AN: I am sorry for the long delay in updating but I was travelling and to be honest, although I am still plagued with ideas of where this story is going, I lost motivation to write as I wasn't entirely sure people were still interested. If you are, my humblest apologies and I will endeavour to update more often for you deserve it my dear readers.

Legolas POV

It had been several cycles of the moon since the elves of Eryn Lasgalen had settled in and around Ithilien. From the grassy hill that Legolas now lounged upon with Tauriel that overlooked the river city, the Prince thought back to their first arrival. The dwarves had held true to their word and had built great defensive towers and gates, as well as mending and repairing the great stone structures that were halls and residences for many Gondorians before its fall into darkness. The dwarves bar Gimli left when their work was completed, for unlike the elves and men, they were uncomfortable by the vast open nature of Ithilien. By the light of the afternoon sun, Legolas' keen elven eyes could distinguish the sharp geometric patterns engraved upon the white stone pillars, a symbol of strength and friendship between dwarf-kind and mortal men.

Legolas turned his gaze across the city to the south and east where his people had been hardest at work. The great plains of Ithilien that had lain barren in filth and devoid of life but a few months ago now held whispers of new growth and hope. Tiny green leaves had sprouted under the song and care of the eldar; crops intended to help the people of Gondor through the coming winter months. It was no small feat to achieve and Legolas and the elves had often been referred to as 'great saviours of men' much to his and some of his peoples' embarrassment.

Other elves had leant their skill in fashioning items for those that had lost all but their lives in the Great War. Carpenters, glass makers, horse masters and healers to name but a few had been hard at work in the name of the friendship extended by his Father King Thranduil.

Legolas and Tauriel oversaw it all, keeping Aragorn and Arwen updated on the progress. Legolas looked now to his flame on the wind where she stood a few feet ahead of him watching the setting of the sun. The golden light caressed her hair as its own and Legolas was utterly enraptured by one who was both sunlight and starlight.

Tauriel had aligned herself well with Faramir and Éowyn, training and strengthening the Gondorian Guard almost beyond what were considered mortal limits.

When Éowyn took up arms beside her and encouraged other women to do so, some of the mortals had initially thought it undignified for a female. Legolas smiled proudly at the green fury that had been in Tauriel's eyes when Éowyn told her what others thought. Elleth were taught to fight alongside ellon, the elves considered it odd to not train elleth to defend themselves and others. An immortal life should not be wasted simply because an elf was never taught how to hold a bow.

The young Captain had marched straight into Aragorn's private antechamber and demanded that mortal women receive the same right to combat training as men. Legolas remembered following her and seeing that Aragorn, surprised by the outburst had initially started saying that he would hope that it may not be necessary in the time of peace they now experienced. One sharp look from Arwen, a formidable warrior herself, changed that however. King Elessar decreed that women would have the same unchallenged right to fight for those that they loved and honoured and could train and join the Gondorian army if they so desired.

Many women signed up for combat training and pledged themselves into service if the King would find need to call upon them. Legolas was not surprised for many had seen the horror of their families being slaughtered by orcs whilst they were helpless to prevent it.

Since then, Legolas sensed that some sort of bond that was certainly deep on some levels had been forged between Tauriel and the Shieldmaiden of Rohan. Éowyn was sure with a blade and had bested Prince Faramir on several occasions. Nevertheless she always pushed herself under Tauriel's guidance and had become quite adept with a bow. Royal women as proud warriors provided excellent guidance and encouragement for the others, particularly in Éowyn's case.

Legolas moved forward and embraced Tauriel, who simply smiled and leant back into his chest whilst she contemplated the sun. As he breathed in her scent of the sun and summer flowers he instinctively started twirling a lock of her auburn hair.

'I saw Arwen arrive for your spar this morning, I would have stayed but I was required to patrol the Eastern rise. How did it go?' Legolas said softly into her hair.

Tauriel smiled and turned halfway in his arms to look at him. 'The Queen is one of the most graceful warriors I have seen in my years. Her long sword had the upper hand until..well..until I wrestled her to the ground.' Legolas chuckled as Tauriel blushed.

'That was very diplomatic of you meleth nin.' Legolas baited.

