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Chapter 10: Arguments and Accusations

Haldir met Ana's eyes and took a deep breath. "I do not despise you," he said slowly and Ana raised an eyebrow at him. "I merely do not trust you and I find you infuriating," he finished before he left the room to get her something to eat. Ana uncrossed her arms and stood from the bed, more slowly that time, and on trembling legs made her way from the bedchamber to the kitchen where Haldir was putting bread and other items on a tray.

"Me? Infuriating? You're the one who yelled at me constantly when I couldn't understand you!" she exclaimed and his eyes turned from his task to her as she leaned on the door frame for support. The twelve feet she walked drained her, but she refused to let him know that. "You're the one that sprained my wrist; you're the one that started this hate relationship when you tried to stop me from going to my dog; and you're the reason behind how I was almost killed out in the forest!" Haldir scoffed and shook his head.

"You are naïve in many ways. As a Marchwarden of these woods, it is my job to be suspicious of strangers that come into our land, you are lucky you were even allowed in the city. If the Lady hadn't given me the instructions to bring you to the city, I would have had Rumil escort you to the border and left you to fend with the nothing you had." Ana glared and opened her mouth to speak but Haldir cut her off and stepped towards her. "Also, if I had not went in search of you when you ran away the orcs would have taken you back to the dark lord and you would have been forced to draw from the orc that held you by the throat." Haldir watched as her glare slowly melted and he stepped even closer so he was only about two feet from her.

"You were brought to this world by him, and he was going to use you. For what reason we don't know, but I wish I would have left you and let those orcs take you," he finished in a hiss. Ana held back her tears and let no sign out that they laid there. Haldir raised his hand and pulled the white bandage from her neck and was surprised to see the bruises and scratches gone, but the scar he had seen on the left side of her neck remained. Ana leaned up slightly and smacked Haldir clear across the face.

"I wish you would have left me," she whispered and Haldir turned to her as his gaze darkened even more. "I wish you would have let them take me cause then I would be away from you." Ana turned and stepped to go back to her bedroom when she moved too quickly and once again fell to the floor, only that time instead of being caught she crashed down onto the wood. She stifled her cry and slowly started to get up. She heard him sigh and move but she screamed at him. "Don't you dare touch me!" Haldir stopped and watched as she struggled to get up. Soon, she was on her feet and leaned against the wall taking deep even breaths. "Leave my house," she said as she looked at him and pushed herself up from the wall and walked stumbling into the bedroom. She collapsed onto the bed and closed her eyes.

Haldir clasped his fists at his sides. Now that he could understand her he found her even more troublesome. He walked into the bedchamber after her and her eyes opened at hearing him.

"You are under my charge, by Lady Galadriel's order. So I'd take heed in what you say if I were you." She sat up on her elbows and looked at him.

"I'm stuck in a place that I don't want to be, because of some stupid dark lord and because you're ordered to baby-sit me I'm suppose to listen to you. I don't think so. I'm twenty-five years old, Haldir, and I can take care of myself." Haldir took a deep breath and she sat up fully. "I don't why she put you in charge of watching over me when neither of us can stand each other. Now, leave me alone Haldir."

"Gladly," he said after a moment and left the talan his blood boiling and frustration over flowing throughout him.

Ana sighed and laid back down on the bed. She curled up with her pillow, stifled a yawn and looked at Sadie who had somehow fallen asleep on floor. She sighed again and closed her eyes choosing to forget about Haldir and get some more rest as she was suddenly very tired.

Rumil knocked on Ana's door after the midday meal, and when no answer came, he opened the door to find the sitting room empty. He frowned and walked into the talan. He looked into the kitchen and saw a plate with now dry bread resting there and a few other items. He frowned and continued on his way through the talan to the bedchamber. Ana laid asleep in the bed. Her animal sat up and looked at him before she tilted her head. Rumil raised his index finger to his lips and told the animal to be quiet.

"Go away," Ana said tiredly. "I don't want any company right now."

"Well, it appears you gained more than my brother's knowledge," Rumil said. Ana turned and looked at him with a small smile on her face, but it was apparent to him that something was the matter. "What has happened?" he asked and he stepped further into the room and sat down on the bed. Ana slowly sat up on the bed and drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around her shins as she looked at him.

