Author's Notes: Sorry for the delay on the updates, I have been a bit busy, anyways here is the next chapter! Please read and review as always! (I also now allow reviews from people that aren't registered with ff.net).

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Those You Love

Unexpected Happenings

by Celebrian

Lutheriel had trouble sleeping all night. She just kept thinking about what she could have said to Haldir that made him so angry with her. She had lay in bed all night with her eyes wide open, staring out the window, looking up at the moon. She replayed the whole conversation in her head, thinking about her actions but she could think of nothing. She finally came to the conclusion that it was nothing she did at all. Haldir did have quite an attitude and more than just a bit of arrogance. Just as she was about to fall asleep though, she would start thinking about something else that she have might had done.

Now it was morning, the silver leaves of Lorien had vanished and were not replaced by the bright golden ones. Lutheriel sighed as she pulled herself up out of bed. "My first night in Lorien and look how it turned out..." She thought to herself as she quickly got dressed. She sighed again, pacing back and forth in her flet. "Why am I so upset over this anyways? He's a March Warden.... Who happens to be very handsome and knowledgeable about the outside world...." She added to her thoughts. Lutheriel sat down in a cushy chair and rested her eyes for a moment. "There is no reason why I should stress myself out for him...I only just met him yesterday and I know next to nothing about him. He could have a wife for all I know...." She rambled on out loud. She started to laugh when she realized what she was doing. Feeling foolish, she stood up and began to walk towards the door. "I hope Legolas had a better night than I did..." She thought as she put her hand on the doorknob.

*Knock, Knock...* "Princess Lutheriel, I have a delivery for you." A voice called from the other side of the door.

Lutheriel opened it quickly and found a sentry standing there with some book in his hands. "The texts." Lutheriel immediately remembered. Haldir said that he would send over some texts on Lorien in the morning. "These are for me?" She asked the sentry.

"Yes, My Lady. The March Warden said that you requested them..." The sentry said handing the books to her.

Lutheriel was going to correct the sentry, telling him that she was not the one who requested the books, but that Haldir had suggested the idea. She decided not to go into detail with him though. "Thank you.." She smiled as she accepted the books. She looked down at them and her smile grew into a great big grin. There were three books and they were tied together with a light pink satin ribbon that matched the one in her hair. She looked up at the sentry and nodded. "Thank you again..." She said a little too happily.

The sentry nodded and began to walk off. Lutheriel turned and shut the door behind her and giggled out loud, sliding into the comfy chair again. "He remembered...I can't believe he remembered the ribbon." She hugged the books close to her. She didn't expect for Haldir to do that. After all when she suggested it he snorted and told her that she'd be lucky if he tied them together with a strand of warg hair. Lutheriel giggled again, feeling high on love until she thought about it. "Oh, who am I kidding!? He only added the ribbon because I am a princess and I requested it..." She sighed and got up out of her chair, setting the books aside. "I really should go find my brother..." She said as she walked out the door, trying to forget about Haldir.

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The sun was blazing over head but the trees of Lorien kept the forest cool. Haldir leaned comfortably against one of the Mallorn tree trunks with his arms crossed. He had the day off; he had the next couple of days off and didn't know how to spend them. He never knew what to do when he had time away from his post, usually he sat around alone wishing he was out on border patrol. Occasionally he would challenge one of his brothers to a friendly archery competition (which he would win) but even that wasn't anything to thrill him. He propped his left foot up against the trunk and observed the other Elves as they went about their duties. "And I'm stuck here to do what? I feel useless...There could be an attack on Lorien and I wouldn't be out there to defend it..."

He thought to himself as he glared at a passing sentry. "So I'm stuck here while my incompetent Second in Command, Yulion, is out there keeping watch..." He thought coldly.

Suddenly Haldir's eyes locked on to an Elf maiden who was walking his way. His heart skipped a beat and his eyes widened. He didn't want to see her, he hoped he'd never see her again. He was just about ready to duck behind the tree but she caught his eye and waved to him. "Damn it" Haldir cursed under his breath, he gave her a nod. "Good morning Princess."

"Good morning March Warden." Lutheriel smiled, trying not to sound too interested in him as she previously had been. "Are you enjoying your day off?"

Haldir shrugged. "Not particularly. I'm hoping I'll be called to duty."

Lutheriel nodded and began to walk away. She wanted to stay and chat with him a little longer but she knew if she did she'd probably make him mad and besides, she was trying to forget about him.

Haldir watched as she walked away, his mouth open very slightly. "That was it? That was all she had to say to me?! She didn't even thank me for the books I had sent to her!" He was actually in shock; he had expected her to speak more to him like she did last night. He stood there as he watched her get farther and farther away from him. He wanted to hear her speak to him but she was walking away instead. There was a moment of desperation passed through him and before he knew what was happening or before he could stop himself he called out to her. "Princess Lutheriel!"

