She was standing under the heavy canopy of a dense forest, light scarcely filtering in golden rays through the green leaves. She remembered the place, remembered the odd sensation of nothingness: not a sound, not a smell. Without taking the time to explore her surroundings, she let her green eyes travel to the shallow stream that ran a couple of feet ahead of her, already familiar with what was coming.

The little elfling was there, crouching on a large rock by the edge of the water, light blond hair hiding his lowered face from view as he looked into the mirror surface. However, this time she did not need to see his face to know his identity. It was Legolas.

He remained looking down, completely oblivious to her presence, as had happened before. His hand reached down to the water, playing absently with the clear liquid as his lips moved with the melody of an unheard song.

Little Legolas reached his tiny hand down to the water, pressing his palm lightly on the surface as his eyes locked on the wave of soft ripples that emerged at his touch. Elerrina had seen him do this on the previous dream, but this time she knew what to do. She walked closer to the edge of the stream, just across from the playing elfling as she watched him repeat the single move over and over again.

Lowering herself to the grass she moved her own hand to touch the water, her fingers falling lightly over the crease of each ripple produced by his hand. She could feel the water, touch it and actually feel the soothing wet coolness over her fingers. It was completely unlike the grass that felt only like a hard surface beneath her knees, merely a projected illusion inside her own mind.

The elfling's head suddenly snapped up, and Elerrina held her breath involuntary as her eyes met a big, innocent pair of infinite blue eyes. A smile was drawn on little Legolas' lips as his eyes locked into hers, filled with recognition, acknowledging her presence across the stream from him.

She watched silently as the light blond elfling placed his hand once more on the water, his big, soft blue eyes never leaving hers as he smiled, his mouth moving to words she could not hear. She looked at the hand and back into his innocent eyes in confusion just as new ripples danced upon the mirror surface. She understood what he was expecting from her and so she repeated the game, touching the ripples softly as she kept her gaze steady on his.

Little Legolas squealed in delight, the sweet, joyful melody of his childish giggles reaching her ears almost like a distant echo. The first sound she heard in that dream yet. He was still looking at her as he pointed a tiny finger to her, his mouth moving once again in words that she could not hear, although she desperately wanted to. She stared as he pointed, repeating his words, not understanding why she was not answering. Then he looked at the water and back up at her, and guessing what he wanted from her Elerrina reached down to the water again. It was her turn.

Slowly, she pressed her own palm over the now calmed surface, awaiting to see his reaction, and could not help a wide smile from forming on her lips as the little Prince reached down and touched the ripples in the same way she had seconds ago. It was as if he was answering to her, as if the simple game meant something to him. His giggles echoed distantly again, and she delighted in the sound, so pure and innocent, so filled with life.

Then he stood up and quickly spun around, the back of his light blond head facing her now and she watched, predicting exactly what would happen, as he ran away from her and into the forest.

The heavy forest transformed again in the bright hall that vanished into white light as she saw Legolas flung himself in the waiting arms of the golden haired lady. The scene repeated itself equally as the last time, the lady pressing her nose to his little one as he squealed. Her golden hair danced around freely as she placed a kiss on the elfling's white forehead, and the tiny elf wrapped his arms securely around her neck as he turned to look at her.

For the third time, Elerrina saw his mouth move as his infinite eyes fixed on her, but no words reached her ears. Then, unexpectedly, the golden haired lady turned to face her, her eyes locking with hers in a long, welcoming stare. Elerrina froze at the sight of her delicate features, her pale skin adorned by her golden locks, and her beautiful, familiar, bright green eyes. And, for the first time, the pair of green eyes sparkled with life and joy, looking at her with recognition, and not staring at the dark sky above, empty and glazed in the cold grasp of death…

Elerrina woke up with a start, taking a sharp intake of breath and blinking a couple of times until she remembered where she was. She closed her eyes trying to erase the bright pair of green eyes from her mind as she concentrated on the soothing rise and fall of her head with every breath Elladan took.

She felt a light kiss pressed gently on her head and her eyes opened once more.

"Bad dream?" Elladan's voice whispered on her ear, sending shivers down her spine as his lips brushed the tip of her pointed ear as he spoke. Immediately she turned to look up to find a gorgeous pair or silver eyes fixed on her, sparkling like stars in the dimly lit room.

