Sorry for the wait everyone! I've had this, and the next couple chapters pretty much done for a while, but have been too nit-picky to put them up. The main reason was the geography of Middle Earth. See, when it comes to directions or maps, I'm completely clueless (sounds like a certain character in the story). Directionally challenged even. Anyway, I googled some maps of Middle Earth and attempted (emphasis on the attempted) to correctly map out the route that Haldir and Fleur will take on their journey. I pray, honestly pray, that I got it right. Another thing I've been picky picky on is trying to keep everyone in character. I love banter, and sometimes, banter doesn't fit the personality of the character. But nonetheless, I attempt to fit it into the story.

I must right now thank you for all of your reviews from the bottom of my heart! It's not just knowing that people are reading my story that's making me happy; it's that you're enjoying it (hopefully *wink wink*). So, without further ado (okay, there's a disclaimer first, but after that), I present to you the next chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Lord of the Rings or any characters/locations associated it. Alas, it is far too awesome for me!

"Haldir?"

"Hm?"

"So ... Where are we going?"

Haldir raised an eyebrow and looked over at Fleur, who rode right beside him, "... You don't know?"

Fleur pursed her lips, "Of course I know where we are going!"

"Where are we going then?"

"What? You know where we're going! Why ask me?" she said, looking away from him.

He smirked and chuckled, "You have no idea where we are. And you have no idea where we're going, do you?"

"... the only thing I know is that we need to go to Rivendell and Mirkwood." Fleur admitted, looking down at the ground, "My current location is currently unknown."

Haldir looked over at her, "Don't worry about it."

Fleur frowned and looked deep in thought. Haldir suddenly felt a headache coming on, "So, where are we?"

Haldir looked at her, "... let's have a break." he stopped his horse. Fleur stopped as well, "I'll show you on the map. We need to stretch out legs." he hopped off of the horse.

"Noooooo ..." Fleur said teasingly, "We've only been riding all day, who needs a break?"

"Fine, we'll set up camp." Fleur hopped off her horse, nearly falling down on her knees, "Easy." Haldir warned, holding his arm out to assist her in getting her bearings.

Fleur let Haldir help her steady herself. Once she had her balance, and the tingling in her legs had gone away, she shook her head, "I'm good to go for another couple hours at least. Don't worry about little ol me!"

Haldir grabbed something off of the back of his horse, "Good. If we are able, we will ride to nightfall."

"Yes. We're getting very close to the edge of the border. We'll go through the Misty Mountains then make our way north to Rivendell. Then we'll go back through the mountains and make our way to Mirkwood." He handed her the object. It was a canteen. She took a swig and handed it back to him.

"... we gotta go through mountains?" She exclaimed after she had swallowed.

"Twice. Through Redhorn Pass. Why? Afraid of heights?"

"No, just falling to my death on mountains."

"I won't let you fall to your death."

"Oh, good."

"Yes. Because that would make the past few days I've spent with you a waste."

Fleur punched Haldir in the arm lightly, "You're too kind, Marchwarden."

"My wardens would disagree with you." Haldir tried not to let her see the small smile that formed on his face.

"No doubt. So ... How long is it to Mirkwood after we get through the mountains?"

"Depends. After we get through the mountains, we'll continue east until we reach Beorn. Oh, but first we shall have to cross the Auduin, the great river."

"Great, we'll go for a nice swim."

"Without a doubt. We'll then take the Elf Path, and continue on until we reach the Elvenking's Halls."

"... what about Mirkwood?"

"Remember what I said about the forest gate?"

"That I do. Go on."

"When we pass through there, we will be in Mirkwood."

"So Mirkwood is a forest? Kinda like Lorien?" Fleur asked.

"Yes, it is a forest. But ... Well ... The foliage is thicker, and that tends to make it a bit darker."

"Wow ..."

"What's wrong?" Haldir asked.

"Mind blown." Fleur said, her left eye twitching slightly.

"You've been through a lot these past few days."

"Understatement of the year." Fleur said, "Ugh ... My ass is asleep ..."

"Informative. Thank you for sharing."

Fleur grinned, "Welcome." she stretched for a few minutes, "How long we gonna stop? I'm ready to get back on the road!"

Haldir rolled his eyes playfully, "Aren't you enthusiastic?"

"Can't help it Haldir! I wanna get going! Gonna rock this mission like a hurricane!" she threw her fists up in the air.

Haldir chuckled, ignoring Fleur's odd statement, but wondering what a hurricane had to do with the mission, "Alright, alright. Let's go then."

Fleur turned to look at him, "Oh, are you sure? Did you get a long enough break?"

"Yes, in fact, I'm used to riding for far longer periods of time."

"Sounds like a suckish thing to be used to." Fleur said, going to get back up on her horse.

Haldir instead grabbed her and lifted her up effortlessly. With only one hand, Fleur noted. "I have no idea what you just said."

Fleur grinned, "You probably don't understand half of what I say."

"I don't know if that is an insult, or the blatant truth."

