Disclaimer: See prologue

Chapter 7

Some Answers, More Questions

Kate closed her pack with slightly trembling hands. Her eyes traveled slowly around the familiar room that had been hers all through her life, committing it to her memory.

"Have you packed?" Legolas asked, walking into the room. She turned slowly to him, her bag in hand, and gave a half-hearted nod. Legolas enclosed her hand in his, pulling her into a reassuring embrace. "Do not despair. You will be content in Mirkwood." he said, soothing her with the same soft chaste kiss on her forehead.

She pulled away from him, a strange look glimmering in her eyes. "Do all elves so willingly give such comfort to strangers?"

Legolas chuckled slightly, enclosing her hand in his again. "Sometimes. Elves crave the touch of another. We could possibly die without it."

She shook her head, pulling her hand from his again. "You comfort me with such intimacy. Is that common also?"

Legolas stood there, not saying a word. His mouth was slightly open, and his eyes were slightly anxious. How was he supposed to answer that? And he did not know if either answer was truly correct.

Katherine shook her head, dismissing the subject and going back to her bag.

They were to leave tomorrow morning.

"Katherine, please understand-" Legolas began reaching out to grasp her shoulder.

She swatted his hand away none too gently, causing a look of hurt to pass over his fair features.

"Legolas, you-are-a-prince." she said with iciness.

Legolas furrowed his brows in confusion. "I know that. You needn't remind me of my title."

"Oh, I think I do. Have you forgotten that I am the daughter of the man who killed your mother? You are taking me back to your home! Your father will not take kindly to me, this I know. And your people! What of them? Do you truly expect them to welcome me with open arms knowing that I am kin to the man who murdered their queen?"

"They will! What is past is past! Your father committed those acts, not you! You are blameless!" Legolas reasoned.

She threw the bag on her bed in frustration. "He is not my father..." she hissed.

"Despite all that he's done, he remains so, no matter how much we may despise him." he retorted, knowing how anger for a father can feel.

"No, you don't understand." she said, whirling around to face him. "He truly isn't my father. My mother told me so after he burned that damned mark on my hand."

"Then who is your father?" Legolas asked angrily, trying to hide his fury that she had kept this hidden from him for so long.

She shrugged her shoulders as though it were of no importance. "She never said. Only that he was powerful, and was a master of crafts..." She sat against the bed, her face buried in her hands as her dark blonde hair fell about her hidden face.

"What was your mother's name?" Legolas asked, unconsciously sitting down beside her.

She did not raise her head, but answered in a constrained voice, "She has many names... To everyone here, she was called Em. I always believed that it was short for 'Emma' or 'Emily', but she never answered when I asked. 'Such a short name' I would tell her. On the same day I was... 'branded' she told me her full name was Kementari." Legolas sucked in breath in shock, but she took no notice. "I assumed that she didn't like the name, so she had it shortened. But it sounded better than the man's who gave me this mark. Mother said he was a servant of Gorthaur, or something like that. I didn't understand-"

"What!" Legolas shouted, causing her to jump and stare at him.

"What is it?" she asked, shocked at his outburst.

She let out a little yelp as he took her face in his hands, turning it from side to side, looking at her.

"But your ears... they are not.." he muttered to himself.

"What is wrong with you?" she asked, pushing him away.

He just gaped at her, at a loss of what to say. "I... you... but-how?"

Katherine looked at him expectantly, wanting to know what caused him to act so strangely.

"I do not fully know myself..." he said at last.

"Tell me what you do know then!" she shouted at him, her eyes ablaze with anger at his beating around the bush.

"I cannot..." he whispered, standing up.

"No!" she yelled, reaching out to grasp his arm, but instead having her own wrapped in a firm grip.

"Listen to me..." he said sternly, no trace of play in his eyes. "Mithrandir will be waiting for us when we return to Mirkwood. He shall sort this out. I do not know what to say to you, for fear of uttering some falsehood."

"Legolas! Tell me! Do you know who my father is? How do you know this Gorthaur?" she pleaded.

Legolas said naught, but sat her down on the bed. "We shall leave in the morning. Till then, rest." he said firmly.

"But-" her protests went unheard as Legolas went swiftly to the door, shutting it behind him with a soft slam. As Kate got off the bed, intending to go after him and force him to tell her what he knew, she heard the audible click of him locking her inside.

"Legolas!" she yelled, pounding upon the door. "Let me out of here this instant!"


On the other side of the door, Legolas slid down against the wall suddenly feeling dizzy, trying to ignore her pleas. This cannot be real... he thought, How could it be true? He stood up, and began to walk to the room that had become his, mind buzzing with thoughts and doubts.

How could she be her mother? It does not make sense... And if it is true, then why is she here? What purpose does the man have that she called father for so long? If Kementari is her mother, then that means her father is... Oh Valar... Then that means she is - ... No. I shall let Mithrandir explain before I jump to conclusions.

The pounding on her door had ceased as he reached his bed, retrieving the garb that he had arrived in, along with his weapons. No sleep would come to him this night, that he knew. His troubled mind would not allow it.

He lay upon his bed, staring up at the ceiling as he often did. Tomorrow, I shall return home. If I am right in who I assume she is, then she shall never leave my sight again. But the question that pains me the most... What does Sauron want with her?