Title: My Heart's Desire: Part 2 – If You Go Away. 
Author: Ryo 
Author's Email: izumrud4u@yahoo.com 
Pairings: Haldir/Gidor, Glorfindel/Legolas 
Rating: NC-17 
Summary: Sometimes to find love is easier than to keep it safe. Sequel to "To Wait For 
You".
   
   
   If You Go Away.
   
   
    If you go away on this summer day
    then you might as well take the sun away;
    all the birds that flew in the summer sky,
    when our love was new and our hearts were high.
    If you go away, as I know you will,
    you must tell the world to stop turning till
    you return again, if you ever do,
    for what good is love without loving you.
    Can I tell you now, as you turn to go,
    I'll be dying slowly till the next hello.
    
    But if you go, go, I won't cry,
    Though the good is gone, from the word ‘good bye'.
    Please don't go away.
                                                  /Jacques Brel./
    
   
   
   Chapter 1.  Sunshine and Clouds.
    
    Oh, that was a wonderful time! Almost the best time in my life. Our love was new, 
the sky above our heads was cloudless and I allowed myself to believe that all my trials 
and misfortunes were finally left behind. When now I look back at that time, I can see the 
folly of my hopes. Back then we lived in a world of our own, which we created just for 
the two of us, shutting out the rest of the universe. Haldir had all the right to be naïve and 
carefree, he was so very young then. But I… I should have known that life is never 
sunshine and roses for long. Ah, but I was swept off my feet. I was intoxicated by my 
love and by the love I saw in Haldir's eyes. Yes, those were happy days…
    
*  *  * * * * * * * * * * * *
    
    Glorfindel rode ahead of Gildor and Haldir, giving them some privacy and doing the 
greater part of watching out for any possible danger. Though he knew that Gildor, too, 
was vigilant, he was not sure his friend could be vigilant *enough* because everything 
Gildor was able to see at the moment was his new young lover.
    
    Gildor and Haldir had not had time for talking during the two days prior to their 
departure. Haldir had too much to do to be able to leave so soon and for so long. And 
what little time they did have for themselves they spent on other things than talking.
    
    So now, riding side by side, they were making up for it: they talked.
    
    "I still cannot believe it's real." Haldir looked at Gildor and there really was wonder 
in his eyes. "It all happened so fast. I came to that glade doubting you would ever accept 
me, and the next thing I knew I was on my back on the grass." 
    
    Gildor raised one delicately curved eyebrow. "Are you complaining?"
    
    "Valar, no! I simply still feel a little stunned. It was like an avalanche in the 
mountains, sudden and impossible to resist." Haldir shook his head.
    
    Gildor smiled. "Actually, it was not that sudden. I was too dumb to realize it at once 
but I fell for you the first moment I saw you." 
    
    "You didn't!" Haldir looked at him in disbelief.
    
    "I did."
    
    "Are you joking? You did not give me even a shortest glance at our first meeting. I 
thought you did not notice me."
    
    "Now, are *you* joking? Of course I noticed you! It was absolutely impossible not 
to. And believe me, I liked what I saw. A lot." Gildor gave him an impish grin. "But even 
more did I like what I saw in the common bathhouse. Narmacil almost drowned me for 
ogling at you."
    
    "I know," Haldir laughed.
    
    "How?"
    
    "I saw it in the Lady's Mirror."
    
    "Indeed? What else did you see?"
    
    Haldir hesitated. But he really needed to know where Gildor stood with Thranduil.
    
    "I saw you and Thranduil. Or, rather, I saw you *with* Thranduil."
    
    Gildor looked at him, surprised. "Oh." And then, as the implications sank in, "Oh!"
    
    He wondered briefly what exactly Haldir could have seen but pushed the thought 
away as too disturbing.
    
    "Haldir," he said, "Thranduil and I are only friends." He winced when he saw 
Haldir's face. "Yes, I know how it sounds but it's true."
    
    "Then you are definitely very close friends," Haldir remarked sulkily.
    
    "Yes, this is also true." Gildor sighed. "I think I should explain several things about 
Thranduil. We are indeed close and very old friends. We first met in Lindon."
    
    And he told Haldir the whole story.
    
    "Do you love him?" Haldir asked and instantly wished to kick himself for it. He did 
not want Gildor to know how insecure he felt. "I'm sorry. You do not have to answer."
    
    Gildor shook his head. "Of course I love him. He is one of my best friends. But I do 
not love him as a lover. And neither does he love me thus. He is bound. He loves his wife 
who is waiting for him in Valinor. True, we've been lovers for a long time, but above all 
we are friends." He reached out and touched Haldir's knee. "Please, understand, seron 
vel. There is no reason for jealousy." [beloved]
    
    Haldir nodded and tried to understand. Perhaps, it would have been easier to do if 
Gildor had said that he did love *him* as a lover…
    
    They stopped for the night and Glorfindel took the first watch. He chose a place 
away from the fire to be able to see in the dark better. Now and again he threw occasional 
glances at his companions. He smiled to himself: those two were talking again. They 
were sitting under the tree. Haldir was leaning back against the trunk with his legs spread 
to accommodate Gildor. The Vanya's back was pressed against Haldir's broad chest 
comfortably; his head tilted back onto Haldir's shoulder. One of Gildor's forearms rested 
on the Galadhel's bent knee and his other hand was drawing lazy patterns on Haldir's 
thigh. Haldir's arms were wrapped possessively around Gildor's waist. The Marchwarden 
was speaking softly into Gildor' ear and a faint smile was playing on Gildor's lips. Then 
suddenly Gildor sat up and turned in his lover's arms to look at him with open surprise on 
his face. Haldir laughed and nodded. Gildor shook his head in amusement and resumed 
his former position. Haldir kissed him on the corner of his mouth and continued talking.
    
    It was strange for Glorfindel to see his friend behave this way. Gildor had always 
kept people at an arm's length, both literally and figuratively speaking: very few were 
privy to his thoughts and feelings, and as for bodily contact, he always tried to reduce it 
to a minimum. Outside his bedroom, at any rate. Now here was the young Galadhel, 
trying to get his hands on Gildor as often as he could, to prove to the entire world as 
much as to himself that Gildor was *his*. It seemed to Glorfindel that his friend was 
trying on this new feeling of belonging in order to see if it would be a perfect fit or prove 
too tight for his liking. Knowing how badly Gildor took any infringement on his 
independence, Glorfindel dared no guesses on his final decision.
    
    Next morning they resumed their travel in the same manner as the day before: 
Glorfindel leading the way and the couple of lovers in his wake, talking quietly between 
themselves.
    
    
    "What was that phrase in Quenya I said to you?" Haldir asked curiously. "Why did it 
make you think I was your friend reborn?"
    
    " ‘It's not your fault you cannot love me, song of my heart,' " Gildor translated. "It 
was the very phrase Ermenor told me when he was leaving." 
    
    Haldir shook his head in wonder. "I still cannot understand how I could say that, and 
correctly too! I do not know Quenya... Tell me about Ermenor," Haldir asked then. "Tell 
me about him and you."
    
    "I thought Galadriel had filled you in on it," Gildor chuckled.
    
    "She could tell me only what she knew. So, what happened after the Noldorin rebels 
left?"
    
    And Gildor told him. When he finished, Haldir looked at him in sympathy. "They 
told you that you had to stay behind when your father and all your kin returned home?"
    
    "Yes."
    
    "It must have been hard."
    
    "You bet." Gildor smiled sadly. "The day their ships sailed off I wept on the shore 
like a small elfling lost in a dark forest."
    
    "But still you stayed."
    
    "Aye, I did." Gildor's look became distant as he thought about that time.
    
    "And you say you did not love Ermenor?" Haldir looked at him in amazement.
    
    "No. We were only friends."
    
    "This we-are-only-friends business of yours sounds somewhat disconcerting, you 
know," Haldir complained, only partly joking. "I'm not sure we imply the same thing 
when we say ‘friends'."
    
    Gildor laughed. "Are you jealous again, Haldir? I can only repeat that you have no 
reason for it."
    
    Haldir chose to keep his thoughts to himself and they rode in silence for some time. 
Then he turned to Gildor again. "Tell me, can anyone in Valinor go and speak to the 
Valar?"
    
    "Er… no."
    
    "How did you manage it then?"
    
    Gildor chuckled. "When your grandfather is Ingwë Ingweron, it makes certain things 
easier. I was his youngest grandchild then and he spoiled me to no end. I asked him to 
speak to the Valar on my behalf. Manwë and Varda always loved my grandfather so they 
agreed to listen to me."
    
    "Were you afraid?" Haldir asked.
    
    "No," Gildor chuckled again. "By that moment I was past fear, I was desperate. I 
even told the Valar that if they refused to give Ernemor back I'd be the first elf in Valinor 
to die of a broken heart."
    
    Haldir stared at him in disbelief. "You blackmailed the Valar?"
    
    "It surely sounds like that, doesn't it?" Gildor laughed.
    
    Haldir shook his head, amazed. "You are incredible."
    
    "Well, I told you I'm capable of anything, didn't I?"
    
    
    It was getting dark and they were about to stop for the night when Gildor suddenly 
called to Glorfindel. "Mallos, Arwen and her party are ahead!"
    Glorfindel reined in his horse and turned to look at his friend. "Ah, then we'll have 
company for the evening."
    
    Haldir felt a slight pang of uneasiness. Those elves would be the first elves from 
Imladris to learn that Haldir was Gildor's lover now. Perhaps, he would be able to judge 
by their reaction what kind of welcome he was likely to get at Gildor's home.
    
    "Will you send an alert?" Glorfindel asked.
    
    "No." Gildor grinned. "I think we'll go and check how much they enjoyed our long 
absence."
    
    Glorfindel laughed. "Right."
    
    They got down from their horses. Gildor looked up at Haldir.
    
    "Haldir, please, ride further along the road. We'll join you shortly."
    
    He smiled and disappeared after Glorfindel behind the trees. Haldir felt a little left 
out but he fought down his resentment and resumed his way. The Eldar's horses 
remained where their masters had left them.
    
    After the road made a turn Haldir was hailed by a sentry. Haldir stopped and an elf in 
the uniform of the Imladris guard stepped out of darkness. Haldir dismounted and 
suddenly saw Gildor materialize behind the sentry's back. Haldir kept his expression 
carefully neutral as he walked forward.
    
    "My name is Haldir," he introduced himself. "I am a Lórien guardian."
    
    "And I am Garth," the elf answered. "I'm an Imladris guard."
    
    "You are a dead guard, Garth," Gildor said sarcastically.
    
    The elf almost jumped out of his skin. "Ca… captain!" He spun around.
    
    "I could have killed you ten times and you were not even aware I was there."
    
    "It's not fair, Captain," Garth tried to defend himself. "You know you can sneak up 
like that on anyone."
    
    "A lame excuse, Garth," Gildor stated implacably. "I see that Convaethyr let you 
become slack. Just wait till you return to Imladris."
    
    "But Captain!" the guard almost whined.
    
    Gildor paid him no heed. "Come on, Haldir. I think Glorfindel is already in the 
camp."
    
    "Glorfindel?" the guard gasped. "He too?"
    
    "Aye, Garth, Glorfindel too. Though," Gildor relented, "he did not get into the camp 
past you. I believe it's Maethor by the spring, so it's his fault."
    
    Gildor sang out a call for the horses. They trotted to them out of darkness in several 
moments and Gildor turned to Haldir. "Let's go."
    
    "Is this your usual way to test your guards' vigilance?" Haldir asked as they walked 
to the camp.
    
    "Oh yes, they all are well acquainted with the game."
    
    "I think Garth is genuinely upset."
    
    "He has a sound reason for it: he was caught off-guard."
    
    Haldir chuckled. "You are a demanding commander, Ice Blade."
    
    Gildor gave him a side-glance. "As well as a demanding lover. But I give as much as 
I take, do you know?"
    
    As they entered a fire-lit glade Gildor instantly found his arms full with a beautiful 
dark-haired maiden, who gave him an ardent kiss on the mouth.
    
