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CHAPTER 7: MY FIRST KISS

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"HEY! You there! Stop!"

Oh no, thought Taúr, it's the mob again! Without looking back, the Elf suddenly broke into a sprint. Haldir and Elladan looked at each other for a moment, bewildered. What was his problem? They quickly ran up to catch the scrawny Elf.

Elladan grabbed Taúr's shoulder, "Eh, what's up with you?"

Taúr shut his eyes and began thrashing about, "Let go! I didn't do anything! Let me GOOOOOO!" he wailed feverishly, flinging his arms around.

Even more baffled, Haldir grabbed the strange Elf's wrists, holding them down. Elladan yelled into his ear, "HEY! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!"

Taúr suddenly froze, dropped his arms, and opened his eyes. "Oh," he said, bizarrely calm all of a sudden, "It's you."

Whoa. That was weird. Haldir and Elladan took a few steps back, suddenly afraid. After a few seconds, but still questioning the Elf's sanity, Haldir asked slowly, "Where is Andiél?"

Taúr looked at him suspiciously, saying in a low voice, "Why? What do you want from her? Is this some sort of secret… secret ploy of yours to… do something?"

Elladan rolled his eyes. He gave Haldir a look that stated clearly, 'Why are we bothering?'

Haldir took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm, "No, Taúr. We just want to know where she is."

Taúr narrowed his eyes, "I'm onto you! I know what you're trying to do… I – "

"DAMNIT! JUST TELL ME WHERE THE HELL SHE IS!!"

"Sheesh," he mumbled, "All you had to do was ask nicely. I wasn't – " Haldir gave a menacing glare. "Sick," Taúr squeaked. "She's sick today." Words said, he quickly ran away.

Elladan looked disgusted, "That, is a disgrace to Elf-kind."

Haldir wasn't listening, "I didn't know that spitfires could actually get sick…"

Elladan arched an eyebrow. "Uh… Haldir, is there something you're not telling me?"

Haldir looked at time blankly, "Like what?"

Elladan wondered how he was going to go about this. "Well, you're behaving strangely. All this nonsense with that quiz, and then changing the way you dress… And you seem to mentioning that girl a lot more than usual, too."

"Who?" Haldir asked innocently. "Oh, you mean Andiél?"

"Yeah…" he replied slyly, "It was almost as if… you liked her."

Haldir looked startled. He hadn't even thought of this possibility. Is that true? he wondered, Have I fallen for her?

- - - -

Several hours later:

Not every elleth has the pleasure being greeted at her door by the leader of the H4. However, to the one (very ill) elleth that would actually oppose, such an occurrence seemed to be becoming a custom.

A very unwelcome custom, at that. Andiél groaned when she saw who was at the door. "What do you want?" she snapped.

Haldir tried giving a smile, but faltered. She looked terrible. "I heard you were sick."

"So you decided to come here to gloat?" she rambled on irritably, "Well, I'll have you know that no matter what – "

"So, I… uh… wanted to see if you were okay," Haldir cut in.

Andiél rolled her eyes, "Right. And my foot is named Elrond."

Haldir wrinkled his eyebrows, "Huh?"

Andiél coughed. "Why are you being so nice all of sudden anyways?"

Haldir looked defensive, "I'm not! I just…wanted to ask you a question."

She said impatiently, "Then asked your damned question and be gone, already."

He snapped, "What if I don't want to?"

"Nice question. Now go away." She began to close the door.

Haldir quickly moved in the way. He growled, "You do not slam the door in the face of the H4."

Andiél rolled her eyes again, "Really? That's funny, because I distinctly remember doing something quiet similar to that…"

Haldir looked like he was debating whether or not to strike her. Fortunately, he settled on just glaring. After a moment of silence, she arched an eyebrow. "Well?"

"Well what?"

"Are you going to ask your question or not?"

"FINE! Are you going to the White City?"

"No, I'm not. I'm staying here," she retorted, "Now can you leave?"

"Well, why not?" he asked impatiently.

She glared at him, then admitted, "I can't afford it."

"Stupid elleth," he muttered.

Andiél glowered at him disbelievingly, "Hey! Do you think I asked to be poor? It's not my fault, you know, that I can't live the way that you do – ah – ACHOO!"

Haldir cut in heatedly, "Hey! What's your problem? Can you even just hold a pleasant conversation without yelling at me?"

A sick elleth is a highly irritable elleth. "YELLING? Who's the one that's yelling, huh? You're the one that insulted me! Get out, now! GET OUT!" She began jumping up and down hysterically.

