Disclaimer: I don't own anything of the Lord of the Rings. It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
Note: Okay not many people reviewed this story today; it kind of makes me feel sad. Oh well, on with the story, there will be action in this one if you understand my meaning. Let's begin.
Legolas descended the stairs while his heart sang in tune with the people of Lorien in their lament for Gandalf. He looked around and then back at the Hobbits while he shifted the flask of wine that he carried in his hands. He smiled at them and then resumed his way to his Talan.
Walking into the clearing he found Haldir waiting for him. His heartbeat quickened slightly when he saw what the March Warden was wearing. He could have never denied that the elf looked extremely good.
"Good evening, Legolas," Haldir softly purred. His motions were smooth but there was a nervous glint in his eyes that Legolas had never seen before.
"Good evening to you too, Haldir," Legolas smiled at him.
"I was wondering if there was perhaps a change we could talk. There are some things I wish to say to you." Haldir looked at his hands this time instead of Legolas.
"Very well, Haldir, unless you wish to repeat the words at our last parting. Then I would advise you to save your breath, for I shall not listen to them." Legolas set the flask down and sat down beside it, motioning for Haldir to do the same.
"No they are not. I know I could never have your heart, Legolas, for you have tasted the sweet captures of ever lasting love, the love we only share for a soul mate. You lost your heart to that one, be it human or elf. I wished for a very long time it would have been me, but it never was and never will be. Let me say this to you: I do not think that you shall be happy with him, if you and him are ever going to be. This quest is long, as the war will be. Everybody found peace, why do you not let your heart rest and lose yourself in what you have wanted? If you want me too, I shall play the part and I shall not ask for anything in return, just this one night together. For me and for what we had?" Legolas was surprised to find tears in Haldir's eyes.
"I cannot deny that I have desired company, even if it was merely in the flesh. What you say is tempting, Haldir, it always was. Are you sure there are no obligations beyond this night?" He cocked his head, waiting for the younger elf to reply.
"No, there are not. As much as I think you are foolish for wanting a human as your life's partner, with the Evenstar to compete with, no, there will not be." Haldir looked at the elf, nothing but truth in his eyes.
"I accept your offer, Haldir, be it only for this night and do not expect me, to cry out your name for the love between us is still less then it has ever been." Legolas answered softly, noticing the look of joy in Haldir's eyes.
Aragorn woke up. Sitting upright, he felt like he was still reliving his dream. He rubbed his eyes: the nightmare of Gandalf's fall had woken him up for the 5th night in a row. He wondered if Legolas was still up, maybe he should go and speak to the blond archer.
Getting out of bed and taking his sword with him out of pure habit, he walked in a slow pace to the Talan where Legolas was sleeping.
When he was about to enter the clearing, he saw something that nearly made his heart stop beating.
Haldir pressed Legolas gently against the tree, feeling the elf tremble beside him. He lowered his mouth against the other's and whispered softly,
"I shall claim you, I swear this upon what we had." He then kissed Legolas, their tongues entwining.
Legolas growled inside Haldir's mouth but a sharp intake that other senses besides his hearing told him. He pushed him away, just in time to see the retreating form of Aragorn rushing away. He swore before running a hand through his hair, he then said,
"I have to go after him, I cannot let this happen." It was said in hushed tone but Haldir caught the words and said in a cold tone
"Is that all I mean for you? A substitute for him?"
Legolas turned to face him and said,
"You offered yourself to me. Did you really think I would bind myself to you as you so long have desired? For what? For something that would bring me heartache? I think not, Haldir. I thought you had changed, but it was just my foolish heart still caring for you and hoping you had, that I could not see it. I am sorry, so sorry, Haldir, but this cannot be, and never can it be."
"And do you not think that his marriage to the Evenstar will not bring you heartache, Legolas? You shall die if you bind to him; die by your grief for something that cannot change," Haldir answered in a harsh tone.
"For you do not understand the love I have for him, the love for Elessar of Gondor," Legolas answered and then walked off, tracing the steps Aragorn had taken only moments ago.
The man in question was sitting staring out at one of the many small lakes in Lorien. He felt tears sting in his eyes. How could he ever ask Legolas to wait for him when he was to be wed to Arwen? He took off his boots and let his feet dangle in the water, feeling the need for a bath arise. His shoulder shook and sobs escaped his lips before he broke down, shoulders and frame shaking.
Two strong arms pulled him back into a warm embrace and an even warmer chest, a heartbeat lulling him into false peace. He somehow knew this was Legolas sitting behind him, coming after him after he had seen the human flee the clearing.
"Ai, so much grief and doubt weigh you down, Aragorn, my Estel. Why do you not convey in me?"
