Cuil Eden

Title: Cuil Eden
Part: 59/?
Rating: NC-17
Series: Sequel to Anestel and Ethuil'waew
Pairing: Glorfindel/Legolas
Warnings: mpreg, bdsm
Disclaimer: All the pretty elves belong to Tolkien, I'm just playing with them and will give them back afterwards.
Lots of thanks to my beta for her hard work! :)


59

Legolas moaned softly when Glorfindel at last slipped out of him. His Lord had taken him slowly yet insistently this morning – had indeed taken him while he was still lost in reverie, so that it was the initial pain of penetration that had woken him – but any tears had been long since forgotten, for Glorfindel knew how to play his body and had made use of him so thoroughly that at last, he had not even had any breath left to plead for mercy with.

He stretched languidly, his eyes closing as he cherished the possessive hand that was still clenched around his wrists, the ache of invasion that would stay with him for most of the morning.

"I take it you are awake now?" Glorfindel breathed against his neck, then chuckled softly when Legolas shivered at the stimulation. "Does that mean that you are up for more then, roch neth? Did I not satisfy you?"

"You always satisfy me, my Lord!" Legolas denied and turned around at last to wrap his arms around Glorfindel's neck, stretching with a sigh of tired fulfillment. "Mmh... You always make me feel so good, no matter what you do to me. I love it when you take control of me so completely!"

Legolas blushed at the intimate confession and Glorfindel chuckled softly, then gripped the youth's chin with one hand to hold him in position for another slow, languid kiss, taking control of the prince's mouth as completely as he had earlier taken control of his body.

"I could keep you here in my bed all day," Glorfindel threatened playfully. "I could indeed make such good use of you that by the time night arrived, you would barely be conscious anymore..."

Legolas moaned, aroused by the picture his Lord's words painted despite the exhaustion left by their vigorous love-making. "No..." he protested weakly. "Please, my Lord... Gîl will want our attention any moment now."

"Very well... I will show mercy. For now," Glorfindel added and laughed again at the way the youth sighed with only barely veiled desire.

"What are your plans for today then, if you are going to so generously refrain from tormenting me?"

Glorfindel chuckled. "Oh, believe me... I will have you thank me for my generosity later today. You can show me just how grateful you truly are then! But for now, I fear that I must leave you the burden of entertaining Gîl for the morning. I shall have to meet with a few of the Golden Wood's councilors to discuss matters of interest to Elrond, but I will be back with you in time for the noon-time meal."

"I could take Gîl to see the horses then," Legolas mused. "That always makes him happy, and I think that both Lainiell and Asfaloth will be glad to leave the stables for a while."

"That will indeed suffice to keep him happy all morning!" Glorfindel laughed. "I shall come to meet you at the stables then, once the councilors let me go. Come, let us wash now while we can still do so in peace."

Legolas sighed but nodded obediently. Gîl would indeed wake soon, and he much desired to wash away all traces of just how thoroughly he had been ravished from his body before then.



Only a short while later, they left the talan together, although their ways soon parted when Glorfindel had to climb a winding, wooden stairway that led to another of the large mellyrn trees that stood at the heart of Caras Galadhon. Meanwhile, Legolas and Gîlríon descended onto the ground to follow a path towards that part of the forest close to the city's wall where barracks and stables had been built.

"I want to ride on my own, ada!" Gîlríon argued, and Legolas bit back a sigh. "I am big enough now! It was my begetting day yesterday!"

"It was only your first begetting day, Gîl. You are still too young," Legolas patiently explained, yet as always, that answer failed to satisfy the child.

"I am not!" Gîl denied. "I am much older now!"

Legolas sighed and stopped, kneeling so that he could look at Gîl. "Your atto and I love you very much, Gîl. We just do not want you to get hurt."

"I will not! I am big enough!" Gîl insisted.

"Do you remember what happened to Fairion when his horse got startled by something and tripped over a branch?" Legolas calmly asked, and Gîlríon nodded sagely.

"He fell down and had a bump on his head, and it was this big!" Gîlríon's hands showed the size of a pumpkin. "He let me look!" he added proudly, and Legolas had to bite back his laughter.

"Indeed he did, my heart. And if that were to happen to you, your atto and I would be really, really sad. You do not want to have a bump like Fairion, do you?"

Gîl sighed. "No," he said reluctantly. "But you promised I will get a pony for my next begetting day! I will be really big then!"

"Yes, you will," Legolas said, and Gîlríon beamed at him, so that Legolas wisely refrained from telling him that they would certainly not let him ride his pony without someone leading it by the bridle.

Legolas stood and took Gîl's hand again, and just a short time later they finally reached the large stables, three low, sprawling buildings that had been built to the side of the glade that also housed training grounds and barracks. They had been to the stables before several times to visit the horses, yet never as early as today.

Where they had so far known the Lórien stables only as a quiet place where dust danced in rays of sunshine while the horses munched quietly on some straw, today it was filled with a group of stable boys who seemed in the middle of feeding, cleaning and grooming the horses all at once. There was no place that was not touched by the hectic rush of the morning's work, and Legolas quickly discarded his plan to check on Lainiell first, as they would have had to squeeze past what seemed to be at least five stable boys and a dozen horses first. Instead, he and Gîl turned to walk down the small corridor that lead to the box Asfaloth was stabled in, which was both spacier and sturdier than most of the other boxes.

