Tauriel listened as Legolas described everything that had happened during Smaug's attack on Laketown.

While he spoke Tauriel had found an old blanket that she could use to clean Legolas' wound.

They were sitting by the edge of the lake and had moved away from the crowd of people. Their conversation didn't reach the ears of Bard or the others.

She had to take off the bandage she had orginally put on and clean out the ash and dirt from the festering wound.

Legolas didn't object to her treatment and he never stopped talking quietly to her. Sometimes he would wince in pain as the cold lake water touched his shoulder, but he knew that it had to be done.

Tauriel ripped off a long strip of the blanket and used it to bind Legolas' shoulder.

I wish I had the herbs I need to properly clean it instead of lake water.

Tauriel sighed and knew that she would just have to make do with what she had.

After Legolas' shoulder was taken care of Tauriel saw to his other injuries, which were mostly small cuts and scrapes that did not need her attention.

"After we made it onto the roof Bard was about to shoot down the dragon when the roof caved in. I was almost buried under the debris and I would have been dead if Bard had not found me."

Legolas stared thoughtfully at the destroyed town as Tauriel cleaned a small scrape on the back of his right hand.

"That makes it three times that he saved my life. I am in debt to him."

That made Tauriel think about what Fili had said, he'd promised to pay her back for saving his brother.

We had to have been wrong about dwarves. I should tell Legolas....

She wanted to, but instead all Tauriel said to him was,
"You will find a way to repay him. Although he seems like the kind who wouldn't accept a reward for anything."

Legolas turned towards her and grinned slightly.
"What?"
Tauriel asked as she dipped her rag into the water to get it wet.
"It is nothing."

Tauriel rolled her eyes and proceeded to clean some of the soot and ash off of Legolas.

"I can wash my own face
Tauriel."
"I know, but can you avoid all of the scratches on your face that will burn if you touch them?"

She wondered if she had been wrong to say "burn" but Legolas didn't seem to notice her choice of words.

"Very well. You are the healer."
Legolas held still as Tauriel carefully cleaned his face, avoiding a particularly large scratch on the left side of his face.

"I have never seen you injured before."
Tauriel commented as she worked.
"There is a first time for everything. I am immortal not invincible."

Tauriel smiled as she finished her work. After his face had been cleaned Legolas was began to look more like his old, bright self.

Tauriel disposed of the rag and helped Legolas stand to his feet.
"Thank you."
He dipped his head gratefully towards her.

His gaze suddenly hardened as he took in the scene before them. Countless men, women, and children were huddling together.

Crying, cold, and afraid. All of this destruction and for what cause? To reclaim some cursed gold from a mountain?

If those dwarves had just left things as they were this would not have happened. All of this needless suffering could have been prevented.

Not to mention that ring is probably lying ungaurded in the mountain. Anyone could wander in there and find it.

"Legolas?"
Tauriel placed a hand on his shoulder.
Legolas blinked and muttered something under his breath.
"Are you alright?"

Before Legolas could answer the sound of a horse approaching them caused both elves to turn around in surprise.

Feren was riding towards them, and he did not look happy.
"My lord, your father has ordered you to return home immediately."

Legolas glanced at Tauriel, and then at the destruction behind her. They had come to find the orcs and see what they had been planning, instead all they found was suffering and death.

We do not even know where the orcs have gone. We have done all we can here.

"Tauriel, come."
Legolas was about to take a step forward when Feren's voice caused him to halt.
"My lord, Tauriel.... Has been banished."

Both elves froze. Tauriel couldn't breathe. Banished? How could she have been banished? Why would Thranduil-

She knew why. She had disobeyed Thranduil's orders and left the kingdom, and when Legolas went to find her and bring her back, she convinced him to go with her.

Now he is injured, and he almost died.

Tauriel hung her head and fought to hold her tears back. This was Thranduil's way of keeping her from his son.

But Legolas would not have it. Seeing Tauriel's sorrow and his own personal feelings were what caused him to look Feren in the eye and say, "You can tell my father that if there is no place for Tauriel than there is no place for me."

"Legolas."
Both Feren and Tauriel said at once.
"It is your king's command."
Tauriel said quietly as she refused to meet Legolas' gaze.

Legolas put his hand under her chin and lifted it up so that she was looking at him.

"He is my king, but he does not command my heart."
"My lord I must insist-"
"I will not return unless Tauriel can as well. If my father is not pleased than he can come and get me himself."

Feren sighed in exasperation as he turned his horse around. Thranduil was not going to like what he heard.

"You should not have done that Legolas."
Tauriel's words were dry as dozens of emotions mixed in her heart.
"The only reason you are here, and hurt, is because of me. I do not deserve your kindness."

"I had to make a choiceTauriel."
Legolas told her firmly.
"It was either my father's orders; or you."

Tauriel couldn't believe that he had actually chosen her over his father. What would happen once Thranduil received word of his son's disobedience?

"What do we do now Legolas?"
Legolas studied the large group of people. They were gathering whatever they could salvage and were preparing to head towards Dale.

"We will do what we can to help these people."
Tauriel was surprised by his answer but didn't hesitate to follow him as they searched for Bard.

They found him speaking to several other men, yet when he saw them approaching he stopped the conversation and jogged over to them.

