Taurilien woke up long before the first light of the sun appeared on the eastern horizon. She got dressed and slipped out of her house to take a last look at her beloved homeland, before she had to leave.
When she finally got on her horse and left for her long journey, her thoughts were with her beloved and her mother as well as with her friends.
She turned around one last time and waved goodbye, before disappearing on the small path between the trees.
Her way led her North towards the Old Forest Road, where she would turn west to cross the River Anduin and then to the Misty Mountains. Her mother had explained this way to her on the evening before, for she had never journeyed alone, or left the safe kingdom of the Amazons.
But before she had even reached the Old Forest Road, she had to put up a camp for the night. After kindling a fire with some dry wood, she took her bow and sat down with the back to a tree to rest. She decided not to sleep, since those parts of the wood were no longer guarded by her people, but she was too tired to ride on.
The hours of the night stretched endlessly, and eventually Taurilien saw the fire burn down. Her eyes closed several times, but the sounds of the forest, that were no longer comforting, but strange, now that she was alone, woke her up every time again. But eventually weariness overwhelmed her and she fell asleep.
Suddenly Taurilien woke up, when something hairy touched her face. She opened her eyes and looked at a huge spider, sitting right in front of her, the long hairy legs waving menacingly. Her bow had fallen out of her hands, while she had been sleeping and was now out of reach. And besides it was not of any use right now anyway.
She tried to reach for the knife she carried on her belt, but found that she could not use her hands. They were tied to her side with sticky threads of cobweb, and she could not move, but only watch as another spider crept down from a tree to her right, snapping its nippers. She struggled helplessly for a moment, until something stung her arm and she fell unconscious at last.
Her dreams were dark and troubled, but in the East a pale light lingered, and when she finally awoke, she looked into the eyes of her beloved.
"What happened? What are you doing here?" she asked confused when she remembered the spiders.
"I felt that you were in danger, and came searching for you. I am losing you already, but only to absence. I will not let it be death. Taurilien, I love you, let me say this once again."
Weakly and tired she reached up and touched his cheek, caressing it softly.
"I know," she murmured and kissed him tenderly.
"And I love you. You saved my life and once again showed me how much you love me. It breaks my heart to leave you, but I no longer fear to lose you, for who could break such a strong bond as the one that exists between the two of us? Do not worry, my love. I will come back to you."
He helped her get ready and with a last kiss said goodbye, watching her disappear behind the thick trees.
The rest of her journey passed uneventfully and she finally reached Rivendell, home of Lord Elrond, where the council would take place.
The Elves looked at her strangely as she rode through the gate into the courtyard.
She got off her horse and turned to a dark-haired Elf standing nearby.
"I am Taurilien, princess of the Amazones of Mirkwood, daughter of Queen Miraloona. I have been sent here to attend the Council that is about to take place. Would you show me a chamber to stay in, for I am weary and wish to refresh myself."
The elf looked at her and raised an eyebrow questioningly, but then he nodded and bowed.
"Of course, your highness. Please follow me for now. I will tell Lord Elrond of your arrival."
He lead her into the a great hall and gestured her to sit down, before he disappeared into one of the many corridors.
He soon came back, followed by a tall elf with dark hair. He wore a circlet of silver upon his brow and was clad in a crimson robe.
"Welcome to Rivendell, Princess Taurilien. I hope you will tell me more about the Amazons of Mirkwood, for nobody here has ever heard about them, not even I who have studied the lore of Middle-earth for a long time. But I see that you are weary and need some time to rest, so we will talk about this later."
