Legolas curled into a ball on the floor of his cell. Every day was a cycle of the same. Azog would drag him out to the pinnacle and Sauron would ask him the same questions. He would refuse, and Azog would strike him over and over again, stopping only when the Dark Lord posed the question again. Then Azog would finally drag Legolas back to his cell and leave him there.

His only solace were Tauriel's nightly visits. She never stayed for long, but she would bring a fresh jar of salve and maybe a bit of food. Sometimes she didn't bring anything. On those nights, she would just sit by the window, reach through the bars as best she could, and lace her fingers through his. Those were the night of the very best sort. She didn't bring any tangible things, but she offered her company. And that, in the cold, dark cell of an Orc stronghold, meant more than anything.

Azog's heavy footsteps jerked Legolas out of his memories. Here we go again. he thought, pushing himself up as best he could. The albino Orc unlocked the door and shoved it open on its squeaky hinges.

"Move along, scum!" he shouted, causing Legolas to wince at the sound. Didn't Azog know how to speak quietly? But he managed to stand, and walk out. They hadn't bound him lately, seeming to know that he just didn't have the strength to escape. Tauriel had remarked on how pale he seemed. Was this place really changing him that much? He believed it.

"Come on! That the best you can do, you maggot?" Azog roared, then laughed. Other Orcs joined in. Oh, wonderful. They were going to try a different way to get him to talk. One that involved his honor, which Azog happened to know Elves took very seriously. They peppered him with taunts until they reached what appeared to be a guardroom. It was packed with Orcs. This is going to be fun… he thought.

The week passed in a blur, and Legolas was glad of it. He didn't want to remember it, only the passages and the layout of the rooms. But even those details had dissolved in his memory by the time Azog dragged him back. Legolas staggered to the stone ledge and collapsed against it. Tauriel had to get him out soon. He couldn't take much more of this.

As usual, a gentle tapping on the bars announced her arrival. But this time, Legolas was too weak to sit up.

"What happened to you?" she gasped.

Legolas touched the ragged ends of his hair. "Azog. They changed tactics to appeal to my honor awhile ago, in the hope it will get me to talk."

Tauriel wriggled one of her hands through the bars. He grabbed hold of her and pulled himself up. "But you're not going to give in, right? You won't have to stay here much longer, you know. I sent someone trustworthy to your father with the news that you were captured. Thranduil will send some elves for you soon."

"Good. It is unknown to me how much more of this I can take."

"I could try to get you out tonight."

Legolas stared at her. Tonight? How? "You can do that?"

She sighed. "I'd need your help. And it won't be easy."

Legolas thought about what freedom meant. He wanted to run through the trees. To see his father again. "Tauriel, I have valuable information on the stronghold. I know where the Orcs are sparse and where they are often. I need to get that information to my father. But Sauron will order me brought to him at irregular times. It will cause too much unrest. Set up what you can tonight, and try tomorrow night."

Tauriel let a little more light out of the lantern, allowing him to see her tear-stained face. "All right. But after that, I don't care what you say, I will get you out." Legolas gazed at her, knowing she meant what she said. "And anyway, here." Tauriel pulled her hand out and pushed a cloth bundle through the bars. "It's getting cold, you'll need it." Then she rose and left.

Legolas unfolded the blanket and watched her go. He would be warm, tonight at least.

Thudding arose from the hallway. Azog burst in, breaking the iron door to splinters against the rock in his obvious fury. "My master has lost his patience, elf. You'll tell him where the Three are, or you'll die."

"Never." Legolas answered, standing by the sheer force of his will.

Azog roared and swung his hand up, as if to land a blow. Legolas started to turn away from him, but excruciating pain laced up his side. He yelled, pressing his hand to the wound. He could feel the hilt of a knife protruding from between his ribs. His legs collapsed under him, and he grabbed for the stone ledge. He only managed to stay up for a few seconds before he slid to the floor, unconscious.

Tauriel ran faster, hoping to dispel the chill. Suddenly, the wind seemed different, colder somehow. Running downwind, she noticed something in the brush. Stepping cautiously, she lifted the lantern high. It was the elf she'd sent to Thranduil a week before, lying in the bushes. She knelt by him and felt his wrist. He was dead, with an arrow through his chest. A blue-green liquid contrasted with the dark fabric. Tauriel dipped her finger in it and tasted it. Papery. She spit it out quickly. It was elfbane, a deadly poison.

