Legolas was appalled from what he had just heard. His own sister, a fellow monarch, with a servant of this realm? For a thousand years, he had been blind to all of this? It was most unheard of, and for her to conceive a child without being married was especially heinous. It was a mark of mistrust, a mistake that could make one unworthy to enter Valinor. But he could not believe what he heard; he wish he unheard it all, but he heard her voice say it, word for word. But with Galion though. It was not a match that one could not really support, and now, Tawariell was pregnant with a servant's child. It would be most grim.
But a choice had to be made. A difficult one, that would either make or break his sister's fate in the realm entirely. He did not want to betray her secret, and he found it especially hard to do so, when he knew in the past that secrets destroyed their ada. Thranduil was not one to take kindly to the truths that were hidden. The last time he had heard of a secret, it led to battles, and to a fate for one whom he loved dearly. Legolas' heart was contrite with this. He wanted to save her from such a scorning, but there was nothing he could do at all. It would tear him apart, to keep such a thing from their ada. But for now, he would not do it.
Tawariell was lying upon her bed, thinking to herself. She too faced the troubles, and if it were possible, she could have sworn that her thoughts synchronized with another's. She let her fingers entwine in her own black hair, and she wondered now whom she would have to face. Would she face her ada first, or Galion? Even Legolas? It was all a matter of time before all three would find out, but she knew it would end in misery. It was the first time that she knew of that a child was conceived before marriage, and it would shatter its hopes of entering the sight of the Valar as a pure soul. As an expecting mother, it frightened her.
Legolas could not bear it any longer. He went to her rooms, opened the door and found her lying there upon her bed, lost in thought. His blue eyes looked among her, and he was most distraught over what to do. Tawariell sat up on her bed instantly, giving a saddened look to her brother. Her grey eyes shone brightly in sorrow beneath her black hair. Legolas hated to see her so upset, but he had to confront her before it was too late. He approached her and knelt in front of her, holding her hands. However, she then realized why he had come.
She removed herself from her bed and wrenched her hands away; she walked over to the edge of the small balcony that outlined her rooms. Her eyes fell over the gaze of the falls yet again, and she exhaled as she knew that he had to of known by eavesdropping. Her black hair flowed in the small breeze, but her heart felt heavier than ever. Especially as he drew near with his voice on the edge. "Tawariell," he began, "this isn't right for you to keep this. This child will come and grow, and it will probably be ridiculed all its life for this moment."
The older sibling turned to face the other, and tears fell from her eyes. She knew that it was not right for her to have conceived before marriage, but she feared that it would have been the only time for her to have done this, even before there was a horrid possibility that Thranduil would condemn her beloved Galion. The thought of her losing the father of her child terrified her greatly. Tawariell however, steadied herself and faced Legolas with strength brewing in her heart. "I know it was wrong, but this child means the world to me."
A straight line appeared on Legolas' face, as did the look of moderate disbelief. His brows furrowed together, and he gently shook his head as he looked down at her abdomen. He wanted to touch the area, to see if this was just a silly rumor he had heard. But Tawariell saw the hesitation in her brother. She took her own hand and clutched onto his, pressing it lightly against the surface of her belly. Legolas pondered and waited. But then, it moved; a light kick flourished against his palm. He withdrew his hand from hers, pulling back in fear.
"You need not be afraid of your niece, Legolas," she whispered. "It is not bore of shadow, nor is it bred from fear and self-loathing. This child was created out of love, and it will be born into light, not darkness. I will not allow you to separate me from what is my birthright. As a naneth, I will do anything in my power to keep this child safe. Even from its own kin."
"But this is not of our ways, Tawariell!" Legolas objected, his words defensive. "If our own ada finds out about this-" But even as he tried to finish speaking, Tawariell cut him off in an instant with a quick explanation. "Legolas, he already knows that there will be a grandchild waiting for him. He knows of his grandson. The only thing he does not know is who its own ada is, nor does he know that I am carrying it now." Even with those words, all went silent.
