This wasn't too long of a wait this time, was it? I sure hope not!

I want to give out a HUGE thanks for hanging in there for the LONG delayed chapter. I was so happy that so many hadn't given up! You guys are the absolute best readers ever!

Thanks to: Aerlalaith, Haldir's Heart and Soul, Flesca(Ashk is named after my favorite character in an Anne Bishop book; Tir Alainn Trilogy. The rest come from imagination and generators), Julia, Anarya of Lorien(Send me an email and I'll be more than happy to give any tips I can! Email is on profile), kati58, Margarita, legolasnDcolorblueintrestsme, Jullez, leggylover2004, poolbum, Amirel, Freya, Soccer-Bitch!

Warning: This chapter contains some possibly offensive material but does not exceed the rating of PG-13.

Chapter Six: In the Night

Ashk

"Look out!"

I paused and glanced out the window only to see the working shed collapse into a pile of rubble. Dust billowed up from it and snow fluttered in the air.

I nearly plastered myself to the window before rushing out the door. I knew Haldir and his brothers shouldn't have been working in that shed. What did I tell them? It was too cold! Those twig pillars would break under any weight. They had, of course, insisted they were graceful enough to avoid it.

Elves!

By the time I stopped and looked in every direction, only to see I was alone, I felt a weighing dread build.

"I told you not to move that!"

"It was in the way!"

Swirling around, I hurried around the lopsided pile of broken wood and glass. Through the still settling dust, I spotted the three Elves. It would have been funny had I not just nearly shat myself.

The three elegant creatures, all carved with a flawless perfection that I both envied and loathed, had a thick layer of dust over them. Rumil stomped his feet a bit, dust rolling off of him while Orophin gave Haldir a smack on the arm. A cloud of dust flew off his brother.

"Idiots!" I heard myself shout, making them all turn to face me. "What did I warn you about! ...Urgh!" I stalked off, unsure whether I was more upset with them for scaring me, or with myself for actually feeling the dreadful fear that something might have happened to any of them.

I growled as I reached to porch stairs and stomped up them.

It had been three days since the deed of the property was passed to Haldir and he, his brothers, myself, and my young friend Donavon began working on the house and surrounding property.

So far, none of us had even made a dent…Spite the fact that I was now lacking a working shed.

The door slammed behind me and I felt my hands and face tingle from the freezing cold outside.

The door opened again a moment later.

"Are you insane? Going outside without even a cloak on!"

I spun around. "Well, I didn't have much time to think about attire while I thought for certain that shed had collapsed on you and your brothers. If you wouldn't be so…so Bullheaded, I wouldn't have!"

Haldir blinked in confusion. We'd been decent to each other ever since that argument in the inn room. He was obviously unsure what struck this fuse in me now.

"Did you just call me bullheaded?" he asked, the corner of his mouth quirking slightly in effort not to smile.

I glared at his awful attempt to hide his amusement and wanted to throw myself down a set of stairs as I felt my heart do a few somersaults.

"You can't tell me no one has ever called you that before," I scowled, feeling my irritation fade. These mood swings were really getting the best of me lately and I hated it.

He gave a shrug, a half smile appearing from under that dust on his face. "Enough to name on one hand," he told me. "Not many backtalk the March Warden."

"I don't backtalk," I informed him, turning away and reaching for the pail of water closest and pulling a soaked brush from its depths.

"You backtalk more than anyone I know!" Haldir told me. "Even Rumil!"

"I do not!" I retorted, scrubbing the wall; scraping away the ugly layers to reveal the once elegant mold under it. It almost looked like marble - something I'd only seen once in my life.

Haldir's silence made me look at him and he had his arms crossed with a skeptical look.

"What?"

"You are doing it again."

I threw him a look. "Oh, shut your face, Warden."

He gave a chuckle and turned away to go back outside, but...There was one more thing I had to get out of the way.

"Um, Warden."

He turned, his hand on the door.

"There's still one thing that - Um -" Oh, I was such a whelp. Finally, I tossed the brush back in the bucket and bit my lip. "The matter about us," I said. "About...marriage."