"Your are awake!" she whispered back, choosing not to answer his question, as she propped herself up on her elbow to be able to look at him better.

He did not move and continued to lie flatly on his back, his liquid silver eyes staring deeply at her and she felt herself drown inside them, unable to escape his powerful stare. Incapable of containing herself, she leaned forward and pressed her lips fully to his mouth. He kissed her back deepening the short kiss and tilting his head up slightly in a longing effort to make it last longer once she had parted her lips from his. A mischievous grin appeared on his face as he looked up at her, but it vanished too shortly after as darkness flashed in his eyes and his expression turned empty, exactly like Elrohir's had been the last time she had seen him.

She started to push herself up into a sitting position, but his strong arm held her down, pulling her body close to his, and she did not fight it. Instead, she rested her head on his chest again, feeling his gloomy mood radiate from his body in waves. Elerrina felt relieved upon realizing that his grip was once again as strong as ever.

The image of the golden hair lady, with bright green eyes fixed deeply on her as she held the squealing elfling in her arms, flashed through her mind once again, followed by the haunting image of the same green eyes staring blankly at the sky, dead. She had seen that same beautiful lady in her nightmares before, always lifeless on the cold ground, surrounded by hundreds of bodies whose souls had already departed this world.

"How long have I slept?" she asked in an attempt to deviate her thoughts. She could see the bright sunlight battling to filter through the heavy curtains that kept the room dark.

"Longer than me, and you were not the one drugged" he answered softly and she could almost hear a mocking smile appearing on his lips as his hand reached to brush a strand of golden hair from her face. She chuckled lightly at his words.

"How is your shoulder?" Elerrina let the tips of her fingers wander lightly over the edges of the white bandages covering his left shoulder, not daring to touch the areas closer to the wound.

He took her hand in his; gently lifting it from his chest and shoulder to his lips and kissed it lightly. She could not tell if the action was perhaps to remove her hand from the wounded area, preventing it from accidentally touching it, but she did not ask or say anything. He looked at her for a moment, seeming to consider her question before answering.

"Would you give me special treatment if I say it hurts terribly?" His eyes sparkled with mischief and she raised her eyebrows at his playful tone, managing to sit up and look down at him.

"In that case, I will go fetch a healer or Elrohir and ask them to bring you some of that pain relieving tea. Perhaps that could help you rest a little more."

He chuckled lightly and shook his head as sat up against the elegant headboard, pushing himself up with only his right arm while his left was kept still at his side.

"No need for that. I am fine, it was merely a scratch" She threw him a glare as she rose from the bed and walked to open the heavy curtains. His definition of a scratch did not match hers in the slightest, yet she knew he was skilled healer and could take care of himself.

Light filled the room when Elerrina opened the curtains that led to the large balcony, the soft breeze of the day caressing her face as it was once again allowed into the room. She turned again to observe Elladan, who had remained sitting against the headboard with his head looking down, eyes closed and breathing deeply.

She waited patiently as his dizziness passed and his silver eyes fluttered open to look at her again. She had seen many injured men in her small village, and knew to expect dizziness after losing a considerable amount of blood. She had even helped in the caring of some when she was an elfling, always bringing bowls of steaming water and towels, but she was no healer.

Elerrina watched him flung his legs to the side of the bed and she walked to offer her help but he waved it off with his hand as he rose to his feet steadily. He got himself a clean tunic in a rich navy blue color and threw it on. She helped him to carefully slip his left arm inside the long sleeve, making sure she was as gentle as she could.

"Thank you" he whispered as he placed a quick kiss on her lips.

He let his right hand travel to her neck, the tips of his fingers gently brushing her skin as it slid down the back of her neck. Her heart raced at the gentle touch, threatening to jump out of her chest and she tried in vain not to show the shivers that ran through her body. The soft caress of his hand reached her right collarbone, stopping when his slender fingers came in contact with the thin silver chain around her neck. His fingers then proceeded to trace the path of the chain, down her collarbone and to her chest, slowly, gently, as his eyes followed closely.

