Dear readers,

Once again thank you for your continued feedback.

ClaraS - Well his motives are much alike as from the hobbit movies, but they will be elaborated profoundly when and if I get to that point which won't be until 1st or maybe even 2nd sequel.

For now enjoy Tauriel's childhood. I made this a compilation of Tauriel's everyday trivial and less trivial problems in order to show you that elves have ordinary days and problems like all other races (with a hint of danger and excitement).

Love,

ME

CHAPTER 21

The whole day passed without a room for the prince to speak with his friend, but Tauriel was content with Gileth's company who was not allowed to depart without solemnly promising to visit her often. Gileth wished to invite her friend to visit her as well, but did not wish to place her in the wolf's lair. The only one who could be trusted to act with kindness was her brother, but she could not go to see him during the winter.

The evening was upon them before they got the chance to speak. Tauriel let herself be lead by her friend who brought her to his chambers and let her walk past him to gaze outside for a brief while. "Would you miss me?" she suddenly asked breaking the silence while the blonde ellon was lost in his own thoughts.

Her voice broke his trance while he tried to make sense of those words. "Would you miss me if I were gone forever?" she elaborated watching his distracted gaze.

He stared at her unamused. "What kind of question is that?" he asked flatly wondering whether she actually doubted the answer.

"The one that requires answering." Tauriel suggested rising an eyebrow with humor on her face.

The prince looked at her with mischief; a sentiment he lost a long time ago. "Is that your idea of a joke?" he asked approaching her in three long strides. He easily lifted her up and carried her across the room to his bed like a sack of flour.

"Legolas put me down! How preposterous!" she exclaimed feeling quite amused, but completely without dignity.

"As you wish Hiril nin." he replied tossing her unceremoniously on his bed barely giving her time to hit the mattress before sitting next to her and checking for her ticklish zones. Tauriel laughed until tears started to come to her eyes trying to struggle free all the while, but he pinned her down soon afterward. He planted a kiss on her forehead before setting her free. "I win." he smiled with triumph.

Little elleth grabbed the closest pillow and hit him on the head. The prince ducked her next attack with his superior reflexes taking another one from his bed in the same breath. Tauriel also ducked out of his reach easily, but tried to strike again from every angle; sometimes managing to hit some part of him. His retaliation consisted of numerous counterattacks which made them both laugh like little elflings. They both fell to the bed with their backs pressed to the mattress amused. "That was fun. We should do it more often." Tauriel finally broke the silence after catching her breath; her eyes sparkling with excitement. Legolas couldn't respond, but spread a wide grin at her enthusiasm.

"Does your father approve of me spending so much time in here? I patronize a lot of your time and now I occupy your space as well." she voiced her concern when unpleasant silence threatened to become uncomfortable.

His serious face returned observing her deliberating whether to tell the truth or not. "He is not too pleased about it, but he does not oppose. For the record, if he did, that wouldn't make a difference. As far as I am concerned, you are staying here tonight and every other night." he replied watching her widen her eyes with shock. "You mean every night? That is quite unnecessary ernil nin." she replied with a squeak at such a scheme.

"That topic is not in discussion." he replied pinning her down yet again with an expression she could not read. "Also call me by my name. Do not address me like we don't know each other; at least not when we are alone." he added smugly planting another quick kiss on her forehead.

Tauriel exhaled a little entertained by what was bothering him. "It is too early for sleeping." she stated rather than asked.

The prince was not amused. "We have a pending conversation." he simply reminded her watching reluctance appear all over her face.

"We don't have to speak about this now or ever for that matter. I am..." she was interrupted when he spoke in quite irritated fashion.

"Don't say the word fine or anything of that ilk. Why do you insist on shutting me out?" the prince said watching her intently.

She sat on the bed with a sigh. "You already have enough of your own concerns. Why do you want to burden yourself with mines as well?"she asked not looking in any particular direction.

"Do you think that just because you do not speak I do not worry about you?" he retorted with another question. Tonight he would not give up.

