"Dance?"
The request was simple, innocent enough. It was spoken politely, even, with a innocent glint of his eyes and a courteous nod of the head. It should have been met with an immediate reply; a "yes, of course!" followed by some cheerful laughter, or a "Oh, thank you, but I'm in need of rest. Perhaps later," followed by a politely sorrowful nod of the head.
But it was greeted with neither, only a blank stare, because somewhere, in some parallel universe, someone was laughing. Hysterically.
Because Krystal didn't dance. She *never* danced. Dancing put all eyes on you, while they critiqued your every move, looking only to find fault, and not stopping until they did. Eyes that racked over your body as you moved it awkwardly in positions the human body wasn't made to be moved in, laughing as you tripped or faltered. Dancing made you vulnerable to the probing eyes that followed your shadow, searching, looking, and hoping for a fault to laugh at.
Why put yourself through that? There was no reason to. Which was why she didn't. Especially when she wasn't among people of her own species, even. She had just begun to feel relatively comfortable, and now this. She didn't want to make an idiot out of herself- she could see the glorious elven dancers, twirling and twisting with a grace she could never hope to achieve.
And it had never been a problem before now, now when she stood off to the side in the Hall of Fire, watching the festivities with an awed gaze. Her dress, rose in color, brought out the blush in her cheeks and the fire playing in the corner brought out the sparkle in her smile. Crystal slippers flirted with the light as she moved, and her eyes seemed to rival the stars as she fought to keep her sense.
Who knew that one simple word, one request, could send her reeling?
She had enjoyed the meal, sitting at the far end of the table with Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas and Aragorn had been at the end, seated near Elrond and a very old man, with an old gray beard and pointed hat. His eyes were crinkly as he laughed a cheerful laugh that brought smiles to those around him. She had a spirited conversation with Elrohir about horses, and had tried to teach Elladan about hair spray. Both twins had been enraptured with the thought of something that held their long, often in the way, hair in place-- 'twas magic, really it was!
She also tried to explain to them the concept of chocolate, something she was beginning to miss dearly. She, like all other teenagers, was addicted to the rich, coca candy and was beginning to be irritable from withdrawal from it. Elladan had promised to speak to the cook about it, but she knew it wouldn't be the same. It would probably even be *shudder* -- low fat.
"My lady?" Legolas prompted, his voice snatching her from her thoughts and bringing her crashing down to reality.
"Dance?" he asked again with a slight smile and she sighed, wishing it was anyone but him-- the twins she could joke with, Aragorn would most likely explain he didn't know how to either, but Legolas? He'd probably laugh.
Her eyes finally focused on him, and he noted with slight surprise the blush rising up on her cheeks. In all the time he had known her, he had never seen her blush.
Curious, he smiled at her as she sighed. Leaning closer, she gave him a hesitant smile, and for a moment, Legolas saw how young she really was. She hid it well, most of the time, behind smiles and sometimes sarcastic comments, but he saw it in full force in the little smile she offered him now.
"I don't dance," she whispered confidentially, distrust flickering in her eyes for a moment.
He frowned, offended and reeled back, the sounds of the music increasing as a popular dance came on. Clapping and sounds of laughter echoed throughout the hall. "If you don't want to dance, my lady, then just say so." He said sharply, leaning back on his heel and preparing to spin around and flee.
He hadn't talked to her since that moment in the clearing in the woods, when he almost froze when their hands touch. He'd managed to keep his cool, at the same time managing to show her he wasn't always cruel with his cheerful banter to the twins. And now, the feel of her hands against his began to haunt him, he longed to touch her again, if just for curiosity's sake, he told himself. He had taken a risk, guessing that their new found truce would hold long enough for him to hold her in his arms once again, and know if it had just been his imagination, or did the sun and stars *really* sparkle more brightly when she smiled?
But she shot him down. Rejection flashed in his face as he turned to leave but her hand stopped him, and once again she offered him a tentatively smile.
