Chapter 40
Healing and training
Softly, what I lay on felt like the hand brushing my hair, and soft music played in the background. At first, I was scared to feel or see where I was, for I did believe for a moment it was the halls of Mandos. But then I noticed a familiar fea… No not one… but many. My eyes slowly opened as strange as it was for us elves did not close them during rest.
"Tauriel…" I said after some effort made to speak and a hoarse voice answered as the brushing hand stopped as well as the music.
"Elwen?" I heard several say and as my eyes cleared I saw the face of my wife. Bruised it was and soars she had, but she was alive.
"Tauriel?" I asked, feeling a tear in my eye. She came down on me and gave me a kiss, and her salty tears landed on me, as our tears of happiness could not be stopped. I could feel others in the room now, and a hand grabbed my arm and brushed my hair after Tauriel sat back up.
"Nana?" I asked seeing her face come into view.
"You are well… you are well…" she said her face filled with worry and also relief. "When Ada came home with you in the back of the wagon… with so many lost and Tauriel injured… I thought you dead my child!" she said firmly.
"I am not…" I responded. "But it felt like it when…" I cut myself off as Tauriel shifted her body at the mention of it and my free hand felt my chest. "I am well Nana. Did we bring them home?" I asked of worry as I could not see Glorfindel and felt confused.
"You did my sweet. You brought Ada home… or rather he brought you both home to me. Neither of you will be allowed to leave the valley for at least ten centuries." She said and gave both me and Tauriel a kiss on the forehead.
I grinned at her saying and moved some, even though my body felt horrible.
"Careful!" I heard from above me. "You are not to move, by Lord Elrond's command!" Tauriel said strictly to me.
"I cannot lay still as a dead body, my muscles ache…" I responded looking at her with her face full of worry and she responded quickly. "Do not say so! Just the thought of such a sight makes my body and fea cry!" my wife responded.
"Forgive me… I thought not of what I said…" I told her and made her kiss me, which she did.
For the rest of the morning, Nana sat with us and talked of less important things. There were many subjects I knew we had to bring up sooner rather than later, but I looked forward to none. As my wife and Nana talked I could not remember seeing that wound on Tauriel's forehead during the battle. I did not follow their conversation.
"Nay I have not seen…" my wife said as I cut them off in the middle of their conversation.
"When did you get that wound, my love? I cannot recall seeing it during the battle." At that, they stopped talking and looked down at me.
"Elwen, you know it is rude to interrupt a conversation like that!" My nana said. I looked at her and tried to bow my head in asking my forgiveness, but she brushed her hand over my head as if it was her way to say it was fine and Tauriel felt her wound and looked at me.
I then returned my gaze to my wife and she looked sad. "After I saw you hit by arrows… and Lord Elrond look after you my blood… it boiled… I felt the silvan anger in me take over as I charged at every orc, man, or troll before the gate of Carn Dûm. Idril and our company did not manage to follow me, just catch up." She said before she took a break and breath. "One of the black captain's guards was caught outside the gate as I came at him. His evil speech and what he said… I cut him down in the most horrible way I could. He felt more pain than anyone should and I do not regret it. I thought you lost my love and during that charge, I got my cuts and bruises." She said while still brushing my hair.
"My love… you must be more careful I cannot lose you!" I said strictly not thinking of my situation.
"Says you my love?" she and shook her head. "I am not the one stuck to bed for healing or could not ride back to her lands" Nana watched us both and shook her head.
"I say you both must be more careful, you are both loved and needed here!" she made sure to let us know. But that stung deep as we both looked at her.
"Are we Nana? I feel it is not so any longer. I wish I knew of all that happened before we left for Ada and Glorfindel and not just from speech. But to remember it. I cannot remember hurting anyone or doing any of what is said we did!" I responded to her as I looked sad at her.
"Nor can I remember it, my lady," Tauriel said and brushed her hand over my forehead. "As we left Imladris we spoke of maybe going to Lothlorien on our return…" At this, Nana looked up at us both.
"Nay, you will both stay here. I do not wish my children to leave!" she said firmly.
"But Nana, if the elves feel us…" I tried to say, but her grip only got stronger on my hand.
"They will feel as we tell them to feel. I will not send my daughter away for something an evil spirit of the nameless one did to you!"
I looked at her and Tauriel.
"My lady…" my wife said. "It may not be up to you or Lord Elrond. It might be for the better…" She tried to say.
