Bard of Laketown

Part Thirteen

PART THIRTEEN

BARD'S POV

I hate the words that I'm speaking, but I need to protect my children. No matter how much I care for Areya, that can't change. I have to keep them safe. Areya's eyes are hard, but I see flashes of hurt underneath.

I swallow hard. "I'm sorry, Areya." I turn to leave, but she grabs my arm. "You can't just leave, Bard. What about helping me?"

"You're going back to Lake-town as it is," I say.

"So are you, though. Come with us?"

"No. You need to be with your... friends."

I'm still not entirely sure about what Areya said regarding her feelings for Legolas. They seem very close, and it's obvious that he cares for her.

But at the same time, he loves Tauriel. I can tell, by the way his eyes soften when he looks at her.

I just don't know whether I can believe what Areya said, that she doesn't love him. He's an Elven-prince, and I'm just the descendant of the Bowman who failed at the most important task in his life. That is all, and all I ever will be.

Areya's grip on my arm softens, and I turn to look at her.

"Goodbye, Areya," I say, shaking my arm free of her hand.

AREYA'S POV

Bard's words cut me, like one of the orc's blades. He starts walking away, and it's all I can do not to run after him.

Tauriel looks at me sympathetically. "You love him, don't you?"

I look away. "Even if I did, what good is it? An elf and a mortal man are like oil and water."

"So are elves and dwarves," Legolas mutters beside me.

"What about Arwen, of the House of Elrond?" Tauriel says. "She is in love with Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

"But Lord Elrond is not pleased with that fact, is he?" I say.

"Let's just go." Legolas turns and begins running along the riverbank.

Tauriel watches him, looking a little confused. "I wonder what's wrong with him?" she muses. "He's been like this ever since the arrival of the dwarves."

Do you truly not know, I think. But I can't speak it aloud, not if she understands my meaning. Legolas must tell her in his own time.

We run quickly after Legolas. I didn't realize how much I missed these two until now. Everything feels as it should be. Almost everything. We don't see Bard, so he must have taken a different path home. Will I ever see him again?