Note: Soo here is the next, and final chapter of this story. I wanted to do so much more with it, but I got extremely busy and less motivated to write it that I forgot what I had in mind. So with that said, I don't really have any other fanfics planned now, because it is long past time that I started working on my original stories again. I want to thank each and every one of you who has followed along with this story, and to those who reviewed as well. Every email I received in regards to my story made me extremely happy, and I will never forget it. So without further ado, here is my last chapter. Please let me know what you think, and as always, I hope you enjoy it!

Thranduil and Tauriel spent the majority of the night making love, and the feeling of it was purely amazing. He felt that each time they joined, a little more of his emotion had come out when they released. She was reawakening him in ways he couldn't have imagined.

He woke up to her sleeping peaceful face. Somewhere through the night it got too cold to be outside while so exposed, so they grabbed their clothes and ran back inside. She was back in her Lothlorien dress looking radiant. He didn't know if she was actually glowing or if it was just the sunlight pouring through the room.

Tauriel opened her eyes finally, and when she saw him she smiled sleepily. They didn't have to say anything, their morning greeting was said with their lips, immediately pressed together. Thranduil was fluttering inside, and he embraced the feeling.

After a long while of silence, and kissing, Tauriel sat up. She sighed deeply, and turned her head down.

Thranduil joined her; putting his arm around her stomach and pulling her to him. "You're not leaving." He said with a smile on his face. "I don't care who comes in."

Tauriel looked at him and just smiled, then she poked his nose. "I don't think you remember the aftermath of our little skirmish yesterday, there is much to do."

As much he hated to admit it, she was right.

"You should go see Maein. She has been unconscious since the day after you left." He thought of her peaceful body, and he hoped that she would wake up soon.

"I ran into Merenor during the skirmish, he told me of her state. I went there and healed her out of it, and then I came here when she reunited with her husband." Tauriel's head was nuzzled into Thranduil's body as she spoke. "She and Naradeth filled me in on what happened while I was gone. I'm a bit sad to have missed all the excitement."

"It would have been much easier with you here. But it matters not anymore. I trust you're not going to leave again right?" He looked down at her with worry. For a fleeting moment he wasn't sure.

But his unease faded when she stood and positioned herself in front of him. She gave him another kiss; one that was full and inviting. To his dismay though, she pulled away.

"I can't, and won't leave you again, ever. I swear this on my life and my loyalty to you as your lover and equal."

He was satisfied with that answer, and he smiled genuinely.

Then suddenly he made it so she was lying on her back and he was on top of her. He felt hard again and he could see the lust for him as he looked at her eyes. Her hair spread out all around her like a flickering fire.

"Before we face this day, I want to have you one more time."

Her response was to kiss him again. She learned how to use her mouth well on him. He moaned as she bit his bottom lip, and dragged it out before releasing it.

"You are slow this morning my king." She smiled coyly, which only made him want more.

Down went the top half of her dress once more, and down went his head to reconquer the places that had been untouched in the time they were sleeping. He would never get enough of it.

As he was doing this, she wriggled out of the dress once more completely, and she began pulling his nightshirt off him.

Then a brilliant idea occurred to him, and he acted quickly.

Thranduil stood up and took Tauriel with him. Together they fell into his bathing pool. The warm water brought on more tension in him and he needed to be relieved. He wanted to make Tauriel comfortable first.

As their wet lips met, he reached under and entered her with a few fingers. It pleased him to hear her response. Everything about the moment thrilled him. He felt as if he was truly alive and renewed. It would do him well in the upcoming dark times. He knew that as long as Tauriel was with him, he would survive.

She brought him out of his thoughts by taking his fingers out, and taking hold of the inevitable and pulling it towards her. Her green eyes met his in complete sincereity.

"I'm ready for you, don't make me wait."

He pushed in just after she said that, and the end of her last word was a sharp gasp.

After they were done, Tauriel put on another dress, and braided her hair to one side. It was new and refreshing to see her like that.

"I shall see you tonight then?" Thranduil asked.

"I promise."

They left the room together hand in hand, and only let go when it was time to separate.

Tauriel went straight to Maein's quarters to find that she was sleeping once more, and Merenor was out. She began to do what she usually did to help her friend.

"Well now I'm sure that yesterday wasn't a dream, and you're really back." She heard Maein say after a while.

Tauriel smiled at her friend and finished up the last task, then sat down next to her holding a bowl of soup. "I'm not leaving ever again. I have seen what I need to see of the world to know that this is where I belong."

"How was your reunion with the king?"

Tauriel didn't answer, she just smiled, and that was the confirmation her friend needed.

"I saw Thranduil's wife while you were away and I was unconscious." Maein said after some silence. This perked up Tauriel, and she was interested to know why Maein saw her as well.

"She told me something very interesting. Are you ready to hear it?"

"I would love to." Tauriel leaned closer in interest.

"She told me that I was not from Lady Rainil and in fact, from the same village as you. One of the guards was about to present me to the king just as you were, but my "mother" snatched me up and took me as hers. No one questioned it."

