A.N./ Please don't kill me! I know it's months overdue...and I really have no other excuse other than I blame my job, which I just recently had to quit so I can go back to school, not to mention all that end of the year stuff...so yeah...again, please don't kill me! I'm so sorry! I doubt any of my faithful, fantastical reviewers are even looking for this thing anymore...T_T Anywho. I just wanna give a shout out to my fantastic and amazing beta Rae Simmons, without whom this story never would move past chapter seven. Thank you Rae! And also thank you to Cloe, otherwise known as Girly 411, for hounding me to post the finished chapter. Love ya, and see you in school tomorrow, non-biological sis! Another thing...I'm so sorry for the chapter being this short. It's hardly over 1,500 words. The only thing is, it wouldn't let me write any more for it, so yeah. Blame my muse on that one. Anywho...on with the story! Finally...


Vanafindon gulped, his mouth gone dry. Oh dear...this was not at all what he had expected. It was supposed to be Apsenniel, for Valar's sake!

Composing himself again, he muttered, "Well met, my lady. I am pleased to hear that. It does my heart good to know my sister has finally been socializing more."

Celephindes nodded, sitting down in the chair by his bedside. "I do hope I have not disturbed you?"

"Nay, my lady. You have saved me from death by acute boredom." Ah, now the old bravado was back in place. Good.

She laughed, and what a sweet sound it was to his ears! He felt as if he could go on forever, gazing at her lovely features.

"Apsenniel warned me you are a bear after you come back from a stay at the borders. I hardly believe her, as you are quite erm...noble, shall we say. You have shown impeccable manners."

Rubbing the back of his neck ruefully, he answered, "Apsenniel is right. If it were not for the fact that you are very pretty, I would have snapped at you already." The compliment had been said with his usual mischievous twinkle in his eyes so as not to be taken seriously, but he knew in his heart of hearts that he had meant every word.

"By the way, how does my lovely sister fare? I have not seen her in some time."

"She is well enough, I suppose. Although, when I went to visit her earlier, she had baked everything in sight. Is that a common way for her to deal with stress?"

Vanafindon rolled his eyes. "Oh yes. Clearly, you have not seen her in one of her moods before. I never know whether I am walking in to a calm spring morning, or one of those winter storms on the Plains of Rohan."

Laughing, she said, "You cannot be serious."

"No, you are right. I under exaggerated immensely."

He found himself becoming more and more comfortable with this elleth. For some reason, being seen in such a pitiable state by one of the opposite gender other than his sister did not bother him like he thought it would.


When Haldir entered the talan shared by the brother and sister he had come to hold so dear, he was at first taken aback by all the food, it seemed, in the entire city heaped onto the counters and table in the kitchen.

"Erm...Apsenniel? Is there a reason why there is so much food in here?"

Apsenniel came out of the adjoining room, her cheeks flushed cherry red.

"Hahaha...there is an interesting story to go along with that..." she trailed off.

"I do have all day, you know." Haldir crossed his arms over his chest and winced.

"You must be more careful with yourself!" she cried. "Your ribs have hardly had a chance to start healing yet!"

Rolling his eyes, he mumbled, "You think I do not know that?"

Ignoring him, she went over to the counter and began removing covered dishes and holding them out for him to take.

"What are these for?"

"You cannot make anything for yourself, as you are utterly hopeless in the kitchen. Take them. I refuse to hear a word against it."

Giving her a strange look, Haldir remarked, "You are quite the hellion today, Apsenniel. What on Arda has gotten into you?"

"Nothing at all. How are your brothers?"

"They are well enough," he shrugged. "Still as grumpy as ever though."

"Not as bad as you...or Vanafindon, for that matter."

"Oh really? How is he, by the way? I should like to visit him later today, if he is receiving any."

"He is," Apsenniel said grimly. "He is currently in the company of Lady Celephindes. I am waiting for her to storm in, proclaiming his infinite faults to the high heavens at any moment."

"Then perhaps I shall go after dinner. Would that be best?"

"Mayhap. I know not anymore. Valar, I am not even sure of my own name!"

"It is Apsenniel," he said gently, smiling.

