Hey guys! Currently on Winter Break, so for the next two weeks, expect faster updates! This is basically a chapter where she goes over everything that happened. During my period of not uploading, I mapped out the remainder of the story! Enjoy, comment, vote!

Tauriel's POV:

I tapped my fingers rhythmically against my cooling cup of tea. It was a chilly night, and the candles' wavering light illuminated the deep pink of the tea. My reflection rippled, creating unseen shadows lurking around me. Gripping the teacup handle tightly, I squeezed shut my eyes, forcing unwanted memories out of my mind that kept creeping back to haunt me.

I swayed back and forth to the rhythm of the horse's slow trot, feeling the soft cloth of the elf's uniform. The elf was holding me in her arms as she rode her horse, calling to her companions, "Hey! The survivor was this child. Her father and mother are dead, but I think we retrieved the bodies. You in the green tunic! Go make sure the bodies are brought back with us." A hot tear trickled down my cheek at her words. Mother...she couldn't be dead! I heard her scream, yes, but maybe...maybe she was just hurt, or scared. Maybe, just maybe.

My hands clenched, as I breathed in heavily, staring down at my reflection accusingly. Silently, I said a quiet prayer for Nana (mother), calming myself with the peaceful words.

I sat side by side with Legolas as his father (who was kind of scary) sliced an enormous cake that read, "Happy Birthday Legolas!". He placed the slice on Legolas' plate as I, with some of Thranduil's friends and others cheered and clapped enthusiastically.

"Thanks!" Legolas squeaked happily, taking a bite of the strawberries and cream cake. "Mmm!"

I beamed at his delighted face.

A small smile crept into my face. He was so cute back then, as he still is. I could still remember his cream-covered mouth back then.

I stood to the side, desperately holding in tears as I watched Legolas approach Elyrianneth in the hall, wearing his best tunic.

"My lady," he said respectfully.

"You! Peasant!" she barked venomously, suddenly turning to me.

Jumping slightly, I slid out of the shadows and bowed. "My lady?"

"Here," she said, thrusting her lavishly bejeweled handbag into my arms. "Take this up to my room. And don't you dare take anything, you peasant!"

"Of course not, my lady," I mumbled, not daring to look at her lest I lunge at her in fury. I walked away quickly, feeling both Elyrianneth's and Legolas' gazes burn my back.

I sighed softly at her memory. I wasn't happy at her death, but relieved, in a way, to know she wouldn't come between Legolas and I again, a feeling for which I hated myself for.

I buried my face into the soft sheets of my bed, playing the scenes of her death over and over again. Why, why, why? Me? Did I kill her? Softly, the shadows in the room whispered "Yes" to me over and over again, burning me each time, a searing pain that I couldn't ignore.

Often, I still asked myself the same question. Did I kill her? Did I kill her? As much as I had hated her, I knew that I had willingly created an Elyrianneth for Legolas. Kili.

I watched the dwarf pace back and forth in his cell. A smile spread over my face as I gazed at him.

"Tauriel."

Startled I turned quickly. "Legolas!"

"Do you want to take morning watch with me tomorrow?" he asked coolly.

I glanced back at Kili, who was watching Legolas and I talk with a pained expression. "Um...I can't...um...I have...something to do tomorrow."

"I understand," he said, his voice suddenly cold and formal. "I will see you at dinner, Captain."

Kili. After all that happened, his name still sent a soft pang of guilt through me, deepening the unseen wound.

"Kili, where are you?" I demanded silently, perched on a large rock. The wind pulled back my bright red hair as I squinted into the unyielding forest. I focused on the forest so much, I didn't hear Legolas' light footsteps behind me until he had pointed an arrow at me.

I always knew Legolas would be there for me, in good times and bad. But when Kili died, the pain was so immense, I was trapped, trapped in an unbreakable bubble.

Kili, come back, please, please, please! I choked back another sob as I rocked back and forth beside Kili's body. The cold mountain wind bit my tear-soaked cheeks. Warm, crimson blood trickled from a head laceration, but I didn't care. Why did it matter if I died? I had no desire to live anyway. "Just take me!" I shrieked at Valar as a round of tears washed dirt and blood off my face.

Even now, the memory was crystal clear, each stab of sadness as sharp as it was the day he died. But even so, I moved on. I moved on, and now I am...here. Sitting in front of a cooling cup of tea.