The Elf, the Hobbit and the Dwarf - Book 1 NEW VERSION

Lake-town

"I'm going to save him," Tauriel said and turned back to Kíli. "Míriel, you do not have to risk yourself. Look, we have Kingsfoil. I can save him, do not worry. Go with Legolas, he will need you more than I will."

Míriel raised her gaze and looked at Tauriel, smiling encouragingly at her. All Elves could heal wounds to a certain extent and therefore Míriel would not have to use her own gift. Tauriel's healing would not be dangerous for her as Míriel's could be, but it meant that Míriel would live to see Kíli well. She was convinced that Tauriel would succeed.

"I do not want to leave him," Míriel said and caressed Kíli's forehead carefully. "I will stay until I know for sure he will be well, and I will help you." If Tauriel failed, which she would surely not, Míriel could be his last and only hope.

Tauriel nodded and started preparing the Kingsfoil. Míriel helped to carry Kíli onto a table. He was groaning and crying of the pain, not being able to lie still while on the table. Míriel could see his eyes grow darker and they were somehow turning grey. They were all witnessing him dying and if Tauriel did not hurry he would be completely lost to them all. Never had Míriel seen anything she cared about to die before her eyes, and she realised how scared she was as she looked upon the Dwarves' young face.

"Hold him down," Tauriel said to the others as she took a look at Kíli's leg. As she did so, he started screaming again.

The girls, the boy and the three other Dwarves helped to push Kíli down on the table. Míriel glanced at Fíli and saw the worry for his brother in his eyes. They now put all their faith into Tauriel whom the Dwarves did not even know.

Míriel helped hold Kíli's shoulders down while Tauriel started mumbling a chant in Quenya to heal Kíli.

"What grace is given me, let it pass to him: let him be spared."

Kíli stopped moving and Míriel could see that it was working. The wound began healing and the colour returned to Kíli's eyes and face. After what felt like forever Tauriel stopped and Kíli was healed.

Míriel sat down to rest and saw Tauriel still caring for Kíli. They were looking at each other, and Míriel could see the attraction and love between them just as clearly as she could see her friends right next to her. She saw their hands touch and the warmth and love between them brought Míriel's mind to Legolas.

"I've heard tales of the wonders of Elvish medicine," Oín said quietly while standing next to Fíli and Bofur. "But that was a real privilege to witness."

"Thank you for coming back," Fíli said to Míriel. Míriel smiled fondly toward Fíli, she would have done the same for him and all the Dwarves in the company. She loved them all just the same, they were her friends and companions for life.

"I would like to think he would have done the same for me," Míriel said with a chuckle. "But tell me now, where are the others?"

"When Kíli became ill, Thorin wanted to keep going to the mountain," Fíli said and sighed. "All the rest went with him but us. I couldn't leave my brother, nor could Oín, and Bofur just overslept after the feast yesterday. You see we came here and revealed our purpose to the master of this town, after getting help in by Bard the trader whose house we are in now. The master helped us with clothing and weapons but turned his back when we came to him with Kíli."

"We had to promise him a share of the treasure for him to help," Bofur said. "That was all he wanted; it seems."

"He seems like a foul man," Míriel said and shook her head with disappointment. "At least the Orcs are gone now, and Legolas is following them. And I think I should follow him; we need to know what they are planning next."

"You can't leave again," Fíli said and sighed. "You have to go with us to the mountain."

Míriel stood up and sighed, glanced at the door. She was faced with a dilemma, for she did want to stay with the Dwarves, while she still wanted to find Legolas. She could not let him hunt the Orcs by himself, and the Dwarves seemed to be quite safe now. The Orcs were not after them.

"I need to go," Míriel said and met Fíli's eyes, feeling how her heart was pulling her towards Legolas. "Legolas... I can't leave him. I let him go alone, but I am worried sick about him now. When I find him I will come back, and then I will join you."

"I don't think you will," Fíli said sadly and gave her a very sincere look as if he knew something that Míriel had not realised yet. He then smiled faintly. "You want to be with him, and I understand. Find him, come back and we will decide later. Whatever you say will be the right thing, Míriel. Even if that means you'll leave us for a white-haired, pointy-eared, high-cheeked princeling."

*

Míriel hurried in the direction where Legolas had been running. Tauriel had promised to come after her as soon as she could, but Míriel did not want to disturb the beautiful moment she had with Kíli. Both of them had seemed to find each other, and though it was quite odd, Míriel couldn't have been happier for them.

Blades could be heard further away at the dock, and Míriel hurried as she was worried for Legolas' life. Her eyes set upon him, fighting three Orcs alone after the leader Orc had walked away from him. Míriel shot an arrow quickly through one of the Orc's head and Legolas killed the last ones by himself. He turned toward her, and she could see that his lip was cut and that a drop of blood was threatening to fall.

"Legolas," she breathed and hurried toward him.

"I'm alright," he promised, but she could see in his eyes the happiness to see her again. "You came, I thought you wouldn't. Where is Tauriel?"

"She is coming soon," Míriel said and placed her hand on Legolas' cheek. She closed her eyes and slowly, the little wound on his lip healed. Míriel knew that small things like these were normal for her to be able to do.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "You did not have to do that..."

"I wanted to," she said with a smile. "And why wouldn't you think that I'd come back?"

"I..." Legolas hesitated. "I assumed you chose the Dwarves."

"Why does there have to be a choice at all?" Míriel asked with a frown. "Can you not care for me despite my love for them?"

"Of course I can," Legolas said with a small smile. "And I do."

Míriel grinned and placed her hands on his chest while Legolas carefully let his arm snake around her waist. They were still gazing into each other's eyes and never before had Míriel noticed his eyes in this way before. It was if she only just realised why her heart had taken her away from her companions again and again and into Legolas' arms. It was a feeling she had never experienced before, and it was impossible to stop the smile growing on her lips. Legolas was glancing down at her lips constantly as if he wanted to kiss her and since he seemed so hesitant about it, Míriel took matters into her own hands. She leant in and as their lips pressed against each other's the butterflies in Míriel's stomach exploded with thrill.

The kiss was delicate and quick, yet oh so perfect in Míriel's mind. She couldn't think of ever having been happier in her long life than she was at that moment. As they stepped away from the kiss, Legolas seemed overwhelmed with emotion but he soon allowed himself to smile cautiously.

Míriel took a step back and wiped some dust from her coat before glancing at him again.

"Perhaps we should go," Legolas said quietly and grabbed her hand. "The Orc is getting away."

"Yes," Míriel breathed and nodded slowly.

While hurrying after him to the stables and swinging herself up on a horse, her heart would not stop beating as if she had been running for hours at an end. If she had not been a good rider, she would have probably ridden off the dock and into the water based on how distracted she was while chasing after something she couldn't even remember anymore.