Updated Part

Title: Just Breathe
Author: ChibiManga
Length: Unknown, WIP
Pairing: Eomer/Haldir, Aragorn'Legolas, Orophin/OMC
Ratings: PG to NC-17
Warnings: lemon and MPEG
Summary: What does one do when the only way to survive is to bind themselves to someone else? And that particular bond changes you?
Disclamer: Not mine, J.R.R. Tolkien's and all those movie producer and copyright peoples. So please, no sueing *begs!*
A/N: Many thanks to CelebornEstel! ^^ I couldn't have done this without you!.
Feedback: YES!!! PLEASE!!! I need it to live!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just Breathe -Chapter 1 ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Haldir lay prone in Aragorn's arms, his eyes far away and his body limp. Yet his soul was not yet gone, even as Mando's Halls tugged and pulled at him he clung to his life. He wanted to scream, to yell for Aragorn to help, that he was still alive. And yet he could not. And as he saw Aragorn bow his head in mourning against his own forehead he knew. Only one thing could save him. And that was the life of another. A bond.

~~~~~~~

Aragorn rested his head against Haldir's, fighting against sobs. And as he pulled back, he saw it. A blink, just a single blink, but it was enough. He rechecked Haldir's pulse quickly and found a faint one. With a deep breath and a determined look he lifted Haldir in his arms and raced for the Keep. All the while praying to the Valar not to take the marchwarden of the Galadhrim of Lothlorien. But he also knew in Haldir's current state that it would take more than his healer's touch to keep him alive. It may take a bonding to keep him with the living and for him to heal.

He would do so himself were he not already so taken with Legolas. He loved the blonde prince far too much to give up his chances so quickly and easily for one who was not more than a friend. And as he dodged blows and held Haldir protectively to his chest, he begged for a willing and strong enough soul, that Haldir might love, to consent to a bonding.

~~~~~~~

And so the first battle was had been won. The riders of the Rohirrim saved Helm's Deep on the morning of the fifth day, brought by Gandalf. But not all was well. The war was for from over and Aragorn had yet to find anyone willing to bonding with Haldir. And so Aragorn sat, watching the uneven, shallow rise and fall of Haldir's bandage wrapped chest. A gash, running from the top of his left shoulder, just next to the neck, down beside his spine to the base of his back was tightly wrapped and yet it still bleed. And then the extra stab wound on his left side did not help matters. Nor the bruises and laceration gained in the fight that now stood out prominently on his paling skin.

"What happened to him?" came Eomer's voice form behind Aragorn.

"An Orc got to him during that battle the night before you came. He is badly wounded. Mando's Halls has a hold on him, yet he seems to refuse to give into their pull. Unfortunately, there is only one thing that can keep the pull from taking him under. And none are willing to give that much of themselves," Aragorn said quietly.

"'Give that much of themselves'? What do you mean?" Eomer asked, his brow knitting together in confusion.

"To Bond."

Bond? That doesn't seem so bad…"

Aragorn stopped him there, "Do you know what it is to bond to an elf? For them the person they bond to is their life-mate until death. It is their form of marriage, only deeper. In times of physical trauma they draw from one another for strength, they evade Mando's Halls on their spiritual power. If you were bonded to Haldir, neither of you would be able to be with any other. At least not until one of you died. And even then, the grief would consume the survivor."

Eomer stood stunned for a moment. So he would be permanently bound to the elf lying on the table. But when he looked upon the dying elf his expression steeled. Something more than duty wanted him to do this. His gut instinct did, and he had yet to ignore that instinct. He wasn't going to start now, "I will do it."

"Eomer, you know this cannot be about paying debts," Aragorn knew that was going through the Rohirrim's head.

Eomer stared at Aragorn squarely, "It is not entirely about debts. Something is telling me to do this, to help Haldir and bond to him. I have yet to ignore such instincts."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

The two men stared at each other for a long time; Aragorn searching for anything to tell him that Eomer was lying.

"Do it," said the lyrical voice from behind them.

"Legolas?" Aragorn started, Eomer turning.

