both from her mother and humans in the market. "Mama, is that a dwarf?"

Tauriel looked over to where Kiliana was indicating and for a brief moment she saw Kili hammering at the metal before the vision faded away. She took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes, that is a dwarf."

Before Tauriel could stop her, Kiliana ran over to the shop. She watched in fascination as the dwarf worked on a sword. It glowed red and sparked with each hit. After a few more tweaks the dwarf ducked the sword into the barrel of water sitting nearby and it cooled with a hiss. After the steam dissipated the dwarf brought the sword over to the little girl. Tauriel watched with sharp eyes but allowed the dwarf to approach her daughter. "You won't find a finer sword anywhere in Middle-Earth," he said proudly.

He displayed the sword to the girl who looked over the gleaming metal with wide eyes. "How do you do that?" she asked.

The dwarf let out a booming laugh as his barreled chest shook. "I'm a dwarf; it's in my blood! I started learning when I was about your age."

Kiliana looked away from the sword and up at the dwarf. "Do you think I could learn too?"

The dwarf studied the girl, his expression an odd mix of confusion and recognition. When he looked up at Tauriel she held her breath. His eyes narrowed and then widened. It had been ten years but Tauriel would never forget that other dark-haired dwarf from Lake-town, and apparently he hadn't forgotten her either. He looked back at the girl and seemed to come to a conclusion. He smiled softly, the dark whiskers in his moustache perking up with his cheeks. "Perhaps it is in your blood as well," he answered cryptically.

Kiliana spun around to Tauriel. "Did you hear that Mama? I could learn to make a sword too!"

Tauriel nodded. "I heard. Come along Lia, we still need to buy our supplies."

Kiliana turned back to the dwarf and smiled brightly. "Thank you!"

The dwarf turned around and picked something off of the back shelf. "Before you go, I want you to have this."

He handed her a golden mechanical eagle, the sun glinting off of its head and beak. Kiliana took it gingerly and giggled when the wings began to flap. "It's beautiful! But, I don't have any money."

He shook his head. "It is a present."

"Thank you," Kiliana said softly. She held the toy gently against her chest.

The dwarf nodded and bowed respectfully. "You are most welcome little princess."

Kiliana paid no special attention to the name but Tauriel's eyes narrowed at the dwarf. The dwarf nodded to her as well but his eyes were harder and never left Tauriel's. Tauriel returned the action before taking Kiliana's hand and leading her away.

Kiliana continued to look around with fervor while Tauriel kept a close eye on her as she bought their supplies. Tauriel was purchasing the last item when her sharp ears picked up a piece of information that sent chills down her spine. Several booths away two human women were exchanging gossip. "Have you heard? Mordor has been active."

"Active? But the Dark Lord was vanquished!"

"No. He's back. Sauron is back. He declared himself several days ago."

That would explain the darkness that was growing. Tauriel paid for the last item and looked for Kiliana. She panicked for a brief moment when she couldn't spot the girl before she found her looking at a brightly colored booth selling cloth. Tauriel forced her heart to slow as she walked over and took Kiliana's hand. "Time to go Lia."

Kiliana reluctantly tore her eyes away from the cloth and left with her mother. They were quiet as they hurried through the forests. Tauriel kept looking around nervously, one hand gripping her daughter's hand tightly, the other gripping the handle of one of her twin swords. Kiliana struggled to keep up with her mother's much longer legs. "Mama! What's wrong?"

"Sssh Lia." Tauriel suddenly stopped short and looked around. It was quiet. The birds were silent and even the winds were still. She let go of Kiliana's hands and pulled out both swords. "Lia, stay near me."

She waited. It was still quiet but she could smell them. They reeked of evil and rotting flesh. A black arrow appeared through the trees and Tauriel cut it down before it hit her. Seven orcs jumped out of the trees and surrounded the two females. Kiliana whimpered and gripped Tauriel's cloak from behind her. Tauriel got into her stance as best as she could.

After a few seconds two of the orcs lunged forward. Tauriel blocked the first sword while cutting into the second orc. She flipped her sword and drove it through the first orcs chest. Two more attacked and Tauriel quickly dispatched them while also beheading the fifth one. The last two paused before attacking as well. The first went for Tauriel. She blocked a low thrust when Kiliana screamed behind her. Tauriel slit the orc's throat and spun, throwing the dagger into the forehead of the final orc who had gotten to Kiliana. The orc fell with a loud thud.

Kiliana looked at the body in horror. "Mama?" she asked in a shaky voice.

Tauriel looked sharply to her left. More orcs were coming, many more. Tauriel knew that she wouldn't be able to fight them all. Especially not while protecting Kiliana. She quickly pulled her bag off of her back and put it on Kiliana's. She then hoisted the little girl onto her own back. "Hold on," she instructed, and she ran.