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(Chapter Ten)

"This will be your own room, Acadia." Galadriel said as we entered the northern wing of the royal talan. The room itself was very spacious indeed as I found myself in awe at all the beautiful furniture that lay within. There was at least four tall wardrobe closets that I could use for both storage and to hang my clothes in, a white vanity stand with matching stool and mirror that was carved with intricate designs of leaves and flowers, two bookshelves that stood by one of four windows that overlooked the city below as well as the horizon where one can gaze in the morning at the rising of the sun. The wooden floors were covered by handmaid rugs, one of them made out of some sort of animal fur, lay beside a large burning fireplace where two low couches with plenty of pillows and cushion lay. There was also an adjoined bathroom and bathing room, which I was sure I'd end up putting to good use right away. But what got my attention the most as I could only stand with my mouth hitting the floor, was the bed itself.

Never in my whole life, had I seen anything more pleasing, yet comfortable to the eye then the four poster bed that lay in the middle of the room. Light blue covers with matching pillows on top of a double sized mattress, the white sheer drapes pulled back by silver rings with shining emeralds in the shape of leaves. There were two black bed tables with unlit candles sitting within silver bowls and a plush rug lay beneath the bed itself. I went up to the bed while Celeborn and Galadriel watched me by the door. "Is this really going to be my room?" I asked them without looking up.

Galadriel nodded. "Yes, unless you prefer something a little more toned down, we just thought perhaps you would like something that would make you feel more at home. If there is anything else that you would like to add to the room decor, just ask one of my handmaidens and they will help you select what you want from the shops or smithies around the city. We also trade from time to time with the blue mountain dwarfs during the winters, so if I happen to not be busy with my affairs, I'll allow you to come with me to the trading post that is on the edge of our boarders towards the northern hills."

I turned towards them with tears in my eyes. "How can I ever thank you for all the generosity that you and your people have shown me?"

Celeborn chuckled while he rubbed his wife's arm fondly. "Maybe by just being happy." He said with a smile. "It makes our hearts glad to see that you are well and alive after trying to adjust to this world where you believed didn't exist."

"And perhaps over time, Acadia." Galadriel cut in gently. "You would be able to do more than just be happy. Perhaps you were sent to help those who need help from someone other than us."

"You mean like Haldir?" I pointed out while putting my bag on the bed. "I know that this might seems strange that I'm bringing this up now after being showered with kindness and I'm not trying to kill the happy mood or anything." I held my finger up. "But I need to tell you guys that I think he is suffering from sever PSD, its a scientific term that my people use for those who have been in combat for too long and seen all the horrors that war can bring to the mind and emotions."

Celeborn stuck his head out and ordered everyone outside to leave us alone until dinner before quickly shutting the door while casting me a dark glance. "What exactly is PSD mean?"

I took a deep breath. "It means post trauma stress depression. We see it in those who either lash out violently towards the ones they care about or worse, end up committing suicide to help end their suffering. Its common for it to show up in someone such as him since he's been having a hard time controlling his temper around everyone, especially me, but more so since he told me that he finds it hard to sleep at night because of all the nightmares he ends up having."

Galadriel cast her husband a worried look while she took a seat by the fireplace. He and I joined her as she sat there in silence for a long time, reflecting on her inner thoughts while I chewed at my fingernails. Eventually, her head came up with a look of determination shining in her eyes. She reached out for my hand and squeezed it tightly within hers. "If what you say is true about Haldir suffering from this PSD, then what can we do to help him?"

I moved some of my hair out of my eyes and thought for minute. I had taken some psychology classes during both my freshman and junior year that talked a lot about emotional stress in someone dealing with PSD, what the triggers were, what to say or do when one had an episode of it and what other avenues that could be taken to help the person live a normal life as possible.

