Daughter of DEATH

Chapter 16 - Rivendell

It's been a while, but at least I warned you it would be! Actually, I've been excited to write this chapter so I hope you enjoy it even though I'm losing readers fast! Please tag anyone who you think might be interested here:

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The envelope rested on the bed, imposing as if it were some weapon, it's unbroken wax seal primed to attack. The smooth paper seemed that it would burn her hand if she were to touch it, The elegant handwriting spelt doom. It was clearly addressed to Tauriel Tarioniel, but, when she had been foolish enough to turn it over, she had seen that it was written by King Thranduil Oropherion, and she could see that every detail of it's lettering had been done with care, and it seemed that the King was unsure of what he was writing. This left a doubt in Tauriel's mind as to whether it would contain another hidden punishment inside, another reason to leave and never return. She had been surprised, when she was allowed to leave the healing wards, that she had been escorted to her room, and not the dungeons, for Thranduil's face when she had returned had been full of anger and scorn. Perhaps she should not read it, for then she  would know, and that could be worse even than this painful torture of the mind, the worry with which she regarded the envelope.  Was that the game the Elvenking was playing, to torment her mind? Well, her body had suffered enough, she could see why the king would torture her mind - it was all she had left to lose.

Legolas had come and gone, never staying long, always busy. Every time she asked him about the contents of the letter, he was suddenly busy, another pawn in Thranduil's cruel game, so that she would have to open it herself. And so she inched closer to it's smooth paper wrapping, and allowed her fingers to brush it's surface. Every movement sent shoots of pain through her still healing wounds, but still she dragged out the time she had before the discovery she would soon have to make.

Gingerly she lifted the letter, trembling fingers broke the seal and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, imprinted with her fate by the pen of the Elvenking. Unfolding the parchment slowly, she averted her eyes from the painfully beautiful handwriting. Then, forcing herself to focus on the page, she began to read.

To Tauriel Tarioniel,

I hope you will understand that your selfish foolishness has cost the lives of two guards, both of whom would still be alive if you could only control your temper, so much like that of your father. For this, I cannot allow you to go unpunished. Nor can I allow you to consort with the nobility and important residents of my Kingdom. However, I must admit that your previous punishment was harsh, and I shall henceforth be clear in my judgement. You shall not be allowed to spend prolonged periods of time with my son, and you shall not be allowed to attend any council meetings or resume any training until you have earned our trust.

Your actions were not only an act of betrayal, selfishness, and thoughtlessness, but also a show of your clear lack of discipline. And to right this, I have made the decision to send you away from the Kingdom for a time, to a more peaceful place where you shall learn manners, discipline and also history and lore. You shall be sent to Rivendell, where I trust Lord Elrond shall find a suitable teacher to control your disobedience. I hope that you will understand that this is for the best. You shall not participate in any kind of fighting training during your month-long stay, and you will most likely be distrusted by the Noldor elves, both for your heritage and your Silvan blood. However, I am hopeful that this will not last. You shall leave in four days time.

King Thranduil Oropherion

So, that was it. He was sending her away. Away from everyone she had ever known, away from Legolas, away from her home. She was scared. Rivendell was somewhere she knew nothing about, and Thranduil had already told her she was not going to be trusted. But more than scared, she was frustrated. She wanted to prove herself to the Woodland Realm, to the king, to the people whose whispers followed her. Not some Noldor elves far away. Some Lord Elrond she didn't care about. Not some teacher of history and lore. She clenched her fists. No fighting training for a month? What did these elves do beside study? She was never going to fit in there. As any of her teachers could tell you, Tauriel did not like studying. Her knowledge of the Valar was limited to a vague awareness of their existence, and in her mind, nothing was so useless as history and lore. What was the point of knowing what happened in the past? It was gone now, too late to change. But you could change the future, win wars, earn victory. Frustration burned inside her, as she thought of being alone, with no freedom, in a place she didn't know, full of people who didn't trust her, and teachers who, very soon, wouldn't like her. She picked up the letter to read it again. But when she got to your temper, so much like that of your father, it was too much. How dare he compare her to her father? After all, that was how this all started. How dare he? Her hands shook with anger as she tore the letter in half, and threw the pieces in the fire.