Chapter 31 - Legolas Struggle.

"Well, Tauriel, you saw the man I was with you go there and wait for me, I'll soon came back" While speaking Gray plinked to Tauriel as if telling her to hide.

"Okay, I'll wait for you there" And of course Tauriel understood his meaning, so she directly went away, giving the feeling that she really left the place.

After a minute of her departure. Gray looked at the empty road beside him and said; "Will you stay hiding like this?"

"You know I'm here..." Suddenly a young man appeared from the street side, looking at Gray with helpless eyes.

"Will... It's not that hard to find you, little prince" Gray looked at the man in front of him and said.

Legolas, the wood realm prince.

"So what do you think?" Gray said to Legolas and walked around him slowly.

"This is her choice.." Legolas said this, but you can see the struggling look on him face.

"Yes. It's her choice, but what about you? What will your choice be?" Gray came behind him and said slowly.

"My choice of what..." Legolas couldn't understand what Gray means.

"You know, after killing the dragon, and the orcs that follow me, I'll leave with Tauriel, but the place where we will go, is much more dangerous then what you can imagine," Gray said those word slowly as if he's trying to tell something to Legolas.

When Legolas heard Gray's words, his eyes twitched and even his heart started to get nervous.

"Dangerous? How dangerous?" Legolas asked Gray. As if he wants to confirm something.

"Well... the dragon inside the mountain, is a very common creature in the place where we will go!" Gray said those words as if saying a simple fact.

When Legolas heard his word. He pulled his swords directly and pointed to gray.

"If it's like this, I won't let you take her" Legolas really doesn't want Tauriel to go with Gray. And now Gray telling him that he will take her to such a dangerous place? he won't allow this to happen.

Gray looked at Legolas with a smile, then he waved his hand lightly and the swords left Legolas's hand and came to Gray's hands.

Seeing this, Legolas was startled, but he reacted fast he took his bow and wanted to shoot Gray with the arrow. But he found that the arrow on he's back disappeared. looking up he found all his arrows were floating around him in a circle. As if ready to penetrate his body at any moment.

"You are so weak, little prince" Gray looked at him with a smile and said.

Legolas didn't answer Gray. Is he weak? Of course not. It's Gray whos abnormal.

"So what will your choice be?" Gray asked again.

Legolas stared at Gray with doubt. Gray asked him this question again without explaining to him what he means.

"You love Tauriel, don't you" Gray suddenly said, and a foxy smile appeared on his face.

"What are you talking about." The little prince was scared by Gray's words. Even though what Gray said is true, but he didn't show this to anyone. At least that what he thought.

"Tauriel will leave with me, she's not someone who likes to stay in a birdcage, you should know this better than me" When Gray said those words, Legolas calmed again. And thought of what Gray said. Tauriel personalty he knows the best. And that's why he didn't stop her when she decided to join Gray before. He knows that he can't stop her even if he wants.

Seeing Legolas keeping silent. Gray knows that his word was effective. so he continued.

"If Tauriel followed me, you will not have a chance to see her again" The more Gray talk the more Legolas will struggle on his thoughts.

"So... why don't you just come with us"

...

Gray finally said his purpose. That's what Gray wanted from the beginning. To let Legolas join his pirate ship.

When Gray decided to form a team, he naturally will look for the best. And Legolas was the first one appear on his mind.

Legolas is an impressive and skilled archer, the skills he shows during his fight with the orc, and his growth in the 60 years between the hobbit and lord of the ring trilogy. Showed to Gray, Legolas's potential. As for his personality even though he's not fully mature right now. But Gray knows his nature, he can trust him as a friend and partner.

So that was his plan from the beginning. First, let Tauriel join him, then use her to pull Legolas.

Gray doesn't think of Tauriel as bait. He really values her. But if he can get Legolas to join him too. That will be better.

When Legolas heard Gray's words, he was stunned. He didn't think on this way before.

