Haldir was on patrol on the edges of Lothlorien. It was a usual day for him. It had been a long tour of duty, and he was looking forward to his return to Caras Galadhon. He was in desperate need of companionship, for it was far too lonely out on the borders.

But a whistle on the wind caught his attention. His brother was signaling that there was an intruder. He turned quickly and moved among the boughs of his beloved trees. He reached one of the platforms and stood beside his brother, Orophin. He was looking down through the leaves. A lone traveler was stumbling among the trees, looking around as if he was lost.

"This one arrived only an hour ago. He is mortal, but unarmed. There was a storm recently. Perhaps he was traveling with others and is merely lost," Orophin said softly.

Haldir glared at his compassionate brother. In these dark days, there was little room for compassion. "We will speak with this mortal," Haldir said sternly.

Orophin nodded, used to Haldir's cold shoulder. He brother was not unkind, but just merely cautious. It was not for naught that Haldir was the March Warden of the Golden Wood. The two brothers gently dropped from the canopy, and were quickly joined by the third brother, Rumil. While they all looked alike, their attitudes clearly differentiate them. Haldir was commanding, always in charge. His calculating eyes were always watchful for threats. Orophin had a softer countenance, and was far more likely to help a stranger than arrest him. Rumil was the mixed bag. He could be cold, like Haldir, but had his moments of kindness, especially where his bond mate was concerned. He was the only brother that had found a love greater than that for his realm. Haldir and Orophin, for all of their differences, would always love Lothlórien more than they could love any elleth.

They approached the stumbling mortal carefully, and Haldir could almost sense his weariness. The brothers surrounded the stranger on three sides. The mortal was unarmed, but they kept their distance, not wanting to corner the weary Man.

"It is forbidden for any to enter the realm of the Lady of Light without permission," Haldir said in the Common Tongue, stepping into the view of the mortal.

The stranger stopped and was startled by Haldir's sudden appearance. The mortal lowered his hood, and Haldir found himself surprised to find himself looking not at a man, but a woman. She looked like she had experienced battle recently. Her cheek was bruised, and her knuckles were bloody. Her hair was like fire and her eyes, the color of peat moss, looked at him with terror. She began to back up, readying herself for another fight. Haldir held his ground, advancing on her slightly.

"I was unaware of which realm I entered, nor am I versed in its laws," The woman said, her voice shaking for the fear Haldir could see in her eyes.

"Ignorance does not excuse you," Haldir said coldly.

Haldir gave a short nod to his brothers. Night was falling and he did not wish to question this woman in the open. Orophin and Rumil emerged from the trees and quickly advanced on the woman. She turned and took a swing at Orophin, but her mortal reflexes were nothing compared to the hardened Galadhrim warden. He grabbed her fist and quickly bound her hands with a length of elvish rope. Rumil threw a hood over her face, blinding her. She froze and Haldir quickly advanced. He picked her up bodily and threw her over his shoulder. He knew that he should treat a woman with more tender hands, but she had tried to hit Orophin. As he carried the woman through the trees, he took note of her trembling body against his. She made no noise, except the occasional whimper, but she shook more than a leaf in a strong wind. Haldir and his brothers reached the base of a rope ladder and quickly ascended, nearly unimpeded by the mortal woman. Once they reached the talan, Haldir set her on the floor seated and looked over her. She continued to tremble, but was otherwise still.

"Deliver a message to Lady Galadriel of this woman's arrival. We will await her instruction as to how to proceed. But for now, we will question the intruder," Haldir ordered of his youngest brother.

Rumil nodded curtly before springing off to carry out the orders. He was nervous, but he knew that Orophin would prevent Haldir from being unnecessarily cruel with the woman.

Once Rumil had gone, Haldir and Orophin looked down at the terrified, blind woman. Haldir nodded and Orophin silently moved behind the woman. On Haldir's signal, he removed the hood from the woman's face. She looked up at her captors, and Haldir was a little surprised to see tears streaking her fair countenance. She still had a look of a frightened and injured animal, but Haldir knew better than to underestimate how dangerous an animal could be when she was cornered and frightened. Despite her clear terror, there was fight in her eyes.

