Sits back, watches, and relaxes whilst readers shout at her

What incredible responses to that chapter! That was amazing! You were all so mad at me! Heehee, you really think I would kill Hally?

Bursts into hysterical fits of laughter

Dears, I love Haldir far too much to kill him. As for Leggy…well, I'll see. In fact, you'll find out in this chapter what has happened to our gorge Elf Prince…

Read on, and you shall discover what Fate has in store for him…

Anyways, I am putting a warning in all my chapters today. And it is…

DO NOT GET SUNBURNT ON YOUR BACK AND SHOULDERS! IT HURTS! A LOT!!!

Trust me; I am in considerable pain at the moment. And jet skis are fun!

Anyway, back to the chapter…

Lainfaer

Yume-chan - waves hand in front of face Hello? Can you hear me? Blink!

I think Leggy and Hally go well together too! Glad you liked Living A Lie too. Thanks for reviewing, and enjoy the rest.

Starlit Hope – Don't kill them? I'll think about it…

Heehee…

Thanks for reviewing!

Danielle – Glad you love it. Both live? Hmm, maybe…

Thanks for reviewing!

MoroTheWolfGod – Have you got banners and placards to go with the SAVE THEM! chant? Just wondering! Haldir wake up first? I think you can mind-read my friend…

Thanks for reviewing!

Anonymous – That's true. If either of them dies, the other will just follow him o the Halls of Mandos. And we can't have that, can we! Or can we…?

Thanks for reviewing!

Haldir's Heart and Soul – Yeah, living together in life is kinda better than in death! I promise I shall see. Read on to find out what happens. And thanks for reviewing.

Chapter 7: Hopes and Achievements.

The sun is shining, it is a beautiful day…yet I feel alone.

And why do I feel alone? Because I am alone.

He's fighting for his life in there. And I am out here, unable to do anything because of my 'condition'.

Stupid human healers. Think they know everything…

Haldir sighed and turned back to face the closed door. He had woken up the previous day, and his shoulder was healing well. But Legolas was still unconscious, still in darkness.

"Let me in," he whispered to the silent air. "Please. He needs me."

Not for the first time that day, he went to knock on the door, but stopped as his hand reached halfway. They needed complete concentration if they were going to get his love back to the land of the living. He lowered his hand again, and went back to pacing back and forth in front of the door.

Suddenly, it opened, and a very tired-looking Aragorn stepped out. Haldir stopped pacing and looked at him expectantly. "Aragorn? What is going on in there?"

"He is still unconscious. But, he is showing signs of recovering. His skin has had a bit of colour return to it, and his breathing rate is back to normal."

"Can I see him?"

"I do not think that would be wise in your state."

"Aragorn, trust me. I have seen much worse things in my time. Let me see him."

The Ranger sighed, but he was too tired to argue. He nodded and showed Haldir in.

The room was quiet, and contained only one bed. It was lit with torches in brackets, casting strange shadows on the walls. On the bed, lay the Prince of Mirkwood, eyes closed, skin pale. Gandalf was sat beside him, holding his hand and whispering charms. Orophin and Rumil were stood at the end of the bed, fists clenched over their mouths, one folded across their chests. Both looked exhausted, and were almost asleep on their feet. But they had to stay awake in case Legolas awoke.

They looked at their brother as he entered. "Haldir," Rumil said softly, lowering his hands and walking over to him. "Perhaps it would be better if you remained outside."

"No. I want to see him. Please, just a few moments. Alone."

His brothers nodded and walked silently out, followed by Aragorn. Haldir went and sat beside Gandalf. "Let me try," he pleaded, also taking hold of the hand that Gandalf held. It was cold to the touch.

Gandalf stopped murmuring and looked at the Marchwarden. "Very well. But you must be strong. No physically, but mentally. It is hard to bring back an Elf from the darkness Haldir. Really hard."   

"I know. Just let me try."

Gandalf nodded, and with one last glance at the Prince, he left, closing the door behind him.

Haldir sat in the empty seat and took Legolas' hand between his own two. He ignored the throbbing in his shoulder. He kissed the ice-cold fingers. "Come on Legolas," he whispered. "Come back to me. Don't leave now, not after everything we have been through together. I am ok, I have survived, thanks to you. Now, you must recover. Please Legolas, saes melamin, wake up. Please wake up!" He leant over and kissed Legolas' lips.

He got no response, but he had known he wouldn't. His lips moved upwards, brushing Legolas' nose, then forehead. Then, the tears came. The droplets trickled out of Haldirs' grey eyes, splashing onto Legolas' pale cheeks. He cried silently, not wanting to attract attention from the others waiting outside.

"Saes Legolas, echuivo. Echuivo-saes. An nin. Im baur lecin. Amin mela lle." (Please Legolas, wake up. Please wake up. For me. I need you. I love you.)  

He kissed Legolas' lips again. "I love you," he repeated in a choked whisper. "No one has ever reduced me to tears before Legolas. The last person was my mother, when she died. Please, wake up! I love you…" He could feel his own strength waning.

