Bard regarded the elves with new suspision.
"What kind of favor?" he asked quietly.
Tauriel and Legolas looked at each other again, deciding what to say and what to keep to themselves.
"We were wondering if you could care for Angeli for a while. There is some...trouble in Mirkwood," Legolas explained hesitantly.
"Trouble?" Bard echoed, "What kind of trouble? With the Princess of Rivendell involved nonetheless..." Bard stared at Legolas, eyes narrowed, "what are you hiding from me?"
Tauriel held her breath and Angeli bowed her head, ashamed. Legolas just held Bard's stare.
"Trouble that occurs in Mirkwood is no concern of Lake-town," he stated.
"I usually make a point of knowing what happened to people before they come and stay at my house with me," Bard pointed out.
This time, Tauriel answered. "There was a small, very minor, incident. Angeli is not safe in Mirkwood and we need you to care for her for a while. That is all you need to know."
"But why?" Bard persisted, "Did a hoard of orcs decide to attack King Thranduil's relem at the core?"
"Will you care for her or not?" Legolas demanded impatiently, ignoring Bard's question.
Bard thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm sorry Legolas, but I already have to raise three children on my own without a wife. I cannot add another, it would be too much."
"I am no child!" Angeli burst out.
She would have said more, had it not been for Tauriel covering Angeli's mouth with her hand.
"Do you want to be killed?" Tauriel whispered in the princess's ear.
Angeli shook her head, and Tauriel let her hand fall.
"But Bard, we need you to do this for us!" Legolas argued.
"Or what?" Bard challenged, "What is happening in Mirkwood that is so bad, the princess of Rivendell needs to hide in Lake-town?"
Legolas opened his mouth to speak, then closed it. What can I say? I cannot reveal that Angeli might get executed, but if I don't say something, she could really die... His hands were tied.
0o0
For a few moments there was silence, then Angeli began sobbing.
"I'm going to die!" she sniffed quietly, but Bard heard her.
"Die? Legolas, what is she talking about?" he asked.
The prince just bowed his head.
"Legolas, I want the truth," Bard insisted.
The prince remained silent.
"Legolas, he deserves to know. We cannot keep it from him," Tauriel whispered. Angeli had her head on the chief's shoulders and Tauriel was busy trying to comfort her and had her hands on the princess's shoulders.
"Deserves to know what?" Bard demanded, perplexed. There was a pause.
"You have to swear that the words I am about to say will never be repeated again," Legolas told Bard quietly. Bard nodded.
"Now, there was an incident in Mirkwood, and now..." he trailed off for a few moments, "Angeli has been sentenced to death."
Bard was speechless for a few moments, then he began asking a series of questions along the lines of, "What?", "Why?", and "How?"
Legolas simply waited calmly for him to relax.
"Dad? What is going on?" Bard stopped his questions and turned to see his youngest daughter, Tilda, walk into the room.
"Are the others awake?" Bard asked, lifting Tilda up so she could rest on his knee.
Tilda shook her head. "No...just me. Who are they?" she asked, pointing a finger at the elves.
"They are...some friends of mine," Bard whispered uneasily.
"Why is the blonde one crying?"
"She is just upset," Tauriel murmured to the little girl.
"Dad, will she be ok?"
Bard looked at his daughter for a few moments, then nodded. "I'm sure she will be fine," he told her, "Now you better be getting back to bed, I am sorry if we woke you."
Tilda nodded and walked back to bed as her father asked. As soon as she was gone, Bard turned back to Legolas. "Why is she sentenced to death?"
"She did something that she now regrets. Right, Angeli?" Tauriel whispered.
The princess nodded, wiped away her tears, and stood up straight again.
"Something? Like what?"
Legolas took one look at Angeli, then shook his head.
"The memory is too...fresh for us to repeat," he mumbled, "I will let Angeli tell you when she feels the time is right. Please say you will take care of her."
Bard still looked uncertain, but then he nodded. "Oh...alright. I shall care for her, but for how long will she have to stay here?"
"Just until it is safe for her to return to Rivendell or Lórien," Tauriel answered.
Bard grunted. "Alright," he responded gruffly.
"Tauriel, we must get going if we are to reach Mirkwood by dawn," Legolas warned, glancing outside.
Tauriel followed his gaze and nodded. "You're right," she murmured.
The two quickly said their good-byes made for the door.
"Thank you Bard," Legolas whispered.
"Yes, thank you," Tauriel added.
Angeli stood behind Bard, staring off into the distance.
"Be good," Tauriel whispered to her as she turned to leave.
"You are coming back for me, right?" Angeli murmured.
Tauriel turned back to look at the princess. "Of course we are," she replied.
0o0
An hour after the two left, Angeli stood by the window, unable to sleep. One question was still on her mind. What did I see in the mirror of Galadriel? She stood there for a few more moments, then it hit her. The very images that she had thought would bring her closer to her mother.
Angeli slowly poured the water from her pitcher into the basin that was Galadriel's mirror, then looked deep into the depths of the water. The water rippled for a few moments, then began to form images. First Angeli saw Celeborn and Galadriel, holding a younger Angeli in their arms. Next, she saw, Mirkwood forest and their king, Thranduil. Finally, she saw her and Legolas standing together, while Galadriel looked at them with pride. Angeli turned around with a smile and headed towards the palace again, knowing what she needed to do. Little did she know, the mirror still had more to show, and as she left, one final image was shown in the water. It was of a tree, with a rope hung on it, and carved in the tree, was the letter "A".
"I wish I had known," Angeli murmured to herself, turning away from the window.
0o0
"Are you okay?" Legolas asked, slowing down as they reached River Running.
"Yes," Tauriel lied, her stomach twisting in fear. She knew Thranduil would know what she had done, and he would probably be even more furious that she had gotten Legolas involved.
"Your face says otherwise. Are you worried my father will find out what we did?" Legolas asked.
Tauriel sighed, "He probably already knows, Legolas. Or he is going to find out sooner or later."
"That is probably true, but do not fret. What could he do to you? After all, you are the one Angeli almost killed, and so am I. It was our choice, let her die, or save her. Thranduil will just have to try and see things our way," Legolas murmured.
Tauriel nodded, but the feeling in her stomach did not subside, if anything, it just got worse as they approached their home. She could almost feel Thranduil's sword in her stomach, for she knew the King would feel like stabbing her. The only thing that will protect me from getting hurt, is Legolas.