I am finally back, and ready to roll. Due to time constraints, I'm not going to spend a lot of time writing useless salutations… onward with the story—
Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor do I ever think I will, though I would like to. Please don't sue me, I wanna go to college!
Aragorn stared intently at Legolas, not daring to say anything for fear of making a bad situation worse. Out of the frying pan and into the fire, he thought sardonically, At least with Haldir it was impersonal, but I get the terrible feeling that we're going to have a repeat of the last three days-with my best friend!
Legolas was staring at Aragorn intently, a little shaken after admitting his predicament out loud.
"Aragorn, I know she's supposed to be the re-incarnation of my mother, but… I can't help my….feelings." The elf said self-consciously, starting to walk again.
"Could it be… that you're feeling attracted to her simply because her…soul is connected to yours maternally?" Aragorn asked, marveling at the conversation that he was having. It would have been fascinating-had it not been so stressful.
"Perhaps," Legolas replied doubtfully. "But I don't think so…" He trailed the sentence off as they made their way into the fellowship's camp in time to see Boromir loudly and very colorfully cursing two very smug looking hobbits. He was much redder the usual and an upturned wine jug on the edge of the clearing made the situation rather obvious.
"Is wearing red wine the newest fashion in Gondor?" Legolas asked with mock curiosity, adopting a carefree stride as he walked into the camp. Aragorn frowned inwardly at his friend's sudden façade, but made no comment. Meanwhile, Boromir gave Legolas a killer glare and stalked off to his packs to change.
"Hello Mr. Legolas," Pippin said jovially as the elf came towards the middle of the campsite.
"Hello Pippin, it looks like you've been busy!" Legolas replied cheerfully. Only Aragorn, who had been trained to read feelings, could sense the counterfeit tone. Legolas chatted pleasantly with the other members of the fellowship like there was nothing wrong. He was about to say something when Merry yawned loudly, cutting off whatever the ranger was going to say.
"I'm for bed," the hobbit said, already heading towards his bed rolls. Others muttered assent began to settle in for the night.
~
Legolas lay still, listening to the soft snores that meant that the hobbits and Gimli were asleep. His head and stomach churned with unease, emotion after emotion floating through his mind, confusing laced within each one.
Why Lythian? Of all the beautiful elves that I could have had (privilege of royalty) why do I want the one that is supposed to be my mother?
The elf quickly gave up on rest, not that he was feeling particularly like sleeping, and stood up silently. Grabbing onto a nearby tree bough, the prince swung himself soundlessly into the trees and disappeared into the night, hoping that no one had seen him leave the site. He desperately wanted to be alone to try and sort himself out.
After about twenty minutes of tree walking away from the camp, Legolas was sure that he was safe from the eyes and ears of anyone else besides the trees.
~*~*~*~*~
Since his revelation, the world has suddenly seemed to jump into color. Everything was brighter, even in the dim light of the moon, and the very air that he breathed seemed to taste wonderful. The new couple was now sitting at the foot of a large tree, closely cuddled together with Lythian's head resting on Haldir's chest, his arms around her and their hands intertwined. Neither of them were particularly inclined to sleep at the moment, love struck as they were.
Haldir felt nothing but numb joy, a deep contentment that was too deep for words to say. If he died in the next moment, he would die with ultimate joy. There was nothing in the world that could change his happiness, and he intended to keep it that way.
Lythian felt exactly the same way, and was sending constant waves of wordless love to the older elf. No one and nothing else mattered; the complications that their relationship was going to bring could be dealt with later.
"How did I ever live without you?" Haldir wondered aloud, absent mindedly playing with Lythian's long hair.
The she-elf didn't answer the question for a moment, but then to her own surprise, answered sharply.
"You lived with my soul in another form." The words were suddenly bitter, and Lythian could feel Haldir tense up near her. However, he did not let go of her, but answered wholeheartedly.
"I lived with another elf. But I love you for who you are and not for who you were!" Lythian tensed at the beginning of his statement and turned to face him when he finished it. However, instead of replying, the she-elf looked straight into the eyes of her lover, searching them for something. What it was she was looking for, even Lythian didn't understand. Haldir's eyes were alight in the dark, and all they reflected were sincerity and love. Lythian nodded and turned around, relaxing again.
"I love you Haldir." She said softly, accepting his answer and letting the moment of bitterness pass. The older elf brought his lips down softly to her check and murmured, softly as a gentle breeze, "I love you too- Lythian"
~*~*~*~*~
"So there is to be a happy ending after all?" Celeborn questioned Galadriel as the lady settled herself down in their bed.
"I hope so with all my heart." The she-elf replied, closing her eyes and opening them again to face her husband.
"You have doubts." Celeborn said, framing it not as a question but as a statement.
"I…" Galadriel began, somewhat uncertain of what to say next.
"This whole situation is very twisted. I know not if any other issues will come up, but I believe that Prince Legolas will have some severe reactions to this. He…he never knew about the circumstances surrounding his mother's death." Celeborn nodded sagely.
"I believe that you're right. Perhaps we should approach him about this-" But Galadriel shook her head.
