LEGOLAS
TITLE:Elenath
AUTHOR:Emily Kinsman
RATING:PG
FEEDBACK: emilyk@apptechnc.net 
DISCLAIMER:The characters from Lord of the Rings, their wonderful 
world, and the Elf-lore are all borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. I wish he 
were 
alive to see the LOTR pandamonium! The plotline and all other 
characters are copyright 2002 Emily Kinsman. 'Nuff Said
SUMMARY:I don't want to ruin any surprises, but an Elf-babe is 
abandoned in our world (through a nexus of sorts) to be raised by a 
human 
woman. This is the story of her return to her true home.
FEEDBACK: Please Please, Pretty Please tell me what you think! I'm new 
at this.
ARCHIVE: YES
*************************************************


Part 1

Summer Templeton's grandmother had always told her never to talk to 
strange Elves in the woods, or anywhere else for that matter, or she 
might 
find herself swept away to another world never to be seen again. As a 
child growing up in rural Indiana, this warning had frightened her 
greatly and she always stayed away from the forests that grew and 
creeks 
that ran all about her house. Then as a teenager, she rolled her eyes 
at 
the very idea of Elves. Elves! She began to agree with some of the 
locals who said her grandmother had a few screws loose.

"Crazy old woman thinks she met an elf one day back in '76!" they'd 
guffaw when they thought that Summer was out of earshot. "I hear those 
mountains down south'll do that do a person - make 'em think they see 
things they really don't."

Summer never understood anything they were talking about and didn't 
much care. Having no memory of her father or mother, she bestowed all 
of 
the love she would have given both on this one dear old woman who had 
raised her from infanthood.

That love hadn't grown less now that Summer was 25, and that fact 
certainly didn't make saying goodbye any easier. Her grandmother was 
dying 
and Summer felt that her heart would surely break. On that final day as 
she waited for the Hospice nurse to arrive, the young woman slowly ran 
a brush through her grandmother's long silver-white hair and thought 
about all of the wrongs Grandmother had righted, and all of the hurts 
she 
had soothed. Junior high school had been particularly rough, she 
recalled. The other children teased her mercilessly because of her 
ears. They 
were not overly large and didn't stick out as is the case with most 
ears that are laughed at. In fact they were perfectly lovely ears aside 
from the fact that they were pointed. Oh, they'd called her names. 
Summer 
smiled as she remembered some of them, and Grandmother asked what she 
was thinking of.

"Do you remember the time I came home from school crying because the 
kids kept calling me 'vampire bat', Grandma?"

"Oh, Summer," the old woman spoke softly with a smile in her voice. 
"How could I forget? What was that other name they called you? The one 
that upset you so much that you tried to tug your ears right off your 
head?"

Summer laughed. "They called me Mrs. Spock and kept saying 'live long 
and prosper.'"

"You couldn't stand the thought of being Mrs. Spock. You wanted to 
marry Captain Kirk. You were always such a fanciful child, thinking up 
grand adventures and writing poetry. And always singing too.... Would 
you 
sing a song for me now, Summer?"

"What would you like for me to sing?"

"Oh," said the old woman, "Just make something up. Anything."

Summer thought for a moment, twirling a ringlet of her dark auburn hair 
around her finger. Merriment danced in her hazel eyes and she stood up 
and put her hand over her heart and sang a song about a fair maiden who 
sat on a rock and did not want to marry a Vulcan named Spock.

The old woman's laughter filled the room for a brief moment before she 
sighed and closed her eyes. "You are the light of my life, Summer, and 
I love you dearly."

Summer leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I love you too, Grandma. Now 
maybe you should rest."

"No, Child. There will be plenty of time for that where I'm going." She 
sighed. "Please sit here next to me because there is something that I 
would like to tell you. My time to do so grows short. I can feel it in 
these old bones."

Summer pulled up a chair and sat down, tenderly holding the old woman's 
hand as Grandmother spoke soberly. "I have a confession to make, 
Summer. I'm afraid I've been a very, very selfish woman."

"What?" she asked, "You certainly have not! You gave up everything to 
raise me when my mother and father ran away. How can you call that 
selfish?"

"I should tell you about your mother and father. I should have told you 
long ago the truth about them."

Summer's heart was fiercely loyal and she shushed the old woman. 
"Grandma, if you found it necessary to not tell me about them, then I 
trust 
your judgment."

Grandmother smiled and patted Summer's hand. "Then trust my judgment 
now, child, and know that it is necessary to tell this story. I pray 
that 
you believe what I say." She paused and looked the young woman right in 
the eyes as she said, "Your mother and father were Wood-Elves, Summer, 
and so are you."

And the old woman told of the vacation she took back in the Summer of 
'76 to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina all by herself 
"because I was a stubborn old mule," she laughed. She told how she had 
hiked 
deep into the mountains and found the most wonderful, pure mountain 
stream and had sat there on a rock just basking in the sun, listening 
to 
the burbling water and watching the trees sway back and forth when, out 
of nowhere, two radiantly beautiful people appeared, one with a small 
bundle in her arms.


"When I say they appeared out of nowhere, Summer, I mean it. They 
didn't pop out from behind a tree or a rock. One moment there was 
nothing 
and the next moment there were the two of them, panting and gasping for 
breath as if they had been running from something and very frightened. 
They were your parents and the bundle was you."

She told how the Elven couple had spoken to her desperately, begging 
her to take the child and care for her until she was fully grown 
because 
their world was no longer safe for such a treasure. "They said they 
would come back for you, Summer, if the evil lessened in their land, 
and 
to keep you near water and wood that they might find you.

"I warned you away from the wood and water because I so came to love 
you that I never wanted to let you go, not even when you were fully 
grown. But now I am leaving this world and have realized the error of 
my 
ways. Of course you must go back, Summer, and soon."

"B-but-" protested the poor girl. "How can you expect me to believe 
this? Wood-elves, Grandma? It's impossible! You must be mistaken! And 
even 
if it were true, why would I have to go back?"

"I know it sounds crazy," Grandmother spoke carefully. "Bring me the 
box hidden beneath the loose floorboard in my bedroom."

She walked carefully away to get it, shaking her head. Poor Grandma. It 
was bad enough that the cancer had stolen her ability to care for 
herself and enjoy life. Now it seemed to be taking her mind as well. 
Perhaps 
she would never know the truth about her parents. Lifting the shoe-box 
out of its hiding place, her fingers tingled a bit but she took no 
notice. On the lid her grandmother had written the word "Elenath."

"Elenath," her grandmother whispered when the box was handed to her. It 
send a warm sensation through Summer's heart. "That was your Elven 
name, you know. Here." She lifted the lid and pulled out a delicate 
chain 
of the purest gold Summer had ever seen. On it hung a green jewel that 
seemed to move inside when she gazed into it. "Look into the stone, 
child. I never could see anything, but your mother swore you'd be able 
to 
see right to your true home if you ever longed for it."

Obediently, she looked and gasped at the forest that appeared there, 
the trees waving gently in the breeze. She looked harder and saw people 
moving about.... People with pointy ears just like hers. "This is 
unbelieveable."

"It sure is, isnt' it? What do you see?"

"Others," she answered, "Others like me."

"See," said Grandmother, "Your old Grandma still has her wits about 
her." She took a map from the box as well and handed it to Summer. "You 
must go back. I've marked the place in red and I hope that they'll send 
someone for you. If not, there is a curious marking on one of the 
stones 
there. All you have to do is touch it and speak your name and you will 
be home."

"But this is my home," Summer protested.

"It cannot remain so, child."

"Why not?"

Grandmother sighed. "Because, Elenath, Elves are immortal."


