Chapter 29

The Valar's Gift

Estellia stood beside her father as he looked out at the beautiful refuge of Rivendell. The sky that had once been dark with threatening evil was now the clearest blue. Trees that had once been dead and dying were now covered in green foliage. Songs from long forgotten birds echoed upon the air, filling the hearts that heard them with a joy that would never fade. It was as though the world had been born again. Like the slate had been wiped clean.

Estellia gently tugged on Legolas's tunic sleeve. He looked down at his daughter with a smile, and scooped her up, resting her on his hip as she laid her head upon his shoulder.

"Ada..." she whispered.

"What is it, iiel?" (daughter) he asked gently, running a hand through her lengthening gold hair.

"Did nana end the war? Are we safe now?" (mommy) she questioned, watching a hawk take flight from a nearby tree. It rose far up into the sky, sailing over the city. With one last shrill cry, as if in a fit of joy, it soared off, over the mountains.

"Yes, my hope. She did." Legolas replied softly, his voice threatening to break.

Estellia looked up at her ada, and wrapped her small arms around his neck. "Can we stay here ada? Please? I don't want to leave..."

With a small chuckle and a wide smile, Legolas said, "A new age is beginning, daughter. The elves will return from across the Sea from Valinor. We are no longer bound to the fate of mortality if we stay here. That is the Valar's gift for what Tari has done."

"Will we go to your home, ada? In Eryn Lasgalen?"

"Aye penneth. We shall. And there we shall live in a peace that has not been seen since the beginning of time." Legolas said, his voice soft as though lost in thought. "Your great grandmother Galadriel shall take up her title as Lady of Lorien again. Celeborn will be at her side. My own father will remain King of Eryn Lasgalen. And I shall continue keeping my title as prince." he looked down at a grinning Estellia, whose eyes were over-bright with anticipation and happiness. "You will have the life you deserve now, Estellia. The life of a princess."

"And nana won't have to leave again? She'll be with us forever?" his daughter asked with growing excitement.

Legolas kissed Estellia on her forehead, before turning his gaze back to the wondrous scene before him. He sighed deeply, closing his eyes for a few moments. "Yes, my little one. She will never leave again."

"Legolas Greenleaf! You cannot promise her something like that!" scolded a cheerful voice from behind them.

"Nana!" Estellia cried, leaping out of her adar's arms and rushing into the outstretched ones of Tari. She lifted her daughter high into the air and hugged her tightly.

Legolas turned to them with a look of amusement. "What do you mean I can't promise her that?"

"Well..." Tari sighed in feigned annoyance, rolling her eyes at the sky, to which Estellia giggled. "I might have diplomatic missions, hunting with my brothers, weekend retreats to Lorien with my daughter..."

"And leave me in Greenwood all alone to slave over paperwork and midnight patrols? I don't think so." he argued, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning casually against the balcony. "It will be me having the weekend retreats with Estellia."

Estellia looked back and forth between the two, as though following a tennis rally.

"Wrong again, princeling." Tari said, sitting Estellia on the wide balcony rail. She watched the tips of Legolas's ears turn red at the sound of the nickname. "I need the vacation. And I have to do it now before my feet swell up and I'm too big to get on a horse..."

Legolas was about to retort when his jaw dropped in realization of her words.

"Daddy, it's not polite to stare with your mouth hanging open..." Estellia scolded, closing his mouth with a small hand, oblivious to her mother's words.

"The occasion calls for it, Lia..." he said in a far off voice, giving her a new nickname.

Tari just grinned at him, a small blush dusting her pale cheeks. Legolas pulled Tari over to him, resting his hand on her abdomen, and closing his eyes. Sure enough, he felt a small heartbeat there. She was pregnant.

With a cry of excitement and utter joy, Legolas lifted Tari into the air, spinning her around.

Estellia watched her parents with confusion. "What has gotten into you two? Nana, has daddy finally 'lost it'?" she asked, using the choice phrase her uncles had taught her.

Tari laughed, sweeping her daughter up into her arms, and twirling her around. "No my hope, he is just very happy."

"Why?"

Tari smiled, setting Estellia down and kneeling in front of her. "Because, penneth, you are going to have a baby brother soon..."

The elfling squealed in delight, causing Legolas to clap his hands over his ears.

A/N: I'm going to post the last two chapters in one day, just as a treat. I will also put up the first chapter to my new story!