Hello all. Nice to see you have returned. Oh my GAWD! I like have 97 reviews. *jumps happily up and down on throne* Yah!
Haldir- Hey...since when do you have a throne?
Anyway, thank you to everyone who review. Thank you to my beta, for helping me out.
Haldir- How come you get a throne, and I don't? That's not fair!
Shut up I'm graciously thanking people for reviewing here! He he...don't ask me where I got the idea for Twsiter. I have a seriously warped mind. La la la la.
Haldir- So...do you like go to Thrones-R-Us or something? E-bay. Somebody tell me please!!!
~~~
A soft breeze ruffled the golden leaves of the mallorn trees in the forest. Haldir's keen elven eyes scanned the area, searching for anything or anyone which should not have been there. He could not shake the feeling of gloom that had come over him and his men. It seemed that the moment they had stepped far away from the Southern Gates of Lothlorien, an ominous feeling of dread had passed over them. The march warden could feel it now in the trees, as well as in the air that hung thick around him. There was evil floating through the forest, an evil, that did not seem to be coming from the threat of Mordor, which on it's own was great enough.
The elven scouting group traveled slowly back to their home that day, the dark feeling seeming to hold them back. When they finally did reach their city, all were relieved. None more so perhaps then the captain himself.
Haldir was moving quietly to his talan. He had been scouting around the wood for a few days, barely getting any rest except for a few peaceful hours the first day he and his men had camped in the forest. While on his way, he caught a glimpse of Akira.
She was lying out on the grass, that strange CD player on her head. His feet carried him, quite unwillingly, closer to the young woman. Her dark red hair was spread around her. She was wearing another midriff bearing shirt, this time a dark green t-shirt with a skull on it. Her jeans were once again black, and very baggy, with a few chains going around them as a belt. A small frown tugged on Haldir's lips. She dressed nothing like a proper lady should. Though, remembering the trouble that he had caused by pointing that out last time, he refrained from saying anything.
As he gazed at her, that same feeling of discomfort came over him. That feeling that something was coming, something threatening, something that he could not avoid. The march warden took a few steps away from the young woman, who had yet to notice him standing there. Was it possible that this feeling was coming from Akira? He did not know how such a thing could be true. After all, she was only a young human girl. What things of evil could she bring? He did not know, but Haldir was sure he would not be able to rest in peace anytime soon with this grey cloud hanging above him. There was something about this young woman, something that he had not been told. He turned and set out to look for the one person who would perhaps know if Akira had anything to do with the shadow passing over the Golden Wood. The Lady of the Galadhrim.
~~~
Galadriel, who had been sitting in her garden, lying on the grass letting the warmth of the sun wash over her, looked up when she saw Haldir coming towards her.
"Captain?" she questioned softly. "Why do you come to me now? You and your men have been scouting the wood for many days, I had thought that you would wish to take some rest."
Haldir nodded, and let out a breath. "Akira," he said softly, remembering whom it was he was speaking with. "I know that there is something hidden about the young woman. Something, I believe, that you are aware of, yet have not told me. Why place me in the position of protecting her if you do not plan to tell me all you know about her?" he questioned. The march warden tried to keep the accusing tone out of his voice. He knew that Galadriel was wise beyond many years, and that if she was indeed keeping something, it must have been for his own good. But still he could not shake this feeling.
The lady smiled at him, a warm, sad kind of smile, which told the captain that indeed there was something she had been keeping secret. "Akira, as you know, is not of our time, nor even of our world. There are many things about her which are unknown to us all." Galadriel could see, even though the march warden tried to keep his face emotionless, that he did not believe the words she had spoken to him. Standing herself up gracefully, she picked her next statement carefully.
"There is little that I can tell you, Haldir of Lorien, about this young woman from another world. Only that which you yourself already know. She does not belong here on Middle Earth. She was not meant to live with creatures whom she only fancied figments of old myths. Nor was she meant to live such a life of pain which she had in her own world."
