The secret life

Part 13.1

Lorien, 1484, T.A.

Five years had gone by since Legolas had come to the Golden Wood, but to the young elf they seemed to have passed in the blink of an eye.
Just a few months after his arrival, he had received a letter from Elrond, in which the Peredhel appreciated his chief advisor’s decision to send him to the Golden woods. He also suggested, that Legolas should stay in Lorien for some years and take his chance to train with the Galadhrim archers, who were known as the best in arda. At first, Legolas didn’t know what to make of this, he had felt at home in Imladris and was afraid to loose it. But then he decided, staying in Lorien for a few years of training would do no harm.
Rumil was one of the reasons for this change of mind. To stay in his and Haldir’s talan was the best thing that could have happened to Legolas. Rumil was eager to spend every minute of his freetime with the young Greenwood prince, they had become best friends.
Haldir had stayed distant during all those years. If possible, he avoided every kind of contact with Legolas. To the young elf, the Galadhrim seemed nothing but arrogant. Many young elves, ellon and ellith, had warmed the marchwardens bed, but none of them had done so twice. Hadn’t there been this one incident, Legolas would have thought Haldirs heart made of stone.


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Lorien, 1479, T.A.

It was one week, after he moved in with Haldir and Rumil, and this last week had been exciting. But now, Legolas was sitting alone in his room and felt somehow bored. Rumil was sleeping in his bed, he had been on a two days patrol and was now really exhausted.
Legolas looked around in his quarter, he hadn’t been able to explore it properly before. Many of Orophin’s belongings still lingered in this room. The young prince scanned the books in the shelf, he opened some drawers and then went to the dresser. There were a lot of jars and vials and Legolas opened one, sniffed, tried another one, sniffed again... He had just opened a blue vial when a sweet smell invaded his nostrils – wild rose oil! With trembling hands Legolas tried to close the vial again, but it somehow slipped his fingers and broke on the floor. The rose aroma filled the room immediately and Legolas got dizzy, his stomach turned, he fell onto his knees, desperately trying not to throw up but to steady his breath.
“Legolas, is everything alright?”
//Oh no, Haldir! He musn’t find me like this. // Legolas thought, but it was already to late. The Galadhrim, alarmed by the sound of the breaking glass, knocked only shortly and then entered the room. At once he saw the miserable state, the other was in, he stepped over to Legolas and bent down to the miserable elf.
“Legolas, Legolas, do you hear me? You’re having a panic attack... breath, you must breath!”
“The... smell..” Legolas managed to say.
Haldir took charge. He scooped the younger elf up in his arms and carried him to his room, where he placed him on his bed.
“Legolas, Legolas... look at me. You must try to calm down... breath with me... in and out... hear my voice...in...and out... in...and out... that’s right...”
Slowly Legolas felt his breath steadying but now he was embarrassed, tears formed in his eyes. What would Haldir now think of him – he had behaved like an elfling.
But Haldir made no comment at all. He just held the younger elf in his arms, rocking him slightly, until Legolas was fully calm again. It was strange, such a heavy reaction because of rose oil? It wasn’t his favourit aroma either, but this wasn’t a reason to panic. There had to be another explication.
Legolas knew, now that he was better, he should get up and leave Haldirs bed, but he felt so safe in the marchwardens arms. It seemed as if for a short time, Haldir was again the hero of his childhood, as if he still cared for Legolas. He didn’t want this moment to end.

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But ended it had... Legolas shook his head and came back to present. This moment of affection had changed nothing between him and Haldir. As soon as Legolas had completely calmed down, the marchwarden had been once again his aloof and arrogant self...

It was in the evening, when every elf was called to the river Nimrodel to celebrate the end of summer. This annual feast was Legolas favourite one. Every elf would place a candle on a piece of wood in the water and thank the Valar for another peaceful season. And if the candle didn’t sink or went out, the Lady Elbereth would grant one’s greatest wish in life.
When Legolas and Rumil arrived at the riverbank, most elves had already celebrated this ritual and hundreds of candles were drifting down the river. Twilight painted the sky in a deep red, soon the moon would rise, but the air was still warm. Both elves kneeled beside the water and lit their candles.
// Saes my Lady Elbereth, watch over my parents and my friends.// Legolas prayed, then he placed his candle in the water. Rumil did the same. The friends watched them drift away, but soon, the wood that carried Rumils candle tilted an the flame went out. Legolas candle however swam swiftly and was soon out of sight.
Rumil had spotted his brothers in the crowd, Haldir and Orophin were sitting in the grass, together with Orophin’s bonded mate, who greated Legolas and her brother-in-law heartily:
“Ah, there you are... I already thought you wouldn’t come at all. Come here and sit down, you two.”
The two young elves let themselves fall into the high grass and Rumil placed his head on Legolas tigh...
“Hello Nessa, nice to see you... Isn’t it a wonderful night? Did you and Orophin already make your wishes?”
“Yes Rumil, and if our candles did not sink, you may become uncle in a year or two.”
“Oh dear, that would be so nice... And you Haldir? What did you wish for?”
Haldir only rolled his eyes.
“Humbug... I don’t believe in this childish ritual.”
“That hadn’t always been your opinion... I remember a time when you placed your candle in the water and whispered your wish with sparkling eyes...”
“That was long ago, Orophin... and it only proves I’m right. You know of my greatest wish in life... and it will NEVER come true.”
Upon hearing those words, everybody fell silent. It was Nessa, who made the first atempt to get conversation starting anew.
“Well, Legolas, I always wanted to ask you about the caves in Mirkwood, ehm, sorry, I mean Greenwood. Are they similar to Loriens?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never seen Lorien’s caves... didn’t even know that there are some.”
“What? You dwell here since five years and have not seen the caves yet??? You should do so the next days, as long as it is still warm. Rumil – why don’t you take him there tomorrow?”
“Oh, I’m sorry Nessa, Legolas... but I leave with the patrol tomorrow. But Haldir could show them to you. He knows the caves best.”
“Yes, Haldir can do.” the bonded couple stated. Haldir himself just gazed with cold eyes at Legolas.
“If you want to see them...”
“But you don’t have to do that Haldir.” the Greenwood prince hurried to say.
“It’s alright... but we will have to start our trip early in the morning. And you should take a warm cloak with you, it’s cold in there.”

