Author's Note: The slash will come to those who are patient. I promise. I apologize for the delay in getting this particular chapter out in comparison to most of the others. As with the only other chapter that took me a while (4), this one was combined with another, as I couldn't figure out a good place to pause between chapters.
ARASR.ARASR.ARASR.ARASR.ARASR.ARASR
When dawn was close upon the horizon, Elrohir stirred, surprised to find where he slept quite a bit more warm than usual. The source of the warmth was still a bit cloudy in his vision as he struggled toward clarity, not daring to move more than an inch or so, lest the heat fade away. His dreams had been pleasant, though he could not recall what they were besides figments and wisps of the past that refused to give him a real memory. Still, they were all very comforting and he'd slept well. As his vision slowly cleared, he was only slightly surprised to find the Marchwarden asleep beside him, too early to have woken to deliver the message.
The evening before returned to him, though without the severe intensity it had first come with. All that mattered now was that he remembered some of his life, and he did recall quite a bit with that one memory. He remained laying still, fingers trailing through mixed strands of pitch and platinum, marveling how utterly beautiful the contrast was. Like the black of night and the bright tones of mid-day. He continued to feather his fingers over the silk-like strands, watching and waiting for the blonde elf to wake, for it was growing close to dawn and he knew fully that the being beside him had intended to wake just before dawn to scribe and send the message to his brother. He would let him wake of his own accord, though, knowing how most grumble if woken even minutes before they're ready.
That night Haldir had slept with his eyes closed, and in his slumber he'd pulled Elrohir closer to his chest, moving only a little to lie on his back. He was dreaming of Legolas, watching him walk through a forest somewhere, and only after a moment did he realize it was Mirkwood, only it was as the forest stood in the past. There were elves around him, watching him walk by, and all marveled at how the light of the sun played in his hair. But then the dream shifted and it was dark, and all around him was warmth and he was in Lothlórien, with his brothers on a Talan far above the ground. Orophin faced him, but Rumil faced away, and when they would call his name there would be no answer. Only then did they realize that they were looking at the memory of their brother, and only then did he force his mind to become aware.
As he was rising through the mist, visions of the village came into his mind and he was standing near the trees with a hawk on his arm, running his free hand over the feathers of its back. Then the bird was flying away, and he turned. In the distance stood Elrohir, face turned upwards to see the hawk fly away over the tree tops.
Then all at once he was looking at Elrohir, who was looking back at him quietly. He was awake. "Good morning." He whispered, his voice a mere impression in the air as he raised an arm to touch the strands of dark hair against his cheek.
Peaceful lips turned upward into a soft grin, still resting pleasantly by Haldir's side. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?" His own voice was a whisper to match the blonde's, not wishing to rouse Legolas - who was still passed out upon his own bed.
Dawn was slowly creeping up, and splashes of light tinged by the clouds that scattered through the night air cast a pale wash through the window - the night was lifting, bit by bit. The brush of fingers upon Elrohir's cheek had felt nice, soothing doubts that might have dared to linger within his mind. He listened to a rather beautiful mix of soft breath from both elves in his presence, the calling of birds from the forests around them, and light shuffling of horses beneath them. It felt like more than a new day: instead, a new life full of possibilities. He knew he would leave this place eventually. Something deep inside him told him he didn't belong here, despite how wonderful it felt. He never did belong here. But here he stayed, as it was friendly and familiar.
"I hope I didn't keep you here last night, if you wanted to go to your own bed..." The offer was given, peering over at the Marchwarden in concern. Had the fair one stayed simply because Silathil wished him to? Even if waking beside the warm being was pleasant, it would feel odd to have somehow coerced him into remaining.
Haldir gave a fluid shake of his head, resting his hand more fully against the young Prince's cheek, stroking it with his thumb. "No." he whispered, "I fell asleep here unknowingly...It would not be the first time we have slept beside one another," he assured him gently with a soft smile. Vaguely he was aware of the soft sounds of shifting from Legolas' bed, the deep intake of breath as he too awoke. And with a shift of his gaze he could see him sitting up in his bed, his hair scattered all over and messy, as he stared sleepily at the window.
Legolas' deep blue eyes were on them then, and he seemed to sit there blinking for several seconds before he gave a collective shiver and slid out of bed, coming towards them. "Have you slept at all?" He asked drowsily, his arms folding over his bare chest, his shoulder lifting slightly to hug himself. "I don't remember falling asleep...I was dreaming though. I remember that. I was home, and everyone was there. My father was there...and Gimli, though I can't imagine why." He sat down at the edge of the bed, placing one foot over the other as he leaned forward slightly, and closed his eyes like he were trying to capture the dream one last time.
Haldir gave a soft chuckle then, and reached out to poke him softly in the side. "Perhaps you miss the dwarf...I shudder to imagine why."
Silathil hid his laughter behind a slender hand, shaking his head softly at the light prince's question. "We fell asleep, I promise you. In fact, we woke up only a few minutes ago." And then the bed shifted slightly as Legolas sat, watching the two tease each other yet again.
