I'm back with another chapter! Thanks to everyone who reviewed and followed the last chapter! I appreciate all you of you very much! There is not Thorin in this chapter :( But he will be back with a vengence in the next one :)

Also, this chapter is a long one too and it's just one big chapter so there are no page breaks! I hope you all enjoy :) Thanks again!

Tauriel had to wait no more than an hour for Bilbo. She watched as he tossed the rope over the side of the gate and climbed down. He could not see her in the dark, so she stepped out and took his hand. They began to journey to Dale under the cover of the shadows. She knew that Thranduil would have the mountain watched and probably had given the order to kill anything that moved.

Bilbo and Tauriel reached the city within the half hour. Bilbo took her hand and pulled her alongside of the building following the irritated voice of Gandalf the Grey. Thranduil's unconcerned voice followed shortly after. Elf and hobbit moved silently along the wall until they reached the tent and stood to the back of it away from King Thranduil's guards.

"Since when has my council meant so little?" Gandalf asked exasperatedly. "What do you think I am trying to do?"

"I think you are trying to save your dwarvish friends," Thranduil responded. "And I admire your loyalty, but it does not sway me from my cause." The elf King stood and poured himself another goblet of wine before pouring one for Gandalf. He turned and handed the Wizard the wine. "You started this Mithrandir; you must allow that I should finish it."

Gandalf huffed in annoyance and put the goblet to him mouth, gulping down the contents in one swig. He coughed as the wine burned, but soothed his weary body. He blinked a few times to clear his head as he had forgotten how strong Thranduil's wine could be. He sat the goblet down and looked at Thranduil's smirking face.

Gandalf glared at him. "I have asked many times to be spared the stubbornness of dwarves," he said. "But you, my Lord Thranduil," he said pointing an accusatory finger at the elf. "You are just as stubborn as Thorin Oakenshield ever hoped to be!"

Thranduil's grin turned into a scowl as his eyes narrowed at the wizard. He said nothing, but turned away from him in a huff. Gandalf glared back and stomped away, walking outside of the tent.

"You, bowman," Gandalf called to Bard. "Does gold mean so much to you that you would buy it with the blood of dwarves? You cannot be in agreement with Thranduil."

Bard sighed. "No I am not, but I do not think it will come to that. Once Thorin sees…"

"It won't stop him," Bilbo said stepping from the shadows. He paused and looked back when Tauriel did not follow him. He could see the panicked look in her eyes and guessed it was due to her fear of seeing her King. He stepped back towards her and took her hand again, patting it gently. "We have to help the dwarves…we have to try and save them," he said.

She nodded, swallowing hard and stepped into the light behind Bilbo, still clutching his hand. Bard and Gandalf's eyes opened in surprise at seeing the both of them. Bilbo stepped towards Bard and spoke again. "If you think for one moment that Thorin will stand down from Thranduil's army, you are mistaken. They fought to get their home back and they will die protecting it," he said.

"Bilbo Baggins," Gandalf said smiling warmly. "I am very glad to see you." The Wizard's eyes fell to the silent she elf behind him and noticed the distress within her eyes and how she clung to Bilbo. It unnerved him to see an elf of Tauriel's military ability hiding behind a small hobbit. "Tauriel," he called to her. Tauriel blinked and looked at him as if she did not recognize him. She quickly looked away from his probing gaze.

"Tauriel," he said again very gently. "Your King and Prince have been most concerned for you. Do you not wish to speak to Thranduil?"

She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Bilbo looked up at her and spoke for her. "We need to talk to all of you," he said. "There is much we have to say and it could save us all from going to war."

"Very well," Bard said eyeing both the hobbit and the elf with questioning eyes. "Come inside."

Bard turned and entered the opening of the tent. Gandalf waited for Bilbo and Tauriel. Bilbo tugged at her hand to get her moving and Gandalf entered beside her, as if to offer her comfort. Thranduil turned to see who had entered and his eyes widened when he saw her.

