Title & Chapter Number: Wish Upon The Stars (Part 2 of the 'Pilgrim' story arc) 3/?
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: The Woodland Chronicles
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Middle-earth and all its inhabitants are Tolkien's, not mine. I don't mean to steal them; I'm just borrowing them for my enjoyment.
Warnings: Lots of character development, not much sex. Sap and angst. Twincest
Betas: Jilly. Still the best.
Cast: Haldir, Legolas, Rúmil, Orophin, Celeborn, Galadriel, the entire Lothlórien bunch. Elladan/Thranduil/Elrohir are the only ones getting it on for now, though. There might be new pairings as the story develops.
Timeline: Third Age, approx. 440 years prior to the Fellowship.
Spoilers: Nope.
Summary: Legolas arrives in Lórien to begin his training as a warrior under Haldir's supervision. In the process, he discovers things about himself he'd never dreamed of. Haldir, in the meantime, finds that even one immortal is never too old to learn.
Notes: None
Chapter 3 - A Haven In The Sky
Lórien
Completely against Legolas's own expectations, his first week in Lórien passed in the blink of an eye.
Legolas awoke early that first morning, and he was swiftly on his feet, climbing his mallorn again to witness the sunrise. After at least a thirty minutes of sitting silently and witnessing the forest around him come to life, he took a bath and drew on some fresh clothes; Mirkwood clothes, for he possessed no other.
When Haldir came to fetch him not much later, the first thing that struck Legolas was that Haldir wasn't wearing his usual uniform. Like the night before, he carried no weaponry, and also the long, intricate drapes of his grey jerkin were gone. Instead, he was clad in dark-blue leggings and a creamy-white tunic; relatively simple garments, but they looked good on him anyway.
"What?" Haldir asked with an amused smile. "What is it?"
Legolas smirked shyly, realizing he had been staring at the other Elf's body. "Just your clothes..." he said.
With a grin, Haldir said, "You thought I'd walk around in my uniform on my day off?" He chuckled. "No, Legolas; I am not a follower of fashion, but I do like a little variation now and then."
As they once more made for the central talan, climbing the curving stairs, Legolas noticed that the Elves they encountered on the way eyed him openly and with great curiosity; no brief glances, but long stares. Legolas found it slightly uncomfortable.
"Everyone's staring at me," he whispered to Haldir.
Haldir laughed softly. "Why, of course they are. We do not often have visitors here, and your clothes are so obviously foreign that they immediately draw attention. And it's like Galadriel said; you are a younger image of your father. Those who have seen him probably think that Time is playing a trick on them." He turned his head slightly to look at Legolas. "It's nothing personal," he assured him with a smile. "You should see the uproar when the twins of Imladris visit us."
"Uproar?" Legolas echoed incredulously.
"Oh yes. Don't let looks deceive you. They," he nodded at a group of solemn Lórien Elves, "may seem like an entirely different people than your folk, but there are more similarities than you might think. They, too, appreciate physical beauty. Especially when it has luscious dark mane and comes in twos." He chuckled.
Legolas smiled, then wondered if the Elves were inspecting *his* physical appearance, as well. Probably so, he realized when they passed a corn-blond male and he practically *felt* the Elf's gaze roaming his backside and his legs. Legolas ground his teeth together and followed Haldir without looking back.
"Your father used to turn quite a few heads too, when he came to visit Lórien," Haldir said, looking at Legolas over his shoulder.
"He did?" Legolas asked in surprise. "Here in Lórien?"
"Absolutely."
"Do you remember that?"
"Yes... Of course, your father had already lived long when I was born, but he was still a prince when I first saw him here. He accompanied your grandfather on a visit to our realm."
"Did you meet them?" Legolas asked, in awe. It was so surreal; Haldir had actually seen his grandfather, who'd died more than 2500 years ago.
"No. I was an elfling back then, not worthy to be introduced to such high guests," Haldir smiled. "But I saw them, yes."
"What was he like?" Legolas asked. "My grandfather, I mean."
Haldir stopped and turned to Legolas. "Very much like the portrait your father has in his study; very regal, very handsome. And to me," Haldir said with a soft laugh, "rather frightening."
"And my father?" Legolas wanted to know.
"Very different. Always smiling, and much more at ease with his surroundings. Your grandfather didn't feel quite at home among us, one could tell; he clearly preferred to be in Mirkwood, with his own people, rather than here."
