Tauriel awoke leaning up against the trunk of a tree. For a moment she feared that last night had only been a dream.

"Good morning, I hope that you slept well."
Legolas appeared from behind another tree carrying two freshly caught fish.

"I did thank you."
Tauriel stretched and stood up. "Where did you get the fish?"

"There is a stream not too far from here. I also started a fire before I left and filled my waterskin."

Legolas knelt beside the fire he had made and retrieved his hunting knife.

"I have to thank Feren for placing one in the horse's saddle. Or else we would have no way to store water."

While Legolas cleaned the fish Tauriel wandered around the small wooded area where they had camped for the night.

She barely remembered anything about their ride, only that neither of them spoke until they found the trees.

Tauriel had fallen asleep the moment she was on solid ground. Legolas had tended to the horse first, removing its saddle and bridle so that it could be comfortable during the night.

Tauriel still couldn't believe that she was actually there, with the one she loved more than her own life.

And now she knew that Legolas felt the same way towards her. He would go where she went and she would never leave his side.

Tauriel noticed a small bush covered with berries. After inspecting them closely she realized that they were blue berries.

Thank Yavanna! These will go perfectly with the fish.

She picked as many as she could carry and brought them back to the camp.

Legolas was almost finished cooking the fish by the time Tauriel returned.

"I found something for you."
Tauriel showed him the berries she had gathered.
Legolas smiled as he took four of the berries and tossed them all into his mouth.

"I did not know that you enjoyed blue berries so much."
Tauriel arched her eyebrow while Legolas laughed.

"If I have one weakness Tauriel, it is blue berries."
Tauriel rolled her eyes as Legolas grabbed three more from her hands.

"Are the fish done?"
Legolas inspected them and nodded.
He took them off of the fire and Tauriel divided the berries between them.

Even though she knew that Legolas took extra when he thought she wasn't looking.

Once they had eaten Legolas threw sand over the fire and while Tauriel went to collect more berries.

They didn't know how long they would be traveling and they would need something to keep their hunger at bay.

Of course, they didn't really need to worry about going hungry, but Tauriel knew that Legolas would appreciate the berries.

A loud blast of a horn caused Tauriel to drop all the berries she had picked.

What was that?

She was about to call for Legolas when he suddenly appeared at her side.

"Legolas, what kind of horn is that?"
"An orc horn."
Legolas replied grimly.

His eyes were narrowed and his body was tense and alert.
"Follow me."
Legolas led her to a large tree and they began climbing.

Once they reached the tallest branch they looked out on a massive, black sea of orcs.
Tauriel's eyes widened in horror as she watched them march west.

They are going to Dale....

At the head of the army was Bolg and Tauriel could see Legolas tense when he saw him.

That was the orc that had injured Legolas. Tauriel grabbed Legolas' hand to comfort him and he gripped it back.

The army continued to march by, never noticing the two elves that watched from the trees.

"Legolas, they are going to Dale."
Tauriel searched Legolas' gaze for any sign of concern but found none.

"We have to go back, we have to warn them!"
Legolas still didn't respond.
"Your father is there Legolas! Do you want him to die?"

Legolas finally looked at her. Tauriel could see the usual battle that waged in his mind as he fought to make a decicion.

Should they go back? Or keep going on there way?

"I will ride back and warn them. You will stay here until I return."
Legolas began to climb down but Tauriel grabbed his arm.

"I will not let you go alone. I'm coming with you."
"No Tauriel. You are staying here."
"I'm not leaving you Legolas. Where you go I will go. Even if it leads to death."

Legolas was once again fighting to make a decision.
Sighing he continued down the tree without another word.

"Legolas? Legolas!"
She followed after him and had to run to keep up with his long strides.

"If you are going then you are staying with me."
Legolas said mounting the horse.
"And if the orcs manage to get there before us than I am not allowing you to enter any fighting."

