Tauriel threw back her warm blankets and slipped out of bed. The air coming off the ocean was fresh and cool as she made her way to the tent where the cooks were already beginning to prepare breakfast. The sun was not yet up, and the pregnant wood-elf was surprised to find Lindir and Glorfindel at a table with their heads bent close in quiet conversation, expressions serious.

Lindir noticed her approach first and scrambled to his feet, offering her the chair he vacated. "My Lady, please, sit."

"Thank you, Lindir," Tauriel said, feeling as she always did when he was chivalrous, uncomfortable and a little embarrassed.

"You are up early, my Lady," Glorfindel added. "Is something amiss with the little one?"

Lindir poured her some tea from their pot and added a generous helping of honey, because he knew that was how she liked it. "If you need anything, my Lady, there are many servants, or I myself, would be happy to fetch it for you and bring it to your rooms. You need not walk so far."

Tauriel sighed, trying hard not to roll her eyes. "I appreciate your kindness, Lindir, but I needed to get some fresh air before the warming of the sun adds the stench of rotten fish to the breeze." To Glorfindel, she offered a shy smile, "We are fine, my Lord, but someone is hungry."

As she expected, Lindir jumped into action, "I will get you some porridge."

When he was gone, Tauriel let the Balrog-slayer see her deep discomfort at being waited on, and he gave her hand a pat. "I must tell you. You are the best thing to happen to Lindir since we arrived in the Grey Havens. He was the last of Lord Elrond's household to leave, and when Lady Arwen turned back, I thought he was likely to die of a broken heart. I am still not sure he will get on the ship when it returns. He can be extremely trying, at times, but I gave Lord Elrond my word I would see every last one of his people on a ship before I returned to Rivendell to join the fight, or sailed myself."

"He waits for Arwen?" Tauriel questioned him, saddened to know the kind, gentle Elda loved a Lady who did not return his feelings.

The Elf-lord nodded, sadly. "Lindir has always loved her, even knowing Lady Arwen gave her heart to Aragorn decades ago."

"I think I begin to understand what Lindir feels. My heart is here, too." She sipped her tea. "If it were not for this child, I would not be sitting with you. My place is with Legolas." Tauriel knew how terrible it must sound, so she added, "I do not harbor ill will toward my son, though it may sound like it right now. I'm merely irritable this morn."

The ancient Elf took her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. "You must not forget you have two other children who are not yet fully grown and need you as much as this baby will, Tauriel."

"Not to mention hundreds of Eldar following me on this trip," Tauriel acknowledged. Then, it occurred to her she was speaking with someone who spent time where they were going and might just have a few answers to her most pressing concerns. "Will you tell me of Aman and Valinor?"

"What is it you wish to know?" Glorfindel asked her, a small light dancing in his eyes.

Tauriel had so many questions, choosing just one to start off with was difficult. "Where is a good place for hundreds of wood-elves with scarcely more than the clothing on their backs to make a home?"

"In a forest, obviously, I fear you would grow tired quickly of a home in a city," Glorfindel responded, smiling and tapping his chin thoughtfully, "As to which forest, Aman is large enough for many groups of new Eldar to settle and still have ample space between them. Lord Elrond and I spoke of possible locations for the inhabitants of Imladris to build a place of their own, one large enough to offer the people of Lothlórien homes as well, should Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn not choose to sail."

This was a surprise to Tauriel. She assumed everyone would make the trip. "You doubt they will come."

The Elf-lord merely shrugged, "Not yet, of that I am certain, but they are more likely to make the trip than Thranduil."

Tauriel winced. "I concede your point."

"Things will work themselves out. You will find a suitable home for your wood-elves and their small army of little ones."

"How can you be so sure?" Tauriel sighed, as she wished she had his confidence.

Glorfindel leaned across the table and whispered, "I have seen no less than six of the Valar here in the last week. They have taken notice of your arrival."

"Have we done something wrong?"

"Oh, no, my dear. I think it is just the opposite, in fact. The Lords and Ladies of the Valar seem beyond pleased you've come. And surprised, of course, given Thranduil's disdain for all things related to the world outside of his caverns and woodlands. They are watching over you, Tauriel, specifically."

The fire haired wood-elf frowned at him. "Why?"

"I think they are worried about you, being so young and pregnant... And traveling without Prince Legolas. This not a journey you should have to make without your husband, my Lady, but the circumstances in our world have grown dire, and we do what we must to protect the ones we love. It doesn't mean anyone, especially the Valar, has to like it. I'm worried this trip is too much to ask of you, as is Lindir..."

As if the mention of his name conjured him from thin air, Lindir appeared at her side with her bowl of porridge, but the tray was also laden with enough food for four people. "The fruit was a trick to find, but I remember how much you like apples, my Lady. Some of this we can take back to your rooms for snacks."

The purely amused look on Glorfindel's face alone was enough to make Tauriel smile. Lindir blinked at them, as if unsure what she found to smile about. "Did I say something amusing?"

"No, Lindir, Glorfindel was just telling me you are worrying about me and then you appeared with enough food for ten people. I appreciate your kindness, but it feels wrong for you to wait on me. I can manage to feed myself." Tauriel put some conviction behind her statement, but Lindir still looked doubtful.

Glorfindel looked as if to come to her rescue, but instead he said, "Lindir made himself nearly indispensable to Lord Elrond in Rivendell. He is quite good with organizing and proved himself to be very efficient as an assistant. There may well may come a point when you do need help, Tauriel." He smiled at them, "And Lindir will need to feel useful and appreciated if he is to be happy in his new life in Aman."

