Chapter 10

Author's Note: As requested, here is some more fluff!

Legolas POV

A while into the ride, I realized Tauriel was fast asleep. Her grip around my waist got weaker and I was afraid she would slip off the horse. With a small smile to myself, I took her hands in mine and held her arms around me, making sure she was secure.

We continued riding all day, for Gundabad was far away. Tauriel slept for more than half the ride. At times, I couldn't resist turning my head to glance back at her. Even sleeping, she was beautiful, her long red locks flowing out behind her.

She woke suddenly, lifting her head off of my shoulder. "Rested?" I asked her pleasantly, glancing back at her.

Tauriel yawned. "Very," she replied contentedly.

It reached nightfall before I pulled the horse up. We were close to Gundabad but I was exhausted. Tauriel slithered off the horse's back and I dismounted after her. "Do you mind if I take a quick nap?" I asked. "I do not know why but I have an inkling there will be fighting tomorrow. May as well be rested."

"Of course, Legolas," she replied, undoing the girth and sliding the saddle off the horse. She slipped the bridle off and let the horse free to rest and graze. She picked up the heavy leather tack like it was nothing, carried it over, and leaned it against a tree. She caught me watching her before I could tear my gaze away and gave me a questioning glance.

"You are quite strong," I said with a small laugh.

"You say that with surprise," Tauriel responded with a smile.

"Come here," I said affectionately. She stepped close, facing me, her head tilted up to look me fiercely in the eye. I lifted my hand and gently grazed it across her cheek, removing a spot of dirt. I moved slowly, as if in a trance, grounded only by Tauriel's green eyes which I did not dare to tear my own away from. I reached up and tucked a long lock of red hair behind her pointy ear, smoothing it down. Suddenly, not able to stand it anymore, I leaned down and kissed her. This kiss was longer and more passionate than the first. My hands rested delicately on her waist and her arms encircled my neck. I opened my mouth slightly, deepening the kiss.

We may have been kissing for minutes but when it ended it felt too short. I pulled back but not by much, my hands still resting on her waist. I leaned down and placed my forehead on hers, as we had done so many times before. "Gi melin, Tauriel," I said, pouring all of my emotion into my words.

"Gi melin, Legolas," she replied with a smile. We stayed in that position for a minute, just staring deep into each other's eyes. The more time I spent with Tauriel, the more I felt for her. I was beginning to develop feelings for her that were beyond immeasurable; something only elves can posses.

"You must rest," Tauriel said, breaking the trance. "You need to be at your best tomorrow." Realizing she was right, I turned away and settled down under a tree. Tauriel sat next to me, searching the night sky for stars. She found none, for the sky was cloudy and the moon and stars were invisible.

I lay down, resting my head on a patch of moss and quickly drifted off into the usual dream-filled sleep.

Legolas' Dream POV

I hurried through the well-known forests of Mirkwood, filled with pure fear for Tauriel. She and the experienced guards had sent out a cry for help while they were fighting a supposedly small group of spiders. I did not know what was wrong but I was not taking any chances. I increased my pace, running as fast as I could towards the spot where the horn had sounded.

I arrived in the clearing at full speed and suddenly there were spiders everywhere. I saw Tauriel's red hair flying as she fought spider after spider. There were few other guards that I could see but there were many bundles the spiders had swathed in sticky web and were carrying away. There was no time to be sad; I had to help Tauriel.

I fought my way towards her but it felt as through I was moving in slow motion. Time seemed to slow down. Her movements got steadily slower and more sluggish. I could see how tired and wounded she was. A spider was creeping up behind her. "Watch out!" I cried desperately, warning her, but it was too late. She spun, but as she did that, the spider injected her with one pincer, flooding her with poison.

"Ah!" she cried out in pain, collapsing.

"No!" I yelled, jumping towards the spider. My rage fed into my fighting and within minutes all of the remaining spiders had retreated or lay on the ground, dead. I dropped on my knees next to Tauriel. "Tauriel, Tauriel! No, please don't leave me!" But her breath was getting fainter by the second. She looked up, met my gaze, closed her eyes, and passed away.

Even in the dream, I felt my heart break. I knew I could not go on without Tauriel.

Tauriel POV

I sat against a tree, dozing on and off. When I was awake, I turned my head to look at Legolas. He looked beautiful and so much younger while sleeping. I could tell he was dreaming because his face twitched every so often. Soon, his dream got more intense. He started tossing and turning. "No!" he cried. I jumped up and ran over to him.

"Legolas! Legolas!" I urged him, grabbing his hand. "Wake up!" Legolas turned over and his brilliant blue eyes opened, staring deep into mine. "You were having a nightmare," I said matter-of-factly.

"I'm sorry to worry you, Tauriel." He apologized, sitting up.

"Legolas," I said, with a relieved laugh. "As you have told me many times, you have no need to apologize." There was a pause. "What was the nightmare about?" I asked hesitantly.

"I don't think-," he began but changed his mind and started again. "You were killed." If the surprise showed on my face, Legolas didn't notice. He continued. "Tauriel, please listen to me," he swallowed. "In the dream I realized that if you ever perish, I could not go on. I would fade from a broken heart."

"Legolas," I breathed. "I feel the same. My connection to you is unfathomable. It goes even deeper than the normal elven relationship." I leaned forward and kissed him. It was short and sweet but full of emotion. It conveyed all my unspoken thoughts.

Silently, I urged him to lay back down. This time I lay beside him, our bodies touching and hands entwined. "Sleep, Legolas," I whispered.

He turned over onto his side to study me with his blue eyes. He laid one hand on my cheek, caressing it. "Gi melin, Tauriel," he sighed. With a secret smile to myself, I nestled into his arms and fell asleep, feeling very safe.

Legolas POV

I woke on the brink of dawn; the sky still dark. It took me a minute to realize where I was. When I came to my senses, I realized that I was sleeping on the forest floor right next to Tauriel. She was curled up next to me and my arm rested gently around her. I realized with surprise that I had no nightmares since Tauriel comforted me; something that came as a relief to the normal vivid ones I had almost nightly.

Tauriel stirred and awoke. She opened her eyes, revealing the deep, beautiful green. "Thank you, Tauriel," I said, squeezing her hand affectionately. "I had no nightmares."

"Anytime, Legolas," she said truthfully.

We rose swiftly, ate a lembas, and saddled the horse. "To Gundabad?" Legolas asked, gracefully mounting.

"To Gundabad," I replied, taking his hand and vaulting up behind him.

Gi melin - I love you