Part Fifteen

"I left Saelbeth with the seamstress, who is attempting to fit him with something for the banquet tonight," Haldir said. He sat down at the edge of the waterfall and pulled off his boots. Legolas was already in the water, thankfully alone. "How did your conversation with Arwen progress?"

Haldir tried to sound casual. He really was not sure that he wished to know what had passed between Legolas and the Lady of Imladris. How could she not want to marry him? He was beautiful, golden as the sun. And above that, he was kind, and tender... and loyal. He might face temptation, but he knew how to overcome it. Once he was bound to Arwen, surely he would belong fully to her and no other.

Legolas ran a hand through his wet hair and stared at Haldir. His small brown nipples were sharp little points, no doubt from the cool water against his fair flesh. The water was not deep, covering Legolas just above his navel. Haldir wished he could see deeper into the water. He realized that Legolas was watching him undress, and he grinned. He went about the task with painstaking slowness, watching lust spark in Legolas' eyes. He liked seeing the fire grow there. It was far more intense than the way he had gazed at Elladan the other day, he thought smugly.

Slowly Haldir folded his tunic and placed it on top of his boots. He pushed his leggings low on his hips and saw Legolas swallow hard. Haldir stopped, picked up the clothing Legolas had cast aside, and began folding it.

"Why are you doing that?" Legolas cried in frustration. He still had not answered Haldir's question.

"These are my clothes," Haldir pointed out, indicating the outfit which Legolas had been wearing. "I do not wish to see them ruined."

"You are taunting me."

"Only a little. Is this what you desire?" Haldir pulled his leggings all the way off, revealing his own lust. He stood proudly, knowing that his own body was beautiful. Legolas let out a small moan as Haldir folded his leggings and added them to the pile. "I trust you will have your own clothing made available for tonight."

"I am sure that something was packed for me," Legolas said, not taking his eyes from Haldir. "Come into the water now, or I shall come out. I must touch you, Haldir."

Who could resist such an invitation? Certainly not Haldir of Lórien, he thought as he slipped off of the bank and into the water. He moved swiftly to Legolas and took the prince into his arms, kissing him fiercely and trying not to listen to the frantic voice in the back of his head telling him that this might be the last time.

Legolas' hand slipped between Haldir's legs, stroking him, teasing, making him thrust his hips forward eagerly. There was a low dip in the riverbank to one side, and Haldir steered Legolas to it so he might brace the prince against it and take him from behind. They spoke little as Haldir bent Legolas at the waist and entered him roughly. He kept one hand between Legolas' legs, and quickly the prince met his pinnacle.

Legolas bucked and moaned beneath him, begging softly for more. He whispered Haldir's name over and over, and Haldir knew he would hear this voice in his dreams forever after. His hands wandered over the long, lean lines of Legolas' torso, grasped his hips as he rode him. Legolas bent his head forward, the golden, braided hair spilling over the grass. It had never been like this with anyone, Haldir thought. No one was so pliant, so delicious, so enticing.

"I love you," Haldir breathed into Legolas' sweetly pointed ear. He licked the tip of it, and exploded, releasing into the velvet depths of the young prince.

"I love you, too, Haldir," Legolas mumbled into the grass, as if he were unable to lift his face. "Never forget this. It will be only you in my heart until the world falls down and time stops."

No one had ever said such a thing to Haldir before. It made his heart lurch in his chest. Slowly he withdrew from Legolas and gently turned him around so they faced each other, helped him to find his balance. Legolas smiled at him with trepidation sparkling in his blue eyes.

"I see fear in you."

"I am afraid."

"Of what, Legolas?"

"Of losing you."

"You will not," Haldir said, but then he knew he spoke too soon. "Have you... that is... what did Arwen say?"

"She said she will wed me, to please our fathers and her grand-parents. Haldir, do not look that way..."

It hurt, and Haldir knew it showed on his face. "I am sorry. You could not dissuade her?"

"I told her I did not wish to marry her, and why. She understands this, Haldir. Did you know she has wanted you as well?"

Haldir raised an eyebrow. "I have always gotten along well with Arwen and found her charming company, but had no idea that she harbored any tender feelings..."

"She seems to think we can come to an arrangement, one that will satisfy all of us."

"What sort of arrangement?" Haldir's eyes narrowed.

"She says that she can have Galadriel send you with us to Imladris."

"But you will still be wed to her."

"Wed, but promising each other freedom, so we may love where our heart guides us. For me, this will be to you."

"That is no commitment, Legolas, no bond -- to her or to me."

"She said you might lie with both of us," Legolas said in a small voice. Haldir could see he knew that this was going badly.

"I do not wish to lie with Arwen. What if I were to father your heirs?"

"I did not think of that," Legolas admitted. "And she desires another, as well... and then there is Elladan."

"What about Elladan?" Haldir growled.

"She wishes to see her brother happy as well."

"I was quite unaware that Lady Arwen was such a free spirit. If I understand correctly, you and Arwen decided that the two of you would wed so that she might lay with me and some unnamed other lover, and you could lie with Elladan and myself. Is that correct?" Haldir realized his voice was getting louder and Legolas shrank back against the riverbank, his large blue eyes perfectly round.

"That is rather the gist of what she said," he said in a very small voice.

"And you agreed to this."

"I said I would consider it," Legolas admitted miserably. Haldir let go of him and turned away. He did not mean to feel or to look so angry, but he could not help it. "I just thought, Haldir, that if there was no other way, at least we could be together!"

"I do not accept this. I will not go to Imladris or play these games. Especially not games involving Elladan."

Haldir got out of the water and began wringing out his hair, letting the sun dry his skin for a minute or two before he began dressing. Legolas stared at him helpless, but Haldir could not meet his eye.

"I will not touch Elladan again," Legolas said. "Arwen spoke to me of him, I did not agree to that."

"You seemed rather accepting of it."

"You are seeing dragons where there are none in your jealousy. You would have only to share me with Arwen. That I promise you."

"I will not bind you to such a flawed promise, Legolas."

Legolas jumped out of the water, grabbing Haldir's hand. He looked at him desperately. "Please, Haldir, please do not leave me. I am only trying to do what is right for everyone!"

"This is not right for you, or for me," Haldir said in a low voice. He pulled the wet, naked prince into his arms and kissed him firmly on the lips one last time. "There will be only you in my heart until the world falls down and time stops." He repeated Legolas' words to him, meaning them with every bit of his heart. "I will remember these few weeks we have shared fondly."

And then he let go of Legolas and walked away.