The following storyline was such a risk I was making here. In order for this storyline to work, I had to make up a little bit of my own stuff but still make sure it makes sense in Middle-Earth. Because of the risks taken for this story, I would love to hear your feedback on this. Does this work? Does it fit in Tolkien's world? Luckily, there's a Part 2 and 3 for this story, with more details explained for the stuff I do here, so without further ado, here's the continuation of the series!

*Tauriel walked slowly through the forest, keeping her ears sharp to listen for any sudden noises. She held her dagger, with sweat running between her fingers. The only sounds around her were those of animals.

Then, she heard it. The sound of someone leaping off a tree. She leaped back, and raised her blade. Meleth's dagger blade struck Tauriel's, unleashing a loud clanging sound that rang through Tauriel's head. She saw Meleth smile and nod in satisfaction.

"Very good," she said. Tauriel slid her dagger away from Meleth's blade and sheathed it.

"You're learning to listen closely. You have sharp ears, so you have to learn to use them," Meleth said. Tauriel smiled.

"And I'm learning thanks to you," she pointed out. Meleth laughed and sheathed her own blade.

"Well come now, I wouldn't be here if Alagos hadn't asked me to help you."

"What a good friend you are," Tauriel remarked. Meleth playfully shrugged.

"I would help you any day. Just say the word," she replied. Tauriel nodded.

"Thank you Meleth."

Meleth reached into a pouch she wore and pulled out two beautiful white flowers.

"Do you know what these are?" She asked. Tauriel shook her head, feeling somewhat guilty that she didn't.

"This flower is called Mallos. It means 'gold snow'. I picked another one for you to have," Meleth said. She handed Tauriel the flower.

"Normally, these flowers are found in Lebennin. But I have been lucky to find a rare few in this wood," she explained.

"Have you been to Lebennin?" Tauriel asked.

"No. But I promised myself that one day I will," Meleth replied.

"Can I go with you when you do?"

"You would be the first Elf I would ask."

Tauriel felt warmth spread through her body like a bonfire. She was glad to be with Meleth. Legolas had abandoned her for now, and Alagos, though he still trained her and talked to her, had been distant and more quiet then usual lately. Meleth was the one that Tauriel could turn to if she needed somebody to talk to.

"There is a song that describes Lebennin. Would you like to hear it?" Meleth asked.

"Yes." Tauriel sat down and listened closely. As Meleth sang, she stared at the flower she was holding the entire time.

Silver flow the streams from Celos to Erui

In the green fields of Lebennin!

Tall grows the grass there. In the wind from the Sea

The white lilies sway,

And the golden bells are shaken of mallos and alfirin

In the green fields of Lebennin,

In the wind from the Sea!**

*When Legolas fought for his life, he imagined his opponent as the Orc that he had fought on the day he lost his mother. His ferocity would be fed, and his body would get faster and faster. He was in danger of slitting his fellow Elf's throat in a practice fight. Tharbadir, who was able to defeat Alagos in battle, tried desperately to parry Legolas's deadly swings. Thranduil stood by watching the fight with no emotion in his expression. This frustrated Legolas more, because he had no idea what his father was thinking. How long would it take for Thranduil to finally be genuinely impressed with him?

Legolas used both hands to swing for Thar's torso and then the knees. Thar masterfully blocked all of the king's son's attacks, smiling as he did so. Thar ducked, spun, and attempted to slash Legolas at the knee, but Legolas leaped as the blade swung underneath him. When he came back down onto his feet, he quickly kicked Thar in the throat. Thar gasped as the air exploded out of his stomach, and he stumbled back. Legolas walked up to him. He could still see the Orc leader that he fought a long time ago. It was looking up at him and laughing.

"Enough!" Legolas yelled. He raised his dagger blade ready to strike down.

"Legolas! That's enough," Thranduil commanded. Legolas froze and looked at his father. His expression was one of concern and anger now. Of course. When he didn't look like he had any emotion he would only look angry and unimpressed.

"Tharbadir, leave us," he said. Legolas looked back at Thar, and this time he was seeing Thar instead of the Orc. Even if revenge for his mother's death was what he wanted, he knew it was too late. His father had killed the Orc that had led the pack.

