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 ''. Ok, Legolas is going to have twins; now what should he have- boy/boy or boy/girl? And I need some name ideas! Celtic is preferable, but I'm open, and I'm also looking for suggestions as to what they should look like! A little G/H slash… Melindo = lover

Reasons To Fight, Reasons To Wed

Part 30. Separation

Glorfindel awoke before Haldir, as they lay entwined on his bed. One of his larger hands brushed some golden hair off of Haldir's face, causing the younger Elf to stir and blearily look at him.

Haldir was quite content to lay where he was, pressed against Glorfindel's side. 'Good morning,' he said calmly.

'Good morning, melindo,' Glorfindel answered.

'One night does not a lover make,' Haldir said, hiding his cheeky grin.

Glorfindel's eyes sparkled, as he purposefully wound his arms around the younger Elf, before one of his hands began teasing Haldir, making him groan. 'Is that so, fey one?' he questioned, a smirk on his face.

Haldir turned towards Glorfindel and tsked at him, shaking one of his fingers at the Elven lord. 'You were taking advantage, Glorfindel,' he scolded playfully.

'So?' Glorfindel took the finger into his mouth and bit it lightly, reminding Haldir just who was older. 'Do you not enjoy yourself near me?'

'Oh, I do. But I have no wish to join with someone who does not love me,' Haldir seriously said, the bantering over. He quietly murmured, 'Though few would be as understanding as you are.' A shadow crossed into his eyes for a few moments.

Glorfindel exasperatedly groaned and firmly rolled onto Haldir, pinning him to the bed. His hands caught the slightly smaller wrists, as he pressed a firm kiss onto Haldir's lips, making it long and sweet.

He then stated, 'What makes you think I don't love you?'

'Because…' Haldir slowly murmured, still dazed by the kiss. 'I irritate and annoy you, and…'

'And nothing,' Glorfindel told him. 'You've touched my heart in a way that no other has, Haldir, and I…'

Haldir's face lit up at those words. 'Really?'

A rough, tender kiss was the answer, which dazed both of them.

Glorfindel knew better than to cling to Haldir to hold him close; freedom was important to the young one, and he did not want to rush him at all.

'I love you, too,' Haldir whispered, resting his head against Glorfindel's bare chest. His hair hung freely about him, its silky locks brushing the bare skin of the Elf above him.

Both slyly smirked at each other, before they were interrupted by Thranduil's voice calling their names.

Haldir dramatically sighed, 'Duty calls…'

'And we obey,' Glorfindel chuckled, removing himself from the willing Elf, who winked at him.

The two golden-haired Elves pulled on their clothes, exchanging knowing looks, and they combed their hair quickly with their fingers, before they reluctantly gathered their stuff and went to meet Thranduil.

The Elven king was not surprised to see Haldir and Glorfindel emerge from Haldir's talen together, and he grinned broadly at both. 'We're leaving shortly, after Lady Galadriel finishes speaking with Legolas and Aragorn.'

'All right,' Glorfindel murmured, ignoring the grin, for he knew it was supposed to tease them.

Haldir grinned back. 'Then we can eat breakfast before we go!' He looked at Glorfindel. 'I don't know about you, but I'm hungry.'

Glorfindel contemplated saying exactly what was on his mind; 'I'm hungry, but it isn't for food…'

'Come on, then, before the food is all gone,' Thranduil told them, as he started leading the way towards where Boromir, Elena, and Gimli were eating.

***********

Elsewhere

***********

Galadriel finally finished speaking with Aragorn and Legolas. Both were pale when she stopped talking, and remained silent.

'Do you understand?' Galadriel questioned.

They nodded slowly, before leaving to go back to the others.

Legolas held onto Aragorn's hand tightly, shaken after what he had seen in the mirror. Aragorn was shaken as well, and did not speak, even after they had rejoined the rest of their grip.

Thranduil frowned and questioned, "What's wrong?" He raised an eyebrow when neither answered, shaking their heads.

"We should get moving," Glorfindel told the others, looking serious. "Especially if we don't want the Nazgul to catch up with us again."

Haldir nodded. "We still don't know if the ones that fell over the cliff are dead… or not." He chewed on a piece of meat, as he replenished his own food supplies with the food on the trays, taking dried fruit, meat, and vegetables.

"Then let's go," Gimli grumbled. "I don't wish to fight against the black riders again when my axe doesn't even hurt them."

Glorfindel's eyes clouded over; he had forgotten about his broken sword for a short time.

Haldir patted him on the arm, in a gesture of comfort. 'Perhaps Lord Elrond will be able to re-forge your sword, Glorfindel.' Compassion was in his eyes; he knew how much that sword had meant to his lover, for it was the first and only sword that Glorfindel had had in his entire life.

Glorfindel slowly nodded, and squeezed the hand on his arm in a gesture of gratitude.

A short time later, everyone was ready to leave again, and they started off again, this time traveling in boats along the Great River. Instead of automatically pairing off, they were paired off by weight by other 'Lorien Elves, taking into consideration how much each of the packs weighed.

Thranduil had Gimli in his boat, while Glorfindel had Elena in his. Aragorn and Boromir were put in a boat together, which annoyed Aragorn slightly, and he rather wondered if that hadn't been done on purpose. Legolas and Haldir shared the last boat, and Haldir insisted on rowing. The packs were placed in between each of the two in the boat, to center the weight evenly.

