~Please leave a review and tell me what you think, I thought it would be good that I introduced a new character to my story with a dream scene. -Ladystarlet09

P.S. I will try to update around my spring break time in April since I've been cracking down on my classes as of late. And I don't own any of the LOTR characters, just Acadia.

(Chapter Thirty-Two)

Warm light surrounded my every being and fiber as I stood amid rolling green hills and sparkling shores while the sound of crashing waves echoed from somewhere in the distance. The sharp smell of salty air mixed with a sweet fragrance of an unknown flower that I could not recalled belonged to, drifted through my hair as I stared around my surroundings with a wild beating heart.

Surely, as I continue to touch, smell and stare, I must have stepped into heaven and actually while I slept. "Where or what is this place?' I asked outloud.

"You are standing in the domain of the Undying lands of the far west in Middle Earth, child." A unfamiliar female voice spoke. I jumped out of my skin when I whirled around to come to face with a tall, beautiful young looking silver haired elleth. She was dressed simply in a dress that looked like was made out of white sheer material with tiny pearls embedded within the fabric. It revealed some of her soft curves and skin, but most of it was modestly covered by a blue shawl that hung loosely around her elbows.

The elleth bowed her head towards me with a kind smile. "How rude of me to scare you when we've never yet been introduced," She spoke softly. "My name is Úllothel, I live in these part of the islands."

"Acadia." I curtsy slightly to at least show I had manners then rather just stand there with my mouthing hanging while I continued to stare at her immortal beauty. "How did I come to be here?" I asked, gesturing around us as several seagulls flew above our heads, crying out to one another before disappearing into the distance. "I'm not dead, am I?" I cried horrified as it dawned it me that this similar to when I had first arrived to Middle Earth and was found by Haldir.

"No, of course not, Acadia." Úllothel shook her head. "You are merely dreaming and are safe withing your own bed as we speak."

"Oh, I guess that should give me some sort of comfort then." I frowned. I glanced down at the sand around my bare feet. I toed at the sand for a few minutes while trying to form some sort of coherent questions that I could ask Úllothel. "So, why am I here?"

The elleth let out a small laugh while beckoning me with a slender white hand to follow her down to the beach where we found a nice spot by the seashore to sit down at and cool our feet. I swore that what I was experiencing was very much real, but it did have a dreamy kind of feel to it every time I tried to put my hand within the waters but they would pull away until I pulled my hand back and they crashed against my feet.

"I was meditating within my cave a few months ago when I saw your face appear within my mind's eye, child." Úllothel replied after a while had passed between us. I looked at her in surprise. She gave a shrug. "I didn't think anything of it until your image kept coming up every time I closed my eyes. So after I did some more meditating and sought the council of a wise man, I thought it would be good to reach my mind out until I managed to find the mind that belonged to the face." She smiled which I was beginning to think was infectious since I smiled back at her. "So here you are. Yes, this is a dream, but its real enough because its what I've seen with my own eyes since I"ve come to live at these shores."

"This place is certainly beautiful." I admitted. "I don't think anything in my own would could possibly compare to anything that I've seen so far or now added to my memory now that you mentioned that what I"m seeing is all a part of your own mind."

"Your world is very strange, but it does have its perks. But to change the topic, you might be wondering why I sought you out, am I not correct?"

It was my turn to shrug. I lifted some sand in my palm and allowed it to slowly fall through my fingers. "Yeah, pretty much. I mean, its not often that my dreams get interrupted by some unknown power out there."

Úllothel closed her eyes while she leaned back on her elbows. After a moment passed she spoke up, "I was interested about you because I've seen that you have already been touched by a higher power and sent to Middle Earth to help bring change to certain people who have been effected by the war that is raging right now. I might be far from the lands of Middle Earth, but we are not untouchable as others might think. Yes, we cannot leave these lands unless we wish to or pass on to the other veil, but there are certain things that happen that allow us to be in constant touch with the world's events. For you Acadia, I didn't know anything about your exsistance until I sensed a soul that wasn't apart of this world enter. I kept sensing as time went on, but never thought about it until I felt the soul suddenly leave as if it wasn't here at all and then nothing." She fell silent with a sigh.

