Dear readers,

Yes I am still in business though it might not have seemed so for the past period.

I apologize for the long delay. The truth is I had this chapter ready for sometime, but waited for more of them to be finished before publishing it.

Some of you will be happy to hear that I am currently finishing chapter 29 (which will be the last chapter about Tauriel's childhood), but do not fret I have many more planned and in store (although they will need serious modifications because of the fact I added many chapters to Tauriel's childhood since writing them).

I think most of your questions will be answered throughout the plot, but if they're not feel free to post feedback with your opinions and questions.

Once again, thank you for your continued support.

Love,

ME

CHAPTER 26

He hoped that his little friend didn't consider darkness to conceal the fact of her whereabouts from him. His hearing was sharp even if he couldn't see distinctly through the dark which was one of elvish traits. Nothing seemed to be out of place upon first sight. Horn of Mirkwood laid upon the vanity table and archery kit was on the bed.

Little elleth sat in the corner leaning her back against the wall; much in the same position like this morning. Her chin now rested on top of her knees rather than hidden behind them which meant that she wasn't crying. Her eyes stared at random direction.

"It seems I have lost you again little mellon." the prince commented when he closed the door and the only remaining source of light were the moon and the stars coming from the window.

"I want to be alone." she replied with a distant yet normal voice. The prince stood exactly where he was motionless. She rose her head and faced him for the first time today or actually in many days. "Look, I am sorry for what I did, I promise it won't happen again. Gin iallon ego nin." she spoke in one breath before facing away again.

The prince made a few deliberate steps toward her. "I would if I thought I was doing you a favor by walking away." he replied softly as he knelt on one knee next to her gracefully. "Tauriel what is this?" he finally asked stroking her hair like before.

When she remained silent; he tried a different approach. "You're still angry at me, I see." he made a comment making her head jerk around in surprise, but he gave her no time to deny it. "I could apologize if you wanted me to, but it wouldn't be wholeheartedly. While I despise going around your back; it gave me greater insight than ever before on the things I was not aware of, but ought to have been . You hide some things from me still little mellon. Why?" he continued ignoring her weak attempt to dissuade him.

She opened and closed her mouth in an attempt to give him the truest response possible. "Have you ever considered that the reason is because there were some things I didn't want you to know?" she tried while formulating the words in her head.

"I try to respect your privacy, but there are some things I must know like the fact that your dreams go from bad to worse when I am not around." he crossed his legs and sat to face her. Judging from her expression, he hit the soft spot.

Tauriel didn't know how to deny that. "There is no point in making you worry over it even more than you already do. While you are kinder than someone like me had any right to expect, you can't glue me to yourself all the time. You shouldn't feel guilty about something you cannot change." she fought trying to make sense to her thoughts.

"I see. So this silence is not for your benefit, but for mine? Fortunately, you don't remember the last time you tried to hide it from me, but I do. When it happens again for our lack of honesty towards one another, do you think it will make me feel less guilty for not knowing what was happening beforehand?" he stated rather than asked her. "I won't speak to Gileth about it again if you promise you won't hide something like this again. Your anger I can bear." he added catching her gaze again.

"I promise I will try and I'm not angry at you; not anymore anyway." she replied curtly not wishing to make a promise she won't be able to keep.

Legolas knew this was the best promise he could get. "You were pretty set on your course before I left. What made you change your mind so abruptly?" he smiled remembering her not so kind words.

Little elleth tried hard to view the matter from a lighter point of view, but found it very difficult. "Goheno nin. Anger went down as soon as I went back to my room, but my temper rose again every time you spoke. I'm not even sure who was I angry at in the first place." she replied apologetically not knowing where to look while unconsciously playing with her hands ignoring until now the rusty red splotches which were newly acquired adornments from last morning.