Gimli and Legolas' father got along easily enough, and Gimli laughed at some of the stories of what Legolas had done as a child, which included accidentally using magic to turn his mother's golden hair green.

"That Elf never does things by half, does he?" Gimli questioned, an amused look on his face, as he stroked his beard with one hand, trying to remove some knots.

Thranduil laughed heartily. "Not my son. He doesn't know the meaning of the word discreet."

Gimli chuckled. "I noticed that. And I'm glad that he's ok."

"Me, too," Thranduil quietly said, his smile fading slightly, for he still worried over his only child, and he hoped that he could keep him safe.

Glorfindel was amused at the awed look on Elena's face, as she peered around at everything, taking in sights that she had never seen before.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?" he asked the little Hobbit.

Elena nodded enthusiastically. "I've never seen such a big river and such large statues before."

Glorfindel was glad that the little one had seemingly forgotten where they were going. It would do no good for her to be scared, and he wouldn't like that, either. And Elena kept Glorfindel from thinking too much on what lay ahead in their journey.

Boromir was tired of rowing with someone who continuously glared at him.

"Do you mind?" he finally muttered, looking annoyed. "What's wrong with you?"

Aragorn retorted, "Yes, I mind. I mind you staring at Legolas, when he's married to me, and carrying my children!" He scowled at the Steward of Gondor, making certain that no one else heard his fiercely spoken words.

Boromir opened and closed his mouth a few times, before he laughed. "Come now, Aragorn. I'll not deny that I looked, and Legolas is quite beautiful. But I know that Legolas is yours, and does not want anyone besides you." A frown crossed his face. "Children? He carries more than one?"

"Aye," Aragorn answered. "Twins, according to Lady Galadriel." He was rather shocked at Boromir's response to his accusation. The Steward had admitted that he looked, but also, more importantly, he would do nothing else besides look.

"Then why did you let him come?" Boromir incredulously asked. "The danger-" He was cut off by Aragorn.

"Legolas would have gone alone, if he had not come with us. It was safer like this, because he is stubborn- very stubborn." Aragorn smiled fondly. "He doesn't even listen to me, so I would not presume to say that I am his keeper. At least, Legolas insists I am not."

Boromir grinned. "Stubborn and beautiful- sounds like a dangerous combination," he informed Aragorn.

Aragorn laughed. "At least there's never a dull moment," he pointed out, feeling his jealousy melting away slightly, as he spoke with the Steward.

Boromir started laughing as well.

Haldir whispered in a dramatic voice to Legolas, 'Don't look now, but Aragorn is actually getting along with Boromir for once.'

Legolas swatted at Haldir. 'They do get along! Why wouldn't they?' he protested. Bewilderment shone in his azure eyes.

Haldir sighed, 'Legolas… I know I'm only 250 years older than you, but please tell me that you have noticed the way those two nearly argued over you a few times.'

'They what? I pray you're not serious,' Legolas muttered. 'Why would they be fighting over me?'

Haldir suppressed an urge to smack his forehead. 'Legolas, why wouldn't they fight over you? Not only are you beautiful, on the inside and outside, but you have a good heart.' The 'Lorien Elf smirked slightly. 'And that's why you get all the attention, because I, according to Glorfindel, am very wicked.'

Legolas merrily laughed. 'Indeed you are, my friend. You are very fey, but you, too, have your share of admirers.' He was stunned when a shadow crossed over his friend's face. 'Haldir?' he asked, looking slightly worried.

'Some of them I would rather not have, but I am happy with Glorfindel. And I'll tell you a secret- I think Glorfindel and I are going to stay together this time.'

'This time?' Legolas inquired, curiosity in his eyes. He was glad to see the sparkle in Haldir's eyes return.

Haldir nodded. 'It's a long story, Legolas, but I think… I hope it will have a happy ending.' He easily continued paddling,

Legolas smiled softly. 'I'm sure it will, Haldir.' He nearly fell over when the miniature, white boat knocked against a small rock, but one of Haldir's arms kept him from falling over.

'Are you all right?' Haldir questioned, struggling to keep the boat from hitting any more rocks. 'What in the…' he started, when he gazed in front of their boat, and saw massive bubbles billowing up.

The blue-tinted water was going black in front of their boat. Haldir frowned and drew his dagger, instantly suspicious, as the bubbles grew to the size of a Hobbit's hand.

"King Thranduil!" he shouted, to catch the others' attention. "Aragorn! Glorfindel!"

Legolas notched an arrow, ready to defend both himself and the children inside of him.

The Elven king turned back and frowned when he saw the strange phenomenon. Gimli did the same.

"What is that?" the Dwarf grumbled, as he took up the other paddle and began rowing back towards his Elf friend.

Aragorn cried Legolas' name, echoed by Boromir and Glorfindel. Elena gasped, as the black water began building up into the crest of a giant wave. It twisted around, forming a spiral, moving towards the lone boat.

'Legolas, grab onto the boat!' Haldir shouted, even as he grabbed onto it with one hand, taking a hold of his friend's arm with the other.

"No need for that," a familiar voice shouted. "You are wanted alive, not drowned."

"Meron," Legolas gasped. "Show yourself!"

A second, taunting voice echoed, "Surely you did not think you could surprise us so easily?"

Haldir turned pale at that voice… It was so familiar to him, for a very good reason. It was a voice he wanted to forget, but never could…

This was the voice he heard in his nightmares… the voice that haunted his memory, even now…

To be continued