Hello once again everyone! Hope everyone had a good Christmas, Hanukkah, or whatever holiday you celebrate. Mine was wonderful, and you may thank Christmas and Hetalia for the slow update. Apparently soon in my world means a month later, crazy huh? Anyway, here's the fourth chapter. I do hope it doesn't have any errors in it. Apparently you can get people called 'Betas' to edit things for you. Scary thing is, I always think of a fish when I hear beta, then I imagine a fish correcting my writing ... okay, that's enough of my rambling. I got some nice reviews from some people, and I thank you all for reviewing.
Anastasia Lionheart: Why yes, I do dig Fiction Plane! I LOVE YOU TOO! XD I hope you like the story, as your review did indeed make my day ... and it made me want to watch Anastasia rather suddenly (you probably get that a lot, sorry ...). XD Thanks for the review!
Kathryn-of-Lorien: I thank you so very much for you review, and I sincerely apologize for this error of the ooc kind. I'll do my best to fix it, but if I'm unable to do this (I will try, but I am especially skilled at failing at things XD) I do hope you enjoy this story. And I will do my best to improve! I swear it! :P
Ferdinand Sutcliff: *accepts mallet to the head with glee* Is it odd to enjoy being hit upon the head with a mallet? Oh well. I've been weirder. I'm glad you like Fleur! I purposely tried to make her somewhat annoying, just to mess with Haldir. Am I somewhat sadistic? Probably. Oh well. By the way, you wouldn't happen to be a Black Butler fan, would you? I apologize if you read this an think I'm nuts (which, I am, don't get me wrong XP). Anyway, thank you for your review! And I do hope you enjoy the upcoming chapter, as well as the rest of the story! C:
Lady Minuialwen: This review ... was pure awesome. Simple as that. :D Cheers! Enjoy the next chapter!
Disclaimer: Still don't own Lord of the Rings. *slap self* Just cause I can.
Haldir had never seen such a look of childlike wonder in anyone's eyes before. Just a few steps in front of him stood Fleur, her eyes shining as she gazed upon Lorien. He felt pride in his heart for his homeland as he made his way over to her.
"Welcome to Lorien." he said.
"It's ... Beautiful." she said, looking around slowly, as if trying to memorize every nook and cranny.
"It is." Haldir agreed, "Come, I shall take you to see the Lady." he offered her his arm, and to his surprise, she took it.
"I thought I was only allowed an audience with the prison." Fleur asked, momentarily taking her eyes off of the scenery around her to smile knowingly at him.
Haldir cleared his throat, "Yes. Well. Plans change. The prisons do not wish to see you."
Fleur laughed, and punched him lightly on the shoulder with her unoccupied arm, "Ha ha, very funny." she paused for a moment and looked at him, "Thank you, Haldir, really."
His lips twitched upward in a smile, "You're ... Welcome."
Fleur smiled, up at him, but then a frown suddenly made it's way across her face, "Something wrong?" Haldir asked, eyeing the nervous girl.
"I-er-what if ... What if she doesn't like me?"
He raised an eyebrow, "Whom are we speaking of?"
"The lady!" Fleur squeaked, making many of the elves around them stare.
Haldir shook his head, "Fleur, relax. Everything's going to be alright, you'll see."
Her grip on his arm tightened, "Are you sure?" her big, doe like eyes stared up at him.
He nodded, "Completely. That's a promise."
Fleur searched his eyes, found nothing but truth in them, and smiled once more, "Okay." she barked cheerfully, "I believe you!"
Her eyes searched the room, taking in the sights just as she had when they first entered Lorien. Back and forth her eyes flitted, until finally they rested on him. A nervous smile wormed it's way to her face, but she still fidgeted, fiddling her thumbs, rocking back and fourth on her heels.
"Relax." he said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Unlike the last few times he had touched her, she hadn't flinched. For a moment, he wondered if he had gained her trust already, or if his company gave her feeling of protection. Clearly this girl had never tasted the bitterness of betrayal, and this gave Haldir a feeling of ease. Yet at the same time, it gave him a feeling of nervousness. He was slightly comforted that there was some innocence in this girl, but that innocence could easily be shattered. Nonetheless, he figured it best to focus on the task at hand. He gently squeezed her shoulder. She stopped rocking on her heels, but continued to twiddle her thumbs.
It was better than nothing, he was thinking as Lady Galadriel gracefully made her way towards them.
"Hello, Marchwarden." she greeted him, "And hello, Miss Fleur."
Fleur straightened up beside him, her eyes widening, "You know my name?"
Galadriel smiled, "Yes I do, young lady. Welcome to Lorien."
Fleur bowed her head, "T-thank you, ma'am."
Haldir shot her a strange look before noticing she had once again began to twiddle her thumbs again, "You have no need to fret, young one. I know of your predicament, a troublesome ordeal indeed. You have my sympathy."
"T-thank you, ma'am." Fleur's shoulders fell.
"And I know what you must do to free your loved one from her stone prison." Galadriel said gently, reaching out and grabbing one of Fleur's hands.
Fleur looked up at Galadriel, her eyes suddenly filled with determination, "Please, ma'am, tell me what I must do. I will do anything to bring her back. Anything."
