Daughter of DEATH

Chapter 2 - Meeting

Sorry it's been so long! I don't know if anyone is even reading this but if so then I'm sorry it's so boring at the moment I'm trying to set the scene!

*Knock* *knock* *knock* Legolas hammered on Tauriel's door, shouting to her, "It's 10:00 already, where are you? If you have fallen asleep AGAIN, then I swear by the Valar-"

He heard a groan from inside, then a muffled thump, followed by her voice calling.

"Sorry! I didn't know it was today!"

Legolas rolled his eyes, "Come on Tauriel, or I really will be late."

"You mean we will be late." he could tell that she was searching for a way to keep him talking as she prepared herself.

"Of course, Lady Tauriel, but you were always going to be late."

"And I should be honoured that the Prince of the Woodland realm himself came to hurry me up?" Tauriel teased.

"Of course. Peasants don't usually get such luxuries." Legolas replied in the same taunting tone.

"I am NOT a peasant."

"What are you then?"

"Shut up."

"Alright then, Miss Shut Up, you are still going to be late." Legolas reminded.

Tauriel swung open the door suddenly, and Legolas jumped aside as she rushed past him.

"Come on Princeling, race you!"

Legolas took off after his friend, but knew that he didn't really have a chance, with her head start and superior speed. Nevertheless, he enjoyed racing along after her, but wasn't prepared when she suddenly skidded to a rather ungraceful halt before the door of the meeting room. Unprepared, Legolas crashed straight into her, sending the door she was leaning on flying open, and they both fell into the meeting room, with Legolas landing on top of Tauriel, and both making matters worse by trying to scramble to their feet at the same time.

In any other situation, both would be rolling around laughing at the other's clumsiness, but not right now. King Thranduil sat at the head of the huge table, Captain Dilemas to his right and an empty seat to his left. Another empty seat was on Dilemas' right, and the two friends stood awkwardly in front of the door as it slowly creaked closed behind them.

Everyone in the council had fallen silent, heads turned with disapproving glares. After what seemed like hours, King Thranduil finally spoke, his voice echoing around the silent chamber, "What is this? Do you think this is an acceptable way to enter an important meeting? You are 10 minutes late too. What do you have to say for yourselves?" Dilemas and several other council members were smirking at the two young elves, but neither found it remotely funny.

Legolas knew that he shouldn't lay the blame solely on his friend, but also felt that he should be honest.

"I am sorry Father. I was waiting for Tauriel, she wasn't ready and I-" he blurted out.

King Thranduil cut him off, "You do not wait for peasants, you are a Prince, and it is time you started acting like one."

"Yes Father." Legolas felt anger at the use of the word peasant, and beside him he felt Tauriel stiffen, but neither reacted.

He watched as the King turned his icy glare to Tauriel, "And you?"

"I am sorry hír-nín, I shouldn't have taken so long."

"No, you shouldn't. Take your place and do not speak another word for the rest of this council. Do you understand?"

"Yes hír-nín."

Thranduil turned back to his son, "Do not disappoint me again. You may put forth your opinion to the council, but think before you speak. Take your place." He gestured to the place on his left. Tauriel had already taken her place beside Captain Dilemas, and the Prince could see that she was looking straight forwards and avoiding the staring eyes of everyone in the council. She was only allowed in because she was training as Dilemas' apprentice, and he knew that if she misbehaved at all then this privilege could easily be taken off her.

Anger was still coursing through Legolas at his Father's lack of respect for his best friend, and he admired Tauriel's self control as she sat silently throughout the council, disguising her boredom well, so that only Legolas could really sense it. Tauriel really had no interest in these things, and Legolas noticed as she instead tried to discretely rub her aching arms whilst nobody was paying her any attention. Unfortunately, Dilemas did notice when she accidentally elbowed him in the shoulder. He turned to her, and Legolas was shocked when he slapped her right across the face. He was even more so when the rest of the council carried on, ignoring them completely as the Captain hit her again. After a final glare, Dilemas turned and continued with the discussion as if nothing had happened. Legolas immediately turned and looked over at her with a mix of sympathy and shock. Tauriel grimaced back at him, silently confirming that she knew that it was her fault.

At the end of the meeting, Tauriel and Legolas left together, walking in silence until they were out of earshot of any of the council members. Once safe, Legolas immediately turned to Tauriel, a hint of worry in his usually calm voice, "Are you okay? Captain Dilemas hit you pretty hard."

"Don't worry, I'm used to it." Tauriel sounded cheerful, though Legolas doubted that she felt it. He tried to get her to talk to him more openly, but knew that Tauriel could be extremely stubborn when she didn't want to talk.

"Tauriel, you don't have to-"

"I'm fine."

"Really, you shouldn't-"

"I told you, I'm fine. Stop worrying. Don't you have some Princely duty to attend to? I don't want you wasting your time with us peasants."

That was harsh, and she knew it. Legolas felt stung that she could still think of him as a prince, when in his head he was in no way superior to her. Looking up at the angle of the sunlight  streaming through the window. he realised that if he tried to reason with her any longer he was going to be late to go hunting with some boring royals. He would much rather hunt with Tauriel, but his father had insisted he went, and Tauriel was busy anyway, only being 112, the equivalent of a 16-year-old human, and so still in school.

"I'll see you around." He tried to leave the conversation on as friendly a note as could.

"Yeah, I guess." Tauriel replied glumly, and Legolas watched as she walked slowly back to her tiny room and slammed the door.

Sighing, Legolas hurried off, hoping that Tauriel's bad mood had cleared when he next saw her.

Okay, so I know that was a bit boring but I hope I can write a more interesting Chapter next time! Please comment if you are reading this so I know!