Part 8 - A guest for dinner


Haldir walked swiftly along the path leading to the guardhouse, in search of his brothers. He felt exhausted, both mentally and physically, after the strain he had been under during the ordeal in the reception hall. His control had not slipped until he accidentally had met Celeborn's eyes for just a second - oh those eyes, they had almost undone him - but fortunately he had managed to look away and regain his control before breaking down. Thinking about Celeborn's lover, boldly standing so close to him, even in public, infuriated him - he had even had the gall to touch him - involuntarily Haldir rubbed his hand on his tunic, as if trying to remove the feel of those fingers. The increasing anger, tinged with pain and bitterness towards Celeborn, made him desperately want to forget the whole thing ever happened. He needed distraction, and looked forward to seeing his brothers again.

Besides, he would meet Elrohir again soon, and that thought lifted his heart. Memories of him, his hair, his face, his laughter, their morning in the talan - began to fill his mind, gradually suppressing his troubled thoughts. Yes, they would meet again in his talan this evening, they would share a meal, and then... thoughts of those sweet lips filled his head, making him inadvertently lick his lips and smile in anticipation. Now, if he could only find his brothers to change his watches for tomorrow and perhaps even more days - he longed to spend as much time as possible with Elrohir. Suddenly seeing both his brothers emerging from the guardhouse, he smiled and waved at them. "Hi, Rumil and Orophin!"

Orophin gave a start hearing his name, and looked in the direction of the voice. "Oh, hello little brother," he smiled widely, and gave Haldir a quick hug. "I did not know you had come back."

Taking his brothers place to pull Haldir into a tight hug, Rumil studied him for a moment before messing up his hair with a slight grin. "What brings you back brother?" He asked casually. "We had not thought to see you for some time the way you left."

Returning the hug with a little smile, Haldir asked, suspicious: "What do you mean the way I left? I did not leave my post, I was sent to collect some documents, which I did."

"You may be able to hide from others but we are you brothers you know." Rumil replied, arm hooking around his shoulder. "Now come tell us what has brought you back?"

Haldir looked from Rumil to Orophin, studying their eager faces, and sighed. Folding an arm around each of them he smiled slightly: "I am starving. Why can we not get something to eat, and then we can talk?"

"Yes, that was just what I wanted to suggest," Orophin chimed in, looking at Rumil. "What do you say, big brother, should we bring some food from the canteen up to Haldir's talan? It is the nearest."

"Yes, come on, Rumil", Haldir added, "and bring some wine too."

Rumil laughed throwing his hands into the air with a look at the two of them. "Go on you two, I will go find us something to eat, and bring it up. I am sure Orophin can keep you occupied until I get there." he added winking at Haldir. "But do not think that you are going to get out of talking to us."

With a smile and a wink, Haldir placed a hand on his shoulder. "Bring some extra. We will have a guest later."

Orophin gave him a surprised look: "Who then?"

"I will tell you later", Haldir smiled. "Come on now."

Rumil arched an eyebrow at that, but shrugged pushing the two of them down the path. "I will be there in a little bit." He gave Haldir a smirk. "With extra, for whoever it is that will be joining us." Tucking a strand of hair back away from his face, before turning away to get the before mentioned food.

Orophin tried to get his brother to tell him who the mysterious guest would be, but Haldir just smiled and would not answer, so in the end he shrugged, and continued to tell about the skirmish he had had with a couple of orcs the day before. Standing on the floor of Haldir's talan, Orophin was in the middle of a vivid rendition of how he had decapitated the last orc, when they saw Rumil coming towards them with two baskets, one with food and the other with wine bottles.

"Finally," Haldir laughed when he saw him. "Come and save me from your brother's stories!"

Orophin gave him an offended snort and turned his back on him, arms folded over his chest.

"From our brother's stories do you mean?" Rumil asked with an amused grin, setting the baskets down on the small table with a chuckle. "I think not, you leave him with me long enough, you should have to endure some of his stories for a time." Rumil winked at Orophin, flopping down into a seat with a tired yawn, stretching for a moment. "So when is this mysterious guest of yours arriving?"

Haldir was busy going through the baskets, placing the contents out on the table. "He is not mysterious," he said finally. "He is simply a friend of ours - one of Elrond's twins. He came here alone, and would like some company."

