Disclaimer: The characters are owned by J.R.R.

A/N: Okay, so this isn't the last chapter.

Haldir watched Anor settle down behind the mountains in the distant horizon. As always since he had arrived, he was alone, like he wanted to be. He didn't want to be with anyone. Except maybe Glorfindel. But the eldar was the one elf he could not be with.

Lover's cove. This was where he and Glorfindel first made love. It was so many years ago. Now, he sat here by himself, remembering all the good times he had in his lover's arms.

Four weeks ago, Sauron had fallen. The army, led by Gandalf and Aragorn, fought the greatest battle in the history of Middle Earth. They sought to defeat the evil lord, and had succeeded. Frodo, the Ringbearer was able to destroy the ring, and Sauron's power was defeated. Middle Earth was rid of the evil threat. And the lost King of Men was able to regain his throne. The creatures of Middle Earth were able to get back their homes, and freed of orcs and other evil forces.

But Haldir had lost everything.

As soon as the battle was won, Haldir left for Lothlorien. When everyone broke out in loud cheers as the orcs were chased away, Haldir silently watched, then turned away and left. He did not bother saying goodbye to anyone. He just left. He took a horse, and rode towards home. He did not even stop to clean himself up. He rode towards the Golden Woods, blood, grime and all. He had cuts and bruises everywhere, and a large gaping wound on his thigh. But they did not prevent him from his decision to leave as soon as he could. He rode fast, stopping only when he almost fell off the horse in exhaustion, and once to bandage the wounds that were bleeding too much.

He did not want to see anyone. To see Glorfindel in Ecthelion's arms. To watch them kiss again. He had seen it once too often. He did not want to have the eldar come up to him to say goodbye. He did not wish to be reminded of what he had lost. He knew them by heart, or what's left of his. So he left.

And now, he was home. The Golden Woods were still beautiful. There was some damage, but the place was able to maintain its beauty.

But it was empty. Haldir felt empty.

Only a few elves have chosen to remain there. Lord Celeborn, his brothers, and a few of their friends. Everyone else had gone to Valinor.

Haldir closed his eyes.

It took a lot to get his brothers to leave him alone. They tended to his wounds, forced him to eat and sleep. But he had finally convinced them to let him have his peace after assuring them that he was fine. He needed it.

He was dying. Haldir knew it. He could feel it. His heart, breaking further for each day that he was apart from Glorfindel. But they would never be together again. In only a few more months, maybe even just days, Haldir would be in the Halls of Mandos.

He knew he had lost the eldar. This time, it was for sure. He no longer hoped that he was mistaken. He was sure, no doubt brooked his mind. He had seen it himself, a few days before they left for Mordor. He could never forget it. How could he?

/Glorfindel, I hope you and Ecthelion are happy, wherever you are./

Haldir closed his eyes and let himself remember. It hurt, but he could not stop himself from replaying the events of that day over and over again, if only to remind himself everytime a foolish hope began again.

They had been staying at Minas Tirith for a while, preparing for the great battle. He had been hiding from the eldar the entire time. He knew Glorfindel was looking for him. So many elves had told him. But he did not want to see the eldar, despite what he felt. He was afraid…afraid to hear Glorfindel say goodbye. He had seen him with Ecthelion, not only at Helm's Deep, but also in the city of men. Wasn't Glorfindel in the other elf's arms when Haldir had spoken to him last, after Rhyden had attacked the March Warden? They were still together in the battle of Pelennor fields. And Minas Tirith. So Haldir decided to make himself scarce.

Two days before they were to leave for Mordor, Legolas had been pestering him to give Glorfindel a chance to talk.

"Haldir, please. He looks for you night and day." Legolas pleaded with him.

"I do not want to see him!" Haldir was indignant. He could not give in. He already knew what the eldar was going to say.

/Goodbye./

"Why? At least tell me why then, so I can explain to him. He has no idea why you would not talk to him." The prince of Mirkwood wished to understand as well. He knew his friend was in love with the eldar, so why was Haldir so adamant about not speaking to Glorfindel?

