Disclaimer: Don't own anything.
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Been getting lots of death threats lately about not updating for my various fictions. Don't know if I should be pleased or not =) I will be concentrating on finishing this story since it's winding down. Everything is actually going to be plot driven from this point on. So I am apologizing in advance if the chapters aren't funny.
Chapter 10 status: Checked it today, it's back on.
.. thoughts or my commentaries.
Before I begin, there is one response to a review I wish to make.
Believer: I have read the book. Have seen the movies many times as well. And I think of Legolas as the strongest of them all (well, I suppose I have to give Gimli some credit since he did beat our Elf's kill number by 1 at Helm's Deep in the book). That is why our Elf is my favorite in the movie, not because he is pretty, but because he is supercool with his bow and knives. As for in the book, Haldir is actually my favorite Elf since Legolas is a little too homicidal and cheery all the time. It was almost as if the whole thing was a giant game for him. But that is beside the point.
Anyway, this story is alternate universe so I CAN explore different portrayals of my favorite characters. In fact, this is why I only write AU, because I can infuse a little of my imagination into the LOTR characters. If I only want to see Legolas as the quiet, stoic, action Elf with a sarcastic sense of humor, I will be watching the movie. There is no need to write my own story. For this particular fiction, I decided I would make Legolas behave like a sweet, delicate child in his personal matters. I am not portraying him as a sissy; it takes a lot of aplomb to endure all the public humiliation I put him through with head held high. So what if he cries all the time over Aragorn. The Elf is supposed to be in love; and people make exceptions when they are in love. I am sorry that you are annoyed with the personality I gave this particular Legolas; but I don't think it is 'stupid' to portray him as a gentle, beautiful and very sensitive person.
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Chapter 21:
When the Dwarf was certain his roommate had fallen into an uneasy sleep, he left the barracks in search of the Guardian of Lòrien. They really needed to discuss the latest turn in the Prince's relationship with Aragorn. Not in his wildest dreams would Gimli expect what he just witnessed in the forest or in his rooms this night. Upon their return, the Elf had not spoken another word; he simply hid inside the closet and changed before going to bed. The sentimental, sweet Legolas had not shed a tear or betrayed any sort of emotion after his break-up with the Man. The Dwarf was worried about this uncharacteristic behavior. Since Haldir had known the Prince for longer, Gimli needed his advice on how to act around their heart-broken friend.
The Dwarf was relieved to find the Lòrien archer alone in his rooms, staring out into the gardens. He was certain the Elf had heard his entrance, but Haldir made no move to acknowledge him. The archer continued gazing at nothing and appeared to be pondering personal troubles of his own. That too was uncharacteristic. Maybe there was a tradition among the Elves to mope in silence on the night before harvest moon. That did not make any sense to Gimli, but Elves were very strange. Quietly, the Dwarf said, "Legolas just broke up with Aragorn."
"What?" asked the Elf as Gimli's simple statement startled him out of his thoughts. Haldir had spent the evening with Larien, a beautiful noble Lady of Rivendell. He should have been thoroughly entertained, yet he could not help feeling bored in her company. He no longer delighted in using his wits to charm the maiden. The empty promises of love and hollow words of praises no longer held the same appeal to him as it did before. It all started when he set about matchmaking for the Prince. Seeing the genuine love between Legolas and Aragorn was a constant reminder of what was missing in his life.
"Legolas was about to confess his identity. Stupid bird interrupted. Aragorn said something about hating spies. Our friend took the wrong hint and said they should stop seeing each other," said Gimli, giving a short summary of the nights events.
"This is bad. How long ago did this happen? Has Legolas cried yet?" asked Haldir, concerned. He knew his friend well. The Prince's cold, calculating diplomat/tactician mode was used when the shy introvert wished to hide his true self, to shield the sweet, innocent, hopeless romantic inside from harm. It was almost impossible to draw him out once he was securely in his shell.
"About three hours ago. He hasn't cried. Actually, he has been acting as if nothing out of the ordinary happened," answered Gimli, the concern in the usually stoic Elf's voice was not lost on him. If he was worried before, he was very worried now.
"You should have come to me immediately. We need to talk to him now," replied the Guardian as he hurriedly put on his shoes and headed towards the door with an extremely worried Dwarf close on his heels.
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Legolas was crying in his dreams. He cried so much that he was drowning in the river of tears. Subconsciously, the Elf knew this was a dream, so he allowed himself to be swept away. He no longer cared, as a life without love was no life at all. He was glad when darkness overtook him; he wanted to die. It was a wish he could not grant in reality. He had duties to his father, his kingdom. Crying, dying, these were fantasies only allowed in the embrace of sleep. Once fully awake, he would need to bury these secret desires and face the world with cool composure, as a proud Prince of Mirkwood.
Someone was shaking him, disturbing the icy, pitch-black void that held his soul. He wanted to be left alone in his misery, but the intruder was insistent. Against his will, the Prince exited the world of dreams into harsh reality. "May I help you?" asked the golden Elf impersonally, his face a mask schooled to portray sincerity. It was so convincing that Gimli could barely tell the emotion was false. The only thing that gave the Elf away was the missing sparkle of life that lit his eyes before tonight.
"Legolas, stop acting like this! You want to be a great warrior, to earn everyone's respect with your own strength. None of that false charm, remember?" said the Lòrien archer as he shook his protégé some more, trying to get the younger Elf out of diplomatic mode.
"I was stupid to think I can be anything more than a diplomat with all fake smiles or a tactical advisor in the shadows," replied Legolas, sounding shakier than he would like. He needed the strength of the Golden Prince of Mirkwood now. His shy introvert self was weak and naïve. He needed to close the barrier around his heart so others could not see how pathetic he was.
"I like you because you are a brave lad who wants to prove his own worth. If you were just another a tricky Elf, I would not be helping you. This tactical advisor or diplomat you spoke of, he is not worthy of my friendship. But YOU are, Legolas," enthused the Dwarf. Though he did not know the young Elf for as long as the Lòrien archer did, he knew what friendship meant to the Prince.
"Gimli.." whispered the Elf forlornly. Tears were threatening to form. He wanted to retreat to familiar grounds where he was under complete control, but Legolas could not find the way back to his refuge. His heart would not allow it.
