The following days passed all too quickly for Haldir. Before he knew it, the time had come for Alexa to leave. That morning, the two of them stood by her horse, Spitfire, holding hands and gazing into each other’s eyes. Haldir ran his knuckles lightly along Alexa’s cheek.
“I will miss you,” he said softly.
“And I you,” she replied, her voice full of sadness.
Haldir gently pulled her to him and held her close. After a moment, he drew back and looked into her eyes.
“I love you, Alexa. So very much,” he said huskily, and lightly ran his hand through her hair.
She reached out, and ran her hand along his cheek. “I love you too, Haldir,” she said, her voice heavy with emotion.
He smiled. “Truly?”
She returned his smile. “Oh, yes. So very much.”
He pulled her close and kissed her deeply. He did not want to let her leave, but he knew that he must. After a long, and rather intense moment, he drew back. He gazed lovingly into her eyes.
“Return soon, my love. Please,” he begged.
“I will. You have my word on that,” she told him.
He smiled and helped her mount her horse. He caught her hand and looked into her eyes.
“I love you,” he said
“And I love you,” she replied.
“Namarie, meleth nin.”
“Namarie, Haldir.”
She turned her horse and rode out of the city. He stood and watched her until she disappeared from his sight. He sighed, his heart heavy.
“Goodbye, Alexa.”
He turned and began walking to the borders, determined to think of her, and to protect his beloved home from the growing darkness.
* * *
Glorfindel sat in the Council meaning and listened as Elrond discussed the increasing number of orcs and the growing darkness that threatened Middle-earth. It was becoming terribly dangerous for anyone to travel. He thought of his beloved, yet impossibly stubborn daughter, and her constant refusal to send word ahead, or to allow anyone to accompany her when she traveled. He sighed. She was so much like her mother, so stubborn and so independent. ~Please be careful, Elyndiriel,~ he thought, and returned his attention to the matter at hand.
* * *
Alexa traveled cautiously across the Misty Mountains. She had to travel more slowly than usual, for Spitfire tired quickly. She sighed sadly. She knew that this was the last trip the two of them would make together, and that thought broke her heart. She scratched Spitfire’s ears, and he whinnied softly.
“You still have the fire in your heart, boy, but your body is tired,” she said softly.
The horse nodded his head in agreement. She dismounted and stroked her old friend’s neck. The horse nuzzled her hair affectionately in return. She smiled sadly and hugged his neck.
“I love you too, boy.”
She took his reins and began leading him along the mountain pass. She knew that he was tired and needed a rest from carrying her. She forged ahead, slightly comforted by knowing that she would be home with her father in a few days.
* * *
The night before Alexa would reach Rivendell she stopped to make camp. She removed Spitfire’s saddle and stroked his neck. The horse nickered tiredly, and she sighed in agreement.
“I know you are tired, boy. I am too. But we are almost home,” she told him.
Spitfire nuzzled her hair affectionately, and she smiled.
“I have something special for you,” she told him and walked over to her pack. She opened it and removed an apple, for she knew that Spitfire loved them. The horse whinnied eagerly and ate the apple quickly from her hand. She scratched his ears and walked back to the fire. She sat down and leaned back against a log.
Her mind wandered to Haldir. She missed him terribly, and was unsure of how long it would be until she would see him again. She sighed. She loved him and that frightened her. She never thought that she would find anyone she could allow herself to love, until she met him. He had saved her life in every way possible. He had helped to thaw her frozen heart. She frowned slightly. She felt so vulnerable when she was with him. Surprise ran through her as she realized something even more disturbing: she trusted him. She shook her head. She had not thought it possible, but she did. She trusted him with her heart, and that thought excited her… and terrified her. She shook her head and smiled.
~I will return soon, my love. I promise.~ She looked up at the sky. Dawn would be coming in a few hours, and soon she would be home with her father.
