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She stood upon the edge of a high talan, watching her comrades ready themselves for battle.

The golden sheen of their armour and the blue of their cloaks gave a mysteriously menacing impression, and in her mind she saw them rise to an almost impossible victory.

Her hands trembled with anger as her eyes connected with those of her commander. Was she being merely selfish? Or was Haldir right? She could not fight, she could not risk losing to her fear or her thirst for revenge which flowed like molten lava through her veins, making her body tingle with impatience and need.

Shaking her head, she once again focused on the scene below, where a family was saying their good-byes, elves joked good naturedly with each other and friends gave their best wishes.

The leaves of the tall trees that surrounded them were light and young, and it was as if they were lending them hope. She knew that they were giving her some hope of the future and she took it and treasured it.

Listening carefully to the sound of light leather boots, she turned to see Rumil standing behind her, a look of happiness on his face; his thin lips were turned up into a smile and his blue eyes were sparkling with delight.

"Rúmil what are you doing here? You are supposed to be with the others. Do you not leave with them?"

He smiled and placed his hands on her shoulders.

"My darling little sister, for that is what you are to me, have you listened to a single word that has been said these past days?"

Her eyes narrowed as she tried desperately to search for any recollection of a conversation that could possibly result in Rumil's current mood. Her eyes glazed over as she shook her head.

"I don't remember."

She knew it was pathetic, but there wasn't anything else she could say, and not wishing to see the look upon his face, she turned her attention to the pale golden fabric of her dress that she held in her hand.

"Don't do that, you will crease the fabric. If you had been listening to me you would have known that I am to remain behind."

Taking a step backwards, a look of intrigue and suspicion was plain to see on her face.

"Why?"

Rumil coughed and let a look of indignance spread over his features, he had no wish to anger her but not did he wish to keep the truth from her.

"I had thought that perhaps you would need somebody to remain behind."

She turned a pale shade of red as she stared open mouthed at him before quickly gathering her fury and letting it over-spill.

"You thought what? Don't you dare answer that! I do not have time for childish games, Rúmil, and I have even less time for people who waste my time."

She stood but a few inches from him, her nose almost touching his as she hissed at him.

"I am not a child, and I would be grateful if you stopped treating me as one."

Rúmil's demeanour changed and his eyes darkened.

"Do not think that this is simply for your benefit, warden. When you were taken, it was a shock and an outrage. Lórien was aghast with anger and sorrow. How had an elleth, no less a warden, been taken without our knowledge? Never had it happened and we cried for you. We thought you lost. And then when we heard of your survival, we were overjoyed but pained. We know of the horrors Orcs inflict, and we could not stand the thought of one of our own living through such torment. I thought you were gone and I never again expected to see your face. My heart wept bitterly and it will not do so again for I will do everything in my power to keep you safe."

Her eyes pricked with tears and she fought with everything she could to keep the tears from spilling once again as she watched him turn to leave.

"Rúmil wait. Please…I'm sorry. I did not think. I am sorry."

He nodded his acceptance of her words but did not turn to her.

"You must remember that although we were not there to heal you, we are still just as pained, I am merely sorry that I was not there to protect you."

"I do not need protecting, but I could use a friend if you are offering."

He turned to look at her, a soft smile playing on his lips as he held out his hand to her.

"Aye, I will do what I can."

Embracing him tightly, she whispered words that were only known to them and their meaning was to be kept secret. But something passed between them and she felt her heart lifted greatly.

"I am going for a walk. I will not go far and I remain within but a short distance. But I cannot watch them leave Rúmil. I am selfish, but I cannot watch them."

Nodding his head in understanding Rumil watched her go. He knew that there could be no resolution for the way that she was feeling until she accepted the truth of her attack. But he was beginning to doubt whether or not she would ever give into the terror and sadness that she held within her heart.

----

And it was as the sun rose to her height that the marchwarden made his way through the trees and towards the aura of his friend.

His boots crunched the delicate leaves beneath him as he walked, and the dark red cloak swayed around his legs as he jumped from branch to branch to avoid crossing the river. And then at last he saw her, sat beside the river, her hair in curls and her eyes sparkling as she hugged her knees to her, the golden fabric of her dress pooling around her in waves.

"I had thought that you would have perhaps given us your luck. I missed your face among those gathered and I was hurt to see you gone, would you have refused your blessing?"

She looked up, a smile playing on her face as her eyes glittered. He looked magnificent, his golden armour polished to perfection, the look on his face just as hard and admirable. His eyes narrowed playfully as she rose from her seat among the leaves.

