Hi! I find it amusing that some people think I'm a horribly slow updater, and others think I update quickly. Oh well. I think I have this new editing thing figured out.
Garfieldboxershorts: Very interesting name.
IvannethFuin: Does she know who loves her? Legolas? If so, yes, but she thinks it's as a friend, as a sort of uncle.
sharon: Her friends are still quite young, except for Nallina. Ethwan is just a year past being technically an adult, and Cara is still considered a child. She, with her sudden understanding of some things that take time and experience, her re-found memories of her past life, is truly an adult now, while they are still on the childish side. Ethwan feels that separation, but doesn't know how to deal with it. As for Legolas, it's again a matter of age. He's by far their elder, and a well known warrior, prince and lord. They are simply young elves, and so hold him in awe, in a way, though not enough to fail to be irritated if he monopolizes Lunian's time.
Raider-K: Tanthien's emotions are far deeper than annoyance at Legolas's time with Lunian. Her friends are annoyed. He's furious.
Zeriae: No, I like getting questions. Maybe that's wierd, but at least if I get questions, I know people are reading and care enough about understanding to ask. Please, feel free to ask!
CrimsonEnchantress: I'm afraid some things will take a little longer, as she's going to confuse herself...
Chapter 19
"So, Milady, what do you wish to do today?"
"What do you mean?"
"I don't wish to spar. What would you rather?"
"Oh." She blinked, looking down at her leggings for a moment before laughing. "Well, no matter what we start with, we will likely end up with me brooding over things forgotten before we fall to dreams against each other."
He smiled gently, tilting his head up to the sky. "Well?"
She chuckled softly, before pouncing upon him, knocking him to the ground as she tried to find ticklish spots. He caught one hand quickly, but she managed to wrench free. The only annoying part was though she had him pinned to the ground—except for his hands—she couldn't find a ticklish spot. She growled in annoyance, and ran her fingers along the inside of his upper arm while trying his sides again. When he froze, her eyes widened. Then she smirked as his widened, before he redoubled his efforts to catch her hands as she went for the sensitive skin.
Finally he bucked against her, getting her off balance long enough to roll on top of her, catching her hands before going to her ticklish spots without error. She drew one leg up, her knee at his hip for a moment before she twisted, inserting her foot between their bodies only to kick, getting her freed as Legolas was tumbled to the side.
She raced to her horse, leaping up and racing off, laughing as she heard Legolas's horse coming after her. She considered her options. With Ethwan or Irithil, she would simply leap into a tree and tell her horse to continue for a while before doubling back, assuring they would follow her horse for a time. That wasn't possible with Legolas, since he could sense her presence. As hiding was out of the question, and outrunning him was next to impossible… She didn't have many options. She could lose, or surrender to being tickled mercilessly.
Or…
Another smirk touched her lips, even as she eyed her surroundings carefully. She chose her path before leaping into the trees from her horse's back, smiling as she heard Legolas turn his around before the gentle tingle in her mind that he was began coming towards her in the trees.
She laughed as he began catching up to her, and ran from the branch, arching herself into the air.
Legolas paused, a ragged smile on his lips as he watched the young elf fall through the air. Her arms were extended as if wings, before they slipped together above her head, joined to part the water.
Her laughing green-flecked silvery-blue eyes gazed up at him from golden hair made darker by moisture. Before he could think about the change, he dove down to meet her, swimming so he came up beneath her, pushing her towards the sun.
She laughed, the sound cut off in a small shriek as she fell back into the water. An all out water war ensued, ending when Legolas caught her hands, holding them above her head, forcing her to rely on him to remain above the water. He eyed her for a long moment, her unusual eyes glittering with playful enthusiasm, her ear tips flushed, water glistening on her skin.
"Legolas?"
He released her hands, propelling himself backwards and away from her.
"Legolas, please," she murmured, following him slowly. "What is it? What's wrong?" When he didn't answer, she grabbed his shoulder, trying to wrench him around. Since they were in the water, she only partly succeeded—mostly pulling herself around to face him, instead. "Egola?"
He closed his eyes, those eyes nearly black with pain. "I'm sorry, Milady. I just saw… a ghost of my own memory."
She frowned, reaching up to move a wet bit of hair behind his ear. "Talk about it?"
