TROLLSHAWS

Earlinde broke the kiss, much to Haldir's surprise. She touched the tip of her nose to his and looked intently into his eyes. He shook his head at her and drew her in for another kiss.

Orophin remained 'occupied' by looking around for more berries. When he finally decided that he had given them enough time he turned and upon seeing the two elves still lip locked he strode over and cleared his throat rather loudly.

Irate, Haldir turned his head to glare at his brother, but to his dismay found Earlinde already on her feet and standing by the troll furthest from him.

He was never really good with elleth's so he just stared at the back of her head for a while before, exhausted from his activities, he fell into sleep again. His body was healing too slowly for his own good, and he never could say awake for more than two hours at a time.

Earlinde remained stoically silent as her mind raced about things that she wished could be, but in her heart of hearts she knew would not.

Just as she turned around to face her companions an arrow whizzed by her ear, startling her out of her thoughts. She whipped around as her eyes searched the trees.

"RUN NOW!!" Orophin screamed as she pulled her sword over her head.

"GO! I need you not to get hurt! Care for my brother, GO NOW!" she nodded and gathered Haldir in her arms and took of quickly into the trees.

She ran hard as she heard the screeching of orcs, and wargs. Fear clambered into her spine as she saw from the corner of her eye a Warg tracking her through the trees to the left of her. Her mind screamed for her to take to the trees, but with her heavy burden she would not be able to.

She continued to run as fast as her legs could take her, and could now smell the rotten fur of the Warg. Panting she dodged into the right tree line putting distance between her and the Warg again. Her leg caught in a vine and she stopped before she tripped and panicked tried to pull her leg out. The Warg stood a few feet from her as she let out a yelp.

"Get out!" she yelled at her leg, "Get out, please c'mon, please." Tears came down her face as fear clutched her heart.

The Warg took two steps closer to her, and snarled. It bared its teeth and pranced over to her. With her free foot she reached out and kicked it on the nose, at that moment her leg came free and she capitalized on the beast's confusion and took off into the trees again. Angered the beast renewed its hunt, running faster.

Earlinde looked behind her just as her cloak was ripped off by the Warg. She screamed, and Haldir started, awakening. He looked behind her and his eyes grew wide. The beast was nipping at his Earlinde's feet, and all he could do was be dead weight.

"Put me down!" he ordered.

She continued to run darting left, then right, then left again to avoid anymore close encounters.

"Earlinde put me down!!!" he bellowed at the frightened elleth. He was still immobile, except for limited movement in his arm and neck.

"If you do not stop screaming in my ear, I will kill you myself." She gritted at him, darting sharply to the left and around a tree to her right again. She continued her onslaught then finally screamed as she tripped on an upturned root.

Haldir felt himself fly into the air and then land hard on a tree root that drove into his side. He cried out and started crying as pain blinded him momentarily.

Earlinde immediately felt teeth sink into her left calf, and shrieked. She turned over and pulled the sword from her side, and just as the Warg pounced on her, she stabbed it through the heart.

Blood rained down over her face, as she untangled herself from his foul mane and pulled her foot from the root. She limped over to Haldir who was gasping for breathe and pulled him off of the root. She made a quick bandage out of the cloak he was wrapped in and then checked him for any other scratches.

He watched her as he bit his lip, preventing himself from screaming in pain again.

"Are you alright??" she spoke softly to his ear, and looked into his eyes. Tears welled into his eyes as he gasped trying to get words out. Scared she lowered her mouth to his ears and gently told him she was there for him.

Pained seared into his sides as he struggled with breath. Earlinde's eyes filled with unshed tears and looked at him.

"Haldir…" she cooed.

He shuddered as tears fell from his eyes. She held his head to her shoulder and kissed his head.

"Lothamin, I have to take you to Imladris, it is a day's journey from here. Tell me you can take me moving you?" she watched as pain twisted his face.

She bent her head and kissed his lips, he hastily returned it, his face still twisted. She smiled at him and lifted him. He cried out as she trotted so she slowed to a walk, all the while whispering assurances to him.

HALF DAY LATER

Earlinde continued her walk towards Imladris. She had been out of the forest for a few hours now, well with in running distance, but she paced herself in her slow walk as Haldir laced his fingers through her bloodied matted hair. On braid had come completely undone and the other was loose in three places. Her hair looked horrible, her overall appearance unsightly.

Haldir struggled for breathe and continued to lace his hands through her hair working his fragile fingers through knots. His lips had turned blue, and blood had soaked through his 'bandage'. The only thing keeping him awake was his locked gaze with the elleth.

-This cannot be- he thought to himself

-What are these feelings? Why do I feel them….I swore I would never fall for anyone, but here I am… She's a March Warden it would never work, she has her land to defend and I have mine. But that's why it would work she understands me like no other, and although everyone needs her, she still makes me feel like she needs me… like…like what?-

Earlinde tightened her hold on the March Warden and then turned her head to look around her. She stood on the banks of the ford. She had reached the outskirts of Imladris. Tears threatened to fall as she returned her gaze to Haldir. Suddenly an arrow was fired at her, she quickly dodged it. It sank into the soil, and she glared at it.

Her heart jumped when she realized that the arrow was Elven make. She smiled and jogged over the water. Haldir cried out and she slowed her pace. She was met by Finwe who was sadly had tears in his eyes.

"Commander!" he bowed.

