At summer's peak, Lothlorien's lush foliage was swathed in bold colors: blue and silver, crimson and gold, purple and white. Pavilions arched over dell and glade; soon, the merry array would host choruses of Elven voices as the tribes gathered beneath the bowers.

The Great Convergence, as it came to be called, had been Amroth's idea, and like so many of his ideas, it was not met with universal accord. There were some who decried it as frivolity, an insult to those who had fallen to the Shadow. Yet there were others who saw his intent: to strengthen the tenuous bonds between disparate Elven peoples and forge a union of the First-born on Arda's shores. Once the woods were alight with lanterns and festooned in brilliant panoply, even the Silvan naysayers were overcome by pride of place: let the haughty Noldor come, said they, and the fawning Sindar: let them see the glory of Lorien and grant our realm the honor it deserves!

In the end, all had come-- the wary Wood-elves and Sindar of Eryn Galen; the stately mariners of Lindon; and the House of Elrond with seemingly half the hidden valley in tow. They came to make sport with tournament games, to hear the great bards sing tales of ancient glory, and to reacquaint themselves with friends of old in a land untainted by any touch of darkness.

"You spoke truly, Haldir," Rúmil whispered as the Elves of the Havens passed through the eaves with Gelmir at the fore, stately as any masthead. "They look like they have clad themselves in the waves of the sea!"

Haldir smiled, dropping from his perch to meet the arriving Elves, and whispered, "Did you think I had merely spun you an idyll?"

He strode with purpose toward the cluster of Círdan's folk and bowed to the nobleman he had encountered in Imladris during his earliest travels. "Welcome to Lothlorien, my lord Gelmir. I trust your journey was pleasant?"

Gelmir harumphed. "It was long, Haldir. And at its end, I find myself hoping wholeheartedly that your tree-houses are as comfortable as you led me to believe when first I made your acquaintance."

Haldir laughed. "Upon my honor, my lord, I think you will not be disappointed."

Gelmir's response was a dubious look, but he patted Haldir's arm as he passed, removing any insult.

"I am not sure what to make of him," Rúmil confided once Gelmir and his company were out of earshot.

"Pay him no mind," Haldir replied. "His bloviating is tedious, but he means no harm. Lord Círdan must use his hot air to power the sails of his fleet."

Rúmil, however, had already been distracted by three lovely Telerin maidens who were tittering to each other under lowered lashes as they passed, and no doubt gave little thought to the stately Elf-lord and his quaint derision.

"You must be eager to see Elladan," he remarked some time later, the ladies having passed, leaving the sweet scent of jasmine in their wake. He gave Haldir a nudge with his shoulder.

Eager, he considered, was not quite the word. What word was there that encompassed not only eagerness, but desire and discomfort and fear all at once? Centuries had passed since last Elladan had walked with Haldir on the long paths of this, his homeland; it seemed a lifetime now since Elladan's presence in the Golden Wood had awoken his body's fervor in the still water of the shining lake, and had set his heart to song with a storm of a kiss. The love between them was wonderful and real, yet for all that, it could be neither displayed nor discussed here, and he was not certain that Elladan fully understood this.

Haldir had done his part, to be sure, even setting out his caveats and concerns in a letter-- one of the few he had ever dared write that surpassed a handful of carefully vetted and unimpeachable lines of bland greetings-- and passed it to Elrond's personal messenger, the one who had long ago demonstrated to Haldir his complete discretion. Elladan must perforce rein in his expressions of affection and expect nothing of Haldir beyond the veneer of simple amity when prying eyes might see them; Lothlorien, while beautiful beyond description and well-guarded from the foes of the Elves, was no sanctuary for those with strange desires. He could only hope that his message was understood and received with good grace by Elladan, whom Haldir would not hurt for all the world.

"Of course I am," he told Rúmil in earnest. "So much so that I can hardly think on anything else. Ah, the days to me seem intolerably long! I have heard from Gildor that Elladan plans to pay us a visit at camp tomorrow, and that shall have to suffice until we are relieved from duty."

