To my readers, 1000x thank you! To those who left reviews on chapter 62: crazygirlsb88, DarkLordofMemes, Ruiniel, Camelotgirl17, Blue1258, durinsdaughter2469btw, leward1992, FriendlyNeighborhoodHufflepuff, leelee202, WickedGreene13, NathanielWynters, ladyville, SmallLittleCagedBird, MommaWolf18, mystarlight, Cricklewood16, Doria Nell, musicluver246, princessnerra, and ElvinGuest. I was having a really crummy week, and reading your comments brought a much needed smile to my face.

WickedGreene13: Because I couldn't reply to you on the site, I will answer your question here. Yes, Théodred will make another appearance in this story. A few more maybe.

For those who sometimes drop by my profile page, you may have noticed that I started posting a second story. To those who might be thinking, "Oh no! She's abandoning Of Dust and Everlasting Stars for a Twilight fic!" I promise you that is not the case. ODAES has been—and remains—my priority.

Because writing this fic is very labour intensive, it can tire my brain sometimes. To recharge my creative batteries, I usually switch to less complicated projects. I say projects because I've accumulated a number of unfinished drabbles and stories this past year. None of which I have posted, except for this latest one.

I have many passions in life, but as far as creative outlets go, writing is my first love. I write pretty much every day, and that time is almost always divided between ODAES and these side projects no one knew about until recently.

Like I stated above, ODAES will come first, though. So far, I've maintained a fairly regular update schedule, and because the plot of this story extends for quite a ways still, I need to keep those chapters coming. Plus, you've all been so amazing with your continued interest and your reviews, the least I can do to thank you is to keep typing. *makes a determined fist* One day, I will bring this story to what I hope will be a satisfying end. *nods to self*

So with that out of the way, I shall yield the floor to chapter 63. Hopefully, it reads okay. *fingers crossed*


CHAPTER LXIII

UNINTENDED

Days passed.

The Elves were keeping watch over the woods, their vigilant stares sweeping the area for aught that seemed out of place. On the surface, things had quieted down along the western and northern borders. But this stillness, Haldir sensed, was not peaceful.

Like a calm before a storm.

Eyes trained westward, he stood on a small hidden flet, near the very eaves of the woods. Beyond the branches, the icy peaks of the Misty Mountains stood out against a grey morning sky, their jagged edges piercing the lowermost clouds.

To Haldir's right, Agoron watched the valley with unyielding focus. Newly returned to duty, the soldier bore no outward sign of the injury he had sustained not that long ago. A morgul shaft to the arm. Agoron would never be rid of the pain, Haldir knew. Yet still he served, with unflagging dedication and a grave sense of duty.

"I do not favour the feel in the air," Agoron noted, his straight hair stirring in the cool wind. "A darkness approaches. Can you feel it?"

Haldir's chest rose and fell. "Alas, I do." A blanket of foreboding had descended onto him; he had felt the weight of it for two days now. Nay, something was definitely brewing, and a shadow was drawing near. He could feel it.

Lips tightening in a line, Haldir turned and addressed the other sentinels nearby. "Stay vigilant. Should you see anything, send word at once."

Agoron and the other soldiers nodded in compliance. Then Haldir was on his way, heading south so he could meet with Orophin who was set to return to the fences today. At last, he thought and walked from flet to tree-limb, his hand unconsciously going to the chain that now hung about his neck.

As he walked from mallorn to mallorn, his fingers clutched the silver betrothal rings that now made residence there. A larger ring and a smaller one. Symbols of the life he had once dreamed of building with Annalyn.

By the Valar, he missed her. Not only that, but he fretted as well. There were so many perils out there, so many threats gathering all around. Please be safe. Be well.

Had he been able to, Haldir would have checked in on her by way of their dreams, but his heightened state of vigilance warned him that now was not a good time to sleep, especially at night. Not only that, but given his most recent discovery, Haldir needed to sort through his thoughts and words before he saw her again—and for that, he had need of his brother.

Orophin who was always so observant. He who was compassionate, helpful, and wise.

He will help and counsel me.

Recalling where he was, and why he was here, Haldir severed this line of thought, and shifted his focus to his responsibilities instead. A Marchwarden's work, after all, was never done.

