A/N: N: It technically is tomorrow now, to us. But to most of you you have had 3 chapters in a day, lucky you! I couldn't stop writing, we had lots of ideas we needed to put into the story. Chapter 7 will be up tomorrow! Enjoy guys!
E Note: Hey guys, me again. As some of you might have guessed I'm the Earendur in the pen name. I'm the co writer on this story and through request I wrote the fight scene in this chapter. I've never done this before, but I just really wanted to so please let me know what you think so I can make the next action scene better. Please read and review and keep reading thanks for reading our story.
I do not own Tolkien's work or characters only my own.
Haldir lay in his bed thinking about the night before, he hadn't slept much that night due to thinking about her and the situation he was now in. He remembered her face when he discovered the bruises, the warmth he felt when he held her against him and their first magical kiss in the water. He then realised the task that was ahead of him, he wanted to be hers but first he had to ask Eärendur. He was the one person in the whole of Lórien who infuriated him more than his brothers.
Without as much as a knock Orophin and Rumil casually walked into his talan.
"Morning brother, how was your midnight swim?" questioned Orophin while he sat down at the table followed by Rumil. Haldir sighed with his head in his hands.
"Firstly, why don't you two ever knock. Second, why aren't you on patrol like you are meant to be and lastly, how do you know I went swimming?" asked Haldir.
"Well we're brothers we do not have to knock, since Sauron's defeat there isn't much protection needed." Said Orophin while putting his feet up on Haldir's table.
"I can answer the last question. I saw you walking a very wet elleth back to her talan while you too were soaking wet. I assumed you had been swimming that or you have become accustomed to taking a dip in the trough" joked Rumil.
"Get your feet of my table 'fin! And funny Rumil, why the Valar see fit to curse me with you as brothers I do not know" said Haldir as he pushed Orophin's feet off his table.
"What is wrong with you? You had a midnight swim with a very attractive elleth and we helped get revenge on that ellon who made you take a bath in the trough" said Rumil unbelieving of his brother's mood.
"That's the problem, as satisfying as it was that annoying ellon is whom I need to ask permission from to court Lillieth. After leaving him suspended in a net I doubt he will be very compliant". Said Haldir in an exasperated tone.
"I'm sure he will warm to you, as Lillieth has done so" replied Orophin.
"Thank you, 'fin. I think must prepare myself for what I must say to him. " Haldir said as he tried to get up from the table. He fell to one knee as the pain shot through the wound on his back.
"Brother, are you ok?" said Orophin and Rumil in unison as they rushed to his side.
"I am fine, brothers. It just acts up sometimes. The healer convinced me it is normal" he replied struggling back to his feet as the pain subsided.
"Do you want us to come with you to speak to Eärendur?" asked Orophin.
"No, I want him to feel like I am not trying to threaten him by bringing you with me" said Haldir.
"What if your wound acts up again?" questioned Rumil.
"You worry too much, I will be fine" replied Haldir.
Nienna had met up with Eärendur early so that he could go to the training ground to practice with his bow. Since he hadn't practiced since arriving in Lórien. Eärendur was wearing a green tunic with a brown leather waistcoat with leggings. He had a quiver of arrows strapped to his back and the bow in his right hand. The bow was black with golden leaf design along the wood. He had made it himself and was very proud of it. He lined up the arrow to the furthest target and bulled back the string, he then released it sending the arrow flying through the air. The arrow hit the target dead in the centre, as soon as this happened he heard clapping behind him from Nienna, he couldn't help but smile slightly.
"Not bad, I could see why Thranduil would want you in his sons company on his way to Imaldris." Said Haldir as he approached where he stood.
"How do you know about that, March Warden?" questioned Eärendur.
"Lillieth was telling me last night, she has a very high opinion of you" replied Haldir.
"And I have a very high opinion of her. I guess she hasn't told you anything about her own past then?" he replied.
"Eärendur!" Nienna scolded him. Haldir smiled as he thought he could use Nienna's presence to his advantage.
"She hasn't told me as of yet. There is something I wish to ask of you" Haldir asked. Nienna had gone to stand at Eärendur's side.