"It's okay to cry, little one," whispered the archer as he moved to gather the Prince in his arms. He knew the mask Legolas was determined to wear was slipping. He only needed to push a tiny bit more to free the hurt romantic hiding inside. As expected, at his prompting, the younger Elf lost his composure and began to sob. Stroking his hair gently, Haldir continued, "Don't worry, my friend. Everything will work out in the end."
"No, it won't," sobbed Legolas. "Aragorn hates me."
"Don't be silly, laddie. He loves you," comforted the Dwarf. At least his friend appeared to be normal again, which was a good thing. Seeing the beauty cry, however, was not.
"He will hate me when he finds out," said the Prince with conviction. He still remembered the Man's cold words. It was too late the first moment they met in the forest before they arrived at Rivendell; too late because, from the start, Legolas was the very thing Aragorn hated.
The Guardian cast a sidelong glance at the Dwarf to make sure Gimli understood what they must do. They had to tell the Man the truth; the only thing that could heal the Prince's broken heart was Aragorn telling Legolas who he was did not change their love. They had a feeling the Man was not having an easier time dealing with the break-up than their Elven friend. Aragorn was probably completely confused and just as hurt. They were sure the Man was too in love with the golden Elf to be angry with him. After all, Aragorn was the one with many names and faces. He would not begrudge Legolas for hiding his real name.
In a cheerful voice, Haldir turned his attention back to his weeping friend and asked, "Let us not think on the future now. Tomorrow will be a beautiful day. Why don't we go swimming to relax a little?"
Legolas knew Haldir well enough to be wary of his suggestion. The Prince was sure that whatever the archer had in mind, it would not ease his pain. When the younger Elf frowned, Gimli concurred with his conspirator. "I think that is a great idea, Master Elf. Nothing takes worries away like a swim on a hot day."
Even though he was certain his friends' plans would fail to lift his spirits, the younger Elf knew he would acquiesce to keep them happy. Legolas owed them so much for their caring and support. He knew he would never have come so far without them. "Very well. I suppose we should all get some rest now so we don't fall asleep in the pool."
"I think I will stay the night if you don't mind. I am slightly worried that the twins might have come to an agreement not to my liking," said Haldir as he lay down beside the younger Elf. Feeling the Prince snuggle closer to his warmth, the Lòrien Elf wondered why he was not attracted to males. Things would be so much easier if he could just love this golden Elf in his arms, a gentle soul whom he adored.
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The sun shone brightly overhead as the exhausted Legolas awoke alone in his rooms. His friends had left him a note, saying they would go to the kitchens at the palace to pack some food for lunch. In addition, Haldir left him an assignment - to meet them at the pool below the lower Rivendell falls unnoticed. This would be some challenge if the recruits were still watching his rooms. Hiding within the covers of Haldir's Lòrien cloak, the Prince stealthily sneaked out of his own chambers through the windows.
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The two matchmakers found Aragorn alone in his rooms, staring blankly at the door. The Man did not make any attempt to move when they entered and settled comfortably in chairs in front of him. Aragorn did not look good; the Man had dark circles under eyes that were bloodshot from the abuse he had put them through. He must have cried until no more tears would flow. As they expected, Legolas was not alone in his misery. "Want to go swimming with us?" asked Haldir, cheerfully.
When no response ensued, the Dwarf chimed in, "Our little friend will be there."
That got a reaction from the catatonic Man. He focused on his visitors for the first time with what appeared to be hope in his eyes. That expression vanished quickly however, as realization hit him that Haldir and Gimli knew why Lasgalen wanted to break up with him. And instead of telling him straight away, they were trying to manipulate him. That made the heart- broken Aragorn extremely mad. Menacingly, the Man stood and drew himself to full height, advancing on the two guests.
"Peace, Aragorn. It's his secret to tell, not ours," said Haldir, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Did he ask you to come?" asked the Man, hoping his Elf regretted his decision the night before. Aragorn knew Lasgalen was not playing with his heart. It was something the Man had said unknowingly that drove his beloved away. Though he did not understand what he had done wrong, Aragorn was eager to make things right again, if the Elf would give him a chance.
"No. He doesn't know we are here," replied the archer as he locked eyes with Aragorn. He saw only sadness and love in the Man's eyes. Haldir knew then that they were right to come here. Things would soon be fine between his two friends.
"In that case, my going will not help. He will just run from me as he did last night," whispered the Man sadly. His Elf was not going to give him a chance after all.
"Not necessarily. You have both of us on your side this time," commented Gimli, as he walked over to Aragorn and gave him pat on the back.
When the Man looked doubtfully at his two scheming visitors, Haldir reassured, "Don't underestimate us, my friend. Things will be fine, as long as you are sure that no matter what he tells you, you will still love him."
"Of course I will still love him. He is like my other half. I cannot stop loving him any more than I can live without breathing," vowed the Man feverishly.
"Great. Be at the pool at the lower falls in two hours," said the matchmakers in unison before turning to leave.
As Haldir walked out the door, he turned back and suggested, "I would get some rest if I were you. You look terrible."
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The Dwarf and Elf decided it would be best to split up. Legolas should be at the pool by now. Gimli would start trying to convince the Prince to finish telling the Man his secrets, while Haldir went to get some towels and their food. The Lòrien Elf's journey through the palace was uneventful, much to his relief. Apparently, the twins decided to leave him alone for a while. With a large picnic basket and four gigantic towels in hand, the archer began his journey to the pool to rejoin the others. However, as he reached the shelter of the trees, he felt silent eyes upon him. His unwanted admirers were back.
Elladan watched with a mixture of adoration and lust as the Guardian of Lòrien moved through the woods. The twins had not come to an agreement on how to handle the situation concerning the fair-haired Elf. But Elladan had the advantage of being older, even if it was just by a few minutes. It was not so much that he was stronger or wiser; it was that his words carried a little more weight in their father's eyes. But then, it was possible that Elrond favored him because he did not have a pet that constantly drove the Lord of Rivendell insane.
Anyway, the brothers had gone into the gardens to settle their argument by force. But they knew each other too well to defeat the other in combat. Their long, fruitless fight generated so much noise that it drew the attention of their father. Irate, Elrond demanded to know what was happening. When they both began to speak at once, their sire wanted Elladan as their spokesman. Elladan simply told the truth, omitting a few minor details such as their motive behind trying to seduce Haldir.