That night long after her grandmother had gently passed on to her 
heavenly home and the hospice nurse had gone away, Summer sat and 
thought. 
She felt such great sorrow at the loss she had just experienced that 
she 
felt she herself might die. Restlessly pacing the old house, she 
realized that there was nothing here for her now. What would it hurt to 
follow the old map? Who would notice her disappearance aside from a few 
scattered acquaintances? What did she have to loose? After all, if she 
got 
there and nothing happened, she could always come back and return to 
life as usual. No one would blame her for taking a long vacation.



2.

She woke up late the next morning and had to rush to get ready for 
church. Her mind was much clearer now, and she thought of the two 
people she would miss the most when she went on her journey: her best 
friend Kara who was due to return from a Caribbean Cruise later that 
day, and David, her Jui-Juitsu (martial art) and Ken-do (Japanese 
fencing) sensei (teacher). She sighed, realizing that she would be 
unable to say goodbye to either and wrote notes to both of them, 
detailing what her grandmother had told her the previous evening and 
apologizing for leaving so suddenly. David would take it especially 
hard, she knew, for he was like an overprotective brother to her. 
However, it could not be helped and she left the notes on the kitchen 
table, picked up her few little pieces of luggage, and walked out of 
the door.

It was hard to leave that little church behind after the service that 
morning. The little fellowship of believers had become her safe haven 
in a world full of children who berated and made fun of her: little 
girls who were jealous of her pretty eyes and little boys who 
despised her because she could beat them at everything from foot-
races to make-believe sword-fights. At the church, she had always 
just been Summer. Not Summer the Vampire Bat or Mrs. Spock. In fact 
she would never forget the words that Pastor Mike spoke to her the 
day after she got stood up for the Prom.

"That was the young man's loss, Summer. Now, I don't know everything, 
but I do know this: If God gave you pointy ears, then He had good 
reason to do so."

The words gave her comfort, especially now as she prepared to leave 
everything familiar behind because of those pointy ears.

She stood contemplating this until Pastor Mike asked her if there was 
anything he could do for her. "I'm sorry to hear your grandmother 
died," he said softly, compassion showing in his kind eyes.

Summer nodded. "She isn't suffering anymore. I will miss her 
terribly, but I know she's much happier where she is."

"And you will see her again someday," he said.

Unless I really do live forever, she thought but said, "Pastor Mike, 
do you believe in Elves?"

His eyes sparkled, like a child's when it makes a new 
discovery. "Well, now, I wouldn't say I believe in them. But I 
wouldn't say I disbelieve either. Why do you ask?"

"Just curious, I guess..." She shook her head. "You must think I'm 
crazy."

"No," said Pastor Mike, "But I do think that you're about to go on 
quite a journey."

"How do you know that?" she asked.

The Pastor shrugged. "Just a feeling, I guess. Sometimes the Good 
Lord gives me an idea of what's to come. Don't forget your Bible."

She smiled and hugged him goodbye, and soon found herself behind the 
wheel of her green Saturn driving toward the mountains of North 
Carolina with a backpack full of clothes, food, water, and a Bible. 
The old map lay on the passenger seat next to her and the Elven 
necklace hung prettily around her neck. 

"By this time tomorrow, I will either be among the Elves... or I'll 
still be here." She laughed at her obvious statement and began to 
sing a song of her own about wonderful grandmothers and ridiculous 
quests and Pastors who seem to know too much.

***

The place her grandmother had been twenty-five years earlier had 
changed quite a bit, so much that Summer had to stop and buy an 
updated map at a gas station. The attendant gave her directions to 
the Blue Ridge Parkway which, he said, would be a good place to start 
if she were looking for natural beauty. 

And it was beautiful; more beautiful than anything she could have 
imagined. She stopped at an overlook and peered down at the ocean of 
rolling purple and blue mountains below her. Here a hawk circled and 
there a tendril of smoke rose from a distant cabin. But she knew she 
could not linger here for long, so she sat down on the grass, 
unfolded her grandmother's map once again, and sat puzzling over it 
for a long time. Finally a park ranger pulled off the road next to 
her and jumped out of his Jeep Cherokee, his hands in his 
pockets. "Well, then, you're lookin' kinda lost. Anythin' in 
perticular you're lookin' for?"

She smiled at his accent. It seemed to go perfectly with the setting 
she was in. "Yes, actually. My grandmother visited here a long time 
ago and hiked to a certain spot. I'm trying to find it, but the road 
has changed and so have the trails. Can you help me?"

"Let me see..." he looked at the old map and smiled. "You only lack 
just a few miles. It's just down yonder, that a'way. Should be a sign 
there, says `Camp Creek Overlook.' Trail there'll lead you pretty 
close to the place. It'll be a short hike, actually. Back in the day 
this map was printed, it would have taken you a good hour or two to 
hike in from the trailhead, but now it'll just take you about five 
minutes."

And so, with many thanks to the ranger, she set off down the road 
toward the Camp Creek Overlook, becoming more nervous and excited by 
the moment.

Summer parked her car next to the sign the Ranger had told her to 
look for and climbed out. There were no other cars there, and for 
that she was thankful. She began to wonder, though, how wise it 
really would be to go into the woods all by herself without a weapon 
of some kind. It would be just her luck to get attacked on her way to 
meet the Elves. Shrugging, she opened the trunk of the Saturn and 
took out her Japanese Katana. Many a sparring match she had won with 
the sword in her Ken-do classes back in Indiana. It felt perfectly 
natural tucked into her belt. That out of the way, she put on her day 
pack, took a swig of water from her canteen and started happily down 
the trail without even looking back.

The trees were dense and green on either side of the path, and after 
she walked a short while, she saw more and more mountain laurel until 
it was so thick it seemed she was walking through a tunnel of it. 
Then suddenly, the path opened up to the rocky banks of a babbling 
stream. The place was exactly as her grandmother had described it - 
the pure mountain stream, the trees, the burbling water and mossy 
rocks.

"Hello?" she called tentatively, hoping against hope that maybe 
someone would be here waiting for her. "Anybody here?" She chuckled, 
wondering if perhaps she had gone insane. "Any Elves around?"

She leapt spryly onto a rock in the middle of the water and looked 
around, breathing the fresh mountain air deep into her lungs. Is this 
where her parents had appeared? And where were they now? Were they 
still alive or... would she never come to know them? Slowly, she sat 
down and sighed, hoping that someone would show up to escort her home 
to... To where? She didn't even know that much. She looked into the 
jewel that hung around her neck once again to bolster her confidence 
and saw the forest and the Elves who roamed through it. This was no 
trick of the light. What she saw through the stone really existed 
somewhere. Still, Summer figured she had no business trying to find 
it on her own and decided to wait for an Elven escort.

An hour passed, and then two and she began to eat a light snack of 
trail mix. She wrote a few things in her journal during the third 
hour and sang a little song during the fourth until finally she could 
stand the suspense no more. She would find the mark herself, 
unescorted, and pray that she did not get herself utterly lost in 
whatever new world she found herself. From rock to rock she hopped, 
upstream and down looking for the `curious mark' Grandmother had 
described. For a while she feared she would never find it, but then, 
just as daylight was beginning to fail her, she found a well-worn 
strangely scratched symbol on the side of a tall rock that was level 
and smooth on top. Taking a deep breath, she touched it and spoke the 
name she would use from now on. "Elenath."

Immediately, the world began to spin fast around her and she clung 
onto the rock for dear life, screaming and scrunching her eyes 
closed. After what seemed like an eternity, the sensation stopped and 
she tentatively opened one eye and then the other only to find that 
she was in the exact same spot as she had been just moments ago: on a 
rock in the middle of a little stream. Only the light seemed a little 
different. And the terrain wasn't so hilly.

