Thanks to everyone who reviewed: Due to time constraints I'm only answering questions today, save for a thanks to AM: I'll have to check that out, and thanks for the direction!

CrimsonEnchantress: If you really want to know about her past life and have a few spare hours, you could read The Worry Stone. Yes, she knew Aragorn.

Amberle Elessedil: I realize I wasn't exactly clear. I meant to say that while her memories will come with little control on her part, they won't come flooding back, and anything she isn't ready for won't come. She isn't really ready to know who her lover was, and finding out now would make things really awkward, because she doesn't feel what her past self did yet. They aren't telling her anything because they don't want her to begin finding out things she isn't ready to know, or worse, creating false memories. Like with an eye-witness. If they think about it long enough, concentrate, retell it... eventually they're going to forget some of what happened and remember some that didn't. And yes, there are those interested in her as she is now. Ethwan and Irithil being those she is more aware of (in a more she knows but isn't interested, not another form of awareness kind of way).

sarah: fed-ex is fine. LOL. Yeah, it's going to take a while. After all, otherwise there isn't a story.

megs6789: She will remember him... sort of... fairly soon.

Chapter 8

"Lunian, darling! Where have you been!?!"

"Thinking, mostly," she answered, smiling as Irithil kissed her cheek.

"Well, none of that tonight! Valar, we missed you! You shall have to tell us why you've been such a dwarf."

"Dwarf?"

"Hiding in your room like it was a cave filled with treasure," he clarified. "Carathwan had no clue what was going on, and would only say you wouldn't see her, and Nallina wouldn't say anything!"

She shook her head and laughed, feeling almost as if she had been partially asleep and was suddenly awake. "Were you told anything interesting about me recently?"

"You mean besides all of that?"

"Yes," she agreed, smiling as Carathwan spotted her and began weaving her way over through the dancers.

"No. Why?"

"I have something to tell you guys," she murmured, turning to see Ethwan. When she caught his eye she motioned him over. "To the garden?"

"Why?" Ethwan asked, frowning at her over his goblet.

"She has something to tell us," Irithil answered, lifting a brow in an imperious way.

Lunian blinked, wondering briefly why Irithil looked pompous where Legolas, doing the same thing… didn't. Then she shook herself and led the way, settling down on one of the benches, waiting for the siblings to take the one across from her. "Well… you're probably a bit curious about my recent absence…"

"Of course we are. So get on with it."

She laughed softly and tilted her head to look up at the stars. "I was given some rather… disturbing news," she murmured, frowning. "It has been rather tough to deal with, really. I was told that… that I was not born here… but on the other shores."

Ethwan and Irithil both shook their heads. "That wasn't right. I remember your celebration," Irithil murmured.

Carathwan looked at her for a long moment, and then her grey eyes widened. "You were reborn here, weren't you?"

"Yes," she agreed softly, looking at her hands with a sigh. "I have next to no memories of that time… The skill I have in archery is one remnant."

Irithil looked at her in surprise. "You were an archer?"

"I… doubt it," she laughed softly. "Though Legolas admitted he taught me, I feel I was not that good."

"By the end you surpassed any human archer," a new voice murmured softly. He inclined his head slightly to the others. "Forgive the intrusion, Milady, but I have been sent to fetch you in. Your grandfather wishes you to remain for the entire feast this evening."

She let out a low groan, but got to her feet, shaking her head even as she looped her arm through his. "Legolas!" she protested, walking towards the feast even as she argued. "I have only just started feeling that maybe this isn't such a horrible thing to have learned, and you expect me to suffer such a torment as that?"

He chuckled softly. "To be with those who care about you, in a beautiful place filled with joy and laughter… I can see what a torture he inflicts upon you."

She sent him a glare, but couldn't help giving up the slight twinge of annoyance she had when she saw the affection with which he watched her as they walked into the hall. That he loved her was obvious. Now that she knew they had been close in her past life, she didn't feel that it was unusual. Nor did she any longer question the affection she had always had for him. She simply let her mocking fade away into a gentle smile.

When she turned her head to see the room, she was surprised to find most eyes upon them. Her flush was stopped when Legolas started walking, taking her along to where her father and uncle were sitting. Her grandfather was there as well, smiling at them with such pride she was sure for a long moment that she had imagined it.

"I see you found her," Elrohir murmured.

"Of course," Legolas agreed. He took Lunian's hand in his, lifting it from his arm to his lips, before turning slightly. "Lunian, do you remember my father?"

As she looked upon the king she started to automatically incline her head, when a faint flicker of something touched her mind, making her still. Her eyes narrowed upon him instead, and she felt an echo of pain and heartache press upon her from her unknown life. "Apparently," she answered Legolas after a moment, her voice hard.

Legolas's brows both shot up, before drawing together in a slight frown. Then his eyes widened slightly, before he winced. Under other circumstances, he would have been comical to watch. He shook his head and half-shrugged at his father, bowed slightly to everyone there, and pulled her from the room. "What did you remember?"

"Just a flicker of pain. Caused by him," she cut in when he started to open his mouth.

He closed it and smiled. He nodded, using his free hand to smooth some hair from her face. "I know. But it was only for a few moments in decades."

