Please go back to reread the first chapter. It will explain all of the changes I've made to the story. Thanks :)
Twenty-one years before the dwarves' arrival in the Woodland Realm...
The evening began as every special event would; with a great feast. That night would be a full moon, and, to the great delight of the elves, the sky littered with bright stars. The woodland elves celebrated in great joy the light of the Eldar, save a few guards that stood on patrol.
It was just before midnight when a loud and disturbing sound ripped through the night air. First a strange-sounding wind, and then a cry. It was the distinct sound of a crying baby, and one that was most distressed. Hurrying towards the sound, the guards found a small bundle laid at the elven gate, swaddled in a green cloth.
Erfaron immediately stooped to pick up the child. It was a child of Man, a girl-child to be exact, and very newly born; the blood from her birth had not yet been completely cleaned.
"Who would leave you out here like this, child?" The elf Erfaron said to the babe. He received another shrill cry in response, and even more tears. "Come, stop that crying. We shall take you and clean you up. Then you will see the King. He will know what to do with you, love."
"Our King Thranduil is in Rivendell on business." Another guard reminded him.
"Then our Prince will decide..."
...
News about the abandoned baby did not take long to reach the ears of Legolas, the Prince of the Woodland Realm. How could it not, for the infant's cries could be heard throughout the palace. The guards immediately took the girl to the nursery where all of the realm's orphaned children were kept, where the nurse maids cleaned the infant and fed her. When Legolas entered the nursery he found the baby quiet and calm, nursing sleepily from a wet nurse.
Legolas felt immediate pity and profound sadness. "How old is she, do you think?"
"No more than a few hours, I'd say. I doubt she even latched onto her mother's breast before she was left on our gate." The elf-nurse shook her head in disgust and anger. "Who would leave a newborn babe so vulnerable and exposed—!"
The frown on the prince's face deepened. Anger and disgust was swelling up inside of him as well. "Are there any clues as to where she came from?"
"Now that, I have almost certain answers to." The nurse replied. She handed Legolas the cloth the infant was wrapped in.
Legolas knew right away where this cloth was made. The cloth was poor, but the distinctive green color, design and texture was one he recognized as being made in Rohan. Legolas glanced over at the baby and clearly saw a head full of dark brown hair—atypical of those of the Rohirrim. It was an odd find, but it was a start.
"There is one more thing." The nurse said. "There is a name stitched into the lower corner here..."
Legolas turned over the cloth and indeed saw a name roughly stitched into the fabric. "Selene." Legolas read aloud. "Hmm. That is a strange name. But then again...this is a strange situation."
The Elf-Prince went silent for a few moments. He knew it was a big decision, and he knew what his decision would be. "Selene she is, then. Selene Calithileth," Legolas said, glancing out of the window and seeing the brightness of the full moon. "She shall stay, of course. We will not leave her to die."
The elf-nurse smiled. "Excellent. It is settled, then. I have a lovely crib for her here..."
Selene was fast asleep when the nurse laid her in her new bed. She looked so peaceful and content. Once again Legolas felt a sadness wash over him and wondered why she was abandoned and who would do such a thing. With a soft sigh the prince lowered his hand into the crib and gently stroked the back of the infant's tiny hand with his finger.
"Good night, you poor darling. May your first dream be as lovely and sweet as you."
...
Legolas exited the nursery, closing the door behind him as quietly as possible as to not disturb the sleeping baby. There in the hall he found Tauriel looking at him expectantly.
"Well?"
"Well," Legolas replied. "She is calm and clean. The cloth she arrived in was made in Rohan. Whether the mother was from Rohan or just purchased the cloth there, I do not know. Nor do I know why she would be abandoned in such a way. She is healthy and strong. Her eyes are a beautiful green, too."
"Hm. Why indeed. And why on our doorstep?"
Once again, Legolas had no sure answer. He simply shrugged his shoulders. "That, I am afraid, might remain a mystery for quite some time."
"Quite some time?" Tauriel repeated, her eyebrows raised. "So you will allow her to stay?"
"Yes," Legolas nodded. "Of course. Everyone deserves a home, especially children. I will not see Selene homeless and alone."
A warm smile appeared on Tauriel's face. "Of course not." The elleth leaned forward and suddenly placed a kiss on Legolas's cheek. "You have done the right thing. Selene will do well. The nursery is a wonderful place."
Tauriel would know, of course. She also was orphaned and brought up in that nursery, just as Selene. This broke the Elf-Prince's heart further, remembering how difficult it was for Tauriel growing up without a proper family, and knowing he would have to witness Selene and the other orphans go through the same thing.
