Hello!

This is a companion fic to another story of mine, "Change of Heart". It's not necessary to have read that one before, though it could be a bit enlightening to have done so. This story will have three chapters and will cover some of the events in "Change of Heart", though in Tauriel's p.o.v while introducing a new event as well!

*the cover picture to this fanfiction is taken by a friend of mine*

I do not own any characters (except a few OCs that pops up once in a while) or places; J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson and Co do.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1

"What were you looking for?"

The King sounded mildly interested, but was betrayed by the gleam within his bright blue eyes. Tauriel recognized it to be similar to that of a snake cleverly slithering through the high grass and watching its prey. Though Tauriel had to admit that the King seemed kinder than a poisonous snake.

"Something good", she replied to his previous question.

That was true. The forest had started to behave odd, something dark and strange attacked the trees and weakened their spirits, making them twisted. She had lived long enough in the forest to notice things like that. It was one of the reasons why she had climbed the tree, apart from the freedom it gave her, the sense of seeing the whole world beneath the green leafy sky of the forest.

Nobody said anything after her declaration. The Guards behind her stood silent and she would not have been aware of their presence had she not required keener senses after living on her own in the wild, untamable forest. The King was looking thoughtful, sitting high above them all on his throne of antlers from what Tauriel believed to be an elk. He was an impressive sight; blond hair falling flawlessly over his shoulders, eyes as sharp as glass and upon his head a crown of twigs and beautiful leftovers from what the forest could offer. Dressed in silver, he was very elegant, and Tauriel was suddenly aware how she looked. She could not remember the last time she had taken a bath and she could feel every speck of dirt on her skin very clearly.

Then there was the Prince.

Tauriel suspected he was the Prince, because he bore a striking resemblance to the King; same posture, same fair hair and striking eyes. He was looking at her as was the rest of the hall, but in his eyes, she could see pity reflect. It was quite unlike the look in his father's eyes and Tauriel did not like that he was looking at her like she was defenseless. She frowned. His expression was softer than the King's, but Tauriel found that she almost preferred the King's cold, calculating interest. She could deal better with that, could meet ice with fire.

When the King rose to his feet, and Tauriel flinched at the sudden movement, he came to stand before her and she had not realized before how tall he was until now. Tauriel repressed a hitched breath from escaping and bit her lip. The older elf emitted a strong power that she had not come across before.

"What is your name?" the King asked.

"Tauriel." She realized that she should probably say something else. "My Lord."

"Your parents?" the King continued as if she had not spoken.

The question made her grimace and her heart jumped over a beat. Her thoughts rarely strayed to those who had sired her. They were hazy memories. She thought she could remember her mother brushing her hair and her father hoisting her up on his shoulders so she thought she was invincible. But what followed was darkness, pitch black and nasty. The King was waiting for an answer, all of them were. Their gazes cut into the back of her head. She braced herself and answered:

"Tauriel."

The King smiled at that and he immediately looked kinder.

"Ah, Tauriel", he said. "Daughter of the Forest."

Tauriel quirked her lips, pleased that he had understood. She had lived in the forest for as long as she could remember, being a part of it, that she could not think of anything better than to let it claim her parentage. Deep down, she was aware of that should one look into old books with fancy writing, one would find that it was the true meaning of her name. She supposed that her true parents – those of flesh and blood – had known her better than she would ever come to know herself.

The King – who had regarded her with understanding eyes – addressed his Captain in a different voice than he had done her:

"Captain, if you could be so kind to take Tauriel to Lady Merenwen for new clothes and a bath. We cannot have a ward of the Realm looking like a barbaric little beast."

He ran a finger across her cheek, an almost tender gesture, but his skin was cold and his words had been haughty. Tauriel still felt her blood boil in a moment of anger and she was glad for the dirt covering her face, otherwise the whole hall would have seen her cheeks coloring.

The dark-haired Captain was next to her before she could tell the King that not all of them were provided with the same luxuries as he. He put a hand on her shoulder, a warning.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Good." The King drew back as if they were nothing important and waved a hand in a gesture to leave. "You are all dismissed."

