Dear readers,

You have been busy with reviews and I heartily express my gratitude for them.

Most of your questions will be answered in this chapter. I'm sorry for those who will be disappointed by me not starting a battle in that cave, but that was never truly my intention.

queenmia - I can't find the specific part where I wrote that, but my story consists mostly of Tauriel's internal struggle (and occasionally the prince's too) so I am almost sure that it was Tauriel who gave a thought about their very peculiar relationship. I highlight that this does NOT mean that either of them have developed any kind of romantic feelings toward each other. Tauriel is still a child!

Enjoy the new chapter & don't forget to give me your thoughts about it!

Love,

ME

CHAPTER 24

The storm raged outside not loosening its grip. It was a typical summer shower which seemed to last for a bit longer than usual. Any expectation of the arrival of the party tonight was now lost, but the prince could not calm down his anxiety reproaching his foolishness upon letting his little friend go to any extended amount of time by herself. His mind did not seem clear even on the fact that she was not alone. Gileth was with her and four guards accompanied them.

His father would be annoyed if he mentioned his worries to him so he found a little relief to his uncertainty in speaking with the captain. "No sign of them?" his question rang for the hundredth time since the sun went down.

"No mellon, they must be waiting for this rain to dissolve. It would be dangerous to travel during the dark." Laeorn shook his head trying to encourage the prince.

Legolas shook his head. "They should have been here by now." he couldn't help, but voice this out loud.

"Go to sleep mellon, they won't be arriving before tomorrow. Hopefully, this torment will end by morning." the captain smiled tapping his shoulder before going to his patrol.

The company assembled around the fire soon after they arrived. Fortunately, someone left the fire wood inside so they wouldn't be obliged to go outside to find it. Tauriel was not pleased to be seated here. She had expected to see her friend today, but the fate seemed to make other plans. They ate their ration of travel food in silence.

"You should go to rest mellon. We won't be moving on until morning at the very least." Gileth encouraged the little elleth who simply sat and stared at the fire. This night was so simmilar to the one where she lost her parents and was saved by the prince.

She made no move to do as Gileth suggested. The elleth sighed, but did not insist upon her rest. This delay was affecting Tauriel more than anyone else. Alsidis stayed to keep the watch for any possible threats. Their clothes dried by the fire, they changed their wet garments in the little secluded chamber which they used as a wardrobe. Tauriel's cloak was enwrapped around her little figure, but the cold was not what bothered her.

Her head leaned on the stone wall and she fell asleep after long hours or letting her tears fall in silence. The thunder in the distance didn't help the cause, but eventually she let the exhaustion take over. Nightmares did not bypass her, but at least she did not stir or wake anyone.

Not even the long night could make her rest properly. She woke up at dawn while the others still slept. One of Gileth's guards was on the watch when she approached him to see what became of the torment. "The rain stopped a couple of hours ago. There are still clouds in the sky. Let us hope that today we'll be able to retake our journey." he informed her before she asked.

Tauriel spirits lifted up a little in a renewed hope that she would see her friend soon. It was another couple of hours before the rest of the company rose from their slumber and they ate a little ration of their remaining food. Gileth and Gwendor spoke about the journey. The guard suggested to delay another couple of hours for precaution in case the rain decided to drop on them again.

Such scheme did not agree with Tauriel, but she knew she had no say in the matter so she simply sat in the corner with a little green leaf brooch on her palm. She saw it in the village on one of the stalls and inevitably remembered her friend. It would be a gift for him if she ever gathered the courage to present it to him. They left her to daydream in her corner conscious that there was nothing they could say to lift her spirits up.

The fate seemed to grace them this morning when the sun started to come out and win the battle against clouds. Little elleth was the first ready to depart as soon as she heard that it was time to pack. Gileth simply grinned at her as she tied her packages back on her light brown mare. Tauriel also jumped swiftly into her saddle and they were ready to take off without any further delays.

Legolas ate his afternoon meal with his father making up his mind to assemble a search party. His anxiety was no longer deniable. "Peace Legolas." the king finally ordered him while watching his son impatiently tap his fingers on the table next to his plate.

