The old ways

Okay here comes a long one......

Haldir sighed with relief when he passed the wide gates that lead into the Pelennor fields outside of Minas Tirith. Too long had he stayed here. Faramir, now Lord of Ithilien had asked him to accompany him on behalf of the people of Ithilien, representing the elves, that had settled there. They had stayed in the city for two full weeks and Haldir was more than eager to return to his home and family.

While staying in Minas Tirith, Haldir had visited the young tailor again, who had made all of Legolas clothes during the last weeks of his pregnancy. This time however, he asked for something completely different. The request had made him and her blush, but know his gift for his husband lay carefully folded inside one of the saddlebags, waiting to be given to its future owner.

The path towards the woods was muddy and Haldir could hear the squelching noises his horse’s hooves made, but the sun was sending its first warming rays over the fields and Haldir felt he could no longer resist the urge to give his joy voice and so he lifted it in song, blessing his surrounding with his crystal clear tune.


Legolas wasn’t sure what day Haldir would arrive, but he knew it was soon. So he had carefully set out some candles, changed the bed covers, cleaned the room himself and had placed some necessary items within the drawer of the left bedside table. Also he had already chosen which clothes he was going to put as sas soon as one of the borders guards was going to announce Haldir’s approach. Still it felt awkward and strange to him. It had never really bothered him to this extent. Why did he make such a fuss about the fact that he wanted some time with his love alone and deeply wished for some sexual release together with Haldir?

Thranduil had talked to Gimli a few days ago, resulting into the deep and rich laughter of the dwarf and the faint chuckle of his father, since Gimli had simultaneously thought of the same thing as Thranduil had done. The dwarf had already made up his mind, wanting to take the children outside for a while as soon as Haldir would return home. And when he had heard that the King of Mirkwood was up to the something, he wholeheartedly agreed that they both would enjoy some time with the elflings and give the parents some piece and quiet.

“He is coming!” Gimli ran towards Thranduil’s room as fast as his short legs would carry him. Without delay the unlike couple made their way to the children’s room and on the way gave Legolas a thumbs up. Thaurdae and Amanhír were quickly dressed in warm cloaks and taken outside. Thranduil and Gimli had beforehand decided where to go and organised some food and drink. They didn’t want to return for several hours to give Legolas and Haldir enough time for their private matters.

Just as they were leaving the large clea Thr Thranduil spotted a flash of white amongst the trees at the other side. Obviously Haldir was pushing his horse hard to get home.

Legolas paced their bedroom nervously and scanned the bed again. Why was he so nervous? On the other hand he had so much to tell Haldir. About their children and what had happened during these three long weeks that his husband had been gone. Nervously scanning the bedroom again, Legolas groaned and ran his hands through his long blond hair. For the first time in weeks he had left it open and flowing freely around his shoulders. Usually he had it tightly braided in one plaid down his back, so his sons weren’t able to pull it too much. He knew that Haldir loved his hair and hoped this would please him.


Bringing his horse to a skidding halt, Haldir already raised his voice calling out for Legolas and his children. To his disappointment no answer came from the inside of the large house. The march warden squared his shoulders and quickly pushed the entrance doors open. He was greeted be the warmth and comforting light of the large fireside that dominated the far side of the large hall. Haldir turned and closed the doors behind him, repeating his questioning call. Suddenly he could hear a surprised squeal coming from the hallway that lead to their private room and Legolas came running into the hall throwing himself into Haldir’s arms.

“Haldir! Love, I have missed you so!” the young prince beamed at his husband.

Instead of answering with words, Haldir quickly claimed the soft, slightly opened lips of Legolas. How he had longed for those lush and pliant lips beneath his own, the velvety tongue that was caressing his gum and teeth, the fire that was quickly spreading like wild fire through his body. No, stop! He couldn’t give into his lust right now. What would Legolas think of him? He hadn’t even once asked after their children yet. With a sigh Haldir pulled away from his husband and smiled at the gently pout he saw on Legolas’ face.

“Come love,” Haldir took Legolas’ hand in his and gentle pulled him towards their bedroom. “I have to see our two mischief makers. How did you manage all alone?”

