The Golden Ones

XIII - The Arrow's Mark Pt. 4

“Legolas, the wound has opened.” Tauriel said, having saw a fresh flow of red coming from his sleeve. “Perhaps we should stop.”

“We cannot afford that time.” Legolas said, shaking his head.

“I do not think an hour matters in this situation, Legolas.” Tauriel insisted. “Let me bind your arm. You will loose more blood. You will be weakened. That is what we cannot afford.” Legolas complied. 

After dismounting the horse, Tauriel searched the bags after seating Legolas on a stone. She came to him with supplies, and saw his upper body exposed. Her eyes were very drawn to his beautiful chest. Legolas was lean, but visibly very strong. With any movement, his muscles showed themselves from under his fair skin.

Tauriel pressed a cloth to his arm, wiping away the blood from his wound. “It is deep.” She said. “I do not have ample supplies. You must go to the healers back at the kingdom.” It still bled, so she pressed the cloth against the wound. Legolas winced.

“Thank you.” Legolas said. Tauriel laughed. 

“You thank me while I pain you?” She asked, picking up a clean bit of fabric.

“It is not something you do intentionally. I know the meaning of it.” Legolas said. Tauriel made a makeshift bandage, and couldn’t help but to think his words had double meaning. She almost did not speak, but curiosity claimed her.

“What do you mean?” She asked.

“Exactly what I said.” Legolas replied.

“I feel as if your words did not only refer to this current time…” Tauriel said, looking down. “Legolas, have I hurt you?” He shook his head.

“No.” Still, she was not sure. How Legolas could display his emotions so easily, she was not sure. Multiple times, she had made the attempt to speak with him. Each time she had failed. Maybe this time, maybe this time it would work for her.

“I-I try very hard not to do that, Legolas.” She tried. He turned his head upwards to look at her. He looked confused. She sat down beside him. “Six centuries ago, I came the closest to telling you what I have been trying to say ever since I have met you.” 

“Tauriel,” Legolas began. She held up a hand to silence him. If she could not finish this all in one breath, she was not sure that she could finish it at all. 

“I love you.” She said, squeezing her eyes shut and speaking very rapidly. Just like that, the heavy weight she had bore was lifted. “I love you,” Tauriel said once more, this time, more slowly, and while looking at him. Legolas blinked. 

“You are sure?” Legolas asked. She nodded. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “I had hoped to do this in a better time,” he began. Legolas reach for his shirt. As she looked down at it, she saw something terrible. Tauriel grabbed for the nearest dagger - Legolas’s, and sprung upwards. A spider, larger than any she had ever encountered, was barreling towards them at a great speed. It made a screaming, hissing noise as it approached. Tauriel ran to meet it, thrusting the blade into its head. It fell to the ground, dead. Tauriel pulled the dagger from its skull. She turned to go back to Legolas. Instead, she turned directly into another of the foul beasts. Tauriel swung at it, but it already had collapsed. Her blade, thrown by Legolas’s hand, was protruding from its back. Tauriel retrieved the blade.

“We have no time, Tauriel. We must return immediately.” Legolas said. He had already pulled his ruined garb back on, and readied their horse.

“Yes,” she agreed, “your father must know about this.”

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After Thranduil had sent Legolas to the infirmary and Tauriel to the stables, he sat back in his throne and closed his eyes. This day, he had been greeted with a new worry. Something between his son and Tauriel had changed. Seeing them together made Thranduil realize something he had long feared: Tauriel had became the central figure in Legolas’s life, and while Thranduil might rule his mind, she ruled his heart. A commoner had claimed more authority to the prince than the King ever could.