Chapter 17

New patrol plans

The morning after we came back from the hunting trip or well we did hunt Goblins so guess it was a hunting trip after all. We slept in long and I did not want to get out of bed. I could feel Tauriel's arm around me and her breath on my neck and Estelwen trying to wake… ESTELWEN Oh god. I sat up so fast that Tauriel's arm tumbled off me.

"Estelwen," I said in disbelief I had not noticed her before.

"My lady?" She responded ever as casually. "Good morning" she then said with a smile.

"Lay back down my love, can we not sleep longer?" Tauriel said very much wanting to cling to sleep until she also heard Estelwen and sat up, her eyes so very wide and worried.

"Good morning, my lady Tauriel," Estelwen said with her ever so polite tone and a smile.

"Will she tell anyone we slept together?" Tauriel said with a worried tone to her voice.

"I will not," Estelwen said hearing it all. "What my lady Elwen does is no business of mine or others. What I see I keep to myself and I will not gossip about it to others. Not even the lord and the lady" Estelwen said in a very hurtful way. How could she think she would go gossip about it?

"Estelwen is a soul of discretion, she won't even tell her husband," I said to calm Tauriel down.

"That is right my lady," Estelwen said and kept folding my clothes. "and you two did not get married last night so no other will suspect a thing either.

"What about the guest room?" Tauriel said. "Surely they will see I did not sleep in the bed?" her voice so ever worried.

"None will suspect a thing my lady Tauriel" Estelwen added like the most natural thing in the world. "For I told the house servants that I will look after your needs by the order of lady Elwen" She turned towards us and smiled.

"Thank you Estelwen," I said and smiled wide at her. "You are a great friend" To which Estelwen bowed her head and smiled "So are you to me my lady" and she walked over to the bed.

"Now my ladies you two need a bath and to get dressed. Lord Elrond has requested you to join him and the lady Celebrian for breakfast and then for a patrol council."

Tauriel and I looked at each other and followed Estelwen's commands more or less. While I headed towards the bathroom Tauriel started to get dressed.

"And what is my lady doing?" Estelwen said and looked at Tauriel.

"I am getting dressed so I can go to the bathroom down by my quarters…" Tauriel tried to explain.

"That is for guests and commoners," Estelwen said in a very explaining voice.

Tauriel did not know what to do and pushed her foot into the boot.

"As I said my lady Tauriel, that is for guests and commoners. You are neither." She said and pointed towards my bathroom.

I looked at the interaction between them and wondered how this would go and what was happening.

"Shall I…" Tauriel said and tried to understand what she should do.

"You will wait until I am done washing lady Elwen and then you will come and I will wash you lady Tauriel," Estelwen said firmly like a nana to her children. I watched Tauriels wowed face and Estelwen pushed me into the bath as we did not have a lot of time.

Estelwen was ever as fast as she always was, soap, water, washing body and hair. No time was wasted this time and no song. I missed her singing, but there would be a time for that and we didn't have that now.

"There you go, my lady. Now dry yourself off and your hair and I will come and do your braids." Estelwen said with a smile.

"Lady Tauriel I am ready for you now," Estelwen said in a commanding voice.

Tauriel entered the bathroom and was so red and shy that it was just adorable.

"She does not bite my love," I said and walked passed her. "It is in fact very enjoyable." Tauriel just gave me a yeah right stare and I shut the door. I hurried up and dried off and got my underwear on as I listened to Tauriel and Estelwen.

"My lady it is very common for ladies to have a bath maids and you will just have to accept it, now hurry up and get into the tub" I could hear the frustration in Estelwen's voice. Even if she hid it well, I had known her for long enough to still pick it up.

"But Estelwen I am no lady…" Tauriel tried to explain once again.

I could hear Estelwen take a breath, not even I had pushed her buttons like this when I arrived.

"My lady, I will say this but one more time. You are the mate of the lady Elwen and by that fact, you will be seen as a lady in this valley. Even if you are not married yet you two will be one day I can clearly see that. Now I will not have you question your position anymore and you will get into the tub before I make you go into the tub"

I tried not to laugh, but it was so very hard and got even harder when I heard a splash and a gasp from Tauriel.