Intermittent gusts of wind swept through the canopy, bending branches and stirring the leaves on this overcast winter day. As he navigated the trees in a swift and fluid stride, Haldir made mental revisions of the latest supply lists, soldier rotations, and current patrol plans. But no matter how hard he tried to focus on his responsibilities, his thoughts never strayed far from his love.

Even now, Haldir could scarce believe what they had allowed between them. The act of bodily union, even in dreams…

As he reached and crossed yet another empty flet, Haldir recalled the sight of Annalyn's unclad form. Beautiful and womanly curves, breathtaking to see. He remembered her softness, her warmth, how expressive and giving she had been.

Sinking deeper into the memory, he went back to the moment he had tasted her for the first time. Her blissful cries had echoed throughout the sunlit room, making his heart swell with a smug sort of pride. In truth, the feeling had never gone away. To see her come undone like that, because of me… There was something inherently satisfying about that.

When he had felt the tremors in her body, and she had come apart beneath his greedy tongue…

Ae…

What he wouldn't give to taste her again, to lay atop of her, and rock in the welcoming berth of her thighs.

Guilt assailed him. You must cease this. Over and over, he had to remind himself that now was not the time to indulge in such imagery. Indeed, everything was upside down at the moment, his mind filled with questions that needed answering.

His heart drowning in stormy seas, Haldir tucked the chain with its silver rings into the collar of his tunic. There, they would remain, hidden from prying eyes, but never far from his heart.

His heart. And hers.

Ever since he had awoken from their last dream, Haldir had noted a change within him. An awareness and a pull of sorts, as if the dream had somehow strengthened the bond between them.

The first indication of it had come within the first few moments of waking. Alone in his tree, his trembling body balancing on the very edge of completion, Haldir had found himself staring into nothingness. Awed by what he had just experienced, he had been waiting for his arousal to subside when a strange sensation had washed over him.

Emotions. Confusion and an inner conflict that were not his own.

The closest he had ever felt to this had been when he'd sensed Annalyn's slumbering emotions all those weeks ago. First when they had been journeying in the wilds, then again during her stay in Caras Galadhon. But Annalyn had been awake this time. He felt certain of it; she had vanished from their dream before his very eyes.

And yet, somehow, he'd felt her waking emotions from afar. Deep in the marrow of his bones, Haldir knew that he had.

At first, he had thought little of it. They had formed a soul bond, after all, or at least they had begun to. But later that day, when the feeling had returned, and was accompanied by the realisation that he could feel the physical distance between them, Haldir had loosed a sudden breath and begun to wonder.

There could be no doubt, their imaginary joining had fortified their connection somehow—but to what extent, that is the question. Orophin, he thought with rising desperation. Orophin will know. At least, that was his hope.

Haldir's sudden willingness to open up to his brother said much about his inner turmoil. For normally, he avoided speaking of such things—matters of the heart. But given the seriousness of his question, Haldir needed to know the truth, more than he had ever needed anything in his life.

A strong yet partial bond was one thing. But what if the dream had achieved more than that? Have I done the unthinkable? The unforgiveable? Have I unknowingly bonded her to me?

His eyes fell shut for a moment, his heart constricting painfully in his chest.

Is she my wife?

The laws and customs of the Eldar had always been clear on that front; a marriage bond could—or should—only be made in full knowledge and consent, from both man and woman. But he hadn't known, and neither had she. It was but a dream! he wanted to cry.

Hindsight being what it was, he should have known this could happen. Alas, in ignorance and folly, he had failed to consider the possibility at the time.

Now whether his sentinels had noted the change in him—in his eyes or in his voice, as was the way with Elves—Haldir could not say for certain. And he couldn't exactly ask.

He had received quite a few curious glances over the past few days; that much was true. But such had been the norm of late, for the news of Annalyn's permanent departure and his explosive falling out with Rúmil had spread about the realm like fire in dry grass. Much to his irritation, concerned or curious stares now followed him wherever he went.

Midday was yielding to the afternoon when Haldir arrived at his destination.

