The old ways

First of all SORRY! I have been on a business trip and didn't have much of a chance writing. I hope I gore ore done soon and I want to thank you all so much for staying with me, even over such a length of time.

Now, to the story......


They stayed like for some time, their breathing still irregular and their bodies trembling from the strain. Haldir still knelt between his husbands thighs, buried deep in his body and only when his member was flaccid again he removed himself and bent down to brush his lips against Legolas’.
The eyelids of the blond elf fluttered open and his eyes sparkled ideepdeep and mysterious blue. Haldir smiled and looked at his love. The flushed body and beaming face, the totally relaxed limbs, the heaving chest and the new softness of his hips and stomach. Never had he seen so much beauty and he sighed at the view.

Legolas lifted his left arm and tenderly brushed his fingertips over Haldir’s chest “I love you!” he whispered, his voice still somewhat shaky.
The marchwarden smiled at him and suddenly his eyebrows climbed up and he looked like he had remembered something.
Turning over to his left side, Haldir fumbled for one of the saddlebags he had brought along and rummaged through it. After some fruitless attempts, he pulled out a small bundle of soft cloth, tightly held together by a piece of string.
Legolas eyed him curiously and cocked his head.
Haldir’s smile had grown a little bit shy, as he untied the string and unfolded the cloth.
When the cloth lay open on his palm, Haldir carefully pulled out something very small and put the cloth down again.
“Legolas, many, many years ago I gave you something, not of big value, but from my heart. It was a very dark day when you returned this gift to me and I thought I’d never have the chance to give it to you again. But know it seems I might have that chance and I want to ask you, if you are willing to take this back from me and if you will wear it again as a sign of our love to one another.” Haldir held his hand open for Legolas to see and tried with difficulty to keep his hand from shaking.
Legolas pushed himself up on his elbows and peered at Haldir’s outstretched hand. He gasped with an expression of shock and astonishment, but also guilt and looked back up at his husband, tears starting to glitter in his cerulean eyes.
“Haldir! You kept it? By Elbereth, I must have hurt you so much, throwing it at your feet. It meant so much to you, to us. And you are willing to give it to me again?” Legolas’ voice was small.
Haldir gently pushed Legolas into a laying position and took Legolas’ left into his.
He kissed the tip of the index finger and gently put the ring back into its rightful place. Then he placed his own ring into the pale palm of his love and sighed when Legolas slipped it onto his finger.


Haldir carefully leaned down, trying to avoid putting his weight onto their growing child and kissed his husband. They were at ease now, with themselves and with the world around them.
After a while Haldir rolled off Legolas and stayed snuggled together under the shining sun for a long time. Tenderly caressing each other and kissing softly from time to time. More often than Haldir would have thought possible, he found his own hands wandering off to stroke and feel the roundness of Legolas’ body.
He had placed his head on his love’s shoulder, one arm wrapped around the, not anymore slender, waist and he had his eyes closed, when he suddenly asked Legolas he he needed to know.
"So have you already found an armour suiting your needs for the ride to MordorHaldHaldir felt Legolas immediately stiffen beside him and he removed his hand from his husband’s waist, to run his hand in soothing circles around on Legolas’ chest.
"Shh..., melme. I somehow knew all along that you will carry on with the quest. I could see it your eyes and I heard it in your voice. They are your friends, you are not a simple company travelling together anymore. I understand you, but you must understand as well, that I am not going to leave your side. I will not let you out of my eyes anymore."
Legolas breathing had become faster and irregular, a fierce blush had tainted his cheeks and his voice was raspy with guilt and tension.
"For how long have you known?"
"Oh, for a few days." Haldir turned his head a bit to kiss the pale neck tenderly and returning to his former position.
"I wanted to tell you today. Really. I, ....., you must believe me. I would have not left you again without telling you. Not like I did before. Haldir, please! Tell me that you believe....."
Haldir lifted his head off Legolas’ shoulder and stopped his lovers hectic speech with a kiss full of love, understanding and utter devotion. Legolas’ eyes were still wide open with fear and a slight hint of panic. Haldir smiled at him.
"I believe you, my love. And I really understand you. I do resent the idea of letting you go into battle, no matter what battle, might it be as fierce and horrible as the upcoming or a simple battle to rid Mirkwood of roaming spiders. But we all play our part here in this time and we have no other choice but to play it well. And I will be alongside you, no matter what may happen."
They stayed out at the riverbank for the rest of the day, enjoying the feel of each other the, pleasures they could give to one another and the peace away from noi noisy and sometimes crowded lanes and streets of Minas Tirith.
It was already nearing sundown when Legolas and Haldir arrived in the city and strolled back, hand in hand to their quarters. Before their door stood a very grumpy looking dwarf, his foot tapping annoyingly against the wooden floor tiles.