Tauriel mounted behind him and put her arms around his waist.
Legolas didn't wait for her to respond as he kicked the horse into a run.

He feared that they would be too late to warn anyone.

They rode without rest until they reached Dale, only to find that they were too late.

The battle had already begun.

»»»»

Tauriel's eyes widened in horror as she took in the battle that raged before them.

Elves, men, and dwarves were all fighting for their lives. Azog's army had arrived from the north, cutting off any chance of escape to the west.

And Bolg would be bringing his army from the east, trapping everyone until they were all killed.

"Tauriel, take out your bow. Shoot any orcs that come near
us."

Tauriel did as she was told, thankful that she still had her quiver filled with arrows. Legolas had his bow but had lost his arrows during Smaug's attack.

"My father just entered the city. If we hurry we can reach him before Bolg arrives."

Tauriel nodded and nocked an arrow into the bowstring, she gripped the sides of the horse with her knees as Legolas kicked it into a run.

Tauriel fired at the head of one orc, retrieved another arrow, and fired again.

Once they neared the city Legolas drew Orcrist and hacked off the heads of every orc they passed, trusting that the horse would know where to go.

They fought their way into the city, killing orcs and searching for anyone they could warn about the oncoming army.

Once they rode into a place where the orcs hadn't reached Legolas sheethed Orcrist and Tauriel put away her bow.

Legolas finally caught sight of someone whom he knew would listen to him.

"Gandalf!"
He called as he rode up to him.
The wizard turned towards the voice and smiled in relief.
"Legolas Greenleaf!"

Legolas dismounted and ran up to him.
"There is another army, Bolg leads a force from the east."
Gandalf's face fell at his news.
"This was their plan all along."

Gandalf turned away from Legolas and set his gaze on Ravenhill.

"Azog comes in from the north, and Bolg arrives to trap and slaughter us all. Even if Azog is slain Bolg can still lead the orc armies."

"We have to warn Thorin!"
Legolas stifened as the familiar presence of the ring once again creeped into his mind.

Not now, oh Elbereth please not now.

The halfling was here, and he still had that cursed ring!

Legolas ignored everything else as he focused on getting as far away from that ring.

He stumbled blindly as the voice inside his head continued to try and lull him towards the ring.

Just take it Legolas, you could save everyone. All the orcs would flee before you. You would be a hero, and then you could be with the one you love for eternity.

Legolas gasped as he fell onto the stone streets.
He saw an image of himself fighting orcs, and Tauriel....

She was surrounded, she was calling for him, she needed him...

You could save her if you took the ring, you could prevent this from happening.

"No..."

What about your father? Don't you want to save him too? Or do you want him to die like your brother?

"No!"

You could bring them back, your mother and brother, you could all be together again. Isn't that what you want?

Legolas clasped his hands over his ears. His eyes were screwed shut as he fought to get rid of the voice.

Why did he ever put on that acursed ring?

No one noticed the war he raged within himself, and as he began to slip into insanity one thing kept him holding on.

Tauriel....

»»»»

G

andalf sighed in relief when he found Thranduil in the middle of the city.

"My Lord Thranduil! Dispatch this force to Ravenhill. There is another army coming from the east, Thorin must be warned!"

"Then by all means warn him."
Came Thranduil's cold reply.
"I have spent enough elven blood in defense of these acursed
lands."

Thranduil strode forward, leading his elves away. He ignored Gandalf's pleas for help.

He didn't care what happened to the dwarves, all that mattered to him was getting his people to safety.

Thranduil swung his sword across the chest of an orc who had been about to leap at him from behind a building.

Thranduil didn't pause for a moment at he kept walking. Only to be stopped by the last person imaginable.

"You will go no further!"
Tauriel stood between Thranduil and his escape.
"You will not run away, not this time."

"Get out of my way."
Thranduil's voice was low, dangerous. Tauriel could see him gripping the hilt of his sword but she would not move.

