A/N: Sorry about the wait, I've been working on the overall plot of this story still, but I think I know how it's all going to work out. This chapter is short I know, but I'm working on more now.

Warning! This chapter contains some content that may make some readers uncomfortable.

Enjoy!

Chapter 10

After Ron defeated Calanon, Vanya and Maidhion in Wizard's Chess, he decided he needed to go for a walk. He wanted to spend some time alone, to mull over everything he had heard since he arrived in Rivendell. He just felt out of his depth, out of his world and he wanted to try and absorb everything in peace for a while. He wasn't even sure if he felt overwhelmed, or just cornered. All he knew was he needed to be alone for a while. So he walked aimlessly for as long as he could, and then looked around. Some of the trees around him had low enough branches that he could reach and he decided that he would take a leaf out of the elves book, no pun intended. The elves had told him that many of them would find solace among nature, specially Legolas and his kin, who were wood elves.

So he picked a sturdy tree and jumped up to grab the lowest branch. With a grunt he hauled himself upward, and started to climb. He climbed up and up until he was a quarter of the way up this giant tree and felt surrounded by the leaves and protected by them. He sighed and closed his eyes, relaxing and willing his mind to go blank. He wanted to relax and let his mind clear until the dinner was ready.

He wasn't sure how long he had been resting there when he heard a soft voice speaking in elvish. After a moment his eyes popped open as he realised that the voice was Lothiriel's voice. He inwardly groaned, he was so sick of Lothiriel. Then another voice filtered up, one that Ron was fairly sure belonged to Haldir. He grimaced, praying that the two weren't about to have a tender moment that would trap him up in the tree. If he so much as moved, the two would hear him and he did not want to be caught by Lothiriel.

A movement below made him glance down. He could just about make out Haldir and Lothiriel right below him. Something seemed strange about it and he leaned forward slightly, frowning. Maybe he wasn't seeing things right, but it looked like Haldir was holding Lothiriel against the tree by the neck. He was whispering to her, but he did not sound tender, rather he spoke with a calm, almost cold tone. Ron stretched his neck and saw that he wasn't seeing things; Haldir was holding Lothiriel by the throat against the tree, looming over her. He looked almost threatening, but Lothiriel was not struggling against him. In fact she seemed calm and relaxed.

Ron's broken elvish allowed him to get a few words from what Haldir was saying, but he did not think he was understanding right.

"…need me… to take… free you… my control…"

"Mae…" sighed Lothiriel, "Yes…"

"…belong…"

Ron was certain he really should not be privy to this conversation. He became absolutely certain when Lothiriel reached up and undid the ties of her dress at the front, pulling it apart. Ron sat up straight, holding his breath as he waited to be caught. But nothing happened. After a few minutes, where there was no sound at all, he risked looking down again. The two were gone. Ron sighed with relief and decided he had 'meditated' enough. He climbed down the tree and set off for the Homely House.

And walked straight into a clearing where Haldir was standing in front of a kneeling Lothiriel.

'Bullocks!' thought Ron in a panic as the two elves looked at him. Lothiriel paled and gave him a look so full of loathing Ron was surprised he did not burst into flames. Haldir remained utterly calm though. He was standing two feet away from Lothiriel, seeming to have been just watching her kneel.

"I think you have taken a wrong turn adan."

"I… yeah." said Ron unable to look at Lothiriel, who remained kneeling. Haldir gave him a smirk, strode over to Lothiriel, placed his hand on her head and pushed her to look at the ground again, head down. She complied obediently, and her shoulders dropped. Haldir looked up at Ron and fixed him with a cold, steely gaze.

"You should return to the House. It would not do for you to miss a meal. Edain need constant filling and rest. It's a wonder you aren't all fat and soft."

Ron flushed, knew he was being punished for walking in on something private and turned around, walking away. He waited until he was a short distance from the clearing, and then broke into a run. He ran as fast as he could, cold sweat on his back, as panic and fright filled him. He barely noticed that he almost crashed into someone as he entered the house and bounded up the stairs, moving straight for his room and locking the door behind him.

Panting like a dog, he fell back against the door and slid down it. In his mind the scene he had witnessed played out over and over like he was holding a pair of Omnioculars to his gaze. He saw Lothiriel on her knees, eyes shut and a relaxed smile on her face. He saw Haldir standing tall and powerful in front of her, two feet away and standing still, he still projected total control over her. The image was so simple, and on the surface could have been nothing. But there had been a dark, thick air in the clearing and Ron shuddered at the memory.

A knock on his door made him jump.

"Ron? Are you ill?"

Ron grimaced. It was Lord Elrond. Ron did not want to face the esteemed elf. Not when he was so shaken. But he knew better than to lie. Inhaling deeply, Ron got to his feet and opened the door.

"I'm not ill Lord Elrond." he muttered staring at Elrond's shoes.