Lindir looked from Glorfindel to Tauriel, and then back, not sure what to do or say and to whom. The ellon, with his large brown doe eyes, was even more adorable than the orphaned wolf pups Eryniel brought home one chilly, spring morning and talked the King and her parents into fostering. Tauriel felt her resistance melting and slipping away. "I will need all the help I can get, Lindir, if you are up to a challenge such as relocating a small army of Eldar to a strange and mysterious land across an enchanted Sea."

"I would welcome such a challenge. I have seen maps, my Lady, and I had an idea on a suitable location..." Lindir began, but Tauriel put a finger to his lips to silence him. "First thing we must do is come to an understanding about what you are to call me. I am a Silvan elf, and not a titled Lady among the Eldar at home or anywhere else. If we are to work together, and become friends, you must call me Tauriel. Simply Tauriel."

Lindir looked as if he was going to object, but Glorfindel in his role as peacemaker added, "Lindir, you only mean to honor Tauriel, but lofty titles make her uncomfortable, as Tauriel was not raised to the station she now has. Give her this, mellon."

"I will try," Lindir promised her.

With a small nod, Tauriel took the tray from him. "I'm not the easiest person to deal with when I am pregnant, but I cannot deny feeling overwhelmed by the task my King set before me. It would be good to have someone to confide in."

"We are both here to help you, Tauriel," Glorfindel told her. "Lord Elrond has Rivendell well in hand, and Erestor has plenty of help with the Eldar from Rivendell and Lothlorien. They have no babes or small children to think of, so I believe they intend to travel inland to live in a city such as Valmar. Lindir and I are at your disposal, for as long as you have need of us."

The ellyn only had a week as Tauriel's advisors before they heard the city bells sing to tell them the ships had returned. Six elegant ships sailed into the harbor and Tauriel gathered the Woodland Elves together in the large cook tent for a last meeting.

"As you can see the ships have arrived to bear us to our new land, and it is time to gather our supplies and belongings. Our host and the people of the Grey Havens have been nothing if not gracious and they deserve our thanks for their hospitality. Lord Círdan's whole hearted welcome for such a large company of strangers stands as proof King Thranduil would not send us where he was not certain of our welcome; I do not fail to trust his judgement. A great adventure looms before us, if we choose to view it as such, rather than as a separation from the world we know. We wood-elves have never lacked for courage, and we will not start now."

It warmed Tauriel's heart when the twins stepped up with her and each took one of her hands, smiling at her, giving her their strength and their youthful enthusiasm. "It would make me feel better if those with the youngest children, or who are pregnant, sailed in the first ship with me." She looked out over the faces, and gave a little smile, "If only, so I have someone to commiserate with if the waves get to be too much for me." She rubbed her belly to a chorus of sympathetic chuckles. Humor was a tool Bard used to put his people at ease in times of tension, and Tauriel found it worked nearly as well on Elves as it had on Men.

"There will be plenty of time during the voyage to discuss where we want to make our home. Some of those discussions have already begun. The maps we've been pouring over show many areas where we could settle as a group and build a self-sufficient colony, but it was Lord Glorfindel's wise suggestion for us to stay near the coast, at least until all the coming children are born and of an age to travel further inland. The harbor towns down the coast are said to be well wooded and the most likely places where food and supplies will be plentiful." Tauriel bit her lip. "We have spoken of building a city among the treetops, but for now it is impractical with so many babies coming and children now who will need constant supervision."

One of the guards, a dear friend of Tauriel's, called out from the crowd, "If children toddling out of the trees is the worst we have to worry about, Aman will truly be the paradise all the stories of old claim. I, for one, will not miss the giant spiders and Orcs of home."

"No," Tauriel agreed, her eyes bright. "I will not miss them either, mellon. Though there are surely wild animals to protect us from, so you don't get bored and lazy." Her attention returned to the group at large, "Think on the plan Lord Glorfindel put forward, debate the merits with your spouses and kin. Scouting parties can be sent to the villages and towns once we reach our destination."

Tauriel asked for the blessings of the Valar on their travels and lit a candle to each of the twelve before she sent them off to begin packing up their camp.

"You are doing very well, Lady Tauriel," a tall, black haired stranger told her. "It will grow easier to lead with time and practice. Your confidence in yourself will come to pace the confidence your people have in you."

The ellon gave Tauriel such a strange, disconcerting feeling she swayed a little and almost went to one knee. His warm hand on her arm steadied her. "Kneeling is not necessary," the man chided her, gently, "I have even less love of titles and people attempting to curry favor than you. We are going to get along quite well on this voyage, I think."

"Are you..."

"Ulmo, yes. Glorfindel was right, we are all pleased you've come and brought us so many exciting new faces. Wood-elves have such lovely, wild spirits. It's a terrible shame King Thranduil hoards your kinsman like a dragon jealously guards his piles of gold. We have never wanted anything but peace and good things for Eru's First Ones." He studied Tauriel's face with pale, searching eyes. "Are you afraid, my dear?"

Tauriel thought about the question, "I have no fear for myself, or my children, my Lord. My fear is all for Legolas on his quest."

"Your husband is a valiant warrior, and he is strong of will. You give focus to his heart, Tauriel, and young Prince Legolas will not fail in his purpose."

"Thank you," she told him, and meant it sincerely.

The Lord of the Oceans smiled at her, "You are welcome, child."