"No! I am not going to die, and neither are you Legolas. I am not going to fall into darkness with you. I refuse. If you go, you'll lose me. You are going to come back to the light, back to me! Come on!" He placed his hand over Legolas' heart, his other arm holding the frail body against his own. "Come on…"

Just as he felt he was going to collapse with the effort, he heard a faint murmur. It seemed to be so close to him, yet so far away.

"Haldir…"

"Legolas?" He looked down at the Prince in his arms.

The sapphire eyes were open.

"Legolas! Oh thank goodness you're awake!" He kissed him gently, and this time, Legolas did respond.

Lips parted, tongues danced. Legolas slipped his arms round Haldirs' neck, holding him in place against him. Haldir leant down into the kiss, savouring every moment.

They parted and Legolas gazed up at his lover. "Melamin," he whispered, stroking a silver strand out of Haldirs' face. "Haldir, my Haldir."

"Yes, your Haldir," he replied, smiling.

Legolas smiled back, a single tear trickling out of his eye. Haldir wiped it away and they kissed again, gently, but passionately.

Outside, the other four waited patiently. Would Haldir succeed? Or would Legolas die, and Haldir die with him?

Soon, the waiting was too much for Aragorn. He looked at Gandalf. "I've got to go back in there. It's so quiet. Something's happened,  can feel it."

"Just wait a few more moments," Gandalf told him. "I can sense that something has happened too, but to me, it is not a bad thing."

"What could it be do you think Mithrandir?" Orophin asked. Rumil had his head leaning against his shoulder, and Orophin had his arm round his brothers' shoulders.

"I do not know, but if something bad had happened, I am sure we would have heard something by now."

"Crying, you mean?"

"Quite possibly."

Then, the door opened, and Haldir stepped out. He was pale, and so his brothers rushed over to him. But he stopped them by putting up his hands.

"He is awake," he said softly, smiling at them.

They all smiled back, and his brothers took him into a huge bear hug. Aragorn pushed past them into the room.

Legolas was sat up in bed, smiling at him. "Hello Aragorn," he said quietly.

"Hello Aragorn? Is that all you can say after everything you have put me through!" He glared at his friend, but when Legolas started laughing, he joined in. He slipped onto the bed beside him and held him in a giant embrace.

"Oh Legolas," he whispered. "I thought I'd lost you."

"I'm not going anywhere now, I promise," Legolas answered. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"For passing out like that."

"I understand." He pulled away. "But did you really have to go the brink of death just to get Gandalf to heal Haldir?"

Legolas laughed. "I would die for him."

"I know you would. And he would die for you."

"Aye, that's true." Haldir and his brothers walked in, closely followed by Gandalf. They all sat down on the bed, and talked.

"He just told me off for nearly dying," Legolas informed the others, pointing at Aragorn.

"I don't blame him," Rumil agreed. "Do you realise what worry you two have put us through these past few days?"

"Younger brothers…" Orophin shook his head.

"Best friends…" Aragorn agreed.

"Elves…" Gandalf concluded.

They all laughed. "We are not that bad, surely?" Legolas asked.

Aragorn tried to cover up his laugh by coughing, but the four Elves heard. They shouted at him, and started pelting him with pillows that just happened to be stored in that particular room.

"Where's Gimli?" Legolas asked once the fuss had calmed down.

"Probably still with King Théoden. He's worried sick about you though Legolas," Aragorn told him.

"You had better tell him I have recovered then hadn't you?"

"I suppose I don't have a choice?"

"Um…no. off you go." Legolas grinned at the Ranger as he left with Gandalf.

"You really are something Legolas," Orophin told him.

"Why?"

"Friends with a Dwarf, friends with humans, and you are in love with my youngest brother? Are you sure you are alright in the head?"

"I hope that wasn't an insult to me Orophin," Haldir said dangerously, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course not dear brother. It was an insult to Legolas."

"Hey!" Legolas threw another pillow at Orophin. "Blame it on the parents."

"That's what they're for after all," Rumil agreed. They all laughed again.

"Ah, happy days," Orophin decided, leaning back against Legolas' legs, which were covered by a blanket.

"Definitely," Rumil agreed, leaning against them on the other side. They both shut their eyes blissfully.  

Legolas looked at Haldir. Haldir just shrugged and sat beside him, an arm protectively round his shoulders. "Surely you have seen better?" he asked.

"Shut up," Orophin grumbled, making himself more comfortable.

"My legs are not cushions," Legolas told them.

"And your point is?" Rumil asked, opening one eye lazily and looking at the Prince. Legolas scowled at him, but said nothing more, nestling further into Haldir's grasp.

See! I can't kill either of them, because they are so deeply in love with each other! sits back again, and falls off chair

I'm fine! rubs head where she bumped it on floor

So, how was that? I can tell you there are… 4 more chapters left after this one. Hmm, what else could happen?

Wait and see!

See you next week!

Lainfaer