I stare at Legolas who currently has his eyes locked on my sister. What is wrong with him? And why did he just call her, whatever it was he just called her? 
He takes a step forward, causing Anna to shift closer to me. I put my arm around her protectively. It's not that I actually believe that Legolas would hurt her, but she's afraid and just as confused as I am. Everyone else is watching in silence; Darovel is watching me with Anna, Pallando is shuffling his feet, Faervel is staring at Legolas. 

"Tauriel it's me, Legolas." He almost sounds pleading, as if he's begging for something. But what is it and why does he keep calling her Tauriel? 
"I-I'm sorry." Anna pressed even closer to me, squeezing my arm. "My name isn't Tauriel, it's Anna. And I don't know you..."
"What do you mean? How can you not know me?" His voice rises and anger flashes in his eyes causing Anna to flinch. I push her behind me and stand between them, my eyes burning into his.
"Legolas, you need to back away from her now."

Legolas blinks once and the anger immediately subsides, and that's when I see the tears. I've never seen Legolas cry before, and it is shocking, to say the least. He looks over my shoulder and I know he's looking at Anna again. He looks so lost, another thing I've never seen before. Anna is avoiding his gaze, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor. Legolas shudders once, then he runs. 

"Legolas!" I start to go after him when Faervel steps in, grabbing my arm with his hand.
"Leave him be Amarth," His cold tone sends shivers up my spine. One look at his cobalt eyes tells me that I'd better listen to him, or else. 
Sighing in defeat I pull my arm out of his grasp and turn my back on the direction Legolas fled. What has gotten into him? 
"Caran," Anna whispers, "who was that elf?" 
"An old acquaintance of mine," I mutter.
"Why did he act as if he knew me? I've never seen him before."
"Maybe he just confused you with this Tauriel person he kept mentioning. We elves tend to look alike." I shrug my shoulders in an attempt to lighten the mood, but Anna still looks skittish.

I still have yet to understand what my little sister is doing here. According to Pallando, he found her alone while on his way here. After convincing her that he was a friend and wouldn't harm her, she had agreed to travel with him. She hardly said a word to him as they traveled, he hadn't been able to even get a name out of her. It had been a complete shock to him when I recognized her, even though she didn't recognize me right away.

I have changed since the last time I saw her, my red hair is completely gone, and the years have been long and cruel. We elves don't age outwardly, but you can usually spot an older elf if you pay close attention to their eyes. The older the elf the more pain and weariness is in their eyes. My eyes are very old...
Once Anna realized that it was me, she ran straight into my arms. I had dreamed so many times about holding my little sister again. When it happened I thought that I was dreaming, that I would wake up and find that she was gone.

But this is no dream. My sister is here, alive. I don't care how it happened, and I'm not even going to ask. All that matters is that I have Anna back, and this time I won't lose her. 
"Amarth, don't you think you should let your sister rest?" Pallando suggests. "We are both tired from our journey, you can visit with her all you like tomorrow." 
I know that he's right, but I don't want to leave her just yet. 
"I am a bit tired Caran," Anna admits, smiling slightly. "I promise that we can talk in the morning. I will be here when the sun rises." 
I allow myself a slight grin as well. "Alright, we should let you get your rest, princess." 

She laughs softly at her old nickname, but it's not her normal laugh, it's too quiet. Just like her smile, it doesn't reach her eyes.
"Come, I will show you both to your rooms." Faervel gestures for her and Pallando to follow him. Turning to me and Darovel he adds, "The two of you should get some rest as well. We have a big day tomorrow. You will finally be getting those answers you've been asking for."

This immediately catches my attention. I have been waiting ages for answers! There are so many questions I have that need answering, but will I like the answers I get? 
"Goodnight Caran," Anna calls out softly. 
"Sleep well Anna." 
We keep our eyes locked until she disappears around a corner. I hear Darovel's uneven footsteps approaching, the sound making me flinch.
"You never told me that you had a sister." He says. The surprise in his voice is evident.
"I tend to keep my personal matters to myself." I snap.
"Where has she been all this time?" Clearly, this man doesn't know when to stop asking questions.
"I don't know. She was supposed to be in Mirkwood but-"

Wait...
I left Anna in Mirkwood. 
After she was nearly killed, I brought her there to live with the wood elves, I took away all of her memories of me, and I gave her a new name.
Our mother's name...

