Wow, great reviews! Thanks guys. You all seemed to like the name, so that was lucky! But as always, new ideas are welcome! ^_^

Replies to all reviews are below. I know this chapter is a day late (I update every Monday now), and that is because I was on the Isle of Wight. For the whole weekend, and it was BLOODY FREEZING!

Anyway…

I'm home now, and I did get an extra day off school, which kinda made up for it! ^_^

~Lainfaer~

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galadriel – I'm not totally sure whether to take that as a compliment or not. If you like REAL slash (Mmm….) go onto libraryofmoria.com. Which I'm sure you have already. Anyway, thanks for the review. (I think…)

Kyma – I'm really pleased you like it! Sure I'll e-mail you. But, an easier thing surely, would just be to put me on your Author Alerts List? Than you'll get an automatic e-mail. But I know it sometimes fucks up, so…yeah, I'll e-mail. Hope you got it! Thanks for reviewing. ^_^

Haldir's Heart and Soul – The name's ok? Good. Thanks for reviewing, as always! ^_^ (STILL LVOE YOUR NAME!!! Wish I had thought of it…)

The Nameless Elf – Yeah. If I said everything that happened, the chapter would just drag. I like skipping. Keeps the story going at a good pace. Thanks for reviewing. ^_^

Elerrina – Well, I figured that if older brothers look after their younger brothers, why can't the younger brothers do the same? It makes sense to me!

Haldir might die. It depends on what mood I'm in when I reach that particular stage. I could go by the book, and not have him die, or by the movie…

Heehee, I think I'll keep you waiting on that one! Guess I am kinda evil!

Astalder? Possibly. I'm thinking about it. Don;' know if he's survived all this time in the wild after all. So, thanks for reviewing, (as always!), and enjoy the chapter. ^_^

angel form hell – Do you mean from hell? Anyways, thanks for reviewing, and I'm glad you're liking it. ^_^

Starlit Hope - *hands Starlit Hope king-size box of tissues, just in case* That be enough? Thanks for reviewing, and enjoy the rest. ^_^

seeing-spots – Yeah, I liked the sunshine bit too. That's why I put it in! Hope you enjoy this, and thanks for reviewing. ^_^

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Chapter 2: Lothlórien has a secret.

"The Dwarf breathes so loud we could have shot him in the dark." Gimli scowled at the Elf, uttering a deep growl in his throat as he did so.

Legolas smiled to himself at this comment. He had not been able to take his eyes off the beautiful Elf before him, yet when Haldir caught his gaze, he found his cheeks heating up, and he had to look away.

Haldir took them to a large flet that night, and talked with Aragorn about entering Lothlórien. Legolas really had to fight the urge to take Haldir aside himself, and kiss him into oblivion to let them in. It would probably work after all.

Eventually, Haldir consented, and he led them further into the woods. Legolas stayed quite close to the front of the line, but did not dare say anything, lest his voice betray him. Aragorn was also walking beside him, and he did not want the Ranger getting any ideas.

They talked in Council with the Lord and Lady for a long time, then were permitted to retire to a nearby camp. The Fellowship flung their weapons ands bags down, each picking a bed to sleep on. Except Legolas. He was going to grab that chance, and grab it now.

Haldir had led them to their sleeping quarters, and when he started to leave, Legolas followed. He slipped out so quietly, that nobody noticed he had gone until much later.

"Haldir," he whispered, running to catch up with the Marchwarden.

Haldir turned round to face him, and smiled when he saw it was Legolas. He had waited long for the Prince to come to Lothlórien, and now, he finally had.

"Mae govannen Legolas," he said, inclining his head.

"Oh, quit the formality!" Legolas insisted, blushing a little.

"It is wonderful to see you Legolas. You're looking so well."

"It has been 600 years. Far too long."

"I know." Haldir moved closer. "I have missed you."

"And I you," Legolas replied, his hand reaching up to stroke Haldirs' pale face. Haldir leaned into his touch, taking his other hand in his own. Their fingers entwined, and both desperately wanted to just pull the other unto him, and kiss him right there and then.

But they were so out in the open; anyone could see them. "Come," Haldir said, pulling away, but still gripping Legolas' hand. "Let me take you somewhere where we will not be disturbed." Legolas smiled, and let the older Elf lead him down a leaf-strewn path.

They walked on in silence, meeting only a small number of people along the way. Legolas couldn't keep his eyes off of Haldir. He was exactly as he remembered him. Tall, with an air of certain nobility about him. His hair was shining silver, just like he had told Legolas all those years ago, and his eyes were the same, steely grey as before. But Legolas knew there was warmth behind those eyes. He had seen the love and kindness Haldir gave to his friends.

