This contains Eomer/Haldir SLASH

[Two]

            Legolas looked down at the stale bread not even enough for a morning's work and the half a cup of water. He sighed as he picked it up. This was better than most of the servants received in a normal day, he was 'special' because they thought him pretty. Haldir sat beside him and smiled weakly. "Interesting morning?"

               "… Very." Legolas murmured. He enjoyed Haldir's company, for his friend was always so optimistic. But he knew inside that Haldir suffered just as much as he did, if not more. His friend was not much older, but he seemed wiser by far.

               "Did you do something to offend master Aragorn? He was certainly looking for you…"

               "I do not know," Legolas replied, his voice filled with worry, "I hope not. I only brought him his breakfast… but he was acting very strange… almost like I was…"

               "Like you were… what?" Haldir's eyes flickered. He brought the water up to his pale and tender lips.

               "No… you will laugh." Legolas looked down.

               "… Trust me, my friend," Haldir assured him, "There is not much to laugh about concerning him…"

               "Haldir… he was almost defending me…" Legolas spoke up; his melodious voice was filled with confusion. Haldir said nothing as he looked down at his portion of rock like bread that was slightly smaller than Legolas's.

               "… Legolas… be careful… you know what he…" Haldir started to say but stopped when he noticed the pain and sadness in his friend's eyes, "He sees us as objects… not people."

               "… I know." Legolas whispered, he knew much too well. But there was something different in the master's eyes this morning. Something he did not recognize was there.

               "Let us think of better things…" Haldir smiled, or tried to. "Like the havens…" It was a place that many of their kin went to, and it was said to be beautiful and peaceful where men did not dwell. But most of their kin die before ever reaching that home.

               "… We must try…" Legolas whispered under his breath so only Haldir could hear him, "We cannot stay here forever…" He looked to his friend who nodded hesitantly. He knew exactly why Haldir was unsure, but spoke nothing of it. To him, it seemed like a small price to pay for happiness and escape from undeserved pain.

               "I spoke to Glorfindel…" Haldir murmured, "He can help us, he has promised to do so. We need only to hang on for another month or so." But he was unfocused and his mind trailed to other thoughts.

               "… Will you be all right?" Legolas said as he noticed Haldir's spaced out expression. The Lorien elf nodded reluctantly and they looked at each other and smiled firmly. No matter how much pain neither of them suffered through, they have never left each other's side.

Legolas bit down on the bread, which took much effort and even more to chew and swallow. He sighed and wondered what it would be like to be properly fed for once. He remembered trying to steal food when he was little and the beating he had gotten for that. He could hardly walk for a month. Haldir had done the same on a number of occasions but has never gotten caught as he did.

Haldir left his food untouched, many thoughts were running through his mind. He remembered all the painful times he had been assaulted in this place and touched wrongfully, but none of them had ever succeeded in taking him. He had not always been a slave here, there was a time when he walked freely and it was there that he learned to defend himself.

But Legolas was not so lucky. He was born beautiful, even for an elf. There were many eyes that desired him. He was born into this dreadful life and never understood how to protect himself. It was Haldir who had helped him understand that he did not deserve the ways in which he was being treated. Legolas had been tainted and for that he paid a great ordeal. His grief would have overpowered him if Haldir and Glorfindel had not been there. 

               Night befell upon the lonely palace and Eomer walked slowly toward the gardens, trying to awake no one. He would be claimed a traitor, if anyone had found out the things he had been doing. Yet he was a strong and fair man with golden hair and light eyes, a man who believed that the elves were friends of men, and deserved to be treated better. That was what he secretly worked at his entire life. He loathed the king and his brother Aragorn… it was such ignorance that disgusted him. He waited till the figure came into his view. "Haldir…" He breathed pulling the breathtaking elf into his arms.

               "… I have missed you…" The elf whispered softly, his silver like blond hair falling onto his rosy cheeks, "You have to be more careful… if they know that we are seeing each other…"

               "Shhh… Speak nothing of it. I do not fear them." Eomer said looking down at his elven lover. The Lorien elf had bruises everywhere and scratches that dug into the sides of his neck. There was a scar upon his forehead from years back. "And neither should you… I will not let them hurt you."

               "… I have something to tell you…" Haldir said softly leaning his head upon the stern and stouthearted man's shoulder. He knew that in telling this to a man, he was putting his life and Legolas's in one person's hands. Yet he trusted Eomer… and he was sure.

               "Go on…" Eomer whispered holding the gorgeous elf closer.

               "… I'm… I'm leaving."

               "What?" Eomer stared looking toward the elf.

               "… I'm leaving this place… I will make for the havens…"

               "… Haldir… what if you are caught…" Eomer hissed in surprise, "They will… I can't let you do this!" But inside he feared even more in losing his lover.

               "I must… and that is a chance I have to take…" Haldir said firmly, "I will die either way… and it is better to take that glimmer of chance of being free." Eomer was quiet for a while still holding his lover tightly.

