**Whispered Wishes**

It was late morning and Miranda was bored.  She cleaned her room, her weapons and hung her new gowns in the wardrobe.  She looked around the small, now clean room and decided she could not just sit here.  She slipped into the hall and went in search of an exit.  When she heard Ioreth coming down the hall, she knew she'd get an earful about resting. Miranda quickly looked for a place to hide but there was nothing to hide behind.  To her right was a door so she silently slipped inside and held her breath.  She put her ear to the door and listened as Ioreth sang softly and passed by.

"Have you come to visit?" a man's voice asked behind her.  "Or are you hiding?"

Miranda nearly jumped out of her skin as she turned to see who had spoken.  There was a man sitting up in bed reading.  She recognized him from a dream and gasped when she realized who she'd disturbed. 

"I'm so sorry," she said nervously.  "I… uh, lost my way.  Please excuse this intrusion."  She knew she was blushing, and she quickly turned and reached for the door but he interrupted her retreat.

"You are not one of the healers," he said.  "I know all those who tend the sick in this house and I have never seen you before."

"No sir," Miranda said quietly.  "I was brought in yesterday, but I am well now."

"Are you?" he asked with a hint of humor in his voice.  "Well, that is good.  I am Faramir, the new Steward of Gondor.  And you are?"

"Miranda, sir," Miranda said quietly.  "Once again, I apologize. I will let you rest."  Miranda reached for the door again, but Faramir would not allow it.

"Stop," he said with authority.  "Come here where I can see you."

Miranda silently obeyed, but avoided looking at him.  She stood near the bed and he looked her over before he made a comment.

"Who are you Miranda, and why won't you look at me?" he asked. "Am I very frightening?"

Miranda looked at him as if to defy his accusation and she nearly lost her composure.  He looked so much like Boromir.  Faramir noted her startled expression and pressed her for an answer.

"You know me?" he asked.

"No, sir," Miranda said.  "But you remind me of someone."

Faramir looked into Miranda's sad green eyes and knew immediately who this strange woman was.  His expression softened and he smiled.  "I know who you are," Faramir said.  "You are the woman who rode with the ten companions from Rivendell."

Miranda was surprised that he knew.  "How did you…"

"Frodo spoke of you," he said.  "Won't you sit down and tell me about your journey?  I have been bored in this room without any company."

Miranda gave him a smile.  "I'm not a very good story teller," she said as she pulled up a chair.

Faramir laughed.  "That is unlikely, Lady Miranda," he said.  "Truthfully, I would hear what became of Lord Boromir.  He was my brother, but you already know that."

"Yes," Miranda said.  "He was my friend, and I miss him very much."

"Tell me about your journey, please," he pressed.

"I saw him first at a meeting in Lord Elrond's house," she began.  "I thought he was very outspoken, and I don't think he liked me very much when I was chosen to go with the Fellowship."

Faramir listened intently as she recounted their adventures on the road, and her friendship with Boromir.  When she got to the part about Lorien, she tried to skim over it, but Faramir noticed and interrupted.

"Your time with the Elves, surely there was more…" he pressed.

"I was busy with other things and didn't spend much time with the others," Miranda said, trying not to talk about herself too much.   "But Boromir seemed uneasy there.  He was anxious to get home and help guard the city."  Miranda didn't want to tell Faramir about his brother's struggle with the ring.  She didn't want the memory of his valor to be tainted by his moment of weakness.

Faramir watched her expressions closely and knew she was giving him only parts of the story.  When she got to the part about his courageous fight to protect the Hobbits she was struggling to keep from crying. 

"What did he say to you before he…?" Faramir asked as delicately as possible.

"He wished we'd had more time to know each other better," she said as a tear ran down her cheek.  "He wanted me to see his home and meet his father."

Faramir sighed and then gave her a smile.  "Thank you for telling me," he said.  "I needed to hear what happened."

Miranda gave him a polite nod and rose to leave.  "I should let you rest now," she said as she reached the door.

"He loved you, you know," Faramir said, stopping her in her tracks.  Miranda turned to face him and he continued.  "I know my brother, and he was definitely in love with you."

