Thin Air
By Sarah Eleven
At least they were no longer in danger. They had escaped death, had made it
to the top of the crumbling mountain, and were now hidden in a deep crack that
ran parallel with the path twenty meters below. The height made the air
lighter, less fulfilling in their lungs, but sitting still, the deficiency
seemed not to be a crucial matter. They could breathe shallowly. For the
moment, that was all they required. They had found escape from the avalanche.
Haldir closed his eyes and licked his dry lips, his blue eyes settled on the
circumstantial companion who crouched beside him. “I am Haldir of Lorien,” he
began, cordially.
“Faramir, from Gondor,” said the man. Eyes the color of a morning sky
scanned his face. “You’re an elf.”
“Yes,” Haldir agreed with a tinge of sarcasm. “Very shrewd of you to
acknowledge the fact. And you, my friend, are a man.”
Faramir smiled at him. “Yes, a man who fled the same fate as you to the top
of this lonely mountain.”
“Odd that you would use that description,” Haldir said, gazing at him
forlornly. “That’s exactly what it is.”
“Lonely?”
“Yes. Lonely.” The elf’s eyes shifted into the expanse of gray sky slightly
above them.
Faramir could not request the story. It was clearly heartbreaking, so he
would spare his companion the anguish. He thought quickly, searching his mind for
distraction and came up with a solution. “I understand elves weigh less than
humans,” he said brightly.
“What?” Haldir frowned in confusion.
“According to rumor, you are much lighter than I.”
Haldir looked down at himself. “You think I am not human?” he asked.
Faramir paused. “Elves are human?”
“We are built very much alike. There are defining characteristics, but those
are insignificant. What right do you have to claim the species and omit me?”
Faramir smiled at him. “Very well. The two of us are human, then, but you
have much paler skin, your body weight is less and you live millenniums longer!
There. Is this defining enough for you?”
“Perhaps you are correct in your claim,” Haldir conceded with a shrug. “But
how can you be so sure that I am lighter?”
Quickly, Faramir leaped to his feet and hefted the elf into his arms,
smiling. “You weigh no more than a child!” he said.
Haldir had no objections to being handled so deftly, but he seemed bent on
one-upmanship. He touched his index finger to the tip of Faramir’s nose. “But
my strength is twice yours.”
“I seriously doubt that.”
“Shall we have a contest?”
“What sort of contest?”
“Arm wrestling?”
“Yes,” Faramir set him down and flopped to the ground, rolling onto his
stomach to ready himself for the match. “Let’s see this superior strength of
elves!”
Right hands grasped and the effort began. For a moment, Haldir did seem to
have an advantage, but Faramir planted himself more firmly on the ground and
held him steady. Their strengths were equal for a time, before their muscles
began to tremble. The elf dragged in a draught of thin air and put forth a
greater effort, which got him nowhere. The extra pressure, in fact, was his
drawback, for after several calming, shallower breaths, Faramir pushed his hand
smoothly to the ground.
“Men do not beat elves!” Haldir cried. “This is unfair!”
Faramir smiled at him. “I have beaten you fairly. What else have you got to
argue about, Lord Elf? Bring it on.”
Haldir cleared his throat and rolled onto his back to lie flat on the rocks.
“Nothing. You have won, my friend. Enjoy your victory.”
“Victory is best when shared,” Faramir said. “Would you care to share it
with me, Haldir?”
“If you wish,” Haldir waited for him to explain.
Faramir, still on his stomach, slithered on top of him and kissed his full
lips. “Yes,” he said, finding the elf a bit disinclined to his amorous attack.
“I shall enjoy sharing my victory with you.”
“Is this the way humans celebrate?” Haldir pushed him to elbow’s length and
held him there to study him.
“Not always. This is a very special occasion in which the winner takes all.”
“All of what?”
“All of whatever the loser will offer.”
“You obviously expect favors from me.”
“Only if you’re willing,” Faramir said, and kissed his hands. The
morning-sky-blue eyes were soft with affection. After only a moment, the elf’s
reluctance waned and the strong arms rose to surround him. “Which I see you
are…”
“But you must be aware that I only give this gift to you because you beat me
fairly. I never hold with strangers!”
“Never is a very negative word.”
“This is the first time I have allowed this to happen.”
“I am honored to be your first.”
Haldir snorted. “I have been with men before! You’re merely the first
stranger invited to kiss me.”
“I see, although I no longer consider myself a stranger since we've now
become somewhat acquainted.” Faramir kissed him again, then drew back to gaze
upon him. “You are such a lovely color, Haldir. Are you aware that there are
rainbows in your eyes?”
“I think the thin air is having ill effects on you, my friend, but I
appreciate the sentiments. I see the colors surrounding you as well, so I can
relate to your state of breathlessness.”
“We should lie very still,” Faramir realized, “And just breathe.”
