The old ways

Haldir desperately clutched the edge of the bed, trying not to fall out. Their bed was already one of the larger ones, but ever since his husband had grown rather round, he had the habit of shifting relentlessly during the night. Haldir always managed to back off a bit, but Legolas obviously sought the warmth and tenderness of Haldir and crept closer even when he was fast asleep.

This time Legolas had turned so harshly towards Haldir that he had nearly pushed him out of the bed.
The marchwarden grunted in obvious annoyance and climbed out of bed. Standing at its side he crossed his arms before his chest and watched his sleeping love. Due to all the twisting and turning, the cover had slipped and the blonde prince lay bare on the tangled sheets.
He was lying on his side, the bottom arm stretched out, as he was feeling for Haldir and the upper arm was loosely on his waist, bent at the elbow, his hand holding his belly in a protective way.

Even though the prince had again managed to end Haldir’s night early, the silver haired elf watched him fondly. After a few seconds of thought, Haldir walked over to the other and now vacant side of the bed and lay down again.
Immediately, as if driven by an inner force, Legolas turned with a grunt towards Haldir and when he felt the comforting warmth of his husband again a sweet smile played across his face and a slight flicker filled the open but vacant eyes.
Turning to his side Haldir gathered Legolas in his arms and smiled at the hard and round belly pressing into his abdomen.
Everything was peaceful and Haldir was about to drift back to sleep, when suddenly a well aimed kick, coming from one of their children made not only Legolas groan in pain but also made Haldir flinch.

Legolas eyes refocused and as soon as the prince was coherent again, a string of elvishses ses left his beautiful mouth.
Haldir couldn’t help but laugh. “Good morning my love.” He greeted Legolas with a kiss on the nose.
“A good morning? How good can it be, when I get woken by a kick. Well at least they were kind enough not to aim at my bladder.” Legolas brow furrowed as he tried to push himself up and out of the bed. He shotdir dir an angry look, when he noticed that his lover was about to get up as well to help him.
Still muttering and mumbling to himself, Legolas put on his sleeping robe and vanished from the room.

With a sigh Haldir rolled back onto the bed and stretched. He couldn’t help but marvel at themselves and how domesticated they had become. The way he loved to watch Legolas body and the changes of it. Suddenly an uncharacteristic giggle was bubbling up from his stomach. He thought of the tall, proud and unapproachable prince of the woodland realm. The way this particular prince had enflamed feelings in him, he neveoughought possible. Later finding out that beneath the harsh exterior was a young and shy elf, who wanted the tall marchwarden as much as the marchwarden wanted him.
And now this fierce warrior was more waddling than gracefully striding, having problems bending down and needed to have newly tailored clothes every two to three weeks.
Well, he wouldn’t need to get them tailored over and over again, he could use them again next time....
Next time. Haldir wurprurprised that he already thought of a next time. Even though they had gone through so much peril and pain. But then again, the pregnancy had been fine all along.

Haldir was still quietly laughing when Legolas re-entered the room and threw his husband a disgusted look. “I look funny, don’t I?”
“No, you don’t, my love. Come here.” Haldir held out his arms and when the prince moved into them, Haldir kissed his husband firmly on the mouth.
“You don’t lookny any and I love you.” The marchwarden stated.
“But you were laughing when I came back.” Legolas pouted.
“Yes, I was. But more about us two. I was laughing at our domestic life now.”
Legolas eyed him sceptically but accepted the explanation.
“I want to see if I can find Gimli today.” He announced and looked into Haldir’s eyes. “Will you accompany me?”
“At your service my Lord.” Haldir managed to bow his head even though he was still lying and suppressed another giggle.


A few hours later Legolas was storming through the castle corridors in a rage. Not only did nobody know anything about the dwarf’s whereabouts, nor was his father anywhere to be found. The usually never tiring Hobbits were incredibly tight-lipped and the servants seemed like they never had heard of a King Thranduil before.
Haldir was trying his best to calm his husband but he knew it would take him hours to do so and so he decided to make Legolas come with him to the tailor today. The prince needed a new tunic and robe for all the festivities and this time Haldir wanted to pick the cloth and colours.


Gimli was thankful for the cold and frosty air that day. Even though it was winter and the air cold, the work he and his fellow dwarves had to do was strenuous and made him sweat easily.
He stretched and surveyed the work they had accomplished so far. The ground had been levelled and the flagstones were neatly laid out for the ground floor. In the middle was a large square of 50 to 50 feet left out and instead of dwarves there were elves silently working their way through the muddy and stony ground.
To Gimli’s astonishment he could make out the great King of Mirkwood, clad only in working clothes, kneeling on the ground like any common elf, adding earth, specially brought from the woodland realm, to the native soil with his bare hands. His hair was tight back in one neat braid and a shine of satisfaction and happiness lingered on his face.

Only a bit further away stood a small camp, from where the sound of never ending hammering and song could be heard.
Beside the camp stood several wagons with trees and plants, patiently waiting for their new home.
Gimli smiled and walked over to the camp to have a look at the work being done there. Again two groups of different folk were working side by side. One carving wood into the most beautiful shapes and ornate. The other hammering with fine and small hammer and chisel fi bre breaches and delicate patterns into a large but narrow stone wall. This wall was not one to protect but to add to the beauty of the garden, letting the summer breeze through and the rays of the sun shape dancing patterns on the floor.
Gimli knew how much elves needed lightness and flowing air and he was determined to give all this to his favourite elf.

t.b.c