"Haldir? Haldir…? Haldir!"

"Hm? Forgive me, Elladan, my mind was elsewhere."

Elladan nodded. He was trying hard to mask his disappointment at how this night was going. So great had been his hope this afternoon that he might end the night in Haldir's bed, but the whole situation with Thranduil and Rúmil had put the Marchwarden into a foul temper. Oh, he had been kind enough to Elladan -- Haldir did not seem to be the type to take out his problems on the undeserving -- but he was not paying him any attention either.

"I understand," Elladan said sympathetically. He sighed. "If this is so much on your mind, you must go after Rúmil, or Thranduil -- and put a stop to it."

Haldir turned his magnificent golden head towards Elladan and looked into his eyes. The sharp blue orbs were more focused now. They stood outside on the terrace above the garden, the moonlight shining down upon them and bathing Haldir in a mystical glow. Elladan swallowed hard. He licked his lips. He wished Haldir would kiss him. He wished the moonlight would have the same affect on Haldir as it did upon himself.

"Would you prefer I gave myself to Thranduil instead?"

"Of course not!"

"That was why Rúmil made the offer. I know it."

"What was?" Elladan was confused.

"He has wanted to renew his friendship with you for a long time. He stepped in for your sake -- so you could be with me tonight."

Elladan nodded. "I suspected as much, but it did little good. I am here, but you are very far away."

Haldir smiled slightly. He reached out and stroked Elladan's hair, and his touch sent warmth shivering through Elladan's body. He moved slightly closer to the Marchwarden of Lórien. "Forgive me. I do not mean to ignore you."

"Haldir…" Elladan took a deep breath and made the offer he sincerely hoped Haldir would reject. "Rúmil is your brother. You should protect him if you think he needs it -- by whatever means necessary."

Haldir raised an eyebrow. "Even--"

"My father would not permit Thranduil to use either of you against your will, nor would I," Elladan insisted, not wanting to hear Haldir say it again.

"I am aware of that," Haldir said quietly. "This was why I brought it up to him in the first place."

"I cannot believe Thranduil dared make such a request in the first place."

"He is lonely," Haldir said.

"Lonely! I cannot believe that, and even if it were so, it still is no excuse."

"I agree with you, Elladan. Yet I cannot stop Rúmil if he chooses to fill the ridiculous request. Perhaps your brother will have better luck."

"He will more likely join the two of them in bed," Elladan said.

It occurred to him then that Elrohir had been on his way to watch the match between Arwen and Glorfindel when he had left Rúmil and Elladan alone to talk earlier that afternoon, but he had not been out in the gardens when they had arrived. But that was Elrohir -- flighty and often unreliable. Still, he was Elladan's brother and his twin and he loved him fiercely despite his often errant ways.

"Are you certain of that? Elrohir seems quite attached to Rúmil," Haldir commented, his eyes holding Elladan's.

Elladan tilted his head in surprise. "I am not certain his attachment extends beyond the bedroom."

"Maybe he will surprise you."

Elladan laughed. "Elrohir has never been in love. I only hope Rúmil does not have tender feelings for him, for I would hate to see them trampled."

"And you, my lovely one?" Haldir asked, stroking Elladan's hair again. He placed his hand on Elladan's hip and pulled him closer. Elladan's breath caught in his throat as Haldir tangled his fingers in his hair. "Have you ever been in love?"

"I…do not think so…" Elladan replied, forgetting instantly the feelings he had harbored for Rúmil all those years ago as Haldir brought his mouth down on his. Not until now. Now he knew he was falling. It was irreversible, and soon Haldir would be as the sun to him -- necessary, life-giving, and utterly irresistible. Perhaps he was already.

Haldir's warm tongue plundered the depths of Elladan's mouth, caressing him from the inside and making heat pool in lower, more intimate regions of his body. He felt himself stirring and their bodies pressed languidly together and he sighed into Haldir's mouth. Haldir's hands moved around him and up his back, holding him tightly but tenderly. He found the edge of Haldir's tunic and slid his hands beneath it so they could rest upon his bare flesh. His fingers curled and he scraped Haldir's skin with his fingernails. Haldir moaned loudly into Elladan's mouth. The kiss broke and he tossed his golden head back, drawing in a gasping breath.

Elladan brought his mouth to Haldir's exposed throat, unable to resist the pale column of flesh. He licked from chin to collarbone, stopping there at the edge of Haldir's tunic to suck at his flesh, nipping with his teeth. Haldir leaned against him, causing Elladan to shift his weight or risk falling over. Haldir was taller and broader than he was, but he managed to hold him up while continuing the assault. The noises the Marchwarden made aroused him even further and encouraged him to keep going.

Haldir lifted the edge of Elladan's tunic and he set warm hands on the bare flesh of his waist, squeezing gently. He bent his head further and nipped at Elladan's pointed ear, making Elladan gasp. Too quickly Haldir took control of him and now Elladan melted in his embrace as Haldir stroked his ear with his tongue.

"Please…" he whispered.

"Please, what?" breathed Haldir in his ear.

"Please take me…"

"Right here on the terrace?"

"Yes…"

"Yes?"

"What? Oh, no…we should go to your room… or my room…" Elladan muttered, aching so much that he could barely think.

"Either one," Haldir said agreeably. "But choose quickly. I am eager for this. It has been too long, I think, for both of us."

Yes, it had been too long, but that only meant that the union would be all the sweeter. It would have some meaning that every other before this one had failed to possess. Joy shuddered through Elladan. Haldir had said yes! He debated which room would offer them more privacy. Elrohir was accustomed to barging into Elladan's room, but he could only guess who might walk into Haldir's. Still, less people were likely to know that Haldir was occupying the Garden View suite, so that was undoubtedly safer.

He was just about to tell Haldir so when they heard a loud crash from the garden below.

"What was that?" said Haldir.

"I know not."

"Can we ignore it?" He licked Elladan's ear.

"I--"

A second crash followed. Elladan sighed. "Perhaps not," he said. "We had better investigate."