PART 1
There is one good thing about not having a family. Belonging to no one and answering to no one. They can't tell you that what you are about to do is very, very wrong. You know, get inside your head; make you feel guilty. Guilt aside, it is good business being a thief…until it backfires on you…
It all started with a dagger. Two daggers actually. Two very NICE daggers.
Tauriel had just finished skulking around a small, dreary old village, no prospects in hand. Darkness had fallen and the stars were out; moon was bright. She loved sleeping amongst the silver light.
She had only been sitting down near a small, trickling brook for moment when Tauriel saw them twinkling. It moved amongst the trees, and her eyes widened with glee. They glittered in the moonlight. It was a beacon of delight!
Payday, she mused.
Tauriel was exhausted, but with the unsuccessful trip in village plundering earlier that evening, she couldn't afford to pass this up. The daggers would be well worth the effort. The only problem was that those beautiful white blades looked to be attached to the back of some forest wandering fool.
She hopped up onto her haunches, using her elven reflexes to stay quiet as soft air. She listened as she investigated the stranger. Single footsteps. He was traveling alone-at night?
Tauriel smiled, and tightened her cloak around her body. She proceeded to gently slip under the mangled brush towards the night strolling fool. She steadily moved ever closer.
Closer.
His footsteps could be heard.
Closer.
As she got close enough, she could tell her fool had long silver, moonlit hair. A maiden? A bigger fool than she thought. And carrying lethal daggers such as those? Did she think that would ward the scrum like her away?
Tauriel silently scoffed. She was for sure ready to relieve those weapons of such an unworthy owner. Yet, just as Tauriel reached down to pull out her sword, a twig snapped in the forest to her right. Panic rushed through her and she sloppily attempted to draw her sword, just as blade's tip grazed her pale neck.
"Taking a midnight walk?"
The tip of one of those daggers Tauriel so admired was now adorning her throat. She lifted her eyes to meet the voice. Her eyes clasped onto the blue eyes of an Elf, not a maiden. Not just any Elf, by the looks of him, but he looked to her to be Sindarin. A royal blooded Elf.
The elven man wore no crown or jewels to demonstrate his actual royal status, but she smelled 'Prince' all over him. And even though his tunic was of a fine blue silk, he only wore a plain chest strap for his lovely daggers along with dirty traveling boots. Not so impressive, Sindarin.
"Why were you stalking me?" The elven man's voice was smooth and precise. He didn't let up on the blade's tip against her skin.
He was handsome, she had to admit. Even his high brow demonstrated his stately status. He was striking; but-not to her surprise-he did indeed look spoiled. In truth, she probably wouldn't have tried to rob him if she knew he was an Elf. Not that she particularly liked being with her own kin, but it just didn't feel…right.
However, this Elf was going to be the exception. This prince could live without his expensive weaponry just this once.
"I was merely admiring those glittering white daggers you have. They look…expensive." She said; her eyes twinkled as she looked up into his.
"The price," the Prince flicked his wrist, and the tip of the blade bit her skin, "isn't what is special about these."
She couldn't help but wince, but quickly cleared her throat. He was bolder than she had thought. Tauriel calculated her moment; her eyes studying this elven man. He was much taller than her, and clearly stronger. Yet, she had speed and experience. Qualities that, she guessed, a pampered Sindarin probably didn't have.
Tauriel stood taller and sneered. "Ah, I saw a spoiled princeling Elf wandering the forest alone…so, it was a treasured opportunity I couldn't pass up."
"Spoiled? How dare y—" The Elven Prince pressed his lips tight; a flurry of shock spread across his perfect face. His expression changed when the moonlight shined upon her own features. "Wait. You are Elven kin?"
Tauriel rolled her eyes. "I'm not really in the mood for any kind of chat." She couldn't show her confidence waning. Not now. "Hand over those pretty daggers, your Highness."
The Prince blinked. Yes, blinked. "In case you hadn't noticed, but I am the one who has this blade to your throat, you thief!"
"TISK…TISK...but I have a blade to YOUR throat as well." Tauriel's eyes flickered to his blue silk collar. Sure enough, the ignorant Prince looked down for a second, and she made her move. She ducked down, and spun on her heal. Planting her hands firmly on the ground, she lifted her legs up and around, swinging them right underneath the Prince's.
The blond brat was caught off balance, but to her dismay, didn't timber to the ground. As the Prince gained his footing again, she shot up. After finally pulling out her sword, Tauriel smacked the Prince's beautiful face hard with the flat of the blade. Caught off guard a second time, he dropped the Elven dagger and she scooped it up.
"Thanks," She grinned from ear to ear, "I think one will do for now."
Tauriel tucked the blade in the back of her belt, and skipped backward until she was out of sight from the dazed Prince. Turning around, she began to run. Too easy, she thought. But she expected as-
"Where are YOU going?" A large hand yanked on her ankle, and Tauriel's body lurched forward with a THUNK to the ground and getting a good morsel of dirt in her mouth. The Prince pounced on top of her, his boots digging into her back.
"OWWW!" She hollered.
The Prince chuckled menacingly, getting great pleasure in her discomfort. For good measure, he dug one of his fine leather boot heals into her spine, and she howled even louder. He bent down as Tauriel growled, and snatched the knife from her belt.
