Thanks for your reviews everyone, I love reading them. I hope you enjoy this one shot.

Legolas had returned to his father's kingdom in Mirkwood after Aragon had been made king and married Arwen. He was sort of happy to see his father and friends again, but at the same time he wondered what he was going to do. All the orcs were either being hunted down or were already dead. Maybe I will sail with the rest of my kin and go to the Grey Havens. There was nothing more for him in Middle Earth. It would depend on what Thranduil decided to do.

As expected Legolas had a warm welcome when he entered Mirkwood. As he walked through kingdom he heard whispers. Some people thought he had been killed while others thought he had abandoned them and forsaken his people. At least it showed how little his people knew about what happened outside of the realm. He walked to his father's throne hall and knelt down before the king.

"Welcome back Legolas, you arrival has been long expected by our people. There will be a meal thrown later tonight at your victory in Mordor. But for now rest, your journey has been a long one my son."

"Thank you father, I will retire to my chambers." Legolas bowed his head and left for his room. He had noticed as he wandered through Mirkwood that a certain auburn haired elf had not appeared. There were few times during his quest with the fellowship when he though of Tauriel. The weeks that had led up to his departure to Rivendell had caused a rift between the two. She had distanced herself from him and talked to him only as a captain not as a friend. He had sent a two letters back to Mirkwood; one for his father telling him of the quest, another to Tauriel asking her to take over his duties during his absence.

He lay his bow and quiver down on the wall, he looked around his room with a sense of nostalgia. Everything was exactly as he had left it.

Legolas wasn't one for parties he always kept to himself but the problem with this one was that it was being held for him so he couldn't exactly not go.

He lay in his bed thinking about the past four years of his life. Four years was nothing to an elf but they had been the most eventful years of his life. It would be difficult to forget everything he had been through and what's worse he wouldn't be able to talk to anyone about it because no-one would truly understand him. He slept for a few hours; he was a lot more tired than he would like to admit. He got changed into a more appropriate attire for the meal. Someone came and informed him that they were waiting on him.

Legolas sat down at the meal to please his father, he had kept a façade which masked his need to be alone. Everyone was in conversation and Legolas saw this as a perfect time to slip away from everyone. Thranduil noticed his son had changed; granted he was no longer an arrogant prince anymore, but he wasn't himself, he was too quiet and kept to himself more than Thranduil would have liked.

Legolas went outside and admired the forest for a bit; it wasn't a dark decaying place anymore since the evil at Dol Guldur had been destroyed, it was back to being Greenwood again. He enjoyed the fresh air, it was better than being stuck in a hall exchanging false pleasantries. He thought again about what he could do now. Greenwood clearly needed no more protection and all evil had been wiped off the face of middle earth. The race of men had a king; a leader they could look up to and follow. What can I do now? It seemed like the ultimate question.

Legolas was so deep in thought that he didn't notice the female elf creep up behind him. "Not one for parties either?"

Legolas spun round quickly; he knew that voice, he knew who it belonged too. "Tauriel?" She had changed ever so slightly. Her hair was longer and she was more beautiful and radiant than when he last saw her. "Uh no, I would much rather be out here away from the party."

"You came back. You said in your letters that if you died then I was to take over in your stead and yet here you are." Tauriel observed him with keen eyes.; he had changed. He wasn't the prince she knew, this one was closed off you could say unsure of himself.

"I-I had to make sure someone would continue in my stead if I did pass away, you were the only one I trusted to do so. You seem well, I trust you are responsible for the forest's peacefulness?"

Tauriel gave a small smile "yes I am. I managed to keep the peace and drive the spiders away permanently from the realm. What about you?"

"Walk with me, please." He held an arm out and she gladly took it. If you didn't know the two were friends you would have assumed they were together. Even though they had been apart for so long they easily fell into a rhythm; they walked in step and neither elf said anything, they just walked together and enjoyed the moment of silence.

They stopped outside of the gate by the river and sat down on the bank. Legolas just stared into the water for a moment. "You didn't choose to leave for the Undying Lands?"

"No, my place is here. At least until your father decides to go, though I think he might not go after all. He likes this realm, you can see it brings him joy again. Why? You're thinking of going aren't you?"

"You have to understand Tauriel. There is nothing for me here anymore. I have no need and no purpose in this land anymore." Legolas lowered his gaze, it pained him to finally realise what he wanted; he would leave his father and he would leave her.

Tauriel placed a delicate hand on his face and turned it so Legolas was facing her. "Legolas the choice is ultimately yours and you won't be going alone there are others of our kin that are choosing to leave like you are."

Legolas linked his hand with hers "I would be leaving you and I don't think I can do that again. I remember the look on your face when I told you why I was going and you ignored me for weeks. I would be a whole world away and I wouldn't be coming back this time." He leant forward and kissed her ever so softly. "Come with me Tauriel, please."

She returned his affection and his kiss. She had missed those rough lips, missed the feeling of being in his arms. Just missed him in general and it had only been four short years; she couldn't imagine what it would be like without him around at all. "Legolas I don't kn-" He cut her off with another kiss.

"Please melleth. We wouldn't have to worry about the troubles of others, we could live in peace."

Tauriel leaned into him and he wrapped his arms around her. "I will think about it I promise. But for now, just hold me."

So I hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you have any ideas you would like me write out or expand I'm all ears. Always open to constructive criticism. xx