(A/N: It took so long for me again to update, my bad "-_- so sorry... Anyway, I read that there are some of you who really wanted an Eowyn and Haldir story.. :D I will try my best to write one for you guys! XD and while I'm still thinking about it, I hope this chapter will be to your liking.. :) especially to those Haldir/Eowyn fans out there :) my beloved beta LOTRlover23, I am always thankful for your guidance to me! xD)

Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

~Chapter 6: Do Not Underestimate Me!~

Breakfast went smoothly in the dining hall between the siblings and Ashelia, though Eowyn noticed that her handmaiden was giving her odd stares. She felt a little uncomfortable with the way the green-clad woman looked at her, and after her brother left she asked the other woman if there was something wrong.

"Nothing is wrong, milady." Ashelia gave her a reassuring smile. "You just looked lovely while speaking to King Eomer."

"Ah." Eowyn nodded, looking down at her silver cup. "I see…" She never liked to think of herself as pretty, and any mention of her looks made her uncomfortable.

"Such a lovely woman you are, milady…" The other woman continued as she drank from her own cup. "Not to mention that you are also skilled with the sword. I would bet that you are formidable match for the men." Ashelia smiled.

The White Lady's heart leapt with joy and a wide smile graced her face. "You think so?" She tilted her head. "No one in my life has told me that, Ashelia. I was always looked down upon for being a woman. My uncle and brother did not agree with the idea of women on the battlefield."

"Mmm, but after what you did to the Witch-king, I think you have already begun to change their minds," Ashelia told her proudly. "You could lead the armies of Rohan, and other women could have their chance as well."

That wasn't a bad idea, Eowyn thought. She wouldn't mind being the general to the Rohan's army. She had slain the Witch-king, and so many now treated her with respect instead of scorn. She was well liked among the people. But… what would Eomer think about it?

Brushing the thought off for the moment, Eowyn spoke. "What of you, Ashelia? Do you also wish to fight?"

Ashelia nodded. "I want to fight with you and the others, milady."

"Let us go down to the training fields and I will begin to teach you," Eowyn said, suddenly excited.

-LOTR-

Haldir had returned to Gondor after the council in Lothlorien a few days before. He did not see why he had to be there, but he would not criticize the judgement of his lord and lady. He wondered if it had something to do with the menace now facing his kind. If he were to decide, he would immediately set sail and fight the filthy creatures who had dared to attack the Undying Lands. He was not afraid, why should he have been? He was a warrior. He feared nothing.

That afternoon, he found himself in the training hall of Gondor. He was about to leave when he heard something coming. Curious, he turned around, surprised to see the White Lady of Rohan together with another woman.

"What if your brother finds out, milady? I'm sure—" The shorter woman was whispering to Eowyn, but his ears picked up the sound all the same.

"Do not worry, Ashelia. I asked Hama when Eomer would be returning, and we have much time to spend." She had missed the feeling of the sword between her hands, and she was certainly not about to let her older brother spoil it for her.

She finally noticed him, and a surprised look crossed her face. She walked toward him, the other woman trailing behind.

"It is good to see you again, my lord," Eowyn said with a small smile. The memory of the night they were together came back to her. She noticed that he was not wearing the armor he usually wore when training, but instead was clad in a silver tunic that looked similar to what Legolas wore at the celebration. Without his trinkets on, the White Lady thought he looked far more handsome…

More handsome? Did that mean she found him already attractive? Since when? She chided herself for her thoughts.

Haldir noticed that she was staring. "Is there something wrong?"

She jerked her head in surprise, not knowing how long she had been staring at the elf. Her cheeks reddened in embarrassment; luckily Haldir was oblivious to it.

"Ah.. nothing, I'm just curious why you are still here. Most of your kin have left." She averted her gaze.

"My lord and lady asked me to stay," he replied nonchalantly, placing a hand over the sword on his waist. "They are working on important business that I have not been made aware of." He knew all about it, of course, but was unsure if it was safe to tell her.

"I see. Oh, I forgot..." She stepped to the side and pulled the shorter woman beside her. "This is Ashelia, my lord. She is my new handmaiden. This is Haldir, the Marchwarden of Lothorien."

"Aye, a pleasure to meet thy acquaintance, Lord Haldir." The handmaiden curtsied before looking up at him.

When Ashelia's brown eyes met his gray ones, Haldir could have sworn he saw a flash of blue, but decided to ignore it.

Haldir just gave Ashelia a nod of acknowledgement. He was not used to Men and knew not how to act around them.

"We are here to train," Eowyn told him. "I am to teach Ashelia to fight and we are going to spar." Her excitement was obvious.

Spar? "Really? I am not against it, but of all the things women do in their spare time, why would you choose to fight?" He knew that women in Middle-earth weren't permitted to fight, but very few had the desire to.

The White Lady of Rohan is definitely something, he remarked in his mind. She is not like any woman I have met before. Haldir did not know where those thoughts were coming from, but chided himself for losing focus.

"Why don't we spar, my lord?"

"I suppose..." He had nothing to do, and sparring would be a welcome divers- oh, no. Did he really just agree to spar? With HER?

Ashelia tried to suppress her laughter as she saw how the elf finally realized what he have just agreed to do. His eyes slowly widened as he looked down at Eowyn.

"Why would you want to spar with me?" He was desperately trying to get out of it now, and she knew it.

Eowyn smirked at his reaction. "Why not, my lord? I will prove to you that I am worthy of being called the Lady of the Shield-arm. Besides, you have nothing to fear. I am only a lowly woman. Or are you backing down?"

Fighting physically with women—elf or not—was not something he had ever done before, but he could not back out of it now.

"The problem with men… is that you all think that fighting with us is cowardice." Eowyn took a sword from a chest nearby. "You think that we are inferior to you in every way, especially when doing 'manly' tasks like sparring."

Haldir just stared at her in awe. She was fearless and brave. He had underestimated her.

Haldir sighed loudly. "I will give you what you want, White Lady of Rohan."

"Good." Was Eowyn's last word before she attacked the Marchwarden with her sword.

Haldir swiftly drew his sword and blocked hers. He leaned his face closer to her as their swords are clashed. "Show me what you can do, Lady of the Shield-arm." He smirked.

Eowyn did not deny that the smirk he gave her was seductive and it made her heart skip a beat. But there was no way that she will give him the satisfaction of showing that his smirk had so much effect on her.

"Oh, I will."

Ashelia stood near a pillar, a wide smile gracing her face.

"This is worth watching."

(OOohh, a cliffhanger! lol What do you think guys? :) )