"If they do not accept the Ladies and Captains that defended us during the siege, that travel out to fight evil, that help our kin and allies when they can… then I do not wish to stay either," Nana said and shot it down hard and made sure we accepted it.
"What of Estelwen? I can still hear her sobs and cry from when we left…" I said my elven ears still remembering the horrid sound.
Nana bowed her head and looked out the window as she stood up. "I have not seen her since you left. She left the house and went to her family and none have spoken of her as I know" She said as she slowly walked towards the door to our balcony.
"We have much to make right again," Tauriel said and I nodded to her.
"We do, but I cannot see how," I said as I pulled the sheets over me—feeling a very human cold in my elven body. For the rest of Nana's stay, we talked and one of the kitchen elves came with our food and we ate it. It did not taste as it did before. But how could it?
To say I felt depressed with all that had happened would be an understatement. But for the life of me, I could not dwell on it as I only knew what had been told to us and it was all unbearable for me to think we did such things.
Later that night I sat in bed in my wife's arms and drew images of armor I had seen long ago in the old world. It was not much, but it showed the tall helms of the west, plate armor with the white tree on the front, a true heavy armor for the men of Gondor and they would need it in their time of need. I did several versions with several ideas for each to have for the regular soldiers, captains, citadel guards, and the fountain guard. If nothing else, it got my mind off what was happening around me and my wife's closeness made it even better.
"These drawings…" she said "are amazing. The armor looks so complete and fully protective of the wearer." She looked over several of them and the one I was still working on.
"I only hope it will help them, the enemy will grow strong and they will need all the advantages they can get in armor and weapons," I said as I put the last touches on the last drawing.
"It will, I am sure it will my love. From what I remember from the stories of the great war the Numenorians and the Gondorians wore simple mail armor. Nothing like this." Her eyes burned with interest and appreciation for my drawings. Far more than any of my handicrafts deserved.
I smiled up at her and kissed her neck.
"You are too kind my love. I am no artist; I just hope to help…" I said as there was a knock on the door.
"Enter," We both said in unison and the door slowly opened and Ada's face came in.
"My daughters," he said and smiled seeing us both awake.
"My lord" Tauriel responded as always and I smiled reaching for him. "Ada," I said and he gave us both hugs and kisses on the cheeks.
"How are you both? I heard Nana stayed for a while earlier."
We both nodded and smiled. "We are well my lord. Or I am. Elwen is stubborn and won't rest, see, she's been drawing these all since my lady left us" Tauriel said and handed him one of my drawings.
He took it and smiled as he looked it over. "What do we have here" he said to himself and mused over the helmet design and the chest plate. "A white tree out of flower?" he asked looking at me.
"Yes…" I said and did not add to it.
"What does this mean? You thought this for Arnor or Gondor?" he then asked.
I did not respond as quickly as he would have wanted and my wife rested her head on mine.
"It is what I have seen Ada, for all to come to pass I think we cannot stop it," I said my face looking down.
"Yes… foresight is not to be played with as we have now learned." He responded and laid the drawing down.
"How ill did the battle go?" I asked as it had been weighing on my mind.
He then took a deep breath. "It went ill. But many still lived thanks to your charge, I do not yet know how many fled to Lindon as our forces were separated and surrounded, but we came home with a thousand elves and Haldir went back to Lothlorien with half that number…" his face grim as he spoke.
I could not hide my relief and took his hand.
"That is much better than what I saw Ada, yet much worse than I had hoped. For in my vision, only you, Glorfindel, and Haldir along with a few elves escaped the slaughter of Carn Dum and the victory of the black captain."
Ada's face softened and looked at me. "So the losses we had during the siege of Imladris and Carn dum was not of waste. But I fear that Arnor has been too weakened. Cardolan has fallen, only a few now remain by the downs. Their prince died messengers have told me. Only Arthedain now stands as the last stronghold of the Numenorians in the north." His face got serious again as if he asked me to share of their fate, yet he did not want to ask.
"Then our plans need to be set in motion, I know several of the Dunedain have moved west to Lindon and I have heard some of their voices here in Imladris. But the more we can save and yet fool the black captain to think will be their last stand the better." I said.
"Is this their end? Is it also our end?" Tauriel asked me worriedly.
