Haldir of Lorien waited silently by the edge of the Mirkwood waterfall. Though customarily used as a bathing pool, it was deserted now as all the Elves of Mirkwood were in Thranduil's palace celebrating with Ciendriel and Legolas. None had even sneaked away to tryst here, at least not yet.

Haldir was kicking himself for doing it. He should have let Morgone bully Ciendriel into marrying him. He had a good idea that the formidable Elf Queen could have done it, too. Ciendriel would not have had the nerve to run away with Legolas and defy all of their elders... would she?

He knew that Legolas would have gone with her, if she had indeed asked him to run. After all, Legolas had once volunteered to run away with Haldir. It had been Haldir who had broken it off with him, given him a lecture about duty, and returned to Lothlorien, deserting the brokenhearted Prince.

Thinking back, Haldir did not regret leaving Legolas. Well, maybe a little. All right, a whole lot, but he would have done it again rather than have Legolas make a tremendous mistake. Perhaps this had also been why he had given up Ciendriel -- to prevent her and Legolas from making that same mistake.

Would she have run, or wouldn't she? How tender she had been in bed with him that night when she had given herself eagerly, willingly. Had it really meant nothing to her? Was she really just seeking comfort? She was attracted to him, certainly, that was perfectly evident -- so was Legolas, but did Ciendriel feel anything, anything at all?

Haldir wondered what Galadriel would say to him when he saw her next. He was not in a big hurry to go back to Lothlorien and find out… but he was not afraid, either. He knew he had done the right thing. After all, he had no choice, really.

Why did it seem he so often had no choice?

Somewhere between speaking to Legolas and watching Ciendriel dash out of the bathing chamber to be with him, Haldir had decided to refuse the marriage. Legolas had cleverly pointed out the loophole in Morgone's words. Surely Galadriel could not fault him now. Then again, Haldir had never understood how Galadriel thought or what prompted her to make the decisions that she did. He simply followed her without question. After all, she was the Lady of Light, the witch Queen of Lothlorien. He might hold the rank of Marchwarden, but that was nothing in comparison to her, or to Celeborn.

Haldir had told Ciendriel what he intended to do as they stood stiffly in the corridor outside of the dining hall waiting to be announced, in their matching garments. He had caught a glimpse of them in a mirror they had passed in the hallway as he escorted her from her chamber, and had nearly given it all up then. Haldir was only occasionally vain, but when he saw them together, such a perfectly matched set, at least in appearance, he had had to pause.

He had held half a candle of hope in that instant that she, too, would look into the mirror and see what he saw. However, Ciendriel had glanced at their reflection impatiently and made a small, irritated noise, so he had led her on, and then turned and told her that he would set her free from obligation to him. After all, Legolas had earned her love, and he had merely taken her by force and stolen her virtue. Why her mother had chosen to reward him for this was beyond him, but until now, it had not mattered.

Haldir knew he had made the right decision when she kissed him. Something had changed between them in that instant. She had forgiven him everything. He could hear it as if she had let him inside her mind, inside her heartbeat… but her heart beat for Legolas alone. Whatever she had felt for Haldir was merely a ghost of that emotion.

And now, alone by the bathing pool, Haldir let himself at last feel the emotions he had been blocking out for so long, since he had abandoned Legolas so many centuries ago, if truth be told. He acknowledged the fact that he had loved. He had loved Legolas. He had loved Ciendriel. He still loved them -- and it hurt. He leaned against a tree and let his long blond hair hang down in front of his face for a moment, then scooped up a stone from the ground and flung it at the water. It skipped gracefully across and Haldir sighed. He could not even get a satisfactory splash tonight.

Haldir straightened up as he felt someone else approaching quietly, not completely silent but allowing him to know their approach so as not to startle him. He took a deep breath, scenting the wind. It was Aragorn, as he had hoped. He had trysted with Aragorn at the Lothlorien bathing pool, so he had hoped that the King would know to meet him here, at the Mirkwood pool.

The last time he had seen Aragorn had been at Helm's Deep. He remembered with slight embarrassment how fondly he had greeted Haldir, throwing his arms around the Elf without reservation, in front of his entire regiment, too. Yet Haldir had melted. There were few -- none, perhaps, who had ever greeted him that way. And when he had been laid low by the Orc, it had been Aragorn who had come to his side, who had caught him as he fell…

Of course, Aragorn had left him for dead, as well, but Haldir could not truly fault him for that. He had been in a coma, and close to death, and a battle had been raging all around. Haldir would have done the same thing in his place -- even for a one-time lover. He probably would have died in truth had not Orophin and Rúmil taken his beaten corpse back to Galadriel, who in turn had sent him to recover in Rivendell.

