Tauriel Past POV
The next day, Maldir was still fast asleep, as all our kin requires in order to heal. But we could not stay in the forest much longer. I had an uncomfortable gut feeling, and besides, Maldir's parents would most certainly be already grieving or worried sick.
I awoke in Legolas's arms, and immediately flushed. He was still as ever, the same arm combing through my fiery hair and the other hand intertwined with mine. His palm gripped the back of my hand, and his fingers had parted mine.
I could've sworn that was not how I fell asleep, nor was the night how I envisioned.
When Legolas realized my movements, he smiles.
I speak swiftly, "I should've taken a watch. Dearest apologies."
"You have nothing to be sorry about, but I fear we must return. The forests are dangerous to dwell in at nighttime these days." He replies.
Sometimes I feel as both of us apologize to each other too much, but then again. We were half of the time prince/captain mode, the other half friends or more mode.
It was morning, but I understood his point. Slowly, we both make our way down.
"We cannot awake him. Of what the healers say, it would only make him weaker." I say. "I will carry him."
"Very well. I will scout ahead." He says.
Walking through the forest was definitely unintelligent, but there was no other solution in this case.
Maldir was light. He rested in my arms as I swiftly maneuvered through the tall trunks.
On our path, I could hear leaves brushing and faint foot stomping. Those filthy orcs. Oh how I wish they were all burned and mutilated for their terrible crimes.
We finally reach the kingdom. My arms were slightly tired, but not bad. Maldir was still not fully grown yet, thus he was lighter and his weight feasible to bear.
Maldir's parents were greatly respected, and definitely of nobility. His father was Megonir. An excellent warrior and general of our armies, his mother: one of the finest elleths in Mirkwood. They got along famously with King Thranduil too.
Legolas turned to one of the guards as we returned, "Where is my father, I have urgent news to report to him."
When Legolas left for the throne room, I headed for Maldir's parents, still carrying the elfling.
I took a detour to drop off my weapons in my chambers, so I could carry the guard with more ease. I finally reached the door and knocked.
His father, a well built elf, armed with all his weapons and a shield, answered. His face was clearly indicative of worry as his mother, who sat in the armchair in the corner, clutching her hands together. Clearly he was also fighting in battle recently
They had known of my past. They had told Maldir never to trust me. As he had exploited when we first trained.
"Maldir!" His father exclaimed in relief, and practically snatched the elfling from my hands.
He checked his son's pulse, and realized the wound of the arrow puncture and bandages in the left shoulder.
"Maldir, wake up my son, please." He begged. His mother too, rushed over to see her elf.
"General Megonir, he is resting." I say quietly. I was fully in the room.
Megonir looks up with hatred.
He takes a threatening step at me. "Then why, Tauriel.." He socks out the syllables of my name and gives me a menacing glare. "Is he not BREATHING?!"
I take a step back, only to realize I'm against the wall.
Before I could reply, he continued berating me."You Silvan slave. You dog. You filthy traitor." Megonir yells, "From the moment you left pursuit of Mirkwood in chase of your star crossed dwarf, I knew you were no good. Just like the rest of your kin. How did Thranduil pick YOU, out of all people... The captain?"
I attempted to reply, "I healed him temporarily. He was shot with a poisoned arrow. He will get better, but he needs to see the healers. You need to take-."
But my statement was ignored
"Do you know how many of us died in that Battle you involved us in? Three hundred elves. All of my best warriors. Killed! Destroyed because of your idiocy! And now, they seek my son, barely over thirty to go fight as a guard. He comes back from the first mission barely alive! How dare you Tauriel! You dare manipulate your captain powers to send such misfortune upon me and my family and my people!" Megonir released his fury. Something I hadn't done in a very very long time.
His words stung me over and over. I tried to walk out of the room with no avail. He backed me against the wall, my strength not nearly nearing that of his.
Plus, I had no weapons.
And emotional elves especially, fight with a fierceness never seen before.
I want to tell him again that I healed his son, that he was alive and getting better. But there was no swaying. Mirkwood's elves are less wise and more dangerous
"This is for my son. You silvan failure." I heard him glower into my eyes. With that his fist flickered in my eyes and then I was hit with a rock hard hammer against my face. A flame ignites on my cheek, but I contain the wincing look that tried to leak out. It caused my vision a tad of blur, as I was not expecting a force so great.
I began to fight back. I ducked his next punch and attempted to flee the room, but Megonir had kicked my abdomen up. He held my collar and fired again. I winced again, as another fire lit ablaze my face.
On the third punch I turned my head with my eyes closed, awaiting the blow. It would blend out with the throb already existent.
Instead, I felt his grip release and slowly opened my eyes.
My savior. Legolas had caught the punch with his wrist.
"Stop this mutiny right now!" he commands, but also to no avail.
Angrily, Megonir growled and threw another punch at Legolas only to be blocked. Legolas spun around the general and kicked his backside to the ground.
