Pen-Estel

Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Author’s Note: Hi… Esteliel is away for the weekend, but it seems a while since we updated this story. Erm.. thank you to all the lovely reviewers.

When we started this, we had no idea how long it was going to get. But it has been, and still is, a pleasure to write it. So.. I hope you enjoy reading this new chapter as much as we enjoyed writing it.

Pip :)


Chapter Twenty-Six

Glorfindel smiled and pressed a gentle kiss to Legolas’ brow, smoothing one fingertip over the fine, golden hair of the child that was still asleep in his arms. They were both still asleep, and Glorfindel was glad, because Legolas needed to rest. There were things that needed to be said, but for now, after so many months of uncertainty and fear, it was more than enough to watch them and grow accustomed to the thought that he had another child. A daughter!

Glorfindel shook his head, feeling both baffled and joyful. He could not really believe it, not yet. When Gîl had been born, he had had months to look forward to his child, months in which to imagine what it would be like.

This time, he had not dared to think about the child at all. He had stayed away as much as he could from Legolas while he was pregnant, and when he thought about what he had missed he felt a lump in his throat. The joy of feeling his child move for the first time, the changes in Legolas’ body that made it so easy to tease him, the way the youth had grown so incredibly sensitive, so needy...

Glorfindel swallowed when he realised that Elrond had most probably known all of this, while he had missed it. But now that the child was there, he swore that he would not miss even the tiniest part of her life.

“I’m going to spoil you, little one,” he whispered, tenderly stroking the babe’s cheek. “You will be the happiest little girl in all of Imladris, I promise!”

Then Legolas sighed and opened his eyes, and Glorfindel smiled at him as well, lying down beside him so that he could hold him in his arms. “You should sleep some more, Legolas,” he whispered, remembering how long it had taken him the last time to get his strength back. “You must still be exhausted – or are you in pain? Do you want me to tell Elrond to give you another tea?”

“No – no more tea,” Legolas said with a sigh. “I will sleep in a moment, but I want to be aware now – aware of her.” He looked at the child in his arms, smiling faintly. “Golden hair – so it was no dream then?”

“It is true,” Glorfindel reassured him, swallowing when he remembered how cruel he had been. “Gîl has a little sister – and we have a daughter now, which I can spoil. And I will play with her hair and leave you alone... most of the time,” he could not help to add with a grin.

Glorfindel watched in silence as Legolas leaned away from him and carefully laid the sleeping babe down in a cot by the side of the bed. He inched closer and rested his hand on Legolas’ hip, grinning a little to himself when he saw Legolas smile at the touch. But then Legolas turned towards him and came fully into his embrace, pressing against him as he had done so many times before, but it seemed so long since they had last embraced like this, and Glorfindel sighed heavily in contentment as he held Legolas to him greedily.

Again, he thought of all the things he had missed, and he kissed Legolas’ hair, vowing never to miss another moment as long as they lived. He had changed in the time they had been apart, Glorfindel realised with a bit of a shock. Physically Legolas was stronger now, and it wasn’t unwelcome. It felt nice to hold him like this, knowing that he could tighten his grip and Legolas wouldn’t break. But then Legolas began to shudder in his arms, and Glorfindel had to prise Legolas away from him to see what was wrong.

Only then did he realise the shudder came from Legolas’ sobs. Glorfindel was completely perplexed, seeing the child happy and healthy, Legolas in his arms. Everything was right but this. “What is it, Legolas?” he asked in some alarm, wondering exactly what had happened between his lover and Elladan for all that time. Legolas’ tear-stained face looked up at him, a little incredulous, and then despite the tears, Legolas laughed.

“I have missed you!” he said, voicing it almost as an accusation, and closing his eyes as he moved closer to Glorfindel again. It felt perfect again when he felt the length of Legolas’ body pressed against his and Glorfindel sighed again, letting his hands roam over Legolas’ back.

“I’m sorry,” he said, remembering it was his wish for them to part. “So sorry.” Almost at once he remembered the talk with Elrond and how he had wished to apologise, and yet the words hadn’t been premeditated at all. Instead, they had slipped out almost before he was aware he was going to do it.

