neo: it's okie. I know how that goes. too much to do and not enough time. Nilfalath is what this whole chappie as all about, so enjoy! I'm glad you like my portrayal of Leggy. I like the goofy side of him.

LevelTwentySeven: sorry, I know it was short. this one's a little longer. how bout that! thanks.

Leah's Lovely: I figured as much. hehe. I didn't mean to worry people, it just happened that way! oh well. thanks!

Okanim: oooh, snickers! yummy. almost as yummy as Legolas! thanks!

immortalwizardpirateelf-fan: yeppers! that's my favorite kind of Leggy! thanks!

Crecy: thanks so much!

forfiwen bloom: its okie. thanks. yeah…single is okay, but there's this one guy…anyway, thanks!

Jordan: thanks!

Lindelea: update was a little longer this time in coming, but I hope its okie. too much school work lately.

Myri78: I'm not telling, hehehe. you'll see. thanks!

arwen101: thanks much!

Legolaslover: you're welcome! sharing is caring. anyway, thanks much for the review!

Megara: glad you like it and welcome! yeah, a new victim, I mean reader! yeah, you can call her Lena, and there will be complications but I'm not sure what yet! thanks!

aurora-myst: thank you for your observations about Lena. that's exactly how I wanted her to be. (it good to know I can do something right…hehe) yeppers, kids are in the future, but I'm thinking sequel material.

sammy: no, not that soon. later. hey! you can share the naked Legolas with me and Legolaslover! coolbeans!

GreenEyedElfGoddess: snow! I want snow! gosh, it never snows here. thanks! glad you like it!

Annadin89: sure thing. thanks!

Disclaimer: you know the drill. if not refer to chapters 3-20

Chapter 21

She huffed back to where he was and gave him a quick glare, and then gently pushed him out of the way. Elenayave eased the door open and slipped quietly into the darkened room. She could see a still figure laying in the bed in the middle of the sparsely decorated room…the room of a warrior. While she had the chance, she looked him over a little more closely, trying to discern their similarities. His long silky hair was mostly blond, but there were light red streaks running through it, giving his locks a strawberry blond hue. His features were smooth and chiseled, somewhat like Legolas's, but his nose structure and cheekbones reminded her of her own. Bright blue eyes, though glazed over in his deep sleep, were shot through with green close to his pupils, as he gazed sightlessly at the ceiling. Legolas came in quietly behind her and took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze, forgetting the playfulness he'd exuded in the corridor. He nudged her forward toward the bed where her brother lay sleeping.

"Nilfalath?" she called softly, brushing her free hand lightly over his forehead.

The Elf stirred drearily and, blinking, slowly started to wake up. His eyes cleared and focused, and a smile spread over his features. "Elena," he croaked out, and then rubbed his throat painfully.

"The medicine they drugged him with must have made his throat dry," Legolas whispered as he moved to get some water for the injured warrior.

Elenayave nodded in understanding and pulled a chair up to the side of the bed. She gripped her brother's hand tightly in her own and smoothed his hair down with the other. "How do you feel?" she asked.

"Better than I did," he replied, accepting the water Legolas now held out for him. "I'm still sore."

"I'm sure," Legolas intoned, knowing full well what it was like to be hit with an enemy arrow. "Malia tells me you're lucky."

Nilfalath nodded solemnly and gazed back up at his sister. "I assume Legolas informed you as to who I am." It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes," she replied. "I'm sorry, Nilfalath. Everything is just coming so slowly, and it didn't register right away. I feel like I'm meeting you for the first time, but somewhere, I know I've met you before. It's confusing."

"I understand, Elena," he said softly. "I just feel like I let you down somehow."

"Let me down? What are you talking about?"

"I was supposed to be in the guard escorting you home. I helped convince Legolas that you neither needed nor wanted one. But I should have been there…"

"Qué ser�, ser�," she said, ignoring the questioning looks her husband and brother gave her. "It means what will be, will be. Fate doesn't change, Nilfalath. It wouldn't have mattered."

"It would have made me feel a little better," he mumbled. "I didn't really want to listen to Ada explain to me all the reasons why one shouldn't bend to the will of an elleth like you. But I had to anyway, as if I didn't feel horrible enough."

Elenayave smiled and cupped his cheek in her palm. "I am so sorry, Nil. I never meant to cause you such hurt."

Nilfalath sighed and covered her hand with his larger one. "We're all just happy to have you back, Elena. Especially Legolas, I would imagine," he added, grinning up at the Elven prince and his commander. "How much do you remember?"

"Not enough," she answered with a small frown. "Just little memories here and there. It's nothing constant and sometimes the visions make no sense."

Nilfalath sat silent for a moment, pondering his sister's words. "Perhaps you should go home," he suggested. "Maybe Lord Elrond could help you, and seeing Ada again might spark something."

Elenayave nodded thoughtfully and glanced up at Legolas. Her husband seemed deep in thought, but he caught her gaze and let her know she has his agreement and permission if it was what she wanted.

"Maybe you could help as well, Nilfalath," Legolas said. "Perhaps longer contact with you would help Lena remember something. Maybe more of her childhood, her time in Rivendell."

"I could try," he returned, struggling to sit up.

"No, Nil. Stay where you are," Elenayave commanded, gently pushing on his shoulder. "Don't try to sit up. We can do this as you are."

The Elf nodded again and lay back against his pillow. He closed his eyes and felt Elena move closer to him, and then the coolness of her palm covered his forehead. His word remained black for a moment, and then color swirled before his eyes.

A little girl, maybe only six or seven, bounced along behind him, her red curls spilling over her shoulders. She carried a worn and tattered blanket with her, holding it tightly in her arms.

