Hello again everyone! I'm back with another chapter. TGIF TO YOU ALL! It's been a long week ... thank god it's not SHIT (Sorry Honey It's Thursday)! Not much to say right now though, well, I'm only going to update twice a week FOR A LITTLE WHILE! Not perminantly ... There's a reason though ... cause graduation's coming up ... anyways, that's all folks! Enjoy the story!

And thank you to my dear reviewer Crevette1 for her review, really boosted my mood there. I like Fleur too, because she's got a little bit of spunk when she's not freaked out. Or maybe it's just because I like being a smart ass ... oh wells. Thanks again!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings. The mere thought of me owning something so amazing is throughly impossible. Can't wait for The Hobbit to come out. I'm reading it for meh English class.

Fleur filled her travel pack with food and a few random items before filling her canteen with water. Halo sat at her feet, whining expectantly. The white wolf had led her home to find her grandmother turned to stone, as the witch had promised. She had named him Halo, because he the way he behaved was like a little angel. Fleur had thought wolves were supposed to be scary, but Halo had the demeanor of a well trained hound. Perhaps it was because she had rescued him from becoming a witch's dinner ... And was paying heavily for it.

"Well." she said, tying her pack shut, "I'm ready, I guess."

She turned to Halo, who stood up and began to wag his tail excitedly, "Are you planning on coming with me?" she asked, smiling at him, "Alright then, but you'll have to be good, okay?"

She patted him on the head, then walked out to the living room, where her grandmother stood frozen.

"I'll be back soon, grandmother, I promise." Fleur said, pressing a kiss to the statue's temple.

Then, she was out the door and running off to the forest.

Within a short time of walking, Fleur was thoroughly lost, staring at the map she had brought with her like a monkey attempting to do a math problem. With a groan of frustration, she chucked the map on the ground without really intending to, then yelped when she realized she had. She quickly leaned down to pick it up, but it had been soaked by mud and rainwater.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed, "Now what am I going to do? That map was my lifeline!"

Halo's ears perked up and he sat watching her panic before running off into the forest, when Fleur realized he was gone, she began to panic more, "Halo? Where'd you go boy?"

She whistled for him, but he didn't come back. Fleur sank to her knees, feeling a lot like crying. The sun was starting to go down, she had been lost for a while. She crawled over to a tree and sat by it, bringing her knees up to her chin. It was like this that she feel into a troubled sleep.

Fleur woke up feeling as if something were out of place. That's right, she thought bitterly, I was cursed by a witch, and now I'm lost in a forest. She stood up quickly and walked a few steps forward, hoping that by some chance she would be able to find her way. Nothing. All she saw was a tree, a different tree, and ... oh look! Another tree!

She shook her head and closed her eyes, thinking that maybe if she wished really, really hard, she could wake up in her bed and everything would be just fine and dandy. When she opened her eyes again, an arrow was pointed directly in between her eyes. Fleur yelped and jumped back, falling on her butt in the process. She crawled backwards until her back hit a tree.

"What could a young elleth such as yourself be doing messing around the forest at this time of night?" came a dry voice that was just dripping with sarcasm from ... Above her?

Fleur looked up to see a tall, rather muscular elf looking down upon her. Certainly not a tree. She squeaked. He looked unamused, glaring at her as if he would turn her to dust with his silvery-blue eyes. More elves in armor began to gether around, bows drawn, all aimed at her. What do I look like? A terrorist?

"Well?" the head elf, at least, that's what she assumed he was, prompted her to explain herself.

"I ... Uh ... D-don't hurt me ... Please?" she said, trying to make herself sound as weak an pathetic as possible, hoping that maybe he would take it easy and realize that she wasn't exactly a threat.

He instead rolled his eyes, but with a wave of his hand, the elves lowered their bows, "There, now explain yourself."

"I was ... Er ..." he narrowed his eyes even more, making Fleur wince from the intenseness of the glare, "I-I need to meet with Lady Galadriel of Lorein."

He gave her a suspicious look, leaned down, and easily lifed her to her feet by her shirt collar, as if she were as light as a feather, "Why ever would you need to do that?"

"I ... I ... Would you please stop glaring at me like that!"

"Out with it!"

Oh did she want to punch him so bad, "I-I've been cursed by some angry witch, there, happy?"

He raised an eyebrow, "A witch?"

"Did I stutter?" murmured Fleur.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

His eyes narrowed at her once more, "That's what I thought."

"Then why did you ask?" Fleur jumped and covered her mouth, "S-sorry!" she apologized, though it was muffled through her fingers.

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "What is your name?"

"Fleur."

"Well, Fleur, a meeting you shall get ..."

Fleur sighed and relief, letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding, "Thank-"

"However, it will not be with the Lady."

"Wha-what?"

"It will be with the bars of a prison cell, awaiting punishment."

"Punishment?" she gasped, "For what?"

"Trespassing."

"Tresspassing? What the hell are you talking about? It's a free forest, buddy!" she hissed, poking him in the chest.

Bows were loaded and pointed at her again, but he waved them down, "This forest is the relhm of Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, and to set foot into this forest without their permission to do so is trespassing."

Fleur's fingers tightened into fists, "Obviously I didn't know this." she said, through gritted teeth.

"So, that makes it alright then?"

"Well ... No, but-"

"Precisely." he said, "You could endanger us all if you told our enemies of our location."

"Enemies?" said Fleur, sounding amazed, "A kind hearted elf such as yourself has enemies? I never would've guessed."

