Chapter 15

Finally, upon hearing word of Lord Elrond's whereabouts, you head straight for the council room, hoping that Talia won't be there. As soon as you enter, it appears a meeting is in session and it looks important, it's also led by Elrond, who is now full on eyebrowing you.

..I'm sure that's not natural for eyebrows..

Soon realising you're interrupting them, you quickly stutter out an apology.

"Oh, I'm sorry….I was just- umm-"

"Lady Ariella, should you not be under the escort of Haldir?"

"Ah, yes, but I-"

"Where is he?"

"Well...I don't know, after I fainted I woke up to-"

"Ariella!"

Shit.

Haldir comes rushing through the doors, his face is glowing a pale red, if he were human, he definitely would have been out of breath. But as he reaches you, his concern appears to heighten. His panicked eyes look frantically over you.

"Please tell me you are unharmed..."

Both of Elrond's eyebrows suddenly shoot up - even higher.

"Haldir!? What is the meaning of this? Lady Ariella was put under your protection, at all times must she stay by your side, you know the King's request."

"Yes, I am fully aware of the King's wishes, Lord Elrond. It will not happen again."

Elrond rubs his forehead. Relaxing somewhat, he resumes the meeting once Haldir has led you out of the council room. As soon as you're out the door, you begin questioning him. It was obvious to you that Talia was lying when she said Haldir knew you were with her, but how did she get to you in the first place?

"Where were you?! All I remember is collapsing onto the floor, then waking up to-"

"Ssh, not here."

What the-

Grabbing your hand, he quickly leads you back through the hallway, you notice as you pass by a small group of female elves that they're whispering and giggling to one another, you suddenly realise that one of them looks familiar, she was in Talia's group at the ball. But your attention is soon diverted as Haldir leads you up a flight of winding oaken stairs, a path you note you've never taken before, until you reach a carved archway overlooking the entire halls. You can see just about every corridor, but it's a shame, you think, that you can't see any chamber rooms, maybe you'd be able to find out what wicked schemes Talia is currently up to.

This is totally a secret place...I wonder if Thranduil showed him?

Finally, after making sure that the two of you are fully alone, he pauses. Turning to you, his face remains etched with anxiety as he crosses his arms as if awaiting a response.

"Now, tell me everything that has happened from the moment you fainted, to being in the council room."

"What? You mean you have no idea how I ended up with Talia?"

His neck stiffens.

"You were with Talia?"

"She used a pathetic excuse saying that she asked you if she could take care of me, I remember seeing her just before I fainted...how did she get me alone if you were there?"

"I wasn't. Not for the whole time at least..."

You wrinkle up your face at him as he turns to look out over the halls. Sighing deeply, he explains.

"I was...initally, but after we had taken you to the healing room, they told me to wait outside whilst you were taken care of. Naturally, I thought this was necessary considering you may have to be examined, but after many minutes had passed none of the maids came out to tell me how you were, so I knocked a few times then went in and-... you were gone."

Haldir shakes his head, he looks about ready to punch the wall, but thankfully he doesn't.

"Now I see that it was all just a cunning deploy. Talia must have posed as one of the healing maids, along with the rest of her followers."

He turns back to look at you, taking your hand he seems genuinely remorseful.

"Ariella, please forgive me. I will never leave you again, I swear. Please don't tell the King-"

"Haldir, it's fine, honestly. Nothing's really happened, all she did was talk to me, there's no need to tell Thranduil any of this."

"...What did she speak with you about?"

Oooh, boy. I knew this was coming. I guess I should tell him. Yeah. I mean surely he'd know how to go about this whole...situation. Unless, Talia found out I told someone. But then again, how could she? We're up here, it seems pretty secret to me, and she'd never actually physically hurt one of us...well not publicly at least. Damn it. Here goes my best lie.

