Of Sands and Time

For the, at least, fifth time Haldir turned his head in direction of Legolas, who seemed to fall behind again. The nearer they came to their home the slower Legolas was riding.

“Please, love. Come, let us not tarry. Amanhír and Thaurdae will be waiting for us.” The moment Haldir had uttered his words, he knew that they had been badly chosen. Actually he had wanted to encourage his husband, but had achieved the opposite.

Legolas halted his horse to a stand still and looked more worried than before. Haldir sighed and turned his own horse around. When he had reached the younger elf, he placed a soothing hand on his arm and smiled at him. “Don’t worry, love. You know that they can’t hold a grudge for a long time. Now, let’s go and face them. I am with you.” He reassured his husband.

With a huge sigh the prince nudged his horse forward again and felt Haldir close at his left side. His heart sank with every step that they came nearer to their home.


Thaurdae and Amanhír had busied themselves for hours in the spacious kitchen and now they lay exhausted, all limbs stretched out, in two large armchairs in the living area. Even though a few smaller disasters had happened while preparing the food, the result turned out to be quite good. Now all they had to do, was to wait for their fathers. Amanhír was watching his brother closely, hoping that the extensive work in the kitchen had kept him from fretting too much. He seemed relaxed now, but Amanhír knew it was only a matter of time until his brother would get all twitchy again.

Just as they could relax too much, they heard the distinct sound of horses hooves come towards the large house. Thaurdae tensed immediately and scrambled hastily out of the chair. Amanhír stopped his brother by gripping his upper arm and gave him an encouraging grin.

Thaurdae raced up to their rooms and quickly threw on another clean robe before hurrying downstairs again and nervously checking the dining room table . Good, everything looked perfect. Suddenly the soft steps of leather boots were approaching down the hallway.

Amanhír appeared underneath the doorframe followed by a beaming Haldir and a seemingly uneasy Legolas. He lead them over to the set out table and pulled each a chair. After sitting down Thaurdae and Legolas seemed to be studying the plate and the tablecloth it was standing on.

Rolling his eyes towards the ceiling Amanhír took hold of the decanter and started pouring wine. Trying to loosen the atmosphere Haldir told his sons about the long ride home and asked, with a twinkle in his eyes, about what had happened to the small boars, that had been mysteriously missing from the campsite.

Blushing furiously Thaurdae explained with a whisper how he had taken the animals home and that they now resided in an empty box in the stable. Haldir’s chuckle even moved his husband to a small smile and Amanhír took this as a good sign that everything would come to a good end.

After a long, satisfying and calm dinner, Legolas excused himself and Haldir stayed with his sons for a short while longer. He tried to explain to them about their other father and how he and Legolas would ask Elrond and Galadriel for advise. But first Haldir wanted to take Legolas away for a day or two. He wanted to be alone with him, make him feel and understand how important he was to the family. Thaurdae and Amanhír nodded solemnly and promised not ask any questions until their fathers were back and had spoken to the Eldars.

Thranduil paced the length of his large balcony muttering irritably. He just couldn’t understand Galadriel’s suggestions of sending his son back to Middle Earth. How could she? Legolas had fought one of the hardest wars that had ever happened and had risked his life more than once in the name of humanity. And if that hadn’t been enough, he had also stayed longer than any other elf in order to fulfil his promise to Aragorn King of Gondor to be at his side till the end.

Surely Legolas had been behaving oddly over the last couple of years and it became more and more difficult to have him around without having a fight with him, but that surely wasn’t enough reason to send his son away. Galadriel had spoken of danger, a darkness and hordes of the underworld. Not only that it was now mankind’s duty to look after Middle Earth and it would need more than just an elf or maybe two to solve this problem. Would anybody even remember elves? Would it not be dangerous to return to a world that had lost all memory of its past, without anybody telling the stories and tales.

A distinct grumbling and the loud clank of a wine goblet being sat down to hard pulled the former King of Mirkwood from his thoughts. Gimli had risen from his chair and now stood, his arms crossed over his barrel like chest in front of him, tapping his foot in annoyance.

“Would your majesty be so kind as to stop his restless pacing and pour me another bit of wine?” the dwarf glared teasingly at the elf.

“What? Ah, yes. Sorry.” Thranduil glanced around for the bottle and poured the dwarf some more, shaking his head ever so slightly.

“You are really worried, right?” Gimli asked carefully.

“Of course I am worried. It is not right. My son has done enough for man. Why should he be sent away again. Hasn’t the cry of the seagull pained him enough. He had to wait for so long until he was able to come here and he is supposed to leave again? That is unthinkable.” Thranduil took a deep breath and fought down the urge to shout and bang his fist on the table.

“Maybe we will find somebody else. We have to persuade the Lady not to send Legolas. I agree with you that your son does not seem up to it.” Taking a deep gulp of his wine the dwarf sat down again and looked up at the imposing elf.

Thranduil nodded tiredly and stared out at the star lit night.

It had taken Haldir two days of relentless pleading and persuasion to talk Legolas into coming with him for yet another little trip. Obviously the memory of the last one, wasn’t something that encouraged him. Only Haldir’s pleading eyes and slight quiver in his voice had in the end changed Legolas mind.

The ride was a quiet one and the odd distance between the married couple seemed deafening in the lush presence of the surrounding nature. A cold hand of fear was clamping down on Haldir’s heart while he watched the dulled eyes of his husband and the lack of interest in nature and the wonderful mountainside gently illuminated by the golden afternoon sun.

For so may years now they had been married and for even more years they had been apart. Everything had worked out for them in the worst time Middle Earth had ever seen and now when they had the chance to live in eternal peace a break up was near again.

How could he show Legolas that he was the most important person in his life? Could he reawaken memories of a better time. A time of love and passion that was so immense, that it was beyond any comprehension. Trying to steady himself, Haldir rode up next to Legolas and gently reached over to stroke his husband’s porcelain cheek. When no reaction came, the silver haired elf felt the stinging of tears and quickly closed his eyes so Legolas would not notice. Though he doubted that his husband would actually care.

Soon after, the elves reached a small grove of Birchwood trees that grew right along a smaller mountainside. As they made their way through the trees, the sound of a waterfall came nearer. For the first time in hours the younger elf lifted his eyes and looked faintly curious into the distance.

Haldir looked over and motioned his husband to halt his horse and wait for a short while. A pale blond eyebrow climbed upwards but Legolas stopped his horse and watched Haldir slowly vanishing through the trees.

He felt numb and confused. It felt like the whole world was shifting around him, like the ground was pulled away from beneath his feet. A strange growing darkness and unspeakable fear was overpowering his feelings and senses. The moments of clarity grew fewer and fewer and he often wondered if the only known elven sickness had taken hold of him. The slow fading of his body and soul. But for what reason? He had everything he ever wanted; Haldir at his side, two wonderful sons, friends and a life in Valinor. Still it felt like something was missing. If he could only find out what.

A well known whistle made its way through his gloomy thoughts and Legolas nudged his horse forward again, riding towards its source. Only a few hundred meters further on, the trees gave way to a small clearing right at the mountain side, a small waterfall and a shallow pond at its foot. It took the blond elf a few seconds to recognise it. Though it was smaller and the pond differently shaped, the scenery resembled the magical place where Haldir and he had spend their wedding night, nearly perfectly.

A pure and sparkling smile graced the Prince’s lips for the first time in what seemed weeks as he dismounted and walked up to his waiting husband, who stood right beside a spread out blanket and a basket with food and wine. Tears were pooling in the march warden’s eyes as he held his arms wide open, waiting for Legolas to move into their circle.

t.b.c