As expected, the Elf-lord was incensed. Since it was Elrohir's idea to begin with, he received punishment. The younger twin was to be 'imprisoned' in his own rooms for the weekend, leaving Elladan free to apologize and warn the Lòrien Elf of his brother's intentions. The older twin knew he should not be warning Haldir, seeing that the archer was on the spy's side; but he would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to the seductive beauty at Elrohir's hands.
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The archer was almost to the pool when the dark-haired Elf gathered enough courage to approach him. "Hi," called out Elladan, waving frantically in his attempt to get the other Elf's attention. When Haldir turned to look at him critically, the older twin was suddenly aware of how childish his actions were. He sounded more like a lovesick hundred year-old Elf-child than the experienced hardened warrior he was.
Instead of calling out greetings, the Lòrien Elf settled for giving Elladan the silent treatment. Now that Legolas was going to tell the Man, he no longer needed to charm the twins into leaving the Prince alone. Besides, Haldir decided he would have pity and not toy with the Rivendell Elves. It would be better if he just ignored the older twin.
"I just want to apologize for our behavior last night. We are really attracted to you, so much so that we kind of lost control for a bit. Please forgive us," stammered the older son of Elrond, staring at the floor, too embarrassed to make eye contact with the Lòrien archer.
Not acknowledging the other Elf's words, Haldir continued walking towards the pool. He was almost there now; and was surprised to see his Elven friend leave the embrace of the water to greet him. Gimli was still in the process of removing his heavy armor so he would not sink. With the Prince's newly enhanced senses, the Lòrien archer was certain he heard the one-sided conversation with Elladan. Given that the twins were always giving Legolas a difficult time, it did not make sense that the younger Elf should approach him while the Rivendell Elf was still so close.
Haldir's surprise was quickly turned into a bad premonition when he saw that his young friend had a strange smile on his face. It was the sort of dreamy look one had at the end of a satisfying romantic play or touching love ballad. It certainly did not belong on the Prince's face as he regarded Haldir and Elladan. The dark-haired Elf stood silently behind the pair, watching the Lòrien Elf and Legolas. The archer could imagine Elladan's gaze fixed lustfully on his behind as he moved towards his young friend.
"Hello," called out Legolas, smiling first at Haldir before turning to give Elladan a quick glance-over. As the archer noticed the young Elf's actions, warning bells began to sound in his head. The Prince was trying to determine whether he and the elder twin would make a good couple. This was definitely not good.
"Hi," replied Elladan stiffly. He had made it a point to dislike everyone from Thranduil's halls; and the Prince was no exception. But since the spy was Haldir's friend, he would at least make an attempt to be civil.
"Elladan is just leaving," quipped Haldir quickly, wanting to prevent any further embarrassment. Besides, the Man would be here later. It would be much better that the older twin was not here to interfere.
"Right. I have to go and help ada [father] prepare for the harvest festival tomorrow night," nodded the dark-haired Elf, looking more than a bit disappointed. Though he disliked the spy, he wanted to stay with Lòrien archer without his younger sibling in the way.
"All work and no play makes Elladan a dull Elf," teased Legolas, eliciting glares from both older Elves. Unabashed, the Prince continued, "Why don't you join us? We can have a team splash fight, you two against Gimli and me."
At the same time, Haldir yelled "No!" as Elladan gave his enthusiastic "Yes!" Before anything else could be said, the Lòrien archer dropped the things he was carrying, grabbed Legolas by the arm and led him away, hissing, "Please excuse us for a minute."
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"What do you think you are doing?" whispered Haldir when they finally moved out of earshot of the older son of Elrond.
"I think he likes you," stated Legolas simply, with a grin.
"He likes to take me to bed," retorted the Lòrien Elf. The Prince was too innocent to see that all Elladan felt for him was lust. Just like all the warriors who propositioned him before. Haldir had not given in before; he did not plan to start now.
"He apologized. He wouldn't do it if he just wants you in bed," reasoned the younger Elf.
"He needs me to be unsuspecting. They want information about you, remember?" argued the archer, trying to explain the obvious to the sweet Prince.
"No, if that's the case, both of them will be here. Elladan likes you," said Legolas with conviction.
"You are not there last night when they fought over me like a piece of meat. He lusts after me. And he is not joining us," concluded Haldir, wanting to stop this discussion. The objective today was to get Aragorn and his friend back together; not examine the twins' intention towards him.
The Prince's jaw dropped open in shock before the expression was replaced by a very wide grin. "I think he was fighting his own brother to defend you honor. That's just proof of how much he cares, no?"
"You are hopeless!" exclaimed Haldir in frustration. Why did the young Elf have to see the best in every person he met?!
"Maybe I am. But he is staying. He leaves, I leave," replied Legolas calmly, allowing the archer to see that he was serious.
Since Aragorn was coming later in the day, it would not do for the Prince to leave now. As much as he hated the idea of Elladan joining them, he would have to accept it. "Fine. If he tries anything, I leave," said Haldir in defeat as he headed towards the pool.
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Elladan had been standing there for a while now. Part of him told him to leave. The spy was helping him; but he did not wish to owe Legolas any favors. The other part was hopeful, praying to Elbereth that the Prince would convince Haldir to let him stay. The thought of spending the day in the Guardian's company was extremely appealing. And the thought of swimming in a pool with him was enough to make blood rush to Elladan's lower body. He wondered what the Elf would be wearing. A fantasy of Haldir standing in the pool, naked, with beads of water rolling down his very desirable body suddenly assaulted him, overruling all thoughts of leaving. Oh, please, Elbereth, don't let Legolas rescind his invitation!
Gimli had finished removing his armor and was wearing a comfortable loose shirt of white cotton and breeches. He heard Legolas' invitation. The Dwarf could guess his roommate's intentions, after walking into a practically naked Haldir who was expecting the twins. Still, Gimli doubted the wisdom of inviting Elladan, given that Aragorn would be here. But then, the Prince did not know their plans. After watching the dark-haired Elf stood there transfixed, at a lost of what to do for over five minutes, the Dwarf felt a tinge of pity for his Elven commander.
Gimli was about to call out to Elladan when the two fair-haired Elves returned. Haldir marched stiffly to the older twin while Legolas strode leisurely to the pool. The Lòrien archer gave the dark-haired Elf a haughty glance before pointing at the things he dropped earlier. "If you are going to come along, at least make yourself useful."
