I really am sorry, but my only excuse is lack of time. I have a few minutes now, though, so I thought you all might like a chapter to sink your teeth into. Thanks to everyone who reviewed!
Questions answered:
megs6789: Calmacil was in The Worry Stone--so, my creation (though taking credit for him isn't something I'm all that proud of.).
CrimsonEnchantress: Calmacil is simply a memory from her past life, who has little bearing upon this one. Again, for more infor, read The Worry Stone, but it's not necessary to the plot that you do.
Animir: Why didn't you just have them all out at once? I had six too, at one time. But all my wisdom was taken.
Chapter 23
Legolas felt eyes watching him as he tested the extent of his recovery. He glared at the blade, disgusted with himself, with his weakness. While he could defend himself reasonably, he was not yet fully recovered.
He should have been.
Ah well. The weight of the world and the possibility of eternal despair would damage anyone's recuperating abilities.
"Would you like me to inform Orthalen?"
Legolas sighed, slowly sheathing the blade. "If you see him first."
Glorfindel smiled slightly, knowing Legolas would not seek him out, and would likely remain mostly within his chambers, as he had been since the attack. "I no doubt shall."
Legolas offered him a weary smile.
A frown drew golden brows together over light blue eyes. "Legolas, you do not look well."
"I was recently injured," he replied.
Glorfindel's lips tightened. "That is not what I meant." When Legolas remained silent, he let out a soft sigh, leaning against one of the trees. "Elrond wishes his granddaughter present for the meal tonight. Have you seen her?"
"No."
Glorfindel's eyes widened. "Not at all?"
"Not since she left my room after bandaging my arm."
What did you do, Legolas? Glorfindel bit his tongue just in time. "Well then, could you tell me where she is?"
Legolas's eyes closed, his head coming fully upright. He took in and slowly released a deep breath. Then his eyes opened, glimmering darkly before he glanced at Glorfindel. "You don't look for people very well, Glorfindel. She is in her room."
"When she would usually be with you. It has long been common thought to find one, one must find the other."
"That appears no longer true," Legolas stated, his eyes darkening slightly. "She has interests beyond me, you know."
"I do not believe that," Glorfindel murmured softly. Legolas said nothing, merely rested against a tree, his eyes closed in silent contemplation. With a sigh, Glorfindel left him, moving slowly to Lunian's room. "Lunian?"
"Glorfindel?"
He smiled slightly. "Indeed."
"What is it?" she asked, pulling the door open.
He hid a flinch upon seeing her. "I think I need to ask you that."
She frowned, then moved back into her room to consider her reflection. She grimaced. "I… I guess I've been thinking too hard for too long," she finally decided. She offered him a smile which didn't touch her darkened eyes. "What brings you here, Glorfindel?"
"A few things, I suppose," he murmured after a moment, accepting the chair he was waved to. He crossed his arms over his chest and studied her as she slid wearily into another. "First of all, Lord Elrond wishes you at the meal tonight."
She sighed. "Very well, I suppose."
"Which brings me to another point—you haven't been eating."
Her eyes lifted slowly to his, a slight frown drawing her brows for a moment before humor lit them, almost returning them to the normal silvery-blue. "Been spending time with Resa, have you?"
He ignored the barb about one of the head bakers, intending fully to help things get worked out. "When Elrond sent me to coerce you into coming for dinner, your mother asked me to be sure if you refused to join your family for the meal that you at least ate something—she was quite worried when she found that though you asked meals be sent to the prince, you asked for nothing yourself."
"She shouldn't have been worried. She knows I keep a good supply of dried fruits and nuts in here so I can pack a meal whenever I wish."
"As she knows you depleted it by joining Legolas for so many meals as you two trained?" he asked, lifting a brow.
Lunian's eyes drifted from his, seeking out the window instead. "She worries too much."
With a sigh, he shifted topics. "As for the trials," he stated, quickly regaining her attention, "you and Legolas have been removed from those which were not previously run."
She nodded briefly. "I expected we would be. Legolas would not fight if he did not feel at top strength."
"He would not fight if he worried his strength weren't enough to protect you."
She gave him a small smile. "Perhaps. Though it is apparently my fault he is injured at all."
Glorfindel's frown was severe enough to remind her of her grandfather. "You did not strike him."
"No. But Tanthien seemed to believe he was competing with Legolas for me." She shook her head. "I never grew close to him, and Legolas sees me as one would a daughter. An old friend."
The darkening of her eyes gave her away. Glorfindel swallowed heavily, uncertainty clawing at him ruthlessly. He wanted to speak, to ask… but if he was wrong, or if this wasn't the right time… everything could be ruined. "How has your memory gotten?"
"I remember so much… yet not enough. Decades of playful meetings, of tender moments… yet no name, no face. Why can't I remember? It begins to truly wear upon me, Glorfindel."
"It is possible…" he hesitated. She looked up at him, one lifted brow asking for more. With a sigh, he continued. "It is possible you have remembered… but don't believe your memories."
"I'm hoping for anything right now," she sighed.
"Well, you know one thing you are truly missing. Why focus on it? Why not try and seek out other things you have forgotten?"
"Like what?"
"Your friends. How much have you remembered of the hobbits you met? The dwarves? Humans?"
She blinked, looking at him curiously before nodding. "That is an idea, Glorfindel. One I will admit to not thinking of. I was confused as to the lack of memories of Legolas… but I did try and focus on the one who would be most affected by my lack of memory." Then she lifted a brow. "I knew dwarves other than Gimli?"
Glorfindel chuckled. "Indeed you did, Lunian." He got up, inclining his head slightly as he headed to the door.
"Glorfindel?"
He turned back, lifting a brow.
She paused, and moved something in her palm, bringing a smile to his face for the remembered gesture. "I… I haven't asked Legolas, for I know what his answer would be, but I don't know that I would ever remember…"
"What? There is little I could—"
"I know… I merely wondered… could you tell me how tall I was?"
He frowned slightly. "Why is that important?"
"It may not be, but I am curious, nonetheless."
He considered the wisdom of answering her question… and the likelihood of her recovering a memory good enough to explain the answer to her, considering she had failed to recall the one she had loved. After a moment, he nodded. "The top of your head reached my shoulder," he murmured, before walking swiftly from the room, lest she ask him anything else.
"Short," she muttered, looking at herself in the mirror. She knew Glorfindel's height well enough to guess about where that would have put her past form's head in comparison to her own. She blinked in shock. She was much taller now… likely within an inch or two of the elf she sought. Which included the vast majority of elves. Letting out a sigh, she dropped back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. "Dwarves, huh?" she murmured, smiling faintly.
