Tauriel POV
It was almost a month since Legolas had left Mirkwood and Tauriel had thrown herself into her duties, vigorously training the Guard so that they would be as prepared as possible for when the war horns sounded. The Captain still vividly remembered the desolation during the Battle for the Mountain so many years ago.
I will not leave them defenceless. I will train them with everything I know so that they have a fighting chance.
After one such day of intense training, Tauriel was in her room slipping into a pale blue dress for it was the evening of Ranadir and Serilla's pledging ceremony. She had bathed and placed a couple of intricate braids to bind the sides of her auburn hair back. Her blue gown hung in flowing waves from her shoulders, accentuating her graceful figure. The elleth glanced in the mirror, happy at the result.
It is quite a beautiful dress, although I have to admit, I feel much more free in my hunting garb.
She moved to her desk where a small silver pouch lay containing her gift to Serilla. It was traditional for the kin of the elf to represent their love and acceptance for the elleth entering their family through a token and the same happened from the elleth's kin. It had taken Tauriel a long time to think of a suitable gift for Serilla that she could acquire. In the end it had been her memories of Kili that had inspired her. The Captain had spent a lengthy time walking at the river's edge hunting for a smooth pebble that she deemed appropriate. In the end she had found a dark blue flat stone, worn smooth by the caresses of the running water. She had asked a stonemason to carve intricate runes inlaid with silver upon its surface.
She opened the pouch and looked down at the stone that fit snugly in her palm. The silver runes glinted at her in the candlelight.
May light lead your path and love follow you.
Satisfied, the Captain tucked the pebble safely back into its pouch, pulling taught the silk strings that contained it.
She heard someone knocking at her door at looked up to see Ranadir enter, resplendent in his formal red robes, his long chestnut hair immaculately hanging over his shoulders.
'Why little Tauriel, you almost look like an elleth! What has happened?' Ranadir moved forwards and embraced her in an easy hug.
Tauriel chuckled and playfully batted at his chest, causing the elf to step back to prevent his silk tunic from becoming crumpled. 'Oh Ranadir, you look so handsome, your parents would be delighted.'
Ranadir held his head up proudly before offering his arm to Tauriel which she tucked her own into. Together they walked through the stone archways out of the keep towards the forest's edge where a small gathering was waiting in a lantern lit glade.
It was beautiful. White elven lamps were artfully arranged across the ground and more surrounded and hung from the young silver birch that the couple had chosen as their pledging tree. It was traditional for the betrothed couple to choose or plant a tree of their choice to symbolise the strength of their love for each other and for the land that they lived in. Tauriel noticed Thranduil standing in front of the tree, truly magnificent in his silver robes, adorned with his crown of spring leaves.
'Le nathlam hî.' The King greeted them in his regal voice.
They both fisted their hands over their hearts in respect and inclined their heads in acknowledgement. Tauriel followed Ranadir's gaze to where Serilla was standing with a proud looking blonde-haired elleth and tawny-haired elf that smiled back at them. Tauriel and Ranadir had met Serilla's parents several times previously to organise the ceremony and get to know one another more. Like their daughter, Tauriel thought them gentle people full of wisdom, for they were scholars of the great library of Mirkwood.
Ranadir gave a gallant bow at his beloved, who giggled daintily and moved forward from her parents to greet them. Serilla was beautiful. Her honey tresses were woven with spring flowers and she wore a stunning pale yellow gown that accentuated the beauty of her hair colour. Golden thread was embroidered in designs of flowers over the flowing material, making her shine in the starlight.
Serilla first embraced Tauriel, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek, which the Captain warmly reciprocated before taking Ranadir's arm and moving to stand before a smiling Thranduil to begin saying the ancient rites.
When the time came, Serilla's Ada stepped forward and presented a golden brooch in the design of a great hawk inlaid with rubies to a beaming Ranadir.
'Hannon le, I am honoured by your love and acceptance.' Ranadir said softly.
The tawny haired elf smiled and placed his hand on Ranadir's shoulder.
'Gi nathalm hî as my son, Ranadir and I give you this gift to represent the love of my own iellig.'
Now Tauriel stepped up to a smiling Serilla. She placed the silver pouch gently into the elleth's hand. Serilla opened the pouch and beamed at the message inlaid in silver upon the smooth blue surface of the stone.
'Hannon le, Tauriel! This is so thoughtful and personal and I gladly accept it.'
