*MUST READ!* Okay, this is where the Author's Note comes in handy.

Okay, so Phillpa Boyens (Co-producer of the Hobbit films) stated quite a few times that the necklace that Thranduil was willing to go to war over in the films was fashioned for his wife. Apparently in King Thror's ruling, Thranduil made a deal with him to make this necklace for his wife. Thror of course did not give it to Thranduil due to his greed (purposely like Lord Thingol's naggociation with the dwarves of Nogrod over the Nauglamir.) However, if Thranduil had this necklace fashioned in King Thror's time-which would be around year 2660-2770 of the Third Age-IF his wife was still alive, then SO many things would not add up. The biggest one being that Legolas has no memory of his mother in the films, so she obviously died when he was a baby, and if she would have died around this time, then Legolas would be even younger than Tauriel (who is in the six hundreds) in time of the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings, and that would not make sense in the slightest. So I decided to do it in the way it would make more sense, where Thranduil fashions this necklace for his wife who is already dead by that time, but he already had this idea in mind. I will get more into it later on in the chapters, but this is important to keep in mind. That is all.

Seated next to her king on their large and comfortable bed, Taurbaneth watched Thranduil-whom had his eyes half open, one hand under his pillow, and the other resting upon it in a peaceful sleep. Whenever Thranduil had slept, he would be in his beauty sleep, thus it would always be difficult to wake him.

"Thranduil, tis time for you to awake," Taurbaneth whispered, gently stroking his face.

Thranduil groaned from his awakening and shut his eyes, but he did not remove his wife's hand from his face.

"Tis not my wish to awake," Thranduil informed.

The curve of the elvenqueen's lips moved upward in a smirk.

"Pity our offspring is not yet born. I am certain the elfling would find its ways to wake you. Ways that I do not have the courage to perform," Taurbaneth mentioned.

"Well it is not," Thranduil reminded bluntly, his eyes still shut.

Keeping her smirk upon her face, she walked over to the small porch outside of their chamber and observed what the morning had to offer in their realm.

Thranduil peaked an eye open to look at his lover. She appeared to be at peace, and one of her hands were protectively holding onto her bulging belly. Seven months it has been since the elven queen has bared a child to Thranduil, and ever since, she constantly keeps her hand around her concealed child in a protective manner.

Thranduil smiled from his viewing.

"Curses, your beauty is most pleasing to my eyes, therefore, they will not let me drift off into slumber," Thranduil cursed softly.

Taurbaneth faced her lover with a smile, and then Thranduil sat up on his bed as he yawned and stretched his body. Afterwards, he lifted himself from the bed so he could walk towards his spouse. He held Taurbaneth with an arm around her back. They leaned forward for a kiss and Thranduil placed a hand upon her stomach. Soon he felt a light thumping against his palm. Both of the elves pulled away from the kiss with a smile, and Taurbaneth rested her hand upon his.

"He is very strong," she stated proudly.

Thranduil looked up at Taurbaneth curiously.

"He?"

"We will bear a son, I can feel it," Taurbaneth said joyfully.

Trusting her word, Thranduil said, "Thus, these realms will have a strong and extraordinary prince."

"Indeed," Taurbaneth agreed, grinning. Suddenly, she said, "There is something I wish to tell and show you. Will you come with me?"

"I will," Thranduil said, taking her hand in his.

Taurbaneth led her king down many flights of steps and timbered platforms until they have reached the very bottom. At the bottom—very close to the main entrance of the halls—was where the animals were still held. Now curious of what he was to be showed, he followed his wife until she stopped when she approached Taurant. She reached out her hand so it laid on the creature's muzzle and he let her. She turned her head around to look at Thranduil and she said, "Trusting another being is not common for Taurant, yet he does for you."

Thranduil slowly nodded his head, awaiting her to proceed.

"Thus, I am now entrusting him into your care, as well as mine," Taurbaneth appended honestly.

This surprised Thranduil; Taurant meant very much to Taurbaneth. She cared for him as if he were her own child-of course before their own.

"Are you certain of this? As well as he?" Thranduil asked.

"Very," she said. "He is my gift to you."

Thranduil stared deep into the big and calm dark eyes of the elk, attempting to read his expression. Soon Thranduil did the same action as his spouse only slower, and when Taurant did not stir, he moved his hand up and down his muzzle. He knew Taurant was indeed trusting of him by his usual calm state in his presense and without looking at his queen, he said, "This is very kind of you."

"He will grow to be very strong and live for many years," the maiden stated. "He would serve you well incase of any battles or travel."

Thranduil gazed into the bulk's eyes longer as his hand still placed on his muzzle. Soon, he slowly turned his head towards his spouse as a kind smile showed on his face.

"Le fael," he said. (E/T: Thank you.)

Taurbaneth bowed her head with her eyes shut, and a smile.

She walked over to Taurant with the usual grace in her step and she did as Thranduil did by gazing deep into the wondrous creature's eyes, only she placed a small and sweet kiss on the muzzle. She looked to her lover to see if he was ready to eat. Thranduil calmly extended his hand so it could grasp onto Taurbaneth's palm, without touching the fingers, and they started to walk.