The prince then, takes a protective step in front of me. But even more surprisingly, he has an arrow notched in his bow. I step to protest, but by the look he gives me, I decide to remain quiet.
"Do not move." The prince commands as Megonir begins to stagger up.
Megonir's wife immediately kneels down, speaking frantically, "My Lord Legolas. Please, please forgive him it's not his fault... I beg you do not harm Megonir, and take what is left of our family away."
He looks at her unsympathetically, his blue eyes piercing and cold. "Do not harm him, then why was he abusing his power? My father announced the law very clear, that no elleth or elf in our kingdom shall be neither abused nor beaten by any other without reason."
"I have a reason." Megonir says, glowering at me. "She killed my son, my prince. And brought his corpse to me to watch me grieve!"
"General Megonir, I healed him. He is resting." I say solemnly.
"Shut your mouth you Silvan Bastard! You brought upon my family only ruin and death." Megonir roared loudly and stood up.
Legolas pulled the drawstring back further and advanced. "Do not think I won't shoot you. You are in no place to speak."
Megonir shut his mouth, and continued glaring daggers at me. The prince decided to talk
"General, Maldir lives. I witnessed Tauriel heal him. You must give it time, as all elves enter and require sleep in order to heal. She has brought you good news, yet you beat her mercilessly. Do you not realize the severity of the crime you brought upon yourself." Legolas states.
"She is a sorceress. You can't heal an arrow this close to the heart. My Lord Legolas, trust me. It's Tauriel that has caused us all this death, and your blindness. She must be punished, if anything imprisoned!" Megonir states and his wife begins crying.
There is an awkward silence, I glance at sleeping Maldir
"Tauriel, leave." Legolas says in a low tone.
"Legolas, do not-" I start. They deserved no punishment. All their words were true. But I knew I was in no position to talk either.
"Tauriel. Leave. Now. It is no longer your business to handle." He commands, turning the slightest bit, I see the minute softness in his eyes, concealed under his cold, firm face.
I sigh and take my exit
LINEBREAK
I washed up in my chambers. Megonir had punched slight blood out of my nose, and I definitely had bruising on my cheek. But it wasn't anything major.
One thought ran through my mind. Maldir must be brought to the healers. I only took him to his parents to reduce their worry, but the result was quite opposite.
As for the scolding words, it merely touched some old scars in my heart. I was no longer intrigued by the idea of love. At least I thought I wasn't at the time.
I took out the little promise stone. Remembering the words Kili had said
"Keep it as a promise." He said.
That was the final time I had spoken to him conversation wise. And I wish it had not been him gifting me, as all I could return after his death was a couple kisses and a few words returning his love.
As for all of my people, indeed I had taken the first active step, but it was the King's desire of jewels too, that led him to command troops to advance.
"Tauriel." Legolas knocked and entered my room.
I snapped out of my daydream. "My prince... What of it. What of General Megonir?"
His face darkens a bit. "Maldir has been sent to the healers for further treatment. As for Megonir, he has been removed of his position for his foul behavior and fallacious words against the king."
"They were not to the king, Legolas." I say. "The words he said were true and applied to me. I accept them."
"So indeed you did, but he beat you for your past, for saving his son, for saving a life in our kingdom. I cannot forgive him easily for that.." He says.
"It was a misunderstanding." I say. "He deserves another chance, just like I did."
"Tauriel, you are too modest." Legolas sighs, and takes a step closer. " I removed him for your safety and welfare. He could have worse intentions than just harming you, and we do not want more enemies than we already have." He replies.
This silences me, and I knew my arguing would do no good. Especially when Legolas was austere, my contentiousness would get me nowhere. Instead, I merely nod. His words warm up my heart, as well as my cheeks.
"Now come, we must join the remainder of the army. More darkness will ascend. Our scouts have seen the orc armies marching towards Mirkwood."
He grabs my hand to lead me out. I slowly part his fingers, intertwining them. He glances at me and smiles temporarily before tightening the grip.
"What of the current status. Of orcs and battles" I ask.
"Father has acknowledged that the orcs may not be after something, but someone in our kingdom." Legolas says. "You remember Gollum do you not? He was captured by our kin approximately 65 years ago and perhaps knows of more information that the dark lord would like to hear."
"And what of the orc camps out in the forest?" I ask.
"Two of five have been removed, the remaining three have come together to form an alliance, and we must as well. Father sensed the attack would come soon, so we are to take guards and wrap around the opposing army. The remainder shall defend the kingdom." He heads for the stables.
In honor of Valentine's Day being this weekend, I decided to add a bit more Tauriel Legolas fluff in this chapter. Hope you enjoyed it.
To all of you who do celebrate Valentine's Day, Happy Valentine's Day!
To those of you who do not, enjoy this update
I appreciate all the reviews and feedback you guys have to say about my story!
To the questions posed about the story as far as the love story goes, all I can say is be patient, they are soon to come ;)
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