Wow...Hi guys! :D Remember this is A/U, remember that real time lines mean nothing to me because I play with them like toys :D. The elves aren't leaving M/E because I'm cool like that, I don't care how much time was ACTUALLY spent on things. Also,I feel I should explain the necklace thing...because yes..I decided in my A/Uish way, that it's the easiest way of identifying family ties...yes, based off Arwen's HUZZAH...but yeah...here's the home stretch! Welcome to the last Chapter...of 'Of Newness' *le gasp* We're all sad, I know BUT...sequels to come? I THINK SO. I want to thank you all for following my story and more then anything, I thank you for your reviews and your encouragement, your criticism, your thoughts, all of it. Thank you so much. It's y'all that keep me going So... with that said. Here it is. (I OWN NOTHING...Tolkien does...not me) ENJOY!

Haldir walked with a long stride down the mostly-empty stone hallway. The first few steps his feet took him towards his first love but he felt only despondency as those same steps took him firmly away from his second.

But as his men joined him on their 'journey' he began to feel excited and even joyful that he had survived long enough to be able to re-take his place, to see his exalted Lord and Lady again. He had lived long enough to greet his brothers again, his friends...people he had left behind, and felt as if he would never get to see again.

"Won't it be wonderful to walk the woods again, Captain?" one of his officers asked, completely over taken with his own joy.

Haldir opened his reply but was cut off by Glorfindel. "Not unless Eomer King walks naked amongst the trees!" He leered, with a lewd wink.

Rolling his eyes, as his men burst into laughter, Haldir shoved Glorfindel gently in the shoulder. "I do miss the forest paths" he said in a thoughtful manner.

His lieutenant raised his eyebrows and Haldir shrugged one shoulder as they moved as one group towards the great hall "Although, the honest beauty of our world would ONLY be improved by Eomer, naked, sprawled on the fallen leaves." He conceded with a wicked smirk, causing another uproar of laughter as they moved towards the courtyard.

They silenced themselves immediately as they caught sight of the powerful Lord Celeborn, and his beautiful, but no less powerful, Lady. Galadriel smiled and waved her hand, half in dismissal, half to gesture at Aragorn rejoicing wtih his own friends, family, and beloved from Rivendell. "Please, leave off gestures and decorums of formality for now. Now is a time for reunion and rejoicing. Forget propriety and enjoy, nay, celebrate your survival." She said with a warm smile, particularly directed at Haldir.

Haldir bowed lightly and then spun from his men and Glorfindel and sprang forward as his own brothers moved from their flanking, protective positions and all 3 of them clung to each other. "Why do you do these things?" Rumil asked, with a teasing shove.

Orophin picked up the narrative without a seconds hesitation, they had always liked to pretend they were twins..."Wandering away for your adventures and glory, leaving us behind to mind the keep-it's been the same since we were elflings"

Haldir laughed, lightly and shrugged his shoulders. "I am a free spirit not to be held down" he replied, off hand with a decided nod.

They laughed at that for a moment and hugged more firmly. "Not held down?" Then why do you smell so much like a man, dear brother? Much more so then you would had you gone for a simple night..." Orophin asked, with an inquisitive head tilt, eyes narrowing slightly as he beheld something...different about his brother. Rumil looked curiously at Orophin, but after giving a tighter hug to Haldir himself, he turned his own gaze on his older brother.

Haldir sighed, "Well...I...I wish I had the words to properly explain these things...but..." he trailed off and bit his lower lip, uncharacteristically reticent to speak.

"Do not worry of it now my brother, and tell me of your adventures... I am sure as always, the words will come with time." Rumil jumped in, and they walked up a pathway towards the guest rooms, where they would be staying in order to leave off their equipment and walk less encumbered with things.

They had plenty of time to catch up, and Haldir had even managed to briefly explain his scent, and the reason for it's being by the time breakfast had started, and when they wandered into the room Haldir couldn't stop the proud smirk that took his lips as he saw Eomer working on a chunk of bread and fried meat-with a gusto born of much vigorous...'working out' in the night time hours.

"This is a much changed place then from what I have heard described and written of" Rumil said, looking around, eyes taking in the bare, stone hall as they walked in.

Orophin nodded his agreement, and then caught sight of the look on Haldir's face, he very quickly followed his line of vision. "So..." he said and Haldir looked at him, rolling his eyes as he caught sight of his younger brothers mischevious look.

"Yes, that is Eomer." Haldir said, smiling in spite of the teasing he knew he would receive.

