Why him? Why did he recognize only his father? Legolas couldn't understand it. Unpleasant tightness in his chest was intensifying, and the thick lump he felt in his throat seemed to grow every second. He pursed his lips to stifle a groan which was tearing out of his lungs. His father has been in the limelight for as long as Legolas could remember. It seems that he was born with something that made all the people focused their attention on him. It was as if he was attracting it in some strange, mystical way. The emotions that he was causing were usually extreme – there were people that hated him and people that loved him. The entire space in the palace belonged to Thranduil. There was not enough space to come into being for anyone else than him. Even for Legolas, his son, who for most of his life felt like he was rather... unremarkable. He always thought of himself as someone who just blends into the background.
He was standing in the middle of the room. He didn't know what to do. Spend some time with Aragorn, or perhaps have a serious talk with his father? He was confused. The thoughts of his friend, his state of health and the fact that he doesn't remember him, fought with the thoughts of the king. Was Legolas so vague and unimportant to not give him a message about one of the most important people in his life? He felt anger, regret and sadness. He wanted to believe that his father loved him and cared about his welfare, but from day to day his faith was decreasing, replaced by bitterness. Sometimes he had the impression that the king cared more about his servant Fidhail than him. Legolas knew that there was some strange connection between these two and this fact, the fact that his father seemed to be with someone closer than with his own child, made him jealous and angry. Fidhail's behavior was making everything worse. Always attentive, humble and loyal to his limits. All these qualities made him seem too "perfect". For Legolas he was also too predictable. He didn't have a problem with predicting Fidhail's behavior. His obedience and respect to the king were so big that some of his actions were obvious. No wonder then that the prince was shocked when shortly after the event with a king's broken vase, Fidhail walked in his room and told him that Aragorn doesn't remember anyone. Of course, the message itself was extremely shocking, but that wasn't what surprised Legolas the most. At least at the beginning. What affected him the most at that moment was Fidhail's behavior. He did something against king's orders and expectations, exposing himself to his wrath, probably for the first time in his life. It was obvious that Thranduil wanted to minimize the number of people who knew about Aragorn, because he didn't want to immediately give the message to his son. Entrusting this information to Fidhail, he trusted him and believed that he wouldn't tell anyone. He, however, blurted out. Why? Legolas didn't understand.
He sighed and walked over to the wall with a special recess for the beautiful cabinet. He opened the glass door and pulled out of it his faithful companion - favorite bow. I need to calm down before I undertake any steps, he thought. Nothing soothed his soul like a successful hunt. He smiled to himself. Slightly, uneasy.
He was afraid. He betrayed king's trust so how could he not have been afraid? He said something that should have remained as a secret. He had never done anything so reckless. The problem was, he couldn't hold back. It was an impulse. When Legolas left king's chamber, Fidhail felt it to be his obligation to give the prince message about lord Aragorn. It was something natural, necessary. Legolas had a right to know! After all, it was about his friend. In Fidhail's eyes Thranduil was a wise, experienced ruler with good, but maybe a little bit brittle heart. However, there were days like this, when he began to undermine his own beliefs.
He passed one of the servants, Eregiel, in the hallway and nodded to him in a friendly way, with a fake smile plastered on his face. He felt an unpleasant tightness in his stomach. The king hasn't known yet. But when he will find out, and Fidhail had no doubt that this will happen, hard times will come.
"Is someone crying behind the door?", asked Aragorn. He was sitting on the bed, leaning back against the pillows. Thranduil stood close to the dresser located next to the big, strange-looking flower. When he didn't answer, the man rubbed his hand across his pale, tired face. "It is Arwen, right? A woman who is reportedly my wife. The one that you told me abut this morning. "
The Elvenking raised his eyebrow at the word "reportedly", but he said nothing. He was standing with his arms crossed on his chest, and he was eyeing up the man. Aragorn leaned forward and slightly winced when his injured collarbone burned with pain. He felt well after waking from a coma, but his wound told on him from time to time. It was no wonder. It's only been a few days since his fight with the orcs.