"Will the bonds prove unnecessary, or will you try to fight us?" Haldir asked. He hated questioning anyone, but especially a female, when they were bound and helpless.

The woman hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head. Orophin knelt down and quickly undid the rope, releasing her wrists. The woman rubbed her sore wrists, Orophin feeling a little guilty that he had bound her so tightly.

"You may rise, if you wish," Haldir said, his voice impassive.

The woman hesitatingly rose to stand, but her spine was curled in a defensive position. He knew that she did not trust them.

"What is your name?" Orophin asked, much kinder than Haldir's cold voice.

The woman looked behind her briefly before her eyes landed back on Haldir. She clearly sensed that he was the bigger threat. Haldir almost smirked at this form of flattery.

"Raina," she answered simply. She was not going to play into their games. She would not tell them more than what they asked directly.

"Raina," Haldir repeated softly, almost enjoying the way the word flowed off of his tongue.

"That is Elvish," Orophin commented.

Raina held her defensive stance and said nothing. It was not a question, and she knew better than to trust a man that she didn't know.

"How did you come to our wood?" Haldir asked, moving on.

"I ran," Raina said, her words sounding a little bitter.

"How far?" Orophin asked, looking over her body. He could see where her knees shook a little, most likely from exhaustion.

"Far enough," Raina spat.

Haldir sighed. She was being difficult. He felt a certain compassion for this woman with fiery hair and mossy eyes. The purple bruise on her face was taking more shape, and Haldir could see the outline of a shape. He stepped forward and gently raised his hand. Raina tensed, unsure of his actions. He gently placed his hand over the bruise and his suspicions were confirmed. A perfect handprint.

"Who hit you, Raina?" Haldir asked.

Raina looked away, jerking her face away from Haldir's touch. It set her skin on fire, and she did not want to cloud her judgment any further. Her mind was heavy with sleep, and any conflicting emotions weren't going to help her.

Orophin came out from behind Raina and looked at her with pity in his eyes. He could see the hand on her cheek, and his heart ached for her.

"My guess is it is a husband. You look to be of marrying age," Haldir commented softly, his face and voice emotionless.

"I am not married," Raina spat, unable to control herself.

"Then it is a father or brother," Haldir shot back.

Raina looked to glare at the arrogant elf. "Father," she said, her voice full of spite.

"Where did you come from, Raina?" Haldir said, his commanding tone overwhelming him.

"My home. I ran when Daddy came home drunk and started beating Mommy. I didn't like it so I tried to stop it, but then he hit me too," Raina said, clearly mocking Haldir.

Haldir's chest swelled, and Orophin could sense his brother growing angry. He stepped between Haldir and Raina before violence could erupt.

"Raina, we only ask these questions so we may know if we need to protect you or if we need to imprison you. If you do not cooperate, then we will be forced to treat you as a prisoner, and not a victim," Orophin said kindly.

Raina glared at the brother, but she was clearly studying him. Raina could see that this was the younger of the two elves, although there was very little that indicated this. It was just his compassion and slightly softer eyes that let Raina see that he did not have the years in this cruel world like the older did.

"The Wold. I ran from The Wold," Raina admitted with reluctance.

Even Haldir was impressed by this. She was unarmed and these were dangerous times. To run so far without being harmed was truly a work of the Valar. Orophin felt his pity rise even more for this poor woman. She had run so far only to be captured in place that many considered to be a haven.

"Was anyone chasing you?" Orophin asked, thinking practically now.

Raina shrugged. "I did not look back," she whispered.

The elves could hear her exhaustion in her voice. She was barely standing and they doubted very much that she would be able to stay awake for much longer. Orophin looked to Haldir, and he was studying the woman under careful eyes. Haldir could not exactly place his feelings, but something felt off with Raina. She would not meet his eyes like she did, but out of shame or fear, he could not tell.

"We await word from the Lady of Light. She will decide if you are to remain here. Until then, we will stay here," Haldir decided.

