Hey all! :D :D :D I am so happy...why...because of all you wonderful people who reviewed and followed! So thank you from the bottom of my heart it has been awesome communicating with you guys and I really hope you all enjoy this chapter :)

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So I'll shut up now and let you read, as always please leave me any comments and suggestions, anything you would like to see etc.

Chapter 4

"Sit still! Or I will sit on you and squash your spleen!" I yowl as I trap a rather hyperactive and over-excited elfling in a sort of half head lock grapple.

"What is a spleen?" Legolas gasps breathlessly in between giggles, struggling with mammoth strength to escape my slipping grasp on his silken tunic.

"I don't know but it sounds important!" I mutter as I tighten my grip only encouraging a peal of infectious giggling from the imperious youngster.

This little skitter is going to be the death of me, I mean it I really do; I do not have the stamina for this! I forcefully drop to the ground pulling Legolas with me, he lets out a roar of laughter and I just about manage to slap him on the face with the sodden wash cloth, which I have been trying vainly to wash his dirty little face with. A morning of trudging through the depths of the wilderness, aka the garden, trying to catch 'yrch,' as he put it, has resulted in a not so clean little ruffian.

"Muhaha got you!" I cackle as I sloppily scrub his face. He grumbles incoherently and every time he attempts to complain I slap the watery cloth over his face and nab his cute little button nose. "If your Ada sees you like this he will ban us from having anymore adventures, you are just lucky I have an extra tunic tucked away in here."

"He won't mind," Legolas quips nasally as I've still got the hold of his nose. "Can I have my nose back please?"

"It is 'he will not mind,' and only if you promise not to get dirty in the next twenty minutes!" I scold but I cannot help the adoring grin I give him, he knows he has me wrapped around his little finger and plays it to his advantage all the time.

"I cannot wait to see him!" Legolas shrieks and hops to his feet bounding about with glittering eyes; "I cannot wait to tell him about our adventures and tell him the stories you tell me, I think he will like them, do you think he will Clara?"

I grin at the clearly delighted child and I echo his happiness. Although I was initially dubious about whether or not Thranduil would keep to his word and write to his child, it would appear I had nothing to worry about. The minute I handed over the thick parchment to Legolas a week ago, it was like all his birthdays had come at once. He read and reread the letter, soaking it all up and memorising it until it was implanted in his memory forever.

The letters came thick and fast after that and I was surprised at how tactful and truthful the Prince was with his little boy. Legolas was fully aware that his Ada was badly burned and that he may not look like his Adar, but was comforted by the fact that it was only a temporary thing. Thranduil had left the decision up to his son as to whether or not they should meet, Legolas naturally wanted too and had no concerns about what he might be faced with.

Today was D Day, very shortly he would be reunited with his Father and he could hardly sit still with the excitement of it all. I had kept him distracted and occupied most of the morning, at the request of the healers, while they changed Thranduil's dressings and helped him appear more elf like and less "monsterous," as Calanon had put it. I was baffled by the description, I did not see anything frightening or vile about the Prince, yes it was a traumatic injury but he was recovering every day, he was an elf for crying out loud! At least he would heal and have no physical lasting damage, on the surface at least. I supposed their horror was because elves don't usually deal with this kind of trauma, it is a rare thing for them and more of a shock. Luckily I was made of much hardier stuff, try picking glass out of a guy's face after a pub brawl gone awry, eugh, now that is disturbing!

The King had arrived a few moments ago too, just in time to tell Legolas off for looking like the swamp monster. Okay I admit he did not actually use that reference but it was implied and it was the image in my head at the time. After the child received yet another debrief and warning that this would be a difficult thing, I dutifully volunteered to clean him and return him to his Grandfather in time for the big reunion.

"He'll love them!" I say with a nod, finally answering the child's question and clamber to my feet outstretching my hand for him to take; "Come on you! Stop dithering let's get you to your Ada."

Without another word Legolas tows me along the hallways and past the amused looking healers. I laugh breathlessly as he pulls and hauls at me to hurry up. We slow when we approach his Grandfather and I bow awkwardly, this gains a raised eyebrow and almost smile from Oropher, well he should just be lucky I actually remembered to bow. Legolas scampers to his side and stares up at him with two very impatient blue orbs.

