A/N: Hello all! Sorry about long wait. Although it is summer.. guess what? I'm back in school. Summer school, that is. I'm taking physics. I will tell you now, it's not my favorite subject. . I'll try my best to update as often as I can, because you guys know I love you so much! :)

A love in the mist

"Arwen will be leaving sooner than you think." Elenya's face fell.

"W-what do you mean, atar?" Elenya loved Arwen so much, she didn't want to have her leave soon.

"Hasn't she told you? If not, then it is not my place to tell." Elenya rose from her spot on the ground, bid her father a good day and ran to Arwen's room to find out what was going on.

Chapter 6: Take every moment

Elenya hurriedly left her father's study and headed for Arwen's room. What did her father mean? Why did Arwen not mention any of this to her? Since it was her 'coming of age' birthday, wouldn't her sister think she was mature enough?

Hmm.. although, it is not like I've really proven myself to be mature. Elenya reasoned with herself, referring to the fuss she had put up earlier when Arwen asked her to wear a dress.

"Come now, Elenya! You'll look so beautiful!" Arwen coaxed. Elenya looked at the offending piece of clothing in her sister's arms and rolled her eyes.

"Arwen, you know that I dislike wearing dresses." Elenya sighed. When she looked back at her sister, Arwen had the saddest look in her eyes.

"That's unfair.. don't.. no.." Elenya tried to resist Arwen's 'sad face', to no avail. Sighing, defeated, Elenya began to undress, mumbling unintelligible words in elvish. Soon after donning the beautiful silver dress, Arwen sat her down in front of the mirror.

"See, pen-neth [little one]? That wasn't so terrible, now was it?" Arwen smiled at her sister's reflection. Indeed, the silver dress accentuated her eyes and physique. Elenya blinked a few times, a little taken aback by her ultra feminine appearance that she rarely saw.

"Maybe..."

Elenya had not really been paying attention to where she was going while thinking, but found herself outside of Arwen's quarters. The door was pure white with a golden handle. It had elvish runes decorating the arch of the doorway in silver script. Knocking gently on the door, Elenya awaited a response.

**********************

"Come now, Legolas, is this all you've got?" Aragorn taunted the prince as they continued their sword duel. They had begun shortly after Elenya's departure, and have been at it for about 45 minutes. Clearly, Legolas had underestimated the human, and was surprised at the speed and skill that he possessed. At the taunt, Legolas decided to get serious. He wasn't about to be beaten by a mortal!

Blades flashed in the courtyard, and elves turned to look at the commotion. However, neither Aragorn or Legolas was aware of the crowd that started to form. Legolas watched the human carefully, and had to block every stroke and attack, only to have it blocked again.

This simply will not do, Legolas thought. He had never before encountered a mortal that possessed... such natural skill. Then again, I have not had too many dealings with humans. Legolas' logical mind countered. It took that split second of non-concentration for Aragorn to swiftly knock Legolas' sword from his hands. Legolas looked from his fallen sword back to Aragorn, and smiled.

"You truly are very talented." He said, as the human put his sword in his sheath, and went to pick up Legolas' sword. Handing the sword to its rightful owner, Aragorn said,

"This is the first time I've ever had to fight so hard. I was beginning to tire." Aragorn and Legolas shared a moment of mutual admiration before the crowd started to dissipate. Aragorn looked around, confused.

"When did they show up?"

*************************

"Come in," came the soft melodic voice of none other than Arwen Undomiel, the evenstar of the elves.

My sister... Elenya thought, and gently opened the door. Arwen's room was a vision of absolute tranquility. The soft white walls, the gauzy drapes and the white marble floor were perfectly clean, and echoed ever so slightly as Elenya treaded on the floor. She found her sister gazing outside on her balcony, the soft breeze ruffling her hair, dress and drapes just a little. Elenya came up beside her sister and watched the world below. Arwen's room overlooked the courtyard, where Elenya had been only moments before.

Looking closely, two dueling figures could be seen.

