The Price of Pride
folder
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
61
Views:
1,869
Reviews:
53
Recommended:
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Currently Reading:
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Category:
-Multi-Age › Het - Male/Female
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
61
Views:
1,869
Reviews:
53
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 27
Elvish translations
Cuivië – awakening
Meldir – friend
Nestadren nín – my healer (lit. my healing)
Veston – I promise
Chapter 27
I took my time returning to camp. Elrohir and Aragorn were missing, but Elladan sat still by gut guttering fire.
“Where are your brothers?” I asked, looking around the camp.
“Estel came back from him the stream in an absolute panic. He dressed as quickly as he could and took off that way. Elrohir went after him to keep an eye on him and calm him down. What did you do to him, Legolas?” Elladan looked like he could not decide whether to laugh or to be angry.
“I offered to wash his back, which he refused, and asked him to wash mine. I did not expect the reaction I received, El. It was as if he had never seen a naked male before.”
“Other than himself, ‘Ro and me, he probably has not, at least not outside the infirmary. Ada raised him as an Elf in most respects, but his mother would never let him use the public baths. It took him weeks after we began traveling to be comfortable bathing in front of ‘Ro and me,” Elladan told me.
“Why would she not let him use the public baths?” I was curious. Elves had little modesty when it came to bathing.
“Apparently, public baths are not the way of Men. She was willing to accede to most things Elvish, but not the issue of modesty. Poor Estel. You probably scared the boy half to death. I imagine you did nothing to hide yourself from him.”
“Hardly,” I laughed. “It never would have occurred to me to do so, though I would not have, even if I had thought of it. I want him to notice me.”
“He noticed, that much is sure. ‘Ro will calm him down. Just tread a little more carefully if you hope to have any success.”
“When you were teasing him last night, you mentioned Berianir…” I began.
“You have no competition, if that is what you are asking. Estel has expressed no interest in that Elf, or in any other.”
“That is good to know, but that is not so much what I was asking. Men are not known for their tolerance of relationships between males.”
“Ah, well, that could be a concern, though he is comfortable with Glorfindel and Erestor, whether in the classroom or out of it. And you heard him last night discussing my relationship with Orophin. There was no condemnation in his voice. If you told him you had a male lover, he would accept it. I just do not know how he will react if you ask him to be that lover. He apparently expressed no interest in any particular Elf so his mother chose a very safe, very staid, if pretty, she-Elf for his Cuivië. To my knowledge, that has been his one and only experience.”
My assumption the night before had been correct. Aragorn was still almost completely innocent. As if reading my mind, Elladan added, “In every other domain, Estel is experienced beyond his years, but he is still a child where anything sexual is concerned. Be kind to him, Legolas.”
“As kind as if it were his Cuivië all over again, meldir. Veston.” I would have to change my plans, such as they were, at leaslittlittle now that I knew the real extent of Estel’s innocence. I had thought to simply create situations in which my interest was clear so he could reciprocate if he chose. Obviously, that was not going to be enough. I was going to have to seduce him. And in doing so, introduce him to the idea of seduction. Fortunately, I had always enjoyed a challenge. I considered how best to go about it and decided being completely straightforward was the best option.
A few minutes later, Aragorn and Elrohir returned to the campsite. Aragorn seemed to have recovered his composure. The s exs exchanged silent glances, then excused themselves to bathe. When they were gone, I turned to Aragorn.
“I apologize if I upset you, meldir, but I have always had trouble washing my own back.”
“N’uma. I am the one who should apologize. I know the ways of Elves…” he trailed off.
“Estel, I am not asking, and I will not ask, you to be what you are not. I do not deny that I find you attractive, but that is my responsibility and mine alone. Yours is to decide what you want to do about”
”
“I… I… do not know what to say.”
“You do not have to say anything, meldir, if you do not want to, but you only every have to say no and I will listen.”
“And if I do not say no?”
“Then I shall endeavor to convince you to return my feelings, of course.”
“Of course,” Aragorn said, swallowing convulsively. He was silent for a few minutes, his gaze settling everywhere but on my face, before it landed on my bandaged hand. He reached for me, then jerked his hand back. “Your bandage is wet,” he mumbled nervously. “I should change it.”
