Legolas and Tauriel: What I Did For Love

22: Return

[Tauriel]

The sun was just ducking below the horizon as Legolas, Neniel, and I splashed through the Ford of Bruinen and rode down the path into the valley of Rivendell. The journey had taken us a week and a half and we were weary. Lashed safely to my saddle was the bundle of weapons. We had carefully counted them and there were twenty-four in all. Twenty-three were in my possession. The last, the knife of King Thranduil, Legolas kept to himself.

Throughout the whole of the journey, Neniel had done her best to make herself as annoying as possible. Whenever the opportunity arose, she made rather obvious remarks about "couples" and "marriage." And she kept mentioning chocolate. Whenever she did so, Legolas would roll his eyes. Eventually, I just ignored it. If they didn't want to share their joke, it was none of my business. Honestly, though, Neniel seriously needed a man of her own. Then I could plague the life out of her.

No one was expecting us, and no one was there to meet us. But we preferred it that way. After untacking our horses and putting them in the stables, we made our way to Elrond's quarters. I knocked on his study door, quietly.

"Enter."

I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Inside, Elrond sat at a carved mahogany desk. Papers were neatly stacked next to him and a pristine pile of books sat on the edge. His eyebrows raised when he saw who it was.

"Legolas, Tauriel," he said, placing his quill in the ink bottle. He looked at me. "I thought you weren't coming back. Change your mind?"

I shifted uncomfortably. "Yes."

There was a long silence.

"What brings you three here?" he asked, finally, glancing at Neniel.

"This is our friend, Neniel. We would like to speak to you, and Elladan and Elrohir if they are here," I said.

He nodded thoughtfully. "My sons returned last week. They are here." He called a servant and asked that the twins be summoned to his study. Soon after, two men in dark blue tunics and very dark brown hair entered. Amused, I watched Neniel's eyebrows raise and saw her blush. Maybe I'd get to tease her, after all.

I laid the bundle down on the table that stood in the center of the room and carefully opened it. "We found these north of the central Dunedain camp," I started.

The twins stared at me. "But these are Mirkwood made," said Elladan.

I nodded. "They were in the possession of a group of southerners."

"Southerners?" asked Elrohir. "From Gondor?"

"No, from Harad."

This stopped them cold. I told the entire story from start to finish. When I was through, they were shocked. But Elrond simply frowned and nodded his head, thoughtfully.

"Are there more?" he asked.

"Well," said Legolas, "actually, there is." He pulled out Thranduil's dagger.

Elrond took is and fingered it.

"That's a knife fit for a king," said Elladan in wonder.

Legolas cleared his throat.

"King," muttered Elrond. "It's your father's, isn't it."

"I'm afraid so."

"And this worries you?"

"Well, yes."

"Your father is a very capable warrior."

"That's just it. He'd have to be killed or captured for someone to take his weapon."

Legolas looked more worried than I'd seen him look in a long time. I touched his hand in comfort. He looked at me and smiled faintly.

"We weren't sure how to proceed," I said.

"It is well that you brought these to me," answered Elrond. "I do not like this news of Haradrim this far north. Something is afoot, but what, I do not know." He stared at the knife in his hands. "You two," he gestured to his sons, "I want you to scour the northern lands for any more of these unwelcome visitors. Enlist the Dunedain if you must."

They nodded and quickly left the room. They could not leave until the morning but they needed to prepare.

"I supposed you will want this back." Elrond held the knife out to Legolas, who took it.

Elrond walked back to his desk. "There is a group heading to Mirkwood tomorrow. I have a few soldiers assigned to them, however, if you do not have other plans, I'd like you both to escort them as well. Considering recent events, I think it would be safer."

I felt my breath leave me. Go back to Mirkwood? "But, my lord," I stuttered.

He looked at me kindly. "I understand you cannot enter the wood, Tauriel, but go at least to the edge of the forest. You will be of great help if you go."

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Legolas looking at me, concerned. "I- I will have to consider it, sir," I answered.

He nodded, "And you, Legolas?"

Legolas wavered for a moment, then, glancing at me, he nodded. "I will go."

[Narrator POV]

Deep under the Misty Mountains, a goblin sat on a throne made of bones. With a great clashing and shouting, a group of goblins clambered across the rickety wooden walkways built across the cavern until the came to the throne. With a cry, an elf, covered in blood and filth, was thrust forward.

"We found this one trespassing on our pass," growled the goblin captain.

"That so?" replied the Goblin King. He leaned forward. "Tell me, little elf, what brings such a scrawny thing as you to the great realm of the Goblin King?"

The elf glared through his mop of tangled hair and spit on the king's face.

"Oi!" snarled the king. He grabbed the elf by the throat and drew him forward until their faces almost touched. "Have they told you what we do to the likes of you?"

The elf clutched at his neck, trying to pry the iron grip away from his throat. With a gurgling sound, he shook his head.

Laughing, the king tossed him to the ground. "Get rid of him," he ordered the soldiers.

The elf struggled as the goblins grabbed him and began to haul him away. "My king will destroy you!" he cried.

The Goblin King chuckled. "Interesting. Seeing how we, ah... shall we say, incapacitated your king some time ago. Funny thing is, you're the fifth elfling to say the same thing."

"The prince--" started the elf, but he was cut off by the crack of a whip. With a cry a stumbled and fell and with blows and kicks, the goblins dragged him to his feet.

"Ah, yes. The prince." The king rubbed his hands together. "We'll take care of the prince."