Her heart beat faster as his fingers slowly approached the point where the pearl and the ring hung, almost fearing if he would be able to touch the ring. However, just as his fingers were about to fall on the hanging tiny pearl, he stopped and removed his hand, which fell slowly back to his side. Elerrina froze as his eyes turned up to look into hers, the taller pair of silver eyes piercing intently, trapping her, speaking loudly without words. He knew.

She expected him to talk, to say anything, but he did not. Instead, she silently watched the eldest Son of Elrond as he turned away from her and sat on the edge of the bed, his body facing her, and yet his face turned to the large balcony, eyes fixed somewhere in the distance.

She remained frozen, unable to move, and struggling to breath evenly in an effort to calm her thundering heart at the hard expression on his face. His lips were pressed together in a line, and his empty eyes were cold and unfriendly, glinted with iced hatred, almost trembling in rage. Elladan refused to look at her, almost as if he felt ashamed of her seeing his eyes so hard and cold, as if scared the iced stare would cause her to fear him.

Elerrina did not speak, did not even dare to move, her eyes glued to him, silently beckoning him to look her way. She felt her heart tighten as her insides trembled in fear of his sudden rejection, at the way in which he had abruptly turned away from her.

Slowly, Elladan turned his face in her direction, her heart sinking deeper as his eyes lingered on the floor, refusing to meet her green ones, a thing they were usually eager to do. He kept them low, hidden from her view under his lowered dark lashes, as his right arm extended towards her, motioning her to go to him.

She felt herself release the breath she did not know she had been holding, and hurried to him, letting his strong arm pull her to sit on his lap, tightly pressing her back to his chest. He pressed his forehead to her shoulder from behind, eyes hidden tightly in the fabric of her dress as he held her by the waist, the grip holding her for dear life, unwilling to let her go. His silky dark hair fell over her shoulder and side of her neck, the top of his head brushing her cheek softly as she felt the weight of his head just next to her neck.

She could feel his heart bumping hardly on his chest and uncontainable, strong emotions swirling freely through him, making him tremble lightly in rage as he desperately tried to control himself. She could feel his body emanate a wild storm of fear, despair, pain, hopelessness, anger, hatred, and rage.

Immediately Elerrina understood that his emotions were both his and Elrohir's combined; that it had been through Elrohir's mind that he had come to know of the ring hanging on her neck; and that the reaction he was having to the events of the past night was the same younger twin had tried to hide and control the night before, only that she could not feel Elrohir's emotions as she could Elladan's. She knew that the twins shared an incredibly tight bond, and that they could feel exactly what the other felt.

She wanted to embrace him, but remained unmoving, allowing him all the time he needed. After a moment he seemed to slowly calm down from his fury, and the tight hold of his arm on her waist became softer, allowing her to shift in his arms to the side so she could look at him. Elladan removed his head from her shoulder, but immediately turned away form her, eyes once again fixed on the floor, unwilling to meet her gaze.

"What happened during the battle last night? What did you discuss with Glorfindel?"

She tensed as his mouth spoke the questions she had hoped she would not need to answer him. But then again, he already knew. There was no way Elrohir could have kept it form him.

"How much do you already know?" her voice came out as only a whisper, sounding calmed and soothing. She did not know the specific reason, but both twins had raged with hatred upon hearing the story of their father's capture; a hatred that went deeper than just anger.

"All of it" he said with a sigh as he finally turned his face to look at her, saddened liquid silver eyes staring softly into her forest green ones. She reached her hand to his cheek and he leaned into her gentle touch. His hand reached once again to trace the thin chain around her neck to indicate just how much he knew.

"Would you like me to tell you again?" Elerrina would not mind telling the long story again, if he needed to hear it. He seemed to consider her words for a minute as his eyes looked down once more. After a long moment he shook his head. No.

"Forgive me" he said finally as his eyes stared into hers. "Elrohir is slowly going into despair and the thought of my Adar in the hands of those creatures…." He trailed off as his eyes hardened again. He sighed and changed the direction if his words

"There is not much we can do to help at the moment. The orcs took off in every direction, and we have no knowledge which group carried my father. Search parties set off at dawn, one in every possible direction until we can find a track. Once we do, Elrohir and I will go, and I am sure Glorfindel will too, with as many elves as possible, but we cannot leave the valley until then. We cannot leave the people of Imladris in my father's absence. They are our people."

