A/N Again, many thanks to Celridel for taking the time to beta this chapter

One bright summer afternoon, Legolas and Estella were sitting in one of the gardens deep in conversation. The birds were busy singing their happy tunes, and a few of the gardeners were busy pruning some of the flowers. Estella was busy drawing with the new pencils and paper Legolas purchased her not too long ago. Things were looking up for Estella as she was laughing a lot more and her eyes seemed brighter.

As Estella was concentrating on some of the small details of her sketch, Legolas asked her a question he had wanted to ask her for a while now. "Estella, I have meant to ask you this for a while, but where did you learn how to draw so well?"

Estella put the pencil and paper down and a small smile formed on her lips as she answered. "I learned how to draw from my mother. I was just a little girl when she began teaching me. We would spend hours just the two of us sitting together and drawing, painting or anything that had to do with art."

Legolas smiled as he watched her remember those happy times. "Well, she taught you well, Estella. What was your mother like and what other things did you and her use to do?"

Estella was not sure if she wanted to talk about her mother really, but when she looked at Legolas, she could not help but feel like she could open up to him. "Well, my mother was breathtaking, but then all little girls think that about their mom's. She had long black hair and soft gray eyes. She was also very kind and soft spoken, but if riled up she could become your worst enemy." Estella laughed when she remembered how angry her mom could get. "She was also very strong-willed, proud and stubborn as a mule. Traits by the way I seemed to have inherited from her!"

Legolas laughed. Boy, did he love seeing her happy and smiling. He would do almost anything to keep her happy. "Yes, I would have to agree with that."

Estella raised an eye and smirked before continuing. "My mother was also morose although she tried her best to hide it. At first, she could disguise her sadness by drawing and by doing other things with me such as taking long walks up in the mountains, going out to eat, or she would read me books or make up stories, or sew and cook together. But the happiest memory I have of her is her singing to me when I was very young."

"But I take it; it did not last for very long?"

Estella frowned. "No, like I said she was very sad and while at first, she was able to hide it, as time went on it seemed to consume her more and more until there was nothing more to her than an outer shell. I would try and ask her what was wrong but she would tell me not to worry about it. I eventually found out it was about my father from hearing her cry out for him at night although I could never understand his name. I tried asking her one time about him and why he was not here, and she got angry at me and told me not to bring him up again. Well, long story short, one night I went to check on her, and when I entered to her room, she had passed on. The healers told me it was a heart attack, but as I said before, I think it was from a broken heart. Despite what she said about my father, I know she loved him and missed him greatly, and I believe my father was from this world. I mean it would make sense. She told me he was from another country but would never say what it was, and she said it was impossible to see him again, but she never told me why." When she finished despite her best efforts, a tiny tear slipped down her cheek.

Legolas gave a pained look as Estella recounted all her painful memories of her mother. He knew all too well how painful it was to think about it as he often still hurt when he thought of his mother. Legolas wiped the tear away from her cheek. "I am sorry, Estella. I did not mean to bring up such a painful topic."

"It is all right Legolas, I do not mind talking about it to you, but can I ask you if you think my father is from this world?" Estella hoped for some strange reason he was, and she could find him. She had so many questions she wanted to ask him.

Legolas sighed and straightened his back as he thought about this. He often wondered the same thing and asked his father on more than one occasion, and although they were not sure if he was still on these shores, they were certain he had been at one time. It was the only thing which seemed to make sense as to why she would be brought here. That and the necklace she had shown them a while back of her mother's. Only a jewel like that could only have been created here in Middle-earth.

"Yes, Estella, I do believe your father was from this world. That necklace of yours, for one thing, gives it away. The craftsmanship of it is of our people, and if what you say is true and it was a gift to your mother from your father then, yes, he is from here, however, I cannot say for sure whether he is still on these shores. It is possible after your mother vanished from this world, your father took ship and sailed overseas. More than likely though he is still here as that is the only thing which would make sense as to why the Valar brought you back here. But, I promise you I will do everything I can to help you find him or at least what happened to him."

Estella took Legolas by the hand and squeezed it. "Thank you, Legolas. For everything. Now enough about my mother and me, what about yours? And if it is too painful to talk about you do not have to."

If it had of been anyone else he would have changed the subject or told them to mind their tongue, but since it was Estella, he felt at ease talking to her about it. Besides, she just spilled everything to him about her mother, so it seemed only fair he returned the favor. "Well, what do you want to know?"

"What was she like and where is she now?" Estella answered, giving Legolas her full attention.

Legolas shifted his position and plucked a piece of grass as he thought about his mom. "Well, my mother was the light of my father's eye and the heart of this kingdom. She was lovely. Adar says I get most of my looks from her. She was also very graceful and kind. She was the only one who could keep my father's temper in check and make him laugh. Often, she would mingle with the other Elves, especially the children."

"Were you close to her?" Estella asked, feeling pain in her heart as Legolas spoke about her. She could tell this was very hard for him and she wanted to comfort him as he had her.

"Yes, believe it or not, I was closer to her than I was my father. My mother would take me out for walks as well in the forest while it was still safe to do so. She would sing me to sleep or comfort me when I had a nightmare. She even made wooden swords, and we would have pretend fights." Legolas laughed when he remembered those fights.

"What happened to her?"

Legolas looked down and closed his eyes. "She died when I was still very young. She was coming back from visiting family from a neighboring realm, and Orcs ambushed her escort. The guards were able to kill them, but she received a fatal injury, and by the time they brought her back here, there was nothing the healers could do. After she died my father became colder and bitter, and now he does not even laugh. Anything that reminds him of her breaks his heart, and sometimes I wonder if that includes me."

Estella did not know what to say. She just looked at Legolas, and before she realized what she was doing, she took him into her arms and held him. "Oh, Legolas, I am so sorry. I do not even know what to say."

Legolas stayed in Estella's embrace for several minutes before they pulled apart. "How did you ever heal from that?"

"I took up archery and learning how to fight when I was old enough to learn. Before that, I did not do much at all. I tried talking to my father, but he was too caught up in his grief to know how to help me. I became close to Haerelion and a few other of my father's staff until my father was able to deal with me finally. He is a lot better now than he was but he still has not fully recovered from it. I know my father loves me, and he would do anything to protect me, but sometimes I wonder if I cause him pain whenever he looks at me and is reminded of her."

"Oh Legolas, I cannot even imagine what that must be like. Have you ever tried talking to him and telling him how you feel?"

Legolas scoffed. "I doubt he would understand. Maybe one day I will have enough courage to ask him but right now, no."

"Legolas, I can tell by looking at your father the way he looks at you, he loves you with all of his heart. He may not know how to show it but he does, and I am sure if he was aware that this is how you felt, it would hurt him, and he would want to change that. Yes, I am certain you do remind him of your mother, but I do not think it causes him pain, and if it does, I do not think he even realizes it. I would talk to him and tell him how you feel, but only when you feel ready to. Until then, know I am here to help you or talk to you whenever you need me."

"Thank you, Estella. I am glad I can talk to someone about this, and it is someone who understands what it is like to lose a loved one."

"You are welcome Legolas, and I am glad I can help you just as you have helped me."

For the rest of the afternoon, the two of them sat in the garden talking about their mother's while Estella continued to sketch. By the end of the evening, the two of them had developed a new heartfelt respect for one another.