Tauriel breathed in sharply and exhaled in defeat. She would not deny him anything even if he asked for her life. "What do you want to know?" she finally said looking straight into his eyes pointedly. She was so determined yet never more vulnerable than right now.

The prince crossed his legs on his bed and she did the same sitting face to face with him. His hand easily found its way to hers and squeezed it in silent comfort. "How often are your dreams haunted?" he asked gazing at her unchanged reaction. She was hesitant, but not unwilling.

"Almost every night since their death. I can count those which were not with one hand." she admitted with more courage than she thought she had lowering her gaze with shame for her weakness.

Every night? Legolas was taken aback by such a confession. He suspected it was bad, but that number now became devastating exceeding his wildest counts. "Why did you not come to me for help?" he asked with deep concern.

Tauriel exhaled again before replying. "I thought they would stop eventually." she replied calm enough, but with sadness in her voice.

"But they didn't?" the prince stated rather than asked.

Little elleth dropped every mask. "No they didn't! They grew worse and worse over time! For the last couple of months, I slept the least I could. I would stay awake until my eyes would close on their own. I was afraid to close my eyes." she raised her voice trying to struggle her hand free from his iron grasp while she placed the other hand over her eyes attempting to stop the tears that started to drop.

His hand gripped her even tighter not allowing her to run away this time. "Why did you not speak sooner? You must have realized that what was happening to you wasn't normal." he continued his line of fire wishing to get his answers now that she finally surrendered.

"Because I was ashamed; ashamed to admit that I am weak. I didn't want to be weak!" she finally screamed a forced confession covering her face with her hand when his grip finally loosened.

Legolas took a moment to register the full implication of her words. "There was nothing to be ashamed of tinu nin. You were mourning, but in silence. No one should grieve alone and especially not someone as young as you." he said with a voice full of understanding which shattered what was left of her nerves to pieces.

He waited for her to calm down afraid to touch her now that she was out of control. She finally did after a few minutes returning her breathing to normal. "I could have told you that would end like this. Why do you insist on asking questions when answers only bring you pain?" she finally said when she was sure that her voice wouldn't waver.

"I am more pained by the knowledge that something troubles you and I don't know what it could be because you remain silent." he replied placing a palm on her cheek to caress it gently. She placed her own palm over it and grasped it with both of her hands pressing her lips tenderly over it. "Do you have any more questions? I might not be so willing to continue this interrogatory in the morning." she replied placing his trapped hand on her knees.

Legolas was not amused by her expression, but went past it. "What is it that you dream about? Is it your parents; the day they died?" he asked watching her turn her look away. She appeared more willing to speak when she didn't look at him.

"That was only the start. I still dream about that day; sometimes the line of events varies a little, but in the end they always end up dead. I did not see them get killed so my mind invents a lot of possible scenarios each more dreadful than the previous." she started not looking forward to tell him the next part even though she knew he would want to know.

"Go on." he persuaded her without effort.

"They changed; the dreams. You started appearing in them soon afterwards. At first, I watched you die from every possible angle and in every possible manner. There was one in particular; a dragon descended from the sky and set us all aflame. Your father also made his appearance frequently and Laeorn on occasion. As we grew closer, the dreams became more horrible. As my attachment grew so did the fear of losing you. And then..." she continued trying to convey to him how such outcomes terrified her. He watched her with love, but did not speak tensing up at her sudden interruption.

This conversation wasn't going anywhere good nevertheless. "And then I saved Elethan and met his parents." she whispered half wishing to stop talking knowing this would inflict nothing, but guilt. He looked at her expectantly though understanding dawned on his face. "His father spoke of taking me away. It was when I realized that the only thing worse than losing you to lord Mandos was losing you because you would willingly send me away." she finished in a barely audible tone making herself go on only because her friend encouraged her to continue against her better judgment. His face filled with self reproach only affirmed her in the conviction that this should have stayed between her and the Valar.

