The next morning, Tauriel reports for patrol with the growing sense of dread budding in her stomach.
Her patrol group is uneven, as she was reminded last night, and now that they are supposed to divide into smaller groups, and she has been forbidden from going on her own, she must have at least one group of three.
Her choice of how to divide took some deliberation, but at last she realized what had to be done, no matter how… distasteful.
Magol and Thanben won't be separated, but she also doesn't want those two on their own unless they have to be. While she would like to pair them with Echtel, leaving her and Grond to make the strongest pair, Tauriel knows that Echtel is a bad influence on the two. He needs to be babysat.
Begrudgingly she decides to pair Grond with the twins, and suffer with Echtel as her patrol partner.
It's not that she doesn't trust Grond to be able to handle Echtel, it's that she doesn't trust any disagreement between the pair not to come to blows. At least Echtel has some semblance of duty and listens to her orders as a commanding officer.
Unsurprisingly, when Tauriel arrives to debrief her patrol, there are only three members waiting for her.
Before she can ask, she hears someone running up behind her and turns to find Echtel, sprinting up to join the group.
"You're late," she drawls.
"I noticed," he replies cheekily, "sorry, Captain. It won't happen again."
I highly doubt that, she wants to retort, but bites her tongue.
"As you may have heard, patrols are being split up to cover more ground. This is a stealth operation. You are only out to gather information, and are not to mount any attacks. Fight only if you are discovered and your life depends on it," Tauriel commands.
"If we find something?" Magol pipes up.
"Immediately report back to the palace, and inform the gate guards. They will have further instructions. Any other questions?"
Silence.
"Alright, now as to how we are dividing… We are forbidden from any one soldier patrolling alone," she says, trying not to grit her teeth. "So, Magol and Thanben, I want you with Grond. He will be the leader of your party, and you will listen to him as you would to me. Understood?"
"Yes, Captain," Magol replies, sounding bored.
Thanben only nods once.
"That leaves—"
"Me and you, eh?" Echtel interrupts, eyeing her slyly.
"It appears so."
Grond, who has remained silent through all of this, gives Tauriel a brief, but apologetic look.
"Let's set out then. We'll march out to the western quadrant and separate from there," she orders.
They trek out in silence, as usual Tauriel and Grond lead the group, and Echtel follows a short distance behind the back of the patrol.
Just before they are about to split up, Grond leans in to speak with Tauriel.
"Remember," he says quietly, "we are not to mount attacks. No matter how much you may want to."
"Of course I—" she begins offhandedly, but then she catches the look he's shooting at Echtel.
She gives Grond a sarcastic smile and elbows him.
"I'll try to contain myself."
His chuckle is just barely loud enough for her to register, and she's still shaking her head at him as he leads the twins away on their patrol path.
"This way," she tells Echtel, heading off in the opposite direction.
As they make their way through the overgrowth, working hard not to leave tracks, Tauriel waits for the smart remarks and taunts to begin, but they don't come.
Even Echtel's stealth seems to have improved. Whereas normally he clods around almost as pompously as a mortal, today he is swift and quiet.
After a few hours of silence, Tauriel's curiosity gets the better of her.
"You're awfully quiet today," she comments, when they stop to drink from a stream.
"I was under the impression this was a stealth operation."
"We're always on stealth operations. That's never stopped you before."
"What can I say?" he shrugs. "The twins are a bad influence. That Thanben can go on for hours."
She rolls her eyes.
"Well, whatever the reason, I'm thankful."
"Why, Captain… you weren't dreading working with me, were you?" he asks, clutching his chest in mock hurt.
"Can't imagine why I would."
"I'm sorry," Echtel tells her, all joking aside.
"Pardon? I must have misheard."
"I'm sorry for what I said to you yesterday. It wasn't my place. Sometimes, I get carried away."
"Sometimes?" Tauriel scoffs.
"Alright, perhaps I'm not very professional. I am however, trying to offer my apologies for that."
Searching his face for any sign of an incoming punch line, Tauriel finds him to be sincere.
"Thank you," she says, at a loss. "We should keep moving."
The rest of the day passes with ease, as does the next.
Tauriel is pleasantly surprised at how respectful Echtel is on their patrols, and wonders if perhaps she should have knocked him to his knees much sooner than she had.
The only downside is the lack of discovery. Despite the new tactics, they have nothing to show for their work.
It's not just them, either, but all of the patrol groups.
Upon their return the third evening of the new, smaller patrols, Echtel stops Tauriel before she can report to the Captains meeting.
