Disclaimers: See the Author's Notes! This is an AU! The R Rating is in effect now for good reason! Aragorn and Legolas' mental speech is in *. Elvish is in ''. A bit of yaoi between Haldir/Glorfindel. Takes place a little before the Rivendell Seven reach Lothlorien. I've got another question- would anyone be interested in a small Haldir/Glorfindel prequel to this fic, where they first met? Pick your votes for whether or not I should include a G/H slight lemon scene next chapter!
Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed
Part 28. Shadow
The little shadow that had been following the Company of Seven desperately raced ahead of the larger shadow that was chasing it. Breaths came and went in frantic pants, as the little one rapidly ran, hoping in vain to find them, and reveal itself finally to the traveling group. The time of secrecy was over; now the little one feared for its life.
Legolas was not the first one to feel uneasy; both he and his father paused in walking and looked around. As always, Aragorn stood by Legolas' side, and he stopped as well.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Legolas looked at his husband. "Something is following us… I think. For the past few days I believed that I felt something watching us, but I was not certain until now."
Gimli frowned and muttered, "Well, why didn't you mention it before, Elf?"
"Indeed," Boromir said sternly.
"I could not be certain if I was right," Legolas defensively stated. "If I was wrong…"
Thranduil interjected, "I, too, have felt eyes upon us. Yet nothing attacked, so I did not think that whoever it was meant any harm."
"It could be a spy," Glorfindel murmured. "Sent to watch and nothing else."
Haldir frowned at that thought. "If Sauron, Saruman, and Meron now know where we are going, then it is safe to assume that they also know of our plans to rescue our friends, and that Legolas travels with us."
"But how would they have found out?" Aragorn inquired. All eyes turned towards him in surprise. He flushed a little, before he continued. "Tis obvious that the Nazgul who fell off the cliff are either dead or delayed, for we have not seen them. The one that ran off alone did so in the opposite direction of Mordor. It makes no sense that they know where we are going, because who could have told them?"
Boromir's respect for Aragorn went up; that was a sound argument, and a logical one.
Legolas shuddered, however, drawing unwanted attention to him. "There is… one way that Sauron could know," he said in a low voice, which told the other Elves exactly what he was speaking of.
Haldir flinched, Glorfindel winced, and Thranduil stiffened at what Legolas was referring to. Gimli, Aragorn, and Boromir looked at the blond Elven Prince, not understanding what he was referring to.
"What do you mean, Legolas?" Aragorn questioned.
"The…the Great Eye of Sauron, which was used to plan the attack on Gondor, the battle in which King Arathorn and Queen Adrienne were killed," Legolas answered softly. He closed his bright, shining azure eyes for a moment in sorrow, remembering the noble King and Queen of Gondor.
Aragorn went silent at the mention of his parents, and Boromir sharply looked at Legolas. He knew Elves were older than they looked but…
"You speak as if you knew them, Legolas," he stated. "But you could not have… You are too-"
"-young?" Legolas replied in mid-sentence, smiling ruefully. "Nay, Boromir… I knew them well. I was there that day when they died… as did many people. Twas I who took Aragorn to Lord Elrond in Rivendell for protection."
Boromir did not look shocked very often, but he did now, gaping at the beautiful Elf.
Legolas' smile grew when he felt one of Aragorn's arms slip around his waist. "I am much older than I look, my friend. I have seen two millennia in my life, and I know that Aragorn and I will see many more together."
"I… see," Boromir finally said. He cleared his throat, and looked to the leaders finally, feeling slightly embarrassed. He had known that Legolas was older than Aragorn, but he had not known that Legolas was that old!
Aragorn was jealous when he saw the smile that Legolas was giving Boromir, which had spurred him to wrap his arms around the Elven beauty possessively. He was rewarded with a fond look and the special light in Legolas' eyes, which was reserved only for him, when the Elf looked at him. However, the half Elf saw the strange look in Boromir's eyes, and became jealous again.
Legolas tensed, when he heard the footsteps of something approaching. All perceived the sound a few moments later, and their eyes turned towards the bushes.
Glorfindel and Haldir notched their arrows, as Aragorn drew his own sword, along with Thranduil and Boromir, before the brown-eyed half Elf protectively stepped in front of Legolas.
The small figure that burst out of the bushes eeked at the weapons being pointed at her, but continued running towards them. "Help me!" she cried pleadingly, before she slipped and fell over a root. She hit the ground face-first.
