Okay, I'm a few hours early for my weekly update! Not that most would notice, of course, considering I should be unconscious right about now. I'm heading there fast, so sorry if I've missed something. I noticed one thing--Galadriel's head is now turning, instead of her heads. That's what happens when you're stressed. You take it out on the characters subconsciously. (Picture author with sleepy smirk) Okay, already wrote everything from here down, so, talk to you all next week!
The Hobbit Ivy: Sorry, one chapter per week... unless it's really short or I get like thirty reviews asking for a chapter more quickly (which will never happen). Hope you enjoy this one, though, and find it worth the wait.
sarah: Yup, that's exactly what it is. Much more formal that it was in their respective realms before heading west.
: How did you end up with no name showing? When I forget to put something in there, it just pops back up in annoyance telling me there has to be a name. I'd be glad to be a beta reader. Right now, I'm trying to help a friend with hers, but she's slow about sending them to me, so I have the time. There will be a few times in school when it may take a day or two, but sure. Just let me know. This more or less is the sequel, and there won't be anything more coming from them... because I can't think of anything left to do.
IvannethFuin: Yeah, he almost slipped. He does that, on occasion... ;)
juvenile delinquent: Well, I haven't had a chance to read that since getting your review, anyway. I'll get around to it, though. Just don't tell my roommate. Um... regular updates here, because it's done, but Among the Brambles isn't going to be so steady. I have most of it (as far as I'm thinking so far) written long-hand, but things always change when I get them into the computer, and I'm momentarily stuck for an ending... which worries me, as I usually have an idea where it's going. I ahve a faint one, but it's going to take some time to work itself out. You're a little off--up at five, four jobs, and no school for another month and a half.
LJP: Your review made me smile. I STILL don't know what the real definitions for Legomance or Mary Sue are, but I'll trust your judgement.
plumsy321, Laurenke1, Elven at Heart: Thanks for reviewing!
Chapter 4
Carathwan shook her head, dark hair falling over her shoulders. She flipped it back in irritation. "I still don't understand it."
"Neither do I," she sighed, rolling her eyes to the ceiling before returning to her work. "But it is, and that's all I can say for it."
"But how can it be? How can you be so comfortable around one you so poorly know, and yet shy away from the interest of those you have known all your life?"
"There is a difference, Cara. Irithil is interested in me as a she-elf. Legolas is not."
"Haven't you seen the way he watches you? His eyes never leave you when you're around. I'd find it terribly unnerving."
"I haven't noticed him watching," Lunian murmured, shrugging before wincing, bringing her punctured finger to her lips. She lightly sucked on the wound until the blood flow stopped. "Besides, if he does, it's most likely to see if I need his help or if I desire company. He does seem rather good at providing both, I've noticed."
"As have I," Carathwan agreed. "And so have my brothers."
"What do I care what they've noticed?" Lunian sighed, wincing again as she stabbed herself with the needle once more.
Carathwan sighed, taking the leggings herself. Quickly the needle was put to use without pausing or hesitation. "They think themselves in competition for your affections, Lunian. And now they think he is a threat to them, because he is the only lord invited to the family gathering they're having for your ceremony tonight. They think it shows your parents favor him over them."
"I couldn't blame them, if it were true, but his presence is merely because he and Da were such good friends on the other shores. He hasn't visited all that often, so when he does, he's included in everything." She picked up the other piece of clothing she had planned to mend.
"Yet you spend more time with him than your father does."
Lunian stopped searching her tattered tunic for holes, considering that. "I suppose I do, don't I? Well, as I've said, it is just the way of things. I feel so comfortable around him, as if I've always known him, as if I know him better than anyone, to the point where checking his emotions should be merely a reassurance, rather than a reference point."
Carathwan's sure movements hesitated for a moment. "You don't do it to me, do you?"
"Hmm? Oh, not really."
"What does 'not really' entail?" she insisted, a bit rueful and cautious at the same time. It unnerved her whenever she remembered Lunian could feel the emotions of others. It kind of made her feel like she'd forgotten half of her clothing as she dressed.
