A/N: Thank you for all who have reviewed! To those reading who have not: please review! I'd love to hear your comments and if you are lost I will try to answer your questions! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE CONFUSED, I HAVE INCLUDED SOME "FACTS" AFTER MY LAST AUTHOR NOTE THAT I HOPE WILL HELP THIS STORY MAKE SOME SENSE! I APOLOGIZE FOR THE CONFUSION.

Chapter Five: Memories

My pulse pounded through me. It felt as though my heart was now in my head. I opened my eyes, meeting dirt and autumn leaves in my vision. I attempted to roll over, causing my head to pound and my vision to blur. My legs felt like I had just ran a marathon. My back hit the leaves successfully and I opened my eyes again and waited for them to clear.

My left eye saw the tops of tall trees illuminated by the bright moon. My right eye, however, was not functioning. I touched it only to withdraw from the pain. Tenderly, I ran my fingertips over the sensitive skin. After a few moments I concluded it was swollen shut. My musings also awarded me the knowledge of a rather large gash protruding from my hairline across my temple and through my eyebrow. I would be lucky if I still had my sight in that eye.

What was I doing in the forest? I had no recollection of anything from the recent past. I laid there for a quite sometime and came to the conclusion I had been hit in the head and left in the forest. I knew I had been there for sometime by the dried blood caked on the right side of my face.

My clothes, also had blood all down the front. They were peculiar looking, but I found myself in an odd position to investigate so I slowly sat and moved to lean against a tree. I was wearing what seemed to be a tunic, an elven tunic, but was missing the outer shell of the top. 'Legolas' tunic,' I thought. Legolas... the prince of Mirkwood. Why was I wearing his clothes? Did I...was I... me and him? No, I convinced myself. It was not possible. I touched my ears. I was not an elf so probability was with me.

After painfully stretching my legs, I stood up and began slowly walking in the direction I was facing. My feet hurt with each step and looked much like my face. Small cuts littered them and the blood, mixed with dirt, leaves and twigs, dried making them look quite ugly.

I walked slowly, at a pace that would get me a few miles per day. I thought I might be able to reach the edge of the forest if I kept going, with no rest, for a week.

This continued on for days. I only stopped to climb a tree to periscope the area for the direction of the city. If I would have kept walking in the direction I was, I would have missed the city and headed into the heart of the forest. I just walked and began thinking through my past to try to remember anything of how this occurred. The memories from years past returned in a confusing order. As more came to me, the more I pieced them in order.

I was mostly human, raised in the elven city of Mirkwood by an elf named Mailin. He found me when I was a babe, wrapped in a blue cloak in this very forest. He taught me everything I know today, except how to swim which I taught myself. I loved him like the father I never knew, but I never found a way to tell him until it was too late.

I matured and he let me live in a small hut he had acquired by the lake. I could stay there as long as I helped him with paperwork he was to complete for the king. The most recent memory was one of speaking with the king's advisor, just after being forced to return the hut to Mailin. For some reason, I believed that each step I took brought me closer to my death.

Not only my lack of memory troubled my mind, but the fact that spiders, orcs, and wargs lurked in the shadows around me and I was very aware of their presence at all times.

Fatigue, thirst, and hunger soon overcame me after those few days. My head would pound and the wounds would reopen, causing me to lose ounces of precious blood. I almost wanted the demons to come rid me of my misery. No matter what I did I would face death in the end. It was only a matter of when and how.

My feet tore apart as I dragged them across the forest floor. Blood marked my path and the pack of dark creatures trailing me multiplied, waiting for the opportune moment to attack. My tongue cracked from lack of water. My working eye was dry and blurry, the other swollen even more than before from infection. I couldn't take it anymore, I took one final step and collapsed.

I heard the growls and snapping as the creatures fought to get to me. I prayed my death would be quick. A voice entered my head, calling me. I smiled. One more piece of the puzzle. My name: Aluhin. The name was called again by the voice and I almost thought it was real as I felt a warg sink its teeth into my leg. I screamed in pain as it twisted and attempted to rip my leg off. I prayed for darkness to take me, but I knew I wouldn't be that fortunate. However, I changed my mind when I heard a gush of wind and the large beast fall dead on my legs.