A Uruk-Hai followed right behind her, and brought up its claws to strike her. The little one screamed as it drew near… The Uruk-Hai's blow never landed, for two Elven arrows pierced it; one in the throat, and the other in the heart. The strings of Haldir and Glorfindel's bows still shook slightly from the freshly fired arrows.
Boromir questioned, "Elena, what are you doing here?" The Man sheathed his sword and looked at the Hobbit child, whom he recognized as Elrohir and Elladan's little friend.
"I… um… I…" Elena said, wincing as she stood and saw the stern expression on Glorfindel's face, along with the Man who was scowling. 'I wanted to help?'
'Elena, you should not have followed us,' Glorfindel said, frowning. Mordor was no place for a child…or Legolas, for that matter.
Elena sniffed. 'I know… but they're my friends and I just couldn't stay behind and wait for them to be rescued…"
Legolas frowned at the Elven lord. 'Must you be so hard on her, Glorfindel? She's only a child and if it were my friends who were missing, naught could me away.'
Aragorn laughed at Legolas' words. 'You wouldn't stay away even if they weren't your friends,' he said slyly.
'I owe the Hobbits my life… at least somewhat, Aragorn,' Legolas pointedly told him, frowning. 'They found me when Gimli was caring for me, and they brought Glorfindel with them to me.'
'All right, all right!' Aragorn said, not wanting to start another argument with Legolas, at least not right now.
Elena gulped. "So… can I come with you?"
"We can scarcely leave you by yourself," Boromir answered dryly. "Come, child." He shook his head, wondering just what he had gotten himself into this time. Pregnant, stubborn, and beautiful Elves, leaders that wouldn't stop teasing each other, a potential King, a Dwarf, and a Hobbit child. Though this was a rather grand adventure, Boromir thought. He had been growing rather weary of watching over Gondor.
Aragorn frowned when he saw Boromir looking at Legolas again. He sheathed his sword and walked over to his husband, before he took a hold of one of the slim, pale hands, holding it firmly.
Legolas was slightly puzzled as to the strange emotion he was feeling from Aragorn, but he paid it no mind, for he liked it when Aragorn held his hand. He smiled at his husband and lover, and received a soft caress on the face for it. That led to a sweet, tempting kiss between the two, who had only one regret about this trip so far that was serious… They were not alone.
Elena was distracted by Gimli, curiously asking him questions as to why the Dwarf was the size of a Hobbit, and why he had such a long beard. Boromir laughed at the naïvety of the young Hobbit, though he made certain that she knew that he was not laughing at her personally.
Thranduil inwardly sighed at the sight of his son so happy. He absently watched him for a few moments, and again… He saw the familiar flicker in Legolas' aura, the gleaming, natural light of an Elf, which was stronger than most Elven auras because of the light of his magic.
The golden radiance hovered around Legolas like a shimmering light, which weakened a little, before returning to normal, shining directly about the beautiful Prince. Thranduil was almost positive of what the flickers meant, and intended to ask Galadriel to take a look herself after they rested when they arrived in 'Lorien.
Glorfindel took advantage of this unofficial break to edge away from the others with Haldir, who followed him obligingly.
'I suppose that you will be glad to be home again,' the golden-haired Elven lord slowly said.
'Yes, for I have missed my home,' Haldir replied. 'I have lived in Lothlorien for a very long time.'
Glorfindel was surprised at how reluctant he was to say what he was thinking. 'You still intend to leave with us to come to Mordor, don't you?'
Haldir was surprised, before he smiled. 'Of course, Glorfindel. Somebody has to keep an eye on you, oh mighty Elven lord,' he teased, though his true emotions showed in his unwavering eyes.
'I am no child, youngling,' Glorfindel said, pretending offense. He knew, however, that Haldir was merely jesting. The older Elf had learned the truth about Haldir long ago, in a far-off memory. The younger Elf kept his composure through his sly remarks and jests, to avoid being hurt again, as he had been all those long years ago. It was Haldir's shield of protection, which he rarely let down.
'Of course not, Glorfindel. In fact, you are my Elder. As such, I need to know where you would like to be placed in Lothlorien, for the thought only recently crossed my mind that there may not be enough spare talens for everyone,' Haldir said, grinning.
Glorfindel frowned, continuing the mock fight. 'Shall I then sleep on the ground?'
Haldir shrugged too casually, smirking a little. 'Unless you wish to share with someone, my dear Glorfindel.'
'And who would that be?' Glorfindel looked amused.
