Eve ran her fingers through her hair for the tenth time since arriving at the celebrations. She hadn't worn her hair down for a long time. Sometime in the summer between third and fourth year medical school would have been the last time, she surmised. After that, she was too busy with residency, exams; it was always more practical to keep it swept up and out of the way. Then it became a habit. For formal events, Eve would usually have her hair pulled back in a chignon. But tonight, Alana and Linwe had insisted she style her hair like the other elleths.

"You will have the ellons swooning over you" Alana proclaimed, as she stepped back to admire her handiwork. Eve's brown tresses now cascaded down her shoulders. She had natural highlights and her hair had grown out in the many months she had been in Middle Earth.

"You will have Haldir swooning" Linwe said, smirking.

"Now that, I'd like to see" Alana giggled. The two elleths gave each other knowing looks.

"I don't think Haldir is the swooning type" Eve said dryly, making a point to ignore her friends' remarks.

"Ah, but you haven't seen yourself!" Eve was then unceremoniously shoved in front of the mirror. Her appearance did come as a shock. Whatever Alana and Linwe had used on her hair, it had transformed it into glowing soft curls that cascaded down to her shoulders. The dress that the elleths had helped her pick out (after much prodding) hugged her figure in a most flattering way. Eve had lost weight and gained muscle with her rotations at the front and the dress showed it off. For the winter solstice, she had chosen a navy blue off the shoulder gown. The color contrasted nicely with her pale skin.

"It does look lovely…"

"Of course it does! How could Linwe and I steer you wrong? I wager Haldir will have fallen head over heels for you before the night is out" Alana declared.

Eve couldn't help rolling her eyes. "Like I've told you, there's nothing between Haldir and I. We are friends, that's all."

"Haldir doesn't have other friends like you. He favors you, it is plain for all to see" Alana snapped.

"Perhaps you should give him a chance" Linwe suggested, more gently.
Eve wanted to. In the preceding months, she had carved out a place for herself amongst the elves. Doing rotations at the borders and running the medical station gave her a sense of purpose. She knew there was a reason Haldir was always at the borders when she was. He seemed to be arranging his schedule so that either he or one of his brothers would always be nearby.

When she wasn't at the front, she was working at the healing telans. While initially sceptical of her, she and the elven healers had arrived at a place of mutual understanding and respect for each others' skills. She had learned and lot from them and they from her.

Eve had even made friends. To start with, it was Ines. Then as she came to know Alana and Linwe better, she found their company enjoyable as well. Despite her reservations the first time, she had come to find weekly dinners at Orophin or Rumil's quite enjoyable. They were as close to having a family as she would get in Middle Earth.

Above all, Eve was grateful for the friendship and support from Haldir. The elf seemed never to tire to see her or speak with her. Even though she knew his schedule was punishing, he always seemed to carve out time to join her for regular walks or rides. She spoke to him, and only him, of the waves of sadness and loneliness that still gripped her. Though they were coming less frequently with time, it was oppressing when she had them. Haldir had never outright made his feelings known, but she knew he cared about her and wanted to deepen their relationship. Even if she hadn't deduced it herself, Alana and Linwe had dropped enough hints on the subject. In fact, most elleths who were friendly with her had at some point mentioned the marchwarden's fondness of her.

Yet, Eve was determined to keep the distance between Haldir and herself. She knew he was a good, brave, honorable elf that anyone would be lucky to gain the affection of. The simple reason that Eve would not allow herself to open heart to the marchwarden was because it felt like a betrayal of the good, honorable man she had already married. She often wandered what Jack was doing. When sleep deserted her in the early hours of the morning and the silence was crushing her, she would cry for the husband she had left behind. She hoped he was alright. She hoped he would know she didn't leave him willingly. She hoped he would be able to move on and find happiness again. But she simply didn't know. And for as long as she didn't know, she could not move forward herself. Could now allow herself to find happiness in the arms of another.

Haldir's breath caught in his throat when he caught sight of her. Eve. What started out as a lost stranger in the woods had become, in the last year and a half, to be so much more than that. Even though 18 months was a mere flick in the span of time for elves, Haldir could hardly recall a time when he hadn't loved her. How this mortal had penetrated the walls he had built around his heart, he wasn't sure. But he had known for some time that he loved her. When he was with her, he could let his guard down. He didn't have to be the marchwarden. He didn't have duty or responsibility. He could simply be an ellon, enjoying the company of the woman he desired. A woman who was brave, smart, beautiful and outspoken. He had made sure no harm had come to her when she was at the borders. He was a shoulder to cry on, a companion to share laughs with. But he did dared not push her. He seemed to simply know that she was not ready to let go of her loved one at home; and he was scared to lose her presence in his life.

