Author's Notes: I'm back and I'm still in one piece!  The past week has been insane because of all the preparations for my brother's wedding last week. (Congratulations Jamie and Amy!!!!)  But now I am back and the story can continue.  As you may or may not have noticed, the rating has been upped for some risqué behavior in this chapter. 

Tina, thanks for that lovely lecture on how elves became orcs.  I've read the Silmarillion and I do realize that the elves were corrupted.  However, the book says that they were corrupted "by slow arts of cruelty".  I assumed that this predominantly meant torture.  I also realize that Sauron wouldn't have such an ability, but keep in mind that Galadriel is seeing the worst fate that could befall Middle Earth.  Perhaps she fears that Sauron will be able to create orcs from elves like Melkor could.

THE RED HAIRED VIKING NAMED BILL BROTHER OF BOB: Cool name.  Very original.  I honestly have no idea who Fido is.

LordVaughan: …wow.  That had to be the longest review I've ever received.  Thanks!  I liked a lot of your ideas (one of which will definitely be featured in the chapter 8).  It really goes away from what I had in mind for the ending, but I really appreciate the ideas anyway.  Reading your review really helped to get me into that perfect mood I need to write.

Plot Bunny Thanks go to;

Everyone who wanted Galadriel to get some revenge; this is for you!

Chapter 7: Galadriel Strikes Back

"Kill him."

"No."

"Kill him."

"No."

"Kill him."

"No."

Haldir stormed through Lórien, completely engaged in conversation with himself.  His face was alternating between sinister and annoyed every second or so.  He had been moving in no particular direction to throw Celeborn off the trail, which is very difficult to do when escaping an elf.  Just the thought of the elven lord following him never failed to send Haldir's eye into a twitching frenzy.

As he madly argued with himself, Haldir could have sworn he heard someone crying.  He stopped and listened carefully.  No, it was not him and the sound was far too feminine to be Celeborn.  Straining his elven ears, Haldir tried to pinpoint the source of the muffled sobs.  To his great surprise, the sounds seemed to be coming from Galadriel's private glade.  No one, save Celeborn until recently, was ever allowed to enter the Lady of Lórien's sanctuary without permission.  Still, the sobbing struck a chord in Haldir's heart and the elven guard found himself unconsciously moving toward the glade.

The site that met his eyes was enough to make Haldir's jaw drop.  Kneeling on the grass, next to the fallen mirror, and sobbing into her hands was the Lady of Lórien herself.  Tear stains marred her flawless beauty and caused strands of her golden hair to stick to her cheeks.  Had Haldir been a more intelligent elf, he would have seen the dangers of further involving himself.  However, his weakness for crying elves overruled his sense of logic.  Haldir carefully made his way into the glade, keeping as silent as elvenly possible.

Of course, no one had ever been able to approach Galadriel undetected since the First Age.  The sobbing elven queen lifted her head when she heard Haldir's approaching footsteps.  Upon site of the elven guard, Galadriel's eyes narrowed and she gave him an apprehensive look.  Haldir was amazed to see his queen actually show signs of emotion.

"Why have you come here?" She asked Haldir in a low, threatening voice. "Do you and Celeborn seek to torment me further?"

"Absolutely not, my lady!" Haldir immediately replied as he stopped in his tracks. "I merely heard your sobs and came to see if I could be of any aid."

"You wished to aid me?  How do I know you have not come to gloat over your affair with my husband?"

"My lady, whatever my lord says, we are not having an affair."

"No, you are not having an affair.  You are merely having erotic sexual engagements every moment you are together that make even hobbits look celibate!" Galadriel spat back.

Haldir began to lean back toward the glade's entrance as he quickly answered. "My lady, I swear to you that I did not have sexual relations with your husband."

"A likely story!" Galadriel bellowed.  She rose to her feet and grabbed Haldir by the throat before he could escape. 

"I *gasp* do *choke* not *gasp* love *wheeze* Celeborn!"

Galadriel loosened her grip and stared at the younger elf inquisitively. "You do not love Celeborn?"

"No!" Haldir rasped as he sucked air into his lungs.

"Well why not!" The Lady of Lórien resumed her grip on Haldir's throat. "Is he not good enough for you!?  Do you not appreciate his touches or his charismatic personality, or the way his eyes sparkle with delight when you walk in…the room…or…his beautiful…caring…warm…smile…"

As she yelled, Galadriel found herself hesitating as she listed multiple qualities possessed by Celeborn that she had never truly noticed before.  Her voice began to waver with each word that passed her lips.  Her grip on the elven guard's throat began to lessen until her arms dropped to her side.  As Haldir massaged his aching neck, he noticed that Galadriel was staring blankly into nothingness with a look of pure horror on her face.

