Funeral of the One Who Cannot Be Forgotten

The day dawned bright and clear, the exact opposite of the mood of everyone in Rivendell. Today was the funeral...real funeral of Luna. The last of the moon-elves had died. Elrohir sighed and willed himself not to cry. He put on his black cloak and fixed the braids in his hair. There was a knock at the door, and it swung open. Elladan stood there. His face was impassive, hiding his own grief for his friend and brother's wife. ”Are you ready Gwador?" Elladan asked.

"Yes" Elrohir answered, his voice thick with sorrow and unshed tears. The two brothers walked together, down the hall and stairs. At the entrance to the family wing stood Kerowyn and Lindir. Kerowyn looked as though she might lose it at any moment and Lindir just looked exhausted, but his eyes held grief.

Elladan grasped Elrohir's shoulder briefly, and moved ahead, to fetch Kerowyn's sister, Meahan. Kerowyn met Elrohir's eyes. "This is the kind of day Luna would have loved" she said. Elrohir could only nod, and Lindir bowed his head. "Shall we go?" Lindir asked. Elrohir nodded again, not trusting his voice, and stepped in the crisp autumn air. There was a slight breeze and the leaves were turning. Rivendell was a mass of gold, red, and green. Elrohir swallowed the lump that was in his throat. Luna would have certainly loved this day. As the group walked down the path, Elrohir could not help but feel as though the world were committing a crime by being so beautiful on the day of Luna's funeral.

Elenwe and Legolas were waiting for them at the path leading to the cottage Luna had once lived in. Elenwe had steely resolve in her eyes, and had her head bowed down, and Legolas face was void of any emotion. Elrohir looked closer. Elenwe had bags under her eyes. "Didn't you sleep?" he asked her. Elenwe didn't look up, but was awoken from her world of sorrow.

"No" she answered in almost a whisper. How could she explain how she felt sleeping in that house? How did they expect her to sleep in the house in the first place? Luna used to live there...so did Elenwe. All the old memories kept resurfacing through the silent night, and Elenwe found herself staring at the ceiling for an eternity.

Legolas looked at Elrohir. It had only been four years since Elrohir's and Luna's wedding. They had no children, and they were happy. Now that happiness was gone. No more would anyone see Elrohir and Luna together, walking under the trees or picnicking. Those days were not to ever return again. Legolas unconsciously tightened his grip on Elenwe's hand. He could not imagine himself in Elrohir's place, losing Elenwe like that, not after he had come so close to losing her to the man that made her life a living hell.

Elenwe looked at Legolas in response to his grip; he was the only thing keeping her sane now. She felt like she had failed yet another older sister in her greatest time of need. She wished she had been there when Luna left, so she could have gone to help Luna. In all their sorrow, the same thought went through their minds. Why couldn't someone else have died? All of them hurried this from their minds in regret, except Elenwe. She knew how evil she sounded, but she didn't care, and let the thought pass slowly. Elladan, Glorfindel, and Meahan met them at the alter and they all sat in the front row and Elrond walked up to the front. Thranduil and his family, Arwen, and Galadriel, Celeborn, Haldir and Juri were all there as well. Their hearts were more then heavy, they had sunk into the vast ocean of their despair long ago, where they lay on the bottom, long since drowned by lack of oxygen that was the disappearance of their dear friend. Elrond stood still for a moment, staring at the body on the alter. Luna lay in calm repose, laid out in her ceremonial dress, with her sword clasped in her hands. Her hair was about her shoulders and done in the traditional moon elf style. How strong she was in life, and how strong in

Death was she. But looking at her now, Elrond realized that the strength was a facade, underneath was an elf vulnerable to the world and its sorrows.