"If you leave the men and dwarves will be slaughtered!"
Tauriel was desperate to make him understand.

But it was no use.
"Yes they will die."
Thranduil didn't care about how heartless he sounded. Just as he didn't care about dead dwarves and men.

"Today, tomorow, years from now. What does it matter? They are mortal."

Tauriel couldn't stand it any longer. All of her rage, all of her anger towards Thranduil exploded as she pulled out her bow and aimed an arrow straight at Thranduil's face.

"You think your life is worth more than theirs, when there is no love in it."

She gripped her bow tighter as she prepared to release the arrow.

"There is no love in you."
Thranduil looked down at his sword, for a brief moment it seemed as if he was moved by Tauriel's words.

Suddenly he swung his sword, slicing it across Tauriel's bow and cutting it in half.

The pieces fell from her hands and onto the cold, stone ground. Legolas had given her that bow, it had meant so much to her.

The tip of Thranduil's sword pressing against her neck only added to the pain she was feeling.

But the bite of the sword's steel was nothing compared to Thranduil's words.

"What do you know about love? Nothing! What you feel is not real. Do you think it is real?"

Thranduil prepared to drive the sword deeper into Tauriel's neck. "Are you willing to die for it?"
Another sword was placed on Thranduil's, forcing it away from Tauriel.

"If you harm her then you will have kill me."
Legolas stood between his father and Tauriel, his sword still drawn as his eyes burned into his father's.

Tauriel relaized that Legolas had just answered his father's question, he was willing to die for his love.

He was willing to die for her, even at the hand of his own father.

Thranduil realized it too, and he bacame mortified as he realzied what he had been about to do.

Thranduil lowered his sword and refused to meet his son's gaze. Legolas, still holding Orcrist, turned towards Tauriel.

"Tauriel..."
There was something in his eyes, something that he wanted so desperately to tell her, but didn't have the time to.

Instead he took her hand and said, "I will go with you."
Tauriel nodded and they turned to leave.

"Legolas!"
Both stopped as Thranduil called his son's name.
"If you go you will find nothing but death."

Legolas faced his father, surprised to see the fear that had flooded his usually cold gaze.

"Come back with me, please. I cannot lose you too."
Legolas hesitated as Tauriel said his name, "Legolas?"

He stood between his father and the one he loved. This was it, the time had come for him to choose. Everytime he had been forced to choose between Tauriel and his father he had always chosen Tauriel.

But his father had never been there when he had made his decision, he was now.

If he went with Tauriel he could never return home again. He would live with her in exile, leaving his father behind.

If he went with his father, he would be able to remain with his people, but never see Tauriel again.

Legolas turned away from his father and grabbed Tauriel's hand. He led her out of the city and away from his father.

Thranduil didn't call for him, he had already known what his son would choose.

"Were you not warned of what your fear would bring?"
Gandalf stepped out from between two buildings and approached the elvenking.
"Could you not see what your anger and isolation would bring to you? Now you have driven the only family you have left away, possibly forever."

Thranduil couldn't meet the wizard's gaze. He had been warned but he had ignored the warnings.

And now his son, who meant more to him than he would ever know, was gone.

"What do I do now Mithrandir?"
Gandalf narrowed his eyes.
"You already know what you have to do."

»»»»

Legolas and Tauriel ran as fast and as quietly as they could to Ravenhill, going on foot would allow them move with more stealth than riding.

But their swift and cautios approach did not go unnoticed by one of the bats Azog used as scouts.

The creature flew from its perch on the small mountain and flew to the far side of the battlefield where Bolg was fighting.

The bats used for scouting were far more intelligent than the ones used for fighting. They could understand the black speech their master's spoke and could speek it back.

That was how the bat had known to watch for the elvenking's son and bring any news of his whereabouts to Bolg.

His master was fighting near Dale when the bat flew overhead, screeching its news to Bolg.

The monstrous orc grinned as he heard the news. The prince was walking right into a trap.