"Maybe you dream of the future? Eventually we will all be together again, won't we? I mean... Legolas, you'll see your father again, and Gimli. All of our families save for the few who choose to remain..." He was beginning to understand, albeit slowly, about the Undying Lands, and of his own people. A smile was cast toward Legolas then, fingers reaching out to brush his arm gently. "I know you must miss them... but think of when we'll be with them again, for I know I cannot stay here, no matter how comfortable I am with my family here. I won't abandon them, though..." The words drifted from his lips, glancing between the two blonds with a rather contemplative expression on those pale features. He belonged with them... the realization struck him. He belonged with this Marchwarden... the flaxen-haired prince - they were his people, his kin. And nothing else could substitute for it, no matter how content he was in his current family's presence.
"I do miss him." Legolas spoke of Gimli, not ashamed of that fact at all. "He is a good and trusted friend. I shall bring him with us to the Undying lands when we go. I have no intention of leaving him here."
Haldir made a jesting scowl. "I suppose that I will take another ship..."
Before Legolas could shoot back, Elrohir was speaking his comforting words, and setting their bickering at ease. "I wait anxiously for the day I can see my people again," Legolas admitted. "Let me apologize for seeming so impatient. I assure you that I understand your thoughts on staying here. I loath that I seem so uncaring of it. I do care. Just so you know." He looked at Silathil sincerely with those soulful blue eyes before they shifted to Haldir as the warden spoke.
"I think he knows, Legolas," he assured him gently. Legolas smiled softly, then climbed between them, burrowing twixt them like a child come to bed with his mother and father. He was not content until he was on his back, and smiling up at them. A slow sigh escaped Haldir's lips as he furrowed his brow, trying to stay on the bed.
"I think," Legolas started, looking to Elrohir with an expression of extreme seriousness, "that you need a larger bed."
Elrohir found himself plastered against the wall as Legolas made himself comfortable between Haldir and himself, groaning as the small form wedged itself there on his back. "I did offer to rearrange the room a bit ... maybe this afternoon I'll do so, if you both plan on sleeping on my bed along with me." He chuckled then, fingers working through the darker blonde hair before him, working a few of the tangles he'd managed to get in them out. "I'm sure we have enough room to drag at least one bed over here, and then Haldir won't be half-falling on the floor next time."
Poor Haldir! The elder elf looked like he would topple out of bed any moment. Either that or toss the blonde prince onto the floor in his stead. Elrohir finally gave up trying to give Legolas elbow room, though, and rested his head upon the light being's shoulder, stretching out along his side. "Yes... I think we're going to have to do that... Three of us can't exactly fit on this thing..." He was smiling, though... the two elves lying within his bed were more than just a comfort. They made him laugh, smile... they were patient with him, teaching him of things he would need to know about his own people... and they had a sense of humor, even if Haldir tried to pretend he didn't. All in all, he was more than happy to lie beside each till the sun finally rose.
Legolas was smiling, seeming more than content with his present position. "Your bed feels slept in," he informed Elrohir, then reached up to put a hand in his dark hair, drawing his face closer so he could caress his cheek with his own, closing his eyes. He was moving his body slightly, nudging closer to Haldir who had to reach out and grasp his side, trying to stay in the bed. He was becoming increasingly aware that the little blonde prince was trying to push him out.
And he succeeded, for a moment later Haldir was half in the floor, letting out a great Elvish curse as he stood completely, brows furrowed in his irritation. "Well, I suppose I'll go send the message then," He hissed, turning to go to his bed and get dressed.
Legolas was laughing mirthfully, as he settled more comfortably away from Elrohir to give him more room. "You were here all night. It's my turn to lie in the comfortable bed." He defended himself, looking to Elrohir with a wink as Haldir stood glowering at him with arms raised, hastily braiding the sides of his hair into an intricate pattern.
"Do what you will," he replied blandly, gathering his things and once again looking like the intimidating elf he often did when he was fully dressed. With those words he was down the steps, and off to do his duty. He could hear Legolas laughing all the way out the door.
Elrohir's eyes had drifted closed at the sensation of the blonde prince's cheek upon his own. That did feel nice. Like his own skin, each elf's flesh was quite soft, despite their frequent use of bow and sword, and it felt like a rose petal would beneath the touch. But the sound of Haldir thunking down onto the floor caused his eyes to snap open, sitting up in shock at the language Haldir used as he salvaged his wounded pride. A light finger was moved to poke at the side of the elf beside him, chuckling quietly.
"Legolas and I will move the furniture around up here so that there is another bed beside mine incase he attempts to shove you out again." He volunteered the royal without even bothering to ask, as it was the darker blonde who had caused the ruckus in the first place. "Though I'm sure he'll try to talk me into staying in bed for a little longer..."