"Your Adar will see you now," Oropher instructs his grandson, rather formally, and puts a supporting hand over the boy's shoulder, "Do not worry little one I am beside you."

Legolas pauses for a moment as he observes the doorway to a private lounge area, one which is specifically cordoned off and used only by the Prince. He bites his lip and suddenly gazes up timidly at his Grandfather;

"Grandpa can Clara hold my hand please?" he asks with an uncertain voice.

The King stares pensively at the child for a moment and then to me, his brows furrow and he appears to be contemplating the merits of this idea. I feel a little flattered that the kid wants me with him but mostly I feel shocked, I should not be there it is a family affair. I would be overstepping the boundaries.

"Please Grandpa, Ada will not mind he says he would like to meet Clara," Legolas attempts again and Oropher sighs, turning his head he nods to me.

I take that as my signal to act because it is followed with an impatient look, so I scramble to Legolas' side and let him take my hand.

"You will help me to be brave Clara?" he questions with wide eyes, suddenly filled with anxiety. I nod reflexively and keep my eyes downcast and away from the weighted look that Oropher is eyeballing me with. I can nearly feel his questioning stare bore into the back of my head as we enter the room.

On entering the surprisingly well lit and airy room, I automatically let my eyes sweep the space. I find him immediately for there is no-one else here but him, I guess I was expecting servants and healers jumping to his every command, but surprisingly Thranduil is alone and sitting quite uneasily on a sofa by the fire. His head turned towards the fire and he absently chews on the nail of this thumb, his good eye, the only one visible, is fixated on the flames and filled with some sort of fearful emotion that I can't quite understand or grasp.

Legolas' grip on my hand suddenly turns vice like and he looks up at me with a worried expression, I attempt to keep my own expression blank and return an encouraging smile. I dart my eyes back to the Prince who seems to have left the present and has forgotten he is in company. I noisily clear my throat because I don't care who is, right now he needs to snap back to reality and acknowledge his son before the child erupts into tears.

"Ionneg?"

Legolas and I both whip our heads upwards to regard Oropher, who asked what I assume is a question or a term of endearment to his son, his expression is drawn in worry and for the first time I see ancient years fall on the deceptively youthful looking King. Thranduil starts at the sound of his Father's voice and he turns automatically to the sound. The tiny gasp Legolas gives has all three of us snap our heads to him; the child tightens his grip even more on my hand and obscures himself behind me.

The side of Thranduil's face that is mostly unmarked and therefore the most able to express his emotions, is momentarily filled with deep reverential love that I have only seen in the eyes of other people's parents. There is a great deal of relief and even the hint of excitement at having his little one within his grasp in his features. He automatically inches forward wanting to close the distance between he and his son, but I catch the briefest flash of pain as he moves and suddenly his face crumples in frustration. I see the utter devastation in his one seeing eye when he registers his son's fear and I am suddenly aware that he is giving me a pleading almost desperate look, because I am the one holding his child, I am the one that Legolas clings to, it is me that can force a change in this situation.

"Hey petal why are you hiding?" I whisper as soothingly as I can, kneeling down to be at the same height as Legolas. His eyes are too wide in his small face and he does not take his them off his father, there is a healthy dose of uncertainty in them but as of yet no fear. I gently reach out and stroke a strand of his golden hair, smoothing it behind his ear, before tapping his nose bringing his attention back to me.

"That is your Ada isn't it?" I ask with the brightest smile I can muster, and Legolas nods his head slowly in a dramatic bobbing motion, his little mouth hanging open in an adorable gawp. "Well aren't you gonna introduce me? You promised you would!"

Legolas nods once more only less confidently and he peeks shyly at his Father again, oh this is painful! This is going to take a lot of effort and seriously why am I the one left to be the emotional mediator, why is it always the woman's job? With a petulant sigh I sit right down on the floor and smile like something deranged at Thranduil, but Legolas needs my guidance he needs to know how to react, and neither one of his emotional mute custodians are capable of helping him, damn elves do they ever crack a smile?

"Hi!" I chirp at Thranduil who remains for the most part expressionless but I am nearly sure I spy an amused look cross his face. I then look to Legolas expectantly and nod encouragingly when he smiles brightly in return, he is suitably less anxious now that at least one of us isn't expecting him to burst into tears. Children don't like tension, 101 of working with kids, remain calm and confident and they do the same, if you're just going to freak out then you'll only scare them too! They sense everything, do not show fear…never show fear…they smell it!

