Author's Note: Hi there. I know. GASP! SHOCK!! Three updates, nearly back-to-back. But then, you two of you guys were so quick to actually review that I got in a VERY good mood. Not only that, but the feature that this site provides told me just how many hits my fic was getting, and apparently from all around the world! The UK, Germany, Indonesia…. I'm floored. THANK YOU. I may not get as many hits as the big LotR fic writers, but it means a lot to me. You've no idea how depressing it can be to work for hours every day editing and fixing up a chapter, only to get one or two reviews for the chapter even after it's been up for weeks on end. To know that people are at least reading the fic to the last chapter posted, even if they aren't reviewing… Not only that, but I got an unexpected flurry of story-alerts, too!
-sniffle- You guys are enough to make an author cry. Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And please, do review if you have the time. Whether you liked it or hated it, it's still wonderful to get them. Either I get praise (always good for the ego), or I learn what might need to be changed in the future, or I simply learn what my readers are passionate about, like in Chapter 13's reviews.
Again, I'd like to ask for someone to help me write Haldir. Or point me in the direction of someone who can do so. I worked out with a friend of mine – I've got about ¾'s of this fic actually written (about 60 percent is uploaded at this point, and it looks like there will be 4 more chapters following this one, giving me 19 total, until I run out of pre-written chapters), and only ¼ needs to actually BE written. While I might be able to do it on my own, I really don't want to mess things up with Haldir. Having help writing him would be greatly appreciated.
And now, Chapter 15!)
Up the stairs Haldir went, to go wake the prince up if he needed to be awoken. One look at the blonde huddled in the bed told him he did indeed need to be woken up. Carefully he sat himself on the side of the bed, reaching out to brush back the sunlit hair. Vaguely he could see the blue shift in his mostly-open eyes to look at him, even though he knew the elf wasn't fully calculating yet what he was seeing. "Legolas, wake up..." He whispered, leaning down to press his lips to the sleep-warm cheek gently. He didn't want to give him a start. He knew how jumpy the archer was when he slept – likely thanks to his own patrols of the Greenwood the Great when the shadow had claimed it, and would more often than not jump to life. Of course, such an action would likely knock him away in defense –and Haldir wasn't looking forward to taking yet a third tumble from the bed.
Fortunately, that didn't happen today.
"Hmm...?" Legolas murmured as he tried to turn over, but Haldir held him still, smiling slightly at his stubbornness.
"Wake up, Prince. Come along. We have a job to do." He framed the royal's face and lightly tapped one of his cheeks, then stroked it with his thumb. The other elf frowned and furrowed his brow in irritation, giving a shake of his head. And then there he was, peering up at Haldir with full alertness, and not exactly happy about it.
Haldir grinned, dipping his head slightly to better look at the fresh-roused elf. "The river is rising. Do you hear the water? It's going to flood. We have to tell the village," he informed Legolas, taking him by the shoulders and pulling him up to sit. Legolas leaned his head against his chest for a minute, and Haldir allowed him, curling an arm around him.
"Come," he encouraged, "we have to get our things together, and tell the people."
Legolas nodded and closed his eyes, trying to hear the water. "I can hear your heart talking," he finally whispered to him.
"What does it say?" Haldir inquired, pressing his lips to his hair as he looked to the bed behind him.
"I want you to tell me," Legolas admitted, his fingers curling in the ends of Haldir's hair. Haldir closed his eyes for a minute before he guided Legolas back to look at his face, framing it.
"Later," he promised softly, kissing each cheek. "We have to go do this first. Elrohir has asked it of us."
Legolas nodded and let Haldir go to stand a moment before he rose as well, getting dressed while the other gathered their things up to take with them.
"Are you ready?" Haldir asked when they were both done. Legolas nodded and together they walked down the stairs and out to tell the people the grim news. To talk sense into the non-believers. Haldir welcomed his company though, and didn't seem to mind at all that he tagged along with him. Legolas had ended up going into the house of the girl that was taken with him, for her father was leaning towards staying to see for himself if the flood came or not. After a lengthy story about what the flood would look like, and what it already sounded like to him, and what it could and likely WOULD do, the woman of the house panicked, thrust a 2 year old into his arms and ran to pack.
Legolas was a little more than flustered, and looked to the Legolas-Smitten Girl to take the baby from him, but she was also busy trying to stuff clothes in her bag, which she wasn't watching, and instead was staring at him as she stuffed her clothes BESIDE her bag. Legolas bounced the baby slightly as it wailed in his ear, patting it's back as he frowned, not at all happy with this scenario. Fortunately for him, Haldir saw them through the door as he and Mr. Tillman were walking by and came in to his rescue.
