After he had left Filanna standing outside her talan, Haldir found he did not wish to try his luck elsewhere and went home instead. Deciding that he might as well do something useful with the time now at his disposal, he seated himself at the table and rolled up his sleeves before beginning the routine process of cleaning his weapons. He polished the blade of his sword until it cast his reflection back at him and then turned his attention to his bow. He was inspecting the integrity of the string when Orophin's characteristic series of knocks came.

"Enter," he called.

The door opened and in walked his youngest sibling, all smiles as usual. "Good evening, gwanur."

"The same to you. To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure of your visit?"

"Nothing but genuine affection for my beloved brother and my wish to spend time with him," Orophin replied jovially. "Have I come at a bad time?"

"Not at all, if you don't mind me finishing this." Haldir indicated another chair. "Have a seat. Or help yourself to a drink first, if you want."

"Gladly." Orophin reached for Haldir's goblet, which stood empty on the table, and took it into the kitchen to refill it along with his own.

"A little bird told me that the Mirkwood princess stole the show on the archery range this evening," he called from the kitchen as he stood pouring the wine.

Haldir sighed soundlessly, pulling back the bowstring to test the feel. "News sure travels fast in Caras Galadhon."

Orophin came back into the room, holding a goblet in each hand. "Yes, tongues are wagging in the city, spreading an interesting rumour. When was the last time you engaged in a contest of skills with a female, Haldir?" He grinned.

"It was not meant to be a contest. I merely wanted to see how well she performed."

"And?"

"She surprised me," Haldir replied truthfully.

Orophin took the chair opposite Haldir. "The same little bird also told me that the two of you left the archery field together," he said, grinning even more broadly. "Do tell, brother. Did you get to kiss her goodnight?"

Haldir shot him a look. "You don't actually believe I will answer that, do you?"

"No luck, eh?" Orophin took a sip of his wine. "I am sorry, Haldir. I hate to say it but you have not exactly stolen her heart."

"I am aware of that." Haldir picked up the small tool with which he could tighten or loosen the bowstring according to his preferences. "But you have some explaining to do as well, Orophin. I too have my sources, and they tell me that Filanna was out riding for most of the day, accompanied by none other than you. How did that come to pass?"

"That is easily explained. Galadriel has asked me to look after Filanna a bit, spend some time with her and help her feel welcome. I must say that Galadriel has given me less pleasant assignments in the past; the princess is rather charming company. She wasn't too eager for my company at first, but I was insistent." He smiled. "I think she even enjoyed herself in the end, as did I. She is actually rather witty when you get to know her better." He took another draught and placed his goblet on the table. "But don't worry, I will not compete with you for her affections."

Haldir shrugged. "What affections? As you said, she does not think favorably of me, and that is putting it euphemistically. This evening on the archery range, she was more attracted to my bow than to me. I felt strongly inclined to leave and give the two of them some privacy. I would not have been missed by either of them, I am sure."

"The filthy traitor!" Orophin laughed, glancing at the bow between Haldir's knees. "That must have been quite a blow to your pride."

Haldir smirked, but then his expression became serious. "Do be careful, Orophin. Filanna is young still and inexperienced. She might mistake your kindness for something else."

A mischievous sparkle appeared in Orophin's eye. "Are you concerned about her, Haldir? How sweet."

"Orophin." Haldir spoke in a warning tone now. "I am not jesting."

"I know." Orophin paused. "I see your point, Haldir, but don't worry about Filanna. She seems like a sensible elleth, and I promise you my conduct will be perfectly appropriate at all times."

Haldir was not entirely convinced. Galadriel's wisdom was beyond question, but he could not shake the feeling that this was going to end badly. "Very well, let us speak of this no more."

Orophin looked at him gaugingly. "You really are quite taken by her, aren't you?"

Haldir's only response was a stern gaze. It was a look Orophin had seen before and couldn't possibly misinterpret; Haldir considered the subject closed and would not tolerate prying questions. Orophin shrugged mentally and let the matter rest. He had learned from experience that it was usually best not to provoke Haldir.

xxx

After Orophin had left, Haldir stored away his weapons and decided it was not too late for a bath. He took a towel from the linen closet and went out, heading for one of the city's pools he frequented. It was one of his favourites, located in a secluded glade that offered bathers some privacy. It was not a very large pool, but it was close to his talan, the water had a pleasant temperature and nature had created a water feature there that he liked. The waters of the stream feeding the pool plunged down into it from one of the surrounding rocks: a miniature waterfall that added to the beauty and serenity of the place.