"Akira was placed in your care, young captain, for two reasons. You were the one who found her, and though I am sure you had your own reservations and concerns, brought her here none the less. It was an act of kindness which I have not before seen. And though I am still unsure of why exactly Akira is here, it is obvious that she was brought to you for a reason."
"You are both brave and strong, Haldir. And I believe that Akira will indeed need protection. This is all I know, that I promise you."
Haldir tried to take in the information. It seemed Lady Galadriel knew as little as he did. Another slow smile graced her lovely features as the march warden met her eye contact.
"Do you remember the last time we spoke, Haldir?" she asked softly.
The march warden thought for a moment. "Yes," he replied. "You told me to follow my heart, no matter where it would lead me." She nodded smiling, glad to see he had been listening to her. "I've still no idea what that means," he admitted with a bit of a frown.
"You will," she assured him. "Soon, you will know the meaning of these words Haldir. But I fear for you," she said.
The march warden took a step forward, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Fear for me? There is no reason for fear. As you said, I am both brave and strong. There is no need for concern on my part, my Lady."
A look of sadness passed over the elven Lady's face, but was quickly replaced by a smile. "It is not your body which I fear for, march warden," she told him. "It is your own heart. Long have you tried to keep it from being reached. You have tried to lock yourself away from the love or care of another, even of your own race. That is why I fear for you."
If he was confused before, he was more confused now. She feared for his heart? He shook his head. He did not understand her words. Haldir had come to speak about Akira, not about himself or his own problems. He looked up sharply, his face a stoic mask, nothing showing but the confusion in his deep blue eyes.
"What does this have to do with Akira?" he questioned suddenly.
The Lady said nothing, only smiled. He was beginning to greatly dislike that smile. It was as if she was taunting him. She *did* know something about the young woman, something that possibly had to do with the march warden himself, and she was not speaking anything about it.
"I am afraid that although this may be something I know, I can not tell you." Before the march warden could ask why, she interrupted. "There are things which I know that you do not, young march warden. That is the way it has always been. You have never questioned me before."
He let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. "I know. It is only...this shadow hanging above our home, I sometimes feel it around Akira as well. This must mean something. If you know, I feel you should inform me of this. After all, I am supposed to be protecting her."
With this Galadriel nodded, and took one step torward the march warden. The soft smile had gone for her face, and was replaced by a very serious look. "And you must do this, Haldir," she said almost gravely. "Protect Akira with your life. Never let any harm fall upon her, for we may all regret it."
Haldir stood for some more moments after Galadriel had said this. It was then he realized she had spoken all she was going to say to him on the matter. He bowed, and took his leave from the Lady of the Golden Wood.
~~~
Akira stretched her arms above her head and smiled, taking in a deep breath of the sweet smelling air. It had been a few weeks since the Fellowship had left Lothlorien, and the young woman still found herself thinking about the hobbits at times.
Her eyelids fluttered open after a few moments of stretching. She wasn't aware of how long she had been in Middle Earth. She frowned slightly. The young woman wasn't even sure of what month it was. She thought that it was still winter, but couldn't quite be sure.
The red head looked down at her watch. She smiled slightly when she remember Haldir's first reaction to seeing it. He had asked her what type of devilry it was. The face of the watch was set on a large leather band, with flames inside of it, blazing behind the numbers. It read 12:37. Haldir was seven minutes late. Maybe she should send out a search party for him or something.
The march warden arrived moments later, looking rested. He carried a sword with him, one not his own. Akira watched him curiously as he walked closer to her, holding out the sword.
"This is an authentic Elven blade. It is lighter, sharper, and deadlier then the sword which you have been using," he said as he handed it to her.
The young woman raked her deep brown eyes over the sword. The blade was a bit shorter then the one she had now, and seemed to glow even more brightly as the light hit it's tip. It's handle was white, and had an elvish design of flowers etched into it.
"Bad ass," she commented as she took the sword and held it in her hands. It was much lighter then her other, and it felt strange to hold it in her hands.
