A/N : Don't ever feel, with me, that you can't point out oddities, spelling mistakes, ect. As I said- I am a little rushed around at the moment but I like to know when I miss something and I don't mind constructive crit either! I write it for my entertainment and the entertainment of anyone else who loves it... so while grammar and spelling might not be urgent, you can say if something else bugs you.

For that commented that Legolas is acting strange, you're damn right he is, and I probably could have finished the chapter in a better way... because they were all too worked up on adrenaline and emotional to really think.

Trust me when I say there's always a reason and no one missed it. For now. ;)

I didn't get much time to calm myself or relax. Every part of me was on edge, nervous, super sensitive to every sound inside and out, and I couldn't stop shaking. Even my pride couldn't dampen the reaction. I couldn't stop moving, even though I knew on some level that I needed to relax and rest now, even though I knew that the chances of anything sneaking up on us with Tauriel here was almost impossible.

It wasn't just me though. Tauriel did not relax, not once, the Dwarves were jumpy, all of us unable to think beyond 'danger- look out for danger'.

Bard too was having problems. He returned some time later as Tauriel had started to prepare medicine in a mortar and pestle. He was exhausted looking, alert but exhausted, a bow gripped in one stubborn hand as if he couldn't even bear the walk from one house to the other without some kind of weapon. I doubted things like what had just happened were common here. People didn't even enter or leave Laketown without that Master, Mayor, whatever the fuck he was knowing about it.

I wondered if any of the guards had been killed, suddenly, aware that for the Orc to come in people had probably died. They also had stolen horses. Bard might have even known them. I'd ask him tomorrow, if it seemed right, but not tonight.

He knocked on the broken in door as he called, "Excuse me-"

Tauriel didn't answer. She was still cold towards him, very cold, only shooting him an icy stare before she returned to grinding the paste hard.

"Wendy?It's Tilda."

"Tilda?" I straightened, panic flooding me, just about ready to jump up and defend her again. My mind automatically worried about the worst case scenario despite the unlikely chance it was the reason he was here. "Is she injured?"

"No. But she's tired and afraid." Bard inched a little more in, despite Tauriel's bow, adding, "She won't sleep unless you come and check the room for Orcs. I didn't have the heart to tell her you were injured."

"I'm fine."

Tauriel lowered the small wooden object and slid the mortar away. She'd deflated somewhat, face softening, asking, "The young one?"

"Aye." He sighed. "Nothing I have tried has calmed her. Even her sister isn't able to do it."

"Fine. Then go." Tauriel agreed. She held out her knife, suddenly, holding it towards me. "There would be no danger to look dangerous yourself- it will reassure her."

Couldn't say I blamed her. I nodded, standing slowly, shrugging off the warmth of the cloak.

"I'll send for you when I have time." Tauriel was approaching Kili now. She stared down at him, her face pale, face tense. "I can not say how long this will take or if it will even... even work." She trailed off, quiet, and then straightened. "You do not need care right now. The damage has already been done."

She didn't exactly direct that last part at Bard but he flinched anyway, guilt flashing across his face, and he crossed his arms.

I wasn't going to hang around with those two doing this. I went for the door, slowly, Bard sliding an arm around me as we braved the stairs.

"I can probably manage..." I was almost certain of it. My shoulder was the one that hurt.

"I know." Bard didn't let go until we had reached the bottom and then he strode ahead, eyes seeking dangers, the bow once again held ready. He looked older tonight, weary, dark shadows under his eyes, his shoulders slumped. He was just about ready to sleep as well.

He led me up into the home- not much different from his in size or shape, aside from the usual personal touches, but there seemed to be a few extra rooms here and there and it may have been a little larger. It was much more cluttered, the kitchen's ceiling covered in dangling herbs and things, herbs scattered here and there, suggesting that whoever owned this home also probably owned or supplied a shop somewhere. A middle aged woman, prematurely aged anyway, was asleep under a blanket near a fire, her snoring loud.

