Yay next chapter :) As usual, I hope you enjoy it! Reviews mean the world to me :)

When Legolas awoke the first thing he saw was red. Tauriel's head was resting just under his chin and in her sleep she had shifted so that her face was buried in his neck. He looked up around the rest of the camp area and found everyone's beds empty. He almost groaned out loud, he had intended to be awake before the others, and he was pretty sure Tauriel had too. He gently nudged her on the top of the head with his chin. She stirred, even before the battle she had always been a light sleeper. She pulled her head back to look up at the elf beside her, taking in his slightly messy hair and his smile as he looked down at her. For a moment she allowed herself to imagine how happy she could be, waking up to his face next to hers, every day. She only intended to think about it for a moment, but the thought got stuck in her mind.

"The others are already awake." Legolas whispered.

Tauriel buried the thoughts of Legolas and mornings in the back of her head as best she could. She twisted to look around her, to check if what he said was true. She too, almost groaned out loud, and quickly rose to her feet. He followed her, as they made their way over to the fire that Sam already had going. Legolas sat first and held up her hand to her, she took it sitting down gracefully right beside him. She did not miss the raised eyebrows shot her way by both Boromir and Gimli and the nudge from Pippin towards Merry. Choosing not to respond, she picked up her plate and smiled at Sam as he piled her plate with the elvish food they had been given by the Lothlorien elves.

It was another ordinary day, Boromir taught the four hobbits some more sword fighting, and Tauriel couldn't resist joining in.

"So perhaps one of the most important aspects of sword fighting, is power. You put enough power into your blows and you should be right." Boromir was telling them.

Tauriel couldn't resist. "But agility is also very important," she pointed out, standing up from where she sat at the fire.

"Yes, but if you use force and take out your oponent early, agility won't be necessary." Boromir said.

"But sometimes, you don't get the option. If you're ambushed for example, you need to be able to dodge and use agility until you get the upper hand. Also in certain terrains, agility can be key, as you need to utilise your surroundings to win." This was a speech she had done many, many times before this, having given the same speech while training the elves back home.

"Alright, why don't you two duel and then we can see how you both use force and agility?" Pippin asked innocently.

"You just want to see us duel don't you?" Tauriel asked, with a small laugh.

Pippin nodded, and the other three also nodded with him. Gimli came down from where he had been sharpening his axe and sat beside the hobbits, clearly having taken interest in the coming fight. Tauriel looked over at Boromir, who shrugged his shoulders. She smirked, stepping into position, about four meters from him, drawing her twin blades from her back.

"You will not actually use a sword, My Lady?" Boromir questioned, he seemed slightly amused.

Tauriel smiled. "I do not need one." she replied simply.

Legolas sat, watching Tauriel watch the Hobbit's sword lessons. He heard footsteps behind him and saw out of the corner of his eye Aragorn sit beside him. Aragorn followed his gaze to the red haired elf. "You two have grown close again?" he asked.

"It is hard to say." Legolas replied, eyes not leaving Tauriel. "I try to get closer and sometimes she seems to welcome me, but other times she withdraws herself and shuts me out."

"Your relationship seemed well this morning." Aragorn said with a small smirk. Legolas turned his head to glare at his friend although it was a good natured glare. Aragorn's smile grew. The two turned their heads to see Tauriel and Boromir had taken up a fighting stance opposite each other. Legolas cocked his head to one side. "She never could avoid a fight." he said, amusedly.

"Just like you mellon." Aragorn said.

The two of them watched as the duel began, Boromir charged at Tauriel, sword raised slightly to the right. Tauriel easily predicted the exact time when he would swing and jumped lithly to the left, twirling around behind Boromir's back, so she then ended up on his right. Boromir swung again, towards her head and she ducked easily out of the way. Boromir over balanced because of the power he put into his swing and he stumbled ever so slightly, bending over to stop himself from falling completely. Tauriel took advantage of this, slipping one hand under his neck, with the dagger pressed against the skin, and the other at his back, she jabbed him with the tip ever so slightly, just enough for him to know he was beaten.

"It appears, agility is more important than I originally gave it credit for." Boromir said, and Tauriel removed the daggers from his neck and back.

"True, but against Orcs, power and strength is important too." She smiled as she pointed out. Boromir straightened up and smiled as he bowed slightly to her. She returned the action, also smiling, then her smile turned into a laugh as the Hobbits started clapping.

Legolas laughed as he watched Tauriel easily overcome Boromir. He certainly respected Boromir, against Orcs and Goblins he had proven himself and he had great skill with a blade. He could probably beat many of the best warriors from the race of men, but against Tauriel, who even Legolas himself had lost to in the past, Boromir did not have the odds on his side.

"It appears she would have no reason to avoid a fight." Aragorn said.

Legolas shook his head. "I spoke the truth at the council, she is the best warrior to come out of the Greenwood."

"That is fortunate, considering the quest we are on." Aragorn reminded him. "Speaking of which, we should be moving on soon. We should not linger here any longer, as lovely as it has been."

