Chapter 1

                  " They approach."

~*~

                  Finrod eyed the forest warily.  He glanced back at his sister.  She unsheathed her sword, eyes flashing with the light of the Trees. 

                  " Tirntë met (They watch us-Quenya)," he whispered.

As if on cue, a hundred or more archers revealed themselves.

                  " Penio I crist dad (Put the sword down- Sindarin)."

Finrod and Artanis exchanged a glance.

                  " What did they say?  Angrod did not say they spoke a different language."  Artanis asked.

Finrod shrugged.  He looked at the leader, making a move to dismount.

                  " Daro (Halt)."

Finrod watched the bowstrings become even taunter.  He put up his hands in a sign of surrender nudging his sister.  Artanis held up her sword.

                  " I dare any one of you to shoot at me.  You would have the wrath of the house of Finarfin upon you before it struck me.  Come out, the leader of you, and face me."

Finrod put his head in his hands with an aggravated sigh. 

*I am going to die and then after Mandos, I will kill her.

A rustle came and Artanis turned towards it, before lowering her sword.

                  What had to be the leader came forward, as if answering her challenge.  He was called back, jerking backward as if struck by hot coals.  Both Artanis and Finrod had to gape as the obvious leader exited the trees.  An Elf of their coloring, light and fair, emerged, his face dark.  Silver hair fell to his waist, an uncommon length for any man, but then again, the hair was unique itself.  The Elf came forward to them.

                  " Forgive them.  They speak no Quenya," he said softly, in a barely traceable accent.

Artanis found she liked his voice, so low and wondrous, unlike Finrod's thunderous tone.

                  " They call me Teleporno in your tongue."

                  " I am Finrod, and this is Artanis, my sister."

He bowed slightly.

                  " We do not usually allow outsiders into our realm, but you have been expected.  The lady Melian is waiting."

The brother and sister exchanged a glance.  Teleporno looked back at them, an expectant look on his face.  Two Elves stood beside their horses, as if waiting for something.

                  " What do they want?"  Finrod asked softly.

Teleporno glanced back at them, amusement flickering in his eyes.  Artanis' face flushed with anger.

*How dare he laugh-

Finrod touched her shoulder.  He recognized the glare too well.

                  " Give them the reins of your horses, please.  Tis not a long walk," Teleporno called.

The two quickly handed the reins of their horses to two Elves before following.

~*~

                  " What do you bring, Teleporno?" a young woman of great beauty, looking as young as the morning dew, though her aged eyes told otherwise, ran up to them as they entered a clearing.

She danced around the regal guard, singing her words with a voice of a nightingale.

                  " They live in caves, Finrod," Artanis whispered, a hint of hysteria in her voice.

                  " You can do this," Finrod squeezed her hand.

Artanis lifted her head a bit.  This was her only weakness: she hated the over covering of darkness.  It was unusual to see an Elf afraid of the dark, but when all you had known was light, the sudden onslaught of darkness had left even her bitterly afraid of a night without stars.

                  " Finrod, Artanis, this is the Princess of this realm, Lúthien."

Artanis smiled at the she-Elf.

                  " She reminds me of Idril," Artanis glanced up, " My cousin's daughter."

                  " They say you are messengers from the West.  What news do you bring?  Why have you come?"  Lúthien asked, her eyes bright.

Finrod smiled, pausing a little.

                  " We have come to see this land."

Artanis met Teleporno's searching eyes with her strong ones.  He knew something was amiss as soon as Finrod had hesitated.  Her eyes probed the silver haired Elf's.  She found she could not perceive anything in his depths.

*I was taught by Melian, lady.  Your mind tricks will not work.

Artanis lifted her head though his words resounded in her head.

*I know the Noldor did not come to see this place.  They were in Aman.  There is something else, and I will find it out.

Artanis immediately decided she no longer liked this silver-haired Elf.  He knew far more than anyone else had perceived.

                  Teleporno led them into the cave.

                  " Welcome to Menegroth, realm of Melian, the Maia and Elu Thingol."

Artanis' jaw dropped a little before she concealed it.  Her eyes turned around.

*This is what I want: something beautiful that all envy.

It was an underground forest.  Elves milled about, climbing the silver and gold trees.  Flowers bloomed everywhere and birds sang cheerfully.  Neither child of Finarfin could identify where the bright light came from.  Teleporno glanced at them.

                  " If you will follow me, please."

~*~

                  The two travel weary travelers instantly straightened as they entered the luxurious throne room.  Artanis' eyes were nearly directly upon the black haired, fair looking woman.

*Melian.

Finrod's eyes were wide as he gazed around.  Artanis hugged her waist.  The architecture was beautiful.  Long white pillars rose high above to cavern ceilings.  Banners hung; jewels and weapons were displayed.

                  " We are home," Artanis whispered slightly, remembering her uncle's abode.

Finrod chuckled a bit.

                  " If only Atar…" he trailed off.

Artanis lifted her head higher sending him an intense glare.

                  " He had no heart for this land.  He betrayed us all."  She shook her head.  "I thank thee for ruining my day with a mention of him."

                  " He was wise," Finrod's voice held a bit of longing.

Artanis shook her head.  Finrod had left his beloved behind.

                  " Welcome, Nerwen and Finrod."

Artanis flinched slightly.

