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Brianna and Haldir have visited all the posts over the past week and are now on their way back to Caras Galadon. They have gotten along fine the whole week and Brianna is beginning to understand Haldir better and his blunt manner of speaking no longer bothers her.

To pass the time as they make their way through the forest, Brianna tells Haldir about her life before she came to Middle Earth. Out of all the things she's told him, he seems most interested in the cars. He can't seem to believe that they can move from one place to another so fast.

"Are you sure it is not magic?" Haldir questions.

Brianna shakes her head and laughs. "I assure you that it is not magic. It's just a complex machine."

Haldir pushes a branch out of his way as he glances over at her. "How did people get from one place to another before cars?"

Brianna looks at him and smiles. "The same as they do here. They either walked or used horses."

"I wish that I could see one of these cars," Haldir sighs. "They sound so interesting."

A picture of Haldir cruising down the highway in a convertible and sporting a pair of sunglasses pops into Brianna's head and she begins laughing uncontrollably.

"Why do you find that so amusing?" he asks indignantly.

Brianna shakes her head. "I'm sorry, Haldir," she says and tries to stop laughing. "It's just that I don't think a car would suit you. Elves are not meant to ride around in ugly hunks of metal." Brianna stops and smiles as she looks at the city before them. "Finally, I can't wait to take a nice long hot bath," she sighs.

"Neither can I," Haldir agrees.

Brianna looks over and narrows her eyes at him. "Oh no you don't! I'm a lady and it's only proper that I take mine first."

"Aye, but as you are a Galadrim soldier and I am of higher rank I get to take mine first," he smirks.

She looks at Haldir in disbelief and then suddenly takes off running for the city. "Not if I get there first," Brianna calls over her shoulder. Surprised, Haldir watches her for a minute before grinning and taking off in a different direction.

Brianna reaches the edge of the city and glances over her shoulder to find Haldir nowhere in sight. She furrows her brow in confusion. She thought that he would have overtaken her by now or at least be right behind her, she wasn't that fast. Shrugging it off she climbs the stairs of their talan two at a time. After quickly grabbing everything she would need for a bath, she makes her way out of the talan and toward the hot springs used for bathing.

Brianna approaches the springs cautiously, listening for signs that someone else might be bathing. When she doesn't hear anything she continues into the secluded area. She stops in surprise when Haldir's head breaks through the water's surface as he stands up. The water comes to just above his stomach and Brianna's gaze lands on his chest. Haldir brushes his hair out of his face and smirks at her, knowing full well where her eyes are directed. "Do you normally intrude on one's bath?"

"How?" Brianna questions, drawing her eyes from his muscular chest to his face. "How did you get here so fast?"

"I know every inch of this forest, Brianna," he grins. "And I am much faster than you." He begins walking toward the edge of the pool to climb out.

"That is so unfair," Brianna huffs. When Haldir starts to climb out of the pool, she blushes and quickly turns her back to him. She hears him climb out of the pool and fights the urge to look over her shoulder as he dries off and dresses. She inwardly groans, 'Why do I have to be so attracted to Haldir? Why couldn't have been someone else, anyone but him?'

"I will leave you to your bath. I must make my report to Lord Celeborn now," Haldir says and walks past her.

Brianna sighs in frustration as her arrow once again hits the very edge of the practice target. Irritated at herself she readies another arrow in her bow. She jumps in surprise when a hand softly lands on her shoulder and looks up to find Haldir standing beside her.

"Let me show you," he says and moves to stand behind her. Brianna loses her breath when he reaches out and covers her hands with his. Haldir pretends not to notice and continues. "You hold your bow too tightly. Loosen your grip." Brianna loosens her grip on the bow. "Good. Now, draw back. Lower your elbow," he says and gently pushes her elbow down so that it is level with her shoulder. "Now focus on your target and release the arrow."

Brianna watches as the arrow sails through the air and hits the target just left of the center. She smiles in satisfaction of hitting close to the center.

"Good. now do it again," Haldir says removing his hands and handing her another arrow. He doesn't step back but chooses to rest his hands on her waist instead.

Brianna glances back at him curiously but when he turns her body slightly more toward the target as she draws her bow she brushes it off. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath as she forces herself to concentrate on the target rather than Haldir's hands on her waist. Her concentration goes out the window, however, when she feels his warm lips on her neck just below her ear. She gasps in surprise and her arrow flies wildly across the field.

"Um, Haldir?" she breaths as she tilts her head to give him better access as his lips trail across her throat. The bow drops to the ground, forgotten. She reaches back and tangles her hand in his hair as he kisses her hungrily.

"Brianna," Haldir pulls back and turns her to face him. "I must tell you that this will not..."

Brianna smiles and places her fingers on his lips to silence him. "No commitments and no regrets. On Earth it is refered to as a one night stand and tomorrow I will still claim you as a friend and nothing more." She kisses him before picking up her bow and pulls him in the direction of his talan.

When they get to his talan Brianna discards her bow and quiver on a chair before being roughly pulled against Haldir. He kisses her hard and she moans in response and slips her arms around his shoulders. Haldir lifts her up and she instictively wraps her legs around his waist as he makes his way to his bedroom.

The next morning Brianna lazily lays in Haldir's bed watching him dress until a dagger laying on the table beside the bed catches her attention. She carefully picks it up to inspect it closer. The handle is made from the silver wood of a mallorn tree with the leaves of Lorien carved into the wood. She pulls the dagger from its sheath and discovers the same leaves etched all the way down the blade as well. "Haldir, this is beautiful," she says carefully putting the dagger back in its sheath.

Haldir walks over and sits on the bed next to her and takes the dagger. "It was my father's," he says looking at it with a sad smile. "I have his sword as well." Haldir retrieves the sword from the corner of the room and hands it to her before sitting back down.

"Was he a March Warden as well?" Brianna asks curiously as she hands the sword back to him.

"No, but he was second in command," he replies quietly.

Brianna holds the sheet over her chest as she sits up. "He would be proud of you, Haldir," she says and kisses him before standing up and grabbing her cloths from the floor.

Haldir gets a mischievous glint in his eye and yanks the sheet from her body. "Haldir!" she gasps in surprise but doesn't bother trying to cover herself.

He chuckles as he stands and pulls her into his arms. Haldir kisses her soundly on the lips and gently pulls her toward the bed, but she pushes him away. "I'm supposed to meet my unit in the healing talan for training."

He groans and then nods in acceptance as he watches her dress. "I also have duties I should attend too."

Brianna glances over at the sword and dagger after Haldir leaves the room and smiles as an idea comes to her. His father's weapons should not be hidden in a corner but displayed proudly and she knew just what to do about it. She leaves the talan quickly hoping to find Rumil or Orophin before she has to meet her unit.