CHAPTER 16

Her eyes fluttered open. She blinked a couple of times before closing her eyelids once again, wondering where she was. The bed she was lying on was so soft, warm and welcoming that she almost wished that she could just drift back to sleep and continue dreaming of the forest, the lake, the battle, Legolas and those crystal blue eyes…

Her eyes shot open. That voice…she hadn't been dreaming…he had called out her name…yes…Valadhiel! The indescribable feeling of remembering one's own name! She caught her breath as a tear streaked down her cheek. Oh, Valar! And the sound of his voice calling her on the battlefield had made her feel so safe and loved…yet, who was he? For what frustrated her most now was that she could not remember anything else. Just her name.

But she wasn't giving up! Determined, she wiped away the tears with the back of her hand and started to observe her magnificent surroundings. For glorious they truly were. The ceiling was of a dark blue hue and decorated with gems to begin with, giving the illusion of a star-studded sky. She loved it immediately and it brought a smile to her lips.

All the pieces of furniture in this room were made of wood and intricately embellished with the most exquisite designs of branches and leaves. She had never seen anything so perfect and beautiful…wait…perhaps she had and she didn't remember! This thought made her grin and all the more resolute to try and recall her elusive memories. Her hands made circling motions on the silken sheets she was resting on. She closed her eyes, her mind wandering…lovely to touch…fit for a queen…

"My Queen…you're awake!" the soft voice came forth from a very surprised elleth who had appeared suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, and was standing at one of the two doors that led out of the chamber.

Valadhiel felt a mixture of emotions going through her. First she was startled as if she had just been caught sneaking and spying at someone else's belongings. This feeling quickly turned to annoyance as she hadn't felt nor heard this young elleth approach. Maybe her senses are still a bit numb after what she's been through? And finally shocked…

"What did you just call me?" Her voice was authoritative, questioning. Did this elleth just call her 'queen'? Valadhiel sat slowly upright and beckoned her to come closer to the bed for she seemed rooted to the spot. But Valadhiel's movements seemed to snap her out of her astonishment and let the healer in her take over.

She rushed towards the bed. "No, please my Lady, no sudden movements…how are you feeling? Here…have a sip of water and let me call Lord Faeron…he wanted to be sent for as soon as you woke up!" It is safe to say that she said all this in one breath, eyes never leaving Valadhiel's, revealing feelings of utter astonishment and wonder.

Valadhiel politely accepted the glass of water handed over to her, trying to keep back a smile as the elleth stared at her wide-eyed and positively awestruck.

"Did you just call me 'queen'?" she said softly.

"Yes, my Queen, I did."

"So, am I Queen of…this place? Where am I?" she continued calmly.

The elleth looked considerably confused at this question. "My Lady, as much as I would like to answer your questions, I think it would be better if I follow my orders and send for Lord Faeron first." Bowing slightly, she started moving towards the door.

"Wait! Is Lord Faeron…the King?"

"No, my Lady. He is our head healer." She then exited the room but Valadhiel could not mistake the hint of disappointment in her voice.

Faeron rushed back to the Queen's chamber as fast as he could without attracting unnecessary attention from the elves that were already busying themselves with their respective chores at this early morning hour. Most of all he did not want the King to be alerted just yet, feeling it necessary to check on Queen Valadhiel himself before she had any visits.

But the look on Tuarwen's face as he approached her doors wasn't encouraging at all. "She looks physically well, my Lord, yet I fear her past is still clouded in darkness."

He nodded, dismissed the healer, and knocked on the door. The firm reply coming from behind the closed door startled him and shook him to his senses. He had been so busy tending to the Queen since her arrival and through most of the night that he had unconsciously put aside the close friendship he had had with her.

Without wasting another precious moment, he went in to be welcomed by her sweet smiling face. Sitting on the bed, her face looked slightly anxious but there was no hint of recognition whatsoever. He sighed, bowed and moved closer to the bed.

"I am Lord Faeron, my Lady," he paused when he saw no reaction, "the head healer."

She bowed her head slightly. "And I am Valadhiel my Lord, although I am afraid that is all I can remember." He smiled encouragingly. Her voice was strong, determined. Some other elleth would have been crying or even close to hysteria. But not her. Well, it was no surprise…she had always been one to face adversity with her head held high.

"Do not burden yourself with that my Queen. I am quite certain that you will regain your memory sooner or later now that you are back home. But we must not force things. Tell me, do you feel anything different since the battle? I am asking you this because you have used considerable magical power before passing out."

"A slight headache…but that is all I think."

Faeron nodded but did not voice his thoughts that it could be the start of a snowball effect resulting in her regaining her memory. He asked permission for him to examine her and change the few bandages from around her neck where the orc had held her.