And that was also true. Of the three, Legolas seemed to enjoy his sleep quite a bit more, though he'd only witnessed them one night. And though it was such a short amount of time, he was certain the elf would lounge about in the morning simply because he could some days. Elrohir stretched like a cat beside the slender form, working each limb into some sort of functionality as he watched the poor Marchwarden leave. He felt awful for him, really... even though he'd offered to do the very thing he left to do just now the night before, he knew Haldir was enjoying his time just lying there beside them... even if one of those he was with happened to be the energetic and rather spunky Legolas.
"What do you say, hmm? Should we pull another bed over here? Or are you both planning on staying in your beds tonight?"
Legolas had become slightly quiet and reflective as he watched Haldir depart. The look on his royal face was more than a little incredulous. "He braided his own hair. And straight at that!" he exclaimed to Elrohir, looking from the now empty staircase and to the brunette at his side. He couldn't even imagine what his own hair looked like, and truthfully, he wasn't really one to care.
"If you want to move a bed over here, I will help you. Do you like sleeping tangled in limbs like Hobbits?" His jest came with a soft smile. An arm was then raised to comb his fingers through his own hair before moving to lie on his side facing him. His eyes were on the blanket below them, his finger tips grazing gently over the wrinkles on the fabric before he put them in the dark strands of Elrohir's hair.
Carefully he lifted a lock, rubbing the silken strands between thumb and forefinger before he raised his eyes back to the Elf and offered him a slight smile. "I suppose I should get up so we can move the bed, and get started on your chores," he sighed, a little regretful. "I shudder to think what Haldir will say if he finds us still laying here like logs when he comes back." He was only jesting about the last part of course. He knew Haldir wouldn't mind. It would open a window of opportunity for him to tease the flaxen haired Prince about being lazy, and Haldir wasn't one to waste an opportunity like that. Legolas had to be on the top of his game when it came to this. He didn't want to give the March warden any leeway whatsoever. Then again...he wasn't ready to get up either. It was nice knowing that you didn't have to travel an unforgivable distance, and sleep on the ground afterwards, or take rest as you walked. That was even worse to think about right now. He scrunched his nose up a little with the thought of it.
The ebony-tressed Lordling snickered softly at the comments that were tumbling idly from his companion's mouth, shoulders rolling in slight confusion at one word he used. "Hobbits? What are they?" Here he paused, just briefly, before continuing on. "And no, not in a "tangle" of limbs... but then, I wouldn't really know. No one has ever shared my bed till last night... at least, not since the attack."
He raised a dark brow as the blonde raked fingers through the sunshine-kissed strands, snickering still. "Would you like me to at least get the tangles out?" As he had long hair, himself, he knew how nice it was to have someone else brush your hair out, especially if they knew what they were doing. He also knew how good it felt on the scalp to completely relax and let the feel of the comb run over skin as it slid through one's hair. It was rare that anyone ever bothered to do his hair, but when they did, Silathil had been thankful. He rose then, though, and slipped to his dresser where he had his own small comb, turning to face the prince as he raised the utensil almost in offering.
"I promise I won't hurt you. I'm pretty good at it." And this was true. He'd been the one to do each female's hair on the day they wed to their husband within the family, as his fingers could do some wondrously delicate things with strands if left to his own devices, and he'd never once caused any to flinch in pain. "It does need combing, even if not by me... you must have been tossing in your sleep."
Legolas sat up as Elrohir rose, one leg curled on the bed, the other off so that he could rest that foot on the floor. At his comment about his hair needing combing, he reached up to touch it delicately. Measuring by that alone, it was deemed that Elrohir was right: he could feel it standing on end right at the back of his head. He motioned to him with his hand, and patted the space on the bed beside him, turning so his back faced it.
"Please, comb it if you like." he encouraged. "I don't think any elf would say no to having their hair combed." And indeed that was true. The best, and probably only good part about having Haldir the past three days, was that they didn't have to comb their own hair. Okay, maybe not the only good thing. It was always nice to have someone to talk to, even if it was dry insults being exchanged. It'd become a game of sorts. Who could make who give up, or get mad, the quickest. Unfortunately, they both had a great amount of dignity, and would sooner give up before anything else. "So, what are our plans for the day, Silathil." Legolas asked, head turned slightly to look at Silathil curiously in the brightening light slipping in through the window he stood near.
Silathil slipped to the side and behind Legolas, kneeling upon the bed to get a better angle at the long, sunny strands that tumbled in a mess from the top of his head. From experience, he began at the bottom, working the tangles out there first, and then made his way up. It prevented the comb getting snagged upon a particularly bad snarl.
"Well... the stalls do need mucking out, and of course I need to feed them all. Butter and Thunder both need baths... Thunder more than Butter as he enjoys rolling around in the mud when you let him in the pasture. We've never been able to cure him of it, as he derives much pleasure in doing so. After that... there are three that could use a ride, and I'm sure you both would be happy to help with that... and the rest could be let out in the pasture save Thunder, who I refuse to let out there the day he gets a bath... Keeps him clean for at least one full day. Then comes time to teach the children more about handling the tack. They know quite a bit about the saddles and bridles already... but proper keep of the blankets and when to clean the hooves of each horse has yet to sink in completely. So they usually show up shortly after I arrive home. I don't have to hunt today, as I believe Lorianna is making something with a chicken tonight. Or at least it seemed as such last night before we retired. Tomorrow will be less hectic, thankfully. But after the children have been lectured a bit, the rest of the afternoon and evening is free, except for supper."
