Hopefully this makes up for the short chapter last time. It's a little early to but that's because I'm really bored. Thank you to any reviewers who suggested things to do for this chapter, they were greatly appreciated. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas! I did. Please leave a review, feedback treasured.

Thoughts of the characters are in italics.


Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings, the Tolkien Estate, or any characters and places Tolkien has created.
--o0o0 Chapter Eight 0o0o--

Up until that point, Anira had taken the subtle brushes as he walked past her and the light caresses as he talked. But that...that was too much. Did she really look that easy? Hopefully not.

Time for the revenge of the maid.

The next morning she was up and dressed as usual. Before him, of course. She walked silently into his room, trying not to wake him, creeping closer to his bed where he lay sound asleep in reverie. The satin coverlets reached only slightly above his waist, the rest was bare and showed the broad expanse of his chest.

So far he had not awoke, she breathed slowly, and bent down. Her head was near his pointed ears, her breath was moving his hair a bit.

"Wake up." She whispered. He murmured incoherentlyand moved closer to her. But he didn't wake up.

"I said, wake up." She said this a little louder, but not above an normal voice level. That did it. His eyes flew open and he turned to see her giggling by his nightstand supposedly arranging the candles from the previous night.

He sat up, and she turned to look at him while trying to keep a straight face. He was dessed in onlya pair of leggings.

"Was that you?" He asked, probably already knowing the answer.

"Was what me?" She asked innocently. Had he not heard someone enter the room he would have believed her and fell for the trick. True, he did think he was dreaming, but he was sure there was someone next to him that was whispering.

He sighed. "The voice, you told me to get up. I heard you."

"You were probably dreaming, I haven't said a thing." A flat out lie. "I would never want to displease you milord."

"Very well." He said. She nodded and went to prepare a bath for him.


After breakfast, she sat down by the window and went about mending some of his clothes. He went off, not telling her where, but said he'd be back by noon meal. This was working excellently. Hopefully nothing would happen to change the status quo. She knew that he knew perfectly well that it was her who whispered to him. However he could say nothing to prove as their were no witnesses and she could keep denying his accusations. Therefore, she was now back up top.

An hour or two before lunch, she had to go down to the stream and get his linen that were washed and hung the day before. Things like sheets and coverlets needed more time to dry than ordinary clothing items. Bringing the big basket used for this, she neatly and efficiently took down the linen and headed back to the talan.

Upon arriving, she felt tired. Perhaps it was because she had gotten up so early the past week, or the fact that she spent half the night thinking about Haldir and what to do.

Wearily she spread the sheets over his large bed. Tucking in the corners, smoothing out the soft cotton. Drowsily, she surveyed her finished work. Her eyelids drooped and she fought for balance.

Sleep, she needed sleep. His bed, so soft and warm. The comfortable white pillows beckoned to her. She couldn't, noon was approaching. Just for a little bit, her mind told her. He'll never know. What if he comes back early? What if he finds her and decides to have some...fun?

She ignored her own advice and fell onto the bed, clutching one of the pillows on the far side. She was in reverie instantly.


Haldir walked back to the talan. He hoped she wouldn't mind that he was late. She had some talking to do for this morning.

Odd, it seemed she wasn't even home. He stepped into the talan to find silence. No Anira bustling about to get lunch done. Mayhap she went to get the food somewhere else?

He shrugged off his cloak and went into his room, not even noticing Anira's lithe body on the far edge of his bed. This could have been expected, her dress was the same color as the coverlets. He rolled onto the bed and picked up a book on the nightstand next to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a pile of linen next to him. Silly of her to leave that there.

Until then, Anira had been sleeping quietly and contentedly. She heard breathing, and felt an indent in the bed near her hip. Faintly, a rustling of pages could be heard.

He was home.

He was lying next to her and reading.

And apparently, he didn't know.

How was she going to get out of this one. Obviously he had seen her, but could he really not know what she was? She moved a bit to get off the bed but stopped suddenly, he would see her.

Did that linen just move? Haldir looked closer at the 'pile' of linen. He could have sworn that it had moved farther away from him. He decided just to move the pile out of his room for Anira to deal with later. He reached for it...

Oh Eru, he's touching me. She looked around frantically.

He caught sight of her hair and pale hands as he leaned over the 'pile'.

She feigned sleep hoping he wouldn't notice.

"Anira, is there a reason why you are on my bed?" He asked.

Sleep, just sleep, it will all be over soon.

She was sleeping. He shook her gently. No response.

"Anira, I am taking you back to your room alright?" He scooped her up in his arms effortlessly and she chose that moment to wake up from her faked reverie.

"Haldir, what are you...put me down!"

"I told you, I am taking you back to your bed."

"I am quite capable of that thank you."

"Actually you appear to have fallen asleep on my bed. At first I took you to be a stray pile of laundry but that is not the case."

"I was tired! I am fine now!" She struggled against him and he was losing his grip on her because of it. Before he dropped her, he slung her over his shoulder.

"Stay put." His voice had a commanding tone to it.

"Let me go!" Every time she tried to push away, he clutched her tighter.

"If I put you down, you will run off and not get any sleep, which you so desperately need." He entered her room.

"But you need lunch! I need to finish my other chores!"

He deposited her on the bed and she made to sit up. He leaned over her and pinned her down with his body.

"You need to sleep, dear maid." His warm breath on her skin made shivers go up her spine.

"I told you I was...fine...I...can..." Her eyelids fluttered. A smile played across his face.

"I am not hungry. Do not move from this room. Sleep. I will wake you up later so you can prepare the evening meal." He stated.

She resisted a little while longer before she realized he would not move. Giving into fatigue, she drifted off.


Reviews, reviews, reviews! May not be the longest chapter but it is longer than the last one, which was barely over 1000 words. Pitiful. This one was at least 1300 at last count. Feedback appreciated. Ideas are welcomed:)

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