Hello everyone and thank you again for staying with me!
I am still amazed by all the follows, faves and of course the reviews. Welcome to all the new followers and readers, and to those who are still with me after my hiatus, you are wonderful people! This chapter is dedicated to angel897, Firesoul9, swthrt890, and .Singer. for your lovely reviews! You guys keep me going!
So, how do we think our favourite elf prince will react to Freya's decision? What will Freya do next? Honestly, I had to think very long and hard about this (I wrote the chapter, then wasn't happy so i re-wrote it lol!) I hope you all don't mind me taking a little liberty here with how the scenes in this chapter play out and the order of a few of the events and conversations.
I was very lax in the last authors notes, but here is my disclaimer for this chapter and the last one! I own nothing except Freya (unfortunately!)
~ G
Chapter 34: Mind over heart
Thorin winced as the dragon roared in the distance, belching flames onto the town below. He could hear the screams of the innocent people of the town, carried to them on the wind. His quest to reclaim his homeland, and failure to slay Smaug had now cost what was sure to be hundreds of innocent lives.
While Smaug rained death and destruction down upon Laketown, Thorin's mind fixated on one thought; Fili and Kili were down there with Oin and Bofur. He still regretted the necessity of his rush to get to the mountain, now even more so because it had caused him to leave them behind. He had thought Kili would be safer there in Laketown where he could heal, sure that the greedy master of the town would care for them in the hope of more gold for his personal coffers. But now none of that mattered, for both of his nephews and two other members of the company were down there, in harms way and no doubt battling to survive if they were not already dead.
When Thorin could no longer watch the destruction and suffering of the town, he slowly retreated to the back of the company and finding nothing else better to look at, stared at his boots. Without the scene of terror in his line of sight, Thorin's mind suddenly started racing. Thoughts flitted though his mind of their failure to slay the dragon, of leaving Freya behind, of everything that had led to this moment even as far back as his meeting with Gandalf in the Prancing Pony. All of his actions had consequences, many of which affected innocent people. But more and more, one thought pushed its way to the front of his mind; the mountain was currently empty of the dragon and the gold was unguarded.
The great treasure hoard had been a sight to behold, one of the most beautiful and enticing sights he had ever seen in his life. The image was now forever seared into his mind, forcing its way to a special place with all his other precious memories; Dancing with is sister Dis on her wedding day, the first time he had held Fili in his arms as a baby, and later holding baby Kili, teaching Fili and Kili to use a sword and to shoot a bow and arrow… the time he and Freya had kissed at the Carrock. The thoughts and memories most precious to him were gradually overwhelmed by the thought of that great treasure hoard that should be his. The treasure crowned all of his sacrifice, the sacrifice of others and made it worthwhile. As his thoughts drifted, he found his gaze being drawn towards the ruined gates of Erebor.
The more he looked at those gates, and the currently empty mountain, the more his thoughts were filled with images of the great treasure hoard. He longed to gaze upon it again, to count the golden coins, gaze into the flawless precious gems, but more than anything, he longed to search for the missing Arkenstone. Without it, he was still king, but with it he would be so much more. He could unite the clans and rule the most powerful dwarven kingdom in Arda.
The treasure needs to be protected from that beast, He thought, maybe I could get some away from Smaug while he is absent.
As his thoughts focused on the necessity of getting the treasure away from the dragon while it was out destroying the town, and where he might put such gold to make it safe he heard another great roar, but this one was different. The roar seemed more high pitched than the previous ones and it was longer. In the vindictive part of Thorin's mind he was hoping that, as the roar sounded pained, it was hurting the dragon every bit as much as it seemed to. He tore his gaze away from the gates for a moment, toward Laketown, scarcely able to believe that he was indeed witness to Smaug's pain. He could see very little however and soon turned back towards the gates of Erebor. The roar stopped and silence rained, followed shortly by a colossal splash.
"What was that?" He heard Ori ask.
"It fell, I saw it... Smaug is dead!" He heard Bilbo saying behind him. He heard Balin starting to speak, but whatever his friend and advisor said was drowned out by the roaring of his own thoughts.
The beast is dead, the gold is mine! The mountain is mine! I finally have my kingdom. Thorin's heart raced and his mind reeled with the joy of it. He had been waiting for this moment for so very long, a lifetime! I need to get back inside the mountain before word spreads and people try to steal my gold!
Thorin set off back into the mountain without a backwards glance for the distant town that lay in ruins, a spring in his step as the he walked back into Erebor, finally a king with a kingdom.
