Playing with Fire [Legolas/Tauriel]

8: Confronted

Chapter 8

            Thranduil’s hands played with the curves and twists of his wooden throne as he tuned out the guard’s boring reports. He had seen enough rage, jealousy and hatred for a lifetime, but nevertheless, it felt as if things in Mirkwood were going too well.

“My lord.” Dalyor entered the throne room, bowing low. “We have received word that there are dwarves approaching our elven gate. In their efforts to get through the forest, they have stirred the remaining spiders from their slumber.”

Thranduil leaned forward. Dwarves? Then…could it be…no. He chided himself for thinking such things. The Dwarves of Erebor are dead and gone. They’ll never come back.

“Sire?”

“I want that nest destroyed. Again,” he ordered. “As for the Dwarves…” he paused for a moment, idly fingering the gems around his neck.

“Bring them to me,” he decided. “I will decide what to do with them. They can’t possibly make it out of the forest on their own.”

“As you wish, my lord. And who shall I send to destroy the nest?”

“Why don’t you send the Guard? They are equipped to handle situations like this.” He didn’t mean it as a compliment, but Dalyor smiled.

“Very good, my lord.” Dalyor bowed, and turned to leave, but a thought seemed to occur to him.

“What about the prince, my lord?”

Thranduil laughed. It filled the halls and echoed about the kingdom, startling the cold walls, as if from a slumber. “He can go if he wishes.”

A smile played on the Elven King’s lips. So what if he spends a little extra time with Tauriel?  I never promised Eyela that I would keep him away from elves that he took a liking to. I only promised her his hand in marriage.

 

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Tauriel fiddled with the handle of her bow nervously. So many thoughts were rushing through her head, making her vision swim.

What might Lady Eyela want from me? Eyela was not necessarily a princess, but she was royalty, nonetheless. Tauriel could not remember the last time so many High Elves had summoned her to their chambers.

And it was all to do with Legolas. Stay away from him, Princess Kelda had said. My father has plans for you.

She couldn’t decide whether or not she should trust the princess. After all, she was bitter and angry, and could have just been making things up to stir up a fuss. But she couldn’t be sure.

It was true, staying away from Legolas would not be easy, but if her title and future were at risk, she would have to put that before her best friend. She wondered about this all the way to the guest chamber where Lady Eyela of Rivendell was staying.

A maid let her in, and showed her to a chair. “Lady Eyela will join you momentarily.” She then bowed quickly, and took her leave.

Unlike Kelda, Eyela cared very much about how she presented herself to others. She had taken great care to wash and braid her hair in the bathroom before Tauriel had arrived. At the moment, she came and sat before her vanity, just as Kelda had, and began to powder her face, ignoring Tauriel completely. Finally, she looked up, saw her reflection in the mirror and gave Tauriel a winning smile.