*** " [ " indicates the contents of a written letter. " * " indicates unspoken thought. ***

A/N: Special thanks to Thecla who did an outstanding job of beta reading on this monster of a chapter! And also to Niniel who sent me the sweetest letter concerning these stories. I was blushing and smiling all at the same time!

Thanks to all of you for reading and reviewing. You guys are terrific!!!! And now, I hope this chapter will live up to everyone's expectations. Finally, we find out who dunnit! Please enjoy! ~ Nebride



"The Caverns of Mirkwood"

Chapter 14

Motive



Legolas strode from his room. He'd waited as long as he could, but he intended to ride with the search party at dawn. First though, he must finish his conversation with Alede. He'd given her the night alone, as she had asked. But now he must finish what he'd started and try to ease the pain he had caused.

*And then I must deal with Franduil,* he thought with determination. His own sense of hopelessness had gone during the night. He was angry, his patience completely gone. *I will find Lomomir today. I know not how yet, but he will hide from me no longer.*

The sky was still dark, as he made his way toward Alede's room. But outside the thrushes had begun their pre dawn chorus.

Legolas rounded the corner and was surprised to find Alede not only up, but standing outside her door talking with Hithrawyn in hushed tones. The guard bowed to her and left.

Alede turned toward Legolas. He winced as he saw the puffiness around her eyes, but there was no softness about the set of her mouth. Tipping her chin up at his approach, there was both defiance and anger in the gesture. She was also dressed once again in her wizard's robes and carried her staff.

"I am glad you are here, Legolas," she said and her tone was clipped and business like. "I must ask a favor."

"Of course. But then we must finish our conversation."

"There is nothing left to say Legolas. I have made a fool of myself over you. I apologize for any embarrassment I have caused you and…"

"Stop it," Legolas said sharply. "Do not apologize to me. You have nothing to apologize for. I would prefer anger to this pitiful acceptance that you give me."

Her head came up at that and she watched him closely.

"I must finish what I began to say," Legolas continued. "For last night I only spoke of the present. You did not allow me to speak of the future."

"The future…?" The hardness of her features melted for a moment. But then she shook her head. "We must speak of it later. Right now, I must ask you to gather your family. I would prefer that we meet in your father's chambers. I think his study may be big enough. Franduil and Elvothien must be there and your father's steward if you wish it…"

"But why? What have you learned, Alede?" Legolas asked. "I intended to ride with the search, but your face tells me that…"

She nodded. "I understand the motive now. I've solved it."

*********

"I am grateful to all of you for coming," Alede began as she looked around the King's study. "I know the hour is early, but…"

"Yes, the hour is early. If you have a point come to it quickly." Thranduil had been less than pleased when Legolas had suggested that the family meet in his rooms. He had obviously not wanted to be disturbed and Alede's presence only irritated him further.

"My point, your Majesty, is that I now understand what has happened. I know the reason you and the Crown Prince were infected with the Greymalcin."

"I am not going to sit here and listen to another accusation against my brother," Thranduil snapped. "If that is what you intend."

"Nay, my Lord. I believe Lomomir innocent. Though why he has gone into hiding, I do not…"

"At last!" Thranduil interrupted. "Someone finally speaks sense. Though I would have hoped it would be one of my sons," here he fixed Legolas and Franduil with a critical eye. "Instead of a stranger to my kingdom. Never the less, proceed with your theory, Lady Alede."

Alede cleared her throat. That the king called her by name, she took as a good sign. She glanced around the room. Franduil slouched in his chair, looking sullen. Whatever argument he'd had with his wife the previous night had obviously not gone well. Princess Elvothien looked furiously aloof. Her head was held high and she had the look of one who'd recently won a battle. Two of Legolas' sisters sat at the far end of the large table in the study, concern and curiosity on their faces. The king's steward was next to Thranduil, who sat in a monstrous chair, drumming his fingers on the arm. Legolas sat at the king's left and watched Alede intensely.

