Alright, I'm back! I still don't know if that's a good thing or not.

I just spent way too long responding to e-mails for The Keeper of the Stone, so I'm just gonna answer questions here before the day has entirely passed me by. I think. Thanks to everyone who reviewed but didn't ask questions, of course!

iria-86: We will get to the 'what more he could ask for' fairly soon...

farflung: Nice to hear from you! Yeah, it's a laptop. There really isn't room for anything else in my room, or car, for that matter. I'm afraid that 'this version' of Legolas is going to seem drastically different soon, but there's a good reason for it. Since this story is narrated by one elf, only what she sees is what we know. Anything else... well, obviously we don't know. So, it's Legolas's turn now, and she will begin to understand things soon... (on to the next review you left) I agree about Eowyn, but I never really understood why she was thrown into the book. She really came across as an afterthought to me. But as for her making sense--you should see the extended Two Towers if you haven't. It helps her character out a lot. (moving on again) Not much to respond to, other than I love knowing someone else thought certain things were amusing never hearing about them makes me wonder if I just have a really off to wall, of overly dry sense of humor. And on, again. From a human view, yup. Way too good. I don't think they really notice, though, since it's the standard. Gimli: poor guy. Alyeni and Legolas are nearly the same height, which is far beyond his, both blond (though her's is darker) and both wearing clothes from Mirkwood. I think we can forgive him this once. I think I'm getting too close to Alyeni through writing this. It kindof hurts to read. (and on we go) Yeah, they recognized Leaf for who he was, which is why the guard took his declaration seriously. Yeah, after reading a few human/elf stories I swore to never read or write another... and then Lunian popped up in my head and refused to go away. When I found out she was half-elven, and able to be reborn... I was lost. I guess you liked it. ; )

Animir: They will eventually find common ground, but that something that just didn't set right when I read what I had already finished the story with hit me, and we have to get around it before we can continue on any farther. I don't think it's much beyond where we are, though.

The Luckiest: I think they're stubborn because I am... but it makes for fun writing, knowing what will make them cave or dig in.

Chapter 39

I brought the blades around in another sharp arch, hitting Eomer's side with the flat of one. He groaned and held up a hand. "Hold." After a while, he managed to catch his breath. "Why did I agree to this?"

I lifted a brow at him. "You didn't agree, Eomer, you suggested."

He groaned again. "I don't know why you messed with a sword at all when you're so much better with those." He took a deep breath and lifted his sword again. He blew the well-earned breath out in a sigh. "Alright. Again."

A few equally disastrous attempts later, Estel cut in, turning me to fight his sparring partner, instead.

Leaf stilled for a long moment, and then flipped one of his blades slightly—the only warning I would get, and I knew it enough to go instantly on guard. The fight was much faster than any of those before. Between dodges I could see Eomer's intent face.

"You'll attract flies!" I warned him, even as I ducked another near hit.

He laughed. "You are very good, Alye."

I heard a sound, nearly a growl, from Leaf before I found myself short a dagger. His were soon crossed at my neck.

"Again."

I retrieved my daggers, recognizing but not understanding his anger.

I also knew that set to his jaw—something had brought out every ounce of determination in him.

He swung quickly—I countered, turning my body to free one blade to attempt an attack, but he countered and attacked too quickly for me to respond.

"Again."

After the fourth rapid round, he snorted and shook his head. "Have you the memory of a human? I taught you more than this long ago."

For an instant I was facing the Leaf I had known, his eyes bright, smile crooked. He was laughing as I picked up the sticks we were playing with.

"Again."

The memory was gone, and I was facing a cold shadow of the one I had known. This elf wore the same features, but the fire was gone. Leaf was gone.

I felt ill. Numb. The world had lost substance and I couldn't feel it beneath my bare feet any longer. I dropped my daggers, and looked helplessly into those cold eyes.

"Again," he insisted.

"No," I whispered. I don't know exactly what I was protesting—the loss of Leaf, the realization of this stranger… or his request to start again.

"Alye. Again." He spoke as if I was a stubborn child, faint lines forming around his lips as he compressed them.

I clenched my jaw for a moment. "You'll have to forgive the misunderstanding," I murmured, keeping my tone as quietly respectful as I could, which was still rather biting, no doubt, "your highness, but I do not care to be a guard in your command. I spar for fun with my friends."

"Am I not your friend?" he asked after a moment, his voice as emotionless as his eyes.

"I had a friend once who looked something like you," I admitted. "But his eyes were almost always bright, and a smile lingered at the corner of his mouth. He stood with ease and confidence. Your eyes are empty, cold. I have not seen a true smile. You stand with all of your own importance—stiff and straight. Please forgive me, your highness, for calling you by my friend's name." I swallowed hard when I had finished, and blinked to clear the watery image of his blank face. Warmth fell over my cheek, sliding down to drip off my chin. As I turned to reenter the halls, Arwen was coming out.

