"You cannot hunt thirty orcs on your own, Tauriel."
He was so serious.
She glanced back at him, a smile tugging on her cheek, "But I am not alone."
His expression lightened as he realized, "You knew I would come."
"Yes, I knew you would come, Legolas Greenleaf," she thought. "Although sometimes, I wonder if it would have been easier if I did not."
And yet, she couldn't seem to find the strength in her to regret his presence.
It was Mereth-nuin-Giliath. Tauriel, seeking a reprise from the crowded hall, sneaked into her favourite spot in the garden, content to enjoy the company of the trees and contemplate the beauty of the stars.
She was so engrossed that she only felt another presence when Legolas was three yards away.
"Captain, you seem awfully quiet tonight," he commented.
"Your highness, pardon me," she stood up immediately, "I shall take my leave."
Raising his hand, he said, "No, stay. Perhaps I am in need of company tonight." So she sat down beside him, back against the tree, and studied him as her gazed upon the stars.
He seemed awfully vexed tonight. She thought, and mayhap it was to do with the rumours of the King's intentions for Legolas to wed, and to wed soon. He had been seen escorting Lady Nimthîriel rather recently, and it was said that she had been receiving gifts from the prince regularly.
"Perhaps you miss the company of the beautiful Lady Nimthîriel? I did not see her tonight," she asked half-teasingly.
His frown deepened, and she was surprised when he said, "No, and it troubles me that perhaps I am even relieved that she is not in attendance tonight."
Startled, her smile faded.
He, too, appeared surprised to have revealed something so personal to her. "Please accept my apologies, Captain. I ought not have confided in you. I understand you are friends with the lady. I mean no insult."
"But, why? The kingdom has assumed you were quite taken with her. In fact, the entire realm is quite taken with Lady Nimthîriel."
"Do you know what love is?" he asked, staring at the sky. "I remember thinking it was how the king looked when he gazed at my naneth. And yet, when I hold Lady Nimthîriel's hands, I felt… nothing."
And somehow, they ended up talking the entire night sharing stories, worries, bits and pieces from their childhood memories. If she had to pinpoint a time in which the comradeship between the prince and her shifted into a furtive friendship, this night would be it.
—
After that night in the woods, Tauriel and Legolas grew closer, and the furtive friendship blossomed into a close bond. At the same time, rumours of Legolas and Lady Nimthîriel began to fade.
It was difficult not to look forward to nights when they met in the garden, at their secret spot.
She began to look at him in a new light - the elfling who lost his mother at a young age, who had to witness his father lose his smile, and who had taken on the burden of becoming a skilled warrior so that he could fight and protect his people. He never had the time to be a child.
And yet, underneath it all, she could sense the elfling who yearned for his father's approval. Legolas still missed the father that the king once was.
They shared the same philosophies, secretly disagreed with the king's decision to hide behind the fortress that was Greenwood, satisfied with keeping evil out of his own realm.
Yet, Legolas was the more rational one, while Tauriel was more emotional.
He would make a good king one day, she thought.
"What occupies your thoughts, Tauriel?"
She looks at him, and sees the curiosity in his eyes. "I was wondering about our future king. And if his future queen would be as warm and loving as your mother was."
He looks at her for several moments, before answering, "She would be. Perhaps she will be reckless, and the reason for many a headache for me. And perhaps she would wield a sword better than a cooking knife, but she will have the most stellar of hearts, and strongest of wills."
Tauriel gazes back into Legolas' darkening eyes, and it takes her a huge effort to say, "She sounds like a lady I would approve of."
He hesitates, before nodding and glancing back at the stars.
"Yes, I think you would."