Disclaimer: Dragon's fire may burn me, roast me to a flame. But I shall never claim LotR as mine, for as long as time shall remain. (Lol)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Medallion : Continued

Legolas did not resist as Aragorn led him up the stairs and away from the dungeons. The elf's back was rigid, the muscles in his shoulders tense. Legolas' eyes were blank, devoid of all emotion. The light was a relief from the dim darkness of the chamber, and Aragorn had to fight back a shudder as he thought of the look on his friend's face as the former had spoke to Saronedhel.

I have long since learned to trust the word of the dead.

Of the dead?

Yes, and she has been long dead.

Aragorn had neither heard of, nor thought much of Legolas' mother. Ever since he had known the elf, a mother had never been mentioned. It had always been Thranduil and Legolas, and Aragorn had always assumed that she had passed long ago into the havens.

He had never met his wife's mother, though the story of her departure from this world was not one unfamiliar to him. He had always assumed, for some reason, that something similar had happened to Legolas' unknown mother. He had always assumed that she had never been there...and had never thought to ask.

...she has long been dead.

What had happened? Nothing made any sense anymore. Perhaps, he mused grimly, it would have been better if we had never returned at all. He glanced sideways at the drawn face of the elf beside him and frowned. But would have been better? Would staying away have only prolonged the inevitable? All these have and had nots... what had really happened? Where had the medallion come from? And why had the accused slayer of Gilloth had it in her possession? Either there was something larger that he had missed, or else elves were just insane.

They stopped outside under the trees, the prince finally releasing a breath that he had held inside of him since they had departed. His eyes were lost, swimming with memories...with a past that Aragorn had never known. What had Legolas hidden from him? And why had it resurfaced now?

"Mellon nin." He said softly.

The elf turned dazedly at him, his eyes wide and glazed.

"I believe you owe me and explanation." The human said softly.

Legolas stared at him for a moment, his blue-grey eyes clouded. "Yes Estel." He said softly, breaking the silence. "I believe I do."

Three Hundred Years Previous

The Palace

Mirkwood

The brown haired elf had come quickly through the grand halls. The palace, in and of itself, was really a highly decorated cavern, but anyone with brains knew better then to call it such. It lived and breathed with the history of Mirkwood's forefathers. Times etched in the stone which had not been as dark or dangerous. Times that had long since passed from this earth. He could not recall it, it had been too long ago. Too many years had passed.

He paused at a door, and, taking a deep breath, he opened the door. The room within was lit brightly by a large window, one that was opened to the sky. A rare view in a forest as dense as Mirkwood. The elf paused again, waited for his presence to be known as he watched the fair-haired elf who stood gazing out the window.

He shifted his weight, forcing the urge to cough, down. And, very slowly, the head turned revealing the elegant tip of a pointed ear and the clear gaze of two, blue-grey eyes. The figure looked at him with a small smile.

"You could have coughed."

The brown haired elf shrugged. "You knew I was here."

The fair hair elf nodded, glancing once more out the window and then turned to face him completely. His face was taunt with fatigue and guilt, a look he had never seen before on the face of the prince.

"So...how is he?" The prince asked tentatively, and the brown haired elf could visibly see the latter stiffen, as if bracing himself for what was to come.

"Your brother, Legolas... the fall after the attack drove the arrow into his heart...he didn't make it." The brown haired elf said softly. He saw Legolas close his eyes, sighing, as if accepting the loss with great pain.

"I knew it somehow...I knew it the moment you came in." He turned away, and the light that streamed through Legolas' window seemed suddenly dull, and the brown haired elf could see the tears in his prince's eyes. "Celebas...its all my fault." The Prince whispered, lowering his head. "I'm so sorry."

"No my Lord, it wasn't your fault." He said softly. "No one detected the orcs...it was something none knew. Your brother knew what he was getting into when he rode out to meet them."

Legolas did not answer, and the brown haired elf knew he would have to deliver the other message that had been thrust upon him. Curse them all! It tore him in two to see his prince and lord like this.

"There is more my lord-"

Legolas jerked to him, his eyes wide with fear. "What more...what do you speak of?"

The brown haired elf hesitated, "Your mother fell ill when news of Prince Celebas' injury reached her."

Legolas nodded impatiently. "Yes, I know. But that was a week ago, surely she is well by now?"

Yes, she should be. Thought the brown-haired elf bitterly, thinking of his peoples' quick healing capabilities.

"Cullas...what aren't you telling me?" Legolas demanded, taking a step closer to the warrior...the warrior who had been his body-guard for hundreds of years now.

"The Queen has taken a turn for the worse my lord...Legolas..." He said, slipping into a less formal tone.

"...she is dying."

Legolas turned away suddenly from Aragorn, and the human could distinctly see the traces of tears in his eyes, as well as a bitter anger and remorse that had suddenly consumed the elf's words. But Aragorn did not press his friend, and new with a sudden clarity how hard it must be for Legolas to reveal this to him now...a past that had been buried within him for so long.

"You don't have to finish mellon nin." Aragorn said softly, putting a comforting hand on the elf's shoulder. Legolas shook his head, swiping angrily at the hot tears that had momentarily clouded his vision.

"No. It is time you knew."

"But this is much more then I thought-"

Legolas cut him off sharply, turning to face him again. "Then you thought was hidden in the ranks of the royal family of Mirkwood's past?"

Aragorn nodded dumbly, taking in quickly that it was better not to say anything at all right now.

"And you're right. I'll bet you've never even heard of my brother, have you?" He asked softly, the anger in his eyes dying down. When Aragorn didn't answer, he continued softly. "His death was one heavily mourned by my father. He was the elder of us, and my mother's pride and joy." He hesitated again, "His death...was one that was not spoken of for a long time." Legolas looked up again, studying his friend's face. "You are probably the only human to have heard of it in hundreds of years."

