Chapter 33

Legolas stormed through the halls he had just come from seeing his sister, he saw the heartbreak within her eyes, could sense it within her fae. 'Do not leave, you may come to regret this and it will be too late,' Legolas warned as he came up beside Feren preparing himself in the armoury.

'I won't,' Feren answered sliding his sword into its sheath, he never turned to look to Legolas.

'Then what are you going to do, run? Are you really going to leave, give up everything the two of you have together,' Legolas hollered he had to try on his sister's behalf he knew she still harboured feelings for him.

'You speak as if I do not love her,' Feren snapped as he spun around shaking his head.

Legolas sighed he tried to let his own anger fade that blocked out his ability to sense how his friend was truly feeling. "Then why? Why do you leave? Why do you push her away now?"

'Do not act like she is innocent in this!' Feren yelled his own heartbreak coming out in anger. 'She is the one pushing me away, and I would wait forever for her, don't ever doubt that. What I will not do is stand around and wait for some elleth who fawns over another.'

Legolas shook his head, he knew perfectly well that his sister wasn't completely innocent it was true. 'You have not been overly kind either, you cannot seem to make up your own mind. You spit hatefully things to her, about her in anger and blame no one else but her like she is the only one doing wrong between the two of you.'

'Forget it, she and him can have each other. I am leaving.'

Legolas watched as he rode out shaking his head, sighing he left to meet Haldir on the field to train.

Legolas ran a hand over his face before lining up his shot, 'I am worried for her is all, ' he breathed releasing the arrow following it through till it struck its target. He and Haldir spent the morning training, as Legolas explained the events of the evening past.

'Didn't you just say she took it rather well,' Haldir quirked a brow at his friend confused.

'Yes, but that is what worries me, Anariel has a temper on her to rival my father and there was nothing. Then her breakdown when Feren arrived and once more nothing, she just strode from the room soundlessly.'

Haldir watched as he continued to shoot, and while he refused to say nothing aloud he too silently worried for her, the sudden urge to go her came over him. To ensure she was truly alright, to speak with her as they had spoken the other night in her tent, he'd pull her back into his arms and... 'No!'

'No?' Legolas repeated confused, wondering what he'd been hollering about, 'What do you speak of?'

'Nothing,' Haldir snapped suddenly short tempered, shaking his head. He had no intention for such thoughts or feelings. 'I have to go.' Haldir strutted away feeling Legolas' eyes on him still. Damn her. She infuriated him. Why? How? He refused to believed he had allowed her under his skin so, allowed her past so many walls, walls he spent thousands of years building. No. He would prove it to himself, she was still nothing to him like the rest of them. She was still just a game another elleth to be won. Just some elleth he trained, nothing more.

Anariel rolled in her bed trying to forget the day, preparations for her ceremony all day, every ounce of her body was dreading it. When a knock sounded announcing that the handmaidens had arrived she could only groan deeper.

The curtains were tore open allowing the brilliant sun to come cascading through her chambers and all Anariel could do was bury her head deeper into her pillow when the warmth of ones skin caressed her cheek, turning her her face away from the bed.

Her eyes shot open as her hand came flying from the side made into a fist ready to strike, though it was caught easily by the intruder. Before any sound could escape her lips they were captured by another, her eyes scanned the those in front of hers sighing into his kiss her body relaxed in his hands. Biting upon her bottom lip Haldir pulled away smirking down at the disheveled princess.

'Morning, love,' he winked, dodging the pillow that was flying his way.

'That was not funny!' Anariel snapped, though a smile tugged unwillingly at the corner of her lips.

Haldir grabbed the pillow now laying upon the floor tossing it back at her. 'Get up and get your armour on, we're going to go train for awhile, or perhaps,' Haldir began in low husky voice stalking closer, 'you would wish to stay here.' He whispered into her ear leaning over her body still lying in bed.

'Your just pushing it today, aren't you?' She spoke pulling herself from the bed, around his body moving away from him.

Haldir recoiled as she moved away, without so much of a glance towards him. His eyes followed her smirking as she stepped around the dressing screen in nothing but her leggings and boots her torso still heavily bandaged.

'How am I supposed to train like this,' Anariel sighed waving a hand to her shoulder.

Haldir wrapped his hands against her hips, 'we will work more on endurance, i would love to see just how much you can endure.' Haldir breathed out nipping at her ear.

Anariel growled elbowing him in the chest with her good arm, 'Honestly!' Anariel snapped stepping away from him, Haldir leaned back watching, smirking.

'I do not need this today! Half this kingdom hates me. I have a ceremony to finalize, lessons and duties to learn and fulfill. And damn it I just agreed to accept being the crowned princess of an entire kingdom. Among others, the last thing I need is you acting like... like some elfling. Honestly, Haldir, what has gotten into you today?'

