A/N:
I would just like to reiterate my previous disclaimer that I by no means own any characters, scenes, or ideas that are exclusively from Lord of the Rings or the Hobbit, my only intention is to share my own ideas on how things would play out between these characters but have no intention to sell this to anyone. (I am going to continue to implement this disclaimer just for my own sake)
Alright guys here's another chapter and we are finally back into Tauriel's point of view. I'd really appreciate some feedback about what you all think of their (Tauriel and Legolas') interactions and what you think of them as their own characters. Look forward to all of your thoughts and ideas!
Thanks for reading!
xx TB
Chapter four
The emerged from the forest shadows and onto a wide expanse of grassy plains. As the wind blew across the plains the grass bowed to Mother Nature's prowess turning the land into a sea of gold and pale green. It was a beautiful sight and much welcomed sight having been trapped in the forest's darkness, the light seemed to rejuvenate Tauriel as it kissed her moon pale skin. She had left Legolas a few steps behind her, there was a moment where she wanted so desperately to tell him about what happened to Faelwen, to let him take on her grief, to seek comfort in those ice blue eyes and strong arms. No matter how much she wanted that though, she knew that those moments had been fleeting when they were happening, and they were far behind the both of them now. In the time where they had once relied on each other's strength she would now have to depend on her own. Gandalf stood at the front of the small group, having been the one to lead them out of Fangorn Forrest, his grey eyes now squinted against the sun as he peered out over the plains, searching for something in the distance. Before she was able to inquire about what it was that he was looking for Gandalf began to whistle. It was one clear note that started softly at first but swelled until it echoed all around them. He cut the note off after a heart beat or two and there was a deep silence that followed. No one moved for a moment and then the silence was broken by the whinny of a horse. Out of the corner of her eye she saw it, and heard the gasp escape her lips before she was able to stop herself. Pounding across the soft rolling hills was a large wild stallion, its coat shone slivery grey in the daylight like a star.
"That is one of the Mearas," Tauriel faintly heard Legolas' awed voice, she herself couldn't find her own as she was too stunned to put her own thoughts into words. Gandalf greeted the horse, rubbing the palm of his hand against the horse's strong neck, stroking his coat.
"His name is Shadowfax the lord of all horses, and he has been one of my closest companions through many of my dangers." He mounted the horse effortlessly despite his age, the other horses had circled around the forest as well meeting them on the other side, even Tauriel's travel weary steed. The four of them mounted their own horses getting ready to follow Gandalf as he would lead them to Rohan, having heard that things were going ill with Théoden King of Rohan. Tauriel tried to pull herself up into her saddle when agony burned through her shoulder, white hot like flame coursing through her veins she cringed and bit her lip to keep herself from crying out. The pain was just as harsh as it had been when the arrow first struck her, she remembered it with chilling detail.
As her horse rode away from the bloody scene that would be her sister's last resting place, she heard the twang of a bow string being released. Her heart had dropped into the pit of her stomach but there was no way to defend against her unseen attack and her mistake was a costly one. The arrow sailed through the air and buried itself deep into her shoulder and she cried out it so much pain she thought her throat would rip from the force of her scream. She fell forward onto the neck of her horse, her right hand clutching at the injured shoulder, half expecting an orc arrow head to be poking out of her chest. Though the arrow was buried deep it hadn't found its way completely through her flesh, which in retrospect would have probably been easier to manage. Instead the arrow was buried deep inside of her, her blood pouring freely from the wound and practically soaking the entirety of her left side, from her sleeve to the hem of her tunic. Biting her lip until she tasted the metallic flavor of blood lace her mouth she pushed on, blinking past the tears of pain. She reached behind her with her good arm and grasped the shaft of the arrow and with as much strength as she could muster she broke the shaft off as short as possible, the wound wouldn't heal with the shaft continually being jostled and torn, reopening it. Tossing the broken arrow shaft to the side she kicked her heels into the side of her horse, urging it to go on faster, Tauriel knew that her mission couldn't be hindered by her injury she had a job to do and would not rest until she saw her mission fulfilled.
