Author's Note

Alright, update is not as fast as I would have hoped, but better than I have been of late.

Thank you my readers and reviewers MWAH! Celebrisilweth, Warrof, Tuonra, Jampaqd, kasmira36, Misscallalily, Levs, Helciakuras, agustine, Margaritasc, syeern, deviant 84

Your faithful servant

AW.

(ps. no this is not the last chapter...)

The grounds shook and at first, Eleiyon stumbled back, falling against the nearby rock wall as the platform bearing him mother crumbled. Eleiyon lunged forward, reaching out for Tauriel, but she was too far away. He dropped to his knees and watched as Tauriel fell, from quite some height towards the lake, her surprised shriek piercing the air. He could only look on as she glanced off of a rock, which stunned her and sent her flying towards the middle of the lake. His mother landed below him with a splash.

Eleiyon stared all around him, in paralyzed shock for a moment. As Tauriel was falling, Eleiyon noticed that the lake was being partially covered by a shimmering darkness. He saw it condense and move over the waters, surrounding where his mother had landed. Eleiyon recognized it as the same large dark shadow he had seen swimming around their boat in the long lake.

The dwarf climbing up the hill had resumed his frantic scrambling, and was getting closer to the far edge of the bridge. The darkness in the water was nearly upon Tauriel. Eleiyon scrambled to his feet and headed down the steps within the fort on his way to the lake. He had to get to his mother. How hurt was she? As he rushed along, he put his hand up to push himself off the stone wall curving before him as he made the turn to exit the fort.

But instead of firm wall, his hand felt like it went right through the rock. In an instant, he was grabbed and dragged into the dark shadow world of the stone by large, filthy grey hands. His body in the shadow world was hoisted by strong arms, then thrown to the floor. Astonished, Eleiyon opened his inner eyes only to see the grotesque, misshapen face on the large hulking orc standing above him. The orc placed a large foot upon his chest.

"You go nowhere!" Bolg growled. Eleiyon struggled in vain, for he was without strength in the shadow dimension…

Finally, his yasith knew he lived! All that Kili had been through, the worry, the wonder, the doubt, the confusion…all that melted away in that one moment. Kili was enthralled…Tauriel actually called out to him …and then they saw each other. That brief moment of recognition meant the world to Kili. Her expression burned into his brain and swelled his heart. Her porcelain face was perfect…her expression was so priceless… she walked out further on the platform, far above him. He scrambled up on a rock so he could see her better.

The sound of Smaug's low cackle filled the air. The next moment, Kili nearly fell off the stone as a large thud rocked the earth beneath him. He regained his balance quickly, but then looked on, in horror, as Tauriel fell from the high ledge above, the stone on which she once stood having crumbling beneath her feet.

"Tauriel!" he screamed, as his heart seized.

As she fell out of his view, Tauriel let out a surprised yell that was soon silenced, then followed by a splash in the water below. A sickeningly empty feeling of dread came over him. Kili pressed on, practically running up the stony hill until he arrived at the edge of the lake. He gasped at the sight before him.

He was both relieved and alarmed... Tauriel, seemingly a bit stunned by her fall, but definitely alive, was flailing in the waters of the lake, every attempt at getting her bearings in the water being thwarted by the large dark specter of a dragon encircling her, who was using his dark, large wings to shovel huge waves of water over her, turning her around, his tail whipping up the lake into whitewater, sending strong currents around her, sweeping her under water again and again. Kili looked on in shock but soon realized what the waves were sending Tauriel closer and closer to the edge of the lake, closer to the falls… He started running over the bridge.

"Hey! Leave her alone!" Kili yelled "It's me you want!" He screamed. The phantasm paused for a second, the large dark head turning his way. "Here I am! What are you waiting for, Smaug?" Kili yelled, waving his arms. The ghost hissed, his dark, glistening translucent body rising from the waters for Kili to see.

"I knew this was how I could draw you out of the shadows. Such a foolish dwarf. How easily led." The dragon spirit scolded with a hiss. "Well, well… I don't know which of you to dispense of first…but I think I will let you see your wood elf die before I finish you!" He turned to continue attacking Tauriel, but she had wasted no time; with the few second distraction Kili granted her, she righted herself and was out of deep water, rushing to the lakeshore.

"Go! Get away from the water!" Kili yelled. Tauriel complied, grabbing on to some rocks poking up nearby to pull herself up.

The dragon roared and the air sent a blast of water and stones towards Tauriel just as she had gotten up. Tauriel stooped down, covered her face and grabbed on to the rock, trying to shield herself from flying debris.

"Stop!" Kili yelled. Kili looked around for something he could use, for he doubted his empty hands would inflict any harm on the dragon. He did not even know how he could fight a beast already dead. Then he spotted something shining on the other side of the bridge… He ran towards it.

On the top of a monument, there was the hilt end of a sword sticking out from a stone. It seemed to be glowing, flashing with an internal light and it was vibrating, shaking in its place, cracking the stone below it.

TAKE IT. Kili heard a low voice say. Fight the dragon. GO! Kili halted but a second in shock.

"Fili?" he whispered.

The ghostly voice of his brother would have caused Kili more disquiet and held his attention longer any other time, but his biggest worry was Tauriel. He cared not how or why he heard his voice at that particular moment, he just accepted. Kili scaled the monument and grabbed the hilt of the sword, grunting with the effort, pulling it with all his might. The metal slid free of the stone in a shower of rocky shards. Kili jumped down and bounded back over to the bridge, intent clear on his brow.

