A/N: This chapter is, perhaps not the only reason for my unexplained and inexcusable absence, but certainly a large reason for it. It was very hard to write, but I hope in the long run it was almost worth the wait.

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings. I do not make any money from this story.

Mirkwood:

It had been many weeks. The healer from Rivendell had come and gone with only a warning to not trust anyone just yet. Legolas and Aethelred had searched fruitlessly for the unknown elf Aethelred had bumped into. They were sitting in a garden watching other elves work when Legolas felt Aethelred stiffen beside him.

"Aethelred?"

"It's him!" Aethelred hissed.

Legolas looked where Aethelred was pointing.

"Are you sure?" he asked, doubtfully.

"Yes! That is the elf from the mirror, I am sure of it!" Aethelred whispered, loudly.

The elf seemed to bear little resemblance to Aethelred at first glance, but as he looked, minute details were recognizable - the lilt of the elf's gait, the relaxed set of his shoulders, and the cheekbones were vaguely reminiscent, however that was about it. Aethelred must have gotten his mother's looks, Legolas decided.

"Well, go speak to him, then," said Legolas.

Aethelred looked uncertain, "Aren't you coming with me?"

Legolas shook his head, "This is the first time, it should be private. Next time, if you want me, I will come. If there is a next time."

Aethelred looked torn, "I'm your only guard today, you're not supposed to be alone-"

Legolas' laughter cut him short. Causing nearby elves, including Aethelred's father to look over. The elf stiffened. "Aethelred, I'll be right here, you can see me the entire time. What is going to happen to me here, in the middle of my kingdom?"

Aethelred hesitated, still uncertain. So Legolas pushed once more, "Go, your father looks on the edge of flight."

Aethelred's head snapped over to the elf, indeed, he looked to be making his excuses. It was enough, Aethelred scrambled up and began to hurry over, just as the man was leaving.

"Hey! Excuse me!" Aethelred shouted, causing nearly every elf in the vicinity to turn to him except his father, Aethelred grimaced. He called out again and this time, his father slowly turned.

"Sir?" he asked.

Aethelred faltered. In hindsight, it should have been expected, he was the Captain of the Prince's Guard, but in the moment, it gutted him. He paused. Opened his mouth, shut it, and opened it again.

"What's your name?" he asked, suddenly.

The elf's expression changed from reluctance to mild concern, "Amanki, Sir."

"Don't call me sir," Aethelred blurted, wincing when he saw the concern turn to full out worry. "Would you walk with me, for a little while, perhaps I would escort you home? Or wherever you are headed?"

Amanki inclined his head, "As you wish."

Aethelred paused, for a minute and caught Legolas' eye. Legolas inclined his head, smiling.

Aethelred walked for a while in silence, trying to find the best way to tell Amanki everything. In the end, it was Amanki who broke the silence.

"Is there anything I can do for you, Captain?" he asked.

Aethelred hesitated. What would he say here?

"Amanki… Tell me, do you have any children?" he asked, cautiously.

Amanki's expression closed, suddenly. "Why do you ask?"

"If you answer mine, I will answer yours," said Aethelred.

Amanki studied him for a while.

"I had a son, once, but he died over a thousand years ago. Surely your prince knows this? It is in the records," he replied at length, obviously assuming that Aethelred had been sent by Legolas to collect information.

"I must confess we did not think to search there," Aethelred confessed. How would they have been so stupid, it was such an obvious place to look! He shook himself.

"I am… Sorry for your loss. The reason I ask is because while I stayed in Lórien, I was allowed the chance to look into the Lady Galadriel's mirror, the purpose was to discern the identity of my father from whom I had been parted from at an early age. The elf, according to Lady Galadriel, was from this realm and when I saw you a few weeks ago, I recognized you immediately."

Beside him, Amanki stiffened, "You? You are my son?" he whispered.

"Maybe, I also saw my mother, that's why I wanted to accompany you home, to see if your wife is the woman I saw," said Aethelred.

The rest of the walk was silent, both elves lost in their own thoughts. Presently, they came to Amanki's home - simple for an elf's home, but comfortable, befitting the elf's working status.

