Author's Note: Another double update, because the chapters are short.
Tauriel listens to Alassé's lecture and does her best not to smile.
She feels like a weight has been lifted from her, and is near giddy with the ease of tension. Alassé does not appreciate this, Tauriel can tell by the sharp tone of the elleth's voice, but she can't bring herself to care. Thranduil does care about her, and she has never been so happy to have been wrong in her entire life.
She still feels quite foolish for getting herself into such trouble to find that out, of course, but the end has by far justified the means. And the fact that Thranduil was willing to brush it off is an added bonus. Alassé, on the other hand, is not so keen to drop the issue, and Tauriel draws the elleth to a halt with a smile as she continues to rant.
"And if that wasn't enough, I had to ask-...you're not even listening to me, are you?"
She pulls Alassé into a hug before the elleth can continue.
"I am sorry that I worried you. I promise, I will not do so again."
Alassé remains stiff and unsure for a second longer before relaxing into Tauriel's hold with an exasperated sigh.
"You are lucky that I like you."
Tauriel steps back and allows Alassé a second to smooth her tunic and hair. Trying to keep the wicked smile from her face, Tauriel leans close.
"Race you to the-"
Alassé's hand claps firmly over her mouth before she can finish her statement.
"Don't even think about it. You're going straight to your room."
"Yes, mother," Tauriel sighs, the words muffled through Alassé's delicate fingers, and the elleth takes the lead with a firm grasp on Tauriel's arm.
Being marched back to her quarters like a child is not something that Tauriel is unused to, per se - she was a rather troublemaking youth. However, she has to force a straight face and bite her tongue to choke back giggles at the thought of how they must look, with Alassé all but dragging her along as the elleth mutters under her breath in annoyance.
"Stop smiling; you're in trouble," Alassé tells her with a forced sternness, and Tauriel has to bite her lip to hold back her laughter.
"I can't help it," she shrugs. "I'm happy."
"About getting lost and nearly giving me a heart attack?"
"The king does not hate me."
Alassé stops short, and Tauriel stumbles into her back.
"You thought he hated you?" she asks incredulously, and Tauriel shrugs as she feels the other elf turn around. "Eru's sake, Tauriel. He doesn't hate you, you're his favorite! Anyone with working eyes could -"
Alassé cuts off sharply, realizing what she's said, but Tauriel laughs through the start of her clumsy apology.
"Well, that might explain why I was not aware," she teases.
"More likely your own stubbornness coming to contest with his about who's going to speak first. Here," Alassé says, and Tauriel can hear a door open. "We're back at your room. Go get some sleep. I'll finish yelling at you tomorrow."
Tauriel obediently bids Alassé goodnight and closes the door over before she slips her boots off and climbs into her bed.
She still has a smile on her face as she drifts off.