Tauriel.

And Legolas, he lived in Mirkwood, he was its prince! I remember his face when he saw Anna, how quickly his eyes had lit up. He called her Tauriel, he knew her. 
I don't care what Faervel says, there are some answers that I need right now. I will not wait for them. 

/\\//\\/

I throw the door to Legolas' room open. He stands up from where he had been sitting on his bed, narrowing his eyes at me. 
"What do you want Amarth?" 
"Why did you run off?" I closed the door behind me. Legolas glances towards it briefly before turning back to me. 
"I do not feel comfortable with discussing this right now."
"I don't care what you're feeling," I growl stepping towards him, "you are going to tell me the truth even if I have to beat it out of you!" 

I throw my fist at him, planning to strike that perfect face of his when his hand shoots out and catches my wrist. Our eyes lock. Blue eyes burning in both challenge and anger. Legolas lowers my hand while keeping a firm grip on my wrist. 
"I will not be forced to do anything," he tightens his grip, "especially by you."
I wrench myself out of his grasp and push him back. He makes no other move to attack but I'm not going to let my guard down. I know first hand what this elf can do when provoked, and the last thing I need is to start a fight with him. 

"There's just one thing I want to know," I say keeping my tone calm. "Who is Tauriel?"
The anger fades from Legolas' eyes, though not completely. 
"It's none of your concern." He mutters looking away from me.
"Actually, it is. You called my sister Tauriel, you act as though you've known her, and when she said that she didn't know who you were you ran away. I think an explanation is necessary at this point."

Legolas closes his eyes and I can his fingers grasping at something, yet there is nothing for him to be reaching for. 
"I could have been mistaken Amarth." He says with his eyes still closed. 
"I considered that. However, I'd like to know the whole truth. My sister was slightly disturbed by your actions, to say the least. It would ease her mind to know the reasons behind your little outburst."

Legolas opens his eyes, keeping them on the floor.
"Tauriel was a healer in Mirkwood," he begins, "I met her shortly after I'd returned home from Rivendell. I found her out in the forest once, training alone at night with a pair of knives. I don't know why, but I decided to train her myself and teach her how to fight. It became a regular thing for us, meeting in a clearing at night to train. After that we spent nearly every spare moment together. She became my closest friend, we never far from each other's side."

While he talks I take time to process what he's saying. This Tauriel that he knew had been a healer. As far as I know, Anna never had a desire to be a healer, although it was something I could see her doing, she always loved to help others. But learning how to fight? That wasn't her, she hated violence, I can't imagine Anna wielding any kind of weapon. 

"She wasn't from Mirkwood," he continues, "though everyone called her a Silvan, there was something else in her that I could never name. I knew that she wasn't from Mirkwood, and even she knew it, but she had no memory of her life before coming to live there."

A prickle of unease creeps into my fingers, causing them to twitch. I hide my hands behind my back and try to keep up my nonchalant demeanor. 
"What do you mean?"
Legolas sits down on the bed, his head turning towards the doors that lead out onto the balcony. "Tauriel was found in the forest by a patrol, beaten and nearly dead. She remembered orcs attacking but that is it. She couldn't recall her family or how she came to be in the forest, my father took her in and allowed her to live in the palace where she eventually became a healer."

I remember the night I left Anna in Mirkwood. I remember the blood that covered her body, I remember taking her memories away, then watching as the wood elves carried her away. Could this Tauriel really be Anna? It all makes too much sense, but there is one thing missing, the one thing that will solve this whole riddle.

"What happened to Tauriel?" 
Something changes instantly in Legolas. His entire body goes rigid, the color fades from his eyes as he stares ahead, lost in another place, another time. In a voice that I can barely hear he whispers, "She died..."

He lowers his head, his skin is turning pale, his eyes are almost grey.
"It was my fault, I left her side for a single moment, she called out to me, begging for help. When I reached her I tried to save her, but then I was attacked. She gave her life to save mine. It shouldn't have happened that way. I should have been the one to die, not her. It should have been me, not her..."

He keeps mumbling those words, over and over again.
It should have been me, not her.
I watch him in silence, scared of what I'm seeing. Legolas is fading before my eyes, his words becoming louder and more strained. Dark circles form around his eyes, he starts to shake uncontrollably, his hands search for something to latch onto.

