So this is my very first Hobbit fanfic. I wrote it within one day, because I needed to get it out of my head. I watched The Desolation of Smaug for the first time on Saturday and then again today in the original version. Kili has been one of my favourite characters after the book and the first movie, and I was so happy that he got an own storyline in the second movie. So here is my idea about what happened after the credits and Ed Sheeran's wonderful song.

Might be continued...

1. For what it's worth

'You cannot be her. She is far away. She... she is far, far away from me. She walks in starlight in another world. It was just a dream. Do you think she could have loved me?'

The last thing Kili felt before he drifted back to sleep were warm fingers softly caressing his hand. He didn't want to sleep, he was sure there was something that needed to be done, yet what it was he couldn't remember. His mind was blank as darkness surrounded him once again and he fell into the black, vast nothingness.

Pain. Red glowing metal rods piercing through his flesh, tearing at his insides, his screams die on his lips. Make it stop, please, make it stop. Thorin. He needs him, he swore he'd help him, and he wants to, oh he wants to, but the agony is taking his breath away and Thorin turns around and leaves and doesn't hear his cries. Make it stop, please, please… And suddenly there is something else, a warm sensation, a source of peace amidst the terror within. He must hold on to that, for if he loses it, he's lost. 'Open your eyes, wake up,' he hears a voice. A female voice, worried, but also strong and reassuring.

It took all his willpower to open his eyes again, and the light burned in his eyes. Kili blinked several times before he became aware of the beautiful elf woman patting his forehead with a cloth. He tried desperately to recollect what had happened. She must have noticed his confusion, because she stopped her movements and smiled at him instead. God, that smile.

'You had a nightmare, I guess. How is your leg?'

Tauriel. That was her name. Tauriel. The memories came back with such intensity that he had to close his eyes once more. When he opened them again, she was still there. Not a dream.

'It's good,' he said. It wasn't entirely false, he thought. The white hot pain radiating through his body, that was still vivid in his mind, had reduced to a dull throbbing. If only he didn't feel so damn tired.

The door suddenly burst open, and almost instinctively Kili reached for his bow.

'The orcs are gone, Lady Tauriel, I think we're safe for… Kili!'

His brother, of course. A smile spread across Kili's face as he heard the familiar voice. The young dwarf rushed towards the bed and gave Kili a scrutinizing look.

'You're awake, thank God! But you look awful!' Fili's eyes searched for Tauriel's, worry etched upon his face as he gripped his brother's arm. Óin and Bofur were standing closely behind him, looking equally concerned. 'Is he alright?'

'I'm…'

'He will be. I managed to stop the poison from spreading, but some damage has certainly been done. His body is weak and he needs to rest.'

'I don't…'

'I can't thank you enough, Tauriel. For a moment I thought I'd lose him.' Fili's voice suddenly sounded raspy, and he didn't speak further. Kili seized the opportunity.

'I need to find Thorin. We need to find Thorin.' As he looked around, Fili, Óin and Bofur nodded cautiously. Tauriel's look was stern. 'If we leave now, we might still be able to help them. The more who fight that beast of a dragon, the better!" Fili nodded more fervently, and Kili took a deep breath. 'Better get started!'

He sat upright and jumped out of the bed. At least, that's what he'd planned to do. The moment he sat up, a wave of dizziness washed over him, he shut his eyes to stop the world from spinning around him, and he could feel himself falling…

A firm hand on his back, holding him upright.

'You're not going anywhere.' There was an unusual tremor in her voice that made him open his eyes again. Fili had fetched a cup of water which he now passed over to Tauriel. She helped Kili drink, and he was grateful for that. He wasn't too sure if his trembling hands would be able to hold the heavy cup for long. Maybe she was right, maybe he wasn't supposed to go. Not yet. But he had sworn to protect his uncle, hadn't he?

'You… you don't understand,' he said, still leaning heavily against her chest. He was aware of the softness of her flesh beneath his face, and he moved away from her quickly. 'I made a promise to help my uncle. Thorin counts on me, and I will not let him down.'

