Disclaimer: not mine, don't sue
Author's note: *grin* Thanx to Goddess of Death, Twitteringpig, Maia and Niennavala
for the sweet reviews…
Tenshiamanda- I was so busy drooling at Legolas during TTT that I didn't notice anything else, let alone the wargs… *heehee* and great advice to Faramir, though I doubt he will take it… lol.
Krillball6- *bawls* I'm so sorry but I can't make Haldir alive again! I don't know elvish magic! *heh* thanks for being so sweet though, I really appreciate your enthusiasm for the fic! Oh! And this Haldir flashback scene is totally dedicated to you!
Lipstick_traces –ooh! I recognize your v striking name from Nsync slash… *sobs* which is v sadly dead in the ff.net world…
Ringlain- thanx for the recommendation! I was cracking up reading those diaries! ^_^
A solitary tear slid down Legolas's cheek, hidden by the cloaking, stifling darkness that draped the freshly dug grave of Haldir and the lonely company that surrounded it.
"Rest in peace," Legolas whispered in a trembling voice, laying a hand on the grave and then pressing the hand firmly against his chest, as if imprinting the mark of Haldir's grave upon himself.
Silently, Aragorn kneeled next to his lover and wrapped his arms firmly around Legolas who was shivering violently, from the piercing grief rather than the biting cold.
Leading Legolas away, Aragorn threw a bittersweet smile at Gimli and Faramir as he departed.
As Legolas obediently allowed himself to be led away, he suddenly swayed and was immediately steadied by the vigilant Aragorn.
A worried frown creasing his brow, Aragorn continued to steer Legolas towards the chamber they shared, oblivious to the murderous gaze directed at him.
Almost in a daze, Legolas silently sat onto the bed where Aragorn had led him.
Instinctively drawing his knees up to his chest, he wrapped his arms around his knees, bowing his head forlornly.
Staring helplessly at his lover, Aragorn clambered up onto the bed as well. Reaching out a hand to comfort Legolas, a burning hurt pierced him as his lover shied away, denying the contact.
The couple sat motionlessly, the mere distance of a few inches seemingly unbridgeable, spanning a frigid, vast space.
They were both interrupted from their individual reveries when the door swung open almost apologetically and a familiar face appeared.
"Aragorn, King Theoden wishes your help in deciding the next course of action." Faramir said briskly, his eyes betraying a twinge of impatience and anticipation.
"Of course," Aragorn replied swiftly, sliding off the bed and striding towards the door.
Almost as a second thought, he stopped and walked back towards Legolas. Dropping a soft, chaste kiss on Legolas's inclined head, he whispered, "I will be back soon."
The moment Aragorn stepped out of the chamber, Faramir advanced towards Legolas, a hint of a predator stalking a vulnerable prey in his steady, purpose-filled footsteps.
Sitting on the bed beside the quiescent Legolas, Faramir unhesitatingly clasped one of Legolas's hands, pretending to be oblivious to the slight resistance and the look of surprise in those violet orbs that looked at him quizzically.
Staring earnestly at Legolas, he chose his words carefully, striving to fill his eyes with as much sincerity and sympathy as humanly possible.
"It is not your fault," Faramir said deliberately. Raising a hand to gently push back a few stray tendrils of hair framing the elf's face, he was satisfied to see a sudden suffusion of color into Legolas's pale cheeks.
Faramir was utterly shocked when Legolas yanked back his hand and clambered away from him, towards the far side of the bed.
His eyes shimmering with anguished, pain-filled tears, Legolas murmured in a bitter tone, "It is. It is all my fault Haldir is dead."
*flashback*
In his sheer exhilaration at seeing Haldir leading the elves to their aid at Helm's Deep, Legolas had completely forgotten about the fact that he was supposed to exhibit behavior befitting that of the elf prince of Mirkwood.
Flinging himself at Haldir, he was gratified when strong arms embraced him back.
"You came!" Legolas said in disbelief. His eyes dancing with joy, he pulled back from the embrace, putting his hands firmly on Haldir's shoulders. "Thank you."
"Well, I could not possibly leave you here alone to uphold the name of the elves, could I?" Haldir replied in a teasing tone. However, the concern in his eyes sparkled as he gazed lovingly upon Legolas, only darkening slightly as Legolas withdrew from him into the arms of the human.
*end flashback*
Staring in despair at Faramir's bewildered look, Legolas bit his lips painfully, savagely, almost hoping to draw blood.
"Do you not see?" Legolas asked in pure misery. "He came to save me. He gave his life up for me."
Struck by the force of the elf's self-loathing and anguish, Faramir did the only thing he could think of… he moved towards Legolas to gather the elf up in his arms.