    "Uh, hello, Arwen," he said, pushing her away gently. "I'm glad to see you too, but 
that sort of kiss… it was really… er… redundant."
    
    "Why? My brothers do it all the time."
    
    "You cannot do everything you brothers do. You are a maiden, after all."
    
    "So what?" Arwen pursed her lips. "I should be shy and coy? But while a poor girl is 
being shy, all the best males are snatched away." She looked pointedly at the love mark 
on Gildor's throat and then at Haldir. "By other males."
    
    Gildor laughed and Haldir saw Arwen's eyes widen in surprise.
    
    "You know Haldir, don't you, Arwen?" Gildor asked, still chuckling.
    
    "Of course I know the Marchwarden," the elleth said conversationally. "Hello, 
Haldir."
    
    "My lady." Haldir bowed.
    
    "Haldir will be living in Imladris now," Gildor told her. "With me."
    
    Arwen looked between them again and then sighed. "It's just as I said: I'll have to 
marry a mortal for there won't be a decent mate of my own race left for me."
    
    Gildor chuckled again. "Do not fret, my princess. Thranduil's heir is still unwed."
    
    "Great good that does me. We are not likely to meet any time soon."
    
    "Come on, Arwen, do not be so pessimistic. Our realms are on speaking terms now." 
He looked over her shoulder. "Ah, I see Glorfindel is already talking to Berioron. Let me 
join them and have a word with Berioron too. I'll talk to you later."
    
    "Oh, all right." She shot another assessing glance at Haldir and walked back to the 
tent that had been set for her in the middle of the glade.
    
    Gildor turned to Haldir. "Will it mean I use you outrageously if I ask you to see to 
our horses while I speak with Berioron? He's in command of Arwen's guard."
    
    "Of course it will," Haldir smirked. "To make a Lórien Marchwarden do the work of 
a stable boy is a grave insult."
    
    "I'll pay for it," Gildor smiled, wrapping his arms around Haldir's waist.
    
    "Oh yes, you will, my beauty. Yes, you will."
    
    "I'm looking forward to it." Gildor kissed him and went to join Glorfindel and 
Berioron. 
    
    Haldir led their horses to the edge of the clearing where other mounts were tethered 
near the spring. He unsaddled and watered their animals. Then he tethered his horse, 
leaving Gildor's and Glorfindel's stallions to graze freely. As he was finishing his work, 
he heard someone approach.
    
    "So he imports his play-things now." The words were spoken in a lazy drawl.
    
    Haldir turned around slowly. He knew this elf; they had met before when he came to 
Lórien on several occasions. He was rather attractive in the Noldorin way: dark-haired 
and gray-eyed. But Haldir had found him too waspish for his liking, and too quick to take 
offence.
    
    "What do you want, Thelavorn?" Haldir did not take the trouble to sound friendly.
    
    "So arrogant, so self-assured," Thelavron smirked. "You think that you have him 
now? That he'll always be yours?" He snorted contemptuously. "You aren't the first and 
you won't be the last. We've seen it before. He'll dump you sooner or later and will go 
back to *them*. He always does."
    
    Haldir's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
    
    Thelavorn looked at him with pity. "He hasn't told you, has he? About his dark 
princes, his twin beauties?"
    
    The twins! The visions from the Mirror flashed in Haldir's mind and he felt a tight 
cold knot forming in the pit of his stomach. But he managed to remain outwardly calm.
    
    "Have you finished?" he asked in a dangerously soft voice.
    
    Thelavorn clearly wanted to say more but then he saw something behind Haldir's 
back and changed his mind.
    
    "Yes," he smiled acidly. "The rest you'll see for yourself. And soon enough."
    
    With that he walked away. Haldir watched him go, frowning. He turned around only 
when his shoulder was squeezed gently.
    
    "Haldir?" Gildor looked at him in concern. "What's wrong, Silfael? What did he tell 
you?" [Moonbeam]
    
    Haldir shook his head and tried to smile. "Nothing."
    
    Gildor pulled him behind a tree and pressed him against the trunk.
    
    "I'm well acquainted with Thelavorn's spiteful nature and I know he told you 
something nasty. Please, Silfael, do not let his poisonous words hurt you." He cupped 
Haldir's cheek in his hand. "In spite of what you might and probably will hear about me, 
I can swear I haven't slept with the whole of Imladris."
    
    "No?" Haldir smiled and turned his head to kiss Gildor's palm.
    
    "No," Gildor assured him earnestly. "Only with a half. Do you think you can forgive 
and forget?"
    
    Haldir laughed. "I'll try."
    
    Gildor looked deep into his eyes. "Kiss me?" he asked softly.
    
    Haldir did not wait to be asked twice. He reversed their position swiftly so that now 
Gildor had his back against the tree. Haldir reached out with both hands, cupping 
Gildor's neck and bracing his thumbs against the underside of his jaw. Holding his head 
in place, he leaned forward and captured his mouth. Gildor's lips parted with only the 
slightest pressure. The Vanya made a small sound of pleasure as Haldir's warm velvet 
tongue stroked the slick surface of his teeth and the roof of his mouth in an unhurried, 
thorough exploration and then wound around his own tongue, demanding cooperation. 
Gildor leaned his head back against the tree and crossed his arms behind Haldir's neck, 
drawing him into an even deeper, soul-mingling kiss. Haldir rested his forearms on the 
trunk on both sides of Gildor's head, pressing himself into Gildor's strong, lean body. 
They moaned as their arousals came into contact through the layers of fabric and heat 
shot up through them. Gildor rolled his head against the tree, tearing their mouths apart.
    
    "We should stop," he gasped.
    
    But Haldir did not listen, trailing kisses along Gildor's jaw-line and down his throat 
to the hollow between his collarbones. 
    
    "Haldir, no!"
    
    He was silenced by a hungry mouth enveloping his; Haldir's tongue, slick, hot and 
urgent, slid against his own. He moaned into the kiss, wishing nothing better than to give 
in to his passion. However, he pushed Haldir away once again.
    
    "We'd better stop now if you don't want to perform for an appreciative audience 
with Arwen in the first row."
    
    "Would you mind it so much if it were her brothers watching instead of her?" Haldir 
panted.
    
    "Her brothers?" Gildor became instantly alert. "Why do you ask? Was it what 
Thelavorn spoke to you about?" Gildor searched his face.
    
    Haldir looked down at his feet, his long lashes touching the high curve of his perfect 
cheekbones.
    
    "What did he tell you?" Gildor demanded.
    
    "Do you sleep with the twins?" Haldir asked quietly.
    
    Gildor swore darkly. "I'll cut out his foul tongue."
    
    Haldir's heart sank. "Do you?"
    
    "No!"
    
    "Have you ever…?"
    
    Gildor sighed. "No. Haldir, I can swear on anything you want that I won't be 
cheating on you. Ever. As long as you stay with me, there will be no one else for me."
    
    "What do you mean: as long as I stay…?"
    
    "You are free to leave any time you wish. I do not want you to feel bound or chained 
to me. You are very young. You can wish to move on one day…"
    
    Haldir saw Gildor's eyes become dull and unhappy and cursed himself for bringing 
up the subject. He pulled Gildor to himself and pressed their foreheads together.
    
    "Why would I wish to move on? You are the best thing that could ever happen to 
me, glinn-e-guren. If I can stay with you as long as I wish, then you are saddled with me 
for the rest of eternity." [song of my heart]
    
    He kissed Gildor again. This time there was no passion in his kiss, only tenderness 
and affection.
    
    "We'd better go back," Gildor sighed, "or they'll send a search party. Could you take 
our bedrolls to the fire? I'll join you in a moment."
    
    "You are using me again," Haldir smiled.
    
    "Well, add it to my debt."
    
    
    
    Thelavorn did not hear Gildor come but he suddenly felt an ominous presence behind 
his back. He swirled around and found himself facing the Vanya, who was glaring virtual 
death at him.
    
    "Thelavorn, next time I learn you are spreading poisonous gossip again, there will be 
dire consequences for you to take."
    
    Gildor spoke calmly but it was dangerous calmness. Thelavorn tried to look 
unabashed.
    
    "I haven't said a word of lie."
    
    "Perhaps. But I know that you can distort truth so that it will look blacker than a lie. 
It would be better – and safer - for you simply not to say anything at all."
    
    "Are you threatening me with another kin slaying, by any chance?" Thelavorn 
inquired archly.
    
    "No. I won't kill you. But you will wish that I had."
    Gildor turned and walked away. Thelavorn looked after him, chewing on his lip. 
Gildor's threats were not to be taken lightly. But, probably, there would not be any need 
for further interference from his part. Judging by Gildor's fury, his words had struck 
home. Seeds of discord had been sowed. Good. Why should some young pretty upstart 
from Lórien come and get in a blink of an eye what he, Thelavorn, could not even come 
close to in all these centuries? Well, now he had let the first small stone fall. The rest 
would follow.
    
    
    On his way to the fire Gildor was intercepted by Glorfindel. His friend pulled him 
into the shadow of a nearby tree.
    
    "Naira, have you got some of that Mirkwood wine left or did you finish the whole of 
it in Lórien?"
    
     "Yes."
    
    "Yes what?"
    
    "I have some left."
    
    "Perhaps, you could share it with us tonight?" Glorfindel asked nonchalantly.
    
    "No."
    
    Gildor turned to go but Glorfindel swiftly barred his way with his arm. "Come on, 
Naira. This is a means to make a pleasant evening even more pleasant. You know – 
conversations flow more freely and all that."
    
    "No, thanks. I think I've had enough of conversations for today." 
    
    "Do not be a miser, Naira," Glorfindel tried to coax him.
    
    Gildor leaned against the tree, one foot flat against the trunk, and folded his arms 
across his chest. "Mallos, this wine is of a very special blend of flavours."
    
    "Good," Glorfindel nodded enthusiastically. 
    
    Gildor chuckled. "I bet you wouldn't think it so good if you knew what this blend 
is."
    
    "Well, what is this blend?"
    
    "Oh no, I'm not telling you," Gildor shook his head in amusement. "I could tell the 
twins – they would appreciate the joke. Or, say, Erestor – he would appreciate the 
perversity of it. But you are too righteous. And Haldir is too jealous." Gildor sighed. 
"Take my word for it: you do not want to drink the wine and then learn what was added 
to it. So no wine for the two of you today. Only tea."
    
    "All right. You have me intrigued." Glorfindel leaned closer to Gildor. "Now you'll 
have to tell me everything."
    
    "Mallos, do me a favour: leave me alone. It happens so that I have someone else now 
to bully me and to ask questions I'd rather not answer."
    
    "Oh, is it that bad already?"
    
    "Nay, these are but small clouds in the otherwise clear sky. Nothing I could not cope 
with. But for the present, please, do not speak about the twins in Haldir's hearing."
    
    Glorfindel raised an eyebrow. "The gwanûn? This is definitely unexpected."
    
    Gildor just sighed and nodded. They joined the elves by the fire. All the while during 
the meal Gildor rested casually against Haldir, making no secret of the nature of their 
relationship. Haldir caught curious glances thrown their way but no comments were made 
and no questions were asked. The elves did not sit up long as both parties had to be on the 
way early in the morning. Soon only Glorfindel and Arwen remained by the dying fire.
    
    Gildor and Haldir were lying on the bedrolls Haldir had spread for them under the 
tree just beyond the circle of light. Haldir's head was resting on Gildor's shoulder 
comfortably.
    
    "Haldir," Gildor murmured and Haldir squirmed a little as Gildor's warm breath 
ghosted over his ear.
    
    "Hm?"
    
    "I want to apologize for… for what I did to you in the oak glade… before I left for 
Mirkwood."
    
    "Why are you speaking of it now?" Haldir asked in surprise.
    
    "Well, I've meant to do it for some time now. I just could not muster up enough 
courage."
    
    "Could not muster up courage? You?" Haldir laughed softly. "I do not believe you."
    