Without hesitation, the Rivendell Elf picked up the picnic basket and towels. Haldir had begun to make his way towards the pool without giving Elladan a second look. But the cold treatment seemed to have no effect on the elder twin's enthusiasm as he eagerly hurried to walk beside the seductive beauty that ruled his dreams the night before.
"Elladan is my commander. It's not nice to make him carry all our things," commented the Prince, looking at his older friend with disapproval. He knew the Lòrien Elf preferred females; but after so many years of dating, the Guardian was still single. Perhaps it was time for his friend to open up to new possibilities. Besides, he was certain he had not erred in his judgment. The elder twin liked Haldir.
Haldir merely gave the Prince a death glare. Instead of having the desired effect, Legolas merely giggled as he dived back into the water. Despite his loyalty and protectiveness to his innocent friend, the Lòrien Elf had this sudden desire to shake him rather violently. Haldir was well experienced in the matters of romance; but the situation was quickly becoming very embarrassing.
Instead, the archer focused on the problem at hand. They had less than two hours to convince Legolas to tell the Man the entire truth. He preferred not to have Elladan as an audience; but since his presence was inevitable, the silver-haired Elf thought he might as well start now. "You should be the one to talk. Aragorn is your commander and it's not nice to break up with him without giving a reason either."
Gimli swore softly at the Lòrien archer's bluntness. It was not like Haldir to be so direct. He glanced worriedly at his gentle friend and saw that the playfulness had gone out of his eyes. Instead, the golden Elf looked as if he was about to start crying again. The Dwarf quickly stepped in and admonished the Guardian's choice of retort. "We are here to have fun today. Let us not talk about these unhappy things." He walked past Haldir, giving him a sharp glance and a small shake of the head, before taking the large picnic basket off Elladan's hand.
Seeing the Prince's expression, Haldir knew he had been too harsh with his words. The Guardian was ashamed of being so callous. He had known Legolas for a long time; the young Elf needed encouragement and prompting, not judgments on his actions. In his haste to divert Legolas' attention from his personal life, he had hurt his friend's feelings. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."
"It's alright. It was a just observation," muttered the Prince as he ducked into the water and swam away.
"That didn't go well," said Gimli as he lay down their food before looking at Haldir expectantly. He knew both Elladan and Legolas could hear his comment, but at this moment he could not care less. They needed a plan, and a good one at that, if they were to help the Prince and Man fix their relationship.
For a long moment, the Lòrien Elf locked gaze with the Dwarf. Apparently, an agreement had been reached between the two matchmakers through their silent 'communication'. Both nodded before Haldir spoke again, "I think you should tell him everything."
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Though curiosity was burning inside Elladan, he kept silent. The spy and his allies' actions were not making any sense to the Rivendell Elf. If Legolas was using Aragorn for information, why did he break up with the Man? That was just counter-productive. And why would Haldir and the Dwarf wanted the Prince to confess to being a spy? They seemed to be Legolas' loyal supporters; why would they urge him to do something that would jeopardize his mission? And to do so openly, with Elladan as witness!
A possibility drifted into the older twin's mind that he did not consider before. The Prince was actually in love with his foster brother! That explained the strange scene before him, as Legolas stopped swimming and stood amidst the pool. The golden Elf's face was wet; but since he was submerged in water less than a minute ago, Elladan could not be sure if the streaks of moisture running down his cheeks were tears. Gazing sadly at his reflection, the Prince whispered, "Why? It will only make things worse."
"You won't know unless you try, laddie," reasoned Gimli, moving closer to the water. The truth was that he never liked swimming. He was a Dwarf, and much preferred being in solid ground than in the water. But since Haldir suggested the activity as a cover for their scheme, he had no choice but to concur.
At that unfortunate moment, a bee flew by and was offended by Elladan's feet on the flower that it always collected nectar from. As revenge, the said insect stung the Elf through his thin leggings, causing the older twin to yelp in pain, thus, drawing everyone's attention to his presence. To say the dark-haired Elf was embarrassed was an understatement. He was blushing from head to toe, though that could be due to his allergies to bees. But regardless, he was about to mutter a "sorry, just forget I am here" when he decided that the idea of Legolas being together with Aragorn was not too bad, seeing the spy was actually in love with his foster brother.
Elladan was upset that Thranduil sent someone to spy on them; but he understood that his own father would do the same if all the commanders of the Joint Army were from Mirkwood. And at least, this Prince was polite and eager to do well in his training. Any other from Thranduil's halls would be pompous, disrespectful and, all in all, unpleasant to be around. And if anyone else were in Legolas' position, they would not hesitate to use Aragorn to fulfill their mission. The golden Elf was not that bad. There was also the fact that the Prince wanted to help Elladan pursue his heart's desire. But that, of course, weighed very little in the older twin's judgment, Elladan being an impartial and objective son of the Lord of Rivendell. He just wondered if Haldir would like him more if he helped bring Legolas and Aragorn back together, that's all.
"Actually, you probably won't be telling him anything that we haven't told him already," muttered Elladan, staring at the ground. All eyes turned to stare at the dark-haired Elf, who continued to stare at the floor as he fidgeted with his fingers.
"What did he do? Was he angry with me?" asked Legolas hopefully. He knew the twins knew his secret; but he did not expect them to have told Aragorn already.
"Um.. What he did he do...right.. um... besides wanting to kill us for slandering you..." stammered the older son of Elrond as he glanced up to see three people staring at him. When Haldir arched his brows at his remark, Elladan returned his gaze to the floor.
"He doesn't believe you then," whispered the Prince, disappointed. It meant that how the Man reacted to the twins' allegations was of no significance; Aragorn would still hate him when he discovered the truth.
"That's not the point. The point is that the Man is head-over-heels in love with you!" exclaimed Gimli. He was surprised that the older twin was helping them. But then, the tricky Elf could be using this as an opportunity to gain evidence to expose Legolas in public. One could never trust an Elf. Still, he was determined to make the best use of Elladan's revelation.
"Aragorn deserves an explanation. He loves you every bit as you love him. Ending this should not be your choice alone. Tell him and let him decide, little one," reasoned Haldir before removing his shirt and shoes to join the Prince in the water. Holding Legolas gently by the shoulders, he pressed, "You know this is the right thing to do. That was why you started your confession last night. Now is the time to finish it."
Burying his face in the Guardian's chest, the young Elf replied weakly, "Yes. May Valar give me strength to accept whatever decision Aragorn makes."
Please, please review. They are my fuel.