“Oh, they were not too hard to handle, really, but ….. Haldir …. Wait!” Legolas tried to slow his husband down a bit but without much success.

“Why wait?” Haldir smiled at Legolas and moved quickly into their rooms.

Haldir stopped dead in his tracks as he took an astonished look around. The soft light candles illuminated the room, some food was carefully laid out on a small side table and their bed was obviously covered by a new satin sheet in a dark and rich burgundy colour. The door to the children’s room was slightly ajar, but no sound came out of it. Haldir turned and looked questioningly at Legolas.

“Where are Thaurdae and Amanhír?” his voice held a slight hint of confusion and annoyance.

“Gimli and my father have taken them for a little excursion. They wanted to give us some time for ourselves. Some time alone. Without any disturbances.” Legolas looked at Haldir apologetically, somehow realising that Haldir was not happy at all with the fact that his children weren’t here.

“Oh. Great, I have been away for three weeks and can’t see my children when I come back. A disturbance they are, right? Fantastic.” Haldir let go off Legolas’ hand and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“Haldir! Of course they are not a disturbance! They thought we might want some time for us. We haven’t been close for so long. You know I find it hard to relax when they are in the next room.” Legolas desperately tried to explain.

“So it is more important for you to have me in your bed than letting me see my children?” Haldir advanced menacingly.

“Haldir, stop.” Legolas looked slightly scared at his husband. “They are also my children. It was you who left us for three weeks. Did you hear me complain? No! I was alone all the time. And you? What did you do in Minas Tirith? Did you have a nice time? Do you not miss my touch? Laying together? Giving the other pleasure? Or did you have enough of that when you were away? Are you satisfied and not eager anymore for the one you bound yourself to?” by now Legolas’ eyes were ablaze and he reached out in his anger and frustration and sent the side table flying with a powerful strike of his hand, scattering the food and wine all over the floor.

“Have you gone totally mad? Pull yourself together. How dare you think of me that way. Maybe I should have taken my passion and needs to someone willing in Minas Tirith if I had known what would be waiting here at my home for me. I didn’t ask to go to the Capitol, Faramir asked me to. And it tore me apart being away from you all. If I had known that it was only the carnal pleasures you have been thinking about, I wouldn’t have bothered getting you something nice, I would have just torn your clothes off and would have taken you against the wall of the entrance hall.” With that Haldir pulled a delicately wrapped parcel from his riding cloak and threw it at Legolas’ feet.

Haldir drew his cloak close again and stormed out of the room never glancing at his husband again and moved quickly down the hallway towards the farthest away room he could find. He slammed the door of the unoccupied guestroom closed and locked it.


Legolas stood in a trance like state and never felt the hot tears that streamed down his pale cheeks, only when his eyes started burning he blinked and slowly slumped down on his knees, sobbing uncontrollably. With trembling fingers he took hold of the parcel and tenderly stroked the silky paper that wrapped its contents. The paper showed dark blotches were his tears dropped and he held the parcel tight against his heaving chest.


Haldir had slumped down on the bed in the far corner of the room and buried his face in his hands. What had gotten into him. Why had he overreacted so much? Well, he was disappointed that his …, no! They were Legolas’ children as well. So, that their children had not been here when he had returned, but then again Legolas had been right. They hadn’t really had a minute to themselves since the children had been born. Of course there had been nights during which Haldir had tried to seduce his mate, but he had not succeeded then. Other than himself, Legolas did always have an ear open towards the children’s room. Maybe it was because he had carried them and had given birth. He was more involved with them and always feared that they would wake or cry.


It was already dark when Thranduil and Gimli returned home, each of them carrying a child in their arms, chatting happily. The first thing they noticed was the eerie silence within these walls and the lack of light. No additional torches or lamps were lit, the embers in the fireside were slowly dying and the cold was starting to spread throughout the house.

Thranduil halted his steps and looked down at the dwarf “It feels wrong somehow.”

“Na, I bet they were too busy to look after anything else. They most likely are still laying in their bed sleeping or doing other unspeakable things.” He grinned.

