The old ways

But the strike never came. Legolas heard Gimli howl in surprise and opened his eyes again. He looked into an empty space. The orc lay at his feet a long arrow, clearly of elven make, produced from his neck and his unseeing eyes stared up into the grey sky.

Gimli turned in wonder and tried to make out from where the arrow could have come from. A strangled gasp left him as he stared at the face of dead warrior.

Legolas needed to recollect himself, but at the sound of shock that Gimli made he turned to look at his friend.

Gimli stood pale as the sheet, pointing uphill towards the city, his hand trembling.

Legolas rotated slowly, following Gimli’s outstretched arm.

At first all he could see was the army of Rohan riders crushing the orcs down like forceful waves of water, but among them stood one unmoving figure, bow stillsed sed with unreadable expression on his face.

At the first sight one would have mistaken him as a Rohan rider, but his fair and pale face betrayed him. Before them in the distance, there sat Haldir proud and tall on his horse, his eyes never leaving those of Legolas.

Legolas cried out in shock, his knees giving in as he sobbed uncontrollably. His knees hit the ground hard, but nothing of that mattered anymore.

All his fear, his despair and loneliness left him that moment he laid eyes on Haldir, who made his horse gallop as fast as it was possible towards his Legolas.

His horse skidded to an abrupt halt and before it came to stop Haldir had already jumped off and fell to his knees in front of Legolas, immediately taking him in his arms holding his trembling body tight.

None of them was able to speak right now and there was no need. All they needed to know was shown in their eyes as thookeooked deeply into each other's orbs.

Legolas felt like he was in the dream, the battle was forgotten, they heard no other sound but the beating of their hearts. They saw no other sight than the face of the other and no danger was upon them, for the Valar must have held a protecting hand over them.

Gimli blinked a few times, as if to clear his view and stayed close to the couple kneeling on the ground. The fight was not over yet, but he would make sure that nothing happened to those two.

He stood, legs braced and shoulders squared, wielding his ax, snarling at anyone approaching him.

With the help of Eomer’s and Aragorn’s armies the foe was quickly overturned and what ever orcs were left on their feet, fled to the river and surrounding hills.

When Aragorn turned around to look for his friends, he saw the most enchanting sight. Legolas was kneeling on the ground his arms flung around another elf, his face hidden in the crook of the shoulder of the silver haired one.

Aragorn cried out in shock when he noticed just who the other elf was.

He had held him in his arms when he saw the eyes break. It couldn't be. Had he been mistaken all the time, putting Legolas into agony?

Shaking his head he headed over to them and stood beside Gimli. The dwarf was beaming and clapping Aragorn’s back.

Legolas held Haldir as tight as he could, never wanting to let go again. But suddenly he felt his beloved flinch and he withdrew immediately.

His eyes were large and tears still spilled onto his cheeks, as he lifted his head to look at Haldir.

"My love, what is the matter?" Legolas voice was raspy and full of emotions.

"My back." Haldir whispered, straining to keep straight.

Gimli sprang into the action at once. "Quickly let us get him inside. There must be a healer somewhere. Come Aragorn, help me."

"No, Gimli, I will not come. I will not enter the city yet."

"But, Aragorn..." Gimli looked at him, shaking his head.

"You will find help. Do not worry. I will see you all in the morning." With that Aragorn turned and left them.

Legolas got up from the ground slowly as he wanted to help Haldir to stand, but the other elf wouldn’t move. His face had become deathly pale and he struggled for breath.

"No! Haldir, love! Oh no, what is wrong? Haldir?" Legolas stared down at Haldir in horror.

"I...can’t.... move.....my...." Haldir’s breath was coming in short pants now. His body felt on fire and he could not move a single muscle. He knew his body was paying him back for what he had done to it.

Gimli held Haldir by the waist carefully urging the tall elf up. When Legolas wanted to help and moved his arms under Haldir as if to carry him, Gimli stopped him "Oh no laddie, you are not going to lift him. No way, not in your condition."

Gimli held Haldir up, while he waved a warrior standing near them, over to help him.

Together they half carried Haldir into the city of Minas Tirith, Legolas never leaving their side. They huddled Haldir through the streets, people showing them the way to the house of healing.

Haldir was on the brink of unconsciousness when they laid him on a bed. Legolas was holding his hand, and only when the healer had time and came to have a look at Haldir, he let go.

