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Summary: none given
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As a visiting guest to L�rien, Thranduil�s
presence was technically required at the Midsummer celebration. If it
were really up to him, however, he would have stayed in his rooms, unwilling
to be diplomatic and gracious. He was still reeling from the news received
earlier that day. Nevertheless, he joined the Lothl�rien elves, with
a small mix of the Noldor, gathering around the base of the largest
Mallorn tree of all. The Lord and Lady resided there, and had left the
lofty heights to mingle with the crowd.
Bowls of food and platters of fruit,
the sweet ripe bounty of the garden, were laid on cloths or small tables
among the Mallorn roots. Wine was flowing freely as well, and few were
choosing to abstain. Each season was heartily embraced and celebrated,
no race more aware of Nature and her blessings than the Elves. Summer
was a particularly amazing time, the pinnacle of Life at its strongest.
Thranduil walked among the people, trying
to be pleasant and cordial as was befitting to his station, but his
heart was far from it. Briefly, he talked to Elrond, whom he had not
seen in person since the tragedy that befell their house at the loss
of Elrond�s wife. Perhaps later they might spend a little time together
and talk � Thranduil�s own wife had been lost in an attack as well
a couple hundred years previously � but now was not the time. He wouldn�t
mar the celebration with such morbid talk.
His mingling was aimless, merely polite,
only really achieving direction when he headed for the refreshments.
He heard the sound of Elf maidens giggling over the melodies cheerfully
supplied by the musicians, and the sound made his head hurt. His charm
or politeness seemed to have retreated into a corner for the evening.
He vaguely worried about eventually causing a diplomatic incident in
this mood. Another burst of laughter drew his attention, curiosity overwhelming
his irritation for the time being. A gaggle of Elves stood very close
to one of the tables bearing the wine, seemingly centered around one
particular Elf.
It took a moment, but recognition finally
settled. Haldir Beriorion. He had quite the reputation. Unfortunately,
Thranduil was caught staring while attempting to remember the Elf�s
identity, and curious green eyes met his from across the distance. The
moment broke, however, when a raven haired beauty tugged on Haldir�s
arm, drawing his attention away from Thranduil to more immediate concerns.
The feeling was nothing Thranduil could
define, and years of practice helped him to push it to the back of his
mind, focusing instead on escaping the noise, which was doing nothing
for his temper. The party was based around the grand Mallorn tree, but
it seemed that all of the Elves of renown; Galadriel, Celeborn, Elrond,
the reborn Glorfindel were on its west side, which explained the larger
crowd there. He made his way over to a nice section beneath the tree,
less crowded, quieter and all around looking very pleasant. Thankfully
he was unnoticed. The change from heavy, stifling regal robes to a tunic
and leggings helped � they were also a damn sight easier to move in.
His distinctive auburn hair was done up in a thick braid, highlighting
his cheekbones and deep green eyes.
Settling on the lush ground, he took
his glass, thoughtfully filled again, and just watched the celebrations.
Observing people had always fascinated him from an early age, and there
was nothing quite like it around Midsummer. There was always such joy
on their faces, though on more than a few couples he wryly noted not
a small amount of desire or lust either. Maybe it was something in the
air.
He was thrown out of his thoughts by
the sudden arrival of that Elf from earlier � Haldir. He hadn�t
seen him appear and he felt a little abashed at his lack of attention
to his immediate surroundings.
�Hello, my Lord. May I join you?�
Haldir was more subdued with him than he was with his former company
� nevertheless he was courteous and quite warm.
Curious, Thranduil nodded, saying lightly,
�Of course. Not my tree.�
Saying quiet thanks, the Woodelf chose
to forgo sitting in lieu of merely resting against the tree, cocking
his head slightly and looking down at Thranduil. �You look disturbed?�
Thranduil contemplated attempting to
salvage what little was left of his diplomacy, but at the moment he
really didn�t care, choosing instead to shrug and take a drink of
his wine. �It was not a great day?� he offered lamely. �I admit
I�m not in the mood for this evening�s festivities.�
�We could leave the celebration. There
are quieter times to be had in Lorien � much less stressful.� Haldir
raised an eyebrow, sensing the tension in the king. �Join me?�
Thranduil looked at Haldir, weighing
the offer, the outstretched hand, the warm, rich green eyes watching
him as though the Woodelf could see the wheels turning in his head.