They would have probably stood unacknowledged until morning, but the prince's attention was drawn to what he almost completely forgot about. "Let me have a look at that." he stated flatly not giving Tauriel time to either refuse or accept his request. He picked her up from the floor easily and placed her on top of her bed hastily.

He wasn't sure of what he was expecting to find, but when he untied the bandage from her left hand his eyes grew wide. Some injuries appeared to be days and weeks old only leaving small marks which would have healed in time if it weren't for much fresher traces of blood. He knew exactly when the most recent of them were acquired. "Man I theled cared?" he asked pulling out of her drawer a first aid kit to clean her newest injury. It stung, but Tauriel tried to ignore it.

"If you had desire to punch me, why did you hurt yourself?" he asked gently tracing the contours of her scars.

"I never desired to punch you." she mumbled in one breath, but he understood.

That was the only response he would receive apparently. "If you try something like this again; you will be glued to me at all times." he replied without the usual kindness in his tone. It seemed almost menacing.

Tauriel stared at her pillow like she suddenly found something very interesting there. The sun would rise soon. They came back long after midnight so this wasn't unexpected. When he was done dressing her injuries; she felt his arms close around her again lifting her up.

He removed the blanket and placed her to lay on the mattress. For a brief while she thought he was leaving to his room, but he simply placed his weapons on the vanity table. Tauriel stood up and walked quickly in his direction. For a moment there; he thought she was about to embrace him, but she only desired to take the horn which she carelessly left to lay around for days.

His eyes followed her actions curiously. She placed it under her pillow and lay back where he left her. "You know, when I told you to keep that with you at all times; I didn't mean that quite so literally." he chuckled walking back to her and stripping off his boots and jacket with one swift movement.

"It's the only thing that makes me feel closer to you. Apart from the mare (which I can't bring in here) and the knife (which could be potentially fatal under my pillow while I sleep on it)." she replied sleepily when her friend tucked her in and kissed her good night.

"Now that I am here, you don't really need it." he replied caressing her cheek although she was already only half coherent. The exhaustion had started to kick in.

Tauriel sighed and mumbled her last coherent words. "Just in case."

The prince smiled in understanding. "I'm not going anywhere." he reassured her laying his head next to hers and watched her in contempt until his eyes closed on their own.

It was impossible to tell whether any bad dreams came that night for both; Tauriel and Legolas remained deeply knocked out. They did not notice the sun rise and become brighter in the sky. Neither of them stirred until someone knocked on the door. Little elleth awoke disoriented, but the prince remained vastly asleep. She grumpingly stood up from her bed rubbing her eyes and yawning before a second knock made her move faster in order for her friend to be able to sleep. She found it slightly odd that someone would knock on her door at all now that the one of her rare visitors was sleeping in her bed.

She opened the door still mildly incoherent. A guard she has never met before stood in front of her. "Yes what is it?" she asked trying to regain her usual voice.

"I'm looking for the prince." he simply stated not giving her too much attention.

She took a peek at her bed. "Is it urgent? The prince is sleeping." she asked uncertainly not desiring to wake him up now that he was having his well earned rest. She shuddered to think about how many sleepless nights he already had on her account.

The guard looked at her not budging. "The king has requested his immediate presence in the throne room." he simply explained not leaving room for objections.

Tauriel sighed. "I'll go wake him up than." she said and heard him indistinctly mumble Better you than me. before closing the door.

His face betrayed such serenity that she would have defied whoever requested waking him up if it wasn't the king in person. She leaned over him caressing his cheek gently before resigning herself. "Mellon echulo." she shook him gently until he stirred and started opening his eyes.

Legolas heard Tauriel's voice through mist. At first he thought that he was dreaming about her, but her voice came into focus as he cleared his mind. "Good morning." he mumbled as she straightened up a little.

"Good morning although I think we're well passed it. I'm sorry to wake you, but your father wants to see you in the throne room." Tauriel replied with a grin as she took a step back to allow him space to sit up. She too had a dreamy look so he assumed that she had a rude awakening as well.

