Title: Autumn Harmony
Sequel to Return of the King
Author: Morgana
Author’s Email: morganalebeau@yahoo.com
Web page: http://www.paranoid.nl/avalon
Pairing: Eómer/ Legolas and
Haleth/Leadir
Rating: R
Summary: When Haleth turns
eighteen he gets a surprise visit.
Disclaimer: Not mine. No
copyright infringement is intended. All characters belong to Professor Tolkien.
Warning: AU of course.
All mistakes are mine.
Autumn Harmony
The leaves fall early this
year. Although autumn has come to Rohan, I had hoped to enjoy the coloring of
the leaves a little longer as they present a spectacular sight.
“You are lost in thought
today, Haleth,” remarks Legolas. “Is it the change in weather that makes you
melancholy?”
I set aside the sword I used
to train with and walk over to a fallen tree. I sit down on its trunk and look
out over Rohan. Eómer delights in telling me that the land will be mine to rule
one day, and although I tried to change his mind for three years, I failed.
Eómer remains adamant that I succeed it, even though Eowyn gave birth to a son
two months ago. I don’t understand Eómer’s reasoning, but I learned to accept
my destiny.
Recalling Legolas’ question I
turn my head and look at him. He seated himself next to me and gives me a
reassuring smile. “Autumn is my favorite season. I merely wished the colors
would stay longer. The leaves drop too early.”
“They drop when the time is
right,” remarks Legolas amused. “And the time is right *now*. Do not be
melancholy, Haleth. We will celebrate your birthday tonight and after that you
are an adult.”
I turn eighteen today. I long
longed for this moment to come, but now that it’s here, I feel disappointed.
Deep down in my heart I had always hoped that Leadir would appear on the day
that I turn into an adult. That’s not going to happen though. Leadir probably
forgot about me and holding onto a memory is folly.
“Haleth… why do you not tell
me what is really on your mind?” Legolas places a hand on my shoulder, squeezes
it and looks at me expectantly.
“Leadir is…” I admit, sighing.
“I know it’s folly, but I still hope he will come back to Rohan. Do not worry,
I know he won’t, but… My heart refuses to be convinced.”
“I am sorry,” replies Legolas
as he tightens his hold on me. “I know that he is very dear to you…that you
fell in love with him, but… I do not believe your love has a future. Most Elves
have left these lands and I do not know if Celeborn intends to sail. If he
does, Leadir will accompany him.”
“I know that…” I nod, free
myself of Legolas’ hold and get to my feet. I walk away from Legolas and stare
at the setting sun. “I never knew I had fallen in love with him so deeply… I
didn’t steel my heart back then… I let him in and I must face the consequences
now.”
“Do not be so hard on
yourself,” says Legolas as he joins me.
He comes to a halt in front of
me and rests the palm of his hand against my face. We are equally tall these
days. I no longer have to cramp my neck in order to look at him. Maybe I’m one
or two inches taller than him, but I’m not sure.
“You were young… A child… Your
heart responded to his… There is no shame in that.”
Legolas is right, but losing
Leadir still hurts and I desperately want to change our subject. “Do you want
to continue our training or do you wish to stop?” We trained for two hours now.
We worked on my sword skills today and I did well. It took me a long time to
agree to Legolas teaching me to handle a sword, but in the end, I complied.
After my visit to Helm’s Deep handling the sword no longer intimidated me.
“Let us stop for today. You
should go to your rooms and ready yourself for the feast. Bathe and take care
in dressing yourself for the evening. Eómer expects you to look your best as he
will officially introduce you to his Captains.”
I was made Marshall of the
Mark yesterday, taking my official position as Eómer’s heir and today the
proclamation will follow.
“Do not fret, Haleth. You will
do well. You are the best heir Eómer would wish for… I agree with him that you
will be a fine King… Just look at yourself, Haleth. You have become a man… You
are no longer a child. You stand as tall as me, and you are definitely broader
than me or Eómer.”
Legolas is right. During the
last two years my body started to react to our training sessions and my muscles
began to develop. I can easily wrestle someone in submission – even Eómer, do I
will never do so in public – and wielding the sword merely toned my muscles.
“Haleth, we need to go home.
Eómer awaits us.”
Legolas slides his fingers
into my hair and untangles the mane. I didn’t cut it during these last three
years and it reaches the lower part of my back now. Most of the time, I keep it
braided away from the face, or in a pony tail so it won’t hinder me, but today,
I chose to wear it loose.
“Haleth, are you dreaming
again?” Legolas sounds amused though and smiles.
“Sorry… I can’t seem to focus
my thoughts today.”
“You are allowed to let your
thoughts float today… It is your day after all.”
Legolas takes his hand in
mine, we collect our swords, and head home. My thoughts still dwell on Leadir
though. In my heart I know that if he doesn’t show up today, he never will.