Been getting lots of death threats lately about not updating for my various fictions. Don't know if I should be pleased or not =) I will be concentrating on finishing this story since it's winding down. Everything is actually going to be plot driven from this point on. So I am apologizing in advance if the chapters aren't funny.
Chapter 10 status: Checked it today, it's back on.
.. thoughts or my commentaries.
Before I begin, there is one response to a review I wish to make.
Believer: I have read the book. Have seen the movies many times as well. And I think of Legolas as the strongest of them all (well, I suppose I have to give Gimli some credit since he did beat our Elf's kill number by 1 at Helm's Deep in the book). That is why our Elf is my favorite in the movie, not because he is pretty, but because he is supercool with his bow and knives. As for in the book, Haldir is actually my favorite Elf since Legolas is a little too homicidal and cheery all the time. It was almost as if the whole thing was a giant game for him. But that is beside the point.
Anyway, this story is alternate universe so I CAN explore different portrayals of my favorite characters. In fact, this is why I only write AU, because I can infuse a little of my imagination into the LOTR characters. If I only want to see Legolas as the quiet, stoic, action Elf with a sarcastic sense of humor, I will be watching the movie. There is no need to write my own story. For this particular fiction, I decided I would make Legolas behave like a sweet, delicate child in his personal matters. I am not portraying him as a sissy; it takes a lot of aplomb to endure all the public humiliation I put him through with head held high. So what if he cries all the time over Aragorn. The Elf is supposed to be in love; and people make exceptions when they are in love. I am sorry that you are annoyed with the personality I gave this particular Legolas; but I don't think it is 'stupid' to portray him as a gentle, beautiful and very sensitive person.
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Chapter 21:
When the Dwarf was certain his roommate had fallen into an uneasy sleep, he left the barracks in search of the Guardian of Lòrien. They really needed to discuss the latest turn in the Prince's relationship with Aragorn. Not in his wildest dreams would Gimli expect what he just witnessed in the forest or in his rooms this night. Upon their return, the Elf had not spoken another word; he simply hid inside the closet and changed before going to bed. The sentimental, sweet Legolas had not shed a tear or betrayed any sort of emotion after his break-up with the Man. The Dwarf was worried about this uncharacteristic behavior. Since Haldir had known the Prince for longer, Gimli needed his advice on how to act around their heart-broken friend.
The Dwarf was relieved to find the Lòrien archer alone in his rooms, staring out into the gardens. He was certain the Elf had heard his entrance, but Haldir made no move to acknowledge him. The archer continued gazing at nothing and appeared to be pondering personal troubles of his own. That too was uncharacteristic. Maybe there was a tradition among the Elves to mope in silence on the night before harvest moon. That did not make any sense to Gimli, but Elves were very strange. Quietly, the Dwarf said, "Legolas just broke up with Aragorn."
"What?" asked the Elf as Gimli's simple statement startled him out of his thoughts. Haldir had spent the evening with Larien, a beautiful noble Lady of Rivendell. He should have been thoroughly entertained, yet he could not help feeling bored in her company. He no longer delighted in using his wits to charm the maiden. The empty promises of love and hollow words of praises no longer held the same appeal to him as it did before. It all started when he set about matchmaking for the Prince. Seeing the genuine love between Legolas and Aragorn was a constant reminder of what was missing in his life.
"Legolas was about to confess his identity. Stupid bird interrupted. Aragorn said something about hating spies. Our friend took the wrong hint and said they should stop seeing each other," said Gimli, giving a short summary of the nights events.
"This is bad. How long ago did this happen? Has Legolas cried yet?" asked Haldir, concerned. He knew his friend well. The Prince's cold, calculating diplomat/tactician mode was used when the shy introvert wished to hide his true self, to shield the sweet, innocent, hopeless romantic inside from harm. It was almost impossible to draw him out once he was securely in his shell.
"About three hours ago. He hasn't cried. Actually, he has been acting as if nothing out of the ordinary happened," answered Gimli, the concern in the usually stoic Elf's voice was not lost on him. If he was worried before, he was very worried now.
"You should have come to me immediately. We need to talk to him now," replied the Guardian as he hurriedly put on his shoes and headed towards the door with an extremely worried Dwarf close on his heels.
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Legolas was crying in his dreams. He cried so much that he was drowning in the river of tears. Subconsciously, the Elf knew this was a dream, so he allowed himself to be swept away. He no longer cared, as a life without love was no life at all. He was glad when darkness overtook him; he wanted to die. It was a wish he could not grant in reality. He had duties to his father, his kingdom. Crying, dying, these were fantasies only allowed in the embrace of sleep. Once fully awake, he would need to bury these secret desires and face the world with cool composure, as a proud Prince of Mirkwood.
Someone was shaking him, disturbing the icy, pitch-black void that held his soul. He wanted to be left alone in his misery, but the intruder was insistent. Against his will, the Prince exited the world of dreams into harsh reality. "May I help you?" asked the golden Elf impersonally, his face a mask schooled to portray sincerity. It was so convincing that Gimli could barely tell the emotion was false. The only thing that gave the Elf away was the missing sparkle of life that lit his eyes before tonight.
"Legolas, stop acting like this! You want to be a great warrior, to earn everyone's respect with your own strength. None of that false charm, remember?" said the Lòrien archer as he shook his protégé some more, trying to get the younger Elf out of diplomatic mode.
"I was stupid to think I can be anything more than a diplomat with all fake smiles or a tactical advisor in the shadows," replied Legolas, sounding shakier than he would like. He needed the strength of the Golden Prince of Mirkwood now. His shy introvert self was weak and naïve. He needed to close the barrier around his heart so others could not see how pathetic he was.
"I like you because you are a brave lad who wants to prove his own worth. If you were just another a tricky Elf, I would not be helping you. This tactical advisor or diplomat you spoke of, he is not worthy of my friendship. But YOU are, Legolas," enthused the Dwarf. Though he did not know the young Elf for as long as the Lòrien archer did, he knew what friendship meant to the Prince.
"Gimli.." whispered the Elf forlornly. Tears were threatening to form. He wanted to retreat to familiar grounds where he was under complete control, but Legolas could not find the way back to his refuge. His heart would not allow it.
