Tauriel walked through the Lake Town camp which had grown in both size and desperation. And it was all thanks to Smaug the terrible whose body now rested in the lake. Food was running low, as were supplies. Shelter was hard to come by and the autumn chill was growing in the air. If not for the supplies that the Woodland realm sent down the river many people would probably have died. But as it was there had been no other sign of the elves. She began to wonder if this was Thranduil's order, secluding himself even further after the loss of his son.
After doing her rounds to all of the injured people she had ended up helping in her few days there, the auburn haired elf finally returned back to her own camp. Well, it wasn't just her own camp. As she stepped towards the comforting glow of the fire in the darkening light she was met by the smiling face of Kili, which was soon joined by both Bofur and Oin.
Setting herself down beside the dark haired archer, she frowned into the fire before turning sad eyes to Kili. "No sign of him today?"
The dark haired dwarf shook her head, his smile fading. "No…"
When Tauriel had finally found the three dwarves along with Bard's children a couple days previous she had been praying that she would find Fili along with them. But unfortunately he had been nowhere to be found. Even now, three days later he hadn't yet reappeared. Silently she turned her gaze away from the dwarves in sadness only to have Kili elbow her.
"I've told you before. It's not your fault. Stop blaming yourself." He spoke giving her a reassuring smile. "It was Fili's choice to go with you. You just did what you had to do." He would turn up, Kili was sure of it. If something had happened to his brother he would know.
This was also one of the only reasons they still lingered in Lake Town. Kili was well enough now to join Thorin and the rest of their companions at the mountain but he refused to go without Fili. Also there seemed to be a lot of trouble there in the past days. With Smaug gone, the men of Lake Town and the dwarves were having a face off. Or at least that was what the gossip seemed to tell.
Either way, the small group of dwarves stayed, helping rebuild the town in any way that they could, assisting in preparations for the winter. Their help was probably the only reason they hadn't been completely ran out of town what with the involvement their companions had in waking the dragon and destroying their homes in the first place.
Tauriel sighed, about to turn and speak to Kili when she sensed something not quite right. Suddenly she flung herself at the dwarf beside her, knocking him completely off his seat and to the ground just in time for an arrow to fly past right where he had been sitting.
Bofur and Oin threw themselves off their seats and to the ground as well with shouts of confusion. Hiding behind the wooden creates they had been sitting on the four of them listened for a sound.
Tauriel peered around the box to try and get a look at their attacker when another arrow came flying out of the darkness. Drawing back just in time she waited a moment before calling out. "Why do you attack us?"
Almost immediately a reply came. "Former captain of the guard, Tauriel, you are under arrest for treason and you and your companions are to either come quietly with us or be put to death."
Eyes wide, Tauriels heart skipped a beat. She couldn't say she hadn't seen this coming, but to attack the dwarves as well? They hadn't had any part to play in this. "I am the one to blame! I will come quietly if you release them." Glancing over at Kili, the fear and shock showed clearly in his eyes. He shook his head violently at her offer. But before any one of her companions could stop her she stood, arms raised in front of her.
Three elven archers slipped out of the shadows then, expressions solemn and eyes angry. "Our orders are to take the dwarves as well." He nearly spit the last part of the sentence in disdain. "If you don't come out, dwarves, we kill her."
The elven guardsman raised his bow menacingly at Tauriel, eyes narrowed. He was angry. They were all angry; she could see it as plain as day in their faces. They blamed her for their prince's death.
She was about to speak up again when she saw Kili's short form pop up from behind the crate. "Ok, I surrender. Don't shoot her." Tauriel swallowed, sighing in frustration at his loyalty to her. Seeing their kinsman surrender Bofur stood, followed shortly by Oin.
No one broke the tension filled air for a moment, the silence becoming overwhelming. It made the next sound all the more shocking; the twang of the archer's arrow as he released his shot towards Kili. Tauriel didn't have time to move, only yelled out in shock as she turned to watch the arrow fly.
Kili's face went from shock to disbelieve his eyes wide….yet…the arrow never hit it's mark. All of them, elves and dwarves alike frowned in confusion when the arrow was suddenly shot out of the air and clattered into the grass along with a second.
