Disclaimer: I do not own LotR.

A/N: Thank you to: Sheraiah, Chaos, god of fishes!, Elven Maiden, LadyTremere, Furkin1712, Sihaya00, Silent Screamer, and Manda for your reviews!

Everyone seemed to be questioning the choice of a mortal life, so I tried to have Elydë explain more in this chapter. I really hope that it sort of explains some of the questions surrounding it, though the reasoning is sort of philosophical (I suppose). I did think the idea through before I had her choose. I promise. :-D

I've also been running with the idea of creating a sequel to this story once this is done. We'll see. :-D

LadyTremere - Thanks for all the comments, I really appreciate them! I've fixed the writing problems that you pointed out (except for the past/present tense problem in the first chapter. I was just too lazy to do that. :-D ) I would write more in response, but I don't want to create two pages of author's notes to respond just to reviews. :-P Thank you so much for clearing up the Legolas eye color, too!

I need some input from ya'll…for the next chapter, I have the option of creating another NC-17 chapter with Delon and Elydë (I know, I know, everyone's favorite elf won't be in it…but it would allow me to contrast Delon and Legolas a little bit more). Or I could just skip that and go straight forward a bit more…I would like to know what ya'll would think about this…(again, like the last NC-17 chapter, you would not have to read it to understand the story.) Thanks for your input!

REMEMBER, REVIEW! I do take into consideration what all reviewers say…I can already name many things in this story that have changed or been added because of readers' comments. :-D

//black velvet//

chapter seven

~~~

…There is no rose without a thorn

No rain without the storm

There is no laughter without tears

No wisdom without years

In a world gone crazy

Torn between the roads

That we must choose

Win or lose.

"Who's Gonna Stop the Rain"- Anastacia

~~~

The silent walk back to the castle went faster than I had meant it to -- there was still a few hours before sunrise still left as I came to the door that I had previously slipped out of.

Opening it silently, I managed to guide my way through the cluttered kitchens without the use of light. Years of living in one place will do that to you…after a while, everything becomes part of your memories, even if you don't realize it.

I walked through the hallway that held the servants' rooms, blessing the fact that my elvish blood still ran through -- though I had denounced it. An immortal life I had no more, yet my feet still fell light as they hit the ground. No one was awakened by my late night -- or early morning -- creep into the castle.

Slipping silently into my room, I collapsed onto the plush bed, dropping my bag at the edge of it with a soft thud. Weariness ran upon me, and sleep overtook me within seconds…not even allowing me the grace of undressing before falling asleep.

My dreams were scattered and mixed together as I slept on. Memories of people of my past…of the wrong things I had done throughout my life, and even my own current wishes and desires merged together, my mind's way of trying to make sense of how everything in my life had lead up to last night.

The dreams didn't last long, however, as the red-orange sun rays swam throughout the room. A yawn escaped from my mouth, denying the fact that day was already breaking. My feet slowly touched the floor as I became accustomed once more to the fact that I was no longer sleeping.

I began to think, with some humor, that it was only last morning that I had woken up in Legolas's bedchambers…and been able to see him standing there, in the room, getting dressed. Though I had woken up too late and missed all the interesting parts, he was still amazingly intriguing with just getting dressed. Ah well, no matter. Perhaps the Lady would allow Delon to take me to his bed tonight.

I shuffled across the floor to my dresser and lazily pulled out the first dress that sat on top. It was dark blue, with a low collar and sewn to accentuate any woman nicely. Dropping the dress I was wearing and kicking it to a small pile of dirty laundry that was growing in the corner, I slipped the blue working gown over my head. Running a brush through my hair once again, I let it fall about my shoulders loosely, not bothering to put it up in the sloppy bun that Vauna insisted on so much.

Rubbing my eyes once more, I made my out my door and down the hallway and into the kitchens, which were already alive for breakfast. I started helping with the first thing I saw -- adding salt or pepper into different containers. Not overly exciting, but I wasn't looking for a thrilling adventure this morning. Najine spotted me a few times, but looked like she was too busy to come to me and satisfy her curiosity. I knew she would only find me later and asked me what had happened last night.

Breakfast went quickly, a surprisingly large amount of food being eaten. A few girls had to scramble to cook more pancakes before serving them to the hungry notables at the tables.

Afterwards, I brought myself to go outside and help out where I could. I found myself working with Perow, an able man -- somewhat good-looking -- that tended the more exotic plants of Delon's foliage. Though the work wasn't hard, I found myself amused by Perow's anecdotes (which included everything from strange plants to boisterous bar ladies) and then found my mind wandering to what else was happening in the castle. I was restless, and I knew it would most likely lead me to become testy as the day wore on. So, excusing myself from the plant-tending, I made my way into the castle looking for work…and hoping I would not have to speak to many people this day.

In the evening, I found myself in the library that I had abandoned since the Prince's coming. It certainly hadn't been left unattended…books were put back onto the shelves and it seemed that some of the older books had been cleaned. I breathed in the familiar scent of fading texts, freshly written letters, and ancient chronicles. I think that libraries will never cease to draw me near.

Taking a few books that had been strewn across the large, center table, I walked to a shelf and started putting them back where they belonged. I had not finished with the second book when I heard the footsteps coming into the library -- and then I groaned inwardly when it spoke to me. It was Najine -- I had almost assumed it would be -- but I did not feel like speaking to her.

