I. In which encounters are made

It was way after midnight when the alarm went off and had her out of bed in a second. Of course, Tauriel thought, while slipping on her jeans and T-shirt. It was always in the middle of the night. Raining, too, she realised as she pocketed her gun and made for the door. She deciphered the code on her pager as incursion and battery. She tried to reach Haldir, the senior officer who had been her long time partner before she was made his superior by Senator Thranduil. When Haldir called her to a crime scene in the middle of the night, it indicated something out of the usual, even when incursion and battery did not.

She was in her car, racing to Mirkwood Enterprises, when Haldir finally answered the call, his voice hushed and out of breath.

"We have a situation here, Captain."

"Fill me in."

"Burglar alarm went off. Nightshift spotted men, some of them heavily armed. But we still could've detained them hadn't it been for the Spiders."

"Say again?" She couldn't believe it.

"You heard me. Fucking Spiders are here too. Beating the shit out of those burglars. They've got weapons. That's why we called for enforcements. The Chief Public Prosecutor is on his way."

"I'll be right there."

She had made The Spiders that were lurking around Mirkwood her personal mission ever since she was promoted Captain. But whenever she had managed to diminish their ranks it was as if new mobsters were swarming out of a hidden nest.

Drawing her Bow & Arrow caliber 45 she cautiously entered Mirkwood Tower. Haldir waved her over to where Legolas Greenleaf was already waiting. The Chief Public Prosecutor bowed his head slightly and gracefully, his dark blue eyes brightened when he saw her. Given the late hour he seemed to be oddly cheerful. Leogolas simply loved a nightly call to a crime-scene and judging by his flawless appearance he probably had been sitting at home, fully dressed, and had only waited for his mobile to ring. Old habits were hard to break, Tauriel gathered. Legolas used to be a police officer himself and had been commanding the famous Elven squad that Tauriel was now Captain of.

She turned to Haldir. „What have we got?"

"Intruders, number unknown. At least five. Armed," the detective summed up. "Knifes, daggers. Throwing stars."

"Dammit. What is it with the criminals these days?" She sighed. "Pistols?"

"Didn't see any." He shrugged. "Doesn't mean there aren't any."

"The Spiders?"

"Came in after. The usual. Clubs. Those poised darts they like to use."

"How many?"

"About ten."

"Shit." She closed her eyes for a second. Then she started to direct her officers to various points in the building, surrounding the fighters. They could pick up the pieces once the flue gas had done its job.

Tauriel let Haldir lead the way, only slightly annoyed that Legolas was joining them. Strictly speaking he wasn't even allowed to take part in a police operation, but he did just the same. She usually didn't object, he fitted in perfectly with the Elves. But at times he tended to forget that he was no longer leading the squad. The Elves were the finest police force in Middle Earth and Tauriel took great pride in being their Captain. She had worked hard and made many sacrifices to get where she was. She lost some friends on the way but reassured herself that those hadn't been real friends altogether, wouldn't they have stuck with her otherwise? She hadn't had a boyfriend or even sex in what seemed like ages. Some drunken fumbling and bouncing in between the sheets in the aftermath of some party didn't count, really. If that was the price she had to pay for her career it had been worth it. She liked being single and independent. And should she feel lonely and depressed, there was always Legolas she could cuddle with and who would tell her that she was beautiful. Her all time friend and brother.

Signalling her men to split up she nodded at Legolas and rounded another corner. Sounds of metal clinging and muffled shouts grew louder. Carefully craning her neck she scanned the fight. The Spiders were easy to spot. Big, fat men with shaved heads, wearing leather jackets with their gang name stitched onto them, many-legged spiders tattooed in their fleshy necks. They were fighting a group of men Tauriel had never seen before. Three or four surprisingly seemed to be more than a match for the rockers. A big, bearded one with tattoos on his bald head was just knocking his opponent out with his vicious looking knuckledusters. Another one tossed back his long black hair that was streaked with grey, and head-butted one sinister looking Spider. She could hear the rocker's nose breaking, blood oozed all over the place. But then the black haired man was threatened by another attacker with something that looked unnerving like a spike, and a young man jumped in between, shielding the older. The young blond expertly wielded two big knives and shredded the spike to pieces. She couldn't believe her eyes. Those men were dangerous. Probably even more so than the Spiders. She signalled Legolas and her men not to engage in the fight but wait.

The flue gas came in, leaving Spiders and their prey coughing and rubbing their fists to running eyes. Quickly she put on her mask and surveyed the mess. The men were struggling, choking, gagging. The fighting seemed postponed for now, the need for air overwhelming. It wouldn't be long and they could just pluck them like ripe fruit.

"Help!"

She turned round. As did the blond.

"Kili!"

His voice full of fear, he lunged to where the cry came from. But the Spider came after him, swinging his club. The blond ducked, rolled over and jumped up again, his machetes elegantly moving along with him and striking his enemy in the leg. She saw the rocker scream and fall while she was running to where the cry for help came from.

