Legolas woke early, when he looked out of the window it was still dark, with only the first few inches of the sun just starting to appear. He was used to rising early and he saw no point in staying in bed or his room. He gathered his weapons, pulled on his boots and tunic and walked down the hall towards the throne room.
As he expected it to be, it was empty. He walked over to the entrance, pulling the doors opening and slipping out. He stood in front of the hall, gazing out at Edoras. The city was still, the only people awake that he could see were the guards posted around the boundaries. It may have seemed like a normal day, but there were many more guards than usual. The King was obviously fearful of Saruman's attacks. Legolas leant against a column, watching as more and more of the sun was revealed and rose into the sky.
As it often did when he wasn't concentrating on a particular subject, his mind drifted to Tauriel. He remembered watching sunrises and sunsets with her back in the Greenwood. They would climb to the top of one of the trees in the forest, and sit side by side on the highest branches. Quite often, Legolas would find himself looking more at her than the sky. Sometimes she would catch him watching her, and she would laugh, telling him he was looking the wrong way. They would talk, about recent events, and past memories and the future. Of course, the events now, were nothing like the future they imagined.
His mind drifted to their very brief conversation last night, if it was long enough to be called a conversation. Her words, "he thought a Sylvan elf and a Prince to be a couple." had surprised him. It didn't sound like her, if anything it sounded like his father, who frequently reminded him of his heritage and appropriate brides. Every time he had told his father he wasn't interested in an Elleth he hadn't met before, even if she came from good heritage. As he and Tauriel became closer and closer, he became more and more annoyed at his father for talking about the subject of marriage.
He had never told his father why the matter annoyed him so much, but he now wondered if his father had started to guess. A sudden thought hit him, the combination of Tauriel pushing him away and the sudden use of formalities, was it possible his father had said something to her?
Tauriel walked out of the hall, pulling one door open and slipping outside. The first thing her eyes were drawn to, was the elf leaning against a column, looking out over Edoras. For a second, she wondered if she could slip back inside without him noticing but she dismissed the thought. She knew how good his hearing was, he would have heard the door being open from the first second she pushed it forwards. She walked forwards, chosing to lean against the column opposite his. "Good morning, My Lord," she said, choosing to break the silence.
Legolas turned his head away from the city and towards her. "So we are back to My Lord again?" he asked, the words sounded almost harsh even in his own ears but he needed to say it.
Tauriel looked down, "It is how it should be," she replied.
"No Tauriel, it shouldn't. Regardless of what happened sixty years ago, we had a history before that time. Does that mean nothing to you? We used to laugh together, talk together, we were friends. Can you not even offer me that?"
Tauriel didn't meet his eye. How desperatly she wanted to offer him more than that. She would offer him her love, if she was allowed. She wanted to scream, to let out a cry of frustration but she kept it inside. She had not forgotten her dream either, and she just wished defying her King was that easy when she was awake.
"Tauriel, why?" Legolas asked. "Why is it that every time I get close to you, you push me away again?"
Tauriel finally looked up at him, his eyes were fixed on her. Thranduil did not forbid you from being friends she reminded herself.
Legolas sighed, "If you do not want to talk to me Tauriel, I won't seek your company again. If that is your wish, I will distance myself from you," he straightened up, pushing off the column.
"No!" she said, "No that isn't what I want, I'm sorry." she apologised.
Legolas tilted his head, a look of confusion but also curiosity coming onto his face. "Are you going to offer an explanation?" he asked.
Once more, Tauriel looked away. Legolas walked towards her, stopping right in front of her. "Tauriel, did my father say something to you?"
Tauriel's eyes snapped up to his. "Your words yesterday about you being Silvan. It didn't sound like you, it sounded more like him," Legolas explained.
Tauriel stood up straight. "His exact words were 'do not give him hope when there is none." she told him.
Legolas looked away, frowning, back towards the city. "He needn't have worried in the end," he said.
Tauriel also turned and looked out at the city, memories of Kili coming back to her.
"I'm sorry," Legolas' words jolted her out of her reminiscing.
"There is nothing to apologise for, it is not as if I had forgotten him," Tauriel replied, watching as his frown deepened. Her own guilt went with it. She knew he had nothing to apologise for, and she knew she owed him many apologies of her own. But she knew, the best way she could keep them as friends was to continue with her original plan, pretend to love Kili.
Tauriel's words stung him, but he pushed them aside, she loved Kili, he couldn't make her love anyone else, no matter how much he loved her. But he couldn't spend every day with her not talking, he wanted their friendship back.
"Tauriel, I would not ask of you your love, but I would value your friendship," he said quietly.
She smiled softly, although her heart ached inside, "You will always have my friendship, mellon-nin," she replied. It may not have been true of the past, but to herself, she vowed she wouldn't ignore him or push him away again, it would only cause both of them pain, once more.
Tauriel lent forward, and pressed her lips against his cheek. Her lips lingered there for an extra moment, as she savoured the feeling of her lips on his skin, promising this would be the last time in her life. She pulled back, looking into his eyes for a second before looking up into the sky.
Legolas stood completely still as Tauriel kissed his cheek, he wanted to remember this moment, he knew this would be the closest he ever got to being loved by Tauriel. But he was grateful for her offer of friendship again.
He looked back into her eyes when she pulled away, she looked happy, but almost sad at the same time. He turned to stand beside her as she looked up towards the sun in the sky.
"We used to watch the sunrise together, and the sunset," Tauriel whispered.
"I remember," he replied, "The thought crossed my mind when I stood here by myself. It did not feel right without you."
She smiled again, and leant her head on his shoulder. Together, they watched as the first people started to emerge from their houses, drawing water from wells and greeting their neighbours. Everyone seemed to have an air of weariness around them. The people of Rohan were smart, they knew Saruman would be angry, word had travelled quickly. Nethertheless, they carried on with their daily duties, unaware of the long distance they would soon have to walk.
"They have a long journey to make," Tauriel said.
"The people seem strong, they will make it."
"It is not the people's wills I am concerned about." Tauriel replied, "No matter how strong they are, Saruman's forces will be deadly."
"You almost sound afraid Tauriel." Legolas said, continuing to look ahead.
"I am, but for the people, not for myself," she replied.
Legolas nodded, he too was wary of the journey they would have to make.
The door creaked open behind them, and both elves spun around. Eowyn stood behind them, a small smile on her face.
"There is breakfast in here for you," she told them. Both elves smiled back at her and followed her into the hall.
I'm back :) Sorry for the long wait again, I had a little case of writer's block once more. But again, I have an idea of what I'm going to be doing next chapter. But as always, suggestions area welcome and please comment/review. Thankyou and I'll try to have the next chapter up as soon as possible.