Chapter 12

A bright morning rises

The morning after Tauriel arrived in the valley I could simply not stay in bed. We stayed up late and watched the stars talking as we did many years ago, but I was still not tired. All I wanted was to go and see her again. I got out of bed and found my fighting training clothes as they were easy to get into for one person, unlike the dresses I needed Estelwen's help with. Not that I was a Dresses fan at all.

I hurried out the door and down the hall toward the guest rooms. My heart was so full of joy that she was here and I could not contain it. The kisses we shared last night made up for the long years we had been apart, and I could not wait to hold her again.

As I arrived at the guest room she had been given I knocked on the door, but no answer came, I knocked again and still so ever quiet. I decided to open it and found the room empty. Where could she be? Had it all been a cruel dream? No, it couldn't be! I looked the room over to see if there were any traces of her, but it wasn't. She had not taken much with her when she left the halls of the woodland king, but she still had a backpack, quiver, knives, and bow. All of it is gone.

At that moment my heart dropped, why would the Valar pull such a trick on me, why? I ran to every single place I could think of that she would have gone and none of them I found what I was looking for. When I ran past the archery range, I saw her red hair beside my two little brothers.

"TAURIEL" I cried and ran down the hill towards her grabbing her hard and hugging her. "Your room was empty, I believed you had gone or that this was a cruel dream!" I said with tears down my cheeks. Her warm and strong hands held me as we looked at each other after a moment.

"It is real my lady, I am here and I am not going anywhere." She responded strictly. "I was just drawn out of that room so early by your brothers as they wanted a stern word with me before you could lay claims on me for the day" She sent me a proper smile and kissed my cheek as I looked at my brothers.

"What did you two want with her," I said in a curious tone.

"We wanted to make sure she did not hurt you again sister," Elladan responded

"We could not risk it; you have been so sad over the last ohh hundred or so years since we were born it made an impression on us. We simply want you happy Elwen"

"But I am happy now can you not see it?" I asked them both.

"We can and that is why we had to make sure that Tauriel stays and not leave you again," they both said in the same tone at the same time in their typical twin way.

I looked at Tauriel and her beautiful eyes as they spoke.

"Did they make you swear an oath? Or worse?" I asked her in disbelief at what my brothers had done.

"They did not my lady," Tauriel responded. "But I would have if they made me, I cannot see myself in any other place but in your arms now" Her hand moved away some of my long black hair from my face and gave me a little kiss on the lips like we had done in the dining hall last night. My body rejoiced from it as I responded to her kiss and held her close to me. I knew we had a lot of time to make up for and truly get to know each other, but it had been a very nice start.

The twins looked at us smiled and hugged us both. "Welcome to the valley and hopefully the family, Tauriel," they both said. "Remember what we spoke of, do not hurt our sister or else" They both giggled grabbed their gear, and walked towards the sword yard for their morning training.

"What did you discuss with them, my love?" Was all I could ask Tauriel at that moment.

"We did discuss much my lady, but they did swear me to secrecy for now and I will not break it so easily." She responded with a smile and I looked at her worriedly.

"As long as it is nothing bad for me or you I am happy to not know for now," I told her as I let go of holding around her and grabbed her hand instead. Starting to walk towards the house.

"It is not my lady, you do have two very devoted brothers who love you very much and I like them for it," Tauriel said as we walked and she started to notice the looks we were getting from all the elves of the valley, last night there had been just her and me except a few elves in the dark. Now they all could see us holding hands and walking close.

"Good," I said and smiled and leaned on her as we walked. "Are you sure we should hold hands for all to see my lady or is…" I cut her off. "I am, I am not ashamed of you and me even if we are just starting to find it all out and what we are. You're kissing me and the feelings you showed me in those moments say a lot and I cherish it" I could see her blush and grab my hand even harder as we kept on walking.

"Where are we going, my lady?" Tauriel finally asked. I looked at her and shook my head.

"First, to you it is Elwen, second we are going to ada and Nana for you to meet my sister and my ada. After all, you did not meet him properly last time you were here, just in the passing." I said with a smile and to her going all pale.

"I am to meet lord Elrond?" she said and slowed her walk. "Yes you are and my sister Arwen and Nana that you have already met." I could hear her swallow hard and take a deep breath. "I hope you will stay at my side as I do Elwen," She said in a firm tone.

"I will Tauriel unless ada wants a word with you alone too," I said with a teasing smile on my lips.

"I have had a word with your brothers already and I think that is enough for one day, but I love their protectiveness of you." "They are, we all are of each other I would have to say, the family trait" I nodded and we walked into the main house and down the halls as we met several servants telling us that breakfast in the private dining area was ready in a few moments.

"What about your brothers? They went to the training yard did they not?" Tauriel asked. "They did, they rarely eat with us for breakfast and I believe they skipped it intentionally today to give us time with ada and Nana alone. "I said to her and smiled as we entered the private dining room. We were the first to arrive and Tauriel took it all in, the grandeur of the room and it was just as she remembered it. "But what of Arwen? Your sister? Will she attend?" Tauriel asked curiously "She will, but she is so young she will mostly sleep" At that answer, Tauriel just tilted her head "She was born yesterday" I added with a smile.

