A/N: First I want to thank –takes deep breath– szepilona10, ligerjager, trecebo, jen1390, Jimmy Candlestick, StrangerToTheWorld, PrincessOfTheUnderworld, MakruTree, Pip4, jambaby1963, White Atropos, Peregrin Ionad, Inwe Nolatari, MagicalMary, Muffing, Starset, Kari, Kimsa Ki-Lurria, Calenlass Greenleaf1, Nobody, FoxyHottie, eiremouse, fluffys-sidekick, Jiko Hitasura, Ketsueki-Ken, and Aya-Shorufor reviewing.

Wow. Twenty-six reviews…You guys are tremendous!! Thank you so much for the encouragement! This has been a really tough couple weeks for me health wise, and you don't know how wonderful it is to open my gmail and see those reviews. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Loving you guys! Ila

Chapter Six: Many Meetings

Legolas returned to consciousness slowly, and for the first time in the last few days, he did not fight it. He let his mind clear and felt himself wafting his way up out of the darkness. He remembered everything that had happened before with complete clarity, and it puzzled him, for usually, waking from a drug induced sleep caused extreme disorientation. Inwardly, he smirked. Fancy being confused because you weren't confused. He rolled his closed eyes at that and tentatively reached out with his mind to check on his wounds. His side and arm ached dully, but the cuts on his throat were already mostly healed. Now for the next, larger step.

Drawing a deep breath, he squinted his eyes open, forcing them to remain so as the bright light invaded. After a few moments, his eyes adjusted, and he curiously took in his surroundings. He was in a tent, the red fabric sides fluttering lightly in an unseen morning breeze, and he was lying on a bed of soft silken sheets. His tunic and leggings, neatly folded, washed, and mended, lay on a table of polished wood which sat beside his bedside. The healer, the faun Redrick, slumped in a chair, snoring softly. Rugs were laid out on the grass, and Legolas could not help wonder at the finery.

He lifted his arm before him and inspected the bandage thoughtfully. No discoloration marked the white bandage, and so he pulled up the loose white tunic he wore and glanced at his side. The bandages there were also pristine, and he gave a soft sigh of relief. Over the last couple of days, he had begun to wonder how much blood he actually had in his body, and he was glad to know that the continuous flow had finally stopped.

The healer stirred in his sleep, and Legolas shot him a glance, instinctively thankful when he settled back into his dreams. Healers always awoke a strange rebellious spirit in him – one that was determined to escape the watchful, or not so watchful, eyes. The feeling always reminded him of how he felt as an elfling during his midnight forays to the kitchens.

Smiling slightly, he pushed himself slowly up into a sitting position. His head swam, and he gripped the sheets momentarily until the dizzy spell passed. He knew that he was seriously dehydrated, and though there were several water skins in the room, he dared not drink lest he swallow another one of those disgusting potions. Pushing his thirst back into a corner of his mind, he stood cautiously, wincing as his side burned and head protested.

After shooting the healer another glance, he took his clothes and quickly dressed, slipping on his boots which sat next to the bed. He felt strangely vulnerable without his weapons, and it was with a pang that he remembered they remained in the Witch's camp. Elladan and Elrohir had given the knives to him, and his mother had fashioned the bow for him with her own hands. Every arrow had been fletched with his brothers amid their bantering, and his younger sister had made the quiver and sheaths for his knives for his seven hundredth begetting day. He treasured them all, and it made his blood boil to know that they were in enemy hands.

Speaking of his mother…His hands flew up to his neck, and he gasped with relief as his fingers wrapped around the pendant. He would never forgive himself if he lost this. With a shaky sigh, he sat back down on the bed and ran his fingers through his tangled hair, brushing out most of the knots before doing his braids. While he worked, he stretched his senses out towards his surroundings, listening to the soft chatter of voices and smelling the aroma of fresh bread on the air. The bread called his attention to how hungry he really was. How long had it been since he had eaten? Two days? Three? The days of his imprisonment had blended together, and he no longer remembered. Water, however, was on the top of his priority list, as was finding Leidara, Edmund, and this Aslan, if he was here.

Standing, he stood and exited the tent, purposing to find the objects of his desire. Bright sunlight flooded his eyes, and he blinked cautiously, surveying his surroundings. His tent was at the edge of the camp, and the bustle was behind him, leaving him the grass and trees. He sighed and drew in a deep breath, savoring the smell of life. He stepped towards the forest, when a voice stopped him.

"Just where do you think you are going?"

He froze and looked over to where Leidara stood watching him next to a chestnut horse. He smiled sheepishly and walked over to her. "Good morning, Leidara. How do you fare?"

