Princes Three: Darkness Unforeseen

Interlude III – Daybreak

Elladan stretched lazily, the pleasant aching of his body a

reminder that not all of the night had been given to rest. Beside

him, Elrohir stirred, the slight frown fading from his sleep-softened features as he snuggled deeper into his brother’s arms.

Elladan tightened his hold and rested his head against Elrohir’s

hair, rubbing his cheek across the silken black mass with a

contented sigh. No matter the manner of their loving, it seemed that morning

always found them as they had begun so long ago, Elladan’s body

spooned tightly against his brother’s back, his arms wrapping

Elrohir in a sheltering embrace.

Though he had been moved nearly to tears by the elf-knight’s

uncertainty, by the gentle caresses that had roused him from his

sated reverie to meet Elrohir’s haunted eyes, dark with desire, yet

filled with anxiety, though he had reveled in the tenderness that

seemed to beg forgiveness with every touch, every heartbreakingly

sweet kiss...though Elladan had found comfort in his own unexpected

surrender, he was still heartened by the familiarity of their

waking tangle.

“What are you thinking?”

Elladan smiled slightly, raising one hand to tuck an unruly

strand behind his brother’s ear. “That you were entirely too

pleased with yourself earlier, and shall likely be insufferable

today.”

Elrohir chuckled. “I shall be insufferable? Did I force

you to beg like an elfling for sweets?”

“Nay,” Elladan admitted, then added a bit sheepishly. “But I

would have groveled.”

“I know,” the elf-knight retorted with a grin, turning to face

his brother, “and that was satisfaction enough.”

The affectionate banter brought with it memories of a time

before the tragedy, before every word had needed consideration,

every touch weighing against the ravages of misunderstanding and

grief. A time when they had each held their true yielding a gift,

given only to one another.

His smile fading, Elrohir buried his face in Elladan’s neck.

“Why?” he whispered, the single word seeming to echo all the pain

of the past weeks. “Why?”

Though veiled in brevity, the question’s meaning was viscerally

clear to Elladan and he struggled to shape an answer that might

both explain and ease the reawakened hurt that was obvious in

Elrohir’s bowed head and tensed body. Feeling forsaken by both wit

and reason, he finally offered the only truth he knew. “I felt so

cold, ‘Roh. So empty.”

“And I would not warm you.” The words were guilt-filled and

forlorn, muffled against Elladan’s skin.

“You could not warm me,” Elladan corrected gently,

pulling his brother closer. “It was not your failing. Do you not

see? Your grief left you no warmth to share, as mine left me

without the strength to comfort you.”

“Yet you offered all you had,” Elrohir replied, his voice

hoarse.

“And you offered what you could, with warmth so scarce,” Elladan

countered. “You offered oblivion. I accepted it freely, tôren.” There was a curiously taut silence before Elladan spoke again.

“I did not yield in a fit of misguided vengeance. I did not seek

to hurt you.”

“I know.” The desolation in Elrohir’s voice was heartrending.

“I never believed it of you.” Raising his head, he met Elladan’s

eyes. “But it pained me as much – perhaps more – to realize that

you did not think of me at all.”

Elladan stared speechlessly, struck dumb by sheer amazement.

“Did not think of you?” he managed at last. “How could I

not think of you? I mourned you, I mourned us, with

every breath, ‘Roh. I thought this lost forever.” Remorse rose

again in Elrohir’s eyes and Elladan’s arms tightened. “You are

the other half of my soul, rohir nín,” he whispered, his voice now

shadowed with guilt. “Forgive me if I have made you feel less, if

I have betrayed your trust.”

Elrohir shook his head, then pressed his face into the curve of

Elladan’s neck once more. “It was no betrayal, ‘Dan,” he said at

last. “Only the manner of its occurrence left me feeling abandoned

and unneeded.”

“Surely,” Elladan began gently, ”surely the thought that

we might couple crossed your mind when you sent me back to ‘see to’

‘Las that morning?”

“Aye, of course,” Elrohir agreed. “But I never thought, never

dreamed that you would...would offer yourself, not after the damage

I had wrought.”

“The damage we had wrought,” Elladan said, one hand idly

stroking his brother’s hair. “Nor did I, truthfully. But it was

right, though I would have spared you the pain. Should have

spared you the pain, if only with a word of warning. And I would

that I had been beside you to temper ‘Las and his outburst.”

“Perhaps I have paid for your pain with my own, then,” Elrohir

offered lightly, silencing Elladan’s protest with a gentle kiss.

“It is enough to have you back, tôren. And I know that I have

Legolas to thank for your return.”

“But he should not have spoken to you thusly,” Elladan insisted.

“He loves you and you were hurt.”

“He loves you, as well.”

“I know,” Elrohir replied quietly.

“Yet you turn him away.”

The elf-knight pressed his palm to Elladan’s mouth. “Let it be,

el nín.” Elladan’s brow furrowed, bringing the ghost of a grin to

his brother’s face. “Show at least as much wisdom as the wood-elf,

hmm?” Elrohir teased. “Leave the fight to those who own it.”

“I will try,” Elladan agreed with a rueful sigh. “I can promise

no more.”

There was no reply, other than the gentle brush of Elrohir’s

lips against his throat, and the comfortable silence lingered until

Elladan grew drowsy once more, his eyes closing as he slid toward

sleep.

“What was it like?”

Elladan’s eyes flew open at the sudden question. “Do you

mean-”

“I do.”

“It was frightening.”

Elrohir raised his head abruptly. “Frightening?”

Elladan nodded. “Terrifying, toward the end. I have seldom

felt so vulnerable.”

The elf-knight looked thoughtful. “I can see how that might be

so.” He paused a moment, considering his next question. “You do

not regret yielding?”

“I do not,” Elladan answered soberly. “Save the pain it caused

you, tôren. There was great pleasure, as well as great anxiety.”

Meeting Elrohir’s searching gaze, he also answered the question

left unasked. “I have no regrets, but my preference remains

unchanged.”

Elrohir snuggled closer, tucking his head comfortably under

Elladan’s chin. “Then all is well.”

*~*~*~*~*

tôren – my brother

rohir nín – my knight

el nín – my star