So I decided to finally write a Hobbit story because I have fallen in love with Kili and Tauriel and ideas have been filling my mind for days. Also I finally got to see The Battle of the Five Armies last night so I thought it was the right time.

I am going to pre-warn that I am entering my second term of university and therefore updates are likely to be slow because I have so much work to do but I really wanted to write this as there is not enough Tauriel/Kili stories out there.

I've never written a chapter like this before. Legolas is not going to be one of my central characters, it will be very much focused on Tauriel and Kili, but I wanted to have an outsider to the events explaining what has happened leading up to where this story begins. Hopefully you enjoy this introduction to the story and review because they mean the world to me, especially after the negative comments I have been receiving recently.

PROLOGUE

Legolas could remember when his father had first brought her back after her parents had been slaughtered by orks. She had seemed so lost, cuddled closer than anyone had ever been to his father, and deadly silent. It was a week before she had even said anything to anyone and it had been him who had been fortunate enough to hear her finally whisper that she was scared. In response, had held her close and promised her that no one would ever hurt her and from that moment Tauriel had become the most important person in his world.

Legolas had watched her grow, smirked as her confidence and skill increased to such a height that the other elves had grown wary of her, and had found their friendship growing as the centuries had passed. However, he had also observed from the side lines as Tauriel had allowed herself to fall in love with Kili, sister son of Thorin Oakenshield, a dwarf. He had seen her begin to change, examined the way her allegiances had slowly changed from being completely focused on her people and her King to becoming more fixated on the young prince, and Legolas had been the one who had been left alone when Tauriel had decided to save Kili from the poison that had started to kill him.

"Tauriel," Legolas said quietly as he entered her bedroom, not surprised to find that it was completely dark in the room. Legolas knew that she was in the darkness; he could hear her breathing further in and could faintly see her outline by the window. "Tauriel?" he asked, desperately trying to get her to respond to him. Standing still in the doorway, Legolas couldn't help but remember the young redhead elfling who had once cuddled into their King's side in grief. All of Tauriel's confidence and laughter had disappeared after the battle. Legolas had seen his friend's happiness vanish from her when he had turned to corner to find her clutching Kili's corpse close to her body, tears falling down her cheeks and her body shaking. He had stood back when his father had found them and had tried to comfort the redhead, surprising them both by finally admitting that what had been felt between Kili and Tauriel had been real.

"Tauriel, I know that you are here," Legolas sighed, staring in her direction as he tried to remember the last time she had left her room since their return to Mirkwood. He had been the one who had supported her after Kili had been taken away from her, had ridden with her back to Mirkwood as she had begun to deteriorate in front of him and had returned her to her chambers upon their arrival. He now missed her laughter, her voice, and most of all the life that had once filled her eyes. Tauriel hadn't said anything to him, to anyone, in the four months that had followed since their return and his concern was growing more with every passing day. "Tauriel, you have barely left this room," Legolas commented, finally stepping inside before approaching her bed where she was currently lying in silence. "Talk to me mellon, let me help you," Legolas begged as he perched on the edge of her bed and leant across, lighting one of the candles that rested on a bedside cabinet.

Turning when the light slightly filled the room, Legolas sighed when he found himself looking down at his pale friend, who was curled up beside him. Even when Tauriel had been a recently orphaned elfling, he had never seen her as vulnerable as she currently seemed to be. Her hair was flowing freely around her body instead of neatly tied back, her face pale and the light that had once filled her eyes was practically gone. It was almost like she hadn't even noticed his presence beside her.

"Mellon," Legolas whispered, his fingers reaching across to brush hair from her face while she shut her eyes at the touch. "My father is worried about you Tauriel, I am worried about you," Legolas commented, trying to start up some sort of conversation with her. He knew that Kili was not a conversation she would want to have, especially with him.

"Your father is not worried about me Legolas," her voice muttered, almost silently as a small smile decorated his face. He was shocked that she viewed their King like this, especially after he had allowed her to return to Mirkwood after being banished, but he was also glad to hear her voice, to hear her make some sort of comment. Just knowing that Tauriel was still there, that she was listening to him meant more to him than anything at that moment. "He still looks upon me with disgust," Tauriel muttered, finally sitting up and brushing the rest of her red hair away from her face before she glanced down at her hands. "I know that you do not understand Legolas, that you cannot understand my feelings for him but it was not revolting like everyone believes, it was not wrong," Tauriel declared before standing and moving towards the large window, her arms wrapping around her body while Legolas sat perfectly still and watched her. "They were not like we believed them to be," Tauriel whispered, mainly to herself, as she stared out of her window at the stars. "They were kind and honourable and devoted to their families."

"And yet they were motivated by gold," Legolas argued, regretting it the moment he said it when she glared at him.

"Yes, some of them were motivated by the gold, but they were also motivated by their need to return home. They just wanted to restore the line of Durin to their family home," Tauriel responded before shaking her head. "Kili was…" Tauriel began before falling silent, Legolas sighing as he stood up and moved towards her. "I wish to be alone," Tauriel suddenly stated, turning to look at her friend as Legolas sighed and nodded. He couldn't force her to let him stay. He just had to be happy that she had spoken for the first time in months.

"I am here for you mellon," Legolas stated before leaving the room.

KILLIEL

Hearing the door shut when Legolas finally left, Tauriel shut her eyes to stop the tears from falling down her cheeks before shaking her head. She hated herself. She hated how weak she had become. She had gone from being the Captain of the Guard to a woman who could not cope, a woman she had never once believed she would become. Moving towards the window again, Tauriel sighed when she found herself looking up at the stars that she had once loved.

It is memory; precious and pure…

Kili.

Kili was nothing but a beloved memory now. A memory for her to cherish and grieve as her life continued without him by her side. He was amongst the starlight now.

"I'm sorry my love," Tauriel whispered, continuing to look up at the white lights as she finally allowed herself to move her hand to her abdomen, her fingers slowly running across the small bump that had recently begun to appear noticeable.

So what do you think? Love it? Hate it? Want more? Never want me to write again? Let me know.

I know that Tauriel seems really out of character at this point but I think that Kili's death would have been a major shock for her and I don't think she would know how to deal with herself. I don't know, you might agree with how I've presented her or hate it. She's such a wonderful character and I won't be happy if she's completely wrong in a lot of your opinions.