She shot up to standing, furious. The traitor was responsible. Well, she would just have to go to Thranduil herself. If he refused to listen to her, then she would free Legolas by herself and they would live in the cottage Legolas had built. But she hoped Thranduil would listen. Oh, she hoped.

As it turned out, Thranduil was in no mood to listen to her. The Sylvan Elves at the gate had seen her coming and, after she explained why she was there, cordially alerted the king to her presence. When they had led her in, however, Thranduil immediately showed hostility.

"Why are you here?" he asked, voice threatening.

"I bring news." she answered, managing to keep her tone steady.

"Of what?"

Tauriel drew a deep breath. She knew what she needed to say. Start with the smaller news. she reminded herself. "The Orc are massing in Dol Guldur again. Azog is alive."

Thranduil chuckled. "And, why, Tauriel, should I believe you?"

Tauriel stared at him. "Why? You ask why?"

"You have said your little piece of news," he answered in a dismissive tone. "Go."

"No."

He turned to her. "What? What did you say?"

"No. I will not leave. You will listen to what I am going to say. Just because I am below you is no excuse not to listen to reason. You will not turn away, not again. You will listen to me, because I refuse to let others die because of your stupidity!" Tauriel felt tears in her eyes and she fought to keep her voice steady.

Thranduil suddenly stepped forward, drew his sword, and pointed it at her chest. "You would dare speak to me like that?"he said in a half-whisper, which meant he was furious. "I have dealt with you for far too long. You will go now, and you will stay away. Or, I will kill you."

Tauriel flicked her eyes to his blade, then back to his eyes, blinking rapidly to keep back the tears. "Wait. Please wait. For once in your life, just listen to me."

Thranduil looked away, tears gathering in his eyes as well.

"I used to call you Ada, to admire you, want to be just like you. But you've changed so much. You used to be kind, to care about those around you. Now, you've shut everyone out, ignoring the fact that your people need you. I know you suffered, but so have we. Your people hurt just as much as you do.

"I know you hurt because Ayana died, but you can't hide behind it anymore. I know you suffered dragonfire, but you need to look past that. Just because things have gone wrong in your life You can't run from your problems anymore."

Thranduil slowly lowered his sword. Silence hung for a while.

Then he finally broke the silence. "I'm sorry."

What in all Middle-Earth?

"I said I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have acted the way I did. You were right. I need to stop hiding from my problems. But, why did you really come?"

"Legolas has been captured by Azog. He's been there for three full weeks. We have to get him out before he dies. Athlen caused it. He is a traitor."

Thranduil's face hardened. "Athlen! I need all available archers here now!"

Tauriel looked at him in surprise. He winked.

The brown-haired elf, who had just stepped into the room, nodded and left. His eyes make him look like the snake he is. Tauriel thought, watching the ever-changing greenish black shade they were..

When Athlen returned, he said, "I am sorry, my lord. There are no available archers."

Thranduil nodded and sheathed his sword with a flourish. "Tauriel, come with me. Athlen, stay here."

Tauriel followed him. Once they were out of earshot, she whispered, "Why did you do that?"

"Testing your theory." he answered. "I know that most of the Elven Guard is awake and waiting for my summons should I need them. And yet he said that they were not available. He also knows what you came for. So, because he lied about that in these circumstances, I know he is a traitor."

Tauriel nodded.

When they came to the gate, most of the Sylvan Elves were standing there. Some were fingering their arrows, some stringing and restringing their bows. All were tense. One of them looked up and leapt to his feet.

"My lord Thranduil! I did not look to see you here. Athlen told us that we would be needed, but not when. What has happened?"

"Athlen is a traitor." Thranduil replied. "I need you right now. There is someone else you will be under the command of."

Tauriel walked out of the shadows behind Thranduil. All the elves leapt to their feet. "We are going to Dol Guldur." Tauriel ordered. "I need you all on high alert. That place is swarming with Orcs. I know where we need to go, and I know someone who knows the layout of the passages to get us there. If you find any lone Orcs, or small groups that can't raise an alarm, you are welcome to kill them. But if you run into a large group, stay hidden. We don't want them to know we were there until tomorrow."

"Where, precisely, are we going?" Thranduil asked.

"Follow me."