"It's okay to cry, little one," whispered the archer as he moved to gather the Prince in his arms. He knew the mask Legolas was determined to wear was slipping. He only needed to push a tiny bit more to free the hurt romantic hiding inside. As expected, at his prompting, the younger Elf lost his composure and began to sob. Stroking his hair gently, Haldir continued, "Don't worry, my friend. Everything will work out in the end."
"No, it won't," sobbed Legolas. "Aragorn hates me."
"Don't be silly, laddie. He loves you," comforted the Dwarf. At least his friend appeared to be normal again, which was a good thing. Seeing the beauty cry, however, was not.
"He will hate me when he finds out," said the Prince with conviction. He still remembered the Man's cold words. It was too late the first moment they met in the forest before they arrived at Rivendell; too late because, from the start, Legolas was the very thing Aragorn hated.
The Guardian cast a sidelong glance at the Dwarf to make sure Gimli understood what they must do. They had to tell the Man the truth; the only thing that could heal the Prince's broken heart was Aragorn telling Legolas who he was did not change their love. They had a feeling the Man was not having an easier time dealing with the break-up than their Elven friend. Aragorn was probably completely confused and just as hurt. They were sure the Man was too in love with the golden Elf to be angry with him. After all, Aragorn was the one with many names and faces. He would not begrudge Legolas for hiding his real name.
In a cheerful voice, Haldir turned his attention back to his weeping friend and asked, "Let us not think on the future now. Tomorrow will be a beautiful day. Why don't we go swimming to relax a little?"
Legolas knew Haldir well enough to be wary of his suggestion. The Prince was sure that whatever the archer had in mind, it would not ease his pain. When the younger Elf frowned, Gimli concurred with his conspirator. "I think that is a great idea, Master Elf. Nothing takes worries away like a swim on a hot day."
Even though he was certain his friends' plans would fail to lift his spirits, the younger Elf knew he would acquiesce to keep them happy. Legolas owed them so much for their caring and support. He knew he would never have come so far without them. "Very well. I suppose we should all get some rest now so we don't fall asleep in the pool."
"I think I will stay the night if you don't mind. I am slightly worried that the twins might have come to an agreement not to my liking," said Haldir as he lay down beside the younger Elf. Feeling the Prince snuggle closer to his warmth, the Lòrien Elf wondered why he was not attracted to males. Things would be so much easier if he could just love this golden Elf in his arms, a gentle soul whom he adored.
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The sun shone brightly overhead as the exhausted Legolas awoke alone in his rooms. His friends had left him a note, saying they would go to the kitchens at the palace to pack some food for lunch. In addition, Haldir left him an assignment - to meet them at the pool below the lower Rivendell falls unnoticed. This would be some challenge if the recruits were still watching his rooms. Hiding within the covers of Haldir's Lòrien cloak, the Prince stealthily sneaked out of his own chambers through the windows.
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The two matchmakers found Aragorn alone in his rooms, staring blankly at the door. The Man did not make any attempt to move when they entered and settled comfortably in chairs in front of him. Aragorn did not look good; the Man had dark circles under eyes that were bloodshot from the abuse he had put them through. He must have cried until no more tears would flow. As they expected, Legolas was not alone in his misery. "Want to go swimming with us?" asked Haldir, cheerfully.
When no response ensued, the Dwarf chimed in, "Our little friend will be there."
That got a reaction from the catatonic Man. He focused on his visitors for the first time with what appeared to be hope in his eyes. That expression vanished quickly however, as realization hit him that Haldir and Gimli knew why Lasgalen wanted to break up with him. And instead of telling him straight away, they were trying to manipulate him. That made the heart- broken Aragorn extremely mad. Menacingly, the Man stood and drew himself to full height, advancing on the two guests.
"Peace, Aragorn. It's his secret to tell, not ours," said Haldir, holding up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Did he ask you to come?" asked the Man, hoping his Elf regretted his decision the night before. Aragorn knew Lasgalen was not playing with his heart. It was something the Man had said unknowingly that drove his beloved away. Though he did not understand what he had done wrong, Aragorn was eager to make things right again, if the Elf would give him a chance.
"No. He doesn't know we are here," replied the archer as he locked eyes with Aragorn. He saw only sadness and love in the Man's eyes. Haldir knew then that they were right to come here. Things would soon be fine between his two friends.
"In that case, my going will not help. He will just run from me as he did last night," whispered the Man sadly. His Elf was not going to give him a chance after all.
"Not necessarily. You have both of us on your side this time," commented Gimli, as he walked over to Aragorn and gave him pat on the back.
When the Man looked doubtfully at his two scheming visitors, Haldir reassured, "Don't underestimate us, my friend. Things will be fine, as long as you are sure that no matter what he tells you, you will still love him."
"Of course I will still love him. He is like my other half. I cannot stop loving him any more than I can live without breathing," vowed the Man feverishly.
"Great. Be at the pool at the lower falls in two hours," said the matchmakers in unison before turning to leave.
As Haldir walked out the door, he turned back and suggested, "I would get some rest if I were you. You look terrible."
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The Dwarf and Elf decided it would be best to split up. Legolas should be at the pool by now. Gimli would start trying to convince the Prince to finish telling the Man his secrets, while Haldir went to get some towels and their food. The Lòrien Elf's journey through the palace was uneventful, much to his relief. Apparently, the twins decided to leave him alone for a while. With a large picnic basket and four gigantic towels in hand, the archer began his journey to the pool to rejoin the others. However, as he reached the shelter of the trees, he felt silent eyes upon him. His unwanted admirers were back.
Elladan watched with a mixture of adoration and lust as the Guardian of Lòrien moved through the woods. The twins had not come to an agreement on how to handle the situation concerning the fair-haired Elf. But Elladan had the advantage of being older, even if it was just by a few minutes. It was not so much that he was stronger or wiser; it was that his words carried a little more weight in their father's eyes. But then, it was possible that Elrond favored him because he did not have a pet that constantly drove the Lord of Rivendell insane.
Anyway, the brothers had gone into the gardens to settle their argument by force. But they knew each other too well to defeat the other in combat. Their long, fruitless fight generated so much noise that it drew the attention of their father. Irate, Elrond demanded to know what was happening. When they both began to speak at once, their sire wanted Elladan as their spokesman. Elladan simply told the truth, omitting a few minor details such as their motive behind trying to seduce Haldir.
