Chapter 34

January 7, T.A 2941
Evening

Haldir found himself pacing in his guest chambers, why did he agree? What made his mouth open and speak such foolishly horrible words as 'yes.' Haldir clenched his fist punching the wall before him, this was all wrong.

This wasn't who he was. Was it?

No.

No, he was the cold, heartless brute of a Marchwarden, he teased and idly flirted with the ellith he did not do balls.

'You have let your guard down, Brother,' Rumil strode through his door speaking in all seriousness.

'My guard is just as its always been,' Haldir snapped out defensively, keeping his back turned from his brother.

'Yes, and you do not spend far too long looking at the princess. People are talking, heard you had moment of actual caring in front of people Rivendell.'

'Quiet!" Haldir screamed wishing to end the torment the raged on in his head and heart.

'Fear not we will be leaving these lands soon and you will not have to see the princess again.'

Haldir knew it should have mattered little, knew he could have had any elleth he wished in Lothlorien and somehow he began to realize he may very well miss her. He'd miss that smile, her strong, fierce determination. Her care free ways, and already a seemingly endless protection for those around her. He should have been happy to be rid of her and yet he felt it there in what was suppose to be his cold, emotionless heart, pain. How could he have allowed this to happen?

'Leave her, tonight we drink together and woo the beautiful ellith of the Greenwood,' Orophin grinned handing his eldest brother a glass of wine.

'I...I...' Haldir grasped the glass with hesitation his thoughts still on Anariel, with a shake of his head he drained the glass replacing his look of sorrow with a smirk.

Anariel waited in that near awkward moment, she could feel her cheeks she begin to reddened. How dare he stand her up. Leaving her alone here, standing surrounded by every single person in this kingdom alone. Alone when she awaited her partner, tears slowly came creeping into her eyes. Where was he?

Legolas caught the attention of the ellon making announcements, sending Tauriel away he made his way to his sisters side. Anariel turned around her dress swish out behind in a mass silver, and green. Her eyes sought comfort in those of her brother as he squeezed her hand in a comforting gesture leading her to the floor. 'I am sorry, thel tithen, keep your tears at bay do not let everyone see your weakness. Keep your chin high, tonight is all about you, do not let them ruin it.'

Anariel nodded listening intently to her brothers words, though her throat burnt, tears still pooling on her lower lashes. With a deep breathe she blink away the tears, silently vowing to find him that night and confront him; she wanted answers, deserved answered and by the valar she would get them.

Legolas and Anariel made their way through the crowds who began to dance, as they finished making their way to the king, relieved to be free of the throngs of people she stood looking over the vast group of elves that gathered in the hall.

Thranduil glided through the hall his children on either side of him walking in the same careful grace, Legolas was relaxed and calm as they approached the small groupings of elves their were headed for. Anariel however, though it was true that she was becoming more comfortable relaxing further into her roll as princess the nervousness of what was to be expected of her on such an occasion was weighing on her.

Thranduil paused turning to his daughter, 'You will be fine muinlell.' He offered her a kind, gentle smile.

Anariel smiled back though her heart was racing with nerves, as she was expected to greet these Lord's and Lady for the first time.

Anariel listened carefully each word as the introduction began she glanced at the tall dark haired ellon before her dressed in gold, the Lord and Lady of light smiled warmly at the princess with a bow of her head.

'My Lord Elrond, it is a pleasure to see you again.'

'Ah the pleasure is all mine, my dear, allow me the honour of introducing Lord Celeborn, and Lady Galadrial of Lothlorien.'

'It is a pleasure, my lord, my lady.' Ananriel spoke carefully with a curtsy.

Lord Celeborn smiled graciously as he bowed his head, 'So, the princess returns to her beloved woods. Too long have you linger away from your people, I am glad to see home again.'

'Thank you, my lady.'

The night wore on slowly, the moment she was spared but one minute Anariel slipped off of the dance floor keeping her distance away from the dancing cheerful elves, as she watched from a distance she could not help but be reminded of The Prancing Pony, her heart still yearned for the simplicity of that life yet it was over and tonight signified that to all ends. Tonight she laid to rest every thing that once was and began a new.