Tauriel smiled and moved forward, reaching up to place a delicate kiss on her brow. 'Gi nathalm hî, Serilla, on behalf of Ranadir's kin I give you this gift to represent his love.'
Thranduil POV
After concluding the rites of the sacred ceremony and invoking the Valar to witness its completion, Thranduil bid farewell and congratulations to the new couple, before moving to take his leave from the little glade. His eyes quickly scanned the stars in sadness, remembering his own pledging ceremony. No one saw the quick downturn of his mouth in utter grief.
No. I cannot allow my thoughts to wander there.
Walking forward with his regal mask back in place Thranduil saw Tauriel standing respectfully at his nearing.
In the starlight she looks younger, I can almost see the little elleth that I rescued from the orc raid so many moons ago. She still has those curious green eyes and that mischievous smile of when she was so very small. I believe that she had loved me once as a little elfling. I have to admit that I too…did grow to love her when she was under my protection. Oh my Captain, why did you betray me?
Without a backwards glance, the King continued on his way back to his chambers.
Tauriel POV
Thranduil moved to take his leave of the ceremony; he seemed to glide over the soft mossy earth. Tauriel straightened her shoulders at his approach, lowering her eyes in respect and holding still. As the King passed where she stood she glanced up and her eyes caught his mesmerising blue gaze. He did not say anything, just paused for a brief moment to regard her before raising his head and continuing back to the keep.
Well that was odd, his eyes looked to be far away, almost like they were deep in memory. There was no hostility in his gaze but I cannot entirely be sure what he thinks when he sees me anymore. He used to value me once…
Tauriel also took her leave of the happy couple not long after Thranduil for it was clear that they were quite content to be in each other's company. As she wandered back to her chambers she could not shake the memory of the King's gaze upon her.
I wonder if Thranduil still remembers that he was the one to gift me my first bow when I gained my role as Captain. It was so beautiful and he had been the one to have it commissioned in honour of my achievement.
Tauriel smiled to herself as she remembered that happy day and the pride she had seen in the King and Legolas' eyes at her accomplishments. As she passed her desk where she had laid her weapons earlier, Tauriel gently fingered her new bow.
Then he destroyed that bow with his sword when I…I used it to aim an arrow at him. Oh Valar!
As she disrobed and lay down on her bed, Tauriel's memories stretched back even further…
She remembered herself as a very young elleth, on her 50th begetting day, when she had run deep into the forest and collapsed against the stump of an old tree in her sadness. She had cried for her parents could not see how big she had grown and her new life inside the walls of the fortress was very confusing to one so young. Tauriel had not known how long she had laid there sobbing but she soon realised that she was cold and lost when the day had started to darken. Panicked, the young elfling did not know what to do so she had just curled herself up very small and hid her head in her hands.
Tauriel remembered that she had not moved for fear when she heard soft hooves approaching. Had she looked up she would have seen a very distraught Thranduil upon his great elk, Rone. The King had gracefully dismounted and moved towards Tauriel, kneeling down to her level, his normally cool eyes full of warmth for the elfling. She had looked up through her own puffy green eyes at his head adorned in a silver crown of winter's branches.
'I am here for you Tauriel. There is no need to run. You will always be safe with me.'
The King had opened his arms and without hesitating, little Tauriel had thrown herself against Thranduil's armour, her little hands desperately seeking for some comfort to cling onto.
Looking down at the little one, the King had removed his silver cloak, tucking it snugly around the elleth now buried into his chest. He had gently lifted Tauriel and placed her carefully onto the great back of Rone, before settling behind her. Rone had known the way home without command, and the King had cradled her protectively in his arms all the way back to the safety of his people.
Back in the present, Tauriel frowned in sadness for she had almost forgotten that memory.
After caring for me for all those hundreds of years, I turned my back on him, blinded by my anger. Thranduil was wrong to isolate the kingdom from the rest of the peoples of Arda but he has changed now. He moves to stand with Lothlorien and openly fight in the war against Sauron. Perhaps... earlier when he paused to gaze at me at the ceremony he was also remembering…
Slipping into her waking dreams, the Captain longed for the warm and compassionate King that she recalled.
Legolas POV
They had been travelling for almost a month now, keeping watch when the three elves paused to rest at night for the lands were no longer safe as they once had been. They had camped in in the shadow of a tall fir tree and Amrith was lighting a fire whilst Farine gathered wood. Legolas had been tending to Orun, brushing him back to his gleaming grey whilst the stallion happily grazed on the spring grass. The Prince had noticed a growing closeness between his two companions and although he did not resent it, it made him long for Tauriel.
