Elrond sighed. "Estel, listen to me, you will not understand what I am about to tell you."
Aragorn glanced over at Legolas who was tucked gently into bed, sipping hot chocolate. "Tell me everything."
"Legolas had an older brother, his name….I'd rather not mention. But he was known as Misery. When your mother died, Legolas. Your father sent for me. She was brilliant, simply brilliant, your mother was beloved by everyone. Especially Misery. When she died, Misery moved himself to an abandoned wing of the place, for thirty years he didn't leave that wing. Elves heard screaming coming from that wing, any servant who ventured there was never seen again.
"Your father tried to coax Misery back to his old self, but Misery never changed. Misery developed a deadly obsession with the dark side, and Mordor. He practiced black magic and strange rituals. Your father finally gave up on Misery. Misery left Mirkwood, and nobody ever saw him again."
"Why does my head hurt so much?" Legolas murmured. "That is no reason I should be as frightened and as I am now."
"Legolas that is not the half of the story." Elrond smiled grimly. "Misery had talents…he could do things, he had magic. Misery was a psychopath."
"He was insane?" Legolas asked.
"No Legolas, he was disturbed. Misery was a pathological liar it was in his nature to deny. His talents were wasted with his occult obsession. Misery could manipulate people and crowds like a puppet master. Misery looked exactly like you Legolas. And you share his talents."
Legolas shook his head. "No."
"Legolas you do not do it intentionally, but you do manipulate people, you do get your way. Just as Misery was you possess preternatural beauty Legolas. People are naturally attracted to you. You are a prize beyond all prizes." Elrond stated. Legolas began to tremble uncontrollably. Aragorn wrapped a tender arm around him.
"Legolas, don't be afraid, I'm here for you." The ranger murmured.
Legolas swallowed. "What did Misery do?"
"He met up with an elf by the name of Adonis. Adonis lived in Mirkwood. His mother was a human…whore and his father was an elf. Adonis was an outsider, he was alone. When the dark lord offered him a home, love, shelter, Adonis could not refuse. Misery and Adonis became great friends. But Adonis also had his obsessions.
"Adonis was considered to be an angel. A black angel. He complained of headaches and strange thoughts and visions. In one of his visions he saw a man who looked exactly like you Legolas. He called this man Misery. Adonis believes that he is the black angel reborn and your brother is the true Misery reborn. He has to find his Misery."
"My older brother….Where is he now?" Legolas asked.
"I do not know. But someone is looking for him, and they think you know where he is."
"Lord Elrond, why don't I remember all this?" Legolas growled.
"Because, Misery hurt you. You would come to me and point to gigantic bruises on your cheek claiming you tripped, or you whacked yourself in the face with your sword. You sank so deeply into yourself you wouldn't let anyone touch you or come near you. Your father was distraught, he lost Misery and now he was losing you. He did whatever he could to get you back."
"Mathalen!" Aragorn gasped.
Elrond nodded sadly. "Mathalen is a plant, and its results are extremely un predictable. For some people it induces drug like states, it creates another world, it's an escape. Used properly it's a pain killer. But for a very rare minority it acts as a memory eraser.
"Your father attempted to erase your memory, and it worked." Elrond started to explain. "But Mathalen isn't permanent and the after affects are deadly. It appears that your suffering from memories resurfacing that shouldn't. It's not that the drug is wearing off. Outside stimuli can change the drugs affects."
Legolas shivered and curled up into a little ball, pushing Aragorn's arm away. "I'd like some time to myself."
Aragorn didn't leave his seat on the side of the bed.
"Leave Aragorn." Legolas growled.
"Legolas…."
"Estel please, I won't do anything stupid." Legolas attempted a small smile. "No there's not a knife in here."
"If I think you're doing anything even slightly self-destructive…." Aragorn warned.
"I know," Legolas said ruefully.
Elrond smiled knowingly at the pair. "Come, Estel." Aragorn followed his foster father out, but glanced back in at Legolas. The blonde hadn't moved, or acknowledged their exit. He closed the door with a soft click.
Legolas POV
Misery….I shivered at the very name. The name itself scarred my and I couldn't understand why. Oh right, because my abusive brother was called Misery. But that makes no sense. I rolled over and face the ceiling. Perhaps it had been a mistake to send Aragorn out. I felt lonely.
Elrond's story was plausible, just not likely. I tried to think about Misery and all I saw in my minds eyes was bursts of gold….A pair of eyes! Yes…No. Misery is not my brother. Adonis.
Images raced through his mind of a beautiful youth, huddling in the corner in the rain. His long coal black curls were soaked, his eyes were a swirling in shades of molten bronze, burnished gold, and fiery golden browns melded together. They were stunning and frightening.
I saw a man with the same brilliant eyes smirking as a cat smirks at a mouse it has trapped in a corner, fear erupted through my veins and I curled back into a little ball.
Misery is my older brother, and he and Adonis were….lovers? Now someone wants to find Misery….Ada drugged me. I don't believe it, but then again, I do. I believe he could be so scarred and desperate. He never was strong enough to get over my mother. I was ten once and he screamed at me for being in her room on my birthday. I don't think he meant it.
I'm a lie…No. That's not true because I'm still me. I don't remember some parts of my life, but I am still the same person. I am not a lie and I am not living a lie. I need Estel. He can always sort out my thoughts.
Adonis…..I'm scarred again. But I'm excited and tingling all over. I want to meet Adonis more then anything. More then I want to meet this Misery. I don't think I ever had a brother. I would remember a tie that close, a blood bond so deep. I'm intrigued by this man with golden eyes, is he Adonis? Or is he Misery, my 'brother'. Something is wrong here….