The life was draining out of me and I could feel it. This was the end. Perhaps I would wake in a better place—a better life. I gasped for air and felt someone or something kneel beside me, whispering my name in a shocked expression. I struggled against the oncoming darkness to see who or what it was, but it was stronger and defeated me. I hated it how it wouldn't come when you wanted it to, but when you least did.

My last thought was oddly, 'water.'

I awoke in a cold sweat. My body was shaking uncontrollably and I squeezed my eyes closed against the throbbing that consumed me. I couldn't think straight to concentrate on anything except making it stop.

I opened my eyes. The familiar sight of the treetops met my eyes, behind them a sunny blue sky. Was the afterlife just like real life? I became aware that I was painting. My body desperately needed oxygen and I felt weak from my malnutrition and loss of blood. I needed to get up. I would rather face execution then lie in the forest to rot. Being dead couldn't be this painful. Why wouldn't death just take me?

My arms worked fine, but my legs screamed in pain. Why the warg left I had no idea, but I found myself wishing it hadn't. I grunted and ground my teeth as I tried to sit up.

"Aluhin," a voice beside me breathed. The figure helped me up before capturing me in a giant hug. "Thank the Valar. You worried me so. I feared you dead and did not expect finding you as you were, but relieved to say the least."

I leaned against him and laid my head on his shoulder. It felt so good, being hugged. It was an expression I had never been given and the first proved how priceless they were. How could I have lived so long without one?

"Aluhin?"

I took a deep breath, breathing him in. I wanted to memorize this moment, although I did not know who it was that was holding me. Everything seemed familiar: his hair, his tunic...I had yet to see his face. His arms tightened around me, holding me closer. I was confused. Was there actually someone that cared about me? Did he say he was relieved to find me?

I very much did not want to, but had to so I pulled away, forcing him to break away. He looked at me with such compassion I did not think it possible. His delicate, yet masculine features, his beautiful pointed ears and flowing golden hair...it was perfect. Not a flaw on him. He was the exact opposite of me.

I looked into his eyes. I witnessed as they slowly changed from brown to green. I wanted to ask, but I knew he was not the one to question about the matter.

He reached out and ran a hand through my greasy, tangled hair. "Are you all right?" Immediately, I broke my gaze and hung my head.

"Please speak. Your silence is deafening. I apologize for my last actions, for having you recall those memories of hard times. Forgive me."

I still did not know who he was. He seemed to float just beyond my mind's reach. I gathered my courage and asked a bold question. "Why do you care for me?" The question did not come out nearly how I expected. My unused voice was very rough and almost masculine. Not to mention it was barely audible from the lack of fluids to moisten my vocal cords.

He must have understood me and pitied me even more for my other disability. "You are my friend. Your safety means the world to me."

'Does it really?' I wanted to ask. 'Do you not just pity me and feel bad? Think you can help this poor, beat up, innocent creature? I am not who you think me to be!' But life was not good to me and the elf was completely oblivious to my struggle and anger inside.

I could feel his gaze on me and I looked up and found myself very close to him. His eyes were now a dark shade of blue, pools of deep water. I dove into them like I wanted to dive in water. Water, something I loved and could not live without. Was this elf beginning to become a necessity in my life?

An unreadable expression lined his face and his eyes sparkled with it. The anger and confusion drained from me as I swam in the depths of his eyes. I changed in a different way. Instead of externally, I felt my stomach flip and myself become worried. I had no idea why. I felt so safe, but I sensed oncoming danger and tried to swallow.

He turned away and stood, helping me stand also, against my will and I was forced to tighten my jaw in order not to cry out in pain.

"Let us head back. I need to treat your injuries further." It was then I realized my leg was wrapped and my head cleaned.

I shook my head and croaked a no in disapproval.

"No?"

"Please!"

"Aluhin, I will keep you safe. You need to be treated." Realization then crossed his features. "Aluhin, I will not let them find you."

"You can't!"

Hurt filled his eyes. "Do you not trust me?"

It was becoming harder to get words to come out. I used all my strength, mentally and physically to form the words. "I trust your intentions. The king...will know! He will come! We cannot...g-g...t...n-n-n!" I couldn't form the last two words, but he understood.

"Faith. Faith in the Valar's ways," he whispered before placing a kiss on my forehead and scooping me into his arms. He set off at a slight jog to pass the short mile to the castle. I prayed he knew what he was doing for my life was in his hands...literally.

