Buy Posters at AllPosters.com! More... Choose from 100,000 posters! Find your favorite posters in music, movies,fine art, sports, and photography categories. Check out these categories: Movies Fine Art Music [Close] undefined [Close] undefined Chapter 20 – One Fine Day In September Lórien When you wish upon a star makes no difference who you are Anything your heart desires will come to you. If your heart is in your dream no request is too extreme When you wish upon a star as dreamers do. ~ ‘When you wish upon a star’, from Disney’s ‘Pinocchio’ The weeks that followed were difficult for Legolas in one respect, but delightful in the other. He had gone for so long without allowing himself respite from training and battle, he had to learn again to just sit still and enjoy the more beautiful things life had to offer. Only now that Haldir forced him to, Legolas realized how difficult it had become for him to spend a full hour without picking up a weapon, be it only for whetting or polishing. It was really sad, he thought to himself, how restless he was after a day without archery practice. His hands literally itched. But Haldir only allowed him a certain amount of practice time; the rest of the time, Haldir and the others went out of their way to offer him distraction. There were several loud swimming parties, late night gatherings, and long rides that showed a pack of exhilirated Elves in a wild gallop, hair whipping behind them like banners. Tinuril and Celairmir took Legolas and Ruigaul to visit one of their numerous uncles, who oversaw the main bakery of Caras Galadhon. He was a very friendly man and he welcomed them heartily, but he was also a busy man, and his eye glinted when he saw the four lads enter the talan; they had strong hands and he could make good use of them. Not much later, they stood kneading the dough together with the baker’s men, wearing aprons, their sleeves rolled up and their hair tied back. It was hard work, much more so than Legolas had expected, but he found it a wonderful change. Soon, the four of them were covered in meal and laughing at each other because of it. They were all in an excellent mood. Legolas threw an occasional stolen glance at Celairmir, who was actually quite good at this work; he had helped his uncle often when he was younger. Legolas knew that the older warrior’s feelings for him were still the same, although Celairmir had never bothered Legolas about it after the first time. The others were discreet about it, too; even Tinuril, not the most discreet Elf in Arda, had mentioned it to Legolas only once. “Can you not love my cousin?” he’d asked. “I wish I could, Tinuril,” Legolas replied sadly. “I love him like a brother, but... not more than that.” Legolas wondered if something was wrong with him. What Celairmir offered him was as beautiful and honourable as the older warrior himself was; why couldn’t he accept it? Just... give it a go and see where it would bring them? The rational part of Legolas was tempted... but his heart said no. He was not in love with Celairmir, and if there wasn’t any chemistry after two years, it would never come. Tinuril had looked at him thoughtfully. “You give your friendship generously,” he observed, “but your heart you keep as a treasure. Be careful with whom you offer it, Legolas.” The young Elf looked very earnest. “What do you mean?” “You are still young. You do not have to give your heart away just yet. Start with giving your body, and see how that pleases you.” Legolas shook his head. “For me it is both,” he said, “or neither.” “I understand,” Tinuril had said, but he had looked a bit concerned for some reason, and sad. Legolas could tell that it took Tinuril a great effort not to say more, and he wondered if the other Elf had something on his mind Legolas was not supposed to know. Before he could decide whether he would press Tinuril about it, Celairmir himself had joined them, and Legolas was forced to let it pass. When Legolas returned from this excursion to the bakery, Haldir slid an appraising eye over him and said, “Back from the baker’s?” “How do you know?” Legolas asked, surprised. He had rid himself of all the meal, hadn’t he? Haldir took Legolas’s hand and ushered him to the mirror, turning him around and lifting his tunic slightly to reveal a clear white hand-print on Legolas’s right buttock. Legolas, looking in the mirror over his shoulder, stared at it for a second. Then, started to laugh. “I should have known!” he said. “I wondered why Celairmir grinned so strangely after he ‘incidentally’ bumped into me!” “Celairmir?” Haldir said. “Yes... he, Tinuril and Ruigaul took me to the bakers’ talans this morning; we even got to help. I can’t believe he did that!” He rubbed his hand over his buttock, slapping the meal away. “And I walked all the way home with this on me, for the entire city to see! I vow that he will pay.” Haldir laughed suddenly. “I find it quite amusing.” Legolas looked up. “Oh, do you? Then perhaps I shouldn’t give you these, like I had planned.” He clutched a paper bag protectively to his chest. “What is it?” Haldir