Chapter 15

November 18, T.A 2940

Afternoon

Anariel let out a loud, dramatic sigh as the door creaked open, Vera, the servant entered placing the silver tray down upon the desk containing the kings and the princess' meal. Vera bowed as she exited the room without a sound, and barely noticed. It was how Anariel wished she could be right now so she to might so easily slip out of the room unnoticed. Unfortunately, she was not so lucky.

"Every time I think I'm getting the hang of this, you go and throw in some new rule." Anariel groaned as she poured herself a cup of tea wrapping the cup in her hands. She flopped backwards in her seat sipping at the steaming liquid.

Thranduil himself sighed calmly as he placed an assortment of food on a plate passing it to his daughter. "You need to eat before you head out onto the field for training." He scolded lightly, ignoring the question for a moment. "Do you ever stop and eat? Your handmaidens mentioned you mainly drink tea. And do sit up." Thranduil narrowed his eyes slightly nodding his head firmly indicating that she needed to begin eating.

Anariel shrugged slowly beginning to pick at the food upon her plate. Lazily she straightened her posture. "Habit."

"Well, change it." Thranduil insisted in a short clipped tone. "You need the energy, especially when training." Thranduil cared beyond measure about his children, perhaps he didn't always have the best way of showing such but he would surely continue to try.

"Yeah, I guess. Just, in Bree, I didn't stop to eat often. There wasn't much to go around at times and I would go without, I mean the mortals needed it more than I." She explained while keeping her eyes on the tome in front of her, avoiding her father's gaze. She felt mildly foolish to admit it out loud, and slightly embarrassed. Here she sat in front of a great king admitting, despite all her hard work they just didn't have enough.

Thranduil lets a smile escape his barrier, he couldn't help but admire his daughter's selflessness. "Well, there is no reason for that here." Thranduil pointed again to her plate, "Eat. Is there so little to eat in Bree often?" Thranduil wondered, inquiring further into the people he knew had played a great part in raising his daughter, and she had grown to love and care for.

"Yes, and no." Anariel began, "Truth is, it's ever changing. Depending on the season, the weather, natural forces and the like. Winters are always the hardest, though."

"Winter is soon approaching. Would you be concerned for the winter coming were you still in Bree?" Thranduil continued to casually push for more information, with Alfred still here there was still a chance to help these people she cared for so much.

"Aye! By now, I've usually picked up double shifts at the inn, spending some nights in the woods to collect as many herbs as possible to dry. Anything that might be stored to help endure the cold months, many die during the winter."

"I see. Well, things are different now." Thranduil spoke noticing the solemn look that grew upon her face as she spoke. The woodland realm has plenty to spare, Thranduil sighed without many of these people for centuries in this realm he may very well not have his daughter. "Tell me, what is that they most need in these hard times."

Anariel looked up from her book, raising her eyebrow towards her father curiously. "Why do you ask?"

"Alfred has yet to leave when he does. We will send him back with supplies for the winter and a messenger should they need anything to please come forward for they are always welcome in this realm." The king informed his daughter.

"Ada…" Anariel breathed out shocked.

"In order to help them, however, we will need to know what it is they need. So, eat and we will finish our lesson. Then tonight I want you to write down anything they may need, do feel free to seek the help of Alfred and have it brought to me. I will see to it that it is done."

Anariel stood tears in her eyes looking to her father she bent low as he stayed in his chair looking at her, wondering what it is she was doing. Anariel embraced the king deeply in a hug Thranduil sat stunned momentarily before he slowly eased wrapping his arms around his daughter's shoulders hugging her back. A smile upon his lips, as he embraced his youngest in the informal, loving gesture.

"Hannan le, Ada."

As they moved apart, Anariel taking her seat once more they sat in silence for a time. Anariel nibbled at the food on her plate. "So," she began turning her attention back to the tome at hand. "You said earlier, (RH) (LH) and (HW) never appear together within a word."

"That is correct," Thranduil nodded, pleased to see that she was eating and continuing on with her work.

"Then why is it here, here, and here." Anariel sighed growing more and more frustrated. Pausing she took a moment to pronounce each word. "Gaurhoth, Edhelharn, Gladhwen."

Thranduil chuckled lightly. "Well, those sounds never appear inside a word, however, when that combination of letters appear together then you know that they are two separate sounds."

"Right, one would know that." Anariel huffed taking a sip of her tea.

A knock sounded at the door, Thranduil looked over to Anariel nodding his head towards the door.

"What?" She asked nervously, unsure of what he was expecting.

"Welcome them in."

"Me?" Anariel cried, shaking her head.

Thranduil nodded his head firmly, "It will be Haldir returning, call him in." Tapping the page in front of her Thranduil pointed out the correct term to use in order to call in the Marchwarden.

