AN: Okay guys, I'm getting no reviews....which sucks because I know that there have been a ton of hits on this story. REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!! I'm writing ahead and am almost finished with ch. 4 butif I get no reviews then I'm not going to bother posting for a while.

Disclaimer: Don't own squat, you should know this by now... ;)

The days passed torturously slow in Lothlorien. Everyday that passed Legolas regained some of his former strength as he enjoyed the gentle ministrations of Lorien's healers, lovely female healers. But although her cousin thoroughly enjoyed their stay, Ithilwen could find no such comfort. Visions of her future with the warden plagued her mind and despite all the powers of the Lady, she could find no rest at night. She sighed as she leaned against the golden tree that housed her cousin. It had been a week since she had last seen Haldir, he seemed to be avoiding her thank Elbereth. But to her chagrin, wherever she went her eyes forever sought him out. She dreaded, and longed, to meet him again. But when weakness threatened to overwhelm her, Ithilwen remembered the cold, white body of her visions. That slapped her back into reality. With a shuddering sigh, Ithilwen began to make her way back to her talan.

"What haunts your thoughts to make you sigh so, young one?" Ithilwen whirled towards the voice and found Lady Galadriel looking down at her, a soft smile gracing her already exquisite features. Ithilwen immediately sank into a deep curtsy.

"Rise, had we not established you would do that no longer?" Galadriel gently admonished, making the younger elleth's cheeks flame in embarassment.

"Of course, forgive me my lady." Galadriel smiled once more and said, "Will you not take a turn with me about my gardens? I desire to speak with you." Ithilwen nodded, wide eyed and followed the noble elleth down in the direction of the gardens. They walked in silence until Ithilwen could bear it no longer.

"Is it about the visions I've been having?" she blurted out, then lowered her head at her impertinence. But the lady only laughed lightly, the sound was that of silver bells in the wind. "In part," she conceded.

"You have not experienced such visions before, correct?" Ithilwen nodded, not knowing what to say. "It appears the Valar have gifted you with foresight, little one, it would do you very well to stay with me for a while as my ward, so that I may guide you through this most delicate ability." Ithilwen gasped and turned to the lady with desperate eyes.

"My lady, you honor me deeply with this, but I cannot ever stay in Lorien," she hesitated. "I've had a vision you see, a terrible vision of the future. I am sure it will come to pass if I were to remain." Galadriel nodded sagely.

"I also have become aware of that possible future, though it is not certain to pass." Her blue eyes seemed to pierce her very soul as the lady turned to her. "Nor will it be set in stone if you give him your love."

"But my lady, how can I possibly chance such a thing! You know what this would mean. I would pass along with him to the Halls of Mandos, forsaking all that I love in Arda, my family and friends, the child..." her voice broke on the last. "Nay! I could never let myself bring such grief unto those I love," she spoke passionately and through tears. She covered her face with her hands and let out a great shuddering sob. A warm hand pulled her to the lady and she gladly took the comfort offered. After the tears had passed Ithilwen looked up at the lady with such desperation that the lady's heart melted in compassion.

"What am I to do?" she breathed. Galadriel sighed and began to walk anew. "The path is not clear, young one, nor am I able to see the true outcome. All I can say with absolute certainty is that you must go to him." Galadriel stopped Ithilwen's imminent refusal with a hand and continued. "He must be made aware of this. Haldir is a beloved friend and a good elf. He deserves to know of his soul mate, despite any visions you may have." Ithilwen gasped. "Soul mate?" Galadriel nodded.

Ithilwen's face twisted in pain once more. "Then I would sentence him to death? No, this I will not do. I will speak to him as is your wish my lady, but I have made my choice, I will leave this wood, and that fate, forever." Galadriel's heart sank in her chest but she nodded and continued to lead her about her realm.

Haldir sharpened his sword methodically and effectively as he sat pensive in his talan. He did not understand why the elleth had said such things to him but he found he could not get her out of his mind. Shamefully and stupidly, at least to his own eyes, he had resorted to watching her from afar, shadowing her everywhere she went. She was unaware of this, of course, as he was skilled in concealment; and he felt as an elfling, obsessed and in love for the first time. He could gaze upon her for hours without respite and never tire, and he did this often enough. The lady had bid him stay in Caras Galadhon for a spell and he had been powerless to refuse her, literally. So deep was he in his thoughts that his hand slipped and he cut his thumb on his sword. "Damn it all to Mordor," he hissed, furious with himself for letting the elleth take over his mind so thoroughly. He looked around his talan for a clean linen to staunch the bleeding, for it was bleeding profusely for such a wound, and found nothing.

Cursing underneath his breath once more he opened his door to go to see if one of his brothers had what he needed...and stopped dead in his tracks. There she stood, the maiden Ithilwen, in all her golden glory waiting anxiously at his door. Her delicate hand raised as if she was about to knock and an expression of surprise, and dread he noticed, on her lovely features.

