Author's Note:

Wow, chapter ten guys! I know, it may not seem so much but to me it is a big accomplishment, LOL. Sorry for the HUGE delay, I had a horrible writer's block.

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Sorry again for such a long wait guys. Anyway, if I missed you in my author's note, let me know! It's been a long time.

"Wake up." A gentle but deep voice commanded Calaereth out of the darkness.

"Mmm go away." Calaereth snuggled deeper into the sheets ignoring the voice before her.

"It is morning, we must go and train now." The familiar voice explained.

"One more hour." Calaereth muttered.

"You said that an hour ago." The voice said in amusement.

Calaereth huffed in irritation, opening her eyes, she turned. All she could see was a blur of blonde. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, Calaereth quickly recognized Haldir who stared down at her, ready to train.

Calaereth assessed him for a moment, deciding he did not seem like such a threat at the moment, she turned her back on him and closed her eyes.

"Alright, I was nice." Haldir's voice said in warning, Calaereth heard the glass doors open and cool morning air suddenly rushed in. The cool air wiped out any previous feelings of sleepiness. With a loud curse, she jumped out of the bed in her light night-gown, shivering slightly. Haldir flashed a grin, closed the balcony doors and walked towards the steps.

Calaereth glared at Haldir, "You are a cruel elf!" She rubbed at her arms, warming herself after the brief exposure to the cold.

Haldir chuckled, "I've heard that one before." Then, he went down the steps leaving her to change into training clothes.

Sighing, Calaereth stretched her sore limbs, and changed, heading downstairs. She found Haldir cutting up fruit, an apple. Cutting it into two halves, and taking the core out of both sides, he tossed a slice to her. Calaereth caught it easily, and took a large bite out of it as she slipped on her boots. Parts of her long golden hair falling into her face as she bent over trying to adjust the laces in the boots.

"We are working on climbing hithlain ladders today." Haldir informed her, "I expect you to be decently quick at it by the end of the day. This will be a break from your fighting."

Calaereth's mouth fell agape at his words, her arms were terribly sore, how could he expect her to climb those?

"If you complain, I will make you run laps." Haldir said sternly.

"What are laps?" Calaereth asked, braiding back her hair quickly.

"Laps, are what I make my wardens run. Basically, you run in a circle." Haldir explained, "You can ask my wardens, it is not something you want to experience anytime soon." Haldir straightened his back. "Are you ready?"

"Not really." Calaereth admitted but followed him out the door preparing herself for the surely challenging hours to come.

"Come on, it is not that hard, just grab the rope!" Haldir demanded from above, sitting on the practice flet, the silver rope in front of Calaereth. She eyed it with obvious disdain, she had only gained her legs a day ago, and he expected her to be balanced enough to climb a ladder? Calaereth could barely climb steps.

"Easier said than done, Marchwarden." Calaereth responded, not moving an inch.

"Calaereth, up now, or you will run laps." Haldir ordered.

Not really wanting to find out how bad the laps could be just yet, Calaereth reached high, using her arms to grab onto the rope. Using her upper body strength she had gained as a mermaid, she pulled herself up far enough to set her legs on a rung of the ladder.

"That's a good start." Haldir encouraged, "Keep moving Calaereth."

Grunting in reply. Calaereth reached higher, pulling herself up onto an even higher rung. She kept up this continuous pattern, until she reached through the hole and Haldir grabbed her hand. Calaereth was surprised by how strong he was, pulling her up easily as if she was nothing but a feather. After such strenuous exercise on her already sore muscles, Calaereth sighed, laying down on the flet, taking a breath. Haldir watched her with amusement, and slight admiration. A small healthy flush stained her cheeks, proving her exhaustion. Pieces of her golden hair were falling out of the intricate braid she had woven earlier. Her golden hair was now a warmer shade of gold, with the sunlight pouring down upon her. Her pink lips were parted for breath, and an arm was folded over her eyes. Haldir pulled himself away from his thoughts quickly, looking away from her.

"Surely you cannot be ready to quit just yet." Haldir taunted, "Elladan and Elrohir are watching."

Calaereth groaned in annoyance, "Tell them to go away, the last thing I need is their scrutiny."

