Chapter One - The Orphan

When he was young, very young, he had an adventure. He was only about three hundred or so at the time, still very young for an elf. He had been training since he was barely nine, but now he got to use his acquired skills. It was about time.

One day, while he was out (just wandering through the woods, enjoying the cool of the forest floor, and the heat of the sun on his face at the top of the canopy), he was ambushed. It was a group of the Huine, the fallen elves, from everywhere, and yet somehow nowhere. They were a rowdy bunch, and scuffles were always breaking out amongst their ranks. They had no respect for anyone out of their own clan, and spent nine out of ten years at war. The other year was spent training for war. True scoundrels, this was an all time low. They had never attacked another elf before now. Usually it was orcs, dwarves, humans, or even the helpless hobbits getting attacked.

Of course, he had heard stories, legends, tales, of the Huine. The were like a huge traveling caravan, journeying over all of Middle Earth, killing and stealing when it suited them. This did not endear them to the kings, queens, consuls, and governors of the land. Everyone agreed something must be done, but there was nothing to do. The major problem was that no one could ever catch them. Every few weeks they had a new hidey-hole. There were some spots they returned to occasionally, but most were abandoned.

But back to the present. Our young hero was armed, and their attacks were blocked easily enough. He got the sense that they were not trying to kill him, but merely take him prisoner. They had basic training, but with swift stabs to the knees and jabs to various nerve clusters with the blunt end of his knives, they were unconscious and unable to walk. It pained him to fight perhaps his own kin, but he felt he had no choice. He figured these were the scouts so often sent out by the hui to mug passers-by.

He was much more than a passer-by though. Not that you would know it to look at him, but he was a prince. He dressed plainly enough, with a tunic made of green strong but flexible material. This was his everyday wear, unless he was needed in court. Only when required, he would dress in formal robes that restrained his movement beyond belief. In typical elf fashion, his hair was braided in a have up half down style. His full title was Prince Legolas Greenleaf, son of Thranduil, King of the Woodlen Realm.

The Huine had hidden their paths well, and even left a fake trail leading to a stream. But it was way to obvious that it was fake. He stood still for a minute, breathing hard, looking for their true path. After a moment, his breath steadied, and it was visible. After just a instant of hesitation, he followed the trail, but not directly. Instead he climbed the nearest tree, and moved from above.

This was his favorite method of travel, swinging through the trees. Now, after years of practice, he had become able focus on something else entirely as he leapt from branch to branch. And so he did.

At first, he was concerned only with following the trail correctly. But as that became easier, his thoughts turned elsewhere. Legolas envisioned himself returning to the palace, telling his father exactly where they were hidden. It would be huge. They could set trap to catch all of them. Once they were captured, they would be imprisoned, defeated forever. Now he was excited. This was important! And rethinking those thoughts, just to make sure he hadn't missed anything, he saw the mistake. One, he had to find them still. Two, was he really that prideful? This was an awful lot of work just to make him feel important. Sure, he might be saving some lives, but that was a might. Was this really that heroic? Or was he doing it for his fathers attention, his respect, his pride? There were any number of possibilities.

These thoughts troubled him, so much so that he did not notice when there was a clearing and he almost fell. He had leapt for the next branch, but it wasn't there. Thinking fast, he flipped, and landed, startled but alive and uninjured, silently in the grass. That was unusual. A natural climber, he had only fallen once before. When he was three. The memory of those injuries was still painful.

This was embarrassing, but to reassure himself, Legolas glanced about. No one was there. He sighed for relief. Now his eyes were computing to his brain what he had seen. Definitely nothing alive but tree and plants. But in front of him was a wide clearing. He had never been here before. Yet it was contained within the Woodlen realm. How very strange, he thought.

But what Legolas couldn't know was the reason he'd never been here. The truth was that whenever approaching the clearing, his subconscious had sensed a certain degree of darkness, and turned him slightly so he would not find it. The only possible argument for why it hadn't happened this time is that his subconscious was to busy trying to juggle all those thoughts of heroism and pride at the same time as tracking.