"Oh Elbereth…" She gasped. "I actually have feelings for him…"

To Haldir's shock, fresh tears burst from the Lady of Lórien's eyes as she flung her arms around him and began sobbing into his chest.

"I never imagined it would come to this!" Galadriel sobbed. "My father was always pressuring me to wed, but I never wanted to.  When I first married Celeborn, I assumed that we would simply act as joint rulers without having any physical contact.  But I was completely wrong!  All he wanted to do for the first hundred years or so was produce heirs.  When I finally agreed we conceived Celebrian.  I will not lie that that night was truly blissful, but I swore to myself afterwards that I would never let my emotions slip again.  As ruler of Lórien, I must put my kingdom before any personal feelings.  After Celebrian was born and had grown up, Celeborn grew…frisky again.  I told him that I did not want another child because of the excruciating back pain, even though that was not the truth.  Celeborn said that he understood and never broached the subject again.  Then I received Nenya and my composure started to slip.  All of the dark visions came and Celeborn was so supportive of me.  He never once mentioned sharing our bodies once throughout the entire second age.  Even after the Last Alliance, he never said anything about the subject."

Haldir winced as Galadriel squeezed harder.

"Then, all of a sudden, he declares that we should become one again.  But he does not understand!  He does not know how the visions haunt me constantly.  He does see the dangers that are coming.  He does not understand that Nenya is far more important than his libido!  All he can think of is himself.  He has not even considered that I may feel embarrassed because I am out of practice.  Eight thousand years is a long time, even to elves!"

Haldir's face clearly showed that that little bit of information was something he had not wanted to hear.

"And then Celeborn kept trying to seduce me, but his attempts were completely revolting.  I never wanted to marry him from the beginning.  I simply married to please my father.  Time after time I had told Celeborn that I had no desire for him, but then we were both intoxicated and my composure slipped and then I became pregnant!  Why can he not leave me alone?  But then I received my wish and he started to share his bed with you!"

"My lady, I told you that Celeborn and I are not having a relationship!"

Galadriel ignored Haldir's comment. "And then I started seeing visions of the two of you going at it like hobbits and I felt so strange.  It was as though I wanted no one to touch my husband but me.  I lost all of my senses in a fit of anger and now I find myself sobbing endlessly.  I can not stand this feeling!  Now all I want to do is just sit here and cry."

Haldir shifted uneasily in the Lady of Lórien's arms.  "I suppose then that you should just let the tears out, my lady."

"Hold me, Haldir!" Galadriel tightened her grip on the younger elf as a new wave of sobs erupted.

They stayed that way for over an hour; Galadriel crying helplessly against Haldir while the elven guard had his arms loosely wrapped around her in a reluctant gesture of comfort.  Gradually, the elf queen's sobs died down to an occasional whimper.  She trembled from exhaustion and carefully pulled Haldir closer to her.  Haldir, meanwhile, was racking his brain out in an attempt to find some way to extricate himself from his queen's grip of death.  Haldir was so deep in thought that he did not feel the hand that was removed from his neck and replaced on his chest.  He did, however, jerk his head up when he felt his neck being nuzzled by Galadriel's nose. 

"My…my lady?"  Haldir hesitated, unsure if Galadriel was aware of what she was doing.

Galadriel sighed dreamily. "Oh Haldir, you are such a nice elf.  Such a nice, sensitive, strong, masculine elf.  You would never do anything to hurt me, would you?"

Haldir gulped when he felt the hand begin to trace little patterns on his chest. "I-I have sworn absolute loyalty to you, my lady.  It would be treason to hurt you."

"Good," Galadriel practically purred.  "Because Celeborn was right about one thing."

Haldir would have run away in terror at that time if it was not for the fact that one of Galadriel's arms was still wrapped securely around his neck.  His breath caught in his throat when he felt her free hand slip underneath his tunic and start to rub over his muscles. 

"What was he right about, my lady?" The trapped elf squeaked.

Haldir suddenly found himself flat on his back with Galadriel straddling over him.  His wrists were pinned above his head by one of her hands while the other hand unlaced his tunic.  The Lady of Lórien gave him a predatory look and licked her lips.

"Eight thousand years is far to great a time to be abstinent.  And since Celeborn is nothing more than a waste of space, I think you will do quite nicely."

If he had been given the chance, Haldir would definitely have screamed.  However, Galadriel caught his mouth in a savage kiss before he could make a sound.  Haldir thrashed about, trying with all his might to free himself, but it so happened that Galadriel was not as weak as she looked.  Sometime near the end of the First Age, she had taken an interest in the dwarven style of wrestling.  Since then she had become strong enough lift three dwarves and well fed hobbit at once without breaking a sweat.  Unfortunately for Haldir, this complicated any plans of escape. 