He smiled faintly, reopening his eyes to look at her in rueful affection. "I cannot." He took a breath, before slipping under the water once more, swiming towards the bank. Lunian followed, stepping onto shore beside him. There, they both got rid of some extra layers of clothing, spreading them out on rocks to dry.
"I feel lighter," Lunian sighed, stretching out on a bit of grass.
Legolas smiled slightly, sitting beside her for a while, before stretching out on his stomach.
"Egola?"
"Hmm?"
"Why didn't you want to spar?"
Legolas blinked, turning to his side to see her. He blinked again, making her grin. "Ah, I remember," he declared at last, making a face at himself for forgetting. He moved to his back, looking up at the leaves which sporadically shielded them from the sun. "I was going to ask if you would allow me to enter you in the competitions as my student."
Lunian blinked, sitting up to look down at him. "What?"
He lifted a brow at her.
She rolled her eyes. "Alright, I heard you. But you must admit, it's hard to believe. I mean, you've hardly—"
"You know more than enough to be entered. I think you shall do well… and I thought you would find it amusing."
"But… females almost never enter."
"Because they are almost never interested in learning." He opened his eyes to pin her with a serious look. "The only requirements are that you have no more than two teachers—one for all but one aspect, and have been taught in all areas of competition. You qualify… though I rather think we should list Aragorn as your primary in swordplay."
She thought about that for a moment, and recalled again several months of intermittent training with the grubby ranger. Once in a while she could catch him unawares—when he was more Estel than Strider—but it was a rare time. "You have taught me more, for a longer period of time."
"Yes. But he was the first."
She smiled, leaning down, resting her cheek against his chest, listening to his heart as one of his hands lifted to run through her drying hair, separating the still wet strands so they would dry faster. "I like that idea," she murmured at last, liking her connection to the human she had once only known through songs and stories. Aragorn would have preferred being remembered in such a way—by his deeds, his true actions, than by what he in general did. Yes, he was one of the nine. Yes, he was the King of Gondor, and yes, he married the Evenstar. Beyond all of that, though, he was a strong, caring man with a quirky sense of humor when not weighted down by his destiny or responsibilities. "Are you going to compete?"
"Hmm. Glorfindel has already declared which areas I will fall short in."
Lunian chuckled. Legolas, Glorfindel, and Haldir had long had a rivalry going. It was also usually a given that one of the three would be the winner of the trials. Unless, of course, they didn't enter… and unless at least one of the others was there to compete against, they didn't. "I haven't seen you compete."
"It's been a long time since I entered… and you were quite young at the time. I believe you spent your time watching Elladan."
"Watching him fail miserably, you mean."
He shrugged, chuckling softly.
Lunian smiled at the movement, lifting her hand to rest on his shoulder as she closed her eyes, content and drowsy.
When the day wore on, Legolas twisted slightly to look at her, a small, tender smile touching his lips as he observed her. She was using him as a pillow, sleeping soundly. Gently he brushed her hair from her eyes before rolling her over so he could sit up. He picked her up easily, getting to his feet with her cradled in his arms.
"Ah! There you are! I was starting to get—"
"Unreasonably worried?" Legolas offered.
Elrohir sighed, taking in his friend's dark eyes. "Someday, she will remember."
"Yes," Legolas's eyes darkened farther at the thought. "Someday." He sighed, shook his head slightly, and continued on his way to her room.
Lunian's father tagged along. "Why do you allow yourself to be worried now? Soon enough her memories will show her who she missed, and she will no longer turn to you in sorrow, seeking comfort."
Legolas bowed his head, pausing around the corner from her room. "I… Elrohir, I love being with her… but I don't know how much longer I can remain here for her. Seeing her wearing herself out all the time, taking rest only when she has been sufficiently distracted… it is wearing on me, as well."
"But if you leave, she will likely be… upset. You, too, only find peaceful rest when with her."
Legolas's eyes drifted shut as if a terrible judgment had just befallen him. "I know," he admitted huskily, before shouldering the door to her room open. He kicked it—quietly—shut, and shifted the young elf in his arms so he could move the covers away for her. Hesitantly he let her go, watching the bed support her as he had not long ago. He moved her hair once more, then drew the blanket up over her. "Sleep well," he whispered, bending to kiss her temple.