                  " Artanis, if you please, majesty."

Thingol approached them, looking both over.

                  " Yes, yes, I see your blood in me.  We have been watching the Noldor for many years now.  What news do you bring of Aman to add to your brother's account?"

                  Finrod silenced his sister with a glance.  She was far too honest and fiery.

                  " We are seeking revenge upon Morgoth for he slaughtered many, directly and indirectly," Artanis went on and spoke.

Thingol caught Finrod's warning glance.

                  " I see.  Perhaps once you have rested and had a good meal in your stomachs, you will wish to speak of this to me.  My wife and I have seen much foretelling your coming.  I wish to know everything."

Artanis smiled disappeared and her eyes hardened.  Finrod's face had paled in that moment.  Their eyes met for a fleeting second.

*We are doomed.  If they find out of the kinslaying…

Artanis tugged her brother's sleeve as they followed a servant.  She glanced at the Elf, before back up at her brother.

                  " Narlmë queta mana ná anwa (We are to speak what is true-Q)."

Her eyes connected again to his.  Finrod shook his head.

*I will not be driven from here.  Only if they ask will I speak of it.  You best not speak a word of it either, or Uncle will personally exile you.

Artanis rolled her eyes.

*See how well he exiled the Sons of Fëanor.  They still walk our halls.

~*~

                  Thingol immediately bid everyone to leave once his guests exited towards their rooms.  He stroked his chin, glancing thoughtfully at his captain.

                  " The Children of Finarfin have come bearing a great secret.  Something in their eyes perturbs me, especially in the one called Artanis.  She seems too greedy and wanting."

Melian touched his arm.

                  " I disagree, the woman seems open enough.  She could prove to be easy to sway."

Thingol glanced at the walls.

                  " Celeborn," he bid sharply.

                  The silver haired Elf looked up, already expecting a command.  Thingol smiled as he turned.

                  " I wish you to ride out on a mission.  I happen to know where the house of Fingolfin is.  I wish you to ride there.  Simply tell him where his nephew and niece are and then return back here."

Celeborn nodded.

                  " Anything else sir?"

Thingol shook his head.

                  " Leave in the morrow.  I need your perception tonight.  Maidens can easily distract the male, but the female I need someone to perceive her mind," he glanced at Celeborn, " You."

Celeborn forced a cordial look.

*I would rather spend the eve with a Balrog than a Noldo.

~*~

                  Artanis pulled open her door slightly, before escaping into the hallway. 

*And Finrod said I could not evade him…

She brushed the shimmering blue dress unconsciously.  She had never worn something so beautiful since Aman.  Her hair was twisted into a braid around her head with matching ribbons weaved into it.

*So lovely, but unpractical.  Uncle would love me to wear them for they are another form of cages.

Artanis came to a courtyard and was in wonder.

                  The cave ceiling was vaulted, ending with a beautiful mural of what must have been one Elf's thoughts of what Cuiviénen must have looked like.  The beautiful mere that the Elves awoke beside was colored in all shades of deep blues and blacks, with every here and now, a spot of light for a star. 

                  " My mother painted it."

Artanis glanced coolly at him.  He had been standing beside her or more so trailing her since she left her room.

                  " Tis a beautiful depiction.  Does she live here also?"

He shook his head.

                  " Nay, my family lives at Círdan's havens.  They visit sporadically."

Artanis began to move by, not surprised when he fell into a lazy walk beside her.  He was nearly the first male to be taller than her.

                  " Why are you following me?"

                  Celeborn's lips twitched.  If she only knew…

                  " If it were my choice, I would not have admitted you to this realm."

Artanis glanced at him indignation rising up in her.

                  " Why?" her tone was low

                  " The Noldor did not come here for just revenge.  There is something else.  We all know you are hiding it," he glanced at her, " And I was sent to find it out from you."

                  " You think you are so all-knowing.  It makes me sick."  Artanis lifted her head, " Why do you tell me this?"

He shrugged.

                  " I do not wish you to think I seek you out like a pitiful love struck adolescent Elf."

Artanis' lips turned up.

                  " You already strike me as pitiful."

He extended an arm politely to her though his stiff pose showed he would rather walk into Angband naked.

                  " Thank you, Nerwen."

Artanis turned away from him.  He quickly fell back in step with her.  Artanis whipped around, facing him.

                  " Get away from me, Moriquendi.  I am weary of your presence."

Celeborn lifted his chin, seeing the tiny dagger at his throat.

                  " I would put that away if I were you," Celeborn said, " There are more than a hundred archers with arrows upon you."

Artanis chuckled slightly moving back.

                  " My life is more precious than your king's to the Noldor.  I am a leader among them."

Celeborn glanced at her, his eyes dark and serious.

                  " Then tell me your story."

Artanis froze, her haughtiness forgotten.  She slowly shook her head.

                  " My brother will tell it all."

                  " Your tongue is not cut from your mouth.  Tell me yourself.  You do not look uneducated to me."

Artanis' pride flared up.  She lifted her chin haughtily, staring at him coolly.

                  " I will be ordered by no man.  Unless you learn to address me properly, then I do not need to speak with you."

She pranced away.  Celeborn bit the inside of his mouth to keep from yelling in frustration.  At least she was no longer his problem this evening.

AN: Here's a third try at this chapter.  Please R/R!!