She yearned to be close to him, but for the first time didn't know how to make the distance between the two disappear. "One more question than we may go to sleep." he told her making her focus on his face again.

"Shoot. I think we already covered everything that could cause you distress." she replied almost laughing at the irony.

"You said you could count your dreamless nights with one hand. Are you able to remember what was particular about those?" he asked watching her unchanged expression. This question did not bother her the slightest.

"It is not really hard to guess. First one was the night when your father informed me that he would gift me with a birthday party. I was in complete bliss the whole day. The other three all had in common that I slept right here in your arms; the last one being last night." Tauriel replied not noticing much surprise on his face.

Her eyes found his distracted gaze which seemed to wander around the room aimlessly. "Mellon." she spoke softly making him refocus on her face while she held his gaze. "Everything I told you does not need to change anything. Do not feel obliged to aid me in any way. Only duty you have toward me is the one that you impose on yourself." she felt inclined to remind him of this.

They both stood silent for a few minutes, Tauriel gazed at the stars through the window. They were covered with clouds, but still visible. She felt liberated after admitting to all this, but couldn't help to dread her friend's decision. Would he finally decide that this was too much for him to handle and leave her to her fate.

Legolas followed a very different line of thoughts frequently reminding himself that if he acted before, none of this would have happened. "Tinu nin, come to bed, it is late." he finally said after leaving her to her thoughts for a while longer.

She approached swiftly, but with evident surprise. "So you still want me to stay?" she stated rather than asked when he placed her on the side of the bed and started unbraiding her hair. The high impropriety of this situation came to her mind, but she couldn't make herself to tell him to stop.

When he finished with it, she moved to sit behind him and do the same for him. He closed his eyes and sighed in contentment. Her clear fascination for his hair was endearing. When their hairs were relieved of their braids, they both took off their jackets and their boots. Dressed in a simple silver tunic, the prince appeared more surreal than ever, but also more beautiful.

His hands enwrapped protectively around her little form with obvious months of practice and placed her head against his chest. She felt no hesitation to tighten the hold on him so she could hear his steady heart beats; her own personal lullaby. He continued drawing circles on her hair and her cheek until he was certain that she was asleep. Only then did he close his eyes and drifted off as well.

A new chapter begun in Tauriel's short life. Her nightmares did not go away for a very long time, but they became bearable as the months flew by. Her ninth birthday arrived very soon. King Thranduil gifted her with another celebration so much like the previous only this one included Gileth and a few more guards she was acquainted with.

Her elleth friend gifted her with a beautiful gown; white embroiled with silver. Tauriel puffed at it with wide eyes remembering that she specifically told her friend about her distaste of skirts and particularly the ones as extravagant as this one. Her gifts mostly consisted of clothes. The guards gifted her with a miniature guard uniform only to tease their little warrior while the prince pierced them with disapproving glances. He gifted his friend with a beautiful knife. It was a masterpiece, forged to be light, but able to pierce through walls. Its handle was made of pure silver adorned with many miniature shining stars. He warned his friend to be careful with it.

The summer was soon upon them and Tauriel was rarely found inside the palace. It took a lot of effort to keep track of her during the warm days. Sometimes she wandered alone like she used to in the past, but Gileth often made her company dressed in her hunting gear chatting lively about her brother who she would soon be visiting. She started repeating herself soon after she ran out of ideas so Tauriel stopped paying close attention. Any orc hunting in twenty league distance could spot them when she kept talking like this.

"...so my brother said I should bring you. What do you say to a little change for a couple of weeks?" Tauriel was brought out of her reverie by this generous yet unexpected invitation.

"A change would be nice, but I'll have to ask for permission. I've never been away for so long before." she agreed after a moment eager to learn more about her kingdom.

Gileth smiled. "Excellent. I will send my brother a word." she exclaimed.

"I have to speak with the prince first." Tauriel repeated, but Gileth gave her a strange look.