"Legolas?" I'm torn between running to him, or away from him. 
"It should have been me. They wanted me. Why did they want me? What did I have that they wanted?" He stands up and for one moment he is silent. That's when I see it, the amulet hanging around his neck. The stone is glowing. Suddenly he screams, arching his back as if he's been struck before falling onto the floor. 
"Legolas!" I run to his side as he curls in on himself, his hands are clasped on the sides of his head, tearing at his hair. 
"No! Please!" He pulls away from me, trying to stand and run only to keep falling onto his knees. It's almost as if someone has put a chain on him, yanking it back to keep him from escaping.

"Legolas stop! I'm not trying to hurt you!"
He doesn't listen and screams again, his back arching. He looks up at the ceiling, his eyes locked on something that I can't see. That's when I finally see his eyes, they're completely clouded over. He screams again, not in terror but in pain. He covers his head with his arms, his body flinching every time he cries out.

I know what's wrong with him now, he's in one of his memories. And from what I'm seeing, I can guess what it is. Without thinking I grab him and pull him against me, he doesn't even know I'm here. He screams again and arches, but I manage to keep a hold on him. 
"No more!" He cries, tears falling down his face. "No more! Please!"
I sit on my knees, holding Legolas tightly in my arms. 
His cries reduce to soft whimpers, but he hasn't left the memory yet. 
"It's almost over Legolas," I say quietly. I don't know if he can hear me, but he's certainly calmed down. 

The fog begins to clear from his eyes just as the light from the amulet begins to dim. The dark circles vanish from around his eyes, which also regain their normal color, his skin is no longer pale. He takes in a shuddering breath, blinking several times. His eyes wander around the room before finding mine. 

"Amarth?" He whispers in disbelief. I say nothing as he looks at me, slowly realizing what had just happened. As I look at him I notice that his hair is longer, the normal length for an elf. His eyes have changed too, they've aged. I am looking at the Legolas that I knew. Broken, hurt, and fading. 

"I saw him, I saw Sauron." He whimpers and huddles closer to me. I'm torn between being heartbroken at seeing this strong, resilient elf falling apart in my arms, and being uncomfortable because I'm holding a full grown elf in my arms like a child. The same elf who is also looking to me for comfort.

"He was torturing me," Legolas buries his face into my shirt, "Whispering dark words into my ears, I could feel his cold hands around my throat, choking the life out of me. I tried to fight him off, but he was too strong. I was weak..." 

"Quiet Legolas." I snap which causes him to flinch. Sighing I rub his arm, I didn't mean to sound angry. "Just, don't talk about it anymore. It's over now, Sauron is gone and he can't hurt you anymore. Understand? You're safe now."

He falls silent after that. We stay like this until it starts to grow dark outside, only then do I realize that Legolas has fallen asleep. Carefully I stand up and carry him over to his bed, after laying him down I do something that I know is risky, but I don't care. I take the amulet off of him, hanging it on one of the bed posts. 

I ignore what Faervel said about him needing to keep the amulet on, he's had enough.

I cover him up with a blanket, this one is actually big enough to cover him, then I leave the room closing the door softly behind me. I stand out there for a moment, trying to process everything that just happened. Never in my life have I seen anyone act that way. I don't know what to think, or what to feel for that matter. 

Shaking myself I head for my room. To this day I still don't know everything that Legolas went through while in Barad-Dur. I doubt that he ever talked about it, and to be honest I'd rather not know what he went through. All I know is that it scarred him for life, and that's all that anyone needs to know. 

As I enter my room I stop to think about what I learned about Tauriel. How she was found and how I left Anna in Mirkwood, it's too much of a coincidence. How could they not be the same person? The only thing that doesn't add up is Anna wanting to learn how to fight, even without her memories surely she would remain the same in character? Why would she suddenly change? 

Another thing is; Legolas said that Tauriel was dead. 
He didn't give details, but he seemed certain of what happened. Perhaps this was a different Tauriel. After all, in a forest full of wood elves, it wouldn't be uncommon for two to have the same name. 

I decide that this must be the case. It was a different Tauriel, plain and simple.
I'm too tired to think of all the other points that contradict this, I'm just glad to have my sister back. 

After all, does any of it really matter? 