"Oh really?" Rumil said lifting his head from where he had let it fall back with a grin. "What kind of company is the young son of Elrond after, pray tell brother?" He asked with a teasing grin. "Or is that something we may not know?"

Not looking at his brothers, Haldir pretended to busy himself with the plates of food, turning slowly pink all the way up to the tip of his ears. "I do not know what you mean." he mumbled embarrassed.

Orophin, who had been sitting sulking in his chair, lit up by the sight of his brother. "Ha ha, look at him! I do believe he is blushing.!"

"I do believe you are right." Rumil agreed sitting forward laughing. "Come Haldir, do tell us! And you must not leave anything out." He chuckled. "It has indeed been too long, especially for you."

"Too long for what?" Haldir mumbled, mortified, fumbling frantically with a wine bottle, unable to open it, finally giving up and setting it down on the table, knocking over one of the glasses. "I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Since you had sex, or did anything with anyone." Rumil replied smirking, raking fingers through his hair. "Is that explicit enough for you, brother, or perhaps we have to show you."

Haldir straightened up and gave Rumil an offended look, still quite pink. "And since when was my love life any of your business, dear brother?"

Orophin burst out in guffawing laughter. "Look at him," he pointed, " he looks like a raspberry!" He collapsed in his chair, wiping his eyes.

"Most definitely he does." Rumil agreed, laughing as he leaned back in the seat. "So is he good, brother?" Rumil asked watching Haldir with a grin. It was definitely fun to make his brother blush, especially when there was good reason to do so.

"Oh, cut it out you two," Haldir grumbled, turning his back to them, attempting to open the wine bottle again. "Why do you think there is something like that?"

"Because of the way you are blushing, and because of the way you are acting." Rumil said promptly. "You never act like this unless something is up, so out with it. Or perhaps we shall have to tickle it out of you!" He threw Orophin a look.

"Yes, most certainly we shall," Orophin sniggered, and scrambled to his feet. "You cannot have any secrets for us."

"Hey wait," Haldir cried out, hurriedly hiding behind the table. "I am certainly not blushing! And what do you mean, 'acting like that'? I do not like your questions about my sex life, that is all."

"Since when have you had a sex life brother? You have been with maybe two people in the course of the last five years, if ever even that, I would hardly call that a sex life... However, that does seem to imply that you 'have' done something!" Rumil stood up and moved towards Haldir with an evil little grin. "So come and tell us."

"Oh yes, he has definitely done something. He has never even used the term 'my sex life' before," Orophin laughed, closing in on his brother, following him around the table.

"Leave me be!, Haldir yelled, trying to escape between them to the door.

Rumil quickly jumped over the chair to move between him and the door, blocking his escape. "You are not going anywhere, brother, until you tell us just what is going on." He said laughing as he slowly advanced towards Haldir.

Orophin attacked Haldir from the flank, trying to grab him, forcing him into a corner.

"Get away from me, you ... you orcs, " Haldir laughed, stumbling over a chair trying to escape Orophin, falling on his back.

Pouncing on him Rumil made sure to pin him to the floor, sitting on his legs reaching up to try and grab his hands so that he could not get away. "Come on Orophin." Rumil said laughing as he glanced over at his brother.

Desperate, Haldir flung his arms about, trying to get a hold on any of his brothers. "Stop it...stop...it!"

Orophin took a dive and landed on his chest, knocking the air out of him, grabbing for the flailing arms, pinning them to the floor with his arms and legs, and smirked to Rumil: "He is all yours now, brother!"

Letting Orophin take care of Haldir's arms Rumil began to tickle the poor elf mercilessly, unable to help but laughing as he did so.
In the meanwhile, Orophin intensified the attacks from the other end, tickling violently everywhere he could reach.

"No..ho...o...sto...hoo...op ... ooh... " Haldir gasped, laughing so hard he was sobbing, writhing helplessly under his brother' ruthless tickling "...I ...am... goin... to..o... wet ...my... pa...hants... sto.. op..!!"

Finally Rumil rolled over onto the floor, laughing too hard to continue, tears coming down his cheeks.
Giggling helplessly, Orophin lost his hold on Haldir's arms, and was promptly thrown of his chest, landing in a chuckling heap in a corner.

Gasping, Haldir lay limp on the floor, trying to catch his breath, wiping his eyes, still laughing. "Why are you so cruel to me? Thanks to you I now have to change my clothes..." he managed, before launching into another fit of laughter.