"I can't. Legolas, please, I just…can't." Haldir's voice was pleading.

"That's not good enough."

"Well, it will have to do!" Haldir did not mean to raise his voice. He turned and was about to walk away.

"I thought you loved him." Legolas' voice held a note of sadness.

Haldir closed his eyes as tears threatened to fall. He had not cried for days now. He was not going to again. But his friend's words hit just the right spot.

"Or was it just lust, like you always claimed it to be?" Legolas' voice hardened.

Haldir's head whipped around and his face showed his anger.

"Damn you! You know that I love him! I love him with all my heart! My soul! He is my everything! It was never lust! Ever!" Haldir was screaming.

"Then why do you not speak to him? Why do you do this to him?" Legolas screamed back.

"Because for him, it was JUST lust! And it hurts so much."

Legolas looked at him disbelievingly.

"That's not what I see, Haldir. If it were just that, then why would he be so intent on speaking to you? Why would he cry, Haldir, when I told him you would not speak to him? Yes, he cried, I saw his tears. He tried to hide them, but I saw it. He would not cry for lust!"

Haldir did not know how to respond. Legolas had to be mistaken.

"If he cried, those tears were not for me. He will never cry for me!"

"Why is it so difficult for you to believe that he cares for you? That he loves you?"

Haldir laughed sarcastically.

"Love me? LOVE me? That is the one thing he does not feel for me. One thing he would never feel for me!"

"Haldir, you cannot be that blind!"

"I was. Once, I was blinded by hope that he could love me. But not anymore. Not after…after seeing the truth. I saw them, with my own eyes. THAT is love." Haldir's voice became a whisper, and the tears that he tried so hard to stop, finally fell.

Legolas inhaled deeply, and gathered Haldir in his arms.

"You saw him with Ecthelion."

"I saw them kiss. And I finally understood why he could never love me."

Legolas tightened his hold on the March Warden. "Are you sure, Haldir? Maybe you have been convincing yourself for so long that you see things in a different way."

"There is no mistake, Legolas."

"Are you sure? Because if you are mistaken, Haldir, you would not only be breaking your heart, but Glorfindel's as well."

"He has Ecthelion."

"What if it's not Ecthelion he wants?" Legolas pulled back and looked Haldir in the eyes. "Are you willing to risk breaking his heart?"

Haldir could not reply.

"I know you are trying not to get any more hurt. But Haldir, what if it turns out that he wants you? And because you do not want to be hurt, you are running away from your happiness, taking his happiness as well?"

"What are you saying, Legolas?"

"All I know is that as of this moment, Glorfindel has done every possible thing to get you to talk to him. He has asked for everyone's help, including Ecthelion's."

Haldir closed his eyes. He could not believe he was hoping again. Hasn't he learned his lesson already? Hope would only hurt him.

But what if there was some truth to Legolas' words?

"He and Ecthelion were lovers. So were you. Maybe he is just…choosing?" Legolas said. "You have to understand his confusion. Who would have thought Ecthelion was still alive?"

"I still don't think that he loves me."

"But he might. Give him a chance. Talk to him."

"Fine."

Legolas beamed. "He is at the watchtower with Gimli and the others. They are all looking for you. Go to him, will you?"

Haldir turned to leave.

"Thanks, Legolas. If only you are this confident about Aragorn."

"Aragorn and I are just friends!" Legolas said, then laughed. "Go."

"Legolas…" Haldir began, but could not get the words out.

"Give him a chance, Haldir. If…IF he doesn't…feel that way for you…you would know. But at least give him a chance."

So Haldir did. He walked out of the keep, and proceeded to the watchtower.

And he had seen. For that moment, his world stopped spinning. Everything ceased to exist but the two lovers kissing each other. Hasn't he seen this before? He should be used to it by now. He should have expected it.

If Legolas was right, that Glorfindel was choosing, Haldir had seen his choice.

Ecthelion.

