Alright. The alternate ending is now a chapter in 'A Moment in Immortal Time.' Feel free to go there for it. I think it's chapter six. I know it will be titled 'The waves rolled on.' This chapter is to inform anyone who cared to figure out why this was updated when said to be complete that I am working on a sequel. It will eventually be up under the title 'The Keeper of the Stone'. I'm trying to write it so it can stand on it's own, which is taking a little bit more work and moving around than I'm used to. Between that, and the two stories I'm already working on, I won't be posting this either until I've completely written it, or until I've finished with one or both of my others.
All that said, I've got a teaser from the sequel. Keep in mind that by the time it goes up, a lot may have changed.
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"Relax, Nallina," Lunian called, looking up as a soft curse hit the air. "What are you so frantic about, anyway?" she asked, observing her friend's disheveled closet.
"Lord Legolas will be there!" she hissed, frowning as she looked at the calm elf. "I would think you'd still be getting ready."
"Why? He's just another elf-lord."
Nallina was silent for so long Lunian looked up from her book again. "No, he's not."
Lunian shook her head slightly and went back to her book.
"He's not just another elf, Lunian," she repeated, her voice closer.
Lunian didn't even bother to look up. "Elf-lord." She flipped the page. "I know he's not. After all, he was your lord for a while, so I suppose you've the right to feel antsy." Suddenly a great pain struck Lunian. She looked up to see Nallina had collapsed to the bed. "Nallina? What is it?" Book forgotten, she rushed to her friend's side, cupping her hand under the elf's chin to draw her eyes up.
Pain, confusion, torment all stared back at her from Nallina's blue eyes. Then the she-elf slowly bowed her head, resignation flowing through the skin contact to Lunian. "It is nothing."
"No it isn't! I felt it, Lina, and it was not nothing!"
The older she-elf smiled faintly, feeling all of her years in that moment as she looked at her still young friend. "There is nothing you can do about it, though, nor anything I can do about it."
"You could tell me of it."
Nallina looked at her oddly for a moment, and then shrugged half-heartedly, getting to her feet. She picked up a discarded gown and put it on, before absently gathering the rest, putting them on a chest which stood near the bed. "No one really speaks of it, any more. Each with their own reasons. Suffice it to say there was once a great love which was unbroken by death, though severed by it."
"Arwen and Aragorn? I have heard of them in innumerable stories through my life until I almost can picture them in my dreams. And all elves know of Lúthien and Beren, Idril and Tuor. So which do you speak of?"
"None of these, for the mortal was also half-elven, but the Valar did not give to her the choice your grandfather was given. She was mortal, but she loved him with everything within her, and possessed a strength in their love that is rivaled only by elves who have been joined with their mates for many times my life over."
Tilting her head, Lunian studied her friend. "You speak as if you know her."
"I… I did," Nallina murmured at last.
"And what became of her love, then, when she died?"
"He spent years wandering the wilds of Middle-Earth, before finally coming here."
"Is he happy?" Lunian asked, feeling some pity for one who had a love so deep ripped away.
"Last I saw him… he had hope."
Lunian smiled. "That is good. But such gloomy musings before a feast!" she exclaimed, laughingly fastening a few missed ties on Nallina's dress.
"Yes," Nallina breathed, biting her lower lip with a frown.