"No" I responded. "Years will still come and go before the fall of Arnor and Imladris will stand even longer. For here one of the last strongholds of the north will be for all the free peoples. Darkness will in the end cover most of the land, but I have seen an end to all of his darkness. Both the black captain and the nameless one" I continued to say and held both their hands. "I just hope all the knowledge of the elves and our skill can help the Dunedain in their time of need."
Ada then lay his hand on me.
"I think it will. But much happens in Gondor I do not wish for. Evil has to come to the south kingdom and a strife there now is for the power of its throne."
"The kin strife," I said and let out a sigh.
"Yes…" Ada responded.
"Why are the humans so foolish and greedy Ada? Why can't they see the danger they are all in and by standing together we could all fight the evils of this world." I said saddened.
"I know not. Much they did for us and aided us against evil as the faithful ones, but they also fell to evils of men and greed." He sighed and was for a moment just sad as he sat there on the edge of our bed, we both saw it, yet he collected himself fast.
"You two need rest, I have kept you awake for too long" he then said and asked for a quick look at my wounds as he got before bidding us good night. I think a lot was on his mind and much he did not share with me or Tauriel. But that is what Ada does.
Over the next weeks and months, I slowly recovered more and more. From staying in bed all day to slowly walking around our room to late-night walks in the house. When everyone else had retired to their room or their own home in the valley.
Tauriel was my support and neither of us felt the need to be up and around during the day. We still did not feel ready to talk to many, but the family as things stood.
One late night when the moon was full and we walked to the place we had first met there was this basket there. I could not understand why, but Tauriel smiled and asked me to sit.
"What is this my love?" I said curiously and looked up at my redhead elven queen as I saw her.
"Well I thought we both needed an evening together as we had when we first met, my lady," she said with a cheeky smile.
"You did? Ohh I see. What is this then? I cannot remember there being refreshments when we met?" I asked her teasingly.
"Nay there was not, but I thought I'd improve on that day, hard as it is," she said with a smile in return.
I then peeked into the basket and saw what I thought was a cake and a bottle of something, but she rushed to close it.
"Elwen!" she let out. "I swear you are like a little elfling at times. Can you not wait a moment?" she said and took my hand I nodded and looked at her.
"I can!" I said quickly. "But that cake looked very good!"
Tauriel shook her head and reached for my head, putting my long black hair behind my pointy ear.
"How did I get so lucky?" she asked lowly.
"I know not." I responded, "As I don't even understand how I got so lucky getting your love! For long I thought you would never return and if so only for my family's wealth!" I joked with her.
Her green eyes shot at me and shook her head.
"You think so little of me? Or did?" her face dropped.
"Nay nay my love I do not. I am just joking. I know I am the luckiest elf in Imladris to have your love and I try my best to make up for all my imperfections around you. To not make you feel lacking." I said as reached for her chin and pushed it up.
"Your imperfections? Elwen my love, what do you speak of? You are Like Luthien herself to me. I do not see any imperfections with you. Please do not push yourself down for me. I the silvan elf you deemed to be your wife the one who has many imperfections and needs to show herself worthy of you…"
She cut herself off and looked down for a moment. I reached over the basket and felt my wounds scream of soreness, but I could not hold myself as I kissed her on the mouth. Feeling her kiss back the moment my lips met hers and her tongue danced with mine made my body shiver with happiness and joy. I could not stop, the kisses got filled with more and more passion and before I knew it, she sat on my lap. My redhead silvan wife her beautiful face and those green eyes looking at me so intensely my body shook with happiness.
That was when she reached for the basket and took out some cake for us to eat and she fed me while we watched the stars. Beautiful as ever they were and the shadow did not cover any of them still. Several we saw we had not noticed for a long time and one especially stood out to us.
The star of Eärendil. Ada's Ada. It shuns so brightly that night and Tauriel was as if bewitched by it. We then sipped the fine wine she had packed and sat there, not speaking. Just cuddling each other as the sun slowly started to rise above the mountain. That was when we heard the feet of the guards or others and we rushed to pack and left not a clue of our little time by the stars.
Again some time passed for me and Tauriel to not hide, but we spent time in our room or where we had our wedding time after the feast itself. We did not feel like being the center of attention or distaste for the elves in Imladris. As it was still well within our borders we did not bring much in sort of weapons except our knives if need be. We spent much time in the woods, reflecting over what had happened and what was to happen. Tauriel also asked me much of why I felt so defeated of late and we had many long night talks and time as lovers need. Arwen, the twins, Ada, and Nana came to see us now and then with even Glorfindel being curious about what we did.
