In the days following the find of the dead spider nest the forest is quiet… far too quiet for Tauriel's comfort.
There are no more sightings of Orcs, or their tracks, within the kingdom boundaries. While normally that would be cause for celebration, there are no spiders either. Most think this is a good sign as well, but it makes Tauriel nervous.
She has never known the forest to be this empty, or this devoid of life. It reminds her of the calm before a summer storm, when everything grows still and silent just moments before the thunderclouds erupt and rain pours wrathfully from the sky.
Of the others in her patrol, only Grond seems to find the silence as disturbing as Tauriel.
"Something is brewing," he says quietly, glancing sideways at her. "I can feel it."
"As do I," she agrees. "I wish they did."
She nods her head in the directions of others. Echtel is pestering Magol while Thanben sits cleaning his blade, watching the two.
They've paused to regroup and decide on their next move.
Tauriel and Grond were surveying the area, looking for a sign of which way to go, when they both paused to watch a lone bird take off from the treetops.
"They will not, until it is too late," Grond says.
"Why do you think that is?"
"They do not know loss, and will remain blissfully ignorant to the danger that lies ahead."
"Magol and Thanben are orphans—"
"They do not know recent loss," he amends.
"Oh… and you?"
"My brother. He fell at Erebor."
"I didn't know. I'm so sorry for your loss," she apologizes, feeling ashamed she didn't already know.
"And I'm sorry for yours," he tells her solemnly.
Before she can respond he slips away, returning to the group. After a brief moment to compose herself, Tauriel follows.
"Alright, let's not press any further out today. We'll make a large loop and expand our patrol as we double back," she orders, gesturing them all to stand.
Echtel mumbles something about it being a waste of time, but one look from Tauriel shuts him up and he climbs to his feet.
The journey back is almost as uneventful as the journey out, until Grond throws up a signal for everyone to stop. He gestures towards a tree on their right, and Tauriel moves closer to inspect it. There is a splattering of shiny black liquid on the trunk.
Orc blood.
There is a trail of blood leading into the brush behind the tree. Drawing her daggers, Tauriel slowly follows the trail with the others close behind her.
A heavy wheezing noise is coming from beneath some low hanging branches, and she signals Grond to pull them out of the way.
He moves quickly, pulling the obstructing branches back and giving the rest of them clear view of the bleeding Orc lying on the ground. His breathing is labored and he's clutching a wound on his stomach.
Echtel cries out and lunges forward, only to find Tauriel's blade at his throat.
"Stand down," she growls through gritted teeth.
The Orc glares up them, trying to sneer menacingly, but it's in too much pain for it be effective.
"Do it," the Orc says, blood flecking it's lips as he speaks.
"I said stand down," Tauriel repeats as Echtel bounces impatiently. "Thanben, check it for weapons and bind its hands. Magol, staunch the bleeding and bandage its wound."
The twins follow her orders quickly as Echtel scoffs and stomps back towards the trail.
"The King will want to question him," Tauriel explains.
Grond is the only one to respond, giving her an approving nod.
It takes them much longer than they should to travel back to the kingdom with the Orc hobbling along, spewing threats and curses.
The gate guards are about to scold them when they see the prisoner in tow, and instead offer to escort them.
"That won't be necessary," Tauriel tells them. "In fact, Magol, Thanben, and Echtel you are dismissed. Grond and I will handle it from here."
Both Magol and Thanben salute before departing, but Echtel only storms away.
I'm going to have to deal with him sooner rather than later.
She and Grond take the Orc straight to throne room, finding Thranduil perched strikingly above them.
He looks down his perfectly straight nose studying the Orc before him, his eye's filled with an icy fury.
It sends a shiver down Tauriel's spine.
"Introduce our guest," the King commands, twisting the word 'guest' into an insult.
"We discovered him during our patrol, my King. It has been badly injured, and by the looks of it another Orc is to blame," Tauriel explains.
Thranduil rises from his throne and descends down the stairs to join them, his blue cloak billowing behind him, and Tauriel wonders for the thousandth time how it doesn't trip him.
Grond pushes the Orc to its knees as the King approaches.
"What brings you so close to my lands?" Thranduil asks. "And where are the others? Your group?"
The Orc just cackles and spits blood at the King's feet.
Tauriel pulls one of her daggers out and aims the blade at its face for its disrespect.
Thranduil begins walking a slow circle around the creature, catching Tauriel's eye as he paces and shaking his head almost imperceptively. She lowers her dagger.
"How many are you?" he asks.
"More than you'd think," the Orc answers.
"It is my understanding that you have come to have a new leader. Who among you commands your allegiance?"
It doesn't reply.
"I can heal you," Thranduil offers, coming full circle in front of the Orc.
"Lies. You wouldn't. I won't leave these halls," it croaks.
"No, you misunderstand," the King corrects. "I can heal you, and then I can break you. Slowly. In ways your cruel, limited, mind cannot imagine. And then I can heal you again, and again. Answer me and I will grant you a quick death."
The Orc swallows audibly and its beady eyes dart nervously.
"Who among you commands your allegiance?"
"None."
"None? I know there are a great many of you, and I hardly believe you've developed democracy. So who?"
"None among us command our allegiance," it sputters, more blood falling from his mouth. "You should ask— ask yourself who among you betrays your allegiance."
"What does that mean?"
The Orc begins coughing and shaking. It's clear he won't be answering any more questions.
With a heavy sigh, Thranduil nods at Tauriel and she swings her blade, cutting the creature's head clean off.
She has many questions she wants to ask, but before she can begin the King holds up his hand and waves them away.
"Thank you," he says. "You are dismissed."
X
Thranduil knows he is being watched. He can feel it, feel eyes following his every move. He can't prove it though. He can't even figure out who it is that is watching him, though, he does have a pretty good guess.
