Dedication: For AlwaysHungryDamsel. Your review was one of my favourite reviews of all time. Thank you!
CHAPTER EIGHT
"Do you remember what it said?" Lord Elrond asked him, his voice quiet, despite the clattering noise around the table.
He nodded. The memory of the dying orc was still fresh in his mind. "We are growing."
Lord Elrond nodded, before taking a sip from his goblet. He eyed the table wearily and Legolas followed his gaze. The elves were busy conversing and ravaging the food set before them. He marveled at the genius of Elrond's feast. It was a wonder how dinner and company could distract from even the bleariest of events. It seemed like no one at the moment had thoughts on the attack that had occurred earlier. Even Tauriel seemed to forget her earlier burdens, he mused, as he caught a glimpse of the red haired she-elf. She was still animatedly talking with Aegnir.
He controlled the urge to stand from his seat and ask her how she was. The way she had acted earlier greatly concerned him, although he could not decipher any reason for her to be acting like she did. Still, he remained in his seat, knowing that he still had to settle certain issues with the Lord of Rivendell.
"Those are words we did not need them to speak out in order to notice," Elrond continued, catching back his attention. "But the fact that it has come from their mouth strengthens our suspicion that this..." he paused, as if thinking of the proper word. "...multiplying, was nothing natural. This was orchestrated by them, but how, and why, that is what we must find answers to."
Legolas agreed silently and let the constant babble of the table fill the void between them. He had not yet told Lord Elrond of the first words the orc spoke, as it choked on its own blood. They were a string of incoherent words, but somehow he knew that they were more important than the ones it said last. However, he could not relay the information. He knew it was irresponsible; there was a value to every single utterance that the orcs would make. But at the same time, he was not even sure if he had heard the orc correctly, and misinformation was a disaster that rippled like no other.
"Are you sure it said nothing else?" Lord Elrond's voice was still nothing more than a whisper, but it seemed to cut through the noise. Sometimes, Legolas wondered if the elf could see through his thoughts.
He looked straight at Elrond's eyes. "Nothing," he answered.
Seemingly satisfied, he nodded back, before reaching over for a platter of fruit. "Then there is no more need to worry ourselves about the day. You are weary, my friend. It is time for us to feast."
Legolas murmured his thanks, before taking a sip from his glass of wine.
The rest of the feast was done in silence, only once in a while broken by petty remarks from the Rivendell's guardian and himself. When they had all risen to exit, he screened the hall for the familiar shade of red, but she had already left her place beside Aegnir. He stretched his neck, peering over the various shades of hair colour before he finally spotted her. She was at the side of the room, conversing with another she-elf.
Although he could not hear what they were talking about, he could see that Tauriel looked even more tired than before. Her eyes were staring ahead, and her lips were pursed shut. She did not speak, although the she-elf in front of her continued to ramble on. As he walked towards them, he began to make out some of her words, and more than that, he heard the tone in which the she-elf spoke: scolding and authoritative. He wondered who the she was, to speak to Tauriel in such a manner. Even if it was possible that she held a higher position in court, Legolas wondered how such disrespect could be so openly shown to a fellow elf.
"—without you," the she-elf stopped, catching her breath. "You know that you shouldn't forget your place. Even if—,"
"Legolas!" Tauriel cried out upon spotting him walking closer. She looked relieved.
The she-elf also turned around, surprise clearly etched on her face. She smiled when she met his gaze. "Prince Legolas."
"Lady Kylis," he noted, recognizing her. She had visited Mirkwood in the past. She was distantly related to Lord Elrond, though Legolas was not sure of the particular traces. Marriage complicated family lines.
She was very amiable, though he had spoken to her only a few times, for she had always been busy whispering with the other ladies of the court. She was young, and it surprised him to know she could speak to Tauriel in such a commanding manner. "Is anything amiss?" he asked, gazing at Tauriel.
Before Kylis could answer, Tauriel shook her head. "We were just having a conversation over the events of the past few days," she was smiling, but it did not reach her eyes.
He nodded, however, and he bowed at the Kylis. "I would steal Tauriel from you, if you would not mind, my Lady," he smiled apologetically. "I have a few things I would want to discuss with her."
She smiled at him, but not before she cast a quick look at Tauriel, "But of course. Have a good night."
The short encounter left him with many questions, but deemed to not bring them about when he saw the life back in her eyes. It was the first time that day that he saw her genuinely happy, and he would not ruin it by asking non solicited inquiries. "It seems the afternoon break and the feast was much needed," he commented as he stood beside her, gesturing towards the door.