"Everyone come in for something to— Alye?" She reached up, brushing the warmth away. After studying my eyes for a moment she turned me around. "Stay," she murmured, the fire burning in her eyes plenty for me to agree… not that my thoughts were really focused enough on anything to really consider doing anything except obeying whatever command was directed me from those I still considered friends. She marched over to the guys—scaring Estel and Eomer back a step, her fury was so great—and stopped in front of Lea—…Legolas. "Alye was raised to be one of the 'never let it show when it hurts' idiots that parade around in the guise of elves," she snapped out. "As she can't bring herself to respond to what you've done as most ladies would… I shall!" With that declaration, she snapped her hand back and lashed it across his cheek, the force turning his head. I winced as she watched the red print appear in satisfaction. The rest of us moved our shocked gazes from the mark to her furious gaze and back.

When she finished the march back to my side, I managed to murmur "You don't even know—" I was meaning to say that it was him that had caused my unwontedly moist response, but she broke in before I could finish.

"I don't care. Legolas proved himself a fool the first time he let you leave. He's done it twice, and continues to act as if you should be the one to give in!" She continued fuming—and muttering under her breath—all the way to my room, where she paced and muttered as I watched until a soft knock sounded on the door she had slammed a while past. "If you're elven, go away!" she snapped.

"And if I'm not?" Eomer hazarded.

Arwen glanced at me, and deflated, sinking to the chair beneath the window. "Come in," she sighed. "How can you be so calm?" she asked me.

I smiled faintly. "I'm not the one who lost my control, Arwen."

Eomer shuffled slightly in the doorway, looking at Arwen rather warily. "Um… it's dinner time."

"Oh," Arwen murmured, getting to her feet. "Where did the day go?" she mused somewhat absently on her way out the door.

Eomer smiled slightly, after inclining his head to her as she passed. "I figured the last think you would feel like doing right now was sit at dinner, so…" He produced a packet of waybread. "I found where the kitchen help stashes these things you Mirkwood elves seem to exist upon."

I smiled, but shook my head.

He continued as I opened my mouth to speak. "And should you not feel like eating, I thought you might feel like star-gazing." He smiled hopefully.

After considering that for a brief while, I got up with another faint smile and motioned for him to lead. He took me to a small secluded place cut into the rock. It was well hidden, visible from only one or maybe two places in the hall, and had an unobstructed view of the night sky, which I appreciated, as I expect he intended. I found a place to sit and lean back, finally tilting my head up to enjoy that view.

He spoke after a time. "What do elves see, that fascinates them so?"

I glanced at him in surprise, and found him gazing above us with a truly baffled look. "Do you not find them beautiful?"

He smiled gently, shaking his head before turning a soft look upon me. "I find you beautiful. Having lights in the sky is… interesting."

"Lights in the sky…" I mused. "They are much more than that."

"What?"

I shook my head with a sigh, knowing I could never explain. "It is something that just is. Like the rocks—how can one describe their voices, the sensation of hearing them… when it is all that is known?"

"You can try."

"Try, and fail miserably. I've been doing enough of that in other areas, thank you."

"Please?"

He pulled that sweetly hopeful look on me, and I fell for it with a sigh. "Think of everything good, and then take the best of that."

"Like?" he asked with a frown.

"Like… your favorite horse when he looks like a King's horse, or when he's running free and wild, clearly happy to be alive. Seeing Eowyn smile after missing her for months… The warm feeling that comes from joyful songs that strike at the very strings of your heart. The pulse of energy and virulence that comes with a victory… Things like that."

"None of the downsides?"

"No. Purely the good."

"Okay," he nodded, eyes shut, a small frown appearing with his concentration. "Now what?"

"Now, ball it all up, compress it, and you have a star."

His eyes flew open. "That's a star?"

"Of course not," I sighed, "but that's what elves see. The symbol of everything that is hope, peace, strength, light… All shining through the darkness to guide us."

"I would think," he mused after a long pause, "that in such a case looking upon them would serve to mock your sorrow."

"No," I breathed, shaking my head. "They soothe the heart, ease the mind. Sometimes I feel like… like I could be a star, and be eternally happy."

"So you watch them more when you're troubled?"

"It is a rare elf who doesn't appreciate them at all times… but yes. Usually the elf that spends the night watching them is seeking peace not found in their lives." Looking up at the familiar 'lights' I wished fervently that I could pause time, so I could spend eternity gazing up at those calming flares.