Tauriel POV

I didn't dare breathe, wanting to play his mind. He reentered the nursery, looking long and hard behind the arm chairs that were aligned on the side of the room, where my voice emerged.

He took one more suspicious glance, and walked back out muttering and shaking his head "Get a grip of yourself."

He shut the nursery door this time. I heard the room to his chambers bolt, and the door to the washroom slide too, waiting extra long to verify he'd gotten in the tub and started bathing.

My door was shut, but I managed to slide out of the nursery silently. Knowing all the creaky floorboards, I slid silently toward my vanity to pick up the razor, knowing Legolas probably needed a shave as well. Usually, he did this before washing, but there was evidently a lot on his mind.

His golden hair was soaked, turning a darker yellow, like a that of a fine mustang stallion. His breathing was calm and relaxed, but I could still see he was troubled. His fingers fiddled the chain around his neck, which looped my engagement and wedding rings.

I silently crept up behind him, as he heaved multiple heavy sighs, clearly moody.

Finally, I curled the razor around his neck, and put it at his throat. He froze, all muscles tense.

I smirked, and began sliding the razor up his neck, careful to not cut him. His hand snaked up, warm and wet, grabbing my wrist, pulling me forward so I was in sight. We locked eyes, and he held my gaze for a bit, blue irises boring into my soul.

"You could have slit my throat." He relaxed all muscles now, but his face was still moody, stoic, and unreadable.

"I still can." I whispered warmly, nibbling on his ear as I grabbed the razor back, and moved the blade a few more times, finishing up shaving the neck bristles. "Who was it who taught me to always be on my guard?"

I reached for his scrub soap and oils and rubbed them against my hands repeatedly, stroking his chest and arms, relishing the polished build beneath his skin. He pinched himself, and blinked several times, checking to see if it was a dream.

"Rough morning?" I smiled as he stared at me the entire time.

He didn't respond, face still rather stunned, and eyes locked on mine. I sometimes forgot how intimidating and expressionless he could be, how hard he was to read.

I dabbed my forehead with my sleeve to wipe off the sweat that had built up now that I was this close to his steaming bath, and then grabbed the sponge and to wash off the soap from his chest.

"Shut the door." He finally said, very calmly.

"The front door is already bolted." I replied with curiosity.

"Shut...the...door." He said even slower, a subtle smirk hinting at the corner of his mouth.

"Why, sire?" I rest my elbow on the edge of his bathtub, and lay my head in my hand, glancing down at him.

"Because I command it." He leaned up, on the prowl to steal a kiss. I didn't let him, jerking backward with a soft smile, as he lunged upward in a taunting fashion, water dripping off his glistening body and hair. He exhaled in an amused manner, relaxing back into the tub.

I moved up to latch the switch to lock his washroom too. The steam buildup of his bath was humid enough to draw beads of sweat on my own face.

"Anything else, sire?" I spoke quietly and approached him, stopping a couple feet away, with my arms crossed.

He finally smiled genuinely, the folds on the side of his eyes deepening. "Finish my bath." He tossed the sponge at me in a playful manner, which soaked my garments too upon catching it.

I smiled, and walked back to him. When I was within reach, his hand snaked out and grabbed mine, anchoring me so I couldn't escape. Not that I had any intention of doing so anyway

He undid the laces with a warm adept hand, and in a few seconds, undressed me.

"Legolas." I chuckled, "how am I to finish bathing you."

"You missed a spot... on my back." He smirked, and his other hand secured itself around my other hand, tugging me towards the tub. "I'm afraid you won't be able to properly clean me unless you get in."

"Oh." I giggled. "Your highness, I don't think the two of us could fit in this tub."

His smile widened as he helped me step into the tub, hands yanking mine so I nearly fell forward atop him, splashing a good deal of water out and laughing freely. He readjusted his position to make more room for me.

"Legolas." I breathed as he touched his forehead to mine, and ran his hands up my hips, waist, and back. "You have plans later."

"None of your concern." He breathed deeply, now moving to fondle my arse.

He didn't give me time to reply, hands cupping my face, and rather aggressively slamming his lips against mine. He tasted a tad bitter, and I knew he hadn't eaten in while. Yet I probably tasted the same.

He sat up, and I thought my heart could burst.

"I was worried you'd run into trouble." He breathed heavily, as the bath waters around us danced, splashing the floor.

I cut him off. "Nothing I couldn't handle."

LINEBREAK

We lay in bed together after. He dismissed his guards and servants long before, and ravished each other thoroughly.

"So what have you been up to?" He spoke softly.