"We do not know the entire story, and if we did, it is not our place to speak to him. I hate to ruin the happiness so soon, but the explanation cannot wait. The only one who can speak to Legolas about this and give him the entire story with no dilution is Haldir himself." Celeborn frowned.
"Can it not wait a few days until things have had time to settle?" Galadriel faced her husband with a pained look in her eyes.
"I saw Legolas's face when he turned away to leave Haldir and Lythian tonight. His face was so haunted…" The wise she-elf cut off and stared sadly at her own beloved. "There is something wrong that he dare not speak of, and when it is combined with sheer confusion and pain, I believe it might be deadly."
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Sir! Haldir? Are you awake?" Haldir was pulled out of sleep in time to see a guard in uniform peering into the door way of his tree house.
"No." He replied flatly, gradually levering himself out of the bed. Gently, he leaned down to kiss Lythian, but the she-elf simply rolled over and continued to sleep.
Haldir walked out of the bedroom and closed the door behind him, still in the lose breeches and shirt that he had worn to sleep. Every muscle in his body demanded sleep, but the tone of the Guard's voice automatically put him on alert.
"What is it?" He asked the guard curiously.
"The lady wishes your presence." The guard replied in a flat monotone. Haldir sighed. The lady wanting to see him this early was certainly an omen of bad news.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Legolas sat in the antechamber to the council room with his face in his hands. He had not slept in what felt like (and was) days and the recent events had been both physically and mentally draining on the prince. Though he had legendary endurance and strength, he was by no means invincible, and at the moment was completely exhausted. Why did Galadriel summon me here after everything was resolved? He wondered. His curiosity was soon to be satisfied as Haldir and the Lady walked out of the council chamber.
"Good morning Legolas" Galadriel said to the prince brightly. Legolas returned the greeting, trying to act cheerful and not show any of his weariness. Haldir however, was looking uncharacteristically nervous. Galadriel must have felt the tension radiating from both her companions, because she made her explanation very short.
"Legolas, you were never informed about the circumstances surrounding your mother's death save the fact that she was killed by orcs. You understand that this situation with Lythian is closely involved with your mother?" Legolas nodded, wondering where this conversation was going, but interjecting a question of his own.
"What…what happened? Can you explain-"Galadriel cut him off by holding up her hand for silence.
"That is what Haldir is going to do," She said briefly, and left the room at a quick stride before either of the male elves could protest. Haldir looked at Legolas blankly, no emotion on his face. It was Legolas who broke the silence.
"Tell me… tell me what it is that I am ignorant of!" The sentence was a strong demand, and Haldir sat down gingerly on a nearby chair, taking a deep shuddering breath. In a flat voice, betraying nothing, Haldir began an explanation.
~*~*~*~
The blissfulness that had been Haldir when he had a newfound love was gone, and the anguish was back. This was the first time that the elf had had to speak aloud to someone about his past, and of all people, it was his best friend and the son of his beloved. Galadriel had summoned him, with a special note that had indicated that she wanted to see only him in the morning at the council chamber. When the March Warden had heard the Lady's order to give Legolas a full explanation, he had wanted to refuse, but the Lady's order was an order, and he could do nothing but obey and hope for the best. It seemed that his recent lifestyle was extremely unsteady- finding Lythian had brought him up to the highest happiness that he had felt in centuries, only to be brought dawn and back up again by her bitterness and then her final acceptance of him. Now it had come crashing down again- and this time, he could not run away.
Haldir fought and barely won the fight to keep his voice steady as he spoke to the Mirkwood prince, carefully studying the other elf's face. However, like his own face, no emotion played across the younger elf's face. The elf remained completely still during the conversation, not making a single move. Both of them looked horrible due to lack of sleep, and their mutual refusal to show feeling was making the meeting even worse.
After what seemed like years and was actually only a few hours, the story was complete. Haldir looked up, anticipating Legolas's reaction.
~*~*~*
Legolas could not believe what he was hearing-
Involuntary marriage
An affair
Haldir and- his mother
Her death to save him-
It was too much. Too many feelings, too much information.
Pain
Betrayal'
Lies
Grief
Death
Legolas leapt up and strode across the room, as far as possible from Haldir. He brought his hand up, and with a sound that resonated all over Lorien, brought his fist into the wall. The very material of the wall cracked under the force, and Legolas's wrist was very clearly broken, but the elf felt and heard none of it.
Haldir stood up at the sound, brought out of his own morose thoughts.
"Legolas, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. But don't start doing Th-"The March Warden stopped short and took a step back in horror as Legolas turned around to face him. The prince's face was one mask of madness, pain and anger. In a movement so swift, Legolas's hand went to his sheath, pulled out one of his knives, and flung it-
straight at Haldir.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Well, that's it. I'm really sorry about how short it is, and how choppy, but I wanted to get something up. I know it's not my best, and the next chapter will be much better.
Thanks for all the lovely reviews!! I will respond to all of them someday.
I hope everyone's transition back into work/school was lovely!!
Wind to thy wings,
LD