AN: Hiya all! I just came back from the Mets game and I'm glad to say they won! It was a really good game….lots of good pitching and small ball. The only downside was the fact this nutty squirrel got into the stands. It jumped on the railing and sort of stood there for a few seconds. Then it took off down the stands, jumping on people's legs, arms, backs, and laps. The poor critter got so nervous, I guess, that it leapt off the railing and into the section below my own. There he landed on some poor woman's head. She wasn't all that happy about that happening to her, I can assure you. Anyway, here's my next update, fresh from the guts of my computer. Please keep the reviews coming since they, along with my reviewers, rock like a box of socks.

Elven Script: A bashing may be on its way, though it might be of a more verbal variety. Nothing physical…yet, though I can't promise anything for later. Here's my next post though, up as soon as possible!

pixie88: Algernil is pretty much as you described her, kudos for your accurate reading! As for Thranduil's reaction to her return, that's coming up right about now and, let's just say, he's going to get the shock of his immortal life. As for your question, she's only asking to make sure his motives are true. Making sure he's not stringing Emma along for the benefit of their father. That, of course isn't true at all, much to everyone's benefit.

Disclaimer: I own nothing except for a handful of made up characters. Tolkien thought up the concept and, as such, it belongs to him. I'm just playing in his world. I'm broke and in Graduate School. All I own are Pointe Shoes.

Though her heart was pounding in her throat and something in her gut had turned her blood to ice, Algernil knew what she had to do. Really didn't mean she had to like it but it had to be done. There was no way for her to traipse through her old home without telling her once husband. It was imperative that he know about her return, of course.

Still, it would have amused Algernil to no bitter end to just bait and switch on Thranduil. Allow rumor of her return to spread without revealing herself to him. See what the Ruler of Mirkwood did with rumor of his deceased wife's specter haunting the caverns the elves called home. Knowing Thranduil, he wouldn't really do anything but assure the people it was just a female elf who looked like his wife.

There was no specter, just alike forms and features.

Still, there was only one large and looming problem to Algernil's revelation to Thranduil. That being, she hadn't a clue where her once husband was.

Algernil figured that her revelation shouldn't be in the main hall where Thranduil held court. Everyone would know then and, at the moment, Algernil didn't want that. If there were too many individuals around, she knew full well that Thranduil would cover up his true reaction. He would put on his kingly façade and pretend to know exactly what was going on.

That was not the reaction Algernil wanted, not in the least. She wanted him to betray some mild shock at the very least. Anything else was an added bonus in her elven eyes, since Thranduil had always been an implacable fellow to say the least.

The best place, Algernil knew to spring her little trap, was in Thranduil's private study. There was a good chance he would be in there, actually, as he had just returned from the hunt or so Legolas had told her some time ago. He would be away from the court and all his little underlings- For lack of a better word to describe the minor lords and ladies in Mirkwood- for the rest of the day.

Wearing a smile of pure honey mixed with a touch of spider's venom, Algernil set off towards Thranduil's private study. A route she had known by heart when she was first alive and one she hoped hadn't changed with the times.

The heavy wooden door that blocked the study was shut tight against all in the corridor before it. For a long moment, Algernil ran a hand over the richly carved designs on the door, recalling every small figure that had decorated the portal to one of the king's private sanctums. One of the places where the ruler of Mirkwood could go and work on things in peace and quiet. Be alone with the thoughts in his mind without the eyes and ears of the rest of the kingdom on him.

Algernil knew the other sanctum of quiet and peace was supposed to be the Ruler's private quarters. Not truly private as they were usually shared with the ruler's family. His spouse and children and anyone else from his line that might have been alive at the time.

Of course, when she was alive and Legolas was just an elfling older than Emma's age, peace in Thranduil's private quarters was hard to come by. For most of her married years, things were happy and enjoyable and rather fun. Some of the best times in her life, Algernil supposed.

The last few years before her untimely demise were….difficult to say the least. That was something Algernil wanted to banish from her mind, strike from her memory, and start anew.

