If I Had You

Chapter XI

Tauriel POV

More betrayal? Naturally.What else was I honestly expecting, after all that we'd endeavored over the past few days? Life wouldn't cut us a break, at least not yet. One day, hopefully, this would all be over. When it would be over was the real question, along with what would happen to us? How would we deal with our loss, Legolas especially? He'd been betrayed by his kingdom, had lost his dear friends, and been disowned and abandoned by his father, And he'd said he...loved me? At least hinted at it? That was a thought to ponder for another time, as now I needed to stop this engrossment and start thinking up a strategy on how to survive.

"Shut her up!" screams Gimli, readying his axe for battle. I slap my hand over her mouth and knock her with great force against the tree. With a sharp thunk, the brightness of her eyes dim and she slumps to the ground, held up only by my hand, unconcious.

It's too late, though.

I let her slump to the ground and face my friends, weapon ready. The hobbits look shaken up, but ready to fight, as does Gimli. Legolas has a grim expression, his bow already pointed towards the camp. We tighten our circle, all facing where we knew armed forces would arrive from, when the I hear the first sound of a battle.

. Elves are the first ones I see, cloaked fully in battle armor. Their silver swords were hoisted up in the air. I grip my knife tighter, mentally preparing myself for the fight.

And then I spot who's leading them. Thranduil.

As if it's a reflex, I let out an out a groan of disgust. His armor shone brightly, the silver color seeming more prominent than the rest of the elves. His long hair flowed rather messily behind his back, his eye sunken in. They looked half mad. Because of this and more, he looked both awake and in need of sleep simultaneously. Both a mess and the embodiment of grace. A beautiful disaster.

Which meant he was off his game, distracted by something internal. He would be easier to take on, and he would have more trouble directing his army. Of course, I doubted that would be enough to save us.

"Do you want to take him on?" I say jokingly to Legolas, trying to lighten the mood a bit. "Or shall I take care of him for you?" I look to him, and he laughs a bit.

"I say we take care of everyone else first," he says. "Save the best for last, right?" I could barely hear him over the approaching army.

"Of course!"I shout. The army was almost here now. Legolas looks towards me, his eyes suddenly serious. He opens his mouth slightly, as if considering whether or not he should speak.

"You know I love you, Tauriel." He says. I respond without hesitation.

"I love you too, Legolas,"

Before I have any time to analyze the situation or what was just spoken, the army reaches us.

We leap into the action, knife and bow swinging. Legolas gracefully shoots three elves, and they drop to the ground, one yelping in agony. As he does this I cut swiftly through a orc, and proceed to throw the weapon into the back of another. I kick a elder looking elleth to the ground as I ready my sword and extra knife.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Gimli swinging his axe, screaming with pure rage. I also spot the Hobbits by his side, cutting down other soldiers that Gimli's axe did not reach. A grin turns the corner of my cheek. We were fighting well, despite being horrendously outnumbered.

Of course, our success was short lived.

The hobbits were the first to become subdued. As fiercely as they fought, they were captured by a few rogue elves. I join the others and scream out as a larger looking elf knocks Merry out with the hilt of his sword. Pippin is the next to hit the dirt lifelessly. My heart soars and beat angrily as each Hobbit falls to the ground. Had we lost more friends?