Title: Risking Everything

Author: Carrie (CapriceAnn Hedican-Kocur)
Rating: PG (at least that is what I am aiming for)

Characters: Haldir/Lindariel (OFC), Lindariel's parents, Rúmil and Orophin various elves from Imladris. Mostly told from Haldir's POV.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything other than the computer that I typed this vignette with. I may use some modern references and if I do they belong to the Great Flanneled One (You do know that is George Lucas, right? No one found it in the last story….)

Beta: sadly, I have none that can do any justice to a LotR fic. Any volunteers?

Notes: This is my third LotR fic, so please be kind to me. This is a continuation of my first vignette, The Value of an Education and the second one, Why Is The Door Locked? You will need to have read those in order to understand where the characters are coming from. I also have NO idea how long it takes to get from Imladris to Lórien, so I am guessing at a couple of weeks of riding…if this is wrong let me know…


Risking Everything

"It's better to have lost at love than never to have loved at all."

Poison, "I Won't Forget You" from the Look What the Cat Dragged in LP


.

Lindariel and I were not able to catch a moment alone for the rest of our visit to Imladris. It seemed as if even the Valar were conspiring against us. Either she was with her parents or a whole group of her friends. There were even several now staying in her room with her. I silently still followed her around, making sure that no one ever caught me looking.

I couldn't believe that it was the last night we would be there. It had been a week since the party, and the closest I had come to being with her again was just a few moments ago when I passed her in the hallway. She had accidentally run into me, and as I steadied her on her feet I noticed no one else was nearby. I quickly pulled her into the nearest room and locked the door behind us. We both barely managed to say that we had missed one another before I crushed my lips to hers in a searing kiss.

"Whose room are we in?" Lindariel asked me as she broke away from the kiss.

"I am not sure," I said as I felt around for a lamp that I could light. Finally finding one, and the match to light it, I did so. We both gasped when we realized we were in her parents' room.

"They will be going to bed soon. We must leave now." She pleaded.

"But if we leave now, your friends will see us. After all, it seems as if everyone has spent the last week keeping us apart. Are you willing to risk being caught?" I asked unsure of her feelings, but increasingly becoming aware of my own growing feelings towards her.

"Haldir," Lindariel said looking into my eyes as she placed her hands on either side of my face, forcing me to look directly into her eyes. "One sentimental moment in your arms, is like a shooting star right through my heart. For one night with you, I would risk everything."

"It wouldn't be for just one night…" I left off as we heard the key turning in the lock. I pulled her into a tight embrace, and as her Parents walked in and caught sight of us standing there together, I whispered into Lindariel's ear, "I love you. Although miles come between us, just between you and me, I won't forget you."

"Aeroniel, take Lindariel to her room, and get her ready to leave. I am going to take care of things here, and then go and make our excuses to Lord Elrond as to why we are leaving early." Nithron stated as he turned to look me in the eye.

I watched as Lindariel's naneth led her from the room, but just as they got to the door Lindariel turned back and said "Ada, you always taught me that the greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. Do not make a liar out of yourself."

As her naneth escorted her out of the room, her father turned to me and said, "I want you to leave this room and NEVER attempt to contact my daughter again."

"Why? We have done nothing that would warrant you taking her home." I said still fuming over the fact that her parents seemed to not care what she wanted. "She is of age to make her own choices. What do you have against her being with anyone or is it just me you object her being with?"

"My daughter may be if age, but I will not have her throw away her life on a soldier. Especially one who is from so very far away." Nithron stated. "You will leave in the morning, and you will not ever think of her again. She is not for you."

I left the room, but not without a parting word. "Just for the record, I would never have hurt Lindariel." I said quietly as I went back to my room. As I passed her door, I looked at it briefly but made no move towards it even though I wanted to barge in there, grab her, and take her with me. I knew her father was right in that aspect. She was too young to make the decision to come with me, no matter how much I wanted her to. I got to my room and ordered my brothers to pack. We were leaving at first light.

