The next morning Thranduil thinks that he really must be losing his mind when he returns to his council chambers and he finds his seal in the middle of his desk.
Shaking his head he finishes of his letters and sends them on their way.
While the people of Dale are wasting no time settling into their new home, they are still in need of great assistance.
They have limited food supplies, and winter will soon be upon them. While they now have wealth beyond what they ever hoped for, their location makes it hard to trade, as most towns nearby all moved on, far away from the shadow of Erebor, when Smaug moved in.
Currently, there is nothing else King Bard has to offer that Thranduil needs, but Thranduil offered the use of his kingdom's trade routes in exchange for a future favor.
Always good to have favors floating about, ready to be cashed in when needed.
With that taken care of, his mind briefly flits to Tauriel, wondering how her first night in the forest was. There is a faint prickle of worry in stomach, but he ignores it.
She is more than capable of taking care of herself, he reminds himself.
Thinking of Tauriel brings Neleth to mind, and her offer.
Thranduil has never even considered remarrying; even now, when he has found someone he cares for, the idea of matrimony seems so foreign.
Part of him, the quite jealous part, likes the idea of having claim over Tauriel, and she over him. The rational part, however, reminds him of the distance in their station, and how unimaginable their union would be.
Neleth on the other hand is, logistically at least, an ideal candidate.
Even their parents thought so at one point.
But the thought of stripping Neleth beside the pond in his garden, under the shining light of the moon, does absolutely nothing for him. Aside from make him feel unexplainably guilty.
Not that there isn't more to it than that… obviously marriage is much more than just the physical pleasures we could offer one another.
The same image of the moonlit garden replays in his mind, with one pointed difference. It's Tauriel's alabaster skin glowing in the open air.
Instead of shirking from his imagination, he continues to let it wander, enjoying the way the breeze plays with her fiery tresses.
He imagines she would be shy, her teeth worrying her lower lip as she looks up at him through her lashes.
Thranduil would feel the urge to pounce, but restrain himself, wanting only to make their first time as special as possible.
His hands would—
"Your Majesty?"
Thranduil blinks rapidly, clearing the much preferred scenario from his mind's eye, and shifts his attention to his aide.
"Yes, Nimmon?" he sighs, crashing back into duty filled reality.
X
By the time dawn breaks, Tauriel can feel every muscle in her body aching.
She was left tied to the post all night.
Her shoulders and neck are the worst, and she almost wishes she would have just tried to sleep through it, but she didn't want to let her guard down even for a moment.
Not that I could do much to protect myself even if I did see them making a move, she thinks bitterly, straining once more against her bonds.
She knows it's no use; she's been trying for hours. If they were going to come undone, it would have happened already.
As the hour grows later, more and more of her surroundings begin to come into focus.
It looks as if they are in the foothills of the mountains near the old forest road. It's such a rocky dense area; she's not sure why they never considered here in the first place.
I swore this was near a patrol path… I guess it doesn't matter now.
On her right, Echtel seems to be sleeping, and she wonders how he managed it.
On the left, Grond is unconscious, his breathing ragged, and the morning light confirms it was blood she saw last night.
"Hey!" Tauriel yells, her voice hoarse from dehydration. "Erwarth! One of you slimy abominations, I don't care! Someone!"
Echtel jerks awake and looks around in panic. When he sees her yelling he starts shaking his head, clearly wondering what the hell she is thinking.
"Hello?!"
An Orc from a nearby fire pit clambers to his feet and stomps in her direction. She tries to keep the fear from her face.
"Shut up," it grunts, coming close enough to kick at her legs.
"My friend is dying," Tauriel says anyway, jerking her head towards Grond.
"I said shut it."
The Orc kicks out at her again; it's enormous foot connecting painfully with her thigh.
"He needs help."
This time it doesn't bother to tell her to shut up, instead immediately backhanding her when she speaks.
Stars burst before her eyes and her head hangs to one side as she regains her bearings.
The creature has just turned to walk away when she spits a mouthful of blood out beside her, and speaks once more.
"Listen to me you filthy mongrel," she growls through gritted teeth, "get me someone in charge right now. This conversation is clearly above your comprehension, so run along and fetch your master."