"If they are not back in two hours, I will send a squad to look for them. They might have ran into trouble." the prince finally said not being able to pretend anymore that he was able to eat.

If the king felt any sort of anxiety, he did not show it. "Maybe your friend is enjoying herself too much and decided to extend her visit." he suggested knowing that this would have little effect on his impatient son.

"They would have sent a messenger. I'm going to look for the captain." Legolas replied standing up to walk to the door. His father would have detained him if Beleorn's voice didn't come booming from the corridor.

"You are late solider. What do you have to report!?" his voice rang around the hall making the prince's sudden expectation turn into disappointment for a brief time while he thought that a guard just came back from a patrol.

The answering voice made him sigh in evident relief. "My head is still where it should be sir and the weather is warm again. " Tauriel replied using the same official tone before embracing her friend delighted to see him.

"Excellent job, now run along pinmaethril! You are wanted in the dining hall." Beleorn praised her and the prince heard her quick running footsteps approach.

He waited patiently for her to reach them and she was quick. "There is the heart and the soul of this palace." Legolas called when she came into view with a huge grin on her flushed face.

"Mellon." she called quickening her steps to jump into his waiting arms. He lifted her up effortlessly and placed a long kiss on her cheek.

"Welcome back tinu nin. Nae saian luume'." the prince replied not letting her down now that she was finally where she belonged. Her hands tangled around his neck and held him in a firm grip.

Finally, Legolas remembered his father and reluctantly placed her down, but not before placing a soft kiss on her forehead. Tauriel too noticed the king and hastily slided across the floor to stand before him. She slightly bowed and looked expectantly at his usual unreadable expression.

The prince tried to keep the grin off of his face challenging his father to refuse her now. The king looked at her unimpressed before complying and lifting her up to place a short kiss on her cheek. "Did you have a good journey back Tauriel?" Thranduil asked still holding her around the waist while her arms found their way around his neck.

Little elleth grimaced a little at his inquiry "It was interesting and potentially fatal, but we are all in one piece Hir nin." she replied cheerfully. Her report was in contradiction with her current radiant mood.

The prince seemed too alarmed to ask the questions, but the king looked only mildly surprised by her statement so he inquired further in perfect calmness. "What happened?" he asked with a risen eyebrow.

"Lightning stroke a few of the trees down a little after we passed underneath them, but we were out of its reach. We slept in a cave for the remaining of the torrent." Tauriel shrugged trying to minimize any potential threats, but the prince's eyes went wide.

If the king's nature were warmer, he would have laughed at her casual report on their possible demise, but he made no comment. "As far as I witnessed no power on this earth can strike you down. Run along now, I have business to attend to." Thranduil simply stated placing her back on her feet, but not before she placed her lips on his left cheek. He tapped her shoulder with affection before she ran out of the room in the same speed she used to enter it.

Tauriel practically crushed into the grinning captain who made his appearance on the bottom of the staircase. "There you are pinmaethril. I just received the report from your guards on your adventure. You were reckless on your trip." Laeorn chuckled placing a hand on top of her head.

"I behaved like a perfect little angel Hest." little elleth replied with mischief in her tone.

The captain chuckled "I'm sure you did little mellon. Run along to your room now, I'm sure you must be wary after your journey." he replied with mixture of sarcasm and amusement.

"Let me show you how tired I am mellon. I challenge you to a duel. En guard!" Tauriel seemed full of energy and not in the mood to be sent to her room. She drew her little wooden sword out of its covers. Ergolan told her to bring it with her as a parting gift.

Her friend looked taken aback; his keen eyes not spotting her newest weapon before now. "I see you've been busy, but I fear that particular duel will have to wait until I am off duty." Laeorn smiled before departing and leaving the elleth to huff in discontent behind him. Her journey made her even more restless.

Tauriel made a quick stop to her bedroom to lose her weapons and the horn she wore twenty four hours a day during the past two weeks. If it didn't hang around her neck; it inevitably rested under her pillow and her head rested on top of it.

