The old ways

One day later they had arrived at the old forest of Fangorn with the help of the Rohan riders and the horses they were given. Aragorn had found the tracks of the hobbits and with renewed hope they had followed them to the edges of the woods. It was decided that they would stay over night before entering Fangorn. Legolas took the first watch to be relieved by Gimli.
It took only a very short while until the snoring of the dwarf drifted through the air. Aragorn had rolled over onto his side and his regular breathing indicated a deep sleep. Legolas stood and stretched his back. His muscles were cramped, his back felt sore and his shors hrs hurt. Silently he walked around the camp, keeping an eye on his friends and smiled softly at the remembrance of Gimli's shocked face when he had discovered him and Haldir in the middle of the night in that little pool. Suddenly he felt so much despair, so much sorrow, he was so alone. For the first time in many centuries he felt tears well up in his eyes, making them burn.
The elf turned towards a large tree and leaned against it. It was hard to stifle the sobs building up in his chest. He felt the tree comforting him, not in words but in giving him the strength of nature, the tranquillity of time. Legolas was so taken by the warming sensations, that he didn't hear the patter of booted feet approaching him from behind. Suddenly he felt a small, but scruffy hand reaching for his elbow. He gasped and turned quickly, to see who might have been able to sneak up on him. Two dark and concerned eyes regarded him carefully. "Legolas, was is the matter with you?" Gimli pulled on Legolas' elbow trying to make him move away from the tree and towards some rocks, a little away from their camp.
"Nothing, Gimli. Nothing is the matter. I merely enjoy being near a forest again. It has been some time, since I felt the comforting presence of the nature."
"Aye, my elven friend. Specially when it comes to the comforting presence of another elf in the middle of nature. I don't believe you. There is something in your eyes that tells a different story. Come, Aragorn is asleep, we can observe the camp from this spot and I will listen to your worries."
Legolas sat down on one of the rocks with a sigh and buried his face in his hands. Gimli sat down cross legged in front of the elf and put his hands on the shins of the elf.
"Come, tell me. Legolas, you need to free yourself of your burdens, we need your strength and agility on our mission. We don't have time to reconsider while we are on the move, but now, in the soothing arms of the night we can lay open our souls and help each other to heal."
For some time there was no answer from the elf, but after a few minutes he drew a shuddering breath and took his hands from his face to look into Gimli's eyes.
"I don't really know what the matter is. For some time now I feel so lost and e. Le. Like something has been torn from my body itself, then again there are times I feel like rejoicing and singing, not feeling the ground beneath my feet, like I was flying, but after that I fall even harder."
"Could it be that you miss you lover?"
"Yes, I miss him. I miss him very much. Maybe it is bothering me so much, because I don't know the outcome of our mission. There is so much death, so much darkness and despair. I don't know if I ever see him again, if I have the chance make up for the years we have lost. Lost because of our stupid prejudices and accusations."
"Why by all the gods, did you loose so many years anyway? How did everything start? Come on, tell me the whole story. I am an ageing dwarf and I haven't heard a moving love story for quite some time. It would lighten my heart on this troublesome journey."
Legolas drew a deep breath and gave Gimli a small smile. "Do you really want the whole story? It going to be a long story. As you know, we elves can grow very old. And it is not all that pretty and moving. It might take some more time than this night has to offer."
"I believe we will have some more nights before us. And yes, I would very much like to hear your story." Gimli smiled at him reassuringly.
"I was very young when I met Haldir for the first time. My father was on a diplomatic errand and took me with him. I remember he hated going to the Lorien forest. Greenwood, or Mirkwood as it is called today, and Lorien were never on good terms. My father hated the Noldor, especially Galadriel. So going there was burden for us all. Anyway, it was my first time to witness a meeting of the old. I was very excited and anxious to get there. So I rode up front and came into the forest first. Before any of the entourage of my father could warn me, I was literally abducted by one of the guards. I found myself on a porm orm high up in one of the Mallorn trees bound at my hands and feet. Staring down at me were the faces of three elves, laughing at me. I was so angry, I started to scream at them to release me immediately, I told them of my rank and that my father would surely have their necks. They only laughed more calling me a pen-neth, joking about me and my inability to ride through a forest undetected.
My father was outraged to find out about the way I had been treated and demanded a punishment of the guards by the hand of Lord Celeborn himself. Luckily Lord Elrond was there and he was able to cease the tension and so the three guards were brought before the Lord and Lady of Lorien. I was astonished to find out, that the three were brothers and actually the head guards. In front of all present they were reprimanded and sent off to their talans. I still felt somewhat guilty. Would I have been not so stupid and cocksure, I would have not been caught and the wardens would not have been punished. The only thing they were doing, was their job."
"Was Haldir one of the guards?"