As Kili arrived back at the bridge, Smaug was lumbering over to Tauriel, closing in on her. Kili ran without reservation, not knowing if he would affect this being at all, but that mattered not. Just as the specter raised his claw to swipe at Tauriel, Kili leapt off the bridge and stabbed at the dragon's wide tail. The apparition reared up and roared loudly. Smaug's large head turned around on his serpentine neck, his glowing, narrowed red eye glaring at Kili.

Kili was able to stand on the translucent being, much to his surprise, but his feet were burning, becoming almost unbearably hot. He pulled the sword, which was glowing white, out with some effort, leaving behind a gaping white hole in the dark specter. The dragon screeched out in pain. Kili saw Tauriel run further away, out of the water to stand on the shore looking his way, amazement and worry on her face. He started to run up the dragon's back. Smaug twisted and turned, in order to knock off the petulant dwarf, but Kili raised his weapon and dug the sword in deep again and hung on as the beast thrashed. He pulled his weapon out again, slid down the dragons back on to the wing, digging the blade in once again. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Tauriel running towards them from the lakeshore.

"No Tauriel! Get back!" Kili said, but to no avail…

Tauriel had come to under water. The lake water, once calm, was now strangely wild, as if alive. Currents gripped and tumbled her as if she was within the whitewater of the River Running. She found air and gasped. She looked around the shore briefly for Eleiyon, a mother's alarm rising within her, even as the water threatened her ability to breathe. Where was he? But also, where was Kili?

Kili's shout grabbed her attention. Tauriel head whipped back and she saw Kili on the bridge. He was yelling at something ...

Then she heard a growl, directly above her. At first glance there was nothing above her. Tauriel looked back at the bridge, again, but Kili had disappeared from view. She looked back above her. The irregular outline of a large, dark, nearly invisible beast formed before her eyes, only visible because of a thin veil of cascading water. It suddenly lifted up into the air and towered over her. It had the shape of... a dragon! Smaug? What? How in Arda could that be?

Tauriel heard Kili shout out again, which commanded her eyes behind the apparition, to where her dwarf was in mid-flight. In Kili's hand was a sword that flashed a brilliant white as his hand struck down, and he halted in the air, seemingly floating. Then she heard a dragon's growl and began to see darkness within the blurry apparition, the searing red eyes appearing in thin air. Given the sudden reprieve, she scrambled rapidly to the shore of the lake. She looked back to Kili and saw that he had advanced further onto the water covered form, many feet away from her. His sword glowed a bright white as the blade sank again into the translucent creature again. The creature shook wildly, water flinging off in all directions, as he was trying to shake the dwarf off. Kili hung on tight, though. The beast, and Kili above it, twirled and lurched over the edge of the lake, near where the bridge was.

Tauriel stared at Kili, her wonder and joy morphing into horror…Kili was there before her, alive, but fighting a creature of darkness… Of their own accord, her delicate hands turned to fists, her jaw clenched and her eyes hardened. The warrior within her seethed. After all this, she could not see her dwarf in danger and sit idly by, just watching. Tauriel ran along the lake edge to get closer to the fight, ignoring Kili's cries for her to stay away.

She would not lose him again to death… But how could she fight this creature of darkness, one she could barely see?

"Light…" Tauriel gasped, to herself, in realization.

Tauriel looked down and grabbed a sharp rock before heading back in the water towards the dragon and Kili. As she approached, the beast seemed to notice her, and the vague, dark water covered shape lurched towards her. She ducked down into shallow water but was soon covered in darkness, like a shroud. She felt the sensation of an incredible weight begin to bear down on her from above. She could not really see the beast that was upon her, just a darkness reflected in the water and the air and a sudden frigid heat that made her skin burn as if bitten by ice… She grunted in pain, but then pulled out the little vial of liquid light, the captured rays of Erendil, from where she had it hidden in her tunic. She held it up, over her head, and smashed the vial open above her. The precious starlight vessel exploded in the center of the darkness. Intense light beamed out from between every fragment…

Kili looked down to see light...incredible, bright light emanating from Tauriel's hands. It seemed to be coming from within the otherworldly creature beneath him, blinding him. The screaming of the beast intensified, flailing and lurching above the lake. Kili did everything he could to not be thrown off; he dug in the sword's blade and held on tight to the hilt …the steel beneath him glowed brighter as it sunk deeper. The dragons dark face contorted into a sneer… Smaug screamed, a gut curdling screech, as the light started to stream out between the coal scales, and the specter before him began coming apart. The light … it seemed to be consuming him. Kili had only a moment to wonder when, as he had appeared, the apparition below him turned into swirling, sparkling mist…and then he disappeared, leaving a lingering echo of an evil growl.

Kili, who had been right above Tauriel on the back of the beast, fell towards the waters…and Tauriel.

In a moment, the distance between them closed and he landed hard in the shallow waters, right on top of her. The impact knocked the breath out of both of them and left them dazed and aching where their heads and limbs collided. Kili pushed away a little with a free hand.

"T..Tauriel?" he questioned, when he was able to draw breath. She stirred, and turned her face to look at him. Kili stared in disbelief into the most beautiful emerald green orbs he could have ever had the grace to remember. They were wide, and locked upon him.

He gasped as his eyes quickly shifted to her delicate, gentle nose, her soft, glowing cheeks, those full pink lips and that glorious fire that surrounded it all floating in the shallow waters…It was her…up close…his yasith…his elf.

"Tauriel…" he managed to utter. His lips drew into a smile, of their own accord.

"Kili?" she questioned. Tauriel's expression was one of open mouthed shock as her eyes moved all over his face in wide eyed disbelief, her slender fingers reaching to touch the side of his face softly… Kili felt that gentle stroke in the center of his chest. How he remembered those gentle touches. But her cold hand was shaking.

"Yes…" he said. She blinked quickly, her eyes softening.