Raina nodded, barely hearing him. She fought to keep her eyes open and even physically shook her head to stay awake. She swayed a little on the spot, and Orophin took her shoulders, looking into her eyes. But she shook of his hands violently and stepped away. Orophin raised his eyebrows at the behavior but otherwise made no note of it.

Raina continued to stand under the gazes of the elves, unsure of how to proceed. She looked around, trying to find something to do. Eventually she edged away from the elves and looked out over the trees. She looked south, biting her slightly bruised bottom lip. She sat down and pulled her knees up so she could wrap her arms around them. She rested her chin on her knees and kept a silent watch. Haldir and Orophin watched her and were confused by her behavior. She said that no one was chasing her, but she kept watch in the direction from which she would have come. Haldir and Orophin looked at each other, silently deciding that they needed more information. Orophin began to move toward Raina, but Haldir stopped him. Haldir was intrigued, and that did not happen very often. Orophin sighed silently; he had no choice but to submit to the will of his brother.

Haldir sat beside the woman, his legs easily crossed and his back straight. Her eyes flickered to him for a moment, but then she looked back to the south.

"What are you looking for?" Haldir asked, trying to start conversation.

Raina shrugged, still silent.

Haldir looked at the woman. She was objectively fair; that he could not deny. Her high cheekbones looked fairly Elvish, but her round hips and backside were very human. She was wearing a simple dress, but it was covered in mud from her travels. He could see that her boots were leather, but were showing signs of wear. Yes, she had run very far. But the more he looked at her, the more things he noticed. Her lips were slightly swollen, as were her eyes. He could see soft scratches from what he could assume were human nails along her neck and collarbone. Her wrists were a little bruised, but that, Haldir knew, was not from Orophin's binding earlier.

"What happened to you?" Haldir asked in a soft voice.

Raina looked at Haldir at that point. She could almost hear the undertones of disgust. Or perhaps it was just her own gut putting those sounds into his voice. Raina studied the elf for a moment before turning her eyes back to her watch.

"Why should I tell you?" Raina snapped, feeling testy.

"Because I am the Marchwarden," Haldir said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"And because you are Marchwarden, I should just tell you my life story?" Raina said, rolling her eyes violently in sarcasm.

"No. Because I am Marchwarden, I make it my business to know the business of those who come into my realm," Haldir said, his frustration rising a little.

"I told you. I ran from The Wold. I ran for three days and nights," Raina said with an exasperated sigh.

"And you just happen to pick up a slap, bruised wrists and scratches to your chest along the way?" Haldir snapped back.

Raina's gaze snapped to Haldir. She had no idea that he had been studying her so closely. She chose not to answer the question, but instead held her glare.

"Why should I trust a man whose name I do not know?" she asked slowly and suspiciously.

"This is not a matter of trust, Raina. While Lady Galadriel ultimately holds your fate, I control how you are treated until then. But if it will get you to answer my questions, my name is Haldir," The elf replied with a sigh of frustration.

"Haldir," Raina repeated.

Haldir could not help but notice the tingle in his spine at the sound of his name sliding off of her tongue. She breathed it, and he could almost picture her writhing beneath him, saying his name exactly like that as he took her to a higher place…Haldir shook himself mentally. He needed to get back to Caras Galadhon. This woman was a prisoner, and she should not be having these thoughts.

"So how did you come to be so battered and bruised?" Haldir asked, skipping over pleasantries.

Raina looked away and closed her eyes. A shiver of fear ran through her thin frame as the memories came back. She felt dirty all of a sudden. She moved away from Haldir slightly, afraid to taint his ethereal glow with her filth. The motion was not lost on Haldir, though he said nothing about it.

"My father…was a herder, like all of those who lived in The Wold. He raised head of cattle for Rohan. Our family was by no means rich, but we did well enough so we did not have to worry about starving," Raina started, her voice catching at the mention of her father.

Haldir stayed silent. He could see that this was not easy for Raina, and he knew better than to push a prisoner in the middle of a confession.

"My mother wove fabric. She made beautiful linens, but she rarely sold for their true value. Instead, she allowed the merchants of our village to rob her blind. They would buy the fabric and then make beautiful dresses that they would sell at four times the price of the materials," Raina went on. She could feel the familiar rage coursing through her veins, hot like lava from Mount Doom itself.

