Wow, loads of reviews! ^_^ I was quite surprised, and happy when I received them all. A very popular question was "Will he remember her?" Read on and find out!

Gilraen3

Kit16- I'm glad I have inspired you to continue. You'll find the answer to whether he remembers or not in this chapter. You don't have to review every single chapter, don't worry!

Elerrina- I know it was sad, but I had to add a bit of sadness. After all, nothing in life is totally perfect, even for Elves. (Unfortunately!)

Rori- Wicked names! I have three brown hens called Chocolate, Chip, and Cookie, but we can't actually tell them apart!

Melia- New reviewer- cool! Glad you liked Silent Elf, hope you like this one as much.

muykiay- I know it was quite obvious, but hey- its how it goes! They're not the only things he has forgotten, but you'll find out what else in the next chapters. ;-)

Nienna- Another new reviewer! Cool! Did you read Silent Elf? Here's No.4 for you.

Radiion- I know, I'm soooo cruel! He might remember her…he might not. Please read and find out! I'm really grateful to you for sticking with Silent Elf and Almost Strangers. Its great to have a constant, faithful reviewer, if you know what I mean. You're hooked eh? Cool! ^_^

Chapter 4, Memories Remembered.

  A few years later, after the 50 she had waited, Rinamarth had to help her father treat an injured hobbit, Frodo Baggins. He was Bilbos' cousin. He had a serious shoulder wound, a stab from a Morgul blade that a Ringwraith had given him. He recovered, and a Council was called.

  Legolas was summoned to that Council. He set out one fine sunny morning with a small company. As his father watched him gallop out of the gate, he thought:

//Will he remember if he sees her?//

He hoped he would.

  It took Legolas just under a month to get to Rivendell. He galloped through the archway, and immediately felt a strange sensation come over him. He shut his eyes, his head pounding slightly.

"My Lord?" asked one of his company. He looked at him. "Do not worry Beinlond, I am fine," he assured him. He jumped down from his horse, and they were stabled.

  Gandalf saw them arrive. "Elrond, Legolas is here," he said. Elrond looked down. The Prince looked no different. "I must tell my daughter," he said, and hurried off to find her. She was in the library, talking to the hobbits. They were telling her about the Shire, and how beautiful it was.

As her father walked in, she looked up. "Hello father, can I help you?"

"Yes. Frodo, could you four give us a few minutes alone?" he asked the hobbits.

"Certainly My Lord." They bowed and left. Elrond sat down opposite his daughter. Rinamarth noticed a small frown creasing his brow. "Father? What is wrong?"

He took a deep breath. "Legolas is here Rinamarth."

She gasped. "Why?"

"He is to be present at the Council. It is taking place tomorrow morning. Please, if you could, do not see him until after it. Wait till it is over."

She nodded. "Alright father. What am I going to say to him?"

"You will know, when the time comes," he replied. He got up, kissed her forehead, and walked out. Rinamarth sat there a while, her heart beating so fast she felt as if it would burst. What was she going to say?

She got up, and went to her room. She saw the hobbits along the way, but said she wanted some time to herself. She sat on the edge of her bed, and thought about it.

  Legolas was in Rivendell, so was she, but he didn't know her. Properly. She knew him, but she couldn't just walked up to him, and said "Hello. I'm Rinamarth. We used to be in love. I still love you, do you love me?" She needed a subtle way of getting to him. After the Council, right…

  Legolas spent his first day in Rivendell walking round it with his friends. He recognised a few things, and was happy that he did. His friends made sure they did not go to the river. Thranduil had told them beforehand; "Let her take him." So, that is what they did. The next day, was the Council.

  He sat in his chair, and looked round at everyone that was present. A few he knew; Aragorn, Elrond, Gandalf, and the people with him. There was a noble-looking man sitting opposite him, Boromir from Gondor. There were many Elves, and Dwarves. Dwarves, he did not like them. There were also two hobbits, Frodo, and Bilbo. Then, the Council began.

  It lasted many hours. There were arguments, disagreements, and tales to tell. He had a tale himself. He had to say how the creature Gollum had escaped from his prisons with Orcs, and that they had found no trace of him since. It all ended with a Fellowship being formed to destroy the One Ring. It consisted of:

· Frodo Baggins, the Ringbearer.

· Samwise Gamgee, Frodos' best friend and gardener.

· Pippin Took, Frodos' cousin.

· Merry Brandybuck, Frodos' other cousin.

· Gandalf the Grey.

· Aragorn, Son of Arathorn, and heir to the throne of Gondor.

· Boromir, son of Denethor the Steward of Gondor.

· Gimli, Son of Gloin to represent the Dwarves, and;

· Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood for the Elves.

He had known he would be going on a long journey, which was what the Council had been for really. Elrond was reluctant to let him go though. "Legolas, surely your father needs you back home?"

"He knew I would be gone a long time," Legolas replied. "He will be fine."

"Very well." Elrond watched the Prince walk off. "Good luck Rinamarth," he whispered to himself, then returned to his study.

  Rinamarth watched him from her balcony. Legolas walked to the stables to check on his horse Nifredil. She followed, pretending she was going to see her horse Ainu. She walked swiftly down, and entered the stables. She could faintly see Legolas at the far end, patting Nifredil on the neck, and softly talking to him. Ainu was in the pen next to Nifredil. She walked up to her, and went in.