Legolas and Freya had barely said a word to one another as they began to row toward the shore. The frown on Legolas' face indicated that words would be useless. What could she possibly say to him? She had given her word to him that she would obey his orders, and yet she had disobeyed him to save Kili.
Furthermore, Freya was well aware that having saved Kili, she had presented Legolas with a bitter pill to swallow. His every action made his feelings obvious, even for those not accustomed to Elves, it would even be blatant behaviour for a man of her own race. Simply from the way in which Legolas had watched Tauriel when they were together and the way he had spoken to her, and of her, Freya knew that Legolas' feelings for Tauriel were not platonic as Tauriel's were for him. Freya couldn't blame him then for how angry he appeared to be at this given moment. Her actions had once again thrown Tauriel into Kili's path and given the circumstances, it would be hard for the unlikely pair not to deepen their blossoming affection for one another.
Freya had a great deal of empathy for Legolas; given her own circumstances of having recently discovered Bilbo's unrequited attraction to her while she had fallen in love with Thorin. It was difficult not to feel guilty and feel at least partly responsible for Legolas' pain. When she looked at him, she sensed it being carefully concealed behind a wall of anger and authority giving him a cool and aloof manner similar to his father's.
Even if she had failed to save Kili, Freya had still disobeyed him. There would be consequences, of that she was sure, so she was aware that it would be unlikely for her to go unpunished given that she had broken Legolas' trust. Yet Freya still held an impossible, slightly selfish hope that the Prince of the woodland realm would be lenient on her. She prayed to the Valar that he would not prolong her sentence, and that soon she would be free and able to go to Erebor in search of Thorin and the rest of the company.
As they continued to row to the shore, Legolas altered the course of the boat slightly. "Over there, in the water." He said, his tone calm and authoritative, as though he had issued an order, but Freya was too tired to understand it. She wondered what had caught his interest, until she saw two survivors swimming in the water as their boat came alongside them. There were so many people, and so much debris that she wondered what Legolas had seen that was special about these two.
As she helped Legolas lean down and pull them into the boat, she recognised the first survivor being boosted into the boat by the second.
"Bain!" Freya sighed with relief. She searched around the small boat for a blanket or something to wrap the shivering teenager in, but finding nothing shrugged and used magic to dry his clothes and examine him for injuries. Legolas and the young woman were hauling the second figure into the boat. When she was satisfied with Bain and turned to the panting and bedraggled man she used magic to dry and check him too. She heard Bain's voice behind her.
"I told you I had to go back for my father." He said triumphantly, still panting slightly to catch his breath.
Freya looked into the face of the man and immediately saw the family resemblance. They had the same eyes and chin, except the nose was different; the boys was a little more delicate and slightly turned up at the end matching his sisters. "This is my father, Bard." The man extended his hand formally and Freya took it.
"I am Freya. May I present Prince Legolas of the woodland realm."
"We have met once before I believe, Bard." Legolas said inclining his head as he and Freya started to row again.
"You have a keen memory, we have indeed." Returned Bard with a somewhat surprised expression before adding grimly. "Though it is a pity that our acquaintance could not be renewed under better circumstances."
They fell silent then, each lost in thought. Freya had barely noticed as the sky began to lighten to grey, focusing on her rowing instead of the desolation around them. As the dawn broke, the sky was streaked with red and orange and wisps of smoke hung over the remains of the town, drifting over to the shore they now approached, leaving a foul stench in the air. Freya would have fallen to brooding herself had it not been for the little dog by her side. It was so happy to see the shoreline that it gave a happy bark and climbed ungraciously and comically over the various occupants of the cramped boat until it stood on the prow, tail wagging. Bard chuckled with her as they watched the dog lick Bain and the children on it's way past.
Freya smiled as she watched the happy creature leap from the boat onto the shore, now packed with survivors, debris and the odd corpse. It was a scene of utter devastation yet the dog sniffed the air, then seeming to be satisfied, returned to the boat where it stood watching Freya as the water lapped about its legs, as though waiting for her.
"Where's your family little one?" She asked as she disembarked with a splash. The dog simply yipped happily and wagged it's tail at her. She could not help but smile again, this poor creature had been through so much, but was still going.
"I recognise him, he's a street dog, he doesn't have a family." Said Bain behind her. Freya frowned and looked at the dog.
"Someone must have fed him surely." She retorted.