"I warned you my lady" Was all Estelwen said after the splash.

I just had to smile when Tauriel and Estelwen came out of the bathroom, Tauriel was red as a rose on its blooming day and Estelwen's clothes were all wet from pushing Tauriel into the tub.

"Now my ladies" Estelwen then added and pulled out two I would say very fine made under cloths that went under long robes of grey and blue colored mix with all kinds of splendor on them and she handed one to Tauriel and one to me.

"Lord Elrond had these made when you were out on your hunting trip. It is for official meetings of the military sort. As you will attend later on. Now hurry up and get dressed so I can do your braids and send you two off" We both took a minute and looked over them. Very elegant and in grey, blue, and silver markings on them. The uniforms to call them that clearly were made with us in mind and I knew the seamstress was top-notch and could make the most amazing clothes just by looking at the wearer. Cleary made of costly material and with true skill. But Estelwen pushed us to get dressed and we did as she hurried up to do our braids and got me my circlet and basically kicked us out of the room to start drying up the floor of the bathroom after she pushed Tauriel into it.

Neither of us truly knew what just happened, but it was just the hurricane of Estelwen.

"Your handmaiden is very… she does want it her way," Tauriel said as we walked down the hall holding hands.

"She does my love, but she is very good at her job. Did she truly push you into the tub or did you jump?" I asked with a grin on my face.

"Ohh she pushed me, I guess I took too long and she had enough of my questions" Tauriel added with her blushing and giggling.

We hurried to the private dining area where ada and Nana waited for us with a very loving "good morning" from both with hugs and kisses. We had a quick breakfast before Nana went to a meeting with the ladies of the valley and ada, Tauriel and I walked toward the council grounds. I was just so happy he had warmed up to Tauriel and that they were friendly. Anything less would truly have broken my heart as I cared deeply for both. Ada was dressed in the same clothing as we were, but he also had a golden lining to it. It fit him very well.

As we entered the council grounds we saw Glorfindel, several elven patrol captains, and Arnorian captains too. One I kinda felt like I knew, but he looked younger. A lot younger.

"Well met everyone" Ada started the meeting.

"May I introduce my daughter the lady Elwen and her mate the lady Tauriel" I bowed my head when my name was spoken and so did she, even if the lady part from ada still made her feel uncomfortable. But it was a part of being in love with the daughter of the lord.

All of the elves bowed to us and the Arnorians too.

"Well met lord Elrond and Lady Elwen and Lady Tauriel," One of the older Arnorians said.

"I am the warden of the north. Captain Agadaleb. This is my junior captains, Avedir, Hauon, and Evanadil."

We made the general elfish bow to them and we all sat down looking at a large map over Eriador with a focus on the eastern parts. Between Misty Mountain and eastern Arnor from the north and all the way south.

"Well met friends" Ada started to speak. "We are here today to look over our patrol routes and to see where we should investigate the Goblins caught in our lands. We cannot let the filth roam freely and attack travelers on the road. Not only for trade but for the safety of those that cannot defend themselves" He said to me and Tauriel nodded.

"Indeed we cannot," Agadaleb said standing tall and proud. "The fact we even let this happen is shameful to me and I will not let it stand. Thankfully your patrol dispatched them ever so quickly before my men could arrive."

The captain we met by the river stood up.

"We did not dispatch them, my lord. That honor goes to the lady Elwen and the lady Tauriel. We only arrived there moments before your men did by their orders to look for any survivors and none were found in a league in any direction. Their hidden caves and outpost are truly not easy to find."

Agadaleb looked at me and Tauriel for a while, clearly surprised we had taken them all down by ourselves.

"Your daughter and her mate clearly do you honor lord Elrond, I hope to one day be able to fight by your side and that of your daughter and her mate. It would be glorious"

"Thank you, Warden Agadaleb," Ada said and bowed his head to him as did I and Tauriel. And Agadaleb returned the bow and to my surprise, Tauriel stood up.

"May I comment my lord?" She said and looked at ada. "Of course, dear one" Ada responded. My heart swelled at the fact he called her dear one.

