Tauriel tasted salt tears. Not only because this battle was hopeless, being a minority, but also because she had seen how her friend had fallen. Stone-dead.
The knowledge that she had contributed to his dead, made that she tasted gall. She had prepared the dwarfs for this mad attack. She had betrayed her people, which had led to Legolas' dead. She looked over her shoulder to the dwarf king. Something inside screamed for revenge, for compensation because he had taken her friend from her. At the same time she knew he had defended himself. Legolas had left him no choice. Thranduil had left him no other choice. He had sacrificed his own son for his own well-being and Tauriel despised that unscrupulous action. With one movement of his hand he could have ended this battle, but he let them all fight until they were dead and despite her inner struggles she still followed his orders, as if a dark spell had taken her own will from her.

It was now too late. She didn't know if a surrender would be accepted. Maybe the word traitor would be painted on her forehead forever, and furthermore she didn't know how to realize a surrender without dying first. Alyssae had been her only hope, but she had vanished and she refused to think about the possible causes.
"We have to extinguish the bow-men!" Heavèl pointed upward, to the boulders behind which the shooting dwarfs were hidden. They depleted them without having to show themselves.
Heavèl pointed to the left. "We can climb up there."
Tauriel followed his gaze. She did not know if she wanted to, but what else could she do? Waiting here until she was pierced by arrows? She did not want to die. Not for a king who had lost his mind.
Dawn fell, gave them cover while they sneaked along dwarfs and elves, climbing higher.
Gravel slipped away underneath her clawing hands, and one time she almost fell, but she climbed on, grimly. As a last tribute to Legolas, she told herself.
Without being noticed they reached the platform. She looked along some large rocks and discerned twelve dwarfs.
Next to her Heavèl prepared his bow and arrow. He squeezed one eye while he choose his victim. With a frown he looked aside when her movements stayed away. He gave her a warning look, but Tauriel couldn't move. There was a chance he was among these dwarfs.
She knew he had not forgotten her, and that he would make sure she was safe. When they opened fire now, they couldn't kill all the dwarfs. It was better if...
She doubted too long. Heavèl let go of his arrow and Tauriel screamed, but she alarmed the bowmen too late. One of them fell on the ground, impassive. Tauriel shrunk.
"Kíli!' she yelled, before they shot arrows at her. She stared at the lifeless body at the ground and a relieved sigh left her lips when she noticed the man had red hair.
"Tauriel?"
One of the dwarfs raised his hand and walked to her. The look in his eyes pierced her heart. A smile played around her lips, but it froze when she heard how the string slapped to the wrist of her companion. A shriek got stuck in her throat, while Kíli did a shaky step forward and collapsed.