“Forgive me, Legolas,” he said then, more thoughtfully, feeling tears spring to his own eyes. He couldn’t continue like this without moving, and Glorfindel rolled over to trap Legolas’ body beneath him. Legolas gasped as Glorfindel’s weight pressed into him, still tender after everything, but Glorfindel just couldn’t feel guilty for that. Nevertheless, he found himself apologising again. “Forgive me.” It took on a note of pleading this time, and he saw Legolas’ eyes widen when he realised Glorfindel needed an answer.

“Yes, of course I do, my Lord,” he said with a little smile, the tears gone now, and Glorfindel reflected on his earlier words about punishment to Elrond, feeling grateful and wretched at the same time. It wasn’t as easy as that for him, but for Legolas… Yes. The light of forgiveness was there in him. How was it so easy for him?

“I love you,” he said, still looking down, certain that if any more words came out of him without prior forethought, Legolas would never submit to him again. Soon I will be telling him how wonderfully weak he makes me feel when he lies beneath me, Glorfindel thought with a playful smile, nuzzling Legolas’ neck to kiss him there.

"I know," the youth said with a secretive smile. "Whenever I told you that I love you, I knew that I was saying it for you as well. It figures that it would take you so long to find out..."

"You have become cheeky, roch neth," Glorfindel purred into Legolas' ear. "But I fear that since I love you, I will have to let it pass - for now. But once we are in our rooms... all alone..." He paused meaningfully, and Legolas giggled.

"I have been awake for a few minutes, and already I'm in trouble? I'm so sorry, my Lord. Forgive me, please... I swear I'll make it up to you!"

Glorfindel growled deep in his throat, grazing the pale skin of Legolas' neck threateningly with his teeth. "I'll teach you to show your Lord proper respect," he promised darkly, smirking when Legolas actually shuddered despite his exhaustion.

Then he sighed, pressing another kiss to Legolas' brow. "But for now, you should sleep... Elrond will return in a while, and if he is satisfied with your state, you will spend the night in our bed. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful, my Lord!" Legolas breathed, turning a little so he could wrap one arm around Glorfindel's waist. "Will you stay with me? I don't want to wake up alone."

"Of course," Glorfindel said gently. He pressed another kiss to Legolas' brow, then closed his eyes for a moment, breathing in the scent of the youth's hair until his deep, regular breathing told him that he had fallen asleep again.

"I love you," Glorfindel whispered once more, marvelling at the sound of the words and how natural they felt on his lips. For such a long time he had waited for someone to say these words to, and when he had finally found him, he had not even recognised the emotion for what it was! Yet he did love Legolas, more than he had ever thought possible.

To take Legolas back to his bed, back into his life, to claim him as his one and only lover, and to be the only one for Legolas as well - that was what he wanted. But was it that easy? Wonderful, Legolas had said, and his words seemed to make it that easy.

But after all that had happened - did Legolas not deserve to make a choice? He had never had a choice so far, and maybe his reaction had been caused by just that knowledge - maybe he would not have said wonderful if he had known that he truly could choose now, that he could have Elrond if that was what he wanted.

It frightened him in some ways, because he realised the truth now. Glorfindel had lived for millennia before his death, and for centuries since his reincarnation, and if there was one thing he had learnt, it was that nothing was fixed and still. Every action had consequences, like ripples in a pool, that could come back to bother you when you had all but forgotten. The consequences of taking Legolas’ innocence that long ago day had come rather fast in the manner of these things.

When, in his desperation, Legolas had followed him to Imladris to beg shelter – he had been asking for much more than that. To take Legolas as his responsibility, even as his slave, had its consequences – or ripples. It meant that one day, they would be more than Master and slave. It meant that one day they would be lovers. Glorfindel smiled.

Yes. From that moment on it had been inevitable that Legolas would become his lover. He might have stayed a prisoner for centuries before the change occurred. As it was, it had only taken a couple of years, but it was always going to happen. It was the way of things.

But that wasn’t a set state of affairs either, Glorfindel thought with a frown. They could, and should be, lovers for centuries before the idea of letting go began to form, but did they have that time? Like the pregnancy had hastened love to them, would pushing Legolas away over the last few months have achieved something unthinkable? Would it mean their time was over before it had really begun? There were too many of these ripples to see clearly. Elrond was deeply involved too now, and in his heart Glorfindel couldn’t be certain that Legolas wouldn’t reject him.