"Are we there yet, Nil?" she asked, her clear voice ringing in the fresh spring air.

"Almost, little one," he replied, reaching out to take her hand. "Almost."

It had been hard raising Elenayave without the help of his mother, and his father was seldom around during the day. Arcollo was busy with Lord Elrond, serving as a personal guard in the Rivendell army. The child needed a mother, and the loss of her own at the tender age of four had deeply affected her. But Nilfalath tried, no matter that the other ellyn his age poked fun at his little follower. Often enough, Elena ended up in tears from their relentless teasing, but in the end, he figured it would make her stronger against the wiles of ellyn when she was older.

The sun was shining high in the trees of the Dell, and the air was fresh with the scent of spring rain. He had promised the child that he would teach her to swim once the weather warmed up, and now he was certain it was balmy enough. Finally, they reached the pool he'd found earlier that day just for their foray, and he heard Elenayave giggle with delight behind him.

"It's perfect, Nilfalath," she exclaimed, racing to the water's edge. "I can see all the way to the bottom!"

"Yes, little one. I know. That is why I chose it. It's not very deep and is perfect for learning to swim. It is where Ada taught me to swim," he replied smiling.

Elenayave fell to her knees and sat on the bank, soaking up the warm sun. It had been raining all the past week, and it felt good to be out in the glow of the sun. The child had been eager to go outside, but remained cooped up due to the inclement weather. And now that it was a gorgeous day, the toddler's energy was overflowing.

Nilfalath stood observantly behind her, careful to make sure that no danger befell the girl. It wasn't common to find orcs so close to the Rivendell borders, but he was taking no chances. He didn't want his father to go through the pain of another loss, nor did he feel much like fighting today. It just felt good to be able to spend time with his sister. She reminded him so much of their mother; her mannerisms, her looks, her laugh. He knew Arcollo must suffer greatly each day just having to set eyes on the one that had inherited Eliant's appearance and be reminded exactly of what it was he'd lost. But he figured it was good to be reminded. He didn't plan on forgetting one aspect of his mother's life. She been such a vital and energetic part of their family, and Nilfalath knew that Elenayave would probably bear the most pain of the two children, having almost never known Eliant at all.

He smiled again as he watched her skimming her fingers over the crystal clear water. Elenayave would be a strong-willed elleth, he knew. And she got it honestly. Arcollo could be incredibly stubborn at times, and admittedly, so was he. The girl would be raised a warrior, or at least with the heart of one.

Elenayave grinned when she broke contact with her brother. "I remember that," she said softly. "We stayed there all day because I wouldn't let you leave until I was sure I could swim on my own."

"Of course not," Nilfalath readily replied. "I have no idea why you needed to be able to swim as a four year old."

"I wanted to be ready," she protested. "Just in case. Who knows? It might have saved someone's life later on."

"You mean Elrohir," her brother stated flatly, shaking his head.

Elenayave giggled and nodded. "Yes. I mean Elrohir."

Legolas took this opportunity to break into the conversation. "Elrohir? You saved Elrohir's life?"

"He and Elladan were fooling around one of the falls. Elladan dared him to jump over, swearing he would jump at the same time. I was down in the pool already, listening to the two of them banter," Elenayave explained.

"Apparently, when Elrohir jumped, Elladan stayed behind and then took off back toward the Homely House," Nilfalath added, remembering the story just as well as she did.

"As it turns out, Elrohir angled his jump wrong and clipped a rock mid-fall and it rendered him unconscious," she continued with a grim smile. "He was almost immediately sucked under the current. If I hadn't pulled him out, he would have drowned."

"And thus began Ada and Lord Elrond's escapades to marry Elena off to one of the twins. Lord Elrond figured she would be helpful in one of their 'temporarily incapacitated' moments."

Legolas grinned at Nilfalath's words. "Why is it that I never heard this story before? It could have been helpful…"

"Don't you even think about using it against him, Legolas," Elenayave warned. "He'll know it was I who told you, and he'll take it out on me."

Their conversation was briefly interrupted when a serving maid knocked quietly on the door before entering with a tray of food in her hand. She bowed her head momentarily to Legolas and Elenayave, then placed the tray on the nightstand and left.

"We'd best get to the Hall, mela," Legolas said, offering her his hand. "I don't wish to hear another speech from Ada about being late for the evening meal."

"I suppose you're right," she sighed, rising from her position by the bed. She softly tucked a strand of her brother's hair behind his ear and patted his cheek. "You don't need any help, do you?"

"I can manage," he answered, propping himself up with his pillow.

"Perhaps once you can travel again without the healers tagging along after you, we can make a trip home for a while," she proposed, glancing at Legolas, who nodded.

Nilfalath quickly agreed. "I'm sure Ada would like to see us both. It has been such a long time."

"I'll see it arranged," Legolas said. "Your guard duty can be worked out later."

"Thank you," the siblings murmured in unison. Nilfalath tucked in to his meal promptly and waved Elenayave and Legolas out. "I don't want you to be late. I know how the king's speeches can be."

Elenayave smiled and linked her arm with Legolas's as he led her to the door. She had just reached the threshold when she heard him call to her again.

"Elena…thank you," he intoned softly. "For coming."

"Of course, Nil," she said in response, giving him a warm smile. "If you need anything…"

"I know, Elena. I know."

And with that Legolas eased the door closed softly and steered Elenayave toward the Great Hall.

whew! sorry bout the wait. school was getting to be my main time oocupant. and i thnk i failed my pre-calc test. oh well. what point does math have anyway. hopefully, i'll have the next update sooner. byez!