Fire. All around her the forest burned. The forest that had sheltered her from childhood, the forest she loved, her home. Despite her banishment, the Greenwood would always be a part of her. And now, all around her, it burned, and she was powerless to stop it.
Still, it did not mean she would not try. She would fight this enemy she could not see. The ones that dared to burn her forest. She ran through the trees, the branches cutting her as she did not bother finding an unhindered path. She had to get to the King’s halls. If these fires continued to rage, they would be trapped there, and there would be nothing she could do.
Something blocked her way, but the smoke stung her eyes, and she could not see it. Everything around her went dark. Everything was black, and a voice rang out in her head, menacingly taunting her.
“You are failed, Tauriel, Captain of the Guard. You have failed.”
With a cry, Tauriel jerked awake, surprised to find she had fallen asleep where she sat. Elves were not ones to drift off unexpectedly, but lately, she had been finding herself falling asleep more and more, and into a much deeper slumber than she was accustomed. It was strange. Shaking herself a little, she got to her feet, hoping to shake off the dream which still plagued her mind.
It was a dream. No more. It was not something worth dwelling on. Still, she could almost smell the smoke, as if something had burned quite recently.
Suddenly she realized the burning smell was not imagined. Inspecting her hair, she found the ends shockingly singed. That was odd. She could not remember being near an open flame, and she never burned her hair, even when she was. She also seemed to still have the cuts from running through the trees, on her arms. This was also surprising, there was no logical reason her arms would be cut, especially since she always had sleeves.
Something was amiss, and it set her on edge. She did not know what was happening, but she knew she dreaded the next time she would sleep. What would happen if the dream returned?
1
Still, it did not mean she would not try. She would fight this enemy she could not see. The ones that dared to burn her forest. She ran through the trees, the branches cutting her as she did not bother finding an unhindered path. She had to get to the King’s halls. If these fires continued to rage, they would be trapped there, and there would be nothing she could do.
Something blocked her way, but the smoke stung her eyes, and she could not see it. Everything around her went dark. Everything was black, and a voice rang out in her head, menacingly taunting her.
“You are failed, Tauriel, Captain of the Guard. You have failed.”
With a cry, Tauriel jerked awake, surprised to find she had fallen asleep where she sat. Elves were not ones to drift off unexpectedly, but lately, she had been finding herself falling asleep more and more, and into a much deeper slumber than she was accustomed. It was strange. Shaking herself a little, she got to her feet, hoping to shake off the dream which still plagued her mind.
It was a dream. No more. It was not something worth dwelling on. Still, she could almost smell the smoke, as if something had burned quite recently.
Suddenly she realized the burning smell was not imagined. Inspecting her hair, she found the ends shockingly singed. That was odd. She could not remember being near an open flame, and she never burned her hair, even when she was. She also seemed to still have the cuts from running through the trees, on her arms. This was also surprising, there was no logical reason her arms would be cut, especially since she always had sleeves.
Something was amiss, and it set her on edge. She did not know what was happening, but she knew she dreaded the next time she would sleep. What would happen if the dream returned?