But would a mere visit of stultifying niceties suffice for two who had been long accustomed to greeting each other with vigorous attentions? Haldir had little choice but to wait and see.

Elladan strode with great purpose over the wending forest path, guided more by his legs' memory of their long-passed ambles than acutely sensible of the direction he was taking. He trusted he would find his way to the encampment of the border guards ere long, but not soon enough for his liking; already he had been waylaid by any number of silly errands for his sister, or by mannered greetings of both important and self-important Elves of Middle-earth at large. He could scarcely believe he had been in Lorien four days now and not yet seen Haldir! He had finally abandoned all pretense of patience and told his brother that he was off, and not to expect his return in the immediate future. As it was, they would hardly have a moment alone; no doubt it would be a quick greeting followed by a meager soldier's dinner and good-night, but just to lay eyes on Haldir would tide Elladan over until the former was reprieved from his duty.

As he neared the outskirts of the encampment, a familiar and much-loved voice called out to him from one of the many grand telain that dotted Egladil, the angle between the Celebrant and the Anduin. He turned to find a fit and handsome Elf alighting on the path beside him, and he could hardly contain the smile that blossomed across his face.

"Legolas! How long it has been! How do you fare, and what news?" He pulled his friend close and enveloped him in his arms. Legolas returned the embrace fiercely.

"I fare quite well, and all the better for having seen you!" When they parted, he held Elladan at arm's length and took him in with a sweeping look. "You look hale and happy as ever." His hand lingered on Elladan's shoulder, radiating warmth.

Elladan noted that though the compliment had been begun with much vigor, Legolas' voice was marked with a touch of melancholy by its finish. "I am quite well," he said gently, "and I hope you may say the same."

"I have no complaints," Legolas smiled, though it was not his brightest grin, "save that I have wanted sorely for your company."

Elladan felt himself blush, his heart dancing a reel in his chest. "Come, now. A prince of Mirkwood can hardly be wanting for friendship."

Legolas' little smile held. "Of course, I have the dear-hearts of my youth, and the men with whom I serve at arms: kind and loyal stalwarts, all! But you, I fear, have spoiled me for true companionship."

Elladan felt his own smile falter at this, but Legolas was quick to shake his head. "How maudlin I sound! You will think I have been prostrate and pining. No, Elladan-- do not take my simpering to heart. I merely mean to say that your friendship knows no equal yet, though I will not yet abandon hope that I might someday find a one of comparable quality."

"You flatter me," Elladan said softly, guilt and pleasure warring within him.

"Nay," Legolas rebutted, his smile slowly rising to his eyes. "I speak the truth."

A meaningful silence hovered between them for a long moment until the refrain of laughter from a merry band of strollers reached their ears and shook them from their tentative reunion.

"So..." Legolas began, more awkwardly than was his wont, "where are you headed now?"

Elladan fought not to drop his eyes. "I have not yet had the time to greet Haldir. I was on my way to find him."

Legolas' serene expression wavered only briefly, like a gust of air teasing the light of a candle-wick. "I should not keep you from him, then. He must be longing for your presence even more than I." Legolas looked around, his pointed gaze belying the casualness of the gesture. "Has he yet owned himself yours to his family and friends, or must you carry on clandestinely?"

Elladan's shoulders stiffened, as if he were being goaded or rebuked. It was not, he told himself, that Legolas meant to taunt him, but he knew full well that Legolas took offense at such secrecy for his sake, just as he knew that Haldir had asked for his circumspection out of necessity rather than desire. In either case, it chafed him, but there was aught for it. "We keep our own counsel," he answered. Legolas arched his brow, but said nothing further on the matter.

"Might I be so bold as to invite you on my father's behalf to dine with us tonight? He is eager to see you again. He is fond of you, you know. As are we all."

