AN: Sorry for the delay in updating everyone but September seems to be a busy time for most! this chapter is the first time that we hear from Thranadir's POV as a very young elfling. I hope you like it.

Thranadir POV

'Ada, where are we going?' Thranadir skipped along beside his Father as they started to climb up and up, almost up into the very night sky itself, or so the young elfling thought.

His handsome blond Ada looked down at him with a warm smile. He seemed impossibly tall to the small elfling. 'You will see, ionneg.'

I hope I will be as tall as Ada when I am fully grown!

Thranadir pouted a bit at this answer that was not exactly an answer but dutifully kept climbing the white marble steps of Ithilien's tallest tower. He had never been up here before.

After a little while, Thranadir got a bit weary of the stairs. 'If Naneth comes back from her night patrol and finds that we are gone, we will both be in trouble. She does not like me exploring at night.'

'What Naneth does not know will not hurt her. Now come, Thranadir, we are here.'

Legolas bent down and plucked his only son up into his arms, settling the little blond elfling upon his shoulders, earning him a small giggle from the little one.

From his perch, Thranadir surveyed the open expanse of the roofless tower. He could see in every direction!

'Ada, we are so high!'

To the West in the distance the lights of Minas Tirith shone, to the South the great River, the East the dark mountains and looking North the little elfling could see the great plains. He had learnt about all of these places in his lessons and felt proud he could remember all of them.

Thranadir's gaze lingered on those plains. He knew somewhere far in the North his Grandada lived, the great King of the Woodland Realm. The thought made his heart fill with pride, although he could not remember meeting the King.

I really, really want to though! Naneth and Ada have told me he is a wise and powerful King but I want to actually see him! Does he really ride an elk or was Ada joking?

'Ionneg. Look up.' Drawn out of his thoughts of mystical warrior kings of old, Thranadir looked directly up from his perch and saw an inky black sky studded with thousands of bright jewels. He immediately thought it looked beautiful.

'I have seen some stars before but never so many! I cannot count them all!'

Thranadir felt his Ada's shoulders move with his chuckle. 'Many have tried little leaf and I believe most are still counting.'

'Naneth says that starlight is a memory in its purest form. Do you think so too, Ada?'

'Well, The Great Queen of the Valar, Varda, made the stars first shine. She scattered them across the skies when the elves were first waking in Arda. It is told she scattered them so that the eldar may find their way back to their true home in the undying lands, when their time is right.'

Thranadir did not notice the shiver that ran down his Father's spine.

Thranadir considered these words. 'So, you are saying Varda put the stars in the sky so that we can remember our way back home?'

'Many believe so. All elves know of Valinor but we wait until we hear the call to leave.'

'But I live here with you and Naneth and Fin-galad!'

'For now you do, but perhaps not always.'

The young princeling wrinkled his nose leaning his chin back on top of his Father's silver head; the thought of the undying lands felt like a warm faraway dream to him and nothing more.

I have to bring Fin-galad up here to play! I cannot believe we have not been up here before! I thought Fin-galad knew all of the good places already!

Thranadir smiled up at the bright stars one last time as his Ada led him back down the tower stairs. He thought the stars winked back at him.

Thranduil POV

Thranduil settled down at his grand desk with a glass of his favourite ruby red Dorwinion and stared at the parchment before him bearing marks of Ithilien. It sat upon countless other letters of state but tonight he disregarded them. Taking a healthy sip and letting the succulent flavours glide over his tongue he began to read the bold yet controlled hand.

Aran nin,

Thranadir is doing so well, his vocabulary is becoming quite impressive in both sindarin and westron and Queen Arwen has begun to give him lessons in Quenya. Speaking of Arwen, her daughter Arthoniel has grown but I sense the eldar in her. Legolas and I both think the young girl is more elven-kind than mortal which could pose some interesting developments in the future…

We are encouraging Thranadir to write to you but he stubbornly refuses to do so although he loves to send letters to basically every soldier in the guard. He says he needs to 'perfect his handwriting' before daring to contact you.

Legolas misses you a lot, I think that it is you he is thinking of when I sometimes catch him staring into the distance.

I miss you too hîr vuin, if it is not too bold to write such a thing. I –I am sorry for the way that we left things. Your business is your own and forgive me for prying.

Yours,

Tauriel.

Thranduil hummed and leaned back in his chair, allowing himself a small smile at his stubborn Captain's apology. Admittedly, his anger more stemmed from embarrassment at the intrusion of his most private discovery, more than her wandering about his rooms.

Yes, perhaps I will write to young Thranadir. It would make Legolas happy too.

Thranduil stretched and rose, wandering to his balcony.