"You loved your brother...very deeply...didn't you?" Aragorn asked gently.

Legolas nodded sadly. "Yes...and I loved my mother even more."

Three Hundred Years Previous

The Palace

Mirkwood

Legolas hadn't spared a second when Cullas had told him the news. But even as Legolas raced through the grand halls of the palace, his heart beating wildly, his mind continued silence his protests. It couldn't be true! He wanted to scream. The Eldar do not die, we are immortal! And yet his brother lay dead. And his mother was dying...from a broken heart. Such things happened only in the days of old... And yet she was dying, dying just as Celebas had.

And there was nothing he could do.

"My Lord...she is gravely ill." The guard at the door said, holding back the prince as he tried to force he way through.

"Let me pass! Damn you! Let me pass!" He shouted, his face reddening with rage. The guard at the door was struggling to keep him back, his arm reflexively denying Legolas' entrance. "She's my mother!" He cried.

"And you are your father's only son my lord! Do you wish to suffer the same fate as she?" The guard demanded, his heart torn in two at trying to keep the young Prince from his mother.

"She had suffered no fate! She still breathes." With one final effort he jabbed the guard hard in the side, and shoved him away from the door. Without giving another moment's notice at the results of his anger, he opened the door as hurriedly as he could and ran inside.

There were a number of healers in the room, all looking down at the Queen with looks of sorrow so utterly complete that Legolas felt the awful fear rise again in his throat. It was impossible...she couldn't be...he tuned to the bed, saw his father kneeling at her side.

And he saw her mother, saw her whispering something to the elven king. A smile of relief graced his lips for only a moment as relief flooded his mind. She was still alive, she was still here. He could save her still!

He rushed to her side, his father turning to him in surprise. His gaze darkened. "I told them to keep you away-" He muttered darkly.

"I am no longer a child ada." He said fiercely. He turned away from the king, and met the eyes of his mother...the blue eyes of his mother...eyes that were fading. No...he hadn't been too late...she was still here.

"Legolas." She whispered, raising her hands to him with a soft smile. He knelt, staring unbelievingly at the cold hands that now held his...no...it was impossible...it had to be. "My son." She whispered, caressing his cheek. "My son." Her smile was encouraging...but she was weak now...and so pale...so very pale...

"I believe we will be parting soon." She said softly. "Though I did not want you to see me like this." She added, almost as an afterthought before continuing.

Legolas swallowed hard, wanting to mirror her smile, but finding instead his face frozen. "No mother, you'll be well again. You shall not leave us." He said, wishing...wanting desperately to convey his meaning to her. She couldn't die...she just couldn't...

"Fate plays curious tricks on us Legolas...dear Legolas...I shall miss you..." Her grip was weakening on his hands, her eyes closing.

"Mother-" He started, but she cut him off, pointing to a medallion on her night-stand.

"That is for you, dear Legolas, it was given to me by my mother when she passed, and now it belongs to you."

He took it from the table, staring at the strange, cold metal in his hands. "There is no other like it in this world. Keep it...to remember me by..."

He stared at the medallion, looked up and opened his mouth to protest, but the hand that held his was no longer there. He looked up, hearing a sudden cry of grief from his father.

He looked at her face, and found himself unable to tear his gaze away. For the eyes with had held light only moments ago...had faded.

His mother was dead.

Two Hundred and Fifty Years Later

Legolas hated the strained silences he often shared with his father. He sighed, this one was no different. Thranduil, the great elven king of Mirkwood, was not happy with his son.

"Reports have been coming in from several villages." He said gravely, looking out a window to the forest.

Legolas pursed his lips, he knew of the reports. EVERYONE knew of the reports. Terror had begun to flow through the forest of Mirkwood...for orcs had been traveling through the ancient trees. And no one could figure out how they were doing it.

Thranduil turned to him, his eyes dark and brooding, he looked up at his son. "I want you to take a company of warriors and destroy them. I do not care how long it takes. This is a threat we can no longer ignore."

Legolas fought his anger words and the only display of emotion could be seen in his reddening cheeks. The orcs had not been ignored, he had gone out searching for them for weeks now. What made his father think that this expedition would be any different? But he bit back his words of bitterness...they would only fall on deaf ears. His father would care very little to any protests he had.

"Yes ada." He said crisply, avoiding showing any emotion in his voice.

Thranduil met his gaze, and for a moment Legolas saw something like concern fly past the elder elf's eyes. "Be careful Legolas." He said softly.

But Legolas already knew the true meaning behind his father's words. What he meant was,

Don't die.

All right, another chapter. :) Now, the mystery of the medallion should start to fall into place for those of you who have REALLY been paying attention. But if not, don't worry about it. There are still more flashbacks to come. :) Now, I hope you all understood that the flashbacks in this chapter came WAY before the flashback in the previous chapter.

Look at the headings for each flashback carefully BEFORE you read it so you don't get confused. :)

I'm also taking liberties with Legolas' family. Tolkien never mentions any siblings of Legolas, or even Legolas' mother. But I am for the sake of the story. By the way, Celebas means, 'Silverleaf'. So Silverleaf and Greenleaf...get it:) lol.

Lastly, I have a little contest for you all, I want you to find me an actor and two actress that you think would play the roles of Faerlain, Araviniel, and our dear Victoria. :) I was interested in finding out what everyone thinks my characters look like. So do me proud!

If you have a question, ask it in your review and leave your email, and I'll reply to it right away!

Thanks to all who reviewed and most especially to my beta, Kiann:)

TO BE CONTINED...