AN: To those that were wondering, I didn't put Aragorn and Arwen at the pledging ceremony because this is happening only about a year after Aragorn's coronation and wedding, so I just felt he would be completely busy rebuilding Gondor etc to travel all the way to Eryn Lasgalen…
Legolas POV
As the pale light of dawn slipped through the open high arch windows and spilled onto the opulent bed on the far side of the chamber, Legolas stirred and instinctively tightened his arms about Tauriel.
Smiling contentedly at the memories of the past day and at the joy at waking up to his beloved, Legolas gently traced a stray lock of the Captain's hair behind her delicate ear.
Curled up on her side against his chest, the elleth that Legolas loved more than life itself did not stir from her waking dreams.
She looks so peaceful.
Legolas marvelled at how someone so beautiful could also be so brave as to defend her kingdom with such selflessness.
And take an arrow meant for her King.
I could gaze upon her for an Age and never tire of looking.
It was then that Tauriel's eyes closed in a frown and a slight whimper escaped her lips.
Alarmed, Legolas gathered her up closer but she remained trapped within her waking dreams.
Tauriel turned her head and murmured words against his chest. 'Cold…Thranduil….hurts…An ngell nîn!'
Legolas kissed her temple soothingly.
It is her wound. The shadow of the morgul blade remains, even now.
Distraught at the thought of something evil coming near to Tauriel, and hurting her whilst he was not there to defend her made Legolas let out a low growl.
Whilst holding Tauriel close in one arm, he used the other to slip the silken sheets down over her hip that bore the mark of the cursed arrow's passing. Though her beautiful pale skin was still smooth by the art of Serilla and his Father, a dark grey scar remained.
No more shall it disturb her.
Legolas did not have much experience with healing but he knew the basic principles and he also understood the power of his lineage. Drawing upon his influence as a son of the high Kings of the Eldar, Legolas channelled a song of healing through his hand onto Tauriel's scar.
Then he did something that not even Serilla nor the King could do. Legolas concentrated and sent forth all the love and hope that had forged his unique bond with Tauriel into the wound to chase away the lingering shadows that haunted her dreams.
We have a bond that cannot be broken. Not even by death. No shadow can linger and match the desire I have to protect Tauriel. No more will I catch her with a shadow upon her face when she thinks no one is looking. No more will dark dreams haunt her rest.
The room brightened for a moment from where his hand lay upon her hip and then slowly Tauriel's features relaxed and she settled herself more snugly against his chest.
Legolas smiled and cradled her in his arms, placing a delicate kiss upon her brow, proud that he could help.
Tauriel POV.
Tauriel awoke and felt lighter than she had in weeks. Blinking away a dream she could not quite remember, she looked up into a pair of sea-blue eyes and felt her heart flutter.
I will have to get used to this!
'Good morning, meleth nîn. How do you feel?' Legolas smiled down upon her.
'It is strange, I feel light, as if I am no longer hindered by a shadow that chased my thoughts.' Tauriel tilted her head and instinctively felt her hip.
Odd. Normally the scar feels cold to the touch yet now it bears the same warmth as the rest of me.
Legolas eyes flicked to her hip and he laid his larger hand over her own smaller one.
'No more despair, Tauriel. No more dark dreams.'
Tauriel considered how she no longer felt the lingering effects of the shadow. 'What did you do?'
Did he heal me whilst I dreamt?
Legolas shrugged and gave a half smile that looked a bit smug. 'I loved you.'
Tauriel raised an eyebrow but felt a smile pulling at her lips as she reached up to kiss him.
Tauriel POV
It was later in the day and Legolas had gone to take Gimli to see more of the forest. Tauriel had the day off from her Captain's duties, thanks to Ranadir, so she was sat in the herb gardens with Serilla, nibbling on summer berries.
'So, do I have to call you hiril vuin, now or do you still prefer Captain.' Serilla asked whilst rubbing her stomach. The elfling was due any day now.
Tauriel laughed and threw a grape in her direction.
'You will call me Tauriel as that is who I will always be!'
Serilla smiled and in a flash had thrown a grape back that hit Tauriel on the head.
'Will you continue to be our Captain?' Serilla questioned.
