Disclaimer: I own nothing. I'm not sure who wrote the song Un Canadien Errant, but it was not me. There is a recording of it done by Ian and Sylvia Tyson however.

Author's Note: Well I'm back. My holidays were hectic and not very restful but oh well. Hope you enjoy the chapter next one will be up soon. Yuhi, I'll send you this asap.

A Moment's Peace II

The day of the feast dawned bright and clear. That morning spring could be smelt in the air. The smell of fresh earth thawing with the warming of the world, could be smelt everywhere. All knew that winter's grip on the land was leaving, and that soon new green life would be seen everywhere. I helped in Tinniel's domain most of the day, cutting roots and winter apples, turning spits and stirring soup. Finally, we were relieved from our duties and went to get cleaned up. I had taken to wearing my leggings and sweater, keeping the tunic Mirwen had given me clean for the feast. I bathed and dressed, before Mirwen came and found me.

Mirwen helped me brush and braid my hair, and I returned the favor. As we headed back towards the clearing in front of the hall that no longer held any injured but had been converted back into a dining hall my nerves began to act up. I could hardly eat any of the food that I had helped prepare; all I could do was wait in nervous anticipation when I would be asked to sing.

I do not recall where the harp that Laiqualasse¸ played that night had come from but the strains echoed sweet and sad over the congregated populous. Although my nerves had been eating at me through the whole meal they disappeared the moment I sang my first note and heard his lilting harmonies as he sang with me. His voice urged me to keep singing as I stood behind him.

Chorus after chorus and verse by verse we sang of the glory and bravery of the Lord of the House of the Golden Flower. We sang of his triumph and of his fall, and we sang of our hopes that he was now at peace in the Halls of Mandos. Through out the ballad the crowd remained silent as the listened. The moment the last note died there was silence in the glade, and my nerves returned hitting me full force in the stomach.

Gilmer stood from where he had been sitting a light that I could not identify shone in his eyes. "I honour Lord Laiqualasse and the Maiden Eruanna for such a beautiful eulogy." I let out a breath as her crowd echoed his sentiment. However, it seemed that these were not the only words that Gilmir had to speak. "I was hoping that the Maiden Eruanna might grace us with another song. Perhaps, one in her own tongue of her own land."

I couldn't help but feel that Gilmir was calling me out, challenging me to sing a song that would show me to be different than those around me. If I declined I would be called a coward, but in truth, although I was nervous my hesitance was more because an utter lose as to what to sing. What language would I use? It was in that moment that I realized that I wasn't even sure what language I could call my own. I could not remember learning to speak French although my parents told me English was the first language I spoke I basically learnt them simultaneously. I loved Gaelic best of all the languages learnt in my own world however the ancient Celtic language was not the best try and give an impression of my own country. Then it hit me, the perfect song to sing.

I smiled at Gilmir. "I would be glad to sing you a song of my own country, my Lord Gilmir." I looked over the crowd and took a deep breath.

Une Canadienne Errant
Banni de ses foyers,
Une Canadienne Errant,
Bannie de ses foyers,
Parcourait en pleurant
Des pays etrangers.
Parcourait en pleurant
Des pays etrangers.

Un jour, triste et pensif,
Assis au bord des flots,
Un jour triste et pensif,
Assis au bord des flots,
Au courant fugitif
Elle adressa ces mots:
Au courant fugitif
Elle adressa ces mots:

"Si tu vois mon pays,
Mon pays malheureux,
Si tu vois mon pays,
Mon pays malheureux,
Va dire a mes amis
Que je me souviens d'eux.
Va dire a mes amis
Que je me souviens d'eux.

O jours si pleins d'appas,
Vous etes disparus...
O jours si pleins d'appas
Vous etes disparus…
Et ma patrie, helas!
Je ne la verrai plus.
Et ma patrie, helas!
Je ne la verrai plus.

As I finished the song I felt like crying. Before my eyes as I sang I saw the forests and hills. The beautiful blue lakes with the summer sun glinting off their water. I saw the world covered in a thick blanket of snow, and heard the hiss of skies as they moved through it. I saw tower hill in St. John's Newfoundland and the beauty of the British-Columbian red pine forests. I saw the CN Tower and Parliament Hill, as sharply as I had when I had first seen them. And my native land that I will never see again. A huge wave of home sickness swept over me. I bowed to those assembled and move away from the crowed.

