Elrohir peeked in the healing wing. Sanariam was there, as usual, mixing the herbs that she would need for the day. His father was there as well, making his rounds of the patients. Elrohir sighed and walked inside. Sanariam looked up, and nodded. She knew why he was there. She turned to him. “Elenwe is already there, Elrohir…” Elrohir nodded and walked into the room that Luna was in.

“Any change?” He asked Elenwe’s silent form. She turned, startled at his sudden appearance.

“No, mellon-nin, none.” She looked at him, and he could see disappointment, as well as a resignation for the worst, the chance Luna would die. Elrohir sighed, and folded his form into a chair and looked at Elenwe. She cleared her throat. “It’s been a week since she came here, and there is no poison. Lord Elrond says it is almost as if she is not there, almost like her soul has fled. Yet she lives….she breathes…her heart beats…it’s almost as if she were sleeping….but this sleep seems eternal…never ending…” Elenwe’s voice trailed off, unable to make the conclusion everyone feared. Elrohir stroked Luna’s pale hand in his.

“Your right, in essence, she is sleeping…but I don’t know if she will awake…” He said. He looked at Luna’s face; it was unmarred by the injuries that she had suffered. Sanariam had brushed and untangled her hair, and now it lay upon her shoulders. This was a vulnerable Luna, all traces of strength washed away from her face. Elrohir knew that Luna would never want herself seen in this way. Elrohir shook his head ruefully. Luna never wore her hair down…she denied that measure of feminism…to her, hair was in the way, yet, it still was too dear to her for her to cut off.

A sudden noise startled both Elrohir and Elenwe. It was Legolas, coming to tell Elenwe they had to leave for Mirkwood. Elenwe looked at her still friend and left, walking toward the guest chambers. Legolas lingered. He stroked Luna’s pale cheek and whispered a prayer to the Valar, praying for Luna to live. He turned and looked at Elrohir. “She’ll pull through Mellon…Luna has never failed her friends yet.” He laid a hand on Elrohir’s shoulder, a gesture of companionship, and left Elrohir alone. Elrohir sighed. He wanted to believe that…but for some reason he couldn’t.

~~~~~

Luna looked around, it was a bright place. She was drawn to the place…but it was almost as if she couldn’t reach it. She was drawn away from the bright place too…almost as if something were holding her back…

~~~~~

Elrohir watched Luna’s face…searching for any signs that she would wake up. There was nothing, not even a flutter of her eyelashes. The only movement was her chest moving up and down as she breathed. There was another knock at the door, this time it was Kerowyn. She sat down in the recently vacated chair, and looked at Luna, tears filling her eyes. Kerowyn had barely escaped the battle with her life, it was Luna that helped her.

//Flashback//

Kerowyn heard the cracking of the beams, and heard Luna call her name.

Next thing Kerowyn knew, the structure was collapsing, and Kerowyn was outside. Luna stood next to her, panting.

“This is why no one should ever leave anyone alone during a battle.” Luna said. Kerowyn turned.

“I know, I am leaving. I was trying to reach a child, but the child was already dead. But I have to leave. I have been away from my children too long.” Kerowyn said.

Luna nodded. “You are not needed here, go back to Imladris.”

//End of Flashback//

Elenwe and Legolas were not far from the gates at all, when Elenwe pulled in her reigns. Legolas turned, and rode back to Elenwe. She wasn’t sure what was keeping her from continuing. Legolas dismounted at walked over to Elenwe."You don't want to leave?" He asked, though he knew the answer.

"...I..." she whispered. Her head hung and her eyes filled with the invisable tears she refused to let fall. Legolas stared at her patiently. Elenwe took in a deep breath and turned to him. "I'm fine, let's go." They continued on the path slowly for the time being.

~~~~~~~~~

Luna stood within this blinding brightness motionless. The forces pulling her both ways tugged so hard she could not move at all. She raised her arms slowly and spaced out her feet with great difficulty. As she did so the pull seemed to grow and she could take it no longer. "STOP THIS!!! LET ME GO!!! WHERE AM I???!!!" her voice rang out and echoed over and over again in the vastness, put it seemed distant even to herself, though she knew she had yelled quite loud.

~~~~~~~~

On the road Legolas and Elenwe were still in sight of Rivendell. But as they rode the echos of Luna's screams suddenly met Elenwe's ear and her heart skipped a beat. She stopped Cyali with a jolt and Legolas turned once more, this time alarmed by Elenwe's horrified expression. "Something's wrong!!!" she shouted and she spun Cyali around, bolting back to Rivendell as fast as they were possibly able with Legolas at their heels.

~~~~~~~

In the healing chamber Elrohir cried out for Sanarium and his father. They rushed in and to their dismay saw that Luna's body was convulsing. Elrond ran to her while Sanarium began to fummble with her medicines to find that which might help.

