A/N: Thank you, thank you, thank you!! To all of you who've taken the time to review, especially Arabella Thorne, who has been with me since the beginning. It really is an encouragement to me. And to those of you who haven't already checked out some of Arabella's work - WHY NOT??? It is well-written and very good. Of course, I'm biased, because she writes about my favorite characters, but after you read and review here, search on her name (Arabella Thorne) and take a peek.

Yes, there are a lot of unanswered questions... I think they will be answered as the story unfolds (I hope). I also know that already the story is taking off in directions I hadn't considered before, but you know how those elves can be! Always have to have their own way.

Kyrthira Phelan, I didn't know that 'elentari' is another name for Varda - I got her name from an elvish name generator.

And now, on with the story...........









Legolas looked down, at a loss for words. "When I stayed behind to speak with him, Lord Elrond, he did not mean to care for her." His voice trailed off.

"What do you mean, Legolas?" Aragorn looked concerned. "What reason would he have?"

"I do not know, Aragorn," replied the young elf. "He said there things that I knew naught of, much less understood."

"He spoke the truth, Legolas," said Gandalf. All eyes turned to the wizard, who had remained silent up to this point.

"Do you know who she is, Gandalf?" asked Aragorn.

Gandalf nodded silently. "Yes, my friends. I know who she is." The old wizard sighed, knowing the tale he would tell would cause as many questions as it would answer.

"Then tell us, Gandalf," exclaimed Gimli. "What are you waiting for?"

"Indeed, Gandalf," agreed Elrond, looking at him with raised eyebrows. "Although I do not wish to cause any pain, I think the time has come for the truth."

"You are right, Elrond." The wizard nodded and took his pipe from one of his innumerable pockets. "Although this truth should have been told many years ago, the telling of it is none the easier for its age." He finished puttering with his pipe and lit it, making small puffs of smoke come from the bowl. "This truth, like many truths, is hard to bear," he began. "It involves many people and many lives over the years." He paused, gathering his thoughts. "I know that Lord Elrond knows bits and pieces of this tale, and that he has kept silent because it was asked of him to do so."

Elrond nodded. "I will be glad to be able to drop the veil of secrecy," he said.

"I am glad, too," admitted Gandalf. "Legolas, I am afraid the tale is mostly of your father's doing." He searched the elf's eyes. "Are you able to bear this?"

Legolas returned his gaze steadily. "The exploits of my father are well known, Mithrandir," he said quietly. "I care not what the people say, and you here who are my friends - " he looked around, "I do not fear that you will judge the son by the father's actions." He dropped his gaze and said in a voice so low they had to strain to hear him, "But if it be in my power to set something aright, by Elbereth I swear to do it."

Gandalf smiled at the prince. "I expected no less from you, Legolas, son of Kaeryl." He looked up at Gimli. "Patience, Gimli, I am coming to the tale. I can see you are anxious." He closed his eyes as if he were watching the scenes unfold before his eyes. "Many years ago, as you well know, Thranduil imprisoned the dwarf lord Gloin and his party in his dungeons. Legolas was at Rivendell at the time, I believe, with his mother." He looked at Elrond for confirmation, who nodded. "The dwarfs escaped after a time, and returned to the mines. That is one of the reasons the dwarves have no love for the elves. The other reasons are too long and complex to go into here." Gandalf took a deep breath. "Thranduil was once a kind man and loving father. Eventually, though, his love for wine and treasure became second only to his love of power. Kaeryl, Legolas' mother, was aware of these changes in her husband. That is why she took Legolas to Rivendell or Lothlorien as often as she could."

"Your mother was a great lady," said Elrond, a misty look in his eyes. "We often talked of letting you grow up in Rivendell, but she decided that your home was Mirkwood, and you should not be driven from your home like that. She knew that all of Rivendell was at her service if ever she needed us."

"Thank you, Lord Elrond," replied Legolas. "My mother always spoke of you in high esteem. I know that she was grateful for your help."

"Well," continued Gandalf, "Legolas and Kaeryl were in Rivendell when Thranduil imprisoned the dwarves. One night, however, a trusted servant from Mirkwood came, bringing this bit of disturbing news. Kaeryl left Legolas in the care of Lord Elrond and returned with the servant to Mirkwood. She watched carefully, gathering information about where the dwarves were imprisoned in the many dungeons of the castle. Finally, on one evening, after Thranduil had passed out from drinking, she went to the dungeons to see the dwarves. She made sure that Gloin and his party were fed and cared for, and promised them she would help them leave." He puffed on his pipe.

"My father spoke of her," said Gimli in amazement, "but he never said she was the queen of Mirkwood!" He looked at Legolas. "The lady of the wood will forever hold first place in my heart," he said, "but the lady Kaeryl is nonetheless a bright star in the night of hate." Legolas merely nodded, trying to remember events that Gandalf spoke of.

"She did all that she could," continued Gandalf, "but there was one dwarf that she knew naught of. Thranduil had hidden this dwarf from any eyes that might pry. This dwarf was Regeli, daughter of Gloin." He closed his eyes and opened them again. "There are many reasons, perhaps, for what Thranduil did. None of them are sufficient, however. He hurt many people with his actions, not the least of whom were his wife and his son." He paused, then spoke once more. "Regeli was hurt also," he said softly. "She was abused and violated in the worst possible way. Kaeryl discovered Regeli after Gloin told her that his daughter was not among the dwarves in the dungeons. She knew of Thranduil's secret hiding places, and found her, crying and dispirited, despairing of ever seeing her father or home again. Kaeryl tended to Regeli's wounds, and the next night she helped them escape. No one knows the price that Kaeryl paid for her actions, for she was silent, and Thranduil certainly wasn't going to tell anyone."

The group was silent for a moment, then Legolas said quietly, "Go on, Mithrandir, please." His eyes pleaded with the wizard to continue speaking.

"After a time, Kaeryl returned to Legolas and Rivendell. They returned to Mirkwood for a time, and all was well, or seemed to be. But one night, late in the evening, a small party of dwarves rode to see Thranduil. No one knew what they wanted, and in the morning they were gone, on their way back to the mines. The next morning, Kaeryl and Legolas left for Rivendell, where they stayed until Kaeryl died of grief."
"I remember that night," whispered Legolas. "The dwarves and my father argued. Over what, I do not know…I only know that my mother was not the same after that night." Gandalf smiled sadly at him.

"Your mother was a strong elf, Legolas. She would be very proud of your actions this day," Elrond told the young prince. "You are your mother's son, also, Legolas. It is she who has molded you. She tried to be an example for you in every way."

"Your mother left Mirkwood, Legolas, and brought you to Rivendell, because she could no longer hide her disgust at what Thranduil had become. The dwarves that visited that night had brought a small bundle, wrapped in a blanket. What was not known when Regeli left Mirkwood but became apparent when they reached the mountains was that she was with child. The birth was hard and labored, and after delivering a girl child, Regeli died. The dwarves did not bring this child to Thranduil to punish her, for they value all children. And after all, she was half-dwarf. One of their own. They brought her to Thranduil because the child was totally elven in appearance. They did not want her to feel out of place because of the way she looked. They thought she would have a better chance if she were among people who at least shared her appearance. Her hair and eyes were dark, and her hands were long and slender. But the most noticeable thing about her were her long, pointy ears." He looked at Legolas and folded his hands. "Elentaari is your sister."