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Shooting Starlight Ch.12 Gone

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Slowly Kíli started to awaken, the sun shining brightly through his bedroom window. His sight was still hazy when he opened his eyes but he liked the fact that the colour he saw was the flaming coppery red that he had grown to love so dearly. Her hair was spread over the pillow, tangling together. Tauriel had wrapped herself in the blankets like a cocoon, but Kíli was delighted to see her shoulder bare. The light creamy skin was dusted with freckles. Softly so not to wake her, he lightly traced them with his thumb. He could still not believe she could find something so beautiful to be a fault while he thought it only added to her perfection. She moved slightly, purring as he drew constellations on her body. Her eyes opened up a little bit, her bright green orbs looking at him, sending shivers through his body.

“Good morning.” She mumbled and he smiled at her. Bending towards her, he kissed her shoulder.
“Good morning to you too Amrâlimê.” He said and she smiled back at him.
“What time is it?” She asked.
“Time for me to make breakfast.” He laughed and sprang out of bed, but before leaving he turned. “Stay in, I’ll call when it’s ready.” Which earned him another smile.
“You’re sweet.”
“Always.”

He put on some coffee while whisking eggs together for French toast. He silently thanked his mother for forcing him and his brother to sit through some of her cooking lessons. At first the lessons seemed torturous but now he was happy he knew the basics, especially when he could show of to his girlfriend. Tauriel was definitely not a morning person, while he, surprisingly, had become one. He loved making her smile in the morning with a well-prepared breakfast.

As the toast splattered in the pan he heard the shower running and smiled. If there was one thing she hated it was not showering in the mornings, especially since they helped wake her up. It also added to the fact that her immense long hair needed time to dry, which it couldn’t at night. Hairdryers were a huge no in her book, only using heat on her hair for special occasions. Kíli found it all quite amusing, but was glad that her didn’t cut her hair despite some people suggesting her to do so, because he loved every strand on her head.

He had just put the toast on a plate and poured coffee when she walked in wearing nothing but one of his sweaters. The grey sweater was nothing special, he often liked to wear it when hanging around his apartment or going out for a jog. But seeing it on her, just barely covering her hips made his heart skip a beat. He suddenly felt quite over dressed in his jeans and t-shirt.
“That’s not fair.” He muttered as she sat down. She looked up at him in surprise with innocent green eyes until she saw his face and smirked. Cheekily she pushed a strand of wet hair behind her ear and smiled.
“What’s not fair?” She asked eyes filled with glee. He reached over and kissed her hard on the mouth before pulling away and taking a seat across from her.
“You dressed in that.” He mumbled and felt himself blush as she giggled. He looked over and was relieved to see her red cheeks and a playful glimmer in her eyes.
“Well I’ll try to play more fair next time.” She told with a wink, eagerly digging in to her French toast.
“The maiden is starving I see.” He grinned and she smiled at him.
“For all the good reasons sir.” And he laughed and reached over to hold her hand. Their fingers interlaced and he brought her hand to his lips.
“Good.”  And now she laughed, confusing him. “What?”
“Who knew the Durin’s could be so romantic?”
“I learned from the best.”
“Not from your uncle I am sure.”
“What do you know about my uncle? What if I told you he is the most romantic of us all?”
“No, impossible!”
“Why?”
“Because that goes completely against my image of him and everything I’ve heard about him.”
“Well then, what did you hear he was?”
“Honestly, anything but romantic and not just him, but his entire family.”
“That hurts. But to be fair, all I was ever told was how uncaring and icy Thranduil and his family were, so you’re a pleasant surprise.” And Tauriel laughed.
“I am glad people were so wrong about us. But I can understand why they think Thranduil is heartless, I at times think the same.” She admitted and Kíli sat a bit straighter, curious.

