Okay, guys! You know, it's a pyschological fact (you may begin snoring now) that people tend to recall only the negative responses that they get. The denials and renouncements are more salient than positive commendments. Which is why people who cloak incomplete criticism with complements are so annoying to authors, as one bad one wipes out so many good ones. Oh well. Most don't bother to continue reading to get to the point that I can respond, which makes my annoyance rather impotent.

(Okay, Wake up)

That said, a new chapter's up (obviously), and I apologize for the slight delay, but things have gotten really, really hectic here. I was up till today working on a project. I'm just so happy it's Friday! Just seven more hours of schooling and work, and then I'm off... for a day before I have to start on projects and papers. Sigh.

Alright, enuogh self-pity! Thanks for all the reviews!

Laurenke1: What kind of answers do you want?

Kaelyne: I don't suppose you've read this far? Well, in answer to your criticisms, I prefer drawing my readers in by getting them involved in the story, the interplay between characters, rather than the characters themselves. I find it exceedingly dull to start a story and find myself inundated with loads of information all at once--it's quite tedious and seems very irrelevant, at least until I know enough to know if I care to know more. While that may be just me, it's just me writing this story, and I tend to write things that I would like to read. As for Lunian's originality, she isn't new to the world of fanfics. She is a recreated character--who is still, by chapter two, a child in the ways of elves. The main premise of this story is having her grow up as she remembers her past life, as she matures into seeing everything that once was, and can never be again. As for the leggings and tunics verses dresses, if you've continued to read, you'll find that she only dresses in them when it's appropriate for her to do so. She denies dresses at the beginning more to annoy her mother than anything. I think i'll just stop here, or I may never get to my mid-term.

CrimsonEnchantress: Yes, The Worry Stone is the name of another story of mine... that one is completed online, though. Should you read it, a few little ironies and twists would become apparent when reading this story. I haven't read many Harry Potter fics... and I frankly don't have time until at least the new year. Classes are rather heavy this term.

Raider-K: Oh, no! Now I'm going to be paranoid that I can't live up to such a wonderful review! Very few people seem to really notice Legolas, he's just kind of there as window dressing for most of them. Thanks for appreciating him!


Chapter 17

"Dear one, what are you doing?"

"Looking for something," she answered, digging through her wardrobe.

"So I gathered. What?"

"I'll know it when I find it. If I find it." She threw more things over her shoulder, having given up on a careful search a few hours ago.

"If you find it? Lunian, what—"

"Mother, please! It is very important that I find it. Somehow I have to find it. I have to."

"Find what?"

"My worry stone. I know I had it, I've seen it in this life. I just don't know where." She moved to the small table by her bed and began overturning its drawers onto her bed. When she was done she was looking at a lifetime's accumulations of small odds and ends, each one with a memory attached. She shifted through, pausing as she found a small grey stone. Her fingers shook as she picked it up, scooting things out of the way to have a place to sit as she traced the silver lines in the blue grey stone.

She was aware of the question having been asked, though she hadn't caught the voice. Still, she knew who it was, and she smiled. "My worry stone," she answered, opening her hand for him to see.

The garden scene she had grown so used to faded away, but her smile remained. A memory of Legolas. Finally. Of course, she hadn't heard him, nor even looked up from her worry stone. Still, she knew it was him.

"Lunian?"

She looked up at her mother. "Hmm?"

"I take it that's it?"

"Yes." She smiled and clutched it tightly, feeling better now that she held it again. "When did Legolas say he was coming back?"

"A few days is all, Lunian. You are quite lucky he found you."

"He didn't find me, Mother. I floated right at him."

"But he still found you."

Lunian rolled her eyes, not bothering to mention he had probably sensed her, which explained why he had been so unwilling to let her go. Not that she had minded riding with him. Once she realized he had likely sensed her just floating towards him, she had been quite willing to let her dear friend hold onto her. "Yes, he found me," she agreed after a minute. The sensation of riding against another elf had also been quite familiar, bringing several memories back. All about the one she had loved, the one she couldn't remember.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm remembering more everyday, Mother."

