Same old, same old. I own nothing, except the ancient computer used to type this up (okay, so it's only 7 years old… I need a new one. Any help?).
Elrohir bent low over Haldir, gently attempting to shake him awake, while Lorianna passed blankets to Legolas.
"Oooh, when you remember Haldir, you will remember that the madder he is, the quieter he gets." Legolas teased gently as they gathered themselves up to head for Silathil's room, giving a wink of his eye, "In fact…I don't think I have ever seen Haldir be louder than you have already seen him, save when he is chasing someone, and is forced to call out."
And then he was standing again to his full height, facing the approaching woman with a smile, and a nod of his head in thanks as he accepted the blankets. He knew they wouldn't need them, for the conditions - such as cold and heat - did not affect the Elves as they did other creatures of Middle Earth. But she didn't have to know that; her generosity was the same either way. It was always nice to have the comfort of a nice blanket, besides.
Before Haldir was completely aware, he'd given a little shiver from the breath and voice in his ear, the fingers of one of his hands extending, and then closing to hold the locks of Elrohir's dark hair in between them. But then his eyes were open and pale silvery blue from sleep, and he was looking at him with a nod as he stood.
"I didn't realizing my stories were so taxing, Haldir," Legolas teased softly as they follow Elrohir to the stable. He'd already given Haldir his blanket, and the Warden was presently hugging it to his chest as he stared at the blonde prince with an arched brow.
"I'm beginning to believe that you could compete with Elrond for the Title 'Longest Winded Elf in all of Arda'," he hissed lowly, his tone hilariously snide though it was apparent he was jesting.
As Silathil settled upon his bed, he watched the two playfully bickering with a slight shake of his head. "Will you two continue this banter all night? For if you are, I would have at least brought up a mug of mead to keep me company while watching."
He, of course, was also jesting. His expression was one of merriment as sparkling grays flickered from one blonde to the next in amusement. "Or will we actually be able to get some sleep tonight?"
Legolas was smiling at Elrohir then, his eyes twinkling in mirth. "Being that you forgot your mead, I will spare you my replying back to his comment. I would hate to get him started this late at night."
Haldir had spread the blanket he was given over his bed, and was pulling the laces from his tunic when he cut Legolas a look, then turned his fiery gaze on the dark haired one. "He only believes, or flatters himself, should I say, that he could get me started in the first place," he informed Elrohir.
"Oh, come-come." Legolas scoffed, leaning over his bed as he followed Haldir's example, spreading out his cover.
"Ask him then, why he is keeping this argument going, then."
"Ask Legolas why he believes we are arguing in the first place. It seems I have been speaking to you the whole time we've been in here."
"Ask Haldir why he keeps asking you to ask me things."
"Tell him it is because he keeps having you ask me things."
"Am not." Legolas laughed finally.
Haldir could only smirk. "Are too."
Silathil knew it was enough to warrant at least a little teasing from the two, for they'd shown great skills at "returning fire" from those that sent it, though what had happened was a bordering a bit on the ridiculous. He welcomed the joyful exchange of words, though - it was rare that he felt so trusting of others, especially when they weren't all that well known, but he wouldn't second-guess his feelings on the matter. Instead, he glanced toward Haldir, a dark brow arching in question.
"You mentioned that Legolas was afraid I would run out of time... but that I had more than what was thought. What did you mean by that?" He sat back upon his bed after posing the question, resting his form against the wall his bed was braced by.
He'd be lying if he ever said the two didn't baffle him sometimes, and there was still a good portion of their language he still did not know, among other things. Though he hoped that with time and patience on all their parts, he would at the very least grow more familiar with who they were, and in turn, who he was.
"And... if you'd like, we can shift around another beds, if you don't want to sleep so far away from everything."
Thank the Valar for Elrohir's question. Haldir sat down upon his bed, glad to see the previous subject had been dropped.
"Being that you are only 3/4's Elf, you have to make a choice upon what part of your blood you will honor," he explained. "Your father chose to honor the Elven blood, whereas your uncle chose the blood of man, and died as thus long ago. Your sister chose to honor the blood of man, and remain here in the Middle-earth, driven by her love of Elessar. Being that Legolas and I are Elven through and through, we have not that choice to make and can remain here until the last of our people sail west on the breeze. To remain any longer would be folly for us, for happiness revolves around our people, and we would only fade after our time. Were you to stay, you would die here as a man, and your soul, though once Elven, would go to live among the souls of men, instead of being welcomed into the Halls of Mandos."
