AN: So we come to it at last! Still, Tauriel has many more adventures yet to come in her life….

Tauriel POV

Tauriel spent her next day on a patrol around the borders of Eryn Lasgalen with Ranadir. Towards the end of the day, they had reached Dol Guldur and Tauriel had to admit she was curious about how the land was healing after Galadriel's cleansing. They circled their horses into the clearing where the evil hill had stood, holding what had once been the fortress of the Necromancer. They pulled their horses to a stop and dismounted just outside the line of trees.

'By the Valar!' cried Ranadir. 'A fair green land this has become! Full of life and promise!'

Tauriel scanned the scene before her and let herself smile. The once dead and rotten hill had now become of field of lush green grass and summer flowers. Birds now sang as they flitted amongst the trees and the warm afternoon sun caressed the ground in waves of light.

'I can feel…something has encouraged the healing of this place. Something heartens the growth of the meadow?' Ranadir turned and looked at Tauriel with a question in his eyes.

Tauriel turned to him and smiled as she inspected her daggers. 'It is Nenya. The last of the power from Galadriel's ring. She tore down the fortress and blessed this land in the name of Varda, forsaking all evil from ever entering this land.'

Ranadir raised his eyebrows. 'Since when were you so wise about Rings of Power, little Tauriel?'

Tauriel nudged him after checking the sharpness of her blades. 'I am your Captain. I am wise on many things. Also…I was here when it happened, so was Legolas.'

Ranadir seemed to consider this, before gazing out at the thriving meadow once more.

'Speaking of our favourite Prince, why did he not come today?'

Tauriel hid her smile. 'He elected to stay and watch over Gimli, who is still recovering from last night. Legolas cares deeply for him, something I would not have thought possible a time ago.'

Ranadir chuckled and they both turned to ride back to the keep, for the sun was beginning to set.

'Are you ready for your pledging ceremony tomorrow, my little Tauriel?'

Tauriel smiled and felt a blush rise to her cheeks as she turned to Ranadir who was riding alongside her.

Yes, I am utterly ready.

'Stop calling me that! And yes, I am, for my heart belongs to Legolas, of that I am certain.'

Ranadir nodded, ignoring her first comment but seemingly happy with her answer. 'I know that the King has seen to most of the arrangements but have you chosen what gown to wear?'

'Er…no actually. I just assumed I would borrow something of Serilla's. She has many fine gowns and likes to dress me in them for feasts...'

'Oh, Tauriel, you are hopeless. Promise me that you will see Serilla tonight!'

Tauriel nodded, a little knot of apprehension in her stomach.

Once back at the keep, Tauriel returned to her chambers to remove her daggers and hunting bow. As she lovingly caressed the star-etched hilts of her blades, she noticed a package wrapped in fine silk upon her bed.

Curious, the Captain looked at the small parchment placed delicately on top. Opening it, the thick and gilded scroll contained a simple message, in an elegant yet bold hand.

Tomorrow.

Thranduil.

Curiosity heightening further, the Captain set the parchment down and looked at the fine package that lay beneath it, gently fingering the silver silk in her hands.

Thranduil sends me a gift? He has not gifted me anything since the bow he had commissioned for me when I first became Captain. It must further be a sign that I have regained his trust.

Excited, she opened the package to reveal the most stunning gown she had ever seen.

Completely entranced by such a mighty gift, Tauriel did not really notice Serilla knocking and entering her chambers before she heard the healer's whisper. 'Tauriel…that is a gown of a Queen.'

Legolas POV

It was the day of his pledging ceremony and Legolas was watching Gimli sparring with Ranadir as the dwarf tried to teach him how to fight in the custom of his people. Legolas found it quite amusing, Gimli fought in harsh lines and charges but Ranadir could not abandon the natural graceful fighting stance of the eldar.

'Like this?' Ranadir leaped and demonstrated a lunge with an axe Gimli had leant him.

'No! No! Dwarves do not twirl!' Gimli aimed a direct swing, which Ranadir easily blocked.

'Stop that chuckling, Legolas. At least this one's appreciative of the dwarven arts.'

Legolas spun his white daggers in his hands and looked to his friend. 'Perhaps I could teach you in the ways of the elves?'

Gimli harrumphed. 'I think not. Shouldn't you be with your lass? Are you not pledging this evening?'

Ranadir laughed and Legolas smiled before answering. 'I would like to but it is tradition. My people are immortal and may walk through the Ages of this world before finding the mate to their song. Even then, they may be separated if one is temporarily called to the Halls of Mandos. To symbolise our willingness to eternally wait for the one we love, the betrothed couple stay apart on their pledging day, only to be reunited at the ceremony itself.'

Gimli's bushy eyebrows drew together. 'Hmm, well that seems odd to me but then many of your ways are strange, young Princeling.'

Tauriel POV

The Captain of Eryn Lasgalen was nervous and kept clenching her hands as Serilla dutifully placed a few delicate braids into her long auburn tresses.

Serilla finished and noticing Tauriel's unease, she took Tauriel's hands into her own and sat down next to her on the bed.

'For so long my heart has desired this yet now that it is happening, I cannot believe it is so.' Tauriel whispered.

Serilla just smiled with her beautiful dove grey eyes and squeezed Tauriel's hands.

'Legolas loves you with all his heart. Do you think Ranadir and I would let you pledge yourself to him if that was not so?'

Tauriel smiled and leant against the healer. 'Hannon le, Serilla.'

Just then Ranadir entered Tauriel's chambers, resplendent in his formal red robes and his jewelled hawk brooch sitting proudly over his heart.

'Our little Tauriel is all grown up, Serilla!'

The two elleth stood and Ranadir kissed his wife before placing a light kiss on Tauriel's cheek.

