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"We cannot say how much longer it shall be safe in the hobbit's keeping. We must keep the creature contained," spoke Aragorn. "If Sauron's spies have followed us, which I am certain they have, then they realize he would lead them right to it. The Gollum has already as good as told them where to look."

"Then what point is there in keeping him here?" asked Thranduil.

"Bad enough hiding it from the wraiths
... must the hobbit then deal with this creature as well?"

Thranduil said nothing, only contemplated Aragorn's warnings.

The Ranger had been with us a week's time,  and needed every moment of it to recover from his journey here.

We sat in the courtyard and enjoyed a meal together, though Aragorn did not drink much wine, I noticed,  and preferred plain water. I supposed this came with a Ranger's instinct to keep his wits sharp always.

"Have the mortals the defenses to fight Sauron if it comes to this?" I asked.

Aragorn looked on gravely. "My Lady, I fear they do not. And so I pray it does not."

"Indeed," said T by Thranduil.

"And what would..."
I trailed off when I saw Feren approaching us in rather a rush. 

"My Lord, the Prince arrives," he said. "I... thought I should tell you at once because..."

"Legolas," I barely spoke.

The king stood up, and so did I, and no sooner had we done so when an elf emerged from the dimness of the Western passage and into the sun of the courtyard.

He was most handsome--a beautiful elf, golden haired and blue eyed, as his father. And he paused only a moment before coming to us.

"Father," he said, nodding and gesturing in Elven greeting. "Aragorn..."

"Mae govannen, Legolas," Aragorn said. At first it took me off guard to hear the Ranger call a prince by his name, but I gathered, from the warm smile shared between them, that their friendship was a familiar one. 

"And...are you our Lorien Healer?" The prince addressed me. "I had heard of your coming, My Lady," he said, smiling kindly.

"I'm..." I swallowed, lost for words and overcome by emotion. Every impulse wanted me to throw my arms about him and hold him tightly. But of course I could not. Not yet. This would be very odd for him indeed. So instead, I said, "I am. And I am so, so very pleased to see you."

At this, Thranduil took my hand. "Aragorn...I wonder if Laewyn and I might have a word with my son."

Aragorn nodded. "Of course, My Lord," he said, then left us at once.

The king's hand in mine did not escape his son's notice.

I felt at once nervous and self conscious, and went to withdraw my hand from his, but Thranduil held it firm and deliberately. 

"Legolas. Sit...please," he said.

The prince pulled out a chair, a questioning look upon his face, and sat as his father had asked.

Then Thranduil gestured for me to do the same, and we both took a seat with the prince.

"Legolas, there have been some changes at the palace since last you were here," Thranduil said. "For one, yes, we have a Healer. Lady Leowyn came to teach us how to use this gift and has done so miraculously well. But... there was more fated for her return than this."

The prince tilted his head subtly, an acutely observant eye about him, even for an elf. "What has happened?"

"I must ask that you hear with an open heart, for this is most important to me...to all of us." It was rare to see Thranduil genuinely trepidatious...but he was now.

"You have my ear. I will listen fairly."

Thranduil nodded, then began. "Some 1800 years ago, your mother's spirit arrived in the Halls of Mandos. And, as it was, and in keeping with her strong will, she left them just as quickly... in her desire to return to me. To return to us."

I watched the prince's face for any sign of comprehension... but he remained curious and observant, waiting.

"She lived hence another life in Lorien. But found her way to us again."

At this, Legolas' eyes changed, growing intent and then soft with emotion. He looked at me questioning, but did not speak.

"Legolas," I said, at last, my voice breaking.

"You are her," he said. "Are you her?"

I nodded. "Yes. I am her...and I am sorry ever the fates took me from you," I said, my voice wavering, then I dared reach across the table to place a hand upon his, uncertain of how he would respond. After all...his mother's spirit dwelled in a body no older than himself.

He did not flinch, nor move to pull away, only sat and lowered his eyes in thought. I squeezed his hand once, then released it. I did not wish to overwhelm him.

Then he looked at me, and said in a wondering way, "Do you remember me?"

My eyes welled at once. "Yes. Of course. My son, I remember you now. The little one who hid in my arms from loud noises...who studied so intently the blades of grass and the leaves of the trees. My spirit has never stopped loving you. Not even for one moment. Not once, Legolas. Please... forgive me for going away."

His eyes shone. "You did not leave us... you were stolen from us," he started. "There is nothing to forgive." Then he reached for my hand and took it. His grasp was tentative, a small gesture, but it was a start.

I smiled at him cautiously, and he returned it, and in that instant I swore there was the smallest knowing. Though, perhaps,  it was only wishful thinking.

Thranduil interrupted it, however. "There has been much to discuss while you were away, Legolas," said the king. "There is one more bit of news I must tell you, though I know that what has just passed is enough to digest. Still... it cannot be avoided and I would rather you learn it from me first."

"What is it?"