~~~~~~~

Iodhil and Elladan walked slowly down the hall before the main gate when it burst open and Elenwe and Legolas dashed in. Before their eyes could focus upon them Elenwe had already dismounted and was running up the stairs. "What's going on?!" they said in turn. Elenwe reached the top as Legolas shouted:

"Ask her!" Elenwe didn't stop as she flew past them.

"IT"S LUNA!!!!" They looked at each other and fled to the healing chamber. Elenwe turned fast upon the doorway and skidded to a stop. She gasped and her hands covered her mouth. Legolas, Iodhil and Elladan caught up and saw Elrond and Sanarium rush about as Elrohir watched and Luna's body quaked. Elenwe buried herself into Legolas's chest as her eyes filled up with tears and Elladan stood beside his brother, placing his hand on his shoulder. Elrohir placed his atop Elladan's and breathed in with difficulty. Luna's body finally calmed and everyone let out a sigh of relief. Elenwe and Elrohir ran to her bedside. Elrohir stroked her face and Elenwe kneeled by her. Elladan, Elrond, Iodhil and Sanarium stepped outside to discuss what had happened and Elenwe and Legolas stepped to the side of the room. Elrohir did not take his eyes off of his wife. "I... I can't go... Not when she's like this..." Elenwe choked, the tears barly being held back.

Legolas held her hands. He starred at Luna's body, peacful, but frightful as it had been a moment ago, he looked away. He wished himself to stay, but both of them could not, indeed Elenwe's lack of presence would be questioned alone. "Alright. I'll go and hurry back." He held her cheek.

"But be swift!" said Elenwe, "She needs you too..." Legolas kissed her forehead and left quickly as promised. Elenwe turned and starred at Elrohir, he was now kneeling by her. He held Luna's hand and he rubbed his face along it in sorrow. Elenwe placed her arms around his shoulders and rested her head behind his. How long would they all indure not knowing?

~~~~~~~

Luna continued to struggle silently now. Still she could move not and her frustation grew. Finally she cried out, "Your grip is strong, but you are nothing, but an evil wretch of an Orc!!!" Once again her voice echoed and sounded strange. A clear, rich and deep voice met her ears, it seemed to come from all around, yet it sounded near and did not echo as her own.

"Thou wilt call me a wretch of an Orc and thou shalt lose thine only choice to gain or lose as thou wishes." Suddenly it became brighter before Luna, as she thought it impoossible to become brighter. A faint figure she could see, though not clearly, for the creature's sheen was reflected by this white place and blinded her.

"Who are you?!" Luna demanded.

"Thou knows not? I am Mandos and thou, Arithilwen, art before my halls, yet still beyond Middle-Earth."

"I...I have died?" Luna thought, unbelievingly.

"Do not hasten thineself... Thou art faced with a choice... To return to Middle-Earth and those that thou loves or... Proceed on unto my halls. But remember the words of lore and time upon thine family... 'When the last of the Moon's rays set, a new Sun shall rise in the morn.'... But nothing is ever as it appears at first, ponder thine thoughts awhile." Luna was speechless and unaware how to believe what was before her.

"What do you mean?" she found herself saying suddenly.

"I shall give thou one sight into what wilt happen if thou wilst return to Middle-Earth." the bright figure moved it's hand and a vertical, round mirror of water appeared before her. The water was first clam, then became unsettled. VISION "So Arithilwen... I now leave thou to decide... leave thine friends to mourn or return and see them die.... It is up to thou..." And with that all light vanished and it suddenly became blacker than the dark. Luna was baffled. Slowly she set herself down to sitting position, the force still pulling from both directions and now it seemed greater still. Luna shoved her face into her lap and sat in silence.