Her brief encounter with her friend did not put the flame out; on the contrary it ignited her desire to see him and speak with him even more. Hot bath did not help the cause, but she knew that yesterday's rain and mud made her smell so she quickly cleaned herself up and changed into fresh clotnes.

Her feet made the decision upon her direction before her mind even registered it. She was quick when she wanted something forcefully and right now, she wanted to see her friend; the same one who kept her mind awake for hours during the nights when her exhausted body required sleep.

Soft voice from inside his room granted her entrance. A tall silouette stared out the window; his face was not looking at the door. Only visible part of his head was the blond hair which cascaded down his back. The expression his face held was mixture of thoughtfulness, sadness and peace.

His head slightly inclined when the door closed and no one spoke. Familiar gust of hair chased all the memories away and he smiled. His wide smile brighted the room while his little friend all, but flew into his arms; the same arms which encompassed her little form like they were made for the sole purpose of holding her there.

He breathed in her familiar scent while placing soft kisses all over her head without saying a single word. The endured suspense, her retail of their journey made him feel like for the first time in many years he could cry. It wasn't only that he could; he sensed the need to do it; like when he was no more than a little elfling who grieved for his mother. Little elleth both calmed down that urge and made it worse. He felt awful for having this reaction now that she was finally back to him.

Tauriel was silent for a long while content with his proximity. "You have been greatly missed tinu nin." Legolas spoke first trying to convey her the depth of his emotions and stay light at the same time.

"I missed you too." Tauriel admitted tightning her hold on his neck. Her lips found his exposed cheek with obvious years of practice and he sighed contently before placing her to sit on his bed which appeared empty during her absence.

"Did you have a good time?" the prince asked sitting merely a couple of inches away from her. This sudden gap between them did not suit the little elleth no matter how minor. Her hands found his waist and her head rested on his chest before she replied.

"I did." she admitted reluctantly.

His hands enwrapped her little form and patiently waited for her unsatisfactory answer. "You sound ashamed of it. Why is that I wonder?" he chuckled drawing soothing circles on her left arm. Tauriel did not reply; in truth she didn't even understand why that made her feel the way it did.

"Did someone dare to treat you with unkindness?" his line of thoughts surprised her, but not as much as his sudden change of demenour. His voice seemed urgent and his posture radiated cold fury.

Tauriel sat up to look straight into his eyes. "No one was unkind to me mellon. Gileth's brother was hospitable and his wife... I don't truly know how to describe his wife; they are an odd pair if you ask me. I just felt out of place at their family circle that's all." she tried to prevent any unjustfied retliation towards her host speaking a little faster then usual.

"Don't tell me you have an issue with sharing a table with nobilitty. I thought you overcame that long time ago." the prince teased while the elleth exhaled in relief.

She just shook her head. "I don't have a problem with sitting with the nobilitty. I have one with feeling comfortable while doing so." she replied making little sense even to her own ears and not watching her words.

"Does that mean you feel uncomfortable while eating with me and my father?" Legolas had a look of deep contemplation on his face.

Tauriel didn't know how to explain this to him. "You're not like others mellon. Your kindness to me comes from your good heart, but sometimes kindness is a result of more selfish motives like pride for instance. Brigolan, Gileth's brother treated me well, but he was not completely honest with himself on the reason behind it. You, on the other hand, treat me as we are equal and make me feel like it because you truly believe that I am no different from you." Tauriel tried to explain tumbling with her own words more than once during her short speech.

Something like defiance sparkled in the dephts of his eyes. "That is because we are equal little mellon except perhaps for the fact that I am bigger and fight better than you." he replied starting with incredible conviction and finishing with a mischievous grin.

Tauriel hit him with the pillow out of nowhere and pinned him down with a smirk. The prince could have easily outpowered her, but he was much too enteratained to try. "We shall see your royal highness. One day I will fight by your side and when that day comes; I will be match for your skills. I will challenge you." little elleth defied him with confidence.

Suddenly, she was the one laying flat on her back against the mattress. "Until that day comes; I still win hiril nin." Legolas laughed placing a quick kiss on her flushed forehead.