"Please forgive me, Tharbadir. I was too impulsive," Legolas apologized. Thar got up to his feet, his hand trembling as he sheathed his sword.

"All is forgiven, my lord. I understand," he replied. He then walked away, his legs slightly trembling as he did.

"This cannot continue," Thranduil simply said. Legolas sheathed his dagger and looked at his father again. Old wounds begin to slowly come apart again. He still remembered his mother's death and his father's reaction as if it was just yesterday. Holding beautiful Elbes as she took her last breath. Thranduil's skin splitting away to reveal bone and tissue as he screamed at Legolas and blamed him for Elbes's death. That was a dark scar that Legolas believed would always remain.

"I know what you see," Thranduil said. Legolas's cheeks burned. Sometimes it bothered him how much his father knew of what happened inside his head.

"And why do you think I always see it?" Legolas asked. Thranduil sighed and took a step closer to him.

"I know why you always see it, but it is not good to dwell on it."

"She is not lost forever. She is in the Halls of Mandos, and will one day be free in the West, never to suffer again."

"But she could have been here longer. She could have helped me," Legolas said.

"Are you referring to her ability to see your future? You know what she told you about that."

Legolas didn't answer. He knew what his father meant. His mother wouldn't have ever told him specifically what was coming for him, what lay ahead in his future. She had made it very clear that she wasn't going to be specific with Legolas. Yet even so, Legolas couldn't fully accept that.

"I cannot allow my people to think I have a son who can be dangerous to them. Restraint is something you lack, Legolas. Dwell on that," Thranduil said.**

*Tharbadir walked down a set of stairs on his way to his room, still a little shaken up from his spar with Legolas. He felt fully convinced now that the king's son was going mad. He was dangerous. The death of his mother had done something to him. There was an uncomfortable tension between Legolas and his father. Everyone in the realm knew about that, and it made some, especially Thar, uneasy.

Thar gripped the hilt of his sword and pulled it partially out. It glowed a beautiful sapphire color. He smiled and slid the sword all the way back into its sheath.

"I know you're here. You do not need to fear me," he assured. Meleth was here.

She was behind Thar, wearing a dress that changed colors between gold and snow white every time she moved. Meleth had crafted it herself as a tribute to the flower Mallos. Thar knew all too well that one of Meleth's goals was to travel to Lebennin. She had promised him a long while ago that she would take him with her. Thar turned around to look at her, facing her ludicrously beautiful appearance once again.

"The sword glows whenever I am nearby doesn't it," Meleth said, not as a question. She knew the answer already.

"You may not be a disciple of what lurks inside you, but it is still there and it remains the same," Thar replied. Meleth looked down at the ground, trying hard to hold back tears.

"What if Tauriel was to find out? What if the king finds out?" She asked. Thar lifted her chin up so that her eyes were gazing up at his own.

"They will not. I will make sure of it. Tauriel loves you for who you are. What lurks inside you does not define you. I know this myself," Thar said. A tear slid down her cheek.

"It is only growing stronger. I can feel it. If the king or anyone else was to find out, what then?" She asked.

"If anyone learns your secret, I will kill him."**

*Meleth watched Tauriel from behind a tree. What she was going to do meant betraying her dear friend Thar. She and Thar had been close for a long time. When Meleth came to the Woodland Realm, it was only a few days before her fiftieth birthday, when she would be considered a fully mature Elf. During the ceremony for Meleth's fiftieth birthday, Thar gave her his deceased mother's armor as a gift. Thar admitted soon afterwards that he was attracted to Meleth and that there was a connection between them that had been forged by the grace of the Valar itself.

Meleth wasn't sure whether to believe that that was absurd, or if it wasn't. Thar was a gentle, caring, beautiful Elf, and she loved him. But he didn't fulfill Meleth's thoughts like she fulfilled his. Now she was afraid of him. If Tauriel finds out herself about her secret, Thar will kill her without hesitation. If Meleth tells her herself, then when Thar learns that Tauriel knows but that she told her, he wouldn't be so quick.