The first to regain their composure was one of the elven guards, reaching lightning fast for a new arrow. But even as his hand moved another projectile slipped out of the darkness and with pinpoint accuracy met its mark, snapping the archer's bowstring. The elf stared into the darkness in confusion as the three guards shouldered their bows and unsheathed their knives.
Tauriel stared into the shadows beyond the fire and was just barely able to make out the form of a man standing behind a nearby shelter. It had to be her kin, she knew of no other creature who could shoot with so much accuracy. But when the voice called out of the darkness she second guessed herself. It had the lilting elven accent but rather than musical, it was course and gruff. "Lower your weapons and leave now."
"Show yourself!" One of the archers called, raising his knives towards the darkness.
Again, the voice called out, tone unchanging. "Let me repeat myself. Lower your weapons and leave now."
"Who are you to interfere in the arrest of a traitor against the line of King Thranduil and three escaped prisoners." Tauriel lowered her gaze at this. She could not deny those accusations as much as she wanted to.
"Final warning." The gruff voice was having no negotiations or conversations it seemed, and when the guards didn't back down he flew out of the shadows.
Eyes wide Tauriel and the dwarves watched him move, curious as to who their mystery savior was. She again questioned her first thoughts that he was an elf considering he wore the clothes of men. He was garbed in all black, wearing leather gloves, a heavy cowl and a scarf pulled up to his eyes. Even from here she could see the familiar brilliance in which they shone. Was he an elf?
The mystery figure moved with grace and speed, bow shouldered, wielded nothing but two pieces of wood that it appeared he had just picked up. Spinning in a familiar elvish fighting style he disarmed the first surprised guard before knocking him to the ground with an elbow to the face. Moving just as gracefully as him, the other two soldiers attacked.
The dwarves watched in awe as the figure dressed in black fought with the elves. It was like watching a dance, the twisting movements seeming almost practiced, until of course the mystery man got in a lucky blow on one of the elves which sent him reeling back.
Dancing backwards he again took up his bow and readied an arrow, raising his aim towards the three soldiers. "Leave now or I will shoot you."
Tauriel furrowed her brow and regarded the man who stood in front of them as if shielding them. Despite the threat of his bow she doubted he would shoot them. Something was odd about the fight. It had taken her a minute to sort out but she had come to the realization that this man was fighting in a manner where he would not seriously injure any of them.
Thankfully it has only been Tauriel who had figured this out as the three elven soldier backed away cautiously. "You will have the wrath of king Thranduil come down on you as well." One of them promised as they fled the scene.
Tauriel could almost hear the masked figure scoff at this. Stepping forward she spoke. "Thank you, I am in your debt."
As she stepped closer to him in curiosity he turned, bow raised and aimed at her. Surprised she took a step back. There was a fire burning in those familiar eyes. "I did not come here to save you." He spoke gruffly, his voice raspy yet for some reason it hit a cord in her memory. "I came here to save them." He motioned to Kili, Bofur and Oin.
"You're an elf." It was more of an observation than an accusation. But she had to be sure.
"Yes." He turned his gaze away and lowered his bow; pivoting slightly so what showed of his face was hidden.
"You blame me too…. For the prince's death." The more she watched this mystery figure the more he gave away. It felt like she knew him, yet she couldn't place him anywhere in her memory.
"You left him. You betrayed him." She could almost hear the hurt in that raspy voice.
"I never meant to do that. I went after him. I would have given my life to save his but the king imprisoned me. By the time I escaped, Thranduils war party was already leaving Dor Guldur. They couldn't find him and had assumed he was dead. I even searched myself after they left." For days now she felt like she had needed to explain herself. She had wanted to make it right, tried to make it right, yet no one seemed to want to hear that side of the story.
The hooded man bowed his head slightly, turning away in silence and looked out into the darkness as if thinking. "The king sent out a rescue party?"
The question caught Tauriel off guard. "Of course he did. He actually went himself, gathered a small army and rode out as fast as the horses would carry them." How did he not know that? Everyone in the woodland realm would have known that. He had confirmed he was an elf…but was he not from Thranduil kingdom? This confused her.
