Author's Note:

Chapter Fifty. Are you serious!? I honestly thought that I would have given up by the third chapter. I am truly honored to have had people read, follow, and favorite this nonsense. I appreciate each and every one of you. My special thanks goes out to Lady Viola Delesseps (This chapter contains another slight nod to her story 'Visions in Starlight.), amyisbad, merilindes , and Stardust63. You all keep me going with this, and always bring a smile to my face with your reviews and messages. Now...raise a glass to the Professor!


Chapter Fifty: Visitation

Tauriel had spent days, most of them longing to be a part of a family. There was camaraderie amongst the Guard, but it was not the same. She longed for a mother's tenderness, the guidance of a father. As she sat atop a tree, she watched with happiness for her friend and Queen as her husband leaned in, and kissed her and their new son tenderly. She saw the look of sadness swept over Glineth's beautiful face as Thranduil took Legolas into his arms, and left the clearing.

Glineth began to walk towards the tree where her home was, with a sleeping Lindir in her arms. As Glineth neared the first step, Tauriel leaped silently from the tree and onto the forest floor behind the Queen.

"Very good Tauriel, I barely heard you." Glineth said, as she turned and smiled to the youth behind her.

Tauriel laughed, and as she followed the Queen up the winding stairs said, "Thank you, your high- Glineth. Your son, he is very beautiful. Much larger than legolas was when he was born."

Glineth once again turned to look to Tauriel, and could see the sadness in her heart, and her eyes. As they reached her room, she quickly placed the sleeping child in his bed, and sat on the edge of hers.

"I shall leave you now. Rest well, Glineth." Tauriel said, bowing.

"Please, I would like it if you would stay. " Glineth said.

"I cannot. Girion has told me to run the perimeter every hour."

"And I tell you to sit with me. Do not make me command you, child." Glineth said, "Please, I do not wish to be lonely."

"Then why did you send your husband and Leoglas away?" Tauriel said, "I am...that was wrong of me to say."

"No!" Glineth said, as she laughed, "You spoke like the true daughter of Kaylanya. "

"I am glad that I remind you of her. That she survives within me." Tauriel said, her head hung low, as she walked closer to the Queen.

"So long as you honor her memory, she will never be truly lost." Glineth said as she poured herself a glass of water, "Have you had wine yet, young one? "

"Only once. At your coronation feast."

"Tonight you shall have it again, the finest of reds. A wonder that the King did not drink it all." Glineth laughed, as she handed Tauriel her glass.

"Will you not have any?" Tauriel asked.

"No, it is milk and water for me until I stop nursing Lindir."

Just as she spoke the name of her youngest child, he let out a loud, melodious cry. "Tauriel, could you? I need to change myself. " Glineth asked as she removed her long coat.

"I...I " Tauriel stammered.

"Come now, you will be a mother one day. You should learn these things." Glineth laughed as she searched for her brush.

Tauriel's eyes widened in surprise and she then nervously walked towards the child. As she leaned in to pick him up, he looked into her eyes, as if he was giving her permission to take him into her arms. With steady arms and a nervous heart, she took the child into her arms. "Beautiful child." she cooed.

"You look well with a babe in your arms." Glineth said as she brushed her golden hair.

"He is light in both weight and song."

"Well said. It may sound strange, but I love the sound of his cry."

"It sounds like the sweetest music. Like a baby bird on the first day of Spring. " Tauriel said.

"He has the gift of song, much like your father did. " Glineth said, as she watched Tauriel sit on the floor, her back against the side of her bed, "Lean your head back."

Tauriel did as the Queen asked, not knowing what she was going to do. But as she felt the brush slide through her long read hair, she sighed and said, "I have never.."

"What is it child?" Glineth asked, as she continued to brush her hair.

"No one has ever done this for me. Brush my hair, with the tenderness of a mother's touch."

"I am sorry child, that you have never felt this. It is my fault, I should have done more to stop them."

"The fault lies with them. They made the choice to abandon me."

"Do not think ill of your parents. While I thought that they were wrong, there was little I could do to stop them."

Tears stung her eyes as Tauriel vowed, "I will NOT be like them. If I am to be a mother, I will never leave my child."

Glineth finished brushing Tauriel's hair, but she placed a loving hand on the top of her head and said, "You are a fighter, a fierce protector of all you love. Your son, he is blessed in his parents."

"A son?" Tauriel whispered.

"I...yes. I looked to the stars once again. A son. He shall indeed be beautiful. He will have your hair, and the joyful, mischievous eyes of his father." Glineth said.

"I am eager to meet him." Tauriel said smiling, "the father."

"As I have said before, your journey together will be difficult. It will test your love. But your love shall endure, and serve as a lesson to all." Glineth said as her finger wove two braids on the side of Tauriel's hair, then tied them together at the back of her head. "There we are, all done."

"I am sorry." Tauriel said.

"What ever for?"

"For...That I shall not be bonded to Legolas. I know he cares for me. I do not wish to cause him pain."

"All will be well. In time, he will understand the choice you make, and will do anything to protect you, as his friend, your protector. You will need each other."

"My love will put me in danger?" Tauriel asked.

"Very little. I only fear the reaction of the King. But when the time comes, I beg you to remember that his anger comes from love. "

"The King is a cold, heartless being." Tauriel said.

"Yes. He is. Thranduil is cold, proud, vain, and sometimes too intelligent for his own good. But all of those things, those faults make him the being he is. I love him. I love, fear, and respect him for all that he is."

"You should not fear your husband." Tauriel said as she stood so that she may look at her Queen.

"I only fear what my passing may do to him, I fear losing him to the sickness that grows in this Earth."