"On our travel to the high point we could hear all kinds of beasts and birds, but the day after, when we scouted the area there were no sounds of the beast and very little of bird. She said and looked at me for confirmation as I gave. "By the fact, I do believe the goblins moved into the area the first night and were moving past us on the second. If we had not been there they would have gone past unnoticed." The human and elf captains nodded and agreed. "The enemy is at the very least scouting the area and for any more information we need scouts to be placed and watch over the land at night. Our day patrols do little to nothing against the filth moving by night" She added.

There was little chatter between the captains before Avedir asked to speak.

"I agree with the lady Tauriel. Our day patrols are important to show our presence to the people of our realms, but they do little against the enemy that lurks in the shadows scared of the light. I would suggest that we have patrols with elves and men combined so we can have the advantages of the elven sight and hearing as we sadly lack" he said before sitting down.

Captain Landor stood up next. And asked to speak.

"I thank the lady for her insight into the matter and I agree with her and my Arnorian counterpart. We need to show the people we protect them as they travel, but we need to drive the enemy out when they are active at night. As Captain Avedir says I think also we should have mixed patrols of elves and men, it shows unity and strengthens the bonds between our people even more and it shows the enemy we are united."

We looked down at the map again and laid out the old patrol routes. Morning and midday patrols were not hard and would follow the roads and at times go into the woods and follow the river. Just to make sure everyone was safe. To this, everyone agreed. Now night patrols. We would still watch the roads, but we needed to spread out more. Orcs and goblins would not follow the roads and still had good hearing and smell. So we would spread out good and proper. From the bruninen and all the way to Amon Sûl. No stone would stay unlooked under and any cave would be marked on the map.

During the rest of the meeting, the new patrol routes were planned, and the composition of the units. The captains asked to be assigned one by one and for sure they needed more, but it was a start and the captains not involved in the meeting would be briefed later.

"My lord, may I be assigned a patrol route too?" Tauriel asked and ada just looked at her.

"Not now Tauriel, we will look at that later" She was not used to being stood down like that. After all, she had been a low-ranked ranger for so many years it was just natural she would be in the scouting party.

"My lord may I…" Ada looked at her again, but this time spoke to her in Elvish. "Tauriel, stand down. We will speak of this later." At least Agadaleb understood what he said, but did not react to it and Tauriel did indeed stand down.

After many long hours of planning the Arnorians bid their farewell as they needed to get back to their outpost by dark and ready the patrols for the following nights. Our elven patrols would go with them and set up the different groups consisting of both elves and men. We waved them off and ada turned to Tauriel.

"You are an eager one are you not," he said and smiled at her

"My lord I only want to be of service to you…" she tried to say and he stopped her.

"Tauriel, I know you and I had not the best start getting to know each other but hear this. You are not a lowly Silvan ranger anymore. The clothing you wear is that of a Noldor commander just like my daughter. Your place is no longer with the scouting party or in small patrols, yes you will join them from time to time and fight in larger battles, but for the rest of It you will not do the duties of a low-ranking elf anymore and that is why I had your armor made for you. I care deeply for you after we have spent so much time together and you are a good student." He said and put his hands on her shoulders. Tauriel on the other hand did not know what to say, she only bowed her head to him as she took it as a command and ada hugged her.

"Yes my lord" Tauriel simply responded to Ada's displeasure. Will she ever just call him Elrond? Who knows. The sun was setting and we decided to go to the family wing. Nana and the twins were talking as we arrived as she fed little Arwen. Tauriel and I were all over her and looked at the cute little one as Nana handed her to me and we sat there dotting at the little elfling.

"Seems our sister and her mate have taken on their roles well," Said Elladan.

"Indeed brother. Both look well in their new roles and rank. I wonder when we are allowed to be in such positions and not just go out with the scouts" Elrohir added.

Ada gave them both a stare as he found a tray with cups and wine and came over with it.

"I will think it over when you are as old as they are and as well trained. I have yet to see either of you beat Elwen or Tauriel in any form of fighting or archery." Ada said smiling at them and us.

"They must cheat or trick us to do so," Elladan said without even thinking.

"How so?" Ada responded

"How else can it be? Do they know our moves before we perform them? Duck before we can correct our strikes and jump out of the way or role by us and strike us first." Elrohir added.