"It is not often a tragedy occurs that affects so many people so fully..." he began. "Many of us knew, admired, and loved Luna of Nilmar…Arithilwen...last of the moon-elves; she was alone in this world. Through a heard childhood she came, making her independent and strong enough to stand alone, even in the fight for her life...a fight she knew she would lose when she began...but...after a time...she came to notice that she was not truly alone. Surrounded by those who cared about her more than themselves, and filled with the same feelings for them...she had you all....she had us...and one thing she would never wish upon you ,,,would be to watch her die...and having to say goodbye...for...her, was something she could never do...she died the way she wished she would.But the most heartbreaking way she died, in the moment she awoke, she said her good bye. To all of us. One word, she said ‘namarie’ Goodbye." Elrond hesitated, gaining composure. "She shall be laid to rest in her ceremonial robes with her battle gear, as well as her sword...symbolizing the person she was...strong...courageous...and true...so now..." he turned and with a heavy heart, pickled up Luna's soul-crystal. "We.....we.....will.....say farewell to Luna...may she find peace in Mando's Halls." Elrond broke the crystal, and Luna's soul song rose into the air. The melody was simple, elegant and haunting; it rose higher and higher, till it began to fade in the wind. No one in the assembly could hold their tears any longer. Elrohir began to cry silently at the memory of his wife, full of life. Lindir, Legolas and Elladan had tears streaming from the corner of their eyes. Kerowyn had buried her face in her hands long ago, and at the sound of Luna's soul- song fading, Elenwe's tears released as she stared into the abyss of nothing.

 

“Farewell Penneth, find peace and rest.” Elrond whispered as the soul-song faded into the air. He closed his eyes at the last sound and opened them again, tears brimming in his eyes as he looked out at the people around him, his family, Luna’s family. Everyone stood and walked over to the alter.

 

Galadriel was first in line, and she looked at Luna’s face, keeping her composure. She felt sadness at the death of some one she knew, but she felt more great sadness at the death of a race of elves that had been longer than the high elves.

 

Celeborn walked behind his wife, and only glanced at the body of Luna. He did not know the elf well, but he mourned her loss just the same.

 

Haldir and Juri were next. Haldir held Juri against his shoulder as she cried, and neither could bear to look at the dead form of their friend.

 

Thranduil came behind Haldir and Juri and looked upon his “daughter”. She had been welcomed into the kingdom by the very racist elves, as she was higher than them. They accepted her, and Thranduil accepted her. She was some of the light in his eyes, as well as Elenwe was now.

 

Elladan and Meahan stared down at the pale face of their friend Luna. Elladan could swear there was a hint of a smile on Luna’s lips, almost as if she were sharing a private joke that only she understood. It seemed only a day ago when they were going on one of her adventures, now they couldn’t do that, ever again.

 

~flashback~

 

“Luna! Get back here!”

 

“No Meahan, come on ‘Dan! They’re waiting for us!” Luna smiled at the two behind her and ran for the woods, toward a picnic with their friends.

 

~end of flashback~

 

“I’ll miss you Luna.” Elladan whispered even though he knew she could not hear him. Meahan guided him away from the alter and back to their seats. Elenwe and Legolas stood next in line.

 

Legolas looked at Luna. “Mellon-nin, have peace in the halls of Mandos, good-bye.” Tears brimmed in Elenwe’s eyes as she stared down at the pale face of her friend, one who was like an older sister to her

“Why did you have to leave us Mellon-nin?” she asked Luna’s silent figure. “It was not your time…” She looked down at her friends pale face, noticing for the first time the true silver of her friends opened eyes. Elenwe sighed, and tears ran down her cheeks. “Good bye, my dear friend.” Memories flooded her mind.

 

~flashback~

 

Luna threw her hands up in exasperation, and then smiled. Legolas and Elenwe were getting married! She stayed at her place beside Elenwe while the Drow priest pronounced them husband and wife. When the marriage was complete, she ran to her best friends.

 

“I can’t believe it! You’re finally married!” Luna cried, happy for her friends

 

“Believe it Luna…” Elenwe laughed at her friends rejoicing face.