Haldir screamed in frustration. "Fine! You know what? Never mind! FINE!" He spun around, and stormed off.

A sick elleth is also an exceedingly capricious elleth. Andiél closed the door calmly, and began to hum. "La di la la la la…"

- - - -

"Haldir likes Andiél, Haldir likes Andiél," sang Elladan. He stood up straighter, mocking Haldir's voice, "Andiél, you're sooooooo beautiful!"

Elrohir walked towards Elladan with an exaggerated sway of the hips. He placed his hand on his heart, crooning in a high falsetto voice, "Oh Haldir. I'm sooooooooo in loooooove with you…" He batted his eyeslashes mockingly.

Haldir turned bright red as they broke out in loud guffaws. For once, he didn't know what to say. Elladan sat down on the couch, and shook his head thoughtfully. "Who'd have thought that Middle-earth's most eligible bachelor – "

"Besides me," Elrohir put in.

" – has actually fallen for someone. It's – "

"Inconceivable."

Elladan nodded, "All these years of breaking hearts, my dear friend. And now – "

"It's your turn."

Elladan spun around, and glared at his twin. "Will you stop interrupting me, for crying out loud?!"

"Nope."

Before Elladan could sputter something back, Haldir suddenly snapped out of his daze. "Hey! Wait! What do you mean, it's 'my turn'?" Elrohir and Elladan gave him twin it-is-so-obvious looks. "What?!"

Elrohir rolled his eyes, "In case you haven't noticed, Haldir, Andiél hasn't exactly been falling for your charms of late."

Haldir looked skeptical, "So? It's not like she will be able to hold out forever. I mean, honestly, how could resist me?"

"You're starting to sound like Elrohir," said Elladan dully.

His twin smiled, "Proud, I am."

Haldir ignored this, "I give it one more week, and I guarantee she'll be head over heels in love with me."

Elladan sighed pityingly, "Good luck with that… Unless you have some ingenious plan, I doubt – "

"Aha!" Haldir cried, "But I do have an ingenious plan!"

"What?" Elrohir leaned forward, looking interested.

"What did you guys have planned for our vacation?" Haldir asked mysteriously.

Elladan wrinkled his eyebrows, "Wait. Aren't we going on the school trip like we always do?"

Haldir shook his head, grinning, "Nope. We're doing something much more extraordinary, instead."

- - - -

A week later:

Andiél ran through the empty fields, singing. "School's out! Everyone's gone to the White City! This school is ALLLLLLL mine! Ya-HOOOOOOO!"

"And mine," added Taúr.

Andiél smiled, agreeing, "And yours!" She did a funny little jig. "Just think, Taúr! Two full weeks by ourselves here. Doing anything we like, without that blasted H4 rubbing their snooty noses at us all the time!" She sang, "We're gonna have so much fun!"

Taúr grinned, "Yup-yup!"

Andiél spread her arms out, and began to spin blissfully. And spin… and spin… Suddenly, "Watch out, Andiél!"

Oops!!

Andiél found herself tripping over herself and tumbling to the ground, into a tangle of arms and legs. "Ouch," she muttered.

A little ways away, she heard someone start cracking up. And then someone else joined in. …and then someone else. Gee, those voices sound mighty familiar. Andiél looked up. Oh, no…

So much for an H4-free vacation. Elladan crossed his arms over his chest, "So this is our 'extraordinary' vacation?" Elrohir shook his head in disbelief.

Haldir smiled devilishly.

Andiél quickly got up on her feet, stamping towards Haldir. She pointed her finger right on his nose. "You," she accused shrilly, "are not supposed to be here."

"I – " he began.

She cut in, "No! Don't even say anything." She started to get slightly hysterical, "You're supposed to be in Gondor! Away from here! Anywhere, but here!!! Why are you here? I don't want you here!"

Oh, did I say 'slightly' hysterical?

I lied.

Haldir interrupted this tirade, "But I couldn't stand to be away from your charming presence…"

"I said to not say – " she stopped, peering at him strangely. "Oh. Well, still. You must leave. Now."

He looked amused, "I don't think I will, thanks. In fact, we're having quite a blast." He held up his bow, "We were planning on having an archery contest, see?"

Andiél stamped her foot, "I don't care about your blasted archery contest. I want you to leave!"

Haldir arched an eyebrow. "No."

Andiél glared for a moment, then huffed. "Fine, if you won't leave, then I will. Taúr, let's go."

