Chapter 3

The moon was high in the night sky when the elves of Mirkwood arrived at Rivendell. The stars and moonlight cast a blue glow upon the rivers and streams that surrounded the House of Elrond. Autumn leaves were falling; a slight chill was in the air that was crisp and refreshing. Warm golden lights illuminated from a few of the elven dwellings; it was an appealing sight to the weary travelers.

Tauriel was in complete awe at the beauty around her. She was glad her horse knew to follow Legolas, for she was not thinking about anything other than the magnificence surrounding her. She had never seen a place as beautiful as this. Though Mirkwood was also beautiful in some parts, sickness was spreading through the land and the elves could feel it in the air. Tauriel was a daughter of that forest and she would always think it beautiful. However upon seeing Rivendell for the first time, she had to confess that it had a certain purity and healing property to it that made her heart swell.

Legolas felt excitement upon seeing Rivendell once again. It had been many years since he had last visited, and he was eager to be reunited with some dear friends who dwelled here. The sons of Lord Elrond were all like brothers to him, just as Elrond was like an uncle of sorts. The Rivendell and Mirkwood elves had a strong alliance and Legolas was glad for it.

Casting a glance behind him, Legolas could not contain the grin that spread across his face upon seeing Tauriel admiring the beauty around them. She had her lips slightly parted and her head tilted back gazing at all that was around her. Legolas admired Tauriel's fascination with other lands. He was very pleased that he was able to show Rivendell.

Passing over the bridge, the river bubbled and mist from the waterfall sprayed across their travel worn faces. Arriving in the courtyard, Legolas dismounted his horse and Tauriel did the same. Coming down the stairs was the Lord of Rivendell himself. His long dark hair followed behind him as he walked towards Legolas to greet him.

"Legolas! Young lad! How wonderful it is to see you." Elrond embraced Legolas and stepped back to examine him. "It has been too long, mellon nin! Aragorn will be pleased to see you. And Elladan and Elrohir have just returned from the North."

"It is good to see you again, Elrond. I am anxious to see everybody; however I am assuming they have all retired for the evening. The hour is quite late indeed."

"Indeed, you are right. I was expecting your arrival tonight, so I had made sure everything was prepared. We have saved some food and drink from the feast for our Mirkwood guests. I imagine you must all be weary from the long journey."

"Aye, the road was long and uneventful. The weather kept pleasant, which always improves the journey." Legolas turned to face Tauriel, he took her hand and lead her forward, "My Lord Elrond, I would like to introduce to you to my dear friend and Captain, the Lady Tauriel."

Tauriel was slightly nervous upon meeting the famous elven Lord of whom she has heard much about in the countless stories and tales. Elrond smiled fondly upon meeting her. He had a face that was neither young nor old, but his features held memories of many glad and sorrowful things he had seen in his long life. He had a gentle outlook, but beneath it all, Tauriel could see a skilled and experienced warrior who has seen many battles.

Tauriel bowed her head in respect; she was trying her best to display her years as a trained member of Thranduil's army. She crossed her arm across her chest and then stood straight and tall the way a proper warrior stood when facing a lord. "Mae govannen, my lord Elrond.

Elrond laughed lightly and placed his hand upon her shoulder a friendly gesture, "Welcome Lady Tauriel to Imaldris. It is a pleasure to meet you and have as an honored guest."

Tauriel felt herself smile as she bowed in gratitude, "I thank you my Lord, and the pleasure is all mine. Legolas has told me much about the beauty of Imaldris; I could never prepare myself for how magnificent the land truly is."

"Then you shall have to see the rest of it! But for now I believe that a much needed nights rest is in order." Elrond looked behind Legolas and Tauriel and noticed the Mirkwood guard seemed to sigh in relief, even though they contained their weariness very well.

Legolas and Tauriel bid Lord Elrond a good night as they followed the rest of the Mirkwood elves to the stables. After making sure their horses were well tended too by the stable hands, Legolas lead the way to the chambers for resting, while the guards followed the Rivendell elves to refresh themselves.

"Legolas, this place is amazing! I can see now why you try to visit so often." Tauriel stated as she followed him to the sleeping chambers.

"Aye, it is very beautiful indeed. However that is not the reason why I visit so often. Elladan, Elrohir, and Aragorn are usually busy with the Rangers in the North, but on the rare occasion when they all happen to be in Rivendell, we try to get together as often as we can. They are all like family to me and I care for them very much." Legolas came to a stop in front of a large oak door, "In fact, I visit so often, Lord Elrond thought is necessary that I have my own chamber."