"I have no facts to back my theory, as you call it your Majesty. I have only a hunch. If I error you may correct me."

"Be sure of it," Thranduil growled.

With that bit of encouragement, she began. "The motive has been the problem all along. Any of you could have had a motive for removing the King, but none of them seemed strong enough. I am convinced of Lomomir's innocence based purely on his reaction to myself."

She got up and began to pace slowly as she thought her way through the problem, just as she had the night before alone in her room.

"Lomomir accepted me almost from the beginning. That first night that I examined your Majesty, he was terrified. He accepted me because he was desperately afraid for you."

"But if not Lomomir, who?" Legolas broke in. "And do not forget that my mother died of the Greymalcin."

"I do not forget that," Alede said sincerely. "I believe the first Greymalcin was the beginning of the current attempts on the royal family."

Thranduil snorted. "A three hundred year old plot? I think not. Your hunch is already in error, Girl."

"Bear with me, your Majesty," Alede said, trying not to look as nervous as she felt. If she were wrong, Thranduil would never allow her to forget it. Crossing over to the corner of the room, she picked up the cage of the Greymalcin. Taking the cover off of it, she held it up, eliciting mingled cries of surprise and disgust from everyone there.

The Greymalcin was not very pleased with the situation either. It opened its mouth wide to emit shrieks, but Alede still had the muting spell on it. Removing that spell, Alede slowly walked past everyone present. The Greymalcin, sensing it had its voice back began making a horrible din. It shrieked, cowered and spat as Alede circled the table.

"This is the creature which Hithrawyn found in the dungeon. There appeared to be only one, they eat their mates, so we can presume that this is the female from which the spores came from. You can also see how large it is, far larger than any books I've ever read would indicate. I am guessing that someone has been feeding it. And whoever that person is, we will know by the Greymalcin's reaction to them. Obviously," she swept her gaze around the room. "It is terrified of each of you, so no one in this room is guilty."

Several people exchanged glances, but Alede ignored them. Setting the cage in the middle of the table she tapped it with her staff, once again muting the horrid thing. Elvish noses wrinkled all around.

"Must we have that demon here?" Thranduil hissed. Alede turned and looked at his face.

*He knows where it came from,* she thought. The hatred and fury twisted his face into a mask of rage.

"I'm sorry, your Majesty, but I need it here to prove the identity of whoever has been feeding it."

"That thing," Thranduil pointed. "Is very likely the murderer of my wife! Remove it…"

Next to him, Legolas took in a sharp breath. Alede had wished he hadn't learned of it like this. The pain and shock on his face was terrible.

Fortunately Thranduil was still sensitive enough to his youngest son to realize Legolas' despair. He reached over and clasped his son's shoulder. "Did you not guess, Legolas?"

Legolas shook his head, not taking his eyes off of the Greymalcin.

"I did," Franduil said quietly from across the table. Legolas' head came up and Alede saw the two brothers' eyes meet.

"You knew…" Legolas said just as quietly. "Then last night…"

Franduil nodded and finished his brother's sentence. "I went to kill it once I realized where it had come from."

"But why didn't you tell me!?"

Franduil had the grace to look chagrined. "I wasn't sure if I could trust you, brother. You had better motive than any of us. So, I did not wish to speak if you were guilty. And if you were innocent…"

Legolas made a furious sound.

Franduil shook his head sadly. "I apologize. I know it was foolish of me. But I thought that if you were innocent… I remembered how hard you took our mother's death. Harder than all of us. I didn't want you to know that, that… thing had not only killed her, but had crawled its way out of her body once she was dead…"

He broke off when Legolas grimaced.

Franduil studied his hands on the table self-consciously. "I am sorry. I didn't realize you were keeping it as evidence. I…" He broke off, obviously at a loss for words.

"And the other things you accused me of?" Legolas asked, an edge to his voice.

Franduil glanced at his wife. "The fears of one who has always been envious of your looks, your confidence, your skills and …" Franduil now cast an uncomfortable glance at his father. "And most of all, our father's love."