He also knows Tauriel wants to talk about what the Orc told them, but he can't risk it out in the open.
Once the day has drawn to a close, and most of the kingdom is in bed, Thranduil slips from his chambers to make his way to his garden. He suspects Tauriel will be waiting for him.
Cautiously making sure he's not being followed, he first ambles through the vast halls in no particular direction. Once positive he is on his own, Thranduil makes for the garden.
As he suspected, Tauriel is waiting for him, pacing anxiously by the pond.
"Tauriel?"
She pauses her pacing and turns towards his voice.
"My King. How did I know you would be here?" she asks, then sighs, "I suppose you know me too well."
"I would wager I could know you better," he quips, only catching the implications of his words after he has spoken.
Tauriel tries to hide her smirk, and doesn't reply.
"So," he says, trying to change the subject, "what do you make of the Orc's information?"
"There is a traitor among us."
Thranduil nods and approaches the edge of pond, stopping once he is shoulder to shoulder with Tauriel.
"Is that… possible?" she asks. "That they are being led by an elf?"
"Anything is possible, as I've come to realize. It depends what they were offered, or promised."
"Who do you think it is?"
He glances sideways at her, arching an eyebrow questioningly.
"Yes," she sighs, "I suppose that is rather obvious. Lord Haewon is to blame for all of this."
"That would be my guess."
"Can't you just arrest him?"
Thranduil laughs.
"On the veiled accusations of a dying Orc? No. As I said before, I cannot move against him without solid proof."
"Then let's get some!" she exclaims. "How can you just sit back and—and let things play out? Our people are in danger!"
"Do you think I do not know that?" he asks, growing annoyed. "Do not presume to understand my choices."
"What choices? You are not doing anything!"
Thranduil turns on her, standing inches away, their chests almost touching. He can see the fire in her eyes, glinting behind the angry tears threatening to spill over.
"I can see you want to act," she continues earnestly. "Yet you will not make a move."
X
Shaking with anger, Tauriel stares up at her King, waiting for him to say something.
Instead, he catches her completely off guard by wrapping his hands around her arms and bending to kiss her.
His lips are harsh and sweet at the same time, and she freezes.
Pulling back slightly he murmurs against her lips.
"I do make some choices."
Tauriel throws her arms around him and stands on tip toes to press her lips to his. Thranduil wraps one arm around the small of her back, and his other hand comes up to cup her cheek.
It's sweeter this time… softer. She can feel a fluttering in her stomach building and Tauriel presses herself closer.
After a few seconds, or perhaps ten minutes, she isn't sure, as time has no meaning in his arms, Thranduil pulls away.
"And sometimes they are the wrong choices," he tells her, stepping out of arms reach.
The cool evening air hits her, carrying with it the sting of rejection.
Tauriel bites her lip, confusion swarming her and clouding her mind. She turns her back on him and stares at the stone pathway beneath her feet.
Thranduil's hand comes to rest on her shoulder, and she forces herself not to cringe under his touch.
"I have acted rashly before," he says softly, "and it has cost me dearly."
"Your wife," she states, voice thick.
"Yes."
"What happened?" Tauriel asks, despite the fact the last thing she wants right now is to hear him speak of another woman.
"Dragon fire… and bad choices."
Thranduil seats himself on the stone bench and pats the place next to him; knowing better, she takes a seat anyway.
"News came to me of trouble at Gundabad. There were rumors of great northern serpents wreaking havoc. I did not take time to plan, instead launching an attack immediately. In the chaos, I did not realize that I had a tag-along following me into battle."
He pauses and she waits, wanting to ask questions, but forcing herself to remain quiet.
"It was Legolas. He was fifteen at the time, just beginning to explore, and wanting to be a part of everything. He snuck away following us. I didn't realize. Gilrin did, however, and she came after him. He found his way into the fray, and was cornered by a fierce fire breather. It was about to strike when… when she reached him just in time. Gilrin threw him out of the way, and suffered the full force of the beast's flames."
Tauriel gasps, covering her mouth.
"Oh, no…"
"I sliced the creature's head off and rushed to her, but it was too late, and the only thing I accomplished was throwing myself into the flames."
Tauriel has heard of his battle scar, hidden behind a glamour, but she's never seen it, and when he lets the mask fall she feels her chest ache.
Cautiously, she reaches up towards him, but she stops just before touching the damage.
"You did all you could," she says.
"No. I didn't. Had I but been a bit more cautious…"
She takes his hand and bows her head, feeling ashamed for her accusations.
"And Legolas?" she asks. "He doesn't remember?"
"No. I took the memory from him. I did not want him to feel responsible for what happened."
Suddenly everything is crystal clear to Tauriel. This is why Legolas has no memory of his mother, and why Thranduil has refused to talk about her for so many years, fearing his son would remember and feel guilty.
They sit in silence, neither knowing what to say, instead just watching the clouds overhead shifting in the breeze until they can see the stars.
"I'll keep looking," she says finally, "for proof."
Thranduil stands up, pulling her up with him, and walks to the exit.
"I know you will," he tells her.
Once they are back inside, they pause, and he looks to be at a loss for words.
"About what happened out there," he begins, not meeting her eyes, "I don't— I don't know—"
"It's okay," Tauriel interrupts, "we don't have to do this now."
He nods, looking relieved.
She gives him a small, sad smile, and stands up on tip toes once more to place a kiss on his cheek.
They say goodnight and part, neither thinking to look if they were being watched.
Author's Note: Sorry this is so short, but I wanted to get something up before I go away for the weekend. Thank you for all your wonderful reviews, and I hope you are still enjoying the story. Have a good weekend, and let me know what you think!