The tunnel seemed to be eternal, as was the darkness that filled every inch of it. The group walked along in silence, no-one daring to utter a word after the shocking event that had just passed, especially not to Thranduil. They moved at a good pace, but not as fast as they normally do when on scouts in the open air.

The darkness continued on forever and some of the group even began to wonder if they were simply walking further and further underground – a notion that none of the Elves present particularly liked. Time passed, although no-one knew exactly how long until before them, a familiar blue glow began to slowly appear.

They all stopped, wondering whether it was wise to proceed or not, all of them wondering who would be next to be tortured by memories. Normally, Thranduil stopped boldly forward, but this time, he did not. In his heart, he did not feel he could cope with another memory such as the one he had just been forced to see.

They all stopped for a moment, no-one taking the first step, until they all faced the simple truth: standing there would get them nowhere. They cautiously moved forwards as a group, the light growing slowly brighter and bluer until soon, they arrived at another glowing wall. They stood in a line in front of the wall, each one of them begging they would not be next.

They stood there for some time – some of them even considered the possibility that nothing would happen. But sure enough, after some moments, the glowing wall began to change slightly, everything in front of them going blurry. Unlike before, however, there were no sounds from the memory, only the sound of the glow transforming itself.

Eventually, an image formed itself before them: they could see a child's bedroom at night. All was dark. To the side of the memory was an average-sized bed, and lying in it was a young elf child asleep. It would be many of year before this child came of age – by looking at him, at a guess, he probably wasn't even a hundred – but he had the physical strength and stature very similar to that of an adult. He had long legs and was very slim, with flowing blond ear and perfectly pointed ears, as all Elves did. He did not seem unhappy, nor did he seem positively content – he seemed quiet and distant as he lay in his bed, eyes wide open, in the depths of a dream. Legolas, of course, recognised this room instantly.

The room was silent, as was the child. This silence was broken when the door cautiously opened and another child entered the room. Thranduil's jaw dropped once again – the second time in just under an hour – as he recognised the child. His heart leapt within him, for he had not seen this child's face in countless years.

"Eleyond!" he whispered aloud.

Eleyond was Thranduil's eldest son and Legolas' older and only brother. Eleyond was very special to Thranduil (as Legolas was too, of course), not only because he was the eldest, but because he was so unique: Eleyond was one of the few Elves in Middle-earth who had no love of the bow and he had chocolate-brown hair, contrast to Legolas' golden yellow. This was no surprise to Thranduil, as Tariel had had brown hair, but what was strange (and yet beautiful at the same time) was that Eleyond's eyes were of the same colour, whereas Thranduil's, Tariel's and Legolas' were all sapphire blue. Thranduil did not truly know how this had come to be – perhaps someone in his earlier family had had brown eyes – but he loved his son dearly none the less.

Now the positions had been swapped. Thranduil was filled with sudden delight and excitement, whereas Legolas was filled with nothing but terror. Seeing his older brother's face made his stomach turn and his heart go suddenly cold. While the boy entered the room and began speaking to the younger version of Legolas, the older Legolas turned to face his father, turning away from the memory.

"Ada" he pleaded, remaining calm but with desperation in voice.

"Ada, you don't need to see this".

Thranduil's face turned slowly away from the memory and towards Legolas' face, his expression now showing no happiness, only the strictness of his character. He knew in his heart that although this memory started out happy – as he was able to see his long-lost son again – it would soon turn dark and new information would be shown to Thranduil. Eleyond died when he was very young, not much older than he was in this memory. Who killed Eleyond and why was never discovered – perhaps this would give Thranduil the answers he had searched for.

Suddenly, a huge crash echoed through the tunnel. Every pair of eyes turned to the tunnel they had not yet walked down and saw that it had suddenly become blocked by a huge slab of stone. Much though they tried to, it wouldn't budge – it was too large and far too heavy for any of them to move it.

"We're trapped!" cried Legolas.

Maeglin sighed to himself – he was beginning to wonder if coming with the group had been a wise decision on his part. His eyes glanced back up to the memory – he had to do a double-take.

"What happened?" he asked suddenly, his eyes now fixed on the memory in confusion.

The group's eyes immediately snapped back to the wall. The memory had stopped; the young Legolas and Eleyond were frozen like ice. Nothing was happened. Thranduil looked at the frozen memory in confusion.

No-one made a sound, all of them deep in thought. After a moment's pause, Anié whispered:

"You have to face it".

She seemed to have figured it out. Everyone look at her and she, after lifting her concentrated eyes from the floor, looked at them also.

"You have to face the memory, admit to the hidden secret that will emerge from it".

She turned to Legolas.

"You have to – otherwise we will never leave this place".

