Tauriel POV

Tauriel was on her way to see Thranduil, to request more supplies. The elves here needed more herbs and such like that grew only in Eryn Lasgalen. The Elven guards bowed to her as she entered Thranduil's spacious wing of the grand building of Faramir and Éowyn that also housed herself, Legolas and Thranadir. Making her way down the curving corridor she paused outside of his great chambers and rapped lightly on the door whilst silently debating whether to ask for more Elven cloth as well. The mortals had their materials but even their finest silks could not compare to the quality that the elves were used to.

Tauriel had been shocked when Éowyn had required new hunting garb every few months, not for vanity but because her old ones wore with holes so quickly.

Tauriel had for some strange reason been too embarrassed to admit that her own hunting robes were probably about two hundred years old. They still looked new.

Unusually, Thranduil did not summon her in. Tauriel tilted her head and looked to her raised fist, considering what to do.

Oh well, he will not mind me waiting in his antechamber.

Tauriel crept in and looked about for somewhere appropriate to wait. It was what she normally did when waiting to deliver her Captain's report.

Inside, the room was dimly lit suggesting that Thranduil had not been back since before the sun had set.

The Captain had never been in here before. Tauriel looked to the right and saw that the doors to the spacious balcony were open allowing the fine gauze drapes to flutter inwards upon the slight westerly breeze.

Normally Tauriel would not dare to move any further in without permission than the antechamber but something on the balcony begged for her attention. Something, knowing Thranduil she did not quite understand.

A white aerangis in full bloom stood alone on the balcony.

Curious.

Flashes of memory came to the forefront of her mind of Legolas whispering of the forest star.

Tauriel thought that she had never seen something so pure in its beauty. Knowing that she most definitely should not be snooping in the king's chambers, the Captain inched towards the balcony anyway, shrouded in the room's thick shadows. Almost as if she had to, Tauriel extended her pale hand towards the perfectly formed moonlit petals…

'WHAT ARE YOU DOING?' A voice of ice shouted at her so loudly out of the dark that Tauriel jumped guiltily and spun around in a whirl of green. Her heart was pounding, blood coursing through her body in shock and the Captain almost reached for her daggers.

She turned meekly to Thranduil who towered over her small form as he stormed forward, silver robes glimmering around him like ice fire.

'I...I was just...' Her words caught.

Tauriel frowned inwardly at how shaken her voice was. Thranduil was terrifying in his glory and she was afraid.

Yet when he neared and Tauriel bravely met his crystal gaze, she had the most curious sensation. On the surface, Thranduil's eyes looked like they normally did -an impenetrable blue glacier forged by starlight. Yet as Tauriel fell into that fathomless stare she had the distinct impression that Thranduil half wanted to throttle her and half wanted to break down in tears.

There was no explaining what she had seen but Tauriel's senses were rarely false. After all her fighting skills were not the sole reason she had been promoted to Captain so early on in her life.

Her voice was barely above a whisper but she was thankful that it did not quaver this time. 'Hîr vuin?'

But Thranduil's lips just thinned into nothingness and his gaze held no familiarity.

'Get out. Ego!' His low hiss made her tremble, for it was reminiscent of a dragon.

Tauriel bolted in absolute fear.

She slammed the ornate oak doors behind her in pure haste. The Captain collapsed outside Thranduil's chambers for her heart was surely trying to make a daring escape from her chest.

What was that all about?

Was that all because of the flower? She had only looked at it! What does that even mean!

Tauriel's head was confused and her heart was hurt by Thranduil's words. She had waited for him in his chambers before and he had never screamed at her like that. Even when she had had to report to him after her fall from grace he had never seemed that angry at her being in his rooms.

She instinctively wanted to talk to Legolas about it. He always knew what to say.

But instead Tauriel clenched her fists and looked down into her lap from where she lay slumped against the door.

No..no I cannot tell Legolas. I am not sure he would understand. Honestly I am not sure that I understand.

Why was he so angry? He called me his Captain before. I know that he cares for me. He was not only angry.

Why did he look so unfathomably sad?

Tauriel blinked rapidly as her mind furiously replayed the terrifying moment of experiencing Thranduil's anger. She laid her head back against the comforting solidness of the wood and exhaled shakily, trying to regain her composure.

Little did she know that slumped just mere inches away from her on the other side of the oak door was the Elf King, crying silently into his knees

Legolas POV

Thranduil did not stay long after Thranadir's first outing and although Legolas had not expected his Father to stay in Gondor for long, he was slightly startled by his sudden imminent departure. Yet here they all stood just outside Ithilien, the elven host that had arrived mounted and ready to leave.

'Must you leave so soon, Ada?' Legolas did not want the elven-King to leave. When he was here, it was like the heart of Eryn Lasgalen was here too. It helped Legolas keep his secret sea-longing far from his mind.

Thranduil looked down at his only son with what could almost be described as a smile. 'Have you forgotten that I have a Kingdom to run, Legolas?'

Despite himself, Legolas felt a faint blush rise to his cheeks but he smiled back anyway.

Thranduil's smile evaporated when he saw Tauriel standing with Thranadir, however. Legolas assumed it must be because he would miss them and that he was sad to be leaving when Thranadir was so young.

