Hello!
So this is it... This was difficult to write...I hope this chapter lives up to your expectations! I'm kinda nervous...
I am sorry for the wait! I know I said I was going to post yesterday but I was so tired! Haha! Good news tho! Next chapter is coming tomorrow... well maybe :)
Thanks for the love you all!And Im so glad some of you mentioned that you liked the Freckles nickname! I die of cuteness overload when Kili calls her that!
Margaritasc- welcome to my fic! Thank you for your reviews! 3
Flashback-
"You called for me?" Castion asked as he entered the tent and bowed. The sky overhead was still dark with the slightest hints of the reddish lights of morning.
"Indeed I did" Nethelon said as he sat at his chair and leaned over a table for a chalice.
"I was so infuriated after that absurd meeting, and almost being killed by that bloody dwarf, that I had no time to summon you earlier"
"I think I know why we must talk" Castion said in a smile as he too, took a seat and grabbed a chalice of wine.
"You and I think alike" Nethelon began as he looked at the younger elf. "I am sure you would agree of what I would like to propose. And after I vouched for you, at last you have the Captain title just as you deserve"
"I am listening" Castion whispered with a grin.
"You and I know that the king will have trouble ordering the execution of her"
"He will" Castion said in a nod, but even then he gave it some thought.
Nethelon sighed. "You saw the hesitation is his eyes, and Tauriel is like a daughter to him"
"Indeed, I remember when she was brought to the kingdom by Legolas and him, barely a child"
"He sees her as a daughter, and will excuse her of her punishment"
"So we must do something about it"
"If tomorrow turns unfortunate, I want you to have something prepared, don't worry about Thranduil, I'll deal with him" Nethelon whispered as he leaned toward him.
Castion's dark smile grew. "My pleasure… But what of the dwarf?"
Nethelon shook his head and poured himself more wine. "You kill Tauriel and their abomination and trust me… you kill him too. That child should not be born!"
Castion nodded as he thought about it all for a second. Tauriel would pay for snatching his title and burying him in humiliation. And after she had attacked him in front of the other guards, and after all the times Thranduil had favored her, he was sure going to enjoy himself. He did not promise that it would not be painful…
"How do you want it done?"
"Use your imagination"
The light of the sun managed to break through the clouds but one thing was clear: winter had arrived.
Thorin and the others crossed the destroyed bridge and marched into the open. They stood on top of the small platform that was led up into by some steps.
The elves were ready, and they looked peaceful and organized yet their presence gave chills to all even to the cold wind itself.
Thranduil wore his black armor and he was mounted on top of his grand elk who had suffered injuries during the war but had made a remarkable recovery. The elk gave a sense of authority that made it look majestic. Thranduil's silver hair billowed in the air and his eyes were piercing blue as they looked for fiery hair. His rigid posture and eerie aura made him look threatening, and he was not even trying to play the role. His council was at both sides of him after dismounting their horses and they too were attentive.
Legolas pressed a kiss to Tauriel's cheek as he made his way down the steps and walked to his father's side, next to Anira whose extravagant green colored dress blew around in the cold wind.
Tauriel and Kili both stood behind Thorin who was wearing a much smaller gold crown then he had on before.
"There are here" Dain whispered as he looked to Thorin and much like had done before, he turned to the horizon and sure enough, dwarves from the Iron Hills were making their way to the hill.
Thranduil and the elves all turned to the commotion and sound of a horn. Dain and the dwarves and even the men and women cheered loudly as his small army raised their weapons in response. It was a second army that had set foot a few days prior at Dain's command.
Thranduil rose an elegant brow as he turned to Thorin who shrugged his shoulders.
Tauriel turned to Kili in question but even he looked confused. He hadn't expected them so early.
The King under the Mountain placed the chest of the gems on the floor to his right and the elves' eyes seemed to be glued to it just like he had anticipated.
"Thorin" Gandalf whispered. He turned to his hushed voice.
"What is it?"
"Charm and respect, leave it to me" Gandalf proposed as he bowed to Thranduil before Thorin could argue.
"Welcome to Erebor" Gandalf cried as Thranduil gave him a bow of his head in response. "We are honored you have accepted to this meeting-"
"We would like to start this…. meeting" Nethelon stated as he rudely interrupted Gandalf.
"Very well" Gandalf said in a nod and a smile but his tone was devilish and Bilbo snorted as he saw the wizard roll his eyes once he turned around.
Tauriel tensed at the glare Nethelon was sending to Kili and her. Anira, who was to his right, wore a menacing smile. Tauriel narrowed her eyes and tapped her dagger which made Verya's foolish' glare intensify. Arandor, Daeron and Thalion were off to Thranduil's right.