"Whoever fed him, people were hungry before, they won't appreciate a dog scavenging food when winter comes, our granary went up in flames with the rest of the town." Said Bard with his usual but brutal logic.
"Well then, you'll have to come with me, little one!" Said Freya determinedly. The little dog gave a happy yip again and wagged it's tail.
"It seems as though you'd have little choice in the matter." Said Legolas raising a disapproving brow, thought the twinkle in his eye made Freya wonder if he was serious.
Freya bowed her head to the woodland prince. It was time to grovel she supposed, anything to persuade him to be lenient. Anything to get her back to Thorin quicker.
"Legolas, I..." He held up a hand to silence her.
"Freya, whatever my feelings are, your motives were honourable and are no less than I would have expected from you." Freya's mouth hung open and Legolas smiled slightly. "That is not to say that you will go unpunished, but I am not unfeeling, I will honour the terms of our bargain."
Freya bowed her head in deference.
The woman, whose name was Olga, disembarked the boat lifting her children down. After a brief conversation that Freya found terribly embarrassing where the woman thanked her profusely for saving her children and swore to somehow repay her while the children squeezed her legs in a tight hug. Shortly thereafter, Freya found herself picking her way through the people at Legolas' side while the dog padded along faithfully at her heals. Bard and Bain were a few paces ahead, Bard speaking occasionally to people to ask if they had seen his girls. The scene was heartbreaking as people called out in pain, grief, or terror looking for missing loved ones. Legolas assisted while she stopped to heal some of the wounded men, women and children that they came across.
Freya surreptitiously watched Legolas as he stopped to hand a woman some water while Freya attended her husband's broken leg. Though they looked alike, he was so very unlike his father. Freya looked up from her healing to see Bard greeting his girls emotionally. She allowed herself a small smile of relief as she finished healing the break. The couple murmured their thanks and she shrugged, moving on without comment further along the shore. While her healers instinct would not allow her to pass by those who were sick or injured, she knew how quickly people from her own race could turn when confronted with magic, and she was grateful for Legolas' presence. If she was quiet and careful, she might pass for an elf if people did not look too closely.
"Freya! You made it! Mahal be praised!" Freya spun around as she heard Bofur's cheerful call. She met the dwarfs each with a hug.
"Merciful Valar, you all made it too!" She beamed at them but then realised one of their number was not there. "Where is Kili?" Freya asked, full of concern for her friend. She prayed that she had not gone to all that effort to heal him only to have him fall overboard and drown. Fili scowled and looked over to where his brother was talking with Tauriel. Legolas had spotted them at the same moment and glared in their direction, then at Freya. He turned his attention once again to the survivors, and Bard in particular, tough Freya knew he was listening to Kili and Tauriel.
"We are leaving Freya, we have to see what happened and find the others." Fili explained. She nodded her agreement and reached into her pocket.
"Fili, can you give this to Thorin when you see him please? It is enchanted with a little of my energy, it will provide some protection for its bearer." She asked hopefully, handing him the pale crystal she had enchanted. It now appeared to a little luminescent when in the sunlight, as though the sun revealed its hidden power. Though it made its magic obvious, she was pleased that her experiments had born fruit and was grateful that she could send some token to let Thorin know she was thinking of him though they were parted. She knew it was a slim hope that he might still be alive, but she allowed herself to feel it, for she could not bring herself to consider the alternative.
"Why not give it to him yourself?" Fili asked, raising a brow. "Smaug is dead, it changes a great deal." Freya gave him a sad smile.
"It changes things for you Fili, but not my parole. I still have work to do to earn my freedom and our time here is up, Thranduil will expect us to return soon… but I will join you as soon as I can." Fili looked mutinous, he clearly disagreed with the terms and moved in Legolas' direction.
"Hey! How can you be so heartless? Let Freya come with us! She is needed in Erebor." Fili demanded in an authoritative tone so very like Thorin's as he marched up to Legolas. The woodland prince raised a brow.
"Freya has broken the terms of her parole once already to save your brother's life, I cannot allow her more lenience than I already have." Legolas said resolutely, arms crossed in front of his chest. Fili's anger flared and he put a hand on his sword belt.
"Freya belongs in Erebor with us. She is one of our company." Legolas stared Fili down, the picture of elven aloofness. Freya could see the hold Fili had on his temper starting to slip and calmed him with a gentle hand on his arm, changing the subject tactfully.
