To Hear Trees Call For Me chapter three

A/N- Virtual high five for 12 follows and 5 favourites! And I thought 'Talk About Chances' had a lot with 8 follows.

Replies to reviews (Sorry, these make my chapter so much longer, but I feel like I have to respond xD)-

Lady of Lake-Town- The first chapter of the prequel is up! Thanks so much for reading this story!

Well, there weren't very many reviews, were there? Oh well, can get to the chapter faster for all of you who don't like to read long author's notes!

And now, here's the next chapter! Note: this chapter may be slightly sad…. not cry-my-heart-out sad, but sad nonetheless.

A horn sounded out, loud and clear, echoing through the palace. Tauriel was up on her feet in seconds, and grabbed her bow and daggers. Rushing to the main hall, she reached the rest of the guard, which was an impressive over fifty elves. As they set off, Nelladan joined Tauriel and Tilasir at the head of the patrol and gave the two older elves a brief nod. Tauriel gave a small smile in return, before the group set off into the forest. Shortly, they caught a glimpse of what had set off the alarm. Orcs, as always, this time a massive group of almost two hundred. The fire-haired elleth looked over to a ridge a few hundred metres away, to see a glimpse of Legolas and Thranduil leading another patrol. Tauriel turned to Tilasir, who shot her a cold glare and paired her with Nelladan. Nelladan joined Tauriel, hazel eyes curious.

"What's up with him?" Tauriel laughed slightly.

"He likes me, but I turned him down. He's peeved, to say the least." The pair loaded their bows, and, in perfect unison, sent two arrows flying into the orc pack. The head orc glared and shouted something in his horrid language, and battle broke out. Tauriel and Nelladan stayed side by side, protecting each other's backs and shooting arrows into the hearts and throats of the vile creatures. Tauriel's gaze was caught momentarily at Tilasir and Feretor, the latter of which wasn't actually where he was supposed to be. A gasp from Nelladan returned her to the current situation, and they shot down a few more orcs.

Line break…..

After all the intruders had been killed or had chosen to flee, Tauriel and Nelladan made their way to the healing rooms to check on the injured, though not before being stopped by Suazornin, a healer who had originally come from Lorien, and engaged to Eresan.

"Tauriel, Nelladan, I think you may want to see this." Tauriel swallowed. Last she had heard these words, she had left. Shaking her head, she took a tentative step forward to open the door. Many injured were in the room, but most disturbing were the two motionless figures on the far side. This was where the two elleths headed first. Bad mistake. One of the forms was that of Feretor, his sister Saiador crouched over the body in grief. The other figure was Tilasir. Nelladan choked back a sob and beckoned to her sister.

"Eresan. Why?" The sisters knelt down beside their fallen brother, whispering final farewells. Tauriel turned, unable to take in any more. Suazornin once more approached her, gesturing silently for her to follow. He led her into another, more private room, where a silver-blond haired elf was struggling to sit up. Tauriel's eyes widened and she rushed to the bedside, before glaring at Suazornin.

"Who ruined the secret?"

"Tauriel, I hate to break it to you, but… it was Tilasir." Tauriel's forest green eyes grew cold. Suazornin looked at her, amber eyes curious.

"What are you thinking? Or, feeling, rather?"

"Let me think. Betrayed, confused, angry, annoyed, upset. Anything else needed?" Suazornin shook his head.

"No." Tauriel crouched beside the bed, and ran a hand over Thranduil's hair. Even the fact that he didn't flinch was saddening. Suazornin stepped backwards and looked at the door.

"Should I leave?"

"Yes, if you may." The healer turned and left without a word. Tauriel moved to sit on the bed, and ran a soft hand over her love's.

"Thranduil, what happened?"

"Ugh. Took a morgul blade to the leg. Not fun," he replied, shifting the sheets slightly as to let Tauriel see the wound, running from knee to ankle, and quite deep. Tauriel winced at the slightly maroon appearance of the injury.

"You sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine. I'd like to know though. Did we lose anyone?"

"Yes."

"Who? How many?"

"Two. Feretor and Tilasir."

"That's… unfortunate I guess," the king replied. Obviously even he could remember the countless times Tilasir had tried to get Tauriel's attention. "Could you or Legolas organise the burial? If Tilasir leaked the secret, surely nearly everyone will know by now."

Line break…..

Sure enough, as Tauriel exited the room in which Thranduil was in, nearly everyone nodded their head, gave her cold glares, or mumbled a 'hello' in her passing, while the others ignored her completely. Tauriel reached Legolas, who was checking injuries of the rest of the guard.

"Legolas, we have to organise the burials."

"Where is father?"

"Morgul wound. He told us to sort it out." Legolas winced at the mention of a morgul wound. Even in elves they were painful, and occasionally resulted in the loss of a life.

Line break….

The burial for the fallen guard members was held and completed, short and tense with Tauriel's spilled secret and Thranduil's absence. Eresan, who had been tending to Thranduil after her brother's burial, rushed to Tauriel and whispered in her ear.

"Tauriel, come quickly." Tauriel followed the healer back to the healing room where Thranduil lay. The king had grown pale, and felt burning to the touch when Tauriel rested a hand on his forehead.

That was when it hit hard. For the first time in centuries, an elf was really ill. And this time, it was Thranduil.

Thanks to everyone who read this! Every review/follow/favourite means so much to me :D R&R!