In the aftermath of the Battle of the Five Armies, Thranduil finds the world within his Halls empty. He struggles to come to terms with the absence of his only child and the loss of the one he raised as if she were his own daughter. He begins to r...
As Thranduil seeks the comfort and advice of the Spirit if the Forest, Tauriel gets a slight glimpse into his past and the price paid for a crown he never wanted.
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Guarding her thoughts carefully as she watched Tauriel's restless pacing before the hearth, Lady Gilaiwë rested a curled forefinger against her lips to keep from smiling. The young elleth did not know her well enough to understand or appreciate the strange humor she saw in the situation. It would not do Thranduil any good for her to allow her to become even more agitated, particularly regarding the past.
"Oh my child." She sighed to herself as Tauriel paused to stare up at the high ceiling, her arms folded tightly beneath her breasts. "If you only knew the depths to which he truly loves you."
"I don't understand!" Tauriel exclaimed, her eyes flashing like brightly polished emeralds as she turned toward the irritatingly calm elf. "Why does he push me away when he does not need to bear this weight alone?!" She stated more than asked, her gown swirling as she continued her relentless pacing.
"Tauriel..."
"Argh!" Tauriel growled, the elf's motherly tone grated on her already stretched nerves. "Stop coddling me!" She nearly screamed as she swung to face the older elf angrily. "Why does he confide in you yet he turns away from me? What does he seek from you that he cannot have from me?"
"Now the truth comes out." Gilaiwë mused silently, lifting a brow as she studied the young elleth.
"There is still much of Thranduils' past you do not know and it is as it should be." Gilaiwë said quietly, her eyes narrowed slightly as she met Tauriel's angry gaze with a strong will of her own. "Still, I do not deny we were once lovers, but that was a long time ago."
"So long ago he sought the comfort of your arms when he found me in Lórinand?" Tauriel spat, her hands clenched in fists at her sides. Her anger rising, yet she cringed inwardly as she heard the sound of her jealousy ringing all too clearly in her tone.
"He had not yet acknowledged it himself, it was then I knew he was in love with you and our time had ended. It was as it should be." Gilaiwë replied quietly, unable to stop the soft smile curling the corners of her lips. "He has made his choice, there is no room in his heart or his bed for another." She added in a slightly firmer tone.
"You felt his bond with you weaken until only a single thread remains to bind you to him." Gilaiwë stated softly, yet she fueled it with the power of her gift as she watched the young elleth's expression change to one mingled with shock and amazement.
"I..."
Tauriel fell silent, staring at the small silver haired elf as a myriad of emotions washed over her, weakening her knees as she clasped her breasts as if to protect her heart. A choked gasp escaped her lips as feelings of abandonment, torment, and fear that staggered her. As if the weight of the world had fallen on her shoulders, feelings of deep love, matched only by equal depths of pain, loss and anguish filled her.
