Note: Dear God, I am so sorry I have not updated recently. I've been getting swamped with things recently. And my friend convinced me to join Livejournal and I had to add another email address. Do any of you feel like some days you just want to roll over and go back to bed?

Okay, sorry about that...Usual disclaimers. Hope you like this chapter!

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Merenwen sat in the windowsill of her window in her room, located in the royal section of the halls, near the prince's chambers. When she'd first come to Mirkwood, she was permitted stay in the guest quarters. After the long years of living at the palace, she'd been moved to the royal section at the prince's request.

She knew she should have been happy Legolas was home, but something did not feel right. She didn't know what it was. But she didn't feel whole.

Thranduil entered Merenwen's chambers after knocking and receiving no answer. He walked to the open doors leading to her room, finding her sitting on the windowsill and leaning over its edge.

"Is this where my son gets his ideas for danger? Or is he corrupting you?"

Merenwen turned toward the speaker. Upon seeing who it was, she swung her legs over the side and jumped down in one smooth motion before inclining her head. "My lord."

"Well?"

"I think it is your son, with all due respect. But then again, it more likely is Aragorn that has corrupted him."

The king laughed again. "You are most likely right."

"May I inquire what you need of me, sir?"

"I wish to talk to you. Please, you may sit down."

Merenwen sat down again in the window and looked up, meeting the king's eyes.

"I noticed the look of sorrow upon your face earlier. I would think you above all would be glad to have Legolas home again."

"I am glad to have the prince home again, milord."

"But?"

"But something feels wrong. I know not what it is though."

Thranduil leaned against the wall casually, a mannerism very uncommon with the noble elf. He had already spoken with Legolas once he'd settled in. His son was glad to be home as well, but he did confess that there would be little to do now that everything had been more or less settled.

"Yes. You feel there is nothing left to accomplish now."

"Sir?"

"Legolas has confessed to me the same feelings. What much is there to do now that evil has been destroyed and a king once again rules men?"

"But I do not wish to leave Arda just yet."

"Nor does Legolas, but what bothers you is now that everything is the way it should be. Nothing is challenging that. It is a drastic change we face."

"If I may ask, how do you know this?"

Thranduil smiled upon her. "When you have been alive as long as I have, you know these things. Besides, Merenwen, I have known you your whole life. I remember your parents – they served in my court. You are just like them," he said, touching her cheek in a fatherly fashion.

Merenwen looked up at the elder elf. She was previously unaware of these facts.

"You had no knowledge of this?"

She shook her head. "All I remember is I was close to Mirkwood already when I wandered into the forest. I was young and do not remember much."

"And you were never told?"

She shook her head again.

"My dear child, what has been haunting you all these years?"

"I chose not to think about it. You, your son, and those acquaintances I have made in the other elven realms have been all the family I needed."

"But it does not replace the blood ties that you originally have. Merenwen, I think we should have a long talk."

"My lord, may I ask you something?"

"Yes?"

"Does Legolas know any of this?"

"I do not think so, but you know he has his ways of finding out things," Thranduil answered plainly, smiling at the thought of his son eavesdropping on something when he was young.

She smiled, thinking of the same thing the king was.

"Come, we shall talk of this." He offered his hand to her and she took it, hoping down.

They walked out of her rooms and headed toward the king's rooms.

"Amras, please go summon my son. I would like to see him in my chambers," the king called to a passing servant. He looked down at Merenwen. "Do you mind?"

"No, sir."

"Go, then."

"Yes, your highness. Right away." The servant bowed before going to summon the prince.

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Legolas sat in a stuffed chair by the fireplace reading a book. He desired some peace since the past year had been very hectic. It was a short time in the life of an elf, but Legolas noticed the difference. It must have been the result of all the time he spent with Aragorn that made him notice. He smiled to himself. Aragorn, a king. Eru, help them all.

A knock on his chamber doors made the elf turn his attention away from his memories and his book. "Yes?"

Amras came into the room and stood by the door respectfully.

"What can I do for you, Amras?" Legolas asked, closing his book.

"The king requests your presence in his chambers."

He frowned. He'd already spoken with his father. What did he want now?

"Did he send word as to why he wanted to see me?"

"No, your highness."

"All right. I am coming."