"We need not worry too much about waking her." Bard said, though he was whispering, adding, "She has medicines that help her sleep. Her husband let us stay- he is guarding their shop now. I told him that it was unlikely they would go there but..."

A shrug. I understood. They wanted to protect things.

There was movement from next to the fire. I hadn't seen Tilda there, maybe she'd fallen asleep briefly, but now she was scrambling to her feet and running at us around the clutter. I was grasped, hard, squeezed around the middle by a small white figure in a nightdress. Not a ghost, though she could have passed for one, but Tilda.

"Hey, hey." I called, trying to smile, patting her hair. "It's okay."

I gazed down at her. She was so fucking tired, the poor kid, her cheeks bright red, her eyes red, shadows clinging to them, and very pale. Her eyes kept darting backwards and forwards still.

"I can't sleep. It's not safe."

"Sigrid is already asleep in there." Bard tried, but she shook her head, and he sighed.

"Please. Just … just look..." She glanced back at one of the small rooms, somewhat fearfully, adding, "It's dark in there."

"She's not used to the darkness." Her father explained, softly, kneeling to take her into his arms.

What had Tauriel said? Make a show of it. Great idea! I slid out the big Elf knife, straightened, and nodded. Somehow this was helping me focus again from my earlier shock- I was sliding into mum-mode automatically.

"Then you both stay here while I search every nook and cranny so you can sleep safe."

I entered the room, entered it as if I was expecting something, though of course it was normal inside. A pair of eyes met mine from the darkness- Sigrid was not asleep, she was clearly wide awake, and she muttered, "I tried to tell her it's fine."

"It was a big fright for everyone." I glanced behind me. Bard had Tilda right behind, an arm around her, protecting her with his bow in front of her. We were both acting now for her sake- but from the look on her face she needed it. Needed to know she had two big bad ass warriors on her side.

She didn't answer, just turned her back, and I went to searching everything. Knife out. Prodding lumps, searching under the narrow bed, ignoring the yank in my shoulder as the slightly active search jolted it from time to time. Or all the time.

It wasn't really a game for Tilda despite our acting- she jumped when I reached into a dark place, jumped when I checked the tiny window, flinched when I lifted the covers. It was horrible to see how badly off she was after all this- where as Sigrid, apparently still awake, was just unable to sleep. It would take them a while. Probably longer after the dragon. I made a mental reminder to talk to Bard about that- we needed a plan.

Right now we didn't need to talk. We seemed to be on the same page about getting his kid into bed.

"Nothing!" I declared, finally, as I straightened. I was so tired now. So ready to crawl into my own bed. "All safe."

"Really?"

"Really."

I held out a hand to Tilda, Bard gently pushing her from the other side, and together we helped her into bed. She was so exhausted already that she was beyond resisting any more, and as she was slid into the covers, she grasped onto both our hands, clinging to them.

"I'll be just near the fire." Bard reassured her, squeezing her hand, "And the Elf woman next door will not miss a single sound."

"Even with the loud snoring?"

"Elves can hear everything." I reassured her. Most of everything. "Even if Sigrid passes wind, she'll hear it, she's that good."

We released her hands and she slid her arms under the covers.

There wasn't much of a giggle, though there did seem to be a little smile there for a moment, and as Tilda's eyes fluttered closed just a moment she added, "Can you wait here a little longer?"

"Not in your room but in the house, yes." I agreed. Just a little longer. Tauriel had said she'd send for me here. "I'll be just outside."

"Right beside me."

She nodded, eyes opening one last time as she took in the two of us, and then she relaxed. "Da?"

"Yes, darling?"

"You should marry Wendy so I have a Ma aga-" She was already sleeping, the words sinking into mumbles and fading halfway through the word, leaving us both standing there in silence.

I blinked, face flushing with slight embarrassment, but mostly all I felt was sadness for her. It was so simple for a kid to think that way. Bard sighed, leaning down to kiss her forehead, brushing the dark hair away from her face with heartbreaking affection.

