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.