"No, Legolas, I really *don't* dance. Had you asked me to play softball, climb a tree, ride a horse, take a walk, go swimming, I would have. But I *don't* dance," she explained hurriedly, trying to make him understand. He regarded her coolly.
"Everyone dances," he objected smoothly, gauging her reaction as he studied her. His eyes darkened as she sighed.
She shrugged. "I'm not everyone." She said lightly, taking a step back and her hand off his arm as she regarded him silently.
He allowed himself to smirk, before catching her hand. "This, I've noticed," he muttered to her, his smirk becoming a smile.
"Come on."
Grasping her hand, he slowly dragged her towards the dance floor, while she shook her head vehemently, her eyes wide in panic. The soft rustle of her dress as barely heard over the music, but Elladan heard her objections, and glanced over from where he was standing talking with Gandalf. His eyes narrowed, but the wizard next to him smiled, and put a comforting hand on the elf's arm.
"Legolas, no..I don't know *how* to dance," Krystal complained desperately as eyes began to swerve their way while she dug her heels in. Despite that, they were almost at the edge of the dance floor
"You're making a scene." He admonished her with a smile, grabbing her hips lighting and pulling her towards him. "I'll teach you." He added smirking.
She shook her head, "Legolas.."
"Scared, are we?" He interrupted smoothly.
She rolled her eyes. "Reverse psychology isn't going to work." She informed him, aware of his hands on her hips and pretending hard not to notice.
"If you're scared, just admit it. Everyone is scared of something." He continued and her eyes flashed as she rolled them again.
"Yes, I'm sure you're just terribly afraid of getting a hang nail." She snapped, but to her surprise, he laughed, throwing his head back.
"Quite right," he agreed with mock serious look. "Those things are most uncomfortable- I had a nightmare about one the other night." He shivered intentionally, his arms coming closer to wrapping around her as their steps brought them closer to the dance floor.
She stared at him blankly for a moment, before bursting out with laughter. While she was distracted, he quickly led them onto the dance floor, and she naturally fell in step as he led.
Too shock to say anything, and to nervous protest, she clutched herself tighter to him, her slender arms resting behind his neck, as he defly spun them, and twirled them to the haunting tune of the Song of Beren and Lúthien. Krystal listened to the words, sung so quietly it seemed as if the wind whispered them, but each word she heard clearly as she followed Legolas in the graceful dance around the floor. His arms were tightly wrapped around her, and she clutched to him tightly as he led them into intricate step after intricate step, all to the Song of Beren and Lúthien.
i
The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering./i
Krystal had never heard the song before, and listened with interest, though some of it confused her. Gandalf and Elladan, watching them from aside, sent glances at each other at the appropriateness of the song. Elladan watched carefully, with eyes narrowed as Legolas's eyes remained focused only on the being in his arms.
i
There Beren came from mountains cold,
And lost he wandered under leaves,
And where the Elven-river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing.
He peered between the hemlock-leaves
And saw in wonder flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves,
And her hair like shadow following.
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam;
And forth he hastened, strong and fleet,
And grasped at moonbeams glistening.
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She lightly fled on dancing feet,
And left him lonely still to roam
In the silent forest listening./i
Several other curious eyes turned and remained fastened on the odd couple, as the tension slowly eased from Krystal's body and she spun with Legolas, her dark black hair flipping about 'like a shadow following'.
iHe heard there oft the flying sound
Of feet as light as linden-leaves,
Or music welling underground,
In hidden hollows quavering.
Now withered lay the hemlock-sheaves,
And one by one with sighing sound
Whispering fell the beachen leaves
In the wintry woodland wavering.
He sought her ever, wandering far
Where leaves of years were thickly strewn,
By light of moon and ray of star
In frosty heavens shivering.
