Hello, hello! We meet again. I'm so sorry for the long delay. I have been so busy the last few months, working myself to death!
Anyway, here's the latest chapter.
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The sound of bickering pulled Legolas back to consciousness.
"You idiot. Look what you've done!"
"What exactly did I do?"
"You showed him your ugly face."
"Who says I'm ugly? And I've been showing my face around for years. So why can't I show it now?"
"Because he has forgotten all about you, you nitwit! See? You've scared the stuffing out of him."
"Why didn't you warn me?"
"I might have if you had the decency to inform us of your flight routine. You come and go as you please. What do you think this place is? Your hibernating nest?"
Legolas stifled a groan, wishing that oblivion would return and claim him once more. The squabbling happily resumed around him as he was poked and prodded without mercy.
"What's the matter with him? How did he get that cut on his head?"
"He walked into a tree," Keldarion grouchily responded.
"You're kidding. Didn't he see the tree?"
"He did. He was just too stupid to realize what it was until he banged into it."
The other person chuckled and suggested that they should carry Legolas off to bed.
"Careful, draq! Mind his head," Keldarion snapped as, together, they lifted him off the floor.
"I am careful! Stop being such a priggish, over-bearing, pompous son of a…"
"Gallard," Narasene interrupted, speaking for the very first time in that sweet voice of hers.
"Yes, my lady?"
"Be quiet."
That shut them both up. Still, Legolas refused to open his eyes, even after he was fully laid on his back. His wife was giving orders left and right, demanding a basin of water and some clean towels and bandages. Keldarion and Gallard—whoever that was—was heard scampering away to do her biddings.
The mattress dipped slightly near his hip a moment before Narasene spoke softly to him, "You can open your eyes now, my lord husband."
Legolas cautiously opened one eye and found her smiling down at him. He gave her a weak grin. "Hi, Nara."
"Hi, yourself."
"Geez, lady. How did you know I'm awake?"
"You were frowning, my dear. That's a total giveaway," she replied, leaning down to kiss his lips. "Does your head still hurt?"
"Immensely. And I think I've gone mad. I thought I just saw an eagle change into a man."
Narasene's gaze didn't waver. "I know. We saw it too."
"But…but that's…that's impossible! It's ridiculous. It's…"
"It's a fact, you numbskull," Gallard stated as he came near, carrying a water basin in his arms. "Call me ridiculous again and I'll dump this blasted thing atop your head."
Sitting upright, Legolas glared in response. He eyed Gallard up and down, noticing with disdain that the stranger was wearing soft buckskin leggings and nothing else, his muscled-toned torso in full view.
"My wife is present," Legolas growled, "So go cloth yourself or I'll make you eat that blasted thing."
"Why, you jealous?" Gallard snorted. "As if my wife never saw you without your…"
Keldarion quickly clapped the towels over Gallard's mouth, effectively cutting off the stranger's next words "Enough, big bird. Let me handle this."
Turning to his younger brother, he added, "Legolas, let me introduce you to Gallard, your very old friend."
Legolas wasn't easily convinced. "Is he really? How and when did I meet him?"
"It's a long story. We can talk about that later."
"But what exactly is he? A bird or a man?"
"A mixture of those two, I believe, which makes him a very interesting kind of hybrid that is rare to find in any part of this land. He…"
"I can speak for myself, thank you very much!" Gallard snapped as he jerked free of Keldarion's hold. Looking directly at Legolas, he said, "I'm a draq."
"A draq." Legolas didn't look impressed. "What the heck is that?"
Gallard dumped the water basin onto the bedside table. "I'm a shape-shifting eagle, you idiot. Can't you even remember that?"
Reddening with anger, Legolas hissed through gritted teeth, "Obviously, I can not."
The draq closely regarded the ailing elf before he quietly said, "Yes, I can see that. Forgive me Legolas, if I upset you. And I didn't mean to give you such a fright just now, when I was shape-shifting."
Legolas had to smile. "I wasn't frightened exactly, but you did take me by surprise."
Chuckling, Gallard moved over to perch on the bed. Keldarion took a seat in one of the nearby chairs after handing over the towels to Narasene, who then turned to her husband to give him the delayed medical treatment.
"I've only just received the missive your father had sent about you getting hurt," Gallard said apologetically, as Narasene cleaned the cut on Legolas' forehead. "I was away when it arrived, so when I got back to Tasqamaran it was already two weeks late. I flew here the fastest I could."