"I don't think it works that way, little one." He said softly. "Sleep."

He rose up quietly. Bard turned to bend over Sigrid, kissing her hair, and added, "And you too, darling, sleep. Nothing will come for you."

He gestured to me and the two of us went to sit at a small table beside the fire.

There was a long silence, only punctured by the snoring, before Bard finally spoke.

Bard said quietly, "Sorry."

"Nothing to be sorry about." I felt a bit bad myself. "I guess it's my fault for being here... confuses her. After tonight."

"No, I am glad you were there. She just never knew her own Ma. I suppose I sometimes forget that I'm not the only one who notices she is missing from this life." Bard sunk down heavily and sighed, a long deep sigh. "Or that they may yet need a mother. There are things that a man cannot help a girl with."

"He can if he loves them. It might be awkward but... he can do his best." I suspected he was talking about 'womanly' problems. It said a hell of a lot about tonight if this was an easier topic than 'orc raid'. "It might not hurt for you to find an older woman to help though. One day."

"The day has already come and gone for Sigrid. She took care of it herself. Walked to a neighbor's house because I was away- she was afraid she was dying." Guilt crossed his face at that, although there was also a strange flush to his cheeks, and rather than make eye contact with me Bard stared at his hands. "I did not even think to warn her."

"I suppose it wasn't something you'd think about."

"Nor talk about, usually." He admitted. That flush grew slightly deeper. Did this topic embarrass him? Probably. He yawned, stretched, resting his head on his arms. "Do you feel offended that I am?"

"No, no, not at all. I'm used to ... well, this topic being not so taboo." I admitted. It was still a little 'hush hush' but no where near like in this society. "With men as well. After all- once they marry a woman they can't really avoid knowing about it."

"Then you'll tell your son?"

"Better he find out from me and not panic." I responded.

"I've often wondered if I should explain it to Bain." Bard sighed, leaned back once again, and it occurred to me that perhaps he was trying to stay awake. He was stretching his arms and back. "Not tonight. Sometime though. When he marries someone he'll probably be glad he won't get that fright. I was horrified."

"You didn't know it happened?"

"I thought I had ... I had been too rough." A small smile cracked on his face, despite the strange subject, Bard finally meeting my eyes. "That I had injured her. I could barely believe the truth of it- my version made more sense to me."

"Typical. Always about the man." I joked weakly. I brushed rubble off a chair and slid down to sit across the stabbed table. "It's not that bad."

"It was for her sometimes. The pain. All we could do was wait."

Ah, yeah. No period pain pills or hot water. I offered, "If your girls have pain... well, hot water helps. Cold makes it a little worse."

"Really? It is the same with sore muscles." He considered that. "I could make the house a little warmer. That may not embarrass them too much."

"They might not even realise you do it."

"Then it is perfect."

It was strange. We'd just been attacked and here we were talking about period strategies for a single Dad. It was probably an easier topic. Bard was still on edge, his eyes sharp, the sword still at his side, but if this was where he wanted to talk... an easier subject maybe than me becoming Tilda's new Ma... then I didn't mind at all.

"About what Tilda said..."

"Don't worry about it." I said, straight off, waving a hand. "I guess it made sense to her."

"To me as well."

I blinked. Bard gazed across the table at me unflinchingly. "If you cannot return to that husband of yours, or that child, then ... well, you're welcome to remain here. I know I can trust you. I would offer to marry you but I suspect that friend of yours would kill me before I could manage to bed you."

I was not sure how to take that. He was sleepy though, probably not really thinking, so I decided to just ...ignore it.

Still this was probably a good time to go.

"Bard?"

"Yes, Wendy?"

"Go to sleep tonight. You're tired." I rose up slowly. When he went to stand, I gestured at him to stay down, adding, "Someone's got to have energy tomorrow. Right?"

That made him hesitate.

