Ta-da! Chapter 2! I hope you enjoy it! Special thanks to Merenwen Luinwel, my beta, for checking this chapter for me and the corrections, which were quite embarrassing.;) Anyway. Talk to y'all later! And don't forget to be a responsible reader and review! Oh, btw, I am writing more LoTR romances! Yay! *does a freakish happy dance* I don't know what to call them yet. *flushes a deep crimson* But hopefully my beta will be able to help me with them like she did with this. Anyway, talk to y'all later!

Chapter 2: "Do Not Leave Me"

Haldir paced warily by the edge of the stream Nimrodel. It was at least an hour after dinner. He had not seen Moiré there, before, during, or after dinner.

He was just about to leave when he heard footsteps a few feet away, assuming them Moiré's. He smiled, finding his patience to wait for another few seconds.

Even as he willed himself patience, it seemed not to be an option to Haldir of Lorien. It seemed to take forever for the footsteps to reach him. Every second seemed to be a minute, or an hour, it seemed.

Finally, when his patience had reached its very short end, he spun around and came face to face with none other than-

"Orophin!" Haldir said in surprise and disbelief. "What are you doing here?"

"I was going to bathe, brother," he answered slowly. "This is the bathing pool, is it not?"

Haldir was flustered! He could not believe it! Where was Moiré?

"Yes," Haldir said at length, regaining his cool. "Yes, it is."

"All right, then?" Orophin cocked a brow at his brother as he watched him storm off back towards his flet, most probably.

Haldir shook his head as Caras Galadhon came into sight. However, although the whole of Lorien was all he saw, it was not all he heard.

He stopped and drew his dagger from its hidden place on his belt. He heard the noise coming closer and closer to his back. He spun quickly, emitting a battle cry, but stopped before the blade was even within a foot of its intended victim.

"Haldir!" Moiré threw her arms around his neck as she yelled his name in utter disbelief and extended joy of seeing him again.

"Moiré!" he said, matching her shock and disbelief. "Where were you?"

"I was late. Amin hiraetha, Haldir, for making you wait, but my father found me sneaking away before dinner to come here. His vexation was unfathomable!" she exclaimed, pulling out of her embrace with Haldir and lifting her hands above and around her head.

Haldir wasted no time in hugging her tightly again. He had no idea that he needed her so! Where had she been all his life?

"Amin hiraetha, Haldir," he heard her said.

"For what, Muirnait?" he asked, cupping her face in his hands after he had pushed her back gently by her shoulders. He switched unconsciously into the Old Tongue as he said, "There is nothing to be sorry about, for once I saw your beautiful face, all else was forgotten besides my growing love for you. I love you, Moiré of Eryn Lasgallen."

Before Moiré had any time to say anything, she felt Haldir's lips upon hers, pressed firmly against them. His need was desperate, she felt it in his touch on her face; the sweet soft touch against her rosy cheeks and love warmed lips. Moiré's soft, yielding sigh alerted Haldir of her drowned out protests that changed into soft, yielding moans catching in her throat.

They both drew out the passion again as they had that afternoon where need of breath drew them apart. Suddenly, when both were steadying their uneven breathing, staring into each other's eyes, Haldir's face lit up with a smile.

"Moiré, come with me. I want to show you something," he said, tugging on her hand and pulling her away from the ethereal lights of Lothlorien.

"Where are we going, Haldir?" Moiré asked, running to keep from tripping.

"It is a surprise, Moiré! If I told you, it would not be one!" he said, flashing a magnificent, heart melting smile her way.

Moiré sighed as she continued half-running, half-walking after Haldir. Ideas ran through her head about this 'surprise.' Had Haldir arranged this or had this been a spur of the moment thing?

"We are there," Haldir said finally and slowed his pace.

A gasp caught in Moiré's throat at the sight of the place of his 'surprise.' It was a small waterfall in a very discreet area. The stars shined bright over head, lighting the way to the small pool the waterfall fell in.

"Oh, Haldir! This is beautiful!" Moiré exclaimed. She drew her free hand to her mouth as Haldir kissed her other gently, caressing her knuckles softly.

Moiré was so absorbed in the beauty and wonder of the small glen that she did not notice Haldir pulling his tunic off and tossing it over the boots and cloak he had already shed.

"Haldir! What in Elbereth's name are you doing?" Moiré yelled as he walked over to her and pulled her with him over to the edge of the pool.

"We are going to swim, Moiré," Haldir said as he waded into the water with her.

