Chapter 10

Author's note: I suddenly realized last night that I didn't really make clear during what period of time this story takes place…well then here it is:

Time line: This story happens around 2000 T.A. (Third Age) when Elenna is about 1000 years old. (She was born sometime around 1000 T.A., some 600 years after Arwen Undomiel This is around the time the shadow falls on Greenwood and evil took over Dol Guldur.) Around the time Elenna enters Lothlorien, the watchful peace has just begun (So she just over 1000 – about 1050 I think). I am implying that Haldir is born near the beginning of the Third Age, making him about 1000 years older than Elenna. They are still both fairly young in the reckoning of the elves.

PS. Do you think Elenna is getting a bit mary-sue? because i'm kinda worried...

Warnings: getting a little hot, but nothing actually happens (sorry ppls)– still fairly PG-13

xxxxxxx – passage of time

italics – thoughts or memories

(Haldir)

Her lips were soft, so soft, as I kissed her with ever increasing passion. My body was longing for her, to feel my bare skin against hers.

To make her mine forever.

My hands traveled down her back, following its curve.

But I couldn't, not now.

She was still so young and innocent.

I pulled myself away from her.

"Don't stop." she whispered, pulling me back to her.

I smiled at her. "I must Ranaew," I said, whispering into her hair, "or I fear I will take this lesson farther than I want to."

"There is more?" she asked, eyes glinting with curiousity.

"My innocent, innocent little bird." I laughed. "There more, so much more than you can imagine. But that is for another time. Right now, I am just contented to be with you."

And I held her against me as we watched the setting sun together, until its last rays disappeared behind the tall, rugged peaks of the Misty Mountains.

I whispered tender words in her ear as we watched the stars appear in the darkening sky, one by one. She nestled against me, and pointed out each star to me as they appeared.

"Elenna, if I didn't know otherwise, I would say you loved the stars more than you love me." I said with a slight smile.

"But I do." she said seriously. I glared at her. She laughed.

"I love you, Haldir, more than anything in the world." she said softly, "Even the stars cannot comfort me like you do."

I smiled. "I will always be here for you, Elenna." I said to her. She smiled back at me.

My beautiful, beautiful little bird, what am I going to do without you?

We sat there late into the night, silently watching the starry sky.

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(Elenna)

It was morning again. The sun was just rising over the horizon, the blue sky was cloudless. I leaned back against him, letting our hair mingle together in the morning light. Silver-white against silver-black, intertwining together, highlighted gold in the sunlight.

I eased myself out of his arms and stood at the edge of the talan, watching the sun rise over my beloved Golden Woods.

"Do you always rise with the sun, Elenna?"

I turned to look back at him.

"And when else am I supposed to awake?" I said. He smiled. He walked over and wrapped his arms around me.

"When I tell you to." he whispered against my ear. I laughed and pushed him away.

"You are much too arrogant for your own good, Marchwarden." I said.

"And does that displease my lady?" he asked, holding me to him again.

"No." I said gently, turning to face him. "That is just who you are."

I ran my fingers over his jaw. "You wouldn't be you without your arrogance."

He laughed. "You are so forward, Ranaew."

I smiled. "I do not – play – with words, Haldir. I say them." I said.

"I know." he said softly, bringing his face down so that our noses touched. "I know."

And he kissed me again. This time lightly, with love.

"Come with me to the Lady." He said, breaking away. "There is something that I must ask of her."

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Once again, I found myself back at the Lady's talan.

"Come, Elenna." he said, tugging on my hand, pulling me into the circular hall with him.

The Lady was sitting in the elegant chair she sat in the first time I saw her, looking over the tapestry I had woven during the 3 months I had lived here in Caras Galadhon.

"My Lady." said Haldir, bowing. I bowed beside him.

She looked up smiling. "What brings you here, Marchwarden?" she asked, but she had a knowing look in her eyes.

"I want to ask if you can spare Elenna from her duties to you." he said.

"She has finished her duties to me already, Haldir." she said.

"I wish to have her help me train the young recruits." he said. "She has shown remarkable skill with the blade, and her knowledge of the forest would be a valuable asset to the guard."

"If it is so, then I give her over to your charge, Haldir." said the Lady, standing up.

"This is yours, Elenna." she said to me, handing me the unfinished tapestry.

"Thank you, my lady." I said, bowing my head.

"I hope you will find many more things to put in this tapestry in the days to come." she said smiling.

"You are welcome to join us here again if ever you feel like it."

I smiled back at her. "I thank you for the offer."

"Lady Elenna?"

I turned to see Nimloth standing beside me, holding some neatly folded garments and a white bow with a quiver of arrows.

"These are the uniform of the guard." she said, handing over the clothes. "The bow is a gift from the Lady to you."

I took the bow from Nimloth and nodded my thanks.

Then I turned to the Lady.

I put my hand over my heart and bowed low to her.

"I give you my deepest thanks, my lady." I said.

She took my hands in hers and pulled me back up.

