Part 18

Posted: October 2003
Author: Inwe Saralonde

*****

‘I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all of my childish fears
And if you have to leave
I wish that you would just leave
Because your presence still lingers here
And it won't leave me alone
These wounds won't seem to heal
This pain is just too real
There's just too much that time cannot erase'
‘My Immortal' – Evanescence
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Legolas' POV

Racing down the corridor, my only thought was to inflict as much damage to Haldir as possible. ‘How dare he come here,' I fumed. ‘Why! Did he not think that I would be here?' Now, I was just determined that what happened between him and Aragorn would never happen again.

"Legolas – wait!"

I heard the voice, recognising it as Aragorn's, but I paid him no heed. I had no intention of stopping.

"Legolas!!" My father's voice roared down the corridor. I faltered slightly. I recognised that tone – one I very rarely heard directed at myself, but I knew its import. I sighed. My desire to reduce Haldir to pieces warred with stopping and letting my father and Aragorn catch up with me. Reflecting only briefly, desire won…I would worry about my father's wrath later.

I sped up, intent on reaching Haldir before someone reached me…

Throwing open the door to the reception area where I knew Haldir would be waiting, I stormed into the room and launched myself at him before he had a chance to react.

"What," I hissed, grabbing the front of his tunic, "are you doing here, Haldir?" I could see the shocked look in Haldir's eyes as he tried vainly to release himself from my grip.

"I bring a message to your King from the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien – why else would I be here?" he retorted, hands on my wrists.

"Yes, but why you?" I persisted. "Surely someone else could have been sent with the message – why the March Warden of Lothlórien? Surely you would be of better use guarding the borders of the Golden Wood? Or have you been demoted? Made a mere messenger instead?" I tightened my grip on him, bringing my face closer to his. "Or are you here merely to cause more trouble?"

I saw the anger flare in Haldir's eyes. "Trouble, Legolas? Care to tell me what you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean! I suppose you knew that Aragorn would be here – is that why you're here, to force your attentions on him again?"

"You forget yourself, Legolas. I had no idea that Aragorn would be here, nor am I interested to know. What happened between myself and Aragorn at Imladris will not be repeated here – I shall find a more *opportune* time for that," Haldir said with a sneer. "Now unhand me!".

"Oh, I will unhand you, Haldir – only to use my knives against you!"

"No, Legolas!" Suddenly I found arms around me, hands prying mine away from Haldir, before being forcibly moved away. "No, Legolas," I heard a voice whisper in my ear. Aragorn. I struggled vainly, but Aragorn held me in too tight a grip. "Let. Me. Go," I enunciated clearly in a low voice. "No, Legolas, I will not. I cannot let you harm Haldir."

Twisting around in his grasp, I spat at Aragorn: "So you take his side then!"

Aragorn sighed. "I am not taking sides, Legolas. I'm trying to stop you from doing something foolish!"

I looked back at Haldir. In the meantime, he had straightened his tunic, and the look he was directing at me was disdainful. He turned to my father, who had by now entered the room. Saelbeth was hovering in the doorway, taking in what was happening with an incredulous expression on his face.

"Mae govannen, Hîr-nîn. I bring an urgent message from the Lord and Lady of Lothlórien. They have asked me to obtain your reply as soon as possible so that I may return to the Golden Wood post-haste." I heard Haldir say. Still struggling against Aragorn's hold on me, I seethed inwardly – I was still determined to get at Haldir.

Aragorn's grip tightened imperceptibly. He was equally determined to make sure that I could not escape and launch myself at Haldir again.

I turned as my father and Haldir approached the door to leave. "We will talk about this later, Legolas," my father said to me before leaving the room. Haldir followed him, and I could see a smirk on his face. I ground my teeth in frustration.

"Saelbeth," I heard Aragorn say, "please leave and close the door behind you. Legolas and I are going to have a talk."

"Of course, Aragorn," Saelbeth replied.

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Aragorn's POV

Chasing Legolas down the corridor, I couldn't help thinking: ‘Why? Why did it have to be Haldir? Couldn't it have been someone else?'

I looked briefly at Thranduil – I could see in his face that his feelings mirrored my own. The look we gave each other was grim.

We finally caught up with Legolas as he threatened to use his knives against Haldir. I grabbed hold of Legolas, determined to stop him from doing something he would later regret.

"No, Legolas!" I shouted. "No, Legolas," I whispered, my mouth near his ear as I tried to restrain him.

"Let. Me. Go," I heard Legolas say, but I shook my head, telling him that I couldn't let him harm Haldir.

My patience with the Prince wore even thinner when he accused me of taking sides.

Sighing, I said: "I am not taking sides, Legolas. I'm trying to stop you from doing something foolish!"

That didn't stop Legolas from trying to free himself. I vaguely heard Haldir addressing Thranduil – my efforts were taken up trying to restrain one beautiful, golden elf…one beautiful, golden elf whose body was, with his struggles, rubbing against mine, especially against a certain part of my anatomy, creating some very interesting sensations…

I swallowed. I gripped Legolas even harder when his struggles increased. Problem was, the sensations increased too…

Thranduil and Haldir were about to the leave the room when Thranduil addressed his son. "We will talk about this later, Legolas," he said, before leaving the room with Haldir.

After they left, I turned to Saelbeth. "Saelbeth, please leave and close the door behind you. Legolas and I are going to have a talk."

Saelbeth left, and I slowly released my grip on Legolas. He twisted out of my grasp, taking a few steps before turning around to face me.

"Why! Why did you stop me!" he stormed.

I looked at him – hair dishevelled, cerulean eyes bright with fury. I smiled to myself. I could get used to Legolas being angry – if anything, he looked even more beautiful.

"Why, indeed?" I asked, a smile playing on my lips.

I watched Legolas' eyes widen as I slowly began to approach him…

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Translations:

Mae govannen, Hîr-nîn – Well met, my Lord

*****

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