Authors note: Hi! Sorry I know it's been a really long time since I updated. (Well, at least for me it is :P ) But It sure is a long one so I hope that makes up for the wait! Enjoy :)
Legolas woke early on the morn of their departure. The sun had just begun to rise. He rolled out of bed and readied himself. As he did so, he felt as if her were leaving Mirkwood all over again.
Legolas wandered to Tauriel's chambers. Upon arriving, he knocked on the door. He heard an 'Enter' from within, and opened the door.
Tauriel was rushing about the room with Emaela. Noticing whom had entered the room, she approached him. "Ernil Legolas, is it time to leave already?" She asked, using formal speech as there was a servant in the room. "When you are ready, my lady. I shall walk you to the stables. Lord Elrond requested we meet him there." Legolas replied. Tauriel nodded.
The two elves made their way to the stables after Tauriel had finished and had said goodbye to Emaela. Lord Elrond awaited them there with a host of servant bustling around saddling and packing the horses. One of which, was Arod. The other, a beautiful roan mare belonging to Lord Elrond. Elrond acknowledged them with a smile. "We ride hard today, we must reach Lothlorien by tomorrow morning at the latest." He explained.
When the horses were ready, Lord Elrond regally mounted his mare. Legolas swung up onto Arod, with Tauriel sitting behind him. Tauriel held Legolas' waist tightly as they rode out of Rivendell. She looked back at the beautiful city in which she had spent so little time. She remembered their dance, Legolas lying her on her bed half asleep, their heart to heart talk about what was to come, and the many kisses they had shared. But before she overwhelmed herself with feelings, Tauriel focused herself on the task at hand. This time, it was she, who felt like she was leaving Mirkwood, all over again.
/
The little party arrived at Lothlorien early the next morning, as planned. Legolas and Elrond introduced Tauriel to the lady Galadriel, who seemed quite fond of her. Tauriel wished that they could stay in Lothlorien longer. To her it was like a perfect mix of Rivendell and Mirkwood. Like Mirkwood, the elven kingdom was surrounded by forest. While, similar to Rivendell, Lorien was bathed in light.
So far, their journey had been peaceful. The four elves had encountered no orcs, goblins, wolves or any of the other ferocities that prowled the lowlands of Middle Earth. They had just emerged out of the west side of Mirkwood, (miraculously not crossing paths with any other wood elves, much to Legolas and Tauriel's relief.) Suddenly, Galadriel pulled her grey steed to a halt. Elrond did likewise and looked at her with concern. The ancient elves locked eyes for a seemingly long amount of time. Legolas, having such knowledge of Galadriel, knew that she must be having a silent conversation with Elrond. For they had a bond far deeper than the depths of the greatest lake, perhaps greater than anyone else in the world. At last, they snapped out of their trance. Lord Elrond turned to the two younger elves.
"Legolas, Tauriel, I fear that you will have to finish the journey to Esgaroth on your own. You will forgive us if we leave you." He said. Tauriel gave him a puzzled look.
"May I ask why, eril nin?"
Legolas was not at all stunned by this. He too, had sensed a, disturbance, in the air.
"We must go to Dol Guldor." Galadriel answered. Then, to Elrond: "Mithrandir is in great peril." Elrond nodded, understanding. Looking again to Legolas, he said: "Go now, you must find Thranduil." Legolas made a sour expression at the name of his father, but Elrond continued before he could argue. "Legolas we must aid our kin. I understand you are still angry but it is at times such as these one must learn to overlook emotions." Legolas lowered his eyes as Elrond once again spoke. "Do it for the sake of our race, Legolas. If not for that, do it for me." He finished. Legolas looked up, composed again. "You can put your trust in me, my lord."
With that said, Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel bid farewell. Then, the two even smaller parties, galloped off in opposite directions.
/
Two moons after parting ways with the others, Legolas and Tauriel arrived at the shore east of Laketown.
They dismounted and tethered Arod to a nearby tree. The young prince looked around him. Remains from the refugees was strewn about. Charred logs from a fire, a scrap of clothing her and there. Even the skeleton of a burned row boat rocked softly in the water. Tauriel stood near the lake, the little waves lapping at her boots. She gazed at Esgaroth, rather what was left of it. The wreckage still smoked from the destruction that took place just days before. T'was not the first time Smaug had left a city in smoldering remains.
Tauriel turned her glance to the city of Dale. One could see the fires of the early morning lit by the survivors flickering like tiny candles in the distance. She continued to look on past that, to the Lonely Mountain. Inside which lay the kingdom of Erebor and all its treasure. And Kili... The thought entered her mind before she could reprimand it.
"Tauriel," Legolas brought her attention back to him. She turned to face. "We must ride on to Dale. If we make haste we can get there by nightfall." The prince said. Tauriel agreed and walked towards their mount, as did he. Soon they were off towards Dale, and Erebor.
Whenever Legolas had a task at hand, Tauriel noted that Legolas was always a bit of a different elf. He became more like a prince giving his commands. Like he should, she supposed. Tauriel thought that it was probably for the good of both of them that he act this way. lest they get distracted from the pressing issues.
/
Kili stood atop the wall Thorin had ordered them to build to block the entrance to the mountain. Thorin had vowed that no creature shall enter this mountain, unless it had dwarvish blood in its veins.
Kili gazed upon the city of Dale. Now packed with the survivors from Esgaroth. He watched as one fire after another was lit, it was now getting to dusk. In the midst of the dim, grey light of the evening that hung in the sky, Kili noticed something bright out of the corner of his eye. His head turned to the right side of the city. There, in the distance, a white horse galloped at speed, and mounted on that horse, a figure with hair as flaming red as the fires of the refugees. Kili's heart jumped. he knew precisely to whom that hair belonged, and he knew that no man would stand in his way of reaching her. Quickly, before anyone noted his dissapearance, the dwarf prince scaled down the wall, and dropped to the foot of the mountain.
/
Legolas and Tauriel had ridden swiftly to Dale. They were now camped safe within its walls. Then again, were the two ever really 'safe'? Legolas had suggested they wait and find Thranduil on the morrow. Whether he thought it was too late in the day, or he was stalling the conversation they would have with his father, Tauriel did not know.
It was well into the night. Legolas was fast asleep beside Tauriel, who lay awake listening to the silence of the city. She feared what Thranduil would do when they met. She knew if Legolas was awake and she confessed her fear to him he would tell her not to worry, but she would worry still.
Tauriel leaned over her prince and kissed his forehead, lightly so that he did not wake. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps broke through the silence, and her thoughts. Tauriel held her breath in anticipation. She listened. These were certainly not the footsteps of and elf, or- They stopped suddenly, moments later, beginning again. Nor are theses the steps of a man... She thought. Her breath hitched in her throat as she thought it may be an orc. Well, She thought, If it is, he will be dead before he knows what hit him.
Tauriel moved silently. Picking up her bow she stood, nocking an arrow. She crept to the open doorway, took a breath, and in a blink stepped out with bow drawn. She was a bit puzzled when she discovered she was aimed at a hooded figure, certainly not an orc. Then, the figure spoke.
"I don't believe you want to be shooting me."
That voice, sounded vaguely familiar. As if it were in a dream, long ago. Tauriel lowered her bow slightly. "And why might that be?" She questioned. The figure reached up, and pulled back the hood of his cloak. She gasped.
"Kili..."
Ooooooo how 'bout that? What do you think should happen? Leave suggestions and thoughts of course! While I was writing this whole thing I just kept going and going. Then I finally stopped and thought "You know, this Is probably long enough" And it sure was :)