A/N: Hello there! This here is my first fanfic story for LOTR. This will be a OC/Haldir story. Hopefully no Mary Sue's here! I have had this planned out for a while now and decided to try my hand to see if anyone would enjoy reading it. I don't care if you don't review each chapter, I am just looking for others to enjoy a story about our favorite MarchWarden
Disclaimer: The LOTR belongs now and forever to J.R.R Tolkien! His work has changed the fiction world. I only own Adelaide and any other OC's that may appear in this fanfic.
Warning: I can't write anything under M, it's not how I am as a writer. So that being said this story is rated M for reasons that will show up. Death, sexual themes, adult language. Make sure to read the warnings for each chapter please.
Galadriel thoughts - bold italic
Normal thoughts - italic
There was no escaping war. That was a lesson I had been taught a long time ago. Weaving in and out of large crates that took up much of the space inside the warehouse, I snarled in anger as bullets slammed into the wooden boxes just inches from my body. A time of peace might appear now and then; but war always reared its ugly head one way or another. Adrenaline rushed throughout my entire body as I ran. Good because I damn well needed it as I kept my guard up with each turn I made down the labyrinth of crates. This wasn't supposed to have happened, it was only supposed to be a simple Intel gathering. In and out…that was all. Get in, gather what I could, and get the fuck out. However the enemy knew I was there.
Suddenly I felt the bullet before the pain that followed swiftly after. My body jerked forward at the impact and I couldn't help but groan at the burning sensation. It didn't matter how many times I'd been shot in the past, a bullet wound fucking hurt! However it was doable though painful as it was as I continued running.
If you stop, you're dead. Keep going, don't stop. Don't slow down. Don't look back…Don't give up!
The voice in my head screamed at me to continue, yet another came out of nowhere to softly say;
You already know what will come to pass.
Strange how this voice sounded nothing like my own inner thoughts. This one was gentle, smooth like a calm river. But that didn't stop me from feeling annoyed at the implied meaning. I would not die in a dumbass warehouse of all things. I just needed to find my two other squad mates. If only we hadn't been separated, the assholes behind me would never have made it out alive. Goosebumps rose at the back of my neck and it was pure instinct that had me ducking in time to avoid a bullet as it sailed over my head.
"Berns…you better fucking answer me!" Releasing the communication button I waited for a response but received nothing. Not even a static buzz. For a moment panic reared up before I shoved it back down.
Either something was interfering with our connection or my partner was engaging one of Uhjia's men.
Sweat dripped down the side of my face and my body felt ready to collapse at any moment but I refused. I knew I needed get out, to find an escape. The amount of blood I had lost was beginning to catch up to me and I just needed an escape. Turning sharply down to my right I nearly laughed in relief at the sight of the red EXIT sign that laid not too far ahead and quickly pulling out one of my last remaining grenades I yanked the pin out before rolling it behind me in the intersection. Within seconds it released a large amount of thick, air choking smoke that easily covered my ass as I ran towards the double doors.
Heaving the doors open I barely had time to take in the blackened outside world before a shot rang out. Less than a second later my body was shoved forward and the confusion and disbelief as to where I had been shot caused my knees to buckle. My eyes stared blankly at the dark sky. The small catwalk lining the outside walls was only a story up from the ground. I knew right then I would have no chance of making it down. Not with my newest injury.
It started slowly, the burning pain in my chest before pressure was added into the mix. Each breath was pure hell as the steady flow of my blood began to fill my lung. Every inhale became that much more difficult as a choke escaped my lips followed by a wet wheezing sound. There was no real way to describe the pain one experiences after being shot in the chest. It just felt so surreal…but turning my gaze down at my right side I clearly saw the evidence.
The world seemed to slow to a stop as I stared at the small gaping hole just a few inches beside my right breast.
The time has arrived.
That damn voice again.
Tears formed in my eyes from both the pain and the realization that I was truly dying set in. I was drowning blood and I couldn't do a damn thing. Yet it was the cold, vicious truth that I would not be getting out of this alive that kept me from going into shock. A single pair of rushing footsteps behind me caught my attention. Glock raised and body twisting I took a blind aim and fired. My finger happily pulling back on the trigger. I hadn't even gotten to smirk in satisfaction before another bullet found its way in my body.
Immediately my body went numb, blood filled my mouth and gravity took over.
Hot, slick blood covered my black uniform, drops falling freely onto the concrete beneath my fallen body. With my eyes shut I continued to choke and wheeze for breathe as acceptance washed through me.
I was going to die and there was no hope to think otherwise. But I did not fear that thought. As a solider, spy and assassin I had it drilled into my head earlier in my life that one day death would find me. Now it had…and I was ready.
It will be over quickly mellon.
As comforting as the unknown voice was, I knew that it was just the blood loss and exhaustion kicking in that was making me hallucinate. Through trying to breath I heard a soft pair of steps approaching towards me. With my eyes closed I didn't see who but I knew the time had come.
This is it…
They say that your life is supposed to flash before your eyes before death. That didn't happen. Instead all I felt was peace as my body sagged against the red stained ground. I was ready. With that thought in mind I slowly opened my eyes to look at my soon to be killer.
Familiar blue eyes stared right back at me. All at once what little air I could take in was hissing out at my whisper, "You..." disappointment and bitterness were laced within that one word as I stared up at my partner.
