Many thanks to Dally'sTUFF, ColdOnePaul, piperw142, and LilactheDryad.

Kaina watched sadly as the envoy from Greenwood prepared to leave Rivendell. Thranduil and his queen had stayed for two months in the stronghold of Elrond, and while it had been an enjoyable stay, they were more than ready to return to their woodland realm.

Legolas and Kaina— who had become almost inseparable during the time spent in Imladris— were already tearing up at the idea of the impending separation. With a watery smile the brunette gave her friend a comforting squeeze before moving to stand behind those who had made the decision to bring her into her home.

"Namárië tenna ma lesta edad.', Elrond murmured, clasping the arm of Thranduil in farewell. The Elf King returned the gesture, a look of understanding passing between them before they broke apart and went their separate ways.

With a last longing look over his shoulder, Legolas disappeared from Kaina's sight, not to be seen in Rivendell for many long years to come.

Kaina missed Legolas terribly, but she had learned long ago to control her emotions and not allow them to cloud her judgement. It definitely helped that the twins had kept her as busy as they could for the first few days. The weeks were slowly crawling by and, much to her amazement, the seasons began to change.

The brilliantly colored orange and red trees were breathtaking to the padawan who had never seen much vegetation on Coruscant. There were, of course, the gardens in the temple, but they had never changed their colors as the forests of this world did.

"What was it like where you were from, penneth?', Elladan asked curiously, interrupting her dreamy thoughts. The night had fallen softly on the valley, and they had finally come in from their day in the rose gardens, sprawling in front of a warming fire as they waited for the dinner bell to ring.

She stilled the urge to roll her eyes at the term that had been used. The twins often forgot that she was, in all reality, mentally older than she looked; she was in fact more quick-witted than most human eight year olds. It was often amusing to see their faces when she did something that betrayed her appearance.

Many times they would go from jabbering random babble and cooing at her, to having deep conversations that were quite astounding in their complexity. Her vocabulary seemed to be the same way— simple, then extensive. Part of this may have stemmed from the fact that Kaina herself was having trouble balancing her mind, as it often felt that she was slowly becoming a more child-like version of herself before springing back to the intelligent youth she normally was.

"It was... different.', she replied, rolling over on her stomach to eye him. "Words cannot describe it. The entire world was a city... and buildings of glass reached far into the sky."

"Mmh.', Elrohir hummed, gazing into the dancing flames.

"Did you have a family?"

"Yes.', she answered non-comittedly. "Somewhere."

"Did you not live with them?"

"No. I have never met them."

"Why ever not?"

"I was removed from them at a young age to train at the temple. Attachments of that ilk were forbidden for a Jedi: it leads to jealously, which leads to hate, which leads to anger and the Dark Side... the side of the Force that feeds off of strong emotions and evil."

"Morbid thoughts for one so young.', Elrohir grunted disapprovingly.

"Perhaps. But my Master did not mask evil matters; it was better for me to be able to recognize evil than be caught unawares by it."

"Master?', Elladan growled in a dangerous tone. "You were a slave?"

"NO!', Kaina shouted, appalled that he had thought so. Anakin— the one who had destroyed her home— was the one who had been a slave, not her.

Kaina ducked her head and softened her voice as she realized her blunder.

"I was not a slave. I was a padawan; a Jedi in training. My Master was my instructor, my friend, and an ally."

"What happened to him?"

The elfling bit her lip, worrying it between her teeth.

"He was slain.', she finally whispered, dropping her head. "I- I felt our bond be snuffed out... I could no longer feel him."

The twins gaped at her for a moment before Elladan finally sighed and threw his head back. A thoughtful silence ensued for several moments before Elrohir finally spoke.

"Elves have bonds, too. Though they are most likely different from these 'Force' connections."

"Truly?"

"Yes.', he laughed. "They are created naturally for the most part, but at other times one must put an effort into building them themselves."

Kaina mulled over that piece of information carefully.

"I thought you were humans. Or at least, humanoids."

"Nay!', Elrohir chuckled. "We are not of mankind; we are elves. What are humans?"

"Men."

"And humanoids?"

"Anything that resembles a human; two legs, ability of speech... so on."

"Your world must be very different. How many races are there?"

"Trillions upon trillions.', she grinned, glad that the conversation had moved on from less heavy topics. She was thoroughly enjoying the dumbstruck look on their faces. "And there is more than one world."

"How do you know?', Elladan challenged.

"I have travelled to a few with Master Kit on simple missions. Some were cold and made of ice, and others were so hot they had lava spewing from the ground."

"Incredible..."

"Yep.', she laughed.

