Chapter 4

"WHAT!" Skyler gasped, "Do you really mean it!"

Celebrian nodded smiling, "yes, mother said you could come with me to Rivendell."

"OMG, why didn't you tell me earlier, you're leaving tomorrow, you know."

"Mother was afraid you would be too excited and unable to wait."

"Oh my goodness, Rivendell…and…traveling!" Skyler whispered excitedly, then she jumped and enveloped Celebrian in a hug, "You are the best ever!"

Celebrian laughed, "By Valar my dear, calm yourself down, it is not good for your health to be so excited."

Skyler squeezed tighter before she let go, "Oh, do you mind if I leave now? I just have to go tell Haldir!"

Celebrian shook her head, "No my dear, go ahead. And don't worry about packing, I'm sure we will have everything you need in Rivendell."

"Thank you so much!" Skyler said before she run toward Haldir's talan.

She arrived a few minutes later banging on the door.

"What happened?" Haldir asked worriedly when he opened the door and saw Skyler, "Why are you not at Lady Celebrian's talan?"

Skyler just laughed and gave him a hug, "You will not believe what she just told me!" Skyler said as she pulled back.

"Well?" Haldir asked still slightly shocked from the hug.

"Lady Galadriel has given permission for me to accompany Celebrian to Rivendell!"

The look on Haldir's face was priceless, for the first time since Skyler knew him, Haldir was speechless.

After a few minutes when Haldir failed to give any reply Skyler said impatiently, "Well? Are you happy for me?"

Haldir nodded, still speechless but then he finally said, "Are you sure it will be safe?"

Skyler grinned, "Of course, it's Lady Celebrian, I'm sure it will be perfectly fine." Then she asked worriedly, "What's wrong? You look weird."

Haldir shook his head, "Nothing," then said stiffly, "I am just happy for you."

Skyler glanced at him, "Okay, now you're starting to freak me out." And she poked him, "Where's Haldir and what have you done with him?"

"You wouldn't want to do that."

Skyler smirked, "Do what?" then she poked him again, "this?"

Haldir raised his eyebrows and glared at her.

"Ah! Creepy Haldir is back." Skyler yelled then she grinned sheepishly, "Sorry."

Haldir shook his head and smiled slightly, "Come, since today is your last day let us take a walk in the gardens."

Skyler shrugged, "Sure, I know, even I didn't think Lady Galadriel would spring this on me. It is quite a surprise."

"My lady, after you." Haldir said as he bowed.

Skyler laughed but went ahead.

After a few minutes of walking in the garden Skyler finally spoke up, "You are confusing."

"Excuse me?" Haldir said as he stopped walking.

"I said you are confusing."

"And may I ask why?"

"Because sometimes you are just plain nice with the smile and all that, and then sometimes you are just cold and blah."

"Blah?" Haldir repeated amusingly.

"Yeah."

Haldir walked toward a bench and sat down; he motioned for her to do the same: "I know I have not been nice but I do believe we are friends. Do you agree?"

Skyler looked at him in surprise and placed her hand against his forehead, "Nope, you don't have a fever. Oh no, you must must have gotten into Lord Celebrian's wine."

Haldir glared at her and Skyler replied, "Oh come on, it is very unusual of you to say something like that! Oh well, don't you worry about that we are always best friends, okay? Even if you're like frigidia all the times I know deep inside you value our friendship very much."

Haldir nodded while Skyler cocked her head to one side and stared at him then she added, "Okay spill, I know you didn't take me here to talk about our friendship or to see the bloody flowers."

Haldir smirked and stood up, "Come I shall escort you back to your talan, you will need your rest tonight."

Skyler stared at him opened mouthed then she said, "You are an impossible elf do you know that?"

"Yes." Then just as Skyler started to stand up she lost her balance and trip, but before she could touch the ground Haldir caught her and lift her upright against him. Skyler was so close to him that she could smell his scent of spring leaves.

This feel so…right… Skyler thought then she blushed madly, she looked up into his face and caught a fleeting glance of emotion flying across his façade. As if both realizing the situation they're in the two flew apart. Haldir was the first to regain his composure of course.

"Come." He said curtly. Skyler steadied herself and followed him.

That night Skyler lay awake on her bed unable to sleep. She tossed and turned but she couldn't figure out why she was still awake. It would be easier to say that she couldn't sleep because of the excitement from the trip, but it would be a lie. Because deep down she knew it wasn't that, it was more complicated. It was something that she wasn't ready to admit or even think of. This restlessness continued into the morning and so for the first time in her life Skyler was up at dawn pacing her room.

A knock on the door came around six or seven in the morning and Skyler stopped her pacing to open the door revealing the Marchwarden. Bathed in the golden morning light his hair seemed to glow and shimmer while his piercing silver eyes seemed to look straight through her mind. As impeccable as always, not one hair or clothes was out of place on Haldir. He stood straightly against the shadow of her door, a product of years of training and elven manners.

Skyler shook her head to clear her mind of those boggling thoughts that seemed to appear out of no where.

"Allo Haldir." Skyler said trying to cover up the fact that she hasn't slept for the whole night. However Haldir, being the perceptive elf he is, tear right through her pretense and asked coolly, "Too excited about the trip to sleep?"

Skyler shrugged unable to response because she knew it wasn't the trip that robbed her of her sleep.

OMG, what's wrong with me, of all the time to think of these kind of things I have to choose now. GET OUT, GET OUT OF MY HEAD! Skyler screamed soundlessly into her head.

If Haldir did caught a hint of uneasiness in the answer he chose to ignore it and his face remained stonily impassive as he offered his arm.

Skyler laughed nervously but she grabbed her sword and her bow then placed her hand on his arm to allow him to lead her down the talan stairs. The entire walk to the gate was silent, a rather uneasy and tensioned fill silence. When they finally reached the gate Celebrian was already there with a few elves escorts. They were to take the Redhorn Pass hence the lack of soldiers. Celebrian smiled when she saw Skyler as did Galadriel.

Skyler turned to Haldir and smiled weakly, "Well, I guess this is it. I'll see you soon, I hope."

Haldir nodded stiffly, his face still expressionless.

"Come my dear, it is time to depart." Lady Galadriel said softly.

Skyler nodded, she looked at Haldir and a sense of unexplainable fear grew in her heart, a fear of goodbye and a fear of something else she couldn't place. Throwing caution to the wind, Skyler reached up and pulled on his arm. Haldir bent down slightly and a glint of question arose in his eyes. On pure impulse Skyler kissed his cheek and then without looking back again she turned and left. If she had look back she would have seen the cold exterior of Marchwarden melt away to be replaced by an emotion so strong and so real that it was nearly raw.