Desperate times, desperate measures

@AtorySkane: I'm so glad to read your review! That's exactly what I was going for; a constant whirlwind of emotions! Hope you enjoy the new chapter!

Chapter 13: Find a way



Time seemed to have frozen and though Legolas saw Haldir, he couldn't even think to do anything beyond staring at him like he was doing now. It couldn't be. His hand -entwined with Aragorn's- opened and closed on its own accord before he felt the light pressure of Aragorn tightening his hold for but a moment before he heard a whispered, "Go to him, Legolas"

His eyes shifted to the King of Gondor, searching the Man's face for any hint of hesitation, but he saw only love and understanding staring back at him.

Torn between loyalty, love and simple confusion, it took another softly urged, "Go" before he finally started moving toward the Marchwarden.

His pace was slow at first but became increasingly faster until he was just short of sprinting.

With a leap he wrapped himself around the Marchwarden, who, despite a brief smile gently urged him down; they were in public after all and this was no way for a Prince of Mirkwood to behave.

Legolas couldn't care less, touching Haldir's face and softly kissing him, touching along the lines of his body as if he was simply trying to assure himself that the Marchwarden was actually there, "I'm here, lirimaer, much overdue, but I'm here"



It was only then that the Prince drew back to look up at the taller elf, "You're here... but how?"

Haldir glanced behind him to a greater gathering of Elves, "Námo gave us all the chance to return, or not to. With our kin leaving Middle Earth he felt it was a decent thing to restore those of us who had fallen in the battle, so that we might help rebuild some of the beauty that once was."

Though Legolas nodded, there was a sense of anticipation in the air as the crowd around them watched the situation and wondered what it meant for the binding to the King.

Aragorn was the one to draw the attention away, "No binding shall take place today, but, since you are all gathered here as it is I say we make this a feast in honour of those brave souls returned to us"

Spoken like a true King the crowd celebrated the declaration, but Legolas hadn't missed that light tone in Aragorn's voice that argued he was far from content.



Nervously he bit his lip as he moved to Aragorn together with Haldir, dreading the exchange and feeling the urge to just run the closer they came.

It was Haldir to speak first as he extended a hand to Aragorn, "King Aragorn, I wish to thank you for your role in helping Legolas overcome the hurt of losing me. I cannot thank you enough for the way you've helped him... I'm sure you'll understand however, that I'm anxious to take him home with me"

The King of Gondor gave a light nod of understanding, but his words argued a different thing, "I can understand that need, but as I'm sure you're well aware, he's at home here now, would you take that familiarity away from him now? With all he's lost already?"

Legolas watched the exchange in silence for the most of it, but felt himself grow increasingly annoyed as the two continued their jabs on his account back and forth, "You speak of me as though I'm absent from your sides, as though I am a favoured toy to be claimed. Neither one of you has even considered asking what I want and you expect me to leave with either of you?"

He shook his head and walked away, "I may look younger than the both of you, but I understand enough to know that this way I could be happy with neither of you"



Haldir trailed his eyes over Aragorn, "You claim to love him, then why would you put this guilt on him? You'll die while his life is not even halfway over. How can you expect him to live with that?"

Aragorn frowned, knowing the Elf had a point but refusing to acknowledge it, "You've been gone for a long time, Haldir, were it so that you stayed dead it would've been for the better. His life has changed, his needs are different. You know nothing of how to please him now"

A mocking laugh came from below, Gimli being the source of it, "Not to offend, but here you two stand bickering like little girls while the Elf you claim to love ran away upset over just that. Are you both so thick you do not understand he needs the two of you to get along and allow him his own choices without the two of you complicating the matter further. It's just a thought"

And it was a good thought at that.

Not caring whether Haldir followed or not Aragorn followed Legolas to the chambers they'd shared for weeks now, "Legolas?"

An angry, "What?" resounded through the room, but Aragorn didn't miss the touch of tears in that voice he knew so well, "Don't cry poikaer, please don't cry."



In an attempt to comfort his beloved, Aragorn wrapped his arms around the Elf, "It'll be alright. Whatever you decide, we shall accept it if that means you'll be happy in life. However long you need to decide, please take that long. I might not have forever, Haldir was right about that, but I can wait for you. I can, I will, and I'll let you go if need be."

The words were those Legolas had been wanting to hear; the assurance it would be okay, that no relationship would be ruined forever by his choice whatever he decided.