"Kili…" She said, in a gasp. "It's really you…" she said. Kili nodded insistently as her face changed slowly, her lips curling into a smile…but then …a grimace…

"What's the matter?" Kili asked.

Tauriel's eyes closed and her pained face turned away as her body stiffened beneath him. She grunted as Kili shifted away from her and he lifted his body up off of her. He shook his head in confusion as his eyes searched for the source of her pain, down her body, which was now writhing. There, to his utter dismay, was his sword, only about half of it, protruding from the slide of her slender waist…the rest of the sharp metal was in her.

"No…oh, no…." he said, his absolute joy turning into devastating despair. "No…no…no …this can't be happening…" Kili started mumbling, crouching down close to her.

Tauriel was gasping, writhing, curling her body around the sword. Kili tried to reach beneath her to lift her, but the sword had lodged in the lakebed beneath. Her face twisted and Tauriel let out a long groan of pain. He stopped.

"Tauriel!" he gasped. "I'm so sorry…please…what do I do?" he said, as a sob threatened to still his voice.

Tauriel blinked and gasped a few times, looking down at the knife in her. Blood was beginning to ooze from the wound, into the brown leather vest and green tunic she was wearing, rivulets spilling into the shallow water below. She looked back into Kili's eyes.

"Take it out…" She said.

"No…" Kili, said, aghast.

"You must…" she said. Kili looked into her eyes. There Kili saw determination again, just as he had so long ago in the forest near Lake town.

Kili pursed his mouth and nodded. He repositioned himself over her in the water, the depth at the height of his knee. He wrapped his hands around the hilt of the sword. He held his breath instinctively as he pulled the sword out swiftly. Tauriel gasped loudly in pain. That sound that tore into Kili's heart. He tossed the sword to the edge of the water without looking, immediately pressing his hand hard against Tauriel's wound to stem the bleeding. Tauriel yelled out in pain and grit her teeth as he compressed her wound, her own shaking hand over Kili's hand.

"Hold on!" He said, wrapping his arm under her back. He half carried, half dragged Tauriel from the water and onto the rocky edge. Her wound continued to stream crimson, despite his efforts.

Tauriel continued to writhe in his grasp, almost unable to catch her breath, her hand now holding the wound. Her head fell back and she looked behind her, towards the stone fort, her eyes searching for something.

"E...Eleiyon." she gasped, her eyes squinting shut, her mouth opening in pain. "Eleiyon…"

Kili looked back at the fort, his eyes searching in the darkness of the doorways. He knew who she meant. For a few moments, he had nearly forgotten about the man he had seen Tauriel with earlier. For those few, sweet moments he had forgotten what that probably meant… remembering made his heart sink, and a stone form in his throat. Kili looked down at Tauriel, her eyes closing, her face in pain.

But what he felt did not matter now. All that mattered is what Tauriel needed. He turned her so she would lie flat and put both her hands together on her wound. He pushed on them solidly.

"Don't you worry…" Kili said, barely able to keep himself together. "I will find him." He urged.

Kili turned and got up to go into the fort, but not before first retrieving the bloody sword. Kili could not imagine why this man who had come all the way up here with Tauriel would not be by her side during the dragon's attack.

"Wait…" he heard Tauriel's weak voice gasp behind him. He did not turn around.

Kili stumbled, his soaking wet boots draining onto the rock below. He continued sloshing into the fort, and turned the corner of a bend in the nearest passageway. He nearly tripped over the man, whose body was slumped over, head down, pressed against the wall, his arm held up awkwardly, his hand flattened against the stone as if, holding it up.

"Where have you been?" Kili asked, his brows knit. The man did not answer. Kili's anger turned to worry. Maybe he was dead. "Hello… are you all right? " Kili said, as he reached down and grabbed man's shoulder. It was as hard as stone, all the muscles clenched. Kili curled his fingers around the man's shoulder and tried to pull the man back, away from the wall. He would not budge. "What is going on?" Kili uttered, as he put his hand with the sword up against the wall, for more traction.

For an instant, Kili felt as if he was being sucked into a whirlwind- he suddenly found himself standing in a dark space. Where was he? Kili blinked his eyes, realizing that there was an eerie green light surrounding him… but only when he shut his eyes. The wound on his stomach began to ache…

"What? By all the gods…" he gasped, looking down at his body and the sword in his hand, which was glowing an eerie blue. But then he heard grunting, gasping, scraping as if a struggle was quite close. He turned around.

There, a few paces away, in the green misted darkness was a huge dark, greenish form hulking over a man, who was glowing white, obviously struggling to get up, to get away. Kili did not need to look for long to realize what was attacking him…an orc. Bolg turned his disgusting head to look Kili's way. Kili looked for a moment at the man beneath Bolg; he could not really see his face clearly but saw that it was contorted with effort.

Shaking off his disorientation, Kili launched himself at the orc with a warrior's yell. He swiped at the creature's back, the sword glancing off the beast, but not without leaving a white slash. Bolg glared at him and stood up, growling defiantly.

"Go! She needs you!" Kili yelled at the man below, who succeeded at scrambling free of the orc's grasp. "Go!" Kili yelled, as he set his eyes on the large beast before him and lunged at him with his sword leading before him. On the edge of his vision, Kili saw the man crawl away through a veil of light in the darkness.

A large, heavy hand struck Kili on his flank and he flew further into the darkness. Then he hit a hard surface, the ground, he thought. For a moment, he was stunned, disoriented. The large orc lunged at him, but Kili nimbly dodged the blow, and spun around to deliver a swipe across the creature's chest. Bolg lumbered back for a few moments as a white streak appeared. Bolg growled again and approached Kili. Kili raised his sword with two hands, goading the fight. The enormous mace of the orc clashed with Kili's glowing sword again and again, sparks flying Kili struggling to right himself after each powerful blow. Kili eventually fell back, and had to use the sword above him to shield himself. But the orc's weapon was getting closer to his body.