"A Ada," Legolas eventually mumbles and then tucks his chin into his chest, suddenly all bashful and unsure of himself, oh he is a munchkin I could eat him up with a spoon.

With his eyes momentarily diverted I glance, probably rather boldly, at Thranduil and dramatically rolls my eyes gesturing for him to reply. He blinks robotically for a moment registering my suggestion and then I see it, the small lopsided beginnings of a smile on his expressionless face. It altogether changes his appearance, yes he is still pretty smashed up, but that smile reaches his eyes and it's genuine, he practically morphs into a softer more loving being;

"Na vedui Legolas! Cormamin lindua ele lle," Thranduil speaks in a language so beautiful my smile widens, even though I have note the faintest notion what he said, but it sounds wonderful!

It certainly has the desired effect as Legolas lifts his head and gives the most heart meltingly gorgeous smile. The spell is broken and I can almost feel the relief in the room, the look on Thranduil's face would be almost comical if not for the weighted tension of just a few moments previous. Legolas steps around me and takes a few confident strides towards his father, pausing briefly to wave for me to join him. I awkwardly clamber to my feet and allow the child to take my hand and lead me to his expectant Father.

"Ada this is Clara," Legolas answers brightly and glances up at me when we reach the sofa Thranduil is resting on. He straightens up and acts very much like he has never laid eyes on me in his life, oh props he is a good actor. Legolas notices none of this and carries on; "I saved her Ada! She was all alone in the woods because she had been attacked and I found her and got help and now she is indebted to me!"

Oropher clears his throat in the background and quietly reminds his grandson that elves do not keep other elves prisoner. Well I am awfully glad he cleared that up, I was suddenly alarmed as to how young master Legolas viewed our friendship. Thankfully the boy gave an impish grin and shakes his head;

"I am only joking she is not my prisoner! Clara is my friend she helped me write to you! But Ada I really did rescue her."

I start to chuckle at his ramblings and how he is still completely convinced that it was by his doing that I am alive and well today. In all honesty I don't care if technically it was the healers or technically it was the King, this little scallywag has been my knight in shining armour since I got here, so quite frankly I ain't gonna contest that statement.

"Rescuing fair maidens already my little leaf? Your bravery knows no ends!" Thranduil praises with adoring eyes, all of it clearly delighting Legolas who has now let go of my hand and is inching closer to his father.

"Can I sit by you Ada?" Legolas questions suddenly and he gazes worriedly at Thranduil's thickly bandaged left hand side. "I do not want to hurt you but I would very much like to hug you?"

Oh my heart, my shrivelled bitter heart is exploding out of my chest; this is too much I would cry if that wasn't entirely inappropriate in this situation. Thranduil stares in shock at the request and maybe more so at his child's quick observations, Legolas knew straight away to be careful with his poorly Adar and that was commendable for someone so young.

"You will not hurt me!" Thranduil exclaims and roughly wraps his good arm around his son, hoisting him up onto his good knee.

There is pain in his eyes and I can see him struggle to remain composed but Thranduil is determined to have this reunion with his boy, and I doubt that he cares whether or not he hurts himself further in the process. Legolas giggles and gently burrows into his father's side, resting his head in the crook of his neck. I wish more than anything right now that I had my camera! This quite possibly is the most touching thing I have ever witnessed and yup I can feel the tears, I am about five seconds away from an emotional avalanche.

After several minutes of restraining my sniffles I realise that I have completely overstayed my welcome. Oropher has even drifted to the other side of the room, feigning interest in deep crimson drapes, a comfortable distance that was neither intruding nor awkward. Me on the other hand I'm causally standing about a foot away getting all watery eyed over the tender scene, whilst Thranduil and Legolas are locked in a completely elvish conversation about heaven knows what, completely oblivious to my proximity. Yip I should leave!