I offered my hand willingly. “You do not have to ask if you want to touch me, Estel. I do not mind. Come, change the bandage, nestadren nín.”
He removed the wet bandage, applied a healing salve and wrapped it anew. As he did, I felt the same tingling I had felt when Arwen had tended another cut so long ago. The hands of the King are the hands of a healer. Of course, I did not know then that he was destined to be King. “You have a healing touch, nestadren nín,” I told him.
“Ada trained me himself, rather than leaving it to the other healers,” Aragorn told me.
“Your Ada is a wise Elf,” I replied. “You will be glad of his teachings.” Neither of us knew then how glad he would be.
“I already am,” Aragorn responded. I smiled at that earnest response.
The twins returned before we could speak more, but the time alone had cleared the air of tension somewhat. Aragorn still had to decide what he was going to do now that I had declared my hand, but at least he now knew where I stood. He offered to take first watch, and I volunteered for second. I quelled the twins’ protests with a sharp glance before they could even utter them. I had plans and I was not going to let Elladan and Elrohir keep me from fulfilling them.
As they had the night before, Elladan and Elrohir arranged their bedrolls together. I lay down on the opposite side of the fire, leaving Aragorn sitting with his back to us and the fire as he stood watch. Much to my surprise, I slept while waiting for my turn on watch. Though I had not slept the night before, the evening’s conversation with Aragorn had left me energized. I had fully expected to stare at the stars until it was my turn on watch.
Aragorn woke me when it was my turn and I offered him my bedroll, since it was already arranged by the fire. He looked surprised, but I suggested he retrieve my extra blanket for me, assuring him I would be warm enough.
I stood my watch for the allotted time, surprised at how much the temperature dropped. The twins, wrapped up together, were shivering a little. Even with both our bedrolls, Aragorn was shivering quite a bit. I fed the fire and woke Elladan to relieve me on watch. Silently, I handed him my extra blanket and slipped back into my bedroll behind Aragorn. When Elladan’s eyebrow arched with his question, I whispered, “He is cold, as you will be on watch. I will keep him warm and you will use my blanket.”
Elladan gave in, leaving me to fall asleep with Aragorn in my arms. I did not know how he would react in the morning, but I would worry about that then.
Cuivië – awakening
Meldir – friend
Nestadren nín – my healer (lit. my healing)
Veston – I promise
Chapter 27
I took my time returning to camp. Elrohir and Aragorn were missing, but Elladan sat still by gut guttering fire.
“Where are your brothers?” I asked, looking around the camp.
“Estel came back from him the stream in an absolute panic. He dressed as quickly as he could and took off that way. Elrohir went after him to keep an eye on him and calm him down. What did you do to him, Legolas?” Elladan looked like he could not decide whether to laugh or to be angry.
“I offered to wash his back, which he refused, and asked him to wash mine. I did not expect the reaction I received, El. It was as if he had never seen a naked male before.”
“Other than himself, ‘Ro and me, he probably has not, at least not outside the infirmary. Ada raised him as an Elf in most respects, but his mother would never let him use the public baths. It took him weeks after we began traveling to be comfortable bathing in front of ‘Ro and me,” Elladan told me.
“Why would she not let him use the public baths?” I was curious. Elves had little modesty when it came to bathing.
“Apparently, public baths are not the way of Men. She was willing to accede to most things Elvish, but not the issue of modesty. Poor Estel. You probably scared the boy half to death. I imagine you did nothing to hide yourself from him.”
“Hardly,” I laughed. “It never would have occurred to me to do so, though I would not have, even if I had thought of it. I want him to notice me.”
“He noticed, that much is sure. ‘Ro will calm him down. Just tread a little more carefully if you hope to have any success.”
“When you were teasing him last night, you mentioned Berianir…” I began.
“You have no competition, if that is what you are asking. Estel has expressed no interest in that Elf, or in any other.”
“That is good to know, but that is not so much what I was asking. Men are not known for their tolerance of relationships between males.”