"Wait," he calls, reaching for her arm.
"Yes?"
"Captain, these new patrols are not working."
"That's rather obvious," she replies impatiently, "but the old ones were not working either."
"We need something new."
"And I suppose you have a suggestion."
"Yes. Consider this… if you were a giant Orc pack, trying to hide from an army of Elves, would you really hide within a day's journey from the enemy's front door? Of course not! The reason we're not finding anything is because we are so restricted. We leave at dawn and are expected to return at dusk. How are we to find anything?"
"Are you suggesting overnight patrols?" Tauriel asks.
"Yes. It's the only way to truly expand our search."
"Why are you coming to me with this?"
"You're my Captain, and well… while meaning no disrespect, the King is more likely to listen to you on this matter than he is to me. King Thranduil hasn't allowed overnight patrols in as long as I can remember. At least not something on this scale."
She considers his idea, and has to admit he makes a good point. She's actually a little surprised no one else has made the suggestion yet.
"I'll consider proposing your idea," Tauriel concedes.
X
While Tauriel has spent her days searching for the elusive Orc pack, Thranduil has spent his days searching as well; for information on Lord Haewon to prove any treasonous offenses.
Unfortunately, he's had about as much luck as Tauriel.
He has found no record of Lord Haewon leaving the kingdom, not even to go on so much as a short forest stroll.
How is he controlling the Orcs? How did he come into contact with them in the first place?
After inspecting gate logs and questioning guards turn up no answers, Thranduil concludes it is time to start questioning those close to Haewon. He does not, however, wish to raise any alarms, so he must be delicate.
Shortly before the next Captains meeting, Thranduil summons Lady Neleth to his council chambers, under the guise of asking how her planning for Lord Elrond's arrival is going.
She arrives with her arms full of parchment scrolls, and he immediately regrets his decision.
"I have it all planned," she says excitedly, "and I've brought everything along so you can see it."
"I can't wait."
She clearly misses the subtle sarcasm to his drawl.
"Lord Elrond and his party will be arriving in four days. They will probably be tired from their travels, so I thought we might just have a diplomatic dinner as a welcome. They can spend the next day resting, and the evening after that, another full moon, we can host the welcoming banquet."
"Yes, yes," he nods. "That is a good idea."
Lady Neleth beams, and reaches for a scroll.
"Here I have a seating chart drawn up for their arrival dinner."
She spreads the scroll out across his desk, and Thranduil notices she has placed Lord Elrond and herself on either side of him.
Catching Lord Haewon's name on the chart, inspiration strikes.
Thranduil furrows his brow and sighs heavily, looking over the paper.
"Is—is something wrong?" Neleth asks, looking at him concernedly and then back to her chart. "Did I do something wrong?"
"What? Oh, no, no. This looks fantastic, I couldn't have done it better myself."
"Thank you, my King. It just appears as if something is bothering you."
"Well, you see… no, no. Never mind," he says with another sigh, waving her away.
"My King, please, if something is upsetting you, perhaps I can help."
"I was just reminded of an idle piece of gossip I heard; something that has indeed been troubling me. I don't wish to further rumors unsubstantiated. However… may I ask you a question? One that will stay between just the two of us?"
"Yes, of course! I would never betray your confidence," Neleth insists, reaching a hand out to rest on his arm.
"The other morning I overheard a couple maids talking about a certain council member questioning my rule. Have you heard anything of the sort?"
Lady Neleth looks uncertain as to whether she should answer.
"Please?" he implores, voice low and persuasive.
He places his hand over where hers rests on his arm.
"I only wish to know so I may rectify whatever it is I am doing raising these doubts."
"I suppose they were discussing Lord Haewon?" she asks.
"They were."
"Lord Haewon has been quite vocal in his disagreement with your choices since the Battle of Erebor, and in the beginning most people ignored him. Then, even more began to ignore him after you made his son a court musician. We all assumed he was just angry and lashing out, but then…"
"Yes?" he presses.
"Then he started to call even more of your decisions into question, and has slowly been spreading the idea that you are— are not in your right mind. Many still ignore him, but his argument has recently gained some credence. For some people, not— not for everyone," she rushes, looking uncomfortable.
"What do you mean, not in my right mind? And what is this newfound credibility?"
"Well, he has suggested that your judgment has been clouded, and that perhaps your decisions have been influenced by another. By Captain Tauriel. There have been other rumors, about the two of you, which seem to corroborate Lord Haewon's accusations."
"That is absurd," Thranduil says, his face becoming an expressionless mask.
