Heart Like Yours

Chapter 22: patrolling

Tauriel reached the throne room, still clad in her training gear, bow in hand. "You called."

"Indeed, I did." Thranduil sat askew on his throne as he often would, nursing a glass of wine in his right hand. "Is there a task you would like me to perform?" The King nodded and gave her orders that he wanted her and her team to follow out. Tauriel then made her way to patrol the border.

"TAURIEL!?" Aredhel shouted as she walked out of the castle towards the red haired elf. "What are you doing out here all alone, patrolling" She questioned. "You know it's dangerous!" Tauriel immediately blurted out, "I"m sorry your highness, I couldn't find my team so I thought i'd just go by myself. Orcs haven't been spotted on these borders in over two weeks.. I didn't think I'd come into contact with any."

Aredhel smiled at the young elf. "Then let me give you some company then."

Aredhel and Tauriel then set off into the forests just as the sun receded behind the peaks of the mountains. "Tell me about yourself," Aredhel began a conversation, "My husband says that you are a proficient hunter." Tauriel chuckled, "I'm sure he exaggerates. I am average at most."

"I'm sure you're being modest. Why did you learn archery? If you were male, I wouldn't have to ask, but for women like us, learning to fight is a choice. "I wished to be able to protect those that I love." Tauriel's horse moved in perfect synchronisation with Aredhel's so that they were able to converse with ease. "Also, growing up alongside my brothers, I hated to be the weak one. Learning to fight only felt natural. And you?"

"I'm the daughter of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlorien. I had to learn how to fight from a young child. It's how I met Thranduil, but I'm still trying to remember all of that. My minds still a bit foggy." The Queen said as they continued to ride forward towards the border. "You must be an apt fighter then."

"I am not bad, no, but I do not enjoy killing. One day, I hope to live a life of peace. Though I want peace, I don't want to be weak; I want to know how to defend myself and my people, but never have to use it."

"You do not enjoy killing?" Tauriel's eyes widened, "When the King spoke of you, he mentioned the ease in which you have ended the lives of orcs in the past. He says you are a natural." Aredhel smiled.  "I suppose he would. I spent little time with him while I was younger. But more when I got older. "Aredhel remembered the first time she had to kill an orc. She had never fought anyone in open combat, only regulated training matches. While on a ride through the forest with one of the elven generals that was in charge of her training, they came across a few errant orcs.

"My Queen?" Tauriel's voice snapped her back into reality.

"Ah yes, my apologies! I was merely spacing out for a moment." Aredhel waved her hand dismissing Tauriel's concern, "Ah, what was I saying? Right! I truly do dislike killing. The first time I killed an orc, I threw up, in fact." The two elves laughed.

"Oh! Well I'm sorry to take you on a fighting mission, then." Tauriel looked concerned. She expected Aredhel to be a stone-cold killer, trained extensively in warfare. Instead, she seemed to be quite the pacifist. "I joined you because I know how dangerous it is to do this job alone." Aredhel responded, "Anyway you and Kíli?" Aredhel smiled but before Tauriel could reply an arrow shot passed the Queen's head, missing her by inches.

Orcs.

Aredhel and Tauriel were facing three orcs and five Urukhai and was loosing very badly, as Tauriel slit the orcs' throats she felt two swords lodge themselves into her body in her legs  and back and screamed in agony. She fell down holding onto her leg. She heard Aredhel scream her name as she fell to the ground bleeding out...

 Aredhel knew she had to carry on. However, she grew tired very quickly which was unusual for an elf.  Luckily some orcs retreated not waisting to waste their lives. Now Aredhel was left with two. She glaced over at Tauriel who was still lying on the ground, groaning in pain as she used all her might to stab one of the orcs and then duel with the other.

...

Legolas raced into the throne room and saw Thranduil standing there in his silver green robes and smiled at him then heard a couple of elves racing towards them in panic. He spun on his heels and saw Aredhel and Tauriel covered in black and red blood. " Aredhel! Auoorial neatholi naritea?!" (Aredhel! What happened to you and the guard?!) "We were nearly slain battling Uruk-hai and Orcs,  my lord. Your wife, went out on patrol with me." Tauriel replied as she gasped as the pain her back and leg increased. "Tauriel?" Aredhel whispered as she held tighter onto her new friend.  "She needs help." She ordered at a guard as she looked at the luckily not too deep cuts on her arms and side.

"Tauriel you are excused. You take her to get cleaned up." Thranduil ordered to another guard before turning to his wife. "You could've died again.." He almost shouted.  "She was going to go out alone as her group were nowhere to be seen. And as it is my duty as Queen to help my people, and my friend." Aredhel shouted. "I will not let our guards be left as scraps for orcs!" Tauriel heard Aredhel say as she closed the door behind her.