She looked down at the hand he held, and slowly released the tight grip she had unconsciously held him with. "You would know?"

"My father put up with you at first, but he did grow quite fond of you," he answered, nodding slightly. "Shall we return?" he asked after a moment.

She lifted her eyes past their hands to look back at the room. She took a step backwards as her cheeks and ears heated. "After that?!?"

He laughed, shaking his head. "Yes, Milady," he agreed, teasing her. "Those who heard know, little one. They understand."

She looked up at him, wanting to ask 'truly' but not wanting to, at the same time. She trusted him, but would willingly have that extra reassurance.

"They truly do," he murmured quietly, a smile on his face when her eyes flew to his. She had a sneaky feeling he could read her eyes as well as she could read most people's emotions. "Come," he stated after a moment, leading her back into the room.

With a rather obvious blush she bowed her head to King Thranduil, not letting go of Legolas to do so. Of course, she only realized that when she started to move across the room to join her friends and found herself pulling him along. "Oh…" By the time she was aware of what she had been doing, they were halfway through the dancers, so it was hardly gracious to simply let go and speed away. Feeling her ears heat up she continued on.

Legolas chuckled softly, watching her ears in amusement. When they arrived at her destination, he bowed his head slightly to her friends, brought her hand to his lips, and then released her, moving away to speak with Glorfindel.

Lunian watched his diversion gladly, silently thanking him.

"What was the grand escape about?" Ethwan asked, watching Legolas, his blue eyes slightly narrowed upon the prince as he tilted his head to make some of his dark hair fall over his shoulders.

"I had a flicker of memory," she explained, looking down to see she was playing with her thumbnail again.

He snorted, giving his head a shake while crossing his arms over his chest. "Ah. What does your past life matter? You have this life."

"I had people I cared about, there. I saw all the places I have always wished I could have gotten to see. I met people I can never know here… and have all but forgotten. I won't feel right until I have remembered."

She looked up to find Ethwan's attention was on the dancing, Irithil's on his wine. Carathwan rolled her eyes at her brothers and smiled sympathetically at Lunian. She moved around the others to her friend's side, and put an arm around her waist. "Can I help?" she asked softly.

Lunian smiled, looking down at her friend. "There is nothing anyone can do… except distract me when I need to be distracted, and listen when I need to vent."

"Anytime, my friend," Carathwan agreed, offering her another smile.

Lunian was about to reply when the music changed. Mentally she groaned when Ethwan perked up, turning to her with a large grin. "Ethwan, I—"

"No time, Lunian. Let's go!" He drew her out into the throng of dancing elves.

Her protests died after a few turns, for she did enjoy dancing, and she had thought about joining in. Still, she wasn't thrilled with him for pulling her away from Carathwan, so she didn't even offer her usual token protest when Irithil drew her from his brother for the next dance.

The brothers traded her off until she had grown quite bored of dancing, and kept trying to make her way to the edge. She groaned under her breath when Irithil showed up before her, but was turned by a hand on her arm. Expecting it to be Ethwan, she opened her mouth to say she was done dancing, when she saw golden hair instead of the near black Ethwan had. Dark blue eyes sealed her protests, as he bowed his head slightly and drew her into the dance, away from the brothers.

As they danced, Lunian found his effect on her was no less than usual, her tensions leaving as some measure of peace welled up within her. Relaxing into his hold, she left it up to him to move them, letting the music wash over her as it would if she were merely watching.

When the music paused for a moment, she didn't move away, and felt him squeeze her hand lightly. Her eyes snapped open when the music began playing. It was a sappy old song about parted lovers lamenting their separation, and then enjoying their reunion. Were she with Ethwan or Irithil but a few weeks ago she would have been laughing about it, and would have escaped to the garden to avoid hearing it.

In Legolas's arms, with what she now knew of her past, of the one she loved and had left behind through death, it took on new meaning. Through the lament she understood their sorrow, but held onto it when they were reunited, wondering if she would ever know the one who was waiting for her.

Realizing her own melancholy, she tried to shake it off, returning to the room around her to find he cheek pressed to someone else's, a large hand stroking through her hair as it's partner stroked her back soothingly. She took a deep breath, aware the music had stopped, and lowered her head to his shoulder. The familiar scent of forests and summer rains sank into her mind, calming her, calling her farther from her introspection. She tightened her arms around him before moving back slightly, seeking her freedom.

He granted it, to a degree, the hand at her back moving to take her hand as he brushed gently at the skin under her eyes. The moisture he withdrew startled her. His eyes were dark with pain at her reaction to the song, even as he leaned down, kissing her cheek before turning, drawing her along as he headed to the exit. Once they were there, the music began again.

Absently she wondered about that for a moment, but she shook herself, finding she didn't really care if her grandfather insisted she remain. She was weary, and she was going to her chambers. With a sigh she looked up at the elf before her, smiling slightly as she kissed his cheek in silent thanks before turning to return to her rooms.

As she slipped under the covers, turning onto her side to curl up somewhat, a soft voice echoed around her, bringing her comfort.

"Sleep well, my love."