Her chuckle soon followed. "Oh come on mellon. You don't seriously believe that ernil Legolas would deny you anything. If you ask him to put his life in danger for you, he will do it." she said amused.

Tauriel tried to erase the picture of her friend in any kind of peril on her account. "That is not funny at all." she replied turning her head while they made their way back to the palace.

"And I wasn't joking." Gileth replied seriously. She got no answer this time.

It was harder than she thought to plant this question before her friend. She would have given up on the scheme if he did not ask the question.

"There is something on your mind tinu nin. You've been spiritually absent whole evening." he stated with conviction while Tauriel silently unbraided his hair like she did every night.

It was probably easier if she didn't look at his face. "Gileth invited me to go and visit her brother with her in his village." she finally exhaled like she was confessing some dreadful crime.

He almost chuckled at her uneasiness. "Do you want to go?" he asked serenely.

Tauriel was silent for a minute before replying. "I do. A change of scenery would be nice for a little while." she finally said with a hint of guilt in her tone.

His skilled hands embraced her before replying. "How long will you be staying?" he asked brushing his fingers through her chestnut red hair.

"Two weeks." she finally breathed out snuggling closer to him like someone who was caught stealing.

He planted a soft kiss on top of her head. "You don't sound so eager to depart. Why is that I wonder?" the prince asked with a hint of tease in his voice.

Tauriel struggled with words. "I want to go, but I don't want to leave you." she replied without her usual light manner. Strong hands closed even tighter around her.

"I can't tell you what to do mellon. It is your decision." he sighed into her hair.

"You will be greatly missed." she finally said after a short deliberation.

He placed her in his lap so he could look into her eyes. "And I will miss you. Do not fear, this goodbye will be brief. When do you depart?" he tried to encourage her though he already knew how much he would miss her for any short period of time.

"Three days." she murmured before the prince placed them both in his bed.

As the moment of departure approached, Tauriel struggled more between nervousness, eagerness and unwillingness. The prince helped her pack the little belongings she would bring. He almost shuddered as he saw her dress into her miniature guard uniform, but stopped himself in time. He made sure that everything was in place. Her arrows and the bow were securely tightened on her shoulders, the horn was around her neck. A servant took her packages to tie them to her mare. She was still training in the art of riding a horse, but felt confident enough to make her journey on her mare. Legolas knew that Gileth would keep her out of any serious trouble.

When he made sure that everything was on its place he lowered down to her height. "You keep that horn close at all times. That's an order." he warned her. "Yes sir." she replied obediently earning herself another peck on the forehead.

"One more thing." he added handing her a small leather sack easily attached to her belt. Tauriel looked confused before opening it and widening her eyes and shaking her head. "I can't take this, it is too much." she protested trying to give it back, but the prince didn't budge.

He held her hand with both of his staring into her eyes. "Take it just in case. You might need it for your expenses. Use what you need and bring back the rest if it makes you feel any better, but I can't let you travel without a single coin." he plead to her knowing that she would not refuse him.

When she secured the tiny sack on her belt, she looked at him again; her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I don't want to go." she blurted out not being able to contain herself.

Legolas watched her with a sad grin. "You don't have to mellon, but you still want to. Do not worry about me, I will still be here when you return." he told her planting another kiss on her forehead. She hugged him as tight as she could and he did not protest. They walked outside hand in hand, Laeorn and Beleorn were waiting to bid the party farewell. Two guards would accompany the prince's ward on her journey; both to keep her safe on the road and at her destination if Gileth's parents show up.

Tauriel stopped her friend before they reached the entrance hall. "What is it tinu nin?" her friend asked turning to her thoughtful expression.

"May I go to say goodbye to the king?" she asked uncertainly. "Of course, hurry back I'll wait for you here." he smiled leaning on a column while she rushed back upstairs.

The guards guarding the king's door let her in without a word. Silver haired ellon was gazing through the window with a cup of dorwinion wine. He was wearing no crown and his hair was falling freely down his chest. The king looked only mildly surprised to see her. "I thought you forgot to come and bid farewell to your king pinmaethril." he spoke in a serene voice not troubling himself too much of her arrival. He placed the goblet down however, ready for her usual greeting.