"Are you both decent?" We heard from outside one evening. Tauriel looked at me and we walked out to see The lord of the house of the Golden Flower standing there.
"We are as you see. What do you wish for Glorfindel" I responded
"Elwen" Tauriel then said giving me a stare and slap on the shoulder.
"We are decent my Lord, you wish for something to drink?" She then asked him.
"If this is not a good time I can come back later my ladies." He said and was about to turn around.
"Nay… Stay. Forgive my rudeness, My lord." I said and showed him towards the chairs by the entrance of the little hut we had.
He then smiled and moved past me to sit and said "It's Glorfindel to you my lady" and bowed his head some.
Tauriel then came out with water and juice for us to drink and we all sat as I poured the drink into the cups.
"What may we do for you… Glorfindel?" I asked as Tauriel sat beside me.
"Cannot an old friend just visit without there having to be something he desires?" He asked acting somewhat hurt.
"I know you wish for something, please do not make me sit and guess," I responded as I sipped the cup of juice Tauriel handed me.
"Your exile must end!"
We just looked at him as he said it and did not speak for many moments.
"Glorfindel…" I said before I took a quick pause. "I think we should stay out of the valley itself. Things we did… or not we but the spirit that overpowered us were too much. We cannot just go home and be the ladies of Imladris again. The elves said so when we left to help you and Ada. Their faith in us is gone." I said switching my gaze to my wife and her hand grabbing mine.
He put is cup down.
"What was said back then was not thought through. As well you both did good deeds during the siege and in aiding us in the north. That has not gone unnoticed…"
This time my wife responded.
"We may have, my lord. But we still feel as if we should leave Imladris for a long time. Maybe we can go to Lothlorien or my old home in the woodland realm…" As she spoke and me agreeing to it the elven lord looked taken aback.
"So the warrior ladies of Imladris will flee and not fight for their place? Just leave their people behind when the going gets tough? No not though… For you both have been in worse situations than this. If nothing else, I would call you cowards for wanting to leave us at such a time!" he said strictly this time.
"Glorfindel!" I responded somewhat harshly.
"It is true Elwen. This is not the lady of Gondolin… Of Imladris, I once knew. Yes, Angmar has been pushed back. Yes, Arthedain is trying to rebuild for the next battle that will end the war. But of the plans you both, Elrond, myself, all the dead kings of Arnor agree to do are worth that little to you… if your people are worth that little I will say. Go, but do not return here. If you cannot deal with elves being hurt even unfairly by your bodies being controlled by spirits, what will you do then if a battle goes ill? Will you flee? Will you break just as easily then?"
"My lord!" Tauriel stood up, her fists clenching hard, her green eyes locked on the elven lord.
He then turned towards her and looked her up and down.
"You Tauriel, Lady of Imladris. Silvan ranger of king Thranduil of Mirkwood. A great warrior I was told you were, by many—even the elven king himself. I see now his words were too kind to what you truly are! To think you would make the captain of the king's guard."
I could not stomach this any longer and stood up.
"GLORFINDEL ENOUGH!" I cried out.
He then turned towards me.
"Or what Elwen? Will you take your wife and run away?"
For the first time in ages, I lost my cool and rushed over to him, his eyes widened and my fist connected with his nose. A horrid sound came and he stumbled back, reaching for his nose and we all saw the blood now down his lip. I was for a moment taken back by what I had done. As if the silvan blood of my wife had entered me.
His eyes were now locked on me.
"So you are not the coward I thought then. Meet me at the sparing yard by sundown. Or leave and never return!" He said coldly and turned and left. We stood there still. Watching him leave us as I felt the warm embrace from my wife from behind. Her soft voice was in my ear.
"He is right my love, I could never forgive myself if we leave him, your family, or the valley behind. We are connected to it as it is connected to us. We cannot run!"
My hands groped hers and I turned my head to see her eyes.
"What if they never accept us or trust us again my love?" I asked in a worried tone.
Her forehead was now resting on mine.
"And if so that is our path and we will travel it together, as rangers in the woods alone or with whoever will follow us. All I need is your love, your trust, and your warmth Elwen. My love, my lady, my life is yours and I will follow you to whatever end."
I just smiled as she spoke and turned towards her, my arms now around her a slow kiss I placed on her lips.