"Exactly." I continued. "Don't think anyone else is getting it tonight. You go to sleep and get as much rest as you can... we can talk tomorrow."

It was probably obvious that I was trying to not get into that last conversation. Probably. Bard didn't push it. He was too close to falling asleep anyway.

"Yes, you're right. I need rest." He rose heavily and added, "Then you will rest."

"I'll wait near Tauriel. I don't really want to walk over there half asleep across frosty planks." I went for the door. Once again- he didn't stop me. He just watched me. "Okay. Good night."

"Goodnight."

Back across the frosty boards. Into the considerably colder house, across broken things that were scattered everywhere and into the little side room for the girls I went. It was better than in the main room- there Tauriel was at work, and though she hadn't said anything, I had the very strong impression to stay away.

It was strange to lie there for the short time I was awake, aware of something beyond the physical world going on, strange to hear Kili's cries and groans. They were almost in a bubble separate to me- so close but at the same time the Elf and the Dwarf were somewhere else. Far away.

There was a little relief going to sleep after that. I was tired, I wasn't sure what Bard had been suggesting, only that he'd mentioned bedding. I was too tired for that shit. He might have been trying to crack a joke and I'd been too sleepy to find it funny. Very likely actually.

I felt like there'd been a lot that had gone over my head tonight. Tomorrow. I'd deal with it tomorrow.

During the night I was woken every now and then, Fili crawling into the bed beside mine, Tauriel briefly appearing and then vanishing again, and dreams. A lot of dreams. More than once I startled awake myself expecting to be in a fight only to be safe.

It wasn't just that though. It was Legolas. The dreams weren't of the fight before- they were of what he was doing. So often I could just be aware of him, the dream so hazy that the only clear thing being his face and the sense of danger, and it was these dreams that kept waking me. Some part of me wanted to be there. Fight. Like we used to.

Or, for him, like we one day would.

No details though. It was foggy, frustrating, and distant. I couldn't tell if he was really there or if I was just dreaming about him.

It was some time the next morning before I felt ready to rise. Tauriel must have done something in the night during the periods I was conked out, there was a fresh bandage, and the distinct scent of Kingsfoil that I had started to become familiar with after so many weeks of drinking it in tea.

I was sleepy, relaxed, and this lasted for a few minutes as I lay there mentally going over dreams. Legolas.

Wait.

My mind went over the night before.

Legolas.

I'd ignored it last night. I'd enjoyed it way too much, his concern, and poor Bard getting roasted for it. But why had Legolas been so … like that? Last we saw each other he was still considering stabbing me in the face. That made no sense. I was confused. Was I remembering it wrong? In the heat of the moment I could have been adding things to it that hadn't been there. Making it far more touchy feely than it was. I had to ask someone, I had to ask one of the Dwarves, the events themselves a strange blur.

I also needed to ask them about Durin's Day. About the Dragon. About ...well, Kili. Talk to Bard. What was I doing in bed?! There was no time for this!

I also needed to pee. Urgently. And drink something.

With some effort I rose and tugged boots on my feet. When had I taken them off? The scent of Kingsfoil grew stronger as I trudged into the main room, careful with my feet over the broken bits and pieces from the night before, the entire room alive with the smell of the herb. One tentative walk down the stairs to the toilet and one back up and I tried to focus in the dim room. Boards had been nailed to every hole already, which left the place dark, lit only by the fireplace and the two or three still unbroken windows around the room.

The first thing I saw was Kili. Smiling as he watched me.

I blinked, stunned, and leaned against the wall. He looked well. He looked really well, actually, if exhausted, and Tauriel was sitting on a bed nearby with her eyes shut. Oin lay snoring on the floor, covered up with blankets, as content as if it was a four poster bed.

"You're awake?"

"For now." He yawned, stretched his arms with some impressive range of movement, though it was clear he was still avoiding moving the leg. When he grinned back to me, his eyes were clear, and he settled back against the pillow. "For now. How about you cook me something? Eggs, bacon, roast pork. I really want roast pork."