"Well, well, well...excellent choice brother" Rumil said, and Haldir elbowed him gently as they moved in the direction of breakfasts of their own.

"He's not a piece of meat, Rumil" he said sharply, and Orophin lifted both of his brows.

"You are serious about this man" Orophin said in a tone of happy, but shocked realization.

Haldir flashed blue eyes to him, and instead of saying something witty or teasing, he smiled sadly. "I will die for him" he said, vehemently but softly.

Rumil and Orophin exchanged a lookof utter seriousness. A moment passed as they took their seats. "Will?" they said together, at long last.

"It is already done" Haldir said, solemnly. But both of his brothers sensed a tone of happiness, not just happiness, but joy, in spite of the serious, painful, terrible thing he was doing...had done.

Their conversation was interrupted by Aragorn's sudden entrance, made more important with his accompaniment by the prince Legolas, and their various lords and Ladies. After the interruption they turned their attention to talking of more pleasant things, lighter things, that didn't –really- lighten the conversation but brought them to a better place.

After the meal was completely over, people broke off into predictable groups, happy to be with friends, family, comrades, people of their own rank and status and all that. Haldir shot a look at Eomer, silently asking permission to spend more time with his brothers, it was quickly and evenly given and Eomer vowed to stay out of his lovers way until Haldir came to him. Haldir thanked him endlessly for it, and Eomer laughingly told him with eyes and mind alone to stop badgering him with thanks and get on with his alone time with his brothers.

Eomer was leaning back in his chair, having finished his breakfast and now with the whole day stretching ahead of him, with little to do now that Haldir was otherwise occupied, he wondered if he should tour his men, or prepare some sort of brief or...Aragorn, leaving off his conversation with Lord Elrond momentarily leaned over and smiled at Eomer, greeting his fellow king with the kindness that Eomer had come to expect from the gentle once-ranger. "So..." the other man asked, "Have you met Haldir's brothers yet?"

Eomer rolled his eyes "that was subtle" he teased, lightly.

"I'm a king now, not a ranger, I don't need to be subtle anymore." Aragorn replied, in the same, teasing tone.

"Best not to be subtle I say" Eomer said, and both laughed, though a moment paused after that, before Aragorn's soft eyes repeated the question he'd asked before.

"No...and I'm not really sure if, or when, or how, that is supposed to happen" he admitted, a small amount of worry and fear creeping into his voice, as he did his best to keep those same emotions from his lover.

Aragorn smiled softly and clutched his shoulder. "Just take heart my friend, it will happen soon. And I can help you understand things if needs be." he smiled, slowly.

Eomer smiled "thank you my friend, but you are rapidly losing your title as the only man with knowledge of elves" he teased him lightly, elbowing his shoulder as he got up to go and attempt to find something to do, with Aragorn's warm laughter following him out.

While Haldir and his brothers spent endless time outside in the citadel, the various streets of the city, and even venturing towards the forest, talking endlessly, catching up, exchanging war effort stories, goofing off like old times, and sharing some good times together, before things got complicated again. Eomer had been wandering around, first to his men, then the armoury, then some of the clean up/rebuilding efforts, never staying in one place very long. Aragorn had tried to make the day easier for him by keeping him occupied as best he could, but at long last the irritatingly (for Eomer) long day ended.

At last Eomer finally managed to find something –not- restless and boring to do, when he found a glass of ale and a group of men settled around a fire outside. They sat together smoking, and talking and he finally began to relax ever so slightly-though his mind and body were missing Haldir more then he would ever care to admit, even, probably, to Haldir. The group grew larger as the fellowship settled around them, Aragorn, his family and friends, his own men, close friends and comrades he had come to know, trust, rely on, and even love in the name of friendship as their hardships had clashed together, and now finally drew to a close. As they talked and laughed, and elves joined them, he managed to calm his men and all showed their close camaraderie.

It was quite late when the porphyries of the group had dwindled out when Eomer's nerves suddenly rose again, and delight rose and thrilled through his body and heart when a familiar but casual hand landed on his shoulder, and a small selection of particular elven men joined the circle.

A smile took h is lips as Haldir sat next to him. A feeling of accustomed discomfort ran through his own men, and the few of Gondor who remained with them but they all welcomed Haldir as a friend, and no one said anything as Haldir let his hand rest casually, chastely, comfortingly, on Eomer's thigh.