"You should leave quickly. See how angry the people are at that man there?" Freya nodded in the direction Bard had disappeared in and frowned. She needed Fili to appreciate that now was not the time to argue with Legolas over her freedom from her bond. She could sense the people turning, as she had seen before. "They will turn on you and the others next." She said exerting gentle presure on his arm to try to get him to move towards the boat.
"I know, but he deserves their anger, that snake." Said Fili with uncharacteristic bitterness directed towards the stooped man with dark hair and thick eyebrows the survivors were jeering. "If he allows one hair on your head to be harmed Freya, so help me my anger will be nothing compared to Thorin's." He said stopping to nod towards Legolas, who seemed to be engrossed in what the survivors were doing for a moment. Freya allowed a smirk.
"Yes, I am sure Thorin will lead the Dwarves to war against the elves for my hair being askew!" Fili for his part did not see the humour and Freya's smile faded.
"Fili, I wish all of you all the luck in the world… Please stay safe, and tell Thorin that I miss him." Fili gave her a sad smile and squeezed her hand "Now I had better get Tauriel before he puts an arrow between your brother's eyes!" Freya said nodding in Legolas' direction.
"I mean it Freya, One hair harmed and there will be consequences. I know you can hear me elf!" He spat the last word as Legolas glanced over giving a nod of acknowledgement. Fili nodded satisfied as he pocketed Freya's crystal before helping Bofur and Gloin to push the boat a little further back into the water.
Freya's caution was proven valid as the group of angry survivors started attacking the man, turning into a mob that threatened to string him up and hang him before Bard stepped in and bodily removed the man from their grasp, even as they hauled him away.
Freya approached Kili slowly as Tauriel noticed the dwarves were ready to depart.
"They are your people, you must go." She said, her voice full of sadness that was only detectable because Freya had known elves and their mannerisms for so long.
"Come with me!" Pleaded Kili, stepping closer to her "I know how I feel I am not afraid! You make me feel alive." His eyes were determined, shining with happiness and Freya thought that Tauriel's composure was slipping for just a moment before she reluctantly turned away.
"I can't, Kili." Tauriel stared at her feet, rooted to the spot with her back to Kili. Freya's heart went out to them and she hoped they would find a way to be together. She took another step forward but froze awkwardly when Kili spoke again, stepping in front of Tauriel and stopping so close to her that they were virtually touching.
"Tauriel... amralimne." He reached up and fingered a lock of her hair, a gesture so intimate that Freya retreated a step shooting Fili an awkward and apologetic look. Fili rolled his eyes shouting for Kili to hurry, but was ignored.
"I don't know what that means." Tauriel said lamely.
"I think you do." Kill smiled and stepped closer, reaching up with his hand and stretching as tall as he could as Tauriel bent slightly at the waist. Just before their lips met however, Tauriel shot up again as though stung.
"~My Lord Legolas~". She said formally, not daring to look at her prince who had finally had enough and had approached with Freya.
"~Take your leave of the Dwarf Tauriel. You are needed elsewhere.~" Legolas ordered. Kill looked disappointed, but said nothing to the elf prince, he did not speak Sindarin but he knew from the look on the elves faces, and from a glance at Freya that Tauriel was being ordered away.
As Kili and Tauriel reluctantly turned away from each other, Freya took another step closer to Tauriel feeling sad for the couple at their parting. After taking no more than a few steps away, Kili turned back, calling to Tauriel. As they met Kili took Tauriel's hand in his and pressed something into it. He closed his hands around hers and held their hands between their hearts "Here. Keep it... as a promise." He said huskily, then turned and joined the dwarves. Tauriel walked back towards Freya, as she did, Freya saw the glint of a black polished rune stone in Tauriel's hands as she joined them. Tauriel's eyes filled with tears as she looked on the rune stone and Freya rested a sympathetic hand on her elbow. She had all the empathy in the world for the ellith at that moment, despite the chaos and turmoil around them. She could no longer stand it and the guilty look on Legolas' face as he watched the tears stream down Tauriel's porcelain cheeks was all she could bear.
