starlightfaraway | ic ❧ open post.

Thorin wasn't sure what to make of Kili's news about being in love with an elf maid. He'd always had a soft spot for that particular one and Fili was the one he'd appointed to be king in his place.

His dislike and distrust of elves ran deep, ever since the day the dwarves had been abandoned. And even though he'd turned down Thranduil's offer of peace some time ago it didn't matter because he still felt justified and satisfied with his decision.

But now that he was trying to figure other things out, Kili went and threw this at him. Fili hadn't failed to mention that the elf maid had saved Kili's life as well so that debt had yet to be settled now too.

Rather than waste more time on this matter, Thorin was encouraged by the burglar and a certain wizard to say thank you to her at the very least. The brothers had told him what the elf maid looked like and her name and whereabouts she could be found. So now it was up to him to try to figure out what to say or how to say it.

Tauriel found herself in a new world after Erebor was reclaimed. She had been banished by her king, and she was bound to respect those wishes. There was no place for her in Laketown or the world of Men. As much as Kili insisted, Tauriel knew there was no place for her under the mountain. Wood-Elves needed to see the stars and the fresh air. Mountains were no place for them. Also, there was the fact that Elves and Dwarves were not friends. King Thorin would not appreciate an elf living in his kingdom. It was a decision that she respected.

Now the young elf simply found herself at camps between Laketown and The Lonely Mountain. Perhaps one day she would move onto new lands and explore Middle-Earth. It was possible she could find a place within the realms of other Elves, but, if they would accept a banished one into their society would be another thing. For now she sat at her camp and stared up at the evening sky.

Rather than attempt to make the elf maid any more uncomfortable was the reason Thorin sought her out. King of the mountain he might be, but where he'd heard the camp was, wasn't far from the Lonely Mountain. So he avoided as many as he could.

It intrigued him as to why she wasn't with her kin but seeing Thranduil was not on Thorin's list of things to do exactly either. Kili didn't accompany him because it was to be a short meeting though along the way, Thorin wondered what the two had planned, or if they planned to be together. It was a preposterous thought somehow but then again he himself had fallen for a halfling. And not all elves were bad either since he'd found out later that Thranduil's son Legolas had helped kill off orcs, coming to their aid.

Of course being a dwarf Thorin had no wish to sneak up on anyone so he announced his presence as well as he could by making enough noise. Then he stood back and waited.

Her head tilted slightly at the sound of the heavy boots on the ground. Dwarves had a way of walking that demanded the attention of those around them. But, they were not Kili's footsteps either. Tauriel turned her head fully to look at the dwarf that had seemingly gone out of his way to the wilds. King Thorin was not whom she expected to see.

She gracefully pushed herself to stand as she regarded the king. Then, she bowed her head slightly in reverence. Even if she remained banished from her kin? There had to be something done to maintain good standings between the kingdoms.

"King Thorin." Tauriel said. "I did not expect to see you so far from Erebor."

He noted the politeness and appreciated the respect he was being shown. Such a courtesy wasn't something he expected to receive, but then again he was completely guilty of expecting the worst from elves, even after Legolas had helped save him and his men along the river and at the fateful events of the war.

"I understand there's a matter to debt to settle in between us. It concerns my nephew Kili. As I understand it, he has feelings for you."

And Thorin had no idea how he was going to exactly do this, but he would try. At first Thorin had scoffed but Master Baggins just had that effect on him he supposed.

Tauriel was an odd elf to be certain. She earned for the world and the adventures it had. The elves did not see such need after their age had started to come to an end. Yet, even with that freedom she found herself with? Tauriel was not sure where to go first.

That was not something she was expecting to hear from the King Under The Mountain.

"Yes... he does." Tauriel said hesitantly. "I assure you that it mutual. If he should be seen in bad light because of it? Then, please, see me in that same way."

Thorin lacked tact and he knew that. This was why Balin was a trusted advisor and go to concerning matters that he himself wasn't good at. But neither Balin nor Bilbo were here to assist him, he only had their wise words of counsel. So he shook his head, wondering why she seemed to want to defend him suddenly, but then Bilbo's face came to mind and he immediately silently understood.

"He isn't being seen in an ill light. But what do you plan to make of it?" It wasn't the easiest way to put this but for the life of him, Thorin had no idea what to say. He had to know the other's intentions for Kili was bent on defending her and had worried a lot about how Thorin would handle this.

At the shake of his head Tauriel swallowed. She flexed her hands at her side before squaring her shoulders. It was an odd circumstance she found herself in so suddenly. There was no need to defend herself or Kili from King Thorin, and yet she found herself doing so. There was little love between Elf and Dwarf now. Perhaps that was the reason why.

