Author's Notes: Elvish is in ' '. Only the unknown characters belong to me! This fic contains eventual Haldir/Glorfindel slash, and verbal and physical abuse! The focus is on Glorfindel and Haldir, not Aragorn and Legolas, though both will be mentioned in this fic. This fic takes place sometime between the Prologue and the first chapter of 'Reasons'. Takes place the next morning. Poll: should the G/H slash take place in the next chapter, during the second night, or on the third and final night?

Part 6. The Second Day

Haldir awoke at the sound of something moving. His eyes instantly returned to normal, as he warily looked around. He opened his mouth to say something, when a warm hand covered it. Haldir noiselessly whirled around, so fast that his hair whipped across his face, to see who was keeping him from speaking.

'Shh…' Glorfindel murmured. 'I've been listening to it for a while now. It's that creature again; it's looking for us.' Or you, he silently added. He enjoyed the feel of Haldir in his arms; after the Elven lord had awakened, he hadn't moved, because he had not wanted to wake Haldir. The younger Elf looked very innocent in his sleep, with his full mouth open just enough to play on Glorfindel's imagination and make him think of things he shouldn't.

Haldir nodded and peered down the branches, leaning forward slightly. Only then did he realize that Glorfindel was still holding onto him, because he could feel the strong arms around his waist. A flush appeared on his face, but he was surprisingly pleased.

The warmth spreading through his body had nothing to do with the warm sun that was rising slowly in the sky, and Haldir concentrated on keeping his breathing normal, until he got a look directly at the creature. It was currently intent on tearing up his pack, shredding both it and everything inside to pieces.

'We should be trying to defeat it,' Haldir said, but it came out in mumbles, because of the hand over his mouth.

Glorfindel whispered, 'What?' He wasn't really paying attention to what Haldir was saying, as the younger Elf shifted in his arms, looking at the black figure below.

Even in the daylight, the creature's features were impossible to make out, and it was not only because the two Elves were up high in the tree, hiding in its branches. The evil that it possessed surrounded the figure, blurring its appearance from even keen Elven sight.

Haldir tugged at the hand on his mouth, an impatient look in his eyes. When it was finally removed, he repeated his statement that they should attack, and Glorfindel shook his head in response.

'We need to study it first and learn its weaknesses, before we try to kill it,' Glorfindel said in a low voice. 'Otherwise, we may wind up like the Galadhrim that were attacked.'

'But won't it get stronger if we don't stop it before it eats again? That is, if it eats,' Haldir whispered back. A doubtful note was in his voice, as if he were unsure.

Glorfindel frowned thoughtfully. Haldir did have a good point; if the creature fed off of something, it would get that much harder to defeat. If it did not have to feed itself, then it would not gain any more strength from nourishment, but it surely would have to rest, he mused.

He finally told Haldir, 'You may be right, but any advantage we can get is worth a delay, unless we see it planning to harm something.'

Haldir reluctantly gave in. 'Very well, but we also do not know what senses it may have. I know it has eyes, but…' A shudder ran through him at the memory of those fathomless, black eyes, but he ignored it and watched Glorfindel.

'As for hearing and speaking…' Glorfindel sighed, before continuing with, '… it would be safer to assume that it can hear and talk.'

Down below, the creature paused, sniffing the air, trying to figure out which way the Elves had gone. It suddenly looked up, and both golden-haired Elves froze, to try to keep the creature from seeing them. In doing so, Haldir was pressed directly against Glorfindel, who stifled a slight groan.

The Elven lord scolded himself for enjoying the way that Haldir's body fit perfectly against his, and for liking the heat that was beginning to spread through his veins, clouding his judgment. Haldir shifted slightly, before he realized just how close he was to Glorfindel. His back pressed against the firm chest behind him, making him feel warm and somewhat dizzy, especially when the arms around his waist almost unconsciously pulled him closer.

The creature screeched something so high-pitched that the sensitive Elven ears began throbbing with the intensity and volume of the warbling sound that echoed in Glorfindel and Haldir's ears.

Haldir's hands were pressed against his ears as tightly as he could manage it, flinching as the sounds grew even higher in pitch. Glorfindel was not faring much better, and one of his arms unwound from the younger Elf's waist. He used it to draw one of his small daggers, which had been hidden in a sheath bound to the calf of his leg.

Haldir was surprised when the remaining arm around him tightened, while Glorfindel took careful aim, forcing himself to ignore the agony of the screeches. The dagger was brought back and flung directly at the creature's throat, impaling itself deep into the black flesh.

