Author's Note:
Well… I've been asked repeatedly to do a little rewrite of the events from DoS and BotFA concerning a certain pair of mischievous Elves, "as it should have been" in my own vision.
Thank you, friends (most especially you-know-who-you-are)! I'm really flattered you think I can do some justice to your feelings.
And so, here it goes.
This will likely be a series of chapters that will tap into every single scene that went awry, while also adding a little bit of what I imagined in between. Such as this start, it takes place before anything we see in the movies of Tauriel and Legolas. The result is yours to judge as you see fit.
It will likely be a long journey and wait to see the end of this, though; I have a lot of other things to do as well besides completing the story. :C
Also, yes. Shameless copy paste from my Tumblr.
l*~*l
"Rhaich!" One of the guards muttered, before the screeches of countless dying spiders deafened them of any other sound. They had marched straight into their nests, swooping down upon them fiercely and decimating their concerning, increased numbers. Many others had fled from the fray still, their group scattering now to pursue those runaways.
Tauriel's eyes narrowed with disdain, watching their shadowy forms creep over their once secure forest, allowing herself a moment's rest but nothing more, before she joined the chase as well.
They had hoped the wounded ones would simply try and make for their spawning point, in an attempt of hiding, revealing where they came from in the first place. But the foul things were cunning, instead retreating deeper into the forest where the trees grew closer to one another and their branches connected in roofs, making it even more difficult to keep following them, even with their tree climbing skills as Woodland Elves.
Further proven when they got stuck, tangled, inconveniences staggering their advance, spiders gaining ground over them. Then it got to the dreaded patches of thorns, they had no problem whatsoever with getting their carcasses pinched, nothing but the Elves' arrows hurting them for now.
"Daro!" She commanded a bit reluctantly, sharing the disappointment of her comrades. "They know what they are doing, we can follow them no further on this path. Scout out the surroundings, we need to gather more information."
A full report had to be prepared for the King, as they were nowhere near finding out the true source of the spiders' spreading about and they were running short on patience. With every home of webs found and destroyed, only more kept coming forth, in a scattered and chaotic pattern, more of a distraction than anything which they were all too aware of.
"We need to speak with Radagast," Legolas said with determination, approaching her side. "He might be able to tell us more, if these spiders also reached him."
"He lives quite far," the captain observed, though not denying his suggestion. "That would make us late for the report."
There was something of a subtle joke in her words, which her friend picked up on keenly, smiling as he replied. "Right. Since when are we known for being where we must on time anyway? Tolo ar nin."
And so they left, after informing the guards of their destination, agreeing on a split up for now. None really objected, this little visit having been on their mind and main proposals as well for quite some time in their conversations. They weren't really as wary of the Wizards as others, recognizing the possibility of learning something valuable if they sought out their opinion.
The only soul who might have had something to object to this endeavor was Thranduil himself, but the Prince did not mention that or seemed in the slightest worried, which either had the gift to put one's mind at ease or create even more worries. One thing was certain; they had to be crafty when approaching this in the future reports.
By the time they reached the parts of Greenwood the Brown Wizard watched over, senses already took notice of that corruption which extended here too. The darkness was spreading, like the ominous clouds of an incoming storm. Worrisome news for certain, which only made attending to some matters quickly all the more pressing.
Much to their grief, the pair saw signs that the spiders they had chased away earlier went through here as well, defiling once protected grounds in their haste. Tauriel had a certain feeling they were closer now to where they were truly crawling toward, but now the both of them weren't the only ones investigating.
Radagast wasn't at home and the wild grown grass bared fresh marks of his uncanny sled.
With the only option to follow further at the time, they did. Sprinting together and nearing a certain area they never even thought about going into before.
As sad as it was, such ignoring of certain places always happened when you thought your small world safe.
Now, everything changed, along with it their need to become more alert and inquisitive even for the things they paid no important heed to before. For these matters certainly could not stand any longer, left to their own.
"Dol Guldur," the red haired Elf murmured, eyes wandering over the crooked and ruined remnants of the fortress. A certain force could be felt emanating from it, even with the distance they still had between them and the cursed place. It was not powerful or entirely obvious, seeping through in their hearts with a subtlety someone could as well find easy to ignore. That worried her the most.