“No, Gimli. I know my son. Something is wrong. Seriously wrong.” Thranduil handed Gimli the sleeping Thaurdae and turned towards the bedroom of his son and Hr. Gr. Gimli struggled a little as he adjusted Amanhír in his left arm, to take a hold of Thaurdae and looked after Thranduil with a concerned glance.


Thranduil found the door to the bedroom slightly open and glanced into the dark room. At first he could see nothing particular, but as he pushed the door open he found his son laying on the floor, in between scattered food, a thrown over table, curled up in a foetal position hugging a, by now fairly crumpled, package.

The King of Mirkwood quickly crouched down beside his on and carefully lifted him up and gently laid him down on the soft, silky cover of the big bed.

Legolas stirred and his breath hitched as he opened his eyes and his mind became aware of his surroundings again. “Haldir?” he whispered brokenly.

“Ion nín, it’s me your father. What happened. Where is Haldir?” Thranduil soothingly brushed a few stray strands of blond hair off Legolas face.

“He left. I don’t know ….where he is.” The blond elf sobbed.

“Shh…, he surely had not left you, has he? Tell me, Legolas, what happened here?” Thranduil held his son close trying to give him some comfort.

“We fought. He was angry that the children were not here when he arrived and I was mad at him because of it. We screamed at each other, I pushed the table over and he threw this at me.” Legolas looked blearily at the parcel “Then he stormed out of the room. Everything went wrong, Ada, everything. What if he isn’t interested in me anymore? What if we have lost the touch. So much has changed after the war. Remember the last time everything went bad between us? It was similar.”

“Now, now. Calm yourself. It surely isn’t as bad as you make it sound. Maybe you both expected too much? For nearly half a year you haven’t been intimate and that surely has not only bothered you, but Haldir as well. Why don’t you let me see where he is hiding, mhm? Come, dry your tears and open the gift he, well, ‘gave’ you. Maybe you will be surprised.” The older elf kissed his son on the cheek and got up from the bed.

Before starting his search for Haldir though, Thranduil walked back into the entrance hall, where Gimli stood waiting anxiously. “Well?” The dwarf asked. “Was I right?”

“No, sadly you were not. I was. They had a fight and I found my son curled up on the floor. He had been crying a lot obviously. Haldir has vanished and I promised Legolas to find him. Gimli could you take the twins to their room and put them to bed?” Thranduil smiled reassuringly at the dwarf and patted him on his broad shoulder before he turned back to the long hallway, sighing deeply.
mli mli shook his head as he walked to Legolas’ and Haldir’s bedroom to move on to the children’s room. Legolas was still sitting on the bed in his hand something soft and shimmering. A crumpled paper lay on his knees and fresh tears were wetting his face.

When Gimli entered the room the elf looked up and was just about to get up, when the dwarf stopped him. “No, Legolas stay were you are. I am going to look after your little ones. Don’t worry. Just imagine your father finds Haldir and calls for you. So let me take care of them both and you freshen up a little.”

Legolas frowned at the dwarf but was relieved that he could stay there on the bed. He held tightly onto the soft, shimmering robe that lay in his lap. It was a nearly see through, silvery nothing. Sleeveless and very long. Had Haldir thought of him when he bought this? Yes, definitely. But what had his thoughts been. Had he been imagining him in this robe? Naked except for this beautiful, gauzy cloth covering him? Had he imagined running his hands over Legolas slim hips through the cloth, enjoying the silky feeling?
Legolas shook his head quickly, blinked back the tears that were again threatening to fall. He pushed himself up and left the bed. Looking down at the mess on the floor, he was torn between bending down and cleaning up the room and going over into the next room and helping Gimli with his children. In the end his bad conscience won and so he went down on his knees and started cleaning up the mess he had created. Only a short while later Gimli emerged from the adjoining room and when he saw Legolas and wanted to help him, the elf waved him off. Gimli understood and left the bedroom, but not before he threw his friend and encouraging smile.


