Chapter 16

November 18, T.A 2940

Late Afternoon

The sound and feeling of the wind wiping passed the sparring couple only spurred on their movements further, the twang of the string releasing an arrow through the air as the elves practiced around them.

Anariel's breath grew ragged and breathless as she pushed on ignoring her tired aching muscles. Metal against metal rang through the air echoing around them.

Haldir was determined to prove himself to the princess, while he was impressed by what Anariel had shown him earlier the stunt she pulled made him feel as though he had to prove himself to be stronger, assert his dominance over her. He pushed her further in training, striking harder and faster. The sweat was collecting on her brow as she grew more flustered, he could see her arms giving out as she struggled to block his advances, though her eyes shone with determination.

Haldir swung one last time smirking prepared to hit her lightly with the blunt end of his sword, knocking her to the ground he was surprised she had lasted so long, a gasp escaped her lips as she fell to the floor.

Anariel knelt bent over on the ground breathing heavily, her training sword limp in her hand. The wind whistling through the trees blowing her hair over her face, drowning out the sounds of her tears.

Haldir looked down a light sneer in place, the blunt end of his sword had hit her in the side of her face. "If you cannot handle a minor hit, perhaps the field is not for you." Haldir scoffed, as he looked down at her with raised eyebrows.

Anariel kept her face down releasing the enchantment that hid the bruised cheekbone on the right side of her face now a marbled purple and yellow, the stitches that held the lip together tore out blood dripped down her chin. "Or perhaps it hurt more seeing as I was already injured." She pulled herself up she lifted her head, Haldir's eyes widened slightly taking in the blood that trailed down her chin.

"What happened?" Haldir demanded, unconsciously he held out his hand helping her to stand.

"Bruised cheekbone, minor it's nothing," Anariel said as she grasped Haldir's hand, pulling herself back up with his help.

Haldir looked at her face, "Come."

"Where?" Anariel demanded as she looked over furrowing her brows, he spent all of his time trying to best her, prove that he was better and now there was this sudden change.

"Healing ward," Haldir informed bluntly.

"Funny, didn't take you for one to care so thoroughly?" Anariel snapped back bitterly.

"If any soldier of mine were injured I always see to it that they get back safely and acquire the healing needed. I care. I will care for you as you train under me. Now, healing ward." Haldir's voice was still blunt and strict in his words as he spoke to the princess. Though beneath the hardened exterior of the brute march warden a crack was beginning to show.

"So, why does she like you now?" Elros questioned trying to get Feren to think about what he had done so far to capture the elleth's attention, to make him think so he could do it again continue to hold her attention when another ellon was trying to steal her from him.

Feren laughed lightly, "I don't know. I mean she only started talking to me in the first place, because I continued to talk her though she didn't really want me to."

Legolas chuckled to himself as he sat up further, "What?"

"The travel back she made it quite clear that she wanted nothing to do with anyone there, she had stated more than once that she wanted to get this over with and return to Bree," Feren told Legolas and the others for the first time.

"Did she really?" Meludir asked from his own bed.

"Yes, she was… uh, what would the word be…braig(Fierce)."

"Braig?" Elros wondered.

"She clawed Colfinner," Feren added nodding his head firmly, Elros' and Meludir's eyebrows rose in amusement.

"I haven't known my sister that long, but I can see her doing such." Legolas chuckled lightly, thinking of all the time they had already shared together.

"That must have been quite the trip," Elros commented.

"Yeah, especially when she stood there and mocked me." Feren shook his head, though a smile appeared on his lips as he thought about almost longingly it was the first time that he laid eyes on her and he couldn't help but think how much his life had changed since in such a short time.

"About what?" Legolas wondered he was rather enjoying hearing about the trip to get Anariel, something they hadn't spoken of yet.

"She stood demanding to know who I was, so as I calmly informed her that I was Feren, Chief Marchwarden of the Woodland Realm and that I had direct orders from the King, to which she stood and said…"

"Well, my apologies Marchwarden. You should have said that the king said so." Anariel spoke mimicking her own voice of the day she had first met Feren, as she entered the healing ward with Haldir. Elros and Meludir laughed lightly before their eyes landed upon her form.

"Anariel!" Legolas' voice carried throughout the room as his sister and Haldir entered, her hand cupping her lip with a small cloth soaking through with blood. His eyes landed on his friend in a glare. "What happened?"

