Part Twenty-Six

Legolas awoke alone in Haldir's bed. The scent of his lover still lingered on the sheets, and for the moment he was not unhappy. He rolled over and stretched luxuriously, the blanket winding around him as he did. Lazily he pulled Haldir's pillow into his arms and squeezed it, wishing languidly that it was the big Galadhrim elf instead.

Where was Haldir?

The sun was shining through the window, and Legolas guessed that it was perhaps an hour or two since it had risen, but he was not entirely certain. Mirkwood was so dark that he had trouble telling the time in brighter places. Legolas liked Lórien. Despite the machinations of both Arwen and Lord Celeborn, he felt a sense of peace here, especially in Haldir's talan. He might happily move in, he thought. If only they were permitted.

They had everyone on their side now, except Galadriel and Arwen. Unfortunately, Legolas knew that without Galadriel's blessing, their options were limited. Thranduil would probably let Haldir and even both of his brothers come live in Mirkwood if it would make Legolas happy, but he did not know if it would make them happy. He was not so selfish that he could rip the three of them away from their home. He also did not wish to create a rift between the elves of Mirkwood and their cousins in Lórien.

Legolas got up from the bed and dressed himself despite the fact that he had only his very wrinkled ceremonial robes of the night before with him. He would have to go back to his own talan and change. Despite the fact that Haldir was missing, Legolas felt no fear on that account. Their love was strong. He no longer had any fear, any doubt. Last night had been so tender between them. He knew now, without a doubt, that nothing would ever sever his heart from Haldir's, no matter what paths their lives led them on.

He stepped out onto the platform outside Haldir's rooms and looked out over the Golden Wood. Elves were travelling here and there both on the ground and through the trees. It was a pleasant sight, though odd to one who had dwelled all of his life in a palace carved out of a cave, underground. He did not see any sign of Haldir, so Legolas decided he would go and wash, change his clothing, and find something to eat.

He descended the stairs and found Rúmil asleep on a platform half way down. The young border guard lifted his head as the prince passed by.

"What are you doing out here?" Legolas asked gently.

"Oro and Elrohir were noisy," Rúmil said, then put his head back down on the stairs and closed his eyes again. Smiling to himself, Legolas continued on.

He froze as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Lord Celeborn was crossing the glen. He looked magnificent in his white and gold robes, but he also looked supremely irritated. Legolas shrank back against Haldir's tree and hoped he would not be noticed, but he was not that lucky. Celeborn's pale, icy blue eyes gleamed when he saw the prince and he changed course immediately. Legolas fought the urge to turn tail and run back up into the tree. The Lord of Lórien smiled wickedly and had him corned before he could think.

"Well, good morning, my fair Prince of Mirkwood! It has been too long, I think…"

"It has been only two days, and not nearly long enough," Legolas said belligerently.

Celeborn made a clicking noise of false sympathy with his tongue, turning his head slightly to the side and lifting his hand to the prince's golden hair. "You need a bath," he said in a chiding tone. "You stink of Haldir. I see he is using you well."

"We do not use each other," Legolas said, lifting his chin. "That is how you conduct your affairs, not how I do."

"You should regret that I did not lie with you," Celeborn said, touching Legolas' face. Legolas jerked backwards, but there was nowhere for him to go. "I would have shown you pleasure you would never know with another."

"Is there pleasure in being forced?" Legolas hissed.

Celeborn laughed. "Of course there is. Did not Elladan find pleasure when you forced him? So much so that he even thought himself to be in love with you for a time, the foolish lad."

Legolas did not reply, for he knew this to be true, and he felt a pang in his heart for what they had done to Elladan, despite the fact that he had well deserved it. Celeborn went on.

"Of course, I believe he is past that now, since I found him naked with my sl—with Saelbeth this morning."

Legolas' eyes went round. "What did you do?" he demanded.

"So suspicious."

"With reason!"

"I simply told my grand-son that I would speak with him at a more convenient time," Celeborn said with a forced innocence in his tone. "And I will."

"I do not understand how a lady as great as Galadriel can be wed to someone like you," Legolas said hotly. "You are despicable, sir."

"There are a great many things you do not understand, Legolas Greenleaf," said Galadriel appearing as if from nowhere behind her lord. Legolas felt his face and ears glow scarlet, so embarrassed was he that she should have heard his disrespectful statement. "Lord Celeborn is more than this wicked façade that he chooses to put forth at this time. And my lord, I hope you will soon let go of this veneer. I do not like it, and I will not have you tormenting any of our grand-children."

"It is a shame that Elladan did not turn out more like his sister," Celeborn said sharply, but with the appearance of his wife, he had stepped away from Legolas, clearly unhappy to have been interrupted. After his embarrassment faded, Legolas felt relief.

"Arwen is hurt, my lord," Galadriel said, laying a hand on Celeborn's arm. "She felt out of a tree and hit her head upon stone."

Legolas felt his breath leave him. His eyes widened and he saw Celeborn's do the same. For the first time he saw genuine concern and an emotion other than deceptive lust on the face of the Lord of Lórien.

"No!"

"I should go to her," Legolas said urgently.

"No, Legolas, I will go to her," Celeborn snarled at him. "Even if you are her intended—against your own will."

"I thought you liked the thought of me being forced against my will," Legolas snapped. "Just because I do not wish to marry the Evenstar does not mean I do not care for her!"

"I will not warn you again not to address Lord Celeborn in this fashion, Prince Legolas," Galadriel said in a tone so cold that it gave him a chill. Legolas bowed his head and made an apologetic gesture, but it was more for her sake than for Celeborn's. "My love, go to the child. She has been brought to Elrond and he will no doubt take good care of her, but it will do them both good to see your concern."

Celeborn nodded, and with one last, heated look at Legolas, he left the prince in the company of the Lady of Light. Legolas lifted his head and looked questioningly into her eyes, and she smiled at him gently.

"Your father and your lover both came to me on your behalf. I bade them gaze into my mirror, into your future. I free you now from any obligation to Arwen. If you want her, the both of you must choose each other, for each other."

With those final cryptic words, she turned and walked away. Relief flooded him. Thranduil and Haldir had both gone to her! He felt a rush of love for both of them, but where were they? He headed blindly forwards, wondering whence Galadriel had come. Her tree was near, and at the entrance to her mirror glade, he saw them… but something was wrong.

Haldir stood with his head bent, looking down at the ground. His expression was heartbreaking. Thranduil looked somber, and had a hand on the new Marchwarden's shoulder, as if consoling him. Legolas felt his blood run cold.

Had they been looking into Galadriel's mirror? What had they seen?