Wait. Now he sensed something different. Back in the cover of the trees, back up a tree, twenty feet in the air before he stopped for breath. No one could catch him up here, even if they could see him. Now what was wrong. Something was different. Having spent his whole life in and among these forests, even a tiny thing was noticeable. The tips of his ears strained. He heard nothing different than before, no new sounds at all. Then what was the difference? Got it. The sound was traveling differently because there was a mass of... Something. But it was moving, he could tell by the way the birdsong carried. Coming closer definitely. Though it made no sound itself, the animals voices bounced off it. Nothing to do now but wait. It would only take a moment.

Then they were visible. Legolas was shocked. Forty or so bulky Huine were leading a group of prisoners, maybe twenty, somewhere. They stumbled between their captors, bleeding and scraped. How could they be so cruel? Could they not see these people needed treatment? And a good meal? One young redhead was carried, none to gently, over the shoulder of a particularly fiendish looking elf. He, no, she, was bound and gagged, but still struggling furiously. But she was no match, really. The elf carrying her was growing tired of this. He pinched her, hard, on her calf.

"Stop now, youngling, or you will regret it," he hissed. Her eyes were terrified, but still furious, and she stopped.

One word caught the attention of the eavesdropping prince. Youngling. She looked about fourteen, but who could truly know? Or maybe he had said youngling to lower her morale. To make her remember her skills, in comparison to his. To intimidate her. That must be it.

He followed their progress with nothing but his eyes. Legolas watched them enter the clearing, march to the center, and lift a big flat rock up. Underneath it was a hole. One jumped into it. Another ordered the prisoners to follow. They did, but the 'youngling' started squirming again.

"I said stop!" Suddenly she was on the ground, and before anyone could have done anything, there was a blade at her throat.

Most of the Huine had already followed the other prisoners, and seemed unconcerned with her fate. But still a few lingered, watching the show and laughing. Maybe the wouldn't be laughing if they knew an arrow was aimed at their companion.

But there was a bow, held by none other but Legolas. For the moment, though, he held his fire, and waited, watching the drama below unfold.

"This is how it's going to work," he was saying. "From now on, when you struggle, or try to run, I'll take a hand. After that, we move on to feet. Last is your head. Understand?" She nodded, just once, but it communicated so much more. It said submission, hate, anger, and...fear. She was scared, perhaps she would truly give up now.

"Good." He resheathed his sword. The others jumped into the hole. "Now gooOOWWW!" An arrow had found its mark in his arm. And then another in his knee. Finally, one in the Achilles' tendon. He was unable to walk and nearly blind with pain. Legolas rushed in, and knocked the elf out with a jab to the forehead with the blunt end of his knife. Working quickly, he cut the ropes on her hands and feet, then removed the gag. Questions immediately followed.

"How... what... who... why... where?" Not satisfied with the amount of answers (none) that she started again. "Why? Where? Who? What? How? Why? Where? Who?..."

Legolas cut her off before she could continue. "Don't think. Just move. Follow me. Questions later." These were simple enough orders to follow, and she did.

As they moved into the trees, Legolas realized that they were more than a mile from his home. He glanced at her, and wondered if she could make it. She was definitely underfed, and he questioned when her last meal was. She hadn't been with the hui for more than a few hours, and they hadn't fed anyone. But when before that?

He had so many questions. But his questions would have to wait, just like hers. He needed one question answered now. "Can you climb?" He said, pointing to a tree. They had to move quickly before the buddies of the unconscious one came to see what was taking forever. He knew he could go faster if he was up in the air, but could she? He got his answer.

"Yes. I basically live in the trees. But wh..."