/\\//\\/

The next morning we all gather in Faervel's dining room that also serves as his meeting place. Everyone is here except for Pallando, Faervel, and Legolas. 
Anna is sitting beside me, avoiding Darovel's gaze. I know why she's afraid of him, and I'll explain it to Darovel eventually. He's clearly confused as to why Anna has been avoiding him ever since she came here, and maybe even a little hurt. 

It's not his fault though and I plan on reassuring him of it as soon as this meeting is over. I hear footsteps approaching and I assume that it's Legolas. When I turn around, however, I can't stop myself from recoiling as Morwen appears. I haven't seen her since... what I did in the hall. Seeing her now sends a sharp pain into the back of my head. Anger, disgust, revulsion, all of it burns inside of me, but none of it is mine.

It's Daeris. 

Quickly I turn away from Morwen, burying my face into my hands. Begging for her to stop. Anna grabs my hand and just as soon as it came, Daeris' presence flees my mind. She'll be back, she always comes back.

Morwen goes to sit beside Darovel, his eyes flooded with concern as he watches her. I avert my gaze, refusing to look in her direction. If she's surprised at seeing Anna there I wouldn't know. 
"Ah, you're all here." I recognize the shuffling footsteps of Pallando and turn around in my seat. Pallando, along with Legolas and Faervel, has finally arrived.

I'm slightly annoyed at seeing the amulet around Legolas' neck again. Did he put it on himself or did Faervel make him? Legolas hesitates when he sees Anna, and she quickly looks away. He looks around for a place to sit and widens his eyes in surprise. I'm guessing he's only now seen Morwen. In the end, Legolas sits between me and Faervel while Pallando sits between Anna and Darovel. 

"I don't believe we have introduced everyone here," Pallando says in his warm, friendly way. "I'm Pallando, a friend of Amarth's." 
Darovel raises his eyebrows and glances over at me with a look that clearly says, "I thought you said you didn't have friends."
I wisely choose to ignore him.
"And who might you two be?" Pallando asks.
"Darovel. And her name is Morwen." 

I wonder if it will be possible to avoid looking in Morwen's direction during this whole thing. Probably not, but I can try.
"This is Amarth's sister, Anna." Pallando continues.
I wait for Morwen to say something about the sister I have that I never told anyone about, but she remains silent. Were I in my right mind I'd be concerned, but I worry that if I show Morwen any attention Daeris will come back.

"And this is Legolas," Pallando says.
"Formerly known as Ramben," Darovel adds. 
This time Morwen does say something. "Ramben? How?" She turns to Legolas who shrugs. 
"That's what we hope to find out," Darovel says somewhat under his breath while casting a sideways glance at Faervel. 

"I promise everything will be explained. I think you have all waited long enough." Faervel places his hands on the table, clasping them together. "In order for you to receive answers, I must start at the beginning. I will tell you who I am and how I came to be here. Then everything else will become clear."

He takes a deep breath, and I brace myself for a lot of dialogue.

"I am not of this world, in fact, I am not human. I am a maia. I once served under Aulë, who was known as "The Smith" among the Valar. Myself, along with my close friend Sialan, were taught by him to fashion objects of great beauty. Sialan and I became two of the most skilled of Aulë's followers, though greater than both of us was Mairon. The three of us served directly under Aulë, and I was content to carry out my work. But Sialan grew jealous of Mairon's skill, and Mairon began to seek other methods of crafting. Sialan and I soon discovered that Mairon had begun working on creating an object that could contain life, and therefore, live."

"When Sialan learned of this, he sought to do the same as Mairon, but both had become corrupted by the very thing that had made them great. I warned Aulë of what they were doing and he forbid them from continuing their work. Enraged, Mairon fled Valinor to join Melkor in his rebellion, where he could continue his work without being hindered, changing his name to Sauron. Sialan fled as with him, yet he did not change his name. Fearing for Sialan, I pleaded with Aulë to let me go to Arda and search for him. I did not wish to believe that he had truly turned to darkness."

"Reluctantly, Aulë allowed me to go search for Sialan. Under the condition that I would not engage with any of Melkor's servants. Agreeing, I hastened to Arda, seeking Sialan. I spent years searching, even daring to go near Melkor's stronghold, but I did not feel Sialan's presence. Finally, I found him. Far in the north, he had been dwelling, hiding as he told me. When I asked him why he was hiding he fell onto his knees, begging me to forgive him. He claimed that he had been blinded by his pride, and had foolishly followed Mairon to Melkor. He told me that he could no longer bear to see the evil that Melkor had wrought and that Mairon was now his most faithful servant."