Then, suddenly, out of nowhere, something rammed into the side of the creature above him, toppling him over. No, it was someone…That someone at first looked like a ball of greenish-golden light. Kili sat up and stared as what looked like a shimmering boulder changed before him…into the image of a light-haired dwarf.

"Fili!?" Kili gasped, as the vision of his brother unraveled before him. Fili ran over to him and reached out a glowing, green hand.

"Come brother…there is little time." Fili said. Kili was about to grab his hand but there was a growl. Kili instinctively brought up his sword and crossed swords with Fili, who had spun around. Their crossed swords captured the shaft of Bolg's mace.

"Looks like we have to deal with it first…" Kili said.

"Aye…" Fili answered, with a quick nod. Fili and Kili looked at each other and then began pushing the colossal beast back with a yell…and began to fight as warrior brothers again.

Tauriel felt she was as if floating in a cloud, unable to move, unable to utter a word. Heavy bands of darkness lapped at her, all around, as if a rope wrapping around her arms, legs and body was pulling her down, threatening to cover, to consume. But a light above her challenged the dark bands, surged and ebbed until a flash dissolved the darkness. And then the light faded.

She eventually became aware of voices around her, quiet Sindarian voices that seemed far at first…

"Will she be alright?"

"If the gods will it…"

"I don't know how this happened… They saw each other…but only for a moment. Then she fell from the ledge, and I went back into the fort to get to the lake, but then, the orc attacked me, and pulled me into the shadow world."

"Did that ever happen before?"

"No, never…but I had never encountered such a spirit as this; he felt…powerful. Solid. Real."

"That is strange…but the dwarf…are you sure it was your father?"

"Yes, quite sure…I know I have never seen him before…but I know it was him. He was there on the mountain, and seemed alive… But then he came to me in the shadow world. He attacked the orc that was keeping me in the stone, to let me escape. Then I found her like this."

"It was a good thing you found her when you did. Any longer, she would have been gone from us…"

"I know…I sensed her life draining away, right in front of me. I was desperate… did not know who else to turn to. I am sorry I summoned you like that…I did not know I even could."

"Speak no more of it, Eleiyon. Your powers are great, but so must be your control. In this instance, I understood your urgency, and am glad you reached me."

"I am forever in your debt, your majesty, and I will be vigilant, I promise. But I don't understand … is he alive? He had strength enough in the shadow world to strike the orc, a strength I never had."

"I saw your mother with your father's body after the battle. I knew something was different, but I did not know what. She had tried to heal him, to her own detriment … there was a flicker of energy left within him, but nothing that could sustain life. I added to it…as much as I could. I knew it would most likely fade, so I said nothing of it. Whatever happened after that was in the hands of the gods. Perhaps…he is now a creature of both light and shadow…"

At first, Tauriel saw the dim veil of a yellowish light before her closed lids; then the searing pain in her side entered her awareness. It made her gasp.

"She stirs…" the ethereal woman's voice uttered.

"Thank the gods…" her son's voice said. "Naneth..." He beckoned.

Tauriel opened her eyes to see her son before her, the look of exhausted relief on his face, his features furrowed deep with worry. Tauriel tried to take a deep breath and move, and was greeted with the same pain. She winced and groaned.

"Lie still." The woman's voice said. "You have much healing yet to do." Tauriel turned to where the voice came from. There she was, the Lady of Lothlorien by her side, her face luminous and her golden hair cascading around her shoulders. But her beautiful face was set with concern. Tauriel's eyes opened wide.

"My Lady!" Tauriel whispered. Galadriel smiled at her. Tauriel turned to Eleiyon. "Where…where am I?" She asked.

"We are in Dale." He said. "At the house of Princess Sigrid."

"You had to be moved from the darkness on the mountain, for us to have any chance to heal you." Galadriel added.

"But…Kili…" Tauriel said, looking at both Eleiyon and Galadriel. "That was him…in the flesh. I know it! I touched his face…He is alive." She strained to say. She looked around the room. "Where is he?" she asked, her eyes pleading. Eleiyon shook his head.

"Last I saw him, he was up on the mountain…" Eleiyon said. Tauriel's eyes grew frantic and she tried to get up. She was stopped quickly by pain and utter exhaustion that did not allow her to move far.

"Kili…I have to go back there…please…" Tauriel begged, even as her body fought her will.

"You cannot…you do not have the strength…" Eleiyon urged her. "Your wound was near mortal…"

Tauriel let her head fall back and she gasped a few breaths, emotion making her lip tremble. She started shaking her head in disbelief. Kili was up there, on the mountain. She was sure of it. She turned urgently to Eleiyon again.

"Please…I have to see him …please." She pleaded. Eleiyon grasped her hand and came in close. Tauriel looked urgently into her son's eyes. "I cannot lose him again…" she whispered.

Eleiyon felt a lump form in his throat. If there was anyone who could understand that fact, it would be him. To not have the chance to see Kili again, that would slay Tauriel where she lay. But what he did not tell her was that he feared for his father; he had left him battling an orc in the shadows.

"But I cannot lose you." Eleiyon said, his eyes softening. Tauriel gasped gently, pursing her lips, her eyes gazing sadly on her son's face. Eleiyon grabbed her hand tightly. "I will try to find him…"

The ancient elf moved slowly around the room, her eyes on them both.

"I will go…" The Lady of Lorien said. Eleiyon and Tauriel looked her way, surprised. "I will bring him back here if I can."

"My lady…" Eleiyon started.