Legolas looked at Anié, terror and dread evident in his eyes. He understood everything Anié had said and was sure that she was right, but did he truly want to face the memory? He knew what had happened, he had kept it hidden in the depths of his heart for centuries. He had kept it hidden for so long, in fact, that he had almost forgotten that it had happened.

Lightly, he shook his head. Anié looked deep into his eyes and told him the truth:

"Legolas, we can't go on until you allow the memory to show itself".

Fate suddenly hit Legolas. There was no way out of this, no way he could escape. He could not shield his father from it, much though he wanted to. Eventually, he turned to his father and, under his breath, begged for forgiveness. Turning back to the memory, he stood and waited.

Seconds of silence past, though to them, it felt like hours. Finally, when the wall sensed that Legolas had accepted his fate, the memory burst back into life and continued. The adult Legolas braced himself. A near-broken jaw would seem a luxury compared to what Legolas prepared himself to receive from Thranduil.

The young Legolas remained in bed, whilst Eleyond crept forward into the room, speaking only to disturb Legolas' dream, asking him what it contained. When Legolas replied that he was thinking about practicing his archery with his new bow (which he loved so dearly), Eleyond did not continue the conversation, as he did not seem terribly interested in the subject. Thranduil smiled to himself – he remembered well how Eleyond always preferred the sword. Eventually, Eleyond stopped moving, looked to his younger brother and asked rather abruptly:

"Do you miss Mother?"

Legolas looked suddenly towards his brother at the word 'mother'. He lowered his head again after a moment or two and said with thoughtful eyes:

"I do not think of her much".

"Do you care so little for her?" Eleyond asked abruptly again, almost insulted.

"No" replied Legolas.

"I simply do not think upon her much".

"Why not?" Eleyond asked, honestly surprised by such an answer.

"I have never seen her" Legolas answered, honestly and innocently.

"So I cannot picture her. It is difficult to think of someone when you don't know what they look like".

At that, Legolas relaxed his body and tried to return to his previous dream. Eleyond had not considered this, but did not drop the subject.

"Do you know why?" he asked, deliberately making the question ambiguous.

Legolas sat up in bed, now it was clear to him that Eleyond was not going to leave him in peace quickly.

"Why what?" he asked.

Legolas' voice was painted with purest innocence, so much so that one could have mistaken him for an angel. Yet he was very mature for an elfling of his age – no-one ever treated him like an ignorant child.

"Why you never saw her?" Eleyond asked.

Legolas thought for a moment and shook his head. Eleyond's eyes darkened as he moved forwards towards his younger brother on the bed, the small smile that was once present, began to disappear.

"Do you know where Mother is, Legolas?"

Legolas shook his head.

"Where do you think she is?" snapped Eleyond, his whispering sharp, no anger but venom in his speech.

Thranduil watched with concerned interest – he had never seen his eldest son like this before.

The young Legolas thought before guessing that she may be in Mithlond. Eleyond indicated that Legolas had guessed incorrectly by shaking his head.

"She is in the Hall of Mandos – where those who have passed go. Do you know why?"

Legolas' eyes were now fixed on his brother's, thinking carefully as to how to word his next sentence and where his brother was going with this conversation – it was clearly something Eleyond deemed of great importance, as he seemed incapable of waiting.

"Must I answer now?" Legolas asked, desiring to return to his dream.

"It is late, brother – can it not wait until morning?"

"It is morning, little brother" Eleyond replied calmly.

Looking far out of his chamber doors, Legolas could see a red glow in the distance, showing that the sun had already begun to rise. He could feel Eleyond's gaze penetrating his mind and his eyes were drawn back to them. Legolas had never seen his brother's eyes that dark before.

"I have been figuring it out for some time, little brother" Eleyond whispered.

"I overheard some men talking, talking over goblets of wine. They were exchanging horror stories - one of them was a doctor, who said he'd treated Mother once. She was agony. There was nothing the doctors could do for her".

Legolas did not fully understand what his brother was talking about, but he knew he didn't like it and it upset him greatly. However, he said nothing, as his brother's eyes penetrated his soul in a way he did know was possible. A silence fell between them as Eleyond stared at his younger brother as if he was the enemy.

"It was you, little brother" he finally whispered.

Legolas' face showed a mixture of shock and utter confusion.

"What do you mean?"

"Mother died giving birth to you".

He leaned closer to Legolas and said cruelly: "It's your fault she's dead".

Legolas glared at Eleyond.

"That's not true!" he stated firmly, hurt and upset by the statement.

Eleyond nodded his head.

"Ask the doctors – they know. They were there".

Legolas thought for a moment. Eleyond took advantage of his silence.

"You're a murderer, Legolas!"

