Author's note: Sorry for the delay :P At last the next chapter is done! Hope you like it :)
"Kili...what...what are you doing here?" Tauriel asked in disbelief. She wasn't sure whether to take a step towards Kili or away from him. Kili made the decision for her by moving closer to the elleth. He placed one of his hands on her forearm.
"Tauriel, come back with me. I know how I fell I'm not afraid! You make me feel alive!" Kili confessed. a smile creeping onto his lips. Tauriel started to speak. "I..."
He stopped her. "Tauriel, amr`alim`e." He said. His voice lowered almost to a whisper. Tauriel's eyes grew wide. She let out a soft breath. Which made Kili shudder as it touched his face.
"I do not know what that means..." She lied. The dwarf prince smiled, seeing in her eyes that she did know.
"I think you do." He said, eyes forever sparkling. Tauriel inhaled and looked at the ground. She began, hesitantly at first, to explain what kept them apart. "Kili. You are dear to me and you will forever hold a special place in my heart but, my love, lies with another. An ellon known as prince Legolas Greenleaf. You may remember him from your time in Mirkwood..." She trailed off at the end.
"You love him then?" Kili asked, a bit defeated. Tauriel confirmed. "May I ask if he loves you too?" Kili pried gently.
Tauriel smiled slightly. "He does, very much. I do not think he knows the extent of my love for him, but who can? No one could fathom." Tauriel realized she had begun to go on about her prince to yet another prince. She spoke next in a whisper. "To be loved by two princes..." Tauriel looked into Kili's beautiful brown eyes. Never without their glint of audacity. Even now, after being delivered such, well, depressing news, they still twinkled.
"I understand Tauriel. I will not try and steal you from another. A lucky one he is indeed...to have your love, I mean. I hope he cares for you how you deserve. No other could match your beauty, your worth, your...everything. You deserve nothing but the best." Kili stopped, looked up at the placement of the moon, the back to the elleth. "I best be going back. I just- I had to see you again, Tauriel." He laughed a little and looked at the ground. "Such a beautiful name. Tauriel." Tauriel was a bit flattered by this. It seemed as if everyone loved her name. Kili nodded his head and began to turn to go. Tauriel quickly reached out and touched his shoulder.
"Wait," She begged. Kili looked back at her with hopefulness. "Won't you stay for a short while and...admire the stars with me?" Tauriel asked, her cheeks flushing a bit in the moonlight. "'Tis a lovely night." Kili smiled at her shy request.
"I guess I could. For you. I-I'd love to, actually."
/
As the two talked while stargazing, Legolas lay in silence. He had stirred earlier to see Tauriel outside the doorway. Talking to a hooded figure who had revealed himself as the dwarf Kili. Normally, Legolas' protective instinct would have taken over automatically and he would have rushed to her side. However, this time, somehow he knew she had this.
Legolas had heard everything. He had heard Tauriel explain to Kili why they could not belong together, and that Legolas himself was the reason. He had listened to her begin to ramble on about him. He had realized she was right, he could not fathom her love for him. What more proof did he need? Surely he no longer needed to worry about Kili, or any other, stealing his captain away from him.
/
"That one, over there," Tauriel pointed up to a particularly bright star in the west."Is called Alioth. It is the brightest star in the sky...Breathtaking, is it not?" Tauriel turned her head to Kili, who smiled. "Yes. Yes it is." He confirmed. Kili suddenly clasped Tauriel's hand in his. He knew he shouldn't be acting as such, with her belonging to another elf, but, friends held hand too...didn't they? Tauriel did not object. She merely grinned, and looked at her lap. Eyelashes fluttering. By the Valar she is beautiful. Kili thought.
"And that one," Tauriel went on pointing to another. "Over there, where the sky is fading to dawn-" She stopped, and sighed. Realizing that it was, in fact, nearly dawn. "It is almost daybreak. Your kin will be wondering where you've gone." She pointed out. Kili sighed as well. Not wanting to leave the company of the elf maiden.
"I guess you're right." He replied, his voice husky.
They both stood. Tauriel handed Kili his cloak. He had lent it to her to ward off the chill of the night air. He now wrapped it around his own shoulders. Tauriel and Kili stood facing each other. Much regretting the goodbye that must be said.
"May fate bring us together again." Tauriel said. Kili agreed with a nod.
"Soon." The dwarf looked up into her emerald eyes. (He did wish he wasn't so much shorter than she.) Kili felt the impulse to kiss her. He held himself though, knowing that it would be quite wrong. He supposed and embrace would be quite awkward as well, given their height difference. Finally coming to conclusion, Kili picked up her hand, and placed his lips to the back of it.
"Farewell, Tauriel." He bade her goodbye. Tauriel forced a saddened smile.
"Farewell." She barely whispered.
The dwarf prince turned, and began to depart. He had only walked a few steps though, before abruptly pausing. Tauriel knit her brow in wonder of what her was thinking. Before she knew it he had walked briskly back and was standing inches away from her. Kili pulled something out of his pocket, and pushed it into her palm.
"Keep it. As a promise." And with that said, he turned and left again. Once more he looked back at Tauriel, with a smile as bright as Alioth itself. Tauriel smiled back, holding Kili's runestone to her heart.
I just love that ending :) I hope everyone liked it! I would like to thank everyone for all your kind reviews! There are a few I'd like to mention:
sweetmochi: Thanks so much for your awesome suggestion! As you can see I used it :)
Detti: I just read your review and let me just say it motivated me to finish this chapter and get it posted today! I was so excited when you said that this was one of the most interesting Legolas and Tauriel fics! Thanks again :)
As always leave suggestions or any criticism you have in the reviews! I'll try to get the next chapter up quicker than this one!