"Tampa! Mankoi naa lle sinome?" Shouted a male voice suddenly, and 
she scrambled to her feet. Turning around, she gasped. There were 
three Elven archers there, their arrows at the ready and fixed on 
her. So majestic were they that, if she was not in fear of her life, 
she would have thought they were angels. As it was, however, each of 
the Elves eyed her sword suspiciously. 

"P-please don't shoot me!" she said quickly. "Look... I'm no threat to 
you." Elenath held her hands up and away from the katana, pleading 
with her eyes for them to drop their weapons.

"Who are you?" asked the one nearest to her, "And why do you speak in 
the language of Men to your own kindred?"

"M-my name is Elenath," she said and the Elves relaxed visibly, 
lowering their bows. "I am sorry but this is the only language that I 
speak... except maybe a little Japanese."

"Elenath?" asked the one who seemed to lead the three, "Did I hear 
you correctly? Your name is Elenath?"

"Y-yes," she stuttered relieved that the arrows had been retuned to 
their quivers.

The three Elves began to talk to each other in serious tones, using a 
language so rich and beautiful that it sounded as if it were made of 
the earth and the wind and the water. Elenath marvelled at it and 
wondered if she would ever speak so beautifully herself.

"Come," said the leader finally, offering a hand to help her over the 
water. He was smiling, a small braid or two adorning his long brown 
hair and tucked back behind his ears.... His _pointed_ ears.

Elenath eyed him warily for a long moment before giving in to her 
curiosity. She just had to ask. "Are you... an Elf?" she asked 
tentatively.

"Of course I am," he replied with a hearty laugh, "And so are you, 
Young One. My name is Thorondil and I welcome you to Mirkwood."

This answer seemed to satisfy her and she took his hand and 
gracefully leapt to the bank on which he stood. "Thank you, 
Thorondil. I... Please forgive me. Where I come from, there are no 
Elves." She paused. "Except for me, I guess, and I didn't even know I 
was one `til a couple of days ago."

"I can see that you have journeyed far, for I have never seen 
clothing such as you wear, nor can I place the origin of your weapon."

She looked down at herself and shrugged. What was so strange about 
her sturdy hiking boots, blue jeans, and flannel shirt? The sword was 
a little much, she had to admit, but a woman has to protect herself. 
Besides, the Elf seemed to be keenly interested in it especially.

"Would you like to see the sword?" she asked, and he nodded.

She drew it in a graceful motion and offered it to him with both 
hands and a bow, just as she would do at Ken-do class. Thorondil gave 
her a bemused look and inspected the blade.

"It is a katana; a sword from Japan," she explained. "That is a 
nation far away from here and even far from where I came from."

"The shape is interesting," he agreed, "but the blade is far too dull 
for battle. We shall remedy that soon enough." He handed it back to 
her.

She couldn't argue. "The blade is dull because I'm just a student. I 
don't want to hurt anyone."

"But how do you protect yourself?"

"I have a third degree black belt in Jui Juitsu," she said and was 
met with three bemused looks from the Elves. She sighed. "I'll show 
you if you want. One of you has to attack me." She set her pack on 
the ground and mentally prepared herself. "Go ahead. Try and grab me 
like you're trying to beat me up."

For a long moment, the three exchanged confused glances until 
suddenly one of Throrondil's friends obliged and lunged at her head-
long. She simply stepped out of the way and he splashed into the 
water. He was up in a flash and grabbed her from behind. Before 
anyone really knew what happened, she sent him flying through the air 
over her head and onto a soft pile of leaves.

All four of them laughed then, Thorondil regarding her with quiet 
amusement. "Come," he said at last, "We have far to travel, and 
Prince Legolas will be overjoyed to see you."

3.

"Prince Legolas?" she asked as she picked up her pack and started to 
walk with the Elves. "Who is that?"

"He is the heir to the throne of Mirkwood, Elenath. Do you not 
remember?"

These Elves seemed to know, or seemed to think they know, an awful lot 
about her. She wasn't sure if that fact should frighten her or not. "I 
was only a baby when I left this place. How would I remember?"

"Have you not begun to remember the life that you lived before this 
one?"

"What do you mean?" she asked, "I don't understand."

Thorondil walked on, speaking as if he had explained this a thousand 
times. In fact, he had done just that, but always before he had 
explained 
to Elves much younger than even this one. "When our kind die-"

"Die? Grandmother told me that Elves are immortal." She blushed, 
realizing she had interrupted. "I'm sorry."

"We are, to an extent. We can be slain in battle or simply fade away if 
life becomes too cumbersome. And when that happens, our spirits travel 
to Mandos until they are ready to be reborn."

Elenath thought about this as she walked in silence for a long while 
and the others seemed to respect her thoughtfulness. Finally, she spoke 
softly. "Thorondil, how did I die?"

He seemed to contemplate for a few minutes. "You died defending Prince 
Legolas from a vicious attack by orcs. You saved his life, and in doing 
so lost your own."

"Am I supposed to remember this?"

Thorondil nodded. "But do not worry or be afraid. It has been different 
for you than for most of our kind. Elves are not usually reborn as 
children. In your case, the Valar made an exception that you might be 
protected from the wrath of the orcs. Maybe someday yet you will 
remember."

"I wish that I could remember... But then I am glad I cannot." She 
shuddered to think what an orc was.

They hiked for hours after that through the forest until Elenath began 
to grow weary and stumble over tree roots, rocks, and, once, even her 
own feet. It had been early evening when she left her former home 
behind 
and now it was late afternoon here. She must have arrived just after 
dawn and had gone nearly 24 hours without sleep. Finally they stopped 
for 
a short rest, during which she lay her head against a tree and fell 
fast asleep.

"How strange," said one of her companions. "She sleeps with her eyes 
closed."

"Her father's mother was a half-elf," explained Thorondil. "Come, we 
must make haste to Legolas. The hour grows late and we do not want to 
be 
abroad this night."

She stirred slightly when he lifted her, but did not wake. "I don't 
want to go to work," she mumbled, leaning her head against his 
shoulder.

****

Legolas, the heir to the throne of Mirkwood, had been watching the 
shadows move with the sun as it crossed the sky. He worried about the 
small 
scout party he had sent to the Northern border of the Wood. They should 
have returned hours ago with news of the enemy's movements. With his 
father away, he took his responsibility to keep the realm safe 
seriously. 
The sun was dipping low in the sky when he called a small party 
together to go in search of the missing Elves, and just as he was about 
to 
mount his horse, he was stopped.

"Legolas. Look, they approach."

The prince let out a relieved sigh and turned to see his scouts 
returning and Thorandil carrying something... or actually someone. 
Someone 
with long dark auburn curls and delicate features, he saw as the little 
party came nearer. She bore a strong resemblence to someone he had 
known, 
though it took a moment for him to place her. When he finally did, his 
eyes widened.

"Elenath..." Legolas spoke the name as if it were a prayer, and as he 
did so a change came over his face. Brightness returned to his blue 
eyes 
and joy to the curve of his mouth. Even his long blond hair seemed to 
shine with new luster in the setting sun. He gazed at the Elf in 
Thorondil's arms. "Who is this?" he asked, hardly daring to hear the 
answer. 
"And why do you carry her so?"

"Your wife has returned, Legolas," said Thorondil gently. "She has 
traveled a long way and is weary." He paused, seeming reluctant to 
continue. "Legolas... she remembers nothing. Not even our language."

Trouble clouded the prince's eyes for the briefest of moments. "It 
matters not," he replied, just gazing at her as she slept. He never 
would 
have believed it possible, but she was even more beautiful than she had 
been in her previous form. "She is home at last and that is what 
matters." He leaned near and kissed her forehead lightly, whispering, 
"Cormamin lindua ele lle, Amaelamin. My heart sings to see thee, my 
beloved."

