"Has she left?" Thranduil asked one of his loyal servants. The servant nodded, and handed the king a piece of paper.
"What's this?" He demanded.
"Seems Tauriel left a lot of her belongings, this paper was found on her desk," the servant informed him. Thranduil looked down at the paper curiously, after seeing the first sentence, he commanded the servant to dispose of it.
"But how?"
"I don't care how, I just want it gone," Thranduil commanded, "now leave me in peace." The servant nodded and, bewildered, left. However, on his way out of the palace, he bumped into none other then the prince.
"So sorry prince Legolas," the servant replied hurriedly.
"No no, it's my fault I was a bit..lost in thought," Legolas responded, standing up also. However, just as he was beginning to get up, he noticed a tiny piece of paper the servant had so carelessly dropped.
"What's this?" Legolas began, noticing the top read, 'dear Legolas'.
"I know not the answer, prince, the king has just asked me to dispose of it somehow." The servant responded, puzzled. Legolas looked at the servant, then back at the paper. The very mention of his father needing to dispose of the letter triggered an alarm in his mind. What was so terrible about this letter that his father needed to get rid of it immediately? The prince couldn't help it, he needed to know what the letter said before it was gone forever.
"I can dispose of it for you," the prince started.
"Really?"
"Oh yes, I know exactly where it can go," Legolas reassured guiltily. He had barley ever lied, and every lie felt like a thorn to the chest.
"Well...if you're sure.." the servant trailed off, walking back to the palace.
For moments Legolas just stared, dumbfounded, at the piece of paper supposedly meant for him to read. Did he dare? Screw it, he thought, he was reading it, but not here. Here was too...public. Taking the note, he began making his way to River Running. Once there, he carefully opened the letter, it read:
Dear Legolas,
I'm sorry I could not say this to you in person, but as you probably already know, Thranduil has exiled me. I just wish I could have said goodbye before now. I just wanted you to know that I wish you the best, and aren't hurt by the things I said about you...I didn't mean it. One more thing...I've always loved you.
-Tauriel
Legolas folded it back up again, then leaned against a tree with one hand on his forehead. How could his father be behind Tauriel's exile? But he knew better now, Tauriel was gone and he couldn't help but fell as though Thranduil was to blame for Tauriel's...disappearance. And he wanted to know why.
"Why did you do it?" Legolas demanded, storming into Thranduil's throne room.
"Whatever did I do?" Thranduil inquired innocently, looking up from a book he was reading.
"You know what you did! You exiled Tauriel!" At this point, Legolas was actually yelling for the first time.
"H-How did you know that?" Thranduil stuttered.
"Seems you didn't give your servant strict enough instructions, recognize this?" Legolas held up the piece of paper.
"Where did you find that?" Thranduil demanded, standing up.
"It doesn't matter, does it father? Or does it, because Tauriel signed it?" Legolas challenged.
"Whatever makes you think Tauriel has anything to do with it?"
"I can now see through all your lies. You made Tauriel say all those mean things about me because you knew it would hurt me. It was you who always told me to never let myself fall in love because you wanted to be in control of my destiny...of me."
"Le-Legolas th-that's-"
"I'm I saying anything wrong, father?" Legolas asked coolly.
"Legolas that is quite enough, stop this instant!" Thranduil commanded.
"No!"
"What did you say?" Thranduil asked, taken aback.
"No. You have been in control of my destiny for way to long. For once, it's time for me to do what I want." Legolas retorted, grabbing his bow and arrows.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm going to find Tauriel and do what I should have done the minute I developed feelings for her."
"Yeah, fat chance you'll find her. She's probably long gone now. And didn't you already alert her of your feelings by kissing her?"
"How did you know that I kissed her?"
"Well...um...ah..."
"You've been spying on me, haven't you?!"
"Well..."
"You know what? I don't need you, I don't need anyone...I just need Tauriel!" He swung around one final time to face his father.
"And your just a...a stupid, overprotective elf, who hates any other creatures. Especially dwarfs!" Legolas yelled, shocking himself. With no further looks back, he exited the castle, leaving his father shocked and alone.