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CHAPTER 11:  TRUST

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"Andiél!" Nadireth raced up to her friend as fast as she could.  "Something's happened!  Cylleth and Thradilia are looking for you, with a whole swarm of angry ellith!"

"What?! Why?" Andiél looked bewildered.

Nadireth's eyes looked at her fearfully.  "They say they have something of yours…something about you betraying Haldir."

"WHAT?" 

"So.  I guess we're all hiding something, huh?" came a snide voice.  Andiél whirled around.  Cylleth.  "Is there something you wanted to tell us, Andiél?"  She waved around a piece of paper in her hand.  Andiél's jaw dropped.

"Where did you get that?!"

Cylleth looked down at her snootily, "Or were you going to keep this you own little secret?"

"Now see here, Cylleth.  Let me explain!  That letter was just a joke!  It didn't even mean – "

"Just listen to her!" shrieked the girl behind Cylleth.  Andiél recognized her as the girl that commented on her hair the other day.  "She still won't admit it!" 

The group of ten or so ellith surrounded her and Nadireth menacingly.  One pushed her from the back – hard.  "How dare you betray Haldir, you little ho!"  Another yanked at her hair.  "Go back to where you came from, whore!"

Andiél turned on them, eyes flashing.  "Listen to me!  Nothing happened!"

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?" roared a different voice.  It was Haldir, charging into the scene. 

Before Andiél could say a word, Cylleth leaped in front of him.  "After all you've done for her, Haldir!  Look at what's she did!"

Haldir took a step backwards, "What?"

She deposited the note in his hands with a flourish.  "Read this."

"No!" cried Andiél.  "It's not true!  That letter was just a joke!"

Haldir read the note, and blinked.  Then, as if refusing to believe what he saw, read it again.  The words did not go away:

"I did not even have the chance to give you a kiss good-bye! … Andiél, I would so utterly hate to end our affair so abruptly.  Would you not meet me now by the gardens, love?"

He slowly raised his head to meet her eyes.  Andiél took an involuntary step back.  He had never looked at her that way before.  His eyes shone of betrayal, of pain.  But above all, one thing shone brightly for the first time – doubt.  Andiél felt tears stinging at her eyes.  No!  This is all wrong!!  His voice came out like a growl – primal, raw, yet lined with unmistakable anger – that shook her very core.

"You betrayed me." 

Andiél shook her head furiously, "NO!  Haldir, listen to me!  It doesn't matter what they say…"  Her voice was barely above a whisper.  "Just believe me. Please – "

"You weren't who I thought you were."  With a swish of his cloak, Haldir was gone.

Cylleth moved in triumphantly.  "What are you going to do?" she taunted mockingly.

Andiél only stared after him miserably.  He doesn't believe me.  She didn't even remember there were others there until a stinging slap whipped across her cheek.

"You don't deserve him… you bitch."

- - - -

That night, Haldir seated himself by the stream, staring off into space. 

"Uh…Haldir?"  Elrohir sat down gingerly.  "Are you alright?"

Haldir took another swig out of his eighth bottle.

Elladan remarked, "You know, too much alcohol isn't good for you!"  He looked around, wrinkling his nose.  "Did you have to pick such a horrid place?  There are mosquitoes everywhere here!"  He slapped himself on the arm, nailing one.  "Why are we here, anyways?"

"Well," began Elrohir in an all-knowing voice, "People that are sick come here to drive off their illness."

"Really?" Elladan's eyes widened.  "What kind of sickness does Haldir have?"

His twin shook his head sadly, "It's the 'love bug'.  No other treatment but this.  Just sitting by the water, staring away at absolutely nothing in particular – "

"And randomly taking swigs of alcohol – "

"You know, all we need is some sad music in the background, and the scene'll be complete!  I mean, look at those blokes over there.  They could definitely use some good music!"  He pointed at the several Elves down the stream, who were all pretty much in the condition as Haldir. If not decidedly worse.

Elladan nodded in agreement. The twins watched their friend for a few more moments.  Finally, Elrohir declared, "I think he has reached the point of no return.  If we don't stop him, I don't think he'll ever stop!"

Elladan looked rather frightened, "Then what should we do?"

Elrohir scratched his chin.  "Well, there are two options, really.  First, we could just hand him two more bottles, and so he will collapse in drunkenness, so we can cart him home over our shoulders with much pain and struggle involved" – Elladan shook his head determinedly – "or we could go number two."

"Which is what?"

Elrohir showed him an empty bottle.  "Knock him senseless, and then cart him home, still with much pain and struggle."

"Hm…" Elladan thought about this. "The second one takes less time; let's do that."  Elrohir handed him the bottle.  "Why do I have to do it?"

"Well, I've never hit a fellow H4 member before," Elrohir told him.

