Title: All is Unfair in Love and War Author: Megan Baggins (megan_baggins@hotmail.com) Pairing: Legolas/Haldir Rating: NC-17 Summary: Legolas and Haldir have finally found each other. But in the wake of impending war, they stand to lose it all. Disclaimer: None of the characters/places/names are mine, they belong to Tolkien, not me, by any measure, and I make no profit from using them. Authors Note: This does not follow the LOTR timeline. Unhappy ending. PLEASE, please, send feedback, at any time, no matter how old the story is, cause I am anxious to see how everyone likes it! "Enter". Legolas turned towards the door to witness Haldir enter without a sound. "Almost ready?" Haldir looked upset, even angry, with his sharply spouted statement. Legolas sat down on the bed and pondered the question. ~~Was he ready. Is one ever ready to march to almost certain doom?~~ They were at Elrond's in Rivendell, they had been there for a full week, relaxing and awaiting what was to come in the near future. The Elves caught word late that afternoon that they must go to battle against thousands of Sauron's army. It was their job to protect Rivendell, as the Uruk- Hai were threatening an attack. Legolas' mind wandered to the Hobbits, and his new allies, the Dwarfs and Men. But mostly, of his new companion, Haldir. He looked up at his love from his spot on the golden threaded bed. Haldir's head was bowed, his silvery white hair cascading around his shoulders. Legolas' heart ached for what they stood to lose. More than their lives, but each other. They could lose everything they had found over the past while. There was a thud in his chest at the prospect of never touching his fair Elven companion again. ~~No, I mustn't do this. I am an Elf of Mirkwood, and a strong warrior. I will fight and we shall overcome~~ he thought, rising from his seat. Haldir's head rose to meet the other's gaze. Legolas took the elder's face in his palms and looked devotedly at him. "We will prevail" he whispered, a faint grin gracing his magnificent face. He searched Haldir's deep gray eyes for a glint of hope. His eyes watered, his chest tightening with the realization of his friend's pain. He leaned in slowly, keeping his eyes locked with Haldir's. He wanted to convince him, and to heal him with a kiss; to take away the hurt and doubt and replace it with love and possibility. But Haldir grabbed his hands and turned away briskly. "Don't" he said, walking away. "Don't?" Repeated Legolas. "What is wrong? Why are you acting this way? It is our duty Haldir, we are warriors first and we have to place Rivendell before out own well being." "You think I know not my duty?" snapped Haldir. "Fair prince of Mirkwood, you think I know not my future? I have been here before, Legolas, you forget. I have lived many lives before you were ever born. I have fought in many a war, and I tell you now, centuries of battle do not begin to compare to the impinging danger we are walking blindly into!" "We shall overcome. We have before", replied Legolas, stretching out his arms. "And now we have this to fight for, we have to fight to keep each other." Haldir stepped up to him, glaring right through him "You do not know what you ask of me Legolas Greenleaf. I have loved before and I have lost..." Haldir's eyes overflowed with emotion, no longer able to shelter the younger Elf from the truth. He pursed his lips, the words dripping with despair and hate. "You cannot begin to understand what death and sorrow and fear does to you. You cannot begin to understand how losing someone rips you apart. You do not know how I..." Haldir's voice caught in his throat with the idea of losing another and so soon after he'd found him. Legolas gently placed his hand on the other's chest, sensing the Elf's heart pound against his delicate palm. Haldir sobbed, and fought to turn away but Legolas gripped his tunic and pulled him in closer. "Derithon na chin" ( I will remain with you). The words lingered in the air, so soft and full of promise. Haldir closed his eyes and felt the other's hot breath against his cheek. He wanted to be hopeful, he wanted to feel assured that his love would be there tomorrow. But he couldn't. Not this time. He turned away abruptly. "Get your bow, Legolas. Let us not draw this out. We know our fate." Legolas filled with anger at the rejection of reason and the fact that Haldir was giving in unnecessarily. Haldir walked over to the bed and picked up his quiver. Legolas thought he must do something, anything, to soothe his friend and make him understand. He stepped up to Haldir's back, and lunged at him, pushing him onto the bed and tumbling beside him. He turned Haldir over and straddled him, forcing the Elf to listen. "Haldir", he breathed, "tell me how to fix this. Tell me how to heal your heart" Haldir looked up at the golden ceiling, rage growing in the pit of his being. His muscles strained, his eyes flashed, and he grabbed Legolas' arms and threw his weight up against him, reversing their positions. Haldir placed his legs on either side of the Prince's hips and he pinned his arms above his head, pressing the younger Elf's body into the bed. His eyes lit with fury. "Enough!" He screamed. "No more Legolas. It is not some surface wound you can heal with time or promises. You do not know this pain!" Legolas' sapphire eyes were wide as he stared up at Haldir's contorted features. "I would do anything for you", he whispered. "I would die a thousand deaths to free you of this burden. Let me love you Haldir-- if not for your sake, then for mine." Haldir's chest heaved, his breath catching at the look on Legolas' face. He wanted him to know everything. It was time. ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- "Many years ago, Legolas, there was a turbulent battle near Lothlorien. Our enemies fought fierce and strong, and many Elves were lost. It was the greatest defeat in the history of my people and the most haunting memory I've been forced to carry around for ages. I was young and very much in love with a soldier: Inwe Seregon." A smile graced his troubled face at the memory of his first love. "We fought side by side, and we were winning until--" Haldir's voice broke, he looked at Legolas, a single tear tracing down his cheek. "Legolas, I've never loved another until now. Never allowed myself. And this battle is going to be a thousand times more destructive. My heart is heavy with the weight of our threatening ruin. I cannot lose you now- -" Legolas walked over to Haldir and put his arm around him, resting his head on his shoulder. Haldir sobbed then, pulling them down to the floor. Legolas stroked his love's radiant hair, Haldir's head resting now on Legolas' chest. He lost all sense of time, mesmerized by the rhythm he found within the other. "Leave with me" whispered Haldir, desperate to hold on to what he had. "Haldir, that is not like you. Elrond needs us now. It is our sworn duty." But Haldir did not want to hear it. Whether from fear, or disgust at himself, he pushed Legolas away and stood once more. He thought, ~~If I'm going to do this, I'm doing it without loving and without losing.~~ It was fear, and it was disgust, and he was so ashamed that he refused to face Legolas when he touched his back. He wept once more, but turned hastily so the other would not see his weakness, and he stormed out the door. He walked briskly and purposefully through the pillared halls, down the winding staircase, and out into the woods. Tears streaked his face as he walked hurriedly. The shame was building inside of him, growing almost unbearable. He reached a clearing near the trickling stream, where the ground was blanketed with lush green grass and the top was canopied by large Oaken trees. He collapsed onto his knees and released a strangled yell. He raised his eyes to the sky and searched for some sign, some semblance of meaning. The tree's branches, menacingly large, yet beautifully decorated with purple and iridescent leaves, climbed in on each other nearly choking out any sight of the brightly lit moon. He closed his eyes and breathed, and soon his raging mind was quieted. When he opened them again, Legolas stood before him. He was truly majestic, his strong frame cloaked in hunter green, his stance powerful beneath his gray leggings. ~~He is not as young as he looks,~~ Haldir thought. ~~He is brave and wise, and stronger than I know.~~ Legolas glided unhurriedly to Haldir's side and descended to be equal with his love. He looked seemingly straight into the other's ancient soul, and held the gaze sometime, until Haldir spoke. "I am sorry. I am so sorry. I am weak, and--" Legolas silenced Haldir the only way he could think to. He pressed his soft lips compassionately to the other's, his whole self aching with need and sympathy. Haldir's eyes fluttered shut and he drank in the scent of the Prince, relishing in the hot breath he felt against his lips. Legolas backed away, searching his face for any sign of understanding or hope. He brushed away a strand of hair from Haldir's face when he opened his eyes. He did understand. Of all worldly things worth fighting for, love was by far the greatest. He cupped Legolas' face between his palms and pulled them together to touch once more. His tongue grazed his lover's lips and Legolas allowed him access to the warm, wet, wonderland that awaited him. Their tongues twirled and explored, discovering each other. The desperation grew between them as they worked more feverishly. He pulled Legolas even closer, the two kneeling on the grassy ground, their bodies entangled in a mass of roaming hands and growing passions. Legolas pulled at his tunic, suddenly wanting rid of it. He tugged at it, an exasperated grunt escaping his throat. Haldir unlaced it and pulled it over Legolas' head, draping it on the ground. He removed his own even more efficiently and laid Legolas on his back, his golden locks pooling around his saintly face. Haldir positioned himself between Legolas' open legs, still enveloped in the dark gray leggings. His need was evident even through the thick material. Haldir laid on top of Legolas and resumed the heated wanderings of their mouths. His own member became painfully hard and he shifted slightly so the two needs met. Legolas gasped at the sensation and moaned longingly into Haldir's mouth. At the emission Haldir's arousal became impossibly hard and he thrust his cock against Legolas'. He