"Why did your mother have to sell the fabrics at all if your father worked?" Haldir asked, confused. He knew that many females, both Men and Elf-Kind alike, enjoyed hobbies like weaving. But business was no place for a woman, especially one that was ignorant to the worth of her wares.

Raina swallowed and paused in her tale. Haldir waited patiently for her to continue.

"My father spent his days in the fields attending the herd, but his nights were spent at the tavern. He was a gambler, but not a very good one. He would lose so much money. And the debts that my mother could not pay with the sale of her fabrics were paid in…other ways," Raina said, her voice catching with emotion again.

Haldir's gaze snapped to the woman sitting beside him. She still had her eyes closed, but he could see her lower lip trembling with held tears. He felt the need to touch her but resisted. She did not need comfort, and he was in no position to offer it.

"My mother and father tried for many years to have children. I think that the lack of an heir was what led my father to start drinking in the first place. One night, my mother went to…pay his debts, but she met a traveler in the tavern. He took interest in her, and listened to her story with such compassion. He wanted to help her, and he did so the only way he could," Raina went on, her voice dropping to a whisper.

Haldir waited for her to explain, but she stopped. The realization hit him like a ton of bricks.

"He created you?" Haldir asked, a little breathless with surprise.

"Luckily my mother had a red-headed aunt that she was able to explain my physical traits with. He never came back, not once. He just left me in the womb, and ne'er returned. I do not even know his name," Raina whispered, feeling the usual anger welling up in her chest.

"How did he know that she would…in only one night?" Haldir asked, confused. He was not aware that mortals had that sort of control.

Raina smirked at his attempt to be delicate. If he only knew.

"Your kind tend to have that ability. Far be it from me to explain it," She said with a little ironic chuckle.

Haldir could not help the audible gasp that escaped his lips. He looked at her again. Her hair was long, and pulled back slightly, but it covered her ears. He reached up and she flinched slightly when his fingertips touched the tips of her ears. He gently stroked their pointed tips, and Raina shuddered. Haldir pulled away quickly, forgetting how sensitive they could be.

"How did you hide?" Haldir asked.

"It is easy to not see what one is not looking for. I grew into the points, the full thing coming in around my traditional coming of age. After my hair was long enough, I just kept my hair pulled over them in a similar fashion to that which I am wearing right now," Raina said, her voice a little casual.

"But most Peredhil exhibit more elven development. If you are not much older than twenty, you would still be a small elfling," Haldir asked, confused. He had read enough about the Half-Elven to know certain things.

"Eru be praised, for He works in mysterious ways. I was granted The Choice; this I know for certain, for a Vala told me of it in a dream. But I was granted mortal properties, like aging to an extent. It has slowly considerably since my coming of age, but not so much that it has been noticed by the villagers," Raina said, her voice growing soft with the mention of the creator.

Haldir should have struck her for her blasphemy, but he fascinated by the Peredhel before him. He could see more features that proved her heritage as he studied her. Yes, her eyes were clearly almond shaped, and their distinctive moss green was something that he had seen in other Eldar before. He could not help but feel the truth in her words; one truly did not see what one was not looking for. He would not have noticed her elven traits if he had not known.

"How did your father react? When he learned of your mother's…change?" Haldir asked, still dancing around the sensitive subject. He had enough breeding to know that mentioning such subjects was frowned upon.

"Naturally, he was thrilled to find out that he was going to have a child. His arrogance prevented him from acknowledging that he could produce anything other than a strong baby boy. Imagine his surprise when he held his daughter for the first time," Raina went on, her sarcasm almost brutal.

"Did he not love you like a father should?" Haldir asked, curiosity getting the better of him.

"He had no choice. He was vaguely aware of his wife's activities at the tavern to take care of his debts, and he knew that she would leave if he did not treat me as anything but his pride and joy. Or course, his arrogance prevented him from seeing that I could have no other sire than him," Raina said, her sarcasm cutting through the thick night like a knife.

Haldir paused, collecting himself. He was getting too caught up in her story. She was a prisoner. He needed to distance himself.

