NOTE: Well here goes chapter 6. Not exactly a happy chapter. And not very long either.

TO ELVEN SWORD: Still haven't exactly figured out the meaning of "composy" but I don't think I should change my writing style suddenly for this fic or else it'd be weird. Slowly and gradually, I'd try!

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Chapter 6 : Death And Love

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"Faramir was a good man in life. A man of honour, loyal to his country, and his king…"

Gwynna stood with the women, a black veil across her face. A tear rolled down her cheek. She had not known Faramir, Prince of Ithilien, very well, but she had spoken to him a few times, and he had always been kind and courteous to her. She had also heard great stories of him. He always put the issues of his people above his own personal issues, and had served his king well. It was a pity to lose him. Sometimes she wished that everyone could live forever, just so that no one would have to endure the bitterness of parting.

She looked over to Éowyn, Faramir's wife, standing before all the women, weeping silently. Éowyn loved her late husband dearly, more than she had ever loved anyone. At least she had not been left alone. She had her children to mourn with her, and look after her.

Gwynna sighed. She hated death, hated it with a vengeance. It stole people away from their loved ones. It stole her mother from her, and now it stole Faramir from his people. It wasn't fair.

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"You've been very quiet today," Legolas remarked after dinner. "Are you feeling all right?"

"I'm fine," Gwynna replied.

Legolas studied her face. She had not smiled for the whole day, which was something unusual for her. He supposed that she would be upset about the passing of Faramir, but he could also tell that there was something else. Gwynna was far from being all right. He knew better than to force her to tell him about her troubles, though. That never led to anything. "I'll be right here if you need someone to talk to. You know that, right?"

Gwynna nodded absently. Legolas left her to her thoughts.

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Legolas sat outside the hall at Emyn Arnen, looking up at the stars. He heard footsteps, but did not turn. Gwynna would come to him soon enough. He wondered what was troubling her. It was late, and the night was cold, giving little reason for her to be out of the warmth of her blankets.

"Legolas?" Her voice was small, as if she was afraid of something. He turned to see her standing behind him, holding her cloak close. "I couldn't sleep. May I join you?"

"Of course you may, Gwynna. You know that you are always welcome."

She sat down next to him, shivering a little. "Couldn't you sleep either?"

Legolas gave her a small smile. "No, I couldn't, so I decided to come out and look at the stars. Stars can soothe a person, sometimes. What is it that troubles you?"

"I was thinking about death, about what it does to us." Gwynna sighed, shaking her head. "I hate it so much. I've never hated anything like this before. I hate what it does to everyone. I hate having to be parted from a loved one, parted forever. I hate losing a person. Why can't we all be immortal?"

Legolas took her hand in his. "Don't wish for immortality. It isn't always a gift. Death can teach us to love a person while he or she is alive. It can teach us to treasure our loved ones. Do you think you could love a person as much if you knew that you would be bound to him for the rest of your days, never to part?"

Even in the night Legolas could see the tears that came to Gwynna's eyes. "Death took away my mother, before I was even old enough to love her like I should," she whispered. "Death took my mother away, leaving my father grieving, and me all alone."

And then he understood. This was not about Faramir, not at all. It was about her mother, and the wound that time would never heal. No matter how long ago it had happened, the fact that she never knew her mother gnawed at Gwynna. No one could erase the pain, and try as she might to be rid of it, Gwynna would have to carry this hurt around with her for the rest of her life. He said nothing, not knowing what he could possibly say.

"I can barely remember my mother," Gwynna confessed after a long silence, her voice shaking. "I only remember that I thought her beautiful, like princesses in the children's stories I had heard. She was always smiling; I never saw her in despair. Even in her last days, she would smile at me. And I didn't know what she was going through. I never thanked her for what she had done for me." Gwynna turned to face Legolas. "Did you know my mother, Legolas?"

Morwenna's face came to mind, and he said nothing at first. He had never spoken to her, but had seen her around with Leorian. Gwynna was right, Morwenna had always seemed to be smiling. A young woman, devoted to her husband and daughter. "Your mother was a beautiful, in more ways than one. She loved life, and from what I could see, she lived it to the fullest. I believe she left life with no regrets." Gwynna did not seem very much comforted, and so Legolas continued, "I also believe that she is watching over you, loving you, just like she did when she was alive. And I am sure she is proud of you."

"Why would she be proud of me?"

Legolas looked into the eyes of the maiden sitting next to him. How could she not see how lovely she was? How special she was? "Because you, too, are a beautiful, in more ways than one."

Gwynna looked down, a small smile creeping into her face. "You're just saying it to make me feel better."

He lifted her chin, making her look back into his eyes. "I'm saying it because I mean it."

The kiss he gave her was more heartfelt than anything he had given anyone before.

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NOTE: I'm a hopeless romantic, so if you found that overly mushy you have to forgive me. =0)