In Twilight

A/N: Another big thank you to Ilye for beta reading. We're beginning to dive a bit into book canon now. You don't need a huge understanding of the books to understand what's going on, but it would help. It would especially be helpful starting in chapter 15, as that chapter begins to dive into the events of Return of the King (and this story will be finished long before that movie is released). Enjoy!

/ / denotes thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~ denotes changes in scene or POV.

Chapter 12: Before the Feast
Summary: It is yet unknown as to why the elves are gathering in meeting with men and dwarves. The lovers set aside their questions for the night and get reacquainted sincetheir last visit with each other (slash).

The news he was bringing to Imladris could have been better. He didn’t think himself the best messenger to deliver such news to Elrond, but his father had thought otherwise. Perhaps Thranduil had good reason for choosing Legolas rather than one of the prince’s brothers to relate the news of Gollum’s escape; but, if there was such a reason, the young prince was unaware of it. Legolas simply wanted to tell the tale he was sent to relate and be done with the task.

As he journeyed closer to Imladris, he swore to himself that he would wait to tell the story with everyone present who needed to be, and would only tell it once. The prince didn’t like to repeat himself. He took a deep, steadying breath after making such a decision, and smiled as the familiar rushing of the waters of the Bruinen filled his ears.

After spending so long battling the darkness that was threatening to take over all of his home of Mirkwood, Legolas relished the visit he was paying to his second home. Imladris had fostered him and his siblings many times over the years; the valley had indeed become another home for the sons and daughter of Thranduil. Its inhabitants became a second family, and its lord a second father. It was very much what one called ‘a home away from home,’ and Legolas had missed it. He had missed the place, missed the people; he, of his little troupe of siblings, held the closest ties to the valley, and Legolas missed that the most.

There had been little time to visit Imladris over the last few years with the threat of the darkness growing. The princes of Mirkwood were needed to help the patrols on their excursions. Nimriel alone was available to make the yearly journey, but Thranduil would not let his daughter go without at least one of her brothers. The siblings loved their home, but they also longed for the peace and calm Imladris brought, and the company of their friends. Even if the news he carried was less than pleasant, Legolas was determined to enjoy his short retreat to the valley.

“Daro!” Legolas smiled at the sound of the familiar voice; the smile broadened when a dark-headed elf appeared, steering his horse to stop next to the prince’s steed.

“Elrohir,” the prince greeted. The younger twin smiled upon seeing his friend, clapping Legolas warmly on the shoulder.

“Legolas, it’s been a while. It is good to see you in the valley again.”

“Indeed, meldir. I am quite glad to return.”

“I take it your call isn’t entirely social, however.” Legolas nodded as Elrohir let out a long, slow sigh. “Very little news that is brought to the valley lately is good. I’m sure Ada would like to hear something pleasant rather than all this dark business. These days bring nothing but sadness and dampened spirits. Although your coming alone will make some very happy.”

“How is he?” Legolas asked as the pair began to ride back towards the Last Homely House; the elves that had journeyed with Legolas quickly paced their horses to follow the two. The prince couldn’t help but smile faintly as he thought of Elrohir’s double.

“He misses you, as much as you miss him I suppose. Actually, we’ve just returned from helping the northern Dunedain. The raids against the Orcs helped clear his mind a bit; I daresay he needed a bit of action lately after spending a few months at home. As I said before, little news these days is good; everyone‘s spirits are a little less lively than normal.”

“Aye, I imagine it would be so. It is no different in Mirkwood, I‘m afraid. The darkness grows; we are at constant war with it. At times, it seems like we will be overwhelmed and should flee the wood. But that is something we cannot do. It is our home, the forest we have all grown up in. Who can simply pick up their belongings and leave their home without a fight? Each day is a struggle; although somehow we continue to move on.”

“I know, meldir. I know.” Elrohir patted his friend’s shoulder sympathetically. Each knew and understood the troubles that plagued the other. They understood the hardships, the struggles, the triumphs and the defeats. Speaking on the matter seemed to dampen their spirits, so they remained silent for the rest of the ride.

