Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue

Author's note: thanks to MaluElvellon, Twiggy, NiennaVala, Krillball6 and Natalie for the sweet reviews… and uh, due to my sudden burst of love for sadly departed Haldir, there will be slightly more than expected flashback scenes of Haldir/ Legolas.

Eowyn gazed motionlessly at Faramir, an inscrutable expression on her face. "How do you know what I want, pray tell?"

A knowing sneer upon his face, Faramir drawled, "Lady Eowyn, your eyes betray you. They show your darkest desires."

Sucking in a deep breath to calm her nerves, Eowyn attempted to glare at Faramir. "I will take no part in this charade of yours," she snapped, her skirt rustling as she hastily departed.

Calmly looking at the rapidly disappearing silhouette of Eowyn, Faramir let out a small snort. "Oh, but you will," he said derisively. "You will have a very large part in my plans, Lady Eowyn."

***********

Aragorn stared helplessly as his lover, as though possessed by some incredible force, continued to stride through the ruins and desolation.

Frequently, Legolas would pause as his eyes glimpsed a glint of silver hair and he would stoop down, hoping against hope that it might be Haldir.

*flashback*

"The dwarf breathes so loudly we could have shot him in the dark." A familiar sneering voice suddenly declared as the Fellowship found themselves surrounded by elves bearing ominous bows with arrows aimed at their necks.

Holding up his bow himself, Legolas tried to stifle the grin from appearing on his face, attempting to look properly serious and grim as Aragorn explained themselves.

After the brief standoff, the elves finally condescended to bring them to see the lady of the woods.

Surreptitiously falling behind, Haldir appeared smoothly beside Legolas.

Slyly pinching Legolas's delectable behind, Haldir tried to appear properly chastened as Legolas choked down his shriek and glared at him, punching him lightly on the shoulder.

"It has been too long, my friend." Haldir grinned, an effervescent light in his eyes.

"Yes, it has," Legolas replied with an ebullient smile of his own.

The radiance in Haldir's eyes faltered slightly as a rugged and greasy-haired human suddenly interrupted their conversation, placing a possessive arm around Legolas's waist.

Looking almost apologetically at Haldir, Legolas introduced the human. "This is Aragorn, my-" Blushing an irresistible shade of crimson, he stammered softly but with undisguised love, continued, "lover."

Swallowing hard, Haldir merely smiled wistfully. "Take good care of him," he directed his words towards a wary Aragon who was currently looking at him suspiciously.

"You do not have to tell me that," Aragon replied in an amused tone, his eyes softening as he gently dropped a delicate kiss on Legolas's cheek.

*end flashback*

Cruelly, Legolas's hope would be shattered once again as he reverently laid back the head of another elf, whispering softly, "Rest in peace, my brother."

Letting out a heartfelt sigh, Aragorn let his eyes drift to the rapidly darkening heavens. They had been searching throughout the day and he was exhausted beyond belief.

His tortured body was already pleading for rest and nourishment after the bone-weary battle but he pushed himself on firmly. I have to do this, for Legolas. He reminded himself, determinedly yanking up another infested and repulsive orc that had started to rot, seeking signs of Haldir's body.

A warm rush of gratitude flowed through him as he caught sight of Gimli poking at the carcass of an Uruk-hai with his axe, and Faramir searching through an area piled with unidentifiable bodies.

Everyone was unbearably fatigued and he did not have the heart to ask for any assistance. Hence, he had been immensely touched when Gimli and Faramir, seeing the elf in such distress, had immediately offered their help.

"It pains me to see the elf in such despair," Gimli had said gruffly and rather shamefacedly, waving away Aragorn's thanks. Likewise, Faramir had simply grinned at him and emphatically told him not to worry about it.

"Haldir." A breathless, choked voice interrupted Aragorn's reminisces and he swerved his head to Legolas's direction.

The elf was kneeling on the ground, his arms wrapped around an armored form, silver hair stained with blood spilling over his arms.

Dashing over to his lover's side, Aragorn was startled to see Legolas's eyes shut rigidly. He had never witnessed Legolas with closed eyes before, not even when he was in deep repose.

When Legolas's eyes fluttered open, understanding dawned upon Aragorn. Legolas's eyes were filled with such raw pain that it stabbed into Aragorn's soul.

The force of Legolas's grief surrounded Aragorn as well, enveloping them both as Aragorn embraced his lover tightly, trying to absorb any measure of burden he could, in order to lessen Legolas's.

Such agony should not exist for someone who looked so fragile, so vulnerable. Faramir gritted his teeth as he felt his heart wrench at the waves of anguish radiating off the elf.

And those arms around him should be mine.