Baptized in Blood and Flame

Chapter 6: Kindled

Italics - Sindarin

Third Age: 2935

A few weeks and several more demonstrations of her fighting prowess, along with some pleading on Kili's part (which he would never admit to), slowly warmed the cold attitude of the dwarves towards Tauriel. To her credit, in Thorin's opinion, she kept her peace when the others stayed as far from her as possible, and owing her a life-debt helped provide motivation to keep her with the group.

By the time they reached the Mountain, they had become close enough to include her in their fireside discussions, (though she suspected this had something to do with the game her bow had been able to consistently procure them). With Thorin's permission, she used a simple glamour spell to hide the points of her ears, masquerading as a human ranger.

A few days of rest in the mountain at Dunland allowed them to become better acquainted. Slowly, begrudging acceptance began to form. Three days into their stay, Fili offered to spar with her.

She hesitated a moment as she grabbed her sword.

"Don't worry," Fili had his two identical blades, of an odd dwarven make that had them tapered in the opposite direction as her own. "I won't hold it against you if you loose."

"Neither will I." There was no real challenge in either of their voices. His twin blades clashed against her longsword. Of course, being nearly 2 feet taller than your opponent with a sword almost as tall as him gives a distinct advantage. Within a minute, the blond heir had been tripped flat on his back (much to the amusement of his spectating little brother).

A few rounds of sparing, and it seemed as though everyone was starting to loosen up. Strength accounted for a great deal in the eyes of the dwarves,and hers was beginning to win them over. A good warrior was a good warrior, dwarf or not. Some even made conversation with her out of more than politeness.

Fili proved to be caring and funny underneath his reserved exterior. Dwalin never stopped being gruff, but showed how fiercely loyal he was to Thorin. Thorin himself was more of a puzzle; determined to make himself aloof, yet was quick to pull his nephews into a tight hug if he ever thought they were in danger. Kili... She wasn't quite sure if he trusted her because she saved his life, or because he was simply so young that the bitterness of the world had not yet dampened his spirits.

The days in Dunland also allowed Kili to think of Tauriel. Why it was so easy to talk to her, why he wanted desperately to hear her laugh again, why no one else seemed to think of her as he did. Was he truly so different from his family? (And Dwalin, too, but he counted as family.) Was it truly so odd? The sound of an opening door pulled him away from his thoughts.

Tauriel's hair, heavy with water, hung to her waist without the bushiness usually provided by her curls. In the evening sun, each strand seemed to be of gleaming copper. Kili pulled his eyes away before she could notice he was staring. He'd never thought an elf could be... beautiful. Yet there she was, crooked smile, barely tamed hair, spatters of freckled that reminded him of sparks from a forge.

She joined him on the large stone where he was sitting, turning her face up towards the sun. They would be headed back to Ered Luin soon, but now wasn't the time to think about that. They sat there, together, in the warmth of the day. 

Five years later

•~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~•

Third Age: 2941

A bright, early-April sun beamed through the windows, though it did little to lift the somber gloom sitting heavy over the room. Fourteen dwarves and one elf, all crowded around a too-small table. There had been some commotion at the start of the meeting as Tauriel's race had been revealed (which included some Khuzdul words she was glad she didn't know), but they had settled down once Thorin began explaining their quest.