~~~~~~

Kerowyn watched outside the window as her children played and romped about merrily. A small smile rippled upon her face, but it quickly faded. Luna. It was all her mind could think about. But no matter how much she thought about her old friend, she could not bare to go see her. She had heard of such a state before, though she told no one. She remained in her chambers. Lindir spoke words of regret for the future concerning her actions, but it meant nothing to her. She had never thought Lindir knew best, or any thing at all, when it came to Luna.

~~~~~~

"Ada, Sanarium..... Do you have any idea what just happened to Luna? I.... It was ...horrible." Elladan asked as he, Iodhil, Sanarium & Elrond all entered the vast study. Elrond sighed and Sanarium looked down at the floor with concern.

"I'm afraid... I do not know.... I havn't seen something quite like that before." Elrond answered solemnly.

"Then... You have no way of knowing if she's okay... or ...." started Iodhil. He couldn't bare to say that Luna's condition, whatever it was, could be worse.

"No... we don't...." Elrond answered onced more. Sanarium quickly began to add a not as terrible note.

"Elenwe and Elrohir won't leave her side. I know that. ....And Kerowyn.... I don't understand she won't even go to see Luna!"

"Ker... I think she just needs some time. Perhaps she's just waiting til Luna regains consciousness...." Elladan defended.

"That's not a reason." retorted Iodhil, "And Ker's got a reason." Elrond stared at the floor and began to pase back and forth. He sighed. The door opened swiftly and they all turned to see Glorfindel enter.

"Do any of you know why Elenwe is still here, yet I can't find Legolas?"

"He went to Mirkwood without her, she said she wanted to stay." answered Sanarium.

"Ah. ...I thought she might..... It seems we have three desolot bodies, in our mists..." Glorfindel said with fake cheer, trying to mask his own worries for Luna. Elrond continued.

"Kerowyn does not, but watch her children play from the window....Lindir has convinced her of nothing, though Valar knows he's tried. Left alone, confined in her chambers her mind is detearating....... However Elrohir and Elenwe are no better, in fact...... they're worse. At least Kerowyn sleeps. ...." Elrond sighed again. "I fear Elrohir will keep vigalence by Luna's side til she rises."

"And Elenwe? You think she won't?" Elladan said raising a eyebrow.

"No, she will, I'm sure of that... however Elenwe will take food and drink when it is offered and perhaps even leave Luna for a few moments. Elrohir seems on the verge of being mute."

"You mean.... you think he'll give up on even talking while Luna's comatose...?" questioned Iodhil. Elrond's eyebrows lowered.

"I'm afraid so..... but...... maybe....... there's something I can do for one of them if not all of them."

~~~~~~

Legolas drove his horse hard, taking every short cut possible to get to Mirkwood quicker. As he rode closer and closer to the gates he did not stop to speak to the guards, rather they recognized him and let him pass. He rode like lightning through the streets and to the steps of the Palace. He bolted from horse back to the second section of stairs in a single bound and ran up to the halls. He quickly passed all and came to the main chamber. A guard began to protest that there was a meeting already in session, but he cared not and went in. The many Elves looked up at him from their chairs in surprise and Thranduil cleared his throat in disapproval. An Elf mummbled something they could not hear, but all could guess. "Excuse the interuption." Legolas said in a sarcastic tone.

"I thought..." began another Elf, "that the Lady Elenwe was summoned as well. Where is she?"

"She remained in Imladris." retorted Legolas.

"What?" said another, "Does she care not for council? This is not the first time I have seen her disrespect the ways." A third took the same position.

"Is she simply devoid of all consideration of others? This is absurd!" Legolas could take no more and took the Elf by the collar, lifting him from his seat.

"Silence yourself! She cares more for her kin than those that would mar as you! One of my dearest friends is on the verge of death and I will not suffer any more of such talk!!" he shouted, throwing the Elf back into his seat. The others, including Thranduil, sat speechless at this sudden hostility. For Thranduil did not yet know of the fear that grew on the hearts of many.

~~~~~~

Within her bedroom, within the cottage, Elenwe was lying upon her bed. Her eyes lifted slowly and her vision cleared to the sight of her ceiling. She imideatly sat up. Pausing merly a moment she stomped down to the library, where she found Iodhil, Elladan and Elrond. "Why did I just wake up in my bedroom?!" she demanded. They stared at her.

"Elenwe... you fell asleep we brought you back to your--" said Elladan, before she cut him off.

"That was none of your concern!! When I said I wasn't leaving I meant that!! Asleep or no!! How dare you?! How dare you do that?!" she shouted. Iodhil stood up,

"Elenwe.... I wasn't there, but I'm pretty sure that when someone falls asleep--"

"But I wouldn't have fallen asleep--... I wouldn't have fallen asleep..." her eyes wandered to Elrond, who held a look of regret. "You-- HOW DARE YOU???!!!! You gave me a sleeping tonic???!!!! What in the hell gives you the idea that that was alright??!!!" she screamed. Elrond sighed,

"Elenwe... you need rest, your mind and body are wery from this--"

"I know how my mind and body are doing and that's not for you to meddle in!!!!! But most of all... you think... you thought it was okay to take me away from her.... You have no right, ANY OF YOU... TO DO ANY OF THIS!!!!"

"Elenwe--" started Elladan.

"STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME!!!! I HATE YOU!!!!" Elenwe threw open the doors and ran, but not to the healing chambers. She ran down to the fountain that she and Luna frequently sat by and spoke. She cast herself upon the rim and her tears flowed in the water of the fountain. "Luna..." she cried. "Come back... come back to us... to me... I can never forgive you if you don't... Luna... LUNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