"Constant communication is the key to what helps the person who is being affected by PSD. In our world, we have people who are professionally trained therapists who deal with the pysyc of the mind. They study various areas of the brain to see what parts are being effected when a person is deal with the trauma. Sometimes we take MRI's which is a special machine that takes heat pictures of the brain while others turn to medicine, which really, is a fifty-fifty if it even works at all. But from what I have found being one who used to deal with depression in my teenage years, talking is like the best medicine that one can have. Yes, there are over avenues that needs to come into play, but with someone like Haldir, keeping everything bottled up is like waiting for a ticking bomb to explode. And eventually, he will explode and end up hurting everyone he cares and loves unintentionally."

"Then we should encourage him to talk with Tuvandiel daily as needed." Celeborn nodded in agreement. "It would do him more good than us getting reports from the guards and his fellow march wardens that he had once again drunk himself under the table and gotten into a fight with the other males."

"And," I cut in quickly. "He needs to be around you guys a lot more. Being by himself constantly only brings on more depression and stress upon his emotional and mental state. Its like feeling you are being boxed in with no where to go while images of death, or anything else that may have occurred in the past come and go. Its been found that those who deal with violence from others on an everyday occurrence, is often the one who will be the violent one to the end. I may haven't seen war up close and personal for myself, but I know it isn't pretty when you are dealing with inner demons that refuse to go away."

"Is there anything that you could do for him as well since we have seen for ourselves that he has some personal feelings towards you?" Galadriel asked me in a hopeful voice. I cringed inwardly at the memory of what happened earlier this evening. My cheeks burned while my brain fried.

"Um, I don't know if I can help." I replied in a tiny voice. "I did offer to spend some time with him if he needed company, but after everything I have said and done, I think it would be best that he should just talk with you or Tuvandiel for the time being to help get himself comfortable about opening up before I even come into play."

"But we think he would have a better chance with you when Tuvandiel is available or is too busy. Haldir is the more quite type and doesn't really want to say anything to anyone if something wrong with him. I have seen it far too many times in the past." Galadriel objected. "I'm still trying to understand the connecting between the two of you since I do sense a bond of friendship between you and him, but what if perhaps you were to encourage it to a higher level at some point?"

I nearly chocked on my own spit at what she was boldly proposing to me. For reals? She wanted me to become his girlfriend? I wasn't even that pretty and he did make a point that my race didn't really work too well with his race.

"I wouldn't quite put it that was, Acadia." She told me with a slight face. "Its rare, but we do find happiness in such unions. Perhaps I'm being too forward with my request since I do realize you are a stranger here and don't know much about our kind other then what you know through the books you have read. But, Haldir seems rather fond of you so it would only be fair to him that you try to be a good friend to him and help him be more open with his mind and words. I'm sure you will be just fine, Acadia."

"Yeah, but I'm really a sucker when it comes to forming friendships or even romantic relationships. I don't even have any experiences with guys anyway since I never had a boyfriend." I protested with a groan.

Celeborn's lips curled slightly as his grey eyes twinkled. "It was kind of the same for us years ago, but we just took each day one step at a time and before you knew it, I managed to snag the most fairest elleth ever born on the western seas of Middle Earth."

"Don't you think you might be overdoing it with your words, husband?" She laughed while giving him a playful shove. "I may be one of the fairest, but if you recalled, you were the one who had to jump through many hoops and trails between my parents and my brothers. They didn't make it an easy catch for you since I'm there only sister."

I giggled when he gave her a mock look of horror. "My dearest wife," He said breathlessly. "Your father nearly had me thrown out of his court after finding out that I had sent you birds that carried the more fragrant flowers to your bedroom window every evening just after sunset. If it wasn't for your younger brother's vouch for me, I don't think we would be sitting here talking about such trivial things in front of our guest of honor."