Aragorn pulled away to look at the Elf and he hissed,
"For you shall take advantage of me, like you have done in the past. You say you want me and then Haldir? Tell me, Legolas, who is really playing games here, you or Haldir?" He could see pain explode in the blue eyes of his friend.
"I have never taken advantage of you, Aragorn. Ever have I been truthful with you, loving you from a distance, knowing what I want can never be for you belong to Arwen. Your words hurt me my friend. It paints me to realize you think this of me when you obviously do not know me well." He made a move to stand but Aragorn's arms around his waist and the man's head on his lap stopped him from moving at all.
"Do not go, I am so sorry for what I have said. I should never have blamed you for my own doings. Can you ever forgive me?" The Man asked in a muffled voice. Legolas laughed and Aragorn's head snapped up, tears were in his eyes and his eyes narrowed while he asked, "What is so funny?"
"Here I am holding you and now I find myself in a position unmoving from. If one would walk in now, I hate to realize what we would look like in their mind," The elf replied, stroking the man's face.
"So what were you doing with Haldir?" Aragorn asked, his tone light but a dangerous undertone made one of Legolas's eyebrows shoot up.
"He offered himself to me, as substitute for the one I really want and love," Legolas casually replied. He felt Aragorn stiffen.
"Who was he substituting for?" the man asked next, looking up from his place on the elf's lap.
"For the very person I walked away from him to be with," Legolas replied.
"But can never be for he is promised to Arwen Undomiel," Aragorn finished, sitting up straight. "Why will you not be with him? He loves you."
"Yes, but you love me more even if you don't want to tell me. I would not be happy, Aragorn, and you know me too well to know that I shall never be with somebody when my heart is not in it," Legolas answered, staring at his hands in his now empty lap. Aragorn's hand touched Legolas's cheek and Legolas relaxed into the touch.
"Just because we cannot have what we want, does not mean that I hold him against you. I am bound to marry Arwen, how could I claim you to wait for me when you deserve happiness?"
"For Haldir ever desired the position of prince of Mirkwood by my side. I do not think he ever truly loved me, for he did not know me," Legolas answered.
"Yes, but you have been with him for 50 years, that is not something to be taken lightly," Aragorn reminded him.
"Aye, I was, longer than that. I needed somebody that time, a mistake I shall not make again." Legolas smiled at Aragorn.
"You would marry for love?" The man asked, knowing the answer by heart.
"Of course, I would marry for love, Aragorn. A bond is not formed lightly, as you know. It has to be between people who both want it, it can never be for just one person." Legolas looked at the man sitting before him.
"And Haldir wanted this?"
"Partly yes," was the only answer the elf offered. Legolas stretched, feeling muscles protest against the movement.
"How is your side?" Aragorn asked, an idea coming to mind.
"A bit sore, somebody gripped me there," Legolas commented.
"Whom?" Aragorn practically growled. This was something new to Legolas, Aragorn being so protective.
"Haldir." The name flowed from Legolas's lips.
Rage coursed through Aragorn at the name of the elf. This was the last straw. Haldir had gone too far. First treat Legolas only for power when the elf deserved so much more and then hurt his elf. Mmm, where did that come from? Since when did I start looking at Legolas as my possession? Aragorn thought with growing unease. Legolas watched him with an amazed expression on his face before he said,
"Are you planning on doing something about it?"
Aragorn stood up while he made up his mind.
"Aye, I will," he answered briefly before storming off to find Haldir. Legolas's eyes widened, since when had this happened for Aragorn to do this for him? Then Aragorn's words registered in his mind and he sprang up in shock: this was going to get ugly. Aragorn was no match for the stronger elf.
"Haldir!" The cry rang through the woods and the March Warden turned. He was greeted with a sight of an angry human making his way over to him, a sword in his left hand.
"Yes, Aragorn?" he asked, annoyed with the human. He never liked Aragorn, partly for stealing Legolas away from him.
"What have you done to Legolas?" the man hissed, stepping in front of him. Rage clouded his vision, rage for Haldir and for the foul creatures of the Dark Lord, for taking Gandalf from him and presenting Aragorn with something he was never meant to take. Haldir's eyes widened in surprise and he asked, turning to face the raging human,
"What do you mean?"
"You honestly think that by offering yourself to him, you will win him back. You can never have him back for he…." Aragorn started.
"For he, what? Aragorn, what do you wish to say? Do you wish to say what is on your mind or in your heart? Both will cause one of the firstborn grief. Are you so sure that it is what you wish? You will cause two elven lords grief, simply because you have to make a choice. And you ask for me to stop hurting Legolas, when if you will go through with this marriage you will make him far more unhappy then I ever could. I offer him a change for happiness," Haldir interrupted him.
