Ada
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Thranduil rounded the corner of the room inside Ravenhill after sadly watching his son walk away from him. He spied Tauriel, the elleth he was looking for, kneeling beside the body of the dwarf. She did not look up from her mourning but acknowledged the king with the simple words, "They want to bury him."
"Yes, he whispered, knowing that the dwarf would be buried, as was the custom of his people.
"If this is love, I do not want it. Take it from me. Please." She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and begging him, pleading with him to tell her everything would be all right like he had when she was an elfling. He could offer no such reassurances, knowing himself how long and arduous the path of recovery was.
Seemingly understanding this, she sobbed out, "Why does it hurt so much?"
He offered her the only comfort he could give her: "Because it was real."
She looked up, obviously shocked at such a complete reversal from his former feelings regarding herself and Kili. Looking back down at the dwarf she leaned down and kissed him for the first and last time, also lowering his hand, where Thranduil could see a small, black, round stone. Slowly, she stood, her goodbyes having been said, and faced him. "Are you wounded, Tauriel?" he gently asked.
"Not in body, my lord," was her quiet response. That sensation, too, the king understood.
"Is Legolas unharmed as well, hir nin?" she questioned.
"Yes. He would not return to Mirkwood, so I sent him north to the Dunedain."
"I am sorry, my lord, that your son would not go back with you."
"I was unaware that you had anything to do with it."
"I might have, accidentally."
"Then it was not your fault in that case, either. If anyone is to blame, I am."
"Not so, my lord! Why would his departure be your responsibility?"
"I believe you know why." An uncomfortable silence settled between the two of them. Finally, the elleth cleared her throat. "If you will excuse me, hir nin, I must be going."
He allowed her to walk by him before stopping her with the words, "Where will you go?"
"I know not. I will have to find a new place to live, perhaps among men."
"Usually, such places are called homes," he remarked drily.
"Mirkwood will always be my home. Anywhere else is only a residence." She began to walk away again.
"Then come back."
She turned, shocked. "W-what did you say?"
"If you wish it, you may return with me to Mirkwood. I rescind your banishment."
"B-b-but why would you do such a thing?"
"Why should I not?" he countered.
"I assume that you had your reasons when you exiled me."
"Yes, I did. They were petty and selfish, wholly unfit reasons to guide a king's actions."
"But what were they, if I may ask?"
"Jealousy, mostly."
Tauriel blinked rapidly. "Jealousy?"
"Yes. I was jealous of your dwarf and the affection you hold for him."
"But-but why?"
"Do you yet not understand?" he asked. "Until he came along, I was foremost in your affections."
"Oh. But just because I love him doesn't mean I don't love you anymore."
"I understand that." He offered her his arm. "Shall we go, Lady Tauriel, Captain of the Guard?"
She smiled and placed her hand on his elbow. "We shall, Ada."
A/N: Elvish translations:
hir nin: my lord.
Ada: Daddy
A word of explanation:
In my headcanon, Tauriel is Thranduil's adopted daughter. Her parents were killed by orcs, so he took her in. Therefore, Legolas sees her as a sister and does not flirt with her. Any concern or affection they feel for each other is familial.