She laid her ears back at him. "How do I fare, is it? Let me turn that question back to you. What in all the stars in the sky are you doing up?"

"I am fine," he said, waving her concern off dismissively. "Merely stiff. I came looking for water and for you and Edmund."

"You're fine, my eye," Leidara growled. "You lost half your body weight in blood these last few days."

Legolas frowned at her. "You are mothering me again. And I actually am fine, believe it or not." Pointedly, he turned his attention from her and to the horse at her side. "I don't believe we've met."

"Of course you haven't met him yet," Leidara said, sending the elf her best glare. Legolas just grinned at her. "This is my brother, Phillip. Phillip, this is Legolas."

The other horse studied him curiously for a moment. "Pleased to meet you, Master Elf. Leidara has been telling me about you."

Legolas sighed. "Oh, dear. Should I be worried?"

Phillip nickered a laugh. "No, I assure you, she feels only respect for you."

"Oh, I'm worried," Legolas said dryly and dodged out of the way as Leidara nipped at him. "Look," he told her, "I am truly fine, but I am really thirsty."

"You are to dine with the humans if you are able," Phillip said. "At least, that's what I was told."

"Humans?" Legolas asked.

"Edmund's siblings arrived a day or so before us," Leidara said. "They, luckily, had a smoother journey."

Legolas stiffened as the tent flap opened behind him, and the healer stumbled out, setting his bleary eyes on the prince.

"What are you doing up?" Redrick demanded. "You're in no condition to be standing, much less walking. Come, back to bed." He stepped up to the elf and reached for his arm, clearing intent on dragging him back if the need persisted.

Legolas disregarded the complaints of his injuries and jumped out of the healer's reach, swinging himself up on Leidara. "Go!" he urged her, leaning forward. "I've got breakfast waiting and a healer to escape."

For a moment, Leidara seemed torn, uncertain whether to hand him back over to the faun or listen to his pleas. The idea of an escape was too much fun for her youthful spirit to ignore, and she sprang up and dashed off, Redrick in hot pursuit.

Phillip shook his head and followed them at a leisurely canter.

Legolas immediately regretted his choice to ride, as his healing side and arm ached fiercely, but not his decision to escape the healer. He refused to acknowledge the pain and glanced over his shoulder at Redrick, who was keeping up remarkably well. "Faster, Leidara," he called to her, waving blithely at the frustrated healer.

Leidara tossed her head and lengthened her stride, careening through the camp and sending creatures dogging for cover. Abruptly, she leaned back on her haunches and slid to a stop. Edmund and three other young humans looked up from where they sat around a low table, apparently almost ready to eat.

"Edmund," she cried, "look what I've got."

Edmund scrambled to his feet and ran over. "Legolas!" he exclaimed. "What are you doing up?"

The elf grinned. "Escaping healers." He threw a glance behind him, and an expression of alarm crossed his face. "Oh, he's coming. Excuse me." Standing on Leidara's back, he grabbed a branch above his head and pulled himself up into a tree. A sharp pain stabbed through his side, but he ignored it and watched down through the branches as Redrick ran into the clearing, breathing hard.

Spotting Leidara and Edmund, he marched over to them. "Where's the elf?" he demanded.

Leidara swished her tail and gave him her best innocent look. Edmund just shrugged. "I believe he has vacated the premises."

Redrick blinked at him and then folded his arms across his chest. "Legolas has a potentially lethal side wound and has probably torn his stitches, and you're hiding him? Don't be foolish. He needs to stay off his feet at the very least a week."

Legolas snickered softly. At the very latest, he would be fine in four days.

Unfortunately, for him, fauns had excellent hearing, and Redrick glanced sharply up into the branches of the tree above him. "What are you doing in a tree?!" he bellowed. "Come down now, or I'll send a leopard up after you."

With a defeated sigh, Legolas dropped from the branches and landed with a slight grimace beside Edmund. "You want me?"

Redrick scowled at him darkly. "You could say that, young fool. Come. I'm probably going to have to restitch your wounds after this imprudence."

Legolas crossed his arms and sent the healer the full weight of the glare gifted to all the sons of Thranduil. "I know the limits of my body and will not injure myself, but I am not, repeat, not going to be confined in that tent. You'd want to move around too if you had been tied up for the last few days. Whether you believe it or not, my wounds are healing swiftly and are probably almost completely closed. However, if you do not believe me, you can see them after I get something to eat and drink."