She nodded in understanding as she felt part of his despair. She remembered her own despair when she had found Naervaiel dead, and she had been unable to do anything about it. She had raged. She had blamed him, had hit him endlessly, desperately wanting him to feel as much pain as she felt. Yet, she could only image how greater the despair could feel, knowing that the twins could still help their father, and at the same time, could not. She kissed him gently on the lips, providing the little comfort she could.

"There is one more thing your father said to me before he was captured. I did not tell Elrohir."

Elladan's eyebrows shot up questioningly as his eyes looked puzzled, but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue.

"He told me to search on his desk. The second drawer to the left." She stared into his eyes, seeking for an answer inside the gorgeous silver irises. Perhaps he already knew what was in the drawer; perhaps he would tell her not to look. She wanted to search in the desk, curiosity getting the best of her. Yet, Lord Elrond's ring around her neck already proved why some things were best kept a secret.

"And you have not looked in the drawer yet" he stated, reading her as easily as usual. Elerrina nodded her head but remained silent.

"Do you want me to go with you while you look? Or would you rather do it by yourself? I can arrange it for no one to disturb you inside the study, if you want me to" She smiled softly at his words, feeling that he would not press her.

"Do you already know what is kept inside it?" she asked him.

"No. He keeps all sorts of things inside his desk. Mostly paperwork."

"Would you go with me?" She did not know what she would find inside the study, but knew that with Elladan by her side, it would all right. He kissed her lightly on the cheek before answering her.

"Of course"

She stood up from his lap to allow him to stand. He led her out of the bedchamber and into the large hallways of the house. Despair and hopelessness floated through the long corridors and elegant halls as all the elves in the house waited anxiously for news about their Lord. Elladan led her through deserted hallways, not in the mood to be noticed by any elf and having to start a conversation.

They reached the elegant study in less time than she had expected. Elladan let her go in first and closed the heady doors after him, leaving the large room only to themselves. With a quick glance around the study she noticed that everything still remained in its exact place. It seemed no one had had the courage to touch anything, not even to arrange the mess of papers that now lay on the floor, blown out from the neat pile upon the desk by a soft breeze that filtered through a cracked window.

If the sight of the empty room had any effect on the elder twin, he did not show it. He slowly walked by her to the large desk and she watched him gently slide a hand upon the oak surface, as if lost in his thoughts. Elladan turned to look at her, his silver eyes encouraging in a long loving stare.

"Go ahead" he said softly, offering her a smile.

Without answering, Elerrina reached for the indicated drawer, her fingers wrapping around the elaborate copper handle. Shaking away a last moment of doubt, she slowly pulled it open and the wooden drawer slid out easily with a soft brushing sound. She had not known what she was expecting, but felt her heart sink upon seeing what was kept in the drawer: Papers, many parchments of papers.

She saw Elladan furrow his brow at her disappointed look as he took a couple of steps closer to her.

"What is it?"

Elerrina looked at him before looking down at the drawer filled with papers. Carefully she grabbed them in her hands and looked at the top one closely. She then turned to glance quickly at the next one, and then the next, not really reading much of them.

"They are letters"

She looked back at him, her green eyes puzzled. She did not comprehend anything. Why letters? Elladan, however, did not seem willing to remain confused and he took the bunch of old, yellowish paper from her hand and divided in half, keeping on with him and handing her back the other.

"You read those, and I will read these" he instructed, but she remained looking at him, hesitant.

"Are you sure we should read them?" It did not feel right to read some else's correspondence, let alone the Lord of Imladris'. Elladan seemed to notice her reluctance for he addressed her again.

"He said to search into the drawer. If your conscience does not allow you to read my father's letters, I can assure you that my conscience is perfectly fine with it. If you do not read your half then I will read them all. I have done worse things." He grinned mischievously as his eyes sparkled with carefreeness and she wondered what other worse things had he done.

Sighing in defeat she threw herself on a large seat and remorsefully read the top letter in her stash. Elladan threw himself on a comfortable couch that resembled more a long chair, a couple of feet from her, eyes already scanning quickly over the scribbled words.