"If that was Thorin, and I were free to do so, I would not be parted from my one." Tauriel looked away from the stone in her hand and into Freya's eyes. Freya raised a hand to her cheek, wiping away a tear. She was surprised at how cold Tauriel's cheek was, and frowning sent her healing energy forward. What she detected made Freya gasp and swallow hard. "I feel that your Faë are connected by your healing prayer. If you deny yourself, your heart will break and you will fade." Freya said quietly keeping her eyes trained on the tear filled eyes of the ellith. Tauriel looked shocked, mouth slightly open but unable to speak, staring at Freya in a trance. Legolas shifted uncomfortably next to Freya letting out a shaky breath. Freya spared him a glance before continuing noting with grim determination that Legolas looked devastated, but resolute. "Come now Tauriel, it is clear that your heart is breaking, and the eldar are not so resilient to the misery of a broken heart as those my my race." Tauriel finally met Legolas' eyes, he looked guilty and ashamed. He gave her a nod as though he agreed with Freya, but did not have the strength to speak at the moment for the pain in his own heart. For Tauriel's sake, Legolas would bear his pain. Freya said no more, but gave Tauriel's arm a gentle shove to get the amazed ellith to move. Broken from her trance, Tauriel dashed to the shoreline and waded into the water. Freya faintly heard Kili calling to the others to wait as Tauriel begun to swim to the boat, and smiled sadly as Kili hauled her in and reached for a cloak to keep her warm. He wrapped the cloak around her sodden form keeping his arms in place. The couple shared a chaste kiss before turning to wave at Freya. She could see that Fili and the others looked shocked, but regained themselves enough to continue rowing.
Freya stood a few more moments with Legolas and waved the dwarves and Tauriel off with a very heavy heart, her loyalties completely torn. Her healers instinct screamed that the people of Laketown needed healing and all the help they could get. Yet her love was still pulling her to the Dwarves and towards Erebor to search for Thorin. Her sense of duty towards Legolas was evidently what had won out; her honour was at stake for she had given her word and she would hold to that hoping that she would prove worthy and soon be released to pursue her heart.
Legolas had turned away as soon as Tauriel had begun to swim, unable to watch her leaving his life any longer, already focusing on the bigger picture and ignoring the ache in his heart at his unrequited feelings for Tauriel. He strode around with Bard, helping people to gather useful items they might salvage. Bard seemed to be both known and beloved of the people, and highly respected and admired as the slayer of the dragon. As such, he had found himself in the unenviable position of the leader of the Laketown refugees.
Freya found herself with Olga directing setting up a makeshift infirmary. Olga, it turned out, had experience as a midwife and was therefore experienced in some forms of healing. They therefore set up a system where Olga and some of the adolescents who had survived triaged people in need of healing so that Freya could focus on healing the more seriously injured survivors first, while Olga was able to tend to less serious injuries. Despite the grotesque injuries she was tending to, Freya found a willing helper in Olga's young daughter, Dagmar. The little girl was curious and energetic and despite Freya's efforts to persuade her to help elsewhere, the quiet girl stayed by her side. Olga's boy, Ivar, was slightly older and therefore went with Bain spreading word of the location of the healers while they gathered supplies of blankets and clothing with one of the more respected females of the town, Hilda.
As the morning lengthened, and Freya and Olga's team had done all they could with the limited supplies they had, Legolas called her over to confer with Bard. Olga and the others took over organising the injured survivors so that they could be moved, while Bard was arranging others to carry the supplies when they eventually moved to a more sheltered position.
"Take all you can carry, we will need the supplies." He instructed the men and women around him who nodded and hastened to obey.
"Where will you go?" Legolas asked, his voice low as Freya joined him.
"There is only one place." Bard said looking towards the mountain.
"Oh you are genius sire! The mountain! It might smell a bit of dragon, but we'll clean it up. it'll be safe and warm…" Freya's heart leapt as she gave up listening to the snivelling man who was clearly grovelling to Bard for saving him from the angry mob earlier and trying to ingratiate himself as Bard's second. Perhaps she would be able to go in search of Thorin after all. She smiled at Legolas hopefully, but frowned as the ellon was unable to return her smile. She barely heard Bard's refusal to seize the gold.
"What gold is in that mountain is cursed. We take only what was promised to us, only what we need to rebuild our lives." Bard ruled, determined, and Freya had only the barest glimmer for the man's humility before her anger grew.
Freya growled in frustration, stepping in front of Bard with an angry scowl.
"You are assuming that the mountain is uninhabited. If you knew Thorin and his company like I do, you would not be so quick to write them off." She stated confidently, crossing her arms across her chest. Bard raised a brow and stepped around her to collect a pile of tools; she let him but remained resolute.
"Freya, I am sorry, but there is no hope." Said Legolas gently from a point over her shoulder. Freya shot him a glare and was pleased to see that the ellon had the good grace to look cowed.