"To make of my feelings for him?" Tauriel questioned. How could she put it in a way for another to understand? "I suppose the best way to put it into words is that I find that we both wish to walk in a place of light. I have defended him in battle and I would surely do so again."

There was a festival that Kili spoke so fondly of that he wished her to see. She wanted to see it as well.

"Your king won't approve." Of this Thorin was rock solid on. Thranduil had very little use or love for dwarves and of course, Thorin returned the no love sentiment. So he folded his arms across his chest. He was always easier on Kili than on Fili and that was true. But this could seriously complicate things.

"And you have not answered my question. Dwarves are loyal, elves are not." This was meant to antagonize her, but if she thought he was being intimidating or challenging, she had to get past her own king. And Thorin wouldn't allow his nephew anything less than a maid who would fight for him.

Keen eyes looked out over the horizon and then blinkingly up at the sky full of rain. Pulling his hood down over his eyes, Aragorn tried to figure out where he was headed. As a Ranger from the North he was very well traveled but he hadn't been absolutely everywhere there was to go on Middle Earth.

Shelter from the elements was his most pressing thought so he pulled his bag up a little higher to readjust the weight. Once shelter was found then he would worry about starting a fire and hunting for food.

Looking around once more, the ranger saw some caverns a small distance ahead so he would take shelter there. Aragorn even saw a small stream near it. Still, knowing that he might have unexpected company, he would be ready to fight if needs be.

It was a thought that the Silvan Elf had as well. She had taken to the cavern as she saw the clouds in the distance. For now, she was unsure of where she was heading. Mirkwood was no longer home and the Lonely Mountain would pass into the remaining Dwarves. Laketown would be no home either. It left her with only one option: explore the world.

The elf raised her head as she heard the sound of approaching feet. She knelt down and pulled her daggers out. It was too dark to strike with her bow. Perhaps the approaching personage would be friendly. There were few orcs she had run across thus far.

Heading up to the caverns, Aragorn drew his sword, figuring he might come across unfriendly company. Something told him he wasn't alone as he got closer, so he readied his sword.

"I know you're in there so you might as well come out." If the ranger could save his energy without having to fight he most certainly would. But even if he had no idea who or what exactly was in there, at least he would be ready.

A man. That caught her by surprise. There were the rangers that roamed the land, but, she thought they would have stayed together and not apart. Tauriel glanced to the side before pushing herself to stand. She stepped from behind the rocks, spinning the daggers in her hands to show that she would fight if she had to.

As a sign that he wasn't out to hurt her, Aragorn nodded and put the sword away. He hadn't expected to see an elf maiden out here alone, or then again maybe there were others of her kind nearby to come to her aid. And in that case, he certainly wasn't going to try and tangle with her.

His eyes regarded her and he shook his head slowly, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender. "I mean you no harm." And he meant it.

Her eyes went to his sword. As it sheathed she lowered her daggers. Tauriel gave a nod of acceptance to his gesture. He would find no enemy from her unless he wished it so.

"I have never seen a ranger." Tauriel replied in greeting.

Aragorn wasn't sure whether or not to smile and so he didn't though he was relieved he wasn't going to get into a fight. "There's not many of us left it seems." But then again he chose to wander alone most of the time and so he really didn't associate with the other rangers from the North.

"Not this far into Middle-Earth." Tauriel agreed. She walked out from the back of the cave with her head tilting to the side slightly. "What brings you this far East?"

He shrugged lightly. "I have my reasons but not all who wander are lost." And this was why he really wasn't going to get into who he was or why he shouldn't be here.

A long time ago there were seven brothers, who took an Oath for the sake of the father they loved so dearly. That Oath drove them to terrible atrocities, and for that they were Exile and Accursed, and their names are a byword for terror. Yet, those who fought under their banners remember also their loyalty, their love, their strength of will, their might of arms. Their grief... and their mounting madness. The way desperation gave way to cruelty, and cruelty to malice. One by one, the brothers fell, and in the end only one was left. What happened to that one no one knows, for he vanished out of song and tale, and only the wild things know where he went.

Time passed, and a new Age began, and the tale of the brothers is a whispered story in the night, half-forgotten but never wholly. And the Woodland King raises an ellith with hair as red as flame, and the older elves murmur of that that hair has only be seen in one line, and wonder. War comes to the Lonely Mountain... and that that ellith makes a mistake. One slip. But that is all that is ever needed. And down by the Sea, a lonely minstrel lifts his head and sighs, and turns his steps inland to seek the last of his family. Duty is a harsh thing, but there are places he needs to be.