The outpost in question was larger than most of the others. Consisting of a cleverly-concealed network of flets, there were many provisions and supplies here, with more being added every day. At present, no less than a dozen soldiers could be seen working about. Some were coming or going, carrying everything from medicine to bundles of arrows. The rest were cataloguing or organizing their supplies.

Making for a table that had been set beneath a camouflaged rain screen, Haldir opened the small wooden chest that lay atop its surface, and found that it contained two new reports, one from the Southern Marches, the other from the smiths who were toiling to destroy Morgul weapons.

As he read the first missive, he learned that all was quiet on the southern borders. The dark clouds that hovered over Dol Guldur were unchanged however. Like Moria, evil brooded there, waiting, biding its time.

Unrolling the second missive, Haldir read the official tally at the bottom of the parchment. The smiths' work, though unpleasant and laborious, was going apace, and soon the Morgul weapons they had amassed would all be destroyed. Good riddance, he thought with grim satisfaction.

"Mae govannen," Orophin's quiet voice announced his imminent arrival. "Have any of you seen Haldir?" he asked their sentinels.

"He is over hither," one of them said.

While Haldir was glad, even relieved, that his brother was here, to say he wasn't anxious would have been a lie. Unsure of what to do with himself, he shifted uneasily, picked up the first report and read it again, or pretended to anyway. His mind could not absorb the words. Mere squiggles they seemed.

Endless moments went by. Orophin's footfalls were drawing near. When he finally rounded the bole of the nearest mallorn, his cloak swaying as he crossed the large flet, his mouth broadened in a smile. "Ah, there you are," he said, "How have th—" But his sentence came to an abrupt end. The moment their eyes had connected, Orophin had come to a dead stop.

And in that one instant, Haldir had his answer. By the stunned expression on his brother's face, he knew that he was changed. He knew what he had done. By giving in to his desires, he had unknowingly bonded with Annalyn. A full bond. And a permanent one.

What have I done? After all, Annalyn had expressed her wish to live her own life. And now she is shackled to me. Unforgiveable indeed.

As guilt arose within him, Haldir stared at his brother. Help me, he almost said but didn't. Instead, all he could do was grip the edge of the table and beseech him with his eyes.

"Let us walk," was all Orophin said, his stunned expression yielding to grave worry.

They went.

How long they ambled along, Haldir couldn't be sure. They had descended to the forest floor, their gait unhurried yet far from relaxed.

"How did this happen?" Orophin asked once they were out of earshot.

"I never intended… I did not know…" Haldir loosed an anguished breath and looked skyward. Tears stung his eyes, and his chest felt like it was going to cave in. Swallowing hard, he stopped by a tree. Hand against the bark, he stared into nothingness for a long moment. "I have been dreaming of her."

"You have been sharing dreams," Orophin guessed rightly.

"I am an ignorant fool, Orophin. I did not realise such a thing was possible. I…" He dragged a hand down his face and breathed a curse, "Rhaich."

"You mated with her in your dreams," Orophin finished for him.

Gathering his courage, Haldir faced his brother once more. He answered not, though, knowing full well that his silence would do.

The wind loosened a nearby leaf. As it fluttered down, Orophin absorbed the news in silence. Turning away from Haldir, he looked to the sky for a moment, and rubbed the back of his neck. "It is done, then." His words were softer than expected, his eyes sad but kind when he looked to him and asked, "What do you intend to do?

When Haldir failed to reply, Orophin faced him fully. "Surely, you will tell her. You must."

"But she did not wish for this," he argued. "She wanted to forge a life of her own." Haldir's rising voice was filled with naught but misery. "She told me that all I could give her was a life of guilt."

"But did she mean it?" Orophin took a step closer. "What if she was lying to protect you? Have you considered this?"

A tiny spark of hope flickered to life. But was it wishful thinking? "I have."

Orophin seemed heartened to hear it. "Then you know what you must do. You must go to her. Annalyn deserves to know the truth."

"Leave? Now of all times." His brows shot toward his hairline. "Orophin, we are on the brink of open war."

"And you have a wife out there who does not even know she is wed to you. Speak to Galadriel. And in the event that you cannot leave just yet, at least speak to Annalyn when next you dream of her. You know I am right in this."