"Are you sure? You look… most upset."

"I'm fine. I… I just…" Ron sighed and made himself meet Lord Elrond's eyes. The grey eyed elf regarded him for a moment and then he lifted his head and sighed.

"I see." he murmured, "Do you wish to speak about what you saw?"

"I don't know what I saw."

Lord Elrond gave him an understanding smile. "May I come in?"

"Of course." Ron stepped aside to let the Lord in, then shut the door. Lord Elrond sat down on the chair by the desk and watched as Ron moved to his bed and sat down gingerly.

"What exactly did you see?"

"I… I don't really know." Ron admitted, "I saw Lothiriel and Haldir… but I don't really know what they were doing. She was… kneeling in front of him, and he was just watching her."

"I see. And it disturbed you?"

"It just didn't look right! And before that, I saw him holding her against a tree by the neck. But they were kind of talking like they were… dating."

"You mean they spoke like lovers?"

"Yeah."

"Ron, you are very young. May I presume you have little experience with love?"

Ron flushed, but nodded.

"I doubt you ever imagined it would take on that form, did you?"

Ron looked up dubiously, "That didn't look like love to me."

"As I said, it is not a common form."

Ron shook his head. Lord Elrond touched his shoulder reassuringly. "I'm sure it was very distressing for you, but I promise you, no harm will come to her. Haldir is looking after her."

"How could that be looking after someone?"

"Well… have you ever been punished for doing something wrong?"

"Yeah."

"Well, did your parents punish you because it was cruel, or to teach you a lesson?"

"Teach me a lesson I guess."

"Which was to help you be a better person, I'm sure."

"I guess so."

"Well, it's not so different for Lothiriel and Haldir."

"I don't get it! And I don't think I want to get it. I don't want to talk about this anymore." said Ron shaking his head.

"Ron-"

"I want to go home!"

Ron clapped his hands over his mouth as the words burst from him. He threw Elrond a mortified look, but found that Elrond was nodding in understanding.

"I know this has been difficult for you. Our world is not like yours."

"I should be able to handle this!" protested Ron, wiping at his nose. "I've faced worse than this, living in this place, but I don't feel like I can take it."

"Ron, you have faced great dangers –yes, Dumbledore has told me of your deeds since your first year. But those deeds were only for a few hours. You have been here for weeks now. And you have been learning so much, and so much of what you have learnt is so strange. It is only natural that you feel overwhelmed and homesick, especially after seeing something like that."

Ron grimaced, feeling stupid.

"Do not be harsh on your own feelings penneth." said Elrond gently, "You should allow yourself to feel them. You must miss your family and friends greatly."

Ron nodded, feeling his eyes beginning to sting. He rubbed at them, flushing with humiliation. "I just… I wish I hadn't left the way I did. I left in a bad temper and now…"

"Perhaps you could write them a letter?"

"I thought I wasn't allowed to communicate with anyone." Ron looked up at Elrond in confusion. Elrond drew himself up and sighed, irritation flickering in his eyes.

"I'm sure an apologetic letter will be acceptable. I will have it passed on to the Order who will give it to your family. Severus perhaps."

"Snape? He'd jinx himself before doing me a favour."

"Very well," Elrond's lips twitched as if fighting a smile, "I will see if Lupin will oblige."

"Lupin comes here?"

"Yes. But he's not due for several weeks."

"Oh…" Ron rubbed the back of his neck, "Well, is Snape coming sooner?"

"He will be here in three days."

"Oh… guess he can take it if he will."

"I'm sure I can convince him."

"Thank you." Ron gave him a weak smile, "I'm sorry for being so stupid."

Elrond shook his head. "You are not being stupid. I can understand that what you saw was distressing, even if you cannot explain why. And you have been ill and learning so much. We were expecting this, we would have been concerned if you had not become overwhelmed. In fact it's a benefit."

"Yeah, right."

"No, listen to me young one." said Lord Elrond sternly, "When you take your place as a leader, you will have to be able to find moments where you allow yourself to feel overwhelmed and release it, otherwise it may paralyse you at the wrong moment."

"And if it does…?" asked Ron, stomach turning as he looked up at Lord Elrond. Lord Elrond sighed, resting his hand on Ron's shoulder and giving it a squeeze.

"Then someone, maybe one of your soldiers, maybe one of your friends, or your family, or even yourself may die."

Ron felt a cold knife in his gut and the weight of Elrond's words crashed down on his shoulders. His head dropped under the pressure and he began to gasp for air, hot tears on his cheeks.

"I can't do this! I can't! I'm not the one for this."

Lord Elrond's hand rubbed his back and the half-elf said kindly,

"I know this is hard. But I have faith that you are the one to do it."

"Well your faith is misplaced." snapped Ron.

"I don't think it is-"

"No! Please, I don't want this. I can't do it! I just want to go home!"

Reviews are very welcome.

Night's Darkness