asked curiously. “Something Celairmir’s uncle gave us for our help,” Legolas said, dropping the bag into Haldir’s hands. Then he turned slightly to inspect his backside in the mirror. He would have to put on some clean leggings. He would have to think of a fitting way to punish Celairmir. Maybe color his hair with red wine in his sleep. And if Tinuril and Ruigaul didn’t want to help him, he’d have to do the same to them. Haldir opened the bag and looked inside. A delicious scent wafted into his nostrils. “Biscuits!” he said. “Cinnamon flavor, if my senses do not betray me.” “They do not,” Legolas said. “And those are fresh from the oven.” “Cinnamon is my favorite,” Haldir said, looking up. “I know,” Legolas said, “that is why I picked them.” Perhaps he would have to punish Tinuril and Ruigaul anyway, for playing along with Celairmir instead of warning him. “Did you really intend them for me?” “I did.” Legolas’s eyes sparkled. “However, I came up with that thought when I was still under the impression that you were on my side, Haldir...” “Oh, but I am,” Haldir hurried to say. “Let me prove that to you, some way or the other.” “Very well.” Legolas smiled. “Help me take revenge on Celairmir and the others, and those delicious biscuits are all yours.” “I can’t believe you are actually trying to make me scheme against my own warriors by means of emotional blackmail!” Haldir said. Then he grinned. “What is your plan?” It was a deal then, and the biscuits were Haldir’s. But the Marchwarden was nothing if not generous, and they ended up sharing the bag’s contents together while discussing the plans of revenge. Legolas was slowly learning to enjoy life again; or, as he had phrased it himself, to ban the thought of the next kill from his mind. And he wondered: how could he have forgotten how important Haldir was to him? Over the past fifteen months, he’d slipped into the habit of taking the Marchwarden’s company and friendship for granted, and he vowed to never do that again, especially since Haldir had supplied him with that precious bit of information: that Legolas was special to him, too. Haldir’s patrol had been given the entire month of September free from border duty, and all made good use of that time. And so it happened that Haldir and Legolas were granted the opportunity to witness the crown of Haldir’s mallorn gradually change from green into gold, from day to day. It was the sixth Autumn Legolas witnessed in Lórien, and in spite of everything that had happened since his admission to the patrol, Legolas found it the best season so far. After that one particular evening, they made music together more often, and Legolas tried his hands on a harp sometimes, since Orophin had started giving him lessons. What he still liked best was singing, though... and listening to Haldir play; that was a pleasure he never tired of, and Haldir gave it to him gladly. Something had changed since that evening when Haldir had confronted him. He did not think he had ever seen Haldir so loose and cheerful before; it was almost ‘un-haldirish’, he thought to himself. But it was an important part of why this month of September was becoming better by the day. For Haldir, it was simple. To see Legolas smile again – how could he not smile in response? It was not that he tried to act cheerful just to entertain Legolas; no, he was acting silly purely for the fun of it. It was all genuine and he enjoyed every second of it. In all my years in Arda, I never thought I had this in me, he thought as he and Legolas stealthily wove their way through Caras Galadhon in the dead of night, heading to the talans where Celairmir, Tinuril and Ruigaul slept. Both were carrying a bag with supplies; paint, brushes, treacle, feathers and other useful items. I just have to earn those biscuits back, Haldir told himself; that is the only reason I am doing this. There were two complications; the first one being that Ruigaul still lived with his parents. That was quite easily solved; Haldir only had to use his charms and his authority as captain to lure Ruigaul’s parents into the complot. The second complication was an unexpected one; Haldir and Legolas stood by Tinuril’s bed and he was not in it. “A minor setback,” Haldir said dryly. “Perhaps we should let Tinuril go free, then,” Legolas said regretfully. “I think not,” Haldir said. “We will not be discouraged by this.” “What do you want to do?” Legolas asked. “We can’t search every talan in Caras Galadhon.” “Which is why we are going to depend on your knowledge,” Haldir said. “Who is Tinuril’s latest fling?” Legolas exhaled air. Tinuril had one tryst after another and Legolas had stopped memorizing the names long ago. “Ervelon, maybe?” he said eventually. “Ervelon, *maybe*?” Haldir echoed. “Well, it’s better than nothing. Let’s go.” Once arrived at Ervelon’s home, Legolas took Haldir by the sleeve. “Haldir, I’m not sure about this. Isn’t this going too far?” “Are you afraid we’ll be disturbing?” Haldir said, his lips curving up in a smile. “Aren’t you?” Legolas retorted. “Not to worry. Do you hear anything?” Legolas listened. No