Never without you
Chapter 11: Not just friends, not just lovers
Pairings: Legolas/Haldir
Disclaimer: I don't own so don't ask
WARNING: This is about male/male relationships, if you have a problem with that then I suggest that you go elsewhere.
Notes: Please remember that this is not beta-read so any and all mistakes are mine ^_~
~HHS: maybe ^_~
~louise_oblique: Ta-da!
~Wanderer: Thank you sooo much for the review! I am at least three chapters ahead it's only a matter of typing them then posting.
If no one has read 'Wanderer's' review here it is: Well, I've just sat here and read all that you've done so far....and here's my take on it.....in the beginning, I was a bit confuzzled, but, liking your style immensely, I stuck with it and slowly but surely, things are unraveling.....you are a master at multi-plot twists......and the ever hateful cliffhanger *grins* All in all, although I understand trying to write with small children being the main focus of your time ( I myself have a near 5 yr old and a 1 yr old) I think you need to ditch the kids at the sitters, and pump out about 50 more chapters, all at once...hehehehe......cause I'm loving it so far.
{{Elvish}} still learning. Most will be done in English.
::Mind speak/Telepathy::
Enjoy!
~oOo@oOo~
The party from Imladris approached the gates of Mirkwood palace. Elladan was fighting the urge to turn his horse around and bolt back home but he kept reminding himself that everything will be all right.
The valets took the reins as the older twin slid off his saddle to stand beside his father. Shouting in the distance caught their attention.
The pair walked in on two Elves in a heated argument. Elrond was shock to see a male belittling a rather very pregnant she-Elf. The female gingerly picked herself off the floor keeping her head bent subserviently not saying anything to defend herself against the verbal attack.
The Perehdil stepped forward to cease the senseless abuse when a silky voice cut the air.
"Unless you want to deal with me, I suggest you close your mouth."
All turned to see ice-blue eyes darken with restrained anger.
"You have no say Captain! This harlot should have been watching where she was going!" Serégon snapped, unknowing of the female's true identity, trying to glare back at the silver-haired Marchwarden.
"Please Haldir. I am fine," the gentle melodic voice said.
Elrond held out his hand to assist the female. Once she was upright she doubled over in pain falling back to the marble cold floor. She snapped her up in a panic and in doing so the hood of the oversized cloak slid off. Waves of flowing flaxen hair tumbled from its' confines revealing a stunned prince and an equally stunned Serégon.
Never having seen Legolas before Serégon had a pretty good idea considering the Elf in question was the mirror image of his father, right down to alluring aqua-marine colored eyes.
"What in all of Arda is going?!" Serégon demanded.
"Nothing that concerns you," Haldir growled warning the snobbish prince to back-off.
"When my sister is supposed to marry someone of his stature, I make it my business. He should have been more careful than to allow himself get in knocked-up! He is nothing more than a common whore."
The minute Serégon let that foul word come out of his mouth Haldir rounded on him. The Marchwarden quickly struck the prince to the jaw followed up with a strike to the stomach. Serégon was panting for air when Haldir grabbed him by the throat.
Elladan was trying to keep his friend from killing the royal Elf. "No, Haldir this is not the way. Let King Thranduil handle him."
Serégon crumbled to the floor once Haldir let go. He under estimated the strength of the Silvan Elf, a mistake that would cost him his life if he is not more careful in the future. Stumbling to his feet, Serégon inched away from him.
"This is far from over," Serégon hissed heading straight to the throne room while nursing a broken nose.
Legolas collapsed against Elrond. "Haldir we need to get him to his room," Elrond voice with concern. "Elladan find Thranduil and have him meet us there."
The twin rushed off in searched of the Mirkwood lord. Although, Elladan's mind was on his friend, he was about to have a life changing moment.
~oOo@oOo~
The Lord of the Golden-wood casually trekked through the open forest of Mirkwood. Millennium has past since he was able to admire the green foliage because of Sauron's veiling darkness of Dol Guldur. Since the destruction of the One Ring, life, goodness, and light have once again descended upon Thranduil's realm.
The trees swayed whispering joyful praise of Celeborn's return. Creatures big and small followed closely behind him. Every so often the silver-haired lord would touch a tree or plant or animal caressing it with his warmth of power.