"No, I'm not!" said Legolas, his voice rising as he leapt out of bed.

"How dare you say such things about me! And about Mother!"

"Do you think I am lying?" Eleyond asked honestly.

Legolas did not think his brother was lying about his mother and her fate, but he was not a murderer, even if what his brother had said was true. Legolas walked purposefully towards the door with the full intention of finding his father. Eleyond read his thoughts.

"Are you sure that is wise, little brother? I do not think Ada would be best pleased if you disturbed him at this hour with memories that may hurt him. You know what he is like when he is angry".

Legolas stopped with his slender fingers touching the door. His brother was right - he did know what Thranduil was like angry, and would he really have the courage to ask his father such questions about his former wife when he had deliberately never mentioned her to his children before?

Legolas came to the conclusion that going to his father, much though he wanted to for comfort and protection, may not be the wisest idea at this present moment in time. His face fell to one of confused sadness.

"I didn't kill her" he whispered, not turning to face Eleyond.

'Not deliberately, at least' he thought to himself.

"Of course you didn't mean to" replied Eleyond with fake reassurance and comfort in his voice.

"But that doesn't change the facts. It was, at the end of the day, your fault".

"Quiet, Eleyond".

"If you were not here" Eleyond continued as if Legolas had not spoken, "she would still be with us".

"I said quiet".

"We would be a happy family – just imagine how happy Ada would be! He would never be angry again!"

"Leave me"

"I don't know what the men of power would do if it was brought up at the council…"

"Eleyond…"

"I suppose it is essentially murder … they may consider thongs and the dungeons…"

"I said LEAVE ME ALONE, BROTHER!" cried Legolas, able to take no more.

He turned around very suddenly and pushed his brother roughly away. Eleyond remained stable and he could see quite clearly in the eyes of his younger brother that Legolas wanted him out. But he felt it was his duty to show Legolas the truth and make him admit to it – that is what he truly believed was the right course of action.

"You want to get violent, brother?" Eleyond asked.

"No" Legolas replied.

He didn't want any of this. He just wanted Eleyond to leave him alone.

"Come on – don't be a coward!"

And with that, Eleyond launched himself onto Legolas' back. Legolas, having been taken by surprise, almost fell over, but managed to keep his balance and throw his brother onto the floor. Once on the floor, Eleyond grabbed Legolas' ankle and made him fall. Eleyond quickly stood over Legolas, gaining dominance.

"Are you scared, little brother?" said Eleyond, mockingly.

"No" replied the sad yet angered voice from the floor.

"I would be … if I was a murderer like you!"

"Stop it!" Legolas cried, turning round in one swift movement to face his brother.

Before Legolas realised what he had done, he was on his feet and Eleyond was nursing a sudden pain on his cheek (caused by Legolas' fist). This pushing and shoving went on for a little while longer, Eleyond refusing to allow Legolas dominance – he was his big brother and he was right.

Suddenly, when Eleyond grew tired of simple punches and bruises, he drew his blade which he kept on his side. Legolas looked in shock at the blade, knowing in his young heart that this was going a little too far. He didn't want to hurt his brother in this way. He turned from his brother and walked once again towards the door.

"Where are you going?" asked Eleyond.

"To find Ada – I don't want to fight you!" replied Legolas firmly.

"I've told you already, little…"

"I don't care!" shouted Legolas, handing reaching out for the door handle.

Just as Legolas was about to open the door, he stopped dead as Eleyond's knife embedded itself in the door, dangerously close to Legolas' face. Anger within Legolas grew – his brother had just attacked him! The sudden burst of emotions within him was uncontrollable – he had never felt this way before. But before he could do anything, Eleyond retrieved his knife from the door and went to attack Legolas again. Legolas couldn't believe this – Eleyond wanted him dead! Just as Eleyond's small blade came close to Legolas again, Legolas' blade stopped it and forced it aside. Eleyond kept on attacking and Legolas had no choice but to defend himself.

Again, this went on for some moments until suddenly Legolas, in yet another attempt to defend himself, held his knife in his hand on his left side and moved it swiftly through the air to his right, surprising Eleyond with his sudden attack of defence. To Legolas' surprise, Eleyond stopped attacking him.

'At last' thought Legolas. 'He'll leave me alone!'

Legolas smiled in relief and he looked up at his brother. The smile instantly disappeared. Eleyond's eyes were wide and his mouth open. He had stepped back about a pace, he was staggering a little, his blade had fallen from his hand and his other hand was clutching his throat. He couldn't breathe. His hand was dripping with globules of consistent blood flow. Eleyond's eyes met Legolas' and both were terrified. Eleyond made a revolting half grunt, half gurgle sound before falling backwards onto the floor, totally motionless.