"The March Warden has a request for a lowly ellon like me? Pray tell, what is it?" replied Eärendur.
"You are the only male figure in Lillieth's life at the moment, as I cannot make contact with her farther. I wish to seek out your approval in being able to court her" Haldir asked. Eärendur stood there in shock of what he had asked him, he was brave, very brave he would have to give him that. Nienna then placed a hand on his shoulder forcing him to face her, the look in her eyes said it all. If he refused she wouldn't be happy, and that would ruin his chance with her. Somehow he would have to find a way to keep him away from Lillieth and to keep Nienna happy. Then it came to him.
"I have a proposition for you. I have not had a sparring match since before I left Mirkwood, I am in dire need of practice. Challenge me and if you win I will consent to your courtship of Lillieth, if not you must stay away from her". Nienna didn't look pleased but she knew this is the only way he would allow this courtship to go ahead. Haldir let the information sink and before he could reply his brothers appeared beside him.
"Excuse us Eärendur for one moment please" Orophin said to the ellon and Rumil dragged Haldir away.
"Are you mad brother, you cannot fight him. Your wound hasn't fully healed!" Rumil tried to reason with his brother.
"There must be another way around Eärendur, let me speak to him" asked Orophin.
"No 'fin, he is very proud. I must do this, he won't just simply let me court her, I need to win it" explained Haldir. Haldir turned and walked back to Eärendur and held out his hand in agreement of the deal.
"Ok, meet back here in one hour." Eärendur described before he left in the direction of his talan to get his weapons. Haldir also headed back to his talan to retrieve his sword. Nienna went to find Lillieth as she could sense this situation would not bode well.
Lillieth was happily singing to herself while thinking about her night with Haldir. She was writing music in her talan, music has always been her passion but her father never let her pursue it more than a hobby. Lórien reignited the spark inside her. She would have to find a harp in Lórien in which she could practice on, she was sure Nienna would lead her to where the other musicians worked. It was then that she heard a frantic knock on the door before she went to open it.
Stood there was a very out of breath Nienna who looked in desperation to talk to her.
"Nienna" she said in a dreamy tone "I was just thinking of you, among other things. Would you like to come in for some tea?" she asked her friend.
"No, you must come with me now! It is Haldir and Eärendur" Nienna tried to explain frantically.
"Oh Valar, what now?" she asked knowing deep down that Eärendur would be the one to ruin her mood today.
"They are going to spa with each other. Eärendur said he must earn his right to court you" Nienna explained to her friend who had a look filled with rage.
"Take me to them. I swear I am going to kill him" demanded Lillieth.
"Not if Haldir beats you to it" replied Nienna with the sound of worry in her voice. She then grabbed Lillieth's hand and dragged her out of the door and down to the training ground.
Eärendur and Haldir were loosening up on the training ground equipped with their weapons. Eärendur still wore the same green tunic and brown leather waistcoat. Strapped to his right thigh was his dagger and his left thigh his sword. Haldir wore a loose white tunic, which Eärendur mocked him for but he took no heed. The sword sheathed and strapped to his back was his only weapon.
"Are you ready March Warden?" asked Eärendur getting into a stance with his legs spread apart.
Eärendur stood in the stance holding his sword in his right hand which pointed toward the sky and diagonally parallel to his body. In the left hand he held his dagger with the blade facing behind him.
"As ready as I will ever be" Haldir replied to him getting into his own stance where he pulled his sword out of its sheath and held it in front of him holding it with two hands.
"You are an idiot brother" spoke Orophin who couldn't believe the situation.
"Will you referee this match Orophin? I trust your opinion and I'm sure it would make your brother feel safer." said Eärendur who gave a slight smile in Haldir's direction.
"Fine, I will referee. I would say shake hands but you've already drawn your weapons so begin" Orophin spoke noticing there was already quite a crowd gathering. Orophin also noticed that Rumil was taking bets from the other guards and spectators on who they thought would win.
