Music from last chapter is from Dante's prayer, by Loreena McKennitt 

Haldir Speaks-

               I do not like it when people watch me. Even as a child I did not enjoy attention this way. Paranoia, some would call it, but in these places, I have a right to be paranoid. How I despise this palace and these people! Why fate has chosen me to be here, I do not know. I have done nothing to deserve this, of course, none of these people have…

               Now my head just hurts.

               "Do all of these men stare at us constantly? The light haired man has been watching you for an hour at least now…" Legolas muttered as we carried the last of the wood inside the shed. He let his hands drop to his side as he sighed deeply. "I truly am tired… let us hurry back and rest."

               I nodded, for I too noticed that the sun has set and it was time to finish up. I glanced at the firm faced man who stood only a few feet away. Why will he not leave? But… as mad as I am to admit it, he was fair looking… for a man of course.

               "Why has he not said anything? I thought they enjoyed taunting us…"Legolas spoke up as his eyes trailed to the fair-haired man.

               "I don't know," I sighed, "But call me crazy if you will… he seems different."

               "Men are all the same." Legolas muttered as he shook his magnificent head. I looked towards him, and I needed not ask to know that he has suffered. I liked him more and more even as we were together. I have many acquaintances but none that I would actually look to in times of need, save maybe Glorfindel. But Glorfindel was hardly around.

               The fair-haired man suddenly approached us, offering me a hand with the wheel barrel I was to take back to the fields. I stared at him for a moment, studying him up and down. His firm muscles showed through the tight silk of his shirt; his calf was built thus giving hint that he was a horseman. "No… thank you, sire." I replied, drifting my gaze when he caught my eye.

               "I mean you no harm…" He assured me, as he sensed my tenseness.

               "I dare not say you do, sire." I replied as Legolas bit his lip silently. His sapphire eyes darting back to our cabin every few seconds.

               "You need not call me sire… we are all equals… or we should be."

               I stopped and looked at him. To this, I had no answer. I only bowed to him before walking off again.

Eomer Speaks-

               I sighed as I watched the elven beauty walk away again. What was I going to do to make him trust me?

Legolas Speaks-

               I was disappointed to find that Haldir had been called away. I was quite enjoying his company. True, I did not mind the loneliness, for I was used to it. But my thoughts often lingered to my own enslavement and other times of misery.

               "I don't understand why he wants me along." Haldir groaned as he threw the few belongings he still had together, "There are others who are ten times hard working as I am!"

               I bit my lip and restrained from saying what was on my mind. He looked to me and smiled.

               "There are those who are a lot prettier too…" He muttered as he caught the look on my face.

               I turned away, slowly telling myself that I was being stupid. He did not mean anything by that comment.

               "Oh… Legolas, I did not mean it that way…" He said quickly reassured me as he caught my eye.

               "I know." I said, slightly embarrassed at my reaction, " I was just… I know."

               "When you get to know me you will see," He said with a small laugh, "I have this thing where my mouth is quicker than my mind… but I assure you I mean nothing by my comments."

               "I know you don't." I said quickly, "I was just being foolish."

               "Ugh, mind that they don't switch my positions or anything while I am gone," He went on, "I never want to go back into that palace."

               "I'll try." I replied. My friend smiled as he shook back his long sheet of fine silvery hair. His slender figure revealed itself even more as he sat down against the wall of our small cabin.

               "Be careful…" I sighed as I sat down beside him.

               "I always am." He said with confidence.

Haldir Speaks-

               I do not know why this particular man wants me along with him. If he wants a packhorse, there are many more who can carry far more than I can. I will give him a piece of my mind no matter what the hell he is after. I watched as he came closer to me with, to my surprise, only a moderate amount of belongings and two horses.

               I stared at him for a moment as my mouth twitched slightly. "Sire, why…. Exactly, are there two horses?"

               "You do ride I hope?"

