RE-EDITED 1/9/07

Hey! Thank you to everybody who reviewed! YOU ARE THE BEST! I feel so loved. Here is the second chapter and as I have earlier stated, this story already has another ten chapters on it. Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own none of Tolkien's masterpiece. Please refrain from any lawsuits.


-Chapter Two-

The rest of her first night there went uneventful. Eventually she began to remember that he bathed in the morning and left for the rest of the day to be at the training fields, so during the day or in the late evening she had the talan to herself. Contact between them was limited, but not scarce. She was his maid; she served his meals, did his laundry, readied his bath in the morning, and cleaned his talan. She particularly looked forward to that, some of it looked as if it hadn't been touched in ages.

The next day she did her usual routine, and started her second day in Lorien with the insufferable March Warden. With a groan, she remembered that he had said they were to make arrows today.

Breakfast was uneventful, they both ate silently. When they were finished, or when he was, he pulled her into her quarters and explained what was expected of her. This was unnerving, to be treated as an elfling when one is over eight hundred years old is just plain humiliating.

"You will sit, in your room, for 1 hour each morning for a week and make arrows. I will show you how, and make sure you can do them on your own," he told her.

Anira quickly found out that arrow making was a tedious and boring job that left her wanting to sleep. The arrows had to be a certain intricate way or they would not fly right, therefore causing the preferred target to live. Later she would regret not listening to him, becuase at the time she was too busy fuming about his behavior towards her. When it was her turn to try one, he scolded her for making the fletching wrong. She did that to the next one too. And the next one.

After six faulty arrows lay in the corner Anira was ready to throw down the remaining arrows and stomp off. But she made the next one right, and he left her to continue on her own. She quickly brushed away a slight pang of disappointment as he left, reminding herself of her duty.

She couldn't deny it, Haldir was an attractive ellon. His personalities, however, were enough to annoy anyone. He obviously was used to having his way with any elleth, and she was just another to mess with. This cocky elf would learn not to get on her bad side soon enough, for his sake.

Her new life seemed overwhelming; the newness of it was still shocking her. Anira pondered a bit on what her brother would say if he could see her now.

After an hour of her laborious work, she arranged the finished arrows in a pile near his other weapons. Haldir walked through the door as she was finishing.

"Good, you are finished. I have clothes for you to mend, then laundry, and then you will have the noon meal to make," he listed off.

"Oh, and what will you be doing, milord?" She asked him.

He gave her a curious look. "That is not of your concern, I shall be back by noon."

Anira glared at him as his back was turned.

"Do not think I cannot feel your eyes burning holes into my head. There is needle and thread in that cupboard, I think," he said.

"No, there is not," she said.

"You have not even looked," he said incredulously.

"I have cleaned this talan top to bottom, and there is no needle and thread to be found," she told him coldly.

He stared back at her defiantly, noting her tone of voice. Putting down the quiver of arrows he held, he walked towards her.

"Then you will have to get some," he said, in an equally icy tone, inches from her face. "Is there a problem?" He asked, after he was met with silence.

"Not at all. Where are the clothes to be mended?" Strangely she began to feel flushed and felt a strong urge to get away. Haldir was silently battling within himself.

"In a basket by my door. And don't forget lunch." He was calming, at least half of him was. She was a particularly stubborn maiden, but undeniably beautiful and lovely. What was he thinking, she was his maid! Nothing more than a servant, with barely any room to start a relationship. Besides, he hadn't courted an elleth for 400 years. He stalked into what was now her room and looked over the plans spread across its surface to distract himself.


While she was completing the tasks he had given her, her mind was still reeling from her recent encounter. She liked it, but then she didn't. She never was comfortable with males. Her mind strayed to his silver eyes and similarly colored hair, then to his domineering and arrogant nature. He had his rough spots, but so did she. She couldn't forget the way he was looking at her when he was in her face. It was almost if he was going to kiss her, but thought better of it. At the time she was glad. Now, she wasn't too sure…

She finished her chores and walked back to prepare the meal. Silently, she congratulated herself for being able to make her away around the city after only a day.

Stepping into his talan she found him sitting in one of the chairs in the main room. He looked up to her when she entered and she quickly dropped his burning gaze.

"I am sorry for being harsh with you this morning," he said.

"And I am sorry for contradicting your opinion." She answered, somewhat reluctantly and somewhat really meaning it.

She walked over to the kitchen and prepared their lunch. They ate in silence yet again and after they were finished she moved to collect the plates and clean them when he stopped her.

"Wait, I need to talk to you," he offered her a chair next to his.

Slowly, she lowered herself onto the cushions and stared back into his inquisitive gaze.

"Are you comfortable with me?" he asked.

"Not really. Your presence is over dominating and you are hard to deal with." This wasn't good, he was expecting a yes or no answer and he got an angry tirade about his personality problems.

"Tell me why you think this." He was trying a new tactic.

"Must you ask? Has anyone ever told you that you are arrogant before? This confuses me, why are you asking me this?" she replied, beginning to wonder whether this was a waste of time.

"You reacted strangely when I scolded you this morning."

"So did you, and I was merely trying to deal with what you had just sprang up on me. I am not used to working night and day nonstop," she replied swiftly.

"I apologize, again. But you still haven't answered me."

"I am not used to ellon in my face and demanding total attention to what they are saying."

"It wasn't that, I know it wasn't. Be truthful," he asked, his voice now a strange and soothing tone.

"An elleth's discreteness is her greatest weapon, and I do happen to be quite busy today."

He sighed, realizing this was going nowhere.

"Certainly you must know that you are an attractive elleth..."

She looked up at him sharply, wondering what this conversation was really about. Her interest was piqued past the point of no return, so, relenting, she let down her guard. That was a mistake. He sensed her immediate drop in awareness and abruptly moved towards her, kissing her full on the mouth. The fiery kiss lasted only an instant.

"Does that tell you anything?"

"Only that you are mad," she said, stunned and blushing scarlet.

"No. Just proving a point." He got up and started to move towards the door.

"We are finished already? You do not want to talk anymore?"

"Yes, Anira, I believe we are. If you are not satisfied, then we can 'talk' some more once I get back this evening," with a haughty smirk he left the talan.

"That is not what I meant and he knows it," she said, mainly to herself.

She gave an exasperated sigh and fell back into the chair. Ellyn were a comletely different and confusing species altogether.

That kiss was enough to tell her he had an interest. Just another problem she would have to deal with, or enjoy.


Reviews are appreciated! My former reviewers were so kind and I hope they continue to read this story.

Thanks to: XoGiggles, Twinluvr, Celebrian, Agent047, Rin, Sweetblonde13, Horselover (I like horses too!), luvthefluf

-ElfLuver13