"I cannot thank either of you enough for saving my children. They told me about the orcs, and I hope that I can repay you in sone way."

Why does everyone always feel the need to repay someone after they've done something for them?

Tauriel thought to herself.
"I believe that you have already repaid twice more than what I deserve."
Legolas said.
"You saved my life more than once and it seems that I am the one who owes you."

Before Bard could speak Legolas was already talking again.
"Tauriel and I have agreed to help your people in any way that we can. Tauriel is trained in healing and I can provide what advice and protection I can give; I can also find water and hunt."

Not with your injury!
Tauriel wanted to shout but it was too late. Legolas wanted to repay Bard and this was how he was going to do it.

"We would greatly appreciate the help, but you are injured and exausted. If you truly want to aid us I will gladly accept your help, and I will not hold it against you if you wish to return home."

What home? I have been banished, I do not have a home.

"We will travel with you and help however we can. There is some matters I need to discuss with you as well."

Bard and Tauriel glanced at him curiously. What did he want to talk to Bard about?

Their question remained unanswered for the time being as someone announced that they were all ready to leave.

Without another word Bard, Legolas, and Tauriel made their way to the front of the people and led them to the ruins of Dale.

»»»»

Azog was leading a massive army of orcs towards the Lonely Mountain. His master's orders were clear, claim the mountain for and wipe out any dwarf or man that stood in their way.

He raised his arm and motioned for his army to stop as Bolg and his riders rode up to them.

"Elves!"
Bolg shouted as he rode up on his warg and halted in front of Azog.
"The king's son, and a she-elf."

"Did you kill them?"
Azog asked narrowing his eyes.
"I never encountered the she-elf, I wounded the king's son and he ran like a coward."

"You should have killed them! Azog roared.
"They will return with an army of elves at their backs!"

Before Bolg could defend himself another orc raced up to them on a smaller warg.

"I have a message from lord Sauron for Bolg."
"What is it?"
Azog demanded.
"He orders you to bring him the elvenking's son, alive."

Bolg roared in fury which caused the smaller orc to shrink back in terror.

"I had him in Laketown! Why was I not informed of this?"
"I tried to reach you sooner, but when I arrived the place was destroyed!"

"That means that he is dead! How am I supposed to bring a dead elf to lord Sauron?"
"He is not dead, I saw him and the she-elf, they were together among the humans."

Bolg narrowed his eyes at the orc. What were two elves doing with men?

"You cannot go after him
now."
Azog said interrupting the conversation.
"There is still an army that needs to be led here. Go and bring them to the mountain and I will make sure that the prince does not leave. Then you can take him to our master."

Bolg growled in annoyance but he didn't protest.
Summoning his other riders he rode off to where Azog's second army waited.

The elf scum would be his. He would bring him to master; but he needed to break him first.

Bolg grinned as an idea entered his mind. He spurred his warg on in haste as he ran over his plan in his head

Nothing would keep him from claiming his prize, he would bring the elf to Sauron, beaten and completely broken.
And he knew just how to do it.

»»»»

Tauriel nearly collapsed from exaustion as she finally treated the last of the injured.

She struggled to stay on her feet as she made her way to a clear spot next to a stone wall.

Tauriel sat down and leaned back against the wall. She had never been this tired before, and good night's rest was exactly what she needed.

Not until Legolas comes back.

He had been gone ever since they'd arrived at the ruins of Dale. He had talked with Bard the whole way there and once they had arrived he had set off to find food and water.

She wondered if he'd been succesful when excited shouts from up the street filled her ears.

Glancing around the corner she saw Bard and several men surrounding four wild birds, two rabbits, and a young deer that Legolas had managed to hunt.

Tauriel had given Legolas her bow and had warned him to be careful with his shoulder.

He had assured her that he would, and now that she saw him heading towards her she could see that he kept his word.

Legolas almost walked right past Tauriel without noticing. She called out to hin and he turned around to face her.

"I take it that your hunting trip was succesful?"
"The Valar were gracious to me. Although I fear it will not be enough for everyone here."

Legolas came and sat down next to her. He was just as exausted as she was. Neither had anything to say to each other as they thought about the past events of the last few days.

Everything was chaning for them, and whether they admitted or not, they were afraid.

"Legolas? Will we be alright?"
She asked quietly.
Legolas didn't reply, instead he gently pulled Tauriel down so that she was lying with her head resting on his leg.

He placed a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her, it worked.
Although she was still nervous about what lied ahead.

"Legolas, will you sing for me?"
"What?"
"Singing always helps me when I'm nervous, or afraid. Could you sing for me?"

Legolas hesitated, he hadn't sang since Thalion died, the idea of him singing seemed ridiculous to him.

But when he looked down at Tauriel he could see how frightened she was. And he couldn't stand to see her that way.

Taking a deep breath he sang the only song he could think of.

With a sigh, you turn away.
With a deepening heart, and no words to say.
You will find, that the world has changed, forever.

Legolas paused and found that Tauriel seemed to be feeling better, the people around him were also comforted by his voice.

Looking down at Tauriel he finished his song,

And the trees are now turning from green to gold.
And the sun is now fading, I wish I could hold you closer.

With that Legolas fell silent. He looked down at Tauriel, and seeing that she was asleep, Legolas allowed himself to rest as well.

Goodnight Tauriel, may you find rest and peace tonight.