As they walked, but also while eating breakfast, Thranduil's thoughts were preoccupied with Taurbaneth's gift just as meaningful and beautiful. He placed a wild-berry inside of his mouth and chewed on it silently, but as he did, his attentive eyes gazed at the queen's figure. Her hair as soft as a cloud, and the finest silk, her eyes so alike of a forest, her lips as bright but soft as a pink rose, and her form beyond any word of the elven language. His queen was undoubtedly fair, and she deserved something of the same value. His mind wandered to that night when they had made love, or really any night when the stars were out. The light from the creation of Varda above shined upon her soft and pale skin, and thinking of this gave him the idea. Already he could see it: a beautiful necklace draped around her neck crafted with the heirlooms of his people-white gems of pure starlight. on this precious piece of jewelry would be charms shaped of the moon and stars in the sky. It would be absolutly perfect. The only trouble from this was the craftsman ship of making something so sublime.

The most crafted and skilled of all beings in Middle-Earth were the dwarves. They inherited and profected this skill from their creator, Aule, and despite the Children of Eru being capable of craftsmanship, only the dwarves perfected crafting objects of great beauty with diamonds and jewels within the mountains. Though, he easily remembered the rather obvious problem, the incedent involving Lord Thingol of Doriath with the dwarves involving the Nauglamir. Proving that dwarves are unpredicatable and greedy, therefore leading to Thingol's downfall. It is a dangerous move to nagociate with them, and Thranduil knew this.

Taurbaneth sipped some of her herbal tea, but then she noticed Thranduil's fixed calm state was no longer there.

"Is there something troubling you?" Taurbaneth questioned.

Thranduil straightened his back up and his fixed calm state returned because he chose not to dwell on these anxious and hopeless thoughts.

"There is not," Thranduil responded.

Relieved, Taurbaneth calmly ate the last berry off of her plate and drank the remains of her warm herbal tea. As she did all of this, her hand stayed on her bulbious stomach, tenderly moving about it.

"Care to go for our stroll? Tis not as chilly as the morning that has passed. The flakes of snow fall slowly with much agility," Taurbaneth pronounced happily.

"Certainly," Thranduil said.

He unhurridly rose from his wooden seat, as did his wife. He walked over to her and made absolute sure that her cloak was properly bundled all around her. They held their hands together and they walked outside into the winter-filled wilderness. The flakes of snow was exactly as Taurbaneth described. This type of winter day was intact for a morning stroll, and Taurbaneth knew this. She was willing to walk through any weather, for she was more than acquainted to it. They hiked along a familair path with their hands still in contact, all while being silent and embracing their surroundings.

However, the silence did not last when the queen spoke.

"Thranduil, I'm afraid to admit that I am troubled."

Going along with the hike, Thranduil anchored his gaze towards her.

"What troubles you?" he asked soothly.

"My mother was not a very kind nor compassionate woman. As a matter of fact, she never was a guardian of any sort to my own eyes."

Thranduil looked at her with empathy from that statement.

"Through the eyes of our child, that is not what I wish to be," Taurbaneth confessed. "He must be taken care of, and he must know that he is loved."

After a nearly silent sigh, Thranduil said, "Your doubt is strong, Taurbaneth. Your mind played tricks on you when you were to be queen AND my lover, and those thoughts were proven false. Though most importantly, you and your mother may share the same blood and appearences, but you are not her. You know this."

Taurbaneth looked from her lover to her belly.

"I do," she acknowledged. "I simply do not wish to take the risk." She suddenly gazed around their surroundings. "Our child will be born not only into Endor, but into this realm. A realm in which used to lie such beauty. Though it may seem hopless, there is still hope and beauty in this land. Our son needs to sense this beauty, and be grateful for what he has. At times when he may travel to other lands, he needs to appreciate the beauty in every tree, every creature, everything that grows. I wish him much happiness, for he is our blessing from Eru."

"Do you now see?" Thranduil said. "The child is but a fetus growing inside of you, yet your compassion for him is ever so great. Already your parenting is not alike of your mother before you."

Taurbaneth took a moment marking her king's words as she walked, and her unborn offspring moving about inside of her. The feeling sent a warm, loving, and joyful feeling within her heart and the corners of her lips touched the rosy-red hue of her cheeks.

"Your words bring much comfort, as well as truth," she said, gently running her hand along her belly.

Thranduil was more than pleased to hear her harked his words. However, abruptly the King's stressful thoughts from earlier returned to him.

"I feel compelled to admit that I myself am troubled," Thranduil admitted.

Facing him again, Taurbaneth said softly, "Tell me."

Thranduil sincerely looked into her eyes.

"Moments ago, you gave me a gift. A gift to show your devotion. Yet for something in return, I am but empty-handed. Though, even if that were not so, nothing I could give could share the same value. Even the beauty of the white gems of our people could not match, for I do not posess the skill of the dwarves to create it," Thranduil admitted, downhearted.

Taurbaneth ceased with their stroll and stared at Thranduil intensely.

"Thranduil, I believe that you are confused," she said, holding both of her companion's hands in hers. "You have given me everything. You have given me love, hope, peace, a home, but most of all..."

She placed their interlaced hands together on her round belly and both of the could feel repeative pounds against their palms. Thranduil immediatly knew what she meant by that gesture, and they both shared a genuine loving grin while gazing into each other's eyes.

Nothing more was said, simply because it was not needed. Thranduil leaned his face forward so his lips could press against hers in a tender kiss, all while their child made itself aware under their hands.