Castion was in an magnificent armor depicting that he had indeed been promoted to Captain. He stood tall and proud and Kili rolled his eyes. Tauriel glared at him as well as as he sent her a half pity and half mocking smile. She saw something strange in his eyes as she furrowed her brow… but before she gave much thought to the greedy elf, Nethelon spoke.
"Arandor read the accused's crimes" Nethelon ordered as he smiled an empty grin.
The elder elf sighed and gave the couple an almost apologetic look. The dwarves and company braced themselves for it all and Kili tightened his already tight grip around her waist. He had a foot in front, as if he was ready to push her back and defend her. The Laketown men and women were in the back, holding onto their weapons tightly.
Gandalf was the only one who was calm, and he leaned into his staff as Arandor began to speak as a paper was handed to him.
"Tauriel is accused of the following crimes by the King and Royal Council of Mirkwood" he began as he held the thin paper in his hand. Arandor took a deep breath and continued. "Abandoning her post, crossing over to restricted territory, refusing to follow royal orders…. raising her weapon against… the king and... expecting a child from a dwarf" Arandor stopped as he read over the next line. "And… finally taking a prisoner out of his cell"
Tauriel closed her eyes as all eyes landed on them. Anira scowled with disgust as she shook her head but Tauriel held her head high and stood next to Kili as if nothing fazed her.
"Tauriel, you are hereby… sentenced to an execution and only await the approval of his majesty"
Arandor read those lines in almost a whisper though his words were carried off by the wind.
They all knew of the threat of death, but to actually hear it in a formal manner was… frightening.
Tauriel felt a shiver climb up her back as Kili turned to her and gave her a sad look that turned into determination. He caressed her cheek as the tears were threatening to fall as her grip on her emotions was trying to break under her.
"It was not difficult to determine that last crime, and Tauriel, it was a realization that is not going to go well for you" Thranduil spoke for the first time. "It truly is… disheartening and confusing. It still is"
"What's confusing?" Tauriel asked as she tried to go forward but Kili held her back.
Anira was the one to answer. "How an elf can have such low standards"
Tauriel froze as her words attacked her skin and left goosebumps. She tried to escape Kili's restraint but even then Dwalin stood ready to stop her. She needed to kill Anira… she wanted to, something that scared her deeply as it made her question herself.
Kili and the company all scoffed and cursed under their breaths as she gave Tauriel a small smile; how Anira loved to get her infuriated especially when there was nothing she could do. Legolas gave Tauriel a warning look as he saw that dangerous spark in her eyes that scared everyone.
"Tauriel" Thorin whispered and she turned her darkened eyes to him. "She is trying to mock you, do not let her get to you"
Tauriel sighed angrily as she finally fell back and stopped fighting Kili's restraint and instead she leaned into him. The Laketown people in the back were also angry as some of the women there scowled at Thranduil and the council.
"How dare you plan to kill innocent children!" one woman shouted and the others followed with angry accusations.
"Lets all calm down!" Gandalf ordered as Thorin shook his head as many of them still cursed.
Thranduil did not seemed fazed and did not catch what the women had said but Nethelon's face creased in confusion. "Children?"
Tauriel stiffened. She did not want them to know of the twins. Kili tightened his grip on her, and the hand that was resting at her stomach began to move in small circles.
Thranduil became wary and looked to them all for an answer.
"Indeed" Kili responded before anyone else could. "Tauriel is expecting twins"
The elf guests all gasped and Thranduil's mouth fell open. Anira grimaced as she turned to Nethelon who was also frozen in place. Twins were a rare gift… and it was an injustice that Tauriel had it bestowed upon her, at that thought Nethelon's scowl deepened.
"There's two of them now?" Anira asked with a disgusted face as Tauriel looked down at her stomach and Kili's hand and smiled.
"Yes" Thorin answered.
"And I assume you were aware?" Anira asked as she turned to Legolas. He nodded once, never peeling his eyes from Tauriel. Anira saw the way he looked at Tauriel and her blood boiled… she wanted her dead.
"When were you going to tell us son?" Thranduil asked as he took a deep breath. He was still shocked as he turned to Legolas.
"It was not my news to tell"
"Verya knew?" Nethelon asked.
Legolas tensed as he sharply turned to the brown haired elf. "I told her to to tell, it is not her doing"
"Surprising how you protect her so" Anira said in a smile.
"Leave her out of this, she is a friend"
"Oh yes, we all know how you treat your… friends" she said innocently as she turned to Tauriel who glared back. Legolas stiffened and fisted his hands.
"Enough" Thranduil ordered but Legolas still scowled at Anira. Her mere presence was intoxicating as she carried tension, jealousy and rudeness. She was beautiful but how can so much beauty belong to someone so spiteful?
"King Thranduil, lets get to the simple point, the White Gems of Lasgalen, for Tauriel's pardon"
Thorin announced as Dwalin picked up the chest and opened it up for the elves to see. Their collective gasps filled the air. If they fell ridiculously quiet when Kili had showed them one gem, now he could see that their hearts had stopped beating for a couple of seconds as they held their breath.
