The Price of Pride
folder
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
67
Views:
2,259
Reviews:
32
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
Lord of the Rings Movies › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
67
Views:
2,259
Reviews:
32
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
Chapter 29
Elvish translations
Meldir – friend
Peredhel – half-Elf
Chapter 32
He was too tempting, standing there, gaping at me. I forced my attention to the deer I had shot instead. Skinning and cleaning it was just the thing to distract me from this ever-growing attraction, at least until I was under control again. The twins reappeared almost as soon as I set to work, joining me in the task. Aragorn offered to help as well, but with three of us already workinherehere was no room for another pair of hands. Elladan suggested that he look instead for herbs that might flavor the meat. Aragorn took their suggestion, leaving me alone with the twins.
I waited for a few minutes, until I was sure Aragorn was gone, before I spoke.
“I want to take Estel back to the place we found two days ago to watch the sunrise, and I do not want the two of you coming with us,” I told them bluntly. “What promises do I have to make to get you to agree?”
That shocked them.
They did not answer at first, though I could not tell if they were just shocked into silence or if they were discussing it among themselves.
Finally, Elladan spoke. “You have known our brother for five days, have pursued him relentlessly in that time, and now you want us to leave you alone with him. Planning on finishing the seduction, meldir?” His tone was cold as steel, and meldir was not an endearment said that way.
I rose slowly, trying to control my own temper. “How many hundreds of years have you known me, Peredhel? When have I ever been less than honorable?”
I could see Elrohir trying to figure out how to be the peacemaker. Erestor might have found the words to stop this fight. Glorfindel might have been able to hold us back. Elrond might have frozen us with his sometimes icy gaze. Elrohir had no chance.
“Arwen,” was the only reply Elladan gave.
My hand shot out, grabbing his tunic. “Do not speak to me of Arwen. I love her, and no one will ever take her place in my heart. I told you that before and I meant it, but I cannot have her. You know that. Despite our conversation many years ago, you have always known it, as have I. I have been faithful to her since her Cuivië, and if any good could come of my remaining faithful, I would, but this is not a test of my resolve. Not a test of my love. This is my life and I am living it alone. You have a lover, Elladan, one you can share everything with, one you can confess your feelings to. I do not have that, and I. Never. Have. I never will if Arwen is the only one I love. I did not ask for it to happen, but I am falling in love with Estel. And he is curious enough about me to return my attentions. You saw that earlier, though I had not intended it.”
Elladan shoved me back when I finished my tirade. “Yes, I saw. I watched you both lose control, and now you want me… us to let you go off alone. You do not inspire much confidence.”
“You saw us lose control, but we also regained it. Is that what you want, Elladan? For me to promise not to touch your precious Estel? Would that make you trust me?”
“You would make that promise?”
“Not willingly, but if that is really what you need in order to trust me, I would make it. Even if I do promise, though, that does not stop Estel from touching me, something he seems to enjoy doing.” I could tell from his face that Elladan had not considered that possibility. “I initiated the kiss that you saw, but he intensified it. All I planned to do was give him a quick kiss, more to see how he would react to your seeing it than anything else. I would have stopped it there because I do not like audiences. He kept it going.”
“What about a watch?” Elrohir interjected quietly.
I turned on him with the same ferocity I had faced his twin. “Do you think me so blinded by passion that I have no sense left? We will share the watch as we always do. Or, if he is too tired, I will stand watch. It would not be the first time I have watched all night, as well you know. I proved again today, in case you did not notice, that I am perfectly capable of defending myself and those around me. You have fought with Estel for how many months? You know he is capable as well.”
I turned back to Elladan, a little calmer now. “When we talked that first morning, you told me I deserved to be happy. Estel makes me happy. Happier than I have ever been away from Arwen. He cannot replace her, but I do not want him, too. What I feel for him is different than what I feel for her, but no less real. No less vital. I love them both, but Estel is the one I might be able to have. Can you accept that? Because if you cannot, then I need to leave before this goes any farther. I have suffered for love once. I do not want to suffer for it again.”
Silence greeted my question, making me sad and angry all over again. “I am going to bathe,” I said. “I will gather my things and go when I am clean. Give my regards to Estel.” I started toward the stream when I felt a hand on my arm. I turned back, hand raised to strike.
“You do not have to leave, mellon,” Elrohir said. “You have asked us to do something very difficult. Give us time to adjust to the idea. We do want you to be happy.”