"Would you like me to inform the king you are on your way?"

"No, thank you. It is not necessary."

The servant bowed and took his leave, setting himself back to his previous tasks.

Legolas got up and idly tossed his book onto his chair. Sometimes he wished he wasn't royalty; maybe then he could get some reading done. He smoothed his dark blue tunic before heading to his father's rooms. But once he got there, he realized his father did not tell him where he wanted to see him. No one had said anything about that.

He groaned before taking his time and going through the first couple rooms in the hallway. After knocking, he stuck his head into his father's study. He found his father sitting in a chair by the fireplace with another elf, whose back was to him, sitting on a couch.

Thranduil looked up when the door opened. "Legolas, come in. Sit."

Merenwen looked over her shoulder to watch Legolas close the study door.

Legolas stopped in his tracks upon seeing Merenwen, his heart leaping into his throat.

"Adar? Father?"

The elder elf gestured to the empty seat next to Merenwen. "Sit."

Legolas moved around the furniture and sat down next to Merenwen. He brushed his hand against hers purposefully and sent her a soft smile, which she returned.

"I must ask you something before I begin, Legolas. Do you have any memory of anything specific about Merenwen's past that she was not already aware of?"

The younger elf shook his head.

"Good. I have spoken with Merenwen, and she has told me she feels the same way you do now that Arda has been purged of the great evil. But I have decided she should know everything of her family. I was not aware of the gaps in her knowledge of them. Nor should one not know of their family for so long."

Thranduil looked from Legolas to Merenwen. Legolas looked at Merenwen. She glanced at him, shrugged, and turned her attention back to Thranduil.

"I believe you were about one hundred years old then, about one yén or so, when you came to us on your own. Your parents, Nienna and Aerandir, had indeed served in my court as I had told you. They were in fact nobles of Greenwood's realm."

Legolas looked at Merenwen with surprise. She was nobility and they had never known.

"What happened to them?"

"One day, they felt the call for the Undying Lands, and were going to leave, taking you with them."

"Did I not have any other family?"

"They'd already gone. Your parents were going to join them. So, they left Greenwood in the summer with a small company of elves and never returned again. They did not make it past the Misty Mountains. There was an attack by orcs, so we later found out. All were slain, except for you. Legolas was the first to find you."

"Why was I not informed of such things?" she asked, her voice trembling some.

Thranduil looked at her sadly. "It was felt you should be spared of such implications of grief at such a young age. The error was mine. I hope that you understand, and could one day forgive me."

Merenwen gazed long at the floor, trying to process the information she'd been given. At the same time, she tried to retrieve the lost memories. Things that she had undoubtedly blocked out were slowly starting to emerge again.

"But, if my family was nobility, how did I not know of Legolas then?"

The king looked at his son. "I do not think you'd met him. Though, I do know he might have remembered you in some way. He just liked to play with others at that age."

"That was a long time ago," Legolas interjected, shaking his head in disbelief that he'd ever done such a thing.

"Were my parents noble in their actions?"

"Yes, they were. And you are still guaranteed by birth their status here."

Merenwen thought about this. She had had a family and lost them. She was guaranteed a place as a noble, not just some poor orphan girl. This was becoming too much for her to handle at once. She quickly stood.

"I thank you for telling me this, sir. But excuse me, I do not wish to know more at the time." Merenwen walked past Legolas as he attempted to reach for her and fled the room.

Legolas stood to follow her.

"No. Not yet, my son."

He looked at his father. "But –"

"No. Give her some time before you go to seek her out. She has learned a great deal today," Thranduil said, rising from his chair.

"Why did you not tell us she was nobility?"

"Would it have made a difference?"

"Yes!" He couldn't believe he was not told of Merenwen's status. More importantly, he was baffled that she was never told. He looked at his father's stern face before lowering his eyes.

"Forgive me, Ada. I did not mean to raise my voice."

"You would not have needed to know if Merenwen was nobility or not. It wouldn't have mattered to you, Legolas. You would have loved her even if she was a poor beggar, which, Valar forbid, might have happened." He put a hand on his son's shoulder. "If not for you."

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Turn of events! I'm not sure I liked how this part of the story came out - it seemed very expected and typical of a Mary Sue, but oh well. Tell me what you think!