The idea for this part is straight out of the excellent 'Spontaneous Romanticism' by Liomi. I hope she will forgive me for snurching it and prove it by posting another chapter. ;-)

Annie, I'm actually not an author who usually updates daily, although I don't like to leave readers hanging too long. My inspiration has been dammed a long time and now the flood gates seem to have opened. Hopefully it won't dry up before the end of the story, although the plot bunnies are trying to run off and work on another one. :- )

Hmmm, well if Tulienne is perfect then I must just have misplaced my wings and halo. Hang on, I know I put them somewhere . . .

Past the half century with 52 reviews! Can I make it to 100? Tune in for the next exciting episode of 'Traps'.

'Part 8'

"But he can't be doing this just because he likes her?" Salia asked, frowning.

Orophin shook his head. "Definitely not. Haldir takes being March Warden way too seriously for that. If he said she'd make a good warden, he meant it."

"So why is this a success?"

The Get Haldir Married Club, minus Lord Celeborn, were holding a summit meeting in the gardens to discuss the momentous, indeed unprecedented, events of the morning.

"Haldir has never, ever, trained anyone," Rumil said. "He'll pass a comment or two, but working one-on-one . . . he just doesn't."

"And he never takes any time off until someone makes him," Orophin added. "He complained no end about having to sit around all week waiting for the wedding and now he's voluntarily staying away from the borders for another month. Maybe even two."

Rumil shook his head in wonder. "It must be love."

"Either that or she gave him concussion when she knocked him down," Orophin agreed, grinning.

"What's more, I think it's finally beginning to dawn on him that he likes her," Rumil pulled Ceilwyn closer and grinned. "What about Tulienne?"

Arwen, newly conscripted into the war effort, shook her head. "She's completely confused. She admits to being attracted to him, but she won't get it into her head that it's more than that. We need to show her that it is." A small smile began to creep over her face. "I think we need . . . competition."

"For Haldir?" Rumil said, looking sceptical. "Where are we going to find that?"

"He never speaks to maidens if he can help it. Why would they want him?"

Arwen, Salia and even Ceilwyn exchanged amused looks.

"Half the elleths in Lorien are mad for him," Salia said, laughing at the brothers' stunned expressions. "He's the March Warden, his silence makes him mysterious and of course he's so handsome."

Orophin cleared his throat.

"Though still nothing compared to you," Salia added smoothly.

He smiled.

"And the Tinuviel festival tonight is the perfect chance," Arwen added mischievously. "The girls ask the guys and they have to say yes. And once we spread it around that Haldir's finally putting himself on the market . . . "

Salia clapped her hands together. "Tonight, every elleth in Lorien is going to ask Haldir for a dance."

Orophin laughed. "You're forgetting one important detail - how do we get him there? Haldir never goes to any festival, let alone the Tinuviel one."

"The mere thought of being at the mercy of maidens terrifies him," Rumil added, laughing.

Then they paused and slowly turned to each other. Identical smirks appeared on their faces as their thought patterns merged. Then they turned back.

"Ladies," Rumil said, rubbing his hands together gleefully. "Leave it to us. We have a truly diabolical plan . . ."

***

"I do *not* want to spend my evening surrounded by empty headed maidens with nothing to think of except the fashion of their hair. If I am to spend time with one, she must have sense in her words, thought in her actions and purpose in her life."

With that, Haldir resolutely went back to his book.

"It's an important event, people expect you to be there," Rumil said, as he and Orophin sat down on either side of his chair.

"I have not attended the festival of Tinuviel in three thousand years. I do not think my absence will even be noted."

"We know, but this year it's different," Orophin said seriously.

"Half of Lorien will be there, you have no need of a chaperone."

"It's not that . . ." Rumil said, letting his voice trail off.

Haldir's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he looked up.

"What is it, then?"

Rumil and Orophin exchanged carefully schooled concerned looks.

"Well . . . " Orophin began slowly. "There's . . . a rumour, you might say."

"Not so much a rumour," Rumil corrected. "More a . . . question."

"Yes, a question," Orophin agreed. "About you."

Haldir put down his book. "What kind of question exactly?"

Another exchange of looks.

"Well," Rumil said. "About why you always avoid maidens."

"And spend all your time at the borders with other wardens - who are almost all male."

"And well . . . we were wondering," Rumil said, as he and Orophin executed a perfectly choreographed move and each put their hand on one of Haldir's legs. "Is there something we should know?"

Haldir looked from one to the other, his face impassive. "I am going to pretend that you never asked that question."

"Well, we didn't believe it," Rumil said, in the most fake-sounding sincere tone he could muster.

"Of course not," Orophin agreed. His false laugh was a masterpiece.

Haldir's composed face started to waver a bit around the edges.

"But in that case - and just so you're sure, as your brothers we absolutely believe you - we thought you should know the rest."

"What rest?" Haldir said, his voice cracking just a little.

More glances.

"Well, the thing is that . . . well, we wouldn't want to name names, but someone . . . has expressed an . . . interest in you."

Haldir's eyes widened almost imperceptibly.

"And we . . . heard a rumour."

"Just a rumour. It might not be true."

"Although a lot of people seem to think so."

"But they could be mistaken."

"What is this rumour?" Haldir demanded.

"Well . . . since you won't be at the festival tonight, this certain person who has expressed interest is planning on coming to see you. To . . . make you an offer."

Haldir's face took on an expression rather like he was the proverbial rabbit in the headlights.

"We want you to know," Rumil said, patting Haldir's leg, "that we're absolutely fine with you staying here if that's what you want."

"Completely fine," Orophin agreed comfortingly. "You deserve a little love in your life. And it could be fun to have a brother-in-law."

"Although . . . if I'm honest," Rumil said. "I wouldn't really want to be related to . . . this person."

"No," Orophin said, pulling a small face. "It might be better if you were out when he came round. Plus with you working together and all, it could get awkward."

"Very."

"And he's so persistent when it comes to chasing whatever he wants."

"True."

They turned to Haldir as one. "What do you think?" they asked in unison.

Haldir was frantically running through his mental list of wardens, trying to work out who it could possibly be. And how soon he could transfer them to the borders on the far side of Lorien. Then he realised that they seemed to require an answer.

"I . . . think perhaps I may come to the festival after all," he said nervously. "It . . . could be fun."

Luckily, he missed the twin smiles of triumph on his brothers' faces.