Okay, for those who checked this before this update went up, sorry about that. I had my little author's note all typed out, and I saved it, and when I uploaded it... it didn't work. I don't know why.

Anyway, thanks to those who reviewed!

To those who are concerned that it's still somewhat Lunian and Legolas focused, I realize it is. This story is here because of them, so they'll be around. After all, Lunian is Carathwan's best friend. It focuses less on them as the story developes, of course.

Animir: Yup, I had fun (for once). But, back to classes. Joy. ;-)

LJP: Yeah, Glorfindel could have easily lost a limb if he'd pressed...

The Hobbit Ivy: The (read:star) thing was merely meant to indicate what my roommate goes on and on about. Orlando Bloom, Josh Groban, Elijah Woods... I know more about them than I ever cared to, but can't seem to find the delete button in my brain. I'm sure I could use the space elsewhere, but Noooo. I have to know what their girlfriend's names are, and where they're from, where they are, where they're going. Sigh. If you find that delete button, PLEASE let me know.

Chapter 3 sorry you cared

"Evening, Cara."

"Hey, Thil," she murmured back, looking up from her book. "Did you want something?"

"Just to know if you were going to eat sometime this week."

She blinked, then glanced somewhat reflexively at the window, seeing the sun had already set. "Oh. Are we late?"

"No, but barely. Are you joining us?"

"I suppose I really should," she admitted after a moment, setting the book aside. She rose to her feet, stretched, and covered a yawn before glancing up at her brother. "Why'd you come get me?" she asked.

He smiled a little ruefully. "What else have I to do?" he asked.

She sighed, linking her arm in his. "I'm sorry."

"You were right about her."

"I'm still sorry."

"No you're not," he countered, his grey eyes delving into hers.

She half-smiled. "I'm not sorry she's no longer an interest of yours, true," she admitted. "But I am sorry you cared about her only to find there was nothing to come of it."

He ran a hand through his hair, brushing the golden mass back behind his ears. After a moment he smiled faintly and shook his head, pulling her arm a bit more tightly to his side.

They entered the dining hall through a side-door, and paused for a moment to adjust. The dancers, the music, the lights, the endless bursts of sounds and colors… it was a lot to suddenly be asked to take in. They found Ethwan sitting across from Lunian, who had a chair saved at her right.

"I guess the Prince deemed to eat with us tonight."

"Stop it, Thil," she hissed. "He and Lunian are wed, you know. She has to spend time with his friends, and he with hers."

"No he doesn't. They could sit individually, once in a while."

Carathwan just shook her head and let go of his arm, moving forward to claim the seat next to Ethwan as Irithil greeted Lunian.

"Hello, Lunian, darling," he purred.

She rolled her eyes with a laugh, shaking her head. "Aren't you ever going to grow out of that?"

"Why should I?" he countered.

"Hmm…" she mused. "Perhaps because I'm a married elf, now?"

"And her husband is extraordinarily possessive and protective?" another voice suggested.

Lunian chuckled as Glorfindel sat down with a chair between them. "Can you really blame him?" she asked, smiling slightly.

A faint smile touched his lips as he shook his head. "No. Though if he's always like that…"

"He wasn't… but it's been quite a while since then. Things were more dangerous there, of course, so any hint of it here worries him far more."

His eyes narrowed in thought. "I know of two times, though he was present for one…"

"Only my death after that," she answered the question he hadn't asked, shaking her head slightly. "Although I nearly took drastic measures when I realized it was love shining in his eyes when he looked at me."

He looked at her for a long moment, and then nodded. "I would have expected nothing less from you, Luni."

She smiled slightly and then glanced up at Carathwan. "You weren't here for lunch."

"You were?" Carathwan asked, before sighing when Lunian nodded. "I'm sorry."

Lunian tilted her head slightly, studying her.

"Oh, don't do that," Carathwan protested.

Lunian caught herself, smiling ruefully. "Sorry. I know it's not totally fair to you, but it's part of me."

Carathwan sighed, but nodded. "I know… it's just…"

"Unsettling to know your emotions can be read like a book even when face and eyes are blank of them?" Glorfindel suggested.

"Yes," she agreed.

He snorted slightly. "At least she's not as nosy as Lenaith."

"Hey!" she protested. "That's my mother you're calling nosy!" Lunian protested.

"Well, she is," a voice behind her murmured. Legolas kissed her cheek before dropping down into the chair between her and Glorfindel. "Thankfully she gave up trying to get through my defenses long ago."

"Yours were well practiced," Lunian retorted.

"Can you read him?" Carathwan asked, looking curiously between them.

Lunian laughed softly. "I can, even when he doesn't want me to, though it is much harder then."

Legolas sighed. "It is hard to defend against," he grumbled.

"Is that why you've given up on doing so?" she teased.

"No," he countered quietly, bringing her hand to his mouth, lightly kissing her knuckles. "Because there is no longer any need."