~~~~~~

The stary light floated into the healing chamber and Elrohir looked lovingly upon Luna's fair face. What grace and beauty shone from it in this light, he thought as always. He had placed her hair back as he knew she would have wanted. Not since the day Luna convulsed had Elrohir left her side, nor had he slept, eaten or drank anything given to him. He floated along side his fair moon maiden and swore he would until the end of all time and the moon in the sky died for all eternity. Tears welled in his eyes and silently and softly they fell upon Luna's face. They glittered and increased her beauty, but as he noticed them run down her cheek he wiped them from her face. He knew she never wanted to ever, ever be seen, least of all... crying. "Vanimelda...."

~~~~~~

With the blackness that held her, Luna sat. How was she to choose? To leave everything or to return and have everything ruined? To journey back or journey forth. She wondered how her friends were doing. Had they even had any change at all or did she still lie on the battle field? Luna stared downwards and thoughts swirled about in her mind. So many things to concider, to predict. As her mind began to focus more on her friends whispers reached her ears. Things distance and few, but soon they turned to screams and cries and they echoed around her. As the words were spoken she noticed the different voices in which they were spoken. But they soon battled one another speaking at the same time and drove into her head.

"Mellon!!!" --- "Luna...." --- "Melleth." --- "She's so cold." --- "She's shaking!" --- "Luna!" --- "Do not doubt her." --- "Luna!" --- "Come back... I can never forgive you if you don't...!!!" --- "Luna."-"Luna?"-"Luna!!"-"LUNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" ..................

"Vanimelda...." Luna clasped her hands around her ears and drew into herself.

"Stop... stop mourning.... STOP IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Her voice silenced her solidtude once more and Luna winched in pain. "What... what do I do?"

~~~~~~

Kerowyn sat at the foot of the bed and stared at her fingers, twiddling in her lap. "Melleth?" came from around the corner. Lindir appeared in the doorway. "Melleth?--There you are. I've been looking for you."

"Why?" asked Kerowyn quietly.

"Well... because I wanted to see you...and................" Lindir scratched the back of his neck. He didn't know how to console his wife in such a situation. Luna wasn't dead, but in critical condition and Kerowyn still had not gone to see her. "I was just on my way to the healing wings and was wondering if maybe--"

"No." she spoke softly again, "I don't want to go...." Lindir stared at her.

"But... Why not?" Kerowyn's hands now sat motionless in her lap, but she continued to stare at them. "Do you think staying away from her will help? How will she feel when she awakes and finds that you never visited her? Or do you stay out of fear? Fear that you will go and she will die?" Kerowyn said nothing. "Damn it, Kerowyn!" Lindir stood and put his hands on his hips as he faced the window. "Mope after something happens! She would have wanted it so!! And you bring nothing, but disquiet with this sorrowful guilt!!!" Lindir stomped out and Kerowyn sat still. She ever so slowly rose her head and looked out the window.

~~~~~~

Elenwe entered Luna's room with puffy and abnormally dry eyes. Elrohir, or course, looked as he had the day before in the same place, kneeled beside the love of his life. Elenwe felt a lump of sorrow lodge in her throat. She wished she could comfort Elrohir. But how when she felt just as he? She knew nothing that she could say or do would help any, leaving him be was best. She knew. It was what she had wanted. Until Luna awoke and questioned why they all looked so forelorn, happiness of any measure could not be felt. Elenwe sat in on the velvet padded bench she had occupied for so long and resumed her own vigalance. Time seemed nothing and she knew not how much had passed since she entered to when she hear slow and quiet footsteps.

Elenwe looked to the door. "I swear to the Valar..." she thought, "I'll never forgive you for interfering!!" But Elenwe started for a mere second as it wasn't whom she had thought. A tired looking Kerowyn stared at the ground just inside the door.

"Kerowyn...." Elenwe said aloud followed by the thought: "You finally came..." She gave a sad smile and approached her other dear friend. She felt no scorn to Kerowyn either, for she too, had needed the solitude. Elenwe rested her hands on Kerowyn's shoulders. "Here..." she said and guided her to Luna. Kerowyn reluctantly peared and Luna ever lusterus, yet seemingly waning face. At that moment tears filled her eyes and overflowed onto her cheeks. Kerowyn took no notice of Elrohir, kneeling beside them now, She merely began to sob.

"Forgive me.... Mellon....."