"You're sticking to the soup." Fili called. He was in the kitchen (or the remains of it) in front of a pot. He too had undergone an incredible transformation as well, he was smiling, rested, and actually looking cheerful.

I edged to his side and asked, "So... all's well?"

"He will recover." I hadn't seen or heard Tauriel rise. There she was though, standing beside us, and this beautiful smile filled her face. First time I'd actually seen her look this way. I sighed, relieved, and she grasped my arm as she started to inspect me. Tauriel added, "And your skin has already started to heal itself."

"Does that mean I'll be normal?"

The smile flickered, light fading for a moment, and Tauriel shook her head. She turned away as she gazed down to the soup.

"No?"

"I cannot say."

Well, that wasn't good, I didn't want suspense, I wanted a magical recovery like Kili had. I guessed it was a different injury.

"I'm sorry." Tauriel responded. She turned back to me. Why was she taller than me? I had to look up as she continued, "For an Elf... to loose control of an arm... but there's hope. Time can sometimes mend what has been taken."

She looked pretty grieved over it. Elves loosing use of an arm. I couldn't say I'd ever heard of it. I couldn't' say I'd heard of an Elf that had been scarred either, come to think of it, so perhaps that was it. Was that what Legolas had been so … so like had been... last night?

Some part of me was relieved and some part of me was disappointed. Unsatisfied. I wanted to ask if that was why she and Legolas had been so furious. Wanted to.

"Now, it's not that bad." Fili glanced at the two of us, catching onto the dark mood, and he chimed in. "She's still got one good arm. Why there's stories of my mother's grandfather- Was a terrible fighter and worse blacksmith. His father thought him a lost cause. Then, during a goblin attack, he was grabbed by a cave troll. It tore it clean off, nearly took the rest of him as well, but when he had healed he started to train."

Kili's voice called, "And when he did, he found his remaining arm could fight and blacksmith better than the rest of the family."

I had the feeling they were trying to cheer me up.

"Quiet." Tauriel reproached Kili, though without any real energy behind it, and then added quieter, "I have heard of Elf that only used one arm. A Dwarf carries an axe that can be used by either arm. An Elf-"

"Aye, but Wendy is not-" Fili jumped for the pot as the broth started to spill into the metal. "-an Elf."

"No." Tauriel agreed.

She had a point though. I was fine with a sword. I could stab things and parry a little, Boromir had helped me out with that, but it was the bow that I actually had skills with. I felt a pang of loss myself now, suddenly, considering the fact that I could no longer use my bow. It had been through so much with me, it was like apart of me, something I knew I could depend on if someone wanted to club my head in. It only struck me that not being able to loose it was like loosing a limb. I felt incredibly depressed all of a sudden.

Tauriel still had that look on her face as well. She understood.

Bloody hell. I was sick of this. I hobbled for Bard's bow and snatched it up.

"Hey, Wendy..."

"Shut it. I've got to get my arm strong."

Tauriel grabbed the bow, there within a few steps, and hoisted it out of my grip. She tossed it to Fili who propped it up beside him.

"Not till your arm is healed enough to take it." She shook her head.

"Fine." I agreed. Not really fine. Not at all. I added, "Can I at least strengthen my good arm?"

The Elf nodded and I headed for the broom.

"What are you doing?"

"Sweeping one handed." With all the crap on the ground this'd get my arm moving all right. I'd have to prop it up with my good shoulder. "Bard been in yet?"

"Not yet."

"It'll be a nice surprise then."

I had no arguments and was left to it.

Sweeping wasn't exactly interesting work, but then neither was sitting there doing nothing, I swept carefully and propped it against my good shoulder for extra 'omph' in the areas that had considerable debris. All of last night's dinner was still on the ground, cups cracked, plates broken, an incredible amount of damage caused to a family who probably couldn't afford to start over from scratch. They had a home still, if a little broken into, which was all right... but I wasn't just thinking about the attack last night.

