Promises Made: Legolas/ Elladan

The Intervening Years : Part Two
Elladan’s Story

Elladan pushed back his hair from his face with both hands before resting his elbows on the table and holding his head, eyes staring down at the food that Elrohir had insisted he attempt to eat. Closing his eyes he sighed, stretching his neck, head tilted upwards, then stood with open blank eyes to walk to the window and stare instead at the swaying branches of the trees that had begun to cover themselves in buds of green as they awoke from the winter slumber.

Elrohir watched from the table wondering what else could be done to ease the pain. It was difficult enough to find the words, but when they were tinged with relief it was all the harder. If Elladan had loved any more he would not be standing to mourn as he did, he would be as lifeless as the body that had been returned to Imladris cradled in his arms.

“Elladan…” he began, only to be quieted by the dismissive wave of his brother’s hand.

While it had been relief for Elrohir, it was despair for Elladan. He grieved not only for the loss, but he fought the guilt of knowing as Elrohir did that he had not been able to love enough.

“Please Elrohir, no more words of comfort, I do not think I can abide much more of it.”

Elrohir rose to go to his brother, his arms around him as Elladan turned to him.

“If only…..if only,” Elladan murmured.

Elrohir rocked his brother, hushing him with the words he did not want to hear but which Elrohir uttered anyway. It always came to this as Elladan sank into self recrimination.

“There is no if only Elladan, you cannot give what was not there. You loved but you both knew that it was with your hearts alone, your souls did not call to each other, you cannot be held to fault on that, there are none who call you accountable.”

“Had I …..”

“Elladan, he would not want this, he gave you leave to seek the one who you are destined to swear eternity to, just as you had to him. You told me yourself there was no jealousy in this.”

“No there was none, we both understood.” Elladan looked at the far hills, then along the pebbled pathways. “I think I will walk awhile before the sun gives up its light for the day.”

“Not too long.”

“No, brother, not too long,” Elladan smiled softly, kissing Elrohir on the cheek, holding him. “Thank you Elrohir, thank you for your understanding.”

“You are my brother, Elladan, I willing do no less.”

It was a habit that Elladan had fallen into, the walk in the fading light to the grave side, to remember and to mourn. He walked slowly along the path, acknowledging with a slight nod of his head to those he passed. Brushing away the light debris that gathered in the folds of the statue, Elladan placed the flowers he had gathered into the curve of the bow, and sat on the stone bench, and let his thoughts drift to the beginning.

The meeting had been accidental. Elladan rushing to an appointment with his father that due to his lack of enthusiasm for had resulted in his lateness, and considering the reason for his presence was to welcome a delegation of Lorien guardians, his tardiness would warrant him a reprimand at the least. The blond elf offered his apology immediately as the two bumped into each other, Elladan’s hand on the stranger’s arm to steady himself as they both swayed to fall against the wall.

“Nay,” Elladan responded, “the fault is mine,” he offered as the two caught each other’s gaze. “I am Elladan of Imladris,” he spoke by way of introduction, “ and it was my carelessness that is to blame.”

It was a moment before the other elf replied, taken by the intensity in the grey eyes. “Gelmir of Lorien,” he bowed, “and by your leave, I am late in my attendance with Lord Elrond.”

Elladan laughed softly. “It appears we both will suffer the ire of our lord then, I too have been less than diligent. And in truth I have little patience for such things as Lord Elrond knows well.”

“Nor I,” Gelmir chuckled, happy he had found an ally in this, “far better to use the time in more practical ways.”

The two spoke as they walked, discovering common interests as they did. They had arranged to test their skills in friendly rivalry later in the day as they debated the merits of each realm by the time Elladan’s hand was on the door. With a deep breath and a shrug of his shoulders to Gelmir he turned the handle.

“Slip in behind me, perhaps at least one of us will be unnoticed.”

The rise of eyebrow was an unmistakable gesture of disapproval, however subtle it was. It had the desired effect on Elladan who bowed his apology and knew that there would be further repercussions of this. Elrond shook his head in resignation. Despite his pleas he was not achieving the success he desired in instilling the nuances of diplomacy into either son, Elladan being at this time the standout in resisting any influence. That two elves had entered the room had not escaped Elrond’s keen notice either and for a moment he wondered if the Lorien elf had been the cause of the delay. Such a development would surprise him, Elladan was hardly known for his liaisons. Elrohir seemed none too disturbed by Elladan’s entry, so it was hardly likely that a bed had been shared. A hand lightly touching his arm brought Elrond musings to an end, the formal portion of the morning about to begin. As was warranted the twins moved to stand with their father, and only then did Elrohir enquire to the identity of the elf in the silent way they had of understanding each other. He smiled as he watched the introductions, noting the quiet conspiratorial glance that passed between his brother and the guardian.

In the weeks that followed it was increasingly difficult to discern the two groups that had come from such different backgrounds. They mingled sharing their skills willingly, and it seemed senses of fashion as hair was braided in various ways. Gelmir and Elladan had an easy friendship that was expressed in their mock rivalry at every venture. They ate in close company, continuing the banter as they laughed at the boasts of the other, they walked in the starlight, telling each other the stories of the heavens. When it came to an end, the farewells were strained affairs not only for Elladan and Gelmir, there were other companions who were to part..

“We will journey to Lorien before the next season,” Elladan revealed, “and so you will have the chance to attempt to better me.”

Gelmir laughed as he was embraced. As they stepped apart, he was about to retort that he already had proven that point when the way that Elladan regarded him had him stop and reply in a way that he had not expected. The kiss was not lingering, but it was enough. Gelmir pulled back, expecting a derisive comment but instead there was silence as he looked into shining grey eyes. The kiss Elladan bestowed was more than a tender expression of affection between companions.