"Questions later. I'll tell you everything, but later." It was a promise he intended to keep, "Hurry!" He quickly scaled a nearby tree found a good branch, and was surprised that she was right behind him. He swung and landed on to the next branch. But then he had to move, she was practically on top of him! He decided to give up on any notion of going slowly for her. Instead he let go, and was flying through the trees. She was mimicking his movements perfectly. It had taken him so many years to learn all the best paths and strongest branches. And even longer to practice the routes and distribute his weight properly. But here was this girl, instinctively knowing how far out this limbs would hold her weight.

When they arrived, he decided to test her. To see if she was just following his lead, or very good in trees. So he flipped off the last branch. She did not, but continued to the next trees, leapt and grabbed a smooth branch, swung off and dropped to the ground. Who was this girl? She passed the test. It was incredible. After having been kidnapped, trying to fight off her kidnappers, struggling once kidnapped, threatened with death, terrified, followed him so well in the trees, and malnourished, she should have been exhausted and very weak. But her face looked alive. It seemed to fade as she stayed on the forest floor, returning to what he would have expected from anyone in her position. Deadly tired and hardly able to move.

He continued over the bridge. She was still following him, but stopped when they reached the enormous double doors, leading into the mountain. It was a brief pause, long enough only to close her eyes, take a deep breath, straighten her shoulders and lift her chin. Then she continued. Almost immediately her shoulders fell. She would have gasped, it was a truly awesome sight, but this was underground. Even so, her eyes wondered around, gazing at everything. The paths that seemed to float in the air, the thousands of elves on the path, and the doors. Everything was magnificent.

Legolas was leading her to the kitchens. When they got there, she was even more overwhelmed. There was such a wonderful smell! Baking bread, freshly cut greens, and the sweet scent of fruit. To someone near starving, it was horrible. So much food, so close, and yet so far. She nearly cried. Nearly. But after so many years, could she not hold her tears back you more time?

Everyone turned towards them as they entered. They all seemed slightly surprised at the little girl being here. But a particularly good-looking one was so incredibly shocked that he stood up. His eyes narrowed at Tauriel and he almost sprinted past them and out into the hall.

Now Legolas was speaking to someone. "Please, Beriadan, see to it that she has a proper meal. Let her eat as much as she wants. But please leave all answering questions to me. I would stay myself, but I need to talk to Father."

"Why, of course," Beriadan replied, slightly amused.

"Thank you, truly, thank you," his eyes were full of emotion, as he strode off.

Legolas knew what to expect when conferencing with his father. But this time, there was an urgent matter. But his father would still be horrified. And he was right to be horrified.

When he reached the throne room, he took a deep breath and stepped in. There was his father, sitting, strong and powerful, on the throne.

"Father. I have news of the Huine," he cut straight to the chase,"Earlier this morning, while I was in the woods, I was ambushed by about ten. I defeated them, and followed their trail to their base. When I got there, a troop of them were leading prisoners. One struggled, and a Huine threatened her. Since the others had left, I intervened." Then he described exactly where all this had taken place. His father murmured to a guard, who went lumbering off.

"And praytell, Legolas, where is this poor soul you saved now?" Thranduil's cold gaze met his own.

Legolas broke eye contact first, looking at his boots. "In the kitchens, father," he sounded defeated. After all he'd done today, his father made it seem like a mistake.

"I see. Have you any knowledge of his past?"

"She's female, and no, not yet."

"Very well," He was obviously being dismissed. Legolas turned to go. But his fathers words stopped him momentarily. "Legolas, whereas I cannot approve of you putting yourself in danger, you did well this afternoon. I thank you. But be more cautious in the future. You are the Prince of the Woodlen Realm. It would do you well to remember that."

He stumbled from the room. He did well. That was worth the lecture he would get later. It was worth a thousand lectures.

The journey to the kitchens was a blur. Suddenly he was at the door. Again he straightened his shoulders. He took a moment to gather his thoughts; another to take a breath, and went in. There she was. Sitting at a table, staring around with wide eyes. Legolas sat down across from her.