sounds came from inside. “No...” he said. “Then ahead with it.” Haldir moved. “Haldir, wait –” Legolas began, but his accomplice had already disappeared through the hole in the roof. Legolas waited anxiously, his heart hammering in the silence. Haldir’s head almost immediately reappeared from inside. “Smart thinking, soldier,” he whispered. “He *is* here; and sound asleep, both of them. Come on.” “This is really highly inappropriate,” Legolas muttered to himself as he followed Haldir, lightly dropping through the hole. But in the end, it was all worth it; the faces of their victims as they appeared the following morning, their usually fair hair, their pride, all messed up. Oh it was hilarious indeed, and Haldir and Legolas were both grasped by a fit of laughter. One of those September evenings, Haldir and Legolas sat side by side on the branch of Haldir’s mallorn that offered the most spectacular view at the sky. “Will Arda ever be a place of peace, Haldir?” Legolas asked at one point. “A place where there are no borders to protect?” ”Perhaps,” Haldir replied. And after a silence: “You can wish for it, if you want.” “Wish for it?” “Yes, upon the stars. That is what I do. When you really want something to happen, when you have a wish that roots in the bottom of your heart, your fondest wish – then you look at the sky and wish upon the stars.” “Does it work?” “It has worked for me once – so far.” “And what if it is day?” Legolas smiled. “Doesn’t matter. The stars are always there; just, during the day, they grant the Sun her glory; and she is a star as well, the Morning Star.” “Wish upon the stars...” Legolas repeated dreamily. He would keep that in mind for the future. For now, the wish for a peaceful world seemed ambitious enough. *** That same week, the third of September, Haldir did something Legolas had thought he’d never do. He came to Legolas early one morning and told him to skip classes that day. “Why?” Legolas asked, baffled. “I have it from a reliable source – Celairmir, Tinuril and Ruigaul are planning revenge on us,” Haldir said conspirationally. “It is probably best if we disappear to a secret location today.” “What purpose will that serve?” Legolas said. “They’ll just execute their plans tomorrow.” “No, their plans are quite distinct – and linked to the Autumn Festival that is held tonight. Apparently they have something to do with the banquet, switched ingredients and public humiliation.” “Oh, gods,” Legolas groaned. “Precisely.” “But,” Legolas objected, “we can’t miss the banquet. You the Marchwarden, me the Mirkwood Prince, our absence will not be appreciated.” “No, it’s all right,” Haldir said, and he started to smirk. “I explained the situation to Galadriel and she was very understanding. I requested an errand, which she gave me, and permission to take you with me, which she gave me too.” “What kind of errand?” “We’re bringing a message to Rimsilith, the captain of the patrol that is currently marching along the northern border.” Haldir produced a sealed parchment from the folds of his cloak. “Well? Will you grant me the pleasure of your company, or would you rather stay and make yourself an easy target for your nemesises?” Legolas laughed. Decisions didn’t come any easier than this. And so they both rode out not much later, after Haldir, correct as always, had sent word to Legolas’s tutors that the Prince would not attend classes today. The unexpected day out had Legolas in an excellent mood, and both he and Haldir were smiling broadly as they left Caras Galadhon behind them, the golden Autumn Sun reflecting in their hair. Both were in their own spare time outfit; the usual green and brown for Legolas, and Haldir’s favorite variations of blue and grey. “Do you realize,” Legolas said at one point, “that we will be called cowards for fleeing?” “Yes,” Haldir shrugged. “But it will be an accusation born from disappointment over the failure of their plan, and I wouldn’t take it too seriously.” He turned to Legolas, his eyes shimmering. “Shall we race? To the stream of Entheiel.” And without further comment, he sped away. “You cheater!” Legolas laughed as he followed close behind, squeezing his eyes almost shut against the dust and sand Haldir left in his wake. Haldir’s streaming hair was a beacon, though; a beacon he could chase. “I win,” Haldir said smugly when Legolas joined him on the opposite side of the stream not much later. “Pah,” Legolas snorted, and he coughed. “You had a headstart... and I have several ounces of sand in my lungs.” “Next time I will give you a headstart,” Haldir grinned. “No, thank you. I can win without that,” Legolas retorted proudly. “Here,” Haldir said as he handed him a water skin. “Wash the taste of sand away with this.” They reached the northern border shortly after noon and encountered Rimsilith’s patrol less than an hour later. Rimsilith received Galadriel’s message from Haldir’s hands and proposed that the two would share the afternoon meal with the patrol. This was done, and the Elves of the patrol welcomed the diversion, asking the visitors for news from the city. After