~~

A few days had past, and I was sitting alone on a rock by the lake. I was carving my staff from some blood wood, when I heard someone approaching. I ignored them and concentrated even more. Hmm… what should my symbol be? I let out a deep sigh. The person sat down beside me. Slowly I lifted my gaze to their face. It was my best friend, Rosemarie. Her long blonde hair was twisted up in a bun, and she was wearing a deep blue gown. I shifted so I was totally facing her.

"How are you feeling?" she was concerned, you could see it in her eyes.

"I am fine." I barked, turning back to my work.

"Ana, we are worried for you. You haven't talked to anyone for days! What is wrong?" I shook my head and let out another sigh. There was no way of diverting it this time.

"I have many things on my mind. I am sorry; I do not mean to push you all away. I know I've been a complete brat. I'm sorry." She nodded, understanding. "Uh, rose, I have never asked you before, but I've always wondered. Rosemarie is not an elvish name… how did you get it?" she smiled slightly at this, though her eyes got a little misty.

"Well, you see, my parents were elves, and they lived in a very small village outside a large forest. Not long after they had me, a band of orcs attacked the village…" she paused for moment, and looked at the water. "My mother was killed… and my father ran with me to the nearest town… he was badly wounded, he barely made it to an elderly couples hobble. The town was not that of elves, but of hobbits. It was a little ways away from the Shire. And you know, hobbits love to name their daughters after flowers and such… so they named me Rosemarie…" she broke down crying. Between sobs she managed to say, "only a few years ago, they were killed by wolves on their way to visit their cousin. I had stayed home for I was sick… if I had been there… they might not be dead… I could have saved them! Why didn't I save them…" she looked hopelessly at me. Her eyes were puffy and red.

Whoa, I was not expecting a story like that… kinda makes you feel lucky to have the life you have, don't it? I found myself speechless… what do you say to something like that? All I could do was hold her, and rock her until she calmed down.

"That's it! Rose!" she lifted her head, looking at me with her tear stained face. "A rose, that will be my symbol!" she smiled brilliantly at me. I got up and did a short victory dance, causing her to burst out laughing.