For now, Legolas slept, and Glorfindel just lay beside him, wondering. At last Elrond returned and examined him carefully, before checking on the child too.

“Is he well enough to leave the healing quarters?” Glorfindel asked thickly, having to swallow several times before he could trust himself to speak. Even so, his voice came out much deeper than usual, and Elrond looked at him quickly, almost pleading. It was clear to Glorfindel that Elrond had expected Legolas to stay at least for a night, but that he wouldn’t lie – and he didn’t.

“He may return to you anytime you wish. Even the child may be moved.” Elrond sighed heavily and stood up straight from leaning down to examine the child. Maybe you have longer than you realise, Glorfindel thought with such clarity he might have spoken it. Maybe you will have longer than me. He hadn’t spoken though, and as Legolas stirred and smiled up at him, it was time to give him this new thing. Something Glorfindel had planned to give him long ago, when the answer was a foregone conclusion. Now it would be different. Now it was real. It was choice.

Resisting the urge to take Legolas into his arms again, Glorfindel regretfully left the bed and stood back. “Elrond says you are free to go, roch neth,” he said, noting Legolas’ confusion with a little smile. He couldn’t help using the pet name. It had come to mean more than mere teasing, and he knew Legolas had to feel it. He would use any advantage here.

“So it is time to decide what you want. Will you come with me? Or will you stay here,” Glorfindel closed his eyes briefly, “with Elrond?”

He didn’t spare Elrond a look, even though he knew the Lord had to be shocked after their talk earlier. He hadn’t even hinted at this. But he had thought since then, and he knew that this right here was a proof of his love. If Legolas chose him despite everything, it was the point where he ceased being a possession and became a lover in truth. Glorfindel didn’t dare to breathe, he just looked at Legolas, and his heart stuttered when the youth sat up and looked to Elrond.

It hurt more than he could have imagined – to admit that Legolas was no longer a slave or plaything, only to see him stand and pad softly on his bare feet over to the Lord of Imladris. To see him smile at someone else and reach out to them in happiness – it was almost more than he could take and yet he couldn’t look away.

They kissed before his very eyes and at that point Glorfindel realised his mistake. He stumbled back a step while they were lost in each other, because he saw for the first time what Elrond gave to Legolas. Oh, so much more than this paltry admission of freedom. They were equal! Immediately Glorfindel wondered if Elrond had given himself to Legolas, and knew it for a certainty by the confident way Legolas rested his hands on Elrond’s waist.

“I love you,” Legolas whispered as they drew apart for breath. It seemed so inevitable that he had lost the youth. How could Legolas not need what he had clearly found with Elrond? So lost in his sudden misery, he almost didn’t hear Legolas’ next words for what they were. “I am sorry.”

Glorfindel looked up, but Legolas was still gazing into Elrond’s eyes, and as Glorfindel watched, he raised Elrond’s hand to his lips and kissed it. Then… then he turned, and the smile was all Glorfindel could have wished for. He felt it like sunlight on his face, and he smiled back, all of his fear forgotten as Legolas came to him – as Legolas chose him.

“I love you,” he whispered, his voice thick with tears when he buried his face in Legolas’ hair, wrapping his arms around the youth to hug him as tightly as he dared. “I love you, Legolas!” There was so much more he wanted to say, but there were no words, no words but these three.

“I know,” Legolas answered, laughing with relief, “I know! Don’t you know that I belong to you? You made me yours – how could I ever want anything else? I want to be with you, with you and our children. I will not leave you ever again, not unless you send me away.”

“And I will never do that again,” Glorfindel swore, holding onto Legolas for another long moment. When he finally remembered that Elrond was still there as well and looked up, he found that they were alone after all. Glorfindel sighed softly, remembering the look in his friend’s eyes when Legolas had told him that he loved him. It was obvious that Elrond loved him as well, and now that he knew that Legolas would be his, and only his, he finally found it in him to feel compassion for the Lord of Imladris.

But then he smirked, unable to hold that thought for long when Legolas was finally his! He moved back a little so that he could finally kiss Legolas - really kiss him, aggressively claiming the youth’s mouth until he could hear him whimper as he swayed in his arms.

