Dedication: Firstly, to guest reviewer Eliza, who lent some ideas to this chapter, and who enjoys the fight scenes I write (seriously. You don't know how much that means to me). Thank you! :) And also, to flynalien who made me realize a lot of things with his/her review! Spot on!

Three: Dae

She had not known what to say to him, when they had met. Hidden in the shadow of the trees at the Forest, all she knew was that she had forgotten how to breathe. If it was not for the fact that she needed to act or he and his companions would die, she would have stayed rooted on the heights, watching his figure as he moved through figures of unknown shapes, specks of dark blood marring his clothes with each kill that he made.

She had wanted to speak with him—but for the first time in all the times she had known him, words were difficult to summon. His cold blue eyes bore to her being whenever she caught him staring her way. They burned with anger and with betrayal, so much that she could not bear to even hold his gaze. But of course what did she expect? Even she could not forgive herself for what she had done.

You were never who you thought you were—who I thought you were. His words haunted her. She thought their sting would fade through time, but so far, all that was happening was her brooding over them. Tossing and turning each word in her head until they did not make any sense.

"Is something wrong?" Aegnir's voice asked beside her. His voice was hushed.

"No, nothing," she tried to smile, but the muscles in her face seemed reluctant to obey.

Aegnir lifted his gaze, but the narrowing of his eyes told her that he did not entirely believe her. No matter, she knew this was not the place to discuss whatever it was that was on her mind. They were standing in Thranduil's throne room, four columns of elves, standing side by side. Only at her row were there three, and she stood as a lone elf at the back of the pack. They stood straight and alert, warriors waiting for a captain's command. Nobody was moving, except for the subtle shifts of weight from one leg to another, or, in Aegnir's case—to inquire of another's status.

The King was seated on his throne, reading a letter that came to their lands in the hours of dawn. He had called for all who arrived from Lothlorien and others from his own realm; but he had not yet spoken, and they had been waiting for many minutes.

Legolas was also present, though he was not part of their company. He was standing a little ways to the side, staring at the king. There was no trace of impatience in his features. It was as if he was used to the delay, like he had gone through the very same process many times in the past.

But it was difficult for Tauriel. Waiting did not do her good. It made her think and remember things that she did not want to. Like the words he had told her, three nights before; or the fact that she had never seen him smile yet, ever since they had arrived; or even that she missed that smile on his face, and wished to bring it back.

She did not know how to feel towards him, for there were too many emotions involved with what had happened between the two of them. She felt guilty, for leaving him as she had. She felt joyous, that finally she could see him again. She felt saddened, for the things that brought him darkness, the things that removed his smiles. But also, she felt angry, that she was not given a chance to explain, and that he would ever think she merely threw their friendship away.

Finally, the king spoke, his piercing gaze lifting from the paper. "This letter was written by the warden of Esgaroth."

He glanced over them, passing from one elf to the next. She lowered her eyes, focusing instead on the dark floor. She admired the King of the Woodland Realm greatly—she heard of his skill in battle, of the unyielding way he ruled his kingdom. She knew of his austere manner and of his great care for his followers. But also of late, she heard of the way he had isolated himself from the other elven dwellings, he had not stepped out of his kingdom for years, and none also had visited him. Exchange of words only came by words written of dry paper—like him, they were silent and void of life, but always vital. And his eyes...they were too much like his son's. Not the vibrant and clear blue they were before, but the wary and piercing image they were now. It was frightful, how they had both transformed from a warm summer's sky to the bitter cold of the winter.

"What news from the men of the lake?" asked Filarion, who was standing in the forefront of the lines.

"There has been a sighting of an unknown figure. Someone cloaked in black. They could not see his face, as it was hidden always in the shadow of his hood. But they wished to warn us of this suspicious form, as he was said to be crossing the lake, on a boat stolen from one of their fishermen. "

"An enemy?"

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Nonetheless, if one were clear of intention, he does not hide beneath the shadows."

She felt the elves around her breathe in unison, and for a moment nobody spoke. Finally, it was the king's own son who broke the silence, "What would you have us do, hîr nín?"

"I want you to search for this mysterious entity. Go in pairs, for you cannot follow secretly if you go in too large a group," he folded the letter and stood.

"Yes, my lord," Filarion bowed.

"I also think this will be an opportune moment for my kin and yours to acquaint with each other Filarion, and for us to show you the paths of the forest, paths as familiar to my people as the corridors of this kingdom," Thranduil walked down the steps that led to his throne.

"We shall set out at once," Filarion said, nodding to the elf beside him, Meginor.