Lutheriel stopped when she heard her name called out and slowly turned around. Haldir was standing back there staring at her with his mouth open like he was about to say something. "Yes March Warden?" She asked as she began to walk back towards him.

Haldir honestly didn't know what to do. He didn't even know why he had called out to her in the first place. He stood there with a dumb look on his face watching as Lutheriel came back to him.

"Was there something you wanted to say to me?" She asked, looking into his deep blue eyes for a second.

Thoughts raced through his mind. He didn't know what to say; he didn't even know what he wanted to say to her. An idea came to him and he arched his eyebrow at the princess. "You never said thank you for the books I sent you." He said sourly. "Or did you not receive them?" It was the only thing he could think of and he was curious to know if she'd mention anything about the ribbon that tied them together with.

"Oh yes, thank you. I'll look over them tonight." She smiled and then began to walk away. She took two steps and stopped, looking back at Haldir. "...Oh and thank you for the ribbon, though, I was only joking when I asked for it...I hope you didn't go to too much trouble looking for the right color."

"Just joking?! She was joking about the ribbon?" Haldir yelled in his head, upset at himself for not seeing this before. He waved his hand. "No it was no trouble at all..." He lied. In truth, it took him four hours looking for the same shade of pink as the one that was in her hair. He had spent more time in one night in the dressmakers' shop than he had in his whole life.

Lutheriel wanted to tell him how much the ribbon meant to her but thought he'd just laugh and walk away. She looked back at him and he looked at her. There was an awkward silence between them. Something was happening, something unexpected.

Haldir felt his throat dry up as soon as their eyes locked on to each other's, his body numbed and yet he felt warm inside. "Just look away from her..." He scolded himself, but he couldn't.

Lutheriel could feel her cheeks growing warm. "Uh...I should be going...uh-uh I'm going to see my brother now..." She said flustered.

Haldir nodded, not knowing what to say. "Ask her to do something with you!" He yelled in his head. "This is what you need. You have needed companionship...a friend for so long and here she is and you're going to let her pass by. Stop being so arrogant for once!"

Lutheriel began to step away again; she just wanted to get away from him before something else happened. "Good day..." She said.

"Wait!" Haldir spat out. He took a deep breath and calmed his voice. "Wait...." He said again.

Lutheriel stopped, hoping that she hadn't done something to offend him, just had no idea what it would be, unless she stepped on something that she shouldn't have. "Yes?" She could barely choke out.

"I know you are curious about Lorien and the outside world..." He began. "Those texts I had sent to you...they won't do you justice...Perhaps I could be a better assistant....Maybe...Maybe, we could get together later on tonight and I could tell you some of my experiences? Of course I don't care one way or another, I'm sure I have better things to do...I just thought-"

Lutheriel beamed. "That would be wonderful!" She said with genuine enthusiasm. She didn't know if he was saying that just to try and be nice or if he really wanted to teach her, but she didn't care, just as long as she got to spend some more time with him. As for her vow to forget about him, she tossed that idea. How could she just forget about someone she had feelings for or at least thinks she has feelings for? "Where would you like to discuss this?" She asked.

Haldir tried to think of an appropriate setting for them. He didn't want to make it too romantic; she might get the wrong idea. "There is a place I go to down by the Nimrodel...We could go there..."

Lutheriel smiled. "That sounds great." Her heart fluttered inside. "Calm down...he's just going to give you a lesson...don't expect anything more from him..." He warned herself. "Down by the Nimrodel...I think I'll be able to find my way there...shall we meet at dusk?"

Haldir shrugged carelessly. "If you wish, I have no preference." He crossed his arms; he didn't want to show her how excited he actually was on the inside.

Lutheriel smiled. "I'll see you then..." She said and then scurried off, trying to contain her excitement.

Haldir looked around to make sure no one was watching and when he saw that there wasn't anyone around he grinned and then turned away and walked off in the opposite direction.

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Legolas had been sitting in his chair for the last hour waiting for any word of Galadriel. "When is she going to summon me?" He asked himself. He hadn't gotten any sleep; he kept tossing and turning as he thought of what he could be here for. What ever it was, he knew it wasn't good.

There was a knock at the door.

Legolas gripped the arms of the chair. "Who is it?" He asked, knowing it was time for him to find out what ever he was here for.

"Prince Legolas, the Lady of the Golden Wood has sent for you." A voice came from the door.

Legolas got up and opened the door and found an Elven sentry standing there.

The sentry bowed to him and then looked him in the eye. "Come. She is waiting."

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