 

“This is wonderful…” Luna sighed, content that everything was working out.

 

~end of flashback~

 

Lindir stood behind the two, he looked down at Luna. Now he regretted all their stupid arguments about Kerowyn. No words came to his mind, except the ones he used to say whenever she left for a battle.

 

~flashback~

 

“Farewell? Who needs to say farewell?” Luna asked. “I don’t like good byes.”

 

“I don’t either, that’s why I don’t want you and Ker to leave.” Lindir argued. “What should we do about this?”

 

“Let’s not say goodbye then. I’ll see you in a few months, so will Kerowyn, probably earlier, she won’t be away from her children for that long…”

 

“But you and Elrohir…you’re going to leave him for a long time?”

 

“No…I plan to come back before too long. So how about this, we don’t say goodbye. Instead we’ll say ‘Hello’. So, Hello Lindir, It’s nice seeing you, I’ll be back in a few months.”

 

~end of flashback~

 

“Hello, Luna, I’m seeing you now, guess what, it’s been four months since you left for that damned battle!” Lindir whispered under his breath, then turned and went to his seat, awaiting his wife to join him.

 

Elrohir and Kerowyn stood at the end of the line, offering each other their comfort, each mourning the loss of one in front of them. Kerowyn could hardly look at her friend, it pained her so much. She knew it pained Elrohir too, but he would be unable to tear his eyes away.

 

~Flashback~

 

“Ker….what’s wrong?” Luna asked, worry filling her gray eyes.

 

“No-no-nothing, I’m fine.” Kerowyn shook violently.

 

“Of course you are, and I have wings…what’s wrong with you?”

 

~end flashback~

 

“Good Bye, my friend and my sister.” Kerowyn whispered as tears spilled from her eyes. She had her arm around Elrohir’s shoulders and she could feel him shaking.

 

~flashback~

 

“I do.” Luna whispered and faced her soon to be husband.

 

“I know pronounce you husband and wife…you may kiss the bride.” Elrond smiled.

 

“Finally!” Elrohir muttered and kissed Luna passionately on the lips. Her gray eyes widened and she felt her knees buckle. When he kissed her, it always felt as If it were the first time. When they separated among whoops and cheers from their friends, Luna blushed.

 

“I love you, Melda.” She whispered to Elrohir. //Beloved//

 

~end of flashback~

 

“I love you melleth-nin, with all my heart.” Elrohir sobbed. “Why did you have to leave us Luna…? Why? Why? Why? Why? “He asked. Elrohir fell to his knees, Kerowyn going down with him, both crying hysterically. In the seat, Elladan had half risen, and Elenwe buried her face in Legolas’ chest.

 

Two hand came over and touched Elrohir’s shoulder, to help him up, but he nudged them away. “No!” he yelled as tears cascaded from his eyes. “No!”

 

Kerowyn wrapped her arms around her friend, and they sat holding each other through their tears. “Why did she have to leave us Kerowyn?” Elrohir whispered.

 

“I don’t know why Mando’s has called forth Luna’s soul, but I fell as if this is a trick that he has played on us…he brought her back to us once…and he has taken her away from us again!” Kerowyn answered, her voice thick.

 

Lindir watched his wife from where he sat in the seats, he knew Elrohir would not hurt Kerowyn, but for some reason he didn’t trust Elrohir right now.

 

“I don’t understand why.” Elrohir cried.

 

“Me either, ‘Ro.” Kerowyn whispered. “Me…either.”

 

Elrond stared worriedly at his son. He looked at the soldiers who were to bear Luna’s casket, then at his family. “Oh Elrohir…” he whispered as he knelt beside Elrohir and wrapped him in an embrace.

 

“Why Ada?” Elrohir asked. “Why?” he continued to weep on his fathers shoulder.