It certainly was a lot of work, though it usually went by faster than it seemed. And while he rambled about their upcoming day, Legolas' hair was becoming far tamer, till it shone once more in the flickering morning sunlight and the comb could travel from the top of his head all the way down to the tips of each strand without faltering. "There... much better."
As Silathil went on about their days activities, Legolas sat quietly with his eyes closed, just enjoying the feel of the comb in his hair. He could recall at the moment, being an elfling and sitting upon his mother lap as she did the same thing. Only Silathil didn't scold his brothers as she did for getting into this and that. 'Were that they were as good as you, glawar-nín.' she would sigh, hugging him back against her.
He, being the youngest, and fairest of all their children, he could get away with much, much more. And of course, he used that to it's full advantage. And then all at once it was over before he was ready for it to be...which the case was, usually. One could not possibly sit for an eternity and comb Legolas Greenleaf's hair, though, the day before yesterday, he got Haldir to do it for a good hour before he grew bored with it. That had been a victory of sorts for him.
"Thank you," he told Elrohir, seeming to come back to life, whereas he'd been still as a statue before hand, just enjoying it. "Shall I help along your hair now?" He asked, shifting his position to face the dark haired twin behind him and extending his hand palm up to accept the comb, should he want to give it to him. "We could leave Haldir to muck the stalls," he offered mischievously, his eyes twinkling with that glint that often times didn't mean good things for an innocent party. "We can attest that the children need to be schooled on Elvish. He would never say no to you if you asked him," he encouraged playfully. "I promise you that."
"If you'd like, I'll spend more time on it tonight when we have the luxury of slacking off," Elrohir offered, noticing the mild reluctance in Legolas to end his hair-combing moments. But when the offer came to comb his own hair, despite the fact it wasn't too mussed, he nodded happily. It was true, what Legolas said. Few elves would ever say 'no' to a hair-combing, and Silathil was included in that!
He passed the comb into the elegant hand of his companion, chuckling as he spoke of playing quite an evil trick on Haldir, his head shaking softly for a moment as he laughed. "No, I could not do that to him, tempting as it is. It's too mean to make him do all the grunt work." It also wouldn't work too well, as the horses knew him better than the other two and would not trust a stranger - even an Elven one - right away. "And because he'd not say 'no' to me is just the reason I couldn't ask him."
Aww, such a noble heart. But he simply couldn't help it. Blame it on his previous family. Blame it on the family he was with now, but he simply cared too much. And Haldir - and Legolas - gave him reasons to care. Both were kind to him... patient... understanding. "He's going to have trouble enough sending that message off... he didn't ask where the birds are!" He smiled lightly, letting his eyes fall shut when Legolas did begin to comb through his hair, sighing his contentment at the situation as his form relaxed. It felt so good to simply sit there as a comb ran from crown to waist, and Silathil let each sensation soak in like water in a desert. "We're definitely going to have to spend a few hours doing this tonight... it's been so long since anyone has ever done this for me."
Legolas took the comb readily, tracing the tip of his forefinger over the teeth of it absently as he observed his dark hair like it were a new project to be tackled before he found a comfortable position behind him and began his task. "Awww, come now...you're no fun." he teased gently as he eased the comb through the dark strands, enjoying play of light in them. After each sweep of the comb, his fingers followed, flowing easily through the silkiness.
"Don't you worry about Haldir finding the birds," Legolas chuckled. "I am willing to believe he has already called one to himself and sent it on its way. He is very capable with the winged species. Account it to all the time he's spent in trees." About that time, as if on cue, the cry of a thrush was heard in the distance. Legolas just gave a nod of his head, making a motion of his hand. "Yes. What did I tell you?" he chuckled, halving Elrohir's hair, and setting the comb aside until he would need it again. With quick precise fingers he began an intricate braid, pulling the strands just a little, the feeling quite pleasant on the scalp. "Do you have a tie handy?" He asked as he came near the end of it, slowing just the slightest bit.
The news about the birds did seem to soothe Elrohir's mind just a bit, and then came the cry of the wild bird as it was sent soaring through the air, most likely with the letter Haldir had written. A joyful sensation rushed through him both to know his brother would no longer fret over him and mixed with the tingling of the skilled hands Legolas guided over his hair, pulling it into a braid that could most likely shame anything he'd ever done as of yet - at least that quickly, and on the first try. Then again, Silathil hadn't the practice Legolas did, as he normally wore his hair in a simple half-ponytail, no braids or intricacies used or needed.