“Oh?”
“Yeah, I mean he can be quite cold and at times very old fashioned. He hated the thought of us, and even now I don’t really know what he thinks about it. But he’s not really heartless. He just has a hard time expressing his emotions.” And Kíli let out a chuckle. Tauriel shot him a look. “Oh come on, as if Thorin is so good at expressing his feelings.”
“No he isn’t either. Fíli and I were lucky with mum, she’s a lot more open.”
“She’s a sweetheart.” Tauriel agreed.
“You only say that because you’ve seen her good side. She is terrifying when she’s mad.”
“You probably deserved it.” And Kíli gave her a hurtful look.
“Me? Never!”
“Oh please, you can’t play innocent with me, you’re reckless. I bet you and your brother were terrors as children.” And Kíli grinned mysteriously.
“Maybe…”
“You’re poor mother.”
“Oh no, more poor Dwalin.”
“How so?”
“We used to prank him all the time, especially when he started courting my mother.” Tauriel gasped, dropping her fork.
“He what?” and Kíli laughed at her horrified expression.

“Dwalin and my mother. The guy had a crush on her since they were children. But he is my uncle’s best friend, who was very protective of my mother, to her great dismay. So Dwalin never said anything. He left for service for several years, and when he came back my mum had met my dad and they became engaged not too long after.”
“Wow, that must have been painful for him.”
“I don’t know, probably. But he loved my mum and saw that she loved my dad with all her heart, who felt the same about her. I think he gave up and moved on, I know he had a few girlfriends in the past. But when my dad died he was there to support my mother. Of course it took a while before he allowed himself to make any kind of move. I was 14 when he asked my mum out for dinner. I remember Fíli and I being so mad at him we kept terrorizing him for about a month. Of course my mum didn’t know about it, and when she found out she stopped us.”
“Poor Dwalin then, I bet he’s still afraid.”
“And he should be!” Then Kíli grinned. “Nah, it’s fine now. They only started being serious four years back.”
“They waited until you were 18?”
“Yep, I think they hoped that with us being adults and going to university it would be easier.”
“And has it helped?” She asked with a smirk.
“A bit, Fíli and I still prank him from time to time. It was hardest on Fíli. We both grew up with Thorin and Dwalin around, they practically raised us, but Fíli still remembers dad very well, and he didn’t want Dwalin to take his place.”
“I can imagine.”
“But Fíli loves Dwalin though, apart from our uncle, he’s his role model. I wouldn’t be surprised if he names one of his kids after him.” And Tauriel laughed.
“That would be incredibly cute.”
“And incredibly funny. Can you imagine Dwalin handling a baby?” The image of the tall, brute looking man, holding a small squishy baby in his large hands, looking confused and helpless, was too much for the young adults and they both burst out laughing.


Kíli amused her with several more crazy stories of his childhood, and before either of them noticed it was well past noon. Surprised Tauriel checked the time.
“Gosh, I really should get going. Thranduil and Legolas will be worried, and Arwen and I have to work on another project for the coming week.” She had also promised to tell her friend about everything that happened and from experience she knew Arwen hated waiting.
“That’s a shame.” Kíli pouted as they finished the dishes. He looked very adorable with his large puppy brown eyes. Tauriel bend down to give him a kiss on his forehead.
“You know I’d love to stay.” She said, treading her hands through his thick hair. Kíli smiled and pulled her down for a kiss.


What started out as an innocent kiss quickly grew with passion and need from both sides. Tauriel wasn’t quite sure exactly when they had landed back in the bedroom, but she didn’t mind as they kissed and nibbled. Love radiated from every caress, Kíli’s sweater lying abandoned on the floor as they went up in passion.