Haldir raised an eyebrow at this 'bad ass' comment. He assumed, by the way she eyed it, that it must have been of positive meaning. She was still holding it with both of her hands. But he had to admit, she had gotten better. She had enough skill to be able to handle an elven blade now. "I should name it, right?" she asked a bit unsurely. "I mean, Frodo named his. So, should I name mine?"
The elf starred at her blankly for some moments. "If you wish," he answered.
Akira looked the sword over a few times, attempting to think of a name for it. She frowned. "I'm not good with names," she said softly, almost as if she was talking to herself. "I had a dog once, ended up naming him Fluffy. Even though he didn't have any hair..." She trailed off, scrunching her brow as she tried to think of a name that would be fit for a such a weapon. Haldir watched her a bit curiously. Honestly, had he known it would have taken her this much time, he would have instructed her specifically not to name it. The teenager smiled brightly, and clutched her sword. "I shall name it, Vicious."
The elfin captain could not help but question as to why she would name her sword Vicious. The words simply rolled out of his mouth, and he immediately wished that he hadn't, knowing it would only cause another delay of their lessons.
"You know, like Sid Vicious. Wait...no, you don't know who Sid is. Well, he's this really kick ass singer. And so, in honor of him and his great voice and hotness, and he has an ample supply of both, I name my sword Vicious." She smiled. It was a perfect name for her sword.
Akira blinked with that realization. She had a *sword*. An elvish sword to be exact. That was something she had never expected to happen ever. Haldir shook his head a bit, then called her back to reality to begin their sparring.
~~~
The red head noticed how distracted Haldir seemed to be during their lesson. Of course he still beat her, though she didn't doubt he could with two hands tied behind his back blindfolded. She wanted to ask what was up. Maybe she just wasn't worth his actual paying attention.
"Hello! Earth to pretty boy!" Akira said, poking Haldir in the shoulder. The march warden turned to the young woman. They had just finished their lesson, and he had let his mind drift to the conversation which he'd had with Galadriel the day earlier. And there she went, calling him pretty boy again.
"What?" he questioned.
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "You just kind of drifted off, like no body was home." Akira walked over to where the captain had laid her sword's, which she still found was the coolest statement ever, sheath. It was dark brown leather, a simple flowing design on it's side.
"I have been thinking," Haldir announced as the young woman slid her blade into it's sheath.
"You? Thinking? Wow, you really *do* have something other then hot air in that pretty blond head of yours," she muttered sarcastically under her breath. Haldir said nothing about the comment, only idly noted how her insults tended to include the word pretty in them, and continued.
"You do not seem to have been regaining much strength," he said.
Akira scoffed at the statement. "Not that I had any strength to begin with."
"Would you stop interrupting?" the march warden asked narrowing his eyes in annoyance. The young woman shut her mouth, smiled with fake sweetness, and motioned for him to continue. The captain resisted rolling his eyes at her. "As I was saying, maybe lessons in the sword are not enough to help you get better. Orophin suggested maybe I show you around the wood, that perhaps a hike or something would help you begin regaining your strength."
The red head thought about. Alone? In the woods? With Haldir? Oh yeah, that was her idea of fun, she could hardly wait! She blinked at him. The captain waited for an answer. "Um...yeah, as enjoyable as being alone in a strange secluded forest with you sounds, maybe not."
Akira had to admit, she *did* trust him a bit more then she had earlier. Though he did seem to be a bit arrogant, ok, very arrogant, he didn't seem like he would hurt her. But she didn't think she trusted the elf enough to walk around the woods alone with him. Yet, anyway.
~~~
Eh...was this chapter to boring? Oh well...review anyway. Did you pay attention to the Gal/Hal convo. It reveal plot pointers!!! Hey, Haldir.
Haldir- *still muttering about throne* Yo.
fanfictiongeek36 says hello, and that you are ever so hot.
Haldir-...-
And if you would like to say anything to Haldir, a greetings, any archery pointers, marriage proposals, feel free to put them in your review. I promise Haldir will answer them!
Haldir- Ha! Yeah right! I have better things to do. Like find me a throne...MARRIAGE PROPOSAL?!?!?!
