Flash back

"Ahhhhh!" I screamed. My eyes grew big and I stepped backwards only to trip on my absurdly long dress. It was the prince of Mirkwood. I knew that he trained with the guard sometimes. I had watched him but Why was he here? What did he want? How did he find me? Questions hammered my skull and rocked my brain. I was petrified. Fear struck every bone in my body and refused to leave.

"I'm so sorry. Please don't tell. I only meant to find my tutor and then I got stuck here and the bow was just staring at me. I swear I didn't mean it. Will you tell? Actually wait don't answer that. I truly am sorry." I rambled on not stopping until a small smile played on his lips and he couldn't refrain from laughing any longer. he let out an amused laugh and welcomed me to join in.

"I am sorry for startling you I only meant to offer my services. Though from what I have gathered you have skill and a good base of technique that some of our oldest guards have yet to possess."

I didn't know what to say. Did the prince of Mirkwood just say he thinks that I have some actual skill. As in real potential? I was startled and I couldn't hide the eagerness beginning to surface but then I remembered my bratty tutor and King Thranduil and how they would most certainly disapprove.

"You helping me train and improve would be incredible. My heart has always longed to do something besides embroider pointless objects and apply nonsensical amounts of lotions and creams. But alas King Thranduil would never approve. Nor would my tutor for that matter." I said sadly wishing I had not been a simple silvan elleth.

"I do not believe that you care what my father thinks but you are right, no one would approve of an elleth doing anything besides embroider 'nonsensically'". He said playfully.

"Oh, and what do you, almighty prince do you propose?" I said entertaining him a giggle escaping my lips.

"I could train you every night when all eyes look elsewhere. We would be forced to train mostly in the woods because only there my father would not find us, but I understand if an elleth in your position does not care for venturing into a forest as beautiful as this one." He said mockingly gesturing towards the vast green woods.

"Though," he paused. "I do not know how much progress we would make given I do not even know your name."

"Tauriel." I said extending my arm out for him to kiss but instead, like an equal he took my hand in his firm grip and shook it lightly.

"Legolas Greenleaf. But you can just call me Legolas." He said his posture poised perfectly making me look like such a sloucher. I was silent waiting for him to continue but he looked at me question in his icy blue eyes.

"Alright Tauriel, I propose that we meet the next night in this same place and if all goes well, meaning you don't chicken out." I punched his shoulder. Ignoring me he continued, " Assuming you don't chicken out I will then escort you to the woods. Where I will provide the weapons." He looked at me mischievously as though I could not be trusted with little more than an extremely dull hair clip. I proceeded to shoving him in the shoulder lightly again. He elbowed me back and I tackled him unaware of the repercussions that could have befallen at literally any other time. I shoved all rational thoughts deeper in my muddled mind and pushed him over so he lay next to a bush. I brought my hand to wipe the sweat of my brow and he took advantage of my weak moment and pushed my over so suddenly I was pinned under him. The words would have started tumbling out in my defense but the platform we were on was slanted and suddenly we were rolling down a grassy slope. We clung to each other out of fear tumbling into bushes and spare branches. I was screaming and legolas just cung on to me covering my head and neck making sure I was protected from all of the hazards in the underbrush. We were rolling so fast and I couldn't make out exactly what he was doing but with one had he clung to my shoulder blocking it from peril while he stuck out his other hand to grasp a firm branch that stuck out of the ground. The rolling ceased and suddenly I was clinging to Legolas, dangling at the top of a wide ditch that stretched far further than my vision. I stopped screaming and Legolas tightened his grip on my forearm.

"Are you OK?" He asked concern and fear in his voice.

"Ye..es" I managed to make out. I surveyed the ditch and found a small flat platform about halfway down where I could land and probably climb up from.

"Legolas. " I said trying to gain his attention. " You need to let me go." I said, scared of my own words.

"Are you insane?" He said angrily. "You would die!" He acted confident but I could feel his grip loosening. I knew he was a very strong elf but eventually his arm would give out.

"Legolas. Please." I said more urgently this time.

"No way!" He said his voice was weakening. "I will never let you go!" He said the stubborness in his voice matching mine.

"Fine." I said and tugged his hand off and plummeted towards the ground. I landed hard on the small flat part that jutted out. From above it looked bigger but I had to press my body against the dirt wall to stay steady on the narrow ledge.

"TAURIEL!" Legolas yelled in agony.

"I'm OK." I shouted to him with slightly less enthusiasm.

"Legolas! Go and get help, I will be fine!"

"Tauriel you are insane if you think I am leaving you!"

"I repeat." I say impatiently. "I am perfectly FINE. Now stop being stubborn and get help!" I shouted with the last strands of my energy.

I waited a few minutes expecting to hear some sort of defeated sigh from the general upwards direction but I heard nothing and let out a squeal when Legolas suddenly landed right next to me.

"Legolas what are you doing?!" I said angrily. We needed to get out of here not further in this hole.

"Grab on to me." He said holding one hand out another holding a handmade rope made of vines. "What?" He said mockingly. " Don't you trust me?"

"Not even close." I replied allowing him to hug my waist with his free hand.

It was slow and honestly quite arduous. We had landed halfway down the ditch and had to hand hoist ourselves up. At first legolas refused to let me help climb up the rope but his weak side eventually gave in and we shared the burden of dragging our bodies up. It took hours before emerged to the top of the ditch and another hour to actually hoist our bodies out of it. When we finally reached the top of the ditch Legolas gave me a forceful push so I landed gently on the welcoming dirt forest ground. I let out a relieved breath and turned towards Legolas to help him up but he beat me to it and lay next to me on the soft dirt. I could hear his heart thumping his breath slowing down matching my steady pace.

"It's OK Mellon." I said in a comforting tone breathing heavily. "It's OK." I whisper softly. My words comforting myself as much as him.

We laid down on the cool earth for a while just looking up at the stars above and listening to the sounds the forest enveloping us. The sky started to lighten and I knew that the night was gone and it was a new day.

"We need to get up. " Legolas said standing up and brushing the layers of dirt of his green hunting tunic. He extended a hand but I declined and sat up myself and looked at him. I don't know what it was that made me trust him. It was probably the fact that he had just saved my life but without hesitation I threw my arms around him and relaxed in his warm embrace. His strong arms enfolded me and I couldn't help but feel safe.

"Thank you." I whispered. He could have laughed or made a joke but he kept his serene face and wiped my hair out of my eyes.

"It is I who should thank you." He stated a smile spreading on his lips and face. I paused confused. "If you had not let go we both would have ended up dead in a ditch."

"Haha, dead in a ditch." I said lethargically.

"Hahaha." he said mimicking me tiredly. And that. as flawed as it was, was the start of my friendship with the Prince of Mirkwood.

AN: This chapter was short but this was the best place to end it.

Mellon- Friend