I know, I know. It has been two years since I last posted. I graduated and was working all the time, thinking-due to a computer crash-that my story was lost forever. Alas! It was not and I have recover the rest of this story!
...I'm as bad as Steven Moffet...
Chapter thirty-seven.
"Yes my King?" asked Legolas bowing as he stood before his father after taking Tauriel to the Healer; Who said hope of her survival would be a fool's hope when she thought Legolas was gone.
"I have heard word that you left you posts." Said Thranduil sounding disappointed, "I hope there is good reason for such an act."
"A horn was blown, one of an Elf from Mirkwood. We hurried to see who was in trouble and found the horn in the hands of a dwarf." Legolas replied.
"A dwarf?! How is it a dwarf came by the horn of an Elf of Mirkwood?!" Thranduil snapped, "If he has killed the Elf and taken the horn as his prize-"
"Father! I mean, my king." Legolas interrupted, "The dwarf is the son of Oakenshield and he was traveling with Tauriel."
"What of Tauriel? Where is she?"
"She was wounded in a fight…Her survival is…." Legolas couldn't continue.
"I see." Said Thranduil with a pained look in his eyes, "Bring the dwarf to me."
Legolas bowed and left to wait for the others to come with the Hobbit and the Dwarf. When he came to the gates they were being opened and the others entered. He walked up to the dwarf.
"The king wishes to see you."
"I must stay with my wife." Lain replied.
"Lain, go. Rosie and I will be fine." Cornflower replied kissing him on the cheek, "Besides, I would dearly love to have a look around. It is not every day a hobbit gets to gaze upon the magnificent halls of Mirkwood."
"Ylime, would you show the hobbit around?" Legolas asked.
Ylime bowed and motioned for Cornflower to join her. The other decided to join them.
"Where is Tauriel?" asked Lain.
"She is with the Healer now." Legolas replied leading Lain to the throne room.
Lain had no words to describe the beauty of Mirkwood. He saw many She-Elves in long dressed carrying fine silks below the bridge they were crossing.
"The one Elf Ylime and Tauriel, are they the only She-Elves who fight?" Lain asked Legolas.
"For years it was only Tauriel, then Ylime almost got herself killed and promised herself she would never feel weak and learned how to fight." Legolas replied.
He soon came to the throne room where he saw a throne that looked like it was made entirely of Elk antlers. A king in robes of fine silks with a crown of branches and berries was standing on the steps next to it.
"Leave us, Legolas." Said the king.
Legolas bowed and left.
"What is your name, son of Thorin?" King Thranduil asked.
"Lain." He replied.
"Tell me, how is it you escaped the orcs that took you years ago?" Thranduil asked.
"Men attacked their camp one night and I got away." Lain replied.
"What were you doing with Tauriel's horn?"
"She was in danger. I remember when she told me about it and it was in one of the bags I was carrying. I would have helped her, but I had to protect my wife." Lain said feeling like a coward for hiding with his wife instead of fighting with Tauriel.
Thranduil stood and walked down the steps by the throne.
"So you journey this great distance to take back your throne." Said Tharnduil.
"It is my birthright." Lain replied strongly as he held his father's shield-he kept a firm grasp of it since he found it.
"You do not seem angered in my presence." Thranduil stated with an eyebrow arched.
"I have no hatred for Elves, my sisters are Elves as was my mother." Said Lain, "You have no argument with me."
"Perhaps all dwarves should spend some years living amongst hobbits, it seems to make them a little less…" Thranduil paused as he tried to find the right word.
"Stubborn, rude, ignorant?" Lain replied.
"Along those lines, yes." Thranduil replied, "Eaendrial!"
A female in pale green silk robes came, "Yes my King?"
"Show the son of Oakenshield to one of the guest rooms." Thranduil commanded.
"My Lord!" gasped Eaendrial not liking the idea of a dwarf staying as a guest.
"He is Tauriel's brother and the King of Erebor." Thranduil replied.
Eaendrial bowed and motioned for Lain to follow her. She showed him to a beautiful room with a warm fireplace to his right and to his left a grand bed.
"I will leave you." Said Eaendrial bowing.
"Thank you." Said Lain before she left, closing the door behind her.
He sat in a chair by the fireplace, it was a bit big for a dwarf, but he could get into it. He watched the fire dance until the Elves brought Cornflower and Rosie back.
"Thank you for showing me around, such a beautiful place!" Cornflower exclaimed.
"You are welcome Cornflower." Said Ylime bowing before leaving.
Cornflower came over to the fireplace and stood next to Lain.
"Sorry that took so long, Mirkwood is grand!" Cornflower said smiling, "Also, they wanted me to take some medicine from one of the Healer's mixes to make sure I was healthy after giving birth."
"Any word of Tauriel's condition?" Lain asked.
"None at all. I do hope she will recover." Said Cornflower handing Rosie to Lain, "They said the medicine would make me sleepy, so I must rest."
"Go ahead my dear. I will watch her." Said Lain holding Rosie.
As Cornflower slept, Lain told Rosie the story of Bilbo Baggins' adventure. Soon enough she was asleep and he set her in a small crib on the floor beside the bed.
Lain then decided to walk around a bit. He walked the grounds as the sunset and most of the Elves were going in doors for dinner. He was not hungry though.
He came across a spot where there was a small stream that led to the river. He found Legolas sitting there, deep in thought. He turned and saw Lain.
"My apologizes," said Lain, "I didn't mean to disturb you."
"You did not disturb me, I was thinking of what Tauriel meant." Legolas replied staring at the stars.
Lain sat on a rock on the other side of the stream, "It depends, what pain was she referring to?"
"I do not know. Perhaps she meant me leaving Mirkwood after the battle. She must have thought I was anger with her." He replied.
"Were you?" Lain asked.
"No, well…I do not know what I was feeling." Legolas admitted.
"Was whatever you were feeling because of the dwarf Kili?" Lain started putting the pieces together. Legolas turned and looked at him in shock that he knew about him.
"What do you know of the dwarf? Did she tell you?" Legolas asked.
"No. I already knew." Lain replied. When Legolas looked utterly lost Lain continued, "Thrain had three children. Thorin, Frerin, and Dis. Frerin died at a young age during a battle. Dis had two sons named Fili and Kili."
"He was her cousin." Legolas said mostly to himself.
"My sister Lyra was close with Kili, she'd protect him no matter what. Before she knew that Lyra and I still lived, Fili and Kili were all Tauriel had left of us. Her family." Lain explained.
"I must go see her." Said Legolas standing up and leaving.