A loving smile turned her lips, and she tilted her forehead against hers.

Carathwan looked away with a sigh—they were always like that, and it was starting to get a bit nauseating, really. She realized they had over a thousand years to make up for, but they didn't have to cram it all into the first few months!

Bright, amused eyes caught hers, a faint smile touching his lips as he reached for his goblet.

She felt a bit better at his amusement, and turned to Ethwan, lifting a brow. "Already eaten and yet still sitting with us?"

He smirked faintly and winked over his wine at her. "Ah, my dear baby sister… you have so much to learn."

With a frown she opened her mouth to harangue him for that comment, when she noted a she-elf watching her brother intently. Every now and then he would glance at her, and she would promptly flush and look away, only to glance back soon enough. Her breath escaped in a sigh. "You idiot," she muttered, picking up her fork to toy with her food.

Irithil watched Ethwan and the unknown young elf, before finally rolling his eyes and shoving Ethwan off his chair, taking it for himself. "So… was it a good book?" he asked once Ethwan had finished glaring and dusting himself off.

She snorted. "I have no idea."

"You have no idea," he repeated, drawling. "So why were you reading it?"

"I think the point is that she wasn't," Glorfindel murmured, wry amusement in his eyes.

She smirked at Irithil's blinking shock. After a while she eased back, looking over her shoulder at the dancers, seeing Ethwan still with who-ever-she-was. "Aren't you going to dance, Thil?"

He smiled faintly, but shook his head. "Not tonight, Cara."

She tilted her head, studying him for a time, seeing the slight storm brewing in his eyes. She turned around in her seat, facing the dancers for a moment before wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder.

He snorted slightly, patting her arm. No doubt his eyes showed only wry amusement, though Lunian, at least, would know the truth. "All right," he muttered after a moment. "Ease off."

She rolled her eyes, letting go in a stretch, leaving one arm resting against the top of her head, fingers dangling by her ears for a moment.

"Are you really that bored?"

She glanced up at Glorfindel. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"The music?" he offered.

She smiled faintly. "Which I've heard nearly every day of my life. I can hear these songs in my sleep."

He studied her for a moment. "I suppose it could get rather redundant."

"Especially as they like the same ones, unless it's a special occasion, or the rare new composition," she agreed. "And I don't have friends in other houses to visit." She reached out, picking her fork up, spinning it between her fingers before suddenly dropping it in boredom.

"Then, why not—"

"Carathwan?" a voice suddenly murmured quietly from behind her.

She looked up from Glorfindel, into dark grey eyes. "Yes, Luthier?"

"Would you care to dance?" he asked, shifting his weight a bit uncomfortably.

Lunian's attention suddenly snapped away from Legolas to Carathwan.

Carathwan noticed that, a brow lifting curiously, before she nodded at the elf. "I've nothing better to do," she agreed, accepting his hand. She found dancing enjoyable, as did most elves, but she didn't live for it as a few did. When Luthier asked her if she wished to take a walk in the gardens, she smiled slightly but shook her head. "No, thank you. Lunian is here tonight, and I should get back to her before her Prince drags her away once more."

"Another time, perhaps," he murmured, inclining his head slightly. He offered her a tentative smile before walking out into the gardens alone.

She smiled faintly and turned back to the table she'd left, crossing over to hear Glorfindel snarl at Lunian.

"Do not presume to understand."

Lunian sighed, even as Legolas gave the elder elf a small smile which was ignored, if even seen. "But you are the one who doesn't understand," she murmured softly.

His eyes narrowed on her. "I understand more than you may think," he countered, turning his head sharply towards Carathwan as she approached. He started to say something, only to change his mind, closing his mouth abruptly. He stared at the musicians for a long moment, before getting swiftly to his feet. "Good evening," he murmured in general, leaving without ever meeting Carathwan's confused eyes.

"What was that all about?" she asked, lifting a brow at Lunian as she took Ethwan's long abandoned chair.

Lunian sighed softly, shaking her head as she gazed at the table.

Legolas smiled at her. "You'll understand someday, Cara."

"Then why not just tell me?"

"Because you should learn some things for yourself," he replied gently.

In that moment, she liked him far more than she had ever done—he'd finally explained why some of the elder elves made her feel like such a useless child when she asked questions.

She nodded slightly, and looked at Lunian, who had a troubled shadow in her eyes. She glanced back at Legolas, who inclined his head slightly, assuring her he was well aware of it. That he did nothing told her Lunian would likely stew about it—whatever it was—for the next few hours, no matter what anyone said or did… and would stew about it later if someone managed to distract her at the moment. "Well," she mused, not getting a response from Lunian at all.

When she sighed, Legolas smiled, nodding. "Good night, Cara," he murmured. "I think we shall take our leave soon, as well."

She nodded at him, shrugged at the still lost-in-thoughts Lunian, and got to her feet, returning to her room, staring for a long moment at the book before shaking her head, dropping onto her bed without changing.