Haldir of Lorien was awakened when the door to his chamber banged loudly open. He sat up immediately, his hand sliding under his pillow to a dagger he always kept there. As he sat up, he realized that Isilwen had been lying on top of him, and his quick motion had awakened her, too.

"What is it? What is going on?" she whispered. "More Uruk-hai?"

Haldir had nearly thrown the dagger before he recognized the shape in the doorway. His hand was raised and he did not lower it as he saw Erestor.

"Something worse than Uruk-hai," he said.

"Isilwen!" the Chief Advisor hissed.

"Oh, no," Isilwen muttered.

"She is asleep," Haldir said. "Now go away."

Erestor stared at the two of them in disbelief, his handsome face painted with a scowl. "What have you done to my sister?" he demanded.

Haldir was fully awake now, but his mind was still tired. Never had he wanted so much to remain sleeping. Generally he slept very little, did not need it, did not care to waste time doing it, and it was sign of how much strain he had been under that he desired it now. He flipped the dagger around in his hand and considered throwing it at Erestor to alleviate the sound of his voice. Isilwen reached up and slipped it out of his grasp, lying it out of his reach on the table beside the bed.

"I have done nothing to your sister, Erestor," Haldir said in an even tone. "As you can see, she is right here, alive and well."

"Erestor, will you not leave us in peace?" Isilwen said, sounding exasperated.

"I will kill you," Erestor said coldly.

"Me?" Haldir and Isilwen said at once.

"Isilwen, get out of his bed immediately!"

"Oh, is that it?" Isilwen said. Sighing, she slipped off of the bed and stood up. Haldir saw her sway slightly, tired and unsteady on her feet. "There, I am up."

"If it makes you feel any better, I did not even touch her," Haldir said, but Erestor irritated him so much that he could not help but add, "Yet."

"I do not believe you," said Erestor.

"It is the truth," Isilwen said. She sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"What are you doing?"

"Can you not see she is tired?" Haldir said. "Perhaps you could return later."

Erestor marched over to the bed and seized Isilwen by the arm. She cried out in pain as she was yanked to her feet. A second later, Haldir was between them, pushing Erestor against the wall with one hand and bringing the dagger, which he had retrieved from the table beside the bed where Isilwen had lain it, to Erestor's throat.

"If you ever hurt her again, I will kill you."

"How dare you come between me and my sister, Haldir of Lorien? Yes, why do you not go ahead and kill me? Who will look after her then?"

"I imagine she would have no trouble looking after herself."

"Please, Haldir, let him go," Isilwen whispered. "I do not wish there to be any blood shed on my account, certainly not that of those whom I care for most in the world."

Slowly Haldir let go of Erestor. He lowered the knife and took a step backwards. "I want no quarrel with you Erestor."

"Then stay away from Isilwen."

"Can you not see that I care for her?"

"You care for no one but yourself, Haldir of Lorien, and that is a fact. How many times have I seen you come to Rivendell? How many lovers have I watched you take and abandon?" Erestor said, glaring at him.

"I should almost think you were jealous," Haldir replied lazily. Erestor ignored the remark.

"I will not let Isilwen be one of those. I will not let her suffer loving you."

"Erestor, you can not choose who I shall and shall not love," Isilwen said angrily. "If I do choose to give myself to Haldir, it is not your concern."

Erestor's expression softened the smallest amount as he turned to face his sister. "Can you not see that this is wrong? Soon he will be leaving Rivendell with Legolas Greenleaf, what then? You and I will be sailing to the Undying lands with Lord Elrond."

"I will go with Haldir," Isilwen said fiercely.

Haldir felt a slight shock at her words. Yes, let her come with them. He would like that. The way he felt right now, he did not ever wish to be parted from her.

Erestor looked shocked. "Perhaps Haldir does not wish you to go with him."

"I do not mind," Haldir said. It came out wrong. He wanted to say that he wished her to come with him with all his heart.

"Do you really wish to be parted from me, Isilwen?" Erestor asked her, his cold and angry façade finally seeming to crack. He sounded hurt. "We have had only each other for so long."

"I love you, Erestor," Isilwen said, "But we are so different. I have barely begun to live. In five hundred years I have never ventured out of Rivendell. I do not wish to go to the Undying lands without seeing Middle-earth."

Abruptly Haldir was reminded of Legolas, when he was very young. How he had pleaded with Thranduil to send him as an emissary to Lothlorien when Haldir was leaving there. Thranduil had denied him this, and thus had ended their affair.

"I will not hurt her," Haldir said. "I give you my word, Erestor."

Erestor turned to face him. He lifted his chin slightly. "How did you feel when you thought that your brothers were dead? How did you feel when you thought that you would never lay eyes on them again?"

"Much worse than you did, I assure you," Haldir sneered, not sure where this was leading.

"It would be the same for me if you were to steal Isilwen away."

"She will not be dead -- just happy," Haldir said sarcastically.

Isilwen let out a small laugh, then clapped her hand over her mouth as both Haldir and Erestor turned to look at her. She tried to force a serious expression.

"Do you truly believe that he can make you happy, Isilwen?" Erestor said with exasperation.

Haldir looked at her, waiting for her reply. He had not realized until this moment how much hung on it for him. She lifted her eyes to his and he watched her searching his expression.

"Yes," she said firmly. "I do believe he can, if he wants to."

Erestor looked defeated and helpless. "I do not understand why you should choose him, Isilwen."