After hearing that they were from the same village, Tauriel hugged her tightly, and was near tears. It was a big discovery and delight.

"I might as well call you sister. It seems as if everything that happened was meant to be."

They then recalled their childhood memories and how their pasts seemed to be similar. It was relieving to Tauriel that she was doing this. She felt a small joy of doing something like this. Of course it wasn't a heated moment with Thranduil, but a touching one with her new sister.

Naradeth appeared a short while afterward, and seeing Tauriel her face was filled with happiness. She bowed respectfully. It still made Tauriel feel weary.

"So I take it now that the law has been made, you will start teaching us how to fight?" She asked after they all greeted each other.

"It won't be just that." Said Merenor from behind.

His appearance startled everyone, but they soon relaxed. Maein let out a loving smile.

"Tauriel, we owe you a lot. Maein and I both." He started.

"I am only repaying you both back for saving my life more than once. So we are even. Now it may be dark out there in the world, but we shouldn't stop enjoying ourselves, right?" Tauriel was just about ready for another elven party. She wanted to partake in it wholly.

"Thank you Tauriel." Merenor said while nodding. The two shared an affectionate hug and breathed in very deeply to keep from crying.

"Now before I forget, Feren wants to see you in his office. He said anytime but, I think you should go now."

Tauriel nodded. She went to give Maein and Naradeth a hug before departing. All the while she wondered what it could be about. The fact that he was summoning her most likely means that the kingdom knows she is back. All the elves she walked past didn't pay any attention to her, and she was glad to not be the center of attention anymore.

She reached Feren's office, and she found it mostly emptied out. A hunch formed in her mind, and before she had time to ponder it, Feren stepped out.

"Welcome back, Captain Tauriel." He said, smiling nostalgically.

Tauriel bowed her head. "You wanted to see me?"

"Yes. I wanted to say that I am glad you are back. The kingdom should fall back into place again with your presence."

Tauriel looked around at the now seemingly larger office. Her heart slightly sank, but she still kept a smile. "It's good to be back."

Feren noticed her observation of the office and he shifted in his stance slightly. "It looks very different doesn't it?" He said with a small smile.

"Captain… Are you leaving?"

He nodded. "I am. I'm afraid I have been at this for far too long. It is time I got my well-needed rest. I'm going to miss the fun I had at this post, I made so many memories and trained some of the best warriors in the woodland realm. Some of which are you, Legolas, and Maein once she was allowed. I even gave King Thranduil a few tips myself."

Tauriel smiled at the memory of him teaching her. She bowed her head again.

"So, with my absence, I have named you my successor. You would be perfect for this job. And I know that you love going out into the woods to see what is out there, but you will be best here, especially with all of the female recruits you will have to teach."

Tauriel let a few tears escape her eye at the news. She was happy, yet sad too. Things were changing right before her eyes. This office would now be hers, with barely anything to put in it. She was still grateful nonetheless. It became evident now that she just hugged anyone regardless of the situation, so she had that in mind when she hugged Feren. To her content, he hugged back.

"Be the best Lady Captain that you can be, Tauriel." Feren told her.

"I will."

Thranduil went to see Legolas first, and they had breakfast together.

"So, Tauriel was here after all. That woman really knows how to make herself the conversation of this kingdom." Legolas joked with a smile.

Thranduil put a few berries into his mouth, and stayed a bit quiet. Despite the situation, Thranduil was still on edge about their previous relationship. But seeing his son here now, talking to him ordinarily, warmed his heart. He cared deeply for Legolas, but he didn't know how to heal his broken affection for his son. It came out easily the night before, but now it was back to him holding back.

"They will have much more to talk about than her, until tonight." Thranduil said at last.

Legolas saw his father's discomfort, and put a hand on his. "I have forgiven you father. Let us be close again. Don't tell me I've come home only to have you be the same again."

Thranduil looked up and smiled at his son. "It's still going to be hard. We have years of indifference behind us."

"But we have many more in which we have been loving and affectionate. You have already gotten over your indifference with Tauriel and fell in love with her. For that I am happy for you."

"I plan to marry her Legolas…" Thranduil said suddenly. He was hoping for some sort of shock, but Legolas just smiled.

"Announce it tonight, in front of everyone at the feast."

"You have read my mind loud and clear." He smiled to his son at last.

"Just so you know, I am not calling her mother." Legolas joked.

They both laughed heartily and continued eating their breakfast in a light manner. Thranduil then just realized how easy that was too. All the pain and suffering could have been avoided long ago if only this had happened. He quickly let that thought go though.

"So Feren has named Tauriel as his successor. I want you to help her. Especially if she struggles."

"Of course ada, I would never let her suffer. She deserves to be happy for a long time. Only you can truly give her that though. So I know who now to chastise if it ever comes to that."

Thranduil laughed. His own son, telling him that he won't have it if his soon to be bride is unhappy. It was quite an interesting scenario indeed.'

They finished breakfast, and overlooked the decorations in the dance hall together. Then Thranduil got an idea.

"Son, go to the smith with the white gems, and have him fashion a new crown along with four rings." His son left not a moment too soon after that.