I snap out of my trance and mutter some sort of goodbye turning on my heel I go to walk quickly out of the lounge. I almost get to the door, I was so close so damn close to leaving quietly and without incident, but no I was born without that ability. I catch my foot on some tall ornamental vase and it threatens to fall over, I automatically lurch for it and dramatically scramble to rescue it. In doing so I step on my oversized bag of a dress and slip forward, yes now I remember why I never did that whole maxi dress trend. By some sheer miracle, or greatly improved reflexes, I secure the vase and gingerly set it back in its place whilst simultaneously trying to regain composure of my splayed limbs. I keep my eyes downcast and can feel my cheeks burn scarlet, I know their all watching me I can feel it!

"Clara?"

I high pitched giggle makes me sigh in defeat; I guess there was no possible way Legolas missed that. I lift my head and grin goofily at the expressionless elf and his clearly amused offspring; actually in honesty Thranduil is not even looking at me he is completely uninterested in my embarrassing incident. What a prat! He could at least acknowledge my existence I did after all assist him to make amends with his kid! Men! Ugh! Well I guess I have outgrown my usefulness.

"Clara why are you leaving?" Legolas asks again only with a more serious and worrisome tone.

"Because I have too!" I say bluntly and then watch the disappointment mar his angelic little face; "Now why would you want me when you have your Ada now?"

"Please stay!" He pleads unleashing the full force of those manipulative eyes, "Ada will not mind at all!"

Before I can speak or formulate another excuse, Oropher glides to my side and inclines his head towards his grandson;

"Legolas Clara is to leave now; you are here to spend time with your Adar at your request. Clara does not need to be forced to stay to appease you."

With that said Oropher gestures pleasantly for me to follow him to the exit and I go to do so. A bit dejectedly though, I can feel this is the end there will be no more play dates and impromptu visits from the little one, and I am sad about it. No actually I am gutted about it, I don't know another solitary soul in this place, not a one, what do I do now? I have no Legolas to help or distract, I will have no Thranduil to vehemently dislike or be uncharacteristically abusive too? What will I do with my life? I feel slightly delirious, I think I need to lie down or eat a lot of chocolate and cry over chick flicks; only they don't have those things here! This is hell isn't it?

"You should stay."

My mouth hits the floor, I was not expecting this request and especially not from him! Thranduil lazily lifts his head to glance at me and smirks; clearly I amuse him with my undignified gawping expression. Oropher frowns and looks as if he is about to contest the suggestion but Thranduil sighs dismissively and continues to fix me with what can only be described as an indifferent look;

"Clara you may stay if you wish, we would be honoured if you do, but if you have somewhere to be we will not be offended with your absence." He directs the statement at me like a well-rehearsed line, something that just rolls off the tongue without any thought, but Legolas is nodding enthusiastically in agreement.

"Well sure I'd love to stay if I am not being intrusive?" My voice is very shrill as I am acutely aware of the King's obvious alarm at the suggestion.

"I would not ask for your presence if it was intrusive!" Thranduil sighs with exasperation and returns his attention back to his son; clearly that was the end of the exchange.

"Come Clara sit by me and tell Ada the story you told me this morning about the children of Lir!" Legolas pipes up and pats the seat beside him, eyes dancing with anticipation.

I dutifully do as I'm bid, mostly because I am still in shock that my presence has been requested by his highness! The feminist and modern part of my brain feels I should protest and not stay, just to prove that I am not his subject and I can leave if I want! But the giddy and innately curious part of my brain insists I stay and that is what I do; I go and perch awkwardly at the end of the sofa giving Thranduil the briefest of smiles.

He lounges back arrogantly and raises his one working eyebrow before speaking in an almost accusing tone;

"Yes Clara do tell us a story from your memory, which you claim to have lost completely."

"I have a vivid imagination!" I snip but manage to remain composed and unruffled by his suggestion, whilst internally screaming at myself for being such an eejit! I have been telling Legolas old Irish fables for a couple of weeks now, he particularly likes this one, I never considered the consequences of this. Like someone realising my memory is a little more intact than I first implied? Stupid observant elf people, stupid smug elf prince, stupid stupid me!

Thranduil simply smiles and gestures for me to continue my story, whilst Legolas burrows into his father keeping his small hands firmly clamped on his arm. Thranduil was not going anywhere without his son's permission, it was rather adorable to watch how the child possessively clung to his father, not even the slightest bit concerned or annoyed that he had not seen him in weeks. Children are so forgiving, things are so much more easily mended when you are young; you believe the best in everybody and assume they believe in you too. I start my story and let Legolas join in every now and then to give his version of events, which are always much more colourful and a lot more dramatic.

