Take My Hand

Take My Hand
By Noelwing
Pairing: Legolas/Haldir
Disclaimer: Middle-earth and her people are the property of Tolkien. Any original characters are the creations of the author and belong to her.

Part Three: Capture

Legolas slapped his hand over his mouth so fast that his lips stung from the impact. His eyes were wide with shock and his breathing came in brief, deep pants. The hand that cupped his mouth securely was shaking as well. The two elves were deathly silent and the only noises were the breaths muffled by Legolas’ hand.

“What did you say?” Haldir said, finally breaking the silence. His voice was flat, completely devoid of emotion. Legolas dropped his hand away from his mouth but he couldn’t find the courage to speak. Haldir didn’t even look like himself, not to Legolas anyway. His face was a mask of cold furry and his steel-gray eyes seemed to drill right into Legolas’ soul; he looked almost terrifying to the prince.

Legolas couldn’t believe what he had just done, he had confessed his feelings for Haldir; a secret he had been keeping for nearly thirty years. Haldir’s cold expression was daunting and Legolas didn’t know what to expect from him. Legolas looked into those stormy gray eyes and he felt his courage suddenly return to him. The words he had wanted to say for decades had finally made it past his lips; he couldn’t falter now. “I love you. I have since the day I first met you, that day when you came to greet and escort my family and I to Caras Galadhon. I have wanted to tell you for what feels like an eternity to me, but you never let me get close to you so I could not confess my love for you. But it is the truth-I love you. There I said it.” Legolas never broke Haldir’s gaze the whole time.

Haldir tried to stare the prince down but the youth did not waiver under his scrutinizing gaze. He couldn’t believe what he had just heard; no one in Haldir’s whole life had ever told him that they were in love with him. The words sounded so alien to him and strange feelings began to well up inside of his heart; it frightened him and he reacted without thought. “Are you stupid?” Haldir laughed bitterly. “You hardly know anything about me, how could you possibly love me. Sorry prince but I feel nothing of the sort for you, nor could I ever. I have far better things in my life to worry about than the silly feelings of a spoiled child.” His words were so hurtful and Haldir didn’t even recognize his own voice, nor what had come over him. “Don’t worry though I fully intend to deliver you safely back to your parents but it’s only because I was assigned to. In truth, I do not wish to even be here!”

“Then why are you still here!” Legolas cried.

“Because Galadriel asked me to, that’s why. Now I would like to get moving again, the sooner I get you back to Mirkwood the sooner I can return to Lothlórien.” Legolas’ head dropped and Haldir thought he would be sick if the prince started crying. But Legolas simply raised his head; his face was blank, as he looked Haldir straight in the eye.

“I see.” Said Legolas, and that was all.

Haldir used his good arm and hauled himself upon the back of his horse; he gritted his teeth to stifle the groan from the pain that fired from the wound in his left shoulder. Legolas went back over to the spot where he had dropped the map, completely ignoring the corpses of orcs that he had to kick aside. He collected the wadded up paper as well as his used arrows and placed them into the quiver on his back. He checked the map one last time to make sure he knew the correct path to take and indicated to it with his finger before he too leapt upon the back of his horse.

Haldir let the prince lead the way out of the dark wood and they passed in total silence. It wasn’t long before they were back on the right path and heading toward Mirkwood once again. Haldir could feel his blood boiling; he didn’t want to admit that he had taken the wrong way and in by doing so, had put the prince in mortal danger. On top of all that he had to be rescued by Legolas only to find that he was the object of the royal brat’s affection and the pain in his shoulder did not help things at all. As they rode on Haldir tried to inspect his wound, it was a small gash and it was still bleeding but it was nothing serious, it would heal in a day or two. Haldir continued to apply pressure to the wound, pressing the piece of Legolas’ tunic to the injury.

********
Afternoon melted into twilight and the two elves found themselves in more familiar and friendly territory. However, the only sounds were the songs of birds and the chirping of crickets for Haldir and Legolas said not a word to each other. It had been that way for the entire day.

The strength of the horses faded and the animals began to neigh and fidget with fatigue and the two elves stopped and made camp for the night. As Legolas built a fire Haldir checked his wound. He was happy to see that his elven healing powers had taken effect and his wound was already closed, and within another day it should heal entirely. Haldir reached into his saddlebag and pulled a fresh bandage out of the first aid bag and applied it to his wound, it stung ever so slightly because of the healing liquid that elves soaked their bandages in, but it passed as quickly as it had come.

