Note: Yay here's the new chapter! I guess I should put the disclaimer and the fact that I do not own any of the characters since we are in the part of my story that has all the movie stuff. Hopefully the next chapter will be up next week. I am having a lot of fun with this story so far, and I hope you guys reading it like it too. As always, comments or questions are welcome and greatly appreciated. Happy reading!

There had been little action for Tauriel since they discovered Dol Guldor. The most they encountered were spiders, which she was growing very annoyed of. No matter how much they fought them off, they kept returning. Sometimes they were bolder and bigger in number. She wanted to do something more, but the king would not risk anything for the sake of keeping them safe. She tried to reason with him many times, but he got angry and told her to never speak of fighting to him until it was necessary.

Then came this day, where her patrol discovered dwarves. Legolas was doing most of the handling, so Tauriel scouted the area around them once it went quiet, and her patrol began searching them.

Then one of the screamed at a dwarf named Kili, who was surrounded by spiders in the next instant. She quickly sprang into action and killed them all. Even when the dwarf was trying to ask her for a dagger, she kept fighting them off on her own. She even told him that she would not do that, as that would be unwise. It was also kind of fun to show off being a female fighter. After that, they finished searching the dwarves, and took them back to the kingdom.

She was then putting dwarves in cells. And as she put the one named Kili in a cell, he turned to her with a hopeful expression in his eyes. "Aren't you going to search me? I could have anything beneath my trousers." He remarked.

Tauriel had to hold back a smile, because this dwarf was truly unusual. She retorted that he probably had nothing there, and closed his cell.

Legolas then asked her in elvish why that dwarf was staring at her, and she just shrugged, noting his tallness. Legolas said he was still ugly, like dwarves had been known to be, but Tauriel didn't think so at all. Not that that really meant anything. This day was quite amusing, but she knew that there was a reason why the dwarves were crossing Mirkwood, and a reason why they were being held captive for doing so. She couldn't let her guard down at all.

After she left the dungeon, she went back to her room to lighten her clothing slightly. She didn't want to get into an evening gown, despite the fact that there was a feast tonight. She wanted to be ready in case anything happened.

As she was leaving, Maein caught up with her. "Tauriel, how have you been lately? And how is your um… situation going?" Tauriel knew exactly what she meant by 'situation', and thinking of the king in that manner was just stressful. She managed to control her feelings, and maybe they were disappearing for good, so she decided to let it go with Maein. She feared of word actually getting out, when it would no longer be true. That would just be a disaster, and with dwarves being their current prisoners, she didn't want a disaster centered on her. She never liked attention. She shied away from it usually.

"I think I may be getting over it." She told Maein, hoping that it was convincing enough. Her friend seemed to buy it, as she gave her a smile in response. "That's great! I knew it might be a phase. You really dodged an arrow Tauriel."

Tauriel just laughed. "I think I may be going insane. I mean, what was I thinking? The king? It's ridiculous." Even as she was saying that though, she just wasn't sure. Not yet anyway.

"Please do not tell anyone about this. I trust you." Tauriel then said sincerely, and her friend nodded.

"Why would I spill the secret of someone who has done so much for me? That would be so ill of me, plus I'm also slightly afraid of what you'd do to me." She laughed nervously. Tauriel put a hand on her shoulder comfortingly.

"I could never hurt you." And she meant it.

"Other than the dwarves, we found another spider's nest." Legolas was reporting to Thranduil. He was certainly not pleased with this development, but on the other hand, news had traveled to him what the dwarves were doing, and it piqued his interest.

"Tauriel showed exceptional skill today too, she took out a lot of spiders. Even when they completely surrounded her, she didn't flinch to kill them." Legolas added. Everytime Thranduil heard her name he found himself paying more attention to it. But when it came out of Legolas' mouth he winced. He felt like his son was getting more affectionate for Tauriel, and he wouldn't allow it.

"Why do you think she is a captain Legolas? Of course she would know how to fight well." He retorted. Then thinking of his next task of business, he let out a heavy sigh. "Bring in Thorin Oakenshield."

Thranduil's reason for talking to Thorin was extremely important. He knew of his quest for Erebor, and why. He only cared about their destination and a certain item that it contained; gems of pure starlight, and more importantly among those gems, was a necklace. They all belonged to his wife. In other words: a key reminiscent item for him. What better way to retrieve them, than to have someone who is already on their way do it for him? He was putting a lot of hope into someone who would try to be king. But still doubt entered his mind. He was a dwarf, after all.

