**Of Elves and Men**

Elladan and his brother Elrohir entered the House of healing late that night when they ran into Gandalf.  He was carrying a tray of food down the hall and he smiled when he saw them.

"It is good to see you again, Mithrander," Elladan said.

"And it is good to see the two of you," Gandalf said.  "Have you come to visit anyone in particular?"

"Aragorn sent for us to help tend the wounded," Elrohir said.

"Good, your help is needed," Gandalf said as he held out the tray.  "But first, take this tray to that room there."

"Whose room is it?" Elladan asked.

"A good friend of yours, whom you took for dead when you brought her in," Gandalf said.

Elrohir lit up when he heard that, "Little Miranda!"  He took the tray from Gandalf and headed straight for the door.

Elladan sighed with relief and smiled, but then his face grew serious.  "How is she?" he asked nervously.

"She is exhausted, but will mend with a few days' rest," Gandalf said. "Her battle was… difficult. There is more hurt in her heart than in her body. A visit with friends is just what she needs."

Elladan gave Gandalf a quick nod of understanding before he turned and caught up to his brother.  He silently opened the door for Elrohir and followed him in.  Miranda was sitting on her bed, fully dressed and putting her boots on.  She hadn't heard them enter so Elladan got her attention.

"A-hem!" he cleared his throat loudly as he stood with his arms crossed.  "What do you think you're doing?"

"I'm getting up," Miranda said.  "I'm not even hurt."

Elrohir frowned as he crossed the room to set the tray on the small table by the bed. Elladan followed and sat beside her.

"Not all hurts are visible," he said softly.  "Fighting dark forces is not like slaying orcs.  You need to rest."

"I don't like just sitting here," she said.  "I feel useless."

"Useless?  How can you say that?  Don't you know what you've done?" Elrohir asked in astonishment.  "They will write a song about the flame-haired Seer and the Shadow of Gondor. The brave woman who saved the King and drove the darkness from the land."

Miranda blushed and turned away but Elladan took her hand.  "I was proud of you today, but heartbroken," he said.  "It was Elrohir and I who carried you from the battlefield.  We thought you were dead."

"I thought my heart would burst when Gandalf told us you were alive," Elrohir said brightly.  "Now, you're going to eat, and then you're going to rest."

Miranda turned and smiled shyly at the brothers.  "I'm lucky to have such good friends," she said.

Elrohir squatted down in front of her and pulled her boots off.  "Now back in bed," he said with a smirk as he stood over her.

Miranda laughed and hopped back onto the bed.  She propped her pillow against the wall and leaned back.  "All right," she said.  "I've learned that it doesn't pay to argue with an Elf," she said humorously.  "What's for dinner?"

"Gandalf found some bread and cheese, and there's even some fruit," Elrohir said.  "Sorry we can't stay, but we came to help Aragorn tend the wounded."

"That's all right," Miranda said.  "I understand."

"Eat and go to sleep," Elladan ordered.  "We'll visit again tomorrow."

The brothers left, and Miranda sighed.  She didn't like resting and wanted to help, but she knew they were right.  Besides, she was starving.  She had just started eating when she heard a quiet knock at the door.

"Come in," she said.

The door opened and Ẻomer was standing there gazing at her with a twinkle in his eyes.  He closed the door and walked to the end of her bed.  She straightened up and smiled at him.

"It is good to see that you are well," Miranda said. "Orcs are no match for you, there's not a scratch on you."

"And you are looking much better than when I saw you last," Ẻomer said with a smile.  "If I hadn't seen it, I'd never know you killed a demon today." 

Miranda shrugged off his comment and changed the subject.  "How is Ẻowyn?" Miranda asked.

"Hurt, but well tended," he said.  "She will heal."

Miranda nodded. "Tomorrow I will go see her," she said.

"Miranda…" Ẻomer began as he walked around to the side of the bed.  "I have missed you very much since our parting at Helm's Deep."  He sat on the edge of the bed and looked into her eyes.  "Have you missed me?"

"I…Ẻomer I should tell you…" Miranda started to say but stopped when he touched her cheek.

"I know of your betrothal," he said quietly.  "But I wonder if that is truly what you want."

Miranda closed her eyes as Ẻomer's hand slipped around behind her neck and gently drew her closer.  He leaned forward until their lips were nearly touching.  "I know you have feelings for me," he whispered.  "And you know how I feel about you."

"Ẻomer please…" Miranda whispered breathlessly, but was silenced by his kiss.

It was very gentle at first, as though he was unsure of her feelings, but then his passion took over.  He wrapped his other hand around her shoulder and leaned closer, deepening his kiss.  Miranda was pinned against the wall with nowhere to go.  She braced her hands against his chest, reluctantly accepting his kiss.  Not long ago she had wondered what kissing him would be like, but now it just felt wrong.  She squirmed in his embrace until he released her. Ẻomer gazed into her fiery green eyes with his own burning blue ones.

