Chapter 5.

Haldir ran his hands down the inside of Legolas' thighs, then hooking his hands on the base of each knee, drew the other's long slim legs upwards till his thighs pressed against his broad pale chest, framing the slighter elf's face from the angle that Haldir looked down upon him. He smiled, and smiling in return, Legolas twined his feet around Haldir's graceful neck, pulling the other closer towards him.

Throughout, they kept their eyes locked on to each other. And although no words were exchanged between them, the look in their eyes spoke volumes. They were bonded, bound to each other from a moment in their past, and nothing that happened in between could ever change that.

Soundlessly, Haldir slid himself in and stilled himself, and although Legolas could feel his eyelids flutter at the sensation, he forced himself to concentrate on Haldir's face and eyes, reluctant to break the spell that hung heavy upon them both. He felt his breathing quicken, and grow shallow and strained but still he strained to keep his focus. Only when Haldir shuddered within him did he throw back his head and moan.

Desperate hands reached up to claw at Haldir's hips, urging him to begin his rhythm, but Haldir knocked his hands firmly away. "Hush," he chided, and kissed a line down Legolas' thigh. "Just feel it build," he whispered.

Legolas squeezed his eyes shut and whimpered. "Don't do this," he whispered, shaking his head, but forced his eyes open when he felt Haldir's long lithe fingers caress his face.

He smoothed Legolas' hair away from his face, and lightly brushed the elf's broad smooth forehead before resting his palm once again against his cheek. Slowly, leisurely, Haldir ran his fingers across the strong jaw line and laid two fingers gently on the well defined lips. Taking a deep shuddering breath, Legolas focused again on Haldir and licked his lips nervously before reaching up to cup Haldir's hand strongly in both of his.

With his free hand, Haldir reached down to wrap his fingers lightly around Legolas' phallus and heard the other's breath hitch satisfyingly as the warmth of his hand enveloped him. Unable to help himself, Legolas felt himself strain upwards through the passage Haldir had created specially for him, feeling that delicious friction of living skin against his sensitive flesh.

Closing his eyes, Legolas groaned deeply, and at the sound, Haldir brushed the ball of his thumb against the very tip of the other's length. Legolas' reaction was intense. Already caught in mid-groan, the elf's eyes flew open in a panic of emotions as he screamed his pleasure to the world.

And suddenly they fused. It was as if not just their bodies were one, but their minds and souls as well. Legolas was hardly aware of the feel of Haldir riding him, or of their sexual climax; it was as if they had transcended the physical realm into..... not limbo, no, Legolas had always imagined limbo to be unpleasant, but if there were a wondrous version of limbo then this was it. It was like a pause that was not a pause, the feeling of being suspended between worlds that wasn't, caught somewhere between the past and the future that was not the present. Time itself was slow here, slow and unhurried, and calm. All the torment and chaos of life evaporated, as did the intensity of emotions. Emotions were dulled here, but in a way that brought relief, not agony or numbness. It was as if he had stepped out of himself and freed himself from their pain. He felt the sensations still, but as a milder, more softly pleasurable version of their intense counterparts.

Slowly, the other world faded, and as the present reasserted its force field onto him, he grew aware of Haldir's head nestled comfortably beneath his chin, and Legolas basked with the sense of it. How wondrous it felt to have him so warm against him: around him and inside him all at once. He wished the moment would never end.

He felt Haldir stir against him. "What is it?" Legolas asked softly, dreading the answer. Already his elven ears could pick up the distant sound of helicopter blades. Elrond. So Elrond was Haldir's lover. He might have known.

When Haldir sat up and made to draw himself out of him, something made Legolas whimper. "Don't," he whispered, catching hold of Haldir's hands. "Please. Not yet."

Sighing sadly, Haldir reached out to tuck Legolas' hair behind his ears. "He's coming, my spring," Haldir crooned and bent forward to kiss him. "He's coming for me."

"No, don't go. Not just yet."

"Hush," Haldir whispered. "My place is with him, just as yours is with Aragorn. We don't belong together, Legolas. We'd only hurt each other even worse. You know that, my sweetling. You know that."

