So, I sat down yesterday to write more of Chapter 7 of GOA and this one-shot came out of me instead, lol. Granted, I've thought about this plot a lot. This was originally going to be the prologue to a short story I thought up, but I didn't like the ending I came up with, so I chose not to write it. I couldn't get the beginning scene out of my head though, so here it is in one-shot form. Please enjoy my story.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything associated with Lord of the Rings or Tolkien Enterprises.

ooOoo

An End to Waiting

By Ponytail Goddess

"Do not fool yourself Kalómë…" An elleth whispered to herself as she stole through the deserted streets of Caras Galadhon. It was only early evening, but a rapidly growing number of grey storm clouds were congregating above the remnants of the once great elven city and it was growing dark quickly.

Kalómë silently thanked herself for remembering her cloak as the first chilly droplets of water dripped down from the mellryn leaves that overhung her pathway. Pulling up her grey hood over her silver blonde tresses and hiding her face from immediate view, she started to sail more swiftly over the glistening, white stone pavers that comprised the street.

Few remained in the city now that Lady Galadriel had set sail. Many of the elves of Lothlórien had opted to leave the shores of Arda alongside her. The few who had chosen to stay were essential to running the city and they too would also be leaving soon, as Lord Celeborn had announced just last week that he planned a voyage to Imladris to spend time with his grandsons.

He was not planning on returning.

"He has called on you to find out your plans," Kalómë whispered to herself once more as she approached a familiar set of stairs that spiraled delicately around the girth of a particularly massive mallorn. Her hand delicately gripped the metal railing, which was embellished with the finest of leaf patterns, as she started to ascend the stairs. "He wants to know if you are sailing or moving. Nothing more."

Her friends had told her it was something more though. 'Wear your finest gown,' Mîrwen had urged her. 'Let us braid your hair for this occasion, the most special of all moments,' Culanna had said. 'Meet us afterwards to tell us what happened!' they both pleaded, each yearning to hear what they thought would be exciting news.

Kalómë had begrudgingly obliged them both, though she did not believe such a moment was coming. However, they had fawned over her so much that day that even Kalómë found herself harboring bit of hope in her heart.

She did her best to push it away though, for hope would only lead to heartbreak, as it always had in the past. She had hoped for such happiness before and look how it had ended…

'But everyone is leaving now,' a little voice murmured in her head, 'Perhaps it could happen.'

He had promised her, after all. He had vowed that when the wars were over and his duty was done, they could be together. As far as she knew, he was not planning to move to Imladris. At least, his brothers had not said anything to her about it and she had seen them nearly every day at the bakery last week.

Nonetheless, the promise was made so long ago... How could she expect him to keep it after all this time?

He had been one of the youngest soldiers fighting in the Battle of Dagorlad and was one of the few who returned home to tell the tale. Those who were lucky enough to return had never been the same afterward. They were a serious lot of wardens, ones who had seen atrocities too horrible to forget. However, they also made the best protectors of the wood, as they did not wish for any civilians to suffer as they had.

No one could control the reactions of the widows though. So many immortal lives were lost, including her love's own beloved adar. She had watched from a distance as he told his naneth the bad news. The sorrow within her sunken eyes was great and she had slowly faded into nothingness over the course of the week, unable to survive without her mate.

It was the most heart-wrenching thing Kalómë had ever witnessed in her entire life.

The impact it had on her love was equally great. Once his naneth had passed, he had come to her in the middle of the night and she had held him for hours as he sobbed, filled with grief over all he had lost. While his body eventually settled down, the damage done to his spirit never recovered. Later that year he had told her to move on without him, for he could not marry her when he could potentially put her through such a tragedy.

The world was a dangerous one, he had explained, and he had an obligation to protect the city's residents at their borders. He said he loved her too much and could not bear the thought of her suffering as his naneth and countless others. To him, it was unthinkable. He said he could not live with himself knowing that he might put her through the same thing and thus, he would let her go.

Oh, how she had begged and pleaded with him to not do such a thing! Kalómë told him she could not move on and that she would only ever love him. She tried to convince him that a few happy years would be better than no years at all, but he was stubborn and would not agree to it. The best she could get from him was a promise:

"Kalómë, I must finish the job I have started. I must protect this wood and its inhabitants. I will do this as long as danger remains imminent. I would prefer that you move on and find someone else to love and marry… but if you do not and I survive my time as a warden, I promise I will marry you if you still desire it."

