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Could, for Anorien.
Don’t own them. No profit made.
I normally don’t write this pairing on my own without my lovely anorienbean but in this case its dedicated to her so I couldn’t make her work for it. hehe

*hugs, my darling*

~~~~

Faramir stood on the balcony, watching as the last vestiges of sunlight faded from the sky, and still he waited. Each evening he found himself here, alone, staring at the garden below. Each evening his courage faltered and all he could do was watch until twilight had passed and he could no longer see the object of his fascinated obsession.

Each night as the moon rose he would slip back into his room, slide into his bed, and dream of a tall muscular body, lean and toned only as an archer’s could be. Dreamed of pale golden hair, that shone brightly like gold in sunlight and like mithril under the moon. Dreamed of blue eyes that sparkled like starlight shimmering on the Anduin when lit with amusement.

He would close his eyes and whisper a name into the night, of someone he knew he would never have, someone who didn’t know he even existed it seemed.

Haldir.

Could someone be in love with another if they’d never kissed? If they’d only spoken on friendly terms alone? Could one fall in love so deeply that you longed each day and night just to see them for an instant?

~~~

Haldir looked up at the balcony above him, never understanding why Faramir would stand there every evening that way. Never knowing it was he that drew the young man to stare toward the garden so.

He knew of the young man’s past. More pain than any soul should see…and he bore it so nobly. Haldir admired him, both for us beauty and for his strength. His beauty…Gods, the copper waves that fell to his shoulders looked so soft…so enticing. Lips that were full and made Haldir wish to kiss him for hours on end…and pale blue eyes that could swing from joy to sorrow so easily they could take his breath away.

Faramir would be embarrassed if he knew Haldir had witnessed the zenith of his pain all those months ago. Intending to rest in the garden after discussions with the king and his council, Haldir had started to step just beyond the marble walk onto the green grass when he heard something.

He heard not the sound of birds singing but that of weeping. An agonizing sound that stirred not the pity and scorn such a sound might from the Elf but a pain that made his heart ache in his chest. He’d looked up to see Lord Faramir, the king’s steward; his shoulders slumped, clutching at the low stone rail that encircled the garden. The sorrow seemed to roll off of the young man in waves, and Haldir felt his own blue eyes well with unshed tears.

Slowly he had backed away, not wishing to let Faramir know he’d been seen. Later that evening he saw Faramir again and the young man smiled at him as if nothing at all were wrong, yet he could see the pain just below the surface in those pale blue eyes.

So he came to that garden every evening, hoping to see Faramir and he did, but only from a distance and only once he’d realized he was being watched himself.

He was exquisite standing on the balcony, bathed in the red gold light of the setting sun…and Haldir longed to go to him. Longed to hold him, longed to take away his pain. If he could just take it all away…

Could someone be in love with another if they’d never kissed? If they’d only spoken on friendly terms alone? Could one fall in love so deeply that you longed each day and night just to see them for an instant?

~~~

Faramir’s longing seemed to turn into a tangible thing. Afraid of being turned away, afraid of what might be shunned, he kept his vigil but never went to the Elf.

There were times that he thought that Haldir knew he was there, watching him, but he could not be certain. This night was warm though, and he continued to watch as Haldir circled the garden and then removed his cloak. He unfurled it and spread it on the soft grass, and then lay down upon it.

Faramir watched as the Elf closed his eyes and seemed to fall to sleep, apparently enjoying the cool breeze ruffling the leaves of the trees. Once the moon rose full and bright in the sky, Faramir returned to his chamber but found he was more restless than normal and only dozed lightly.

He woke sometime later, shivering, the air had turned cold, and he walked to the balcony to pull the doors closed when he saw Haldir still asleep in the garden.

He considered calling down to him but feared waking everyone else in the Citadel, so Faramir slid a robe on and picked up the blanket from his bed.

Moving silently down stairs and through hallways, Faramir stepped onto the marble walk surrounding the garden and noticed the Elf had not stirred.

Slowly, he crept across the grass and opened the blanket to drape over the prone form. Kneeling beside the object of his affection, Faramir reached out and gently brushed a lock of pale silken hair away from Haldir’s beautiful face. His heart was thundering in his chest and he started to stand back up but suddenly strong fingers wrapped around his wrist and he found his own startled blue eyes staring into Haldir’s.

“You…you fell asleep and it’s turned cold,” he murmured lamely in explanation.

Haldir nodded slowly. “It has,” he whispered simply and sat up, never releasing his hold of Faramir’s wrist. “My only question…is why do you care?”

Faramir’s eyes widened at the golden warrior’s question. “I…” he trailed off unable to admit what he felt. Jerking away from the firm grip on his arm, Faramir stumbled backwards a few steps before turning away and racing back to his room.

Haldir sat in silence watching the young man race away from him and smiled to himself. He’d gotten all the answer he needed.

~~~

The next day dawned cold and bright, and Faramir stood nervously at his door having hardly slept all night, and afraid of seeing Haldir at breakfast. After mustering all the courage he could he pushed open the door and almost stumbled over his blanket folded neatly on the threshold with a single flower laying atop of the soft material.

Picking up the flower gently, he scooped the blanket up and straightened, his eyes lighting on Haldir standing across the hall from him with a half smile playing on his lips.

“Haldir…” his voice broke and Faramir was appalled at himself.

Before he could speak again the Elf had advanced on him and before he could back away, those long slender fingers closed on his wrist again.

“We have been watching one another for weeks now,” Haldir whispered. “Don’t you think it is time that we finally admitted how we feel?”

“How…*we* feel?” Faramir almost stammered.

“We,” Haldir confirmed smiling. “I love you, I did not know it was possible to fall in love at a distance but I have. I have wondered for weeks if someone could be in love with another if they’d never kissed? If they’d only spoken on friendly terms alone? Could one fall in love so deeply that you longed each day and night just to see them for an instant? I decided that yes, one could.”

“You…you love me?” Faramir gasped and felt his heart trip in his chest as Haldir spoke all the same questions he himself had thought over the weeks.

Before he could consider all of the reasons this couldn’t possibly be happening, the young man threw his arms around the Elf’s neck and kissed him gently. “I love you too,” he whispered against soft lips, before he was lifted and carried back into his room.

The End.