"I should be insulted," Haldir muttered.

"I do not expect you to understand," Isilwen said. "Can you not be happy for me, at least a little? Or at the very least glad that I have abandoned my pursuit of Lord Elrond?"

At the mention of Elrond's name, Haldir stiffened. He had not forgotten how it had stung to see Isilwen kissing him. And yet he believed her when she said she no longer desired Elrond. No one had ever fought this hard for the right to be with Haldir before. It flattered him. It made him care for her even more deeply.

"I almost wish you had not," said Erestor. "Isilwen, please. Come with me now. I shall present the matter to Lord Elrond. If he desires you to come to the Undying lands, then you shall. If he gives his permission for you to depart with Haldir, then so be it. Can the both of you not agree to this?"

"And if Elrond wants her for himself, we are to be torn apart? That hardly seems fair," Haldir said.

Erestor smiled coldly. "I believe you have little to worry about on that account. Elrond only ever wants what is best for his people."

"I agree to this," Isilwen said quietly.

"I do not!" Haldir said hotly.

"I am not surprised," Erestor muttered. "Luckily, your agreement counts least of all."

"It counts to me," Isilwen said firmly. She took Haldir's hand in her own and looked up into his eyes.

"Elrond--" he began, but she lifted a finger to his lips.

"Trust in this. Lord Elrond has ever been fair and just. He will decide in our favor."

What could Haldir do but agree? He nodded slowly, but his heart was sinking in his chest, especially when he saw the pleased expression of her brother. Haldir did not want Isilwen taken away so quickly, but it seemed there would be no choice. Determined that he would present his own case to Elrond, he acquiesced.

"Very well. Let the decision be left in the hands of Lord Elrond," he said. Isilwen squeezed his hand, then let go of it.

"Since you are determined not to leave us alone together, I will go with you now," she told her brother.

"Thank you," said Erestor. He reached for Isilwen's elbow, but then, glancing fearfully at Haldir, took it with exaggerated gentleness. Without another word he guided his sister out of the Marchwarden's bedchamber, closing the door behind him much more quietly than he had opened it.

Haldir sat down heavily on his bed. He was still exhausted, perhaps even more so from talking to Erestor. He thought about what it would be like to take Isilwen traveling with him. Orophin and Rúmil would certainly be pleased, and they would help him look after her. Not that she needed much looking after. She had proved that she could handle a sword and a bow as well as anyone.

She would distract him from the grand romance of Legolas and Ciendriel as well, he thought. Without Isilwen there, it would be a constant temptation to attempt to seduce one or the other or both of them. Haldir searched his heart, wondering what he still felt for each of them, but there came no simple answer.

He needed to go speak to Elrond. The simple truth was that Elrond clearly desired Isilwen for himself, though it seemed unfair that he should do so now when he had ignored her for centuries before. Haldir hauled himself from the bed and left the chamber in search of the ruler of Rivendell.

He went first to the gardens. He was not sure how long he had been sleeping, but it seemed now the sun was setting. Men of Ithilien patrolled the borders of the garden, and those who passed him greeted Haldir with respect. He noted that the bodies of the Uruk-hai had all been cleared away, and that most of the gardens had been restored as best that they could. There were fewer plants now, but Haldir knew that they would grow again.

He shook his head when he saw Elrond's fallen statue. Haldir walked down the path to the base of it and examined the wreckage. He was slightly surprised that the broken pieces had not been removed already. For the first time he noticed a word carved at what had been the base of the statue:

Nimrodel

Haldir ran his fingers over the carving.

"A shame, is it not? I was…fond of that statue," Elrond said from behind him.

It took all of Haldir's self-control not to jump, and it irked him that Elrond had managed to sneak up on him. He turned calmly to face Elrond.

"I had not realized it was meant to be Nimrodel," Haldir said.

"Do you know the legend?"

"Yes. She disappeared, it is said. She was the beloved of Amroth, who leapt into the sea for fear of losing her."

"She was beloved not only of Amroth," Elrond said quietly, and Haldir understood.

"Then perhaps it will ease your understanding of what I need to ask you," Haldir said.

"Is it about Isilwen?"

"Yes."

"Haldir, I believe your intentions towards her are honorable. Do not prove me wrong," Elrond said. He continued to stare at the statue, not turning back to face Haldir.

"Erestor is going to speak to you. He wishes to take her with you to the Undying lands."

"I know. You are welcome to come with us, Haldir, if that is what you desire."

Haldir was surprised. "I thought you wished me to depart with Legolas."

"Isilwen needs a husband. Why not you?"

"I believe Erestor can provide you with many answers to that question," Haldir replied, his lips twisting. "But I meant not to ask you for her hand, or to take me with you across the sea. I wanted only for her to come with me when I depart with Legolas."

Elrond turned to face him, raising an eyebrow. "You do not wish to marry her?"

"I have not thought that far ahead."

"Perhaps it is time for you to start considering the consequences of your actions, Haldir."

Haldir frowned. "Will you not let her come with me, then?"

"I will speak to Erestor and to Isilwen herself before I make any sort of decision."

Haldir sighed inwardly. What else could he ask for? "Very well," he replied.

Elrond put a hand on Haldir's shoulder and squeezed gently. "Go get some rest, Haldir. You look tired."

"I am tired," Haldir muttered. He nodded to Elrond and turned away, walking back up the path to the palace.