She felt him watching her. Felt those piercing blue eyes following her every move. She knew she shouldn't have come down here. He was always in the library at this time of the evening, but she really needed to find a book. She hurried through the shelves, barely noticing where she was going. She couldn't concentrate, she could hear him breathing.
"Good Evening, Tauriel." Came a soft voice to her right.
"Good Evening, Legolas." she whispered as she ducked her head.
"Might I ask as to why you are here, for you seem quite uninterested in reading?" Legolas Questioned.
"You may, I wanted to get a book. I have difficulty sleeping and I thought it might help to read." She replied softly.
She lifted her head and locked eyes with the older elf. She saw recognition there and well as a feeling it was obvious he was trying to hide, Lust. Blushing, she dropped her head once more.
"I wish to speak with you on the morrow. Farwell Tauriel.", he said bluntly, before he quickly turned and strutted away.
She stood there for a moment longer, her mind drifting to why he would need to speak with her, before quietly returning to her own chambers.
She couldn't sleep that night, she didn't end up getting a book. She tossed and turned for hours before finally giving up. With a sigh she got out of her bed and quietly crept out of her chambers. She knew she shouldn't be doing this. She shouldn't go to him. She shouldn't even have the urge to. But hard as she tried she couldn't bring herself to turn back.
When she got to his chambers she found the door open, just a crack. There was a soft glow of light coming from inside the room and she could hear raised voices inside. She hesitated, unsure if she should turn around and go back. But as she turned to leave, she heard her name. She crept closer to the door and peaked inside. There stood Legolas, his face red with anger, and his father, Thranduil. They were obviously arguing, Thranduil was pacing back and forth.
"I will not be coerced into agreeing to this Legolas." he stated firmly.
"And I will not be coerced into agreeing to an arranged marriage!" Legolas retorted angrily.
Thranduil sighed,
"I will not stand here and argue with you any further. You are not a child, Legolas. You know my expectations of you, one of them is that I will not see you marry a commoner. You will do as you are bid."
He turned away and briskly began walking to the door. The door she was standing behind. Realising she was about to get caught, she quickly ducked around the corner and held her breath. The door opened and she heard Thranduil step out and begin walking in the other direction. A voice floated out of the door before it closed.
"You can't stop this father. I love her.", Legolas whispered.
He shut the door and the footsteps slowly drifted away. She stayed behind the corner, too worked up to move. Was it her they were talking about? She knew Legolas fancied her, but love? It was impossible, she was low-born and he was the Prince, they would be banished for opposing the King. The whole situation way tiring, she ran it over in her mind as she slowly walked back to her room. Arranged marriage? What was that all about?
When she at last made it back to her room she was so exhausted that she fell asleep almost instantly. Those three words playing in her mind... "I love her."
