AN: Thanks so much for your wonderful reviews guys! Let's check in with our favourite elves once more...
Tauriel POV
Tauriel awoke from her waking dreams and sat up from where she had been curled upon Legolas' shoulder. Tauriel noticed that her auburn hair had become entwined with the Prince's silver locks and she felt a blush rise to the tips of her ears and a smile form on her lips at the flood of memories from last eve invading her mind.
She bent down and gently kissed her elf. She was happy when Legolas instinctively reached up to wrap her in his arms and snuggle her back down upon his chest.
'Tauriel…' The elven Prince mumbled her name in his dreams, causing her to smile in happiness.
'Tauriel?' He called again and she felt him become fully awake and looked up from his chest to see his sea-blue eyes watching her.
Legolas started tucking her wayward auburn locks back behind her ears and she noticed his smile deepen.
'Your ears are blushing, Tauriel.'
Well they would be considering what I am thinking.
Legolas raised an eyebrow and let his finger lightly caress her right ear. Threads of white hot pleasure coursed down her spine and Tauriel's breathing quickened.
Legolas hummed happily at her reaction and caught her eye, lovingly studying her features and then nothing else mattered for a time.
One of the most memorable months she had spent with Legolas later, Tauriel was gazing out at the night sky, from the tall windows of their chambers, utterly happy in her new surroundings. Letting her mind walk amongst the celestial wonders, Tauriel almost did not notice the odd feeling of a small, glimmering light inside her. At first she did not understand how she could sense the light inside her but then she realised that it was the first glimmer of life.
Tauriel gasped and her hand flew to her flat stomach, spinning around to face the room. 'Legolas!' She cried.
Legolas bolted to her from where he had been fletching arrows at his desk. Worry creased his brow as he cupped her cheek. 'What is it meleth nîn?'
Tauriel looked up at him with a bewildered gaze upon her face and reached to place his larger hand under her smaller ones upon her stomach.
Legolas' frown turned into a beatific smile as he understood what this meant.
'I…I am with child, Legolas.' Tauriel's heart melted when Legolas looked upon her as if she were the most wonderful creation in existence.
'Gi melin, Tauriel. I am overjoyed!' he cried into her hair, wrapping her tightly, yet gently into his strong arms.
Tauriel closed her eyes in happiness, tucking her head into what had always been her favourite spot, next to Legolas' neck and hidden behind his curtain of silver hair.
I am going to have an elfling, with Legolas!
Legolas POV
Every time he thought about Tauriel's news, the Prince felt himself smile uncontrollably and his step became lighter, almost so much that he felt that he was floating around Ithilien.
They had decided to announce their news to their friends at a dinner with the King and Queen. After they had announced the news the dinner had almost turned into a celebration feast, so jovial was everyone.
Legolas smiled as Ranadir barely let go of Tauriel for a solid few minutes until Serilla dragged him away.
'Our little Tauriel is all grown up, Serilla!' He kept saying as he held onto the healer now.
Aragorn, Gimli, Faramir and Ranadir had patted him on the back and kissed Tauriel's hand. Éowyn and Serilla hugged Tauriel and the two began to excitedly talk about preparations together whilst Arwen approached the Captain. The Queen familiarly laid her hand on Tauriel's cheek as she had done to Legolas so many times before.
'I am happy for you, Tauriel. May your child have the blessings of our people.' Tauriel inclined her head as Arwen continued. 'A new friend for Eldarion, Fin-galad and Elboron, they will be glad.' Arwen smiled beatifically.
The next day, Legolas wrote a letter to his Father, telling him of the wonderful news.
Tauriel POV
Nearly a year later, Tauriel was walking through the blooming gardens of Ithilien with Gimli by her side. She listened intently as Gimli recounted the great deeds of his forebears when a thought suddenly occurred to her.
'Gimli, if you do not mind my asking, have you found a love in this life yet?'
Gimli paused in his walking and raised his bushy eyebrows studying her but he did not seem offended. After a pause he harrumphed and continued on his walk.
Tauriel thought that he would not reply but then he did and the Captain was thoroughly surprised by his answer.
'There are no amount of jewels in this world that could ever be fairer than the Lady of Lorien.' Came his soft reply.
Does he mean Lady Galadriel?!
Tauriel was utterly stunned and almost felt a pity for his wasted love.
'She gave me three of her golden hairs, you know.' Gimli continued to pour forth the surprises. 'I set them in crystal to forever preserve their beauty.'
Tauriel smiled at her friend and caressed her rounded stomach.
Near a year has passed. It will not be long now.
The sound of a clear horn interrupted their walk and Tauriel frowned in the direction of the familiar sound.
That is no horn of Gondor.
Together, they raced to the courtyard and met Legolas, Faramir and Éowyn already mounted upon their horses, ready to ride out.
