Every two hundred years or so, when the planets appear closest together in the sky, a great celebration takes place and both houses of woodland elves converge in Lothlórien - The chosen realm of the Lady Geladriel. Men may know the place as The Golden Wood in the common tongue, but this isn't a story of men, this is a story of the fairer race; the race of elves.
The trek from Mirkwood forest had been long and arduous and as usual, fraught with danger, if not from the colonies of giant poisonous spiders, then from the confounding dark magic that the elves were only just able to keep at bay. Even though the woodland elves kept to the forest as their home, they were happy to finally be through the never-ending forestland and on their way to Rivendell at last.
After a hop skip and a jump over the Misty Mountains, the rather large company arrived at the refined riverside city that lay halfway between their home in Mirkwood and Lothlórien of The Golden Wood. Rivendell was truly breathtaking, with its delicate filigreed arches, low rising mist and gentle waterfalls. It was a much more refined city than their own forest dwellings, which were rugged in comparison. Though beautiful, and even though Lord Elrond was ever the kind and generous host, Tauriel just couldn't feel at home there. There were too few trees for her liking. Not only were there too few trees, but there was too little to do in order to fill her time.
As captain of the guard at their dwelling on the edge of Mirkwood forest, Tauriel was used to staying busy and constantly vigilant from the ever present threat of being so close to the magical forest. She was used to gracefully moving from limb to limb, all the while remaining one with the unit under her charge. She was used to being relied on as a leader, and being constantly in command. Here, in this peaceful city, she was a guest and therefore didn't need to be the one barking orders or coasting from limb to limb looking ahead and all around for possible threats.
Tauriel let out a sigh and did a back flip from a sturdy branch of one of the only trees within the city, onto the ground. She heard a shocked gasp as she landed next to one of the gazebos with perfect form.
"Eru, where did you come from?" gasped a beautiful elven lady with long dark hair and stunning blue eyes. She was wearing a deep lavender shade that brought them out strikingly. Tauriel peered backwards over her shoulder towards the voice. When she saw the other woman, her features softened immediately and she forgot the gloomy mood she was previously in. The redhead turned around completely and said, "You're lady Arwen are you not? I'm sorry to have startled you."
"Yes, but please just call me Arwen. How did you know who I was when I have never made your acquaintance before? What might I call you?"
"I would know you anywhere. I can see why they call you the Evenstar" commented Tauriel, referring to her beauty. Arwen wondered if this stranger knew how much it sounded like she was flirting with her. This thought was amusing and put a smile on her face. "My name is Tauriel. I am captain of the guard for his majesty in Mirkwood forest. I am pleased to meet you."
"I am pleased to meet you as well. Why were you up in the tree?" asked Arwen, truly perplexed having momentarily forgotten that they were in fact hosting a rather large company of their brethren from the wooded lands.
Tauriel gave Arwen a quizzical look. "I needed a place to think, I suppose. I am not exactly sure what to do with myself. Being this worry free causes more worry if that at all makes sense." She wondered if it was Arwen's relaxed quality made her so easy to open up to.
"You are not used to being this stationary. I understand. There are plenty of times when I would much rather do something more exciting than read, study or simply relax," Arwen said with a far off look in her eyes.
"What do you study?" Tauriel asked as she walked forward and leaned against the frame of the gazebo. She was really intrigued by the tranquility of the woman sitting in the cushy enclosure. She had never met anyone quite like her before and had a strong desire to learn more.
"I've mostly researched different healing methods, though I do enjoy weapons practice and reading our histories of adventures in far off realms." Arwen looked down and bit the corner of her lip; her eyes sparkled as a brilliant idea hit her, though the rest of her features remained as peaceful as usual.
"I have an idea that will benefit both of us. I want you to teach me how to climb trees and in return I will teach you some of the healing techniques we have developed in Rivendell."
Tauriel's raised eyebrow was the only indicator that she thought the idea was clearly off-kilter. Just imagining this epitome of femininity sitting in front of her climbing a tree was mind-boggling, but she had a feeling that Arwen was a woman who would have her way once her mind was set on something. She had no choice but to agree to the arrangement and said "Your father will have my head if anything were to happen to you".
Arwen stood while marking the place in her book. She walked over, gently squeezed Tauriel's shoulder, smiled softly and said "You won't let anything happen to me" with complete confidence.