And the song of the birds carries the news that the last son of Feanor walks, and seeks an ellith with his mother's famous hair.

It had been an accident. There was no ill intent or thought that had gone into her actions. Instincts had kicked in as she saw the blade stretch to her face. There was no reason why the Elvenking would have killed her. Logically that was what her mind knew. Her body had moved on the reflex to fight back. In one fell movement the arrow sung through the short distance and plunged itself into the Elvenking's head. Tauriel stood horrified as her king fell before her and all eyes of the Elven host stared at her. She had already been banished. Perhaps she could have returned home one day, but now there was no such option. Kinslaying was an act of evil - accidental or not. She could not deny that it had happened or that she had done it. The guilt would stay a constant companion.

The battle ended and at the end two important people lay dead around her. Her king - her father - and the man that she could have truly fallen in love with. No Dwarf, Elf or Man would have taken her in. With the silent goodbye to the fallen ones, Tauriel ran. She ran into the wilderness to not be heard of again. Legolas could do nothing for her and no other Elven lands would accept a kinslayer.

Day by day she felt pieces of her fall away. They were fragile creatures. Guilt and a broken heart ate at the once member of the guard. She could find the strength in her some days to move, but most she merely sat where she found herself. The day that the son of Feanor found her was one of the days where it felt as if all the strength in her body had been stolen from her.

Maglor follows the wind and the birds inland, eyes walking half in the Song and not in the physical world at all (It is dangerous, his teachers of long ago warned, to loose yourself in the Music so, but Maglor is long past the point of caring). Why the last of the Feanorionnath has not Faded only Maglor could tell you, and he does not know himself. He stayed away from the camps of the elves, stayed away from those who might have claimed him family, and yet he did not die. And he does still have family, scattered and sparse though they are. Curufin had a son, and everyone knows that story, how Celebrimbor's pride and wish to surpass his father brought about his downfall. But who now remembers that there were two others of the brothers who were wed - Caranthir, and Maglor himself. Maglor's wife is dead, slain by his own hand in Alqualonde, a mistake he can never atone for. He had children, too, and he left them in Valinor, unable to bear to face them, knowing that he had slain their mother, and wishing to spare them the family curse. What he did not know was that when the Hosts of the Valar sailed to Middle-earth led by his uncle, his children came with them. How would he know, after all? The Feanorionnath fought on the side of the Valar but never with them, their hosts never overlapped. And when the fleets sailed back without the Silmarilli, Maglor's children stayed behind to look for their father.

They never did find him. But his son married a Sindar girl with dark chestnut hair, and their daughter had hair the same colour of flame as her great-great-grandmother. They were slain, the child left parentless at the borders of Mirkwood, and unknowing of her heritage, the Woodland King raised her. By the time Maglor learnt what had happened, he knew better than to come and claim her. What life could he offer her, after all? Better than she stay safe and far away. But the family curse, it seems, is not so eager to let their family go.

He comes upon her curled on herself, and hesitates briefly before coming to kneel before her.

"Oh child. I am so sorry."

The beauty of the world seemed to have faded away. She had once been excited and impatient to see the world beyond the borders of Mirkwood. The starlight was as far as she could reach, and in the few dreams of her life, Tauriel had walked among them. Reality always seemed to find her. Now it seemed as if she were living a waking nightmare that was impossible to wake from. Her mistake had tainted her. She could feel the blood on her hands and on her heart. It felt suffocating and it crawled over her skin. How was she truly better than the orcs and spiders of evil that she had slaughtered in the name of protecting her King?

His soft voice was what stirred her from her inner thoughts. Her eyes darted up, suddenly alert and she kicked away from him. Her hands reached for her bow and arrow. In a quick movement they were pointed at the mysterious elf. The hands that were once steady shook slightly, knowing that not just a weapon lay in her hands. Tauriel knew she could not kill him. But, she had to defend herself.

"One step closer and it will be your last." Tauriel bluffed.

Edited 2015-01-20 04:59 (UTC)

He looks up at her and does not move, quiet and calm as a deep lake (dangerous, her instincts would tell her, but he keeps his hands where she can see them and does not move except to look at her with dark grey eyes).

"I do not think so, forest child. Those hands of yours have seen enough already hm? Put down your bow."

His voice is calm and gentle, and music sings underneath it.

Her lip quivers at the sound of his voice. He speaks in such a melodic tone that she feels unworthy to hear. Tauriel closes her eyes and lowers the bow. Who is he to show her such kindness after what she has done? A part of her heart lifts at the idea that perhaps someone would not be so disgusted by what she has done. Mercy and companionship are far too much for her to ask for of the world, but it is what she wants nonetheless.

