Tauriel is a fast learner, always has been, but this does not make their task any easier. The first few weeks are mostly him conducting business as usual and having Tauriel trail in his steps, and subsequently learning that excess furniture or floor decorations will be a problem, as a good portion of that time is spent with her picking herself off the ground and him moving whatever she tripped over to the edge of the room. By the end of the third week, the room is mostly clear of furniture except for his throne and a few small tables at the edge of the room. He has also forbidden anyone placing things in the room without prior warning after he had nearly lost a bottle of Dorwinion because one of his council members moved a chest into the room and Tauriel - expecting a clear path - fell over it. It was only thanks to her quick reflexes that she was able to tuck into a roll and prevent the bottle being broken.
In the weeks they spend practicing, Tauriel demonstrates an uncanny ability to trace location by sound. He merely has to speak a few words and she can navigate to his side without error.
However, he hadn't realized just how sharp her senses had truly become until just an hour ago.
Bored, he had pulled a pebble from the sole of his shoe and flicked it away. He would have thought nothing of this action had Tauriel not turned her head unerringly to where the tiny rock hit the wall, and then where it hit the floor and bounced.
She had tilted her head a bit, curiosity peaked at the sound, and he had felt his own curiosity itch.
He had told her to bring it back to him and watched in wonder as she glided to her feet from where she sat at his side and crossed the room, her fingers brushing the ground a mere inch from where the pebble had landed. It only took her a second to find it, and she had an eyebrow raised in question as she returned to his side with the rock. Since then he had tossed the pebble half a dozen times and sent Tauriel to retrieve it, and she had yet to lose track of it.
Now, as he watches her retrieve it again and she all but skips back to his side to deposit the little rock in his hand, a smile sneaking onto her face, he can only stare in wonder.
"You are surprisingly good at this," he murmurs, throwing the pebble straight up, to bounce from the ceiling. Her head snaps up as it connects, then down as it hits the ground and bounces away, and Tauriel turns to follow it without hesitation.
"Throw it back to me," he calls as soon as she has it in her hand, and here she hesitates. "Go on," he encourages, and she draws back for a second before letting it fly.
He should have expected it to come for his head, if he is being honest, but her accuracy takes him by surprise and he ducks to the side sharply to avoid the pebble.
"My Lord?" she asks as she hears it hit the back of his throne, but he just chuckles.
"Now that could come in handy," he murmurs, picking up the pebble. "Dodge left."
He throws it before she can ask what he is doing, but she obeys without question and sidesteps the pebble just in time. She jumps slightly in surprise as she hears it connect behind her, and turns to where it hit as he smiles.
Yes, this could be very useful indeed.
Gallion should suspect that something is going on when he hears soft laughter and movement from the throne room, but his mind is absorbed in other affairs and he does not think too much on it.
Pushing the door open, he steps inside and clears his throat, eyes still focused on the paper he holds.
"My Lord, I-"
Something smacks into his forehead, the shock rendering him mute, and he slowly turns to see Tauriel with her hands clasped over her mouth in horror, blind eyes focused in his direction. A pebble lies at his feet, and he slowly reaches to rub at his stinging forehead in confusion.
A deep laugh from the other side of the room catches his attention, and Lord Thranduil stands from where he is hidden behind his throne.
"So sorry, Gallion. We did not expect you."
Now he can only stare in shock. His Lord has been tossing a pebble back and forth with Tauriel, running around the throne room like an elfling at play? Oh, Eru give him strength...
With a long sigh he holds out the paper.
"I will leave this with you for now, and beat a tactical retreat before I am besieged by more gravel."
Thranduil's smile is a bit more sheepish now, and Tauriel is flushed absolutely red, but the king crosses to him and takes the paper, perusing it. Thranduil gives him a nod, letting him know that he is dismissed, then stoops to snatch up the pebble and hurls it at Tauriel with a sharp "dodge".
The girl ducks instantly and his king's throw misses. She turns to follow the stone as it hits the opposite wall and Gallion decides that it's about time that he take that retreat when he sees her locate it and pick it up.
He backs out of the door as Thranduil slips silently into the middle of the room, and Gallion tries not to smirk as his king's trailing robes hiss across the floor and the elf has to twist out of the way to avoid being nailed with the pebble as Tauriel throws it back.
"Children..." he mutters in slight exasperation, closing the door firmly. "No matter how many thousands of years they live, they are still children."