Thanks for the great reviews everyone! My week-nd devoid of electronics was school-related, and in another language, so my brain still kind of hurts. On the plus side, I wrote a short little one-shot that I'll get up as a new chapter in 'A Moment in Immortal Time' when I get the chance to type it. It's mid-term season, and I just finished taking one, so I'm not likely to do anything else on my computer today once I get this up.
Lady Anck-su-namun: Yeah, it definately takes a lot of time out of the week.
AM: They're mostly muddling... but you'll see how they manage.
Sharon: You've really got the characters pegged. ; ) Wish I could take a Tolkien class...
The Hobbit Ivy: Hands out elephant sized tylenol Okay, you can stop now. But um... why were you sulking?
Elainor: Tanthien allowed Lunian to believe what she would, and Legolas could say nothing. What you described went on, to a degree, but Lunian knew nothing of it, and Legolas isn't about to enlighten her.
LadyJadePerenhil: As you know, the story is completed (though I don't like the last chapter, and will probably redo it)... and when I sat back and reread it, I always got stuck with Carathwan and Glorfindel. They would make a cute story, and I've set the ground-work for it (in future chapters, not this one), but I can't seem to get anywhere with them. I, frankly, don't know enough about Glorfindel. I do have the book of lost tales 2, which apparently has some info on Gondolin, but I probably won't get to it until spring break. So, I might be able to do a side-story in the future with them, but if you can think up something, I'll gladly loan you Carathwan. ; )
Chapter 28
The sun glistened on the rain drenched leaves, making a thousand tiny lights wink back at anyone up high enough to see it. Small drops slowly gathered together to make larger ones, before they glistened in one final trail as they slid from the dark leaves, only to break apart on the level of leaves below them.
The cascade of lights and small, arching rainbows was unnoticed by the only one present at that altitude to see it.
A lonely elf sat with her back to one of the large tree trunks, her eyes closed, face calm. Anyone looking at her wouldn't think she had ever been anything but a part of the tree, for she was that still, that unmoved.
They would be wrong.
A shuddering breath was suddenly taken. Then another. Slowly silvery-blue eyes opened, small flecks of green sparkling luminously. A blink let another drop of moisture fall, but it made it only to her cheek before sliding slowly to her chin. It dripped off, unnoticed, absorbed into the faded blue cloth that covered her. She swallowed, blinking again before a soft tingle in the back of her mind brought her attention focusing sharply around her, though she remained still.
Go away, something in her shouted. Leave me be. I don't want you to be near, now.
He didn't listen, if he heard her. The branches rustled slightly, even as he slowly drew closer.
This was oddly familiar. He had climbed up after her before. "What do you want?"
His relief surrounded her. "You're okay."
"Why wouldn't I be?"
"Last time I had to climb up a tree after you, you had nearly drawn so far into yourself you were on the verge of fading."
"Humans don't fade."
"You were half-elven, Lunian. Besides which, even humans can fade if they lose the will to live."
"And what could possibly have made me want to fade?" she asked softly, still staring out at the world beyond.
He stared at her for a long moment. "Lunian," he began, his tone cautious, clearly aware he was suddenly treading in dangerous territory.
"I mean, I am only missing the most important person in my past life. If that's not enough, my friends from this life for the most part don't know how to handle it, and leave me be more than they should. My family also seeks to leave me alone. Only one person spent time with me, would seek me out simply to draw me from my melancholy… until he, too, began to avoid me. So now, I am so totally, achingly alone…" Another silver drop fell from stormy eyes.
Shaking hands reached out for her, and slowly drew her close. Once she was settled against him, he cupped her face in his hands, tilting her head to see her properly. "Lunian," he murmured softly. "Lunian, you are never alone."
She closed her eyes at his murmur, a shiver working down her spine to go with that husky voice. "Legolas," she murmured, one hand on his shoulder. To push him away… which didn't explain why she was drawing closer. "Am I not? Even you, who took me everywhere with you, in that life before, even you have pushed me away."
"Only because I must," he countered, voice low and tortured.
Her eyes snapped open, focusing on him. Her other hand moved up to touch his cheek, her fingers shaking slightly. "Legolas… why do you hide from me?"
"Because I—"
She glared at him, her anger rising. "For so long, you were the one I could count on. But now—"
"Lunian, I have no choice!"
"There is always a choice."
"The alternative is no better than silence," he snapped.
Her eyes narrowed in a dangerous glare, before she focused her attention on him completely, looking for the crack in his shield she had found during the fight. This time, he was aware of her attempt. This time he struggled, tried to stop her… but ultimately failed. When she came back to the world around them, his eyes were downcast, his entire body shaking ever so slightly. "Legolas," she whispered in shock.
He bowed his head, looking away from her.
She sighed, kissing his cheek before turning to look out at the world beyond their tree branch. "I want this whole mess to be over. I'm so tired, Legolas. So tired of trying to fight this, of trying to remember… of loving you while knowing I can't."
Legolas tensed. She glanced back, saw his sorrow and regret for having inadvertently letting her see his love for her change instead to joy and hope for a moment, before fading down to a slow sadness and weariness which was strong enough to bring tears to her eyes, though less than she had felt from him in times past. He kissed her cheek, and urged her to relax against him. "We will get through this, love," he whispered, slowly closing his eyes as he took in a deep breath.
"Will we? What of when he comes forward? When I remember?"
Long, gentle fingers lightly skimmed her lips. He smiled gently. "Do not worry so. Things will work out for the best."
She let out a long sigh, then curled up as best she could in his embrace. "I'm too tall for this now," she grumbled.
With a soft chuckle, he shifted, allowing her to sit on the branch before him before pulling her back. "Better?"
"Mm-hmm," she agreed, tucking her head under his chin, drawing her legs close on the branch. "Egola?"
"Hmm?"
"Can we stay like this?"
"For a time," he answered, his heart clenching.
Her lids drifted down to cover her stormy eyes. One final tear slipped from her lashes before the previously avoided rest took over, letting the two loves find temporary, tenuous peace.
For a time.
