Tauriel awoke with her head on cold and dirty ground. She slowly remembered the fight with the goblins and then the mountain troll. She wiggled around and felt her feet and arms bound by rope. Alywin was about three feet in front of her also with his feet and arms bound. He was knocked unconscious. She heard murmurs from the troll in the distance and what sounded of boiling water.
"Cook some for now and stew some for later, yes," the troll said talking to itself. "But elf or the man first? hmmmph. How about both!" he laughed at himself. Tauriel began to panic and try again to move out of the ropes, but there was no hope.
Suddenly, she felt a very light touch to her shoulder. The elegant touch that could only belong to fellow elf. She looked up to see Legolas. She smiled and almost began to cry. She was not sure if she was dreaming or not, but here was Legolas in all his glory. He held his finger to his mouth indicating to be quiet. He took a knife from his boot and quietly slit the ropes off of her hands and feet. He grabbed her and swiftly tried to run out away from where the mountain troll.
"Wait," she said as quietly as she could, "Free him, too." She motioned to the unconscious man.
Legolas looked at her angrily and said, "That man is a criminal, Tauriel. Why you stupidly followed him in these dangerous mountains I do not know". He grabbed her arm again and pulled her.
"No," Tauriel pulled away from Legolas, "He saved my life. I will not go without him."
"He endangered your life. Ive been following you since you have arrived to the mountains. If we do not go now we will never get out of here." He took her hand and began walking away.
"He will die!" Tauriel felt tear coming to her eyes.
Angrily Legolas turned back to her and sternly, "You do not know what you have gotten yourself in the middle of! This whole thing was a trap set-up with the help of that that man. That man who was shunned by his own people and now works for orcs." Tauriel gasped. "You have no idea what you have done, Tauriel!"
Tauriel followed her brother out. She looked back helplessly at Alywin knowing the man who helped her on her journey would soon be food for a troll.
Tauriel followed Legolas for what felt like miles until they finally came to an opening in the mountain and sat upon a ledge. They were finally about to rest. Legolas handed Tauriel water that she drank up. After handing back the water is when she felt her pocket lighter than it should have been. "Oh no," she exclaimed, "The jewels! They are not in my pocket. They must have fallen out! This whole retched adventure has been for nothing!" She sat down and buried her head in her hands.
"There was never elven jewels here, Tauriel. You were fooled," Legolas replied while looking out at the great country-side from the mountains ledge.
Tauriel looked at him in disbelief, "But I saw them, i felt them. They were real!"
"It was all an elaborate trap set for you."
"But why, Legolas? This has all been for a joke!"
"There are dark forces you do not understand."
"Tell me!" Tauriel grew angry at the cruel trick played on her. How she may even miss her wedding because of this horrible scheme against her.
Legolas turned to her sister, "Do you love Jasper?"
Tauriel looked down in shame. She did love Jasper, but he deserved better. She just left him and her father without saying a word for greedy reasons. In search of jewels that she could wear on her wedding day. She had been so selfish!
Legolas said reading her thoughts, "If you go back now there will be enough time for you to make your wedding. Jasper will forgive you."
"What about father?" Tauriel asked still lookiing down.
"In time he will, too. The kingdom is very worried for you. I urge you to head back now."
"What will become of you?" she asked Legolas.
"Im still needed out here. We will meet again in time." Tauriel was disappointed with his answer. None of this would have ever happened if her brother had been at home to guide her away from such foolish choices. "Here is some supplies," Legolas handed her a sack of water and food, "Your horse is waiting for you at the bottom of the mountain."
"Thank you, brother," Tauriel felt so ashamed and stupid.
"Do not speak to anybody," he said sternly. "If you go now you will be able to make it home a day before your wedding...Tauriel," he grabbed her and looked her in the eyes, "This is important. The evil will seek you out again. You must not so easily trust ever again. Do you understand?"
"Yes," she said quietly. She left and made her way back down the mountain not knowing when she would ever see her brother again. She still did not understand what evil seeked her, but she was sure to follow instructions although she dreaded facing her father who undoubtedly is furious with her.