"Where did you come from?" Thranduil asked.

            "The hall. I need to talk to you. This is between you and me, not you and Legolas. You should not be fighting with Legolas."

            "It is all right Nib. Leneeme ta ir. (I'm not sure if that's quite right, if you think it's wrong let me know.) [It means something like 'leave it alone']

             "No. He as much as said he did not hate me. I want to know what he means."

            "You think I hate you?" Thranduil asked.

"Well, it is hard to miss your feelings. You will not look at me, you will barely talk to me, you forbid Legolas to see me. What else am I supposed to think?"

Thranduil didn't answer.

"I thought as much. But leave Legolas out of this. I approached Legolas in Rivendell. Do not blame him. For whatever reason you hate me, my mother's blood or whatever, do not blame Legolas. He is your son. If it causes this much trouble, perhaps I should leave. That is what you always wanted anyway."

"No," Legolas and Thranduil said together, then looked at each other, surprised.

"Legolas, will you leave us please," Thranduil asked.

Legolas hesitated, not certain he wanted to leave the two alone.

"I will be fine," Nib said. Legolas still hesitated, glancing back and forth between Thranduil and Nib. "Your father will be fine too. Do as he says."

"All right," Legolas said reluctantly. "I will be right outside."

"We will be fine, Legolas," Thranduil said.

Legolas nodded and left. Outside the room, he slid to the ground and slumped against the wall.

"Are you all right Legolas?" He looked up to see his best friend, Kirinke, standing by him. Kirinke's father was the chief guard and Thranduil's appointed second in command.
            "I am fine Kir."

"My father said you and King Thranduil were in the throne room and he had kicked everyone out. He thought there might be some action. Warned me to stay clear."

"So, of course, you are here."

Kirinke grinned. "You know me. So what happened with your father?"

Legolas shook his head. "He is as stubborn as anything. Me thinks I be taking after you too much," Legolas said, grinning.            "I told him to his face he was wrong, and he yelled at me and I yelled back. He almost hit me for it," Legolas admitted. He couldn't help grinning at Kir's wide eyes.

"What was it all about?"

"Nib."

"Nib is here?" Kir said eagerly.

Legolas smiled slightly. He knew Kir always had a liking for his sister. "Yes, she is here. She is talking to Thranduil right now. I think I shall stick close to make sure they do not kill each other."

In the throne room, Thranduil's attitude had changed dramatically. He was nervous and paced around the room while Nib watched his every move.

"What did you want to talk about?" Nib finally asked.

"Oh… yes… um… your mother. Your mother… my-my wife."

Nib stared at him. "What? No it-"

But Thranduil shook his head. "It is true. Your… your mother was my wife… like… like Legolas' mother was… But she was different from Legolas' mother, so different. I loved them both… Legolas; you will not tell him will you? I could not face him if he knew."

Nib was shocked to see Thranduil's eyes pleading, asking for something she didn't know if she could give. Nib shook her head. "I do not… I do not understand."

"Of course not," Thranduil said, suddenly returning to his usual mood. "I shall have to explain it." He sat back down in his seat, and seamed in complete control once more. "Well, sit down. There is no reason to be standing around all day."

Nib sat, completely perplexed by both Thranduil's statement and his sudden change.

"I suppose I had better tell you everything. I had hoped to keep the secret longer, but you and your brother's meddling has made that impossible." Nib barely noticed that Thranduil had referred to Legolas as her brother, which he had never done before.

"I met your mother after Legolas'… was gone. We fell in love. She did not know about my other wife. We were married secretly. I told her it was because there would be some people who did not approve. It was good for a while. Then, we found out each other's secrets. I took it better than she did, and she left."

"That is not true. You sent her away. She was pregnant and you sent her away!"

"I did not. If she told you that it was a lie; and if you assumed you are mistaken."

"But-"

"No, let me finish. Your mother left me. Broke my heart. I did not even know about you until I received this letter," Thranduil said, pulling a small roll of parchment out of his robe. He held it out, and Nib took it warily.

"Do not open it now. Do not read it until you are gone. I feel now that I must explain some of my actions, but I fear you will not believe me. I have never hated you or your mother. I have treated you the way I have at her request."

"What!?" Nib yelled in anger and disbelief.

"It is true. She was hurt and angered when she found out about Legolas' mother. She had thought Legolas was my nephew, who was staying with me, and she loved him. When she found out he was my son, she resented, nearly hated him. Before she left she said she wanted nothing more to do with me or my son.

"You see, I still loved her, and was following out her wishes. When you first arrived here, I was very surprised to see you, and even more shocked to learn of your mother's death. I could not think. That is why I sent you away. Then when ever I looked at you, you reminded me of her. Also, I thought I was protecting Legolas. I did not want you to become close because I did not want him to get hurt. I thought if he knew…"

"But he does know."

"He does not know that we were married. And even now he does not know I cared for her.  You see, he thinks… he thinks it was not my decision. He thinks I had no choice."

"Now where would he get an idea like that?" Nib asked. "You lied to Legolas? You told him my mother forced you-"

"It was for his sake-"

"IT WAS FOR YOUR SAKE!" Nib yelled. "You wanted to save your own face."

"All right," Thranduil admitted. "But everything I have told you is true."

There was a long silence while Nib thought about this. Then she sprang up from her seat. "NO! I do not believe you. You lie! You have always lied and I do not believe a word you say. I do not believe you!" Nib stormed from the room.