The guards brought in Thorin; a tall big dwarf with thick black hairs streaming from his head and the lower half of his face. His blue eyes were striking and daring. He wore an expression of smug curiosity on his face. Thranduil knew in that moment his hope would be short-lived.

He made the offer to Thorin, but he insulted him and said he would not help him, or even trust him. Thranduil's immediate response was to throw him in the dungeon. He didn't get angry, it took a lot for him to do that, he was just slightly irritated. But nonetheless, he did not feel like being around anyone. He started to go to his own personal study, and he passed Legolas on the way.

"Father, I believe Tauriel still wanted to speak with you." He said, making the king grow still.

"Send her to my study then, but find her quickly. I'd like to get that over with. My exchange with Thorin did not go well." He walked away from his son after barking his demand.

Getting to his study he quickly sat in his chair and tossed the crown of branches from his head. For it felt heavy, like the weight of the disappointment he had in himself. How could he have hoped that asking the arrogant dwarf for his beloved wife's treasure would go well? It just proved even more that their entire race was rotten and greedy.

Tauriel was sitting in her room preparing to see the king, when Legolas arrived.

"My father wants to see you now, but in his study. Do you need me to lead you there?" He looked formal, and sounded very businesslike. Tauriel knew by the sound of his voice that Thranduil was probably in a rush if he sent someone for her himself. She wasted no time in standing up.

"I remember where it is, I will go now then." She and Legolas parted.

It wasn't a confusing walk to where his study was, and she rarely went to it. But every time she did go, she remembered how much time she spent there as Thranduil raised her until she was old enough to choose her lifestyle. She remembered how kind and gentle he was to her when they first met. Her grief had mirrored his in many ways, but he probably felt for her even more because she was fairly young still when she lost her parents. It's been a long time since then, and Thranduil eventually just treated her like a king leader should, save the moments they had been having all year so far. It's been a while since things got weird, and she hoped to keep it that way.

Standing in the doorway of his study, she got too caught up in memories, and the place suddenly felt very new and different to her. Not that anything had changed, but the air in it was different, and she forgot what she was doing.

"I know you're there. Why do you linger in the shadows?"

His voice snapped her back to business, and she marched in bowing. "I came to report to you my lord." She said formally, and when she looked up to see his face, she saw that he was irrationally calm.

"I thought I ordered that nest destroyed not two moons past."

Every time she spoke, she was cut off. Especially when she mentioned going into Dol Guldor again, his voice grew darker. After that, she stayed quiet.

"The fortunes of this world will rise and fall, but here in this kingdom we will endure."

He seemed off, and not in the slightly positive way that it used to be. Tauriel turned to leave, thinking maybe she shouldn't argue with him now.

"Legolas said you fought well today." She froze, and pretended to be surprised. He then basically told her that he would never allow a union between them. Now she was slightly irritated. She recalled the first time he followed her up into the tree, saying she had his blessing in whoever she chose to marry. Not that it would ever be Legolas, or him for that matter, but it seemed like he had gone mad.

"Legolas was never on my heart. If you must know, he is a good friend."

He hummed in response and then sipped his wine with his back turned to her. She threw her hands up in frustration, and she started toward the door.

"I bid you farewell." She said quietly.

"Tauriel."

She turned to him then, and he was looking at her with some sort of expression of longing on his face. "Yes?" She asked him, cocking her head slightly.

"I do know that you do not love Legolas, and that is why I am warning you not to give him hope." At that she had to hold back a mocking smile.

"I think I should go, my lord. I can tell we've both had a long day."

To her surprise, he shook his head, and then sighed. "Please Tauriel, have some wine with me. I want to… Reward you for your bravery and leadership. If my son is telling me of your excellence and I have not done anything to acknowledge it, what kind of king would I be?"

She sighed, and her tense posture relaxed. She walked back into the room and he held a glass of wine to her, and she took it gingerly.

"May we continue to protect this kingdom for many years to come." He said, raising his glass.

She did the same, and they drank. The wine was a mixture of darkness and sweetness, yet the taste was addicting. "You are too much." She said after taking her drink. She felt the liquid making her body change, so she opted to not take another glass after this, hoping this buzz she had would come down soon.

The king sighed, and looked down. "It has been a long day, long and disappointing." He said after some silence. Tauriel looked at him with curiosity.

"Do you want to talk about it?" She asked.

He looked up at her with wide eyes, and immediately shook his head.

At that she moved closer, and actually put her hand on his arm. "It might help if you at least told someone, so let it be me. Please?" He gave her an incredulous look, his eyes wide, and thinking.

"It has to do with the dwarves." He said finally.

This definitely piqued Tauriel's interest. She didn't notice he was actually allowing her hand to stay on him. "What about the dwarves, my lord?"