Redrick met his gaze and then grudgingly looked away. "I suppose," he muttered with normal healer reluctance. "I'll be back at your tent and expect you there as soon as you have finished breakfast." He turned to Leidara. "I hold you accountable to watch over him and get him there." Sending the elf one last, disapproving glance, the healer stalked back into the camp.

For a moment, Leidara, Edmund, and Legolas just looked at each other, and then Leidara nickered a giggle, and Legolas sent the horse a glare before joining in her laughter. Edmund just rolled his eyes.

"I say, what's gotten into you two?" the boy said with amused exasperation.

Legolas frowned in mock thoughtfulness. "Perhaps because we're free and still alive?" he suggested. "But setting aside our strangeness –"

Leidara snorted. "Your strangeness, you mean, elf."

"Fine then." He grinned roguishly. "Setting aside my strangeness, you have yet to introduce me to your siblings, Edmund."

The boy just shook his head and led them over to where his siblings sat watching the exchange. The three other children rose as he walked over, and Legolas studied them carefully as Edmund introduced them.

"Legolas, this is my brother Peter, he's seventeen, and my sisters Susan, age sixteen, and Lucy Pevencie, who's nine. Guys, this is Legolas – he's an elf."

"Mae govannen, mellyn," Legolas said with a smile as he bowed slightly and swept out his hand in an elvish greeting. He was amused at the boy's introductions and wondering if all humans gave out their ages so readily. "Well met, friends. I am honored to meet the saviors of Narnia."

Peter, the eldest, shook his head, sudden confusion on his handsome, young face. "I – I don't know about that, sir. I still think this is a mistake, and we're not who they think we are." He motioned for the elf to be seated, and they all settled comfortably around the table. "In fact, I don't know what to think of a lot of things."

"I understand completely," Legolas said, his eyes darkening as he thought of his family.

For a moment, there was silence. "Well," Susan said breezily, evidently trying to dispel the gloom which seemed to fall over them, "Edmund's told us all he knows about you, sir, and we are grateful for what you've done for him. We owe you a great deal."

Legolas dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I only wish I could have done more. However, Edmund is strong and went through much without any aid from me." He sent a fond glance at the clearly embarrassed boy. "You owe me nothing."

Peter managed a weak smile. "So, you were also unceremoniously dumped into Narnia?"

"Yes," Legolas answered, his eyes clouding once more. "However, I was running for my life at the time with escape a slim chance indeed, so I suppose I should be glad. I am concerned for my family, though. I'm afraid they will be extremely worried."

There was another long silence, before young Lucy spoke up hesitantly. "Can you tell us about where you are from, Legolas?"

He smiled sadly. "Not now, for the tale of my land is long and sorrowful, and much is not for young ears to hear." He firmly pushed aside his doubts and anxiety and laughed lightly. "This day should be for rejoicing, for Edmund, Leidara, and I are free once more. No more darkness, cold, ropes, chains –"

"– gags, or witches," Edmund finished firmly yet with a smile of his own.

A snort came from behind them, and they turned to see Leidara looking at them with profound annoyance. "And no delirious elves who stubbornly claim to be fine."

Legolas grinned sheepishly as the children laughed. "Well, my brothers and I decided that when someone is still conscious, they are technically still fine."

Leidara laid back her ears at him. "Stars above help us…"

The ice was broken, and for the next half hour, Legolas listened as the children chattered gaily about Narnia and its strange and wonderful creatures while they ate. Phillip had arrived by this time, and he and Leidara joined in the conversation heartily, correcting and laughing at the newcomers' mistakes and misconceptions.

Legolas wasn't sure what to think of his situation. He had not had dealings with Men for so long… and now he sat eating with four human children, the supposed saviors of Narnia. He rubbed his forehead with a heavy sigh, half wondering if he was going mad. Of all the crazy things he had ever imagined happening in his lifetime, this was definitely not one of them.

He stared sightlessly out at the forest, feeling the trees calling for him. The green leaves danced on wind and created a rustling, sylvan melody harmonized by the chattering and songs of the birds.

Come, the trees seemed to whisper, their language foreign but strangely understandable. Come, one attuned to nature. Come and speak with us.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling them reaching out and touching his mind. Their touch was gentle and calming to his troubled thoughts, and he was astounded by their aliveness. The trees back in Mirkwood were falling under shadow and drifting to sleep, and the ones that were still awake could only emit emotion and not direct words. It had been many years since he had come across a tree able to speak freely.

"Legolas?"

He started and opened his eyes to see the children watching him with concern.

"Are you alright?" Lucy asked, her large brown eyes worried.

He smiled. "Yes. I apologize for startling you. I was just thinking."

"Yes, you were," Leidara cut in as she trotted up to his side. "You were thinking that you are weary and need Redrick to check your wounds."

