"Good morning, Lady Tauriel."
The metallic clank of armor as the person moves causes her to tense. A guard?
"Good morning," she replies cautiously, stepping out into the hall. Without another word, and half hoping that the man will go away, she turns sharply and heads for the dining hall. The sound of footsteps and shifting metal follow her down the corridor, however, and she bites her bottom lip. There is no mistaking it, he has been sent to escort her.
She feels a chill run through her veins and grits her teeth, trying not to slow her pace. Was Lord Thranduil really so angry with her for yesterday? She does her best to ignore her new shadow, holding her head high, but the imagined stares of every passerby is enough to have her wishing she hadn't left her room at all.
The guard sits across from her in the dining hall, and Tauriel focuses her attention acutely on her food, despite the fact that it is all but tasteless on her tongue.
The first few weeks she had not been followed, but perhaps that was because Lord Thranduil had thought her to be still fumbling around and trying to get used to her sightlessness. Perhaps she had inadvertently proved to him yesterday that she was once again functioning normally and could be considered a threat.
A small shudder courses through her at the term. Her, once a Captain of the Guard and one of the King's most trusted commanders, now considered a threat to the King she'd once protected.
What little appetite she had vanishes with that thought, and Tauriel stands with a sigh, fingertips tracing the table as she tries to retrieve her cutlery and clear her half-eaten breakfast away.
"Here, let me."
There is the scrape of a wooden stool on the stone floor, and she can hear the shifting of cloth and armor as her guard stands, followed by the ring of silverware being placed on a metal plate.
Tauriel murmurs her thanks, not waiting for him to catch up as she leaves the room. She half debates taking a few sharp turns and ditching her guard all together, but decides that she's pushed her luck enough as it is. Besides, how far could she possibly get before she would be found again?
The footsteps behind her are quick on the stone hallway, but slow to a casual walk right behind her.
Holding her chin high, Tauriel turns and heads for the barracks, her guard at her heels like a shadow. This path she knows well enough, and she only stumbles once on the way.
She does not enjoy the feeling of someone tailing her. Centuries of working for the guard has made her sensitive to being followed, and the second set of footsteps puts her on edge, despite knowing who it is that walks behind her. She blames it on not being able to see for certain what is going on around her.
Her fingers slip into the pocket of her tunic - where she keeps the runestone - and traces the familiar grooves in the surface as has become her habit. But today the runes feel like broken promises, and Tauriel burns with the want to grab a bow and go hunt orcs until she is too tired to draw her string. However, that is no longer an option for her.
Tauriel doesn't realize that she has suddenly stopped walking until the guard behind her clears his throat, causing her to jump.
"May I assist you in getting anywhere, My Lady?" he offers. Tauriel bites back a stinging comment about not being lost, and instead murmurs "I was merely wandering", turning her head from him. She knows the elf, he was one of her underlings in the guard. Meldiron, an older guard that was loyal to a fault and brave as a lion, but who could deal with the younger guards with what seemed like endless gentle patience. He had been one of her favorite patrol mates.
"Is there anywhere that you might like to go?" he prompts after a moment. "Perhaps the herb garden?"
Now that he mentions it, that does sound nice. The warmth of the sun, the smell of the earth and green growing things, the feel of grass folding beneath her boots. Having nowhere better to go, Tauriel nods and allows him to step forward and take her arm.
Meldiron is nothing but helpful, opening doors and guiding her through the palace, but Tauriel cannot help but feel the chafe of knowing that he is there because Thranduil does not trust her, and wants her watched. When they get to their destination he carefully releases her arm, letting her wander.
Tauriel moves a few steps away and takes a deep breath. She can pick out some of the nearby herbs from smell - the sweet smell of chamomile, the earthy spice of rosemary, the sharp tang of lemongrass, the tingling burn of eucalyptus - and she sinks to the grass, relaxing.
The sun is warm on her skin, but she can feel its heat being broken up sporadically and figures that the leaves of an overhead tree must be casting a dappled shadow upon her. Tauriel runs her fingers through the damp coolness of the grass, taking another deep breath. She has been inside for far too long.
Footsteps approach and she hears the clank of metal as Meldiron settles himself beside her. Annoyance returning, Tauriel gets to her feet with a small huff. The older guard stands as well and Tauriel turns to wander deeper into the garden, however a hand clasps her wrist before she can walk off.
"Lady Tauriel," he starts, and she turns her head slightly in his direction to show that she is listening. She hears him sigh and move closer.
"I'm not going to bite," he says gently. Tauriel huffs, tugging her tunic with her free hand to straighten out any wrinkles it may have gotten, and narrows a glare in his direction.
She is still trying to think of something witty to say when he takes another step closer and speaks again -quietly, so only she can hear.
"Lord Thranduil may hold suspicions, but know that I have nothing against you. I am not sure what you did to anger him - as he will tell no one what happened at the battle between the two of you - but I am merely following his orders," he says sympathetically. "I do not like having to watch you, Captain, but My King has spoken, and I must obey."
Tauriel lets out a sigh, her anger escaping on the breath.
"I know. And I apologize if I have been sharp with you," she says. He snorts at that, and she feels a smile tug at her lips.
"Now, may we perhaps relax here a while, Captain?" he asks, and she can hear the dry humor in his tone when he continues, "You walk rather quickly for someone who cannot see where she is going."
Tauriel chuckles, settling herself back in the grass.
"Very well, you great lazy thing. I have half a mind to make you all run drills. The guard has clearly gotten lax in my absence."
"My Lady, never." He sounds almost insulted, and she laughs aloud, tipping her head back to let the sun fall upon her face. Meldiron settles himself beside her, starting up trivial conversation, and Tauriel is surprised to find that she does not mind the company.
They remain there until lunch, leaving briefly to find food, then return and stay until nightfall. Once the sun has set Meldiron walks her back to her room, an arm looped casually through hers as they talk and laugh together.
"I will not be your guard tomorrow," he tells her at the door, "Lord Thranduil chose a few of us and has us on rotating duty. I will see you again some point next week."
"Do you know who is assigned for tomorrow?"
"Faelwen, I believe."
Tauriel nods. Another favored companion of hers from the guard.
"Will that be all, My lady?"
"Yes. Go and rest. I will cause no more trouble tonight," Tauriel promised with a smile.
"Goodnight, Captain."
"Goodnight, mellon."