Rivendell, one year after the Battle of the Five Armies:

Legolas stared at the letter, fighting the urge to hold it to his heart, or worse, press the creased parchment to his nose in an attempt to detect any lingering traces of the scent of Tauriel's skin on the paper.

He wrote her at Lord Elrond's urging, pouring his regret and guilt out through the ink and swirls of the words, but it never dawned on him Tauriel might write to him in return.

My Lord Legolas,

Mellon nîn, your letter was a most welcome surprise. There is much that is best not left unsaid between us.

I am sorry, for everything, Legolas. The rift between you and the King is of my creation.

I think of you often and it is my hope you are safe and in good spirits. I am content in my banishment, for I know in my heart I earned it, and I have learned much during my time in Dale which I feel has made me grow and become a better person.

I do miss the forests of home. Living in a city of Men is strange and disconcerting, and it smells worse than the Mirkwood swamps at the height of summer.

There is much work still to be done to make Dale livable and eventually restore the city to it's former glory. King Thranduil sends stone-masons each week to help with the restoration even though the people have no way to pay for the work. He has been generous with the people here, and with me.

On the subject of those who are generous, I have been favored by King Dain since the battle, because of the aid you and I rendered to the sons of Durin against the Orcs from Gundabad. I was given a chest of treasure from Erebor, a title, and a section of land on the slope of the Lonely Mountain. Dain and the Dwarf Lords of Erebor accepted it when I planted a small forest on my land, instead of crops, as I am a forest Elf and trees bring me comfort. I think if you met Dain, he would probably give you a title and lands as well. His gratitude was much more than I expected. I imagine King Thranduil would be even less pleased if it was his son who gained the favor of a Dwarf-king.

King Thranduil paid me a visit this week to express his displeasure with my acceptance of Dain's favor and my promise to aid him should Erebor ever come under such an attack, again.

The look on his face was something I will cherish for the remaining years of my banishment.

Winter will be on us, once again, soon.

I received a message just yesterday from Lord Celeborn and Lady Galadriel asking if I might consider wintering in Caras Galadhon this year. They seem eager to meet me. I do not know what to think. I am tempted to accept the invitation, for I have always wondered how the Golden Woods differ from our own, but I am in the process of setting up permanent guard patrols in Dale and training the Men for their posts.

I think I will send the messenger back with a counter offer to visit in the spring for a short time. I envy you your travels and adventures with the Men.

If you want to write another letter, I will look forward to it. Tell me of Rivendell and the Rangers of the North.

I find myself surrounded by Kings, but my thoughts are for the safety of the roaming Prince.

Be well, my Lord Legolas.

Tauriel

Her correspondence did much to alleviate the worry he carried for her safety and state of mind.

He was a failure as her friend. When Tauriel needed him most, Legolas saddled his horse and rode away rather than watch her grieve over a dead Dwarf.

That she wanted to reach out and reconcile with him, now or ever, was a surprise and a relief.

Legolas sat down at the small desk in his room and put his quill to parchment.

Tauriel,

You should make the acquaintance of the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien. I met Lord Celeborn once, long ago. The Lady Galadriel spent a few weeks in Rivendell this year after the heavy snows in the passes melted. She is both kind and beautiful, but do not let her gentle smile fool you, Lord Elrond says Galadriel's Eldar magic is the most powerful in all of Middle Earth. She was kind enough to indulge me with a few stories of her life in the time of the Two Trees.

You should also meet Lord Elrond if the chance presents itself. As I mentioned in my first letter, Elrond extends an open invitation to any who want to help in the struggle against the darkness. He would welcome you as a guest in Rivendell.

The Dúnedain accepted me easily enough, because they have strong ties of trust and friendship with the Eldar, especially Lord Elrond and his twin sons.

I understand your longing for the forests, for I feel it, too. There are trees in the valley of Imladris, but they cannot compare to the Greenwoods. We are discussing plans to travel to Caras Galadon next year, but not until late in the summer.

I am determined to learn all the Ranger patrol routes and the best roads for traveling, before I consider returning home.

If anyone can train Men to defend Dale, and establish patrol routes, it is you. You excelled as a Captain of the Guard, it always seemed to me you were born to it.

Bard is fortunate to have you.

Dain is more than fortunate, no matter what you choose to do with your new land. It is said the forests around Erebor were beautiful before the fire-drake destroyed them. Perhaps, with your example, they can be restored as Dale is being restored.

I do not know about you, but the scent of the fires of Esgaroth burning still haunts me from time to time. I dream of fire and hear the screams of the people dying in Esgaroth and Dale. I'm told such visions are common for a while after battles and other traumatic events, but time will smooth the jagged edges of the memories. Or so the much older, wiser Eldar here tell me.

Please tell me such things do not plague you, Tauriel.

You are not to blame for the problems between my father and I. It was time to find my feet and choose a path to walk, though I would prefer to walk somewhere with you watching my back, mellon.

I miss you, Tauriel. More than you can know.

Legolas