He frowned at her. "No, I was thinking that I should go for a walk."

"A walk?" Leidara exclaimed, aghast. "Absolutely not! You need to rest."

"Horses are not the only beings who can sleep standing," Legolas returned, pushing himself to his feet. "I can also rest while walking. It is not natural for an elf to sleep with their eyes closed though lately I have done so because my body was healing itself.

"Please, Leidara," he added before she could find a retort. "I just need some time alone to clear my thoughts." Bowing slightly to the Penvencies, he turned and walked towards the woods, relieved when Leidara did not attempt to stop him.

"Never," he heard her snort, "have I met a creature as flighty as that elf."

Smiling to himself, he slipped into the forest, touching the trees gently as he passed them and sending them greetings. They were delighted by his ability to commune with them, and the leaves rippled with joy at his touch.

After walking for some time, he began to feel the ache of his side once more, and he sat down on the soft moss beside an old crab apple tree and closed his eyes, breathing in the sweet smell of apple blossoms and spring. The warm breeze ruffled his hair and caressed his face with tender fingers, and he dropped his hands to his sides and fingered the young grasses.

One cannot understand true freedom, he mused, until it is taken away. Only when it slips through one's fingers can one understand what he has lost. And now that I have it once more, I shall take even greater care not to lose it again.

The breeze died away, but the rustling of the leaves continued, and he glanced up and inhaled sharply with surprise.

Some petals from the crab apple dropped away from the branches and swirled toward him, taking the form of a woman as they did so. The petals seemed to meld together, and abruptly a young woman stood before him clad in a simple, sleeveless pale pink gown. Her hair and eyes matched the color of the crab apple's bark, and she was as beautiful as any elleth yet seemed to be as ancient as the wisest elf lord.

"Greetings, friend of trees," she said, pausing before him. "I am a nymph, the spirit of this crab apple you lean against. I wish to welcome you to our fair woods and express the pleasure of many at your presence. Never, besides the great Lion, have we met one who can speak to us when we are in our natural form of bark and branches."

Legolas stood hastily and bowed to her, struggling to contain his amazement at the sight before him. "The pleasure is all mine, my lady. Your presence strengthens me and sooths my spirit. It is my great joy to be able to communicate with you in any of your beautiful forms."

The nymph smiled. "Ah, you flatter. However, I have also come to deliver to you a message. Aslan desires to speak with you. If you continue straight on before you, you shall come to a hill where the forest ends. He waits for you there. Farewell, friend."

Legolas bowed to her once more. "Farewell, my lady."

In a gust of wind, she dissipated, and her petals floated away, leaving him alone once more. He stood for a few moments in unmoving silence, his mind full of what had just happened. Never before had he seen or heard of such a thing, and he felt as though…. He shook his head, unable to put his thoughts into words.

Temporarily pushing thoughts of the nymph aside, he recalled her words of Aslan and started off into the woods in the direction spoken to him. He dared not think or imagine what Aslan might be like, for he had never seen a living lion before, only sketches in books of history or lore. He could not help but wonder, however, who the Lion might be and why such a warm feeling filled him whenever he thought the name.

He exited the trees into the bright sunlight, the sky more brilliant than the rarest sapphires. A gentle, grass-covered hill rose up before him, and at the pinnacle, facing away over the valley below, sat the Lion.

His mane danced in the wind like a river of flowing gold, and his long tail wrapped around his massive paws, the dark point twitching slightly. He held an aura of power, authority, and wisdom which surpassed even what Legolas had felt emitting from the wisest elven lords he knew. Yet, kindness was also a part of him, and Legolas hesitantly stepped forward and continued up the hill, feeling like an undeserving elfling. A few feet back from the Lion, he paused and stood hesitantly, waiting to be addressed.

After a moment of silence, Aslan stood and turned to face him, his paws silent on the soft grass. "Greetings, Legolas Thranduilion," he said, his voice deep and mellow. His golden eyes were filled with the most tender love that young elf had ever seen.

Legolas gasped slightly, unwilling to look away from those eyes, those eyes which looked right into his heart and warmly comforted the hurts there, those eyes which saw his confusions and fears and shone with understanding and sympathy. He felt as though he stood in the presence of One who had known him the day he was born and had been with him though every heartache and joy, every mistake and victory, every regret. And suddenly, he knew.

"Eru," he breathed, sinking to his knees. "Ilúvatar."

Aslan smiled gently. "You speak the names of my Father, and he and I are one and the same. So, yes, my son, I am he whom the inhabitants of Middle-earth call Eru Ilúvatar, though here, I am simply known as Aslan, the Lion."