"A change he does not want. Do you want Legolas the elvish prince or Legolas as a person?" Aragorn began once again. "At least I love him for who he is," he whispered after that.
Haldir grinned and said,
"Repeat it, so the whole world can hear where the heart of Aragorn, son of Arathorn truly lies. Repeat it human, repeat it so that he will hear you as well."
Aragorn raised his sword and said,
"I love him, Haldir, may those words inspire you as well. I will fight for his honour."
"You will fight me for the love of him. You are crazy." Haldir actually smiled. His respect for Aragorn grew. This he had never expected of the soon-to-be king.
"Choose your weapon, Haldir, and let us battle," Aragorn commanded.
Haldir dipped his head in agreement and picked up one of his own swords from the rack that stood at the edge of the woods. Haldir held up his sword, waiting for Aragorn to strike and soon the human had pushed forward, intending on striking Haldir. The elf blocked, raising his sword to counter the attack.
This continued for a little while, each blow draining Aragorn of more strength. Haldir smiled at the tiring human and then pushed forward, catching Aragorn off guard. The Man felt the tip of the sword dip into his clothes and leave a trace on his stomach. "First blood to me." Haldir called, expecting this to end right here.
"Let us finish it, you shall never call him yours." Aragorn raised his sword for another stab but Haldir had enough of this game and the sword was knocked out off Aragorn's hand and the man was soon knocked over.
Aragorn hissed in surprise when he hit the floor, the wounds on his hands stinging when they hit the sand. Haldir towered over him and Aragorn raised his hands in time to stop the sword, thus lying fully on his back with Haldir raising over him. He kicked out his leg, succeeding in knocking Haldir to the ground. The sword lay forgotten in the sand when they both decided on hand to hand combat.
Aragorn soon had caught Haldir's nose, succeeding in making it bleed. The elf grumbled and hit the man square in the stomach, extruding a moan and Aragorn gasped when he felt the elf's strength hit him, knocking the breath out of him. He choked, feeling something rise up in his throat. Haldir held his nose with his hand and said,
"Do you yield?"
Trying to take deep breaths to keep his food down, he shook his head. That motion was not helping and soon Aragorn bent over, not only coughing up his food but a fair amount of blood as well. He swore while he used his shirt to wipe of his mouth.
"Let's go," he answered but a searing pain made him stop. Apparently Haldir had hit him harder then he remembered.
Haldir had a sneer on his face and he made a move to strike. Aragorn knew he could never move fast enough, but then a fist caught Haldir's fist, pushing the elf backwards. "Haldir, stop that this instance." A voice caught through the silence, making Aragorn stop moving. He knew that voice well: it belonged to Lord Celeborn.
Aragorn extended his glance upwards and found Legolas standing in front of him, the elite elven warrior was protecting him and holding Haldir down in the process. Haldir straightened himself as fast as he could and he opened his mouth to say something, but Celeborn shook his head and answered,
"Legolas came to tell me what Aragorn had planned. I answered that you would never do such a thing but I was wrong. You are to go on patrol right now, where you should have been ever since the Fellowship arrived in Lorien and you disobeyed my orders."
"What about Aragorn? He attacked me," Haldir managed to say, shooting a glance towards the human on the floor. Celeborn spared a glance towards Aragorn as well and he said,
"I think he has been punished enough, your punch has hit him harder then you would have liked, unless you meant him harm. Come with me now," Celeborn commanded, turning to face Legolas and Aragorn on the floor.
"Legolas, take him with you, you know what is best for him. You shall find everything you need in your Talan." With those words Celeborn left, Haldir following him closely, not bothering to look back at Legolas and Aragorn.
Haldir knew that by this action he had lost what little chance he had with Legolas. It was over for him. For some reason that knowledge did not seem so important any longer than it did before when he was following his lord away from the two who loved each other.
Legolas turned back to face Aragorn who was still sitting on the floor.
"What you have done was foolish…" the prince paused to take a breath. Aragorn flinched at the tone that he used.
"But very sweet, Estel." His face relaxed into a smile. He then crouched down in front of the human with a frown and said, "Where does it hurt?"
"Nowhere," Aragorn replied, hoping Legolas would not ask to examine him.
"Yes, of course, that explains the pile of blood next to you," Legolas said. "Lift up your shirt," he then commanded.
Aragorn blushed, but lifted his shirt up a little bit, feeling a graceful hand slid down underneath. He could see lines of worry etching Legolas's face and felt his hot breath against his cheek. Was it just him or was it getting hotter in here? Legolas certainly had never managed to make his vision sway. All he could do now was curse before the darkness claimed him.
Oh cliffy, let me know what you want to see. And review of course.