CHAPTER ELEVEN

Tala stumbled slightly, and Uruvon put out a strong hand and gripped her elbow, scowling.

"I said you were not well enough to be doing this." he hissed in her ear, glaring at their escort walking a few metres ahead, chatting comfortably with his sister.

Tala frowned and gently removed her arm from his grip, resisting the sudden desire to rip it away as quickly as possible.

"I am fine." she responded firmly. "More than ready to take a small walk around Lothlorien. Besides," she added lightly, modulating her hostile tone, "I wouldn't be a very good host if I didn't show my guests the wonders of this city." She gazed up at the lofty trees, her eyes softening, still feeling wonder at the beauty of Lorien.

"If you are fine, then you will soon be well enough to return to Rivendell." Uruvon announced imperiously. "I have duties there which are being neglected."

Tala's heart seemed to jump into her throat at his words. Return to Rivendell? For ever? Leave him? So distasteful were Uruvon's words, she stopped walking and barely noticed.

"Another week shall we say?" Uruvon's blue eyes looked down on her coldly. She returned her gaze to the floor to escape from his searching glance, still numb, her mind in a whirl.

His eyes narrowed at her response – or rather lack of it - and taking her arm, pulled her into a small resting place off the walkway. He looked at her suspiciously, coming to stand only inches away from her, making her shift uncomfortably.

"You have been recovering for several weeks now. It is time we returned home. After all, Rivendell is your home, is it not?" His tone was biting.

Rumil and Haldir come to appreciate that something is not quite right with Uruvon, and his feelings for Tala. The Lady agrees and asks the brothers to watch over Tala and Eruve. Haldir decides to instruct Tala in sword-fighting so that she might better protect herself. During their daily meetings he allows himself to come close to her once more.

One night, Uruvon confronts Tala with his suspicions that she and Haldir are lovers and reveals his insane jealousy. If she could love his brother, why not him? Haldir (of course) appears in the nick of time to prevent Uruvon injuring Tala after she rejects him absolutely. Lord Celeborn arrives, brought by Rumil, and orders Uruvon to leave Lothlorien immediately and return to Rivendell, where his punishment for his conduct would be decided by Elrond. Haldir leaves with Uruvon to escort him to the borders. Tala blames herself and Haldir returns briefly before he leaves to comfort her.

Meanwhile, Eruve has been injured in her attempt to defend Tala from her brother's wrath and once recovered, wishes to go home. Tala reluctantly accompanies her back to Rivendell, leaving Haldir with a longing look but nothing more.

Time passes. Uruvon never returns to Rivendell, and is banished in his absence. The Ring is destroyed and Rivendell prepares for the marriage of Arwen and Aragorn, at Midsummer, at Minas Tirith. Elves from Lothlorien arrive in Rivendell to join the journey to the White City. Haldir and his brothers accompany their lord and lady. Tala tries to stay away from him, and Haldir is only able to catch glimpses of her on the long journey.

At an encampment, Tala is unable to sleep and wandering about the dark camp, sees an elleth enter Haldir's tent. She returns sadly to her own, not seeing the elleth leave very soon after, after having her advances rebuffed by the March Warden. He can only still think of Tala.

They arrive in procession at Minas Tirith and the court busies itself preparing for the wedding. Tala, looking pale and wan, is instructed by Arwen to get some fresh air and leaving the palace, wanders down to a small gate, where, from the shadows, she watches Uruvon and a small retinue enter the city. She tries to warn someone, sure that he is only here to cause trouble for the March Warden, but Elrond is in continual meetings and she still does not wish to approach Haldir. What to do?

During the wedding and the celebrations afterwards, she watches Haldir, determined to protect him in any way she can. As he leaves the wedding feast, late at night, having had – as most of the guests have – quite a lot to drink, she follows him. But his senses are not as dull as she imagines and he confronts her, coldly. Before leaving her, however, he gives in to his urges (aided by alcohol) and kisses her passionately.

They are interrupted by Uruvon, his rage only made greater by discovering them kissing. Haldir is outnumbered by Uruvon and his followers. However, Rumil and Orophin have also decided to leave the party and even out the numbers. Tala also joins the fight and is challenged by Uruvon. He taunts her. She tells him that she and Haldir are not lovers, but that she loves him and is "prepared to fight and die by his side."

In his fury Uruvon lunges at her and impales himself upon Tala's sword. At the conclusion of the fight, the Lorien elves are, of course, triumphant. Tala is in shock and has suffered minor injuries, and Haldir takes her back to his abode to comfort her. He admits that he heard what she had said to Uruvon. He also finally confesses his love for her. They "get it on". Rivendell and Lorien have another marriage to celebrate.

THE END

I'd written so much of this – most of the scenes described here had been, at the very least, roughed out. The next chapter had been completed. The scene with Eruve, Tala and Uruvon had been written completely, and had been for months, the scene in the encampment was done, and most of the final chapter was completed. Unfortunately, my floppy disc decided it no longer wished to work. I had no back-up. I was, to put it simply, devastated. I hope that this rough-out of the rest of the story will give you some closure as I am probably not going to complete it now.

Since I posted the last chapter my life has pretty well changed. I am still living in New Zealand and it looks like the move may be a permanent one as I have met my own Haldir here, and our story – in my eyes – is just as romantic as Tala and Haldir's. You never know though – one day I may get bored and decide to hang a bit more onto this framework.

And if you want to read a really fabulous Haldir story? Two words - Elanor's Revenge.