�What about your companions, won�t they miss you?�
�No, not for long. This night offers
many pleasures, most of which I�m sure they�ll partake of.�
�I see.�
�I assure you I don�t bite, my lord.
Not unless one asks for it,� Haldir smiled.
The auburn haired king laughed out loud.
�Well you have cheek, I�ll give you that,� he said, before taking
the hand and rising to his feet. �By all means, take me to this quiet
place.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
This quiet place ended up being Haldir�s
talan, built in the traditional L�rien style, becoming part of the
tree, fashioned around nature. It was decently high up, ladders and
fashioned walkways roped from tree to tree guiding them towards the
Woodelf�s home. Thranduil watched with amazement as Haldir led the
way. He was sure he himself looked fine and not too horribly embarrassing,
but Haldir was a picture of grace, navigating each sky path with ease.
Thranduil was quietly impressed, knowing that the further one lived
from the ground the higher one�s status in the community was. What
can I say? Every realm has its quirks.
It implied that Haldir was perhaps not as common as he had thought,
though it didn�t make much of a difference to Thranduil. He would
have been equally willing to spend a peaceful evening in a hut thrown
together on the ground, but it made him more curious about this Elf.
Instead of taking him inside as Thranduil
figured he would, Haldir seemed to have other plans, settling on the
wide ledge that surrounded the talan and dangling his legs over the
edge. �We can stay here for a while. Unless we drink considerably
more. Then we might want to consider moving closer towards safety.�
His smile was wide and warm.
�I can see you picked up on my less
than total ease with heights. You think I could not handle it with alcohol?�
Thranduil challenged him, wondering what his response would be.
�Well, I confess that I didn�t bring
you here to be blamed for your gruesome death after falling off the
ledge while attempting to take a piss.�
Thranduil threw back his head and laughed,
the blunt answer quite to his taste. So few people would dare talk to
him like that. �Oh? Then what did you bring me here for?�
�Why for your charming conversational
skills and sunny disposition of course,� Haldir teased lightly and,
in any other circumstance, Thranduil would have been annoyed beyond
belief, but not today, not with this Elf, surprisingly.
�Well I haven�t been displaying
either of those much, now have I?� Thranduil frowned, joining Haldir
on the wooden flats and urging him to open up the bottle.
�No, I knew what I was getting into
when I saw you at the Celebration. You seemed as though you were about
ready to burst a blood vessel.� Haldir�s lips quirked, though his
tone was still quite respectful, Thranduil suspected that talent was
learned.
�Bit of a risk you took, wasn�t
it? I could have just as easily released my anger on you.� Thranduil
knew full well he wouldn�t have minded a target right then � or
now still at some moments.
�Yes, it was a risk of course. But
with every risk come rewards.� Sensuous lips moved from a small twist
to a full smile, hinting at more.
Thranduil�s curiosity peaked; he was
sure the Elf was flirting with him. He could have laughed out loud,
amused. Many wanted him, few had the boldness to flirt outright, seeking
to curry favor first. The few that did flirt outright rarely wanted
to take no for an answer, and became � pushy. With Haldir, he just
had a sense of being appreciated.
Rich green met light green in a moment
of silence, glances were exchanged before the Galadhel spoke. �What
has gotten you in such a mood, if I might ask?�
Yet again, this Elf surprised him. He
had thought the flirtation would continue, but Haldir seemed content
to let it rest, instead filling Thranduil�s glass and toasting him.
Thranduil knew of course that he should
not be talking to Haldir about these matters. The Council was trying
to keep details as quiet as possible before they made a definitive move.
Dscretion was key, but he had a feeling this Elf might perhaps know
something. �You�ve heard of the White Council, I presume?�
�Yes of course. Wizards and Elves
with a united goal of protection from an evil that has its roots in
the Second Age.� Haldir shrugged. �No one thought I paid much attention
to my history lessons.�
�"It was formed to combat the
growing darkness of Dol Guldur at your Lady Galadriel�s request. We
were called here to discuss our recent discovery.� Thranduil paused.