"It is called discipline and skill my sons. You two have not had time to develop them as they have. Tauriel with the rangers and Elwen with our own guard and Glorfindel. When you beat them I will rethink my choices and maybe let you two out more alone and take charge with the guard." He said as he poured the wine and handed us all a cup each.

To that Tauriel and I just smiled as for all their training neither of them had been close to defeating us in combat. Maybe one day, but far of it still were.

We then looked down at Arwen and she was so content and happy in my arms. Tauriel looked down and smiled at her and rubbed her cheek. "Your name for her is fitting" She then said.

"Ohh?" I responded looking at my red-haired mate.

"Evenstar. She is truly a beautiful elfling and will grow strong, wise, and beautiful" Tauriel then added.

"She will," I said with a sad tone and tried to smile at the little one in my arms as I sipped my wine.

"What is wrong?" Ada said looking at me and this brought on the twins and Tauriel to look at me as well.

Little did I want to tell them what I knew.

"I saw something… Something far off I felt it was… a white city… Very large… A tall man with a smile on his face…" I shook my head. "That was all."

"You had a moment of foresight?" Ada said and looked at me curiously.

"I think so," I said looking at Tauriel and back at Ada. Her face was a little worried.

"Have you had any like it before?" Ada then asked and came over to me.

"Mostly in my dreams. But those images felt distant. As if long ago and but a memory of time itself." I responded. For I had had them before in my sleep. But never truly knew what to make of them. For they were not of any place in Middle Earth I knew of except for a place no longer in existence.

At that moment Nana returned and said food was served and we all got up and walked to the dining room. Dinner got more cheerful even if the twins were curious about the meeting with the Arnorians and what we would do with the goblins and orcs so close to Imladris. We shut them down and told them to speak to Glorfindel in the morning. He was usually with us at dinner. But had decided to go with the Arnorians and a few of our elves. He was not patient when evil was close by.

As we came to the desert and had the cake served Ada looked at me and Tauriel several times before he spoke.

"Elwen, Tauriel. I want you both to ride out in the morning. If our borders are threatened we need to show force and you two are well-known faces of my house in the valley."

At this, the twins got even more interested in going themselves, but this was shut down. They had their training to do and it was time to set my and Tauriel's training in leading into practice.

"Yes Ada," I said and bowed my head. "It will be done my lord" Tauriel responded right after me.

"Good, very good. I have a few elves in mind to be your guard, but I want to listen to your input as well." He said as he took another bite of cake.

"If I may?" I asked and waited for Ada to nod. "I have a few wishes too. I hope they are on the list" I said and smiled.

"Idril?" Tauriel said with a smile. "She is indeed a great warrior" she added after.

"Yes," I responded with a smile. "She is and I would love her to be a part of it"

Ada smiled and was happy we were excited about his wishes.

"What of Turan and Gaerdir?" Tauriel then added to which I nodded.

"And Carandoldir" I simply added.

Tauriel simply nodded and we looked back at Ada and he just smiled.

"Seems you two have a list of your own?" he then asked us and to our nods.

Nana was not as happy as Ada about it all, but if we had guards with us too and us being warriors ourselves she guessed she could manage it.

"But you two need to look after each other!" She said clearly after a moment of silence.

"We will Nana," I said with a smile. "Do you really think Tauriel will be more than within an arm's reach of me?" At this Tauriel's ears moved and looked at me.

"It Is hard enough not being around you in the Valley my love. Out there I will always be beside you" She quickly added.

The twins just looked at us and grinned and back to Nana.

"Nana, you really see Tauriel off Elwen's side outside our borders?" Elladan said with a tilted head.

"Ney, she will have her arms around her day and night as she does here unless orders separate them" Elrohir added.

"Yes indeed brother. Even here they sneak about and find each other while the other or both are busy do they not?" Elladan added again.

With that, I gave them both a stare and they looked at me with smiles.

"We see much dear sister. Only to protect you of course" Both said at the same time.

"Or you have been spying on us and sneaking about?" I said with a little frown.

"Well, we may, and not for a lack of trust in Tauriel" Elladan started. "But to make sure you are not hurt again, sister. We only care for you and love you" Elrohir continued.