"Nothing good." I murmured, playing with my rings still on the necklace around his neck "Got into a bit of trouble with the manager of Woodsmen Wives... Do you know him?"

"All too well." Legolas sighed. "I have been trying to capture him for crimes ever since I arrived."

"He blackmailed and pinned his own crimes on me. Tried to get me to succumb to his ways."

"You mean to tell me you've been living in a brothel this whole time?" His voice was neither pleased nor displeased.

"Learned about the art of seduction ." I smiled.

He tensed, clearly unamused, so I moved back to topic.

"I stayed until I found out more information about Arahir's family." I glossed over the details there. "I didn't have time so I brought his father and sister here as servants to try and earn their trust."

"Are you mad?!" He sat up, cold and tense, staring at me like I was mental.

"Wh-"

"Have you forgotten what Arahir's done to you?" Legolas spoke harshly

"No of course not-" I defended.

"How could you do something so foolish!" He snapped

"It's the only way I could think of Legolas."

"You brought the family of a murderer under this roof." His anger rose. "Need I remind you the pain Arahir's brought us, the permanence of death!"

"And need I remind you that if we hadn't let Saida's trail run cold many moons ago none of this would have happened!" I snapped.

The flame in his eyes flickered, but he made no reply. And I found his silence more unraveling than his fury.

"It was the only solution I could think of. What would you have me do?" I said quietly. "Veassen would've sent men to kill them."

I said quietly. "They know something, I know it... They're just frightened."

"As they should be." He snorted.

"Legolas are you on my side or not?" I snapped with exasperation.

He spoke unapologetically with suspicion. "You sleep in a brothel for nearly a month, interact fluidly with Veassen's men and now bring a criminal family under our roof."

"I am trying to finally solve this case!" I raised my voice

"Well it sounds like you're going backwards!" He shouted.

I was silenced. My interactions with Veassen's men were anything but fluid, but he didn't need to know. Not like this. It would only make things worse.

We sat in awkward silence for a bit before Legolas finally spoke up again. "You should get dressed. It's Ingwë's birthday celebration. We don't want to miss the festivities."

I clarified, a bit in disbelief. "He has a reason to hold celebrations every week."

"Yes. Tonight's there's an opening feast. Followed by outdoors leisure activities, wine tastings, hunting games, wrestling among other martial art tournaments as daily entertainment throughout the rest of the week. And a final first light celebration and evening ball."

I didn't have much to say, so I remained quiet. Another awkward silence

"Can you lace me up?" I spoke quietly.

He acquiesced, as I applied minimal makeup to my face, and fixed my hair into a tidier updo.

"You're forgetting something." He spoke softly, still cognizant of the evident tension between us.

I turned, seeing him remove the necklace of wedding bands, and unlinking the chain. He knelt at my vanity, and took my left hand, sliding the two bands on slowly, snug as a rock.

"You needn't ask me again." He said softly. "I am, and always will be on your side."

He kissed my hand. "Even though you are by far the most headstrong pain in the arse I've ever met."

LINEBREAK

While most of the royals and nobility sat near Ingwë and the other monarchs, Legolas and I took the pleasure in sitting as far away from them, at the opposite end of the table. We enjoyed ourselves, and his hand comfortably rested over mine, fingers finding solace stroking the jadeite on my engagement ring. We kept ourselves as professional as a pairing could, after not seeing each other for weeks.

I felt his touch disappear, and turned my head in time to see the Ithraides take a comfortable seat next to us. The baron sat beside me, his wife beside him, and his two daughters across from us.

"Evening Prince Legolas." He purposely avoided my presence.

"Good evening Baron." Legolas spoke with such formalities I couldn't even tell whose side he was on.

"You look stunning tonight princess." The baron continued, taking my hand to forcefully kiss it messily. I bit my tongue to stifle my facial expressions. "Perhaps it's because I haven't seen you in a while."

"I have been caught up taking care of my children." I smiled graciously. "And of course... smoothing over some edges with my husband."

"Really? Do tell." He smirked. Out of my periphery, I saw Legolas's calf tense. The subtlest reflex showing alertness.

"My personal life really isn't a topic for the celebration and dinner tonight." I replied smoothly, thankful to be interrupted by the servants now entering with the courses and wine.

"Well, we've got all night." Saida chimed in "Legolas, you look very well tonight."

The conversation between Saida and Legolas continued, and I dare not look at Legolas, nor anybody else around me. I wasn't shaking, but my hands had grown cold with frustration and nervousness. So instead, I focused on the kings, seeing Thranduil, Ingwë, Elrond, and Celeborn, among other rulers. And I gave my dinner my undivided attention.

