A/N: Hey guys! Sorry it's taken so long for me to update. School's been really busy and the college baseball season started a month ago. Since I work for a college team, I'm at practice or a game nearly everyday, along with school, and prepping for my summer job. All in all I don't have as much time to write. Then my computer broke. Haha Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I'll try to update again soon!
Alone Tauriel could cover leagues in a short time. With Kiliana on her back, her time was nearly doubled despite how light her daughter was. She was still faster than the orcs that were after them but she still couldn't quite lose them. She was just starting to tire when she recognized her surroundings. She was near Imaldris, the land of Lord Elrond. She only needed to make it a little further.
She turned quickly and saw that the orcs were nearing. She was starting to slow down. Kiliana's grip around her neck tightened and she buried her face in Tauriel's cloak.
Tauriel continued to run when an arrow whizzed past her head and struck the closest orc. Elves streamed out of the trees, some on horseback and some on foot. They ran past Tauriel and began to battle the orcs. As they fought Tauriel sunk to the ground and checked on Kiliana. "Lia, are you alright?"
It was a bit of a struggle but Tauriel managed to loosen Kiliana's grip enough to pull her off of her back and place the little girl in front of her. The girl was pale and shaking dreadfully. Tauriel checked her over carefully but she didn't seem to have any injuries. Tauriel let you a sigh of relief when she realized that she was merely frightened. She pulled her daughter into a warm hug and the girl slowly started to calm down. "Oh my starlight," she comforted as she ran gentle fingers through Kiliana's hair.
Silent footsteps approached them and Tauriel instinctively jumped up with her twin swords in hand. "Are you okay?" the elf asked.
Tauriel froze as the familiar elf blinked in surprise. "Legolas?" she whispered.
"Tauriel!" Legolas smiled brightly.
Tauriel dropped her swords and grasped forearms with Legolas. She never would've expected to see him here. "It is good to see you my friend," she said softly.
Legolas nodded. "And you," he responded, as he looked her over. She was still considered a young elf and to a human she hadn't changed, but he could tell that the last ten years had aged in a way that usually didn't affect elves. Although she was still as beautiful to him as the day they went their separate ways.
His eyes widened when he heard a small whimper from behind Tauriel's legs. He looked down and raised a blond eyebrow at the little girl, his blue eyes immediately taking notice of her small pointed ears and the features that were so similar to her mother's. "Your child?"
Tauriel looked down to where Kiliana was still settled in the grass. "Yes," she said with a soft smile. "Her name in Kiliana."
Legolas turned back to Tauriel but not in complete surprise. "The dwarf?" he asked in a low voice. Tauriel nodded.
Kiliana looked up with wide brown eyes at her mother and the strange elf. She had never met another elf besides her mother before. "Mama?"
Tauriel released Legolas and gathered the small girl into her arms. "Lia, this is Legolas, a very good friend of mine."
Kiliana's eyes widened. "The Legolas from your stories? The prince of Mirkwood?"
Legolas could've blushed as Tauriel laughed. "Yes, that Legolas."
Kiliana turned in her mother's arms to face Legolas. "It's nice to meet you Your Highness," she said politely.
The other elves chuckled as Legolas studied the young girl. Her elvish heritage was obvious while her dwarvish features were subtler, but they were definitely there. She looked a lot like Tauriel but her brown eyes were most certainly her father's. Legolas wanted to hate her. She was half-dwarf and a reminder that Tauriel didn't feel for him the same way he felt for her, but her couldn't. He just couldn't bring himself to hate this little girl, no matter how hard he tried. Her brown eyes bore into him as she waited for a response. Finally he smiled and took her hand into his. "It is nice to meet you as well Lia," he said. "And please, call me Legolas."
"How did you come across an orc pack?" Legolas asked Tauriel.
"We were attacked outside of a human village," Tauriel answered.
"Strange for orcs to wander so close to a village. Nevertheless, Lord Elrond will be happy to see you," Legolas said. "I am sure that he will offer you refuge."
"Will we get to sleep in a real bed?" Kiliana asked excitedly.
The elves laughed. "Yes Lia, you will be able to sleep in a real bed," Tauriel confirmed.
The elves led Tauriel and Kiliana through the trees and down the path to Rivendell. Tauriel had been there several times having accompanied Thranduil and Legolas on meetings with Lord Elrond. Even so, seeing the great city now was still like seeing it for the first time. The city's magnificent walls shone in the setting sun as it glistened off of the roofs. Tauriel was about to point it out to Kiliana when she realized that the young girl was fast asleep in her arms.
Lord Elrond greeted the company at the entrance to the city. He smiled brightly and spread his arms out as they approached. "Tauriel, welcome back to Imaldris."
Tauriel nodded respectfully, unable to bow while holding Kiliana. "Thank you Lord Elrond. It is good to be back."
"And who is this little one?" Elrond asked indicating to the sleeping Kiliana.
Tauriel shifted her daughter slightly without waking her up. "This is my daughter Kiliana, or Lia."
Elrond smiled fondly at the little girl. "Come. We will find a room to lay her down and then we must talk."
Elrond led them to a large bedroom where Tauriel carefully settled Kiliana into the bed. Once she was sure that Kiliana would be okay alone, Tauriel followed Elrond to a large meeting room where Legolas and two other people were waiting. Tauriel recognized the female to be Arwen, Elrond's youngest and only daughter, but she didn't recognize the young dark-haired man who was sitting next to her.
"Tauriel, you know Legolas and Arwen. This is Aragorn, son of Arathorn," Elrond introduced the man. "Aragorn, this is Tauriel, former captain of the guard in Mirkwood."
Aragorn grimaced. "I prefer Estel, but it nice to meet you."
"And you." Tauriel frowned. "That is an elvish name," she stated with some confusion. The man certainly didn't look like an elf.
"It was the name that was given to me when I came to be raised here as a child," Aragon explained.
Before Tauriel could ask why, Elrond sat and motioned for her to sit as well. "We have much to discuss. The child, who is her father?"
Tauriel hesitated. She had never really admitted it out loud before. "The dwarf Kili, son of Dis, daughter of Thrain," she answered.
Elrond sat back in his chair and stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So the girl is the last of Durin's line. Does she know?"
Tauriel shook her head. "I have not told her yet."
"Perhaps that it best for now."
Tauriel nodded. "Is it true what they say? That Sauron is back?"
Elrond nodded solemnly. "I am afraid so. Lia should be safe from him for now; he has no reason to harm her, but if the orcs were to discover her lineage, she would be in terrible danger." He sat up with conviction. "I recommend that you and your daughter remain here for the time being. It will be safer than travelling around and you can continue Lia's training."
Tauriel bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you Lord Elrond."
Elrond looked at Aragorn. "Aragorn." The others recognized that they have been dismissed so the left the two to talk.
Legolas walked with Tauriel back to her bedroom. "How have you been?" he asked.
"It has been a long ten years," Tauriel answered simply.
"So, you tell your daughter stories of me?" Legolas asked with a playful smirk.
Tauriel smiled. "They are her favorite, after the stories of her father."
Legolas grew solemn. "The dwarf, huh?"
"You will not hold it against her, will you?"
Legolas thought back to those brown eyes staring imploringly at him. Elven children were prized and protected, mainly because they were not born very often. It just wasn't necessary when you were immortal. But Kiliana was only half-elf. Despite what she might look like, the blood of the dwarf who stole Tauriel's heart ran through her veins. Could he hold it against her? "No, I will not."