               "You know I will support you… in whatever you do." He said finally, "But… I fear for you… and I will miss you." He looked solemnly away, for he could not bear the determination in Haldir's eyes.

               "… Not if you were to come with me…" Haldir said gently, he knew that Legolas would hate him for this and Glorfindel would be raged but he could not leave the one he loved.

               "… I cannot, you know I cannot." Eomer said without remorse. But his arms still slipped around the pale elf's waist. Haldir nodded and they both stayed immersed in each other for a while. "I love you…" Eomer said gently to the stunning beauty and Haldir nodded, showing him that he understood.

               Legolas looked around dizzily, he was not sure what had happened, just that he had been drugged. He looked up weakly at the man that held him down. He decided firmly that he would not let these disgusting men have their satisfaction; he was going to fight, even if it took his last breath. But how could he when he could hardly lift his own limbs? He groaned softly as a hand came to lift his head, he was forced to look upon the king with trembling eyes. He knew at once that these men were all drunk.

               Aragorn was wringing his hands as he fought his desire to slay the man that held his lover. He had to wait for a chance… his eyes fell to the king who was supposedly his brother… 'He is drunk… the bastard."

               "I think I will let you have the pretty one… my dear brother." The king muttered in his drunken state. The fair elf in the guard's arms whimpered softly at this.

               Aragorn looked to Legolas who was staring at him tearfully and with clenched teeth. Aragorn said nothing and gently took Legolas into his arms. "… It'll be alright… trust me." He said softly. Legolas trembled and did not respond. Aragorn looked around trying to think of a way to get out of the room without letting the elf get hurt.

               "I think I will take him to my room…" Aragorn said loudly, Legolas flinched and they all stared at him.

               "Getting greedy… my brethren…" The king laughed, "Take him…"

               Aragorn lifted the elf, who was struggling with all his strength, and walked from the room. As soon as they entered his bedroom, he closed the door and locked it behind him. He laid Legolas on the bed and cut the bindings with a pocketknife.

               "Are you all right?" Aragorn whispered softly. Legolas nodded, not knowing whether to be horrified or thankful.

               "What will you do to me?" Legolas asked as he tried to back away with the last of his strength.

               "… I am not going to do anything to you." Aragorn assured him, "I just… I need some answers."

               "I know nothing." Legolas said firmly, afraid that Aragorn was going to pressure him about escaping to the havens or about Haldir's relationship with Eomer.

               "… Legolas, I do not accuse you of anything… I want to be your friend, and I need you to trust me." Aragorn said sincerely. Legolas glared at him and remained silent. Here was the man who has assaulted him and tried to take him so many times offering his friendship.

               "… Why would you want to be my friend, master Aragorn? I am only an elf… and your slave." Legolas replied; he did not care about keeping his tone any longer.

               "… No Legolas, you are not only an elf… I need you to just try to forget everything I have done to you in the past and trust me…" Aragorn said as he began to pour the elf some water.

               "… What would you like to know… my lord?" Legolas said after a period of silence. He was afraid but also to weary to move. But there was a sense of honesty he felt from the man that he never noticed before.

               "… I need to know where I am… and who I am. I just need to know how everything ended up like this."

               Legolas was completely lost and confused. He forced a smile and answered nonetheless. "You are in Ilian, the land of the king, your brethren… and you are the Lord Aragorn…"

               "This is not Imladris?"

               "I do not understand…" Legolas said gently, "It has not been called that since…" He stopped himself and looked away. It was too painful to be spoken. Imladris was what the elves have called it when they still lingered, free of chains. But when the men came… they fled and those who remained to fight were enslaved. That was how it had been ever since. Time went on, things grew worse. They were looked at as property, rather than people.

               "Since what…"

               "Since…" Legolas stopped himself. Of this, it was not permitted to speak. And those who spoke of it, slaves or their masters, were severely punished. "… Perhaps I am not the one you should be speaking to about this."

               "… No, you are the only one I can speak to about this… I will not hurt you… no matter what you say." Aragorn whispered, resisting the urge to hold the pretty elf in his arms. It pained him to see the one he loved so hurt and frail, and even more to see that Legolas did not trust him. 

               Legolas nodded slowly and repeated all he knew of the history to the master. To his surprise, Aragorn was shocked at all he had to say. He began to understand that this was not the same man who had tried to rape him so many times… it was a different soul. They spoke quietly for a while and Legolas felt himself beginning to relax as the drugs wore off.

               "… I would like to know…" Aragorn said softly, "You need not answer me… and I will not ask you twice… What did I do to you in the past?"

               "You… it was nothing I could not take…" Legolas said softly, lying through his teeth, "You struck me… this and that… but it was nothing serious." He could not bring himself to say what he remembered.

               "… No…. I hurt you deeply… didn't I?" Aragorn whispered, he knew, in this world or any other, Legolas was still Legolas, and the worst liar in the world. "… Tell me what I did, so I may apologize for it."

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I could not decide whether to put Haldir with Elladan or Eomer, but there you go.