Part Ten

"Do you see them sitting over there, plotting?" Saelbeth whispered. "We must be even more vigilant… I fear that soon they will put their plans into action."

Haldir of Lórien sat with Saelbeth in the dining hall, which was dimly lit as always with torches, waiting for Legolas to join them. Haldir knew that dawn was breaking outside, and on mornings like this he greatly missed his talan high in the mallorn trees of the Golden Wood. He had not seen the sunrise once during the week he had been here in Mirkwood. He had scarcely seen the sun at all, even when he and Saelbeth accompanied Legolas on his meandering through Mirkwood. The thick trees shaded everything. Lórien was day and Mirkwood was night.

After a week Legolas still did not like Haldir any better than he had in the beginning. Saelbeth, at least, had seemed to warm up to him. He had become the other guard's confidant, it seemed. Saelbeth had told him the whole sorry tale of his unfulfilled love for the Prince. Haldir could see that Legolas would have given himself to Saelbeth if he asked, and in fact flirted with him outrageously, but his own presence deterred the other elf.

He had to admit to himself that had he been so inclined, he could easily have absented himself on one of their afternoon strolls and allowed the pair to consummate their flirtation. If he was truly honest with himself, he would admit that he had not because he was rather attracted to Legolas himself. Generally the Prince sniped at him and they traded barbed remarks -- for eventually Haldir could not hold back a snide comment, Legolas so provoked him. However, when he relaxed and let his sunny nature shine through, Legolas was exceedingly pleasant.

It was his beauty, Haldir thought. That and his own sense of duty to Lady Galadriel, who had sent him here. He was more inclined to forgive Legolas the nasty comments he made because he truly wished that the Prince would give up… and like him. Was he truly such an unlikable bastard? Legolas was kind to every other elf they encountered except himself.

He sighed inwardly at Saelbeth's comment. The morning after he and his brothers had arrived, the Mirkwood guard had told him that Elrond's sons and Haldir's brothers were all plotting to seduce the Prince and had even made some sort of wager as to who could do it first and "most thoroughly." Haldir had thought about informing Saelbeth that Haldir himself was the one who could do it most thoroughly, but he bit his tongue and restrained himself. Of course, knowing the four of them, it was probably true. Still, he did not tell Legolas, nor did he lecture his brothers about the impropriety of such wagers. Legolas should be allowed to make his own decisions about who he slept with, he thought.

Haldir had enough on his plate at the moment, for most evenings he had to dine with Legolas, Thranduil, and Lord Elrond and his party, who seemed to have something on his mind and seemed to be in a foul mood every night. Thranduil had informed them all that during the autumn season they would be hunting down the orc parties roaming free around the wood and culling the giant spider population. The King would be leading the hunting party himself, but as of yet he had made no move to start this project.

Legolas and Glorfindel were the only ones who seemed excited about traipsing around killing monsters. Erestor seemed frankly horrified, and the sons of Elrond bored by the prospect. Haldir had seen little of Elladan and Elrohir and his own two brothers this week, as Legolas preferred traipsing around in the wood by himself, accompanied by his two guards, of course, than in entertaining company. Haldir wondered what Saelbeth had told him about the supposed bet.

"Do not forget that you are speaking of my brothers as well as the sons of Lord Elrond," Haldir said sharply. He was not in the mood for Saelbeth's paranoia this morning.

"Perhaps you could call your brothers off," Saelbeth snapped.

"They are not dogs," Haldir said irritably.

"They are irresponsible elflings!"

"They are members of Galadriel's hand-picked border guard," Haldir replied icily. "And they sniff around Legolas no more than you do."

"I have not touched the Prince -- and he has invited me to."

"They have not touched him either," Haldir pointed out. "But knowing them, they will if offered that invitation."

Before Saelbeth could argue with him any further, the door to the dining hall banged open and Thranduil entered accompanied by his son and Lord Elrond. Haldir felt the breath go out of him as he looked at Legolas and he scowled. Letting the Prince affect him this way made him just as foolish as everyone else. Legolas saw Haldir scowling at him and scowled back, but the look was so forced that it made Haldir laugh, which in turn left confusion on the Prince's face.

"I have an announcement," said Thranduil, "Tomorrow we will ride out to the Eastern wood to destroy a nest of spiders that have been growing too large. Today will be a day of feasting and celebration. We shall picnic by the lower waterfall and bathing pool."

A cheer went up among those in the hall, especially the natives of Mirkwood, who loved to celebrate more than anything. Haldir knew this meant almost everyone would be drunk by noon. Everyone except himself, that was. He had to watch his own behavior, and keep an eye on Legolas as well.

A few hours later, Haldir found his prediction had come to pass. Nearly the entire population of Mirkwood along with the guests from Imladris and the party from Lórien were at the lower waterfall, eating, drinking, laughing and swimming. Haldir himself was not doing any of those things, for he was simply sitting by himself observing. He was glad to be excused from Saelbeth's company for the day. He watched his brothers, the sons of Elrond, Saelbeth and Silindë, Lord Glorfindel, and many others cavorting under the waterfall.

Legolas was not among them, however. He sat with his father, Elrond, and Erestor. Erestor was watching the cavorting with a sour look on his face. It seemed to Haldir that the target of his interest was Silindë -- interesting. Legolas was also watching the cavorting and Haldir was uncertain as to why he had not joined in the merriment when the look on his face said he wanted to. Thranduil and Elrond were having some sort of drunken argument -- interesting as Elrond was not generally one to drink early in the day, if at all.

Legolas looked up from the pool and met Haldir's gaze. Haldir did not look away. After a moment, the Prince excused himself from his father and came over to join Haldir where he sat on a large rock away from the rest of the company. Haldir moved over to make room for Legolas, but he did not move far enough and Legolas was forced to sit very close to him. The Prince's thigh pressed against his own and Haldir felt a sharp jolt of something he had been trying very hard to repress. He did not let it show on his face.

"Are you not enjoying the festivities, Prince Legolas?" he inquired politely, arching a brow.

"I was about to ask you the same. Why do you sit apart? You are excused from your duties, yet you touch not the wine nor join the others in the water."

"I am surprised by your concern," Haldir commented. "I should think you would be pleased to imagine I am not having any fun."

A guilty look flooded the Prince's eyes. "You must think badly of me, Haldir. I have treated you poorly this week, and you have been nothing but kind to me."

"Oh, I have not been so kind," Haldir said. "I am merely fulfilling my duties." He did not mean for it to sound so harsh, and he could see Legolas' guilt and disappointment magnified in his large blue eyes. Haldir hated himself in that moment for his own words, but he did not apologize nor rescind them. Legolas merely nodded.

"Yes, I am but a duty for you, I know that. I know how important it is that my father speak well of you to Lady Galadriel. Lord Elrond thinks very highly of you. He says you deserve to be made Marchwarden. My father says he is probably right but he will wait until the end of the season to make his decision about your reference."

Haldir was slightly surprised to hear this had been discussed already. "Ah," he said.

Legolas turned towards him and put a hand on Haldir's knee. "I can seal the bargain for you."

Haldir swallowed. The heat of the Prince's hand went straight to his lower regions, making him burn with desire. He almost forgot what they were talking about, so attracted was he to Legolas in that moment. Had they been truly alone, he would have kissed Legolas. He would have smashed his own mouth against those soft pink lips and shown Legolas Greenleaf what it meant to be alive.

"What do you mean?" he asked after a moment. His mouth was dry.

"I will convince my father to give you that reference if you will do something for me."

"And what is that?" Haldir asked warily.

"Take me," said Legolas. "I desire you, Haldir of Lórien."