Legolas opened the door and walked into the room. It was obvious that he was familiar with it by the way he moved around and knew exactly where everything was and where to put his bow and arrows and his small pack. The colors of the room were in shades of green and brown, almost as if to reflect the feeling of home back in Mirkwood. Tauriel shrugged off her own weapons and set her pack in a nearby chair. Legolas opened the drapes to reveal a door leading to a balcony. He opened it and a cooling autumn breeze filled the room. Tauriel followed him to the balcony and they both stared out upon Rivendell.

Legolas smiled at her as she approached and stood beside him leaning against the railing. "Tauriel, look at the stars here. They shine most beautifully here at night."

Tauriel looked towards the sky and was mesmerized by the tiny orbs of light shining in blankets of darkness. The precious and pure light now held a new memory for her. One she recently acquired by associating with a certain dark haired dwarf.

"It is the feast of starlight. All light is sacred to the Eldar. Wood elves love best the stars."

"I always thought it was a cold light. Remote and far away."

"It is memory. Precious and pure. Like your promise. I have walked there sometimes. Beyond the forest and up into the night. I have seen the world fall away and the white light forever fill the air."

"I saw fire-moon once. It rose over the hill near Dundin. Huge. Red and gold it was that filled the sky…"

Kili….

Tauriel closed her eyes and felt a wave of pain course through her heart. It still hurt sometimes, especially while looking at the stars. It was something that the dwarf and elf had shared together. And it would always remain that way.

Legolas watched her closely and noticed her pain. He held her hand silently, understanding her sorrow. She had lost somebody she cared about. At one time, he even thought she had loved the dwarf, but he knew now it was just a deep admiration and understanding that they had shared. Legolas knew all too well what loss felt like, and he knew the pain would never really go away. It would come and go with each memory that had awakened.

Tauriel held Legolas' hand, accepting the small offer of comfort. She knew Legolas had not understood at the time her friendship with Kili. Kili was often flirtatious at times, and it was harmless really, but it was just one of his many charms. But he was so much more than that. He was brave, and loyal. He did what he felt was right. He followed his heart and stood up for his beliefs. Tauriel saw a part of herself in the dwarf, a part of her that she had kept restrained until she had met Kili. It was he that helped her decide to follow her heart, regardless if it meant disobeying the commands of her King. He had taught her that even though the battle may not reach their lands, they were still a part of Middle Earth; therefore it was also their fight.

"…I still think about him sometimes. I remember our talks, saving him from the poison, his sacrifice…" She spoke this quietly as she watched the stars.

Legolas shifted, unsure of how to best respond. "He will always be in memory. That is how he remains alive. The moment you stop remembering is the moment he stops living. The pain you feel…it will never go away. With time, it will happen less often. It will get better, but the pain will find its way to return in small waves upon the awakening of memories."

Tauriel nodded and smiled softly, "I am glad I had got the chance to know him; even if it was for such a short while. I feel that in our short time together, he has taught me much."

Legolas looked at Tauriel curiously, "And what is that?"

Tauriel turned to face him, looking into his blue eyes, "To follow my heart."

Legolas smiled and pulled her into his arms. She buried her face in his shoulder, and wrapped her arms around his waist. They stayed like that, comfortable and enjoying each other's warmth and comfort.

"You should get some rest. Tomorrow is the day of the council." Legolas mentioned quietly.

Sighing, not really wanting to break the embrace they shared, Tauriel reluctantly stepped back, "You are right, I am quite weary. Tomorrow shall be an interesting day."

Legolas escorted her to her own sleeping chambers which were down the corridor from his own. After bidding each other goodnight, they went their separate ways. Legolas went back to his balcony and continued to watch the stars. He felt at peace being in this place…that was until an object went flying past his ear.

Alarmed, Legolas jumped back and retrieved the object that nearly hit him…a pinecone?

Looking back over the balcony, he tried to find the culprit who had thrown it. Why would somebody be throwing pinecones at him? His eyes scanned the gardens that reached beyond the balcony. And the courtyards on each side were empty. There was nobody that he could see-

"Ouch!" Another pinecone! This time it hit it's target and struck Legolas right on the ear. His irritation growing, Legolas grabbed both pinecones, ready to retaliate and confront the one responsible. From the corner of his vision, he saw another pinecone coming his way, this time he saw it and grabbed it before it could hit him. And now he knew where the culprit was. A tall pine tree stood in the garden beside the wall of the building. He saw small movement in the branches, revealing the culprit's hideout.