I was also thinking beyond it and not just them, but of everyone else in the town, and the terrible loss suffered. Lives and homes, belongings, valuables that they may have kept in case they needed them, and that it would be on fire.

"When is Durin's Day?" I asked Fili as he walked past.

He paused a moment and considered this, or pretended to, though I doubt that any of these Dwarves really didn't know.

"Couple of days."

"How many do you mean by a couple?"

"Two." Fili continued, "Not tomorrow but the day after. I think they've had made it."

"Yeah. They probably have." I had to agree it was likely- they had more than enough time to reach it. My eyes were drawn to the Mountain, on edge again, and felt my heart sink. Two days. Two fucking days. I'd had weeks here to get ready and I just hadn't been able to think about it. My resolve to grow strong rose back up and I started to sweep again with fresh resolve- not to tidy up now, but to use the opportunity to encourage the body to wake up.

"You going to clean the whole house?"

"Much as I can." I responded. "He's given us a lot of help for nothing."

Fili paused and then he considered. To my surprise he started to pick things up, careful, dropping bits of broken plates into an empty sack that had been hanging from the ceiling as he started to help me clear up.

"You don't really have to help."

"You're right." He admitted. "Bard's done a lot. He isn't exactly our friend but-"

"He's a good man. Don't... don't toss it all out." I added, as he picked up a mug that was intact minus a handle, adding, "We find that handle and we could glue it back."

For two days it'd be a nice gesture. Right? Unless Boromir changed the turn of events and killed that dragon over there in the nice safe mountain. Ha. Yeah right. As much as I was impressed by his sword arm I knew even he wasn't going to be good enough to do that.

Bard returned not long after we'd started and he took a seat, not even bothering to stop us, fixing us both with an odd look. An odd look … and silence.

It was strange. I was expecting him to wake up and be embarrassed, maybe apologise or something again, to be his usual self. Silence was strange. It was only when Fili decided to go sit beside Kili, who was long asleep by that point, before Bard finally spoke.

"Neither of you corrected me."

"Huh?" I glanced up. Sweat made the hair cling to my forehead, the effort of sweeping one armed quite good for exercising, and I had really shoved all my body into it after finding out what kind of rubbish time limit we had.

"Your Elf. I only realised after you had left, last night, that I had called you 'his wife' and neither of you had corrected me."

Surprise filled me. I hadn't... hadn't even picked up on it. I hadn't been thinking about it. Legolas hadn't corrected him.

Why hadn't he corrected him?

And why on earth had he been so … so concerned?

"You're right." I admitted. I rested the broom against the wall, jaw slightly open, openly puzzled. "He didn't correct you."

"Neither did you. You said that your husband was a different Elf to the one that is the son of that King."

He was, in a sense, and I was lost for words briefly. I didn't know how to explain it.

Bard frowned as he gazed up at me. "Is there no words you have – no new story?"

"Oh, there's a story, but-" It seriously wouldn't work. "I have no idea how to explain it."

Distrust was there in his face. It had taken me a while to recognise it...

"There's one other thing I find strange." Bard continued. "Sigrid tells me they threatened torture using her. That these Orc did not choose a random house. They were looking for Thorin and would have used her to force this information out."

"That's not so strange. I mean... you know who he is." I had a bad feeling about where this conversation was headed though. "I wouldn't have let them do anything."

"You could not stop it either. I know his name, yes, and what he want but to know he was being hunted... not something anyone mentioned. Did the Dwarves know that Orc were hunting them? No- don't answer. The answer is as clear as day. They were in a great hurry to reach that river bank." Bard crossed his arms. "I thought it an argument with the Elves."

"It was an argument with Elves."

"Not only them, it seems, and I found it strange that they were in such haste. The Elves rarely leave their own borders. I assumed that the Dwarves did not know that. And- Kili's wound."

