Sorry this update took so long, hit a bit of writers block with this story, but here is the next update, finally haha! Hope you enjoy.
§
The Truth Comes Out
Tauriel stood and stared at her prince for a good while, the words of the wizard echoed in her mind. His heart was broken? Who had he given his heart to? She remembered what Thranduil had said to her when she'd returned from the scouting mission 'Legolas said you fought well today, he's grown very fond of you' she remembered her reply and how he thought no more of her than a captain in the guard, how she did not think her King would let Legolas pledge himself to her 'No you are right I would not, but still he cares about you. Do not give him hope where there is none!' She looked at her Prince's feverish features as her King's words continued to play in her mind. Was he in love with her? How could he be, she was nothing but a soldier, a pawn in his fathers great game. She sank into the chair by his side, the fire lighting up his perfectly chiselled features.
'Legolas?' she said softly, hoping her voice would get some form of reaction from him 'My Prince please, i need you to fight this.' she said as she took his hand in hers, placing it against her cheek, it burned to the touch.
This action caused the Prince to stir, his eyes rolled beneath his lids and his head tossed from side to side as he fought against the darkness that grasped at him.
'My lord if you can hear me, please… open your eyes. Fight this.' she said as she held his hand tightly in hers.
The Prince's eyes fluttered open weakly, his breathing quickened as he squeezed her hand back, causing Tauriel to jump at the sudden pressure. Legolas looked at her, a weak smile crossing his lips. He took in her tired features, her eyes puffy from crying, but had it been for him? Or for the Dwarf? He looked away from her to the door that stood empty.
'Where is everyone?' he asked, his voice weary.
'Your father is preparing to take you back to Mirkwood, and Mithrandir is preparing to take the Halfling back to the Shire.' she replied as she wiped away a stray tear from her cheek.
'Why do you weep? You did not answer me before!' he said as his eyes wandered back to her.
'I weep for the friends we have lost,' she paused and watched as Legolas' eyes dropped, staring at the cold stone ground 'I weep because I thought i was going to loose you, my prince, my friend.'
His eyes shot up to look at her again, locked to her green ones, he looked for hope but he found none.
'I cannot return to Mirkwood.' He said as he shifted his head so that he was looking to the vaulted ceiling above.
'My lord you need the help of elvish healers. You're gravely injured.' she said as she stood, concern and confusion flooded her features.
'I will survive this, i have survived much worse.' he replied and he pushed himself up so that he was sat, leaning heavily on his trembling arms.
'My lord please, lay down, your wound may reopen. You must rest, your father will return soon and i am sure that he will have something to say about your not returning to the Mirkwood.'
Legolas chuckled at that and allowed her to lower him back onto the hard table, he could not deny that he was indeed weak and no doubt it would take some time for him to mend. He hoped that Tauriel would stay with him, that perhaps she cared for him too. He could hear faint footsteps approaching in the distance, too light to be anything else but an Elf's. Legolas rested his head back against the hard wood, fighting hard against the shivers that wracked his body, his wound paining him as he began to struggle for breath again. He tried to calm himself, but the pain once again became to much.
'Tauriel!' He said as he grabbed her hand 'I can't breathe.' he said as he looked at her with terrified eyes.
She cupped his face with her hand, something warm and wet coated the palm of her hand and she turned it up to see blood. Turning it back quickly she smiled at her Prince, desperately trying to hide his current condition from him.
'Just rest my Prince, with sleep you shall heal.' she said as she stroked his blonde hair with her other hand.
Legolas felt his eyes grow heavy again, he looked at her as he desperately tried to stay awake just a few moments longer, his eyes then catching sight of his father walking into the room, his eyes wide as he began to run towards him, then all went black.
'He was awake?' said Thranduil as he stopped at his sons side, taking in the blood that coated his lips and stained his cheek.
'My lord, i don't think its wise to move him. He would be safer here, i can take care of him with the help of Bard. Send a messenger to fetch some healers, if we move him he could die.' Said Tauriel as she looked at her King with desperate eyes.
'He belongs with his people, in his Kingdom, with me.' replied the King, his eyes not wavering from his son.
'He doesn't want to go back my King, moving him will only make him worse.' she said as she placed a comforting hand on his arm 'please, i beg you.'
'I know that you care for my son, i trust that you have his best interests at heart.' said the King as he finally turned to face her 'But it is because of you that he is this way. He loves you Tauriel… he risked his life to save you, his heart is broken because of you.' he continued as he walked towards the dying fire, picking up the poker that bard had used on his son not long before and he poked at the embers, throwing some new logs on it, watching as it fought for life again.
'My lord i assure you that i never meant to cause your son any harm.' she said as her eyes floated back to Legolas who's body was now violently shaking with fever.
Thranduil turned and looked at her again, tears were tracing down her cheeks, her eyes silently pleading as she looked from him to Legolas, her hand tightly gripping the princes hand. He knew she was right, that his son was better off here with her, but it was hard for him to admit. He remembered how he had felt as he stepped over the marred corpses of the orcs, searching for his son, how his heart sank more and more the longer it took for him to find him, only then to find him alive. He had not felt happiness like that in so long, he had forgotten what it was like to love, to care. He had felt so confused, so betrayed when Legolas had chosen to go with Tauriel and help the dwarves, how Legolas had told him he would have to kill him, his love for Tauriel was as strong as the love he had shared with his wife. Gandalf's words had played over and over in his head, a constant reminder of the mistakes he had made 'those jewels weren't all your wife left you, my friend. She left you a son. Tell me, which would she have you value more?'. He knew in that moment that he had to let his son stay, he had to do what was best by him instead of what his heart wanted.