I couldn't see the color of his face well enough under the dust, but I was certain that it drained to a deathly white. His eyes hollowed and grew colder than the winter just outside.

"We are already married," he told me seriously before turning to go outside.

I fumbled with this. "What?" He turned, looking at me curiously and I cleared my throat. "What do you mean?"

"What I mean is Elvish culture is different than yours. We chose to have a public wedding, or a private ceremony. Either way, the couple is wed and husband and wife.

"I have no wish to have a public wedding and, well, apparently the ceremony was already had."

Oh, I never tried to bring that night up. It only served me to become angry with him…and, of course, embarrassed. What I'd give to take that night back.

...Or, I thought shamefully, to relive it.

I wasn't aware Haldir was watching me before he moved away from the door and came toward me. "You don't want a public wedding, do you?"

I looked at him in surprise and scoffed the best I could. "No. Why would I?"

He stared me down a long moment and I felt like my legs were going to give out any minute. Finally, he nodded. "So there are no misunderstandings?"

I blinked. "None."

He nodded again. "Very well."

Haldir turned away and moved to the door once last time, saying over his shoulder, "Have Donavon bring more wood in. You're cold." Opening the door, he walked back into the cold.

I pressed my lips into a fine line.

I was married…The thought nearly made me sick.

I was the wife of an Elf I could never love nor be loved in return.

Night

Haldir

For it being so late, the tavern below the inn rooms was still loud and rambunctious. I was glad that I'd managed to get Ashk housed in on the property yesterday.

However, it would be dawn in short time and she had still not returned from work. I hadn't expected the house to be empty - spite Donavon sleeping in the bedroom closest to the stairs - when I'd awoken.

Why I'd awoken so abruptly was still haunting me.

"Please don't."

"I swear not to hurt you. I would never hurt someone like you."

"Wait - Wait!" I bit back a growl as I looked at her. She looked disheveled and in a state of shock. "I don't even know your name."
I sighed, closing my mouth over hers. When she tried to push me back, I managed to answer her. "Haldir."
She turned her head away, managing to separate us. She stared at me a long moment. "I've heard that name before."
I shrugged. "You may have." My hand trailed to her hair, pulling the tie down, her hair tumbling down her shoulders.
She looked more wild with her hair down.
"I am the March Warden of Lothlorien."
She jolted at this, surprise flashing brightly over her face. I felt her breath leave her quickly. Finally, she shook her head. "I can't do this," she said, shifting to roll away.
"Why not?"
She blinked at me, a quiet fear in her eyes that took me aback.
"...Because," she said, making me smile. She had longing in her eyes; it was her mind telling her to run.
"Oh?"
"You're freezing," she said, trying to pull away from me as my touch trailed along her collar.
"And you are warm," I replied. I slid an arm around her as she tried to pull away again. Rolling over slightly, I peered down at her doe colored eyes. "You needn't leave - I will not be cold long. Not with you here."
She stared at me a moment and I could feel desperation fill me. Many things could cure painful memories and I was hoping this simple woman was one of them. I did not want this night to be as the handful before since...since then. Since it happened.
Fear was still in her eyes and I vaguely wondered if she saw the fear in my eyes. The fear I felt of what this night would bring if she left.
"Don't leave," I said quietly. "I swear not to hurt you. I would never hurt someone like you." Ashk did not reply, staying rigid as I watched her carefully. Slowly, I leaned towards her again to taste her mouth to mine. A relieving heat flushed me when she did not turn away and the tension left her as I pulled her close, my hands venturing once more.

The dim light of the fire only flickered enough to shine off her gleaming body, but I could see her just perfectly. She was beautiful.

When the fire died away, I did not rise to refresh it. She would not be cold any time this night. Even the chill that had rested deep in me the past days was gone.

Perhaps it was scattered and vague, but I knew that vivid dream well. It was memories I wasn't sure if I would have rather forgotten.

My eyes scanned out across the room, not finding Ashk among the patrons, but instead saw Gronig playing a game of Rolls, as he called it, with a table of men.

Looking to the bar, I frowned when I still didn't see her.

What exactly was I doing here?

Being sure she hadn't left work and never made it to the house, I assured myself.

