A/N: You all have been very, very patient with me and I'm very sorry you have to be at all. In my defense, my newest job has been working me to the bone so I really didn't have any time these last few months to write. Thankfully I'm now in the process of looking for another job so hopefully I'll have time to write again soon. In the meantime, here's chapter 6 to tide you over.

We're getting closer now to completely new territory plot-wise. This chapter takes place where the old Chapter Four did, but is from Celírion's POV instead of Alice's so it's still very different perspective-wise from the old chapter. Chapter Seven is where the new stuff really comes into play though, so hang in there. We're getting there, I promise. ;)

History Will Be Kind To Me

From Lands Beyond

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

By any other name would smell as sweet."

- William Shakespeare

06. What's in a Name?

Lothlórien, 2999 of the Third Age

Celírion stared at the considerable group of elves loitering at the base of Tinuthel's talan. They were all just…standing there…waiting. But for what? Had something happened while he was away? Just as he was pondering this curious occurrence a familiar blonde head swept past him.

"Ivrellam?"

The elleth turned, glancing over her shoulder at him curiously. There was a basket in her arms. Celírion stared at it.

"Yes?"

"Why is everyone…here?" He began to ask before a sudden thought stopped him in his tracks. "Wait, has…has something happened to Lady Alice?"

Ivrellam was quick to soothe his distress. "Lady Alice is well, Celírion," a jubilant smile spread across her face then. "In fact, she gave birth to her babes a fortnight ago!"

"Her…babes?" Celírion repeated, suddenly light-headed. "She has more than one?"

"She has twins!" Ivrellam confirmed happily. "We all came to see them and congratulate her but…" she paused and glanced up at Tinuthel's home in the treetop. "No one has seen her since the birth. Tinuthel says she is well but she does not seem to want visitors…"

Though Ivrellam was clearly disappointed by this turn of events Celírion couldn't say he was all that surprised. Alice was a skittish creature and rarely enjoyed being the center of attention. "She just needs time. I am sure you will get to see the babes soon enough."

"I suppose…"

A thought suddenly occurred to him them. "Say, what are their names?"

"The babes?"

"Yes."

Ivrellam shrugged. "I cannot say. Tinuthel has not called them by name. Perhaps Lady Alice is still thinking of some?"

"Perhaps." He agreed.

It didn't take long for her to appear.

Unlike his overeager brethren, Celírion had the distinct advantage of knowing exactly how his quarry thought. Thus it came as no surprise to him, long after night had fallen and the other elves had gone home, when he heard the telltale creak of Tinuthel'd front door.

"Hello Alice," He called cheerily when she reached the bottom of the steps. Unsurprisingly she jumped and whirled around so fast her braid nearly smacked him in the face.

"Jesus Christ!" Alice cried out, her hand flying to her throat. "You scare me!"

"I apologize," Celírion responded quickly, clasping his fingers around her arm to steady her. "I did not mean to frighten you."

Alice mumbled something unintelligible in her native tongue, though Celírion had the amusing suspicion that it was probably not flattering. She looked...different he decided. The great weight at her middle was gone and she seemed to walk freer and more easily now that she had finally been rid of it.

"So...I had babies," she said finally, drawing his attention back to her face.

Celírion couldn't help but grin. "Yes. I had heard."

"Yes. I sure you did," she groaned and then seemed to remember why she had left her talan and glanced past Celírion's shoulder towards the east. "I came for bath. I should...go bath."

"Bathe." He corrected her with a laugh.

"Right," she repeated awkwardly. "I go bathe."

He pressed a hand between her shoulder blades and gently urged her forward. "You go bathe. I will be here when you return."

She looked back at him eyes bright in the moonlight. "Right…" and then she left.

Celírion settled down at the base of the steps with a smile...and waited.

"What are their names?"

Alice made a inquiring noise and half-turned her head towards him in question.