"No marchwarden, I would not have refused you my blessing."

She sighed heavily and shook her head, her eyes grazing over the moss covered trees before finally settling on his face.

"You know why I did not wish to see you leave, and yet you berate me for it. If I did not know you as I do, I think I would be offended, my lord."

Haldir crossed his arms across his chest as he held her gaze.

"You know more than I the way of the Orcs. If it were my decision, you would be by my side as we march, but it is not and it is our duty to do as we are asked."

A feeling of nervousness entered his stomach as she looked up towards the sky above the high branches of the tress and then he watched as she turned from him, her hand lingering slightly to beckon him to follow. She growled softly as the hem of her dress caught on a stray branch but not once did she slow down and he couldn't help the grin that spread over his lips as he recognized part of himself in her habits. It was only natural that it was so, she had been trained by him and had fought by his side for over a millennia.

"So what is it that you wish to say?"

He had expected that question, yet it still unnerved him, and the look on her face unnerved him still. Her eyes were veiled and her lips turned up in a perhaps…sly grin.

"Ask me Haldir, it's alright, I won't bite, or cry. I promise. But then again…you do not know that, do you, marchwarden?"

A chill ran up his spine as she neared him, her hair wild and free, and her eyes darkened.

"Why Haldir? Tell me the truth. I spoke with Rúmil this morning, he pacifies me but he does not give me the whole truth, he never has. I am tired of being lied to Haldir, let me come with you, let me fight!"

"This is precisely why I will not let you fight. You think with your heart and if you are not careful, you will get yourself killed. Never did I teach you to walk into battle with your heart. If you wish to remain a warden, you must close yourself off the moment you place your sword by your hip. At that moment you are a warrior, a protector. This person…this…imposter that stands before me is a coward who seeks only to endanger herself and her comrades."

Her hand rose from her side in a flash only to be caught less than an inch away from Haldir's face. His grip on her hand tightened significantly.

"Stop behaving like a child, Tanithia. I only hope that Lord Elrohir's return will serve you well and…tame you somewhat."

In a moment of unsure anger, she kicked him in the shin, wincing as the hard metal hurt her foot. Haldir smiled, still holding her hand securely.

"Lord Celeborn will be continuing your lessons, will he not? I would suggest that you speak with him. When I come back, I wish to see my warden fully returned to me, and without this anger. Am I understood?"

She gritted her teeth and rolled her eyes to make it obvious to him that he had not won, yet his expression did not give such satisfaction. Her chest heaved and her head throbbed as he took hold of her chin and forced her to look at him.

"Am I understood?"

He looked calm as he asked her, but inside a storm was raging. Was his treatment of her deserved? Was it right? Would it damage her in any way? But the defiance in her eyes had driven him to it and he knew that if she did not give her an answer she would regret it, he would make her regret it.

And carefully, with a glint of remorse she nodded as best she could.

"I understand."

Her voice was soft as she spoke, as it startled him somewhat. The hard demeanour that she had disguised herself with was gone, only to be replaced with the soft, disappointed look of a hurt and angry elleth.

Letting her go gently, he stepped back.

"I must take my leave. Think about what has taken place between us today and think upon what I have said. When I return we will discuss it in detail. Keep safe, warden."

Placing a hand on his heart, he swept it gently as he bowed his head to her. So taken aback was she that it took her a moment to give her own blessing but in doing so she had allowed her friend great insight to her heart.

Haldir could not help but smile as he turned on his heel to return to his warriors. Elrohir was indeed on his way to Lórien. And all was not as it seemed.

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Upon the hills among the bodies of orcs and elves Celebrian lay battered and bruised, unable to move. She lay still on the ground, her body exhausted and pained. She could feel the sharp pain in her stomach, and her head was throbbing with agonizing pain that made tears run steadily down her cheeks. But she couldn't move. She couldn't feel her legs nor could she lift her head. Through the haze of pain and the steady thump of her blood that dominated her hearing, she caught the sound of hooves upon the rocks.

Her chest tightened and she found it difficult to breathe. Her eyes opened, but the sting of tears was almost too much and she shut them tightly. Her hearing altered again and she could hear faint whisperings and the sound of something heavy begin dropped onto the floor. Her mind worked desperately to make her body move but she couldn't, it wouldn't move and the fear was very quickly welling up within her chest. It was too much, she couldn't do this, not now, it hurt too much. She closed her eyes and let her mind escape.

And that is how her sons found her.