They came to a fountain, and sat down on the grass beside it; still holding each other's hand. Legolas smiled gently at Haldir, and got one in return. He squeezed Haldirs' hand, the words he wanted to say not being able to come.

Haldir felt the same way. He lifted a shaky hand to brush his fingers down the peachy skin of the Princes' cheek, coming to rest on his jaw-line, tracing the outline of the finely sculptured cheekbones. Legolas' eyes fluttered shut at the soft contact, and he took a deep breath, trying to remain in control of his emotions. But as soon as he opened his eyes again, he knew it was not possible. He leant forward and claimed Haldirs' lips with his own.

Haldir knew it was coming and was ready. He took Legolas' head in between his hands, and held him in position against his own. Legolas' arms were already around his body, holding him against him. The Prince was eager, and forced his tongue into Haldirs' mouth. The Marchwarden gladly accepted it.

When they eventually parted, they leant their foreheads together, trying to get their breath back to a reasonably normal rate. "Haldir..." Legolas whispered.

"Shh," Haldir replied, lifting a finger to rest against Legolas' lips. "Do not speak. There is no need." They kissed again, more passionately and fervently.

As Haldir kissed him, memories whizzed through Legolas' mind. Good, bad, evil. Before Astalder, during their relationship, after he left Imladris, the 600 years he spent in Mirkwood, then the Fellowship. Gandalf…

He pulled away. "I cannot," he breathed. He looked up at the Marchwarden, sorrow clearly reflected on his face. "Not so soon after losing Gandalf…"

"Hush, I understand," Haldir assured him. "You feel it is disrespectful?"
"Well, yes. Surely I should be grieving, but I do not know how, not properly."

"I know." He pulled the younger Elf into a strong embrace, and kissed the top of his golden head. "I myself have not come to terms with it. I just don't understand how such a powerful and mighty person can be taken from our world like that."

"I just don't understand death." He pulled away and looked up at Haldir. "Why is it, that we must always lose the ones we love, in some way or another?"                

"I don't know," Haldir replied sadly, looking at the ground.    

Legolas frowned. Haldirs' eyes were full of unhappiness, and his voice had gone quieter than a whisper. "Haldir? What is wrong?" He lifted his chin back up to face him, and was startled to see tears shining in the depths of the grey eyes. "Haldir! Why…why the tears? What is wrong? Please tell me."

"It is nothing," Haldir assured him, wiping his eyes, and making to stand up. But Legolas stopped him. "No, you are going to tell me what is troubling you." He cupped Haldirs' head in his hands and forced him to stare at him. "Why are you crying?"

"Just talking about death…it brings back so many memories."

"Memories you would rather forget?" Haldir nodded. "What memories?"

"Of my mother. She died when I was only 140." Legolas gasped. He had never known.

"Haldir I…I'm so sorry…I didn't know." He shut his mouth, not trusting his voice to say the right things. He let his hands fall to his sides and looked at the floor.

"Its ok," Haldir told him, smiling weakly. "It was a very long time ago."

"But you are clearly still hurting," Legolas argued, looking back at the Elf. "I know there is probably nothing I can do, but I want to help you…somehow…"

"You're right. There is nothing to be done now. Like I said, it was a very long time ago." He stood up, brushing the stray leaves and bits of grass off of his tunic.

Legolas scowled and stood up beside him. "I'm not going to let it go at that," he persisted, following as Haldir began to walk away. "You are one of my most dearest friends Haldir…I don't want to see you in pain like this. Please, stop walking so fast." He was running to keep up with him now.

"Go back to the Fellowship Legolas. They'll be wondering where you are."

"No." He lunged at Haldir and pinned him to the ground. Haldir struggled, but Legolas was stronger than he seemed. "If you are not going to tell me willingly, then I'll sit on you until you do tell me." That issued a small laugh from the trapped Elf.

Legolas raised an eyebrow, then proceeded to sit cross-legged on Haldirs' chest and abdomen. "You think I'm joking?" He folded his arms and looked down at Haldir. "Come on. I'm not releasing you until you are feeling much better. You're lucky I'm quite light."

"You don't weigh a thing. Alright. Shall I tell you how she died?"

"If it makes you feel better. It'll get it off your chest."

"Then will you also, get off my chest?"

"I'll think about it."

"Fine." He sighed and placed his hands behind his head. "When I was 140 years old, I was out with my older brothers Rumil and Orophin. They were teaching me how to use a bow for the first time. I remember it was rather a daunting experience. Naneth had come along to watch. We were right on the borders, for some reason. Anyway, a band of Orcs attacked, and so Naneth grabbed my hand, and we ran. My brothers were more than capable of defeating the Orcs. Plus, a scout was near, and they would soon be along to help.      

