Legolas and Tauriel: What I Did For Love

25: Into the Lair of the Goblin King

[Tauriel POV]

"Lady Tauriel! There are horsemen approaching!"

I look wearily into the distance ahead of us. Sure enough, a thin cloud of dust billowed on the horizon, whoever they were, they were still far away.

"Take Henrin and evaluate," I ordered the soldier.

He nodded and, calling for Henrin, trotted ahead.

I watched them go, keenly aware of my brother's stare. He still had questions but I didn't feel up to answering any of them. If I did, I was afraid I'd break down and cry. We had left Legolas two days before, only just emerging from the pass a few hours ago but there had been no sign of him or his accompanying soldiers. Either they had to move slowly to accommodate the wounded, or they were all dead. 

I glanced ahead again and this time the dust cloud was gone, disappearing behind one of the many foothills of the Misty Mountains. Leaning on the pommel of my saddle, I wondered idly if it was the soldiers from Rivendell. At this point, I was almost too tired to care.

But I didn't have to wait much longer for my answer. Soon one of the scouts came galloping back.

"It is the sons of Elrond," he shouted, as he slowed his horse next to me.

A murmur swept through the line of people behind us.

I called a halt and people dropped to the ground gratefully. Just one more day and they would be safely back in Rivendell. But maybe now that help was coming, they could get a proper rest.

Before long, the soldiers were upon us. They swept to a halt and Elladan and Elrohir rode ahead to meet me.

"Tauriel!"

I did the best imitation of a bow as I could from the saddle. I'm afraid it just made it look like I was about to keel over. Which I was.

"What happened?" asked Elrohir. "Your messenger could give no details other than you were pursued by an orc pack. But they would have overtaken you by now."

I opened my mouth to talk but Elladan spoke first.

"Where is Legolas?" he asked, looking concerned.

Glancing around, I motioned them away from the crowd and dismounted. They did the same. As briefly as I could, I poured out the tale.

The both looked grim when I finished.

"If they haven't caught up by now, you know what that means," said Elladan.

I fiddled with my reins. "Yes. But we must at least check."

He nodded. "We will go at once."

"Good," I answered, wincing as I swung myself into my saddle. "I will arrange for Aranol to lead them back to Rivendell." I jerked my head towards the exhausted group huddle on the ground.

Elladan held up a hand. "No, Tauriel."

"What?"

"You can't come."

"And why not."

"You are exhausted, your men are exhausted, and the people you are leading are exhausted. Not to mention your mount."

I raised my chin. "You have fresh, horses. I will borrow one."

He shook his head. "No. You will not make the journey." The twins mounted.

"But I must! I cannot stay behind!" I lowered my voice. "I need to know what has happened to him."

He looked at me with sympathy. "I understand, Tauriel, but you have a duty to perform."