"Girl, you do realize that your clothes aren't in your bag, don't you?" the Warden asked her as he took the baby from Legolas, preparing to hand it to her when the baby hushed. The girl's eyes went wide as Haldir entered and then spoke to her, for she apparently hadn't realized he was a tall as he was.
"Child, take the baby from this poor elf so we can go warn the Wickshaws. God knows those people will be harder than a mule to budge. I won't be s'prised if we're still there when the water comes down the mountain," Mr. Tillman announced a moment later, taking the baby from Haldir and thrusting it into the girl's arms, willing or not.
Legolas looked at Haldir with a curious and amused look on his face, and Haldir just smiled, motioning to the door with his head to indicate they should exit now. And exit they did.
"Who is that?" Legolas chuckled as they waited below the porch for Mr. Tillman to come out so they could head to the last house.
"Mr. Tillman." Haldir answerd, chuckling as well. "I met him this morning. He's the husband to the town story teller. He thinks she's a bit long winded."
Legolas laughed. "He's not so short winded either is he?" he asked in jest.
Haldir shook his head. "No, he's not, but you know how old men like to talk," Haldir explained.
Legolas nodded, smiling warmly at him. "You're fond of him," he observed.
Haldir nodded considerately. "He's pleasant."
They were joined by Mr. Tillman a moment later. "That girl seems to be mighty taken with you my boy," he told Legolas, patting him hard on the back with one hand as he mopped at his forehead with a handkerchief in the other. "That whole family has a board loose if you ask me. Gossips, the lot of them. But, I'm here to tell you they ain't nuthin' compared to the Wickshaws. I hope you all are prepared for a fight."
Legolas and Haldir passed looks. That didn't sound like it was going to be pleasant. And boy, it wasn't. By the Valar, the Wickshaws were a pill and a half to get to even come to the door, much less to convince that their lives were in danger unless they packed all their belongings, and went with the rest of the village up to higher ground. For what seemed like an hour, the two elves and old man battled with the Wickshaws to get them to come to their senses.
Mr. Tillman, for his part, lost his temper a good three or four times before Haldir finally gave into his own. "You couldn't drag me outta here kicking and screaming!" Mrs. Wickshaw was screeching to Mr. Tillman. "And your pretty foo-foo Elves aren't going to convince me to do squat! For 50 years I've lived in this house, and I ain't seen no flood yet! And by God I've seen a lot of rain." Pretty Foo-Foo--!? Pretty Foo-Foo Elves!!
"Fine, then." Haldir hissed, flinging the door open to leave - Mr. Tillman right behind him and just as ready to leave them there as him. Legolas was quick to squirm out the door first. "Stay here and drown. If you're lucky enough for so pleasant a death. I can tell you now there are Orcs in the woods waiting for the village to leave so they can pillage the houses. And I assure you the village is leaving whether you go or not. So, flood or no flood, the Orcs will come, and they will not hesitate to eat you for their dinner tonight." With that he was out the door, tight lipped and jaw clenched, fists balled in his fury. Close behind him came Mr. Tillman, having one hell of a hearty laugh at seemingly everyone's expense.
"That woman never turned so white, I'll tell you! I think you just convinced them to leave whether you meant to or not." He laughed, slapping Haldir's back as they headed back towards the stable. It seemed the old man was fond of doing that.
In the meantime, Elrohir was busy hooking bridals, saddles – so they might be spared the flood, if anything, and the hitching gear onto each horse. Despite his obvious nervousness, he sang to them softly... even if he couldn't be calm, at least his horses would be. Five of the gentle creatures were harnessed and ready by the time the first family came to claim one for their belongings. Elrohir warned the family, the Stowbacks, that they would have to share their cart with their neighbors, for there wasn't enough horses for each family to take one, and with a nod, they led Clover off, the horse holding his head up proudly as he realized his importance. The raven haired elf had to laugh, even if only for a moment, then set to work saddling Thunder.
Within an hour the rest of the horses were ready to go, and so he scampered back upstairs to get his own gear on. His weapons. Orcs would know of the flood - they always did - and each time they'd come to attack when the villagers were the most vulnerable. Of course, each time Silathil had defended with the men of the village. He had no doubt that with the clouded sky-cover the orcs would once again try their hand at the sword and bow skills of the elf. Nimble fingers wove the leather straps into their buckles across his chest, securing his quiver onto his back before his sword belt was banded to his waist.