“I shall go and speak with your father,” Legolas said as they reached the house and dismounted; as always, the stable hands and maids came to claim their horses and belongings. Many greeted Legolas kindly, remembering the prince who had fostered years in Imladris. Elrohir smiled and nodded as the pair parted ways, Legolas seeking out Elrond while Elrohir went to lend some help to the stable hands. They would see each other later at the feast Elrond was sure to host, but at the moment they had other duties to attend to--and other people to see.

~~~~~~~~~~

“I have missed you, melme.” Elladan started at the voice that whispered into his ear. He had just returned from making a round of the borders with Glorfindel and the western patrols. The twin was tired and a bit hungry; all he really wanted was a warm bath, some food and sleep. His weariness, however, dissipated before a quiet, silvery voice, which he had not heard in some time, and had greatly missed.

“Legolas,” he whispered, turning to his lover and drawing the prince into a tight, warm embrace. Elladan sighed into the flaxen hair, inhaling the scent of beeches. “I have missed you, anor-nîn.”

“And I you, ithil-nîn.” The twin smiled, tilting his lover’s chin upward and covering Legolas’ lips with his own. They kissed long and deeply; it was a caress filled with love and longing, shared by two who had not seen the other half of their hearts in years. “You are tired,” Legolas stated as the kiss ended.

“Aye,” Elladan replied with another sigh. “The patrols are hard pressed to keep the borders clear and the roads safe to travel. The northern Dunedain also have been quite busy the last few months. Orc raids are getting more and more numerous lately, and there are too few hands. Ada is planning a feast for tonight and a council tomorrow; I doubt I will attend either. I am much too tired for such elaborate affairs.”

“I wish I could join you, melethron-nîn. However, I am required to attend both, as a guest and a messenger.”

“You bring news from Mirkwood then?”

“Aye.”

“It is not good news.” A plain statement, to which Legolas nodded in reply. “No news is good lately.”

“Elrohir said the same when I met him on the road. He told me about your recent riding with the Dunedain.”

“It is tiring work, even for an elf. But Estel wishes the Shire folk to be safe and kept unaware, as always, of the impending darkness. They are resilient folk, even if they are mostly unaware of the outside world. I have seen the hobbits that arrived with Estel, and they are indeed of a stout stock.” Legolas nodded, remembering tales his father related of Bilbo Baggins and the Battle of the Five Armies. He listened as Elladan continued speaking. “I feel for the hobbits. Once the rest of Middle-earth has fallen, if that ever happens, they will be the next to be taken. It is something I’d rather not think about.”

“Then let us not speak of it,” Legolas said, silencing Elladan with a brief kiss. He took his lover’s hand and began to walk down the corridor. “You are tired, and would like your bath first, I suppose? Let us get you one. Since you said you will not be attending the feast, then you can rest while I do so.” Elladan nodded and smiled, happy to be with his lover again. He followed Legolas down the corridors, watching as the prince selected a private pool, shut and locked the door before drawing the bath water, which he scented lightly with some dried lavender.

The Peredhel twin put up little resistance as Legolas began the task of removing Elladan’s dusty, worn traveling garments. Slender hands deftly unlaced the tunic, slipping it from the twin’s shoulders to crumple onto the floor. Elladan obediently lifted one leg after another to have his boots removed; hands then slipped to the lacings of his leggings, which soon accompanied the rest of his clothing. Once his love was undressed, Legolas quickly divested himself of his own garments before tugging on Elladan’s arm, the two of them slipping into the bath and sinking into the warm, steaming water.

It was Legolas’ turn to sigh as the two submerged themselves in the scented warmth. Ripples formed and spread as the prince slipped to his lover’s side, molding his body to fit against Elladan. The twin smiled, wrapping an arm about Legolas’ trim waist, resting his head upon the prince’s as the dark and light strands of their hair mixed in the water about them. They stayed in that position, silent, for a few moments before Legolas’ hand slipped along Elladan’s thigh and wrapped itself about the twin’s sex, slowly working the organ into a full erection.

“Melme,” Elladan’s voice ending in a gasp, “what in the Valar’s name do you think you are doing?”

“What? Are you not enjoying this?” With a smirk, Legolas shifted his position to straddle Elladan’s hips, never letting go of his lover’s now rock-hard erection. “You are tired and in need of some relaxation. I am only providing the stimulus.”

“You are a tease.” Musical laughter filled the bath at his words.

“Did you not already know that from the moment we met?” Elladan scowled before his lips were claimed in a heated kiss. He moaned into Legolas’ mouth as the flaxen-haired elf twisted his hand, raking his nails lightly over Elladan’s heated column. The bath water seemed to further increase the heat that was flowing over the twin’s skin; a delicious tingling sensation worked its way from Elladan’s head, down to his toes before pooling at his core.

Legolas’ ministrations were gentle and soothing, yet brought Elladan closer and closer to his peak. Warm, silky lips slipped from his own to trail down his neck. A slick, pink tongue darted out to lick the mingled sweat and bath water from his pale skin as Elladan arched his head back. Legolas smiled against his neck, lightly nipping at the skin.

“Come for me, ithil-nîn,” he purred into Elladan’s perfectly pointed ear. “You know you want to.”

“Talking dirty, are we?” Elladan moaned as Legolas flicked his thumb over the twin’s erection.

“You know you like it.”

“Who says?!”

“Says me. Remember the last time we did this?”

“That was far too long ago. But I distinctly remember you thoroughly enjoying yourself as I rode you.”

“Rode me rather hard that night, did you not?”

“Is this payback then?” The bath was filled with Legolas’ laughter once again.

“Hardly, melethron. I enjoyed the ride! Are you not enjoying this?” Again, he flicked his thumb over the slit, this time producing a deep-throated groan followed by a bruising kiss as Elladan crushed his lips against the prince’s.

“Finish me, anor-nîn.”

“As you wish.” Legolas sealed Elladan’s lips with his own as his hand gave the heated flesh of the twin’s cock a few more firm strokes. Fingertips lightly teased the sac beneath the engorged sex; the touch was feather light but enough to force Elladan over the edge. He came with a throaty moan as he leaned back heavily against the tub’s edge, spilling a few handfuls of water onto the bath floor. With a light kiss and a smile, Legolas sank into his arms, cradling his golden head on his lover’s shoulder.

“Is that all the relaxation I get tonight, melethron?” Elladan asked, his voice thick with still-unsatisfied lust.

“For the moment,” Legolas teased. “There will be plenty of ways for you to relax…after the feast.”

“Going to make me wait?”

“Of course. Waiting makes the heart grow fonder.”

“And the libido impatient.” They both shared a hearty laugh at Elladan’s words, followed by another kiss. As the bath water grew lukewarm, the pair removed themselves from one another, toweling off before slipping back into the clothes and out into the corridor. With a final kiss in parting and farewell, they went their separate ways, anticipating the moment they would reunite and make up for the years they had been apart.

Translations:
Daro-Halt
Meldir-Friend
Ada-Father
Melme-Love
Anor-nîn-My sun
Ithil-nîn-My moon
Melethron-nîn-My love/lover