A few moments later, Tauriel arrived, and upon seeing her the king's heart fluttered. Only she could do that to him now.

They both approached each other, and he immediately kissed her on the cheek. That kiss proved to anyone watching that the rumors were now true, but he didn't care. Let them gasp. He thought.

"I am now the new Lady Captain." She said to him with a small smile.

"You will be wonderful. Tomorrow your work begins though. We have at least 1,000 elves to train, thanks to that healer Naradeth."

"I look forward to the challenge."

They looked at each other intensely, and realized that the company of other people was no place to be.

After a hasty retreat to an abandoned room, Thranduil's lips fell upon hers. It wasn't a desperate kiss, like the ones they shared the night before. It was gentle and passionate. He loved hearing her breath fall short. It reminded him what effect he had on her. The sound of his own breath doing the same reminded him that she had that same effect on him.

"I love you." He said quietly.

"I love you too."

They walked around the castle together, hand in hand, talking about an immense number of things. Occasionally they would joke around, and when they did, Thranduil laughed heartily. Onlookers would not be appalled by the sight of Thranduil with another anymore. And he didn't care. He challenged them all.

They made their way back to his chambers, and there they took a nap in the middle of the day. Thranduil knew he had other matters to attend, but he didn't care about that either. Tauriel was the only thing that mattered. He was already imagining the look on her face when he would ask her to be his wife.

They woke up in the evening, and Tauriel dressed in a blue Lothlorien dress. Thranduil had on his regal robes, and topped it off with his crown of flowers; one of which he had placed in Tauriel's hair.

They kissed for a while, and then made their way to the dance hall. It was certainly different arriving there with a king, but Tauriel held her head high as everyone bowed to him.

"Don't bow." Thranduil whispered. "You are my lady, and my equal."

Tauriel blushed as they made their way up to the head of the room, where the royals sat. She was given the queen's chair, which wrecked her a bit to sit in. She felt dishonoring in every way, but Thranduil comforted her out of it.

With their presence, the festivities began. A while after they did, Maein and Merenor arrived, and Tauriel excused herself from Thranduil to greet them.

"Looks like you made quite the scene a moment ago while entering Maein said with her cheery face.

"It was a very different experience."

Just then Legolas appeared beside her, and he tapped her shoulder. Tauriel smiled when she saw him, and they hugged.

"Dance with me. I want to see the look on my father's face when he sees I stole your first dance this evening." He had the most mischievous smile on his face, and Tauriel took his hand.

They danced for a very long time, watching Thranduil until he noticed. The king let out a laugh, and right after the song ended. The floor cleared and Thranduil took Tauriel away.

The band played a lighthearted piece suited for two people only, and Thranduil immediately began twirling Tauriel along with the beat. She was surprised at how much the song swayed him.

"I love showing you off to this kingdom. Tauriel, I thank you for giving me this joy again."

Tauriel's heart jumped around, and she watched his face closely. She realized he looked much younger again, and that he was so full of life. That cold mask, was not there. And the old Thranduil she was used to; the one that got mad so easily and objected to her every word, nearly existed no longer.

"I thank you for giving me joy." Tauriel said to him softly.

The song ended, and they shared a short passionate kiss, which was met with cheering.

"This is a nice improvement." Thranduil said after he broke away. "It makes it easier to do this."

He then kneeled down, with Tauriel's hand now in his. She gasped, realizing what he was about to do. Everyone else realized it too, and the room went silent.

"Tauriel, would you give me the pleasure of being my wife, my equal in power and soul, for as long as we both share a bond? This strange yet wonderful bond."

She was in tears, and the only thing she could do was nod. There was cheering again after that gesture. He stood up quickly and pulled her to him. In the moment, everything was right for Tauriel. The darkness around them mattered not. There were no orcs or anything to barge in on them, no dwarves trespassing, and most of all no conflict within.

Tauriel then realized she didn't answer his question with words. In his ear she whispered, "I am yours. Always."

Afterword

A few days after their proposal, Thranduil presented Tauriel with a new crown and three rings made with the gems. The rings were silver, and the one meant for the middle had white gems circling it, while the two surrounding that one only had one that was visible atop her hand.

Maein gave birth to a baby girl, who they named Fainel Maeiel. She was beautiful and Tauriel watched her grow in her office while Maein returned to her guard duties. As soon as she was old enough to hold a sword Tauriel began teaching her how to fight.

Thranduil and Tauriel got married before the darkness threatened to take their world away. It was a beautiful distraction that brought the elves together.

The war of the ring was long and stressful but the woodland kingdom pulled through in the end. While all the elves, including Legolas had sailed, Tauriel and Thranduil remained to live their lives in the forest. They faded deep inside of it, but the most important thing was they were together. That was the thing that mattered most, and would never fade in the pages of history.

End Note: Yay here is the end ;3 once again, thank you to anyone who read, followed, and reviewed. I wish I could have done more, but this was fun enough. If I ever have another idea, I will come back here and post it. But this is goodbye for now, so goodbye ^^