  As she came up through the stable towards him, Legolas turned and looked at her. He saw an extremely beautiful Elf-maiden coming towards him. She was tall, slender, had long dark hair, and crystal clear blue eyes that twinkled in the light. She went into the pen next to him, and started stroking a lovely dapple-grey palfrey. He gazed at her. He recognised her, from somewhere. She caught him staring.

"Yes My Lord?"

Her voice was so clear, piercing the silence in the stable. It was so pure, and so fair. She smiled at him. "Prince Legolas isn't it? I'm Rinamarth." She leant over the low wall separating the two horses, and held out her hand. He took it, and shook hands with her. "Rinamarth," he whispered.

"Yes, that's right." She smiled again. All the time, she was praying inside; "Remember, remember, remember…"

He gazed at her again. "I know you, don't I?"

Her smile faded. "You used to, very well. We were best friends once upon a time. Before…before…" her voice faltered, and she looked at the floor.

"Before I got hit on the head and lost my most precious memories?"

She nodded, still looking at the ground. He felt his heart twinge slightly. She was so sad, so unhappy, but why? He desperately wanted to make her happy. He left Nifredil, and went into her pen. She looked at him. He could see tears in her eyes.

"I was devastated when I found out," she said. "When I heard that you had been injured, it was bad enough, but when I found that you might have forgotten me, and all our times together, it was awful."

Legolas put his hand on her shoulder. "Over the years, I have recollected a few things, but not much. I remember this place quite clearly, and your name always rang a bell, somewhere deep inside. A flicker of a memory has always been there, though I have never completely remembered it. I know you though; your name is so familiar. If we went somewhere where we went together once before, it might help."

"The river!"

"Where?"

"The river, come on!"

She grabbed his hand, and they ran out of the stables, shutting Ainus' door behind them. She led him down to where they had had their first 'conversation'. She sat him down in exactly the same place, and she sat opposite him, where she had sat. He looked round. The trees were older, but he recognised them. The sound of the river bubbling along was comforting to him; a sound he knew well. A breeze blew gently through his hair. "Remember…"

"I remember!" he suddenly cried, jumping to his feet. "We came down here after, a dance or something. You couldn't speak! You wrote everything down!"

"Yes!" Rinamarth cried she got up, and they held each other.

The breeze blew around them, mingling with their happy laughter. As she flung her arms round his neck, she felt a thin chain against her palm. She stood back, and lifted it out from under his top. The crystal sparkled in the sunlight; the rainbow coloured fragments of light reflecting in her eyes. She felt the writing on the back, and turned it over.

"A star shines upon the hour of our meeting."

She smiled as she gently fingered it. Legolas lifted her chin up to look at her. She lay it back against his chest. "You gave it to me," he whispered. She nodded. "And it always will shine," she whispered back.

She leant slightly forward, and kissed him. Once again, she felt the strange tingling all through her body. He felt it too. He held her closer, and they stood there, in each other's arms, kissing in the oncoming sunset.

He pulled slowly away. "I know those lips," he whispered. She smiled and stroked his cheek. "You always have done," she replied. "And always will do?" he asked hopefully. She laughed. "And always will do." They kissed again. Behind them, the sun slowly set beyond the horizon, and dusk settled on Rivendell.

  Later that night, Rinamarth was hurrying along the hallway to her fathers study. She knocked gently on his door. "Come in," he called from within. She opened the door, and quietly shut it behind her. He looked up from his desk.

"Rinamarth, this is a pleasant surprise. What gives me the honour of seeing my daughter when she could be in the arms of her Prince?" She laughed, and went to his side. She stood slightly behind him, and slid her arms round his neck so they rested against his chest. "He remembered," she said. Elrond smiled.

"Good. What exactly did he remember though?"

"Well, I took him down to the river where we first went together alone, and we sat in exactly the same places. He sat in silence for a while. Looking at the surroundings. Then, he suddenly burst out saying, "I remember!" Then, we held each other, and kissed. He knows I gave him the chain, and he remembered me. It was so magical down there." She sighed happily. Elrond laughed.

"Good, did you talk about the Fellowship?"

"No, it would have spoilt the feeling."

"Well, you're going to have to talk it over with him. He's going to be gone a long time."

"I know."

"Rinamarth." He slipped out from under her arms, and turned to look at her. "What?"

"Don't expect too much. Anything could happen on this quest."

She looked at the floor. "I know, be prepared for bad news, for war, etc."

"Yes well its true. I don't want you to get hurt, not again." He shut his eyes with remembered sadness at her losing her voice, even though it was hundreds of years ago now. She crouched down, and looked at her father, eye to eye. She placed her hand on his shoulder. He looked at her. "I'll be fine, I'm strong."

"Are you though?"

"Yes, now don't worry." She kissed his cheek, and headed for her room. He watched her leave with a worried expression. She was strong, but how long could she keep it up?

  The same thought was running through her mind as she hurried back to her room. It was a bit of an act she putting on. It would be incredibly hard, knowing that Legolas was off in the middle of some adventure with the threat of death always on him and his companions. She entered her room, and got ready for bed. As she settled beneath the covers, she made a decision. She would talk with him tomorrow.