"I only want you to be happy, child." she said kindly, placing a kiss on my forehead.

"Now go with him, there is much to be done today."

"We are needed down at the training grounds soon." Haldir said to me. "We must hurry."

I bowed to the Lady again, and left the talan with him.

(Galadriel)

I watched them leave the talan, smiling happily at each other.

"Go seek your happiness, child." I whispered.

"For there are not many days left of it."

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(Rumil)

"Where is Haldir?" I asked Orophin. "Everyone is all here, we should start soon."

"I don't know." he said, shaking his head. "He was not at his talan last night."

"Where ever could he have gone?" I said exasperated.

And odd glint came into Orophin's eye.

"I think I have an idea." he said mysteriously.

I looked at my brother.

"You know something that I don't, don't you?" I said accusingly.

"Maybe." he said. I punched him on the arm.

"Ow!" he said. "What did you do that for?"

"For keeping secrets from me." I said. "Now tell me: where do you think Haldir went?"

"It is hardly a secret." he said sourly, "If you were not so oblivious of everything but yourself you would have noticed."

"What is it?" I asked again.

"Haven't you noticed Haldir acting strangely these days?" he said.

"He was just a little more quiet than usual, that's all." I said.

He rolled his eyes. "How can you be such a blockhead, Rumil?"

"What?" I said. "He is a little more quiet than usual."

"Yes, but haven't you notice his mind doesn't seem to be on what he's doing lately?" he asked.

"Well, now that you mention it, I guess so." I said thoughtfully.

"He's been like that ever since we left the city." he continued.

"So what?" I said.

"Ever since we left Elenna back at the city." he finished.

"Oh!" I said, as comprehension dawned on me. "Elenna, I forgot about her."

Orophin clapped his hand on his head.

"Rumil, you saw her yesterday. How could you have forgotten?" he said exasperatedly.

"Didn't you noticed something strange when he came back from his talk with her?" he said, "Or how he even asked to talk alone with her at all? Haldir never leaves his duties to talk, never mind with an elleth. Rumil, how thick can you get?"

"Well sorry if I'm not as perceptive as you." I mumbled.

"Rumil, anyone would have noticed." He said.

"Right, well how do you know Haldir was with Elenna last night?" I snapped back.

"Because Elenna wasn't in her talan either." he said.

My eyes widened.

"Are you serious, Orophin?" I said.

"And why would I be joking with something like that?" he said.

"Because you are an insufferable know-it-all." I said.

"I believe that would be Haldir." He said.

"Well, I think you are acting more and more like him nowadays." I retorted.

"Rumil! Why would you say something like that?" he said, looking a little hurt.

I sighed. "I'm sorry." I said. "It's just that, you were acting strangely too. I would call your name and you wouldn't hear me. You seemed so detached."

He came over and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"I'm sorry, brother." he said apologetically, "I guess I wasn't very attentive to you either."

"That's alright." I said smiling. "Now," I said clapping my hands together. "Let us see what this older brother of ours is up to."

Orophin grinned widely.

(Orophin)

Rumil and me were dividing the young recruits into pairs with the other guards, when Haldir arrived.

The most curious thing was that Elenna was with him.

I cast a knowing glance at Rumil. He grinned wickedly.

"So…" he drawled, stepping in front of our brother. "Haldir finally saw fit to join us lowly guards down here in the training grounds."

Haldir glared at him.

"I had some business to take care of." he said sharply.

"I see." Rumil said, eyes glancing at Elenna. Her face was impassive.

"Interesting…"

"Elenna is here to help you with the recruits." He said sternly.

She gave us a slight nod.

"Welcome, my lady." I said, bowing to her.

"She will be part of the guard from now on." He continued. "And as such she will be treated with respect." He added, glowering at Rumil.

Rumil looked sheepish. "My apologies, milady, I meant no disrespect." he said, bowing.

"Elenna, you will go with my brother and help the recruits with their stance and grip." Haldir said. "Starting from the ones on the right."

She nodded and followed Rumil, who turned and headed towards the frightened looking group of younglings.

I walked up to stand beside my brother.

"You were with her last night." I said.

"I was." he said.

I turned my head to look at him.

"Do you love her?" I asked.

"I do." he answered. He looked to where she was helping the young guards with Rumil.

"Does she know?" I asked softly.

"She does." he said.

I smiled. "I am happy for you, brother." I said.

He turned to face me, and for the first time in my life, he smiled back at me.

"Come, they will need our help." he said, as he turned to walk towards Rumil and Elenna.

I smiled and followed him.

Our brother has changed much.

Hello ppls! Have I told you how nice it is to be appreciated? your reviews make my day!

Nways…on with the story. Next chapter will be a bit angsty, BUT there is going to be some explicit -ahem-…...sex

I'm not kidding you. So if you really don't like that kind of stuff (although personally I don't know anyone that does….) you might want to skip the last part of the chapter. because of the content, i will have to make this fic into an "M" rating, comprendez? good.

So my dears…I bid you all a good day and happy reading! -grins-