'Aye he shall stay here, i myself will ride to Mirkwood to fetch a healer. Only the finest shall return with me.' he stated as he walked to Legolas' side 'I shall return soon my son.' he said softly as he placed a kiss on the prince's brow.
He looked at Tauriel with bloodshot eyes, his dark blue orbs piercing through her.
'Take care of him whilst I am gone, i trust no one but you.' he said as he turned and left, the she elf bowing as he did.
A small smile crossed her lips, was their hope for their damaged King after all? She watched as he turned the corner leaving her and Legolas alone, his raspy breathes and the soft clicks of the fire were all that filled the room for what felt like an eternity. She sank into the chair beside him once more, watching as his chest rose and fell.
'I am here my lord, i shall not leave your side. You have my word.' she said as she placed her bloodied palm on his bandaged chest, feeling him relax to her touch.
All she could do now was pray, pray that her being there was enough to make the prince fight. She ached desperately wanted to hear his laughter again, see him smile at her. Emotions flooded her and she did not know what to make of them, all she knew was that the prince needed to heal, he had to live.
§
Bilbo was busy packing his things in his pack with Gandalf when the Elven king graced them with his presence. He looked weary, his eyes blood shot and his clothes were stained red with what Bilbo assumed was the princes blood.
'My lord Thranduil, how does Legolas fare?' Asked Gandalf in his booming voice as he stopped what he was doing.
'He is still grave indeed, i have decided that moving him to Mirkwood now would be too risky. He is to remain here with Tauriel and Bard until i return with some healers.' Replied the elf as he looked at the wizard with sad eyes 'i wanted to thank you Mithrandir, your words made me realise how blind i have been all these years. I have pushed away my son, my only son and i fear forever.'
'Legolas is wise and kind, he will always be loyal to his people, to you. Give him time my lord, he will come around.' Said Gandalf as he placed a comforting hand on the kings arm.
Thranduil looked at him with wide eyes, his blue orbs staring at the wizard as he felt tears forming. His heart was aching at all that was happening, his son could die, his wounds were grave and his fever raged, but if his son survived this which he prayed he would, he knew he would not return to Mirkwood with him and that was almost too much to bear.
'I must depart at once, if i do not hurry none of this will matter as Legolas will certainly succumb to his injuries.' Said the King as he motioned to one of his men to bring him a horse 'i would appreciate Mithrandir if you would stay with him also, at least just until i return. I know he trusts you.'
'Of course my Lord, i am at your disposal.' Replied the Wizard as he bowed to Thranduil.
The elf nodded his head in appreciation and then mounted the horse his man had brought him, leaving a puzzled Hobbit and the wizard in his wake. Bilbo looked at Gandalf, he was unsure what to say go him, he knew that Gandalf had known Legolas since he was very young, but the idea of staying a little longer after losing his friends was a hard thing to stomach.
'Gandalf?' He piped up suddenly as he stood at the wizards side.
'Yes Bilbo i need to stay, just for a few more days my friend.' He paused as he looked at the hobbit with sad eyes 'i will accompany you back to the shire i promise.'
Bilbo nodded and then looked around him, the carnage from the battle was evident around him but people walked about none the less, tidying houses and trying to make the most out of their surroundings. He missed his home in the shire but looking at the dirtied tired faces of the lake-men, he felt a burning desire to help them rebuild theirs, he knew now what he needed to do with his remaining time here.
§
Tauriel sat for a long while and watched as Legolas slept, she was desperately trying go fight the emotions that threatened to overwhelm here. As she looked at her prince flashes of Kili appeared in her mind, his body laying there on the hard ground, his chest bloody. She scrunched her eyes and willed the images to leave her but they kept clawing at her mind.
'No, no stop' she begged and she pushed her palms against her eyes, desperate to rid herself of the images.
She heard heavy footsteps behind her and turned to see Bard walking towards her with blankets in hand. The man looked tired, taking care of the town and the wounded was taking a heavy toll on the barge-man.
'I brought some things to try and make our prince more comfortable' he said as he folded one of the blankets and placed it underneath Legolas' head. He then placed the other blanket over him and went about inspecting the elf's wounds 'how is he doing?'
'Not well, i am scared for him.' She replied.
'Mithrandir told me that My lord Thranduil is no longer transferring him back to Mirkwood. I cannot deny i am glad, the trip would have done him no favours.' He said as he rubbed his tired eyes.
'Bard you should get some rest, you will be no good to anyone if you're dead on your feet.' Said Tauriel as she looked at the man with a weak smile.
'I agree with you.' He stated as walked towards the chair by the fire 'i shall take some rest here if you don't mind, its much quieter here than in the main hall.'
Tauriel nodded and smiled at him, she was glad of the company. She watched as he let his head fall against the back of the chair and almost instantly the man was asleep. Her eyes drifted back to Legolas again, she could see him struggling to breath, his eyes scrunching in pain.
'Please fight, please don't leave me too.' She said softly as she sat forward, laying her head by his arm.
It was going go be a long night.
§
Well there it is! I hope you enjoyed and i promise that i will get another update up soon! Please let me know what you thought!
