CHAPTER 17

Two solitary nights passed in anxiety. Whatever it was that happened out there was much more serious than the captain informed his little friend. Orcs were ruthless and brutal, Beleorn was with his immature division of recruits there as well, but Laeorn dared not share that particular piece of information with Tauriel.

The attack was successfully prevented, but the victory had its price. Two elves were en their route to lord Mandos and another dozen were heavily injured fighting for their life. Messenger arrived to inform the captain to prepare the healers and that they would be returning before the sun sets. Beleorn came back with the messenger leading his line of exhausted recruits who received only minor injuries.

Tauriel was not fortunately present to see this and the captain knew that this was not a sight for an elfling so the early return of his friend came like an opportune blessing. The two were silent as they exchanged a few words. Laeorn returned to organizing the healing ward and Beleorn went inside.

Little elleth just fed her little filly who seemed to be in a playful mood. This relieved some of her anxiety, but something in her chest didn't give her peace. A dreadful sensation overcame her now and then while she tried to remain reasonable and stop imagining bad outcomes.

"Lasto tir, pinmaethiril! It's time for practicing, you've been resting your eyes long enough." A male voice came from the door making her jerk around in shock. Once the initial feeling wore off; she squealed and went to embrace him. He accepted her affection for a minute before returning to his official manner.

"Okay enough of petting, it's time for action. I'm making my way to the training grounds and you better be ready and armed by the time I get there!" he roared at her playfully while she went to her battle mode and ran out of the stables in haste to find her bow and arrows.

She did not remember to ask any questions which was the entire purpose of this little act. He made deliberate steps to his destination. Tauriel was quick so he knew she would be there before him and was required not to give her any time for speaking.

He wasn't wrong; his little warrior was already in place and ready for action. In truth, he found out that it was enough to keep her eyes busy because she didn't even realize that he arrived straight from the battlefield. Nevertheless, Beleorn decided to be more aggressive today in order to make her focus with greater efficiency,

He repeated the lecture from the last time over and over again to make her mind memorize it like a song. "Focus pinmaethril, imagine that there's an enemy standing before you. If you let your mind wander while you fight, you will be dead before you can even shoot your arrow." He said after a couple of hours. Perhaps anger would be a trigger to unleashing her potential.

Tauriel tried hard to follow his advice, but she was still too harsh on herself which made her lose patience quickly. This affected her aim as well so she missed more often than she hit on the right spot. Before their session was over however, she managed to hit the target a few times though very remote from its center. Beleorn tried to both encourage her and teach her how to do it right, but he knew the progress would be very deliberate. Hitting unmoving target was only the first stadium of archery skill. Before she would be able to shoot an orc, she would need to learn how to move correctly otherwise her aim would serve little purpose and she would be exposed to an open attack.

It was late evening when they finished their lesson; there was hardly any point in going to the dinning chamber which was Beleorn's plan all along. He didn't know whether the guards arrived back from the woods, but at least the hour was late for his little student to wander outside. The injured would be brought to the healing ward anyway.

"The hour is late. If you're hungry I'll go to the kitchens and tell them to bring you something to your room. "He said after they arrived to her bedchamber.

Tauriel shook her head. "No I'm good. Perhaps, I'll just read for a bit and then go to sleep." She replied with a sunken heart after realizing that her friend would be gone for another night. This was the longest absence they had since they met.

"Alright, good night pinmaethril. I will find you tomorrow." He replied turning to walk away, but before he made three steps, she spoke again.

"Good night and hannon le." She replied, but by the time he turned around, she was already in her bedroom taking off her weapons. It took her hours to fall asleep while reading her book under the light of the stars that came from the window. Once she was asleep, the night passed like any other night, but at least she remained somewhat tranquil and nothing was too horrible to wake her up.

The palace seemed incredibly quiet when she woke up next morning. It looked like pure coincidence before, but with every moment that passed, something seemed more and more out of place. Three nights since she saw her friend passed and yet Laeorn spoke of small orc raid. Would he intentionally hide the truth from her? There was nothing that Tauriel despised more than lies. If they didn't wish to tell her; there was a lot of ways to discover it for herself. Would Beleorn try to distract her again? Would she let him?

The answer was negative; whatever it was that occurred back there, she had the right to be informed of it. With such a resolution; she got dressed in haste and left her room trying to avoid any unwelcome interceptions. She made her way through the palace like a shadow; not finding anything out of ordinary apart from the fact that there were barely any guards in sight.

