Minutes turned into hours and hours into days and days into years that were a bliss of training the guards, sparring, laughter and making peace with my choices. The old guards had improved and I was sent more to train and they too had improved and gone on to fight many battles. Time had moved, evil had spread and I had healed. Not fully, each day a part of my heart fell back into place. My heart kept beating and my soul kept driving me forward. I lost track of the years for there really was no reason to count. One morning in particular stood out for when I looked outside the sky hung heavy and the air had a strange feeling to it. I pulled the curtains further to reveal guards standing at their usual posts and young elves sparring with sticks under a tall tree. I shrugged off the feeling and changed into my usual orange hunting dress peeking in the mirror before heading out to train. I was famished and my throat was dry so I stopped at the kitchen to grab some bread. When I approached the table stacked with food I felt eyes upon me so I turned to find an elf clad in a simple guards clothing staring at me. He cleared his throat and spoke.

"King Thranduil requires your presence." The guard looked at me shifting his vision from my lower body to face and finally landing on my chest. My face heated up and I walked out curtly and headed towards the throne room. I motioned to knock but the guards opened the doors before I got the chance. I walked in not knowing exactly what to expect. I held my breath and faced Thranduil.

"Thank you for seeing me." Thranduil said, his voice smooth and sleek like a snake. He went on not waiting for a response. "I trust you already know this because of rumors and what not but Legolas is due to return to Mirkwood the night after the next." I had not known this. I wasn't sure exactly how to react. I hadn't spoken to him since he saved my life after the Battle of five armies. That must have been years ago. Not to mention he saved my life when I was fading, stood up to Thranduil, got my banishment revoked, followed me to Laketown, went with me to try and save Kili and the other dwarves. I felt that I owed him a lot more than I was comfortable admitting. It made me feel uneasy and in debt but that feeling masked the emotion threatening to take over all of me. I was scared. Not scared of Legolas killing me in my sleep, but what could I say to the person who had given me his whole heart and I had given him absolutely nothing but misery and pain? I could say with confidence that I cared for Legolas but after what happened with Kili I could not allow myself to get hurt and fall apart like that again. Last time was such a disaster I could not trust myself to allow myself to let anyone near my heart whether friendship or Love. I was confused but every bone in my body told me to forget Legolas and the silly idea of friendship or whatever it was go but I knew I could never forget him, not like I was supposed to forget Kili. My thoughts swarmed my head making my skull hurt. Thranduil showed no sign of noticing my misgivings and continued talking.

"I seem to be a bit short on entertainment and wanted something extra grande for Legolas's return so I was going to enlist the help of the Guards."

"I see." I said quietly wondering what he could possibly have in mind for this 'entertainment.'

"I was thinking perhaps some sparring or spider dueling. Preferably to death."

I refrained from shouting. That was insane. How could anyone agree to this treachery? Or better yet how could anyone stand to watch it? Guards are not playthings and we are already running short on military the last thing we need to do is go on barbaric killing sprees.

"What if I refuse?" I asked him, determined to keep my head level.

"I think you will know what will happen then. Besides, we have many guard.s a few can give their lives."

"This is repugnant and absolutely barbaric. I know Legolas would think so too." I said meaning every word and soooo much more.

"Are you sure that Legolas is the same person you remember?" He asked his voice still smooth and unwavering.

"He may not be the same person but that does not make this any less nauseating." I retort heedless of the fact that he was my King and ought to be treated with some respect.

"That will be all Tauriel." He said motioning for me to leave. I left without a word and walked to the forest knowing that being somewhere familiar might bring me comfort. I set out not for a specific spot but for contentment and familiarity. I don't know how long I ran for but the sky changed and my legs ached begging for rest. I finally stopped at the base of a large tree and sat down hugging my knees into my chest. I was not hungry and I don't think that even if I was presented with food I could eat it. Once I gathered my bearings I decided to climb the tree figuring that that would be the best place for cover. I nestled into the comfort the tree provided me and hummed myself a short lullaby to sleep.

Of course I never fell asleep, but instead sat there looking up at the starry sky pondering all that had happened. I played the scene in my head again and again trying to convince myself that Thranduil was lying and Legolas had not changed. I found guards fighting spiders and each other for pointless entertainment horrible but the thing that had really troubled me most was what he had said about Legolas. What could change a person so much that they fought for different morals and let go of all the old things they used to fight so passionately against? And could Legolas the strongest person I know really see this entertainment as anything other than barbaric? My gut told me that Thranduil was lying and just trying to stir up trouble but part of me wondered if he was right. Legolas might not be the same exact person I remembered but neither am I. It is normal for someone to change in fact it is healthy. but did he change for the worse or better? I wondered to myself about all the possibilities while my weariness took hold and I slowly fell asleep.

I woke up to the sound of hooves hitting the firm forest floor. I was wary but fatigue still threatened to drag me under. I peered behind me lethargically and made out two figures. One was a dark haired elf on a burgundy colored horse and the other was a white horse the color of marble and riding him was, Oh My! It was Legolas standing proud and true. He and his companion had stopped under the shade of my tree observing the familiar forest around them and making idle chatter. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying, so I set to observing Legolas. He looked mostly similar except he looked more rugged, his arms were bigger and more muscular, his eyes were bloodshot, he had collected dirt and grime on both his green tunic and his face and nose and his stare was determined like usual. Seeing him did not trigger the reaction I had feared but I certainly felt a pang in my heart that I hadn't felt since I last laid eyes on Kili. I was frozen and tempted to say something but I was scared and even if I had wanted to speak there was nothing to say. Or perhaps on the contrary there was lots to say: thank you, I missed you, you mean a lot to me, thank you, thank you,thank you, thank you for believing in me, thank you Legolas for saving me time and time again . I knew that I would have to say something at some point but my lips stayed glued together and I watched him in agony leave the small clearing and continue on his journey towards Mirkwood.

I tracked him easily through the forest, weaving through the trees and jumping over streams. It was a long way back and I knew it would take hours but I was determined to get there before nightfall so I could make it in time for the feast. I collected lots of dirt and my hunting dress was looking more dark burgundy orange than the bright sunset orange color it had originally been. I didn't mind but when I neared the palace I realized the only people there would be nobles who would most likely be clad in regal finery. This usually would bother me but I knew that there were more important matters ahead of me so I pushed the wide oak doors open and took in the scene.