Disclaimers: LotR and its characters do not belong to me. Every Breath You Take is not mine either.
Warnings: Violence, language, and maybe character death.
--
Every single day and every word you sayEvery game you play, every night you stayI'll be watchin' you--
The ranger adjusted his weight a little so he allowed Haldir to breath better. The elf began fighting harder and he got free of Aragorn's weakened grasp. Haldir struggled to his feet and darted left to a tree that stood in the gateway courtyard. He jumped onto a low branch, giving himself an advantage over the man that had tackled him.
Aragorn stumbled to the door, knowingly not following the elf. He remembered that there was a second floor window that Haldir could easily use to get inside.
--
Legolas reached the room that he had shared with Haldir. He felt the silver leaf at his throat and he tore it and its chain off and threw them both to the floor. He sat down on the bed, his head in his hands.
The balcony door opened silently and a golden-blond elf stepped in. "Legolas?"
Legolas rose, "Haldir, I did not believe that Aragorn was right when he said he had doubts about you."
The elf on the balcony stepped forward, so that he was within arm's reach of his lover. "Legolas, what do you mean? What did I do?"
"You know very well what you did! You kissed him! Glorfindel!"
"Let me explain--"
"No words can take back what you have done today." Legolas stated harshly. The one to whom he spoke clenched his fists, nails biting into his skin
Haldir stared down determinedly at the floor, trying to think of what to say. "If that is how you feel, I cannot stop you." He knelt on the floor to pick something up. Taking Legolas' hand in his, he pressed a piece of smooth metal into the prince's palm. Legolas drew his hand away, holding onto what Haldir had just given him.
Haldir took a pack from a corner and stuffed a few items from the wardrobe into it. "Goodbye my love. Please wait and think before you decide to hate me and also never forget what I always said to you." With that, he kissed Legolas' cheek quietly and left the room.
Legolas stood there silently for a few moments, before opening his hand. There lay the silver leaf, and what Haldir had told him never to forget. Forevermore.
--
Oh, can't you see You belong to me How my poor heart aches With every step you take--
"My Lady," Haldir began as he knelt down before her, "I have come to ask you a small favor."
Galadriel smiled down at the youngest of the Galadhrim. "Haldir, what is it that you wish to ask of me?"
"I had a…disagreement with Prince Legolas, and his does not wish me to share a room with him any longer. Is there another place I could stay for a few nights, whilst I arrange another permanent room for myself?"
"There is a guestroom that will be suitable. 'Tis the fourth room to the left of Glorfindel's. You know where this is. Would this be appropriate?"
"Yes. Thank you, My Lady." Haldir stood, bowed and left.
Galadriel stared after his retreating back solemnly. "I fear the worst will come from this. For a great evil approaches and the outcome will be painful, for both Haldir and Prince Legolas." She smiled at Celeborn, who had settled into a chair beside her.
The elven lord nodded slowly. "I doubt you not. Legolas may live to regret what he has decided hastily this day."
--
Aragorn darted into the open door of Legolas' room. His eyes full of sympathy, the ranger commented, "Legolas. Are you well? You look paler than usual." The prince looked up.
"I do not need your pity, Estel."
"I never said anything implying it."
"Your eyes tell as much. In case you are wondering, Haldir has left to see Lady Galadriel about a separate room." Legolas stood and turned to the window. His voice holding only a tinge of bitterness and sadness, he added, "His actions are no longer any concern of mine."
Aragorn's mind raced to think of something to take his friend's mind off his former lover. "Would you like to try sparring? There is an empty practice court that we could use."
"That will be fine." Legolas murmured, not really paying attention to the question. He turned to Aragorn and smiled, although the smile didn't reach his eyes. "Yes. Shall we do hand to hand or knives?"
"Hand to hand." Aragorn said quickly. He didn't want to see the elf wield blades if he was upset. "Come. We can head down now if you would like." Legolas nodded, and the two left. Halfway down the hall, the prince pocketed the silver leaf.