"My lord Marchwarden! I-I came here to speak with you, if you have a moment," her voice was breathy and uncertain. He rather liked it.

"Certainly," he said and made as if to let her in but hesitated. "I fear this may not be the best time, I was on my way to one of my brothers' as I seem to have injured my self in a fearsome battle against my sword." Concerned silver eyes came to rest upon his bleeding hand and she gave a little gasp. She looked up at him, and he could see she was holding back laughter. "I see the sword won milord," striving for seriousness and failing miserably, a small giggle escaping her throat.

"Indeed," he said, raising a dark eyebrow, an almost imperceptible smile gracing his lips.

"Forgive me I do not mean to laugh, but here let me help you with it." All embarassment aside she took his injured hand and led him inside the room to a water basin. Without ado, she immersed his hand, enveloped in her small ones, and gently cleaned all the blood that had dried on his skin.

"Oh it is not so bad, I see that you put up a good fight against your own weapon," she said with a small laugh that he could not help but join.

"I daresay the battle was fierce, even if I did not emerge the victor." She smiled shyly at him and his heart soared.

"Do you have some linen, in order to dry our hands?" Haldir smiled sheepishly, "I'm afraid thats what I was going in search for."

"Oh! Well, perhaps an old shirt?" she asked him. "A clean one," her voice was playful once more. He found what she wanted immediately and they dried each others hands in silence. After a while, Haldir cleared his throat.

"You said you wanted to speak with me?" his voice was polite, but he dreaded her answer. Had she noticed him following? Had she come to rebuke him for his foolish actions?

"Yes I did," her voice was reserved once more and Haldir mourned the loss of her teasing. "Perhaps we should sit down." He nodded and directed her to the sitting area.

"Firstly, I must beg your forgiveness for my behavior. I fear I have not treated you as I should and for that I am deeply sorry."

"There is nothing to forgive, my lady. Though I was, and still am, very confused as to the reason behind such contempt." His voice and eyes were so sincere that her heart clenched in pain.

"That was the second reason that I came. The Lady of Light counseled me to reveal my reasons to you, for both our sakes." He waited patiently until she spoke again.

"I have recently discovered I have been gifted by the Valar with foresight. I have been having these visions of the future, terrible visions that haunt me, though they have saved my life at least once." She averted her face before continuing.

"The day that...well that day, I had a vision. It was strong, and felt so real that for a moment I could not say which was the vision and which the reality." She gave a shuddered breath. "I saw you, my lord. Holding me atop one of the golden trees. We embraced each other with such love and contentment that I honestly did not want it to end." Ithilwen bit her lip, trying to mask her embarassment but was certain that she could not truly hide from Haldir. The ellon in question was shocked by her revelation, and awaited her next words eagerly.

"And when it did?" he asked, his voice low and almost husky.

"When it did," she continued hesitingly, "I saw myself with child, sitting in a bed that I now recognize to be yours. I was alone, instinctively knowing you were in grave danger and weeping bitter tears." She fought tears now at the memory. "Then, when I was sure I could not feel more pain, the vision shifted and you were brought to me." Against her will, the tears began to flow, she felt like such a weakling. "You were dead, and I felt such pain, such sorrow that I could not bear it and fainted in your arms." Without thinking, Haldir moved to stand before her and took her into his arms. He held her tightly, offering and taking comfort at the same time.

"That is why you warned me away," he whispered, already knowing the answer, She nodded against his chest. "I could not bear to be near you, lest that dreaded vision came to pass." Methodically he began to stroke her hair, soothing her, calming her until her weeping subsided.

"Do not weep lovely one," he whispered. "For such beauty should not be obscured by such sorrow." She looked up at him, surprised to hear such words. She frowned, confused at his tenderness. Shouldn't he be at least a bit distraught? She had just told him of a vision of his death after all. Her face was so earnest and sweet that Haldir could not restrain himself and kissed her full lips with his own. Gently his lips moved against hers and the warm feeling it evoked was so strong that it took a moment for Ithilwen to pull away.

"Have you not heard a word I said! This is impossible, we cannot succumb to these, these feelings!" She was outraged. Did he not believe her? Haldir only brushed a stray lock of hair from her face.

"Forgive me," he did not sound a bit repentant. After a moment he made as if to kiss her again but she sprung out of his reach, knocking back her chair in the process.

"What is wrong with you?! Do you doubt the truth of my words? You have but to speak to the Lady to verify what I say is true." He moved to stand before her, and she immediately took a step back. He took a step forward. Ithilwen huffed in annoyance.

"I would never doubt you, Ithilwen of Mithlond, but I cannot deny what is in my heart. To say the truth, I have tried in vain to deny it to myself from the moment I first laid eyes on you." Her heart fluttered at his words, but she spoke sternly to him.

"This cannot be Haldir. As soon as Legolas is well enough to travel, I will quit this place, and you," she added cruelly. "Soul mate or not, I will not risk such a future." She spoke without thinking and realized it with his sharp intake of breath.