She instantly cast her eyes down and Bilbo tightened his grip, thinking she might actually flee from him. Thranduil stared at her for several moments without speaking, his face aloof and distant. Finally he turned from her and called to one of his guards. "Tell my son to come to me," he said. The guard nodded and left the tent.

Thranduil sat down on his high back chair and peered at Bilbo. "Is this not the Halfling that stole the keys to my dungeons under the very nose of my guards?" he asked with an elegant brow raised.

Bilbo swallowed hard and suddenly felt very much like a naughty school boy under the gaze of the ancient King. He shifted uncomfortably and sighed. "Yisssss…." He said. "Sorry about that."

Thranduil stared at him as if he doubted very much that the hobbit was sorry. Legolas entered the tent then and his eyes instantly fell to Tauriel.

When she beheld him, all of what she had been through the past few days came crashing back to her. She remembered Thorin's lips on hers, his rough treatment of her, and in the next moment, how gentle he would be with her. She remembered the horrible things that he had said about the man she had called father for so many centuries and she was overcome with a feeling of guilt and shame for hurting Legolas.

Legolas moved towards her to embrace her and she felt panic arise within her chest. She pulled her hand away from Bilbo and backed away from Legolas. The Prince stopped and looked at her with confusion until his face darkened.

"He has hurt you," Legolas said. "That filthy dwarf has hurt you."

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I am just…we have other things that we must discuss." She looked down unable to hold his piercing gaze. "Bilbo has something to show you."

Legolas did not understand why she closed herself away from him. He took a step towards her again and she looked frantically at Thranduil. "My Lord please," she said desperately. "Bilbo must show you all what he has brought."

Thranduil regarded her a moment, his eyes narrowing in on her. He began to speak, but paused when he saw the glimmer of unshed tears in her eyes.

"Legolas," Thranduil said. "You may speak with Tauriel later." He regarded Bilbo again rather skeptically. "What have you to tell us?"

Bilbo pulled a small object from his coat pocket that was wrapped in a handkerchief. "I came," he said sitting the object on the table. "To give you this," he said as he opened it.

Bard's eyes widened and he stood. Thranduil stood and took a step closer to the table. "The arkenstone….the King's jewel," he said softly. His eyes rose to meet Bilbo's. "How came you by this?"

Bilbo swallowed and glanced at Gandalf. "Does it matter?" he asked. "I have brought this to you in the hopes of staying your hand."

"But how is this yours to give?" Bard asked.

"I took it as payment for my services as Bugler," Bilbo answered. "I took it as my 14th percent."

"But why would you give this to us?" Bard asked. "You owe us no loyalty."

"I'm not doing it for you," Bilbo said. "Not for you…I…I know that dwarves can be suspicious, stubborn, and absolutely impossible with the worst manner you could possibly imagine." He paused and looked pleadingly at Thranduil and Bard. "But they are also kind, courageous, and loyal to a fault. I have grown very fond of them and I would save them if I can. Now Thorin, he values this stone above all else," he paused and could not stop his eye from glancing towards Tauriel. Thranduil's eyes widened momentarily before he narrowed them at Bilbo. "I believe he will give you all that you ask for if you return this to him. There will be no need for war."

Bard and Thranduil regarded one another. Bard nodded and cleared his throat. "Thank you for this," he said to Bilbo. "I would avoid more death at any cost. You have saved their lives Bilbo Baggins. I hope Thorin appreciates what a friend he has in you."

Bilbo nodded. "There is more…" he said turning to Tauriel. "Tell them Tauriel."

She stepped forward into the light and averted her eyes from Thranduil and Legolas. "There is a curse upon that mountain…a dark spell has been placed upon it. It is not merely dragon sickness that affects Thorin's mind. I could sense it the moment I entered Erebor. The air is heavy and dank with it…the air tastes stale and thick. I began to feel its affects the longer I stayed. I think perhaps it was because I am elf kind and we are magical beings."

Gandalf looked intently at her. "Are the other dwarves affected?"

