A.N: I would like to thank the following reviewers…

Haldir's Heart and Soul: My! Aren't we impatient! Please hold on… it might happen or it might not.

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Crecy: It was also said that her memories shouldn't be forced. And sorry Benedik cannot open the portal again.

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Disclaimer: I own Arda… MWAHAHAHAA!!!!!!!! Actually no. I don't.

Thoughts or dreams are in Italics

- Anarya of Lorien

CRYSTAL DREAMS


Chapter – 8 (Dreams)

Anya's Point of view:

"And why should I not go, Haldir? They are after all my family!" I turned to glare at him. He glared back at me. Both of us matching our fiery tempers in full array. He turned to look at me.

"They do not think you did the right thing in marrying me, melamin. Especially your father."

I sighed as I recalled the fight I had with my Ada. 'I no longer call you my daughter!' he had said. I turned to look at my husband. A normal guard in the Border. It had only been two weeks since he had been recruited permanently and yet Ada felt his anger and wrath towards Haldir unabated.

"Your father's guard almost dunked me into the stream yesterday .I cannot see why you should feel it so greatly to go and see them leave for Valinor! I would only suggest you forget their existence."

"Haldir! He is my father! And what did Ithilwen do to suffer your displeasure? She is my only sister. She knows nothing of this. And isn't she your friend?" He turned away from me impatiently as I called him back.

"Haldir! I cannot have you disrespect my father." He turned back to face me. His face livid, he stalked towards me and closed his grip on my arm.

"Then you shall have him disrespect me? Me, with to whom you vowed spend an eternity – you will leave me for him?"

His eyes seemed to go red with anger as I struggled in his grip. "Haldir, you are hurting me." But his grip did not loosen.

"I love you Laurelin. I love you more than life itself. And I cannot stand it if you are insulted. Can you not see?" his eyes softened as his grip loosened its hold around me. But I stood there, like one made of stone. My eyes slowly blurring with tears. He turned away from me. His proud shoulders slumped.

"Haldir." I called weakly expecting him to go away ignoring my call but he stood there half turning his face towards me as my eyes flooded with tears.

"Haldir, I-" he turned to look at me as I felt my entire body trembling. Guilt, as to how a creature like me could deserve an elf like him. My shoulders shook as I stood there sobbing my heart out. He must have panicked because the next moment I felt him catch my shoulders gently as I leaned into his embrace, calling his name over and over again.

He hushed me as he slowly lifted me bodily and gently carried me to our bed. As he lay me down gently, I saw in his eyes concern and worry.

"Haldir, I am sorry." He smiled a little as he brushed away the strands of hair that fell in my face, obscuring his beautiful vision from my eyes.

"Never mind, my love." He said as he bent down to place a feather light kiss on my lips. Tears flowed from my eyes as I wept of happiness. What deed had I done to please the Valar that they grant me him? I sighed as he kissed me once more and sat beside me, holding my hand in his, his eyes never wavering from my gaze.


Galadriel's Point of view:

I slowly stirred as I felt her move in her sleep. She was slowly coming back from senselessness to normal sleep and that I could tell. But I was not prepared to see her cry in her sleep. I sighed as I placed my hands over her brow and slowly closed my eyes trying to peek into her mind, trying to see what distressed this mortal maiden.

What I saw caused my heart to clench in pain and sadness. Haldir and Laurelin, happy in each other's sight. Where she seemed to recall all the good times when she spent with him. She was lying on the bed obviously out of fatigue or out of some other reason I could not fathom and he sat beside, her gently stroking her hand as he whispered comforts in Elvish.

I withdrew my hand as I felt her consciousness returning slowly to that of the waking world. I waited patiently as her eyelids fluttered gently before slowly opening. The sudden light seemed to disorient her. But as she gained control of her senses, she turned to her right, to see me seated there smiling serenely.

"My lady!" she cried and the door opened and I ran Haldir. He looked from my face to hers and bowed down his head. He muttered an apology as he gently closed the door behind him. I turned to look at the girl before me. She seemed to keep gazing at the door through which Haldir had disappeared.

"Good evening, my child." I said as I saw her start at my voice and turn dazedly towards me.

"What happened?" she asked still in a daze. I smiled a little more as I placed one hand over hers.

"Do you not recollect?" I asked her gently. She looked at me deeply for one minute and then her eyes widened as she slowly backed away from my reach.

