Legolas' POV

I remember everything now.
They tried to keep me from finding out that I had been captured, what they didn't know is that I never forgot.

How can I ever go back to the life I lived before? I can never be the same being I once was.

I have been scarred for life, and I will never heal.

Sauron will find me, he already knows where I am. I will spend my days hiding and running from his servants.

He wants to bind me in the darkness, to take my light and destroy it.

I am hanging onto my own sanity by a thread.

And I fear that I do not have the strength to hold on....

»»»»

Legolas walked between Inwë and Thalion through the halls of the palace. Though he still didn't trust Thalion, he allowed him to come near as long as Inwë was there.

They hadn't mentioned his last outburst and neither Thalion or Inwë blamed him for it.

The two of them had decided to let Legolas roam about his home, with Elrond's permission, with hope that he would recognize something that would trigger a memory.

Little did they know that he already remembered everything about his home, and without knowing why, Legolas pretended that he didn't.

"Surely you remember something about this room Legolas."
Inwë asked leading him into the library.
"I don't."
Legolas said, even though he could pick out several books he had read during his spare time.

"Nothing at all?"
Inwë's face fell. They had been making such good progress!
"I am sorry, but I cannot remember."
Legolas knew he should have felt bad about lying to her.

He liked Inwë, and he trusted her, but he did not want to tell her that he had his memory back.

Because you are afraid, you know that they will ask you about your captivity, and you cannot tell them...

"Does that sound good Legolas?"
Thalion's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
"What did you say?"
"I asked you if you wanted to see ada. Neither of you have seen each other since you awoke."

Legolas didn't want to see his father. He knew why he didn't want to, but how could he explain that to them without them knowing the truth?

"I will meet him."
Legolas waited for one of them to take the lead.
As he followed them towards his father's throne room, Legolas' mind went back to the last time he saw his father.

He had struck him, caused the first of many wounds that now covered him. He had been the one to drive him away, into the forest.

Where the orcs had been waiting for him, to take him to Mordor and to Sauron.

It was his fault....

"Las? We are here."
Legolas shook his head and looked at Thalion.
His brother's eyes searched his, looking for any sign of recognition, but Legolas still only saw him as a stranger.

I know he is my brother, but I do not feel the same bond we used to share, and I doubt that I will ever feel it again.

"I will go tell your father that we are coming."
Inwë turned to go ahead of them but Legolas grabbed her arm, he donned his fearful expression and pleaded for her to stay with his eyes.

She sighed and Thalion nodded in understanding.
"I will tell him."
Thalion entered the doors that led into his father's throne room while Legolas stood with Inwë.

He didn't know why the thought came to him all of a sudden, but before Legolas could think he said aloud,

"You are in love with Thalion."
Inwë looked at him in surprise.
"You remember that?"
Legolas nodded.
"You told me that you wanted to marry him."

Inwë smiled and Legolas noticed her fiddling with something in her fingers.
"What is that?"
Inwë turned to him and her eyes brightened.
"A ring, Thalion asked me to marry him."

Legolas would have smiled, laughed, and have hunted Thalion down to congratulate him on finally asking Inwë to marry him.

But nothing stirred in him, he felt nothing at the news. All he felt was emptyness.

"When is your wedding?"
Legolas asked, it wasn't an unusual question for one with no memory to ask. Inwë was used to him asking all kinds of questions in order to help his memory.

"We have not planned a day yet."
Her voice became saddened and Legolas felt the slightest pang of guilt set in.
They could have been married, if it hadn't been for him.

Thalion returned and gestured for them to enter.
Legolas was nervous at seeing his father again, had he even grieved for him? Was he releaved that his son was safe?

Thranduil was the exact same as Legolas remembered him. Tall, proud, and cold. In that moment as he looked into the eyes of his father, all he could remember was what he had done to him.

Legolas had never felt this much rage before, and he unleashed it all in one glare at his father.

Thranduil's eyes widened in a mixture of fear, grief, and shock. He had been told that Legolas didn't remember anything about his past, but it took only one glare from Legolas to reveal that he did indeed remember something.

There was so much hatred, so much fury, and it all passed in a matter of seconds. Before Thalion or Inwë could notice Legolas resumed his usual confused and innocent look.

"Do you remember anything about your father Legolas?"
Inwë asked hopefully.
"I remember something, but it is not clear."

He said it in the most puzzled and tired way he could, and it convinced both Inwë and Thalion that he truly couldn't remember.

"It will come back to you eventually Las."
Thalion said offering his brother a reassuring smile.
Thranduil however, was stunned into silence.

He knew that Legolas remembered, that he was lying.
What he didn't know was why he was doing it.

"I am tired, I want to return to my room."
Legolas announced to them.
Inwë nodded and she took his hand and led him back to his room.

Thalion gave his father a reassuring look.
"He will remember us someday adar. He just needs some time."
Thranduil said nothing as he tried to comprehend what was happening.

"Just be careful around him Thalion, he is not himself."
Thalion nodded and left his father to catch up with Inwë and Legolas.

Thranduil left to find Elrond, and to tell him about Legolas' odd behavior.

Meanwhile, Thalion had caught up with them just before they entered Legolas' room.

"Are you sure you don't want the drink Legolas? It will help you sleep."
"I will be fine."
When he noticed Thalion approaching he studied him for a moment, and then turned to Inwë.

"You should have your wedding now, there is no need to wait until I am better."

While they gaped Legolas entered his room and closed the door behind him. Thalion turned to Inwë and waited for an explanation.

"He remembered that we were in love."
She told him simply.
"Perhaps we should get married now Inwë, we have put it off for far too long."
Thalion took her hand and waited for her reply.

"Are you sure Thalion? What about Legolas?"
"Maybe it will help him remember, Elrond said that certain things could trigger his memory. After all, he remembered that we are in
love."

Inwë smiled and allowed Thalion to pull her into his arms.
"Then it's settled then."
She could barely contain her excitement as she said the words,
"We're finally getting married."

»»»»

The preparations had been made and the entire kingdom of Mirkwood was in excitement.

Thalion and Inwë were to be wed, and everyone couldn't wait for the wedding.

The day had finally come, everyone gathered outside for the wedding, it was late summer and the forest was green and filled with the song of hundreds of birds.

Thalion stood nervously at the front of the crowd of elves, waiting for Inwë to arrive.
She walked slowly down the flower laid path, her silver dress glowed in the sunlight, her flowed freely down her back.

She was beautiful, and Thalion loved her more than anything.
Thalion took her hands into his at the front of the assembled elves.

Thranduil stood in front of everyone and spoke his blessing over them, wishing them happiness and announcing that their hearts were now bound together for eternity.

Nothing could break the bond they shared, not even death would seperate them.

Once he finished, Thalion pulled Inwë into his arms, kissed her passionately on the lips.

There was a chorus of cheers and clapping from the elves, and the celebration was only beginning.

The wedding was followed by a feast that would last long into the night. There was eating, drinking, singing, and dancing.

The elves of Mirkwood hadn't had a reason to celebrate since the begining of the second age.

Thalion and Inwë danced together long into the night, neither of them could think of anything else in that moment.

Their only thoughts concerned each other, and the love that they would now share forever.

During the celebration no one noticed a quiet Legolas slip away, and disappear into the forest.