Okay, another quick chapter. It's short, far from sweet, but I hope you enjoy!

Thanks everyone who reviewed!

laurenke 1: Those questions will eventually be answered in the story, I promise.

sarah: She will remember in time, but there is a lot for her to get past before she can. It's kind of like knowing you're forgetting something. The harder you try to remember, the farther away it gets. So she has to kind of relax... which I don't see happening for a while.

The Hobbit Ivy: Eventually she will... Slowly. evil grin while twiddling thumbs and staring innocently at ceiling

RiRiana: if you have hours that you are willing to spend to get answers to all of your questions, let me know in a review or e-mail, and I'll point you in the right direction. If not, hang on, and eventually the story will answer them.

juvinile delinquent: There will be another ATB update soon... give me a day or two. As for the emotional uplift... sorry, but you may want to look elsewhere for that.

Ivanneth Fuin: She meant close as in friends, or even like siblings. The other kind of closeness hasn't even entered her mind in connection with him yet.

Animir: You're welcome... and it does sort of make sense. It is sad, because we know there is such a long ways for them to go, and even sadder because he knows it too.

CrimsonEnchantress: That's kind of what I thought of them at first, too, because that's how they're made out to be in LotR. But I started working on this story, and that clearly wouldn't do, and I can't really imagine anywhere ever being perfect... And then, I read the Sil, and found out that the Undying Lands isn't really all that different from Middle-Earth, in some ways. There was fighting, kin-slaying, theft, destruction... the main difference is the Valar live in the Undying Lands and visit with the elves. And, of course, everything is more beautiful. Arda has not been destroyed--men live there. Men, dwarves, hobbits... and perhaps a few elves who never started going west with Orome. The Undying Lands were set apart, and none but the immortals can reach it.

Amberle Elessedil: Did you change your name? I obviously agree with your opinion about subtle touches over groping, since that's how I write my characters. As for his sorrow when she asked about Nallina... They were friends before, but what pains him is further proof that she really knows nothing. The Lunian that died before would not have needed to ask, she would have known. It's more or less a realization he was hoping he could avoid embracing, but ends up having to.

Elven at Heart: She was not married to Legolas... and that's all I'm going to say... for now. ;)

LJP: Almost didn't hear from you in time to toss it in! A strong sap... seems so wrong. I just can't picture it, though I understand what you mean. I'm having trouble with the disk at the moment, so I haven't looked ahead yet. sigh I may have to type it from my old computer over to my new one. I'm pretty sure there is a little more down time before things outside their heads begin to get interesting, but there are other things coming up. After all, she doesn't know who he was...

Thanks also to plumsy321, Kyrie Dawn, crecy, and GinnyPotter4eva.

Chapter 6

"Milady?"

She whirled on another turn in her room. "What?" she asked, far from nicely, though she managed to keep it from being a true snap. She continued to pace, until a chest filled her line of vision. She managed—just—to stop before crashing into him… but only by steadying herself by bringing her hands up to brace against his chest.

His had lifted as well, and gently squeezed her arms before releasing her, stepping back slightly so her hands fell to her sides. "What troubles you so, Milady?"

"Don't ask questions to which you know the answer," she snapped, turning to resume her pacing.

"You have not been in the gardens, nor the library. The woods have not seen you in many days. From what do you hide, Lunian?"

She sighed in aggravation, her hands clenching into fists. For a brief moment she wondered how he could be so blasted calm!! "Nothing. Everything." She let out a sound which was nearly a growl and barely stopped herself from stomping her foot like a much, much younger elf.

"Your parents—your entire family—worry about you. As your friends are. You've said nothing to them since the celebration."

"So what?" she snapped, turning again, growling when the part of her hair that was braided whipped around to lash at her face.

"Lunian," he sighed, stepping into her path once more. "Why do you withdraw from me?" he gently took the braid and set it behind her with her loose hair.

"Because I remember nothing! Nothing! Not one little thing. Nothing out of a lifetime I had before. Not one person, one face, one voice… I remember nothing, yet know I should. How can I be expected to go out there again, knowing that this is so false? I am not the young elf lady I thought I was… Legolas, I—" her anger melted away, her voice cracking as tears tightened her throat. "I don't know who I am anymore," she whimpered.