'You look lovely my Serilla.' Ranadir sighed.

Tauriel had to agree; the pale rose colour of the healer's gown illuminated the glow of her pregnancy.

'By the Valar, Tauriel! You look like a true Princess of Eryn Lasgalen!'

Tauriel smiled and ran her hands over the fabric of the gown gifted to her by Thranduil. It was made of the finest silks and flowing fabrics. The bodice was a pale green and reached her feet, lighter than the colour of her eyes and yet embroidered with numerous glinting gems the colour of starlight and of leaves. Darker green gauzy material flowed from her shoulders, fabric trailing almost to the floor but leaving her arms bare.

Ranadir bent and whispered to Serilla's stomach. 'Do you hear that, my little one? Tauriel is to become our Princess!'

Rising, Ranadir bowed at the Captain before offering her his arm and glancing over her body with a smirk on his face. 'I hope you are not concealing your daggers somewhere in that bodice, Captain.'

'Ranadir!' Serilla growled and they all laughed. Tauriel looked to the two elves that stood by her side and felt love in her heart.

They are my kin.

Together, with Serilla close behind, they walked out of the keep to the natural clearing in the forest where the pledging ceremony was to take place.

Tauriel gasped at the sight before her. White elven lamps had been hung around the clearing and in the beech tree that she and Legolas had chosen as their pledging tree. The elleth smiled at their reasons for choosing it.

We used to climb it when we were younger. We would race to the highest branches but Legolas would always win!

The King stood before the glowing tree utterly magnificent in his robes and mantle of pure silver. His golden crown of summer flowers crowned his silver head, reminiscent of Laurelin's light. Tauriel noticed Thranduil's Council stood discretely to the side, for it was a royal wedding that needed to be witnessed. Gimli stood near to the King and although he barely reached Thranduil's hip, he looked resplendent in his navy robes and cloak. His tawny beard was braided with metal beads and he held a silver cushion in his hands, covered by a matching silk cloth embroidered in geometric stars.

Then Tauriel's eyes fell upon Legolas standing in front of his Father and the whole of Arda fell away. Like Thranduil, Legolas was dressed in a silver tunic made of the finest silk with an embroidered undershirt of palest blue. His silver-blond head was adorned with circlet of woven silver, illustrating his rank as Prince. When his regal head turned to smile only for her, Tauriel's heart almost stopped, so handsome was he.

Heart in her throat at the beautiful scene before her, Tauriel barely realised Ranadir had walked her forward until Legolas, a smile upon his lips, reached out to take her hand in his as his crystal blue eyes looked deep into her own.

'Your spirit is as strong as the forest, and tonight you look more beautiful than any star, meleth nîn.'

'Le nathlam hî.' Thranduil's resonating voice broke the moment Tauriel was caught up in with her Prince. They both inclined their heads at the King whilst Ranadir, Serilla, Gimli and the Council bowed respectfully.

The Captain of the Guard could not contain her joy as Legolas squeezed her hand and Thranduil began saying the ancient rites.

When the time came, the King turned to Gimli and removed the object that lay hidden on the dwarf's cushion. Thranduil stepped forward and presented to Tauriel a circlet of entwined silver, inlaid with gems of pure starlight.

Tauriel's eyes widened as he placed it reverently upon her head before placing a delicate kiss upon her brow.

'Gi nathlam hî, as my daughter into the house of Oropher, Tauriel, Captain and Princess of Eryn Lasgalen. I give you this gift to represent the love of my ionneg.'

Tauriel dipped her head. 'Hannon le. I am honoured by your love and acceptance, hîr vuin.'

Thranduil tilted his head in acknowledgement before moving back to his place.

All eyes turned as a beaming Serilla produced a parcel of yellow silk and handed it to Ranadir who stepped up to meet Legolas.

From the silk coverings he produced a belt of woven silver leaves, the flowing design of the metal matching that of Tauriel's circlet.

Ranadir fastened the belt around Legolas' tunic and said 'Gi nathlam hî, Prince Legolas Greenleaf. On behalf of Tauriel's kin I present to you this belt to represent the love of our Captain.'

Legolas smiled and placed a hand on Ranadir's shoulder. 'Hannon le. I am honoured by your love and acceptance, Ranadir.'

Together, Tauriel and Legolas turned to the King, who concluded the rites of the ancient ceremony and invoked the Valar to witness its completion.

Afterwards, the new couple received many well wishes from the Council as well as hearty congratulations from their kin and Gimli.

When Legolas started to twirl Tauriel in a slow dance under the light of their tree, the others started to slip away into the night.

Legolas POV

Legolas spun Tauriel in a graceful circle, causing her gown to flow about her and the inlaid gems to sparkle with their own inner light. He could not bear the short distance any longer and pulled her back so that she now fit perfectly against his chest as they swayed to their own music.

I desire nothing else now that I have the elleth that I love safe in my arms.

Legolas reverentially traced his fingers over the circlet that entwined her auburn hair. 'The lost gems shall shine again.'

Tauriel tilted her head inquisitively at his words and the light of the elven lamps reflected in the green depths of her eyes. Cupping her cheek in his hand, Legolas lowered his head, kissing his Captain and Princess, pleased when she enthusiastically responded.

After a time, Tauriel drew back smiling contentedly, before tucking her head under his chin and holding him close.

Legolas lowered his lips to her pointed ear. 'In the eyes of the Valar, you are now the mate to my fëa. Well, in all ways but one…'

Tauriel drew back with a mischievous smile and the green fire that burned in her eyes made Legolas' heart race uncontrollably.

So...Eryn Lasgalen has a new Princess! This is not the end! Tauriel's life is just beginning...

I dedicate this chapter to my delightful new reader, ABottleOfWine