"Maybe a little bit of both." Fleur said, winking at him as she nudged her horse forward.

The fire danced and crackled as Fleur laid out the bedrolls, grinning excitedly. The were going to enter the mountains tomorrow along Redhorn Pass, "Don't you look overjoyed." Haldir muttered as he sat down on his bedroll beside her, "Why so close?" He asked, gesturing to the closeness of their bedrolls.

"I'm not scared!" Fleur shouted, shaking her fist at him.

Haldir raised an eyebrow, "I didn't say you were. Why don't we move closer to the fire-"

"NO!"

He froze at her sudden outburst, "Something wrong?"

"I ... Uh ... Just don't want my bedroll to catch fire."

He chuckled, "You won't catch on fire, and I won't let anything try and eat you in the middle of the night."

Fleur pouted, "That's not the reason I set it so close to you!"

Haldir smirked at her, "Is that so?"

She blushed, "And just what are you implying?" she hissed, balling her hands up into fists.

He chortled, "I am implying that you are tired, and your mind is beginning to lose it's ability to defend itself against verbal jabs. Go to sleep." he urged, poking the fire with a stick.

Fleur watched the fire cautiously, "F-fine." She slipped into the bedroll and sighed, closing her eyes, "Night, Haldir."

"Goodnight Fleur."

A small shuffling noise awoke Fleur from her sleep and she started to sit up went a hand pressed her back down into the bedroll, "Don't move." Haldir warned her, "Stay put, I'll be right back."

"Wh-what's going on?" He ignored her question and stalked over to the bushes, his sword unsheathed, brandished, ready to fight. Fleur trembled, her face pale, eyes wide. But she obeyed. She waited ...

... For about five minutes. Then, she arose quietly from her bedroll and snuck over to her horse, grabbing her sword. She left it in its scabbard as she made her way over to the bushes where Haldir had gone, only to jump back with a screech when two bodies, alive, tumbled in front of her. She screamed, dropped the sword, and ran back to the fire, where she dove under the blankets in her bedroll and continued to scream. Suddenly she felt someone grab her through the covers. Fleur screamed louder and struggled, before punching her attacker and wiggling away.

Before she could get far, she was grabbed again. She calmed when she saw it was Haldir whom had her, and clung to him. Fleur buried her face into his chest and held on to him as if it were for dear life. Only when Haldir didn't move for a little while did she turn and look back over towards her bedroll, where a familiar face rolled around in pain while another laughed on.

"Rumil?" she said, awestruck at the elf laying on her bedroll in pain, "Orophin?"

Orophin stopped laughing at his brother and smiled at her, "Hello Fleur."

"Oh, Rumil! I'm so sorry! I thought you were trying to kill me!" she said, breaking from Haldir's hold to walk up to Rumil, whom she had punched in the face.

"You have one good right hook for a elleth." Rumil said, pinching the bridge of his nose and tilting his head up in an attempt to get the bleeding to stop.

Haldir reached down, picked up the sword, and walked over, "I thought I told you to stay put. Why did you grab your sword and come after me?"

Fleur pouted and put her hands on her hips, turning around to face him, "Because I was worried about you!"

"As you can see, I am perfectly fine. Unlike Rumil, whom appears to have gotten beat up by an elleth."

"Elleth's got a mean right hook!"

"Sure she does." Fleur said jokingly, "What are you two doing here anyway?"

"We followed you." Orophin said, "Since when are you allowed to go on a journey without telling your brothers first."

"You didn't even tell them you left?" Fleur asked, staring at Haldir in shock.

"I left a note." Haldir replied.

"Who even runs to hide in a bedroll when they're being attacked anyway?" Rumi asked, "It's not like a blanket will stop a killer. 'Oh no, she ran under a blanket! How ever can I get her now?"

"Hey! Obviously I was able to defend myself, or you wouldn't be holding your nose right now." Fleur said, crossing her arms as her lower lip protruded slightly in a pout.

The grown up of the group sighed, "Have you two eaten?" Haldir asked.

"Yes, we have." Orophin said.

"Good, get your horses and your bedroll and join us. Let's just go to bed."

"Sorry for punching you in the face."

"It's fine, really. I've had worse." Rumil said, grinning.

"He's gotten kicked by a horse into a water trough, in front of Lady Galadriel's ladies in waiting." Orophin said absentmindedly.

"Oh my ..."

"And he's gotten slapped by an elleth because she thought he was looking up her skirt."

"Ouch."

"I have not!" Rumil interjected, then paused when he saw that Fleur wasn't buying it, "Okay, so I have ..."

"He's also gotten his ass kicked by an old lady back in Beorn because he was trying to help her pick up her purchases that she dropped." Haldir added, rummaging through his pack.

"Which was uncalled for! I was only trying to help!" Rumil said, sighing, "I was not harassing the elderly!"

Fleur laughed, "You guys all seemed so serious when I first met you. To hear you guys talk now, it's kind of a shocker." she giggled some more, then noticed what Haldir was doing, "What are you looking for?" she asked.