Tauriel did not bow as the rest of the gathered elves did, except the Prince. She had never bowed to anyone before and she was not about to begin now. She repressed a sigh, thinking that it had been wishful thinking that she would have been set free and to return to her home out in the forest.

The Captain led the way out from the throne room down a narrow stair. Tauriel could feel someone's eyes staring at the back of her head as she walked away and she didn't believe that it was the King's.

The castle was impressive. Tauriel could not deny it. The corridors were vast, the halls even more enormous and the pillars were beautifully carved with designs and patterns that left the young elf's fingers itching with the want of tracing them. Torches were lining the walls, providing warmth and a dim, golden light. Even though it was impressive, Tauriel was aware that with every step she took, every stair she climbed and every turn she turned, she was leaving what had been her home and sanctuary for so many years, behind.

"Why did you have to bring me here?" Tauriel asked the tall elf, looking accusingly at him. "I was fine where I was."

He regarded her with serious eyes in a face that was otherwise clear of emotions.

"It is my job as Captain of the Guard", he explained patiently, his voice warm and leveled like his steps. "My task is to guard the borders of the Realm and to report any oddities I might come across to King Thranduil."

"Is that what I am?" scoffed Tauriel, feeling offended. "An oddity?"

"You are an extraordinary little elleth", the Captain said instead and she thought that she could glimpse a fondness in his eyes. "But living like you did would not have favored you in the end. I did my duty, bringing you to the King, and I will not regret it."

Tauriel huffed in annoyance and blew a couple of strands of her hair out of her face. The Captain didn't speak, but Tauriel caught him looking at her, seeming to be torn between amusement and mild horror of her lack of manners. It made Tauriel wonder if he had any children of his own.

They walked on in silence. Nobody came their way and Tauriel wondered if it was because of the gloominess that seemed to haunt the corridors of the old castle.

A sound of footsteps could be heard by her elven ears, but she did not turn to see who it was. Neither did the Captain. The steps were determined, confident, though slightly rushed. Tauriel could not help but be surprised as it was the Prince that suddenly was by their side. She stopped and looked up at him, tried to read in his face what he wanted. He paid her no attention, but kept his eyes fixed on the Captain. It was then when Tauriel discovered that the Prince's eyes were very blue.

"Captain, I'll escort her now. You can return to your duties."

It was the first time she had heard his voice. It was smooth, just like the King's but lacked that authority that could send grown men running which the King possessed just as easy like breathing.

Tauriel turned her eyes to the Captain instead, wanting to see his reaction. While the King had managed to get his Guards to listen without a moment of hesitation, his son could not achieve the same effect. The Captain almost seemed amused and the Prince's eyes flashed as he straightened up. Tauriel understood the feeling. It was awful to be treated like a child, like someone who knew less than everybody else. The Captain eventually bowed gracefully.

"As you say, my Lord."

He gave the two of them a look, but Tauriel did not doubt that she would see the grim Captain again. He moved silently down the corridor and Tauriel found herself to be left with the Prince. She frowned and looked him over with a critical eye. She did not know what to make of him. He glanced at her and then started to walk away, keeping his pace like he was strolling around without a care in the world. When he walked, it was easy to see resemblance between father and son.

Tauriel did not find it helpful that he walked slowly as if he was afraid her much shorter legs could not handle walking normally. Despite that it might appear rude and improper, she quickened her steps and thus walked ahead of the Prince, leaving him a few steps behind. She threw him a grin, but he did not seem to mind.

Long they walked down the winding corridors and after that up a couple of stairs that twisted themselves like the branches of a wild tree. Other elves were out in the corridors as well, minding their own business. Tauriel had never seen so many elves in such a short time. They were all taller than her, older and dressed in colorful robes of silk. Their hair shone and everything about them was more regal than Tauriel could ever hope to achieve. They greeted the Prince with respect and polite gestures, though when their eyes swept over her, Tauriel was met with mixed reactions. It could be curiosity or they would simply share questioning glances in a way that Tauriel could not make out the true meaning of. A couple of them sneered and scrunched their noses.