I swallowed hard. "Until you saw my face." I said. She nodded. "How nice to know."

"But then word came from the birds of the skies to me that Haldir, march warden to the Lady Galadriel and husband, Celeborn, was no longer a part of this world and had strangely disappeared without a single trace. I sent many both land and sea, to seek his inner soul, but they always came back empty. So when I started to see your face and thought backwards to the days of when I felt the strange soul, all of the pieces fell into place. I knew that somehow, by the will of the Valar, you two were meant meet together due to the fates that you two have endured separately in your own lives and worlds. What the Valar wills to be done, I don't know. But what I can understand for the time being, child." She softly touched my brow with the back of her hand as a kind smile lite up her face. "You must keep your heart open to him as you keep your mind open. He's not yet used to your world and many things have happened to him where his heart is still bitter and cold. You are, but a small piece of light that is shining through a very tiny hole within the dark depths of his long memories."

"But how can a single mortal woman like myself help him?" I cried in disbelief. "Yes, I can help him with adjusting to my culture and ways, be there when he needs someone to talk to, but what else can I do?" I threw my hands up in the air, flinging sand as well. I yelped as some of the sand got into my eyes and I was forced on rubbing my eyes with the back of my hands until I no longer felt them. "Man, if this is a dream, I shouldn't be feeling pain from having sand in my damn eyes."

"Acadia, Haldir needs more then just your moral support." Úllothel pressed me insistently. "He needs your heart and love. Are you not in love with him already? I can sense that you two have a strong bond going between you and him." She tilted her head to one side while she studied my face which was by now, the reddest thing that one could ever see in person. my voice refused to work as I could only sit in uncomfortable silence. "You must be in love if I'm making you feel this awkward." She smiled widely.

I swore that when I woke up from this very interrogating dream, I was going to whack Haldir over the head with my pillow and then go back to sleep when he wakes up in shock. Then again, that might not be such a good idea since I saw him out of the corner of my eye place one of his elven daggers underneath his pillow before he went to sleep. "Yes Úllothel, I do love him." I admitted finally with a deep sigh. "But from what I know of such loves, it is always going to be filled bittersweet love since I'm only a mortal woman and he's of the immortal race."

"That is only if you allow the bitterness to touch what your heart truly wants. In the world of Middle Earth, here, or anywhere else, even in your world, things are possible as long as you keep wishing them to become real." Úllothel reached out and touched the mithril pendent around my neck. "He believed that someday, even if it wasn't going to be in his time or the next life, he'd be able to see you again. Acadia, you are his light and hope." She shifted her gaze up to mine. "You can achieve anything as long as both of your believe in each other."

She looked away from be up at the sky before glancing back at me. "I believe our time is up for now, Acadia." She said quietly. "The sky is already starting to darken with the coming night."

"Why?" I asked stupidly thought I kind of figured what she meant by her words.

"Its time for you to wake up soon again in your world. We will meet someday in person since you already know the final outcome of this world." She began to slowly fade with the world around me.

"Wait!" I cried as everything slowly began to turn to white mist. "How do I know when I have fully accepted him with my heart?"

"You just will, Acadia." Úllothel's fair voice drifted from within the mist. I felt my eyes slowly droop closed while my body became light as a feather. Man, this feeling was something I could definitely get used to for a good while if anything else.

"Acadia?" I heard Haldir's voice near my ear.

"Just a little bit longer." I mumbled as my mind and body drifted this way and that. "Just a little bit more of sleep."

"Acadia? Wake up, its almost nine-thirty. Aren't you supposed to have your first set of finals today?"

My eyes snapped sharply open to find him leaning over me with concern in his deep grey eyes as the morning's sun rays shined behind him that made his already immortal beauty radiate further. "Shit!" I cried, sitting up abruptly while my alarm clock went off just a few seconds later. "I'm going to be late to Bio lab!" I wildly scrambled for the bathroom, almost tripping amid my sheets while he shook his head.

"Must you be so clumsy? I swear that you are going to be your own death someday if you keep up at this pace for the next week's finals." He smirked while laying back against his pillows as I scrambled to my closet to find something decent to wear for the day. Casuals, formal casuals, formals, some more casuals, my job uniform, shit. Where is the damn dresses when you need it?

