An Unlikely Lust

Title: An Unlikely Lust (14/?)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Haldir/Thranduil, Rumil/Legolas, Haldir/Celeborn
Warnings: AU, teasing, mild unwanted touching, graphic sex
Disclaimer: If they were mine I would be rich. Seeing as I am broke, they are obviously not mine. But good lord do they make dreams worth while!
Summary: Thranduil wants to make his feelings known and help Haldir get over the object of his affections. And Orophin and Rumil have plans for knocking Legolas down a few pegs on the ego ladder.

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Celeborn waited patiently for Thranduil to grant him entrance to his talan. He kept his head held high and thought of what he was going to say to him once inside. Yes, he agreed Rumil needed to be punished. But that was not the way. He kept mentally kicking himself for allowing it to begin with.

Suddenly, the door flew open and Thranduil stood before him. “What? I am busy.”

“We need to talk.”

“Now?”

“I was hoping so, yes.”

“Alright. Enter. But you will need to do your talking while I pack.”

“Pack? I thought you were not leaving for several more days?”

“Yes, well, I decided now was the time.”

“Thranduil, none of this means you are not welcome.”

“That may be so, but you decided to have the last word and humiliated me, so I will retreat before I lose the respect of every elf here. Besides…” he paused. “There is nothing here for me anymore.”

“It is not I that humiliated you.”

“Then who? Haldir? Yes, he did humiliate me when he bounced me off the floor of his talan and decided to be done with me. But it is not him. No. It was you. You directly went against my orders. Before my son and before your own marchwardens!”

“Not your orders, Legolas’s.”

“And he is still a prince.”

“And obviously still very much an elfling. As are you.”

Thranduil stopped slamming clothes into his bags and turned to face Celeborn. “How dare you!” he hissed.

“No. Thranduil, you know yourself it is true, you have openly admitted to it. Legolas has you wrapped around his finger.”

“He does not!”

“Yes, he does. I believe, deep down, you knew this punishment was too harsh for Rumil, just as I did. Maybe you should follow my lead and start defying Legolas’s orders. Good day.” He turned and reached for the door, stopping when he heard Thranduil step forward.

“Wait.” Thranduil looked to the ground as Celeborn turned back to him. “I know I spoil him. And I was overly angry at having found my son in the state he was in that night. But he is my youngest. I feel… bad, in a way. He will always be a prince.”

“And Rumil will always be a border guard. But his brothers do not spoil him to make up for it. You could learn much from them, Thranduil.”

Thranduil stared after him as he left, softly shutting the door behind him. Cursing under his breath, he knew Celeborn was right. Dropping the clothes in his hand onto the bed, he flopped down and stared at the ceiling, losing himself in thought.

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Haldir sat on the edge of the bed and looked down at Rumil, lying flat on his stomach with his face buried in a pillow. He reached out to touch his youngest brother’s hair, anything to comfort him without further hurting him.

“Rumil please let me put this ointment on your back. It will help you heal!”

“No! Do not touch me!”

“I know it hurts, Penneth, but please, this will not add to your pain!”

He looked up, his eyes still red and puffy from crying. “Promise?”

Haldir smiled at him, unable to avoid the thought that he was still such an elfling, although past his majority. “I promise. Now lie still.”

Rumil put his head back down on the pillow, leaving his eyes uncovered to watch his brother uncork the vile. He worked out some of the ointment and began applying it to Rumil’s back. Forcing himself to lie still, he didn’t want to let his older brother know that he had inadvertently lied to him about the pain the ointment would cause.

After several minutes, Haldir was satisfied that all of the wounds were coated with the ointment and replaced the cork. Setting the vile down on a table next to the bed, he glanced down again. “Now, do not roll over or the ointment will rub off on the linens.”

“You need not worry, Haldir. I do not think I will roll over onto my back any time soon.”

“Mmm. I guess not.”

“Haldir?”

“Yes?”

“What happens now?”

“Did Celeborn say there would be any further punishment?”

“No. He told me I would be allowed time to heal and then I could go back to my duties on the border. But… the punishment was not completed.”

“I believe it is over, Rumil. Celeborn appears to have changed his mind. But if you are alright alone for a little while, I can always go ask him. I know the wonder is more painful than your wounds.”

“I will be alright.”

Haldir stood, keeping his eyes on his youngest brother. Smiling again, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on his brow while brushing some of his hair from his face in an uncommon show of affection. “Rest well, Penneth.”

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Celeborn looked up from his desk when the knock on the door reached his ears. “Enter.”

He was surprised to see Haldir walk into the room, but stood to greet him. “Haldir! I thought you would be tending to Rumil.”

“I was. But he is sleeping now. May I speak with you a moment?”

“Of course! Please, sit!” he gestured to a chair. Celeborn stepped out from behind his desk and sat down across from the marchwarden.

“I wanted to know – as does Rumil – will there be any more to his punishment?”