As expected, the Elf-lord was incensed. Since it was Elrohir's idea to begin with, he received punishment. The younger twin was to be 'imprisoned' in his own rooms for the weekend, leaving Elladan free to apologize and warn the Lòrien Elf of his brother's intentions. The older twin knew he should not be warning Haldir, seeing that the archer was on the spy's side; but he would never forgive himself if anything were to happen to the seductive beauty at Elrohir's hands.
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The archer was almost to the pool when the dark-haired Elf gathered enough courage to approach him. "Hi," called out Elladan, waving frantically in his attempt to get the other Elf's attention. When Haldir turned to look at him critically, the older twin was suddenly aware of how childish his actions were. He sounded more like a lovesick hundred year-old Elf-child than the experienced hardened warrior he was.
Instead of calling out greetings, the Lòrien Elf settled for giving Elladan the silent treatment. Now that Legolas was going to tell the Man, he no longer needed to charm the twins into leaving the Prince alone. Besides, Haldir decided he would have pity and not toy with the Rivendell Elves. It would be better if he just ignored the older twin.
"I just want to apologize for our behavior last night. We are really attracted to you, so much so that we kind of lost control for a bit. Please forgive us," stammered the older son of Elrond, staring at the floor, too embarrassed to make eye contact with the Lòrien archer.
Not acknowledging the other Elf's words, Haldir continued walking towards the pool. He was almost there now; and was surprised to see his Elven friend leave the embrace of the water to greet him. Gimli was still in the process of removing his heavy armor so he would not sink. With the Prince's newly enhanced senses, the Lòrien archer was certain he heard the one-sided conversation with Elladan. Given that the twins were always giving Legolas a difficult time, it did not make sense that the younger Elf should approach him while the Rivendell Elf was still so close.
Haldir's surprise was quickly turned into a bad premonition when he saw that his young friend had a strange smile on his face. It was the sort of dreamy look one had at the end of a satisfying romantic play or touching love ballad. It certainly did not belong on the Prince's face as he regarded Haldir and Elladan. The dark-haired Elf stood silently behind the pair, watching the Lòrien Elf and Legolas. The archer could imagine Elladan's gaze fixed lustfully on his behind as he moved towards his young friend.
"Hello," called out Legolas, smiling first at Haldir before turning to give Elladan a quick glance-over. As the archer noticed the young Elf's actions, warning bells began to sound in his head. The Prince was trying to determine whether he and the elder twin would make a good couple. This was definitely not good.
"Hi," replied Elladan stiffly. He had made it a point to dislike everyone from Thranduil's halls; and the Prince was no exception. But since the spy was Haldir's friend, he would at least make an attempt to be civil.
"Elladan is just leaving," quipped Haldir quickly, wanting to prevent any further embarrassment. Besides, the Man would be here later. It would be much better that the older twin was not here to interfere.
"Right. I have to go and help ada [father] prepare for the harvest festival tomorrow night," nodded the dark-haired Elf, looking more than a bit disappointed. Though he disliked the spy, he wanted to stay with Lòrien archer without his younger sibling in the way.
"All work and no play makes Elladan a dull Elf," teased Legolas, eliciting glares from both older Elves. Unabashed, the Prince continued, "Why don't you join us? We can have a team splash fight, you two against Gimli and me."
At the same time, Haldir yelled "No!" as Elladan gave his enthusiastic "Yes!" Before anything else could be said, the Lòrien archer dropped the things he was carrying, grabbed Legolas by the arm and led him away, hissing, "Please excuse us for a minute."
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"What do you think you are doing?" whispered Haldir when they finally moved out of earshot of the older son of Elrond.
"I think he likes you," stated Legolas simply, with a grin.
"He likes to take me to bed," retorted the Lòrien Elf. The Prince was too innocent to see that all Elladan felt for him was lust. Just like all the warriors who propositioned him before. Haldir had not given in before; he did not plan to start now.
"He apologized. He wouldn't do it if he just wants you in bed," reasoned the younger Elf.
"He needs me to be unsuspecting. They want information about you, remember?" argued the archer, trying to explain the obvious to the sweet Prince.
"No, if that's the case, both of them will be here. Elladan likes you," said Legolas with conviction.
"You are not there last night when they fought over me like a piece of meat. He lusts after me. And he is not joining us," concluded Haldir, wanting to stop this discussion. The objective today was to get Aragorn and his friend back together; not examine the twins' intention towards him.
The Prince's jaw dropped open in shock before the expression was replaced by a very wide grin. "I think he was fighting his own brother to defend you honor. That's just proof of how much he cares, no?"
"You are hopeless!" exclaimed Haldir in frustration. Why did the young Elf have to see the best in every person he met?!
"Maybe I am. But he is staying. He leaves, I leave," replied Legolas calmly, allowing the archer to see that he was serious.
Since Aragorn was coming later in the day, it would not do for the Prince to leave now. As much as he hated the idea of Elladan joining them, he would have to accept it. "Fine. If he tries anything, I leave," said Haldir in defeat as he headed towards the pool.
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Elladan had been standing there for a while now. Part of him told him to leave. The spy was helping him; but he did not wish to owe Legolas any favors. The other part was hopeful, praying to Elbereth that the Prince would convince Haldir to let him stay. The thought of spending the day in the Guardian's company was extremely appealing. And the thought of swimming in a pool with him was enough to make blood rush to Elladan's lower body. He wondered what the Elf would be wearing. A fantasy of Haldir standing in the pool, naked, with beads of water rolling down his very desirable body suddenly assaulted him, overruling all thoughts of leaving. Oh, please, Elbereth, don't let Legolas rescind his invitation!
Gimli had finished removing his armor and was wearing a comfortable loose shirt of white cotton and breeches. He heard Legolas' invitation. The Dwarf could guess his roommate's intentions, after walking into a practically naked Haldir who was expecting the twins. Still, Gimli doubted the wisdom of inviting Elladan, given that Aragorn would be here. But then, the Prince did not know their plans. After watching the dark-haired Elf stood there transfixed, at a lost of what to do for over five minutes, the Dwarf felt a tinge of pity for his Elven commander.
Gimli was about to call out to Elladan when the two fair-haired Elves returned. Haldir marched stiffly to the older twin while Legolas strode leisurely to the pool. The Lòrien archer gave the dark-haired Elf a haughty glance before pointing at the things he dropped earlier. "If you are going to come along, at least make yourself useful."