"If you're experiencing anything large, I can't help but feel it. Smaller things I don't focus on unless I'm concerned."
"Then why would you do it to him? Shouldn't he get more privacy than you give me?"
Lunian frowned, letting the tunic fall to her lap. "I… I never thought about it. I just do it. Check his emotions, I mean. Maybe it's because he can shield himself from me so well, that what little gets through is what would be in the eyes of most elves."
"Lunian!"
"What, Nallina?" she asked, tilting her head to the side as the frustrated elf walked in.
"You aren't ready yet?"
"Why should I be? It doesn't start for another hour."
"Yes, but there are presents before hand, you know. You should be there soon!" Nallina grabbed her hand and pulled her up and then down the hall. "See you tomorrow, Cara!"
"You two had better! Bye Lunian, Lina."
"Bug your brothers for me!" Lunian called, before they were out of polite shouting distance. "Oh, really, Lina. It's not like it takes forever to change into a dress."
A soft chuckle caught her ear. She looked up to see Legolas lounging in the door beside hers. "I think the forever part is convincing you into the dress, little one."
"It is indeed," Nallina agreed, pushing Lunian into the room before bowing her head. "Excuse us, Lord Legolas."
"Of course, Nallina." He inclined his head slightly before Nallina shut Lunian's door.
"That was rude, Lina," Lunian murmured. "You shut the door in his face."
"He understands that I intend to see you dressed and present on time. Now hurry up!"
With a grumble Lunian picked up the dress her mother had set out. To her surprise, it wasn't bad. She could even climb a tree in this, if she wanted to. With far fewer protests than normal she scrambled into the gown, glad that after that night her wars about clothing would be over. They couldn't protest what she wore, because she was old enough to decide. Which was why Carathwan had merely rolled her eyes when she saw what task Lunian had brought along to do as she chatted. Or maybe she had rolled her eyes because she knew hoe horrible at such domestic tasks Lunian was.
On her way out the door her eyes fell on the bow Legolas had given her. It was an incredible gift. Merely being from Mirkwood was enough to make her treasure it, but it was a princely bow. That he had given her his bow had surprised her, and yet… somehow it didn't feel wrong, as it would have if someone else had given her such a personal gift. She drew a finger along the curve, wondering what stories it would tell if it could.
Considering her train of thought, she was fairly delighted to find the conversation centered around the amateur archery trials that were coming soon when she finally reached her grandfather's sitting room. "Shall you watch, Lunian?" Elladan asked, tilting his head at her. "I hear your young friend has been training to enter."
"I thought I might enter, actually."
The room was still for a moment, and she used that moment to catalog who was there. Everyone except Legolas, in fact, was there already. "You are kidding," Elladan murmured with a tight smile, almost as if intending to influence her own opinion.
"No. Why should I be? The trial is for anyone who has not been in a previous competition or trained for more than a dozen years. You can use neither my age or sex against me—Carathwan entered when she was merely thirty." She smiled slightly at the memory. Ethwan had been very annoyed when his father said his baby sister did better than he did, giving her his place in the competition. He had trained rather obsessively in the last few years, spacing out his limited training time while encouraging Carathwan to become more… feminine.
"Entered what, if I may?"
She turned to see Legolas as he walked in. "I beat you," she murmured.
"I was detained," he murmured, bowing his head slightly to those present. "What is it you wish to enter?"
"Tell me first if you think I should be excluded."
"As I don't know what it is, I can hardly do so. But I will go so far as to say I see no reason age or gender should exclude you."
She winced slightly at his much gentler speech, but kept her focus on him. "The archery trial for amateurs."
He frowned slightly, looking at her father for a moment before tilting her a look. "You do not qualify."
"I think I'm good enough to enter. It's not like I'm still too young to draw a full sized bow."
"You are too good to enter, Granddaughter," Elrond murmured. "Unless I am very much mistaken."