Once he was secure, he plucked up his own sack of clothing and trampled downstairs once more. The horses' gear was gone now, save for the brushes and combs, leather oil and metal polish, all which were tossed into another bag to carry with him. He hitched Thunder up to the family's cart, knowing that Haldir would welcome that particular horse nearby, and placed the two small bags into the wooden contraption, then waited for his family to bring their things to the stables where the midnight-furred horse and dark haired elf stood, very aware of each second that ticked by. Time was running out.
The water was traveling fast enough for even Silathil to hear now. It gave them two... maybe three hours at most to get their tail-ends up to higher ground. Luckily, all the horses but Thunder had been passed around to those families that needed them, and his own family was busy hauling their belongings from the house to the stables, packing the cart as best they could.
Pots, pans, clothing - all of it was loaded, leaving just enough room for one other family's things, if needed. Lorianna lifted both Daine and Aram onto the back of Thunder, and then gave Elrohir a light nod of thanks before setting out next door to load another family's things. The rain had finally come to a full stop by then, and the sun was working it's way through the grey coating across the sky... it was hard to believe that anyone was in danger, unless they could hear the rushing water as the three elves could. When Legolas, Haldir and Mr. Tillman returned, the stables were empty of fairly everything, save for Haldir's and Legolas' weapons which waited for them upstairs.
Legolas was the first to reach the stable, his lips pressed tight together to keep from laughing at Haldir's expense, the amusement very apparent in his eyes. Next to enter was Haldir, sans Mr. Tillman who'd gone back to his house to gather his wife and his dog. But Haldir was not so full of mirth and when he entered it was as though a storm had blown through the front doors of the stable. Just to add to everything (and to Legolas' ever growing amusement), a gust of wind picked up, blowing Haldir's hair about his angry stony face, and his cloak billowing about his legs.
Elrohir greeted them warmly, enough so that any human wouldn't be able to discern his unease, but he knew he couldn't fool his elven friends. Well, Haldir... it looks like you'll get your wish to sleep in the trees tonight... The joke came without speaking, and the sorrow that laced his thoughts could not be hidden. Everyone's packed, it seems... or packing. I suppose all we can do is wait now... till everyone is ready to leave. He sighed then, glancing around at the empty place, shaking his head in disbelief. "I can't believe this will all be gone soon. It's been nearly a century since the last flood..."
Haldir had been pointing back towards where they'd come, but said nothing as Elrohir's voice played in his head. I should like to sleep in the trees I imagine, though I doubt it will be sleep we will get. I can hear Orcs gathering in the trees beyond. He admitted silently even as he wandered to a post and pressed his forehead to the cool wood to calm down. His eyes closed and he released a controlled sigh. He wasn't about to go off without good reason. He'd already lost his temper once.
Legolas looked at Elrohir and smiled, laughing silently - unable to help it. Haldir met the Wickshaws. He explained in silence. They were a pleasant people, needless to say. Haldir completely lost his temper when Mrs. Wickshaw called us 'Mr. Tillman's pretty foo-foo elves'. Legolas laughed out right then. They decided to come though, I think, when Haldir told them that they would become orc food later.
"They were horrible." Haldir hissed from where he still stood, his back to them. "If they do come, I hope they stay far away from me."
"The orcs come every time... they thrive off disasters, it seems... but since I've been here, they haven't gotten a single person... and I plan to stick to that record." His eyes widened at Legolas' disclosure about the Wickshaws, gaping at the Marchwarden, then to the fair prince. "You mean... you ran into the Wickshaws and lived? That family has always has a stick lodged up their rear, even when I first came here. The newest "Mr. Wickshaw" doesn't even bother joining our hunting groups... he thinks that he can handle anything that comes his way without any help. It's foolish."
A deep breath was taken in and released, calming himself as much as he could in the short time provided. "We can try to sand bag the town... but I doubt it would do much good. When the waters get high enough, it jumps the river to our north and barrels down this way like something possessed... I can show you later, if there's still time. I watched it last time it happened. But no one outside of my own family listened to me, and no one bothered to build a higher bank along that stretch of land... it's a mile long where it can and will jump over, and the village lies at the center of a perfect, valley-d path till it can re-join the river it parted from." Explaining the occurrence actually made him feel better. Though he couldn't prevent it from happening now, being able to understand it, and in turn help others he knew would listen to him understand it made his heart feel that much lighter.