"A bribery" Nethelon hissed yet his blue eyes never left the white chest.
Thranduil stood silent as he dismounted his elk and a guard gathered up the reins and held it back.
"We only seek Tauriel's safety" Gandalf said.
"The gems for her safety, not much to it" Bard then added. "You were willing to go to war for them, and now they are being offered to you with no tie"
The King turned to Arandor who looked at him intensely. Thranduil respected him greatly and his words that he had spoken in the tent rung loudly in his ears.
"The accused took one of my prisoners out from his cell!" Thranduil cried as he tried to block Arandor's words.
Tauriel swallowed as she saw that familiar spark of anger rise up in Thranduil. Legolas shifted uneasily next to Anira as his line of sight followed his father. It did not surprise him that they had figured out that Tauriel had taken Kili out of his cell.
"That alone is a treacherous betrayal" Thranduil hissed as he smoothed his hair back.
"Lets not forget about the betrayal of her kin!" Anira then spoke. "She has connected bloodlines that should have never been connected!
"Well her execution will take care of that problem" Nethelon shrugged in a casual tone.
Kili hissed loudly as Tauriel grabbed her dagger and spun it in her hand. The couple was now infuriated and both Dwalin and Gandalf had to restrain them.
"Did you not learn a lesson!" Kili shirked as he glared at Nethelon who by the look on his face was surely frightened. Dwalin grabbed him by the shoulders and pushed him back.
Tauriel did not put as much of a fight but her silent fury was even more frightening and eerie then Kili's loud one.
Thorin fisted his hand as he witnessed how Thranduil's council spoke. Frankly he was surprised that Kili had not killed any of them, and more surprised that Tauriel didn't either.
"One more thing!" Nethelon breathed as he turned to Thorin and pointed an accusing finger. "Your nephew almost killed me!"
"Unfortunately he didn't" Thorin said as he turned to Kili and gave him a small smile. Nethelon scuffed as he turned to Thranduil.
"Who do you think you are?" Nethelon asked as he drew his sword.
"Enough!" Thranduil ordered and his voice made Nethelon fall silent.
Nethelon's look turned icy as he shook his head. "I fail to see why you are taking so long in deciding her execution!Just because you see her as a daughter does not mean you can excuse her!"
Thranduil sighed angrily as he fisted his hand. Tauriel could see the doubt he carried in his eyes. And then she realized that part of his anger was made up by… hurt.
She gasped as she realized he felt betrayed, not as her king, but as a father. He had been the closest person she had seen as a father for all of her life.
"I'm sorry" Tauriel then said as she gathered her courage and walked beside Thorin as Kili followed with his sword in hand.
She looked directly at her king and repeated her words.
Thranduil closed his eyes and shook his head.
"No, I'm sorry" Thranduil whispered. "I punish Tauriel to death"
Everyone stood absolutely still and a single tear rolled down Tauriel's cheek.
"No!" Kili cried as he looked to Thorin who was also dumbstruck. Gandalf's mouth fell open.. He was so sure that the king would agree to their offer.
Thranduil sighed as he looked to the floor and Legolas was at his side in an instant.
"Please father!" he cried. Anira and Nethelon both looked pleased as Castion straightened his armor… preparing himself for the conflict that was sure to come.
"Get her!" Nethelon ordered to the guards as Arandor shook his head as he could do nothing else. "Alive!"
The dwarves all closed in ranks as they pushed the couple back. The plan was to be set in motion. Dain's army stood tensed, and ready for the order.
Tauriel started to shake as Kili hugged her trying to take her out of her shocked state.
"Lets go" he hissed as his fury ate him alive.
Dain's army started to march to the scene as everyone prepared themselves. Fili hugged Tauriel and Kili goodbye and turned to the entrance but Thranduil's voice stopped them all.
"Wait!" Thranduil shirked as the tension in the air rose. Everyone seemed ready to fight, but stood still.
"I can't do this" Thranduil whispered as he swallowed thickly. Arandor's words seemed to echo louder than ever before in his head and he could not take the possibility of carrying Tauriel's death for all of his existence. And much more for the fact that she was expecting… not one but two children.
"What is your final decision?" Thorin carefully asked as Kili and Tauriel both sneaked in a glance at the king through the mass of people in front of them. He looked to be thinking…
"I deny the offer!" Thranduil announced as everyone stood silent. Nethelon and Anira both nodded in agreement as Arandor and Daeron both looked displeased, and yet
Arandor still held his breath.
"Go" Bilbo ordered as he turned to the couple but they halted as Thranduil spoke once again.