"Now you need to tell us what is going on." Rumil replied, between breaths and laughter, an arm flopping across Haldir's waist. "Or must we go at it again?"

Crawling back to them, Orophin collapsed beside Haldir. "Yes, tell us, brother. We 'know' that something has happened."

"No, please, you are killing me," Haldir cried, pretending to be scared, still out of breath. "Just let me recover first," he pleaded.

"What, and give you a chance to think of some way to get out of it?" Rumil asked, chuckling. "I think we had better not do that. Come brother, the sooner you tell us the sooner it will be over."

"All right, I give up", Haldir sighed. "Just ask, and I will answer. What do you want to know?"

"Everything." Rumil answered with a knowing grin. "Details, Haldir." he tickled his brother lightly. "Tell us."

"No, stop!... Haldir yelled. "All right, I like him - are you happy now?"

"That was 'not' details, younger brother." Rumil said rolling over to pin Haldir to the ground. "I said details, and that does mean details."

"Like when did you two get together?" Orophin added, poking him in the side. "I did not even know you knew him that well."

Suddenly serious, Haldir looked from one brother to the other. "You know not all that has happened, and I know not whether I am able to tell you everything. It has all been so difficult..." Sighing, he sat up, looking down in his lap. "Tis true that I met him when he arrived at the border, and I escorted him here. He has been very kind to me, and I like him very much - and I would like to continue seeing him while he is here."

Slowly sitting up Rumil leaned against the wall hand coming up to whip tears of mirth from his own cheeks. His expression a little more serious this time as he reached over to touch Haldir's cheek gently. "I think it would be good for you to see more of him, but come, you can speak to us of what has happened. What troubles you Haldir?"

For a long time, Haldir sat looking down on his hands, then finally he said softly: "It is very hard for me to speak of it. Perhaps I will, little by little, but it pains me to think of it. I have been taking all these extra watches the last days because I was heavy of heart, and needed time to think. Elrohir also have had a painful experience, and he has come here to recuperate. During our travel through the wood, we have talked much, and helped start the healing of our hearts. Being with him makes me happy, and I think it makes him happy too. We need to continue being together, to have the support of each other." Shaking his head slowly, he fingered his disheveled hair.

There was silence in the room for a time, the mood having broken a little, Rumil finally nodded. Leaning over to kiss Haldir on the top of his head. "Should you wish to speak of it more to us, you know we will listen, brother, and do what we can," he said with a little smile, standing up and offering Haldir his hand. "Now come, what say you we open a bottle of this wine, while we wait for...." His gaze strayed to the door, and the hesitant figure that stood in it.

Orophin embraced Haldir and hugged him tight, before letting go and standing up. "Our brother is right, you know. Come and talk to us when you need help." Noticing Rumil stopping in mid-sentence, he turned his head to the door. "Oh, hello, lord Elrohir. Please come in. It is a pleasure to see you."

Haldir's head turned quickly when he heard Elrohir mentioned, and he hurriedly got to his feet, smiling at Elrohir.

Elrohir smiled slightly, a little uncertain at the three brothers, feeling a bit like he had interrupted something he should not have. Nodding to Orophin. "Just Elrohir here, please." He replied quietly, tucking a dark strand of hair back away from his face. "I know I came a bit early but I had nothing else to do and I..." He glanced down at the floor not sure why he was feeling so uncertain about everything, he'd never felt like this before except with... //No I will not.// Elrohir pushed the thought from his mind.

"Come in." Rumil said before Haldir could, walking over to pull him into the room.
Still smiling, Haldir walked over to Elrohir and gave him a tight hug. "I am so glad to see you, " he whispered. "It is all right, my brothers know about us." Leading him over to the table, discreetly pulling up an overturned chair, he waved his hand at his brothers. "You already know Orophin and Rumil well. They will have dinner with us, if that is all right with you."

"As am I to see you, and of course I do not mind." Elrohir replied his smile for Haldir.

"Rumil," Orophin whispered quite loudly, "come and help me open the wine."
Rumil made a face at Orophin but walked over to join his brother, giving the two of them a little bit of privacy, giving Elrohir a wink that made him blush a little.

"Are you feeling awkward about my brothers being here?" Haldir asked almost inaudible. "Are you tired perhaps? I could ask them to leave if you feel weary. I know I am after our travel." Looking at Elrohir with a gentle smile, he stroke his cheek.