They all stood in silence again, watching the masked elf in curiosity. Finally, back still turned to her, he spoke. "And you. How was it that he got captured in the first place?"
Tauriel could feel the eyes of the dwarves turn to look at her and for a moment she was silent. "I had to do the right thing. I saw goodness in Kili, I saw past his race and the ancient feud we have and I saw a good man. So when I heard he was going to die and that I could save him I had to help. When Legolas chased after those orcs I thought he would wait for me…and even if he didn't I had faith in his ability. His skill surpassed my own. Obviously I underestimated the enemy." She spoke quietly, sadness in her voice.
"Or you overestimated him. He thought that you were backing him up. He thought that you would be there." Anger was clear in the black clothed figures voice, yet he still kept it quiet and raspy.
Tauriel paused, having no response to his accusation. It was Kili who then chimed in, angry. "She saved my life. It was a rash move to chase that orc party alone and he should have waited." The young dwarf stepped forward pointing an accusing figure at the masked elf. "And you know something else? My brother followed those orcs on a rescue mission and he's still missing. He could be dead! And for what? Some ridiculous sense of pri-" Taurial slammed a hand over his mouth, frowning down at him and shaking her head.
He frowned back but took the hint and stopped talking. Glancing back up to the mystery elf she watched him closely. He was silent before sighing deeply and taking a heavy seat on one of the crates across the fire. "Fili. Come out now."
This struck all three dwarves and Taurial speechless. Yet sure enough, from the darkness emerged Fili, grinning from ear to ear. Barely stopping to think, Kili rushed toward, embracing his brother tightly. The two stayed like that for a moment before slapping each other on the shoulder and taking a seat. They then turned to watch the two elves.
Tauriel paid no attention to the reunion that had happened beside her. Instead, her wide eyes were trained on the mystery man. His eyes….his mannerisms….his fighting style…his voice…..It could not be….
Moving slowly, Tauriel rounded him until she was able to see his eyes. Stepping forward, she crouched before him, expecting him to bolt like a nervous animal at any moment. Yet still he stayed, blue eyes never leaving hers. Heart beating in her throat and eyes wide, she reached forward and gently pushed down the cowl that had been hiding his face.
Now free of the hood, blond hair spilled out, dirty, bloody and dishevelled but oh so familiar. Tauriel's breath hitched as she studied his face, the ugly and still healing wound that ran from just above his eye down past the scarf.
Hands now shaking, she pulled down the scarf to fully reveal the face of her dead prince….her lost friend. Not so lost after all.
Tauriel stared at him speechlessly. Reaching forward she ran her hand along his face as if confirming that he were real. The sight filled her with joy. But when the memory of the shackles she'd seen in the dungeon of Dor Guldur resurfaced in her mind her stomach turned; the shredded fabric of his tunic….the blood pooled on the ground. What had he survived…Her eyes fell on the scar across his face. What other scars did he bare? "H-how?"
Legolas frowned, looking away from her. When he spoke his voice was nearly back to normal, rather than that forced rasp he'd spoken in earlier. "I have Fili to thank. Along with two wizards. Nothing else matters."
"But…" Tauriel tried to catch his eyes but he avoided eye contact. "Why didn't you tell me?" She reached forward meaning to lay a hand on his shoulder in affection but he quickly stood and stepped away.
"I wanted to know your unbiased opinion." His voice held no emotion. "Now I do." He was angry. He was angry at her betrayal. But after listening to her speak…of Kili's defense of her…his rational mind was telling him to forgive her. He had been rash attacking those orcs alone….
Tauriel only watched him, brow furrowed as he stepped over to Fili, laying a hand on his shoulder and nodding in thanks. He then pulled up the cowl and scarf once more and turned away.
"Legolas!" She called after him in desperation. When he actually stopped to listen her heart clenched. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
He stood for a moment, back turned to her before slipping into the shadows. "So am I."
AUTHORS NOTE
I lied. Here's the next chapter. Ended up writing it really late last night.