But we were overtaken, and Orcs were soon on all sides. I still had my bow and a few arrows in my quiver. Naneth had her knives. They lunged, and there were just too many. I was knocked unconscious and tossed to one side. When I woke up a few days later, I was told Naneth had been taken away by the Orcs that had escaped, and she still had not been found. Her knives had been found a short way away from the clearing.

We searched for many weeks, and then came across a cave in the mountains on the western border. It was clearly inhabited by Orcs, and we entered, fearing the worst. I was not actually supposed to go with the patrols, but on this occasion they let me, as it was my mother we were looking for.

We found her alright. Beaten, tortured…dead. Curled up in the farthest corner of the cave, half-naked, covered in blood, bruises and claw marks. Those beasts had not only beaten her to a pulp, but raped her." He looked up at the Prince, whose face had gone pale. "Raped, Legolas, raped by an Orc! We could only imagine the horror she had gone through.

We brought her back here, even though it was too late to save her. She was buried, but I have never forgotten that day. It was as if the Orcs had purposefully left her there for us to find. Just to torment us further. It's hard, being 140 years old, in the prime of your youth really, and finding your mother, dead after being tortured and raped by Orcs. Your worst enemies." He looked at Legolas, who, if possible, had gone even paler.

"I…" he stuttered, not being able to speak. He slid off of Haldir and hugged his knees to his chest.

Haldir sat up beside him, and slipped an arm round his shoulders. "That's why the twins contacted me when you were in trouble. I had seen a ravished Elf at a very early age, and knew what to expect. Since then, I have seen two more of my people get hurt in that way. One was a very old friend of many years, only about 200 years before I came to you. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to save him. He faded away, unable to bear the pain and humiliation. Then it was you, and I was determined that this time, I would succeed in saving you. And I believe I did, didn't I?"

"Aye." He was still in shock. 

"Legolas." Haldir slipped round to look at the Prince. "It was a very long time ago, and I am over it. In a sense. I still mourn for the loss of my mother, every day, but I know I will never get her back. We tried to save her, and failed. But…I saved you. Surely that is worth something."

"I know, its nothing to do with that. It's just…its disgusting! If I had been you, I wouldn't have been able to cope. How did you do it Haldir? Your mother had died, after being raped by Orcs, and yet you are still here today! I don't…I cannot even begin to comprehend what you went through." He looked back at the floor. He was still very pale.

"Why has my tale affected you in such a way?"

"Because I know. I know what it feels like to be raped. But by an Orc…" He broke off, shutting his eyes.

Haldir embraced him again, and together, they shed tears over several things. Memories mostly, the past washing over them like water over rocks.

****

Later that night, Legolas returned to camp. He still had not changed or washed, and desperately wanted to do so. But as soon as he entered, he was bombarded by questions.

"Where did you go to?"

"Where have you been?"

"We thought we'd left you on Lady Galadriels' flet!" 

"I thought the Elves had kidnapped you!"

Legolas gave Pippin a questioning look at this last comment, then made his way over to his bed. "Just talking with Haldir," he replied, talking to the seven other figures crowded around him.

"Legolas, are you ok"? Aragorn asked, looking closely at the Elf. "You seem rather pale."

"I'm always pale."

"No, paler than usual."

"I'm fine," he sighed in response, shrugging his quiver off and slinging his bow down onto his bed.

Aragorn raised an eyebrow. Something was definitely wrong; Legolas never, ever, slung his bow down like that. He signalled for the others to disperse, and they did so, but kept looking over.

He sat down beside his friend, who had removed his over-tunic, and was in the process of taking his braids out. "Legolas," he said softly. "I know something is wrong. Please tell me." Legolas smiled to himself, realising that he must have sounded like that to Haldir just an hour or so earlier.

"I just found out some rather disturbing news is all. Nothing to worry about. It's an Elf thing." Aragorn smiled. He had heard that term many times, and knew where Legolas had got it from.

"Did you get that saying from Elladan and Elrohir by any chance?"

"No. They got it from me actually." He grinned at the Ranger, his braid half out, still half in place.

Aragorn laughed. "I should've known." He frowned again. "But seriously Legolas, you are very pale. What exactly did Haldir tell you?"

"I can't tell you. Its private."

"Oh, ok. Do you want a drink?"
"Yes please." He shook his head, his hair loosening up after being in the same place for so long.

Aragorn fetched him a cup of water from the fountain, and gave it to him. "Your hair looks longer down," he commented.

"Really?"
"Yes, I'm sure it does." He smiled. "You should leave it down more often, it looks really nice."

"Thank you. I quite like it myself."

Aragorn laughed again, then left the Elf to his own thoughts.

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That's how Haldir knew what to do with our dear Leggy. His own mother had been raped. I thought that added a nice twist to the story. What about you? Tell me in a review, please?

As I said, I update every Monday, so 3 will be up then. Hope you're liking it so far! ^_^

~Lainfaer~