She glanced nervously pronouncing the word quietly beneath her breath, nervous and unsure.

"Tolo vi," Anariel called twisting her face unsure if she pronounced the words correctly.

Thranduil nodded his head as he sent her a light smile, he listened as she pronounced them under her breath he would have corrected her earlier had she needed it, still, he wanted her to be confident in herself to do it. Anariel sighed relieved.

"Hir nin Thranduil, Hiril nin Anariel." Haldir bowed in acknowledgment as he stood in front of the king's desk awaiting his orders.

"Haldir, as you very well know I have asked you back here in order to continue my daughters training." Thranduil lifted his chin momentarily as he watched Haldir glanced over to Anariel out of the corner of his eye, shooting her a wink as he smirked. Anariel giggled, shaking her head lightly though her smile lingered. Thranduil would excuse Haldir a moment earlier to have a word with his daughter. "Anariel, and Haldir." The two stopped all smiles and smirks. "While I hold no objections to the two of you if you wish to hold a relationship together, I do expect that you keep it private. As I will not tolerate another incident like the other night. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, my lord." Haldir bowed his head deeply in a sweeping motion.

"Now, Anariel must finish eating," Thranduil began, when Anariel interrupted saying that she had finished. Thranduil merely shook his head, snapping his fingers towards her plate once more seeing that it was only half empty. "You will finish; you've hardly been eating you must eat to have the energy for the field. Haldir would agree with me."

Haldir turned to look at the princess, nodding firmly in her direction. "Indeed I would my lady if it is what the king wishes I will be no less strict in training with you than I would be with any of the other elves I have trained for the Galadrhim." Haldir paused turning to await his answer.

"Absolutely, she has decided to train to one day be in the fields alongside Legolas." The king informed the Chief Marchwarden.

"Has she?" Haldir was slightly surprised, he knew few ellith who decided upon such paths most took up healing or working in the halls for one reason or another he hasn't worked with an ellith on the fields himself in Lothlórien and has only come to know Tauriel and Lymerien here in Mirkwood. He found himself rather respecting her choice than again he would see just how well she could handle herself even in the simplest of matters once they began training.

"Now, Anariel will finish then I must have a word with her. If you would meet her in her chambers, Haldir." Thranduil nodded, giving him permission to leave.

"My Lord, my lady." Haldir bowed taking his leave. As he made his way to wait by the princess' chamber he had to pass the healing ward, pausing in his steps knowing that Feren was in there he considered briefly to keep moving, instead he chose to peek in.

"What do you want?" Feren snapped the second he saw the other Marchwarden leaning cockily against the door frame.

Haldir glanced looking to Legolas who was busily speaking with another healer. "Oh, nothing." Haldir smirked, as he stalked towards Feren "I was merely coming to see how well you were healing."

Feren scoffed, straightening himself out. "Like you care."

"Absolutely, after speaking with the king, he has gone and given the princess and myself approval to be together. So naturally I care greatly about how long you're going to be in here, so I have her all to myself." Haldir smirked down leaning back against the wall as he noticed Legolas, Meludir, and Elros turning to greet him.

Feren seething with anger said nothing as he lunged at Haldir ignoring the pain the raged throughout his body as he did so. A pair of healers rushed across the room grabbing Feren by the arms holding him back down. "Marchwarden, you must rest." They chided him.

As Feren sunk back into his bed glaring at Haldir, he surprised himself he would have never considered himself to be a violent person yet here he was suddenly so willing, almost eager to harm this elf over Anariel.

Haldir took a step back out of his reach, "Don't worry, she'll be in good hands." Haldir nodded to the others in response to their greeting that was abruptly cut off. "I should leave you all to rest, the princess is waiting for me." Haldir turned on his heel leaving the healing pleased at the rise he was getting from Feren.

"Feren," Legolas called out towards his friends as he saw Haldir leave the room. "Feren."

Feren said nothing for a moment just sat, staring blankly ahead breathing deeply in a perfect rhythm. Just as Legolas was about to call out to him again Feren snapped. "I shouldn't even be jealous! How can I be so bloody jealous of someone like him? When he himself is not even with her."

Legolas smiled in understanding. "Jealously is rooted in fear and sadness, you are fearful that she will choose him and it is clear your heart has grown for her. You have admitted to us, your love of Anariel so naturally, it breaks in sadness purely by the thought of what life would be like without her." Legolas wanted nothing more to see one of his dearest friends happy, but he to wanted to see his sister happy. Perhaps that meant them together, but perhaps there would be heartbreak yet.

Feren groaned grasping a pillow he covered his face in defeat.

"Look it," Elros began. "So Haldir is charming, his smirk has the ellith drooling, and yeah I haven't known an elleth that hasn't though Haldir to be good looking…"

"You had better get to the point," Meludir said shooting him a look to keep quiet otherwise.