'Hello there.' He whispered to the white aerangis growing happily in its large stone pot. The plant, once so small and little more than a stem was now a strong healthy specimen, roots spreading deep and wide with many green leaves.

'You are obviously happy here.'

The single bloom still shone proudly in its own glory. Thranduil loved the way it smelled. He could not describe the scent exactly but if asked, he would say it smelt like moonlight to him. It was his favourite smell.

Tauriel POV

How do the sword racks always end up in such a disarray when I watch the guards put their training swords back myself! Look at this, some of the wooden swords are falling of their hangers! Wait…it is only the swords closest to the ground that are out of place. Fin-galad! I bet he was sneaking them out to practise.

Frowning as she meticulously placed all the weapons back in their proper places, Tauriel did not acknowledge the door to the armoury opening and closing behind her. It was not yet dawn and it also happened to be a rest day for the soldiers so the barracks were quite deserted as the guard slept in.

A cool pale hand reached around her back and caressed the side of her cheek.

'Legolas, good morning.' Without turning around she tilted her mouth and kissed his fingers.

As a reply, she felt Legolas press himself against her and nuzzle kisses against her neck causing her to lean back and sigh contentedly.

Good morning indeed!

Reluctantly through her dreamy haze, Tauriel turned around in Legolas' embrace and kissed his cheek before motioning to leave.

'As nice as this is, I need to double check the skeleton guard roster for today before the day duty starts.'

Like a pouncing cat Legolas caught hold of her waist and gently pushed Tauriel back against an alcove in the wall that normally housed long spears had they not been out for sharpening. Tauriel felt the cool stone wall press up against her back, whilst Legolas pressed up against her front.

I hope no one walks in on us!

The silver prince gave her a lazy smile. 'You are not going anywhere, Captain.'

Tauriel arched an auburn eyebrow as Legolas began kissing her softly at first and then with such passion that she felt herself melting into starlight in his arms.

'Legolas!'

Eyes closed and lost in a deluge of otherworldy kisses, Tauriel let her fingers roam freely over her love. She did not realise until her fingertips traced smooth yet hard skin that at some point Legolas had shed his tunic.

She cautiously opened her green eyes to find the Prince standing before her in all his glory and her body flushed with warmth at the magnificent sight.

'Oh Valar!-' was all she managed to say before Legolas occupied every inch of her thoughts.

Heightened as her senses now were, her ears picked up a soft footfall heading towards the armoury. Legolas broke off mid-kiss, obviously hearing the same thing.

Tauriel made a startled sound as with unnatural speed Legolas grabbed his tunic and leaped behind a very large chest containing vambraces, effectively disappearing from sight.

The Captain had just finished readjusting her own tunic when the door opened and a familiar chestnut elf walked in.

'Ranadir! What are you doing here!'

Ranadir gave her an odd look before moving to the other side of the room to collect new arrows. Tauriel was acutely aware of the naked prince hidden behind a chest on the other side of the room and tried not to look in that direction lest she gave him away.

Valar, spare me, I could not deal with that conversation.

'Well, little Tauriel. I am a guard here. Sometimes guards come to the armoury, when we need weapons or armour. That is why it is called 'the ar-mour-y.'' he enunciated the world particularly clearly to make his point.

Tauriel blushed and cleared her throat, frowning. 'I know what the armoury is! I meant why are you here at dawn on your day off?'

Ranadir selected a handful of arrows before turning around and giving a half shrug. 'One of the mortal guards on duty became sick so I offered to take his shift, being the gallant warrior that I am.'

'Oh, well good.'

Ranadir gave her an easy smile before walking back towards the door. Tauriel shadowed him.

'Are those boots?' Ranadir had caught sight of Legolas' boots near the door.

I forgot about his boots!

'Oh, probably just left by a guard.' Her voice was an octave higher than normal and Tauriel clenched her fists.

'No, wait. I recognise…are those Prince Legolas' boots?!'

'No they are not. Definitely not. Get to your post!' Tauriel leant against the tall ellon trying to shove him out the door but Ranadir caught the frame with his arms and braced himself.

'Tauriel, whaa?!'

With a nudge behind his knees Tauriel pushed Ranadir out and slammed the door behind him. She propped a chair against the door handle for good measure.

'Oh no.' she sighed, turning around and dropping onto the chair, hiding her face in her hands.

Legolas popped up from behind the chest looking very pleased with himself. He walked over to the chair and lifted Tauriel into his arms.

'Tch, Tauriel, we are warriors. We like to live dangerously.'

Tauriel smiled and reached up to give him a deep kiss, determined to forget about Ranadir.

'Now Captain, let me get you out of that tunic.'