Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's creations and only lay claim to my own humble creatures.

Chapter Quote: "Come on... Faerlain will murder me if we don't make it on time."

Chapter Sixty-One

I Will Remember

"Hey." I said softly. I wanted to be strong for him... but I couldn't. Not on my own. I lacked the strength... lacked the will. I had to go and -again- I had to say good-bye. My heart ached with longing as I gazed at his tranquil, emotionless face. He wasn't breathing. I leaned closer to him.

"I don't know if you can hear me... but I have an awful lot to tell you." I paused. "Well... maybe only one thing. I'm not really from around... here. Well... there... erm... you know what I mean." Could he hear me? Would he understand? No... he wouldn't. He would never even remember that I had even existed. He would find love... he would marry and have children. Do all things I would always dream of doing. I had wanted to be his wife... bear his children... but those dreams were over now. As my life had been here.

"I uh-" Tears burned in my eyes and my words lodged in my throat. "I'm going home." I whispered, caressing his cheek. ...he's so cold... "And I... uh... I won't see you again... ever..." The words sounded hollow to my ears but it pained me to speak them. "I just want you to know that..." I faltered... what did I want him to know? "I... I love you- Legolas."

That was it... plain and simple. "I love you. And I will never forget you."

I felt a hand on my shoulder and I found myself gazing into my brother's face. He gestured with a nod of his head upward. "He says it's time to go."

I couldn't answer... I turned back to Legolas and I found I had nothing to say... nothing I would remember him by. Except my love. Only my love. I kissed him... brushed my lips against his and I felt him slowly start to breathe. I tugged the medallion off from around my neck and I slipped it over his head. Pressing it to his bare chest as his heart slowly began to beat once more.

Now I am standing beside my brother and Legolas is fading from me as I go further and further away from him. The color is returning to his cheeks and I see him open his eyes... his beautiful, grey eyes... and he is gone. The white mist around me is fading and I feel empty... Zachary holds me tightly but I have no more tears. I feel numb.

"I'm sorry." He murmured. But he knows I forgive him... for everything. And he knows that I love him... even without me having said good-bye. "Say hi to Mom and Dad for me." He whispered. And then Zach is gone too. I imagine that I can see Mirlaic and Elenowen... baby Turwithiel and Ana waving to me.

I imagine that I see Faerlain smile... but it is all so hazy now. I feel a nagging weariness at the back of my mind. And there is an annoying beeping sound... and voices... so many voices...

Someone is crying... but I feel too weak to move. I open my eyes... something is holding my hand. "Victoria!" They cry. "Victoria!"

My vision is blurry and everything is so... confusing. "Mom?" I ask groggily... my voice is slurred and my tongue feels like sandpaper in my mouth- as if I haven't used it in a long time. I can see her now... laughing through her tears. She is holding me to her, her arms encircling me in a tight embrace. Dad is holding my hand... as I had held Zachary's. But there are so many other people... and the tingling in my arms and legs hurts.

...so confused... it's making my head hurt... my clothes feel scratchy and stiff... they have a funny smell...

"You're going to be all right." My father says.. He squeezes my hand... my mom is still crying. Dad has tears in his eyes as I squeeze back... weakly. It's so hard to stay awake... so tiring.

More voices... loud voices fading and I fall asleep into the comforting darkness away from the lights and the noise. I feel more peaceful then I have in a long time. But as I drift off... I feel the ache in my heart. A reminder. Because I made a promise never to forget.

I will always remember.

Legolas felt groggy as he answered the call of his name. He opened his eyes... feeling a strange sensation run through his body as light flooded his vision. He groaned.

"Your majesty?" A concerned voice asked.

"Legolas?" Asked another- one that sounds far more familiar.

Everything is hazy... but strong hands lifted him up into a sitting position and he blinked as his vision came into focus. Dozens of concerned faces were looking down at him. They were in the forest.

"What happened?" He asked, gazing into the faces closest to him. A familiar face melts into an expression of relief. My brother- the explanation comes unexpectedly to his mind. "What happened?" He repeated... feeling dazed as he looked up at him.

"What happened! You fell from your horse! That's what happened! Too much wine I think." His brother said. A joke... he is making sure I am all right.

"Must have been..." He murmured... but something didn't feel... right. "Where are we going?" He asked.

His brother shook his head. "Ai... don't you remember anything, little brother? We're going to a wedding!"

"Wedding? Whose?" He asked in surprise.

The other elves laughed and his brother... Celebas... pulled him to his feet, steading him as he swayed, and then clapped him on the back. "What a fall you must have had! It is Faerlain's sister's of course!"

A wedding... Faerlain. He tested the name... it felt right... felt familiar. Faerlain. He remembered now. Araviniel was getting married... to a warrior she nursed back to health from the borders... "We're going to Gilloth?" He asked uncertainly. His head still ached and Celebas laughed.

"Yes, yes! Ai- I thought you knew how to ride better then that! Araviniel is getting married and Faerlain asked you to be there."

Yes... that was familiar. He turned to smile hesitantly at his brother, rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes... too much wine."

Celebas nudged him playfully and stood protectively at his side as he mounted. "Gimli always said you couldn't hold your liquor." Celebas turned to the other elves. "And the party hasn't even begun yet!"

Legolas seemed to have a vague memory of missing his older brother's mirth for some reason... but that didn't make sense. He and Celebas had always been together... hadn't they? He shook his head to rid himself of that confusion and smiled as he thought of Gimli. "We'll be late." Celebas said as he and the others mounted.

The way to Gilloth was familiar... he could recall that he visited it frequently... right? His memories felt foreign... as if they belonged to someone else. He turned to Celebas with a smile. "We'll be late only because of your fool stunt... imagine! The heir of Eryn Lasgalen falling off his horse!" Legolas said teasingly.

Celebas laughed. "Come on... Faerlain will murder me if we don't make it on time." Faerlain... murder... The words made him tense for some reason and Celebas glanced over his shoulder at him and laughed again. "It was a joke, little brother! You look like you've just seen a ghost."

Ghost... He frowned... but it all must have been a bad dream... a really bad dream. After all... none of it made sense. He joined in with the laughter of their company and eagerly awaited seeing his dear friend once more. His mother's medallion felt warm against his chest and he smiled... but even then something wasn't right. And he couldn't seem to explain the ache he felt in his chest when the first star-trees of the village came into view.

A/N: So Victoria wakes up in a hospital and everything is beautiful and wonderful with Legolas. I realized about... hmm... ten chapters back that I sort of forgot about Araviniel. Her and Victoria were suppose to have a bit of a reunion but with all the excitement about Faerlain returning I completely forgot to put it in there. Sorry:)

I'll be posting chapters every two days or so... I really do want to get this story completed. So look out for the final ride of this story!

TO BE CONTINUED...