Beside her Tauriel can hear Echtel groan, clearly thinking she's went too far.
Snarling, the Orc makes to lash out at her again, and she braces.
"Halt! Was I not clear in my orders? She is not to be harmed!"
The Orc grunts and turns around. Tauriel sees Erwarth angrily glaring it down, and to her surprise the Orc stomps away without further confrontation.
Erwarth turns to walk away too, and Tauriel calls out to him.
"Wait!" she croaks. "I need to speak with you now!"
Erwarth doesn't go far, stooping near a supply pile to grab a canteen and a rag, before heading back in her direction.
He crouches beside her and tries to grab her chin in his fingers, but she jerks away.
"What are you doing?"
"You have a split lip," he replies, annoyed. "Hold still."
He reaches out for her again, but she jerks away once more.
"Hold still," he grinds out, "and I'll listen to whatever you were shouting about."
Begrudgingly she lets him tilt her head up, and after wetting the rag he brought, he dabs at the split on her lip.
When he finishes cleaning her up he holds the canteen to her mouth.
"Drink," Erwarth commands, and this time she doesn't hesitate.
He pulls away before she's ready for him to and water spills down her front.
"What do you want?" he asks, then nods to her bound hands, "Besides the obvious?"
"My friend needs his wounds tended."
"Why does that concern me? Seems like more his problem."
"You just said we weren't to be harmed," she argues.
"No, I said you weren't to be harmed," he corrects.
"What? Why just me? You hate me! Grond has done nothing wrong, please!"
Erwarth stands up and stretches tauntingly.
"Are you admitting you have done something wrong?" he asks.
"Is that what you want? An admission of guilt?"
"It's a start."
"Will you help him?" she begs.
Erwarth doesn't respond, just stands over her, arms crossed, staring expectantly.
"Fine. I'll say it… I'm a traitor," Tauriel begins. "I betrayed our people. I risked the lives of our people on my own personal endeavor. I— I fell in love with a dwarf. I abandoned my post for him. I'm the one who should have been banished, not you."
He continues to stare at her, a wicked smirk dancing around his mouth.
"Please, please, just help him. It was all me. He did nothing wrong."
"I do like it when you beg," Erwarth sighs, leaving her side, and walking towards Grond. "I'll see what I can do."
Tears of relief spring to her eyes, and she looks away, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing her cry.
Her heart hurts from calling Kili a betrayal; it feels like a stain on his memory.
When she opens her eyes she sees Echtel is staring at her, and unless she knew better, she'd almost think he was watching her with sympathy in his eyes.
X
That evening Thranduil has one of his regular meetings with his council members, and he doesn't think things could be any tenser.
Half of the members won't meet his eyes, and he suspects they believe the rumors Lord Haewon has been spreading.
Lord Haewon has no such qualms, staring Thranduil down through the entire session, setting his teeth on edge.
When Thranduil looks to Lady Neleth for support she briefly meets his eyes, but abruptly looks away.
She looks embarrassed.
The meeting stretches on endlessly, as the council members take turns weighing the pros and cons of opening up their trade routes to Dale.
"There is no point to this," Thranduil interrupts with a sigh. "I have already extended the offer. I only asked for your assistance in preparing a schedule to send along, so King Bard may plan accordingly to ensure our shipments do not intercept."
After a few sullen seconds, suggestions start piling up and Thranduil pretends to take notes while sketching on the edge of his scroll.
When he finishes, Thranduil can't help but smirk down at his work.
"Your Majesty?"
"Hmm?"
Wandered to far.
"Will that be all for the evening?" one of the councilmen asks.
"Yes, yes, you are dismissed," he replies waving them away.
On second thought…
"Lady Neleth? A minute, if you please," Thranduil calls, just before she manages to slip from the room.
When she approaches he can't help but notice how uncomfortable she looks, so he attempts to lighten her mood.
He holds up his drawing, depicting Lord Haewon being drug off by a giant spider.
"What do you think?" he asks. "I'm debating making this my new house sigil."
"It's an incredible likeness," she says, smiling wryly.
"The details were easy enough; I've spent ample time imagining it."