the meal, the patrol moved on while Haldir and Legolas headed south again; but they were in no hurry, and when, later that day, they came across a silent, sunlit meadow, they dismounted and let their horses walk free to graze. Haldir and Legolas themselves sat down near the center of the meadow to enjoy the last sunrays of the day – for evening was drawing near. In Caras Galadhon, they knew, the banquet was about to begin; but neither was sorry for missing it. They had brought some simple food with them, and after a day of riding and being out in the open, those were very much enjoyed. And they drank water with it. “Haldir,” Legolas said at one point, “do you remember when the Lord and Lady asked you to go to Mirkwood with the Lórien delegation, five years ago?” “Yes, I remember,” Haldir said. “Was it a welcome or unwelcome variation to you?” Haldir raised an eyebrow. “Well, the former of course. I admit I prefer to lead the patrol myself, but Rúmil is an excellent stand-in; and I had never witnessed a royal majority ceremony before. I expected it to be a grand happening, and I was not disappointed in the least.” “Where you curious about me?” Legolas wanted to know. Haldir smiled. “Of course, I was. Why are you asking me all these things?” “I’m just thinking how much has changed since then,” Legolas said thoughtfully. “It seems longer than five years ago.” “It does...” Haldir agreed. “But they weren’t bad years all in all, were they?” “Not bad at all,” Legolas smiled. Later, they lay side by side in the grass, hands beneath their heads. They did not speak for a while, and Haldir later thought that maybe he had dozed for a moment there. At any rate he had not heard Legolas sit up, and he did not open his eyes until Legolas touched his shoulder; and when he did, the light had lessened somewhat. The Sun had sunk beneath the tree tops and was setting the green-golden roof on fire with her last rays of the day. To the East, the sky was starting to darken. Haldir looked up at Legolas, who was sitting beside him and had awakened him. For some reason, the youth was beaming like the Sun herself; and as always when Legolas smiled, Haldir considered it a gift, a gift that had only increased in worth since Legolas had changed so much. And a thought came to him: was he just imagining it, or was Legolas really growing more beautiful each passing day? The endearing beauty of the young Prince had struck him the very first moment he’d seen him; had surprised him, even though he had been prepared by the rumors. But Legolas was slowly gaining a maturity; so slowly that Haldir could not put his finger on it day by day, but compared to the Legolas he’d first laid eyes on five years ago, the changes were obvious. And he thought how peculiar it was, that the dark forest of Mirkwood had brought forth a beauty that outshone all the light of Lórien, the Golden Wood. “What is it, Legolas?” he asked. “Sit up,” Legolas whispered, “but slowly.” Haldir, frowning in confusion, obeyed, pushing himself up on his hands to sit beside Legolas. “Look, Haldir,” Legolas said, swiping out an arm. “Rabbits!” It was true. While they were dozing, the shy animals had come from the woods to feast on the grasses in the meadow, preferring the dusk over the full light of day. There were at least two dozen of them, all greyish-brown and exactly like Haldir had described them; which was why Legolas had recognized them. And it was the animals’ appearance that had Legolas beaming so brightly. And that was not all; not only appeared the rabbits to be undisturbed by the presence of the two Elves, they seemed to be drawn to them, hopping closer and closer as they foraged, until several of them were within an arm’s length. Legolas gaped at them as if mesmerized, but Haldir, too, was not unaffected. He’d seen more rabbits than he could count over the years, but he had never been this close to them before. This was not normal behaviour the usually shy animals were displaying, and Haldir sat very still, afraid to scare them away with a movement. Legolas seemed less surprised by the rabbits’ fearless approach, and he was not quite so careful. When one rabbit did another leap in Legolas’s direction and looked up at him with trusting eyes, Legolas stretched out his hand and held it within a few inches of the sniffing nose. For a few seconds, nothing happened; but another surprise awaited Haldir when the rabbit did two, three careful steps forward and pushed its nose against Legolas’s fingers. And again. “Tickles,” Legolas chuckled. “You didn’t tell me they had whiskers, too, Haldir.” “Must have slipped my mind,” Haldir breathed. Then, without saying a word, Legolas slightly lifted his hand. Haldir opened his mouth to tell Legolas, he couldn’t pet a wild rabbit; but the words hitched in his throat when his younger friend proved the opposite. Legolas lightly stroked his hand over the rabbit’s back, from its ears to its tail, and the rabbit sat very still and let him. “Soft,” Legolas whispered, and he repeated the move. Again, the rabbit seemed to have no objections at all. When Legolas