The night was more than half over when Legolas and Ciendriel returned to the camp -- without any firewood. The fire was little more than embers now, the dinner all gone, and everyone asleep. At least Legolas thought that they should all be asleep by now. As he soon saw, he was wrong.

It had been a glorious evening. A day's walk from Lorien and they were still in the woods protected by Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, and these woods still sparkled with magical life. Legolas loved the gentle scent of warmed earth, and ripe greenery. The river was nearby -- they were following its path, and the sound of its rushing current was a comforting presence. It also told him they were on the right track to Mirkwood.

Once they had made camp, Orophin and Rúmil had set out to patrol the area (and do whatever it was they got up to alone together in the woods…) Legolas liked Haldir's brothers a lot. He had known them for centuries, and they were fun and mischievous in a way that Haldir never was. Some of the worst hangovers Legolas had ever experienced were their fault, he mused. He wondered why Haldir had none of their joy, their zest for life. He had always been serious, mysterious, and forceful. Nothing ever softened him.

Legolas and Ciendriel had been scouting ahead all day, speaking little. When Ciendriel looked at him, her eyes so mild, Legolas felt a little bit helpless. This is love, he thought. This is being loved in return. And so, after the camp had been made, though they had spent little time socializing with the Hobbit party, they had slipped off together to make love in the soft grass beneath a willow tree at the edge of the water.

She was wild, Legolas thought. Ciendriel never wanted to stop.

"You're insatiable," he told her.

"You make me that way," she had replied.

But, now, at last they had decided that they had better go check on the camp since the Hobbits had been left essentially with only Haldir and Gimli to look after them. Legolas knew that the boys were more than capable of defending themselves, however, so he wasn't worried. Perhaps, he mused, he should have been worried about Haldir.

As they looked over the camp, Legolas could hear Gimli's snores. He saw Haldir, a little ways away from the remains of the fire, sitting on the ground against a tree, his head bent slightly forward. He rarely slept, and probably was close to awareness now, but he was still and did not stir at Legolas and Ciendriel's silent approach. Good. Legolas did not want to have to face any barbaric remarks right now, when he was in such a good mood and had had such a perfect evening.

Frodo and Sam lay together on one side of the fire, near Gimli. Sam's arm was around Frodo in a comforting gesture, and this made Legolas grin. No wonder everyone thought Sam was in love with Frodo. However, not all of the Hobbits were sleeping… Legolas put a hand on Ciendriel's arm, silently asking her to stay back so he could see what was happening. His sharp Elven ears easily picked up on their conversation, whispered though it was…

"Angelica! Let go of my leg!"

"In a minute, Pippin."

"Merry, that hurts, you know! Where on earth did you find such a big carrot?"

"We dug it up in the woods, to which you refused to accompany us."

"So you're punishing me for it now?"

"I thought you liked this, Pip. You always did at home."

"Farmer Maggot's carrots were not so big. Ahh…Merry!"

Angelica giggled. "You don't sound very punished. Maybe I should spank you."

"I've been spanked quite enough lately, thank you… oh…"

Ciendriel poked Legolas in the ribs, her eyes round. "They're not--"

He winked at her. "Shh…"

"I think the carrot broke," said Merry.

"That happens to you a lot, doesn't it?" Pippin said.

"And I didn't get a turn," said Angelica, sounding disappointed.

"I'll give you something better than a carrot," said Pippin.

"So will I," said Merry.

"Legolas, you can't mean to watch this!" Ciendriel hissed.

"Why not?" he murmured back.

Ciendriel drew in a deep breath, then stepped away from him. He meant to look to see where she had gone, but he was fascinated by the three small bodies working together in pursuit of pleasure. Nearly an hour passed before he remembered to look for her, and by then Ciendriel was nowhere in sight.

Neither, Legolas realized with a chill in his veins, was Haldir.

***

Ciendriel had not gone far off into the trees before she stopped, hoping that Legolas would follow her, but he did not. He was more interested in watching the Hobbits' lovemaking, she supposed. This irked her for some reason. Angelica ought be allowed her privacy. And Merry and Pippin, too, for that matter.

Of course, they were fooling around where pretty much any member of the party could see them, so they hadn't exactly chosen discretion in the first place… but it didn't excite her to watch Hobbits at play, even if it did Legolas. Realizing this, she stalked even further into the brush. Maybe she could find Orophin and Rúmil. Now those two she would enjoy watching. Two tall, ephemeral male bodies, entwined in a sensual dance… Ciendriel had never seen two males play together, since there were so few of them in Ingra to begin with.

And if not Orophin and Rúmil, what about Legolas and Haldir? Would she enjoy watching them together? Haldir was so masterful, and she knew well the face of Legolas in passion. What would it be like to watch him give in to the Marchwarden?

Ai, what was she thinking? Had she forgotten so soon the bruises that Haldir had left on Legolas in Rivendell? How listless, lifeless, even fearful he had been afterwards… It made her shake with anger, remembering. Haldir had not needed to make such a display. He had been easy with her, and he could have treated Legolas the same way. She was sure that Legolas had been in no more condition to fight him that night than she had been herself.

Legolas had told her that he and Haldir had been lovers once, when they were younger. Ciendriel knew that Legolas could not have cared for him if he had not had some degree of kindness or tenderness in him, once.

She stopped walking and leaned up against a tree. Suddenly someone pressed up against her, pinning her to the tree, and she nearly screamed.

"Shh, Princess. It's just me." Haldir pressed a finger over her lips. She felt the strange urge to lick it.