A few steps were taken toward the two, who were only a few feet away from each other, and first kissed Haldir's cheek, then moved to press an identical affection upon Legolas'. "Thank you... both of you. Not just for helping with the villagers... with everything you've done already, but for showing me patience and understanding that's considerably lacking in most in this area..." He gave a weakened smile then, before gesturing upstairs.
"I think there still might be some of your things up there... and we can carry the pillows and blankets with us... they'll come in handy, especially for the children who aren't used to "camping out"."
Haldir stood straight after a moment - just in time to get a kiss pressed to his cheek - and he forced a smile, finally seeming to calm down completely. "There's no need to thank us," Haldir assured him. "It's the least we can do. You care about these people, and we care about you. To help you is second nature."
Legolas nodded in agreement, accepting his kiss with a pretty grin. "And though we may not always come across as patient, we are," Legolas assured him. "Well..." He cut a playful look towards Haldir. "In most cases that is."
Haldir had been glancing up the stairs when Elrohir pointed that way, but as Legolas said that, he had a feeling that the statement was pointed at him. With it came a genuine smile of defeat and a chuckle, with a sigh of relief not far past them both. "Yes. That woman..." Haldir started before clenching his jaw and his fists again, closing his eyes. "She was a lovely...lovely woman," he hissed, his voice strained. He would not stoop to her level and say something colorful.
Legolas laughed and raises a hand to caress back a lock of Haldir's hair. "Come, you two. Let us gather the rest of our things and the blankets for the children." He encouraged, if only to keep Haldir's mind off Mrs. Wickshaw. Quick. We have to give Haldir a job, or he'll be in this great mood all day. Legolas teased Elrohir silently, pausing as Haldir took his wrist - which was still raised - and pressed a kiss to the underside of it. "Er... sand bags. It never hurts to try anything..." He said aloud. "If you want to try them, we will help."
Elrohir had to smile. Legolas knew Haldir more than the Marchwarden probably realized, which was likely also why Legolas was able to irk him so much. I think he'll be quite busy once we start evacuating. And there will be orcs... they ambush shortly after we head out.
"I don't think the sandbags will help in this case... you'll see why once we start heading up. But... Haldir, do you think you could keep the children in the center of the group that heads out? They can't fight very well, and if an orc comes near them, I'd hate to think of the outcome." It was something for the Marchwarden to do, and it was certainly something he was good at.
Protecting.
After all, it had been his main job within the woods of Lothlórien. But they started up the stairs, and Elrohir followed the two silently, smiling at the affection that was exchanged. Legolas would learn soon enough of Haldir's heart if he hadn't already begun to believe Elrohir's words. "The storage room might have some extra arrows - I never really looked to see what was stashed there recently... The children bring things from other families, things they find in the woods... things that their father makes. You might find some items of use in there." Along with piles of blankets, pillows, small, one-child-sized wagons... all sorts of things.
But as soon as they arrived upstairs, he moved to the beds, plucking up pillows and stuffing them into a pile upon one of the blankets, then tied the corners of the blanket together to create a makeshift sack. One down. Who knew how many more to go. Haldir - of all of us, you know best how to protect an area We'll need those skills once we set out... the orcs attack quickly and without mercy the minute we're away from safety. He thought it best to talk to him, to distract him from previous events and focus on both friendly voices and what they would do in the near future. At least he'd have a goal instead of simply fuming through the day. And putting him near the children, at least for a little while, would give him a stronger sense of purpose and force him to keep his spirits up a little, so he wouldn't frighten the youngsters.
Haldir busied himself nosing through the storage room, while Legolas stood near one of the bed's and pulled his knives from their sheaths to make sure they were good and sharp. After a quick inspection, he came to the conclusion that they were as sharp as they would get, and would likely even cut hair with only a little pressure. Giving the knives a few twirls, he deposited them back into their proper places and looked to see what the other two were doing.
Haldir did indeed find several arrows in the storage room, and was measuring them to see if they were warped or not. The few that were he set aside to find some use with them. If nothing else, they could sharpen the point, and shove them in Orc eye sockets. Legolas seemed to have an affinity for doing that. He smiled slightly as he thought about it, only to be distracted as comments were made of a likely job for him. "I would protect the children with my life. I may not be fond of being around them, but I have no fear that they will listen to me, and I would be pained to see any harm done to them," he responded to Elrohir sincerely before looking to Legolas, and offering him a handful of arrows. "Sharpen these with your stone, Legolas. They can be used somehow I'm sure." He sighed. "But don't try to shoot them, they're warped. Mirothil learned the hard way that a warped arrow can mean the difference between life or death." I will watch over the village as though I were watching my home, Elrohir. He added silently as Legolas took the arrows offered to him, and sat down to do his task.
