Chapter 13, everyone!

Yes, I managed to write this so I could publish it earlier than what I said! And that is because of you, my dear readers :D

Thank you SO MUCH for all your kind reviews (this story have now reached over 200 reviews!). They were really encouraging and it meant a lot to me that so many of you liked the chapter and was glad to have me back. Really, it helped, so thank you!

Also, a big 'thank you' to all who have followed and added the story as a favourite! :)

Now, there was a guest-reviewer who wondered if I would have some more mythical creatures in the story. Now I don't want to give anything away, but there will be some other creatures in the upcoming chapters, though they do exist in the Tolkien-universe, but I have altered with them just a tiny bit to fit the story better. Hope that answers your question!

Then another guest-reviewer came up with a new theory as to who the thief if, which I don't believe I've heard before. Interesting!

I do not own any characters (except a couple OCs) or places; J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson & Co do.

The italics in the beginning and the end of a chapter come from either one of the Lord of the Rings books/movies or from one of The Hobbit movies/book. All of them will have some connection to the Elves, so I don't own them as well!

Enjoy!

Chapter 13: Travelling further south

"I cannot go back."

They made camp for the night deeper in the forest, a safe distance from the swamp. Legolas was drenched in water and the dirty liquid clung to his clothes and skin in the most uncomfortable way. Tauriel hurried to get a fire going with her own tinderbox, since everything in her bag was still dry. One of her wrists was bleeding where Legolas had accidently cut her with his knife when she had dragged him up from the swamp. He shivered when he saw the wound and a wave of shame washed over him. Yet he could do little else than stand awkwardly in misery. He doubted his own father would recognize him now. His silver-blond hair was greasy and dirty, laid plastered to his forehead and shoulders. His skin – otherwise so pale and free from blemishes – had turned scarred with mud and his clothes tightly hang dripping wet from his limbs. Legolas suspected he looked like a forest ghoul.

Tauriel easily made flames erupt from the tinderbox and soon there was a welcoming warmth filling the clearing. She glanced at him.

"You could wash in the small stream we passed a couple of minutes ago", she suggested. "You can borrow my blankets tonight. Hopefully your clothes and everything else will be dry tomorrow."

He wanted to protest, not wanting her to suffer on his behalf, but the look she gave him made him keep his mouth shut. Instead, he cleared his throat.

"Of course. I'll just go and…. I will be back very soon."

"I will be waiting here."

Legolas departed. It was not far to the stream. The sound of it rushing forward was the sweetest song he had heard in a long time. He stripped down so he was just in his breeches. He left the heap of dirty clothes on the bank as he made his way down to the stream. The water was cold against his feet, not reaching him higher up than his ankles.

Without really thinking, he laid down in the stream. Stones cut uncomfortably into his back, but it did not bother him. The water rushed over his body, washing away any traces of the swamp. Its cool substance flowed across his skin, a gentle touch as soft as a lover's kiss or a mother's guarding hand. Legolas let his eyelids fall and for a while, he just laid there.

For how long he was there, he could not say. When he opened his eyes, he only saw the crowns of the trees, neither sun nor moon. Carefully, he sat up. He felt numb, not only in body but in spirit as well. He dragged a hand through his long hair, tugging loose the usual braids he always wore. Then he washed it again before getting up and began dealing with his clothes. They were covered in a thick layer of dirt and he had to scrub the shirt, tunic, cloak and boots until his nails nearly bled. His fine hands were not used to such work.

When he was done, he gathered the clothes in his arms and made his way back to Tauriel. His head had now once again been filled with thoughts and they grew heavy. It was a blow to his pride that he had been tricked by mere sprites and that it had happened in front of Tauriel only made the whole thing worse. Then there was the matter of the thief and Legolas had really began to wonder if he had made the right decision or not, if he was only reaching for strands and clues that did not exist.

His thoughts were not merry as he returned to the clearing where they had made camp for the night. A brooding expression had made itself comfortable across his face and not even the sight of Tauriel made it go away. He barely noticed how the Elven maid's eyes widened ever so slightly as she took in his bare chest, exposing more pale skin and muscle than he had ever shown a woman before, and unruly hair. Before he could get embarrassed, she had turned away and tossed him her cloak with the words: "So you don't get cold."