Legolas closed his eyes for a long moment, berating himself for not coming sooner. He moved forward and gently embraced the young elf, moving her so they sank onto the edge of her bed. "Little one, please, do not torture yourself so."

"But, I—"

"Shh," he soothed, turning her to face him, running his hand through her golden hair. "Your memories will come in time."

"And will change me."

"You are much as you were," he countered. "Though you were slightly more mature, as you had to grow up quickly, there."

"And evil times age even the elves," she murmured, laying her head against his shoulder. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Is there anything about me that is really different?"

He frowned slightly, but continued to rub her back gently. "You are more confident of yourself around others, I would say. But you are much the same."

"As you remember?"

"I remember too much, perhaps."

"Do I disappoint you?"

His arms tightened around her. "Never, little one. I have known you twice from child to adult… do you think I could be disappointed?"

"I don't know, as I don't remember before."

He sighed, shaking his head. "You mustn't dwell on this so much," he murmured.

"How can I not? If you knew a big part of your life was missing, what would you do?" she asked, tilting her head back to look into his eyes.

They darkened as he considered her. "Look for it, and do everything in my power to find it once more," he answered huskily. "But there are other things to consider, Lunian, little one."

She sighed softly. "Like what?"

"Your family. Your friends. Your life did not end."

"Didn't it? How else could I have been reborn?"

"This life is a precious gift, Lunian. You have been given a second chance to be with those you love. A chance to spend all the time with them you wished you had the first time around. Do not give that up merely because you have a few hundred years of memories to recall."

"All these people I loved… are they here? Do I know them? Or are they waiting for me to remember and go to them?"

He sighed, shaking his head. "Everyone dear to you before is known to you now… of those who could come into the West."

She settled down somewhat, leaning her head against his chest, but her thoughts continued their turbulent path. "Do they know what happened?"

"Yes. As do many elves you never knew, though the younger ones are likely unaware of the truth."

"Then why was I never given a hint of this?"

He held her a bit tighter as she let out a deep sigh. "Any hints that were accidentally given would have been ignored. You would have seen them as merely flukes, statements or actions that simply didn't make any sense to you, and as such would have been quickly forgotten."

"As I apparently have a habit of doing," she murmured a bit bitterly.

Legolas smiled ruefully, but didn't respond, other than to brush his fingers through her hair, lightly massaging her scalp where the braid hadn't gathered her hair. She relaxed even more under the tender touch.

"Legolas?"

"Yes?"

"Was I old enough to be in love?"

"Yes and no," he answered softly, his eyes tightly closed with the effort of keeping his voice mild and his body relaxed. He was glad she hadn't stirred to see his face.

"How so?"

"In those times love was accepted when it was found… age wasn't so important. Once of maturity, no matter what age, love matches were allowed."

"So… I could have married at thirty?"

It took him a moment to speak. "Yes," he answered a bit roughly.

"Then it is possible I left a lover? Legolas?" She twisted to look up at him when he didn't answer, but he turned his head away from her. He refused her attempts to read his emotions, and eluded her grasp when she would have pulled him around to face him. "Valar," she breathed. "I did, didn't I? My death left someone alone, someone I loved enough to…"

"You never married," he stated softly, voice still rough with emotion. "You knew you would one day die and didn't wish to leave a husband behind."

"But a lover would be fine?"

"Lunian, I cannot speak as to what made you so firm in your beliefs, I merely know that you refused your lover the pleasure of calling you his wife in the hopes he would survive your death."

Her heart clenched. "Did he?" she whispered, nearly inaudible.

"Barely," he answered quietly.

"Then you know him?"

"Very well," he agreed, holding her a bit tighter.

"He knows I have no memories?"

"Yes."

She stared blankly at his tunic for a long while. "I have met him?"

"Lunian, do not trouble yourself so. If your memories do not return, I can honestly say that if you do not turn to him in love, he will be happy with whomever you choose, as long as you are happy, and at peace."