Around half way to the palace, Tauriel stopped her squirming, accepting the fact that the strange elf in the amour wasn't going to put her down. She had to content herself with awkwardly adjusting herself in the elf's arms to suit her comfort. Thankfully, the guard adjusted his arms around her body as she desired.

"Why am I being taken to palace? Did I do anything wrong?"

There was a considerable amount of silence, that drove Tauriel to think that her question was't going to be answered. She was too afraid to ask a second time.

"That will for the king to tell you. But nothing bad will happen to you, child. I already told you that."

Out of the corner of her eyes, a tall elf with some of the blondest hair she had ever seen with the exception of one other elf...

Legolas meanwhile, couldn't bring his eyes to the guard in front of him, the guard who was carrying the only friend he ever knew.

Does father know about our friendship? Well of course he knows. If he didn't know, she wouldn't have been ordered to be taken away from her grandmother.

Thranduil, in truth, had known about the presence of the Tauriel since she had been born within the walls protecting the castle. He recalled one of his healers cuddling a baby with hair that promised to be some of the reddest he's ever seen. But then she died along with her husband after being ambushed. And then Nienna, his head cook, quit and the red-haired baby disappeared completely.

And now the presence of this child had begun to spark his interest. It was no doubt that the infant born of that family just a little over twenty years ago, was here, in the arms of the head of his guard. And it was no doubt that the child was the same child who was up in that tree looking over the wall.

So he had a specific plan to follow; to see how strong was this girl to climb up and down such a distance and re-offer his position to Nienna (seeing as the grandmother was trailing after them). If she were to accept, it would be an easier task to carefully watch the child and what she did. He couldn't force the position on Nienna (though he was king). Refusing would make it a less convenient that's for sure. But he would assign a guard who would be tasked with keeping both eyes on the girl. In the end, King Thranduil was going to get what he wanted.

"I shall go to my chambers and change. Bring the child out to Earendil. Legolas shall change in his chambers. Bring him out when he's ready."

Those around bowed.

"Yes king."

"Bring Nienna to my throne room when I'm ready."

"Yes my king."

Tauriel sat there awkwardly beside a man who appeared to be a servant of the palace, though his rank, she couldn't really tell. This was her first inside the palace walls after all.

"You must be Tauriel."

Her head snapped around. The man-elf was smiling, but it did nothing to relieve her discomfort. She nodded.

"Y-yes…my name is Tauriel…"

"Pleased to meet you; I'm Earindil. I'm the Prince's servant."

Well that definitely caught her attention.

"The prince's…?"

"Prince Legolas of Mirkwood." He elaborated.

"Oh…I know…. I saw him with the king in town today…."

Don't give away that you know the Prince; not yet at least.

There was an extended period of silence.

"Your grandmother, mother and father all worked here at one point."

Tauriel gave a slight nod.

"My grandmother told me. My father was apart of the guard while my mother was a healer."

"Did Nienna tell you where she worked?"

"Yes….she said she worked in the kitchens…."

When Tauriel's mind processed the use of her grandmother's name, her head snapped to face the servant, green eyes wide.

"You know her name?!"

"But of course. I knew her son; your father."

"You do?! What was he like?"

"Calm down. I'll tell you as soon as I can."

So impatient. This is definitely his child. The fire-head hair to match the personality.

"But, you are being called to the throne room, so I can't tell you."

When Earendil made a guestre to the two members to the guard who were just beginning to approach them, Tauriel paled.

"Do not worry. You are not in trouble. Nothing will happen to you."

Earendil wasn't ordered to come into the king's presence, so by law, he wasn't granted permission to approach the throne room of the king. Tauriel, who was located between the same members of the guard that came to retrieve her. With each step, her heart race increased as did her body temperature. The very thought that just in a few minutes, she was going to come face to the face with the king of Mirkwood himself.

She soon came to a set of doors that she thought were too tall. She instantly knew where those doors lead to.

"There's no need to be afraid; you will be fine child."

One of the guards, seeing the girl was beginning to shake, tried to offer words of comfort. He had to admit though; being snatched off the streets like that would've been enough to scare him if he was that age again.

The doors leading to the throne room slowly opened.

"Grandmother!"

The other guard reached over and yanked her arm before she was able to reach Nienna.

"Do not run in the throne room. It is disrespectful."

"I-I'm sorry…!"

Her grandmother was instantly beside them.

"Forgive her for her ignorance. She was not trained how to behave in the palace or in the presence of the king. This is her first time behind the walls."

Nienna grabbed Tauriel's hand and tugged her towards.

"Now Tauriel, First: When you meet the king, you must bow as deeply as you can; it's a sign of respect. Second: Do not speak unless spoken to. Third: I have met with the king many times. I will speak to him. Do you understand?"

Tauriel only nodded, her mouth slightly agape.

"Good."

"Come."

The elf who bore the comforting words reached down and grabbed Tauriel's other hand.

"The king is awaiting the presences of both of you."