There is some Sindarin speech in here. I have included the English translation at the end. They are in order of appearance, so that should make translating easier.
Legolas picked at the stew Tauriel had made. He wasn't hungry, but she insisted he eat, so he was doing as she instructed. He tried a bite of it. Not bad for a first attempt, according to what she'd said. He finished the food, set the plate on the table beside his bed and lay back carefully, listening to the sleet drum against the windows. Night was setting in, according to the dragon Jolden. Tauriel had introduced them earlier that day. He'd apparently saved his life, though Legolas remembered none of it.
Suddenly, he noticed a strange, almost papery, taste in his mouth. He sat up quickly, finding himself strangely lightheaded. His throat tightened, restricting his breath. Coughing hard, he managed to call for Tauriel. He heard her running footsteps in the hall. An object materialized in his throat, cutting off the air completely.
Tauriel burst in and ran to him. "Legolas, what is wrong?" she asked in a panicked voice, though he could barely hear her.
Unable to answer, he rubbed his throat. She nodded. "Relax."
Legolas could feel his lungs burning from lack of air and his sight was beginning to blur. Whatever Tauriel was planning to do, she had better do it fast.
She pressed her hands at the base of his ribs and shoved so hard it hurt. Stale air rushed up his throat, dislodging the object. He spit it out, coughing. Tauriel gently rubbed the back of his neck, easing his breath.
"What happened?" she asked, the panic in her eyes fading to worry.
"There was something in my food. It was papery almost; it made my mouth dry."
Tauriel shivered, closing her eyes. "Stya flower."
Legolas gave her a quizzical look. "What is that?"
"Elfbane," she answered. "Most likely mixed with another poison to increase potency."
Legolas had heard of elfbane. A flower that was used by others as a healing herb, but to elves, it could kill.
"Who would do that?" he asked, stunned.
"Someone who wants you dead, melleth nin," she answered, standing. "I don't have to make guess at it, either. I know who it is, though I cannot divulge the information at present." She took the plate and left.
Legolas nodded. Who would want him dead? A traitor, no doubt, but there were none.
None that he knew of, was apparently closer to the truth.
Tauriel was shocked that any elf, or even any of the other races that populated Middle-earth, save for Orcs, would dare make an attempt at assassinating Legolas. Not even Althen would go that far. Such treachery would certainly cost them banishment, forbidden to enter Mirkwood Forest for the remainder of their lives. And if the plot succeeded, it meant certain death for all parties involved in his death.
Then she stopped. When they were children, Althen had used as many tricks to avoid Thranduil's anger as there were trees in the forest. He would go that far, with an adequate reason and a solid alibi.
Already formulating a plan, Tauriel went to her room and took out her whetting stone. Sharpening her daggers as she thought, she decided that sneaking in to spy was the strongest branch to climb.
She set her whetting stone aside and gazed down the blade. Straight and even. She lowered the dagger and felt the edge. She yelped, partly in surprise, as the edge cut her slightly. "That's sharp enough, I believe." Tauriel said to herself. Allowing her hair to spill down her back, Tauriel sheathed her daggers at her waist, where they were easier to reach, rather than in her hair.
Reaching out with her mind, Tauriel contacted Jolden, who was hunting over the north of Fangorn. It was a stretch for her, but Jolden reached for her once their connection was established, reducing the drain of her magical energy. Jolden, can you fly me to the Mirkwood Halls?
It would be dangerous, the dragon warned, But if you need, I will fly you as close as is prudent for me.
Tauriel smiled. She'd known the dragon would help.
Help with what? Jolden said. Tell me, elfling.
Tauriel sighed. Someone tried to kill Legolas. I have some suspicions and would like to see if they are true. Satisfied?
Quite, Jolden replied. I'm coming.
Tauriel cut off their mental contact. She needed to learn how to contact someone without them hearing what she didn't want them to. Legolas knew the trick, yet refused to tell her, saying she could learn it herself. She knew it had something to do with the fact that she'd discovered this ability to establish contact with another's mind many centuries ago.
The heavy thud of Jolden landing sounded outside. After telling him she'd be there in a minute, Tauriel clasped a light cloak at her throat and bound her hair up. The shadows of the hood made it look closer to brown then the dragonfire red it truly was. Slipping on her leather boots, Tauriel hung her bow on its hook behind her door. It would only hinder her. She changed into her tunic and leggings, simply to make it easier to climb and ride on dragonback.
Not bothering to use the door, Tauriel climbed out her window and scrambled up Jolden to the saddle she'd made for her own convenience. After strapping herself in, Jolden took off.
Instead of soaring above the wood as usual, Jolden wove in between the trees, avoiding spiders and the sleet. Tauriel kept low, so her cloak covered all but her feet. The spiders apparently did not see her. Good.
Jolden landed softly and lowered his neck to let her off. Be careful. he whispered to her mind, as it was too dangerous to speak aloud.
I will. she replied.
Slipping quietly along among the trees, Tauriel soon saw the gateway into the hill that marked the entry to the Elven Halls. But how to get in?
The problem was solved for her. The Sylvan Elves arrived just then and the gate was opened for them. Tauriel slid out of the brush and followed them.
One of the elves saw her and asked in the Sylvan tongue, "Who are you?"
The other elves turned toward her, giving her questioning looks. Though she understood perfectly well what the elf had said, she chose to reply in Sindarin. "Im ceri- ú- heni- cin." she answered, tilting her head.