“No. I believe enough damage was done. And I strongly doubt he will be tying anyone else up any time soon. Once he heals he may go back to his duties, as long as he refrains from fighting his fellow warriors from here out as well.”

“You do not plan to punish him for that as well? He hurt them badly.”

“Haldir, do you want him punished further?”

“No! I mean… I… no.”

Celeborn laughed before meeting the surprised look of Haldir again. “I am just making sure. But no, I have decided what he has been through was enough. I will wipe the slate clean and forgive it this time. But only this time.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

“You are most welcome. Of course, I do believe you have not delivered your own punishment to him.”

“What do you mean? I do not plan to punish him for anything.”

“But you already have. Now you just have to tell him what you did.”

“What did I do, my lord?”

“You bedded his enemy, did you not?”

Haldir could feel the heat in his face turning his skin red. “I did, yes. But it was not… it was not really for pleasure.”

“It was not for pleasure? Were you hoping to impregnate him?”

“Of course not!”

“Then how was it not for pleasure and pleasure alone?”

Haldir hung his head slightly. “I had not planned… he came to me and… it was not supposed to happen. But it did. And in some way I was punishing myself. And his Adar, in a way.”

“So you hold no feelings for Legolas anymore?”

“No.”

“I do not believe you.”

He looked up, his eyes wide. “My lord?”

“I do not believe you. You felt strongly for him, and you took anything he dished out to you. Those feelings do not just go away. I know these things.”

“But this is different. He hurt my brother. Repeatedly.”

“Yes, but he hurt you, too.”

“It is still not the same.”

“It is. You will realize one day. And Haldir, I wish one thing for you. I wish for you to stop giving your heart to those you cannot have or keep.”

“What do you mean?”

“Legolas was not interested, yet you continued to try. And Thranduil… your relationship with him would have been difficult had it continued. Not to mention strained with Legolas there all the time. And one day he would have asked you to choose to either leave Lothlorien and your brothers to be with him, or to set him free.”

Haldir looked to the ground and chuckled lightly. “I believe you may be right. I did not think of it that way.”

“I know how you are feeling, Haldir, and I do sympathize.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I feel the same way.”

“And what are those feelings?”

“You feel lonely and rejected, somewhat lost, I suppose.”

He did not respond. Staring at each other for a moment, Celeborn finally smiled. “Neither of us has to be that way, I am sure, but some things are not as easy to rectify as we would hope.” Sighing, he smiled again. “Go back to your brother, Haldir. Assure him his punishments are complete.”

They stood, Celeborn walking Haldir to the door. He fought an urge to touch his shoulder in comfort.

Haldir stopped at the door and turned to face Celeborn. “Are you truly lonely, my lord?”

“Yes. I have been for some time. But I am able to live with it better than most.”

“And who has rejected you?”

“No one outright. I guess I just do not have the courage to follow through with my own feelings for him.”

“May I help? If it is one of the warriors, I may be able to hint for you,” Haldir smiled playfully.

“Aye, it is one of the warriors, but you need not trouble yourself.”

His curiosity was biting at him. His smiled widened. “Come, Celeborn! Who is he?”

Blushing, Celeborn took a deep breath. No time like the present. And better to allow the rejection to be outright and quick so he could move on. “It is… you, Haldir.”

“Me?”

“Yes.”

He blushed in reply, neither of the two looking at the other. “Why have you not said anything before?”

“Fear, I guess.”

“You need not be afraid of me.”

“I was not afraid of you, Haldir. Only of your reaction.”

“You expected my reaction to be poor?”

“Of course.”

Haldir smiled as he reached out, placing his hand beneath Celeborn’s chin and lightly coaxing his head up until their eyes met. “Your fear was unwarranted, my lord. For my reaction is not a bad one.”

He smiled at him lightly. “Yes, but you have your own life to live.”

“I would not mind sharing it with you if you would have me.”

“Haldir, please do not toy with me.”

“I am not. Truth be told, I have always had feelings for you. But you are my lord, so I did not approach.”

“And yet you approached Thranduil?”

“Nay. He came to me. And now you have come to me, as well.”

“And what if he…”

“My relationship with him is done now. I do not think he desires me any longer.”

“He does.”

“Well, I do not know how to answer to that. But I will not choose between him and my brothers. My brothers would win without a question. And, when all is said and done, you win the battle also.”

“You do not love him?”

“Nay. I would be lying if I said I did not lust after him. But ‘love’ is a little too strong a word.”

“And Legolas?”

“That, too, shall pass. My lord, are you trying to convince me you are not right for me?”

“No!”

A playful twinkle shown in Haldir’s eye. “I was only checking, my lord.”

“Celeborn. Please call me Celeborn.”

“Alright… Celeborn. Does this mean…”

“I am asking to court you? Yes.”

“Then I accept.” Taking his chance, Haldir slipped out the door. “This time,” he thought to himself, “I am doing this right. And slowly.”

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TBC…