As time went on, Thranduil became more and more depressed. The week was halfway over and Tauriel was yet to wake. Thranduil, besides feeling depressed, was also angry. He was angry at Tauriel for not waking, and even angrier at the spider that attacked her. Although he couldn't do anything about Tauriel, he could do something about the spiders.

The day before Tauriel's week was up Thranduil got up early that morning and went out into the forest. He was determined to find and kill at least one spider. As time went on, he was yet to find any spiders. His anger grew, as well as his need for vengeance. He wanted to kill them. Kill them all. He pulled out his sword and walked deeper into the forest. He came across some webs and looked up before smirking. Crawling down towards him was at least twenty spiders.

"Finally," he said. One screeched and jumped down at him. He effortlessly moved out the way and stabbed it. Another jumped down, but landed on his sword. Three more came down and he easily sliced their stomachs open, blood shooting out everywhere and covering him. Blinded by anger, he killed them, spider after spider, until they were all dead. Exhausted and dirty, he fell to his knees. He had killed them, all of them, but it wasn't enough. He wanted, needed, more. He wanted to kill all the spiders. They had infected his home and nearly killed his queen.

Kill them all. You must. They may hurt your sons, or Elen. You must protect them. Kill them all.

"Where is he?!" Legolas yelled at the guards. "He left yesterday and no one has seen him since! Why?!" The guards all looked at each other nervously. "If he is not found soon, I will personally kill you all!" They all nodded and quickly left. Legolas sighed and made his way to Tauriel's room where a healer was waiting nervously. "What is it?" The healer shook her head and looked down at her hands.

"I cannot tell you."

"And why is that?"

"I do not think it is my place." Legolas looked at her warily before sitting next to Tauriel's bed. He sighed before closing his eyes and fell asleep.

"Lord Legolas!" Legolas woke up and looked up at the servant.

"What?"

"They found him."

"Who?"

"The king." He stood and made his way to the door.

"Where is he?"

"The gate." Legolas ran out the room, praying his father way fine.

Thranduil made his way through the gate. He was tired, bloody, bruised. He slowly made his way through the halls of Mirkwood, ignoring a rather upset Legolas.

"Adar!" Legolas called, but Thranduil did not answer. He made his way to Tauriel's room, sword in hand.

"Leave us!" he yelled at the healer, who quickly ran out the room. He shut the door and walked over to the bed. "I gave you a week and you still are yet to wake! I went out and killed spider after spider! Not for me, but for you! I am angry, tired, and hungry! But do you care? NO!" Thranduil raised his sword and stabbed it down through her stomach. Her body jerked and blood soon stained the sheets. He went to pull out his sword, but stopped. He looked upon her face, tears rolling endlessly down his face. Tauriel's eyes had opened. She was staring up at the ceiling, mouth open and eyes watery. "Tauriel?" Her eyes shifted to look at him.

"Thranduil..." she choked out. He quickly pulled out the sword and threw it behind him before falling to his knees. She was alive…

"Tauriel…" She coughed and closed her eyes. "Tauriel, please look at me." She looked up at him before slowly reached up and wiped away his tears with a shaky hand. He looked down at her stomach before quickly pressing on her stomach, trying to stop the bleeding. "I need healer!"

Tauriel was soon bandaged and moved back to her and Thranduil's room. Thranduil refused to leave her side. Not to change, bathe, nor eat. He wouldn't even allow a healer to look for wounds. He sat by their bed and watched over her. The next morning, Tauriel looked over at him and frowned.

"Thranduil, you need to go. Eat, bathe, and govern your people. You are the king."

"And you are the queen, my wife. It is expected of me to stay by your side until you are well."

"I will be fine, but our people need you."

"I am needed more here."

"But-"

"Tauriel, I am in no position to lead anyone. I am more useful sitting here quietly."

"What are you talking about?"

"I ran my sword through your stomach. I was going to kill you, end your life. I was willing to kill you, so that you would be buried and I would never have to look at you again." Tauriel reached out her hand and looked up at him with pleading eyes.

"Come here."

"I cannot."

"Why not?" He looked down and she followed his gaze. His shirt was sticking to his stomach, drenched in blood. "Come lie with me." He sighed before weakly getting up and into bed next to her. She leaned up against the headboard and grabbed a cloth before lifting his shirt and pressing it against the large gash on his stomach. He winced and went to move away, but she pushed him back down. "Lie still, my king. You are badly wounded."

A week passed and when both were better, Thranduil threw a party. Every elf in Mirkwood was invited. There was singing, dancing, laughing, eating, and drinking, lots of drinking. Daeron and Aron went around getting to know everyone. Legolas spent his time with Canion, who was flirting with all the single she-elves. Thranduil sat and watched Tauriel dance and laugh with Logon and Elen. He suddenly stood, causing everyone to stop and look at him.

"Welcome all," he greeted. "Tonight, we celebrate the return of our queen." Everyone clapped and Tauriel blushed. "We also celebrate the birth of our princess, Elen. She is six today." Everyone clapped again and Elen smiled. "But I would also like to say something. Several moons ago, our beloved queen was badly wounded. My children were devastated and I thought they would never be the same again. However, she miraculously recovered, for which we are all thankful." He swallowed and looked at Tauriel. "And while she was wounded, while she was slowly dying, I thought of something. When I asked you to be my queen, I did not do it properly." Tauriel frowned and the rest of the room looked at the king curiously. "So will you allow me to?"

"Yes," Tauriel said nervously. What was he doing?

"Tauriel, Captain of the Guard and now Queen of the Woodland Realm, I want you to be my queen. Not to bare me heirs, but because you are loving, generous, and kind. You are everything a queen should be and much more. When Legolas' mother died I thought I would forever be alone, but you brought light back into my life. For that I am eternally grateful. Tauriel, my captain, my queen, I love you. Elves only love once, but I love you. Will you do me the extraordinary honor of becoming my wife?" Every stared at Thranduil surprised. No one had ever heard him say anything like that ever before. They all slowly looked at Tauriel, who was more surprised than anyone else. She blinked and looked around the room. Her eyes fell on Legolas who gave her a slight nod of encouragement.

"My Lord Thranduil, my king, I…" She took a deep breath and looked at Thranduil. "I…" Thranduil swallowed nervously. He is nervous? He is never nervous? I made him nervous? "I would love to be your queen for I too love you." Thranduil smiled and made his way over to Tauriel, before leaning down and giving her a gentle kiss. Everyone clapped and cheered.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered in her ear. She looked up at him and smiled.

"I shall never leave you." He smiled and held at his hand.

"Dance with me." She took it and danced with him. Some people watched and others joined in.

Before long, it was late and everyone left. Thranduil waited for Tauriel in their room, reading a book. She soon came in, after tucking in their children, with a cup of tea. She sat next to him and quietly drank her tea.

"Tauriel, may I ask you something?" She looked over at him and nodded. "Did you say what you said because you meant it, or because of the position you were in?" She nearly choked on her tea and raised an eyebrow at him.

"Does it really matter? Is it really that important?" He frowned and looked at her.

"Yes, it is to me."

"Thranduil I do not think it is."

"Well it is." She frowned and looked down at her tea nervously. 'Tauriel, answer me. Did you or did you not mean what you said?" She took a deep breath and sighed.

"I…"

Did she mean it? I guess you'll have to wait and see. Please R&R!