'Anariel,' the gentle prodding voice of the prince coaxed her out of her thoughts.

'Hmm,' she turned to look at him over her shoulder at him by her side.

'It is time for you to dance with Elladan, son of Lord Elrond. He is the last of the elves from Rivendell.'

Anariel grimaced, having been dreading the dance beyond all others after their last encounter in Rivendell itself she couldn't see how this one was going to go any better. Anariel nodded her head knowing it was futile to avoid this any longer, she must see it done.

Accepting Legolas hand she followed him throng the masses to the elf in question. Her stomach churning with nervousness as she she neared him. Legolas bowed handing her hand to Elladan before disappearing onto the floor with an elleth.

'Princess,' Elladan began the moment Legolas was out of ear shot, as he swept into a quick hurried pace of a dance, smirking down at her gripping both waist and hand a little tighter.

Instinctively she pulled away growling beneath her breath yet, he held steadfast refusing to release his grip upon her.

'Now, settle we wouldn't want to make a scene, now would we, princess? After all why give your people any more reason to hate you.'

Anariel tried her best to look and act as natural as possible. 'What do you want?' Her voice was low and firm.

'Hmm, if I were you I wouldn't go around acting as though you are in charge. Might end badly for you, so you, my lady will agree to take a private stroll with me afterwards.'

'Why would I?'

'If for no other reason but because you want out of here so desperately, ah, don't lie to me, little bird, I've been watching you.'

The dance came to an end, Legolas returned holding out his hand for the princess.

Elladan smiled dipping into a low bow, 'I must ask if you would allow me to continue to sweep this lovely elleth away from you a little longer, I admit I do not wish to part from such fine company so soon.'

Legolas glanced towards his sister, waiting as she acknowledge this request with a slight nod of the head Legolas agreed.

Anariel shoved his body away from her fully the moment they were away from everyone, away from all the prying eyes.
Elladan clicked his tongue disdainfully, 'Not this time.' He sneered, a few shadows stepping out from behind the trees that surrounded them his hand grasping her forearm in an iron grip.

Her heart stopped as she glanced around surrounded, 'What is the meaning of this?'

'Go back to where ever you came from. You may be an elf, but you will never be one of us.'

Anariel tried to free herself from his grip upon her, a gasp escaped her lips as he tightened it further digging his nails into her flesh.

'You will not accept that crown, you don't deserve to reign over our people. Leave. And don't come back. Go on little one, run away hide like you do.'

Anariel growled ripping her arm away, nails ripping her flesh from from her the sickening warmth of blood trailing down her arm as she stumbled backwards from the force crashing to the muddy ground. Laughter erupted around her, tears whelmed in her eyes, cheeks warm and reddened in embarrassment for the second time that night.

Gathering her soiled gown into her hands she picked herself up she stormed away, forcing her tears back swallowing her anger, fist clenched with in the layers of toile and silk until her eyes landed on him, surrounded by giggling ellith.

'You, after everything your just going to leave me like that. You said you would be there,' Anariel screamed storming through the gardens seeing him leaning against a tree some elleth leaning on his arm looking up at him longingly.

'I say a lot of things, don't get so worked up, princess.' Haldir smirked flicking his hand towards the elleth on his arm shooing her away.

Anariel nearly gasped taking a step back, looking to the elf ahead she had thought she had come to know, she foolishly believed that they had come to understand one another. 'Why are you doing this?'

'It matters little I leave soon, back to my own woods. Go, princess, your guests must be missing you.'

'No, this isn't who you are. Damn it, this isn't who I came to befriend, came to trust,' She stared into his eyes searching for that elf who sat with her in the woods, who she shared wine with and spoke with her so openly about her past as he shared parts of his.

Rumil and Orophin chuckled openly at the princess, 'She doesn't know you very well, now does she?"

Haldir swallowed roughly pushing away the guilt the pooled in his stomach, the sickening urge to reach out to her and apologize.

