For Disclaimer please view Chapter 1.

Author's note: Hi everyone! This is the second to last chapter, one more chappie and it's the end of this story! Can you believe it? I hope you have enjoyed it and I am planning on working on a sequel if it is wanted. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 38: My Kindred Spirit.

"Halt rider!" shouted a soldier sternly.

Legolas smirked. He looked down at his attire. What he must look like to this soldier in front of him. He looked rough, almost human, if it was not for his posture, there were be no difference.

"I am glad that you are cautious. Now you will let me through these gates, Galuarth." Replied Legolas.

At first the soldier did not understand how the rider knew his name, but upon remembering the way in which his name was said, he knelt down to the ground in humility. "My Lord, we were not told of your return…"

"Since when do you address me as your lord? Have we not grown together, you and I? Rise…I am not fully myself and need to enter."

The soldier composed himself, and rose, smiling. "It is good to see you Legolas." He opened the gates that guarded Eryn Lasgalen.

Legolas nodded his head and rode quickly inside, as Galuarth closed the gates.

"The prince has returned to us!" Shouted Galuarth, blowing into a smooth horn.

The sound that came forth was soft, something Legolas had been longing, after all that had happened. Elves began to come to greet him, how different everything looked, and yet, how comforting to see all the faces he remembered. He dismounted his horse slowly, and he caught a glimpse of someone who was running towards him.

"Legolas!" cried out Lasneth, as he jumped on him, and knocked him towards the ground.

"Sweet Elebereth, Lasneth! Get off of me!" He pushed his younger brother off of him.

Lasneth quickly stood and held out a hand for Legolas, pulling him upwards. "You are weak." He smiled. "Now that you are home, you may properly recover."

Legolas stared at him curiously. "How do you know that I need recovering?"

"You must not have had the chance to look at yourself lately Legolas. No matter, no matter." He shook his head and stared at his older brother in pure happiness. "It is so good to look upon your face. It has seemed ages since you were last here."

Legolas looked up and around him. "Yes, and how much it has changed."

"Perhaps some things, but not all." Said a deep voice.

Legolas looked for the owner, one he knew too well. His father stood at a short distance, his golden hair at the length of his shoulders shone, and the wreathe of berries upon his head gleamed in colours Legolas did not believe existed anymore. He wore thinly woven robes, for it was the summer season, in colours of red, gold, and brown.

"Ada." Said Legolas holding back his tears.

They walked towards one another and embraced. "It is good to have you back home son." Said Thranduil, closing his eyes and remembering the feel of his eldest child. "Long have we awaited news from you." He pulled back from the embrace. "Not once did you have a chance to let us know that you were well?" He smiled, and looked out to the crowd of elves that surrounded them. "Tonight, we feast! In honour of the return of Legolas! Prince of Eryn Lasgalen!"

Everyone hailed in joy at the sight of their returned prince, and indeed, they feasted that night…

"Barely recognizable in those clothes." Said Lasneth to Legolas, who now wore a silver tunic and a circlet around his head. His hair was washed and fell well below his shoulders, with two braids in the front pulled back. "Amazing how even your demeanour has changed."

"What…because of these clothes?" asked Legolas.

They began to walk together towards the festivities. "No…" Lasneth smiled to himself, and looked to the ground, he held his hands behind his back. "I know of your memory loss, and your quest, and what it cost you."

Legolas held his surprise. "You are not the first to mention that it has changed me…I hope that it is for the better."

"You are more like yourself, if you can understand what I mean by that…and your memory, is that fully recovered?"

Legolas nodded. "All has come back to me Lasneth, all. Those memories I wished to keep hidden away, they will never leave me. In my yearning to recover them, I recovered something much greater."

"And what was that?"

"Understanding." Replied Legolas. "A great understanding."

They came upon the festivities where loud music played and there were many dancing, and being merry. Horns sounded at their entrance and many raised their hands, clapped and cheered. Both the princes bowed gracefully for their people and then were suddenly engulfed by them. Many people approached Legolas, giving him thanks for all his deeds while he was on the quest, questioning some of the things that they had heard from others. Legolas was respectful and considerate of everyone, enjoying the attention he was receiving. The crowd suddenly became silent and parted, as one particular elf came to greet Legolas. He did not pay full attention at first; she looked like every other elleth he had encountered. But then he noticed her face and its resemblance to Lothluin.

Legolas took a step back. "By the Valar, you look closely related to one whom I knew well."

She bowed her head. "Then you did not know me well enough, my prince."

He gave her an even closer look over, not believing what he was seeing, he questioned it. "Lothluin?"

"The very one." She responded.

Legolas paled. "How is this possible?"

Lasneth grabbed one of Legolas's arms. "Steady brother. She is alive and well…you were deceived about her death."

"What?" He looked at Lasneth. "Why?"

