Here you go, just like I promised! A note on the cure…I know it is very original. I just thought, as this is a bit of a love story, surely it should be something a bit…traditional, is that the word? Bit soppy I suppose, but that's just me! ^_^

Gilraen3.

Chapter 3, A Cure?

  The years passed. Rinamarth grew into an even more beautiful Elf-maiden, and Legolas grew more handsome and stronger. Rinamarth still didn't find a cure. For a while after Legolas left, she would sit by the river, crying softly, missing him. But soon, she went back to her normal self, thinking that she would see him again one day, but that she might be in for a long wait.

  One day, she entered her father's study, as she did every morning, and found him pouring over a very old-looking book. He looked at her. She noticed a glimmer in his eyes, a happy glimmer. She sat down, and looked at him.

"Rinamarth, I think I may have found it." She jumped straight back up, and went to her father's side. She looked at the book. The pages were old, very old. There were yellow with age, and rough at the edges. The title at the top of the page he was reading was:

Cure for a Lost Voice.

All you need to cure a lost voice are three ingredients.

1) The person with no voice.

2) A meleth (love) potion.

3) Their true love.

The person with no voice must receive a kiss from their one true love after drinking the meleth potion. It could take from one hour to one week for the voice to return. The person with no voice will suffer a sore throat for quite a while. But it will be worth it. When their voice returns, it will be as it once was, maybe purer.

Meleth Potion Ingredients.

1) Glass of water from a pure Elven spring.

2) 10g of crushed athelas.

3) 10g of crushed lissuin (Ever-sweet flower).

4) Four petals of an alfirin (Immortal flower) cut by a full moon.

Rinamarth looked excitedly at her father.

"We just need to find your one true love," he said. She hugged him round his neck. Tears of joy fell from her eyes. Elrond held his daughter. He was so happy when he had found that cure. He had been looking through the library, as he always did, and found this book hidden at the very back of the last shelf. He had pulled it out, and flicked through it. He had come across this, and nearly jumped for joy. But who was her one true love? That was all they needed.

  Over the next few months, Elrond collected all the needed ingredients, and made large stocks of it. Anyone could be her one true love, and so they would need plenty. Luckily, athelas, lissuin, and alfirin grew in or on the outskirts of Rivendell. There was pure spring in every Elf land, so that was easy to collect.

  One day, Elrond received a letter from King Thranduil, inviting him to go and stay. An idea suddenly clicked in his mind. Could the Prince Legolas be her love? They had been exceedingly close when he had stayed in Rivendell. He wrote back, saying they would arrive in two months time. He said nothing of his idea about Rinamarth and Legolas; he would wait till they got there. He packed all the ingredients up.

  He told his daughter, and she was over the moon. The same thought flew through her mind. Could it be Legolas? The final company travelling to Mirkwood would be Elrond, Rinamarth, and Arwen. Celebrían, Elrohir, and Elladan would remain in Rivendell. They set out one fine, sunny morning. It would take them roughly a month to reach Mirkwood. It was going to be a long journey, but Rinamarth didn't care. She just wanted to see Legolas again.

****

  In Mirkwood, Legolas waited impatiently for them to arrive. He was so looking forward to seeing her again, and he hated waiting. He would go riding, hunting, he would practise his fighting to try and pass the time, but nothing seemed to help. Thranduil couldn't help but laugh at his impatient son.

"Patience Legolas, they will soon be here!"

"But you know how I hate waiting!"

"But why are you so desperate to see them? Is it Rinamarth you really want to see again?"

Legolas had been pacing his fathers study, but he stopped abruptly when Thranduil asked him this. He wasn't sure really. He was looking forward to seeing Elrond and Arwen again, but in his heart, he knew it was Rinamarth he desperately wanted to see. He fingered the delicate chain around his neck that she had given him. He always wore it. It made him feel closer to her somehow.

"I don't know." He carried on pacing. "It's been many days since they left Rivendell. Surely they should b here by n…" but he stopped when he heard trumpets sound from the courtyard. He ran onto his father's balcony. He saw a company ride through the gateway, bearing the banner of Rivendell.

"They're here!" he called, and ran out his fathers study. Thranduil followed.

  As he approached the main door, he slowed down, and smoothed his clothes. His father caught him up.

"Legolas, don't run like that again!" he wheezed. Legolas grinned. He suddenly felt a bit nervous about seeing them again.

"Come on then," Thranduil urged him. He walked out, and Legolas slowly followed.

  They stepped out into the bright sunlight. Legolas shielded his eyes using his hand. He saw a group of white stallions before him, all with cloaked riders. Right at the front, he could just see Elrond. Behind him were two smaller figures. He smiled, and walked down with his father.

