Tauriel didn't know what she expected of this October morning, patrolling to the south. They had ventured further than they usually did; past the river, past the Mirkwood mountains, and spying in the shadows of Dol Guldur.
An unknown female elf running desperately from half a dozen Orcs was not one of the scenarios she'd deemed plausible. The elf was young and severely weakened and shrieked with almost every breath in panic. Tauriel cursed under her breath and produced her bow. She gave Emerion, her brother, who'd insisted on accompanying her on this trip, a serious look and she was pleased to see that he was bracing himself for battle as well. To her left she felt Minohien, a trusted member of her guard, readying an arrow on the bowstring. For the first time on this trip, she was glad that Emerion was with her; he was a member of the King's Army and no stranger to fighting.

The fleeing girl had eliminated all choice for the small party as her frantic flight was aiming straight for them. Confrontation was suddenly inevitable.

"Go," Tauriel commanded and they simultaneously stood up and fired their bows, immediately taking 3 orcs down. Minohien drew another arrow, while Tauriel and Emerion went for their daggers and swords and jumped at the remaining three orcs.

The fight was hardly a fight at all and none of the three elves were breaking a sweat.

The fleeing girl had been just as surprised at the wood elves' attacked as the orcs had been and in the panic and shock she'd collapsed and curled herself into a ball and continued to scream with every breath, even though her voice severely damaged from the strain and thus hardly producing a sound at all.

Tauriel closed in on the girl, cocking her head, "Half-elf," she corrected herself. She looked back at the two others.

"Pad the orcs down. See if they have anything on them that might prove useful," Tauriel commanded and turned her attention back on the girl, who'd reduced her screaming to a subdued sobbing. Tauriel mounted her bow on her back and kneeled by the girl.

"There, there, little girl," Tauriel attempted, but she found herself at a loss to handle the situation. The girl briefly made eye contact when hearing a language she understood. Tauriel gave her a smile.

"They won't be hurting you anymore," Tauriel assured her, "They are dead now." She gestured the fallen bodies of the orcs. She was please to find that the girl followed her movement and she looked long and hard at the bodies with her eyes wide open, seemingly drinking in the view. To Tauriel, she looked like a wild cornered animal.
The girls sobbing had seized, but Tauriel saw that the she appeared to have trouble breathing still. There was an unpleasant wheezing to her breath that she'd never heard before. The girl was skinny and dirty, wearing rags that barely covered anything at all and Tauriel gathered that she must've been a prisoner of Dol Guldur.

"What is your name, girl?" Tauriel asked. The girl made eye contact again with her wild grey eyes.

"Bellethiel," she answered in her abused voice, just above a whisper.

"An elvish name," Tauriel smiled and gestured her two companions, "This is Emerion and Minohien. I'm Tauriel."

"What are you going to do with the girl?" Emerion asked. Such insubordination she never would have accepted from a member of her guard. She shot him a warning look that silenced him. She turned to Bellethiel again.

"Will you come with us to the elven King's halls so that you can heal?" Tauriel asked, deciding that the girl had had more than enough bullying for one day. To her satisfaction, Bellethiel nodded.
"We would also like to ask you some questions about," Tauriel pointed at the ruins of Dol Guldur that just broke free of the canapé. The girl visibly shuddered, "-but it won't be now. When you are ready."
The girl nodded again. Tauriel smiled, satisfied with the way things were turning out.

However, Emerion didn't look pleased, "-The King has no time for such things. Why are you taking her with us?"
"Dear Brother, you are under my command when you are travelling as a member of the guard and I will tolerate no more of this from you," Tauriel bid, her voice suddenly booming, "-she might have vital intelligence of Dol Guldur. I don't expect the King to bother with her, but perhaps one of his advisors."
"Perhaps Legolas will?" Emerion said with smirk on his lips and a spark in his eyes. Tauriel's anger melted anyway in a instant and she gave him a friendly slap on the shoulder.
"Shut up," she said with a smile, "- you've just won the privilege of carrying Bellethiel. All the way to back home."
Minohien laughed and began leading the way back north.

