"Well then," Mablung says. He crosses the room to peer out the window. "Knowing this fucking state, either it'll be storming for another three days or it's going to stop in five minutes."

"Mmh," Beleg says, distracted. Mablung draws the drapes closed again.

"Power's on?"

"Yeah, I checked," Beleg says, leaning over to turn on the lights.

"I'm running the stove then. We're making hot chocolate and waiting this shit out."

Beleg laughs, delighted, and climbs over the couch to tuck himself under Mablung's arm. "No way. Mablung doing something fun of his own volition?"

He scoffs and shoves him, gentle. "Watch me change my mind for that. Where'd you hide the chocolate?"

Beleg ducks away from Mablung and nudges a cabinet with his foot.

"Mkay," he says, as Beleg reaches for the fridge door. He finds the Ghirardelli and turns up the stove. "How do you feel about coffee, today," he asks when Beleg comes up to set his chin over his shoulder.

"Let's go," Beleg says, bumping their temples together affectionately.

"Good," Mablung says. The milk starts to simmer, and he finds the chopsticks to poke the squares of chocolate around. The timer beeps, and he reaches for the dial to turn the heat off. Beleg has already turned away to find mugs, the ceramic clicking together under the sound of the milk bubbling.

They settle in Beleg's room. Mablung's not going to spill, and if Beleg happens to that's his problem.

"Where're the marshmallows," Beleg says around the lip of his mug.

"Find them yourself, coward," Mablung says. Beleg steals a kiss and sets down his chocolate.

"Hey, what the hell did y' put in yours," he says, standing.

"Fuck around and find out," Mablung calls back as he slips out the room, blanket around his shoulders. He huffs and stretches out his legs, readjusting.

"I brought them here. Because I'm an actually good person." Mablung looks up and slides his mug over. Beleg sits on his lap anyways, and reaches into the bag (like a heathen), holds out a handful for Mablung. He drops a few into his mug and puts the rest into his mouth. Beleg steals another kiss, quick.

"You know there's more milk in the pan," Mablung hums. Beleg laughs.

"I'm not out yet. You put something else into yours, I can taste it, you liar."

He smiles and doesn't say anything, takes another sip and wraps his arms around Beleg.

Fact one: Haldir (and/or one of his companions) informed the Fellowship of their presence by way of scaring Legolas out of a tree, and informed Legolas that the Fellowship “breathe so loud that they could shoot you in the dark”

Implication: Playfulness! Haldir and his companions have a tough job fighting and leading Orcs away from Lorien’s boundaries, but they’re still willing to make some fun where they can, especially when there is a fellow elf in the party of strangers, which bodes well.

  Fact two: Haldir doesn’t stop Sam from climbing up with Frodo, or even mention it.

Quote: “they bid [Legolas] climb up with Frodo… The others they ask to wait a little, and to keep watch at the foot of the tree… Legolas ran lightly up, and Frodo followed slowly; behind came Sam trying not to breathe loudly”

Implication: Politeness and respect! They aren’t rude about Sam’s desire to follow his friend/master in all things. Frodo and Sam are basically a unit and Haldir and company acknowledge this. (Indeed, so does Galadriel, given that she offers both Sam and Frodo the opportunity to look in the Mirror.)

  Fact three: Uncommonly for an elf of Lorien, Haldir speaks Westron; this is because he is/has been a scout and spy for Lorien in other lands.

Quote: “There are some of us still who go abroad for the gathering of news and the watching of our enemies, and they speak the languages of other lands. I am one.)

Implication:  Haldir is probably pretty curious by nature—more curious than many other Elves in Lorien, who seem content to stay in their own land and speak their own languages only. This is backed up by Haldir’s later inquisitiveness about the Sea and the elf havens near the Shire. Also, Haldir has probably had some pretty boss adventures while being an elf spy.   

  Fact four: Haldir is willing to be persuaded by Frodo and Legolas to allow Gimli, a dwarf, into Lorien, even though “We have not had dealings with the Dwarves since the Dark Days. They are not permitted in our land.”

Quote: “We will do this, though it is against our liking.”

Implication: Haldir is willing to bend the rules, go against Elvish custom and law and his own personal preference, and do the right thing by letting the entire Fellowship pass into Lorien, even a Dwarf. He shows a good amount of flexibility and isn’t too hidebound.   

  Fact five: Haldir insists on Gimli being blindfolded and Aragorn and Legolas taking responsibility for him.

Quote: “If Aragorn and Legolas will guard him, and answer for him, he shall pass; but he must go blindfold through Lothlórien.”

Implication: Haldir isn’t a fool; he’s going to make darn sure to cover his ass if he’s breaking the rules! You can see him trying to mitigate Gimli’s presence and shove the responsibility for him onto other people as much as possible. Like many Elves, he’s definitely pretty anti-Dwarf.  

  Fact six: Haldir and the wardens share their food and blankets with the Hobbits but not with the other members of the Fellowship in the talan next door.

Quotes: “We do not fear them” and “Merry and Pippin clambered up on to the high flet. They were out of breath and seemed rather scared.” (Aww!)

Implication: The apparent harmlessness of the hobbits (small size, fear of heights, obviously not trained in combat) and the fact that the Elves don’t seem to have seen a hobbit before makes me kind of get a “we should protect these cute small mortals” vibe when reading about the march wardens’ care and feeding of Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin.

  Fact seven: Haldir and his brothers exhibit effective strategy against enemy. When the Orcs outnumber them 100 to 3 they use tricks to lead the Orcs away and and send a message so a stronger force can overwhelm the Orcs. Also, when Haldir sees Gollum he chooses not to shoot him because it would probably draw the Orcs back to their position.

Quotes: “I did not shoot, for I dared not arouse any cries: we cannot risk battle.” And “The three of us could not challenge a hundred, so we went ahead and spoke with feigned voices, leading them on into the wood.”

Implication: These don’t seem to be new tactics; Haldir’s actions and judgments show his experience fighting against the Enemy. Whether the “feigned voices” were Haldir and his brothers pretending to be other Orcs or members of the Fellowship, or whether Haldir and his brothers know how to throw their voices from a distance, or what, I’m not sure.

  Fact eight: Haldir doesn’t let any of the Fellowship stumble while they are blindfolded. Also, he makes friendly conversation with Merry while he guides them.

Quote: “I shall lead you well, and the paths are smooth and straight.”

Implications: It would be easy for Haldir to show the kind of playfulness that was displayed when he and his brother frightened Legolas, but instead he remains reliable and worthy of the trust that the Fellowship place in him by letting him guide them while they are blindfolded. His conversation with Merry seems to indicate that he is going out of his way to communicate pleasantly when possible. (Merry is an excellently neutral choice for a conversation partner; he has no dog in the Elf-Dwarf race, after all. Wise decision there, Haldir.)  

  Bonus quote:

‘“Happy folk are Hobbits to dwell near the shores of the sea!” said Haldir. “It is long indeed since any of my folk have looked on it, yet still we remember it in song. Tell me of these havens as we walk.”

“I cannot,” said Merry. “I have never seen them. I have never been out of my own land before. And if I had known what the world outside was like, I don’t think I should have had the heart to leave it.”

“Not even to see fair Lothlorien?” said Haldir. “The world is indeed full of peril, and in it there are many dark places; but still there is much that is fair, and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, it grows perhaps the greater.”

Awww. I love Haldir. He is in mourning for the passing of his home and wary of the growing dark but he still remains positive that there is love and light in the world.