"Alright. In the meanwhile why don't you take a bath. I'll find you as soon as I see what ada wants." he replied yawning once more before putting his boots on and braiding his hair in front of Tauriel's mirror with haste. In other circumstances, she would have helped him, but didn't feel coordinated enough to do so in haste while only mildly awake.

Legolas rushed out of the room without a second glance back while his little friend watched him go with unphantomble expression before preparing a bath. Her friend didn't come for a while so as soon as her hair was dried and braided she ran downstairs to the stables almost knocking out poor Beleorn in the process. He merely tapped her shoulders and chuckled before sending her by her business.

Her auburn mare was eager and ready for little affection. When she had enough; she started sniffing Tauriel playfully. Little elleth just chuckled and concluded that it was time for a short ride. Nothing changed upon her return except for the fact that the night was upon them. Her room seemed as boring as ever so she quickly washed her hands being forced to change her bandages yet again which resulted to come in handy once she took a closer look at her wrists. Little brown splotches shaped like fingers started appearing where the prince held her yesterday.

I must have put a good resistance. she sighed observing her wrists. Bruises would be difficult to conceal. She tied bandages as far up as she dared and dug a long-sleeved tunic from her wardrobe. It was dark green. It hid the large percent of her bruises; yet she was still afraid that her friend or anyone else would notice. It was time for dinner; her first meal in three days. She realized she was starving as she hurried toward the dining room. Three more steps and either her or the elf standing there would end up floored or bruised the very least. Fortunately, she spotted him on time and came to an abrupt halt an arm's length away from him.

At first, she imagined it was the king, but as she opened her mouth to apologize she noticed that this elf was unfamiliar. He truly looked magnificent with golden hair and ancient face. His eyes detained on her face scrutinizing her curiously. "What's this? An elfling?" he thought out loud looking at her like he just saw the light for the first time.

This one was definitely not from around here. His face seemed ageless and magnificent. It was hard to understand where exactly did he come from. Tauriel wasn't even sure on how to address him, but she instinctually straightened up sensing that this was someone important. "It most certainly is. You sound like you never seen one before mellon." replied a familiar voice of the king who came out of the dining hall with Legolas on his tail.

"Not for a very long time Thranduil." the elf replied with certain familiarity.

Legolas now stood behind the little elleth with hands on her shoulders. She looked up at him briefly, but he merely smiled and placed his palm on her cheek in affection.

"Allow me to introduce you than. This is Tauriel." the king said simply failing to say anything else about her. "Tauriel, this is Glorfindel, a very special guest from Imladris. He was one of the first of our kind to ever walk Arda." he added while Tauriel's eyes almost bulged out of her sockets. Glorfindel was one of the first-borns and she tried to grasp that fact quickly in order to say all that she should.

"Mae g'ovannen. Le nathlam hi." she spoke after a brief moment it took her to collect her coherent thoughts.

He seemed surprised by such a formal greeting from a small elfling, but he smiled all the same. "Mae g'ovannen Tauriel. Hannon le." he replied in the same manner watching her shift from foot to foot with a strange expression; something between nervous and curious.

The unpleasant silence was interrupted when king ushered Glorfindel to the table and Legolas lead Tauriel after them. Their distinguished visitor did not speak to her for the rest of the evening, but he eyed her often and sometimes caught her gaze. She often blushed and went back to her plate, but sometimes she held his gaze and he would smile at her.

When her friend lead her back to bed, Tauriel tried to gaze across her shoulder unsuccessfully though from a few glimpses she managed; she could almost picture his grin even though his eyes did not look directly at her.

The king filled his friend briefly on Tauriel's origins. "Truly tragic. Those are scars that will never fully heal." Glorfindel commented with his usual solemn voice.

When Tauriel was done examining her friend about their guest, they both fell asleep quickly even though they had basically spent an entire day in bed. The next morning, Legolas was nowhere to be found so Tauriel slipped into her gear placing arrows on her back in hope of finding someone to teach her today. Horn was safely placed around her neck.

