Hi guys! How long has it been? Ages, I think. Alas, my life has been filled with job hunting, work, and getting into nursing school. Bah! The boring stuff. Now, I finally get to do the fun stuff I've wanted to do for a while! Spare time at last to nerd out! YES!

I apologize for my long, long absence. I am happy to return to fanfiction, at least for a while. :) I will continue to update when I gain spare time, which will hopefully from now on be more often. I have many plans for my stories, including a revamp of my other LoTR story. Plans I hope to accomplish now.

But before I continue to blabber on, I had best leave you to reading, as those who've patiently waited for me to upload justly deserve it.

As always, thank you very much for your reviews as well as your interest in this story. Without you guys, I would be very discouraged from writing this ... curious ... tale. Enjoy! ~

And by the way, you may notice that I've added a cover for the story. See what the ever-so-lovely Fleur looks like! So pretty ... I wish I had her hair! I do no own the picture, ownership applies to the owner. :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings! I do, however, own my butt, which has currently fallen asleep in the chair. Perhaps I should get up instead of lazing about ...

Haldir sighed as he rose from his bed, yawning sleepily. Last night was the first time he hadn't slept next to Fleur in what seemed like ages, but was actually a little under a week. He slapped himself lightly across the face, trying to wake himself up. For some reason had hadn't gotten a very good night's sleep, and he was convinced that it was defiantly not because he didn't have the elleth beside him. It was simply because he had been up for quite a generous portion of the night teaching said elleth.

He dressed quickly and went to Fleur's room, knocking softly upon the door. There was no answer. "Fleur?"

No response. Haldir muttered something about lazy elleths and went to open the door, ready to drag her out of bed. Suddenly, it was thrown open to reveal a red faced Fleur, looking very panicked. She breathed in quick, short breathes.

"H-handmaidens!" was all she said.

Acting quickly, Haldir ushered her back into the room and closed the door behind them with his foot. He whirled her around so that he was looking at her back to untie the unbelievably tight corset, but found the knot nearly impossible to untie. At a loss, and not wanting Fleur to die by the hand of a corset on his watch, he simply ripped the damned thing off. Fleur instantly gasped for breath and made no move to catch the corset, instead she placed a hand on her chest. The rest of her topless beauty was on display for him to see. Haldir cleared his throat awkwardly and turned around. He really didn't want a repeat performance of the other morning.

"T-thank you!" she gasped, now taking deep breaths to calm herself.

Haldir went to her bed and grabbed a sheet. He handed it too her without managing to look at her. She thanked him again and covered herself. "It was nothing. Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Fleur wheezed, "But they didn't let me keep the clothes I had. Something about them being caked in mud. I barely had time to protect my precious boots before they got to those as well."

Haldir raised an eyebrow, "So you're without anything else to wear."

Fleur nodded and pursed her lips, "Well, aside from this dress ... But ... Well, the handmaidens would have a fit if they saw this." Fleur looked at herself, "It's rather heavy and uncomfortable. I'd rather go naked."

"You could walk around in the sheet." he said.

"Yes, and pray that it wouldn't rain, considering the fact that this sheet is white."

Haldir had never once in his life thought he would pray for rain as hard as he was now. "I'll fetch you something from the market."

Fleur's eyes widened, "The almighty Marchwarden shopping in the market for dresses?! Why, I never thought I'd see the day!"

"And you won't, because you'll be up here, waiting."

She pretended not to hear him, "It appears that I have pussywhipped you, darling."

"Pussywhipped?" Haldir muttered, "Whatever will you think up next?"

"Haldir! This is no time for needless chatter! To the market! Chop chop!" Fleur clapped her hands to emphasize her point.

"... perhaps I shall leave you to the handmaidens-"

Her eyes widened, and she threw herself to her knees in front of him, "Please, almighty Marchwarden, please! Do not leave me to suffer the insane wrath of the handmaidens! They will pull my hair out by the roots and scrub the skin off of my feet for all eternity!"

Haldir chuckled at the false drama, though he was unable to get past the fact that Fleur was being playful in nothing but a sheet. "Oh, but why not? It seems so very tempting."

"Please Marchwarden! I will do anything!" she giggled.

He leaned down and grabbed her chin gently, smirking at her, "Anything?" He purred, a flirty smile on his face.

She winked, a smirk of her own adorning her face. Feeling brave, she leaned up to where her mouth was level with his pointed ear. "Anything you want, anywhere you want it." She whispered, then fell onto her side in a fit of giggles.

Haldir chuckled, bid her to wait in her room for him, then went to the market to find something for her to wear. Fleur stared at the door, before raising up to her feet. She squealed, giggling as she raced to her bed and flopped down upon it. She had just flirted with Haldir, and he had flirted back. She grabbed a pillow and hugged it to her body, kicking her feet like a giddy child.