"Perhaps a little tired." Elrohir replied leaning into the gentle touch, with a smile. "But they do not need to go if they do not wish, I do not mind the company." He leaned forward to brush a soft kiss against Haldir's lips.

Haldir returned the kiss with full force, holding him tight. Still smiling, he murmured into the soft lips: "I really am very glad to have you here. I have been thinking about you. Did you hear what I told my brothers?"

"They are worried about you." Elrohir commented softly, leaning against Haldir for a little while. "However I am glad to be here..."

"But did you hear what I told them? That being with you made me happy?" Haldir insisted.

"Aye I did." Elrohir whispered looking up into his eyes for the first time, a hint of blush creeping up his cheeks. "I could say the same of you." He added quietly, moving to rest his head on Haldir's shoulder.
Haldir just cradled him tight, not saying anything, smiling happily.

"Lord...eh...Elrohir and Haldir, dinner is served," Orophin said, gently touching Haldir's shoulder. "Why not come now, while the food is still warm?", he smiled kindly, and showed them towards the table.

Pulling away from Haldir slightly, Elrohir smiled at Orophin and Rumil feeling more comfortable here then he had in a long time at least with anyone other then Haldir. He caught Rumil's returning smile, as he pulled Haldir down onto the couch with himself.
"Wine for all." Rumil commented coming over with four glasses, passing them around to each.

After having wined and dined, and then wined some more, everybody were happily talking and laughing. Finally, Orophin stood up, tugging Rumil's arm. "It is getting late, so I think we should leave now, brother." Turning to Haldir, seeing him and Elrohir gazing into each others' eyes, he added: "What would you say, Haldir, if Rumil and I took your watches the next few days? You have been working far too much lately, and need to rest."

Rumil laughed. "A rest, I doubt he will get much of a rest." He winked at Orophin, but nodded in agreement. "But still I believe you are right Orophin." Standing up Rumil yawned. "We will take your next few shifts and you will enjoy the time off, no arguing."

Elrohir was blushing but more from a bit too much wine, his mind slightly fogged, did not register the words until after they were said. He gave Rumil a rather evil look. "Careful, or you might not get him back." He commented with a smirk of his own.

Laughing, Haldir hooked his arms around Elrohir and gave him a passionate kiss. "Oh yes, I would like that," he grinned. Turning to his brothers, he gave them a grateful smile. "Thank you, my brothers, you are so kind to me." Standing up he gave each of his brothers a big hug.

Orophin, returning the hug, winked at him: " You deserve it, brother." Nudging his side with his elbow and winking, he added mischievously: "And you need it too."

Elrohir watched the brothers with a little smile, not moving to join him, staying where he was on the couch leaning back, feeling definitely more than a little drunk. Fingers tangled in his rather messed up dark hair.

"I am glad you agree, or we would have had to tickle you into submission again." Rumil commented laughing as he pulled Haldir into another tight hug. Turning to Elrohir as he let his brother go. "Take care of him for us."
"I will." Elrohir replied blushing some more.

Haldir followed his brothers to the door, hugging them both once more, and closed the door behind them. Coming back to the table, he sat down next to Elrohir again, pulled him close in a tender kiss, and lifted his glass: "I have probably had too much wine already, but I would just like to make a toast for us, Elrohir. Thanks to my brothers we will now have several days together, free to do whatever we want." Smiling widely, he nipped at Elrohir's ear and held his glass up.

"We could always share a glass, and then you would not have to drink a whole another one." Elrohir murmured softly, leaning forward to kiss Haldir gently on the lips. "Remind me to thank your brothers properly later when I am not half drunk and slightly afraid I will fall over if I try and stand up." His eyes were laughing though, as he raised his glass to Haldirs. "To you and to me." He said softly, before downing what was left in the glass in one drink.

"To you and me, Elrohir, " Haldir whispered, emptying his glass, and then embracing Elrohir in a big warm hug, tenderly nuzzling into his hair. "I am so glad you are here with me."

Elrohir did not say anything, setting his glass down as he moved into the hug, leaning against Haldir. Nothing needed to be said, each knew they needed the other, at least in this point and time; that was enough. Elrohir closed his eyes for the moment, content to simply be with Haldir, lost in his warm sweet embrace.