"Something about this, then?" she asked, lifting Lunian's clenched fist.

"Yes. I just don't remember how I got it here."

"Legolas brought it when he crossed," a new voice stated from the door. "Lunian, this place is a disaster."

"You've seen worse." She smiled up at him. "And I think I've seen you create worse, Ladan."

He tilted his head at her, a warm smile slowly working its way across his face. "You have," he agreed, grinning.

She looked down at the stone, feeling better just having it. Her fingers were rolling it automatically, her fingers brushing over it much as they used to play with her nail. She closed her eyes, shaking her head slightly, wondering how many other unconscious things she did that had basis in her previous life. They were so automatic, so thoughtless… that it might take someone else noticing for her to ever become aware of all of them.

"Perhaps we should leave you to your memories," Elladan murmured, looking at his twin's wife.

"Thank you," she answered as her mother would have protested.

Lenaith sighed but nodded. "Very well, dear one."

Lunian watched them go, and then let her thoughts turn back to the memory of finding her worry stone. Suddenly she frowned, looking at the stone as if asking it to tell her what she suddenly needed to know.

Getting to her feet she shakily ran down the halls until she was standing in the study. "Father?"

"Lunian? What is it?"

"Why… why didn't I call you father? Why did Arwen call me her little sister?"

Elrohir's eyes closed, pain crossing his face. "Lunian," he sighed. "I…" He shook his head, swallowing a lump in his throat. "I don't think I can say this again," he breathed.

"Say what?" Lunian asked, dropping to her knees in front of him. "Father, please."

Opening his eyes, he took a deep breath, easing to the floor. He reached out and ran a hand through her hair, gently, reverently, as if she would vanish before him and he would never see her again. Then he moved his hands to her shoulders, holding her tightly enough she would have protested if his next words didn't stop her. "Lunian… I was not your father."

She blinked, staring at him with wide eyes. "What?" she asked, looking at him for a sign she hadn't heard him correctly.

"I was not your father, little one. Not by blood. In every other way, I was, but your blood wasn't mine." He held onto her even tighter.

"But… no! Mother wouldn't have… she wouldn't…" Fear and pain jerked through her, fixating her eyes on the grey ones across from her. "Father?" she pleaded, her voice high and shaky.

"We were to be officially bound. She was brought in near death. I…" He shook his head. "I will not tell you what she looked like. If I could I would forget it. Slowly she healed, and woke… and later had you."

She pulled back, her instincts trying to get her far away from that which was causing her pain, but he held her tightly, having failed to do so the previous time he told her. "No," she protested, tears beginning to fall.

His misery embraced her, assuring her it was true. "Yes, Lunian."

She closed her hand over her worry stone, rubbing it almost frantically as she thought about things. Slowly a numbing thought washed over her, and though she tried to dismiss it she knew it was true. Knew that no matter what she could come up with, she was right about this. "I was mortal. He was human."

Elrohir's increased pain along with a twinge of anger was enough to confirm it for her.

She pulled back at last, and started to run out, but barreled instead into a firm body with arms that came up to surround her, holding her tightly. She started to fight for her freedom until she realized who it was. With a low sob she clung to him, wrapping her arms around his neck when he picked her up.

When her tears had long since ceased to fall she opened her eyes, staring blankly at the wall of her bedroom, seeing the mess she had created in her search for her worry stone. She looked down at it now, opening her fist to watch as she trailed the lines that ran through it.

"Is that what you were looking for?" he asked softly.

She nodded, her cheek moving against the material covering his thigh. She took a deep breath, soaking up all of the comfort and calmness she could gain from his presence. "You weren't supposed to come for a few weeks. But then you changed it and said just a few days… and now you're here even earlier. Why?"

"When you told me you remembered finding your worry stone, I figured you would start piecing a few things together."

"You came for me," she sighed softly, tightening her hand where it lay before tucking it under her cheek.

"Yes," he agreed, running his hand through her hair.