“An excellent suggestion!” Haldir took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
For long moments, he did not move, and the Gondorian was beginning to think he
had passed out. Finally, the turquoise eyes rose again to behold him. “What are
you looking at?” he asked, unable to keep the smile off his face.
“You,” Faramir answered, and kissed him again. “Your lovely face with the
soft pink circles surrounding it.”
Haldir laughed and caressed his face. “Lie down before you begin to see
black holes, my friend.”
“Oh, too late for that. Deep caverns already call to me.”
“Then lie down and behave yourself until the mountain settles and we can
venture back down to the valley.”
Faramir smiled, framing the elf’s face with his hands. “You’re beautiful.”
“I have never been called beautiful before. But I was just thinking the same
thing about you…” Lips descended on his again. They indulged in a long,
stirring kiss. “I have never felt this way before. Is it the height, or is
there some spell here, which is to blame? Are you a wizard, my friend? Do you
have the power to take my heart?”
“I have no power,” Faramir answered. “I am affected, too. Do you believe in
love at first sight, Haldir?”
“Yes,” Haldir answered after another slow kiss. “I believe it is possible.”
“Until this moment, I did not believe such a thing could exist. But what I
feel for you now could be nothing less.” Faramir’s head came to rest on
Haldir’s shoulder, and for hours, both were silent.
~~
“There, in that crack!” The voice brought man and elf to their feet to see
who else was stranded on the Lonely Mountain. The sunshine was so vivid that it
blinded them for a moment, but when they could see, the tall white wizard stood
looking at them from the broken path, staff in hand.
“Gandalf!” they cried.
Gandalf stepped forth to take their hands and, knowing they were
experiencing dizziness, supported them as they walked towards the large basket
that swung from a gigantic balloon in the sky. Skeptical, they were helped into
the basket by the elf already inside.
“We have been looking for you,” Celeborn told them. “I feared you had been
crushed beneath the rocks, but Gandalf assured me you were safe.”
“We are grateful to Gandalf,” Haldir said. As the balloon shoved off and
began a slanting descent to the valley, he breathed in a few much needed deep
breaths.
Gandalf ran a testing hand over Faramir’s cheek, then Haldir’s. “Have you
been keeping good company?” he asked, smiling.
“Oh, yes,” Faramir answered with a grin. “Haldir was a lovely shade of
pink.”
Celeborn laughed. “The air was not sufficient,” he deduced. “When you cannot
breathe, it is reminiscent of intoxication. The inhibitions are altered, the
mind is freer, one will do and say things that would normally still the heart.
I only hope that neither of you said things you will regret.”
Haldir and Faramir gazed at each other, then looked down. It was Gandalf who
spoke. “Whatever you said, it was not your fault. You did not kill each other,
so it could not have been so bad.”
Faramir nodded. “I was rather hoping that what was said was the truth,
not merely the thin air speaking.”
Haldir met his eyes quickly. “Yes, I was just thinking the same thing,” he
said.
They faced each other and, after a moment’s pause, embraced. “I meant every word,”
Faramir whispered.
“As did I,” Haldir whispered back. “I would like to discuss this further
when we are in private.”
Celeborn smiled at Gandalf. “It looks as if we had no need to worry,” he
said softly.
Gandalf took the Lord of Lothlorien in his arms and kissed him. “It seems
the air cleared their minds,” he said, chuckling. “Would you care to take a day
with me on the mountain, Celeborn?”
The elf took his time completing their next kiss before he answered. “No, I
prefer my talan.”
Gandalf glimpsed at Haldir, who was locked in a gaze with Faramir. “Look at
them,” he said. “The two of them. They bring to mind the days when you and I
first met, that day so long ago… Things were different then, my dear Celeborn.
You were much more impetuous. You were full of vim, on fire for your people,
and all of middle earth! You were amazing!” As their eyes met again, the wizard
sighed blissfully. “You’re still amazing, and you always will be, my love.”
Celeborn kissed him again. “Haldir is changing, too. He is becoming more
accepting of the inevitable, now. I am happy to know that Faramir has impressed
him in their short time together. Even so, this man is incredible to have done
so, for Haldir is one of the most cynical elves I know where men are
concerned.”
“Perhaps he had good reason to be cynical,” Gandalf said. “Not all men have
good intentions. But our Faramir is one of the purest of men. I am glad they
have met. They will be good for each other.”
“Should we have left them alone a bit longer?”
“Not on the Lonely Mountain." Gandalf paused, winking at the Elven
Lord. "The air is much better in Lothlorien.”
~~
As they stepped down from the basket, Faramir turned and gave Gandalf a
heartfelt hug. “Thank you, Mithrandir,” he murmured in his ear. “I owe you my
life.”
“Breathe the free air, my friend,” Gandalf quipped. “And tell me all about
it, later. For now, go and enjoy your lovely elf.”
Faramir glanced at Haldir and raised his eyebrows confidentially. “Oh, I
shall,” he assured him. With that, he took his elf by the hand and walked into
shadows of the tall trees of Lothlorien.
~~ end