He will want to know instead of being shocked by it when he reaches Valinor only to find Kili next to me. I think that we will wait until we leave for the Gray Havens before sending that particular letter.

When I have settled into my new apartment, and Kili into his guest room. I take Kili on a tour of the palace, and the gardens. Kili likes the forges best, and he asked me if it would be alright if he started working there. I told him that he would have to ask the head smith if it would be alright with him. I could see it on his face how much he wants this information so I tell him where the head smith can be found, and he went off right away to find him. When he gets back he has the biggest smile on his face. So I ask.

"So what did he say?" Tauriel

"He said that it would be very interesting to see the craftsmanship that Dwarves are so well known for. So I nod, and tell him that I would be honored to work along side him. He told me to meeting him in the forges after breakfast tomorrow." Kili

"What did you say?" Tauriel

"I said yes of course. I think I am going to enjoy spending the months of our courtship here." Kili

"Kili an elven courtship lasts for a minimum of a year preferably more." Tauriel

"Wow! That is a long time. Dwarven courtships only last a few months." Kili

"Father and the council are only going to be happy if we go with the elven standard of courtship." Tauriel

"Oh well a year it is then." Kili

I smile, and nod at Kili then we continue on with the tour. When we have finished the King asks to see me alone. Kili decides to check out the hall of healing to see if there is anything that he can learn from the healers. What he doesn't know is that it will take at least two years of intensive training to become a competent healer. So that means that our courtship period has been extended by a year. I'll have to ask him about it when we see each other again.

Kili POV

I know that it is very reckless to go into the healing halls, and ask to be taught elvish medicine. However I want to be able to help those around me, and be able to save someone with something other than a sword. I wonder what that strange look on Tauriel's face was all about? I'll have to ask her about it when we see each other again. When I make it to the healing halls a female elf walks up to me, and says.

"Is their something that I can help you with master Dwarf?" elleth

"Yes there is. I am wondering if it would be possible for you to train me to be a healer?" Kili

"Yes it would be possible, but may I know why you have chosen this path?" healer

"I would like to be able to help someone with something other than a sword." Kili

"That is a very honorable goal master Dwarf. I would be honored to help train you, but you must understand that since the time we have for training is very limited that it will be a very intensive study." healer

"What kind of schedule are we talking about here?" Kili

"You will report to me after lunch, and you will not leave here until 10:00 at night. Is that clear mister..." healer

"Kili, and yes it is quite clear miss healer." Kili

"Good. You may leave to enjoy the rest of the day." healer

I nod, and leave to find Tauriel. I run in he halls just as she is getting off duty. The smile she gifts me with makes my heart sing.

She takes my hands in her own, and says.

"Why don't we go to the training grounds so that you can show me these famed archery skills your mother won't shut up about? After that you can pick what we do next." Tauriel

"Certainly My Lady." Kili

Tauriel begins tugging me in the direction of the sporting area the guards use for training. When we get there all of the guards stop their drills and look at us with various degrees of shock on their faces. Tauriel handles the situation expertly by saying something in elvish to the guards. They go back to what they were doing, and leave us to train in peace. I take an appropriately sized bow off the rack, and line up for the first target. I hit just left of center under my elf's assessing gaze. She makes minor adjustments to my stance, and then stands back to watch. Tauriel smiles when I hit the target dead center. I look back at her with a returning smile. When Tauriel takes her shot she splits my arrow in half. Have I ever told anyone how much I love this woman. She is perfect for me in every way. The two of us continue shooting until supper time. We arrive at dinner, and Tauriel leads me to the Kings table. I sit down next to Tauriel, and we dig into our meals. When the dishes are cleared away I take a comb and satin pouch out of my pocket. I empty the pouch into my hand, and show the beads to her father,he nods, then I turn to my love, and say.

"Tauriel my love will you marry me?" Kili

"Yes I will." Tauriel

I smile as I comb the selected portion of her hair. Then begin to braid inserting the first bead halfway down the braid, and I clasp on the final one when I have finished the braid. Tauriel looks at me with confusion on her face, and says.

"Kili what are these adornments you have put in my hair?" Tauriel

"They are Dwarven Betrothal Beads. They signify our engagement plainly for all to see." Kili

Tauriel nods to filled with emotion to manage any kind of response. She looks at her braid with awe clearly visible on her face. The Elvenking dismisses all those present in the dinning hall, and says.