Arwen stepped up and placed a hand on Haldir's shoulder, preventing him from saying anymore. She smiled kindly at Andiél. "I would love it if you joined us. It can't hurt to have another representation from Rivendell, after all."

Andiél smiled back, but shook her head, "No, thanks. Taúr and I will find something else to do." She started to turn away.

Legolas spoke up quietly, "Please, Andiél?"

She stopped, rethinking her decision. After a moment, "I- I guess I could stay. I'll just watch though; I'm a bit rusty with the bow..."

- - - -

Haldir prepared his weapon carefully. Keeping both eyes open, he slowly but skillfully arched his bow and released. Bull's eye. The small group applauded, with the exception of Andiél, and Haldir bowed, smiling proudly.

Legolas sauntered up. He raised his bow, but before one could blink, he had already released. He split Haldir's arrow. Another round of applause ensued. Andiél was the loudest.

Without a word, the two went on endlessly; each arrow replacing the last. After about twenty minutes, Elrohir became fed up. "You know," he pointed out to Haldir, who was standing next to him, "there is more than one target around here."

Elladan was arching on the other side. He nodded, "You guys are being childish. Just kiss and make up already."

Haldir rolled his eyes at Elladan's words, but he decided to heed their advice. He turned back to the group, but before approaching Legolas he cast a glance at Andiél. She was gazing at the prince fondly, and smiling.

Haldir narrowed his eyes, and backed up. Seeing Elladan's questioning look, he said dully, "Maybe next time."

Behind them, Arwen was conversing with Andiél. "We're holding a dance tonight," Arwen told her, "Will you come?"

Andiél bit her lip, "I don't think so. I didn't bring any of my dress-up clothing to the Institute with me."

Cylleth and Thradilia, who also 'happened' to remain at the Institute, overheard them. Cylleth whispered to Thradilia, "Didn't 'bring'? More like doesn't 'own'!" The two laughed cruelly.

Arwen ignored them, "That's not a problem, my dear. I have many a gown that would fit you splendidly. Come to my dorm early, and we shall get ready together!"

- - - -

Several hours later:

Andiél walked slowly into the ballroom, having never felt so pampered in her entire life. The gown that Arwen had chosen for her was gorgeous, made of fine velvet and silk, in a stunning blue color.

She could feel everyone's eyes on her, and tried her best to fidget. No one had said a word since her arrival. Taúr ran up to her out of nowhere. "Hey Andiél!" he greeted goofily, breaking the silence, "You want to go get something to drink?"

She nodded. "Sure!" She was relieved to find that everyone had stopped staring at her.

Before they got very far, Elrohir approached her, extending his arm, "Would you dance with me, my lady?"

Andiél bit her lip, and accepted shyly, "Of course." She looked at Taúr apologetically, "I'll get drinks with you in a second."

.

Twenty minutes later, Taúr was slowly pouring a drink for her, careful to not spill. About three minutes later, he proudly presented her with a perfect glass. "Thank you!" she grinned, taking it.

Taúr smiled, and turned to pour another for himself. He practiced to himself quietly, "Andiél, you look beautiful tonight! Would you… No, too tacky… Would you grace me with a dance? No, too corny… Andiél, how about a dance?" He smiled, liking it.

Elladan approached them. He extended a hand towards Andiél, "A dance, my lady?"

She smiled, "Why not?"

Taúr turned around, "Andiél, how about – " She wasn't there. He sighed dejectedly. Darn it.

.

Cylleth snapped furiously, "That wench! Who does she think she is? First, Elrohir. Then, Elladan. And now," she paused menacingly, "She's dancing with Legolas!" Thradilia flipped her hair, and narrowed her eyes.

.

I can't believe I'm dancing with Legolas. I can't believe I'm dancing with Legolas. Needless to day, Andiél was in heaven on earth.

"This is my moment. This is my perfect moment…with you. I wish I could freeze…this space in time. The way that I feel…for you inside. This my moment. This is my perfect moment…with you." [Martine McCutcheon]

She had never been this close to him before. She rested her head against his chest, praying for all she was worth – that this would never end. She prayed that like in the song, she could freeze time, and be locked in this embrace for eternity…

He smelled of the trees that were his home. She took in a deep breath, hoping she would never forget that smell… She raised her head, gazing at his face. Such long, thick eyelashes. Such proud cheekbones. Such beautiful, beautiful eyes.

"Do I have something in my teeth?"