Seeing Legolas stunned eyes. Gray looked at him and said; "I'm strong, but not the strongest, no matter how strong the person is, there is always someone or something stronger than him. Tauriel has great potential and she will get stronger and stronger in the future. But this doesn't mean that we won't encounter a stronger enemy. If you join me I'll give you a chance to become stronger. So you can keep up with Tauriel growth, and protector her when the time come"

After saying all this. Legolas was lost in thought. He knows what Gray said, is true. After all Gray doesn't have reason to lie. But he couldn't decide directly.

Looking at the lost Legolas, Gray returned the swords to him and said; "If you decide to follow me, you can find me in the mountain, think about what I said. So you don't regret it later".

After ending his words, Gray turned back and walked to Bard's house.

Legolas standing there staring at Gray's back. His eyes were flashing from time to time. Soon he made up his mind and looked at the mountain.

...

While he was walking toward Bard's house, Tauriel jumped from the roof and looked at Gray with a wondering look.

"What did you say to Legolas?" She didn't leave and hid a little far away. When she saw Legolas pointed the swords at Gray. She was surprised. she knows that Legolas can't win against Gray. So she wanted to stop him. But before she acts. Gray started to talk to him again. and Legolas calmed down. She really wonders what were they talking about.

"You will know soon, now let go back and raise your strength" Gray said while walking toward Bard's house.

For the way to raise her strength, is very simple. Since Gray can copy from others. He can also copy what he has for others. Gray wants to rise her bloodline and give her the skilled he copied from. In this way, her strength should rise by leap and bound.

Hearing Gray's answer, she didn't ask again and followed him.

...

On the way back Gray heard some noise coming from the village center, out of curiosity, Gray walked to see what happening there. But when he reached, what he saw what a very familiar scene. Thorin standing in the middle of the crowd, telling them that he will get the mountain back. And everyone inside the town will have a share of the treasure. While Bard being scolded by the town master.

Looking at Thorin saying those words. Gray didn't stop him. He only hopes that Thorin will overtake his greed for gold faster this time.

"Mr. Gray" Bilbo saw Gray standing behind the town people watching. So he came to Gray said and greeted him.

Gray looked at Bilbo with a smile and greeted him. Bilbo was the first person he sees in this world. This little guy surprised him many times before. even though he didn't play the same rule as the original movie on their journey. But he was able to gain the trust of everyone and became a real companion.

Soon the cheers of the people around became louder, apparently, Thorin won their trust. Even the town master was smiling.

"Mr. Gray, do you know what they wanted to do?" Bard also noticed Gray who was standing behind so he came and asked.

Gray looked at him blankly then said; "Yes I know"

"No you should stop them, if you let them go there, they will only bring disaster to everyone here" Bard was really anxious when he heard Gray answer. The Dragon, he grew up listening about how terrifying the dragon is. So he's scared that the dwarves will anger the dragon and effect the town people. Even though he knows that Gray is very strong, he still doesn't think he can kill the dragon.

Gray was silent for a moment and said; "You don't have to worry about the dragon. What you really should do is to take everyone here and run away from here, soon an orcs army might attack the mountain. if you stay here, none of you will survive"

After telling Bard this, Gray didn't stay left alone with Tauriel, he doesn't want to be noticed by others. Besides, he wants to find a quiet place to help Tauriel rise her strength.

After some search, he found an empty house and stayed inside.

...

"Are you ready" Gray was holding Taureil hand ready to copy the high elf genes to her.

"Yes" Taureil thought for a moment and said. She wondered how will Gray rise her strength. But soon the answer appeared.

Suddenly a great feeling appeared from her body. And Greenlight started to appear around her.

Her transformation wasn't as magical as Gray. After all, she is an elf to began with. While Gray changed his race from a normal human to high elf.

...

Soon the transformation ended. And the Taureil appeared from the green light again.

Like Gray, she became much more pure and beautiful than before. Her red hair becomes redder. Her eyes become sharper. Her skin becomes cleaner.

If Tauriel before the transformation was a Female warrior. The Tauriel standing in front of him is a valkyrie goddess.

....

Looking at Taureil in front of him, Gray smiled and said; "Congratulation, Taureil the high-elf"

....

(Author: Sorry for my poor grammar, English is not my first language after all. If you found any mistake.. please leave a comment on the paragraph, I'll fix it fast.)