Sorry this is a little late... things have been hectic. More so than usual, anyway. I apologize in advance for anything that looks like it was written by a dyslexic four year old. Since I was just editing the chapter below earlier, it will mostly be the author's note/responses that are affected.

Laurenke1: There are a few more chapters (two, I think) in this, and then I'm planning a little side-story with Carathwan and Glorfindel, which will have a lot of Legolas and Lunian in it. As for your stories... if I ever catch up on my sleep, my homework, the annoying papers you get two shots at to pass/fail and if you fail you don't graduate with your major... then I'll take a look. No promises that I'll review or get to the end-I get so sick of computers that to subject myself farther takes a lot of work.

sharon: There will be a sort of sequel. Sort of. A Carathwan/Glorfindel one with a lot of cutsy Legolas/Lunian interaction.

CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur: Two more chapters, then a side-story with Carathwan and Glorfindel, which of course has more of this couple.

Lady Anck-su-namun: So many people want more of them that I threw together a shorter story with Carathwan and Glorfindel, but a good bit of them in the background. The first chapter'll be up as soon as finals are over.

Lyn: I do know a little something about archery. I know you need to draw your hand back to your cheek-really, so your first finger rests near your cheek-bone-or at least that's how I was taught. If you had read more than chapter three, you might have realized that Lunian has a past life. In this past life she was taught archery for at least a century by a master elven archer. The moves would have come back to her. As for seeing the target-she had. And even mere humans don't have to watch the target. Once you're in a good spot, and know how to aim, you don't have to see. And if you still think it's all unbelievable, then here's my excuse: They're elves. The nearly perfect, superhuman creatures... that don't exist to begin with, except in the world of fiction. I suppose writing all of this is a waste, since you seemed perfectly happy picking a chapter at random before flaming me.

The Hobbit Ivy: A little more, and then some more of them in another story about Carathwan/Glorfindel... which I can't think up a title for! It's driving me nuts, especially as i don't really have the time right now to think about it.

Zeriae: Not quite, and I'll have a Cara/Glorfindel story up in a few weeks with some more of them. By popular demand.

angel13: Well, that's good. Glad I could help. ;-)

LadyJadePerendhil: There's a little more to go... and you know when I said I didn't have any plans for a Cara/Glorfindel story? Well, I didn't, but your comment stuck in my head and activated my muse, who, like usual, bit me when I should have been studying, researching, etc., so I now have a Glorfindel/Carathwan story in desperate need of editing before being posted-which means at least two weeks. If you did start a story with the two, by all means, keep going and let me know when you start posting ;-), or if you want to do a story with them, you're quite welcome to. Anyway, there will be more of Lunian and Legolas in that story, of course. A quick question: Do you think this story stood on its own, or did it need be read after The Worry Stone?

Animir: Ah, Animir! This story has about two more chapters...Yes, I have two new stories on the way. One is Glorfindel and Carathwan, the second is a Legolas/OC. I'll probably post the Cara/Glorfindel one at the beginning of the new term, but I don't know when I'll start posting With Invisible Chains. I still need a title for the Cara/Glorfindel one, though.


Chapter 31

When Lunian's eyes focused, she stared at the wall in some confusion for a moment, before shrugging and getting up. She stretched, turning to brush some light golden hair back from eyes which still held the contented glaze of pleasant sleep. With a tender smile she studied him for a long moment, loving her freedom to do so.

Finally, the sense of grime from the recent traveling and her day spent upon the ground broke into her thoughts, making her grimace. Certainly, being human had some advantages. She nearly laughed out loud at the shock and horror Legolas would be unable to keep from sending her if she were to say that to him. Estel would have agreed, though… at least before Arwen gave up her immortality.

Thinking of her 'sister' lowered her mood, melancholy escaping her with a sigh. With a shake she moved to the wardrobe he had always kept reasonably supplied, opening the drawer that would probably still—she broke off the thought and smiled as she pulled out the dress. She tilted her head with a frown when she studied it more closely, before laughing under her breath.

"Wonderful elf," she sighed, taking the dress… and other essentials… from the drawer with her to the bathing room.

Legolas slowly blinked, wondering what had pulled him from rest. He grimaced slightly when he saw how much of the day had passed by, unconsciously reaching out to wake Lunian. He bolted up when he couldn't find her. He opened his mouth to call her, afraid for a long moment her returning memory had been naught but dreams of an exhausted mind.

"Shh." Gentle fingers worked the muscles of his neck and shoulders until he relaxed. Then they coaxed him to rest against her, the smells of a bath surrounding him. Lunian nearly laughed as his relief and instant relaxation forced her to bend back to the bed. "Better, Egola?"

He sent her a very weak glare, turning slightly so his head was on her chest, one arm wrapped snuggly around her waist. After a little while, he noticed what she was wearing, sitting up slightly to see it a little bit better. He looked quite pleased with the results.

"Who made it?"

"Nallina," he murmured, kissing her before sitting up. "I didn't think the one patterned from the original would fit you, anymore."

"Nope. Taller and lighter framed."

"Hmm," he agreed, drawing her to her feet as he stood. He looked her over, his head tilted as he ran his hands over her arms slowly. "A much more kissable height difference," he offered at last, along with a kiss to prove his point.

"No more cricks in the neck to look up at you."

"No more sore neck from looking down."

She smiled sweetly at the tease. "No more neck rubs to be rid of the soreness," she countered. She laughed at his pout, stepping back into his embrace. "You should get cleaned up. Do they know you're here?"

"Do they know you're here?"

"I… don't know."

"As far as I know, I wasn't seen," he murmured at last.

She accepted a few kisses before stepping away. "Go bathe. You need to." She let out a laughing shriek as she was hauled off her feet. "Legolas!" Looking into brilliant sapphire eyes was enough to kill the playful mood, making her happy just to see him like that once more.

The play escaped him as well, his eyes searching hers for the love he had missed most of her current life. She had to smile when his eyes lit with blue flame upon seeing her—in her entirety—looking up at him with love. They met in a kiss only old lovers could share, nothing needing to be said even when they pulled back to seek answers to questions they didn't have the breath to voice.

Lunian reached up to touch his face, letting her fingers trace his long beloved features as his long fingers slipped into her hair. She smiled gently at his uncertainty, turning her head just enough to kiss his wrist. He let out a soft sigh, resting his forehead against hers. Silently, he let the questions hang on the air again.

Again, she smiled, running her fingers through his hair before lifting her lips to hover just beyond his, now asking him.

It was his turn to smile at her, even as he closed the scant distance between them, assuring her he had no more doubts than she did about what was to come next.