In the tunnel, everyone gasped and once again, they were all compelled into utter silence.

As Eleyond fell to the floor, his hand fell away from his neck and as he hit the floor, Legolas stared in horror at the gruesome gash that had formed there. Legolas stood there, completely overtaken by shock. What had just happened? How did … what … was he … he couldn't think straight. Slowly, he lifted his hand which still gripped his knife. As the sun rose, the edge of the stained blade shown scarlet and Eleyond's blood glistened. Legolas felt like he was choking. He couldn't have done … he wasn't a killer … maybe Eleyond had been right after all …

Back in the tunnel, the image of the memory began to ripple and fade and everyone thought that was the end – they hoped it was too – but they were mistaken, as the image had merely changed and soon came back into clarity. By now, the sun had fully risen and Thranduil stood in the Great Hall, surrounded by several men of the court. Amongst their whispered mutterings, the doors swung open with a mighty crash and the young Legolas' voice resounded throughout the Hall. The young elf was in floods of tears and barely able to control himself. He hurtled towards the King and flung his arms around Thranduil's waist, screaming and wailing hysterically.

"Legolas!" cried Thranduil, surprised by his son's sudden entry.

"What is it, my son? What's wrong?"

"ADA!" Legolas screamed, his face buried in his father's abdomen.

Thranduil gripped him by the shoulders and forced him to look him in the eye. Through a throat choked by the onslaught of tears, Legolas managed to say the following words which he planned very carefully before entering the Great Hall:

"Ada … Eleyond and I … we were just playing … playing, outside in the forest … and then they came … I don't know who they were, but … they took him, Ada … they came with rugged blades and … oh, it was horrific! … they killed Eleyond … it was all over in seconds … his throat's all covered in blood … oh Ada …"

He clung to his father and wept openly. Thranduil, his eyes wide with shock and his face filled with fear and anger, held his son tightly to him. He immediately called scouts to search the area for any danger and to find his son. The scouts immediately left the scene and the memory faded.

No-one dared to breathe. No-one even dared move their eyes. The eyes of Legolas, after having removed them from the memory that had played out before them all, fell to the floor, terrified of meeting the gaze of his father. Eventually, using all his courage, he very slowly lifted his head and his eyes found his father, who was glaring back at him with a hatred Legolas had never seen before (and Legolas had seen his father in a rage on many an occasion). His blood ran cold and he felt paralysed.

"You – lied – to me" Thranduil said at length.

Legolas considered shaking his head, but he knew that would not help the situation and would, if anything, make it worse.

"I was young, Ada. I am sorry for I have done, but I…"

"You are sorry?" Thranduil growled in a tone of voice as if he was being mocked.

"You killed my son…"

"Ada, it was an accident!" Legolas interjected hurriedly.

Thranduil continued, ignoring Legolas' plea:

"You killed my son – your own brother – and then you have the audacity to lie to me…"

If those who did not know Thranduil well were present, they would say that due to the slowness and the quietness of his voice, he was keeping surprisingly calm. However, everyone present did know Thranduil well and could only begin to imagine the fury building up in his heart. It seemed to the eyes of Legolas that Thranduil was not merely angry, but possessed by a darkness and a wrath so terrible, it was terrifying to behold.

All were tense and still, no-one knew what has going to happen next. Legolas did not say a word – what more could he say? Eventually, realising there was nothing else he could do, he fell to his knees at his father's feet and held his father's hand, kissing his knuckles as he said:

"Forgive me, Ada … I was too young, I did not see, I did not know … I beg for your forgiveness".

He remained still like stone, as did the expression on Thranduil's face, looking down on his youngest and now only son. Nothing happened for a moment or two until suddenly, for the second time that day (only considerably harder this time), Thranduil hit his son hard across the side of the head. Legolas was caught off-guard by this sudden attack and fell on his back. Just as his focus returned and the initial shock wore off, he saw a glint of metal high above his head and his eyes widened in terror…

The long silence was finally broken as Thranduil's sudden shout of anger, Anié's loud gasp of horror and Idhrenion's desperate pleading with his King resounded in the air. Anié fell down by Legolas to protect him as Idhrenion, boldly and with great force, held back Thranduil, whose face was twisted with fury. He bared his teeth and pointed his blade threateningly towards Legolas, his eyes also wide, but not filled with the fear that Legolas' were.

Eventually, Thranduil threw Idhrenion aside (though not to the floor, as he had done his son) and stormed off down the tunnel, not desiring to see any more memories but desperate to leave this place. They were all confused as to how the boulder had been moved until they saw that it had not moved, but simply lay as a small pile of crumbled, broken rocks on the floor, now no more than the size of a large stone.