This is how we spend the afternoon and many afternoons after this first meeting. I am a regular figure in their lives and Thranduil never sends me away or appears bored with my presence. The visits that I would be present at consisted of me telling stories or playing games or making things with Legolas while his Father observed. I quickly came to the realisation that Thranduil did not engage not because he did not want to but because he couldn't, so my role was to do the things he could not with his son, whilst he watched on in amusement or contentment. It was nice to help this family but I knew deep down it would come to an end, it had to stop at some point and separations would have to be made. Thranduil and Legolas lived in a different class another world; I was merely a distraction and someone that brought them joy in a time of trouble. I tried not to think about that looming deadline, I really did, I was just content living in the moment because really it was all I could handle.

xXx

I stare mournfully at the nearly empty honey jar in my lap and then I look at the spoon in my hand with mild disgust. I have eaten almost the whole thing because it is the only surgery substitute I can lay my hands on in the god forsaken country! Why? Why is there no chocolate or ice cream or both? I would give my soul for a miniature tub of ben and jerry's cookie dough right now! Instead I have honey and a walnut loaf, okay I admit the walnut loaf is no more, I practically swallowed it whole.

I scrub the renegade tear from my face with my sleeve and reach for the bottle of wine I expertly stole from the pantry. Normally I am strictly a rum and coke girl but I am in emotional distress and alcohol is needed to numb the pain, so I shall drink anything as long as it promises to wipe my memory. I slurp down a large amount of the red wine and cough in response, eugh its eye wateringly strong, I shudder at the kick it gives and then sigh deeply which then turns into a sob and the sob a full blown wail.

I am alone, completely alone…again! No one cares and everyone is gone…again. Yes this is all very dramatic but I am grieving. When I had not seen Legolas in near on five days I went to Calanon and asked if anything was wrong, because I had assumed the worse the glaringly obvious truth never hit me at least not until the kind healer spelt it out for me. He told me Legolas was probably with his tutor because with his Father now discharged from the halls of healing, the little one would be expected to return to daily life and in layman's terms elf school or prince training, or whatever royal kids do around here. Apparently both the King and Thranduil were very concerned about the amount of education he had missed with all the upset and had wanted to return to normality as soon as possible. Which sounds wonderful and I'm all for that but a goodbye would have been nice! Flowers, a card, a memo anything to just let me know they were gone and I was dismissed.

So here I am on the stone floor of the larder, eating and drinking myself into oblivion. Well screw those guys, I am perfectly capable of living and surviving on my own! Yet I know this is a complete and utter lie, I am not at all able to fend for myself not here this is not my home; I have not the faintest idea what I will do when I am asked to leave this place. Where do I go? How do I make money to eat and survive? The elves are going to figure out there is something extremely off about me they are eventually going to know I am not one of them and then I will probably be exiled. Oh this was all fun games when I thought I was dreaming but this is not a dream and clearly something beyond my comprehension has happened! And instead of dying I have crossed worlds and am now in middle earth! I let out a groan and drop my head into my knees, taking deep breaths to calm the ensuing anxiety attack.

"I am crazy, this is crazy, I am going to die here, there is no way I am going to survive in this world I don't even know how to use a sword?" I mutter to the ground expecting it to answer.

"Well we shall have to change that."

I stare at the stone ground in shock and awe, did it just answer me? How strong is that wine and what is in that walnut bread? The honey it's been made from bees that collect pollen from hallucinogenic plants and this is the side effects! I'm high!

"Lady Clara are you well?"

My head snaps up at the voice, nope that most definitely is not the ground taking, yip it's an elf and oh look at that its Thranduil. I feel my mouth slacken and I sniff pathetically, and as inconspicuously as I can I wipe away the tears from my eyes again, I really need to work on how I present myself to royalty. I nod numbly and squeak something like a greeting as a bounce to my feet and try to brush the crumbs from my dress.

"You are crying? Why?" He asks his voice like a melody, he can appear so sweet and interested when he wants to. Only I know he is a grumpy old rat with a temper and a knack for name calling!

"No I am fine," I mumble and awkwardly curtsey which only makes him snort and roll his eye.