Tauriel considered the question. 'Yes. I will always be more of Captain than a Princess. However, that is not to say I will not do what is required of me by the King but I have a desire to defend, not to rule.'
'There is not a lot to defend us from now in the days of peace.' Serilla replied honestly.
Tauriel eyed where she rubbed her stomach. 'Oh I am not so sure. If that little one is anything like Ranadir, the whole Kingdom will need defending from his mischief!'
They both laughed until Serilla hissed and straightened her spine.
'Are you well, Serilla?' Tauriel rose and moved to take the healer's hand.
'I…I think my little one heard us talking. I….ahhhhhh.' Serilla bowed her head and made a low sound in her throat.
Oh Valar, the babe is coming.
Without thinking, Tauriel scooped Serilla up in her arms and made for the nearby halls of healing.
A short while later, Tauriel found herself amidst a flurry of excited healers, whilst she stood next to Serilla who lay upon a spacious bed. The healers bustled around making Serilla more comfortable whilst the elleth panted and closed her eyes.
'I will go and fetch Ranadir. He should be here for this.' Tauriel turned to leave.
'No!' Faster than lightning, Serilla's hand shot out and grasped Tauriel's. 'Stay. Please. Do not leave me.'
Tauriel turned back and grasped the healer's hand more tightly. Her grey eyes shone with tears.
'I am here Serilla. Nothing can hurt you whilst I am here. I am staying with you.'
Serilla nodded, leaning back and closing her eyes. 'Ranadir….'
Tauriel turned to a dark haired healer next to her. The blue-eyed elleth seemed to understand Tauriel's unspoken message.
'I will fetch Ranadir.' She said, depositing some clean linens she was holding into Tauriel's hands and turning to leave.
Tauriel moistened the linens in a bowl of fresh spring water and used them to cool Serilla's forehead.
The Captain was frightened. She had never been present at a birth before and she did not know what to do to help. It frustrated her. All she could do was endure the death-grip the honey-haired elleth had on her hand and whisper reassurances whilst stroking her hair.
Soon Ranadir burst into the room in a flurry of red robes, his long sword still hanging at his waist from training.
'Serilla!' he rushed forward to the side of the bed where Tauriel did not stand and grasped the elleth's hand.
Serilla began to cry and Ranadir soothingly placed delicate kisses onto her brow.
Tauriel remained terrified for the entire process but held her trust entirely with masterful healers that surrounded the three of them.
Hours later, the Captain stood in absolute bewilderment as a tiny bundle was placed into the waiting arms of Serilla, who cried tears of joy, as did Ranadir, who cradled his wife.
Tauriel smiled where she stood at the side of the bed as both elves placed loving kisses upon their tiny elfling.
'Would you like to hold him, Tauriel?' A weary Serilla smiled up at her as Ranadir motioned for her to sit on the bed.
'I would be honoured.'
Once Tauriel had sat, Serilla carefully handed the bundle over to her waiting arms.
'Mae g'ovannen, little one. I am Tauriel, Captain and Princess of Eryn Lasgalen.'
Tauriel beamed as the little elfling looked up at her curiously with his mother's grey eyes. A few locks of chestnut hair graced the top of his head.
I would die before anything fell happened to this elfling.
The three elves sat together for a while cooing and revelling at the new life before them.
A knocking at the door drew their attention from marvelling over the little elf's tiny hands.
'You may come in.' Called Serilla.
Legolas sheepishly tucked his head around the corner and Tauriel happily rose to greet him.
'Legolas! Come over here! Look at what we made!' Ranadir said proudly.
The Prince smiled and walked in, he was wearing a light blue silk tunic and first kissed Tauriel lightly on the cheek before moving towards the bed.
Tauriel stood just behind him as he hugged Ranadir before laying his hand lightly upon Serilla's shoulder.
The honey-haired healer looked up to the Prince with the little bundle in her arms.
'Legolas, meet our son, Fin-galad.'
The silver-haired Prince looked down kindly at the little elf.
'Welcome to Eryn Lasgalen, Fin-galad, son of Ranadir and Serilla.'
Elvish
An ngell nîn -Please
Meleth nîn -My love
MariEvenstar, this chapter is for you, thank you for not wanting this story to end!