It was a popular bathing spot, but after sunset it was reserved for a select few- elves who stood highly in the Lord and Lady's favour and had been granted the privilege for that reason. As one of Lórien's Marchwardens, Haldir was included in that group, and it was a privilege he used gladly. Sometimes he met his peers here, and on those occasions they would bathe together while discussing their experiences at the border, females, and other things men like to talk about when they are together.

But tonight the pool was deserted, which pleased Haldir greatly. With a fine smile playing at his lips, he started to undress.

He took off his boots, then his leather belt. He unhooked the fastenings of his tunic, shrugged the garment off his shoulders and tossed it on the ground, next to the already discarded items. At that point he paused and took a moment to stretch his back and his arms, rolling his head this way and that. Then he bent forward at the waist and placed his palms flat on the ground, holding that pose for a few moments as he breathed slowly in and out. He straightened again, let his fingers crack audibly and began to loosen the laces of his leggings.

When at length he was completely naked, he lowered himself onto one of the flat, sun-warmed boulders that surrounded the pool and slid into the water.

The size of the pool did not allow him to practise his breaststroke, so he settled for idle floating, enjoying the way the water enveloped him and washed him clean. It offered instant relaxation for his body, but unfortunately, peace of the mind was less easy to obtain.

I am sure you will have more success elsewhere.

Haldir frowned slightly as the words Filanna had spoken to him earlier that evening floated back into his thoughts. He was not sure why, but the comment bothered him, as did her rejection in itself. All in all, he did not believe that he had made much progress today. During the target practice her icy demeanor had melted considerably, but after that she had been cold and distant again. And yet, what Orophin had told him proved that she was perfectly capable of being charming and kind.

Haldir sighed. Apparently the princess was determined to dislike him for some reason. A pity. Even if he really turned on the charm, it seemed unlikely that he would be able to break through her defences in a fortnight, especially when Orophin was in the picture- his oh so gallant brother Orophin who had always had a way with the timid ellith. Filanna was obviously a very shy, very inexperienced little thing, and Haldir preferred his lovers a bit more daring and spontaneous. Ah, but that reminded him...

"You know you don't have to play hide and seek with me, Luniel," he said, turning his gaze to one particular mallorn. "How long must I wait for you to join me?"

Slowly, and with a semi-guilty smile on her face, a golden-haired elleth in a bright blue dress stepped into view, emerging next to the trunk of the mallorn she had been hiding behind after following him down here.

"I should have known you could sense me," she said. "How long have you known?"

"All along, my dear." His eyes flicked down and back up again, lingering appreciatively on the plunging neckline of her gown. "That is a lovely dress, by the way. But you might want to remove it before you join me."

She came closer. "I have no towel with me."

"I have one. Is that not enough?"

She laughed. "No, Haldir, I know how that would end. I prefer to stay clothed."

"What a disappointment."

She lowered herself to her knees behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. "I heard you came back yesterday. It is good to see you again."

"Likewise, Luniel." Haldir closed his eyes and tilted his head forward as she began to massage his neck and shoulders. "But I am sure that you have not been bored without me. Hmm, that feels wonderful."

"Good. Relax a bit more." Applying gentle pressure, she set to rubbing the tension from his muscles. "How long until your next shift?"

"A fortnight." Haldir opened his eyes again. "How is your brother doing? He was still recuperating from his wound when I left for the border three weeks ago."

"Ennion is recovered, and bouncing with impatience to return to the fences," she replied. "I think the idiot is even proud of his first battle wound; he can't stop bragging about it, and our little brother is already talking of following his example once he comes of age." She sighed. "You know, I think I will never understand you."

"Me?"

"Males in general, and that inborn urge you all seem to have to go out there, swing your swords and spill blood."

"The spilling of blood is not what we fight for," Haldir corrected. "It is the safety of our people. The power of Nenya alone is not enough; Lórien needs the protection our swords provide."

"I realize that. But I cannot help but wish I had sisters instead of brothers." She sighed again. "Then I wouldn't have to be so worried all the time."

"You should not worry about Ennion," Haldir told her. "He is a fine warrior, and he has the heart of a lion. He fights to protect those he loves. Be proud of him."