"Around the time of my coming of age, my mother succumbed to illness. After she was buried, my father had no more pretenses to care for me. We continued to coexist, but he kept his distance. He still had no son, but he knew that it would be time to marry me off sooner or later and he would be rid of me," Raina continued, her voice flat.

"Did you not want that? I know that Peredhil often feel the urges to bond rather than marry, and can often suffer the same consequences as the Eldar if they are forced to lay with someone they do not love," Haldir asked, bringing the questioning back to her injuries.

Raina's blood went cold. She felt her heart pounding painfully. Everything would change after this. And here she was, almost liking the March Warden.

"My father found me a husband, a man twice my age. He was willing to accept the tiny dowry, but I knew that I could not even learn to love the man. He was known for beating the whores that he paid for. I confronted my father about the match, not realizing how much he had drunk that night," Raina began. She closed her eyes and could see it as it happened behind her eyelids.

Raina sat behind the little table, waiting for her father to come stumbling home. He had to be up early, for there was a large cattle drive in the morning. He would surely not be drinking as much if he wanted to be any sort of help in the morning. Thankfully, the night was not even half over before her father slammed the front door open, nearly breaking the little shelf behind it. Raina stood, her face impassive as she regarded her drunken father. He noticed her, but merely grunted at her.

"Father, I wish to discuss the marriage you have arranged for me," Raina began, her voice not shaking nearly as much as the rest of her body.

Her father looked at her from the sink. He was leaning against it, almost bracing himself.

"What? You want to move the date closer so you can sate your lust?" her father threw at her callously.

Raina did not flinch; she was used to this sort of treatment. "I ask you to call it off. I cannot marry the blacksmith," she said, her voice and gaze calm.

"And why the hell not? He's the only man in this hole that'll accept your pathetic dowry," her father threw back, properly angry now.

"I do not love him," Raina said simply.

Her father laughed, and it was a wicked, twisted sound that made Raina's stomach twist into knots.

"What does love have to do with anything? You think I loved your whore mother? She was happy enough to throw her body around to anyone that had a gold coin to spare. You think I loved that?" her father said.

Raina felt her blood running hot. She could take abuse aimed at her. But he would not insult the woman who had birthed her.

"She didn't deserve your love, if you are even capable of loving anything other than a bottle," she spat and began to storm off to her room.

Moving faster than Raina had ever seen, her father crossed the room to the door. He grabbed her by the upper arm and brought his face inches from hers. She could smell the ale and vomit in his beard. She struggled, but he only held tighter.

"I'll show you what love is. You'll be knowing this kind of love for the rest of your pathetic life," her father breathed into her face.

He lowered his lips roughly to hers and she struggled. She knew her what would happen if he took her by force. She fought, punching him in the chest or anywhere she could reach. But he grabbed her fists and backed her up. He took her wrists in one hand and picked her up, slamming her down onto the solid wooden table. She struggled, continuing to kick and fight. But he clawed at her dress, ripping the top and exposing her breasts. She screamed, but she knew that no one would hear her. They had no neighbors for quite some distance. He roughly handled her breasts, squeezing and pinching her nipples painfully. His mouth latched onto the bud, and he bit it, causing more screams.

Somewhere in his fascination with her breasts, he had let his hand around her wrists slacken. She was able to get one hand free and punched him in the cheek. He staggered back, and Raina was able to scramble away and prepare herself for an attack. He came at her again, and she went to punch again. But he caught her fist and smacked her hard across the face, sending her reeling onto the floor.

While she regained her breath and vision, he undid the laces for his leggings. He was already hard, waiting to take this rebellious little slut. Raina saw him coming and reacted before she could think. She kicked her leg, knocking his feet out from under him. He toppled over, but his head hit the corner of the stove. He fell to the ground, and a little pool of blood started to form under him. Raina looked at the man on the floor, eyes wide with terror. She scrambled to her feet. She had to get out of there. She quickly changed into something more suitable for traveling. She considered taking the horse, but she did not want to add theft to murder.

