Chapter 12

It shouldn't have mattered, should it? Night time had fallen and Emdiril laid in her bed, her eyes still on the ceiling. She listened to the thunder of the storm, the way the raindrops landed on the walls of her home and the ground beneath her. She tried to focus on the sounds, she tried to use those sounds to calm down, but to no avail. The entire journey she had dreamed of rest and sleep and now, after her encounter with Haldir she was wide awake. Her brain would not shut off, no matter what she tried. All her thoughts continuously flooded back to the look Haldir had given her. She had never seen his face filled with so much emotion, and somehow she wished she hadn't ever laid eyes upon it. The hurt in his eyes made her feel like a dagger was continuously prodding her heart and caused her unimaginable pain. Emdiril was confused as to why, why was she so hurt herself? Why was him noticing the missing pendant so important to her? Why was it important to him? Sighing, Emdiril squeezed her eyes shut and forced her thoughts elsewhere. Another pair of blue eyes found their way into her mind and she knew too well whose they were. Her hand found its way back to the pendant and she wrapped her hand around it carefully – there was no doubt about how much she missed Legolas. He had this ability to make her feel free and he had been so unpredictable. The prince of Greenwood had never treated her any differently than his own kin. He had been curious but not pushy. Emdiril wondered what he would be doing now she had left and her thoughts continued to stay with the blond elf until she fell into a deep slumber.

Two days later Emdiril sat on a nearby bench. She had spent the majority of her time trying to locate the Marchwarden but had had no success in doing so. The storm had passed and was replaced by sunshine. The rays of the sun were reflected by droplets on the various different flowers and plants and Emdiril never wanted to forget this beautiful sight. An approaching figure soon caught the redhead's attention and she lifted her head to find an elf stood by her side. She recognised him to be Orophin, one of Haldir's brothers.

"He came to the border soon after you arrived." The elf spoke as he continued to stand up straight. Emdiril noticed his mature demeanour and wondered whether he was the eldest of the brothers. Her brows furrowed at his statement and she wondered why he felt the need to tell her this.

"I see," Emdiril started. She meant to say more, but no words would leave her mouth.

"Haldir has asked me to tell you. He has told me that he had not said his farewells in the correct manner," Orophin eyed the available space next to the woman and motioned towards it, "May I?"

Emdiril nodded her head and was pleasantly surprised by how well-mannered this elf had been. They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, both of them enjoying the views Caras Galadhon offered them. The woman heard the elf clear his throat and she cast him a glance. His lips were pursed and he seemed to be elsewhere for a second before he returned her glace and narrowed his eyes.

"Haldir did not act himself when he arrived at the border. Have you any idea as to why?"

Emdiril averted her gaze and thought back to the night he had left and wrapped her arms protectively around her abdomen in an attempt to comfort herself.

"I am confused myself. He reacted to something about me in a way I had not expected. I have not seen him since."

"He cares about you, truly." Orophin stated as he shifted in his seat. He knew his brother well. Haldir found it hard to form a bond with any female or others in general, yet Emdiril had enchanted him with her unique charms. She seemed calm and serene now, but Haldir had also described her as temperamental and sarcastic.

"Yes. He has been a dear friend to me." She smiled a small smile as she looked upon the elf, thinking back to how their friendship had developed.

Orophin returned her smile and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder. He got up from his seat and said his farewell to Emdiril. The woman was so blissfully unaware of Haldir's feelings for her, yet it was not his place to tell. Time would come where true feelings would be revealed.

Emdiril watched the elf leave before her eyes widened –

Emdiril, a voice within her called out, come here child.

It was Galadriel wishing for her presence and Emdiril would not be one to keep the Elvin lady waiting.

Arriving at the platform she had seen Galadriel and Celeborn last, Galadriel greeted her with a pleasant smile before guiding her away.

"I sense unease at the borders. Do you feel it, child?" Galadriel asked in a calm and serene manner as the two of them continued walking at a slow pace. The elf's question caught Emdiril off guard for the Elvin lady had never sought her council or asked her thoughts. She thought that Galadriel was perhaps testing her. Stopping in her tracks, Emdiril closed her eyes in an attempt to focus on anything that was unusual – and there was.

"Aye, I feel something," Emdiril started as a shiver went down her spine, "it feels odd." She opened her eyes then and looked upon the beautiful frame of Galadriel. She nodded her head in agreement.

"I agree. It is something foreign, yet it is known." She spoke slowly as she intertwined her hands before her.

"Or perhaps someone." Emdiril blurted out and cursed herself for it. No one was wiser than the lady and no one dared to try undermining her. She pressed her lips together in a thin line and felt relief wash over her as Galadriel smiled.

"You have grown to become a smart lady and have gotten to know your unique powers well, young one. You now must try to embrace them fully and trust your instincts," Galadriel started before her blue eyes hardened, "Tolo, Emdiril. It's drawing closer." She gently turned Emdiril by the shoulder and walked back to where they have come from. As they arrived Emdiril saw a crowd of guards who all ushered to the side as the lady became present. Galadriel and Emdiril pushed through the guards and Galadriel found her spot beside Celeborn whereas Emdiril only stared at who was in front of her. There stood Haldir, his face as grim as ever with a stranger, holding onto the stranger's arm firmly. He was talking to Celeborn, but Emdiril could not hear. The man's clothes were ripped and dirty, as well as his skin and he could barely stand. His arms were tied behind his back and Emdiril could tell that the ropes had been tied too tightly around his wrists. Her eyes found her way back to Haldir who had yet to lay eyes on her. She had never seen him act in such a ruthless manner and it appalled her.