Lips pulled into a light smile before a hand reached out to grope over his pillow for the tie that had been cast away sometime during the night. Fingers finally clasped hold of the tiny strip of leather, passing it to the blonde prince, surprisingly without moving his head one millimeter. "You'll have to teach me how to do that... I know how to braid, but even I can tell that is no basic braid. Maybe tonight, as well?" He seemed quite curious about it all, eager to learn all he could from either elf. Apparently, the children weren't the only ones Haldir and Legolas would be landed with teaching. But he was soon rising, turning to give the blonde prince a quick hug before shifting away, heading for the spare beds. "Before Haldir comes up here and comments on how lazy we are to spend so much time just lounging about doing hair, let's at least get a bed moved over. You said my bed felt "slept in"... hmm. Your bed is the one that has been slept in longest so far of the other four beds... Would that be the next best choice now?"
"Actually, Haldir's bed is the most comfortable one. I sat on it yesterday. Let's bring his over here," Legolas responded, standing up as he braided his own hair before walking over to Elrohir. He picked up his clothes, and put them on quickly so he at least would look like he'd been wearing them for a little while. "And of course I'll teach you to braid your hair. It's not hard, really - I'm sure once you make one, the habit will return to your fingers as if it's been there all along," he assured the dark-haired elf.
Below them, they could hear the soft baritone of Haldir's voice. He was speaking in kind softness, and Legolas had no doubt that he was speaking to a horse, as one made a quiet noise to something the elf said. "Haldir is back," he observed, helping to pull the bed effortlessly, "Though, I don't think he's going to come up to us. It seems he has found a friend below." He offered a wink to Elrohir. Now that he had been here for a little bit, he was more content to be somewhat relaxed. It wasn't so bad, though a part of him would always want to leave. It was just not so urgent a feeling now.
The Imladris Lord smiled contentedly at Legolas' comment, arching a dark brow. "Well, if he won't come up to us, then we're just going to have to go down to him."
Elrohir dug through his dresser for a moment, then passed a few hair ties to Legolas – one to use, the others in case he might need more - to which the prince uttered a light "thank you" to. And once the golden-haired prince was ready, they made their way downstairs, Elrohir snatching up a pitchfork as he went. Time to toss some hay! Or at least soon.
"I see you made a new friend, Haldir..." Though he couldn't see which horse was currently occupying the stall he was in front of, he was certain it was either Thunder or Sundance, as they were the only ones that stayed on that side of the stables. He drew closer to see whether it was the nearly all black male or the playful filly that seemed splotched with blondes and strawberry tones as if someone had dropped paint in blobs all over her. "Legolas and I moved your bed beside my own... there's plenty of room now if we ever end up as we did this morning... and you won't ever again be shoved out of bed by our dear friend..." He commented, casting his gaze to the aforementioned Prince, eyes bright and jesting. "Unless, of course, you want to be... but I highly doubt that."
Legolas had quickly followed Elrohir down to see Haldir in the stable. Haldir had been attracted to the black horse immediately when he'd come down the stairs, though he hadn't the time to approach it in the beginning. Only a look had been changed between them as he left the stable to find the thrush that would carry his letter safely all the way to Minas Tirith without having to make the stop before there. But when the deed was done, he'd returned, and he'd wandered over for the horse to tell him his name. Rhovansûl. It was like a faint whisper in his mind, though they called him otherwise aloud, as was often the case with horses.
Haldir was aware that he was very fond of the name he'd been given though, and accepted it as a part of him, just as his true name was. The horse was a fine example of his species, and Haldir wouldn't have been surprised to find out that he was a far descendant of the Mearas. As Elrohir, and Legolas entered the stable, Haldir took a step back from the stall to look at them quietly, an arm still extended to pet the horses snout. "Somehow, I think Legolas would find a way to knock me out of the bed despite its increase in size." He teased, cutting Legolas a humorous glare. The blonde Prince merely smiled in his mischief, saying nothing to that.
Elrohir snickered lightly, glancing between the two sunlight-haired elves before reaching a hand out to rub Thunder's soft muzzle. The children had given him his Common-tongued name, for to them he looked like a storm about to blow in, and rode just as swiftly, his hoof beats like a rolling thunder warning of danger to come. Yet he was as gentle as any house pet, and one each child would visit and bring apples or sugar lumps when they could. Though Silathil knew each horse's true name, he would only call them that in secret, lest they grow too used to folk calling them it and not respond to the names the family gave them.
A light lipping of Thunder's mouth was given to his hand, bringing him out of his thoughts rather bluntly, and he cast a side grin to Haldir. "I believe that's his way of telling us that we should get our chores done swiftly, so he can go out with us." And so came a gesture to the extra pitchforks within the stable, while Elrohir located a wheelbarrow to move the dirty hay out of the stables and to a compost heap to near the bottom of the large garden they (as did each family in the village) had. And so it was with a slightly grim-face that he set to work, hefting forkfuls of the soiled hay into the wheelbarrow till it was full - it was quite a large contraption, as Silathil - it was learned - could lift larger loads without straining himself in the least - and then wheeled away while fresh hay was laid in. Normally, this job would take all morning, but it seemed to go by much quicker with the help of the other two elves, and they took turns carting the smelly straw away to keep the workload fairly even. When done, Silathil glanced around at the now-clean stalls and took a nice, deep breath.
