I Will Always Come Back

Chapter 13

When we drew away, I looked at Tauriel, smiling sheepishly. After a few endless seconds, I said, "We should probably get going." Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. That was so insensitive. But I didn't want it to be made a huge deal. I mean, how would Míreth act if she found out? I turned around, looking for her. Luckily, she seemed to not have noticed. Wait, why did I care what she thought? It's not like I was cheating on her or anything. She's just a friend.

I walked on, trying not to let any more colour show on my face. I didn't want anyone knowing about what had happened. It was a private moment, and none should have seen it. But as I walked on, I saw Gandalf look at me, a knowing look in his eye. I felt the colour rise back onto my cheeks, this time out of embarrassment and anger. Why would he look? I also noticed Míreth was more quiet than usual. Had she seen?

I suddenly felt horrible. I would have to leave Tauriel, anyway, and now Míreth was mad at me. Or at Tauriel. Míreth would probably be jealous. What had I done? I was such a horrible person. Don't think that, a voice in my head told me, You wouldn't have been able to control it, anyway. Yes, that's right. Tauriel didn't object, either, and Míreth was just being a bit melodramatic. It wasn't my fault. It wasn't anybody's.

We were getting close to Rivendell. I could feel it. There was a feeling or magic or something in the air that was making my spirits soar. It only increased as we went further, even though I was weary from the adventures behind us. I couldn't wait to sleep in a proper bed and have a bath. It had been too long.

After a while, though, the feeling started to go away, replacing it with dread. There was something out there. Something that would delay us, or worse. Orcs? Wargs? Goblins? Whatever it was, it was getting closer, or we were getting closer to it. The feeling wouldn't pass, no matter how hard I tried to focus on happier thoughts. Tauriel. Still dread. Mirkwood. No, still didn't work. Saving the world. Why doesn't anything help?

Then, I could sense something behind me. I turned around, just in time, as an Orc lashed out at me. The same type of Orc we met earlier in the journey. The larger, stronger, and fouler ones. I took out my knives, and the rest of the group did the same. I slashed at the Orc in front of me, slicing it across the chest. It fell to the ground. However, more Orcs jumped out of the tall grasses, and in the distance, I saw Wargs approaching. I cursed, knowing there was no retreat if something happened.

I charged toward the Orcs, piercing the first one I met in the heart. Then, I beheaded the one beside it, killing it instantly. One Orc aimed a blow to my head, but I dodged. It over-swung the sword, hitting another Orc instead. I lashed out, attacking with both of my knives. It parried the blow, but I quickly overpowered it, sending its blade flying across the battlefield. I slashed across its torso, and it fell to the ground screaming. I watched out of the corner of my eye as Tauriel shot an arrow at on Orc, hitting it between the eyes.

I ran back, taking out my bow. I fired an arrow toward an Orc that followed me, hitting it in the chest. Then, another ran at me, and I killed it the same way. Orc after Orc ran after me, and I killed every one of them. Soon, there was a pile of them just a few feet away from me.

Then, the Wargs came, attacking with pure strength and power. I watched as one was about to hit Míreth. I nocked an arrow into my bow and fired, hitting it between the eyes. It fell to the ground, dead. She looked over to find who shot the arrow, her eyes finally landing on me. Her eyes went wide, then she smiled gratefully. I smiled gently, then went back to shooting the Wargs.

Gandalf was amazing at fighting. He was slashing every single Orc in front of him before they could even raise their weapons. I watched for a second, then looked for Tauriel. When I found her, she was shooting Orc after Orc, and none of then got within ten feet of her. I watched in wonder, then realized that I should be fighting, too. I nocked an arrow and fired it at a Warg that had taken advantage of my distraction. I fired just in time, and it pierced the Warg's heart.

The Wargs were almost all dead, but the Orcs continued to come. They never seemed to stop coming. They were all over, at least a hundred left. I shot them over and over. The other thing was you needed to shoot them at least twice, they were so strong.

After they were almost all dead, I looked to Tauriel. She was finishing off the Orc in front of her, when I noticed one running toward her from behind, weapon raised. I had just fired an arrow, so I couldn't get one ready in time. I cried out in helplessness, hoping she would turn around, but she didn't realize. The Orc swung its sword, hitting her in the back. She fell to the ground, crying out in pain. I fired an arrow, hitting it in the chest, killing it instantly. It was the last Orc.

I ran to Tauriel, her breath coming quick and shallow. "Tauriel!" I yelled, "Tauriel! How could this happen?"

"Legolas," she whispered, "Go with the rest of them. Go to Rivendell."

"No! I'm not leaving you."

"Legolas," she said, "Leave me behind. I will only be a burden. I can not go any further."

"Tauriel," I begged, "Please don't leave me."

She smiled sadly. "I must. Promise me you will go with the others. Promise me you will save Middle Earth."

"I'm not leaving you," I said.

"Promise me." The quiet in her voice made something in me come back to common sense.

"I promise."

"Now, go with the rest. Go to Rivendell without me."

"I can't. Please, let me heal you!" I needed her. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"They need you. My time has come. You have to go!"

"I can't. I love you too much."

"I love you, Legolas. Goodbye, melamin," (My love.) she said with her last breath. I closed her eyes, then let a single tear roll down my cheek. Then, I started sobbing. I had lost my love. She was gone. She was dead.p

Tauriel was dead.