That hope seemed in vain because Beleorn, Laeorn and Legolas were holding the first training session for the recruits who arrived a couple of days ago. Her mare seemed as eager as ever, but before she got to her; her eyes fell upon a white horse; a truly magnificent proud looking white steed. She came closer observing him. He allowed her to pet him without changing his posture. In fact; he seemed to be ignoring her altogether which was a strange behavior for a horse or any other animal for that matter. When he got bored of the attention, he quite literally sneezed in her direction.

"You are very hostile new mellon. I wonder how did you end up here." she commented with a chuckle, but the only response she got was him raising his head even higher.

"He doesn't do well with strangers. It is surprising he even let you touch him, but I suppose elflings don't bother him that much." a solemn; yet warm voice came from behind her. There proudly stood Glorfindel watching his horse with affection. He came closer acknowledging her presence with a simple tap on top of her head.

Tauriel turned around to have a better look at him and he stared back. "Remarkable. I did not see an elfling from up close since hiril Arwen, but I never saw an elfling carrying weapons and that is telling something." he observed out loud.

"How long is that exactly hir nin?" she asked when curiosity prevailed over her discomfort.

Glorfindel chuckled at such a bold inquiry. "Hiril Arwen is about two thousand and three hundred years old." he replied simply like he was giving her no more than a weather report. She whistled loudly at such a discovery. "That truly is a very long time." she commented wondering whether she would live to see herself age so much. "Indeed little one." he grinned silently.

"But you did not answer my question. What is an elfling doing carrying weapons around?" he asked remembering their original topic upon looking at her again.

"It's Tauriel hir nin. They were a gift." Tauriel replied trying to hide her annoyance at his address. People have stopped referring to her as an "elfling" a long time ago.

"From the prince?" he assumed out loud, but she shook her head. "No hir nin, from the guards. They gifted me with these for my 8th birthday." she explained not wishing to enter into the topic of the prince's displeasure with the notion of her in a battle.

Rivendell elf seemed kind and inviting so Tauriel continued questioning him about Imladris, about lord Elrond and his children. Legolas spent brief period there so this new intel gave her information she did not posses before. This interrogation continued until it was time for the afternoon meal, but she didn't stop talking until they arrived to the dining room.

King looked only mildly surprised upon the pair and the prince just rose his perfect blonde eyebrow at her. "I see you've encountered our little warrior mellon. Did she behave?" Thranduil commented with a knowing expression.

"Like a lady I assure you mellon." he replied light-heartedly. The king simply hmphed at that making the little elleth turn slightly pink. "What's your verdict?" he asked not sounding too interested.

Glorfindel chuckled. "Her mind is curious and her personality is kind; yet she is fire from within. Her future is clouded by it. As for her heart I cannot vouch. Her beauty will be of unusual kind; one that will make ellons look at her closely; yet I have the feeling that her heart won't be easy to conquer." he replied making Tauriel realize that he was examining her while she was doing the same. She didn't truly know what to make of these words.

Her heart won't be easily conquered? What was that supposed to mean? She felt cold inside not knowing where to look. Her mouth remained sealed for the rest of the day. Legolas was attending to their guest so Tauriel retired to the library to read in silence of her mind. She attended dinner in equal fashion opening her mouth only to place food in it.

Somehow, she was left alone after the meal to dwell in her bedroom although that didn't help the matter much. It was very late when Legolas arrived to check on her. She was sitting on her bed barefoot and unarmed staring at her blanket. "Tinu nin? Still awake? The hour is late." he spoke softly standing next to her bed.

She slightly straightened up and threw her arms around his neck while he took a seat and enwrapped her little form. "You were awfully quiet all day. " he replied kissing her cheek affectionately.

