Here is a brief outline of the events that followed from those fateful days of revelation, as told by personal accounts and from those who witnessed it:
Although their relationship had been slightly altered by the secrets that had been unveiled, the lives of Thranduil and Legolas changed very little; Thranduil continued to rule as King of Mirkwood in very much the same way as he had always done – he stood alone as an impressive authoritative figure in a time of great uncertainty and doubt as the darkness grew, yet he was ever surrounded by the support of his people, his soldiers who were willing to die for him and their homeland, and his son Legolas, who swore to forever stand by his father and King as well as his love Anié, who would soon become his wife.
The morning after the day they had returned, Anié rose to discover that Maeglin, her closest friend, had already departed without reason or a goodbye and Anié's heart was filled with sadness as she feared that he may never return and that may be the last time she ever saw him. However, before the next summer Maeglin made a surprise return to the palace of Mirkwood to announce that having made amends with the woman who had devoted her heart so selflessly to him, he and Mellimeldisiel were to be married and he extended his heart-felt invitation to Anié and the Prince. Anié was very happy to have Maeglin back as her friend but she was delighted for his new-found happiness and Maeglin equally so.
As for Anié herself, she could not help but do some research on the ifanc gwanath mysteries and she was inevitably and undeniably hurt and upset by the realities she unearthed, but through the comfort of those around her (such as Legolas and her other close friends) and her own reasoning, she learnt that although she could not change the past or take away the pains of those who had suffered, she could still lead a good life and help those around her now she was older and free from her father's grasp.
However, still to this day she is haunted by the tunnel's last words to her – 'but you still did it', a message she will never escape. In all the group's different circumstances, one thing they all learnt was the same: the experience forced them to question where blame truly lay in each of their situations, for truly there is no smoke without the fire. Who was to blame and who was innocent, who deserved to be accused and who forgiven, when should secrets be kept and when should the truth be told, who deserved life and for whom was it an unworthy a gift – these were questions and debates each of them individually wrangled with, and would continue to do so for the rest of their lives.