"Make way for the king!"
The long ears of the villagers perked up, when the silky voice belonging to the Captain of the Guard rang loud.
Tauriel was excited preparing for her first combat class the next morning. She heard the unfamiliar voice and had wandered out the front door in curiosity.
Six guards front carved a path on the street as the king with, walking each step with deliberation, while his young son hung off his hand. Elves slipped past each other to get a glimpse of the majestic being that was their king.
Tauriel was intrigued by the tall figure that seemed to tower above the civilians of Mirkwood, but at the same time, weary. It was he, the one with the golden hair, who had spotted her peaking over the wall on the tree.
"Ah. The prince looks exactly like his father."
"There is no doubt that he will be as handsome as he. His mother was quite beautiful as well."
Now that had grabbed the elfling's attention.
The prince is here? Is he expecting to see me?
Tauriel dropped on her knees and began to crawl through the thin legs of the crowd.
I have to be careful; the king has seen me before.
A pair of strong arms suddenly gripped her torso and she was hauled up in the air.
"I have the girl, my Lord."
Legolas clutched his father's hand in anticipation as the doors exiting the gate of the palace opened. This had been the first time the Legolas was going to leave the palace walls obtaining both the permission and the accompaniment of his father.
I wonder if I will see Tauriel?
He found him smiling in spite of himself.
I can't wait to see her reaction when she sees me surrounded by all of the guards and with me at the side of the king!
"Is there something amusing Legolas?"
The smile quickly shrunk back into the impassive expression that they prince was trained to have.
"Nothing father. I'm just excited to see the kingdom."
King Thranduil nodded his head.
"I just realized that this will be your first time to see the kingdom that you are destined to rule one day. I apologize for not showing you earlier."
Legolas's pale eyes widened and his head snapped upwards to his father's face.
Well he wasn't expecting that.
Legolas turned back to stare at the opening gates in full view.
The tug of his father's hand indicated it was time to go.
As they walked, Legolas, from the corner of his eye watched his father converse with on of his guards, in a tone so hushed, not even his young elvish ears could pick up the words of their speech. Legolas watched the guard nod and he went further ahead.
"It's business that does not concern you at the moment." Thranduil replied, after taking in Legolas's curious expression.
There was no reply from the latter. He simply focused on the excitement of finally leaving the confines of the walls that was not through the process of sneaking out.
Try as he might, his impassive face broke as his blue eyes took in the excited and curious faces gathering around to see the faces of their prince and king, even if only for a second. After adjusting the crowds and the faces of the people of his kingdom, he eyes began their search for his friend.
There were elves, with the same colour of hair, dotted throughout the crowds, though none of them were Tauriel.
I wonder where she could be….could she be in the forest, not aware that this was going to happen?
Legolas's eyes rested on the same guard whom his father had the quiet exchange with. The guard was slipping through the crowds.
What is he doing?
The guard stopped dead in his tracks and bent over. He had a child in his arms with that red hair he knew all too well.
Tauriel!
"I found the girl."
Tauriel's breathing increased in panic as the eyes of the entire kingdom rested on her form.
"Calm down child. Nothing bad will happen to you."
"Tauriel!"
"Grandmother!"
"Nienna?"
Nienna froze and Tauriel could hear a sharp intake of breath.
"What did my grandchild do? What did she do to be taken away like this?"
Taken away?! Why was she being taken away from all that was comfortable and familiar by a strange elf whom she knew nothing about?
"She will be under the protection of the palace. and will be treated with care. That much we can promise."
"Grandmother?! Grandmother, what's going on?!"
"But why? Why to the palace?!"
"The king requests it."