"I can't find anything!" I growled while I hurried back into the bathroom. At this point, I only had less then twenty minutes to get ready and eat before Bi came over in her buggy to take me to school. I quickly stripped out of my pj's not caring if he saw me butt naked and watched me shower. This was my final two weeks of finals until the big day. I groaned as the hot water hit my skin but my joy was dampened as I hurried on washing down and shampooing my hair. I really needed to cut my hair. It took soooo long to wash!

I heard Haldir move about the room. I assumed he was fixing the bed before he got dressed for the day. "Acadia?" He called from within the bedroom."

"Yeah?" I yelled back. "What is it?"

"Do you want me to walk you home from school today? Its going to be a nice day from what I can see with the sun being out bright and early."

"Sure. I don't really mind." I replied while I rinsed my hair and quickly turned off the water. Slamming the shower glass door open, I winced as it came in contact with the wall. "Shit, I need to get some rubber to help soften that." I muttered as I reached for a towel to dry off. "Haldir, do you mind getting my purse, keys and backpack together while I dress?" I called out as I wiped the foggy mirror with my hand so I could at least put on some basic eye makeup and lipstick.

"I don't mind." I heard him reply by the doorway. Looking up in surprise, I found him holding up a deep purple blouse with an empire style waist and a pair of demi bell jeans and my favorite black boots. He handed these to me in silence along with a pair of lavender panties and matching bra. My cheeks were really burning like hell itself, but I couldn't really say anything since the clothes he picked out did fit me and he had as well saved me a hassle of a time of running through my clothes in a frenzy.

"Thank you, Haldir." I told him softly while he stepped back.

"Its my pleasure." He replied with a small bow that made my blush with a feeling of gratitude and warmth within myself. "I'll leave you to your privacy, Acadia." I watched him softly close the bathroom door so I could finish getting ready. My dream came back full force within my mind as I continued to get dress like a stiff robot.

"...You must keep your heart open to him as you keep your mind open. He's not yet used to your world and many things have happened to him where his heart is still bitter and cold. You are, but a small piece of light that is shining through a very tiny hole within the dark depths of his long memories."

I tried to recall the elleth's name, but it seemed to elude my memory the harder I thought about it. Only her words were what remained of what I can recall as I dried my hair with my hair blower. Was there still more going on within his mind that he didn't want me to see? I had already witnesses his emotional side, or at least the sedated side when he had tried to commit suicide back at Lothlorien and had nearly died from his wound.

I rubbed my temples after I was done with my makeup. I didn't need to think about any of this right now. I had finals to take care of before the day came of when I'm supposed to graduate and figure out what I want to do with the rest of my life. "Get a hold of yourself, girl." I firmly told my reflection in the mirror. "He's going through a lot, but so are you."

But don't you want a little something that this world can't offer to you? My little voice said in my head. You had always wished that the world of the Lord of The Rings was real and here you are, Haldir and a friend that are a part of that world and are very much real as you are. What are you waiting for, Acadia? He's practically sleeping next to you at night now and you still don't want to acknowledge that at least he has strong feelings for you to the point he wishes to bond? How can you be so dense?

"Because I choose to be dense when it comes to love." I said out loud before yanking the door open. "Love has never been meant for me ever since my father raped me at a young age." I was too absorbed within my own thoughts that I didn't see Haldir standing there again until I smacked right into his naked chest. "OW!" I yelped, holding my nose with on hand. "You could have knocked to let me know that you were right there!" I cried at him as the pain slowly subsided. "Damn, that hurts."

"I think I might have already heard that line before once upon a time in another world." He replied sarcastically while holding up my purse with my keys hanging from the front zipper in one hand and backpack in the other. I thanked him while I quickly put my backpack on. Haldir stepped back with arms folded across his chest as I struggled with slipping into my kitten heel boots.

"Is there something wrong with my face?" I asked when I caught him staring at me, his keen gaze sharp with such a high level intensity I was seriously beginning to sweat under his stare.

"No, its nothing." He shook his head. "Better head out, your ride is here." Haldir nodded at the door.

