Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR

A/N: I'm kinda excited! After being missing for almost three months, we think someone may have found our missing cat!

Chapter 37

Secrets told

"Oropher, this is your cousin Melilot," said Legolas as he placed the little girl next to his son, "She's going to be staying with us for a while." Oropher laughed at Melilot, who did nothing. Legolas stood up and went to Tigerlily. "Something's wrong with Melilot," he whispered, "She hasn't spoken or laughed or even smiled since Alannah died."

"Her mother died and she's been taken away from everything she's ever known. I didn't speak for weeks after I first left home," replied Tigerlily.

"I hope we did the right thing," said Legolas.

"She'll cheer up soon and start playing and being the little girl that she should be," she said. Legolas smiled and kissed Tigerlily.

"How was the journey back from Rohan?" she asked.

"No worse then the journey there," said Legolas, "I'm never riding with a one year old again. But Eomer did give me something to keep her occupied for most of it. I'm a little saddle sore so no…"

"Legolas, there are children in the room," said Tigerlily as her husband raised his eyebrows suggestively, "And since when has a few days ride ever put you off?" Legolas laughed. "I just hope she'll be happy here," he said.

"It's the best thing we can do," said Tigerlily, "We have a child the same age so she won't be alone."

"But, was taking her away from her brothers right?" said Legolas, "Surely she would be better staying with her siblings."

"Legolas!" shouted Tigerlily, "Please, all I ask is your support in this. That is my dead brother's daughter, and I want to give her a home where she won't feel like a burden. I know what it is like to feel like a burden. Everyday when I lived in Bree, I felt unwanted, like an extra package no one wanted. I don't want Melilot to feel that."

"I'm sorry," said Legolas, "Forgive me?"

"Yes," said Tigerlily, kissing him. Legolas smiled. He knew how to get himself forgiven. He knew all Tigerlily's weaknesses and knew that one of them were his eyes. If he could get his blue eyes just right, she would forgive him of anything. "So did you miss me when I was gone?" he asked.

"No, I had Oropher to take care of," said Tigerlily.

"But what about when Oropher was asleep and you were all alone in our bed," he said, "You must have missed me." He trailed his hands down her sides, making her shudder.

"Admit it," he said softly, "You missed me."

"A…a little," whispered Tigerlily. Legolas bent his head down and kissed her neck.

"A lot," she whispered. The sound of Melilot crying interrupted their moment. Tigerlily shrugged Legolas away and went to see to the little girl. Melilot knew that Tigerlily wasn't her mother but all she wanted was some female compassion so instinctively held her arms out to her aunt, who gently shushed her.

As Legolas got ready for bed that night, Tigerlily put the children to bed. Watching Tigerlily with Melilot reminded Legolas of his beloved Melda. He wished he could have just held his baby daughter one last time before she was cruelly taken away. He wished he could have explained to her why he couldn't save her from her horrible death and why her mother had done such terrible things. He wished that she had survived. But then, he may never have considered marrying Tigerlily if Melda had survived. He wouldn't have Oropher to love and care for. At least with Tigerlily, he could have more children to love. As that final thought ran through his head, he knew what he wanted.

"Tigerlily? Are you asleep?" he asked later that night.

"I was until you woke me up," mumbled a sleepy Tigerlily, "What is it?"

"I need to talk to you about something," said Legolas.

"Leave it until the morning," said Tigerlily.

"It can't wait or I might forget what I want to say," he said.

"Fine," she said, "I'll listen but I can't guarantee I'll stay awake."

"Tigerlily, when I watched you today with Melilot, I realised something," said Legolas, "I want us to have more children." Tigerlily sat bolt up right. How could she have forgotten to tell him! He still had no idea what Thorontur had said. "Tigerlily, what's wrong?" he asked.

"Legolas, there's something I have to tell you," said Tigerlily.

"You don't want anymore do you?" he said, "Was our relationship just lust that has now fizzled out, so much so that you no longer wish for me to father your children?"

"Legolas, what are you talking about?" asked Tigerlily, "Of course, I want you to be the father of my children, I wouldn't have married you if I didn't. It's just…well…four months ago, I went to see Thorontur to check on how my wound was healing and he told me something."

"What?" asked Legolas.

"He told me that, because of all the injuries that have been applied towards my abdomen, well, there is a very, very strong chance that…"

"That what?" asked Legolas.

"I may not be able to conceive again," said Tigerlily, "The stabbing was the final straw."

Legolas' face remained blank then fury spread across it. Legolas got up and out of bed. "Legolas?" said Tigerlily, "Where are you going?" She got up and followed him downstairs where he stood in the dining room. His hands were clenched into fists and by the candlelight; Tigerlily could see that his eyes had gone so dark they were almost black. His knuckles were white. "Legolas?" she said softly. Legolas let out an almighty roar and flipped the table over. Tigerlily took a step back in fright. She had never seen Legolas so angry. An animal aggression seemed to have taken possession of her normally calm husband. He was trashing the room in his anger. He threw two chairs at the wall, smashing them to pieces. When he had finished, he turned to face his wife who was cowering by the wall in fear. "I'm sorry," she whispered. Legolas became calm though he panted and his eyes turned blue again. "It's not your fault," he said softly. He sat down on the floor beside her. "I can't believe they have done this to us," said Legolas, "They're all dead yet they still haunt us." Tigerlily looked closely at Legolas and saw the tears in his eyes. She reached up and pulled her husband into her embrace. Legolas began to sob into her shoulder. Tigerlily didn't know if she had ever seen him so unhappy or even if she had ever seen him cry because of it. "I just wanted us to have a daughter," he sobbed, "A little girl to call our own and then our family would be complete. I just wanted for your life with me to be perfect."

"My life is perfect," said Tigerlily, "So long as I have you and our beautiful son. You two are my whole world and I don't care about not sharing it with another. I'm happy with just the two of you." Legolas smiled and bent down and kissed his wife. Almost two thousand years before, a small group of rebels had started trying to tear his life apart but there are some things you just can't tear down.