Legolas looked startled, but not nearly as startled as Thranduil.

Alede held her breath as the three starred at each other. It was Thranduil who finally broke the silence. "I see that we have much to talk about Franduil." Turning to Alede, he ordered, "Get on with it Girl."

"I…" She stammered, trying to remember where she was. "I believe you are both right about the origin of the creature. I am certain the Queen's death was an accident. The wine she drank had probably been contaminated as it sat in the Orc cave. But from that accident a lesson was learned. A lesson, which has been put to use recently."

"But for what purpose?" Elvothien asked quietly. "I can think of no one who wants the crown so badly they would kill the King to gain it."

"Nor, can I," Alede agreed. "The crown is not the true motive. Legolas is."

"What!?"

Several people reacted at once, all of them shouting or jumping out of their chairs. The Greymalcin cowered and let out a silent howl of terror.

"Are you accusing my son…?" Thranduil bellowed.

Legolas turned astonished eyes toward her.

"Please, please…" Alede shouted over the din. "I said that Legolas was the motive. I did not say that he was the assassin!"

"Yet if he is the motive," Thranduil challenged. "Then why was he shot at yesterday?"

Alede saw the bright light in Thranduil's eyes. *He follows my reasoning and seeks to test me,* she thought. *Very well then…*

"Legolas was not the target yesterday," she said, resuming her pacing. "I have very limited knowledge of archery. Yet last night when Legolas allowed me to shoot his bow, I noticed that my arrows consistently went to the side of the target. The arrows were much too long for my shorter arms and therefore came off of the bow inaccurately." She paused and glanced around the room. "The archer in the woods was aiming at me, but missed and very nearly killed the one person for whom this whole plot came about."

"But who?" Legolas cried. "This makes no sense…"

"Actually it makes a great deal of sense, in a morbid fashion. The motive is so plain I cannot believe that one of us did not see it immediately. The entire purpose was to bring you back to Mirkwood, Legolas."

Across the table, Elvothien gasped. Alede looked at her sharply and saw that she understood. The wizardess nodded to her. "Yes."

Turning, Alede addressed Hithrawyn. "If you please…"

The guard nodded and left the room. Legolas watched his departure and then turned back to Alede.

"No…" he whispered, understanding showing in his face. "Please. It can not be…"

Alede looked away. She could not bear the look of betrayal in Legolas' eyes. She felt as if she were the one who had betrayed him.

*Perhaps I have,* she thought sadly.

When she heard the outer door open, she tapped the Greymalcin's cage. The creature's muttering became audible again as the spell was removed.

Hithrawyn walked in the doorway with Unilyn in front of him. The Elfin girl looked around the room in surprise. She shrank back shyly, but Hithrawyn blocked her exit.

"You sent for me?" Unilyn said hesitantly.

At the sound of her voice, the Greymalcin suddenly leaped up from the corner it had been cowering in and began a high pitched keening noise. It reached filthy little hands out toward the girl and salivated all over the table.

Unilyn starred at it with horror and tried once again to shrink back.

"Its hungry, Unilyn. It hasn't eaten since that night Legolas saw you in the caverns, has it?" Alede said and she could not help the contempt that stole into her voice.

"In the caverns?" the girl cried. "What is that horrid thing? Why am I here?"

Alede advanced on her but suddenly Legolas stood, blocking her path. "That's enough Alede! Unless you have proof, you have no right to accuse Unilyn."

Alede looked up at him. *Does he still love her?* she wondered sadly, with a pang of jealously rearing up inside her. But the truth was more important than either of their feelings right now. She wouldn't back down.

"Look at it Legolas!" she gestured angrily at the Greymalcin. "It knows her…"

"That proves nothing!"

"Legolas…" Unilyn skirted around the table to Legolas and clung to the front of his tunic.

"Do not let jealousy cloud your thinking," he said angrily to Alede.

"Jealousy?" she snapped back. "Desperation is the emotion that drives this situation."