Celeborn walked some time before he realized someone had been following him. He stopped as usual out stretching his arm to receive a small bird. He gently stroked feathers, please as the bird plumage huffed a bit with pride.
The uninvited guests watched as the bird flew over head, but when hazel eyes looked back the mysterious Elf lord had disappeared. Proceeding with caution to catch the lord, the Elf did not expect to get caught, which why it happened.
Celeborn rounded back sneaking up on the intruder, grabbing him by the throat and squeezing to cut off his air supply while twisting his arm behind his back. "Why are you following me?"
"I…I…I'm sorry."
Celeborn was shocked. He immediately relinquished his hold on her. "Princess Arbor? What do I owe this surprise?" He didn't hear her reply as someone broke into his thoughts. After a minute of 'speaking' he turned his attention back to the overwrought princess.
"I…need your help," she hesitated somewhat. "I was wondering if you could settle a small family matter?"
He waited patiently for her to continue. "I have been trying to gain an audience with Prince Legolas but King Thranduil has denied my request. Even though he has denounced my betrothed my brother is very obstinate. He will do anything to ally our kingdom with Mirkwood. I fear for my safety," Arbor trailed off losing her confidence. She felt the raw power radiate from the Lord.
Celeborn smiled fondly at the young princess. "You want me to speak to the king?"
She nodded her head. Thranduil was going to have problems because Legolas was all ready married and making a public announcement was going to cause all kind of commotion. Celeborn reached down taking hold of her hands with one of his with the other he tilted her head upward.
"I do not wish to marry any one out of duty, my Lord." Tears swelled in hazel orbs.
"You want to bind yourself for love, pen-neth." Again Arbor nodded.
"There is nothing wrong with wanting that for yourself. You will find it. Now, there is an urgent matter I must attend to then I will speak with Thranduil, but if it any console to you pen-neth you were never meant to wed the prince."
He all ready knew who the princess would be with for Galadriel had shown it to him in her mirror.
~oOo@oOo~
Elrond immediately place his hands on Legolas' distended stomach once Haldir had him settled properly on the bed. He was relieved to find nothing wrong with the babies. Although, he detected something else he wasn't quite sure what to make of it, so as to not alarm the expecting parents he remained tight lipped.
"Legolas, you are not eating enough nor are you getting the proper exercise. From this day until I deem otherwise you are to eat at least 4-5 times a day and that means you attending the regular meal calls with two meals in between.," Elrond said leaving no room for argument.
"Also there is another thing…"
Legolas didn't like the sound of that. "Haldir, I know you wish to keep your marriage secret but Legolas is to far into his pregnancy for you to be in separate quarters."
"What are you getting at, Lord Elrond?" Haldir asked.
The Marchwarden gulped when he saw the twinkling glint in misty grey eyes.
"You need to be living as husband and spouse, and I don't mean by making appearances in public together either." Elrond hoped that they would figure out what he was referring to without him having to utter the words.
Haldir's facial expression remained unchanged; however, the tips of his ears turned a beautiful shade of red. Legolas on the other hand wasn't as fortunate. His face including his ears was pink. He couldn't believe what the ruler of Imladris was suggesting.
Celeborn choose at that moment to walk in saving them from further embarrassment. "I received your message, Haldir. What is so important-" the lord saw worried mirrored blue orbs.
"I need to present myself to King Thranduil," he simply responded, forgetting about what Elrond just said to him.
"Very well. Now would be a good time. I will go and inform him. You and Legolas must be present, but I must warn you Haldir -"
"Not if you tell him the truth," Haldir said knowing that this was the only way.
"Elrond, a word please," Celeborn said to his friend.
The high Elves stepped outside the door to talk leaving the Prince and Marchwarden with a thousand questions.
"Haldir told me that you want him back into Legolas' room?"
Elrond was a bit puzzled at the question seeing that he just informed the young Captain. Celeborn smiled at his long time friend's perplexed expression. "Haldir can mind-speak but only at close distances."
"Can Rúmil and Orophin 'speak' as well?" Elrond was very curious of the trio's hidden abilities.
Celeborn shook his head dejectedly. "So far they have not shown any type of talent other than those of a harden warrior but I digress. I must inform Thranduil now. Something tells me that Serégon has a veiled agenda concerning Legolas," Celeborn said. "I do not trust him."