Haldir watched silently. Strangely, he felt no pain. He felt…nothing. Or maybe he did. But the stunning numbness that followed did not allow for anything else.

He heard Elrohir curse and Elladan saying his name, saw Ecthelion and Glorfindel break apart suddenly, met Glorfindel's surprised gaze, and he…smiled.

In the same moment that he knew he had lost Glorfindel, he smiled. He did not know what else to do. He had cried too much already. He couldn't have turned away at that moment even if his life depended on it. So he smiled.

The final goodbye.

It hurt more than if he had heard the words.

As if in slow motion, the world unraveled, time started once again, and everything came back.

He could move again. Haldir turned and left. He heard Glorfindel calling him, shouting his name. But this time, no force on Middle Earth would have convinced him to turn back. He had turned back so many times, and had been hurt so many times. He would never make that mistake again.

He had believed Erestor's words that Glorfindel loved him. Then he saw the eldar in Ecthelion's arms. This time, he believed Legolas' words. Once again, he was showed the harsh reality.

/Not again. Never again./

And he broke into a run. He ran far, to where he did not care. He ran for hours, until he could not run anymore, until the tears came again. Until he felt…FELT his heart break.

He sank to the ground as pain from his breaking heart threatened to undo him. What was once just an ache became a pain so strong it forced the March Warden to his knees. He could not breath, could not stand, could not see. It felt like his heart was being torn away from him. It hurt more than any mortal wound he had ever sustained. He could have sworn he was bleeding. For a moment, he thought he was going to die.

That the Valar would finally show him mercy.

But it was not to be. Not yet. After what seemed like hours of unbearable pain, it stopped.

He had lain there on the ground for a few more minutes, his breathing harsh. When his heart rate slowed and his breathing returned to normal, he stood up. Wiping away the wetness on his cheeks and the dirt from his face and hair, he slowly made his way back to the Healing Houses of Minas Tirith. He still felt a dull ache, but it was bearable now.

He did not go back in. He stayed in the shadows, hiding from everyone. And he stayed hidden until it was time to head out to Mordor. Only then did he show himself, but only to a few elves, only so he could get his weapons and change to his battle gear. He donned his armor, thankful for the objects that allowed him to disappear among the sea of elven warriors like himself. The uniform allowed him to blend in. Not even Legolas saw him.

Then they were riding out towards Mordor.

The battle was won.

And he was back in Lothlorien.

Alone.

Haldir sighed, coming back to the present, his musings over. It was time to go back to his talan. He didn't want to, but he'd been here for three straight days. His brothers would send out a search party.

He stood up, took one last look into where the sun disappeared, and tiredly made his way back.

He reached his talan and as always, he hesitated to enter. Too many memories.

But he couldn't hurt any more than he already was hurting. So he entered.

He felt so tired.

He moved his way to his room, and fell upon the bed. Normally, he would have fallen asleep the moment he hit his bed. But not this time. Sleep eluded him as always. He turned and closed his eyes, trying to shut out the pain, the world.

He wanted to go to the land of dreams. There, he felt no pain. There, he was…happy.

In his dreams, he and Glorfindel were still together. The eldar never said goodbye. Ecthelion never returned. The war never happened.

"Glorfindel." It hurt even to say his lover's name.

"Haldir."

Haldir's eyes snapped open. That sounded…real.

/It can't be. I am dreaming./

"Haldir." Yet he heard it again.

Slightly afraid that it was not real, Haldir slowly turned his head towards the door.

There stood an elf who had only been in his dreams for the past months.

Haldir bolted upright. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the vision by his door.

"Glorfindel?" His voice a mere whisper, as if any loud sounds would shatter the precious image he now beheld. Tears fell on his cheeks.

/Not a dream. Please…/

Glorfindel's eyes misted as well.

"Haldir."

The March Warden did not see the other elf move. But suddenly, he was in the eldar's arms. His hands reached out and he held on for dear life.

"Glorfindel." Over and over he said his lover's name.

