A/N: Sorry about the wait, again… Thank you to my reviewers! Thank you for your sticking with this… everything is planned out to the end of the story… just have to find time to sit down and write it now!

Chapter 10- The Wardens' Telain

Even before they entered the main meeting hall, she could tell it was going to be a long night with many Elves there, trying to learn about her and her people. It would take a great number of Elves to create the level of sound coming from inside the talan, from the mirth filled laughter and loud talking. Velosswen glanced at her quickly with a smile on her face and placed her hand on the door, pushing it open. Before Cauniel's eyes was the sight of many Elves, all talking merrily and sipping from goblets of deep red wine. Food was scattered about in wooden bowls and platters, on the finely crafted long tables of heavy wood. A large fire glowed in the large fire place to the right of the room, on the long wall. A large map of Lórien hung to the left of the fireplace, and to the right an equally large map of Arda. On the left long wall hung tapestries on either side of a small target, which looked to be used for dagger throwing competitions.

The atmosphere was full of gaiety and mirth, something she had not seen in a long time. In Eregion, having celebrations or gatherings like this were a luxury they could not afford at their current state of affairs rebuilding the city and fighting on the borders. But besides that, Cauniel was not used to this activity because she could not participate in the revelry out of her unreasonable fear of getting too close to others. Always did she maintain a good distance from everyone… unless there were the ones who tried their hardest to break her down.

Some of the Elves quieted their loud talking as she entered behind Velosswen, nodding their heads slightly in welcoming, or being polite enough to introduce themselves to her. She smiled as nicely as she could manage, walking along behind her hostess toward the group of awaiting ellyth wardens. It was truly a small group… about five or so… out of so many ellyn; so unequal compared to the great number of ellyn within the room, not even counting those who were patrolling the borders. Laifennas was there, ready to hand her a glass full of the strong wine the others were drinking, and pulled her directly into the conversation. Though Cauniel found herself interested in what was going on elsewhere in the hall, not on the conversation at hand.

She looked around again, meeting the gazes of several curious onlookers whom she had either not met, or were purposefully staying away from her in a guarded state of mind. And she was glad for that, because she was sure if she meant anyone else, names would become jumbled in her head. As she continued to look around the room, her stare fell on the brown eyes of Hérion who was standing with the peredhil twins. He was watching her closely, probably to see what she was doing… sometimes she felt like he was watching her too closely, as though he were waiting for the moment she would mess something horribly up and he would have to come and 'rescue' her. It had been like that for a long while now… as though he felt he owed something to her for what had happened in their sordid past together. The fact of the matter was, he did owe her something, though she would never be able to stand any good deed directed at her from him. She could not trust him.

She could not trust any male.

With a heavy sigh, she pushed the thought from her mind and decided that tonight was a night she could truly try to open herself up to the amusement to be had in this room full of Elves. It had to be good for her to do that… perhaps a part of her healing regime. Except she did not know how she was going to be able to fit in with the wardens here, despite their obvious willingness to accept her amongst their ranks.

"My lady?"

Cauniel snapped back to attention, glancing at the ellyth around her watching her inquisitively, realizing she had completely missed the question being asked her. Were they asking her a question? She blushed slightly, embarrassed, "I am sorry, I did not hear you."

Laifennas smiled and laughed, "We saw you gazing at the peredhil twins, and just wanted to know who caught your fancy."

"Neither, honestly," she replied. "I have many more important things to be worrying about than the perfection of Lord Elrond's sons and trying to settle down."

The other ellyth nodded their heads in agreement, but one spoke, "But do you not wish to bind sometime in your life?"

Cauniel felt herself shrug, "It is something that I do not plan on, for I am wed to my position. There is no time to fret about trying to appear appealing to an ellon."

Velosswen gave her a skeptical look and leaned back in her seat, "Our dear March Warden often says the very same thing about ellyth, though he has plenty willing to share his bed."

"Well I can guarantee you, I do not have many ellyn lining up to wed me, or share a night with me," Cauniel replied. She glanced around at each of them, daring them to continue pestering her on the subject, but they obviously took the hint to stop. It was apparent that a few were just dying to ask why there were not many ellyn trying to court her and would at a future time if they got her alone. She sighed and looked away from them then, raising the goblet of wine to her lips.

"So what was it that you so needed to speak with Haldir about?" Velosswen questioned.

She turned to the elleth and sighed, "I am afraid that is between the March Warden and I, concerning Eregion. If the time comes, you all will know what it is I needed to speak with him about."

"It is that important?" Laifennas questioned.

"It is a grave matter, I must admit Laifennas, and something I wish not to speak of at such an occasion as this," Cauniel said, motioning to the others in the room. They took that as the time to stop badgering her, agreeing that tonight was not a night for business, but for pleasure. Again the ellyth were off in a conversation Cauniel cared only slightly about, so she found her mind wandering with her eyes once again. Her eyes made it to the door, however, before her mind connected with them, causing her to stare openly at the Elf who had just entered the room, flanked by both of his brothers.