"If you will permit me, my lord, I can explain everything." Said Lothluin.

Legolas stared at Lothluin for a long while before nodding his head. She began to walk away from the crowd slowly and Legolas followed her. He suddenly stopped, taking hold of Lothluin and embracing her. "Lothluin…I thought you were dead, my heart mourned you."

Lothluin smiled sadly. "I am sorry."

He let her go. "You look well."

"I am well." She looked at him. "All the heartache that could have been prevented if only you would not have deceived yourself. You do not look so well Legolas."

"I cannot fully heal without her."

"Then why are you here?"

"Shall we sit?" asked Legolas, moving his hand to point at a bench near by.

Lothluin nodded and went to go sit down. Legolas sat down next to her.

"Why was I told that you were dead?"

"It was my request, against the wishes of Lord Aragorn, he did not understand, he only accepted that it would be for the better of his sister, and in turn, yourself, if he did as I asked of him. It was very hard for me to convince him, so I ask you Legolas not to harbour any ill will towards him for having deceived you."

"Why request such a thing?" Legolas shook his head.

"A test. I needed to know if there was anything between us, my death would have had a greater impact on you if we were truly meant to be together. I still did not believe you… when you told me we were not meant to be together."

"It caused much pain Lothluin, do not think that I do not care for you."

Lothluin held one of Legolas's hands. "I needed to convince myself in this way. I knew no true harm would come to you."

"You were near death. I do remember that clearly."

"But the lady…Aurel? Is that her name?"

"Yes…"

"She took great care of me, despite her condition. I do remember times when I woke and was terrified, she held my hand, she promised she would get me to a better place…Legolas, she said she knew I faded, but that it was not my path to follow, that if the Valar had kept me alive thus far, that I had a purpose to fulfil. She spoke to me in kind, tender words, she soothed my pain…"

Legolas looked away.

"What is the matter?"

"Do you know who she is?" asked Legolas.

"You mean, do I know that she is the one you belong to?" Lothluin smiled. "Yes. When I slowly began to recover, I realized it. And it was confirmed by Lord Aragorn. I do not blame you, or hold any ill feelings towards you Legolas."

"It was a devious and cruel way to go about it, to test a person like that, you should not have deceived me so."

"And was your deception any lesser than mine? For years we were betrothed, and you led me to believe that your heart was mine, what a cruel way to test yourself, and drag others into it needlessly. When you decided to tell me that you did not love me, that you would not marry me, was that not devious?"

Legolas stood; he was not prepared to be attacked by her.

"Legolas. I do not say these things in accusation, or mal-intent. Only to make you see."

Legolas turned around. "See what?"

"That you are blessed to have found your mate and that I needed to be free of you, so that I could find mine. For my love for you was strong, but not meant to be."

"I never meant to fool you, to make you believe things that weren't true. I entered into our arrangement with an open mind, believing I could rid myself of the feeling I held for Aurel, that you would be able to save me."

She looked at Legolas's pained face and rose up from the bench to meet him. She placed one of her hands in his. She slowly pulled his hand up and pressed it against his chest. "No one can save you but yourself."

Legolas stared at her for a long while, he could have loved those eyes, those lips, the graceful way she carried herself, he could have loved all of her. But he did not; his soul was bound to another, one he longed for.

"You must go back to the festivities, my Lord, I would not want to keep you here any longer. Enjoy being back in your home." She said, almost afraid of the way he was looking at her.

He slowly nodded. "Yes." He looked towards the Elves chatting and dancing. He looked back at Lothluin. "Thank you."

She bowed her head in acknowledgement and watched him walk away and merge himself into the crowd.

A little confused and relieved to have seen Lothluin again, Legolas looked at the sea of faces in front of him. Everyone seemed to greet him, but none were warm or inviting, it was almost as if they were happy and scared all at once. He found Lasneth among the crowd.

"How are things?" asked Lasneth, noting the look of concern on Legolas's face.

"They could be better. I am thirsty. Where is the wine?"

Lasneth laughed and directed his brother towards the wine.

As he poured himself a cup of wine, he began to speak. "You know I will not linger here for long."

Lasneth looked disappointed. "I had expected it. Though I wish it was not so. Ada will not be pleased, all are joyous at your return, could you not stay here for a while longer?"

"Are all joyous at my return?" questioned Legolas. He took a sip of his wine and looked out amongst the Elves. "I sense something else mingled with that joy."

"Hmm? What do you mean?"

"Look how they stare…"

Lasneth looked out, he noticed nothing different. "Legolas, are you not accustomed to your own people any longer?"

"This is no jest Lasneth. Perhaps I lost that memory of when our people became so wary."