He promised it all those years ago and she had never forgotten it. Neither had he, if his glances were any indication. Though he had regularly encouraged her to move on with her life, she had caught him staring at her on a routine basis.

The looks he had given her were nothing short of yearning, though the moment he saw her looking back, he would always contort his face into one of indifference. Kalómë could see right through it though.

He still loved her.

Would he ever allow himself to be with her?

Kalómë hesitated for a moment after she climbed the stairs of the veranda at the old school room where they had first met one another. The talan was abandoned long ago, as there had not been any new elflings in Caras Galadhon in over a millennium. Her breath caught in her mouth as she reached a trembling hand for the silver doorhandle and pulled the door open.

The first thing she noticed upon entering was that the lamps on the support beams of the room were all lit. Creamy white light illuminated the light wood flooring where the ten familiar desks all stood facing the blackboard, just as she remembered it. The other three walls consisted of windows that were rounded and triangular in shape, all embellished with metal leaves and vines. She could see droplets of rain hitting the star-shaped skylight as she stepped into the room. Kalómë turned to remove her cloak and hung it on the same rack she had used all those years ago.

When she turned back, she was immediately taken back to her youth upon seeing him. He was sitting at the same desk he always had, the one in the back left-hand corner. His silver hair, adorned with numerous warrior's braids, spilled down his back and concealed the back of his chair. The desk did not fit him very well, as he was tall, even by elven standards. He had not fit in the desk for the last two years of their education. His long legs had regularly extended out so that they surrounded the desk in front of him.

Her desk.

He did not look back at her, but simply patted the top of her desk chair to indicate he knew she was there. With slow and very precise steps, Kalómë cautiously walked by him, the cornflower blue of her silk and organza dress dragging silently behind her.

She heard his sudden intake of breath as he caught sight of her. Kalómë felt her cheeks and ears flush to the lightest of pinks, as she remembered how her friends had overdressed her for this particular occasion.

Still, it was nice to know he found her attractive after the passing of so many years. Kalómë was no fool—though her love had started out as a lowly Silvan elf, he was now considered one of the greatest generals of his time, rivaled only by Lord Celeborn and Glorfindel himself. He could have chosen a different elleth if the mood had struck him. Dearest Valar, Kalómë had been all too aware of how many ellyth spoke highly of him and had desired his hand over the years.

Yet, his grey eyes followed her at every feast and while he had danced with many ellyth at celebrations, his eyes never sparkled unless he was dancing with her. Even now, their silvery depths sparkled for her as he quickly looked her up and down, providing her a very masculine assessment of her figure. He eventually smiled up at her, clearly pleased with what he saw.

"Kalómë." He said, bowing his head down in greeting and placing one hand over his heart reverently.

"Haldir." She answered, returning the greeting with a small curtsy before sitting down in the seat in front of him.

It was then her turn to gasp, as she felt his gentle fingers thread a flower behind her ear, as he often had in school. Instantly, her body came to life, tingling beneath his brief touch. The feeling did not go away when his hand left her ear. She nervously reached up and touched the flower, at once recognizing the shape of a cherished golden elanor blossom.

Her favorite.

"Delya." He murmured rather predictably, causing her heart to beat fiercely. Her face blushed once again.

Though they had spent little time together over the last thousand years, their relationship always seemed to be unchanged when they were together. How was this even possible?

Doing her best to control the shaking in her hands, Kalómë gently set down a small basket on the desk in front of him, completing the daily ritual they had during their youth. She watched as his eyebrows went up at the sight and his curious fingers quickly pulled the small towel off the top of the basket to reveal a couple of fruit-topped confections from her shop.

"Hannon le." He said with another small bow before he took a bite, clearly savoring the peach-covered tart before swallowing. While in school, Haldir's appetite had been nearly insatiable and she had often brought him treats she made the night before during her bakery apprenticeship.

Kalómë had once read that in the world of men, there was a popular saying about how 'the way to man's heart is through his stomach.' After working at a bakery for over one thousand years, she was pretty sure that saying applied to ellyn as well.