"Sialan begged me to help cleanse the world of Melkor's evil, convincing me that together we could create something to help fight back against the enemy. I warned him of Aulë's orders not to engage with Melkor or his servants. That was when he told me that we didn't have to face Melkor. We could create an object of great power, then give it to someone worthy who could wield its power against the enemy and defeat him. I believed his words, and since I too was horrified by what I saw, we began to craft in secret. I returned to Valinor and gathered what materials I could, bringing them to Sialan. Together we fashioned the amulet."

I glance at the amulet hanging around Legolas' neck. He is looking at it as well, but he quickly turns his gaze back to Faervel.

"We poured great power into it; whoever wore the amulet would be given great power, if their will was to do good then the amulet would give them the power to do good. Should they turn from their path, the amulet would take that power away. I planned to set off immediately in search of the one to whom we'd give the amulet to, but in my eagerness to stop the evil of Melkor, I failed to see Sialan's treachery. While I had created the amulet to do good, Sialan had gone behind my back and fashioned the amulet to be able to perform evil as well. The amulet now granted power based on the desire of the wearer. If their intent was to do good, they would be given the power to do good. If they desired to do evil, they would be granted the power to do evil."

"Sialan planned on using the amulet to make himself powerful enough to not only overthrow Melkor but all the Valar. His desire was to rule over all of Arda and Valinor, and the amulet could give him the power. Though it pained me to do it, I knew that I could not allow him to have the amulet. I fought him and tried to take the amulet from him, but he was more powerful than I. He cast me down and I fled. Ashamed, I fled back to Valinor and begged Aulë to forgive me for being blind to what Sialan had been planning. I was told that I would have to repair the damage that I'd help cause. Under Aulë's guidance, I crafted something that I never thought I'd make with my own hands, a sword." 

"Once it was finished Aulë took it to Varda, Queen of the Stars, who filled it with much of her power. Aulë then returned to the sword to me, ordering me to return to Arda and face Sialan. The sword granted me much power, filling me with light and strength. I returned to where Sialan dwelled and challenged him. He appeared to me with the amulet around his neck, and I knew then that the friend I had known was gone forever. I readied myself to attack when Sialan unleashed his newest creation. A being made up of living shadows, an evil that you could see and touch."

"The creature attacked and there in the mountains we fought, light against darkness. The shadow, having just been created, was not powerful enough to stand against me and the power that I now contained. I struck it with my sword and it fled, away from its master and into the south. His creature destroyed, Sialan took it upon himself to fight me. He attacked using the amulet's power, but he had made a mistake that cost him the battle. For the amulet would grant power to anyone who held it, but its full power would not be given unless that person bound themselves to it."

"Sialan failed to realize this, and during our battle, I cut him down. But in the midst of the fight, the amulet was lost. As he laid there dying, Sialan claimed that he had not yet defeated him. His shadow still lived, and already he had passed on his evil to another. In the form of a small, meager weapon. I did not know what he meant, but once Sialan passed from this world I knew I had only created more problems. Sialan's shadow had fled to the south, the amulet was missing, and someone was in possession of a weapon crafted by Sialan."

"The black dagger," I say aloud. Faervel turns to me, his eyebrows raised slightly, the only indication that he's surprised. It's the most emotion he's ever shown since we've met. 
"Alatar," Pallando murmurs lowering his head. His eyes are full of grief as he stares at the table. I forget that before he was corrupted, Alatar had been Pallando's friend. I can only imagine how painful it was for Pallando to watch his friend fall to darkness. 

Faervel nods his head, sorrow in his eyes. He must know exactly how Pallando feels

"Not knowing what course to take," Faervel says continuing his narrative, "I returned to Valinor one last time. I presented myself before Aulë and told him that I could not stay there whilst evil that I had helped to create roamed the earth. I beseeched Aulë for permission to remain in Arda, where I could work to undo the hurts I had caused. My request was granted, under one condition: I could not use my power to overpower others or force them to do my will with them. I swore an oath that I would never seek power over those dwelling on Arda. With Aulë's blessing, I journeyed to Arda where I would remain until my task was complete."