    "But it's true." Gildor hugged Haldir closer. "If I could make up for it in any way… 
"
    
    Haldir smiled into the darkness. "As a matter of fact, you can."
    
    "How?"
    
    "Do it again."
    
    "What?" Gildor thought he must have misheard him.
    
    Haldir laughed. "Do it again. But this time finish it properly."
    
    Gildor laughed too. "Haldir! How could one so young be so brazen?"
    
    "I've practiced a lot. So will you do it?"
    
    There was a pause. "No," Gildor said then.
    
    Haldir was taken aback. "No? Why?"
    
    "I won't take you the first time against a tree," Gildor answered softly. "I do not 
want it to be more painful for you than necessary."
    
    Haldir digested the information and then shot up on one elbow to look at Gildor. 
"You liar! You said I did not hurt you the first time we made love!"
    
    Gildor chuckled. "You did not. *I* did. It was I who was too impatient, remember?"
    
    But Haldir looked at him with guilty eyes. "And to think that I took you so roughly! 
And then again… "
    
    Gildor could not help laughing. "Oh yes, again, again and again… " But then he 
reached up with his hand and stroked Haldir's cheek. "Silfael, do not blame yourself. It 
was I who set the pace. I had it the way I wanted it and enjoyed every moment of it."
    
    "You must still be sore," Haldir mumbled, unconvinced.
    
    "No," Gildor grinned. "I heal fast: I'm an Elda after all."
    
    His hand slid to the back of Haldir's neck, pulling him down for a kiss.
    
    "Gildor," Haldir murmured, "Arwen *is* in the first row."
    
    "So what? It's only a kiss."
    
    
    Arwen watched them from her place by the fire.
    
    "It's amazing," she observed. "He is so open with his affection that, knowing him, I 
would say he is making a public display of it on purpose."
    
    Glorfindel chuckled but kept silent.
    
    "And he laughs! I've never seen him laughing before. My brothers will drop dead 
when they see it all. I wish I could be there to witness it."
    
    "Believe me, they will survive the shock, pen neth," Glorfindel replied sarcastically. 
"Go to sleep, Arwen," he added as the couple under the tree stopped kissing and Haldir 
lay down again. "You won't miss anything - there won't be any more shows tonight, I 
believe."
    
    "Pity," Arwen sighed. "Maer daw." [Good night]
    
    She kissed him on the cheek and went to her tent. Glorfindel stayed alone by the 
dying fire for some time longer, looking at the glowing coals, thinking of Legolas and 
wondering for million and the first time if they had any future together. He was afraid 
that the clouds in their sky would be twice as many as in Gildor and Haldir's. Haldir was 
older and much more experienced than Legolas, he was free to live where he chose and 
he did not have the king of Mirkwood as his daddy. Yes, Glorfindel would definitely 
prefer to have someone other than Thranduil for his father-in-law…
    
    The stars above their heads were already paling when Glorfindel fell finally asleep.
    
    
    Seron vel – beloved
    Elleth – a female elf
    Silfael – Moonbeam
    Glinn-e-guren – song of my heart
    Gwanûn - twins
    Pen neth – young one
    Maer daw – good night
    
    
    
    
    
Chapter 2.  The Feel of Home.


     Gildor looked down at the valley and then turned to Haldir. "Imladris," he smiled. 
"The closest thing to home I've ever had in Arda. It's beautiful. You'll love it."
     
     Haldir was ready to love even Mordor if it were what Gildor called home. But 
Imladris was truly beautiful. As they descended further down into the valley, Haldir 
became aware of the aura of peace and tranquility enveloping the place. The feel of it was 
different from the one of Lórien, and yet somehow akin to it. It must be the effect of the 
Ring of power, Haldir realized. Imladris was protected by one of the Elven Rings. But of 
course the Lord of the Last Homely House did not rely on the Ring alone for the 
protection of his realm. The borders of Imladris were as closely guarded as those of 
Lórien.
     
     "Are you going to try and take your guards by surprise again?" Haldir asked Gildor.
     
     "No," the Vanya laughed. "This time it will be the other way round."
     
     They followed the road down to the river, crossed it at the ford and entered the 
pinewood on the opposite bank. After several minutes of an unhurried ride Gildor looked 
at Glorfindel.
     
     "Well, Seneschal, what's your guess?"
     
     "Two on the left, one on the right and one ahead. Do you think I've missed 
anyone?"
     
     "You have not, Seneschal." An elf stepped out from behind a tree in front of them. 
Three more appeared on their flanks, all of them grinning.
     
     Glorfindel and Gildor got down from their horses. Haldir followed their example.
     
     "Welcome home, Seneschal, Captain," the elf, who seemed to be in command, 
greeted them, clasping their forearms in turn.
     
     "Thank you, Convaethyr," Glorfindel replied. "Do you know Haldir? He is 
Marchwarden of Lórien."
     
     "I'm glad to meet you, Marchwarden. I've heard a lot about you." Convaethyr 
bowed.
     
     Haldir returned the bow politely. Gildor bit the inside of his cheek trying hard to 
suppress laughter. 
     
     "Oh, Haldir," he murmured, "I hope he doesn't mean the things *I* have heard 
about you."
     
     Haldir preserved his calm, slightly arrogant look, though the corners of his mouth 
twitched in hidden mirth.
     
     "We are due back from our patrol in two days," Convaethyr told Glorfindel in the 
meantime. "But Lord Elrond has all the detailed reports so you can learn everything from 
them. Nothing much has happened during your absence, though."
     
     "Good," Glorfindel nodded.
     
     They bid farewell to the guards and resumed their way. After a while Gildor steered 
his horse to the right into the wood. Glorfindel waved him goodbye and continued along 
the road. Haldir followed Gildor.
     
     "Where are we going?"
     
     "I want to show you something."
     
     Soon Haldir heard the murmuring of water and they rode out into a glade on the 
bank of a rivulet. One of the Bruinen's tributaries formed a quiet creek here. The water in 
it was limpid and almost entirely still with hardly any wavelets rippling its surface. Haldir 
looked around. Pine trees surrounded the glade like a wall of tawny columns. The 
fragrant mat of grass and fallen pine needles thinned gradually into a patch of golden 
sand on the bank of the stream. Gildor slid down from his horse and smiled up at Haldir.
     
     "When I return to Imladris after long absence I always come here first. To wash off 
the dust of a long journey, so to say. And to let the peace of the place enter my heart."
     
     Gildor shed his clothes and waded into the water. He walked slowly forward till 
tiny wavelets kissed his lovely rump. Then he looked over his shoulder at Haldir.
     
     "Won't you join me?"
     
     When Haldir divested himself of his tunic and leggings and stood beside Gildor, the 
Vanya took his hand and pulled him along after himself. They waded further on and 
Haldir was surprised to see the rivulet become shallower instead of deepening. Soon it 
lapped around their ankles, hardly more than a foot above the sand-bar they were 
standing on. Gildor let go of Haldir's hand and stretched on his stomach on the sand; 
water licking hungrily at his golden body. He narrowed his eyes against sun-glints on the 
surface and sighed contentedly. Haldir sat down cross-legged by his side.
     
     "Does Glorfindel know where we went?"
     
     "Yes."
     
     "Why didn't he come with us?"
     
     "Because it's *my* place. I come here alone."
     
     Haldir raised an eyebrow. "What about me then?"
     
     "You?" A smile flickered across Gildor's lips. "You are an exception, seron vell. 
You make me do a lot of things I haven't done before." [beloved]
    
    Haldir smiled as well and ran his hand along Gildor's spine down to the tight curve 
of his rear. Then his fingers traced the crevice between Gildor's buttocks, tentatively 
pressing deeper. But the Vanya rolled onto his side swiftly and swatted Haldir's hand. 
    
    "No!"
    
    "No?"
    
    "No. I refuse to be tumbled on a riverbank when the luxury of my bed is only a short 
distance away."
    
    Haldir chuckled. "And what is so wrong with a river bank?"
    
    Gildor made a face. "Sand gets in all the wrong places."
     
     "Mollycoddle," Haldir teased him. "I did not know you are afraid of a little 
discomfort."
     
     "Hm?" Gildor narrowed his eyes. "All right, if you are so bent on doing it here and 
now, let's do it. But *I* shall be on top this time."
     
     Haldir pretended to ponder on it. "On second thought," he said reflectively, "your 
bed does sound attractive."
     
     "Ah!" Gildor laughed. "Now who is afraid of a little discomfort?"
     
     They stayed on the sand-bar for a little longer and then returned to the bank to dry 
and to dress.
     
     "Let me braid your hair for you," Gildor offered and Haldir accepted gratefully.
     
     Gildor found a comb in his saddlebag and started on the task. It took him somewhat 
longer than Haldir had expected. Finally, he finished and looked at Haldir with 
satisfaction.
     
     "Here. You are ready."
     
     Haldir touched the intricate braids into which his hair was now arranged.
     
     "It feels odd without the familiar side-locks," he complained.
     
     "Do not worry: it becomes you," Gildor assured him. "You look beautiful. But then, 
you always do."
     
     
     They reached their destination in about an hour. Haldir looked in wonder at 
numerous bridges and waterfalls.
     
     "There's water everywhere here," he commented.
     
     "Yes," Gildor agreed happily. "This is one of the things that make this place 
special."
     
     Haldir gave him a side-glance and chuckled. "You haven't told me you have 
Telerin blood in you."
     
     "I don't," Gildor smiled. "But I love water."
     
     "I can hardly see any fair-haired elf," Haldir continued his observations.
     
     "Yes," Gildor agreed again. "I think it's the main reason Glorfindel and I are so 
popular here."
     
     "Such modesty!" Haldir laughed and looked around again. "There are definitely 
more Noldor here than I would want," he muttered under his breath.
     
     Gildor chuckled. "You do not have to want all of them. Actually, there is only one 
elf you *must* want. And he is only half-Noldo."
     
     Haldir raised an eyebrow. "Must? Is it an order?"
     
     "Yes," Gildor nodded emphatically. "Obey."
     
     "Here, my Lord?" Haldir inquired archly. "Or am I allowed to wait till the luxury of 
your bed?"
     
     Finally they rode into the spacious courtyard in front of Elrond's house. As they 
dismounted, a group of elves appeared at the top of the grand staircase leading to the 
main entrance. Haldir recognized the Lord of Imladris, flanked by Glorfindel and the 
Chief Advisor Erestor. And then a laughing and whooping whirlwind dashed down the 
stairs and swept up Gildor into the midst of it. Of course. The twins. The next moment 
Haldir could get a very clear idea what Arwen had meant, speaking about her brothers' 
generous way of kissing. Haldir's eyes narrowed when he saw Gildor accept it as if it 
were the most natural thing on Arda for him to do. Haldir strongly resented the notion. 
Still keeping Gildor imprisoned in the space between them, the twins started talking, both 
at once, interrupting each other. 
     
     "Not so fast, ernilen," Gildor chuckled as he tried to disentangle himself from their 
arms. "Give me a moment. I've brought someone with me I want to introduce to you." 
[my princes]
     
     The twins became aware of Haldir's presence for the first time. Two dark-haired 
heads turned and two pairs of identical eyes regarded him; first in surprise, then in 
suspicious contemplation. Haldir studied them in turn. He had seen them before, of 
course, but he had never looked at them as at potential rivals. Now he regarded them with 
a critical eye.
     
     Oh, Elrond's sons were truly fair: luscious dark manes, flawless skin, large gray 
eyes, almost silvery about the pupils and black-rimmed around the irises; strong, agile 
bodies of true warriors or - of predators. They were a double impact of lethal beauty. 
Haldir had to admit that with the gwanûn's dark beauty framing Gildor's golden one, the 
three of them made a stunning sight: they complemented and supplemented each other 
most favourably. [twins]
     
     "There's no need for introduction," one of the twins said finally.
     
     "We know the Marchwarden," the other chorused.
     
     "Yes," Gildor smiled. "But I do not think you know that Haldir is my lover now and 
that he is going to live here, in Imladris."
     