Drawing on that sense of determination that had gotten her this far Tauriel gritted her teeth through the pain of her injury and hoisted herself back on to her horse without uttering a single sound of complaint, and ignoring Legolas' looks of concern from not far off. Tauriel refused to let him see her weakness, out of anyone he would be the last to see her fall. Gandalf brought Shadowfax closer to her, drawing up on her flank he smiled kindly to her.
"You have traveled a long way my friend," He said gently with a small incline of his head. Tauriel bowed in response.
"Mithrandir," She spoke low and respectfully, reaching to her throat she pulled the long thin vial, holding the scroll from Lord Elrond, from around her neck and placed it in Gandalf's out stretched hand. "I bring you urgent news from Lord Elrond." She watched as the old wizard unrolled the scroll, his storm cloud eyes scanning the script quickly, she watched his expression change from that of curiosity to horror in a split moment. Whatever news that Lord Elrond had wanted to share with Gandalf it was evident that it was neither welcomed nor good. Rolling the scroll once more he looked into Tauriel's face, eyes still shocked.
"Quickly, we ride for Rohan, you shall accompany us." He said tersely before touching Shadowfax's neck and the horse galloped ahead, heading towards the kingdom of Rohan. Taken aback by the wizard's abruptness Tauriel was at a loss of how to respond, she had assumed that she would return back to the Woodlands from whence she had come, following this fellowship…following Legolas had not been part of her plan. Despite that she knew an order when she heard one, and even more so she knew her place, King Thranduil would not take kindly to her return if he were to find out she ignored a direct command from Gandalf the White. Caught between a rock and a hard place Tauriel had no other choice but to follow Gandalf and the others. Urging her horse forward the followed suit with her new companions across the rolling plains.
They cleared the distance between Fangorn and Rohan within half of the day, riding upon the great wooden gates of the horse lords domain as the Sun was entering the last half of the sky, night would follow not too long afterward. Their journey had been filled with stories from the dwarf named Gimli of his times in the mind. Tauriel found it to be a pleasant change to hear the sound of another voice, despite how hoarse and brute-like the dwarf's was, whilst they rode. She found herself to be quite amused by his stories, even laughing despite herself –that is until she caught Legolas looking at her out of the corner of her eye. Though he would never condescend to look directly at her, he would have never been so bold, but notwithstanding she could tell none the less that he was looking and in his eyes was something that she did not wish to see; pain. An unaccustomed feeling of anger flared in her, just for a moment before her emotions subsided and she was once more the same as she ever was; cold as stone. He made is choice and forced me to make my own, to dwell longer on anything other than the current moment is a waist. She reminded herself tersely, pushing back against his imposing character and swell of memories that threatened to follow his look. Now that they were on the tail end of their travels though the bandy humor had ceased replace by a silence as sober as the sight of the gate before them. As they made their way up the winding horse trodden path and the gate came closer Tauriel could see it clearly for what it was, an old and rotted wall of wood and mud, harboring a dying city within it. At the doors of the gate stood two soldiers in dented helms with rusted blades, Tauriel found them to be a sorry excuse for guards and in their eyes they seemed to believe that too. Gandalf was the one to treat with them, offering introductions that satisfied the guards wariness that they were in fact not the enemy, though she wasn't quite so convinced that that would stop the blades from flying through the air. There was something about the way that these men stood, the look in their eye that told Tauriel that these men turned on friend as they would on foe with not but a word.
"So the rumors are true, Rohan does have difficulties recognizing its allies from its enemies." A voice spoke as if reading her mind, low enough to keep the guards from hearing but loud enough for only her to hear. She turned to see the ranger, Aragorn, beside her. She took in his rugged appearance, from the dark beard that covered his jaw and mouth to the matted hair that hung in his hair in dirty clumps from all the weeks spent traveling. It was a struggle to believe that the man that sat beside her, the ranger in his cloth poor riding clothes, could be the heir to the throne of man. She raised her eyes and met his gaze and was shocked, his gaze was clear and sharp, seeming to look straight through her. The exchange was unnerving and caused her to reconsider her prior judgment, though he may not look the part of a king there was no denying he had they eyes of one.
