Haldir was rewarded with plenty of money from King Thranduil, which Haldir claimed could buy him more than enough outfits and weapons, and perhaps even a wife. But Haldir was still not ready for such commitment, nor had he found the proper woman to propose to.
Haldir had to leave the next day and separating from Legolas was the hardest part. Legolas was very sad to see him leave now, for good. Thranduil kept a close watch on Legolas this time and he would not let the elfling out of his sight; he refused to loose Legolas again. Legolas was still recovering from his last journey, too.
A day after Haldir left Thranduil found it the best time to punish Legolas. Thranduil's legs where almost healed and he managed to walk around the palace with a guard's support. Thranduil did not want to go harshly on his tiny elfling, for Legolas was quite upset enough about Haldir's leave.
A little spank was all Legolas got for running away from home, and he was lectured and told how much he was loved in Mirkwood. Legolas promised not to leave again, and though elfling promises cannot always be trusted, Legolas had learnt his lesson not from his father's punishment but from seeing his father so upset when he discovered Thranduil in the forest.
Legolas often told his father that he really liked Haldir and wanted him to come over soon, acting as if Haldir was a relative who was so very dear to the child.
Only Galadriel knew that Legolas would one day be related to Haldir.
It was not as if Legolas was going to marry Haldir, no, that would be disgusting! But Legolas did have a sister, Illiendal. Yes, Illiendal and Haldir's age are very far apart but to elves age is not important. Illiendal, despite her love for the half-elven twin Elladan, fell in love with Haldir upon his next visit to Mirkwood, which was one year before Illiendal would be of age. Unknown to either, in ten years time they would be married.
Legolas became strangely unhappy of having Haldir married to his sister. Thranduil knew why. Illiendal had always cared for Legolas, had always spent time with her little brother. But when Haldir came and married Illiendal, to Legolas his sister had just been taken away from him. Illiendal left the palace to live with her husband in his home in Lorien, so Legolas rarely saw his sister. And when he did see his sister, it was with Haldir and Legolas always got mad whenever he saw Haldir kiss his sister, and depending on where Haldir kissed his sister Legolas got madder, especially when Haldir would kiss Illiendal on her neck and Illiendal would giggle and kiss him back.
Legolas was not jealous he just wanted attention. Legolas would always be the little elfling Haldir had babysat inside, even in on the outside he was an angry teenage elf who was just feeling greedy and wanted his sister to himself and not wanting to share with Haldir.
Plus, Legolas had been embarrased greatly in Lorien when he was with the fellowship: Haldir had shared many stories with legolas' friends, most of them extremly embarrasing to the wood elf!
But that has yet to come. For now, Legolas is just a humble elfling and his sister still underage and seeing Elladan.
And all through the palace, one little elf was chasing after his father playing a game and all that was heard was a little munchkin voice…
"Bink, ada, Bink!"
The EndAw, it's over!
I would like to thank everyone who has posted reviews and has read Haldir's here. I cannot name you all, there is just too many! And now, here is a lovely preview of what is coming up next in the sequel named very originally "Haldir's Return"…
(Previews, ooh! Previews!)
"I heard all you said. Thanks a lot." Legolas said, suddenly turning around. Legolas' eyes where tearful. Suiadan bit his lip at the sarcasm in Legolas' voice. Tavel let out a quiet gasp as Legolas sprang into a tree.
"Follow him." Tavel said, chasing after his friend. Nervously, Suiadan followed.
Tavel and Suiadan came to an immediate halt as Legolas jumped from the tree he was in and ran into a cave nearby.
"Do we…?" Suiadan asked. Tavel looked nervously at the dark cave entrance before turning to look at Suiadan.
"Chances are he will get hurt without us there to save him if anything happens. If he gets hurt, killed, or never found, most likely Haldir will be blamed and punished for whatever happened to Legolas, and Legolas being prince punishment would not be light." Tavel said. Suiadan looked at Tavel briefly with fear in his eyes before washing away the fear and running into the cave entrance right after Legolas.
Tavel watched his friend enter and followed right after.
"Suiadan? Legolas?" Tavel called out before bumping into Suiadan who had stopped.
"Why did you stop walking?" Tavel asked quietly. Suiadan pointed ahead of him. Near them, Legolas sat on the cave floor, leaning against a large stone. He was crying, and when Suiadan came closer, he immediately noticed his presence and glared at him.
"Leave me alone. I might be stupid but I can take care of myself." Legolas said. Suiadan continued to walk forwards.
"Legolas, I, nor Tavel, think you are stupid. You might not be getting the greatest in your studies but I know you are smart." Suiadan said. Legolas still did not move from his spot.
"Then why where you talking of my intelligence to Tavel like you where? If you think I'm not smart enough to be in your father's class, I don't care. I don't need to be in his class-
"Yes you do! You are a prince and you need good education! My father is the best you can get, in fact, he taught your father when your father arrived in Mirkwood!" Suiadan said. Legolas stood up and stormed off further. This time Tavel was worried about following, but Suiadan had already taken off, for he had not finished this argument.
"Come on Tavel. Just like you said before, he could get hurt or lost." Suiadan called out to Tavel. Tavel quickly followed, but not before taking out his bow and ready with an arrow, just to be prepared in case of danger. Tavel caught up with Suiadan, who gave him a strange look.
"Legolas said he thought he heard a cave troll. I am just being prepared, you know." Tavel explained. Suiadan raised his hand, ordering Tavel to be silent.
"I heard something. Legolas must be far away; I think it was his voice. Follow me, I saw him go this way." Suiadan ran down one hall of the cave and Tavel followed. As they ran down the narrow halls, the noise Suiadan had heard earlier grew clearer.
"I'm stuck!" The voice said. Suiadan and Tavel knew this voice to be Legolas'.
"Legolas, we can hear you! What are you stuck on? How are you stuck?" Tavel asked.
"My… leggings is caught on a branch of some sort of cave plant and I cannot reach behind me to fix it! I don't want to cut the plant! What… What's that? Oh… Oh…" Legolas' voice trailed off. Tavel and Suiadan ran faster.
"Legolas? What happened?" Suiadan asked. Instead of an answer, their friend let out a shrill scream.
"Legolas!" Tavel yelled, running ahead of Suiadan and following Legolas' voice.
"Legolas, what is it? Are you alright?" Suiadan asked. Legolas was no longer screaming, but his voice was filled with panic when he spoke.
"Ca… Cave… Cave troll! Help, please!" Legolas said before screaming once again.
That's just a little extract from the second chapter; it's one of the many adventures Legolas will be going on (though this adventure Legolas spends with his friends and not with Haldir). Tavel you may all remember and Suiadan is a new friend.
So as I have said, many thanks to you all, i love you all very much and I'd like to say a big friendly hello to all the flamers who thought that they had defeated my story and that I would never finish writing this! If I could, I would name all of the lovely reviewers but there are too many!
And Mistopurr, yes, you are right, you did discover the little hint to an affair our dear Haldir will have in the sequel. Well maybe I should not call it an affair... But you did find it!