They'd not travelled 3 hours before they had to stop again. Bellethiel had begun coughing and the difficulty breathing, Tauriel had noticed earlier, had only grown worse. They lay her down on the forest floor and found her even paler than she was earlier and a sheen of sweat covered her forehead.
"Perhaps she's injured," Minohien suggested. Tauriel meticulously examined every part of her body, but aside from a few bruises found nothing.
"She's hot to the touch," Tauriel whispered.
"Fever," Emerion concluded and Tauriel damned their misfortune.
"We should hurry back then," Minohien said, when the others went silent, "-hand her over to Enassiel as soon as possible. I should much prefer not to spend a night out here with spiders and orcs."

Tauriel quickly considered her options. One the one hand, she was concerned that that the girl wouldn't make the journey, especially in an elevated haste. On the other hand, none of them were healers and would not be able to help her, beyond her basic needs of food and water. Also the spiders and what other found things crawled out there should also be taken into consideration. The girl would be a weakness to them if they were confronted.

"We hurry back. Bellethiel will simply have to make it without rest. Minohien, relieve Emerion when he begins feeling tired."

"Yes, captain," he nodded and helped the girl back on Emerions back.

They ran as fast as they could for hours on end. They continued on after the sun set and to make matters worse, it began raining cats and dogs.
Minohien had relieved Emerion of the extra weight of the girls around sunset and they managed to keep up the haste.
They only ran into two spiders on their way, nothing that Tauriel couldn't handle herself in front.

On the borders they were stopped by Legolas and two other members of the guard. Tauriel recognized, but paid them no heed.
"Where have you been, Tauriel?" Legolas asked, concern and anger lacing his speech, "Half the guard has been sent looking for you."
"Half the guard?" Tauriel choked in surprise, "-been sent?! By whom?"
"My father," Legolas answered, cooling down a bit, "-I think he had a premonition."
"We ventured a bit further south than intended," Tauriel explained and gestured the limb girl on Minohiens back, "-found this half-elf fleeing from half a dozen orcs in the shadows of Dol Guldur."
"Half-elf?" Legolas repeated. Half-elves were rare.
"I brought her in for questioning, but she is very weakened and needs healing."
Legolas called one of his followers forward, "-take the girl to Enassiel and hurry. I think I must take you three to my father."

Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm, was pacing the grand hall, his extravagant robes moving around his body as if having a life of their own. He wasn't wearing his crown and his hair flowed freely, occasionally catching the light and shining like the purest white gold. Even by elven standard he was a sight to behold.

Tauriel cocked her head behind Legolas for the second time today; she'd never seen the king pacing. It seemed very much out of character for him. As soon as the king saw them approaching he moved towards them and met them half way – again it seemed out of character.

Legolas only nodded to his father, but Tauriel, Emerion, and Minohien bowed deeply as was expected of them.
"I took them straight to you," Legolas explained and took his place next to the king. Thranduil only gave a slight nod in acknowledgement and then seemed to relax a bit more. He took his time, before he asked his questions and Tauriel felt relieved that she began to recognize her king again.

"Where have you been?" Thranduil asked in his deep voice that filled the halls without effort.
"We were patrolling the south," Tauriel answered without looking him in the eyes.
"How far south?" came the immediate response. Tauriel cleared her throat. She didn't like where this was going.
"South of the mountains, in the shadows of Dol Guldur," she replied. The king took breath in.
"How come? You know that need permission to go that far south."

Emerion moved nervously beside her at this information. Tauriel knew she was in trouble in more ways than one.
"I was following a hunch," Tauriel answered honestly.
"Following a hunch," Thranduil repeated, "-you deem this as a valid excuse to overrule your King's orders."
"No," Tauriel sighed and realized how stupid it sounded, "-it was a feeling that took my entire being. I had to go south. It was my decision. These two weren't aware that we'd travelled beyond our orders."

Her tone was level and settled. She was aware of her offense. Thranduil couldn't decide whether or not this was a good thing. He took his time to study the others and giving himself time to think on how to act. The feeling she described that took her entire being, correlated with a premonition. However, it was rare that such a young elf could feel these things.
Again, it also correlated with his own premonition he experienced earlier today.