Legolas nodded, defeated. Of course he knew that. He still had the scars deep in his heart to remind him. Silently he let Haldir dress him and waited while the other slipped into his own expensive garb. Legolas bit back a smile. "Gray-brown Armani trousers topped with a beige turtleneck sweater. Typical. You always did dress like a prig," he teased.

Haldir spread his arms out and bowed low. "But you have to admit I look absolutely striking in it." And Legolas laughed. He was right. He was absolutely right. Haldir was breathtaking. He always was.

Smiling fondly at him, Haldir reached out a hand and helped Legolas to his feet, and smiled when Legolas cuddled up to him. "Oh my darling," Haldir whispered, running his fingers through Legolas' silky hair, undoing the tangles that spoiled it's beauty. Legolas clung to him tightly.

"Please," he begged one last time. "Don't go."

Before Haldir could answer him though, there were three smart raps on the door. Frodo (who had by now figured how to slip out of the poorly tied bindings) scuttled to usher Elrond in and as the older elf stepped into the living room, Legolas could sense a burst of joyfulness from the elf beside him. So Haldir was in love with Elrond. Legolas felt his heart sink.

Sensing this, Haldir turned back to Legolas and kissed him gently. "Hush, my sunshine," he crooned, cupping the other's face in his hands. "Oh, my beautiful Legolas. Don't be so sad. Be happy for me, my darling. Please. You know I was for you."

Legolas felt the hurt stab right down to his very soul. He clung desperately to Haldir and wept, and Haldir cradled him and comforted him as best as he could, until gradually the sobs died down. Peeling Legolas' face away from his now-damp sweater, Haldir smoothed Legolas' hair and wiped the tear-stains with his fingertips.

"You look so pretty with your nose red and your eyes wet," Haldir said smilingly, and kissed him, but Legolas cast a frightened look over his shoulder.

"Doesn't he mind?" he asked anxiously, looking at Elrond. "I don't want to get you into trouble-- "

Haldir lay a finger on his lips and shook his head. "Elrond knows about us," he said quietly. "He knows that I love him. But he also knows that I will never stop loving you. I never have and I never will. Remember that, Legolas. Remember that in the dark of the night when the chill eats your bones and your very existance seems forfeit. Remember there is still someone who loves you more than life itself."

With those words, Haldir eased himself free of Legolas' arms. He walked smilingly up to Elrond, and Legolas was amazed at the change that came over his ex lover. When Elrond took his hand in greeting, Haldir simpered prettily, the solid masculinity melting away to reveal a more dependant, vulnerable child in him.

And Legolas looked away. He knew now that he had not the slightest chance of besting Elrond for Haldir's attentions. Elrond tended him. With Elrond, Haldir could do what he had never been able to do with Legolas. He could surrender himself to him.

It could have been so different.

If only.....

"Legolas," a voice whispered, and Legolas looked up to see Haldir standing before him once again, his face a picture of concern. "Legolas, I would not leave you if you do not let me. Speak your consent, or your dissent, your words now bind me."

It would have been so easy to make him stay. To force him to stay. But it would have been meaningless. "I would not make you stay against your will."

"Legolas," he sighed sadly. "It would not be against my will. But do not make me leave you like this, Legolas. You are but a shadow of your past self. I would not flee and seek my lover's arms while you suffer in silence."

"But silence is all I have left," he said, and forced a smile for Haldir's benefit. "Go now. He is waiting." When Haldir looked at him uncertainly, Legolas made himself broaden his smile. "I'm fine, Haldir. Truly I am. You don't have to worry."

"But I do--"

"Go," he said firmly, challenging Haldir to disobey, then relaxed in a smile. "Go," he said once more, gently this time. "Go and be happy. You love him. And I have Aragorn."

They kissed, and Haldir left with Elrond, but as the shiny black helicopter took off, Legolas could not help the tears that ran freely down his face. Turning around, he fled to the safety of his room and buried himself beneath the covers.

~End~