Tauriel threw a haughty expression his way. 'No one saw and she laughed it off.'

Tauriel POV

Tauriel huffed and wished that her pointed ears would stop blushing. Legolas just looked at her with his sea-blue eyes that were glittering in the last rays of the sun. It was hard not to be lost in those eyes.

He is smug that I beat Arwen. I am sure there is some age-old rivalry there.

Tauriel's thoughts turned briefly inwards to her different relationships that she had grown with Arwen and Éowyn.

Éowyn was a fighter and a natural leader. She had fought all her life for her right to defend her people and had felt the bitter taste of helplessness regardless of her position. Tauriel had to admit that she admired her and although they walked in different worlds, they seemed to have the same views regarding doing what was needed and fulfilling duties.

On the other hand, Arwen was an elf, like Tauriel and she found it much easier to talk to someone from her own culture. That being said, Arwen was of high nobility, her ancestors living and passing into the legends of her people. Tauriel was a silvan elf of no lineage though she was raised by the King. There was some subtle divide between them that Tauriel was uncomfortable to overcome, something she did not feel with Éowyn, though she was also of a royal bloodline. Arwen was kind and serene and always found time to be with Tauriel. No matter how great their love for others, elves still needed elves to remember who they were.

They are both my friends but in different ways.

Tauriel was abruptly brought out of her thoughts by noticing that Legolas had been staring at her all this time with the same small smile playing on his lips. She raised an eyebrow in response.

'You still chew your lip when you think. You have done so since first I met you and it is something I would not change.' Legolas answered.

'And you still play with my hair, hîr nin.' Tauriel countered playfully.

Legolas' responding smile could have lit the entire night sky. He leant down and kissed the lock of her hair that he held in between his long fingers. He looked up at her under his delicate golden lashes. 'You used to hide in my hair when you were frightened or wanted comfort as an elfling.'

Tauriel smiled. 'You were my hero. My brave Prince to chase away the darkness.'

Legolas kissed her cheek warmly before giving her a different, more daring expression as he leant in close to her mouth.

'In fact if I recall correctly, you did many things as a very young elleth that to begin with, many thought unusual as we were not kin.'

Tauriel took the bait. 'Like what?'

'Nuzzling into my neck, holding my hand, kissing my cheek and…stroking my ears.'

Tauriel chuckled until she heard the last thing. Then she flushed furious scarlet. 'I did not stroke your ears!'

'It was in the weeks when we first found you, I believe it a sort of comfort mechanism that you developed. You were very young, you did not know.' Legolas chuckled. 'Even though I had not yet reached my majority, I had to encourage you to take comfort in something else quickly.' He blushed then. 'You chose to hide in my hair.' His smile softened in love for an instant.

Tauriel was mortified. Stroking ears was a very…sensitive thing to do to an elf.

'You tried to do it to Thranduil once.' Legolas bit his lip to keep from laughing.

'I did not!' Tauriel cried, begging the ground to swallow her up right then and there.

'You did.' Legolas smirked.

Tauriel hid in her hands.

I STROKED Thranduil, King of the Woodland Realm?! On his ears no less! Oh Valar, save me.

'I think that was the last time he dared to pick you up in comfort. I do not think he ever stopped loving you though.' Legolas mused.

'What happened?' Tauriel despaired over her younger self.

Legolas shrugged and began playing with her hair again. 'I was tutoring you in the study one evening and Thranduil walked in. You were always joyed to see him and ran to hug his legs. It was late and when he picked you up, you became drowsy and started stroking his ears as you lay your head on his shoulder. I have never seen my Father become a marble statue so quickly.. he promptly told me to 'stop this nonsense, Legolas.' before leaving. It was all I could do not to laugh at the look on his face.'

Tauriel moaned and hid her head in Legolas' green tunic.

'I am glad I had no memory of this.' She mumbled into the soft fabric.

She felt Legolas chest vibrate as he hummed in amusement.

She wrapped her slender arms tightly around his waist and felt him instinctively do the same to her.

Legolas kissed the top of her head. 'You can stroke my ears if you like, Captain.'

AN: Thank you for reading, please if you are still interested, leave a review, I could do with the encouragement so that I update quicker.

Love, emlaba