 

“Penneth, I do not understand why things happen, but they do.” Elrond choked on his sobs and helped his son stand. Elrohir straightened on his own, and his eyes shed no more tears. In an instant he was Elrohir Half-Elven. He nodded to the soldiers telling them to close the casket, and they did. Elrohir felt his heart skip a beat as the casket closed with a snap.

 

Everyone began to weep when the casket was out of sight. “Come…let us go indoors.” Elrond said, nodding to the Last Homely House. He led the group inside.

 

Lindir walked over and grabbed Kerowyn’s hand. He held it firmly in his grasp as she buried her head into his chest and cried and cried. Lindir soothed his wife by rubbing her hair as he watched everyone else enter the Peredhil home.

 

“Come Kerowyn, we should go inside before you get cold.” He felt Kerowyn’s already cold hands.

“You go ahead Lindir, I wish to be alone for a few moments. Lindir looked at Kerowyn’s pale face and into her lifeless blue eyes.

“Are you sure?” Kerowyn merely nodded and watched Lindir reluctantly leave.

 

 

Kerowyn bent and picked some of Luna's favorite flowers from a tree beside her friend's home. She sniffed the sweet smell of the plant then picked up some of her favorite plant, lavender. She put the bundle together and sighed. She also picked some of her mother's favorite flowers as well, and put them in a different bundle.

 

Kerowyn cast her gaze to Luna's cottage and she walked over to it. She entered into the house of her friend and stared at the walls. "Luna." she whispered as more tears fell down her face. "Why did you leave us here?" she asked as she put some of the mixed bouquet on the table in her friend's home. She went and sat down on the couch, and put the rest of the bundle beside her. "Why?" she whispered as she sobbed into her hands.

 

Elrohir stared blankly at the walls. The family was sitting in the kitchen talking quietly, remembering Luna. He had stowed away sometime during the conversation of Luna's childhood and sat in the corner of the room. He decided to remember his wife in his own way, he wasn't ready for that kind of a conversation yet, even though his family seemed to be able to. Most of them anyway. He noticed that Elenwe had not joined in on the conversation, but merely sat and moved her hands over the stitching of her skirt. He also noticed Kerowyn was missing, she had been for a long time. He didn't wonder where she was but began to grow worried, but still his mind drifted off his friend and on to his dead wife.

 

Kerowyn lifted her head from her hands and wiped the sleep from her eyes. She had fallen to sleep sometime during her crying on her friend's couch. She sniffed and wiped the tears out of her eyes, but more came to take their place. She had always been comforted in her friend’s home, but no comfort came this time. She stood and walked over to the table. The sun set shined on the arrangement of flowers and she turned to leave, the rest of the flowers in her hand.

 

Kerowyn walked for some time until she found the memorial gardens where her friend was buried. She had so many loved ones in this grave, her first child, fourth child, her mother, and now Luna.

 

She knelt beside the grave and began to weep. "Why Luna?" she asked. She placed the bouquet on Luna's grave. "I miss you my friend." she whispered. "I know you've only been gone for a couple days, but still." she sighed and frowned slightly. She swiped the tears from her eyes, "If you could only see me now, you would probably be mad at me." Kerowyn smiled slightly. "Chastise me for being so weak." Kerowyn sighed. "I am weak."

 

The breeze blew through her hair and she smelt the scent of the lavender. "Farewell my friend, good night." Kerowyn whispered then walked over to the grave of her mother. "Hello nanneth." she whispered. She remembered when her mother faded a few years ago. "I hope you have plenty of company now." Kerowyn whispered. "I love you nanneth." she stood and walked out of the gardens and headed for her own cottage in Rivendell, the one just next door from Luna's.

 

Elrohir looked at his family who were still conversing past times with Luna. He sighed and stood up to stretch his stiff muscles. He walked over to Elenwe and leaned down so she could hear him. "I am taking my leave for the night, I am tired and I'm heading for my cottage, if anyone needs me that is where I'll be."