Miranda turned back to the door and left.  She closed the door behind her and leaned back against it.  "I know," she whispered.  "I loved him, too."

*****

Miranda felt depressed so she was going to go hide in her room when Legolas and Gimli found her.  Seeing them brightened her outlook a little and she smiled.

"So, who's winning your count?" she asked humorously.

Gimli laughed, "Well, after this blinding light yesterday, I lost count."

Legolas smiled at his comment and agreed, "We got word that you were dead and all the fun went right out of our game."

Miranda frowned as she headed toward her room.  "Sorry."

Legolas caught her wrist to stop her and she turned to look at him.  "What's wrong?"

"I'm perfectly well, but Aragorn forbids me to go with you tomorrow," she said.  "I should be there."

"Nay, lass," Gimli said.  "For once I agree with the lad.  You should stay here."

"He feels responsible for you," Legolas said.  "I saw him yesterday, when he thought you were dead.  I've never seen him so…" Legolas stopped.  There simply was no word to describe the grief he saw on Aragorn's face.  "Don't fight him on this, Miranda.  He won't change his mind."

"I know," she said in frustration.  "I don't think Haldir would let me go either, and forget about Gandalf.  I used to have no one to answer to, and now I answer to too many."

Gimli burst into laughter.  "Now you know what it is to have a family.  You'll have to learn to take the good with the bad."

Miranda smiled.  "Well at least I was lucky enough to choose my own."

Legolas laughed at that and gave her a hug.  "I think we chose you," he said with a smile.  "At least that's how I remember it."

Miranda laughed and Gimli punched Legolas in the shoulder.  "She's betrothed, laddy, so watch it."

Legolas released her and looked at the dwarf with a smirk.  "It's okay, we're family."

"Well, we better get this one back to her room then," Gimli said.  "She should be resting."

Miranda frowned briefly, but didn't really mind.  She was a little tired and she knew they meant well.  By the time they got there, Ioreth was waiting for her with a tray and some hot tea.  Legolas and Gimli bade her farewell and left.  She was alone with her meal and her thoughts.  She ate quickly and drank the tea which made her drowsy.  She lay on her bed and went right to sleep.  It wasn't long before she was dreaming, and her dreams were horrifying.

Miranda was watching Aragorn's army surround the black gate.  She saw Gandalf standing in front with Aragorn and the Captains, holding a conference with another Nazgul like creature.  The hooded figure presented some of Frodo and Sam's things and arrogantly told everyone that they were dead.  Gandalf refuted the bluff and challenged the dark rider.  After a few moments of angry words, the black creature screamed up to the sky.

"If they value their allies so little, they will surely never miss another," he said mockingly.  "Slay the woman!"

Miranda's dream changed and she felt herself riding the wind, free as a bird yet she was in pain.  She was being crushed and when she looked around, she understood.  She was caught in the grip of one of the Nazgul's flying beasts.  The black rider glanced down at her and his menacing voice echoed in her head.

"My master will be pleased with me for finding you," he said.

Miranda looked at him closely and realized he was the same one who killed her mother.  "Or maybe he will be angry at you for failing to kill me as a baby," Miranda said angrily.  "But don't worry about that, I'm sure he's a very forgiving sort."

The Nazgul stared down at her silently for a while and she felt cold under his evil gaze.  Perhaps her words had given him pause, but then she heard the echo of the rider from the gate faintly… 'Slay the woman!'

Miranda woke with a scream, drenched in sweat.  She was shaking, and tried to force herself to calm down.  A moment later her door opened and Izabel ran to the bed.

"My lady! My lady, are you all right?" she asked frantically.

Miranda racing heart slowed and she rasped, "Just a dream."

"I'll get you some tea to calm you…" Izabel started to say.

"No!" Miranda said firmly.  The last thing she wanted was to go back to sleep.  "What time is it?"

"The hour is late, my lady," Izabel said.  "The moon is rising."

"I need to get out of here," Miranda said.  "I can't stay inside like this all the time… the walls are pressing in on me.  I need some fresh air."

"There is a garden; I could ask Ioreth if you can go…"

"Who do you work for, her or me?" Miranda asked her in annoyance.