Elladan found himself quite torn. On the one hand, he was eager to the point of distraction to see Haldir... yet one could hardly refuse the invitation of a king in good conscience. Thranduil was a good man and a fine ruler, but quite set in his ways and fond of protocol. If he thought his invitation had been refused in favor of a camp dinner with the border guards, he would perhaps feel slighted. It was likely that Haldir would have responsibilities of his own to attend, and perhaps he might see Elladan's presence as an encumbrance rather than a pleasure. He was slated to return from his patrol on the morrow-- Gildor had already gleaned that information through his seemingly endless network of loose tongues-- so perhaps it was just as well that they delay their reunion for one day more. After all, they had been apart more than three years now; one more setting and rising of the sun could scarcely be a greater hardship, could it? It was not as if Haldir expected to see him that evening, in any case.

"Of course," he replied. "I would be delighted to dine with you, my dear. Lead the way."

As they sauntered off, side by side, they took no notice of a third party who had overseen their meeting. In his drab grey uniform and with his long-practiced skills of stealth and silence, and caught up as they were in their own discussion, it was little wonder that neither Elladan nor Legolas marked Haldir's approach.

Nor did Haldir, who had eyes and ears for Elladan alone, took notice of a fourth, who had come upon Elladan and Legolas by mere chance, but had taken great interest in the vaguely prurient topic of their conversation, and greater interest still in Haldir's attentiveness to it. Natural Silvan grace allowed this last interloper to make good a departure with none of the others the wiser.

Though his evening with Legolas and Eryn Galen's royal family had been a delightful affair, peppered with occasional and rather pointed suggestions that Elladan and his brother rather ought to become regular guests of their neighbor-kingdom, Elladan had left their talan with a tug of regret in his heart that he had still not seen Haldir. By midday, that regret had swelled to a lump of guilt sitting leaden in his throat, and he lingered anxiously near the barracks, making desultory conversation with the others who awaited the return of friends and lovers from the borders.

He took notice, after making polite pleasantries with the mother of a tyro, ebullient in both her pride in and concern for the youth now completing his first patrol, that he was being surveilled with great curiosity by a woman who stood near the edge of the glade. Vaguely annoyed-- as much for his own appearance of eagerness as for being the subject of a stranger's gawking-- he turned and looked her directly in the eye, and in doing so, knew her identity at once. It was Haldir's erstwhile Silvan sweetheart. She blushed at being caught out, but rather than turn aside, she approached him. For that, Elladan admitted, he must credit her strength of spirit. But then, Haldir would not have tolerated some timorous little blossom for long.

"Good day, my lord." She curtsied politely. "You are Elladan of Imladris, yes? Haldir speaks of you often, and with great fondness."

Her smile was bright and guileless, her words utterly lacking in innuendo, and he found it difficult to maintain the cool facade he had intended. "I am he, mistress, and I am glad to hear that he still speaks of me, as it has been some time since last we have had an opportunity to meet. You must be the lady Mithrellas." He considered his gambit carefully, wanting to give neither false hope nor offense. "Haldir...speaks of you, as well."

Her smile widened, and Elladan was unsure if the twinge it gave him was one of jealousy or guilt. "He will be very happy to see you, I am certain," she told him. "He has missed going to Imladris this year, but he puts his duty to the guard ahead of all else. He rarely has time to visit with me and my family." Elladan heard the disappointment in her voice, though her expression did not alter in the slightest. If only she knew just how deeply he could commiserate with her on that count! He was still trying to think of how to respond to her she drew in a breath.

"He comes now, my lord."

He followed her gaze and saw Haldir walking at the center of the pack, his arm around the waist of one of the other guardians. Elladan's jaw nearly dropped to his chest in shock, for such a clutch could only be described as proprietary. He watched, flustered, as Haldir leaned in close to whisper into the other's ear and then smiled at him fondly. For one who had been reluctant to the point of absurdity to show affection in Imladris, he seemed rather free with it now. He spared a glance at Mithrellas and saw that her eagerness had wavered not a whit; if anything, her face had lit up like the sun as he entered her orbit.

It was not as if he believed Haldir inconstant; this was just some comrade at arms, and he knew full well the trust and intimacy that blossomed between soldiers-- it formed the core of every successful platoon. He knew it was wildly absurd to fear another man would usurp him; far more likely was the thought, which assailed him quite thoroughly now, that Haldir would turn from him for the easy and acceptable affections of the bright lass standing beside him now. Seeing Haldir so at ease with his affections hurt, and in a very simple way: Elladan had long wished for nothing more than a similar gesture, for the ability to take up his hand before any and all lookers, or to kiss him in greeting or good night as any lover might do with his dear one with nary a thought of reprisal, and Haldir would not give to him under any circumstances what he now doled out freely to this young fellow.