"Elrond, welcome!" said Thranduil warmly. They greeted each other like brothers. Legolas stood just behind his father. He bowed to Elrond, and Elrond bowed to him.

"Here are my two daughters, Rinamarth and Arwen." He stepped aside, and out of the sunlight appeared two beautiful women. One was slightly taller than the other. She bowed to Thranduil and Legolas. "My Lords," she said gracefully. It was Arwen. The Evenstar glittered around her neck. Then the other came forward and also bowed. Legolas looked at Rinamarth. She smiled at him. He went to her, bowed and kissed her hand. "My Lady," he said, then did the same to Arwen.

"Legolas, show them inside, and to their rooms," Thranduil told his son.

"Follow me," said Legolas, and led Rinamarth and Arwen to their rooms. They were next to each other. He showed Arwen hers first, then Rinamarth.

"I'll see you at the feast later," he said, and was about to shut the door as he left, but Rinamarth grabbed his arm. He looked back at her. She held out her arms, as if wanting a hug. He went back in, and they held each other. Rinamarth felt the chain around his neck. She smiled. All her good memories came flooding back. She stood back, and looked him up and down. He had certainly grown! He was taller, his eyes were even clearer if it was possible, he looked more muscular too.

  He looked at her. She was taller, even more slender, her hair was as fine as ever, and she was still as beautiful as when he had first met her. But unfortunately, they obviously hadn't found a cure for her.

  After the feast, there was of course, a dance. Legolas and Rinamarth were straight out there. They had both improved, and so the Elves had an even more wonderful display then in Rivendell all those years ago. They danced more than once, more than twice. They danced all evening.

  Once, when they were out, Elrond switched his daughters' wine for the potion he had concocted earlier. She would know it when she tasted it, he was sure of that. She would then have only one hour to get Legolas alone, and to get a kiss.

  At one time, Legolas had to dance with other Elf-maidens from his court, so Rinamarth had a rest. She sat down next to her father.

"Having fun dear?" he asked. She nodded, and took a sip of her drink. She glared at her father, who laughed. "Its worth a try. Have you told him yet?" She shook her head.

"I think you should. Go for a walk together." She stood up. "Finish it," Elrond said sternly, handing her the glass. She downed it all in one go, making faces. She waited until Legolas was free, then walked swiftly over.

"You don't want to dance again do you? I'm shattered," he sighed. She shook her head. She took his hand, and led him out of the hall. "Oh, a walk? Yes ok." He decided to take her down to the waterfall. He led her slowly down. When they came to it, she smiled. They sat down on the banks, and Rinamarth thought about how she was going to tell him. She decided to write it. She got her paper and pen, and wrote:

"They've found a cure."

Legolas looked at her. "Really? Brilliant! What is it?"

"I have to have a kiss from my one true love."

He was silent for a moment. He loved her dearly, but was she his one true love? Was he her one true love? He felt a gentle tap on his arm. He looked at her.

"Sorry, just thinking." She smiled, and nodded, as if saying; "Ok then."

"But we can't find my one true love."

She put the pen down, and looked at him.

"We'll find him, sooner or later," he said, stroking her cheek. She felt her heart drop down to her feet. Didn't he love her? She loved him. She picked up the pen again.

"Sooner rather then later I hope!"

Legolas laughed. She smiled again. She wanted to laugh, but couldn't. She knelt up in front of him. She looked at him right in the eye. She wanted to ask it, but she just couldn't She so desperately wanted to say:

"Do you love me?"

She didn't want to just mouth it at him, and to write it down would not be right. She looked at the floor. He lifted her chin up. As he gazed into her eyes, Legolas realised his true feelings for her. He loved her, and wanted to help. But was he her one true love? There was only one way to find out. He leaned forward, and kissed her, on the lips.

  As he kissed her, Rinamarth felt a tingling go all through her body. She had kissed a lot of people, but had never had this feeling before. It was a wonderful feeling. It made her feel happy, exited. He pulled back and stroked her cheek. She smiled at him. She picked up her pen and paper, and wrote:

"We'll have to wait and see if it works. Thank you."

She smiled at him, and he smiled back. He had felt it too, that tingling feeling all through his body.

"Come on, we'd better get back," he said, standing up and holding out his hand for her. She took it, and they walked back to the palace hand in hand.

  The remainder of the evening passed with more dancing. Rinamarth didn't tell her father or sister that Legolas had kissed her. She wanted to see if it worked. That tingling feeling wasn't normal; she didn't get it every time she kissed somebody. She thought about it carefully. Could it be a sign that he was the one? Was he her one true love? The book said she might have to wait a week. She hoped she had patience enough for it.

Well, was that too original or not? Please review and tell me. I also like to have ideas for help with my story, so please feel free to submit any. ^_^