The Moth & The Flame

Chapter 06 - Confrontations

After an unexpected visit from Galion, Tauriel finds that she has much to think about when it comes to Thranduil. Legolas finds the courage to confront the one he believes is the cause of his mother abandoning him only to learn enough to raise more questions within him. Thranduil finds solace in the arms of his childhood friend, mentor and longtime lover.

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Irritated at the soft but persistent knock at her door, Tauriel slipped the marker within the pages of the book she had been reading and laid it aside.

"Tauriel?" Came a soft familiar voice of the kings' personal servant.

"Come in." She called out as she rose to her feet.

"Galion." She acknowledged him as soon as he entered. "What brings you here?" She asked, schooling her expression as she felt her anger rising.

"I was hoping we could have a chance to sit and talk for a bit." He said quietly, smiling warmly as he walked toward her.

"I have cinnamon spiced hazel tea if you like." She replied, turning toward the small cupboard to collect another cup and saucer. "It's not like I have anything else to do." She added, waving her hand toward one of the chairs in front of the hearth.

"First of all dear." He said quietly as he stopped her, taking her hands gently in his own as he smiled warmly at her. "I am here of my own accord. I thought you might need a friend."

Tilting her head slightly, Tauriel narrowed her eyes at him as she instinctively stiffened. The old elf was much respected among the various circles, nobles included, regardless of the fact that he was considered by most to be the kings' eyes and ears within the palace.

"Forgive me if I am a little distrusting under the circumstances." She stated as she turned away from him. "Please sit." She added in a lighter tone as she continued toward the cupboard.

"Nothing to forgive." Galion told her, watching her closely as he seated himself comfortably in the chair. "I have four sisters." He began as she returned and collected the teapot from the hearth, filling the cup for him. "I understand a little more than most."

"You have never spoken of your family." She said cautiously as she seated herself opposite him, eyeing him suspiciously. In truth she had had little interest or reason to come to know anything about the kings' personal servant over the years.

"Most of them still live in the vales just outside of Lórinand." He commented, picking up the teacup. "Only my sister Minûiáliën followed me here." He added almost absently, deciding that she might be more willing to be open with him if she felt he was doing the same.

"Is that where the two of you met?" She asked, her curiosity getting the better of her for the moment. The mention of Lórinand was not lost on her yet she chose to ignore it.

"Oh no dear." He chuckled softly, pausing to take a sip of the tea, knowing exactly who she was referring to. "I lived with him for a time there but I met him and his father when the Sindar first arrived here. Thranduil was but a young elfling at that time. I took care of him for the most part, he was not much older than you were when you became a ward of the king."

"Where was his mother?" She asked, taking a sip from her own cup, hiding her slight smile at the thought of Thranduil as a little elfling. Still she studied him, wondering what purpose he had in visiting her since he had never had any interest or dealings with her in the past.

"I never met his mother." He sighed but smiled warmly. "She died before they left Lindon and Oropher never took another wife."

"He could not find one among the other Sindar who came with him?" She asked, her tone was cutting as she was unable to squash the anger that rose again so quickly in her heart.