This elicits a small laugh, and she seems to ease up a bit.
"Was this what you wished to discuss?" Neleth questions.
"No, but I wasn't joking. This would look excellent on a banner, don't you think?"
When she doesn't respond, Thranduil sighs, wishing not to have the discussion they are about to.
"Neleth," he begins slowly, "about the suggestion you made…"
"I rushed it, didn't I?"
She scrunches her forehead, as if waiting for a fatal blow.
"Perhaps a bit, but that's not the problem. I just don't see myself remarrying any time soon, or perhaps ever," Thranduil explains.
He almost reaches out for her hand, but stops, not wanting to send the wrong message.
Neleth nods stiffly, and takes a few steps back from him.
"Are you sure this is about not wishing to remarry? Or about not wishing to marry me?"
"I will admit I don't know you as well as I would like to, were we to marry, but no, it isn't you."
"It's her, isn't it?" she asks. "Lord Haewon has been telling the truth. He said he saw you kissing Tauriel, but I ignored him, thinking he was just out for revenge. It's all true though."
"Neleth—"
"Don't worry, my King, I will not spread your secrets. I also won't let this interfere with my work. So if you'll excuse me," she says, all emotion that was in her voice moments ago having vanished, leaving her sounding cold and shut off.
Much like how Thranduil normally speaks.
"Neleth," he tries again, but she cuts him off.
"Good evening," she bows, and hurries from the room.
He groans and tilts his head back.
That could have gone worse… probably.
Thranduil hadn't wanted to hurt her feelings, and he thought if he had waited too long to speak with her, or made it appear he was truly considering her proposal, it would only hurt her more in the long run.
I'm starting to think war was easier than women.
X
By the time the sun sets on her second day in the forest, Tauriel is having a hard time keeping her eyes open. They keep drifting closed, and she suddenly jolts awake when her chin hits her chest.
It's been at least thirty-six hours since she last slept, and her thoughts are growing muddled and repetitive.
She keeps running through the same futile escape plans, but can't seem to come up with anything solid. The fact she hasn't ate since yesterday afternoon hasn't helped either.
Tauriel is almost thankful for her dehydration, as she has been able to avoid needing to go to the bathroom. She's not entirely sure she'll be granted the luxury of using a bush.
Finally, unable to prevent it any longer, she falls into a fitful slumber.
Tauriel isn't sure how long she sleeps, it doesn't feel like long, and it is still dark when she opens her eyes. All she knows is that someone groaning is what woke her.
She jerks awake, and sucks in a breath through clenched teeth when her strained muscles spasm from the sudden movement.
She wants to scream in frustration when she sees her terrible predicament was not in fact a nightmare.
Next to her, the groaning that woke her comes again.
"Grond?" she whispers.
His post is about five feet from hers, and if he's awake she knows he should be able to hear her.
"Grond, please talk to me," Tauriel begs.
"W— happened?" he croaks.
"We were ambushed. I don't really know what happened exactly, I just woke up here with my head pounding. Echtel said earlier they grabbed him while he was in the woods," she explains. "I—I don't know what happened to you. Just that you must have put up a hell of a fight. When I woke you were covered in blood."
"My… side… think I got stabbed."
Grond's breathing is still labored, and he is fighting to get every word out.
"Shh, don't speak. Just rest. I don't think I can convince Erwarth to change your bandages. It was hard enough getting him to help you at all."
"Erwarth?" he spits, and Tauriel can just see his outline struggling to free himself in the darkness; all the fire pits have burnt down to embers.
"It's no use, you'll only injure yourself further. Please," she pleads, "just relax. I—I'll try to think of something."
Grond exhales loudly and slumps down once more.
What am I going to do? She panics. He needs a healer, soon. Field dressing won't be enough to save him, not after how much blood he lost.
At this point, unable to free herself, Tauriel's best hope is the one person she's tried so hard not to think about.
Thranduil.
She says the name in her mind, caressing it like a talisman; a beacon of hope in the darkness around her.
Tauriel has resisted thinking of Thranduil so far, finding it too painful. She can't help but think of the things she never told him. The things she may never get to tell him.