'And you're so stubborn that you rather let down anyone else who cares about you?' Tauriel replied angrily. 'You're no use to Thorin with that state you're in. If you go now, you'll die. So you promised Thorin? Well, you promised someone else, too, didn't you? Didn't you promise you'd come home safe? Didn't you tell me what you swore?' She put something in his hand, and he recognized the small, black pebble, he could feel the engraved runes, he remembered the day he'd taken it from his mother. 'Tell me Kili, how is what you mean to Thorin any worthier than what you mean to her? To any of us? You've got a mother to come home to. Others would give anything for that, and you are willing to give it away in a heartbeat?' Her voice subsided, it was merely above a whisper now. Kili could suddenly see the bargeman's daughters standing a few feet away from where he laid. The younger one still had a look of utter terror in her eyes. Children without a mother. 'I didn't fight for your life just to see you lose it at the hands of a dragon or an orc. I didn't leave my family just so that you can die for yours! I will not see you die when I haven't even gotten to know you.'

For a moment silence surrounded them. There was something in her eyes that had Kili think she'd say more, but she didn't.

Óin coughed twice.

'Maybe Lady Tauriel is right. Even if you were in a condition to face a dragon – which you are not – the others must have found the door long ago. If they hadn't, they would have returned by now.'

'Not if they were slain by Smaug instead,' Kili said quietly. Fili shot him a warning look.

'Anyway,' Óin continued, 'those orcs were but a warning of the storm that's about to come. My nose is itchy. Something's coming.'

'Seeing how seldom you clean it, I wouldn't take your itchy nose for a reliable warning', Fili mumbled just loud enough for everyone to hear. Kili and Bofur burst out laughing, and the ghost of a smile tugged at the corners of Tauriel's lips.

'Hmpf. Believe what you like, but I say that the rumbling earlier wasn't an earthquake. Smaug is furious. And if he's furious, he will seek revenge. I don't want to leave this town knowing that it's the only thing standing between Smaug and the end of our world.'

As if to prove him right, another loud growl erupted in the distance. The younger girl started to cry, and her sister hugged her.

'It's going to be okay, Tilda. Don't you worry.' She turned towards the dwarves. 'Do you know where our father is? And our brother, have you seen him?"

Ashamed Kili turned his eyes away from the girls. He had actually not spared a single thought for their host and his son. Why hadn't they returned? Looking at his friends, he realized that the other dwarves didn't know anything, either. Then again, he thought, they had been quite preoccupied. Kingsfoil, orcs, just to name a few.

The older one – Sigrid, he remembered – took a shuddering breath, apparently choking down upcoming tears, and straightened her shoulders.

'Well, I will not wait here and do nothing. I will find them. Tilda, you stay here and under no circumstances will you leave, do you understand?'

'But… but I'm scared', Tilda sobbed, clutching her sister's dress tightly.

'You don't need to be,' said Fili in a surprisingly soft voice. 'We will all be here to protect you. You're a strong child. Not every girl your age can say she pinned down a dwarf. A full grown dwarf, mind you.'

A little smile appeared on Tilda's face as Fili stressed the last words, and Kili and Tauriel chuckled simultaneously. Their eyes met, and they hushed.

'I will go with Sigrid,' said Tauriel. 'Two women will not draw as much attention.'

She took a dagger from the table and hid it in her boot. Then she handed another one to Sigrid. The dwarves watched as the women headed for the door. To his surprise Kili watched Bofur take Tilda's small hand as the young girl watched her sister leave.

On the doorstep Tauriel turned around. She might have spoken to all of them, but she looked directly into Kili's eyes as she said, 'Be careful. Don't do anything reckless. Wait here, we will be back soon. I promise."

Kili stared at the closed door for what seemed an eternity. It was only when Fili laid his hand onto his shoulder that he became aware of the others again.

'She is quite tough, isn't she? For an elf, I mean,' said Fili, a hint of appreciation in his voice.

'Aye. She is.'

If this is to end in fire
Then we should all burn together

(Ed Sheeran, I see Fire)