Chapter 2

                  Melian watched the glimmering maiden as the girl slipped through the trees. 

*She is as fair and honest as the Vanyar.

Artanis' head lifted proudly sensing the stares of the other Elves around.

*But she has the pride and knowledge of the Noldor.

Melian turned her head, watching her husband lead the awe-filled Finrod around Menegroth.  For some strange reason, Thingol had called off Celeborn's trip.  Melian shook her head, just at the mention of the Elf. 

*He changed his name into the Sindarin tongue as soon as he could.

Melian glanced at the Elf speaking with the guards rapidly.

*It fits him, yet…                                  

Melian's eyes flitted to Artanis.

*Hers does not.  She is not a man-maiden as Nerwen suggests; and neither does noble woman fit for she throws aside her title.  I believe that is what Artanis means.  Alas, Quenya is not a language I know.

Melian's brow furrowed slightly.

*There is some secret she bears; a weight that loads down her heavy shoulders.

Melian watched the beautiful Noldo pause, cool gray eyes sweeping over the Elves, until they landed on one, and remained.  Melian tapped her lips with a small smile.

*This is a development…

~*~

                  Artanis found herself alone as she wandered the inside of the beautiful cave.  She still found it hard to believe that this place of wonderous splendor was a cave.

*Tis certainly no drab cave.  I guess the powers of a Maia can transform anything into beauty.

                  " You should not wander so far."

Even though it was him, Artanis found it comforting to find someone speaking a language she knew.

                  " Why?" She raised an eyebrow.  " What dangers lie in this cave?"

                  " There is the possibility of one of the guards believing you are a trespasser.  You would be shot on sight."

                  Artanis' eyes widened.  She gave a small shrug.

                  " I guess in your company, my safety is assured."

                  " Yes, usually being accompanied by the Captain of the Guard is a good assurance."

She sent him a small smile before falling in step beside him along the underground lake.

                  Celeborn clasped his hands behind his back.

                  " I believe we got off to a bad start.  Forgive my sharp words yesterday.  I should be becoming used to the Noldor since it seems you are here to stay."

Artanis' admiration for him grew just a bit.

                  " And I am sorry for pulling a knife on you.  I am known to be rash at times and last night was one of those times."

                  Celeborn nodded.

                  " It must be hard to come somewhere where no one speaks your language, the people stare at you and you feel out of place."

Artanis gave a small sigh, rubbing the back of her neck.

                  " Actually, I am used to it.  The Noldor hold me in high regard already, so I get the stares and such."

                  " May I inquire why?"

Artanis glanced up before giving a slight nod.

                  " I should have known you would not know."  They paused in front of two trees, growing in a painful semblance to Laurelin and Telperion.  "Imagine these two trees, one arrayed in gold, the other in the purest white, or silver.  It is said that my hair appears to be the light of them, meshed together.  The light was captured in the Silmarils, which-" And Artanis paused to curl her lips slightly in disgust- " Fëanor kept in Formenos-"

                  Celeborn held up a hand, wearing a look of utter confusion.

                  " What say we start at the beginning?  I do not know of Fëanor, whom you speak so-" Celeborn paused, his eyes delving deep into hers.  Artanis was surprised that he was able to read her mind so easily and completely- " I am going to say, lowly of."

Artanis nodded.

                  " And you are right saying so.  I hate the Elf, though he is dead now."

                  " Why?"

Artanis looked up sharply.

                  " Because he-"

She abruptly turned her head.

*Dear Eru, me and my big mouth.  What do I say?  I cannot betray Fingon.

For on the dreadful day at Alqualondë when her mother's people had been slaughtered, Fingon alone with his people had joined in the fight before rightly knowing what it concerned.

                  Celeborn waited patiently.

                  " So it is Fëanor that troubles you?" he asked gently.

Artanis gave a small nod.

                  " Aye, more than most realize."  Artanis gave a small shrug.  " I do not wish to speak any more of this."

Celeborn stored away the name and bit of information he had learned to notify Melian and Thingol of it later.

~*~

                  Thingol watched carefully as Celeborn closed the study door behind him and locked it.  Melian joined them, taking a seat beside her husband.

                  " Angrod was unwilling to give us any information when he came and Finrod is the same."  Thingol announced with a dark look as he balanced his head on his fist.