****

Elenath awoke briefly in the night to hear heavenly voices singing 
hauntingly beautiful melodies in a tongue she did not understand. Had 
she 
arrived in heaven, she wondered? For a brief moment, she thought about 
getting up out of bed to find where the lovely music was coming from. 
Then she changed her mind, afraid she would disturb the singers and 
cause 
them to stop. In a way, she thought she was still dreaming, but she 
also knew that she was fully awake, though she drifted in and out of 
slumber. That feeling lingered as she woke the next morning with a song 
on 
her lips.
	
It came forth softly at first as she stretched luxuriously out on the 
bed and grew stronger as she rose and donned a silken robe that had 
been 
left for her. She sang as she carefully brushed her hair out and as she 
gazed out into the forest. Somehow the absence of solid walls did not 
disturb her here. She didn't care who could hear her, who could see 
her.

	"Where can I go from your Spirit?" she sang.
	"Where can I flee from your presence?
	If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
	If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
	If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
	If I settle on the far side of the sea,
	Even there your hand will guide me,
	Your right hand will hold me fast.
	If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and
	The light become night around me,"
	Even the darkness will not be dark to you; 
	The night will shine like the day, 
	For darkness is as light to you... [from the Psalms]"

The song trailed off and she hummed softly, beginning to realize fully 
where she was. Poor Thorondil must have carried me all this way unless 
I came here by magic, she thought, her song ending abruptly.

"Why did you stop?" a female voice behind her asked. "I was enjoying 
your song."

Elenath gasped in surprise, spinning around and dropping her hairbrush 
in the process. Her surprise doubled as she met the gaze of the Elf who 
stood there and could have sworn she was looking into her own eyes. She 
opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come.

The Elf in the doorway smiled and moved gracefully into the room. "I am 
sorry for startling you, Elenath. Did you sleep well?"

"Y-yes. Thank you."

She regarded Elenath for a long moment. "You have no memory of me, do 
you?"

"I'm sorry. No. I seem to have no memory of anything in this world."

"My name is Llilwen. I am your mother." Llilwen had come quite close 
now and she stooped to pick up the hairbrush.

"My... mother?" The Elf did not look old enough to be her mother, but 
then, she reminded herself, Elves live forever and age much more slowly 
than human beings.

"Yes. Twice have I given you birth. Twice have I lost you. And now have 
I found you again at last. I cannot tell you how happy I am that you 
are home. Nae saian luume. It has been too long." With that, she 
stepped 
forward and wrapped Elenath in a warm embrace.
	
"Llilwen," Elenath whispered slowly as a shadow of a memory crept into 
her consciousness. "Perhaps I do remember you... almost."

"There is plenty of time for remembering," said Llilwen looking her 
daughter up and down, "But right now we must prepare you. Prince 
Legolas 
awaits your arrival along with all of Mirkwood."

There was that name again. The one she had died to save. "I will meet 
with the Prince? I have never been in the presence of Royalty before, 
Llilwen. Will you show me how I am to act?"

Her mother's musical laughter seemed to fill the room and even the wood 
beyond it. "Oh, Elenath. How does one usually act when greeting her 
husband after a long absence?"

"My WHAT?!" Elenath had never been one for fainting spells and did not 
intend to faint now, though the room seemed to tilt at an odd angle. 
She sank into a nearby chair and closed her eyes for a moment, taking 
deep breaths. "Thorondil failed to tell me that Prince Legolas is my 
husband." It felt strange to say that word, and she suddenly felt oddly 
cheated. She had been on precious few dates, had never been truly 
courted 
or proposed to, and now she found out she was married. She began to be 
afraid. "What if I don't like him? What if I don't want to be his wife? 
What if I don't want to be a princess? Will he toss me in the dungeon?"

Llilwen did her best to calm her as she helped her daughter to bathe 
and arrange her waist-length hair prettily away from her face so that 
it 
cascaded beautifully down her back. The gown they chose was pale green 
and seemed to shimmer in the light.

"You will like Legolas," said her mother. "He is gentle, good and kind, 
fierce in battle and skilled with the bow... and very handsome. Many an 
Elf maiden wept on the day that you married him. He would never do 
anything to hurt you, least of all lock you in a dungeon. He loves you 
very 
much. On the day that you died we almost lost him as well, so strong 
was his grief. As for being his wife, you already are that, the same as 
you are already a princess. Do not worry or be afraid. The memories 
will 
come."

Elenath turned to her mother. "Will they?"

"They always do, Lirimaer. Sometimes it just takes time."

"What is Lirimaer?"

"So many questions... Lirimaer means 'lovely one.'" She twined flowers 
through her daughter's hair and smiled at the effect.

Elenath looked into a mirror and almost didn't recognize herself. The 
ears she had so long tried to hide were uncovered for the whole world 
to 
see, and she liked them. The flowers twined through her hair made her 
look like something from a fairy tale, and the color of her dress 
caught 
the hint of green in her hazel eyes perfectly.

"Come," said her mother. "We are a little bit early. Let us surprise 
your husband." 


4.

Elenath had never been so nervous in her life. She wrung her hands as 
she walked through the wood with her mother, trying to put herself into 
the shoes of the Prince. She knew he must remember every moment of 
their life together while she herself remembered nothing. He had loved 
her 
very much according to Llilwen. What would it be like for him to look 
into the eyes of his beloved after... how many years?... and see no 
hint 
of recognition there? Well, Elenath had had her heart broken too many 
times in that other world to wish the same pain on anyone else. If the 
prince really did love her she would try her best to return that love. 
"Help me, Father," she prayed under her breath. "Help me remember him. 
Help me not to be afraid. Let him not be disappointed in me." 

Even though she had never met the Elf named Legolas, she still did not 
want to be dismissed by him. "Llilwen, how long has it been since I 
died?"

"Fifty years," she answered, noting the almost panic-stricken look on 
her daughter's face. She stopped and took Elenath's hands in her own. 
"My daughter, why do you fear so?"

"Do I look very different from the way I used to?"

Llilwen smiled. "You bear a slight resemblence, as much as one might 
bear to a sister. You worry that Legolas will not like what he sees?"

"Well, yes," she admitted, wringing her hands again.

"Dismiss your fears, Daughter. He was the first to greet Thorondil who 
carried you home last night. Do you want to know what he said to me 
this morning?"

"What?" asked Elenath nervously.

"He said, 'I could not have imagined one more beautiful than the wife I 
said goodbye to fifty years ago, but she is, Llilwen. I was practically 
stricken speechless by her beauty.'"

Elenath felt the warmth of a blush creep into her cheeks. A shy smile 
played on her lips for a moment, and then faded away. 

"Do not worry, and do not fear," continued her mother, "For the Prince 
most certainly liked what he saw last night."

But Elenath could not help her fear or her worry. The fact remained 
that she did not remember Legolas, however he must love her, and she 
could 
not stand the thought of seeing the pain in his eyes when he realized 
this.


Prince Legolas was pondering the very same thing as he drew back his 
bowstring and took aim at a target far off in the woods. It had been 
fifty long years since he had held his wife in his arms. Fifty years! 
Was 
it true that she remembered nothing? He had only gazed upon Elenath's 
sleeping face once since she returned to him, yet though her appearance 
was certainly different than before, he already knew that she was 
lovelier than ever. And the spirit within her... of course that would 
have 
remained unchanged. 

Her spirit had always been a veritable canvas of vibrant colors: the 
gentleness of a lamb mingled with the fierceness of a warrior; delicate 
femininity entwined with strong independence; cool detachment mixed 
with 
fiery passion. Her complexity, along with her beauty, was what had 
attracted Legolas to her in the first place; and now it was also what 
held 
him to her. That, and his love. His heart had never known such love. 

