Disclaimer: Ooh, another one of these fun things! I don't own anyone except for Raewyn. And now, I own Silme too! Yay!

Chapter 3: Sunlight Through the Trees

flashback

The air was still and drowsy. The last rays of golden sunshine streamed through the tree boughs, casting flecks of copper onto the silvery leaves that carpeted the forest floor. A sleek brown songbird gently alighted upon a dappled branch as he softly began to chirp a soft, sweet song to the world. He turned his plumed head, his glossy onyx eye flashing brilliantly, to the direction from which a faint crackling sound approached. The bird quickly fluttered to the refuge of a higher bough, where he could see what mysterious creature approached. A moment later, he saw two of the tall beings that frequently walked through the forest. These two, he noticed, were not quite as impressive in height as some of the others were.

"Raewyn!" Silme called, her silvery mantle billowing in the light autumn breeze. "Hurry!"

"I'm coming!" Raewyn answered, hastily fastening the intricate clasp of her own cloak and snatching up her small bow. "Where to, Lady Silme?" she added, giggling.

Her flaxen-haired companion grinned, and seized Raewyn's arm. "Come on. This way!"

The two girls sprinted through the forest, finally stopping at a serene clearing, where the thick foliage overhead blocked out the late afternoon sun and a brook babbled melodiously. Raewyn sat down on a mossy log, and ran her long fingers through the clear water. She scooped up some of the cool water in her hands and eagerly relieved her parched throat of thirst. "Now, Silme," Raewyn said, mischief dancing in her dark gray eyes, "my thirst has been quenched. What, then, of victuals?"

Silme laughed. "Why, Lady Raewyn, we shall partake of lembas, of course."
Raewyn pretended to pout, resulting in a rather unsuccessful attempt to mask her mirth. "But, lembas, Lady, are so commonplace. Should we not be having a feast?"

"Indeed," Silme retorted, "we shall be dining on those luscious fruits you see in yonder tree." She pointed at a lofty tree about fifty yards away, where ripe crimson apples dangled tantalizingly.

Raewyn raised her eyebrows. "And how, my friend, shall we be picking those apples? You don't plan on having me climb up there in this gown, do you?"

"I should think, Raewyn, that the mere touch of an arrow should send those rather ripened apples hurtling to the ground. Of course, if you don't think that you can hit the target, I shall be perfectly willing to try."

"Oh no, you don't! I could hit one of those apples with my eyes shut!" Raewyn cried, promptly stringing her bow. She closed her eyes and fired a wild shot. Thud.

"What was that?" Silme cried, running forward. Raewyn opened her eyes, grinning. She heard her friend scream, and she dashed to Silme's side.

"What—" Raewyn didn't finish her sentence. A young elf, only a few years old, lay sprawled upon the forest leaves, one limp hand in the brook. An arrow—Raewyn's—protruded from his chest. Glazed eyes stared up at her, and realization dawned upon the elleth. "I…I killed him," she murmured, pressing the boy's lifeless body to her shuddering bosom. Then Raewyn, tears streaming, threw her head back and howled—a wordless cry of remorse and grief. Blood slowly trickled its way to the brook and the crystal clear water turned pink.

The bird watched silently. Then, he abruptly spread his wings and took flight, leaving behind him the scene of anguish and horror.

The next morning, Raewyn knelt mutely before the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, her face ashen and expressionless. Her eyes stared blankly ahead, looking eerily like the glazed eyes of the dead child. The Lady spoke, her voice clear and steady. "The elleth Raewyn, having unwittingly killed this child, shall from hence forth be banished from the woods of Lorien. This is the decision of the council."

Raewyn could hear soft murmurs of approval among the crowd. She blinked, and a single tear wandered down her pallid cheek. "Do not fear, Raewyn," a voice said. Raewyn turned violently, searching for the speaker. Her gray eyes met Galadriel's azure orbs. The Lady smiled. "In your future I see grief, but much happiness."

It was only when everyone else had gone, and Raewyn was left alone, still kneeling, upon the raised platform, that she shuddered, and her chest heaved violently with her furious sobbing.

end of flashback

(A/N: Sorry it took me so long to update...first I went to Maui, and then my stupid retarded computer stopped working. Ugh. Please please please review, because if you do, I will give you hugs! Or I won't, if you're one of the many people who hate me, and won't write reviews! )