Tauriel sat still, waiting, anticipating Bard's return. The shock of Legolas' capture was fading; she could think about it much more clearly now. For Legolas to have been captured… the enemy had to be strong.

No mere orc could capture him, and she doubted the leader could either. Legolas was an amazing fighter; she would know. He had been at her back, fighting side-by-side with her for over five centuries. In that time, she had only seen him injured once.

And that one time, she had seen him nearly destroyed. Tauriel had seen him near his breaking point, and she knew that both of them were changed that day. Legolas had become colder, more distant. He still smiled, still laughed, but it was clear that something was different.

King Thranduil had embraced the change. He believed it made his son stronger, less likely to fall. The King then on tried to train Legolas to be more like himself, unfriendly, remote. King Thranduil tried to make his light like Kili's version of starlight.

Cold.

Remote.

Yes, it was beautiful.

Yes, it was strong.

But it was also unreachable. For years, she had seen Legolas' untouchable poise. He trusted her. She trusted him. They were friends in that sense. Tauriel had never seen him upset, never seen him worried. All of his true emotions were hidden, buried deep within to an area that she wasn't privy to. It hurt her immensely; she had been attracted to him for a long time. He saw her as only the Captain of the Guards.

Then Legolas began to change again. The kind elfling she had known began to immerge once more, stronger than before, smarter than before, but still the same person deep within. She had reveled in the new change, loving him more, watching him when he did not realize. He no longer had the emotionless face when facing her and the other elves.

Legolas would smile again; he would frown again. For the first time in centuries, he seemed truly alive. King Thranduil had noticed as well – for all his faults, he did love his son and pay attention to him.

He had told her – loud and clear – that he would never approve of Legolas loving her. Tauriel knew that even with the change in Legolas, he would never go against his father nor did she really want him too.

Legolas' newfound kindness that fallen when the dwarves arrived. If Tauriel had ever hoped that Legolas would go against his father, it was then. King Thranduil was merciless to the beings, as he was with any stranger. She had expected Legolas to be more welcoming, but he had treated them with contempt and anger, being crude and cold to them.

Tauriel had been so blind watching the new side of him that she hadn't realized he still hid things, deep below. King Thranduil had seemed smug; he had altered Legolas into how he saw fit. Tauriel knew he still poisoned Legolas' mind. Of course, what he taught wasn't bad or against what his people wanted.

King Thranduil was attempted to transform into what he believed to be a 'proper prince.' Tauriel was not the only one to notice the change, but no one had ever spoken it. She had seen glances of shock and surprise directed at him.

There were even glances of pity from those who knew what had changed him. King Thranduil had hidden what had happened. Everyone had rumors – but few knew the real truth.

Legolas had been wounded trying to save his mother and brother. If he hadn't been slashed – horrid and deep with hate and anger – then he might have gotten there in time. Legolas fell hearing their screams, hearing the jeers and laughs as the orcs tortured them.

Tauriel had never seen him cry over it. Legolas had shut down; he had broken. Hardly well enough to stand, he had fought and nearly lost his life pulling his family from the torture.

The two elves were too far gone – breathing but not alive – that they didn't see Legolas' fragile state, and they had sailed West, hurting him further.

King Thranduil had somehow connected to him. He built him up after his own image – which he firmly believed to be the right image of a king, cold and obsolete.

The other elves went months without seeing their prince, but once he emerged, it was obvious that he had changed. Legolas used to visit the Halls of Healing, helping sometimes and boosting morale. Now, he stood, head high, princely, untouchable and unable to connect with. He avoided conversation with other elves; it had taken him weeks to even speak with Tauriel.

And now. Now, Legolas was captured as his family had been. He could die, but Tauriel did not think they would kill him. The orc spoke of the Necromancer's plans for Legolas. They were terrible and dark, but she had hope because she knew Legolas would have to be alive for them.

They could still rescue him.

But what would he be like? Would his eyes glimmer and shine with life? Or would he be worse, like his mother, like is brother?

Would he sail to the West after all of this was finished? Would he hide behind a mask again?

Tauriel did not know, but she had any chance to save him, then she would. Prince Legolas Thranduilion would be saved; he would return to rule his kingdom when his time came.

Tauriel would promise that. However, she could not promise that she would return as well. She would fight long and hard, but if it came to only one elf escaping, it would be Legolas.

And though she tried to deny it, tried to make herself believe it would not be necessary, she did have a final plan.

It would only work in the worst case scenario, and she had no guarantee it would work at all.

In the end, if she had to, she could tell the orcs, tell the Necromancer that she would willingly take his place. Legolas would be defiant; he would be strong. Tauriel knew that, and that was why she believed that she could, perhaps, convince them to release Legolas and take her instead.

Because even if the orcs wanted Mirkwood, and she was forced, was corrupted, into leading them, the orcs would not win.

Because Mirkwood had Legolas on its side. It had a strong fighter, a prince, a leader. He would win the fight, whichever side he led.

It was her role to make sure he led his kin and his people.

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Legolas groaned, and his throat burned sharply, sending pain rocketing down his body. He blinked his eyes open to darkness – where was he?

There was movement from under him, but it was not the same feeling as the lurching gaits of the warg when it had been running nor did he feel the snapping wind against his body. They had stopped.

Legolas could feel the sick burning in his back as everything came back to him. He had been tortured, and he had given in. It was painful to think that he had given them what they wanted. They had wished for him to scream.

And scream he had. In his half-conscious state, he felt like he had hardly stopped screaming – screaming pain and combining it with broken Quenya and Westron numbers.

Eventually, he must have fallen unconscious. Legolas did not know how much time must have passed since then. It could still be night, or he could still be blindfolded.

Legolas felt rough arms seize him, and he couldn't help but let out a broken cry as they pulled his wounds.

"So the elf is awake," Bolg growled. "I had hoped you would be, elf. This way – you can remember this moment forever, elf. You are about to enter Dol Guldur. Welcome to pain and suffering more intense than anything you have ever felt, welcome to darkness and shadow."

"Welcome, elf, to your foulest nightmare."

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Hey, guys! How's it going? Any predictions or comments or questions about anything then let me know!

To the guest who said it was goblins that couldn't travel through daylight: turns out, we were both wrong and right. Orcs, goblins, and Uruk-hai can all travel through day, but it affects them psychologically. Goblins are affected the most: they usually refuse to do it because of the mental pain (like a migraine) and loss of morale. Then orcs: they can travel through day because it only makes them annoyed and lose their morale. Finally, Uruk-hai, which are only annoyed by sunlight.

Please review!

Thanks to all readers and especially reviewers!

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns all!