With that, the doors opened again and ada and Nana walked in with Nana having Arwen in her arms and two servants walked behind them with a bed for Arwen to rest in as we would eat.

Tauriel of course went into full attention as she saw the lord and lady of the valley and her ranger training kicked in. Even if that was now in the past I could not stop looking at her and how cute she was doing her attention thing.

"Ada, Nana," I said and walked over to them and gave them both a hug and a kiss on the cheek

"My sweet" Nana said as I hugged her. "How did you sleep last night?" she asked "Better than in many long years" I responded and it was then they saw Tauriel standing there all nervous at attention.

"You must be Tauriel of the woodland realm if my memory doesn't play tricks on me," Ada said and waved for her to come over.

"I am, my lord," she responded with a proper bow to ada. He did not respond further.

"Welcome Tauriel, I have missed you," Nana said and smiled at her and indicated for her to come and hug her as well. Nana behaved as I believed she would, ada was a little colder and I could not figure out why.

"Please sit, you two must be hungry," Nana said as she laid Arwen down on the bed that was taken with them.

"I know I am Nana," I said eager for the chef's breakfast. I had not eaten well the last years due to little appetite and it had returned.

We all sat down and we started to eat, Tauriel was careful with how much she took and Nana told her to not be shy and eat heartily. Ada did not say anything and I found it even more strange. Then Nana got Tauriel to tell her story of what she had done after leaving the valley and her time in Greenwood before she left for her long hike back to Imladris. In which her feelings were a part of it. Then ada commented in a tone I had never heard from him before.

"So Tauriel, when you get tired of the valley I assume you will leave my daughter behind in grief and find new lands of excitement?" Ada commented. Both Nana and I were shocked by it and Tauriel bowed her head.

"ELROND!" Nana said very strictly

"I will not leave your daughter behind in grief and despair, my lord. Before I met her I was a devoted ranger, I served my king with pride and love as I did for the elves of the Greenwood. But then I came to Imladris. To your beautiful valley my lord and meet your daughter. The weeks I spent with her made my heart yawn for her love, her smile, and her heart. To be parted from her the last 111 years was for me torture" At that point she took my hand and smiled at me before continuing.

"I do understand why you as her lord and ada would see me as unfit of your daughter and her love. Not only for my choices to leave my post and people. But also for the fact, I am but a lowly silvan elf… I do not quit It is not the kind of elf I am. I only knew I wanted to be back here with her. That is why I left and in fear of her not feeling the same I did not dare to go here at once as I should have. Yes, I spent time traveling back to Imladris out of weakness and faithlessness in what she and I have or hopefully will have. But not anymore. If we are not meant to be and she does not feel as I do, I will accept that. But I will not leave her heartbroken and in despair." She kept looking at me, Nana, but at ada, she only bowed her head. Like a criminal waiting for her judgment and hoping for mercy.

In those long moments as ada only looked at her and said nothing we held hands so hard our fingers turned pale white. For we were indeed both scared of what he would say. Even so much that I wanted to break the silence, but at the same time, I did not dare to either.

"I see…" That was all he finally said. "It has nothing to do with you being a Silvan elf of whatever rank you have or had Tauriel," Ada said. "It is about me knowing you will protect, love, and care for my daughter, I am sure you know she has been hurt before by those meant to protect her. That is why I am an overprotective ada of her." He took a breath and a sip of his fruit juice. "I want to get to know you better, but this is a good first step. Elwen's heart has longed for you for many years now and I am happy to see her smile again" ada added to his comment and Nana nodded.

"I will my lord, to my dying breath if that is what is required of me," Tauriel said without a moment's thought as she stood up. I looked at her with astonishment and tried to whisper to her "Should we not take this slow?" She looked down at me. "We are, but your ada and nana need to see where my heart is. It may sound foolish and young of me to say so my lord and my lady, but my heart has been beating for Elwen for years no matter the distance we were apart and I will not let my chance slip from me again" As she spoke I stood up too and put my arm around her.

"Did you not love Nana when she first came to the valley from Lorien to look for Grandfather Ada and said nothing? With the same fear, she would not respond to it?" He looked at me with a face that said clearly (I wish she didn't know so much) and Nana looked at him with an equal (you loved me already when I and Nana came to see if ada was alive?) face.

"Tauriel, Elwen. Please sit" He finally said. "I did not bring this up to torment either of you or to dismiss you Tauriel. I only want to make sure you are the right one for my daughter. You arrived here only last night and I cannot remember seeing my daughter smile so much in years. It was cruel of me to dismiss you as I did. May I ask your forgiveness Tauriel" Ada said and bowed to her.

"Of course my lord, you have it. I am so happy Elwen has such a protective family" Tauriel responded as we sat back down. The rest of the meal was a lot lighter toned with ada taking part and laughing as Nana did too. I am happy I have such a protective family and I am happy Tauriel sees that and does not take offense.

