Author's Note: I've been seeing more views, favorites, and watches on this story so I decided to update. There will be more fluff and lovey-dovey stuff in the chapter after this, promise! This part needed to be written. Sorry if it feels a little awkward. I have to get back into a certain mindset to write this story. Can't wait to hear from you! It motivates me to keep going when I read your comments. :)

As Tauriel left the mountain, each step was more difficult. Her mind was preoccupied with the musical way in which Kili had said her name and the warmth her hands felt when the touched his. She had barely begun to realize how tired she was when she caught sight of more trouble.

Far off in the distance, smoke rose to the sky and met dark clouds that hovered ominously. Tauriel picked up her pace to reach her people before it was too late.

A peculiar thought. Too late for what?

The dwarves that were awake were speaking in hushed tones after Thorin's bold statement. He had left again, going deeper into the mountain. Kili exchanged a glance with his brother and knew that they were both worried about their uncle. Thorin had taken Fili aside to tell him something before going back inside and, now, Fili stood on a rock to attempt to gather everyone's attention.

"Thorin wants us to arm ourselves and to destroy the bridge to the front entrance to Erebor," the words left Fili's mouth hesitantly. He did not agree with his uncle but he was loyal to him.

"Destroy it?" Balin spoke up. "For what purpose?"

"To prevent anyone from coming in and taking…" Bilbo started but cut off his words suddenly.

"Taking what, Master Burglar?" Balin asked.

"The Arkenstone?" Kili suggested.

Another hush among the dwarves. Bilbo ducked away behind a pillar and eventually walked away from the company. Kili noticed but thought nothing of it.

"So we are to hole ourselves away and hope that they stop bothering us?" Bofur spoke quietly, still groggy from being woken in the middle of the night.

"That is what he wants from us," Fili looked down at the ground.

Balin nodded, "Sunrise is soon, we'll start then."

Tauriel watched her people from afar. Due to her last interaction with King Thranduil, she did not feel comfortable approaching them. They had settled with the Men of Lake-Town in the ruins of Dale. She had watched her king go into a tent with the man called Bard and wondered what the two had to talk about.

She saw Legolas and wished she could speak with him without getting the attention of anyone else. He looked conflicted and she wondered if her words had finally reached him, if he realized finally what needed to be done. She could only hope.

A new movement on the other side of the camp caught her attention. By the size, she thought it was a dwarf but as she continued to watch she realized it was the burglar, the hobbit. Without catching the attention of men or elves, he too went inside the big tent. She watched three taller shadows move quickly as he entered and wondered, again, what business was being discussed inside that tent and why the hobbit was involved.

The smoke and darkness was closing in, Tauriel could feel it.

"You're back."

She jumped and turned toward the voice.

Legolas stood tall, proud to have surprised her. He grinned, "Tauriel."

It sounded so formal but at least he was smiling.

"You're the only one who has ever managed to do that," she said, finally.

"I thought you were going to help them," his smile gone, he gestured toward the mountain.

"I did," she replied without explaining.

"The hobbit has brought us the Arkenstone."

Tauriel felt as though she should know what it was he spoke of but couldn't quite place the meaning of his words.

"It is sure to convince their leader to cooperate."

Tauriel doubted it but said nothing. She understood now that it wasn't only the elves that the dwarves needed to worry about. Bard and his men were promised wealth as well. In their state, after the dragon's assault, they could use it. Desperate times.

Her eyes looked to the horizon and gestured for Legolas to look as well. "We have bigger things to worry about than wealth."

Legolas saw the threat and knew what he was looking at, Tauriel could tell. "We need to study this threat up close."

"So you agree, that there are more important things?"

"Will you come with me?" Legolas asked. In that moment it felt like it had before, before everything had become so complicated. He knew, deep in his heart, that she would never return his feelings. He needed her close, though. He trusted no one else to be at his side in this task.

Tauriel nodded and they made haste toward the threat.