"Haldir…Haldir and the mirror – he said-" my smile waned a little as my gaze turned from her to the mirror that lay beside me. I slowly took it into my grasp as I gazed into it. Surely it was hers. I had asked Haldir to present this to her that day. And still now, it remained, as it was, an object of enigma.

"You need not panic my child. All you need is rest." I stood up from the seat where I was seated and slowly bent over her. She looked into my eyes as though attempting to read my mind. I smiled at her attempt and closed her eyes gently with my fingers.

"Now you sleep. When you wake up, your mind shall be clear and some of your questions shall be answered." I whispered as I uttered beneath my breath a spell for dreamless sleep. The spell worked as I sensed her slipping once more into the oblivion of sleep. I straightened and walked slowly towards the door, the mirror still in my grasp. As I neared the door, it opened and in the entrance stood Haldir.

"What is it, my lady? What happened?" he asked me. I gazed into his eyes, reading his anxiety and confusion. He seemed to notice that and turned his eyes to the ground. I smiled.

"You seemed to distress her. And this mirror, she did not steal it." I placed the mirror into his hands. He looked up at me abruptly.

"Haldir, I know you mourn for Laurelin. But to blame a girl who knows nothing about her, of everything is a little too much." His eyes widened as he gaped at me.

"What she tells you is all what she knows. And I would request you to apologize to her immediately after she wakes. And I advise you to move on." He stiffened as I said the last sentence.

"You request, I shall abide to as my order my lady, but to forget Laurelin and to move on is one advice I cannot follow." He said his voice both firm and sad. I sighed a little as I nodded my head and walked past my March Warden towards the entrance through which I had come in. As I turned back one last time to see him gaze at the sleeping girl in the bedroom, he turned back surprised and nodded his head. I smiled a little. My idea had been conveyed and he would understand.


Haldir's Point of View:

It had been a long time since the Lady had gone inside. I was pacing the room, like I did every time I felt distressed. What was happening to me? I asked myself and I got the only reply I thought was sane enough. Silence. I turned around and in two strides was beside the closed door. My hand grasped the door handle and yanked it open. There she stood as serene as possible smiling at me. Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. I would have wished her more formally had it been a different occasion, but with my mind threatening to explode with confusion and anxiety…

"What is it, my lady? What happened?" I mentally kicked myself for being so anxious. She was after all only unconscious, not dead! My mind raced at that thought. The lady seemed to read my thoughts but whether she chose to ignore them, I did not know. I lowered my gaze to the ground as I felt her eye bore into my mind.

"You seemed to distress her. And this mirror, she did not steal it." She pushed the mirror into my hands. I looked up abruptly. She was such a complex mind. I nodded.

"Haldir, I know you mourn for Laurelin. But to blame a girl who knows nothing about her, of everything is a little too much." My eyes went wide as she said that. How on Arda did she know? I could think of nothing coherent to say or to act. But she continued on,

"What she tells you is all what she knows. And I would request you to apologize to her immediately after she wakes. And I advise you to move on." My mind became a little clearer as anger slowly surface. I felt myself stiffen involuntarily as I looked at my Lady with no inhibitions. She had given us hope and shelter when we had none. But to ask me to forget Laurelin as though she had been a nightmare was too much to bear.

"You request, I shall abide to as my order my lady, but to forget Laurelin and to move on is one advice I cannot follow." I said not knowing how I had spoken. But a great weight had been lifted off my shoulder. At least the Lady of the Golden Woods knew. She sighed as she nodded her head and walked past me. I bowed a little at her departure and turned to look at the girl lying on the bed as though sleeping fitfully. Then suddenly the Lady's voice echoed in my mind.

"Do not lose her another time, Haldir."

I felt my eyes widen again. What did that mean? I turned back to look at the lady surveying me critically. I nodded my head slightly and she smiled and turned her back towards me and walked away. When I was sure she had descended to the forest floor, I turned back to the girl sleeping on my bed and asked her though I knew she wouldn't reply,

"Who are you?" I sighed as I walked towards the bed and seated myself on the chair where a moment ago, Galadriel had been sitting. I gazed at her sleeping and for a reason unknown; I felt tears running down my cheeks.

"Laurelin…" I started as I said that. I shook my head visibly before sinking into a more comfortable position such that I could rest for a while - a while, before she arose from slumber. I closed my eyes and soon sleep overcame my being.


DUNDUNDUN the end of chapter! And time for darling readers to review! Ta taa!

- Anarya of Lorien