She embraced him around the waist and he lifted her up in return giving her more attention than per usual. "Is everything packed? Did my son give you money for your travelling expenses?" he inquired asking one question at the time. "Yes sir." she nodded vigorously while he placed her back on the ground.

"Your head is where it should be. Be safe and act like an educated little elleth I know is in there somewhere." he replied lowering down to her height brushing a finger across her nose. Tauriel chuckled and placed a kiss on his cheek; again the one with hidden marks. He obliged her with one more kiss to her forehead before rising to his full height. "Noaver, hennig. Run along now they are waiting for you." he tapped her on the shoulder. She quickly obeyed, but not before waving another goodbye from the door. A small smile tugged on his lips when the door closed.

When Legolas arrived with Tauriel clinging to his arm, the whole party was already assembled. They all bowed before their prince. Gileth's parents greeted the prince in cold propriety. Gale wrinkled her nose in disgust as the only sign of acknowledgment of seeing the little elleth and councilor Brien pretended that she was invisible. The prince observed them both with high vigilance to impede them from upsetting his friend again. Gileth approached in her usual manner in her black hunting gear bowing before the prince and hugging Tauriel. "We are ready when you are." she exclaimed cheerfully not casting a single glance toward her parents.

"Run along mellon and bid goodbye to Laeorn and Beleorn. They were both up before the roosters only so they could see you off." Legolas addressed Tauriel who didn't need any convincing to do as he asked. She, all but crushed into the grinning captain who hugged her tightly. "Noaver mellon. Try not to break anything." he chuckled receiving a kiss on the cheek only slightly surprised.

Beleorn saw her off in quite a different fashion. "Noaver pinmaethril. A guard always brings his weapons with him. A guard is not afraid of anything or anyone. A guard guards his comrade's backs. A guard always comes back to report to his superior. Am I understood pimaethril?" he asked using this particular manner to bid her goodbye earning himself a hug while Laeorn chuckled next to him.

"As ordered sir." Tauriel saluted on the end and made her way back to the party.

Legolas used her brief absence to exchange a few words with Gileth unhappy by the fact that he had to do so in the presence of her parents. Before he could open his mouth, she already anticipated his request. "I will take good care of her ernil nin. She will be in one piece when you see her again." she assured him with a smile. "Keep a close eye on her, she is restless and does not like to stay in one place for long." he agreed with a chuckle. "Uustan orn. Gwestan." she nodded with a tiny smile playing on her lips.

Tauriel walked back among them a moment later. Gileth simply pierced her parents with a sharp gaze before climbing her light brown mare. The prince took another moment with his friend with every intention to instruct her again, but she was quicker. "I will keep out of trouble. I will keep my horn nearby to scare any unsuspecting geese if they try to sneak up on me and if all that doesn't work, I will have my weapons with me at all times to pierce any unfortunate animal that doesn't take the hint." she assured him solemnly keeping her face straight.

Her escort chuckled from their horses failing to maintain their posture. "I have a feeling we will enjoy this assignment very much mellon." Gwendor conversed with his comrade. "I can't believe I'm getting paid for this. I'd gladly do it for free." agreed Alsidis from his right.

The prince looked highly amused as well planting another quick kiss on the elleth's cheek before lifting her up to her saddle. "Behave!" he warned with fake strictness. "Na lu e-govaned vin." he spoke to both of them. Gileth placed a hand on her chest and Tauriel squeezed the prince's one last time before their party took off,

Elven translation:

Hiril nin – My lady

Ernil nin – My prince

Tinu nin – My little star

Mellon – Friend

Noaver hennig – Farewell child

Noaver mellon – Farewell friend

Noaver pinmaethirl – Farewell little (female) warrior

Uustan orn. Gwestan. - I will. I promise.

Na lu e-govaned vin. - Until we next meet.