Recognizing the wisdom in Orophin's words, Haldir regarded his brother, before conceding with a nod. Regardless of the outcome, he could not leave things as they were. Annalyn was in the dark, and she needed to know the truth. I owe it to her.

As the two brothers fell into step and doubled-back, Orophin looked sidelong at him. "May I ask you something?" Taking his silence as a yes, he went on. "Ithriel and I were talking the other night. We were wondering if…" Orophin's mouth curved in a dim smile. "Your fae… Even before this last dream, Annalyn was your chosen, was she not?"

He saw no point in denying it. Now it was his turn to give a sad little smile. "She is my chosen, yes."

"How long have you known?"

"Do you remember the night you came to see me in the training yard? I had just spent the evening with her and my heart was in turmoil."

"I remember."

"I learned of our bond earlier that very night,"—when his will had finally crumbled, and he had kissed her like he had long desired to—"I remember it clearly, how the truth just slammed into me. Quite frankly, it nearly knocked the wind out of my lungs. I was reeling, Orophin. In some ways, I still am."

"But you never told her," Orophin questioned.

"I meant to. And I was going to, but nay… I never did."

"Why?"

Haldir slowed to a stop, eyes set in a faraway gaze when he said, "If she and I were going to be together, I did not want to influence her choice. It had to come from her. If she had known the truth…" His eyes fell closed for a moment. "Annalyn is so selfless and giving, I could not run the risk of her choosing me out of guilt. For her to stay in hopes of giving me a few decades of happiness at the cost of hers."

"I say this not to inflict pain, but you erred, brother. You should have been truthful with her, from the onset."

Haldir huffed a small, regretful laugh. "You know, Galadriel said the very same thing once. A fool I was. I do not deny it."

"But now you can put things to right."

"Ah, but what will I say to her?" How will she react to the news? For his part, Haldir wanted nothing more than to hold her again, to be with her. "My wife", he marvelled. Annalyn was his wife.

He would have said more, but a loud thump severed the relative quiet, startling them.

Looking to its source, Haldir saw that a wrapped bundle of arrows had fallen just a few paces away. Gaze rising to the boughs, he was greeted by Rúmil's shocked expression.

Eyes rounded, mouth slightly agape, his youngest brother merely stood there, clearly distressed by what he had overheard.

However, before anyone had a chance to move or say anything, a small patrol of soldiers came into view, their feet hurriedly navigating the boughs.

"Haldir," one of them said with clear urgency. "You are needed at once."

"What is it?" Now he spoke as a Marchwarden, his personal troubles falling to the wayside for the time being. He had a bad feeling about this.

"Moria," another answered. It was Agoron. "A company of eight have emerged from the mines. Four halflings, a Dwarf, two Men, and an Elf. They appear to be headed this way. By our reckoning, they will arrive by nightfall."


***Progress report, March 1st, 2020: Hey guys. Sorry I'm a bit slow in updating. I'm still dealing with post-fall issues. I've taken time off from work, hoping I'll feel better soon. It's been a bit draining, to be honest. That being said, I haven't forgotten about ODAES. Because I've reached the part where my story blends with some of the events in LOTR, I'm researching the book. And today, I'm gonna re-watch that part of the movie. For this upcoming chapter, I'm introducing a new POV, too. Kind of excited about that. As for my re-read, I'm still on it. So all this to say that I'm balancing a few things when it comes to crafting this part of the story. Also, because I've run out of pre-written chapters, they're taking a bit longer to post as opposed to some of my earlier ones. Anyway, I hope you're all doing well. I suppose I should go watch a bit of LOTR now. Happy Sunday, everyone.

***Progress report, March 3rd, 2020: I'm in research mode today. I've been at it for a few hours already. Listening to the official movie soundtrack (Lothlorien), re-reading part of the book, taking notes like mad, and working on the chapter. This part is labour-intensive. That's why it's taking me a while. But I'm determined. Hoping for a productive day (writing-wise at least. I'm still resting and healing from my recent fall). Have a good day, everyone!

***Progress report, March 5th, 2020: Woohoo! I wrote 2800 words today! *fist pump* I finally feel like I have a decent pace going. I can't make any promises, but you never know, guys. I just might be able to update this weekend. *fingers crossed*