Haldir turned around to look at Aragorn, now known as King Elessar. He was much less scruffy tonight, having carefully trimmed his beard, brushed his hair, and perhaps even bathed. The subtle golden brown outfit he wore suited him. It was royal, but not intimidating, and it outlined his powerful body. Haldir wondered idly how many different Elves Aragorn had slept with -- after all, he had practically been raised in Elrond's house, and Haldir knew well what went on around there.

Then again, Arwen, Elrond's daughter whom Aragorn had married, was a possessive little bitch. Once she sank her claws into Aragorn, he probably had not strayed again until he met Legolas -- and who on earth could resist Legolas, especially once Aragorn had left Arwen behind when he left with the Fellowship.

Haldir knew he was not being fair to the man who stood before him. Aragorn truly loved Arwen, and she had made a great sacrifice to be with him. Haldir only hoped it was worth it… and he wondered how great Aragorn's commitment was to Arwen. Aragorn had spent a long time alone with Legolas in his chambers the other night. Had anything passed between them, or had Legolas been too ill? Too ill with the poison of the spiders, too ill with love for Ciendriel?

"You look well, Haldir," Aragorn said softly. He did not move closer, leaving a small distance between them, as if he did not trust himself.

"Thank you. When last we met, I was not at my best," Haldir said with a hint of sarcasm. He imagined how he must have looked covered in blood and mud, and soaked in rain, lying in a pile of corpses.

"I disagree," said Aragorn. "I have not had the chance to properly thank you for what you did. Had you not come to Helm's Deep, we would never have survived until Gandalf arrived. Many would have died."

"Many did die…"

"Many more, Haldir. You are a hero, you know."

"I was merely doing my duty. Give your thanks to Elrond and Galadriel."

"Modesty doesn't suit you," Aragorn said, and then he came forward, and put his arms around Haldir just as he had that night at Helm's Deep, but this time, he kissed Haldir richly on the mouth.

Haldir embraced him and returned the kiss, stirred by it, but knowing how different it was than kissing Ciendriel or Legolas. The Man's rough beard rasped against his chin, making his leggings suddenly tight. He let his hands smooth over Aragorn's muscular shoulders, velvety in his doublet. Aragorn squeezed him tightly. Finally the king drew back, gasping for breath.

"I wondered if it would feel the same between us," he said. "And it does. It is very natural to be with you, Haldir."

"I do not know if I can say the same," Haldir said slowly, "And yet making love with you was always pleasant and easy. There were never any strings between us. We only enjoyed each other."

"Is that what you want now?" Aragorn asked. "Is that why you asked me to meet you?"

"No. You are king now. I could not take such liberties." He let go of Aragorn slowly.

Aragorn smiled. "I called you friend and lover before I was king."

"I think that is part of the past," Haldir said with only a small amount of regret. There were other ways to soothe the ache in his leggings.

"And have you decided also to let Legolas be part of the past?"

Haldir was silent for a long time. Had he decided that, indeed? To let Legolas, and Ciendriel, be merely the past? Or would he, did the opportunity arise, try to seduce either one of them, or perhaps even both, into his bed again?

"I cannot say," he said finally, knowing that Aragorn was waiting patiently for his reply. "It is still too fresh in my mind."

"Very well," said Aragorn. "I know you to be a noble Elf, Haldir of Lorien. I trust that in all your decision, you will do what is right."

He clapped Haldir on the shoulder, then turned and slipped back off into the night. Haldir shrugged off the flash of guilt that came from the words. He unlaced the front of his leggings to ease the tightness that still throbbed there.

"Noble, indeed. How little you know me in truth, King Elessar," he whispered into the darkness. Haldir slipped out of the leggings, pulled off his tunic, and dove into the cold water in hopes of extinguishing the fire that raged inside.

***

A week slipped past in the blink of an eye in Mirkwood, but what was a week to an Elf who had all of eternity to live? Ciendriel had never been happier. Legolas had spent not a moment apart from her, day or night. He showed her all the places of his youth, introduced her to his many siblings and friends, and made love to her in all manner of places -- whenever Gimli was not with them.

