Disclaimer: Mr Tolkien owns it all, K!

Chapter 8

There was a knock on Aragorn's door and Haldir entered his face wearing a grave look and a shadow deep in his eyes, he strode over to Aragorn who was sitting at a dark mahogany desk. Standing firmly on his feet Haldir addressed the King formally and began to talk "I have reason to believe that Melda is not what she seems."

Alarm bells went off in Aragorn's head but he tried to stay outwardly calm "Really and what is that?"

Haldir spoke trying to keep the uncertainty in his voice to a minimum "I believe that she is a threat to Gondor. I heard her in the stables saying that she was Princess Aria."

Aragorn stood clasping his hands behind his back "Whom was she saying it to?"

Haldir cleared his throat "I do not know because when I got to where she was they must of led because there was only a horse."

Aragorn sighed slightly "That is her horse. Haldir was there anyone else around when she was talking?"

Haldir shook his head "No one except Melda and I, and of course the person she was talking to."

Aragorn made a small laughing sound "There was no one to talk to she was talking to her horse."

Haldir was offended by the King's reaction and said somewhat haughtily "I do not think that is a laughing matter King Aragorn. Gondor is under threat and you laugh, you are not the ruler that I thought you were."

Aragorn continued to smile although his laughter had been quenched "Haldir I think that I should tell you something that you should not know to right this confusion so that. What I am going to tell you must not be uttered to another living or dead soul, you hear me no one." Haldir nodded his head slightly Aragorn hushed his voice and leaned in to Haldir "Melda is not a liar she is Princess Aria,"

Haldir interrupted "But she died in a fire!"

Aragorn hushed him "No she is still alive, you will have to ask Melda about her escape for I do not know much just that she had to…" Aragorn tried to find a suitable word " sacrifice a guard so that a skeleton would be found. She came here seeking shelter and safety, we had to give her a new identity hence the name Melda."

Haldir covered his mouth with a hand "I have to find her! I have to!" He turned and ran out of the room.

Before he left Aragorn held his arm and spoke "Do not tell anyone!"

Haldir ran down the long corridor as fast as his lengthy elf legs would carry him. He swerved around the corner just about knocking a young maid off her feet he stopped and asked abruptly "Have you seen Melda?" The maid stammered with her words, Haldir felt anger appear from no where "HAVE YOU SEEN HER!"

The maid looked straight at Haldir "She was last seen on a grey horse leaving the stables." Haldir thanked the maid and ran down to the stables.

He got there only slightly out of breath he went for the first horse he could and jumped on its back asking it to follow the other horse. The brown horse did what the elf asked and followed Melda and Olathe. Haldir looked around straining his ears to find her, his sight was well developed and yet he could not see her. Letting the horse lead he bade the creature to go forward increasing the speed with each pound of its hooves. Haldir leaned into the horse's neck to increase the speed even more; the horse flew over the vast expanse in front of them. Haldir caught sight of Melda's fair hair from the corner of his eye the horse turned in pursuit galloping towards the girl in the distance. No matter how fast Haldir and his steed went Melda was always out of reach the gap between the two riders constantly getting bigger, Haldir asked the horse to go even faster he had to stop Melda and tell her that he was sorry and how he felt. He could feel the horse tire underneath him but still it drove forward following the lithe horse that was now closer to them.

Haldir shouted "MELDA I KNOW! JUST STOP FOR ME PLEASE STOP!"

Melda turned around and then reverted her gaze in front of her.

Haldir was now close to Melda "Please stop! This will not solve anything running away will not solve anything!"

Melda turned to him and mouthed 'Goodbye'.

Haldir was now almost side by side with Melda he could speak normally now "Please Melda you can't leave like this I am so sorry for what happened Aragorn told me."

She tried to get Olathe to go faster but he stayed at the same speed so that Haldir could move so he was parallel with them. Haldir spoke to Melda the urgency leaving his voice and true feeling replacing it "Melda you said that you would never leave me. You promised me."

Melda slowed down until Olathe came to a stop she sat on the horses back and looked to Haldir on the horse next to her "You do not understand I could not stay if you hated me."

Haldir looked straight into her eyes "Hate you far from it, I love you."

Melda stared at him "No you cannot love me. You cannot love me!"

Haldir dis mounted from his horse and walked towards Melda "I did not realise it until I thought that I was losing you. Melda I love you."

Melda tried to move to she couldn't Olathe did not move either he seemed to know what to do in the situation better than Melda. She shook her head repetitively "You do not love me. Why would you love me? We barely know each other love is built on friendship and communication for long period's of time not suddenly one day saying 'What shall I do today oh I know why don't I fall in love with someone who I don't even know?'"

Haldir came and stroked Olathe's flank "I do not know as much as I would like to but love is not based on years of knowing one and other but a feeling from the heart. Even from your forbidden heart."

Melda snapped her head round "My heart is not forbidden but kept where it will not run away."

Haldir moved so he was facing Melda "Your heart tells you more than you like to admit Melda."

She dismounted Olathe "Well what my heart tells me will never be heard by you."

Haldir smiled slyly "Is that so?"

Melda tried not to get sucked in to his web filled with sweet words and intoxicating smiles "Yes that is so Haldir. Now I have to get back." She turned to get back on Olathe Melda felt an arm on hers. She turned and Haldir pulled her closer she did not try to wriggle away but she stayed tense in his heavenly embrace. Haldir looked down on the shorter Melda and husked so that only she could hear "Melda I know that you love me even if you do not." He planted one of his weightless kisses on her cheek. Melda melted as he his lips touched her skin she let out a slight murmur. Haldir continued to kiss her cheek leading his lips to hers. Once their lips met he kissed her slowly varying the pressure causing Melda to make slight murmuring noises of encouragement, eventually letting his tongue gently massage hers. At first the feeling felt strange to Melda but then it just felt natural, kissing Haldir felt as though she had been doing it all of her life and not just for the first time. She let Haldir lead her not wanting to stop this pleasurable experience. Melda kissed Haldir's lips lightly then she opened her eyes and spoke quietly "Haldir I think that I love, but I do not know because I do not know what love is."

Haldir kissed her again this time delicately on the lips "Melda if you think you love me that is enough for I am the happiest being in Middle- Earth to even accept my words."

Haldir helped her onto Olathe and he followed sitting behind her, they went forward slowly the horse Haldir had been riding walked behind them diligently. Melda leaned on Haldir and spoke "Haldir we have to go to the feast, people will expect us."

Haldir soothed her "Hush we will not be missed Aragorn and Arwen will understand if we are late." He kissed side of her neck. They plodded forward Haldir said, "I'm very sorry for what happened earlier."

Melda looked at him from the side of eye "Haldir it was my fault I should have been more careful luckily it was you and no one else. What did Aragorn say?"

Haldir stared down at Melda "Just that you were the Princess, if you wish to tell more I will listen I do not want to pressure you in to telling me."

Melda smiled "Haldir I will tell you but today is to nice a day to spoil it, I will tell you."

He kept his gaze on Melda "Thank you my Beloved."