Disclaimer: Don't own them. Damn it.

A/N: It's been a while. There's a reason…..

 "Glorfindel, I don't know about this." Haldir warned. His lover had insisted on getting out of bed that morning, an idea that Haldir was not so keen on. Glorfindel had been badly injured only days before. Though he had healed, the March Warden was not quite sure that the eldar was strong enough. Elrond had assured that Glorfindel was well enough to leave the bed. But then again, Elrond was not in love with the seneschal.

And Haldir was.

And so naturally, he was worried. Out of his mind. He had almost lost Glorfindel only days ago. His fear that something might happen again pushed him to be very strict.

Glorfindel laughed. "I am fine, Haldir. Elrond already declared me fit for walking around. And I would really like to go out. It has been two days, and I feel the need to explore."

Haldir frowned. He knew that Glorfindel was right, but still.

"Are you going to accompany me?" Glorfindel inquired, though he already knew the answer from Haldir's unbelieving look.

"Of course, I am! I am not going to let you walk around all alone when mmph…"

Haldir forgot whatever it was he was saying as his lover's lips covered his in a most passionate kiss.

Glorfindel pulled back, breathless.

"Let's go then." He pulled a still slightly disoriented Haldir towards the door.

Haldir smiled. "You are going to pay for that." He vowed, moving closer to his lover.

"Later," Glorfindel replied, continuing to walk. "Right now, I want to…explore."

Elves were not meant to be cooped up in beds.

Glorfindel looked around him in excitement. It felt like the whole world had changed. For some reason, everything was…more beautiful.

/Maybe because for the first time, I feel like I have found myself./

He inhaled deeply, breathing the fresh air.

/I have never felt so free./

He laughed at that. He has now committed himself to live with one elf, only one, to be faithful to said elf, to have no other, yet he was more free that he ever was.

/I guess that's what love does. It binds you, to be free./

The thought made no sense, yet it made perfect sense.

Glorfindel turned to look at his lover who was walking behind him. Haldir was watching him closely, as if looking for signs that Glorfindel was just pretending to be well.

The eldar laughed, winking at his lover. Then he turned and ran towards the forest.

"Glorfindel!" Haldir warned, chasing after his wayward lover.

Glorfindel abruptly stopped, still laughing. Haldir shook his head. He stood in front of Glorfindel.

"Don't do that! You could lose your footing. Remember, your wound…"

"Is healed."

"Is not yet fully healed! You have to be careful! You cannot just-" Glorfindel suddenly embraced him. Haldir stopped talking. He finally realized that he was worrying too much. But he had almost lost Glorfindel…

"It's alright, Haldir." Glorfindel understood what the younger elf was going through. He went through it as well.

Haldir's arms closed around his lover. He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead on the eldar's shoulder.

"I am sorry." He whispered. "I am just worried you might get hurt again."

Glorfindel pulled back gently. Then he gave Haldir a gentle kiss.

"I know. I'll be more careful."

Haldir smiled, grateful for his lover's understanding.

Finally, they pulled apart.

Glorfindel proceeded with his exploration.

He walked slowly this time, seeing more of the Golden Woods' beauty, finding things that he had never noticed before. He found out that though he had been going to Lothlorien for a long time now, staying there every now and then, he had never really looked around him. Now that he has, he was pleasantly surprised at things. It was unheard of for an elf to miss the true beauty of his surroundings.

/I never paid attention to a lot of things./

Glorfindel now realized how he could have missed the signs that something had been going wrong with his and Haldir's relationship in the past.

/I promise it will never happen again./

He had missed too much, and almost lost more.

After a few moments of walking silently, Glorfindel came upon a large tree. He stood in front of it, gazing at its branches. Then he turned to look at Haldir longingly.

"Please?" He asked in a very soft voice..

"No! Glorfindel, don't you dare!" Haldir grabbed his lover's arm. "You said walk, not climb trees. You are not yet well mmph…" Once again, Glorfindel kissed Haldir to stop his tirade.

Haldir pulled back, breathless. "Stop that!"

Glorfindel smiled at him innocently. He leaned forward, and gave Haldir another kiss.

The March Warden closed his eyes, lost in his lover's kiss once again. He forgot what he had been saying earlier. But then, a small part of his brain remembered, and once again, he broke the kiss.

"Glorfindel…" He warned his lover, who only batted his lashes.

"Yes?"

"You are not climbing the tree. And kissing me won't make me agree."

Glorfindel kissed him again, longer this time.

"I…No Climbing!" Haldir said breathlessly, his conviction weakening. But he could not afford to give in. This was Glorfindel's health they were talking about. He was not going to give in.

Erestor snuggled deeper into Elrond's warmth. They were sitting under a large tree, resting, after they had decided to take a walk around the Golden woods. The advisor was being held tightly close to Elrond. They were silent, listening to nature.

In the past, they had done such a thing often. It was a past time that they both favored. It was something they shared, a love for the peace and tranquility that was found within nature.

/Of course,/ Erestor smiled ruefully, /in the past, Elrond did not hold me this way./

But it was a very welcomed change.

Erestor shivered when Elrond gently nuzzled his neck. He turned to look at his lover, reassuring the elf lord that his thoughts were far from what they had been like lately.

For the past days, his thoughts had been painful, sad. Erestor had been contemplating what it would be like when Elrond left him. But then, when he finally confessed to his lover the nature of his thoughts, Erestor was surprised, to say the least, that Elrond had no intention of leaving him.

/For the longest of times, I spent my days thinking that there was not a chance in this world that Elrond would love me. In a span of a few days, I discovered that my love is requited. Not only that, he is never leaving me./

Elrond had assured, no, the elf lord had vowed that he would never leave.

