"Keep your thoughts for now," Haldir said in a warm tone. "I do wish to know what you want."

The marchwarden got up to answer the door, smiling to himself. He felt much more at ease now. Grooming the prince had relaxed him, if not the boy himself, and reinforced the connection that had always hummed between them. They had both survived the War of the Ring, and they would have a little more time before they needed to say good-bye again. Haldir tried not to think about the fact that he would be expected to go into the West with Galadriel and Celeborn.

At least this time they might have a proper parting. It had not been so at Helm's Deep. He had passed unconscious too quickly without being able to speak after the Orc had felled him.

Haldir opened the door to the chamber and looked into the hallway outside. He did not say anything, so he moved to close the door, but then the sound of a throat clearing reached his pointed ears. He looked down and saw the two hobbits standing there, one whose name he could not remember supporting the Ringbearer, whose name he also could not remember.

"Mr. Haldir, sir," said the stouter of the pair, sounding surprised. "Can't say I was expecting to see you here. How are things in Lothlórien, and Lady Galadriel? The rope she gave me sure did come in useful, if you take my meaning."

Haldir looked at the pair of them, clinging together. "I take your meaning very well."

"And that great light bulb. It sure came in handy battling that giant spider."

"You battled a giant spider." Haldir could not quite believe this, somehow.

The hobbit nodded. "Almost got Mr. Frodo here, it did. I thought he was dead!"

"That I understand very well," Legolas said. Haldir turned and saw that the prince had joined him in the doorway. He smiled fondly at the hobbits. "Sam. Frodo. Why are you not enjoying the party?"

Haldir was glad to be spared the embarrassment of asking the hobbits' names, but his irritation at the interruption was beginning to grow. "Legolas, sit down before you fall down."

"It is wearing off," Legolas said. Haldir grasped his chin and looked into the prince's eyes. They were clear. He did indeed seem to be sobering up, though Haldir would not have let him ride a horse or scale a wall or anything requiring much coordination yet. He let go of Legolas and nodded curtly.

"Mr. Legolas!" Sam said, blushing a little. "You see, Mr. Frodo here isn't feeling so well, so I thought I'd pop in and see if he could get a drop of—of that." He pointed at Haldir's medicine, which was still on the bedside table.

Legolas glanced at the bottle but did not seem to know what the hobbit was talking about. Haldir crouched down to get a better look at the pair.

"The wound in his shoulder," Haldir said, looking into the Ringbearer's eyes. They were large and iridescent, almost hypnotic. The marchwarden could sense the hobbit's great pain, and it made his own wound throb in sympathy. "Come in. I will get the medicine for you."

"This way, Mr. Frodo," Sam said, leading the other hobbit over to one of the cots, where he fussed over him, settled him, then turned to check the status of the tonic. Legolas had taken a seat as well, leaving it to Haldir to pour the water and mix the medicine. He used only one drop, adjusting the dosage for the small size of the Ringbearer.

"This will make your lover feel better right away," he said comfortingly. He felt no pain himself at the moment, but then, he had taken a large amount himself. He wondered if it would last long enough for him and Legolas to make love. Ushering the hobbits out of the room suddenly seemed urgent business.

"Oh, Mr. Frodo isn't my lover," Sam said, turning bright red. "We aren't of that persuasion, sir. Not that there's anything wrong with it."

"Speak for yourself," Frodo said softly, accepting the glass that Haldir passed him. He had to hold it with both hands.

"What?" said Sam.

"I said thank you, kind elf," Frodo covered smoothly.

Haldir glanced at Legolas, but he looked as confused as Sam. Haldir sat down next to the prince and looked at the pair of them.

"Drink up," he encouraged Frodo. The hobbit nodded, drained the glass.

"They say you are dead," said Frodo, looking at Haldir.

"They have said the same of you. Yet here we sit," Haldir replied softly. "Is the medicine helping?"

"A bit," said Frodo. "The pain is starting to fade."

"In a few moments you will feel much better," Haldir promised, "Though they say there is only one way for the wound to fully heal."

Frodo nodded. "Gandalf told me."

"What?" asked Sam, looking distraught, "What is it?"

"He must sail to Valinor," said Legolas. "Into the west."

"Well, he's not doing that!" Sam said staunchly. "Are you, Mr. Frodo?"

Frodo did not reply. He looked out of the window. Suddenly his eyes grew wide, marked by fear. He lifted his hand, pointing. Before Haldir could turn, Legolas was on his feet and at the window. He turned back to them, looking shocked.

"What is it?" Haldir snapped impatiently, echoing the hobbit's words.

"Orcs!"

"Orcs?" said Sam.

"In the courtyard below, and charging up the stairs. Over a hundred of them. And everyone in the Great Hall is unarmed!" Legolas cried.

"But how can that be?" Sam blustered. "I thought all the orcs had been killed, or driven into the wild, or—"

"No time to debate how or why," said Haldir. "We must get to the Great Hall to warn them."

"We should fetch weapons from the armory!" said Legolas.

"There is no time. You three stay here. Hide beneath the cots," Haldir growled.

"Good plan," said Sam.

"No!" said Legolas. "You should stay. You are wounded."

"You are drunk."

"I have sobered up."

"The sight of a hundred orcs in the courtyard'll do that to you," said Sam.

"There is no time to argue," said Frodo. "Sam and I will stay here. Legolas, you go. Captain Haldir – stay and protect us."

The pleading note in the hobbit's voice forced Haldir's hand. He nodded curtly, looking on Legolas for what he desperately hoped would not be the last time. They had just barely been reunited. He threw an arm around Legolas and kissed him full on the mouth, not caring what Sam or Frodo thought.

"Go on, then," he said. "Keep yourself safe, and get back here as quickly as you may."

Legolas looked startled. He lifted a hand to his lips, then he dashed out of the chamber and was gone.