"Great," she muttered under her breath. It was true she felt more comfortable with him now, but she still had not planned on him coming to this tonight. Was he there just to annoy her, or to truly take part in the festivities? That was when she realized he was smiling at her, but not with any malicious intent written in his eyes or demeanor. So he was not putting on an act during their conversation earlier. He really was not as bad an Elf she had originally made him out to be… that was, of course, looking past his rather obvious faults such as arrogance and short temperance.

Turning her head quickly away from him, realizing she had been gazing at his rather large form for to long, she tried to look interested in the conversation with the ellyth. However, that was absolutely no good when Haldir walked to the head of the long table and called for everyone in the room to be quiet. Wondering what he was doing, she watched him glance around to seemingly meet everyone's eyes to make sure he had their undivided attention before continuing. He spoke, "Many of you have heard of the impending journey of the Lord and Lady to Eregion, to take council with Lord Thorontur. And with any movement of our rulers, we require good guards to accompany them."

Cauniel watched him closely as he spoke fluidly, and eloquently, but with authority to his wardens. That was something to be admired.

He continued, "We do not require many more guards, as both Elladan and Elrohir will be joining the traveling party, as will Hérion and the aptly skilled Cauniel to return to their homeland. However, I require two more. Orophin and Velosswen will be accompanying the party…"

She scoffed, rolling her eyes. Now she knew why he was doing this… he was trying to impress her by showing that he was allowing one of the female wardens to go on the journey. While it did make her smile, knowing her belief that the female wardens should have been seen as equals in his army, she just hoped that he had not sacrificed talent and skill for this journey because she so spoke against having all male wardens.

He caught her gaze then, his smile widening some more. Cauniel glanced away to sip her wine. Was he doing this for another reason than just to prove her wrong? She shook her head and chuckled lowly. Haldir finished, "Laifennas will take Velosswen's guard duty, and while I am away, Rúmil will be in command. Hopefully this time he will not confuse the patrols."

There was a chorus of laughter from the Lórien Elves, as they recalled the moment that must have gone along with that comment from Haldir. Rúmil, who stood off to the side, shook his head in an embarrassed fashion and blushed slightly. That story must have been a good one.

Cauniel smiled at Rúmil's obvious discomfort, and turned back to Haldir as he said, "That will be all, now please have a lovely evening."

The conversation started instantly afterward, and Velosswen, who sat in a stunned silence for a few long moments, turned to her, "My lady… how did you talk him into allowing me to accompany you? He never allows the ellyth wardens…"

"I did no such thing, Velosswen. Your March Warden made that decision entirely on his own," Cauniel replied, watching Haldir as he poured himself a goblet of the wine, conversing with a few of the Elves around him. Though she was still quite suspicious of his intentions.

The evening continued on like this, with many laughs and lively conversations. Haldir had stayed a safe distance from her as she was tugged about from group to group, meeting the other wardens and answering various questions. They all seemed to eager to learn about her, but they were respectful enough to notice when she grew uncomfortable with the questioning. Regardless of who their leader was, as their ideal version they tried to model themselves after, they seemed all polite and well-adjusted, not arrogant. But she supposed arrogance could come with being in a high position after so long.

It was late into the evening when the revelers started to head back to their telain for sleep or lovemaking with their spouses. Cauniel, however, had taken up a heated battle of chess with Laifennas, though Cauniel easily beat her many times. Rúmil had finally talked her into leaving after the fifth game, and Cauniel was left to put the pieces away, which she had told Laifennas she did not mind. Truly, she did not mind it, as it gave her more time to live evening… one of the best evenings she had spent with other Elves in a long while. It felt like home here- more than any other place she had ever called home.

She reached across the board for the king made of white ivory, but was stopped by a large, masculine hand over her own. The pleasant shock of the touch was something she had not expected, and jerked her hand away unconsciously. With a sheepish smile, though, she glanced up at the ellon slipping onto the bench across from her and setting his goblet of wine down beside the game board.

What could he possibly want?

"I challenge you to a game of chess, to settle once and for all who is better at the art of war," he said softly, catching her eyes and smiled.

"I have a feeling that whoever loses this will not concede to admit the other is better at the art of war, whether it be you, or me," she replied.

He laughed, "You are probably correct, but I have nothing else to do this evening. If you are not too horribly weary from all the dreaded talking you had to do this eve, I would like to play this game with you."

Cauniel glared at him and sighed, "You do not have an elleth warming your bed, waiting for you?"

"I often wish that I did, Cauniel," he said, a sheepish half smile playing on his lips. "That would make my lonely nights a little less lonely."

She emptied the velvet pouch of the pieces she had already put away, not saying anything as she picked out the black ones to place on her side of the board. He said nothing more as he positioned the white ones on his side for their 'duel'. Setting the last pawn into place, he smiled at her and sighed, "Are you sure you wish to go up against me, my lady? If I win, then there can be no complaint."

She scoffed, "I consider myself a fair elleth, Haldir. If you win fairly, then you win and I should not complain about it."

"But the operative words are should not. What I have learned of you in these last two days does not lend to making me believe you will be a gracious loser," he replied.