"Well... we just managed to earn ourselves a few hours extra time! Which means we can either wash Thunder and the roan over there, Clover, down now... or rest, if you need it... I didn't think it would take so little time, honestly."
Haldir stood leaning on the pitchfork he held, as he quietly observed the work they'd done. "I need no rest," he confessed, looking to Legolas who was sitting up on the side of a stall petting the horse, Butter, which they'd met just yesterday.
"I'm fine," the Mirkwood prince piped (noticing that he was being looked at) before he hopped down and wandered near his silver-blonde companion. A delicate hand reached out to pat Thunder on the snout. "I say we do all the work now and get it over with so we have time to do something else."
Haldir arched his eyebrow and stood to his full height, setting the pitch fork aside where he'd found it. "Do you have plans for us, for later?" he inquired suspiciously, watching Legolas as he wandered over to peer out of the stable and to the village beyond.
"No," came the gentle reply as the royal shrugged his shoulders. "It just seems nicer to rest, knowing that nothing else has to be done that day."
The march warden shifted his icy gaze to the grey eyed prince before speaking again. "Well, there you have it. We're indifferent, so I assume that means you will have some idea of what to do."
Elrohir stood with mild amusement upon his lips as the two talked over what was to be done during the next few hours before reaching a rather agreeable consensus. A more playful look reached his eyes once they'd said they didn't mind continuing the "chores", though in Silathil's mind, mucking stalls was the hardest of the four needed to be done that day. He strode to Thunder's stall, opening the swing-hitched door, and led him out with a few soft words that could have been a song had it not been so brief, chuckling lightly as the horse head-butted his back in play. He knew what was coming next.
Silathil gestured casually to Clover, pleading eyes cast to Legolas for this task. "Let her out and guide her after me? These two need their baths... and I can assure you, Thunder will make the most of it..." And off they went around to the back of the stables where a small pump-well was located, pouring into a long, wide basin. Tacked against the walls were water-brushes, used specifically for bathing each equine... and Thunder was nearly prancing by the time they reached the spot. He adored baths almost as much as he enjoyed rolling in mud. "I hope you two don't mind getting wet... because knowing Thunder... you will. No matter what horse you're working on."
Legolas did as he was asked immediately, guiding the horse Clover to follow Thunder and Elrohir. Haldir followed along behind them, eyeing a few of the village people that had stopped to stare at him and Legolas with curious looks on their faces. He'd gotten similar looks earlier when he'd set out to send the message he and Elrohir agreed on. An older man seemed to find the way he whistled alarming, even more so that out from the forest the large bird had come, landing right beside the elf on a fence post as if he'd been raised by him, though that hadn't been the case at all. In fact, that same man was still staring now.
It was of no matter, for as they rounded the stable they were no longer in sight, and Haldir forgot them as soon as he didn't see them any more. "I'm not afraid to get wet," he assured Elrohir with a chuckle, reaching out to pet Clover gently. "Legolas on the other hand..."
Legolas whirled around on him with a smart look on his face. "I'm not afraid to get wet," he informed Haldir sharply.
The Marchwarden arched a brow to that, noting the quickness of his tone with great amusement. "Are you sure? I have yet to ever hear of you taking a bath," he teased, seeing that this seemed to bother Legolas. The scowl on the fair prince's face was completely priceless. So was the fact that he seemed unable to even comment to it.
...Oops. Spoke too soon.
"Are you questioning my cleanliness? Fathomless!" Legolas exclaimed in appalled shock. To this, Haldir laughed outright and had to turn away, not wanting to look at Legolas for a moment as he regained his composure. "I'm only teasing you, Prince. No need to get your bow string in a knot."
Elrohir, not having the discretion Haldir seemed to exert, doubled over laughing at indignation Legolas showed. Even the horses seemed to be amused, Clover tossing her head lightly in a soft whicker. But enough was enough. He strode toward the fair being that was either playing or insulted or both, and took both of his hands gently, giving them a squeeze.
"I'm sure he meant nothing by it except to continue the jesting comments you both seem to enjoy slinging at one another. Come and let's allow these two fine horses have their way with the water and I'm sure you'll find a way, somehow, to tease Haldir in a similarly intense manner." He grinned then, winked, then turned to grab one of the water brushes (there were five on the wall), then began pumping some extra, clear water into the basin they would use to wash down the two playful equestrian beings before dipping said brush into the cool liquid and heading for Clover, leaving Thunder to Haldir, who seemed to have taken a liking to the dark male. A light gesture was made to Legolas, indicating that he should help Silathil, and leave Haldir to his friend, for it seemed there was already some sort of friendship growing between them. He knew that should they be forced to leave without the smug horse, Haldir would be, at the very least, mildly upset.