"A book." he said plainly, "Ah, found it."

"I thought you were going to bed?" Fleur asked, looking at the book which he held in his hands.

"I can't sleep. I was going to try some light reading."

Fleur nodded, "May I see?" He handed her the book. She opened it and saw that she couldn't read it, "It's in elvish ..." she noted, frowning.

"Can't you read elvish?" Rumil asked, "Ow!" Both Haldir and Orophin had smacked him on the back of the head. Fleur had to stifle a laugh, and hid her smile with her hand.

"It is about the history of Elves. I'll read it to you until you fall asleep, if you like."

Fleur removed her hand, revealing her toothy smile, "I'd love that, please do."

She moved her bedroll over to him in case she fell asleep. Seeing that she was comfortable and close to him, he began reading. Rumil and Orophin listened as well. But soon, the two brothers were out, snoring softly. Only Haldir and Fleur remained awake. Haldir continued reading until his own eyes grew weary and he fell asleep in the middle of a sentence, almost dropping the book. Fleur giggled quietly. She grabbed the book from his hands, closed it, set it aside, and covered Haldir with a blanket. She remained close to Haldir through the night, falling asleep at his feet.

The next morning found Fleur picking up her bedroll and tying it to her horse as Haldir woke his brothers and helped them pack up. She giggled as Haldir yanked the blanket off of a sleeping Rumil, rolling him off his bedroll and into the dirt. Rumil cursed in what Fleur guessed to be elvish as he stood up and shook his head, trying to rub the sleep from his eyes. "Good morning, Rumil." Fleur greeted, laughing.

"Morning, Fleur! Did you sleep good?"

"I slept great, thanks."

"You two will return home as soon as we are done here." Haldir ever-so-kindly informed them.

"What?" Rumil exclaimed, "But I want to help Fleur!" he said, throwing his arm around said elleth.

Fleur had also deduced within the first five minutes of knowing him that out of the three brothers, he was the biggest flirt, yet the most harmless. She giggled as Haldir rolled his eyes and Orophin laughed. Haldir was the most serious of the three, while Orophin was in the middle of the two. He occasionally joked with Fleur and sent playful winks her way, but kept his younger brother from being shot, stabbed, etc by the oldest.

"I also wish to help Fleur. Besides, the more the merrier, right?"

"We will travel quicker with just two riders." Haldir shot back.

"But it would help to have the two of us should you run into any orks or goblins." Orophin said, while Rumil nodded in the background, arm still around Fleur, whom was paying serious attention to the debate.

"I can protect Fleur on my own." Haldir shot back, making Fleur smile slightly.

"Or is it that you actually want Fleur here all to yourself?" Rumil asked, wiggling his eyebrows at his oldest brother as he hugged Fleur protectively, grinning as she blushed.

Haldir glared at him, maliciously, "We do not have time for this needless banter. You two, go home. Fleur-" he snatched Fleur from Rumil, "-is coming with me."

Rumil sighed, "Oh, alright. But you know, we just might keep following you no matter how many times you chase us away."

Haldir glared, "You wouldn't dare."

"You know we would, brother." Rumil grinned.

Haldir gritted his teeth, "I am your brother, yes, but I am also your commander on the battlefield. Are you sure you are willing to take the punishment for disobeying your commander?"

The two brothers nodded, "We are willing to risk our behinds so that we are assured of your safety brother. And Fleur as well, of course." Orophin clarified, "Even if we are beaten or flogged. Killed even." Fleur suddenly froze and turned deathly white, her heart began to pound. Killed? Oh God, no! "Whichever punishment you choose, we just want you two to be safe."

Fleur bit her lip and looked to Haldir. "Haldir, can I talk to you for a minute?" she tugged gently on his sleeve, her fingers trembling as the 'what ifs' ran through her mind.

He looked down at her, nodded, and then walked away, pulling her behind him, "You know they are just going to eavesdrop anyway."

Fleur nodded, still biting her lip, "Haldir, I-"

"Something tells me you are about to do something extremely stupid."

Fleur winced, "I-I probably am."

Haldir gave her a disapproving look, "What is it?"

"Haldir ..." Fleur swallowed, and looked to the ground. "I want you and your brothers to go back home."

See what I mean about the out of character thing? I even made my own character into a drama queen! GAH! Someone slap me!

Okay, that's enough of that though. I hope you enjoyed it, and I most certainly hope it was worth the wait! And if it wasn't ... well, FAIL on my part! Nonetheless, I do hope you have a wonderful, joy filled day! Spread the love!

I'm not a hippie, I swear. ... But hippies are kinda cool ... Go hippies! ~Kitty~

P.S. The next chapter has already written, and once I've nitpicked my way thought it, I'll update it. Perhaps after I'm done with class tonight! Wouldn't that be epic?

Okay, I promise, I'm done. Remember: LOVE AND JOY! :3 ~Kitty~