They continued their way up. They found Celeborn and Galadriel in the main hall as the evening before, as if they hadn't been away for a bit of rest during the night. They were truly beautiful, Legolas realized again; especially the Lady as the soft glow that seemed to come from within her competed with the dawn's fair light. And she smiled so peacefully, as if she had never known grief, or seen evil things, in her entire life.
"Good morning, Legolas," she said. "Is the talan to your liking? Did you sleep well?"
"Yes, my Lady, very much. Thank you."
"And you, Haldir," she turned to the warden with a smile. "Was it good to sleep under the stars of Lórien again?"
"Yes, my Lady. Although I must admit that rest under the Mirkwood stars was just as peaceful." Haldir's smiling eyes sought Legolas's. "And I'm not just saying that because the Mirkwood prince is with us in the room."
Galadriel gave a soft laugh. "Good!" she said. "Then please tell us some more about the arrangements that have been made concerning Legolas's stay here. Anyriand has already told us about his conversation with Thranduil, but what has been said between you and the King, Haldir, he did not know." Her eyes sparkled. "Please enlighten us."
Haldir then spoke of his conversation with the Mirkwood King, but left out the more personal details, something Legolas was thankful for. The Marchwarden merely said that Legolas would be staying for at least two years, that Thranduil had elected him to be the prince's mentor during this period, and that he would make the required arrangements for Legolas's education.
Legolas noticed that while Celeborn merely listened to Haldir with occasional nodding, Galadriel held her eyes fixed upon Haldir's face, not moving a muscle except when she blinked. Legolas wondered if she was having one of her secret conversations with Haldir. However, nothing in Haldir's manner of speaking indicated that this was the case.
"Excellent," Celeborn commented when Haldir was done. "So you will be responsible for our young guest, Haldir! We'll know who to turn to then, if he gets into any mischief." Celeborn smiled at Legolas good-heartedly. He did not have the exceptional powers his wife possessed, but his kind heart felt the sadness that lay underneath Legolas's polite exterior.
Legolas smiled, understanding the Lord's effort. "In that case, I think I'll behave, my Lord. I don't want Haldir to get into any trouble because of me."
"How considerate," Haldir smiled. "I already feared you had been spending so much time with the Imladris twins, you might have adopted their mischievous ways."
Galadriel now spoke. "So Thranduil has appointed you, Haldir; a great honour indeed." She turned to Legolas. "I assume that you agree with your father's choice, Legolas?"
The question came unexpected, but Legolas nodded without hesitation. "Yes, my Lady. I know of no other I would rather have as my mentor."
"Good." She smiled. "Let us consider this settled then. Legolas of Mirkwood is welcome here for as long as he desires, and Haldir will see to it that Thranduil's wishes are carried out."
Both Haldir and Legolas inclined their heads in acceptance.
"Haldir," Celeborn said, "consider the following seven days yours. Rúmil has temporarily replaced you at the border, and he has agreed to do so for another week. Use that time to make the required arrangements, and rest after the journey to Mirkwood."
"Yes, my Lord. Thank you." And with a last greeting, Haldir turned and left the main hall, followed by Legolas.
"Well, Legolas," Haldir said cheerfully, "I assume that you would like to have breakfast now. Are you hungry?"
Legolas confirmed this, and soon Haldir was leading him yet another way over paths and stairs. Legolas found that they were winding their way around another magnificent mallorn, almost as high as the central one. At first, they passed many talans, but as they climbed higher, Legolas noticed that the talans became scant. Eventually they stepped onto the last, and highest talan, on which a house was built. After an encouraging nod from Haldir, Legolas followed the Marchwarden through the door and inside. The interior of the house was more spacious than that of Legolas's, very organized and at the same time inviting and cozy. It was a very open space, with many windows and of course, a hole in the roof for the mallorn trunk, as in Legolas's talan.
"Welcome in my home," Haldir said. "Make yourself comfortable while I prepare you breakfast."
"Do you live here?" Legolas asked as he made his way to one of the windows to admire the view. "After Celeborn and Galadriel, you must live at the highest point in Caras Galadhon."
He heard Haldir move around behind him. "Probably. But the reason I came to live here wasn't so pretty as the view is."
"Would you tell me?" Legolas asked as he turned away from the window.
Haldir had set the table with bread, different sorts of fruit, and one plate for Legolas. He now stopped his activities for a moment to look at Legolas in mild surprise. "You want to know how I came to live in this talan?"