To be honest I was still a little hung up on 'Legolas didn't say I wasn't his wife' part. I was totally bewildered by it. How had I missed it? Was I just so used to it being our thing, our relationship, that it had gone over my head? Or had too much been going on?

"Did you put my children in danger by not telling me the whole truth?"

His question snapped me back to the real issue. The attack.

"I ..." I had no idea what to say.

"I see." Bard cut in. He'd finally started to loose his temper and the Dwarves had finally noticed, as had Tauriel, who's calm face had started to watch him. He rose to his feet. "I think I have given my guests enough care- it's time for you all to leave."

"No, Bard, that's not what I mean. I just … I hadn't thought about it." I was stumbling, hurt somehow, feeling like I had let him down. He could barely look at me without that anger and distrust. "I mean it. Thorin was gone and they were looking for him. I just … I guess I just assumed that they would go after him. Not here. Not for us."

"I figured the same." Fili joined me, standing beside me, adding, "I have not slept well thinking about their welfare- I did not think the Orc would come here. It was not on Wendy's mind."

"Not with that injury." Oin patted my arm as he joined us. "Come now. We're on your side."

"I could have lost my children." Bard's voice rose in volume. He towered over all three of us. "I have fed you, cared for your injured, I have given you warmth, clothing, a safe place, and even after I knew what you would do to us... you still lied?"

"We didn't th-"

"Not telling me of a danger is the same as lying about it when asked!" Bard turned on me. The anger in his face made me flinch, as if he'd struck me, adding, "I felt guilt for what I had to do to your shoulder but now-" He stepped forward. "-consider it even."

"I never told you to feel guilty and I didn't … really think about it!"

"Come on, lad, it's not as if she could have said much." Oin urged. "The rest of us have tried to help."

Bard didn't answer. He turned, leaving the house, the door (apparently repaired) slamming as he left.

"Should I follow?" I wasn't sure. We'd gotten so friendly... I wasn't sure what to do.

"No." Once again Oin patted my arm. "Not now. He's had a terrible shock."

"Should we have told him?" Fili muttered.

"I don't know." Oin muttered. "I doubt he'll stay angry with you, Wendy, for you were hardly well enough to think and last night you did your best."

I wasn't sure. He'd been through a lot.

But there wasn't time for this. I still had to talk to Bard about Durin's Day... and I felt frustrated, restless, wanting to chase after him.

"Legolas was different last night." Tauriel spoke up.

I turned to her, the Dwarves blinking as the change of subject went beyond them, but she had this peculiar expression.

"He was not himself."

"What do you mean?" I approached her slowly. When she gestured to the bed I sat down beside her.

"I don't know." She admitted. "It confuses me as well. He has been in a strange mood since the moment we laid eyes on Laketown."

Something nagged at the back of my memory. I couldn't cling to whatever it was long enough to make sense of all of this. He had been behaving odd last night.

"You were both very angry..."

"Yes." Tauriel agreed. She gazed up a long moment at the window, at the town outside, considering her words. "The medicine of man- it shocks us. You had a wound done by an arrow..."

"Yeah."

"...and that treatment shocked us. At first glance was as if he had cut parts of it out with a knife. It must have been a terrible injury."

"Pretty sure that's what he did." I muttered and added, at her shocked face, "But I wasn't really awake for parts of it."

"Men have no means to numb pain either- another thing that shocks us." Tauriel continued. "That you endured that... that pain. I was fearful at first that you might have been a little mad- you looked as if you could have been last night."

I had this brief memory somewhere, somehow, about Elves and pain. That they didn't cope very well. That Orcs were Elves once, or something like that, and that sometimes Elves could literally go mad if they were raped or tortured. I supposed cutting an infected wound could have been seen as torture.

"Well last night I was weapon less in the face of ...that threat. I think I felt a bit mad with fear." I admitted. Only to her. Only to this Elf would I admit that. "You Elves have so many skills but me? Just that. Bow. And last night it was the first time it couldn't save me."