You can only ask if you review ^_^!!
Haldir- Hey...since when do you have a throne?
Anyway, thank you to everyone who review. Thank you to my beta, for helping me out.
Haldir- How come you get a throne, and I don't? That's not fair!
Shut up I'm graciously thanking people for reviewing here! He he...don't ask me where I got the idea for Twsiter. I have a seriously warped mind. La la la la.
Haldir- So...do you like go to Thrones-R-Us or something? E-bay. Somebody tell me please!!!
~~~
A soft breeze ruffled the golden leaves of the mallorn trees in the forest. Haldir's keen elven eyes scanned the area, searching for anything or anyone which should not have been there. He could not shake the feeling of gloom that had come over him and his men. It seemed that the moment they had stepped far away from the Southern Gates of Lothlorien, an ominous feeling of dread had passed over them. The march warden could feel it now in the trees, as well as in the air that hung thick around him. There was evil floating through the forest, an evil, that did not seem to be coming from the threat of Mordor, which on it's own was great enough.
The elven scouting group traveled slowly back to their home that day, the dark feeling seeming to hold them back. When they finally did reach their city, all were relieved. None more so perhaps then the captain himself.
Haldir was moving quietly to his talan. He had been scouting around the wood for a few days, barely getting any rest except for a few peaceful hours the first day he and his men had camped in the forest. While on his way, he caught a glimpse of Akira.
She was lying out on the grass, that strange CD player on her head. His feet carried him, quite unwillingly, closer to the young woman. Her dark red hair was spread around her. She was wearing another midriff bearing shirt, this time a dark green t-shirt with a skull on it. Her jeans were once again black, and very baggy, with a few chains going around them as a belt. A small frown tugged on Haldir's lips. She dressed nothing like a proper lady should. Though, remembering the trouble that he had caused by pointing that out last time, he refrained from saying anything.
As he gazed at her, that same feeling of discomfort came over him. That feeling that something was coming, something threatening, something that he could not avoid. The march warden took a few steps away from the young woman, who had yet to notice him standing there. Was it possible that this feeling was coming from Akira? He did not know how such a thing could be true. After all, she was only a young human girl. What things of evil could she bring? He did not know, but Haldir was sure he would not be able to rest in peace anytime soon with this grey cloud hanging above him. There was something about this young woman, something that he had not been told. He turned and set out to look for the one person who would perhaps know if Akira had anything to do with the shadow passing over the Golden Wood. The Lady of the Galadhrim.
~~~
Galadriel, who had been sitting in her garden, lying on the grass letting the warmth of the sun wash over her, looked up when she saw Haldir coming towards her.
"Captain?" she questioned softly. "Why do you come to me now? You and your men have been scouting the wood for many days, I had thought that you would wish to take some rest."
Haldir nodded, and let out a breath. "Akira," he said softly, remembering whom it was he was speaking with. "I know that there is something hidden about the young woman. Something, I believe, that you are aware of, yet have not told me. Why place me in the position of protecting her if you do not plan to tell me all you know about her?" he questioned. The march warden tried to keep the accusing tone out of his voice. He knew that Galadriel was wise beyond many years, and that if she was indeed keeping something, it must have been for his own good. But still he could not shake this feeling.
The lady smiled at him, a warm, sad kind of smile, which told the captain that indeed there was something she had been keeping secret. "Akira, as you know, is not of our time, nor even of our world. There are many things about her which are unknown to us all." Galadriel could see, even though the march warden tried to keep his face emotionless, that he did not believe the words she had spoken to him. Standing herself up gracefully, she picked her next statement carefully.
"There is little that I can tell you, Haldir of Lorien, about this young woman from another world. Only that which you yourself already know. She does not belong here on Middle Earth. She was not meant to live with creatures whom she only fancied figments of old myths. Nor was she meant to live such a life of pain which she had in her own world."
"Akira was placed in your care, young captain, for two reasons. You were the one who found her, and though I am sure you had your own reservations and concerns, brought her here none the less. It was an act of kindness which I have not before seen. And though I am still unsure of why exactly Akira is here, it is obvious that she was brought to you for a reason."