Afterwards they lay together, both with wicked grins on their faces. He reached out to stroke her face.
“Have I told you how beautiful you are?” He asked and she smiled.
“Mmm maybe?” She giggled, his expression grew serious, yet she didn’t miss the sparkle in his eyes. He bent over her and started to cover her face with butterfly kisses, murmuring I love you’s after every one. His hands caressed her body until they reached her waist and then he started to tickle her. She shrieked.
“Kíli…no…Kíli stop…haha…I am serious…don’t!” he paid no attention, rather enjoying it.
“Don’t do what darling?”
“Don’t…tickle me!” And he grinned and stopped but straddled her so she couldn’t move.
“Will you look at that? The archery captain is ticklish.”
“Unfortunately,” she sighed dramatically, “my greatest flaw.”
“Definitely, you wouldn’t want people thinking you’re actually a human.” He teased her. “But I am glad to hear your freckles aren’t your greatest enemy anymore.”
“Oh dear here we go again.” Tauriel groaned. “No I don’t hate them anymore.” She admitted causing him to grin.
“And why is that?”
“Oh no, I am not saying, your ego will explode.”
“Because of me, how sweet?” He bend down and gave her a sloppy kiss. Laughing she pushed him away.
“Alright, alright you win.” She said and rose out of bed, trying to locate her bag with clothing. Kíli rolled onto his back, admiring her movements from there, smiling at her happy exclaim when she found the bag.
“Do you have to leave me?” He sighed dramatically as she buttoned up her jeans and clasped on her bra. She smiled and reached over to give him a quick kiss, but quickly backed away before he could drag her back to bed.

“Unfortunately yes prince Durin.” And she laughed at the disgusted face he made.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not, it says so in your passport.”
“It’s a meaningless title, I never understood why we still have it.”
“What? His royal highness doesn’t sound appealing to you?”
“No not really.”
“It’s not that weird, plenty of people I know carry a title. Prince Legolas, Lady Arwen, Lady Éowyn and so on. Actually come to think of it, I think I am an odd one out.” She said as she pulled a shirt over her head.
“No, you’re perfectly normal, do remain that way.” He grumbled and sat on the edge of the bed. He mentioned for her to sit between his legs.
“Kíli I really have to go.”
“I know I am just going to braid your hair. Can’t have you show up at the palace with hair like that. His royal highness might have a stroke.” And Tauriel laughed as she took a seat. She had to admit it felt amazing having his fingers sectioning out her long tresses and weaving it into a braid.
“Fíli doesn’t seem to mind his title.” She said and Kíli laughed.
“No, but that’s because he’s the crown prince, it makes him feel important. Uncle raised his as his heir. He never minded all the stuff around it.”
“Then why do you hate it?”
“I don’t hate it per se. I just don’t always feel comfortable about it. I am a second son, a spare so nobody really cares what I do.”
“Then it shouldn’t matter that much.”
“No not really, just a lot of names to fill out on your resume.” And she laughed.
“You’re just lazy.” She said as he tied of the braid and nuzzled her neck.
“Mmmm.” Came the only response.

She stood up and smiled. Carefully she untangled her dress and rolled the fabric up so it would fit in her bag. She would straighten it when she got home. Getting her belongings together she made her way to the hallway and pulled on her jacket with Kíli trailing her steps.
“You sure you don’t need a ride?” He asked as he opened the door, his eyes slightly worried. She smiled at him, giving him a kiss.
“No it’s fine, it’s not far.”
“You sure?”
“Yes really, don’t worry Kíli.”
“Alright Amrâlimê.” He said and gave her a kiss back.

She turned around to walk down the stairs, her braid dancing behind her.
“Text me when you get home alright?” He said and she turned, blowing him a kiss.
“I will! Le melin!”
“What?”
“I love you!” And Kíli smiled.
“I love you too!” And with that she disappeared.

With a huge grin he turned back to his apartment. His fished his mobile out of his pants from last night and checked any messages. His grin grew when he saw several, one from his mother and Gimli. His brother had apparently gone berserk as he scrolled through seven. His last one read:
“Ok, I give up, you and Tauriel are busy. I really don’t want to know with what. Don’t forget dinner at mum’s tonight, Gimli and family will be there. Text me once you’ve read this…at some point.”        