"I am your maid, my lady," Izabel said in surprise.

"Then show me this garden," Miranda said firmly.

"Yes, my lady."

*****

Haldir returned to the House of Healing later than he'd planned.  The moon was high and Miranda would probably be sleeping, but he had to see her before he left.  When he arrived, her room it was empty.  A sudden feeling of panic came over him and he worriedly searched the halls for her.  As he rounded the corner he ran into Izabel.

"Where's your lady?" Haldir asked the startled maid a little more abruptly than he'd intended.

"She was restless and went to the gardens," Izabel said.

"Restless?" Haldir asked.

"She had a dream and said that the walls were closing in on her.  She needed some fresh air," Izabel clarified quietly.  "She said she can't stand to be cooped up inside."

Haldir gave her a nod of understanding and asked to be led to the garden.  Izabel nervously led the elf captain to a small door that led into a large garden and then left.  Haldir stepped out into the moonlight but did not see Miranda.  He calmly walked the perimeter of the garden until he came to a small hedged in area where she stood alone.  Haldir was relieved to see that she was all right. He stayed hidden and watched for a moment. She was so beautiful standing there in the moonlight.  She was still wearing that gown, and her hair was loose around her shoulders.  Her eyes sparkled like they had captured stars within them.  Haldir was overcome by her innocent and graceful beauty.

Miranda wrapped her arms around herself and looked up at the stars.  It was a quiet and calm night, but soon there would be the screeching of the Nazgul again and everything would be chaos.  She looked at the moon and smiled.  Its comforting silver light was peaceful and she loved it.  One star seemed to shine a little brighter than the others and she remembered an old childhood rhyme.

"Star light, star bright…" she whispered.  "First star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight."

She closed her eyes and seemed to be lost in thought so Haldir quietly walked over to her.

"What are you doing out here so late and without a cloak?" Haldir asked from behind her as he took off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders. He wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her.

"I couldn't sleep," Mirada said softly. "I hoped you would have time to visit me tonight."

Haldir leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "How could I pass up an opportunity to see the moon sparkling in your beautiful eyes?"  

Miranda smiled and blushed at his compliment but soon her nagging fears entered her thoughts.

Haldir could feel her turmoil as her whispered words echoed in his head. He sighed and asked her, "What wishes do you whisper to the stars?"

"I can't tell," Miranda said sadly as she leaned back against his broad chest.  "Only secret wishes come true."

"Is that why you keep so much inside?" Haldir asked.

"Sometimes," Miranda said.  "I see so many things, and they aren't always very pretty.  They often frighten me. I don't like sharing such things."

"Sharing your fears can make them less frightening," Haldir said.  "Please, Miranda, let me calm your fears."

Miranda sighed and relished the comfort of his strong arms around her. Haldir sighed and patiently waited for her to answer.  He wanted to protect her, but how could he protect her from her own dreams?  Finally Miranda broke the silence.

"You're leaving before dawn," she said, changing the subject.

"Yes," he confirmed.  "I promised a beautiful woman that I would look after her King until the end, and I mean to keep that promise."

"Aragorn will be safe," Miranda said.  "Promise me you'll look after yourself."

"Do not worry about me, Miranda," Haldir said.  "I have too much to live for to be careless in battle."

"Good, because I expect you to return to me," she said with a crack in her voice.  She could not see the end of the battle and it scared her.  She didn't want him to be hurt, and she didn't want him to watch her die.

"Nothing could keep me away," Haldir said as he turned her to face him. He hugged her close and soon he could feel her relax in his arms. "We will have our time of peace, you will see," he added softly.

"I already know that we will win the war," Miranda said.  "I just don't know … I can't see..."

"You will be my wife," Haldir said firmly, "and I will guard you more closely than the forest of Lothlorien." Haldir kissed the top of her head. 

"I love you so much," Miranda said softly.

"You are the greatest treasure in all of Middle Earth," Haldir said.  "How did I gain the love of one so sweet?"

 "I'm just a simple girl," Miranda whispered.