"Since I did not know the whereabouts of the amulet, nor who was in possession of this weapon Sialan had created, I figured my best course of action would be to pursue the shadow. I tracked it far to the south, avoiding contact with anyone in Arda. I knew that some of the Free Peoples viewed those with great power as gods, which I did not want to be known as. I had no desire to be served, so I kept myself hidden during my hunt. I searched endlessly for the creature, hoping to finish it off quickly once it was found, but it had hidden itself too well. And while it hid it began to grow in power, feeding off the darkness in the land. One day, it discovered a way to increase its power in a way that the darkness couldn't."

"The shadow began luring men to it, evil men whose hearts craved darkness. It promised them great power if they would only do one thing: Let themselves be taken by it. With every man it took the shadow continued to grow in power and strength. As the years went by it began to take on a form of its own. No longer a shadow, the creature turned itself into a woman of great beauty. Calling herself Daeris, the Shadow Queen."

I stiffen as her presence fills my mind again, pleasure fills me as her name is mention. Pride at what she has accomplished. I shudder and place my forehead in my hands. Trying to sort out which thoughts are mine and which ones are hers. I feel a hand on mine and just like before, all traces of Daeris vanish. I look up and see Anna, her green eyes searching mine with worry. How can she banish Daeris like that? Faervel himself said that he couldn't do it, and he's a maia! 

"With every man she took Daeris became more and more powerful. Yet there was a drawback to her taking men. When they neared the end of their lives, her power would begin to fade. She would have to search for another man to replace the dying one. During the final years of the man's life, they would be filled with more power than Daeris, enough to slow their aging and grant them enough power to do her bidding. She would order them to find her another mate, one whose heart was filled with darkness. Once she was brought one she would take them, then her former mate would die. The stronger and more evil the man is, the more power Daeris receives. Oroth, her current mate, is nearing the end of his life. Which is why she has been weakened and he himself empowered. However, she is not worried, for she has already chosen the one who will take his place..."

My blood runs cold. A chill creeps up my spine, a hand made of ice squeezes my heart. I can feel everyone's eyes on me, but I can't bring myself to look at them. 
"What are you talking about?" Anna demands, her voice rising in both anger and fear. "Who has she chosen?"
"Me." It comes out as the blunt truth. There's no fear in my voice, no anger, there is no emotion. Anna latches onto my hand in a death grip. Faintly I hear her whisper, "No."
"We won't let her have him." Legolas nearly slams his fist on the table but stops when he glances at Anna. Shaking his head he quickly turns to Faervel. "Is there any way to kill Daeris? You said right now that she was weak."

"Yes, Daeris is weakened. But Oroth has plenty of power. For now, he believes that he is in control of Daeris, but it is only an illusion she has created. He knows that his power comes from her, so he will do whatever he can to protect her, and he will get her whatever she desires. If she orders him to bring her Amarth, he will not stop until it is done. Not knowing that the moment she has taken him Daeris will kill him. You are right though Legolas, we won't let Daeris have Amarth. Not only would it destroy him, but if she had an elf as a mate it could mean the end of the world."

This catches my interest. 
"What difference does it make if she has an elf?" I ask.
"Daeris has never desired an elf mate. For they have always been seen as beings of light, beautiful creations of Erú. Their light repulses her. However, she has finally found an elf with darkness in his heart. Darkness wrought by the weapon of her creator."

My hand strays up to my chest, resting over my heart. I had been scarred by Sialan's dagger. I had welcomed its dark power with open arms. Though the scar had been healed, I was still tainted by darkness. It was what had drawn Daeris to me, why she still hunts me.

"If Daeris takes you Amarth," Faervel continues, "not only will she regain her power, but become even more powerful than before. She knows that elves are immortal, you would never die, therefore her power will be free to grow until she becomes the most powerful being to ever live. She will take over all of Arda, enslaving it in darkness and becoming its queen, with you ruling at her side until the breaking of the world."

I let Faervel's words sink in. Now that I know what's at stake, I am terrified. 
But I'm also angry. 
Daeris wants to use me in order to become more powerful, she's poisoned my mind and will stop at nothing to get me. I will not be used by someone. I let myself fall into that trap once, and I will never do it again. 

