And so the last chapter has come. Thank you once again to everyone who has faithfully read and review this story. Your words of encouragement mean the world to me. Once again, be sure to read the AN going up after this chapter. Enjoy!

Malorn blinked as he gazed in to the large and comfortably furnished room. He was shocked that he was being given this place to stay in. He thought he might possibly be given a slightly less damp cell, but this! He felt like the king himself with such a chamber. Even when living with his father, he had never had things so nice.

"Is it not to your liking", Thranduil asked a little more harshly than he'd intended.

"N…N…No, I am stunned", Malorn whispered. "Why would you give me such a nice place?"

Now it was Thranduil's turn to blink at the humble statement. "Maybe Elrond does see something in this elfling", he thought.

"You are being held under house arrest until you leave with Elrond", Thranduil said out loud. "That does not mean you cannot be given decent accommodations. Now, under no circumstances are you allowed to leave these chambers. Three meals will be brought to you a day and you may have any books or writing materials you desire, simply ask the guards that will be stationed outside and they will send someone to fetch it for you."

Malorn nodded, still overwhelmed by the kindness being shown to him. "My father must have been terribly wounded by Daeradar to have thought that Thranduil was the monster he described."

"Thank you, aran nin", Malonr murmured, bowing.

"That won't be necessary", Thranduil said, waving off the title. "I have enough servants 'aran nin-ing' me every day to last a lifetime. I do not require Legolas to speak thus to me and will not require it of you. I am your uncle but if you do not wish to think of me as such, 'Thranduil' will suffice."

"Thank you, U…Uncle Thranduil", Malorn repeated, savoring the sound of the name. It felt right, for it meant he had family again.

Thranduil smiled at the name and patted Malorn's shoulder. "I think you're going to grow to be a fine ellon, my nephew. One that would make the Malgath I remember proud."

"I know he was changed and not for the better, but he was very good to me", Malorn murmured sadly. "He told me many times he loved me and I loved him. I miss him."

"I am sure you do for I so do I, and I am very glad to hear he cared for you. I am sorry you had to be the one to find him in the forest, but I promise I did not wish to kill him."

"I know that now. I was blinded by grief and I resorted to the only knowledge I had. You have no reason to believe me but I do regret my actions, Uncle, and I am glad no one was hurt worse."

"I do believe you, Malorn", Thranduil said, laying his hands on the young elf's shoulders. "If I did not, I would not allow you to go with Lord Elrond to Imladris. But I think you have a good heart and I would give you the chance to prove it. Now I shall leave you to settle in. If you want anything you need only ask."

Malorn smiled his thanks and Thranduil turned and left the room. The guards also left to stand outside, leaving the young elf in silence once more. Malorn settled cross-legged on the bed and stared out of the small window high up on the wall. It was his only view of outside and through it, he could see the stars that glittered overhead. Content, he laid back and fell into a sound sleep.

A sharp knock the next morning woke Malorn. He yawned and briefly wondered where he was before remembering the events of the day before. The knock sounded again, shaper this time.

"Come in", Malorn called.

He smiled when a kitchen attendant came in with a large tray of food and his mouth watered at the delicious smells.

"Thank you", he said sincerely.

The attendant glared at him and he quailed under her sharp eyes, his smile quickly vanishing.

"It is not my place to second guess my king, but I would have you know, I want none of your false kindnesses", she snapped. "I would have you banished to the ends of Arda for what you did. You are disgrace to all elves."

With that, she swept out of the room without another glance, leaving a shocked and saddened Malorn in her wake. He glanced at the food but his appetite from moments ago had already fled, so instead he curled on his side and silently wept.

That afternoon, Elrond hurried through the halls with Malorn's lunch tray balanced on his arm. He had requested to bring the young elf his lunch so he could check up on him. He arrived at the door and knocked quietly. Upon receiving no response, he assumed Malorn was perhaps napping. Deciding to leave the food and return to check on him later, Elrond silently opened the door. However, he was shocked to see Malorn huddled in the corner and crying like a small elfling.

"Penneth, what is wrong", Elrond asked, setting the tray next to the untouched food from breakfast. He settled next to Malorn and pulled him into his arms.

To his shock, Malorn jerked away from his embrace and glared angrily at him.

"You gave me hope knowing there was none", Malorn shouted. "I believed you when you told me you saw something in me other than the monster I already knew existed. But all the time, you were laughing at my gullibility for you know I am nothing but a disgrace. You are a liar just like everyone else!"

"Malorn, I did not lie to you", Elornd said firmly. "What has happened to make you think so?"

"The elleth", Malorn mumbled. "She said I should have been exiled to the ends of Arda and that I was a disgrace to all elves and…and she was right."

All the anger seemed to drain out of Malorn and he crumpled in on himself, weeping again. Elrond slowly reached out and embraced him, pleased when this time Malorn didn't pull away but instead leaned into him, sobbing harder. "I'm a monster!"

"No, Malorn, you are not", Elrond said gently. "What you did was very wrong, but you were grieving and confused. I did not lie when I told you I saw much good in you. I know you can feel it too. But I also told you that you will have to earn back the trust of those around you. Unfortunately, many people here are still angry at you, so until they learn to see you other than a deadly assassin, you might be given looks or hear whispers or be told things quite blatantly that hurt you. That is one reason why I want to take you to Imladris where no one knows you. You can have a fresh start and I will be able to see exactly what kind of elf you really are. But until then, you need to understand where the people here are coming from and you need to decide in your heart who you will believe when the looks and whispers come. Will you believe Thranduil and I or will you believe them?"

Malorn pondered Elrond's words for a long moment. He could feel good inside his heart, but he also felt the side that was angry and full of hate bubbling beneath the surface, ready to explode if given the chance.

"I…I feel both sides inside me, warring for control", Malorn admitted.

"And it is your choice which you will allow to win. Do you wish to be an angry and hate filled elf with nothing but venom to give, or do you want to be a kind and gentle elf who loves his family and people?"

"I want to be kind", Malorn answered immediately. "I do not want to become the elf my father did. I want to be someone he would have been proud of before Daeradar hurt him."

"Then give the good in you every opportunity to succeed", Elrond instructed. "Forgive those who do not see that side yet but remind yourself that it is there. Utilize every chance to let the bright side of you shine through and eventually you will feel the anger diminish until it is nothing but a faint shadow in farthest corner of your heart."

"Can I succeed? Is it even possible? For it does not feel so right now."

"It will be hard as you now see, but yes, penneth, I fully believe you will."

"Thank you, my lord", Malorn murmured, smiling.

The young elf felt an overwhelming sense of peace and courage overtake him. He knew it would not be easy, but with all his heart he was willing to try. Elrond smiled at the new determination that shone in Malorn's eyes.

"Now then, that's better", Elrond said, wiping away the remaining tear tracks. "Come, let us get you fed. I am sure you are hungry after missing breakfast. I promise I will come and visit you every day until we depart or send someone I know will treat you with kindness if I am unable."

"Thank you", Malorn said.

"You are most welcome, penneth."

That night as Malorn went to bed, he again looked out his small window and smiled up at the stars.

"Good night, Ada", he whispered into the dark. "I hope I will make you proud someday soon."

With that, Malorn fell asleep as a single star began to glow brighter in the black night sky, smiling over his sleeping son.

The End!

Elvish Terms:

Ada – Dad

Penneth – Little One

Daeradar – Grandfather

Aran Nin – My King

Ellon – A Male Elf

Elleth – A Female Elf

Thank you all so much for reading! This has been a wonderful journey. Happy Birthday to dreamgoneby. Be sure to wish her one as well in the comments. For the last time on this story: Please review!