"I deny the gems, but agree to lift Tauriel of her punishment"
His words seemed to make everyone freeze once again with astonished expressions and even the clouds stopped rolling in the sky. It was so quiet for a few seconds that even Nethelon did not make a sound.
But then hell broke loose.
"What do you mean?" Anira asked as her face flushed with anger.
Nethelon hissed as he seemingly threw his sword to the ground.
Thorin smiled back at Kili as he finally relaxed his stance. The dwarves all were careful to cheer but then they saw Thorin's smile and they all laughed in harmony.
Castion and Nethelon scowled deeply and Anira was almost screaming to Thranduil and Legolas was trying to calm down Nethelon who was cursing, so unlike the manners of elves.
"I told you everything was going to be alright" Balin said looking to Kili in a smile as Fili gave him a hug. Dwalin embraced Tauriel in his muscular arms and then went over to also hug Kili, a bit too enthusiastically.
Tauriel looked at Thranduil through the small celebration and she caught him looking to the floor.
She walked towards the steps but Kili held her back firmly.
"I want to talk to him" she whispered as Thranduil walked away from his companions to mount his elk once again.
"Its fine" Gandalf assured as Kili sighed and nodded. Anira and Nethelon were currently arguing with Arandor and their argument was turning sour but Tauriel wanted to talk to Thranduil before he left.
Tauriel climbed down the steps but Kili followed behind and stopped at them, still wary of letting her go.
"This could be a trap" he hissed. Thranduil had agreed too soon and without the need for the gems.
"Kili" Bilbo whispered as he was at his side. "Take a deep breath lad, its over"
Kili did as he was told but still he held onto his sword as his eyes were glued to Tauriel. He glanced over the elves arguing and at the second Legolas' eyes landed on Tauriel he became alert.
He gave a disapproving look to Kili, but he just shrugged his shoulders, trying to stop her worked only sometimes. Legolas shook his head… Tauriel had to stay away from Nethelon and Anira… they were infuriated.
"Why?" Tauriel asked as she now stood in front of Thranduil. Some guards stood behind him protectively but Thranduil waved them away.
"You are not worth another war" Thranduil scoffed and at that Kili stiffened but Tauriel shook her head. The king was trying so hard to sound rude...and he never had to try, that's what gave it away.
"Even I know that you lie" she whispered. Thranduil sighed as he turned to Arandor.
"He spoke to me yesterday, and I found his words to be true" he said.
"Thank you" she whispered as a tear rolled down her cheek. "And I am so sorry that you felt betrayed, and I shouldn't have pointed my arrow against you-"
"Tauriel" he interrupted sharply and Kili became alert with his sword in hand. He was not going to take any chances.
"The past is the past" he continued as he swallowed thickly.
"But I shall never forget the day when you have saved my children"
Thranduil looked to his hands and stood tall again. "Thank him"
He pointed to Arandor who was currently shaking his head at something Anira had said. Thranduil sighed angrily as he walked toward the confrontation, as Tauriel herself walked toward the platform.
"I want to give him the gems" Tauriel quickly said as he looked to the dwarves.
"I will take them" Thorin offered as he retrieved the chest from the ground.
"Can I?" she asked.
"No" Kili said. "You are not going near the rest of them"
Tauriel sighed as she took the chest from the extended hands of Thorin.
"I will go with you" Kili offered as Fili sighed. His brother was persistent.
"I want to do this, my love"
"Remember that bad feeling? I still have it" Kili whispered as he grabbed her arm. His eyes were aware and he pulled her to him protectively as he looked at the council.
She smiled as she leaned into him and kissed his cheek.
"I believe the worst has left us"
Kili wanted to believe that… but the thought of danger did not leave his mind and he did not want to take a chance with her at all.
He turned around as Dain whistled loudly to his army and they started to march their way. Their stance was now more relaxed than before.
"We shall have a feast tonight, as my kin has brought us food and the supplies I told you about!" Dain exclaimed as he excitedly punched Thorin on the shoulder. Thorin smiled as he rubbed his arm… his cousin packed a mighty punch.
"King Thranduil" Tauriel called as everyone stopped arguing once they saw her. Kili sighed as he shook his head. His love was so stubborn.
"Get away from here!" Anira ordered as Tauriel scowled at her. "You are not one of us anymore!"
"Anira!" Legolas hissed as he held her back.
"Stop" Thranduil ordered as Anira's eyes darkened as the royals defended Tauriel.
Nethelon turned to Castion who gave him a nod.
Their plan was set forward and Tauriel had come to them. Very convenient.
Notes-
Thanks for reading!
A little cliffhanger there for you :o ahhh shiit.
There were so many different ways this could have gone... but once I thought about it... I like this outcome :)
Next chapter is intense...
I love writing Thranduil! he is amazing! (when he is not mean)
HMmm whats going to happen next chapter? Darn you evil elves!
3