"I am." A brief, thoughtful silence followed. "May I ask you something, Haldir?"

"Yes, go ahead."

"Was it always your dream to be a warden?"

He nodded. "It is the dream of many young ellyn. To be chosen is a great honour."

"But if you had been rejected, what would you have done?"

Haldir smiled. "I would have gotten shamefully drunk, gone home and wept into my pillow."

"That is not what I meant!" She laughed and pinched his shoulder. "What profession would you have pursued then?"

"I do not know," Haldir said truthfully. "A warden was what I aspired to be, so I strove for that and nothing else. Perhaps I could have joined the Lord and Lady's guard."

"And what if one day our people leave Middle-earth? They will need no protection in Valinor. What will you do then?"

"Then I will miss fair Lothlórien, but find other ways to spend my time and make myself useful." He smiled again. "What deep questions you ask me tonight, Luniel."

"Sometimes I just wonder where we will all be," she confessed, "a hundred or a thousand years from now. Whether the beauty of Lórien will be only a memory by then. Don't you ever think about those things?"

"Sometimes, I do. But not too often and especially not tonight." He slowly turned around to face her. "At the moment I am only wondering why you followed me down here."

She returned his smile. "Because I was bored and had nothing better to do?"

He lifted his chin somewhat. "I would suggest you try a little flattery here, Luniel."

"Oh, very well," she said, conceding. "I confess I was hoping for... a kiss, for starters?"

"A kiss? But of course." He took both her hands and started wading backwards. "Come here and get it."

"What?" She tried to rise, resisting his pull, but she couldn't free her hands from his larger and much stronger ones. She was on the verge of losing her balance but he continued to step back, grinning wickedly and enjoying her startled, wide-eyed look. "Haldir, don't you dare! Haldir, no, I mean it!"

The next moment she fell in with a high-pitched squeak, her dress quickly absorbing water and soaking her to the skin. She gasped and struggled weakly in his arms, her teeth starting to chatter.

"Haldir, this is a new gown!" she cried out. Her voice was shrill with indignation.

"Now it is a wet gown," he pointed out with calm amusement. "You said you wished to remain clothed and clothed you are. No reasons for complaint, I would say." His gaze slid downward, appreciatively taking in how her peaked nipples strained visibly against the wet, now see-through fabric of her gown. "Hmm, I thought it was a lovely dress when dry, but I think I like it even better like this, my dear."

"Ohh!" She glared at him with clenched fists, as if she could smack him any moment. "You are insufferable and a scoundrel! Let go of me at once!"

"Why? I have been promised a kiss, and I am still waiting for it."

"No." Pouting, she pushed at his chest. "I don't feel like kissing you anymore."

"No?" he murmured, leaning in and nipping playfully at the sensitive tip of her ear. "What a shame. I was just beginning to warm up."

It was the truth. Her body was pressed against his, arousing him and causing stirrings of physical excitement in his loins. Still holding her with one arm around her waist, he reached beneath the skirt of her dress and let his fingers walk an upward path over the bare skin of her inner thigh.

"No, don't," she sighed, her eyelids falling half shut when he touched her intimately, lightly, teasing and tantalizing her. He leaned down to make a trail of soft butterfly kisses from her ear to her throat, feeling her tremble and breathe erratically as he slowly circled her pleasure spot with his thumb. His fore- and middle finger reached farther, slowly pushing in and being welcomed by a wetness that had nothing to do with the water.

"Don't, Haldir," she moaned. "Someone might come."

"That is exactly what I am hoping to achieve, sweet one," he murmured, his lips brushing the soft skin of her neck. Another teasing sweep of his thumb caused her to gasp, and for a moment he thought she would yield, but then her hands began to push at his chest again.

"But not here," she said. "I am wet and cold and I want to get out."

She wriggled and writhed and he let her go, watching as she pulled herself up onto shore. Somehow she even managed to do it gracefully. "Ah, you are no fun at all tonight, Luniel," he said with a grin.

"You have a strange definition of the word 'fun', Haldir," she grumbled, looking down at her drenched self. She removed her shoes and toweled off her hair as best as she could, but there was nothing she could do about her sodden dress.

"I am going home now," she announced, "and change into something dry." She stressed the last word with a reproachful look in his direction. "I expect you to join me soon and continue where you left off."