"Do it, Aragorn. I believe the conviction in his voice." Legolas said, a calm, sad look on his face, "Besides, we don't have much time left. If we are to do something, it must be soon."
Aragorn sighed and nodded slowly. Legolas was right. He had told Eomer what was coming and what would happen and he had still chosen to bond. He hoped neither lived to regret it.

~~~~~~~

Eomer sat beside Haldir not but an hour later, taking deep calming breaths. Aragorn sat on the other side of Haldir chanting softly, while Legolas was at his head. Aragorn had never done a bonding before, and Legolas knew only how they were made. So, as Aragorn began to make the bond between Eomer and Haldir, his voice chanting softly, Legolas monitored the creating bond carefully. This had to be done right, and they were not taking any chances.

Aragorn took a deep breath and looked over at Eomer, "The bond is near done, now Haldir just has to choose whether or not he wish to accept the bond. If he doesn't, he will die and you will be free to go."

Eomer nodded quietly, biting his lower lip as Aragorn stood. Legolas placed a calming hand on Eomer's shoulder, "Embrace him, it will give him more strength and a better sense for your concern and your warmth. It will help."

Eomer nodded in thanks, slowly laying down beside Haldir, and took him in his arms, resting his head beside Haldir's and pushing stray strains of hair from his face. Haldir was beautiful, he could never deny that. He just hoped Haldir did not regret his decision if he chose to remain in middle earth.

~~~~~~~

Haldir sobbed within his soul as he continued to cling to life as best he could. But his strength was failing. Was no one willing to bond to him? Was there no one who could see him in such a sense? He was so cold and afraid, weak and powerless in the darkness, hanging between life and death. But slowly, the darkness began to fade, a small string of light slowly swirled out to him, like a rope to someone clinging to the edge of a cliff. And Mando's Halls seemed to flee back from it, slowly and reluctantly releasing their hold on him. It was a relief as the tugging began to slow and stop. Slowly, he looked at the rope and grabbed hold of it. He did not want to leave Middle-Earth yet. It was not his time and he knew it. As he took hold of the rope he felt it combine with him. A bond was made between himself and the person on the other end of the string.

~~~~~~~

Eomer blinked took in a sharp breath, he felt a weight, like something was being drained out of him. Legolas came over quickly at the sound and placed a hand on Haldir's forehead. A look of relief came over his face, "He took to the bonding. He if already growing warm once more with life."

Eomer smiled slightly, starting to feel quite drained. A blanket came to land over him and Haldir. Aragorn had place it over them, "Sleep, you both need it now."

Eomer nodded, "Thank you, how long do you think it will be before he wakes?"

"That will depend in both your strength, he could wake in the morn, or not for a week. Now rest," Aragorn said quietly, smiling gently.

"Yes…a good idea…" Eomer mumbled as he drifted off to sleep, his arm draped over Haldir protectively.

