"There's no love in you," Tauriel roared coldly. Thranduil even flinched, though in a way that probably no one noticed, when he heard her endless anger and frustration. He could not believe it. He could never believe there would be a moment in his life, when a young naughty elleth of whom he cared for all her life, can tell him such things. For a moment he was silent, but then slowly took a few very dangerous steps forward and quietly scolded:
"See, child, nobody is ideal. Including your dwarf. In you, Tauriel, these is no responsibility, no seriousness, and absolutely zero respect for those who were putting you up here for six hundred years," as the king stepped for the last time, his neck rested at the sharp end of her arrow. He could feel blood streaming down, but he didn't care. In fact, it almost made him smile. Tauriel's hand trembled, but she didn't put her bow down.Yet. "I am sorry but it seems like your heart is full of poison, not love... And although it's probably your problem, not fault, little captain, now the only thing you deserve is a good spanking."
Her eyes widened for a moment, she blushed terribly, and it was not a surprise: he really said that in front of many warriors, her friends or mentors...
Tauriel was gone in less than a few seconds.
LOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTRLOTR
She lay on the safest ledge of rock she could find, forbidden tears streaming down her face. It wasn't just that there was only a thin cloak between her body and the cruel line of sharp stones... At first, she was just angry and embarrased, but a few hours or maybe days later the king's words made her think. What if he was not wrong at all? He rarely was. And the more the elleth thought, the more she realized that he was... Right.
"Why are you crying, little captain?" a gentle voice asked very close by. Tauriel didn't have to turn around to know that it was Legolas' voice. Honestly, she was ashamed to turn around.
"Because I'm in trouble, my lord," she whispered and set up slowly. The prince landed nearby, looking at her with some kind of irritation and tenderness:
"And who is the reason of it?"
"II- I don't know. Am I guilty? More than. But also, did the king do all the right things?.. And these dwarves..."
"Ah," he sighed a bit mockingly. "Now I see why Adar said about spanking. It is a very effective way to deal with naughty children who blame everyone around them... No, don't cry my love, I'm not trying to be harsh. Some things around seem to be an influence on you, but in fact it's only you who makes decisions that lead to hard situations. Not the king. Not the dwarf. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes my lord," Tauriel nodded, sobbing quietly. "I'm sorry..."
"Are you?"
"Yes!" she suddenly cringed, Ńurling up almost into a ball, and whispered shyly: "I don't know if the king will ever forgive me, I pointed my arrow on him!.. I left the kingdom! But I swear, if life gave me second chance I would never do or say anything that I did and said to you."
"Life," Legolas retorted judiciously, "does not give anybody second chances. But, my little captain, friends do."
He looked at her, as desperation in her eyes quickly turned into bewilderment, and then hope, and he couldn't help smiling.
"Wha' d-do you mean?.."
"If you are sorry and you are not afraid to come back home, Tauriel, I think you should go and talk to the king. He will forgive you, trust me, even if he will have to punish you."
"When... When can I see him?"
"Whenever you are ready. But you better hurry up, for I'm risking too being here for you. I want you to come back, because that is what you deserve. You deserve care, you deserve love... And definitely a good spanking."