The healer asked everybody to leave, and only Gimli’s persuasion could make Legolas come with him outside.

On the hallway they were greeted by a very happy and beaming Hobbit. Pippin came storming towards Legolas embracing him as fondly as his height would let him. He cuddled his head to Legolas lower body and smiled, shooting a glance up at the elf.

"Is it true?" he lifted his head from the elf's belly "You have something growing inside there, he poked Legolas slightly.

Legolas looked at Pippin and seemed to recollect himself. "How do you know about it?"

Pippin beamed at the elf "Merry told me."

"And how did he know about it?" Gimli looked sternly at Pippin.

"Haldir and Merry figured it out while Haldir was recovering in Edoras." Pippin met Legolas’ worried eyes with his sparkling ones.

"Haldir? Haldir knows?" The elf stammered.

"Well, " Pippin furrowed his brow "they didn’t know for sure, but...."

"Oh no, if he already knows, no....." Legolas turned, hiding his face in his hands.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Pippin asked.

Gimli cut him short by waving his hand at him "Not now, Pippin. Why don’t you do them both a favour and find them some quiet room, where they can rest together?"

Pippin nodded eagerly. "Sure, no problem. I’ll be back soon." He ran off and when he had vanished around the corner, Gimli put a supporting hand on Legolas’ back.

"You shouldn’t worry. I know what you are thinking. Listen Legolas, I don’t think he will hold it against you. I mean it takes two to get one pregnant, doesn't it?"

Legolas was leaning against the wall, while Gimli was pacing the corridor in front of the door to the room were Haldir was being treated.

Suddenly Aragorn came around the corner, looking exhausted and tired.

"Aragorn, I thought you didn’t want to come inside of the city?" Gimli turned to the ranger.

"Aye, but Gandalf called me here. It was about Eowyn and Merry. They have been wounded by a Nazgûl. It has all worked out, they are out of danger now. How is Haldir?"

"We don’t know. The healer sent us outside." Gimli crossed his arms before his chest.

Aragorn turned and entered the room. At first the healer wanted Aragorn to leave as well, but when he noticed who had just entered he mad way from the King.

Haldir was lying on his front, his abused back bared and arms stretched out wide to the sides. Aragorn stepped up and looked at the abused flesh.

It didn’t look as bad as he would have thought. A long jagged scar, still slightly purple ran all the way down from Haldir’s head to his hip. The skin looked stretched, and Aragorn knew immediately, that this was the result of the far too early exercise with the bow and the hard fight they had just been in.

Haldir must be in considerable amount of the pain and also the emotional turmoil didn’t help. Aragorn still couldn't believe that he had in fact left Haldir for dead and put Legolas in that terrible position. Even tough he hadn’t known about their relationship.

He laid a gentle hand on Haldir’s back and soothed him. After dressing the scar with a tight bandage he made Haldir drink an herbal tee, that would take the worst pain away and make him relax.

After some minutes Haldir had recovered enough to sit up and be led outside. Aragorn helped him together with Gimli to a room that Pippin had personally picked. Inside of the room the Hobbit had set out fruit, bread, meat and wine, to nourish the weary.

It surprised Aragorn that Legolas followed only hesitantly, not really at their side, always trailing behind a bit.

Gimli and Aragorn led Haldir to the large plush bed and gently helped him down.

They smiled at Legolas and left the room.

Haldir sighed and looked at his husband, who still stood tentatively at the end of the room.

"Come here, my love. I need you near me. Oh, I have missed you so much, I was so worried." Haldir’s voice was soft and tender.

Legolas hesitated and stayed where he was. His eyes were large and a trace of fear haunted his delicate features. He longed to be in Haldir’s arms, but the thought of his pregnancy kept him back. All too clearly he remembered Haldir’s cruel words in the past that were directed at him.

Haldir held out his arms, with a pleading look on his face.

"Legolas, please. Why do you hesitate? Do you not long to be in my arms again, gentle kisses, the burning touches bestowed with love?" Desperation had crept into Haldir’s words.

He pushed himself off the bed and took a few staggering steps towards his husband.

Pushing all of his own pain aside, Legolas immediately crossed the room to keep Haldir from falling. But when he had reached Haldir, his lover was already on his knees, taking a hold of Legolas’ hips drawing him near.