"But it is for all who have not competed," she paused, waiting for anyone to protest that she had, "or have not practiced above a dozen years. I haven't—" she paused mid-argument at the looks she was seeing. Guilt, pain, hesitation filled the room and swirled in her mind. Seeking calm, she looked first to her great-grandmother Galadriel, only to find the emotions came from her as well, with pity and sympathy. She turned to Nallina, but her friend wouldn't meet her eyes. Finally she looked at Legolas, who looked back with a thankfully enigmatic expression. She had never been so thankful for his shields against her 'gift'. "Legolas?"
He took a deep breath, his dark eyes closing for a long moment. "You have studied archery, Lunian. To some degree, at least."
"I have not!" she looked at him in utter confusion. "How could I possibly have done something I don't remember? The years it would have taken to be so at ease…" she trailed off. "You were born knowing this," she whispered, her eyes focusing sharply on the prince, who winced slightly at her gaze. "What does this mean?" she asked softly, before looking at the entire room, all of whom seemed to know the answer, none wishing to explain. Few even met her eyes.
Lenaith finally took it upon herself to move forward, sitting beside her daughter. "Lunian, dear one… in my previous life, I had a child. She lived and died on the other shores. I never knew her, but I've been told she enjoyed everything that was life, and loved it all with a joyful heart, for all that her life was so short."
Lunian was silent for a while after her mother had finished. She had a terrible feeling of warning. It felt like her life would never be the same once she heard whatever everyone was afraid to say. Like pain would become as familiar to her… She looked up at Legolas, recalling his words a few weeks past as he sent her from his room with her new bow. "You knew?"
"They asked me to be here when they told you," he agreed quietly.
"Told me what?" she whispered, looking down at her hands, wishing she could shake the horrible feelings compressing her chest. The thumb of her right hand played with the nail of her left. "Please," she breathed, "someone just tell me."
Legolas looked up at Lenaith. She took a deep breath and moved closer, wrapping an arm around her daughter's waist. "Her name was Lunian, dear one."
Lunian frowned, not quite comprehending. "We share a name?" she asked, confused.
"And a soul," Galadriel murmured quietly. "You were reborn to our people."
Panic warred with denial. "Bit I don't have any memories—"
"You did, once," Elrohir interrupted, trying to keep his voice soothing in the hopes she wouldn't give in to her rising upset. "Your years here without reminder of them has allowed you to either forget or believe them nothing but moments of idle fancy… but now that you've come of age, you should begin remembering."
"I should or I will?"
"Both," Galadriel murmured. "There is much from your past life that needs to be recalled."
"Why? What could there be? You said she… I died young."
"No, she didn't," Legolas cut in. He waited until she lifted her eyes from the stone floor to his dark eyes before continuing. "You have wished you could have seen some of the world we speak of? You have. You've seen Imladris, Lothlorien, Eryn Lasgalen, Fangorn, and even Gondor and Gimli's Glittering Caves. You have been to Rohan. You have met kings and governors, humans, elves, dwarves and hobbits who you will never be able to know here." He leaned forward slightly. "You have forgotten many people that you cared deeply about, and it would have pained you greatly to consider doing so."
She took a deep breath and dropped her eyes to her hands. After a while the silence was insufferable. "Excuse me," she breathed, escaping the room.
"Was that truly necessary? Couldn't she have just begun remembering on her own?"
Galadriel shook her head, though she smiled gently at the distraught she-elf. "Your daughter is fair as she is, true. But her spirit was complete before. She will never be truly happy until she understands what is lost."
"She feels something is missing, Lenaith," Legolas murmured quietly, once he finally turned his head from the door Lunian had escaped through.
"She said so?" Nallina asked, her eyes lifting in surprise.
Legolas nodded, his eyes even darker for a long moment.
Nallina sighed. "It's odd, isn't it? I miss her… and yet, I love her, too."
"It's not so odd," Elrohir countered, running a weary hand over his eyes. "I think most here agree with you. The old Lunian can never fully come back. That isn't possible. But she can remember, and be at peace… someday."