/I still cannot believe that you love me like that./

Elrond had then explained everything that had been left unexplained. And now, things were clearer to Erestor. Elrond had not known how Erestor would have reacted if the advisor learned that Elrond wished for them to stay together for the rest of their lives. The elf lord had been afraid to confess his plans, since their relationship was new. He had not wanted to push Erestor too much, since he felt they were going too fast as it was. But he never thought that the advisor would think Elrond would ever leave him. That their relationship was only temporary.

Elrond acted immediately. He had already hurt Erestor in the past. He would not do so again.

Erestor turned to watch their surroundings once again, leaning back against Elrond.

His heart was finally at peace.

"We will be together for eternity." Elrond whispered once again, sensing his lover's thoughts.

Erestor smiled. He loved that word. Eternity.

"Yes," the advisor agreed softly. "Eternity."

Elladan sighed, getting up from the chair to stretch his legs. He had been sitting with Rhyden for some time now. Rumil lay asleep on a rug on the floor. The Galadhrim had just returned from patrol, but still insisted on guarding the unconscious elf as well.

Elrohir sat quietly by the window, watching the forests.

"Do you think he will ever wake?"

The twins looked towards the door where Orophin stood, his eyes focused on Rhyden.

"He will, eventually." Elrohir replied. Said elf should be awake by now.

Orophin took a seat close to where his brother slept soundly.

A slow moan turned their attention to the elf on the bed.

Rhyden was waking up.

Haldir sighed, still frowning at the elf he held in his arms.

"Don't move too much." He said gruffly.

Glorfindel laughed. "Haldir, it is not that high. Really."

But Haldir frowned all the more. "It is much too high for an injured elf to be on!"

Somehow, Haldir's lover was able to coax him to let him climb the tree. Haldir had agreed, on the condition that he would assist Glorfindel.

So now, they sat atop the lowest branch of the tree Glorfindel had earlier intended to climb on his own.

Haldir still did not think it was a good idea. But Glorfindel was insistent.

And Haldir could not bear to see the disappointment in his lover's eyes. He knew what it felt like, to be cooped up in bed, everyone fussing over you, and not being allowed to do what you wished to. It was stifling.

And Haldir would not want to stifle his lover. He wanted Glorfindel happy.

"See? It's not so bad." Glorfindel smiled at him sweetly, reaching up to kiss the frown from his lover's face. "Hmmm, this branch looks sturdy. You think we could…"

"Don't even think about it!" Haldir growled. But it was too late. He himself had thought of it, and his arousal stirred. It took a great amount of willpower to let the desire fade.

Glorfindel laughed. "Maybe someday, when you are not so grumpy."

Haldir rolled his eyes and shook his head. He decided to let Glorfindel have the last word. For now.

"Haldir."

"What?"

"The new moon is tonight." Glorfindel's said in a whisper, fear nearly choking him.

Haldir inhaled deeply. Yes, the new moon was tonight, and he still had no idea what would happen.

"I know."

Glorfindel gripped his arms. "Haldir…"

"I am no longer grieving, Glorfindel." He assured. "But I don't know what will happen."

Glorfindel nodded, then closed his eyes.

/I can still be too late./

/No! I cannot think like that. I can't. Nothing will happen tonight. Nothing!/

"Glorfindel, don't think about it. I am sure…I mean, I am fine already. I won't go anywhere. I promise." Haldir could feel the tension in his lover's body.

/I will never leave you again./

But even the March Warden was not sure if the Valar would allow him to keep his promise.

Glorfindel nodded mutely at Haldir's words, allowing them to comfort him. But the fear lingered.

Broken hearts did not heal in a day.

Glorfindel was not sure how long they healed.

But he hoped…He had to believe that Haldir's was healed.

That he had come just in time.

/Please…/

As Anor began to set, Haldir and Glorfindel climbed down the tree and proceeded to their talan. No words were said, but their grip on each other's hands conveyed the fear that both were feeling.

At the door of their home, Haldir turned to Glorfindel. But the words he wished to say did not come.

"Would you like something to eat?" He asked instead.

Glorfindel shook his head. "No."

Even if he were hungry, Glorfindel would still have said no. He could not afford to let his lover leave his side.

Haldir nodded, then opened the door and the two elves entered.

Glorfindel looked at the talan. It was eerily silent for some reason. He had no idea why, at this moment, he felt an intense dislike to the place.

It looked…it looked a good place to die.

A hand on his cheek turned his attention away from his thoughts. Haldir was looking at him intently, a small smile on the younger elf's lips. But Glorfindel could see the fear in his eyes. He swallowed a similar feeling that threatened to overwhelm him.

Haldir leaned forward and kissed his lover's lips softly. Glorfindel immediately opened his mouth to allow him in. As the kiss deepened, Haldir stirred them towards the bed.

"Haldir?" Glorfindel knew what Haldir was trying to do. But he had to be sure.

"Please." Haldir begged. He needed to…not think.

And so did Glorfindel.

Another kiss. Clothes were discarded.

As Glorfindel and Haldir made love, Anor disappeared completely, and Ithil slowly rose in the sky.

The new moon has come.

A few hours later, Glorfindel finally began to relax. The new moon was up and Haldir was still with him.

He turned to his lover, and saw the March Warden sleeping peacefully.

He gently caressed Haldir's face.

/Oh, love. I was so afraid./

It would seem that his fears were unfounded.

He leaned forward and kissed Haldir's lips briefly. Then he lay his head on his lover's chest, closing his eyes to sleep.

That was when he realized something was wrong.

Haldir had no heartbeat.

TBC

A/N: Yeah, I know. Another one of those cliffies. One more chapter, and we're done.

THANKS FOR THE REVIEWS! LOVE YOU ALL!

(Hey, read my other story, NAMARIE. It's A/L. Tell me what you think.) – unashamed plugging of own story.