~~~~~~
-Chapter 2
~~~~~~

Haldir awoke slowly. His eyes had trouble focusing as he look about. The first thing that he felt was pain. Spiraling deep into his back, into his stomach and pounding in his head. He winced and shifted, wishing to possibly get off his back. But he couldn't. Not only because he was still too weak and it hurt to move, but also because there was an arm draped across his stomach. Who was beside him?

Slowly looked over at the person beside him. He brow knit in confusion. It was a man, a man he didn't know, "Who…?" He trailed off as he realized that he was sleeping.

He looked up at the ceiling. He was confused. Who was this man? Who had bonded with… Oh Valar… Could it be to this man that he now was forever joined with? Who had allowed this? Why was it allowed? He had so many questions that had yet to be answered and there was no one there to answer them. There was a grunt next to him and the man's eyes fluttered open. They were brown with a tint of gold to them as the sleep was cleared away. He took in a deep breath as he realized Haldir was awake, "You're awake, how are you feeling?"

"Tired…in pain… Who are you?" Haldir asked, shifting slightly and wincing.

The man jumped slightly at his wince and gently removed his arm from over Haldir's middle, "I am Eomer, nephew of Theoden and leader of the Rohirrim. And now… Your bonded."

Haldir closed his eyes for a moment, it was as he suspected, and feared. With a deep breath he asked, "Why?"

"Firstly, for my debt to you and your people. And secondly, because, something told me to. I don't know what, but I knew I should," Eomer said, looking unable to answer further.

Slowly, Eomer sat up. He didn't know what to say to the Elf. They didn't know each other and Haldir had been forced into this. He just hoped the Elf didn't hate him. He could feel a strange tinge of fear that he knew was not his own, so it had to be Haldir's, "I-I am sorry…. if I well…." Eomer ran a hand through his hair in annoyance, not knowing what to say.

They sat in uneasy silence for a while before Eomer turned and pulled the blanket off himself and put it onto Haldir entirely, making sure he was not cold. A moment later the door opened to admit Aragorn. The dark-haired man looked from one to the other for a moment. It seemed they were in the middle of an awkward introduction. In a quiet voice, Aragorn said, "Theoden requests your presence, Eomer. It should not take too long."

Eomer nodded, a small bit of relief and thanks entering his gaze at Aragorn's relief of the tense situation. And slipped past him, giving Haldir one last apologetic look. Aragorn closed the door gently and turned to Haldir, "You have now met your bonded, Haldir. He was willing, though I think he wishes you had had more of a choice."

Aragorn walked quietly over to the Lothlorien elf, a bowl of water and herbs mixed together, a salve, bandages, and a cloth. He sat next to Haldir as the Elf managed, "H-he told me why he did it… But wh-why did you allow it….? Why-"

Aragorn cut him off with a hand over his mouth, "Don't exert yourself so, Haldir. I did it because he was honest, and because I do not yet wish to loose you, my friend. It is not your time. Oh, do not glare at me so. You can at least give him a chance!"

Haldir had been glaring at Aragorn fierce but winced at the human's last words. Gritting his teeth he continued, "B-but….he is human…how…how will…" Haldir closed his eyes tightly at the hurt look in Aragorn's eyes.

"Am I not Human? Haldir o' Lorien?"

Haldir nodded and looked away, he was not prepared for this, nor did he ever think he should have had reason to. He would happily have a human as a friend. But as lover? A life-mate? It had never even crossed his mind and it certainly held no appeal now. Eomer was his Bonded, a Man he had never even met before. He couldn't accept it though. Eomer had done it for nothing more than in thanks for helping Rohan. That was no reason to bond. Even if he did say it was also about an instinct. The Man was just trying to ease his own mind, as well as Haldir's and everyone else's. This would only turn out badly and all would be hurt. The bond had to be broken, somehow! Even if it meant him slipping into Mando's Halls, he would just so no one would be hurt. Eomer would feel the loss, yes. But the bond was not deep enough yet to make him wish his own death after Haldir's. He looked at Aragorn and said shakily, "You must break the bond…." A deep breath, "I-it will bring not…but p-pain for the rea-reasons that it was done…"

Aragorn stared at Haldir, frowning, "No, I will not. Eomer deserves a chance, and you deserve to live. I will not break it. Can you not give Eomer a chance?"

Haldir shook his head, even though it sent a jolt of pain down his spine. Aragorn glared down at him grimly, hurt and betrayed by Haldir. Then he said, determined not to give up on Haldir so easily, "I must change your bandages," and moved to begin removing the bandages and turn Haldir over.

Haldir suppressed a groan. Did Aragorn not see the danger? Wincing again he conformed to Aragorn's will for the moment, at least until he was strong enough to truly argue with the human.

~~~~~~~

Eomer walked towards the place where Haldir was being kept, only to be met by Legolas. Legolas smiled gently at him, "He has been moved, my friend, to a place with a real bed. Come with me. There it something I must talk with you about."

"All right, what is it?" Eomer asked as they turned and moved slowly down the hall to the stairs.

"Haldir…. He doesn't believe the bonding was a good thing. He has never seen humans in the light that we have just forced him to perceive them in and he doesn't believe you are sincere. He wants to break the bond before anyone is truly hurt by this situation."

Eomer looked at the stone stairs grimly, "Will he not allow me to prove that there may be something more? Or that something more could grow from this?"

"He hates being hurt, Eomer. That is why he can be so… aloof, arrogant. It keeps people away from him. Too many have hurt him in the past. And now he is bonded to a man he does not know and forced to change his perspective entirely. It is a shock and he is afraid. If you really want to remain bonded, you must show him that you wish to. And he will not be easy about it. No, he will be harsh and haughty. You must have patience with. But only if there is more to your decision than debts paid and a pretty face," Legolas said, his deep blue eyes digging into Eomer's, searching for anything that might truly give him and Aragorn reason to sever the bond.

Eomer stared right back, a determined look on his face as he stopped and said, "I wanted to do this for more than just debts paid. Aragorn told me the extent of the bond with elves before I agreed to it. I will not simply give up on everything that this bond could be. I will take what his gives and return it with what I feel. What I did was right, you must believe me, Legolas," His eyes eventually pleading with Legolas not to sever something that could become so much.

They stood there for a long moment, the Legolas smiled, "I believe you." And continued up the stairs to Haldir's room, Eomer following after the blonde elf a moment later.

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