 

Elenwe nodded and looked at Elrohir. "I will tell them you have left to get some rest." she looked Elrohir over with wary eyes. "Are you well?" Elrohir nodded, "I'm fine, and Elenwe go get some rest, please." Elrohir replied. Elenwe nodded, but she knew that she would not get some rest, not in this house, "I will certainly try soon my lord. Sleep well."

 

Elrohir nodded then turned to leave the kitchen and go to his own cottage on the border of the palace.

 

Kerowyn walked into her home and smiled at the nursemaid who had been watching her children. "Hello Marinian." she sighed and sat down on the couch. "Thank-you for watching the children." Marinian smiled slightly, "Your welcome. Do you need me to stay any longer?" she asked. "No, you’re free to leave." Kerowyn replied.

 

Marinian nodded and picked up her sleeping two year old from the chair beside her own. "Iltarian liked playing with your daughters, she had a fun time." Kerowyn smiled, "Good, was Lirin bad for you?" she asked referring to her youngest child, her only son. "No Miss, he suited just fine." Marinian smiled. "Good. Hannad again." Kerowyn sniffed. "Uh, are you alright miss?"

 

"I'm fine, hannad for the concern." Kerowyn looked up at Marinian. "Alright miss, I will see you later." Marinian left Kerowyn in the quietness of her thoughts again. She stood and walked to her daughter's bedrooms. She entered into Lailya's first and smiled at how her eldest twin was positioned. She moved her daughter's arm from the floor and put it on the bed. She then kissed her daughter's forehead and exited the room. Dailya was in no better condition, she was actually worse, her blankets were sprawled out on the floor and her daughter slept soundly on her own bed. Kerowyn chuckled and picked up the blankets, then covered her daughter up. She kissed her daughter's forhead also then left for her youngest daughter's room.

 

When she entered her daughter's room she began to worry, her youngest daughter had become the heir for her ancestors, for the sea elves. She did not know why this had fallen on the youngest of their family, but on her youngest daughter. She sighed and began to search the room for her youngest, Ileana who was not in her bed. She smiled and her worry faded when she found her daughter on the floor of her room beside her bed. This position was her youngest daughter's favorite and she often found her in this position. She covered her daughter up with an extra blanket then left for the nursery.

 

Lirin looked up when she opened the door, and he began to whimper. "Oh shh, shh, shh, shh..." she muttered then walked quietly over to her crying child. "Lirin, shh." she muttered and grabbed him and carried him into the living room. She began to hum the song that Luna had made for the child when he was just born; Luna had made a song for each of her children at their births. The child continued to cry and Kerowyn sung louder trying to calm the child.

 

Elrohir walked to the door of his cottage and began to hear his friend singing. Singing the song that his departed wife had made for the child, he knew it was Linrin. He smiled slightly then walked over to Kerowyn's cottage.

 

"Where did Elrohir go?" Elladan asked noticing his younger twin was gone for the first time.

"He left, he went to his cottage for rest." Elenwe spoke up from her spot beside Legolas. Elladan glanced at her then at the others around him. "That sounds like a good idea." he sighed. "We all need to rest."

 

Elrond smiled at his son then at the others around him. "Go to bed. I will see you tomorrow I assume." The others nodded and they all stood from their spots in the kitchen. Elladan grabbed Meahan's hand and interlocked his finger's with hers. Legolas did the same with Elenwe. Lindir stood and followed the two couples out of Elrond's home and through the woods so they could go to their own cottages.

 

"Linrin, honestly it can't be that bad." Kerowyn muttered. "Can I be of some assistance?" Kerowyn turned and saw the pale face of Elrohir. "Yes." she handed Linrin to Elrohir then sat down on the couch. Linrin instantly stopped crying. "He has his father's temper." Kerowyn smiled slightly. "You look tired." Elrohir nodded, "So do you." Kerowyn walked over and grabbed the sleeping baby out of Elrohir's arms and put him in his crib. She went back into the living room and sat on the couch across from Elrohir. "It's been a hard few days." Elrohir muttered.