Thranduil hesitated, once again uncharacteristically uncomfortable, then he said, "Tauriel is to be married."

At this, Legolas's expression went from interest to something else entirely.

He was quiet, even somber. Then he said, "Who?"

"Feren."

Legolas seemed surprised by this. "I was unaware they had an affection."

"Yes. She was nearly killed in the Mirkwood. Laewyn saved her," Thranduil said, looking at me proudly. "But...the circumstance brought them closer together, I think. And it is for the best. They are a good match."

It should have seemed an odd thing, that the king and Legolas would discuss the matter with such gravity, but I could feel the meaning behind the heaviness. It seemed my son had a history with the Captain of the Guard, a consideration for which Thranduil was showing tact, and this pleased me.

"I am..." began Legolas, his face unreadable, "I am happy for her. I wish her peace. I know that she suffered greatly after..."

I waited for him to continue but he did not. I very much wanted to know what had happened to Tauriel, but was uncertain how to ask.

Seeming to read the concern upon my face,  Thranduil said, "She loved a dwarf once, of all things. But he was killed at the Misty Mountains. She barely survived it."

"I see." I was shocked at this, for Tauriel had never mentioned her previous love. Perhaps she could not. Perhaps it was the only way to be free of her grief.

I could understand this. Had Thranduil never come for me, and had I returned to Lorien, I did not know if my spirit would have lasted long without him. And if it had...I could not have born to speak his name.

"The wedding feast is in week's time, " Thranduil said. "Will you stay for it?"

Legolas nodded. "Of course."

He was an honorable elf. I could tell that much even from the little interaction I'd had with him. And his bearing was quite different from that of Thranduil. Legolas was quieter, more contemplative. He seemed to lack his father's edge of arrogance. Though Thranduil was considerably older, my son appeared to dwell more in his head, possess a quiet wisdom. I wondered if he was, himself, a very old soul in a younger Elven form.

"We are to travel to the port city for supplies," I said. "Will you come?" I asked Legolas.

"Yes.  I will come."

I smiled at this. I so wanted a chance to speak with him further, to get to know the elf he had become, but not wishing to push him, I knew it best to let things unravel slowly, in a natural way. After all, what had we, as elves, if not time?

"We have a prisoner in our dungeons now," replied Thranduil to Legolas.

"Is it the creature that Aragorn captured? Yes,  I heard of it. I knew he traveled here. I am glad to see he met with success."

"Indeed. But it is now, apparently, our problem to contend with, thanks to Mithrandier, and I am told he is prone to escape."

"Then we must be vigilant with our guards."

"Yes. Keep the wine from them," Thranduil said, narrowing his eyes.

"Do the elves often drink while guarding the dungeons?" I asked.

"No, no, Meleth," said Thranduil. "But there was a rather unfortunate incident with some escaped dwarves once. Since then wine is forbidden while the guards are on duty."

"I see."

"I should like to look at this creature in our dungeons myself," said Legolas.

Thranduil waved his hand. "By all means. Heaven knows I've no desire to lay eyes upon it again."

"Well, I have questions for it, if I can get some answers," said Legolas.

"Very well," said the king.

So Legolas took his leave for the dungeons, and, as we were alone now, Thranduil turned to me. "Well, My Queen...what say you of our son?"

"He is beautiful. And I only hope he is all right...with all this."

"He will be. I can see in his eyes that he was pleased, though it will take take to adjust."

"I know it will. And Thranduil, he has such kindness in his eyes.  He seems gentle and humble."

"He is. Apart from his beauty, I do not know what I did wrong..."

"Thranduil..."

He smirked. Then he leaned over and brushed his lips to mine, kissing me softly, then more deeply...then deeper still, and he wrapped his arms entirely around me.

He tasted of mint leaves, as we had picked some earlier, and this combined with his usual smell... of cinnamon and spices and wood...clouded my senses.

I pulled back to whisper, "You know, My King, you are delicious, and I shall never tire of your kiss."

He grinned and said, "Then have some more of it," and he kissed me again.

I lifted a hand and brushed my finger across his lower lip even as he kissed me, for I wished to feel it, and the softness of him. And when he noticed my thumb there, he kissed it gently, too, then took its tip between his teeth, rolling his tongue fully around it.

I bit my lip, shivering with the way his action had heated my skin.

The king released my finger from his mouth and said, "Laewyn. It has been one very long day since last I had you. This is not to be born."

Swallowing, I nodded. "Yes....I mean no. I mean..."

He laughed quietly, standing to pull me up with him. "Then we will  not waste another minute."

"Yes, but...Aragorn...and--"

"No, no no...I am the king, and you are my queen. I want you as fiercely as fire needs air, and I have centuries of longing to make up for. If I was surrounded by orcs, I would behead them all in one swipe just to get to you more quickly. Certainly one little mortal Ranger in my palace will not stop me."

"Well." Without a doubt, I knew it would not. "Then...lead the way, My Love."