"Why a lion, my lord?" Legolas asked in shock yet unable to hold back the question.

Aslan laughed easily. "The main populace of Narnia is talking animals; as I come to them in their need to guide them, shouldn't I also come as one of them?"

"Middle-earth is in need, my lord," Legolas replied, knowing without asking that any questions he asked would be answered, and he need not hold back. "Why do you not come to defeat Sauron and rule us?"

Sorrow filled the Lion's gaze, and he sighed deeply. "Many would not receive me, for their hearts are hard and filled with hate. Until the world is ready, I will not come, for what kind of love is forced? However, there will always be those who choose the fleeting pleasures of evil over my love.

"Yet still," Aslan continued, "I am not as absent as you may think, for did you not know me?"

A slight frown creased Legolas' brow as he struggled to decipher the Lion's puzzling words and his latest question. "I-I don't know how I knew," he said at last. "I just knew."

Aslan lifted a paw and placed it against the elf's chest. "That is because I've always been with you in your heart – and I always will be. Do not fear the trials before you, for you will never be alone."

Legolas smiled, and his fingers reached up and touched the strong paw, feeling the warmth, love, and energy of the Lion course into him. "Speaking of trials," he said at last, "why am I here? Surely there is a reason."

"Nothing happens without a reason," Aslan replied and turned away. "Walk with me, Legolas."

Legolas rose, and the two walked along the ridge in silence for a few moments. Finally, the Lion paused. "Look. What do you see?"

Legolas squinted slightly in the sunlight and scanned the expanse before them. Small hills covered in grass or trees leaped out beneath them, and on the horizon, a palace stood on a high crag, its white stone glimmering and glistening. Beyond it, a wide expanse of blue reflected the sky, and its surface glittered with fallen stars.

"The sea," he breathed. He lifted his hand to shade his eyes and studied the scene with undeniable excitement. He had always longed to look upon the sea, even though his father had warned him of the dangers. He glanced down at Aslan. "Will it call to me?"

"The sea beckons to all," the Lion replied, "but if you speak of the sea-longing, then no. It is not this sea that shall awaken your desire to sail. Like the sea, the future is always changing while the past remains the same. It is because of both the past and the future that I called you here."

"Is it because of the history of Jadis and my grandfather?" Legolas asked.

"I see she told you," Aslan said. "But, yes, you are correct in a way. However, since Jadis caused much suffering in Middle-earth as a student of Morgoth, it is only right that a representative from that world and your family should be here in this crucial time."

"But why me?" Legolas said. "Why not my father? I am young while he is older and wiser. He is also the son of Oropher while I am only the grandson."

Aslan laughed softly. "Dear Thranduil! Your father is an enigma who causes the Valar to cry aloud in frustration. Indeed, he is older and holds much knowledge, but he is also set in his ways and has a great deal of pride. You are yet willing to learn and change, and though you have pride, it is not so deeply rooted as your father's. While Thranduil believes in my existence as Eru, I doubt he would understand why I would become a lion in a land of talking animals."

Legolas smiled, picturing his father's face if he found out that Ilúvatar himself had become a lion. "I believe I understand your reasoning, my lord, though I am not sure I am worthy of the honor of being the representative of Middle-earth."

"I know your worth and your heart, my son," Aslan replied, his eyes affectionate and perceptive as they rested on the young elf. "And that is why you are here. Remember what I said, Legolas. I will always be with you, even to the end of the world."

Legolas bowed his head in acknowledgement, his heart full. "Le hannon." He raised his head and gasped softly, for Aslan was gone, and the windswept grass before him was empty.

Yet, his heart was full; love and devotion burned within him for the Lion, Aslan, Eru Ilúvatar. Standing on the hill in the breeze, he laughed aloud with joy and wonder, for he had spoken with the Creator and was counted as His son. That in itself was still difficult for him to take in. Shaking his head, he turned and started down the hill back towards camp, his mind ringing with Aslan's words.

Never alone.

o-0-o-0-o

Translations:

Mae govannen, mellyn – Well met, friends

elleth – elf maiden

Le hannon – Thank you

A/N: Well, I hope you liked it! I'm sorry for the long wait, but I've been (sadly) quite busy and sick. I hope that everyone looking forward to a meeting between Legolas and Aslan were satisfied. It was a bit nerve racking trying to write the Lion. :-) I did follow the books in regards to some areas of the nymphs and the slight bit about Aslan's Father.

Well, thanks again to everyone who left those glorious reviews! I would love to hear everyone's opinions and critiques of this chapter!

Blessings! Ila