When they return to the safety of the palace walls, Thranduil excuses himself from the patrol group without so much as a glance in Tauriel's direction.
He can't believe how foolish he acted in front of so many witnesses.
Tauriel is a brilliant warrior, one of the best he knows, yet he couldn't help but push her from harm's way when he saw that beast threatening her.
That isn't the worst of it though. His shoving her aside could have been easily explained away. As king he doesn't get the chance to be out in the field much, and perhaps he was just looking for a bit of a challenge?
But no, he rants inwardly, you had to make a scene.
Caressing her face, searching to see if she was all right… in front of no less than five witnesses.
"You have a cut"… by the stars you're pathetic.
He's still shaking his head, scolding himself, when he arrives at his council room.
Unfortunately, there is someone waiting for him.
"Lord Haewon," Thranduil sighs. "How may I assist you?"
"I just came to see how you were fairing, your majesty. I heard you were attacked while patrolling beyond the borders today."
"As you can see, I am quite fine. Thank you for your inquiry, now—"
"I was wondering," the councilman interrupts, "if perhaps this incident has led you to reconsider your recent decision to expand patrol routes?"
Thranduil frowns in confusion.
"It has not," he says. "Why should it?"
"It is a dangerous world out there beyond our borders, as you've now seen. I fear that by extending our reach we are only inviting more attacks, and putting our soldiers… our people at risk."
"You've voiced these concerns before," Thranduil sighs.
"As have you," Lord Haewon counters. "Until recently, that is. What is it that has changed your mind so thoroughly?"
"The swaying advice of my soldiers."
"Perhaps you mean the swaying advice of Captain Tauriel?" the councilman smirks. "It was her idea originally, was it not?"
Thranduil straightens his back, and looks down his nose at Lord Haewon.
"It was, and it was very well thought out. The benefits outweigh the risks, as I have outlined for the Council already, if you recall? By acting first, and clearing the forces that would oppose us, before they get the opportunity to organize, we are saving lives in the long run."
"Yes, yes, of course," Haewon nods. "Well then, your majesty, I will leave you. I only wished to inquire after your health. It would be tragic if something were to happen to you."
Watching the councilman walk away through narrowed eyes, Thranduil feels a weariness settle over him. Not so much a physical tiredness, but mental exhaustion from playing these political mind games.
Ruling never used to be this difficult, he muses.
When he first chose to close his people away from the lands that surround them, it was during a similar period of great strife and tragedy. His decision had been met with encouragement, and relief. He was lauded for his love of those he led.
But centuries passed, and new lives were created, grown, and nurtured. Lives and minds that did not understand loss, terror, and the danger that awaits them outside the boundaries.
These new generations only know the nightmares once faced as told through stories recited to them as elflings, snug in their beds. And while these new generations respect those before them, they also wondered if perhaps their parents and grandparents had grown soft.
This is how dissention starts… young voices eager to make names for themselves, wishing only to bring their home and family glory. Tired of the old ways, wishing to forge their own paths.
And it is Thranduil's job, as king, to listen and weigh these new ideas.
Tauriel was not the first to suggest spreading their might, and helping those around them who are in need, but she was the last.
After the terrible losses during the Battle of Erebor, Thranduil was forced to realize that had he been listening to those new voices, the forces against them might never have reached the power they did.
When Thranduil proposed this new plan of action, to go on the offensive, most had been in agreement with him. A few council members, such as Lord Haewon, had disagreed.
After he has a chance to clean himself up, Thranduil summons all of the Captains to the council room to go over new strategy.
X
After the King departs the others walking with Tauriel become less covert in hiding their stares.
Captain Dagon excuses himself to speak with the gate guards, inquiring if the other patrols have all returned yet.
Magol and Thanben won't stop watching her, and Tauriel tries not to grind her teeth. Magol is attempting to be subtle with her glances, but Thanben hides behind no such courtesies, openly gawking at her.
She's just about to snap when Magol speaks up.
"We're going to go to the armory," she says, "we're expecting some new blades."
Magol nods her goodbye quickly and breaks apart from the group, Thanben in tow, still shooting looks at Tauriel over his shoulder as he walks away.
That just leaves Tauriel, Grond, and, to her displeasure, Echtel.
Echtel, who is on her right, begins whistling cheerfully as they walk, and Tauriel gives him a long-suffering glare.
"You know," he says thoughtfully, glancing at Tauriel with a smirk, "I always pegged you as a rule breaker."
"Pardon?" she asks, knowing she'll regret it.
"Ah, you know, one of those 'spit in the face of authority' types. Guess I was wrong though."
When she doesn't respond he keeps talking.
"I mean, obviously I knew I was wrong, otherwise you'd never have made Captain," Echtel continues. "I guess I didn't realize just how wrong I was. I mean… you probably follow orders really well. For instance, when the king tells you kneel I bet you have no objection dropping to your knees."
Grond makes a disgusted sound and shifts quickly, making a move for Echtel.
Tauriel holds her hand up to stop him, and they all stop walking. She turns to Grond and gives him a look that says, "thank you, but no."
When she faces Echtel, he's wearing a big satisfied grin. Tauriel responds with a humorless smile before promptly punching him in the stomach.
All the air rushes from his lungs and he drops to the ground in front of her, completely winded.
"Next time you wish to speak your filth, and spread your lies," she speaks down to him, "just remember who has you on your knees."
She turns her back on him and walks away, flexing her hand. Grond is trailing beside her, looking quite possibly the happiest she's ever seen him.
