Legolas glanced over at Calrus who was currently sitting staring at the fire. Beltha's funeral had been two weeks previously however, it had been such a shock to both, Calrus and Legolas, that they had no idea where to turn.

Legolas doubted Calrus would survive the next few weeks without Beltha. His two foster parents were already 50 years of age when they had found him and with Calrus now at 70, Legolas believed that the strain would put too much on his heart. He was right.

Three days later he was sitting at Calrus' deathbed. Calrus was obviously fighting the inevitable loathe to leave his foster son by himself. Legolas glanced down at Calrus and whispered in his ear, "Go Da. Ma is waiting for you. I will not think harshly of you if you leave."

By this point Legolas' eyes were streaming and he couldn't bear to think of a life without his foster parents. Twice in the space of 35 years had both sets of his parents been snatched cruelly away from him. He jerked when he felt a hand sweep his cheek and glanced down to see Calrus' tear- filled brown eyes looking up at him.

"Caldran. You have been the best joy in our lives. I will love you forever, my son."

His voice was hoarse and he knew that his time was coming. "Take whichever of the horses you want and whatever you need and go revenge your previous family. I will always be with you and Beltha too."

With that last comment, Calrus' eyes slid shut and his brown eyes dimmed as the world funnelled black and he was finally at peace. Legolas was immobile.

The kind healer put her arm around him and gently led him out of the room. He couldn't think about what to do next. What was he supposed to do? Everything he had built up, had now crumbled and he couldn't believe that fate had turned against him again.

Without saying a word, he crossed to his room and gathered together all of his belongings and all Calrus' and Beltha's valuables, that didn't amount too much. He then sprinted past the astonished villagers to the stables to where Calrus' horses were.

He picked out Asfael, a pure white stallion that was sired by an elvish horse and a mare from Rohan. Asfael was the fastest of all the horses that Calrus had owned and had the largest stamina and fighting power.

Asfael had felt Legolas enter the stables. He was always calm around him and trusted his master implicitly. He knew that Legolas was going to take him on a long ride and snorted with impatience.

A calm hand fell on his flank.

"Peace, my friend. I just need to go back inside for a few things and then we will be off together." Legolas turned and sprinted back into the house. The neighbours were all gathered there and started asking him questions, offering their houses as his home.

Legolas knew that now was the time to tell them about himself regardless of his safety. He had no- one left for him in Arda and therefore, gave no thought to his safety. Turning round, he glanced at the villagers before saying, "As deeply indebted as I am too you all, I cannot accept your invitations. Please do no take this the wrong way; it is just that I need to leave for I cannot stay here any longer."

The villagers buzzed between themselves. In order to clarify the situation, Legolas pulled back the hair that had wrapped itself around his neck and head to reveal two perfectly pointed ears. The buzzing abruptly stopped.

"Yer an elf!" a villager shouted out. Laughing picked up and the villagers questioned Legolas about his heritage.

"Please," said Legolas, desperate to get away, "yes, I am an elf, but no, I will not tell you from where I hail, for it is dangerous knowledge. I only tell you this, for you have all grown up with me as a fellow citizen and I felt that you had the right to know the truth."

Without further gabble, Legolas ran up the stairs and glanced around his room. Committing the place to memory, Legolas sped around and flew back down the stairs and out of the house. He leapt upon Asfael and cantered him out of the village without every looking back.