Wow. Lots of reviews for the last chapter. Thanks, everyone! If I miss answering a question, just pester me again (unless of course it would ruin the story to tell you early).

Um... I have some bad news for you all, well, all who are impatient for consistent updates... I'm not going to have internet access for a little over a month, starting mid-August. So, obviously, no updates. I'll update by September 15 (unless the school computers have all kicked the bucket), I promise. And until then, I'll keep updating every Thursday or Friday or Saturday. Probably Friday or Saturday. I'm only updating today because I'll have no time otherwise until Monday... as it is, I should be sleeping now.

The Hobbit Ivy: Alright, Alright! Here you go... ;)

Nienna Silmarwen: She hasn't figured much of anything out yet, and she won't for a while. She's still young... and rather clueless, really.

Lady Anck-su-namun: It is rather bittersweet, isn't it?

D. K. Blackwater: You're either impatient or unwarrentedly optimistic. She's not going to just figure things out, where would the fun be in that? You have to give her a little leeway, after all, she is essentially a teenager just cast into the world. Still rather uncertain, a bit gulible, and rather foolish.

Amberle Elessedil: Your question made me smile. I had to laugh, picturing the trouble that could cause. How many shades of red could she turn in a few instants? Well, anyway... she's not going to just suddenly remember things. They're going to come back very slowly, a little at a time--only when she is willing to accept them, as well. There's the catch. If she can't accept something, she won't remember it until there's nothing else left and she can't deny it any longer. Legolas set up something I've been thinking about. While on Middle-Earth, the elves would have had much harder lives than they have in the Undying Lands. They would 'age' more quickly; become more mature with fewer years. That's what I was putting forth: as long as they are mature enough to accept it, they were allowed to fall in love, get married, etc., because there was always the thought that they could be killed before they would have the chance, otherwise. In the Undying Lands such isn't thought of, and the wait can be prolonged merely because there is no reason to even think of rushing. As for the second childhood... I'm not quite clear what you're asking about. Legolas has known her as a child twice, and she has grown up twice... Is that what you mean?

CrimsonEnchantress: I figured that was what you meant, but wasn't sure. ;) Well, I'm not really sure what the true idea behind rebirth is. I haven't found any stories yet that explain it... and I can't even be sure if the Glorfindel second to Elrond in LOTR is the same Glorfindel that was from Gondolin (is that right?) who died while killing a Balrog. Several fanfic authors have suggested it is, that he was reborn, but I so far haven't found a Tolkien basis for that. If you know, PLEASE, let me know. I'm toying with another story idea where knowing that would be quite helpful... and besides, I'm curious. But, beyond that, my premise for this story is that if there is desire enough, reason enough for them to be reborn, they can be, if favored by the Valar for such.

LadyJadePerendhil: She will eventually figure it out... but he's doing his darndest to be sure she doesn't figure it out before she's ready to know, including blocking their 'bond' as you put it. He can keep her from feeling his emotions, when he tries. He can let her feel part, none, or only some of what he's feeling.

Elven at heart: Not telling! ; p

Thanks also to: lauren, IvannethFuin, LilAznElfLuver, Iluvien, Crecy, plumsy321, and RiRiana

Chapter 7

Lunian whirled when she heard someone, and frowned at him. "How did you sneak up on me?" she asked.

He lifted a brow. "Elves do not sneak, Milady."

She scowled. "I meant, how did you hide yourself so I didn't sense you?"

He simply blinked.

She closed her eyes and groaned softly, pressing a hand to her forehead. She sighed and began her brisk walk through the garden again.

Legolas watched her walk by twice before reaching out to stop her. "Your energy is misplaced."

"What am I to do with it? Every time I try to read something I start thinking about what I should know instead of what I could know. Every time I think to go see a friend, I stop and think about what they do or don't know. I still haven't told those born here what I learned… assuming they don't know." She frowned again, absently looking up at him.

He shrugged slightly. "I do not know if they were told, but I know they knew nothing of it before the truth was revealed to you."