When they enter the palace, he gives her a small bow.
"Good evening, Captain," Grond wishes her, still wearing the ghost of a smirk.
"Good evening," she replies, unable to hide her own wicked smile.
"Oh, and Captain?" he says before she walks away. "Don't forget to have that cut looked at."
Grond shoots her a wink and heads off, presumably, to his own chambers.
Were it anyone else Tauriel would be offended, but the fact that it is stoic, somber, Grond teasing her, she can't suppress a small laugh.
When she gets back to her room, Tauriel finds Arodeth there, just delivering her dinner.
"You're my hero," Tauriel tells her, sitting down and immediately digging in.
"You know me," Arodeth says. "The Sorceress of Snacks. The Defender of Delicacies. I also happen to wield the, um, broadsword of bathwater. Would you like me to capture an evening soak for you?"
Tauriel chuckles, but shakes her head.
"No, thank you. That sounds lovely, but there is a captain's meeting tonight."
"I could come back afterwards?" the maid offers.
"I do appreciate the offer, but I don't know how late I'll be. And, I do know how to run the bath myself if I really want one."
"Oh, I see. You're after my job?"
"Maybe the Defender of Delicacies could do a better job of tracking an Orc pack down, and we should swap places."
"Still no luck today then?" Arodeth asks.
Tauriel recounts her day, between mouthfuls, only leaving out the part of her being pushed aside by the king, and Echtel being left breathless outside.
When she finishes eating, Tauriel quickly washes her face, pausing to inspect her appearance in the mirror. She has the tiniest scratch on her cheekbone, no bigger than a cut from the edge of a parchment sheet.
She smiles, recalling the heat of Thranduil's hand as he touched her face.
Shaking daydreams away, she makes her way to the King's council room.
Many of the other captains are already there, and she's pleased to she that she isn't the first, nor the last, to arrive.
Thranduil's eyes find hers just as she walks in and her stomach flips. He only looks at her a few seconds before turning his attention elsewhere, but it's long enough that she feels her cheeks heat, and she wonders when she became this simpering fool who wears her emotions so openly.
The meeting progresses smoothly, everyone going around and reciting their findings, or more accurately their lack of findings.
Just before he dismisses them, Thranduil introduces a new plan of action.
"Clearly," he begins, "our current method is not working. Therefore, we need to change our tactics. Starting tomorrow I would like all of you to divide your patrols into two smaller groups, which will allow you to cover twice the ground."
"Yes, your majesty," one of the other captains pipes up, "but it makes us more vulnerable as well."
"I disagree," Thranduil counters. "As a larger group you are louder, and slower. Even if you were to sneak up on a group of Orcs, it is likely that one single patrol could not handle them alone as it is if they are in fact travelling in the numbers we suspect. If you divide up you can move quicker, and quieter. As of now, I only want you gaining information on them. You are not to mount an attack."
Everyone around the room murmurs their agreement, only a few seeming to disagree with this new course.
As everyone is dismissed, Tauriel wonders if she should linger around or not, but the decision is taken from her.
"Captains Halvon, Tauriel, and Liel, please remain behind," Thranduil requests loudly.
The other captains file out, while Tauriel and the other two summoned move to the front of the room.
"You three," Thranduil explains, "all have patrols with uneven numbers. I just wanted to clarify that you are to have at least one group of three, then. I don't want anyone out on their own. Understood?"
"Yes, my King," they respond, almost in unison.
They turn to leave, but Thranduil speaks once again before they reach the door.
"Oh, and Captain Tauriel, your patrol area has been shifted. I forgot to mention it. Take a look at this map."
As she turns to return to the front of the room, Captain Liel gives her a sympathetic look and Tauriel feels a surge of affection though she hardly knows the woman.
"Have my patrol areas truly been changed?" Tauriel asks when they are alone.
"No, of course not. I had some new information to share with you."
Thranduil quickly recounts his encounter with Lord Haewon.
"He wants to stop the patrols that stretch beyond our borders," Thranduil finishes. "Perhaps we are getting close to his hidden Orc pack."
"Perhaps," she whispers, thoughtfully.
Something is bothering her, but she can't quite put her finger on it.
"This afternoon," he begins, interrupting her trail of thought, "when I pushed you aside. I hope you don't think that was because I didn't think you capable of protecting yourself… I— it was purely instinctual."
"Next time you'll have to try to fight your instincts. I'm the one pledged to protect you after all, my King."
Her voice is playful, and she takes a couple steps closer to him.
"I'm not sure I can fight my instincts," he says, taking her hand and drawing her slowly closer. "Some of them are quite… insistent."
She can feel the heat of his breath against her lips, when something clicks together in her mind.
"Lord Haewon," she breathes.
"Excuse me?" Thranduil asks, confused and looking slightly offended.
"When did you say you spoke to Lord Haewon?" she asks.
"Just after I left you… maybe about five minutes later. Why?"
"How did he know? About the spider? Dagon was with the gate guards, Magol and Thanben were headed to the armory, and I was with Grond and Echtel until after you must have already met Lord Haewon. How did he know about the spider attack?"
"Because he organized it," Thranduil says quietly. "A beast that big was no ordinary spider of the forest. It was a bred and trained pet."
"You know what this means?" Tauriel beams, almost bouncing up and down. "He's slipping up. We almost have him!"
Author's Note: A little shorter than usual, but big things are coming! I hope you are all doing well, and if anyone is wondering I had a wonderful trip with my great-grandmother :) As always, reviews are much appreciated, I love hearing what you guys think!