“Let’s go home, Legolas,” he said huskily. “Let’s return to our rooms – I’ll let you sleep some more, and I promise I will not leave your side while you rest.”

“Yes,” Legolas sighed and smiled at him with love in his eyes. “I could not imagine anything I want more than that right now.” Then he hesitated for a moment, as if he were wondering whether what he so obviously wanted to say would hurt Glorfindel.

“He does not love me the way he loves Celebrían,” he offered softly. “And I do not love him the way I love you. He knew it from the beginning – he always knew that in the end, I would choose you. If you still wanted me, that is – I was not so sure about that, not after...” He swallowed and fell silent, and Glorfindel suddenly found himself smiling.

“Of course. Of course I would still want you – how could you ever believe otherwise?” Then he remembered just what he had said and done to the youth, and shook his head. “It was not your fault, Legolas, and I do not deserve your forgiveness. But I am very glad, and grateful for it. This was all my fault, and Elrond’s...”

It didn’t take Legolas long to fall back to sleep in Glorfindel’s bed, once they had the cot moved, and Legolas had fed the child while looking happily in on a sleeping Gîlríon. It seemed simultaneously like the longest time, and only a week or so since he had the pleasure of this perfection; Legolas in his arms, and in his bed, the youth’s body warm and pliant beside him.

He wouldn’t have been Glorfindel if he wasn’t only soothed and happy, but also excited, and he growled hungrily as he turned Legolas to lay on his side, letting his swollen length lie against the inviting crease of Legolas’ buttocks. He wondered how far away morning was with a delighted smirk.

“You are mine again, roch neth,” Glorfindel promised, his words having a darker tone now than they had earlier when Legolas was awake and could hear him. But then, maybe the youth could hear him after all, in his dreams, because he suddenly shivered and pressed back against the Lord slightly in submission.

“Please…” he moaned in his sleep and Glorfindel actually groaned aloud in need. I can’t, Glorfindel reminded himself sternly, wrapping a possessive arm around Legolas to hold him close. Even in the morning it would have to be a restrained affair, since Legolas’ body was still so tender and needed time to heal. But thinking that didn’t stop him from the sudden need to take Legolas. Glorfindel wanted to fuck him until he was begging for it to stop, and more, until he was still and quiet in surrender, every last drop of resistance and active encouragement drawn from his body and soul. And now he knew Legolas wanted it too. After all, Legolas had chosen knowing what to expect from him.

“I will make it up to you,” Glorfindel promised, his whisper heavy with the same emotion as earlier for a moment, remembering how it had felt to have Legolas come to him. Legolas wriggled and Glorfindel growled again. He had missed this so much!

“You will make it up to me,” he averred, remembering all of his fears, all of his sleepless nights without Legolas to hold, without Legolas to warm him and satisfy his lust.

“Please,” Legolas gasped again, still asleep, and Glorfindel smiled at last.

“Sleep,” he advised quietly. “You will be glad of it in the morning.” He rubbed his hardness against Legolas one last time, and then sighed, already feeling the call of reverie despite his arousal. He had missed sleeping with Legolas as much as taking him, and he slowly drifted away, one hand still resting possessively on the youth’s ribs.

Glorfindel was still smiling when he woke, his nose buried in Legolas’ golden hair and his arm still wrapped possessively around the youth’s waist – and when he moved a little, he realised that not only was he hard once more, his erection was also still nestled in that perfect place between Legolas’ thighs, so that he would only need to move a little to slide right into him...

He groaned softly, waking fully now and remembering why he could not just take him like that. For one thing, he needed oil, or it would hurt Legolas – and then he pushed himself up a little and sighed at the perfection of what he saw. The tiny babe in Legolas’ arms. Their daughter.

Yes – there was another reason why he needed to be careful, at least for the moment. But as soon as Elrond would tell him that Legolas had fully recovered from the birth.... He smiled slowly, thinking of Legolas’ little secret which he now knew. Oh, he could not wait to play with the possibilities this new knowledge offered!

“Are you truly awake now? Good morning, my Lord,” Legolas greeted him and turned his head so that Glorfindel could kiss him. “Parts of your body have been awake for quite some time now, and teased me – I feared that you would ravish me in your sleep while I was still nursing the child.”