"They are stubborn and greedy, and arrogant." He continued. Tauriel stayed silent, looking up at him for more explanation.

After some silence, Thranduil sighed. "I asked their leader, Thorin Oakenshield, if he would accept my help in exchange for returning an item that belonged… to my wife." He went quiet at the last three words, and Tauriel's eyes went wide with shock.

She felt a mixture of emotions; sorrow, surprise, and curiosity. "I take it by your mood he didn't take the offer, or else the dwarves and some of our army would have been on their way…" Thranduil nodded. This was certainly interesting news, and she felt it best to utilize it.

If she could help him get his wife's jewels back, he would probably be better off with having closure on a long unresolved issue. Tauriel didn't want to do this for glory or more favor; she wanted to help him because she loved him. It was extremely risky, but she was motivated to do it.

After a while Tauriel left Thranduil, because he was having a little too much wine. She didn't want to be around in case he got too out of control with any of his emotions. It was not her place to see him so vulnerable.

She went to the dungeon, and indulged in the dwarf named Kili, unbeknownst to her was a pair of jealous eyes watching them.

It was pretty late at night, and Thranduil was still slightly senseless on wine, but the cool air of the night cleared them a little. He was outside, just wandering in a daze, when he ran into Legolas. Seeing him, he realized where he was, and it was close to the cells where the dwarves were being held.

He blinked twice, and saw that Legolas actually looked irritated.

"Tauriel is talking to one of them, and actually being friendly." Legolas said, which definitely made Thranduil a little curious.

"What do you feel for Tauriel?" He then asked, causing Legolas to widen his eyes a little.

"She is my friend. I admire her skill and bravery especially when it comes to dealing with you." He said. Thranduil seemed to believe Legolas, and then he remembered Tauriel was being kind to a dwarf that he was holding prisoner.

"Why is she talking to the dwarf? What are they talking about?"

"He was telling her of his adventures, and Tauriel seemed to be infatuated with what he had to say."

Thranduil sighed, and put a hand on his head. It may have been the wine but he was thinking she might be falling for a dwarf. "Of all the men to be infatuated with, it happens to be a dwarf." Right after he said that, Tauriel was exiting the dungeons. He immediately regretted his words.

"I will stop her then." Legolas said determinedly, but Thranduil just waved his hand.

"I'm interested in seeing what will become of this. Don't do anything, but watch her."

Shortly after that they parted, he immediately went in pursuit of Tauriel, who was actually waiting for him. She did not look happy in the slightest.

"I am not infatuated with anyone. Why is my love life suddenly so important to you? Was I wrong thinking you once told me that I had your blessing for whoever I choose? And do not tell me I am choosing a dwarf or your son." She was actually raising her voice to him. Thankfully they were at a distance from the living quarters and in a deserted area where little guards went.

"Forgive me. I just worry."

"I will not stand for your careless assumptions, my lord. I feel as if you belittle me so much."

"Then why are you conversing with a dwarf? Legolas said you seemed to be quite indulged on whatever this dwarf had to say."

"I wanted to see with my own eyes what dwarves are, and I believe now that they aren't all that bad." Thranduil didn't seem happy at this development.

"You dare try to cloud my judgement? I could have you thrown in the dungeons for this sort of behavior, and betrayal." He regretted that statement, as Tauriel didn't get frightened or scared at it. If she were any other elf, she would have shut her mouth.

But she isn't any other elf, she is Tauriel.

"There we go again, assuming that I am doing more than just talking to a dwarf. My lord I am not like you. I cannot just close my mind to a trite statement. It is not in my nature."

Thranduil was suddenly looking at her with some sort of passion. The weird urges he had once before, had risen up again. "Of course…" He said quietly

He pushed her against the pillar behind them, watching her eyes grow wide with shock. He could hear her heartbeat rising, and then his own above hers a moment later. "Where does your loyalty lie then?"

"It lays with you my lord, it always has."

He could see her fear then, but beyond it, some sort of longing that mirrored his own.

"I'm sorry Tauriel, please forgive me.." He his head fell onto her shoulder and his breathing went slightly ragged. She smelled so sweet and felt so soft. He couldn't believe what he was doing.

She wrapped her arms around him then, and he could feel her shuddering at this feeling. "I forgive you." She said quietly.

They stayed like that for a long time, and it felt like a barrier had been broken between them. It was comfortable, yet still extremely risky. Any elf could have walked past and saw them. Granted it was late, but anything could happen.