Legolas looked down at her with a slightly baffled expression. 'Ada has come.'
King Thranduil?! He has come to Ithilien? He never leaves the forest except for battle!
'My lady, it seems, your people have arrived just in time.' Faramir gave her a confused smile.
'Great. More elves. Just what we ordered.' Gimli grumbled as he climbed a mounting block to settle behind Faramir upon his grey speckled horse.
Despite being late into her pregnancy, Tauriel did not find it particularly difficult to swing up into the saddle of her own chestnut horse that had been brought forward. Éowyn gave her a look of surprise and jealousy at the manoeuvre.
It must be harder for mortal females when they carry a child.
'Legolas, what did you do to bring the King here?' Tauriel enquired as she patted her mare's slender neck affectionately.
'Do not ask me, you are the trouble maker.' Legolas threw a grin over his shoulder and Tauriel frowned at the comment as they cantered out of the city along with two flag-bearers.
'It must be the letter I wrote, telling him that we are to expect an elfling. I did not think he would come though.' Legolas mused.
Faramir had already sent messengers ahead to Minas Tirith to inform the King and Queen that King Thranduil of Eryn Lasgalen had come.
Thranduil had indeed arrived with a small army of elves accompanying him for who knew what purpose.
'Your Father rides an elk?' Éowyn asked Legolas.
'Why not?' Came the Prince's simple reply.
Their small party came nose to nose with the elves that halted in their unmoving way, waiting for their King.
'Legolas, Tauriel. It is good to see you.' Thranduil's icy stare focussed briefly on them before fixing upon Tauriel's rounded stomach. She saw his lips twitch at the corner, in happiness she thought.
'Mae g'ovannen Ada, we did not expect you.' Legolas spoke warmly yet curiously.
Thranduil tsked. 'Ionneg, if you expect me to be satisfied with the news that your first born is soon to be entering Arda from a piece of parchment, then you are mistaken.'
Legolas beamed at his Father's care and the others smiled as Thranduil looked around their company with a bored expression. Tauriel knew better.
This means a lot to him deep down.
'King Thranduil, I am Prince Faramir and this is my wife, Princess Éowyn of Rohan and Ithilien.'
'I know who you are.' Came Thranduil's curt reply, apparently already disinterested in the conversation and Tauriel schooled herself to not roll her eyes.
Faramir was not fazed even though the elven-King towered over his horse from his elk. 'We would show you to your wing of chambers, and see your other elves settled, if it would please you.'
'Thank you, Faramir.' Thranduil was busy staring between Legolas and Tauriel.
As they rode back, Éowyn rode alongside Tauriel and gave her a look as if to say, is he always like that?
Tauriel could only meet her eyes.
If only you knew.
Arwen and Aragorn rode over to dine with them that night and they were also joined by Ranadir and Serilla and many pleasant greetings were exchanged. Thranduil genuinely seemed to like the new King of Gondor and Tauriel was glad, for Aragorn was a good man.
Arwen and Thranduil did not speak overly much in public but Tauriel sensed a telepathic conversation may have been taking place from the looks they gave one another every now and then.
Tauriel was listening to Ranadir speak of how Fin-galad loved his new wooden sword, a gift to him from Faramir.
'He is going to be a gallant warrior, just like his Ada.' The tawny elf beamed proudly at them.
'Let us hope he is just as humble as you are too.' Tauriel smiled and sipped her drink before frowning and hissing.
Ah! That hurt!
'Tauriel, are you alright?' Serilla asked from where she was seated next to Ranadir, she rose but chairs were obstructing her passage. Worry was in her grey eyes as she looked to the Captain's stomach.
Another pain clenched her insides uncomfortably and Tauriel had to bite her lip.
Feeling very hot and confused, Tauriel shook her head and left her chair on unsteady legs. In a heartbeat Legolas was lifting her into his arms.
I think the baby is coming!
'It. Is. Time.' Tauriel panted in pain.
Everyone turned to look at her in concern until Aragorn spoke in a voice of calm authority. 'Legolas and Serilla, help Tauriel, the rest of us will be here if you need us.'
'Wait!' Eowyn cried. She ran to a side table where a small parcel lay and placed it into Serilla's hands.
She looked at Tauriel's grimacing face. 'I was going to give this to you tonight but I think you may need it sooner. It is a gift for your child.'
Tauriel nodded in thanks, and Serilla squeezed Éowyn's hand briefly in gratitude before they hurried to Tauriel and Legolas' chambers.
'Legolas, I am afraid.' Tauriel whispered into his hair as he carried her.
Legolas kissed her warm temple. 'Do not be meleth nîn. For I will always be here to protect you.'
AN: So it's all happening! I have nearly written the next chapter already but I am going to make you wait a little bit so as to not spoil you ;) As always if you have any thoughts, please share them by leaving a review.
x Emlaba