Legolas looked puzzled. "Tasqamaran?"
"That's where I live. Tasqamaran Keep, built on an island in the Western Sea fully inhibited by draqs. And also some shraqs, from my wife's family."
"Wait. Back up, please." Legolas was completely agog now. "Tasqamaran? Truly? But I thought it was just a myth, something that we found only in children's bedtime stories."
Gallard gave him a droll look. "Do I look like a myth to you?"
"No. You just look like someone who doesn't know what a shirt is."
Gallard rolled his eyes while Keldarion burst out laughing. Narasene smacked her husband across the chest with a damp towel.
"Enough of that nonsense, my dear," she said reprovingly. "Besides, you are not wearing a shirt yourself."
"That's different. I'm your husband."
Narasene sniffed haughtily, her annoyance with him plain on her face even though she refused to say more on the matter.
Amused, Gallard cleared his throat with a grin. "Well…err…Anyway, here I am. I thought I would see you with my own eyes to assure myself you're all right. Now that I know you've lost your memory, maybe I can help you recover it all."
Legolas' face brightened. "You are willing to help me?"
Gallard shrugged. "Of course. It wouldn't be too hard, would it? A knock or two to your head and you will be back to normal…Aww!"
Keldarion had just cuffed him upside the head.
"Obviously it wouldn't work because your own little brain is still malfunctioning," the elder elf told the scowling draq. "Stop rubbing your head and come with me. Our father must see you."
"Why?"
"Because he is the king of this realm as you are to your island. It's proper that he is officially informed of your arrival. My lord," Keldarion added the last bit as an afterthought.
Gallard stood, grumbling under his breath, "It was mush easier when I was only known as Hawkeye."
"That time has past so stop complaining. Now come along."
"I'm coming, I'm coming." To Legolas, Gallard said, "We will talk later, my friend."
Legolas feebly nodded. "Sure, my lord."
"Don't call me that. Makes me feel old," Gallard replied with a grimace.
"Right. And you are…what? Only three hundred years of age?" Keldarion sarcastically pointed out. "Come on, draq. Let's go. Oh, wait."
He paused at Legolas' dresser and took out a wonderfully tailored dark brown tunic. He tossed it to Gallard. "Here, put it on. Don't want my wife to see you half naked."
"Hey! That's my…" Legolas started to protest but quickly ceased at his wife's telling glare. "Uh…Go ahead. Take it. Valar save the ladies' virtue."
With a jaunty wave, Gallard left the room after Keldarion.
The moment the door was shut close with a soft click, Legolas turned to his wife and whined, "But that's my favorite shirt! You made it for me,"
Narasene immediately went still. She gazed deeply into his eyes, searching and probing. "You…you remember that?"
"Of course, but how can I forget? You spent three nights straight driving me crazy up the wall, embroidering those silly little leaves on the shirtsleeves instead of getting into bed with me. I was so vexed I nearly tear the tunic out of your hands and toss it into the flames, but then you jammed the entire thing into my mouth to stop my ranting and we…Oh."
Legolas blinked when he realized what he was saying. "Oh."
Grinning crookedly at his wife, he added, "I do remember what you did next, my dearest. Sharp and clear."
"You randy goat, you." Narasene blushed. She stroked his cheek lovingly. "Is that all you can remember? Can't you remember anything else?"
Legolas' face fell. "No, I'm sorry. I guess my memory just come in flashes for now. Maybe it will get better tomorrow?"
She smiled reassuringly. "I hope so. Tomorrow you might remember something else, maybe more."
"I can't wait."
Narasene finished up her treatment and started to put away her medical supplies. "There. You're all patched up, as good as new. Just don't let that cut get wet for a couple of days, all right? I'll put on more salve if it gets too dry, though. And stay away from any tree."
He grinned. "Yes, ma'am."
She tugged at the coverlet, covering him to his waist. "Now get some sleep. Let your body heal."
"But it's too early. The night is still young," Legolas protested, grabbing her arm before she could leave.
"You are not well, Legolas. You need your rest…oh!" Narasene tumbled into bed next to him after he gave her hand a quick yank. "Really, my lord…"
"Hush." He pressed a finger against her lips, his silver eyes darkening with desire. Tenderly, he tucked a lock of hair around her left ear. "Where did you say our sons were? In the nursery?"