Feren sat silent, he glared daggers at the Marchwarden as he took in the beautiful face of the elleth he loved. Breathing deeply he tried to control his anger, tried to release his clenched fist, to relax but each and every time he did all he could do was see Anariel injured again and want to hold her in his arms, to comfort her while protecting her from Haldir. He wanted to see him hurt, the way he had aggravated her wound making the pain come back two fold.

"The stitches just got torn," Anariel said as Haldir slipped away to grab a healer, she turned facing Feren sitting on the edge of Legolas' bed. Legolas moved over slightly giving his sister more room. "You know I may have mocked you then, but.." She stopped as she becomes horribly aware of everyone there and listening. "Well I'm glad, besides-" Anariel changed the subject suddenly. "You were the first elf I ever met, ever laid eyes on and you standing there all proud and impatient looking…well," Anariel scoffed shaking her head teasingly at Feren.

"Feren's always impatient."

"I am not impatient," Feren argued back though he knew he could be at times.

"Oh no, not always. But you are most certainly impatient." Legolas added agreeing with Meludir, Anariel giggled lightly as the three continued gaining up on Feren.

She noticed the way he teased them back, the smile that graced his lips made her own smile shine through, though it pained her lip to stretch she never let her smile fall as she looked at him. Feren caught the look out of the corner of his eyes as did Legolas and the others.

The three turned to Feren giving him stern looks nodding their heads firmly to imply he should ask her.

"Anariel…" Feren shot out slightly mumbled and blunt.

"Yes?" She answered looking to her eyes shimmering with hopefulness.

"Go out with me later, a walk in the gardens." Feren finally spat out after a moment of silence.

"Should you be leaving the healing ward?" Anariel questioned visibly concerned for his safety and the progress of his healing.

Feren nodded firmly.

"He should get out stretch his leg," Legolas offered up on Feren's behalf, Anariel turned to look at her brother.

"Well…" Anariel's response was cut off as Thranduil suddenly came sweeping into the room his eyes wide as he took in his daughter features, lingering over her hand that grasped the cloth from the healer as she came near.

Legolas quirked an eyebrow surprised by his father's actions as he grasped a cloth and basin of water. Haldir returned by the princess' side bowing to the king in a simple apology. The king nodded back forgiving the march warden, while he cleaned his daughter's lip. As the last of the blood was wiped away Thranduil stood tall, "Perhaps, I have been too hasty. Anariel you're off the field."

"I'm fine. Please, my lord." Anariel cried out surprising all of those in them room, she was determined to prove that she could do it, including to herself.

Despite the injury Feren smirked glad to hear it, she wouldn't need to be around Haldir so often but he was also proud to see here determination.

"I have made up my mind," Thranduil ordered firmly.

"But.."

"Anariel, that is final."

"But Adar," Anariel argued back, Thranduil hesitated as he caught her calm but firm tone caught the casual unprompted use of Adar.

She was becoming comfortable, allowing him in whether she did so willingly or not it happened. Thranduil sighed.

"You may continue your training once you are fully healed at the latest these stitches have closed and there is no chance of splitting them again," Thranduil spoke calmly, moving off to the side in order to allow the healer in to fix the stitches.

Anariel sighed, grimacing as the needle dug into her flesh in and out again in a painful rhythm. Anariel looked over to him catching the look within his eyes, a look of worry and guilt. A smile passed over her lips as she saw this distant look she couldn't quite place but had seen many times before, never towards her but she'd seen Alfred look to his own children in such a way. It was a simple but pure look of love.

"Okay," she agreed as the healer moved away, the king seem surprised she had agreed so easily but pleased that she had.

"Now, we will discuss over dinner the change in your schedule. Now, to your chambers to change." Thranduil ordered as the healer moved away. "Haldir, escort her to her chambers and then to dinner."

"Yes, my lord." Haldir bowed, holding his arm out for her. Anariel chewed at the corner of her lip still hating the idea of it but the look he had given her of such fatherly love made her nod in agreement.

Thranduil smiled as he watched her leave, Thranduil was about to follow them out stopping himself when he heard Legolas groan out slightly in pain as he moved. Thranduil stayed speaking with Legolas at great lengths about the field and his plans for their guard, something Legolas was passionate about, the safety and well-being of the kingdom.

The king only left when he absolutely had to with the promise to come see him again.

Things were finally beginning to look up for the Royal family of Eryn Galen.