When the sun rose the next morning, the company set off once more for the last stretch to Imladris. They pushed on until nightfall when they were met by the golden Lord Glorfindel on the winding path that led to the last homely house East of the sea.
'Prince Legolas, long it has been since last we saw you.' Glorfindel smiled and then turned his horse to address Amrith and Farine who had fisted their hands over their hearts in greeting to the great balrog slayer.
Legolas smiled and returned the greeting in a similar fashion before the company moved to enter Imladris and Glorfindel continued.
'I am afraid that Lord Elrond will not be able to greet you this evening for he is trying to save the life of a Halfling who fell to the servants of Sauron.'
Another Halfling? Attacked by the Enemy? This is most surprising and ill news.
They halted and dismounted from their horses at the entrance to the elven dwelling. Noticing his startled expression, Glorfindel walked forwards and placed his gloved hand on Legolas' shoulder.
'Tomorrow there will be time to discuss what has transpired and I sense that you come bearing your own news on this visit. However, for tonight, you and your company rest in safety young Greenleaf for Lord Elrond gladly extends his hospitality to our woodland cousins.'
Some time later, after thanking Lord Glorfindel, Legolas was wandering the vibrant beauty of the many paths of Imladris, though the colours were now muted in the light of the moon. He turned to cross a bridge over a rushing white river and was shocked to see Aragorn standing halfway along the stone surface, deep in conversation with the Lady Arwen. He saw Arwen reach up with her pale hand and caress Aragorn's hair behind his ear. Embarrassed by his intrusion on the private moment, Legolas turned to leave at which point Arwen looked up at him over Aragorn's shoulder, smiling at the Prince.
'Ah, Legolas…my Father foresaw that you would be arriving here soon.' Aragorn turned around at her words with a confused expression that transformed into an easy grin when he saw his friend.
'Mellon! I did not expect to see you again so quickly but my heart is gladdened by your presence.' The couple moved towards him and all traces of previous embarrassment were gone.
Arwen reached him first and Legolas bowed at her formally in greeting. He looked up at the Evenstar's sapphire blue eyes as she placed a hand on his cheek familiarly in greeting.
'Long it has been Legolas. We will find time together to talk of what has passed but for now I will not steal you from Aragorn.'
'I look forward to it, hiril vuin.'
The dark haired elleth smiled at him serenely before walking on her way.
Aragorn embraced him before the pair walked along the bridge to sit on a carved wooden bench at the far side.
The Prince was the first to speak. 'What brings you to Imladris, mellon? Apart from the great beauty of this land of course.' Legolas gave his friend a knowing smile.
Aragorn glanced at the Prince with a small upturn of his mouth before becoming serious once again. 'Lord Elrond has summoned a Council for the Ring of Power has been found by a Halfling of the Shire named Frodo.' Legolas' eyebrows rose at the statement before the ranger continued.
'Gandalf sent him here with three companions and myself to guide them. On the journey the Nazgûl hunted us and the ring-bearer was stabbed with a morgul blade. He is recovering as we speak by the skill of the Eldar and tomorrow a council will be held to decide the fate of the Ring. Lord Elrond also predicted that you would be arriving here and wishes for you to represent Mirkwood at the meeting,'
Legolas felt guilty for the fate of Frodo for it was likely that Gollum had revealed the location of the Ring when he had been captured from Mirkwood by orcs.
He told this to Aragorn but the ranger had held no contempt in his eyes at the revelation.
'It is by no ones fault, mellon. Sauron would have learned of the location of the Ring sooner or later for it calls to him with a will of its own. We must not forget that the ring wants to be found by its maker.'
Somewhat relieved, Legolas sat for a time with Aragorn gazing at the beauty around them before the ranger eventually took his leave to retire for the night. The air was lightly fragranced with the night-blooming flowers and the rush of the river soothed his tired spirit. Legolas leaned back and looked to the stars, remembering how Tauriel's eyes had shone with the light of the white lamps when he had left her so many days ago.
Elvish
Le nathlam hî –You are welcome here
Hannon le –Thank you
Gi nathalm hî –We welcome you here
Iellig –Daughter
Mellon -Friend
Hiril vuin –My Lady
Guest -Thank you for your kind words! I hope that you will stick around to see how this story unfolds