Legolas and Tauriel: What I Did For Love

2:Spiders

A/N: I am NOT a Thranduil hater. I know it's gonna seem llike it but I promise, I don't hate him. I rather like him. I have a lot of twists and turns in this plot coming up so hold on for the ride!

[Legolas POV]

I entered the dining hall for breakfast a few minutes late and sat down at my usual place on the raised dais beside my father.

Thranduil frowned. "You're late again, son."

"Sorry. I was taking to Tauriel."

"Tauriel?"

"Yeah. I wanted her to practice with our daggers with me later."

"I see."

I hated it when my father spoke like that. He heartily approved of my friendship with Tauriel but he obviously didn't want it to go beyond that. I couldn't understand it. Me and Tauriel were born within a week of each other but when we were both less than a year old, her parents and my mother sailed across the sea. My father had never told me why my mother went. He rarely spoke of her.

Until we were six years old, me and Tauriel played together in the nursery. My father used to say we were inseperable. But when we reached the age of six, Tauriel was moved to one of the lower levels to go to school while I began lessons with a private tutor. I hardly saw her again until we were thirteen. At that point my father decided I needed to interact more with other kids and I began going to school like almost all the other children in Mirkwood.

As we were the same age, it was inevitable that me and Tauriel would be in the same classes. Strangly, we were always seated in desks very near each other. I could never resist teasing her in some way. She never failed to react to my teasing. Sometimes her temper would get the better of her, others she would devise some way of getting back at me without getting in trouble herself. In the incident with the worm she never meant for me to get in trouble, she just threw the worm away from her. During this time, father began to get to know her. Over time he grew quite find of her. He spent a lot of time with her.

We never became friends again until--

"Legolas?"

I realized my father was calling my name.

"Huh?"

"Pay attention. Nobody wants a prince that stares right through them."

"Sorry."

Ada raised his eyebrow and said, "There is a messenger here. I want you to hear what she says. Proceed Tauriel." He motioned to someone standing behind me.

Tauriel walked forward and bowed quickly. "My lord, a large nest of spiders has been sited only a mile distant. Captain Talidar requests permission to attack."

Thranduil thought for moment. "Granted." He waved his hand in dismissal.

Tauriel bowed again and turned to leave.

"Wait!" I said. "I'm coming too!" I looked at Ada. He nodded and I ran after Tauriel.

"How large is the nest?" I asked when I caught up with her.

"I don't know. The scout only said large."

"Is just the 167th going?"

"I don't know," Tauriel shrugged. I followed her to the 2nd courtyard where the 167th was lined up. She delivered her message to the captain and took her place in the line of soldiers.

We left the palace by the great gates and headed south. We had not gone far before Captain Talidar held up his hand for everyone to stop. He began giving orders, sending soldiers off on different directions. Some in groups, some on their own.