"I can only imagine how upset I must have looked in the Misty Mountains for you to say that," she surmised, but smiled nonetheless. "I cannot deny, however, that I needed the rest," she walked close to him as they moved out of the door, their shoulders touching with each step.
He nodded. Her words had not left him since they parted at the entrance to Rivendell. He was used to her being so optimistic, being so jolly and full of life, that it struck a heaviness in his heart when he saw her quiet, and seemingly confused, for the first time. "Are you well now?" he asked her when they had gone a distance from the hall.
"I am," she smiled at him. "And I thank you for your worry, but it was unnecessary."
She looked up to him, as if waiting for an answer. Instead, he replied with a smile. He was glad he could see that familiar glint in her eyes. They walked side by side, passing through corridors and stairs. He did not know where they were going, but he knew she had a place in mind. Finally they stepped out of a door in the side of the building. It led them to a small field overfilled with pots of various appearances. A herbology, he presumed.
They walked outside and she looked around as if searching for someone. They were alone, however, and she seemed to realize the same when she took a seat by a wooden bench beside the building's walls. He sat beside her.
"I felt saddened," she surprised him with her words. He had not expected her to be so direct with her feelings. And although he yearned to help her, he would never have forced her to voice out sentiments that would have made her uncomfortable. However, she went on. "When I watched you and the other warriors fight the orcs, and when I knew I could do nothing to help..." she shook her head. "I felt useless standing there behind you. I couldn't help but think about what would have happened, had everything else failed. Would I have stood there, just watching them kill everyone?" she smiled sadly, as she gripped both her hands together tightly, laying them on her lap. "It is a pitiful excuse, and I need not have thought more of it."
He leaned his back to the seat, gazing up at the grinning moon above them. There were no clouds in sight. He had never truly understood her yearning to learn the ways of battle as he did now. She had a warrior's heart, and he was saddened to realize that she could not find that here. "You want to learn, yet you cannot. What's holding you back?" he turned to look at her.
She considered for a moment. "Opinions," she finally answered, but he saw in her eyes that there was something more than that. There was something she wasn't telling him, and he knew that this secret was close to her heart.
He reached out, taking her hand in his, hoping that the gesture would lessen the burden she carried. "I might not be in the position to say this, but I know that you have nothing to fear. Neither the words of others, nor the whispers of doubt they cast on you. Tauriel, I have known you enough to know that a bow and an arrow are two things that belong with you."
She replied by squeezing his hand, before smiling warmly at him. "Thank you, Legolas. I will treasure your words," she said.
He smiled back, as they both pulled away. But somehow, the touch of her soft hands did not immediately evaporate from his. He looked at his hand, brows furrowing, but had no time to think about it when another voice interrupted them.
"Tauriel."
They both turned to look at the figure emerging from the door, and Legolas' eyes narrowed when he caught sight of the unfamiliar she-elf. She had dark brown hair, and brown eyes to match. Unlike Tauriel and he, she seemed to not have gone to the feast, as she was garbed in a white tunic and brown trousers. He did not miss the spots of soil in her clothes, and Legolas couldn't help but wonder about it. Tauriel, however, broke to a smile.
"Mother," she called out, reaching out her hand to the elf.
Legolas watched as they embraced each other warmly. Now he knew why she led him here, she must have wanted them introduced. He stepped nearer upon realizing this, but did not speak.
"Prince Legolas," she said as they broke apart. She smiled before bowing her head to acknowledge him.
He could only smile back. "I'm afraid I'm at a disadvantage, my lady, for I do not know your name."
"I am Malendis, cousin of Lord Elrond, and of course, I am the mother of Tauriel," she explained, placing her hand fondly on Tauriel's shoulder.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet Tauriel's mother," he chanced a smile at her direction. "She keeps many secrets, but it seems like you are not one of them."
Tauriel laughed lightly. "But you never asked about my mother," she smiled back.
Malendis shook her head. "I'm afraid she can indeed be very secretive," she eyed her daughter fondly.
A comfortable silence overtook them, and for a moment, he could only listen to the distant sound of rushing water. He started walking towards the door to the building, only slowing to stop before the pair. "I'm afraid I have to retreat for the night, and I know the two of you would want to enjoy each other's company." he said, to which both gratefully nodded at him.
He disappeared into the building, casting one last glance at the two elves. Tauriel was smiling at him, and she mouthed two words, "Thank you."
END OF CHAPTER
A/N: I know things are moving a bit slow, but I needed to bring in more of Tauriel's background, and I never really had a chance to do that in Mirkwood.
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Vee
edited: 11/14