 

"It will get better. Even though it seems that it won't. Trust me, I've been through this three times already." Kerowyn sighed. "Four if you count my father sailing." Now she had to go through this, the death of her friend, Luna. "It doesn't seem that it will get better." Elrohir said. "Only that it will get worse." Kerowyn nodded her head and stared down at her hands, "Trust me, it will get better. A wise wizard gave me words of advice at the time of my mother's passing."

 

Elrohir nodded his head, "What were they?" he asked. Kerowyn sighed, "They're always with you. They're in the songs you sing, words you say, people you meet, everything you do, they're always in your heart." Kerowyn smiled slightly as Elrohir nodded. "Thank-you Kerowyn. I'll let you get some sleep." Elrohir stood and hugged his friend slightly, then left for his own home.

 

Kerowyn watched Elrohir go into his house, she turned and went to her bedroom and laid down on her bed, she fell asleep while memories of her friend flooded her mind.

 

 

Elrohir sighed as he walked in the front door of his and Luna’s home. Elenwe and Legolas had stayed here last night, and they would again tonight. Elrohir sat down on the couch and ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes fell to the table, where Kerowyn had left a bundle of flowers. He picked them up and looked at them. Lavender, he recognized Kerowyn’s favorite flower, as well as peonies, her mother’s favorites. His eyes welled up with tears when he saw camellias in the bundle, Luna’s favorite flower. He held the bouquet up to his nose and breathed in the scent. How he loved this scent…how Luna loved this scent. He looked around his home. There was Luna all around it. The silk curtains covering the wide windows…the pillows, the artwork…all they had chosen. He walked down the hall of the house. He looked in one empty bedroom, the bed waiting for its occupants. Elenwe had things across the bureau, and Legolas had a tunic hanging on the edge of a chair. Elrohir smiled. Elenwe used to live in this very same room…hers were the decorations all around the room.

Elrohir left the room and continued down the hall, stopping at another door, the study. He peeked in. Neither he nor Luna used it often, but he used it more that she did. The room was in greens and gold and browns. The windows were wide open, letting in the cool night air. From the windows he could see the home of Sanariam and Searyn across the way.

Elrohir continued down the hall, stopping at the last door, the door to his and Luna’s room, unused since Luna’s death. Elrohir took a deep breath and opened the door. The bed was there, warm and inviting as always. The bedding, silver sheets with gold shot through them, as well as the plump comforter, all covered by a quilt, was all Luna’s decorations. They had been there since before they were married, and they never changed. Elrohir sat down on the edge the bed. The room was cold, even for an elf, but Elrohir took no notice. He wanted to be cold, that was how he felt inside. He could here the Bruinen rushing past and the sounds of crickets and birds. He used to love those sounds…now he hated them. He closed his eyes, letting his loneliness sweep over him…

~~~

Elenwe and Legolas walked to Elrohir’s cottage. Elenwe unlocked the door with the key she had in her pocket, and led Legolas inside. The house was lit…but cold. Elenwe shivered and closed the curtains in the living room. She turned and headed to the kitchen where Legolas was sitting, having stoked the fire already. “Would you like some tea?” Elenwe asked her husband. Legolas nodded his head, and got up.

“Didn’t you say Elrohir came home already?” Legolas asked Elenwe. Elenwe turned. “Yes…I did. Why do you ask?” She said, puzzled. Legolas looked at his wife. “Because I don’t see him…and nothing looked disturbed.” Legolas said. Normally they could tell when either Luna or Elrohir were home, because the fire was stoked already, and doors were opened. But nothing was different about the house since Legolas and Elenwe had left that morning. Elenwe looked around and saw that her husband was right. She put the kettle on the fire and together she and Legolas looked around the house. Legolas looked in the study and their bedroom, and Elenwe looked in the bathing chambers, the third bedroom. Legolas walked past Elrohir’s room and noticed the door was cracked open. HE peeked inside and saw Elrohir, fast asleep on the bed, clutching a bouquet of flowers. Legolas shook his head, shut the door and walked out of the hallway. Elenwe looked up at him when he walked back into the kitchen. He smiled at her. “He was asleep…in his room.” Legolas said. Elenwe nodded and took the kettle off the fire.

“What kind of tea melleth-nin?” she asked him. She poured the tea into a teapot and waiting for Legolas answer.

“Whatever…I don’t care.” He said. Elenwe smiled and picked up a random tea packet. She opened hit and the smell hit her like a ton of bricks, peppermint. She eyes watered from the strength of the smell and she poured the leaves into the teapot. She pulled out two teacups and saucers and put them on the table. She poured the tea into them and sat down, across from Legolas. Neither spoke…neither moved. They just sat there… Finally Elenwe admitted defeat. “I’m going to try and get some sleep.” She said quietly. Legolas nodded and stood. “I’ll join you. We’ll talk with Elrohir in the morning.” Elenwe smiled, and walked to her bedroom, Legolas followed her. But once again, while Legolas slept, Elenwe found herself staring at the ceiling, thinking of Luna. Finally she shut her eyes, and willed herself to sleep.