Haldir, who had once again taken a relaxed position in the water, smiled lazily, enjoying the way her dress clung to her form and revealed more than she was probably aware of. "Hmm, I might. If I feel like it."

"Be careful," she warned him. "Two can play this game. Need I point out that I can take your clothes and towel? Not even you would go walking through Caras Galadhon naked, Haldir."

He smirked. "Point taken. Give me fifteen minutes."

After she had departed, he lingered in the pool for several more minutes, surprised to find that he was in no hurry to get out of the water and into her bed. Luniel was a sweet elleth, attentive and certainly entertaining between the sheets, but there were other things distracting him. Luniel's questions had reminded him of his own concerns about Lórien and the future. He was not a pessimist at heart, but when an elf had seen as much as he had in his many years as a warden, darker thoughts inevitably took hold now and then, especially with the shadow in the East continuing to grow and gain power the way it had of late.

He sighed. And then there was Filanna who refused to be banned from his thoughts. Something about that elleth intrigued him, and it wasn't her pretty face alone- although of course that did please him a great deal. It had certainly not been without regret on his part that he had walked away from her earlier this evening, without even having stolen a kiss.

No, there was something more. Filanna puzzled him, and that was something few ellith had done before. She was a walking paradox- painfully shy, stand-offish and distrustful, she had none of the poise and elegance one would expect from a princess of Mirkwood. But at the same time he found her endearing. She amused him, even- with her pride and her defiance. He had always had a fondness for ellith with spirit, and Filanna had that in abundance. It pleased him how eager she had been to defend the honour of her realm when he challenged her. He realized it must not have been easy for her to perform with so many people watching, but she had done it nonetheless, and she had done very well. He admired her for it.

But he did not understand her lack of self-esteem. The royal family of Mirkwood was known to be a warm and loving one, and the King's children were intelligent, educated and had had every opportunity to develop their individual talents. Filanna was also pretty and Orophin had remarked on her sense of humor, which Haldir had seen only glimpses of so far. There was no reason why she shouldn't feel confident about herself, no reason why she shouldn't have an extensive collection of admirers, like Haldir knew her sisters did.

Haldir remembered the older Mirkwood princesses; pretty creatures indeed, but they had not caught his attention the way Filanna had. Filanna's loveliness was not of the striking kind; it was quiet and unobtrusive, but it was there and Haldir found it alluring. She reminded him of a small, shy flower hiding between the roots of a tree, hoping to remain unnoticed and closing her petals when someone came in for a closer look. But Haldir suspected that she had a few thorns too, and that she would not hesitate to use them when feeling threatened. He had not yet felt their full sting but he knew they were there. It was a shame, really. Such a lovely flower should not be marred by thorns.

But what to do with this flower? Plucking it was obviously not going to be an option – Haldir's lips curved impishly at the thought – but it might be worth his while to wait and see if he could coax those tightly closed petals a little further open. He had managed it briefly today, and seen her beautiful smile as he had hoped. With the right approach, perhaps he could achieve a little more before she left. Yes, that would be interesting indeed.

Haldir finally got out of the water with some reluctance and dressed himself quickly. He threw the damp towel over his shoulder and was about to head for his talan when he suddenly remembered Luniel. Luniel who probably lay waiting for him impatiently in her canopied bed. Haldir grinned to himself as he realized what consequences it would have had if he had actually forgotten to visit her tonight.

"Ouch," he said with a chuckle. "That would not have been good."

So he went, and because he felt a little guilty for almost having forgotten her, he made love to her with more enthusiasm than he really felt. After she had fallen asleep, however, he eased her out of his arms and quietly got dressed, bestowing a kiss on her temple before leaving. He did stay over sometimes; but tonight he would not.

It was already past midnight when he stepped outside and quietly closed the door behind him, and few Geledhil were outside at this hour. As he set out to go home, it soon occurred to him that the shortest route from Luniel's talan to his own would lead him directly past Filanna's talan. For a moment he considering making a detour, but he dismissed the idea. She was probably asleep anyway, and would never know that he had walked past.

He walked at a leisurely pace, enjoying the fresh night air and returning the greetings of the few passers-by. He did not know every single citizen of Caras Galadhon by name, but he had learned long ago that a Marchwarden's name and face were known to all, and he had grown accustomed to his status as a local celebrity. It simply came with the position, and the Marchwardens were not the only ones whose names were household; the members of the Council enjoyed their share of local fame as well.