"Tauriel," Meleth said, stepping away from the tree. Tauriel turned around. She had been practicing her skills with a dagger. Alagos was standing by watching.

"Meleth, what is it?" She asked. Meleth glanced at Alagos, anxiety rising in her throat.

"Please forgive me, but I wish to speak with Tauriel alone," she said. Alagos raised a questioning eyebrow, but nodded.

"Very well. I will go," he said. When Meleth knew that Alagos was out of earshot, she sat down, fingering the grass beside her. Somehow, touching things like grass and flowers always soothed Meleth. She would need to be calm for this moment.

"What's wrong, Meleth?" Tauriel asked, bending down so that she was looking into her eyes. Meleth looked up at her.

"We are friends, are we not?"

"Of course, Meleth. You can tell me anything."

Meleth gazed at Tauriel's face, recognizing how innocent it looked. It forced her to question whether or not someone as young as Tauriel will be able to handle this.

"Tauriel, I'm not a normal Sindarin Elf," she said. Tauriel frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"My mother and father were traveling one day. My mother was pregnant with me, and when they needed to lie down for the night, they found a black gem in a cave. My mother was aware that something was wrong about it, but my father was attracted to it, so he took it. A dark power from the gem surged into him, and he forced my mother to hold it so that she can have the power too. They were both affected, which also caused me to be affected too when I was still inside my mother's womb."

"What kind of dark power is it?" Tauriel asked.

"I'm not entirely sure. I have never wanted to ask, because I don't want to know the darkness within me. I want to cleanse myself of it instead."

Tauriel smiled and took Meleth's hand. Meleth was surprised by Tauriel's response. This wasn't at all what she expected.

"The darkness you have does not define you, because I know you are good. I can feel it, melonin."

"The others may not think the same way as you do now. You must not tell anyone about this, including Alagos."

"I promise," Tauriel assured her. Tears rose to Meleth's eyes, and she wrapped her arms around Tauriel in a loving embrace.

"You're too good to me Tauriel. I am grateful to have such a wonderful friend like you."

"You have nothing to fear Meleth. Go and be at peace," Tauriel replied. Meleth nodded and stood up, dusting herself off. She looked back at the path that led straight to the gates of the kingdom. Somehow, the Woodland Realm didn't look like home like it used to. It almost felt like a prison to her. Tauriel and Thar were the only bits of home she felt like she had.

Just then, coming down the path fast was Alagos.

"Quickly, you two must come with me!" He demanded. His expression was grim and scared. Tauriel leaped to her feet.

"What has happened?"

"It's Tharbadir. He has been arrested for attempting to kill the king's son."**

*"For what twisted purpose would you attempt to murder my own son?" Thranduil demanded. Thar stood wearing handcuffs before the king, who sat on his throne glaring down at him. Legolas stood next to him watching with an ice cold stare. Meleth watched behind Thar in horror. She felt Tauriel place a comforting hand on her shoulder, but she still felt overwhelmingly miserable.

"I tried to do it for the sake of this kingdom. Your son is a danger to all of us."

"And what kind of black thoughts provoked you to think that?"

"Did you not see him during our practice sparring earlier? He almost killed me. He looked like he wanted to kill me."

"I am aware of my son's impulsive behavior, but that gives you no good reason to try and kill him."

"He has to be. The Winds demand it."

The Elves standing nearby gasped. Meleth gasped along with them.

"No..." She stuttered.

"The Winds?" Thranduil demanded.

"What kind of devilry is this? He must be destroyed," Legolas insisted. Horror and grief crashed down Meleth's throat. Thar was claiming that he had a dark magic contained within him!

"You were too blind to realize what dwelt among you for so long, sharku!" Thar screamed. The Elves gasped again, and Thranduil stood up from his throne.

"Take him away! Throw him out of the Greenwood, and if he returns, kill him!" He ordered. Elros and another Elf grabbed Thar's shoulders and began to drag him away.

"You can't do this!" Meleth screamed. Thranduil turned to look at her.

