Chapter 6: Interchange
Tauriel hadn't been aware that she had fallen asleep, but judging by the change in the intensity of the light outside the tent and the increased sounds of commotion, the adversity of the state of affairs and the repeated vigil by Thranduil's bedside must've made her fall asleep. Her eyes snapped back to her charge as soon as she realised her lapse and found Thranduil struggling with something or somebody in his sleep, juddering back and forth the same way as his eyes moved under his closed eyelids. With him moaning and his skin shining with a thin layer of sweat, making him look even paler than before, it only took Tauriel one moment to jump up and shake his arm, "wake up, My Lord." Her hand was pushed away as if he would've swiped the area clear with his sword, making her resort to touching his forehead with a soothing palm, trying to ground him, "please wake up, you're safe, you're just having a nightmare."
Disorientated blues took her sight in and her surroundings in the next moment up close when he bolted upright and then in a beat he pulled back a little, scooting towards the parapet as soon as the fog started to clear, breathing deeply as if he'd just been in battle. "It's my fault…" He whispered, "I killed them all."
"Who?" Tauriel reacted confused, her gaze concerned and apprehensive, heart beating heavier and faster empathetically.
"Bowmen, servants, archers, builders who followed me here, fourhundred and fifty seven of them is the number now I believe, I don't know precisely, they wouldn't tell me exactly anymore and that might still rise." He garbled, closing his eyes in a tortured expression. It was clear he was struggling to calm down, his poised king's mask out of his reach.
Tauriel sat, taken aback, eyebrows raising, "with all due respect Sire, I would say it was wargs and goblins, it was Bolg. Blame Sauron by association, or Morgoth himself, the very same darkness we're always fighting."
"Gandalf had warned me and I didn't listen," he shook his head. He felt like an empty abyss was closing in around him and what's more, he deserved it.
"So what you're saying is that you would choose not to take part in the battle if you could?" The redhead felt betrayed by him once more.
"Wouldn't you Tauriel? Wouldn't you save fourhundred and fiftyseven elves if you could?"
"If you didn't interfere, Bolg would've won." She avoided to answer straight. "If you didn't come, all the people of Laketown and all the dwarves would be dead. Azog would have a stronghold close by," she argued, "we would live in the shadows of Gundabad."
Thranduil sighed and leaned back, supporting himself on the pillows, "I already live in the shadow of Gundabad."
"If you can't save your elves, if you can't save your wife from Gundabad, nobody should be saved then?" The archer spat, their ongoing argument rekindled.
Thraduil's pupils visibly dilated at that, "where did you hear about that." He uttered icily measured.
"Legolas. He doesn't know much, but he should," the nurse turned accuser held.
The king regarded her perplexed. He knew she was right about that, but it was unbelievable how bold the redhead could be at times. So instead of admitting she had a point, he argued the first issue, "strictly tactically speaking, it is best Erebor stays under dwarven rule. Would I have shed blood for it if I knew the extent of the cost? No." Swiping her out the way with his intruding presence, he stood lithely, like there was nothing wrong with him. "You continue to test my patience Tauriel. Send Galion in with a jug of wine and a wash up bowl and report to Feren. We leave today and you will arrive in front of the Mirkwood council in shackles." He dismissed her. It was his fault his people died, how dare she question it.
Tbc