RATING: PG-13

DISCLAIMER: The characters from Lord of the Rings and their wonderful world are borrowed from J.R.R. Tolkien. The plotline and all other characters are copyright 2002 Emily Kinsman (emi_kins@yahoo.com)

**A/N** Sorry. This isn't a very good chapter. I've had a rough few days and have had to really work at writing. It will get better soon though, kay? Oh, yeah, and Birdie, Durion was mentioned way back in ch. 1 if you didn't see my note in the reviews :).

32.

"What would you do, Haldir, if you were me?" Elenath gazed into the eyes of the battle-hardened warrior.

Haldir's brows arched in surprise at the question, then settled back down as he thought for a moment. "I cannot say, Your Highness, for I am only a warrior and thus have pledged my life to Lady Galadriel. What she commands, I do without question. But you, Lady, are royalty. While I cannot understand Lord Elrond's reluctance to allow you to give your heart to Legolas, your grandfather is known throughout Middle-earth as a wise and equable leader."

She sighed and turned from him, resting one hand on Durion's tomb. "He has reason to act as he does in this matter. The loss of my grandmother nearly caused him to fade, Haldir, but that was long before I was born. And there have been others - dear friends, children, family members who have been slain or have sailed West to Valinor. Each one that left took a piece of Grandfather with them. Then there was Durion…"

"I knew Prince Durion well, Lady. He was one of the finest warriors I have ever had the pleasure of training. I see much of him in you – the way you move with your sword, and your fearlessness."

She did not bother to stop the slow tears that fell down her cheeks. "That is not surprising, my lord. My brother taught me much of what I know. The years that he spent in Lothlorien were some of the darkest of my childhood; I missed him so."

Haldir stepped up behind her, placing comforting hands upon her shoulders. "You shall see him again one day."

Forcing a smile, she turned and gazed into his eyes. "That I shall." Growing somber, she added, "Durion's passing nearly killed my grandfather. He had poured himself into my brother, preparing him to take the throne; and the two were so very close - like two halves of the same person. I would have gladly taken Durion's place, had the Valar allowed it."

"But they did not, Lady, and it is not for us to decide such things."

Suddenly Haldir stopped and listened, turning abruptly to the forest behind him. The wind was stirring last autumn's leaves about, but what he had heard was more rhythmic than that. Like footsteps. He nocked an arrow to his bowstring and stood at the ready. "Stay behind me," he whispered.

Elenath complied but drew her Sword, listening for the sounds that Haldir heard. Long minutes passed before she finally did: footsteps in the wood, rapidly approaching. Then her ears caught the rustle of silk, and she knew that all was well. A moment later, Merethiel came through the flowering bushes at full speed and shrieked at the sight of Haldir's arrow pointed right at her.

Clasping her hands to her heart, she sank quickly to her knees. "Nndengina amin Don't kill me!"

The Captain had already begun to lower his arrow when Legolas came stealthily through the underbrush behind her, his own bow at the ready. The two males stood facing one another, arrow-to-arrow for a moment until the prince's face melted into a smile and he lowered his weapon. "Nae saian luume, Nikerym It has been too long, Captain," he said with a nod.

"Legolas!" Haldir replaced his bow in his quiver and reached out to clasp hands with the prince, giving him a firm clap on the back. "Well met, my friend. Well met."

Merethiel still knelt as one in shock, staring at the great warrior from Lothlorien. It did not take long for him to notice her there, still trembling slightly. "Forgive me, Lady, I did not mean to startle you," he said, offering his hands to help her up.

"Th-think nothing of it, Captain. You… you just took me by surprise..."

Haldir gazed at her for a moment, forgetting to release her hands. For a moment, it appeared that he would say something, but then he backed away and let go, turning to see Legolas take Elenath gently into his arms, stroking her hair as her slow tears still fell.

"I was worried," said the prince quietly. "You should not run away like that."

"If I had not run, I would have done something terrible to my grandfather. I cannot believe what he did today. Heir! He wants me for his heir!" Shaking her head, she stepped out of Legolas' embrace. "What next? And what shall we do now? You are to marry Merethiel in one month's time."

"I will not marry him," said Merethiel, lifting her chin defiantly. "I refuse to be used as some… bargaining chip to gain the favor of King Thranduil of Mirkwood!" She stamped her foot. "Years of negotiations indeed! And all of it wasted. If they had just let nature run her course, Rivendell's ties with Mirkwood would have been restored to the joy of both kingdoms. I think… I think that we three should just run away!"

"Nay, Merethiel." Elenath's voice was full of sadness. "Nay. I cannot run."

Haldir had not felt so old in many hundreds of years. Next to Galadriel he was a mere baby, but these three before him were so very young. As he listened to their conversation, he had to hold his tongue to keep from advising them. "A warrior must never run from his problems," he murmured under his breath.

Elenath's eyes met his – eyes that seemed full of years that she had not yet lived. "Especially when that warrior bears the Sword of Light. You speak truly, Haldir."

At that moment a mighty gust of cold wind blew through the Wood causing the four Elves to gaze up at the gathering clouds.

Haldir looked around himself. "One thing is for certain. We must find shelter, and fast. This is no ordinary storm, I fear. Is there a safe place nearby?"

Fat raindrops began to hit the ground around them, sounding like great dwarvish hammers upon the earth.

"Alas! My foolishness has led us once again into peril. But I do know of a place." Elenath gazed first toward her brother's tomb and then northward. "Follow me."

They ran through the raging wind and giant raindrops, dodging the swinging arms of trees and bushes as they went and diving at last into a great cave carved into the side of a bluff. They were forced to run deeper in, for the wind blew water into the cave's mouth. As they fled the raging storm, Elenath's hand automatically reached to find a torch which sprang to life at her touch, illuminating the cold gray walls around them with flickering light.

The others stared at her as if she had declared herself an Orc, and she smiled. "A gift from Gandalf. Come."

Elenath led them to a side chamber that illuminated with what seemed to be natural sunlight as soon as she set foot within it and the four had to shade their eyes until they became accustomed to the brightness.

"What is this?" asked Legolas, looking about. The floors were covered with soft straw mats, and against the walls rested an array of weapons and armor. A shelf on a nearby wall held an assortment of rocks, an old dagger, and a bulging leather pouch; and above them, embedded in the ceiling of the chamber, was the largest quartz crystal that any of them had ever seen. It was the source of the light.

"This," replied Elenath quietly, "is a very secret place. Before Grandfather consented to my training, Durion used to bring me here to teach me the arts of war."

Haldir chuckled. "Ah, Aier. You were a rebel from the very start then."

She grinned at him. "Nay, lord, only from the time you told me that I would be a great warrior."