Beneath the Stars
SEVENTEEN

After the battle was over, Tauriel first found Rúmil and Orophin. Thankfully, they were both still alive, though certainly worse for wear. Orophin sported a broken arm, and Rúmil looked so exhausted that Tauriel feared he might fall over in a faint if he was given any more responsibilities.

Tauriel herself was also tired. Her injuries, however, were minor, and she felt she was better off than either of Haldir's brothers.

"Tauriel," Orophin said as she came up to them. His eyes were hollow and unhappy, despite the victory. "At least you survived."

"Yes," she agreed. "Rúmil, Orophin...you two look terrible. I imagine you feel worse. Have you gotten your injuries checked? It looks like your arm is broken, Orophin."

Rúmil only grunted. Orophin flashed him a worried glance, then sighed, cradling his broken arm. "No," he admitted. "There are others worse off than us."

Tauriel shook her head. "You two are in charge now. You need to be healed just as much as anyone else. You can't help your people if you topple over dead from infection."

"What people?" Rúmil said bleakly. "A third of our forces were killed, Tauriel. A third. And Haldir—" His voice broke. "Haldir died. I couldn't grieve properly in the midst of battle, but now..."

Orophin, beside him, began to cry. Tauriel felt helpless in comforting them. She knew this was hard to take. Haldir's absence cut her like a knife, but she could only imagine the pain his brothers felt.

"I know," she said softly. "It hurts. It always will. He's gone, and you wish he was still here. We all do. But you've got to keep going." She swallowed, tears budding in her eyes. She spoke not only to them, but to herself. Haldir had been a good person. He'd led his people into a hopeless battle, and though he had not made it out, they had won. And her mind still stretched back to a time that seemed ages away now, when she had first lost Kíli. Then, it had seemed that the pain would never lessen, that she would never be at peace. She still hurt, all these years later. But her grief had not consumed her. She had gone on, pressed forward, as she and the brothers must do now.

"You didn't deserve this," she continued, "and neither did Haldir, or the rest of your fallen warriors. But you still have two thirds of your warriors to lead, whether you take them back home or you keep pressing forward alongside the Rohirrim. Get some help. Orophin, you need a healer for that arm, and Rúmil, you need to rest."

Rúmil looked at her for a long moment. Then he sighed, turning to Orophin.

"Let's go," he said, wrapping an arm around his brother. "You're right, Tauriel. Thank you."

They left, and Tauriel suddenly felt exhausted. She didn't need a healer—at least, she could wait for one. She found a blanket and an empty patch of ground, then curled up and went to sleep. Pain would hit her when she woke, but for now, she needed to rest.

When Tauriel woke, she was stiff and aching. She groaned as she sat up, stretching. Every muscle was sore and screaming in protest as she got up. The chaos around her had calmed down some. People, both Rohirrim and Galadhrim alike, had settled down and begun to repair the damages done by the orcs. It was night now. A few stars shone through a thin cloud layer, illuminating the darkness.

Tauriel found an unoccupied healer, who tended to her wounds. Her muscles were still stiff, though feeling much better. She got up and walked around the Keep to loosen them up some.

She found Haldir's brothers together. Rúmil was asleep in a healer's tent, Orophin by his side. His broken arm had been bandaged, and he was wore fresh clothes. Tauriel herself felt filthy. She ought to change into new garments, herself.

"Thank you for helping us this morning," Orophin said as she approached. "You were right, seeing a healer helped. I got the word out to the remaining Galadhrim. We're marching onward under King Théoden's command, as long as the Rohirrim still need us." He paused. "Rúmil would ask you himself were he not sleeping, but...are you coming with us? We know your agreement with Haldir wasn't that you would stay with us forever."

Tauriel frowned. "Do you need me?" she asked. "I am just an outsider. I know you and Rúmil and Haldir better than I did anyone else. I would like to help, but this battle is won. There are others that will be fought elsewhere, including in the Greenwood. I need to go back."

Orophin nodded. Rúmil stirred in his sleep, then went still again.