She returned his gesture, though her face was stained a bright crimson, and turned away quickly, busying herself with washing empty plates and bowls.

"Where did all these come from?" he asked, motioning towards the full sink.

"I took baskets down to the Houses of Healing...to the patients who were allowed to eat real food, that is."

"Ah. I am sure they enjoyed it very much, my lady. Manwë knows I do."

"Oh, stop it. It is just food, after all," she laughed, smacking his arm lightly with a soft dish towel.

"Aye, but it is really really good food."

"Did I mention that all you seem to think about is food?"

Haldir pretended to look wounded. "Well, I simply cannot help it if I am eternally hungry."

She cocked a brow, and replied, "So that is what you are calling it now."

Without any warning, Haldir's lips came crashing down on hers as he swept her into a passionate embrace, his hands sliding through her hair in such a way it made her shiver in delight. Then, Apsenniel blinked and the daydream was gone. Alright, so maybe Haldir had come in for five minutes, and maybe they did chat for a bit, but that was where it all ended. The rest was pure elven fancy.

Apsenniel desperately wished for a drink, glanced around, and sighed at the mess she was going to have to clean up. Haldir had only taken a fraction of the amount she had hoped he would, leaving her to sort out the rest, and figure out what on Arda she would do with it. Yes, a nap was definitely in order...


Vanafindon sighed and stared out the window as he watched Celephindes' retreating back disappear into the approaching twilight. So far, his day had gone splendidly...until she left. Every time she spoke, her voice sent chills racing up and down his spine. Of course it couldn't last though. Eventually, she would need to return to her talan, and probably never realize the already-blossoming feelings he was beginning to have for her. There was a sudden tap on the door, stirring him out of his reverie.

"Come in," he called out, sighing as his pensive air was replaced by one of annoyance.

Nestor stepped through the door with a smirk on his wise, ageless face.

"So," he said. "Did you enjoy your time with Lady Celephindes?"

"Go stuff it, you old prune," he sighed, turning his head away. Not for the first time did he wish he could stand up and walk, and it wouldn't be the last, either.

"Your sister will not be returning to you tomorrow, or tonight. She just left my office."

"Oh?" Now Vanafindon was intrigued.

"Yes. She is going to be in the Lady's garden. Special request, apparently. I always thought that thing was there for punishment..."

"Why? Were you a naughty elfling too?" he smirked, earning a glare from the healer.

"That is none of your concern, Warden. She never gave me a reason why she was going to be working there, but she is, and that is all you need to know. Your dinner will be here in a half hour. Good evening." And with that, he left the room again as silently as he had come.

"Well, brilliant," Vanafindon sighed, settling down further into the sheets.


Apsenniel dug her trowel into the soft, fragrant earth, reveling in the feel of it beneath her fingers and between her toes. The Lady was right-she needed to get her mind off things. And quite frankly, sometimes she preferred the plants to the kitchen. Soft footfalls behind her announced someone's arrival, causing her to turn around and crane her neck, squinting in the waning afternoon sunlight.

"Lord Celeborn, how are you?" she asked, flushing red and jumping up to bob an awkward curtsy.

"I am well, Apsenniel. And you?"

"Very well, thank you."

"I see my Lady wife has recruited you to weed her garden," he smirked. "I shall not keep you from your duties any longer. Good day, and tell that brother of yours to get better."

"I shall my lord, thank you," she answered, curtsying again as he continued on his way.

Once Celeborn was out of sight, she dropped to her knees, absorbing herself in the task that lay ahead of her. Idly, the part of her mind that wasn't focusing on the greenery in front of her began to wander, dreaming up images of Haldir on the archery ranges, on the practice field wielding his sword, or just standing on one of the walkways high up in the trees, allowing the wind to flow through his hair. Apsenniel smiled faintly, and kept working, humming an off key lullaby.


Like I said, please dont kill me! Review...if you want...if anyone's still out there...T_T Lots of love and your very own review reply, as always, if you do! Pwease? Gosh, and I promised myself I wouldn't beg...oh well. Chapter nine is in the works, so it could take either days or months to get it out. Hopefully the former though...keep your eyes open!