"Of course, I know that, your majesty. However, others are less convinced."
"What are these other rumors?"
"I'd rather not repeat—" she tries, but he interrupts.
"My Lady, please, I only wish to know what people are saying so I may correct the matter. No one is in trouble."
"Alright. There have been rumors of private dinners, midnight rendezvous, and of course people are talking about the two of you dancing at the Feast of Isilmë. Someone even said you threw yourself in front of a giant spider to protect her."
Damn. I knew Isilmë would come back to haunt me.
"Preposterous. Neleth, I can assure you no one is swaying the choices I make, and that there is nothing unprofessional going on between Captain Tauriel and myself," he pats her hand reassuringly, all the while wondering who could have witnessed their meetings in the garden.
It's not as if anything truly illicit has been going on.
The door to his council chambers opens unexpectedly, and Tauriel comes striding in.
"We need to talk," she says, before catching sight of the fact he's not alone.
Lady Neleth looks absolutely scandalized by Tauriel's unannounced intrusion.
"Captain!" he chastises rudely, glaring at Tauriel. "If there are any matters you feel you need to share with me, they can wait until the captains meeting, or you may schedule an appointment. However if you ever barge into any of my chambers unannounced again I will strip your rank so fast, your head will spin. Now, you may excuse yourself!"
"I— yes, your majesty," she stumbles, bowing deeply. "I apologize."
Before she turns to rush away, he catches the hurt in her eyes, and curses inwardly.
"Its no wonder so many rumors follow her," Lady Neleth scoffs. "She's a brash young thing, isn't she?"
X
Tauriel knows Thranduil only spoke to her so rudely because Lady Neleth was present, and she truly should have knocked, but that's not what's bothering her as she roams the hallways.
What's truly gnawing at her is the scene she walked in on.
Thranduil and the councilwoman had both been leaning against the side of his desk, pressed awfully close together, and it looked as if their hands were intertwined.
While Tauriel knows she has no claim to the King, that doesn't stop the bubbling jealousy in her stomach.
Shaking her head, she is furious at herself for letting such a trivial emotion bother her when there are much more important matters at hand.
The more she thought about Echtel's idea, the more she felt it was the right choice. That's why she had gone straight to Thranduil, wanting to propose the idea before the meeting.
I should have waited.
Roaming the hallways to pass time before the meeting, Tauriel can't control the troubling thoughts that suddenly plague her.
We've made no promises to one another… we haven't even discussed whatever this thing is that is happening between us.
Perhaps it is one-sided. Perhaps he doesn't feel the way I do.
She swallows painfully as her throat begins to tighten.
He has been alone a very long time, what if I am reading too much into his loneliness?
"Captain Tauriel, good evening."
Captain Dagon thankfully pulls her out of her own head, having just walked around the corner in front of her.
"Good evening," she replies just a moment too late.
"Is everything alright?"
"Yes, yes, I was just waiting for the meeting to begin. Thinking about a new… would you walk with me? I have a new proposal I'd like to run past you."
"We can walk to the meeting together."
As they walk, Tauriel explains Echtel's idea of extending patrols into overnight excursions. Dagon nods along, his expression thoughtful, and by the time they reach the King's council chamber he is in agreement with the idea.
"Could you, perhaps, be the one to purpose this new plan?" she asks him, glancing uneasily at the wood door before them.
"It's a good plan, I wouldn't wish to take the credit."
"It wasn't mine, it was Echtel's, so you'd be taking nothing from me. And I think it would be better received were it to come from you."
Dagon, always so observant, clearly picks up that there is more she isn't saying, but he is also the epitome of politeness and doesn't probe further.
"If you think that would be best, I will offer the proposal," he agrees.
Tauriel thanks him, and they both enter the council chamber together.
There are several other Captains there already, making it easier for Tauriel to avoid looking at the King.
She takes a place at the back of the room, only half paying attention to the proceedings; just enough to know that, once again, no one was successful in their patrols.
When it's her turn to report she keeps it as brief as possible, looking at Thranduil just long enough to see that he is pointedly not looking at her.
As the meeting is about to conclude, Captain Dagon speaks up.
"Your majesty," he says, drawing all eyes his way, "might I make a suggestion?"
Thranduil nods for him to continue.
"I think it's safe to say, that our current tactics are not working," Dagon says, growing bolder. "Perhaps it is time we change them."
"And what would you suggest?" the King inquires, interested.
"There is only so much ground our patrols can cover in a day. I think it is time to consider sending out scouting parties that are not bound by the same time frame as the rest of the patrols. Parties that can venture out further, and be allowed to stay outside the kingdom on overnight trips."