“I will await your visit,” Gelmir answered, “with much anticipation.”

Elrohir laughed as Elladan reined in his horse and turned to keep pace with the rest of the contingent. His brother had become increasingly restless as they approached the borders, and now with the patrol that would escort them in sight, Elladan could barely contain his joy, for within the company was the one he had ridden to see.

The greeting was necessarily formal with so many looking on, but there were whispered messages exchanged and plans made, Elladan being given leave to choose his place of residence while in Lorien. There was little doubt what he would elect to do.

A little of the ease of the relationship that had formed in Imladris was missing as Elladan looked around the comfortably furnished room. Gelmir poured the tea and arranged a selection of fruits and breads before sitting down. There was a less than comfortable silence as both sipped at their drinks. Setting down the cup, Gelmir looked to Elladan, placed a hand on his and murmured a welcome.

“I am glad you are here,” he added as he rose to sit beside Elladan.

In reply Elladan pulled him closer. It was a powerful, searching kiss, heated in its intensity and filled with a question that was immediately answered as Elladan parted his lips.

Neither were novices in the ways of love, so there was an art as Gelmir guided Elladan to the bedroom and clothes were removed. Standing naked before each other there was a sudden shyness for them both before the smiles returned and the appreciation of the warrior body began with finger tip touches and soft lips.

There was nothing hurried about the caresses along the rippled muscle that brought about echoing moans shivering from their lips. Elladan threaded his hands through sun coloured hair as Gelmir slipped down his body, sucking a nipple to hardness, a hand resting on the hardening organ, stroking with deft fingers. Just once he looked to dark grey eyes, Elladan nodded as he arched his back from the bed, immediately feeling the warm soft mouth engulf him.

Gelmir brought him close with the movement of his tongue and lips and the caress of his fingers on hard sacs.

“Come to me,” Elladan whispered, gentle in the tugging of the blond hair and run of finger tips over the curve of a pointed ear.

As Gelmir shifted to kiss Elladan, the Imladris elf ran his hand over the Gelmir’s chest and down to his groin. As they maintained their gaze upon each other, hands stroked with increasing firmness and lack of control, their cries ringing out in the room as bodies arched and shivered on completion. Still, hands moved over the sated bodies, drawing more lust filled sighs, awakening desire in ways only skilled hands can. They shifted a little Elladan kissing along the curve of Gelmir’s shoulder, sliding his hand along the slope of his hip. It felt good to explore a lover’s body once more after so long an abstinence. there had been so few he had wished to share this with. Gelmir arched his body as Elladan suckled gently on the satin smooth skin. For a moment Elladan wondered what it would feel like to have this steel within him, but it was a moment only, a shadow of a thought passing over him that quelled that desire, even though he could not catch the whole of it.

Back in the present, stirred by the sounds around him and aware for the first time of the growing darkness, Elladan stood, stretching tired muscles, running his hands through his unbound hair in a weary gesture that was so often brought on a wave of defeat. He heard Elrohir call to him and realized how he had lingered beyond what he had promised. Elrohir walked the more swiftly to his brother, holding him before his arms loosened enough for him to take Elladan back.

“You have been remembering,” Elrohir spoke soothingly, with no condemnation in his voice.

“The early days,” Elladan managed, “the first stay in Lorien.”

Elrohir laughed softly. “When all thought I had traveled alone, so little did any see of you.”

Elladan laughed too. “Aye, it was a little like that.”

Bathed and changed at Elrohir’s insistence and under his watchful eye, Elladan drank the warm cup of tea before settling into his bed. Elrohir kissed his cheek and bade him a good night, offering a request to the Valar that they guard his brother’s dreams and grant him respite.

Yet the guardians were not kind. Elladan’s dreams ran red with the blood of the slain. Too often he would sleep in dread of this vision and Elrohir had taken to slipping a potion into his night time drink to assist his brother’s rest. But when the day was filled with the past, there was very little that could contain what followed.

Gelmir knew what Elladan could not relate in words. Their love was deep, coming as it did from friendship and common experience. They made love because it pleased both of them to be together in that way, but there were boundaries that they did not cross, unspoken, but real. It was their hearts that rejoiced in the love they shared, but it was not the eternal love that would drive them unrelenting to be one. Elladan was hushed in his protests.

“It is more than enough Elladan,” Gelmir would say repeatedly, “to know you love me is enough.”

When the battle horns sounded Lorien joined with Imladris. Elladan fought beside his brother, ever watchful for his lover, in cold fear that one day he would see either fall.

It was a mere moment of time that stretched for forever. The glint of metal as it bore down, the scream of pain as flesh was cut. Elladan ran, heart beating so hard his breathing stopped. With a fierce savagery he sliced the unnatural creature, severing head from body and splitting through the rough armour to cut into flesh. Revenge taken he spared not a moment longer, turning to his fallen lover.

The eyes were dim as a shaking hand reached up to touch Elladan’s cheek. Elladan held him, kissing the cold lips, feeling the last breath and the silence of his heart. Then he screamed, a sound so wretched that it brought quiet around him. The skies above grew dark, freezing rain drenching the battlefield, the world seemingly mourning, echoing the tears Elladan shed.


Elrohir was beside his brother before the first tears soaked into the pillow. He held the shaking body until Elladan woke, and he held him until the daylight came.

In the far off forest of Mirkwood, Legolas cried out as his dreams were interrupted by visions that were not his. Estar woke at the sound, putting his arm around his friend as Legolas sat up, shaking the sleep from his thoughts.

“Elladan,” he whispered.” Elladan.”