"You have come from the Woodland realm, same as Legolas?" He inquired quietly, stroking his horse's neck soothingly as it stamped its hoof, impatient to rest.
"I am, we were in the home guard together, and he was under my direction, for a time." She replied, taking care to keep her voice both steady and level, she wasn't sure what to think of Aragorn's questions or the motives behind them. She looked at him just as levelly, meeting those searing eyes with the hopes that she offered nothing in return. He nodded his head in consent, acknowledging that there was nothing more to be said and the gate began to open. Just as they steered their horses towards the opening Tauriel could hear the sound of cloth tearing and looked up in time to see one of the great banners falling towards the ground, having been torn from its post by the urging of the wind. The great banner fluttered to the ground in the same manner that leaves fall in the autumn, landing right at the base of the wooden gate. Tauriel took it for an ominous sign, with that falling banner she couldn't help but wonder what would also fall by the end of this war? As they made their way towards the King's hall the bleakness of not only the city of Rohan, but of its people as well astounded Tauriel.
"There could be found more cheer amongst the headstones of a graveyard than could be found in any of these folks' hearts." Gimli spoke deftly, vocalizing Tauriel's own thoughts.
"These people are long suffering indeed." She agreed with the master dwarf. As they rode by women in black and farmers with tools in head watched them go wary eyed as though they expect betrayal at every turn. Something was indeed wrong with this place and Tauriel found herself hoping against hope that their arrival was not yet too late to remedy the venomous despair that had sunk its fangs deep within the people of this land. Turning her gaze towards the King's hall she saw a figure, a women clad in a white billowing dress standing out in front of the doors, watching the new arrivals as they entered. Her gold spun hair was teased by the wind, playing gently around her shoulders and her face was a mask of grief and anger. Had she not known better Tauriel would have thought her to be a mournful spirit, turning to see if anyone else had seen the figure but as she turned her gaze back the woman was gone, as if she had never been there to begin with. Tauriel felt a chill run through her body, her skin covered in gooseflesh, she tried to shake off the forbidding and once more her shoulder throbbed. For a moment her vision blackened and she felt as if she were going to fall from her horses back.
"Tauriel?" A soft voice called out to her and she turned towards the sound, her vision clearing slowly to reveal Legolas on the ground, standing near the horse. They had made it to the steps of the hall and it was time for them to dismount, how did she not notice that? His hand was out, offering to help her from her saddle, uncharacteristically she gave him a small reassuring smile and took his out stretched hand. Pulling her leg around she slipped from the seat, feeling the world slip with her. Her boot hit the ground and her legs buckled underneath her almost sending her into the dirt but Legolas caught her. He steadied her with his strong arms and she leaned against his chest, she could feel his heart beating beneath his shirt with the strength of a horse. Even as the world was spinning she found a small sense of comfort in that moment. "Are you alright?" His alarm made his voice raise an octave and his hands tighten around her protectively. The comfort dissipated like smoke in the wind and Tauriel was back in her right state of mind, with her feet firmly planted on the ground.
"I'm fine, just a little tired is all." She said placing her hands against his chest and pushing herself out of his grasp, standing on her own, though shaking, she was still standing. He didn't look convinced but she wasn't going to worry about that, there was bigger things to be concerned about right now and her state of health was not one of them. Without another word between the two they followed Gandalf up the stairs and to the staggering oaken doors of the hall. They were met by men in armor and green cloaks, the sign of the Kings guard. The man at the head of the party bowed his head in respect to Gandalf who had covered his white clothes by a grey cloak.