I nodded curtly. “I am still going to bathe.”
Meldir – friend
Peredhel – half-Elf
Chapter 32
He was too tempting, standing there, gaping at me. I forced my attention to the deer I had shot instead. Skinning and cleaning it was just the thing to distract me from this ever-growing attraction, at least until I was under control again. The twins reappeared almost as soon as I set to work, joining me in the task. Aragorn offered to help as well, but with three of us already workinherehere was no room for another pair of hands. Elladan suggested that he look instead for herbs that might flavor the meat. Aragorn took their suggestion, leaving me alone with the twins.
I waited for a few minutes, until I was sure Aragorn was gone, before I spoke.
“I want to take Estel back to the place we found two days ago to watch the sunrise, and I do not want the two of you coming with us,” I told them bluntly. “What promises do I have to make to get you to agree?”
That shocked them.
They did not answer at first, though I could not tell if they were just shocked into silence or if they were discussing it among themselves.
Finally, Elladan spoke. “You have known our brother for five days, have pursued him relentlessly in that time, and now you want us to leave you alone with him. Planning on finishing the seduction, meldir?” His tone was cold as steel, and meldir was not an endearment said that way.
I rose slowly, trying to control my own temper. “How many hundreds of years have you known me, Peredhel? When have I ever been less than honorable?”
I could see Elrohir trying to figure out how to be the peacemaker. Erestor might have found the words to stop this fight. Glorfindel might have been able to hold us back. Elrond might have frozen us with his sometimes icy gaze. Elrohir had no chance.
“Arwen,” was the only reply Elladan gave.
My hand shot out, grabbing his tunic. “Do not speak to me of Arwen. I love her, and no one will ever take her place in my heart. I told you that before and I meant it, but I cannot have her. You know that. Despite our conversation many years ago, you have always known it, as have I. I have been faithful to her since her Cuivië, and if any good could come of my remaining faithful, I would, but this is not a test of my resolve. Not a test of my love. This is my life and I am living it alone. You have a lover, Elladan, one you can share everything with, one you can confess your feelings to. I do not have that, and I. Never. Have. I never will if Arwen is the only one I love. I did not ask for it to happen, but I am falling in love with Estel. And he is curious enough about me to return my attentions. You saw that earlier, though I had not intended it.”
Elladan shoved me back when I finished my tirade. “Yes, I saw. I watched you both lose control, and now you want me… us to let you go off alone. You do not inspire much confidence.”
“You saw us lose control, but we also regained it. Is that what you want, Elladan? For me to promise not to touch your precious Estel? Would that make you trust me?”
“You would make that promise?”
“Not willingly, but if that is really what you need in order to trust me, I would make it. Even if I do promise, though, that does not stop Estel from touching me, something he seems to enjoy doing.” I could tell from his face that Elladan had not considered that possibility. “I initiated the kiss that you saw, but he intensified it. All I planned to do was give him a quick kiss, more to see how he would react to your seeing it than anything else. I would have stopped it there because I do not like audiences. He kept it going.”
“What about a watch?” Elrohir interjected quietly.
I turned on him with the same ferocity I had faced his twin. “Do you think me so blinded by passion that I have no sense left? We will share the watch as we always do. Or, if he is too tired, I will stand watch. It would not be the first time I have watched all night, as well you know. I proved again today, in case you did not notice, that I am perfectly capable of defending myself and those around me. You have fought with Estel for how many months? You know he is capable as well.”
I turned back to Elladan, a little calmer now. “When we talked that first morning, you told me I deserved to be happy. Estel makes me happy. Happier than I have ever been away from Arwen. He cannot replace her, but I do not want him, too. What I feel for him is different than what I feel for her, but no less real. No less vital. I love them both, but Estel is the one I might be able to have. Can you accept that? Because if you cannot, then I need to leave before this goes any farther. I have suffered for love once. I do not want to suffer for it again.”
Silence greeted my question, making me sad and angry all over again. “I am going to bathe,” I said. “I will gather my things and go when I am clean. Give my regards to Estel.” I started toward the stream when I felt a hand on my arm. I turned back, hand raised to strike.
“You do not have to leave, mellon,” Elrohir said. “You have asked us to do something very difficult. Give us time to adjust to the idea. We do want you to be happy.”
I nodded curtly. “I am still going to bathe.”