AN: I did not plan this chapter. I was thinking about Fin-galad and family and well…that led me here. It is a character development story and also some history as well as a continuation of the plot. Enjoy and please review my beautiful readers.
Tauriel POV
It had been a long day for the Captain, for the Guard had been escorting elves from Lothlorien that were moving into the land granted to Lord Celeborn by King Thranduil. Tauriel was happy to see more elves moving back out into the woodland realm now that the days of peace once again provided a sanctuary for her kind to nurture the growing things.
Winding her way up through the carved stone staircases of the keep, Tauriel rolled her shoulders as she made her way towards the King's antechamber to report that the hundred or so Lothlorien elves were safely placed in their new settlements.
She was just about to knock on the great door to Thranduil's chambers when a hand shot out and grabbed her own. Tauriel frowned and immediately pulled her hand out of the grasp of the soldier posted outside the door.
It is my right to report to the King. What is this?
'Man cerig?' Tauriel asked in a low voice to the guard.
Tauriel's eyebrow rose when he gave her an empathetic glance.
'Goheno nin, hiril vuin, but the King is not to be disturbed by anyone this night.'
Tauriel instinctively wanted to question why but knew from experience that it was not wise to question the King's motives.
Against her better judgement, Tauriel felt a bit isolated. No one had seen Legolas all day; he had even been gone when she awoke at dawn. Gimli had taken to spending his days helping the elves run the forges for he possessed great knowledge of jewels and their craft. Now on top of that, Thranduil would also not give her an audience this evening.
Nodding to the guard, she dismissed herself for the night and moved along to her and Legolas' chambers to retire.
Now I will have to report to the King tomorrow morning when instead I should be taking archers to the new settlement.
Removing her hunting garb, Tauriel lay down and contemplated the stars through the open arch windows. For once they did look like a cold and distant light and the thought troubled her.
A while later, Legolas stealthily entered and settled down next to her. He did not say anything, even though Tauriel knew he could tell from her quiet breathing that she was awake, though she was facing away from him.
What is going on that I am not privy to?
Frustrated that she was being shut out, Tauriel rolled over to find Legolas staring blankly up at the ceiling.
He looked so melancholy that Tauriel forgot her anger and instead stroked his hair that gleamed softly in the moonlight.
'What has happened today, meleth nîn? You have avoided me and Thranduil refuses to see me?'
Legolas shifted his blue gaze to her and opened his arms to embrace her.
'Today is the day that my Mother died.' His answer was a whisper.
Though they had partially grown up together, as Tauriel had been under the protection of the King when her own parents had died, Legolas had always kept this aspect of his life hidden. Tauriel had never pried; she understood all too well the pain of losing one's parents.
This is why Thranduil will not see anyone. It is a day marked with grief.
'I am a part of your family now, Legolas. Do not hold back your pain from me, let me help you bear it. The Queen passed before I was born, will you tell me about her?'
Legolas turned his gaze to look over Tauriel's head at the stars shining outside.
'I was almost too young to remember her; I only have impressions of love and grace left. She is but a faceless thought to me.'
Tauriel did not take her eyes off his sorrowful face until he continued.
'There is no tomb, no memory of her. Ada will only say that she loved me, I think the loss of her is too painful for him to bear. When I was younger and fostered in Imladris, the Lady Arwen told me more. Losing her own Mother to the Undying Lands, she understood the importance of memory, I think.'
'How did Lady Arwen know of your Mother?'
'She met her a few times when she was very young as Celebrían was great friends with the Queen. Arwen said that my Mother was a great healer that cared deeply for her people. When she was killed, Arwen said that our people lay wreaths of aerangis throughout the forest in mourning.'
'Why did they choose to lay aerangis?'
'It was because Celebrían named my Mother the forest star, for she was the very light in the Greenwood. The aerangis was planted in memory of the star that fell to Arda and made her home in the Greenwood with my Father, becoming the forest star. When my Mother died, that is when the Greenwood became sick, eventually becoming Mirkwood.'
Tauriel did not know what to say. She felt a profound sadness for the fallen Queen that was so loved by her people and friends.
'Celebrían would not speak of her after that. Arwen saw into her Mother's mind and saw that her grief ran deep. Celebrían resented my Father after she tried to reach out to him only to have him isolate himself and the Kingdom in return. Arwen thinks that the loss of my Mother combined with the own doom that befall Celebrían is what drove her to flee Arda and its sorrows.'
Keeping her back to the stars, Tauriel shifted so that she cradled Legolas in her arms until she sensed him finally slip into his waking dreams.
I will never abandon him.
Thranduil POV
It is always like this. My burden to bear. Every year I am allowed a night of grief.
The elven-king stood alone on his balcony, a necklace made of white gems made of pure starlight hanging limply in his hands.
The same thoughts that had haunted him this past Age circled around once again in his mind.
I should have saved her. I should have been there. It should have been me.
The necklace that had made him go to war glistened in his palms in the moonlight. Thranduil sneered up at the dark sky.
Let them think it was gold-sickness that possessed me to take such drastic actions. I have no desire for jewels. It is heart-sickness that I have.
The King traced the filigree silver, desperate to feel some connection to the elleth that it once belonged to. Silent tears traced down his cheekbones when he felt nothing emanating from the cool metal.
