Disclaimers: LotR and its characters do not belong to me. Every Breath You Take is not mine either.
Authors Notes: In this the Quest is done. The hobbits have gone back to the Shire, Aragorn and Legolas are staying in Lothlorien, and Gimli has gone back to his father's mine.
Warnings: Violence, language, and maybe character death.
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Running his fingers down the intricate designs of the doorway, the ranger considered leaving. He sighed, knowing and hating the fact that he should enter. Knocking, Aragorn frowned slightly at the loud thump and curse that sounded behind the door.
"Estel, you can come in." A soft voice called. Aragorn slipped into the room, his soft boots making no noise against the floorboards. A blond elf was perched delicately on the edge of the bed, silken sheets strewn in every direction about him.
"Legolas, I need to discuss something with you." The man said, shifting his weight from foot to foot uneasily. With a grace that only elves posses, Legolas rose and gathered a pure white shirt from its place on the floor. It contrasted well with the dark green breeches the elf already wore.
Walking over to a tunic thrown over a chair, Legolas asked, "What might that be? Can you toss me over those boots in the corner? Thanks." He finished just as he caught the footwear that Aragorn threw to him.
The man hesitated to speak. "Something wrong? Aragorn?" The elf asked when the ranger did not say anything. He slowly stepped toward Aragorn, raising his hand to the silver chain around his slender neck. The chain had only one ornament on it, a small leaf, superior details from the tiny veins on the back, to the fine carved remark on the stem. It read, 'Forevermore'.
Legolas felt the leaf in his hand, smiling slightly as he remembered that it was the first gift Haldir, his lover, had ever given him.
"Legolas, it is about Haldir." The ranger wavered, wondering what to say next.
"What about him? I need to leave soon, I promised I would meet up with him as soon as he got off his patrol."
"Do you love him?" Legolas' eyes met Aragorn's sharply at the question.
"Yes. And I do not doubt that you are about to ask yet another personal question that I will not wish to answer." Aragorn denied the statement quickly and sank into a velvet-lined chair at the side.
"Well. Have you ever questioned his loyalty to you?"
"Estel! How can you ask that? I have never doubted Haldir!"
"Yes, but if-" Aragorn was cut off as an elven hand covered his mouth. At first, the ranger was surprised at his friend, but soon remembered that he had insulted some of the main qualities that the elves valued in their race. Love, loyalty, and trust.
Brown eyes still showed his anger as the elf said quietly, "Hush. There is no reason for me to have questioned him."
"I deserved that anyway, my friend. I haven't given you any reasons to follow my doubts." He paused before saying quickly, " But Legolas, I believe Haldir might not be as true to you as you think. Please just let me tell you before lose your temper. Or let me show you if you really do not believe me."
"Do you have to be so persistent? Fine. If you are so determined, show me. I need to meet Haldir anyway. He should be getting off watch around now."
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Aragorn led the elf from the room, heading toward the main gate. Legolas followed him, deep in thought. Upon reaching their destination, the ranger grabbed Legolas' arm, pulling him into a hedge just outside the gate. Two blond elves were appearing out of the mist that hung in the early morning air.
The shorter one laughed, unmistakably Haldir. They neared Legolas and Aragorn's hiding place in the bush. Stopping a few feet away, Haldir brushed his hair behind his ears and said, "It was a quiet watch this time. Let us hope tomorrow night is too."
Legolas strained to see through the thick brush. Nothing seemed to be wrong, as Aragorn had led him to believe. The taller elf moved a step closer to Haldir, and Legolas could now see that it was Glorfindel. A breeze picked up and pulled Haldir's hair from behind his ears again. A pale hand reached out and brushed it away. Legolas squinted. Nevertheless, Haldir's hands were clasped behind his back.
Aragorn risked a glace over at the elf beside him. Legolas' lips were pressed in a tight line and his eyes were full of confusion.
"Goodbye Haldir. I will see you tomorrow evening. Do not be late for our watch." With that, Glorfindel gently kissed Haldir on the forehead, trailing down to his cheek. He strode away toward the staircase leading up the curtain wall. Haldir smiled, shook his head ever so slightly and turned to go in the gate.
Legolas sat in shock next to the ranger. Aragorn shook the elf's arm gently and Legolas stood and darted out of the bush. Aragorn followed a second later.
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"Legolas?" Haldir asked, startled at seeing his lover appear out of the brush. He was taken aback by Legolas' eyes, which were wet with unshed tears. He strode forward, so that he was within arms reach of his love. "What's the matter?"
His head snapped to the side as Legolas' hand connected with his jaw. Bringing his hand to his lip, Haldir found it split and bleeding. The elven prince turned and fled back the way he and Aragorn had come. "Legolas!" the other blond cried, starting after him.
He was stopped short when something caught hold of his golden locks. He cried out and jabbed an elbow back towards his attacker. Aragorn caught Haldir's arm and twisted it behind his back. "Leave him alone. Have you not hurt him enough already?" Aragorn growled in the pointed ear in front of him.
"I have no notion of what the hell you are talking about, Estel! Release me!" The elf cried fiercely. Slamming his booted foot down on the man's instep, he freed himself and darted in the direction that his lover had taken. Aragorn tackled him down again steps away.
"Legolas!" Haldir cried helplessly, pinned under the weight of the ranger. Silver tears seeped down his pale cheeks. Guilt and sorrow showed in his eyes. "What have I done? Legolas, help me!" The elven prince turned to look back at Haldir struggling to free himself from the Aragorn's grasp. Legolas stepped back into the shadowy doorway and disappeared inside.
Haldir closed his eyes in defeat and whispered to himself so quietly that Aragorn had to strain to hear him. "I never meant to hurt you."