"Your actions today are a credit to you, and show the strength of your character." Thranduil

"Thank you Thranduil." Kili

Thranduil nods, and leaves the room. I leave also to find Tauriel. When I find her she takes me to her favorite place to watch the stars. They are every bit as beautiful as Tauriel said that in the dungeons so long ago. As we are gazing at the stars I get the urge to compare them, and see what is more beautiful the stars or Tauriel. I find that to me Tauriel is far more beautiful than the stars. I look into her beautiful, and say.

"Tauriel my love; Your beauty far out shines the light of the stars." Kili

A blush spreads over her cheeks at my compliment, and instead of answering she leans in and kisses me with more passion than I thought was possible for one person to possess. We sit there and cuddle until it is time for me to go to bed.

The next morning I head down to the forges after breakfast, and find that the head smith is there waiting for me. He looks at me, and says.

"We will work side by side until lunch time, and then you will be free to do what ever else you have planned for the day." head smith

"Understood." Kili

We have fun in our work until lunch, and then go our separate ways. I head to the dinning hall and have some lunch. After eating lunch with Tauriel I head to the healing halls to begin my training as a healer. When I get there the healer has a pleasant smile on her face. She immediately sets me to grinding herbs for medicines. I watch as the other healers are busy tending to the patients while I am doing this menial task, but I will trust that my teacher knows what she is doing. I have to make sure to memorize exactly which herbs go into which medicines. I have realized that I am already learning a lot just by preparing the medicines. I am so excited just think of all the people I can help after I finish my training, but I can't allow that to distract me from my work. By the end of the day I have learned how to make several medicines, however I still do not know how to use any of them. I wonder how many more medicines I will have to learn how to make. Learning how to use the medicines I am making is the goal I am working towards. The goal I have set is what keeps me from becoming discouraged during the long hours at the mortar and pestle. I head to bed as soon as my lessons have ended. I fall asleep as soon as my head hits the nice soft pillow in my pleasantly warm room.

The next day I spend the morning with Tauriel, and the rest of the day in the healing halls learning all I can. This is what every day is going to be like for the next two years. Every day I am being taught more and more in addition to making medicines. Each and every day seems to blend into the next, but I couldn't be happier for all that I have learned so far. My courtship of Tauriel has also been going very well. She has been very understanding of me working in the healing halls. She knows how badly I have been affected by my brothers death. There have been many time that I have wished that I had died with him. One look at Tauriel and all of those negative thoughts and feeling vanish. Thranduil asked me why I am training to be a healer, and I told him of the negative effect my brothers death has had on me. He gave me a solemn nod , and continued with his meal. It is almost unbelievable how much you can learn in such a small amount of time when you apply yourself. Tauriel and I have become even closer than we were before. We fill each others days with so much happiness, and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I know that Tauriel will be alive a lot longer than me. My only hope is that my passing does not cause her to much pain. That being said I would follow her to the ends of the earth and beyond if I she asks me to.

Thranduil POV

I know that my daughter is up to something I just have no idea what it is. No matter if it ever strikes me as something important I get it out of her some how. I have been observing their courtship carefully so that may know if something is about to go wrong, and so far nothing bad has happened. They are both happy, and that is all I could ever wish for. I have not seen Tauriel this happy in centuries. The Dwarf does not posses the same predgidus and rudeness of his kin. I am satisfied that Tauriel has found a good match for herself. There are many who will sneer at the fact that one of our people has matched herself with a Dwarf, but I do not care what they think. My daughter will have her happiness and there is nothing they can do about it. I sincerely hope that Tauriel and Kili make their home in The Greenwood, but if it is not to be then I hope that they pick somewhere safe to live. I don't want my young ones to be in danger; I want them to have the peaceful lives that they deserve. If they do choose to live else where I will pay them a surprise visit as soon as I know where they live. I have to make sure that their accommodations are suitable for a prince and princess to be living in, but most of all I want to make sure that they are comfortable and happy. This is my sincerest wish for them that they find a home where comforts, and happiness abound.

I am pulled from my thoughts by a guard barging into my throne room. The guard runs up to me, and says.