Her mantle glinted in the moon,
As on a hill-top high and far
She danced, and at her feet was strewn
A mist of silver quivering./i
Aragorn, looking up from where he sat with his brother and several hobbits, caught the look on his friend's face and paused, the fork half raised, poised to enter his mouth forgotten. His dark silver eyes watched the couple intently, darting to Elladan to see his reaction to the odd couple. Elrohir glanced up, following his brother's look, and a tiny light of amazement sparkled in his eye. Legolas and Krystal weren't looking at each other, yet the electricity between them was almost like a tangible thing, something they could see and feel.
i
When winter passed, she came again,
And her song released the sudden spring,
Like rising lark, and falling rain,
And melting water bubbling.
He saw the elven-flowers spring
About her feet, and healed again
He longed by her to dance and sing
Upon the grass untroubling.
Again she fled, but swift he came.
Tinúviel! Tinúviel!
He called her by her elvish name;
And there she halted listening.
One moment stood she, and a spell
His voice laid on her: Beren came,
And doom fell on Tinúviel
That in his arms lay glistening./i
Krystal raised her eyes to Legolas's, who had been studying her the whole time. Her eyes searched his as the words to the song echoed in her ears. To ease the undeniable tension between them, the elf smiled softly.
"And you said you couldn't dance," He chided her gently with a smirk.
She laughed. "I'd hardly call this dancing.you're doing all the hard work, I just have to follow."
Legolas nodded his head slightly in agreement. "Yes; I am such an excellent dancer it makes things easier for you," he teased as he raised a arm above her head, and with a hand on her hip, spun her in a tight circle. Her hair and dress flowed behind her as she fell into his arms, her feet coming closer together as she span, before he tossed her out to spin the opposite way. She finished unsteady on her feet, and he wrapped her up in his arms again, continuing to sway them to the music.
She smiled at him. "You wish," She taunted with grin.
i "As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless."/i
As the song finished, he released her relucnatly, but taking her hand, he led her off the dance floor. When they had gotten to the comfort of the shadows, he smirked at her.
"Was that *so* bad?" He teased, leaning over towards her, the light of the dancing flames catching his brilliantly blonde hair.
She laughed, and tossed her hair gently out of her face. "Yes." She assured him in mock seriousness. "Pure torture."
The look in her eye made him chuckle, but his laugh became faint when she turned questioning eyes on him.
"What was that song about?" she inquired softly, the haunting lyrics echoing in her mind.
He sighed, but smiled as he explained. "It is the song that tells the story of Beren and Tinúviel, or the Lay of Lúthien. Tinuviel, which is her elvish name, was an elf maiden who was dancing in a glade at night. Beren, a king of men, came upon her suddenly. She fled from him in surprise, but he pursued her. When he called her name, she stopped, and they quickly fell deep in love. But 'twas their doom, for the love between a mortal and immortal is destined to be trouble--"
"Wait, wait," she interrupted, her brow furrowed in confusion as she listened intently. "Immortal?" she questioned.
He glanced up, surprised at her. He hadn't known she didn't know the elves were immortal.
"Elves," he explained. "Elves are immortal."
Her jaw dropped, her lips forming a perfect "O" as her face formed a mask of surprise. "You too?" she inquired hesitantly. He nodded. "So you can't die?"
He paused. "Well, we can't die from sickness or diease, or old age. We can die in battle, however.or we can die of a broken heart."
Her eyes widened, but soon became sketicpal. "You can die of a what?" she asked suspiciously.
"A broken heart." He repeated, smiling slightly as she regarded him disbelievingly.
"It's true, I swear!" He laughed as she continued to study him for traces of lies. Finally, she nodded. "Alright then.I guess elves and humans are more different than I thought.hey, wait a minute.you guys don't know a dude named "Santa" do you?" she asked aburbtly, as if the thought just came to her.
His brow furrowed in confusion. "Who?"
She laughed at her own little inside joke with herself. "Never mind. Continue with Beren and Lulu or whatever."
