Rejoice, all you wonderful people! I finally updated! Sorry the chapter's a little short - I'll update again today or tomorrow if I can...

An hour and a half later, she had awoken reenergized and Thranduil managed to get her to eat something. She also had her drink – which Legolas was still intensely curious about, but his father gave him a look that forbade any questions – as the flask was very small and would only stave off blood-rage for a day or so. Thranduil sent her flask down to the kitchens for fresh rabbit blood; he remembered that it was her preference.

"Now, Alana, if you are refreshed..." He trailed off suggestively.

"You would like to hear my tale, I presume?"

Thranduil nodded. "If you would be so kind as to tell me your business, I would thank you. Although I cannot ask it if you do not desire to have me know."

Legolas once again gaped (with dignity) at hearing his father ask for something, acknowledging the possibility of that something being refused, rather than demanding or outright commanding that whatever it was be done. He was behind Thranduil, so his father didn't see him. Alana did however, and all-but giggled at his expression.

"No need to look so shocked, Prince. Your father can be quite polite and even rather charming when he chooses to be." She told him, a teasing light dancing in her eyes.

Thranduil gave her a look.

She just grinned, and began her story – though she didn't have any intention of telling him everything, and her friend knew it.

"I was in the land that I have recently found myself protecting. It is called Narnia, and I swore an oath to its kings and queens – four siblings, their monarchy is vastly different than those of Middle Earth – to guard their kingdom against the draghonar, which were then plaguing it. The last draghonar had been destroyed some years ago when I received a message from Gandalf the Grey. He requested my assistance in slaying a very powerful draghonar that had found its way into Middle Earth. Naturally I was surprised that any draghonar were left here; I thought that my people had killed them all. As there was no present threat to Narnia, I agreed to come on this quest. Gandalf was delighted and sent me all the information I needed.

"When I arrived I made a trip to the stars to learn about the events that had taken place in this world in my absence. I asked after all my friends, of course, and was told that you had a son. I ought to have recognized him at once – he looks and acts just like you, you know. But that is beside the point.

"We set off the next day. Due to certain things I desired to know more of and the workings of draghonar magic nearby, it was arranged that I would travel separately from the company, which was – is – made up of thirteen dwarves, one hobbit, and the wizard."

Thranduil's brow furrowed, and he shifted, but he did not interrupt.

"I did, however, teach Gandalf the tune by which I might be called, and had him teach it to several of my dwarves. It wasn't long before they called me. I found them beset by trolls, and the wizard nowhere in sight.

"The second time they called was near the back trail to Rivendell, where they had been beset by a pack of wargs and riders. In Rivendell I was glad to see our mutual friend Elrond, but we soon set out again.

"The third time my dwarves called, Gandalf was again not with them. They were in the mountains, fighting a terrible storm. To top it off, the rock giants decided that was a good night to fight amongst themselves, and my hobbit tried to fall of the mountain. It was he who called me, yet it was not he I rescued. They managed to get him back on the path, but in so doing one of my dwarves fell beyond the reach of his friends. I plucked him out of the air just in time.

"The fourth time was immediately after the third. I left them in a cave there in the mountains – a cave that seemed secure, though it made me uneasy – and went back along the path to assist my wizard, who was having difficulty making headway against the storm. When we reached the cave together, the others had all disappeared without a trace. I heard one of my dwarves call to me from within the mountain, and Gandalf and I went after them. They had been captured by orcs. For that I blame myself – I had guided them to the cave, and left them in it even when I felt there might be danger. "

"I was exhausted and made them leave me behind as they finally left the mountain. Gandalf, of course, knew that I would be fine. The other dwarves didn't know I was staying – not then, anyway – but Kili did. Bless his heart, he was so worried. He even tried to stay with me." She smiled softly, her eyes shining.

"After I made him go on with the others, I hid myself and rested. To escape the orcs we had taken a terrible fall – and while the rest of the company had something to cushion the blow, Ki did not. He would not have survived if I had not taken most of it for him. You know, of course, Thranduil, that I can survive far more than any mortal, and even more than most Elves.

"When I left the mountain an hour later, they were once again being hounded by wargs and riders. Azog the Defiler, whom all thought was dead, somehow survived the wounds dealt to him by Thorin, so long ago. He came back for vengeance. That is why we had so much trouble, although we did not know it till then. He was hounding us at every step. I had to call the eagles to help me get them out of that situation – the trees were arranged such that I could not land.