"You should not waste your time on me." She says softly. "I doubt your kin would see highly of you afterwards."

"There now." Gently he takes it from her hands.

"Ah forest child. Can you not guess who I am? I have no kin left to care, and I am myself long forsaken."

Tauriel's eyebrows lift. She could guess at the tales she heard as a child of the First Age and the horrors that came from it. Yet, she is afraid to. Something about who he is makes her fearful of knowing who she is.

"No. I cannot." Tauriel says--although the words sound more like I will not.

"Can you not?" He murmurs softly, sitting back on his heels and watching her with Treelight in his eyes, the star-of-feanor glinting coldly on his breast.

"Well. Shall I tell you a story then?" His voice drops to the lilt of the story teller, and his eyes never leave hers. "Once, there were seven brothers, who for love of their father swore an oath most terrible. Abandoning everything they loved saving only each other, they left their home and went to war. One by one, they fell to madness and despair, and in the end only one was left. He passed out of song and tale and no one knows where he went, or what became of him."

Her face softens as her expression becomes one of awe. It is a story that all children know. The sons and brothers of Fëanor who sought the gems of starlight. What happened to them has never been fully known, as his story says. Tauriel may be young but she is not naive. The meaning behind his words is not lost on her.

"Except you know." Tauriel shifts enough to face him fully. "What became of him when he fell so far from the rest of his kin?"

The question holds many meanings. She wants to know what has happened to him, as it is obvious now who he is. She wants to know what will become of her after her own deeds.

"He wandered." Maglor says softly. "He kept himself away from all good folk lest his curse follow him. He went mad, they say, but he could never escape himself. So... one day he decided... that he would, at least, make sure no one ever forgot. So he started singing again - his grief, his regret, his loneliness, his pain. He sang them to the wind and the waves, and the fishermen heard him and carried his songs inland, and he knew that no one would ever forget. He wandered, and he came inland, seeking the family that he had left. He watched them and he sang for them, also, and did what he could to keep them safe from a distance. He knew... there was no forgiveness. But perhaps... he could keep them safe. And it would be enough, to know that somewhere, there were those who could still smile."

Her gaze remains soft as he continues. A protector from afar. Can she perhaps due the same? Can she fight evil and try to atone for what she has done? Perhaps there will be no forgiveness. It is a sin, a tarnish on her soul that will mark her forever.

Tauriel exhales slowly, letting her shoulders sink and her guard lower. He is no threat. If he meant her harm then that would have been done before his tale even began.

"I do not suppose this wanderer would again like the company of another." She speaks with such assurance and presence in her voice, but underneath is the understanding of rejection. His songs and tales had kept him company for so many years. Why tarnish what is left of him with another who bears the same sin?

He smiles for her then, the sun peeking out from behind the clouds, and he reaches with a hand (so very scarred) to brush a strand of hair from her face.

"I would never refuse my granddaughter."

His hand feels so gentle against her skin. Thranduil had always been so kind to her. She had repaid it with such betrayal. How does she deserve such kindness? Especially from her own family?

Still, a smile touches her face despite the tears in her eyes. "I would offer my bow in service... if it had not been disgraced."

"It has not" He says firmly. "I heard the tales. I listened to the stories. You struck in fear - an accident, a slip - not in anger or for an Oath too terrible to be foresworn."

Gently, he wipes the tears from her cheeks an presses a kiss to her brow.

"But if my grieving granddaughter thinks that to wander with her broken grandfather would ease her pain, then he would welcome her, with open arms."

Tauriel's gaze falls as he spoke. "The reasoning does not change how the outcome is seen, Grandfather." The word is so odd to say, but it also feels so natural to say.

She raises a hand to her face to brush the other tears from her face as he kisses her brow. "I have nowhere else to go."

"Maybe not" He agrees. "But those who love you know the difference. And you grieve him, hm? Who was as a father to you. Such an error is a terrible blow, but no stain, I think, lies on you."

He tugs her to her feet. "Not quite - you could Sail, you know. I am sure your parents would wish to see you again. And if you want to beg forgiveness of Thranduil, it is the only place you will be able to do so. The Elvenking would grieve if you do so without telling him, I am sure, but you need not Sail now. That door will always be open to you."

Her head tilts to the side as she listens to him speak. Even if he is true in what he says? Tauriel feels as if there is a stain on her soul. Perhaps it is because of her grief, or the apparent family history now at her feet, but whatever the reason? She feels heavier than she ever has.