"Stay with her." Galadriel said, voice soft, her eyes set hard on Eleiyon. "She needs your strength here." Galadriel added, as her head turned slowly to gaze towards the hill. She did not need to bark an order for it to be understood as such. "The dark forces are strong there. Unfortunately, I have…experience with such things." She said, her voice low and foreboding, her gaze steeled. Galadriel's usually light manner darkened; even her glow dimmed.

Back in the darkened walls of the fort, a preternatural battle waged on. Kili flew through the air after the orc's blow, landing hard on the ground. Fili and Kili were both exhausted, having fought for some time with the hulking spirit. Fili's light appeared to be weakening, there were dark marks across his bright body where the orc made contact. Where Kili got knocked down, he stayed there, breathless.

"By all the gods…" Kili groaned, turning over again. "I thought a dead orc would be much easier to best…" he managed to say, just before he had to roll quickly out of the way of the orc's mace.

"One would think…" Fili replied. Jumping on the mace, he wrenched the weapon from the beast's hands to the ill-defined ground. It growled, and leaned over to take a swipe at Fili. "But strange things are happening…" Kili jumped and kicked the beast, knocking it off balance so it fell away from its weapon.

"I see that…" Kili answered. "I was just fighting the dragon I saw die seventy years ago. But then Tauriel killed it again…" They stood up, solid, swords in hand, walking around the disarmed beast as it seethed.

"You cannot twice kill the dead, brother." Fili said. "Its spirit but grew weak with the fight.… it just went away, back into the darkness." Fili said. Kili turned about to stare at Fili.

"I don't understand…" Kili said.

"With each strike, they get weaker, and then they go away…" Fili explained, looking at Bolg. "Until they regain their strength and return."

"By all the gods…" Kili gasped. Fili swung his sword, just above Kili's head, just in time to catch the orc's punch. Fili pushed Kili out of the way.

"Watch yourself, brother!" He warned. Kili recovered rising up with sword in hand. "You can die here..."

"Why is this all happening?" Kili said, casting a wary eye on Bolg.

"A powerful darkness threatens the lands of the living…an ancient peril…it is calling the undead and all the spirits of the underworld." Fili continued, making a slash in the creature, one that left a streak of light in its hide. "The borders of the worlds are blurring…" Bolg lunged at Fili, but Kili distracted it with his own parry. "All the spirits are growing more powerful."

"Is that why I came back from the dead?" Kili asked, as he knit his brow. Fili looked his way.

"Well... You were never…dead…really." Fili answered. "As for how you are here," he said, as he dodged a blow thrown by the beast. "That can only be by the will of the gods."

"And you?" Kili said, turning to his brother. Kili started walking towards him, then he paused. "Are you really…"

"You know I am." Fili said. Fili gave him that characteristic smirk, but it was wrapped in sadness.

To be honest, Kili did not really want to think much about it. The image of the dwarf before him was his brother, all his features, his personality, his light, but he was not whole.

Bolg bellowed and looked back into the darkness. Kili took that chance to raise his sword to slash him again. Fili did the same and they struck him together. This time, Bolg looked wounded, the white wounds widening as it seemed to begin to fade to nothingness. But it grunted, a terrible groan.

"You cannot defeat us. We grow stronger…." it said.

Out of the shadows behind the grey beast developed another hulking figure. But this time, it was a huge, greenish white orc. His scarred arm raised and he grasped on to the ailing orc. They both shook, as power seemed to flow between them. Then both Azog and Bolg stood up, tall, menacing and growling at them.

"Azog!" Kili grunted. He shuddered and the sword before him drooped. "Oh, for Mahal's sake…" he despaired. He glanced over to Fili, who was shaking his head, and seemed almost too weak to raise his sword.

"The master soon will hold the ultimate power. We will be invincible!" Azog growled. "And you will die, dwarf scum…" he spat, glaring at Kili.

A figure appeared between the dwarf brothers. Kili turned his head slowly, then sucked in a breath.

"Not if I can help it." Thorin said, his rich, deep voice echoing in the darkness. Kili's mouth dropped open.

"YOU!" Azog growled.

Kili could not believe his eyes. There he was, the image of his uncle, in chain mail armor, a sword in his hand. He was glowing, powerful, standing tall, but translucent…like his brother. Thorin put his hand out to Fili, who took it, his energy seeming to return with the contact. Thorin's light eyes turned to Kili, and he smiled. Thorin turned his head to glare at Azog with measured rage in his eyes, and then let out a warrior's cry.

Kili and Fili joined in concert, voices and swords raised, and rushed headlong against the enemy. Swords and bodies clashed, the action a whirlwind between orc and dwarf. It became a blur of flashing white and dark weapons, sparks flying with each smash. Azog hit Thorin with a particularly hard blow which sent him flying behind them. Azog rushed towards Thorin, but both Fili and Kili crossed swords before him, blocking him. Bolg ran towards them as they held off Azog, the destructive mace held high. All seemed lost.

Suddenly, A bright light streamed out from behind them, blinding the orcs. Kili looked back; he could not see where the light came from. The light was accompanied by a muffled chant in elvish, sung low, almost growled by a woman's low voice.

I am the light. The power of light is invincible. All darkness concedes to light. The power of light is invincible. All darkness concedes to light…

Azog and Bolg dropped their weapons and raised their hands, the light streaming past the dwarves appearing to burn their eyes and hides, and the orcs halted where they stood. They screamed in rage.

"Blades to the quick, my sister-sons!" Thorin cried.

Thorin came running from behind the two brothers, ducking below their swords, slashing to the left and the right quickly, causing deep, bright gashes in each of the orcs.