"You found someone today, yes?" Thranduil asked, fully expecting a positive answer. Emerion and Minohien exchanged glances.
"Yes," Tauriel answered, "-a half-elf. We suspect she was a captive of Dol Guldur. We brought her here for healing and questioning." Thranduil took the information in slowly, trying to figure out what it meant.

"Emerion. Minohien. You are dismissed," Thranduil interrupted himself and remained silent as the two elves took their leave. His attention turned to Tauriel in full force and she literally felt the weight of his presence, to such an extent that she fell to her knees. She was tired and she didn't fully understand the seriousness of her offence before this moment.

"My King," she breathed, "-I..."
"Captain," Thranduil interrupted her, "-I'm going to believe that you had a premonition. Obviously you had to act on it. However, mine tells us to be wary of this stranger. Tell her nothing and let her see nothing. Let her remain in the halls of healing until she is well enough to be questioned. When she is recovered, send her on her way."

"Yes, yes sir," she stammered and got on feet, her legs trembling.
"I hope you realize that I have to suspend you from active duty," Thranduil continued.
"Of course."
"A month will suffice. You are dismissed," Thranduil ended their conversation. The punishment in a suspension from active duty lay mostly in the public humiliation and was the most lenient verdict she could have hoped for. Tauriel bowed again and left the King and Prince.

Thranduil gazed after the captain's retreated figure and did not move long after she was gone. Legolas studied his father with a mix of concern and curiosity.
"She's much too young to be experiencing premonitions," Legolas pointed out, "-what are you seeing?"
Thranduil turned around and met his sons gaze and Legolas felt the weight that Tauriel suffered just minutes before. The king certainly was in an intense mood tonight.

"The Shadows of Dol Guldur grow long and far reaching," Thranduil spoke and walked past Legolas towards his own quarters.
Legolas could do little but stare at him in puzzlement. He sighed, shook his head, and made his way towards the guards' headquarters to state his father's orders.

Ennassiel walked her last round before she would turn in for the night, silently checking the status of her patients. She absentmindedly pulled her long night blue coat closer around her slight frame. Today had been busy compared to most days; a training exercise had gone wrong and 3 soldier were admitted with complicated fractures and top it all up she'd taking in the strange half-elf Tauriel had brought in.
The girl was strangely weakened by a force she didn't recognize and coughing wetly without there being any obvious injuries to her chest or throat. The fever worried her, but she'd successfully lowered it with tea of the poppy.
What surprised her most this evening was finding the king himself in the room of the half-elf, studying her patient with intent.
"My King," she bowed, "-what brings you to the healing bay this time of night?" He scarcely spared her a glance, but visibly took in breath.
"I'd thought it would have been obvious, but I'm here to see the half-elf," Thranduil answered and even though Enassiel was just shy a millennia older than Thranduil, she was the one, who felt foolish.
"Of course," she limited herself, "- I suppose the actual question I wanted to ask was, why are you here to see the half-elf?"
Thranduil met her gaze briefly, not revealing any emotion behind the grey eyes. She knew she was being a bit more frank that was expected of her, but she was a member of his council and head healer and had been for millennia. She'd earned the privilege, even if she was but of silvan descent.
"The Shadows of Dol Guldur grow long and far reaching," Thranduil repeated. Enassiel didn't understand, but she wasn't sure that he understood either.
"I fear she brings the shadows to our halls," Thranduil continued and let his gaze grow distant. Enassiel felt herself shudder against the sudden cold feeling that ran down her spine. She studied the girl again with new eyes, but found nothing that indicated evil; she was young, scarcely adult, thin and malnourished and pale as the sheets she was lying on. She was plain by elven standards, short and not particularly pretty. Her auburn hair was dull, even lifeless and had clearly been cut with a knife in a rush.
"Sounds ominous," Enassiel whispered, making Thranduil look at her again. He nodded in agreement.
"Are you alright, sir?" she asked, when the King suddenly looked weary. He straightened himself.
"I don't know how Galadriel does it," Thranduil admitted, "-these premonitions..," he disliked the very word, "-are taxing. I don't know what to make of it." Enassiel smiled at the honesty and familiarity the King was allowing himself.
"You are still growing into mysteries of the mind," Enassiel offered, "-surely it'll get clearer in time."
The king sighed, "-I certainly hope so."
He made to leave and Enassiel gave him room.
"Please let me know when she's well enough to be interrogated," he commanded just as he was exiting the room.
"Yes sir," Enassiel bowed and returned her gaze to the slight form in the bed, "-certainly."

