#3
Couple of hours later. Empty throne hall.
Legolas was standing here alone. He felt that someone's hand had laid on his shoulder. It was his father.
T: something keeps you on the alert. What is bothering you, son?
L: I am just thinking.
T: I see you are on the rack. You have been so doleful these days. Tell me, Legolas.
L: Tauriel…I'm at a crossroads…You may know how much I care about her. I told Tauriel I love her but she said that we couldn't be together. I do not know what to think…
T: there is no way I can help you, son.
L: I still don't understand…
T: maybe it is for the best.
Legolas wasn't listening his father very carefully. He was standing back to him and looking ahead with unseeing eyes.
T: after all, you are the son of the king… and she is only…
L: …only common silvan elf, isn't she, father?
Legolas quickly looked behind at Thranduil. He didn't look doleful anymore. He was full of anger now, his voice was full of challenge.
L: she told me the same thing! It was you! You dreamt it up! How could you do this to me? What did you tell her?
T: Legolas!
L: WHAT DID YOU TELL HER?!
T: I told her not to give you hope!
L: hope?! Didn't work, did it?!
Legolas turned around and walked quickly away.
T: you will not be with this woman!
Thranduil said it to his back.
L: you cannot compel me!
He walked the whole castle looking for Tauriel but could not find her. Only at the gate, he found what he was looking for.
L: have you seen Tauriel somewhere here?
Guard-guy: she left the castle two hours ago. She went in the woods.
Legolas didn't know where he was going. The wood is very big she can be anywhere. The only thing he could do is keep seeking. Then after some time he heard something - weeping. He continued to wade through the thicket until he had reached an open space - rock ledge above the river.
She was there. Tauriel was sitting on the ground, her back was hunched and her palms were hiding her face. She was crying. She looked different from Tauriel he got used to see. That, the other Tauriel was reckless, ruthless and wild. Tauriel he saw now was different. She was so beautiful, so fragile, and so defenseless. She was hurt. Legolas ran to her and sat down beside, holding her close. She did not resist only hid her face on his chest.
His voice was soft and quiet.
L: Sh-sh-sh-sh… I am over here… It's okay… I am over here…
He was stroking her hair and caressing her back. Her tears were not stopping.
T: why did you come here? We cannot… - L: I know what my father did.
T: he will never let us be together.
L: I not gonna ask him for permission. I love you and this is the only thing that matters for me now. Hey… don't cry…
He kissed her face wiping up the tears. She smiled.
T: I will not stop crying at that rate, you know.
He smiled.
L: I have never seen you're crying before.
T: I have not. Only ones when my parents died. I was strong.
L: you are strong. You are the strongest person I have ever met.
The night was falling down on the woods lighting it up with stars.
T: is that a tear on my lips?
L: I will deal with it.
It was deep at night but these two were sitting under the moonlight embracing each other. They were not talking when dawn has come. Legolas looked at Tauriel. She was asleep. He took her to the castle and was looking at her sleeping until had fallen asleep himself.
Tauriel waked up in her own bed and saw the pair of blue eyes in front of her face. She was lying at the edge of the bad in her yesterday clothes. Legolas was asleep (yes, elves sleep with open eyes). He was sleeping sitting on the floor but his arm was under his head on the bed. The other one was holding her hand. Tauriel touched his face with her fingertips. She reached for his face to kiss on the cheek, but Legolas turned his head so she could not manage to kiss anything but the lips. He was only pretending to be asleep.