"Soul mate," he whispered. "You have seen this?" his voice was hoarse.

"No," she admited. "When Galadriel spoke of it to me, I was as surprised as you." He moved again and she found herself flat against the wall, the elf so close that his breath stirred the hair about her face.

"Ithilwen, to find the true mate of our soul is a precious gift not many are given." There were so many emotions passing through his face that she felt dizzy, or perhaps it was his proximity that caused this. "And yet you would spurn it without thought," he said disbelievingly. Her eyes flashed with temper.

"You think me a coward!" it was not a question but an accusation. She did not let him respond. "You are a selfish beast of an elf. You would lay such heartache upon the ones you love? Perhaps you would have me fade from grief and join you in the Halls of Mandos in order to prove my courage!!!" He cringed at this. "And our child...you would condemn him to live alone, without his parents to guide him through life in Arda."

"And you would deny him his very LIFE!" She flinched at his words and his anger.

"It is better this way. Haldir, trust me." Haldir clenched his eyes shut. "I will not let you leave me Ithilwen. Not when I have barely begun to know you." She pushed him away and put some distance between them.

"You have not the power to stop me," she said defiantly, her chin raised at him. Haldir narrowed his eyes at her dangerously.

"My lady," he said in a low purring voice as he slowly approached her once more. When she was pressed against the wall, he leaned into her ear and whispered ardently, "Morgoth himself could not keep me from you," he said this as a vow, causing Ithilwen to shudder.

Shaken beyond belief, she strove to appear composed. "Perhaps Morgoth could not," she said in her haughtiest voice. "But my father will. Once I reach the Havens my father will never let you near me again. Cirdan the Shipwright is a powerful foe, when he is given enough cause. I am certain a pesky ellon pursuing his unwilling daughter will be enough to rouse his anger." Haldir merely raised an eyebrow in contempt at her threat.

"Then you shall never reach the Grey Havens," he said simply. She gasped, and before she knew what she was doing, she struck him across the face. She pushed her way past him towards the door. Haldir let her, his temper was too great to restrain at the moment, and he did not wish to say something he might regret. Without looking back, Ithilwen spoke to him once more.

"Heed my words warden," she made the word sound beneath her, as it rightfully was, he thought painfully. "And do not cross my path again, for I am also a foe not to be trifled with, and I am not without friends to protect me from you in Lothlorien." With that she left him, shuddering and sinking against a wall. His head pounded in pain, and his cheek was still stinging with the force of her blow. He closed his eyes and slid to the floor. He had spoken true to her, he would not let the true mate of his soul escape him. Not while he had breath left in his body.

Ithilwen burst into the healing talan, completely distraught by what had just happened. Legolas was awake and sitting up in bed. He was speaking, or flirting was more accurate, amicably with a pretty elleth with light blonde hair. He stopped mid-sentence when he saw her and told the elleth politely and with a smile, "Will you give us a minute?" She of course complied, but not before shooting Ithilwen a dirty look that the she barely even registered. When she was gone, Ithilwen threw herself on the edge of the bed facing Legolas.

"We must leave this place." Her voice trembled and Legolas frowned with concern.

"What has happened?" she told him everything, from the visions to the fight she had just had with Haldir. When she was finished, he was silent for a while, pondering what the best thing to do was.

"We shall depart in a week's time," her stopped her protest with a look. "I am not yet well enough to travel, meldis, or we would leave this instant." Relieved, Ithilwen nodded, happy that he understood.

"Thank you, meldir, I am in your debt." She made as if to rise but he caught her arm and bade her sit.

"I am not finished," she raised her eyebrows, waiting. "I will speak to the Lady and Lord about this, for it is my right as Prince of Mirkwood to request what I wish, within reason. Also I plan to have words with this Haldir. While I live, no ellon, be he soul mate or no, will not force you into doing something against your will." There was a strange glint in his eyes that suggested a deep anger. "A Mirkwood guard will accompany you now wherever you wish to go, they will keep unwanted company at bay."

"Legolas, do you not think that you are taking this too far? Guards are a bit much," she said earnestly.

"You will not even see them, or be hindered by them," he said sensibly, "but they will be near you nevertheless." Ithilwen sighed, not liking this, but knowing she would not win.

"Alright, it shall be as you say, but I pray that you are not cruel to Haldir," he was surprised to hear this and it showed on his face. "He is a good elf," she explained, "and is pained greatly by this situation. It is not his fault that fate has dealt so cruelly with us," she whispered the last part and Legolas heard the pain in her voice.

"My dearest cousin, I would spare you this sorrow if I could."

"I know," she said simply and embraced her cousin lovingly, knowing she was safe in his care. To her shame, however, part of her wished to not be so safe; part of her wished to be with him, Haldir, the true mate of her soul, even unto the ending of the world.

Elvish Translations:

meldis-female friend

meldir-male friend

ellon- male elf