�Haldir, you must know before I continue that this is not common knowledge
and is not meant to be shared with anyone else. I must have your promise
that no word of this will pass your lips.�
Haldir quietly considered, his cheerful
grin fading before he nodded. �I promise I will not speak of it.�
�We have found the source of this
evil. A Necromancer of terrible power. I would not speak his name here,
but no action will be taken against him or any effort made to drive
him from the land."
"Why would they not take action?"
A note of concern laced through Haldir�s voice as he leaned forward,
puzzled by this turn of events. "Surely they must have a good reason."
�It is Saruman�s doing, of course.
He made a motion to the Council that we bide our time and learn more
about the enemy, give him more time to search through his dark tomes
and give us more ways to be rid of the Necromancer. No one seemed to
be considering waiting before he suggested it, but in short order everyone
came to agree with him in the matter and that decided it."
Thranduil looked over at Haldir who
was watching him quiet and calmly. The light haired Elf considered his
words for a moment before reaching out a hand to place on the King�s
shoulder.
"Could it be that the Council sees
something you do not? Maybe this is truly the most effective way?"
"Effective? My people are dying.
That is not what I call effective in the slightest. I've had enough
of those wizards, so intent on everything else but the people who are
in need. I want the Necromancer dead, whatever it takes. But I lack
the power to do it myself, so I am just sitting here doing nothing,
waiting on the whim of the council."
"Think for a moment though, my
lord. If we do rush the attack, what if we underestimate him
or don't know how to destroy him properly? It would be a bloodbath.
Surely you'd want to avoid that," Haldir pointed out in an entirely
reasonable tone, much more so than Thranduil himself. It helped him
to calm down and rephrase his next comment in a less harsh way.
�I�ve already considered that. And
I�d consider it a necessary risk. I don�t even know how much longer
we have to hold up before we receive help and this comes to an end.�
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The discussion of council faded away
along with the sun slowly sinking in the West. They lapsed into silence,
companionably drinking and looking down over the ledge to see the tiny
people below. The celebration was going strong � it would no doubt
last throughout the night.
�You can call me Thranduil,� he
said suddenly, breaking the moment, He was unsure what had inspired
him to say that, but once the words caught the air and settled he was
actually comfortable with the idea. �Considering I am in your talan,
one assumes this would be the right thing to do?�
Haldir looked up, surprised but smiling.
�Thank you,� he said, pausing a moment before trying the name out
on his tongue. ��Thranduil.�
�The name on your lips sounds vaguely
exotic and foreign,� Thranduil laughed, and the Galadhel grinned.
�What can I say? I am an Elf of many
talents.�
�Such as?� Thranduil knew he shouldn�t
ask, that it was a clear opening for much more serious flirtation, but
damned if he wasn�t curious.
�Kissing, for one.� Not surprising
that Haldir took the opportunity to slip such a comment in, but what
was unexpected was when he followed up with, �I confess I have spent
a rather large time wondering what your lips taste like.�
Taken back a bit, Thranduil covered
his surprise with another sip of brandy and, swallowing, slowly considering
the Galadhel. �You are bold, very bold, Haldir. What have you done
to achieve such confidence, or were you just born with it?�
He was fair enough, truth be told. He
was not overly tall, and had a sturdy build, bulkier than most. His
muscles lacked the signature leanness of their race, but he moved with
a calm and easy grace - power under control. Light blonde hair fell
thickly to mid-back, he had smooth fair skin, not pale but more like
a creature of moonlight. His green eyes, knowledgeable and supremely
confident, by no means arrogant as many Elves his age were inclined
to be.
Haldir suffered the long look with no
complaint, merely raising an eyebrow. �Like what you see?� he asked,
looking sideways and turning that glance directly on Thranduil. Appreciative,
a touch predatory, desire-filled, but not forceful.
You�re a force to be reckoned with,
aren�t you, Haldir? You know what would make me bristle and you avoid
it, but still are � very dominant. You are a heartbreaker, aren�t
you? No wonder you have such a reputation as a charmer.
Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Thranduil smiled back, not intending
to make this exceptionally easy. �Of course, I�m not blind. You
do know that I was quite happily married at one time, yes? What makes
you think I would like males after that?�
Haldir nodded. �Do not misunderstand
me, I like females as well, I love their curves, firm breasts pressed
up against me, the soft, silken heat between their thighs. But sometimes
I need the solid roughened lines of a male. From what I�ve seen, heard
and noticed personally, I believe that you are like me in this. But
if I have caused offense, then I do apologize and will desist immediately,
of course.� For a moment, there was a flash of uncertainty in Haldir�s
eyes. Thranduil decided that he quite liked seeing that there was possibly
more to this Elf than just his reputation and near unnerving confidence.
Idly considering things for a moment,
he leaned forward and pressed his lips against Haldir�s. He had no
real intent for the time being, but curiosity as to the reaction. Several
small kisses were exchanged, before Haldir deepened the kiss, Thranduil
let him, enjoying the sensual slide of their tongues against each other,
spiced with brandy and an underlying taste uniquely Haldir�s. It was
not hurried or rushed, rather savored, each progression slow and, to
Thranduil�s surprise, growing rather heated on his side.
They broke apart when the kiss ended,
each taking a moment to breathe. Silence fell as they watched the sunset
fade, lighting the fair city in shades of pink and gold. Haldir was
the first one to break their reprieve, looking over to Thranduil again.
The king felt the glance on him and he turned to look; Haldir�s eyes,
seeming darker now and more sensual than before, drew all his attention.
The corner of his mouth quirking slightly, he noticed that the clear
green eyes seemed to be focused more on his mouth at that moment than
meeting his own eyes, but a glance soon followed.
�I�m sorry,� Haldir murmured.
�I must seem terribly forward to you, don�t I?"
�Yes, a bit, I suppose.�
"I don�t � generally go around
asking royalty to my home, flirting with them and � kissing them.�
"No, I would imagine not."
�Midsummer is a time where life breathes
the fullest. It is intoxicating, and the most vivid of the seasons.
We celebrate it by taking more chances, trying to imitate the growth
of nature. Not everyone interprets it the same way, but grows in the
way that�s right for them. It�s about relaxing in equal parts to
your work as well as pleasure, enjoying each moment of life right now.
�
Thranduil laughed a bit, something inside
of him shifting, changing�he tried to lighten the mood, distract himself.
�So this means aiming for the King of Mirkwood? It�s an interesting
choice��
�I wasn�t aiming, it�s not a game.�
Apparently Haldir hadn�t taken it the way intended. The expressive
green eyes shuttered and he physically withdrew, creating a small but
noticeable space between them. �I wished to approach you, but never
thought that it would ever be possible in the slightest,� he said
flatly, avoiding looking at Thranduil and staring out into the distance.
�Then I caught you watching me, and I wondered�I suppose the wine
helped rather a lot in my initial approach. I didn�t mean it as a
feather in my cap.�
Thranduil was rarely left speechless,
but this was one of those times. He reached out across the space between
them, placing a hand on Haldir�s shoulder. The muscles stiffened for
a moment, then relaxed underneath his touch. Haldir shifted, looking
at him now. Still no words came, and Thranduil wound his fingers in
the thick blonde hair, enjoying the feel of the silky strands while
inwardly cursing his ineloquence.
Finally he just settled on an �I�m
sorry� and leaned in for a brush of his lips against a smooth temple.
�I�m not really used to this sort of thing anymore and I don�t
know what to say. We don�t even have much of a chance of getting to
know one another. I do not visit Lorien often, and you have a well established
place here.�
�Oh, I know this is hardly forever.�
Haldir leaned against the touches slightly, his jaw firming. �I might
be young but I am not foolish enough to think this could grow into something
like that. We wouldn�t have the chance.�
�This sounds � rather depressing,�
Thranduil remarked lightly, surprised to find he was not content to
hear the truth laid out as such.
�But it�s the truth, is it not?
Once you leave here, you will go back to your life and I will go back
to mine, that�s the way it is. Just � maybe our lives could intersect.
If just for tonight?�
Haldir smiled, the slow easy smile Thranduil had been seeing all evening, but this time there was more behind it and Thranduil knew he wanted to say yes. When Haldir kissed him again, there was no hesitation, no more holding back and waiting to see what might happen. The world was a dark and miserable place still, but for tonight Thranduil chose not to think about that. Tonight he would take his Midsummer�s chance, take it and see where it led.
The End