Stepping closer to the bar, I finally spotted her. She was leaned against the counter, a man beaming a completely sober smile at her.

Skimming through other conversations, I could hear theirs just fine.

"I think you're trying to josh me," Ashk said in a glittering voice, smiling at the man as she rested her chin in her palm.

"I would never!" replied the man who gave a woeful chuckle. "Well - Maybe just a little."

The two cackled with laughter before Ashk turned away to refill someone's drink. The man watched her with an intense interest.

"Ah! Haldir!"

My eyes dashed to see Gronig waving me toward him. I smiled before shooting a look back towards Ashk who was now aware of my presence and staring at me somewhere between question and surprise. Her eyes jumped to the man who she'd been talking to, then back to me.

Did she expect me to become jealous?

I nodded to her before going to the table Gronig had added another chair to, still beckoning me to join.

Ashk

Damn, Haldir. How did he manage to become March Warden when he couldn't even tell I needed his help?

This pig-headed creep had been hanging on the bar all night. Every time I denied to dance with him when the bard would play, I could see something flash in his eyes, but he'd dismiss it and launch into some new conversation that would be twice as dramatic as the one previous to it.

If Haldir had been paying attention, he would have seen the look I'd given him, screaming Get him out of here!

Mort had always known when I needed help, why couldn't my own husband?

I scoffed at the thought.

Simply, because my husband didn't know me.

"Sure wish I wasn't just passin' through," said the man who'd introduced himself as Septh.

You better be glad you are before I end up breaking a bottle over your head, I thought as I flashed a smile at him. He was as handsome as sin, but with that make-your-heart-flip smile came eyes darker than I'd seen in a long time. They were the same eyes as all the others who spelled trouble.

However, my oldest sister, Mauriel, taught me one thing about working in a tavern. You always make your patrons feel as if you're interested in what they have to say. If you don't, they'll end up walking away without paying you and they won't come back.

Only when someone was rushing on you did you ever call on help either with a glance or a scream, it didn't matter.

I was ready to glare a hole through Gronig. The man was nice and polite, but he was almost too kind to his customers. They ran over him.

I just wanted to go back to the house. I was already hours passed my designated work time.

Not to mention, I wouldn't doubt if this man would follow me. It had happened before, but I'd never walked home alone when it was past dark.

Thanks to Mort.

But, now that Haldir was here…

"Excuse me," I said politely, moving around the side of the bar and walking towards Gronig and his group of rioting friends. Haldir stood out amongst them, not nearly laughing as hard as they were.

I swallowed a growl as I felt Septh's prying eyes watching me.

My hand landed on Gronig's shoulder. "I'm off, Gronig," I told him. He looked at me with that big grin of his.

"Very well, Ashk," he said, smiling at me.

I looked to Haldir. "Walk me back?"

He stared at me a moment before Gronig spoke up. "Oh, but he only just arrived! He really must stay for at least one round of Rolls."

My eyes flashed back towards Septh.

He was gone.

I scanned the bar but I still did not see the brutally handsome, light-haired man anywhere.

I looked back to Haldir who was peering through his hand of cards and the four dice that was dealt to him. I felt like reaching over the table, grabbing his ear, and dragging him outside with me.

Of course, I wasn't supposed to obligate him to husbandly duties now was I? That was fine. I didn't need him. I'd be just fine on my own.

"Well, I suppose I can spare him. Good night," I said, smiling at the men at the table.

"G'night, darling," Gronig said, his giant smile still beaming at me.

Haldir glanced up at me briefly muttering a good night.

When I turned away, I still found myself looking for Septh. Yet, again, I didn't find him in sight.

Bidding goodbye to a few patrons, I swung my cloak on and walked out the door.

Haldir

Glancing at the door as it closed, I settled myself to face the table again. I'd been surprised when Ashk had asked me to walk her back to the property, but I was grateful for Gronig's interference.

Even though I'd come looking for her, the dreamed memories made me want to stay away from her. Whether it was becauses of shame or the way my chest tightened every time I thought about it, I wasn't sure.

Either way, it was better if I waited until morning to bring it up...or maybe in a few days.