Ciendriel had grown more fond of the Dwarf in that week than she had during their entire journey. Despite the acerbic comments they still occasionally made towards each other, he had softened towards her a great deal. She had seen more of him this week than the Hobbits, though she occasionally bumped into them in the dining hall, and she had not seen Haldir at all, except from afar. Perhaps he was avoiding them.

She had also been able to spend some time with her mother, who was constantly in the company of Elrond. Ciendriel suspected something was going on between them, but she was not entirely sure and not about to ask. Morgone had seemed to relax and accept the decisions that had been made, and was always kind to Legolas. Legolas never had a bad word to say about her, either, which only endeared him to Ciendriel further.

Ciendriel would have loved to stay ever on in Mirkwood. The Elves there had been so gracious, so accepting of her, and she found it beautiful despite the odd stone palace. Ingra was closer in form to Lothlorien -- elevated tree houses, but not nearly so high as those inhabited by Galadriel and her people. Still, she knew that the Hobbits were eager to get back to the Shire, and she did not wish to miss the wedding of her dear friend Angelica to Peregrin Took.

"We will leave tomorrow, then," Legolas said, when she expressed her concerns to him, "Though it will sadden my father. Does that suit you, Gimli?"

"It suits me well enough. Two weeks journey will it be to the Shire -- and then I am taking the two of you to my mountain lands. There you will see real hospitality, my friends!" Gimli said. Ciendriel waited for him to launch into a speech about meat and beer, but for once he controlled himself, merely drooling a little bit into his beard.

That night, after being informed that his son meant to depart home once again, Thranduil held yet another banquet -- the Farewell Banquet to all of the travelers.

"Home!" said Pippin when the news that they meant to leave was announced. "Never have I been so eager to get back to my own bed."

"Bilbo and I will travel with you," the Wizard Gandalf announced. "I know a shortcut to the Shire that will surprise you all."

"I will be returning to Ingra," Morgone told Ciendriel. "Elrond will escort me, along with Haldir, Orophin, and Rúmil. Soon the Elves of Ingra will go into the west and nevermore return to Middle-earth. It will be many years before we meet again, my daughter. Let us part with love between us, for I do not know when I will see you again."

Tears came to Ciendriel's eyes as she embraced her mother. "There was never anything but love between us," she said.

"May Legolas Greenleaf keep you safe," whispered Morgone.

"No, Mother," Ciendriel whispered back, "I will keep him safe."

Ciendriel said her good-byes to Orophin and Rúmil, whom she had always liked and gotten along with well.

"Oh, do not look so sad, little sister," said Orophin.

"We most certainly will meet again," said Rúmil.

"When you grow bored of Legolas, look us up. You really ought to have been on patrol with us, you know!"

Laughing, Ciendriel wished them a safe journey. Haldir was sitting on the other side of the room with King Aragorn and Elrond, and she debated going to speak to him. She glanced at Legolas, who was talking animatedly with the Hobbits. Haldir got up to slip out of the room, and impulsively Ciendriel decided to follow him.

She caught up to him in the deserted corridor outside of the dining hall. "Haldir, wait!"

He turned, smiling slightly at her, as if he were patiently amused. "Yes, Princess?"

"I wanted to say good-bye, and wish you a safe journey."

"Did you? I thought you would be glad to see the back of me."

She blushed slightly. "I--"

"Shh, you don't have to answer that. I am glad that you cared enough to wish me well." He moved slightly closer to her and she hated that her heart began to race at his nearness.

"Legolas wishes you the same."

"But only you came forward to say it."

"I'm sure he meant to," she said firmly, lifting her chin as Haldir closed the rest of the distance between them.

"I wish the both of you well, Ciendriel," he said softly. "Look after Legolas. He deserves a love as unselfish as yours… and you deserve one as unselfish as his."

"Thank you, Haldir," she said softly. "It means much to hear you say this."

Haldir nodded. "Kiss me good-bye, Princess," he demanded.

She did not have the chance to reply, but she did not fight him as his mouth descended on hers for the last time. The kiss was warm and erotic and splendid, but somehow Haldir managed to keep himself distant as he kissed her soundly.

When their lips parted, he said not another word. He smiled at her and lifted his hand to her face, staring at her as if memorizing her features, then he turned and strode off down the corridor, leaving her standing there, her lips burning with his cooling brand.

After a moment, Ciendriel swallowed the lump in her throat. She turned and went back into the hall, back to Legolas, back to the one she loved.