Eeeekk…..don't strangle me! I know…it's been ages. But I've been MAD busy. I really hope you all remember what the heck was happening with this story. IIII had to go back and reread it to write this chapter. Enjoy.

-Gwenneth

Chapter 10: Aiglos

The room remained in stunned silence until Estel's small voice piped up from Legolas' bed. "Ada? What is Aiglos? And why is it so important?"

Elrond, seeing that his foster son and the Mirkwood royalty were at a loss as to the situation, the Elf Lord began to quickly recap the important historic details of the spear and the controversy and subsequent argument with Marken's parents.

"I never thought the child might have taken it," Elrond said with a sigh. "This all could have been avoided if a silly old Elf Lord had kept his cool."

Legolas, who had been quiet up until this point, smiled wanly. "Hir nin? Perhaps fate knew what it was doing, for if things had not happened the way they did all those years ago, Estel and I would likely be dead."

Elrond looked up at that and for a moment, did not speak. He was surprised by the young Prince's wisdom and for a moment did not recognize the look in Legolas' eyes; a look that spoke of ages of knowledge, far beyond that of the Prince's years.

And then it hit him. He remembered Thranduil having told him the story of Legolas and his escapade in the tall willow tree in Mirkwood. How the tree seemed to readily assist the young Elf in his refusal to come down.

It seems the trees did more than communicate with Legolas; they have also instilled wisdom and knowledge beyond his years into him. The Lord frowned. "Legolas, have you learned your lesson here?"

Thranduil looked up at that, eyes shifting between Legolas and Elrond. The twins and Estel also watched their father and friend. Legolas smiled. "Aye, I have, Lord Elrond. My mother's death was not my fault. There was nothing I could have done to save her. I know that now. I know that it was not my lack of courage that held me in those trees, but the trees themselves, protecting me from the same fate as her."

Tears leaked from Thranduil's eyes.

"Colder than I remember…"

Marken gritted his teeth against the frigid buffeting of the raging streams water. His hand latched onto something solid and familiar, though he had not touched it in many years. Pulling upward, he came away with the coveted spear. The cause of all that strife. If only his father were here now.

"I will make right what I did wrong years ago, Father. I will clear our family name of this disgrace."

And he marched resolutely back toward Imladris, spear carefully and piously held in his tight grip.

Elrond paced the room until the twins were sure he would wear a hole in the plush carpet. "Please, for the carpet's sake, Adar, sit down," Elrohir said with a small smile.

The Elf Lord looked up, amazement written on his face. Estel chuckled. Then chortled. Then full out laughed. The action was contagious and soon everyone in the room was laughing. Until Legolas' groaned loudly, "Please…I can't!!!"

Elrond hushed everyone and gripped the young Elf's shoulder. "Sorry, Legolas. You look so chipper that we momentarily forgot your plight."

Legolas grumbled. "Yes, well. I did too and that was not a good idea."

He looked about to continue when the door opened with a loud creak. Marken emerged from behind it and slowly revealed the long spear in his hands. Elrond, mesmorized by the beloved artifact, stepped hesitantly forward.

"This is no trick? Mine eyes do not deceive me? This is really Aiglos?"

Marken nodded. "This is really the spear I took as a child and feared to return to you. Please, Lord Elrond. I ask that you release my father and family's name from disgrace. Place the blame and the punishment upon me if you will."

He bowed his head and awaited judgment.

But it did not come.

A hand lifted his chin instead and his eyes met the deep pools that were Elrond's.

"I will not proclaim you in disgrace, Marken, for you have saved the life of my child and a dear friend. You will always be welcomed in these halls and your family will no longer carry a title of disgraced within any Elven realm."

Marken let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. "So you forgive me?"

Elladan and Elrohir chirped up. "Yes, Marken. That's Ada's roundabout way of saying you're forgiven!"

Laughter erupted again.

And Legolas shook his head and smiled.

Estel looked up at the blonde Elf, an odd look in his eyes. "I guess I healed you pretty good, Legolas. The stitches haven't broken from all this laughing."

Legolas looked down at Estel and pulled him into a hug. "You did more than heal my body, Estel. You healed my soul. You truly were my only hope of healing. I thank you, gwador nin."

Estel snuggled closer and smiled to himself. And Ada said befriending him would be hard…

THE END

A/N: Extremely sorry about the long wait, folks. I've been very busy with work and all the stuff at home with the renovations. I am hoping some of you are still with this story and are not disappointed with the end. I am going to definitely try to get the end of When a Shadow Falls up as soon as possible too. Then I have to go on sabbatical from long stories. I just don't have time.

To all my reviewers: You are all the best and I love that you enjoy my stories. It makes writing them all the more worth it. If you would, Eric and I could use a little prayer that we don't lose our house because we really are hard up for money right now! Thanks in advance!!