He chuckled. "Lúthien," he corrected. "Anyway, love between mortals and immortals are destined for difficult paths and in the end, Lúthien was forced to forsake the immortal life or her people, for the mortal life of her love. She never saw any of her family again after they set sail for the Gray Havens--"
"The what?" she interrupted again, her eyes wide. "And didn't she meet her family in heaven when she died, or don't some people believe that?"
"Heaven?" he questioned in turn, confused as well. "What is that?"
She stared. "Why don't you explain what the Gray Havens are." She suggested after a moment.
"It is complicated if you do not understand what the Valor and Illuvator is- and we will not go in with that, but basically it is a island of the Seas, where only elves are permitted to go. It is paradise; there is never any pain, or sorrow, only for those left behind on Middle Earth. Lúthien's family left these shores for the Havens, the lands of the West, and she remained behind with Beren, forsaking her immortality for love. All elves, inside, have a deep longing for the sea, that once awoken, is unquenchable until we reach the Havens. That is why the song says, 'His voice laid on her: Beren came, And doom fell on Tinúviel', for her doom was to be separated from her people for all eternity."
"So I'm taking it not a lot of elves fall in love with humans, if they can help it," she surmised innocently, eyes raised to his. For a moment, she felt his hands tighten on hers, and a nameless emotion flickered across his face.
Half light by the fire, half cast in shadow, his face looked troubled, but he worked it into a small smile as he nodded. His eyes were dark as they searched her face, and they looked deeply saddened.
"If they can help it," he agreed softly.
The request was simple, innocent enough. It was spoken politely, even, with a innocent glint of his eyes and a courteous nod of the head. It should have been met with an immediate reply; a "yes, of course!" followed by some cheerful laughter, or a "Oh, thank you, but I'm in need of rest. Perhaps later," followed by a politely sorrowful nod of the head.
But it was greeted with neither, only a blank stare, because somewhere, in some parallel universe, someone was laughing. Hysterically.
Because Krystal didn't dance. She *never* danced. Dancing put all eyes on you, while they critiqued your every move, looking only to find fault, and not stopping until they did. Eyes that racked over your body as you moved it awkwardly in positions the human body wasn't made to be moved in, laughing as you tripped or faltered. Dancing made you vulnerable to the probing eyes that followed your shadow, searching, looking, and hoping for a fault to laugh at.
Why put yourself through that? There was no reason to. Which was why she didn't. Especially when she wasn't among people of her own species, even. She had just begun to feel relatively comfortable, and now this. She didn't want to make an idiot out of herself- she could see the glorious elven dancers, twirling and twisting with a grace she could never hope to achieve.
And it had never been a problem before now, now when she stood off to the side in the Hall of Fire, watching the festivities with an awed gaze. Her dress, rose in color, brought out the blush in her cheeks and the fire playing in the corner brought out the sparkle in her smile. Crystal slippers flirted with the light as she moved, and her eyes seemed to rival the stars as she fought to keep her sense.
Who knew that one simple word, one request, could send her reeling?
She had enjoyed the meal, sitting at the far end of the table with Elladan and Elrohir. Legolas and Aragorn had been at the end, seated near Elrond and a very old man, with an old gray beard and pointed hat. His eyes were crinkly as he laughed a cheerful laugh that brought smiles to those around him. She had a spirited conversation with Elrohir about horses, and had tried to teach Elladan about hair spray. Both twins had been enraptured with the thought of something that held their long, often in the way, hair in place-- 'twas magic, really it was!
She also tried to explain to them the concept of chocolate, something she was beginning to miss dearly. She, like all other teenagers, was addicted to the rich, coca candy and was beginning to be irritable from withdrawal from it. Elladan had promised to speak to the cook about it, but she knew it wouldn't be the same. It would probably even be *shudder* -- low fat.
"My lady?" Legolas prompted, his voice snatching her from her thoughts and bringing her crashing down to reality.