Leaving the fight without a second thought Bolg sped his warg to Ravenhill.

Soon the elf would be his....

»»»»

Legolas and Tauriel found Thorin, Fili, and Kili fighting for their lives in the middle of a frozen river.

Legolas took out his bow and and nocked an arrow into the bowstring. Tauriel had given him her quiver since her bow had been broken.

She had her knives out and ran to join the battle. Legolas covered her and the dwarves from his spot on the rocks overlooking the river.

He jumped into the fight once the number of orcs lessened. Thorin was more surprised than his nephews at the sudden arrival of the elves, especially the king's son.

He had no time to figure out why they were there as he focused on killing the orcs. Fili was relieved at the sight of the two elves while Kili reminded him that he needed to keep fighting.

Together the three dwarves and two elves managed to hold off all of the orcs that came at them.

Legolas switched to fighting with Orcrist when more orcs began surrounding him.

They seemed more intent on fighting him than anyone else. And that realization made him uneasy.

Meanwhile Tauriel was getting cut off from the others, she was being forced backwards towards the other side of the frozen river.

She tried to call out for help but couldn't get an opportunity to.
An orc archer was hidden in the rocks on the opposite side of the river, he drew back his arrow and aimed it at Tauriel.

The arrow flew through the air and headed for its target, which it would have hit if someone hadn't gotten in the way.

"Fili!"
Kili screamed as the black feathered arrow stuck out of his side.
"I'm fine! Keep fighting!"

Tauriel watched in horror as orcs began surrounding the injured dwarf. She tried to fight her way towards him but it was impossible.

He had promised to pay her back, but she would have never wanted him to do it like this!

Legolas had noticed what had happened and was trying to get over to help.

He saw that Thorin was struggling with a fairly large orc who was about to overpower him.

Without giving it a second thought Legolas threw Orcrist into the orc's chest. The creature fell dead at Thorin's feet.

The dwarf glanced his way in surprise but Legolas was already moving past him.

He drew his knives and began hacking away at every orc in his way.

He had just seen Tauriel get forced off the edge of the rocks that covered the other side of the river, and more orcs were headed towards her.

»»»»

Tauriel was now fighting for her life. She had been forced off the rocks and had fallen, then had barely had enough time to get back to her feet and defend herself from the oncoming orcs.

She kept calling desperately for Legolas but knew that he was probably surrounded himself.

Why had she made him come? If anything happened to him-
Tauriel paused, all the orcs that had surrounded her were gone.

Leaving only the ones she had slain laying at her feet.
Where had they gone?

Something slammed into her side, knocking her against the rocks and forcing her to drop her knives.

Bolg.

The orc grabbed her by the neck and lifted her into the air. She struggled in vain to free herself from his grasp as he squeezed her neck tighter.

Legolas!

Suddenly Bolg threw her onto the ground. He roared as an arrow struck him in the shoulder.

Legolas leapt off the rocks and fired another arrow at Bolg, which he deflected with his sword.

Legolas rolled onto the ground and switched to his knives. Blinded by fury and rage he attacked Bolg without mercy.

Tauriel watched as she fought to bring air back into her lungs. She needed to find her knives, she had to help Legolas.

An agonized cry came from Legolas as Bolg grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed his back against the rocks.

Legolas kicked out at the orc's stomach but it did nothing as Bolg prepared to stab him in the shoulder.

Tauriel shouted in rage and leapt onto Bolg's back, wrapping her arms around his neck and forcing him to release Legolas.

Bolg grabbed Tauriel and flung her onto the ground, knocking the wind out of her and sending and explosion of pain into her head.

The orc grabbed her by neck once again and lifted her up. Tauriel's eyes widened in fear as he turned his gaze towards Legolas.

The elf's eyes were filled with horror as he ran forward, only to skid to a stop as Bolg thrust his sword forward.

Right into Tauriel's stomach.