I'm back! I'm not making any promises but I -should- be able to have more regular updates again.


Beneath the Stars
ELEVEN


That very same day, Tauriel began to pack her things. She would not waste her time any longer. She intended to leave for the Greenwood the next morning.

She had almost finished when there was a knock at her door. She looked up, surprised to see Lindir.

"Tauriel," he said.

"Lindir," she greeted him. "How can I help you?"

"Lord Elrond would like to see you," he said.

Tauriel frowned. "What for?"

Lindir shrugged. "He will tell you himself. I do not know. He is in his study. I think you know the way?"

She nodded. "I do. Thank you." Lindir left. She finished folding up her map, left it on her bed, then walked out of her house and toward Elrond's study in the citadel.

When she arrived, Elrond was waiting for her. He gestured for her to sit in front of him.

"My lord," she said. "Lindir said you wanted to see me?"

"Yes." He frowned, taking a deep breath. "You were at the meeting earlier today, correct?"

"Yes, my lord," she said.

"Half of Rivendell has already come to my study, begging me to stay, or saying that they will stand by me, or informing me that they intend to leave with Galdor." He smiled faintly. "I am exhausted, but my decision still stands. There are only a few people whose decisions I must know. You are one of them."

"My lord?" she asked, confused. "I'm just a Silvan elf, an outsider, a guard—why do you need to know my decision?"

"Just tell me, please, Tauriel," he said. "I will explain later."

"I have decided to return to the Greenwood," she said. "There is nothing more keeping me here. I spoke with Legolas when he was here for the Council...I believe that Thranduil will allow me to return, after all this time."

"Good." Elrond smiled at her. "That is what I had hoped. Tauriel, you are uniquely situated. Most elves are either leaving for Valinor or joining the fight with me. I need to send a message to Galadriel. You have spoken with her before, and you are a Silvan elf like most of her people. I could send another, but you are already leaving Rivendell heading in that direction. Could you deliver the message to Galadriel and Celeborn in Lothlórien?"

Tauriel pursed her lips, considering his request. She didn't want to delay her return home any longer than she already had, but he needed her. Lothlórien was not very far from the Greenwood. She could deliver the message, then turn north toward the Woodland Realm.

"Yes," she answered. "What is the message?"

Elrond reached into his desk drawer and pulled out an envelope. "I have already written it. It is in here. You may read it if you wish, but do not show it to anyone else."

Tauriel took the envelope and placed it in her pocket. "Yes, my lord."

"Thank you, Tauriel," he said, sounding relieved. "Galadriel and I do not wish to abandon Middle-earth, not yet. This message contains orders to send elves to support whichever kingdom needs it most, be it Rohan or Gondor or Dale."

Tauriel nodded. She was glad that Elrond and Galadriel had decided to help the other peoples of the world. They saw what Thranduil had continually ignored: that the Eldar were a part of this world, no matter how much they wished to believe otherwise.

If Thranduil had changed his policy as Legolas said, perhaps he would fight in this war. But Tauriel feared he had not. The Thranduil she had known would be reclusive and secretive, guarding his people and shutting out the rest of the world. It showed strength that he had sent Legolas to the Council and allowed him on the Fellowship, but she would not trust the rumors of change until she saw the truth for herself. She needed to go and ensure that Thranduil did not sit this one out.

But first she would deliver the message to Galadriel.

"I am glad to help you," she told Elrond. "I will do all I can to aid Middle-earth in these dark times, but I believe my efforts will be most helpful among my own people."

Elrond nodded. "I wish the blessings of the Valar upon you, Tauriel."

She stood and bowed to him. "And I to you, my lord."


Tauriel finished packing, now with a different destination in mind. Even though Elrond had said it was alright if she read the letter, she didn't open it. It wasn't her business.

She took out her old, wrinkled map. She had gotten it sixty years ago in Rohan, before she had settled in Rivendell.

She would travel southeast, across the Misty Mountains. Traveling alone, she would be easy to miss. Hopefully, none of Sauron's forces would notice her. And if they did...she would deal with them. She may have been a little out of practice, but she remembered her training, and her knives were still sharp.

She rested that night, conserving her energy for the journey to come. She would need to be alert and careful.

Early the next morning, Tauriel gathered her possessions and left. She exited Rivendell at the southern gate.

"Halt!" a familiar voice called out before she could pass through the gate.

Tauriel froze. Losseth. Of course, this was her new guard post.

She turned around to face her former friend. Losseth glared at her, her once friendly countenance turned bitter. Tauriel did not see another guard on duty.

"What do you want, Losseth?" she asked tiredly. She didn't want to deal with this, not now. She was ready to leave all this behind.

"Where are you going, Tauriel?" Losseth demanded. "Abandoning your people again?"

Tauriel smiled wryly. "No. I'm returning to them."

Losseth glared at her. "Good riddance."

"Maybe one day you'll look back on this and regret losing a friend over such trivial bigotry," Tauriel said calmly, hiding her hurt. Even after her newfound resolve and mission, Losseth's words still stung. She missed their comradery and friendship. If they had managed to work their differences out and were still friends, perhaps Losseth would have accompanied her to Lothlórien and beyond. The thought turned her mind bitterly toward impossible possibilities, what-ifs and could-haves.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the reality of Losseth's anger. "Be loyal to your people, then," Losseth spat. "Enjoy your return to Erebor!"

Tauriel sighed. There was no winning her over. "I was sorry to lose you. It hurt. But I see now that you were not a friend worth having if you would not stand by me in everything."

"Leave, if you must, Tauriel," her former friend commanded. "And don't bother returning!"

"I wouldn't want to." Tauriel turned her back, allowing herself to grimace now that Losseth couldn't see her. Behind her, she could hear the elf woman muttering under her breath.

She thrust thoughts of bitter enemies and former friends from her mind. Tauriel breathed in the fresh morning air and smiled. She was off, traveling through the wild. It was good to leave the past behind. The future lay ahead, and she was ready for it.