"You are both brave and strong, Haldir. And I believe that Akira will indeed need protection. This is all I know, that I promise you."
Haldir tried to take in the information. It seemed Lady Galadriel knew as little as he did. Another slow smile graced her lovely features as the march warden met her eye contact.
"Do you remember the last time we spoke, Haldir?" she asked softly.
The march warden thought for a moment. "Yes," he replied. "You told me to follow my heart, no matter where it would lead me." She nodded smiling, glad to see he had been listening to her. "I've still no idea what that means," he admitted with a bit of a frown.
"You will," she assured him. "Soon, you will know the meaning of these words Haldir. But I fear for you," she said.
The march warden took a step forward, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Fear for me? There is no reason for fear. As you said, I am both brave and strong. There is no need for concern on my part, my Lady."
A look of sadness passed over the elven Lady's face, but was quickly replaced by a smile. "It is not your body which I fear for, march warden," she told him. "It is your own heart. Long have you tried to keep it from being reached. You have tried to lock yourself away from the love or care of another, even of your own race. That is why I fear for you."
If he was confused before, he was more confused now. She feared for his heart? He shook his head. He did not understand her words. Haldir had come to speak about Akira, not about himself or his own problems. He looked up sharply, his face a stoic mask, nothing showing but the confusion in his deep blue eyes.
"What does this have to do with Akira?" he questioned suddenly.
The Lady said nothing, only smiled. He was beginning to greatly dislike that smile. It was as if she was taunting him. She *did* know something about the young woman, something that possibly had to do with the march warden himself, and she was not speaking anything about it.
"I am afraid that although this may be something I know, I can not tell you." Before the march warden could ask why, she interrupted. "There are things which I know that you do not, young march warden. That is the way it has always been. You have never questioned me before."
He let out a breath he did not know he had been holding. "I know. It is only...this shadow hanging above our home, I sometimes feel it around Akira as well. This must mean something. If you know, I feel you should inform me of this. After all, I am supposed to be protecting her."
With this Galadriel nodded, and took one step torward the march warden. The soft smile had gone for her face, and was replaced by a very serious look. "And you must do this, Haldir," she said almost gravely. "Protect Akira with your life. Never let any harm fall upon her, for we may all regret it."
Haldir stood for some more moments after Galadriel had said this. It was then he realized she had spoken all she was going to say to him on the matter. He bowed, and took his leave from the Lady of the Golden Wood.
~~~
Akira stretched her arms above her head and smiled, taking in a deep breath of the sweet smelling air. It had been a few weeks since the Fellowship had left Lothlorien, and the young woman still found herself thinking about the hobbits at times.
Her eyelids fluttered open after a few moments of stretching. She wasn't aware of how long she had been in Middle Earth. She frowned slightly. The young woman wasn't even sure of what month it was. She thought that it was still winter, but couldn't quite be sure.
The red head looked down at her watch. She smiled slightly when she remember Haldir's first reaction to seeing it. He had asked her what type of devilry it was. The face of the watch was set on a large leather band, with flames inside of it, blazing behind the numbers. It read 12:37. Haldir was seven minutes late. Maybe she should send out a search party for him or something.
The march warden arrived moments later, looking rested. He carried a sword with him, one not his own. Akira watched him curiously as he walked closer to her, holding out the sword.
"This is an authentic Elven blade. It is lighter, sharper, and deadlier then the sword which you have been using," he said as he handed it to her.
The young woman raked her deep brown eyes over the sword. The blade was a bit shorter then the one she had now, and seemed to glow even more brightly as the light hit it's tip. It's handle was white, and had an elvish design of flowers etched into it.
"Bad ass," she commented as she took the sword and held it in her hands. It was much lighter then her other, and it felt strange to hold it in her hands.