He paused then to see if any of this was sinking in, or if he had any questions. Legolas had only gone quiet, and sat upon his bed bootless, in his leggings and loose grey shirt, listening. His tunic had been tossed carelessly into the floor.
Silathil, Elrohir... he simply sat there, letting the information settle within his mind. Lips were licked in a nervous gesture before glancing upward to the two blondes, his gaze bewildered but trying desperately to accept what had been said to him. The Halls of Mandos. That he did not understand, though he surmised that it was a place the elves went to upon death or a travel? He wasn't sure.
After a few moments, fingers slipped to pull his own tunic off, folding it soundlessly as he mused over all of the ideas newly posed to him. Finally, once he had placed the shirt upon his dresser beside the sword that lay there, he glanced upward to the two and spoke once again.
"The Halls of Mandos? What exactly is that...?" Though he'd guessed a basic idea of it, he knew only Haldir or Legolas could describe it properly, and it was a proper definition that he needed. "And you said my father... he's already traveled there? And my grandmother, as well?"
He sank back, unlacing the boots he wore, slipping them from his feet and setting them on the floor beside the head of his bed, unsure exactly what he ought to say any longer. The only hope he had of family, it seemed, lay within his brother and sister, and neither seemed a good idea to talk to just yet. It would be too emotional and confusing for all involved till he knew more - knew what to expect, how to act... knew more of his own people.
"My twin... you said he still remains, but how long will he dare to stay? And my sister is grieving for Aragorn..." Was no elf joyful in this world any longer? He sighed then, laying back upon the pillow and snuggling into the blanket that covered him. There was so much to take in!
Both blonde Elves were regarding their long-time friend in similar silence, only Haldir was still moving, folding his own tunic, and setting it aside on the bad beside him where his things were sat. "The Halls of Mandos are where we go if death does find us. From there we stay, or go to the Halls of Waiting to be reborn, if there is more purpose left for us," Legolas explained, looking up to Haldir who had approached and then sat in front of the light-haired prince expectantly.
Legolas reached out, and started unbraiding his hair for him as he goes on. "Your family, save your brother and sister, have sailed west over the sea to The Undying Lands, or Valinor where the Eldar reside. They live still, and there they will remain til the end of days. It is not permitted for them to come back to Middle-earth, as there is nothing left for us here. The Age of the Elves is over. The Age of Man begins." He took the comb being offered to him, and put it to use as Haldir commandeered over the telling.
"Your brother will only sail to Valinor with you," the warden explained. "He has not yet made the choice to live as a man, though I suspect he would had you not been found. He waits only for me to bring news back to him. Your sister has made her choice, and ages as men do, though her life will still be some what longer than a mans life time. If you were to make your choice now, and choose to remain as a man, you would begin to age from this point on, at a rate slightly slower then them. Though, you would be prone to illness, and death. As it stands, only fire, steel, and a broken heart can kill an elf – and usually it is the first two."
Elrohir's own hair did not hold any braids, but was done simply - the top half of his hair had been bound by a leather tie that was tugged at idly as he lay upon his pillow, feeling quite overwhelmed at all of the information. His brother would stay here... and die here, thinking Sila... no, Elrohir was dead. And in a sense, his brother would be right. It -felt- like a part of him had died, never to return.
He frowned then, pulling himself up to sit once more, staring at the two fair-haired elves before him, finally appearing to be getting along well enough, his own eyes laced with sadness. "It feels strange to know that someone out there loves me so much they would give up an immortal life just because they thought me dead... to hold such sway over someone I cannot remember..." He groaned, shaking his head in disbelief before elbows fell to rest upon his knees, holding his head up upon fingers that trembled with worry, a sense of loss, fear of the love he didn't even know he had.
"What will happen to me... to him if I can never remember? I do not want such sway over someone who holds me so dear..." And as he spoke, he cast a haunted grey gaze upon the two that, to him, appeared to be made of sunlight at that very moment... they nearly glowed! How he wished he could be like they were, to know all they were, and all they would be, and fear nothing but the pain of loss. It seemed such a wonderful thing to be cared so deeply for, and yet it brought tears to his own eyes to know he was loved by a brother that would so readily die for the lack of him.
