/ Therith's point of view/

A gentle breeze flows, making my hair dance in appreciation. Stepping back from the window, confusion still clear on my face, I turn back to the elven lady standing in the doorway. She is watching me carefully, her green eyes assessing my every move. "Why?" I ask her.

"It's for your health. We were afraid you would not last much longer in a dungeon." she explains, making me glance around the room once more. "It feels strange and unfair." I state. "How so?" she asks, sounding as if I insulted her. There is no reason for that though as I tell her; "I almost feel more like a guest than a prisoner. And to be treated better than my company, it reeks of betrayal."

She nods, her eyes softening slightly. "I understand if you feel that way, but for your own sake, something had to change. As tough as you probably are, you are not equipped for dealing with imprisonment." she says making me look away frowning. I feel silly. It hadn't been that long, but already I was falling apart, quite literally. It's an attack on my ego.

"I have to go now." Tauriel says, departing quickly and leaving me alone in the bright room. It's not huge, but compared to the cell I was in before, it was a little palace. I could easily walk around in it and I start pacing. Sometimes I stop, stretching my wings, the left now free of the splint as the break healed quickly, but then I would start over again. By the end of the day, I know of every little detail on the tiled floor.

Finally slapping myself on the cheeks to return myself to the real world, I sit down on the bed, sinking away in the soft covers. I know I should be grateful for the room, but it feels so wrong. I should have myself escorted back to the dungeons, but then again, what good would that do me? And so, I stay there, getting caught up in my thoughts again and again.

I wake up the next morning, surprised that I fell asleep at all. It seems a ruckus has awoken me as I hear many elven voices call out to each other and the rush of feet sounds beyond the door more than once. I can't help but wonder what has brought chaos within the kingdom. After some time, things seem to quiet down again and I was about to think little of it when some hours later, Legolas dashes into the room, startling me.

"You're friends have escaped." he notifies me, clearly angered by this, though trying hard not to let it show. I stand up from my spot, wide eyed. "They've left?" I ask, wanting confirmation. He only nods and I swallow hard. I should be with them, but they went on without me. I can't blame them, but I should go after them as soon as I can.

"Tauriel went after them, alone." Legolas continues, making me look at him curious. That made little sense to me. "Why would she do that?" I wonder. "One of your dwarven friends got injured from an orc arrow. I believe she is intend on treating it, as she has gotten quite close to him." he states, clearly displeased with that fact. "I will go after her."

"Take me with you." I say, stepping forward. "You have no longer any need for me here. They will not return for me or any other. Let me go after them so I can do what I am supposed to. I made a promise to do everything in my power so as to let them live through their journey. I can show you the way to Erebor by paths quicker than any if that is what you wish." I rattle on, making him hold up his hand.

"Therith, calm down. I would do just that, but I cannot just release you, as that is not in my power. The only chance for you to leave is if you managed to escape. That's nearly impossible." he reasons. "I'm sorry, but I must leave you here." he says about to leave, before turning around startled as I climb onto the windowsill.

"You will not fit through like that! What are you thinking?" he exclaims, before his eyes widen as I retreat my wings. I sigh in satisfaction. "At last." I say before swinging myself out of the window, only holding onto the ledge now. Footsteps rush to the window and a hand grabs onto my wrist. "Are you mad?!" Legolas scolds. "Not anyone can survive that fall."

I smile at his bewildered face. "Well, I'm not just anyone. So I guess it's arranged then? You will meet me in the forest a mile North from here." I tell him. He seems to be unable to speak, but his grip loosens. "Good." I tell him before planting my feet onto the stone and push off as far as I can and do a back flip to make sure I land on my feet. I do so and do a roll to soften the landing. Standing up, I feel my feet tingle slightly, but besides that, I'm feeling just dandy.

Looking up the wall, I can see Legolas shake his head as he mutters some things under his breath before disappearing from the window. I take this as my queue to start my escape from the kingdom altogether. Luck was by my side it seems as my route took me past as little elves as possible. Crossing the border was the hardest as I couldn't take any conventional route. It took some climbing and getting wet and dirty, but I managed finally.

I am not surprised to find Legolas waiting for me, near where I told him to go. "You're a mess." he states, clearly amused. "If I ever worried about my hygiene as much as a random elven maiden, I wouldn't make for a good adventurer." I tell him. "Probably not. I have been wondering though, why didn't you escape sooner?" he asks. "I would not leave without them, even if you forced me out of your kingdom. But the moment you told me they escaped, the decision was easily made." I explain. "And I suppose you would have left the moment you had the chance, but why ask my permission first though?" he asks, confusion shining in his eyes. I shrug. "I owe you for your care, so leaving with your consent is something I preferred."

"You really are raving mad. Had you hit your head to make you forget I was the cause for your injuries in the first place?" he scoffs. "Of course not. But I suppose if I was in your position, I would have shot me too. The aftercare however was optional." I tell him, making him sigh experated. "Alright, have it your way. I can tell there is no arguing with you." he says before slinging a bow from his back, making me notice he had been carrying two.

Stepping forward, he hands me the bow, making me look at him surprised. "I'm afraid that yours was beyond saving, so I hope you'll except a replacement in its stead." he say as I eye the intricate elvish bow. "Now I am the one to think that you might perhaps be the mad one." I mutter, making him chuckle. "It seems to me like we have a tendency to call each other mad a little too often." he says handing me a quivers filled with arrows. "You started it." I say, wagging my finger before smiling. "Thank you though." He nods. "Shall we go?" he asks. "Let's." I tell him, taking off.