Disclaimer: Belongs to Tolkien not me.
Storm Dragoness: Thanks. I'm glad you like it that much. :)
Misao Demon Master: Yes, he was. Haldir screws up royaly in this chapter though. As to your review of Ch 1, yes, Brianna is a bit of an idiot at times (but aren't we all at one time or another) haha. I'm glad that you kept reading though. Thanks for the reviews.
Marie I'm glad you like it. Hmmm, but in the movie he does die...Wonder which way I'll go? Guess you'll just have to wait and see...
Laer4572: He does seem to have a bullseye drawn on his forehead doesn't he? hehe.
krillball: Thank you.
TriGemini: I kind of hinted at the timeline in the story but the only place I actually stated it was in a review to someone so you aren't to lost :) Since the quest isn't the main focus of the story I didn't want to draw to much attention to it and distract people from the main part of the story. As for the gift for Haldir, she did start on it in chapter 7 but I didn't spend much time on it. More focus will be on the finishing of the gift in this chapter though.
Raz 42492: Thanks.
loveroflegolas: Here's your update :)
Okanim: You think right. :)
When the group reaches Caras Galadon, Brianna and Haldir's brothers leave Haldir to lead the group to the Lord and Lady. Orophin makes his way toward his talan but Brianna pulls Rumil off to the side. "Meet me at the carpenter's after the mid-day meal?"
Rumil nods. "I will, but right now I'm in need of a decent bath."
Brianna nods in agreement with a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Yes, you are. You reek."
"Hey," he exclaims and playfully swipes at her head. She laughs and jumps out of his reach. "You've been without a bath just as long as I have," he points out.
Brianna sighs, "Something I plan on fixing imediately so I'll see you later." She turns and makes her way toward the talan she shares with Haldir.
After Brianna finishes her bath she grabs some bread and an apple out of the kitchen before heading toward the carpenter's talan. When she arrives Tuor, the head carpenter greets her with a smile.
"I saw the case that Rumil and yourself have built. I must say that you two did beautiful work," he tells her.
"Thank you Tuor. Mahtan helped us also by doing some of the carving and applying the sealant."
Tour smiles. "And he did a wonderful job. He is very skilled at what he does. I think you will be very pleased." Tuor leads her over to the cabnet that Mahtan carefully stashed the case to keep it safe. Brianna takes a bite of her apple as he pulls the display case out and shows it to her.
She grins and runs her hand over the frame that now has a highly polished look to it's dark color. "You're right. He did a beautiful job on the finish."
Rumil finally arrives and they begin to work on attaching the cloth to the back of the case and the pieces that will hold the weapons in place.
Rumil steps back and looks at the finished display case when they are done. "Now all we have to do is get the sword and dagger so that they can be attatched properly and it will be done."
Brianna nods and turns toward him. "I will let you handle that. I will trust no one else with your father's weapons, not even myself. They are to important to your family to risk being damaged by me not knowing how to properly handle such weapons."
Rumil chuckles. "I highly doubt you would let anything happen to them but I will take care of it if you wish."
"I do," Brianna nods. "Plus it will be easier for you to get them without his knowing. You won't have to worry about him catching you if you get them while Haldir and I are at my training session tomorrow morning."
"Then that is what I will do," he smiles.
On the way back to her talan, Brianna passes by the clearing the fellowship is staying in. She notices Haldir talking with Aragorn and Legolas. He chuckles at something Aragorn tells him and Brianna sighs softly. No matter how hard she fought against it she has fallen for Haldir and all she would recieve from him in return would be friendship. 'Well, his friendship will just have to be enough.' She straightens her shoulders and continues on down the path.
"...and by the time I caught up to Rick, he was sitting in the pond glaring at Rain as that blasted horse laughed at him." Brianna finishes as she and Haldir walk into the talan after spending the morning at the training fields.
"Was Rick furious when he found out you were the one to train the horse to do that?" Haldir laughs as he walks into his room to put his weapons away.
"He never found out," she calls from the main room and she hears him chuckle.
Haldir returns to the main room and the look in his eyes scares her. "Haldir, what's wrong?" Brianna questions cautiously.
His gaze lands on her and in an instant Brianna finds herself pinned against the wall, Haldir's hand on her throat and her feet not touching the floor. She clutches his hand, trying to break his grasp and a tear escapes her eye as she trembles in fear. "Haldir, please. I can't breathe," she gasps.
"Where are they? Where is my father's sword?" he roars in anger.
"I..." Brianna is cut off by Rumil walking in.
"Haldir! What are you doing? Let her go!" Rumil shouts, shocked at what he sees.
Haldir releases Brianna and she imediatly runs to Rumil's side, knowing that he won't let his brother near her again.
"She stole father's weapons," Haldir growls in anger.
"She did no such thing!" Rumil says angrily.
Brianna takes the package Rumil is holding and shoves it into Haldir's hands before turning and running out of the talan.
Haldir looks down at the package in confusion. "What's this?"
"Why don't you open it and find out," Rumil snaps angrily and stalks out of the talan to find Brianna.
Haldir unwraps the package and stares at his father's weapons proudly displayed in the beautiful case. "What have I done?" he whispers.