As soon as Haldir had backed away from the storage room, he slipped past the blonde to rummage for more pillows and blankets, tossing them onto the floor in the middle of the room, only to set himself on his knees in the midst of them, creating more of those pseudo-sacks he'd created with the first set of pillows and blankets. He finished quickly, creating about six sacks of pillows and one sack stuffed with blankets. A moment later he had risen to his feet and dusted his clothing off. He was sure the rest of the village would be ready by now, and just as sure that Legolas had finished with sharpening the warped arrows. A glance was given to each, then back out to the now-sunny day.
Well, at least that meant few orcs – if any- till night fall. But it also meant that Haldir would have little to do till then, save to scout ahead. He sighed and turned back to face his friends, offering a light smile. Though it was forced, he meant it more than ever. "We might end up splitting up for a bit... especially after nightfall. I... ... Please keep yourselves safe."
For all of the eloquence he'd been taught in his past, and even recently, he could not find the words to say anything else but the careful warning. What would he do if one of them was injured? Or worse? He dreaded to think of it. Though they were elves, the dangers in the forest could still prove great if one was caught off guard or even simply tricked.
Along with the arrows, Haldir found a small axe, a hefty amount of rope, a headless doll body, and a bodiless doll head. Well, who did that belong to? Sticking the small broken toy in his pocket, he looped the rope over his arm, and held the axe with his right hand, as Legolas stood near to them, playing like he was thrusting arrows into orc eye sockets, grunting all the while. Haldir watched him for a minute, before smiling a slightly amused smile to Elrohir and arched a brow. He seems a little too anxious doesn't he? He teased silently, trying to lighten the mood just a little bit. But then Elrohir voiced his meaningful warning.
"I assure you, I will be as careful as I can be," Haldir assured him as he caught Legolas' wrist in a tight grip without looking when an arrow swung a little too close to his body. Legolas smiled, obviously having been expecting it. Haldir's reflexes amazed even him sometimes. Haldir shifted his fingers slightly and pressed his thumb firmly to the center underside of the Princes wrist, making him whimper, and drop the arrow with a clatter to the floor. "Don't play Legolas, I'm in no mood for it." He warned with a sigh, then pressed a kiss to the point he'd squeezed before releasing him. Legolas frowned slightly and rubbed his wrist.
"I'll be careful as well, and I'll try my best to not become distracted with worry for the two of you," he admitted, ceasing his play and setting the rest of his arrows aside for the time being. "Promise me I'll see you both in the light of day tomorrow," the fair prince pleads of them He looked to Elrohir, and moving toward him, caught him in a hug. "Promise me I'll find you safe."
After a moment of stunned stillness, Elrohir melted into the hug, kissing the prince's cheek tenderly as he did so. "No orc shall fell me, Legolas. I promise you. I shall be alive and at your side at daybreak tomorrow." It was a promise he wasn't completely sure he could keep, but he would do everything he possibly could to do so. It was getting through the night - when they were the hunted instead of the hunters - that would be the problem, but he felt more than safe enough knowing that two gilded elves were fighting with him, even if they were not at his side the entire time.
"Will I be blessed with the same promises? From both of you?" Elrohir's voice quivered slightly, his uncertainty and the sorrow that doubt brought blatantly apparent as he spoke. He would miss them sorely, should orcs get hold of either of them. "Promise me that I will see you both, alive and safe tomorrow morning? I fear what my heart would do if I lost either of you now..." Now that he'd found them? Or they found him, was more like it. They were each a part of him, though, and a large part at that.
"I will be here tomorrow," Legolas vowed, framing Elrohir's face and looking at him sincerely before kissing his lips gently with closed eyes. "And so will Haldir. He has to protect the children you know," he whispered, pressing his forehead to his lightly. After a moment he turned to face the Marchwarden, who'd moved to the window and was looking out quietly. "Haldir? Won't you?"
Haldir gave a curt nod of his head and turned to look at them again, his arms folded over his chest. The little axe hung from his belt then, safely at his side. "I'll try my best. I like to think it will take more than a band of Orcs to take me out."
Legolas furrowed his brows slightly, not quite content with that answer, and then shook his head. "You have to be here...You said 'later' this morning. I expect 'later' to come." He took a step toward Haldir, but stopped himself a moment later. He looked down to his boots, and then to the arrows he'd sat aside.
