Hi guys. Another update I nearly forgot about. And no one bugged me! And I know it's a little more Lunian/Legolas than Glorfindel/Carathwan, but this chapter had to happen sometime. Last in depth look into those two, honestly.

Thanks to all who reviewed, as ever. I greatly apreciate it!

eyes of sky: what kind of revisions (if you don't mind me asking)?

J-girl3: Did you get my e-mail about your Worry Stone questions/comments? If not, let me know, and I'll try to address them next chapter (If I remember). I usually have a general idea about where things are going when I write something. The water idea was all Carathwan's. ;-)

LJP: Well, I'm glad you liked the mush. More ahead.

Animir: It took me a little while to get into the swing of it, but once I did, I really enjoyed the style--saying everything without saying anything. It is more difficult to read, I know, and it was a little more involving to write, as well (never mind that I had to keep rereading parts of the first two Stone stories). It has been several months since the story's beginning and recent events. Their relationship was started in The Keeper of the Stone, though, and only really built on here. They didn't really say anything about it, but both knew that he didn't just 'happen by' where she was--he sought her out, and for this reason. So while they're only now growing more comfortable, more bold, they've been in an unofficial 'courtship' for a while now. Guess you couldn't get through to review WIC. Oh well. Thanks for letting me know you liked it, anyway. ;-). It's not generating much interest, sadly enough--I think it's one of my favorites of those I've posted.

Chapter 12 Drowning in flame

"Afternoon, Findy, Cara."

Carathwan opened her eyes with a smile, gazing up at her friend. "Hello, Lunian. How goes the building?"

Lunian laughed. "I'd forgotten how irritating it is to have the building designed by someone who doesn't want what you do."

"Because you didn't deal with them last time," Legolas reminded her, taking the tree trunk across from Carathwan's. A small smile tilted his lips to see Glorfindel, resting as he was with his head on Carathwan's legs.

Lunian's eyes were a bit more knowing, and clouded a bit at seeing how far down Carathwan's legs he'd settled, knowing he'd moved that far away so she couldn't touch him. "But we did get what we wanted," she mused.

"We weren't official, then," he countered, drawing her back between his legs.

She slumped against his chest, closing her eyes. "I don't care what our titles are. I am not going to live in a monstrosity of a hall."

"Like Father?" he suggested dryly.

"That's different. He has more people there than we shall."

"Think ahead a bit, little one. In a few centuries…"

Her breath caught, fingers closing over his on her abdomen. "Children," she breathed, stomach tightening. Slowly her eyes opened. "So… a monstrosity of a hall, with cooks and laundresses, historians, librarians, musicians…" She groaned quietly. "Perhaps…"

"Yes?"

"Perhaps we should rethink this." She frowned. "Maybe we should just build a talan for now, love."

"Then choose one of the two places as a home base when we decide to have children?"

"No. We'll just change which place we're based at every few years. Once the children have reached a hundred or so they can decide which place they want to have their primary room—one for themselves, rather than a group children's room, which they could still use when visiting."

Legolas tilted his head slightly, then nodded. "It sounds plausible."

"And that way we don't have to deal with the whole big mess."

He chuckled softly. "I'll speak to Father."

"I suppose that leaves me Grandfather?" she sighed. "He is so difficult at times."

"Because he misses you," Glorfindel murmured, opening an eye.

She rolled hers. "Findy, really. It's not like I'm that far away. Arwen went to Lothlorien for decades without visiting."

"And he regrets that."

She sighed. "It's quite different, Glorfindel. I go with my love, but not to ultimately die."

He nodded slightly. "True. But he still misses you."

She groaned softly and gave up, curling against Legolas, hiding in his hair.

He chuckled softly, stroking her arm. After a little while spent in silence, he glanced up at Glorfindel. "Have you finally entered the trials?"

"Of course," he sighed. "You two are ready?"

"As we'll ever be," Lunian grumbled, shuddering.

"Lunian," Legolas sighed.

"I know, it's not like he's going to be there, not like someone is going to attack you this time, but I can't help but remember…"

"Speaking of remembering," Glorfindel murmured, turning so he could see them. "Have you?"

She looked at him for a long time, before finally opening her lips. She wet them. "Your memories yet pain you."

"Yes," he admitted after a long pause.

"Then why would I wish to join you in that pain?"

"I don't think you will."

"My death was different than yours," she agreed at last. "But what if…"

"What if?" he prodded.

"What if it makes me shy from touch?"

Glorfindel closed his eyes, sitting up. "It won't, Lunian. Your fears are ungrounded."

"It has tortured you—the memory of his burning grasp."

"Yes."

"Stands in your way even now."

"I'm well aware."

She pressed on, feeling Legolas tense behind her as Glorfindel grew quietly angry. "Keeps you from acting, from holding Cara as you've been wanting to do for months."

