Title: Never Forget Who You Are 14

Author: Sivan Shemesh

Rate: T

Summary: What happens if your best friend loses his memory? Will you stand behind him all the way or start to lose hope for him? And the big question is: Will Legolas remember anything at all, or will he be lost forever? But what evils are there, and why Legolas? You will need to find out.

Warning: Graphic violence/torture physically and mentally, OC's, angst. Character death.

Spoilers: Post ROTK. AU.

Disclaimer: I do not own J R R TOLKIEN's characters, but I do own Gimli's brother and more, the others that you do not recognize.

Author notes: This is my first story.

Credit & Beta: Manon & Morgan Jain Emery, who correct me where I gone wrong.

Chapter 14: Claim of a wounded soul

Mordor

The figure had his own battle as he tried to claim Thranduil's soul from the lord of Mandos' Halls. He needed the soul, and he knew that the lord would protect the soul from him.

He used the orcs to create a diversion so that the lord of Mandos' Halls would have to deal with another lost soul. A soul that was to make its way to the Halls before its time.

"Attack!" he commanded the orcs. He saw in his vision the life that was to be taken from one of the elves on the other side of the river.

The victory was near. He could smell it on the air; it was filthy, but it was handed to him like a reward, and he turned to claim what had been lost.

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Gladden River

Elrond was surrounded by the orcs. Thranduil's body was highlighted by the fire.

There was another battle that Elrond did not know about; one that was happening within Thranduil's body, a battle to try and keep the king alive.

Elrond began fighting, trying to defend his life and that of his friend, no matter if he was alive or dead.

Yet hope seemed to fade in him. He was alone, surrounded by orcs, and he despaired of his friend.

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On the way to Gladden River…

Aragorn was worried about his father. He hoped he would not be too late; he was not ready to see him dead.

Gandalf watched the King as they rode, and tried to find some words to comfort him. "Have faith in your father… he will be alright…"

Aragorn turned to him with a sad look on his face. "I really hope so, Gandalf, I really do," he said.

"I know… but I do fear for Thranduil, and for Legolas…" Gandalf said.

Gimli groaned. He had had enough of the talking and asked nicely as he could from them, "Could we not ride faster? They need us, and you're talking."

Gandalf sighed.

"You know, Gimli," Aragorn started to say, "this is the first time that I have seen you anxious about my father, and Legolas' father. Are you feeling alright?"

Gimli could swear he could hear a teasing note in Aragorn's voice.

"I will be when I will see that they are alright," Gimli replied.

"I will be too," Gandalf said.

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In Mandos' Halls…

"He is mine Namo, he is mine!" the figure said, determined to take Thranduil's soul from the lord of Mandos' Halls.

"I will not let this ancient evil take it! I would rather take his soul instead of leaving it in your hands!" Namo was equally determined.

"You will not!" the figure said.

"I , Namo, Lord of Mandos' Halls claim the wounded soul of Thranduil, the last king of Mirkwood!" Namo claimed.

The figure's face was full of hurt as the lord claimed the soul.

"NOOOOO!!!!!" the figure screamed. To him it was the last straw as he wanted to rule Thranduil's body. He wanted to make him suffer.

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Mordor

The figure moved into the room where Legolas was, and noticed the violent shuddering in the elf's body.

Legolas was scared. It was so obvious to him that Legolas feared him.

"Do you fear me Greenleaf?"

The figure moved his hand over Legolas' face and scratched him. Tears of pain left Legolas's eyes, and he wanted to scream.

"Why do you fear me?" the figure asked.

Legolas moved his lips as if he was going to say something, but nothing left his mouth.

He feared the reaction from the figure that called himself his adar. He was afraid he would be punished even more.

But the figure teased him. "What did you say, I did not hear you."

Legolas could only stare at him. He kept his mouth closed, not wanting to say anything.

"You are mine to destroy! I could kill you and you would join your father, but you are mine and you will soon be evil…"

"I… do… not…want … to… be… like… you…" Legolas said in a weak voice.

The figure grabbed his neck and forced Legolas to look into his eyes.

Legolas tried not to look back but did not succeed.

"LOOK!" the figure commanded to him.

Legolas' eyes were wide as he saw the evil inside his eyes.

"NOOOOO! Let me go…" Legolas begged and tried to ignore the eyes.

They were dark and full of flames and fire.

Legolas saw himself; he saw that he had the power to rule Middle-earth. His eyes were red, and full of revenge.

"I will not let you go until you face the truth…"

"NOOOOOOOOO!" Legolas screamed.

"Do not deny who you are… face the truth…"

Legolas closed his eyes, not wishing to see.

"It is not I…" Legolas whispered.

"Open your eyes, face it!" the figure commanded.

When there was no movement on Legolas' face, he screamed to him, "OPEN YOUR EYES!"

"No…"

"So… you will join your father…"

'You lied to me… you are not my father…' Legolas thought angrily, feeling betrayed by the one that he had given his trust to.

Legolas sighed in relief and waited for death to claim him. He had given up on life.

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Two days from the Gladden River…

The company as rode quickly as they could.

Gandalf felt the cold wind on his face, and a feather from an eagle fell from the sky.

Gimli noticed that Gandalf had stopped, and he let Aragorn know.

Aragorn looked at the wizard and asked, "Gandalf?"

"What is it? Why did you stop?" Gimli groaned.

Gandalf turned around and looked at them with sad eyes, tears falling down his cheeks.

"Thranduil…" Gandalf started to say.

"What about Thranduil?" Gimli asked impatiently.

Aragorn looked back at the dwarf and said, "Let him speak my friend."

Gimli looked again at the wizard, hoping that nothing bad had happened.

"Thranduil," Gandalf repeated, and continued as the tears kept falling, "Thranduil is dead, dead!"

"WHAT?"

The whole company stopped.

Thranduil's loyal guards began to grieve for their fallen king, but also prayed that Legolas was still alive.

Gimli dismounted from the horse and walked away, his face lowered. He was upset by the bad news.

He could not believe that it was happening.

No one could.

End of Chapter 14.