Tauriel felt small and uncertain. In the forest, there had not been anyone to judge her in the way the elves of the court now were doing. She hunched her shoulders and clenched her hands. She tried to keep her head held high, because she knew that she was not worth any less than them. She noticed that the Prince was not finding the others behavior acceptable and she did not know if she should feel touched or annoyed that he did not think that she could handle it.

When the last party of elves disappeared around a corner, Tauriel felt her spirit rise somewhat. Whatever she might feel for the Prince, at least he was not treating her poorly. Growing a bit tired of the silence, she decided to speak.

"Who is Merenwen?" she asked, for she had not heard the name before.

She wondered if it was perhaps the name of the Queen, but that thought disappeared after the Prince told her that she was being taken to the Court Healer. Tauriel did not like that he used the phrase: "She will look after you." She had lived on her own for a long time and she had managed perfectly well. It irked her to be treated like a child, even though she was very young. She had seen more than the elves stuck inside the castle had did. Yet she could not help but say, with some sort of hope fitting for a child:

"If she's a healer, then maybe she could heal the forest."

A wrinkle appeared between the Prince's dark brows and he looked at her with a bit of puzzlement.

"What do you mean?"

"It's starting to become ill", Tauriel told him seriously, not sure where this sudden need of a confidant came. "Something dark is growing further down south."

She had lowered her voice to a whisper. That unnamed shadow did strike a chord of fear in her heart. The trees worried and the animals feared it. She had not dared venture further south than the mountains after receiving news of this shadow.

"How do you know this?" wondered the Prince and he sounded guarded, though his eyes widened in shock. "Why do you tell me and not my father?"

Tauriel showed self-restrain when she did not sigh. Coldly, she said:

"He already knows, but I don't think he will do much about it."

She had seen it in the King's eyes and she had heard rumors over the years. The King was proud and vain, though not unkind but he rarely left the kingdom and would rather no one else would. She pitied him for his narrow-minded sight of the world and its beings. Hopefully, his son would prove to be different.

Tauriel waited for the Prince to speak and when he spoke, it was in a cheerful voice that annoyed her because she could hear the strain in it:

"Well, you do not need to worry. I will protect you against the dark. I promise."

Tauriel frowned and glared at him. She could feel her temper rise. She was not used to be treated like a child. In the forest, she had been on her own and had had a freedom she doubted she would ever gain again. It irked her, that superior tone and glances she had been treated with since she had arrived to the castle.

"I don't need protection", she scowled. "I can take care of myself."

The Prince's eyes expressed nothing she could figure out easily, except that there was concern in the depths of his blue eyes and fondness, though it was different from the fondness reflecting in the King's eyes when he had looked at her. It made her uncomfortable, because she could not recall ever being looked upon with fondness before. Yet she would not let it show. She pulled herself to her most impressive height and met the Prince's eyes with her head held high. He rewarded her with a small smile and she thought it was as if looking at a new person. He should smile more often.

"Perhaps", was his answer to her previous words as he knocked on the door.

Tauriel nearly jumped at the sound. So caught up in her thoughts she had not noticed that they had arrived at their destination. The corridor was vast with many beautiful doors, just like the one they were standing in front of. The Prince knocked again, his knuckles brushing against the fine wood and this time, someone opened. On the other side stood a tall woman dressed in green and grey with her long, black hair flowing down her back. Her face was fair, but stern. She regarded Tauriel with a frown, though when she laid eyes on the Prince, she smiled and her grey eyes shone in delight.

"Legolas", she said and her voice was not as light as her appearance might have suggested. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"

The Prince smiled and Tauriel stared, feeling a spark of hope flare at the sight.

So, that was the first chapter. What did you think? Constructive criticism is welcomed if needed and written in a helpful way!

Next chapter should hopefully be out next week, though I can't guarantee it.

Thanks for reading & "Merry Christmas" (or whatever holiday you might celebrate) to you all! :D