Part Twenty-Two

"He is gone," Legolas whispered.

Haldir burst out in laughter that he had been silently shaking in. He threw back his silvery mane of blond hair and roared with it. The beautiful muscles of his naked body rippled with his mirth. Legolas could not help smiling even though his ears and cheeks were still flaming red. Finally the elf of Lórien recovered himself and came out from behind the door where he had been hiding to wrap his arms around the Prince.

"Lord Elrond amazes me at times," Haldir commented. "Clearly he believes you should not take a lover…"

"I am uncertain why it is any of his concern," Legolas said, frowning. Elrond had seemed more interested than was any of his business. "He did seem overly interested in the idea that I was sitting in here alone pleasuring myself."

"I would like to see that," Haldir sighed.

Legolas grinned. "Why watch when you are invited to participate?"

Haldir kissed him then, making the blush melt away and focusing the heat lower in Legolas' body. He kissed Haldir back eagerly, hungrily. He truly would be doing just what Elrond thought if Haldir did not stay now or if they were interrupted one more time. To avoid this possibility, he tried to steer Haldir towards the bed without breaking the kiss. Legolas could not take the constant need any longer. He needed his desires to be fulfilled, and he needed it to be tonight.

Haldir went easily towards the bed, but as Legolas tried to push him down onto it, the bigger elf turned them so that he fell directly on top of Legolas, who landed on his back on the bed, knocking all the breath of him. Haldir lifted his head and grinned at him as Legolas gasped for air.

"Did you lock the door?"

"Ah…"

"Never mind. Stay right there. I will lock it."

Haldir got up and Legolas watched him pad naked over to the door and lock it. Haldir was so at ease in his body, so obviously comfortable, and he radiated a sort of power which Legolas had never been able to feel. He had been rejected too many times, despite the fawning and admiration everyone heaped upon him. Legolas sat up on the bed to watch him as he locked the door and then turned back to the bed.

Haldir lifted one of his beautifully sculpted dark eyebrows as he returned to the bed, watching Legolas watching him. "I hope this will prevent any more intrusions," he said. "But let me ask you one more thing…"

"I pray you, Haldir, speak no more," Legolas said urgently. "Put your tongue to a better use and fill my mouth with it."

"My tongue will visit more than just your mouth this night," Haldir promised, "Yet I would have my answer first."

"Very well," Legolas said. He pulled off his tunic and folded it up, tossing it in the direction of a chair as he waited for Haldir to speak again. "What is it?"

Haldir had frozen when he removed the tunic. Legolas smiled. He had seen this look before on the faces of both Saelbeth and Silindë when he had removed his clothes. He knew he was considered beautiful -- and Haldir would not be afraid to touch that beauty, to take it and make it his own. The elf of Lórien shook his head slowly and grinned.

"This is an excellent distraction, but tell me this before we proceed and further -- why is Elrond mentioning marriage to you?"

"Marriage? I must have missed his proposal."

"Do not toy with me, Legolas, you know what I mean."

Legolas thought about it. Yes, Elrond had made some comment about taking care of his urges before getting married. "I know not of what he speaks."

"Are you certain? For it occurs to me that Lord Elrond has a daughter not much younger than you are."

"Arwen?"

"Aye, that is the one."

"I have met her once or twice. She is pleasant enough -- but I hardly know her, nor have I seen her in many years. How could I have asked her to marry me? Come now, Haldir, your jealousy has gone far enough. I want you in my bed, now!" Legolas demanded. To make his point he stood up at the edge of the bed and pointed at it, trying to look firm, even though he knew that with his sort of too-pretty face looking stern was nigh impossible.

Haldir did not laugh, nor did he fling himself on the bed. "I am serious, Prince Legolas."

"I do not understand."

"Could your father and Lord Elrond be arranging a marriage for you?"

Legolas was aghast. "My father would never do such a thing without my knowledge!"

"Are you certain?"

"Yes!"

"Absolutely, completely certain?"

Legolas fell silent for a moment. He could not believe that Thranduil would do something so important to his future behind his back. He lifted his chin. "I am certain. Neither my father nor Lord Elrond would affiance me to Arwen without my knowledge and consent. I am starting to think you are seeking out any excuse to leave my chamber, Haldir."

"After I have just locked myself inside of it with you? Really, Legolas, you will forgive me but I am simply looking out for myself. It would not do for someone like me to make enemies of both the Lord of Imladris and the King of Mirkwood."

"My father practically handed you to me on a plate in Elrond's presence," Legolas said irritably. "I hardly think if they meant to disapprove they would have waited until the middle of the night to do it…or the morning after. No more, Haldir, no more. Come here to me now or leave me in peace. I will see to it that you get your precious promotion. You will have what you want, so tease me no longer. Give me what I want."

Haldir's blue eyes flashed, and Legolas suddenly wondered if he was amused or angry. With the grace of a large feline Haldir approached him, stopping barely an inch away, looking deep into his eyes.

"You are what I want. Not the promotion-- you, Legolas. I want you free to be mine, unbound to any other."

"I am," Legolas whispered. He slid his arms around Haldir and kissed him, trying to show all the passion and desperation he felt in the depths of that kiss. Haldir kissed him back, but slowly, tempering him. "Lie down," Legolas whispered against his lips.

Haldir smiled indulgently and let himself fall back on the bed, looking nothing less than decadent as he sprawled, naked and aroused, among Legolas' pillows and blankets. Legolas pulled off the leggings which were far too tight now and slid onto the bed beside him. He pushed Haldir's thighs apart and lay between them on top of the elf of Lórien.

"I would have you beneath me," Haldir gasped as Legolas bucked his hips and slid against him.

"No," Legolas gasped, "I will take you. I will…"

He could barely breathe. He ached, throbbed, burned. He kissed Haldir again, almost viciously.

This time there were no interruptions.