The Story of My Sister...

Today is slightly overcast, which fits my mood -also overcast. I sighed again and almost without knowing it reached up and pulled my necklace from where it lay hidden under my dress. I played with it distractedly. For some reason my sister had been in my thoughts a lot lately. I thought about her often... but not as much as recently. Why? I mused.

Sighing again, I put my necklace away and continued walking on. I heard someone catching up behind me and turned to look who it was. Elena smiled as she came closer. "I thought I would walk with you, dear cousin!" She called out.

"To what do I owe the honor of your company?" I said with mock solemnity.

"You looked cloudy," Elena glanced sideways at me. "Thinking about Aldarion again?"

"No." I half snapped, a bit irritated. "Why do you think that I think about Aldarion every moment of the day?"

She raised her eyebrow, "Sorry, I did not know that you were touchy on that subject."

"I am not touchy!" I protested hotly. "It is just that you always seem to think that I can not think of anything but Aldarion and so you never ask my advice about anything anymore!"

Elena was silent. "I am sorry if I acted that way," she said at last. "I did not mean too."

I cooled off slightly. "I am sorry for losing my temper. I should not have."

"So what were you thinking about?"

I looked up at the cloudy sky which had tno began to drizzle slightly and pulled my dark green cloak tightly about me. "My sister." I said at last.

Elena looked puzzled. "I did not know you had a sister."

"I did, at one time. Maybe I still do. "

"What do you mean?"

"Well," I explained. "About a three hundred years before I was born, so not that much older..."

"Wait!" Elena intergected. "Three hundred years? What do you mean not that much older?"

I glanced at her in mock disbelife "I am an elf. I am imortal. How many years is a long time?"

Elena pretended to glare at me, "Oh please, surely three hundred years isn't a short amount of time even for an elf?"

I giggled, "No it isn't. Anyhow, about fifty years before I was born - I am serious this time - my sister was born. They called her Luthien Elsulien. My mother loved the story of Beren and Luthien, so she named us both after her, and then Elsulien, 'star wind'. They call her Gwanwen now, "I added sadly, "'Departed Maiden'. My father said she was very lovely for how young she was.

She nodded. "So what happened to her?"

I sighed. "Well, about a year after she was born, my mother and father decided to make a trip to Rivendell. They took her with. While crossing a pass in the mountains the party was waylayed by orcs." I looked out over the landscape. "Not very far from here, I believe. It was dark out, and the elf women who was carrying my sister must have been seperated from the main party during the attack. At any rate, they were able to fend off the orcs, though they had to make a run for it during the respite. The next morning, when they gathered the remains of their company," I paused sadly, "Niether the elf woman nor my sister were there."

I fingered my necklace again. "They searched the mountains many times, never finding a trace. My mother was heart broken, and she never spoke of my sister. I only heard of her by chance, overhearing someones comment and then I was able to pry the story from my father. He also told me," I showed my necklace to Elena, "That she had a necklace just like this one." I slipped it back to its hiding place. "But I doubt she would still have it, if she is indeed alive somewhere."

Elena put an arm around my shoulders. "I hope that indeed she is and that someday you will find each other."

I smiled at my cousin gratefully and at that moment the sun burst through the clouds. "Le hannon. Thank you"

~ Lady Rosriel 58.62 miles