As I hurried through the damp and rotting streets, few people paid me mind. Most of them had seen elves before and everyone knew of the trades that Laketown made with my people...err with elves. We help them survive and they owe us much.

I checked once more to make sure my weapons were still fastened securely to my side even though my feet never slowed. Several boards creaked in protest when I ran across them and for a split second I worried that they wouldn't hold me. Sheesh...Ithildae. If the boards can hold the Lake men then they can certainly hold you, the practical part of my brain reminded me. I paused to look up at the sky and was surprised to see the sun already setting. I don't have much time...

Still not seeing any sign of Kili or the other dwarves, I stopped by a shop to ask if they had seen them. The shopkeeper seemed a little shocked that I was speaking to him, but once he got over that, he quickly told me all he knew.

"T-the dwarves, you say? Yah I saw 'em," the shopkeeper said, "everybody did. The master gave them everything they needed for their journey to the mountain."

My stoic demeanor almost crumbled at his words, "Are they gone then?" Please don't be gone. Please don't be gone.

"Yah they left. Well...that is all but four of 'em. Supposedly the black-'aired one is sick or something," he spoke casually, as if he were talking about the weather.

My heart began to pound in my chest. He is sick...what have I done? Ithildae...shut up and stop worrying about Kili! I mentally slapped myself at my weakness. "Where are the dwarves that stayed?" I demanded.

"I think they're staying at Bard's house, if I remember correctly."

I asked him where this person lived and nodded when he explained. After giving my thanks, I left the dimly lit shop and looked around, trying to get my bearings.

"There it is..." I muttered. Moving quickly, I reached the house in no time. It was just as dreary as the rest of Laketown and didn't stand out much. Only when I heard a moan come from inside, did I realize this was the right place.

I turned the corner and hoisted myself up the side of the house until I had a glimpse of the inside from a window. Several humans, one boy and two girls, were standing around a table filled with odds and ends. The eldest girl seemed to be looking for something. As I looked around the rest of the room, I found what I had been looking for. Kili was laying on a bed in the corner of the room with his other dwarf friends and brother standing over him. His face was twisted into a grimace and I knew that it was my fault. If only I had taken him to the healers. Stupid, stupid-STOP. Ithildae, he is your mission. Not your love-ew-or anything close to that.

Suddenly, one of the dwarves turned around and ran out the door. I barely had time to conceal myself against the walls of the house when he raced past me, muttering something about pigs and a weed. Wait...weed, pigs, Athelas! He was looking for Athelas! That would heal Kili. Knowing I couldn't help him find it, I resigned myself to hoping desperately that he would have enough sense to get it on his own.

Turning back to the house, I just heard something unusual on the roof when part of it collapsed into the room and an orc jumped out of the rubble, brandishing a wicked looking blade. Right away, more orcs burst into the room from the windows and door. They snarled and the two human girls screamed. The orcs. They had found Kili! And his company. I pushed at the glass panes of the window, trying to open them. Right before I accomplished my goal, an elf walked into the room, all the while slashing at any orc that came near her. Tauriel. Why was she here? Another elf hurried in after her with his long bow and my eyes widened even further. Prince Legolas! What in the world?

Realizing that I needed to get in there and help them, I elbowed the unrelenting glass until it shattered. I slid in with ease and withdrew my daggers. The rest came easily to me as I twirled and sliced at any orc that dared come near me.

The orcs quickly discovered that they were outmatched and fled the room, following the orders of a large orc who seemed to be in charge. Prince Legolas raised an eyebrow at me but said nothing as he dashed after the fleeing orcs.

"Tauriel!" He called Tauriel to come and I looked over at her to see why she was hesitating. She looked back and forth between Legolas and...Kili?

Legolas didn't wait for her to choose and kept going, shooting any orcs in range. I watched him fight effortlessly until a groan made me turn my head. Kili was moving about on the floor, his eyes squeezed tightly shut in pain.

I hurried over and bent down beside him, brushing a piece of his unruly hair out of his eyes. Ithildae...what are you doing? my thoughts demanded my attention, but I pushed them down, only allowing myself to focus on Kili. He needed my help.

I helped the dwarves clear a spot on the table as they lifted him up and onto it. He jerked about and cried out loudly all the while, not able to control his movements. My heart felt heavy as I watched and I swallowed hard.

I leaned over the table and looked into his beautiful face. Wait, what? Gripping his shoulders tightly, I tried to help hold him still. Tauriel had come back over with a handful of...Athelas! The dwarf had found some! Oh thank you thank you thank you...

I tried to utter words to calm Kili down as Tauriel prepared a brew to place on his wound. "Shh...it's alright Kili. You will be okay. Hold on. Just...hold on," I whispered, my voice catching a bit at the end. I glanced up to see Fili, his brother, staring at me. He looked like he didn't know what to make of the sight before his eyes. I noticed several emotions that oranges he selves to me in his eyes and stance. Hatred. Fear. Confusion? I couldn't be sure, but he almost seemed to nod my way in thanks.

When Tauriel placed the boiled Athelas on Kili's wound, he cried out and bucked. I held onto him tighter, not only for his sake, but my own. Whether I wanted to admit it or not...I was falling for this stubborn, cocky, foolish...handsome....and extremely loyal dwarf that had come into my life so abruptly. All at once my heart knew what it was feeling. The confusion was gone and all that was left was love. Love for Kili. I sobbed quietly in realization. My memories came flooding back to me and all the things I had done to hurt him. How could he ever love me back? After all the pain and suffering I had cause him how could he ever forgive me?

Kili groaned a little quieter and I came back to reality. I smiled when I realized that the Athelas was working. Kili would be just fine. He just needed to rest.

Knowing I needed a moment alone, I stepped away from him and walked to the door of the house. I stared out into the darkened streets of Laketown and considered my feelings. I am in love...and with a dwarf no less. What does one do when they are in love? I searched my mind desperately for an answer, but found none. My heart ached for Kili and his love as my feelings for him only grew stronger.

However, I couldn't just dwell on that realization alone. Now, I had another problem to deal with. King Thranduil. If my love for Kili was real then I couldn't bring him back to Thranduil. Besides, it was already too late for that. The dwarves were already almost to the mountain-if they weren't there already-and I had limited options. Run now and go back to Thranduil alone. Beg for him to let me stay and explain that it didn't matter anymore. Or, I could stay here with Kili and face the reality of my emotions and feelings. If he didn't love me back, then my heart would be crushed. How could I go on without him? I would be banished if he didn't want me and I would be all alone. Never before had that word frightened me. But now it brought an icy shiver to my back and I hugged myself tighter to get rid of it. It was a frightening sensation.

No matter what I chose, there would consequences. Now it just came down to Kili and what he would do. "Please forgive me, Kili...I am so sorry," I whispered to myself, somehow half hoping that he would hear me at the other end of the room and in his slumber, forgive me. One can hope...one can only hope...

Well hello there! *peeks out from behind a hiding place* I know I've been gone for a while...I'm so bad at updating! Ugh. It's so hard to find the motivation. Sorry guys I am horrible. Please forgive me! But now Ithildae has cleared through her confused emotions and thoughts! Yay! But will Kili forgive her? Or will he reject her...you'll just have to wait and see!

I must admit something...right now I am listening to Days of the Ring by Howard Shore and I am almost in tears...It is such a beautiful song, guys...*sobs quietly*

Well...tears aside, I hope you enjoyed this update! Please spread the love by pressing that vote button, sending some feedback, or giving me a follow or DM! Thanks all!

~*~Ithildaeforever~*~