She did not dare visit the throne room. If the king were here; it was rude to eavesdrop and if he wasn't, she had no business in his throne room whatsoever. She made her way to the stables and found her friend's white steed and the king's elk sleeping comfortably. They must have arrived some time yesterday while she was with Beleorn in the training grounds. Now I see it all clear. He was just a distraction to keep me away from their return, but why? If he knew that there was something wrong, he must have been at the scene all along. Tauriel contemplated unamused by what conclusions this was driving her to.

Something clicked in her mind like a puzzle once she found the missing piece. Maybe there were injured elves or even those who died. This registered in her little mind increasing her fear that something happened that they didn't want to notify her about. The prince's face came to her thoughts filling her with sudden coldness. With renewed determination, she made her way to the healing ward making sure to stay out of sight. If they didn't think fit to share the events with her; they probably didn't want her to see them either.

She encircled the healing ward and came from the side of the forest where there was no one to impede her from walking in. Before she did so, the commotion on the other side made her stop in her tracks and observe. Smoke started to rise from the clearing; it was visible from her current position so she needed not moving much in order to get a good look. Two funeral pyres were burning making her shake in horror. Her dread became bigger when she saw that one of the dead was her friend; the one she invited to her birthday celebration only a week ago. It took everything she had to control the sudden burst of emotions at the sight.

Her hand fell over her mouth before she could act on impulse and scream. Silently, she made her way back to the forest making sure to stay far out of sight. Tears were not a threat, but her heart still felt like it would jump out of her chest.

There was no particular direction of her walk, she just wanted to get away from here. Was this how her parents were buried as well? Did they turn to ash like her friend? At least now it was possible for her to think of them as a pile of ash since they had no face anyway. Legolas seemed unharmed however which made her stay sane for a time. His father also didn't look injured. It was her desire to see him and comfort him, but if he wished for her company, he would seek her out.

It was twiight when she finally returned home. There was still no one to scold her for her late arrival. Only living souls she encountered apart from the animals, were guards who stood at the entrance at all times and they did not speak. Once again, she made her way to the dinning parlour to pretend like she was interested in her meal and once again her food almost stood untouched. After her lonely meal she made her way up the stairs though she had no idea to where.

Candlesticks lighted her way through mildly obscure corridors as she wandered without aim or destination. Suddenly, she felt exhausted and sat on a lonely step looking at her whereabouts in an attempt to pinpoint her current position. It seemed unfamiliar to her, she was fairly sure that her bedroom and the royal wing weren't in this section of the palace. She placed a hand around the fence trying to stay awake. Physically, she was more or less full of energy, but her emotions sent her mind to a sleep like state while she grieved the loss of her newly found friend.

It was like daydreaming with open eyes; she paid no attention to her surroundings in the slightest which is why his sudden voice startled her. "This is a strange place to dwell in little warrior at this time of night." a tall silver blonde elf spoke up.

She came out of her trance to acknowledge his presence. "Hir Vuin." she replied when her feet sustained her again.

The king only looked at her for a long while making her slightly uncomfortable. "The hour is late. It is time for sleep." he finally said waiting for her to come forward.

Her feet seemed unwilling to move. "Did, did the orcs kill them?" she finally asked after retrieving her usual tone or so she thought.

Her friend's eyes watched her through the king with unreadable emotion. "They died fulfilling their duty. Their sacrifice will not be forgotten." he replied after a sigh giving no direct answer to her question, but she knew. She loathed those foul creatures more than anything else in this dark world. They seemed to destroy everything that was good and pure.

"Tolo, the grief will pass and he will become no more then a memory until you meet again." he motioned her to aproach which she reluctantly did looking down at her own feet hiding her face from her observer's keen eyes which seemed to penetrate the very depths of her soul.

To her surprise, strong arms lifted her up into a tight embrace. She did not protest or look at his face, but simply hugged him around the neck and rested her head on his shoulder like she was acustomed to with his son. Before two minutes passed, she was drifting off into unconciouness with soothing fingers caressing her hair.

It has been almost six days since she last saw her friend, but Tauriel still deliberated on whether or not to go seek him out. He has been greatly missed and if the little elleth was lead simply by her own wishes; she would have run straight to his chamber. Only impediment on fulfilling such a scheme was the thought that maybe he wanted some space of his own. The fallen guard was his friend for much longer than hers; maybe he wanted to grieve by himself.

After a long deliberation, she finally made up her mind. He claimed they were friends and friends didn't let each other grieve in sollitude. With such notion, little elleth hit the road or rather the corridor to his room hoping that he was there.

"Minno." a soft yet distant voice summoned when she knocked on his door. Tauriel came in a little anxcious, but never afraid of her friend. He barely acknowledged her presence with a sad smile that didn't reach his cheeks, but made no single move to stand up. He sat on his bed looking at nowhere in particular.

