Elrond leaned down, took hold of Tamuril's arm and pulled, hauling her up onto the horse behind him. She couldn't tell if he was angry or not but she didn't really dwell on it as she wrapped her arms around his waist and held on as he turned the horse around and urged it back in the direction of Rivendell.

She listened to the thundering hooves as the blood rushed in her ears and her heart hammered in her chest. Feeling was starting to come back and she could feel herself beginning to shake just slightly. Her hold on Elrond tightened marginally, finding comfort in his solid presence.

Upon returning to Rivendell, Tamuril saw Nessa getting off a horse somewhere up front. She hadn't even thought about Nessa since the orc had been aiming to kill her. She felt a twinge of guilt at not being concerned for her friend's wellbeing but she pushed it away, moving to let go of Elrond and dismount. He followed a moment after, wordlessly gesturing for her to follow him.

She felt like a child as she walked behind him in the direction of his study, eyes trained on the floor beneath her feet. From the corner of her eye, she noticed a flash of movement at the end of the hall and instinctively looked towards it. Thranduil was standing, silently observing. Tamuril looked away and stepped into the study, letting the door shut behind her.

Elrond gestured to a chair for Tamuril to sit and moved to gather up the things he would need to fix the wound on her leg. Luckily it wasn't poisoned and would heal well enough. She winced as he did his best to be gentle but the blade of the orc had been anything but and the proof was left on her ankle. Elrond wrapped the wound and then stood, retreating across the room. He stood at the window for what felt like forever, gazing out into the night.

"What were you doing?" He finally asked, turning around gracefully to face her. His eyes felt like knives as he took her in.

Tamuril shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, twisting her fingers in the fabric of her skirt. She shrugged. "Nessa wanted to take the horses out, we… I didn't mean to fall asleep, I…"

"No." Elrond's patient, level voice broke through her rambling. "What were you doing? What were you thinking?"

Tamuril realised that he wasn't talking about how the two girls had found themselves out there or even why they had left in the first place… he was asking why she had simply lay there, accepting her fate, looking death in the eye… welcoming it.

Had he been able to tell?

The look on his face told her yes.

She swallowed thickly, frowning as her gaze shifted once more to her shoes. She didn't know what she could say to him. She didn't think she had any answers. At least none that he would accept or like.

"I don't know." She whispered.

His finger lifted her chin, startling her as she hadn't heard him crossing the room. Elrond gently forced her to look him in the eye, his expression hard, though it softened after a few moments.

"My darling girl, please…"

That was all it took to break the dam. Tamuril's eyes filled up with tears and she began to sob. Elrond's arms closed around her and pulled her against him, holding her tight. He wished that he could take it all away but his skills could only go so far. He had learned that with his wife, Celebrian.

"Shh…" He soothed softly, fingers gently brushing through her hair in an attempt to comfort her.

"I'm sorry." Tamuril forced out breathlessly, voice muffled as she hid her face against his chest.

"You have nothing to apologise for." Elrond had found himself slightly angry, not that he would admit it to her, but it had been born from fear. The fear of seeing her so calmly accepting death as her way out. Tamuril would have fought back, she would have struggled. Before, at least. Did she truly think she had nothing left to live for?

Tamuril wasn't sure where these tears had come from. She had been pretty sure that she had cried herself dry and could no longer display such emotion. She felt vulnerable as she sobbed into Elrond's robe but if there was anyone she could accept looking this way in front of right now, it was him.

Elrond held her until her tears dried up. She sniffed, feeling too awkward to move back right away, staying in his embrace for a few more embarrassingly long moments. Then, Tamuril stepped away and lifted her arm, wiping her eyes. Elrond's smile was sad as his thumb brushed across her cheek, catching the tear she had missed.

"Get some sleep, Tamuril." He said gently, turning her around and opening the door for her. "We will discuss this later." The conversation was clearly not done but Elrond didn't want to add more stress and strain to her night. Tamuril didn't know whether she'd rather he just got it all out of the way now and spared her the anxiety of waiting for his disappointment. With one last look at him, she quickly retreated from his study and padded down the hall.

"Are you well?"

The voice made Tamuril jump out of her skin. As she turned the corner in a hurry, she hadn't seen Thranduil still lurking in the shadows until his voice rang out.

She took a moment to recover, turning to look at him and give a curt nod. "Of course."

"Forgive me for saying so but you do not look it."

Tamuril had hoped that he would let it go at her reply but of course not. When did Thranduil Oropherion just let things go?

"Well, forgive me." She replied, snapping slightly. "But I do not think it is any of your business." Tamuril turned away from him. "Your Majesty." She hastily tacked the title on at the end as she strode away from him.

She slammed the door when she reached her chamber, fresh tears springing to her eyes as she sank down to the floor. Her back pressed against the door and she let it go, the sobs tearing themselves from her throat as everything once more crashed down on top of her.

On the other side of the door Thranduil stood, listening. He had followed her, not even really aware that his feet had been leading him until he found himself standing here. His face was a mask, expression emotionless, but his heart leapt slightly as he listened to the girl on the other side of the door drowning in her grief and depression. After a moment, he turned and strode away.