AN: Thank you to my lovely reviewers, it means a lot to me that you take the time to write and I love hearing from you

This chapter is set during the battle of the five armies.

Tauriel POV

Looking around at countless lost lives of elves, men and dwarves strewn across the battlefield, Tauriel felt something inside her harden. All the fury she had felt at the state of the terrible battle, the loss of lives and destruction around her was manifested into a single point of rage when she overheard Thranduil mobilising a retreat to leave the people of Dale and the dwarves to die. She marched through an archway and cut off the King's path.

'You will go no further' she stated without bowing.

Thranduil narrowed his eyes at her daring to defy him so openly.

'You will not turn away. Not this time'. She held her ground.

'Get out of my way.' Thranduil approached her menacingly, his silver armour causing his robes to swirl and he held his sword at his side; the slight she had offered had not gone unnoticed.

'The dwarves will be slaughtered!'

The King responded coolly. 'Yes they will die. Today, tomorrow, one year hence, a hundred years from now. What does it matter? They are mortal.'

Enraged by his cruel attitude Tauriel had drawn her bow and aimed an arrow directly at the King's head.

'You think your life is worth more than theirs, while there is no love in it? There is no love in you.'

Faster than she could react to, Thranduil had effortlessly sliced through her bow with his sword, rendering her beloved weapon to splinters. The King had moved forward whilst she remained shocked and placed his sword at her throat, pushing uncomfortably. Tauriel had frozen in fear and tears gleamed in her eyes as she opened her mouth wordlessly.

The King narrowed his eyes. 'What do you know of love? Nothing. The loyalty you feel for that dwarf is not real. You defied me to aid your faithless friend. Are you also ready to die for him?'

Suddenly another blade was lifting Thranduil's off of Tauriel's throat, causing her to stagger backwards from the ease of pressure.

Legolas moved proetcively in front of Tauriel and stood facing his father.

'If you harm her you will have to kill me.'

Tauriel glanced at the king who looked horrified and betrayed by his son. She almost felt pity for him. She knew deep down Thranduil did love Legolas and just wanted to keep his people safe. Her King was a good elf but he was blinded by fear.

Legolas had disregarded his father and turned towards her.

'I will go with you.'

Together they headed to Ravenhill to warn the dwarves of the upcoming surprise attack but had become separated in the ensuing battle. Without her bow, Tauriel had had to rely on her formidable close combat skills to keep herself alive as she desperately tried to find Kili. He had been under her guard when he was shot with a morgul arrow and although she had healed him, she felt it her sworn duty as Captain to keep him safe and more than that, he had become her friend during her time in Dale. She had just found Kili when monstrous Bolg attacked her from behind. The jarring impact had made her lose one of her daggers into the fray. Hearing his friend's cries at being crushed against a wall, Kili had rushed to aid Tauriel. Dazed and fighting off unconsciousness, Tauriel had not been able to act until she saw Bolg thrust his sword through Kili's heart.

'NO!' Despair and fury consumed her at his sacrifice as she caught the pain in his eyes as he died.

Using her last remaining dagger she launched herself at Bolg and embedded her dagger into his heart, pushing him over the edge of the cliff.

Weapon-less and broken, Tauriel gave in to the comfort of nothingness.

Some time later, she had awoken. The sounds of the battle had seemed distant and muffled.

Perhaps it is over. What became of Legolas? And where is…..NO!

All memory of Kili's sacrifice came flooding back to her filling her with anguish and causing sobs to escape her mouth. She dragged herself to where the dwarf's body lay and collapsed over him sobbing for the loss of a dear friend.

The sheer pain of grief shocked her, for Tauriel had never known loss such as this. Her parents had been killed in an orc raid when she was but a very young elfling and although she had been saddened, she had not the memories of them to cause her such grief.

But Kili had been real and full of life and loyalty and joy. Now he will never know these things again.

Legolas POV

After the battle, Legolas had been searching for what felt like eons to find his brave Captain.

She cannot be dead; I would have felt my feä fracture if she had perished.

Finally, upon a hilltop littered with orc bodies, he spotted her beautiful auburn hair, now streaked with blood and the grime of battle. She was hunched over the body of someone, her shoulders racked with sobs. Moving closer, Legolas saw that the body belonged to the dwarf, Kili.

He was ashamed at himself when he felt a brief resentment at her actions.

She grieves like she has lost someone she loved…

He cautiously approached his friend and touched her shoulder.

'Tauriel' he said softly, kneeling down beside her.

Tauriel flinched and turned her bruised and tear-streaked face towards him.

'Mellon, I am glad you are safe but alas! The same cannot be said for dear Kili.' He saw new tears trace their way down her pale cheeks.