For some reason, Tauriel failed to mention her newly aquired friend. They didn't reach that particular chapter of her tales and she wasn't in the rush to speak about it either. Thranduil briefly inquired about councilor Brien's son, but apart from that didn't seem interested in any other part of the journey.

Little elleth remembered resenting Brigolan for simmilar attitude, but she could not find an equal sentiment in her chest for her king. Perhaps, she would have been more just to Brigolan if she knew him better. This tall proud cold elf sitting beside her only hid a warm heart behind his cold face. Even if that wasn't the case; Tauriel would have still looked up to him. His flaws as well as his virtues made him who he was.

The last exchange of words between him and his son could not take place without Tauriel placing her small arms around his waist. She paid little attention to their conversation; too tired to remember a single word so she simply buried her head in the king's side and blinked evenly fighting the exhaustion. Thranduil absently placed an arm on her head and stroke her hair. She was perfectly motionless in duration of their conversation.

When his attention was undivided, he noticed her eyes were half closed. "You are sleeping pinmaethril. It's time for little elflings to go to bed." he stated.

Tauriel nodded obidiently and released her arms from his waist only to climb into different embrace whose arms were warm and inviting. Before her head even touched his shoulder, she was already asleep and remembered nothing about how she reached her bed.

She was awaken by another nightmare; not that it should surprise her by now. Would they ever stop or was this penalty for her unknown or not yet committed sin? It was an old dream, but that didn't make it any less terrible than it was the first time. A dragon filled with his fire breath and the city was in flames. It descended from the sky releasing a thundering noise. Little elleth could almost feel the fire as her encounter with death became inevitable. Her hands went to cover her face as the flames approached releasing one last scream.

The next thing she was aware of were two gentle hands shaking her while the voice passed from the background and into immediate focus. "Tauriel, Tauriel, it is just another dream. Wake up. Open your eyes." he called again and again until she obbeyed him at last.

Her breathing was frantic as she stared straight ahead only to find familiar blue eyes gazing at her with utmost worry. When her mind registered what had transpired, she became aware of three different things. Firstly, he held both of her hands in his single one and they were pinned to her waist. Secondly, the hand that shook her now wiped the sweat from her face. Thirdly, he looked into her eyes while he did all this.

Tauriel finally found her voice. "If you want to get any sleep tonight, I should sleep in my own room." she voiced the thought from the back of her mind.

The prince looked at her unamused by such a proposition. "What were you dreaming about? I shook you for straight five minutes without the abilitty to wake you. Even the screams started on the very end." he asked caressing her face still hovering over her.

"Ask me again in the morning." she plead though without the intention to allow him a denying answer. He observed her for a few moments before allowing her to turn her back on him. When he covered her again, his hand wrapped around her waist and he stroke her hair until he was certain that she was asleep.

He had every intention to ask her again in the morning, but not the heart to wake her when she seemed so deeply asleep. Tauriel seemed to be getting much needed rest and there was time later to ask her questions. Before he reached the bottom of the staircase, he spotted Gileth who apparently had intention to climb it.

"Good morning hiril nin. You are up early." Legolas greeted her politely. She seemed a little surprised to see him, but held her ground.

"It is indeed ernil nin. I am here to find Tauriel actually." Gileth replied with a slight bow.

Legolas used his father's demenour when addresing her though he appeared more accessible than the king; his youth didn't entirely give him that look of wisdom which the king aquired during his long years of life and encounters with tragedy. "She is asleep right now. The night was long and she was exhausted." he replied not directly forbidding her to go and see her, but making it very clear that it was not desirable at the moment.

Gileth sighed. "It is only natural. She did cry herself to sleep the night before and I don't think she was getting much rest to begin with during our trip." she replied wondering whether it would be politely to exuse herself or if that would be considered rude.

"Please join us for breakfast. What is the reason of her low spirits?" the prince replied trying to be cordial and curious at the same time. The result was Gileth's nod and a small grin.

