Chapter 7: You Can't Stop The Feeling.

The sun was rising slowly in the forest of Lorien; the sky was a deep, beautiful orange that was streaked ever so lightly with pink. Morning birds sang in the treetops, and the wind played with the bright green leaves.

Haldir sat, propped against the trunk of a large mallorn tree, running his fingers through dark blonde hair that rolled over his legs.

'Mmm, that feels nice' Siril mumbled, her eyes half closed.

Haldir smiled and laughed softly, bringing a lock of Siril's long hair to his lips and kissing it, breathing in the sweet smell of it.

'What a beautiful morning, Haldir.. So peaceful. To think that one would find such joy and happiness in simply watching the beginning of a new day creep into the sky' Siril looked up at Haldir, 'and even greater to spend it with the one you hold close.'

Haldir smiled and bent down, pressing his lips to Siril's, kissing her. He pulled away and held her face in his hands, 'Aye, the dawn may be beautiful, but it does not compare to the fairness of Siril Everstream of Lothlorien.'

Siril laughed and sat up, wrapping her arms around the Lorien guard's broad, muscular shoulders. 'I love you' she whispered into his finely pointed ear.

Haldir closed his eyes and breathed in, soaking up the three words that he had longed to hear from her. He reopened them, staring softly into the blue orbs in front of him. He took her hand and kissed it, 'And I love you, more than the waking world.'

Siril fell back into him, resting her head and shoulders upon his chest. 'How wonderful it is to find that one you treasure, I only wish.. I only wish my friend could have the same.'

Haldir shook his head, 'Would that "friend" be Aireromen?'

Siril looked off into the distance, 'I wish she could have the happiness that we have, the love and the bond that we share, as her friend.. I want her to feel what we feel, my love.'

'But she does have what we have, its just that she cannot- or rather, she will not see it' Haldir's voice grew softer, 'Perhaps.. Perhaps she just needs a little push, maybe they both need one'

Siril looked puzzled, 'What are you saying?'

Haldir looked to the sky and smiled, 'I'm saying.. We should help them'

'Help them?' Siril questioned, raising an eyebrow.

'Yes, Legolas and Aireromen are meant to be, everyone can see that.. Everyone but them. They are both far too stubborn to make the first move, so we shall help them.' Haldir stood up and began to pace back and fourth. 'You and I shall work on Aireromen, and I shall send a letter to the twins, Falnier and Malnier, to help with Legolas. we can bring them together., secretly without their knowing.'

Siril shook her head, 'Oooooh, Aireromen is not going to like this'

Haldir came to her and embraced her by the arms. 'Then we don't say anything' he kissed her cheek.

Siril smiled deviously and laughed. 'This could actually be fun.'

* * * * * *

Celeborn stood gazing out at the treetops around him, he watched as a few elves walked about here and there in the morning light. Galadriel approached him from behind; she wrapped her slender arms around his shoulders and laid her head upon his neck.

'Good Morning, my love' Galadriel whispered softly into his ear.

Celeborn smiled and turned around, embracing her. 'Good Morning'

'You got up rather early this morning, something is troubling you.. I can sense it' Galadriel gazed into his eyes. 'Aireromen, that is what's troubling you'

Celeborn brushed her words away, 'I don't know what your talking about' he went to his chair and sat down in it, rubbing his temple,

'Yes you do,' Galadriel came and kneeled down next to him. ' You're worried that she is growing up too fast for you, you do not want to face the fact that her heart belongs to-' 'No, I'm not listening to this!' Celeborn covered his ears.

Galadriel could not help but laugh at this childish display by the Lord of Lothlorien. She pulled his hands away. 'You must face it, Celeborn. Aireromen is not a child anymore, she's grown up, and weather or not you wish to see this it is true none the less. She loves you dearly, you know that. But it is also clear that she loves Legolas as well.'

Celeborn tried to ignore this, but how could he? She was right.

'Aireromen will always love you, Celeborn. Her love for Legolas is great as well, but they are completely different kinds of love. She will always be your little Tarien.' (Princess) Galadriel hugged her husband tightly. He was just going through the same protective father phase that he went through when Elrond took the hand of their eldest daughter. He would be all right.. Soon.

* * * * * *

Aireromen held her sword in front of her, swinging it slowly in an intricate pattern. She moved so smoothly that it was as though she was performing a deadly dance. She was an expert swordsman and her strike was deadly.

She was skilled in the ancient art of the Bladesong, a form of sword fighting that only the most dedicated of elven warriors can learn. The Bladesong was a beautiful movement of sword fighting, but this is deceiving for the Bladesong was deceptively dangerous, for all its seeming gentleness and apparent grace.

The Bladesong was so named for several reasons. The first and most obvious was because of the whistling of the blade as it sliced through the air when that style of fighting was used, the second, was for the haunting, wordless tune many of its practitioners sang as they fought.

Those few elves who practice the Bladesong appear as if they are dancing when they fight, their movements seem misleadingly slow and elegant, deflecting their opponents' blades while lazily drifting back to score hits themselves. Bladesingers do not believe in smashing blows or strong and crushing offenses, but rather in guiding their opponents to anticipate a different attack than what they actually used. This overbalanced their foes and gives the Bladesinger the upper hand in battle.

Aireromen was one of the few who knew of and was taught this secret elven fighting style; not many tutors were still living in Middle-earth. Aireromen was one of 7 Bladesingers left in this land. She found comfort in her training, a way to escape from her life, from her feelings. She had not been able to spend much time with Siril; she was often away with Haldir. Not that she blamed Siril, she deserved to be happy, and she and Haldir should be together. She wished for that kind of happiness, she wished for what they had together, she knew who she wanted, who she loved. To deny it any longer was to deny her very existence, she loved Legolas. Her heart had been for him the very moment she saw him upon his horse in Lothlorien all those years ago. She longed to tell him how she felt, longed to tell him everything, but how could she face him? This was something she had felt for no elf before and something she would never feel for any other elf again.

She had not realized that she had stopped swinging her sword, she stood as if in a trance, lost in her own thoughts. A sudden thud of a hoof making contact with the ground next to her brought her back to reality.

'Morwing, can't you be a little more subtle when you approach? It's not wise to startle me when I'm holding a sword in my hands' She smiled sweetly at the black horse and kissed his velvet muzzle.

Morwing snorted in response and nuzzled her stomach.

'Oh I Know you love me, you big softy.' She moved to his withers and used her free hand to pull herself up and on to his great back. Morwing turned and began walking into the forest. 'Let's go for a long relaxing ride' Aireromen leaned over as she spoke into Morwing's soft black ear. 'I need to think a few things over before I decide to confide in Legolas about how I feel' she pat Morwing and closed her eyes, breathing in the fresh morning air. 'Some day I will tell him' she thought to herself, 'someday.'