He's quickly trying to backtrack, swallow back his tears, put on his usual act. He's spent so long with this he should have made peace with it. If he was really so scared, wouldn't he be reaching out to people? He wouldn't be hiding away under the guise of being antisocial. None of what he does makes sense anymore.

But... none of what Tauriel does makes sense either. She should abandon him. She shouldn't care this much. If anyone would let him die, it would be her. Why would she bother to search so much just for him?

"...You're wasting your time," he mutters. "There's more important things to do here than try to find a cure for an ass like me."