"Delicious, as always." He declared, finishing the dessert after a couple more bites while she silently watched him. "It has been a long while since we have seen one another. How have you been?"

She looked down for a moment, uncertain if she wanted to be honest with him. "I have been better. Since my brother sailed, it has been rather quiet." She confessed, not meeting his eyes.

"Yes, I was sad to hear that Calen had chosen to sail after the Siege of Dol Guldur." He said, his voice inflected with sadness. "You must miss him terribly."

Kalómë closed her eyes for a moment, pushing her emotions back under control after a few moments. He had not missed her expression though, as he placed his hand upon her own in an effort to comfort her. Not wanting to acknowledge her pain, Kalómë's pride had her pulling her hand away from him while quickly changing the subject.

"Why did you have us meet here tonight?" Kalómë asked quietly, her eyes roaming the familiar lines of the windows and coming to stare at the stained glass mallorn tree in the window at the back of the room.

It was a well-placed question, as the two normally met at her bakery or in one of the gardens when they wished to speak with one another. Kalómë had not been in the schoolhouse since she was 50 years old and that was back in the Second Age.

Haldir smiled and it instantly reassured her, as it always had. "We will all be leaving Caras Galadhon soon and this is the place where we first met. I thought you might like to experience it with me one last time."

Kalómë raised her eyebrows, as these sentimental words caught her by surprise. Haldir was always very focused on his duty, always looking ahead to make sure he knew what was going to happen next to ensure their city's safety. He rarely reflected on the past.

Had something changed within him?

Perplexed by his peculiar behavior, Kalómë decided to try and humor him a bit. "Well, this is not where we sat when we first met. We were up there, remember?" She said, pointing to the tiniest desks, which were placed at the front of the room so the smallest students would not have to try and look over the ones who were nearly of age.

"How could I forget? You made the most frightful noise when I first tried to get your attention." He said, a large smirk gracing his lips as he was clearly holding in his laughter.

"That tends to happen when you dip a little elleth's braids in an inkwell." She said, giving him a disapproving look she knew he wouldn't take too seriously. "I was furious with you that day!"

"And I was furious with you too! If you had noticed a moment later, I would have finished writing my name on my scroll before you pulled my makeshift quill away from me!" He said, chuckling a bit as she folded her arms in mock anger.

He pretended to reason with her when he saw the look on her face. "I forgot it at home! It made sense at the time!" He exclaimed lightly, clearly not feeling bad about what had happened at all.

"I do not believe you." She said, teasing him lightheartedly, finally giving up on her ruse. "Remember what happened over there?" She asked, pointing to a different corner of the room where she remembered them playing friendly games of marbles during their breaks from classwork.

One day she had refused to play marbles though, as her brother Calen had been going out on his first tour of duty as a warden and she was frightened about what might happen to him. Haldir had quickly given up on the idea of playing marbles and had held her hand for the very first time, somehow sensing how sad she was even though she would not speak to him about it.

"You comforted me that day." She muttered, remembering briefly how warm his hand had felt within her own and how reassuring his silent presence had been. Eventually, she had decided to trust him and told him what was bothering her, crying tears of sorrow into the billowing green sleeves of her dress. Haldir had hugged her and told her that her brother was a strong fighter and would come home safely.

And he did, just as Haldir said.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," was his only reply as he smiled at her with sadness in his eyes.

The two then sat in amicable silence, both reminiscing on their own. Kalómë remembered how carefree Haldir was before he began his warden training. She remembered him tossing her into piles of golden mellryn leaves; it was spring when they fell and golden blossoms covered the trees while new leaves were sprouting. She remembered how they would study together in the back of the room, leaning against the stained glass mallorn tree with their knees drawn up to their chins. She remembered how they laughed at one another as they tried to learn how to paint from an artist. They had both failed terribly at their paintings and made a huge paint mess that required both of them to clean up for nearly an hour after school.

And then—even when he was training to become a warden, he had always made time for her. She had been there to celebrate his every break through and had received her first kiss from him when he passed the warden's exams. That was the first day he had called her his 'lucky charm' and the nickname had stuck, right up until two years later, when he had first gone to war.

