Chapter 13, everyone, after a bit of waiting.
This chapter shouldn't have been so hard to write if it hadn't been for the elvish. I've done everything in my power to get it right; I've tried to listen what they say in the film and I've been out researching on different elven sites, trying to find a good translation. I don't know if I succeeded, but I tried my best.
On another note; I've reached over 50 reviews! Yay, the previous chapter was the most reviewed ever! You guys are the best! Also a big 'thanks' to the followers, favourites and readers!
Jessie Rae Baby: Yes, it was quite the change from LotR, but the wine they drink Mirkwood seems stronger than the wine of Rohan, if all the drunk elves in both the book and movie are something to go by. I'm glad you like the way I write Legolas and I do have some more plot twists, yes.
guest: I'm glad you like my story and it's an interesting scenario. Unfortunately, I won't write it that way (perhaps it could work as an AU one-shot?) but thanks for reviewing!
Hobbitluver: Thanks for reviewing and ideas. The 'heart to heart' scene will most likely take place in the next chapter!
Thanks to the rest of you too and I'm glad that so many of you liked the way I wrote Legolas in the previous chapter.
I do not own any characters and places; J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson and Co do. There are also a lot of lines in this chapter that are directly taken from the movie in here (though the elvish is a bit different, but the meaning is the same, though not perfectly grammatically correct) so I don't own them as well, which I want to clearly emphasize.
Flashbacks are in italics.
Enjoy!
Chapter 13: Tauriel
The bow weighed comfortably on her back as she moved through the forest like so many times before. She was still seeing red from the meeting with the orc and blood pounded in her ears.
"You were tracking a company of thirteen dwarves. Why?"
"Not thirteen, not anymore. The young one, the black headed archer, we struck him with a Morgul shaft. The poison is in his blood, he'll be choking on it soon."
The memory of the orc's pleased and satisfied face made bitterness swell in her throat and she wished that she could've killed him on the spot. She didn't have much to spare when it came to orcs. If she focused enough, she could still hear the screams of her mother and the roar of her father as their world fell apart. Her body ached as if it remembered the black poison spreading through it, like ink on a white paper.
It was that long-forgotten pain that kept her going, because the thought of someone else going through that pain – someone like Kìli – was something she would not stand for. Though not completely sure what to do, she kept going, hoping that she could make it in time to warn the dwarves. If not, at least she could get the chance to kill some more orcs.
She moved on, another more pleasant conversation sneaking up in her mind, unconsciously.
"Have you seen something else, master dwarf, than a fire moon on your travels?"
"It's Kìli. My name that is. 'Master' makes me sound much older than I am."
"Well then, Kìli, have you seen something else?"
"There have been a few things, yes, but I can't say that I've seen everything. The world is huge, but perfect, even with its faults and dangers"
"It sounds like quite the adventure."
"It is, but it can't be anything less."
"You've seen a lot. I've never really left the forest."
"Really? You should. I think you would like the world. Perhaps I could show you it, though I think it's too much to hope that you'll let us out of here, no?"
"That's correct, master dwarf."
"Just Kìli. I can always hope though, otherwise the world would be a crueler place."
The memory brought a small grin to her face and she felt hopeful. She would get to see the world after all, but it was a lonely journey. She thought it would have been better if she had had someone with her and if the world wasn't slowly sinking in to darkness.
Even though darkness was creeping up on the world, the sky was clear this day and the air in the more opened places of the forest wasfresh. Somehow, the forest seemed more at peace when there weren't any orcs or spiders invading the lands. Yet there was blood on the ground and the corpses of butchered animals. Disgusting orcs.
She came to a halt as she appeared at a ledge, looking down over the river. It looked like a turquoise snake slithering between the trees and cliffs. She furrowed her brows and her mind was spinning with ideas and thoughts of how she would catch up with the dwarves or orcs. If they had managed to get across the lake which the river flowed into, things would prove difficult since they had a head start.
She snapped out of her brooding when she heard a fleeting sound of a twig being snapped in two. The sound was so soft and quick that for a moment, she thought she had imagined it. Even so, she drew her bow and arrow with a steady hand and adopted a fighting position. She admitted that she felt more surprised by the sight of Legolas pointing an arrow at her from a distance than she should have been.
"Amin nowe lle orc", she said, not redrawing her bow.
"Qui orchin, lle gwanwen", he replied darkly and lowered his bow. She followed suit and Legolas took a step closer to her. "Tauriel, you cannot hunt thirty orcs on your own."
"But I'm not on my own", she countered as if it was obvious and a smile appeared on her face.
"You knew I would come", said Legolas in realization and her smile was an answer enough.
She had known that he would come, if not before, than after her conversation with the king. Her heart became warm by the fact that he was here.
"The king is angry, Tauriel", Legolas continued and both looked and sounded a bit exhausted. "For six hundred years my father has protected you, favored you. You defied his orders, you betrayed his trust."
She glanced at the ground, trying to keep her emotions in check. While she did respect the king, they didn't have much in common except their love for Legolas and the people of the Woodland Realm. Thranduil was the cold ice during winter and she was the burning sun of the summer. They clashed yet worked together in a strange form of harmony.
"Tol dadwenin,ro thel gohenatha."
"Onë amin avaux", she spoke with a fierce light in her eyes. "Qui dadwen, amin avaux gohenani."
She turned her back to her friend and looked down at the river. It must be easy, she thought as she studied the mass of flowing blue and white, to be able to run the way you want.
"The king has never let orc filth roam our lands", she said calmly, but with an undertone of anger. "Yet he would let this orc pack cross our borders and kill our prisoners."
"It is not our fight."
She turned around, giving Legolas a look of disbelief and defiance.
"It is our fight", she protested. "It will not end here. With every victory, this evil with grow. If your father has his way, we will do nothing. We will hide within our walls, live our lives away from the light and let darkness descend." She paused, looking Legolas straight in the eye. "Are we not a part of this world? Tell me, mellon, when did we let evil become stronger than us?"
Legolas avoided her gaze and looked into the distance. She didn't avert her eyes, but stared, secretly pleading with him to understand. Eventually, he returned her gaze. He came to stand next to her, a crooked smile on his face and her heart leapt with joy.
They would do this together.
*Amin nowe lle orch - I thought you were an orc
*Qui orchin, lle gwanwen - If I were an orc, you would be dead
*Tol dadwenin, ro thel gohenatha - Come back with me and he'll forgive you
*Onë amin avaux. Qui dadwen, amin avaux gohenani - But I will not. If I go back, I will not forgive myself.
*Mellon - friend