He laughed, quickly sending his overbearing brother a reply. He could picture Arild finding it hilarious at how inseparable they were, though he knew she was glad he had finally found himself a girlfriend. It meant him not being over their floor all the time. But he was glad his brother had told him, he’d completely forgotten about this evening, having way better things on his mind.
As he went over to take a well deserved shower he made a mental note to drag Tauriel to a family dinner, especially since it would highly satisfy his mother who had talked of nothing else.




Tauriel had found the walk back to Mirkwood Estate refreshing especially since it calmed her down. She was still giddy from everything. But she didn’t mind the happiness that flowed through her body and was quite ready to declare to everyone that her boyfriend was the best. On her way she had checked her phone for messages, finding the majority to be from both Arwen and Éowyn who were begging for details, especially when Elladan had told them that she had stayed. What did surprise her was that there were none from Legolas. He usually texted her after a night out just to check if she was okay. But she didn’t mind too much, it was probably a good sign that he decided he could trust her in Kíli’s care.

With a huge smile she entered the mansion.
“I am home!” She called out as she put down her bag, she would clean up later. Right now she was craving a cup of tea.

Gracefully she danced through the large living room to the kitchen and put on the kettle. Only once she grabbed a cup did she realize that someone was on the couch and turned around. Surprised she found Thranduil sitting there, looking at her with a rather amused look on his face. As per usual he was nurturing a glass of wine in his hand. At first she thought he looked very relaxed, something unusual. Instead of the suits he preferred to wear, he was sitting in a pair of finely cut trousers and a cashmere sweater, the Bordeaux colour bringing out the small amounts of colours in his face. But after looking at him longer Tauriel saw he looked tired and drained, his pale face white and his eyes seemed red. His normally perfectly straight hair seemed tousled as far as Thranduil was concerned. Warning bells went off in her head as she softly approached him.

But as she reached him he gave her a smile.
“Did you have a fine evening? Elrond said you were enjoying yourself.”
“Yes, I had a great evening.” She told him surprised at his tender tone.
“I am glad.” While such a genuine and heartfelt response should make her happy, it only made her more worried.
“Thranduil…what’s wrong? You are ok?”
“I am fine.” He said, giving her smile before taking a swing of his wine. But Tauriel saw through his act and within seconds she was beside him. Her green eyes looked at him slightly fearful as she felt his temperature. He didn’t seemed to be sick, but something was wrong, very wrong. Her mind started to work at top speed as she tried to go through possibilities. His travels would have gone fine. It wasn’t the anniversary of his wife’s death. Business was going fine as far as she knew, and he would never get upset about that. He really seemed to be happy that her night went fine, so he couldn’t be upset about that either. The answer seemed suddenly so clear she felt stupid for not having thought of it first. Legolas.

“Thranduil, what’s wrong with Legolas, where is he?” She asked, trying to suppress the panic rising in her throat. He looked at her with sad ice blue eyes. He gave her another sad smile.
“You’re very smart darling.” Another compliment and darling. He hadn’t called her that for years.
“Thranduil, was is going on? Are you drunk? You never get drunk. Where’s Legolas.” He put his glass down and she saw he was on his second bottle. But his ever graceful movements told her he was still quite sober. He looked so sad it made her heart cry. As much as he could be distant he was still a father figure for her and she hated seeing his so vulnerable and upset.

She was about to ask again when he stopped her.
“He made me promise not to tell you.” His low voice rumbled. “I was to distract you so you wouldn’t notice. Honestly Thorin couldn’t have celebrated his birthday on a better day.” Tauriel definitely didn’t like the sound of this, several stones seemed to have fallen into her stomach and it was getting harder to breath. She prayed that what she feared was foolish. He wouldn’t have, not without saying goodbye, it was not like him.
“Where is he?” Her voice trembled as his eyes bored into her own.
“He left…” Thranduil told her, his face in pain, struggling to say the words.
“Where?” It was a useless question, of course she knew where.
“Mordor…” the answer escaping his lips seemed to remove the final blockage and a dam inside her broke. Tears streamed down her face.