"Commander none made it… none… Honorable Rumil of Lorien helped me carry back 19 fallen brethren… and this morn, a search party brought back Fervor. He is…"

"Dead…yes I know."

Earlinde nodded and side stepped the attempt Finwe made to remove Haldir from her arms. Slowly both elves walked back to Imladris and Earlinde marched into the healer's wing dropping Haldir off.

She bent down and kissed his fore head and gazed into his eyes speaking slowly.

"Haldir, I must go for your brother now, you are safe in my home now." She kissed him again and walked out of the room. The healer noticed she limped slightly and shook his head.

"Noble she is." He said as he heard her foot falls fade in the corridor.

"Yes," Haldir answered

"The best Imladris will ever have, cursed is the day she leaves to the west. The day she feels her hands have become to blood stained, her soul tarnished by death…"

Haldir turned to meet the sorrowful gaze of the healer, who set upon cleaning Haldir's cuts.

MINUTES LATER

Earlinde, Finwe and two other guards left Imladris and spurred their horses quickly toward the Trollshaws. They traveled quickly leaving no time for stops.

TROLLSHAWS

Orophin staggered dazed through the forest. He had run out of arrows and there were too many orcs to fight off alone. He ran hard slamming into tree because of his blurred visions. He didn't know if he was headed the right way or not, all he knew was he had to run the opposite orcs.

And arrow protruded from his shoulder and another from his chest, two more from his leg. He continued running fear taking him as fast away from the orcs as it could.

AN HOUR LATER

Earlinde wove her horse through the trees intricately looking hard for her friend. They had split up, each with a vivid description of the person they were looking for.

Earlinde's horse stopped and wouldn't obey commands. She kicked it in its side and it grunted. She slid off its back and landed on a body. Startled she looked down to see Orophin lying face down in the dirt.

"Oh sweet Orophin!!" she dropped to her knees and pulled him to her chest.

Tears rippled through her as she screamed in pain.

"No, no Orophin! Please don't die! Please live! Please let you not be another that has fallen because of my foolishness! Please Orophin; please don't tell me I have failed you too!!" She held onto the body ad she sank to the floor tears in her eyes.

Inside her something died. She had failed too many elves this time. Too many had died because she made too many foolish decisions. She cried as she rocked the limp elf, and then screamed when he moved.

Her eyes widened as Orophin sat up and looked at her.

"Why are you making so much noise, my ears are ringing." He winced as he moved his shoulder. Earlinde pulled Orophin into her arms and threw him on the saddle of her horse. She mounted and took off. Orophin begged her to slow down as he yelped in pain.

TWO HOURS LATER

Earlinde raced into the healer's wing with Orophin kicked and screaming and threw him into a bed. Haldir watched the whole exchange with a smug look.

Earlinde threw Orophin down as he protested that he could stand, when he tried to get up she shoved him down and pulled a healer to the bead and quickly ran down her diagnosis of his 'deathly state'.

Haldir laughed as he watched Orophin protest, but be ignored. She quickly turned and left the Healer's Ward and made for Lord Elrond's study.

She walked briskly in, trying as hard as she could not to limp and bowed regally.

"Lord Elrond, a report of the past months?"

He nodded as she began her story. After she finished Rumil burst into the study. When he laid eyes on her he bowed and saluted.

"Commander!" he looked at her expectantly.

"I hereby dismiss you of you charge in Imladris, reinstating you to the Lorien Guard."

She turned to Lord Elrond, and Rumil caught sight of her limp.

"Commander, so I am no longer under your command, yes?" she turned back to him and nodded.

"Well, March Warden, you look horrible and I noticed you are limping a bit."

"It is nothing, thank you Rumil of Lorien for your concern."

"Nay, it is nothing compared to the compassion you showed for my oldest brother, and my twin. Come to think of it…" an evil smirk came to his face.

She eyed him cautiously and then stepped away. He closed the distance between them and slung him over his shoulder, "You need some medical attention dearest March Warden! Let's see how you fare after that, no?"

"Rumil!! Rumil put me down now!! This instant, at once!!"

The Imladris guard was line up outside the study and started to clap as their March Warden was carried in a compromising position through the city. Whistles erupted.

"Quick! Do something! I order you to make him put me down!!" Hoots and sniggers were her only consolation.

Haldir and Orophin now confined to their beds heard her screams before they saw her. Rumil kicked in the door and walked in with a distressed March Warden slung over his shoulder.

"Rumil, I command you to put me down!!!" she thundered.

"As you wish Commander!" He flung her on a bed as the room burst into laughter.

"Now someone is going to care for you, and you are going to let them!! Healer! Healer!! We have a certain March Warden on her death bed!!"

"RUMIL OF LORIEN!! I WILL HAVE YOU CLEANING POTS IN THE IMLADRIS KITCHENS FOR A MILLENIA IF YOU DO NOT…OUFF!!"

Rumil had tackled the warden back to the bed as the room continued to bellow with laughter. The healer hesitantly approached her and began to treat the unhappy Warden ever. Rumil put his hand on his hips and smirked as she glared at him.

Rumil winked at Haldir and Orophin before he turned around and returned to his Imladris post. He had been discharged, but would remain loyal to the Imladris guard until he returned home with his brothers.

A/N: hmmm, thinking of more plot bunnies… probably going to exploit the Findar problems more and develop Haldir and Earlinde's relationship.

Cookies and Pizza for my two reviewers Lady Anck-su-namun and Miriellar you guys are amazing. R/R!! love you!