The arrow flew to its mark and he sighed, worrying that he would not be 
able to control himself in her presence. He longed to kiss her, hold 
her, caress her, whisper words of love in her ear. But he did not want 
to 
frighten her. He had waited for fifty years, and he would wait a 
thousand more if necessary.

Footsteps sounded faintly in the wood and he set his bow and quiver 
aside, turning slowly to greet the two Elves who waited quietly beside 
him.
	
Llilwen spoke softly to the pale, frightened Elf next to her. "There. 
There is Prince Legolas."
	
Elenath could only stand there staring in unbelief, her hands trembling 
visibly despite her effort to still them. He was the most beautiful 
creature she had ever seen. Legolas stood a good six inches taller than 
herself; he had chiseled features and long blond hair adorned with a 
very 
few small braids. Her fear subsided a little bit when she saw his eyes. 
Eyes bluer than any sky she had ever beheld, and filled with more love 
than she thought could possibly be directed at her. How could she ever 
forget such eyes? Surely it would be impossible. Yet, try as she might 
to remember, she had no recollection of him.

"Elenath..." he spoke her name softly and gazed at her as if he could 
not quite believe she was standing there before him. 

His voice sent shivers up her spine and suddenly her legs seemed to 
have a mind of their own. They carried her closer to him where she 
knelt 
on the leafy forest floor. Opening her mouth, she was utterly surprised 
at what came out. "Amin naa tuall Caun Legolas."

The Prince was speechless for a moment. Choked with emotion, he took 
her hand and kissed it, sinking down next to her. "Melamin..." A tear 
trickled slowly down his cheek as he drank in the sight of her. 
"Vanimle 
sila tiri."

She tore her gaze away from him and glanced back at her mother, 
questions in her eyes. Llilwen seemed to read her mind. "You just said, 
'I am 
your servant, Prince Legolas.' It is in this way that you greeted him 
upon your first meeting over one thousand years ago." With that, she 
turned and walked away saying, "I will take my leave now."

Elenath turned her gaze back Legolas who said, "My love, your beauty 
shines bright." He pulled her toward himself gently and held her close 
for a brief moment, realizing by the rapid beating of her heart and the 
slight tremble of her breath that she was still afraid. How could she 
be 
afraid of him? He felt a painful tugging at his heart but backed away 
at once and let her go. "I am sorry."

"No," she said, "Don't be sorry. I... I just..." She reached up as if 
in a trance and brushed away the tear that still lingered on his cheek, 
her gaze one of unguarded curiosity.

Her touch warmed him to his core. "You do not have to explain, Elenath. 
You have no memory of me, do you?" The question was asked very gently.

"I don't remember you," she confirmed, "but I feel as if I should. And 
I don't know what came over me just then when I knelt..."

He smiled, hope welling up within him. "Your memory is slowly 
returning. I have been told that it always begins thus."

"How do you mean?"

"Saying things you did not expect to say, dreaming of things past..." 
he paused thoughtfully. "Often a simple touch will bring back a 
memory."
 
Her brow furrowed a bit. "I want to remember... but then I don't. It's 
all so strange to me. My mind is full of questions."

"Come," said Legolas, picking up the quiver and bow, "Walk with me, and 
I will answer your questions, if I am able."


5.

Legolas guided Elenath all around the realm of his father, over river 
and rill, under maple and evergreen as she asked question after 
question. "I have met my mother, but where is my father?"

"Your father has traveled with my father to Rivendell. He councils with 
Elrond to-" he stopped, noticing the blank expression on her face. "He 
is traveling with my father on important business."

The answer seemed to satisfy her. "Why did they abandon me in that 
other place? And how did the crossing point come to be? And can I ever 
go 
back?"

He answered the second question first. "I do not know how it came to 
be, but the crossing point, called Andotempla, or Magic Gate, by our 
people was made long ago. It has been there for as long as I can 
remember."

"And how long is that?"

"Almost three thousand years," he answered, sitting down on a fallen 
log.

She sat next to him. "Three thousand years? No wonder Thorondil called 
me 'Young One.'"

Legolas chuckled. "He has the right. He is twice as old as I."

Elenath tried to comprehend what the Elf was telling her, tried to 
imagine living for that long and she could not. "How old was I... 
before?"

"You," he smiled, "were nearly two thousand years old."

"Don't you tire of living?" she asked.

He shook his head. "How could I when I have one as beautiful as you by 
my side?"

There was that blush again. If Elenath could change one thing about 
herself, she would wish not to blush so easily. 

Legolas continued, "As for your other question, your parents abandoned 
you on the other side of Andotempla to save your life."

"From what?"

"Mirkwood used to be overrun with evil things. Orcs - hideous 
creatures. They prowled about the wood seeking to kill, steal, and 
destroy. You 
died fighting them... and you took their leader with you. That is why 
the orcs hated you so much. They swore they would find and destroy you 
when you came back, so you were gifted with a new body in hope that 
they 
would not be able to recognize you. Unfortunately, shortly after you 
were born, they learned of your identity and tried to hunt you down. It 
was then that you were brought to the crossing point and left with a 
human woman who was supposed to tell you who you were, where your true 
home was, and how much your people loved you, when you were old enough 
to 
understand." 

"Are the orcs still around?"

Legolas nodded. "Though much reduced in numbers and scattered without 
their leader. The Elves who found you last night were patrolling for 
them.... It was lucky that Thorondil found you when he did. And as for 
your last question, Elenath, I do not know. The Gate opens for whomever 
it 
so wishes. I tried many times to pass through in search of you, but it 
was not to be. Thorondil tried as well."

Thorondil intrigued her almost as much as did Legolas. "Why was 
Thorondil so interested in my sword?"

"Because he is your mother's brother and he cares about your safety. 
Besides, he has always been interested in such things," chuckled the 
prince. "It is his way. He taught you everything you knew about how to 
fight, from the moment you could walk until..." his voice trailed away. 
"Until the moment you gave your life to save mine."

"Tell me about that day," she requested softly.

Pain clouded Legolas' face. "I cannot bear to remember, let alone speak 
of it, Elenath. Please do not ask me to do so."

She sighed and gazed again into his eyes. "I wish I could remember the 
one who seems to have loved me so much."

"I love you still," he replied. "And I will until the end of my life."

She hardly knew him, yet that simple statement made up for a lifetime 
of loneliness, broken commitments, and jeering male voices. "Legolas?"

"Yes, my love?"

"What if I never remember our life together?"

"You will remember."

"But what if?"

He smiled at her and traced the outline of her lips with the tip of his 
finger. "Then I shall have to court you until you fall in love with me 
anew."

She smiled softly and stood up, beginning to walk away. "I think that I 
might enjoy that, Prince Legolas."

He overtook her quickly and smiled. "Then it shall be so." He took her 
hand and escorted her into more populated areas. Now and then an Elf 
would greet the couple with a nod or a smile. Many reached out to grasp 
Elenath's hands as they passed, speaking brief words that she did not 
understand. Some even kissed her hands, her cheeks, or even her 
forehead.

"News travels fast in Mirkwood," explained Legolas. "They are greeting 
you, Princess; welcoming you home."

She giggled. "Princess! Only in childhood fantasies have I been given 
such a title."

Legolas paused and looked at her, unbelieving. "Was there no prince in 
that other world who found his heart to be stolen by your beauty?"

"You are too kind," she said, blushing, "Princes are hard to find where 
I come from. And if one ever had noticed me, it would have only been to 
laugh at my ears."

Legolas's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Why would anyone laugh at such 
delightfully lovely ears?" He brushed a tendril of hair behind one of 
them.

