towerofanimus | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Legolas (

marchwarden)
Setting: His dorm
Format: Prose
Summary: Legolas got in a fight and lost some hair now he's moping and Haldir needs to make him feel better.
Warnings: None really

Bitterly cold as it had become, Legolas still went to hunt for food. Wrapped in a cloak and wearing the warmest clothes he had, the temperature didn’t bother him as it was others in the tower. It made the elves the best suited for hunting and gathering food, skinning the animals and making warm furs. The cold still bothered him though, the princes face red from the snow that pelted his face and hands feeling almost sore from how tightly he gripped his bow. With the heavy snow fall, it seemed that very few animals dared leave where they were safe to graze or drink. Today, he would have to return with nothing for the others but there was still a store of food. Not much but it would last, hopefully, until the snow stopped falling.

Placing his bow in his quiver, the prince started back towards the stairs. It was already turning to night, he had to move quickly lest he worry his companions. He wasn’t quick enough though, it seemed. Ascending to another floor, his pointy ears twitched at the sound of something coming. Something unfriendly.

Blade drawn quickly, the prince continued towards his destination in the hopes of avoiding a fight and save his strength for when he went to hunt again. Alas, it was not meant to be as a large creature eventually attacked him. It was impossible not to recognize: an Uruk Hai. Cursing in the elven tongue, Legolas quickly duck away from the attack and lunged towards it’s legs to disable it. Of course, the resilience of these gruesome beasts was hard to forget and the elf only managed to anger it further. Where was Gimli and his axe when needed? And where were others? Where one Uruk went, more were certain to be other nearby. And Legolas had no intention of dying today! He would draw this one off and avoid fighting the rest of its pack.

Racing up the next set of stairs, he was almost pleased that it followed but now came to difficulty of killing it. He had only his bow and twin white swords. He should have thought to bring his Rohirrim sword. Recalling the floor which had no walls and the stairs that lead outside on another floor, Legolas quickly planned. Uruk Hai were heavy on their feet and not as intelligent as the proper races of Middle Earth. He could send it falling over the edge. Now to get to one of them!

By the time he made it there, the Uruk was furious and he was left with little choice but to fight if he were to lure it to it’s doom. And so he did, attacking quickly and precisely, jumping out of it’s reach and rolling on the ground to avoid its attacks until he felt the tell-tale breeze of a weapon just missing him. He gave no thought to it though but for the fact that he had been missed and lived. By now, they were upon the stairs and Legolas took that chance to stun it for but a moment before forcing it off the steps and to its doom at the bottom of the outside of the tower.

Sitting now, the prince heaved a sigh of relief and vowed to rest well that night. He sheathed his blades and let himself take a moment to relax, his hand setting on top of something… soft? He looked down and froze in a mix of confusion and horror. Golden hair and half a braid already unraveled. Reaching towards his own hair, he stopped as he realized it belonged to him. It was uneven around his shoulders but his hair had been cut by the swipe of an Uruk Hai’s blade. His only thought now was that Haldir couldn’t see him like this. Nobody could.

The prince quickly pulled the hood of his cloak up to hide the damage and then brushed the fallen hair off the tower before running up the steps and returning to the dorms. He was careful to avoid seeing anyone or being see and stepped into his room, shutting the door behind him.

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It took a moment before he heard an answer, but soon Legolas greeted him inside. The march warden opened the door slowly, peeking his head inside first with a bashful smile. "Suil." He said greeted in Sindarin as he entered the room. The Elves of Lothlórien always possessed a different dialect of Elven that was distinctively unique to their realm, but as of late Haldir was becoming more accustom in speaking in Silvan Sindarin than in Doriathrin Sindarin like his kin from the Golden Woods. Of course he has Legolas to thank for that odd change in his speech. Nevertheless, he greets the Prince of Mirkwood with a regal bow and a playful smile upon his lips.

"Is all well?" He asked once he noticed his friend was still wearing his cloak. "It's been colder than usual as of late, and I fear it shall only become colder still." Closing the door silently behind him, Haldir stepped forward after seeking a spot to leave his satchel at. Now approaching Legolas with a hint of concern in his gaze, Haldir leaned forward in an attempt to embrace the younger elf.

"Tell me, are you well? There's a sickness spreading amongst the men. Many are ill and many more shall become sicker."

The smile that appeared on his face was unstoppable, as Haldir entered the room. As much as he wished to keep this from the other elf, he had to admit that he was glad to have his company right now when he was feeling a bit low. And part of his was very glad to hear the change in Haldir's speech, flattered really.

"I'm quite alright, Haldir. Worry not for me, it's just the chill of the air." He returned the older elfs embrace, holding onto him for a moment or two longer then necessary, noticing that he really was a bit more chilly than he though before letting go to give him a reassuring smile.

"We'll have to find a way to keep things warm for ourselves and everyone. Perhaps a message on the network, telling everyone to have more than three people to a room. As many people as possible. They'll generate enough heat among each other." Lightly, he tugged at Haldir to sit along the edge of his bed with him, to relax. After this month of hell was over, if tower life improved when another administrator took over, they would need to take a nice long rest for all the work they'd been doing. And as he did so, his cloak shifted just a bit, but it was enough that a bit of his shortened hair peeked out.