They walked side by side to the dinning hall. "We were scheduled to reach the palace by evening, but the storm made us detain and seek shelter in a cave for the night. I knew Tauriel was unhappy with the arrangement, but unfortunately those thunders could have been deadly for any of us out in the open so Gwendor and I decided it was for the best. I could almost bet you that she would have persued the road if she was by herself. As the time for our return grew nearer, she became more restless. The reason is not difficult to guess ernil nin. She wanted to see you." Gileth replied thoughtful not even requiring to look upon his face to know how those words affected him.

Thranduil was not in the dinning hall yet so Legolas had an opportunity to inquire further. His heart was warm upon the knowledge that she had missed him as much as he had missed her, but it was also pained by the knowledge that she was hurting and he wasn't there to give her comfort. "Was she miserable the whole trip then?" he asked unhappily.

To his surprise Gileth chuckled. "No ernil nin, far from it. Her new friends and their parents kept her quite occuppied during the day. Her mood was low only when she was alone or in the presence of my brother. He meant no offence, but I can see why some of his expressions might rise her temper. Brigolan does not share my parent's views in theory, but some of their words can't be erased easily." she replied sadly knowing that Tauriel did not particularly enjoy her brother's hospitalitty.

"Tauriel mentioned no friends." Legolas commented thoughtful.

Gileth enjoyed her moment of wisdom in front of the prince. Being a girl allowed her to see things from a different perspective and observe Tauriel's actions. "I imagine she didn't. There were three of them, but she seemed most attached to the one named Ergolan. He was the eldest in the group, fourteen I think though they celebrated his birthday before we took off. They spent the entire days with each other. I hope you are prepared for a little competition." she grinned slightly knowing that unlike the king, the prince would take her words as what they were; teasing.

Legolas had a wide mixture of emotions. On one side, he was happy that Tauriel found something which would make her time well spent, but on the other, he was afraid to lose her to this faceless rival. "I'm glad that she had a good time. Is her new friend a competition?" he asked trying to sound as teasing as her, but only half-succeeding in his intention. His little friend didn't seem to realize that he was as addicted to her presence; as she was to his.

"They probably won't see each other much or at all in the future ernil nin so you're safe. A word of unwanted advise. Do not allow other to take advantage of your reluctance. Ergolan might have been a short period of her life, but other will take his place to be for her what you deny her and she so desperatly wants." Gileth spoke with a knowing look.

The prince only looked confused at such a statement. "I never denied her anything." he stated searching for her meaning.

Fortunately, Gileth was too young to speak in the riddles like lady Galadriel or lord Elrond would probably do. "You haven't done it yet hir nin because she did not ask you for it. Her dream is to fight and protect. Have you ever considered the motive behind such a desire?" she elaborated watching his face fill with recognition. When he didn't reply, she continued. "She is afraid; not only for herself, but for others as well, especially you. You never wondered why her dreams rarely entitle her own demise? No matter which degree of protection you provide her with; she still feels defenceless. Learning to defend herself will give her confidence she needs to fight those dreams and beat her insecurities. It is pointless to protect her innocence at this point when she witnessed so much mayhem already. If you will not train her, someone else like Ergolan will. Another unwanted advise. Do not be the one to deny her this dream; not you of all people. She could resent you for it one day. Just look at my family. I barely speak to my own parents. We're about to go back to my brother in a few days and I already know that they will unite to try and stop me and I will stand my ground. Do you truly wish to be like my mother?" she spoke for a long while until they heard footsteps approaching.

Gileth stood up to greet the king and Legolas mechanically mimicked her gesture. Thranduil looked mildly surprised to see her. Elleth knew that the prince was in deep contemplation so she addressed the king to spare him from having to reply. "Aran nin. I'm sorry to yet again intrude this early, but I merely wished to see Tauriel and ernil Legolas informed me that she was still asleep. I hope my presence does not inconvinience you." she chatted lively attracting the king's attention.

The king simply dismissed her apologiez. "Do not trouble yourself. I've been meaning to summon you anyway. I wished to inquire about Tauriel's behaviour." he voiced showing her where to sit. Legolas was grateful to the talkative elleth for allowing him time to collect his jumbled thoughts.