"Kalómë, where will you be going now that Celeborn is leaving Lothlórien?"

The words immediately brought her back to reality. Her heart sank. Perhaps he had only called her up here to inquire where she would go, as a good friend should. Internally, she sighed, as she suddenly knew that she had gotten her hopes up for nothing.

He was not going to propose the way her friends had implied.

"I plan to sail in a couple of weeks with Mîrwen and Culanna." She answered, her voice suddenly growing cold and distant. "What will you do? Will you follow Lord Celeborn to Imladris?"

When she chanced another glance at Haldir, she could already tell that he was trying to figure out what had just happened between them. He looked confused, yet determined. That very determination was what made him such a good warden. He was reveled throughout the elven lands as one of the greatest wardens of all time, as well as a great war hero from the recent siege of Dol Guldur, as he had jumped in the way of an arrow meant to slay Lord Celeborn.

Surely he would want to stay, what with such a great reputation and all. Why would he want to give that up for her hand? After all, he had raised his own social status to great heights. She, on the other hand, was merely a Silvan baker of little renown.

"Well, I just received news earlier tonight that Lord Celeborn plans to honorably discharge all of his wardens from service in a fortnight. He says Elladan and Elrohir are going to be protection enough as he travels to Imladris. He has ordered those of us remaining to make a decision without having to consider an obligation to him."

For a moment, Kalómë stopped breathing, the air catching in her throat as she took in this new information. She leaned towards him, with some of her silver-blonde hair sliding gracefully over her bare shoulders, framing her face as she stared into Haldir's grey eyes with a very serious expression on her face.

When he did not say anything, Kalómë reminded him to answer with a nearly inaudible voice. "Haldir… what will you do?" She clutched the backrest of the desk desperately, feeling as if it was the only lifeline she had as she approached a set of crossroads that she knew would change her life.

"Do you not remember our promise?" He asked, his jaw quivering for a moment.

How could she not?! Did he not realize what had happened? Did he somehow not know that the only reason she had not sailed with Calen was so she could make sure he recovered from the arrow that had pierced his chest? Had he somehow not heard about how she had lingered in the doorway at the healers, checking to make sure he had not breathed his last?!

Though her mind was reeling, she did not answer. Haldir then glanced down, studying her fingers that were displayed before him. "I see you do not bear the ring of another." He said quietly. Something was a bit off with his voice. Kalómë leaned even closer to him, never letting go of the back of the chair.

If he did not realize how she felt, then she would tell him, once and for all. There was a great intensity to her gaze as she captured his and finally said what she had wanted to say to him for the last thousand years.

"There is only one ellon I would ever allow to give me a ring." She said emotionally, staring into his eyes and then whispering, "I could never love another. Haldir, it has always been you."

He bit his lip and nodded, his face not revealing much emotion. "I know. I have put you through so much by making you wait and now—now I regret it. When I fell to the ground at Dol Guldur with that arrow in my chest, all I could think of was you and all the time I had wasted."

Shaking his head with an uncharacteristic look on his face, Kalómë stared at him in shock as he elaborated. "You were right. If I died, you would have been just as badly off as if I had married you, for you have never stopped loving me…" He said, trailing off as he brushed a few stray silver blonde hairs out of her face and behind her delicately pointed ear.

"…and I have never stopped loving you." He whispered, pain echoing through his voice as his hand rested gently on her porcelain cheek. "Meleth-nin, can you ever forgive me for the pain I have inflicted upon you?"

Wiping a tear away from his face and then resting her hand on top of his own upon her cheek, Kalómë whispered back to him. "It is already forgiven. You are proclaiming your love to me now and that is all that matters."

Haldir nodded silently, then stood up and turned his back to her momentarily as he regained control of himself. Kalómë stood up as well, watching him expectantly as he turned back around to face her. He took both of her hands in his own and they stood admiring one another's eyes in silence for a few moments.

"There is something I would like to show you here—the true reason I have brought you here this evening." He said, giving her hands a gentle squeeze with his own warm ones. She squeezed his back in return.

Without taking his eyes off of her, he slowly knelt down on the ground. Kalómë's heart was pounding wildly in her chest until she realized that he was laying down below his desk. She cocked an eyebrow up as she stared at him, perplexed by this odd behavior.