"Oh, ahh, she was saying just that- well she secretly wanted me to join her gang. Yeah, she said it had to be done in secrecy because.. other lower female elves may get jealous..and that could put me in danger, blaa blaa. So it's no big deal really, no-one got hurt, I'm fine, you're fine, shall we go back down-"

"And...that's it?"

"Uh-huh"

You smile at him, a really fake ass smile.

God, he's going to see right through this. What kind of dumb-ass lie did I just make up?!

"No blackmail, bargaining, bribary or threats? Just... making friends?!"

"Yeah...I mean, she's not exactly popular so I think she just-"

"I think there could be more to it than that Ariella."

Ahh, christ...can't he just leave it alone?

"...Like what?"

"Like befriending you to help whatever it is that she's scheming."

"Ahh come on Haldir, I'm sure she's not scheming-"

He grabs your shoulders forcing you to focus on his face.

"Do not trust her Ariella. You must listen to me. Whatever she tells you is a lie. Her family is corrupt, they care not for following the rules. Talia in particular will do anything to get her way. She hurts people, Ariella. If she wants something done, she'll have a way of making it happen. Those who oppose her very often come to regret it one way or another."

Taking a step back, Haldir slowly smoothes back his hair.

"If all else, please, promise me you will not speak with her again."

You look from the floor to his eyes and lie again.

"I won't. Why would I need to speak to her anyway?"

Meanwhile, a grumpy Legolas and a stumbling Nym trail half-heartedly behind Thranduil and his small army. Despite having already taken full control of the rescue attempt, Legolas is far from happy about the way his father is handling things.

"This way."

"How do you know?"

"Yeah, how does he know and you don't? You'd think that being the prince and all you would have inherited some of his intuition-"

"Nym, I swear on-"

He hesitates upon seeing his father fall back to join them.

"Legolas! Are you going to question every order I give the entire journey?"

"No. I just don't see how you could possibly know where she is and why you are even helping me? I mean you don't exactly seem to approve of my friendship with Tauriel."

Thranduil sighs.

"Tauriel is a fine warrior, more so is she loyal. I have treated her as I would treat my own, but I think we both know that it is not your 'friendship' with her that I do not approve of."

Legolas doesn't reply as Thranduil heads back up to reach the front of the group. Still in sight he shouts back, letting everyone else hear.

"...And besides, Tauriel is under the protection of my realm; I will not let orcs decide her fate."

Legolas, frustrated with his father always getting the last word, shouts back the ultimate question.

"So why exactly are you opposed to us having something more than friendship?"

Thranduil halts the army.

Nym clasps his hands over his mouth in shock.

"Oooohhh.."

Instantly, the row of four armoured elves in front of Legolas and Nym turn back to shush them, signalling that there is something ahead, but Legolas is taking none of it.

"No, I will not be silenced by some-"

"ORCS!"

A sudden ambush of orcs spring out at the elves, depite being unprepared they soon step into action. Legolas, sheltering Nym and armed with his sword, easily gets through at least ten orcs before tossing him back a knife, previously hidden inside his boot.

"Stay here!"

Leaving Nym to fight for himself, Legolas descends further into the forest. Once he's free from most of the orcs, crouched behind a web-covered bush, he notices a small group of orcs, one appears to be giving out orders, whilst the others snarl and bare their teeth.

"Foul creatures."

Legolas mutters, his head soon jerks away from them to focus on a tree just behind their heads. He notices some rope looping around the base of the tree trunk, unsure what is there, he takes a gamble and jumps out from behind the bush to take on the small orc pack.

Slicing the last orc through the arm, Legolas whips round to check there are no others in hiding, but stepping over their bodies, he sees her. Eyes wide open with fear, Tauriel's mouth falls slightly open, but she begins to shake her head.

"Tauriel...?"

Legolas slowly walks forward.

"Legolas.."

Quickening his pace, he's soon standing in front of her. Kneeling down to her height, he puts his palm to her cheek whilst his eyes check over her face. She appears unaffected, but he still can't tear his eyes from hers. Until now, he didn't fully realise how much he'd missed her presence.

