She didn't know how long she been standing there, gazing at the stars when one of the guards, Alden, came out onto the balcony.
"Captain," he said. But she was lost in the starlight. "Captain," he repeated and she turned to face him.
"Yes?" She asked.
"King Thranduil has asked why you haven't reported to him." He answered.
"I'm on my way now." She said.
He nodded then walked away to join the feast.
Tauriel walked through the dining hall and made her way to where King Thranduil was waiting for her. She walked through the hallway, going down a series of stairs. She stopped, she could see the elven king standing in the room at the bottom of the stairs. She suddenly became nervous, she knew he would not like what she was about to suggest. She stood in the shadows, out of his view.
Suddenly his voice broke the silence. "I know you're there." He said. "Why do you linger in the shadows?"
"I was coming to report to you," she answered, climbing down the stairs once again. She walked quickly to stand in front of him.
"I thought I ordered that nest to be destroyed not two moons past." He said, as she gave a quick bow of her head.
She turned and began pacing in a small circle in front of him as she spoke. "We cleared the forest as ordered, but more spiders continue to come up from the south. They are spawning in the ruins of dol guldur. If we could find them at their source ..."
"That fortress lies beyond our borders. Keep our lands cleared of those fowl creatures, that is your task." Thranduil interrupted.
"And if we drive them off, what then? Will they not spread to other lands?" She asked.
"Other lands are not my concern." Thranduil answered.
Tauriel gasped. How could he say that, weren't they apart of this world too? If darkness descended upon middle earth, then they would hide in the shadows forever, never to see the light of the stars again.
"The fortunes of the world will rise and fall. But here in this kingdom, we will endure." Thranduil looked away, seeming to become distracted by a soft footstep in the hall.
Tauriel bowed her head and turned to leave. There was no convincing the king she realized. He was not going to continue this conversation, and there was no point in continuing to plead with him. She walked away, heading down the hall.
"Legolas said you fought well today." She heard Thranduil say.
She turned to look at him.
"He has grown very found of you." The elven king continued.
"I assure you, my lord, Legolas thinks of me as no more than a captain of the guard." She said. But she knew that it wasn't true. Legolas had always been like a brother to her. He had always treated her like she was his sister. Especially after her parents were killed. But it was so long ago that she didn't even remember them. Thranduil was the closest thing to a father she had ever known, even though he had little compassion for anyone but himself. Especially after his wife died. But he didn't realize how deeply loosing his mother had hurt Legolas.
Legolas did not speak of it often, but she could see the pain of her loss in his eyes. His father was so buried in grief that he could not see the pain that his son felt.
Legolas was the only true family she had ever known. And Tauriel was the closest he had ever been to anyone since his mother died.
"Still, he cares about you." Said Thranduil.
He was so oblivious. They had always cared about each other, every since they were very young. They may not be siblings by blood. But what is the bond of blood if there is no love in it? It is love that binds, and it is love that makes a true family. But Thranduil could never understand that. Perhaps he did, once, but no longer.
But he could never fully understand. He had not grown up as orphan as she had. Or lost his mother and had a father who was distant, as Legolas did. But through their pain, they learned the truth about the bonds of family and fellowship.