"Oh, Haldir," she said, less sentimental than before. "Oh, I do not think this is such a good idea. Someone might come along and see us." Moiré hiked her dress up to her knees to prevent it from slipping into the water.

"Please, Muirnait. Please, stay with me," Haldir pleaded. "Please."

Moiré sighed, unable to give any more resistance towards him.

They both waded into the water until it reached Moiré's shoulders. She sighed submissively and fell into Haldir's outstretched arms. She slipped her arms around his neck and rested her head against his shoulder.

Haldir placed his arms around her waist gently under the water. He rested his cheek on top of her head and took in her scent.

After a long while, he moved his lips close to her ear, murmuring sweet words to her in the Old Tongue.

"Muirnait," he said finally, his sweet breath brushing against Moiré's leaf- shaped ear.

"Yes, Haldir?" Her voice was hardly over a whisper as she spoke.

"I do love you. I always have since I met you so long ago." As he spoke in the Old Tongue still, he gently kissed the tip of her ear, waiting for a response.

"Muirnait?" he said at length.

Moiré felt like she was falling, falling freely with no one to catch her.

"Moiré?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Moiré blinked her eyes and glared up at the sun. She rolled over and pulled her cloak up over her eyes, falling back asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Here, Muirnait, you may use my cloak," Haldir told a shivering Moiré. He picked his cloak up off the earth and walked close to her then draped it over her shoulders, pulling her closer all at the same time.

With one hand securing his cloak behind me, Haldir tilted her chin up with his free hand and kissed her on her lips quickly.

Moiré still shivered, but not as much when she was in Haldir's arms. She shut her eyes and nestled her head in the curve of Haldir's shoulder. She felt him gently stroking her hair. Although they both heard Moiré's brothers calling her, they both failed to acknowledge them in their wake of romance.

"Will you stay with me here, Muirnait?" he asked her a while later.

They were now sitting on a rock near the pool, watching the stars and what was left of the dark clouds.

"What do you mean, Haldir?" she asked and glanced down at him on the ground from the top of the boulder.

"Will you stay with me out here to-night?" he asked her, looking up and grabbing her hand. "I often sleep here when I need to think, so we do not have to worry of my brothers finding us."

"But what of my brothers? You know they are protective of me," Moiré answered, pulling her hand from Haldir's and rolling onto her back.

"If they know you are with me, they will not worry," he said, smiling.

Moiré sighed quietly. She wanted to stay with Haldir-forever-but knew that her father would be angry with her if she did. She hated choosing between things like this.

"Alright," she said, deciding to take a chance. "I will stay with you, Haldir of Lorien, as long as you promise to keep me safe during the night."

"Of course," Haldir told her. He stood up and smiled down upon her, his golden hair falling on either side of his head. He leaned slowly down towards her until Moiré could feel his lips upon hers, whether they really were or not. Moiré smiled slightly just as Haldir's lips touched hers-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Moiré, wake up!" Estelwen shouted near Moiré's ear.

Moiré blinked a few times as the sunlight nearly blinded her. Suddenly, a figure silhouetted itself in front of the sun and pulled her up right.

"Hurry, Moiré. The sun is near its peak already!" It was Estelwen again, screeching like a banshee

"Estelwen, must you always intrude upon my dreams?" Moiré asked, rubbing her eyes.

"Oh, I am sorry, Queen of Middle-Earth for intruding in upon your dreams of kissing Lord Haldir!" Estelwen joked, pulling Moiré to her feet. "Please, I like my head on my shoulders where it is!" she added as Moiré reached for her blade at her side.

"Enough, you two. We have a long ride ahead of us. We will try to reach Dol Goldur to-day with as little rests as possible," Toror said, riding past them.

"Aye, Father," Moiré answered, mounting her steed after she picked up her belongings. She clicked to the horse and rode off after her father and brothers, who were in the lead ever presently.

When she caught up with Rowan, he asked her, "What were you dreaming of Sister, which vexed you so to wake from it?"

"Happier days, Rowan. Happier days," Moiré answered after a while and sped up to ride beside her father.

"What ails you, my daughter?" Toror asked her at sight of her saddened face.

"Father, I have been dreaming of Haldir as of late. I am worried that there is no bright future for us together," she said quietly, biting back the bitter tears that threatened to taint her features.

"You must only wait to see what happens. There is no way that his life is in your hands, little one," he answered.

"The Lady Galadriel once said to the Ringbearer, 'Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.' Although that may have applied to him at the time, it also applies to me now in saving my only love, Father." Moiré glanced over at her father and rode the rest of the way in silence.