As he approached Filanna's talan, Haldir was mildly surprised to see that a faint light was burning behind the drawn curtains. There was no movement that he could see, but as he walked past he thought he heard the sound of footfalls inside, indicating that Filanna was not yet in bed.

He had already passed her talan when he heard the sound of a door opening behind him. He halted and turned around, wondering if she had seen him walk past, but Filanna did not even seem to notice him as she rushed outside and pulled the door shut behind her. The first observation he made was that she seemed discomposed and preoccupied; next was the realization that she was dressed in nightwear, a long gown made of a thin, satin-like white material. It was an elegant piece of clothing, and so feminine that he was surprised to see it on her.

His lips slowly curving into a smile, he took a moment to look her up and down. This was a rare opportunity indeed, and one to be enjoyed to the fullest before the moment passed. The nightgown was far more flattering on her willowy figure than the leggings and tunics she chose to wear, and it graciously allowed him to admire parts of her body that had not been revealed to him before. And Valar, what a body it was! Her slender neck and the maidenly curve of her shoulders pleased him greatly, and the thin material of her garment did little to conceal the shape of her breasts. They were neither large nor small, perfect for her physique. Her hair was unbraided, and it spilled down her back freely, guiding his gaze to the swell of her buttocks.

Haldir grimaced as he came to the realization that in spite of his recent hour of pleasure with Luniel, the mere sight of Filanna in that gown had caused him to become aroused again. He had to stop this train of thought at once, so he forced himself to look at her face and said calmly, although the amusement was there for her to hear, "Lovely nightdress."

Startled, she wheeled around, a soft gasp of shock and dismay escaping her when she recognized him. Her hand flew to the latch of the door, instinctively reaching for the only escape available, but for some reason she seemed reluctant to go back inside. After a moment's hesitation, she crossed her arms in front of her chest instead, as a belated protection against his prying eyes.

"You again!" she said with unconcealed displeasure. Her pretty lips had thinned to an offended line, but he could see the panic in her eyes and felt a little pang of pity for her. But he would not turn around and walk away, not yet; the possibilities this offered were far too tempting.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded. "Are you spying on me, Marchwarden?"

He lifted his chin. "I have better things to do with my time, princess. I was merely walking past on my way home."

"Well, keep walking then." She gave him a dismissive one-handed wave, suddenly looking every inch the princess that she was. "There is nothing to see here."

"Oh, but I disagree," he said with a slow smile. "I find the view here most pleasing."

Panic flared again in her eyes, and he could see her wondering frantically how much he had already seen. The white of her nightgown made the fiery red of her cheeks seem even brighter.

"Y-you cannot look at me like that!" she said, trying to adopt a commanding tone but failing miserably.

"No? What then should I have done?"

"Averted your eyes, of course!" She stared at him with a mixture of stupefaction and annoyance, as if she couldn't believe he was even asking that question.

He chuckled. "You know even less about males than I thought, Filanna. But your naivety becomes you, I must say."

Her eyes widened. "Orophin would have done it."

Haldir found he did not like that comment; did not like it because it confirmed his suspicion that Filanna was comparing him to Orophin, whom she already seemed to idolize quite a bit, and that the comparison didn't flatter him at all. Even though Orophin really wasn't guilty of anything, Haldir couldn't help feeling annoyed with his youngest brother at that moment.

"He might have, eventually," he replied, "but not right away. Orophin is a male too, Filanna, in case you hadn't noticed."

"I have noticed," she said tartly. "But Orophin is a gentleman."

Ah, there it was; a little sting from those thorns. Haldir felt irritation rising within, but chose not to dignify her thinly veiled insult with a response.

"Believe whatever you want," he said with a shrug. "But if I may ask, why are you outside standing on display if you do not want to be seen by wicked voyeurs like myself?"

"I am not standing on display!" she said defiantly. "I was only... I was only, uh..." Her voice trailed off.

"Yes, what?"

"Nothing," she mumbled.

"Nothing? So you are standing here in your sleeping gown for no reason in particular?" He approached her slowly. "I find that hard to believe, my princess. The night is quite cool and you should not be outside in this state of dress."