He shrugged off the queer turn of his thoughts and awaited the oncoming wardens with an even demeanor. Haldir saw him, and his lips turned up with a guarded grin, but if he was thrilled at Elladan's presence, he showed it little. He greeted Mithrellas first, brushing a kiss to each cheek before he stepped up to Elladan and offered his arm to be clasped in the warrior fashion, leaning in to allow a brief embrace.

"You are looking well, Elrondion."

There was a fierce glint in Haldir's eye, but Elladan could not name its provenance, whether amusement or a darker source. Elladan felt his neck flush hot beneath his collar. Haldir need only pin him with that hawkish eye and he became the Galadhel's helpless prey. The desire to grab him with both hands and kiss that wry and haughty mouth slack was nigh unbearable, but Haldir stood forbidding and impenetrable as a stone tower, keeping a distance too respectable by far; and if Elladan gleaned the subtle expression correctly-- and considering the centuries he had spent committing its every vicissitude to memory to entertain himself in the long months and years of absence, he did-- he would say that some displeasure lurked beneath the placid planes of Haldir's face.

It was hardly the exuberant greeting he might have wished for. Haldir was enveloped by his most inaccessible mien, the one which would require persistent patience to thaw, and once more Elladan was assailed by frustration that after all their years, for all the intimacies shared between them-- and not merely the intimacies of flesh-- Haldir would lock himself way tighter than a drum.

"As are you, old friend." Elladan imbued the words with all the warmth and meaning he could muster. "Would that we might have renewed our acquaintance earlier--"

"--Indeed. One of Gildor's men mentioned you had plans to venture out to our camp last night. I looked for you for a time, but when you failed to arrive, I thought to meet you half way."

One eyebrow arched, questioning in a fashion that bordered dangerously on the edge of surly, and Elladan knew beyond a doubt that Haldir, whether through his own investigation or some other source, knew full well in whose company he had passed the evening prior. His next words confirmed it.

"But Gildor's sources must have been mistaken, for it seems you had other plans. I trust Legolas and his family are well, and that they feted you in a manner befitting a lord of Imladris."

Elladan inwardly flinched, but pride forbade him from making show of it. He wished most ardently that they were alone and far from curious and condemning eyes, where Haldir might most viscerally remind him to whom he belonged, would vent his jealousy on Elladan's hungry flesh... but as no claim had ever been openly made, what ownership was there now to reassert?

I am being unfair, he thought. I should relish this as proof that he desires me still. Mithrellas followed the volleys of their words with her eyes, oblivious to the crucial conversation now exchanged with looks and silences and pointed inflections.

"Of course," he acknowledged. "And clearly you had good company to pass the night, yourself." He gave a curt, yet not quite dismissive nod toward Haldir's companion, who stood eagerly by his shoulder.

Haldir cocked his head in bemusement, but the other warden took this as his cue to step forward and insinuate himself in the conversation. "Not his choice of company, I am sure," he began, grinning, "though he hardly had a choice in the matter. But welcome, my lord Elladan." He sank to one knee and made a most gracious bow. "I am glad to see you returned to us after so many years!"

Elladan did not betray his confusion, but merely gestured for him to rise and said smoothly, "I am afraid I do not remember making your acquaintance, friend."
"Oh, I did not imagine you would remember me!" The Elf's clarion laughter seemed to hang over them, caught by the canopy of the trees. "I was a babe in arms when we met. But I remember you. Much to Haldir's dismay, it was you who taught me how to swim!"

Elladan's face went dull with surprise, and he lunged forward to pull Rúmil into an embrace, wondering how he could possibly failed to mark the likeness in two pairs of deep blue eyes. "Sweet stars, I would not have known you! How you have grown! And a fully-fledged warden, just like your brothers. Your sire must be beside himself with pride!"