Glorfindel saw Legolas blink, his eyes widening as he glanced at Lunian, before understanding and sympathy entered his gaze as he looked back at Glorfindel, then at Carathwan. Glorfindel glanced at her, saw her bright ears and darkening cheeks, and sighed. "Enough, Lunian. Stop attacking me because you don't want to remember."

She opened her mouth to protest, but closed it with a sigh. "Why would I want to remember?"

"Because you must. Your lives were building to that moment."

"How did you die, then?" she asked, glancing sharply at him. "I know you fell with the Balrog—as everyone knows I died of old age."

He sighed. "I died before we fell out of sight of the others."

"What?"

He closed his eyes. "He held me in his flame—I breathed it, and could never take another breath. I suffocated, even as I was burning, even as we fell." He shook his head slightly. "Drowning in flames."

"Not in the good way," Lunian murmured quietly, wringing a wry quirk of the lips from the two males. She took a shuddering breath, and closed her eyes.

Legolas's eyes suddenly widened, his hands tensing on her. "Love?"

"I want to remember without hurting you," she mused.

"I don't like not feeling you," he countered quietly.

"You still sense me," she countered.

"Yes, but—"

"If I have to remember, seeing your past self will be plenty to deal with, I'm sure. I need you to be here, but if I have to, I'll remember alone."

He closed his eyes, shuddered, and shook his head. "All right," he agreed at long last, bending his head down beside hers.

She twined their fingers and closed her eyes once more. Her face grew grim, pain touching her features, her breathing becoming difficult.

Legolas took a few careful breaths, trying to keep his own memories of that horrible day at bay.

When she shuddered and turned to him, though, a silvery drop streaked down his cheek. She brushed it away, kissing him for a long moment before pulling back, setting her forehead against his. "I knew."

"Knew?"

"That you would have preferred death then, that you didn't allow it only to save me from seeing you die beside me… that it would have been a relief."

He sighed, closing his eyes. "I suppose I should have known you would, but…" he shook his head.

"I know," she agreed quietly, her fingers arching on his neck. "Did you put the leaves there for Mother?"

He let out a puff of air. "Yes," he sighed. "As Gimli filled in your grave. I… to place you in the earth was hard enough, but to cover you with it?" he shook his head.

She was silent for a long moment. "I wish I'd remembered in time to thank Gimli."

"Thank him?" he asked blankly. "For traveling with me?"

"That he did for himself. But he brought the shovel at my request, and I'm sure he set to work quietly while you were distracted."

He shuddered. "Thank you," he murmured.

She nodded. "I'm sure he agreed with me, even if he was annoyed that I had him along not for himself, but for you—so you wouldn't be alone, so you wouldn't have to dig my grave or fill it."

"I don't know, love. I was too lost to be aware of his feelings at the time, and we never spoke of your death once here."

"It would have been a bit odd, wouldn't it? As I was probably chasing Ethwan around the hall at the time."

A small smile touched his lips. "Or running after Elladan, climbing onto everyone's laps, racing around humming under your breath, laughing fit to shake the rafters…"

"Already getting interested in having children?" she asked, lifting a wry brow.

"I was interested in having children, love, when I considered you one the first time around."

"You'd best resign yourself to waiting a while."

He chuckled at her warning. "I've long been so resigned," he agreed, kissing her quickly.

She turned her head towards the halls with a slight frown.

"What?"

"Were you supposed to meet with Haldir?"

"No. Why?"

"Because he's coming," she explained.

Glorfindel and Legolas got up, glancing at each other. "Which way?"

Lunian pointed them in the right direction, then got to her feet as they left. She walked over to Carathwan, dropping down with a soft chuckle. "They're so easy to get rid of," she mused, resting her head on Carathwan's thigh.

Carathwan tilted her head. "Why'd you want them gone?" she asked quietly, absently pulling a bit of plant from Lunian's hair.

"Oh, Haldir really was heading in this direction. I think it was more a random choice than anything, because how would he know where we were unless someone told him?"

"And who would know where we randomly stopped wandering, save you?" Carathwan added, shaking her head. "So why did you want them gone?"

"I wanted to ask you if I could help."

Carathwan looked at her for a long moment, and slowly shook her head. "He is getting better."

"He can touch you?"

"Sometimes."

"Can you touch him?"

Slowly Carathwan shook her head. "Not unless we're in the pond."

Lunian blinked, and then chuckled. "It makes a weird sort of sense, I suppose. But you can't spend the rest of time in the pond."

"I know," she sighed.

Lunian closed her eyes, taking Carathwan's hand tightly between her own. "I'm always willing to listen."

"Always?" she asked dryly.

Lunian chuckled. "Well, I might be a bit annoyed at being interrupted, but Legolas and I have centuries of centuries. You and Glorfindel won't, unless you can get through this." She opened her eyes when Carathwan sighed. "Has he told you he loves you?"

"Yes."

She nodded slightly. "Have you told him you love him?"

"My presence is declaration enough."

After a moment, Lunian nodded. "I suppose it is, really."