The Prince leapt off her back just as surely as he had hopped on, and crouched beside her face-which was covered in dirt. He held the knife in his hand, and dangled it in front of her long nose. "Mine, you wretched thief girl."
The Prince got up, kicking more dirt into her face as he did so. She hissed. Tauriel was angry now. Just as the Prince began to walk, Tauriel got up off the ground just enough to swing a hard punch into that perfect face of his. It connected with a cheekbone, and the Prince went down hard, his flaxen long hair billowing around him as he slunk to the ground.
"Come here you spoiled, ignorant Prince! Let me show you how to really fight!" Her adrenaline high, Tauriel swung at him again but he was able to deflect the blow from his solid arm. With Tauriel's body already in motion, she leaned into him, and he took that to his advantage.
You overconfident idiot! She thought to herself.
The Prince took the opportunity to catch her off balance. He pulled her across his body, and slipped his arm under her throat; then, he proceeded to squeeze. Tauriel tried to wiggle free, but to no success. She gasped for air that would not come, and her grip was loosening on his forearm. The Prince continued to hold his grip on her, but at the last second, she was able to grab a small knife hidden in her arm cuff, and she drove the cheap blade into his free hand.
The Prince let out a soft, long hiss but he did not scream. Tauriel had to give him credit for that. She pushed herself out of his hold and grabbed the dagger from him. She kicked him in the ribs as she crawled away-you know, for good measure.
He hissed again, but this time, he gave a long hard look at her. Tauriel leapt to her feet but was frozen at the sight of his icy blue eyes, and their ethereal gaze on her.
The dagger was her's, but at that moment, she didn't want to run. Strangely, she wanted know everything going through his thoughts at this very instant in time. What was he thinking? She wanted to see how he was seeing her at this very moment. Was she scum? Well, she already knew that. Did he think her brave? Probably not.
Then, to her great surprise, she tucked her prized dagger back in her belt and squeaked out a "Sorry." She never apologized. It just came spilling out of her. Why did she do that? Why isn't she running away?
The Prince still sat there on the dirt ground, blood trickling onto his finely woven blue tunic. "…and me as well."
Tauriel's still hesitated; her dark brows furrowed in confusion. "You're…apologizing to…me? For robbing you?" She gave a short gulp. "And…um, also stabbing you?"
The Prince grunted, as if it was almost a harsh laugh as he reached to touch the remaining dagger strapped to his back. "Trying to rob…but failing. Don't you want the other one?"
"I already have one of your daggers, but I can try harder if you'd like?" Tauriel's tinkling voice dripped with sarcasm, but her face softened when the Prince actually smiled. A genuine smile. His pearled teeth gleaming in the moonlight. It was a smile she could feel worming its way into her chest, and gnawing at her jaded heart.
"You are…a magnificent fighter, actually. You are agile and fast. I've never seen such a…raw fighting style like that in an Elf before. We could use an Elf with the skills you possess." He declared, almost in awe.
"Oh?" Tauriel cocked her head to the side. This Prince was a curious one. She wasn't sure if she was in the mood to be recruited by her victim. She didn't need anyone telling her what to do.
The Prince slowly rose up from the ground. Tauriel's blade still embedded into his bleeding hand. He looked down at it, and gently pulled the blade out. Blood started to seep out.
Tauriel reached around, and grabbed at her cloak's ragged edge. She ripped a piece of the tattered cloak off and cautiously approached the Elf. He saw the cloth she held up in her hand, and let her draw near to him. She then wrapped his wound carefully with the cloth, making sure not to tie it too tight.
Tauriel couldn't help but smirk now. "Is this your first battle wound? A scuffle with a thief?"
The Prince exhaled deeply; closing his eyes as if to think for a moment. He then opened them, and great pain lay beneath those sapphire pools. "No, it's most definitely not."
She stood there a moment, finished with tying his hand, and didn't know what to say. He was mysterious and yet, there was a fleeting glimpse of vulnerable sadness. Tauriel squirmed. After all, she was only teasing.
He lingered there in front of her, looking down at her pale, soft face. "But," he reached up with an uninjured hand-and just before grazing her cheek with it-set it back down at his side as if changing his mind, "is the first time I've been robbed by a beautiful Elf maiden."
"And this is the first time I've been in a brawl with a spoiled rich elf." Tauriel couldn't help but grin, her emotions getting the best of her again. Why did he make her feel so…odd? She tried to breath deep. I am stone. I am in control, she chanted silently as she tried to look away from him. She looked back into his handsome face. "Tauriel. My name is Tauriel."
Despite his wound, the Prince stood up tall and gracefully bowed in her favor. "Tauriel. I like the name. It's…forthcoming for your nature. As for mine, you may call me Thranduil. Thranduil, the Elven King of Mirkwood."
Tauriel's blood drained from her face. Not good.
This thief made a terrible mistake.
*OHHHH snap, you thought it was going to be somebody else didn't you? Hee hee. Thanks for reading everyone! Part 2 and 3 to come :D
As always, your thoughts are most welcome. Is the format easy to read? Do you love/hate certain dialogue? Do I have terrible spelling and grammar? (okay, I already know the answer to that one *ahem, YES!* ) but still, let me know what you think. Review or PM me
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