Dear fellow readers,

I have realised that I've not updated in a long time…I'm so sorry. I got caught up at work and was a little out of inspiration. But I think I've figured it out now.

Hope you enjoy.

Cath

Annya returned to Edoras with Aragorn and Legolas with such haste it was almost unbelievable.

The news of Saruman's death had rejoiced the Riddermark so much, that a feast was organised for that same night; to honor all the lives that were lost at the battle of Helm's deep. But, deep down, Annya only wanted to see Haldir. She wanted to know if he was all right. She needed to know.

Gamling, King Théoden's aid, showed her to the healing quarters. It didn't take her long to see Haldir up standing near the window. She gathered her courage and walked to him

" Hello Haldir" she said to him."You seem to be feeling all right now?" she asked

"Yes, thanks to Lady Éowyn…and to you of course." He said. "Thank you for not listening to me back at the keep".

"I simply could not let you die" she said.

But then they were interrupted by a palace guard.

"My lady Annya." He said, "Lady Éowyn has requested your presence as soon as you arrived."

Annya rolled her eyes, "Alright thank you" she said

Annya and Haldir looked at each other for a moment before Annya slipped away to fin Éowyn.

XXXXX

"Since there is much more men than women living here at the Golden Hall, you can share my quarters if you like." Said Éowyn, leading her inside the hall.

"Thank you." Responded Annya

"Now for tonight's feast you will be wearing…" she started to say

"Éowyn I do not have anything else to wear. This will have to do." Said Annya, interrupting Éowyn

"Nonsense. Here let me lend you something" she said looking through her closet.

"No! No, I couldn't… I" tried Annya. But it was no use. Éowyn was determined to give something decent to wear to her friend.

"Yes you will. You came and saved us at Helm's deep remember. The least I can do is lend you something decent to wear to the feast. Besides, think of Haldir?" She said with a smile.

Éowyn's last comment surprised Annya. She never had talked about Haldir to anyone.

"What about Haldir?" she answered shyly, trying to avoid Éowyn's gaze.

"Oh Annya. Do not try to make me believe that there nothing between the two of you"

"What makes you think that?"

Éowyn could see that this was a sensible subject. Yet, she remembered her friend's face when Haldir was wounded. There was something there…there was no doubt about it. And on both sides as well.

"Just by the way he looks at you. I would die to have someone look at me like that. He is always looking for you. Even when he was wounded…You are who he wanted. He asked for you". She said.

Annya had a hard time following her friend. Was it so obvious? Did everyone know about this? She and Haldir had never even talked possibilities together. Time always seemed to escape them.

Annya sat down on the hedge of the bed and said, "There was something, I believe, between us. But it was a long time ago. Well…not so long if you think about it. But I do not know where we stand now."

"But he came to Helm's deep. Surely this means something."

"Perhaps." She said looking at her friend, who was holding different gowns.

Annya smiled, "All right the green one is nice" she admitted.

Éowyn almost jumped in happiness. "It is yours then" she said giving to Annya the dark green gown. Annya smiled at her friend and let her mind drift to memories of the last time she actually wore a gown.

It was in Lorien. Her beautiful Lorien. That time she had travelled to Lorien because her uncle wanted to "present" her to Elvish society. She was Lord Celeborn's niece after all.

Annya smiled to herself.

What she didn't know was that Haldir, wherever he was in Edoras, was remembering that same night.

flashback

It was the famous Lorien Spring festival. When Haldir arrived, he looked around for Annya. He barely had to chance to speak to her at her arrival for her Uncle, Lord Celeborn, was very eager to see her. She was already standing with other people. Mostly others elves, Haldir didn't want to admit it but he hated to see her around other male elves.

He saw her smile at him and leave her group. She was coming towards him. She was wearing a white gown that fitted perfectly her slender yet muscled body. So different from the usual attire of tunics and leggings…He liked it. He liked it a lot.

"Good Evening Annya"

"Good evening to you Haldir"

"You look wonderful"

"Thank you" she said shyly. Haldir took that has a sign that she was having a hard time.

Haldir asked her to dance and she simply didn't manage to refuse. Annya shivered when Haldir's hand grabbed her waist, trying her hardest not to show her discomfort.

Dancing wasn't Annya strongest domain. She only knew how to dance because he father insisted that she learn it, saying a girl could not simply be a warrior…That she needed to be a Lady as well.

Turns out she was better at it than she though. Haldir was good at this too, probably used to parties like that…more than her that was for sure.

Haldir looked so handsome in his formal attire. She could feel everybody's gaze upon them, like everybody was watching only them. It scared her at first. She knew Haldir was one of the most popular elves in Lorien; and yet he was dancing with her. She thought it was because she was Celeborn's niece.

She was wrong because she didn't dance with anyone else that night.

Later, he offered to walk with her back to the talan she shared with her father. They stood for several minutes at the door.

"I had a good time tonight. I'm glad I came." She said.

"So am I."

Then, Haldir lowered his head towards her. Annya's mind was racing at the thought of what he was about to do until…

He kissed her lightly on the cheek, "Good Night" he whispered

The kiss had surprised Annya, "Good night," she whispered back.