--
The messenger found Aragorn and Legolas in the practice courts. Legolas suddenly locked out the ranger's knee. A swift push to Aragorn's shoulder sent him plummeting to the hardwood floor. With a sickening 'thud', the ranger's head hit the flooring. "Aragorn, are you all right?" Legolas asked, concerned.
"Fine, just fine." He muttered, sitting up.
The messenger cleared his throat. "I was sent to gather everyone to guard the curtain wall. Uruk-Hai have attacked in force, and they have archers this time. There are around one-thousand five-hundred. We shouldn't have too much trouble, but be careful. Farewell."
"I shall head to my room to get my bow and daggers. Will you get yours and Anduril?" Legolas asked as soon as the messenger left.
"Yes. I will stop by your room as well, if you like." Aragorn suggested. The elven prince agreed and headed off.
--
The youngest of the Galadhrim shouted over the shrieking Uruk-Hai, "Where is the worst possible area of a breakthrough?" He aimed this statement at a blond elf a few meters away from him.
"Around here, we have four injured and one dead." He called back to Haldir. Haldir ducked behind a battlement as another volley of arrows was fired. As soon as it was finished, he drew the string back and his arrow buried itself in the throat of an Uruk-Hai in a matter of seconds.
Legolas and Aragorn emerged on the curtain wall, about twenty paces away from Haldir. If Legolas could have chosen, he would have left, nevertheless another elf had been killed there so they needed more support.
--
Haldir faltered and swore. A black arrow had grazed his shoulder, opening a long, shallow wound. Glancing at it, he found the cut was not a critical blood loss threat.
Legolas fared well, only receiving a scratch across his brow. Combat raged, Uruk-Hai defeating few and losing many. As the battle was coming to a close, swordsmen, including Aragorn, went out to kill the rest of the Uruk-Hai.
All of a sudden, Haldir's knees buckled and he collapsed to flagstones. Bracing a hand against the wall, he tried to stand. He fell again and made no more move to rise, not able to fight the darkness engulfing him.
The elf next to Haldir shouted for help and he bent down to place his hand against unconscious Galadhrim's forehead. Orophin responded to the call and he knelt down next to his fallen brother. The other muttered something and Orophin placed a hand on Haldir's temple.
He drew back in alarm, "He's burning up from within! Poison-tipped arrows? Ah, yes. His shoulder." Orophin pulled his brother's tunic and shirt away from the wound so that he could see it clearly. There was a blue substance mingling with Haldir's blood in and around the graze. Orophin lifted his brother gently into his arms and stated, "I am bringing him to the healers." With that, he turned and started down the nearest staircase.
Legolas glanced over frequently, even though he attempted to convince himself not to care about him as much as he was.
--
The group fanned out through the forest, searching out hiding Uruk-Hai. Aragorn went to each elf after the finished the first sweep, asking him or her if they thought if all of the Uruk-Hai were dead. Once everyone agreed, the group headed back. -- As soon as he was told he could leave, Legolas went down to the healers. "I just hope he's asleep or unconscious so that I can ask the healers about his condition in peace." The prince muttered under his breath, entering the healers room. He scanned the rows of beds and in the corner near a large window was Haldir. His eyes were closed, meaning that he was unconscious. Stepping up beside a healer, Legolas asked quietly, "How is Haldir's condition?" He glanced over at him, "Not good. The poison has spread, but it should thin and not ail him anymore in a week or so. But until he wakes, we will not know the full extent of the damage." The unconscious blond elf moaned slightly and slowly blinked open his emerald eyes. Putting a hand to his temple, Haldir sat up. "Where am I?" He asked in confusion. "The healers room." Someone responded. "Why is it so dark here then?" He asked, turning towards the voices. "D-dark?" Another elf stammered, puzzled. "Yes." The golden-haired Galadhrim stared blankly at the others. Many in the room gasped as they realized what was wrong. Haldir was blind.