He won't even know we're missing until tomorrow night… and then he'll just suppose I'm being headstrong and late. How long before he realizes something is wrong? Before they send someone to look fo—
"The route," she murmurs.
Why would he change my route when we just spoke the night before and had arranged everything?
In any other circumstances she never would have questioned it, but in this case it's just too coincidental that she received orders that sent her straight towards the Orc camp just minutes before she was supposed to leave.
"Echtel, you cowardly son of a—" she cries, kicking her legs out sending rocks and gravel to her right.
"What the hell is your problem?" he asks, offended.
Tauriel wishes she could see his face. She wishes she could spit in it.
"You betrayed us! You helped set this up!"
"What are you on about? In case you hadn't noticed I'm tied up right bloody next to you!"
At the nearest fire pit, an Orc hunched over, supposedly the one who is to be guarding the prisoners, wakes up.
"Shut up, or I'll rip out your tongues," it threatens.
"It's a cover," Tauriel accuses, lowering her voice. "In case we make it out of here, so you can still keep spying."
"You're mad."
"Why were you the only one not injured? Why have you hated me since the first time we met? Why did you give us the orders that directed us into an ambush?"
"First of all," Echtel starts, "they snuck up on me when I was going to the bathroom. I'm not injured because I didn't put up much of a fight. Wasn't gonna risk that with my fun bits hanging out, now was I?"
Tauriel rolls her eyes, wishing he could see the disgusted look on her face.
"Secondly, I never hated you. I mean, I thought you were a pain in the ass. You're quite uptight, you know? I was only teasing you. Seeing how far I could push you. I have a bet with the twins."
Okay, that does sound like something he would do.
"And thirdly, I told you, one of the King's stewards gave me the scroll! Some mousey fellow; he was probably shorter than you. I swear I wasn't involved."
The earnestness in his voice draws all the anger from her, and she immediately feels bad for accusing him, realizing just how quickly she jumped to conclusions.
Don't kill the messenger. Even if they try to make your life living hell.
"Are we good?" Echtel asks.
"Well, I guess I believe you weren't involved, but I'm not sure if we're 'good'. Tell me about this bet?"
"Uh, well the twins think you are too headstrong to ever admit defeat, so I bet them that I could get you to break and request I be transferred to another patrol."
"What was the wager?" she asks.
"A barrel of Longbottom Leaf."
"Are you telling me… you've been such a— a cock— over a barrel of pipe-weed?"
In spite of everything, how much she aches, how hopeless their situation seems, Tauriel cannot stop the bubble of laughter that escapes her.
Their entire ordeal, so absolutely not funny, somehow adds to the hilarity and she can't seem to stop laughing. Before she knows it Echtel joins in and that makes matters even worse.
The Orc guarding them stomps over to Tauriel and kicks her foot.
"I said to shut up," it rumbles.
She tries to stop laughing, she really does, but it's no use.
I think I've lost it.
The Orc draws its blade and points it at Tauriel's neck.
Stop. Stop laughing.
She snorts loudly, her reaction completely beyond her control.
I've gone mad. After all I've been through these last few months, everything I've suffered, I've finally been pushed over the edge.
Over a barrel of weed.
It draws its blade back as if to strike a blow and still she laughs.
"Hey, ugly," Echtel goads. "Leave her alone! You heard your leader. She's not to be harmed!"
The Orc grunts and lowers its weapon.
"You're right," it concedes.
And then in one swift motion it turns and swings its sword at Echtel instead. In the dark Tauriel can only see outlines, but she sees the Orc strike just above Echtel's shoulders.
There is a soft thud and the sound of something rolling.
Her laughter ceases abruptly.
It's not funny anymore.
Nothing is.
Author's Note: I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, for the beautiful outpouring of support I received after posting the last chapter. Honestly, you can't know how much your encouragement means to me. As you can see, I also found it very inspiring which is why I couldn't stop writing, and now have a second update in one week. I also feel like I owed you after the last long wait. I may not respond to every single review, but please know that I do read every one and they mean a lot to me.
... So I feel a little bad about stopping the chapter here, but it felt like the right spot. Hoping to have the next chapter up by this weekend. I've already started on it :)