She shrugged. "There are no Elves where I come from. Only humans, and 
humans do not have pointy ears."

Legolas looked thoughtful for a moment. "It is not entirely true, what 
you said about there being no Elves where you come from. There was one 
sent after you through the Gate. I would be curious to know what befell 
him - if he ever found you or was able to help you in any way. He was a 
half-elf."

"What was his name?" she asked.

"Well, all of his human friends called him 'Mike.'"

"Mike. Is he a tall guy, dark hair, brown eyes, little scar across his 
chin?" she asked.

"Yes! That is him."

She laughed. Pastor Mike. "Yes, he found me and he helped me. He was my 
Pastor. He helped me learn about spiritual things. But why did he not 
follow me back here?"

Legolas shrugged. "Perhaps he has come to love that place and does not 
wish to leave."

She sighed. "More likely, he has pity on those who live there and stays 
to offer them comfort."

"Was it really so terrible?" he asked.

"There is evil there. Things that I could never begin to describe to 
you." She thought of nuclear weapons, domestic violence, and the 
cruelty 
of men hungry for power. "If I had known how wonderful this world would 
be I would have..."

"Would have what, my love?"

"I don't know. I just wish..." she felt suddenly very lonely.

Seeming to sense this he squeezed her hand gently. "There were perhaps 
others in that world that you would have liked to bring with you?"

Nodding, she replied, "There were two." And she told him about Kara, 
her best friend. "She has such a kind heart, always willing to help. 
She 
has this guitar," Elenath laughed, "and we used to stay up all night 
long writing songs. She wrote the music and I sang the words. She was 
always there for me when I needed her. Always. I cannot believe I left 
her 
behind... I guess my mind was just clouded by the grief of losing my 
grandmother... and the desire to see if this place really existed."

"And who is the other?" asked Legolas.

Elenath drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "His name is David," 
she said. "He taught me martial arts and swordplay."

She seemed to want to continue but did not and Legolas began to worry. 
"Do you love him, this David?"

The tiniest of smiles tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Yes ... no 
..." she shook her head and looked at the Prince. "Forgive me. Yes, I 
love him but not in the way that you mean."

"I do not understand," he said.

"David is like... he is like a brother to me. Does that make sense?"

Legolas nodded, breathing a sigh of relief. "Tell me about him."

Elenath smiled and said, "He is probably really mad at me right now, 
running off like I did." Then suddenly her smile faded. "David would 
have 
loved it here. I would not be in the least surprised if you told me he 
were an Elf. It was always as if he had come from some other place, or 
some other time."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," she tried to explain, "For example, he pledged his sword and 
his life to protect me a few months ago. Just out of the blue, he got 
all 
serious and knelt in front of me right in the middle of a crowded park 
and said, 'I will follow you anywhere to protect you.'"

Legolas thought that he might like to meet and thank the person who had 
sworn to protect his wife, the Princess of Mirkwood. "What is so 
strange about that?"

"It just isn't done in that other world. For one thing, most people do 
not carry swords. For another... nobody cares about anyone else like 
that! It is a very selfish world." She paused. "When I asked him later 
what he meant by his promise, he said, 'I meant just what I said.' When 
I 
asked him why, he could only shrug and tell me he knew... somehow he 
knew that I was different and special and very important. He said he 
would not be surprised to find out," she laughed at the irony of it, 
"that 
I was a fairy princess of some sort."

"Elven Princess," corrected Legolas, "He could probably sense your 
nobility just by looking at you." He smiled. "I would have liked to 
meet 
your friends. To thank David and hear the songs that you sang with 
Kara."

At that moment, a merry band of Elves approached, singing and dancing 
along the path. They stopped before the Royal couple and bowed. "Prince 
Legolas and Princess Elenath, Tula vasa ar yulna en emereth! Come, eat 
and drink of the feast. There will be much merriment this night to 
welcome home the one who was lost and is now found!"

The Prince smiled. "And who has arranged for this great feast?"

"Have you not heard, O Prince? Your father King Thranduil returned from 
Rivendell today! He was overjoyed to hear the news of Princess 
Elenath's return."

Elenath knew what this meant. Her father had also returned and she was 
in for yet another meeting with someone who loved her and whom she did 
not remember. She wasn't sure how much more she could take and grew 
very quiet as they walked toward the woodland palace.

Legolas watched her as they walked, saw the worry crease her brow and 
his heart went out to her. He put a hand gently on her shoulder. 
"Elenath, Mani naa taa? What is it that worries you, Beautiful One?"

She sighed, half from the warmth of his compliment and half out of 
dread. "I go to meet a father I cannot remember. I wish I could just 
remember everything and be done with it!"

"Do not wish for such things," he said gently. "It would be too much 
for you all at once. You must have patience."

"Patience has never been one of my strengths, Legolas."

"Patience comes easily when you remember that we have an eternity to 
work out the puzzles of life," he said. "For twenty-five years you have 
believed that you are a mortal human. That belief weighs heavily on 
you. 
Hear me Elenath! You are not a mortal!"

The firm tone of his voice startled her a little bit but it seemed to 
do the trick. The truth of his words began to sink in. What was the 
rush? Why hurry? She had forever to remember; forever to live; forever 
to 
love, forever to recall her father and mother. Realizing this, she 
stopped on the path and laughed.

The entire party stopped and looked back, but the prince waved them on. 
"Tell my father that we respectfully send our love and will join 
him..." he glanced at his wife who looked about as if she had been 
given new 
eyes. "We will join him when the time is right," he said at last.

The sound of the party faded down the path as Elenath turned to Legolas 
and smiled. "I am sorry. You must think that I am a very strange Elf 
indeed. Laughing at nothing and-" she spun around a couple of times- 
"dancing when there is no music."

He found himself laughing with her. "I love seeing you like this," he 
said, "so young and full of wonder at everything in the world. Did you 
not realize that you would live forever?"

"Not really, until just now," she replied. "And I feel so much better 
about everything, Legolas. Thank you. Let's go and meet our fathers."

As they walked, she began to sing about magical gates, enchanted 
forests and beautiful Elven princes named Legolas. The Prince walked 
alongside her, his heart filling anew with awe and wonder at the world 
around 
him and especially at the Lady beside him.

6.

Elenath and Legolas entered the Great Hall of King Thranduil 
hand-in-hand and smiling, and all around Elenath heard the lilting 
tongue of the 
Elves. She wished that she could understand what they were saying 
because it seemed that all eyes were on her. She was feeling much more 
confident than she had that morning and met their admiring gazes with 
gracious smiles and even reached out to a few that she recognized from 
her 
long walk with Legolas. 

She was especially happy to see Thorondil and wrapped him in an 
exuberant hug. "Why did you not tell me you are my Uncle?"

He was delighted and kissed her cheek. "I did not wish to overwhelm 
you, Elenath. And I could scarcely believe you had finally returned."

Continuing on her path to the king, she looked back at him. "I can 
scarcely believe it either, Uncle. I look forward to our first lesson."

They had almost reached the throne of King Thranduil when Elenath met 
the eyes of a raven-haired Elf who stood smiling. As soon as their eyes 
met, a memory flashed through her mind; followed quickly by another and 
another until her mind reeled with them and she held tight to Legolas's 
hand to keep from losing her balance. He slipped an arm around her 
waist to help steady her as happy tears came to her eyes. 

"What do you remember?" he asked softly in her ear.

She did not answer him but suddenly broke loose from his embrace, 
launching herself at the raven-haired Elf who now stood with arms open 
wide. 
"Ada! (Dad!)" she cried as she lost herself in his embrace. "I remember 
you, and our moonlit walks through the wood and songs sung late at 
night and..." her voice trailed off. "It is good to see you again!"