She let out a deep breath and started to walk again, only to come to an abrupt halt. She looked down at the cause of her unintended pause, and followed the hand to the arm, traveling over blue clad muscle until it was blocked from view by light golden hair. "Legolas?"

He smiled faintly at her, releasing her arm. "Is there nothing you can think of to distract you?"

She made a rueful noise and slowly shook her head. "I have even tried listening to the songs… but I only wound up wondering if I knew them once before." She raked a hand through her hair, gathering it at her nape before pulling it into the air as she stretched her arms. Disinterestedly she watched the strands slash across her field of vision, obscuring the prince's face for a moment. "What would you do?"

A faint smile became clear as long fingers slipped through her hair, tenderly righting the strands. "Something to distract my thoughts."

"Such as?"

"Seek out an old and dear friend… or train."

"Train?" she asked dryly.

He lifted a brow. "Yes, train. What, you think we were all born knowing how to fight?"

She rolled her eyes to the leaves above them before giving in to the smile threatening to reward his teasing. The smile faded as she thought about her own predicament… she had nothing in which she needed training. She hated most of the 'gentler' arts, and had never been taught anything that was customarily left to the males. She began frowning as an idea formed, taking root even when she would have shaken it away, trying to tell herself it was a crazy thought.

"What?" Legolas asked, his head tilted to the side, clearly trying to figure out whatever it was she was thinking about.

"I was just thinking…"

"I gathered," he murmured dryly. "About what?"

"Training."

He quirked a brow, but remained quiet, his eyes never leaving her as she continued to debate. At least for a little while. Then he shook his head and caught her chin, lifting her head slightly to look at her eyes, which had focused uncertainly on his. "Does it involve me?"

"Yes…" her agreement was slow in coming, her next statement even more so. "And whether or not I should ask something of you."

His brow lifted again, the corner of his mouth rising with it. "Should I be wary of this request you would make?"

"I don't know."

When her words remained slow and uncertain, he treated her to a boyish grin. "As long as I don't get in trouble," he winked, his grin growing, becoming more mischievous. "Of course, pranking your uncle and father was always good fun. Not that they didn't usually deserve it." He laughed softly at something she couldn't see, long since lost to all but those elves who remembered it. "Come now, Lunian!" he smiled, the sparkle of his eyes fading to a more somber tone as he lifted a hand to settle a few stray pieces of her hair into place. "Ask. The worst that could happen is a refusal."

"And a decrease in esteem," she sighed.

"Never," he declared fiercely, his eyes darkening for a moment before he smiled slightly. "Ask."

She closed her eyes, and gathered her courage. "Would you teach me?"

"Teach you what?" he asked gently.

She opened an eye, seeing he wasn't shocked, wasn't angry, wasn't amused… she relaxed slightly. "Anything. Swords, daggers… I suppose you could try and help me with archery, again… at this point I'd even learn how to wield an axe—I've been told you're one of the very few elves ever taught the skills of war by a dwarf," she teased, though it was all said in something of a rush.

Legolas blinked a few times, obviously working out exactly what she had said in the few seconds it took her to spill everything out. "I believe I am," he answered at last. "And if you wish to learn, then you need to change into your leggings. I will not be held responsible for the ruining of your gown."

"I couldn't care less."

He smiled gently, again withdrawn and reserved. She rather missed the teasing. "But it will hinder you."

Which would aggravate her. In her present mood… that wouldn't be such a wise thing to do. She would end up saying things a lady aught not to say, and most likely storm off somewhere and then be mortified that she had actually done that once she cooled down. Of course, Legolas always seemed to temper her, calm her, help keep her stable. She nodded faintly. "Where shall we meet, then?"

"The training field… where else?" His eyes sparkled with humor again, and his laugh followed her after she stuck her tongue out at him before turning to run to her rooms.