"The Princess was stung by spiders. The other guards have taken her to the healing halls, but it doesn't look good." guard

"What happened to my daughter?!" Thranduil

"We had cleared out all of the forest except one nest. We were overwhelmed, because this was the largest nest that any of us have ever see. The Princess was stung multiple times ensuring that every last patrol member was able to escape." guard

"I see. I want two patrols to purge that nest and every one of that size. I want every last spider gone even if you have to sneak into Dol Guldur to do so." Thranduil

"You want us to purge the main nest in the abandoned fortress my lord." guard

"Yes, I want you to burn the spiders from the fortress after you have finished purging the forest. Use all the stealth you can; Make sure that you are not seen entering or leaving the fortress." Thranduil

"Yes my lord." guard

The guard leaves to carry out my orders, and I leave for the healing halls as soon as I am sure that no one else is going to come.

When I get there I see all the healers busily treating Tauriel's injuries. Kili while distressed by Tauriel's condition hasn't lost focus on the task once. I'm impressed he is turning out to be a fantastic healer. I'm glad that Kili has chosen this way of coping with his brothers death. If he hadn't then all this talent would have ended up being wasted. I am sure that his brother is watching from Aule's halls with a proud smile on his face. I know that I don't know anything about Fili, but he would have to be an absolute fool to be anything other than proud of his younger brothers achievements. I know that myself, and Tauriel are very proud of him. His uncle is a fool to throw his Kin away just because he fell in love with someone he doesn't approve of. Unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it without damaging diplomatic relations with Erebor once again, and I can not afford to let that happen under any circumstances. The Dwarves of Erebor still resent me for not helping them, and letting it be known that I am harboring their exiled prince would not help matters in the slightest. In fact it would probably make things even worse if anyone knew. In these dark times I can not allow anything to sully relations with our neighbors. The free peoples of the North must stay on friendly terms during these troubled times. Besides it isn't difficult to disguise the presence of someone that nobody is looking for.

The next day I go to Tauriel's healing room to check on her, and I find that she has made a significant step on the road to recovery. At least I do not have to worry about possibly having to bury my beloved daughter anymore. I am very pleased with how much her condition has improved since I saw her last. The healers say that she will make a complete recovery, but it will take two weeks for her to do so. I smile when I see that Kili has not moved from Tauriel's side once since she was injured. The love and dedication this dwarf has for my daughter is astounding. I did not think that a mortal was capable of possessing let alone demonstrating that level of dedication. He has plainly shown that Dwarves do have some admirable qualities. They are not the greedy gold obsessed dirt diggers that I had thought they were. I know that my son will learn this lesson for himself eventually. I am glad that Legolas has discovered the true nature of his and Tauriel's relationship. They have always been brother and sister since the day Tauriel came into our lives as a babe. They have and always loved each other as a brother and sister should, and I have no doubt that they will continue for the rest of eternity.

The next day I go to check on Tauriel, and I find her awake, but bedridden. I look at Kili, and say.

"How is she?" Thranduil

"Improving, but it will take the previously mentioned two weeks for Tauriel to make a complete recovery. She has been ordered to strict bed rest for at least a week. No walking or solid foods during that time." Kili

"I understand." Thranduil

Kili nods to me, and continues aiding Tauriel. I look her over, and say.

"How are you feeling?" Thranduil

"Much better. I honestly thought I was going to die, and leave my loved ones. I am so happy to still be here." Tauriel

"As are we happy to have you here with us." Thranduil

"The spiders?" Tauriel

"Are being permanently taken care of as we speak." Thranduil

"You have finally taken my advise." Tauriel

"Indeed I have. Those spiders crossed the line when they attacked my family." Thranduil

Tauriel blushes, and looks away. She knows that it takes something dramatic happening to jar me into action. I just wish that I had listened to her sooner, and then none of this would have ever happened. That being said Tauriel is going to recover, and the spiders are going to be out of our lives forever. Although the danger will never ceases until Sauron is vanquished once and for all. I look forward to the day my people can roam the forest without fearing for their lives. When that day comes I will open my boarders again, and peace will be returned to the North. My children and I will enjoy all the freedoms that come with peace. Things will unfortunately get a whole lot worse before they get better. Such is the way of the world. When Tauriel loses Kili I will be there to console her in her grief. Losing her husband will be extremely hard on her especially since he will be bound for a separate hall of waiting. As soon as he passes on they we will not see each other until the remaking of the world. When Aule releases the Dwarves from his halls to assist in the construction of Middle-Earth that will be.