Note: There will be 3 sequels to this fic, and they will be marked in the summary; 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 ' '. Takes place the following morning. Final chapter coming when I figure out where to cut the story off for the triad split! I moved the action back to the final chapter!

Feelings

Part 8

Early the next morning, Legolas awoke to a strange touch on his face; a cloth was pressing against it. The blond Elf's eyes returned to normal, refocusing on a hand that was bandaged tightly, as it stroked his face, seemingly memorizing his features.

"What happened to your hand, my love?" Legolas whispered, carefully taking the bandaged hand in his and holding it gently. He turned towards Haldir, a concerned look in his azure eyes.

Haldir softly said, "Nothing too serious. How are you feeling?" Love shone in the steel-grey eyes as they watched Legolas closely.

Legolas made a face. "I'm fine, but why is your hand bandaged?" He felt the cloth around the hand he held, before he saw that Haldir's other hand was bandaged as well. "Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

"You could have done nothing about it, a'maelamin," Haldir told him honestly. "You were exhausted and in pain from your own injury. Elessar bandaged them for me while you slept earlier."

"You're joking," Legolas scoffed doubtfully. Aragorn would not help one of them- at least not without having a selfish reason for doing so.

Haldir shook his head. "He did, Legolas, though he is in pain himself."

"From what? He has no physical wounds to speak of." Legolas frowned, not understanding the somber look in his lover's eyes.

"He still loves you, Legolas," Haldir murmured. "Despite his doubts, despite everything… He still loves you."

Legolas wordlessly stared at Haldir in shock. "I don't love him," he protested sharply. "He tried to kill me! How could I love someone who not only tried to kill me for something I didn't do, but one who does naught but bring me grief?"

"Are you so certain?" Haldir whispered knowingly. Pain was in his heart, but he knew he had to ask. A sad, loving look was in his eyes.

"I…" Legolas grew quiet for a few moments, before he continued speaking. "I know that I love you, as I love no other, but as for him… I cannot say. I once loved him, but he betrayed that love and me in the most horrifying way of all." Doubt was in him, though Legolas knew that he felt something towards Aragorn, though he could not be certain if it was hate or love. There was a thin line between the two emotions.

Haldir cupped one of Legolas' cheeks carefully with his other bandaged hand. "Be true to yourself, lirimaer. I will ask no more than that of you, my love." He pressed a sweet, tender kiss to Legolas' lips, before he covered them with a finger. "Do not speak while your heart is troubled; I will love you no matter of what lies in the future, which we cannot yet foresee."

Legolas was stunned at the depth of love reflecting in those near silver eyes and he tried again to speak, but Haldir pressed his finger against his lips again and again told him to wait until he was certain of what he felt, lest he speak too soon and come to regret his words.

"We should go prepare breakfast," Haldir finally told his lover, allowing a brief, fleeting smile to cross his face, before he sat up. Legolas did so as well, and the two golden-haired Elves stood, before walking together out of their room and into the main one.

Aragorn had dozed off against the couch, still sitting up, and his head rested against the couch's arm. Dark, brown locks covered part of his face as he slept, a slight frown on his admittedly handsome face. What his thoughts were, only the Man knew, but from the frown it was apparent that whatever they were, they were not happy ones.

Legolas stared at Aragorn for a few moments, an unhappy look in his eyes. He honestly didn't know if Haldir was right, but if he was… If he was, then Legolas didn't know what to say or do. He loved Haldir… but if he was honest, he would admit that the son of Arathorn was as appealing to him as ever. Legolas didn't think it was love; it was more like lust, or so he thought, he hoped.

But did he really hope that it was nothing more than lust? How could he figure this out, when he didn't even know his own heart? Why did everything have to get so complicated now? Why did Aragorn have to come here and ruin everything?

Haldir and Legolas may not have had much, but they'd had each other to depend on. That was something Legolas had taken for granted, after nearly being beheaded. He knew that Haldir was right; he needed time to think, to figure out his own heart and everything, but he also believed that Aragorn still thought him to be guilty of murdering Arwen. So how could the Man love him, if he thought him capable of murder? No matter how many times Legolas had proclaimed his innocent, Aragorn hadn't believed him, instead nearly executing him for a crime he never committed.

Was that love?

Part of Legolas wanted to make Aragorn suffer as greatly as he had, being tortured and beaten by the prison guards who wanted to make him suffer for murdering their queen, becoming an outcast to all and his family… If Aragorn still loved him, he never would have branded him a murderer and try to kill him… Not to mention that for a few moments, Legolas had truly believed that Aragorn was going to rape him for revenge.

Yet in that, there was the problem. Aragorn had stopped, though Legolas did not know why. If the Man did still love him, that would explain why he had stopped, but it would not excuse his behaviour. Even if the situations had been reversed, Legolas did not believe he would have done something similar, but without being there to know what his reaction would be, he could not say with certainty that he would not have.

Awakened perhaps by Legolas' thoughts, Aragorn stirred and looked at the two Elves neutrally. He did not know what to say, so he remained silent, waiting for one of them to speak first. It was painfully clear to him that Legolas, at least, was still wary of him, from the strange look in the Elf's cobalt eyes.