Glorfindel groaned at the picture Legolas’ teasing words painted. “Don’t try to tease me unless that is what you want, roch neth,” he growled softly, slowly rubbing his swollen length along the crease of Legolas’ buttocks. “You know me well enough to know that I am perfectly capable of doing just that!”

Legolas whimpered softly and trembled in his arms, and Glorfindel chuckled when he realised that nothing had changed. He still knew how to arouse Legolas with just a few words – Legolas still belonged to him completely.

“And you would like that, wouldn’t you?” he asked evilly. “Oh yes, you would enjoy it – you would beg me not to stop, promise me anything if only I would continue... Isn’t that the truth, roch neth?”

“You know it is,” Legolas moaned, and Glorfindel smiled in triumph when his questing fingers found him hot and hard, aching for his touch just the way he used to.

More happy than he could remember being in months, Glorfindel teased Legolas for a few moments, nuzzling the back of his neck so that soon he was trembling with need, his breath almost stalling at times as the child continued to nurse from him.

Then, when the baby yawned, Glorfindel let him go. Legolas moaned in regret, and Glorfindel smiled secretly. “Put her down, roch neth,” he commanded, “and then bring me the oil.” Legolas moved immediately to obey, putting their daughter back in her cot to sleep and treating Glorfindel to the sight of his naked body moving around the bedroom. Glorfindel simply lie back and enjoyed the sight, stroking himself a little.

“Hurry, roch neth, before you begin to store up punishments for yourself,” he said, more to watch Legolas’ reaction than any real desire to punish the youth.

“Yes, my Lord!” Legolas gasped, almost whimpering as he found out the oil and made his way back to the bed, looking at Glorfindel from under his lashes so that he almost seemed shy.

Without needing any instruction save from a series of hand gestures, Legolas handed Glorfindel the oil and then lay flat on his stomach on the bed, head buried in his arms, sneakily looking up every now and again as if to check that Glorfindel was still with him.

“Spread your legs for me, roch neth,” he said, almost groaning aloud when Legolas did exactly what he was told, and Glorfindel ached just to be inside him. It almost hurt. But instead of that he spilled some of the oil over the crease of Legolas buttocks, gratified when the youth jumped at the sensation, having expected warm hands to touch him no doubt.

He poured a little of the oil onto his fingers and rubbed them together slowly, still looking down at the vision before him.

“Please, my Lord,” Legolas began. “Do not make me wait so. I have wanted this for so long now… so long.” He sounded so forlorn that Glorfindel found himself obeying Legolas for the first time, leaning over to prepare the youth liberally and carefully for what they were about to do. Although his own need was just as desperate, Glorfindel couldn’t help remembering that this had all happened so fast.

“How does that feel?” he asked with real concern as he rubbed the walls of Legolas’ passage with his oil-slicked fingers. He knew it was different, but the changes Legolas’ body had gone through might have made him tender, and he didn’t want this first time to be painful for Legolas. At least, not thoughtlessly so…

“Ohhh,” Legolas sighed, surprising him. “It feels good!” Glorfindel grinned and deliberately twisted his fingers so that Legolas moaned for him. He had even missed this, the sounds that came from Legolas as he was touched and invaded. And yet there was a difference in him.

Glorfindel looked over Legolas’ body, even turned away from him, and noted the new muscles in Legolas’ shoulders and arms. But strangely, it only made him desire the youth more, and to know that this stronger, more masculine body could be made just as helpless at his simple touch aroused him more than he could have predicted.

“Please,” Legolas moaned again, not demanding, only hungry and forlorn, and it was what Glorfindel had been waiting for. He pulled his hand away and readied his own flesh for the penetration.

“Beg me again for it, roch neth,” he ordered, breathless himself with want as he held himself at Legolas’ entrance. “Beg me to use you.” He saw the muscles in Legolas’ shoulders contract at his words as Legolas shivered in arousal.

“Please, my Lord. Please, use me. I am yours!” Legolas declared.

“You will always be mine, Legolas,“ Glorfindel purred, pushing carefully forward so that he slowly slid inside. Legolas moaned softly, and Glorfindel found himself smiling against the youth’s neck at the familiar, much-missed sensation, the walls of Legolas’ passage clenching almost too tightly around him despite the liberal use of oil.