Fili and Kili complied with their uncle's order and sunk their respective blades deep into the bellies of the beasts with brutal upward strokes. The beasts shook, and one by one, fell to their knees.

Thorin, who was then behind the orcs, spun around, slashing at the necks of one large orc, then the other. The orc spirits then dissolved before their eyes.

A wide satisfied smile graced Thorin's translucent face, lit up by the light that was still streaming towards them. He looked at his nephews with pride and approached them.

Kili approached them both, and put out his hands to his brother and uncle, his eyes beaming, but both Fili and Thorin shifted their gazes behind him, their faces becoming serious. Kili looked back, into the blinding light. He could not see anything. By the time he turned back around, both Fili and Thorin were retreating away from him into the darkness.

"No!" Kili said, taking a few steps toward them. "Don't go!"

"It is you who must go now, brother." Fili said. Kili looked at him incredulously, shaking his head. Fili and Thorin began to glow a whitish green, their features becoming more indistinct.

"Wait..." Kili said. "Why must I go?"

"We are but spirits who chose to stay in the shadows of the living world…" Thorin answered Kili's question, as he faded away before his eyes. "You can wander but do not belong here." Kili gasped, and turned to Fili, who was fading slower.

"Fili…" Kili said, reaching out to him. Fili became more distinct for just a moment. Fili held up his hand.

"I will always be there when you have need of me, brother." Fili said.

Kili raised his hand to grab his brother's hand. Just when he thought he would contact the ghostly specter of his brother, everything faded and he felt as if he traveled a mile again. Suddenly, all was dark. Around him was cold. Kili then realized his eyes were closed, and he opened them. Before him, rather than his brothers glowing hand, his hand rested against cold, rough stone. He stepped back, staring in the dark at the rock before him. Kili looked around, dazed and disoriented. He was in the passageway of the fort. He looked around for the man that had been in the passageway, turning all about, searching. The man was nowhere to be found.

Kili looked out of the doorway from whence he came, however long ago. Outside was much darker than it was before, and through the aperture, near the top he could see the night sky, littered with stars, a pale cold light casting shadows. Kili ran towards the opening, exiting into a moonlight bathed, darkened landscape of quietly running water in the lake before him, glints of dim light dancing on tiny rivulets. His eyes searched the shallow waters of the water's edge. A cool, stark wind pushed at the hair around his face.

"Tauriel…" Kili whispered, his heart feeling heavy as his eyes searched all around him. But she was gone. Only the cold air and hard gravel greeted him. His yasith was gone. He shook his head in confusion. How long had he been away? Obviously, the sun had set for some time…Despondently, he looked out across the lake. Something caught his eye.

There, when he looked to his left, he saw a tall figure, of an elf no doubt. Her long, light hair was hanging nearly down to her feet above a flowing, sparkling, light colored dress with layers that wafted in the breeze. She was standing in the middle of the bridge over the lake looking away from him, and seemed to be glowing slightly. Kili blinked a bit, making sure this being was not simply a vision before him. Kili had been through such strange things in the recent past that he was beginning to question his senses.

Kili walked along the water's edge to the bridge, slowly at first, then halted as the elf turned around. She looked directly at him, her face quite fair, her skin white with hair the color of golden light. Her air was regal, aloof and powerful. She looked at him with eyes that were bright, light, but very intense somehow. They followed him with a gaze that could impale you where you stood. She seemed to gasp lightly, her expression subtle, yet communicating both surprise and relief. He continued along, more urgently until he arrived at the foot of the bridge. He paused there, unsure…

"Kili, of the house of Durin." She said, her voice low and breathy. Kili nodded quickly, surprised at the recognition.

"Aye." He said, his brow knitting slightly as he took another step. "I am he." he answered softly.

"I am Galadriel, the Lady of the Galadhrim." She said. Kili's brow lifted. He looked back at the fort.

"Were you…the one….the light…back in there?" he asked, motioning behind him.

"Yes." She said, her expression changing little. He swallowed hard, his blood running cold. Why did she help them? How did this elf know of him? There must be a reason...

"Tauriel…" Kili stammered, his eyes wide with worry. "do you know… where…how…she is?"

"She lives." Galadriel replied. Kili fell to his knees with relief, panting hard, hand over his chest. "She was gravely injured, but she will survive." She continued. He leaned over, the relief sending tremors through his body.

"Oh, thank the gods…" Kili said finally, breathing deeply. He looked back at Galadriel. "Where is she?"

"In the city of Dale." The elf continued. "She asks for you."

Kili looked up at the elf, his eyes wide. Their most recent encounter played through his mind again. His old reservations resurfaced with a vengeance and he looked within. He looked down, his brows furrowing. Tauriel was in Dale, safe and sound. No doubt this man was with her now, there. Maybe she had been visiting the place he died as a pilgrimage…she was visiting a place of memory. He shook his head.

"Each time I am near her…" he said, his face stark with sadness, "I cause her great pain. I cause her grief. I put her in danger." he said, shaking his head slowly, voice low. "After all that has happened, how can I face her?"

The elegant elf gazed at him with a slight tilt of the head.

"The question is…how can you not?" Galadriel asked in return.

Kili looked up at Galadriel as his heart ached again. He pursed his lips and nodded. The least he could do was answer when she called…

"Aye…" he admitted. "I will go to her." he said.

After Galadriel left, it was night time and all was quiet in Dale, except for a little flurry of activity in the residence of the Princess Sigrid. Sigrid and her maids helped Tauriel change out of her wet, bloody clothes, and dressed her wound. Eleiyon was with her most of the time, chanting in elvish to ease her pain as she moved around, then he stayed with her inside a little bedroom, where Tauriel was left to rest in bed, her body weak from healing. She told Eleiyon about what happened up on Raven Hill, how his parents together fought the specter of the dragon in the Lake, and the accident that nearly led to her demise. Eleiyon eventually told Tauriel how the beast dragged him into the shadow world, and how Kili freed him from the orc who was holding him captive. Then all they could do was wait. Tauriel was floating in and out of her meditative rest, but it was fitful because she was intensely worried about Kili.