When Haldir returned, he found Fleur on her bed, asleep. He shook her awake gently. She rubbed her eyes blinking the sleep from them before smiling up at him, "Hi!" she greeted sleepily.

Haldir smirked and handed her the parcel he was carrying. "Here. I figured you would like these better than a dress."

Fleur blinked in confusion before reaching out to grab the package. Throwing Haldir a questioning look, she began to open the package carefully. After discovering that this was taking a considerable chunk of time, she finally ripped it open like a five year old opening a present on his birthday. Haldir had to try hard not to show his amusement.

Fleur pulled out the contents of the package and grinned happily, overjoyed. In the package was a simple black tunic, and a simple pair of black leggings. They looked fashionable, they looked simple, they looked comfortable. Fleur hopped to her feet.

"Turn around!" she said gleefully, "I'm gonna change!"

Haldir turned obediently and waited until he could no longer hear the rustling of clothing. "Done?"

"Done. How do I look?"

Haldir turned and smirked as he saw her. "You look great."

The clothing fit perfectly, as he thought it would. He had wisely chosen a tunic that was a little bigger, just in case. As for leggings, he figured if he bought a pair that were too large, he could simply secure them in place with a belt. Haldir was quite glad to learn that it wasn't needed.

"Thank you, Haldir!" she said, throwing her arms around his neck.

"You are welcome, of course."

Fleur pulled back and smiled at him, "I owe you. So seriously, anything I can help with, though I seriously doubt I can help with much, ask."

Haldir smiled playfully, "You're helpful. You raise morale. Quite amusing, if I may say so myself." he replied. "Are you ready to go?"

Fleur slipped quickly into her boots and laced them up, "Ready to roll." she said, slipping her bag over her shoulder, "Where are Orophin and Rumil?"

"Waiting for us, along with Lord Elrond and Lady Arwen, most likely."

Fleur's eyes widened, "Oh my- we're keeping them waiting?! Let's go!"

She rushed out the door, and Haldir followed after her, amused.

Haldir led Fleur by the arm to the stables, where she smiled as Rumil and Orophin waved at them. She waved back, blushing when she also saw Arwen and Elrond standing there as well. She smiled sheepishly, and the two laughed.

"Good morning, Fleur, Machwarden. Did you sleep well?"

"I slept great." Fleur said, smiling, "Thank you so much for letting us stay with you."

"It was no trouble." Elrond said, waving a hand. "But are you sure you are ready to head out on the road? It is rather soon."

Haldir looked to Fleur, who looked determined and nodded, "Yes." he said, meeting Elrond's eyes. "We are ready. We must get to Mirkwood as quickly as possible."

"I thought that you would say that. They expect you in Mirkwood, and await your arrival. Go carefully, be safe. The roads ahead are full of danger." Elrond warned, his eyes serious. "But I do not have to tell you this, Marchwarden, you know the road well. Good luck!"

Haldir bowed, his fist to his heart, "Thank you, Lord Elrond."

Fleur copied his gesture, "Thank you."

"Oh! One last question."

"Yes?" Haldir said.

"Do you require another horse? We would be glad to provide you with one."

Fleur looked up at Haldir, who seemed to contemplate the question for a short time, then he shook his head. "No, I don't think that it is necessary. My stallion can carry both Fleur and I. He is strong."

"Like his master." Fleur said, then blushed as the words escaped her mouth.

Elrond nodded, "Indeed." he smiled, "Be safe, farewell!"

Arwen stepped up and embraced Fleur, who hugged her back, "Ride safe, watch your back." she leaned close and whispered in Fleur's ear, "And have fun with Haldir."

Fleur blushed bright red, stuttered her goodbyes to Arwen, and quickly made her way to Haldir. He helped her onto his horse and climbed on carefully. "May Valor protect you, Fleur." Arwen said, waving elegantly.

Fleur waved back, though not as gracefully as Arwen and smiled, "Bye!" she shouted.

And then, they were off.

"Well that was a nice break. So did you two have fun last night, eh?" Rumil hinted, grinning and winking at Haldir.

Haldir shot him a warning glare while Fleur turned bright red. She turned her body and hid her face in Haldir's chest, making him smirk slightly. "Aww, Fleur. I'm sorry! I didn't mean to embarrass you." Rumil apologized, trying to get back into the elleth's good graces.

Fleur's response was muffled, until she pulled away from Haldir's chest and looked at him. She then proceeded to act her age and spat her tongue out at him. Rumil laughed at the silly face she made. "Fleur ..." Haldir scolded, though he didn't scold too harshly, considering he was currently attempting to hide a small grin of his own.

