Midsummer Heat

Title: Midsummer Heat (26/?)
Rating: NC-17
Type: FPS Erestor/Glorfindel, and Elrond/Thranduil
Author: jenolas
Disclaimer: LOTR belongs to the creative genius of JRR Tolkien, not me.

Summary: It’s Midsummer and Glorfindel and Erestor are in a particularly ‘frisky’ mood and learn something of great interest about Elrond.

Chapter 26/?

As much as he was loathe and somewhat disappointed to do so, Elrond had to admit that there was an imperfection in Imladris in the form of the swift and efficient spreading of gossip. After the dance on the night of the Midsummer feast, everyone was well aware that their lord had taken a lover and no doubt the Imladris guards who had returned with the party from Mirkwood had already heard the news from their comrades in the barracks. Having no desire for his children to learn of his relationship with Thranduil in such an in impersonal manner, Elrond had sent word for them take their morning meal in private in the family dining chamber.

“Are you not joining us?” he asked Thranduil who had risen earlier and was already dressed and looked ready to leave.

“Nay, I think that what you have to say to your sons and daughter is best done without my presence,” he replied as he walked over to the bed and sat beside Elrond. He reached up to tenderly stroke his beloved’s cheek and smiled affectionately when he felt the soft flesh lean into the touch.

“You are always with me,” he whispered against the skin of Thranduil’s palm, teasing it lightly with his warm breath and his tongue. Thranduil closed his eyes and allowed small appreciative moan to escape before reluctantly taking hand away.

“Later for that, my love,” he promised in answer to the desire he saw in the smoky grey eyes. Elrond accepted the deferral with a smile that did not fully conceal his unusual nervousness as his thoughts turned to his children.

“I have never before felt so apprehensive about speaking with them,” he admitted as he rose and began dressing.

“Then take heart from my love, and the favourable response we have already received from Legolas,” Thranduil replied as he moved in to claim his lover’s lips in a sweet yet lingering kiss.

“Are you joining your son for your morning meal?” Elrond asked when the kiss finally ended.

“Aye and should you need me, I will be in the dining hall with not only Legolas but his beloved captain as well as my warriors. I am certain there is much news from Mirkwood to be discussed, and I also have something important to tell them,” he said favouring Elrond with a knowing wink.

As they approached the dining chamber that was reserved for family use, the lovers heard the distinctive sound of Elladan’s voice. He was speaking in lowered tones so they could not make out the words and for an instant Elrond tensed, thinking perhaps his son had already heard the gossip. His fears were dispelled a moment later when the sounds of mirthful laughter were heard from within. Nonetheless his hand hesitated as he reached for the door handle but only until he felt his fingers being given a small squeeze of encouragement. He turned to his lover and smiled seeking one last kiss to settle his nerves, then straightened his shoulders and strode confidently into the chamber. Alone in the hallway, Thranduil listened with satisfaction to the very affectionate exchange of greetings and then continued on to the main dining hall.


As he listened with great delight Arwen’s animated account of her first visit to Mirkwood, Elrond was amused to hear her tale interspersed with anecdotes that usually involved some mischief perpetrated by her brothers and Legolas. Although each story was naturally vehemently denied with mock indignation and less than sincere defence of their friend, Elrond knew there was much truth in what Arwen was saying, and he was rather pleased that neither he nor Thranduil had been there to witness an excess of ‘youthful exuberance’ as Glorfindel called the behaviour of the young ones.

“I trust you broke no hearts during the Midsummer celebrations,” Elrond asked his sons, knowing how lusty they sometimes were and how attractive they were to the maidens.

“Not as far as I am aware, nor did I incur the wrath of another’s lover,” Elladan said staring pointedly at Elrohir who glared angrily back.

Elrond decided not to pursue the matter further other than offering Thranduil an apology for whatever grievances awaited his return to Mirkwood as both were painfully aware he must do.

“I always made my intentions plain before seeking a dalliance,” Elladan added with a shrug.

“As did I, but perhaps that is a question you should ask Arwen,” Elrohir said to Elrond, exchanging a triumphant smirk with Elladan at their sister’s blushing cheeks.

“Aye, she was never without a dance partner, or someone to take her for a walk in the forest,” the elder twin teased.