Ada and Nana looked at us and at them and Tauriel smiled.

"You are lucky to have such protective brothers my love. I would expect nothing less of them. After all, they made it quite clear when I arrived" She said and smiled.

I looked at her and at them, as I remembered their talk in the training grounds the morning after she arrived.

"What was it you three talked about truly?" I asked and looked at all three.

"Well…" Elladan started and Elrohir continued with "You see sister… over so many years we had seen you so sad and when she came and your smile returned in full we just wanted to…" At this Elladan took over again "We just wanted to make sure she never ever left and we may have told her we would get the smiths to make an unbreakable chain and hold her captive until the end of time if she thought of leaving us… well you…" Elrohir just tried to continue but Ada and Nana had heard enough.

"To think that my sons would make such a threat to an elleth…" Ada said in disbelief and Nana supported his outburst.

"It was no threat…" Tauriel then jumped in. "It was two elven brothers who cared for their sister very much. I am happy they look after her as they do and it was not scary to me at all. For I know in my heart I will never leave unless Elwen wants me to…" At this I jumped in and hugged her.

"I never want you to leave my love. Never ever!" I said holding her so tight while hugging her. "Please say you never will!" I added out of nowhere and I felt her arms around me too as she whispered in my ear. "I will never ever leave you, my pointy-eared love, I love you so much! Yes, Elwen I am so in love with you that the fire will never burn out. Ever since we met it has only become a fire that burns stronger day by day!"

At this, I could only blush and kiss her as it seemed to calm the family. Ada and Nana sat across from us and talked with the twins. Arwen had fallen asleep in her little bed and I could do little to focus on them. All I could do was look at my beautiful Tauriel as she held me close. Playing with my hair and smiling down at me as my head rested on her shoulder.

Time passed fast and slow at the same time. Fast around us, but slow between us. It felt like no time had passed yet it had become very late when Ada then tried to talk to us, but it took him a few tries.

"Elwen, Tauriel" He spoke harder this time.

"Yes, Ada?" I said and sat up leaving Tauriel's shoulder.

"You two," he said with a smile. "We are going to bed and so should you. It is late and you will leave early in the morning. I want us to be represented at the planning stage of the new patrol routes. Much we did today, but details will need to be sorted out. Glorfindel has already left north. To see if there are any evil in those lands at this point."

This worried me, but at the same time, I knew Ada could do nothing with my knowledge.

"Yes lord," Tauriel said and bowed her head and we did a quick good night before we left the room with Ada and Nana. We acted to say good night to each other as we came to the stairs and let them get into their room before I grabbed Tauriel's hand and led her back to my room. No way I was letting her sleep without me.

We hurried up the stairs and rushed into my room with me looking outside to see if any had seen. No servants and no twins sneaking about. Good. I closed the door and walked over to my sweet love as we kissed once more. Slowly we aided each other out of the clothes we had worn down to our underclothes and went into the bathroom for a quick face wash and teeth cleaning.

Soon after we crawled into bed and as soon as my head hit the pillow so did Tauriel's head on my chest. Her ear listening to my heart as she could not move it.

"I love the music of your heart," she said and gave me a look and a smile. "How I know we are meant to be" She added

"As did I know the moment I saw you under starlight. Dream well my love" I said and kissed her head good night and she kissed my chin saying the same.

The morning after I heard a rumble in the room and as I opened my eyes there were three elves there. Estelwen and two of her co-servants. Two she trusted not to say anything.

"My lady" She simply stated as she saw me wake up.

"Estelwen good morning," I said and stretched and Tauriel. Well, she was at her happy sport and did NOT like being disturbed. She made some grumpy sounds and rubbed her face on my chest until I told her Estelwen was here.

"Good morning Estelwen" was all we got out of her first and when she heard the other elves she woke up quickly and with a worried look. "Good morning my lady" She responded and smiled at us both.

"Now if my ladies will get out of bed and start their breakfast I will go and get your armor," she said and we nodded. The food looked good and we hurried over and started eating. Jam. Bread. Eggs. She had thought of everything as always.

"One thing I can never get tired of beside you my love is the food here. It tastes so good!" Tauriel said and made her cute I am so happy noises.

