The last goodbye

Kili and Tauriel

Legolas fought Bolg, I could see that he was using all of his skill and strength. But watching them never swayed me from my thought. Him.

I immediately got up and ran to the top where Kili lay unmoving. Mere moments before, I had watched helplessly as that monster had pierced his chest. I wish he had killed me too. Tears ran down my face uncontrollably, my throat clenched and it felt as if my heart was being crushed under tons of boulders.

I ran over to him and shook his body. "Kili!" I chocked out in between sobs. "No, no this isn't right, you should have left me to die. It was my fate not yours." I started crying audibly, it felt as if my entire world had just crumbled and that all that was left was darkness.

I checked his body for a pulse or heart beat or anything but there was none. "Aggghhhhhhh." I couldn't stop crying while I rocked his lifeless body. This doesn't feel real, somewhere Kili is still alive and well Tauriel. I tried making myself feel better but it wasn't working.

"No, no, nooooooo!" I cried out in agony and frustration. "No." I looked at his face. He looked so peaceful and happy, almost as if he were asleep.

More tears flowed down my face as I rested my head on his chest. Suddenly I felt a presence, somebody was watching. Instinctively my hand hovered over a small blade in my boot. I looked up.

"Legolas." I breathed. He looked down at me and then at Kili. "Tauriel, I am sorry." I bit my lip as a new wave of tears came falling down.

I didn't say anything after that, what could I say? Oh no don't worry Legolas, everything's going to be alright and in a couple of years you and I are going to joke about this. So I stayed silent and so did he.

Before he took his leave he hovered over me and touched my shoulder. "Go back to my father, he will take you in. That is my last wish, he will listen." I nodded and turned to look at him. "I am sorry Legolas."

He looked taken a back, "What about?" I looked at Kili then at him, "You are a good man Legolas and I am sorry that I was never capable of loving you." He leant down and touched my hand, "Your friendship was enough love for me."

I started crying again. "Thank you, thank you Legolas." He smiled sadly, "I will always love you Tauriel." I didn't know what to say but then Legolas got up and walked away without turning back.

I held Kili's hand and pictured him sitting here with me. Telling me stories about his adventures and his family.

"Tauriel." My eyes darted up. "My Lord Thranduil." He looked at Kili with a mix of pity and disgust. I held Kili closer.

"Do not weep Tauriel, he knew that you loved him." I looked at Thranduil utterly shocked.  "It hurts so, so badly. "

Thranduil stood at my side and smiled down at me, "Because it was real. Your love for the dwarf was real."

I looked at Kili and smiled, "I love you Kili, I have since the moment I saw you. " I cried then leant down and kissed his lips.

"Tauriel, it is time to leave." I looked at Thranduil. "Not yet, please give me time. " He nodded and walked away. "I'll be in the city, waiting for you. " I nodded and was nearly torn apart by the thought of leaving Kili.

I took out the ruin stone from my pocket and held it to my heart. Kili was beautiful, inside and out. He was pure, kind, brave, a strong warrior and truly a great king at heart. He was and will always be the only man that I will forever give my heart to. I love him.

I put the stone in his hand and silently muttered an elvish farewell. It was so that in the afterlife wherever we may be, we will find each other and remember. We will remember everything. It will be our promise.

The other dwarves came for him before night fell. They looked shocked to see me so close to him. I didn't care but continued to hold him.

The oldest dwarf, the one with the white beard and kind smile came to my side. "Tis a sad day lassie, we lost his uncle and brother too. It is time that we bury him with them. Along with the other members of the royal kin."

I smiled and looked at Kili then touched his face. He's going to be fine, he's going to be with his family I told myself.

The ten dwarves lifted him up with tears in their eyes. I was always told of dwarves and their happiness and carelessness. But this grief I didn't know existed in them, until today.

"Mrs, I'm Ori and the others and I would be delighted if you could come with us to the burial." I smiled at the dwarf and nodded sadly.

The room that they were being buried in was a chamber of pure gold and jewels. The entire room was occupied with graves, in the centre were three freshly dug holes.

Even though it was just the eleven of us there. They made the burial ceremony beautifully.

I gasped for air as the dwarves Dwalin and Bofur lowered Kili down into his grave. Tears fell in heaps down my face.

The old dwarf who I comed to learn was Balin, touched my arm. "Let him rest." I nodded and started to cry again. After the burial I felt neither living nor dead. I felt like a ghost.

I went back to Thranduil and back to the kingdom where I spent the rest of my days as the Captain of the Guard.

Hundreds of years later when I was about to take my last breath I saw Him.

He talked about all the adventures that we had ahead of us with joy. And so I took his hand and together we embarked on our journey.

                       The End