* * * * *

It was about two days later when they finally stopped for sleep and rest. Small stops had been made in between to feed and water the horses. It was nightfall, and the crickets were chirping loud around the party of twelve.

"Toror, what say you of a story?" Estelwen asked at a late part of the night when some of the Elves were already sleeping.

"What do you with to hear, our Hope Star, and I shall sing it for thee," Toror said, looking up from the fire to glance at the Elf maiden.

"Do you remember the tale of Beren and Luthien, Athair?" Rowan asked, sitting up from his pallet on the forest floor.

"Aye, son, I do." Toror leaned backwards against a tree in thought. He muttered phrases as if trying to remember everything like a bard. Then, slowly he began with the tale, unwinding it just as they all had heard it when they were young.

Moiré had dozed off to sleep, but had woken up at the sound of her father's voice singing. She blinked her eyes for a moment, then looked over at him. He was mumbling, but his voice was still heard loud throughout their area of the forest.

She sighed and rolled over, finally recognizing the tale; one she had heard a million and one times. She pulled the green cloak she used as a cover up to her chin and sniffed it deeply. It still smelled of Haldir.

"Moiré!" she suddenly heard someone shout near her ear.

"Aye, what is it?" she exclaimed, sitting up, knocking heads with Elemmiire.

"Athair was asking you to sing something for us," he said, quieter, rubbing his head.

Moiré glared over at her father as she sat up, contemplating what she would sing. She thought for a long while and sighed. When she remembered a song, she gathered a solemn look upon her face and cleared her throat.

"To the Sea! To the Sea! The white gulls are crying.

The wind is blowing, and the white foam is flying.

West, west away, the round sun is falling.

Grey ship, grey ship, do you hear them calling,

The voices of my people that have gone before me?

For our days are ending and our years failing.

I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing.

Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling,

Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling,

In Eressea, in Elvenhome that no man can discover,

Where the leaves fall not: land of my people forever!"

Moiré looked around her and saw everyone asleep. She muttered to herself about respect.

"Aye, Muirnait, but you have the most respect from me," a soft, ethereal voice said from behind her. She immediately turned around and saw a pale, thin version of Haldir.

"Haldir!" she exclaimed happily, hugging him tightly. "How is this possible?"

"'Tis only a dream, Muirnait, but a good one it is," Haldir answered, brushing a hand against her cheek. "Will you sing for me again?"

"Of course," she answered, the song already in mind.

"A! Elbereth Gilthoniel!

Silivren penna miriel

O menel aglar elenath,

Gilthoniel, A! Elbereth!

We still remember we who dwell

In this far land beneath the trees

The starlight on the Western Seas."

A long silence ensued, taking place of the crickets chirping and the soft breathing of the rest of the party.

"I have missed you," Moiré said at length.

"I know. I have missed you as well, beloved," he murmured, brushing hair away from her cheek.

Moiré sighed contently, falling into Haldir's arms in a warm embrace. He slipped his arms around her waist, holding her close, as Moiré rested her head on his shoulder and slipped her arms around his neck.

"Amin mela lle (I love you), Muirnait," Haldir murmured in her ear. Time sped up to morning, though the two stayed in that position until then. He kissed her head gently. "I must go now. Day is breaking," he said, rubbing her back.

"No, Haldir. Please, do not leave me. I cannot last much longer without you," she pleaded, pulling back to look him in the eye. "I feel my heart breaking, Haldir."

"I will see you soon, Muirnait," he told her, fading away.

"No! Haldir!"

The next thing Moiré knew, she was blinking at the first rays of the sun over the mountains to the east. She sat up, looking around grimly. Everyone else was just now waking.

"Did you sleep well, Moiré? I heard you call out in the night," Rowan asked her, sitting down next to her.

"Nay, brother. I have had many painful memories as of late in my sleep." She took a deep breath. "Last night, I dreamed of Haldir coming to me. I sang the song of Elbereth Gilthoniel to him. Then he left; disappeared into the early morning sun."

"Oh, dear sister. You will see him soon, little one. We will be there within a week," he told her quietly, taking her into his arms.

Moiré sobbed quietly into his shoulder, letting out the tears that had been plaguing her for the longest time. She cared not who saw her. Everyone was only coming because of her and her feelings for Haldir, so they would not care either, she hoped, at the sight of her tears rolling down her cheeks onto her elder brother's tunic.

"I do not want him to die, Rowan," she said quietly, still weeping against his shoulder.

"Neither do I, little one, neither do I," he answered, sighing heavily at the thought of the future.