"Why do I not remember anyone? Why there is only one image stuck in my head? The image of you…'', he asked. "And how could I forget my wife? I can not believe it. Physicians say I did not hit my head! I remember most of my life, I know who I am, I know that I was going to your kingdom, but all these memories are... empty. There is no life in them, no living beings!"
Thranduil began to pace around the room. He looked like he was lost in thought.
"I do not know, I do not know how it happened.", he said briefly.
He really had no idea. In his long life, he has seen a variety of strange accidents. Not once, not twice his subjects came to him begging for help in peculiar cases. Injuries, burns, speech disorders, hearing impairment, etc. It seems that everyone thought that using king's wisdom is a better way to help patients than trying to learn something from physicians' knowledge and abilities.
But he have never seen so amazing case of selective amnesia.
Aragorn sighed and slumped back onto the pillows.
"Besides my wife... Is there anyone else I should know about?", he stared at the king of the elves.
Thranduil stopped pacing around the room. He thought about the members of the Fellowship of the Ring. He also thought about Legolas and some hidden secrets.
"No, I do not know. I am sorry.", he lied. There was no signs of lie on his face.
"I understand.", there was sadness in Aragorn's voice. He tilted his head to the side, listening. "Either she stopped crying, or she walked away. I can not even recall if I loved her. I do not feel anything for this woman.", he shook his head. "She is a complete stranger to me, but I feel sorry for her."
"It is good that you feel sorry for her.", said Thranduil. "The rest will come with time."
For a moment Aragorn watched him intently, then he started staring off into the distance.
"Or maybe that is the way it should be. Maybe I can not remember anyone because of something important. I remember only you. Why? Why you? ", he looked at Thranduil.
"You humans are all the same."
"And what does it mean?"
" You believe in nonsense such as destiny, fate. You seek a deeper meaning where there is none."
"You have an interesting way of thinking, Your Highness. It sounds like a perfect elves' description for me. You are always thoughtful, reflective and you always analyze every little detail.", Aragorn smiled.
"Maybe some of the elves are like this, but certainly not the local elves.", you could see a nostalgic look on Thranduil's face. "In my kingdom there is no room for fortuity and destiny. Life course is determined here by everything that is tangible - forest, nature. They show us what we have to do and they plan our future."
Aragorn's smile seemed to grow. He pulled up the duvet and folded his hands over his stomach.
"And that is what I meant. Are these poetic words not a proof of your intensified reflectiveness?", he said. "I can not imagine ordinary, vague words coming out from elf's mouth. It is somehow obvious that beautiful words are coming out from the beautiful lips."
Thranduil flinched and turned his face away. It's hard to say if he felt offended for some reason, or maybe just didn't want to look in Aragorn's shiny eyes any longer.
"You are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen.", suddenly, human's voice sounded completely serious. There was no longer any amusement in his words.
"Of course. Because I am the only one person you remember.", Elvenking thought of Arwen. When she learned that her beloved doesn't remember her, and the main place in his memory is occupied by an elf who is almost a stranger to him, she fell into despair.
Aragorn threw back the duvet and slowly put his feet on the floor.
"You should not get up. If you need anything, just call for the servants.", Thranduil was watching doubtfully Aragorn's actions. The man was swaying slightly on his feet. He started to walk slowly toward the Elvenking.
"I feel that I have to go on a short walk. I can not stand lying aimlessly in the bed.", he stopped in front of an elf and looked him straight in the eye. "I do not regret. I do not regret what I just said. I really think that you are the most beautiful creature I have ever seen. I just know it."
Thranduil returned the gaze. He didn't even blink.
"These are pretty bold words. Do you realize that?"
"Maybe, but I will not rectract these words.", Aragorn gently touched the long strands of Thranduil's hair and then he leaned in to smell them. "It was your scent, not Arwen's, that led me through the darkness in which I was stuck, being in a coma."
Aragorn straightened up and started slowly walking toward the door.
"I do not want you acting like this! Do you understand?", the Elvenking could hardly control his anger.
Aragorn stopped walking. For a short moment he was just standing in place, staring at the wall in front of him, and then, without any response, he walked out of the room.
Thranduil clenched his fists.
"Never!", he hissed through gritted teeth, as if to make sure of the veracity of his own indignation.
