My heart hammers in my chest as I urge my horse through the forest, racing against time to reach my Legolas. Later I will allow myself to feel guilty for rushing away and leaving Kili, but right now I only have room enough to worry about my friend. We're riding so fast that when we finally skid to a stop, stones and leaves fly up around my horse's hooves. I leap from his back before he's completely still in my desperation to reach Legolas.

My cloak flies around me as I sprint down the halls, past elves who look shocked at my wild appearance. I don't stop running until I'm forced to, when I barge into none other than the King himself, almost knocking him over. He steadies me with his hands on my shoulders and then does something completely unexpected; he pulls me in for a hug. He grips me tightly and I feel him gently shaking with silent sobs. When he steps back there is no mark of it on his face but when he speaks his voice betrays his sorrow.

"Tauriel, I'm so glad you're here. It was...awful," He closes his eyes as he breathes out slowly, composing himself.

"Is he...?" I stammer.

"He is resting, but I could not deny you the sight of him." He pats my shoulder and begins to walk away, at the last moment turning to add; "He loves you, Tauriel. More than he does most," Then the King leaves, and I am left facing the heavy wooden doors, a sense of dread imposing on me. I inhale deeply to steady myself and push open the doors.

I don't know what I expected to see; people crowded around the bed, scurrying about as they try to revive him, a grey faced, dying man. A part of me even hoped that he would be sitting up, smiling crookedly as always, perfectly fine. Instead I am faced with a peaceful, quiet room; only one healer remains with Legolas for the time being and she stands up when she sees me. She smiles half heartedly as she sees me craning my neck to see past her.

"He was lucky, Tauriel. It was a serious injury, but he will survive," Her voice is soft and she squeezes my shoulder reassuringly before leaving us alone. I have to stop myself from running to him and breathe deeply to aid my measured steps toward his bed.

The man lying there looks peaceful in sleep, his face exquisitely beautiful despite its ashen sheen. His lashes flutter slightly as I take a seat beside him, cautiously brushing my fingers over his hand.

"I knew you would come," his shaking voice makes me jump as his fingers curl around mine and his lashes part to reveal icy blue eyes. They stand out against his pale face like a spot of blue sky among clouds.

"Legolas," I breathe and feel tears spilling over my cheeks and dripping onto him. I feel guilty for letting them fall on him and hastily slap at my eyes as if it will get rid of them but my friend merely laughs weakly.

"My dear Tauriel, didn't think you were getting rid of me that easily did you?"

"I d-don't want to g-get rid of you!" I stammer through my sobs, "What h-happened Lego?" My breathing quickens in my anguish and I feel embarrassed at my behaviour, especially when Legolas is the one who should be upset, not me. His slender fingers stroke mine softly as he wrinkles his eyes shut.

"Bad things are happening again, Tauriel. You remember the stories of the great wars of old? I think...I think it is starting again. It is not usual for orc packs to come so near to our home, or in such numbers...Darkness is falling again, I-" He presses his hands to his face, frowning as if he is in pain.

"Legolas! Should I call the healer?" I say my voice rising with worry once more.

"No!" Legolas says abruptly, "No, I just want to sit with you for a while. Here, help me sit up more, I feel a fool lying down all the time,"

"But you're hurt!" I exclaim as he struggles to prop himself into a sitting position.

"And I'm not going to get better by remaining a slug, please, help me up," he persists and I cave in, gently easing him against his pillows so his more upright. "Better," he smiles but I catch the wince and the way his hand flies to his stomach.

"Lego, what happened to you?" My voice is quiet, nervous of the answer and yet desperate to know. I gasp as he moves aside his blanket, revealing his bare chest and a terrible wound; a great gash running from below his collar bone across his stomach to his opposite hip. The wound has been stitched up so that what must have been a deep wound is now a thick, pink line of scar tissue.

"Ahh, I need to have the bandage changed," He says absentmindedly as I look on in horror. " A warg claw that was, but they say I was lucky, no vital organs were ruptured, just a lot of skin" The way he talks about it so nonchalantly makes me feel awful, as if it was somehow my fault that I wasn't there when he faced down the enemy. "It's not your fault, Tauriel." He says, reading my mind as ever. "I'm going to heal, I promise," his eyes sparkle and I nod silently, afraid that if I open my mouth I will release only sobs.

"I want to hold you, but I'm scared that I'll break you, you look so frail," I murmur and my friend snorts at my comment, trying to hide the grimace produced after.

"I'm fine, we have good healers, I am strong and young yet, don't fear for me," he reaches up to stroke my face, catching the last of my tears. Then his eyes flicker to my hand and surprise registers on his pale face.

"What...?" He notices the ring glistening on my left hand and I blush for reasons I can't quite pinpoint.

"Oh! I, I would've told you earlier, but I forgot what with your condition..." I avoid his gaze, instead focusing on the shimmering metal on my fourth finger.

"You didn't...?"

"No! It's an, uh, engagement ring. I told you, Legolas, I couldn't get married without my best friend there," I meet his eyes again and catch his hand, squeezing it delicately.

"Good, I would like to see it. And you, in your wedding dress," he smiles at the thought and I find myself giggling quietly. "You know I love you, Tauriel," he gestures for me to come closer and plants a kiss on my cheek.

"I love you too," I whisper in reply as he sinks back into his pillows, his expression unreadable.

"Do you think you could get the healer? I should really get this re-bandaged."

"Of course," I kiss his forehead and make to leave but he grabs my hand before I can go.

"Tauriel," his eyes drift shut, "Thank you for coming to find me,"