“Yes, my Lord – always!” Legolas sighed, his body relaxing completely as he sank deeper into his submission.

“Does it hurt?” Glorfindel asked, trying to be careful despite his almost painful arousal.

“No – no more than usually,” Legolas sighed, and then he whimpered, clenching around Glorfindel again when the Lord chuckled.

“Then you will just have to bear it, won’t you, roch neth?” he said softly, his voice almost threatening, so that Legolas began to tremble once more. “After all, there is nothing you can do to stop this... I am so much stronger than you that you could never get away now, even if you started to struggle,” he continued, remembering what Elrond had told him.

He would not restrain the youth – he had waited too long for this and he wanted him now. There was no time for that kind of game, not even enough to get a rope to bind the youth’s hands.

Still, he was curious to see what kind of effect his words would have, and he was not disappointed. Beneath him, Legolas stiffened, and when Glorfindel gathered his wrists in one hand to press them into the bed over his head, he tried to pull them away as if to test Glorfindel’s intention.

“Do not make me angry, roch neth,” Glorfindel growled. “I do not think that you are in a position where you can afford to make me want to hurt you!”

He substantiated his words with a thrust that made Legolas gasp, although – despite his words – Glorfindel was still very careful not to harm him.

“No, my Lord – please don’t hurt me!” Legolas begged now, shaking in his arms with arousal at this game. “I am helpless, I am completely at your mercy... Please, I promise I will do anything to please you, just don’t hurt me!”

Glorfindel groaned in sudden carnal pleasure at the way Legolas’ body reacted to his threat. Oh, it was delicious, and soon he found himself taking Legolas hard anyway, unable to hold back any longer despite his concerns about whether the youth could handle it. But he could feel Legolas moving with him, encouraging him both consciously and unconsciously, so he knew it wasn’t really hurting him.

He felt Legolas’ hands twisting in his grasp to get free, noting the way it made the new muscles in his arms and shoulders ripple, and Glorfindel stopped moving instantly, only to tighten the grip of his fingers so that Legolas whimpered. “Trying to escape me?” he growled murderously, and Legolas froze.

“No, my Lord! I wasn’t –”

Glorfindel cut Legolas off before he could excuse himself. “Now you lie to me, roch neth… whatever should I do with you?” He knew of course that Legolas probably hadn’t been aware of struggling, or if he had, he had probably only wanted to reach around and touch, but it was all part of the game, and Glorfindel found that he loved it like this. Especially when Legolas trembled beneath him and breathlessly pleaded with him to be merciful.

Glorfindel grinned wickedly, while Legolas couldn’t see him. “Mercy?” he asked, and then ground his hips slowly, having stopped deep inside Legolas’ body. “You don’t mean you want me to stop, do you?” he asked, deliberately threatening. He was finding that Legolas was just as good an actor as he was, and although he wanted to laugh at the youth’s reaction, it also made his blood burn in lust.

“No, my Lord! I wouldn’t!”

“Good. Because if you did, I would have no option but to tie you to this bed until you accepted that this,” he pulled out a little, just so that he could slide deeply inside Legolas again, “is mine.”

Legolas almost seemed to melt beneath him, and Glorfindel moaned himself, finally dropping the act as Legolas whispered unheard pleas and assurances to him. “I have missed you so much!” he whispered urgently, suddenly feeling the desire to see Legolas’ face. Gently, he left the youth’s body so that he could free Legolas’ hands and turn him around, only to enter him again, this time when they were facing each other.

Legolas moaned with his eyes closed, and wrapped his legs around Glorfindel’s waist. Now his hands were free, he felt Legolas’ fingers threaded into his hair, and it only made him hotter. He slid his hands underneath the youth to hold him close, gladdened that even with the extra muscle and tone, Legolas was still light enough to hold like this. It meant he could control Legolas’ movements, and hold him still, in the perfect position to claim him deeply, so deeply that Legolas moaned, his voice so low that it was almost a growl.

“Are you not my pet, aras neth?” Glorfindel asked, unable it seemed to stop playing even now.

“I am, my Lord... I am your pet, for you to play with in whichever way you want,” Legolas whispered breathlessly, his eyes still closed as if to completely concentrate on the sensation of belonging to Glorfindel once again…


To be continued…

Author’s Note: Comments appreciated. Please review! :)