"We cannot allow you in the presence of the king so heavily armed my lord Gandalf," Gandalf shared a critical look with Aragorn that was not missed by the head guard, his looked conveyed a sense of understanding but still he persisted. "By order of Gríma Wormtongue." The man's obvious disgust for this one named Gríma but nonetheless he was under orders and had to uphold that. With sign from Gandalf the four of them began to disarm themselves to the officers in front of them. A man stood before her as she handed over her bow, he stared at her lecherously, eyeing her up and down.
"A woman as fair as you should be more concerned with carrying gentle things such as flowers and needles rather than these hard weapons." He spoke in a raspy voice as he gestured to the bow and quiver in hand. She met his gaze with her own trying not to grin condescendingly.
"Would you care to see my need, my dear Sir?" she asked, lulling him with a vague hint of flirtation in her voice and saw his eyes gleam. Quickly she whipped out her thin knives, twirling them in her hands. They were as long as her thigh and thin like ice, but they were probably two of the most deadly and well-crafted blades that this soldier had seen in years. In the blink of an eye they were pressed against his throat and his eyes looked almost as if they were about to bulge out of his head. It happened so quick that none of them had had the chance to react, least of the guard standing in front of her. Just as quickly as she drew her blades and pressed them against the flesh of his throat she had flipped them in her hand, offering them to the guard in front of her hilt first. "Careful now," She said as he slowly took them from her, the lecherous look in his eyes replaced with one of abject fear as he eyed the twin blades warily almost as if he expected them to take on a life of their own and once again try to slit his throat. "They're sharp, I wouldn't want you to prick yourself." She said the ridicule in her voice boundless and unhindered she winked at the guard as she passed, his hand rubbing at the spot where her knife had bit him. Gimli was the first to speak on the matter his thunderous laugh boom from beneath his beard, he clapped his hands together in thorough amusement.
"She-elf or not she's got quite a bit a fire in her blood, are ye sure you're not part dwarf my lady?" He asked with a raised eyebrow and he smiled up at her. Tauriel felt her cheeks burn with an embarrassed blush; that was certainly not something she would have done back in the Mirkwood, it was completely out of character for her as the head of the home guard, what had gotten into her lately?
"No master Gimli I can assure you I am entirely elf kind." She said, resuming her respectful demure tone, her eyes flashed up to Legolas and he could see a hint of an amused smile stretch the corners of his mouth, turning them upward. Once again that blush reddened her cheeks and she made a point of avoiding looking at him again. After they had been relieved of their weapons they were finally allowed entry into the King's hall, being escorted by the same soldiers that had greeted them the doors finally opened. Immediately Tauriel was accosted by the putrid smell of sickness, it was so intense that she had to fight the instinct to turn up her nose against the smell. The hall was dark, the torches flames with either kept low or extinguished entirely giving the stone hall a gloomy almost destitute look about it. The dining tables were covered in dust and strewn about the hall haphazardly, it was clear it had been long indeed since these walls echoed the sounds of cheer and merriment; it had probably been years since King Théoden had hosted a banquet in Rohan's honor. At the end of the long gallery sat the King himself, slumped in his throne in a manner that suggested the mere action of sitting up was far beyond his body's abilities. There was a man that sat beside him in the advisor seat. His hair was oily black tar, blaster against a gaunt white skull whose flesh was pulled too tight. Watery colorless eyes appraised the newcomers with nothing less than contempt and its thin colorless lips pulled back in a sneer of malcontent. Was this thing before them man or a creature more devilish that its appearance? Revulsion roiled inside of Tauriel like bile in a fearful stomach as they drew near, she could sense the disease that filled Théoden's mind and reduced him to nothing but a decrypted wretch; its proximity made her skin crawl and her mind reel.