Without hesitation, the Rivendell Elf picked up the picnic basket and towels. Haldir had begun to make his way towards the pool without giving Elladan a second look. But the cold treatment seemed to have no effect on the elder twin's enthusiasm as he eagerly hurried to walk beside the seductive beauty that ruled his dreams the night before.
"Elladan is my commander. It's not nice to make him carry all our things," commented the Prince, looking at his older friend with disapproval. He knew the Lòrien Elf preferred females; but after so many years of dating, the Guardian was still single. Perhaps it was time for his friend to open up to new possibilities. Besides, he was certain he had not erred in his judgment. The elder twin liked Haldir.
Haldir merely gave the Prince a death glare. Instead of having the desired effect, Legolas merely giggled as he dived back into the water. Despite his loyalty and protectiveness to his innocent friend, the Lòrien Elf had this sudden desire to shake him rather violently. Haldir was well experienced in the matters of romance; but the situation was quickly becoming very embarrassing.
Instead, the archer focused on the problem at hand. They had less than two hours to convince Legolas to tell the Man the entire truth. He preferred not to have Elladan as an audience; but since his presence was inevitable, the silver-haired Elf thought he might as well start now. "You should be the one to talk. Aragorn is your commander and it's not nice to break up with him without giving a reason either."
Gimli swore softly at the Lòrien archer's bluntness. It was not like Haldir to be so direct. He glanced worriedly at his gentle friend and saw that the playfulness had gone out of his eyes. Instead, the golden Elf looked as if he was about to start crying again. The Dwarf quickly stepped in and admonished the Guardian's choice of retort. "We are here to have fun today. Let us not talk about these unhappy things." He walked past Haldir, giving him a sharp glance and a small shake of the head, before taking the large picnic basket off Elladan's hand.
Seeing the Prince's expression, Haldir knew he had been too harsh with his words. The Guardian was ashamed of being so callous. He had known Legolas for a long time; the young Elf needed encouragement and prompting, not judgments on his actions. In his haste to divert Legolas' attention from his personal life, he had hurt his friend's feelings. "Sorry, I didn't mean that."
"It's alright. It was a just observation," muttered the Prince as he ducked into the water and swam away.
"That didn't go well," said Gimli as he lay down their food before looking at Haldir expectantly. He knew both Elladan and Legolas could hear his comment, but at this moment he could not care less. They needed a plan, and a good one at that, if they were to help the Prince and Man fix their relationship.
For a long moment, the Lòrien Elf locked gaze with the Dwarf. Apparently, an agreement had been reached between the two matchmakers through their silent 'communication'. Both nodded before Haldir spoke again, "I think you should tell him everything."
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Though curiosity was burning inside Elladan, he kept silent. The spy and his allies' actions were not making any sense to the Rivendell Elf. If Legolas was using Aragorn for information, why did he break up with the Man? That was just counter-productive. And why would Haldir and the Dwarf wanted the Prince to confess to being a spy? They seemed to be Legolas' loyal supporters; why would they urge him to do something that would jeopardize his mission? And to do so openly, with Elladan as witness!
A possibility drifted into the older twin's mind that he did not consider before. The Prince was actually in love with his foster brother! That explained the strange scene before him, as Legolas stopped swimming and stood amidst the pool. The golden Elf's face was wet; but since he was submerged in water less than a minute ago, Elladan could not be sure if the streaks of moisture running down his cheeks were tears. Gazing sadly at his reflection, the Prince whispered, "Why? It will only make things worse."
"You won't know unless you try, laddie," reasoned Gimli, moving closer to the water. The truth was that he never liked swimming. He was a Dwarf, and much preferred being in solid ground than in the water. But since Haldir suggested the activity as a cover for their scheme, he had no choice but to concur.
At that unfortunate moment, a bee flew by and was offended by Elladan's feet on the flower that it always collected nectar from. As revenge, the said insect stung the Elf through his thin leggings, causing the older twin to yelp in pain, thus, drawing everyone's attention to his presence. To say the dark-haired Elf was embarrassed was an understatement. He was blushing from head to toe, though that could be due to his allergies to bees. But regardless, he was about to mutter a "sorry, just forget I am here" when he decided that the idea of Legolas being together with Aragorn was not too bad, seeing the spy was actually in love with his foster brother.
Elladan was upset that Thranduil sent someone to spy on them; but he understood that his own father would do the same if all the commanders of the Joint Army were from Mirkwood. And at least, this Prince was polite and eager to do well in his training. Any other from Thranduil's halls would be pompous, disrespectful and, all in all, unpleasant to be around. And if anyone else were in Legolas' position, they would not hesitate to use Aragorn to fulfill their mission. The golden Elf was not that bad. There was also the fact that the Prince wanted to help Elladan pursue his heart's desire. But that, of course, weighed very little in the older twin's judgment, Elladan being an impartial and objective son of the Lord of Rivendell. He just wondered if Haldir would like him more if he helped bring Legolas and Aragorn back together, that's all.
"Actually, you probably won't be telling him anything that we haven't told him already," muttered Elladan, staring at the ground. All eyes turned to stare at the dark-haired Elf, who continued to stare at the floor as he fidgeted with his fingers.
"What did he do? Was he angry with me?" asked Legolas hopefully. He knew the twins knew his secret; but he did not expect them to have told Aragorn already.
"Um.. What he did he do...right.. um... besides wanting to kill us for slandering you..." stammered the older son of Elrond as he glanced up to see three people staring at him. When Haldir arched his brows at his remark, Elladan returned his gaze to the floor.
"He doesn't believe you then," whispered the Prince, disappointed. It meant that how the Man reacted to the twins' allegations was of no significance; Aragorn would still hate him when he discovered the truth.
"That's not the point. The point is that the Man is head-over-heels in love with you!" exclaimed Gimli. He was surprised that the older twin was helping them. But then, the tricky Elf could be using this as an opportunity to gain evidence to expose Legolas in public. One could never trust an Elf. Still, he was determined to make the best use of Elladan's revelation.
"Aragorn deserves an explanation. He loves you every bit as you love him. Ending this should not be your choice alone. Tell him and let him decide, little one," reasoned Haldir before removing his shirt and shoes to join the Prince in the water. Holding Legolas gently by the shoulders, he pressed, "You know this is the right thing to do. That was why you started your confession last night. Now is the time to finish it."
Burying his face in the Guardian's chest, the young Elf replied weakly, "Yes. May Valar give me strength to accept whatever decision Aragorn makes."