This was, after all, a gift in the form of a second chance. There was something she had to set right and Algernil and a sneaking suspicious she knew what it was. Maybe what wasn't the right word for it. More like "who" it was.

She knocked on the heavy door three times- the sound a dull, wooden thud that barely echoed through the hallways- before she received any sort of response.

"Enter," came the muffed voice of her once husband Thranduil, "but know that I can only speak with you for a short time. The demands of ruling weight heavily on me."

Permission granted, Algernil slipped into the room. She said nothing, the only indication of her entrance being the fact the door creaked slightly as she shut it behind her.

Algernil had to admit- Though she truly hated to do so given her new knowledge- that the sight of her once husband made her breath catch in her throat. He looked the same as she had remembered him. Well, almost the same as his bearing had changed since their last meeting in this world. There was something more regale, haughtier now. A small, invisible something that wasn't there when she was alive.

"I am truly sorry that I do not have more time to speak with you but my absent minded son forgot he was supposed to work in my stead today. I no not what that boy did with his day. He was probably with that demonic child he dares to call his sister," Thranduil commented, not bothering to look up from whatever he was doing.

That, in and of itself, annoyed Algernil almost as much as the comments he had dared to make about his son and daughter. He was just being rude in an overall fashion when she knew, once, his manners had been better.

"Should you not be calling Legolas our son, Thranduil?" she questioned, her tone honey with just a hint of venom, "Unless you were the one to carry and give birth to him alone. That is something I deem impossible though I am just a silly elven maiden and know very little."

That statement earned her a glance from her once husband. A glance that turned into a rather gawking stare. Disbelief, fear, and, of course, a healthy dose of shock danced across the rulers face as he sat bonelessly in his wooden chair.

Algernil fought the smile that wanted to dance across her face. Not really a smile, actually. More like a full on smirk. Some showing of the superiority she was feeling at the moment. Getting the upper hand in a situation was always something meant to be enjoyed. After all, one never knew when it would happen again.

"No Thranduil, my dear, you are not seeing things. I am not some specter to haunt you from crimes you have committed nor am I one who looks like your long dead wife," Algernil stated, her voice rather pleasant given the circumstances, "Know that I am your wife and I have returned to you."

"How….how can this be," the ruler of Mirkwood stammered, still trying to get over his initial shock, "I saw you die. I saw your body when it was returned to the kingdom after its discovery. The dead do not return to life. That is fact we all learn as young elflings."

"Yet I stand before you very much alive and eager to return to my place as your queen," Algernil pointed out.

Truthfully, she was never one to be the atypical submissive queen. Her role was always active, always moving, always trying to let those in the elven kingdom know she was ready, willing, and able to help. Whether or not that help was wanted or even needed was a whole other story entirely.

"Why have you returned?" Thranduil snapped, shock breaking and his words flooding back to him.

He had done something he deemed incredibly unintelligent. He had mentioned the other child, the one he never liked to bring up or admit he had fathered.

"Are you not glad to see me, Thranduil," Algernil teased, "or are they wrong when they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder? I have been gone quite some time."

"My heart is glad to see you, Algernil. I have missed you greatly," Thranduil answered, getting to his feet and walking over to where his wife stood.

He went to embrace her but Algernil stepped out of his way. She stood near the doorway, hands on her hips. She had heard his admittance, after all, and was not going to let it slide.

True, she was not press him on it at the moment but she was going to let him know she had heard his words. Make sure he was aware of the fact she was aware of his little transgression. Maybe not let him know that she had met with Emma and had already formulated an opinion on her. She wasn't ready to go that far yet.

"I have heard of Legolas' sister. I know she is your daughter since she could not possibly be mine, Thranduil," Algernil stated, 'but let us not talk of her now. You wanted to know how my return came about and tell you I shall for it is an interesting story."

She watched as Thranduil returned to his large chair and beckoned for her to take a seat as well. Though the invitation was unnecessary as she was already taking a seat.

There was time, after all, after her story to let him know what she knew about Legolas and about his daughter. Lots and lots of time.