After breakfast, we went to the training yard and started to spar together. Tauriel prefers long knives and I feel more comfortable with the sword so we decided to start with swords and use knives if either gets disarmed.

"Are you ready?" Tauriel asked and I simply nodded.

Blow for blow we went at each other like all those years ago. Blocking, ducking, and trying to disarm each other. one by one elves came over and started to watch us fight. Or when I say fight it turned more and more into an intimate dance we both loved. We found a rhythm and it flowed so well for us. Suddenly Tauriel's practice sword broke and we both discarded them and drew our knives. It only made the fighting even more intimate and we lost track of time. It only ended when we noticed the crowd we had drawn. Many of the common elves of the valley were here, but also ada, Nana, Elladan, Elrohir, Glorfindel, Estelwen, and Erestor. We both blushed and put the knives away and there was a cheer in the crowd. It was nice to see ada smile at us after the breakfast show he put on, but I knew it came from a place of love and care.

Elladan and Elrohir were very excited about the show we had just put on without knowing it. They repeated our moves, our blocks, our rolls, you name it from the yard and back to the house. If nothing else, we had given the valley a good show today.

We bid Nana, ada, and the twins goodbye and then Nana turned to us and said "Take Tauriel to seamstress Elwen, she needs a new set of clothes. They told me her old were worn out and not much to repair anymore" To that I smiled and nodded "Yes Nana we will go there right away" I said and pulled her along. "My lady I am sure it is not needed" Tauriel cried out back to Nana, but before she knew we were far down the way towards the seamstresses and tailor-huts of the valley "Elwen" Tauriel cried as I did not slow down until we stood outside the door and knocked. She gave me a long stare and tried to tell me she could still use the clothes more if she could get them back, but I denied it and the door opened. "My good Geleth. It is so nice to see you again" I said with a smile, "My lady Elwen," she said and bowed her head as she moved aside to let us in. "Of what do I deserve the honor, my lady?" She said looking at me and then Tauriel. "This is the lady Tauriel, an elleth I am very fond of Geleth and she has been traveling for many long years and is in desperate need of a new wardrobe, I trust you can make it for her?" I said at the Tailoress of the family and she bowed her head some. "Yes, my lady," she said simply and took Tauriel's hand and dragged her over to a stool, and made her get up on it. Measurements were taken and lists were made of what she would need. "I think ten tunics, ten fighting outfits and ranger clothes, six dresses, and cloaks. Just make everything my Nana and Ada had made for me ohh and a new version of the clothes she came here in, but please do not spare any expense on the material" I said to Geleth and Tauriel was as huge-eyed as she could be, she had tried to downsize my order several times, but she finally gave up when I sent her a stern look. With that Geleth asked if there was anything else and I said nothing more for now, but we knew where her shop was so we would come if we could think of anything. "Yes my lady," she said and bid us farewell for now and gave us a rough estimate on when the clothes would be done and sent to Tauriel's room. As we walked off Tauriel grabbed my hand and turned looking at me. "My lady, are you insane? I have no money to pay for all those clothes..." she said with a worried look on her face as the material is of the best quality in Middle Earth. "You are not to worry my sweet," I said to her smiling Nana told us to get you clothes and we have, I will care of it," I said with a smile. The more she tried to discuss it with me the more I told her off and it was indeed my pure pleasure to finally spend some on the elf I cared for. Until dinner and Tauriel came with me to my room. Still shocked by its size and the order we left with Geleth we rested up on the bed. Simply talking about what had happened since we last met all the years ago.

In my first experience with the Dunedain youths, Tauriel's laughter and jealousy showed a little at that moment. As well as worry about the fighting I had done and my first time taking lives.

"It makes me wish I were there," She said. "None but I will talk such about you my Elwen" Grinning back at her I acted shocked. "Ohh so you are asking if we will get married now are you?" Tauriel saw what happened and blushed "Well maybe not in this instance, but I can dream of it for the future can I not?"

"You can" I responded "Or you can tell ada we will get married now so he will relax and not fear for you leaving me in the middle of the night" I teased her.

"I would never do something so without honor my lady" she gasped as she took offense by me even thinking such a thing.

"I hope not, because the bed will be very cold without you when I get used to having you there," I said and bit my lip. "and it's Elwen to you. Not my lady" I reminded her. "But you are my elleth," she said and made that clear. "I believed we were to take it slow?" I reminded her again. "Yes we are or try to, but I still love saying my elleth" Tauriel responded.

Looking up at her at that moment as I lay on my side looking up at her sitting beside me on my big bed with her back towards the wall with a big pillow supporting her I could not help but reach up feel her chin and pull her carefully down beside me and kiss her on the lips, several careful kisses, neither of us wanted to stop and I knew I was rushing this somewhat too no matter how much I wanted to slow it down just a little I simply could not.

Her sweet soft lips on mine as I felt her breathing through her nose, her warm body over mine as she cupped my face, holding me as I held her. Neither wanting to stop. The world outside the room did not seem to be important or even exist. The only thing that mattered was Tauriel kissing me and making up for the years we had been apart.