"Shit!" I cried while I ran out. "I didn't even eat anything for breakfast!"

"Bi said she's got something for the both of you that she had picked up from the local cafe shop down the street." I heard him yell down the hallway as I banged open the front door. "Sorry!" I yelled up at the neighbors upstairs as one of them stuck his head out the window above me. "I'm late for school!"

Bi was waiting for me in her buggy. I jumped inside, remembering to at least not slam her door shut as she began to pull away from the curb. "Aren't you going to wave goodbye to your boyfriend at least?" She nodded at the window. "He's staring after you as if we are not never return home."

I glanced out the passenger window to find Haldir leaning against the front door, his eyes strangely sad while he gave me a smile and a wave. I waved back and motion with my hand that I'd call him later. Another node and he was back inside, closing the door as I turned back with a deep sigh of my own. Bi handed me a bear claw with coffee without taking her eyes of the road. "Here you go. Still piping hot from the oven."

"Thanks." I took it from her carefully as to not spill the hot coffee all over her hand. "By the way, Conner isn't my boyfriend. He's just a friend." I added as a afterthought.

"Uh-huh, yeah right." Bi smirked sharply. "I know love when I see it, Acadia."

"Really?" I conceded between sips. "How?"

"Its all in the eyes. He clearly has you all over his arm or else he wouldn't have been so quick to jump down my own mother's throat and give her something to not gossip about to anyone, not even dad."

"Wow, Conner must have really had her chewing for the rest of the night." I shook my head in amazement. "I guess there is still hope for your mom."

"Got that right. So as long as this Conner guy is living in your home while your own godfather is visiting you at the same time, I'm still sticking to my guns that Conner is your boyfriend. And nothing else you say will convince me otherwise so you can shut up now Acadia and eat that so I don't have to feel guilty of wasting my ten buck on breakfast for us." She nodded at the food while she made a left turn to go down the street that led to the university campus. As we passed the street where Liam's shop was, I found him getting out of his car. He caught me waving as we passed by. He waved back before he disappeared out of view while Bi made another turn.

"So, Acadia." She spoke up in a serious voice that had me gulping down large amounts of coffee when we came to a red light. "Conner seems really nice. How long have you been hiding him in your home?"

Shit, not now! My mind screamed loudly as I thought of a good valid answer that would sound reasonable to the ear. "Uh, almost four months or so." I lied with a small nervous laugh. "Why?"

"Because I've never seen him before around here nor have I recalled you being the romantic type." She continued while driving forward at the green light.

Boy, she's just as good as the boys when it comes to putting the pieces together. "He came to me as a potential roommate upon Liam's suggestion since I needed a little more money to help keep up with the bills and all." I almost could hear both Haldir and Liam's groans of dismay right now. "We just started off as friends and all."

My lab partner didn't say anything except nod her head while she drove around in the already crowded parking lot for an empty spot to park near our hall. I fiddled with my purse tassel between my fingers. "Conner is Liam's distant cousin. I guess we just clicked after a while." I added extra padding to my lie just to be safe.

"Dammit! Why, why, why does it have to be like this during the first day of finals?" Bianca cried frustratingly when a car unexpectedly cut us off from a parking spot that she had been vainly trying to get. "I just hope Mr. Green is in a good mood this morning to allow you and me to be fifteen minutes late into the lab test." She sighed while we continued to go in circles.

"So Conner is Liam's distant cousin? That sounds cool. He's really handsome and all. Both face and body if I might be so bold to add." She added cheekily. I glared at her. "What?" She raised an eyebrow at me. "He was half naked when you ran out the door so I couldn't help but get a good eyeful of total male candy."

"Bianca Ashley Bisset," I growled between clinched teeth. "If you don't shut up in five seconds, I'll throw you out of your own car." I threatened.

"And kill the only driver that can get your ass back home to Mr. Handsome Hunk?" She grinned widely at me after she finally managed to find a parking space. "I don't think so."

"Sure, sure." I mumbled as I fiddled with getting myself unbuckled. "Did you bring the notes from the last lab?" I asked while I got out with my stuff and coffee.