"How do we kill her?" I ask Faervel, my voice low.
"Now is both the best time to attack her and also the most dangerous. As I've said before she is weakened, but Oroth is at his full power. There are only seven of us, and only five of us could actually kill Daeris or the shadows that Oroth has created."

"First of all," I say holding up a finger, "there are only six of us. I will not let Anna get tangled up in all of this, especially with Daeris." I hold up another finger, "Second of all: what do you mean only five of us could kill Daeris or the shadows? Are we not counting these two?" I point at Darovel and Morwen, not looking to see what their expressions are.

"It's not that I am excluding them," Faervel says, "but even if they wanted to, neither Darovel nor Morwen could kill the shadows. Or Daeris. If Morwen was a maia and not just part of one, then yes she could. However, she is not. Any attempt to kill the shadows would be futile for either of them. Although they can cause them a bit of pain if they were to fight alongside those who can kill them."

"Alright," I lean back in my chair, "if those two can't kill them, and you said five of us could, that would mean you, Pallando, myself, Legolas, and Anna? How?"
"Don't you remember Amarth? Legolas has already killed one of the shadows when he was Ramben."
Everyone turns to Legolas now, who is looking very confused, what else is new with him?
"Do you remember that Legolas?" Darovel asks. "You threw a knife straight into the shadow's head, it died right at your feet!"

Legolas shakes his head. "No, that memory must have left me." Turning to Faervel he asks, "But how can I kill the shadows and others can't? I am no different from anyone here save you and Pallando."
Faervel sighs and motions for Legolas to stand up. He hesitates for a moment, then rises.
"I believe now is the time for you to learn the truth about our newest arrivals," Faervel says nodding his head towards Anna and taking Legolas by the arm. He leads him over to where a candle has been burning, I must not have seen Faervel light it when he came in. 

He whispers something and the small flame suddenly becomes larger, causing Legolas to flinch. I stand to my feet as well and the others do the same. 
Did I just become the unofficial leader of this group? Why is everyone copying me?
"What are you doing?" Darovel demands. 
"I want you to put your hand in the fire Legolas," Faervel says somehow both ignoring and answering Darovel's question at the same time. 
"Are you mad?!" I shout. "Do you want to burn his hand?"

"Trust me Legolas," Faervel says pulling him closer to the flame, "you will not be harmed I promise." 
Legolas looks as if he's about to faint. His eyes are as round as saucers and I can see him shaking. I can almost guarantee that some form of fire torture has been used on him more than once in his life, his recent memories and his current state can testify to that. 
"It will be alright," Faervel moves his hand even closer. Except Legolas doesn't draw back. 

Faervel releases him, and to my horror, Legolas puts his hand into the fire. 
I'm about to run over there when I notice that something is wrong here, why isn't he screaming in pain while his hand is on fire? I've been burned once or twice in my life, and I can never stop myself from screeching at the top of my lungs. 

But Legolas is just standing there.
He's just as bewildered as I am. His eyes are locked on his hand, which is not being burned at all, and he has a look of child-like wonder on his face as he moves his hand around in the flames. 
"I can't feel the heat." He says to no one in particular as he draws his hand out. 
"Do you know why?" Faervel asks, whispering something that causes the flame to die down to its original size. Legolas shakes his head, still rubbing his hand in amazement.

"It's the same reason why you do not require food to sustain yourself, or why you do not need water, the reason why you can kill the shadows and see doors and paths that other can't."
I heard all about Ramben's (or Legolas') escapades in Oroth's lair. I know that he saw a handle that led out of the cell and the path that led them to safety. What does this have to do with anything?

"The reason you cannot be killed yourself unless it were one of Oroth's shadows or Daeris, is because you, Legolas, are dead."

/\\//\\/
                                                                   
My GOSH that was probably the longest chapter I've ever written.

6,658 words!!!!!

I seriously hoped that answered some things because this took me FOREVER to write.

Obviously some major things still need to be explained, and I was going to do that in this chapter, BUT I AM FLIPPING TIRED Y'ALL

So anyway, the rest will be explained in the next chapter. 

Thank you all for your patience with my slow updating, and if some things in this chapter still don't make sense or you're confused feel free to ask me about it and I'll do my best to answer. If those answers involve spoilers no answers will be given.

Alright, I'm out.