This is the longest of the three, but still short! I hope you have liked it so far. Please read and review. I love getting reviews; they help with ideas. ^_^
Gilraen3.
Chapter 3, Memories Forgotten.
Of course, it had taken Bilbo and Gandalf many days to travel to Rivendell from Mirkwood, so Legolas was better by the time Rinamarth found out. He was awake, sitting up in bed, and talking to his father. He had not forgotten him. But when Thranduil showed him the chain, he looked puzzled.
"Ada, what is that?" he asked, admiring the way the crystal sparkled in the sunlight. Thranduil bowed his head. This was what he had feared.
"You do not remember," he whispered.
"Remember what?"
"Rinamarth, and Rivendell."
"Who? I know Rivendell, but not this Rinamarth you talk of. Who is she? I know it is a maidens' name." His father looked back at him. "Rinamarth is, or rather now, was, your one true love. You saved her twice, once from never speaking again, and once from certain death." Legolas gaped at Thranduil. Was his father being serious?
"I can remember no such things," he replied.
"Then that is not good. She will be heartbroken."
"I don't want her to be!" Even though he did not remember this Rinamarth, he felt he did not want her to be hurt. He felt something deep inside him that flickered away, a memory perhaps? Her name suddenly sounded familiar. Rinamarth? Rinamarth…
Thranduil watched him thinking. "Do you remember anything, anything at all about her?"
"Her name, it sounds familiar somehow, but I do not know why. My one true love? I did not know I even had a one true love."
"Oh you do, most definitely. She loves you most dearly. You have not seen her for nearly 500 years."
"Why?"
"Time just went so quickly, we did not realise it. You loved her deeply, you always wore her chain." He held up the heart again. "It is most beautiful," Legolas whispered. He fingered the small heart, and felt the inscription on the back.
"Elen síla lumenn omentielvo," he whispered as he read it.
Thranduil nodded. "And indeed it did, though you do not remember." Legolas felt his heart pang at his fathers' words.
"I wish I could."
Meanwhile, in Rivendell, Rinamarth would pace her room, eagerly waiting for any news of him. Soon, a letter from Thranduil arrived:
Lady Rinamarth,
Do not worry yourself about Legolas, he is awake and alert. During the battle, a goblin saw him on the hill, and threw a rock at him. It hit him on the head, and he was knocked unconscious. He is now awake and feeling much better. But there is one problem. I am so sorry to have to tell you this, but I must. I am afraid, he does not remember you.
I have tried to help him, told him everything, showed him the chain, but nothing. He cannot remember. I am so sorry. He is well on the road to recovery, and hopefully, you will meet again one day. If you do, he may remember. My deepest sympathies,
King Thranduil.
Rinamarth felt her heart stop for a moment. He had forgotten. Her tears stained the letter, making the ink run. Her chest went tight again, and she gripped the letter tightly. She gently rocked back and forth. She was sitting on her bed reading it. It took her a long time to compose herself, and go to see her father. She knocked on his study door. "Enter."
She walked in, and placed the letter in front of him on his desk. He looked up at her. Her face was dreadfully tear-stained, as was the letter. He quickly read it. "Oh Rinamarth," he said softly, and held her in his arms. She lay her head against his chest, and cried silent tears. Elrond stood back, and wiped her face dry.
"Now, you've seen what Thranduil said, do not worry. True, he has forgotten many things, but they may yet return."
"But what if they don't? What if he never remembers me again? I love him so much, but he does not know it!" She collapsed into a chair, and held her head in her hands. Elrond crouched down in front of her.
"I know this is hard for you, but you have to understand." He took her hands in his. "My child, you had not seen him for nigh on 500 years, since just before your mother left. There was surely nothing left."
"What do you mean, nothing left? Of course there was, we deeply love, or rather, loved each other. The distance was just so great, it was almost impossible to see one another."
"True, true. What are you going to do then?"
"What can I do, he obviously doesn't remember me. I suppose I must forget all about him as well."
"No, never forget him. Like I said, his memory may yet return. Give it time."
She did give it time, lots of it. 50 years in fact. But his memory never did return. She didn't go to him, and he didn't go to her. He recovered fully, and once again, was the best huntsman and fighter in Mirkwood. She was relieved to hear he was alive and well, but knowing he did not know her saddened her greatly. She waited 50 long years for his memory to return, but it didn't, completely.
Finally, when those 50 years were over, she left it. She never forgot him totally, but he was now, no more, than just a memory.
So, how is it so far? Ok, good, bad, awful? Not the last I hope! ^_^ Please review, and chapter 4 will be up v.soon.