"Legolas, please… what is she talking about?" Unilyn said in such a pathetic little voice that Alede almost believed her innocent.

Almost.

"You knew of the Greymalcin, didn't you?" Alede said to the girl. "You knew of them from the book Legolas read to you as a child. You may even have known of them from when you were in the Orcs' cave."

Alede ignored the angry glance Legolas gave her. If the girl's unfortunate experience had been talked about openly, this might never have happened. Instead, the whole family had let it be buried in the girl's mind where it festered over the long lonely years.

"And at some point," Alede continued. "You must have realized what kind of creature had killed the Queen. Did you go looking for it then, or did you wait until you hatched your little plot?"

Unilyn did not answer, but pressed her face to Legolas' chest.

Taking a deep breath, Alede went on, noting as she did that Thranduil watched intensely, his twilight eyes never leaving her face. "You must have been very lonely once Legolas left on the quest of the Ring. And even lonelier still when he went away to Ithilien. You knew then that he wouldn't be coming back, certainly not to stay. And what about his proximity to the sea? Did that worry you as well? Many who suffered what you did at the hands of the Orcs, passed over to the West, allowing the Undying Lands to heal their grief. But that option was closed to you because of your fear of leaving Mirkwood."

Alede paused, hoping the girl would say something, anything! Legolas wore a very guarded expression on his face. Alede continued.

"You knew that Thranduil's illness would bring Legolas back to Mirkwood. As a friend to the family, it would be easy enough for you to have put spores in the King's food. Once Legolas arrived, spores were put in Franduil's as well, thus ensuring that the crown would pass to Legolas. As King of Mirkwood, he'd have to stay. I wonder," Alede speculated. "Did you infect Lomomir as well? Did he find his own cure, or did he fake his illness?"

Still no answer, so Alede continued. "Your plan was working perfectly. No one suspected you, so helpful and concerned you were. But I spoiled it, didn't I? Not only was I intent upon curing the King, but you also saw me as a rival. You searched my bags while I was tending Thranduil. Did you worry that I carried a cure or were you just curious about your rival? Which ever it was, the first chance you had, you pushed me over the stairs. Your bracelets gave you away, I'm afraid. That's what you tossed into the room below, so that I would look down on the stairs. With my back turned it was easy enough to push me. But wizardesses don't die so easily, do they?

Did you know that the book I carried contained history of the Greymalcin's? During your self-imposed imprisonment in Mirkwood palace, you probably learned the contents of the Hall of Records quite well. But whether you knew what was in the book or merely guessed, you took the opportunity to rid yourself of both it and me. I'm guessing you tried to burn it, though how Lomomir came by it, I do not know. Then you tried to smother me while I slept. Was that pure spite, or did you fear I had already learned something from the book?"

Unilyn gave a tiny sound almost like a sob, but still did not look up.

"I think you had better say something, Unilyn," Alede said harshly. "I stand here accusing you of attempted murder and no doubt your King will accuse you of treason as well. If you wish to defend yourself…"

Alede never had a chance to finish the sentence. Unilyn suddenly broke away from Legolas, whipping the long knife out of his belt as she moved. Legolas made a grab for it, but the blade inadvertently caught his hand. He gave a yelp of pain, just as Alede cried out as well.

"Put down your staff," Unilyn hissed in Alede's ear. "And if you try to put a spell on me, I'll slit your throat before the words even leave your lips."

Alede was glad of the warning, for she was about to speak the freezing spell. But it was a long one and she knew she'd never finish it. Unilyn had leaped around behind her with typical Elvin speed and caught Alede's hair. Apparently Unilyn was not as fragile as everyone seemed to think. The knife pressed painfully against Alede's throat. She carefully held the staff away from her and dropped it.

"Now, back away! All of you," Unilyn shouted. She was shaking so hard that the knife cut into Alede's skin, sending a little trail of blood down her throat.

"Unilyn," Legolas held out a hand in a peaceful gesture. "Please… let Alede go. She has nothing to do with this. Give me the knife."