"It is all I need to my love, my wife, my life. I still hope for us to have a place in Imladris, but as you say. We can do much as rangers in the wild and with those who might follow us. Maybe Glorfindel is right… maybe it is time for us to face all those who doubt us?" I said in a questioning tone.
She nodded and held me back after she responded to the kiss and my statement. We silently packed what little we had brought with us and started our walk back home. There was little to say between us except for how our hands squeezed each other's now and then. Three times as we said "I love you" just not with words.
Elves we passed gave us looks, some bowed, yet most seemed unsure. We did great them all with nods even if they were not returned. The sun was now setting in the west and as we walked down the road towards the training ground we saw Glorfindel stand there with several elves from his company, training.
Glorfindel bowed at us and the elves with him turned and did the same, we returned them as we walked past the fencing.
"I am glad you both decided to come." His nose filled with tissue from my punch, and the elves there looked at my hands to see if I hit him.
The other elves then slowly moved past us saying lowly "Ladies" and went to the barracks to wash and change after their training session.
"We do not flee" Tauriel then said to Glorfindel as he stood there waiting.
"We will see, your training blades await," he said and pointed at the table.
We went over to them and picked them up, heavier than our fighting knives and swords. But it gave us more effective training and Tauriel nodded to me as I nodded to her. We turned and saw Glorfindel standing there, not moving a muscle. Waiting for us.
We both moved towards him and he only followed our movements and did not act on them. Not until Tauriel charged and I followed in. His sword blocked her strikes and pushed her aside as I came in and tried to strike him too. Yet his movements were so elegant and simple that he pushed me off easily too. My wounds from the arrows screamed some in my chest, yet I could not stop.
Tauriel exchanged blows after blows with the elven lord. Several elves now come to watch what was happening.
I got up and returned to the fight, but now he pulled a second blade out of nowhere to deflect my strikes. Even if we were two and he was one, he pushed us back. This was not the Glorfindel we knew and had spared with several times. No this was next level. He didn't seem to break a sweat in it either and it infuriated us.
The longer we kept this up the more we knew we were outmatched by the elf lord holding back no longer.
Many now watched the sparing session that was going on. Many cheered for Glorfindel and it put us even more on the back foot. We tried to get past his defense and by some miracle we managed to disarm his long swords and he pulled his own knives at us.
The speed of the fight went up several levels thanks to it and we blocked, charged, and tried to flank him and get to him. But he slipped out from us and we seemed like little elflings compared and we were in many ways.
That was when I saw Ada and Nana watching from the top of the hill. He was not happy and nor was she. Both had a look of worry and it was both on me. Thanks to the distraction a hard hit from Glorfindel sent one of my knives flying and I ducked another blow and rolled off to get it back and rushed towards the lord and my wife. But I was too late, the time I was gone from the fight he outmatched her and punched her so hard in the face she just lay on the ground whimpering for air and his knife to her throat.
"TAURIEL!" I cried and stopped.
"Lady Elwen and Lady Tauriel. Champions of elvendom west of the misty mountain." He said in a cold voice. "I thought I had trained you both better than this… are your minds so removed from this place you care not if you win or fail?" he growled at me for a moment. My wife was still out cold. I tried to move towards him, but his blade was on Tauriel's throat.
"ANSWER ME" he screamed out of frustration.
"WE DO CARE," I screamed back. "Why else would we go to war, to fight battles uncounted? You know we care my lord!" He looked at me with a cold face.
"Is that so? As you say, you go to war, you fight for all that lives in this valley. Yet I hear complaints and doubt of both of you. Elves unsure of your strength and loyalty?" He now looked around seeing the faces of all the elves there.
I was lost for words. He now moved away from Tauriel still not awake and charged me and I charged him back. With all my strength I fought him, the pain in my chest… pumping hard. Before I finally connected with his chin. The blunt blade still made a wound and he stumbled back for a moment. Both of us breathed hard and now there were no rules to the fight left. He came at me with all his might and before I knew both my knives flew through the air and his knee rammed into my belly and I fell onto my knees, his long knives on my throat. I felt a tear in my eyes as his knives felt cold.
"Do it!" I said sad and done as I was.
"Speak louder," the elven lord said in not an unkind manner.
"DO IT. END ME!" I screamed as Nana and Ada came running. "If I have no trust by the elves of my home, if my wife has no trust… then do it. End us so they all can feel safe yet again!"