"Seems like a long time since you've been in here, hasn't it?" She began cheerily.

I grunted in response before turning to another book and slowly shelving it.

Somehow she took this as a good sign and continued on. "So…I don't suppose there's anything different going on in your life…?" She hinted at what she wanted me to talk about.

Yet I knew exactly what she was asking about…and it was one of the things I was not exactly thrilled to speak about yet. So I tried to play dumb. "No, nothing…though we did have to cook a fair amount of food this morning, did we not? I wonder what those people did to create such appetites.."

Najine's perfect patience began withering away as she realized I would not allow her to only hint. She completely ignored my previous response as she continued. "Didn't you have to make that decision last night? You know…the one that you had to choose between a mortal or immortal life?"

I sighed, not caring if she noticed I was annoyed with the question. "You know the answer to that question, Najine. Yes."

"Well?! What did you choose…?" She sputtered out.

"Is it really that important, Najine? It is my life, after all. I didn't even mention you."

"Oh, tell me, Elydë! I wish to know!"

Annoyed and out of books to shelve, I turned around and walked to the large table once again, this time trying to organize the parchments there. "Fine. I'm mortal."

My friend's eyes grew wide as the news sunk in. "What?" Her voice was tinged with shock and not understanding. "But…why not immortal? I was sure you were going to choose live forever. Did you even think how great it would be to be immortal?"

I turned sharply, facing Najine, disgruntled by her questions. Impatience began to tinge my body and my words. "I certainly thought about it, Naji. I didn't just wake up and decide which life to take. Immortality isn't as great as it seems, I've figured."

"And how, exactly, is that?" Najine retorted, doubt wrapping around her.

I returned to my duties at the parchment as I finally settled down and answered her, though still testy. "You live forever, that's what everybody seems to notice about immortality. Oh, battle wounds can kill the elven -- and I even heard that a broken heart can kill one -- but, is it truly that wonderful? I've lived here my whole life, Najine, and the only people that I really know are people in this castle. And they're all mortals. I'm not sure if I could watch all die, one-by-one -- even the people I dislike -- and not lose a part of myself, too."

"Is that it?" Najine broke in, unbelieving. "You could run to an elven country…ask the Prince to take you, perhaps, to his country…you would meet plenty of elves that you could enjoy as company and frieneds."

A glare glanced over at her, conveying the fact that there was more to my reasoning than what she had heard. As she trailed off in her rebuttal, I continued. "I know I could move…find more elves to get to know. But don't forget that I have slept with a few of the past elven guests that had come to visit with Delon. I watched how they acted, how they spoke, what they thought of when they were open enough to speak their thoughts. They were gluttonous, Najine. Not for food, or even for more and more power… Ever since they were born, they knew they had hundreds of lifetimes to live, that they would never have to worry about death. They take it for granted. Even the few that try to clear their minds and think everything through as if they did not have an immortal life…they end up, after everything is complete, consumed, in the back of their mind, about the reassurance that they need not fear death. Immortality…it's addictive. Once it's in a mind, in a body, it's hard to be let go. They forget that death does haunt things in these lands -- before the War of the Ring, it seemed some had even forgotten about the problems and death that war brings. Things addictive are rarely good for the mind or essence."

Najine stayed silent as my rambling speech came to a close, and took it to be because of the presence I had felt come into the library while I was near the end of my explanation. I ignored it, hoping I would not have to go off on another rambling exercise to explain everything I just said to someone else.

"Surely, Elydë, it is possible that some elves do not become addicted to immortality?" A fair male voice, tinged with humor, spoke up.

I looked up sharply from one stack of parchments, sharply observing the elf standing near the table. He had not heard about my decision, so I worried not about telling him. "Not that I have seen," I replied sharply, and perhaps a bit coldly.

"Then I do believe you have been sheltered in this castle, for I know many a good and notable elf that would proudly give up his life for a number of reasons. Ah, my Lord Delon. Pleasure seeing you here," Legolas quickly changed his retort to a welcome to the Lord as he walked into the library and cast a smile when he noticed the three of us.

"M'lord," I nodded my head and smiled. Najine followed suit as he walked over.

"I see you have found the library, Legolas. Fine, is it not?" He spoke merrily. Jokingly, he added, "And I do fear that you will find Elydë mostly in the library." He gave a slight wink in my direction along with a toothy smile. "Isn't that right, m'dear?"

I gave a small smile, trying to forget the Prince Legolas was standing only feet away. "Yes, m'lord. It is my favorite place."

Legolas only gave a slight chuckle, though I was not sure from what -- perhaps from amusement, though it seemed unlikely.

Delon quickly cleared his throat and looked apologetically at Legolas. "Ah, well, I'm sorry to steal away Elydë, but, er…you see, the Lady wanted new sheets on the bed before she slept tonight. And most the other servants are busy cleaning from dinner. You understand."

I held back a laugh at Delon's feeble attempts to create an excuse for me to come with him to his chambers. Why not just tell the truth -- that he wants to fool around tonight, since his Lady seems to allow me back in the rooms? But it was not Delon's style.

Legolas gave a courteous smile and nod, and Delon turned on heel and started walking out of the library and to his rooms above, with me following quickly behind.

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