Lasneth set his cup of wine down. He moved closer to Legolas. "Most here have seen death take one they love. Their homes, our kingdom, was attacked…forgive them if they are a little frightened at your return…it is not because they are not joyous to have you back, it is because they know you will leave again, and then, who will rule this place? Ada grows weary of middle-earth he wishes to sail west. The splendour of Eryn Lasgalen is returning…but the people do not trust it for too long. They have not lost the memory of when the wood here turned dark and foul."

"And why do you not rule?" asked Legolas.

"I wish not the responsibility."

"Neither do I."

"You are first-born, the duty falls on you."

Legolas took a gulp of wine in this time. "And I have told you, I do not want that duty. Both Ada and yourself have known this for a long time."

"What do you plan to do then? Sail West? Roam these lands freely?"

Legolas shook his head. "Attend the coronation of the new king of Gondor and from there…"

Lasneth cut him off. "What about Aurel? What are your plans with her?"

Legolas stared wide-eyed at his little brother. "I believe that is the first time I have heard you utter her name without spitting hate."

"Things can change."

"How so?"

"Because I have met her, spoken with her…in Lothlorien, where Gandalf brought her to recover. She told me everything, anything I asked she answered honestly. I told her that I held resentment towards her for what she did to you…"

"What?"

"She understood Legolas. We spent many days walking thru the wood, speaking of you." Lasneth looked at Legolas.

"You have left me speechless."

"And she left me the same way. I see what it is that bound you to her and I understand now why it is you must return to her. She loves you deeply Legolas. I have already told Ada of your reunion…he also wishes to see you happy with her, wherever that may take you, even if you do not end up here."

"But all this talk you gave me about responsibility… I had thought you would be displeased."

"I am your brother, not your keeper…I wish nothing more than your happiness."

Legolas smiled tenderly. "You have matured into your years."

"It was bound to happen at some point." Lasneth replied in jest.

"What was?" interrupted Thranduil

Both of his sons turned to look at him and then looked at one another. Lasneth spoke first. "Oh, that I am finally beginning to act my years."

Thranduil nodded before giving a smirk. "You may think that Legolas, because you have just returned, but soon you will find that your little brother is just as cumbersome as before."

"Ada, I am hurt." Replied Lasneth, feigning a frown.

Thranduil squinted his eyes and looked at him. "I am sure you are." He looked at Legolas and his half-filled cup. "Drink more wine son, I am sure you were not bestowed with such marvellous luxuries while on your quest."

"No indeed not. Though I cannot say I missed it so."

"What? You did not miss this?" asked Thranduil taking another gulp of wine.

"Your taste has lessened then, brother." Said Lasneth.

Legolas's smile faded. He looked out into the crowd of Elves, something about this celebration reminded him of the one that he had come across in Gondor. The faces of the Elves began to turn into those of Men and he dropped his glass of wine, as he could no longer tell reality from memory. His father and brother turned to face him, worried, but Legolas did not see them, for they too changed. Legolas looked frightened at not being able to control this sudden vision. He began to stumble as he attempted to walk away.

"Legolas?" asked Thranduil.

Many elves turned to look at what was wrong with the prince, but they could not decipher it. Whispers began to flow that the quest he had been on had damaged his mind, that he had been surrounded by too much death for one so young, that it was too soon for celebration, after all he had not come back in a good state.

Lasneth placed his hand on top of Legolas's arm. He looked as if he was in a trance. "Legolas?" He asked, shaking him.

Legolas took a step back at first not realizing whom it was who was speaking to him. The voice was distorted and he swore he heard the voice of Theoden. But Lasneth persisted and pulled his brother away from the public eye. Thranduil followed as Lasneth kept trying to wake his brother from whatever it was he was seeing. All of a sudden Legolas realized where he was, at first he only grabbed hold of Lasneth's arms very tightly, trying to regain control of himself, breathing in an erratic way, but then as if he had been holding it in the entire time, Legolas broke down. He looked at his little brother and just began to cry, cry as he had never done before. His father felt helpless as he watched his grown son become overwhelmed with emotion. It was only then that Thranduil began to see that Legolas was suffering greatly, and that his eyes had seen more suffering than most of his lifetime.

"Come away Legolas." Pleaded Lasneth. Thranduil stood back. "We shall go back to your chambers. Speak to us and tell us all that has happened. Do not carry it inside any longer."

"I cannot." Replied Legolas.

"We too have seen war and suffering son, we know the burden that it brings."

Legolas looked up at his father. "I only need rest." He broke himself away from his brother. " I have carried burdens all my long life Ada, so shall I now with these. It is too soon for me to be celebrating after seeing so much destruction…" He shook his head and looked away, beginning to walk slowly towards the stone palace, leaving his father and brother behind in confusion.

Legolas almost slammed the door to his chambers shut. He pulled the drapes closed and allowed no light in. With slumped shoulders he stood in the middle of his chamber wanting to escape any feeling of helplessness, but the more that he stood there on his own, the more this feeling overwhelmed him. He could hear the turning to the handle of one of his doors, but he stood still, not caring if someone entered or not.