"Yes she does!" Unilyn hissed. "I see how you look at her! You once looked at me that way!"

"No, Unilyn. This is not about Alede. It's about you and I. I did not know of your feelings. Let us go speak of them, so that I may understand. Just give me the knife and let Alede go." As he spoke, Legolas was slowly advancing on the two women.

Alede grimaced as the knife bit in deeper. The blood was now running in a little rivulet down to her chest, soaking into the fabric of her robes. She tried not to let her fear show. But she seriously doubted that Legolas would get the knife away in time. She could feel the frantic fury in the girl's hands and knew that she was quite mad.

"Unilyn, you do not want to do this," Legolas said and there was desperation in his voice now. His gaze locked with Alede's for a moment. "Give me the knife, let Alede go."

"NO!" The knife pressed harder. Alede felt more blood slipping down her throat. "Don't come any closer!"

Legolas stopped. Alede caught movement out of the corner of her eye. The King was approaching them, just out of Unilyn's vision, moving as silently as a shadow. Alede closed her eyes, praying.

When she opened them again a figure had appeared stealthily in the doorway. It was the healer Lomomir, his bow was drawn and an arrow was fit to the string. He was directly behind the King.

*By the Valar,* Alede thought. *Was I wrong about him? Is he in league with Unilyn?*

"Thranduil! Behind you!" she cried.

And then several things happened at once.

Thranduil whirled around and Legolas lunged forward, just as Unilyn prepared to slash with the knife. Legolas caught her wrist, but as he dragged the knife away it caught against Alede's collarbone, breaking the chain of her locket. Unilyn gave Alede a vicious shove, sending her careening into Legolas. And since both Elves still held the knife, the blade skittered across Alede's ribs and tore the delicate skin on the upper portion of her breast. At the same time, Lomomir let fly his arrow. It caught Unilyn in the side and flung her against the wall. Legolas grabbed Alede as she stumbled forward. Then all eyes turned toward Unilyn as she gasped, pulling in one last breath. The she-Elf's eyes turned to Legolas and her lips moved. But then her eyes glazed over, her head dropped and her whole body slid to the floor.

Legolas stood in frozen silence as everyone else in the room began talking at once.

"Silence!" Thranduil bellowed. "Princess Elvothien, fetch servants. Legolas, help Alede into a chair. Brother," Thranduil stepped forward and embraced Lomomir. "Thank you, my brother," he said quietly to the astonishment of all. "Now, if you would, see to Alede's wound."

"No!" Alede shrank back as the healer approached her. She looked wildly about, her gaze tipping up to Legolas. He stood in mute horror for a moment, then shook his head to clear it and pressed a hand to Alede's throat to stop the bleeding.

"I am so sorry," he whispered. Wrapping his arms more tightly around her, he buried his face against her hair. "You could have been killed. I am sorry."

"I am well. The wound is not serious. I should have prepared you about Unilyn. I am so sorry…"

Thranduil suddenly crossed over, nudging them apart. He pushed them both down into chairs and hastily sloshed wine into goblets, pressing one into each of their hands.

"Now Alede, you will allow my brother to treat your injury."

But Alede still shrank from the healer's touch. "Not until I know his part in this."

"I mean you no harm, Lady," Lomomir said sincerely.

"He is innocent, Alede. Just as you said," Thranduil told her.

"Then why did he go into hiding and how did he come by the book?" Alede asked the King, her eyes dropping to the healer in front of her.

"I found the book, the morning after you fell on the stairs," Lomomir explained, holding out a strip of cloth as he spoke. But instead of using it on her own wound, Alede turned and wrapped Legolas' hand with it. Lomomir held out another to her and continued. "I had gone looking for the reason you fell. I did not think the stairs were in such a state of disrepair. But I found the book, half burned in the fireplace. As if someone meant to destroy it and was interrupted. When I saw the partial page with the Greymalcin on it, I realized what ailed my brother. But I knew not the cure. I had to trust to you to do that, Alede."

