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Serenity held her head in her hands and sighed.

"Aliya," she said softly, "has your mother ever used the word 'suicidal' to describe you?"

She really had to visit Ulani again.


Aliya looked at Serenity in surprise. "Well ... yes ... but ... I don't understand why, it's not as if I'm stabbing myself or deliberately stampeding the horses or anything ..."



Elros chuckled softly and patted Lin gently on the back. "Yes," he murmured, "your heart is in the right place. That is the important part. The rest will come as you learn. Always remember, as you go through life, that anything you learn you should question whether or not it is truly honourable."

Ryu suddenly edged away, it was a reflex really. It came from years of living with Feng, because seriously that is what Feng would say. Not to mention suicidal is a word he would use on Feng, in which to say it was as if he was looking at Feng's long lost sister or something.

Only elven.

"Really?" Feng asked, "Toshi use to say that about me too."

"Thank you, my Lady," Elros smiled at Haradhel, bowing his head slightly as he accepted his drink. Then he looked back at Lin.

"Well," he said softly, his face expressionless once more, "when you learn something new, or you are told to do something, you should think about whether it's a good thing, or a bad thing. For example, if you're asked to hurt someone, or you want to hurt someone, it is probably not honourable. However, there are exceptions ... what your father is doing here, for instance."

He nodded at Donovan.

"He is punishing some bad men who are stealing innocent children away from their homes and families - this is honourable. But if you want to hurt someone just for the sake of hurting them, or because you are angry, there is no honour. Nor is there honour in stealing, or lying, or hurting, or hating, or in making others feel bad without just cause. Those, then are some of the more obvious, that you could know on your own. There are other things though, that you may not know whether or not they are honourable ... if you do not know, then it is wise to ask someone you know who is honourable, and they can tell you. But if you ask someone who is not honourable, then they will not be able to help you."



Aliya blinked at Ryu as he backed away, confused as to the reason for his actions. She was about to say something to him when Feng spoke again, and her curiosity was diverted once more and she asked, "Who is Toshi?"

"But....." Lin murmured thoughtfully, "What if the person thinks they're honourable, because I know there are people who think that even though they're.. kind of thick."

Because in a way she thought they were okay as long as they didn't try to force their point of view onto her, then she tended to get quite pissy.

"Well...." Feng looked thoughtfully at Ryu, "He's younger than us, but...."
"But he should have grown quite a long while ago," Ryu replied back, "He's been quite sleepy as of late, that might have something to do with it."

Some Seconds just slept, and they became small and they went back into their vases, and it happened probably more often than the twins would care to admit.

Elros smiled gently. "I'm glad for you," he said softly, "truly I am. There are many people in this world - and in yours, I'm certain, who have no one to turn to when they have questions. You are indeed most fortunate."

He finished his drink.

"I'm afraid I must make my rounds now," he murmured to Lin. "Would you like to go back to your father? Or would you like to join me? It is nothing exciting, but I have to admit, I do enjoy your company."



"So sleepy Seconds don't grow?" Aliya questioned, confused. "How strange ... Mum always told me that it's when we sleep that we grow."

Lin's eyes lit up at the thought, even though he was probably right nothing exciting was going to happen, but that was just fine with her. Lin had always been oddly dependent and independent of people.

"Can I?"