A/N: I'm sorry for the delay in posting recently. There has been a lot going on and I've just not found the time to sit and finish writing, which has made me very sad. But things are calming down so back to what I enjoy! Aiming to have at least 2 chapters up tonight

Disclaimer: Middle earth and all of that it encompasses belongs to JRR Tolkien and I have no rights over any of it. The character of Kalina has been my own creation and is the only aspect I claim.

Chapter 4

I ran back in the direction of the treatment room, trying hard not to spill any of the water I had drawn from the well. The wooden bucket was full to the brim and pulled on the muscles in my arms as I moved as fast as I could to get back to the healers. Panting and flustered, I entered the room and put the bucket next to Mireth so she could finish mixing together a thick paste of medicinal herbs and plants. The elves surrounding the bed were throwing blood soaked bandages to the floor in preparation to apply the paste to the Prince's injuries.

"Mireth should I collect the bandages to clean? I don't want to be in the way but I am not much help," I whispered trying to be as out of the way as I could.

"You are doing wonderfully Kalina, and I am glad you are here, your presence calms me. And yes, I think that would be a clever idea, you won't be in the way," replied Mireth as she continued to frantically prepare the paste the healers needed.

As I approached the bed to gather bandages my stomach swam with butterflies, I caught Balthoron's eye and he gave me a half smile and an encouraging nod to continue to approach. Taking a deep breath, I quickened my pace with the aim of gathering the bandages as quickly as I could. Balthoron and one of the dark-haired elves stepped aside to allow me the space to do what I needed. But in moving aside I was given my first clear view of the elf on the bed and I froze in horror.

He was completely stripped of clothing, with a sheet placed over his mid-section for modesty. The right side of his body was perfect, soft pale skin and the defined muscles of a soldier. Long thick platinum strands of hair fell across his side and hung from the edge of the bed glistening in the starlight from the adjacent window. What caught my attention most was the eye on the right side of his face, a perfect pool of blue, exactly like his son. My thoughts fell to Legolas, and it broke my heart to take in the brokenness of the elf before me…Legolas' papa…his hero…he will be completely devastated. The left side of the prince's body was unrecognisable. From his toes and all the way along his leg were deep burns and blisters covering eighty percent of the surface. But from his waist and across his torso it got worse. There were no blisters but the burns were so deep that muscle was exposed, and when it came to the prince's face there was no flesh left, I could see the white of his chiselled jaw.

I felt sick, not with disgust at what I saw, but with sadness. To still be alive in such a state showed his strength and willing to survive, but the pain must be unbearable…excruciating. At the forefront of my mind was still Legolas…how it would break his pure little heart.

Gathering the bandages as quickly as I could I turned to leave. Mireth had finished mixing the paste and the elves began to apply it to the prince's body, all the while the older dark-haired elf was chanting furiously as if he was doing battle with the Gods for the prince's life.

Dashing from the room I walked straight into a solid figure the other side of the door. Glancing up I saw the shocked face of Mithrellas. He was gazing at me as if he could see the horror of the situation in my eyes.

"Any news," croaked the voice of Oropher from beside Mithrellas. I looked at the King trying with all I had to convey sympathy in the look I gave him. This was his son and he must be frantic with worry. Agonising over whether he will pull through, and how he will tell Legolas.

"The bandages have been removed, I am just going to clean them now ready to be used again. Mireth has mixed together a paste from written instructions she was given and they are now applying it. I am sorry I am not of more help my Lord," I replied edging towards my exit. I could feel the tears welling up behind my eyes.

"Thank you Kalina," said Oropher and he turned away to pace the corridor.

I practically ran from the healing halls to the river than flowed a few hundred yards from the entrance. There was a small waterfall that I could use to wash the bandages. Falling to the grass beside the rushing water I finally allowed the tears to flow. Curling my knees to my chest I sobbed into the folds of the beautiful grey cloak that covered me. It was a while before I managed to compose myself enough to splash my face with the crisp icy water before me and take some deep breaths. Pulling the basket towards me I took out the first bandage and began rubbing the bar of soap into it. It took some time but I had finally cleaned the blood from all the bandages and they were ready to be used again…if he was still alive that was.