"Hmm." She moaned with pleasure as he snuggled closer and kissed her throat.
"We will go and get them, but later. For now, I want you alone for myself."
"But I need to go downstairs. The dinner, our guests…"
"They can survive without you." His hands were busy at the bodice of her gown. "But, help me lady, for I can't."
Giggling, she buried her hands in his hair and pulled his head down for a long, lingering kiss.
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Gallard had finished buttoning up his tunic and was now staring askance at Keldarion. "You didn't whisk me out of Legolas' chamber simply to take me to your father."
"You are right. I had other reason for that," the elf solemnly replied. "I need to tell you more of Legolas' condition before you say something you shouldn't."
The draq raised one eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Keldarion halted. "Look, Gallard, Legolas has forgotten everything—starting from the day that I was supposed to wed Arulin of Garmadris."
Gallard's eyes narrowed. "Everything?"
"Yes." Keldarion nodded. "Everything."
Frowning, the draq didn't spoke for a full minute as he quietly digested the information. "That's not good. Not good at all."
"I have to agree with you on that." Keldarion sighed, running a weary hand through his hair. "Stubborn as he is, Legolas wants to recall everything at once. He sequestered himself in the king's study the entire day, looking through the history books."
"Now that is bad," Gallard remarked with a shake of his head. "That's the most unfortunate way to find out about those terrible things that happened to him all these years."
"Actually, he found out more about the War of the Ring and the fall of Sauron that way. He also learned that he helped Aragorn reclaim the throne of Gondor. Actually, it was our father who told him about how he lost his manyan touch."
"How did your brother take it, then?"
"Terribly. Father told me afterwards that he had never seen Legolas cry like that for over a decade."
Again, Gallard shook his head. "Poor, Legolas. To go through all that pain once more."
Keldarion was biting his lips, looking deeply troubled. "He still doesn't know about one other thing."
"What other thing?"
Before answering, Keldarion looked to the left and right, seeking signs for any eavesdropper. The hallway was empty except for them both. Even then, his voice came out low under his breath, "He doesn't remember Jongos."
Gallard didn't seem to understand at first, but then his eyes widened. "Lord almighty. If he finds that out, he will break!"
"My sentiments exactly. So he must not find out."
"What do you intend to do? Keep that knowledge from him?
Keldarion gave a determined nod. "Yes."
"But for how long? He will eventually remember everything, sooner or later."
"Or he might not."
"Is that what you really want?"
It was not an easy question to answer. Keldarion looked away, trying to hide the truth in his eyes. "If it would spare him great pain, then he is better as he is. He is better not knowing."
He turned back to the draq. "Promise me that you will keep this secret?"
Gallard didn't take time to contemplate. "I promise. But you know what will happen if he does remember?"
"History might repeat itself," Keldarion said forlornly. "He will surely kill someone, most probably himself."
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There was a mirror. He saw his face, but it was all wrong. He was pale, way too pale. And there was blood. Lots of blood. Tiny cuts everywhere.
He looked down. There was a small knife in his bloodied hand. He was stabbing at his other wrist, again and again. Strangely, though, he didn't feel any pain. Only emptiness.
There was the sound of an eagle's cry. He turned to look and there it was, perching atop his dresser. A sling was wrapped around its left wing. It was such comical sight he wanted to laugh, but he couldn't. He didn't know how.
The door to the dresser suddenly burst open and several men came out. They surrounded him, evil sneers on their faces. He cringed, whimpering and trembling with fear. The men laughed hysterically, shrill and long. The men grabbed him and held him down.
He screamed and screamed and screamed.
Legolas snapped awake, jerking upright in the bed. His heart was beating wildly and his breathing came in short, quick gasps. His entire body was slick with sweat. His cheeks were damp. Tears still ran down his face.
Confused and bewildered, Legolas wiped his face and looked around him. He was alone. His wife might have gone to the nursery to check on the twins while he slept. He guiltily remembered that he had promised to collect them himself.
Willing for his heartbeat to calm down, he lay back down. He stared at the ceiling, wondering at the eagle he had seen in his dreams. It had looked just like Gallard in his eagle form.
What of the men? Who were they?
And why did he still feel this cold-numbing fear deep in his bones?
TBC…