~~~~
“Haleth…”
Eómer’s voice causes me to
look away from the window and makes me focus on my father. Although Hama will
always keep a special place in my heart, I look upon Eómer as my father
nowadays. I smile at him and wait for him to speak his mind.
I decided against getting
drunk and drink watered-down wine. Getting drunk doesn’t appeal to me as much
as it did at first – that changed when I saw the first guards throw up. It
might also not do well if the heir to the throne got drunk on his first evening
in function.
I lean against the wall and
watch our people make merry. Even Legolas joined in the dance and sings along.
It’s good to see him like that – letting go. My gaze travels through the Hall and
fasten on Eómer who is talking to a guard. He no longer smiles and his eyes
look worried. Maybe I should find out what happened. I’m about to make my way
over to him, when he raises his arm and gestures for me to follow. Something is
up then!
I march after him and join him
in a secluded room where we can talk freely. “Do you want me to fetch Legolas?”
“That’s not necessary at this
point… We will inform him later. Let him make merry for a change… He lets go so
seldom.”
I tend to agree with him, but
I also know that it is merely a matter of minutes before Legolas will realize
the two of us left. “What happened?”
Eómer has a thoughtful
expression in his eyes when he looks up. “We have some visitors. They arrived a
few minutes ago.”
“Visitors? Who are they?” My
first thought was that it would be Celeborn and Leadir, but nay, they left my
life and won’t come back. “From Gondor?” It wouldn’t be the first time Aragorn
paid us a surprise visit.
“Nay, not from Gondor.” Eómer
opens the door to the adjourning room and then steps aside. “You should greet
them, son, as they are here for you.”
I frown as Eómer’s behavior
puzzles me. He isn’t acting like himself. “I will…” I’m on my guard when I pass
Eómer by and step into the small room. Two visitors await me, dressed in gray
cloaks and their faces hidden in the folds of the fabric. I want to ask Eómer
for advice, but my father has already shut the door. Thank you for your help,
Eómer!
I focus on the situation at hand and incline
my head. “Welcome to Rohan.” What else am I supposed to say? I don’t know who
they are and why they are here! “I will ready rooms for you so you can freshen
up and rest after your long journey.” It vexes me that they don’t react and
that also makes me nervous. Who am I dealing with? I *do* know though that they
present no danger, otherwise Eómer would never have allowed me to face them
alone.
“Child, do you not recognize
us? Granted, three years is a long time in the world of Man, but not *that*
long!”
I recognize the sulky voice at
once. “Celeborn!” But how can this be? The messenger never returned from the
Golden Wood… How can Celeborn be here?
“Ah, at least you are happy to
see me again.” Celeborn throws back the hood of his cloak and grins at me. “It
is good to see you again! By the grace of the Valar, you have grown, child!” He
chuckles softly. “Nay, you are not a child anymore… You have come of age… You
are a man now.”
“Celeborn!” Acting on
instinct, I cover the distance between us and wrap my arms around him, hugging
him tight. “I had hoped you would come, but I wasn’t sure you would.”
“Peace, Haleth and let me
breathe. Your arms squeeze the air out of me!”
He’s exaggerating of course,
but I still feel flattered. I release him and offer him a shy smile. “I’m not
*that* strong.”
Celeborn merely inclines his
head and grins secretively. “You should welcome my companion too, Haleth. After
all, you two are the reason why I am here.”
I can’t control the tremors
that shake my hand when I reach for the hood of the second visitor. I don’t
want to get my hopes up, but what if it’s Leadir and he didn’t forget about me?
“May I?” My voice trembles too and it shows my nervousness.
“Aye, you may…”
My eyes widen and my hand
shakes badly when I push back the hood to reveal Leadir’s face. I stare at him
and unable to react to his presence as I still can’t believe that he’s here.
“Why are you shocked?” asks
Leadir. “Did you not know in your heart that I would return to you on this
day?”
He hasn’t changed much – maybe
the eyes have darkened a bit, and his hair has grown longer, but the smile is
still the same. “I… I….” I stutter and the words won’t come to me. For the last
three years I hoped that my instincts were right and that Leadir would come
back, but now that it has actually happened, I can’t believe it.
Celeborn whispers into
Leadir’s ear and it’s something I fail to catch. I’m desperately trying to
think of something to say, to show Leadir how happy I’m that he’s back, but…I’m
too stunned to think of anything!
Leadir’s smile brightens at
hearing Celeborn’s words and suddenly he raises his arms. He pulls me into them
and I move into them. I rest my head against his shoulder and in an odd moment,
realize I’m the tallest now. I fold my arms around
him and hold him tight. “You came back.” I’m rather stating the obvious, but at
least I managed to say something!
Leadir chuckles and pulls me
tightly against him. “Of course I did. I love you or did you forget about
that?”