He was so intent in his job that he did not notice Valadhiel's close scrutiny but her next words surprised him, making him look up hopefully from what he was doing.

"I know you…you are very familiar…but I cannot really remember…yet I have this strange feeling that we have met before." She waited expectantly for an answer.

"You are right. We did." He smiled, undeniably happy. "We grew up together. Val, I am your cousin!"

Following Hamar along this labyrinth of passageways, corridors, rooms and bridges that made up the magnificent Woodland Palace, proved to be not a good idea after all. The four rangers, along with Bard and Gandalf, had been invited to Mirkwood by the Elvenking himself. Arahad was aware that he wanted to ask them questions and know all the details concerning the discovery of the Queen.

Bard, on the other hand, knew that King Thranduil was urgent to discuss military affairs with him after the strange happenings that they had witnessed at the fishing village. It was vital for them to be well prepared for the evil that might arise. Mirkwood, Dale and Erebor must set up their defences taking into consideration this unusual turn of events. Bard realised that after his audience with the King, he would have to report everything back to King Dain.

So, after being served a scrumptious breakfast (very much to Odell's liking, one must say), the elf on duty announced that they had to follow him to the council room. Bard and Gandalf had already left some time before; but Arahad was not that ready to oblige. Although the talk with his friend Bard had made him see sense, up to a certain extent, he felt that uncontrollable need to check on Star. Thus, after politely thanking the elf in question, and reassuring him that they knew their way to the council room, they set off in the opposite direction.

Their faith in Hamar of knowing the right way was soon lost after the second or third wrong turning he took. They never found the Queen's chambers yet they managed to walk past the armoury, the Throne Room (impressive!), the Great Hall, the kitchens, the gardens and even saw the passageways which they bet would have led down to the wine cellars and finally the dungeons.

Although lost and completely disoriented, they were left in awe and under the spell of their magical surroundings. It was amazing how all of this was found inside a mountain. Instead of being dull and gloomy, everything was made brighter by the myriad of torches found everywhere and holes in the high ceilings which let the light in to be subsequently reflected by huge gems scattered above. The effect was mesmerizing. The Elvenking's Halls were indeed a sight to behold!

They finally found a passageway which took them up to the higher levels. The staircases became wider and the designs on the doors and the stone pillars were more elaborate, an obvious sign that they were nearing the royal quarters.

It was at this point that Arahad felt it…this sudden uneasy feeling which was very difficult to explain. It sent a shiver down his spine and made the hair at the back of his neck stand on end. It was familiar to him, not the first time he had sensed something of the sort. A negative energy, to put in simple terms, usually surrounding a person…someone who was in the vicinity.

Alert, he could only see a couple of elves busy with their daily chores who seemed far from threatening. Then, just as they turned round a corner, he was surprised to come face to face with Legolas.

The Prince looked surprised and clearly annoyed. He had been looking for them for quite some time now. "Where have you been?" he asked in irritation. "You were sent for to come to the council room quite some time ago. The King is waiting for you."

"Yeah! Well…we got lost!" replied Hamar, which was not exactly a lie.

But Arahad was not ready to give up yet. "And we wanted to see how Star is. Could you direct us to her chamber?"

"That is impossible! She is still sleeping and Lord Faeron hasn't allowed anybody inside her room," Legolas replied firmly and then continued in a much softer tone, "Not even my father."

"No hard feelings if we insist my Lord Legolas," put in Tor, "but you must understand that we are concerned and we just want to visit a friend."

With these words Legolas looked at them squarely in the eyes. "In that case you should realise that as for myself, I cannot wait to see my mother…yet I still follow the orders given and I am asking you to respect them as well!"

Arahad had expected him to be angry when he got to know their real intentions for arriving late to the meeting. Legolas' words on the other hand, were spoken with both kindness and sincerity. The ranger could not help but notice the underlying tone of sadness as well.

That one word had made him realise that he was not speaking to just another elf. Great Heavens! This was her son, her own flesh and blood! And it was this thought that made him see Legolas in a completely different light. It was because of this that he gave up his mission for now and nodded to the Prince in agreement.

Satisfied that they had understood the delicate situation, Legolas beckoned them to follow him. He stopped in front of the great double doors that led to the council room; but just as he was about to go in, he was stopped by Arahad.

"I know this may sound strange but do you recall seeing anybody else walking along the corridor just before we met you?"

Legolas raised an eyebrow at this question. "Just a couple of guards. Still I was not really paying attention as I had some important matters to discuss with one of the King's advisers."

And with those words Prince Legolas entered the room followed by Hamar, Tor and Odell, leaving Arahad deep in thought outside.