"After I saw them safe to the bottom of the Carrock, I once again left them. I had recently found out a few things about Smaug that made me certain I could not destroy him alone. I went to the highest peak of Cahadras to send a message to a friend of mine who might help me. While I was thus engaged, they called for me a fifth time – yet I did not hear as I was not in my own mind at the time. When I came back to myself, I heard Ki cry out in pain. Realizing that I had not heard their call, I flew for the source of his cry at full speed. What I saw when I arrived on the scene made me rather angry, and you know, Thranduil, that the wrath of the Amator is no light matter. Orcs were once again attacking my dwarves, but this time they were not led by Azog. By the scent of their leader – who through my weakness escaped – I would guess that the accursed has a son.

"I fought for a time in my strongest form, and hidden. Which I believe gave your men quite a turn, Legolas. But I felt my strength failing, as I had used a great deal of magic in the last few hours. I knew that the malady common to Amator was nearly upon me. You know of what I speak, my friend."

Thranduil nodded gravely.

"To conserve my strength I was forced to take the form I am now in and reveal myself. I spoke to Thorin and commanded him to take his men downstream and away from me, though he was loathe to do so. He wished to help me in some way, but I would not permit it. I fought until the orcs were gone, and then your son kindly helped me get the lid off the flask of my drink that I keep for such emergencies. He then brought me here as his prisoner – though I came willingly. And now you know the full tale."

"The dwarves know of your malady, then?"

"Yes. But only Thorin knew that it was upon me. The others did not know, I did not wish them to worry. Kili at least would have defied both my orders and those of his uncle to come to me in an effort to help me– not that there was anything he could do, but he would have tried to help."

"I must say, that dwarf is dear to me. He makes me think of someone else I used to know. Which brings me to something else – Kili was wounded during their escape. Was it an orc arrow or the arrow of one of your men?" Alana asked slowly, turning her gaze on Legolas.

He seemed a little intimidated by the look on her face. "I do not know, your majesty. We were trying to recapture the dwarves, and my men were under orders not to shoot to kill. But it might have been one of them that wounded the dwarf." He hesitated a moment, then asked, "Which is the one called Kili?"

"The reckless one." Alana returned with a smile. Before she could continue with a more thorough description, the female Elf (she must be the second in command under Legolas, because she seemed to be everywhere that anything important was happening) raised her head.

"The reckless one? Aye, I know of which dwarf you speak."

Thranduil looked at her with his classic passive face. "Indeed, Tauriel? Are not all dwarves reckless? How then can you tell one apart from another by this alone?"

"I captured him, my lord. He fought the spiders alone, apart from the others. Indeed he fought well, but was unarmed. Had I not come upon him when I did he would surely have been killed. Then again as I walked by the cells where the dwarves were held, I had a moment's conversation with him. He had a strange stone with runes upon it, and I asked what it was. He told me that it was a trinket his mother had given him to remind him that he was not to be reckless."

"He promptly dropped it, didn't he." Alana asked, but it was phrased more as a statement.

Tauriel looked surprised. "Yes, he dropped it, and had I not stopped it the stone would have fallen into the river."

"In that case I must thank you. That stone means a great deal to him. He is always messing with it, tossing it about, and dropping it. I cannot count the number of times I have caught it for him when he would have lost it forever." Alana smiled again. "He can be such a klutz. Just like Eddi."

Thranduil looked mildly interested. "Eddi?"

"Another dear friend. One of the four monarchs of Narnia, actually. But that is completely unrelated... Do you know, Legolas, of which dwarf I speak?"

"The black-haired archer." He answered grimly. "It was not our arrow that harmed him."

He and Tauriel exchanged a glance.

"An orc arrow then." Alana mused softly. "Well, I'll be avenged as I may."

"That arrow will kill him." Tauriel said gravely.

Alana looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"

It was Legolas who answered. "The orc that we captured and interrogated told us that it was a Morgul shaft – poisoned."

Alana leapt to her feet with a curse. "Then I must go now. Morgul poison works quickly."

"I will send for some Athelas for you." Thranduil said calmly.

"Thank you, but I won't need it. There's no time anyway. I am sorry that our meeting has to be so short, my friend, but my dwarves are my absolute priority at the moment. I am responsible for them, and I will not lose Ki like this. To have him fall in battle is one thing – though my heart would be sorely grieved – but to be struck down by poison? It shall not be."

Thranduil took her arm and guided her toward the gates. No more words were said until they reached them, and then the Elf king murmured, "May your fire burn bright."

Alana smiled. It had been years ago that she taught him Amator manners, but he remembered.

"May the stars never cease to guide you." She turned to Legolas. "As for you, young prince, I hope that we meet again. You are much like your father, and I should like to count you among my friends. May your path be smooth and clear before you."

She nodded to Tauriel, and then turned and ran out the gates. With a leap she disappeared, taking flight and hiding herself.

I have to admit - I got a kick out of writing Legolas and his reactions to Alana's interactions with his father. It was just so much fun to write... :)