“Nay, I didn’t!” I state at
once, a bit upset that he would think I might forget. “I merely thought I
couldn’t be so lucky that you would come back to me. I feared you would sail
with Celeborn and that I would never see you again.”
“You are a fool,” Leadir says
in a wicked voice. “Did you forget about offering Celeborn a place to stay
should he grow lonely in the Golden Wood? We are here to take you up on your
offer. We want to live here, Haleth…”
I swallow hard and shift my
gaze from Leadir to Celeborn. “Is that the truth? Are you staying? I don’t have
to say goodbye to Leadir again?”
Celeborn nods. “Have a little
faith in me, child. You should know me by now.”
I feel relieved: a great
burden has lifted from my shoulders. “You’re staying… Leadir, you’re staying!”
I hug him again, this time so forceful, that Leadir protests softly. I loosen
my grip on him and smile at him. “I love you too… I never stopped thinking
about you, Leadir. I felt lonely… I yearned for your company… All I could do
was hope that you would come back to me on this day and when it passed by and
there was no word from the Golden Wood, my courage deserted me.” Leadir places
his palm against my face and rubs the skin of my cheek. It’s good to have him
back. I feel comfortable with him touching me, and even more, I crave more of
it.
“I had to finish my education
and so did you… We were too young back then and needed to mature…Our love
remained and that is the most important thing, Haleth. We still feel deeply for
each other and I here now, ready to explore and deepen that love, if you desire
so.”
I quickly nod. “I do… I do… I
want you to stay with me and I want… I want to love you…and be loved in turn.
Leadir, I… don’t know how to say this, but…”
“It is all right,” says Leadir
in a soothing voice. “I know your heart… All you need to say is that you love
me.”
“I love you,” I say promptly,
“stay with me?”
Haleth nods. “This time, I
will.”
~~~
I hold onto Leadir’s hand when
we join the others in the Hall again. I search for Legolas and find him in
conversation with Eómer. The smile on his face tells me that he already knows
about the identity of our visitors and that he approves of them being here.
“Let us greet Legolas,” I tell Leadir and he nods. I guide him over there and
we stand in front of Eómer and Legolas, who are both giving us pleased looks.
“You have visitors, Haleth…”
says Legolas with a wicked undertone.
“Aye, I do… You remember
Leadir, don’t you?”
Legolas nods. “Of course… I
did not forget about you, Leadir Haldirion. You are
most welcome here. My son must be relieved that you returned here. I trust you
plan on staying here?”
Although Legolas appears warm
and welcoming, I catch the warning in his words. He will not take it well, if
Leadir only showed up on his way to the Havens.
“Aye, I am here to stay,”
replies Leadir in a firm voice. “I do not plan on leaving until the day Haleth
dies. I trust that answers your question?”
I feel slightly shocked at
their exchange, but Celeborn gives me a reassuring look. He moves closer and
whispers, “Do not worry… This is normal behavior… As your father, Legolas must
make sure Leadir’s intentions are honorable. They will behave once everything
is in the open.” I hope he’s right… I didn’t count on Legolas being so
protective. For some reason, Eómer prefers to stay out of it, or maybe, he
feels shocked too.
“Peace, Legolas Thranduilion. Leadir’s intentions are honorable. He will
stay and so will I… Your son was kind enough to offer an old Elf like me a
place to stay and I rather like Rohan. You breed good horses here!”
Legolas’ gaze shifts from
Leadir to me. “You offered Celeborn a home here?”
I’m not sure how to read
Legolas’ mood and eventually, I shrug. “He said that he felt lonely in the
Golden Wood and that’s when I told him that he will always have a home here… I
hope I didn’t speak too rashly?” Legolas’ stern expression disappears and he
smiles instead. I also see pride in his eyes and I feel relieved. Apparently I
did the right thing after all.
“Nay, you did not. I approve
of your actions. Both Celeborn and Leadir are welcome to live here. I will
ready rooms for you, Celeborn… Do you need any too, Leadir?”
I elbow Leadir in his side
when he is about to shake his head and decline the offer. “Don’t! It’s a trick
question. Trust me, Legolas wouldn’t allow us to live together yet. If you want
to make a good impression, tell him that you want them!” Leadir quickly catches
on, thankfully.
“I would prefer my own rooms,
Legolas, if it is not too inconvenient.”
Legolas gives me a knowing
look and I give him my most innocent smile.
“It is decided then. Celeborn
and Leadir stay in Rohan,” says Eómer, who appears fed up with the verbal scheming on Legolas’
part. “And now, make merry, for this is a joyous evening indeed! Haleth, why
don’t you teach Leadir how to dance?”
Eómer actually gives me a
wink, which makes me blush. “Let’s go.” I drag Leadir with me, not because I
want to dance, but because I want some privacy. Behind me Eómer starts to laugh
– apparently he finds this highly amusing. Let him… Leadir’s mine now – that’s
all that matters to me.
The end