A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for reading. So, the original idea of this story came about over a year ago now, so if you do not like it, I do not blame you. Well, to be honest, I have not even gotten to the part yet because I found writing her relationship with the different characters so refreshing and wanted to build up my character slowly. I know I have not gotten any reviews as of yet and that is possibly mostly my fault for binge uploading the first 10 chapters in one go. I know my grammar and spelling becomes a bit questionable at times but if you enjoy the story or the idea behind it, let me know. I am also quite intrigued as to which of Emdiril's relationships, whether platonic or not is your favourite to read so I can continue to write more as I am still unsure of how exactly I want it to end. I apologise for the slightly longer author's note.

Warning: Violence in this chapter.

Chapter 13

The summer months had flown by quickly. The leaves of Lothórien were turning different colours and falling from the trees as a colder season was settling in. Elladan and Elrohir had gone back to Rivendell when Elrond's word had reached them that their mother had decided to sail. After the traumatic event that had occurred the she-elf had never been able to heal in mind or in spirit and no longer wished to live in Middle Earth. Arwen and Emdiril resided in Lothlórien. Elrond had not wished for the two of them to return for the pain of his wife's departure was still too great. He had not wanted his daughters to see him in such a way and so he had asked Galadriel to look after them.

Arwen had spent many hours with the Elvin lady for she wished to become as wise as her grandmother. Emdiril on the other hand had dedicated most of her time towards Boleslaw. Haldir frowned deeply when the strange man entered his thoughts. Emdiril had been persistent to learn how to fight and he had granted her that wish by teaching her the arts of sword fighting. She had become a skilful warrior. In return, Emdiril had taught the blond man everything she knew about their powers and how to use them. They had learnt plenty from each other, had even started to use their powers and fighting skills at the same time, and it created a bond unlike any other. It was almost on a spiritual level and it unnerved the Marchwarden. Wherever Boleslaw was, Emdiril would not be far away and the pair of them had spent almost every wakening minute together. Even Arwen had noticed and had tried comforting Haldir, reassuring him that their bond was strong due to being the same kin. The she-elf had tried reassuring him that Emdiril was still the same woman that he had once met, but Haldir thought otherwise. The redhead had not uttered a word to the Marchwarden since their falling out and it upset the proud elf greatly. Apart from that, Emdiril had started wearing her hair in a single braid and had started wearing tunics instead of dresses. Haldir turned his face towards the sound of someone clearning their throat. Rúmil stood next to him and nodded towards the opposite direction. Haldir followed his glance and noticed someone walking through the market. Their hood was up and Haldir immediately knew who it was due to the shorter frame. Her braid hung over her shoulder and her face was barely recognisable, but the Marchwarden knew it was her. Looking back at his brother, he clenched his jaw. Rumil returned Haldir's glance with a pointed look which cause Haldir to roll his eyes. A long time had passed since the pair had spoken and his heart had been aching the entire time. He hated it. He hated how much she had changed his life. Perhaps it was finally time to speak with her. Approaching her with big steps, he quickly caught up with the redhead.

"Are you not missing something?" Haldir started, mocking her, "Or shall I say someone?"

"Spare me your petty jealousy, Haldir," Emdiril spat back as she waved her hand in dismissal as she attempted to walk around him. The elf blocked her however, by stepping in front of her. He was quite tall compared to her, her head only reaching his shoulder and he looked down at the woman. The elf's lips were pressed together in a thin line and he raised an eyebrow at her.

Emdiril mirrored his actions, crossing her arms over her chest, her green eyes shooting daggers in his direction. Truth be told, she did not know how else to react. The woman had been too stubborn to talk to him since the night of their disagreement and now she knew not how to react to the Marchwarden. She remembered how much time they had spent together in Greenwood and how she had sobbed when he had left. The redhead held so many feelings for the elf, yet now that she stood in front of him she did not know what to do, let alone say.

Haldir opened his mouth to speak but no words left his mouth. Many thoughts crossed his mind and there were many things he wanted to tell Emdiril. Things he should have told her a long time ago.

"I would like to speak with you," Haldir spoke before pressing his lips together in a thin line.

"Now you would like to speak with me?" Emdiril asked in disbelief, "Why now? What makes you think I want to speak with you now? We have not conversed in… I cannot remember. Yet now you choose to talk?" Emdiril rambled. She had been continuously frustrated. She had waited so long for him to approach her she thought it would never happen. So the redhead started pushing her feelings for him away. Now she was pushing him away.

"Emdiril, please-" Haldir started, his eyes were for once full of emotion. Despite being a proud Marchwarden it had taken a lot out of him to approach her. He realised after many days and nights of pondering, she was his weakness. The one thing that could always take him down. This woman in front of her, with her sparkling green eyes made him vulnerable.

"She said no, Marchwarden," Boleslaw sneered as he stood beside her, wearing a disgusted expression on his face. He looked the Marchwarden up and down before he placed his arm around Emdiril's shoulders, guiding her away from the elf. All Haldir could do was watch. She let herself be guided away by her kinsmen which spoke more than any words. She told him she hadn't wanted to talk yet hadn't walked away from him until now. She really wanted nothing else to do with him and it wounded the Marchwarden. What had been said proved to be untrue. Time did not heal wounds.