"He claims he got lost after his village was attacked." Haldir said, the tone of his voice was harsh and he stared at the man in front of him with hard, calculating eyes.

"Lone survivor." Haldir scoffed now as he let go of the man, who in turn fell to his knees. He groaned out in pain and his breathing was fast, yet Haldir felt no regret.

Almost against her will, Emdiril stepped forward and knelt down beside the man. His eyes were grey and his dirty-blond hair was kept shorter than any hair she had seen. It was evident that he was exhausted and the fact he was treated so poorly by an elf she had grown so much respect for made her blood boil. Somehow she felt protective over this person, yet she did not know the reason why.

"Step back, Lady Emdiril," Haldir spoke as he pulled her up from the floor by her arm. The way he said her name only made her angrier and she yanked her arm away from him, sending the Marchwarden a nasty glare. Part of her felt as though he was being rude and insensitive only because of what he had found the night of her arrival – and she was partly right. He had been in a foul mood since. Haldir felt for her so strongly and he had not known how to react to the news of her love for the Greenwood prince.

"Manners, aye? Maybe you should learn some for times you greet strangers instead of treating them as prisoners!" she sneered, her nostrils flaring and her eyes glowing yellow with rage. For a moment, Haldir's eyes widened for he was taken aback by her reaction but he took a step forward and returned her glare, his icy stare causing a shiver to go down her spine.

"Children," Celeborn spoke up, making Haldir and Emdiril stand down and they turned their faces to look towards him.

"We shall grant this man shelter for I sense great distress within him," Galadriel spoke evenly as Emdiril knelt back down to lay a supporting hand on the man's back. His breathing hitched and he suddenly looked up, his eyes glowing a familiar yellow, causing Emdiril to jump back slightly. Her brows furrowed and she stared at him hard. It occurred to her that he was what Galadriel and her had been speaking of – familiar, but not familiar at all. She could feel his powers surrounding him, almost as if they were pulling her closer to him which explained her protectiveness of him. She looked at Galadriel with big eyes and all she received was a nod in return.

"He is like me."

After being dismissed, Emdiril had led the man to a visitor's flet and helped him to bed. He had truly been exhausted and Emdiril could only imagine what he had gone through. It made sense, the story that Haldir had told – his village being attacked, him surviving – it was the perfect test to see if he was worthy enough to be a Child of the Earth. It was cruel and heart breaking and Emdiril had never realised how thankful she had been for Elrond to take her into his home.

Sighing, she turned the last corner to her flet and stopped her footsteps once she saw who was waiting in front of her door. Haldir himself stood there and he had already noticed her presence. He stared at her, his lips in a thin line and arms crossed in front of his chest. Deciding she was not going to back down, she pursed her lips and approached him, trying her hardest to keep a straight face.

"Have you not got duties at the border?" she asked nonchalantly, in an attempt to send him away.

"No, I have requested to keep an eye on our new visitor." He replied, his eyes still as cold as ice. The pair of them stood in front of the door, simply staring at each other, each of them trying to figure out what else to say.

"I have been assigned that duty already," Emdiril shrugged her shoulders before she turned her body to open the door only to have it forced shut by a strong hand. Clenching her jaw, she turned her face to glare at the Marchwarden, who again returned it.

"Do not make me look like a fool in front of MY guards and MY home again," Haldir sneered at her, his anger taking over.

"Do not act like one then." Emdiril countered and she pushed his arm out of her way, enabling her to enter her home to escape.

Haldir watched as she closed the door and closed his eyes with a sigh – not a single elf, human or even dwarf managed to impact his feelings in such a way. It made him feel uncomfortable and vulnerable for he was not accustomed in being spoken to in such a manner. He was well-respected here in Lothlórien and no one dared to speak to their Marchwarden like such. Yet Emdiril knew no boundaries and she did not care about the different roles elves played. It was why he admired her so much. He had not meant to sound threatening towards her, he had been angry ever since the night he left for the border. He shook his head, no, he had not been angry. He had been hurt. Hurt that her love was for another elf. She had even shown it by giving away her parents' pendant. All hope for the Marchwarden was lost. Not only had he lost that, but it appeared he had even lost her friendship. Pursing his lips he thought of the other visitor – Boleslaw he found was his name. He was like her, a Child of the Earth. She would spend more time with him now and all Haldir would be able to do was watch – just like he had had to watch her and Legolas in Greenwood. It hurt him more than he could have imagined. If this was truly love like Orophin thought, why would anyone want to feel it?

A/N: Thank you to those of you who have followed or favourited! I do appreciate it! Seems like trouble for Haldir and Emdiril's friendship, poor Marchwarden. Haldir has never done well with putting his feelings across has he?