"I am fine," she said, but he saw goose bumps popping out all over her arms when a breeze came sweeping through the branches. "And I am not your princess, Marchwarden."

"Indeed, not mine in any respect," he admitted. "But I insist that you go back inside, Filanna. Other ellyn might walk past and see you like this. Do you wish that?"

"No," she said softly, avoiding his gaze. But she seemed no more inclined to go inside than she had before.

"Well then, what is it that keeps you here against your will?" He made sure not to stand too close to her, because he knew it would add to her consternation, but even across that distance he could smell the fresh scent of jasmine on her. Her hair was damp, suggesting that she too had bathed tonight, and he noticed that the shorter strands on her forehead and on either side of her face and neck curled ever so slightly.

"Well, if you really must know," she said peevishly, "there is a crane fly inside, and I am terrified of those things." She looked up at him with an expression that said, are you happy now?

Haldir felt a smile tug hard at his lips and had to make an effort to suppress it. Who would have guessed? The tough-as-nails archer princess was afraid of something, after all. "And standing outside in your nightgown is going to help... how?" he inquired.

She shrugged impatiently. "I don't know! I was still figuring that out when you scared the life out of me."

Haldir coughed discreetly to disguise the chuckle rising from his chest. He couldn't help it, but Filanna was rather sweet and endearing in her defiance, and it made him want to lean down and kiss away those angry lines by her mouth. But he was certain that if he tried that, he would receive a ringing slap before he could actually start to enjoy it. So instead, he put his hand on the latch and said, "Well, shall we solve this quickly and painlessly? I will get rid of it for you, so that you can sleep in peace tonight."

"No!" she said quickly, staying his hand with her own. "I do not need your help!"

By Varda, what a stubborn elleth she was. "Will you do it yourself, then? Or ask Orophin for help, perhaps? But surely you wouldn't walk all the way to his talan dressed like this."

"I don't even know where he lives," she said grudgingly.

"That complicates things, indeed. Well, then you may do the honours." Haldir pushed the door open and stood back to see what she would do. Filanna threw a furtive glance into the room, then looked down at her feet. She did not move from her spot.

Haldir smirked. "Correct me if I am wrong, but does this mean that you would rather stay outside with me than be in one room with an insect? How very encouraging, princess. My heart is warmed by it."

She glared at him, but said nothing. Haldir decided to interpret her silence as reluctant permission, which was all he needed.

"Well, where is this troublesome insect?" he asked, stepping across the threshold.

She made no move to follow him. "It isn't exactly proper what you are doing," she said, but she was not really protesting, merely sputtering a little. "My bedroom is private."

"Filanna, you are standing before me in your nightgown. There is nothing proper about that either. Let's just accept it and move on." He winked and took her hand. "Don't be embarrassed. Come."

"What are you doing?" She frowned and tried to pull her hand out of his. "I am not going inside with you."

"Oh yes you are, princess. I cannot leave you here outside in the cold, for everyone to see. I could not bear the thought." He started to pull her inside, smiling wickedly. "Do not be afraid. You are quite safe with me, I assure you."

"No," she protested, putting up a struggle. "Don't make me go inside while that thing is still in there!"

"Come, Filanna," he urged gently, "what is the worst that can happen? Crane flies are completely harmless; they don't even sting."

"I know that," she said, still resisting as he led her to the middle of the room. "But they get on my nerves anyway."

"Why?" Haldir looked around, searching the walls, his eyes sliding over her scarce personal possessions as well. He saw some clothes, her archery gear and a book on her nightstand, and not much else.

"I don't know." She stood beside him, her head moving with little jerks as she glanced nervously left and right. "I hate the way they flutter and the sound of their wings hitting the ceiling. And those long, thin legs." She shivered. "Just the thought of them gives me an itch."

Smiling, Haldir stealthily lifted his hand and lightly brushed the backs of his fingers between her bare shoulder blades. "Like this?"

She practically jumped out of her skin, giving a shrill near-scream of panic as she leapt away from him, flapping her hands hysterically to chase away an insect that wasn't there. It took her a moment to recover from the fright and realize what was really going on, and when she did, she glared at him with eyes that spat fire. "That was low!"

"Yes, I admit it was," he said with a chuckle, "and I do humbly ask your forgiveness." When Filanna continued to glare, he raised his hands and offered her his most apologetic smile. "Don't strangle me just yet. I can see that you are sorely tempted, but remember, I am a fearless insect slayer on a quest to rescue a damsel."

