Chapter 26

December 13, T.A 2940

Dawn

Haldir could feel Feren's glaring eyes on him as he sat away from the others idly wiping down his blades. It mattered little to him if he did not what anyone to know he should not have done it in the first place, Haldir shrugged absentmindedly.

He found himself smirking to himself as he cleaned his blade thinking about the princess, despite everything he had originally thought about her he couldn't help but be impressed at her strength and her fierceness. Haldir watched with eyes filled with amusement, as Anariel left the king's tent he noted quickly how she held herself as she did the halls of Eryn Galen though this time he sensed little to none uneasiness.

Feren stood trying to speak, Haldir could only imagine what he tried to say to cover his actions to make her see them in a better light whatever it was clearly not good enough for her. A smirk formed as she snarled a reply before slipping away from him, it took Haldir a moment to register that she was indeed headed for him.

"Marchwarden," Anariel bowed her head as she spoke, "Might I join you for a moment?"

Haldir stood from his spot bowing his own head, "Of course, my lady." Haldir paused he had always referred to her as Anariel or princess but now by the way she carried herself, the way she commanded the area around her, he suddenly felt she was owed more than that. She commanded authority by the way she held herself, by her ease and self-confidence and Haldir found he was glad to respond.

"Anariel is fine." She smiled sitting down, nodding her head for him to sit with her. "I had come to… well, to thank you."

Haldir slid his sword away, stunned. "Thank me!"

Feren looked stunned as he caught Haldir's words from afar, he moved around slightly so he could hear all of their conversation.

She nodded, "You have brought much to light things, things I should have known, perhaps even inquired upon before allowing myself so near him. You were right when you said I could not love him, and I have come to realize perhaps it was nothing more than an infatuation. You…you were right and for that I thank you." Anariel bowed her head once more, standing she prepared to leave, "Needless, I believe you were busy before I came. I'll leave you."

"Stay!" Haldir called out to her as she left, "That is if you wish to." He added, noticing he had caught the attention of the others Feren looked at him daggers in his eyes.

Anariel paused standing between the king's tent and Haldir, she thought about it with a smile she took a seat upon the fallen tree trunk once more. "You can still continue, with whatever it is you were doing."

Haldir shook his head, "I was merely wiping down my blade."

"Why?"

"To keep the blade protected, as not nick it…" Haldir began on a small rant as though it was obvious.

"Okay," Anariel began quirking an eyebrow, "What's the real reason?" She prodded noting how his eyes darkened when he begin to speak, heard the passion that fueled his words.

Haldir said nothing for a moment, taken aback by the question.

"Never mind. Forget I said anything." Anariel sighed, just another who wouldn't be honest with her.

Haldir picked up on the shift in her mood suddenly, assuming as to why he wondered if he could give enough away without really saying much at all. Glancing to Feren a sneer spread over his lips, he didn't want her to look at him the way she looked at Feren now.

"You know, I'm just going to go-"

"It was my fathers…" Haldir spits it out, stopping Anariel dead in tracks.

She turned to look at him horrified, shocked. "You…"

"And that's truth…" Haldir glanced towards those around the fire, who were now looking back at the pair of them. "I…"

"No, I'm sorry."

A moment of silence passed between the pair, Haldir sat thinking back to them in Mirkwood. "So, Feren was an infatuation. What was I then?" Haldir's voice held an edge of teasing as he remembered her blushing face.

"Excuse me?"

Haldir liked this far better than how serious the conversation was before. "Oh, come now, you were blushing and smiling at me the first time you laid eyes on me with Feren sitting by you. Another reason I doubt your love for him."

Anariel went to open her mouth before quickly closing it again. "Alright, fair enough."

"See, even now you blush."

Anariel tried to hide a smile as she nudged him in the arm, "Stop."

Haldir smirked shaking his head firmly, "Why, I am not being bold nor am I being manipulative, besides I rather like seeing you blush, you look so innocent."

"You say that as if I am not."

"One, with such a fiery spirit as yours, who has lived as you have, is far from innocent. Any who thinks of you as innocent is fooling themselves." Haldir spoke seriously.

"You know, I like this Haldir," Anariel admitted with a kind smile.

"Uh…" Haldir's face wrinkled in an unsureness.