"Later will come," Haldir swore to Legolas after watching the archer hold himself back. "I assure you of that."
Legolas looked back up towards him and then turned to Elrohir, feeling a strange need to hug something, and hug him he did, again burying his face in the dark of the elf's hair. He was so comfortable. So familiar, and so like home. He hated to have to let go. Of either of them.
This time, Elrohir was ready for the hug. It was a slower process than what he'd like, but he was learning how to read each elf before him, bit by bit. Arms wrapped about the slender elf, fingers twining into his golden strands, a kiss falling upon the top of his head as he held the blond, gazing at Haldir past the sweet being in his arms. They both meant too much to him to ever lose now.
He needs you, Haldir... We both need you. His gaze softened considerably, though he didn't let it stray from the silvery-blond tressed Marchwarden, holding Legolas as if he were both porcelain and his thread of life... gently and tightly all at once. And to Legolas, he sent only the fondest of thoughts, images of the sunshine, of kisses shared beneath starlit skies, of waterfalls and all of the things they could do once this threat was over and their lives could return to normal.
We'll come out of this, sweet. As Haldir said, I should hope that a band of orcs would not be enough to take any one of us down. The lingering doubt? One band had already taken him down, though he had to admit, it had not been your average, small band of orcs but half an army of the disgusting creatures. A hand reached out, lifting from Legolas' back to entreat the Marchwarden into a hug, though he wasn't sure whether or not his offer would be taken. Haldir seemed reluctant to get close to anyone right now, perhaps distancing himself in case something did happen? To himself or to either Legolas or Elrohir?
Come... we only have a minute or two to spare... if we do go into battle tonight, let us have some fond memories to warm our hearts through the thick of battle. For I'll be fighting for you as much as the villagers, Haldir o Lothlórien. For you, and for Legolas.
Haldir looked to Elrohir and Legolas, watching them for a moment as Elrohir offered an arm to him. Legolas turned his head a little to look at him, still neatly tucked under Elrohir's chin, and bent at an odd angle. He won't come to us, he said silently, regretfully. He grows cold when he knows battle is near. Cold and distant, and quiet. He leaned away from Elrohir and looked at the once-missing twin, his arms still wrapped slightly around him. Then one arm dropped while the other rose to caress back a lock of dark hair.
Haldir looked down and away, a little regretful that he couldn't make his legs move. Another down side to his impenetrable will. I can not, meleth-nín. He whispered silently to Elrohir. I can not have that in my mind distracting me. If I thought about it in battle I may pause to linger on the memory. And with the precious cargo I am protecting, I shudder to think what the consequences of that action would be. Certainly Haldir didn't give himself enough credit. He would never be so careless as that. Haldir, sometimes, was too paranoid for his own good.
At least, that's what Legolas thought. Speaking of Legolas, he looked upon the Marchwarden with a slight irritation. There is a flood coming, and the danger of orcs, and he is asking you for a hug, and you just stand there like a troll. Fathomless!
Haldir's eyes shot to Legolas, his brow furrowing in a slight sneer. "A troll?" he asked incredulously, drawing wide eyes from Elrohir, who wondered just what Legolas had said to the other.
"Aye. A Troll," Legolas confirmed, tone haughty. Then with a slight stretch of a long arm, he snatched Haldir by the front of his tunic and pulled him towards them. Haldir allowed himself to be yanked with a defeated sigh, closing his eyes as Legolas buried his face in the winter of his silvern hair, leaving the other half of him open for Elrohir. Legolas smiled in triumph while Elrohir happily took the half-step needed to plunge against the warm chest – thankful for the slender prince's nerve and heart.
The raven-haired elf's lips feathered over the Marchwarden's throat for a moment or two, clinging till the fear he felt subsided enough to compose himself, then relaxed his grip and simply stood there, hugging each with one loose arm. They stayed that way for a minute, maybe even two, before he drew back just a few inches and took in a deep breath. "I plan on finding a nice, large tree branch to share with you both come tomorrow's sunrise, for we will sleep when we know the others are safe."
And with a slight pang of his heart, he moved forward to first kiss Legolas, tenderly... gently... enjoying the warmth that rushed through him as the prince returned the gesture sweetly, then as his mouth left the royal's, it descended upon Haldir's, claiming the Marchwarden's lips with a desperateness that only nearing battle could induce. Whether he remembered his life or not, and regardless of their promises against doing so, he knew full well that one of them might die that night, and Elrohir refused to die without having truly kissed Haldir. He knew, somehow, that he'd loved the Warden deeply in his past, though it would take some time for that emotion to finally break through the barrier of forgetfulness that plagued him. And that love deserved some token in times such as these.
