Hello!

This is my first fanfiction in this fandom and I would very much like to hear what you thought of it so far. Constructive criticism is welcomed if written in a polite/'good' way.

This idea came to me a couple of months ago when I had watched DoS and then it grew into this. The p.o.v of the story will change between Tauriel and Legolas, as the title of the chapter will show.

I do not own the characters, places or the bigger storyline. It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien or Peter Jackson and Co.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Tauriel

She awoke to a bright light and at first she thought she was dead and had entered the Halls of Mandos. The elfling carefully sat up and realized that she was in a bed of the softest and finest sheets of silk she had ever felt. She let out a gasp of wonder and gently traced the patterns woven into the sheets with a shaking finger.

The room was grand, covered with flowers and the wide openings between the tree trunks showed branches with brilliant green leaves and she could glimpse a sky of the brightest blue. There were other beds like hers and tiny tables with different bowls on.

"Finally, you're awake!"

She snapped her head to the side, heart racing. In her momentarily daze, she hadn't noticed the other occupant in the room. He had been sitting on a chair of winding roots, but at the sight of her awake, he had stood up gracefully and walked over to her bed.

He looked to be around her age, dressed in silver and with long, blond hair that didn't match his dark brows and eyelashes that were framed around crystal blue eyes. Next to him, she felt too colorful; all auburn hair and rosy cheeks. She lowered her eyes, but he still approached her with a smile.

"I was waiting for you to wake up. How you're feeling?"

She dared to look at him and found him to look a bit worried. She opened her mouth to speak, only to not know what to say.

"I…."

"You got a nasty cut", the boy said helpfully and nodded towards her arm that was heavily bandaged. "You were screaming."

She looked down at her arm and moved it, just to see if she could. It stung when she did and that small amount of pain made her remember.

"My family!" she said terrified and tried to get out of bed. "There were orcs and I…."

Her voice faltered as she remembered the attack; her father, ever the warrior, urged the people of their small home to fight as orcs crossed the boarders into the elven realm. Her mother ushering her to run, while all she wanted to do was to hide behind her mother's skirts. She could taste the blood in her mouth and feel the fire that had rushed through her arm as the orc blade cut her. Then it was only darkness and a bright, green light and a voice whispering words of healing.

She turned to the young elf again, pleading with her eyes to him to tell her that her family was alive. His eyes went soft and he hesitantly reached out to her, placing his hand on hers. The gesture spoke of more than what his words did.

She cried then. She cried with as much power she could muster and the boy let her, comfortingly brushing his thumb over the back of her hand. In the end, she didn't have any tears left and her heart felt as if it was crumpled together. It hurt. The silence was only broken by her muffled sobs and the birds twittering outside.

"I have lost my mother too", he said quietly, staring at their entwined hands. "It never goes away, but it gets easier with time."

"I'm sorry", she mumbled and wiped her eyes.

He only smiled sadly at her.

"Where am I? And what will happen now?"

"You're in the Woodland realm", explained the boy and sat a bit straighter. "My father will be here soon, now that you're awake and then he will decide what fate that awaits you."

"Your father?" she asked thickly, peering curiously at the blond elf.

"Yes. He's the king." There was pride in his voice as he said so.

She immediately bowed her head and muttered apologies under her breath, embarrassed and horrified. The prince's eyes widened at her discomfort and he assured her that it was fine and that she could call him Legolas. While he seemed extremely pleased over his father's position, he almost seemed scared of his own title.

"My name is Tauriel", she said shyly, daring to glance up at Legolas.

"Tauriel…." He smiled a little.

The two elflings' conversation was interrupted by another elf coming into the room. She was tall and perfect, her hair dark brown and her eyes a steely grey. She introduced herself as healer Merenwen and chastised Legolas for wakening her patient. He looked a bit sheepish.

"You'll need to sleep", Merenwen explained in a stern, but gentle voice. "You got struck by a Morgul blade and that's a dangerous business. I've done all I can; now sleep is the best way to recovery. Drink this."

"Don't worry, Tauriel", said Legolas and squeezed her hand before letting go. "I'll be here, waiting for you to wake up."

She smiled weakly at him, her heart hurting, and she felt so raw and exposed in these halls. She closed her eyes and hoped she would soon be awake again. Nothing was scarier than being alone.