Disclaimer: Belongs to Tolkien not me.
Enelya: raises hands Don't shoot me! Then you'll never get another chapter
Bunnychica9: Never fear! Sometimes I might be a little slow on updates but I will NEVER abandon this story. I'm honored that mine is the first but there are others out there that are much better than mine. I'm reading several at the moment that are really good but my favorites at the moment are 'Elenor's Revenge" by Juliedianne and "Whatsoever You Do" by Dreamstrifer
ElvenMaidenHobbitGirl: Thanks. I'm glad you liked it.
Blossom: I won't tell anyone.
hehekrillball: Sorry, no love triangles. They have enough problems already I think.
Crecy: Thanks.
TriGemini: It might be a little harder for him to apologize than you think. (And it won't be his doing this time)
Eldarwen999: You'll just have to wait and see
JXSilverShadowsx: I'm glad everyone seemed to like that part.
Raz 42492: You're mean. LOL
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Brianna slowly makes her way to the training grounds. Since Haldir has been confined to his talan for the past three days Orophin has taken over her weapons training, but today he is to return to his duties. After stalling as long as she can, Brianna reaches the training field and is surprised to find Orophin waiting on her with an amused look on his face.
"How is it that I saw you leaving your talan as I was returning to mine to retrieve my weapons and yet I still arrived several minutes before you?" he grins.
"You know why," she says flatly as she swings her bow off her shoulder and moves into position in front of one of the targets.
Orophin nods, "He thought it best that I continue your lessons for now."
"How noble of him," Brianna snorts as she nocks an arrow and aims at the target.
"Brianna," Orophin sighs as he watches her release the arrow. "I understand your angry and you have every right to be but couldn't you find it in your heart to forgive him?" Because Valar knows he won't forgive himself.
Brianna spins around to glare at him. "You're damn right I'm angry! You weren't there, Orophin. You didn't see what happened or you wouldn't be asking me to do something I will probably never be able to do!" she yells and then lowers her voice to almost a whisper. "I want to forgive him but I can't. I…he…You just don't understand," she sighs and turns away from him.
Orophin reaches out and gently turns her to face him. "Then explain it to me."
Brianna sighs and when she looks up at him she has tears in her eyes. "When I was twelve, my father lost his job. It was fine for a while but he was having trouble finding another job and the money my parents had saved up was running out. He was extremely stressed out and began drinking heavily. When he was drunk any little thing would set him off and he became abusive." Brianna wipes the tears off her face and sits down. Orophin sits next to her and she continues. "I came home about ten minutes late one night and before I knew what hit me, my father had me pinned against the wall by my throat. He began accusing me of being a slut and screaming at me. He was squeezing my throat so hard that I couldn't breathe. I don't know what happened after I passed out but I truly thought he was going to kill me. Mom and I left that night and I haven't seen my father since then."
Brianna looks over at Orophin. "I used to have nightmares about my father coming back and killing me but I eventually got past it. But Haldir, what he did…my father wasn't that strong for a man, but I know the strength the elves have and I've seen what Haldir is capable of. I know he's your brother but he terrifies me now and I hate him for making me feel that way again."
Orophin shakes his head. "I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything, Orophin," Brianna says as she stands up. "Just understand why I can't forgive Haldir."
"I do, but I can still hope that with time you will be able to forgive him," he replies.
"Maybe someday, but I doubt it will be anytime soon."
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Brianna reaches her talan and starts to go in when Haldir steps out of the shadows. She gasps in surprise and takes a step back in fear.
"Brianna, can we talk for…"
She straightens her back and cuts him off. "I have nothing to say to you," she says and quickly slips into her talan and shuts the door. She leans against the door and tries to calm her racing heart.
Haldir sighs and slowly walks away trying to figure out how he's going to convince her to listen to him so that he can apologize. He makes his way into his talan and looks at the case Brianna made to display his father's weapons, that is now hanging on the wall of the main room.
Haldir shakes his head and looks around the room. He no longer felt the comfort his talan used to bring, it feels as if something is missing. Now, looking around he realizes what it is. Brianna is what's missing. Even in the short time she spent there, it felt as if she'd always been there.
Suddenly he sinks to the ground, feeling like a ton of boulders had been dumped on top of him as he realizes that he's done the one thing he promised himself he would never do…he's fallen in love with her. He runs his hands over his face in frustration. "Why must my life be so complicated? I'm a March Warden, I don't have time for love with the duties I have." He smirks, "Not that it matters, since she'll probably never talk to me again anyway, not that I can blame her."
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Over the next couple of weeks Haldir tries everything he can to get Brianna to listen to him but she is constantly avoiding him. She spends most of her time with the hobbits, who she has grown quite fond of, listening to their stories about the Shire.
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The day for the Fellowship to leave Lorien has come and everyone gathers on the bank of the river to see them off. Brianna fastens a cloak, one of the gifts from Galadriel, on Pippin and smiles softly when he fidgets nervously.
"I wish I could stay here," he whispers.
Brianna gives him a reassuring smile. "I know you do Pip, but the others need you."
Pippin looks down. "What do they need me for? All I've done so far is cause trouble.
"Your time will come, Pippin. Every member of the Fellowship has a purpose, including you. Remember that if times get hard," Brianna tells him.
Pippin looks up at her and smiles, "I will."
After everything is loaded into the boats and the fellowship is ready to leave Brianna watches them from a distance, having said her final goodbyes to everyone already.
When the boats carrying the Fellowship are no longer visible Brianna turns around to return to her talan only to come face to face with Haldir.