Frightened chills tickling along spines, every slight pang of worry in the back of their mind, harsh winds in the night and some mysterious signs, they all began to make sense yet also not. Whatever did dwell here now, seeming to be dragging on ill fated plans like some festering disease ready to spread, it could not be overlooked.
"Now we know the true source of our troubles," she continued, giving off a frown. "And where to bring the others."
"One guess on who will not like this at all or approve any of it." Legolas exchanged a worried gaze, which she returned. Persuading the King to move a finger and offer his intervening was just as easy and possible as trying to talk a rock into tossing itself.
"Still, we should act soon. The longer we wait, likely the more worse it will get. And I have no intention of simply cooping up behind walls…"
The mere thought of doing nothing at all while knowing she could hurt her. That feeling of being incapable, restricted, confined. Certainly not what she stood for or believed in. When it came to evil, nobody should be forced to simply accept it and linger idly in a cage. The cage should not even be an option in the first place, the way she perceived it.
Legolas looked quite conflicted, eyes still upon her own face with a certain glow within she could not quite understand or describe. It drew her full attention briefly, before the sound of little wings flapping in a swarm had both Elves jump with a start from their moment of stillness and duck behind rocky formations protruding from the ground, partially sheltered from aerial sight by the dry branches of dead trees stretching around.
Clouds became darker high above on the sky, obscuring the bit of dim daylight they had here, bats proving to be the source of disturbance. Attacking someone on the move, Radagast himself, rushing upon his sled far from the fortress. What it was that had him running, likely should not have them dawdle near either.
Their arrows joined in easing the Wizard's escape from the relentless devils, something that in his hurry did not notice. When both parties were away and relatively safe enough once more, she couldn't help but regret missing the chance to talk with Radagast. He was not heading back for his home, undoubtedly having matters of his own to attend concerning this fell place. Informing someone of more authority just like they needed to do.
"We've discovered something, yet nothing at the same time. This bothers me," Legolas talked on their way back to the kingdom's borders. "It only makes bringing this problem up to my father more difficult. In lack of well rounded information, I can already see how he would consider this unimportant and ask of us to pay no mind too."
"And we need the guards under his order to take them there and help us in the first place," Tauriel pondered aloud. "Even if they would join of their own accord too… it would be breaking the rules. Which, we do a lot, but still!"
"They were small affairs before, Tauriel. That's how we got away every time. But this is quite a handful now. You'd probably best bring this up, without mentioning that force we both observed. Keep it to just the spiders… if only to ensure he will not decide to simply close the gates too soon."
Stopping from her walk, her head bowed down, eyes suddenly interested in the ground. Few things truly made her nervous, and those which did were considered hilarious by others when witnessed.
She had no problem killing, jumping into the clutches of danger and simply being as reckless as possible, but when it came to her King, she always hesitated and feared, like some little Elleth. He was not even that genuinely frightful to most!
"I don't think I should be the one to talk this time." Her embarrassed words and posture only made her blush more obvious on her cheeks, realizing how ridiculous she probably sounded.
"Why not?"
Legolas approached her then, one hand gently resting upon her left shoulder. Gesture which made her look up at him, giving a small shrug, followed by a shy, vague smile. He did not seem to wish to mock her, only displaying care and worry. A gentleness about his face that he only possessed when they were alone.
Small moments of contact like this one in the forest made her entire innermost world stand still and sigh with a certain flutter, feeling a delight she probably shouldn't have taken from his more tender actions.
She also had to remember what she wanted to say, unable to just drift off into a foolish daydream.
"He will probably choose not to listen."
"Might seem that way, but I am certain you know that is not true as well. He values your opinion and cares about what you have to tell," he assured her with a soft grip upon the place he held, before letting go and resuming his stroll paced walk.
"As much as you do?" She inquired a little too boldly, though not expecting an answer, lingering on her spot a bit before following closely behind the Prince.
From her position, she couldn't have seen they both shared in their respective blushes and shy smiles, hidden as they were by now from the fading light of day, which made room for their much beloved night sky. The break of quietness leaving them to their emotions, as even in the incoming evil some positive things could still bloom.
Aware yet oblivious of one another, with the tender words he did not dare speak aloud flickering within his hopeful beating heart…
Not as much as me. That is different.