lightly rubbed one finger behind the long ears, Haldir thought he even saw the eyelids sink a little in appreciation. “Legolas,” Haldir said, “how do you do that?” Legolas looked up. “What do you mean? I’ve done this in Mirkwood so many times since I was little. Not with rabbits, of course, but other animals. Haven’t you?” Haldir shook his head no, astonished. Had Legolas really no idea that this was very unusual, even for Elves? “Feel, Haldir,” Legolas encouraged. “It’s so warm and soft, you must feel it.” When Haldir did not move immediately, Legolas took his hand and guided it to the rabbit, that still sat waiting, patient as an old horse; and it let itself be petted just as easily, also by Haldir. It *was* soft, much more so than anything he’d felt before; so much finer than a horse’s coat. He could feel the small animal’s rapid heartbeat against his palm. Just as he was wondering if maybe this rabbit was off its nut to be so trusting, the idiot of its extensive rabbit family, others hopped closer as if they felt left out, and they were just as calm under the touch of both Elves. Haldir looked up then, and found Legolas’s eyes already on him. Legolas sat beaming at him, a genuinely delighted smile splitting his face. All that joy, aimed straight at him, him only; Haldir did not think his heart would be able to take it. Well, if he was to die right there, he would not enter the Halls of Mandos as a coward. Haldir did not smile in response. Instead, without giving it further thought, without wondering whether he would be rejected or welcomed, he lifted a hand to Legolas’s face, and, as he cupped one cheek in his palm, leaned forward, unerringly found Legolas’s mouth and kissed him. Rabbits, meadow, Caras Galadhon and Lothlórien ceased to exist; there was no longer a past and there was no longer a future; there was only him and Legolas, sharing a moment of eternity in the present. And if there was still a small trace of Haldir’s fears and uncertainties left, Legolas took it away for a moment – in that very moment. For a split-second, Legolas was stupefied. But why shy away from something he’d unconsciously wanted from the very first moment Haldir had walked into his sight? No Elf equalled Haldir, Legolas had always been of that opinion; his beauty and noble character were unmatched in all of Arda. But Legolas had been certain that Haldir’s friendship was all he could have, and he had received and cherished everything Haldir had been willing to give. But in all honesty, his secret hope for more had never died – why else had he been unable to feel something for another? It all made sense suddenly. A good thing he was partly common sense and partly instinct; for while his common sense was still figuring this all out high-speed, his instinct had moved him to melt into the kiss; and it was also his instinct that told him how to do so. Legolas had been kissed only once before. The first had been a kiss of pain and confusion; a mistake to regret. This kiss could not have been more different. Not a trace of sorrow was behind it, no confusion had caused it, and it evoked in both participants only a feeling of belonging and joy. No words, no whispers, nothing at all had announced that it would happen then and there, in a quiet meadow on a September twilight evening; and in that respect, it *was* somewhat unexpected... But there was no need to be shocked, and that the first mutual exchanges were tentative had nothing to do with hesitation or doubt. It was because of the simple fact that there is no better way to get to know each other than by a delightful, long moment of soft exploration. Exactly that, the one moment that makes a first kiss so special and memorable. And it did not stop after that; no, it gradually changed into something warmer, something more certain and more... involved. Both Elves slightly shifted their positions to match the other’s, Haldir’s fingers moved further into Legolas’s hair, his hand sliding to cup the back of Legolas’s head, to gently pull him closer to him – as if Legolas was even thinking of going anywhere. Yes, it was a lovers’ kiss in every way, and yet every second of it was filled with a respect and a tenderness beyond Legolas’s comprehesion. It was easily the most awkward and most beautiful thing Legolas had ever experienced. And if he had had the opportunity and the clearness of mind to think of it, Legolas would have wished, upon the stars, for this moment to never end. At length they moved apart to look at each other, but Haldir was unwilling to remove his hand from the back of Legolas’s head and he held it there as he gazed into Legolas’s eyes. “I don’t know what to say,” Legolas breathed. “Then, don’t say anything,” Haldir replied softly. “Let us just say nothing for a moment.” Legolas slipped his arms around Haldir’s neck and pressed his forehead against a broad shoulder, and they held each other tightly, not knowing what to say or what to do, and so they sat for a while, silent and still, and with no clue of what the future, or even the next minutes would bring. < previous chapter 21 >