Legolas caught the name just as the dwarf who said it was led past him.

Bilbo? Is that another dwarf?

"Legolas?"
Tauriel came up behind and him, she had retrieved her dagger and was placing it back into its sheeth.

"Go on ahead with the others. There is something I need to look into."
"Should I stay with you?"
"No, it is nothing serious. I will join you in a moment."

Tauriel looked as though she didn't believe him, but she didn't argue as she followed the elves and their prisoners.

Legolas waited until they had vanished from his sight and began to search the area for any sign of another dwarf.

I wonder if the spiders got him.

He thought grimly. Even though he didn't care about the dwarves he wouldn't want any of them to be killed by the spiders.

But as he searched he found no sign of another dwarf, or any spiders for that matter.

For all I know he snuck past me and is following his companions. Or he ran to save himself.

Just as Legolas was about to rejoin the others something caused him to freeze where he stood, and his blood to run cold.

There was something nearby, something evil. Legolas gripped the hilt of the sword he had taken from the dwarf and searched calmly for whatever lurked in the shadows.

Had he been younger he would have been afraid of what was in the forest, he wasn't afraid now, only cautious.

Legolas stood poised and ready to either fight or run from whatever stalked him. But as quickly as it came, it was gone.

What was that?

Legolas lowered his sword and gazed around the clearing one last time. Then without anymore hesitation he made his way back towards the palace.

»»»»

Legolas arrived just as the Guards were about to close the gates. They bowed as he approached and waited for him to enter.

Legolas stopped midstride as he felt the same presence that he'd felt in the forest.

Did it follow me here?

Legolas turned around only to find a few leaves blowing in the wind.

As he stood their he felt the same dark air go past him; he whipped his head to the side as it went past, but just like before there was nothing to see.

"My Lord? Are you alright?"
One of the Guards asked curiously.
Legolas shook his head.

Now is not the time to be going mad.

"I am fine. Close the gates."
Legolas entered the palace as the large stone doors closed behind him.

Not knowing that someone had slipped in and was now searching for his captive friends.

»»»»

Legolas found his father questioning the dwarf that he had assumed to be the leader.

His father was trying to find out what the dwarves had been doing in their lands but the lead dwarf refused to answer.

"I will ask you one more time dwarf. Why were you and your people in our lands?"

"We are travelers on our way to visit our kin in the Iron Hills."
The dwarf replied in annoyance.
Both Legolas and Thranduil could tell that he was lying.

"Why will you not tell the truth?"
Thranduil demanded narrowing his eyes.
"Just tell me your true reasons for being here and I will set you and your companions free."

"I am here because your elves brought us here."
Legolas could tell that his father was about to lose his patience. Before things could turn sour Legolas presented the sword he had found to his father.

"He was carrying this with him."
Thranduil took the sword from his son and studied it. Recognizing the blade in an instant.

"How did you come by this?"
Thranduil asked narrowing his eyes at the dwarf.
"It was given to me."

"By whom?"
Once again the dwarf refused to answer. Legolas studied him skeptically, why was he making things so difficult?

All he had to do was answer their questions! It seemed as though the dwarf finally decided that not speaking and lying were getting him nowhere so he decided to speak:

"Elrond of Rivendell gave it to me."
This caught Legolas off guard and he could not hide the look of shock on his face.

Elrond was like a second father to him, if he had given this dwarf a sword like this....

What is going on? Since when does Elrond have dealings with dwarves?

Thranduil didn't seem convinced by the dwarf's answer.
"You are lying."
"Now that I am telling the truth you suddenly don't believe me?"
"So you admit that you were lying to me about why you were traveling through our lands?"

The dwarf realized that he had fallen for the king's trap and mentally kicked himself for not paying attention.

Thranduil studied the blade and without even glancing at the dwarf he ordered his guards to take him back to his cell.

"Once you or any of your companions tells me the truth of your journey here I will set you free. Until then you will remain in my dungeons, and I do not care how long you stay there. I am patient, I can wait."

The dwarf glared at the elvenking as he was led away. Thranduil stood up from his throne and handed Legolas the sword.

"You should keep this, it is a fine blade and it would suit you well."
"Are you certain Adar? What if Elrond did give it to him?"
"What Lord Elrond does is none of my concern. If he has chosen to favor dwarves than so be it."

He handed the hilt of the sword to Legolas who accepted it reluctantly.

"I however, will not tolerate potential threats to my people or myself. Especially when dwarves are involved."

Legolas saw that there was no use arguing with his father so he simply nodded his head.

"I have some matters to attend to, but first I want to hear how your encounter with the spiders went."

Without waiting for a reply Thranduil spun on his heel and left the Throne Room, with Legolas following close behind him.

»»»»

Tauriel walked timidly into the room that the king had summoned her to.

She had no idea what he wanted to talk to her about and she was failing miserably to keep her nerves under wraps.

"I know you're there."
The sound of the king's voice made her jump as he looked directly at the spot she had been hiding in.
"Why do you hide in the shadows?"