The letter was not old, only from a couple of years ago, and it reported about some sort of trade route. There was nothing special or different about it, so she placed it apart on a small table and proceeded with the next letter. Not much older than the first one, the letter informed about slight orc activity around a travelling route from the Imladris to Lothlórien. Sighing again, she placed it over the first one and continued with the third.

The range of the letters varied from reports on patrols, trade routes and orc activity, to friendly letters that merely shared the situations in other elven realms. She smiled when she read a letter announcing the engagement of two Lorien elves, and inviting the Lord of Imladris to attend the wedding celebrations.

A short and sweet letter caught her attention, making her smile with the happy news it bore as her eyes read the neat, cursive writing.

Elrond,

I delight in the pleasure of writing to you upon the occasion of the birth of my youngest. My wife and I have been blessed with a beautiful daughter that we named Almarëa. She has Alarya's golden hair and gorgeous green eyes and does not resemble me in the slightest. I find it needless to say that Mirkwood rejoices with a new Princess, especially Legolas, who appears thrilled at not being the youngest any longer. Although born not a day ago, Almarëa has already captured my heart entirely. I extend my gratitude to you and Celebrian for the thoughtful present, and I am sure my daughter will not let go of her new silver rattle.

My best wishes to you and Celebrian, as well as your handsome sons, and fortunately expecting a visit from your part shortly,

Thranduil

She did not know if the letter made her smile the most because of its joyful news, or because it mentioned the twins and Legolas in it. Smiling, she put it down on the table over the other letters and continued with the next one. It was a letter in the same elegant cursive writing than the one before, but considerably shorter.

Elrond,

With pain in my heart I desperately ask you to offer your protection to my youngest daughter Almarëa. We both know she will be safer in Imladris.

Thranduil

The short and urgent tone of the letter made her shiver, even though she did not understand its message. So much was left out as the letter had been reduced to it simplest form: two sentences, no detailed explanations. Yet something else seemed disturbing about it: the name Almarëa. Something rang inside her head every time her eyes read over the name, like a piece of a long forgotten fairytale. She looked at the date of the letter: slightly more than a year after the one announcing the birth.

The next letter was not written by the same expert hand, and the message made her heart sting.

Lord Elrond

I write in the name of my King Thranduil, and I grieve with the tormenting news I bring you. The party of Mirkwood will not reach Imladris, as it was victim to an unexpected orc attack. The ambush took place near a village of men, a couple of day's travel from Imladris. Among the dead, we mourn our Queen Alarya and her youngest daughter Almarëa. Not a single elf was left breathing after the brutal massacre.

Her heart stopped at the news, burning with the agonizing news the letter bore. Yet, something else in the letter made her freeze, her body tensed as she felt a wave of cold wash over her. She read the letter again, and then a third time. Then she looked at the date of the letter: her birth date. Or at least, what had been used as her birth date, the day Naeraviel had taken her home with her.

"Elerrina?"

Elladan's low voice, calling her name made her look away from the yellowish paper held tightly in her hands. He was looking at her with cautious silver eyes, his expression solemn as he watched her carefully. His eyes were wide, shocked, and she noticed he was standing straight, and not comfortably thrown on the couch as before.

Feeling fear and anxiousness take hold of her, she slowly walked to his side, her heart beating wildly inside her chest. He watched her closely, his expression as if she were made of glass and would break. Slowly, he offered her the letter he held in his hand, and she felt his arm gently push her to sit down on the couch as she allowed her eyes to glance at the written words.

She recognized the elegant scribble immediately as she did not think it twice before carefully reading the most tormenting letter of all. The sentences were short, straight to the point.

Elrond

My daughter, Almarëa lives. She has been taken in by a young woman who raises her in a small village not far from Imladris. She learns their customs, talks the common tongue and knows not of her identity. Part of me wishes she did, and yet deep inside of me I know it will be safest if she grows up among men, and let everyone continue to believe her dead, as I myself did until now. No one must know she lives, I will not even tell my sons. It pains me immensely to know my daughter lives and I cannot claim her back, but instead have to deny her existence. I know the village falls under the range of your powers and protection and I beg you with all my heart to please keep and eye on her. It is the only thing I have left to give her. She goes by the name Elerrina.

I will be forever in your debt,

Thranduil

I know this is the chapter many of you were waiting for. Let me know what you think! And I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it!

Love,

Elena