"Legolas?" asked Thranduil walking in slowly. He was not able to see anything in the chamber, all light had escaped, he walked slowly forward until finally his legs met with the bed that lay in the centre of the room. From there, his memory helped him reach the drapes, and he pulled them back, letting a shower of light in. He turned around to see where Legolas was and almost let out a yelp as he noticed that his son was standing right next to him. He placed a hand on his shoulder. "Legolas. There is no need for this."

"I need rest, that is all." Said Legolas without emotion.

"Rest from what?" asked Thranduil.

"Everything…and nothing."

"We have had talks of this before. You must not keep everything hidden away from your family. You were always quiet and reserved, but you were not always self-destructive, and though light has returned to our great wood, there is not that same light in your eyes."

"No. But there has not been since a great many years."

"Since you met Elrond's daughter."

"I need to be with her."

Thranduil nodded. "And no one is keeping you here, you came here of your own free will. You were happy once, before you knew her, why can you not be happy again, here in your own home?"

"You know why Ada, you felt the same with Naneth did you not? I did not know what happiness truly was before her." Legolas looked at his father.

Thranduil finally understood something, and his tone softened. "I will always be happy when you are near, but even happier will I be when I see that you are fulfilled. If you need to be with Aurel, why are you here?"

"A part of me still believes that I need your approval, your blessing."

"Do you love her?"

Legolas nodded.

"Does she love you?"

"Yes, and she has proved this to me many times."

"Then you have my blessing." Thranduil let his hand drop and he began to walk out of his chambers, but before closing the doors again, he turned to face his son. "I wish only one thing."

Legolas looked at him and waited for the request.

"I know you will leave soon, but I do not know when you will return. I wish to see my son and his new wife before I leave for the undying lands, so that I could bring joyful news to your mother and tell her, 'indeed I saw our son, and he shines greater than we could have ever wished for'"

Legolas nodded and Thranduil smiled as he closed the doors behind him.


Seeing her standing there, speaking to Aragorn, he looked at her glowing figure. How different she looked in a proper Elven dress, free of all the things that weighed her down. As he stood there observing the way she spoke to Aragorn, he could not believe that he had not noticed before how alike they moved, even from the way Aragorn stood, the careful way in which he moved his hands, it was all almost like a dance. He could see the history between the pair, and sometimes the way she looked at Aragorn, it spoke of her love for him, and how she still saw him as a child, even now when he wore the crown of the king of Gondor upon his brow. Legolas had never fully appreciated the fact that she had been Aragorn's mother for a good part of his life. He observed the touching way she caressed Aragorn's face, tracing his aging lines…but it was apparent she was lacking something, something inside of her still wept. When she spoke to Aragorn of leaving to find him, Legolas had to intervene; he could no longer be an observer. He stepped forward, and when she responded to his voice his heart leapt.

"Well met Melethril." Was all he said as he stood there in the light.

Aurel held her breath and Aragorn smiled and looked at Legolas, quickly excusing himself from their sudden reunion. As Aragorn passed Legolas by he patted him on the shoulder, noting his happiness at the return of a good friend. Legolas looked at him in thanks, and then focused his attention back on Aurel.

She slowly began to walk towards Legolas. "I did not think I would see you this day."

"It has been a long time. Ever the more difficult to be parted from you." Responded Legolas.

She finally stood face to face with Legolas and they both restrained themselves for the moment, only looking at one another's faces. She lifted her hand and touched his face. Legolas felt her hand upon his face and it made his hold body tingle, he gave in to a shiver. "You are shining Legolas, I have never seen you this way."

"I am merely a reflection of yourself." He could hold himself back no longer and took his hands and lost them in her hair, lowering his lips down to meet hers. She gave into the kiss completely, letting him spill kisses all over her lips and her neck, her face, until he was all but spent on kisses. "By the Valar, Aurel, you are so beautiful, I could lose myself in those eyes of yours…I have needed you so much. I have never needed anything so much in my entire life."

Aurel began to blush. "I feel as if I cannot breathe." She buried her face in his shoulder, taking in his smell, clinging on to him for dear life, never wanting to let go of him. "This is where I have wanted to be since the first time I met you."

Legolas wrapped his arms around her slowly. "This is where you belong Melethril."

She lifted her head off his shoulder to look into his eyes. "There is much we need to speak about." She said softly.

Legolas nodded. "I know. But we have all eternity to speak of it…. I love you Aurel, I never want to be separated from you, not for any reason. Promise me you will never leave me."

She thought about all they had been through together, she worried for just a moment before feeling his calming presence engulf her. "I will never leave you, if death could not keep me away, nothing ever will." She smiled brightly. "I will always love you, my kindred spirit."

They stood there for what seemed like an eternity just staring into one another's eyes.