Much to Haldir's growing amusement, Legolas kept the foul and sour look on his face through much of the scrubbing process, saying naught to anyone as he went to work on Clover, gently washing the filth away. But soon not even he, in his bruised state could keep the amused look from finding his face as he looked to Haldir to see the Elf completely soaked, and half covered in suds as he scrubbed away at Thunder happily. His attention had been initially attracted by the laughter, and nickering that was coming from that general direction. The confusion that lingered on the fair prince's features behind the amusement, told that he'd never witnessed something like this.
"Haldir!" He uttered incredulously, his tone only mildly jesting, "You're smiling and your face didn't crack. There might be hope for your lineage yet...though I think Orophin is a lost cause. He seems to have been born with out the muscles needed to smile"
Even Haldir had to laugh at that. "Yes, but what does my brother have to smile about? Owning up to the title Ugliest Elf in Caras Galadhon cannot be an easy job." That was all it took for Legolas to lose it. What happened next was only icing on the cake. "Aii!" Came Haldir's cry and right before Legolas eyes, Thunder head-butted the proud Marchwarden right into the water basin.
"HA HA HA!" Legolas had dropped his scrub brush, and covered his face with is wet hands, his body shaking with not-so-silent laughter. By the Valar...that was the best thing he'd ever seen. He wanted to kiss Ilûvatar for allowing him to see this.
Elrohir stared at first in shock, gaping at the drenched Marchwarden, before he doubled over in laughter as well, even as he got splashed by the chilled water. Thunder was literally dancing on his hooves, head tossing in a horse-laugh, and even Clover seemed completely amused. Still chuckling, he bent low to the basin, offering his hand to the dripping blonde elf to aide him out of the wide bin of water. "Here... let me help you out of there..." And then turning to Thunder, "That wasn't very nice, you know..." To which the horse gave a light whinny as if to say, 'Well, it may not have been nice, but it was certainly amusing.'
Silathil shook his head in resignation before making sure the elf was in one piece, his gaze one of pity, for the elf well deserved it. "Did I mention that most people giving Thunder a bath tend to get baths themselves?" He had to add it, trying to lighten poor Haldir's spirits a bit and get them finished with this part of the chores. "At least he likes you. Could you imagine what he'd do to you if he didn't like you?" To which the horse gave another head toss before thrusting his head affectionately against the pale-blonde's arm in as much of an apology as the horse was capable of... which wasn't much. Thunder was too utterly amused at his handler's current over-saturated state to apologize too much.
Surprisingly, Haldir didn't seem bothered by his predicament at all, for as he sat in the water, he was still smiling, albeit a bit shocked. Not too shocked, however, to realize he could reach Legolas from here, nor too shocked to realize that Legolas wasn't paying attention to him, too busy wrapped up in his laughter. So as he accepted Elrohir's help to stand he reached out with his other hand and jerked Legolas by the back of his tunic, and into the water behind him.
"Oh, I'm so terribly sorry about that, Legolas..." he faux-gasped, looking back to the shocked face of the prince behind him. It took all he had not to laugh.
"Injustice!" Legolas exclaimed, pushing his soaked hair back out of his face with a gasp. "That was a foul thing!" Haldir was laughing completely at him.
"I said I was sorry!" the warden insisted, reaching out to pat Thunder reassuringly before he continued, "What kind of friend would I be if I let you walk the Middle-earth in filth?" This seemed to goad Legolas to the fury point, as he stood rigidly and in a manner unlike him, flung water at the March warden, hitting him right in the face. Haldir hadn't been expecting that, and just stood there, eyes squeezed shut, his face half scrunched up in proof that a great amount of it had gone up his nose. This seemed to sate Legolas into laughing again, as he climbed out.
"Oh...Please forgive me, Haldir...I'm terribly sorry," he reassured the other in mock regret. Haldir reached upward, and rubbed the water from his face, opening his eyes to eye the blonde Prince before he slowly smiled and shook his head, going back to work without a word. He'd still made Legolas mad - and that's all that mattered.
Silathil stood, both horses flanking him, unsure if his stomach could take any more laughter. Already it hurt from overuse as he fought another wave of hysterics, and then Legolas was dunked shortly after Haldir. When Haldir actually left the basin, Thunder nuzzled against his cheek, as if sharing some secret joke that he approved of the dunking of the fair prince within the water. And then Elrohir stooped to aid Legolas out of the water, shaking his head softly. "I swear... if I didn't know any better, one would think you two were married." And he returned to his own work, brushing water through Clover's mane, chasing away the last remnants of dirt from her glossy coat, letting both dripping elves to stew about what happened without further word from him.