“I was simply being treated as an honoured guest, and behaved as such,” Arwen replied indignantly. Elrond placed a comforting arm around her shoulders to show he at least believed his daughter’s words and was rewarded with a kiss to his cheek.

“As were we, sweet sister. Speaking of honoured guests, are we to assume from his sending for Legolas that King Thranduil is as impressed with Imladris as you had hoped?” Elrohir asked curiously.

“Aye, he is enjoying his visit here very much, and although he is indeed impressed with our home that is not the reason he sent for his son,” he replied, wisely not mentioning just how much he and Thranduil were also enjoying each other. All three sensed a subtle change in their Adar’s demeanour as he spoke and they exchanged concerned glances when they saw the hint of glittering darkness in Elrond’s eyes

“You look worried, is something amiss, Adar?” Elladan asked for them all, apparently mistaking for anguish the lust that appeared in Elrond’s grey depths when the memory of his lover’s early morning promise flared briefly. The Lord of Imladris sighed heavily knowing the moment of truth had arrived.

“Nay, all is well. Legolas was sent for because Thranduil and I have an announcement to make that concerns him as well as you three,” Elrond said pausing to wet his now very dry throat with a few sips of herbal tea while is sons and daughter waited expectantly for him to continue.

“What is it, Adar?” Arwen asked softly.

Elrond had spent many hours internally debating on how to deliver the news. On the one hand he considered it would be best to speak plainly and simply state the facts, but perhaps a better alternative would be to offer some of his shared background with Thranduil as a means of overcoming the surprise his revelation was certain to elicit. He had also discussed the issue at length with Thranduil and his opinion was that the news would either be accepted or rejected no matter how it was said. He had also gently reminded Elrond that his children were in fact adults, wise to the ways of the world and deserved to be treated as such. Never one to avoid speaking openly, Thranduil favoured presenting the truth in its simplest form

As he looked from the lovely young lady at his side who despite her dark hair, was so much like her gentle naneth, to the brave, handsome warriors his sons had become, Elrond accepted the wisdom of his lover’s words.

“Thranduil and I are bonded soul mates, as we have been since the beginning of this Age.” It was a direct statement, but spoken with the voice of one who had loved and been loved so deeply and strongly for millennia.

Elrond watched as each of his children digested the news and as he expected, three pairs of eyes widened in total astonishment.

“You two are lovers?” Elladan asked his voice neutral and his face devoid of emotion. When he so chose, his elder son could keep his reactions hidden behind a closed mask, a trait he had perhaps learned from Erestor, Elrond thought not for the first time..

“More than lovers, we share the one heart, the one soul,” Elrond replied, allowing his love for the golden haired king to shine in his eyes for all to see.

“What of Nana? I thought you loved only her? How can you now love him?” Arwen asked unable to keep the tears of hurt from falling and the anger from her voice and as she moved as far away from Elrond as possible he felt as if a knife had plunged into his heart.

“As difficult as you may find it to believe, I did, and still do love Celebrían. She not only knew of my relationship with Thranduil before we were wed but she accepted it and yet consented to be my wife regardless,” Elrond replied.

“Why marry when you were already in love, bonded with another?” Elrohir, the most romantic of the siblings asked. Elrond looked at his younger son and saw a hint of acceptance dancing amongst the confusion in the eyes that were mirrors of his own.

The explanation was long and involved and Elrond left spared them no detail, starting with the day he and Thranduil met for the first time. He told of the friendship that endured the disapproval of their lords and that quickly grew to something more as their hearts, souls and bodies become one. He spoke of duty and responsibility to their people, the choices he and his beloved were reluctantly forced to make, and the pain of separation. He told of how he met and fell in love with Celebrían and how much they desired and then cherished the children they had brought into being.

“I am sorry, Adar. I find the thought of you with a male lover disgusting and will never approve, even if Nana did!” Arwen spoke with such vehemence that all three males looked at her in surprise.

“Erestor and Glorfindel are lovers, and you have never disapproved of them,” Elladan said, confused at sister’s attitude.

“As are Legolas and his captain and you were happy to be in their company,” Elrohir added.

“That is different,” Arwen said unreasonably although unable to deny her own actions.

“I think the problem is not that my beloved is male, but that he is not Celebrían. I am correct, am I not Arwen?” Elrond asked shaking his head sadly and almost choking on his own unshed tears when Arwen glared at him and nodded.