"Man cin?" he asked in broken Sindarin. He was obviously not familiar with it.
"Im tur- ú- on- nin est-," Tauriel replied. "Im must kena i aran plural erain or erein."
"Im take cin na hon." he answered, swapping in Sylvan words for the Sindar ones he did not know.
Tauriel gave an inward smile. He would take her inside but she would be watching for when Athlen left, and follow him. But she had not lied. She did need to see Thranduil and tell him of the evening's events. Yet she needed to satisfy her suspicions first. Easily done.
The Sylvan Elves allowed her to pass in front of them, as she had only concealed her voice enough to keep her identity secret. and courtesy dictated so. When they entered, she saw almost immediately Athlen slipping to the edge of the group. He left silently, but Tauriel marked the hall where he left. It was long, so there was little danger of losing sight of him. She stopped and gasped, as if she'd forgotten something.
"Man na- ha?" an elf asked, looking uneasy.
"Im missing nin magol. Darth- please, ir im get ha." Tauriel said, stepping slowly toward the rear of the group.
The elf nodded. Tauriel turned and left as if to go back through the gate. But when the elves looked away, she slipped away down the hall and hurried after Athlen.
Athlen looked both ways along the hall, making Tauriel duck out of sight, and then opened a door and snuck inside. Tauriel followed. After leaping silently into the rafters of the room, she listened.
"Did our plot succeed?" another elf asked, walking into the light of a single candle.
Athlen shrugged. "We won't know until tomorrow. King Thranduil keeps a close eye on me, so I will have to leave at night and be back before dawn. And avoid every sentry in my way."
"That will be hard. Are you sure you want to do it?" the other elf asked.
Althen scowled at him. "Do you want to be captain of the guard or not? If we want to succeed, we have to take the risk. We have to follow the plan."
"What is the plan?"
Athlen sighed in frustration. "I will tell you for the last time. The plan is to earn the king's favor, get him to banish Tauriel-"
"Already done."
"Quiet! Then, once Tauriel is out of the way, we kill the prince, saying the spiders or something similar did it. And then once Thranduil goes to exact his revenge, we ensure he goes alone with me. I kill him while we're out. We claim that an Orc got to him before I could kill it. After that, we say that Thranduil told me I could rule when and if he died. The elves set me up as king because there is no one to argue. Then our aims are achieved. Any other questions?"
"What if the poison does not work?" The other elf had fear in his eyes, and rightly so. Athlen's plan could, and very well would destroy the kingdom. Not to mention, Athlen was quite frightening.
"Then I will kill the prince myself."
Tauriel simply could not believe the extent of Athlen's treachery. Killing the king? He had to be warned. She waited, listening a bit more. Then Athlen took a fresh vial of stya, the before conversation revealing it was in case the previous dose of poison did not do its work. The he left. Tauriel leapt down softly and followed him back.
A sharp yell came from the gates. Athlen started, then stared running. Tauriel walked behind him. He was going to the gates so there was no reason for her to hurry. When she did reach the gates, she saw several dead spiders in the nearby trees. What had happened? Spiders were never that close to the gates. And these looked burnt. Strange. Jolden's work maybe? No, not him. He had left immediately after he'd dropped her off, and his conciousness hovered over Rivendell. She would have wondered why, but she would likely never know the answer, so speculating over it was a waste of her time.
So she put it off her mind. The Sylvan Elves brought her to Thranduil and she touched his mind to let him know who she was.
Thranduil nodded and waved his hand at the Sylvan Elves, dismissing them. He beckoned to her, and she followed. He led her to his private quarters and locked the door. "You may uncloak yourself now."
Tauriel nodded. She pushed back the hood of her cloak. "I would not come here if there were not urgent news, my lord." she said, bowing her head in respect.
"I know." he answered. "What is it, Tauriel?"
Tauriel sighed and related all the events past. "And Athlen is a very dangerous person. I listened to him talking to one of his underlings. He means to kill both you and Legolas and take over Mirkwood. I do believe his choices will destroy the kingdom."
"How tur- im ú- gar- saira?" she heard him whisper. "How could I not see it?" He closed his eyes, shaking his head slowly.
"It is not your fault, Thranduil. We all fell for his tricks." Tauriel said, placing her hand on his shoulder.
He sighed and squeezed her hand gently. "Yet once he knows you are still here and that you know of his plans, he will kill you, and he will not depend on a poison to do it. He will kill you himself. You are not safe in Mirkwood any longer. I know that you know of safe places you can go. Leave Mirkwood soon. I will send word when it is safe for you to return."
"But what of Legolas?"
"As far as I know, Tauriel, none of the Sindar have been tainted by Athlen's treachery. Have your dragon bring him here." He turned to face her. "Do not worry for his safety. I do not want him dead, either."
She nodded. "I will tell Jolden. And, may I take a horse? I do not believe there are many who would be indifferent to a dragon."
Thranduil chuckled. "Of course. You may go now, if you wish."
Here is the translation. If any of you were able to read it without needing these, that's awesome.
Melleth nin - My love
Im ceri- ú- heni- cin. - I cannot understand you.
Man cin? - Who are you?
Im tur- ú- on- nin est-. Im must kena i aran plural erain or erein. - I cannot give my name. I must see the king.
Im take cin na hon. - I will take you to him
Man na- ha? - What is it?
Im missing nin magol. Darth- please, ir im get ha. - I am missing my sword. Wait please, while I get it.