The celebration neared his end, most elves had already left the riverbank, Orophin and Nessa among them. Rumil and Legolas were also about to leave, when Rumil adressed his brother:
“Won’t you come with us, muindor? It’s getting late...”
“I will follow soon... just give me some time for myself. It’s such a wonderful night.”
“Ok, good night, Haldir.”
As soon as Legolas and Rumil were out of sight, Haldir produced a piece of wood and a small candle from the pouch on his belt. He stepped down to the river, lit the candle and placed it carefully on the water.
“Saes, Lady Elbereth, hear my wish.” he whispered. “You know for whom I beg. Please guard her soul in the Halls of Mandos and let her find peace.”
And with that he stepped back and watched the candle drifting down the Nimrodel, until he couldn’t see it any longer.

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Northern woods near the camp of the Dúnedain, 1484 T.A.

The battle had been bloody and with many losses, but at last even the last orc in this part of the wood had found death today. Elladan cleaned his hands in a small stream, his garments however were still covered in blood. The warrior looked at his hands and sighed. Though they were clean now, to him they seemed still dirty, like he himself felt dirty. How many lives had he ended during those last five years, how many foul men and orcs had found death, since he and Elrohir started their hunt.
Elladan cleaned his hands again in the ice-cold water until the skin began to turn blue. Suddenly he felt so awfully tired, so tired he wanted to lay down and stop every movement, even the beating of his heart. But he had to move on. He couldn’t stop now, not until the last orc in arda had tasted his steel.
“I know how you feel, muindor. But we have to stop now. We should return... HOME!”
Elladan didnt startled at hearing his brothers voice. He had felt Elrohirs presence long before the younger twin had decided to adress him.
“You don’t know how I feel Elrohir... I feel nothing! Go home muindor, leave me be. There is no home for me. I’m already dead.”
At hearing this, Elrohir threw himself at his brother.
“Don’t say so, Elladan. You must stop this now, stop your hatred, your self-pity.”
“For what? There’s nothing left for me to live for.”
Elrohir hesitated but then he asked, his voice barely a whisper:
“What about me? Am I not worth trying to live again? Do you not love me anymore?”
“I don’t know what love is anymore!”
“But I do love you... even more than I should.”
“You promised never to talk of this!” Elladan hissed, knowing all to well what his brother was speaking of.
“Yes, I always regretted making this promise. And today I break it. Don’t expect me to stand beside and watch you perish from all this hatred. So you say that you cannot feel anything, that you are dead. I will make you feel alive again!”
And he leaned over to his brother and captured his mouth in a fiery kiss. For a second he thought his twin would answer the kiss, but suddenly he hissed in pain. Elladan has bit his bottom lip and now blood ran down Elrohir’s chin. The blow that followed, the younger twin hadn’t seen coming. Seconds later both lay in the grass fighting as if they were enemies, not brothers. Elladan, always the stronger in body, was soon atop of his twin. He hit Elrohirs face hard and grasped both of his arms, holding them above his brothers head.
“Is that what you want, Elrohir, muindor-nîn? Is that what you want me to do? To give in to my carnal desires? Well I could never possibly turn you down.”
And with that, he tore his brothers leggins from his body and forced his legs apart. He dropped his own pants then and Elrohir could already feel Elladans throbbing arousal at his entrance. He was too shocked to fight against his twin, all he could do was to lay still and await the pain...

tbc



Translation:
saes – please
muindor – nîn – my brother
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Sorry, I don't know what made me struggling with this chap for so long - maybe the number 13 :)
Well, I've decided to split it and post the first half now...

Enjoy and review!

bye,

Githoniel