Title: The Marriage Ceremony
Author: fazy
Pairing: Haldir/ Elrond.
Rating: PG
Summary: Elrond and Haldir make the relationship official.
Genre: AU (somewhere in the 21st century)
Warnings: slash. (duh)

/ ... / stands for thought speak. But you guys already know that, dont you. ;D

/Haldir!... / Elrond cried out after the blonde's retreating figure. /HALDIR!/ Ai, Elbereth, why did that elf have to be so emotional? /HAL-DIR!/ But it was no use. He had broken away from the group and even now was disappearing through the doors of the main building. Raising his eyes to the heavens to bear witness to his plight, the former lord of Imladris hitched up his robes and trotted resignedly after his runaway lover.

Haldir was not in the living room, but then again, that was to be expected. The elf was upset. Some complete bastard had mocked Haldir to his face. Sure, the Sindar did have a reputation for being quite the predator, but it had been some time now since he had given up that lifestyle. But he was upset, and it was not likely that he would have perched himself in plain view of any Random Guest who might happen to wander in. Signing again at the odd twist of fate, Elrond made his way up the heavy oak stairs.

Haldir was not in the bedroom either. Nor was he in the study, the lounge, the bathroom, the billiard room, the kitchens, the servants common room, or any of the other places the Elrond tried. Defeated, he made his way back to their shared bedroom and sank dispiritedly into the soft bedding.

"Where in manwe's arse could that damned marchwarden be?" he hissed, just as Orphin popped his head through the door.

"Any luck?" the Guardian asked.

"None at all. I've looked everywhere. Honestly, I'm at my wits end!"

Orophin pulled a face. "Try the cupboard," he said simply and vanished down the hallway.

Cupboard? Cupboard?! Elrond frowned in disapproval at Orophin's suggestion. Who in their right mind would hide in a cupboard. Oh well, it never hurt to try. Besides, he had tried everything and Oro was Haldir's brother... so technically speaking, Oro should know him better than Elrond did...

Sighing deeply, Elrond made his way to the cupboard and threw the doors open. Haldir blinked back at him, heartbroken. "Damned marchwarden?" he choked faintly, his face deathly pale. "Damned marchwarden? 'Where in manwe's arse could that damned marchwarden be?'" he quoted weakly back.

Inwardly, Elrond cursed his ill luck. "I didn't mean it that way," he whispered, kicking himself for his carelessness. Haldir merely nodded dejectedly, almost as if he had not the strength left to protest. "Haldir?" he asked in concern. The Sindar was slumped weakly against the cupboard walls. "Haldir, are you alright?" he pressed again. "Come on, hervenn, speak to me.."

"Oro told you where to find me," he said weakly. "You cheated."

"He did," Elrond admitted. "I was worried, Haldir-nin. I didn't know where else to look."

Slowly, painfully, Haldir turned to face him. "How long have we been living together?" he said, his voice soft and lifeless as a single tear slid down his cheek. And Elrond did not know how to answer. Instead, he knelt gently beside Haldir and laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Come on, Haldir, get out of the cupboard," he coaxed unsuccessfully. "Haldir..." he sighed again, but Haldir seemed not to hear. Elrond bit his lip to stop himself saying something nasty. Honestly, Haldir could be such a child at times! "I was worried about you," he said tiredly. "Haldir, what's wrong. Why did you run off like that?"

Haldir shrugged and stared blankly ahead for a long time, weeping silent tears. "Didn't you hear?" he said at last. "They called me a slut. Don't you get it?" he choked. "That's all I am, Elrond. I'm just a bloody... freaking.... slut."

"No, meleth--"

"--That's all I am, and that's all I ever will be. Don't you understand? I cant be your husband... I'm just a slut. I don't deserve this," he said looking around. "Any of this," he said quietly. "I don't deserve you. I'm just a whore.

"Lets just go on as usual," he continued softly, his voice unnaturally tight and shrill. "You know, go on normally. I'll just continue to be your entertainment. I don't mind being your plaything. And when you get tired of me I'll just move on. But at least for a time... I can pretend that..." he broke off and swallowed hard, unable to say the words that were on his mind.

"But you don't have to commit yourself to me. I have no right to tie you down like that. I'm nobody, Elrond. I'm just a common whore. What right does a degenerate have over a respectable elf like you?"

"Haldir..." Elrond sighed sadly. "You're not a... degenerate. You're not. You don't do that anymore. You've put it in the past. It's over. It's not you."

"But they--" he protested.

"They don't know anything." Elrond said, taking both Haldir's hands in his. "They have no idea how difficult it's been for you. They don't know you like I do. They don't know you've changed. You're not the same person anymore. You've put it behind you. And they have no idea how... completely... I am in... love... with you."

Haldir looked up at him, teary-eyed. "Really?" he said in a small voice.

"Really. Hervenn... I love you. I want this. I want to be yours, and have the whole world acknowledge... that I am. I'm not ashamed of you. I want you with me... and I want you... forever." At that, Elrond sighed and looked away. "Or at least, for as long as you will have me. If you wanted.... If you... didn't want me anymore, I would not force you to stay."

Haldir stifled a soft gasp. "No," he breathed. "Never," he said, tearing up again. "I love you. I'll never stop loving you. I am... completely... at... your... disposal."

"Disposal!" Elrond cried, laughing nervously. "What a world!"

"No, no!" Haldir laughed anxiously in return. "I didn't mean it like that! It was... it was a... a...." but here he stopped, unable to continue as both elves roared with laughter, their mutual desperation making them lightheaded and hysterical. When at last they recovered their composure, the tension was gone.

A/N: hey ya'll! sorry the fic's been on hold for so long... i never had the motivation to continue... okay, okay, i lie. i've just been plain lazy. but there's nothing like procrastinating a lit term paper that can kickstart a dormant fic. heheh. i'm in the middle of posting another haldir/elrond fic at the moment. it's called Whispers of The Mind. unlike this fic which is meant to be fluffy and romantic (really! it is! honest! well... i did say was and meant. haha.) Whispers is a darkfic. it's meant to be really depressing, and might end with one or more character deaths. i should be picking up The Marriage Ceremony again, now that i've got this chappie up. i have a happy, fluffy ending in mind for TMC and i'm soooo eager to get it over and done with so i can get on with my life! lolx!

hugs,

fazy