Haldir was the first to speak, as he began preparing to make more broth for breakfast. "You slept well, I trust?" he inquired, trying to lessen the tension in the room.

"Indeed," came the slow answer. Aragorn sighed and muttered, "You don't have to eat that… there's food in my pack, if you're interested…" The Man averted his gaze, realizing that revealing that might entice more anger from Legolas over hiding it.

Legolas raised one of his dark eyebrows sharply, but said nothing, as he went over to the pack and began searching through it. Finding some dried meat, he removed enough for all three of them to eat and handed it out. Chewing carefully on the meat, he avoided looking at Aragorn.

Aragorn made the first move, turning to Legolas. "Is your side all right?" he questioned quietly, a hidden emotion flickering in his eyes. He ate slowly, popping strips of dried meat into his mouth, as he waited for an answer.

"Yes," Legolas answered impassively, feigning indifference to Aragorn's question. "Thank you for bandaging my side… and Haldir's hands…"

Haldir tore into the meat, separating it into smaller strips which he chewed on slowly, savoring the pleasant change from broth. "We should leave in a few hours," he told Aragorn and Legolas. "If we leave much later than that, we may find ourselves surrounded by the bandits that attacked you, Elessar."

"You don't need to drag me along in this," Aragorn protested, not wanting to upset Legolas any further with his presence. "I'll go back to Gondor willingly and alone."

Legolas found himself speaking before he knew it. "So you will not take revenge for Arwen?" he asked skeptically. "Haldir and I are going to find her murderer… You more than anyone have the right to deal with whoever did murder her, but if you will not avenge her, then it will fall to Haldir and myself to do so." A grim smile crossed Legolas' face, because the death of the murderer would be his revenge as well, for years of being an outcast, hunted, and a framed murderer. He would avenge himself for the pain he'd gone through, not being able to speak to or see his father for so long… Whoever had done this was going to pay, Legolas vowed.

Aragorn frowned slightly, surprised that Legolas would say such a thing. "I think I have made enough mistakes to last me the rest of my Immortal life," he replied. It was the closest to an apology that he could come, having never before uttered the words 'I'm sorry' to anyone.

"If you have decided, Elessar, then Legolas and I will leave, but you are not unwelcome to come," Haldir said, putting his shoes on carefully with his bandaged hands. "Three may be better than two when dealing with a murderer, after all, and revenge is a dish best served by one who has more of a claim to revenge."

"Are you certain I am not unwelcome?" Aragorn countered, looking directly at Legolas. Pain was in his eyes, which he hoped went unseen by the two sharp-eyed Elves.

Legolas stiffened. "Unless you still seek my death, I will not deny you the right to come, Elessar."

Aragorn nodded slowly, and let out a deep breath. "Then I'll come… until you both tire of my constant presence. My duty to Arwen commands that I go with you… but I do not want to cause any more pain." He broke off when he saw the saddened look on Haldir's face, which quickly faded when the Elf noticed him watching.

Legolas looked at Haldir silently, seeing the pain in his lover's eyes. This was not easy for any of them, Legolas knew… He still did not know his own heart, and without knowing it, how could he know what to do? He definitely did not wish to hurt Haldir… but his gaze kept going to Aragorn…

"Then we should leave," Haldir finally said. He gathered Legolas' few belongings, along with his own, and handed them to the younger Elf silently. A look of surprise appeared on his handsome face when Legolas caught a hold of his arm, giving him a reassuring look with his alluring blue eyes. Haldir was surprised at the relief that went through him, and he smiled, before nodding.

Legolas fiercely whispered, 'Amin mela lle, Haldir…' (I love you, Haldir…)

'Amin sinta…' (I know…) Haldir looked over at Aragorn wordlessly, and was not surprised to see the pain in his dark eyes at the sight of Legolas' closeness to him. Everything was a lot more complicated now, Haldir knew, because eventually, someone's feelings would be hurt, when Legolas decided who he loved more. Yes, Haldir knew Legolas better than the younger Elf knew himself. He knew that Legolas loved both him and Aragorn, but he was not going to force the one he loved to choose.

Aragorn knew that his presence was putting a strain on Legolas' relationship with Haldir, and he was truly sorry for that. If only time could be undone, and undo the wrong that had been done, Aragorn mused bitterly. He told himself that it was his punishment, seeing Legolas with another, for his actions towards the slender Elf, who had most likely done no more wrong than to be somewhere he wasn't supposed to be. Pride was a terrible thing, Aragorn decided, as Legolas pulled on his torn shirt, tunic, and cloak, along with his shoes, with Haldir's assistance.

Then the three of them left the house silently, heading north towards Dunland. Haldir led the way, with Legolas behind him. Aragorn followed the two Elves silently, and neither spoke for several hours, walking along the Misty Mountains, ignoring the bitter cold, and the deep drifts of snow. Legolas and Haldir walked on top of the snow, as all Elves could, careful not to leave the King of Gondor behind.

However, the temporary peace could not last… not when hearts were confused and love was threatened…

To be continued