Just outside the light of the torches that illuminated the clearing stood Curroneth. "Eruanna," she said quietly. "You sang well. That song was so full of longing. Though I understood not the words their meaning was as clear as day to me, for I too have left the land of my birth and have no hope of seeing it again. I miss Ossiriand terribly, just as I know that you must miss your own country. You must remember that although you are far from your home there are those here who care for you," she smiled at me sadly.

"Thank you, Curoneth, for saying exactly what I needed to hear," I replied. To my shock she took me in her arms and hugged me. I returned her hug knowing that this was her way of saying that any distrust that she may have felt about me was in the past.

"Come the dancing is about to start," she said taking my hand.

"I do not know your dances," I replied. Although I had done highland for years when I had been a child I did not think that it would be flings and sword dances that they were dancing here.

"Don't worry I'm sure we can find someone to teach you a dance or two tonight," she replied tugging on my hand. I relented and let myself be pulled back into the circle of light. I did learn a few dances that night. Idril herself came over and helped Curoneth teach me one, and then Laiqualasse¸ came and swept me away laughing as I tried to follow his steps. I had a great deal of fun. Laughing and spinning and twirling and trying to follow the steps of the nimble footed elves to varying degrees of success.

It was nearly dawn when I returned to the sleeping shelter to catch a few hours of rest. Many were still dancing and singing by the dinning hall, however I was worn and tired and wished to sleep. I entered the shelter as quietly as possible as I knew that Lailitha was sleeping on her pallet on the other side of the shelter. Just as I reached me pallet I saw that Mirwen was sitting on it. She looked up at me and stood.

"Could I speak with you Eruanna?" she asked in a whisper. I nodded and we left the shelter so not to wake the sleeping child.

Once we were a distance from the camp we sat down and Mirwen looked at me with a serious expression on her face. "Eruanna, are you in love with my brother?" she asked her grey eyes so like her brother's boring into me.

I looked away; I couldn't maintain eye contact with her. I nodded my head before dropping it into my hands as tears began to run down my face. All of the exhilaration I had felt while dancing was replaced by utter despair. "I…I…" I wanted so badly to say I didn't, for until that moment I did not believe that I did love him. He was my friend and my teacher, but then I remembered how it felt when he held me, the comfort found simply by being in his arms. I remembered how he could make me laugh even when I was at my lowest. "I do," I whispered in defeat.

"You realize that you are mortal and he is not, that you will die and he will continue on?" she asked.

"Yes. I know that any marriage between the two kindred's is a tragic thing for all good that may come of it, I know this better then I think you would believe. I know nothing will ever come of this. Mir, I don't want to ever cause him hurt, ever. Besides I'm little more then a child to him, he will never see me in any way other then as his pupil," I replied.

"But he does, Eruanna. I know him better then all, and I see the way he looks at you. You are a puzzle to him one he wishes to solve. Never have I seen him pay so much attention to any female. He only ever acted this way about his projects when he was back in Tirion," Mirwen said taking my hand in hers.

"What do I do?" I said in a whisper. "I have to stay away from him. Mir, I can't let him close." I bit my lip wanting to let out a desperate cry. Why was life so unfair?

Mirwen came and put her arm around my shoulders. "Eruanna, there is nothing I can do if he chooses you. I know that one day you will die and I'm going to loose a friend I just don't want to loose a brother too." I understood how she felt, I knew I would feel the same if our positions were reversed.

English translation of French song used in this chapter.

A wandering Canadian,
Banned from her hearths,
A wandering Canadian,
Banned from her hearths,
Running with crying,
In foreign lands,
Running while crying,
In foreign lands.

One sad and pensive day,
Sitting by the flowing waters,
One sad and pensive day,
Sitting by the flowing waters,
To the fleeing current,
She addressed these words:
To the fleeing current,
She addressed these words:

"If you see my country,
My unhappy land.
If you see my country,
My unhappy land,
Got tell my friends,
That I remember them.
Go tell my friends,
That I remember them."

O days so full of charms,
You have vanished…
O days so full of charms,
You have vanished…
And my native land, alas!
I will see it no more.
And my native land, alas!
I will see it no more