An Unexpected Visit - Part 1

A rider was slowly making his way up the narrow, winding road, leading to one of the lesser known entrances of the mountain. The rider was draped in dark cloth, hugging the neck of his horse as if he was having trouble holding on. He was almost invisible in the night, as the mountain was black and huge to the star- and moonless night sky. The watch post on Ravenhill had all but overlooked him, had not the horse neighed tiredly in the quiet night.
A raven was sent to Thorin immediately, who gathered around him some of his bodyguards, as well as his nephews, and went to greet this unexpected visitor.
When the horse passed the last tree before the mountain, the company of Thorin stood expecting, a hundred feet away, holding axes and swords in case they needed to defend themselves, however unlikely it would seem. Thorin liked to maintain the sense of control in any situation, if not only to show off.
«Halt!» Said he in his strong voice. The words bellowed in the empty air.
The horse was startled, and jumped backwards. It was tired and anxious by the unfamiliar and unwelcoming mountain. It was a grand horse, not unlike those horses held by the woodland elves, and it was fast recognized by both nephews of Thorin, who had the keener eyes of the company, being the youngest.
They walked slowly closer, and as Fíli caught the horses by the reigns, Kíli looked closely at the rider with suspicious yet hopeful eyes. He only wished to see one woodland elf; a beautiful maiden he had loved once in Rivendell.
The figure wore a hood, and he could not easily see the face. Yet he saw a gentle, though firm hand grasping the horses mane. He reached up to remove the hood. Before he could say anything, the rider met his eyes and said: "I've been looking for you," in a faint voice, and fell off the horse into his arms.

Tauriel woke in a dimly lit room. The hearth was crackling lightly from the nearly-burnt-down firewood, and the room was filled with warm, sweet air. Her body was aching from the rough ride, and her head was unclear. She saw she was lying in a short bed, with her toes on the stoney edge. She was covered by a spread of animal skins, and the warmth was moving through her body, making her more clear.
She was startled by the feel of someone taking her hand.
Tauriel turned her head slowly and looked into the worried eyes of Kíli, where he was sitting at her bedside. She smiled faintly, for she felt suddenly lighter by the look of his eyes and the feel of his hand on hers.
«Kíli,» she said, her voice breaking.
«Tauriel,» Kíli answered, squeezing her hand lightly. His smile was lightened by the sound of her voice and the look of her happy eyes. Then his smile suddenly hardened. «What are you doing here, Tauriel?»
Tauriel felt her eyes fill as he looked at her so seriously, and she knew she had done wrong. She had known it the moment she saw him on the mountain road. She felt tears welling up inside her, though she struggled hard to keep them concealed. She watcher her own hand, in an attempt to escape his weighting eyes. She let her hand out of his grip, and started touching her belly under the animal skins.
«Where else was I to go?» She said, her voice weak with tears.
Kíli looked at her for a long time before he said anything. He had no response, for he was in his heart blissful she was really there in front of him. He had thought he would not see her again for a long time.
She was as beautiful as he remembered; her hair was burning red with the light from the fire and her eyes were clear and green. He also saw the tears in her eyes, and he was sad, for he wished her no despair. Yet he knew it couldn't be avoided with his uncle. He knew it was wrong of her to be here, but he couldn't care right then and there.
He was still silent as he reached in and kissed her smooth lips. He touched her cheek and hair. They were as soft as he remembered.
Tauriel felt tears release from her eyes as he kissed her, for she felt a despair in her heart let go. She had yearned for him since the night in Rivendell, and now she finally felt his soft lips and strong, yet gentle touch once again. Then she felt another despair, for she knew she could not stay, and leaving would hurt her more than the last time, for this time she had something real, and alive connecting her to the dwarf; the child she was bearing inside of her.
Kíli took her hand again, and kissed it deeply as he sat by her bed.
«My love,» he said, and she could see his eyes were happy, even though his frown was serious. «You did right in coming here. No dwarf will turn you away, this I promise you. But,» he stopped, unsure how to proceed.
Tauriel squeezed his hand, loving the feel of his big, warm hand in hers again. She moaned suddenly and put her hand on her belly.
Kíli stood, clearly worried. She laid his hand to her face, and kissed it deeply. She needed to feel him near her once more.
«Tauriel,» he breathed, watching her belly with serious eyes now. He sat back down on the stool by her bed, which in reality was his bed, and he breathed heavily. He had feared this was the reason for her surprise visit, for he had seen and felt her body when he carried her inside.
«Is it mine?» He knew not why he asked, for he had no doubt, trusting her as he did.
«Yes,» she breathed, the tears rolling down her cheeks heavily now. She was hurt he would think it wasn't his. «I gave myself to you, and I've been true to my promise.»
Kíli kissed her again, more passionate, for he felt his great love for her, and he couldn't contain himself. He touched her face and dried her tears.
«My love,» Kíli kissed her again. «I have been yours since the first time I saw you. I will always be afraid that you are but a dream. Blame me not, for I have all but dreamed of your love in return.»
Tauriel touched his hand, and smiled faintly.
Kíli looked at her again. He had a worried frown, for he realized how difficult the situation would become, for them both. «What are we going to do?» He said, thinking more aloud than actually asking her.
Tauriel looked at him with sad eyes. «I do not know, Kíli, and I am terribly afraid. I've been afraid since we parted ways in Rivendell. I've been afraid I would never see you again. And now I am afraid what we did was wrong, and that my people will hate me for it. Yet, nothing can make me regret my love for you.» She kissed his hand. «Can you forgive me? Then maybe I can forgive myself.»
«I take all the blame, for it was I who initiated the walk that evening. Will you forgive me for bestowing this burden upon you?» He put her hand to his forehead and bowed his head in despair.
«No,» she said softly, yet her cheeks were red and wet with tears. She touched his face and lead him closer to her. Their lips touched and Kíli felt the fire within his heart grow to life. It had died little by little from that night in Rivendell, by the loss of her.
«I will not forgive you for this blessing,» Tauriel said, touching her belly again. She felt a smile grow on her lips, and a sudden warmth spread within her form the touch, as if the baby was smiling as well.
Kíli watched her smile, and realized for the first time the joy she was feeling. He hadn't thought as far as he should, for as he touched her full belly for the first time, he realized what it actually meant.
He would be a father!
He felt all the grief and despair leave him at once, and he felt the happiness spread throughout his body. He smiled fully as he caressed her belly carefully.
Kíli laughed lightly and kissed her again.