His gentle voice startled her, shaking her out of her reverie. "Oh, no! I was just… just looking…"

"And? What do you see?"

Andiél could have come up with a million flirty answers, but she settled with, "A beautiful Elf."

Legolas smiled at the compliment, but did not say another word. He did not need to.

.

Thradilia suddenly snapped her fingers with triumph, "I've got a plan!"

Cylleth began to smile, "Tell me all about it…"

.

One hour later:

Thradilia walked boldly up to the stage, commanding the musicians to stop. She struck a wineglass with a spoon, calling everyone's attention. Smiling, she announced, "It is only seconds away from your midnight kiss, everyone! Grab your partner, because the lights are going out in 3…

"2…

"1!"

Suddenly, all candles went out, and the room fell into pitch black. Andiél felt herself being pushed over by someone screaming, "Where's Haldir?! Where's Haldir?"

"AAAHHHHH!"

"Elladan! Where are you?"

CRASH!!

Andiél fell to the ground, but before she could get up, the lights came back on. Thradilia didn't want to let go of the face she was holding. When she finally surrendered, she shrieked, "AAH! It was you?!" It was…Taúr! "Why'd you come over here?" she accused, furiously spitting on the ground.

Taúr was equally disgusted, "Me?! You're the one that grabbed my face!!" Thradilia looked appalled.

Andiél opened her eyes, to find a pair of intense blue irises staring into hers. A pair of soft lips upon hers.

Thradilia became furious, "Where's Haldir?! Why couldn't I find him?! AAAHHHH!" Everyone winced. "What are you doing?!" she screeched, "Andiél kissed Haldir!!" Everyone gasped. Andiél?

Recovering from her state of shock, Andiél shot up. Haldir quickly followed. Thradilia stormed up to her, "You slut!! How dare you kiss Haldir?"

The truth started sinking in; Andiél's breathing became erratic. "No.." she whispered, slowing backing up.

Cylleth appeared on her right. "Don't try to deny it, you bitch. Everyone saw you! You little slut…"

"I couldn't have…" she mumbled. She couldn't hear the screeches anymore. Her heart was beating out of control. Tears appeared in her eyes. "NOOO!" she screamed, and suddenly whipped around, racing out of the room.

Everyone turned to look at Haldir. He held up his arms defensively, "Don't look at me! She's the one that started it…"

- - - -

Tears pouring out of her eyes, Andiél bound out of the room as quickly as she could. She stopped at the door, leaning again the frame, breathing deeply.

Haldir came out after her. He approached her from behind quietly. Not seeing her tears, he tapped her on the shoulder. Smiling cheekily, he asked, "So, by the looks of it, that was your first kiss, huh?"

No reply.

He continued, "Can't believe it. Your first kiss was actually with me…" He licked his lips, "Do you want to try it again?"

Andiél quickly wiped her eyes, and spun around. She screamed, "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!! LEAVE ME ALONE!!" She sprinted away as quickly as she could, no longer bothering to wipe away tears anymore.

What had started out as a dream come true has turned into my worst nightmare…

She slowed down, hearing no one following her. Why oh why oh why did it have to be him? The one person that I truly detest?!

Suddenly, Arwen's voice drifted into the hallway, "What's wrong, Legolas, are you disappointed?" Andiél walked faster, not wanting to eavesdrop.

"Why should I be disappointed?" came the prince's voice.

"Mm… because Andiél isn't here?"

She stopped in her tracks. Unable to quell her curiosity, she peered into the room. It was a lounge of some sort. Legolas was slouching on the sofa, while Arwen stood on the other side of the room, making drinks.

"Why do you always bring up Andiél?" asked Legolas.

Arwen raised her head, looking him in the eye, "Don't you like her, Legolas?"

"What are you going to say, Arwen?" Legolas said sarcastically, "That you think we'd make a great couple? That you wish us the best?"

Arwen put down her drink, and glided over to him. "What are you trying to say?"

Legolas stood up. "Don't be superficial with me, Arwen. To others you always maintain your 'perfect princess' act. You never reveal a single flaw, are kind and thoughtful towards anyone."

He said more quietly, gazing into her eyes, walking closer. "You ask me if I like Andiél, but I know what you really want to say." He paused, "I'm telling you now…" He leaned over, and wrapped his arms around her. Without warning, he pressed his lips against hers, kissing her passionately.

"The one I love is you."

- - - -

Next time: A jealous (and slightly deranged) Haldir… the birthday party of the century (quite literally)… and a very unexpected announcement.