"I must go, My Love."
"No, do not leave me. I cannot bear to be apart from you again. Not again." Arina buries her face in his chest, tears falling in a stream.
"I know, but there is no other way." Haldir takes her chin and lifts her head, meeting her green eyes with his blue ones, and wiping her wet cheeks with his thumb. They lips gently meet in a soft, loving kiss. Arina wraps her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his silk-like hair, never wanting to let go.
The last time he left, she didn't see him again for 7 years. They had met when she was a child, only nine. Arina's father, a Gondorian, had come to Lothlorien to negotiate with the Elves and brought his daughter with her. She saw Haldier again she was eleven, under the same circumstances. Then her father was killed in battle, leaving Arina an orphan to stay with her mother's sister in a faraway village.
Later, at the age of 18, she went riding through the Lothlorien forest and made camp that night, but was found by Haldir who brought her to the Elves. She'd stayed with them ever since. Now he was leaving again. Being called to war to defend Rohan.
"Haldir," she murmurs as he breaks the embrace. "Promise. Promise you will return to me."
He nods. "I promise."
"I will wait for you."
Haldir brings her forehead to his lips and kisses it. "I love you. I will always love you. For eternity."
More tears threaten to fall down Arina's cheeks. "And I will forever love you as well." she smiles sadly.
He gives her one last hug before setting off with his men towards Rohan. Towards war.
Arina then lets the tears fall, wondering if she will ever see him again.