"Have you had enough to eat?" He asked her. She nodded slowly back, gazing at him now. "What is your name?"

This broke her terrified stupor. She blinked, shook her head, then responded, "Tauriel. Who are you?"

"Legolas Greenleaf," it was a very brief response. He knew she would want to ask dozens of questions.

"What happened? How were you there? Who are you? Where are we now?" Legolas waited until all her questions dried up. When they had, he began. He gave an account of the days events from his view. After his conclusion, he gave her a few moments to process this.

"But who are you?" Tauriel asked again. This was getting annoying.

"I'm Legolas," he replied, slightly irritated, " I told you that."

"No. Not what is your name. Who are you?" She was smart.

"Is that of any importance?" He was praying it wasn't. He didn't want her to judge him by his rank. Everyone did that, and treated him differently because of that.

"Yes. Please tell me," her pleading eyes met his. He could not refuse.

"If you do want me to, I will. But please don't let it alter your opinion of me. Please understand." Now his eyes were pleading.

"I do," she said, more than you know, was not said, merely thought.

"Very well. I am the prince of the Woodlen realm," he winced as these words left his lips. Her eyes widened. "My lord," Tauriel said, bowing.

"No, no, no, no, no, no. Please stop bowing. I'm no different than you. Please. Everyone does this. Please be different." He was begging her now. He desperately wanted to be normal, and was always trying to convince people he was.

"If you truly wish me not to, I won't. But I don't want to be impolite, especially to the Prince." She seemed shy, gazing at him.

"Please just pretend I'm common, and please answer the questions I have," Legolas said.

"Of course," she replied. Now she was guarded.

"How old are you?"

"Fifteen." His eyes widened as he remembered youngling.

"No."

"Yes."

"Where do you live?"

"Nowhere, really. I move around. Try to stay out of trouble, mostly," Tauriel said this very defiantly, daring him to argue.

"But what about your parents?" He was shocked. A fifteen year old female, all alone in the forest.

"What parents? My mother died ten years ago, and my father never cared for me. He was so concerned about his job. I couldn't stand it. I ran away a six years ago. I didn't have any where to run to, so I kept going. But I like it in these forests. Very nice sleeping trees. I spend most of my time in them. I'll come down when I need water, but the air is much better than on the ground. It's harder to breathe on the ground, especially in here. Its underground. I don't like it. But anyway, I've been here, maybe, a year? That sounds about right. A year. Longest I've stayed any place since I ran. I was about ready to move on, but then the Huine came. I thought that they would try to send me back to Father. So I fought back. Then you came." Tauriel shrugged. "My life story." The way she said it was so brash. Like she was trying to prove she didn't care.

"My mother... is also dead." He looked down at his hands on the table. He watched her hand cover his. Squeeze it. He was grateful for the comfort. He wasn't allowed to mourn his mother. No one was. Thranduil had forbidden it. His eyes meet hers. Both pairs were brimming with tears. Then Legolas smiled at her. It was a slow, gentle smile. Thankful, but not silly. She smiled back in the exact same way.

Tauriel was first to break eye contact. She stopped smiling and looked down at the floor. No levity lasts forever.

"I need to go back to the forests. I need to move on now. Thank you for the food." She stood up. "I'll never be able to repay you for rescuing me. But if I leave now, you'll never have to bother with me again."

"What? No! Stay...the Huine might find you again. You could live in the palace here, have a new life..." Legolas was in shock again. She thought she was a bother!

She shook her head. "I cannot. You've done enough for me."

"Stay at least the night. And take supplies with you."

Tauriel eyed him wearily. Would he still let her leave then? Suddenly she was very tired. She would have to risk it. "I accept. But if it becomes necessary, I will find a way to run off. You'll find I'm quite good at that."

Legolas gave her a confident smile. He had a plan. "That won't be necessary."