"Please join me." He said softly, patting the floor beside him. Confused and more than a bit hesitant, Kalómë slowly lowered herself down to his level and tried to decide what he wanted her to do.

"Rest your head here." He said softly, indicating his shoulder with his hand.

"Is it not still tender from your wound?" She murmured quietly, not wanting to hurt him in any way.

"No, it has been healed for a long time now." He replied with a smile. "By the way, thanks for looking in on me while I was at the healers. They told me how often you visited… and how worried you were."

Kalómë nearly cried right then and there as she sat looking at her beloved's face. "I thought I might lose you." She whispered. A tear suddenly left a wet streak down her cheek until Haldir gently wiped it away.

"Those days are nearly over now. Peace awaits us both across the sea." He murmured softly.

Kalómë gasped at the what he had implied. "You would sail with me?"

His penetrating eyes stared deeply into her very soul as he answered, "I would go anywhere if it meant being with you."

With that said, Kalómë finally settled herself down next to Haldir's body, laying her head in the crook of his shoulder. While they were both fully clothed, this action that was typically reserved for married couples felt very intimate and she trembled at the very implication of what it could mean. Both elves breathed heavily as they finally experienced the closeness they had desired for a long time.

When Kalómë glanced up at him, she noticed that Haldir looked a bit flustered, as if he did not quite know what to do. Rather than saying anything, he simply pointed upward in silence. Kalómë's eyes slowly followed his hand and then she froze unexpectedly when she finally saw where he was pointing.

The entire bottom of Haldir's desk had been fashioned into an elaborate carving. A heart made of intricate mellyrn leaves surrounded beautiful calligraphy that had been masterfully engraved into the center of it. It read:

Delya, my lucky charm, will you marry me?

Kalómë's hands shook as she brought them slowly up to cover the gaping mouth of her shocked visage. She tried to form words, but no words would come out.

"Haldir…" She finally managed to stammer out. "I-"

"I still feel the same way I did for you all those years ago." He proclaimed, turning his head so he could meet her eyes while holding her tightly around the waist. "I carved this back in the Second Age and I intended to ask you, but the timing was never right. I thought it could wait until I returned… but then…" He paused, stammering uncharacteristically over his words. Kalómë held each and every one in her heart though, as she knew this was the declaration she had been waiting for all her life.

"You could not." She whispered for him, leaning in to stroke his face with tender care.

"I never thought this day would come. Sometimes it felt as if I would be a warden forever… but oh, how I've longed for it." He said leaning even closer to her, his lips so very close to her own as he whispered words meant for her ears alone.

"I've longed for you, meleth-nin... if you will still have me."

She was not sure who started it, but suddenly his lips were on hers and there was nothing hesitant about them. His touch was like fire, scalding her neck as he caressed it while pulling her closer to deepen the kiss. Her whole body came to life in that moment and suddenly she knew that her wait had come to an end.

Breathing heavily as she somehow managed to break away from him, she leaned over him and met his eyes. Placing her hands on his cheeks, she nodded before answering out loud. "Yes, I will marry you!" She exclaimed elatedly.

"Yes!" He cried with joy and then they were kissing again, rolling on the floor of the schoolhouse together to celebrate this overdue moment. It was a very long time before they stood up again.

Eventually, Kalómë found herself waving goodbye to her beloved fiancé with a new silver ring shining on her finger in the lamplight of the city. The plans for their journey to Valinor had been made and they had already set a date to get married before they left the Lothlórien to begin their new life together. They had even found Lord Celeborn and he had agreed to perform the ceremony for them before they left.

Suddenly, everything was falling into place for Kalómë. When Haldir was finally out of sight, she ran to find Mîrwen and Culanna, as there was indeed a story to tell them after all.

The End.

ooOoo

So, what did you think of my little whim? Please let me know if you enjoyed this and don't worry, I've already started writing Chapter 7 of GOA. More to come on that soon! Take care!

-P.G.

Sindarin Glossary

Adar-Father

Delya-Lovely

Dol Guldur-Hill of Dark Sorcery

Hannon Le-Thank You

Kalómë-Name meaning 'bright dusk'

Meleth-nin-My love

Naneth-Mother