"Why did you do that?" Miranda asked.

"To prove a point," he said in ragged breaths. "You cannot deny your feelings for me."

"The only point you've proven is that you're stronger than me," she said.

"You wanted me to kiss you at Helm's Deep," Ẻomer insisted.

"I was not betrothed," she said.  "And I didn't know what I wanted then."

"But now you do?" Ẻomer asked sarcastically. 

"You and I are not meant to be together," she said with conviction.  "You are a King now and there is a Queen in your future, but it isn't me."

 "Forget your accursed sight for a moment," he said angrily.  "The only thing that will keep me away is if look me in the eyes and swear that you don't love me."

Miranda locked her jaw and sat up straight.  "I think of you as a friend," she said evenly.  "I'm in love with Haldir."

 Ẻomer stood quickly and turned toward the fire. "What is so special about that damned Elf?" he asked harshly.

"Love is not easily explained," she answered quietly.  "It just happens."

"That is one truth I know all too well," he said as he turned to face her.  "From the moment you took off your hood on that hill in Rohan it happened to me."

"Ẻomer, you must trust me when I say this.  Soon you will find a love that will so consume you that there will be no thought left for me," she said.  "I have seen it.  There can never be anything between us but friendship."

"You reject me because of a vision?" he asked harshly.

"I have given my heart to Haldir," Mirada said.  "The vision came after.  I thought it would give you comfort."

Ẻomer headed for the door and grabbed the knob.  He paused and leaned his head against the wall.  "Damn your gift of sight, my lady," he said softly. "It gives no comfort."  He opened the door and left.

Miranda sat stunned as the tears silently poured from her eyes.  "It's not a gift, it's a curse," she said softly as she buried her face in her hands and sobbed.

*****

As Ẻomer closed Miranda's door and headed down the hall scowling, Haldir was coming around the corner to return to Miranda's room.  He saw the new King of Rohan and stepped back into the shadows until he passed.  It took great restraint to keep from confronting Ẻomer right there.  When the hall was clear, he went to Miranda's room and knocked.

Miranda quickly wiped the tears from her eyes and sat up.  "Who's there?" she called.

Haldir opened the door enough to stick his head in.  "Just me," he said.  He could tell right away she'd been crying and he was furious.  He forced himself to stay calm and entered.

"I was just eating, and then I'm under strict orders to rest," she said with a smile.  "Have you eaten yet?  There's plenty here."

"I'm fine," he said as he sat beside her.  "What about you?  Why were you crying?"

Miranda frowned.  "I can't keep anything from you can I?"

"No," Haldir said with a smirk.  He studied her expression but couldn't decipher her thoughts so he waited.

Miranda sighed.  "I think I broke someone's heart," she said.  "And I feel bad about it."

"I saw him leave," Haldir said.  "What did he say?"  He felt his heart pounding in his chest, but forced himself to listen.

"He asked me if I was sure…about you," Miranda said carefully.  "I tried to let him down easy, but he didn't want to believe it at first. I could tell he was hurt.  I never meant for him to…"

Haldir sighed with relief and pulled her into a hug.  "I understand his pain, but it is not your fault," he said.  "I saw you with him, and you never encouraged him."  He laughed to himself quietly and added, "You didn't even encourage me."

"Are you teasing me?" Miranda asked with a smirk.

"Yes," Haldir said with a chuckle as he tightened his embrace and kissed the top of her head. 

Miranda wrapped her arms around him and sighed.  "How do you always seem to know just what to say?" she asked.

"Elves are very clever," Haldir said as he released her. "The wisdom of the ages, you know."

Miranda laughed and Haldir thought it sounded like sweet music.  She was looking at him with the firelight reflected in her eyes and a loving smile.  He knew she needed to rest but he hated to leave her again.   He remembered Ẻomer's visit and didn't like the thought of just anyone being able to enter her room without a chaperone. 

Finally he said, "The hour is late, and you need to sleep."

"Everyone keeps saying that to me," Miranda laughed.  "Do I look that tired?"

"You look beautiful as always, but this has been a trying day for you."

"Very well," Miranda said and scooted her feet back to slip them under the covers.

Haldir stood and tucked her in.  "I wish I could stay to watch over you, but it wouldn't be…"

"I know," Miranda said.  "We're not camping under the stars with thirty Rangers anymore.  I'll be fine here."

"I'll be camping outside the city with Aragorn and his men," he said.  "I'll come and see you again in the morning."  Haldir bent down and kissed her gently on her forehead.