"Did they hurt you? If they've laid one-"

"Look, are you going to untie me or not!? You shouldn't even be here!"

Ok, maybe he hadn't missed her that much.

"You're certainly yourself."

Mumbling to himself, Legolas walks to the back of the tree to hastily untie the rope that pins her waist tightly to the trunk.

"Why did you come here anyway? It's quite obviously a trap!"

"Oh, I see. You just don't want to seem like the damsel in distress, but you are, so just shut up and let me help you."

"No, you idiot! They want you, not me! Don't you get it!? They want to kill you and your father, listen to me Legolas, we have to go, now!"

"Well now's their chance. I bet they'd have killed you too anway, what would you do without me, eh?"

"You blind fool, I was waiting till the other orcs swapped guard duties then I was going to escape, if you think I needed your help you are mistaken."

Legolas chuckles, walking back round to her as she scrambles to get up.

"I believe you.."

He says with a smirk.

"...now follow me, we need to find Nym...although he may be rather unreasonable in his state.."

"What? You brought Nym whilst he's drunk! Legolas are you completely mad!?"

"I didn't want him to come, it's just easier to say yes to him when he's like this."

Stealthily, the two elves make it back to where Legolas was originally hiding.

"Wait, this way...I know an easier path back."

Pulling Legolas into the opposite direction, Tauriel hops onto a branch and begins to ascend into the trees, hopping from the thick branches underneath the canopy, leading them back to everyone else. Instantly, they recognise Nym from his moronic babblings and stop to watch whatever it is that he's doing.

"Now, now nasty Orcs, I m-must warn you, if you've come to play with the one they call, nifty Nym, I'm afraid you'll end up in a rather bad way..."

Pausing to take a swing at a bewildered orc, it stumbles back to move out his way, but he misses. Staggering somewhat, he gathers his strength to take another shot.

"...Such filthy, smelling company...I'm trying my b-best not to touch you dirty fellows...don't want your stench driving away the ladies...I say...have you beasts ever encountered an elven lady before?"

Continuing to swing his knife around, he's now gathered an audience of even more orcs. Instead of trying to block his failed swings, they stand back watching in confusion as he spins in circles pointing his knife out in front of him.

"Fine beauties they are...you'll find no vile, unintelligable- oh, unless of course you've met my friend, he's a prince by the way...even his father thinks he's a half-wit! Oh how I love Legs' father, so...Kingy..."

Having seen enough, Legolas and Tauriel swoop down and slaughter all the orcs circling him, Nym only realises what is happening once an orcs body is thrown at him, causing him to fall to the floor, pinned down by the weight of it's corpse.

"...well I'll b-be cursed! Legolas..you better remove this deceased foe from me before-"

Whilst Nym vomits all over the dead orc, Tauriel turns her head away as Legolas, once again, looks on in utter disgust.

"...Ughh, I'm glad that's over. Ayy, Tauriel! ...Now the gang's all back together again!"

"Nym. Call us 'the gang' one more time, and I'll never speak to you again."

"Ahh lovely Tauriel, still fiesty I see! Our princeling over here has been very, very worried about y-you, he's even been-"

"Come on Nym, let's get you back..."

Hauling him up, Nym flings his arm over Legolas' shoulder. Walking behind them both, Tauriel smiles to herself.

"..So what exactly have you been doing Legolas?"

The following morning you are stood next to Elrond, nervously awaiting their return after a scout reported their movements. You fidget and trace circles in the palm of your hand. You're not only worried about the state they might come back in, but also how you should greet the King – out of the corner of your eye, you see Talia standing in the crowd below.

Haldir senses your apprehension and smiles, imagining it to be out of concern for Thranduil's welfare, which is only half true. He leans over to you and whispers.

"I'll wager he returns without a single scratch."

You nod, appreciative of Haldir's concern - but your mind is going wild.