The creature's cries cut off, though it did not die. Now it knew where the Elves were, so it began clawing at the tree, determined to bring it down. The tree shook with the efforts of the black figure to tear it down, anticipating feeding once more on an Elven soul.

Haldir and Glorfindel both grabbed onto the branch, as the tree began shaking harder, making faint cracking sounds. The small hemlock tree was designed to hold only light, agile Elves, not to withstand blows that were tearing its trunk into pieces.

Glorfindel pulled Haldir to his feet by the waist. After moving his hand from the younger Elf's waist to take a firm grip on his wrist, the Elven lord easily sprinted along the branch, pulling Haldir with him. Glorfindel leapt to another tree, with Haldir right behind him. They landed smoothly on a sturdy branch in the rowan tree, and the two Elves swiftly began climbing down it, lest the creature attack any more trees.

Once their feet were back on the ground, the creature turned towards them, a low, hissing sound escaping from its shattered throat. It started towards the Elves, delirious with hunger. No other Elves were around now, so it had to feed off of these two. It didn't even have to touch them to feed; all it had to was lock eyes with the Elf for more than a few moments and the delicious light within the Elf would come to him.

It had tasted both of these souls the night before, and the fiery soul was more appealing now than ever. If that other Elf hadn't interfered, it would have been a sensual feast. The figure ignored the taller Elf and focused its eyes directly onto the azure depths of the smaller Elf.

Haldir felt strange again, coldness creeping into his veins at the pitiless gaze. He tried to look away, but he could not, as his eyes rolled back in his head, before he swayed. Glorfindel broke the eye contact between their prey and Haldir by drawing his sword and placing it in front of Haldir's eyes. One of his arms held the younger Elf up, giving him support as Haldir regained his senses.

The 'Lorien Elf drew his own sword, glad that his right wrist was finally better. If it hadn't been, it would have hurt when Glorfindel had all but dragged him through the tree, before they had jumped into another tree. A desperate weariness was settling over him, making him very tired.

A crack of rumbling thunder drew the attention of the three in the clearing. The morning sky was beginning to grow dark and gloomy, with dark grey clouds covering the sun. The wind began blowing slightly, tugging at all loose things, including the long, golden, Elven hair.

The creature ran off while the two Elves were distracted, to get itself healed

Glorfindel sheathed his sword and looked at Haldir. 'Are you all right?'

'I think so,' Haldir answered, yawning in spite of himself.

'How can you be tired already?' Glorfindel wondered aloud.

Haldir shook his head and placed his sword back in its sheath. 'We'd better find shelter quickly, before the storm breaks. I've never seen a storm come up so fast.'

Glorfindel nodded, as lightning sparked overhead. 'This way.' The Elven lord led the way, dashing through the forest towards a secret place that only he knew of. Haldir followed him closely, right before thunder cracked again. The rain that had been threatening to fall started pouring down, soaking directly through their clothes and cloaks.

Haldir forced himself to ignore the inner cold he felt inside as he closely followed Glorfindel, keeping his senses sharp in case the creature came back.

It took nearly half an hour to reach the place Glorfindel was heading for. When they arrived, he began sweeping aside the thick brush that covered the small entrance to a tunnel, which very few Elves had found. Haldir himself had not realized that it was here, and he wordlessly watched, until the entrance was fully cleared.

Both dashed into the tunnel, and Glorfindel carefully arranged the brush back over the entrance. After he was finished, they had to crawl for a while through the dirt tunnel at first, until it wide enough for them to stand in it.

'When did you find this?' Haldir inquired, gazing around the wide room. He rubbed his hands together, bringing them up to his lips to warm them with his warm breath. Water dripped from his hair and clothes, leaving a small puddle on the floor.

Glorfindel shivered a bit as well, while he brought his hands up and began wringing the water out of his long hair. His nimble fingers then removed his tunic, which was completely soaked. The Elven lord carried it over to a small root that was protruding through the dirt wall, and hung the tunic on it.

'Almost two millennia ago,' Glorfindel finally told Haldir.

'Oh…' Haldir took off his tunic carefully, before he began unwrapping his right wrist. After flexing it a few times, he smiled at Glorfindel. 'Well, my wrist is better now, so you don't have to worry that I can't defend myself any longer.'

Glorfindel wordlessly nodded, watching Haldir as the younger Elf walked over and placed his green tunic next to the Elven lord's blue-grey tunic. The rain had thoroughly drenched Haldir, making his clothes seem like they were part of his body, clinging to him and outlining his youthful body.

Haldir was a little amused when he saw Glorfindel staring at him. He opened his mouth to say something, when a feverish kiss was given to him. His lips parted further when a tongue pushed into his mouth hungrily. After savoring the warm kiss for a few moments, Haldir kissed Glorfindel back, his lips firm but sweet at the same time.