“What were you two thinking? Where have you been? What could have happened to you? Haldir, was this your idea?” Gimli fumed.
“In fact, yes. It was! And there wasn’t any big risk, Gimli. We only went along the riverbank for a bit. Legolas needed some peace and quiet, some rest. And so did my back. We are elves, Gimli. We do need some fresh air from time to time.”
“Don’t you lecture me, Haldir of Lorien. I was the one looking after your precious husband for the last weeks. I have the right to know if you take him away. If you hadn’t returned, we would have not known where to look for you!” The dwarf stood directly in front of Haldir now and had put his hands on his hips.
“Gimli, nothing happened and I desperately needed some time alone with Haldir. Everything is fine, believe me.” Legolas tried to interfere and calm the dwarf.
“Mmprf....,” Gimli threw Legolas a annoyed glance “Still, you should have told us!”
“Was there anything you wanted from us?” the blond elf smiled at his shorter friend.
“Actually, yes. The tailor called. And since you were not here to go and pick up you new clothes, I went instead. Legolas, am I right to presume, that not all of the clothes are made for casual wear? Some of them do look distinctively like clothes one could wear on a long march or even in battle.”
Legolas look grew cautious “Yes.”
“Have I not told you more than timetime, that I do not want you to go into battle. How can you be so stubborn, so daft and irresp......!”
“Tampa! Lle tela? It is not your position to accuse Legolas of anything. We will go into battle together and believe me it was not an easy choice, nor was it easy for me to accept. But he is right, he has to do this and I will stand by his side throughout time. About you I don’t know, Gimli son of Gloin, but I believe Legolas will be very grieved if you’d end your friendship here because of blind accusations.” Haldir glowered at the dwarf.

Gimli turned on his heel and pushed open the door to their room and stormed inside.
“Well, what? You better move your swelling body inside, so we can see if the clothes do fit. It will be no use standing out there in the hallway.” Gimli bellowed from the room.
Haldir smiled at Legolas, who drew a deep breath and together the walked inside.

While Legolas was trying on the new leggings and shirts, Gimli was busy adjusting the leather straps on the additional armour for Legolas’ swelling belly. From time to time he looked up at his elven friend and inwardly admired the strength that radiated from Legolas. Now that Haldir was back at his side and his heart and soul balanced again, he showed his condition with pride and held his head high, his eyes gleaming with an unknown fire and fierceness. It reminded Gimli of a wild beast ready to strike , if anyone would dare come near her and her brood.

Aragorn needed two more days to gather all the men and muster some more from the remote areas, before they were ready to ride out to Mordor.
They were separated in groups, consisting either of riders or vanguard.
Aragorn took Gandalf, Gimli. Legolas and Haldir, Elladan and Elrohir, Pippin and his Dunaidin with him while Eomer and Faramir each had their own troop to command.
All the men and elves gathered on the fields of Pelennor before they sat out in direction of Mordor.
Aragorn surveyed the people before him, marvelling about their loyalty and courage, following him to their most certain death. His closest freinds waited patiently on their horses near him. It was then that the future King of Gondor noticed that his elven friend Legolas did not bother to hide his condition anymore, but instead held himself straight showing his swelling body proudly for anyone to see. By now rumours had spread throughout the castle and city that there was an elf among the fighters, a male elf, that did indeed carry a child. And this particular elf was now riding along with the people of Gondor and Rohan into war.
Aragorn could see many of the fighters stare in wonder and respect at Legolas, and it seemed that the fact that he was pregnant and still kept on going, did indeed give them additional strength and stamina. Like a good omen to help them on their way.

