Calm The Fire

13

The days following their return to Mirkwood, Náriel had found herself on more occasions than normal running alongside her kin in the dark twisted trees which made up her homeland. The oncoming shadow had crept every closer it seemed since leaving. She had heard tales from both Legolas and Tauriel that the spiders were becoming ever more bolder, which meant that they had to leave the safety of the palace for the sake of dealing with them.

"Sorry there is no welcome home banquet for you, Náriel."

"I think I've had enough banquets." She replied while looking up at Tauriel, the two of them walked the light stone corridors which made up the walls of their home. She looked at her questionably. "Never attend a dwarfish banquet, Tauriel, you will regret it."

"And why is that?" The auburn haired elf asked with a light smirk.

"I've never seen so much food in my life." Náriel looked up at her friend before putting her hands in her dark green trouser pockets. The two of them were wearing rather similar clothes, and both of them had their weapons in case they suddenly needed to leave. Tauriel smiled at this and looked forwards, the quiet corridor is all that greeted her dark eyes, Náriel quietly shuffled along in silence. Looking down at her suddenly, Tauriel stopped walking, this meant Náriel stopped too and looked up at her confused. "What's wrong?" Náriel's emerald eyes looked at her worriedly.

Tauriel smiled and shook her head slowly, "It is good to have you back."

"It is nice to know I have been missed."

"He will not openly admit it, at least not to me," Tauriel said while looking down and shaking her head loosely. "But Legolas has missed you too."

"Hm," Náriel crossed her arms. "So you say, yet where is he, hm?"

"Your uncle keeps him busy, you know that." Náriel rolled her eyes slowly. Tauriel laughed quietly, "Would you rather be in his position?"

"No!" Náriel exclaimed quietly, this just caused Tauriel's smile to grow and for her to look down at Náriel with a knowing look. "No...though I feel most sorry for all the work and meetings he attends."

"Náriel, Tauriel, man ceridh?" Both females looked up as a blonde haired elf came striding along the corridors towards them. He looked at them both awaiting for one of them to answer. When neither did by the time he stopped in front of them, he frowned.

"Would you believe catching up, Legolas?" Náriel asked with a small smile, he looked away from Tauriel to look down at his cousin when she spoke. "Since you've been nowhere to be seen."

"Apologies," Legolas inclined his head and looked at both of them sharply. "We're needed." He said as simply as anyone could.

"Again?" Náriel said quietly. "But we've not long since returned." She said, it was true, it had been several weeks now since both Thranduil and Náriel had returned. And in that space of time she had been out with the others dealing with the spiders. At this moment, Tauriel and herself had been back for an hour, if that, and now with Legolas in front of them they were called back into duty. The spider attacks varied. But one thing for sure was that it seemed to take them a matter of moments to regroup and come back for a second round; the spiders were seemingly relentless.

—

"Tell me of your travels," it was sometime later that Náriel had this question posed to her. Legolas, herself and Thranduil were meant to be having a meal together, yet he was nowhere to be seen. He had other matters to contend with, affairs to get back in check.

"It seemed to take so long getting there, yet such little time returning."

Legolas frowned, "That doesn't seem to answer my question."