Authors note: Another pretty long chapter. All of your reviews are so helpful and nice! Thank you so much! Hope you all like this chapter.

Early next morning, as Legolas was preparing to leave, Tauriel stepped out of the cavern expecting dark clouds waiting to pour down a rainstorm. Much to her surprise, she was nearly blinded by a shining sun and a cloudless, blue sky. The only downfall was the, still cold, wind. Legolas came out directly with their packs. One look at her confused face and he busted up laughing.

"What could possibly be so surprising that it would cause you to make that expression?" He said between outbursts.

"This weather, it's just so unpredictable..." She replied, completely avert to his amusement. Legolas laughed again, eyes gleaming. He took her by the wrist. "Come now, we had better get moving."

They rode at a leisurely pace through the valley. The view was breathtaking. Miles of green grass under a blazing sun. Though the sun provided no warmth.

Suddenly, Tauriel thought back several weeks, to when they held the company of Thorin Oakenshield prisoner in Mirkwood. This led her thoughts to the young, handsome dwarf called Kili, whom was very fond of her. She remembered when Kili and herself sat, on on either side of the iron bars, and talked of starlight and firemoons. Then of when she had secretly taken him out of his cell and spent a few hours with him under the stars. Tauriel wondered what Legolas would think of he knew of this. She knew she should confide in him. It took her a number of minutes to muster up enough courage to begin the conversation.

"Legolas?"

"Yes Tauriel?"

"I fear I must tell you something. You do recall when we held Thorin and his company prisoner?"

"Of course I remember," The princes voice lowered. "Those were two of the most frightening days of my life." Tauriel furrowed her brow. "Why is this?" She asked

"Those were the days I thought that you would never love me. I thought that surely you had fallen for that young dwarf. The tall one with the black hair." Tauriel gasped. "You knew..." She whispered. But given she was riding behind Legolas, he heard her clearly.

"What do I know? All I witnessed was the two of you talking about the stars that one night. And how your eyes lit up when he told you all of his tales..." Legolas faded off at the end, as if the subject alone pierced his heart. Tauriels eyes darted back and forth as she knew she had possibly inquired to him that it was more than that. "And...that is all I meant by it." She said hastily. Wanting to back out of the discussion she had started. "No," The prince said. "I know now that there is more. Please...tell me Tauriel. I will not hold it against you. I just need to know." So Tauriel shakily told him all that had happened on that night that seemed so long ago.

"All light is sacred to the eldar." Kili smiled, awestruck by the beauty of this elleth. Tauriel looked at him with a mischievous smile. "I have walked the sometimes." She looked up from the dungeon. "Beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away, and the white light of forever fill the air." Kili hesitated, wondering if the question he had in mind was too much to ask. He decided to go through with it. "Perhaps you'd take me there?" He asked. "You know, at a better time when I'm not locked up in here." Tauriel snapped her head towards him and smirked. "What better time would there be?" She hastily grabbed the keys off their hook on the stone wall, and unlocked the door to Kili's cell. She took his wrist and whispered in his ear. "You mustn't tell anyone of this."

Tauriel moved quickly through the woods on silent feel. Kili, on the other hand, was not so stealthy. His boots made a loud crunch with every step. Soon enough they arrived at a small clearing. Tauriel walked to the middle of it and lowered herself to the grass. She patted the ground next to her and looked up at Kili. He obeyed and sat down.

"Avae!" She said pointing up to the sky. Kili looked up and above him was a sky full of twinkling stars. The sheer beauty of it was beyond belief. Kili gasped softly. He was not accustomed to these sights, as dwarves did not often look to the heavens.

"Lovely is it not?" Tauriel asked.

"Yes..." Kili nearly whispered. "But not as lovely as you..." he reached slowly and brushed her arm. She did not object, but only smiled. "I did not think a dwarf could find such beauty in a maiden of a different race." She said blushing.

"But I do." Kili insisted. She said nothing. Very cautiously, Kili inched his hand towards hers. He stopped when their fingers touched. He looked up at her face. Tauriel merely looked to her lap, and grinned. Taking that as a positive response, Kili intertwined her long, elegant fingers with his. He smiled at himself at his success. Suddenly Tauriel sighed. "Kili, you know this could never work."

"Tauriel why wouldn't it? Come away with us! We could use another archer! Then when we reclaim Erebor, we could start a life together. A life full of happiness, and each other." Kili explained enthusiastically.

"Kili, I have duties here, I cannot just leave. There are people here that need me." Legolas entered the back of her mind, he needed her, and she knew it. Kili let out a breath. "Then why are you still holding my hand?" He asked. Tauriel caught her breath. "Perhaps it is a gesture of friendship." She argued.

"Perhaps it is more than that." He retorted. Tauriel shook her head. She looked up at the moon and estimated the time. "I must be getting you back before someone notices."

They stood up from the ground. Tauriel turned to head back but not before Kili caught her arm. "If we are to be just friends, may I have the honour of a single, friendly kiss?" Kili said, then thought perhaps his mother was right when his mother said he was reckless. Tauriel was more than a bit shocked by his request, and even more shocked by her answer: "Just one."

Kili leaned in and kissed her. He lingered for a number of seconds before pulling away. Both blushed as they looked at the ground and smiled. However they wasted no more time before retracing their path back to the woodland realm. When they reached the door they had exited, Kili unexpectedly gave Tauriel one more quick kiss. Tauriel looked at him, eyebrows raised. Kili smirked. "You know one, two, same thing." Tauriel chuckled. "Whatever suits you, dwarf."

After that there were no more stolen kisses as Tauriel lead Kili reluctantly back to his cell.

"He kissed you?" Was Legolas' first reaction. Tauriel nodded, looking almost ashamed. The two had stopped and dismounted by a stream for a moment to grant their horse a drink. Legolas rethought his reaction and decided it may have been a bit harsh. He walked over to Tauriel's side and took her into his embrace. She welcomed it greatly. "Do not worry about the matter Tauriel, I would not let a little thing like that come between me and mela lirimaer." Legolas said

"But it was not a little thing Legolas. I saw you watching Kili and I talk that night. I knew you were jealous, but I paid no heed." Tauriel insisted. Legolas hushed her. Suddenly Tauriel laughed a little. "One thing I noticed about dwarves...they say what they want without hesitation! He was moving so fast...unlike our kind who take matters like that at a much slower rate." Legolas backed away so he could look at her. "You're telling this to me...who kissed you just moments after I told you that I loved you!" He smiled brightly. Tauriel shrugged her shoulder. "I guess you're right."

With all their talk about kissing, Legolas couldn't resist. He pulled Tauriel into his arms and kissed her, holding her face in his hands. I was a long kiss, and it felt like pure starlight. When they pulled away, Legolas grinned down at her. "Amin mela lle, mela nikerym." They both walked over to Arod, now finished drinking. Legolas mounted, pulling Tauriel up behind him, and they continued their journey.

Next update soon!