The relationship had been denied at first when they first began allowing themselves public displays of their affection, Eomer's Rohirrim hadn't ever heard of such a thing before- as Eomer hadn't, so it had been met with much questioning, confusion and a little disgust. But as days went on they saw how much it made Eomer happy, how much better a warrior it made him. The fact that it was another male was very much questioned and misunderstood but they saw their Marshal didn't change he remained very much a man, and very much in charge-his masculinity unaffected by his choice in lovers and so their opinions became less harsh and severe. His choice of an elf was called out, but they were rather beautiful, and sort of almost feminine... in appearance, anyways so they started giving Eomer credit for having landed such a powerful elf.

When the war began to close out, they only got closer, and his men gave Haldir credit for not treating Eomer like some disposable play thing.

Any seriously intimate open displays of affection were rather out of the question, but small touches and physical closeness-as now-was accepted with only minor discomfort.

"Smoking, already?" Haldir teased lightly.

To which Eomer blew a stream of smoke at him-causing laughter from most of the group, especially Aragorn and his kin who had come to know the same argument.

"Disgusting" Haldir said with a tolerant smile.

The discussion-currently on weapons continued almost uninterrupted, but Haldir opened his mind and reached out for his lover, for a private discussion of their own.

Eomer's smile widened and he reached back as best he could, Haldir's voice sounded in his mind "Forgive me for being away so long meleth" he said.

Eomer, still not completely mastering the connection, shook his head and with a little focus he replied "They're your brothers, I understand"

Haldir smiled both within and without and he discretely took his lovers hand and they talked with the group for a bit.

Eomer was deeply touched by the kindness of his own lieutenant who kept bringing up moments of battle featuring exaggerated accounts of Eomer's heroics. He knew that it was nothing more then thinly veiled attempts to make Eomer look better in front of his own brothers and the other elves of the group. He laughed it off for Eomer's benefit, but deeply enjoyed that his men were committed to helping his cause.

The group began to dwindle as it grew darker and darker still, until it was only the dark twins, Aragorn, Haldir, his brothers, and Eomer himself. Elladan stood and pulled Elrohir to his feet. "I think you should guide us to our bed, Estel" he said, voice slurred ever so slightly.

Elrohir smirked ever so slightly as Aragorn laughed outright. "Lost track of your ale and wine brother dear?" the ma said laughing as he guided his brother away.

"Good night, all, on the morrow" Aragorn called back to them as they left.

"Fair night Elessar King" Haldir returned, with a smirk.

"That wasn't subtle by any means" Orophin said.

Eomer frowned "Nothing with him seems to be subtle today" he said, though confused by Orophin's meaning, was used to being confused by the crypticness of elves.

Haldir laughed lightly, and petted Eomer's leg. "No, but I appreciate it none the less" he said.

"Orophin, Rumil," He began, indicating each of his brothers in turn. "This is Eomer"

Eomer couldn't repress a slight gulp, they had been getting to know each other in the group, but now it was very different, and the tone grew immediately serious and even slightly dark. "A pleasure" he said, nervously, but seriously.

"You have stolen. Our. Brother." Rumil said, in a low, almost dangerous tone.

Eomer's brows knit together but Haldir squeezed his leg, and calm washed ever so slightly into his mind.

"But he, obviously, has wanted to be stolen." Orophin added, and Eomer grew further confused, and mildly startled when Haldir grew to share his confusion.

"So, instead of theft, we are going to give him to you."Orophin said, holding out his calloused, pale hand over Eomer's. Unwavering, waiting for Eomer to do the same.

It was almost surreal to the man, when the King reached out his own calloused palm, and held it, suspended under Orophin's fist, waiting, for something to happen. There was a soft metallic 'chink' sound as Orophon dropped what he was holding, a glittering jewelled necklace into Eomer's rough, tanned, palm.

"Orophin...Rumil..." Haldir gasped, Eomer shook it out and looked at the pendant attached to the mithril chain. His green eyes raked over the beautiful gem, and tears welled to glitter in his eyes-though he wasn't aware of the FULL impact of this gift. The green leaf of Lorien, carved between a silver long bow, pinned to a sheathed sword by a glistening silver arrow. A small crest etched into the green leaf with words in elvish underneath. The whole effect was un endingly beautiful, no small amount breath taking, and from Haldir's wash of overwhelming emotion...exceedingly meaningful, in a way that Eomer couldn't grasp.

Eomer lifted his eyes from it, for even before his inspection, he recognized it immediately. For Haldir wore an identical one at all times.

"Welcome to our family, brother Eomer" Rumil said, as Orophin clasped his shoulder warmly.