He accepted the cloak with a quick nod, laid down his clothes by the fire before sweeping the worn, green material around his shoulders. Then he noticed what Tauriel had been doing when he came back and he knelt down before her, gently taking the bandage from her. She let him, though there was a hint of something that was not quite annoyance upon her face.

"I am quite skilled at healing, you know", Tauriel said as he wrapped the linen cloth around her wrist with gentle fingers.

Legolas looked up at her, the look in his eyes soft.

"And I am used to patch up a wound caused by a fight."

Tauriel lowered her eyes and focused on her wrist. Legolas was still holding on to it and he carefully moved his thumb over the bandage, a soothing gesture. He was not even aware of what he was doing. Tauriel captured her lower lip with her teeth.

"It was an accident", she mumbled. "I do not blame you."

"A small wound today could be a greater one tomorrow", said Legolas and stood up, without explaining his reasons behind those words. "Even if you do not blame me, I blame myself. Accident or not, one should never hurt a friend."

"Is that what I am to you?" Tauriel asked and there was something odd in her tone. "A friend?"

The word had slipped from his tongue without a second thought. It felt right, as if belonging there. But at the same time it stirred up a mixture of feelings in his gut, feelings he had not taken the time to sort out and discover what they were. For now, he just nodded.

. . . .

The following day they continued their journey further down south. The further distance they put between them and the swamp lightened Legolas' spirit and he began to focus on how they would proceed when they arrived to the Mountains. First they would have to find an entrance. Tauriel could not recall one from her previous passing by the Mountains, so Legolas had to use all his knowledge of tracking, sensing and the Mountain's history, all while he was trying to think like the thief.

This did that he was mostly silent during their walk, but Tauriel seemed to do all the talking for him. Sometimes, she was quiet as well and that made it harder for him to concentrate, strangely enough. When she spoke, it was of trivial things, mindless chatter really, and he listened halfheartedly while thinking. Sometimes, she did try to lure him into a conversation about why the sky was blue or how the stars during a cold night shone most bright. She never spoke of the past and only once did she briefly mention what was going to come. She lived in the time that was, the moment that grew and left a fond mark in his heart. It happened that she whistled a merry tune. The pure, shrill noise made birds stop with their own twittering and shadows of wild animals followed them as they travelled their way south. But no animals or beasts sought them out, but stayed hidden, as if the bright fiery color of Tauriel's hair frightened them.

. . . .

When twilight once approached – when it had been a little more than a week since the two Elves left Bendaeenorod – Tauriel broke the common silence with a simple question:

"If I asked, would you tell me a story, My Prince?"

The question caught Legolas off guard, but only a slight faltering in his steps showed it.

"What story would that be?"

Tauriel shrugged.

"It does not matter, but I would like to hear the sound of your voice again. You have been awfully quiet."

"I have been thinking", he confessed, but did not meet her eyes.

"And you did not deem it fit to share those thoughts with me?"

Even though it was clear that she tried not to sound disappointed, it leaked through her voice. She differed from others with that; she always seemed more alive, filled with fire and not completely in control of her emotions.

"I do not even know what I am thinking about. Everything just spins around inside my head and doubt gnaws at every part of me it can, Tauriel. I am terrified that the journey here will be in vain."

"How can you say that?" demanded Tauriel to know and her eyes cut through him like daggers, much to Legolas' surprise. "Was the experience of seeing your kingdom in vain? Do you not think this journey worth it, a chance for you to travel and see what lies beyond those castle walls of stone? Have my company been such a burden?"

"I did not mean that", Legolas defended himself, holding up his hands in a calming gesture. "I meant that if I do not find the thief or any clues in the crystal caves, then I have failed and will have to face the consequences."

Tauriel looked as if she wanted to say something, but shook her head and pressed her lips into a tight line. She walked on, with Legolas following her a few steps behind. Suddenly, she stopped and stood completely still. Legolas immediately became alert and swept with his gaze around the forest.

"What is it?"

"I know this place…. We are almost there."

"We may be too late – hurry!"

So, what did you think?

I'll confess: this chapter was mostly a filler one (and shorter than chapter 12), but I felt it was needed to move the story forward. In the next chapter, they will arrive to the caves and then I promise a bit more action - and some romance ;)

Also - after having discussed with myself - I came up with a new idea that required the story to be 20 chapters instead of 19, but I think you'll survive an extra chapter, right?

Depending on school and inspiration, I cannot promise when the next chapter will be up, but I'll try to have it out by Christmas!

Thanks for reading! :)