"Scrutiny? No, I would say more of an evaluation on their part." Haldir smirked.

Calaereth frowned at that thought. "I do not care to have them watch me climb a ladder. Considering they probably will not keep their gazes where they should be." Calaereth commented dryly.

Haldir grinned, not telling her that he was guilty of such with Calaereth. If she didn't know now, he would do his best to make sure she would not find out anytime soon. It would not serve him well if Calaereth found out he truly admired her more than he probably should. If she begged for something, he knew he would cave. There was something about her that made him truly weak. Oddly enough, he liked it, the idea of spoiling her. Perhaps he would do so later.

"Alright, you have had your break, back to work!" Haldir ordered, earning himself a groan of annoyance in response from Calaereth.

Calaereth was surprised to find how much endurance she truly had. For probably the hundredth time that day, she pulled herself up onto the flet. Haldir sat on top of the flet watching once again, only providing her advice, no longer helping her the rest of the way up.

"Good enough." Haldir stated, cutting up another apple.

"I swear, this elf and his apples." Calaereth thought to herself as she collapsed in relief onto the wooden flet. She realized this must be like a picnic for him, eat food up here while he trains me. She frowned at that and looked over the training field that she could watch from the flet. Many wardens were training this morning, most of them practicing archery. Calaereth watched with great envy as they nailed the target with every shot. She would be extremely lucky if she could hit the target with an arrow. For a moment Calaereth was overwhelmed with hopelessness in her situation. How could she become a good enough fighter to save Haldir in the next month and a half? All of her fighting experience in her entire life had been in a familiar environment, in the water. This was completely new and foreign territory, fighting on land. The idea of fighting Orcs in elven form was slightly frightening, Calaereth felt that she was at a disadvantage.

"Don't get overwhelmed." Haldir's voice suddenly cut through her thoughts, causing Calaereth to look over at him with a raised eyebrow. Could he read her mind, she wondered. "You are easy to read." Haldir looked over the training field, "We do have over a month to learn, and you are a quick learner if you have the appropriate attitude."

That earned him a small glare from Calaereth.

"But other than that, you will learn fast, you may not be as good as me or my wardens in a month, but you will be good enough to defeat orcs. Just have a little faith in yourself." Haldir advised, then headed for the flet hole, "Come, we cannot miss breakfast, can we?" Haldir gave a charming grin to Calaereth, making Calaereth's heart flutter for a small moment.

Maybe training wouldn't be as bad as she thought.

Later that evening, Haldir offered to take Calaereth on a small walk through Lothlórien. She happily accepted and as they walked Calaereth suddenly heard a familiar instrument echo through Lórien.

"Do you hear that?" Calaereth asked, a look of wonder as she listened once more to the music.

Haldir looked down at her, an eyebrow raised in question at first, until he heard harps along with flutes being played in the main hall. He smirked at her, "You mean the music?" Haldir asked.

"Yes! But I recognize one of the instruments I hear!" A bright smile lighting up her face, "Yes, I remember now, a harp. We have harps, my mother always played for me when I was young." Calaereth's eyes glazed over for a moment, the memories playing over in her mind for a few brief seconds.

"Can you play the harp?" Haldir asked, entranced by the light shade of brown brought out by the lights in Caras Galadhon. It was as if her beauty doubled at night. Haldir could suddenly understand how many fell to the mermaids, their beauty was entrancing and Calaereth's especially. Calaereth had an innocent charm that could bring in any enemy she desired. Haldir knew this now.

"I can." A proud grin now shaped Calaereth's lips. "If I wasn't a warrior, I would be a harpist. Though, it has been a long time since I last played."

Haldir stared at Calaereth for a moment before glancing up at the sky. "Maybe you could play for me some time. When this war is over." Haldir suggested.

Calaereth nodded, smiling, "I would love to."

Haldir's face slowly went back to it's normal expression, the thought of the impending war ahead was enough to cause the smile to fade.

"Come Calaereth, let's head back." Haldir let her hook her arm with his, and they walked back to the talan, as the night cooled and the stars twinkled in the dark sky.

YAY, chapter ten is done! Tell me what you guys thought! I can't wait to hear from you guys! P.S. check out my tumblr on my profile page if you have any questions for Calaereth! :)