He was about to discard the old bandage when he remembered that it was a piece of Legolas’ tunic. The silver material had been stained with blood but it felt soft and smooth between his fingers. How spoiled Legolas must be to have such fine material to make even his travel clothes out of. Haldir turned around only to find that Legolas had already retired for the night. As he looked at the slumbering prince his mind replayed the prince’s plea of love to him earlier that day. Haldir’s heart skipped a beat as an indescribable feeling welled up inside of his soul and he clutched the ruined fabric in his hand. Whatever Legolas had stirred up in him, he wasn’t sure if he liked it or not. Haldir shook his head violently trying to stifle the feeling and fall into his own thoughts. He figured he best retire as well but before he removed his saddlebags and tended his horse; he unconsciously tucked the blood stained fabric away within the folds of his own tunic.

********

By the next day things had not improved much between the two travelers. It was true that they were speaking again but it was only to discuss travel plans and nothing else. Today they would be traveling upon a trail that was actually an old riverbed and they had to plot their path carefully. It was a task that couldn’t be achieved without at least some communication.

By noon they had cleared the riverbed and decided it was safe to quicken there pace and so they went on in a steady gallop. They hadn’t been going for long when Haldir’s horse suddenly reared, an action throwing the rider to the ground. Haldir landed on his back- hard among the stones and twigs that made up the trail. “HALDIR!” Legolas cried as he turned his horse to assist Haldir.

Legolas jumped from his steed and went to his fallen companion and pulled him to his feet. Haldir instantly clutched his injured shoulder trying to soothe the pain that burned into his Muscles. “Here, let me see.” Legolas said as he tried to remove Haldir’s hand away from the bandaged shoulder.

“I’m alright!” Haldir spat as he batted away the prince’s hands. “Don’t touch me alright! I have to attend to my horse.” He shrugged the prince aside a lot colder than even he intended to; he just didn’t feel like being babied at the time; especially by Legolas.

Haldir’s horse was just a yard ahead of him limping pathetically. It seemed to be having trouble supporting itself upon its front- right hoof and Haldir was cautious not to spook the animal while he inspected it. The horse trusted its master not to harm it and obediently raised its hoof so that its master might look at it. Sure enough, a jagged stone had become lodged in the horses hoof and that’s why it threw Haldir the way it had. Haldir cautiously removed the stone from the horse’s hoof leaving the horse graciously relieved.

“I think he will be just fine but I cannot ride him like this; it will cause him too much pain.” He went quiet for a minute as he mused over a course of action. He lifted the horse’s hoof again. “Legolas, inside of my saddlebag is a first aid bag. Can you hand it to me?” Legolas silently complied and retrieved the first aid bag as he was asked. Legolas Was glad to hear Haldir’s voice again but he hated how cold Haldir talked to him like he wanted to keep a wall between the two of them.

“That wound will need at least a day to heal.” Legolas said in concern. “You can ride on my horse with me until then.” Haldir made no reply and Legolas had a feeling as to why Haldir didn’t respond to his suggestion. He regretted ever opening his mouth.

Legolas watched as Haldir pulled a wad of cloths from his first aid bag and gingerly wrapped the animal’s hoof in the cloth. Legolas could tell by Haldir’s audible breaths that he was concentrating very hard on his task. He made sure the horse’s bandage was comfortable yet secure. As soon as he released the horse’s foot it began to shake its hoof, trying to rid its self of the bindings. Haldir took hold of the animal’s reigns to steady the horse and he muttered words of endearment while he stroked the horse’s mane. With a neigh the horse stopped its struggles and calmed down.

Legolas was beginning to think that Haldir had a split personality. One side was cold, always focused on duty and said what ever he wanted regardless of the feelings of others and it was the side that Legolas was most familiar with. But the side he was seeing now was so different; this side was gentle, had great respect and care and even seemed loving. Legolas knew that Haldir had turned him away and Legolas used every fiber of his will power to keep his heart from shattering completely. But hope of still reaching Haldir still lingered within the prince’s heart. Haldir’s display of care towards his horse was proof beyond doubt that Haldir had a compassionate side and Legolas wondered why Haldir wanted to keep it hidden from the world.

