Hey guys! Sorry for the super-short prologue, I just felt the need to put something in place for Chapter 1. Enjoy, vote, comment! -Joann :)

And no, lisse' lereths don't exist in real life (not that I know of)

The girl above is Maethel (what I think she looks like) minus the green eyeshadow

The pain was receding, like waves falling back into the ocean. Now instead of having sobs rack her body and contortions squeeze her heart whenever she tortured herself with thoughts of Kili, a dull ache swept over her, and sometimes, a few stray tears fell. But as her mind cleared, another question gnawed at her.

Where was Legolas?

At first, she assumed he was also in the healing halls, but as time wore on, she began to grow suspicious. Why hadn't he come to visit her, his best friend? A horrible thought struck her. What if he was dea- no. She couldn't think like that. Still, Tauriel needed answers. She would ask Mae, her nickname for Maethel. Currently, Mae was putting off many duties to come visit her every day, which Tauriel was incredibly grateful for. She would have to remember to buy Mae a lisse' lereth, a stick of braided sweet bread covered in sugar and spices. It was Mae's favourite.

Just as Tauriel was thinking of the lisse' lereth, a soft clicking of boots awakened her from her thoughts.

"Hey Tauriel," Mae plopped down on a chair. "How are you doing?"

"Fine, fine," Tauriel muttered distractedly. "Do you know where Legolas is?"

Mae hesitated, biting her lip.

"Please tell me," Tauriel begged. She couldn't stay in the dark about this. "I won't tell a soul that you told me. I swear in the name of Valar."

"Okay," Mae began uncertainly, looking furtively around for any possible witnesses. "The prince brought you to the healing tents after the battle, but he left to go to the Dunedain...we weren't supposed to tell you. King's orders."

Legolas left. He left. Those words swirled around her brain, fighting to make sense in a swirl of emotions, like a tree fighting against a hurricane. Why? Why?! She screamed inside her head. Because of you. Her inner voice snarled. You made him come with you to chase Kili, which he only did because he loved you. And then you cried over Kili and made him watch. He hates you. Of course, he does. She squeezed her eyes shut, but tears trickled down her pale cheeks anyway.

"Tauriel?" Mae murmured worriedly. "I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have told you."

Tauriel shook her head. "No, Mae. I'm the one at fault."

----

This time, the pain didn't subside. It was constant, always there, always sending pangs of guilt, loneliness, and sorrow. Combine that with the bruising pain Kili left behind, and it was almost unbearable. Almost.

---

Maethel's POV---

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

"Cancel my meeting with Sergeant Belegranqui," I told my assistant. Belegranqui was an absolute idiot, and I had enough on my mind already.

I sighed again, looking out of the window. Guilt had been eating away at me ever since I told Tauriel about Legolas. There was no question about it; she was fading. But fading was a long and slow process, often very painful, so some chose to commit suicide like Lady Elyrianneth. A scowl worked its way on my face. I have to tell Lord Thranduil about it sooner or later...why not now? Would he demote me? Exile me? Kill me? It's your fault for telling her. I scolded myself. I heaved myself off my chair and walked slowly to the King's office, my boots clicking rhythmically on the tile floor. I arrived pretty soon at the King's office, despite my efforts to slow the inevitable.

Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the large mahogany door.

"Come in!" the king shouted, sounding bored and lazy, like a cat.

I stepped inside, my breathing quickening as I braced myself.

"Ah, Maethel. What do you want?" he asked in the same tone, but this time, I picked up a trace of worry in his eyes. Worry for Tauriel. Another wave of guilt swept over me, and I swallowed nervously.

"I-I-"

"You told her." It was not a question. His eyes pierced mine.

"I-yes," I mumbled, looking down, feeling his eyes burn into mine.

"I will not punish you," he told me. "She had to know."

I looked up in shock, hardly daring to believe my luck. Surely, any moment now, he would say, "Just kidding! You've been demoted to guard!" Working under Belegranqui full-time. Terrifying.

But he only looked at me some more. "As a friend, you know how to make it up to her," he said.

I nodded. Taking care of her. Not letting her wallow in grief alone. It was now her job to make sure Tauriel would not die the same way as Elyrianneth.

-----

Sighing, I slumped into an armchair tiredly. Who knew taking care of someone could be so tiring? She helped Tauriel before her meeting with the king too, but now she spent several more hours with her. Closing her eyes, she took a sip of tea, relaxing herself. But, quite predictably, the door was kicked rather ungraciously open.

My eyes flew open, and I turned furiously at the intruder, a lecture forming on my tongue. But the well-practiced routine of shouting angrily skidded to a halt as I gaped at the intruder, the lecture forming into a shocked thought:

Why is Thranduil here?