"Dance?" he asked again with a slight smile and she sighed, wishing it was anyone but him-- the twins she could joke with, Aragorn would most likely explain he didn't know how to either, but Legolas? He'd probably laugh.
Her eyes finally focused on him, and he noted with slight surprise the blush rising up on her cheeks. In all the time he had known her, he had never seen her blush.
Curious, he smiled at her as she sighed. Leaning closer, she gave him a hesitant smile, and for a moment, Legolas saw how young she really was. She hid it well, most of the time, behind smiles and sometimes sarcastic comments, but he saw it in full force in the little smile she offered him now.
"I don't dance," she whispered confidentially, distrust flickering in her eyes for a moment.
He frowned, offended and reeled back, the sounds of the music increasing as a popular dance came on. Clapping and sounds of laughter echoed throughout the hall. "If you don't want to dance, my lady, then just say so." He said sharply, leaning back on his heel and preparing to spin around and flee.
He hadn't talked to her since that moment in the clearing in the woods, when he almost froze when their hands touch. He'd managed to keep his cool, at the same time managing to show her he wasn't always cruel with his cheerful banter to the twins. And now, the feel of her hands against his began to haunt him, he longed to touch her again, if just for curiosity's sake, he told himself. He had taken a risk, guessing that their new found truce would hold long enough for him to hold her in his arms once again, and know if it had just been his imagination, or did the sun and stars *really* sparkle more brightly when she smiled?
But she shot him down. Rejection flashed in his face as he turned to leave but her hand stopped him, and once again she offered him a tentatively smile.
"No, Legolas, I really *don't* dance. Had you asked me to play softball, climb a tree, ride a horse, take a walk, go swimming, I would have. But I *don't* dance," she explained hurriedly, trying to make him understand. He regarded her coolly.
"Everyone dances," he objected smoothly, gauging her reaction as he studied her. His eyes darkened as she sighed.
She shrugged. "I'm not everyone." She said lightly, taking a step back and her hand off his arm as she regarded him silently.
He allowed himself to smirk, before catching her hand. "This, I've noticed," he muttered to her, his smirk becoming a smile.
"Come on."
Grasping her hand, he slowly dragged her towards the dance floor, while she shook her head vehemently, her eyes wide in panic. The soft rustle of her dress as barely heard over the music, but Elladan heard her objections, and glanced over from where he was standing talking with Gandalf. His eyes narrowed, but the wizard next to him smiled, and put a comforting hand on the elf's arm.
"Legolas, no..I don't know *how* to dance," Krystal complained desperately as eyes began to swerve their way while she dug her heels in. Despite that, they were almost at the edge of the dance floor
"You're making a scene." He admonished her with a smile, grabbing her hips lighting and pulling her towards him. "I'll teach you." He added smirking.
She shook her head, "Legolas.."
"Scared, are we?" He interrupted smoothly.
She rolled her eyes. "Reverse psychology isn't going to work." She informed him, aware of his hands on her hips and pretending hard not to notice.
"If you're scared, just admit it. Everyone is scared of something." He continued and her eyes flashed as she rolled them again.
"Yes, I'm sure you're just terribly afraid of getting a hang nail." She snapped, but to her surprise, he laughed, throwing his head back.
"Quite right," he agreed with mock serious look. "Those things are most uncomfortable- I had a nightmare about one the other night." He shivered intentionally, his arms coming closer to wrapping around her as their steps brought them closer to the dance floor.
She stared at him blankly for a moment, before bursting out with laughter. While she was distracted, he quickly led them onto the dance floor, and she naturally fell in step as he led.
Too shock to say anything, and to nervous protest, she clutched herself tighter to him, her slender arms resting behind his neck, as he defly spun them, and twirled them to the haunting tune of the Song of Beren and Lúthien. Krystal listened to the words, sung so quietly it seemed as if the wind whispered them, but each word she heard clearly as she followed Legolas in the graceful dance around the floor. His arms were tightly wrapped around her, and she clutched to him tightly as he led them into intricate step after intricate step, all to the Song of Beren and Lúthien.
i
The leaves were long, the grass was green,
The hemlock-umbels tall and fair,
And in the glade a light was seen
Of stars in shadow shimmering.