Once again, Haldir felt eyes upon him and he turned his eyes towards the prince of Mirkwood. Sure enough, the prince was staring at him again. Only this time he paid no heed to fact that he had been caught and just kept staring. Legolas’ face betrayed no emotion, only his eyes. Haldir could see a storm of feelings that he couldn’t even begin to describe floating within Legolas’ eyes and he couldn’t even imagine what was going on within the prince’s head.

“Haldir please…” His voice shook like one on the brink of tears. “I meant what I said to you the other day, I…I was not lying to you at all.” Legolas stood as still as a tree on a windless day. Haldir honestly wasn’t in the mood for this right now. He thought he had made it crystal clear to Legolas that he was not interested in his feelings weather they be true or not. But something about the prince’s lithe figure held him. He had to admit that Legolas was attractive- physically anyway. A part of Haldir felt kind of proud (though he would never admit it) that he had caught the attention of such a beautiful creature. But was it love or lust that Legolas had for him? Haldir didn’t know why but he had to find out and he knew just how to do it too.

In a heart beat Haldir was standing only a breath apart from Legolas’ face. For the first time Legolas had a chance to see those steel- gray eyes of Haldir’s up close and he had no idea what to expect. But he didn’t care really; Haldir was right in front of him and Legolas wasn’t going to do anything to drive him away.

Haldir raised his hand and gently cupped the prince’s face. Legolas gasped ever so slightly as he felt a firm yet warm hand make contact with his face. Legolas was not used to being touched at all and his first initial instinct was to push the hand that was now lightly caressing his cheek away. But his body said otherwise and he could not control it. His heart raced and he could feel his skin tingle as Haldir’s thumb brushed over his lips. A wild thought came into his mind suddenly- maybe Haldir was going to kiss him. The thought elicited another gasp from him and he blushed madly.

Haldir could feel Legolas stir under his ministrations and he placed his left hand upon Legolas’ shoulder to steady him while his right hand continued to explore the prince’s face. Legolas’ eyes were half shut by now, Haldir growing bolder, rubbed his thumb over the pronounced cheekbone while his middle finger reached and caressed the point of Legolas’ ear. The prince reacted as Haldir expected him to, he shut his eyes completely and the blush upon his cheeks deepened. The hand that rested upon Legolas’ shoulder moved on its own accord and found its way to the flesh of Legolas’ neck. He could feel a pulse thudding under the skin and Haldir’s own body was beginning to react a bit. The sensuous moans, the soft ivory flesh and of course those rosy lips; all of it was indeed very tempting. But if there was anything Haldir prided upon more it was his self- control.

Legolas felt like he was floating and he wanted to lean into those hands that caressed his face and neck. But his bliss was terminated when the hands that touched him so gingerly suddenly griped his chin and shoulder and then all too quickly, shoved him away. Legolas’ heart was still pounding and his skin tingled as well. What was he feeling, why did Haldir push him away and why was his heart aching? “Wha…What’s wrong? Why did you do that?” Legolas cupped the cheek that Haldir had touched with his own hand. Was he trying to preserve the feeling, he didn’t know?

“I wonder, do you respond to every touch so wantonly? Haldir said looking as smug than ever.

“I do not understand what you mean by that.” Legolas’ hand fell away form his face, his features twisted into confusion and to Haldir; he looked very pathetic. But nothing was going to stop him from making his point.

“You tell me you are not used to being touched by another yet you seem to be very comfortable with my touch. How do I know that you would not respond the same way to the touch of another?”

“You mean that you…you think I am some kind of whore?” He took in deep breaths of air as control over his emotions began to wane. Legolas’ heart clenched in his chest; he didn’t want to believe Haldir’s words. ”No, I let you touch me because I wanted you to. I want you to touch me.” Legolas reached out with his own hand and tried to touch Haldir’s face, it was a desperate attempt to try and show his own affection.

Haldir flinched away from the touch and completely disregarded the look of devastation upon Legolas’ face. He glared at the hand that made no move to touch him and just floated inches from his face. “Do you even know what you sound like? You are so pathetic begging for touch like this. How could I possibly want to touch something as weak and pathetic as you?” Haldir’s words were colder than the bitterest winter on earth and tears flowed freely from Legolas’ eyes.

“So long as you are like this I promise you that no one will ever love you. You will simply leave yourself open to be taken advantage of by others; that is if you aren’t already…” His sentence was cut of by a loud cracking noise that echoed through the wood so loudly that birds were startled from their perches. It was caused when Legolas’ palm connected with the flesh of Haldir’s face.