"No," she said shaking her head. "Only Thorin…and he told me himself that he could feel it inside of him trying to take control of him. He said that he was losing himself to it. If it is only dragon sickness or gold sickness, why does it not affect the others?" She took a step towards Gandalf and looked up at him, her eyes imploring him. "I thought perhaps you could go to Erebor, Mithrandir…perhaps you could lift the dark magic that lies within its halls."

Thranduil leaned towards Bard and whispered something in his ear. Bard nodded and looked at Gandalf. "Perhaps we should take Bilbo and fill his belly with some hot food," Bard said.

Gandalf nodded in understanding. "And find him a warm bed to rest himself upon," he said. "Come Bilbo." He looked back at Tauriel and took her hand, patting it gently. "We will speak more on this tomorrow."

Bilbo looked at Tauriel, his eyes expressing how sorry he was to have to leave her alone to face Thranduil.

Tauriel shifted and looked quickly at the tent opening. "Perhaps I should…" she began before Thranduil interrupted her.

"Tauriel, you will stay," Thranduil said in a tone that brooked no arguments. "Go Legolas; give us a few moments to speak privately."

Legolas bowed to his father and gave her one last worried, lingering look before following Bard, Gandalf, and Bilbo from the tent.

"Why do you stand in the shadow as if you were afraid of me?" Thranduil asked sitting down on his chair. "Come and sit with me."

"I am very tired," she began softly.

"And frightened," he said. "And you will tell me of what before I give you leave to rest. Come here, now, child."

She forced herself to move toward him. She stood a little more than arms length from him when he lost his patience with her. He stood so quickly she did not have time to react. He took hold of her arm, gently, but firmly enough to cause her to flinch. He stared down at her before realization dawned on him. He pulled her even closer to him and held her beside him. With his free hand he began to lift her tunic sleeve.

She tried to pull her arm from him but he ignored her struggles and rolled the sleeve up her arm. His eyes widened when he saw the finger marks and bruises that marred her lovely skin. She looked away from him, her face flushed with shame.

"Why do you hide your face from me?" he asked. "Did you think I would blame you for his foul treatment of you?"

She shook her head, still staring down at the ground. She was horrified when the tears began to fall down her cheeks and she tried to cover the sob that escaped her throat.

"Tauriel look at me," he said.

She shook her head. "I…I cannot…" she said in a wavering voice.

"Why?" he asked as he gently lifted her chin with a crocked finger. She still averted his eyes. "Tauriel?" he said softly.

She swallowed hard and forced herself to look at him. He watched as her eyes became guarded and her expression blank. "I have disobeyed you," she said.

"Yes," he answered her still holding onto her arm.

"I betrayed our people," she said. "I am ready for whatever punishment you deem fit."

He blinked in surprise. "Do you show me your bravery to dissuade me from my questions?" he asked.

Her eyes pleaded with him. "Please my Lord," she said softly. "Just tell me what is to become of me."

"What would you have me to do? Send you away from my sight? Banish you away from the Greenwood, the one and only home you have ever known? It would be no more than you deserve, Tauriel," he said. "You left our lands to abscond your duty to protect its people to follow dwarves. Do you think you should be welcomed back?"

"I know you will do as you see fit, my King," she said softly averting her eyes.

"Your King?" he said with an edge to his voice. "You dare call me King? Why do you not embrace me as your father?" He let go of her arm and stood away from her, glaring down at her. "It would break my heart to send you away," he snapped. He could feel his anger and impatience with her rising as she still would not meet his face. "Did you think I would hate you?"

"I don't know," she cried softly. "I am never sure of what you think of me." She glanced up at him, terrified of the anger she would see in his eyes. "I have never been sure if you loved me," she finished softly. She clenched, bracing herself for his harsh words.

"You dare doubt me?" he asked incredulously, the pain he felt slipping into his voice. "Tauriel, how could you ever doubt my heart?"