Galadriel nodded, "Are you sure you are prepared to do what will be asked of you? It is quite a dangerous task."
Fleur swallowed, but the look in her eyes remained, "I am ready. I'll do whatever is asked to save my grandmother. Name it, please."
Galadriel nodded, "Very well ... Please, come and sit down."
Fleur lay in bed that night, thoughts swimming, mind racing. She was afraid, so very afraid. Though she now knew what she would have to do, she didn't really know if she would be able to do it. Time and time again she wondered if she would have the strength, mental and physical, to accomplish the task at hand that was laid out before her by Lady Galadriel. The same lady who was kind enough to give her a nice warm meal and a nice bed to sleep in. For this, she was truly grateful.
And then, on to the Marchwarden. Haldir had listened and learned about the task as well, and had, like the Lady, warned her about the high level of danger she would go through should she choose to accept this mission. She knew the risks, she'd take them.
It was then that Fleur's mind was made up. She would do this. With her head held high she would face the danger, conquer it. For her grandmother, her savior, she would do it. It didn't matter if she had an inability to read directions, or an inability to fighter. She would succeed, no matter the price.
With these thoughts in her mind, Fleur fell asleep late into the night.
He tried to understand, he really did. Fleur's love for her grandmother was the very same love he had for his brothers. Haldir would die saving them, for they were his only family. But then again, he didn't really understand at all. This grandmother of hers was human, and old, and frail. She was a young elleth. She would live on long, long, long after her grandmother fell to old age. Perhaps he was selfish or morbid for thinking such thoughts, but to risk her young life for someone so old seemed foolish to him.
"My Lady, I do not mean to sound heartless, but do you really think that she should do this?" Haldir asked Lady Galadriel whom sat drinking her tea gracefully.
The Lady looked to him, "I assure you that you do not sound as such, but yes, I believe she should."
"But it is dangerous-"
"It may very well be, but I sense that her mind is already made up. You will be unable to change it no matter what you do."
Haldir sighed and nodded, "Will she ... Survive this ... Do you think?"
"The mirror has been very vague, it's surface clouds. I do not know if she will survive, nor do I know if she will succeed or fail." Galadriel said, "But know that this task will change her life, for better or for worse, it will change her."
He nodded, looking at the ground before looking back at her, "Are you not going to send me with her?" he asked.
Galadriel smiled gently at him, a motherly smile, "I know of your somewhat chaotic journey here with her. I will not force you to go. You may go if you wish. Or you may remain here. Whatever you choose, let it be of your own free will."
Haldir made up his mind so quickly, he himself was surprised. No less then a minute later he replied, "I will go with her."
Fleur had not expected such generosity. She knew the lady was generous when she had offered a place to stay, but this seemed a little too much.
"A-are you sure about this?" she asked the elf in charge of the stables, "A horse?"
He looked up and nodded, "The Lady has requested that you have a healthy horse, laden with supplies that you will need for your journey."
She licked her lips nervously and looked over at her horse. It was a beautiful white mare with a mane that seemed as though it were made of silk. Her saddle had supplies loaded onto it. Food, clothes, and ... A sword. That made Fleur slightly nervous, and made her wonder what kind of creatures wandered the forests. Fleur reached out and touched the mare gently, marveling at how soft her fur was.
"You are beautiful." Fleur said, petting the large animal's nose.
"Indeed, she is." a familiar voice startled her and she whirled to see Haldir standing with a horse behind her.
"Are you ... Returning to the forests?"
He shook his head, "I am going with you."
Fleur blinked, "... really?"
Haldir nodded, "Really."
She was confused, "But ... Why would you want to do that? Can't get enough of me?" she teased lightly, still not believing he was going to go with her.
But he was already dead set on going, "You'll need someone who knows the area, who knows how to get where we're going."
"But I have a map-"
Haldir chuckled, "I think we both know how up to par your map reading skills are."
Fleur stared, "You're ... You're serious?"
"Of course. You'll need protection as well, considering how pale your face became when you saw the sword holstered to your horse's back."
"But I can't make you do this!" she cried, "You-you have brothers, you should be spending time with them!"
"I guarantee my brothers will be just fine. You on the other hand are going to need assistance. With my expertise, you might just survive." he said, then looked thoughtful, "Hopefully."
"So ... You're really going to help me? Even though you just got home and should be spending time with your brothers?"
"Yes. I'm going to help you." he confirmed, "And I'm not taking 'no' for an answer."
Their eyes were locked, and for a moment, Haldir swore he saw Fleur's eyes starting to look misty, "Fleur-"
She nearly tackled him to the ground in a hug. His good reflexes had only barely given him time to brace himself in order to avoid both of them going to the hay and dirt covered ground, "Thank you, Haldir! Thank you so much!"
And with that, Haldir and Fleur were off, riding side by side through the forest. Fleur kept her head up high and faced the road ahead of her with a new hope. She would do this. She would go on a journey to find the most precious thing.
And that is that. Hope you enjoyed this chapter! I thought that this chapter was going to be really difficult to write, but it wasn't. Still took me a while to write ... oh well. I hope all of you have a happy New Year! ... Beta fish with glasses correcting my writing ... sorry. LATER GUYS! Thanks for putting up with my rambling!
Much love and the such,
Kitty 3