So here is the last chapter for you all. Enjoy :D

Chapter 10

Animal guardian

When Luin woke up she felt that she was laying on a soft bed in a very dark room. Only light in it was coming prom a pale moon in the night sky. When she shifted her body to look around the room and yelped when she felt a pain coursed through her ribs. She looked at them and saw that every her wound was covered in clean white bandages. Then she noticed that shard in her pendant was glowing a little as her body was. She remembered what Elbereth did and looked at her front paw.

And the other pendant was there.

'I must find Legolas.' She thought.

The little feline jumped down from the bed ignoring the pain from her wounds and headed to the door.

She somehow managed to open the door and stepped to the dark empty hall.

How can I find his room from inside when all the halls look the same to me? She said aloud.

She was wandering through the halls for a long until she found the right door, where Legolas' scent was the strongest. But there was another problem. She smelled another three scents of other beings in the room and also how she is going to open the door.

She leaned on the door but it did not move. Then she looked at the door handle and pressed it.

The door quietly opened.

When Luin entered she saw Lord Elrond sleeping on a chair near the bed and the twins on the sofa, Elrohirs' head rested on his older brothers' shoulder. Luin was not interested in them and she quietly moved to the bed. She did not even realized that the ancient elf woke up when she was almost at the bed.

Lord Elrond did not know what woke him up. He looked around the room and saw that the door to Legolas' room was opened. He wandered what could have happened when a soft glow caught his eyes.

"What are you doing here, penneth?" The ancient elf quietly asked.

Luin almost growled at him, because she was unaware that the Elven Lord was up.

Sorry I did not want to wake you. The ashamed feline said.

"Worry not little one. Luin is it? Lord Elrond asked.

Aye. Luin is the name which Legolas gave me when we met. She said proudly.

"You should not be here. You are still wounded. And actually you were dead."

I know I was. I just wanted to be with Legolas. The little feline said and carefully, not to wake the elfling she jumped on the bed. When she laid down and her soft fur touched Legolas' hand, the elfling unconsciously snuggled to her side, his head laying on he soft back.

"He cares deeply for you." The ancient elf said when he saw what Legolas just did in his sleep and smiled at them.

I know. And I care for him and love him as my brother. He is the only thing I have in this world. She was quiet for some time and suddenly she asked. Can you help me with something?

"Aye, but it depends on what do you want."

It is not something difficult. Just take the pendant from my front paw and place it around Legolas' neck. She said with a smile and stretched her front paw.

Lord Elrond stood up and untied the pendant from the felines' paw and noticed that is the same pendant she has but in different color. Then he tied it around Legolas' neck as Luin asked. Then he sat back to his chair.

Thank you for your help.

"You are welcome." Lord Elrond replied and pated Luin on her head. And she started purring.

"How did you manage to get back here, to the land of the living?" Lord Elrond asked curiously.

It was none of my doing. Well may be it was.

"How?"

Well I woke up in a place called The Crossing, then this strange mist appeared and an elf maiden stepped out. She was called like a star named Elbereth.

"You met Elbereth?" The ancient elf was so surprised. He never thought that beasts like this little feline could ever meet the Vala, and even more that they can go to The Crossing.

Aye, I did. And also I met Legolas' mother and mine. Then Elbereth was asking me some questions and when she heard the correct answers she said that I am still needed here and I may go back to Legolas. She gave me a rare gift and also one for Legolas. Luin then pointed on the pendant around Legolas' neck. She pulled it out from mine.

"And what did you get? What can be the rare gift for a feline like you, Luin?" Lord Elrond was curious.

She said that I can spend the whole time in the world with my little friend. She smiled at Legolas' sleeping form. She gave me the gift of immortal life.

The ancient elf gasped in shock.

I thought that she was just jesting but, when I woke up here in the dark room my body ached all over. And I knew that I was alive again. I never thought that I can be special somehow.

"Indeed you are special like little Legolas is. It was fate which brought you together. You meant to be his animal guardian." And he smiled at the little feline.

Suddenly Luin yawned. I know you have lot of questions for me but we should get some sleep. We will have all the time we want tomorrow. Then Luin snuggled even tighter to Legolas, making a big furry ball from them and she immediately fell asleep.

"Aye, we will." Lord Elrond said and a smile appeared on his face when he looked at the two young beings on the bed.