"Take heart Tauriel." Someone squeezed her hand quickly, the warmth of their skin against hers chasing away the chill of this hall. Legolas' lips were at her ear. "You can feel him can't you, Sarumon's reach has grown long and it is he who corrupts the King's mind now." Without another word he retracted his hand and took a step back away from her.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lacking in the prestige that I once fondly remembered Théoden King." Gandalf's booming voice resonated clearly through the stone gallery, it seemed to almost dissipate the darkness, sending it scattering like vermin into the deepest of shadows. The stopped at the steps that lead to the throne, a customary distance for anyone visiting the King. It was here that Tauriel could see the king, if he could even be called that now, more clearly. The man slumped in his wooden throne had all the grandeur of a beggar. His kingly robes, hung from his thin frame in the same way that his flesh barely clung to his skeleton. Eyes so clouded by cataracts flickered weakly to the man who sat beside him, a raspy groan escaping his lips. Wiry white hair, long and string dotted his molted, age spotted scalp, the crown he wore sliding to one side of his balding head. Tauriel had heard of the greatness of Théoden King of Rohan, she had heard tell of his bravery and great deeds but the man in front of her now looked like he could do little more than raise his head, let alone raise a Kingdom.
"Gandalf the Gray has come, my lord, no doubt a harbinger of doom. He is not welcome my lord, nor his companions. Turn them away more lord." Tauriel heard the man whisper into the old king's ear, his voice was that of a snakes pouring its venom into the king's mind; no doubt this was the one called Gríma. The King struggled to raise his head to look at his visitors, the groans he was making were horrid.
"Wh-why should I…welcome you Gandalf…the storm crow?" The king looked to Gríma for approval, and it was he who nodded raising his voice to address them in his perverse interpretation of the king's word.
"A just question indeed my liege. Late, that is the hour that you have come here Gandalf." He rose from his post next to the king and slunk down the stairs to stand before Gandalf, his watery eye's gleaming with his sense of power. Anger enflamed Tauriel and she found herself wished that she had her blade; she would cut the man's tongue from behind those twisted teeth and teach him the proper way to hold it. "Your news would suit us ill to hear and as we know ill-news is an ill guest" hissing the sss from behind his teeth, the more she saw of him the more Tauriel thought of him as nothing more than a slimy serpent.
"Keep your forked tongue behind your teeth! I did not travel through death and fire just to listen to the poisoned words of a lecherous cur like you. See and recognize true power when it crosses your unworthy path!" Gandalf growled, anger rumbling like thunder in his voice he brought his staff in front of him, the tip of it level with Wormtongue's nose. He flinched as if Gandalf had struck him and stepped away, tripping over the tails of his own cloak.
"I told you to take the wizards staff!" He cried out, his own men dressed in the same dark cloth as himself stepped forward, rushing towards Gandalf. In a moment fighting broke out, the four of them fending off their advancing attackers while Gandalf slowly drew nearer to Théoden, his words lost to Tauriel in the confusion of the fighting. Legolas and she stood back to back and they fought, dodging punches and delivering their own with ferocious accuracy.
"Reminds me of training back at home." Legolas said as he flipped a man over his back, sending him crashing to the marble floor where he lay stunned and did not try to get back up.
"Really, this seems more intense than training." She quipped grabbing another man's arms with both her hands and giving him a strong kick in the middle of his chest. The force of her hit sending him sprawling backward. She twirled away from another who came charging at her, he missed, running right into Legolas' awaiting fist.
"More intense? Don't tell me you've gone soft since I left, and here I thought you were a worthy adversary." Legolas said, his tone mocking her. For a moment it was almost like they were back training, light hearted and worry free. The way he looked at her smiling almost convinced her that nothing changed, but of course that couldn't have been further from the truth. She locked a man's head in her arms, turning him around she quickly punched him in the throat, subduing him without issue. He crumbled to the ground as she let him go.
"Not even close!" She said with a victorious smile, she found herself the most exhilarated when in the midst of a fight or training. She didn't know whether it was her instincts, the adrenaline that ran like blood through her veins or something savage and uncontrollable that festered in her and was released every time that she was free to battle, but every time that she was thrown into the midst of chaos where all she had to rely on was her own prowess was when she felt the most at ease, the most capable. She looked around them, their attackers left unconscious on the floor beneath them or sent scurrying back into the dark corners from where they had slithered their way back out.
