Tauriel ran until she felt her lungs burning, but she had no idea where she was going. She hadn't recognized anyone who had been talking, but they were absolutely right. No one would take her word over a Noble's. Well, Legolas would, but even if Thranduil believed her, there was little he could do. He could never support her, it would cause a rebellion, and he was dead set on keeping Mirkwood at peace. If someone had been with her, it would be different, but she had been alone, and there was nothing she could do right now.
Tauriel leaned heavily against a tree and worked on catching her breath. The first thing she needed to do was learn who had even been killed. What motive would Kili have had for killing them? She only had days left until Thranduil would be forced to conduct Kili's trial. If she didn't have real evidence before then… there was no doubt in her mind that Kili would be executed.
After her breathing returned to normal, Tauriel began walking back to Thranduil's halls. She would be the center of attention right now, and she was loathe to have everyone staring at her, but she needed to talk to her people. She had been antisocial since her return from Erebor, she doubted she had truly talked to an elf other than Ara or Legolas in months. Would anyone even be willing to answer her questions? She didn't have time to doubt herself. She raised her chin high and tried to seem confident as she reentered the place she once called home.
"What are you going to do, Father?" Legolas asked formally after he was sure the throne room was empty.
"What about?" the King replied nonchalantly.
"You know what," Legolas said with exasperation.
"The Dwarfling?" Thranduil said, "I do not know."
"The High Elves are pressing for his head," Legolas commented.
"I am well aware," Thranduil said, "But I am still king, and they will not see him dead so easily."
"Then you will risk their wrath?"
"I am stalling," Thranduil said through clenched teeth, "Until Tauriel has solid evidence."
"Even so…" Legolas said, "You will lose support if you free him."
"But I will maintain my alliance with the King Under the Mountain, and that is important to me."
"Father…"Legolas said after a moment, "I am worried that their anger will be directed at her."
"At Tauriel?" Thranduil asked, "They would be fools to strike one of their own."
"They don't view her as one of their own, though." Legolas replied, "You know what very well."
"It is common knowledge that Tauriel is untouchable," Legolas said, "And hand raised against her is a hand raised against me."
I don't think they care, Legolas thought, but he knew better than to say it. If there was anything Thranduil hated, it was his absolute power coming into question. So Legolas bit his tongue, and trusted his father for once. But if he was wrong, and any harm came to Tauriel, Legolas would not hesitate to enact a swift punishment.
"Go to her," Thranduil said when he noticed the expression on his son's face. There was nothing that would put the Prince's mind at east than actually being by her side.
Legolas only nodded a thanks before leaving the throne room.
"Alok?" Tauriel asked when she saw the tall Elf walked the opposite direction she was.
"Cano" he asked cautiously, not sure if she was still angry with him or not.
"Calm, Mellon," she said, "I apologize for me words earlier." She watched his posture ease before she spoke again, "Would you like to walk with me."
"Walk?" he asked.
"Walk and investigate," she clarified.
"Yes," he said after a moment's hesitation.
"You will?" Tauriel asked. She honestly hadn't thought he'd agree, but the thought of doing this alone set her stomach in knots.
"Where would you like to start?" he asked.
"Actually," she said, "There is someone I need to see first."