Eomer as the typical human he was, surged forward and hugged them both tightly, as Haldir's emotional state washed into his own mind and he began to grasp what it really, truly, honestly meant. "Thank youl. Very much...I...I'm not even sure what should happen now...or what is going to happen...or how any of this happened...but..." he pulled back and shook his head firmly, feeling Haldir's mirth and the stiffened discomfort of the warriors he held.

|He looked over and as Haldir laughed aloud, wiping tears from his eyes and took only a moment for all of them to join in-all the nervousness, tension, anger, and sadness wilted at once for all of them. Eomer felt welcomed, Haldir felt at ease with his brothers acceptance, and Rumil and Orophin were convinced of their brothers happiness. This was a time for celebration, delight and coming together...all of the logistics now, could wait until later.

And later it did wait, though the lovers were not expecting how quickly and unexpectedly the logistics needed to be decided. The days had passed in an unrepentant flurry. The coronation came and went, and at last the horrific moment came as Aragorn stood at dinner one evening and held his hands up for silence.

"My dear friends and allies. The time has come for all of us to begin to rebuild our own cities and return to a peaceful, prosperous way of life-with much visiting, trading and coming together of course, but we begin our separations by bidding farewell to our elven allies-Lord Celeborn and Lord Elrond have opted to return to their cities-so drink to their health friends, and bid them farewell" he said, ending the toast there, he sat.

Eomer, sitting to his left, reeled, nausea launched through his gut in waves and suddenly, the company and food, the ale and amusements held no joy for him. He gulped, feeling unbidden tears leap to his eyes, a lump in his throat. The pain of Haldir's heart thundered in Eomer's breast and he looked up, desperate green eyes searching frantically for beautiful blue, in desperation.

Haldir jerked his head towards the door even as he stood and grabbed his thick, red, cloak, swirling it over his shoulders he all but ran to Celeborn's side, as politely as he could he crouched at his lord's side, whispering his case to his sympathetic lord, who laid a hand on Haldir's shoulder as he bade Haldir take the whole night, that he could have no duties or responsibilities until they left on the morrow after breakfast.

Eomer, taking Haldir's lead, drained his cup and turned to Aragorn, who smiled in response before Eomer even spoke a word. "Go, and I'm sorry...I will help you suffer through as best I can when they are gone...and I will help you make it to the time when you can be together again. In the mean time, I will make your excuses for you, though no one will stoop to blame you for your absence" he assured him, Eomer smiled gratefully, too upset to really speak yet, he pressed a warm hand against Aragorn's shoulder and walked quickly from the room, Haldir none too subtly at his side.

"It's too soon" Eomer murmured, in Haldir's mind.

"We don't have much of a choice" Haldir murmured, back "We've made our decisions, our choices, for the practical in spite of our hearts." he reminded him, as much as himself.

"I know" Eomer murmured quietly, seizing the elf's handas they swung together into their room, he faced him, head on, blue eyes meeting green.

"Let's forget it for now, we have hardly any time at all. This night. Is our last for a while. " Haldir growled at him, hands fisting immediately in the long rough hair of –his- horse lord, he shoved him back against the door and kissed Eomer for everything he was worth.

Eomer opened his mouth in reply, as Haldir's powerful tongue plundered his mouth, hands worked to divest his human lover of all his garments at once, heedless of torn seams and flying buttons. Their kiss only deepened as Haldir rent Eomer of his trousers in almost one smooth movements, and Eomer felt as if all of him was being devoured in sight as Haldir flew like a whirl wind through his mind as well, seemingly divesting him of everything there as well, so his body, and soul were bared to Haldir's view.

Eomer felt as if this wasn't fair, so he broke the kiss for air and took the cloak from slender, powerful shoulders, throwing it to the floor he tugged and pulled at complicated elvish clasps and buttons, making it harder was Haldir's soft teasing fingers, heedless to Eomer's plight, but very much aware of his nakedness, those hands worked all over his body at once, while Haldir's tongue, deprived of his mouth worked at his neck and collarbones.

Finally, at last, when Eomer found his way to pale, unmarred flesh, caressed soft planes of muscle, his leggings proved no problem to the much experienced horse-lord and both kicked off their boots in unison. They didn't have to stumble, or trip, they moved as one already writhing being to their bed.

When they had fallen upon it their legs intwined, their bodies crashed together, and they were a single moving unit, one creature-neither man or elf, neither light nor dark, but both together at once.

They stayed that way for the whole night, sometimes their physical joining was hard, pounding, brutal, bloody and needy. Other times it was love-making at it's very definition, soft-hearted, claiming and passionate, but gentle and loving, careful and attentive, filled with only each other and what they were together.