"I meant...you have no reason to fear him. He loves you. I can see and feel it with his every glance towards you. I hope to inspire such devotion in my mate." Tauriel said.

"He will love you, just as you and I love to walk in the starlight. " Glineth said as she rose and hugged the girl close to her.

"You show me much kindness, your Highness. More than I deserve. " Tauriel said as they broke apart. "I must go now, run the perimeter."

"Of course. I thank you for staying with me." Glineth said, as she watched Tauriel place Lindir back in his bed.

Tauriel said nothing, only smiled sadly at Glineth before she quietly left the room, disappearing into the trees.

Glineth alone with her son could not resist taking her son into her arms once again. As she stroked his soft brown hair she stared deeply into his eyes and said, "My son, the day will come when you and I must forever part. But know this, no matter what my fate, I shall always love you, my little songbird."

Lindir let out a small cry of protest, he understood all that his mother said. "Oh little one, all will be well. Landir will see to it that you will be cared for by a great Elf Lord, a truly great being. He cannot wait to meet you, my little child. One day, your brother shall come and visit you in Rivendell, and a few years later, you will meet him in the Undying Lands. You will be loved child, so loved."

Lindir's tiny face formed a smile, dimples forming on his cheeks. "That's better my love." Glineth then placed the child back into his bed, stroking his cheek and asking the Valar to bless him with only the happiest of dreams.


Shadow swept over ruin, "The word will burn. All will serve me. The one." he hissed, his mind set on his goal. He knew that he may have forever lost her, but he wuold never lose what he truly desired. Power, and dominion over all life.

"And in the end my dear Mairenya, even you shall beg for my favor."


"Ada, I miss mother and my brother." Legolas said frowning, as he and his father had finished their reading of history.

"I do as well, little leaf." Thranduil said.

"Then why didn't you stay with her?" Legolas innocently asked.

"She wanted time alone."

"She wanted you to be alone with her and the new baby, ada." " Legolas said as he got off of his chair with unnatural grace, and walked towards a bookcase.

"How do you know this?" the King asked.

"She was looking at you strangely. She wanted you to stay. Mother was sad." Legolas said, as his hands brushed over each book as he walked.

"What book do you seek, child?" Thranduil asked.

"I want to learn about Grandfather, or about the first ones to cross the great sea" Legolas said, "And you should go to mother after I go to bed tonight."

"Those books are in my bedchamber, on my desk. You may look at them tonight, if you wish. But just be mindful of their age." Thranduil warned, placing his hand gently on the shoulder of his son.

"Thank you ada. May I sleep in your bed tonight? " Legolas asked.

"You may. " Thranduil said, smiling fondly at Legolas.

"You will go see mother, won't you?" Legolas asked.

Thranduil shook his head, "No child. I will let her alone. I will bring you to her now if you wish."

"I want to stay with you, father. Do you not...want to be with mother anymore?" Legolas asked, "Is that why she has her own house now?"

Thranduil quickly turned his back, so that his son could not see the look of grief that passed over his face. "I will always love your mother. For me, there is no other. It is she who...nevermind this. You should go to my room and read, if you wish to do so before the light wains."

"I do not like leaving you when you are sad." legolas said walking to his father, and wrapping his arms around his leg.

Thranduil reached down and placed his hand on the top of his son's head. "You are a precious thing my son. Go. You should go." Thranduil said as he used all of his will to hold his tears in his eyes. "I will come to you later."

"Thank you father." Legolas said, hugging his leg once more before he ran out of the room.

Thranduil could not help but watch with fascination as his son ran out of the room. He would never understand the attachment Legolas felt for him. He was a son truly devoted to his father. Thranduil had never felt such a thing for his own father. He was sure that he had loved him, for he had mourned his death for many years. Thranduil had loved his mother, for he was her image exact. When she passed soon after the death of his father, it was then that he became as unfeeling as stone, his heart ice. The deaths of his parents had taught him that though he and his people may be immortal and fair, nothing truly lasts forever. Life, love, happiness...all will fade. As he slowly made his way with the remnants of his father's army to the Greenwood he prepared himself for a life of loneliness and grief. He would keep a firm distance from life. He needed to be strong for his people. He was their hope. Thranduil felt that love would forever be mingled with grief.

'But then, she came with her fire, her life...and what has it brought me? Grief, infidelity, and a scar on my neck.' Thranduil thought as he drained his third glass of wine.

"I am a fool. A romantic fool. " he whispered aloud as he threw his glass to the floor. "That Lady of Light she spoke false. Peace and love in my marriage, indeed."

As Thranduil knelt down to clean up the shards of glass from the floor, his tears fell on bloody hands, "I will go to her. I must go to her." he wept.


"I am glad that you have come. I did not think that you had gotten my letter." Glineth said, her nerves making her voice quiet.

"I was surprised to have received your invitation."

Glineth laughed quietly, and walked closer to him, and placed her hand on his cheek. "I could bear being parted from you no longer."

"Nor I, you." he said, wiping a tear from Glineth's cheek. "No tears."

Glineth laughed, and took his falling hand in hers. She rested her forehead against his, their lips meeting.

"I had almost forgotten how beautiful you are. How soft your lips feel against mine." Glineth whispered.

"You look well." he whispered breathlessly.

"My, you have a way with words, fair one. We should call for the minstrels!" Glineth laughed, as she removed his crimson cloak.

"My love." Haldir said, taking Glineth into his arms, his lips meeting her neck, his hands resting on her waist.


A/N:

What!? I didn't do anything! I swear it! Not me! Her, all her! Don't hate me! But are any of you surprised, really? As always, thank you for reading! -M
PS, I need help with the summary for this story...someone want to help me out? Please?