Somehow my savior managed to slip past all guards and enter a back door into the castle. I did not realize how close I was to the city's borders. If I would have continued for five more minutes, I might have been in ear and eye shot of the guards looking for me.

We headed up to what I assumed was his room. He opened the curtains lining his bed and placed me on it. I was overcome by sleep and fatigue, but forced myself awake out of sheer paranoia of who might enter.

He began unwrapping the dressings he put on my leg first. It felt odd—me laying on his bed while he touched me—almost wrong. My instinct wanted me to jump up, smack him, or leave the room. I knew, however, he wasn't doing this for himself, but for me.

I stared at the canopy of the bed, gripping the sheets and gritting my teeth as his fingertips touched the wound, spreading some unknown herb over it. It eased the pain after some time, but his touch, soft as it may be, felt like knives.

"I apologize for putting you through this pain, but it should help it heal and relax and prevent the pain from returning," he told me quietly.

I nodded and closed my eyes as he began wrapping the wound once more. "How b...bad is it?"

He handed me a glass of water and I greedily took it, consuming the contents in a few gulps. My throat eased and my tongue absorbed the rest. I handed back the glass, nodding in thanks and waited for his answer, dreading the worst. "Not as bad as it could be. It does not seem to be infected. However, it is healing slowly, as expected, and will take quite some time."

"Nice of you to stay so positive."

"Always." I could hear the slight gin with his answer. His hands stopped and I waited for them to continue. I heard movement and I opened my eyes when I felt fingers on my cheek. "Are you all right?"

I smiled weakly, slightly uncomfortable with me laying under him and he being so close. "I will be fine." His looming face frowned at my answer and I looked away.

He took a seat beside me on the bed and unwrapped the bandage on my head. It had to look pretty ugly. Although the swelling in my eye had gone down somewhat, I still could only partially see through it.

I winced and involuntarily drew away when his fingers touched the wound.

"I apologize, Aluhin. I am doing my best to be gently, but I, unlike healers, have warrior hands.

"Yes...no...It's all right." I closed my eyes once more when his hands returned to their duties. The truth was his callused hands seemed silky on my skin. It was not that aspect and the pain alone that caused me to draw away, but how odd it felt for me to be willingly letting him touch me.

"What happened out there?" he asked almost inaudibly. I was taken aback by his question. What did he expect me to say? I opened my mouth to speak when I realized he was not yet finished.

"Why did you run?"

So I ran. Why did I run? I answered the question by asking him one in return. "Would you have not?"

"Run, perhaps not. Walk, yes."

He would have walked? All right, so I couldn't haven been chased. He was helping me limit the possible events that could have occurred in the time span I did not recall. I slowly began to remember the pain, my words, and how he had tricked me with speaking in Westron then somehow sneaking around me and acting as though nothing happened.

"You are still upset with me," he observed, not pausing in his work. I chose not to answer for I was not sure if I was or not.

"Forgive me, please, for whatever action it was that troubled you to flee. Were you trying to leave the realm?"

I closed my eyes further, trying to remember. "No. I...I just needed...running seemed the right thing to do."

"Where were you running to?"

"No where," I thought as I spoke. "No where at all. Anywhere to be away."

He was silent for quite some time. "You worried me," he whispered. "I thought you had left me."

"Why? Why would it matter if I left?"

"Aluhin." His hands stopped. "Aluhin, look at me!" I kept my eyes shut until I felt a hand on each side of my face. "You need to realize that people care about you. Why is it so hard for you to accept that?"

"Because I have never witnessed it," I stated coldly. "I have never seen anyone show any sign of giving a grain of sand about my well-being."

"What about me?" he asked softly. "Have I not shown you kindness and friendship?"

"Which is why I do not understand your motives. I have not seen myself yet, but I know I am swollen, beat up, and down right ugly. Still you"

"No! Do not say such things!"

"It is only the truth."

He looked at me closely. "You really see that, do you not?"

"I do."

"'Tis a shame," he said softly as he withdrew his hands from my cheeks and examined me. I wished he would direct his attention to my wound instead of my words.

My wish was granted a few moments later and I turned my thoughts to his identity. He was a warrior elf, and he cared for me...greatly. How could I have forgotten him? I remembered him, but could not recall his name.

"Your head seems to have become infected. We will have to keep a close eye on it. Were you attacked?"

