Apologies that this has taken a little while, I wanted to get another story finished first. Hope you like this chapter. Enjoy

§

Choices

Tauriel sat vigilantly over her failed prince as he lay there, pale in his cot. He breathing only evident from steam that escaped his lips in the icy morning air. Legolas had not stirred since she had come to his side, watching him for any sign that he would return to her. Healers had come and go but none were able to tell her what his fate would be, for all were unfamiliar with elves and their healing capabilities. The dwarves had left for the mountain, Kili and her parting ways which had stung. Her true pain was that of the guilt she felt for leaving Legolas to fight the orc pack on his own. At the time she had thought that they would be no match for his fighting skill, for he was one of the finest fighters in Mirkwood. Her attention was drawn back to her prince as he began to shiver. Tauriel slipped to his side, noticing that his brow glittered she placed her fingers upon in and found that it burned beneath his touch.

'How does he fair?' asked a small voice.

The elf turned her head to see Bard's youngest daughter stood there beaming at her.

'Not so well I fear' Was Tauriel's reply as he looked at her prince again 'he's developed a fever, he needs an elvish healer.' She finished before throwing her face into her hands.

'Do you think there will be one with the army that turned up?' the girl quizzed as her head turned towards the direction she had come from.

Tauriel did not even grace her with a response, just leaped to her feet and swiftly ran in the direction the girl had looked to. She was greeted by a sea of gold armor and Thranduil atop his steed.

'My lord' she pleaded as she pushed through lake town men and women that swarmed the carts that had arrived, filled with food and wine.

The king heard her voice amongst the indistinct babble, his ice-blue eyes scanning them rabble for her auburn hair.

'My Lord,' she said again as she burst into view 'Your son, please he is barely holding on.'

He jumped down from his Elk and grabbed her arm firmly 'Where is he?'

Without a moment's hesitation, she led the elven king to where Legolas lay. He was shivering more violently, his body was wracked with the shakes as the fever raged within him. Thranduil dropped to his son's side, his eyes filled with fresh tears as he took in Legolas' pale skin and the blood-stained bandage that covered his belly.

'How did this happen?' he spat, his eyes not wavering.

'He was fighting a rabble of orcs that had attacked lake town, one of them must have overpowered him.' was Tauriel's reply.

Thranduil then turned his head to look at her 'you were not with him?'

'No my lord.'

Why not?'

'My lord…'

"Why not?!' The kind shouted, his anger evident in his tone.

'I was tending to one of the dwarves, Kili who had been shot with a Morgul arrow.' she replied, her voice shaking.

'You chose a dwarf over your Prince? Over my son?' he said, his anger evident in his features.

Tauriel did not reply, she just stood there with tears streaming down her cheeks. They were interrupted by another elf who had joined them, not saying a word, he just rushed to Legolas' side and went about pulling out herbs from his pack whilst he muttered to himself.

'Leave.' said the king suddenly.

'I want to make sure that Legolas is well.' replied Tauriel as her voice cracked.

'Leave!'

This time she did not argue, leaving to join Bard and his family. The bargeman had taken it upon himself to take charge of the town, for he knew they would not survive without guidance. She admired the man's strength, the people had a trust in him that she had not seen before, she knew they would follow him into the flames if they had to. Her guilt hit her again, she had always said that she would have followed Legolas into battle, to death but now as he lay dying she knew that she had broken that promise. Did she truly love the dwarf, was whatever this feeling is worth Legolas' life?

'How is his majesty' asked Sigrid as she walked towards the elf.

'I do not know.' She replied as she looked around, her expression one of someone lost.

'What is wrong?' the young lady pressed.

'He has developed a fever, his wound is also bleeding freely again. I fear he will not survive this.' replied Tauriel as she caught a glimpse of Tilda.

The young girl has taken a liking to the elven prince, often sitting with him, quizzing Tauriel about him as he had laid there unconscious.

'He must have been through worse?' said Tilda as she looked at the elf with a kind expression 'this can't be the first time in his many years on this earth that he has been wounded.'

'He is a formidable warrior, he has received but scratches.' replied Tauriel 'never has he had to fight for his life.'

Tilda was lost for words, her mouth fumbled for a reply but came up empty. Tauriel smiled at the girl before she made her way to Bard who was stood, attempting to console one of the many survivors of the lake town atrocity. She caught his eye as she got closer, patting the man he had been speaking to on that arm before he turned to speak to her.

'How is he?' he asked, flinching slightly at his question.

'Not well.' was all she could muster in reply 'his father is with him now along with a healer, all I can hope is that they will be able to help him.'

'Do not blame yourself for his condition' said Bard as he placed a friendly hand on her shoulder 'you could not have known what would happen.'

'I should have been at his side.' She replied coldly 'he is my prince, my disloyalty has cost him dearly.'

Bard did not know what he could say to comfort her, and so they stood there in silence, taking in the bustle of the people around them as they sought shelter in the many ruined buildings of Dale. After a while, Bard and his family left her to go about their business and so she was left alone. The people that passed her by seemed to be a blur as she sat and waited for news of Legolas. She got none. The black of night had come and gone and the sun poked its head over the mountains that surrounded them. Tauriel had grown impatient and so stormed back to where she had left Legolas and his father, but Thranduil was nowhere to be seen. Legolas still shivered, his skin was still deathly pale. The healer's expression was not one that filled Tauriel with much hope. She slowly approached them, careful not to disturb any of the other wounded people that lay around them.

'He looks no better.' She stated as she crouched by his side.

'You should not be here Tauriel if the King saw you.' he replied.

'Yes, yes. Why does he look no better?' she quizzed.

'I have redressed his wound, the bargeman did a good job sewing it up however it bled again and it is infected, hence the fever.' he paused a moment 'I have done all I can but his wound is grievous, it appears he has taken one of his own blades to the gut.'

Tauriel shivered at the thought of this, stroking away a stray hair from Legolas' forehead before she stood, readying herself to leave again.

'I shall not longer, would not wish to anger his majesty.' she said, a touch of bitterness in her voice 'please tell Legolas when he wakes that I will not leave here.' she nodded at the healer and turned to leave.

'If he wakes Tauriel.' he replied plainly.

This brought fresh tears to her eyes as she walked away from them, unable to bear the sight of her dying friend for one more moment. She knew that if Legolas died, that she would surely suffer the consequences of that. And so I should, I deserve it she thought to herself as she walked towards the walls of the city. She could not bear to be around anyone at that moment and so chose solace outside the city gates. Only time would tell whether Legolas would choose life or death.

§

Well, there is the next installment. I hope you enjoyed and I will try and get the next one up in the next few days. Please let me know what you thought.