Galadriel stood to her feet while pulling him up with her. She gave me a small kiss upon the cheek. "Well, we shall be going now for the night since its been a long day for us all. I hope you will consider my words carefully since I don't wish to see my most loyal and trusted captain fad away from his inner pain. We have lost many to such in the past. It would only kill my heart if it were to happen to him. Haldir and his brothers are my foster sons and we have personally taught them everything that they needed know on how to survive in the ever changing world. So just give it some time before we speak once more of the matter and I and my husband will leave you to your privacy."

I nodded my head with a small smile as they bade me goodnight and left me alone in my new room. A soft knock sounded on the door before it opened up revealing on of the younger elleths who served Galadriel. She had a tray of food which she placed beside the fire and then took a large basket from her partner outside and placed it beside the bed, motioning for me to open it. I opened the lid and found various bottles of stuff along with some soaps, more hair ribbons, some clean dresses that by the look of the material, must have been brand new and hand-made by someone since the dress that Galadriel gave to me had to be altered slightly to fit. There was even the cloths she promised me for my period all neatly folded at the bottom and secretly placed inside four pairs of fitting leather pants.

"Thank you." I told the handmaiden. "This will help me a lot." She smiled in return before respectfully withdrawing from the room. I looked around the room while moving my arms back and forth. Now I was in a different place once again. Time to adjust while learning to keep my mouth clean since I was now officially a guest of honer among Lord Celebon and Lady Galadriel. I was sure by morning's first light, news of my placement would spread like wildfire along with whispers of what happened back at Haldir's place.

"Oh, why did you fall for that arrogant dickhead?" I cried, punching at one of the pillows on the bed. "Its not natural and you know it. You are trying to get home, not fall in love with the likes of him and end up being further stuck here. You want to go home!" I blew out a hard breath and began the short process of putting away my things in the correct places before eating my supper of rabbit stew with freshly baked wheat bread and butter. I could hear the voices of the elves singing throughout the city and found myself wondering if Haldir even did the same since song and stories was their most favorite pastime.

I paused in the mist of drinking some water while standing before one of the windows that overlooked the main entrance of the house. Down below, I saw Haldir talking to one of the guardsmen. He seemed to be arguing based on the tense setting of his body and the tight look on his face. The guard pointed upwards in the direction of my room. I hide myself behind the curtain before he could even see me as he looked up for a moment. After what seemed like forever, he finally looked away and nodded to the guard before walking away towards the main stairway that would lead to the forest floor below.

I had to craned my head to get a better look as my eyes followed him mid-way of the staircase where a tall, hell, everyone was tall if you're an elf, dark-haired beauty stopped him with a touch on the arm. He smiled upon her with his charming smile. I felt a jealous stab hit my gut as I watched her whisper something in his ear before he offered her his arm and they hurried off in a completely different direction. 'What the hell do I care if he has sex with someone?" I told myself angrily. "I'm not jealous and I'm not his girlfriend as everyone is thinking of me."

I slammed my cup on the tray and hurried off for the bathroom. I needed a hot bath to help clear off my head before crashing for the night. So he was a sore loser less of a backbone to even push the guard if he really wanted to see me. I stripped myself naked and jumped into the wooden tub, not caring if the hot water scald my skin as I submerge myself up to my neck. My bruised lips stung from the hot steam, but at this point, I was past caring. I miserably sat there, starting at nothing while trying to prevent the stupid tears from falling.

What the hell did I get myself into once I came here and allowed him to steal my heart away with his arrogant self. I hate him and I hated myself to allowing my weakness become my enemy.

Men and male Elves were nothing but heart-breakers and trouble-makers.

Every, single, fucking time.

I slammed my hand against the edge of the tub, drinking in the pain I felt with a sick feeling of satisfaction I got from it. And most of all, I hated guys who two timed unsuspecting woman as well. So much for wanting to start things right with him. He could fuck her up all he wanted, but his problems were never going to go away until he manned up and did something about it before his ego got damaged permanently and he really did end up dead. I cursed loudly at the room before sinking further into the water for a few moments while my stupid head wondered what was going on right now between him and that dark haired elleth.