Her expression softened and changed into one of uncertainty. "You are not going to kill it, are you?"

"No, I am going to catch it and set it free, of course." He continued his inspection of the talan's interior, and the crane fly – apparently a creature with a sense of drama – chose that exact moment to come flitting down from its shadowy hiding place somewhere near the ceiling. Filanna gave another squeak of fear, reflexively grabbing Haldir's arm with both hands and moving behind him, as if to use his body as a shield. Haldir watched the insect flutter to the other side of the room and land on the wall right above her nightstand.

"Go on then," she whispered, still clutching hard at his arm. "Make it go away, please!"

"I would, princess, but I will have need of both my arms," Haldir said, glancing at her over his shoulder.

She quickly let go of him, as if she hadn't even realized what she was doing. Without looking back at her, he crossed the talan floor to where the crane fly was sitting on the wall, its six long legs spread out comfortably. He found it an intriguing and rather elegant creature and wondered how Filanna could think it so frightening, but he didn't mind dealing with it for her. He was just surprised that Thranduil's stalwart youngest could be so terrified of a mere insect.

The crane fly sat perfectly still as Haldir stretched out his hand in one smooth motion and placed it carefully over the insect with spread fingers, effectively trapping it. He then maneuvered his other hand underneath it and turned around to face Filanna, who was standing on the same spot and looking at him warily. The crane fly flitted between his cupped hands, desperate to escape from its confinement.

"Don't come near me with that," she warned him.

"Why are you so afraid of this?" he asked. "It is a harmless little thing, and all it wants is to get out of here."

"Then what are you waiting for?" she replied tartly.

Smiling, Haldir walked to the window, leaned out of it and let the crane fly escape. Unharmed and happy to be free again, it flew away into the night. Haldir drew the curtains closed and turned to face Filanna, showing her his empty hands.

"The beast is gone," he said. "You are safe, milady."

She sighed. "Thank you."

"And what does the lady's rescuer get for his brave deed?" he asked, closing the distance between them.

With the insect gone, his nearness seemed to discomfit her anew, as if she suddenly remembered that they were actually alone, at night, in her bedchamber- and that she was dressed in naught but a thin, rather revealing nightgown. Her arms came up again to shield her bosom. He almost smiled. Did she truly not realize that she might as well stop bothering, that he had already looked his fill?

"You get my gratitude," she said softly. "Is that not enough?"

"Hardly." He pointed at his cheek suggestively, striking a playful tone. "Haldir was hoping for a kiss."

She blushed hard and was silent for a moment, as if she was considering her answer. "If I give you what you want this time, will you then go and leave me alone?" she asked eventually, keeping her eyes fixed on the floor.

"Aye, I will."

For tonight, he added in thought.

Shifting on her feet, she nodded in half-hearted agreement. He leaned down and was not really surprised when he received a hasty, feather-light brush of lips upon his cheek. She drew back just as hurriedly, still refusing to look at him as she stood before him awkwardly, her arms stiffly crossed in front of her chest. Again he smelled the scent of jasmine blossoms that lingered on her skin and he had to fight back the urge to take her by the waist, pull her against him and kiss her like she had never been kissed before. His hands simply itched at the thought, but he kept them behind his back as he bowed slightly and wished her a good night for the second time that day.

"Haldir?" she said hesitantly as he was on his way out the door.

He turned around to face her once more. "Yes?"

She plucked at the silky fabric of her nightdress. "You will not... tell... anyone about this, will you?"

Haldir smiled and brought his hand to his heart. "Have no fear, princess; not a living soul will hear about what transpired here tonight." He winked at her. "It will be our little secret."

Haldir left Filanna's talan in high spirits a moment later, grinning all the way home. If there was anything tempering his cheerful mood, it was the somewhat troubling realization that sex with Luniel hadn't left him half as euphoric as Filanna's chaste little kiss just had.

xxx

gwanur = brother (S)

A/N: For those who don't know, a crane fly is a long-legged slender fly of the family Tipulidae, sometimes lovingly called 'daddy longlegs'. It looks like a large mosquito but does not bite. I realize it is a rather silly thing for an elf to be afraid of, but if you enjoyed reading this scene half as much as I enjoyed writing it, we're golden. :)