Eärendur and Haldir circled each other for a while both looking for a weakness in the other. It was Eärendur who struck first running at Haldir and striking hard from above with his sword. Haldir blocked the strike from above and Eärendur quickly pulled away his sword and swiped at Haldir's stomach. He did this from the left with his dagger. Haldir barely dodged the strike but came back at Eärendur with a strike of his own. But Eärendur had ducked under and away from Haldir's blade. He ended up behind Haldir where he used both blades in a diagonal strike at Haldir's back. Haldir quickly flung his blade behind him to block the strike and turned himself to face Eärendur. He was very quick and Haldir mused over his opponent but he didn't have the experience Haldir did. He would soon tire if Haldir let him do all the work . It was at this point that Nienna and Lillieth arrived at the grounds, they were both shocked at what they saw but knew they couldn't do anything to stop them now.
Eärendur had again taken up the offensive, striking from left to right with his two blades. Haldir was successfully blocking every strike, if only just barely. It was then that Eärendur saw an opening. Haldir had dropped his guard when he had struck out one handed with his blade to his left. Eärendur ducked again under the blade and bought up his sword up diagonally across Haldir's chest. There were a few gasps from the onlookers and Lillieth gasped and tried to get past Nienna to go to him. This is because she thought Haldir had been seriously wounded. Luckily for Haldir he hadn't been. He took a few steps back and his sheath on his back fell off due to the strap across his chest being cut. There was also a diagonal cut in his tunic and the blade hadn't pierced skin.
"You cut too shallow boy " Haldir smirked, examining the damage to his tunic.
"It is a sparring match is it not? That was just a little message" smirked Eärendur through gasps of breath. He was working very hard and wasn't sure he could keep up this constant assault for much longer.
"What would that be?" Haldir enquired.
"To take me seriously" Eärendur spat.
"As you wish" Haldir said, then once again taking up his stance, as did Eärendur.
Lillieth couldn't take much more of this. These were the two ellyn who meant the most to her and they were fighting each other, essentially over her. She hoped it would be over soon and she hated herself for thinking it, but she hoped Haldir would win. Haldir knew it was time to end this after his constant assault Eärendur was tired. It was time to press his advantage. Haldir began his counter attack on Eärendur by constantly hammering away at his defence from every angle he could. It was Eärendur who was now on the defensive, even ducking under Haldir's swings wasn't seeming to work anymore. Haldir had become wise to that particular strategy and was able to foresee the direction he was going to go. Haldir again gripped his sword with both hands as he himself was tiring now, he had to end this fight now. He could feel his wound throbbing from the over exertion. He raised his blade above his head and bought it down with all his mite on top of Eärendur who bought both his blades up into an x-shape to block and as the blades clashed he staggered slightly under the weight of the blow. This was Haldir's chance. With his sword still in place he moved his right leg behind Eärendur and forced all of his weight forward ramming in to Eärendur. This knocked him to the floor and forced both blades from his hands. Before Earendur knew what had happened he was looking up at Haldir who had his blade at his throat.
"Yield" Haldir demanded, while standing over Eärendur . He was out of breath but victorious.
"I yield, you have my blessing to court Lillieth, March Warden" he replied. Haldir smiled and held out his hand to Eärendur to help him to his feet. He was a good opponent after all. Eärendur shook his hand to thank him and they both walked over to where the two ellith stood. It was then that Haldir started to stagger slightly before collapsing on the ground in pain. It was then that Eärendur noticed the blood that stained his tunic from the wound on his back.
"Rumil, Orophin! I need your help in taking your brother to the healers, quickly!" shouted Eärendur.
It was in that moment he realised that he had gone too far and guilt filled his mind. As his brothers carried his away Lillieth slowly walked up to Eärendur with tears in her eyes and rage filled her eyes.
"Lillieth…" Eärendur tried to say until her hand met his face at speed.
"If anything happens to him I will never forgive you" she hissed while more tears filled her eyes. She then ran after Orophin and Rumil who carried Haldir to the Healer's.
Earendur had bought his head back to see that Nienna was stood before him.
"Are you happy now? In not taking heed of my words, you have lost everything"…"including me" she spoke before running off after her friend. Eärendur just fell to his knees, he had taken it too far. But nobody realised he was just trying to protect her.
You guys will be happy to know that in the next chapter you will finally find out who "he" is and what happened to her in the past back in Mirkwood! :) Please review and keep reading.