Scratched!? That would be far better than having to tell him I-oh god, I can't do this. It's ridiculous! He's the King for christsakes, if I tell him he'll soon have her locked up or at least banished for her plans (practically treason), oh and he'd go insane if he knew she's been threatening me... but I suppose she does have others working for her - god knows who. Hmmm...maybe if Thranduil found out it would only worsen the situation. If he did put her in the dungeons, who's to say her little minions won't carry out her work? Ahh, I don't know. I could always try to reason with her... dissuade her of the idea that being Queen is everything, but to stuck up, spolit bitches like her I suppose it really is. After all, who has she got? Still, maybe it's best I don't say anything...or not? Probably should have told Haldir. But hey, here we are. This shit always happens to me. I can't lie to save my life, but I'm the one who always has to lie! Oh hell. I really wish this wasn't happening right now.

Minutes pass and you become all the more anxious, glancing occasionally to Talia, only to be met with a pair of wicked eyes and that malicious grin, topped off with a wink that makes you want to slap her multiple times over, until finally, the doors are opened. There he stands, dressed in his battle armour, his hair and complexion barely affected. You imagine he must have fought hundreds of orcs and just the thought of his heroic actions makes you swell with affection, but you instantly remember her threat.

Oh. Christ. Why does he have to look so damn good.

As he makes his way up to you, Haldir and Elrond, the crowd below burts into cheering and applause for their safe arrival. Behind him you see Tauriel, Legolas and Nym. The latter, despite being half dragged by Legolas, looks very happy indeed. As the crowd parts to make way for the returning warriors, they all bow whilst the King passes them by.

As soon as he's in front of you, you open your mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. You freeze. Seconds go by and you say nothing, the King's glare intensifies as his eyes move from you to Haldir, finally settling on you again. All you want to do is touch him, kiss him, feel his strong arms wrap around you, but you just can't.

"So...this is how you welcome your King after battle, not even a smile?"

Thranduil beams, his eyes are bright, glowing with post-battle pride. It appears he hopes that the simple joke will jog your reaction, assuming that you're just stunned from his sudden return. But you know it's not that simple. With Talia watching, you can't afford to show any signs of emotion towards him. Haldir nudges you slightly forward, probably also thinking that you're in some sort of daze.

"I…I'm glad that you have returned safely, my King."

You bow your head and remain impassive (as hard as it may be with him literally inches away from you).

"...As are we all, my King. Although we never doubted your abilities, you can see that concern has affected us all."

Haldir steps in to take the focus off you, yet Thranduil's smile has faded and his eyes are all but on him as he watches you in silent distress.

"Yes, I can see that."

The King's expression grows more and more puzzled. Still not looking at him as Haldir gestures for him to go and speak with Lord Elrond, you feel your face getting warmer, but Thranduil doesn't budge.

Please. Go talk to someone else...

With Thranduil still studying you, Haldir leans forward and quickly whispers something to you, but you have no idea how to respond.

"At least say something to him..."

Well I would if that goddamn royal dick wasn't watching.

Taking your hand, Thranduil quickly pulls you into him, lifting up your head with his finger. You look into his eyes and see that they are full of confusion. As his head dips to your neck, you see Talia shaking her head at you, but you are quickly distracted by Thranduil kissing just below your ear, making you one hell of a turned on woman.

"My flower, please do not tell me you are mad at me for leaving you so early?"

"..N-no, I just...I have to be somewhere..."

And with that, you turn away from him and power-walk to the side doorway to your left. Pushing your way through various elves, you faintly hear Haldir call out after you, but you don't turn back.

I don't even want to know what Thranduil's reaction is.

When you're out of the hall, you run the rest of the way to your chamber whilst you have the will power to stop yourself from going back to him. It had to be done, you tell yourself. You have no idea how far Talia could go. After all, Haldir made it pretty clear how serious she is about her threats...'She hurts people, Ariella. If she wants something done, she'll have a way of making it happen.'

Closing your door you slide down the back of it and take it what you've just done.

Well damn...now what?