'Maybe it is you, who do not know him that well." Anariel snapped to the others, staring him dead in the eyes breathing ragged, lips pulled tightly together she shook her head almost disappointedly.

Haldir looked over his shoulder dismissing the others, his brothers quirked a brow before leaving shaking their heads at their brother.

'You said you would be there! You lied. How dare you just abandon me.' She continue as they stood alone now in gardens.

'Listen-'

'No, you listen,' Anariel hollered, tears collecting in her lashes, 'You promised me you were going to be there, and you left me there alone, waiting. I trusted you!' Arms waving as she screamed at the Marchwarden, punching at him Haldir effortlessly caught her arm seizing her movements.

'Release me.'

'What happened?' Haldir demanded, ignoring her yells and struggles, his eyes lingering on her foreman.

'What do you care?'

'Tell me who did this to you!' His voice rose, as he spun her around backing her into a nearby tree. His eyes moving away from her bruised, scraped up arm, looking in to her eyes.

'You care so much,' she sneered sarcastically, Anariel tried shoving him away, her hand pushing against his chest. 'You should have been there then, you shouldn't have left me there alone when you said you would show. It should have been you with me not Elladan!' Anariel screamed, the tears she desperately tried hide began to fall.

'So this was Elladan?'

Anariel growled ripping her arm away, freeing herself from his grip, slackened in his distracted stated. 'Don't you even dare! Don't pretend like you care. I thought different of you, believed you to be more than everyone says you are. Well, thank you for proving me wrong. I realize now I was a fool to put my trust in you, Marchwarden' Anariel spun on her heel stalking away she was due for another dance with a suitor and she would not disappoint her father.

Haldir took a step towards her as she turned to leave, 'Anariel!'

She paused in her steps, turning back around she looked him square in the eyes, taking a deep breath pressing her hands together her voice came out calm, and collected through her tears. 'Fuck off.'

~~~
Legolas rushed to her side as she reentered the ballroom, collecting her arm in his hands, 'What happened? Who did this?'

'Not now.'

'Yes, now. Anariel, your injured, your dress is all but destroyed,' Legolas waved his hand downward, her eyes following she nearly forgot in her anger. Taking in the now ripped, muddy dress, she sighed noticing the small splatters of blood from her arm.

'I didn't mean for this, I just… he had…' she paused eyes scanning the room, realizing whisper were quickly spreading.

'Come, we'll retire early and get cleaned up.' Legolas lead his sister to her chambers, 'stay here. I will fetch you hand maidens and inform father of whats happened.' Anariel went to protest, Legolas stopped before she could start. 'Anariel, this is serious. You are the crowned princess now, and an attach on you is an attach on the crown on our family. It will not stand.'

'Yes, but…'

'Later.' Legolas insisted, before turning on his heels closing the door behind him.

Time passed slowly as she waited, wondering what sort of trouble she had managed this time.

'Anariel!'

Her stomach clenched at the sound of his voice, her fists clenched at her sides, how did he get in here.

'Just listen to me.'

'If this is some sorry attempt at an apology you can get go tell it to some who cares, get out of my sight.' Growling beneath her breath, spinning she went to punch him only to have him expertly catch her wrist.

'Listen.'

'Your drunk, spent your night with some other elleth when-'

'Jealous,' Haldir sneered in her face, pushing her backwards leering inches from her face. 'Didn't realize I couldn't be with another.'

'This has nothing to do with whoever she is, I could care less what you do. But, you said you were going to be there and instead you stand me up in front of my entire kingdom.'

'Oh, your kingdom now, well aren't we fitting into your role as crowned princess just nicely.' Anariel curled her nose up at the smell of his breath, his face still so close to her own.

'Get out of my chambers, or I will call the guards.'

Haldir squeezed her hand tighter leering into her, unmoving tempting, daring her in his drunken state.

'Guards!' Anariel yelled sneering back, they entered immediately grasping him pulling him off of the princess taking it as an immediate threat to the princess they had his hands tied behind his back.

'Are you alright, my lady?'

'I'm fine, just see the Marchwarden is dealt with.'