"Iellamin (My Daughter)," he chuckled delightedly, "Welcome home. 
Welcome home!"

Legolas watched, laughing with the rest of the Elves as the happy 
father and daughter embraced. It was only a matter of time now, he 
knew, 
until she would remember him as well. Llilwen appeared at his side 
smiling. "She wins all of our hearts anew. It is as if she never left 
us."

"She has certainly won mine, Lady Llilwen," agreed the Prince as her 
father escorted Elenath back to him.

"I am sorry, Legolas," she said almost breathlessly as he took her hand 
again. 

"Do not be. You and your father have always been inseparable. It almost 
killed him to leave you on the other side of the Gate."

Finally, they greeted the King, who turned his attention first to his 
son.

"Legolas," said King Thranduil, "You are looking very well, my son. 
Better, in fact than I have seen you in years." He smiled. "Perhaps it 
has 
something to do with the return of your lovely Princess?"

"Yes, Father. I feel as if life has been handed to me anew."

The King turned his attention to Elenath who offered a low curtsy. 
"Your Highness," she greeted him and he pulled her near and kissed her 
cheek.

"You have brought the joy back into my son's eyes," he whispered.

The merriment went on for two days with such feasting, dancing, music, 
and tale-telling as she had never known or even dared dream of. The 
foods were unfamiliar but wonderful to taste; the wine potent and 
sweet. 
She had to be careful not to drink too much too fast. The elaborate 
dances intimidated her at first, but Legolas coaxed her gently until 
she 
joined him. At first she only muddled through, but soon enough her feet 
seemed to remember the steps and she spun faster and faster with the 
others until she fell dizzily into Legolas' arms. There she stayed 
while 
she listened to the heavenly Elven music, enjoying his closeness and 
sighing at his voice when he joined in the singing. She began to nod 
off 
during the tales, the rhythmic Elven tongue lulling her until she felt 
herself being lifted and she shook herself awake.

"Let me walk," she protested. "I still feel terrible that Thorondil 
carried me all that way."

"Manka lle merna. As you wish," Legolas said softly squeezing her 
before setting her down. "May I escort you to your room?"

She smiled up at him. "Someone needs to or I'll get lost for sure."

He kissed her forehead gently when they reached the doorway. "Seek me 
out when you wake, beloved. I will be counting the moments until I see 
you again."

She could only nod and gaze at him starry-eyed. She had never fallen so 
hard so fast for anyone. Her eyes did not leave his until he finally 
turned to go. 

"Legolas?"

He turned silently to face her.

Elenath sighed and thought hard for a moment. "Diolla lle. Thank you."

"Why do you thank me, Melamin?"

"Because you waited for me," she replied. 

He took both of her hands and kissed them. "I would have waited 
forever."

***

The next morning when she began to wake up she felt something soft and 
silky on her face and hands, under her fingertips and upon her bare 
shoulders. Opening her eyes, she gasped, then giggled. The whole 
chamber, 
including her bed and herself, had been covered in rose petals. 

Her mother's laugh joined her own only a moment later as she entered 
the room. "Good morning, Elenath," she smiled, "It appears that you 
have 
an admirer. Oh! But it smells heavenly in here!"

"Who did this?" she whispered, sitting up and looking around. The 
petals hung in her hair and stuck to her skin here and there.

"I should hope it was Prince Legolas," laughed Llilwen. "No one else 
would dare. Courtship is a sacred ritual among our people. Come, your 
part is now to wake him with a song."

They got ready quickly, crushing some of the petals between their 
fingers and rubbing the fragrance in Elenath's hair and on her skin. 
Six 
perfect thornless roses had been left intact on the small bedside table 
and her mother wove them into a crown for her, setting them gently atop 
her head and choosing a silvery white gown. The effect was quite 
dramatic and Elenath had never felt so beautiful in her life.

Legolas's room was not far from her own, just down the hall and around 
a corner or two. She peeked shyly inside, wondering what she would sing 
and gasped, jumping back out of the doorway. "He is already awake!" she 
whispered to her mother.

Llilwen peeked around the corner and whispered, "No, he still rests, 
though his eyes are open. Most of our kind do not close their eyes to 
sleep. You will get used to this." She began to walk away. "I will see 
you 
at breakfast!"

Elenath took a deep breath. What to sing? Her mind shuffled through a 
thousand love songs, but none were quite right. So she made one up, 
singing softly from the doorway, the Prince's open eyes unnerving her a 
little.

"Who am I to have won your heart
O beautiful Golden Prince?
I am but a wonderer traveling through,
My home such a long way hence.

"But in your arms I might well rest
Forever and a day
If you can convince my wondering heart
That you wish for me to stay.

"O kiss me with the kisses of your mouth
For your love is more pleasing than wine
Shower me with your kisses, my love
Your kiss is more pleasing than wine!"

The Prince blinked once, then twice and turned his head to look at her, 
smiling.

She continued, gazing steadily into his eyes.

"I'm lost and alone in this faraway land
And I fear that there is much to learn
But if you would allow me to stay here, my Lord
For home I will nevermore yearn.

"Oh kiss me with the kisses of your mouth
For your love is more pleasing than wine
Shower me with your kisses my love
Your kiss more pleasing than wine!"

With that, not knowing what else to do, she turned and walked slowly 
toward the great hall, blushing wildly. Where had that song come from? 
She had never even felt his kisses, at least not in her memory. 

She reached the great hall which was already full of breakfasting Elves 
and sat down next to her mother. The two exchanged knowing glances and 
shared a long laugh at the secret ritual that had just taken place.

"Did you wake him?" asked Llilwen quietly after ten minutes of 
small-talk.

Elenath did not have to answer her as Legolas appeared suddenly at her 
side and swept her up into his arms. "My love," he whispered warmly in 
her ear, "Have you remembered my kisses or were you just imagining 
them?"

She gazed happily into his eyes, surprised that she was not trying to 
push him away as she would with any other man who snuck up behind her 
like that. "I... I don't know," she said breathlessly.
"Tualle," he replied, "I will help you to remember." With that he 
brushed her lips softly with his, expecting then to release her. But 
she 
looked at him with such trust in her eyes that he kissed her again with 
a 
slow and gentle passion that warmed her to her toes and brought back 
the shadow of a memory to her.

Moonlight. A bridge near a waterfall. Sweet whispers and gentle 
caresses. And those eyes gazing at her with such love. Legolas' eyes.

"Ahem..." The sound barely reached her ears as she clung to Legolas, 
lost in her memory.

It took her a moment to realize that Thorondil was trying to get their 
attention. She stepped away from Legolas reluctantly and turned her 
attention to her uncle who stood chuckling at them.

"If his highness has a moment," he began with a friendly smirk, "We 
have captured two intruders and are at a loss as to what to do. They 
ask 
for one called Summer Templeton."

Elenath went pale. "That was my name when I lived on the other side of 
the Gate."

At this Thorondil became very serious. "They have been very demanding, 
violent really, in asking for you, Princess. Did you have many enemies 
on the other side?"

"No, Uncle. None that would harm me." She wondered who it could be, 
hoped against hope to see Kara and David. "Perhaps you can bring them 
in?"

He nodded and left the room as Legolas wrapped her in a possessive 
embrace from behind. "Be careful, Melamin. We do not know who they 
are."

She only nodded in reply and let out a relieved breath when she saw 
David being escorted under heavy guard and Kara apparently asleep in 
the 
arms of one of the Elves. David looked about himself as if in complete 
awe of everything, unbelieving, and not a little afraid.

"We take you to the Prince," David was told, and his eyes seemed to 
search the great hall, landing on the empty thrones and then the long 
tables set with a great banquet.