was rewarded again with a lustful groan, and Legolas bucked upwards to relive that exquisite sensation. Haldir's hungry mouth traveled across the Prince's strong jaw and found its way to the tender flesh of his neck. Once there, he licked and nipped at it, causing a flurry of arousal to rush through the younger's veins as Haldir thrust once again. Legolas grasped Haldir's head, entwining his slender fingers within his silvery tendrils. He reluctantly pulled Haldir up until their eyes met in a passion filled gaze. Legolas silently pleaded for release, his jaw taught and body rigid. Haldir thrust his heat again and was again granted a deep moan, dripping with need, as Legolas' eyes rolled back and closed. His hands, still drowning in the luscious hair pushed Haldir's head down towards his aching need, as he bucked upwards. Haldir lingered above the swollen cock, his hot breath permeating the fabric. He raised his hands to the other Elf's hips, grasping the waistband of his leggings. He began pulling them down slowly, teasingly, inch by excruciating inch. Legolas bit his lip in anticipation, his eyes still shut tight. The leggings were pulled down past his arousal, allowing it to spring forth into the cool night air. Haldir could no longer resist as he rushed them off the rest of the way and grasped the glistening tower with one hand. He rubbed the tip and stroked up and down the shaft before taking the head in his warm mouth. He licked mercilessly at it and took the elfhood deeper and deeper, sucking relentlessly. "Stop, stop" gasped Legolas suddenly. "I need you, I need to feel you inside me". "But don't you want me to--" "Now Haldir, please" Legolas pleaded between gasps of air. "Time is growing short, I can feel it". Haldir felt it too, the impending darkness was approaching, the trees sang of it. He freed his own need from the confines of his leggings and lay between Legolas' thighs. He rubbed the head of his own arousal, and swathed the shaft in the dew that had begun to pool at the tip. He positioned the apex of his weeping cock to the snug opening he desired to invade. He grabbed Legolas' wrists and pushed himself up, impaling the other with one steady thrust. He held Legolas' arms still to the ground above his head, waiting for his body to stop shaking and become accustomed to the incursion. He leaned down and licked Legolas' lips, once again exploring the narrows of his mouth. Haldir plunged again and again, his rigid cock withdrawing slowly only to ravage his body faster and more fervently. Legolas moaned, his erection pulsing between them, beginning to weep with desire. He reared upwards, the motion of his body matching the one set by Haldir. He arched his back, allowing Haldir to drive impossibly deeper within him. The sensation overtook him: between Haldir's deep, relentless thrusts and his own member rubbing against his belly, he trembled in ecstasy. He arched his back up once more, this time Haldir finding his release in the body of his lover. He collapsed upon Legolas, both Elves out of breath, their hearts pounding rhythmically in their chests. Legolas bent down to kiss Haldir on the forehead. "Mellon, my love. Remember this. Remember us--always. And what we are fighting for." Haldir nodded and kissed the Prince. Legolas rose from the ground to wash himself off in the stream before redressing. Haldir watched wordlessly as he made his way down to the water, his body glistening in the moonlight. ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ----------------------------------------------------------- ------------- Legolas returned moments later, confused by the silence and desertion of the clearing. "Haldir? Where are--" Legolas froze, his heart torn apart by the scene before him. Haldir lay rumpled on the roots at the base of a tall Oaken tree east of the clearing. He was glowing, faintly, his blue tunic stained crimson with blood. Legolas ran over to him, gathering him up and pulling the arrow that shot him out, cursing it to the ground. His eyes flooded with sorrow, his heart was ripped from his very chest. He searched Haldir's face, his eyes slowly fading, the glow of his soul diminishing. "Orc--" sputtered Haldir, trying to explain. But Legolas knew already. The war was upon them, and he had let his guard down. And his love. "I love you, always" whispered Legolas, and kissed him softly one last time. He held him close, their bodies interlacing as he stroked the Elf's hair, comforting him as the darkness surrounded them. He knew this was the end of their story, and realized what the trees sang of before. He finally understood what Haldir feared. Now he too had felt the pain of loss, and the despair of helplessness. He damned himself for not listening sooner. Haldir, as though able to read his thoughts, tried to speak but no words came out. He was far too weak, and his breath was too shallow. Legolas silenced him with one finger to his lips, and smiled as best he could to comfort the fading one. Haldir closed his eyes and fell still. Legolas heard the trees then, singing a tormented lament for the lost light of the Lorien Elf. Legolas now understood despair. He now embraced hatred. Now he craved revenge. ~~END~~