Tauriel felt the vacant space beside her. She glanced at Aegnir, who looked like he was about to speak, but Thranduil did not give him a chance to talk. "I can see that we lack one member," Thranduil said, as he gave a flitting look at the empty space beside Tauriel. "No matter," he gazed at Legolas. "I believe it will be fitting for you to go with Legolas, Tauriel. He can teach you of the forest ways, and he will need to hear of your tales in Lothlorien," he told her.

She glanced at Legolas, almost expecting him to retort, but he did not speak. She could see, however, the subtle clenching of his jaw. He was as reluctant to do this as she was. However, like him, she bowed at the king's wishes. "Yes, hîr nín," she knew exactly what story the king wished to let her narrate, as she had told him of them only recently: the poison that they had studied in the woods of Lothlorien, the word of warning from the Lady of Light, and, as always, the strange brooding of dark in the East.

In silence, Legolas took his place beside her, and in complete unison, the flanks of elves bowed to the king before walking out of the kingdom.

Hours passed when they reached the Eastern side of the forest, and so far Legolas had not spoken a word to her. Instead, he led, always a pace before her, teaching her the curves and the secrets of the Forest with no words.

She reflected on the many times they had travelled like this, but then, it had been full of stories and songs. She wished she could hear his voice again, his always had more life and truth. Far fairer than her own. Now, only their footsteps made any form of noise. She suffered greatly from the silence, because she knew that she had too many stories to tell and questions to ask, but at the same time, she felt that it was not her right to be the first to speak. It was she who had done the wrong, and breaking the stillness seemed like overstepping her boundaries. Yet it became unbearable, and it was when they finally slowed their pace that she decided she could not allow their silence to push on. "It would be a wonder to see the forest in the elder days," she spoke, glancing at his direction.

He did not answer her.

She slowed, as she placed a hand on a beech tree at the side of the path that they walked on. "There is still life in the trees," she commented. "Faint, yes, but ever present. Like the pulse of a dying warrior, fighting for his last breaths in battle," she opened her eyes and rushed after him, but still he did not answer her.

"It might be impossible, but I think I can imagine the forest as it had been, full of life, with squirrels and little beasts climbing their branches, white golden light streaming through the leaves, and the smell of earth and flower..." she smiled in the images of her mind. "Was that how it had been?" she asked, as they veered from the path.

Then, without looking at her, he did something she did not expect. He spoke. "It was more than that," he said, speaking the first words he had ever spoken to her in so many days.

"Yes," she nodded, delighted that he had spoken. She willed herself to continue, if just to hear his voice a little more. "It has become a dream of mine, to see this forest in its former glory," she stared at the trees wistfully. "It must have rivalled the woods of Lothlorien, even." The moment she spoke the words, she regretted them. He did not answer anymore, but his back straightened, as if a whip had hit him from behind.

"Legolas," she said anxiously, scolding herself for her carelessness in words. She struggled to speak levelly. "There was more to my decision than merely my fears. I cannot speak of it now, for my burden is not mine alone, and there are others involved," she remembered Kylis and the night by the herbs, the cold wind blowing her hair. She watched the ground when she spoke next, "Someone—I...I received warning, and I was reminded of my ancestry and of the consequences that its mask heaved on others," she frowned. "And I cannot blame them for believing that I would harm them—them, and you."

He did not stop, but at last, he glanced at her. Yet still, there was coldness in his gaze, and she knew that the bitterness inside him had rooted deep within his heart. "So you were swayed yet again by their judgment?"

She kept her gaze on the forest soil. "Yes," she admitted, her voice quiet and in defeat. It was a fact she had spent many years dwelling on.

He turned away from her again and peered through the trees on his side before walking on. "Did I not tell you to stop running from them? That you were more than their words? And as for the spoils of who you are... whatever consequences these may be, it is not for you to decide that I should be shielded from it. For I have accepted your past, its light as well as its shadows. Was our friendship not enough to show that?"

"It was," she looked up again. "It was and I can only ask now for your forgiveness. And for you to allow me to learn your words in the consequences of my choices, for is that not how lessons are taught? Legolas, goheno nin. Please."

He was about to answer, she knew. He had opened his mouth to speak, but as he gazed at her, his eyes fell on a patch of soil a short distance from where he stood. Frowning, he knelt to the ground, and pinched the soil between his fingers. Without looking at her, he spoke, "These footsteps are fresh," he stood quickly, pulling the single dagger from his back, just as she brought out her pair.

The dagger in his hand gave her pause, as it was an exact replica of the one she had stowed in the table of her bower. She had been meaning to return it to him, but the events that transpired had not permitted her to do so. She tried her best to not remember, for she did not want to brood over the moment of their parting again. She felt the incoming of an onslaught, and she could not afford any distractions.

