Legolas stayed outside of the citadel for two days. Tauriel knew he needed time and was willing to give it to him. When he returned, she noticed he had a new resolve and a calm, dedicated manner about him, which she found quite attractive.
“Tauriel, Meleth, we need to set out for Mirkwood as soon as possible. I have treated Ada wrongly! Now I am worried that he will not forgive me, yet I also believe his love for me will triumph over any other feelings he may have. It’s as though two parts of me are engaged in battle, one for the side that Ada will reject me, the other on the side that Ada will assure me of his love.”
“Oh Legolas! Yes, we shall leave right away. I am sure King Thranduil will be glad to see you. You needn’t worry about him rejecting you. He has changed ever since the Battle of the Five armies. Once everything is resolved with him, could we finally get married?”
“I’d like that!” He smiled at his future wife, thankful that she was finally free to love him, and he her.
They set out for their former home within a few hours, taking time to pack only the essentials and bid Gimli farewell. The dwarf had duties to perform, unfortunately, and it saddened him that he could not see them wed, yet he knew what they were doing was right and would not have wanted them to change anything.
The two elves made good time and arrived in Mirkwood almost before they knew it. A surprise awaited Legolas when he entered his father’s realm.
The guards had alerted the Elvenking of their arrival, and he threw all protocol aside by practically running through the palace. Gripping his robes in his hands, he burst down the hall and out the door, his crown going slightly askew in this mad dash. He skidded to a stop next to the couple as they sought entrance and embraced his son heartily. “Legolas, my son! I am sorry for all I have put you through. Will you forgive me?” His gorgeous blue eyes filled with love and emotion as he reunited with his only child.
The prince hugged his father back. “Ada, I have missed you! Yes, of course I forgive you. Tauriel informed me of what you told her, and now I understand you much better. I didn’t quite believe you when you first confided in me, but now I do. I must ask your forgiveness for leaving you so suddenly and without repairing our relationship.”
“All is forgiven! Now come inside and refresh yourselves! I sense that you both have something important to tell me.”
Tauriel stood in the background and grinned at the happy reunion, then all three elves headed inside.
“Ada, Tauriel and I wish to be married! Here in Mirkwood, if we have your blessing.”
Thranduil smiled. “ Ionnîn , you have both my blessing and approval. I should not have stood in your way before, although I see everything worked out despite my selfishness, my withholding you from the one you love.”
“Thank you, Ada. Perhaps the long wait was best after all.”
“Yes, I believe it was, Meleth.” Tauriel stepped up and slipped her hand into the crook of her beloved’s arm, the grin on her face warming his heart.
~
The next day, Tauriel slipped on a lovely sky blue gown she’d bought in Ithilien. For the first time, she allowed her red locks to flow freely around her face, not tying them up in her usual braids.
Legolas primped himself as well while he borrowed one of his father’s best robes, a lovely silver colour with a flash of bright red along the hemline and ends of its flowing sleeves. He then entered the throne room, where the ceremony would take place. Thranduil stepped up beside him and slipped his arm around his shoulders. “I truly am happy for you, my ion . Your mother would have loved to see this day. Marriage is the most beautiful thing in this world. Make sure you treat Tauriel better than yourself and you shall have the loveliest relationship you can imagine, as I had with your mother.”
“Thank you, Ada. I have long awaited this day. However, I am a bit nervous. Did you have butterflies in your stomach as you waited for Naneth to come down the aisle to you?”
The Elvenking smiled as he recalled his own wedding day many millenniums ago. “Yes, I did. However, once I saw her walking towards me, the butterflies flew away and were replaced by the warmest feeling of love I’d ever experienced. The happy light in her eyes calmed my soul and I knew I had made the right choice. Everything got better from that point on.”