She got inside, closing the door behind her. She couldn't stop smiling.

Haldir stood for an instant on the other side of the door thinking about what he had done. It was then that it hit him. How could he ever face Lord Celeborn or worst, Orin, one of his best friends now? How could he tell him that he was feeling much more than friendship towards his precious daughter?

End of flashback

The great hall of Meduseld was filled with people. The first person Annya came upon was Gimli.

"My Lady, you look ravishing" he said.

"Thank you Gimli." She answered back.

On the other side of the hall, Haldir was standing next to Legolas. He didn't see Annya. Yet.

It was Legolas who saw her first. He nudged his friend on his right side and gestured towards Annya.

Haldir breath almost caught in his throat. She was wearing a dark green gown and her hair was loose. He hadn't seen her like this in a long time. She looked like an angel.

XXXXX

Alcohol usually didn't affect elves. For an elf to be drunk, it had to be elvish wines that were naturally stronger or a great deal of human made wine. Haldir had rarely been affected by human wine…But tonight was different.

Of course, he didn't join in on the stupid game Éomer and Gimli had convince Legolas to take part to and yet he had drunk more than he thought he did. At one point he got tired to watching everyone drink and saw, in the corner of his eye, Annya, probably escaping the same crowd he was trying to just now. He followed her outside.

XXXXX

Annya stood against the bannister outside of the great hall. It was getting really crowded inside. The freshness of the night's air felt good to Annya. She didn't hear Haldir coming to join her.

"You look wonderful tonight" she heard him say.

" Thank you." She said. " But I deserve no credit; it is all Éowyn's doing".

Haldir couldn't take his eyes away from her, his mind racing with improper thoughts

Damn man-made wine, he thought

"What? Why do you keep staring at me like that?"

"Nothing…Just memories. Memories of you and me" Haldir said.

Almost out of reflex he had moved towards her, closing the gap between them.

"Annya," he whispered, laying his forehead against hers. "Annya there is so many things I need…things I want to tell you. And I"

"I know," she whispered back

He slowly grabbed her waist and pulled her against him and kissed her. It was hard and fast at first, but soon changed into passion.

He had taken her by surprise, that he was certain of, but he also felt her kissing him back.

Annya couldn't deny that she actually enjoyed this kiss. It had been so long. But as he kissed her, just like in the past, painful memories of Helm's deep came back. The blood on her hands has she carried him back to the Keep…and worst, him telling her to save herself…

They were at war. A war that could kill one of them at any moment.

Annya pulled away quickly.

She looked at him, her eyes shinning with tears. "I'm sorry"

And she left.

XXXXX

Annya tried to forget helm's deep but she couldn't.

"Haldir?"

Her heart was racing as she tried to see where he was hit. She was relieved to see him alive…although he was losing a lot of blood.

"Go, they are calling you," he mumbled. They could still hear Aragorn shouting.

"No! I'm not leaving without you. Come!" She yelled trying to pull him back up

Haldir wasn't moving…"Come, they're pulling us back to the keep… I am not leaving you here to die!"

Annya put her swords away, passed Haldir's good arm around her shoulders. They walked slowly on the wall. Haldir was losing consciousness slowly.

"Stay Awake Haldir…"she said in elvish this time

There she was, standing in the middle of nowhere fighting with herself to try to understand this turmoil she'd been feeling for the past month. She didn't understand it…or at least that's what she thought.

Aragorn came around to where she was standing. He walked to his friend immediately.

"Annya?"

"It's nothing I'm all right I…"

"I think I know what this is about." He said

"I hope not. I'm such a coward" said Annya moving away.

Aragorn took Annya in his arms. He knew all too well what she was going through. She did not need tell him it was about Haldir, because he already knew of his friend's feelings for her and was quite sure Annya felt the same way…Or she wouldn't be so sad now.

But Annya had inherited her father's stubbornness, but also his pride. Annya would never admit she actually needed someone other than herself, even if deep down she wanted to.

"You know, I worry about her all the time." He said, referring to Arwen. "I even told her to take the ship the last time I saw her at Rivendell. But has much as my head is telling me to let her go my heart doesn't want to. And I've learned to trust those feelings. You must do the same. Just follow your heart it's…"

"It is in there that you'll know what's right." Said Annya, finishing off her father's favorite saying.

"So please, if you love him, and I think you do, don't lose him in fear a bloody war. Haldir knows what he is into has much as you. And you weren't the only one was afraid at Helm's deep. We are not meant to spend are lives alone. It's all right to want to share it with someone"

"But I…"she didn't finish

"I don't know." she said firmly

"Yes you do" Aragorn answered.

Annya let out a heavy sigh and said, "What a pair we make…Always worrying about elves." she said with a smile.

Aragorn laughed, but suddenly changed at the sound of a cry for help.

"Did you hear this?" he asked

Annya nodded and started to walk behind him. They heard it again.

"Help. Help Gandalf" the voice said. It came from inside.

Annya and Aragorn ran, got into the room where the sound was coming from and saw Pippin, holding the flaming Palantir found in Isengard.