I felt like a fool as it all clicked into place as I stared up at him. Our Director had warned me months ago that we had a rat in our ranks; but I never, ever thought it would be one of my own. I had spent years with him. Training, fighting, killing alongside together as we rose within ranks. I knew him like the back of my own hand. Yet looking at the cold, icy expression in his eyes I realized that I didn't know Roman Berns at all.
Hearing my tone Roman sneered down at me, "You should have listened to me, Adelaide."
Baring my red stained teeth I couldn't help but snarl right back at him, "What can I say, I'm not one to roll over at the command of a little bitch."
His foot collided soundly against my ribs.
Son of a bitch! That fucking hurt! Spitting out a pile of blood I glared at Roman with fire in my eyes. Pure hated radiated from my weakening body. "You bastard…I vouched for you! I swore to Paris that you were clean."
Roman's bulky shoulders just shrugged in response, cold eyes turning to glance above her, "And that's where you made your mistake. You should have just kept your ass out of this mission. I told you, but you just wouldn't let it go. Everything would have gone so much smoother. You got yourself into this mess, Addie."
It was the anger that gave me the will I needed to push myself up. I dared not let the tears fall as I staggered to my feet, glaring at Roman with all my might. Roman I had trusted more so then any other being. But he was betraying his own country…he was betraying me.
What pain I felt was shoved aside as I let the anger build. My heart was racing, though from blood loss or adrenaline I knew not. "You're a real son of a bitch, you know that." It wasn't a question, just a statement. Leaning back against the low guard rail I kept one hand on my upper thigh and the other behind me. If I was going to die by his hands I would not do so on the ground. In my mind he deserved to rot in the deepest of hells for what he has done. Turning ones back on your homeland, the country he had pledged and sworn to defend was one of the worst things imaginable.
Add that to killing his own partner…
His expression was a mere blur as my vision began to grow fuzzy, but I could practically feel the heat of his eyes on my body. "If it's any consolation I wish it hadn't come to this," sincerity rang in his voice and it made me hate him that much more.
Once I truly believed I could never feel that way towards him. Roman had become the only person I could rely on in the world we lived in. The life of an assassin was usually a lonely one. Not meant for families or friends. But through it all the two of us had stayed together through thick and thin.
Until now.
Narrowing my eyes I slowly reached for my hidden compartment in my belt. Putting on a show of stumbling the moment I pushed the release button, my fingers curled around the small knife that slide free. If I was going down then I wouldn't be going alone, hopefully.
It all came down to this one moment. If I hit the mark, then we both died. If I didn't…then we would walk free with the gathered information. I could ignore the pain in my body, I could shove aside the intense growing pressure in my lungs and the blood that continued to fill my mouth. But could I ignore my slowly disappearing sight? The numbness of that made my arms feel so damn heavy that I feared if I could even lift one to throw the knife?
Hopefully fate would offer me this one shot.
As Roman raised his rifle I suddenly felt a strange calmness wash over me. It was as if he was moving in slow motion the entire time as my anger and hatred drained away. There was no panic, no fear and no desperation either. What would any of those feelings do for me now? Nothing. Tracing a finger down the smooth edge of the knife I took a rattling deep breath in as I was staring at the end of the black muzzle. Forcing my eyes to remain open and to focus on Roman I released my breath before slowly taking in my last one, "You disappoint me."
Those words caused a small reaction.
Though I could have been slightly delusional I could have sworn a look of pain flashed over his face before it was gone. His finger on the trigger, Roman replied back in his deep voice. However his words were not at all what I had been expecting. "I loved you."
I had no time to react to his proclamation before I was moving. The universe focused on the two of us just as my hand whipped out from behind me. His finger pulled back on the trigger at the same time I released the knife.
It came to no one's surprise that his bullet reached me first.
However his aim did not hit its intended mark.
From the throw my body had shifted and instead of the bullet burying itself into my heart, it instead slammed into my shoulder. The force of it was enough to send me twisting around and stumbling into the railing while I tried regaining any sort of balance. And then I was falling. Gravity pulled at my body as I fell from the catwalk but I didn't care nor could I do anything as I closed my eyes. A fall from that height along with my wounds I had no hope in surviving. It would be quick.
At least the voice had been right about that.
As I waited for my body to collide with the pavement below I couldn't help but think of one final thought.
Did my knife make its own mark?
oOoOo
Deep within Lothlórien, Galadriel raised her eyes away from her mirror to look at her husband with a wise look, "It has been done."
The moment the last word left her lips the very forest seemed to quiet itself. No leaf fell or shook, no animal moved or dared to make a sound and the rivers that ran through seemed to come to a standstill. As though the forest knew that an important moment was about to occur. Together Galadriel and Celeborn stood in silence, both patiently waiting…and then it happened. For but a second the air froze and the forest darkened, making all of those who called Lothlórien their home to stop and look towards the energy they all felt was forming.
Bringing her hands together in front of her, Galadriel silently called out to Haldir, Fear not for what is approaching for I have foreseen what is to come. Bring her to us, without further harm.
Through the mind she felt his acceptance, along with his confusion, and gently added, She will be fearful and confused. A word of advice dear Marchwarden, do not underestimate her.
Ending their conversation Galadriel moved over towards Celeborn before the two left for their talan. Long had they awaited this moment, long have they searched through their own world as well as other realms. The prophecy would come true.