"Your heart is closed, my Lord," she whispered. "You stand so far from your people…so aloof…so closed…I have always wondered if it were merely duty…"

"Duty!" he roared. "You think I raised you as my own because of duty? What duty did I owe your father? Yes he served me well for over two thousand years, but I was his King and that was as it should have been. I was there when he perished on the battle field leaving a grieving widow to fade from this life, leaving a new born babe to fend for herself in this world. He gave his life because he loved his people. I took you as my own because I loved you."

She quickly wiped the fresh tears that spilled over her cheeks. He took her face in his hands and gently forced her head up to look at him.

"You are my child Tauriel," he said. "There is nothing that could take you from my love, but you have defied me repeatedly. There will be punishment, but we will not speak on it at this time. You will come home tomorrow after we march upon the mountain."

Her eyes widened. "But my Lord," she said. "I have told you that there is a curse upon Erebor…there is dark magic there. Thorin cannot help the way he is."

"Even now you would defend him?" Thranduil spat, taking hold of her arm again. "Do you need to be reminded of what you suffered at his hands?" With one sweeping motion, he ripped the sleeve from her tunic, leaving her arm bare from wrist to shoulder.

"He can't help…"

"I care not if he cannot help himself," Thranduil shouted. "What is this passionate need to defend Thorin Oakenshield at every turn? Why must you…" His voice faded when he looked at her. Suddenly the brief glance that Bilbo had given to Tauriel made sense. He watched as the flush crept up her neck and over her cheeks. He noticed the quickening of her breath and that once again she could not meet his eyes.

"It cannot be…" he said softly. "You feel for the dwarf?" He lifted her chin and looked into her eyes. "You feel for Thorin Oakenshield?" he asked with disgust and incredulity. "What madness has overtaken you that you would follow his nephew into peril only to become infatuated with Thorin?"

Thranduil could feel the rage and horror begin to choke him. He longed to take Tauriel by her arms and shake her until the madness that idled her brain left her. But treating her roughly after all that she had suffered would do no good. She needed gentleness and understanding, but he would never allow her to see Thorin Oakenshield again. Whatever power lay over Erebor, it was strong enough to take over the mind of an elf. And it must be madness because how else would one such as Tauriel fall under the spell of Thorin Oakenshield?

"It is not your fault, "Thranduil said. "But I must know what he did or said to you to make you feel for him?"Her eyes widened and she blushed furiously, unable to answer him. "Did he touch you?" Thranduil asked.

"My Lord," she gasped. "Please…do not make me talk of him."

"What did he do to you to render you from your right mind?" Thranduil asked, looking more intently at the bruising on her arm. "Did he harm you Tauriel? I must know."

She looked at him and shook her head. "No my Lord," she said wiping her eyes. "He often spoke cruelly to me and treated me roughly, but he did not hurt me."

"He never touched you?" Thranduil asked gently and looked at her meaningfully.

Her brow creased in confusion. "He took hold my arms my Lord," she said holding them out to him. "But he never raised his hand to me."

Thranduil shook his head, exasperated at her innocence. "No Tauriel…did he touch you in a way that he should not have?" he asked.

Her eyes widened in shock and understanding. She turned from him and wrapped her arms around herself. Thranduil mistook her actions for confirmation that Thorin had done something vile to her and he did not know the turmoil her heart was in.

She lifted her fingers to touch her lips where Thorin had kissed her. She remembered the gentle way his strong hands held her face between them. She remembered the deep timber of his voice and how she could feel it vibrate down to her very bones. And she remembered how he had told her that he desired her and how beautiful he thought she was.

"Did he violate you?" Thranduil asked horrified.

She turned to look at Thranduil. "No, my Lord," she said quickly. She turned her face away from him ashamed at what she was about to admit to him. But she could not allow Thranduil to believe that Thorin has done such a terrible thing to her. "He…he…made me feel things that I have never felt before. Things that confused me and frightened me…things that I still do not understand. And I know that I should not feel the way I do…my heart lies with Kili…it truly does, but Thorin…he…"

"Seduced you." Thranduil said with finality. "He took advantage of you."

"No," she said with emotion, trying to defend Thorin and make Thranduil understand at the same time. "He…kissed me and…"

"Of course he would," Thranduil spat. "He would recognize innocence."