"But why didn't you come to Legolas or I with the book?" she asked.

"Because he suspected me, didn't you Uncle?" Legolas said, speaking for the first time. "Just as Franduil did. I had the most to gain of any of you." Legolas gave his uncle a dark look. "Well?"

Lomomir bowed his head. "I am sorry, nephew. I did suspect you. And I did not wish you to know that I suspected. After seeing your daily correspondence with Gondor once you came home, I thought it likely that you had an accomplice here who carried out the deed before you arrived."

Legolas made an angry noise, but did not answer. Across the table Franduil looked away guiltily.

Thranduil came forward then and placed a hand upon his brother's shoulders, clearly showing where his loyalties and trust lay. "That is the argument that the guards heard outside my door. Lomomir came to me with his suspicions. I hope that the two of you can learn to forgive each other."

Legolas turned a dark eye toward his father, but Lomomir bowed his head.

"What about the spores?" Alede asked, breaking the cold silence between uncle and nephew. "I can not believe that Unilyn did not include you in her plan to kill the royal family."

Lomomir shrugged. "I do not know. A few days before my brother's illness she did become most solicitous. She often brought me dinner if I studied in my rooms. I wondered at the time, but she was always an ingratiating girl. But I am a forgetful eater and I rarely touched what she brought. I rather think she did intend to infect me, but now we will never know." He gave a sad glance toward the form on the floor. "Once I realized that someone had deliberately infected my brother, I faked my own illness, assuming that I was a target as well. I hoped that I might learn in secret who was behind it."

Thranduil squeezed his shoulder. "And now, Alede, if you are content with my brother's innocence, I suggest you go with him so that he may tend your wounds."

Alede got up unsteadily, though her gaze when she looked at the King was level enough. "By which you mean, my Lord, that I have served your purpose and you wish me to not bleed all over the rug.'"

Thranduil ignored her barb, already turning away. Reaching into the Greymalcin's cage, he dragged it out. He seemed oblivious to the creature's claws. Alede shuddered when she saw the look on the King's face. It was a combination of revulsion and absolute hatred. With a furious flick of his own knife, Thranduil cut its head off. There was a hiss as he tossed the disgusting body into the fireplace.

*********

Legolas stood in mute horror and grief as servants came to carry Unilyn's body away. Memory flashed before his eyes of Unilyn laughing in the sunshine, tossing her long hair and smiling up at him. Another of her laying beneath him, her slender curves melded with his, moving in unison with him. Guilt and grief threatened to swallow him up. Taking a step forward, something crunched beneath his foot. Bending, he picked up Alede's locket. The chain was broken and the locket crushed.

A sob broke in his throat as his fist closed around the necklace. "Ahh Elbereth…"

*********

"I'm sorry to hurt you," Lomomir said quietly as he made tiny stitches in Alede's chest.

"It can not be helped. I am only relieved to have one so skilled to do the job," Alede answered.

"As I am relieved that you saved my brother from the Greymalcin and solved our mystery," Lomomir said, pausing for a moment to look up into her eyes.

Alede nodded and gave him a small smile. She was glad that her opinion of Lomomir was untarnished. He was a very decent Elf, very serious and dedicated to his craft and she found herself liking him still.

He also was very conscious of her embarrassment. The wound extended nearly to her nipple and while she covered herself with her robe, she was very uncomfortable having him touch her so intimately. But Lomomir had been the model of discretion and professionalism and she had relaxed as much as possible beneath his careful fingers.

"Where did you stay at night?" Alede asked, trying to distract herself from the steady prick of the needle. "We had thought the archer's shed on the practice field but there was no sign of occupation."

Lomomir smiled a little, though he did not take his eyes off of his stitches. "I slept with Thranduil, just as we did as boys. We were born only two years apart and were inseparable then. Once you freed him of the Greymalcin, no one sat with him at night, so I slept in his bed, my bow at my side."

"Indeed," Alede said in surprise.