     The princes looked at the Vanya with something that Haldir would qualify as shock. 
Then they turned to him again, their eyes assessing, measuring, weighing. Haldir met 
their stare with thinly veiled challenge on his face. One pair of eyes went just a little 
wide; the other – just a little narrow.
     
     "Indeed," they breathed together.
     
     "Then you are even more welcome in Imladris, Haldir," came Elrond's composed 
voice.
     
     "Thank you, my Lord." Haldir bowed his head respectfully. He noted that neither 
Elrond nor Erestor seemed to be surprised by Gildor's announcement. They must have 
learned the news from Glorfindel then, he decided. Oddly enough, it was the Balrog 
slayer who was looking at him in a peculiar way. Gildor noticed it as well.
     
     "Glorfindel, you are staring," he said, stepping out of the twins' embrace finally and 
pulling Haldir closer to himself. "It's too late for second thoughts now. You should have 
used your chance with him when you had one. Now he is mine. So keep away from him. 
You too, Erestor." 
     
     The twins exchanged a glance trying to understand if Gildor was joking or it was a 
serious warning.
     
     "If you've done with the declaration of your property rights," Erestor said in a cool 
sarcastic voice, "I presume we all can get into the house. You did not send us a warning 
that you were bringing… er… a guest with you so we have not prepared a room for him. 
But he'll be sharing your quarters, I believe?"
     
    "He will."
    
     "I'm standing right here," Haldir reminded them coldly.
    
     "Let us go inside, shall we?" Elrond hurried to interfere. "You must be tired after 
your long journey and hungry, too."
    
     "Yes," Glorfindel seconded his effort to defuse the situation. "I do not know about 
you two," he winked at Gildor and Haldir, "but I've had my fill of dried fruit and meat 
and am ready for something more substantial."
    
    Erestor rolled his eyes. "Glutton."
    
    "Look who's talking," Glorfindel smirked, unabashed. "By the way, Haldir, that's a 
pretty hairstyle. I could never imagine I'd see it on a Galadhel one day."
    
    They headed for the main entrance, Elrond leading the way.
    
    "I meant it, Erestor," Gildor muttered as he passed the advisor.
    
    Erestor pretended he had not heard him but a ghost of a smirk touched his lips. 
    
    Elladan caught Glorfindel's arm, making him fall back. "What was that about his 
hairstyle? Was it Gildor who did it?"
    
    Glorfindel chuckled. "I would be surprised if it were someone else. It's an old 
Vanyarin style. I did not even know Gildor remembered it."
    
    "There is something special about it, isn't there?" Elrohir inquired softly.
    
    Glorfindel looked at him with a quirked eyebrow. "Aye, pen dithen, you read the 
signs correctly. This is the way a Vanya would braid the hair of someone he is willing to 
bind himself to." [little one]
    
    The twins stared at Glorfindel in mute shock.
    
    "You mean," Elladan finally managed to wheeze out, "you mean to say that… "
    
    Glorfindel shook his head. "I know nothing about Gildor's binding plans, but it 
surely means that he is seriously in love. You'd better get used to the idea."
    
    With that he entered the house but the twins stayed outside. They looked at each 
other, still feeling shaken.
    
    "If Glorfindel says so… " Elrohir began.
    
    "… then it can be really true," Elladan finished.
    
    "He *loves* him?"
    
    Elladan frowned and did not answer.
    
    "I'm not happy with it," Elrohir admitted anxiously.
    
    "Do you think I am?" Elladan replied glumly. "The Galadhel's fame precedes him. 
Every second broken heart in Lórien is his doing."
    
    Elrohir looked at his brother. "We'll keep an eye on him," he said emphatically. 
    
    "And if he so much as tries to hurt Gildor… "
    
    "… we shall hurt *him*."
    
    They nodded in mutual agreement.
    
    
    
    Gildor pushed the door to his suite open and stepped aside. "Come in, Haldir. This is 
your home now."
    
    Haldir entered the room and looked around. "Are these the largest quarters in the 
house?" he asked in mild amusement.
    
    "One of the largest." Gildor followed him inside. "I was here when the place was 
built so I could choose."
    
    Haldir pulled Gildor into his arms and stroke his cheek with the back of his hand. "I 
still cannot get used to how young you look. Even younger than me."
    
    "Is it a problem?" Gildor leaned into the touch.
    
    "No, I like it. Well, where is that so-much-boasted-of bed?"
    
    Gildor led him into the bedroom. "Here it is."
    
    Haldir stared at the four-posted piece of furniture for several moments in silence.
    
    "I am impressed," he said at last. "It must be the size of my talan. Do you think we'll 
be able to find each other in it, at least from time to time?"
    
    "Do not worry," Gildor chuckled. "I'll give you a detailed plan of it, with my 
favourite places marked."
    
    "That would be most helpful," Haldir nodded. Then he assumed a thoughtful air. 
"Now I wonder about your bath. Is all the water in the Bruinen enough to fill it up?"
    
    "Come and have a look for yourself," Gildor laughed and led him to his spacious 
bathroom.
    
    "Hmm." Haldir walked up to the steaming container the size of a pool. "You 
certainly have a taste for big things."
    
    "Yes," Gildor agreed as he advanced on his lover with a predatory glint in his eyes. 
"Yes, I do."
    
    
    The twins approached Gildor's chambers, their hands loaded with food and drink.
    
    "Perhaps they would wish to come to the dining-hall after all," Elrohir murmured.
    
    "Ada knows better, Ro," Elladan replied and pushed the door open with his hip.
    
    They entered the room but stopped abruptly at the sound they heard through the open 
bedroom door.
    
    "What was that?" Elrohir looked at his twin.
    
    "Laughter."
    
    "Gildor's?!" Elrohir's eyes were wide with amazement.
    
    "I do not know, Ro. Sounds like him, though it's hardly possible." Elladan put the 
tray with food on the table and called, "Gildor! Come here! We've brought you supper."
    
    In several moments Gildor emerged out of the bedroom, closely followed by Haldir. 
    
    "What is it, ernilen vyrn?" Gildor walked forward but Haldir stayed behind, lounging 
against the doorframe with his arms crossed. 
    
    ‘My dark princes! Indeed!' Haldir tried not to scowl too openly.
    
    "Erm…" Elrohir shot a glance at his brother but Elladan's eyes were fixed on Haldir. 
"Ada thought you would prefer to have supper in your rooms tonight. So he asked us to 
take some food and drink to you."
    
    He waved the bottle of miruvor he was still holding in his hand.
    
    "Oh, thank you!" Gildor smiled. "Very thoughtful of him."
    
     In the meantime Elladan gave Haldir a close scrutiny. Just like Gildor, the Galadhel 
was shirtless and barefoot. His tight leather leggings clung to the long, clean lines of his 
legs and did nothing to conceal an unmistakable bulge in his groin. The upper laces of his 
leggings were undone, generously revealing lean, hard muscles of his stomach.  Elladan 
raised his eyes and Haldir met his gaze unwaveringly, though a muscle in his jaw 
twitched minutely. 
    
    "Do you like what you see, El?" came Gildor's amused voice.
    
    Elladan shifted his look to him. "More important is whether *you* like what you see, 
dagnir-e-guilen," he replied softly. [bane of my life]
    
    "I do."
    
    "Then all is well, I trust. Have a good rest. Ada expects you in his study after 
breakfast tomorrow."
    
    Elladan nodded to Elrohir and the twins left.
    
    "What the… " Haldir hissed when the door closed behind them. He took a deep 
breath. "What was that all about?"
    
    "Oh, Silfael," Gildor walked up to his lover quickly and wrapped his arms around his 
waist, "do not take it to heart. They are simply feeling wary of you and protective over 
me." [Moonbeam]
    
    "And what have I done to provoke those feelings?" Haldir inquired in a resentful 
tone.
    
    "Not you - I," Gildor smiled. "Firstly, I've brought you from Lórien," he started to 
enumerate, alternating words with tiny licks on Haldir's lips. "Secondly, you are sharing 
my quarters. Thirdly, I make no secret that we are lovers. Actually, I've all but shouted 
about it from a treetop. I have never done anything of the kind before. Naturally, they are 
worried."
    
    "And what are they worried about?" Haldir's hands slid down Gildor's back and 
forced their way into his leggings, kneading the tight flesh of his buttocks.
    
    Gildor moaned and ground his hips against the hard muscles of Haldir's thigh. "They 
are afraid you can take advantage of me, I believe."
    
    "Do you think I can?" Haldir murmured, nibbling at Gildor's throat.
    
    "Yes!" Gildor breathed. "Please, do."
    
    "Well, introduce me to the luxury of your bed, then."
    
    "The luxury of my bath goes first."
    
    Gildor pushed himself away from Haldir, hooked his finger into the loosened laces 
of Haldir's leggings and pulled his lover after himself.
    

    Some hours later Gildor was lying in his bed by Haldir's side, blissfully sated and 
pleasantly exhausted. He was listening to the music of Haldir's even breathing to the 
ever-present accompaniment of murmuring water. Haldir sighed softly in his sleep, 
shifted his weight and draped one arm over Gildor's chest. Gildor pulled him closer 
gently and smiled into the darkness contentedly. It was good to be home.
   
   
    Seron vell – beloved
    Ernilen – my princes
    Gwanûn – twins
    Pen dithen – little one
    Ernilen vyrn – my dark princes
    Dagnir-e-guilen – bane of my life
    Silfael - Moonbeam
    
    
    
Chapter 3.  You Are Mine.


     Haldir and Gildor were walking along the corridor leading to the dining hall and 
Haldir grew apprehensive once again. Judging by the welcome he had got yesterday, his 
assimilation to Imladris could prove to be more difficult than even Orophin had 
predicted. Gildor felt his unease and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
     
     "Breakfast is a family affair here. There won't be many people present. Only those 
you've met before."
     
     That was not much of a consolation though, as the twins were sure to be there and 
Haldir knew he would have to watch his step when around them. Gildor opened a door 
and ushered him into something that was more of a private dining room than a formal 
dining hall. The chamber was not large but sunny and airy, with arched doors leading to a 
terrace. There was a table served for breakfast in the middle of the room, but the elves 
present had not taken their seats at it yet.
     
     Gildor looked around and smiled. "Have we kept you waiting? We cannot be very 
much late."
     
     "You are not," Elrond answered. "You are just in time."
     
    "Actually, we did not expect you to get up so early," Erestor remarked archly, "after 
your no doubt exhausting recent ride."
     
     "May I ask who these "we" are, Erestor?" Gildor inquired nonchalantly.
     
     Haldir missed the advisor's answer, distracted by Gildor's hand moving down from 
the small of his back to stroke his rump.
     
     "Stop it," he muttered under his breath.
     
     Gildor chuckled softly, amused by Haldir's embarrassment, and gave the taut flesh 
of his buttock a firm squeeze before placing his hand back onto its former spot.
     
     "Relax, no one's seen it," he murmured as everybody moved to take their seats.
     
     The Lord of the house sat at the head of the table with Elladan on his right and 
Glorfindel on his left. Elrohir's place was on the right of his brother and Erestor's – next 
to him. Gildor was on Glorfindel's left and when Haldir took his seat by Gildor's side, he 
found himself vis-à-vis with Erestor.
     
     The twins were watching him, as Haldir had known they would. Their looks were 
not hostile though, just cool and expectant as if they were waiting for him to commit 
some kind of blunder.  Then Elladan turned to Gildor and the steel of his eyes warmed.
     
     "How was your first night at home, dagnir-e-guilen?" he asked. [bane of my life]
     
     Gildor laughed. "Really, Elladan! Do you honestly expect me to give you the 
details? Suffice it to say that I slept well."
     
     "You *slept*?" Elladan feigned shock.
     
     Haldir felt his irritation stir but a warm hand on his thigh started to draw soothing 
circles and he kept silent. However, Elladan felt his stare and looked at him quizzically.
     