1

1

All too soon, it seemed as if we were back in Golden Wood. I was on one of my routine patrols one afternoon, several weeks after getting back, when one of the other Wardens brought word of a small party of elves heading our way. Did I dare hope? Then I remembered that Elladan and Elrohir were supposed to be escorting Arwen here for an extended visit. So that is whom it probably was, but still something inside of me was hoping against hope.

1

1

three weeks earlier…

"Lin, what is the matter? You have been sad ever since we brought you home from the celebration." Aeroniel asked.

"Nana, why did ada not want me to see Haldir?" I asked with tears falling down my face.

"Oh, it is Haldir, and not the March Warden is it?" My naneth teased me. "Me'a nin, your Ada does not want to see you as a grown up elleth. He still sees you as that little elleth that used to delight in riding on his shoulders and climbing all over him at every opportunity. He will eventually come around. In the meantime, I have something that I think will cheer you up considerably."

"Oh, nana, nothing short of going to Lórien would make me happy." I said as I looked up into my naneth's twinkling eyes. "What are you hiding from me?"

"It is not you, but your Ada that I am hiding something from." She said. "You will be accompanying Elladan and Elrohir when they escort Arwen to Lórien tomorrow."

"Will, Ada, not get mad?" I asked. "How am I supposed to go with them?"

"We had arranged it long ago. I have a cousin that lives there, and you will be 'spending' time with her. Your Ada agreed to it months ago, but apparently has forgotten about it, or maybe he had hoped that we had forgotten about it." My naneth said. "But come, we have a short time to pack before the Twins come for you." She said as she led the way to my room.

Ada was none too pleased when he discovered me with the Twins and Arwen the next morning, but it was already to late for him to stop us because he didn't discover it until we had passed the borders of the city. I could hear him yell from where we were.

1

1

I was watching the small group of six elves getting closer by the minute. Did I dare hope? I wanted to, but did I dare believe that she actually would risk it all to come here? My questions were answered a few minutes later after we dropped from the trees to greet the guests.

"Elladan." I greeted and then looked at the rest of the group. "I believed it to just be you and your brother and sister coming. Who are the rest?" I asked knowing full well, who at least one of them was, but I did not want even my brothers to know that this was the elleth that had occupied my thoughts and was the reason we left Imladris early.

"Ada felt that we needed a couple of extra guards," Elladan stated as he nodded to the guards. "And Lin, here is supposed to be visiting her naneth's cousin."

"Lindariel." I said as I took her hand and gently kissed her fingers, not caring at this point if anyone thought less of me for this display of emotion. "Let me escort all of you to the city." I said looking once again at Elladan.

"Elrohir, the guards, and I are returning home now. We were just the escorts. We will come back when the time is right, or Grandmother calls for us, whichever comes first." Elladan stated as the four elves turned their horses around and left without another word.

I mounted a horse of my own, and led Arwen and Lindariel towards the city. Apparently Arwen was excited to see her Grandmother because she took off towards the city at a fast gallop leaving Lindariel and I alone.

"So, you managed to make it here. How did you get by your Ada?" I questioned her.

"Apparently, my naneth had arranged this trip months ago with her cousin. And she didn't remind me or my Ada about it. Besides, I told you before," Lindariel continued as she stopped her horse and got off it as I did. "I would risk everything to be with you. I knew my Ada did not realize I was in the party leaving the city until I heard him scream as we left."

"Óre nîn," I mumbled as I grabbed her by her arms and pulled her towards me, crushing her lips with mine. "Let us reach the city, quickly."

"Haldir?" She asked.

"Yes." I stated.

"Take me home." She said pulling me back in for another kiss.

"Home?" I asked a little confused.

"Yes, home. You know, Lórien." Lindariel said smiling as she kissed me again. I was really starting to enjoy all of her little kisses.

"Since when did it become your home?" I asked, a little unsure of what her answer would be.

"Since, that is where my heart has resided, then that is where I need to be." She said as we made our way slowly towards the city. We stopped only once every so often to steal a few kisses, and so that I could also point out a few of the interesting landmarks to her.