Another long report on Tauriel during their trip left both the father and the son to listen while only Thranduil asked an occassional question. The king was pleased that she found some company which would aliviate his son's time; if only he wished it, but he also knew that was a lost cause; and not only because of the fact that they lived so far away.

Upon finishing his meal, Legolas wished for nothing more than to go and see his little friend, but much to his dismay; his duties impeded him. They planned to enclose in on a spider's nest tommorow and the planning required his spiritual and physical presence.

When they finished their afternoon meal, Legolas went to supervise his division of recruits spotting Tauriel's face fall for not being able to accompany him. The prince did not forget about his conversation with Gileth, but his made was not made up. Not today. he repeated in his head over and over again.

They had no chance to speak until the evening while little elleth unbraided his hair. This little moment of affection was missed as well. He wanted to speak with her about her dreams, but had a hard time formulating his question. Tauriel knew this, but avoided his persistant eyes.

"Gileth seems to think that I have competition." the prince voiced his thoughts in this manner. This would at least keep the mood light.

Tauriel blinked in confusion leaving his last braid to fall on its own. He turned to pierce her with a smug gaze. "Competition?" little elleth tested that word on her tongue confused by such a declaration.

"Your friend. You know the one you failed to mention?" Legolas elaborated watching her face spark with recognition and a light blush appear on her cheeks. Such a reaction would mistify even the more expirienced elves then himself.

Little elleth tried to formulate her apology and confession in the same breath. "Goheno nin, I did not have the intention to hide his exsistence; it was just ... I don't know why I omitted that piece of information." her jumbled barely understanable response came apologetically.

It was truly a talent to use so many words and not give anything away. "U-moe edaved. Is your new friend my potential rival?" the prince grinned at her in order to hide his true curiousity.

There were some matters which Tauriel took very seriously independently of whether they were meant to be a joke. "Wait what!? No!" she spoke in a rush slightly alarmed by such a ridiculous thought. Her voice was an octave higher then per usual.

Her spontaneous reaction disturbed the prince while he watched her face pale down in shock. "Easy mellon nin. I think that the fact of me having a competition should alarm me and not you." he tried to tease her again not learning from his previous mistake.

Tauriel regained the function of her mouth. "Don't be ridiculus mellon, no one could ever compete with you. Ergolan was a good friend and fun to be around, but on the end I was happy to leave him and come back to you. It was you who was in my every thought at all hours of the day or night." she shot in two breaths trying to erase the irrattional red light from her head.

"Were those the same nights where you could barely sleep?" he inquired seeing his chance to inquire what he really wanted to know and taking it without thought. Her face changed from urgency to reluctance upon realizing how well informed of her whereabouts he seemed to be and knowing who was responsible for gathering this information.

Some hidden strength and indignation came from her mind. "I would greatly appreciate if you refrained from spying on me through my own friends in the future. I'm glad you and Gileth had such a enlightening analysis of my personalitty, but I am done being your lab rat. Since you two seem to get along so well, tell her that her company is no longer welcome. Now exuse me, I am going to my bed and what haunts me is no longer anyone's business." Tauriel's voice was cold steel as she said those words staring angrily at her friend's eyes who widened by the end of her speech. Before he had time to stop her, she was already at the door.

He was capable to easily detain her, but something inside told him to leave her be for the night. This conversation was far from over, but she made her decision and he had to respect it.

Tauriel swiftly arrived to her own room throwing the horn on the floor in fury. The door was locked just in case that spoiled princling didn't get the hint. She clenched her hands into fists and hit the floor forcefully until her wrists and her hands bled. It released the tears of buried frustration. She summoned everything dark that occurred during the years only in order not to think about Legolas.

A part of her meant every word, but the other part was in agony for speaking to him in such a manner. Very little sleep came that night, but she did not care.

Translations:

Nae saian luume – It has been too long.

Mellon – Friend

Pinmaethril – Little (female) warrior

Tinu nin – My little star

Hir nin – My lord

Hiril nin – My lady

Ernil nin – My prince

Aran nin – My king

Hest – Captain

Goheno nin – Forgive me

U-moe edaved – There is nothing to forgive