"All will be well." She whispered her reassurance and leaned in further, this time pressing her lips to his.
...
The following morning saw the return of King Thranduil. Legolas did not greet his father as his usually did when he returned from a trip. In fact, he was rather dreading seeing his father. Legolas was not king, but he was not blind to the schemes of his father. He knew what business Thranduil was up to in Rivendell, and he wanted no part in it.
He all but hid in the vast forest until he was called for dinner. He answered, of course, albeit not as promptly as he usually did. When he arrived he found Thranduil sat at the small table that was only used when the king wished to have a private dinner with his son.
"My son!" Thranduil boomed gleefully at the sight of his only child. He stood and the two embraced. "I didn't see you when I arrived..."
"I was on patrol. I lost track of time. I apologize." Legolas lied. The lie felt nasty and foreign on his tongue.
"There is nothing to forgive, my son." Thranduil said. "Come, let us eat..."
The father and son sat down at the table. For half an hour they ate and chatted casually, both avoiding the inevitable subject of the former's trip. Eventually, Thranduil would be the one to speak first.
"I saw Lady Arwen of Rivendell last night. She is quite beautiful—nearly identical to Lúthien, if you ask me."
"Interesting." Legolas replied flatly, keeping his eyes on his plate.
"According to Lord Elrond, his daughter is still single—"
"No." Legolas interjected, more forcefully than he intended to.
"No?"
"No." The Prince repeated. He forced himself to look up from his plate and into his father's eyes. "Adar, I do not wish to court Lady Arwen."
"But how would you know for sure? You've never met her."
"And I have no desire to. I am sure she is lovely but I have no interest. I thought I was free to marry for love, not political or social convenience!" Legolas argued.
"Of course you are free to marry for love," Thranduil countered. "But remember that you are over two thousand years old, son. You should at least attempt to find your soul mate."
"I shouldn't have to attempt anything. True love should come naturally, like breathing. Only then will I know for sure. Until then, I want no part in any contrived marriages. The Eldar will bring her to me when the time is right."
"But have they already?" Thranduil's voice was sharp and meaningful. Legolas narrowed his eyes suspiciously. Thranduil explained. "I have heard some things, whispers and rumors. They say that you and Tauriel have been rather intimate as of late. I thought you were done with her over three centuries ago. Is there anything you wish to tell me, son?"
Legolas blushed a faint pink, but stood his ground. "No, Adar. There is nothing to say. I have no desire for a marriage at this time, with Tauriel or anyone else."
Legolas was serious, Thranduil knew. Though the King had more to say, he decided against it. Legolas would come around soon enough.
"Alright, my son. Although it would fill my heart with such joy to see you in love and eventually a father, I will respect your wishes." Thranduil stated.
Legolas was relieved. "Thank you, Father."
Thranduil nodded and said nothing further about it. Normal conversation ensued for several long minutes, until the King brought up the next sensitive topic at hand.
"I have seen our new ward." Thranduil said. "She was sleeping peacefully. Not even the noise of the other children playing woke her."
"Yes, she is a good sleeper. She is adjusting wonderfully." Legolas replied. He was relieved that his father was calm, but he was still anxious. He, after all, made a large decision without the King's approval.
"The matrons tell me she is of Rohan."
"Possibly," Legolas replied. "At least the mother or father. Or they purchased the cloth while passing through the land. But the child was definitely born very nearby. She was still had blood on her when the guards found her."
"Such a sad and curious thing, the baby being left at our gate." Thranduil wondered aloud. "Makes one wonder whether it was purposeful...or just a mere coincidence."
"It is hard to tell," said Legolas. "But either way, Selene was abandoned and now she is safe and taken care of."
"Selene?" said Thranduil, his eyebrows raised curiously. "You have already named her? It appears you have already gotten attached to the child."
"It was stitched onto the cloth, so I assumed that is what she was intended to be named." Legolas explained. "Besides, I couldn't have left the poor babe nameless, could I?"
Thranduil chuckled. "No, of course not. Selene is an odd name, but it will belong to her. You were right to allow her to stay, it would not be right if she was left to die. So stay here she shall, until she is old enough to live among the majority of her own people."
"Hannon le, Adar." Legolas smiled brightly, much to his father's joy. Legolas stood from the table. "If you will excuse me, I wish to see about Selene."
Thranduil dismissed him, and watched with amusement as he made his way to the nursery. Thranduil chuckled as he returned to his meal.
"He is definitely attached." Thranduil said aloud to no one but himself. "Most definitely, he is attached."
Adar = Father
Calithileth means "Moon light"