He shakes his head and asks no more, he pushes himself further into the small pantry still leaning on his crutch, but he is looking much better now. His skin has returned to a normal shade but is still deeply scarred and mottled, the blind eye that was once white and unseeing has recovered some of the astonishing blue shade, but it is still clouded so I am certain it still does not see much. I see he has gained a lot more control over his facial features, though he must naturally not give too much away, for he is very hard to read when he turns to look at me and inadvertently walks into a shelf. I giggle and he swears in a tirade of indescribable curses clutching his left eye he angrily snaps;

"I cannot see yet! I keep walking into things! Stop laughing!"

"I am sorry," I chuckle and ball my fist into my mouth in attempt to quiet myself, "but if it helps I walk into things too and I am not even blind."

"I am not blind!" He replies frostily but to my surprise lets out a soft laugh, "Though that comforts me."

I smile and shrug; "Glad I could be of assistance but why are you here…ugh…your highness?"

"For you," he replies and I feel my eyes widen and that familiar burn in my cheeks. "Adar has told me your tale and I do not think it is right that you should be left here. So I come with a proposition if you would like to hear it?"

He does not wait for me to answer and casually launches into his bright idea, is anyone ever going to let me speak around here;

"As you can tell I am not exactly on form at present but I am hopeful within a few weeks I can return to some of my duties, and it has been suggested I start training again in an attempt to remind my broken body what it used to do before the injury. So with all that I will require someone to care for my son, I am not keen on servants doing it and it is unfair cumbering my father with the responsibility. Legolas is quite attached to you and it would seem logical that I offer you the position, so if you wish it is yours."

"You want me to look after your son on a permanent basis?" I ask with disbelief

"In essence yes, you will live with our closest servants within the royal dwellings. It is a place to call home at least until you remember where home is. Everything will be provided for you and you shall be in want for nothing. It is an honorable thing to be asked to serve my family many would have liked this position."

"And you offer it to me? The girl that has no memory and you know nothing about? You trust me with your infant son, seriously?" I am beyond words but I could hug him, oh dear the tears are coming again, I must remain composed!

"I owe you a great debt for what you have done for us; consider this a payment of that debt." Thranduil replies graciously and bows his head.

"Well that is very gracious of you and I suppose I don't have a better offer so yes I would love the opportunity." I answer with a poised voice, but the ridiculous grin plastered over my face would suggest that all my Christmases have come at once.

"Excellent! I will send Raffyn for you later."

"Who is Raffyn?" I ask cautiously picturing some dark and mysterious character.

"The royal advisor and my Adar's closest servant, he will show you to your quarters and have you settled in." Thranduil answers and glances around the larder for a moment pulling a face; "What where you doing in here?"

"Um," I squirm and grimace, "Eating and drinking."

He raises his eyebrow keeping a deadpan expression; "By yourself in a cupboard?"

"Sometimes I like my own company," I mutter feeling a little petulant I don't feel like answering to anyone especially not him, he is in essence the reason for all trouble.

Surprisingly he graces me with a lopsided grin and stretches behind me to grasp the bottle of wine I have stashed out of view. He casually observes it and seems impressed with my selection, then he puts the bottle to his lips and downs like half of it in a couple of gulps. I can't help the shrill giggle I give and it is more out of nervousness than that I actually find this amusing. Thranduil does not shudder from the strong taste like I did, he is obviously well accustomed to it but he does hand the bottle back to me and nods his head in understanding, his proximity to me in this tiny space is unnerving;

"Yes Clara my dear sometimes I need my own company too."

And with that said he saunters out of the room and leaves me slightly stunned and a little light headed. Even in his wounded state he is incredibly sure of himself and there is something in his subtle mannerisms that is alluring and almost captivating and oh dear lord I'm swooning! I do not swoon, I never swoon, I am blaming the elven wine on this one.

I wait for about three minutes before I do a little excited dance around the tiny larder, the relief flooding through me has the calming effect I so desired. After spinning around for a few minutes I lean against the wall and slap my hand to my forehead, breathlessly chuckling; I've got a job and a place of my own, okay I am a glorified Nanny but at least I am safe and I've still got my little rescuer to keep me company. I'm not alone, I can do this, I can live in middle earth and I'll make a much better go at this life than I did the last, this I vow!