"You must be Kalina," said a voice from behind making me jump out of my skin.

I spun around to find myself looking up at two dark-haired elves, two impossibly identical elves. Their hair, dark like the night sky, was pulled into identical braids and subtly threaded with silver. Both were tall and muscular, with long thin faces and grey eyes that reminded me of twilight. They sat on the grass either side of me with reassuring identical smiles.

"I am Elladan," said the elf to my left, "and this is my brother Elrohir," the elf to my right gave me a wave, "we are the sons of Elrond, the one doing all the chanting in there, and we come from the realm of Imladris in the north beyond the misty mountains. Balthoron and Mireth were worried you may be feeling overwhelmed."

"To be honest we feel a little overwhelmed, it has been a long and gruelling journey to return Prince Thranduil to his home, and so we eagerly volunteered to come and see you were ok," said Elrohir taking over from his brother instinctively.

"Thank you, it was kind of everyone to think of me when really their focus should be on the prince. I am not sure how I feel. This world is all so new and confusing and I barely no anyone here. Yet my heart breaks for those I do know and for the suffering he must be enduring," I replied with a heavy sigh gazing at the waterfall before me.

"Balthoron said you have no memory, it must be tough," said Elladan placing a hand on my shoulder in an act of comfort.

"Well I don't know brother losing your memory could have its advantages, I mean how could father accuse us of misbehaving if we couldn't remember what we had done," said Elrohir with a wink in my direction.

I couldn't help but let out a chuckle and as I did so it seemed to ease the gloom that had settled within me. "What will happen to the Prince?" I asked looking from one twin to the other.

"Thranduil is very strong," responded Elrohir.

"Not to mention incredibly stubborn," interjected Elladan.

"Which for once will go in his favour," grinned Elrohir. "It will take time, Thranduil has a painful journey to walk, but if he perseveres and works hard at what father asks of him he will be ok in time."

"But I don't understand…how can he be ok in time when he is so disfigured?" I asked in amazement at what Elrohir had said.

"You really don't have any memory, do you?" smiled Elladan.

"Think of me as completely clueless in every single aspect of life," I replied with a small grin.

"As Elves we are immortal, if Thranduil gives in then his spirit will pass to the undying lands, but if he chooses to fight then he will live. If he lives then he can learn to control the flesh and hide the scars left by the burns. It is difficult to explain, men say that elves have magic, but it is manipulating the elements to hide the disfigurement. Thranduil will be able to cloak himself and so look as he once did. It takes an enormous amount of effort, but if anyone can do it than our woodland Prince can," explained Elladan.

"Kalina if you would be willing we can try to help with your memory? There is a tonic we can give you for a sleep that will stimulate the hidden parts of your mind. Perhaps you will get some answers," said Elrohir.

"Yes!" I shouted at the elf who began to laugh at my reaction. "Sorry…yes that would be great…anything that may help."

"Come on then, we shall take these bandages to be dried and you can take a room in the healing halls and drink this," said Elrohir handing me a small crystal vial containing a shimmering purple liquid. "We will find you and sit with you as you sleep to ensure you are ok."

I clasped my hands around the vial and with a smile at the twins headed back into the healing halls. Without thinking I headed to my old room and lay on the bed with some trepidation. Could this really work? I had nothing to lose so it was worth a shot. Gulping down the tonic I fell back into the soft feather pillows as the room began to spin around me. A great heaviness pressed upon my eyes making it impossible to keep them open and so I gave in to the blackness that was beckoning me.

A/N: Will Thranduil survive? What about Legolas? Will Kalina finally remember anything? Read on to find out, I will have the next chapter up in a couple of hours, a little editing to do first. If you are enjoying please let me know and review!