~~~

Elrohir awoke to birds chirping in the birch tree outside his window. He looked down at his rumpled clothes, and then out the window. “Brilliant…” he muttered. Elrohir rubbed his eyes, changed clothes, and combed his hair. “At least I look halfway decent.” He grabbed a cloak and left the house, headed toward the last homely house, where everyone was already gathered.

 

Elladan rubbed his eyes, and half-heartedly listened to the conversation around him. Elrond was trying to explain something to Lindir, and Kerowyn and Elenwe were trying to calm down Kerowyns many children. Legolas was listening to Elrond, and Elrohir hadn’t arrived yet. Elladan shook his head. Breakfast was the normal chaos…minus one of the members. Luna…Elladan shook his head again, he had to stop thinking about her, he had to be strong for Elrohir. Elladan looked up at the door way and noticed Elrohir walking in. “Morning ‘Ro” Elladan said quietly. Elrohir grunted in response and sat down at the table.

The group finished eating and were all headed to the armory to grab weapons so they could train. Elrohir looked at the shelf Luna kept her armor on, and the sword she had on the pegs, Shadow Sword, or Dai Megil. She kept it polished. He took it down, it would go in the hallway…where Elrond kept Celebrian’s sword. Elrohir put it up on new pegs in the hall, and then went to the armory. Elenwe looked at him, and shrugged her shoulders. Elrohir smiled. “I challenge you, Elenwe, to a duel.” He said. Elenwe nodded.

“Bring it on.” The two sparred, thrust and feinted, trying not to lose their battle. Elenwe finally defeated Elrohir, and he died, dramatically. Elenwe laughed, and suddenly a realization struck her. “Luna…died in battle…and of all of us….she was the better trained…” She said, tears misting in her eyes.

Elrohir bowed his head. “She had a weak spot apparently…something we couldn’t see. But we have to stop this…I don’t want to remember…not now…not ever!” Elrohir cried, anguish marring his fair face.

Elenwe looked at him as if he had physically struck her. “You think I want to remember how she died? You think I want to remember what she looked like when I found her! You think that my life will continue normally! I thought of Luna as a sister! She was a sister to me! You think I wouldn’t mourn?! But we remember Elrohir! We all remember! We are supposed to remember! She wouldn’t want us to forget!” Elenwe had tears coming out of her eyes, she was so angry. The others had stopped what they were doing, and were watching the fight, eyes wide. Elrohir felt himself grow flustered.

“Elenwe…I know your hurting…but we can’t…” Elrohir began, but Elenwe cut him off.

“That’s right…I am hurting! She was all our friend!” She yelled. Her hair whipped around her face, and her tears had stopped falling. She was angry now. Elrohir threw his sword.