Tinúviel was dancing there
To music of a pipe unseen,
And light of stars was in her hair,
And in her raiment glimmering./i
Krystal had never heard the song before, and listened with interest, though some of it confused her. Gandalf and Elladan, watching them from aside, sent glances at each other at the appropriateness of the song. Elladan watched carefully, with eyes narrowed as Legolas's eyes remained focused only on the being in his arms.
i
There Beren came from mountains cold,
And lost he wandered under leaves,
And where the Elven-river rolled
He walked alone and sorrowing.
He peered between the hemlock-leaves
And saw in wonder flowers of gold
Upon her mantle and her sleeves,
And her hair like shadow following.
Enchantment healed his weary feet
That over hills were doomed to roam;
And forth he hastened, strong and fleet,
And grasped at moonbeams glistening.
Through woven woods in Elvenhome
She lightly fled on dancing feet,
And left him lonely still to roam
In the silent forest listening./i
Several other curious eyes turned and remained fastened on the odd couple, as the tension slowly eased from Krystal's body and she spun with Legolas, her dark black hair flipping about 'like a shadow following'.
iHe heard there oft the flying sound
Of feet as light as linden-leaves,
Or music welling underground,
In hidden hollows quavering.
Now withered lay the hemlock-sheaves,
And one by one with sighing sound
Whispering fell the beachen leaves
In the wintry woodland wavering.
He sought her ever, wandering far
Where leaves of years were thickly strewn,
By light of moon and ray of star
In frosty heavens shivering.
Her mantle glinted in the moon,
As on a hill-top high and far
She danced, and at her feet was strewn
A mist of silver quivering./i
Aragorn, looking up from where he sat with his brother and several hobbits, caught the look on his friend's face and paused, the fork half raised, poised to enter his mouth forgotten. His dark silver eyes watched the couple intently, darting to Elladan to see his reaction to the odd couple. Elrohir glanced up, following his brother's look, and a tiny light of amazement sparkled in his eye. Legolas and Krystal weren't looking at each other, yet the electricity between them was almost like a tangible thing, something they could see and feel.
i
When winter passed, she came again,
And her song released the sudden spring,
Like rising lark, and falling rain,
And melting water bubbling.
He saw the elven-flowers spring
About her feet, and healed again
He longed by her to dance and sing
Upon the grass untroubling.
Again she fled, but swift he came.
Tinúviel! Tinúviel!
He called her by her elvish name;
And there she halted listening.
One moment stood she, and a spell
His voice laid on her: Beren came,
And doom fell on Tinúviel
That in his arms lay glistening./i
Krystal raised her eyes to Legolas's, who had been studying her the whole time. Her eyes searched his as the words to the song echoed in her ears. To ease the undeniable tension between them, the elf smiled softly.
"And you said you couldn't dance," He chided her gently with a smirk.
She laughed. "I'd hardly call this dancing.you're doing all the hard work, I just have to follow."
Legolas nodded his head slightly in agreement. "Yes; I am such an excellent dancer it makes things easier for you," he teased as he raised a arm above her head, and with a hand on her hip, spun her in a tight circle. Her hair and dress flowed behind her as she fell into his arms, her feet coming closer together as she span, before he tossed her out to spin the opposite way. She finished unsteady on her feet, and he wrapped her up in his arms again, continuing to sway them to the music.
She smiled at him. "You wish," She taunted with grin.
i "As Beren looked into her eyes
Within the shadows of her hair,
The trembling starlight of the skies
He saw there mirrored shimmering.
Tinúviel the elven-fair,
Immortal maiden elven-wise,
About him cast her shadowy hair
And arms like silver glimmering.