"We don't need you," Orophin said quietly. "But Rúmil and I... Haldir was always the captain, not us. And we can't speak Westron like he could. You were Captain back in the Greenwood, and you can help us communicate." He looked at her hopefully. "If you could stay, at least for a couple of days, that would help us. Just so long as it takes for us to feel better about being in charge."

Tauriel's heart softened. "Of course," she agreed. "I'll help you, for a few days."

Orophin clasped her hand. "Thank you," he told her gratefully. "It truly helps."

She nodded. "You're welcome." She looked around. "Have you seen Legolas anywhere? I want to talk to him."

Orophin frowned. "I think he was helping clear the orc bodies off the Keep. You can check over there."

"Thank you," she said. She left to look for Legolas. She found him, Gimli, and Aragorn hauling orc bodies into a big pile.

"We're going to burn them," Gimli explained as she approached. "A big orc bonfire! That'll show them." He grinned.

"Good," she agreed. "It's what they deserve." She spat on an orc corpse to show her contempt. She hoped it was the one who had killed Haldir, though she knew it was unlikely.

Tauriel caught Legolas's eye. "Can I talk with you?" she asked. "In private?"

He nodded. He dropped the orc corpse he was carrying, then followed her out of anyone else's earshot.

"What is it?" he asked.

"I thought about what you said in Rivendell," Tauriel began. "I've decided. I'm going back to the Greenwood."

Legolas broke into a smile. "Excellent!" he exclaimed. "Everyone will be delighted to have you back—except perhaps my father. Don't worry, I'll put in a word for you. He can't stay angry forever."

"I wouldn't put it past him," she said drily. "But no. Thank you for the offer, but I'm going back on my own terms. As soon as Rúmil and Orophin are comfortable and in control of the remainder of the Galadhrim, I'm going back home." Home. She hadn't said that word in a long time. But the Greenwood was her home, even after all these years. She had been delayed long enough: it was time for her to return—soon. Very soon.

Legolas's eyes widened. "Oh!" he said. "Well, I wish you luck. We will always need help guarding our borders, especially now during a time of war."

"Yes," she agreed. She looked at Legolas fondly. "Thank you for being my friend."

He smiled. "Of course. And thank you for being mine."

"I would not wish it any other way," Tauriel said. "Even after all this time."

"I am glad," Legolas said, "for friends are very important to me." He paused, glancing away briefly. "Do you remember our conversation up on the Keep, when we were pulling Aragorn and Gimli back up?"

Tauriel frowned. "Yes," she said. "You were telling me about how you were not romantically interested in Gimli, or me, or anyone else."

"Yes," Legolas agreed. "But we were interrupted. I mean, what I was trying to say was just that...my whole life, my father, and everyone else, it seemed, expected me to fall in love and settle down." He shook his head. "But it never happened. I'm nearly three thousand years old, much older than you are, and I've never been in love."

Tauriel nodded. "Yes. I always thought so. Your father seemed to believe differently, though, so I was never sure."

He smiled half-heartedly. "We have talked about this since you left. He understands now. But yes, I don't fall in love."

"I'm glad you know yourself that well," Tauriel told him. She smiled, patting him on the arm. "And I'm glad to be your friend."

"Thank you," Legolas said. He smiled, for real this time. "I have so many good friends, romance is simply unnecessary."

Tauriel laughed. "Good! Romance isn't always worth it." She sighed, thinking of Kíli. If she hadn't fallen in love with him, life would have been so different. She didn't regret it, but Legolas was happy with his life, and that was good.

"Do you really think your father will forgive me?" she asked.

Legolas shrugged. "Yes. It will not be easy, but he will. He wants you to come back, Tauriel. You were an excellent guard captain, and you opened his eyes to the outside world. He has changed. You may not believe it, but he has."

"I will have to see for myself," she said. She sighed. "It is hard to believe."

"He will take you back," Legolas said.

Tauriel raised an eyebrow. If Thranduil truly had changed, he would be a different person than the one she had known. But perhaps Legolas was right. "We will see," she said.

Author's note: I've moved all of my fanfiction to Archive Of Our Own, including this fic. If you really want to know what happens next, feel free to check out the rest there! But for now I'm done with this website, which means no more updates here.