Not long after even the Lord of the Imladris fell asleep in his chair.

Till dawn came all elves in Legolas' room were still asleep. They were exhausted from the worry for Legolas.

Little Legolas was first who woke up. Before his eyes focused he felt a something warm and soft all around him. When his vision cleared he was staring to a bright sky blue eye. He immediately realized to whom the eye belonged.

"Luin!" He happily exclaimed and wrapped his little arms around the felines' neck in a tight hug. Tears of happiness started rolling down the princes cheeks.

The twins and Lord Elrond were startled from their sleep by the sudden noise, and looked at the bed where the elfling was hugging the feline. This site was so sweet that all the older elves could not hide their smiles.

Aye, I am here my little brother. She smiled and licked the tears from his cheeks, tears forming in her own eyes.

"I missed you Luin." The elfling sobbed.

And I missed you too Legolas.

"Please. Do not leave me ever again." Little Legolas pleaded.

I will never leave you. I will be with you forever. Luin said and hugged him closer. Till the end of the time. She added.

The twins threw a puzzled looked at each other then at the feline and then at their father.

Lord Elrond knew what they wanted to asked him. 'She is immortal now.' He mouthed. His eyes filled with tears of happiness for the little prince and the little snow leopard, and thanked the Valar and Elbereth for this magnificent gift.

Later that day was Lord Elrond sitting in his study accompanied by the twins, Legolas and Luin. The ancient elf was sitting behind his desk asking the feline various questions and was writing down her answers.

Even the twins, who were sitting on the chairs opposite their father, were asking her various questions.

Luin was laying on the soft carpet with Legolas, who did not leave her side, beside her stroking and playing with long fur on her head.

"Where did you come from before you ended up in Greenwood?" Lord Elrond asked.

I came from the mountains which lay north from Greenwood. I was the member of the Pack of the mountains star.

"So you came from the Gray Mountains." Elladan stated.

Aye. Luin turned her head to the older twin and nodded.

"How many members your pack had or rather how many members could by in a pack?" The ancient elf curiously asked.

In my pack there were around two dozen members. It is various in each part in the world. It could be less but, it also could be more. She answered with a smile and Lord Elronds' eyes widened .

"That much?"

Aye. Some of the younger around one year were taking care of the cubs, while the adults were on a hunt.

"And how did you end up near Greenwoods' garden?"

As I was telling Legolas few months ago, I my family were chased by orcs and wargd. We were able to kill some of the foul beasts but, there were still so many and us were just too few. And more orcs were coming. My parents told me to hide in the forest and they will stop the beasts. They surly died because I met my mother in The Crossing. As I was saying, they did not stop all the wargs. Few of the beasts followed me in the forest and I was not quick enough to outrun them. When they caught me I had to fight them. I killed one but the others injured my paw. Then suddenly an arrow hit one of wargs and it fell dead on the ground. When they were distracted by a group of elves I ran away. And then I met Legolas. Luin smiled at the memory.

"So you chose our little leaf to be your family. Right?" the elven Lord asked.

Aye.

"I did not know that an elf is able to befriend a big cat." Elrohir smiled.

I did not know either that I can befriend an elf. She saw Legolas go around her to the other side and added. I did not know it is even possible. Ouch! She yelped as Legolas pulled her long fur behind her right ear. What are you doing Legolas? She asked and looked at her little brother.

"Making warrior braids for you." Legolas said smiling at his work.

What? Why? She asked surprised.

"You do not have the training of a warrior and you are not an elf but, you saved my life. So you earned these braids." The elfling triumphantly said.

I do not think they will hold. The feline smiled at him.

"And I think they will hold long enough. And besides they look good on you."

You think? The feline asked.

"Aye." The little prince finished braiding the braid. "What do you think?" He addressed the other elves in Elronds' study.

"Aye, those look very good at you. You should wear them with pride for what you did for Legolas." Lord Elrond said and the twins nodded.

Thank you Legolas. And she bowed her head for him.

"Can we go outside and play?" Legolas asked.

"No." Came the answer from the ancient elf. "Luin needs to rest to heal her wounds."

I am fine Lord Elrond. Really. The feline protested.

"I said no, Luin. You are still weak from the blood loss." Lord Elrond said.

But I do not have any pain, so we can gout and play.