Finally, David's eyes met Elenath's, traveled to the Prince's, and 
filled with rage. She knew right away that he wasn't himself. He wasn't 
thinking straight. He thought she was in some kind of danger.

"Jesus..." was all she had time to pray before he moved like lightening 
and acquired one of the guard's swords. Why had she allowed herself to 
be left unarmed? He was coming fast and she reached back instinctively 
to the last place she saw a blade - at Legolas' waist - and drew it 
with a long hissing metallic sound. Not a moment too soon she swung it 
around to block the powerful blow that David had aimed at the Prince's 
head. Sparks flew as the two Elven blades met. A dozen archers 
surrounded 
them in an instant, arrows nocked and fixed on David. Seeing this, she 
shouted, "Drop your weapons!" and her eyes locked with those of her old 
friend.

His eyes were full of surprise and questions; full of confusion and 
then, suddenly, understanding. He stepped back and sent his blade 
clattering to the floor, lifting his hands in the air. She had never 
seen him 
speechless before and it was a little unnerving to see him that way 
now. 

7.

Elenath wasn't sure what to do. David stood before her, brown hair 
tousled, anger and concern in his blue eyes, every inch of his muscular 
frame tensed, though he stood in a posture that said "I surrender." She 
wanted to hug him and yell at him for attacking Legolas all at once. 
Instead she turned to her husband and returned the intricately carved 
blade 
with many apologies. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, thanks to you... again," he said, returning the weapon to its 
scabbard.

She turned her attention back to David then who seemed to be recovering 
slowly from his speechlessness. "Summer?" he said and she could stand 
it no more. She ran to him and let herself be hugged and kissed by the 
young man who was, for the first time since she met him, having trouble 
keeping his emotions in check. She was not surprised to find that happy 
tears were falling from her own eyes as well.

"David!" she gasped, "I thought I'd never see you again!"

Finally regaining his composure, he looked at her, a serious expression 
on his face. "What in the HELL were you thinking, coming out here all 
by yourself?"

"Well I-"

"You could have been killed! Kidnapped! Raped or worse! You know better 
than to pull a stunt like this, Summer Templeton. I know you know 
better because I taught you myself!" He grabbed her by the shoulders 
and 
shook her a couple of times. "Didn't I tell you I would follow you 
anywhere? Didn't I? Why didn't you call me?"

The Prince began to step forward but Elenath held up her hand to stop 
him. "You are right, David," she said, "I was stupid to come out here 
by 
myself and I'm sorry. I don't know why I didn't call you."

His tone softened a bit. "We were worried sick, Summer. We thought... 
Everyone thinks you're dead. And now look at you! You're wearing a 
dress! I was so shocked when I saw you I thought I must be dreaming. 
And I 
thought you were in some kind of trouble...."

She shook her head. "Honestly, David. Do I look as if I am being kept 
prisoner here? You just tried to kill..." she almost said, "my 
husband," 
but thought better of it... "the Prince of Mirkwood."

"And for that I most profusely apologize." He nodded to the Prince who 
looked on curiously along with the other Elves in the Hall.
She looked at him, speechless for a long moment before she finally 
blurted, "How on earth did you find me?"

"Pastor Mike told us how to find you. Of course thought you'd both gone 
crazy at first with those notes you left, but... we had to try."

"And what's up with Kara?" Elenath walked over to her slumbering friend 
and gasped at what she saw. The left side of Kara's face was black and 
blue, her arms bruised and battered. She had to look closely to be sure 
her friend was still breathing. She turned on the Elves who brought 
them in, fire in her eyes. "Who DID this to her?"

David's calming hand was on her shoulder immediately. "It was not your 
new friends," he said softly. "She will tell you what happened when she 
wakes. And then we can take you home."

Prince Legolas paled at this comment and he stepped forward to protest, 
but Elenath stopped him with a glance.

"David," she said gently, "This is my home."

"What do you mean? Your students at the dojo miss you. Your Sunday 
School class is beside themselves with grief. The hospital is short one 
very good nurse. And you see what's happened to Kara."

"What do I have to do with Kara's condition?" she asked, her eyes wide.

He shook his head, unwilling to speak.

"David, look around, okay? Look at me and look around and tell me that 
I have not come home. This is where I belong!"

"Then you will not return with us?"

"Then you will not stay?" she shot back.

David scowled.  "Summer, I told you once not long ago that I would 
follow you anywhere to see to your safety, and I meant it. My sword and 
my 
life are yours to command. If you stay, then so will I."

They regarded each other in contemplative silence for a long moment. 

"We have much to discuss," she told him finally. "Let me take care of 
Kara and then... may I offer you some tea, David?"

He stood up and nodded. "Tea sounds like a good idea."

8.

Kara did not stir as she was made comfortable in an Elven bed, even as 
her silky raven-black hair was brushed and her wounds tended by palace 
servants who stared and stared at her copper skin.

"Call me if she wakes," Elenath said to them before she left in search 
David. She found him where she had left him in the great hall still 
looking around in utter awe. Prince Legolas intercepted her before she 
reached him.

"I enjoyed your song," he said, "Your voice is like that of an angel."

She smiled. "I enjoyed your kiss and would sing a thousand songs to win 
another. I remembered something about a waterfall and a bridge..."

"We will talk of it later," he said, lightly touching her cheek. "Right 
now we have your guests to tend. Are they in need of anything?"

"I only need a private place to speak with David."

"I will not leave you alone with him," he said, "until I know for sure 
that he has control of himself."

"He's not going to hurt me, Legolas."

"I will not take any chances," said the Prince. 

She yielded with a nod. "I need a kettle of hot water and tea leaves. 
And cups. Three of them if you will be in attendance."

"Consider it done," said the Prince, already giving orders to servants.

Moments later Elenath found herself seated at a small ornate table in 
an especially beautiful palace chamber. David sat across from her while 
the Prince looked on from the side.

Legolas watched curiously as his wife made quite a ceremony of pouring 
the hot water, adding tealeaves, mixing, and turning the cup a certain 
way before handing it to him with a bow. She did the same for David who 
took it with a bow, and then for herself. They sat in silence drinking 
the bitter liquid for half an hour. Legolas could not help but notice 
that each movement and motion seemed to be meditated upon by the other 
two and he couldn't help but be lulled into the intricate simplicity of 
the ritual. 

David and Elenath were both visibly more relaxed when she finally put 
her cup down on the table and said, "Welcome to Mirkwood, David."

He took a deep breath and smiled. "Mirkwood..."

"You are now among the Elves," she said, "If you hadn't figured that 
out."

"Of which you are one," he commented. "You said as much in your 
letter."

"I have much to tell you."

David nodded. "I can't argue with that. But first, Lady, I... have a 
proposition to make."

She raised her eyebrows in question.

"Look," he said, "I know this isn't very romantic and we aren't even 
alone. But... You know that saying, 'You don't know what you've got 
till 
it's gone?' I've done a lot of thinking since you left. A lot of 
thinking about us."

"There is no us, David. You made that clear years ago. You are not the 
type who wants to settle down with a wife. End of story. Don't go 
there."

"I have to," he said, "It's true I've always told you that I'm not the 
kind of guy to want to settle down with anyone. But you're different, 
Summer. Something about you just.... You need to be protected. And I 
would be honored if you would agree to let me protect you, as your 
husband." He slid down onto the floor on one knee. "Summer Templeton, 
will you 
marry me?"

Legolas' teacup went crashing to the floor and Elenath sat straight up 
in her chair. "David, please!"

"I am completely serious," he said.

"You can't be! You can't! I've had a crush on you since I was ten and 
now suddenly you want to marry me? David, as flattered as I am, I can't 
marry you!"

"Why not?"

"Because," she said, "I am already married."