Inside, was a woman and when she looked up, Aethelred instantly knew that he was right, these were his parents. "Well?" Aman-his father's voice brought him out of his reverie. "Is this her? Were you right"

"Amanki, What is the meaning of this? Why didn't you tell me you were bringing someone home?" the woman cut in.

"Caero, this is the Prince's Guard, he's here because the Lady Galadriel's mirror showed him images of his parents. He thinks it's us," Amanki hurried to explain.

Caero gasped, hands covering her mouth.

"I know it's you, you were the ones I'd seen," Aethelred interjected.

Amanki and Caero turned to him, myriad emotions - shock, hope, happiness, sorrow - warring one their faces. For long moments no one spoke. Then Amanki broke the silence, finally.

"Why do you go by Aethelred?" he asked, a cautious expression having finally settled on his face. As if he didn't dare give in to hope yet.

"Isn't that my name," Aethelred asked, confused.

"Well, we named our son Aethelweard, but you were only a few decades old, barely talking yet, the mistake is plausible," Caero said, slowly.

"We had no way of knowing at the time just how prophetic that choice would be. Aethelweard means 'Noble protector'," Amanki added.

It was Aethelred's turn to be stunned, he didn't have his own name right? But, even as he had to admit it was a prophetic name, he couldn't see himself getting used to it.

"I've answered to Aethelred for so long, I don't think I would change that," he said, a bit nervously.

Caero hurried forward, arms spread to hug him as her motherly instincts took over, "The name, doesn't matter, does it, Amanki? We have our son back. We've grieved for you for over a millennia, how would we let something so trivial get in the way?"

Behind her, Amanki nodded vigorously. Aethelred was never able to fully explain it, perhaps it was because the last red haired person he'd seen was his former master or perhaps because touch was anathema to him, but as she approached, he found himself retreating. She paused, uncertain, and he swallowed heavily.

"Sorry, sorry, I'm… Not used to touching," he replied.

She nodded, looking crushed, but withdrew, but an awkwardness had settled around them, an awkwardness bourne of a millennia of estrangement, no matter how unwilling.

"Well, come eat with us, won't you?" she said at last.

Aethelred hesistated, torn between wanting to stay and wanting to leave so as to not neglect his duty to Legolas and to escape the uneasiness pervading the room.

"I-I need to return to the Prince, C-Mother," he said, only just remembering to call her 'mother', but the way her face lit up made it worth it.

"I never thought I'd hear those words," she whispered, eyes suddenly glassy with tears.

"You will come back, won't you?" Amanki asked.

"Of course," agreed Aethelred, answering the unasked question. He wasn't so cruel as to show up in their life and then steal away like a thief in the night, breaking their hearts all over again.

After saying his goodbyes, Aethelred walked back out into the woods. He felt… lighter than he had in so long, as if that unanswered question had weighed him down more than he realized. His parents seemed to want him, however with that one conversation, a certain gnawing doubt continued to weigh him down. He'd thought finding his parents would answer one of his biggest questions - the one that really kept him up at night - Who was he? If anything, it had only made it more of a question, after all, if he didn't even know his name, how could he be sure of anything else? If he couldn't answer that question on the most superficial level, how would he ever answer it?

When he returned to Legolas' rooms, Legolas was sitting on his bed reading a letter. He looked worried.

"Legolas? What's wrong?" Aethelred asked.

Legolas jumped, hesitated for the barest of moments, then handed Aethelred the letter.

To: Legolas Thranduilion, Prince of the Greenwood, Heir Apparent

From: Elrond, Lord of Rivendell

Legolas,

When you get this letter, follow these instructions very carefully. You must come to Rivendell immediately, bring Aethelred and Thranduil with you. Your Uncle can rule for now, he's done it for a millennia, he knows how. The Greenwood will be fine. Do not let anyone - anyone - know. Escape however you can, I've already sent a guard to meet you and escort you here. Do not bring anyone else. Just you three. Travel lightly and swiftly, if I am right, you may be pursued. Burn this letter.

Elrond