"Kaina?', Elrohir asked slowly, his forehead creasing as a thought came to mind. "Does the forbiddance of affection mean that you will not accept us as your family? Must you place aside love to follow your customs?"

Her own brow furrowed as she muddled through the inquiry.

"No.', she finally admitted, more to herself than the two who were questioning her. "I am not a Jedi, and now I will never be. I know the code, yes, but the temple does not exist anymore... the Jedi are now extinct."

"Why?"

"And back to the heavy topics.', she mentally huffed.

"The Sith— the Dark Jedi— returned. It was a Sith who—" A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed heavily. "—who killed the Jedi off. He was my... friend once. But he killed—" Here she broke off with a deep sob.

"Oh, Kaina.', Elrohir sighed, gathering her into his lap. "We did not mean to distress you."

Kaina squeezed her eyes shut, pushing back the grief that had started to rip her apart once more as she let her world fade to black.

"One so young should not have to bear such a heavy burden.', Celebrian murmured from the doorway where she watched the scene with her husband. Kaina had drifted off to sleep, and it was a heartwarming sight to see her curled in the lap of their son.

"Yet she has shown the incredible control she holds over her emotions; the grief has not weighed on her shoulders as heavily as it would on any other."

"It is amazing— these capabilities of hers. I do not believe I will ever understand them."

"It has been said that I am counted among the wisest in Middle Earth, yet I am at a loss when it comes to this elfling."

"Is that right?', his wife chuckled.

"Aye.', he smirked. "And I doubt their is anyone on this earth who could possibly understand her completely."

Kaina's nightmares of the Jedi Purge had stopped plaguing her, but at times she wished they had not. For in their place she had dreams— no, visions— of the happenings back in her own universe.

Though perhaps some of these visions were not as terrible as the ones that involved a masked Sith and his doings... she had, after all, met certain friends once more. A wistful smile curled her lip as her mind brought her back to a particular night.

*Flashback*

"Kaina?!"

The elfling squinted at the blurs of green and blue that had surrounded her before her eyes finally caught the familiar face.

"Obi-Wan?', she gasped as she caught sight of the man. "H-how?"

"I do not fully understand either.', he laughed.

"Well are you dead?', she huffed. "Or meditating?"

"No and yes.', he grinned. "And you?"

"Yes to the first and no to the second.', she replied, only to shake her head and try to clarify her words. "I mean, yes and no to the first. I died... but I'm alive again?"

"That I do understand.', he chuckled. "Qui-Gon paid both Master Yoda and I a visit."

"I met him."

"So he said." Her old friend studied her carefully. "Do you know where you are?"

"In a galaxy far, far, away.', she said dryly. "Another universe, I have been told. And where are you?"

"I am in exile on Tatooine."

Kaina shut her eyes, searching for something to say.

"At least you are alive.', she finally breathed. "I was afraid the Jedi had been—"

"I know.', he finished for her. "Only Yoda and I are left."

"And Anakin?', Kaina asked hesitantly. "Is he...?"

"He is alive.', Obi-Wan answered slowly, his eyes gaining a haunted look at the admittance.

"Why did he... do what he did?"

"He was fed lies. He believes that he is self-rightous and that the Jedi are evil."

"Then he is truly gone from us."

"Yes. But what of you, young one? How are you still compassionate towards that... that monster?"

"It is the Jedi way.', Kaina sighed, a little disturbed by the term Obi-Wan had all but spat. "I was angry at first. Meditation was abnormally hard with all of the... feelings."

"I have felt the same.', Obi-Wan said softly. "I almost blame myself—"

"Don't!', Kaina suddenly snapped. "Do not do berate yourself over this; you will only turn as he has, and then who will keep the ways of the Jedi alive?"

Obi-Wan's bright blue eyes bore into her dark ones before he suddenly grinned.

"You have matured.', he noted with a wide smile. "Though I think your appearance may have become more... childish."

Kaina did nothing to stop herself as she rolled her eyes, earning a sincere laugh from Obi-Wan.

"I must go.', he finally murmured. "I have a vigil to keep."

"Over who?"

"A babe named Luke. He is a new hope for us."

The shape of her friend slowly blended back into the green and blue surroundings and, with a smile on her lips, Kaina woke up feeling at peace for the first time since she had arrived in this new place.

Guide...

Namárië, tenna ma lesta edad— Farwell, until we meet again.

penneth— little one

A/N: So there you go, another update! Kaina is slowly adapting and maturing, and the next chapter will probably have some bonding with her foster family. Oh, and many people have asked where her lightsaber is, so I wanted to say that if you reread chapter one you will find that she lost it during the attack on the Jedi Temple. Please ReViEw!