“No!” She all but shouted. She tried to find anything contradicting it in his eyes, but there was none. She didn’t think but threw himself into his arms. His strong powerful arms engulfed her holding her tight as she cried into his chest, ruining his sweater. But Thranduil didn’t seem to mind as he rocked her back and forth, channelling his devastated emotions in trying to comfort his adopted daughter.
“No, no, no.” She muttered and he held her tighter. He had long since emptied out his tear reserves. He couldn’t remember the last time he had done so since Lemaril died. Of course he had done so without anyone there. He hated to be seen so vulnerable.

They sat together for several minutes and he loosened his grip when he felt her calm down.
“When…when did he leave?” She asked, her brilliant green eyes that had captured his heart when she was a child, staring at him helplessly.
“Last night.” Within seconds she shot up, fury sparking through her.
“Last night?” She echoed, her voice shrill. “He left last night? Without telling me? He made me go to a party. He told me to have fun…and now…? He thinks this is ok?” She asked but not to Thranduil in particular. She wasn’t aware she had stood up and was pacing through the room. “He thinks he can leave and that it, we, I will be ok? When did he tell you?”
“Several days ago.”
“You knew?”
“Of course I knew he’s my son.”
“He’s my brother! Why wouldn’t he tell me?”
“To protect you Tauriel.”
“Protect me? From what? To make our parting easier? Well that hasn’t helped has it? He’s still gone and if he comes back I’ll kill him myself.”
“I agree, I found his reasons ridiculous.” Thranduil said, having picked up his glass again. Angry Tauriel twirled towards him.
“And yet you let him go! And you didn’t tell me!”
“I had promised him I wouldn’t say anything.”
“And since when do you keep all your promises?” Tauriel spat and Thranduil sent her a glare.
“I do keep them for my son.”
“That’s a new development.” She muttered and Thranduil shot up angry, looming over her. They stared at each other for several deadly seconds. Then Thranduil grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into another hug, and she felt her walls break down again.
“I know you’re angry Tauriel lellig so am I. But he wanted to go, I wouldn’t have been able to stop him even if I tried. Besides,” He said and slightly pulled her away from him so he could look at her face. “I think it might be good for him. He is feeling restless not knowing what he wants. Lets hope this will sooth his mind.”
“He could have done that any way and yet he chooses to go to a war zone, following Aragorn like a puppy and…” Suddenly something connected in her mind. Aragorn. Renewed angry bubbled in the pits of her stomach. Surely Aragorn must have know Legolas would come and support him, and if Aragorn knew then so did Arwen, with a high chance of Éowyn as well. She thought back to last night, when her friends were so adamant on making sure she had a great time, hoping she would stay with Kíli. Arwen even suggested for her to come over for a sleepover tonight, all to keep her away from the terrible truth.
“I’ve been betrayed…” She said softly and Thranduil looked at her surprised.
“What do you mean?”
“They’ve betrayed me! They knew and told me nothing. They tried to hide it from me! How dare they?” She was seething.
“Who Tauriel?”
“Arwen and Éowyn, they knew!” Fresh tears filled her eyes. She looked at Thranduil and hated the pity that reflected in his eyes. “I can’t trust them anymore.” She said and felt a strange feeling arise. She had to get out of here. She had to move and clear her mind. She tore herself from Thranduil’s steady and safe arms and went to the stairs retrieving her bag.

“Where are you going?” His deep voice asked her.
“Changing, I need to run or something, clear my head.” She didn’t wait for the agreeing reply from her foster dad. She stormed to her room and dropped herself on the large bed, looking up at the ceiling that she had painted like the night sky. She threw her bag down and glared at it from her lying position. Horrid tears leaked from her eyes, dripping down her ears onto the covers. Her phone vibrated in her pocket. She whipped it out and saw a new message from Arwen, fury rising and she felt as if she was going to be sick. How dare she!