"Aye, I've sensed something as well. Legolas must not be alone for any reason, which is my main goal for wanting Haldir moved into his rooms."
Elrond's ageless face took on an apprehensive look. "I felt something while examining Legolas. I'm not entirely sure of what is or if anything at all-" His next words were cut off by the prince's rapturous alto.
~ 'Ahh! Ahh! Yess! Right there, mellon-nin! Yeesss!'~
Elrond and Celeborn slowly eased away from the door. "You would think by now we have learned our lesson," Elrond joked.
"Well, it's a good thing Galadriel is not here this time. Remember? She couldn't stop blushing for weeks when she walked in on them.'
Both cracked-up laughing from the memory. They arrived at Celeborn's bedchambers.
"I will join you shortly. I need to document my findings and prepare a dietary schedule for Legolas."
"Elrond- I know you loved my daughter and that you still love her but-"
"I will love no other. Soon Celeborn I will sail for Valinor to be with her," Elrond stubbornly interjected.
"She is not the same. Her heart knows you not. She will never be able to love you as she once did," Celeborn argued.
Elrond sighed in defeat. He knew that his wife would never want to be with him after her torturous ordeal with the Orcs. He had prayed to Elbereth that his visions were not coming to pass. Although from Celeborn's revelation it seems that the half-Elf would spend eternity alone to never be reunited with his love.
"Elrond, I don't mean to cause you pain ion-nin but I do not want you to end up like Thranduil, bitter and depress. Celebrían gave you her blessing to love again freeing you from your bond and marriage."
"I know Celeborn but it still hurts."
"It will always hurt, but give it time your heart will heal. Your time here is not over it has only just began."
The Eldar embraced his son-in-law giving him hope once more to hold on to a fading dream that would become reality for the half-Elf.
~oOo@oOo~
Haldir sat next his husband caressing smooth satin-like skin then gently began stroking the mound of his love's stomach. Every few seconds Haldir felt a slight rumple or thump.
"I will tell all to your father, Legolas," Haldir whispered. "And I will move back in here with you." Then he did something Legolas was not expecting, Haldir reached beneath his maternity tunic and pulled out his wedding band.
The mithril ring sparkled brightly as the Marchwarden inspected the slender piece of jewelry. The ring was etched with Lórien's leave s around it. He slipped the ring on the prince's third finger of his left hand.
"Amin mela lle," he said kissing the ring then his husband.
Legolas mimicked the Marchwarden. The mithril band was craved with greenwood leaves of Mirkwood. The coupled reaffirmed their bond with a passionate kiss.
"I guess we're taking Lord Elrond's advise?" Legolas purred.
Haldir nodded his answer as he glided his tongue down Legolas' chin making his way to the sensitive tip of his war.
Legolas moaned as his husband continued to suck and nipped his neck leaving vivid love bites as he went.
The Marchwarden ripped opened the maternity tunic. Haldir marveled at the fullness of Legolas' chest. The one taut flat pectoral was now swollen slowly preparing itself for the arrival of their children.
"Did you have these before?" Haldir whispered referring to his husband's visible breasts.
"They were not quite so full the last time but they are extremely sensitive," Legolas cautioned. As an after thought he added, "You may…touch them…if you wish."
The darken areola glistened with colostrum, a very tempting delight but Haldir was not about to cause his love any more pain.
"No, mellon-nin I will pass on such an enticing offer but I will however, fest on the rest of your alluring body." Haldir grabbed the jar of oil from inside the bedside draw. He poured a lavish amount in his hand making sure it drizzled on the stretch skin of his husband's stomach.
Soon they forgot about the rest of Arda and gave into their need of being together after so many months of being apart.
~ TBC ~
A/N: Well, how was that? Does anyone get the feeling that Serégon is going to be trouble? Yeah, I thought so too. If you want to find out what Celeborn have to tell Thranduil, stay tuned for the next chapter!
Any comments and suggests are welcomed ^_~
Nemesis
~oOo@oOo~
Teaser for Chapter 12: My heirs
"I'm sorry my Lords but it is written in our law," Felagund interjected.
Serégon smiled to himself. If the Prince was exiled he could still get want he wanted. "You have no proof!"
"Celeborn?" Thranduil didn't understand anything that was going on.
With a condescending air about him much like the Marchwarden's, Celeborn simply said, "Haldir…"