She glimpsed another Spider, his massive body pinned a young man to the ground, his big, fleshy hands grabbed wriggling shoulders and tried to close round the man's throat. The man – boy? – fought against his massive opponent, he brought his knee up in his groin and managed to crawl out from under the groaning creature only to be grabbed by the ankle and being yanked back, a poised dart ready to be plunged into his flesh.

„Help!" He shouted again, panic in his voice.

Tauriel fired. The Spider was sent flying and whined, gripping his wounded leg. The boy made a neat escape and nearly collided with Tauriel. His dark eyes widened. He fought back a cough and shouted a warning.

"Behind you!"

She spun around and was nearly knocked down by the big man attacking her, she ducked at the very last moment and rammed her gun in his jaw. The man stumbled backwards and collapsed.

A roar at his back made the boy turn. The Spider Tauriel had shot in the leg was on his feet again, his fleshy, red face contorted in fury. He lunged like a torrent of flesh and muscle. The boy's hand flew to something in his waistband while he set his feet apart in a fighting stance readying his body for the impact that never came. Tauriel disabled the Spider with one clear shot in the shoulder. The boy stared at her, eyes red rimmed from the flue gas, blood on his brow. Then he grinned.

"Good shot. Thank you for saving my ass."

She took off the mask.

"That is my job."

"Really? Can I hire you?"

"No."

"Pity. Can I take you out then? As a gesture of gratitude? Or better yet, a date."

She looked at him. He flashed her a smile.

"Certainly not."

"You're sure? I pay."

"Positive."

"Damn."

He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing here? Apart from rescuing me. Who are you?"

"Question is, what are you doing here?" She retorted and flashed her badge. "Police. This is private property. You are arrested for burglary. And assault."

"Hey! The brute was assaulting me! And we didn't burgle anything. Didn't even break in. Tried to break out, more like."

"You can tell all that to you lawyer."

"Yeah. I will. Give me your phone."

"What for?"

"So I can call my lawyer."

"You will be allowed one phone call when you are at the police station. From a public phone."

"But if you give me your phone I could check out your mobile number and call you later."

"You don't need my number."

"Sure I do. How else shall I invite you to dinner?"

"You won't," she growled and let the handcuffs dangle.

His eyebrows shot up comically.

"Whoa. Didn't think you were that kinda woman."

"What?"

He gestured towards the handcuffs. And winked.

"Haven't tried that before. But, hell, why not. Have your way with me."

He smiled broadly.

Tauriel felt acid bubbling in her stomach. She narrowed her eyes. "Are you trying to sexually harass a police officer?"

"Course not. I was just giving in to your suggestions." He showed his open palms, accompanied by a sweet smile. "I've seen you knocking out that animal with ease. I would not dare to run, so handcuffing me is not really necessary. But if you want it that way I will comply. What were you thinking?"

Tauriel growled again. And put the handcuffs on.

When she put his arms behind his back, rather roughly she had to admit, she was amazed to feel strong shoulders and hard muscles under his worn-out sweater. Not a boy then.

She pushed him forwards to where her officers had gathered the rest of his company. The Spiders were handcuffed and lead out. They would be in court soon. And probably out on the street again within the hour. No doubt Azog would send one of his men to have them released.

What about the others? Skilled fighters as they were and carrying so many weapons they had a criminal record for sure. But none of those faces rang a bell. The black-haired one with the clipped beard and ice-blue eyes looked vaguely familiar, his bearing was oddly regal, his voice dripping with pride and contempt. But she couldn't put a name to that noble and brooding face.

Legolas' eyes wandered over her handcuffed prisoner, and his lip twitched.

"Did that dwarf give you a hard time?"

"Hey!"

Tauriel grinned. "No."

She looked at the irate youth who shot Legolas' a murderous glance. She hadn't noticed at first but he was indeed shorter than the prosecutor by more than a full head. Even she was taller than him. Granted, she was a lot taller than most women, but that flirtatious young man didn't seem to bother.

Legolas just smirked and turned towards the black haired man whom he seemed to think was the leader of the pack. While he was firing questions the man didn't answer, Tauriel noticed Haldir searching through the blond's jacket. His vicious looking twin blades lay aside but they were obviously not his only weapons. Haldir retrieved some throwing daggers, throwing stars and two long knives from the young man's coat. As the pile of sharp blades grew, Tauriel shook her head in confusion. How could anyone possibly have so many sharp weapons upon their person? He was likely to stab himself with every motion. She eyed him carefully. The searched man was a bit too helpful, he even opened his jacket so that Haldir could spot and retrieve another knife. Now he was shrugging and smiling, showing handsome dimples and white teeth. Tauriel pursed her lips. And let her fingers slide down his neck.

The man jumped and cursed when she pulled out the small dagger he had hidden at his back. His clear blue eyes flashed in anger.

Tauriel handed over the weapon to Haldir. "That is probably not even his last. Search him thoroughly."

Her dark-haired prisoner looked at her.

"Aren't you going to search me? I could have anything down my trousers."

She arched an eyebrow. "Or nothing."

The blond snickered.