"Are you alright?" Boleslaw asked Emdiril as they walked, his arm still around her shoulders, "I knew that idiot Marchwarden would try to upset you sooner or later."

"I am fine," Emdiril replied as she pulled away from the blond's grasp, "He did not really say anything." The redhead felt a lot of emotions but none of them as strong as guilt. She had not even let him speak. They had been so close once and now she completely shut him out.

"Great. I have something to show you!" Boleslaw declared, his grey eyes resting on the shorter woman. "As a thank you for showing me all my gifts and powers." He laid his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it, his eyes holding a thankful glint.

"Follow me," he beckoned for her to follow him and she did without any questions. Emdiril had felt herself become colder, less interested in everything. Some days she even felt heartless, careless. Emdiril had given herself goals to keep her motivated, she had become a warrior and trained Boleslaw in doing so. She wondered whether her change of attitude was to do with her separation with Legolas. Whether she was only half of who she really was because he other half was taken away. She continued walking behind Boleslaw as she thought about the Elven prince. She pondered whether he would be able to find someone new his heart sought, whether he would at least find his happiness, even if she was unhappy. Shaking her feelings off her eyes scanned her surroundings. Boleslaw had taken her into deep woodland and she furrowed her brows in confusion.

"Where are you leading me, my friend?" she finally spoke up and the man stopped abruptly in his footsteps.

Taking a step forward Emdiril suddenly felt a sharp pain radiating from her abdomen. Time seemed to slow down as she looked between Boleslaw who had turned around and the dagger that was stuck in her stomach. Blood started spilling from her wound as she made eye contact with the blond, his grey eyes void of any emotions.

Gasping for her air, she wrapped her hands around his, trying to get him to remove the blade, causing him to twist it more, intensifying the pain.

Emdiril fell onto her knees, still gripping onto Boleslaw. Emdiril's eyes were begging, digging into his, pleading with him to stop this pain. She was growing weary and she started feeling cold, a shiver running down her spine. Her breathing quickened, becoming rapid and uneven.

"Why?" she managed to whisper, too exhausted and pained to speak louder.

"I do not need you anymore. I will now have true power, with true allies. I cannot believe my plan worked," a chuckle escaped his lips. An evil laugh hissed by a snake. "All I needed was your guidance for power," he feigned a sigh as well as an innocent expression, "those poor people in that village… all died just for me to get to you. Shame, truly." He shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly before ripping out his blade from within her. Emdiril screamed in agony and tears ran down her cheeks as she watched him, watched his true form.

"You killed them all…" Emdiril stated as she came to the realisation of who he meant. She held her hand firmly above her wound, trying to stop the bleeding, trying to stay strong.

"Yes and it is all your fault," Boleslaw accused her before slapping her in the face, causing her to lay on the ground fully, "Least you are now dying and one of them."

With that the short-haired man left her, walking deeper into the woods. It had been a wicked plan all along. The attack on the village had been a plan. Boleslaw had seen the initial attack, the true test of his worthiness as a young child and the recent attack on the village was an exact replica of this event. It was a work of art in Boleslaw's opinion. Who was Emdiril to say she was one of the three when she never truly had to go through that test?

Emdiril lay within the leaves and branches, her hand still on her wound. Never had she been so deceived. 'You are stronger than this' she told herself time and time again, attempting to get up from her position. It took time and she wanted to scream in pain but the woman was too proud to go down like this. Too proud to die because of someone such as him. Emdiril was angry, the autumn sun had disappeared and was replaced by dark grey clouds. Raindrops started to fall upon her and she could not help but feel the weather was a reflection of her mood. Taking small, unsteady steps Emdiril breathed heavily as she grew colder and colder, blood continuing to flow down her body. Emdiril grew weaker and her legs gave away underneath her. She kneeled in the dirt, raindrops flowing down her face as well as tears. Perhaps she was not really stronger than this. She would not get to her flet. She would never see Legolas or her family again. Emdiril sobbed openly, her fist hitting down in frustration, sadness and anger. She would never lay eyes upon Haldir again. 'Oh Haldir, you will never know how much I have truly missed you. I am sorry.'

With her final thought of the Marchwarden, her first made contact with the floor once more and she let out an enormous scream. Emdiril was in agony, not just physically but emotionally. How could she have ever abandoned her Marchwarden?

Lightening lit up directly above her followed by colourful rays within the sky. The lights blazed merrily in the cloudy sky, the vibrant colours dancing, flowing and changing shades. Like a pathway these lights snaked through the air, fading behind the trees. Emdiril had never seen these and she wondered whether this was the last thing she'd see before her body would give out. Hopefulness silently filled her, perhaps it was a hidden power she had not discovered. Her own personal cry for help. Perhaps someone would follow this path of lights and find her. Although she had told herself she was stronger than this, this instance she was unsure.

Oh, a cliffhanger! I hope you have enjoyed!