'You are not yourself, Artanis,' Finrod said as he walked into the antechamber the children of Finwe shared.

Artanis looked up from the book she was actively not reading. 'I beg your pardon?' she asked, her brow furrowing slightly.

Finrod nodded toward her book. 'You're holding it upside down, onore mine.' His eyes flashed in mirth as he smiled gently. Picking her up, he settled down on the bench she had occupied and replaced her next to him, pulling her close. 'Come, onore, tell me what troubles you so. Even Aegnor has mentioned your sullenness, and he is not wont so to do.'

Artanis wrinkled her nose and shook her head. 'I am fine, onoro. All is well.'

'Your lying is dreadful. You ought practice more.' Though said in jest, there was a hint of legitimate concern in his voice.

Artanis wanted to scream at him and push him away, to tell him that they shouldn't hide what happened any longer. She was tired of pretending, and she feared what would happen when the truth inevitably came out... for come out it would, of that she was certain. Let her brothers think they could keep it, she knew better. What if it had been folly to come East, after all? For the briefest of moments, she wondered if her desire to rule a place of her own was wrong. No... that sounded like something Celeborn of Doriath would say, the foolish bastard. Why should his opinion matter?

'Artanis,' Finrod said again, his voice dropping dangerously low. 'Do not ignore me thusly.'

The golden-haired elf-maid sighed. It could not be denied. The stubbornness for which Artanis, Princess of the Noldor, was famous was not enjoyed by her alone. There would be no end to this unless she told him, though she was not sure what exactly there was to tell, or why it troubled her so.

'I do not like their arrogant prince of Doriath,' Artanis said simply.

Finrod raised both his eyebrows in surprise. 'To whom do you refer, onore?'

'Celeborn.'

'The son of Galadhon? Kinsman to Thingol?'

Artanis nodded.

Finrod laughed in disbelief. 'I have seen no sign of arrogance from him, onore. You surprise me! What has your sharp tongue done now? Surely you must have provoked him.'

She grimaced. Of course her brother would approve of Celeborn. She would garner more sympathy from Aegnor, despite their differences. Angrod would, no doubt, take Finrod's side. He always did. 'Why do you assume that I was the one to provoke, onoro?'

'I know you too well, dearest,' he said with a laugh, tugging her hair lightly and hugging her close. 'I shall tell no one what you say, Artanis, but, you cannot hide your true feelings from me. Come, speak to me.

'He angered me.'

Finrod merely raised an eyebrow.

'I snapped at him. I was cold, and he seemed genuinely hurt. I did not mean to be so harsh, and I do not know how to appease him.'

'You could say you were wrong.'

There was no laughter in his voice, this time. Artanis turned to look up at him. 'You jest.'

'Nay, onore, I do not.' Finrod's gaze bore into her, as if she were simply one of the stones with which he worked. 'Our position is precarious. Pray, do not upset the balance further. Do not judge Celeborn harshly, Artanis. He means well. You, too, would see this, were you to give him a chance.' He tilted her chin up toward him. 'Not all mean ill to us, my sweet onore. You will grow to learn this in time.'

They would if they knew what had been done, she thought angrily. She wondered what Finrod's reaction would be if she said as much to him. She doubted it would be pleasant. Even so, she opted to merely nod in reply.

Finrod seemed satisfied enough with her reaction and pressed a kiss to her forehead. 'Now, cheer up, Artanis. I have both a present for you, and news!'

He pulled a slender package from within his brilliant robes and carefully unwrapping it, revealing a green gem encased with silver vines and leaves.

'Turn,' he said with a smile.

She did as he asked and he clasped the jewel about her neck.

'There,' he said, as she turned back so he could look in satisfaction at his handiwork. 'For the most beautiful jewel in the House of Finwe.'

'It's beautiful, onoro, thank you.'

He grinned at her and shrugged. 'Now, for my news. I have spoken with the naugrim and with Elu Thingol. We will be building our new homes in some caves we have found. I shall call them Nargothrond, and they shall glitter with a thousand thousand gems. The glory of the Noldor and Teleri shall shine forth for all to see in our creation.' He stood up, preparing to depart. 'Think on that, onore titta. You shall even be free from your vendetta against poor Celeborn of Doriath, for you shall be able to leave him behind.'

Artanis made no reply, merely staring in silence after her brother as he left. She had expected to be joyous at this news, and yet... there was something not quite right.