“I know that! She was also my wife dammit!”

Elenwe stalked into the house, and into the hallway, Elrohir following her. “She was your wife…so that means only you can mourn her?!” Elenwe yelled. Everyone else followed, and Elrond, Glorfindel, Sanariam, and Searyn walked into the hallway to see what was going on.

“I didn’t say that!” Elrohir roared. No one noticed Luna’s sword vibrating on it’s pegs. “All I said was that she was my wife!”

“You didn’t say that! You certainly implied it!” Elenwe yelled. The sword vibrated harder.

“It wasn’t meant that way! All I meant was that I love her, and don’t want to remember how she died!” Elrohir yelled.

“No one does! But we do!” Elenwe yelled. The sword vibrated and suddenly a loud ‘crack’ was heard. Everyone’s eyes shot to the sword, which had a huge crack down the middle of it. Elrohir dropped to his knees. Elenwe stared in wonder. Suddenly a shape took form in front of them. Elenwe and Elrohir lost whatever words they were going to say to each other as their minds rejected what was happening before their very eyes.

“Everyone grieves.” The figure said, it’s smooth voice washing over them all, with their feelings of anger washing away with it. “But your grieving should not destroy what friendship and harmony can strengthen. You are missing one of your group, yet, her spirit remains here, in all your hearts.” The figure continued, turning to each one of them. Tears flowed down Elenwe’s cheeks, and Legolas moved to comfort her. “You move to comfort one another, you move to fight, you let your grief get in the way of everything that you hold dear to yourselves. But she who you are missing cannot be forgotten, not as long as she remains in your heart. She lives on…in everything you do. This spirit, who you called Luna, was called forth by the Valar to continue her life’s purpose in another shape and form.” The figure looked at them all, again, gravely.

Elrond stepped forward. “Who sent you?” He asked.

The figure looked at him. “Arithilwen. She sent me here to calm you all. She grew angry with you all, and sent you a message.”

Kerowyn looked at the figure, and everyone could see the thought that ran through her head. “the sword…Luna sent us her sword…and broke it, the sword symbolizes our friendship. Should our hatred for one another continue, our hatred for what happened, our grief continue in the way it has, our friendship will crack, just as the sword did.” Kerowyn said, speaking slowly, hesitantly, hoping she understood the message Luna sent them. The figure nodded.

“So you understand what Arithilwen has sent you. Do not doubt the motives of the Valar, but do not doubt yourselves. You will move on. Your memories will not fade, but with time, the pain will. Be well.” The figure faded, leaving her voice echoing in the hallway. Elenwe sobbed into Legolas shoulder and tears coursed down Elrohir’s cheeks. HE stood and walked over to Elenwe and kneeled in front of her. Kerowyn stared in wonder.

“Elenwe…Mellon, I am sooo sorry. I, I let my own grief blind me to the friendships that can help carry us through this. Luna must be angry.”

Elenwe looked at Elrohir. “Elrohir, we all let our grief blind us from what could help us. I’m sorry too.” Elrohir and Elenwe hugged quickly, and Elladan took the cracked sword from it’s pegs.

“The sword can be fixed. Easily. But it will take some time to re-carve the runes that are in Dai Megil. But still…”

Kerowyn closed her hand over his. “Fix the sword, Elladan, and let us never forget the lesson we learned here today. And we should remember that Luna is always watching us, and she would never leave us alone. Never.” Elladan nodded and the group stood as one, Elrohir and Elenwe supporting each other. Elrond smiled briefly, and spoke.

“Come…let us go to the Hall of Fire to talk about Luna, and things that we can do to remember her, for we never want to forget.”

And together, all the elves, and Dai Megil, went to the Hall of Fire.

And somewhere, some where very far away, a smiling Luna watched over them, as the moon shed her rays over Middle earth. And Elrohir could swear he heard her whisper on the wind, “When the last moons rays set, a new sun shall rise. I love you.”