"Married!" Legolas squeaked in disbelief. "Married to that elf!? I pity the poor soul that eventually binds themselves to him. I doubt anyone would!" Haldir gave a slightly narrow-eyed glare towards the blonde prince, but said nothing. He didn't want Legolas to have the satisfaction of knowing he'd hit a tender sore-spot. But by the silence Legolas realized he had, and the quiet unnerved him and left him feeling a little regretful.
When Clover was finished, and Elrohir was sure Haldir had finished with Thunder, he gestured for both horses to follow him back to the stables, led by the other two elves' gentle guidance, before securing them both in their own stalls. Towels were passed to both his friends - not just for themselves, but to dry down the horses as well, and he moved to Clover to wipe off the excess water that dampened her coat, tail and mane. He then tended to his own splatterings of water that had hit him when both blonde elves took their unexpected dips. When all was finished, he cocked his head toward the main house, eyes glittering lightly, wondering exactly what might happen next. "Are either of you in want of a noon meal?"
Both elves were pleasantly quiet as they followed Elrohir, and then set to drying the horses with care, neither seeming to be sore any longer about the water business. Haldir stood beside Thunder, leaning forward slightly with his head tilted as he dried the loose water from his hair. Legolas stood on the other side of the stable doing much the same, only he was finished slightly before his companion. "Lunch sounds fitting," he commented with a nod to Elrohir's question, then approached the brunette elf to stand beside him.
"What are we doing after that?" Haldir asked as he leaned against the gate of the stall, his cheek against Thunder's snout and his eyes closed.
With the horses now dry, he led the two soggy elves first up to his bedroom, gesturing to his dresser. "First, you change. No matter how many times you run those towels over you, you're still going to be soaked, and I know how uncomfortable that is... Thunder got me countless times since he's arrived at the stables." He took a moment, then addressed Haldir's question. "After lunch, we get to have a little fun... We let Butter, Clover, and Sundance into the pasture, then Thunder, Princess and Chance get to be ridden wherever we'd like for a few hours... just be careful with Thunder, Haldir: if he sees mud, he'll want to drop down and roll in it, and I doubt you'd like to clean him again." He paused for a moment, and then glanced to the two as he pulled out a dry tunic for himself – he'd gotten quite damp, himself.
"Is Thunder from Rohan, do you know? He seems like a horse of the Rohirrim. He's very large, like an Elven horse, only not as fair as an Elven horse. And his temperament reminds me of the Mearas," Haldir wondered thoughtfully as he found something to wear and put it on without ceremony. His own things he laid out, knowing they would dry quickly, as Elvish clothing tended to dry faster than normal wear. Legolas had changed as well, and had now taken to running Haldir's comb through his hair as he sat on the edge of his bed, looking at the floor thoughtfully.
"Shadowfax was white...were not all the Mearas white?" He asked curiously.
"I believe they were, but I think the Rohirrim bred the Mearas with a regular breed. That's why they are known for their horses. Surely a black one could be begotten by that means," the Marchwarden explained.
Legolas pondered this for a moment, and then nodded in agreement. "That's plausible," he acknowledged.
Elrohir peered at Haldir curiously, offering a slight nod in response. "His dam was one of the Rohirrim's, though we've yet to discover who his sire was. Apparently, he's not from any of our own. But his mother was taken away a year or so after he was born, as we were only supposed to take care of her for a year and a bit. We were thankfully allowed to keep the colt as a gift for looking after the girl." In truth, he was glad for Thunder's appearance at the stables, for he was the most intelligent of the group, though all were relatively smart, and he was swift and surefooted… he would make an excellent sire, and of course, the family wanted to breed him as soon as he was mature enough. But for now, he was just happy-go-lucky and would gladly dump people in rivers, basins, and lakes if they let him. Water -and mud- were like candy to him.
His thoughts switched to their outing, and he grinned slightly to the other two. "We can bring lunch with us and find a place further away and eat lunch without small children running around our ankles..." and he waited patiently then for the two to pick something out to wear while their own clothing - though much more intricately woven than his own - dried from the antics of Thunder. He felt bad for Haldir once more, as Legolas' jab to Haldir's social and love life seemed to have stung quite a bit. In truth, he didn't see why Haldir -was- single. Though he was serious quite often, it was apparent he had a good sense of humor and could joke with the best of them. After all, till the rather injuring joke, he was keeping up with Legolas quite well.
Both Legolas and Haldir had turned to him when mention was made of going elsewhere for their meal, and relief was found on Haldir's face.
"I would love to eat without children running around my ankles," the Warden admitted sheepishly.
Elrohir nodded. "I'm sure we can wrap our lunch in a sack and follow one of the trails southward for a bit... there's a nice clearing around there to eat if you know where to go." Once both were changed and ready, he pocketed a comb - to give either one a treat, they'd not know for now - and led them down the stairs and to the kitchen to collect a quick meal for their ride. They were still running fairly early, noon-time wouldn't actually be for an hour or so, but there was always some sliced meats and fruits, along with small rolls of bread to take with them, and juice could always be carried in water-tight skins. Such things were quickly prepared as he hummed softly to himself, though of what song he did not know.
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