“I will never accept another in her place!” she declared angrily and stormed from the chamber, venting some of her fury on the door by slamming it closed. Elrond rose to follow his daughter but was stopped by Celeborn’s strong grip as he entered the hallway.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, forgoing any polite greeting and then paying Celeborn no real attention as he watched Arwen’s lithe form disappear around the corner.

“Thranduil told me of your plans and some time ago Galadriel warned me that it was possible our grandchildren might not be as accepting of your relationship with Thranduil as Legolas has been. I thought I would wander by and see if you needed some support,” he replied.

“The Lady saw truly. Arwen is very upset. Let me go after her,” Elrond said as he unsuccessfully tried to pull his arm out of Celeborn’s grasp.

“Leave her be for now, Elrond. Galadriel will speak with her. Go back to your sons.”

“Am I to expect the same disapproval from them?” a very disheartened Elrond asked. Celeborn’s compassionate clasp on his shoulder was the only reply he received, and Elrond found himself wishing it was Thranduil’s hand that rested there instead. Closing his eyes for a moment, he reached into his heart, seeking comfort in the love that bound them with invisible mithril ties.

His calmness restored, Elrond returned to the dining chamber and found his sons standing close together, deep in a discussion that stopped as soon as they acknowledged their Adar’s presence. Before Elrond could form the words to ask what his sons thought of his revelation, Elrohir moved quickly to his side and offered a warm embrace.

“Adar, I admit what you have told us is a little difficult to accept since we have never known you to be in love with anyone other than Nana. Elladan and I need time to come to terms with Thranduil as your long time lover, but never doubt that just as Nana did, we love you and want you to be happy and content,” Elrohir said affirming his words with a kiss to Elrond’s cheek.

“Aye,” agreed Elladan, following his brother’s example.

“Thank you both, your words have eased the pain in my heart somewhat,” Elrond said managing a small smile then kissing them both in return.

“Perhaps this will help,” Elladan said as he moved to the cabinet that was used to store the dinner wine and pouring them all a cup. “For medicinal purposes,” he grinned in response to Elrond’s raised eyebrow that plainly said it was far too early in the day to drinking wine.

“Does Legolas know?” Elrohir asked as the three settled in the more comfortable armchairs that formed a half circle near the unlit fireplace.

“Aye, in fact he already knew, as he told us last night when he came to my chamber looking for Thranduil,” Elrond replied unable to keep his delight at the younger elf’s total acceptance from his voice. The full meaning of his words was not lost on the brothers and Elrohir decided it was time to enjoy a little fun at Elrond’s expense.

“I hope he did not interrupt anything… interesting,” he remarked, wriggling his eyebrows suggestively and smirking when he noticed a faint pink tinge on Elrond’s cheeks.

“Elrohir! Do not be so disrespectful of Adar’s privacy, although no doubt we will all certainly need to be more mindful of a closed bedchamber door in future,” Elladan warned with an admirable amount of decorum that vanished when they both burst out .laughing at the now very flushed cheeks and the redness that had travelled all the way to Elrond’s ears.

“Perhaps we should ask Erestor to ensure the lock works properly since he and Glorfindel seemed to have installed quite a few over the years,” Elrohir responded referring to the many chambers the advisor and seneschal used for their trysts, a fact well known to all, Elrond included. Nevertheless, he gasped with surprise at the comment and thought only of the locked door Thranduil, in his need to take Elrond, had broken down the day he arrived in Imladris. Surely his sons could not have heard about the incident, unless Haldir, who had been given the chamber, had mentioned it to Perion? Elrond thought not, and tried to will away the slight hardness in his leggings that was becoming aroused by memories of that erotic encounter.

“Aye, but if Legolas’s lustful nature is just a reflection of Thranduil’s, then perhaps we should simply place a guard outside Adar’s door!” Elrohir said as he wiped the tears of mirth from his eyes.

“Only if we provide the poor Elf with cotton for his ears! All that moaning coming from Legolas’s chambers was very… loud!” Elladan added. Both were now howling with laughter and neither noticed that Elrond, drained his cup of wine in one mouthful and left the dining chamber, suddenly in desperate need of his lover’s arms,.