"He only…"

"Do not defend him Tauriel," he said dangerously. "I can see that you are indeed infatuated with him. I forbid you to see him again. I do not want you to speak his name again."

"But what about the curse that…"

"You will never see the dwarves of Erebor again," he snapped. "Since it is apparent that you are not capable of protecting yourself, I will protect you."

"You mean to ride upon Erebor tomorrow? In spite of what Bilbo and I told you?" she asked horrified.

"Yes," he said. "I will take back what is mine and he will pay for what he has done to you."

"But he has done nothing…please…my Lord," she began but he stayed her with one look.

"Do not refer to me as your Lord, Tauriel," he said. "You are no longer Captain of my guard."

"What?" she asked barely above a whisper.

"I am removing you from your command," he said. "You will no longer leave the confines of our woods. You will stay with me until I know that you can be trusted again."

"But…you cannot do this…" she pleaded. "What would I do in court, my Lord? What am I to do with myself?"

Thranduil stared at her, studying her pale and confused face. He looked into her wide and desperate eyes. She had told him that she loved Thorin's nephew and in her inexperience and innocence, believed it to be true. But Thranduil understood more than Tauriel did. He understood that she had fallen in love with Thorin Oakenshield himself. He knew what he must do to protect his adopted daughter. He knew she would not understand and possibly grow to hate him, but he was desperate to keep her from Thorin. He made his decision quickly and spoke.

"I care not," he said. "Amuse yourself how you see fit. You may knit, sew, play music, read, whatever your heart desires. You will have very little time to become idle Tauriel as you will be preparing for your wedding to my son."

The color drained from Tauriel and she felt a wave of dizziness overtake her. Thranduil took hold of her to steady her. "I know this is a shock to you," he said. "As you know, I have known for some time that my son loves you. I had never considered you ready to become a bride as you are now, so impulsive and willful. I had wanted to wait until you had matured more in wisdom before marrying you off to my son, but perhaps becoming a wife would do you good."

"But you said you would never allow me to wed Legolas," she shouted. "You said I was not good enough for your son."

"When did I ever say you were not good enough?" he snapped. "Do not put words in my mouth. If that is what you believed me to mean when I said I would not allow you to marry him, then you do not know me at all Tauriel. I have always been proud of you and I have always loved you, even when you have defied me and followed your foolish heart. I had hoped that one day you and Legolas would wed, but I did not want to push either of you if there was no love there."

"But I do not love him…not like that…" she pleaded. "He is like my brother…I could never love him as a wife. He deserves an elf who will love him in that way."

"Love will come if you would allow it," he said.

"But my heart already belongs…"

"To Thorin Oakenshield?" He spat with disgust. "Or his simpering nephew? Do you think that I would ever allow you to marry a dwarf? His people would never accept you and our people would never accept him."

"I don't care," she shouted, tearing her arms away from him. "I love him and I am not afraid."

"I would marry you off to Bard before I allowed you to marry a dwarf," he snapped. "Legolas, Bard, perhaps one of Lord Elrond's sons…I care not, but you will never belong to a dwarf."

"I am my own elf," she shouted. "You cannot tell me who I can and cannot marry!"

"I am your King and your father," he hissed. "It is my duty to protect you from your foolishness. I do not wish to behave as a tyrant Tauriel, but what choice do you give me? Will you promise me that you will stay away from Thorin and his nephew?"

"I want to be with Kili," she said softly. "Why should I have to hate them just because you do? I don't want to hate anyone."

Thranduil sighed. "I do not hate the dwarves and I would never expect for you to harbor any hate within your tender heart. I am trying to do what is best for you," he said. "You would come to regret loving a dwarf. Your heart would be broken and I will not see you fade from grief. There is no hope for a happy ending in loving a dwarf. You cannot see it now, but one day, you will understand why I do this."

Thorin will be back in the next chapter...I promise! Thanks again for reading! You guys are awesome and your support means a lot!