Chapter 34

Snowball

Legolas' POV

I woke up next to my new wife and smiled. Her ebony hair all around her, the sun illuminating her skin. I sat up slowly so I would not wake her, but of course it did not work.

"Bonjour mon amor."

I smiled and looked at her. Her eyes were closed but she was smiling.

"Good morning."

I laid back down and she slowly opened her silver eyes.

"Well, day one of our new life." she said.

I nodded in agreement and ran my fingers through her long hair. After a few minutes she sat up and stretched.

"I'll get breakfast."

She got dressed and left the room. I smiled to myself and closed my eyes.

Jupiter's POV

I walked into the kitchen and found the place fully stocked. I nodded with a smile.

"Awesome."

The silky curtains blew into the room as I made breakfast. I called Legolas when I finished and leaned against the counter. He smiled at me and gave me a kiss. We ate and then I went into the library. I saw Legolas outside practicing archery. I walked to the window and leaned against it. I had the sexiest husband in the world. And I could get used to him practicing archery this early in the morning. I smiled and closed my book before going outside.

"Can you show me how to do that?"

He looked at me in surprise. He slowly smiled and took my hand. He pulled me forward and positioned me.

"Just relax."

"I believe you said that last night at some point too."

He chuckled and handed me his bow. He showed me how to hold it and then gave me the arrow.

"Draw all the way back to your cheek."

I took a deep breath and pulled. It was a little difficult because I'd never done it before, and his bow was probably set for his strength.

"Is it too difficult? The last thing I want is for you to hurt yourself."

"It's a little hard but I can do it."

He nodded.

"Very well. Now then, keep your arm up like this-" he raised my right arm a bit. "and move your legs apart a bit more. There you go. Now take a deep breath and release."

I did as he said and hit the very rim of the target. I smiled and looked at him.

"I didn't think I would hit it at all."

"And why not? You did very well. All you need is practice."

I nodded.

"We'll have to make a trip to Imladris. Maybe my uncle will make me a bow."

"A very good idea. Would you like to try again?"

I nodded eagerly. He laughed and I practiced with him for about an hour. I went to the lake after that. It was beautiful there. If I'd had a rod I'd fish. I sighed in content when I heard a noise. I looked around and saw something behind a rose bush. I stood up walked over. There was a little white kitten. He looked starving and dirty. He looked at me and I knelt down. I held out my hand and he slowly came forward and rubbed against it. I smiled and picked him up. I ran home as fast as I could.

"Legolas!"

He came running inside and saw the kitten.

"Can you catch a fish with an arrow?"

"I can try."

"Please try. This little one is starved. I'm going to give him a bath."

He nodded and left. I went into the bathroom and filled the sink with warm water. I knew cats didn't really like water so I started by gently splashing him. Once he seemed used to it gently and slowly put him in. He seemed fine and I slowly started to clean him off. He closed his eyes a bit when I started to scrub between his ears. It made me smile.

"You like that huh?"

He let out a little meow and I laughed softly. Once I had him dried off, I brought him back to the kitchen. Legolas came back soon after with a few fish.

"Doesn't he look handsome now?" I said.

He smiled and pet him.

"Indeed he does. It seems he has not eaten in days."

"Then I better cook these fish."

I handed him the kitten and Legolas smiled at him. I cleaned and cooked the fish and prepared it for the kitten. When I set the bowl down in front of him he ran for it. He started eating as fast as he could. I smiled and Legolas put his arm around me.

"If he wants to stay, can we keep him?" I asked.

"Of course. What will we name him?"

I smirked.

"Well I was thinking Haldir but that wouldn't be fair to the poor cat."

We both laughed and the kitten looked at me with a tilted head. It followed me to the fridge and I got him some milk.

"You're so damn cute." I said.

"Perhaps, Maldiron?"

"Hmmm….maybe. Or Snowball."

He seemed amused by the name.

"What's wrong with Snowball?"

"Nothing at all. I like it."

I smiled and looked at the kitten.

"What do you say, Snowball. You want to stay with us?"

I wasn't sure if he knew what I said, but he meowed and rubbed against my leg.

"I think that means yes." Legolas said.

I smiled and picked up Snowball. Legolas scratched him between the ears and then looked at me.

"About last night," my heart started to pound. "those markings on your body. What are they?"

I sighed in relief and smiled.

"Tattoos. They're called tattoos."

He nodded.

"You saw the dwarves. Those are tattoos, although the ones I have aren't on my head or my fists."

I laughed a bit and he smiled.

"They are beautiful. The blooming rose on the back of your left shoulder. That one is my favorite."

I smiled and put Snowball down.

A few days later someone knocked on the door. Snowball was sitting there scratching at it.

"No scratching Snowball."

He ran off and I looked out the window. I smiled and then opened the door. There stood Kili and Tauriel. I called for Legolas and he smiled when he saw them.

"Mae govannen. Come inside."

I closed the door behind them and Snowball came out. He followed us into the living room and jumped onto Legolas' lap.

"When did you get a cat?" Kili asked.

"I found him by the lake. He decided to stay so we named him Snowball."

Kili snickered and I narrowed my eyes.

"Something wrong with the name 'Snowball'?"

"No, nothing."

I knew he was lying but I let it go with a smirk.

"What brings you two here? A little vacation?"

"I suppose. We also missed you two." said Tauriel.

"Well we have plenty of room here. Tauriel let me show you the gardens!"

Legolas' POV

Tauriel and Jupiter walked off and I looked at Kili.

"How is everything? Tauriel looks beautiful."

"Indeed she does. Everything is good, except for when she wakes up in the middle of the night hungry. You have something to look forward to. Along with the mood swings, morning sickness and best of all….the needs."

"Needs?"

He raised his brows.

"Oh! Yes, those needs."

He smiled and chuckled.

"It seems you already have a baby. That adorable little kitten on your lap."

I smiled and looked at Snowball.

"So you had this built yourself?"

"Yes. I wanted to surprise Jupiter. This ceiling is so she can see the stars at night."

"Its incredible. Truly it is."

"Thank you. How are things back east?"

"All is well. Fili is courting a woman, finally."

"This is good news. Erebor will have a queen and perhaps a new heir to the throne."

"I would love to be an uncle. And I am excited to be a father, I am nervous but more so excited."

I smiled and we both looked outside. Jupiter and Tauriel were laughing about something.

"Jupiter is a rare one. Very different from us all with one of the kindest hearts I have ever known. Tauriel said she wanted to have the baby in Rivendell. She wanted to be close to you and Jupiter."

I smiled and put my hand on his shoulder.

"We were planning to go to Rivendell in two days. We will go with you and stay until the child is born."

"Thank you. That would mean so much to Tauriel, and to me."

I nodded and Snowball rubbed against me.