'It had best be someone who already has his own private talen, so that there is no worry that you will have nowhere to sleep,' Haldir told the Elven lord, demurely turning his back to Glorfindel, a fey look in his eyes.
Glorfindel sighed dramatically, before he reached out and pulled the younger Elf against him. 'I guess I must room with you, then, for I do not know any other to ask.' He smirked at Haldir, holding him tightly against his own body.
Haldir caught his breath in a faint gasp, right before the strong arms holding him made him turn and face Glorfindel. The two shared a knowing smile, and Glorfindel tilted his head down and greedily kissed Haldir, who feverously responded, pushing the taller Elf back. Their tongues easily went to work, teasing and darting back and forth between the sizzling, breathless kisses.
Legolas and Aragorn had shared quite a few long, wonderful kisses themselves, before they broke apart, panting. Legolas gave his lover a look of utter frustration, need in his jade eyes. Aragorn laughed quietly, knowing that the same look was in his own chocolate eyes.
'Wait till we're alone in 'Lorien,' Aragorn huskily whispered in Legolas' pointed ears, making the Elf shiver in anticipation.
"Before it gets too dark, I believe that we should reach Lothlorien," Boromir informed the others.
Thranduil nodded. "Let's get there before sunset," he said. "Glorfindel? Haldir?"
The two blond Elves were too busy to notice their names being called, as they seemingly tried to devour each other with their mouths.
"Geez…" Gimli grumbled, when he spotted their leaders frantically kissing. His hand blocked Elena from seeing it, and the Dwarf looked up at Boromir. "Guess romance is in the air, hmm?" Gimli actually found this amusing; it seemed that the Elves in the Company were very passionate, indeed, in their love. Except for Thranduil, Gimli suddenly thought, as he looked over at Legolas' father.
"It would seem so, Master Dwarf," Boromir answered. "Though we must be on our way."
Legolas' lips were swollen, matching Aragorn's. Both smiled knowingly, at the whispered promise that Aragorn had made. Legolas made it a point to walk beside his husband, after Glorfindel and Haldir finally separated, feigning nonchalance at the smirks and laughs they received.
The two Elves walked together, faster than they had before. Aragorn and Legolas walked right behind them, and Legolas held Aragorn's hand, with the other resting on his waist. Thranduil walked a little bit after his son… and his new son, the Elven King mused. Boromir brought up the rear, with Elena and Gimli right in front of him.
Hours passed by, and the sun slowly began sinking, hiding behind the coming veil of night. All of them were weary when they finally reached the borders of 'Lorien, and they felt relief as well. Soon… soon, they could rest and relax.
Haldir was not surprised when numerous 'Lorien Elves eventually confronted them, and he introduced himself, as well as the others. The small Company of Eight walked towards where Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn awaited them. Well, seven actually walked, for Elena had fallen fast asleep and was now being carried by Boromir, resting her little head against his shoulder, with her thumb in her mouth.
Galadriel and Celeborn bid them welcome, though they noted with concern the fatigue that radiated from them all. Galadriel's eyes rested on Legolas for a few moments, before they narrowed slightly. They then became wide again, and told all of them to rest and regain their strength, before they spoke again to them.
Boromir, Gimli, and Elena were taken to one talen, which proved difficult for Boromir to climb, as he held Elena. Another Elf carried her up into the tree-house like structure, and laid the child down to sleep on one of the soft cushions. Boromir and Gimli, after grumbling about being in a tree, swiftly followed her example, being very exhausted.
In the talen next to the one that the Dwarf, Man, and Hobbit slept, Thranduil entered and abruptly collapsed into slumber as soon as he stretched out to rest.
Legolas and Aragorn had their own private talen, and Aragorn fretted over Legolas while the Elven beauty climbed up the ladder gracefully, before he entered the talen. Aragorn was right behind him, and he swiftly closed the door and locked it. The two removed their weapons, tunics, cloaks, and shirts, though Legolas was reluctant to do so. They stared at each other for a few moments, before slowly entering each other's arms and kissing.
In Haldir's talen, the two golden-haired Elves pretended not to notice each other, while they slowly undressed, starting with their cloaks. The door to this talen was locked as well. Haldir had a bit of a problem removing the sheath across his back- at least, he pretended to. Glorfindel solemnly did so, dropping it on the floor rather loudly. Shirts, belts, and weapons followed swiftly.
Glorfindel made the first move, pinning Haldir against the wall.
To be continued