     "Yes, Marchwarden? Do you want to ask something?"
     
     "Actually, I do," Haldir began menacingly. But strong fingers dug into the muscles 
of his thigh and Haldir took a slow breath and turned to Elrond instead.
     
     "I wonder, my Lord: is it done so on purpose that the dark part of your household is 
facing the fair part of it at your table?"
     
     Elrond looked left and right and laughed. "I have never realized it, but you are 
right."
     
     Gildor smiled at his lover, his fingers stroking the suede of Haldir's leggings again.
     
     "Only – as you call it – the dark part is more numerous," Elladan remarked.
     
     "Which makes our fair part even more precious to us," Elrohir added sweetly.
     
     "I'm sure you have not seen so many dark-haired elves in one place before, have 
you, Haldir?" Erestor asked, steering the conversation into another direction.
     
     "No, my Lord."
     
      "You needn't my-lord me," Erestor smiled, all white teeth and charm. "Call me 
Erestor."
     
     Haldir felt Gildor's hand freeze on his thigh.
     
     "So, Haldir, do you find the Noldorin type of beauty attractive? Some say it's 
exotic, you know."
     
     "Er… yes," Haldir answered politely. "Though, I must admit I prefer the gold of the 
Sun to the darkness of the night."
    
    He lifted Gildor's hand off his thigh and brought it to his lips.
    
    "Of course," Erestor drawled. "We love what we are used to. But with time and 
practice one can learn to appreciate something quite different."
     
     Gildor's eyes narrowed in indignation. The next moment Erestor hissed with pain 
as Elrohir, who had been playing with his napkin, knocked down his silver goblet, which 
fell and hit Erestor's fingers.
     
     "Oh, I'm so sorry, Erestor. So clumsy of me," Elrohir said, not a trace of remorse in 
his voice.
     
     "But then, Erestor, you've been warned to keep your hands away," Elladan 
remarked casually.
     
     Erestor scowled, Elrond gave a huff of frustration and Glorfindel laughed.
     
     "I think we two can as well start on our breakfast, Elrond. It looks like all the rest 
will never get to it, with all this bickering."
     
     Haldir was caught between amusement and resentment. He could appreciate the 
joke but he did not think Erestor had deserved such treatment. All the advisor had done 
was trying to put him at ease, and Haldir was genuinely grateful to him for his attempt at 
friendliness.  Even if Erestor *had* flirted with him a little, it was absolutely innocent 
and much less demonstrative than the twins' behaviour towards Gildor. Haldir smiled at 
the advisor. Erestor returned the smile and spread his napkin on his lap.
     
     "So, as I hear," he said as if nothing had happened, "the intractable king of 
Mirkwood has signed the treaty after all?"
     
     Gildor hid a smirk: Erestor had not seen Thranduil's version of the treaty yet.
     
     "Yes," he replied tersely.
     
     "I was also told that he is sending his ambassadors to Imladris."
     
     "Yes."
     
     "Hmm." The advisor played with his fork thoughtfully. "Why did he become so 
friendly, all of a sudden?"
     
     "All of a sudden?" Gildor exclaimed in mock affront. "It took me centuries to 
persuade him to do it."
     
     Erestor waved it away dismissively. "I always thought you two were entirely 
content with things as they stood. So it makes his unexpected change of mind even more 
suspicious."
     
     "For pity's sake, Erestor," Glorfindel moaned, "could you, please, *not* talk 
business at table?"
     
     "What is wrong, Glorfindel?" Erestor arched an eyebrow at the Elda. "Do you find 
diplomatic matters difficult to digest?"
     
     Glorfindel gave an exaggerated sigh. "I know you enjoy listening to yourself 
talking, meldir, but I would prefer to have my breakfast to some other accompaniment, if 
I may."
     
     Gildor, who had a very good idea as to why Glorfindel was reluctant to discuss the 
reasons for Thranduil's good will, hid his smile in his cup of tea. The twins watched their 
elders squabbling with merry interest while helping themselves to fresh buns and honey. 
Elrond shook his head in frustration and looked at Haldir apologetically.
     
     "Please, do not think that it is always like this in our family. We do have our 
moments of peace and harmony, even though they might be sparse in between."
     
     "Oh, do not worry, my Lord," Haldir laughed. "I'm well used to this sort of family 
interaction – I have two elder brothers."
     
     To Elrond's relief, the rest of the breakfast was as uneventful as he could possibly 
wish. When the meal was over, to Haldir's surprise the twins were the first to leave. With 
just a see-you-later they disappeared through the terrace door. Elrond and Glorfindel 
headed for Elrond's study.
     
     "I'll join you in a moment," Gildor told them and turned to Haldir.  "I have to speak 
with Elrond about my trip to Mirkwood and other things."
     
     "I understand," Haldir nodded.
     
     "You can wait for me in our rooms or look around, or go out into the gardens if you 
wish. I won't be busy for too long. And then I'll show you the house and the grounds, all 
right?"
     
     Haldir nodded again. Gildor kissed him and disappeared behind the door to the 
study. Haldir sighed and resumed walking along the corridor, wondering what on Arda he 
was to do with himself.
     
     Erestor, who had stayed behind in the dining room to talk to the servants, caught up 
with Haldir when the young Galadhel reached the main hall.
     
     "Left alone already?" the advisor inquired jokingly.
     
     Haldir grew defensive at once. "Gildor has his duties and responsibilities."
     
     "Of course he has," Erestor agreed lightly. "But we do not want you to feel 
abandoned, do we? Perhaps I could keep you company while Gildor is busy?"
     
     "Don't you have to be present there too?" Haldir asked hesitantly.
     
     "Oh, they'll be discussing Imladris' defences and patrols. I trust they are able to 
manage that without my help."
     
     Haldir suddenly felt melancholic: defences and patrols were the things he had 
always been invited to discuss when in Lórien.  Erestor put his hand on Haldir's arm and 
a light sigh escaped his lips at the solid feel of hard muscles under the thin fabric of the 
Galadhel's tunic.
     
     "Would you like me to show you around the house?" he offered.
     
     Haldir shook his head. "Gildor wants to do it himself."
     
     "I know he does," Erestor laughed. "And I won't spoil the pleasure for him by 
guiding you through Imladris' main sights. I just want to show you some things that can 
make your life here easier – like convenient passages, shortcuts, hidden doors… " 
     
     Haldir's curiosity was piqued.
     
     "Hidden doors sound intriguing," he smiled.
     
     "Good. Let us begin our excursion then."
     
     Haldir almost jumped when he felt Erestor's hand on the small of his back. But the 
touch was very light and quick and was certainly meant only as an invitation to start 
moving, so Haldir chided himself for being too twitchy and thought no more of it.
     
     Erestor turned out to be a very efficient guide and interesting company. He knew 
the place like the back of his hand and entertained Haldir with stories and anecdotes from 
the history of Imladris. Haldir found that he was enjoying himself in spite of the fact that 
Gildor was not with him at the moment. He once again felt sincere gratitude to Erestor 
for taking the time and the trouble to lessen his unease.
     
     "We are in the family wing now," Erestor said as they entered a long passage. "This 
is the door to my rooms. And that one is to Glorfindel's."
     
     They walked the corridor at a leisurely pace. Erestor gave Haldir a side-glance.
     
     "How did you like Gildor's monster of a bed?"
     
     Haldir chuckled. "I liked it. It's… spacious."
     
     "Oh, that it certainly is. I never could understand why he wanted his bed that big 
when he had hardly ever put its size to full use. Well, of course it *was* convenient when 
the twins chose to sleep with him. But he couldn't have known they would do it when he 
had that bed put into his room."
     
     Haldir turned his darkened gaze to Erestor. "What do you mean they chose to sleep 
with him?"
     
     "What do I… Oh! No! I did not mean it that way!" Erestor looked at him in good 
imitation of embarrassment. "They used to come to his bed when they were children."
     
     "And why would they choose *his* bed?"
     
     "Well, their parents' bed was Arwen's prerogative. Glorfindel's was often… 
occupied. As for me, I always lock my door for the night, as I do not like interruptions. 
Gildor, for his part, never locks his. So quite often they were found in the morning, 
sleeping in his bed. I do not know if they had ever walked in on him. But if you do not 
want to be surprised in the middle of… any activity, you'll have to bolt your door 
yourself, because Gildor has never learned to do it and the gwanûn have never learned to 
knock." [twins]
     
     Haldir looked back at the long passage they had walked from the staircase.
     
     "It's a far way for children to run in the night."
     
     "Ah, this is where a shortcut comes in very handily," Erestor laughed. "Let me 
show you."
     
     He pulled aside a tapestry covering the wall in front of the twins' door and Haldir 
saw stairs leading upwards.
     
     "Shall we?" Erestor asked.
     
     Haldir nodded and they climbed the stairway. There was another tapestry to be 
raised at the end of it and then Haldir found himself at the door to Gildor's chambers.
     
     "Convenient, isn't it?" Erestor smiled. "Actually, if you look from the outside of the 
house, you'll see that our rooms and Gildor's are situated in different wings, on different 
levels and even face different directions. But with the help of this little staircase one can 
get from one to another very quickly."
     
     "There are no other rooms on this floor. Gildor lives here alone, why?" Haldir 
asked.
     
     Erestor shrugged. "This was his choice. He likes solitude. A lone wolf, you know. 
That reminds me – we should get back. I think his meeting with Elrond must be over by 
now, and Gildor will have my hide if I keep you away from him."
     
     Erestor's words were not very wide of the mark. They had hardly reached the 
library when the door next to it opened and Gildor walked out. 
     
     "Where have you been, Erestor?" he inquired. "We thought you would join us."
     
     The advisor hid his hands in the wide sleeves of his robe. "I decided for this once 
not to meddle with your military matters."
     
     "Erestor showed me around the place," Haldir explained.
     
     "Hm."
     
     Gildor's eyes were fixed on Erestor, and it was obvious that whatever thoughts 
were hidden behind that cool, unnerving stare, they were not nice.
     
     Erestor shifted from foot to foot. "Well, I really have to get to my work now," he 
said. "If you ever want my help again, Haldir, you can always find me in the library."
     
     He put his hand on the doorknob but Gildor stopped him.
     
     "Just a moment, Erestor."
     
     The advisor turned around, a hint of worry in his eyes.
     
     "I'm sorry to add to your work but Elrond wants you to have a look at this." Gildor 
offered him a parchment.
     
     "What is it?"
     
     "The treaty with Mirkwood. From Thranduil with love," the Vanya gave him a 
bright smile.
     
     Erestor took the parchment gingerly as if he were expecting it to explode any 
moment. He had a distinct feeling he was not going to like what he would see in it.
     
     "Let's go, Haldir."
     
     Gildor caught Haldir's wrist and pulled his lover after himself. Haldir looked over 
his shoulder as he was being all but dragged away. Erestor was still looking at the paper 
in his hand, then he cursed under his breath and entered the library.
     
     Haldir tried to free his hand several times but to no avail. At last he dug his heels 
into the floor, making Gildor stop.
     
     "What ailed you?" he demanded.
     
     Gildor let go of his wrist but did not answer at once.
     
     "Are you angry Erestor showed me the house before you could do it?"
     
     "I told him to keep away from you!" Resentment made Gildor's eyes glitter.
     
     "For Valar's sake, Gildor! He's just being friendly! What's wrong with his trying to 
make me feel more welcome here than I've felt so far?"
     
     "You do not understand," Gildor shook his head. "You've always been a hunter, 
you haven't been hunted yourself. So you do not see the signs. He is using your current 
vulnerability to get closer to you. And believe me, it is not friendship that he is seeking."
     
     Haldir's temper flared up. He had been putting up with the twin show of 
overprotectiveness since he had arrived in Imladris. And now he was rebuked for not 
turning down someone who happened not to treat him like an odd elf in the happy family. 
He felt it was not fair. He looked away trying to curb his anger. His eyes fell on the 
fresco behind Gildor's back and what he saw there made him scowl. The artist, who had 
made the picture, was no doubt talented. Haldir immediately recognized the person 
staring intently at him from the painting. Thranduil, another of Gildor's bosom friends. 
Gildor did not have to turn around to know what Haldir was looking at. Haldir shifted his 
gaze back to the Vanya's face.
     
