TO PLASMOLYSED CELL MEMBRANE: Yeah probably going to be a Legomance, if it isn't already. But I might bring in other people, depending! =0) Heehee… you'll definitely be getting more information soon!

TO SILCAWEN UVANIMOR-DREAMINGFIFI: Thanks but I don't need any new names. =0)
^^^ Well… for anyone else reading this, you can look her up for elf names!

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Chapter 3 : Lessons

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Gwynna stood next to Legolas to say farewell to her father. She bowed her head, trying to hide her tears. She didn't want to seem a child before all the Elves.

"Have a good journey back to Minas Tirith, Leorian. It would have been good if you had decided to stay with us, but I suppose there must be matters that you must help Aragorn attend to. He is fortunate to have such a loyal friend as you," Legolas said.

Leorian laughed. "My loyalty to him is nothing compared to yours. The adventures you went through together during the War of the Ring have not been forgotten," he said.

Legolas gave him a grin. "This is not the time to speak of that, my friend. Perhaps your daughter will hear more of them during her stay, if she wishes to."

Gwynna looked up. "Oh yes, I would definitely like to hear of those adventures!" she blurted out. "I've heard many stories, but it would be wonderful to hear them in full!" Suddenly, she noticed the magnitude of her outburst, and blushed.

All the Elves laughed, and Legolas turned to her. "Then you will hear them, Gwynna. But be warned, one day will not be enough to tell you everything, if you want them in full."

"Don't worry, she will have time," Leorian said with a smile. "And now I have to be going. I leave my daughter in the hands of the Elves, Legolas."

Legolas gave him a nod, and Gwynna stepped forward to hug her father. "I'm sorry about what I said last night, Father. You take great care of me, and I'm very grateful. I love you," she whispered, holding on to him tightly. Suddenly she was afraid to let him go. She was afraid that if she let him go, he would slip away from her, and she would lose him forever. Stop thinking such silly things, she told herself sharply. Don't act like a child.

Her father pulled away from her, after awhile, and gave her a smile that warmed her heart.

She stood before all the Elves, watching her father ride away.

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"Well, I thought it might be prudent to talk to you about the history of Men," Fenwë said, revealing a book of a thickness that made Gwynna's eyes widen. "Shall we begin?"

Gwynna nodded numbly. Actually, her father had already spoken to her about the history of Men, but she couldn't remember much anymore. It had been a long time ago. Perhaps Fenwë could find a way to make it easier for her to remember, and simpler.

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"Gwynna? Gwynna? Are you listening?"

Gwynna snapped back to reality. Fenwë's talk about Men had been much like her father's, and apparently she had not forgotten as much as she had thought. She had begun her daydreaming again. Daydreaming about sprouting wings and flying over the mountains, flying all around Middle Earth. She dreamed of forests and marshland, gardens and cities.

Fenwë was looking at her strangely, and she blushed. "I'm so sorry, Fenwë. I was daydreaming again. It's a bad habit, I know, but I can't help it," she said, trying to explain her situation the best she could. "I'm so sorry…"

Fenwë laughed. "Don't apologise. Daydreaming is good, at times. Just don't let yourself get carried away. There are times when it is good to lose yourself in fantasies, but you have to remember, Gwynna, always remember that you are first and foremost living in reality." He stood up. "Perhaps we will talk about the history of Men some other time. Now, tell me what you would like to do, what I have to do to keep you from your dreamworld."

Gwynna was silent for a while, thinking. What did she want to do now? The truth was, she wanted to do so many things, but just could not decide. Finally, she shook her head. "I can't decide what I would like to do now. There are so many things I want to learn about, so many things I want to know. I want to learn to fight like the Elves do, I want to learn to speak Elvish, I want to hear the stories of the Elves, I want to…" She stopped abruptly when Fenwë raised a hand, laughing.

"All right, Gwynna, that is quite enough for now. Elvish is something you will eventually, if you stay with the Elves." Fenwë looked out at the skies, and gave Gwynna a grin. "The skies are clear today, it is a good day to be outdoors. What do you say to wielding Elven knives?"

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A moment later, Fenwë and Gwynna were both outside. Fenwë handed his pupil a pair of twin knives. "Now, be careful with these, and watch carefully. You wouldn't want to hurt yourself."

Fenwë took up his own knives, and showed Gwynna the proper way of holding them. Gwynna was a good student, when she was interested (and distracted from her daydreams). She learned fast. Her one problem was that she was clumsy, though. She dropped her knives a few times, and it was a lucky thing, almost miraculous, that she had not stabbed herself. Or him, thank the Valar.

At the end of the afternoon, Gwynna had learnt the basic skills of wielding the knives. Very basic, naturally, but Fenwë was satisfied. Gwynna would become good at it, with time and practice. He was sure of that. Teaching her would be a joy. As long as he tried to avoid the subject of the history of Men.

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Gwynna dined with Fenwë that evening. He was a good companion, and seemed to be able to converse about any topic under the sun. "Tell me about Mirkwood, Fenwë. I want to know what it's like," Gwynna said eagerly.

Fenwë was silent for a moment, as if thinking about what he could possibly tell Gwynna. "Eryn Lasgalen, it is now called. During the War of the Ring, and even before that, it grew dark, and some evil creatures lurked in it. We Elves had to always be on the watch, and we defended our realm with all we could. You will never really be able to picture the look of it, for you have never seen a large forest for yourself."

"Why did you choose to leave, Fenwë?" Gwynna asked curiously.

Fenwë gave her a smile. "Why did you choose to leave Minas Tirith, Gwynna?"

"For something new, I suppose. I still don't really know why. I had never left Minas Tirith." Gwynna shrugged.

"I think you could say I left Greenwood for the same reason. Of course, I had left it before, but I had never seen Ithilien before this."

"Do you have any regrets?"

Fenwë laughed. "If I had any regrets, I would have had taken a horse and gone back to Eryn Lasgalen! No, Gwynna, I have no regrets. At times I do miss Eryn Lasgalen, but you have to think of what you have with you. Ithilien is beautiful, and we have worked to make it so. Each and every one of us are proud of what we have done here, what we have done for this place. We love Ithilien with all our hearts, from the grass under our feet to the trees that give us shade. Remember, Gwynna, life is not about looking back to what you miss, but treasuring what you have with you now."

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NOTE: All righty, done with Chapter 3! Review please! I am reviewer-deprived.