(After many years I'm finally done writing this chapter. I really am sorry for taking too looooooonng! And to those Haldir/Eowyn fans out there, I think I will finish this first before proceeding to writing a new one. :D Sorry, it's kinda difficult for me since Middle Earth is way too big for me. x) haha. Anyway, here it is and I hope you'll enjoy.)

Many many thanks again to my beta: LOTRlover23.

Disclaimer: I do not own Anything. (except myself x))

~Chapter 11: Friend or Foe? ~

'You are my only hope, Eowyn of Rohan…'

'Your triumph will be the one to bring me at peace…'

Eowyn was focused on her conversation with Legolas but was distracted as she felt an invisible presence wrap around her torso and warm her back. She turned around to look but there was no one around; everyone was busy elsewhere. The presence was there, she knew it, she felt a tug in her heart—a feeling of sadness and longing. She wondered why she felt such emotions, for there was no reason to have them. Her eyes absently landed on Ashelia. She saw the handmaiden looking at her but the woman quickly averted her gaze and exited the hall. There was something wrong with her, but she could not grasp what it was. She had the urge to go and comfort her.

"Are you alright, my lady?" Legolas asked, interrupting her train of thought.

The Shieldmaiden was about to reply when two Elves approached them and their presence put the Prince of Mirkwood in an awful mood. Not that he had something against Orophin, but he and Haldir were having internal struggle with each other, both still in denial of something… and it involved the mortal woman standing beside him.

And another reason he did not want to acknowledge them was that he did not want the Lorien elf to steal Eowyn's attention.

"I hope I am not interrupting, " Haldir said, his eyes shifting from Legolas to Eowyn. "But my brother Orophin wishes to meet you, Eowyn." Somehow, having Orophin beside him made him more comfortable while in the presence of the two.

Eowyn looked at Orophin and curtsied. "A pleasure meeting your acquaintance, Lord Orophin." She noticed the similarities Orophin had with his brother; even if she had not yet seen him fight, she assumed that he was also very good and could be deadly like his brother.

"I should be the one to say that, fair Eowyn." He reached out for her hand and placed a feathery kiss on top of it, the action making a vein pop out on Legolas' forehead but he chose to ignore it, for there was no rational reason to react.

Orophin raised his head to look at her, a smile on his face. "My brother has told me of your heroic deeds the Pelennor Fields, indeed you are a woman to be respected. I would pay dearly to witness you fight on the battlefield."

The golden-haired beauty felt her heart flutter at what Orophin said. "Thank you, my lord, and I would be willing to be on a battlefield again if ever it is needed. Our race should know that women also have the right to fight and we are not only to be left weeping or worrying while the men go to war. I know there are many out there who wished to do the same." She spoke from experience, for Eowyn of Rohan knew what it was like to be locked away in a castle while the men she loved wholeheartedly were out on the battlefield.

"You amaze me, Lady Eowyn… no wonder my brother has taken such an interest on you. You have a will of undiluted iron and you broke from the chains restraining you by the force of your own will." Orophin's smile grew wider."I am sure you would make a fine lover for any elf."

Eowyn blushed at his last words. She did not know where that came from but it made her feel a little awkward especially because there were two certain elves whom she became fond of.

A fine lover indeed, Legolas could not help but to agree, even if she was mortal she was certainly interesting. His mind started to form images of him and Eowyn together—after Aragorn and Arwen's ceremony, nothing was impossible, especially in love.

But still, it did not give him the right to imagine such things. Because he and Eowyn could never be…

"I agree with you, brother." Haldir's voice cut off Legolas' thoughts, and the Elven Prince turned to look at the Marchwarden. "The Lady Eowyn is interesting enough, and I am sure many would want a warrioress for a lover."

Eowyn shook her head with an amused smile. "You, my lords, are being over-the-top. You compliment me far too much. I appreciate it, though at this moment I am not interested in such a matter." Or she was merely confused of her feelings at the time.

-LOTR-

He stared at her intently as she spoke; his stormy gray eyes examining her features from head to toe. She's a human, he thought, one blip in her heartbeat would end her. But there was something inside the woman that made her stand out. Eowyn of Rohan, he found out from the Elf he had spoken with, sister of the new King. A mortal woman deprived of her right to fight but had proven herself to the others after killing the Witch-king of Angmar. She looked pale as a marble statue and delicate, but he could sense the steel inside of her, the determination and bravery that very few possessed.

And SHE chose her.

Internally, he smiled evilly. 'This mortal may be guarded by Ashelia but that Fallen is no longer powerful enough to attack me...' He stared at her pale green eyes. 'You have not yet ripened so it is better to kill you now.'

Haldir was tired. He did not expect that he would be that occupied at the feast. Since his brother had arrived that day, he decided that it will be good if he accompanied him and gave him a tour of the palace. Orophin spoke with many people and since he was there, he became absorbed in their conversation as well. He was not really much of a talker, and such socializing exhausted him. He was not used to it. Orophin had gone ahead of him, saying that he needed to check on his things and see if they were put in his quarters. Haldir decided to go and check on him before going in his own room.

He turned a corner; seeing that the door of the guest quarters where Orophin would stay was a slightly ajar. He raised a brow, somehow he felt that something was wrong and the silence in the corridor unnerved him. Haldir then strode closer to the guest room and pushed open the door.

The scenario taking place made the Marchwarden of Lorien freeze. Ashelia was there, a sharp, silvery dagger with a purplish gleam in her raised hands and beneath her, lying in the bed was Orophin, trying to escape her grip.

"Y…You…" Haldir stopped mid-sentence as his eyes caught something else—on the floor lay the dead body of Rumil.

Before Ashelia could say anything or move, the Marchwarden of Lorien was already in front of her. He punched her hard in the stomach then hit her face with the back of his hand. Ashelia fell to the ground, the dagger still clutched in her fingers. Haldir moved closer to her, beyond rage. He wanted nothing more at that moment but to kill her.

"My lord! I didn't do anything wrong! Please listen to me first! Do not let your emotion cloud your judgement!" Ashelia pleaded with him, fear lacing her tone.

"Do not tell me what to do, you filth! You killed my brother! And now you are trying to kill Orophin!" He grabbed a handful of her hair and yanked her up to face him. "What did they do that warrants death? Speak quickly!"

"She is insane, brother! Kill her!" Orophin shouted from behind the two.

Haldir murmured something in Elvish before raising his sword.

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