Suddenly, Eleiyon raised his head and got up to look out the window. He gasped.

"The Lady approaches…I think he is with her!" Eleiyon said, looking back at his mother.

Tauriel's eyes lit up even as tears threatened to form. A smile formed across her face and a lightness seemed to envelop her, even in her suffering.

"By all that is good in Arda, he's alive…" She gasped. Eleiyon nodded and smiled. He knelt down at her bed and took her hand.

"Yes, naneth, and so are you." He said. "And for that, I am grateful." He looked behind him at the door, and then back at her with a serious expression. "I think I should leave you alone to greet him…" he said. Tauriel stroked his face.

"Yes, I think that is best." She said. "We have much to talk about."

Kili was led soundlessly down the mountain to Dale, Galadriel leading the way before him. All the way down, Kili's mind was racing. How should he approach Tauriel? He just wanted to hold her and kiss her and tell her he loved her with all his heart, forever…but… just his presence may have brought an unwelcome complication in her life. Had she started another life, with another man? Just the thought made him wince. Would she feel she would have to choose? Should he just say hello and goodbye? How should he act? A bit distant? No, he couldn't. And maybe this was all just a supposition…

Kili's head ached with the troubling thoughts. He sighed and set his eyes on the city ahead, its flickering lights like large golden stars set against in the otherwise dark land scape, barely lit up by pale moonlight. As they crossed the bridge, he saw few people lingering about other than the guards at the gate for it was late, and the town was quiet. When they entered the city, he was greeted with nary a glance, for the magnificent elf before him drew the most attention from the eyes along their way. Galadriel led him into the building he recognized as being the one he was told belonged to Princess Sigrid. She led him slowly up the stairs to a door that was closed. Galadriel turned to him and nodded, a little smile on her face. He looked up at her, then at the door. Galadriel walked away, leaving Kili alone. Kili raised his head and took a deep breath. He opened the door slowly.

The tidy, trim room had a warm, low light. In the middle of the room was a neat bed, and in it was his elf. Kili walked in and as he saw Tauriel, his face paled in shock, his mouth dropped open and he paused at the door, to suck in a breath. Her eyes were already upon him.

"Tauriel…" he said, shakily. Tauriel's eyes lit up upon seeing him. Their gazes locked on each other, and time seemed to stand still. For a moment, Kili felt as if he could not move; as if his knees would buckle.

"Kili…" She said softly, a pleased smile blooming on her face.

Kili looked on at the lovely elf before him, no longer in her signature green clothes that matched her beautiful, crystal green eyes, eyes that now looked at him so softly, it hurt him to see. She was in a white dressing gown, covered by a crisp sheet. Her red fire hair cascaded around her shoulders.

Kili couldn't stop himself. He rushed to her bedside and fell to his knees, grabbing her hand and pressing his lips to the soft, delicate fingers. He squeezed his eyes shut. Her hand was warm now, so soft, the skin on it so sweet against his lips.

"You're alive…" he gasped, as he pressed her hand to his face.

"So are you…" he heard her whisper, as her thumb stroked his cheek, and her fingers curled around his chin, lifting his face to look at her. Another soft hand held his other cheek. "I…I can't believe it is you, here, in the flesh."

Kili opened his eyes and stared into the sweetest face he would ever hope to see smiling at him, his beloved Tauriel… Her eyes were wide, clear, but brimming with tears. His eyes wandered down her body to where a gentle mound of wrappings covered one side of her slim waist. He suddenly became overwhelmed.

"I'm so sorry…" he said. He buried his face in the sheets next to her body, his body tremoring with sobs. He had nearly killed her. How could she look at him like that?

"Kili?" she asked, a little concern in her voice. Her hands began to stroke his head, her fingers curling against his scalp as she cooed. "It's alright, Kili…I'm alright." He lifted his head up, pursed his lips and shook his head.

"How…can you bear to look upon me?" he said, blinking his eyes. "I stabbed you…I nearly killed you…"

"Oh Kili…that was an accident. Dark spirits were at work." she said, shaking her head. She put her soft hand on his face, her thumb gently wiping away at a wet cheek. "I am so thrilled to see you..." She breathed, her eyes soft and sparking with tears, her voice tremulous. Kili swallowed hard, a bit of hope creeping in his chest.

"How can you not be angry?" he said. Her lips curled into a kind smile.

"Because I love you…" she said, the smooth words both thrilling and stinging him.

Kili gasped and started weeping again, as he bent his head down. His mind immediately went back to the man who climbed up Ravenhill with her. He looked back at the door. He looked up at Tauriel, gasping, the sadness returning to his eyes. Tauriel looked confused and worried.

"But … how can you really mean that?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" she asked, her eyes blinking in disbelief.

"You love another now…" he said, standing up, barely able to keep his balance. "I saw you with him…in the market…It is not fair of me… to be here now..." he stammered. Tauriel shook her head with confusion.

"What are you talking about?" She said, incredulously. She sat up, but then winced at the pain in her stomach. Kili rushed to her and helped her lay back against the pillows. She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. He pursed his lips.

"Please, don't hurt yourself…You should not try to get up like that …" he said, his concern overriding his sadness. She gripped his arm. He looked into her widened eyes.

"Kili, what do you mean?" she said. Kili sat down heavily next to her, staring at her face, her strong shoulders. Everything, just everything, he loved about her. He looked away.