Haldir’s hand immediately covered the side of his face where Legolas had slapped him. He pressed hard against the stinging flesh but it did little to dull the pain. He was really angry now and he wanted nothing more than to hit Legolas back; he didn’t care if he was hitting royalty. But before he could do anything Legolas had mounted his own horse and was taking off. Haldir looked to Legolas’ face, he was blazing with anger and hot tears of pain flowed down his cheeks. “You are colder than the peaks of mount Caradhras.” And he dashed off in the direction of his homeland.

Haldir was fuming and he kicked at the ground in frustration. What a nightmare this trip had become. His shoulder and now his face were in agony, his horse had a damaged hoof and couldn’t be ridden at the time and to top it all off, his royal protectorate had taken off on his own. Haldir knew that he promised Galadriel that he would look after the prince but at the moment he couldn’t care less about that promise or the royal brat. “Honestly, Legolas is an adult elf; he can find his own cursed way home.” Home, yes, that’s where Haldir wanted to be as well. The thought of Lothlorien made his head cool and with a frustrated sigh he turned to his horse. “Come on, let’s go home.” He said in a rather flat and defeated tone. The horse neighed and let its master lead it by the reigns. Haldir treaded the path slowly; it was strange, his mind was completely oblivious to all that had transpired between him in the prince. All he could really think about was how in the world he was going to explain all of this to lady Galadriel.

********

Legolas pushed his horse to go as fast as it could through the dense forest. He wanted to put as much distance between him and Haldir as possible. But no matter how many paces were between them now Legolas just couldn’t get the image of Haldir’s face out of his mind or his cold words out of his head. /Haldir thinks I’m a whore, no it isn’t true/ Legolas kept repeating the thought inside of his mind. Legolas knew now more than ever that Haldir had no feelings other than contempt for him inside of his heart and Legolas cursed himself a fool for even loving him in the first place. How could he have of fallen for some one who was so frigid and bitter.

But yet he still felt his skin tingle form the memory of Haldir’s touch. The way his heart raced and his face flustered; it still held the prince to his hope that he could make the march-warden of Lothlorien love him. This in turn was balanced out Haldir’s slanderous accusation of Legolas being a whore; knowing that was Haldir’s true opinion of him sent Legolas into a spiral of tears and racking sobs.

All he cared about now was getting back home to Mirkwood. Yes everything would be fine once he got back to Mirkwood. No one needed to know about this, no one. He could bottle it up inside of him, he could immerse him self in study and sword play; he could forget all of this, he could forget Haldir. “Yes, try to forget.” He told himself, “I don’t have to go to Lothlórien ever again. Just try to forget, try to forget.” His heartbeat and breathing returned to normal but his vision was still blurry with tears but cared not to wipe them away. He didn’t care for anything other than getting home at the moment, he didn’t care if Haldir was following; he didn’t care. He let his horse go at the pace it desired through the forest. Legolas let himself be calmed by the rocking of the horse’s movements; he was in an almost trance like state and completely oblivious to the world around him.

Suddenly, the ground beneath the horse began to buckle and an unexpected jolt brought Legolas back to reality. He looked at the ground and noticed that it was beginning to break and give out under the weight of the horse. Legolas realized with horror that he had stumbled onto some kind of pit- trap. Who had made the trap and for what purpose mattered little to Legolas, he had to get himself out of there. He spurred his hose to make a leap for solid ground but it was too late, the last of the trap’s cover gave out under the horse’s weight and Legolas was thrown from the horse’s back and was falling. He screamed as loud as he could before the impact with the ground knocked every last breath from his body.
*******

A scream of terror ran through the forest and made its way to Haldir’s ears. He stopped dead in his tracks as he tried to determine where the sound had come from. He didn’t have to try hard; he knew that it was Legolas who had produced that sound. Before Haldir even knew it he was bounding through the woods to try and find Legolas. He completely threw aside any personal issues he had with Legolas; he had a duty as a soldier of Galadriel to protect the prince.

Haldir deliberately left his horse behind because the animal’s wounded hoof would only slow him down and Haldir needed to get to Legolas as fast as possible. Using the speed that his people were blessed with, Haldir quickly found the tracks left behind by Legolas’ horse and followed them along the path. As he got closer he could here the panicked sounds of a horse and Haldir quickened his stride.