The Lord of the Imladris stood up from his chair and went to her and Legolas. He kneeled down to them on the rug, smiled at them and stroked the felines' head with his hand. "My dear Luin, you do not feel any pain because of the potion I gave you. And this reminds me that I have to make you another dose of the potion. So come with me."

Legolas and Luin both stood up and followed Lord Elrond to the room they gave to the little prince and the feline.

When Elrond turned he saw Legolas' sad face and said. "Do not be sad tithen lass, you can go play outside when Luin gets better. But I can bring you some paints, so you can paint inside." And he smiled at the little prince. He knew that Legolas loved to paint and he was really good at it.

Legolas' faces brighten. "That is a great idea. I can paint you and Luin and Elladan and Elrohir and everything."

Lord Elrond was very pleased with this turn and ordered an elf, which passed by to bring the paints and canvas to Legolas' room.

The two elves and the feline entered the room with a balcony to the garden. Lord Elrond stepped to the table where he had the healing supplies for the potion. Luin laid on the rug and Legolas seated himself on an armchair near the rug, which Luin occupied.

The ancient elf finished the potion and went to Luin.

Do I really have to drink that? She asked.

"Aye, if you want to heal faster and almost without pain." The Lord of Imladris replied.

But it tastes horrible.

"I know Luin but, you must." Lord Elrond smiled.

Okay.

Lord Elrond helped her to drink it slowly. When the foul tasting liquid touched her tongue she made a face and tried to spit it out and close her mouth. But Lord Elrond whispered to her ear and held her jaw opened.

When it was done he smiled at her. "This was not too bad, was it?"

It tasted like a long dead warg. No offence my Lord but it was.

"I understand you. I know how bad it tastes but it helps." And he walked back to the table.

That day passed really quickly and very quiet. Legolas was painting Lord Elrond and Luin was sleeping near his legs. The other days passed always the same until the day Luins' bandages were removed. She and Legolas went to the garden and played whole day with the twins, sometimes with Glorfindel and Erestor, and even Lord Elrond. The Lord of Imladris was very surprised how quickly the felines' wounds healed. And he was happy that Legolas found a friend like she was.

In the middle of the spring when everything was in bloom king Thranduil came for his son as a surprise.

Legolas was playing with Luin in the garden when they heard horses approaching. Lord Elrond and his twin sons were surprised when they came to the gate of Imladris and saw Thranduil and his guards stepping through the gate. They greeted each other and talked together. Elrond asked if Legolas knew that he will come and take him home back to Greenwood. The elven king said that this was a surprise for his youngest son.

Back in the garden Luin crouched on the ground allowing Legolas to mount her and they headed to the gate.

They were near when Legolas recognized who was there. "Ada!" He happily exclaimed and Luin picked up the speed to be there faster.

"Ion nin!" The elven King exclaimed.

Luin stopped in front of the king and let the elfling jump down from her back.

Legolas hurried to his father, who held him in tight embrace. "I know not that you would come for me."

"It was meant to be a surprise." He looked down at his son and then at the feline. "And who is this?" He asked.

Oh. I am sorry my King. I am Luin Legolas' friend. And she bowed before the King of Greenwood.

"She saved my life, ada." Legolas said.

"Did she?"

"Aye. And she will go with us to Greenwood. Mother said that she is my animal guardian." The elfling said.

"She did. And when she said it to you, tithen lass?" Thranduil curiously asked.

"In one of my dreams, ada. When Luin came back to life as an immortal being." Legolas smiled came to Luin and stroked her. And Luin started to purr.

Thranduil looked at Elrond and was totally confused what his young son just said.

Lord Elrond walked to his friend, placed his hand on his friends shoulder and smiled. "Come mellon nin I will explain everything to you." And they went inside.

Thranduil, Legolas and Luin stayed in Rivendell few more days before they left to Greenwood. They said their goodbyes to each other and left. Legolas shared horse with his father but, when he had the chance he used Luin as her mount. And like this the youngest prince of Greenwood entered the palace grounds.

On a white bluish snow leopard.

THE END

Translations:

Ada- dad, daddy

Tithen lass- little leaf

Mellon nin- my friend

Penneth- young one

Ion nin- my son

Thanks for your comments booklover1498, Beaufale, gginsc.

Second story in Feline series:The first true hunt

This story and my faithful readers, inspired me to write a sequel to this and three more stories about Luin, Legolas and others :) Sorry for any mistakes:) your LoeLuin ;)