very sweet

Good.

Beautifully written. I like the way you wrote Tauriel here - it wasn't a sudden falling into love that made her do the things she did in the movie, but instead, she saw something worth fighting for, worth protecting, and it was that that spurred her on to disobey even her king. That's something I can respect.

Was rereading Heart of Erebor and found this short but touching story. Well done.

I'm pretty sure I ship Kiliel (though sometimes I feel strangely annoyed by it because it's not in the book and undermines Legolas and Gimli's friendship), but this is a very nice interpretation. Your writing is absolutely beautiful. :)

(I don't think this deserves a T, though.)

Coming out of BotFA, I really like this conception of Tauriel (their banter and friendmance - what a perfect word! - was cute in DoS and through the first part of BotFA, but I disagree with how PJ decided to play the emotional beats at the end), that while Tauriel is young for an elf, she is still an elf with all the experience and time that implies, not to mention the responsibilities and everything she'd have seen serving as Captain of the Guard under an increasingly isolationist Thranduil. Your explanation of her decision to save Kíli instead of going with Legolas works really well with both what we see onscreen and the Tauriel you describe. Kíli means a lot to her: not the deep epic romance and true love that the movies might want to have it, but something just as meaningful.

Wow, I love the description of how Tauriel is trapped and fenced in by her duties to a crumbling world. It's amazing how much you were able to convey in such a short amount of words.

Oh. my. word. This is beautiful! I feel exactly the same way about Kiliel-no I don't ship it either, but I'm fine with it as far as it doesn't go much farther than it has in the movie. People are putting more into it than there is, I think. I think Kili's just in wonder, his eyes being opened to something new like starlight, by Tauriel. And I so agree with you that Tauriel sees his innocence as the "something good in this world", as Sam put it, that needs to be saved. I've said it before and I'll say it again: they embody what Middle-earth is all about. Its wonder, beauty, innocence and pure goodness that all its children are trying to save. I quite envy you for beating me to a fic behind Tauriel's thoughts/feelings on Kili. Not to say I won't still try to do my own. (If I do push through, know that I accept your head canon and don't mean to copy it, if it would seem familiar). But this is perfect!

Oh wow; this was beautiful. It seemed to perfectly explain who Tauriel is and why she has become this way; why she might feel something for Kili, whether it be friendship or more. What a lovely piece! It is amazing to me that you can watch the film and this explains itself out in your head. Wow.

Awww, thank you for this sweet piece of ink and paper! It's so much more likely than the romance point of view. Well, Kili might be a Little in love with Tauriel (who wouldn't be?) but we should not forget that elves are so much older than any race in middle-earth and I think she grew out of crushes a long time ago. Saving Kili for the innocence he possesses in a dark world is so sweet and elf-like.

Just found this and I'm so glad I did! You've captured her thoughts perfectly! Really sweet fic. :)

This is precisely what I desired especially with the exchange they had in Mirkwood's cells. Beautifully written and something I wish they would have kept to in the movie. Thank you for this I hope you continue so we might see some turmoil between her and her changing feelings with the battle of five armies upon them :)

See, this makes sense. And even though I'm not against the pairing, my interpretation is much more like this. Much more "friendmancy".

Beautiful style! will you continue? I'll follow you just in case :)

Wow a very nice insight on the those events. Loved it!