Both were listening as he worked it all out, trying to better understand it all, and Legolas, having finished with Haldir's hair, handed the comb back to him as he scooted forward a little. At the same time, Haldir made to scoot back, returning the favor.
"It's a real bundle to take in, I know," Legolas said reassuringly, making a slight motion with his hand. "This has come up on you suddenly, and it almost seems unfair of us to put all this on you. But you have to understand something." He paused then, flinching as Haldir snags on a tangle. The Marchwarden shied away with a spiteful grin as Legolas thrust a sharp elbow back towards him in irritation, and then went on.
"Were you to come with us..."
"When the time is ready." Haldir interrupted, giving the blonde prince a look, though he wouldn't be able to see it.
"Yes, Haldir," Legolas sighed with a slight roll of his eyes. "When the time is ready...and you decide to come with us, there are elves that can heal you. I have no doubt in my mind that they could lift the fog from your mind, and give it all back to you." He smiled at him then, hopefully, as Haldir gave a nod behind him, obviously agreeing with that logic.
"The Eldar, if not your grandmother Galadriel, could no doubt do so." Haldir mused, looking to Elrohir, as he finished with the comb. He tied all of Legolas' hair back from his face, then stood and returned to his own bed. "But like I said, you have time to think on this. Do not feel so rushed yet. Enjoy all that remains, and let yourself get used to the idea."
Silathil gave a slight nod then, fingers tugging idly upon his own dark strands as he processed what was told to him. Again, he silently gave word of thanks to them both for their kindness - it was an immense help through the entire ordeal. Minutes later, he cast a weary smile to each, hands reaching for the blanket about his lower half to pull closer against him.
"It isn't that I feel rushed... just beyond overwhelmed. So much has been told... shared... and I feel this is only the beginning of a long journey. There is much more we all need to know, and the pieces of this puzzle are elusive and shadowed, making me wonder if we'll ever figure out all that happened. Still, I'm glad that you did find me, for all of your searching. If you had not, I would never have known I had a choice, and my last days within this world would have been confusing at the very least. But…I think if we do not get some rest, tomorrow will be a trying day, indeed!" he managed to utter, lips forming a less troubled smile.
Perhaps they would join him for an afternoon ride? Who knew! But he did know that life would be much more interesting now that they had found him. Of that, he was certain.
Legolas reached up, running his hand over his pulled back hair carefully to see if the plait was straight, even though he was relatively sure it would be. Haldir wasn't fond of dealing with his own hair, but he was a capable stylist if need be. "In time, everything that has happened will seem obsolete...just a period of darkness in a huge world of light," he reassured Elrohir.
"You're memory will return, and all that will become will be fair and good. If you go with us, we will be where no darkness can fall." Haldir was already under his blankets, on his side looking from where he lay out the window over Elrohir's dresser and at the stars he could see. The Evening Star was visible from this point, and it brought gladness to his heart. At Legolas' words however, he let his eyes settle first on him, and then their host, as he curled an arm under his head. His other arm was raised slightly as he ran those fingers through his hair absently.
"Yes. The fog will lift...however, unless it happens with in the next 5 minutes...I agree that we should take our rest now." Legolas nodded, climbing into his bed and laying back with a content smile, before he was suddenly sitting up again and popping his shirt off over his head. Haldir sighed, shaking his head as the fair Prince froze and ran a hand over his hair again, trying to straighten the hair he'd mussed up.
"For the past three nights you've done the same thing," the Marchwarden chastised him before smiling and pulling his hand out of his own hair long enough to bat the shirt that flew at him, away into the floor.
"I don't recall asking for your opinion." Legolas informed him, laying back again as he cut his companion a look.
"I don't recall ever needing to be asked before I have ever given one," Haldir retaliated.
"Maybe it is a courtesy you should learn."
"Maybe I have learned it, and don't want to give you that courtesy."
Legolas' jaw clenched slightly before he started to laugh in mirth, pulling the tie from his hair and throwing it at Haldir as well.
"Go to sleep."
"You go to sleep," Haldir chuckled from under the blanket he'd pulled over his head to avoid the tie. Legolas looked over to Elrohir and offered him a wink.
"Good night, Silathil," he bid kindly.
"Good night, both of you..." And so Silathil would fall asleep with soft laughter on his lips, watching the two until blackness finally overtook him.
Author's Note: Neeeeeeeed a Haldir and possibly a Legolas. Please?
Second Note: Review! please? It helps keep me editing!