     "Erestor and I, we are only friends," Haldir said, allowing an acid tinge to permeate 
his tone. "What's so wrong with my wish to have my own close friends? Besides, even if 
Erestor *is* making a pass at me, I can deal with it myself. I need no shepherd!"
     
     Damn, that hurt. Gildor shut his eyes for a moment. It seemed when one put down 
one's armour, every scratch became painful. When Gildor looked at Haldir again, his 
expression was carefully guarded.
     
     "Fair enough," he said evenly.
     
     Haldir was already regretting the words he had said in the heat of the moment. He 
immediately knew that it was not anger that Gildor was hiding so skilfully under his Ice 
Blade mask - it was hurt.
     
     "Gildor, I'm sorry!" Haldir wanted to but dared not touch him. "I did not mean it 
like that."
     
     Gildor shook his head. "You have a right to make your own decisions and… your 
own mistakes. But if you want our relationship to be an open one, you'd better tell me 
about it now."
     
     Haldir gasped. "Open one? Are you insane?!"
     
     He did not hesitate any longer but reached out, grasped Gildor's shoulders and 
shook him slightly. "Don't you understand that I want you all to myself? That I hate the 
very thought of sharing you with anyone? That I want you to be mine alone?"
     
     Haldir jerked Gildor to himself and claimed his mouth in a fiercely possessive kiss. 
After several moments he felt Gildor's lips soften reluctantly under his own and doubled 
his effort. Gradually the Vanya's stiff body relaxed, warmed and moulded to Haldir's, his 
hands slid up Haldir's shoulders and got entangled into the Galadhel's silken tresses.
     
     "Tell me you are mine!" Haldir's demand sounded low and dark and sensuous.
     
     "Yours," Gildor confirmed breathlessly.
     
     As he kissed him again, Haldir threw a triumphant glance over his lover's shoulder 
at Thranduil in the picture. When they drew apart finally, their lungs were burning for the 
lack of air. They were smiling at each other silently, giving themselves time to catch their 
breath. Haldir was the first to speak.
     
     "Well, what is this place?" he asked conversationally, looking around. "I haven't 
seen it yet. I never thought I'd find Thranduil's portrait on a wall in Imladris."
     
     "This is not just Thranduil's portrait," Gildor argued good-humouredly. "If you 
look attentively, you'll notice the Mirkwood army around him."
     
     Gildor disentangled himself from Haldir's arms and turned to face the fresco.
     
     "See? This is his father by his side. And this is the banner of Mirkwood." Gildor 
sighed.  "The last moments before the Battle of Dagorlad began."
     
     "Hmm," Haldir looked around. "If there is a picture of the Mirkwood army here, 
there is sure to be one of the Noldorin forces too. And of you." He smiled at Gildor. "So, 
where is it?"
     
     Gildor chuckled. "Further along the passage."
     
     "I want to see it."
     
     Gildor led Haldir to another fresco and Haldir found his lover in it at once. Gildor 
looked so incredibly young and exquisitely lovely and so lethally dangerous.
     
     "You haven't changed a bit," Haldir remarked.
     
     "Yes, you've said it before," Gildor laughed. "And you've said you like it."
     
     "I do."
     
     Haldir tore his eyes away from Gildor's likeness and looked at other elves in the 
picture. He recognized Glorfindel and Elrond, who flanked a tall elf with piercing blue 
eyes and a proud countenance. Haldir regarded him for several moments
     
     "Is this what Gil-galad looked like?" he asked.
     
     "Yes, very close to it."
     
     "One can see at once he was a formidable warrior."
     
     "Yes," Gildor agreed quietly.
     
     After a while Haldir turned to Gildor again. "Now show me the Chamber of the 
Sword," he demanded.
     
     "Yes, my Lord." Gildor gave him a mock bow. "Follow me, please."
     
     They walked along the corridor that led them into the room where the shards of 
Narsil were kept. Haldir studied the broken sword of Elendil, displayed on a plateau, 
covered with a dark satin cloth and held by the wooden, larger-than-life likeness of a 
male Elf.
     
     "It must have been a proud sword once," he observed.
     
     "It was," Gildor confirmed softly. "It could be such again one day, who knows… "
     
     There were paintings on the walls of this chamber as well. Haldir came closer to the 
one depicting Isildur with the hilt-shard of Narsil in his raised hand and the dark, helmed 
figure of Sauron looming over him. Haldir studied the picture closely.
     
     "I never liked the Man," he heard Gildor's disdainful voice.
     
     He turned to look at him, surprised. "Why?"
     
     "He was weak and vain. I wish I had been by Orodruin's fires with him instead of 
Elrond."
     
     "What would that have changed?"
     
     "If he had refused to destroy the Ring, he would have gone down into the fires 
together with the damned thing."
     
     "No!" Haldir stared at the Vanya in disbelief. "You would have never done such a 
thing."
     
     "I would. Have no doubt of that. I would have gone down too, if I had had to. And 
that would have been a small price to pay."
     
     "But the Ring is lost anyway," Haldir remarked soothingly.
     
     Gildor sighed. "Unfortunately, such things are never lost forever, Silfael. But let us 
not speak about it now. Is there anything else you want me to show you?"
     
     "Yes, gardens and all those bridges."
     
     "Well, maybe, *some* of those bridges," Gildor laughed. "It's impossible to see all 
of them at one go."
     
     As they headed for the staircase leading down to the gardens, Haldir asked 
curiously, "What are the mortals like? I haven't seen many of them. So what are they 
like, generally?"
     
     Gildor made a face. "Hairy. And they can go without a bath for weeks." He gave a 
theatrical shudder.
     
     Haldir snickered. "Gildor! I'm serious."
     
     "So am I. But perhaps you'll like them better than I do. You'll be able to get your 
own opinion of them for they are more frequent visitors here than in Lórien." After a 
moment of contemplation he added, "But I'd say they are still better than the dwarves. 
Women, at any rate."
     
     
     
     They stayed in the gardens till it was time to return to the house for lunch. The meal 
was served in the same dining room where they had had breakfast. Erestor was absent as 
he preferred to have his midday meal in the library and the twins were reported to have 
already had their lunch. So only Elrond and Glorfindel were there to keep Gildor and 
Haldir company. Haldir was genuinely grateful for this respite.
     
     "I hope we shall see you two at the party tonight?" Elrond asked them when the 
lunch was over.
     
     "Party?" Haldir looked at Gildor in question.
     
     "Yes," the Vanya answered. "We are fond of such things here. I did not show you 
the Hall of Fire because you'll see it in the evening anyway. But we still have plenty of 
time before that, so we can go and have a look at how our guards are doing at the training 
grounds. And we could have a sparring match, if you wish."
     
     "I do."
     
     "Well," Gildor turned to Elrond, "then you are sure to see me in the Hall of Fire 
tonight. And maybe, Haldir too, if he survives the match."
     
     Haldir glared at his lover in mock affront. "We'll see who survives it!"
     
     "I take it that at least one of you will be present in any case," Elrond remarked 
conversationally.
     
     "Yes," Gildor and Haldir said together and rose from the table.
     
     They went to their room first, to change and to take their swords. As they came out 
of the house and Gildor was leading Haldir to the training grounds, he asked, "Tell me, 
Silfael, what would you like to do here, in Imladris?" [Moonbeam]
     
     The question took Haldir by surprise.
     
     "I thought I could join your patrol," he said hesitantly.
     
     "Of course you can. But I have a better offer for you."
     
     Haldir grew a little suspicious: what else could he do but to be a warrior?
     
     "We have three patrol shifts," Gildor started to explain. "Glorfindel leads one of 
them, Convaethyr leads the other and the third is mine. We want to form one more and 
you could take the command of it if you wish. Of course, there are things you'll have to 
learn first. But you'll have plenty of time for that while guards are chosen and trained."
     
     "I do not want to be away from you," Haldir frowned.
     
     "There will be four shifts, Haldir. We'll still be spending half of our time together. 
And, you'll have a rank that equals the one you had in Lórien."
     
     "I do not care about the rank," Haldir replied stubbornly. "And I do not like the idea 
of your fighting without me."
     
     Gildor smiled. "Do not worry, I'll be fine. I always am. Please, I would like you to 
think it over. I'm sure you are well suited for this position and Glorfindel seconds my 
opinion. Promise me to give it a thought."
     
     "All right," Haldir agreed reluctantly. He could not deny, though, that the offer was 
really generous and very tempting.
     
     They came to a large field on which about two dozen elves were engaged in 
sparring matches, practicing sword fighting or hand-to-hand combat. One pair of 
combatants Haldir identified at once. He was not sure if the twins saw them. They did not 
interrupt their fight though. 
     
     At the far end of the field there were shooting ranges. Some elves were practicing 
with their bows and others stood waiting for their turn. Haldir almost stumbled when he 
recognized one of them. Dóghered. He had bedded the elf about a decade ago when the 
Noldo came to Lórien as a messenger. Darn! It was stupid of him not to have thought that 
they were sure to meet in Imladris. But to tell the truth, he had forgotten all about the elf. 
     
     When Dóghered saw Haldir, his eyes grew wide with surprise. Then his look darted 
to Gildor and surprise in his eyes was replaced by anxiety. Of course, Gildor did not fail 
to notice the exchange of looks between his lover and of one the soldiers. The guilty 
expression on Haldir's face told him everything he had to know. Gildor chuckled.
     
     "Haldir, I'm not going to chase down and kill all your former lovers. For while 
Imladris could survive such a hunt, Lórien would be horribly depopulated, I'm afraid."
     
     Haldir gave him a self-conscious smile.
     
     "So go talk to Dóghered," Gildor continued, "and tell him that I won't be after him 
as long as he sleeps in someone else's bed." 
     
     Haldir nodded and went to speak with Dóghered.  To his relief, he found that the elf 
was as much anxious as himself to forget all about their tryst. That cleared up, they both 
felt more at ease and chatted amiably. Dóghered introduced Haldir to his friends and the 
conversation became even livelier, as the Imladris elves asked Haldir about Lórien and 
her guardians and Haldir entertained them with some stories of his patrol life.
     
     When finally Haldir turned to the place where he had left Gildor, the Vanya, of 
course, was no longer there. Haldir's eyes darted around the field, searching for his lover.  
When he spotted him, he sighed. Gildor was engaged in a sparring match with the twins, 
both at once. Haldir took a seat on a bench near the edge of the field and watched.
     
    The triad was bare to their waists and Haldir could see powerful muscles ripple and 
bunch under smooth skin that was already covered with a sheen of sweat. All three of 
them moved with the fluid grace and powerful step of born warriors. Haldir saw with 
respect that the twins were accomplished swordsmen. Gildor was forced to move around 
the ground by the impact of their combined attack. Though, he let them neither come too 
close to him nor corner him between them. He did not attempt any attacks himself, just 
fended off their blows.
    
    "Have we made you sweat already, Gildor?" one of the twins taunted.  "Were you 
slacking during your trip or has your age finally begun telling on you?"
    
    "Shut up, El," Gildor answered tersely.
    
    "Ah, the truth tastes bitter," Elladan laughed.
    
    "When you talk too much, you lose your breath," Gildor smirked. "And your focus."
    
    The next moment he delivered a sudden powerful blow and Elladan's sword was 
knocked from his hand and flew in a wide arch to fall down some distance away. Elladan 
stepped swiftly out of Gildor's sword's reach and ran to get his weapon back. Elrohir was 
left to face the Vanya alone. Gildor gave him a predatory smile.
    
    "Do you think you can take me, pen neth?" [young one]
    
    Haldir watched Gildor's every movement, as he did not want to miss anything: he 
knew from his own experience how quick the Vanya could be. And he was right to 
expect fast action. Gildor lunged, then made a feint and ducked under Elrohir's arm, 
gripping him from behind. The younger twin froze at the cold feel of Gildor's blade at his 
throat.
    
