Tauriel stepped across the rocks in the river. She had found herself here without realising where her feet were carrying her. The gentle rush of the rapids blended with the birdsong from nearby and she understood why the prince lived and breathed for these woods. She stayed there a long while, lost in the thoughts of the horrible circumstances they were in. She wondered to herself about what the King had said. They had not come to help his wife. She had begun to understand him a little more. Why he closed himself off to the world and tried to prevent his son from leaving it.

Her hair curled around her features as a strong wind flowed through the trees and she watched them shake from the force. She'd never asked how old these trees were but she imagined they must be ancient. Sometimes when the King sent her to find his son, she would stumble upon him talking to the trees; as though they could hear him. She imagined they must, even for an elf he held a connection to these parts that was unrivalled by any watched them fondly, knowing the comfort they must have provided the prince but as she watched them; their healthy green leaves began to blend into a shade of brown. The strong wind began to snag them loose from the branches and she helplessly watched them fall to the ground.

'No,' she whispered to herself. 'Please no.'

She ran back over the rocks, soaking her feet in the water as she sprinted back towards the castle. As she ran she could see the decay that was rapidly taking place around her, as though racing her as to who would reach the prince first. The guards at the door were visibly surprised when she came in sight of the doors.

"Open the door," she called to them and slipped through the gap that formed as they pulled them. Her footsteps were loud in the passage and she used the twisted branch rail to almost pull herself up the steps. Some of the stewards were gathered outside the room and her heart caught in her throat when they sombrely stood to one side to let her pass.

"No," she whispered as they averted her eye. She could not step into the room so she just watched from the doorway.

"I'm so sorry, your grace," the healer said as he placed the elf's hand back down upon the bed. Thranduil had his back to them all as he looked out of the window. He breathed in deeply as the rain started to pour and the light in the room dulled as clouds shadowed Mirkwood.

"Leave us," he told them all and there was little hesitation as those in the room filed out, past Tauriel and the others.

"Tauriel," Thranduil called to her as she had turned to go. "Stay."

Her movements were slow as she stepped inside and her skin turned to ice to see her friend. She held her hand to her mouth to muffle the gasp she gave involuntarily and she could not stop the warm and steady flow of tears on her cheeks. She sat next to him on the bed and touched her hand to his. It was warm still.

"The woods," Thranduil said sadly as he continued to watch from the window.

"It started at the river," she sobbed. "That's how I knew." She stroked Legolas' hair from his face and she almost drew her fingers over his eyelids to close them but she couldn't bear to lose sight of the brilliant blue that she had loved all these years.

"Thranduil."

Tauriel looked to the doorway, startled. The King turned slowly, averting his gaze from the body of his son to face Elrond. His features betrayed his horror as he looked to Legolas and he looked behind him then as Galadriel stepped into view. Tauriel could feel Thranduil's confusion and it was difficult to watch when he blocked her path to the bed.

"My son, is gone," he hissed at her but she stepped around him.

"Let her help, Thranduil," Elrond urged his friend and forced him into an embrace. Finally, the King's resolve disintegrated and he broke down in his friend's arms.

"What am I to do, Elrond. Tell me."

"Hush now, Thranduil. It will be alright."

Galadriel looked at Tauriel with curiosity and she placed her hand over Legolas's heart. Tauriel flinched a little when the ring on the High Elfs' finger began to glow as though having been in fire. The light rippled like veins towards the wound in his shoulder to leave pale and healthy flesh and the prince shuddered as he drew in a large breath.

Thranduil was there in an instant and Elrond gasped as he pushed Galadriel aside. Her expression was more of relief than of anger and she slowly slipped away to leave the room. The cries of Thranduil as he held his son to him broke Tauriel's heart and she took the elf's hand in her own.

"Thank you," she whispered. Her eyes met Elrond's and he gave her a slight nod.

"Ada."

"Hush now, my darling. I'm here, you're safe." The King's cloak spread across the bed as though a shield to them both and the exhausted prince simply allowed his father to smother him in a tight embrace. His eyes met Tauriel's and she saw something there that she was unused to. She couldn't describe it but she couldn't look away from him when his hand tightened around hers.

"I saw you there," he whispered to her as his eyebrows knit together. Thranduil looked at his son curiously.

"Where" she asked him. He didn't answer her. "What do you mean, Legolas?" The prince reached out to touch her hair and her eyes met the King's as he watched them both.

"You may go," Thranduil told her. "My son must rest." She didn't argue with him but she watched a while from the doorway as Thranduil held him close.