"Well, yes," Legolas said. "If you don't mind telling me..."
"No, no, I don't mind." He indicated the table. "Please sit down. Would you like tea?"
"Please..." Legolas answered as he sat down. "Will you not eat with me?" he asked then.
"No, I've already eaten before I left this morning. But I'll share the tea with you." He knelt in front of the hearth to light a small fire under the kettle. As the water heated, Haldir sat down facing Legolas and indicated that the younger Elf could begin his meal.
"You know of course about the appearance of a Balrog in Moria," Haldir began, "now six hundred years ago."
Legolas nodded. "I do, yes. Evil things befell Lórien after that..."
Legolas then saw a glint of emotion flitting across Haldir's face; a quick flicker in his eyes, a brief twitching of his brows, and it was gone. He wondered if he had unintentionally forced Haldir to relive a traumatizing event, but then again, Haldir had agreed in telling him the story.
"Evil things indeed," Haldir continued. "Orcs found our fair woods and entered them. We were unprepared, and forced to withdraw. There was a terrible chaos; Elves battling Orcs, Elves fleeing in confusion and panic, and on top of everything else, the loss of Amroth, our King."
Legolas nodded again. The story of Amroth and Nimrodel was well-known in Mirkwood.
"We were scattered, leaderless and in panic," Haldir said. "Together with several other warriors, my brothers and I finally succeeded in re-grouping our people and seeking refuge, right here on this hill. Because of the height of the location, it was relatively easy to defend. We were safe, at least for a short while, but the thought of those creatures swarming our forest made us grieve."
"And then Celeborn and Galadriel came..." Legolas said.
Haldir smiled briefly. "Yes... they came, leading a host of Elves. Aided by them, and by the power of Nenya, we successfully charged against the Orcs; drove them out of our forest, killed as many as we could, and made sure that in the future, they would think twice before trying to take Lórien again. So we had our woods back, but we were still leaderless and our population had diminished considerably. Celeborn and Galadriel again took our troubles to heart, and agreed upon being our new leaders, to strive with us to make Lórien flourish once again."
Haldir fell silent for a brief moment; then, smiled and said, "I will always be thankful to them for that. It is why I will always serve them faithfully, and to my best ability."
Legolas nodded, understanding.
"Caras Galadhon was then built here," Haldir continued, "as our new city. Because of my part in the battle against the Orcs and the saving of Lórien's people, Celeborn and Galadriel gifted me with the right to have my own talan built, at the location I desired most." He made a gesture with his arm, indicating his house. "I chose this mallorn, this exact spot."
"You chose well," Legolas said. "The view is magnificent."
Haldir nodded. "And from the roof, you have a full view at the sky," he said, a dreamy smile tugging at his lips. "If you climb high enough, you could count the stars that are in the sky at night, if you had but enough time to count them all."
Legolas laughed softly. "Have you ever made an attempt?"
Haldir smiled. "No..." he said. "Not yet."
He then got up, turned to the hearth and started to prepare the tea. His back was turned to Legolas and the younger Elf took advantage by quickly inspecting the interior of Haldir's house. As he'd noticed earlier, it was very neat. The only spot that was slightly messy, was the modest wooden desk that stood against one of the walls; on it were piles of parchment, books, two or three ink pots and several quills. Legolas's eyes automatically drifted to Haldir's bed; it was great enough to accomodate two grown Elves. Against the opposite wall stood another, smaller bed.
"Are you investigating my home?" Haldir said.
Legolas started, and turning, saw that Haldir was looking at him over his shoulder. But he was smiling.
"Yes, erm, I..." Legolas almost bit his tongue. By Elbereth, he thought angrily to himself; at least *try* to be a bit more eloquent. "I couldn't help but notice the second bed," he said in his most innocent way, pointing at it. "Do you often have guests staying over?"
"No, not really." Haldir had turned his attention back to the preparation of the tea and Legolas could no longer see his face. "In fact, it hasn't been used for a long time. Orophin used to come over regularly, and sometimes he would have a little too much of my wine. I wasn't always willing to escort him home, so I let him sleep here. But eventually I grew tired of his moodiness in the morning, and luckily, he's finally learned to hold his drink, I believe. At least he can walk himself home now, which is an improvement."