Truth rang in his words, 'Yes, my mind was infected with an insect that is eating my memories!' I thought angrily. "No, I fell."

He nodded and completed wrapping it. "I hope even through this incident we can continue our friendship."

I paused before answering. "Of course." I would be stupid to throw away the only person who has cared a speck about me.

"You will return to a first name basis then?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "Then why have you not used mine?"

I froze, hopefully not visibly. What was I supposed to say? "I am sorry."

He looked at me with his icy blue eyes that had become all too familiar to me. I felt horrible, but I couldn't bring myself to tell him I had forgotten him. I hoped my memory would fully return soon because I couldn't stand the pain I was putting him through.

"You must be famished," he said, rising. "I shall retrieve you some food." I thanked him and watched him leave. Fatigue overcame me and I struggled to stay awake, but I could not and drifted of to sleep.

I awoke to find it dark. I rolled over and wondered where I was for a moment before remembering the elf healer and the previous day's events. I started when I noticed the body beside me. He was sleeping beside me! 'This is his room,' my mind reminded me. My stomach growled softly and I noticed a tray of food on the table beside me. Greedily, I ate the cold, but satisfying meal until I had my full and drifted off to sleep once more.

Vivid dreams captured me and pulled me in. I was outside in what looked like the courtyard I passed through often. The king stood before me and raised a glinting sword. I saw the elf behind him, lying on the ground, eyes wide and seemingly unfocused. The sword crashed towards me at a tremendous speed and I screamed the faceless name.

"Legolas!"

"Shh...shh...I am here. Aluhin, wake please. It is only a dream."

I obeyed the voice and my eyes opened. It was dark still and I found myself in a cold sweat. Tears drenched my face and I found myself in the arms of the elf.

"I am here, it is all right," he whispered as he rocked me slowly.

He was Legolas! Relief encased me. The dream was so different. I had had other dreams in the past that had been worse than that. I had seen myself suffer and die countless ways yet something about the dream scared me. There was something beside the fact it was realistic. Something came before that I did not recall. The picture of the sword crashing down played over and over in my head. Then I noticed when it glinted in the sunlight there was a detail I had not seem before. It was stained newly with blood. Blood that did not belong to me.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed. Sorry it took longer than usual to post this chapter. I have been busy lately with getting my wisdom teeth removed, my birthday coming up, and swim season starting… not to mention school work. :(

SpiderLegs&RobinsEggs: I have included a background/answer for your confusion which I hope will help. I really appreciate your reviews. Your input helps me know what I need to explain. My problem is this story was started after ElvenFrog's The Band of Thieves and I don't want to give too much away from it and its sequel. Because almost nobody has read that, I will include some information below.

Nadine: Thanks…whoops, I forgot I'm not supposed to say thanks. Soroh, I'm not allowed to say that either. :) I hope you figured out how to get to this chapter and I hope you still enjoy it!

For those of you who do not understand! I hope this will help.

The story starts with what is the future at this point. Aluhin is a human who was found in the forest by Mailin—the elf who she spoke to at the beginning about the papers and the 'daughters abandoning their fathers' then later before the dance with the prince. As you learned in this chapter, she grew up loving the water and recently was abandoned and left on her own, but the prince comes to the rescue and takes her in. The thieves, who do not seem important, are key to the story. They are one of the reasons why she is left to forge for herself and why the king is coming after her. Linking her to them is the excuse to rid Mirkwood of humans completely.

In the last chapter, the figure in the forest and the raven, as you can guess is one of the thieves. On her shoulder, a seemingly harmless bird, flies to Legolas' window. Here is where it might get confusing. The raven is actually one of the thieves and is an ancient 'Changeling'. She does not belong to me but to ElvenFrog. Changelings made their home on Middle-earth, but were killed off by men (I think). This thieve is the last of them all. She flies into Legolas' room and changes into the prince, thinking she could communicate with Aluhin; however, they do not speak the same language. Legolas comes in from behind her, greatly confusing her—and some of you :)—causing her to snap and run away. She hit her head on a rock after running deep into the forest.

Something no one has mentioned, but may be on your minds: the fact she has abnormal swimming abilities. This may not seem like a big deal, but it is the reason the thieves want her. You can learn about this in ElvenFrog's Band of Thieves which focuses mostly on the group of thieves.

I hope this helped. Please review and let me know if I should explain anything else further. Thanks!