Epilogue

They'd been married twenty-five years when Esme came running in the house one day. "Naneth, there's an elf walking towards Dale."

Though the sight of elves among men had become more common since her banishment was lifted over a year ago, Tauriel rarely received visitors and she went out to see who it might be. A smile broke over her face when she recognized him and Tauriel ran towards her dear missed friend. "Legolas!"

He began moving faster too and caught her in a tight hug. "Mellon, you have not changed."

She looked him over. "But you have." A second glance confirmed it. "You've become even more hardened, I think." His face was thinner and his body leaner but the strength in his arms remained as she remembered from their parting.

He sighed and offered his arm which Tauriel quickly took. "It's been a long time Tauriel. Twenty-five years I've ridden with the sons of Elrond fighting orcs and battling alongside the Dunedain striving for peace." He swallowed. "I am weary Tauriel and in need of rest. That is why I've come back."

She leaned into him. "We are welcome in the forest now." Legolas pulled away in shock and Tauriel smiled. "It is a long story mellon, but my banishment was lifted little more than a twelvemonth ago and the king and I have since spoken. I am now not the only one who is able to return home."

He shook his head in disbelief as they continued towards the city and Tauriel pointed to the small group gathered at the gates. "Much has changed for me Legolas." They drew near and she stared with the older girl. "This is Calien, born five years after our wedding, and three years younger is Sefi, our fearless warrior. Last is Esme, an unexpected gift given only eight years past. Kili you know."

She smiled at her family. "Dear ones, this is my closest friend Legolas. Please make him feel welcome."

Though the girls looked more Elven, all the children greeted like dwarrow - with hugs and warmth - and even Kili extended a hand. Finally they led him back to the house for supper, after which Tauriel and Legolas stayed up all night talking as they caught up on each other's lives. It was a very great gift to be reunited at last.

LOTR

But the greatest reunion was yet to come. After Legolas spent a fortnight getting to know Tauriel's family, she went with him to the forest so he could finally look upon his father's face after a quarter century's separation. Tauriel could feel his nerves setting the very air around him abuzz as they walked side by side through the long familiar paths. Mere minutes passed before she clasped his hand, offering silent strength and support to bolster his courage.

On the other side of the bridge that lead into the Elven-King's halls, Legolas took a deep breath and looked around, blinking rapidly and swallowing hard. "Milbar," he whispered. [Home]

Tauriel squeezed his fingers and waited until he was ready to continue forward. Legolas squared his shoulders and held his head high as he began crossing the bridge. The gates of the realm were opened with a shout of, "The Prince has returned!" But he cautioned all those they met not to spread the word of his arrival.

At the doors to the throne room Legolas paused once more, offering a single nod to the ellon that stood at attention there. "Feren."

He smiled and bowed. "My prince. You have been missed."

Legolas acknowledged the sentiment but his focus lay elsewhere and finally he gestured to the portal. "Open them."

Feren did without hesitation and the Prince of Mirkwood strode inside, making his way to the platform beneath the high throne and bowing deeply while Tauriel stayed back, hidden in the shadows so as not to intrude upon the moment. "Adar."

Thranduil stared at him in disbelief. "Legolas?"

Legolas straightened and clenched his jaw, a sign of held back emotion. "I am back."

The king stood and came down the steps towards the prince. He lay his hands on Legolas' shoulders, then moved them to his face. "Ion-nin. Alatulie milbar." [My son. Welcome home] Then, to the great surprise of all, he drew his son into possibly the first embrace they'd shared in nearly a thousand years. "I was beginning to think this day would never come."

Legolas, dumbfounded at first, at last found his voice and the presence of mind to wrap his arms around his father's back. "Ada." For a moment he pressed his face into the ancient elf's shoulder. "I have missed you."

Thranduil pulled back to gaze upon his son's face. "You have missed me much longer than the time you have been away from your home Legolas. I am sorry that so many years have passed since I was the father you deserved."

Moving away, Legolas shook his head at the king. "What kind of enchantment is this, that would remove a millennia of separation?"

Thranduil glanced towards the door where Tauriel watched, wearing a soft smile. "It started with an elfling...well, rather a dwelfling. She found her way into your stubborn father's heart and I have been freed now to offer it to the others who have so long been denied my love." He arched an eyebrow. "You met Esme?"

Legolas chuckled. "You would have thought I was a hero walking out of one of the high tales of the First Age by the way she looked at me. But by the end of the night she made herself at home on my lap and treated me as if we'd been best friends all her life. Esme is precious beyond description."

"I will tell her you said that," Tauriel commented quietly.

Thranduil held out his hand for her to join them. "I would like to throw a feast to celebrate my son's return. Might we have the honour of your family's presence here for the festivities?"

Tauriel bowed. "We would be delighted I'm sure." She thought a moment. "Well, the girls and I will be delighted. Kili and Sefi may grumble about it but they will enjoy the food." Though Kili willingly spent time in the forest for the sake of his wife and youngest daughter, he could never quite be comfortable there. And Sefi took after the dwarf side of his nature, slightly wary of being surrounded by trees.

Thranduil place one hand on each of their shoulders. "Take rest and refreshment here in your home. And Tauriel? Thank you for allowing your daughter to open my heart again."

She rolled her eyes. "I did not have much of a choice. Esme is more her father's daughter than mine."

The king considered this. "Perhaps she is the best of you both." He shook his head. "An elf and a dwarf. I am amazed by what has come from such an unlikely alliance."

"I would not trade it for the world," Tauriel declared, fingers tracing the necklace Kili had made for her - a larger red stone and green on either side of three smaller gems, the representation of their family.

"Indeed not," Thranduil agreed. "And it may be that following your heart has altered the course of the world. It is not always the great acts that define us but often a series of small ones, like pebbles causing ripples in a pond. Someday we may look back and say that was the moment loved changed everything."

Tauriel cast a gaze in the direction her home lay. "I hope so my king, I truly hope so."

THE END

Thank You Father for this story. I love you, L