He stirred again, moving to a denser area to their right.

"He is near," she whispered, though she knew that she did not need to say it out loud, as he might have realized it long before she had.

The knife came unbidden, from behind the shadow of a large oak. It flew straight for her, aimed at her stomach, but it made a loud clang in the night as it met not the softness of flesh, but her own dagger. Almost immediately, Legolas was by her side, "Show yourself!" he shouted, pulling the bow from his back. She bent to pick the knife, yet her eyes were still on its source.

When no one answered, Legolas set loose an arrow, but it flew through the trees and they heard the thunk of arrow meeting wood. "Are you hurt?" he asked, and for a moment she thought she could see traces of worry in his face. But she shook her head and he again returned his gaze to the unseen enemy. "Who is there?" he asked, voice wary and alert.

No one answered, but they saw a hooded figure hidden behind the trees. Then the rustling sound became louder, and they saw his shadow run, quick as a beast being hunted for game. Legolas darted after it, and Tauriel followed behind him. He moved through trees and bushes, weaving left and right. Once, he crossed the forest path, but the figure jumped over it and made for another direction. It was clear to Tauriel that he had no clear path. He wanted only one thing: to escape from them and for them to stop their pursuit.

She wished they could overtake him, but the few seconds he had to run ahead seemed to be enough of an advantage. After minutes of chase, his shadow merged into the darkness and all they could follow was the sound of his light footsteps. Her legs burned in complaint, but still she ran as fast as was possible, barely keeping up with Legolas.

Then finally, Legolas stopped, raising his hand as an indication. They both listened but the scarcely present noises that their mark made melded into the forest's night sounds. "We've lost him." She could hear the frustration in his voice, but instead of commenting on it, she clenched the daggers in her hands and turned around as the sound of an attacker came from behind. However, when they came into view, she saw that there was no enemy, but Aegnir and Irima, an elf that had also come from Lothlorien.

"Are you alright?" Aegnir asked worriedly, even as they stepped closer.

Tauriel nodded.

Aegnir looked relieved, then he noted weapons that they held and the clusters of leaves and broken twigs that stuck to their clothes. "What has happened?"

"We saw someone—it is as was written in the letter. His face was ever hidden in the shadow of his hood," she answered.

"He spoke nothing?" Irima frowned.

"Nothing. But he threw a knife," Legolas explained as she brought out the weapon.

Irima took it from her; she raised her hands as she held it, placing it directly under a spot of light that shone from beneath the leaves. They watched as slowly, her brown eyes widened and the color drained from her face.

"What is it?" Legolas asked, stepping forward.

"This is from Lothlorien," Irima explained. She shook her head in alarm as she handed the weapon to Legolas. "How can this be?" she whispered.

Tauriel watched as he turned the knife in his hand, and surely, she saw markings of similar design to knives she had seen among the older elves in Lorien. The knife had silver vines creeping through the grip, and a single green leaf graced the bottom of it. "What does this mean?" Aegnir asked, looking at Legolas, but the prince merely shook his head.

"We must bring this to the king," he said, turning towards the castle. Aegnir walked beside her, and together with Irima, they followed him quietly. But Tauriel's mind was riddled with questions and a memory of an arrow that had poisoned the very same friend who walked with her now.

END OF CHAPTER

A/N: Okay, so this was a tension deflator chapter. It wasn't supposed to exist, but based on the reviews I've read, I couldn't go to the next chapter. Yet. (See? Reviews ARE important! :p). I thought my update would come way earlier than this, but there were plot holes I had to patch up and I just couldn't bear to update without fixing everything.

(Important!) SO I HAVE DECIDED (after days of endless debating with myself) TO CONTINUE THIS STORY ON TO LOTR. It won in the poll after all, by a huge margin. But don't you guys go expecting a thirty chapter sequel, it will probably be a lot shorter than this story, (because do you know how frikkin difficult it is to weave a story into Lord of the Rings? :o I didn't want to fall into the tenth-member-of-the-fellowship plot thing). The plot will be pretty simple, but it will certainly be full of Legolas and Tauriel love (so much more)! Besides, I think we deserve closure on where Tauriel disappeared into after the ending PJ gave us.

Goheno nin- forgive me, and the title of this chapter Dae, is elvish for Shadow.

So anyway, speaking of Legolas' singing voice (which was briefly mentioned in this chapter), have you guys watched the Goodbye Orlando video in YouTube? It made me laugh so hard! Lol. You guys should check it out.

AND LASTLY. This will be my last update this year (obviously), and I just want to thank each and every amazing one of you who have been with me through this year 3 I hope you guys stick around for 2015!

Til the next update! (Sorry for that chapter-long end note ^^,)

Vee