Tauriel sat on her brother's empty and made-up bed for what felt the millionth time. Legolas had been gone for a year since the battle of the five armies. She had not seen him. She tried as best as she could to feel his presence, to connect with his spirit, to at least know where in middle earth he had gone. All she had gotten from her father, the King, was that Legolas was to go north. There was much the King was keeping from her and she knew it. Not that was anything new. Her father was always distant from her and favored Legolas.
Which is why she felt confused as to why her father did send Legolas north. The King was not the same since. He turned to drink often. He felt it was time for Tauriel to be paired with an elf, but she had no interests in settling down. She wanted to go and be with Legolas, wherever he had gone. She felt she still had lots of adventures she wanted to entertain, but she also didn't want to leave her father alone. Although, it was not like her father spoke to her often in the first place.
Tonight in Mirkwood it was the party of the starlight. A great feast was being prepared. It also marked an anniversary of when Tauriel had met Kili. The dwarf they had taken prisoner and she had fallen in love with. It was a bitter sweet anniversary and she was not in the mood to partake in the party.
Tauriel returned to her own bedroom chambers and was not surprised to find a dress lay across her bed. It only meant one thing. Her father had sent for a new dress, because he had another suitor he wanted to introduce to her. She rolled her eyes and picked up the gown. It was beautiful, but she always preferred green daytime attire that she could move swiftly in. She ignored the obvious command of her father and instead pushed the gown onto the floor and lay down on the bed and closed her eyes.
"My lady," said the chamber maid said softly, "My lady! Tauriel! Wake up! You are late to the feast. You will anger your father. He is requesting your presence."
Tauriel slowly opened her eyes and remembered, "Of course" she mumbled not fully awake yet. The chamber maid quickly picked up the gown from the floor and brushed it off. She grabbed a hair brush from Tauriel's vanity.
"I'll help you get ready, miss. The festivities have already begun." Tauriel begrudgingly put on the gown and with the help of her maid readied herself for the party.
She entered the grand dining hall in time for the meal. She sat next to her father who did not acknowledge her presence whatsoever. He instead continued his conversation with his advisor next to him possibly in annoyance with his daughter deviance.
Sometime later the King clinked his glass in warning of his grand speech. "Everyone, I want to thank you for attending to night, the festivity of Startlight. We honor the light as elves, as immortals. The light is within each and every one of us and we carry that burden and gift as elves," He raised his glass higher, "Now let's feast!" The Kingdom cheered and many shouted "Here, here" in appreciation for the King.
The King sat down and leaned into his daughter's ear, "At least pretend to appreciate being a part of think Kingdom, Tauriel," he hissed through his teeth. Tauriel in turn forced a smile and raised her glass to her father.
Thrandiul then nodded towards an elf dressed a fine gown. The elf had long dark hair and stark green eyes. She recognized him as Jasper a great soldier in the elf army. Jasper approached Tauriel at the nod of her father, "Hello my lady," he bowed, "You look exquisite tonight as you do every night," he bowed his head.
Tauriel tried to not show her embarrassment at the obvious set-up by the King. She kindly nodded back to the elf. "Thank you, you are too kind." She glanced at her father who was smiling. She smiled back forcefully trying to hide her anger.