A/N: Hey everybody! Sorry for the long wait. I have freakishly little time to myself and the little bit that I do have for myself I have been spending on bridesmaid duties for my best friend's wedding. (I felt like I needed a week to recover after the bachelorette party lol) But hopefully life will start getting back to normal after the the wedding on the 30th.. Anywho, thanks for all the great reviews. It really does inspire me to make some time to at least try to write something. So pleeeeaaasse keep 'em coming! Right, rant over. Enjoy!
Chapter 2
It didn't take them long to make their way back to the city with the dwarves in tow. They headed straight for the halls of the elven king, Thranduil undoubtedly waiting for them to question the dwarves. Said dwarves were currently staring at the giant trees with walkways between them and talons up in the high branches, awestruck.
Legolas hid a proud smile. Even though the city was surrounded by the ominous forest and treacherous creatures, it was still very beautiful, like all elven cities, but also vastly different. The sylvan elves of Mirkwood were known for their ability as warriors, preferring to spend their time fighting and protecting instead of elegant parties and the like which seemed to take up quite a lot of the time in the other elven realms.
"I will leave the dwarves to you," Tauriel announced to him when one of the sentries came running up to her with news of a band of orcs in the forest, proving his point. It seems they had been tracking the dwarves. "I will report back as soon as we have dealt with them."
Legolas nodded at her. "Very well. Be careful."
She actually rolled her eyes at him, betraying her young nature and warming his heart at the same time. "I am always careful." His eyebrows shot up at that, a small smile threatening to cross his lips at the fact that they both knew she was probably the most reckless elf he had ever come across, always ready to throw herself headfirst into danger.
Sensing the smile he was trying to hide, she gave him a quick grin, then spun around and ran off with the sentry, leaving Legolas and the rest of her guard with the dwarves. Looking back at them, he saw two of them, probably siblings judging by the small resemblance, staring after her as she hurried away, seeming a little flushed and elbowing each other. He chuckled to himself. He couldn't blame them after all.
His thoughts turned back to the task at hand as they reached their destination and led the dwarves inside towards the throne room.
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After quite some time, the dwarves were led out of the big hall and towards the cells below the castle, leaving Legolas alone with his father. He glanced up at the king sitting on his throne, frowning slightly. He didn't always agree with his father, this being one of those times, but the king's word was law. However, that didn't mean that he didn't see it as his responsibility to question the ruler's decisions at moments like these.
"I do not believe that they deserve to be imprisoned, father," he finally spoke up, hands clasped behind him in respect but his back straight and head held high.
Thranduil's eyes shifted to his son in quiet contemplation as he took in his words. "And why do you think so?" he asked. Legolas was unsure about whether he was genuinely interested in what he had to say or just humouring him.
"Because I would be doing the same thing if I were in their shoes," he replied. "Our home is plagued by monsters every day, and we do everything in our power to hold them at bay. They just want to take back what is theirs and I can empathise with that. I do not think it is our place to tell them that they cannot do so."
Thranduil's gaze never left his, but he held it, waiting. The king was about to open his mouth when the sound of footsteps could be heard approaching. Legolas' ears perked up at the sound of Tauriel's light feet, accompanied by two other elves and the sound of large, clumsy feet stumbling along with them. Looking towards the door, he saw Tauriel appear with the two elves behind her, dragging a bound orc between them.
"Ah, it seems we have a guest," Thranduil said with a small smile, his penetrating eyes digging into the orc, who spat in the direction of his feet as his captors forced him to his knees. Legolas kicked him in the side in response and took over from the two elves, holding the orc in place by the hair with his right hand while pressing the edge of his blade against its throat with his left. Tauriel took a position a few feet in front of the orc, the look on her face one of poorly disguised disgust.
"You were tracking a company of thirteen dwarves," Legolas started, getting to the point. "Why?"
"Answer the question, filth," Tauriel added, stiff with the effort to keep herself from just killing the murderous creature.
"I do not answer to dogs, she-elf," the orc answered in his guttural language before struggling against Legolas' hold to try and get to her. Tauriel's knife spun into her hand in a flash of metal in response, dying for the orc to get loose so that she could destroy him. Unfortunately for her, his attempts were unsuccessful as Legolas tightened his grip and pressed his dagger closer to its throat, a thin line of dark blood appearing.
"I would not antagonise her," Legolas warned, quite serious.
Tauriel held her ground, staring at the creature. "You like killing things, orc?" she asked, slightly cocking one eyebrow mockingly. "You like death?" Legolas could see her patience waning and her disgust rising. "Then let me give it to you."
She was in front of him in a flash, blades in her hands and one of them swinging down towards the orc's neck before it even knew what was happening.
"Enough!" Thranduil's voice boomed in elvish, the edge of Tauriel's blade stopping a fraction of an inch from the orc's throat at her king's command. "Tauriel. Leave," his voice rang out again. "Go now."
Her eyes lingered on the orc's for a moment longer, then met those of the king as she slowly straightened to her full height, and forced herself to regain her calm again. Legolas looked at her with an expression of understanding and their eyes met briefly, then she walked past them towards the door and Legolas could picture the scowl on her face as she descended the stairs.
Legolas returned his attention to his captive as Thranduil stepped closer.
"Answer the question," the king encouraged. "You have nothing to fear. Tell us what you know and I will set you free."
Legolas knew this was a lie. They would never let an orc live, but he hoped the orc was stupid enough to believe them.
"You had orders to kill," Legolas went on. "Why? What is Thorin Oakenshield to you?"
The orc scowled. "The dwarf runt will never be king," it spat.
"King?" Legolas probed. "There is no king under the mountain nor will there ever be." It was a statement of fact. "None would dare enter Erebor whilst the dragon lives."
"You know nothing. Your world will burn," the creature replied with what resembled a satisfied smirk.
"What are you talking about?" he kept prodding as Thranduil circled them, coming to a stop in front of the orc.
"Speak!" the king ordered.
The orc's smirk stayed right in place as he looked at the elven king. "Our time has come again. My master serves the one." Legolas felt a shiver run down his spine at the implication and looked to his father to see his expression darken as well as the orc spoke. "Do you understand now, elf king? Death is upon you. The flames of war are upon you."
At this point, Thranduil had had enough and his sword came seemingly out of nowhere, slicing the orc's head clean from his shoulders. Its body dropped to the floor and Legolas was left still holding the head by the hair. Staring at it in disgust for a moment, he threw it to the ground as well and got to his feet. Throwing one last glance in his father's direction, he headed for the door, in search of Tauriel.
A/N: So what did you think? I had a bit of trouble writing this one so I hope it doesn't suck. Next chapter will have more Legolas and Tauriel in it, which should be fun. Please review and I will update as soon as I get the chance:)