"Tauriel, I can explain." Florien followed her out onto the balcony. She looked so beautiful, bathed in the soft moonlight, her eyes blazing.

"Go on then. Explain." Her voice trembled with fury. He remained silent.

"Explain!" she screamed at him. "Explain why you have been betraying me all this time. How many times was she with you? How many times! How many times were you with her in my bed?" She paused. He tried to take her cheek in his hand, but she threw it away.

"Tauriel, you are my life. My love. You were gone for so long. I needed someone. She means nothing."

"How many months?" Tauriel asked quietly. He remained silent. "How many months is she pregnant you treacherous bastard?" She roared. He tried to touch her but she pushed him away roughly. She looked around and threw the first thing she saw at him, which was a flower pot.

The sound of smashed crockery rang through their ears. Florien sat in the corner of the balcony, cringing, arms up to shield himself. He got up, trembling. He looked at her in disgust then turned to walk away. Florien stopped and turned around.

"Five months." He spat. "She's five months pregnant and I don't regret a single moment of it. You never gave me anything, but by doing this, you will lose everything. You, Tauriel, will live the rest of your days cursed, with no one to love you, no one who cares. You will live on forever in darkness and in doubt. You will become but a sad cripple; a shameful disfigured mistake. Until it comes to be that someone heart is so full of pity for you and your wretched life that they will love you. But that will never happen, I promise. No heart is that pure." As he had uttered his curse, an icy chill had taken to the air. He stood over her, eyes blazing. Tauriel stepped towards him.

"Florien," she said softly. Her eyes seemed to be full of sadness. She lifted her hand to his cheek.

Then punched him full on with all her force into his nose. He stalked out.

Tauriel screamed in fury and kicked the other flowerpot down. She went inside and breathed a sigh of relief. She was free of him now. And it felt good. So good to be gone.

But now she was alone again.

Always alone.

Maybe Florien was right.

Maybe she was a mistake.

Maybe.

The comforting hands of sleep gave Tauriel no longer to ponder over this as it sucked her into the void of dreams and illusions.