"Théoden King, son of Thengel, I release you from this dark imprisonment. Your mind is once more your own but only if you have the power to take it!" Gandalf spoke, his voice with so much strength that it was almost palpable in the air. He raised his hand towards the old king, opening his palm and closing his eyes. A small laugh started, a raspy cough like laugh that rose in a crescendo of mania. The sound was almost inhuman and unnerving to hear, it made Tauriel's skin crawl and seemed to dim the lights even more than before.
"This is not your domain Gandalf the Grey, you have no power amongst me and my own." Théoden laughed the words, his voice sounding familiar but Tauriel could not place its owner. She saw Gandalf stiffen, his back straightening in anger. With the king's laugher still resounding in the halls and his taunt hanging in the air Gandalf dropped his grey cloak, it fell from his shoulders filling the halls in a bright white light. The stunning light was almost painful to look at forcing Tauriel to shield her eyes with an upraised hand. As if hit by a great unseen force King Théoden was thrown back into his throne, he let out a startled yelp.
"Uncle!" a shocked cry rose up, Tauriel saw a woman race forward, attempting to reach the kings side. The long golden hair and flowing white gown sparked Tauriel's memory, the woman from the stone steps, she recognized her to be the woman whom Tauriel mistook to be a sorrow filled spirit that she had seen upon entering Rohan. Aragorn grabbed her, tight, stopping her in her tracks.
"Wait!" he whispered gesturing to Gandalf, though she looked fearful for her uncle she complied and stayed where she was. The King tried to lean towards Gandalf once more, he struggled the way a restrained prisoner would fight against his bonds, his face looked pained.
"If I go Théoden dies!" The unfamiliar voice was much more pronounced and vile, Tauriel knew in an instant who it belonged to; Sarumon. Gandalf moved his staff sharply and the king was thrown back once more, not strong enough to fight off the white wizard's power.
"You could not kill me when given the chance and you shall not kill him." Gandalf promised his voice menacing. "Be gone!" with his command he struck out at the king with his staff and like burst of lightning the room filled with light for just an instant. Then the king slumped back into his throne, moaning pitifully. The woman threw off Aragon's restraining hands and ran to the king's side, taking his hand in hers. Everyone in the hall watched in amazed silence as the king's face began to change. His hair grew out fuller and vibrantly gold, his skin tightened and shrunk back to fit his skull taking on a rosy color and his eyes became sharp and clear once more; the king had returned. Cheers went up in the air, shouts of joy filled the hall as everyone celebrated joyously. A smile of relief crept across Tauriel's lips, maybe now things could be set right for these people. Before she could join in the celebration though she was struck with a debilitating pain, her shoulder throbbed and for a moment she thought it had been severed from her body. Her hand fell to her side and when she withdrew her palm was wet with blood, her entire left side was drenched. Legolas turned to her, he had his own relieved smile on his face only to have it disappear when he caught sight of all the blood. His face went void of color and fear filled his eyes, and for a moment they stood their staring at each other in shock and then she crumbled to the ground. Legolas caught her head before it hit the stone beneath her, she could barely make out his concerned face through the large black dots that began to pop in her eyes. It felt like her head was swimming and she could only hear the faint sound of someone yelling.
Is that Legolas? She thought vaguely, finding it harder and harder to make sense of the jumbled confused mess that her thoughts had found themselves in. I have to tell him…what do I have to tell him? Those fearful blue eyes were the last thing she could make out before she lost everything in the darkness.
"Legolas." His name found itself on her lips though she had no idea how it had gotten there.
And Scene! Thanks for reading my fourth chapter. I've never had so many email alerts telling me about all my new story followers and favorites. Thanks so much for your interest and support, please don't forget to comment your thoughts! Thanks again and I'll be posting a new chapter here in the next week so stay tuned!
xx TB