Part Six

Legolas, Prince of Mirkwood, was in a foul mood. He lay in his bed, wrapped in a fur blanket. He loved the feel of the soft material against his skin, and the generally dank climate of the underground palace made it comfortable even in the heat of summer. That heat was starting to fade now, and the nights grew cooler, but only outside. Inside the palace the temperature was always the same.

He had been lying in bed since he left his father in the bathing chamber, sulking in a way that was slightly embarrassing even to himself. He usually did not indulge in such behavior, and in truth it went against his nature to do so, but today he was in something of a state. He blamed it on the coming of Haldir of Lórien, who had disrupted his swim and put him into this mood.

He had skipped dinner, wondering if his father would send someone to fetch him if he tried the small defiance. This was a rude gesture indeed, considering they had guests not only from Lothlórien but from Imladris as well. Legolas was fond of Lord Elrond, who had always been kind to him. He had adored Lady Celebrían as well, for he had never truly known his own mother and an elf such as she was a miracle to him, so loving of her children had she been. Legolas had been grieved to know she had left Middle-earth.

He probably should have gone to dinner, should have set himself to flirting with Elladan and Elrohir, or perhaps Haldir's brother Rúmil. After today he had to admit to himself that neither Saelbeth nor Silindë was ever going to lie with him. Again he wondered about Silindë and his father. He rather preferred the thought of them together than of Thranduil terrorizing Silindë over the incident with the spider this afternoon.

I am jealous, he thought. Jealous, and frustrated. Truly Legolas did not wish to make a fool of himself by casting himself at their guests, did he? Clearly there must be something wrong with him that no one wanted him. He had never thought himself to be ugly, but he felt that way right now.

At last the expected knock at the door came. Legolas rolled over onto his stomach, calling out permission to enter.

"Are you feeling ill, Prince Legolas?" a haughty voice inquired politely.

Legolas froze. Haldir of Lórien? He turned back over and sat up, the fur slipping down around his waist, and fixed his most imperial stare on the intruder. Haldir still wore the grey tunic that signified his station but he had shed the cloak and skirt of his uniform, revealing the grey leggings that molded perfectly to his muscular legs. Haldir was holding a tray filled with food and Legolas' stomach growled at the sight of it, only furthering his irritation.

"I was expecting my father," he said, "Else I would not have invited you in."

"I do not doubt that," Haldir said in an amiable tone. "Still, your father sent me to see if you had recovered from your nasty ordeal with that spider this afternoon."

Legolas glared at him. "I am fine."

"Then why did you not come to dinner? Everyone was so disappointed," Haldir said, sounding amused. "You certainly hold the favor of both this court and that of Imladris."

Legolas felt even more guilty for neglecting his duties, but he refused to let Haldir see that emotion. "I was not of the mood to suffer certain company."

"How ironic, then, that you should have to suffer it now," said Haldir in his same even tone.

"I did not mean--"

"Ah, but you did. It was me whom you hoped to avoid."

"Yes!" Legolas admitted through clenched teeth. "Leave me that tray and get out."

"Your father has entrusted me to see to it that you eat," said Haldir, finally moving further into the room. He set the tray on the bed next to Legolas and sat down rather too close to Legolas. "I do not intend to disappoint King Thranduil in any way during my stay in Mirkwood. Making a good impression with him is tantamount to my success at home in Lórien. I will do whatever I must to impress him."

Legolas lifted his chin and looked boldly into Haldir's eyes. The elf of the Galadhrim smiled at him and Legolas noticed how blue his eyes were, how deep and fathomless. It was impossible to know what he was thinking and somehow that was chilling. Legolas had the impression of ruthlessness. Haldir smiled and looked away from him only to pour a goblet of wine. He lifted Legolas' hand in his own, his thumb running over the Prince's knuckles and creating a sudden and unwanted heat. Haldir pressed the cup into Legolas' hand and withdrew his own fingers, leaving Legolas slightly breathless.

"You know that I have my father's ear," said Legolas.

"Yes. Therefore, I must do what I can to soothe the ill note upon which we began. I never meant to insult you."

"Yes, you did -- before you knew who I was."