Ashk

The wind whipped around me, swirling my cloak and stinging my face and ears. A shiver racked down me and I cursed as my hair snapped across my face, slapping into my already wind-blown and watering eyes.

I hated winter with a passion.

The lights from town were fading as I trekked south. I could see the outline of the house, but the howling of the wind made the night eerie. The wind gage creaked on the barn not far away and it made me pause.

I looked upward to the sky, hoping to find the guidance of the moon, but it was not shining this night. Clouds layered the sky in a silky darkness.

"What a coincidence running into you out here."

Dread filled me was so heavily that I fought to breathe as I turned around in surprise. He looked even more handsome in the night's shadow, but twice as ominous.

There was nothing heading this way out of town except the house that would be my home...And the home of my children.

I shuddered at the thought. "Septh," I said. "You must have gotten turned around. There's nothing this way until you reach the Elven Wood."

He smiled slowly at me, wrinkling his dark eyes and making me swallow. He was twice the size of me and, as I silently guessed my distance from the house, he could easily outrun me.

I'd been here before…I was seventeen at the time. Nearly eight years later, the fear was still as strong as it was then.

My hand instinctively grazed past my lower stomach.

It was late at night; people would be sleeping with their windows shut and fires blazing. The tavern was far by now and too loud for anyone to hear a scream.

"Oh, there certainly is something this way," he said, his smile deepening.

He stepped forward and I dashed out of reach, racing back towards town, knowing the house would do nothing but give me a place to hide.

"No you don't!"

His hand was like a steel clamp on my arm. It was something between a scream and a curse that ripped from me as I spun around, throwing my palm under his nose, cutting upward.

Septh staggered back with a cry and I stumbled away, my shoes digging into the hard packed snow as I raced towards town again.

I wasn't but a handful of paces up before a firm grip tangled into my hair, jerking me back with an oath. I slammed back into him, jarred by the impact as the blood from his nose dripped onto me.

Beyond being desperate, I stomped on his foot making him cry out again. My hands flew up, trying to rake my nails over his face as I distantly heard my voice shouting out for anybody. His hand clamped over my mouth then.

"You little whore!" he growled in my ear before I kicked him in the shin. If only I could turn around and land a solid blow to his crotch, I'd be able to get away!

Any hope of getting around to kick him slipped away as we crashed to the frozen ground. I was too dazed to realize he struck me across the face a moment later. It made me pause in shock and the pounding of my head seemed too great to do anything else.

However, feeling his hands become greedy, I panicked, flinging my arms and legs out, desperate to hit him anywhere while my voice echoed in the night, calling for help…screaming for help.

A growl left him as he closed his hand over my mouth again, pinning my legs down with his own even as I bucked and trashed under him with everything I had.

"Quiet, my girl - Shhh!"

My voice was muffled in his hand and I felt the panicked tears well in my eyes.

"It's all right, Ashk, honey. I'll be real nice to you if you let me." His hand left my mouth and his tongue went over my lips that I had clenched shut.

A tremendous shudder ran over me and I felt the tears I fought slide out of my eyes as his tongue moved over my cheek. All I knew was fear I as maneuvered enough to tear my teeth into his ear.

His bellowing of pain didn't stop when he finally got away from me. Yet, even past my minor victory, it was obvious to see the rage in his eyes as he hauled me to a stand only to hit me back down.

The reckoning blow left me in more of a daze than the first and I could feel the throbbing of where his knuckles had hit. I could barely even see him as he raised his foot to send a kick right to my stomach.

He was going to kick right to the infants I carried, but I couldn't seem to move to get out of the way. I could barely keep my eyes focused.

Then, suddenly, there was a noise and Septh was gone.

Time passed and I barely noticed. When I was finally pushing myself over to sit up, I managed to see Haldir rushing up the slope of the hill not but a few yards away. Septh was no where to be found.

"Haldir." His name muttered past my lips as I struggled to stand.

I saw his eyes widen slightly before he lunged at me.

As I fell, I felt his arms fold around me and the ground give way, but then there was nothing but that silky, dark sky above.

- - -

Well, how was it? I'm kind of nervous about this chapter, do tell your opinions!