"Do not presume that you know me that well already," she added lowly, meeting his eyes.

His eyes twinkled with some bit of mirth as he gazed at her. She felt uncomfortable under the look of complete hilarity as though he had known her for a very long while and found her act of being prickly was rather humorous to him. He chuckled, "Cauniel… whether you will ever admit it or not, we are more alike than you would like to think."

Cauniel, not wishing to think about exactly what he meant with the comment, glanced down at the board, "Shall we get started?"

"First, a wager…" he said with a devilish grin.

"My bet is to not anger if you beat me," she said. "You cannot make a wager on anything else."

He chuckled, "My lady, I wish for another wager. If I win, you must spend the afternoon with me on the morrow so that I may learn more about this elleth that I will be fighting alongside should the time come."

She nodded her head reluctantly and sighed, "And if I win, then you must start training more ellyth for your wardens."

"I thought I would appease that vein enough with my asking Velosswen to accompany us to Eregion," he replied.

"You will not change your position on the matter, March Warden?" she questioned. "I thought I had taught you enough of a lesson yesterday that you would no longer think like that."

He rolled his eyes, "Believe me, my lady, you did… I just do not believe I have the skill to train the ellyth to your level."

"It takes many years to get to levels we are both presently at, Haldir, you know this," Cauniel said. "And you are either are born with the ability for it or not… there is no changing that. But all you must do is train your ellyth wardens the same you train you ellyn wardens. They will learn it just as well, and in some cases better than the ellyn. Unless you are lacking in your skill of teaching, which I have a feeling you are not, training more ellyth should be easy."

"You speak as though there is no difference between the way an elleth fights and an ellon fights. Despite the small differences between the Elven genders, my lady, there are some obvious things to take into account… I cannot train them like males," he said.

"You can, and you will if I win this game, March Warden. I will tell you how to do it tomorrow should I win," she looked into his eyes.

Haldir cleared his throat while shaking his head and looked down at the board, taking the pawn furthest to the right edge of the board and moved it forward two spaces. He questioned exasperatedly, "Do you always talk in such a way that people must agree with you, or you will become defensive and dislike them because they do not see it your way?"

She did not reply as she did not wish to get into an argument, and moved her first pawn. Soon they were deeply embattled in the game of strategy, neither saying anything to each other as pieces were moved and sacrificed for the safety of other pieces. She found that Haldir was actually quite the skilled strategist when it came to this, and while some would argue this game was not a good tool in appraising one's ability to perform in battle, she always found it helpful. However, the difference between them was that Haldir stayed tied to the movements he had learned, and did not do anything surprising. He followed close to the way he was taught. She had the ability, having been in many true battles herself, to launch 'surprise attacks' on his game pieces, because he did not expect them.

That was the reason she had won against him the day before on the practice field. He knew every movement and theory like the back of his hand, but he did not have the experiences to know exactly when to bend and employ these rules to meet the present situation.

They were down to his white king and queen, to her black king and citadel. Each moved about, skirting the board and checking the kings, no one creating a clear advantage over the other as it grew much later into the night until the first rosy fingers of dawn touched the horizon outside the window of the meeting hall. Everyone had left a long while before they even lost half their pieces to each other. The fire died to low embers on the charred wood, spreading a chill throughout the room. It was apparent, though, that no one was going to win this battle anytime soon. They were, as much as she hated to admit it, very evenly matched in this area.

"My lady, as much as this game has been a pleasure playing with you, I must say I should go rest for a bit before I must see to my morning duties," he said quietly, meeting her eyes.

"No one has won yet," she motioned to the board. "Shall we continue later?"

What was she saying? Was she really trying to prolong her time having to be in his presence? But then she had to admit that these past hours playing this game in the March Warden's company, bantering back forth good-naturedly, had been some of the best in her entire, long, Elven life.

And he obviously realized what she had unconsciously said, and smiled slightly, baiting her, "Why, my lady, you wish to see me again and not cast me from you sight?"

"Possibly," she replied, glanced away from him quickly to hide her blush forming on her cheeks.

"I suggest a draw, my lady," he said. "We may call it so that we both win, and must each do what we have promised. Or we both lose, and do neither of things we decided. It is your choice."

Now was the moment of truth. She could make the decision that would embarrass her by admitting she wanted to spend more time with him, and make him start to think about training more ellyth. Or she could take the easier road, proclaim that they both lost and she would not have to answer the invasive questions she knew he so wanted to ask her. And as much as it pained her to admit it… this ellon was quickly proving her initial ideas of him wrong… and dare she say that she enjoyed him.

"Cauniel?" he questioned.

"I choose the former," she said. "We will both win."

Haldir nodded, "Then this afternoon for the midday meal, we will meet at your talan and make good on our wagers."

She sighed and met his eyes, "Very well, Haldir."

"Good," he said, reaching for the velvet pouch, placing his games pieces in it. "I will put this away… you may go."

Cauniel nodded and stood up, stretching her stiff muscles out. This was bound to be an interesting day.