It was an agonizing dinner, which only took a turn for the worse when Legolas and Saida took to the dance floor, as insisted by her father.

I was taking a bite of my salad when I felt a sharp poke on the side of my thigh.

I almost froze, but played it off and finished my bite before turning back to the Baron.

"It's been expressed to me that you and the prince have not been on resonating terms." He spoke, no longer with the cordial veneer.

I said solemnly. "Might I inquire how? And based on which circumstances?"

"Rumors here spread like wildfires." He chuckled. "Rumors I spread."

"And why the hell would you do that?" I hissed, partly surprised, partly acting. "I agreed to stay away from your family, tending to mine instead these past weeks. "

"You go out of public sight for a few weeks..." He said. "And say you're looking after your family... do you think me a fool?" The knife point pushed further against me.

"Don't say I didn't warn you." He chuckled wickedly. "Because it's only a matter of time before I destroy your marriage."

"Put your knife point down." I spoke calmly. "Or I assure you I will scream." I warned.

I set my utensils down, standing up "Excuse me for a bit, I need some air."

I snagged two bottles of wine on my way out, heading out the door into the king's garden.

It seemed to always pass so slowly, these pointless feasts. I stared at the garden lillies drifting in the pond, whilst the moonlight illuminated them from above.

"Penny for your thoughts?" My husband's voice echoed softly as he crept up behind me.

I drank another large gulp of wine, finishing the first bottle and moving towards the second. "No..." I spoke, evidently upset, furious in fact.

He took the second bottle from me and chugged a good amount.

"Then I suppose I'll have to guess." He spoke amusedly "You're plotting how to murder the Baron and Saida."

I grunted, neither confirming nor denying.

"You're thinking about winning over the trust of Arahir's family."

I stayed quiet.

"You're thinking about having more children with your very handsome husband."

I coughed out the chuckle that I was trying to stifle. He smiled. Trying to keep my facade, I scoff, "You think too highly of yourself."

His hand went to grab mine, while he set the wine bottle down. "If that's what you're frustrated about, you know I can help with that."

I pushed him playfully, but he pulled me back, and I helplessly cracked a smile.

"There she is." He whispered, pressing his lips to my forehead, pulling me into a hug.

As comforted as I was to have my family back, I hated feeling on the defense. My only in was through Arahir's leftover family, and I needed to win their trust fast.

LINEBREAK

That night I couldn't sleep. I was able to conceal my guilt for killing those guards , thanks to Legolas's distraction... but at night, my mind kept replaying it, eating me away. I slid out of Legolas's grip and off the bed, headed for the nursery

I scooped up Helena into my arms, walking in circles, trying to find the right words to say. The fact I was able to hide and even forget my crimes during the day sickened me even more. If I couldn't even bring myself to tell my baby, how could I bring myself to tell my husband.

She'd grown even more in my absence, and I pinched myself for missing it. Tears welled in my eyes for a variety of reasons, inexplicable reasons. I let them trickle down silently, holding her close to my heart all night.

As dawn approached, I heard Legolas mumble, before getting up. "Tauriel?"

I didn't respond. I was too choked up to... plus I feared I'd break out from manageable silent tears.

"You alright?" He walked forward, hugging my waist from behind.

I nodded softly, letting him bury his face in my hair. His hands locked my back to his chest.

"They're growing up too fast..." I say softly.

"I know." He murmured.

"Nearly a year since they were born." I sigh. "And it's like I can count the days I've been there to watch them with my fingers."

"I never had a strong memory with my parents, so who's to say I'm doing this right? With this dragging case too." I sniffled. "It feels like I'm failing at it..."

"At what?" He practically mouthed, nibbling warmly on my ear.

"Motherhood." I almost choked on the word.

He spun me around and took the babe from my arms. "No."

"No?" I chuckled, moving to lean against the wall, arms crossed

"First of all, you aren't alone in parenthood." He asserted. "It's not a matter of who spends more time with the children."

"Legolas I've missed so much already. What kind of mother neglects her children?" I sighed

"The kind who will stop at nothing to keep them out of danger." He spoke. "I know you lost your parents, but-." He cornered me from squirming out. "Listen to me."

"As someone who remembers his mother..." He spoke in almost a shivery whisper. "Sacrificing your time and dedicating your life to their well being is beyond the expected duties. I would know."

He cupped my face, thumb catching a tear. "You're not failing Tauriel, you're thriving."

I smiled softly. "This case will end."

"And we will have peace." He kissed my forehead gently. "I have to go meet father. There have been recent thefts and stirrings in the villages. You stay and spend more time with them."