Legolas let his eyes trace Haldir's handsome profile and had to bite his tongue to prevent himself from showering the Elf with questions he would want an answer to. Do you live alone here, Haldir? Do you sleep alone every night? What do you think of when you sit high in your mallorn and look up at the stars? Where does your mind stray? Does your heart whisper someone's name? How often have you enchanted someone's heart by smiling at them the way you do and preparing them tea? Why won't you let me read your eyes, Haldir; is there something you don't want me to see? Something you don't want anyone to see...
All those questions whirled through Legolas's head as he watched the other Elf come to him with two steaming cups of tea; but when Haldir put his in front of him, Legolas merely smiled and said, "Thank you."
"I am sorry this is such a simple meal..." Haldir said as he sat down. He shrugged helplessly.
Legolas had just set his knife into another peach, but now he looked up at Haldir. The sweet scent of herbal tea. The morning Sun entering the talan and caressing both Elves with her light. In spite of all the grief that had preceded this moment: the promise of the day. Legolas smiled.
"It is excellent, Haldir. I can't think of a more pleasant way to start the day," he said warmly.
And he meant it.
~*~*~*~
That first week, Haldir spent large parts of his days with Legolas, showing him every corner of Caras Galadhon and telling him every story he could think of. If Legolas's eagerness and hunger for knowledge surprised him, he did not show it; nor did he show any signs of fatigue or weariness, and often their laughter was heard between the trees.
They also rode out to explore other parts of the forest. Together they lay resting between the elanor and niphredil at Cerin Amroth, wrapped in their sweet scent; looking up at the sky and watching the clouds come and go. Together they explored the Naith, crossed the Celebrant and rested on the shore of Nimrodel, bathing their feet in its refreshing waters and singing the lore of Amroth and Nimrodel. On their travels, they encountered several groups of patrolling Elves; they all knew Haldir, and news seemed to travel fast in the Golden Wood, for they knew the green-clad youth's name and title. Like most of the Elves that had greeted him since his arrival in Lórien, they were polite to him, but nothing more.
Legolas also met the one called Rúmil, who turned out to be Orophin and Haldir's older brother. Curiously, Legolas thought he saw a strange flicker in the other's eyes as he greeted him. Rúmil regarded him with something that almost resembled... pity. This confused Legolas; why was the blond warrior looking at him like that?
And every morning, Legolas would have breakfast in Haldir's talan, as he had that first morning. And Haldir would make tea and drink a cup with him, but never would he eat something. Legolas wondered why Haldir preferred to have breakfast so early and alone, but soon he grew accustomed to it.
Sometimes Haldir would excuse himself and leave Legolas for a couple of hours. Legolas would then walk the paths and stairs of Caras Galadhon in solitude, or retreat to his talan for some reading, preferrably high in the branches of his mallorn, an activity he soon grew very fond of. As he sat there then, leaning back against the trunk with a book on his knees and the sunlight falling through the leaves, he had to admit to himself that his father had been right; the song of the Golden Wood had already enchanted his heart, and although he was far from home and everything that was familiar to him, he felt happier than he had in a long time. And that, in turn, felt like betrayal to his father. Yes, he mused, that indeed would make everything complete: to have Thranduil here and walk the paths of Lórien together with him, as Thranduil had done with Oropher so many years ago. In two years' time it would be so. Two years...
But then Haldir would appear again, and take him to yet another place of beauty, and Legolas would forget his musings and enjoy the moments spent together with the Marchwarden. True to his word, Haldir had arranged that Legolas would follow classes with other young Elves, and he had selected both a private teacher and an archery instructor for the young prince. Legolas's new routine would begin the first day of the second week. Haldir would resume his usual tasks as well, plus a new one: teaching Legolas to wield a blade. It was a prospect that filled Legolas with both nervousness and joyful anticipation.
Yes, in the relatively short period he'd known the Marchwarden, Legolas had already become very fond of him. Haldir did indeed possess the gentle, poetic soul Legolas had recognized in him from the very beginning, and they spent many pleasant hours together that first week. But Legolas did not really *understand* Haldir. Haldir talked much during their excursions, but never about himself, except when Legolas specifically asked for it. And even then he revealed little of his personal life, his deepest feelings. It frustrated Legolas, but it also enticed him. Made him curious. But he did not want to put pressure on his friend, and he decided to wait. If Legolas of Mirkwood was gifted with one virtue, it was patience.
And somehow he just knew, Haldir of Lórien was well worth the wait.
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