Chapter Five:

Current mood: Calm

Current music: Satellite (Oakenfold remix)- P.O.D (Lara Croft: The Cradle of Life soundtrack)

Sometimes I question Celeborn's wisdom. It doesn't happen often, and the feeling is brief and fleeting, but it's there. I felt it today when he told me I would be going to Mirkwood.. He has a message for King Thranduil that must arrive safely and discreetly. I don't doubt that the message is important and requires high security, but taking me from Lorien now, while our eastern borders are weakened? I don't think that is entirely wise. That, and I'll have to see her again.

Celeborn has told me that the Airëlussa is due to depart for Mirkwood tomorrow morning and so, in all his wisdom, he has requested passage for me. Scouts would come with me and be dropped off in North Lorien, and I would remain to deliver my message to Thranduil when we arrive in Mirkwood. I don't like it, but I must follow orders.

I only hope the Captain has forgotten our first meeting.

Haldir strode slowly through the woods away from the city. It would be his last night in his home for several weeks at least, and he wanted to savour it as much as possible. He looked up, finding the waxing moon in the sky, smiling at the light shining down on him. His eyes opened wide, drinking in its light, before turning back to the forest around him.

His fingers brushed lightly against the smooth bark of the mallorns as he passed and he breathed deeply of the scent of grass and leaves. These things were, of course, found in abundance in Mirkwood also, but that forest was darkened, and the trees were full of evil things. No, he did not like going there at all.

He had been there several times before as the bearer of messages, and was well known by the royals, though they themselves never travelled to Lorien if they could help it. Seldom did they leave their own land, since all their strength was in fighting the darkness to the south. Though the dark tower of the Necromancer in the south of the forest was empty and the evil purged, the forest was still dark and some of the trees in that part of the forest were hostile and angry. Spiders and Orcs still lived there. He had seen it with his own eyes - once, he had joined a scouting party while he visited, but he never would again.

Haldir shook his head, as if physically banishing the memory. That had not been a good day for anyone, and he would no longer enter the south of what once was Greenwood the Great, save at the last need. Visiting the stronghold to the north, however, was an entirely different matter.

As dark and brooding as the forest was, there was still a great city of the elves in the North of the realm. Though every day the danger grew nearer, and the scouts just barely held off attacks from the people, they still had a thriving community of artists and musicians, and other talented people, lead by their King Thranduil and his children. He had befriended the family, though they rarely saw each other, though elven memory is long and does not dim with time. If not for the need to leave his realm, he would have genuinely been looking forward to seeing them again.

As he thought to himself and walked further into the woods, he came upon a figure sitting by one of the silver streams that ran throughout the realm. He was sitting on the ground hugging his knees and looking at his own reflection in the smooth surface of the water. Haldir smiled and approached him.

"Mae Govannen, Ameron," he said as he went to sit beside him. The other elf did not look up, but nodded in acknowledgement. "What troubles you, my friend? I've not seen you like this before." A sigh came from Ameron as he straightened and sat back on his elbows. He was silent for a long time, and Haldir thought he may not answer.

"You are lucky, did you know?" he said finally. Haldir frowned and looked at his friend curiously. Ameron looked back at him, meeting the Captain's silver gaze. "You have never married."

"Why would that make me lucky ?" Haldir asked carefully. He had known there was some tension in his friend's marriage. A year ago he had confided in him of his wife's need for space, and how he'd felt at letting her go. His senses were telling him he was about to hear a similar story. Ameron shook his head, his tone and body language downright cynical, a parody of his usual light and joyful self.

"People don't regret vows they've never taken," he said coldly. Haldir sighed.

"What's happened?" he asked. He placed a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder as he did. Ameron looked at it as if it were something foreign. At last he relaxed and shook his head.

"My wife.returned, only to leave again." He looked down at his hands as they began to shake, forcing them still as he lay them on his knees. "She.wants to separate." He looked up at Haldir, meeting his eyes again. "She said she's not sure if she loves me."

"Did you talk about it?" he asked, but immediately realised how futile the words were. Ameron shot him an incredulous look.

"Of course we talked. We have been talking for five days. It's always the same questions, always the same answers." He sighed and rested his head in his hands. "There's nothing left to say. I've lost her."

"Ameron, she said she's not sure. Don't give up on her yet!" He stood and rested his hands on the other elf's shoulders, giving them a squeeze to emphasise his words. "She loved you enough once to marry you. Make her remember why." Ameron's shoulders shook in a wry chuckle.

"She married me because we were betrothed before she was born," he said. "Her parents and mine had promised their children would marry to further peace between our realms." He chuckled again, "some peace."

"But she has free will," Haldir pressed. "I'm sure she wouldn't have gone through with it had she objected. She does have love for you, it has only been forgotten. Just give her time." Ameron turned to regard the Captain behind him. He grinned at him before turning back to the stream at his feet.

"I've given her a year.I suppose I could wait a little longer. What have I to loose? I feel like I've already lost everything." Haldir looked down at his friend and frowned. After several moments of silence he simply clapped his friend on the back and left him alone with his thoughts. It was a small victory, but at least there was one. He continued his walk through the woods, slowly making his way back to his talan so he could rest for a while before morning.

When he reached home and climbed up the slender rope to his talan he sat on the smooth wood to meditate. He let the sounds of the forest surround him and take him away from himself, allowing his mind to rest. He rarely got the chance to be alone with his thoughts anymore, being always busy on the borders. This was a precious oasis of calm before the storm that would be the coming day. He knew the day would bring many challenges - especially when it came to dealing with the Captain, Mirien. He frowned unconsciously but redoubled his efforts to calm himself. He would not allow the situations to get out of hand - the more difficult she was, the more pleasant he would be. 'Yes,' he decided, 'that's what I'll do.'