Legolas turned in the embrace, "I never thought I could be this happy and yet this sad at the same time. Estel, I just don't know what to do"

Another voice joined the conversation, "You must do whatever your heart supposes you should"

Aragorn nodded in agreement, "Haldir is right, follow your heart in this and trust it to guide you"



It was easier said than done, what was worse; Námo had struck a deal with each Elf returned to Middle Earth. Haldir's deal for survival was Legolas' acceptance and desire of his love. A binding of the heart as well as the soul. If he failed, Haldir could not remain.

It was a huge source of concern for the Marchwarden, for he was happy to return to Middle Earth and more than that he was happy to see his love again.

He refused to tell Legolas of this agreement, wanting the Prince's choice to be his own in full without the heavy weight of Haldir's fate tied to it.

The Marchwarden glanced at Aragorn, "Let us leave him so he might gather his thoughts, we shall break fast together."

Though Aragorn nodded he felt that Haldir had ulterior motives to the request, ones he didn't understand but dreaded just the same.

They followed after one another, leaving Legolas to his own company.

Pulling the King of Gondor aside Haldir related the deal, not to gain sympathy but solely to prepare the man for what was to come, "I didn't think it would be as much of a choice for him as it is...Though I wish it were different, I can only thank you for filling up the emptiness he must've felt in my sudden absence."

Aragorn nodded his head then, "Legolas has always had my heart, even while he was unaware of that for the longest time"

The air seemed to darken for a moment as Haldir spoke again, “Then why would you ever hurt him the way you did?”



It wasn’t Aragorn who answered the question as Legolas stepped forth, “Because it was what I needed from him, what he needed. The darkness ate at us both and this eased it away. I don’t see why you insist on trying to make him feel guilty about this while I’ve already told you –several times, I might add- that I wanted it, needed it and certainly do not blame him for it.”

Haldir dropped his head in surrender, “I’m just trying to understand it”

How did he lose his beloved to this Man? How did their love lose its strength in surrender to a new love that shouldn’t ever have existed?

Legolas moved to the Marchwarden, kissing his lips, “You may have seen all, but that doesn’t mean you understand it. When you fell, I wanted to follow you. Aragorn’s love restored light in that life… Without him I wouldn’t have survived”

Reaching back with his hand he drew Aragorn near, looking at Haldir who spoke with saddened certainty, “So you have chosen”



Legolas shook his head in answer, “I don’t want to choose between the both of you, you both hold my heart and to choose would mean to refuse my heart something it holds dear. I cannot choose. I cannot.”

His eyes filled with hope, “Can we not find a way? Saes?”

The two men before him faced one another and for a moment Legolas closed his eyes and distanced himself from the both of them, afraid of the answer, afraid to be told no... afraid of the consequence if such an answer would come.

Aragorn was the first to speak, "My life spreads longer than most Men, but it is naught in comparison, I realize this and would not demand your love if it would make you forsake that which you have with Haldir. I couldn't."



There was a light sigh from the Marchwarden before he too spoke, "I cannot deny finding such a thing difficult, but for you I would accept it. Tell me this, Legolas, would you be happy here? Within these walls of stone?"

Legolas opened his eyes to look at the Marchwarden, wanting to argue that he would, but his eyes filled with a light sadness as he realized truth, "Not forever"

But then, he figured, it wouldn't be forever and it would be a small sacrifice for him to make, but could he ask the same of Haldir?

He sighed, his voice but a whisper as he spoke, "It would be cruel to ask the same of you...."

But he wanted to, more than anything.

A tremor went through his body as tears began rolling down his cheeks, "It is unfair of me to ask this of you... This could never work. Apologies... I.."



It was Aragorn who stepped forth, pressing a gentle kiss to the Elf's cheek to kiss away the tears, "We needn't see each other every day to know our love is true, strong...My heart is always yours, distance would not lessen it. If it must be so, we can make it work. We must."

There was a moment of silence, "With Lothlorien and Mirkwood combining its forces, our distance wouldn't be too far. I have a capable Stewart to watch over the White City... Things can be done. This is not impossible"

Simply impractical.

Haldir gave a nod then, "If this must be the way, we can see it done"

And so arrangements were made and a bond was established that would see them all content.

Well, mostly Legolas, but his happiness ensured that of his chosen companions.



TBC...