"Of that, we agree on my love, or that too. I can still not get used to the goodness the chefs and cooks here make." I said smiling and imitating her happy sounds and got another piece of toast.

"I think I will overeat again," Tauriel said and she also grabbed a few more slices and smiled.

"Well you are perfect as you are," I said smiling "Need to keep that hot elven body of yours as it is," I said and she just blushed hard at me.

"Yours too my love. I cannot wait for the day when I get to see all of you" as Tauriel said so Estelwen returned with two servants beside herself and she gave Tauriel a look.

"Not planning to get married without us knowing my lady?" she said as a tease.

"I am not," she said. "But one day?" she looked at me while asking it.

"Well we have been courting for about a year," I said looking at her.

"A year in our lives is nothing, my lady. In the eyes of men, it might be, but still very short" Estelwen added not seeing us looking at each other before we kept eating and getting ready for our armors to be put on. As we got up the servants hurried over and added peace by peace of it until we looked like warriors of old.

"See you soon Estelwen," I said and Tauriel did as we walked out the door.

"Be safe my ladies" was all we could hear her say as we walked down the hall holding our swords hanging from our belts as we entered the courtyard we saw the elves we had mentioned and several more that Ada had added.

We smiled at them and bowed our heads as they did and we mounted our horses. Turan, Idril, Gaerdir, and Carandoldir were just behind us as we set off. Ada, Nana, and the twins were still asleep we guessed as we got up early to leave. It was never fun to say goodbye for a few days or maybe just until evening.

We rode hard and fast down the road it did not take our elven horses long to cross the bruninen and up into the trollshaws. The further we got away from the bruninen it became clear to me it was very very quiet. Too quiet. Tauriel and I got the same feeling we had on our hunting trip and the sun was still not up and yet it was so very different. Slowly all around us, a mist appeared in front of us. Dark it was not grey like it normally would be. Worriedness took my heart and I tried to think of what it could be.

"What is it?" I heard Tauriel ask.

"I know not" I added and our horses were restless. The elves behind us started to falter some and I could hear them draw their swords and others held firmly onto their long spears a dread was in the air. A few of the younger elves started to cry and then I saw it.

Slowly it came onto the road in front of us but I was sure I saw something in the mist. Shades of a man long lost to the world of shadow. Little did it seem to notice us or care to notice us at first. I drew my sword as other elves had done and I could hear Tauriel do the same.

"Elwen, my love what is it?" she said worried in her voice.

"Draw swords whoever hasn't already," I said and the few that hadn't did.

Then it all stopped moving. As did we. Slowly two red lights looked at us and the shadow started to move toward us. Cries could be heard over the land, yet it did not fuel me with terror it did some that we could not see, Arnorians on patrol or travelers who had been caught up in this were my guesses.

That was when I dismounted my horse sword in hand and moved slowly towards it.

"ELWEN" Tauriel cried and tried to get off her horse, but it would not let her and moved around and so did the horses of our guards as if they knew we should leave this place.

Slowly I started to chant a line Ada and Nana told me long ago, whenever the darkness of the enemy is around, call to the star of Earendil and you will never be alone.

As I did the darkness stopped not far in front of me. Then it slowly yielded as the light came down all around me and our company as cries of orcs were all around us. I lost my focus and the shadow fled towards the north. Orcs ran in amongst us and I knew they were a distraction from what I had seen. But I could not follow it. Tauriel and the company of elves with us easily cut the orcs and goblins down. Weak they were compared to our elven skill and training. An abomination of our kin if the stories were true that they once had been elves.

Cries then pulled me out of thought and Tauriel grabbed my shoulder after I cut the last of the orcs that had come for me.

"ELWEN" she cried out and pulled me around. "Why did you not answer me? I tried to yell at you as you stood in front of what was it even? And the orcs they came out of nowhere!"

"yes… yes they did… of what it was I know not. But I do fear for the future." I said and looked at my love. Idril then came up to us and reported no wounded on our side and none dead. But they were clearly shaken up. As there was little we could do about the shadow we had seen we decided to ride back to Imladris. Ada needed to know and if he agreed the Arnorians too.