"You seem troubled," Harion observed from the corner of the Kings work room. Thranduil looked up on his oldest son from the trade agreement he was studying with disinterest.
"Does the Esgaroth traders offend you with their offer again?" Harion ventured and stepped closer to the desk his father was sitting by. The king leaned back and shook his head.
"No, their counter offer is agreeable," he admitted, "- my mind was on the half-elf in our healing bay."
This visibly puzzled the young crown prince.
"Why so?" he asked and put the heavy coat he'd been holding in his arms over his shoulders. Thranduil noticed it was a practical coat and not like the usual fine garments, he preferred, much like himself.
"It's been 10 sunrises since her arrival and Enassiel has not deemed her ready for interrogation yet," his father explained, clear upset, "-for Valar's sake – she's half elven as is Elrond. Even his polluted elven blood should have kicked in by now."
Harion raised his eyebrows. These were hard words even for the elven King and a serious offence against the Lord Elrond that they were all fond of. Harion mere took it as evidence that it lay heavily on his father's mind.
"It does seem like an excessively long time to heal from wounds that I hear, weren't that serious," Harion agreed, "-do you want me to talk to Enassiel about it?"
An inexplicable pain went through Thranduils temples and his hand went to his head. The movement didn't go unnoticed.
"Are you alright?" his son asked. Thranduil put a dismissive hand between them.
"I'm fine," he lied, "-I'll go to Enassiel myself later. Where are you going? You're clearly dressed to be outside."
"Boar hunt," Harion smiled, his visage suddenly that of a boy again, "-Legolas spotted one early this morning 10 miles to the north west."
The king sighed overbearingly, "-keep you little brother out of trouble."
"I will," he grinned and grabbed his bow and arrows on the way out. He nearly toppled the ancient chief advisor that was making her way to the king with a severe look, but managed to jump out of the way.
"Be careful," she warned and Harion just laughed and ran. Thranduil grimaced. Sometimes he wished that his children were more mature.

Aglarabel, his chief advisor entered the room with a wild look in her eyes. She was wearing a simple flaming red dress that suited her red blond hair. When she settled down in front of him, he noticed that she looked even greyer than last time he saw her.

The woman was ancient, even beyond his own understanding of the word. Age meant little to the immortal, but the woman before him had founded this society and had been advisor for his own father, Oropher.
"I can see that the sea is calling to you," Tranduil began and put the trade agreement away, realizing that he wouldn't be allowed to finish it today.
"Its call grows strong," she admitted, "- I think I must sail within the foreseeable future."
"I'm saddened by this," Thranduil said and stood up, clasping his hands behind his back, "-you have been my true and loyal subject and advisor through the entirety of my kingship. My father's as well. The day of your departure will be a dark one, my friend. I trust, you'll go on the first boat."
"You honour me with your words, my king. No, not the first ship unfortunately, as my successor still needs more experience before I can leave."
Thranduil nodded, taking in the information. This was truly unsettling. He turned around and faced her again.
"Yes, Edendur is quite young still," Thranduil comment, "-but I'm sure you didn't come to discuss your successor."
"No, you're quite right. There are whisperings in the corners," she warned, "-the half-elf concerns our people. You must conduct the interrogation soon."
"I plan to," Thranduil bid, "-however, Enassiel does not deem her well enough."
"Not well enough?" she counted, "-this is about the safety of the Woodland Realm."
Thranduil swallowed his planned response, his face revealing a thousand emotions at once. That is obviously how the people saw it and not necessarily how she viewed the matter herself. This was why he needed her.
"I see your point," he gave and sat down again, "-we must arrange the questioning immediately."
"I agree," she supported, "-shall I make the arrangements?"
"No, I will go. You are welcome to join me," he said and took the reins again. He placed his autumn crown firmly on his head and made his way towards the healing bay, followed by Aglarabel.