The day began bright and clear as I walked through the woods, feeling the early morning sunlight on my face as it filtered through the trees. It had been a week since the accident, and I had tried my best to avoid Glorfindel and Elrond ever since, going so far as to climb trees to escape their detection. I didn't know how to go about the awkward conversation I knew would follow, so I kept to myself, hoping they would stop trying to seek me out. I had already packed a bag of clothes in case I needed them, and was fiddling with the straps as I bent down at the edge of a creek. The water was cleaner than any of the rivers back home, and tasted sweet as I brought it to my mouth. Through the distorted puddle in my palms, I saw someone else's golden hair and silver eyes staring back at me, her face free of the blemishes and freckles that I had grown to love. Her mouth tilted downward as I frowned, her features blurring as tears gathered at the edges of her eyes. Shaking my head, I let the water flow freely from my fingers, the woman's reflection disappearing as its remnants floated down the stream.

"There you are."

I sighed, staring into the creek as Elrond came to sit next to me, turning his gaze to my backpack nestled between my shoulders.

"Leaving so soon?" he asked, though his voice was soft. I refused to look at him, choosing to stare at the frogs jumping in and out of the waves. From the corner of my eye, I saw him lean back, resting his hands against the earth.

"I…have not been forthcoming with you, as you may have expected. I-there is something I need to say to you," Elrond spoke, his voice strained, and I turned to see him avoid my questioning look, his eyes latching onto a frog slipping on a rock and falling into the creekbed.

"It was my fault that you…left. You sent me a letter, weeks before the attack, warning me that you had foreseen it and I…I did not take heed sooner. The battle came quicker than any of us thought it would, and I did not get there in time to save you. I promised Elros that I would protect you, and I broke it the night you fell alone. Had it not been for me, you would never have died, and…I apologize. I wish there was a way I could undo what has been done," Elrond said quietly, his voice a whisper on the wind as he glanced at me, and I felt something in me break at seeing his matching silver gaze meeting mine. Now that I truly looked at him, he and the woman in the water looked so much alike, from the slant of their noses to the rounded chins and soft cheekbones. They looked like-

"You're my brother, aren't you?"

Elrond's eyes widened then as his body stilled, and I looked back at both reflections in the water.

"...yes. I am. There were three of us, once; you were the oldest, and then there was Elros and I. Elros-"

"He's gone, isn't he?" I said softly, reaching over to lay my hand over his, and Elrond shut his eyes.

"...Yes. He passed a long time ago. He loved you fiercely, though. Protected you and me from all manner of beast and monster until he became King of Numenor, and then even more so. Insufferable at times, that one," Elrond laughed, and I smiled.

"I don't blame you, you know. For what happened. You couldn't have known it would happen as quickly as it did. No one has that kind of knowledge; not even us, it seems," I said, turning my eyes to the crystal blue sky, and I saw Elrond release a breath as if to speak, but I held up a hand.

"I don't know if I'll ever regain my memories again, but here's what I know: you care for your people, more so than anyone I've ever met, and from what I've seen, you would never go so far as to deliberately hurt those close to you. If I sent you that letter, it was because I knew you would come, even if it took you six months. That much about me hasn't changed, even though I have only known you for a short time; when I first met you, something in me knew I could trust you, and that feeling has never wavered since. So, I'm speaking for who I was and who I am now by saying that whatever happened is in the past. You have nothing to forgive, and I hope that one day you can believe it for yourself. If you're anything like me, you think I'm being too nice. You asked if I could forgive you, and I say there's nothing to forgive. So there," I finished, and Elrond shook his head, chuckling.

"Your stubbornness has remained ever consistent, it seems," he joked, and I rolled my eyes.

"I'm not being stubborn, I'm simply stating a fact. There is a difference."

"I happen to know someone who would disagree with that; quite vehemently, might i add," Elrond said with a sad smile, and I cocked my ehad to the side.

"And who would that be?"

The elf sighed, glancing at my pack.

"Do you know where you are headed?" he asked instead, and I narrowed my eyes, watching him shake his head as if to say, 'not now.' Standing up slowly, I adjusted the straps and looked across the creek at the forest beyond.

"I…hope it's okay for me to leave. I really have enjoyed my stay here, but I…" My voice trailed off as I saw Elrond smile, a knowing look in his eye.

"I understand. Here, for your travels," he handed me a small package, and I unwrapped the olive cloth to reveal a map and a leather-bound journal, with a set of ink and a feather quill. I grinned, holding them to my chest.

"Thank you! I've always wanted my own set! And the map will be very helpful; I wouldn't want to get snatched by a dragon," I winked, and Elrond's face blanched.

"Oh! Um, I'm guessing dragons are a thing here, then?" I asked, and he nodded.

"...my apologies. I'll, um, try my best to avoid those then. Anyways, do you have any suggestions? I don't really know where I'm going," I said, feeling dumb, and Elrond's mouth twitched upward as he unfurled the parchment and pointed to a cluster of trees across the mountains from where we were.

" The mortals have taken to calling it Mirkwood, but it used to be known by another name-"

"Eryn Galen. The greenwood," I finished for him, and when I looked up at him in surprise, he looked as though that was the most normal response in the world.

"I…how did I know that?" I asked, and I saw Elrond's eyes glimmer with something I couldn't place before he spoke again.

"Your mind is sharper than you give it credit for," was all he said as he began giving me directions, less than subtly giving me more and more items to stuff in my backpack. By now, I had an armload of food, potions, and lord knew what else as I set my bag on the ground and began setting things inside, muttering under my breath as Elrond peered around my shoulder.

"How on earth am I going to carry all of this?" I wondered aloud, batting his hands away as he tried to help.

"It's okay, I'll figure it out. This is not the first time I've packed a bag," I said sharply, groaning quietly as I shouldered my now very full backpack.

"Just making sure," Elrond said, frowning as he saw the clouds gathering above us. I followed his gaze, biting my lip.

"I should probably get going before the storm hits," I said, feeling a drop of rain hit my cheek as I looked ahead.

"Before you go, I would ask that you find the house of Beorn. He can give you shelter and counsel before your journey," Elrond said, and I smirked.

"Beorn; sounds like a name of an animal."

Elrond hummed thoughtfully, but said nothing as he stepped aside, watching me leap across the creek and tighten the straps of my pack. Turning back, I waved to him, our eyes meeting one last time before I gripped the hem of my tunic and walked deeper into the forest. As soon as I disappeared beneath the trees, another figure stepped out from the brush, leaning against the oak next to him.

"Do you think he knows?" Glorfindel asked, his voice carrying on the wind, and a smile spread across his friend's features.

"What do you think?"

….

Author's Note: Hey, look, I'm not dead! I know, it's been actual years since I updated this story, and I am so sorry for the long wait! I've had some health issues, university struggles, and writer's block has kicked me in the face lately, but I have prevailed for your sakes. I haven't given up on this story, however, and will continue to update it! I've decided to write shorter chapters until I have more time to write longer ones, and for the sake of maintaining a steady update process. I have found that writing lengthy chapters is not something I enjoy, so keeping each chapter under 5,000 words is quickly becoming one of my favorite ways to keep my ideas flowing. I appreciate all of your kind words and reviews! They truly mean the world to me. Once again, if you have any comments, questions, or anything else, please don't hesitate to PM me or leave a review! :)