"It's a compliment, surely it is something you are used to."

"Idle flattery is far different than such words."

It was Anariel's turn to wrinkle her face, "Yeah, this non-cocky, relaxed you, I can get used. But, I must ask why now? Why not show this side from the beginning?"

Haldir shrugged his shoulders, "I… I first met you by chance. Lady Galadriel had sent me to Eryn Galen to relay a message to your father, it was only then he had explained you had returned but at the time you were out training. As dinner came there you were and there Feren was already sending me glares…"

"Was he?" Anariel interrupted, "I had not noticed."

Haldir chuckled nodded to confirm her question, "And that night came round, you had told off Valerian admirably. You were, are nothing like the others, it was painfully obvious and yet so was your determination to prove them all wrong. You intrigued me even then so I let it know to you that night."

"That you did."

"Maybe, things would have played out differently. But, I may have got cocky and rubbed it into Feren that he didn't see you, Feren was rather pleased though reminding me of which of us would have to leave. While he'd get to spend every day with you."

Anariel glared, "Am I to trust those words to?"

Haldir leaned closer, whispering in her ear. "If you do not, merely look at him now, focus intently on his own words to the others."

"I said no more games."

"I do not believe his words to be a game."

Anariel squinted her eyes at Haldir, unsure if she should believe him before shrugging and stealing a glance over listening to Feren's words.

Feren rubbing a hand over face, "How can she sit there with him like that, it's all idle flattery, does she care not? In any case, she'll realize how heartless Haldir is and he won't be able to keep her anymore."

"You know all of this could have been avoided had you just spoke to her first." Anarion mused.

"Feren, come on. This is isn't like you, do not let your jealousy get the best of you."

"I am not jealous, there is no need. She will see soon enough, and realize she chose wrong. And when she does-"

"Give her some space, she is a wise elleth. One I respect, so before you go blaming Haldir for everything consider everything you could have done better yourself." Anarion snapped, as he stood from the fire he strode away bowing as he passed Haldir and his princess.

"Come," Anariel spoke standing up from the stump they sat upon.

"To where?" Haldir inquired.

"I am retiring for the night to my tent as not to look upon his face anymore, and drink my father's wine, join me?" Anariel spoke quickly, with clenched fists.

"Happily, my lady."

They slipped away, Anariel pouring them each a glass of wine before removing her cloak and boots throwing them to the side, Haldir quirked an eyebrow at her.

"What, I don't need to please anyone in here not even you." Tucking her feet beneath her, she curled up sipping the wine.

"May I ask you something?" Haldir said as he took a seat, placing his bow flat on the ground beside him.

Anariel nodded as she began freeing her hair from its braids. Haldir watched her with curious eyes as this supposed princess freed herself of all dignities, sitting upon the ground in nothing but simple leggings and a tunic, he couldn't help but admire her in all that she was.

"Why did you decide to accept the role of a princess?"

"Oh," Anariel recoiled, she had not been expecting such a question. "Well, it came down to the fact that all my life, I'd always wondered what it would be like to have a family. I have them now, and with them comes titles, responsibilities I once could have never imagined but, now, thinking back and thinking of what life could be now, they are little concerns. How did you know that I did?"

Haldir smiled, nodding. "You walked out of that tent like your father would have. You carried yourself in a way I have seen the king and Legolas carry themselves, you glided through and commanded authority. As you were trained to in Eryn Galen, though this time there wasn't any of the uneasiness. You'll be happy, family or rather my brothers are always got my through. I hope you find that with your father and brother."

Anariel poured them more wine, as she listened carefully to his words. "Thank you, I just want somewhere where I wouldn't be alone and yet surround by hundreds."

"I understand."

Anariel sighed, "Are you asking purely for social nicety… because I don't care for them."

"That is not," Haldir said almost impatiently as he stood looking out of the tent before coming back sitting beside her once more downing his wine, "After my father was killed in battle, my mother was lost to us she died out of heartbreak. I was left alone to raise and provide for my brothers, I fought and struggled every day to be good enough to become Chief Marchwarden and raise them like they deserved to be."

