Chapter 12

Author's note: I know, I know! It's been almost 2 weeks since the last update. I am so sorry! I suffered some SERIOUS writers block xD. But know I'm back in the groove. Just fyi the story will be finishing up in the next two or three chapters. And a HUGE thank you to White Ithiliel for her continuous support and reviews!

Legolas POV

I flew up in the air, the breeze whipping through my hair, hanging onto the bat's legs for dear life. I could feel the bat resisting my domination over it, but nevertheless, I brought my legs up and flipped over, wrecking havoc in a line of orcs with my twin knives.

The bat deposited me on a high cliff and I took to shooting arrows. Orcs everywhere dropped. Every so often, I saw a flash of Tauriel's shocking red hair. I shot arrows in her direction, sticking any orc that came within five yards of her. She was holding her own well, though.

She disappeared out of view after awhile. I did not fear for her then but I should have. I was too busy shooting orcs, using up all of my arrows. "Argh!" a female shout jostled me from my arrow firing. I immediately knew it was Tauriel. I turned around in surprise. The sight that met my eyes was one I shall never forget. It was not unlike any of the scenes I envisioned in my nightmares. She tumbled over a cliff, in a skirmish with Bolg, and fell eight feet onto the stone below. Bolg, who had come off much better from the fall, rose quickly and sauntered over the rocks towards Tauriel's pitiful form, almost savoring the moment before he sank his spear into her heart.

"No!" I shouted, but my voice was lost on the wind. I reached behind me into my quiver for an arrow but my hand closed on empty air. I glanced behind me in confusion and my heart stopped. I had no arrows; no way of defending the woman I loved from certain death. In a split second, I decided to do something more daring than I'd ever done before. Love sure makes one do unexpected things.

I leaped off the thirty foot cliff without a second thought onto the large creature below who was mindlessly attempting to climb it. I managed to steer the beast into a tower. The structure crumbled, creating a bridge. "Draw Bolg away from Tauriel," Was my first thought. As long as I could put myself in between him and Tauriel, I was a match for Bolg.

The large orc rushed at me with incredible speed. He slashed with his sizable, heavy mace. I managed to parry his attacks but my large sword was flimsy compared to Bolg's weapon. I knew I would have to use speed and skill to beat him, not strength.

He raised his weapon behind his head and brought it down with all his might to where my head had been a split second before. He continued attacking, bringing down sections of the flimsy bridge in the process. I had to be on point the whole time, dodging his weapon and jumping off falling stones.

I dodged Bolg's move and while he was off balance, shoved him through the tower. He fell to the lower level and stones from the ancient tower piled on top of him. Bolg bellowed in annoyance and started to dig his way out.

Just then, an orc fell at my feet from above, dead. I glanced up in surprise. There, atop a forty foot ice fall lay the King under the Mountain, an orc descending upon his defenseless form. I do have my differences with the dwarves, but they were on our side in that battle and I do not like to have blood spilled unless absolutely necessary, as in the case with the orcs and wargs. I hurled my beloved sword at the orc just as he was about to bring his club down onto Thorin.

It was then that Bolg finally resurfaced from the rubble. He lunged at me with a great battle cry. My instincts took over. I dropped to my knees and spun away, drawing my daggers. I rose to my feet just as Bolg heaved a great rock and flung it towards me. With an extra burst of adrenaline, I leaped from falling rock to falling rock and flung myself back onto a stable part of the bridge. With one great leap, I jumped into the air, kicking Bolg square in the chest. He fell one way and I the other. As I plummeted off the bridge, I managed to reach out and grab onto a handhold, swinging my legs back onto the bridge. Bolg reared his great, hideous head and met me in combat once again. I struck with my dagger but Bolg caught it between his forearm and side of his torso. It was the same move he had used to outwit me back in Laketown. He leered at me in triumph, his lips stretching back to reveal dirty, pointy teeth. He was sure he had won but what he did not know was that I never make the same mistake twice. Copying him with a victorious grin of my own, I used my stuck dagger to vault myself up onto Bolg's shoulders. In one swift motion, I stabbed downward with my remaining dagger, twisted it, and sprung from Bolg in a flip, just as the bridge gave way. I took a moment to watch in satisfaction as the vile beast fell fifty feet to the ground below.

Quickly, I spun around and ran to where Tauriel laid but she was nowhere to be found. "Tauriel?!" I exclaimed in horror. I frantically looked around the rocks for her. I eventually spied her near the broken body of a dwarf. I made my way towards her but stayed back a ways to give her space. She bent down and kissed Kili gently on the forehead.

"Posto vae, mellon," she whispered. She then raised her head, tearing her gaze away from the fallen dwarf. She met my eyes in surprise.

"Goheno nin, Tauriel," I apologized. "I do not mean to intrude."

"Oh no, Legolas," she cried. "You never intrude." She slowly stood up and walked over the me, covering the ground between us in a few seconds. She hugged me, laying her head upon my chest. I encircled my arms around her lithe body. I slowly stroked her hair, whispering her name into her ear. With a sigh, she relaxed, surrendering completely to my embrace. I traced my finger lightly over her pointy ear. "Gi melin, Legolas," she whispered with a deep exhale. I answered by tilting her chin up and bending down for a short, gentle kiss.

When I pulled back, I said apologetically, "I must go speak with my father. Privately. You will be okay?"

"You must worry for me less, Legolas," she teased. "I may be a woman but I can hold my own."

"And I do not doubt that for a second, but I will always care for you, Tauriel," I replied, brushing my fingers against her soft cheek. I captured her entrancing emerald eyes with my own and through a stare, conveyed all my love for her.

"I must go," I said, breaking the trance. "I will reason with my father or I will follow you to wherever you may go."

"You would do that for me, Legolas?" Tauriel responded in surprise.

"Do not sound so surprised," I teased her but quickly turned serious again. "I would give my life for you, Mela."

"And I for you," Tauriel declared, a smile lighting up her face.

I bowed my head to her and I turned and left in search of my father.

I did not have to look long, for the King was on Ravenhill. He seemed to be waiting for me. As I entered the cavern, he raised his head and locked gazes with me. His icy blue eyes pierced my face. "I cannot go back," I declared to him.

He looked at me in amusement, his prominent eyebrows turning inwards. "Where will you go?"

"I do not know that yet," I replied.

"Go north," my father said. "There is a ranger you should meet. His name is Strider." I glanced at him in confusion but I turned to leave without asking for clarification. "Legolas," Thranduil said, making me stop short in my tracks. "I have allowed Tauriel to return."

I slowly pivoted back to face my father, hardly daring to believe my ears. "You allowed her to return?"

"Yes," he said. "For if you leave, I shall fade. I will have nothing left to live for."

"And I am allowed to form a courtship with Tauriel?"

"Yes, Legolas. I cannot keep you in Mirkwood and apart from her."

I walked over to my father and laid a hand on his arm in an elven gesture of gratitude. "Le fael, Ada."

The corners of his mouth turning up in the ghost of a smile Thranduil said, "Your mother loved you. More than life." His voice broke halfway through the sentence and I couldn't stand it anymore. I embraced my father. He was taken aback but soon he relaxed.

With a courteous nod of my head, I half ran out of the cavern to tell Tauriel the news.

Posto vae - Rest well

Mellon - Friend

Goheno nin - I'm sorry

Gi melin - I love you

Mela - My love

Le fael - Thank you

Ada - Father