From Other Worlds

The Confession

It had been hours since Rayna left the company to walk, and the longer she was gone, the more worried Kili became.

"I've been looking for you." Kili spoke softly, not to startle Rayna as he approached, "What are you looking at?"

"The craftmanship and details in these halls are just amazing." She was staring up at the halls. Kili swelled with pride for his people.

"Fili told me that you pull away when you are afraid to get hurt. What are you afraid of?"

"I'm afraid that I'm only hurting myself actually." Rayna admitted.

"Why would you do that? Are you alright?" Kili pulled his brows together in concern as he began looking over Rayna.

"Kili, Kili it's not like that." Rayna held her hands out to stop him. Kili took hold of them gently.

"Then what is it?" Kili was searching her eyes, almost afraid to hear the answer, resisting the urge to hold her in that moment and tell her everything was going to be alright. He wanted to do so many things, but he was screaming at himself to just listen.

"I fell in love with you." Rayna admitted.

The anxiety turned into elation. Kili felt like he could soar. He played those words over again in his mind as his heart raced. The joy that spread across his face was undeniable. His silence prompted Rayna to continue.

"And I tried not to. Not because it's a terrible thing, with you it's quite the opposite really but because-"

"You're leaving." Kili jumped to an answer.

"Because you were supposed to fall in love with someone else." Rayna finally looked up to him. She saw his brows pull together in confusion and she wasn't sure if she could keep hold of his hands.

Kili released her hands, reaching for the leather around her neck he pulled the necklace so it was free, gently holding the carving he looked up at her "How can I possibly fall in love with anyone else, when you're right here? You're not supposed to be here either according to your own stories. But why not rewrite the story? Why not rewrite our fate?"

Rayna sighed out, "Kili..."

"I have tormented myself enough. Holding back how I feel, knowing you are leaving, and I cannot do that anymore. I have tried to tell you before, In Rivendell-"

"I know."

"Then you know how long I have been twisting myself around this. No more. Rayna, Amrâlimê-"

Kili's words were cut off by the press of Raynas lips to his. They felt soft like he had imagined. They carried a warmth and a sweetness he knew was there from her smile. Her hands held his face, and his let go of the necklace to wind one around her back and one up into her hair. Pulling her closer and deepening the kiss he had been waiting for so long to have. It felt almost over too soon when Rayna pulled away, looking into Kili's eyes with adoration.

"I am so sorry if that crossed any lines."

"It only crossed the right ones." Kili moved to hold her hands, "Rayna please, be with me. Allow me to love you."

Rayna held delight in her eyes before the reality set back in, "And when I complete my task and I'm thrown back into my world without you?"

"I have tormented myself enough with that thought. I don't care anymore. I want a chance to be with my love, whether it's a week or a whole lifetime. I will regret it the rest of my days if I don't." Kili squeezed her hands a little tighter now.

Rayna knew what was going to happen, and she couldn't deny Kili. She couldn't deny him the joy and the love. She couldn't deny herself any of that either.