    "Drop your sword, Ro," Gildor murmured, his breath stirring Elrohir's hair near his 
ear.
    
    Elrohir's eyelashes fluttered, he sighed and unclenched his hand. His sword fell to 
the ground by his feet. When Elladan turned back, he found his twin weaponless and with 
a blade under his chin. He cursed.
    
    "Couldn't you have held out just a little longer, Ro?" he asked, disappointed, as he 
walked back to them.
    
    "I found him irresistible," Elrohir smirked.
    
    Gildor chuckled and pushed the younger twin into his brother's arms, smacking his 
backside with the flat of his sword.
    
    "Ouch!" Elrohir rubbed his rump and turned to glare at the Vanya.
    
    "Poor thing!" Elladan was all sympathy. "Let me rub it for you. Or shall I kiss it 
better?"
    
    "Not here," Gildor ordered sternly, though his eyes were glittering with laughter. 
"Take him to your rooms and subject him to your healing methods there."
    
    Elladan stood to attention. "Yes, my Lord."
    
    Then he wrapped his arm around his brother's shoulders. "Let's go, meleth. I'll make 
it good for you, oh so very-very good." [love]
     
     When they sauntered away in the direction of the house, Gildor turned to Haldir.
     
     "A match, Marchwarden?"
     
     "You'll be at a disadvantage – you've just fought with two opponents."
     
     "Well, that will even our chances to some extent, so I won't have to feel too guilty 
for beating you."
     
     "And they say *I* am arrogant! Very well."
     
     Haldir rose to his feet and took off his tunic. Then he unsheathed his sword and 
joined Gildor on the training ground. They took position in front of each other.
     
     "Ready?"
     
     Haldir nodded and the match began. As they circled each other cautiously, Gildor 
ran his eyes over his lover's form appreciatively.
     
     "You look good," he paid him a playful compliment.
     
     "Don't lose your focus," Haldir smirked.
     
     "Not to worry, you won't catch me off-guard."
     
     They exchanged the first test blows and broke swiftly apart.
     
     "Not bad," Gildor commented. "But you'll have to try harder if you want to really 
impress me."
     
     Haldir gave him a scornful look and did not waste his breath on answering. Soon 
they were engaged in the fight in earnest, trading fierce jabs and blows. After a while, 
though, Haldir realized that he was the one doing the most of attacking.
     
     "You said you were not tired," he breathed.
     
     "I'm not," Gildor grinned, parrying Haldir's lunge. "I just don't want it to end too 
quickly." 
     
     "Braggart!"
     
     Haldir delivered a powerful blow, which Gildor blocked. Their blades clashed and 
strained against each other. Their eyes locked, their faces were set in effort. Then 
something changed swiftly in Gildor's look. But even before Haldir had time to fully 
register it, Gildor grabbed a fistful of Haldir's hair quickly and pulled him into a fervid 
kiss over their crossed swords. Then, just as quickly, he shoved Haldir away. The 
Galadhel staggered back a couple of steps before he could regain his balance and his 
composure. He looked at his lover, breathing heavily.
     
     Gildor gave him a smug grin. "Shall we continue?"
     
     "Indoors," Haldir suggested.
     
     "So that no one could witness your disgrace?" Gildor teased. "Are you afraid to be 
defeated in public, Marchwarden? Well, all right. I think I'll spare your pride this time."
     
     "Two can play this game, glinn-e-guren," Haldir smirked as they sheathed their 
swords and gathered their tunics. "We'll see who tops whom in the end. But no more 
dirty tricks, you cheat!" [song of my heart]
     
     "Bah!" Gildor laughed. "Everything is fair in love and war, Silfael."
     
     They headed for the house, still bantering.
     
     
     
     Gildor and Haldir came out of their room, making for the Hall of fire. When they 
reached the stairs, Gildor stopped suddenly, gave his lover a once-over and sighed.
     
     "I think we should go back and find you something else to wear."
     
     Haldir looked down at his tunic. "And what is wrong with my current attire?"
     
     Gildor sighed again. "You look too good in it. I'd say you look outrageously 
beautiful. You'll be a walking temptation for everyone in the Hall. The only way to 
prevent your abduction, I believe, is to chain you to me."
     
     Haldir laughed. "There is no need for such extreme measures. Binding will be 
enough, I think."
     
     Gildor held his breath for a moment. Surely, Haldir could not mean it *that* way? 
No, of course, not.
     
     "No, Silfael," he said ruefully. "Mithril chains are the only means."
     
     "Hmm, strange. I had an impression that no one dared come close to something or 
someone you called yours. Besides, don't you think I have the same reason for 
worrying?"
     
     Haldir fell one step behind to steal a look at Gildor's slender legs clad in tight 
suede. It was his turn to sigh. But Gildor dismissed his argument with a slight shrug.
     
     "Not to worry. I haven't been made a serious pass at for… " he tried to remember, 
"a long time."
     
     "I wonder why," Haldir chuckled.
     
     Gildor gave another little shrug. "Everyone here knows it's a mug's game."
     
     They came up to the entrance to the Hall of Fire, looked at each other and smiled.
     
     "All right. Here we go," Gildor said and they entered the wide doors.
     
     The large chamber was already filled with talking and laughing elves, dressed in 
brightly coloured clothes. Though Haldir found some of the colours too extravagantly 
vivid, he decided that, all in all, he liked it. It made the Hall look like a summer garden.
     
     Of course, their appearance in the doorway attracted immediate attention. As they 
wove their way to the place where the Lord of the House was sitting in his armchair, 
Haldir found himself being regarded with keen interest. The Imladris elves did not try to 
hide their curiosity and when Haldir caught someone staring, they just smiled at him 
friendly or coyly or playfully. Haldir studied them in turn. He discovered that Erestor had 
been actually right – the dark-haired Noldorin type of beauty was really exotic and, as 
such, had some undeniable enticement. Then Haldir noticed a young elf whose looks held 
his gaze.
     
     The elf in question was sitting sideways on one of the windowsills, with one leg 
folded gracefully under himself. He dangled his other leg in the air as he plucked on the 
strings of his lute absently, watching the crowd. He was no doubt a Noldo; the dark hair 
around his face was arranged into several intricate braids and decorated with 
mutlicoloured beads. He was regarding the world around him with wide and clear blue 
eyes, full of trust, enthusiasm and admiration. He had an air of gentleness and sweet 
innocence about him. When he saw Haldir staring at him, he gave him a bright smile of a 
happy child. 
     
     "Who's that?" Haldir asked in astonishment.
     
     Gildor looked that way and laughed. "Ah, so you are hooked, aren't you? And you 
haven't even heard him sing yet. This is Lindir, our minstrel."
     
     "Is he as young as he looks?" Haldir asked suspiciously.
     
     "Well, more or less. He is about your age."
     
     "I have never thought a Noldo could look so fragile and pure."
     
     "We are not born kin slayers, you know," Gildor snorted. "Besides, appearances are 
deceptive. Actually, he is nowhere near as innocent as he seems, but it is gloriously easy 
to forget when he beams at you like that." Gildor smiled. "He is quite a passionate little 
thing, in fact, who knows exactly what he wants and has a hundred and one tricks to get 
it."
     
     "Are you speaking from you own experience?" Haldir asked, amused.
     
     "Oh no, I'm not telling you," Gildor laughed.
     
     "Why not?"
     
     "Because I'm not of the kiss-and-tell type, sir. That's why."
     
     Haldir looked around and sighed dramatically. "I wish I had come to Imladris 
before I met you. So many missed chances."
     
     "Don't even start dreaming about catching up on them. You are mine and I do not 
share with anyone."
     
     They finally reached the seat of the Lord of the House and Elrond rose to greet 
them. Then he asked for everybody's attention and introduced Haldir, saying that the 
Marchwarden was a welcome and valuable acquisition to Imladris' community and asked 
his subjects to give the young newcomer a warm reception.
     
     "How warm exactly, Ada?" Elrohir murmured when Elrond sat down again.
     
     It was Erestor who answered him.
     
     "Only as warm as is allowed," he smirked, looking pointedly at Gildor, who 
ignored him entirely.
     
     Soon the party was in full swing and Haldir found to his amusement that the elves 
in the Hall had taken their Lord's request close to heart: almost everyone seemed to be 
eager to talk, to dance or to have a drink with him. At first, he tried to stay close to Gildor 
but failed and was swept away by the merry, multicoloured crowd. 
     
     "He is already popular," Glorfindel remarked as he joined Gildor by the column the 
Vanya was leaning upon.
     
     "It was only to be expected," Gildor replied, watching Haldir being pulled onto the 
dance floor yet again by one of the ellith. 
     
     "Are you comfortable with it?"
     
     Gildor shrugged. "I cannot keep him on a leash."
     
     "But you would like to?" Glorfindel teased.
     
     "Oh yes," Gildor agreed laughingly. "Or better – locked up in my room."
     
     "And bound to your bed, no doubt," added Elladan, coming up to him with Elrohir 
and Lindir in tow.
     
     Gildor chuckled. "I must admit to wishing to do this very thing."
     
     Lindir caught some slight tension in Gildor's tone and changed the subject by 
asking, "Are you going to sing tonight?"
     
     "No, I do not think so." 
     
     "Pity." Lindir was genuinely disappointed. "Glorfindel said you brought Legolas's 
new songs. I'd love to hear them; he is so good at composing."
     
     "True," Gildor agreed. "I wish he were here to sing them himself."
     
     A sigh nearly escaped Glorfindel, unchecked, at these words and Gildor's lips 
twitched slightly.
     
     "Hmm." Elrohir looked thoughtful. "We would also like to see the fair prince here, 
wouldn't we, El?"
     
     "Yes," Elladan confirmed readily. "If he is as skillful as our Lindir… "
     
     " … we would certainly wish to know him better."
     
     "I do not think it's a good idea," Glorfindel remarked tensely. "He is too young for 
an acquaintance with you."
     
     "But he could find our acquaintance rather beneficial," Elladan argued.
     
     "We could teach him some useful things," Elrohir seconded his brother.
     
     Gildor felt Glorfindel's annoyance and subtly gave one of his braids a tug. ‘You are 
becoming too obvious, Mallos.'
     
     "Actually," he said aloud, "there is a good point in Glorfindel's words. If Thranduil 
catches you teaching his younger son any of your useful things, all the lovemaking you'll 
be able to do after that will be holding hands."
     
     "Oh," the twins breathed in unison.
     
     "I do not think our father guarded our virtue so fiercely," Elladan said ruefully.
     
     "No, he did not. We had to take care of it ourselves," Elrohir chorused.
     
     "But of course we were only children then... "
     
     "…that's why we did such a poor job of it."
     
     "Incorrigible," Glorfindel sighed.
     
     "But there is one more prince in Mirkwood," they were reminded by Haldir, who 
had finally managed to escape from the dance floor and joined the company. "He is 
Legolas's elder brother and is of the legal age."
     
     "Indeed? What's he like?" Elrohir inquired.
     
     "Fiery and heady, like everything that comes from Mirkwood."
     
     Glorfindel raised an eyebrow; he could not imagine Legolas to be ‘fiery and heady'. 
Lindir's eyes turned dreamy and the twins looked at Haldir with sarcastic interest.
     
     "You seem to know him well," Elladan remarked.
     
     "We met when he came to Lórien with his father."
     
     "What does he look like?" Elrohir continued his inquiry.
     
     "He is the younger image of king Thranduil."
     
     "Well, that does not say much to us, as we've never seen the king," Elladan 
shrugged.
     
     "There is a picture of Thranduil near the Chamber of the Sword," Lindir said.
     
     The twins laughed. "Oh, *you* would know, of course."
     
     "You see," Elrohir explained to Haldir, "our Lindir has a thing for blonds. 
Unfortunately, we have tragically few of them in Imladris. In fact, only two – Glorfindel 
and Gildor. I could never understand why he did not just settle for one of them."
     