"Thranduil and I may disagree about many things. Well," Lomomir amended. "Nearly everything. But I still love him with all my heart, as he does me. Once I realized it was an assassin, instead of a disease we sought, I was furious. During the day, I crouched in a tree where I could see his balcony and the windows of his study and dayroom. He in turn, let everyone believe that he was too week to leave his rooms. We hoped to lure the murderer to him."

"Using Thranduil as bait?"

Lomomir grimaced. "Yes, that was a major part our argument. I was very afraid for him."

"How could you have suspected your own nephew though?"

Once again Lomomir looked up with those serious eyes. "It had to be someone close to Thranduil and Legolas had the most to gain of any of us. I admit that I suspected Unilyn of being his accomplice. For she also had much to gain. I am sorry I have offended you."

"Nay, I am not offended."

"Yes, you are," Lomomir confirmed. "You are in love with him and I'm sorry my words have caused you pain where he is concerned. For I imagine that you have suffered enough pain for your love already. Legolas has the look of the sea longing in his eyes. I doubt that he has the ability to extend his love toward a woman right now."

Alede looked away and said nothing. Lomomir, sensing her discomfort changed the subject.

"When Lord Elrond left Imladris did he take his books of healing with him?"

"No, they are still there. Rivendell has a huge library."

"I wonder… do you suppose I might be permitted to study those books? My healing skills are a bit rustic in comparison to those taught in Rivendell and I would learn more if I might."

Alede smiled, for perusing Elrond's medicinal library was one of her favorite pastimes. "I know that you would be permitted, for as long as you like. And if you wish it, I would love to compare studies with you. For I know there is much I could learn from you as well."

Lomomir nodded. "It would be a pleasure Lady Alede. There…" he sat back and surveyed his handiwork. "I think that heal nicely and with time will not even leave a scar."

Alede pulled her clothing together carefully. "Thank you. If only Unilyn had been so lucky."

"But the scars on her body were inconsequential compared to the ones in her mind. None of us could reach those. I tried. She hung onto them too dearly and used them to gain sympathy for herself. I was not sorry when Legolas ended his relationship with her. She was a vain and self-serving child. Everything she did was for attention alone, despite what ever the outward appearances was."

Alede shook her head sadly. "Thank the Valar that her latest ploy for attention failed."

"Yes, thank the Valar!"



*********



They buried Unilyn in a small clearing where she had loved to pick flowers as a child. Legolas finished a daisy chain and laid it in a circle over the fresh mound of earth. His father had been with him all day. Surprisingly, the King had not made any judgmental remarks, but instead had listened and consoled.

*I have lost a friend, but perhaps gained back my father,* Legolas thought. *At least for a little while.* For Thranduil's generous moods often did not last.

He sank down onto Unilyn's grave, crumbling the soft earth between his fingers. "How could I have healed you? I know not the ways of the mind. I asked you many times how I could comfort you. But I should have found a way, despite your reassurances." He took a shuddering breath and bowed his head. "I am sorry I failed you Unilyn."

*********

A/N: This was a very difficult chapter, fought me the whole way!! Hopefully it was not difficult to read. I promise a treat for you in the next one… some healing, some laughter, and Legolas and Alede FINALLY get to finish that talk in Chapter 15 "Song of Illuvatar" coming this weekend (if Fanfiction is still working by then! :D ).

List of Original Characters:

Lomomir: Mirkwood's Healer and Thranduil's youngest brother.

Unilyn: A young she-Elf, probably about Legolas' age. She is Legolas' former lover.

Prince Franduil: King Thranduil's second son. He is now the crown prince, due to the oldest son's death in the War of Five Armies.

Princess Elvothien: Wife of Prince Franduil and sister-in-law to Legolas.

Elvomir: Prince Franduil and Evlothien's little boy. Nephew to Legolas.

Hithrawyn: A warrior sent to guard Alede

Thrania: Prince Franduil and Evlothien's little girl. Twin to Elvomir and niece to Legolas. He affectionately calls her Nia.