Before Haldir could recover from the shock and surprise of the kiss, however, Elrohir drew back and gently stepped away, plucking up sacks of pillows and blankets, managing to cling three within one hand, four in the other (I think there was seven..) without too much of a strain. He looked back, smiling as he caught Legolas still clinging to Haldir, his head resting on the taller elf's shoulder.
"Let's get these people to high ground..." And he turned toward the stairs, disappearing silently down the narrow passage and into the stables, giving the pair a little time to themselves.
Legolas wanted to speak while he still rested against Haldir. To just spill the beans and get it over with. But he couldn't. It wasn't time. When it was time, the words would come. When it was time, there would be no hesitation. He reluctantly stepped away a moment after Elrohir disappeared and looked up to Haldir with a slight smile, picking up his discarded arrows. "What are you going to do with that little doll in your pocket?" he asked, making a motion to the lump in his tunic as they followed Elrohir down the steps.
Haldir lifted a hand to place it over the doll's form gently, looking down towards it as though he'd forgotten it's presence there. "I am going to keep it here, to remember what I am fighting for." He patted the pocket and dropped his hand. Both turned their heads to see the Wickshaws trudging towards the gathered group, each with a discontent scowl on their faces.
Haldir sneered and looked away from them as Legolas' laughter twinkled over them all. "They look perfectly happy to be coming along." he commented in merry sarcasm. "But observe – our Imladris Lord is taking charge, much like his father." Haldir did obey that particular command, and his heart gave a slight lurch to witness the Peredhil in his element.
Elrohir was shortly ahead of the pair, and though he was quite close to barking orders, his voice was as kind as it was demanding, and no one - not even the Wickshaws - dared defy it. He was a Lord, even if he never learned of it, and he had to act like one when the time came. Word was given not to stray from the safety of the group - carts and horses to the outside, children on the inside, wives skirting the little ones.
Elrohir would take the front, though he knew the position was dangerous once night came, and a call to Legolas was made to cover the back... another precarious place. Haldir would skirt the sides, and his entire duty was to protect the children. He made it clear that Haldir would have to trust that each man and woman could handle themselves, for if attacked, the Marchwarden would concentrate only on taking out any who dared near the youngsters. He and Legolas, when they reached the place the village would camp at, would form teams to scout the area and pick off approaching orcs. The men left at the camp would defend against any that managed to slip past the hunting parties, and the raven haired prince explained that it was simply easier to hunt that to be hunted.
It was safer, too.
With that, he gave the gesture to depart, and the horses began to move even before the men, eager to listen to their handler. In fact, Sundancer - who had been assigned to the Wickshaws - butted the father of that family in the back to get him moving, for even she could sense the reluctance in him to trust her handler and his friends.
Haldir soon found himself amongst a sea of little faces, all gathered against his legs, all looking up at him, all wide eyed, and all them asking questions. One little girl with swirling red hair and impossibly huge, light brown eyes had fashioned her hand in his, and at the moment seemed to content to keep it there. Whether he was willing to allow it or not. Impressed at the child's gall, he made no protest, and only the slight tightening of his jaw gave evidence to how uncomfortable he was to have her there.
"What's that?" Point.
"It's rope."
"Oh... What's that?" Tug.
"It's a hatchet."
"Oh...what's that?" Poke.
"It's a knife."
"Oh...Can I play wif it?"
"Do you desire to cut off your fingers?"
"No."
"Then no."
Legolas, for his part, had the pleasure of keeping Sundancer and the Wickshaws company, for they seemed to be content to take the back of the migration. Count it up to their reluctance of being there in the first place. Fortunately, to the Wickshaws further discontent and Legolas' delight, Mr. Tillman made his way back there to walk with him for a spell.
"That silver friend of yours seems to have his hands full with the children," he told Legolas. "He's got all 6 of the Windelwyn children asking him questions. That would be that lot with the red hair. Can't miss um."
Legolas chuckled, barely able to see the cloud of red curls near Haldir at different heights. "Well, at least he won't grow bored... he gets dreadful when he's bored," he teased.
After about 400 questions, Haldir pulled himself away from the little ones for the time being and skirted the sides more, all the while keeping one eye on them, just in case. By the Valar...What a crowd they were turning out to be.