"We have less than is said." Tauriel twisted towards me. She was very gentle as she slid the fabric down my shoulder. "It was not long before I realised you were not mad- just afraid. Perhaps it was on Legolas' mind as well- that your mind might not have survived his treatment."

Her face scowled at the word 'treatment' as her fingers traced over the disfigured skin.

I looked down to it as well.

It wasn't surprising she used that word. It looked disfigured. Scarred. Not just with the deep penetrating wound but also the area around, cut free of infected tissue in jagged uneven areas, one strip going at least five inches down my arm as if it had been ripped free... I felt my stomach twist at that and wondered if I had done that to myself as I thrashed... and on top of that there were also his man-made cuts. The ones for bleeding. The ones Bard had clearly reopened several times.

No pain relief. Nothing.

"You're right." I muttered. "I can't really believe I didn't go mad either. Maybe I am mad."

I felt sick looking at it.

"It does not seem as if you are. It was strange of him to tell me to stay here for you and Kili- not follow him after." Tauriel slid the protective covers back up. She considered, voice soft as she gazed down at Kili across the small room, "Perhaps he was fearful I needed to treat your madness. If it was there."

Great. Elf Psychology. "Can Elves do that?"

"We try our best. There is only one real cure."

"The undying lands."

Tauriel flinched, surprised, and she demanded quietly, "How do you know?"

"I've … I've had friends. That sailed there. Elves." Plus I remembered it as one of the few things I had known about this world. Lord Elrond's own wife had needed to be taken there after she had been raped and tortured. She'd lost her mind.

Elves were an incredible race brave, beautiful, fast, long of life, but they were incredibly delicate in so many ways that most people didn't really notice. They had a lot of heavy trade offs for all their gifts.

"I was once told," I said softly, quietly, "That an Elf has one true mate in their lifetime."

Tauriel's eyes automatically were drawn to Kili at that. They didn't leave him as she nodded.

"That they will sometimes die at the same time..."

"Many times they choose to. Not always. Living after it, I have heard, takes a lot of strength. We dedicate so much to them when we decide to let them in." Tauriel responded. She finally tore her eyes off Kili and stared at her hands. "It is one reason why this dedication towards another race is forbidden."

"Because no one lives as long as an Elf."

"It would be as if you dedicated yourself to a man for just a year more of life together."

When she put it that way- it was depressing. All the same... "I'd still do it."

The words were true enough from me. I knew it. I'd do it for Legolas. One year was more than enough. I wanted a lifetime with him – and I missed him. "I'd rather try it for a year and really live..."

"So would I." Tauriel said quietly. Her eyes were on her hands, fingers twisting together, but she glanced up to me for a moment. There was an incredible amount of vulnerability there. "I understand. But the love cannot be forced on them if they are unwilling to make that choice as well."

I wasn't sure if she was talking about Legolas or Kili. Maybe both.

Still at that moment we were, if just briefly, pretty much connected by that same sense of loss and love. Something beyond the normal. Elf and Human or Elf and Dwarf. However weird it was to others, however wrong, it was just how it had ended up.

I sighed. She grasped my hand, squeezed it, and stood.

"Let us worry about things that we can prepare for. You are fearful of that Dragon, right?"

She was pretty perceptive. Silly Elf ears. I nodded. "Well, of course I am."

"So am I." Tauriel's eyes went in the direction of the mountain. "Perhaps there is another reason Legolas decided I should remain."

"Who knows what that Elf's thinking. But yeah- if it comes... we may need some help. Bard's children."

"Will you tell me about this town- the exits, the layout, everything." Tauriel wasn't just speaking to me now, but to Fili and Ori as well, the two of them in quiet conversation near the door. "You two as well."

"Now?"

She nodded and gestured to them. The four of us huddled together, whispering, trying to think of something practical we could plan before D-Day.

Dragon Day.