CHAPTER 4

The young prince was from that day a regular visitor in the healing ward, as much as his duties permitted him time to do so. For the first couple of days, Tauriel refused to eat anything, even though she was very weak and needed to get her strength back. The healer was worried, but no matter what she said, the girl's answer remained unchanged.

This required a different approach so she spoke to the prince about it. He was grave to hear this, she seemed most communicative with him, but hardly spoke a word to anybody else. He took the tray from the nurse and brought it to his little friend instead. She was always glad to see him, but mostly felt intimidated by everyone else who passed by to try and give her comfort. "I am not hungry." she said for the hundredth time from her seating stance. Much to the healers' numerous objections she sat up as soon as she felt she was capable for it. "You need to eat something mellon, starving yourself won't do good to anyone." he replied while he stared at her little green eyes.

After he received no response, he tried a different strategy. "Tauriel, your parents gave their lives to give you the chance to live. This is a poor payback for their sacrifice." he said with his persuasive voice, he had the feeling that ordering her would not give the desired effect from the little he learned about her during the past couple of days.

"I can't eat; it feels like a betrayal to them, like I am feasting for their death." Tauriel finally mumbled after a short pause. Legolas' eyes were soft. "On the contrary, if you starve yourself to death it will be like spitting on their memory, like wasting their sacrifice. By the grace of Iluvatar, you were given a second chance, make the most of this opportunity." he replied trying to encourage her, he saw that she was thoughtful so he continued: "Here I will make you company if you desire." he said soothingly.

That finally made her give a very unladylike response as she snorted. "Yeah right, you the Prince of Greenwood are going to eat hospital food. That is a amusing indeed." she laughed quietly at the idea, but very much underestimating her companion. He took a piece of bread and stuffed it into his mouth while raising an eyebrow. She was too surprised to object when he gave her the other piece with his own hand. She ate it and flushed with embarrassment leaving the prince amused.

Her little sense of self-sufficiency made her take the next bite without his help with something that looked like apricot jam. She never tried it before, and was curious to feel its taste. Her new friend only watched her and occasionally took a small bite, her childish wonderment quite adorable.

The next few days continued in same fashion, sometimes he brought her something nice and sweet from the palace kitchens. He watched with satisfaction as the color in her cheeks was gradually coming back and her mood lifted each time she saw him.

Some three weeks after the attack, Tauriel decided to try standing on her own feet while she was left alone in her room. Her left arm was braced, her spine still hurt, but the pain was manageable. It still required some effort to sustain herself, but she managed for an entire hour before someone interrupted her little experiment; she was stubborn and restless. The healer came in to check if she was awake and to inform her that the prince was here to see her.

When she entered the room, she was stunned beyond measure not to find her patient in her bed: "Gracious, what do you think you're doing little lady?" she asked or rather exclaimed as she rushed into the room. Legolas was tagging her feet to see what the commotion was about. "Walking maim do you not see? It's a normal elven activity to use their own feet you know?" she replied with her most innocent voice. "Now do not get smart with me and get back to bed this instant, you shouldn't be on your feet for at least couple of more weeks." replied the motherly annoying healer.

"It's alright Ninenath, I'll get her back to bed." Legolas replied amused as he approached his friend and helped her back to bed where she sat down flushing with anger. "I don't see what all the fuss is about, I walked around for an entire hour before you two came into the room." she said sulking very much like a child.

Ninenath didn't give her any response as she raised her head in disapproval and walked out of the room. "Tauriel you need to take it easy. Nobody expects of you to rise from this bed earlier then you are ready to do so." Legolas tried to explain to her, but Tauriel was wise for her own age. "Yes and what about my expectations? I used to wander every day to the forest and now the closest I get to trees is that window which overlooks the backyard." she said tapping her fingers on the mattress next to her.

Legolas took her by the hand and watched her intently. "And you will be able to again mellon, but first you must heal. You went through a great ordeal, think of this as a short vacation." he replied as he let go of her hand and smiled at her.

"That's not the right word for this. Imprisonment seems more appropriate." she mumbled as she turned her back and laid her head on the pillow. She heard his silent sigh as he caressed her cheek and kissed her forehead. She felt even worse treating her only mellon like this, but the closed space made her anxious. The door closed and suddenly all the tears of frustration that threatened to spill came like a thunder, now also furnished with the guilt for what she said to Legolas; the only one who watched over her and took care of her.

Her eyes closed as she cried herself to sleep.

Translations:

Mellon – Friend