Miranda closed her eyes and relished the feel of his lips on her skin and his breath in her hair.  He turned to leave but she caught his wrist so he stopped and looked at her expectantly.

Miranda looked up into his warm gray eyes and said, "Haldir, I love you."

Haldir dropped to his knees beside the bed and gently took her face in his hands.   She was a desirable woman and yet so innocent.  She didn't know how beautiful she was.

"I love you too, Miranda," he said and then kissed her tenderly.  Miranda wrapped her arms around him and returned his kiss with enthusiasm. When their lips touched, Haldir realized instantly that Ẻomer had just kissed her.  As waves of anger washed over him, Haldir's kiss became more aggressive as if to wipe away all traces of his rival from her lips.  Finally Haldir broke their kiss and abruptly stood to leave.

He felt betrayed, but maintained his composure. She looked so small and delicate with a blush on her cheeks.  She was still a child in many ways, shy about even the simplest affection.  It was clear that she had been taken advantage of.  He didn't blame Miranda and decided not to even mention it to her. He could not be angry with someone so honest and loving.

"I must go," he said as he looked into her soft green eyes.   "Goodnight Miranda."

"Goodnight, Haldir," she said with a smile as she snuggled down under her covers.  "I will miss having you near."

Haldir felt a knot in his throat and all he could manage was a nod.  He left the room quickly and closed the door.  The hall was quiet and empty as he leaned back against her door and sighed. 

"I'll miss you too, my love," he whispered.  Then his expression suddenly turned dark and he stormed down the hall.  The new King of Rohan had crossed the line by kissing another man's woman.  Miranda was spoken for!  Haldir needed to deal with Ẻomer once and for all. 

******

Aragorn and the sons of Elrond labored long into the night tending to the wounded.  Those who saw him were amazed and excited by his healing skills.  They took it as a definite sign that the King had returned.  In the early morning before dawn, Aragorn wrapped his cloak around himself and quietly slipped back out of the city.  He disappeared into the tents the Rangers set up outside the city.  When the sun broke over the distant hills, the people of the city wondered if the visit from the King had been a dream.

******

Ẻomer sat by the fire with Legolas and Gimli talking about the day's events when he spotted Haldir walking toward the tents.  Legolas and Gimli turned to see what caught his attention and Gimli raised an eyebrow at Haldir's angry expression.

"The Elf Captain seems to be a little upset," Gimli said.

Ẻomer sighed.  He was grateful when Haldir just walked by.  "I visited Miranda this evening," he said quietly.  "I think he knows."

Legolas looked at Ẻomer with interest and calmly asked, "And?"

"She loves him," Ẻomer said bitterly.  "I was so sure…but…why him?"

"Those two have been inseparable since the battle at Helm's Deep," Gimli said.  "I should have known when he arrived with his archers that there was something between them.  She nearly leapt out of her skin when she saw him."

"He has been good for her," Legolas said.  "You don't know her like we do, she hasn't had a very easy life."

"It doesn't show," Ẻomer said.

"Miranda keeps her troubles to herself," Gimli said.  "An admirable quality."

 Ẻomer was silently lost in thought, so Legolas and Gimli said goodnight and left him by the fire.  After a few minutes, Haldir strode up to him with blatant jealousy in his eyes.  Ẻomer knew why he was angry so he stood to meet the Elf and raised his hand to stop him from speaking.

"I know what you are going to say," Ẻomer said. 

"What am I going to say?" Haldir asked in annoyance.  He rested his hand menacingly on the hilt of his sword and stared down Ẻomer with unmasked fury.

"You want me to stay away from Miranda," Ẻomer said.

"That would be wise," Haldir said angrily. "You walk on dangerous ground, King of Rohan, I know you kissed her."

"The fault is mine, she did nothing to encourage me," Ẻomer said quickly. "There was naught she could have done to stop it."

"I know she is innocent," Haldir said.  "Just see to it that you stay away from her."

"You have my word, I will not interfere with your claim on her," Ẻomer said.  "Miranda made her feelings very clear.  She loves only you."

Haldir narrowed his eyes and considered his words a moment. He could see the pain of rejection in his eyes.  Ẻomer was obviously being sincere so Haldir took him at his word.  "Very well," he finally conceded.

Ẻomer's expression suddenly turned serious and he looked Haldir in the eye and said, "Be good to her and there will be peace between us."

"Then we will have peace," Haldir said quickly. "I would give my life for her!"

"Forgive me," Ẻomer said as held out his hand. "Let's put our differences behind us."

Haldir took his hand and sighed.

"Friends?" Ẻomer asked.

Haldir frowned briefly, released Ẻomer's hand and said, "Don't push me, Horse Lord."  Then he turned and left without another word.