Anariel stared at Haldir in shock, tears in her eyes. He did understand. "I didn't realize." It suddenly dawned on Anariel the true reasons behind his bold, callous ways. Anariel smiled warmly, "Thank you, again. For helping me see everything I had been so blinded by before, and this," She added waving in between them.

Haldir shrugged, "There is no game to be played, no elleth to win over, no fight to be won, besides after coming all this way to Bree, seeing everything you've grown up in and how I see now that you understand. Most elves cannot even begin to imagine the pain of losing one and being alone even when there are so many around."

Anariel placed her her glass of wine crawling over to the marchwarden on all fours, grasping his face between her hands she pulled him into a kiss.

"Haldir," The voice of King Thranduil suddenly boomed as he strode through the tent, Legolas following close behind.

Anariel pulled away sitting back down. "I…"

"I thought I told you to stay away from her…" Legolas snarled.

"It wasn't him, I kissed him."

"After you have just said you would not involve yourself with anyone."

"I know, I know. I just… we were… I am sorry," She finished turning to Haldir. "It wasn't out of love, it was…I…"

He offered her a smile, "It is alright. I understand, my lady, and I don't mind."

"I'm sure you don't" Legolas mumbled beneath his breath. "We need to talk. You can't treat her so, drag her through the forest,"

"Legolas, please."

"No, you were nothing more than a game to him, revenge to get back at Feren," Legolas screamed striding closer to the elf in question.

"I never deemed her a means to my revenge, she was a game between Feren and me, he played it too. It was you, who deemed her a means as revenge, I merely pursued to show her the truth. Do you both truly think of me so dishonourable?"

Thranduil stood tall, shoulders squared back eyeing the marchwarden before him carefully. "You are right, in fear for my daughter's safety I may have judged you too harshly. I once would trust you behind me on the battlefield, agreed for you to court her, my judgement was clouded in my fear and for that I am sorry. You are an honourable ellyn."

"Thank you, my lord. I mean no harm to your daughter. After speaking tonight, I-" Haldir glanced over to her, "I believed we understand one another a little better."

Anariel nodded, she could understand where he was coming from. They had both used one other, Anariel knew perfectly well she merely went to him for nothing more than a distraction, as he went to her for a show to continue a facade of how he wanted others to see him. But, that would end now between them at least.

"We are," Anariel confirmed.

"How?" Legolas demanded to know, "One of the last I saw you two, you were in his arms in tears."

Anariel nodded seeing where Legolas was coming from. "Yes, but it was not because of Haldir for my tears."

Legolas stumbled back suddenly confused.

"I was angry with Feren, already and then he came in and the look of utter disgust on his face when he saw us, and a part of me wanted him to care, wanted him to try and fight for me but he didn't he just left."

"I don't understand, if you wanted that and you were mad at him then, if he already showed he was beginning to give up why did you so quickly allow him so intimately back in."

"Don't you see now, it is exactly why I owed Haldir a thank you. I was so desperate to feel something, was so wrapped up in the idea of love I'd lost sight of it. I loved the thought of Feren, and what came with him he was perfect. But, he wasn't and it mattered and not in a way that I could love his flaws but where it hurt and today I couldn't care less about it all. Feren, nothing more than an infatuation, I believe. In time, I will know for sure. But, for now, as I've said no more love."

Legolas offered his sister a smile, nodding his head as he listened to his sister speak.

"Focus for now on your training, love will come when you're ready." Thranduil smiled warmly to his daughter, guiding her into his arms placing a gentle kiss upon her head.

Haldir smiled to her agreeing with the king's words, he would train her harder than he's trained any, he believed she had the determination, for he knew she certainly had the spirit.

Author's Note; Thanks to everyone, sorry this new chapter took for every. I've been working on Daughter of a Traitor, new updated revised version are up, go check those out. ;)

-Please let me know what you all think, dying to know.

-And hoping you all understand where Anariel is coming from when she kissed him.

Thank you

Cthylla

Porzelinchen

Jojo657

ShelleEverson

Guest- I like how the movies end, I mean I wish we got to see the side of Thranduil they decided to leave out in terms of naming Bilbo elf-friend and offering for him and Gandalf to stay and rest at in Mirkwood before the long journey home, though I admit I am confused to why you say you have no idea what I am talking?

Nemziee – Thank you, hope you enjoy this chapter. Let me know!

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