     Glorfindel and Gildor exchanged a quick glance and Lindir blushed furiously.
     
     "But now we have a valuable acquisition in your face," Elrohir went on archly. 
"Perhaps, he'll like you better."
     
     "Idiot!" Lindir hissed at him and stormed away.
     
     "You really shouldn't tease him like that, Elrohir," Glorfindel chided. "You know 
how sensitive he is."
     
     "Never mind. He'll be fine in a moment. He likes us too much to be angry with us 
for long."
     
     "You two are so arrogant," Gildor laughed.
     
     "Yes, we are," Elrohir declared proudly.
     
     "But then, we have good reasons for it, aren't we, Ro? Though we are not blonds."
     
     "Windbags," Glorfindel sighed.
     
     "You know, Ro," Elladan continued, unperturbed, "I think we could make Lindir a 
present and take him along when we go to Mirkwood. Only imagine - a whole realm of 
fair-haired elves. Let his wildest dream come true."
     
     "Oh yes," Elrohir drawled, "and let him show those Sindar what a grand 
performance a Noldorin minstrel can give."
     
     They looked at each other and snickered.
     
     Glorfindel shook his head. "Absolutely incorrigible."
     
     
     Musicians started playing a slow tune and Haldir was again approached by one of 
the ellith.
     
     "May I have this dance, Haldir?" she asked.
     
     Haldir gave Gildor a pleading look and the Vanya hid a smile.
     
     "It seems you've made a hit today, Silfael. I think I should start getting jealous."
     
     "I would have asked you, Gildor," the girl laughed, "but you would refuse 
anyway."
    
    Gildor chuckled. "You know me too well, Brethil."
    
    Haldir and Brethil went to join the dancing couples and Gildor followed them with 
his eyes. When he turned back, Elladan gave him a provocative smile.
     
     "*I* shall ask you for a dance, dagnir-e-guilen. You won't refuse me… us, will 
you? Dance with Ro. I haven't seen you do it for ages." [bane of my life]
     
     Lindir's velvety voice wove into the rhythmic tune, making the sultry melody 
sound even more sensual.
     
     A slow smile touched Gildor's lips and he looked at Elrohir. "No. I won't refuse 
*you*."
     
     He took Elrohir's hand and led him to the dance floor.
     
     "Why were you so sure Gildor would refuse to dance with you?" Haldir asked 
Brethil when the girl put her hands on his broad shoulders.
     
     She laughed. "He does it rarely and only with those, whom he finds sexually 
attractive. Sort of philosophy of his, I believe."
     
     "You must be joking!" Haldir stared at her in open surprise.
     
     "Ask *him* if you do not believe me," the girl shrugged.  Then she looked over his 
shoulder and her eyes widened a little. "Oh!"
     
     Haldir swirled his partner so that he could see what had caused her surprise.
     
     "Sweet Lady of the Stars!" he breathed. 
     
    Brethil chuckled. "You have never seen them dance, have you?"
     
     "No," Haldir answered tersely, his eyes still glued to the pair in question. "Well, 
what conclusion am I to draw, according to your theory?"
     
    Brethil looked away uneasily. "I do not know. They've been dancing together since 
Elrohir learned to do it. Perhaps, in this case it's only dancing and nothing more."
     
     ‘Of course,' Haldir thought sarcastically. ‘We are only friends. They are only 
children and *that* is only dancing.'
     
     Gildor and Elrohir moved to the music in perfect synchronism, their bodies 
matching the rhythm with ease. Their hips and thighs were pressed against each other. 
Elrohir's right hand was curled around Gildor's neck and Gildor's palm lay flat against 
the small of the younger elf's back. They kept their left arms loose and relaxed. Their 
eyes were locked as if they were talking silently and for all Haldir knew they very well 
could be. They both moved with liquid, natural grace, swaying and gyrating their hips 
and looking deeply into each other's eyes. As Haldir watched, Gildor's hand slid just a 
little lower to press Elrohir even closer.
     
    "I'd say they are making love in public," Brethil breathed in rapture.  "It's absolutely 
breath-taking, don't you think?"
     
     "Yes," Haldir murmured. "Absolutely breath-taking."
     
     He threw a glance at Elladan and saw that the elf was watching his twin intently, 
pride and hunger mixed in his eyes.
     
     "Elrohir is such a responsive partner," Brethil went on enthusiastically. "He seems 
to feel Gildor's minutest move and yields to his lead most readily."
     
     "Indeed." Some vague thought started to form in Haldir's mind, but before he could 
catch it by its tail, he was distracted by Gildor's sudden movement.
     
     The Vanya twirled his partner around so that now Elrohir's back was pressed 
against his chest. Their left arms were still lowered while their right hands rested on 
Elrohir's hip, with their fingers laced. The sight they were making became even more 
provocative, if it was possible. Haldir did not like the look he saw in Gildor's eyes. He 
knew it too well by now: the Vanya was aroused. No wonder at all, taking into 
consideration all the touching and rubbing that were taking place. Damn, he was aroused 
himself by merely watching them. Now Gildor *was* talking to Elrohir. The younger elf 
flushed slightly and a faint smile curved up his lips. With the last sounds of the song 
Elrohir let his head fall back against Gildor's shoulder and Gildor pressed his lips to his 
throat in a quick kiss, before they broke apart and walked back to the column where 
Elladan and Glorfindel were waiting for them.
     
     "Ro, you are incredible," Elladan breathed, pulling his twin into his arms and 
allowing him to feel the evidence of his admiration. "I wish I could move like that."
     
     "You can," Elrohir smiled at him affectionately. "But in a different sort of dance."
     
     "Hm?" Elladan leaned forward and whispered, "Dance with me, then. Now."
     
     Elrohir gave a quick, eager nod.
     
     "Please, excuse us," Elladan said casually. "We have an urgent business we need to 
attend to."
     
     "Oh, of course, Your Highness," Glorfindel snorted. "Do not let us delay you."
     
     The twins were gone in a flash.
     
     "I think someone else is going to be snatched away for a private dance," Glorfindel 
chuckled.
     
     "What?" Gildor asked, baffled.
     
     The next moment a warm and very aroused body was pressed to his own from 
behind and Haldir's low voice murmured into his ear, "*I* would have you now... for a 
dance, if you are willing."
     
     A little sigh escaped Gildor's lips. "I am," he breathed.
     
     Glorfindel watched with amusement as his friend put his dominant ways aside 
imperceptibly and let his young lover take over the control. They were well into the 
dance before Haldir realized that it was he who was leading it. A faint bell rang in his 
mind again but his body rebelled against thinking. He could only *feel* at the moment 
and what he felt was a burning need to be closer to his lover, and even closer – to be 
inside.
     
     "I want you," he murmured against Gildor's lips.
     
     "I know," the Vanya chuckled but his need was as obvious as Haldir's.
     
     "Can we leave now?" Haldir breathed.
     
     "I think we *must* leave now."
     
     They manoeuvred their way out of the Hall as unobtrusively as they possibly could, 
making for their room.
     
     
     They collapsed through the door to their suite in a frenzy of kissing, opening each 
other's clothes feverishly. Their tunics and shirts were dropped down carelessly 
somewhere on the way to the bedroom. Haldir moaned into the kiss as the ties of his 
leggings were loosened and his rigid shaft sprang free of his clothing and leapt eagerly 
into Gildor's waiting hand. He gave a cry of dismay when, after a couple of teasing 
strokes, Gildor let go of his heated flesh.
     
     Gildor grinned, made him cross the remaining distance to the bed and then fell 
down on the mattress, pulling Haldir on top of him. They both gasped and moaned in 
pleasure at the contact. Gildor writhed under his lover's body, trying to nestle his narrow 
hips even more snugly against Haldir's.
     
     "Haldir," he breathed, his eyes firm on his desires.
     
     Haldir gave him another hard and hungry kiss and rolled off him. He quickly 
divested Gildor of his leggings and boots and stripped off the rest of his own clothes.
     
     "Flip over," he commanded, his voice a low seductive rumble.
     
     Gildor obediently rolled over on his stomach, presenting him with a firm pair of 
buttocks. Haldir inhaled sharply at the luring sight, climbed on the bed and kneeled 
between Gildor's spread legs. He gathered the Vanya's golden hair and pushed it over 
one of his shoulders. Then he gripped Gildor's hips, pulling him up onto his hands and 
knees. A shivering moan escaped Gildor's lips, as the moist heat of Haldir's rigid sex was 
pressed tight against the crevice of his rear.
    
     "To Mordor with preparation," he ordered breathlessly.
     
     "You'll be sore," Haldir warned, clutching desperately at the remnants of his self-
control. He stroked his lover's back and felt the strong muscles jump and flex under his 
palm.
     
     "Who cares!" Gildor rocked himself back and forward impatiently.
     
     Haldir snatched a vial of oil from the night table and poured it on his aching 
member and his fingers. He quickly spread some lubrication inside Gildor's channel. 
Then he steadied Gildor's hips and took him with a sure, smooth thrust. Gildor clenched 
his teeth against an involuntary sharp groan, blinking back the reflexive tears that pricked 
at his eyes. Haldir stretched himself out along his lover's back, kissing his shoulder 
soothingly and trying to keep as still as possible while Gildor sucked in short, almost 
sobbing breaths.
     
     "Move, for Valar's sake," Gildor pleaded at last.
     
     Haldir sat back slowly, pulling Gildor backwards and into his lap.
     
    "*You* move," he panted. He entwined his fingers with Gildor's, resting their joined 
hands on Gildor's hips.
    
    Gildor began a rocking motion, raising himself and pushing down to press his 
backside tight against Haldir's thighs, taking command of the tempo and setting the pace 
hard and fast. Ragged moans ripped from their throats as a delicious sensation was rising 
and building within their bodies. 
    
    Soon Haldir could remain still and passive no more. He pushed his lover forward 
onto his hands and knees again, pressing him down with a palm between his shoulder 
blades, and started shoving into the tight confines of his body. Gildor accepted eagerly 
the forceful thrusts Haldir could no longer restrain, willing him to drive harder, faster. He 
bit onto a pillow to muffle his cries but Haldir yanked his head up by the hair.
    
    "No! I want to hear you! Scream for me!"
    
    And scream Gildor did as his world exploded into a starburst of pleasure and he 
spilled himself with abandon upon the bedcover. The spasms wracking the Vanya's body 
were so violent that Haldir had to press him down with his weight. The Galadhel was 
trying to steady his lover's shuddering form and was taken completely by surprise by his 
own climax when it suddenly rushed through his body with the power of a spring flood. 
Gildor's tight channel constricted spasmodically around Haldir's engorged member and a 
wave of purest delight swept him away and tossed him up into the starry darkness. He 
gasped and bit hard on Gildor's shoulder to stifle his own scream.
    
    "No!" Gildor slammed a fist into the mattress. "I want to hear you!" He jerked his 
shoulder.
    
    Haldir gave a long low moan and, drained, fell with all his weight down on Gildor, 
struggling to get the breath back into his lungs. In several moments, he rolled them onto 
their sides slowly, their bodies still joined. They lay silently for some time, allowing their 
heartbeats to slow down and enjoying the feeling of completion.
    
    "You are such an animal, Haldir," Gildor mumbled drowsily after a while. "I won't 
be able to strip on the training grounds for days now."
    
    Haldir kissed the purple bite on Gildor's shoulder guiltily. "Sorry."
    
    He slid carefully out of Gildor's body, earning a sleepy pout from his lover. Then he 
turned him over gently and cradled him in his arms, tucking Gildor's head under his chin. 
A sudden feeling of ferocious possessiveness welled up in him.
    
    ‘You are mine!' he thought fiercely, tightening his embrace. *Mine*!'
     
     
    Dagnir-e-guilen – bane of my life
    Meldir – friend
    Gwanûn – twins
    Silfael – Moonbeam
    Glinn-e-guren – song of my heart
    Meleth – love
    Pen neth – young one


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