Melian just shook her head.

                  " They bear a great secret."  She looked at Celeborn.  " Did you find anything from Artanis?"

Celeborn leaned back in his chair.

                  " She spoke of Two Trees and how it seemed her hair was in the likeness of their light.  Artanis also spoke of a place called Formenos where," Celeborn paused, sounding the unfamiliar words with a questioning voice, "Fëanor kept the Silmarils."  His brow furrowed as he searched his mind.  "She hates Fëanor, who is dead.  She almost told me why, but then stopped abruptly."  He leaned forward.  " In that moment, it was clear to me that she is protecting someone.  I saw the likeness of a Noldo."

Thingol leaned forward.

                  " If you saw this Noldo could you identify him?"

Celeborn nodded.  Melian just gave a small sigh, her eyes bearing a sad look in them.

                  " Artanis may be the wisest of the Noldor, but she does not know the extent of the Sindar's knowledge."

~*~

                  Artanis slipped into her brother's room.  Finrod looked up at her from sharpening his sword.  He turned back to his work and then looked back up with a wide-eyed look.  He forgot his sword, placing it aside and rising quickly.

                  " What is it?"

Artanis' face was overly pale.  She leaned against the door.

                  " I almost told them."

Finrod's head jerked away.

                  " Nerwen," he began to reprimand.

Artanis just shook her head.

                  " I cannot keep it a secret any longer.  It eats me up, brother.  They know.  Melian senses it."

Finrod's hands fell on her shoulders.

                  " Who did you almost tell?"

Artanis hesitated before looking up.

                  " Celeborn."

~*~

                  Celeborn turned from giving orders to his men and found the eldest son of Finarfin watching him.  Celeborn made his way towards the Noldo with an easy smile.

                  " Finrod, I hope you are enjoying yourself."

Finrod nodded absently.

                  " My sister has been overly tired for many days.  Please take anything she says as part of an unsound mind."

Celeborn's expression immediately became wary. Finrod noted it instantly.

                  " I do not understand why you tell me this."  Celeborn played with the hilt of his sword before looking up.  " Unless you fear what she has told me."

Finrod's face closed also, becoming a thick mask of nothing.  His sharp eyes dealt tiny spears into Celeborn.

                  " I fear nothing, Sindar."

Finrod turned abruptly and left.  Celeborn watched him, with a slightly dark look upon his face.

*What do you fear, Finrod?  Do you fear the truth of what you have done?  Or what you have not done?

~*~

                  Artanis sat with Melian silently.  Melian pressed her lips together irritably. 

*Again she falls silent after speaking of the death of the Trees.  Shall I receive no other knowledge?

Melian then looked at the shimmering maiden.

                  " There is some great woe that lies upon you and your kin."  Artanis' head shot up, though her expression gave nothing away.  Melian continued.  "That alone, I can see in you, but the rest is hidden from mine eyes.  By no vision or thought can I tell what has gone on or goes on in the West."  Melian's tone darkened.  " A shadow lies on Aman and reaches its fingers across the Sundering Seas.  Will you tell me not of it?"

Artanis licked her lips, praying for a divine trace of words.

                  " But that woe is past and I wish to live in this land, untroubled by the memories.  Our hope here is bright."

Melian looked her straight in the eyes and Artanis could not tear her gaze away.  Melian leaned forward, taking both of Artanis' hands.

                  " I shall tell thee the truth."  Melian sighed sadly.  " I have never believed that the Noldor came as Messengers from the Valar.  The Valar send their messages through Maiar.  Leastways, I have never heard you nor your brothers speak of the Valar, or bring any message to Thingol from Olwë or any other."  Melian's voice lowered.  " Tell me, Nerwen, for what cause were the high people of the Noldor driven from Aman as exiles?  Or what evil lies upon the Sons of Fëanor?  Do I strike near the truth?"

Artanis' lips trembled for a moment.

*You have no intimation of how close you indeed are.

Artanis closed her eyes before telling the tale of what had gone on, excluding the Oath, Kinslaying, and burning of the Ships at Losgar.  Melian sensed more was to come to light, but of it Artanis refused to speak.  So Melian took what knowledge she had gleaned and shared it with her husband.