"You have nothing to say?" The King asked in his usual unsympathetic tone.
"No, my King," she replied softly. What could she say? It was her decisions that had foiled her King's plans, whether or not she agreed with it.
Thranduil scrutinized her closely before sighing, "Very well," he said, "it was certainly unavoidable, but I had hoped for more time."
His musings caused her to look up upon him in surprise. She had expected harsher words.
"Do not look so surprised," had she not known him better she would have sworn he sounded amused, "We still do not yet how long it will take for the White Consul to find out and even when they do, what can they do?"
Bereneth stayed silent, she did not know what to say to that.
"You will be punished either way of course," he continued, "and I suggest you do not try something similar again, Bereneth, I will be kind this time for you have never failed me before, but if there is a second time I will not be so forgiving."
"Yes, my King," she bowed her head slightly. She had taken a gamble with Thaleth, and she had lost. It was very unlikely she would every do something like that ever again.
The elven King seemed pleased at her submission, "your regret does you service, young one," he said approvingly, "you will be assigned under Tauriel at the border, until I deem otherwise."
"Yes, my King," Bereneth was not too pleased at being placed as a guard at the border for an unknown time, she had always been a scout under her father, but it certainly could have been much worse. Tauriel was a worthy leader, even though she was one of the youngest elves in the forest at around a mere 600. Unlike the other younglings however, such as Asgaron or Elwion, she was much more levelheaded, or rather, as levelheaded as a Silvan elf could be. Bereneth would probably have to swallow her pride at times, she was half Noldor after all, but at least she had not been reduced to cleaning dishes.
It had been months now and she was still not allowed to leave the border. It was harsh enough to be on weekly outings, but to be there for months? It truly was a punishment.
However she never once came close to complaining since she indeed was guilty as charged.
Bereneth had after all known King Thranduil would not appreciate her impulsive decision to aid Thaleth in her pursuit yet she had done so anyway. All Bereneth had wanted was to answer her friend's questions, but instead her scheme had given Thaleth new questions that Bereneth herself simply was not allowed to even hint on. How could she have known that Thaleth had been so eager to find the truth that she would even leave the forest without permission?
Her orders had specifically been to escort Daenir out of the realm with as little suspicion was possible to avoid information about the girl to be spread. He had never had the chance to see her, something that had pleased the king immensely. It did however make it important that he left without ever knowing of her if they wished to keep her presence a secret, which apparently they did.
Now that Thaleth had left the forest to find out exactly what Wanweth's secret was it would not be long until both the lady Galadriel and lord Elrond both gained knowledge of her.
Had Bereneth been a thousand years younger she would have groaned at her own carelessness.
Daenir was naturally very observant and even though he did not say a word about it, it was obvious to Bereneth that her cousin suspected something was amiss when she had asked him to accompany her to Lake-Town. It was also very obvious to him that Thaleth knew what that 'amiss' was and he took full advantage of her eagerness. Thaleth was no fool of course, she never told him a thing about Wanweth, but likewise did she know that the answers she was seeking would not be found in her home.
Bereneth could only hope that Thaleth would keep her silence, because Thranduil would definitely not be as forgiving to her.
"I am still surprised she left," a voice behind her stated, "I never knew my cousin to be thoughtless."
Bereneth turned around and met Tauriel's guarded eyes and said, "That would be because she is not."
"Then why?" the red haired elf, so similar to Thaleth, asked, "you know, do you not?"
The familiar question caused the older elf to smile ironically, "that is exactly what Thaleth asked me," she said, "and little good did it do me when I tried to answer it!"
Tauriel furrowed her brows slightly at the exclamation and Bereneth watched her steadily before continuing, "You do not wish to know, young one, and do not try to unless you wish the King's wraith over your head."
The crease between Tauriel's eyes only grew at the warning but she knew better than to question Bereneth. Both Thaleth and Bereneth were much older than her and she did hold them both in high regard, even though Thaleth's recent actions confused her. "Very well," she replied, "I will take your word for it."
Bereneth gave small bow in reply before she retreated to their camp. It was Tauriel's turn to hold watch.
Tauriel in turn was not sure if Bereneth had just bowed to her in respect for her current captain, or if she had simply nodded in approval.
She sighed silently before taking her place as watch. Bereneth presence had made her job significantly easier in that sense that she now had a most reliable second in command that could take charge when Tauriel herself was needed back in the Halls for whatever reason. She could however not shake off the feeling that Bereneth was so much more than a second in command and that she was somewhat wasted at the borders.
Not that the border was boring or uneventful: more than once had they had to fight off the spiders and drive them further away from their home. It was rather that, unlike herself, Bereneth was more than just an incredibly skilled fighter, though Tauriel did estimate that she would be able to beat Bereneth in a serious spar, she was also a diplomat and an amazing strategist. Maybe it was that typically proud air that always surrounded Noldor elves, but Tauriel could not imagine Bereneth forever staying isolated in the woodland realm. She was made for grander things, for a time long past.
Bereneth had not been born in Greenwood, and more than once had Tauriel heard her and her father speak of the lands outside the trees. When they spoke of the spiders or other abomination their concern never stayed in the forest but continued to the lands of other elves, man and even old kingdoms of dwarfs. It was fascinating and Tauriel always found her own heart tug at their words.
She wanted to be made for grander things as well.