The trek was mostly uneventful for Elrohir, save for the myriad of questions the more trusting men of the town asked. Were there that many orcs? What had happened the last time the village flooded? Did it take that long to rebuild? What about food? Who exactly were the two blond elves with him? Was Legolas really royalty, like the rumors said? And Haldir was from the Golden Wood, where the elf-witch once lived? Elrohir answered every question as patiently as possible, and once they finally arrived at the stretch of flat, grassy land that he knew to be ground high enough to avoid the waters, he ordered the men to find wood long enough to use as boards, and to start making a camp.
There was canvas at the bottom of every cart, which could easily be used to give cover, though they would have to live in about five large tents if they wanted to keep warm. The elf-lordling pitched in, using his family's carpentry tools to sheer off bark from the some areas of the logs found (surprisingly not ruined by the rain!) and up went the tents in a matter of an hour or two, canvass stretched firmly between wood and ground. The canvas was also laid upon the ground within each tent to keep the blankets and pillows from getting wet, as the ground hadn't dried completely from it's soaking, and the children were quickly herded into centermost tent unless parents insisted on keeping them with them, as the Wickshaws did.
Once the children and women were settled, a hunting party was sent out to collect fruits and meat while the sun still shone, and Elrohir searched his friends out once again, eyes more alert than they'd been the last they'd seen him up close. It was a rare moment they had, when all three could be together for a minute or two, though not alone. Haldir was kneeling near the children's tent and inspecting grass, while Legolas was the only one standing close.
"Legolas... watch the men. Pick those you think will serve as good hunting parties for orc tonight. We'll hunt in packs of three: three with me, three with you, and three on guard here... the rest can get some sleep, and we'll switch the men around during the night. Haldir, watch them as well - learn their weaknesses and strengths so you can command those with you to the best of your ability. I'll be doing the same. It's going to be a long night, I fear... but we'll make it." A grin was cast to them, before his gaze drifted over those he'd considered to be his home and his life. They were bustling around, women heating water in pots, getting things ready for a pot-luck dinner, children playing games with the few toys allowed to them... They were surviving, and it warmed Elrohir's heart. "If you want, before the sun sets, head East... you'll see the Ringlo, and probably see it already jumped its banks by now... if not, soon. It's a scary sight, but beautiful in its fury, despite the tragedy it causes."
Haldir gave a slight nod of his head. His face was contemplative, and at mention of seeing the river, he perked a little, seeming to take this into consideration. Legolas, of course, had to voice his opinion on the matter. "Oh, I would like to see it if at all possible," he spoke hopefully. One thing he'd had yet to see was a mad rushing river come spilling from the mountains. It seemed like something he'd hate to miss before leaving this Middle-earth for good.
Haldir stood up and gave a slight toss of his head to shake back the long silver strands of his hair before, placing a hand on Elrohir's shoulder. "We could not go all at once could we?" he asks in dismay, figuring that one or two of them would have to stay here. He too wanted to see it, though, it was not as important to him, as it was to the blonde prince. Legolas looked to Haldir and then to Elrohir, still hopeful that he would be able to go.
But then, Haldir was distracted by a tugging at his tunic, and upon looking down he was greeted with the sight of the little red haired girl looking back up at him. She had yet to open her mouth and say one thing to him.
"Yes?" he asked, eyebrows rising curiously.
"Laquin says he saw a big dog in the woods on the way here," she confided in him, raising a finger to press it to her bottom lip. "He says that it had big teeth like a monster. Like this." She bared her teeth, bringing an unintentional chuckle from the Marchwarden as she went the extra step to curl her upper lip under, trying to make it more vicious.
"Oh, sweet child," Haldir chuckled, kneeling down and tucking some of her hair back. "Don't make a face like that. You're much to pretty for that," he complimented her before laughing as she did it again.
Legolas looked to Elrohir, furrowing his brows, seeming to forget the river for a moment. A big dog? With monstrous teeth? He HOPED that the boy was only kidding.
Elrohir was about to smile, though it would have been bittersweet, but his eyes grew in mild alarm at the child's description, and though he'd never seen one after the accident with the Orcs, the word came to his mind as if second nature, shared across that mental speech with Legolas and Haldir.
Wargs…
Dun Dun DUNNNNNN. Cliffie! I know, I know. But I've been good to you guys and haven't really given you too many REAL cliffhangers before. Mainly because I knew I wasn't going to be updating too frequently. And while I don't know how frequently I'll be able to update… I'm HOPING it won't be months in coming this time around. -sheepish grin- Um... reviews wouldn't hurt the updating process any...