She stepped out and approached him boldy. Pushing away any fear she had felt before.

"I was coming because you summoned me, My Lord."
Tauriel quickly bowed and then straightned herself in front of her king.

I am used to jesting with Legolas about "royalty" that I forget when I need to take it seriously.

"I wanted to ask you how your first time with the Forest Guard was."
Thranduil turned away from her and walked over to a wooden table that had a few wine glasses on it.

"Did you encounter any spiders?"
He asked nonchalantly as he poured himself a glass of wine.
"Only a few. We went into their nest and destroyed everything."

"And no one was hurt?"
"We all made it out safely My Lord."
"That is good to hear. We are fortunate to not have suffered amy injuries."

For a long moment Thranduil was silent. Tauriel believed that this was his way of dismissing her so she began to walk away.

"Legolas said you fought well today."
Tauriel froze in her tracks as her heart skipped a beat.
"He did?"

Thranduil nodded.
"He said that you were brave and followed orders without question."

Tauriel fought to keep her face from turning red. She couldn't believe that Legolas had told his father those things about her.

"Legolas has grown very fond of you it seems. The two you spend almost every day together, is that true?"

Tauriel hesitated before answering.
"Yes, but mostly to train. That is all."

"I am not blind Tauriel. I have seen the way my son acts when you are around, and though he tries to hide it I can tell that he cares very deeply for you."

Tauriel's heart threatened to burst out of her chest. What was she supposed to say to that?

"I can assure you My Lord, Legolas thinks of me as nothing more than one of the Forest Guard."

"I think we both know that is not true."
Thranduil narrowed his eyes at her as she refused to meet his gaze.

"Even if it was true, I doubt that you would allow your only son to pledge himself to a lowly Silvan elf."

"You are right, I won't."
Thranduil refilled his wineglass as he continued.
"Still, he does care for you. Do not give him hope where there is none. For I do not wish to see my son's heart broken."

Tauriel couldn't understand why his words hurt her so much but she pushed her feelings aside as she left the room.

Why are you so upset? You and Legolas have always been friends and that is all you will ever be to one another.

But was that what she wanted? Just friends?

Do not give him hope where there is none. For I do not wish to see my son's heart broken.

What had he meant by that? Did Thranduil actually believe that Legolas considered pledging himself to her?

Elves only fell in love once, if Legolas was in fact in love with her, and she had to deny his love because of his father-

It would break his heart....

That was the cruelest thing Tauriel could do to Legolas, and it was not something she wished to do.

Perhaps I should begin to distance myself from him. Just for awhile...

"Tauriel?"
She held back the urge to scream as Legolas suddenly appeared behind her.

"What are you doing?"
She snapped.
"Did I do something wrong?"
"You almost scared me to death!"
"But I didn't, you are alive and standing right in front of me."

Tauriel sighed in exasperation. It was impossible to talk to Legolas without him making her smile.

Thranduil's words echoed in her mind. She studied Legolas and found that he had that same bright look in his eyes as he always did.

Not always, it is only when he is with you.

Tauriel shook the thought away. Blind to the fact that she herself had the same brightness in her eyes.

"Would you like to join me at the Feast of Starlight tomorow evening?"

Tauriel's heart leapt at the thought. She imagined herself dancing with Legolas, laughing and not having a care in the world.

Do not give him hope.

"I- I do not know if I will be going tomorow evening."
Legolas looked at her with a confused grin on his face.
"What do you mean? You always go to the Feast with me."

"I do not think I will go
tomorow."
Tauriel said, colder than she had meant to.
A flash of hurt crossed Legolas' face and Tariel feared that she had just done something terrible.

But the look vanished and Legolas replaced it with a forced smile.

"Very well, it is your choice. Although I will miss you there."
Legolas left her alone in the hall and Tauriel felt as if a piece of her heart had just been torn out.

Oh Eru what have I just done?

»»»»

The following evening found Legolas not among the other elves celebrating the feast, but wandering down into the cellars for some peace and quiet.

He had planned on joining his father at the feast, but hadn't been able to bring himself to go.
Without Tauriel with him he had felt like it wasn't worth going.

What has gotten into her lately? She has been avoiding me since yesterday afternoon.

Legolas entered the cellar and found two elves fast asleep after helping themselves to a bit to much of Thranduil's wine.

When will those two ever learn?

Legolas turned away from the unconcious elves and froze.
Standing in front of him, just a few feet away, was the oddest creature he had ever laid eyes on before.

It was small like a dwarf, but Legolas could tell at once that it wasn't one.

And whatever the being was it still hadn't noticed him standing there. He seemed to be pleased at something he had just accomplished, only to turn around and find an elf standing behind him.

The small being gave a cry of alarm and something small and golden fell from his hand.

The small object rolled on the floor and didn't stop until it lay just in front of Legolas' boots.

Legolas bent down and retrieved the small object. As he inspected it in his hand he realized that it was a ring.

A small, plain, golden ring.