"I can't wait until we reach the border," Tauriel whispered excitedly.
"Yeah, who are you bringing?" Legolas asked.
"Aside from you? Florescat, Folium and Filia."
Legolas nodded, "ah, the top guards. Good choice."
"Funny how their names all start with F," Tauriel laughed.
"Tauriel! My prince!" Florescat shouted, running towards the couple.
"Florescat, what is it?" Tauriel asked.
"The king requests you both meet him in the throne room before leaving."
Tauriel and Legolas exchanged a confused glance, what could the king possibly have to say?
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"Father? You wanted to speak to us?" Legolas asked his father in the throne room.
"Yes...there is one...minor adjustment I would like to make before you go and patrol the border." Thranduil told them uncomfortably.
There was the creak of a door and in came Galadriel, dressed in her usual white gown, and Angeli, dressed in- to everyone's shock- a guard tunic.
"Angeli will be joining you," Galadriel announced.
"What?!" Tauriel and Legolas both gasped.
"M-my king, I don't think it is safe for Angeli to accompany us. S-she's had no practice, she could get hurt!" Tauriel began, speaking quickly.
"That is why you will watch over her," Galadriel stated calmly, she had this whole thing planned out, and Tauriel couldn't help feel a stab of rage that the Lady of Light was telling her, the chief of guards, to take care of an inexperienced princess.
The look Thranduil gave them told Legolas and Tauriel he had been forced into it.
"Fine!" Tauriel muttered. "But if anything shall happen to you, I take no blame. For I personally think this is an idiotic idea." Angeli nodded.
"At least she has a bow," Legolas pointed out as they left. Tauriel murmured a brief agreement, then they left the palace.
"Good luck, Angeli. Remember: don't blow it," Galadriel whispered, grabbing both her daughter's hands.
"I won't, I promise," Angeli replied, hugging her mother.
"Bye!" She called, leaving the palace.
Suddenly, Galadriel turned to Thranduil, a puzzled look on her face.
"What is it?" Thranduil asked.
"I-I don't know...I just suddenly feel...different," she stood there a few more moments before shaking her head. "It's probably nothing," she mumbled, turning around and walking out of the throne room.
Meanwhile, Angeli walked through the palace clutching a tiny, round, sliver object with a star on it.
"In case things don't turn out, be prepared, Nenya."
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"What is she doing here?" Filia demanded, eying Angeli.
"The Lady of Light requested she come," Tauriel responded stiffly, signifying the conversation was over.
Florescat, however, didn't get the message.
"What? She could be killed!"
"I know!" Tauriel snapped, then she took a deep breath. "That is why Galadriel has held me responsible for her."
Everyone gasped.
"You volunteered, or she told you?" Folium asked.
"Galadriel told Tauriel to look after Angeli," Legolas replied in a bored manner, reminding everyone of his presence.
"Can we just go?" Angeli demanded.
"Yes, let's go," Tauriel responded, leading everyone out of the elven king's halls.
"If Galadriel doesn't want Angeli to get hurt, she shouldn't have let her come," Florescat muttered.
Legolas and Tauriel simply exchanged an half amused, half exasperated look, then Legolas grabbed Tauriel's hand as they made their way along the old forest road. Angeli simply gave the couple a evil glare from where she was at the back. Legolas will fall in love with me and I'm not giving up!
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"Okay," Tauriel began, once they reached a talan near the border.
"Now that we're all here, let's split up. We'll cover more ground." She explained. Everyone around her nodded.
"Florescat, Filia and Folium, you three will patrol the border to the north. Legolas, Angeli and I will patrol the border to the south," she instructed. Florescat nodded and led her companions to the north. Tauriel, on the other hand, started towards the south. However, as they neared a clearing, Legolas pulled Tauriel back.
"Why did you bring Angeli with us? I thought we were getting Florescat," Legolas whispered.
Tauriel looked back at Angeli, careful to make sure the princess wouldn't hear them.
"Look, Galadriel is personally holding me responsible for her daughter. I don't want to leave her with Filia and have something happen." She murmured, turning back to him.
Legolas considered this, then nodded his head.
"I guess you're right, we can always patrol the borders together some other time."
"That's the spirit, now let's go before we lose sight of the princess." Tauriel looked around the clearing, but Angeli wasn't there.
"Umm...speaking of the princess, where is she?" Legolas demanded, also looking.
"S-She's probably just trying to scare us," Tauriel responded shakily, turning back to him.
"Angeli! You can stop messing around now!" Tauriel told the forest, careful not to project her voice too loud. There was a loud scream coming from the forest, then silence.
Legolas and Tauriel both shared a scared glance, then they both ran to the source of the noise.
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Angeli smiled as she heard Legolas shout "We're coming Angeli". Sneaking away from the couple had been easy, the hard part would come next. She turned around as she heard people crash through the forest.
"Angeli? What happened? W-why did you scream?" Tauriel demanded, breathless.
"Yeah, nobody is here," Legolas replied.
"Oh Legolas, I just summoned you here to see who you would choose," Angeli stated with a smile.
"I-I'm sorry?" Legolas stumbled back, dumbfounded.
"Oh, you didn't know? Mother just sent me here to see who you would choose, me or Tauriel."
"I knew there was a reason!" Tauriel exclaimed.
"So who do you choose Legolas? Me or Tauriel?" Angeli asked, raising her brow.
"I thought I already chose. Sorry, but it's Tauriel." Legolas informed her, but an arm protectively around Tauriel's waist.
"Hmp, wrong answer!" Angeli screamed, making Legolas break away from Tauriel.
"I'll give you one more chance, and this time I'll make the decision easy. Choose me or die!" Angeli threatened.
"It's Tauriel!" Legolas responded firmly, "now what are you going to do to me?"
Out of the pocket of her tunic, Angeli pulled out a ring.
"The White Ring! You stole Galadriel's ring, how could you you?" Legolas gasped.
"Never mind, now are you still going to go through with your decision?" Angeli demanded, putting the ring on.
"Legolas, just choose her, don't risk your life for me!" Tauriel pleaded.
"Yes, listen to your friend Legolas," Angeli added.
"I still choose Tauriel!" Legolas whispered.
"Fool!" Angeli shrieked, pushing her hand forward and throwing Legolas across the clearing with the power of Nenya.
"Legolas, No!" Tauriel screamed, but Angeli just laughed.
To be continued...