Chapter 5.

Haldir pulled back hurriedly and stepped back. Éowyn stared at him long and hard for what seemed like an eternity, and shook her head and whispered, "I'm sorry." Turning around, she fled into the distance.

Éowyn thought back on the past few brief but blissful moments. She had let her spirit soar, lifted high above the heavens, and all was peaceful. The gentle coaxing of his lips upon hers had sent shivers down her spine, and nothing really seemed to matter as the world around them faded into the distance, melting into the background as their souls entwined. Curse you, Éowyn thought to herself angrily. She knew all too well his perception of mere mortals, and she had fallen for him once he turned on the charm. As she sat silently, she realized that she had too many questions...and too few, if any, answers.

Haldir berated himself inwardly as he stared at her retreating figure. She had been so at ease with him merely a few moments ago, yet now, she was running from him. He sighed and thought that perhaps there was one little problem he had failed to register - she was in love with Aragorn. How could he have forgotten? He had caught that glimpse of longing, despair trapped within her. He realized that with every step he took, every word he uttered, he only succeeded in pushing her further and further away. He shook his head and strode into Helm's Deep, lost in his thoughts. As he walked, he saw Aragorn, seated in the hall, fingering the crystal pendant around his neck gently. Evenstar, thought Haldir bitterly. A wave of anger swept up in him. Éowyn was longing for the unattainable, and yet she had no idea why. Everything seemed to be a jumble of emotions – of fear, love and hope. The merest sliver of hope to hold onto...Haldir lowered his eyes for once, and walked away, pretending not to notice Aragorn and not acknowledging his presence.

Haldir! That was the instinctive thought that flashed into Aragorn's mind as he watched the March Warden of Lothlorien walk head bowed, eyes downcast and unsure. The cool calculating snobbery usually reflected in his gait was nowhere to be seen, and Aragorn knew that something was very wrong. First Éowyn rushing past him with tears glistening in her eyes, now Haldir in this strange state – he knew that Haldir loved Éowyn so much that it hurt him, yet he still believed that Éowyn cared nothing for him. How wrong he had been, thought Aragorn. Haldir was sadly misguided, but Aragorn knew that it was really not in his place to say anything.

Turn back into the dark night.

Haldir felt a strange compulsion to step outdoors into the darkness once again. He was worried, and he wondered long and hard. It was late, and nobody knew that secrets the night held, and finally quelled the urge and stepped back into his room. After what seems like the longest silence he had ever heard, he finally fell asleep.

"Haldir, there is an enemy who hunts you again. And you did the right thing," a sweet voice whispered.

"Lady Galadriel?" he asked.

"Indeed it is me, and the enemy will attempt to draw you out into an open duel, and you will be unprepared. There is no telling what his next move will be – it is like a game of chess. But there are going to be voices in your mind, and they are not to be trusted," Galadriel said, smiling gently at him.

"Why is he speaking to me through my mind? Has he perfected the art of telepathy?"

"Those who have turned over to the dark side have ways of doing things that I'd rather not risk," Galadriel replied sadly. "Yes, my lady," Haldir felt the image shift out of focus, and fade. A wave of calm washed over him, and he finally was at rest – mind, body and soul.

"Éowyn?"

Éowyn opened her eyes, or so she thought, to find an elf-lady bending over her. She was in a field of flowers, and a drizzle was gently falling.

"There is sorrow in you, and fear. There is love too, yet it all stems from the same person," Galadriel said softly.

"Haldir," Éowyn said flatly and emotionlessly.

"But you must know that he is in grave peril too," Galadriel said.

"I do know, yet is there nothing that you can do, Lady?"

"It is not in my power to do so – but you can save him. Use your heart," With that, Galadriel slowly vanished from sight, and Éowyn was trapped between the realization of a reality and a dream.

Kill him now, while he is at his most vulnerable. Look at his sleeping form, lying peacefully. The Lady has visited him, once again. It would be so easy – one swish of a sword and he'd be dead. I can feel his every emotion, raging through me like an unrestrained flame. Perhaps this was all it had to be – I could kill him from my safe haven so far away. Lifting it high above my head, I aim for him. Thrusting it in with a smooth stroke, I smile and touch the blade of my sword in peace my work has been done. He will not live again. This method has proven to be most useful. Indeed, Lady Galadriel knows nothing of my power – and of what I can do – and have done.

Fear pounded in Éowyn's heart. She awoke abruptly to the anguished wail of someone in the next room. Haldir – yes, it had to be him. She leaped out of bed and rushed over, to find him bloodstained, injured badly. His hands were cold, and he was breaking out into a cold sweat and she cried out loud," Haldir!"

"It was him, once again," Haldir choked out painfully before losing consciousness.

Once again, thanks to my lovely reviewers "the usual bunch"

keep on reviewing! yay! (: