In the Clearing Chapter 11
Legolas dismounted his horse and left it to graze in the surrounding forest, before limping slightly into the clearing. He was still sore from the fight with the orc. He had ridden back to Mirkwood, gathered fresh supplies and arrows before remounting the horse and setting off. He passed her room on the way to and back from his own, and he had to clench his fists to stop tears from leaving his eyes. The only other thing he had done was written down a note to her, which he now held in his hand. Climbing quickly up the tree he took out an arrow and pinned it to the branch they always sat on. He climbed down the tree and looked around the clearing once more, memories flitting into his mind, of a variety of ages, a variety of stages in their lives. He finally allowed the tears to fall, he didn't bother to brush them away, just let them roll down his cheeks as he cried for her, cried because he had seen her make her choice, and it wasn't him. He walked slowly out of the clearing, not wanting to leave but knowing he couldn't stay here, in this place of memories.
Tauriel walked into the clearing slowly, still not believing the news Thranduil had just told her. He was gone, he had left. She had wondered where he was after the battle, after she had left Kili's body with his dwarvish friends and payed her respects, after she had been cleaned up by the healers, after she had ridden back home she wondered where he was. The first night her sleep was plagued with nightmares of the battle, and she had awoken mid scream, as she watched Legolas die before her, as her mind twisted her memories, taunting her with what could have been. She had not slept the rest of the night and had risen early this morning, being summoned to appear before Thranduil. She was shocked at the reason for this meeting, Thranduil had restored upon her the role of Captain of the Gaurd, for reasons she was not sure of, but she was sure she saw some sympathy in his eyes as he said it. But no sooner had she had felt joy in her heart than it was again, smashed.
She bowed gracefully before turning to leave the room. "One more thing, Captain." Thranduil's voice called her back. She turned, unsure what to expect. "My son, he has decided to leave, I gave him instructions to head north and I assume that is where he headed. I do not know when he will return, he will no longer accompany the soldiers on as many missions as before." Thranduil told her, and Tauriel's heart beat quickened. "Understood, my King," she whispered, she turned again but her curiosity got the better of her, and she half turned again as she left, "What was the reason for his leaving?" she asked, dreading the answer.
"Love" Thranduil simply replied, and Tauriel felt the tear escape her eye and trickle down her cheek. She turned to face her king, letting anger flow through her again, "Then he left because of you." she whispered.
"He left because you fell in love with a dwarf." Thranduil hissed at her.
"But I didn't" she yelled. "He was a friend, a good person. But my love was always with your son, it was always with him. And you forbid it. You made me betray him, and myself. He left because you were too cruel to allow him to have love in his life. You were too mighty to allow a silvan elf to rule. He left because you didn't let him have love in his life." she finished, and as she looked up, she saw another expression she never expected to see on Thranduil's face. Guilt. The King looked guilty, almost as if he actually regretted his actions. Tauriel saw he wasn't going to say anything in response so turned on her heel and walked out of the throne room, not looking back.
Now, she replayed this scene in her head as she climbed up the tree. As she neared the top, something caught her eye, and as she climbed higher she saw an arrow pinning some paper to the tree. She sat on the branch and pulled the arrow out, grasping the paper in her hand. She had no doubt who had left it there and no doubt it was for her. She took a deep breath and started reading.
Tauriel
I'm sorry for leaving, for leaving you, but I can't come back to the kingdom and see you every day. See your pain, see you mourning for the one you love. Because while you mourn for his death, I mourn for reasons of my own. I want to be there for you, but I realise that my presence in your life might be unwanted by you. But I still want you to know, even though I know you don't love me, I will always love you.
Legolas
Tauriel felt tears rolling down her cheeks for the second time that day. She brushed them away angrily, annoyed at herself. She never used to cry, but recently, she seemed to be cyring a lot, this had to stop, she decided. She wouldn't cry, she would put on a brave face and carry on, focussing on her duties as Captain of the Gaurd and her duties to the kingdom. And she would try to forget, she wouldn't think about the past few day's events, and most of all, she wouldn't think about him, Legolas.