"Your babes," Celírion clarified. They were both lying back on the grass, heads pressed close to stare at the stars through a gap in the trees above them.

"Mmmm," she replied with the tone of someone who had been asked that question one too many times. "I have not."

"Have not?"

"Named them."

Celírion turned his head toward her completely, confused. "Why?"

He saw her frown. "Names difficult."

"Perhaps, but your children should have names." He turned back to the sky. "The elves often name their children for the forest or flowers, or what they believe their children to be. Is it not the same with your people?"

"Sometimes. But sometimes humans name children for family or because they just like name." Alice shrugged.

"Well what were you named for?"

"A story."

Celírion perked up at that. He'd never heard a human story before. "What kind of story?"

She was quiet for a moment, as if she wasn't going to answer him, but then, "Girl named Alice fell down rabbit hole-"

"A rabbit hole? That would be far too small to fall into…"

Celírion thought he saw Alice roll her eyes. "It was magic rabbit hole," she corrected. "Alice fell down magic rabbit hole and into Wonderland."

"Where is Wonderland?"

She paused, thinking about it. "Underground."

"So it is a cave?"

"No."

"But-"

Alice was quick to cut him off, "Alice fall into Wonderland and drink bottle that make her small and play croquet with flamingo and meet Cheshire Cat and…" she stopped, as if realizing something. "Actually...it is strange story."

Celírion blinked at the odd words and could only say, "Are all human stories so strange?"

"No, just this one," she said. "Are yours?"

"No."

"Tell me one."

Celírion thought for a moment, glancing up at the moon. "Well," he began, "There is the story of Arien and Tilion."

"Arien and Tllion?"

"The Sun and the Moon." He explained. "When the world was young the light of the world came from the Two Trees, but when they were cut down by Belegûr the Valar created two vessels to house their last fruit and flower. However, such vessels could not move on their own and so Arien and Tilion, two of the ainur, rose to the task of steering them across the sky every day and every night."

"Are they gods?" Alice asked, curiously.

"In a way."

"They sound like gods," She proclaimed. "In my home, my people have story about sun and moon gods too."

"Oh?" Celírion urged eagerly. He would never turn down another human story.

"Artemis and Apollo," Alice yawned. "Artemis was huntress, maiden of the moon, and Apollo was god of music and poetry and the sun. They were twins..." She trailed off, as if suddenly distracted by something.

Celírion lifted his head and turned on his elbow. "Alice?"

She was asleep.

He stared at her a moment, taking in her closed eyelids and wild hair. He had never seen a human sleeping before. It was...peaceful. Carefully, so as not to wake her, Celírion rose and pulled her into his arms.

"It is a shame you could not finish your story," He whispered as he carried her back towards Tinuthel's talan. "I would have liked to hear more of your Artemis and Apollo. Another time perhaps?"

Alice did not reply. She only turned her head into his tunic, oblivious to Tilion above as he lit their way home.

A/N: Not a very long chapter, I know. I promise longer, newer, more exciting stuff is coming though. Hang in there please. I appreciate all of your patience. Truly, I do.

Chapter Timeframe: January 19, 2999 T.A. - January 20, 2999 T.A.

Today in "Middle Earthean History, Culture, and Geography Notes AKA Stuff I Feel Like Talking About":

- As I'm sure many of you are aware, Alice in Wonderland is a weird story and trying to explain it to someone who isn't familiar with it would be difficult, especially with the added language and cultural barrier.

- Belegûr is the Sindarin name for Morgoth/Melkor.

- Arien and Tilion were the maiar charged with the steering of the vessels of the sun and moon respectively. Unlike many real-world sun and moon gods, Arien was female and Tilion was male. This is rather unusual as most cultures and religions see this being the reverse, with the sun as male and the moon as female.

Sindarin Names and Their Meanings/Pronunciations

Ivrellam - Crystalline Voice (eve-rell-ahm)

Belegûr - He who arises in might (bell-eh-goor)