Thranduil found Haldir in a similar position in which he had found his son, only that Haldir was lying on the bed in the guest room and was wide awake. But like in his son’s eyes, the King could see the glitter of tears and the redness of those eyes told him that those weren’t the first tears that Haldir had cried.

It had taken Thranduil nearly half an hour to find his son in law. At first he had looked outside the house and then he had started searching the many rooms in this house. The room was very cold and even though elves usually weren’t affected by it, Haldir had huddled up beneath the warm blanket that had been covering the bed.

Thranduil sat down beside the march warden and lay a hand on the trembling shoulder that pointed upwards. Haldir flinched visibly but said nothing.

“Come Haldir. It is too cold here.” Thranduil tried to coax Haldir out of the bed. “Come with me to my room.”

“No, just leave me here.” Haldir’s voice cracked “Tomorrow, when it gets light, I will leave. It will be better. I have already caused too much trouble and heartache.”

“Haldir! What are you talking about?” the blond elf shook his head “You will most definitely not leave. How much heartache do you think either of you can stand? I don’t know why you had this fight, but believe me it is not that tragic. Legolas loves and misses you very much. And I am truly sorry that we took your twins out without your consent, but we thought that you would like to have some time alone with Legolas. Come now, go to him. He needs you and you need him. I think Gimli has already brought Amanhír and Thaurdae to bed and if I am not mistaken my son will be most worried about you. He actually thought that you were going to leave him for good.”

“Thranduil, I cannot go back to him. I said so many cruel things to him. I accused him of only being interested in …..” Haldir was interrupted by the King.

“I can imagine. Well, he was, no, he is very interested in bedding you again. As far as I know you haven’t been sexually active ever since the children were born. Am I not right?”

“How do you know?” Haldir gasped.

“My son came to me. He blamed himself, of course, but I told him that sometime one does only need a little push in the right direction to get going again. I obviously underestimated my actions. For that I am sorry, Haldir. But I think you still need to sort that problem out. Now, get up and go to him. It is the worst you two can do, go to sleep with a fight. Let me tell you something my grandmother once told me when I fell for Legolas’ mother and we got married. She told me to never let the sun rise over a fight. Meaning, always make up before you sleep. Never sleep apart because of a fight!” With a loving smile Thranduil drew back the covers and helped Haldir up into a sitting position. With a smirk he noticed that Haldir was still in his travelling garb.


With slumped shoulders Haldir walked down the corridor towards the bedroom, his steps getting slower the nearer he came. Nearly frozen to a halt, Haldir carefully peered into the room and found his husband kneeling on the floor, wiping it clean with a wet rag. Littered on the table that now stood again, Haldir saw the shards of the glasses and mixed up food that had been so carefully placed on the platters before. A sharp pain shot through him. He had caused all this destruction and despair. Legolas had put so much love and devotion into it, and he had willingly killed all the joy and happiness. And just because he would see his children a little later than expected. Legolas had not yet noticed him and when Haldir moved closer, he saw the unwrapped present he had brought from Minas Tirith. He closed his eyes briefly, again fighting against the pain in his chest. He had been so full of love and longing when he had bought this. Just imagining his husband wearing nothing but this translucent robe had made him hard event though he had been standing in the middle of the shop of the young tailor. He hoped that Legolas would still agree to wearing it one night for him.

Legolas had just finished cleaning the last bit of sticky honey off the hard wood floor when he heard soft steps entering the room. Hardly daring to look up, he carefully tilted his head to see who had entered. But before he could make out who it was, the person dropped down on his knees beside him and he looked into Haldir’s begging features.

With a voice that shook and eyes that pleaded, Haldir spoke to his husband as he carefully stretched a hand out towards Legolas face “I am sorry, my love. I was not being fair to you. I said such terrible things to you and I even screamed at you. Please, please forgive me. I love you so much. Please, Legolas, my love, you are my everything, my heart, my soul.”

Legolas looked at his love and instead of saying something, or chiding him he only leaned forward and buried his face in the crook of Haldir’s shoulder. His slender arms wrapped themselves around his husband and the only thing that could be heard inside the room for a long time was their hitched breathing and occasional whispers of love and devotion.

t.b.c