The Fellowship traveled far that day only stopping once late in the afternoon for a quick rest and lunch. As we settled down against some large boulders, Pippin asked a question that no one would soon forget.

Turning to Tauriel he asked, "So when's lunch?"

Everyone, including Tauriel, were taken back by the sudden question.

I quickly jumped in and said, "I can make lunch Pip."

Pippin stubbornly shook his head. "Back in Hobbiton, the girls always cooked better." Turning back to Tauriel he again asked, "When's lunch?"

Legolas frowned, "Tauriel is a fighter, a warrior, not a cook." He made a disgusted face at the word 'cook' as if he had just drank a cup of swamp slime.

"And why can't she do both?" Bellowed Gimli. "There was once a woman in the dwarf army who could cook a side of pork as good as she could kill an Orc with her bare hands!"

Aragorn sat back enjoying this conversation. Hiding a smile, he said to Gimli, "Is that a fact?"

"You take me for a liar?" The dwarf dared.

Aragorn held up his palms in defense, "Of course not."

Tauriel suddenly stood up and announced, "Alright. I accept the challenge."

Legolas's mouth dropped, "Are you sure?" He realized it was a mistake the moment he said it.

Tauriel looked him in the eye "Why can't I do both?" Then turning to me she said, "I'll be back, would you be kind enough to start a fire?"

I'll admit I was feeling a bit sorry for myself. Feeling my job had been stolen, so I readily accepted the task. After the fire was ready Tauriel soon came back carrying some fowls and a sack full of red berries.

"Are those-" I began, gesturing to the fruit.

"Chrimastan? Yes, but we Silvan Elves call them "Sugar Rubies".

"Are they any good?"

She handed me one and said, "Yes, try one. They are known for their sweetness."

I popped it in my mouth and instantly It tasted like nothing but pure sugar. I nodded enthusiastically. She smiled and said,

"Those berries will be melted over the warm fowls, like a glaze or even a sauce. It is a well known dish in Mirkwood."

"I'm impressed."

I left her to cook lunch. Not sure what to do with this free time, I sat with my fellow hobbits and we talked of the days of the Shire.

Before long, a dirty smell encamped the camp. We sniffed the air and I noticed Tauriel waving both hands over the roasting birds.

"Is it the fowls?" I called to her.

"You can say that again." Merry said holding his nose.

I sighed, ignoring the comment and walked over to help Tauriel. She simply shooed me away, insisting she
had it all under control. After a while Tauriel called us all over.

"Interesting smell." Remarked Boromir.

We took our first bite and chewed slowly.

"Very sweet" Frodo said.

"Hmm, tastes like chicken." Pippin commented.

"You mean burned chicken, it is a bit over cooked. If it weren't for the berries the fowls would taste dry and well- "

"Foul?" Gandalf finished.

Tauriel smiled and nodded.

"I like it! A meal fit for the King under the mountain." Gimli said proudly.

"It was a good try" Aragorn said kindly.

Legolas cleared his throat and we turned to listen to what he had to say.

"Tauriel can both fight and cook, she just can not cook well."

Tauriel gave him a hard look but Gimli said, "Never a better elf than one who accepts a challenge as she."

Merry and Pippin nodded enthusiastically while finishing off the meal. Legolas said nothing.

"Perhaps with more practice, we shall have a new cook." Gandalf said.

I must have looked startled at the very thought of losing my cooking job forever, because Tauriel laughed and said, "I'll stick to the fighting."

After lunch we packed up and left. Hoping to stop that night halfway to the Iron Hills. Traveling through unknown lands to all but Gimli, the company did not feel comfortable traveling after dark. 

The air suddenly grew cold and the sky fell dark.

"Perhaps it is time to stop." Boromir stated.

Aragorn built a roaring fire and the group settled down to sleep. We had traveled further that day than any yet and we eagerly craved to lay down and sleep.

Maybe the night was too quiet or the ground too hard but something woke me that night. I slowly opened my eyes, adjusting to the complete darkness around me. Behind me I heard the crackling of the warm fire.

"I've never been more disappointed in my father than today." Legolas said.

I'm not one to drop any eaves but I could not help but overhear what came next.

Tauriel said back, "He wanted to punish someone. So he lashed out at the easiest prey."

"How was it you came by all of the weapons? It all seemed a bit too-"

"Easy?" Tauriel finished.

There was a silence then she continued.  

"It was planned. The king laid the weapons to my charge. He told me he knew they had his ring and the only way to get it back was for them to escape. He had me help them escape and he is expecting me to come back with his ring."

Although I could not see,  I heard Legolas stand in frustration. "So it was all trick? And you had me help you?"

"The trick is on him. I had and still have no intention of ever returning. I knew from the start none of you stole the king's ring."

"So what is the real reason you came with us."

"I-needed to get out, I needed a change of scenery. I-"

"Still not over that dwarf?"

In a sad tone Tauriel replied, "To forget him, would be to forget my own name."

I feel back asleep shortly after that. 

A/N

Very interesting chapter. And no I'm not making Pippin or Legolas male chauvinists. Pippin asked out of innocents and Legolas only thinks of Tauriel as a fighter. And we may never know but I'm sure before Sam was listening, Legolas may have apologized for earlier.