Rumil and Orophin knew the instant they had lost their brother's attention. It was quite obvious as Haldir's gaze set on Eve. Rumil quietly elbowed Orophin and nodded towards the mortal woman to whom Haldir now walked.

"Do you think he'll ever get the courage to court her?" Rumil asked.

"I don't think it's about courage. Haldir's never been short of that" Orophin answered.

"Then what's he waiting for?" Rumil demanded impatiently.

"I'm guessing he wants her to be ready to receive love again, and he'll wait for as long as it takes."

Eve fidgeted slightly as she looked around the celebrations. Nodding and smiling every so often at familiar faces. No matter how friendly the elves were, she knew she would never be one of them. No matter how comfortable her new life was, she knew it was never the place where she belonged. That fact made her feel very isolated.

"You looked beautiful tonight, Eve" the marchwarden's voice floated quietly into her ear from behind.

She turned around to find Haldir, with an uncharacteristically shy expression on his face. She had long ago gathered that the ellon in front of her did not dole out praise easily. She smiled softly.

"Your sisters in law and something to do with the outfit. It took a lot of work to get me too look this presentable." She was dismissive of his compliment. She knew that her looks were paltry compared the elven beauties that surrounded them.

"You should not doubt yourself so. I think you're the most beautiful elleth here" he added, meeting her eyes. Though the volume was soft, his tone was unwavering. How Haldir saw such beauty in her, she did not know.

"You look very handsome yourself" Eve said. That was an understatement. Haldir was gorgeous. The hard work of being a soldier made sure his body was chiseled. He walked with an air of authority. And that hadn't even accounted for his beautiful face, his deep voice. Eve had seen many elleth pine after him. The soldier held his gaze and in that look he seemed to convey the depth of his feelings towards her.

The moment was interrupted when a tall, blonde beauty swept between them.
"Marchwarden, might I have a dance tonight?" the elleth said, giving him a shy but inviting look.

"If you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave" Eve quickly said, giving the floor to the elleth.

She spent the summer solstice celebrations chatting politely with various friends, sipping champagne and nibbling on finger food. When the music began to flow into a dancing tune, she watched wistfully as Orophin and Rumil led their wives to the dancefloor. The love between the couples was evident. Eve tried to remember if Jack ever looked at her like that, but the lines in his face had become harder to visualize as of late. She sighed and decided to call it a night.

Eve was alone on the path back to her telan, the rest of the elves would be dancing and laughing until the first light of dawn. When she arrived at her telan, she stopped.

"Haldir, what are you doing here?"

He had been sitting at the steps leading up to her door. He stood to face her.

"When I couldn't find you at the celebrations, I gathered you had left early. I figured you'd be along eventually" he said.

"Shouldn't you be dancing with an elleth? I think many had hoped to be on the dancefloor with you tonight" she teased. "I don't want you wasting your night worrying about me" she admitted. She would hate nothing more.

"There's only one I wish to dance with this night" he said. Since when did he sound so desperate? This woman had reduced him to begging, yet he knew he would do much more just for the chance to hold her.

Eve stayed silent. Her heart had leapt for joy. He had verbalized her deepest desire. Sometime in the last several months, she had realized she loved him. She loved his deep sense of duty, his love for his family, the way he looked at her as if she truly was the most beautiful woman in Middle Earth, even though he was surrounded by elleths whose looks far outshined hers. Yet, there was that feeling that she could not quite allow herself to be happy.

"Haldir…"

He stepped towards her and placed his brow upon hers. Then, he caressed her face. His fingers were callused from centuries of notching arrows and holding swords yet his touch was so gentle. She closed her eyes and for a moment allowed herself to relish his touch.

"Do you know what you do to me?" he asked, in a strangled voice, full of emotion. When she said nothing, he slowly leaned in. Their lips were almost touching. She could smell the scent of the woods that clung to his garments. He never seemed to shed it, and she had come to know that scent as comforting.

"Haldir…" she said, this time with a voice of longing and desire. He needed no further invitation. He closed the gap between them. At first, his lips merely grazed hers softly. When she didn't pull away, he pressed a little firmer. When she opened her lips, his tongue grazed hers. Then they were in a full embrace. Her hands on his chest, his wandering down her back. It felt so right.

"Uncle Haldir? I can't find my jacket!" Callon sniffled, nearly in tears.

They broke apart instantly. "Come little one, I'm sure we can find it somewhere" Haldir said gently, scooping the child up in his arms to comfort him.

Eve could not bring herself to follow. She retreated, holding hand to her chest, trying to steady her breath.