A shadow crept around his bed. He could feel it; even in his sleep, he could sense its eyes upon him.

He sat bolt upright in the dark. His room loomed up all around him like some giant box, and he felt as though he suddenly couldn't breath.

But there was the cold breeze, making the curtains dance like white ghosts in the thick air. Haldir slowly drew off the covers and got up. The hardwood floor was cold against his feet and he promised himself again to get a rug. One of those thick furry ones, that felt as though you were walking on warm clouds.

He moved towards the source of the chilly breeze, and slammed the window shut with a low bang. The glass rattled for a moment, a stunning sound that he likened to bones rattling. Then he turned to go back to bed.

But something stopped him in his tracks.

It was the realization that he never remembered opening it.

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"I'm going into the city." Legolas was watching Haldir lock and staple all of the windows. He didn't answer. "For an important photo shoot...magazine ads..."

Finally, Haldir nodded to acknowledge that he'd heard. "May I... go with you?"

Legolas nodded.

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As the car came over the last of the foothills, the city loomed gray and dirty into the sky. Haldir swallowed. It always gave him a suffocating feeling.

"Could you stop and let me out at the park?"

"Yeah."

The road turned into a street that wound through the tall buildings that gleamed like glassy towers in the sun. The sensitive noses of both of the elves tingled unpleasantly at the industrial air that seemed both foul and stagnant after the mountain air. Legolas pulled easily up to the curb next to the dapple of green that was the city park in the middle of all the silver, gray and black.

As Haldir unbuckled his seatbelt and turned silently to open the door, Legolas could stand no more. "I told Elrond."

Haldir's lips curled back in a scowl. "Elrond's dead."

For once, Legolas looked hurt. "No he isn't! I saw him! He... He was on television."

He paused, and turned to study the younger elf's face. "Where? When?"

"Two, maybe three weeks ago... the day I was late because of a last minute fashion show. I was walking back to my car... I saw... In the windows of the RadioHut..." He was nervously wringing his hands. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry Haldir..."

The older elf sank back into the seat of the car for a moment, staring detatchedly at the windshield. 'I want to just fade away...' He thought to himself. 'Fade away and cause no more trouble.' He sighed heavily, then dragged himself up and out. "Don't worry about picking me up."

Legolas nodded. He didn't mention to Haldir how he'd been eagerly waiting for a return letter in the mail every day since. Nor how carefully he'd written out the return address on the envelope.

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Chibi Legolas: I know! Painfully short... I'm working on it. Anyhoo, this fic's about to get REALLY dark. Just thought I'd warn you ahead of time. Well, maybe not "warn," but you know, inform... yeah. Anyhoo... Thanks for all reviews! Love yas! ^_^