Chapter 4: Storytelling

Legolas gathered wood and made a fire for light and heat, then he and Luna sat side by side on his bedroll. Luna began her story.

"It takes place 3,060 years ago on a battlefield. A young elf girl is making rounds among the wounded from the Last Alliance: elves and men uniting to fight Sauron. She sees a young and handsome male elf, looking close to her own age.

"'How are you faring this morn, soldier?' she asks.

"'Better than yesterday, thanks to your care, milady,' he replies. 'Pray tell, what is your name?'

"'Keylanna, soldier. What is yours?'

"'Elannon. 'Tis supposed to bring luck. I does bring luck, I guess. Ill luck!'

"'How?'

"'I didn't take an orc's arrow, as would be a noble way to die, but I fell into a human trap!'

"'You will not die from these wounds, proud Elannon,' Keylanna whispers.

"'Well, what will I die from? A goblin sword?'

"Keylanna doesn't seem to notice him anymore. 'I will be with child in a hand's worth of days or less. Four days after that, you will die.' Her eyes had glazed over. 'You will die from heart pains after a sword thrust to the heart.' She shakes her head, as if to rid the foresight, then grins. 'You do have an ill-luck name. None of the other deaths I predicted were quite so...painful.'

"Elannon appears to think a moment, then asks, 'Do you know whose heir the child will be?'

"'Nay, soldier. That I know not, but will know quickly. I must check on the others now.'

"Elannon lays on the bed thinking, a pastime he had rarely done in the war. That elf...she looked vaguely familiar. From Rivendell, possibly? Or Lothlorien? No. That can't be it. Mirkwood, yes, Mirkwood! That was where he had seen her last, only a few years before this war started.

"'My soon-to-be lady wife.' He sighs happily and thinks of this prospect. How to propose, possibly wed in nine days or less. No. Not marriage. If he is gone soon, it wouldn't be worth his or Keylanna's time to get married.

"He could find out if she loved him and if she was willing for him to get child on her. Yes, that was the way!

"Keylanna was on the other side of the area now, but she was quickly making her way over to him.

"'Keylanna!' he shouts. She comes running.

"'Yes? Is there something I can get you?'

"'Nay. Do you remember me from somewhere other than here?'

"Keylanna thinks for a moment. 'Yes. I recall knowing someone called Elannon when I was young.'

"'Then I was right in my thinking. I remember you from Mirkwood.'

"'Yes. Many of my schoolmates said that you were enamoured of me.'

"'I was then, and I still am now.'

"'You may have gotten more...mature since then, but your approach hasn't changed. You want to father my child, don't you?'

"Elannon looked down, somewhat ashamed. 'Yes, my lady. I am sorry.'

"'I have wanted you, also, for the longest time. Come tonight to my tent. I have planned this...'

"And so," Luna continued, "My mother was pregnant with me, and my father died four days later."

"How?" Legolas asked.

"He grieved for not being able to marry my mother. He was heartbroken, and took his sword to his stomach to end the grief."

"I am sorry."

"Don't be. I never knew him." Despite the conviction in her voice, she began to sob.

Legolas, not knowing quite what to say, laid her head on his shoulder and stroked her hair.

"N-no oth-other m-m-male el-elf has l-lov-ved m-me..." she sobbed in a choked voice.

"There is one," Legolas said softly. "There is one." She lifted her head up and looked at him with teary eyes. Legolas wiped away a tear trickling down her cheek. "Me."