               "I do." I muttered as I glared at him. I approached him quickly and knelt before him but he only glared at me. A hand came up and lifted me.  "I don't understand, sire." I muttered with a note of confusion.

               "I would hope that I can get on my horse without help." He laughed as his sapphire eyes focused on my own green ones. I stared for a moment and nodded. I watched as he swiftly lifted his firm body onto the horse and bid me to do the same.

               I began to remove the saddle and reins when I caught the faired haired man looking on with confusion. "I ride bare back," I said softly. He nodded with a full smile as I muttered a few words with the beast beside me. When I was finished, I leapt up upon the smaller horse and swung my bag over my shoulder.

               "And you need not call me sire… I hope I had made this clear at our first meeting."

               "Then what shall I call you?" I asked, genuinely amused at the conversation that I was having with a human.

               "I have a name, tis Eomer."

               I smiled as I felt an unfamiliar feeling in my chest, but of course, I was not going to make him aware of it. I have not been offered to ride for a long time. If truth were told, I was surprised that I actually still could.

               "It seems since that I have told you my name," He said in a lightened tone, "It is only fair that you tell me yours."

               "Well…" I said with a small smile, wanting to test the man beside me, "What do you think my name is?"

               "I can only guess…" He replied with both patience and calm reassurance that surprised me, "But I have heard that elven names are very different."

               "Is that so?" I liked this human more and more by the second. I have never been treated with such kindness by one of their kind.

               "It rolls off the tongue like water from a crystal fountain." He replied smoothly.

Eomer Speaks-

               I could only watch as the divine figure before me shook back his sheet of silvery blond hair. His graceful movements upon the horse made it seem that he had been riding before he could walk. Emerald eyes met my own as I was graced once more with the mesmerizing smile.

               "My name is Haldir…" He whispered. I loved his voice, which rang in my ears with every breath and I knew I would come to like his name. My eyes however, focused upon his pale lips parted like two flower petals.

Legolas Speaks-

               I looked up at the man gazing back at me. So this was the Lord Aragorn, the one infamous for the way he treated our kind. I bit my lips as I felt those harsh gray eyes meet my own blue ones.

               "When did you get here, elf." He muttered.

               I hid my scowl as I forced myself to look at him. "A few days ago, my lord."

               His hand came to trace my face. I tried not to tremble as the rough hand touched me turning my chin towards him. I was tempted to remove his hand but resisted.

               "Where have you been working?"

               "At the construction site, my lord."

               He looked at me for a moment, "Not any more."

               "But…"

               "Yes?"

               "As you wish, my lord."

               "Where are you sleeping?" He asked, finally lifting his gaze from me, "Near that other elf…" He muttered showing his obvious resentment toward Haldir. I said nothing and merely nodded.

Eomer Speaks-

               I was surprised to be attacked this early for dusk had just approached. These foul creatures were swarming the hills. My eyes darted to the elf beside me. Who, to my surprise, was swiftly defending himself with a stick he had been carrying. I quickly drew my short sword and shouted to him.

               I suppose I had been a little occupied watching the graceful elf work that I was distracted. A spear slashed m hard across my arms as I winced in pain. Bright green eyes darted to me as the beautiful elf pulled his horse towards me to help me.

               After we drove them back, the blond elf turned to me and sighed. "Sire- I mean, Eomer, I am afraid most of the supplies have been lost… but I am sure we will have no problem finding food in these parts. I can hunt and I am more than capable finding food." His eyes dropped for a moment upon my arm and pulled out a cloth carefully cleaning and binding the cut.

               He always seemed so tense around me, and he still saw me as a master, and not a friend.  But he was warming up to me, I could tell.

               "Does something ail you?" He whispered, catching the exasperation in my sigh. Distress was written in the elf's face. I knew that most people would not be content that their servants could fight as well as they could, but for me, I only admired him more.

               "No," I assured him, "You are a very good fighter."

               "Thank you." He said softly. I was surprised to see a slight blush creeping onto his face. "And you are a talented swordsman."