It was early morning when they left and turned towards the city of Osgiliath. They reached it at noon and found it laying in ruins, but still men had gathered here, waiting for King Elessar to join him on this mission of hope and desperation.
The vanguard moved for five more miles before they made camp, but the riders pressed on, wanting to reach the crossroad to the north.
Only then did they halted to end the tiring day. Small groups gathered around fires, none of the men were really able to sleep so near to the boarder to Mordor. The towering mountains of Ephel Duath standing guard not letting any strangers through to the black land.

Aragorn watched his fellow men and sighed. They would need their sleep and strength to keep going, no one knew what might await them when they reached the black gate. He lifted his head and listened. It was strange for him for nothing was to be heard, no birdsong, no crickets nor any small animals rustling through the bushes.
It felt like these parts of Gondor were already slowly dying. It made everyone uneasy, on edge and frightened.
While he sat there listening to the stillness, a soft and pure sound carried over to him. It grew faintly stronger, calming the restless hearts of men and beasts, bringing back hope and peace, even if only for this night. Aragorn looked up and saw Legolas standing a bit further away, Haldir to his feet, head tilted slightly singing an old love song from Mirkwood.
Had the world seemed dead just a moment ago, it now started breathing again and the chanting elven tunes gave the men the needed peace for a good nights rest.

At the early afternoon the next day they came to Minas Morgul, only to find it deserted and dark. Sauron’s creatures and stationed armies had already left, undoubtedly for the black gate. Aragorn turned his troop back the main road and headed north, following the sharp rocks of the mountainside of Ephel Duath. For four days he led his men north, always keeping out a fearful watch for their enemies, but none came. The further they came to the north the more often they saw Nazgûls flying overhead, but never did they hear any sound from them, nor did they attack. Often they would fly so high and so far away, that only the elves were able to make them out.

The sixth night on the road was the quietest. No fires were lit, no songs sung and hardly anyone dared to speak. Everybody knew that they would reach the Black Gate the next day and fear had crept into the hearts of men.

Haldir and Gimli had kept a close eye on Legolas throughout the whole journey, but nothing had happened to the pregnant elf and so Haldir bid Gimli to make camp with the others that night, allowing Legolas and himself a night of a bit more solitude than before.

Gimli had shaken his head but had done as asked and now had settled himself along with Aragorn and the others.
Haldir moved their bedrolls over to a more secluded spot, but in reach of the next group of fighters and spread them out on the ground. Legolas had meanwhile gathered some food and drink, which was always given more than freely by any of the men when they saw the pregnant elf, and headed back to Haldir his arms loaded with food.
He sat down with a faint grunt and put down the goods he had gathered.
“Melamin,” Haldir sat down beside his husband “what is it? Are you in pain?” he cautiously rested a hand on Legolas’ shoulder.
“No love, I am not really in pain. Just my back. It feels uncomfortable. Strained. Alright, my lower back hurts. But I don’t think it’s anything unusual.” Legolas leaned into Haldir’s shoulder and stretched his legs before him.
“Would you like me to massage your back?”
Legolas shook his head. “No, I don’t really want to undress here, in front of all those people.”
“Hush, melme. I haven’t touched you for so long. Please just let me rub you back a little. No one will see.” Haldir kissed Legolas’ brow tenderly.
“No. Please. Leave it be, love” the blond elf bent down to take some bread and lay back on the spread out bedrolls and groaned. “Ah, much better.”
Haldir only shook his head but didn’t insist any further.
“Legolas, maybe it would be wise if you were to take off some of your constricting clothes for tonight. So you muscles can relax and the pain in your back will lessen.”
Legolas looked at Haldir in disbelief. “Are you totally out of your mind? Fantastic idea! I lie here naked in my cosy bed and the enemy attacks. Do you think I can scare them off by jumping out of our bedroll naked in front of them?”