The only response he was going to get was her slightly tighter hold of his neck. Neither of them knew how or what to say to the other.

Glorfindel prepared to depart the next day towards his destination. His stay at Mirkwood did not last for more than a few days. The king showed no inclination for following his friend in any direction which entitled leaving his beloved forest. His friend left him with more than one thing to ponder in solitude. His change of demeanor was neither sudden nor apparent.

At the closure of his short stay, little Tauriel had very divided feelings towards him. Something about this elf drew her in; yet she supposed that most of her kind had that aura around them. On the other hand; she desired not to see him again, but her mind could not put into words what was it that he said or did that disturbed her so.

Not long after her next birthday which held little difference then the two previous; another thought occurred to her. It had passed her mind before, but there were too many distractions to keep her mind too set upon discovering the mystery behind it.

Every year about this time; her mind would wander to her friend's conception day or his birthday though that expression seemed inadequate when refering to the prince. It was not unusual for someone as ancient as king Thranduil to stop celebrating this event after millennia of succeeding years, but Legolas while fully mature ellon in all aspects; was young for their kind. By the time she turned 10, he was not more than 33 years old yet during these three years of knowing him; there was not once even a whisper about his conception day.

No feast or celebration was ever held except for celebrating the seasonal holidays such as Mereth en gilith which was Tauriel's personal favorite. It was only to be assumed that her friend tied this event to something unfortunate, but she dared not ask him. She pondered using the captain for this information, but their encounters though warm and affectionate did not last for more than a few short minutes; not even when Legolas was away for any number of days. This inquiry was not of a kind which one could drop out of the blue so she patiently waited for her moment.

It took a while to find it, but patience always pays of (or so her prince friend taught her). Her long excursions to the village and a couple a little further away from the first came back as soon as the first rays of the spring sun broke through the clouds. Now that she had a horse; it took less time to arrive to her destination although sometimes she preferred to walk; alongside her mare or without her depending on how fast she wanted to go.

It was the start of the summer and days were incredibly long and still prolonged as the time passed. She was walking on foot by herself not rushing and often stopping to watch the sunset.

Nothing disturbed the silence of the evening so she walked with leisure between the trees. The real maneuver was finding a clearing in this dreadful place. She almost walked right into the captain without seeing him, but instinctually detained when seing a shadow hover over her. At first she thought it was a tree for the lack of sound, but when she focused; she noticed it had hands and a bow in one of them.

"Gallu hest." she greeted him completely at ease.

He rose an eyebrow at her. "Gallu pinmaethril. You are wandering by yourself again I see." he greeted her in equal manner.

"The day is too beautiful to stay inside." she replied unconcerned.

"The forest is dangerous for any solider alone mellon and for you even more so." he insisted though this was an argument she won over and over again,

"If the forest is as dangerous as you say; why are you here all by yourself?" she rose an eyebrow with a mischievous look on her face.

The captain merely shook his head in exasperation. "Taking fresh air little mellon. We are not far from the palace nevertheless and besides. I am the captain. Tolo ar nin." he replied with a hint of humor in his voice.

Tauriel just shrugged her shoulders in response and started walking alongside him. As the time passed she grew taller, but still short for her age yet with a quicker foot. Barely anyone apart from the prince held her hand nowadays. She didn't mind, but the comforting touch of her best friend was as welcoming as ever. He gradually had to replace carrying her with holding her hand because she was growing in size, but still he seized every opportunity to lift her up.

"Mellon may I ask you a question?" she asked as they stepped between the trees.

He did not turn around to look at her. "From your tone I imagine it is not something I would wish to answer." he replied remembering all the uncomfortable inquiries she made over the years.

Tauriel did not seem discouraged; not that he expected her to. "Why does ernil Legolas never celebrate his conception day?" she asked without an introduction.

Laeorn procceeded like he had not heard her, but she held a fast pace to stay beside him. "Is it bad?" she asked not wishing to waste this perfect opportunity now that she got it at last.