Once changed and as ready as she felt she'd ever be, she ran lightly to the training field, where she knew Legolas already was. His eyes ran over her quickly, and her clothing earned a short nod from him before he rose, tossing her a sheathed sword.

She stared at it blankly, even as she heard another one being drawn.

"Lunian?"

She looked up, her ears warming as she realized she'd been staring at the sheath for a bit too long. "I kind of expected you to pick one of your favorites," she murmured. "Long knives or archery, I mean."

He smiled briefly, but she could see his mind was already on the coming lessons, which would probably not include smiles. "I began with the sword, and often returned to it when healing from an injury. It requires a different set of techniques than either the long knife or the daggers," he smiled again, a slow, warm smile as her ears flushed at her previous grouping of the weapons, "and those are required basics for the others. Learn well with one blade, Milady, and we can move on to those that require closer fighting."

She nodded once, unsheathing her weapon, testing her blade's edge before letting out a breath of relief.

"I would never wish you harm, little one," a husky voice murmured from behind her.

She whirled automatically, the sword caught by his hand before it could strike his side. She flushed. "Sorry."

"You surprised me as well," he countered, bowing his head faintly. "Stand ready."

She blinked but slowly mimicked his pose, focusing all of her attention on him as he began talking her through what he was doing, instructing her on how to block, when to defend and when to attack, how to read the other's intent through body language…

Eventually the words stopped, the only sound being the metallic clang of their swords as they met time and again, one clash not even leaving their ears before the next came. Lunian slowly felt more at ease holding the weapon, and relaxed as much as she could while still fighting. When she stopped focusing so hard on everything he said, she found she did much better.

"Good, very good!" The deep voice's praise rang in her ears. "Now, Luni, you need to watch that step. You're creating a weak spot, leaving your left side open. Anyone who has trained will see it, and likely try to hit it. It they do, just jerk back around and catch them with your elbow, or even the hilt if you can. Take their blow—you've got their blade. Now."

She did as the voice said as her blow was countered in the manner she'd been told, and blinked to see the dark haired being kneeling on the ground, wincing with a hand pressing his middle. When he looked up stormy blue-grey eyes were smiling around his grimace. "Good, Luni. You're learning well." He ran a hand through his hair, settling some of it behind his ears.

He then faded away, the eyes darkening as the hair grew longer and bleached to a fair gold, the skin more radiant and definitely cleaner. A faint smile was on his lips, and he nodded slightly, a silent echo of the other's words.

The sword clattered down from shock-numbed fingers, falling on top of his in the grass.

"Lunian?"

She stared at him, seeing the other so clearly that she closed her eyes, knowing it wasn't real. She was standing in front of Legolas. No one else. Taking a shaky breath, she opened her eyes. "Was I taught before?"

He frowned.

"I… I ask because… I… I think I was. I… I saw a man. A human. He called me Luni, and was telling me how to recover after being hit as you just did."

"What did he look like?" Legolas asked, his voice bland but his eyes eager.

"Taller than me, with dark hair to his shoulders, light eyes that were mostly grey with some blue… dirty…"

Legolas laughed delightedly and wrapped her in an enthusiastic embrace, spinning her in a quick circle. He set her down, still smiling. "I didn't know he had taught you… but it makes sense, I suppose."

Her heart stopped before starting wildly. "Then… it was truly a memory?"

He laughed again, nodding. His laughter continued as her face lit up and she threw her arms around him. When she stepped back his long fingers tucked a piece of hair gently behind her ear, following the lock to its end. "Shall we practice more, or will you finally join your frantic friends for dinner?"

She laughed softly, and felt like dancing with her joy for having recovered a memory… any memory. "I suppose I shouldn't even bother asking who he was… or how he knew the language of the elves as if it was his…" Her eyes widened, and flew to his, even as she nibbled on her bottom lip, hardly daring to think… "Was it him? Was it Aragorn?"

He smiled enigmatically. "You shall have to tell me," he murmured cheekily, before tweaking her nose. "Go clean up, Luni," he teased, turning her towards the buildings.