"I saw you with him in the square. The man who you asked for on the mountain…El… Eli…"

"Eleiyon?" she said. He nodded, and looked down.

"Yes. That's it." He said, a little bitterly. "I…saw the way you looked at him…" Kili said, shaking his head. "I…know what I told you…what I made you promise to do…" his voice dissipated into a whisper, unable to continue.

Tauriel stared at Kili in shock for a second. Once mortified with worry, she felt relief flow over her when realization hit. Kili had seen her with Eleiyon in the square, and had thought that they were together. She sighed.

"Kili…" Tauriel said softly. Her lover dwarf was just inches away, but yet so distant. She inched closer and put her hand on his. She saw him look down at her hand sadly. "Kili, do you trust me?" She saw him purse his lips and close his eyes, nodding. "Then look at me."

She waited until his dark, sad brown eyes opened. She held his hand tight. Kili blinked and l lifted his eyes to hers. His eyes were full of hurt.

"You are right, I do love Eleiyon…" she said, and in that second, Kili seemed to crumble. His eyes became full, glued on her with such pain she could not bear it. She could wait no longer. "Because he is our son." she said, clearly and insistently.

Tauriel saw the sadness dissipate and shock creep into Kili's expression. At first his eyes seemed to go blank as he stared at her, almost paralyzed. He started blinking and his eyebrows rose, his expression evolving from the devastation that was there to confusion to open mouthed surprise. He finally gasped a few times, a multitude of expressions flowing over his face as his lips mouthed it…

"A son?"

She nodded. Her heart warmed and swelled within her as the beautiful transformation blossomed before her.

"Our….our…son?" Kili gasped, his voice barely above a whisper, his eyes blinking.

"Yes, my love." She said, unable to keep the smile from her lips.

"We…have…a son?" he said, shaking his head slightly, a look of shocked joy creeping onto his face. Kili gasped and stared at her.

"Yes, Kili." She said, her heart bursting. "You see, I did find love again…but a love of a different kind. The love you gave me. The love of our child." He blinked quickly as she put her hand on his face. "I know what you asked of me, but I never stopped loving you, Kili. Never for a moment. My heart would not allow it."

Kili could hardly contain himself. He leaned over and kissed those beautiful lips. A hard, tear filled kiss… He held her face and nearly broke into tears again; but instead he sunk into her kiss, her smell, her taste, the feel of her lips on his, drinking her in, like sustenance to his being. She put her arms around his shoulders and he felt her hold him tight, her face against his, as she began to cry against him. He pulled her close, gently and rubbed her back and her head, her red tresses feeling like silk against his fingers. A familiar, wonderful sensation.

"Oh, Tauriel…" he said, holding her tightly. Her body shook with her tears. Kili held her secure, yet gently.

"I missed you so much, Kili…" He heard her whisper. "It has felt like forever…"

"As it has felt for me, but it has only been but days since I awoke. I can't even imagine how you have felt."

Only after they had kissed again for a while longer did Tauriel finally lay back on the bed, obviously spent. Kili stroked her cheek with a light touch, his eyes soft with concern.

"You should rest now." he said. She stroked at his beard, which was a bit fuller than it was before, so long ago...

"Yes, but only if you stay near." she said, a small smile on her lips. Kili smiled his gentle, soft smile.

"I could not be far from you ever again." He confessed. "I am afraid you are now truly stuck with me." Tauriel laughed.

"Will you lay with me?" she asked. "In your arms, I always did find peace." Kili smiled and nodded.

"There is no request I would not grant you now or ever, amralime. Least of all that one." He said. Tauriel could not hold herself together anymore. She beamed from ear to ear and wrapped her arms around his neck. So long ago she had heard that, never again did she think she would hear it again from her beloved's lips.

Kili took off his outermost layer of clothes, then lay besides his elf. He moved around carefully, on the other side of her wound, wrapping his arms about her gently, pulling her close, her familiar curves against his body awakening his skin. He closed his eyes and breathed in his bliss.

I love you, Tauriel, forever… he thought, knowing the elf nearby would know the call of his heart.

"And I, you." She said.

They laid there in silence for some time, looking at each other intently, each one afraid to close their eyes for long lest the other would disappear before them. They tenderly stroked each other's faces and bodies as if just to further convince themselves of the truth…that they were together again. The seriousness of Tauriel's injury put a damper on their desirous urges, for the moment, even though their long kisses made them breathless, their touches leaving each other wanting more.

Kili and Tauriel spent the night talking softly, catching up on their years apart. Kili told Tauriel about his strange awakening, his chance encounter with the descendants of Tilda, and his entanglement with Smaug. Tauriel listened intently, but had more questions than he had answers to give. Tauriel told him everything, all of what had happened in the last decades while he was sleeping. It was all a shock to him: the birth of their child in the midst of his mother's despair, how she met and then lived with his mother, how they eventually found out about Eleiyon's special gifts, and Tauriel's mystic abilities, and their travels through Middle Earth back to Mirkwood, Laketown and Dale. Tauriel delicately told Kili about the true identity of his father, and of Dis' natural, peaceful death.

Kili took it all in, overwhelmed at times, at all that had happened since they last spoke. He found grounding and strength in her presence. He stilled his sadness and shock by staring into her crystal green eyes, taking comfort in the arms of the elf he loved. He had to constantly reassure himself he was not just dreaming, because he could not believe he held her again in his arms. If this was the Halls of Madros, Kili would be quite pleased with that; but the slight twinges of aches from his recent battles, the natural urges of hunger and thirst and the constancy of the solid things surrounding them ensured him he was indeed alive, and indeed awake. They talked and talked late into the night, through laughter and tears until the irresistible need for sleep made Kili surrender.