Elros waved him off. "Look, all I'm saying is Haldir played his charms on her, so play yours."

Feren pulled the pillow from his face, "Excuse me."

Legolas and Meludir were chuckling to themselves, shaking their heads lightly.

"Charm the elleth," Elros said wearily at his friend's foolishness.

Feren only shrugged his shoulders, he wasn't one to just charm the ellith. He'd never bothered to try and catch the attention of anyone before. Where was he supposed to even start? What was he to do? Feren felt foolish just thinking about it.

Meludir took a deep breath collecting himself. "Why not begin by merely getting her away from Haldir as much as possible, while still being here." Meludir offered having sensed Feren's unease.

"How am I supposed to do that?" Feren said.

"I would say just send a message to her and ask her to visit but I assume that you would think that is being too bold, as she is our princess," Meludir said Feren nodded in agreement.

"I can help there," Legolas said, the three turned to look at their prince. "It wouldn't be odd if I asked my sister here to visit me, now would it?"

Feren turned to Legolas, "Would you?" He asked a little more excitedly than he meant.

"Yes." Legolas laughed as he asked as healer to fetch a messenger.

Anariel finished the remainder of her dinner, before shooting the king an expected look.

"Thank you. Now, I will be blunt when I say this. Haldir is a great warrior, brave and strong upon the field I would trust him behind me in battle." The king began standing from his desk after he straightened out his papers.

"Where are you going with this, my lord."

"As I have said before ada, or adar is fine when we are alone." Thranduil offered her a light smile before continuing. "I see the way you smile and look at him,"

"If you are going to stand here and tell me who I am and am not allow to involve myself with…" Anariel began assuming the king would have been harsh and strict looking to control that area of her life as well.

"Anariel, listen. And I do believe I just told the pair of you that I hold no objections, just to merely keep it private." The king began setting aside all of her worries while keeping his anger in control.

Anariel nodded pressing her lips together silencing herself, remembering what she had said only a day or so ago that she needed to listen more and stop making so many assumptions.

"I merely want you to think carefully before you chose to involve yourself with Haldir, for I know that Feren has also caught your eye, as you have captured his. Be gentle to your heart muinlell and think before you make any rash decisions. For I would hold no objections to you being with Feren for he too is a good, strong, ellon that I trust but that decision is only for you and your heart to make." Thranduil strode closer his silvery cloak swishing behind him.

"Thank you, Ada." She breathed Thranduil moved around his desk coming to stand in front of Anariel taking her hand in his he helped her stand, "Be careful with your heart." Thranduil cautioned as he led her from the room. "I do not know if my own, could handle it." Thranduil sighed beneath his breath as she left surrounded by her guards.

Haldir smirked to himself as Anariel exited her chambers, wondering to himself still just how easily the princess could keep up. "Run!" Haldir snapped immediately taking off at a sprint if she wanted to be on the field she'd need to be able to follow a direct order quickly without question. And keep up with the rest of the troops while staying fully alert.

"What?" Anariel stood stunned for a second before taking off after him.

They ran through the halls until they came to the forest where Haldir merely hollered over his shoulder to keep moving. Anariel followed pushing herself as Haldir began moving with ease through the trees, leaping higher through the branches. Progressively she was growing more and more tired sweat began to bead on her brow, hair fell from her braid.

Her eyes fixed upon Haldir's back when he made a sudden and drastic leap out of the tree tops. Groaning slightly Anariel followed landing on her feet, bending her knees her right hand falling into the dirt to steady herself. Standing tall she glanced around her surroundings, Haldir was nowhere to be found.

"Haldir!" Anariel called out as she spun lightly on the spot, eyes darting through the trees. Anariel sighed dropping her head down.

Haldir shook his head as he watched her head drop, pulling his sword from its sheath Haldir raised it, he was preparing to give her a hard lesson on letting one's guard down, to always anticipate the action of your enemy as he brought his sword down to knock her with the flat edge Anariel sidestepped out of the way. Haldir looked over at her stunned and slightly horrified, he had not expected her to hear or sense him to move in time.

While Haldir still stood staring at her stunned she quirked an eyebrow at him. "Funny thing. Males always seem to think they are so much better, smarter, faster, stronger even." Anariel twirled around him heading out of the forest, Haldir's dumbstruck looked slowly faded and he began smirking at her impressed. "Try not to forget that I'm not so easily bested. I've spent lifetimes proving myself over and over again to overly cocky males and I can prove it to you too." She called over her shoulder.

Haldir stood watching her hips sway as she strutted away from him, despite everything he had originally thought about her he couldn't help but be impressed. Running a hand over his chin he shook his head lightly before taking off after her, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips.