Note: Ok, I know what is going to happen in the sequels. There are going to be 3 sequels to this fic, each with a different relationship. One with A/L, one with H/L, and one with H/L/A. This fic has Haldir/Legolas and implied Legolas/Aragorn slash. Elvish speech is in ''; translations are in ( ). Language, violence! Takes place a few hours after the last chapter. I promise action in the next chapter!!

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Part 7

Haldir sat silently beside the fire, on the opposite side of the couch from Aragorn. The handsome Elf had already carried Legolas into the bedroom after the younger Elf had eaten. After covering Legolas with some blankets, Haldir had returned to the main room, for he did not want to awaken the sleeping Elf. Legolas needed rest to recover, as did he, Haldir knew.

The Elf felt some pity for Aragorn, because he knew that the human was still in love with Legolas, no matter how much he tried to hide it. At least Aragorn was now questioning whether or not Legolas was guilty of murder, which was an improvement. However, Haldir also did not want to give Aragorn another chance to harm the one that they both loved. So he was not going to sleep until either the human fell asleep, or Legolas woke.

Aragorn glanced over at the Elf who sat silently, absentmindedly rubbing his bandaged hands, for Haldir was lost in his thoughts. Aragorn hated to admit it, but Haldir had changed, for the better. The King of Gondor knew that the Elf would do anything for Legolas, even die for him. His arrogance had apparently faded, as had his selfishness.

However, Aragorn was very jealous of the closeness that Legolas and Haldir shared. The two Elves, when they were both awake, were always touching or leaning against each other. Or whispering Elvish endearments to each other. It was so hard for him, Aragorn thought. Damn it, he must still be in love with Legolas, as Haldir had calmly told him.

How could he still love Legolas, especially when the Elf might be Arwen's killer? No, Aragorn mused. He was starting to get more and more doubtful about that. After all, Legolas had not killed him, even after Aragorn had nearly beheaded him. Though his tongue was sharp and cold, but that was to be expected after everything.

Haldir flinched and rubbed his aching hands again. They itched, which told the Elf that his healing ability was working on them. That was good, though Haldir was more concerned for Legolas' injury. It didn't help that Aragorn had re-opened it. He glanced over at the human, and was surprised to see Aragorn watching him.

"So when did you and Legolas get together?" Aragorn asked, a bitter note in his voice.

Haldir calmly looked at the human. "It was not a cheap affair, Elessar. He hurt terribly after you wed Arwen, and I was there for him. We grew closer, naturally and slowly, because he was not ready. Right before he was thrown into your prison for a murder he did not commit, Legolas finally told me that he was ready."

Aragorn's mouth dropped open. "I wed Arwen almost four years ago. You waited that long?"

Haldir silently nodded, surprising the human.

"Why did you wait that long?" Aragorn asked suspiciously.

"I love him as I have loved no other," came the calm, passive answer. Haldir sighed, as he shifted position slightly.

Jealousy spurred the next sharp question. "Have the two of you made vows?"

"No. I would if he wanted to, but he does not wish to do so yet." A sly smile lit on Haldir's face, as he looked at Aragorn. "Binding yourself to another for all time is not an easy step, especially when the last person you made vows with broke them."

Aragorn flushed, entirely without meaning to. "I believe he broke his first," the human snapped pointedly.

Haldir let out an exasperated sigh, before his pewter eyes met Aragorn's grey ones. "You know that he did not. Why do you deny it?"

"I know no such thing," Aragorn retorted.

"Then why did you help him?" Haldir inclined his head slightly, a knowing look on his handsome face. "And me, for that matter."

It was Aragorn's turn to sigh. "I don't know." The human was so confused. Part of him wanted to hate Legolas, and the other part wanted to love the beautiful Elf. To his surprise, a bandaged hand touched his shoulder compassionately.

A gentle smile was on Haldir's face. "I think you've both hurt each other, Elessar. You hurt him by nearly killing him and breaking the vows that the two of you made. He hurt you with his vow of hate and his harsh words."

Aragorn stared at the Elf silently.

"People change or they die, Elessar. Legolas is not the same person that he used to be." Haldir's eyes held sorrow and pain.

"When did you change?" Aragorn curiously asked. He didn't understand how Haldir could have changed so much.

A quiet laugh sounded. "Legolas makes everyone around him calmer, less to anger, more to question. He is my life."

Aragorn scowled. He'd said the same thing about Legolas once, in what seemed to be a very, very long time ago. "So he belongs to you now?" came the spiteful question.

A hint of anger flashed in Haldir's eyes at that question. "Legolas belongs to himself first, Elessar. I am his and he is mine, for as long as he wishes it. No vows were needed for that understanding. He is free to do as he wills."

"So he could take someone else to his bed and you would not protest?" Aragorn asked skeptically.

"I do not own him. Yes, it would hurt, but I would not judge him for it. From day to day, the smaller truth that he loves me is enough. What have you given up for him, Elessar?" Haldir questioned sharply.

Aragorn frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I gave up my family, my Kin, my friends, and my life, because I love him. What did you give up for his love?" the Elf inquired, a sharp edge in his voice.

Those words were like a knife into Aragorn's heart. "Nothing," he admitted. "I gave up nothing. He loved me, in spite of Arwen. And when we broke up, he was the one who released me from our vows."

Haldir murmured, "And that fact should have more meaning to you. You just said that Legolas released you from your vows, but he was never released. Elves do not break their vows."

Aragorn didn't know what to say to those words. That was what Gandalf had been trying to tell him, that an Elf would not break a vow that they had made. At the time, Aragorn had shrugged the words off, but now… Now he wasn't sure. Could Legolas be truly innocent?

Haldir knew that he had gotten through to Aragorn. The Elf's compassion for the human had kept him from hurting Aragorn, because Haldir was well aware of the fact that Aragorn was in love with Legolas. Pity had stayed his hand the first two times, but sometimes Haldir did want to slap some sense into Aragorn. How could the human be so blind?

The Elf yawned slightly and shifted again. Haldir was growing tired, but he forced himself to stay awake. Legolas was in another healing sleep, and if Haldir fell asleep, Legolas would be at Aragorn's mercy. While the older Elf knew that he was creating chinks in Aragorn's belief that Legolas was Arwen's murderer, he wasn't foolish enough to leave Legolas defenseless.

A healing sleep was beckoning to Haldir as well, and the Elf propped his elbow on the side of the couch, bringing his hand up to his forehead. He yawned and closed his eyes for a few minutes, and his hand slid up his forehead, brushing his hair back.

Aragorn's sharp, grey eyes caught the yawn. He said nothing, however, as Haldir rested his chin on his head, yawning again. "Tired?" he asked, raising a dark eyebrow slightly.

"Mmm-hmm," Haldir said sleepily. He was losing his battle to stay awake, and locked eyes with the human.

"Then go to sleep," Aragorn said flatly.

Haldir shook his head. "Not leaving Legolas alone," he muttered.

Amusement sparkled in Aragorn's eyes. Haldir talked to him like a friend- sort of, but the Elf wasn't stupid enough to leave Legolas unprotected in his healing sleep. From the fatigue glinting in the steel eyes that looked at him, it appeared that Haldir was about to fall into a healing sleep as well, and that was why he was fighting it, because both Elves would be vulnerable when he fell asleep.

Smart Elf, Aragorn thought. "Go to bed, Haldir." A scowl appeared on his face. "I already told Legolas I wouldn't kill him- not yet, anyway. I find it much more amusing to taunt him when he's alive, instead of dead."

A knowing look was in Haldir's eyes. "You just don't want to kill him, Elessar." The Elf yawned again, looking tired and stubborn at the same time. But Haldir knew he could not hold out forever against the sleep that was forcing him to succumb to it.

Aragorn was amused, as he saw Haldir's eyes shifting into the sleeping, blank eyes. The Elf jerked awake, desperation in his eyes. "Go to sleep. I won't hurt you; you haven't hurt me," the King told the Elf sharply.

"Legolas…" Haldir whispered stubbornly, afraid for the one he loved. He could not given in to this…

"I told you that I won't kill him." A frown was on Aragorn's face.

"Can't…" Haldir finally fell asleep and went limp. Rough hands caught the Elf as he nearly fell onto the floor.

Aragorn smirked and peered down into the face of the sleeping Elf. Tension was written on Haldir's face. The human shook his head. No Elf could resist a healing sleep. Aragorn rolled his eyes slightly, and easily lifted Haldir, before he silently carried the Elf into the bedroom and lay him down next to where Legolas lay. Even in his sleep, Legolas shifted position, turning towards Haldir, snuggling close to him.

Jealousy soared in the grey eyes that watched the two Elves, before Aragorn bitterly left the room. He sat on the couch once more, lost in his thoughts. Pain was in the human's heart. Haldir was right; what had he given up for Legolas' love?

Haldir had given up everything, forsaking it all to be with the one he loved.

Aragorn had given up nothing, loving Legolas while he could. But their separation had desperately hurt Aragorn, who had thought that Legolas was indifferent to it. And now Haldir had told him that it had taken a long time for Legolas to be ready for another relationship.

What should he do, Aragorn wondered. Should he admit the truth to himself?

Legolas appeared to be innocent. Haldir kept implying that he was, as did Gandalf. But where had been Legolas been that night? His absence had made Aragorn believe that he was guilty, but wasn't it just possible… That it proved his innocence? That Legolas had been somewhere else, where he was not supposed to be, instead of in Gondor?

And Aragorn also knew something else. Instead of hating Legolas, he felt something far from it. He loved the Elf, which really confused him. Especially since Aragorn knew full well that Haldir and Legolas were in love.

Was it some kind of a punishment, that he find out that he still loved Legolas, when the Elf was involved with someone else, Aragorn wondered. Haldir genuinely loved Legolas, which made things all the more complicated. If the older Elf didn't love Legolas so much, Aragorn would have instantly staked a claim on the younger Elf.

Oh well, Aragorn thought wistfully. It was fairly obvious to him that Legolas would not forgive him, because the Elf had told him twice now that he hated him. Aragorn determined reluctantly that he had hurt him enough.

It was bad enough that he might have been the one to break their vows, instead of Legolas, Aragorn bitterly mused. But he had come close- very close- to forcing himself onto the Elf. That was unforgivable. No matter what Legolas may or may not have done, he did not deserve that. No one did.

Legolas would probably never trust him again, Aragorn sadly suspected. He heard two muffled sighs coming from the bedroom, as if in agreement.

To be continued