Tauriel raises to her feet gracefully as any other elf. She tilts her head back and squares her shoulders to look at the elder elf evenly. "They would let me sail despite the Elvenking that is dead because of me?"

She thought that it was a chance that was taken from her the moment her arrow sang through the air.

"They would let you Sail." Maglor says gently, "Because you acted out of fear, through the impulse trained in you by long years of war, unknowing, and without malice. Thranduil himself would likely say the same."

He shrugs a little. "The exile was laid on me, and not you. I see no reason why the way would be barred. Besides. You are wounded sore, granddaughter, and where else does healing lie by in Aman the Blessed?"

Doubt settles into her heart about what Thranduil would say. Her king had been so against war and standing with the Men of Laketown and the Dwarves of Erebor. How could he understand that what she had done was not of malice? She defied him, broke her oaths, and ran out to her own. There was little reason for Thranduil to believe in anything when it came to her now.

"Some would say that time heals wounds." Tauriel replies with her eyebrows perked. "Or, that traveling and learning of a world much larger than yourself could provide the understanding to healing wounds."

Not that she truly has any knowledge of that either way.

"Time, it is true, heals many things" Maglor shrugs a little. "But there are things that go so deep that there is no healing them, not with time or all the beauties of this world. And this world is still very beautiful, granddaughter. And though in all lands, love is now mingled with pain, it does not grow any less so, I think."

He smiles at her. "I will let my granddaughter decide - if you Sail or if you stay, I will come as far with you as I can."

( ooc; so a really quick thing on kahlan and her powers and what not, imma try not to tldr this. she's a confessor, they're a group of women who were created by a wizard as a ways to get the truth without any doubt. the touch of a confessor destroys a person's free will, and they commit their lives to the confessor - and also tell the truth (this is sometimes used as punishment, kahlan also sometimes uses it while fighting because then yeah more allies... sort of! except the bad thing is the confessor becomes weak after using said power and needs to recover. the confessor's magic is supposed to come from love (since they do what they do in the name of justice, and they pretty much can't go around confessing people all willy nilly), but the more powerful ones have one that comes from vengeance and hate called con dar aka blood rage. basically they can confess multiple people without touching them and what not... kahlan hasn't been taught this/doesn't even know about it so when it happens on the tv show she basically goes bat shit.

SO MUCH FOR NO TLDR. ummm so yeah. au CAUSE YAY. maybe there are confessors in tolkien land (not many though, maybe they're being killed off) and kahlan is staying with the elves right now for reasons? IDK. I'M JUST GOING TO SHUT UP RIGHT NOW AND WRITE A THING. )

---

Sometimes Kahlan couldn't help but wonder about her presence in Mirkwood. She could tell that some of the elves did not approve of her being there - some saw her as a human, a trespasser who was not to be trusted. Had it not been for the fact the first confessors had been created by a great wizard, and the wizards to this day still insisted on the importance of the confessors she doubted she would be welcome at all. She hadn't been called upon very often for her abilities the last time had been when a group of travelers had gotten lost - she had been asked to see if they were in any way a threat (they weren't).

Most of the time Kahlan would spend her days wandering the city, sometimes she would spend time with the children - but she mostly kept to herself, she just wanted the elves to see that should they need her she was there. Everyone knew what would happen should she touch one of them, there was an unspoken fear on both sides of what could happen.

Something is changing though, Kahlan can feel it in the air. She isn't sure what it is - but something is coming. In her early days with the elves she had wondered what it would be like to leave, now she couldn't help but wonder if she might have to. She was half tempted to go and speak to Thranduil, but there would be little point in that. If there was something coming she doubted he would acknowledge it unless it directly affected the elves. Instead she goes to seek out the red headed Silvan Elf. If anyone would listen to her it would be Tauriel.

Tauriel had been interested in the human woman who spent her days in the city. She had to have come from Laketown, but her instincts told her that was not the case. It was rare for a human to be allowed within the borders of the forest beyond trade, but the recent events of the Lonely Mountain left much in flux. That included her. Tauriel herself was still banished from her place among her kin and her king.

The ginger haired elf turned her eyes to the woman as she approached her. Tauriel tilted her head in greeting towards Kahlan. "You have been unable to sleep again."

ic ❧ open post.

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I promise I do not normally TLDR this much sob

no no TLDR all you want! I'm just so slow :(

/nuzz I am just as slow

We shall be slow sad elves together :c

indeed

/continues the trend, but still here!

/snail tagging go!

/well i was better for a bit

/pats gently

school needs to stop draining me so much. I want to tag!

/makes you plenty of tea

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PICK A VERSE FOR TAURIEL BAE