Edited 2012-12-20 03:50 (UTC)

Haldir nodded in consideration of that idea. It would make sense for them to seek warmth this way, especially since many of the rooms within the tower have no heat at all. If they could urge the others to do this, then perhaps this ongoing sickness would end. While he honestly doubts that some of the residents within the tower will welcome such an idea, Haldir certainly prayed that the majority of them would favor it. He's grown weary of seeing people perish, and twice more tired of hearing them complain.

Still mulling over this idea as Legolas lead him towards the bed, Haldir glanced over towards the Prince and noticed something unusual. Blinking his eyes once then twice Haldir leaned in close to touch the cut edges of Legolas' golden mane. "You've cut it." He commented with a sense of mild wonder in his tone. "Why for? Let me see." Thinking this was the prince's doing, Haldir had no idea that this sudden change in Legolas' appearance was caused by other factors.

Edited 2012-12-21 04:31 (UTC)

He knew there were a quite a few people who would object, people who were convinced of one opinion or the other regarding people but there were many more who would seek to survive this madness. Those who would object would likely seek those who also refused to survive but they weren't the concern of this elf and he doubted Haldir cared any more than he did. Of course, these thoughts were completely wiped from his mind as Haldir comment on his hair.

The look of horror on Legolas' face couldn't be hidden quick enough as the prince grabbed at his hood and pulled it further down to conceal it once more. In hindsight, it was a mistake to act so quickly, he knew that Haldir would worry something worse had happened to him that he would hide.

Hindsight hadn't quite kicked in though. And Legolas could find no words now.

That look of great horror baffled Haldir as the younger elf scurried away from his touch as if he burned him. The elf didn't know what to make of that odd reaction, especially since he honestly thought of it to be a little extreme. Nevertheless, Haldir calmly eyed the prince with some much needed worry. "Legolas? He called his name cautiously as if waiting for the elf to suddenly bolt off the bed and flee. "Whatever is the matter, mellonamin?" Did he accidentally say something wrong? Haldir didn't think so.

While he was honestly surprised that Legolas cut his hair, he didn't meant to offend him by inquiring why he did it. The length of one's hair was often valued amongst their elven culture, but Haldir honestly found the new style to be a tad intriguing. Mortals often cut their hair and wore it in various styles to express their uniqueness, something their kind don't dare to do.

"Legolas?" He called him again. "Did something...happen?"

How could he bear to let Haldir see him like this? He felt ashamed of what had happened. Legolas had been one of the Nine Walkers and had survived the war. Less than a year in this tower and now and Uruk Hai had managed to cut half of his hair away. How could he face one whom he couldn't survive this nightmare of a tower without? He feared the reaction Haldir would have to the sight. He was sure his heart wouldn't be able to bear it.

"It is nothing. Please, don't be concerned, Haldir."

There a shake in his voice, expressing his uncertainty. Yes, something happened. Something most definitely happened. He'd not say what though and avoid showing him if he could. What was it they were saying about elven dignity when Haldir had hurt his hands? His dignity and pride had taken a terrible blow today.

The march warden just stared at Legolas as if the elf grew two heads at once. Just whatever was the matter with him? Haldir gazed at him in pure puzzlement until suddenly the truth revealed itself suddenly in the form of thought. "You didn't mean to cut it." The sudden revelation made his eyes widen. "Legolas, you...you nearly..." Oh perish the thought! Did Legolas nearly lose his life at the end of a fiend's blade? Surely that had to be the reason for the prince's need to hide his hair now. This tragedy that befallen upon him wasn't self-inflicted, but rather caused by another. Hence why the elf would go through such lengths to hide himself from Haldir's gaze.

"You silly thing." He muttered softly. "You idiot. How can you tell me not to be concerned?" A deeper sigh escaped him as he inched forward. "Legolas." Haldir smiled sadly at him. "I care not for what your hair looks like as long as your head is still attached." He proclaimed as he reached to caress the side of Legolas' soft cheek. "So vain you are! Do you honestly believe yourself to be homely?"

With every word he inched closer until Haldir nearly found himself nose to nose with him. "How ridiculous. You are anything other than ugly, my friend. You are...truly-" Giving up with words for now, the march warden simply sighed as he leaned forward to claim his lips.

Eyes shut tightly as Haldir realized what had happened. Undoubtedly, a lecture was to follow and he braced himself for it. Instead of a harsh berating for his pride and vanity making him feel as a child, like expected expected, Haldir's words stunned him. Even more for the words chosen and he almost laughed at being called an 'idiot' for his behavior. He did open his eyes once more, looking at Haldir sadly.

"Perhaps I do-" He stopped, mid-sentence, as Haldir came closer to him. More than a little surprised as his lips were claimed by the other elf. For a moment, his eyes were wide, he couldn't react and then he moved to place a hand on Haldir's shoulder and returned the kiss very softly and almost unsure.

He was right, of course. Legolas was being silly about his hair but there was still the idea of needing to fix the damage done so it would grow back evenly. Part of him couldn't stand to ask the help for that though, momentarily content to sit here with his hood hiding him and Haldir comforting him.

When finally they broke apart, Legolas' cheeks were flushed and he was at a loss for words. So instead of attempting to speak, and make a fool of himself, he embraced Haldir tightly.

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