"What do you know about Tharbadir?" He asked. Meleth gulped and stepped forward. She knew that what she was about to do would destroy her. She would probably be banished from Greenwood, but she couldn't allow Thar to be thrown out.

"I have a dark power within me. The Winds. Not Thar," she confessed.

"You lie! Don't try to save me, Meleth! It is too late for me. I have confessed the truth!" Thar screamed. Meleth was shocked. Why was Thar so intent on being the accused one and banished?

"Thar, please don't do this," Meleth begged amidst tears. Tauriel stepped up next to her and put a hand on her shoulder again. Meleth wrenched the hand away and ran towards Thar.

"You are banished from the Woodland Realm, Tharbadir. Never return, or you will be executed," Thranduil declared. Thar looked at Thranduil, smiled, and spat at the king's face.

"Take him away," Thranduil calmly said with a dismissive wave of his hand. Elros and the other Elf guard dragged Thar down the path that would lead them to the gates and out of the kingdom.

Meleth broke down and wept, putting her face in her hands and allowing tears to flow between her fingers and drip to the floor.

"Meleth, please do not weep. He will be alright," Tauriel said. Meleth looked at Tauriel. Sweet, innocent Tauriel. She threw her arms around the young Elfling and sobbed into her shoulder.**

*"I am relieved that Tharbadir is gone, but I think there is more to Meleth then we see," Legolas said to Thranduil later that day. They were alone standing on a balcony that overlooked a large portion of Greenwood. Thranduil had his back to his son, staring out at the view.

"What makes you think so?" He asked.

"Meleth was insisting that she was the one who had possession of this black magic."
"Perhaps she was only trying to save Thar. After all, the two of them were close. It doesn't surprise me that she would try to help Thar."

"We must be careful. We have to keep a closer eye on her. I fear there may be more to her," Legolas said. Thranduil turned to look at Legolas, with a hint of surprise and amusement in his expression.

"Your words speak wisdom. You are beginning to sound like a king."

Legolas's face burned. He knew that his father was complimenting him, but it still made him feel uncomfortable.

"If Meleth concerns you, do what you believe must be done. Keep an eye on her just like you said, and report to me if you find out anything. I'm entrusting you with this responsibility."

"I will not fail you, father," Legolas swore. He felt a boost of motivation because of the confidence his father had in him. Maybe if he succeeds, which he intended to, his father would think differently of him. If Meleth was in possession of a dark power, then he will deal with her himself.**

*Meleth ran through the Greenwood, determined to find Thar. If he was going to leave, she intended on leaving with him. It was better for everyone else in the Woodland Realm anyway. With each passing day, she felt the darkness contained within her growing more and more. Who knew what would happen once the Winds became a destructive gale force? She didn't want anyone hurt, especially Tauriel.

She finally spotted Thar, but he was walking straight towards her, and he had his sword drawn.

"Thar, what are you-?"

"Stand aside, Meleth," Thar demanded.

"What are you doing?" Meleth asked. Thar walked past her.

"I'm going to kill Legolas."

Terror gripped Meleth's throat. Had Thar, the one she loved, gone mad?

"Thar, you cannot. This is wrong!" She begged. Thar whirled around to face her.

"Justice is not wrong, Meleth! Protecting you is not wrong! Legolas will become worse than his father. He will make a terrible mistake, and I don't want anyone in that kingdom to fall prey to his madness."

"What you plan to do is madness," Meleth pointed out. Tears streamed down her pale cheeks. "Please, don't do this. Let's both leave. We can go hide out in the Misty Mountains if we have to."

"After I kill Legolas, we can both go to the Grey Havens, where we can set sail into the West. We will get away from Middle-Earth. There will be no more fear of evil and darkness contained within us."

"Whatever is inside me will go with me. I cannot bear to sail into the West. I will only spoil the lands beyond."

"Whether you come with me or not, I still intend on killing Legolas."

"Your madness ends here, Tharbadir," said someone behind Thar. Thar's eyebrows shot up in surprise and he turned to see Legolas. The young Elven archer already had an arrow aimed directly at Thar's forehead.

"You will come with me to my father. He will then judge you for your treason against the Woodland Realm," Legolas declared.**

To be continued...