"And I have?!" he looked terrified, "What if Haldir comes after me with an ax tomorrow or something?!"

Elrohir sighed, "Well…I suppose we could just hit him at the same time, so all's fair."

Elladan nodded, "Agreed."  They searched the ground for another bottle.  Then, turning slowly, and lifting their arms, ready to strike -

Haldir was gone.

Elladan raised his eyebrow and scratched his head.  "What do you make of that?"

"Hm…"  Elrohir nodded calculatingly.  "I think the bloke's in love."

"Naturally," said Elladan dryly, "The guy's insane, drunk, and likes to disappear. Of course he's in love. Now why didn't I think of that?"

- - - -

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Nadireth asked a final time.

Andiél nodded, and attempted a smile.  "Yeah, I'll be fine.  I mean, what's a couple of bruises, right?"

The other elleth looked concerned, "Those ellith were downright brutal.  Maybe I should come by early tomorrow, so we can walk to school together?"

"No," Andiél shook her head, "It's alright.  I'll manage."

Nadireth was not convinced.  "Alright… whatever you say…"  She gave Andiél another smile, then left, closing the door softly behind her.  Once outside, she gave a loud sigh.  Poor elleth…

Suddenly, she heard someone's footsteps coming her way.  A staggering figure appeared a little ways away.  Tall…muscular…  "Haldir!  What are you doing here?"  Seeing his drunken state, Nadireth rushed forward to support him.  "Why were you drinking so much?"

"Why did you do it?" Haldir demanded, staring at her with droopy eyes.

Nadireth faltered under his gaze.  "What are you talking about?" she asked uncertainly.  Haldir was heavy, and beginning to sway despite her efforts.  Using all her strength, she heaved him against a nearby pillar. 

Haldir grabbed her shoulders. "I trusted you…" he mumbled incoherently, "Why did you do this to me… Why are you being so heartless?  You're crushing me…"

"You think I'm Andiél, don't you?" Nadireth realized.

"Why did you ask me to believe in you?" he whispered.

Nadireth gazed at his beautiful face for a moment.  "I'm not – "

Unexpectedly, Haldir leaned forward, and kissed her passionately on the lips.  Such a kiss Nadireth had never experienced.  Such passion, such heat, such fire… She drowned in it.

- - - -

The next morning:

Haldir woke up groggily. 

"Good morning!" came a cheerful voice.  Startled, he shot up.  Nadireth smiled uncertainly, "Did you sleep well?"

"Why the hell are you here?" he asked rudely.

She faltered slightly.  "This is my dorm," she said quietly.

"Then what the hell am I doing here?"

"You don't remember?" she explained, "You were drunk last night, and I didn't know where you lived, so I brought you here."  She gazed at him desperately, willing him to remember.

Instead, "What time is it?"

"Almost… almost noon."

"Crap!"  Haldir got up quickly.  Without saying another word, straightened out his clothing, pulled on his shoes, and headed for the door.

"Why did you drink so much?  Is it because of the letter?" she said quietly.

He turned on her, glaring.  "That's none of your business," he hissed.

 "You kissed me," she blurted out.

Haldir froze, "What?"

Nadireth gazed at him, her voice cracking.  "You don't even remember, do you?  You kissed me."

Haldir gave her a funny look, and then pointed out, "I was drunk."  His face was expressionless.

"I understand," she murmured, "You thought it was Andiél, didn't you?  You thought I was Andiél; that's why you did it."  She paused for a moment.  "But I don't care, because I understand your pain."

Haldir raised his eyebrow skeptically, and then turned away.

"I understand," she continued, "what its like to be in love with someone.  You don't see their faults.  No matter what they do, you will always trust in them, and see the best of all that they do."

.

"Haldir, listen to me!  It doesn't matter what they say…Just believe me. Please."

.

"When you're in love, all their flaws suddenly don't seem to matter.  All that matters is that they're there for you."  She cried out passionately, "I feel the same!"

Haldir continued walking away, placing his hand on the door.

"Haldir!"

He turned, and was immediately met by Nadireth running up to him and throwing herself into his arms.  Without abandon, she crushed her lips into his, kissing him fervently.  Haldir pushed her on the bed.  "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he asked angrily.

Nadireth looked at him tearfully, whispering, "Why do you treat me like this?"  She sat up slowly.  "I can be just as good as Andiél!  I can be strong, be brave!  Whatever you want, Haldir - I can change!"

"You're not Andiél."  He glared at her with cold eyes.  He opened the door, but paused for one more moment. "We will never speak of this incident again."

- - - -

Andiél was surrounded by a group of nutty ellith, bent up on what they were calling "revenge".  One girl delivered a swift punch at Andiél stomach.  "HO!" she screamed savagely.