Without thinking she dialled her number and waited. After a few rings Arwen’s voice happily answered the line.
“Hi Tauriel! How are you? I want to hear all about last night!” She chirped gleefully, which only fuelling Tauriel’s madness.
“You’ve betrayed me, you bitch! I will never forgive you!” She shouted in the device.
“Tauriel…” came Arwen’s shocked reply but angrily Tauriel cut the conversation off. She didn’t want to hear her pathetic excuses.

She remained on her bed, glaring at the ceiling, ignoring the several calls that came in of Arwen desperately trying to reach her. She didn’t want to talk to anyone, not properly anyway. She wanted to shout, god yes. She wanted to hit and kick and destroy something. It was not fair. All the happiness she had left just a little while ago had gone down to drain.
She felt betrayed, angry, sadness, and worst of all completely hopeless. A sob escaped her throat. She didn’t want to feel this way. She didn’t want to descend into this dark void of dreadful emotions. She wanted to feel happy and in peace.

Tauriel sighed as her looked over at the sleek black device that had given up ringing with missed calls. She felt bad for her next actions, she felt selfish but she couldn’t help herself. There was only one way out. She grabbed her phone and dialled in the number, trying to calm herself as she heard it ring. God she felt dreadful.  
   



Kíli heard his phone go off as he sat on his mother’s comfortable couch, listening to Bilbo stories. He sat his ale down as he fished his mobile from his jean pockets. He was surprised at the ringing; he hardly had phone calls, preferring texting. He only got more surprised and slightly worried when he saw Tauriel’s name flashing on the screen. He quickly excused himself and slipped into the hallway before he picked up, ignoring the questioning looks he was getting from his cousin Gimli.

“Hey darling, are you alright.” There was a sob at the other end of the line. Worried he clasped on to his phone more.
“Tauriel, baby, are you alright, sweetheart?”
“No…” her voice was small, and his heart broke at how broken and vulnerable she sounded, which was nothing like his girlfriend.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’ve been betrayed…”
“Betrayed? By who, why?”
“It’s Legolas…he’s…he’s gone…” It was as if a knife had pierced his stomach and someone was twisting it. He didn’t like the sound of this.
“Gone where?” He prayed his fears would be false.

“He’s gone…to Mordor…”
Chapter twelve in my fanfic that mixes The Hobbit and LOTR characters and puts them in a modern (AU) setting.

Chapter 1: 
Shooting Starlight Ch.1 Lothlorien Academy
Chapter 2: Shooting Starlight Ch.2 Caramel Macchiato
Chapter 3: Shooting Starlight Ch.3 Peace at Rivendell
Chapter 4: Shooting Starlight Ch.4 Freckles
Chapter 5: Shooting Starlight Ch.5 Amralime
Chapter 6: Shooting Starlight Ch.6 Doubt
Chapter 7: Shooting Starlight Ch.7 Choices
Chapter 8: Shooting Starlight Ch.8 Blue
Chapter 9: Shooting Starlight Ch.9 Unfair
Chapter 10: Shooting Starlight Ch.10 The Leave
Chapter 11: Shooting Starlight Ch.11 Thorin's Birthday
Chapter 12: Here
Chapter 13: Shooting Starlight Ch.13 Apologies
Chapter 14: Shooting Starlight Ch.14 Tales of the Past
Chapter 15: Shooting Starlight Ch.15 Competition Part 1

You can also find it on my fanfiction.net account under the name Shooting in Starlight: www.fanfiction.net/~melatck

But also on Archive of Our Own: archiveofourown.org/works/3579…

I hope you all enjoy it and please comment to let me know what you think! :) (Smile)
© 2015 - 2024 MelATCK
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salierifemme91's avatar
Ah, that was great! So intense! I loved the first part, it made me feel so fuzzy and warm inside, but I had this feeling throughout the whole thing that the next part will shatter me - and it did! OMG, NO, I wonder if Arwen and Eowyn truly knew or if this was just a misunderstanding... gosh, as always I can't wait for the next part.
And I love Kili is always there for Tauriel and Thranduil in this chapter just broke my heart... I want to hug him... ;)