Thranduil's gaze hardened as he looked at the slaughtered bodies of his people. Never since the last war waged on Gundabad had they seen such loses. His people were meant to lead immortal lives. His peruse of the fallen stopped at a familiar face, and the corner of his lips dropped.
How many times must he repeat the same painful message that others once had to relay to him?
Never again.
"Recall your company," he orders Feren, who had taken over Tauriel's duties in her cursed absence.
As Feren sounded his horn to signal the retreat, the wizard, Gandalf, approached, "My lord, disperse this force to Ravenhill, the Dwarves are about to be overrun. Thorin must be warned."
Thranduil steeled his resolve, replying coolly, "By all means, warn him. I've spent enough Elvish blood in defense of this accursed land. No more!"
And even Gandalf's call cannot stop him.
Tauriel blocks the King's exit, "You will go no further!" Was the king not repeating the same actions he once did, leaving the queen, at her own insistence, to her lonely death in order to save other elves? Her father had told her long ago, that the very act had devastated the king. And yet, she saw no compassion in him now for the lives that would be lost with this abandonment.
She adds on, "You will not turn away... Not this time."
Expectedly, the king is furious with her actions, and he grounds out, "Get out of my way."
She argues, "The dwarves would be slaughtered!"
His reply infuriates her, and impulsively, irrationally, she draws her bow against him. It is an act of treason, but she was far too angry to care.
"You think your life is worth more than theirs, when there is no love in it? When there is no love in you?!"
It is a foolish move, and the king slices her bow in half and has her at his sword tip in a second.
He questions her, "What do you know of love? Nothing. What you feel for that dwarf is not real. You think it is love? Are you ready to die for it?"
I am ready to die for what is right!
Before she can reply, the king's sword was struck down with almost an equal force that her bow was. And Legolas steps in front of her, declaring, "If you harm her, you will have to kill me."
As he turns to tell her that he will leave with her, she can see his pain at openly defying his father shining from his cerulean blue eyes.
"We cleared the nests, but the spiders are spawning in the south. Efforts are hampered, father," Legolas reported.
"And yet, I've seen no results since I ordered the spiders eliminated two months ago," Thranduil replied, as he paced his study.
"Not because of any shortcomings in our guards, or the Captain's, father. Tauriel fought well today."
Thranduil had turned to study his son. "You've become fond of her," he observed.
Not willing to reveal more, Legolas replied, "She is a good captain."
"But is she more than that to you, Legolas?" Thranduil asked.
When his son hesitates, before answering that Tauriel is his good friend, King Thranduil realizes that his interference might, perhaps be imperative.
He would rather spare his son from unecessary heartache.
As he watches his son leave with the captain who had often challenged him, with the girl whom he had watched grow up, he wondered if he did the right thing by interfering.
"Feren, lead the troops back, but leave me a small section of volunteers," Thranduil ordered. "I'm going after my son."
Visibly taken aback, Feren, betraying his usual composure, asked, "My lord?"
But with a sidelong glance from the king, his acting captain could only obey. Not everyone was as headstrong as Tauriel, it seems.
He ought to damn his fondness for the insolent elf.