Love Within Sight

V

It was necessary for there to be silence on the whereabouts of the fellowship. Elladan felt the weariness in Legolas nonetheless. And the sorrow and despair. How he longed to go to him as he watched the night sky turn to the pale shades of dawn. He acknowledged the hand on his shoulder by leaning into the embrace, his arm going around his brother. Elrohir had his own troubles, the Galadhrim marched to their own battle, his betrothed certainly among them.

“They are safe for now,” Elrohir whispered.

Elrohir nodded. “And so are we……for now.”

********************

The twins rode with the Dunedain to join the gathered host. Legolas marked their appearance with few words of greeting. Not all understood the way of elves and he had no wish to cause Aragorn undue duress. Elladan acknowledged his betrothed as solemnly. There would be time for them later after he and Elrohir had seen to their errand with their foster brother.

Elrohir, happy that Elladan at least would see his love, provided enough distraction around the fire for Legolas to slip away and join Elladan in the shadows of the camp. He would give them as much time together as he could, Elladan grateful for his brother’s efforts on his behalf.

The kiss displayed none of the desperation they could both feel. It was soft and tender, a brush of lips that lingered as their arms brought their bodies close together. They whispered each other’s name as if they were sacred words, holding each other in awe, aware that neither was yet safe. But this night of reunion they did not dwell on the future, only on what they held in their arms.

The whispered words were of love and devotion eternal, vows made to each other renewed in the quiet of their desire and in the heat of their desire. The night would pass with them exploring each other in the manner of young love and the dawn would find them cradling each other.

Legolas stroked Elladan’s hair as they woke, aware that these moments would be precious in the days to come. Elladan smiled, reaching to touch Legolas’ cheek, leaning forward to kiss the sweet lips, running his hands over still warm skin. The sighs were soft as they both touched each other still sheltered by the half light. The tender touches became more insistent as they aroused and heated the blood in their veins. Legolas slipped his body atop Elladan, flexing his hips against his lover, Elladan archrd to meet the hard flesh. He bit at the pale skin, marking Legolas in a trail along his shoulder. Once satisfied, he licked at the forming bruises, soothing the red marks. Legolas responded by driving his body against Elladan, their hard erections in continual contact, pulsing together in the same way their hearts beat in unison. Breathless with passion, Legolas’ teeth latched on Elladan’s shoulder, stifling the cry of his desire. Elladan likewise, encouraged by his love, sort to muffle his own cry with only small success. As the skies promised a new day bright even as the dark clouds gathered beyond, they lay still together, unwilling to give up this precious time that had been granted to them.

The sounds of stirring echoed from the camp. Others were waking to break their fast and plan. They looked at each other with shy smiles, rising to do the best they were able to wipe down their bodies before they dressed. One last kiss was given and received before Legolas and Elladan rejoined their companions.

“Thank you,” Legolas murmured as he embraced his future brother. Elrohir nodded with a smile returning the embrace wholeheartedly, with only a small regret that his own reunion would have to wait. Watching as the lovers moved off together, Elrohir wondered what was worse, fearing for the safety of a loved one from afar, or standing beside them. He had known both with Elladan and both had wrenched at his heart.

“Keep safe for me beloved,” he murmured to the wind, ”keep safe.”

Aragorn listened to the council of his brothers and father as they related his words to him. He held to the star at his throat as he reached a decision, not asking any to ride with him, unsurprised when they chose to.

The three elves stood together as they stepped along the path. Elladan reached to lightly touch Legolas’ hand before he took his place beside Aragorn, and Elladan beside his brother.

The long journey was made, the Dead summoned and the oath renewed. The three to whom the light was as vital as the air stood together once more as the ships were taken. There was little time nor place for intimacy and both Elladan and Legolas felt it keenly. The war was far from over, in many ways the perils they had faced to lead them to this present had only served to prepare them for what lay ahead. Mordor was close, there was no sign that the ringbearer was also, Rohan fought even as they sailed to their aid. It would be a march to a battle with no certainty, only that they would give their all in hope that it would be enough. The prize they fought for was for the world itself.

With that knowledge came the thought that immortal life would not save them from their fate, and as Elladan stood with his love on the bow of the ship and saw the red sky before them, he took hold of Legolas’ hand.

“I am glad you are with me,” he acknowledged.

Within the bowels of the ship Elrohir’s thoughts turned to a far off place and the silver blond elf who fought along side his grandfather in a battle that carried as much import as the one that lay before him. He turned the ring on his finger, traced over the inscription of intertwined names and murmured one name softly. In the quiet of the night, save only for the beat of the oars and the rush of water, Elrohir heard his own name in reply.

Elladan smiled faintly. Elrohir’s courage was the font of his also. The love he held for his brother was never greater than now as Elrohir was separated from the one he was bound to. Duty above love, a creed that was held to even if they wished it were not so.

“Come.” Legolas took his lover’s hand.

As they entered the room Elrohir looked up and smiled. He had expected the two to spend this night together, would not have begrudged either that opportunity. That they had forsaken it to be with him left him with few words to express how he felt.

“Thank you,” he managed as he rose to meet his brother and lover, embracing them.

Elladan poured the wine into three cups, passing them to Elrohir and then Legolas before he sat down with them. For a while they said little as they sipped the sweet liquid. When they did speak, it was of the past, some of which they shared, a little that they had not. Elladan and Elrohir related tales of each other, Elladan was frequent in his interruptions of Elrohir, correcting what he saw as unjust judgement on him. It was all light hearted, Elladan swearing he would relate more of his brother’s exploits to his own love once they were reunited.

The time came too swiftly to sharpen swords, check the fletching of arrows and the stringing of bows. The stench of warfare filled the air, flames licked the sky, screams assailed their ears sending a chill through all. Elladan bid a farewell to Legolas before they ventured out onto the deck, as soon as the door closed behind them, Legolas was a member of the fellowship, not Elladan’s lover. Elrohir accompanied his brother to stand behind Aragorn.

Legolas turned just once, nodding solemnly to both brothers before he followed the future king. Once swords were drawn all doubt disappeared, Elladan trusted his brother and lover to fight with honour and skill, trusted them to live.

********************

They had survived, all of them. Elladan stood on the ramparts and looked over the plain that still burned, he felt the pain of the city behind him. The ring had met the fate it should have done three millennia past, it had shown both the greed and the courage of men. The world was changed beyond what they could have imagined and the place of elves in it changed. His place in it changed. Pledged to immortals both, he and Elrohir would not linger beyond their father. Yet for both of them there was little peace. Duty and honour dictated another road for their loves to travel before their own vows could be fulfilled.

The morning after what many thought only would be visible to their spirits Elladan had woken to Legolas stroking his cheek tenderly, the glistening of tears in his eyes. He had listened in silence to Legolas’ pact with the dwarf. Hurt and pained Elladan had dressed quickly and sort the solitude of the abandoned barricades. Everything that had sustained him through the months seemed shattered. He had hardly heard Legolas’ pleas as the door had closed behind him, not wanting to think on anything but his own distress.

He did not turn when familiar arms wrapped around him, leaning back he closed his eyes, the sorrow flooding him from Legolas.

“I will sail with you,” Legolas murmured.

Elladan shook his head as he turned. He kissed his lover amid the wetness of their tears.

“I did not ask you to abandon your destined task, I will not ask you to abandon your honour,” Elladan replied, “ promise me only that you will come to me fastest when your duty is done.”

Legolas let the tears flow unabated. “I will come to you Elladan, I will come for you.”