Fleur giggled and apologized. Haldir flipped her around on the saddle so that she faced the road ahead of them. "Are we-"

Haldir stopped her before she could go any farther. "If you are even considering asking if we have arrived at our destination, I will actually tie you up and leave you for dead."

Fleur puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms. "Well soooooorry."

Haldir smiled and shook his head. "Elvish word for horse, go."

Fleur smiled at the challenge.

"Mother?" Orophin said.

"Naneth." Fleur replied.

"Good. Father?" Rumil asked.

"Ada."

"Well done." Orophin praised.

"Stop, we camp here."

"I don't know that one. Sorry." Fleur said, pursing her lips as she craned her head to look up at Haldir.

Haldir sighed. "No, we're camping here."

Fleur frowned and lightly kicked at Haldir's shins with her heels. "Can't you take a joke?"

Haldir swung easily from the horse and helped Fleur down, whom slid down without much trouble. She was getting used to riding. Slowly, but surely. "Ah, so we camp here. In the mountains. Again. How much trouble can I stir up this time?" Fleur asked herself.

"None, hopefully. Though you are extremely good at putting yourself in danger." Haldir teased. Fleur punched him on the shoulder. She did no damage.

Orophin lit a fire and Rumil pulled out their camping supplies. Dinner consisted of sandwiches. Entertainment consisted of quizzing Fleur in Elvish, and Haldir was pleased to see that his little student was a fast learner. Though she didn't get the answers perfect every time, she tried her hardest, and with a few hints usually came to the correct answer.

"So Fleur, what does your name mean?" Rumil asked, poking at the fire with a stick.

"My name? No idea. When grandma found me, I was wearing a necklace with a pendant in the shape of a flower. On the back, it said 'Fleur', and we kind of assumed that it was my name." Fleur said, shrugging as she laid her head on Haldir's thigh. To her surprise, he allowed it, and even started to play with her hair a little, allowing it to slip through his fingers. "So, where do we go from here?" She asked, watching his fingers remove a few random tangles in her hair with ease.

"Our first objective is to get out of these mountains. From then on we head east towards the Great river."

"Are we gonna swim?" asked Fleur.

"Obviously, we will first see if there is a bridge. If there is not, then yes, we may end up swimming. I know where there is a shallower spot with very little current that we may cross at." Haldir said. "Why? Can you not swim?"

"I haven't swam in a while. But I can swim. I used to swim in the pond near grandma's house. Not that it was anything like a river is probably gonna be ..." Fleur mumbled as Haldir's fingers began to lightly massage her scalp, relaxing her to the point where her eyelids were starting to become heavy..

"I shall help you keep your head above water."

Fleur smiled and looked at him. "What ever would I do without you?" She asked sleepily before closing her eyes and starting to doze.

Haldir smiled and continued his ministrations with Fleur's hair, that is, until he looked up to see the amused smirks of his brothers. He narrowed his eyes at them suspiciously. "What?"

The two exchanged glances. "You know 'what', Haldir." Rumil said with a cheshire grin.

"No, I do not. Enlighten me."

"You like Fleur." Rumil enlightened.

"Of course. She has become tolerable."

"No, you like, like Fleur."

"Act your age, Rumil." Haldir scolded, but didn't deny anything.

Rumil, of course, jumped on it. "Ah ha! You do like Fleur!"

"Do not."

"Do too."

"Do not."

"Will the two of you stop? You're both acting like children. That is very unlike you Haldir ... Perhaps you do have a thing for our lovely lady." Orophin scolded, grinning as well.

"I do not have a thing for-"

"Do too!"

"Rumil, can it!" Haldir hissed.

"All of your can it! I'm tryin to sleep!" Fleur muttered, rolling onto her side after lightly punching Haldir in the stomach.

All three brothers froze, their eyes wide. "Is-is she awake?" Whispered Orophin.

"How much of that did she hear if she was?" Asked Rumil, looking really quite nervous.

Haldir glared at his youngest brother, reaching over to grab his pillow and carefully tucking it underneath Fleur's head. He rose to his feet. "Run." He kindly suggested, sending Rumil running for the hills. "Keep an eye on Fleur." Haldir told Orophin, before striding after Rumil.

Orophin grinned as he watched his two brothers. Haldir was acting different, but in a good way. Lately, before they had met Fleur, it seemed as though he had slowly been slipping into a depression of sorts. With Fleur here, it seemed to perk him up, and as if her childish behavior was contagious, it turned three very skilled warriors into playful puppies. He almost laughed at the irony, then winced as he heard his little brother scream, before laughing.

Looking over at Fleur, who was sound asleep he grinned to himself. Definitely contagious.

So there it is! Isn't brother banter fun!~ I certainly hope that you enjoyed it! :) And may I see you all soon! Cheers~!

With love, Kitty~