After a while she finally pulled him off of her, and she nodded. "Goodnight my lord." She walked away before anything else could possibly happen, and he was left to wonder what would have happened if she had stayed longer, and they really got comfortable in each other's embrace.

It was clear now; Thranduil yearned for Tauriel, and in more ways than one. He hadn't had this feeling in such a long time, and he could no longer deny it. Stubborn and irritable she might be; she was fearless and astounding in everything she did. The key things that happened this year were because of her. He made a decision then, and thought of it as he made his way back to his chambers. He decided he was going to try going further with Tauriel. If their shared moments weren't enough to say there was something there, then he didn't know what he felt on his heart. Whether it was madness, or love was unclear, and he wanted to find out.

At times like this, he was glad about how patient he was; because he knew he would have to wait until tomorrow to start. She still needed time to cool down from this, and he respected that she would need space from him, especially after his crazy assumptions. He had assumed wrong twice about her, but now he realized it was what they say jealousy is. He didn't want his son or the dwarf to have her affection because he wanted it. But maybe, just maybe, he would have the pleasure of experiencing hers at its maximum.

He fell asleep soundly that night, forgetting about all the other things that were on his mind, because right now he just wanted Tauriel.

That night had been restless, and Tauriel had a feeling that she wouldn't have any rest for a while. Her moment with the king had her reeling in shock. She was so close to him again, but this time it was longer. She knew this had to stop. She tried to tell herself that nothing would come out of it, but she felt the belief slipping. She was at least glad that her friend didn't worry about it so much anymore, and the disaster of it coming to light would just deconstruct everything she was, and was meant to be.

Upon getting up and getting ready, she heard shouting outside the door.

"The dwarves escaped!"

The time for rest was now completely over. She hurried quickly and got her accessories for fighting, and started toward the cells. "Where is the keeper of the keys?!" She shouted. She was informed he was last seen or heard from going to the wine cellar.

Upon arriving there, she saw the part of the floor where they dispersed the wine barrels barely close.

At that moment Legolas appeared behind her, only watching her for a second, and then hurrying to the water gate. She hurried to join him, but he was already running down to that area, and the gate was being closed. After that it was silent, but then the most horrid thing appeared at their gates and slaughtered their gate guards; orcs.

At that Tauriel definitely ran to action, making it there just in time to save Kili from being slaughtered by an orc. She noted that he was already in pain though from an arrow.

She couldn't help him because he got into a barrel and the dwarves managed to be sailing the river in their barrels. The orcs that attacked them at the kingdom, stopped to follow them.

They fought orcs alongside the river, and until the current picked up where they all lost the dwarves. Tauriel still stayed alert though, and sure enough, there was an orc trying to shoot down Legolas.

His arrow had already been fired, but she intercepted it with one of her own. In the next instant she was about to slay the orc, but Legolas stopped her. "This one, we keep alive."

As they made their way back to the kingdom her mind was reeling. The one she took interest in had been injured, but she desperately needed him. She went through many plans, and was about to go through them all until Legolas stopped her from going anywhere else.

"We have to interrogate him, with my father."

Tauriel sighed, and in the next moment there they all were, interrogating the orc. He was being unresponsive, and dodging all questions. He looked directly at Tauriel, and she found her way out.

"You like killing things? You like death? Then let me give it to you!"

Before she could lay anything on him, Thranduil barked at her to leave. She looked at him, knowing this would be the last time she would see him for a while.

She left their view, and listened in. The orc talked about war, and shortly after Thranduil had slain him. She winced, hearing the change of tone in his voice as he talked to his son.

Then she heard him leaving, and coming near her.

"I want the watch doubled on our borders; all roads all rivers. Nothing moves but I hear of it. No one enters this kingdom, and no one leaves it."

She ran after hearing that, deeming that she had enough things to do what she needed to do. There was no time for preparation. This was her only window of opportunity. She ran for the entrance, and heard a distant voice calling her name. She turned around to see Maein.

"Tauriel, where are you going?" She asked, struggling a little to catch up to the captain.

"There is something I must see. I will be back. I promise." Somehow she worried whether she would be able to keep that promise or not. Nonetheless, she left Maein there, and went out to the darkness of the wood. Going beyond the borders, to where the lake was. As she drew further away from her home, her uncertainty at what happened now was growing, but knew her determination would ultimately win over it.

She stopped walking near the edge of the wood, but she didn't dare look back. The orcs were probably way ahead of her, and she hoped she would get to the dwarves before they did. She wanted to see their quest fulfilled, and fulfill her own as well.

After all, her loyalty and love for the king, was deeper than even she could have imagined. She was doing all of this, for him.

She just hoped that in the end he would truly appreciate it.