Haldir raised an eyebrow at this 'bad ass' comment. He assumed, by the way she eyed it, that it must have been of positive meaning. She was still holding it with both of her hands. But he had to admit, she had gotten better. She had enough skill to be able to handle an elven blade now. "I should name it, right?" she asked a bit unsurely. "I mean, Frodo named his. So, should I name mine?"
The elf starred at her blankly for some moments. "If you wish," he answered.
Akira looked the sword over a few times, attempting to think of a name for it. She frowned. "I'm not good with names," she said softly, almost as if she was talking to herself. "I had a dog once, ended up naming him Fluffy. Even though he didn't have any hair..." She trailed off, scrunching her brow as she tried to think of a name that would be fit for a such a weapon. Haldir watched her a bit curiously. Honestly, had he known it would have taken her this much time, he would have instructed her specifically not to name it. The teenager smiled brightly, and clutched her sword. "I shall name it, Vicious."
The elfin captain could not help but question as to why she would name her sword Vicious. The words simply rolled out of his mouth, and he immediately wished that he hadn't, knowing it would only cause another delay of their lessons.
"You know, like Sid Vicious. Wait...no, you don't know who Sid is. Well, he's this really kick ass singer. And so, in honor of him and his great voice and hotness, and he has an ample supply of both, I name my sword Vicious." She smiled. It was a perfect name for her sword.
Akira blinked with that realization. She had a *sword*. An elvish sword to be exact. That was something she had never expected to happen ever. Haldir shook his head a bit, then called her back to reality to begin their sparring.
~~~
The red head noticed how distracted Haldir seemed to be during their lesson. Of course he still beat her, though she didn't doubt he could with two hands tied behind his back blindfolded. She wanted to ask what was up. Maybe she just wasn't worth his actual paying attention.
"Hello! Earth to pretty boy!" Akira said, poking Haldir in the shoulder. The march warden turned to the young woman. They had just finished their lesson, and he had let his mind drift to the conversation which he'd had with Galadriel the day earlier. And there she went, calling him pretty boy again.
"What?" he questioned.
She rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. "You just kind of drifted off, like no body was home." Akira walked over to where the captain had laid her sword's, which she still found was the coolest statement ever, sheath. It was dark brown leather, a simple flowing design on it's side.
"I have been thinking," Haldir announced as the young woman slid her blade into it's sheath.
"You? Thinking? Wow, you really *do* have something other then hot air in that pretty blond head of yours," she muttered sarcastically under her breath. Haldir said nothing about the comment, only idly noted how her insults tended to include the word pretty in them, and continued.
"You do not seem to have been regaining much strength," he said.
Akira scoffed at the statement. "Not that I had any strength to begin with."
"Would you stop interrupting?" the march warden asked narrowing his eyes in annoyance. The young woman shut her mouth, smiled with fake sweetness, and motioned for him to continue. The captain resisted rolling his eyes at her. "As I was saying, maybe lessons in the sword are not enough to help you get better. Orophin suggested maybe I show you around the wood, that perhaps a hike or something would help you begin regaining your strength."
The red head thought about. Alone? In the woods? With Haldir? Oh yeah, that was her idea of fun, she could hardly wait! She blinked at him. The captain waited for an answer. "Um...yeah, as enjoyable as being alone in a strange secluded forest with you sounds, maybe not."
Akira had to admit, she *did* trust him a bit more then she had earlier. Though he did seem to be a bit arrogant, ok, very arrogant, he didn't seem like he would hurt her. But she didn't think she trusted the elf enough to walk around the woods alone with him. Yet, anyway.
~~~
Eh...was this chapter to boring? Oh well...review anyway. Did you pay attention to the Gal/Hal convo. It reveal plot pointers!!! Hey, Haldir.
Haldir- *still muttering about throne* Yo.
fanfictiongeek36 says hello, and that you are ever so hot.
Haldir-...-
And if you would like to say anything to Haldir, a greetings, any archery pointers, marriage proposals, feel free to put them in your review. I promise Haldir will answer them!
Haldir- Ha! Yeah right! I have better things to do. Like find me a throne...MARRIAGE PROPOSAL?!?!?!
You can only ask if you review ^_^!!