Despite the sharp pain shooting through her body, Andiél refused to back down. Her hair was sticking up at odd ends, and her clothes ripped and torn, but she was not giving up. "Is that all you've got?" she yelled.  "A Dwarf could hit harder, you sissy!"  She turned to the offender, and returned a blow of her own, squarely hitting the girl's face.

Another elleth yanked her hair from behind, sending her falling to the ground.  The ellith started kicking her from all sides.  Andiél struggled to get back up, but they had her in a lock-down.  She saw one foot raising itself, preparing to stamp down on her head.  Andiél braced herself, shutting her eyes and turning her face as much as she could.

Just in time, Haldir grabbed its owner, and hurled her away. "Haldir!" cried one of the harassers, "She betrayed you!"  Haldir glared at her. 

"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HERE!" 

He sat down on the ground next to Andiél, pulling her onto his lap.  Andiél opened her eyes slowly.  Seeing his familiar blue eyes, she breathed a sigh of relief. "I swear – " she whispered. Haldir placed a finger on her lips. 

"As long as you say you didn't, I'll believe in you." 

Andiél choked on a loud sob, tears soon running freely down the side of her face.  Haldir held onto her tighter, and rocked slowly, not saying another word. 

After a few minutes, he lifted her up in his arms, and began to walk towards the dorms.  "I can walk on my own!" she screeched.

Haldir looked at her with a sigh.  "It took me so long to be able to hold you; why would I let you go so easily?"

Andiél stared at him for a moment, completely dumbfounded. Haldir paid no heed of this, and did not stop until they had reached his dorm.  He kicked open the door, and deposited Andiél gently on his bed.  "One second," he said.  He left the room, in search for a bandage kit.

Andiél bit her lip.  What was that all about?  People were yelling at me and hitting me…but I didn't shed a single tear. And then…"As long as you say you didn't, I'll believe in you."

Why does he make he feel so helpless? 

Haldir came back, with several strips of white cloth.  He sat down on the bed, "Give me your arm."  Haldir carefully dipped a small strip of cloth in some alcohol, and pressed it against the biggest cut.

"OOOOWWWW!!"  Andiél yanked her arm away.

Haldir grabbed it back, frowning.  "Stay still!"  He reapplied the medicine.

Andiél immediately jerked it away again.  "That hurts!!  Stop it!!"

"Andiél," said Haldir sighing, "Stop behaving like an elfling!  I have to do this, or it'll just get worse!"  Andiél pouted, but obeyed.  Haldir bit back a small smile.  Who knew such a spitfire could behave so childish?  He quickly dabbed the rest of the cut, and bandaged it.  "There," he turned to look at her, "That wasn't so bad, was it?"

Andiél's breath caught in her throat.  Stop staring at me… I'll stop breathing…  She wanted to saying something – anything – to change the subject.  "You're a really a big pig-head, you know."  Anything but that!

He gave her a look of mild surprise.  "What?"

"You're a big pig-head!" Stop me before I humiliate myself further! "What were you thinking?! Do you really think I would just sleep with someone.  Don't tell me you were jealous or something!"  I can't believe I am such a dork!  She looked at him, dreading his reply.  Why did she always have to start a fight when she was around him?

To her astonishment, Haldir didn't appear angry at all.  Instead, he looked at her seriously.  "Of course I was jealous!  I was so jealous, I wanted to go and kill the guy!"   She stared at him, jaw hanging.  Then, unexpectedly,

"Because I like you."

A strange sort of heat settled in on Andiél.  "Wh-what?"

Haldir swallowed, but repeatedly himself confidently, "I like you."  He looked at her, searching her eyes for a reaction.  "You don't have to say anything back… I just wanted to tell you."  He gave a shy grin, beginning to lean forward, yet still not losing eye contact.

"Don't," said Andiél, her hand flying up to cover her lips. 

He grasped her wrist, pulling it away.  He rested his other hand around her cheek, caressing it.  Without uttering a word, he closed the distance, pressing his lips against hers.  He had wanted this for so long… he wrapped his arms around her shoulders gently.

Andiél melted.  He was so gentle, yet at the same time, possessed a flaming heat.  His lips stroked hers playfully, teasingly, yet with infinite passion.  Forgetting everything that happened… all the times when she had sworn that she hated him… she kissed him back.

Encourage by her response, Haldir leaned in further, pushing up against her.  Slowly, they started to tip over…

Thud!

"Ouch!"

"Damnit!"

They hit the ground.

Rubbing their heads, Haldir and Andiél got up slowly.  "Why'd you have to turn so red?" muttered Haldir.  "You've completely ruined the mood."

Andiél rubbed her hands up and down her arms, "And you're not?  Your face is the color of a baby's bum!"

"I – "

She quickly stood up.  "I'd better go. Bye!"  Not staying for the reply, she quickly dusted off her robes, and practically raced out of the dorm, shutting the door behind her.

- - - -