Part Two

"Are you well, Haldir?"

Haldir of Lórien looked at the slender, beautiful elf walking beside him, but he did not smile at the Prince of Mirkwood. He wanted to, but he knew the expression would look forced, so he refrained. Haldir's heart was too heavy for smiles. He hoped Legolas would see the affection he held for him reflected in his eyes, for the rest of his countenance could not display it right now.

"I am fine, Legolas. We are nearly there. Do you see, the leaves are changing from green to gold already."

"So they are," Legolas said with excitement. "I have not been to Lórien in many, many years. I look forward to this."

His enthusiasm was admirable, Haldir thought. He was glad to be returning home, himself, for it had been too long since he had slept in his own bed. He wondered if Legolas would sleep there with him. No doubt Galadriel would offer him fine guest quarters.

Maybe he should just let him go, push him away now. After all, were he to marry Arwen, that would be the end of things between them. Arwen would not stand for her husband to lie with others, Haldir knew her well enough to be certain of that. Besides, Legolas would not likely want to. The Evenstar was the fairest of her people.

If he had thought he could get away with it, he would have made public his claim on Legolas, but Galadriel would frown on such behavior. He would sacrifice his post as Marchwarden, if he were named such at all. He might have been willing to give up that honor to be with the prince, but he would also put his brothers' careers as guardians of the wood in jeopardy. He had more than just himself to think of.

He knew that Legolas loved him. Haldir did not doubt that in his mind. However, his sense of duty was as strong as Haldir's, and his admiration for his father boundless. He would marry Arwen just because Thranduil willed it. Of course, Arwen might not cooperate so easily…

Or would she? When Haldir looked at Legolas, he could think of no reason at all why anyone would not want to marry the lad.

"I will show you every inch of the Golden Wood, if you like," he told the prince softly. "All of its ins and outs."

Legolas' blue eyes went round and wide and he grinned. "Well," he said, "I hope there are a lot of them."

The journey from Mirkwood had been tedious. They had been walking for several days – himself, Legolas and Thranduil, Rúmil and Orophin, and Elrond and Elrohir. Erestor and Silindë had been left behind to look after the throne of Mirkwood. When Thranduil returned home, they would depart for Imladris. The King of the Elves of Northern Mirkwood had been unusually silent during this journey. Haldir knew he was carrying the responsibility for the deaths of Elladan and Saelbeth, if not Glorfindel as well.

Elrond seemed in fair enough spirits. He did not seem like a man who believed one of his sons to be dead, however. He tried at times to engage Thranduil in conversation, but the Elvenking answered in monosyllables. Haldir secretly thought that Elrond should have tried more explosive topics than the plants they saw along the trail and the weather to get Thranduil's attention.

At least Thranduil was still cooking for them. He seemed, in fact, to take pleasure in hunting down birds and small animals for their meals and preparing them exquisitely. Haldir tried to watch how he seasoned them, but he had always been better at eating than at cooking. Legolas claimed never to have cooked in his life, which was unfortunate. Orophin was the best cook of the three of them, but he was more concerned with cajoling Elrohir to eat than watching what Thranduil was doing.

Elrohir had a hollow look about him. He clearly thought Elladan was dead. He kept company with Orophin, but even with his brother's most tender ministrations could not be cheered. Rúmil was in the best mood of any of them, happy to get back home to his friends and his own talan. Elrohir was wasting away, Haldir thought. If it was proved that Elladan was dead, he would soon follow into the Halls of Mandos. If that happened, Haldir would have to see to it that Orophin did not soon join him.

Haldir winked at Legolas and a few moments later he heard the almost silent approach of other elves of the Galadhrim. The border guards greeted Haldir and his brothers enthusiastically, made the proper gestures of respect to the nobility of Mirkwood and Imladris, and led them back to Caras Galadhon.

It delighted him, watching Legolas take in the sight of the beautiful Elven city. It made him proud to know that his lover found the Golden Wood so enchanting. Haldir was proud of where he lived, proud of his kinsmen. He remembered how badly he wanted the post of Marchwarden, and how hard he had worked. Casting a sideways glance at Legolas, he wondered how he could have it all.

The escort left them at the base of Galadriel's tree and the eight of them ascended the stairs into the golden boughs to the Lady of Light's receiving room. She and Celeborn were there, waiting for them, along with Arwen, Elladan, and Glorfindel. Everyone began to go through the long, drawn-out traditional Elven greetings.

"Elladan," Elrohir whispered, the first word Haldir had heard him say in days.

Elladan looked well, Haldir thought. Too well. He had always been indistinguishable from Elrohir, but now there was a marked difference in their appearances. Elrohir looked gaunt and pale, his clothing hanging loosely on his slender frame. Elladan was wearing one of Celeborn's robes, which fit him perfectly and flattered him immensely. It was not his usual style, but if he knew how he looked in this moment, it might become so. The white and gold made his dark hair look all the more shiny and brilliant. His grey eyes snapped with life. He looked healthy and well-fed, not like an elf who had been suffering. In fact, Haldir thought he had never looked better.

Haldir did not miss the way that Legolas was looking at Elladan. He felt a distinct curl of jealousy. Raw lust was written on the prince's face. He really knew nothing about covering up what he was thinking. Luckily, no one but Haldir was paying Legolas much attention.

"Did you miss me, brother?" Elladan asked, grinning at Elrohir. He strode forward to embrace his twin. Elrohir melted against him.

"Elladan, you should have come back to Mirkwood palace. You have no idea how worried we all have been," Elrond said, sounding distinctly irritated at not finding his son hurt and suffering from the menacing spiders.

"Forgive the lad, Elrond," Celeborn said in a jovial tone. "It was my idea to bring him back here. I knew you had the sense to look for him under our wing sooner or later."

"Your idea," Elrond said warily. "That explains it."

"Elladan is safe and well," Galadriel said, smiling at Elrond. "Be glad."

"I am glad," said Elrond. "But-"

"Not as glad as I am," said Thranduil, slapping Elrond on the back. He grinned. "This is wonderful, indeed. I am even glad to see you, Glorfindel. But where is Saelbeth? Tell me he was not a casualty of this affair."

"Beginning to see that your actions have repercussions, Thranduil?" Celeborn asked coldly. "Your 'punishments' could easily have cost my grand-son and Lord Glorfindel their lives. In fact, had I not arrived in a timely manner to free them, they might already have perished."

Thranduil glared at Celeborn. "I do not suppose your grand-son told you what he did to my Legolas. Never mind Lord Glorfindel, who poisoned both Legolas and Haldir, and kidnapped Legolas, and-"

"Yes, yes, we heard the whole story," Celeborn said dismissively. "No one was in danger from the spider poison. Surely you knew that. And Legolas was never taken out of your own home. What you did was far worse. Because of this, I claim Saelbeth as recompense."

"Recompense!"

"Yes."

"Where is he?" asked Elrond, frowning almost as ominously as Thranduil.

"I shall keep him in my chambers until further notice."

"Tell me why you should get recompense? Should the recompense not go to say, Glorfindel or Elladan, if you feel they were wronged?" Thranduil asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"We may discuss this later," Galadriel interrupted. Haldir knew that no one would dare correct her, and that she hated arguments. "Dinner will be served in two hours. Until then, you should all settle in to your quarters and relax. Rúmil and Orophin can show you the way to the guest talans. We have much to discuss, including the wedding."

"Whose wedding?" Arwen asked sharply.

No one replied.