Before they could speak more, Tauriel finally entered the room and captured Legolas’s full attention. She strode towards him and joined her hands in his, then they stood gazing into each other’s eyes. Thranduil cleared his throat and they looked at him. Immediately, he began the ceremony and within a few minutes the couple was officially married. The Elvenking gave his son permission to kiss his bride, and the elf wasted no time. He pulled his wife towards himself and captured her lips with his own, both moaning slightly as they pressed their mouths together and became engrossed in each other. At last they broke contact, panting slightly.
“Welcome to the family, Tauriel!” King Thranduil embraced his new daughter-in-law, truly meaning what he said. “I have always thought of you as a daughter, and now you are! Tell me, am I a grandfather as well? I mean, you and Kili had some children, did you not?”
She smiled, thoroughly enjoying this new relationship with her ruler. “Kili and I had five children, all of whom have married and had their own children, and some of them have children as well. I am sure they would be thrilled to have another grandfather if you would like to claim them!”
“I can do no less! How about we all visit them soon so they can meet their new family members?”
“What a lovely idea! Will that please you, Legolas, Meleth?”
The Elvenprince wrapped an arm around his bride as he turned to his father. “Ada, I would love to have you come with us to meet my new children and grandchildren! And, there is one special daughter I am especially anxious to meet. Kili and Tauriel named one of their twins Arabesque, after Naneth.”
Tears shone in the eyes of the Elvenking. “Tauriel, thank you for that. I miss her every single day and am sorry I did not follow in her steps of kindness towards you.”
“King Thranduil, you know I have always loved you as my king, and now my father-in-law. You are forgiven!” She hugged him, and he returned the embrace, eager to please his newfound family and show them how loving he really could be. It had been much too long since he showed his love, especially as far as family members and dwarves were concerned.
Legolas had never dreamed he would become a father this quickly, and now he was also a grandfather and great-grandfather! However, he still desired to have his own children with his true love. The Elvenking, unbeknownst to them, also hoped Legolas would produce a child, although true to his word the elf ruler would love Tauriel’s family as if they were his own flesh and blood.
~
The three elves made their way to Erebor a few days after the wedding and honeymoon festivities subsided. The dwarves there had been in a much better relationship with elves since the Battle of the Five Armies about 80 years beforehand, yet it was unusual, if not unheard-of, for the Elvenking to actually visit them. Instead, he sent his stewards to trade good back and forth between Mirkwood and Dale, as well as the Lonely Mountain. A great stir was caused within the mountain’s halls when the scouts spotted the trio approaching their abode. “The Elvenking approaches! The Elvenking approaches!” rang the excited cry. The news spread throughout the mountain like dragon fire.
King Thorin III and visiting King Bard II strode out of the mountain together, followed by Tauriel’s brood. “Mother! Grandma! Great-grandma!” A mixture of voices cried out to her and numerous arms encircled her all at once, rather overwhelming.
The elf laughed as she tried to hug everyone at once. “Yes, I’m here for a visit. And I have a surprise for you if you will let me go a minute.”
Legolas and Thranduil stayed in the background, smiling as they watched the family reunion. The younger elf’s bride reached towards him and he stepped forward to clasp her hand as she dragged him beside her. “Everyone, this is my new husband, Legolas, and you already know his father, Elvenking Thranduil.”
After gasping and taking a few moments to soak in the information, everyone again began speaking at once and hugged both the new elves, which they found awkward at first but got used to rather quickly. They escorted the elves into the mountain and talked about the events.
No one had an issue welcoming the Greenwood royalty into the family and enjoyed having them there immensely. They all stayed two weeks, then returned to the fair elven realm. When the newlyweds departed for their new home together in Gondor, the Elvenking understood that they felt their duty was in Ithilien rather than Mirkwood and he knew he must let them go. They promised to correspond as often as possible and went on their way.
~
A year passed, and Tauriel and Legolas’ marriage blossomed. However, their family was about to expand.
One day, Tauriel requested her husband join her in visiting the location in which he proposed. It was a similar trip to the one they had made before, with a picnic lunch packed so that they could stay out as long as they wanted. They settled down on a blanket, and Legolas laid down with his head in his wife’s lap. She gently stroked his hair and leaned down to kiss him gently. “Legolas, Meleth, I have some exciting news for you. You shall be a father!”