"Nothing, Haldir and I argued but this time we both could understand each other," Ana sighed. Rumil gave her a small smile. "How can you two be related?" she asked after a silence. "You've been nothing but nice and he's been nothing but cruel." She paused and thought of after he had killed the orcs in the forest, and how he had let her hold onto him while she cried. He even wiped her tears away from her cheeks. And then when she had passed out the morning before and slight panic in his voice as she fell limp in his arms. He hadn't been cruel then, not in those brief fleeting moments but all the other countless ones together he had been.

"Haldir is not trusting, and he does not trust the race of men," Rumil said breaking her from her thoughts. She looked up at him once more and sighed.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because men's mortality makes them act rashly." Ana raised an eyebrow.

"Mortality? What do you mean?" Rumil looked away and took a deep breath before he began to explain the differences between men and elves. After about ten minutes Ana was looking at him with wide eyes. "You've got to be kidding me," she said quietly. "You all are immortal and can't die?" she asked.

"We can, but only in battle and of a broken heart as time as no effect on us," Rumil said. Ana laughed quietly and shook her head.

"I can't believe it." Her spirits were lifted and Rumil was glad to see her smiling and laughing, but then her smile slowly left her face and she looked at him with a serious face. "Do you think . . . do you think when I drew from Haldir that I . . . that I could have taken some of that trait?" she asked. Rumil raised his hand and cupped her cheek with a small smile as he ran his thumb along her cheekbone, just under her eye.

"I do not know," he said gently. Ana nodded and met his eyes worriedly. He lowered his hand and clasped hers loosely. "Time will tell, and perhaps the Lady will know if you talk to her." Ana smiled then and nodded.

"I suppose you're right," she said quietly before her stomach rumbled causing both to laugh. "I guess I'm hungry." Rumil smiled and nodded.

"I'll get you something," he said but Ana shook her head.

"I'll get it," she stood, but without difficulty that time. She gave him a smile and walked into the sitting room only to stop. Haldir stood there with arms crossed and looking like he was ready to throttle her across the room. Ana just looked at him before she went into the kitchen. She heard him follow and she turned to him. "What do you want?" she asked.

"I want to know what it is you are doing," he said. Ana shook her head and unfolded the wrapping around a small loaf of bread.

"Well, I'm getting myself something to eat," she said as she used a knife to cut the bread.

"Not that, Ana, I mean with my brother." Ana stopped and looked at him over her shoulder.

"I'm not doing anything. Rumil is my friend." She turned back to her task.

"You expect me to believe that?" Ana sighed and slammed the knife down on the counter and turned to look at him.

"I do because it's the truth!" she exclaimed and soon he was right in front of her. "What? Are you jealous?" she asked heatedly. Haldir grasped her upper arms and held her firmly and so close to him that she could feel his breath against her face. Ana only met his gaze but found her heart beating heavily in her chest and not from anger. Haldir met looked into the dark green orbs that looked at him defiantly and challenged him.

"Haldir!" echoed Rumil's voice in the kitchen and Haldir let her go and looked at his brother. "What are you doing?" he asked and Ana rubbed her upper arms from the death grip he had on them.

"Nothing," Haldir hissed. "Do not trust her Rumil. You may fall prey to her charm, with your soft heart, and she'll destroy you." Haldir said before he left the talan quickly. As he marched down the steps of her talan, he didn't know what had made him act as he did. When he had saw Rumil touch her face from the doorway, he felt his blood boil with anger, why he didn't know, but there was a knot in his stomach and the only way he knew to release it was through his anger.

Ana sighed as she chewed on the bread and cheese Rumil had cut for her while she sat at the table. "Forgive him Ana. I think I know why he behaved as such," Rumil said as he sat down across from her at the small table.

"Why's that? Because he's an idiot?" she asked. Rumil laughed and shrugged.

"That could be part of it, but I think there is something more. I don't want to share it with you just yet, because I think it would be best for him to share it with you." Ana nodded and sighed.

"Whatever it is, I hope he gets over it soon before he bruises anything else." Rumil chuckled and grabbed a piece of cheese before Ana could. She smacked at his hand and grabbed another before she laughed and ate her piece of cheese.