/Please be real. Please…not a dream. Can't be a dream…/

Glorfindel held on to Haldir like he would to his lifeline. Both elves stayed wrapped in each other's arms, unwilling to let go even for a while.

"Haldir, I…"

No. No words. Haldir would not allow it. Words might tell him this was not real. He could not allow it. He covered the eldar's lips with his own. A strangled moan came from Glorfindel as Haldir plundered his mouth ruthlessly.

Haldir kissed his lover like it would be their last. It might be. He could not think about it. He had to have this moment. He'd been hurting for so long.

Suddenly, he did not care if this was a dream. He had to have Glorfindel. He needed him. He had gone for so long without the eldar.

Without releasing Glorfindel's mouth, Haldir's skillful hands undressed the eldar. Glorfindel was not even aware until the cool air touched his bare skin. With a surprised gasp that was swallowed by the March Warden, he became aware of his nudity. But he did not have time to ponder it. Haldir pulled him towards the bed and rolled them until the March Warden lay on top, between Glorfindel's thighs.

Impatience guided his movements. He touched the eldar everywhere. Glorfindel did not have any chance to refuse. Nor did he want to. They both needed this.

"Your…clothes…" Glorfindel gasped out in the single moment that Haldir freed his mouth. But he barely had the words out before his lips were once again covered with the younger elf's mouth.

Haldir did not bother removing his clothes. He unlaced his breeches and pulled out his straining cock. His hands briefly brushed his lover's arousal and Glorfindel shivered.

Haldir positioned himself at the eldar's entrance.

"Please." He whispered against Glorfindel's mouth.

"Yes." The eldar answered.

Haldir needed no more. He plunged into the tight heat. Glorfindel gasped at the invasion, both from pain and pleasure.

Haldir paused for the merest of moments, then began to move. Moans filled the small talan, becoming louder as Haldir's thrusts became faster.

"Hal…dir."

The March Warden gripped the eldar's hips and began to push harder, and faster still.

"I love you." He proclaimed his love over and over as he pounded into the eldar.

Control disappeared, and their movements became more erratic. Haldir thrust harder, and Glorfindel raised his hips to meet Haldir.

Moans became groans, and teetered on becoming shouts and screams of pleasure.

So close. Haldir felt his orgasm near. Suddenly, the tight heat surrounding his arousal spasm, clenching him tighter, drawing him deeper as Glorfindel came with a scream.
"I love you!" The words were a loud shout torn from the very depths of Haldir's soul as he followed his lover's orgasm. He spilled his seed into Glorfindel, and buried his face in the eldar's neck.

Exhausted, they lay still for several minutes.

"I love you." Haldir whispered one more time before he surrendered to the call of sleep. As his mind started to shut down, he heard the words that he had waited forever to hear.

"I love you, Haldir."

Haldir slowly came to full awareness. He was momentarily blinded by the sun's rays that were directly in his eyes.

It was morning. How long had he been asleep? He usually awoke at dawn.

Then memory returned to him. Memories of Glorfindel standing by his door, of being in the eldar's arms, of making love to his lover, of hearing his lover say "I love you' to him.

Had that been a dream? It felt so real.

/Please, don't let it be a dream./

Slowly, he turned to look beside his bed. There was no one there. He felt the covers and found they were cold to the touch.

/No!/

Tears formed, and he bolted upright. He ran outside his room, frantically searching his talan.

/No!/

It had felt so real! He had been so sure it wasn't a dream!

"Glorfindel?" He called out.

There was no answer.

He looked around his talan, outside, then back to his bedroom.

There was no one there.

He was alone.

TBC

A/N: Haven't done the flashback thingy for a while so I thought now is a good time. Well, as you can see, this is not yet the end because no one's dead yet. Hahaha. Anyway, when I wrote the final chap, it was longer than expected so I decided to cut it. Then the muse struck and more ideas came a-flowing. The end result? Typing TBC at the end of this chapter. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the reviews of the other chap. Very inspiring.