With not much time left of your stay in Mirkwood, you grew sadder as you realized you didn't wish to leave Legolas behind. He was so interesting and he treated you well. Most of the elves in Mirkwood seemed to be a little afraid of you, though they could not put the reason why in words. You felt rather hurt and like perhaps you had a curse placed on you. Legolas seemed to sense your sadness and tried to help you make the most of your remaining time in Mirkwood. He seemed to be a little mournful at the thought of your impending departure as well.
On your last full day in Mirkwood, he took you out into the forest for what he said was a final archery lesson.
"Here we are!" Legolas announces, leading you into a clearing. Legolas is examining your face, looking for a reaction. It's a rather beautiful place, lit by elven magic. At the center of the clearing is a picnic basket.
Suddenly, you break into a large smile. You're awestruck. "Its beautiful," you barely manage to utter. A tear leaks from your eye. This unexpected kindness was truly something you had never experienced before.
Legolas smiles softly and gently wipes the tear off your cheek. "Come, lets eat and enjoy this final day." He leads you to the picnic basket and pulls out a blanket for the two of you to sit on. He places the food out. Its all fine elven delicacies that are traditional in Mirkwood. "Are you excited about traveling to Rivendell?" he asks casually.
"I have rather mixed feelings on it," you say. "What if it's all for nothing? What if there is no information there on who I am?" You frown slightly. "That and I'll miss you." You look away, blinking back tears.
"I'll miss you too Aiweneth," he says sincerely. "Something tells me we will meet again though in the rather near future." He places his hand under your chin, gently turning your head to look at him. "Even if they don't know who you are, you're always welcome back here." At those words, you actually started to cry a little. Legolas looked concerned, "What's the matter? Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you didn't. It just- I don't think anyone has ever been so kind to me."
"Perhaps its a good thing you can't remember who you are then." You look at Legolas, offended. "Which, I know, it sounds insensitive to say that. But I mean if no one in your previous life was ever kind to you, what kind of life could it have been?" This statement doesn't make you feel much better, though you know there is likely some merit to it.
"It was my life, Legolas."
"It certainly was, but maybe you are better off this way. Maybe it is by the will of Iluvatar that you cannot remember your past."
"I doubt that. I feel cursed. Surely it is not by the will of Iluvatar that most seem to be indescribably afraid of me. You and Aragorn are the only friends I've made here. Children stare at me when I walk by, I see the fear most clearly in their eyes than anyone else's."
"Maybe it is that you're cursed. Maybe you're not. Its not often that we get visitors to Mirkwood, particularly ones who know nothing about themselves. Look, don't put too much stock in it. People who know you aren't afraid of you."
The two of you sit in silence for awhile and eat, contemplating all that was said. After the picnic, the mood turned lighter again. You decided that maybe Legolas was right, maybe the fear from the other elves was due to your amnesia.
After the picnic, Legolas did follow through on his final bow lesson. As usual, he had to make minor corrections to your form. Though you sometimes made yourself have bad form just so you could feel Legolas's gentle touch. In the end, you were able to get off a few good shots. Legolas commented on your immense improvements from when he first started teaching you how to use a bow, though it still would not be a weapon of choice for you. Maybe you would be able to kill a few enemies with one if you absolutely had to.