He gritted his teeth and raised his hand. Fleur yeled and shied away, "What is your problem, elleth?"

Fleur opened her eyes and looked at him, noticing he was just waving to one of his elves, "Oh ... I thought you were going to hit me."

"I've never hit an elleth." he said, easing Fleur's nervousness a bit, "Yet." Only to bring it right on back.

She nodded and stepped back, rubbing her head sheepishly, "R-right. Well then ... I'm just going to go that way now ..." Fleur turned around, but a firm grip on her wrist stopped her.

She wretched out of it and whirled to face him, "What?"

"You will be going nowhere." he said, crossing his arms.

"No, I will be going that way." she said, pointing in a random direction.

He glared at her again, big surprise, "Do you think me stupid?" Fleur had to bite her lip to keep from saying exactly what she thought he was, and it wasn't a very nice thing, "You will come with us, either walking on your own two legs, or being dragged along behind us."

"How about neither." Fleur snapped, stepping back so that she could glare up at him.

He looked at the elf he had signaled to with his hand, "Bring me a rope." he commanded.

Fleur stepped back, unsure, "You wouldn't dare." she enunciated.

"On the contrary-" he picked her up suddenly, throwing her over his shoulder like a sack of bricks, "I will dare. Bind her wrists."

She glared at the elf who approached her, holding the rope in his hands. He smiled apologetically, then after a brief struggle, managed to bind her wrists.

"There, my wrists are tied, I'm your prisoner. Now put me down!" she shouted, right into his ear.

"Silence. Or I'll gag you next." he threatened, then walked opposite the direction she had been heading.

"With what?"

"I'm sure I could find something."

Fleur blushed at what he could've been implying and was about to yell at him again, but decided that he would indeed gag her, so she kept her trap shut. However, the fight had not left her, and she dropped her weight, just to piss him off. It didn't work. If it did something, it did the opposite of what she had intended.

He scoffed, "I've carried many elleths over my shoulder before-"

"Many of whom were enjoying it, I'm sure, but this elleth is not!" she huffed, wiggling for a little while before sighing, "Can I please walk? I'll be good."

"Sure you will."

"I will ... Uh ... What's your name?"

He sighed before answering her, "Haldir."

"Haldir then. I swear on my honor that I'll behave."

"On your honor?"

"Yup."

"... right."

Fleur snorted, "Oh come on! Please?"

"Nay. I think not."

Fleur scoffed and caught sight of a knife on Haldir's belt, "So uh ... Are you like, the Lady's guard or something?"

"I am the Marchwarden."

"And that is ..."

"... you really know nothing, do you?"

Fleur blushed and shook her head, not that he could tell, "Nay ... I'm sorry ..."

He paused, "Nay, tis alright. What do you need to know ..."

She brightened considerably, "Really? You'll tell me things?"

He sighed and cringed, "I'm going to regret this but ... Aye."

"What is an 'elleth'? Grandmother never told me?"

"Grandmother?" she opened her mouth, "Nay, never mind. An elleth is a female elf, such as yourself."

"That's all? That's all it means?"

"Aye."

"... and what are you?"

"An ellion."

"Ah, and you said you are the Marchwarden ... What is that exactly?"

"I lead the wardens who protect Loren. Tis the duty of the Marchwarden." he explained.

"Really?" she asked, "That's cool."

Haldir raised an eyebrow, not that she could tell, "Cool?"

"You don't know what cool means?"

"Nay."

"It means that ... That's neat, or awesome." Fleur explained, then giggled, "I got to teach the Marchwarden something!" she said in a singsong voice, making many of his men turn to stare at her.

Haldir glared at them and they looked away, "Hey, can you like, switch shoulders or something, my tummy is being squished."

He sighed and placed her on the ground, "Oh, am I being put down to walk or just-"

"You can walk I suppose, but so help me, if you start to-"

"Yes, yes, be good, I got it. Thank you, oh wise Haldir of Lorien." she said, with a curtsy.

"Somehow I feel as if I'm being mocked." muttered Haldir, "And by an idiot no less, how very degrading."

Fleur smiled, "I do my best. Now may I be untied?"

He shook his head, "I give you an inch, and you take a mile. No, you may not be untied."

She shrugged, "Fine, but don't say I didn't warn you."

She began to walk and he walked after her. Two steps later, she stumbled. Haldir grabbed her before she fell. Another two steps after, she stumbled again. Again, Haldir snatched her up in the brink of time. This process repeated over and over.

"Are you actually this clumsy, or are you purposely annoying me?" he asked irritably, catching her before she could fall again.

"Ouch. Harsh, aren't you? Yes, I am this clumsy." she said, then added, "It doesn't help that my hands are tied behind my back."

He rolled his eyes and pulled out a knife. Fleur yelped and jumped back, "W-what are you going to do with that?"

He grabbed her by the wrists and yanked her back, then cut the ropes that bound her wrists, "There. Will you be able to take three steps without tripping now?"

She smiled as she flexed her fingers, "I'll do my best, but no promises."

She ended up making it four steps, then tripped over a rather conspicuous tree root. Haldir smacked his forehead, mentally cursing his rotten luck as a couple of his wardens aided her in standing.

And that is it for tonight. I am one sleepy pufferfish ... I have no idea where that came from, honestly. Anyways, hope you enjoyed it. Apologies for spelling errors, my computer's keyboard has been acting up lately ... stupid thing ... Bleh. GOOD NIGHT TO ALL! ~ KITTEH