Galadriel was just about to move her hands below Haldir's waist when a shrill voice screamed from the glade's entrance.

"Haldir you…you…HARLOT!!!!" 

Both elf queen and guard immediately turned their attention to Celeborn, who was watching them with a look of complete shock and disgust on his face.

The Lord of Lórien stared at Haldir with tears in his eyes. "I thought we meant something to each other, Haldir.  I thought you wanted me.  How could you take Galadriel to your bed when you know that I am waiting for you at home?  Is it my fault?  Do I not please you?  Please Haldir, I swear that I will do whatever it takes to please you."

Galadriel glared at her husband.  She crawled off Haldir's chest and immediately latched onto his shoulders, pulling him into a lung-crushing embrace. "Sod off, Celeborn.  He is my love slave now!"

"I am nobody's love slave!" Haldir gasped as he tried not to be suffocated by his queen's ample chest.   

"Quiet!" Galadriel yelled at Haldir.

"Yes, this does not concern you!" Celeborn agreed.  "It concerns a certain elf who has forgotten the vows of love that we made thousands of years ago."

"Who cares about love!" Galadriel bellowed. "The only reason I married you was to stop my father's constant nagging.  You always knew that I never loved you!"

"I know you do not love me.  I was perfectly fine with it.  But elves change, Galadriel.  I changed.  Despite everything you said about how love meant nothing when Middle Earth was on the brink of destruction, I found myself falling in love with you.  Is that so wrong?"

"Royalty does not show emotions!  We do not act upon our natural desires!"

"And yet you take an elf to be your own personal concubine!" Celeborn glared at Haldir again before turning back to Galadriel.

"Only because you did!" Galadriel bellowed.

"Excuse me," Haldir spoke up timidly. "But I am no elf's concubine."

Celeborn snarled at the elven guard. "You are my lover, so get used to it.  I meant to keep you only until Galadriel becomes jealous and begs for me to take you back.  Since I can see that she will obviously not do that, then I suppose I had better keep you around."

"You took Haldir as your lover to make me jealous?" Galadriel's jaw dropped.  "You are more of an idiot than I thought, Celeborn.  I refuse to be used like this."

*You are not the only one.* Haldir mentally grumbled to himself.

Celeborn ceased shouting.  His bottom lip began to quiver as fresh tears leaked from his eyes. "I only wanted you to love me."

With that said, the Lord of Lórien ran with all speed from the glade.   

Haldir felt Galadriel release his neck and fully intended to follow the actions of his lord and flee.  However, his body would not move.  His limbs felt as though immovable weights were pressed against them, though he could see nothing holding him back.

"Struggling is useless, my dear Haldir," Galadriel purred and moved away. "The power of Nenya will keep you exactly where I want you.  Now that all disturbances are gone, melethril, we can continue where we left off.  Will you not look?"

Within his head, both of Haldir's personalities were screaming for him to close his eyes and pretend that this was not happening.  He had no idea what the Lady of Lórien wanted him to see, but he had a definite feeling that it would not be pleasant.  Unfortunately, Galadriel was not about to let her catch ignore her orders.  Casually waving Nenya, she forced the much younger elf to open his eyes and turn his head in her direction.

The site he saw was beyond disturbing.

Galadriel was standing in the center of the glade with one foot firmly planted on the stone pedestal that her mirror had, until recently, rested upon.  Her skirt had been pulled away to reveal her smooth, pale leg.  She ran a finger from her foot to just below her hip, where her elegant gown had fallen, in a very sensuous way. 

She gave Haldir a "come hither" gaze with her piercing eyes as she purred. "There is much more that I will let you see if you stop resisting me."

Haldir's rational mind screamed at him to refuse.  Galadriel, his married queen, was trying to seduce an elf at least half her age and in a very unqueenly manner.  It suddenly occurred to him that saying yes might give him the opportunity to escape.

"Very well," Haldir tried to sound as calm as he could. "Release me and I will be happy to see what else I can be offered."

Triumph flashed in Galadriel's eyes as she released Haldir from Nenya's powers.  As soon as he was released, Haldir had run from the glade at a speed so great that Galadriel herself could not stop him. 

"A minor setback," Galadriel huffed as she lowered her leg and straightened her gown.  Pulling together her last shreds of elven dignity, she gracefully left the glade and made her way back to her own chambers.

A/N: Poor Haldir is going through hell in this story.  For all of you who love Haldir and want to kill me for making him suffer, don't worry.  Help is on the way.  But who will it be?  Keep the ideas and reviews coming and you will find out.