"GLORFINDEL!" Ada screamed as I looked at him and nodded in a manner saying… it is fine Ada.
"Elwen…" I heard from behind me. Tauriel slowly woke up.
At that moment Glorfindel pulled away and looked around us and I took a deep breath.
"You all speak of fear and what the spirits made them do, yet they fight for you, they are willing to die for you to keep you all comfortable and safe. I have fought several battles with them and held the out defenses of Imladris thanks to them doing the same, yet you all cry about what an evil none of you can understand did to them. They have bled in battle, they have almost died, and they have done more to defend every one of you than you all have done for them." His voice breaking.
"What lord Glorfindel says is true!" A voice sang out.
I did not wish to look as I felt his blades still on my throat. The voice of Pegien.
"My lady Tauriel charge to my rescue against the evil of Sauron, of his NINE when we defended the border to the north." Not holding back and even speaking the name of the nameless one. "She could have fled back to our lines and let me be captured… yet she did not. She fought for me and was willing to die for me!" Her voice was proud and angry as she spoke. "Yet here I return to a safe haven where you call out on them for faults not of their own making. I am ASHAMED OF YOU ALL!" she cried out loud.
Then Rahion spoke.
"My mate Húhel felt like many of you did before we rode north. To the aid of My lord Glorfindel and Lord Elrond. What I wish to say is she was very very wrong in her comments of the ladies. But on the ride and the charge the ladies rode first into battle and did not stay back from any of the risks. My lady Elwen even charged in to save me at a moment I was to face death. My sword had been taken from me and several orcs raised their blades for a final strike. Yet it never came, for she killed them and ordered arrows to be loosed at the rest. I also saw her face the black captain ALONE. Where he also spoke of how she should have been his by now. Clearly to me, he had a hand in what happened to her. How many here think they could stand up to such evil as she and Lady Tauriel have done several times now?!
As he spoke I had opened my eyes and looked at those speaking of us and at Húhel and her bowed head. An angry voice rose as the statement of Rahion ended.
"This is ENOUGH. I have heard whispers of doubt and fear after my return and I will not stand for it." Ada spoke. "As those here now spoken it should be clear to all that my daughter and her mate is NOT an enemy. Even the black captain himself admitted to this during the battle and I heard it also. I would like to add she took several hits with arrows during said battle and if not for her spirit would have been lost to us." He now looked around at all the elves now assembled. "I have also been informed of her mate and her injuries from rescuing the queen of the woodland realm and the rescue of a human settlement on the east side of the mountain. What more would you all demand of them? That they face death? This is what the enemy wants! Infighting and mistrust between us. It will weaken us until we can fight him no longer and the world is lost to us!"
Several elves spoke to each other in hushed tones as Tauriel came to my side on her knees as if she also waited for our judgment. Glorfindel on the other hand gave us a soft smile and it took us both off guard.
"Forgive me!" A voice cried out loud.
Our ears knew the voice in an instant.
"Lanneth?" we asked ourselves.
"Forgive me. My ladies, I was the one that spread my worries to the other elves and thought not of what seeds it would plant." Speechless as we were we said nothing.
"No forgive me," Nenneth said, Nana's new servant.
"Forgive us all!" Nuriel cried out.
At this Glorfindel removed his knives from my throat and instead helped us to stand.
"We do not understand, there is none to forgive," I said looking at the elves now moving into the training yard.
"There is, our ladies." Several elves said. "For we let our fear of evil and the dark days cloud our minds and put blame on something that could not be further from the truth." To this, several agreed.
"Forgive me most of all!" A very familiar voice said and we turned.
"Estelwen?" Tauriel said out loud before me as I repeated it. "Forgive me for my weakness and fear. I should have stood with my ladies and known better. Please forgive me. I cannot live with this shame." She spoke in a trembling voice. "I have done you both great harm as I spoke my fears openly, please my ladies I beg, forgive me!" Her tears ran down her cheeks as she fell to her knees in front of us. Her family standing behind her.
We both walked to her as all eyes were on us. Lifting her to her feet again.
"There is nothing to forgive, friend," Tauriel said. "I agree with my wife," I said. "If any should ask it, it is us for our failing" I added.
More elves now came around us with bowed heads. Ada then moved past them and gave us both hugs. "Even if you two feel no need to forgive, I think it would serve a great purpose for our people, they have made a mistake and ask forgiveness. Will you not give it to them?" He asked looking at us both.