He simply sighed and detained his step in a small pass between the trees. He might as well tell her now that no one was able to hear them. "It is not my story to tell. However, no one will mind if I brief you in a little. About twenty-five years ago; a little more perhaps; aran Thranduil went to war summoned by lord Elrond. Lord Glorfindel was in charge of the Rivendell armies. Our king was badly injured and his wife coming to his aid was captured and died shortly after. While this happened a good two months before the prince's conception day who at the time was 7 years of age; the news reached him more then a month and a half afterwards when the king was in shape to travel. Your father was the captain still when this all happened." he spoke choosing his words carefully. The truth of all that happened was much more gruesome, but he hoped that this incomplete explanation would satisfy the young elleth. Tauriel sensed that she wasn't going to get anything else out of the captain at the present time. While feeling slightly dissapointed; she now at least had a small insight on why there was no singular guest or festivity for this date.

The conversation with little elleth distracted the captain who went past the palace and onto the training grounds to greet a group of recruits which arrived during the day. They seemed too at leisure for warriors that Tauriel imagined worthy for the king's guard. This absentmindness of the captain gave her a great insight on the commence of training which she waited for with anxiety. She watched around curiously examining each and every one of them separately. Her eyes suddenly stopped at the familiar face.

She stared at him in disbelief. He grinned when he caught her gaze, but placed a finger on his lips. Now was not the time for greetings. Poor Laeorn almost started his speech before noticing Tauriel's presence next to him. Upon realizing his mistake, he politely sent her out of the training grounds. It was a dissapointment, but still expecting any less was foolish.

Evening meal prevented her from waiting for her friend. It was not likely that she would be seing him before morning anyway. Even then, she had to wait for the end of the training session. She realized with a sigh that her friend would be equally if not busier then her prince so she won't be able to see him much during the day like she used to in his home village.

It took longer then she imagined to catch her friend unoccupied. New recruits in theory had the same liberty as their much older companions, but in fact; they held together during their first period of adjustment to the new and different manner of life. Ergolan seemed to be no different so it took several days for the little elleth to find him alone and without an upcoming training session.

The ellon at question; whose 16th year advanced quickly had grown in height quite remarkably. Passing of the time left traces on his face too, but he was not much changed in character although perhaps more quiet.

It took both of them some adjusting before they could speak the way they were used to, but the short period of tension passed quickly.

"How is your naneth mellon?" she finally asked after an evening of long walk.

"Naneth is well hannon le. When the next ship toward the Grey Havens rises its sails; I will not see her again." he replied lowering his gaze.

Little elleth looked startled. "She is leaving? Na van? Am man?" she asked with apparent disbelief on her face.

Her co speaker simply smiled at her question. "She said that her time here is over. I hope adar nin is waiting for her. I barely met him, but I was told that we are very much alike." he replied with a sigh.

"Perhaps you will see her again someday. When our time here is over and the last ship raises its sails to the Undying lands, they will be waiting for you. Savo amdir." she replied trying to encourage him, but his face was unreadable.

"Perhaps, but I feel that my path lays in different direction then theirs, but fret not little mellon. I am at peace with it." he replied with a resolute expression. Tauriel wanted to believe that he was just pessimistic, but somewhere deep down; she knew he was right.

Translations:

Mellon - Friend

Gin iallon, ego nin! - I beg of you, leave me!

Goheno nin - Forgive me

Man I theled cared? - Why did you do it?

Echulo - Wake up

Mae g'ovannen. Le nathlam hi. - Well met. You are welcome here!

Hannon le - Thank you

Hir/Hiril nin - My lord/lady

Gallu Hest/Pinmaethriel - Hi Captain/ Little (female warrior)

Tolo ar nin - Come with me

Ernil - Prince

Adar nin - My father

Naneth - Mother

Na van? - When?

Am man? - Why?

Savo amdir. - Have hope.