The Elven lord's kisses grew deeper, fueling the sizzling heat between the two Elves. Neither thought of what they were doing, ignoring nagging thoughts as Haldir slipped his own tongue into Glorfindel's mouth, while a hand tilted his face up for more kisses.

Haldir was startled to hear a ragged groan escape from Glorfindel, before a breathless kiss was placed on his own lips. A faint moan sounded when a hand insistently slipped under his shirt, as the other hand wound around the waist and pulled him closer, pressing their bodies together tightly.

The moan was enough to bring Glorfindel back to reason. He stiffened slightly and released Haldir, averting his eyes. 'Forgive me,' he said stiffly. He hated himself when he saw the hurt and confusion in the wide, blue eyes that looked at him.

Haldir unintentionally let his emotions show for a few minutes, before he schooled his expression, tightening his lips. 'Forgive you? For what, taking advantage of a 'youngling'?' His voice was bitter and cold, and Haldir felt a crushing pain inside of him that had nothing to do with the inner cold plaguing him.

Glorfindel flinched and tried to rationally justify his actions, because he felt guilty that he didn't feel guilt over kissing Haldir. 'It's simply because I haven't been alone with anyone in a very long time and we're-'

'Rissan was right about you,' Haldir snapped.

'What does that mean?' Glorfindel demanded, his eyes narrowed. Part of him was secretly thrilled that Haldir had been discussing him with Rissan, but it appeared that the dark-haired Elf had not said something complimentary about him.

Haldir bitterly stated, 'Rissan said, 'You are far too young and naïve to see it, Haldir. Glorfindel will use you…' I think he was right to not want me to go with you on this mission, because-'

Glorfindel interrupted coldly with, 'See? Even he believes that you are young.'

'Rissan has the right to say such things; he was worried because he's my friend and lover, and he's only ever hurt me once, whereas you seem to delight in making me feel like…' Haldir cut himself off, not wanting to embarrass himself further.

Jealousy filled Glorfindel at those words, and he spat out, 'Really? Should I tell him that you were kissing me?

'You started it!' Haldir shouted. 'You kissed me!' A quaver entered his voice as he softly muttered, 'No, you shouldn't tell him. He'll just get angry again, he's very protective…'

'Protective? Or abusive?' Glorfindel questioned, his anger fading somewhat at Haldir's words. 'He'll just get angry again, he's very protective…' The Elven lord was certain of what he would learn.

Haldir glared at Glorfindel. 'He loves me; he can't help it if he gets jealous. And he was right; I should have spoken with him before I practiced my archery.'

Glorfindel shook his head slowly. 'You are your own person, Haldir. You do not have to get permission from him to do something; he's not your keeper.'

'It's just his way of showing that he cares… and he did apologize for hurting me,' Haldir defensively said.

'Don't defend him to me, Haldir!' Glorfindel's voice was sharp, making the young 'Lorien Elf flinch.

Haldir countered, 'You don't even know him! You can't judge him without knowing him!'

Glorfindel retorted, 'Yes, I can, when I see that he hurt you, apology or not. He should not have hurt you in the first place. If he is jealous, he needs to talk to the one who was with you, not you, because that only proves that he does not trust you.'

'I…' Haldir hadn't thought of that. Glorfindel was right; Rissan did not seem to trust him, not after the things he'd said after hurting him.

The conversation stopped for a while, and both Elves eventually removed their damp cloaks and sat on them silently, as far apart as they could be. Long hours drifted by with only silence to fill them.

Glorfindel believed that he was right, though he could see that he had been harsh with his statements and the words he had said. But he himself had been in a relationship very similar to the one Haldir seemed to be in, and he had not realized how wrongly that he had been treated until one of his close friends pointed it out to him, expressing his concern.

The Elven lord chanced looking at Haldir, admiring his admittedly attractive features, while believing himself to be weak for being attracted to the younger Elf. He was too old and too set in his ways for someone as free-spirited as Haldir to be attracted to him.

Haldir was still reflecting on what Glorfindel had told him, and he could admit that the older Elf was right. He had truly done nothing wrong to make Rissan so jealous. A twinge of guilt plagued at him, as he looked at Glorfindel, drawn to the Elven lord, who appeared to be his complete opposite; dependable, straightforward, and composed.

So why was he so attracted to him, Haldir wondered, if they truly were so different. His eyes secretly roamed over the calm, appealing Elf across the room.

Each happened to catch the other staring and, after quickly glancing away, both had the same thought.

This cannot continue…

To be continued