“Ah, well, that could be a concern, though he is comfortable with Glorfindel and Erestor, whether in the classroom or out of it. And you heard him last night discussing my relationship with Orophin. There was no condemnation in his voice. If you told him you had a male lover, he would accept it. I just do not know how he will react if you ask him to be that lover. He apparently expressed no interest in any particular Elf so his mother chose a very safe, very staid, if pretty, she-Elf for his Cuivië. To my knowledge, that has been his one and only experience.”
My assumption the night before had been correct. Aragorn was still almost completely innocent. As if reading my mind, Elladan added, “In every other domain, Estel is experienced beyond his years, but he is still a child where anything sexual is concerned. Be kind to him, Legolas.”
“As kind as if it were his Cuivië all over again, meldir. Veston.” I would have to change my plans, such as they were, at leaslittlittle now that I knew the real extent of Estel’s innocence. I had thought to simply create situations in which my interest was clear so he could reciprocate if he chose. Obviously, that was not going to be enough. I was going to have to seduce him. And in doing so, introduce him to the idea of seduction. Fortunately, I had always enjoyed a challenge. I considered how best to go about it and decided being completely straightforward was the best option.
A few minutes later, Aragorn and Elrohir returned to the campsite. Aragorn seemed to have recovered his composure. The s exs exchanged silent glances, then excused themselves to bathe. When they were gone, I turned to Aragorn.
“I apologize if I upset you, meldir, but I have always had trouble washing my own back.”
“N’uma. I am the one who should apologize. I know the ways of Elves…” he trailed off.
“Estel, I am not asking, and I will not ask, you to be what you are not. I do not deny that I find you attractive, but that is my responsibility and mine alone. Yours is to decide what you want to do about”
”
“I… I… do not know what to say.”
“You do not have to say anything, meldir, if you do not want to, but you only every have to say no and I will listen.”
“And if I do not say no?”
“Then I shall endeavor to convince you to return my feelings, of course.”
“Of course,” Aragorn said, swallowing convulsively. He was silent for a few minutes, his gaze settling everywhere but on my face, before it landed on my bandaged hand. He reached for me, then jerked his hand back. “Your bandage is wet,” he mumbled nervously. “I should change it.”
I offered my hand willingly. “You do not have to ask if you want to touch me, Estel. I do not mind. Come, change the bandage, nestadren nín.”
He removed the wet bandage, applied a healing salve and wrapped it anew. As he did, I felt the same tingling I had felt when Arwen had tended another cut so long ago. The hands of the King are the hands of a healer. Of course, I did not know then that he was destined to be King. “You have a healing touch, nestadren nín,” I told him.
“Ada trained me himself, rather than leaving it to the other healers,” Aragorn told me.
“Your Ada is a wise Elf,” I replied. “You will be glad of his teachings.” Neither of us knew then how glad he would be.
“I already am,” Aragorn responded. I smiled at that earnest response.
The twins returned before we could speak more, but the time alone had cleared the air of tension somewhat. Aragorn still had to decide what he was going to do now that I had declared my hand, but at least he now knew where I stood. He offered to take first watch, and I volunteered for second. I quelled the twins’ protests with a sharp glance before they could even utter them. I had plans and I was not going to let Elladan and Elrohir keep me from fulfilling them.
As they had the night before, Elladan and Elrohir arranged their bedrolls together. I lay down on the opposite side of the fire, leaving Aragorn sitting with his back to us and the fire as he stood watch. Much to my surprise, I slept while waiting for my turn on watch. Though I had not slept the night before, the evening’s conversation with Aragorn had left me energized. I had fully expected to stare at the stars until it was my turn on watch.
Aragorn woke me when it was my turn and I offered him my bedroll, since it was already arranged by the fire. He looked surprised, but I suggested he retrieve my extra blanket for me, assuring him I would be warm enough.
I stood my watch for the allotted time, surprised at how much the temperature dropped. The twins, wrapped up together, were shivering a little. Even with both our bedrolls, Aragorn was shivering quite a bit. I fed the fire and woke Elladan to relieve me on watch. Silently, I handed him my extra blanket and slipped back into my bedroll behind Aragorn. When Elladan’s eyebrow arched with his question, I whispered, “He is cold, as you will be on watch. I will keep him warm and you will use my blanket.”
Elladan gave in, leaving me to fall asleep with Aragorn in my arms. I did not know how he would react in the morning, but I would worry about that then.