She bowed her head and Legolas frowned.

'He was my friend and I failed to protect him.'

Friend she had said.

Legolas was somewhat relieved at her statement although still saddened by her loss. He moved to embrace her and when Tauriel did not resist him, Legolas scooped the broken elleth into his arms and carried her towards the medical tents for he knew she had not the strength to walk. Tauriel was barely conscious from exhaustion and grief by the time they reached a tent that had been assigned to Tauriel by the healers.

'Gi mellin' he whispered but she did not seem to hear through her despair.

After seeing Tauriel safely tended to by a healer, Legolas stepped out of the tent to breathe the fresh air. He had come out of the battle unscathed but had used all of his arrows and he was splattered in orc blood.

'Legolas' a cool voice called to him in the distance.

Legolas turned towards his Father who looked relieved to see his son alive and well. Legolas smiled for he was also glad that Thranduil had survived the onslaught.

'Come ionneg, I have a new mission for you and we must be swift.'

His heart was torn in two at his Father's request for him to go North to seek the Dunedain ranger named Strider. Legolas wanted to obey his father but at the same time he wanted to comfort Tauriel and see her through the darkness that had created such sorrow in her heart.

Noticing his son's conflicted expression, Thranduil sought to bridge the gap that had been created between them in the past months.

'Ionneg, she will be safe. I have lifted her banishment and Tauriel will resume her duties as my Captain. She will not defy me again.' Thranduil's eyes glittered darkly at the last statement.

Legolas managed a quick, small smile but his frown quickly returned.

'I must say farewell to her Ada, for I cannot leave for an extended time without doing so.'

Thranduil POV

Thranduil stepped towards Legolas then and placed a gloved hand on his son's shoulder. They were of near equal stature although the king was slightly taller but to Thranduil, Legolas looked like the young elfling he once was with his soulful eyes looking up at him full of trust and love.

But he is an elfling no more. What is it about that elleth that haunts my son so? I would have him be happy for Legolas is the only light left in my existence. But to pledge himself to her? No, Legolas is young and mistaken. This time apart will let him realise that he is in love with an idea, nothing more. This infatuation will fade as all things eventually do. I will be patient and let him regain his sense of duty to his kingdom on his travels. I will not lose my son just as I will not lose my kingdom.

After one last look into his kind blue eyes, Thranduil stepped back and fisted his hand over his heart, bowing to his only son. Legolas mimicked the gesture, recognising the respect and love in his father's actions. Thranduil turned to re-join his soldiers in organising the bittersweet march home.

So many have paid the ultimate price this dark day.

Legolas POV

Legolas watched his father depart until his personal guard joined him to inspect the perimeter. He turned towards the medical tents where Tauriel had been given a place to rest before the march home. He found her sitting on her pallet gazing at the wall with tears upon her cheeks.

'Tauriel' he called softly.

She did not reply but turned her head slightly to look at him. A soundless noise escaped her lips and Legolas rushed forward to embrace her in the safety of his arms.

'Shh.' Legolas stroked back her auburn locks

Tauriel whispered through a choked voice, 'Goheno nin, I could not save him'

'He died defending those that he loved, that is an honourable death worthy of a great warrior, there is nothing to forgive' Desperate to ease her despair, he continued. 'The king has lifted your banishment Tauriel, you are to return home and resume your duties as Captain.

Tauriel sat back and her eyes widened slightly at the great pardon she was receiving. He knew that she did not feel that she was deserving of it.

'Alas, the King has ordered me to find the rangers of the North. I do not know how long I will be gone for. Guren níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham Tauriel.'

Tauriel looked at him like she knew such a statement was coming and it strained his heart to see her so full of sorrow. As much as he longed to stay with her, he knew that she understood that he could not neglect his duty in these dark times.

However, he would not leave the Captain defenceless. He took one of his pair of white hilted daggers from his back and placed it into Tauriel's slack hands.

'Look after this whilst I am gone, for it would not do well for my other dagger to have lost its mate when I return to claim it back.'

Tauriel managed a watery smile but it did not reach her eyes. Legolas frowned and held her closer

She has not experienced the loss of a friend before or of a battle of this magnitude, it is breaking her. What if she begins to…no. That will not happen.

He reached down and placed a feather-light kiss upon her auburn hair in farewell. Tauriel stiffened, but quickly accepted the comfort. Feeling like he was leaving a part of his feä behind, Legolas left the grieving elleth to begin his mission.

I will miss being with them both under the green trees of home.

Elvish

Ada –father

Mellon -friend

Ionneg –son

Goheno nin –Forgive me

Guren níniatha n'i lû n'i a-govenitham – my heart shall weep until I see you again

Gi mellin –I love you