"So I just ran and I've been running ever since. I knew that they were after me when I stopped in a little village for a small meal. They want me dead for killing the man that would have…" Raina said, her voice failing her for the first time in her tale.

Haldir had listened to her without interrupting, just listening to her story. He felt his anger growing with every word. The man that had raised her would have forced himself on the woman he thought to be his daughter. Haldir was almost sorry that the scum was dead, for he wished to teach him what it meant to treat a woman with respect, especially one with the blood of the Firstborn running through her veins.

Haldir turned and looked at Raina, and was surprised to see tears running down her cheeks. She was crying silently, not letting out so much as a sniffle. He figured that she had plenty of practice on crying silently. She sensed his gaze and turned to look at him. He could not control himself. He gently reached out and touched the cheek that was not bruised and stroked her jaw.

"What will happen to me? I killed a man, a man that, while not my father by blood, was the man who raised me," Raina asked, sounding afraid for the first time.

"The Lady of Light is merciful. She will not turn you away, especially one that shares ancestry," Haldir said, confident in his answer.

Raina seemed less than convinced. But before she could respond, Orophin was behind them. Haldir stood quickly and faced his brother, the wall of ice back firmly in place.

"More mortals have been spotted on the edges of the forest. What is your command?" Orophin asked. He had heard them speaking of Raina, and assumed they were there to find her.

Haldir glared. "Gently guide them this way. I wish to speak with them," Haldir said, his voice cold as ice.

Orophin noticed Haldir's anger, but said nothing. He had his orders and he passed them along. With the skill that only elves could possess, the Men were herded further into the forest until they were below the tree in which Raina sat on the edge of the talan. Haldir dropped carefully from the trees, landing with no more than a soft thud a few paces from them. The Men did not hear, because they were too busy muttering about cursed woods.

"It is against our laws for those that do not have permission for the Lady of Light to enter our forest," Haldir said, speaking louder than he normally would have, ensuring that his voice carried up to Raina's ears.

"We come seeking a lost member of our village. Perhaps you have seen her?" a man said, stepping forward.

Haldir regarded the man with cool indifference. The sword at his hip and the bow on his back were not lost on Haldir.

"This seems to be quite a large group for a search party," Haldir mentioned in passing.

Haldir heard his fellow wardens dropping from the trees silently. He could hear the bow strings being held taut. They were only waiting for Haldir's signal. A lone, unarmed female was one circumstance. But a party of over a dozen, all armed to the teeth was another entirely. They were no match for the Galadhrim, but they could do damage to the inner sanctum if they were allowed to enter.

"This little one is a fugitive. Murder her own father, she did. We are here to make sure she is brought to justice," another man said, jerking his chin in righteous indignation.

"Justice, you say?" Haldir whispered, sounding almost interested.

"Justice served at the end of a noose," the man said, almost eager to see that he had an ally in his quest for his supposed justice.

Haldir approached the man, eyeing him curiously. His fellows parted and allowed Haldir to examine the man. He had rough hands showed years of wear. The distinctive black marks on the fingers and around the nail beds revealed his profession as the blacksmith. He looked into the face of the man that would have been Raina's husband, the man that beat his whores, the man that would see his betrothed hanged for killing her rapist.

Haldir withdrew his knife, and the elves around him made their presence known. The men began to reach for their weapons, but the arrows trained on them stilled their hands. The blacksmith looked at Haldir, stunned into silence.

"If there were true justice, it has been served. Leave these woods before we show you what the Galadhrim does to Men who trespass," Haldir said, his voice as cold as his eyes.

Raina watched from the talan, unseen by the men below, as Haldir made it clear that these men were to vacate Lothlórien. She was stunned, her jaw slightly slackened. She felt someone near her and turned to see a pair of boots standing beside her. She looked up and saw one of the brothers, the one that had left. He was smirking and chuckling. Raina scrambled to her feet, and looked at the elf curiously.

Rumil looked back at the woman, and met her curious gaze with a smirk. Whatever this woman had done to his brother, it was worth the extra hassle.

"Lady Galadriel has granted you access to Caras Galadhon, but wishes and audience with you while your chambers are prepared." Rumil said with a little nod of his head.