Ok, I know it's been awhile. Bear with me.

Arwen's eyes sparkled with excitement the next morning as she told Aragorn over breakfast in the garden of what had happened. "She has the greenest eyes you've ever seen and her skin looks so soft! There's something so young and gentle about her. I feel as if I could tell her anything - I'm that comfortable with her. And, um," Arwen leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Legolas seems to be quite taken with her as well."

Aragorn grinned. "So that's why he stuck around."

Arwen laughed. "Now don't you say anything and get me in trouble!"

Aragorn chuckled. He couldn't remember the last time they had been this carefree. And after Elrond's death, he thought he'd never hear Arwen laugh again. It did his heart good.

"Well…"

Aragorn's ears perked up at the sound of Legolas' voice. He was drawing closer. Arwen clapped her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing. Aragorn grabbed Arwen's hand and they ran from the scene seconds before Legolas and Elsa arrived.

"These are the gardens."

Elsa walked slowly behind Legolas. She couldn't believe how beautiful this place was.

Legolas watched Elsa, a strange feeling overcoming him once more. He finally broke the silence. "You said last night that you were on a quest. May I ask what that quest is?"

Elsa looked to Legolas, her eyes a bit uncertain. "I'm on a quest for the truth."

"What truth?"

"You are Legolas of Mirkwood. You have a home- somewhere to belong. My parents left me in the woods to die. A man found me and brought me home to his wife. They have been the only parents I have ever known. My name is not even truly Elsa. They told me so. I am Nobody of Nothing. I belong nowhere. I want to find who my real parents were. The couple who found me told me I was found in the woods near Rivendell. I can only hope… Someone must know something about my parents."

"You should speak with Aragorn. He's a mortal who was brought up here. He may know something."

Elsa shifted uncomfortably.

"What is it?"

"Legolas, may I trust you with a secret?"

"Yes, of course."

Elsa glanced around before saying quietly, "I'm not exactly sure that my parents were mortal."

Legolas' brow furrowed. "What do you mean, Elsa?"

Elsa looked down biting her lip and then slowly tucked her copper hair behind her ear. Her pointed ear.

Legolas was shocked. "You're an elf?!"

Elsa quickly recovered her ear. "I don't know! All I know is that I've never fitted in with humans. I was a freak back home." Tears began flooding her eyes. "I need to find where I fit in. But I know nothing of elves! I may be doomed to be an outcast the rest of my life!"

Legolas' heart beat faster. "I-I-I never would have guessed! Your hair is red. You have red hair!"

The tears were flowing continually now. "So?"

"No elf has red hair."

"A misfit among elves and a misfit among mortals!"

"No, no." Legolas wrapped his arms around Elsa and held her firmly. "We'll get this straightened out. I promise. We should keep this a secret between us for now, ok?"

Elsa looked up, eyes glistening from the tears. "I'm so lost. I don't even know where to begin."

"Why don't you spend the day with Arwen and I'll have the day to think?"

Elsa nodded. "Legolas?"

"Hmm?"

"Do you think less of me? As an elf with red hair, I mean."

Legolas' heart twisted into a knot. Questions, fears, and doubts all raced through his mind. His heart pounded in his chest saying one thing while his brain pounded in his head saying another. She was beautiful as a mortal, but ugly as an elf. Did that make sense? Legolas could not find the strength to answer. He looked into Elsa's big green eyes and then coolly turned and continued leading her on a tour.

thanx 4 all reviews!