The tree was not far away from the balcony, so he could hear small noises that sounded quite familiar to his ears. A twig snapped and the branches rustled again. Smiling to himself, Legolas knew he had caught them. Grabbing the pine cones he had dropped, Legolas threw them at the culprits and heard shouts of complaints.

"Yield! I yield!" came a voice.

"And I too! I yield too!" A completely identical voice shouted.

Legolas laughed and folded his arms in front of him as he watched the two culprits slowly descend the tree. "You have grown slow!" Legolas grabbed a rope that was tied to the balcony and threw it over the railing. He had used the rope many times when needing to make a quick descend to the grounds below. A minute later two figures had climbed the rope and leaped over the railing. Both were tall and completely identical with long dark hair that had a few twigs and pine needles in it.

"Elladan and Elrohir, I should have known it would be you two throwing pinecones at me." Legolas stated as he watched them both trying to dust themselves off.

"Hahahaha! Well we had to get your attention somehow!" Elladan approached Legolas and gave him a brotherly embrace, "Well met mellon nin! Well met indeed!"

Elrohir came after his twin and embraced Legolas as well, "It has been too long, we were beginning to think you had forgotten us." He said playfully.

"Nay, I could never forget you two misfits!" Legolas teased.

"I trust your journey was not too unpleasant?" Elladan spoke as he lit a lantern nearby and grabbed a few chairs for them.

"It was uneventful, but the company I kept made it seem not so long." Legolas responded as they all seated themselves.

"Aaah! I did notice somebody arrive with our young prince." Elladan nodded to Elrohir. Both with amused matching grins, Elrohir added, "A red-haired elleth. A beautiful one if I might say."

Legolas could see where this conversation was leading, he tried to quickly steer it elsewhere, "My Captain, she is a very dear friend to me. A loyal and fierce warrior, she is not to be underestimated."

Smirking, Elladan stole a glance to Elrohir, both reading each other's mind. "Ahh, and how long have you known the Captain exactly?"

"And how come if you two are such dear 'friends', Elladan drawled out the word friends, "we have never heard of her before?" Elrohir asked.

"You both seemed pretty close when we saw you walking down the corridor. Leading her to her chambers, how noble Legolas. Very princely!" Elladan and Elrohir both laughed ruthlessly.

Legolas felt his face start to blush as he tried to defend himself. He knew these two would make some sort of a hasty generalization. Legolas just didn't want to admit to them that they were correct. Or else it would be endless amount of teasing he would have to endure. "I have known her since she was a child; I was nearly an adolescent when she came to live at the Halls of my Father."

"Riiiight! And just how long exactly have you been involved with her?" Elladan asked.

"Aye! And what does your ada think about you two being together?" Elrohir asked.

Legolas sighed. Sometimes they could get overwhelming asking so many questions at once. "We are not a couple! We are friends, comrades in arms. And that is that."

The twins both looked at each other with confused looks. "Why? What is the problem? It is obvious you two are completely smitten with each other." Elladan toned down his teasing a bit.

"It is...complicated. Wait do you really think so? Is it really that obvious?" Legolas guessed the secret could not be kept from them any longer. He would have to be honest with them.

The twins had sincere smiles on their faces. Just as they were about to reply, they were interrupted by another different voice.

"It is obvious mellon nin." The voice had laughter in it as it revealed the owner who came onto the balcony.

"Estel!" Legolas exclaimed in surprise. He stood up and went to greet his mortal friend. "How long have you been lurking in the shadows there?" Aragorn embraced Legolas patting him on the shoulder.

"Long enough mellon nin, you are in fact referring to the red-haired captain of yours I had the pleasure of meeting what was it…five years ago?" Aragorn pulled over another chair and seated himself next to his brothers.

"That's the one! The red-haired elleth. The Captain!" Elrohir exclaimed.

Aragorn had met the Captain briefly while visiting Mirkwood five years ago. He had suspected his friend held deeper feelings for the elleth other than that of friendship. "Yes, what does Thranduil have to say about all of this?"

"Ada….does not approve. He would never allow it because she is silven and not of nobility." Legolas said dejectedly. The joyful teasing and mocking was forgotten, as the twins and Aragorn noticed the look of remorse upon their friend's face.