"Yeah, I got everything." Bi replied as she closed her door and locked the car doors. "Let's get this over with." She took in a deep breath of the crisp air with a big smile. "I think you got a fine man to lean on, Acadia." She told me as we quickly made our way to the biology building hall. "Don't you lose him."

"I don't plan on to anyway." I rolled my eyes as we shoved and pushed our way through the crowded hall. I had to keep an hand on my pendent just to make sure I still had it on as we managed to make our way to the lab and barge in. Only half of the class was seated as Bi and me walked in. I felt my face turn red when Mr. Green looked over at us questioningly before shaking his head.

"Its like the end of the world out there." He said while he came over and handed us our test papers along with the final lab. "I could barely make it here myself this morning." He nodded towards the now opening and closing door. "I think I'll lock it after I take roll once the whole class is seated and here. Don't wish to have you guys distracted by the crazy crowd out there."

I settled down and began the task of setting up my lab notes while Bi flipped through our lab and text books to the correct pages we would need to our final. "Hey Acadia." She whispered out the corner of her mouth.

"Yeah?" I replied while I kept my eyes on my notes.

"How old is Conner exactly?"

I groaned inwardly, wishing that she hadn't asked that particular question. Liam had shrugged when I had asked him what would be age to fit Haldir with if one was to ask. He said it all depended on what the person perceived upon meeting Haldir or my response. He said I could go low twenties or high thirties. I bit my inner cheek as I tried to think fast. "He's thirty-one." I replied finally.

"Really? I thought he was at least twenty-seven or something." Bi said, surprised. "I mean, not that its a bad thing if he's way older then you." She added when I cast her a dark look. "That's really good."

"Conner gets it a lot so he's pretty used to that response from other people." I said flatly before reaching down to grab my phone when I heard Mr. Green's instruction to turn off all electronic device except E-books for the students who don't have the hard copy on them.

"So when do I get to meet him without my horrible mother to ruin the mood?" She whispered at the overhead lights dimmed for the final video play of today's topic on algae and how it had both positive and negative effects on the environment. "I still feel really bad for what she said to you back the grocery store."

"Don't mention it, I'm used to it all." I replied back while I began taking notes. "At least he didn't do anything to her that would really put her in place." I muttered under my breath."

"Ms. Bisset and Ms. Thomas." We both heard our teacher's voice close by. "Can you both please pay attention to the video since this is our last class together and save the gossiping for break time?"

"Yes, Mr. Green." We both replied in unison as the rest of the class tittered behind us. Man, talk about being singled out by the teacher when there is a top star pupil sitting up front and center.

My brain was processing everything in front of me as I wrote down my lab notes, but in the back of my mind, my thoughts kept wandering to Haldir and how he was faring being stuck in the house with my godfather. Thank God at least Liam promised to head over during lunch time to check up on them both, so I didn't have to worry too much since Haldir had mentioned the night before that Liam was going to check out his bad leg today.

Please just let me get through my finals this week and next without any mishaps or misadventures. I begged in my mind. If anything, no more visits to middle earth at least until I'm done and graduated from college finally after how many years?

I felt someone watching me so I glanced up to find Mr. Green looking directly at me with a deep frown. My face as usual, turned bright red, but he didn't seem put off or in a bad mood. Instead, he seemed to be studying me intently before I saw him mutter something under his breath as he turned back to the projector screen with a shake of his head.

What was with him? I wondered when I felt Bi nudge with her elbow. "Did you get that last part, Acadia?" She asked, worried. "I think I need my ears checked soon. I"m starting to become so deaf."

"Maybe if you didn't play your music so loud, that wouldn't be the case." I replied while pushing my note book towards her. "And yeah, I got everything so far except the part about its play in the ocean." I let out another sigh as I began to absently play with my stone between my fingers as the first part of the lab slowly continued on. One final in process, two more for this week and four more next week. Yup, it was going to be a hell on earth for me until graduation but at least I had two people who were close to my heart that I could go home to.

Except, perhaps my caring feelings were beginning to turn to love for Haldir. I reflected. I"m just used to being cold and distant with men in general due to what happened that I don't even know how to properly express how I feel for him without accidentally giving him the wrong impression. I just need a little time to think before I go all gung-ho and take our relationship beyond any possible return for either one of us.