Rúmil nodded with only a hint of bashfulness. "What father would not be proud to have all of his children follow in his footsteps?"

"Speaking of which," Haldir interjected, "we should not dawdle. Much as I would like to hear of Elladan's journey, we are expected to dine with our father this eve, and he does not like to be kept waiting."

"My family has been invited to join you," Mithrellas added, her pleasure plain. "That is why I have come. To tell you. And to ask if there were any particular dish that might please you." She looked up at him hopefully. "I wager you are more than ready to be done with your usual provender for a time."

Haldir's eyes flicked over to Elladan, but he smiled kindly at the woman. "I am hungry enough to eat anything set in front of me. No doubt I will be pleased with anything you and my mother choose to prepare."

Mithrellas made her farewells then. "I know you must be keen to speak with lord Elladan," she said. "He was waiting for you nearly as long as I." Again, her smile was simple and candid. "But do not tarry too long, lest my brother lay claim to all the best morsels on the table!"

Elladan had begun to rue taking up Legolas' offer the prior night. Not only did Haldir appear to be put out by it, but Haldir's first night home found him with a prior engagement, one that Elladan could not help but think felt a bit like a punishment levied on him for his absence.

Rúmil, meanwhile, stood by patiently, seemingly awaiting direction from his brother. "I will follow shortly, Rúmil," Haldir told him. And with a nod to Haldir and another swift embrace to Elladan, accompanied by a promise to speak at length at a later time, the young archer departed.

"So," Elladan began, hoping he did not sound quite as dark as he felt, "When might I see you? I have missed--"

"--Tomorrow." Haldir cut him off decisively. "Orophin will be sparring with quarterstaff, and I will be there to rally him on, but beyond that, the day is yours, should you wish it."

"You know that I do. It is unfortunate that you have been claimed already for the evening."

Haldir's returning look was tinged with reproof. "It is unfortunate that you were likewise claimed last night."

Elladan frowned, chafed and chastened in equal measure. "Forgive me. I did not think you had heard I was coming for you, so I did not think I would be missed."

Haldir shrugged, and in doing so, seemed to slough off his pique. "Little matter. You are here now, and it is good to see you. But I should be off; matters between my family and Mithrellas' ride on a delicate balance ever since I postponed the betrothal, and it will help nothing if I am late to meet them. Her brother Caranlas is forever looking to force the issue."

Elladan's stomach soured at the mention of Haldir's betrothal. "It is merely postponed, then, and not set aside."

Haldir regarded him sternly, and he spoke very softly. "We have already discussed this. I dare not anger Mithrellas' father or mine-- to say nothing of Caranlas and his Silvan righteousness-- with an outright refusal. Orophin is a determined bachelor; by the time he meets his match, Mithrellas will have abandoned her hopes for me and moved on. Nothing has changed, Elladan."

Elladan opened his mouth to object, to say that he dared not hitch his hopes to Orophin's inscrutable star, but Haldir silenced him with a single frosty look.

"Enough, Elladan."

Damn it all, why did every meeting with Haldir seem to open with animosity? He gritted his teeth lest he further corrupt the moment with his irritation. Why could they never merely come together as lovers, with naught but joy and relief, without distance and discomfort and the implacable expectations of others between them? He blew out a hasty breath. Elbereth forfend he should simply choose a lover who was content to love him freely and with ease!

"On the morrow, then," he said, hoping the defeat he felt did not sound in his voice. "I should like to see Orophin get his pride handed to him by one of Gildor's men."

Haldir laughed loudly, and the whole of the wood seemed to lighten for it, like the change in the air when a storm has passed. "You have never forgiven him for teasing you, have you? Well, tomorrow I will cheer for him, and you against, and our voices shall cancel each other out."

Heartened by the laughter, Elladan reached out and let his fingers sweep across the back of Haldir's hand. Just as quickly as it had begun, the laughter ceased, and Haldir's mouth turned down in warning.

Elladan sighed. "Tomorrow." He turned and walked in the opposite direction, knowing Haldir had nothing more to say.

*****