As she suspected there would be, whispers fill the room.
Tauriel studies her fellow captains and finds many of them to be in agreement, but still many more shaking their heads.
"That is a dangerous suggestion," Thranduil considers, "there are many terrible creatures that venture out at night in the forest."
"Yes, my King, but we are not newly recruited soldiers. We are seasoned warriors who can surely handle ourselves. And as you have stated with your expansion of the patrol areas, isn't the risk of a few a far better option than the risk of the many? We need to find this enemy, before they are ready to fins us."
"How many are in favor of this idea?" Thranduil asks.
Slowly, hands begin to rise.
Tauriel raises hers immediately, and briefly Thranduil looks to her, their eyes locking.
A little more than half of the Captains raise their hands.
With a heavy sigh, the King nods once more.
"Very well," he concedes, "I will allow three separate parties to conduct these new excursions. Captain Dagon, you will lead one of them. You may also choose the other two Captains you wish to lead, and the three of you will remain behind to discuss this further."
Thranduil dismisses them, and all those who disagreed with the proposal are quick to exit, worried they may be chosen for the job.
Tauriel looks hopefully to Dagon, and when he sees her he beckons her over.
"Captain Tauriel," he tells her, "you may lead one of the other parties. As well as…" Dagon reaches out to pull another over. "Captain Liel, I'd like you to lead one as well."
Tauriel and Liel thank Dagon for his confidence and wait for Thranduil to grant them his attention.
When everyone has gone but the four of them, the King begins, laying out the rules.
"There will be three members in each of your parties. This will allow you stealth, but enough back up should it come to it. Back up against the forest at least, it would be best if you did not alert the Orcs as to your location."
Immediately Tauriel decides she will ask Grond to join her, and begrudgingly admits she should ask Echtel as well. It was his plan, after all.
It is the right thing to do.
"I will allow you three days," Thranduil instructs. "Do not be late returning. Now, who are you taking with you?"
Captain Dagon goes first, listing the patrol members he will take, and Thranduil records them.
Captain Liel goes next, and when she's finished she and Dagon leave together discussing their routes.
"I'll be taking Grond, and Echtel, my King," Tauriel tells him, stiffly.
Thranduil adds the names to his list quickly, and then stares at her intently, as if unsure what to say.
"I apologize for my intrusion today," she says, "it won't happen again."
Tauriel bows quickly and tries to make her exit but Thranduil moves in front of her to block her path.
"Tauriel," he begins, "I will not apologize for being harsh with you earlier. You need to be more careful. I was in the middle of interrogating Lady Neleth, and your timing was most inopportune."
"Interrogating? Is that what you're calling it?"
"She was telling me about all the rumors Lord Haewon has been spreading. He's been trying to convince the council that I'm not in my right mind. That I have let you blind me and sway my decisions."
"Me?" Tauriel scoffs.
"Yes. It seems there are rumors about us circulating… most of them are quite accurate. I think we are being watched."
"Do you think I'm clouding your mind?"
"I don't believe it is your intention," he says slyly, "but perhaps there is some truth to the accusation. Now, what is it you thought I was doing with Lady Neleth?"
Blushing, Tauriel looks at her feet, not answering.
"Why, Captain, you weren't jealous, were you?" Thranduil asks, and she can hear the smirk in his voice.
She looks back up, unamused.
"Are you going to stand there pretending you've never been jealous?" she questions. "Maybe even a little… over a certain musician we both know?"
"Of course I wasn't a little jealous. I was extremely jealous. Are you sure he knows you are unavailable?"
"Am I?"
"Are you?"
They stare at each other, neither wanting to be the one to ask the unanswered question hanging between them.
"I should go," Tauriel says. "I need to let my patrol know what is going on."
"Tauriel? Take care of yourself out there, I can't— I couldn't—" Thranduil fumbles, and lets his words die of.
Instead of finishing the thought he takes her face in his hands bends down to give her a searing kiss.
In his lips Tauriel can feel all the words left unsaid, and she molds her body to his in reply.
When they finally break away, their breathing labored and eyes burning, Tauriel feels all of her earlier doubts wash away.
Thranduil takes her hand and traces his thumb over her skin.
"Take care."
Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait for this chapter! The next one will be out much sooner. I hope you are all still enjoying the story! It's definitely taken a different turn than I first anticipated, there are a lot more politics and conspiracies than I had envisioned, so I hope that isn't taking away from their budding relationship for anyone. Reviews are always appreciated, thank you!