"It's Aragorn and Legolas!" Elenya laughed, and her sister's own merry laughter soon joined hers.

"Sister, what troubles you?" Arwen inquired, seeing a slightly nervous look in her little sister's eyes. Arwen was always able to tell when someone was troubled, no matter how much they tried to hide it.

Eyes are windows to the soul, she once said, you can never close them.

Taking a deep breath, Elenya faced Arwen.

"Is it true?" She asked. Arwen looked confused.

"Is what true?" She asked, becoming slightly worried. Had something happened?

"Is it true... that.. you'll be leaving soon?" Elenya specified. Arwen's face softened, and she took Elenya's slightly smaller hand in her own.

"Yes, and no." At Elenya's confused gaze, she elaborated. " I will be leaving eventually. But not yet. Not for at least another 5 years. I wouldn't leave before your coming of age ceremony." Arwen smiled affectionately, giving Elenya's hand a gently squeeze.

Elenya could not speak. Surely, she had always known that sooner or later, her family would go its separate ways, but as always, she had thought "later". Now, later was coming sooner, and she did not know what she'd do. Elladan and Elrohir would not stay forever, and now Arwen was considering leaving as well. Would it soon be her turn to leave the only home she had ever known?

"Who is it?" When Elenya posed this question, Arwen realized what she meant. In response, she looked down at the courtyard again. Elenya followed her gaze, resting on the two figures still fighting.

"Aragorn?!" Elenya asked, almost not believing it. She knew that Arwen always acted differently towards Aragorn, but she had never thought it would lead to this. "Arwen... he is mortal." After saying those words, Elenya regretted it, seeing a small tear make its way down Arwen's face.

"I know, sister. I have always known. I know that he will die before me, should I remain immortal, but the choice--" Arwen started softly, before being interrupted.

"Should you remain immortal? Sister, please tell me you aren't doing what I think you're doing!" Elenya was truly becoming scared.

"As I was saying," Arwen started calmly, "the choice I have, as immortal or mortal, will be made." Looking into her sister's sapphire blue eyes, she couldn't contain her emotions. "Sister, I love him! I cannot imagine living life without him! I would rather live one lifetime with him, than live through all the ages of this world without him." Elenya couldn't take it. She let go of her sister's hand and walked back into Arwen's room, sitting in a chair by the bed.

Arwen sighed, and slowly followed her sister. She should have known that no one would be supportive of her decision.

Would atara have acted the same way? She wondered. For what seemed like years, uncomfortable silence rested between the two sisters.

What is Arwen thinking?! She cannot do this! One part of Elenya's mind blurted. but.. she seems so happy when she's with him. Maybe it's the way it was meant to be.. the other, more sensitive part, countered. NO! Mortals die, and it would cause her too much grief! But... wouldn't it be more grief to keep her from the one man she loves so much? Eventually, the sensitive part of Elenya's mind won. Perhaps Arwen is going through some turmoil of her own. If she does decide to leave, and stay with Aragorn, will she not feel homesick, and miss her family? This decision is not any easier on her!

"What does father say?" Elenya finally asked. Arwen came and sat on her bed, once again taking Elenya's hands in her own.

"I have not told him yet. I do believe his reaction will be worse than yours." Arwen confided. "Please, do not speak of this to him. I will wait until the time is right to tell him. Promise me you won't say anything." Arwen pleaded. Elenya nodded.

"I promise I won't. It'll remain just between us." And with that, Elenya got up and hugged her sister, showing that she no longer was angry. For the remainder of the day, they just lay on Arwen's bed, staring at the ceiling, occasionally speaking, but mostly enjoying each other's presence.

For Elenya, it was taking every moment she could to be with her kin and remember what it was like, to have a sister like her.

A/N: Well, there you go. Chapter 6! I hope this chapter was worth the wait.. if not, I'll try harder! Lol. I will get to Legolas in the next chapter, so hold your horses. : ) PLEASE Review!!

Push the button! *^^* ~Feathers of the Wind~* [07.08.03]

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