A slight look of irritation crossed Haldir's face before he managed to cover it up and this pleased Legolas. He lifted his cup to his lips and took a drink. The wine was cool and refreshing, and swirled inside of him, creating heat. He liked the feeling, drained the rest of the cup. On an empty stomach, it went right to Legolas' head -- his tolerance for the fruit of the vine was not nearly as high as his father's. He felt heady, knowing that Haldir was desperate to get into his good graces. The elf of Lórien was his to command.

"Do you require another apology of me, Prince Legolas?" Haldir said, barely suppressing the bitterness in his tone.

"What I require," said Legolas, leaning dangerously close to Haldir's full, sensuous mouth, "Is that you leave my bed chamber and allow me to eat my dinner in peace."

Haldir smiled slightly and refilled Legolas' wine cup without looking away this time. "As I told you, I have no intention of leaving until you finish it."

"Then I am finished."

"That will not do at all. I should hate to bring this nearly full tray back to your father and tell him I failed. He thinks you are too thin." Haldir's hand slipped over to stroke Legolas' ribs and settled to rest on his hip.

Fire ignited in the Prince's body and he felt a blush creep over his cheeks. Damn it, it must be the wine making him react like this, the wine and all the fruitless frustrations of the past few years. No one had ever touched him so intimately, even in a seemingly innocent gesture as this one. But no, there was nothing innocent about it, was there? Haldir would seduce him only to get into his good graces, so he would speak well of the Lórien elf to his father.

"Remove your hand from my person," he said.

Haldir withdrew his fingers. "Why is it that you are naked every time I see you?" he asked in a conversational tone.

Legolas blushed even more furiously and drained his wine cup for the second time. "Perhaps because both of those times, I never intended to see you."

"Do not mistake me, I certainly do not mind," Haldir went on. "You are most certainly more fair without clothing."

He took the cup out of Legolas' hand and set it back on the tray, replacing it with a fork. Realizing that his head was spinning and hoping that it would calm his racing heart and throbbing pulse, the Prince stabbed angrily into the roasted pheasant on his plate and began devouring it without much thought to his table manners. Haldir watched, looking even more amused. The food was no doubt excellent, but Legolas scarcely tasted it as he wolfed it down. The sooner he finished eating, the sooner Haldir would leave.

"You will make yourself sick," the older elf cautioned.

"You are doing that for me," Legolas replied. "I would be rid of your company as quickly as possible -- or has my father charged you with any other duties on my behalf tonight?"

"Would that he had," Haldir said, sounding even more amused. Legolas wished he would stop smirking, as it filled him with the desire to strike the other elf that was difficult to control. "Tonight, no, but he has requested I be your personal guard for the duration of my stay in Mirkwood."

"He told me that he would look into the matter before replacing Silindë!"

"He did. The tale of my brave rescue of you and your companions from that spider was related over dinner."

"Braggart."

"I said hardly a word," said Haldir, holding up his hands. "'Twas Saelbeth that related the story. He has managed to keep his position as your guard, though Silindë was sadly dismissed. He did not seem to be in poor standing with your father, however. They sat very close at dinner."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Legolas was drunk and angry and slightly confused.

"It is open to interpretation, I imagine," Haldir replied, shrugging slightly. He stood up from the bed and picked up the tray from which Legolas had devoured most of the contents.

"I will convince my father to give Silindë his place back."

Haldir sighed. "Prince Legolas, I am no villain. I will ask you now, as politely as I may muster, to give me this chance to serve as your guard as your father has asked. I have told you that I must make a good impression upon him and no doubt you realize that this currently requires your assistance. I will do all that I can to insure that your friend Silindë gets his place back when I leave Mirkwood, but, please-- do not make this difficult just because I have offended you."

Legolas was surprised. This seemed to be the first genuine thing the elf of the Galadhrim had said to him at all. Slowly he nodded, feeling slightly ashamed -- but in truth he still did not like Haldir any better than he had before… and yet there was still the fire in him that seemed to have been kindled by the other elf's cool eyes and forward manner.

"I am not as childish as I have been acting," Legolas said softly.

Haldir smiled slowly. "Good," he said, "Then I will not have to spank you."

Haldir turned and left the room, leaving Legolas with an image in his mind which he would rather not have entertained.