"I agree." Legolas said. "I will alert the elves of our upcoming departure. It would be rude to leave without notice. When exactly will we set off?" he asked.

Aragorn thought for a few seconds. "Tomorrow morning. We will follow the path of the river south."

Legolas nodded, and rose to go speak to the Lady Galadriel. On the way he caught Tauriel's eye, who had re-taken her stance opposite Boromir, who apparently wanted to rematch. He shot her a look that simply told her to 'play nice'.

Legolas returned to the clearing, carrying several small parcels. Everyone rose and gathered around him as he started handing out bundles to each person. "Lady Galadriel has declared a feast tonight in honour of us leaving." he announced, and he heard the Hobbits murmur at the announcement of their depature. Everyone else knew it was to be soon, but he knew the Hobbits had been enjoying their stay here enormously. "She sends these clothes for us to wear." he said, finishing handing out the bundles by carefully passing a parcel to Tauriel. She nodded her thanks, taking the bundle curiously, wondering what it was that she would wear tonight.

The rest of the day passed fairly quickly, and when the sun started going down they all started to prepare for the feast. Tauriel was taken away by some of the Lothlorien maids to get ready away from the males. When the rest of them were ready, they wound their way through the trees to where they had been shown to go earlier that day. The clearing the feast was to take place in was beautiful, lights had been strung all around and they created a soft glow, enough to see easily but not enough to block out the light of the stars above them. Several large tables were placed in a row and they each took a seat at the head table, which Galadriel and Celeborn already sat at. Next to the tables was a large, clear space where couples swirled and twirled around, dancing to the music that six elves were playing at the other side of the clearing.

Legolas was watching the dancers when he caught sight of her. She was wearing a green dress, and although he saw her wear green every single day, this dress made her shine unlike any other time. It was a light green, and was long, flowing out behind her when she walked, but a small belt caused it to come in at the waist, highlighting her perfect figure. Her hair hung completely loose all the way down her back, with some hanging over her shoulders. She made her way over to them, taking her seat beside Legolas. His eyes never left her for a second. Tauriel sat and watched the dancers, very aware of the fact that Legolas now wasn't watching the dancers but instead he was watching her.

"Stop staring at me." she whispered to him.

"You should wear dresses more often." he whispered back.

"Hm, well I'm sorry to say but this might be the last time I have a reason to wear one for a long time." she said with some sadness in her voice. Even though she didn't wear one often, she did enjoy the feel of a dress instead of her usual tunic and leggings, and the fact Legolas liked her in a dress didn't hurt either. She looked over at him to see he was wearing a light blue tunic, with a silver pattern. It matched his eyes and she couldn't deny he looked gorgeous.

Dinner passed quickly, with everyone eating, talking and laughing. Perhaps everyone wanted to take their minds off the fact they were leaving this safe haven tomorrow. After the tables had been cleared Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn beside her both stood.

"My Friends," Lady Galadriel began. "Tomorrow morning the ten companions will be leaving Lothlorien, on their quest to save this world. Tomorrow we will mourn their departure, but tonight, let us celebrate their time with us."

Lord Celeborn offered her his hand and she took it. He led her out into the center of the clearing, and the two began their dance. Elves joined in all around, for elves delighted in dance. Merry and Pippin were the first of the Fellowship who took part, after much elbowing, the both of them stood, each asking an elf maiden from the crowd. Boromir went next, laughing as he leapt up from the table and offered his hand to a young elf maiden. Tauriel watched as the many elves, joined by two hobbits and a man swirled around the dance floor. She felt a sudden urge to join them, she had always loved to dance. Legolas turned his head to see Tauriel watching the dancers intently. He leant towards her and whispered in her ear. "Dance with me?"

Her head spun around to face him, and coming nose to nose. They had not danced together for a long time, but she did not rethink her descision.

She stood, and he did the same, joining hands they joined the others in the clearing. She placed one of her hands on his shoulder, and he placed one of his hands at her waist, the other two were clasped together in the air. They moved easily, their steps delicate but purposeful, Tauriel following Legolas' lead. No words were said as they danced, but both elves were at peace, and both knew then, as they stared into each other's eyes their relationship was changing again.

The evening did not go very late, as they knew they would be leaving early in the morning. Tauriel danced with each member of the Fellowship, but she always drifted back to Legolas, who would be waiting for her. When it was time for them to retire, they all returned together, everyone saying goodnight, Tauriel nodding before slipping away to get changed in the forest. When she returned, the men had all changed and were already settled down. She moved towards her spot before her eyes fell to Legolas. She shook her head, she couldn't do that. She had already done enough tonight. She sat down at her spot, trying her best to resist the urge to lay else where. Her looked over at him, and saw his body twitch. She stood, silently making her way over to him. She lay down beside him, again not touching him, leaving a tiny gap between them. But again, the gap would not last the night.

Ok so I said last time they would be leaving in this chapter but it turns out they will be leaving in the next chapter. And yes - next chapter will include Galadriel's gifts. I haven't fully decided on what Tauriel's gift will be. I have a few ideas but if you suggest something I'll take it into consideration :D anyways other reviews/comments/suggestions are still loved!