His eyes finally caught site of something moving and he realized that it was Legolas’ horse. The animal looked to be well but where was its rider? It was only until Haldir got closer that he became aware of the deep dark pit at the horse’s feet.

Haldir moved cautiously towards the mouth of the gapping pit; the edge was still unstable and chunks of earth were breaking off and falling into the pit. Haldir found a secure spot and peered into the darkness. His eyes instantly feel upon the flaxen hair of Legolas who lay stricken at the bottom of the pit.

Legolas lay on his back and his arms and legs were sprawled all about him. By all appearances he did not seem to be conscious; Haldir wondered if Legolas was even still alive. “LEGOLAS, LEGOLAS CAN YOU HERE ME!” Haldir cried into the darkness but there was no answer. So he kept trying, he refused to believe that Legolas was dead.

Legolas was wrapped in the dark. He wondered how long he had been there, how much longer would he be here? Slowly his mind began to work again and he began to remember how he had come to the darkness in the first place. He remembered the ground beginning to break under the feet of his horse. He had tried to get both the animal and himself off of the trap but that’s when the animal reared, he supposed, and he fell to the bottom. Miraculously the horse managed to make it to the other side of the trap and not fall in.

The memories of the fall kept playing themselves over and over but then suddenly, something new made its self known- a voice. /Whose calling me? / Legolas was sure he could hear the voice calling his name. Bracing himself, he opened his eyes to see walls of earth all around him. There was an opening at least ten feet above him that he could see and peering over the edge was Haldir.

Haldir was relived to here a moan from Legolas and he knew now that Legolas was still alive. “LEGOLAS, ARE YOU ALL RIGHT!” He shouted to Legolas who still lay at the bottom of the pit.

“Haldir…I…fell.” Legolas wasn’t sure if Haldir could here him or not, he felt like he used every last bit of strength he had yet all he managed to achieve was that pitiful sentence.

Haldir heard Legolas’ weak cry and he knew that Legolas was incapable of climbing out of the pit on his own; Haldir knew he would have to go in there himself and bring Legolas out. “Legolas be still, I’m coming down to get you.” Another moan was enough to let Haldir know that Legolas heard him. Haldir went to Legolas’ horse and began sifting through the saddlebags; he prayed to the Valar that the prince had a rope in one of his bags. If he didn’t, Haldir would have to run back to his own horse and get his rope. But if he did that he would have to leave Legolas by himself in the trap and he didn’t want to do that because who ever had constructed that trap took great care in doing so and they would surely be back. Thankfully, his prayers were answered, inside the smaller bag was a length of rope and it would be just right for the job.

Legolas was told to stay still but he tried to move anyway. He twitched his fingers and jerked his arms. There was no pain in his limbs so none of them could be broken; he could only feel pain when he tried to move his back. His whole body went numb and he felt his stomach turn. He let out a defeated sigh and ceased all movements; maybe he was hurt a lot worse than he thought? He wondered if he was still suffering from the fall or what if he had broken his back. He was frightened by the uncertainty of his condition but he stayed extremely calm. He was calm because Haldir was coming to rescue him.

He looked up at the opening of the hole and he could see Haldir standing at the edge once again. Haldir looked like he was fumbling with something and then Legolas saw Haldir throw what looked like a silvery thread into the hole; it was a rope. “Legolas, hold on, I’m coming to get you.” Legolas could see Haldir give the rope a pull; he must’ve tied the other end of the rope to a tree and was testing its strength. Legolas could see Haldir looking down at him again and that’s when he noticed two dark silhouettes looming over the march- warden; Legolas tried to scream a warning but it was too late.

Haldir was ready to lower himself into the hole when he noticed a panicked expression upon Legolas’ face. Again Legolas made some kind of sound but Haldir couldn’t make it out. He suddenly felt a presence behind him and it was quickly followed by a cold, numbing pain that originated at the back of his neck and traveled all the way to his fingertips. The rope dropped from his listless fingers and Haldir fell to his knees before the darkness swallowed him as well.

Two armored figures stood back to admire their quarry. The one holding the club had never been so proud in all his life; he had managed to sneak up and take out an elf. Both men were very proud for they knew that their leader would surly reward them graciously for the capture of two elves that would prove to be very useful slaves.

TBC in part four-Reconciliation
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