Haldir leaned back to look at her face and he saw the apprehension in her eyes.  He gently lifted her chin and kissed her passionately.  She really didn't know how breathtaking she was and it nearly broke his heart.  "You're the woman I love," he said seriously.  "No mere girl could have conquered my heart so completely."

"But I have done nothing…" Miranda said in confusion.

"You never had to," Haldir said as he embraced her.  "You are gentle hearted and soft spoken. You wield a sword with fierce confidence one moment, and then tend the wounded with grace and mercy the next.  You're so innocent, but within you is the wisdom of the ages.  You carry a great light inside you, my sweet little Seer.  There are no words in any language to explain how much I love you, Miranda."

"And I love you," Miranda said as her eyes filled with tears.  "It took me a while to understand my feelings, but I loved you since I first saw you in the forest, scowling at Gimli."

Haldir laughed, "He didn't care for me either."

"You didn't even notice me then," Miranda said.

"Oh, I noticed," Haldir said.  "I thought you were beautiful, and I wondered who you were."

"Really?" Miranda asked.  "Even covered with the grime of travel?"

"Elves don't lie," Haldir said.  "A little dust could not hide such beauty."

Miranda smiled, but then her face grew serious. "I should be going with you," Miranda said.  "But Aragorn and Gandalf refuse to listen to me."

"There is nothing you will be able to do," Haldir said.  "It is a last stand, Miranda, a distraction to give Frodo and Sam a chance."

"Then I should be there," Miranda said.  "The dark Lord knows who I am after I…after the battle.  He is looking for me, I can feel it."

Haldir stepped back to look into her eyes and he could see she was telling the truth.  "What do you see?" he asked nervously.

Miranda didn't want to tell him her dream, it would only upset him.  "I am a threat to him, at least until he has the ring," she said.  "That is why he killed my parents."

Haldir hugged her again and tried to comfort her despite his own growing fears for her safety.  "Then you must stay here where you will be safe as Aragorn has ordered.  I could not bear to lose you.  Promise me you will stay here."

Miranda sighed, "I promise I will not leave the city under my own power."

"Good," Haldir said.  "I must go now, but I will count the hours until I can see you again."

"And I will be anxiously waiting for your return," Miranda said sadly.  She was afraid she would never see him again, so she changed the subject.  "I know they have need of more horses, so take Tempest, and watch out for Orc arrows."

Haldir looked into her eyes and could see the worry she tried to hide from him.  He thought she was terrified of losing him and he didn't know how to put her mind at ease.  "Look at me, Miranda."

Miranda looked at Haldir and he kissed her with an almost desperation.  His hands roamed over her small frame as though he were trying to memorize the feel of her body in his arms.  Miranda clung to him and kissed him with the same fervent need.  He laced his fingers in her soft hair and gently tilted her head back so he could kiss her neck.  Her skin was so soft, and he traced a line under her jaw with his tongue and settled his mouth over her racing pulse. His other hand drifted from the small of her back to lightly brush over her breast.  Haldir heard her breath catch in her throat and he looked into her eyes questioningly.  When he saw her dreamy eyes and loving smile it was more than he could bear. He captured her mouth again and gently kneaded her breast. Miranda moaned softly and Haldir could feel her body shudder against him.  He thought it would kill him to leave her, but he had no choice.  When he finally forced himself to break their kiss he looked down at her and huskily said, "I swear I will return to you, my love."

"And Elves don't lie," Miranda said breathlessly with a weak smile.

"No, iirima Miranda," he said with a smile.  "Elves don't lie."

Haldir walked her back to her room and kissed her one last time.  Miranda wrapped his cloak back around his shoulders and pinned it for him.

"So handsome," she said.  "The armor becomes you, but I will be glad when there is no longer a need for it."

"And I will be glad for the day when we will wear wedding attire," Haldir said.  "Now you rest, and I will return soon."

"Goodnight Haldir," Miranda said.

"Namarii, iirima russë melda," Haldir said, and then left.

Miranda closed her door, fell down on her bed and wept.  She knew the battle would be horrible, and she knew that somehow she would be there.  Her future was blurry and it frightened her.  She would not sleep well until this war was over and Haldir was safe.