Eomer had become physically exhausted at about 3.30 am, but he refused to let Haldir stop, their hips rolled together for something like the 6th or 7th time, maybe more...the horse-lord had lost count but he didn't care. The agony didn't bother him anymore, he needed it, so long as it wouldn't bring his death, which Haldir assured him it wouldn't, he wanted the agony. The longer he would hurt on the days to come, the longer he would be able to close his eyes and pretend Haldir was still inside of him. When moments like this struck either one of them-the pace quickened, and sharpened, reminding the other to not dwell on the future, to keep things in the very here, and the very now.

The sheer brutality of their lovemaking, the sheer passion that they created between them, as their sweat slicked bodies became one, was NOTHING compared to what was going on, INSIDE their minds.

When Haldir was buried in Eomer's body, every stroke of his hips was meant to hammer their link open, and it did. When they were fucking, Haldir explored Eomer's memories, some of battle, some of childhood-he wandered in EOmer's mind at will. When they made love, he showed Eomer how to reciprocate the feeling, how Eomer had the skills to reach out and gently touch Haldir's mind, to speak to him on a level that few could understand. Their souls touched tendrils, and became lost together. Swirled eddies in a river have no more cause or ability to escape their wild fate then Eomer and Haldir in that moment. Lights glittered within them, Haldir's were green, and Eomer's blue, they mirrored each other in everything, and words and languages that cannot be understood by one who stands alone were rent, created, twisted, and understood as the night went on.

They had ceased to be one being that oh so cosmically short while ago, when Haldir had given his immortality for Eomer, but now they were not just two beings as one, they WERE one being. Never to be separate again...but even as they knew that, they knew that they would have to endure being apart...and they knew that they would have to find a way to manage with it. This, connection, the bond they fostered and created...was their way of coping.

They spent the last hour of their early morning, as others rose and prepared around them, talking. Haldir confessed everything to Eomer-who already knew, but wanted his husband to say it. He explained what it meant to be bonded, and when he came to the part where he had given his life, where before he would have expected out rate and pity, he now knew and received thanks and delight. For Eomer had come beyond the point of questioning why Haldir wanted him, he didn't care...he needed Haldir, and he now knew, that Haldir was beyond questioning as well. They said their tearful goodbyes, they sobbed together, they held each other and made all the promises that parting hearts make to each other, in tearful emotional states. So that when they rose to actually join the others for a meal in the hall, their hearts felt no real pain. The fusing of their souls brought them beyond such things. Even as Haldir dressed in his travel uniform, plaiting his hair in a single convenient braid down his back-the feeling of the room wasn't sadness, wasn't bereftment, it was...sombre determination.

As they departed –their- room for the final time and headed to the great hall before the sun had fully risen in the sky (for the elves planned to leave before true meal time, so as to get as much travel out of the daylight as they could) they even became full of hope and anticipation.

They entered the near empty room together, and Eomer nervelessly sat with them addressing a smile to the rest.

The meal passed with much love being sent around from Galadriel to her grand-daughter, from Lord Elrond to his father in law, Arwen to her Grand-father. Eomer ate with them answering questions and joking with various warriors, rabble rousing with Lord Elrond's sons and Haldir's borthers.

Instead of Coming to a choppy end as Eomer expected it sort of just dissolved as people simply went about the last of their business preparations.

At last-before Eomer had really registered the finality of it all, they had gathered on the steps of the citadel of Minis Tirith, ready to bid farewell to all.

Aragorn gave a little, friendly loving speech, and then Elrond, and then Eomer spoke of a renewed bond between elves and the men of Rohan. Both Galadriel and Celeborn returned the favour and then Haldir stepped forward, and for the first time ever, in the open, he pressed a final, chaste, but no less passionate kiss to Eomer's lips, losing his fingers in his beard for just a moment, he stepped backwards, eyes, unblinking upon Eomer's face. Then Celeborn gave the simple order and the elves turned, and walked away in their elegant procession.

Aragorn reached out and laid a single hand on Eomer's muscular shoulder. Eomer took the comfort for a moment but then stepped away, as the elves descended to the second tier the human king went to gaze over the edge of the citadel, watching them disappear out of sight.

As soon as they had completely left the field of his human vision, he turned his back on them, he remembered Haldir's words "Don't cry for my leaving meleth nin, for I..." and then Haldir's voice actually came into his head "will never be fully away". Eomer smiled in spite of his sadness, he pulled his own crown from it's place under his heavy Rohirric cloak, placed it on his head, reared his chin and marched purposefully towards the hall of Minis Tirith, prepared to wait, and in the mean time take his own place in the world.