Thorin and Fíli stood outside the door. They had heard them talking in there, and both stood silent with grievous expressions and thoughts.
«What should we do?» Fíli asked his uncle with a sad expression. He had heard his brother’s despaired voice, and felt his sadness. Kíli had known the relationship was forbidden, still he had done it. Fíli was torn between the joy for his brother’s love and the desperation for the relationship. There could be no future for them. Fíli felt his heart grow heavy with worry.
Thorin touched his beard thoughtfully, with a serious expression in his eyes. He was too unsure how to handle the situation.
«We must do what is right. She will stay 'til she's able to ride once again. In the meanwhile we will have to watch them. Your brother has too much feelings for this elf. Something must be done about it, lest he'll loose his dwarven mind for madness.»
Suddenly they heard a soft laughter which seemed to be coming from Kíli, and uncle and nephew exchanged looks for a second. Both were confused for this change.
Fíli stole a peak through the door, and saw his brother sitting by the bedside, leaned in and kissing the elf in his bed. The sight was fully strange to Fíli, who had firstly never seen his brother kissing anyone, and secondly was the sight of a dwarf and an elf kissing surrealistic in his mind.
«They are… embracing,» Fíli reported to his uncle, who turned away, getting more and more angry by the minute. Thorin didn't know what he would do with his nephew, who cared so little for their peoples ways and the respect for his uncle. He realized they were in love, however little he understood it, and he had seen her body as they had carried her inside. It was clear there was no going back, as his nephew had foolishly mated with the elf.
Thorin could feel his temper shorten as he kept thinking it over. What was he to do? He had absolutely no idea. He was also afraid for the child, for who knew what kind of offspring this mating had created.