"I will not believe it. They must live to have angered Smaug so greatly. Besides which, even if Thorin… well… there is Fili, he survived and he is heir to the throne." She stated her voice chocked at the thought of what might have happened to Thorin and the rest of the company.
"I do not think that this number of people will be stopped by four dwarves Freya." Legolas whispered having stepped closer. Freya was shocked, merely staring, slightly open mouthed at him in response.
Legolas silenced any retort she may have made with by laying his hand on her arm and gently squeezing as he spoke, turning back to Bard. "News of the death of Smaug will have spread through the lands" He said seriously watching the man with interest.
"Aye." said Bard returning his serious look. Legolas continued his train of thought, for once being the loquacious one in the exchange.
"Others will now look to the mountain, for its wealth, or its position." his eyes narrowed.
"What is it that you know?" Bard asked, he had the good sense to sound afraid; if the elf was anxious, then this must mean major forces would soon be focused on the mountain.
"Nothing for certain. It's what I fear may come." Legolas finished mysteriously, he had clearly decided that discretion was needed for what he feared so as not to frighten the refugees even more than they already had been.
Freya turned away from Legolas to check on the little dog. She found it sat in a patch of shade within her line of sight, panting happily and wagging its tail at her. Calling it over she ruffled it's ears affectionately before Legolas motioned for her to follow him. The dog walked near Freya's heels, panting affectionately and giving the odd jump as it gambled about. Legolas seemed oddly tolerant of her taking on the little dog, but she guessed this was only a small matter compared to the turmoil around them.
"You saw something out there, something you were unwilling to share with Bard." Freya insisted quietly, giving Legolas a pointed look.
"The orc I pursued out of Laketown, I know who he is." he pulled a face "Bolg. A spawn of Azog the Deflier." He spat the names as though they left a bad taste in his mouth to pronounce them. "A warg pack was waiting for them on the outskirts of Esgorath. They fled to the North. These orcs were different, they bore a mark I had not seen for a long time. A mark of Gundabad."
"Gundabad?" Freya asked, Legolas nodded solemnly continuing to walk.
"An orc stronghold in the far north of the Misty Mountains." he clarified. Freya sighed feeling resigned.
"That must be many leagues away surely. Though I am not surprised to see some hint of Azog's hand in this. He pursued us across the misty mountains." Legolas did not seem surprised, in fact he seemed as though a great many of his suspicions were being confirmed.
They were stopped as an elf with red hair leading two horses appeared in the tree line. He bore the armour and tabard that Freya had seen of the king's guards.
"~My lord Legolas. I bring word from your father. You and Freya are to return to him immediately.~" Freya frowned, they had known their time was short, but she did not understand why Thranduil had sent a messenger to remind them. Legolas gave a barely perceptible nod of acknowledgement, before calling over his shoulder.
"~Come Freya.~" The messenger looked uncomfortable, he cleared his throat and bowed his head briefly as though searching for the strength to say what he had to say next before looking back at his prince.
"~My lord… I am also under strict instructions to deliver this.~" Legolas looked at the scroll baring the seal of his father. He opened it, a scowl forming on his fine features.
"~Tauriel is banished.~" He said his anger growing.
"~Banished?~" Freya asked bewildered. She had know Thranduil was furious, but to act before their return suggested an excuse to settle an old grudge.
"~You may tell my father that if there is no place for Tauriel, there is no place for me.~" Legolas retorted firmly.
Freya was shocked and dismayed, her parole depended on Legolas, could he possibly get away with being so rash?
"Legolas, He is the king and that is an official command, will he allow you to defy him? Even if you are his son?" she motioned to the scroll being scrunched up in Legolas' hand
"~Yes he is my king. But he does not command my heart.~" Legolas said sadly, Freya was acutely aware of his heartbreak and knew she would need to help him through this. She did not think that Tauriel was his one, and so he would not fade, but he still needed her help. "I ride north, will you come with me?" Legolas said, his jaw set, his manner becoming determined.
"To Gundabad? Of course Mellon nin." Freya replied. Legolas' lips curled up into a faint smile turned, holding his hands out for the Horses the elf had brought. He handed her the rains of a dappled grey horse and turned to his own, swinging up into the saddle. Freya hurried to scoop up the dog and mount her own horse, using her coat and cloak to bundle the dog up and place him securely in front of her before taking off after Legolas' horse. The Valar knew what they would find, and what chaos they would return to when they got back to the Thranduil's halls.