"That is bad luck my friend." Elrohir spoke up. "Thranduil is not an easy person to persuade."

"No…he is not. I think he has known since the Battle of Five Armies. She had disobeyed his orders and left Mirkwood to save the company of Thorin Oakenshield and the men of Laketown, and I followed her. He was not pleased with me after that."

Aragorn knew all too well what his friend was experiencing. For he himself was in a complicated relationship. The Lady Arwen, was elf kind, he was mortal. Aragorn pitied his friend.

"Do not let your ada control your heart Legolas. He is your king, but he cannot tell you who you cannot give your heart to, regardless of status." Aragorn stated. He clapped his friend on the shoulder and gave him an encouraging smile. "Does this elleth know of your affections?"

Legolas shrugged, "I am not certain. We are very close; it feels as if there is a mutual understanding between us. It is like we both know, but we do not acknowledge it."

The Aragorn nodded, "Then there is hope mellon nin! Do not be discouraged. There is always a way."

Legolas smiled and nodded his understanding.

"So now tell us! We want to hear all about this fair maiden that has stolen our friend's heart." The twins spoke.

Legolas laughed and looked towards the stars, "What is there to say? She is the most radiant and beautiful soul I have ever known. There is a fire in her heart. She is a constant light in all the darkest of places. She is strong and spirited. Determined and confidant. And yet she is also gentle and caring, passionate and gracious. She is so much more than I can describe."

The four friends continued to chat about the Captain who had captured Legolas' heart. With assurance that the twins would not tease or poke fun, Legolas promised to introduce them to her tomorrow at breakfast. Aragorn was happy for his friend, and he also pitied him. It would not be an easy path for him to defy Thranduil, but Legolas was a grown adult. He had free will and control over how to live his life.

The next topic of discussion was of the mysterious council that was being held tomorrow. Aragorn had mentioned his encounter with four hobbits in the village of Bree. He told about the battle on Weathertop, and the appearance of the Nazgul.

"I suspect the council has something to do with the growing evil in Middle Earth. These hobbits, they were being pursued by the Nazgul. I have not the slightest idea why, but perhaps we will find out more tomorrow." Aragorn stated.

"Ada has summoned many people as well." Elrohir mentioned. Legolas listened intently.

Elladan nodded, "Mithrandir is here, a few dwarves from Dale, a mortal from Gondor, and we have our beloved Mirkwood prince here." Elladan motioned to Legolas.

"My ada had told me something of the sort, but mainly he wanted me to act as messenger and deliver ill news to Gandalf about the escape of Gollum." Legolas added in.

"Escaped!" cried Aragorn, "This is ill news indeed. How did this happen?!"

"I shall explain it all tomorrow. The guard and I had searched the forests. We could not recover him."

"The council will not be pleased to hear of this. I do not envy you for being the bearer of such bad news. I can see why Thranduil sent you instead of coming here himself." Elladan spoke.

"Aye, that was my thoughts as well. I guess tomorrow we shall discover more about this mysterious council. For such a large gathering, it must be important."

"Hmmm, yes indeed." Elrohir agreed, "Especially if it meant he had to summon the dwarves. The last time we were host to dwarves, they swam in the fountain by the river, broke some furniture, and caused a riot in the courtyard during an evening meal."

Elladan laughed, "Ah yes! I remember. Lindir would not cease talking about it. He kept going on about how he nearly got hit in the face with mashed potatoes."

"And this was the company of Thorin Oakenshield?" Aragorn asked. "Where was I when this all happened?"

Legolas looked over to his friend and answered, "You were up North with the Dunedain. It was shortly after the Battle of the Five Armies that I left to find you. My father had told my about a young ranger who could grow to become a great man."

Aragorn smiled and nodded at the memory of meeting the blonde elf for the first time. The adventure that followed was one he would never forget.

The four friends continued chatting well into the night. It was not until Aragorn had nearly fallen asleep in his chair that they decided to call it a night and bid each other goodnight and went their separate ways.

Alone, once again. Legolas pondered everything that had been discussed as he lay upon the bed and prepared to rest. He looked out his open balcony door, and gazed at the stars. Tomorrow would be a very interesting day.

Elvish Translation:

Mellon nin: my friend

Mae Govanenn: Greetings

Elleth: Female adult elf

Estell: (hope) Aragorn's childhood name given to him by his foster father Elrond.

Ada: Dad/Father

Mithrandir