It is all I have left of her. Except Legolas. My little leaf, my only reason to exist.
Thranduil closed his eyes and recalled the early days when darkness consumed him. Oh, he had maintained his expressionless mask well enough. His people needed him and he would never let them down. He had learned from his Father's mistakes and would not let rash decisions destroy his Kingdom.
But on the inside, he was hollow. Each night he would find no rest, only endless sobs that wracked his entire being. The only comfort had been Legolas.
He was so very young. Yet each night my little leaf would sneak into my chambers and try his best to soothe his pitiful King.
Thranduil recalled how elfling Legolas would climb onto his bed and try his best to reach his little arms around his Father's chest. Thranduil would reach down and breathe in the scent of his son, holding him close and never wanting to let him go.
'I will never leave you Ada, I love you.'
Those were the words that kept Thranduil tethered to this world. He would never forget them.
Tauriel POV
The next morning, just as dawn graced the sky, Tauriel slipped out silently in her hunting garb and headed to the weapons-smith, bow in hand.
A while later, after informing a stoic Thranduil of the last night's report, Tauriel was by the front gates ready to escort the archers to the new settlement. She smiled as she delicately traced the new engravings that graced her curved bow.
Three aerangis. One for the Queen, one for the King and one for Legolas. My kin.
She glanced up as Legolas strolled over and as he inclined his head respectfully to her in front of the waiting archers. Tauriel smiled and returned the gesture.
The Prince's eyebrows drew together as he noticed where her fingers rested upon her bow.
'What is that?' He questioned, gazing upon the three blooms.
Tauriel ran her fingers over them once last time before placing her bow upon her back, ready to set out.
'It is a memory, precious and pure.' She smiled before extending her hand from her heart in farewell before leading her company through the gate.
The lost Queen shall not be forgotten.
Many months later Tauriel laughed as she splashed in the shallows of the River with a toddling Fin-galad. On her afternoon off she had offered to take the growing elfling to explore more of the Kingdom that he lived in.
Fin-galad could now toddle around, grey eyes keenly taking in everything around him with an intelligence that developed far more quickly than mortal children. He understood most things yet was much too young to talk yet. His radiant chestnut hair bobbed around his shoulders and was now dappled with water droplets.
Though the seasons were changing it was still fair outside and Tauriel and Fin-galad both together waded through the crystal clear water with bare feet.
'I will catch you, my little one!' Tauriel called and began to slowly prance after the chestnut elfling who squealed in delight and tottered away from her as best he could along the water's edge.
'Got you!' Tauriel pounced and scooped the little one up into her arms, before wading out of the River to fall down together on the soft grassy bank, causing Fin-galad to laugh in delight at the attention.
Tauriel tickled Fin-galad and he struggled in her lap and laughed some more in his perfectly sweet infant voice.
'What is this? A Captain caught off her guard?' A teasing voice caused Tauriel to look over her shoulder at Ranadir who was sauntering down towards them.
Fin-galad looked to his Ada and then back up to Tauriel with his lovely grey eyes.
'Go to your Ada, little one.' Tauriel tucked a stray chestnut lock behind his pointed ear.
Tauriel smiled as Fin-galad reached his little arms up to hug her neck before tottering over to Ranadir who scooped him up in his strong arms.
'Hello my little birch, come, Naneth will be waiting for us at home. Will you dine with us tonight, Tauriel?' Ranadir looked up as Tauriel got to her feet and attempted to pat herself dry.
'It would be my pleasure.' Tauriel followed them up the path back to the keep as the sun began to set on Eryn Lasgalen.
Thranduil POV
Thranduil stood in his antechamber, a piece of Gondorian parchment in his hand, whilst his son stood before him. Gimli the dwarf stood to the side, a matching parchment also clasped in his strong fist.
'You are leaving me?' The King made his voice deliberately cold, to mask the pain he felt inside at his son's decision.
'It will not be permanent, Ada. King Aragorn had spoken to us of this at his coronation. The lands of Ithilien need to be healed. He asks for our aid for it is now the right time for the elves to lend their skill in the natural arts.' Legolas reasoned.
'Aye, and he needs the dwarves to help strengthen the strongholds, so that they may withstand the Ages passing in this world' Thranduil briefly flicked his eyes at the dwarf's comment.
'Ithilien was once the jewel of the Kingdom of Gondor. We owe Aragorn this much for he led us to victory more than once. More than that he is our friend. It is the right thing to do Ada.'
But it is not the right thing for me.
Thranduil looked into his son's open blue gaze and sighed. Legolas had inherited his desire to help others from his Mother, and Thranduil could never begrudge him that.
'Go then my son. I will call upon our people. Those that wish to follow you may do so. But you must return to me eventually. You are still the Prince of Eryn Lasgalen.'
Legolas grinned and gave his Father a quick embrace.
Thranduil returned the gesture for an instant before feeling a smirk grace his features.
'So. Have you told Tauriel of your intentions?'
Thranduil's smirk grew when he saw his son flinch.
'Well...no...not yet. I will ask her tonight.'
That I would love to see.
'Oh laddie you will be in trouble.' For once, Thranduil agreed with Gimli.
AN: Aerangis is called the 'falling star orchid' and it is rather beautiful!
NCISRookie33 -I am glad the last chapter made you laugh! Hopefully future chapters will do the same ;)