Like with everything I write here, I don't own any of the characters or Middle Earth. In this fic, Legolas is the equivalent of a teenager and Tauriel is an elfling. This story is a standalone fic that is not related to "Power Napping" or "Thranduil's Revenge". – El Droide
Legolas clutched the letter tightly as he made his way through the market, his mind in turmoil. Two more high-ranking nobles, dead. They had been some of his closest friends too. Despite the guards' vigilance, the assassin had escaped undetected, just like last time. What if his father was the next victim? He had better return home before there was another tragedy.
Something small ran headfirst into him. "Oi! Watch where you are going," he snapped, looking down to see a very unkempt little elfling.
The child blinked at him before turning tail and darting down a narrow alley with something in her hands. Instinctively, Legolas reached for his coin pouch. It was gone. He fumed and took off in the urchin's direction. The last thing he needed right now was a diversion of this sort.
It wasn't that long of a chase before the ernil spied the tricky little creature sprinting down another alleyway. She disappeared around a corner, and Legolas followed her, only to come face-to-face with a tall, hooded man.
The stranger chuckled. "Excellent work!" he told the urchin. He critically surveyed Legolas. "Well, well, if this isn't my lucky day. The son of the Elvenking himself!" He pulled a sharp cutlass out from the folds of his cloak. "Let me see, how will your precious father react if I brought your mutilated head to him?"
Suddenly, it all made sense to Legolas. He had evidently been spied on throughout his search in the town, and the little elleth had been coerced into leading him right into a trap. He laid a hand on the hilt of his sword. "So it is you who has been killing my kin," he accused, his eyes narrowing, "You will not get away with it this time."
The urchin stamped her foot. "You said you only wanted to talk to him, and you said you would pay me!" she piped angrily to the assassin.
The assassin turned to her with a condescending smile, "And let you go and blab about what you've seen? Oh, little one, you are greatly mistaken," he sneered.
The elleth seemed to pick up on the threat, for she backed away and began chewing on her bottom lip.
Legolas felt sick. She was only a child, for goodness' sake! He drew his sword and held it at the assassin's throat. "I would not hurt her if I were you," he said warningly.
"Don't you tell me what to do," snarled the assassin. He knocked the sword away from his throat with his cutlass and lunged forward. Legolas swiftly countered the attack, and the two were engaged in an intense battle the next moment. The elleth stood stock-still and stared at the fight, her green eyes as big as saucers.
Pain exploded in the back of Legolas' head as he was thrown against a wall. He yelped as the cutlass raked his arm and spun away from another blow directed at his neck. The assassin was an excellent fighter, much too excellent for his liking. Enraged, the ernil let out a fierce shout and launched himself at his enemy again. The assassin blocked him, and they were locked in a deadly struggle. They glared at each other for what seemed like an hour.
Suddenly, the assassin stumbled back with a howl and clutched the back of his leg. The elfling emerged from behind him, holding a bloody dagger.
"You imp, you!" roared the assassin. He raised his weapon, poised to bring it down on the tiny fiery-colored head before him.
But the blow never came. Legolas seized the opportunity and impaled him between the shoulder blades. The assassin froze and then fell like a lump of lead. He was dead before he hit the ground, and blood flowed freely from a deep gash in his throat.
Legolas picked up the child and carried her away from the grisly scene. She hid her face in his shoulder and began to bawl.
"Shhhh, it is over now," he said comfortingly, patting her back.
The elleth looked up tearily at him. "I didn't know he was mean, honestly!" she wailed.
"I know you didn't," Legolas reassured her, "Now tell me, what is your name? Have you any family waiting for you?"
She frowned. "Name's Tauriel. Don't have parents," she pouted, hiccupping on a sob.
Legolas sighed. Never in his life had he been in a situation like this. Whatever was he to do? Then he had an idea. "Suppose I take you back to my home? I will find some good people who can take care of you."
Tauriel looked suspicious. "You mean it?" she asked timidly.
"Of course!" replied Legolas.
The elleth looked thoughtful for a moment before clinging to him like a little burr. "It's a deal," she relented. Then she shoved the stolen coin pouch in his face. "You can have this back."