Long was the way that fate them bore,
O'er stony mountains cold and grey,
Through halls of ireon and darkling door,
And woods of nightshade morrowless.
The Sundering Seas between them lay,
And yet at last they met once more,
And long ago they passed away
In the forest singing sorrowless."/i
As the song finished, he released her relucnatly, but taking her hand, he led her off the dance floor. When they had gotten to the comfort of the shadows, he smirked at her.
"Was that *so* bad?" He teased, leaning over towards her, the light of the dancing flames catching his brilliantly blonde hair.
She laughed, and tossed her hair gently out of her face. "Yes." She assured him in mock seriousness. "Pure torture."
The look in her eye made him chuckle, but his laugh became faint when she turned questioning eyes on him.
"What was that song about?" she inquired softly, the haunting lyrics echoing in her mind.
He sighed, but smiled as he explained. "It is the song that tells the story of Beren and Tinúviel, or the Lay of Lúthien. Tinuviel, which is her elvish name, was an elf maiden who was dancing in a glade at night. Beren, a king of men, came upon her suddenly. She fled from him in surprise, but he pursued her. When he called her name, she stopped, and they quickly fell deep in love. But 'twas their doom, for the love between a mortal and immortal is destined to be trouble--"
"Wait, wait," she interrupted, her brow furrowed in confusion as she listened intently. "Immortal?" she questioned.
He glanced up, surprised at her. He hadn't known she didn't know the elves were immortal.
"Elves," he explained. "Elves are immortal."
Her jaw dropped, her lips forming a perfect "O" as her face formed a mask of surprise. "You too?" she inquired hesitantly. He nodded. "So you can't die?"
He paused. "Well, we can't die from sickness or diease, or old age. We can die in battle, however.or we can die of a broken heart."
Her eyes widened, but soon became sketicpal. "You can die of a what?" she asked suspiciously.
"A broken heart." He repeated, smiling slightly as she regarded him disbelievingly.
"It's true, I swear!" He laughed as she continued to study him for traces of lies. Finally, she nodded. "Alright then.I guess elves and humans are more different than I thought.hey, wait a minute.you guys don't know a dude named "Santa" do you?" she asked aburbtly, as if the thought just came to her.
His brow furrowed in confusion. "Who?"
She laughed at her own little inside joke with herself. "Never mind. Continue with Beren and Lulu or whatever."
He chuckled. "Lúthien," he corrected. "Anyway, love between mortals and immortals are destined for difficult paths and in the end, Lúthien was forced to forsake the immortal life or her people, for the mortal life of her love. She never saw any of her family again after they set sail for the Gray Havens--"
"The what?" she interrupted again, her eyes wide. "And didn't she meet her family in heaven when she died, or don't some people believe that?"
"Heaven?" he questioned in turn, confused as well. "What is that?"
She stared. "Why don't you explain what the Gray Havens are." She suggested after a moment.
"It is complicated if you do not understand what the Valor and Illuvator is- and we will not go in with that, but basically it is a island of the Seas, where only elves are permitted to go. It is paradise; there is never any pain, or sorrow, only for those left behind on Middle Earth. Lúthien's family left these shores for the Havens, the lands of the West, and she remained behind with Beren, forsaking her immortality for love. All elves, inside, have a deep longing for the sea, that once awoken, is unquenchable until we reach the Havens. That is why the song says, 'His voice laid on her: Beren came, And doom fell on Tinúviel', for her doom was to be separated from her people for all eternity."
"So I'm taking it not a lot of elves fall in love with humans, if they can help it," she surmised innocently, eyes raised to his. For a moment, she felt his hands tighten on hers, and a nameless emotion flickered across his face.
Half light by the fire, half cast in shadow, his face looked troubled, but he worked it into a small smile as he nodded. His eyes were dark as they searched her face, and they looked deeply saddened.
"If they can help it," he agreed softly.