He had a blank moment, not realizing the full extent of her revelation. “I thought I already was one?”
The lady elf giggled. “Yes, true. However, I mean a real father! I am expecting!”
He sat up, now understanding. “Tauriel! How wonderful!” They kissed again. “Now why did you not tell me within the city? You should not be traveling this far!”
She laughed again. “I am perfectly fine and you know it!”
Unbeknownst to Legolas, this conversation was very similar to one his father and mother had when he first came into being. Thranduil also had concerns about his wife and insisted on carrying her back to the palace, always eager for an excuse to scoop her in up his arms. Legolas felt the same way, and Tauriel gave in on the condition they not make a scene upon entering the city, which is exactly what the Elvenqueen had done.
Thranduil and Gimli had the honour of being the first to know about the coming child. The Elvenking requested that they come to Mirkwood again for the birth of the child, and the couple agreed to visit about a month before the due date.
~
Around a year later, Legolas and Tauriel were in Mirkwood, and her labour pains had started. In the middle of the night, their child came into the world, a son. They named him Gárivíleru. Everyone in the kingdom celebrated his birth and longed for them to stay in this realm. However, the couple had other plans.
The new family of three was having some bonding time when Legolas had a huge request to make of his wife.
“Meleth, I desire our son to live the best life he can. You know we have talked before about going to the Grey Havens?”
“Yes, what about it?”
“Once Gárivíleru is older, I would like for us to go there. I also desire to take Gimli with us. You know he is the best friend I have, besides you.”
“I think that sounds like a lovely idea! What about your father?”
“We should invite him along, although I doubt he will come.” They walked together to the throne room, where they found the Elvenking draped regally on his throne.
“Ada?” Legolas inquired.
“Yes, Ionnîn?” The reply didn’t sound annoyed, like it would have in the past, but held a tint of sadness, as though he knew the coming request.
“Tauriel and I have spoken about travelling to the Undying Lands once our son is older. Please, Ada, both of us should like very much for you to join us.”
A wistful smile on his face, Thranduil shook his head. “Thank you. However, I must remain here in the kingdom. What would the world come to if all the elves left?”
“I’m sure everyone would get along just fine, although it never would be quite the same here.”
“All the same, I have no desire to go just yet. However, I understand your decision and will not hold it against you.”
The conversation had ended. Dejected, the elven couple returned to their chambers. Even knowing his answer beforehand didn’t change the fact that a separation would soon come, a gap that could only be bridged if the Elvenking sailed over the waters as well. However, that would not change their current relationship in Middle Earth. Thranduil could not forsake his step-family and visited Tauriel’s offspring and their broods in Erebor frequently in the next few years. Everyone enjoyed his visits as much as he did, albeit rather a strange relationship. They would even go to Mirkwood for moonlit parties, the Elvenking’s specialty, full of singing, dancing, feasting, and overall merrymaking. The stoic elf truly had turned over a new leaf and it warmed everyone’s hearts to see him enjoying himself.
~
A few years later, Legolas, Tauriel, Gimli, and Gárivíleru, now six years old, made their way to the Grey Havens. Thranduil joined them and a tearful goodbye was said to his family. “Legolas, think of me often! Tauriel, take care of my son and grandson. Gárivíleru, remember your grandfather is the Last Elven King in Middle Earth. I love you all and wish you safety.” He gave them all hugs and shook Gimli’s hand. Then the travellers boarded the ship and waved as they sailed away into the west, the Elvenking watching and waving as a mist formed in his eyes. Then he returned to his own kingdom, where he ruled in peace, love, and prosperity.
The dwarf became the only of his kind known to enter the Undying Lands because the friendship between him and Legolas was so strong. This haven of rest proved beneficial to everyone and provided many happy reunions on the part of the elves, and even Gimli as he found Frodo, Sam, and Bilbo. Thus they all dwelled happily ever after in the Undying Lands.
~ The End