The Prince's eyes were drawn to a silver dome of cloth nestled in front of his Father, which the King held onto tightly with one of his gloved hands. He had not seen it before as Ortherion's saddle had shielded its view.

'Ada, what is that?' Legolas peered to try and get a closer look.

'Something that I do not wish to be damaged.' Thranduil replied coolly and mysteriously whilst imperceptibly twitching his cloak forward so that it largely covered the object.

Legolas raised an eyebrow in amusement; his Ada would always have his secrets. He did not think much of it after that.

Tauriel however, looked distinctly uncomfortable and busied herself re-braiding Thranadir's braids, which were already perfect. If Legolas had not known better it looked like she was trying to avoid the King's attention.

Tauriel has been a bit on edge lately. Even more so when Thranduil is around.

Thranduil turned Ortherion away to bid goodbye to the Gondorians and Legolas seized his moment, turning to his wife.

'Is something going on?' Legolas looked curiously at Tauriel who seemed to be avoiding his Father as much as was physically possible.

Tauriel looked at him innocently and said 'No, nothing Legolas.'

Legolas frowned. He knew that Tauriel was lying as she chewed her lip when she looked away. He did not press her, however.

Thranduil had turned back to them one final time and looked at Legolas with a smile. 'I await your return, ionneg.'

'Námarië, Ada.' Legolas extended his hand from his heart and Thranduil accepted the gesture.

Thranduil looked almost wistfully at Thranadir in Tauriel's arms with a small smile, before looking up and catching Tauriel's eye.

'Tauriel.' Thranduil said coolly.

Legolas watched confused as Tauriel looked hurt and blushed before hiding her face in Thranadir's silver locks.

'Hîr vuin.' She actually mumbled.

What?

After Thranduil and his escort had left, Legolas turned to Tauriel and folded his arms in front of him, hoping once again to get a confession of what was troubling her.

Obviously sensing the imminent interrogation, Tauriel ducked her head and turned.

'I must go. Serilla will already be waiting for Thranadir and I am late in creating the Guard rosters for next week.'

'Tauriel, do not worry, I can…' Faramir offered but he never got to finish his sentence as the auburn-haired elleth had already made it halfway back to the keep.

Legolas turned to Ranadir, who was watching Tauriel's back with a bemused expression. Legolas caught his eye and frowned.

Ranadir just held up his hands and exhaled as if to say: do not ask me.

Legolas frowned again and went about his duties.

I will corner Tauriel tonight and ask what is bothering her about Ada. I will make sure I actually find out this time!

By the end of a long day of leading a scout party through the eastern marshes, Legolas was cold, dirty and miserable as he trudged back to his chambers.

All I want to do is hold Thranadir. I would love to hold Tauriel too but I have a feeling that she may be avoiding me.

Back and dry in their chambers, Legolas steeled himself resolutely and turned to Tauriel who was polishing her daggers by the fire. Legolas looked at the daggers and they glinted dangerously in the firelight back at him as if warning him not to upset their mistress.

I wish she were not polishing them right now.

'So. Care to tell me what exactly happened between you and the King?' He tried to sound nonchalant.

Tauriel looked twitchy as she stood up and Legolas sighed thinking that she would try to avoid answering him. Therefore, he was entirely surprised by what she said next.

'Does the King often keep flowers?' Tauriel's green eyes flicked to his.

What? Well I was not expecting that!

Caught off guard, Legolas raised an eyebrow, suspicious that she was trying to avoid the question.

Well Tauriel. Two can play at this game.

'Thranduil has his personal gardens, as you know, Tauriel. Although I think he mainly wanders through them. I do not think he actually keeps them.'

Tauriel seemed to consider his words.

'So he does not often keep live flowers, say for a pot on his balcony?' Tauriel was now staring straight at him as if willing to find whatever answers she was after written in Legolas' eyes.

Legolas thought for a moment but answered honestly, as he always did. 'Not that I have ever seen.'

Tauriel came forward and took his hand, softly stroking his fingers. The movements were very relaxing and Legolas tried to remain focussed.

'Legolas, the more I think about it the more I think that your…'

At that moment Thranadir wailed, obviously annoyed at being dragged from his dreams by their voices, although they were being fairly quiet.

Legolas immediately went and picked his son up and started to softly sing the ballad of the Maiden Nimrodel.

It had been Tauriel's favourite song when she was an elfling and I would sing it to her when she had nightmares.

An Elven-maid there was of old,
A shining star by day:
Her mantle white was hemmed with gold,
Her shoes of silver-grey.

A star was bound upon her brows,
A loght was on her hair
As sun upon the golden boughs
In Lórien the fair.

Her hair was long, her limbs were white,
And fair she was and free;
And in the wind she went as light
As leaf of linden-tree.

Like his Mother, Thranadir soon slipped back out of consciousness but Legolas was contented to just hold him.

He looked back up to Tauriel who was watching them both adoringly.

'My favourite song.' She whispered and Legolas gently leaned over to kiss her temple.

Then the little family held each other very close and Legolas completely forgot about what Tauriel was about to say. He did not care, for at that moment he once again held his world safely in his arms

Elvish:

Ego! –Go away!

AN: This is a few verses of the ballad of Nimrodel that I borrowed from the great Tolkien.

So, looks like Tauriel has some sleuthing to do!

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