His hair fell free across his shoulders the way she liked it best. He was truly beautiful, like her own personal star. She could sit days only to observe him and never get enough of it, but his face wasn't in sync with his appearance. It was a tearless mourn for his friend. Tauriel never imagined that angels could cry either.

Legolas was greatly grieved, but yesterday's mayhem brought back the memories of his own mother. No word about it passed through his father's lips ever since it occured, but her absence was felt without a need for its vocal acknowledgement. His eyes barely gazed upon his friend as she moved about his chamber. Her presence was comforting, but it didn't take away the sorrow.

Two unusally strong, yet gentle little arms wrapped around his shoulders from his back. If he was surprised, he didn't demonstrate it in any way. Warm lips kissed his cheek with such emotion that he almost felt the urge to cry. This woke him up from his little trancelike state. His friend didn't speak for which he was grateful. She didn't even begin to understand how her presence soothed his grief.

Her chin rested on his right shoulder without any voluntary command on either side. His hands found hers and held them seeking for her warm aura. They didn't look at each other or anywhere in particular. Occasionally, her lips would find his cheek and he would unconciously caress the back of her head in return.

Two friends shared their silent grief in this manner for a while. Minutes or hours could have passed and neither of them would care; for it was comfortale silence; now that they were together. Tauriel didn't know what trigerred her friend's awareness of the rest of the world, but suddenly his eyes refocused and she sensed the change in his posture. "Manen ceril?" she asked speaking into his shoulder.

"I don't know." Legolas replied gazing into the distance once again. Her arms released his shoulders, but the prince was not ready to let go. Before Tauriel realized what was happening, his instict took over and he half turned to drag her down to his lap so he could embrace her again. Little elleth was stunned at what he was doing and the speed in which he did it, but not unwilling.

When two strong arms crushed her to his chest and her own legs wrapped around his waist; she desired for nothing more even upon realizing that his grip would probably leave a bruise or two by tommorow. He kissed her cheek, than the top of her head while he breathed in her beautiful scent. It was like a drug that would keep him sane after the loss of his friend. Tauriel buried her head in the crook of his neck and did the same while her embrace remained as firm as it was.

"Ni nur angin. Amin naa sinome." she said after a few more minutes when his grip loosened by bit.

He kissed her hair in response. "Sevin le. Hannon le tinu nin." he said breathing in her aroma one last time before giving her a peck on the cheek and releasing her.

"Your hair is a disaster. You can't go out looking like this." Tauriel said after a short contemplation trying to light the mood.

It worked; in part. Legolas chuckled though not in his usual light mood. "I didn't have the will to brush my hair this morning, but you are right." he replied preparing to get on his feet before two warm hands detained him in his intention.

He looked at her in confusion, but she just gave him a small grin and proccesseded to his vanity table. Her intention became clear when she returned holding his hair brush. Elves weren't used to being attended to; not the prince and not the king either. Only elflings dressed and arranged their hair by someone or lovers. Of course; elflings had a lot of liberty and no one seemed to mind that either.

"Do you mind?" Tauriel asked searching for something in his eyes, but found only care and affection in them. "If it gives you pleasure." he shrugged watching her walk and sit behind him.

Her presence soothed him even when she wasn't in his sight. He puffed in contentment as the little elleth tenderly brushed his hair. Hands in his hair felt like a gentle, yet very effective massage.

When she was done; he looked into the mirror. She braided his hair in excatly the same manner that he used on it. She must have been observing him more thoroughly than he assumed.

"Hannon le mellon." he said after he finished inspecting it. Tauriel didn't know whether it would be polite to leave him be now, but he put his boots on quick enough which gave her no time to ponder further about that question.

"Tolo tinu nin. We have work to do." Legolas finally said after picking her up again and they went to find new adventures together. Who could grieve for long when they had a pure heart for comfort? It was a rethroical question; for the prince had no answer to it.

Translations:

Lasto tir, pinmaethril! - Listen carefully, little (female) warrior!

Hannon le – Thank you

Hir Vuin – Beloved lord

Tolo – Come

Minno – Enter

Man Cerig – How are you?/How do you fare?

Ni nur angin. Amin naa sinome. - I am sad for you. I am here.

Savin le – I have you

Tinu nin – My little star

Mellon - Friend

Author's Note: As always I am grateful for your feedback and hope that you will continue reviewing. You must be wandering at this point why I put so much time between the chapters if I already have 25th chapter finished. The answer is because I did not advance from that point for a while. You must forgive me for this because I easily get distracted. Perhaps it is this hot weather that makes me lazy for writing even though I am full of ideas. Enjoy the latest developments & let me know what you think.