"What are you doing? Let go of me." she hissed.

"Not just yet," he said lazily.

He reached up and stroked her hair. It felt good, and she felt her body beginning to respond to him. She inhaled deeply, ready to tell him once more to back off, but he smelled so good, earthy and masculine. Legolas had called her 'insatiable.' Maybe he was right. He bent towards her slowly, inching towards her mouth.

"Haldir, you try my patience," she said finally before the kiss could land. He straightened back up, but didn't let go of her. She was almost disappointed. She licked her lips.

"Where is Legolas?" he asked, his eyes lowering to half-mast, his tone holding the hint of a smirk.

"I think you already know the answer to that question, or you would not be asking it," she said icily. "Why did you follow me?"

"I have not had the pleasure of your company all day. I missed you."

"How sentimental of you, Haldir. I do not believe you."

"Princess, despite the fact that you have taken Legolas for your lover, the very real fact remains that you are, at the moment, betrothed to me. As you will soon be my wife, I would hope that our relationship can become amicable if nothing else."

"If you would like us to become friends, then you should consider letting go of me," she said in an even tone. "And I will never wed you, Haldir."

"I think you will. I think the cost of refusing is too high. Do you really wish to forsake your homeland? Especially when I have so…generously…offered to let you keep the company you so desire. Few other husbands would permit such a thing."

"You are not generous, Haldir. You simply desire him as well, and think that you may get to him this way. You threw away your chance with him. For that you are a fool. You underestimate me as well, and how far I am willing to go for the sake of love."

"And for that you are a fool, Princess. Love is fleeting and insubstantial."

"So I should settle for being wed to someone whom I despise?"

"You don't despise me, and you don't hate me."

"You are awfully sure of yourself."

"I am sure of you. Let's be nice to each other."

"All right. I promise not to stomp on your foot if you let go of me right now."

Haldir laughed, a rich, throaty chuckle. "Give me one kiss, of your own free will."

Ciendriel considered this. It was not such a bad trade. She knew he was talented at kissing, and if it meant he would let her go, it was far more pleasant than stomping on his foot. "All right."

Haldir bent his mouth to hers. His mouth was warm, insistent, and he pried his way between her lips easily. She slipped her arms around him without thinking. His shoulders were broader than Legolas', and he was slightly taller than the Prince of Mirkwood. After a few moments of this guilty pleasure, Ciendriel knew it had to stop. She drew back from him, gasping, and tried to let go of him but he was now holding her even more tightly. He looked at her, smiling, and for a moment she flashed upon the reflection of him in Galadriel’s water mirror. He was smiling like that.

Too quickly that smile turned into a smirk.

“You said you would let go of me if I kissed you,” she reminded him.

“I said no such thing. I simply told you to kiss me.”

“Ooh!” She lifted her foot to stomp on his, but he quickly slid his thigh in between hers and pushed her back against the tree once more.

“Tell me you didn’t like that kiss,” he demanded.

“I didn’t like it!”

“You’re lying.”

“Of course I am,” she snarled. “Yes, you are able to melt me with a kiss, Haldir. That is only something physical. I do not think you can possibly understand what I share with Legolas.”

“There you are wrong. I understand it very well,” Haldir said quietly. He let go of her and took a few steps away. He stared up into the trees, his expression kept carefully blank. She wondered what he was thinking, but nothing on earth could have persuaded her to ask. “Lie with me, Ciendriel,” he said after a few moments.

“What?”

“Come lie with me. Save your love for Legolas, but come give your passion to me tonight.”

“Haldir, are you mad? Or ill?”

“Why do you fight your desire? It is not the way of Elves.” He turned and stared at her, his pale eyes piercing her in the shadows of the wood. Her heart jumped in her chest. What would it be like to simply say yes, to go with him? She remembered clearly how masterful he had been in Rivendell, and to what heights he had brought her... but no, how could she even consider it?

“I--”

“Will you not let me show you, at least, what I have to offer as a husband?” his voice took on a low, husky quality.

“Is that all you have to offer, sweet bedsport?”

He laughed. “Are you asking for a list of all my good qualities?”

“Why not? It would be a short list!”

“Oh, you wound me, Ciendriel.”

“I am certain. Haldir, do not ask me for such favors. I cannot grant them to you.” She turned away. If Legolas was not going to come after her, she was just going to have to go back to the camp and drag him away from watching the Hobbits.

“Think about it. The invitation stands,” Haldir said. At that moment, they both heard a twig snap in the brush. “Get behind me,” he whispered, quickly drawing his bow and knocking an arrow. She had left hers at the camp. Cursing herself, she did as he said.

Legolas came charging through the trees, his long blond hair flying about behind him as he ran fleetly towards them. He nearly impaled himself on Haldir’s arrow.

“What is it?” Haldir said, lowering his bow. Ciendriel breathed a sigh of relief and stepped out from behind him.

Legolas’ face was stamped with surprise. He looked from one of them to the other, seeming confused. “I was just looking for Ciendriel.”

She moved forwards and put her arms around him. His familiar smell engulfed her, chased away the spell Haldir had tried to ensnare her with. She sighed. He stroked her back tenderly.

“I’ll bid you good night, then, and take my watch since yours is apparently over,” Haldir said. Ciendriel did not hear him walk away; rather she sensed it.

“Did he hurt you? Frighten you?” Legolas said softly into her ear. “Did he--”

“No, he didn’t,” she said.

But she didn’t want to tell him what Haldir had done, or what he had asked of her. She didn’t want to tell him that for an instant, she might have, in some small way, considered his proposition.