Anywhere You Go, Let Me Go Too

The Light of Love In Darkness

They ran together, up the steep, rocky slope. A line of jagged rocks stood at the top, perfect for cover. Tauriel followed Legolas behind one of them, and they crouched, half hidden, looking ahead.
"Gundabad" Tauriel whispered.
Legolas nodded, his eyes still on the tower.
"What lies beyond?" Tauriel asked, her eyes wide, shining in the semi-darkness.

"An old enemy" Legolas replied. "the ancient kingdom of Angmar. The fortress was once it's stronghold, where they kept the great armouries, and forged their weapons of war"
Tauriel looked at him, and them back at the fortress. Suddenly, she saw it. And orange flicker through a slit in the rock before them.
"A light!" She whispered.
Legolas stared in the direction she had indicated. But the light had gone.
"We wait for the cover of night" Legolas said. "It is a fell place, Tauriel. In another age, your people waged war on those lands"

He fell silent, and looked down at the ground. Then he said:
"My mother died there"
He fixed her with such a gaze, that Tauriel could do nothing but look back at him. She could not look into his eyes.
"My father does not speak of it. There is no grave, no memory"
"Legolas, i-"
She stopped as she felt Legolas gently stroking her cheek. He looked deep into her eyes. Sparks seemed to flood through her body. Was this finally happening?
"I lost hope the night my mother died." he said while still caressing her face. "I did not think I could ever live without her. I can't even bare a thought of losing you too , Tauriel"
He leaned closer to her.
"You are so beautiful" he whispered.

she brushed his face gently with the tips of her fingers. His hand closed over hers. He was even closer now, and Tauriel could feel his cool breath on her face. And then his lips met hers. Her eyes widened for a second, but then she relaxed, and let him hold her. Several minutes passed. Starlight seemed to sparkle around their entwined figures, freeing them from the troubles of the world outside.

"I love you Tauriel, so much"
The words were simply spoken, but to Tauriel, it felt as if they lifted her off her feet.
"Legolas... I think... I think I love you too" she whispered.
He gave her a small smile before kissing her again, this time with more passion.
They broke apart at last.
"What are we doing?" Tauriel asked, slightly breathless.
"What our hearts have been telling us for a long time" he replied. "We were always meant to be. I've loved you hundreds of years, Tauriel, and I'll love you for thousands more"
"Legolas, I'm sorry....We can't!" Tauriel said.
Legolas looked surprised.
"Why, Tauriel? I don't understand... Do you not love me?" He asked.
Tauriel shook her head.
"Thranduil. He forbade me to give you hope that I loved you. He does not wish us to share love. I wish we could be together, and I do love you, I always have... But we can't do this"

"But we're alone now. We could run... We could leave Mirkwood, and live together, far away! Thranduil would never find us. I would happily give up my place as prince of Mirkwood for a life alone with you" he gazed into her eyes again, and she looked away. Why did love have to hurt so much?
"Come with me, Tauriel" he whispered.
"I can't, Legolas, I'm sorry! I could never let you give up your whole life for me!"
"There is no life for me without you" He insisted.
"But Legolas... Your father.. he would kill me, for certain"
Legolas's eyes hardened.
"Never" he said. He spoke quietly, but his words were edged with cold fury.
"He would have to kill me first. I could never watch you die, I would give my life to protect you"

"You really do mean it, don't you" Tauriel said.
Legolas nodded defiantly. He had not let go of her hand.
"But I could never let you die to save me, Legolas, you know I couldn't!"
"Tauriel, don't you understand? I love you! I do, with all my heart"
Tauriel didn't know what to say. Legolas truly loved her, and would die to save her, was she really going to push him away just because of Thranduil? She remembered his gentle touch, his eyes gazing into her own, the feel of his lips on hers.... She loved him. Now she was sure about it. And she was going to do everything it took for them to be together.

She suddenly felt him lean closer. Just as he made to kiss her again, the ground began to shake. Legolas looked up, and Tauriel did too. A huge number of orcs were marching passed the rocks where they hid. Trolls wielding heavy clubs followed the first line. As they watched, more and more orcs appeared from out of the darkness. Cold horror seemed to fill her body. This was the army of Azog, the pale orc, sworn to destroy the line of Durin.
"Tauriel, get up, come on!" Whispered Legolas. "We need to go, we must get back to Dale and warn Gandalf! The battle has begun!"