Haldir looked stunned as she yelled at him for his flirting ways, they worked on her before, his eyes glanced away unable to look at her. 'I...'
Haldir chanced a glance at her, an aching resonating in his chest as he waited for her response.

'I am sorry, I should not have snapped so, I am nervous, stressed, I do not even know what it is I need to be doing. I am fearful of what to expect at the ceremony before everything, at least compared to this would have been casual, now everything is riding on me and this one night.' Anariel admitted running a hand through her hair, 'Look I know I mentioned it jokingly in the woods as we travelled back but, just hear me ou-'

'Yes.' Haldir answered before she could finish his fluttered as she broke out into a smile a look of relief coming over her face. He watched her as she hurried across the room wrapping him in a hug the best she could, leaning on her tippy toes she kissed him gingerly on the cheek. Haldir smiled cupping her face he glanced at her lips before looking before looking into her eyes, leaning forwards he kissed her with such a gentleness Anariel could've sworn it was nothing more then the warm breeze blowing through the chambers from the open windows. Haldir brought his other hand to her neck, gazing into her eyes kissing her one last time before resting his forehead upon hers.

She sighed breathlessly pulling away their lips hovering only centimeters apart, the undeniable urge to lean forwards and press them against his coursed through her body, made her fingers curl against his tunic holding him close. 'Mhm.'

'My lady,' a bitter, hoarse voice interrupted the pair, Anariel glanced up into the eyes of Feren, 'My apologies, I had knocked I merely assumed you were still resting... I was...' Feren held back the tears that began to well up in his eyes as he watched his precious Guren vell in the arms of another.

Anariel' s heart stopped at the sight of him pushing Haldir away she stood silently between the two ellyn.

'I will leave you, forgive me for my intrusion.'

'No!' She cried out a hand reaching out for him, 'I...' Her eyes flickered back and forth between Haldir and Feren, the bile rising in her throat, hands shaking, 'I'm sorry...I…excuse me.' Anariel rushed away slamming the door to her bathing chambers behind her, ensuring the door was locked her body crumbled to the floor a hand upon her stomach the other covering her silencing the sobs that fought to escape.

Despite her efforts the sound of her tears rose through the doors loudly and clearly to the two ellyn who stood within her chambers.

'Don't look at me like that,' Haldir threatened seeing Feren's glaring eyes, 'I have done nothing to her, can you say the same.'

'I have done nothing but love her and try to protect her.'

'Protect her, or keep your secrets safe.'

Feren growled though he said nothing.

'Exactly, you can't say you love her at all you only love yourself.' Haldir began to storm out planning on leaving Feren behind.

'And what about you? You are no better, you love no one but yourself. Your as heartless, cruel, and as cold as they come.'

Haldir's fist tightened, growling beneath his breath he snapped lashing out he grasped Feren by the neck pinning him against the wall. 'You say that, and you run away to your fields as I stay here with her. She will chose one of us and it will not be you should I have anything to do about it.'

'You...' Feren stumbled in disbelief, 'You lie!'

The door pushed open forcing the two ellyn to stop, Haldir released Feren's neck stepping away from him.

'What is the meaning of this?' Thranduil demanded as he entered his daughters chambers, her handmaidens in tow.

'Apologies, my Lord, I was...' Haldir allowed his words to trail off knowing full well by the look upon the kings face that he knew exactly what was going on.

'Both of you out, now,' the king commanded, concealing his anger storming to the bathroom he rushed to his daughters side, kneeling by her side he reached out tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. 'Do not cry, muinnin, those ellyn are not worth your tears.'

Anariel glanced upwards between the strands of blonde blocking her view, wiping away a tear that rolled down her cheek she allowed her father to help her up. With a half smile she nodded knowing in her heart he was right, why did she continue to allow them to distract her from what really matters. 'After everything that has happened I still want him, and yet, at the same time I want nothing more than to be over him. And neither are happening.' Anariel dropped her head gently upon her father's shoulder, sighing as she felt him wrap his arms around her shoulders.

He gave her a small smile, 'I cannot say I understand. When you speak of "him," I must admit I do not know if you speak of Feren or Haldir.'

Her voice muted and mumbled as she spoke with her face turned into his shoulder. 'Neither am I, Ada.'

Author's Note; Hey! I must apologize for thee huge gap from this chapter from the last, the reason being well... life. Needless, I am back! A new chapter here, and plans and notes for Chapter 34 are already on the go! Also a new work has been posted, Meet me on the Battlefield, which is a Witcher Fanfiction.

Thank you everyone for all the kinds words, encouragements and everything. And Thank you to everyone who has followed and favorited this story along the way.

Lots of love,

Ivy.