"There he is... do you want to give him the apple?" Legolas asked Gîl, and at the child's eager nod gave him the wizened apple he had taken from a basket earlier, together with a second one for his mare. Yet when they stepped closer to the box, Legolas saw that it stood open, and that there was a stable lad inside who managed to jump back just in time before the stallion's teeth snapped close at the place where just a moment ago, his outstretched hand had been.

"That bastard!" the boy breathed in awe, and there was laughter from further down the corridor.

"Did you try it again?" someone called. "He will bite your head off someday soon, and that will be less painful than what you will get once Lord Glorfindel finds out!"

"It is not fair," the boy in front of them complained, who still had not noticed that he was no longer alone with the stallion. "Just one quick ride – no one would find out."

Legolas laughed at Asfaloth's threatening snort that made the boy flinch back, then stepped forward, Gîl still holding his hand. He paid no attention to the boy's astonished gasp as he patted the heavily muscled neck, watching instead Gîl's delight as the large head leaned down towards him and Asfaloth gently nipped at the giggling child's hair.

"Are you insane?" the boy said in horror. "Take the child away, quick! He will get hurt!"

"I will not!" Gîlríon said indignantly, then giggled again when Asfaloth carefully took the offered apple from his small hand, crunching it between his large teeth so that Gîl's tunic got spattered all over with juice and little bits of pulp. "Yuck!" he said happily while Legolas bit back his laughter.

"He truly will not get hurt," Legolas said and picked up the child to sit him down on the crib for a moment. Then he grabbed a handful of mane and lightly vaulted onto the stallion's back. Gîl eagerly held out his arms and Legolas picked him up again to put him down in front of him, one arm wrapped protectively around his small waist to hold him in place.

He gave the speechless stable boy a timid smile. "I am sorry he threatened you so... I fear that Asfaloth is just as proud and vain as his Lord, if not even more so. I will only take him out for a very short walk."

He nudged Asfaloth's side with a knee, and the stallion obediently stepped out of his box, proudly arching his powerfully muscled neck as he passed the surprised boy in a triumphant half-pass with his knees raised high.

"Asfaloth would never hurt his Lord's heir... Indeed, I wager that he would protect him with his own life even from a pack of wargs," Legolas said in apology.

"Just as he obviously would protect his Lord's beloved prince," a dry voice added, and Legolas once again felt himself flush at Haldir's scrutiny.

"You found us!" he said weakly. "I am sorry we did not wait for you, but we woke early this morning and Gîl was so impatient..."

"Yes, your Lord told me. Although I do wonder at how I am supposed to protect you if you leave without telling me."

"My Lord agreed that no harm could befall us on the way to the stables..."

"Yes, well... Your brother's guards have been confined to their telain and the immediate area surrounding it, so you should be safe from them for now. Still, my Lord Celeborn had me assigned as your personal guard, and whatever you think of me, I do not take my duty lightly."

"Truly, I am very sorry, Haldir," Legolas said. "I did not think of that. I promise I will not forget it again."

Haldir smirked. "See that you do not. For if I have to rescue you again..."

Legolas nodded meekly. "May we ride now, guard, or are there any other dangers you need to protect us from?"

Haldir's eyes narrowed. "Off with you, before I become someone you need protection from."

"I am sorry we startled you!" Legolas called out to the stable boy. "I promise, I am not going to tell anyone!"

"I might tell my Lord though, if I ever find anyone attempting something so foolish again!" Haldir said darkly, and the last thing Legolas saw before they left the stable was the stable lad trying to escape in vain the infamous Marchwarden's tirade.

"Gallop, ada!" Gîl demanded excitedly once they were outside. Legolas led Asfaloth to a small square of grass, and there, the lightest change in his seat was enough to have the powerful destrier break into a slow canter as smooth and regular as a rocking horse.

After several rounds, Legolas let Asfaloth slow and then allowed the stallion to walk around the stables and the near-by training ground for a while so they could watch the milling horses out for pasture and the small contingent of Lórien guards that were engaged in a training fight.

"Shall we take Lainiell out now?" Legolas asked at last and at Gîlríon's vigorous nod, led the stallion back towards the stables.

It was calmer when they entered the airy building again. There were no horses out to be groomed, and most of the stable lads had vanished as well. Haldir had waited for them near the stable's entrance where he could keep watch over them and now joined them inside once more, smugly watching how the youth they had surprised earlier was now scrubbing the floor with a scowl on his face.

Legolas jumped from Asfaloth's back with Gîl in his arms, then patted the stallion's neck in thanks. Neck and tail arched high, the stallion slowly walked back to his box and began to snuffle through his crib for a few last grains when Legolas closed and secured his door.

"He seems to listen rather well to you," Haldir said. "I am impressed..."

"Are you?" Legolas laughed. "All it takes is to show him proper respect. He is quite aware that he is a Lord of Horses. No, if you want to be impressed, you should see my Lainiell. If you ever feel like challenging me to another duel, I will insist on it being on horseback. No one in Lórien or Imladris could beat Lainiell and me among the trees!"

Haldir smirked. "That shaggy pony of yours? She does not look particularly fast to me, or particularly war-minded. Horse-breeding in Mirkwood must have changed much indeed during the centuries, for my father told me much of the powerful destriers Oropher and his son rode into battle – 'black like the night and ill-tempered as wargs', were his words."

"Oh, my father breeds them still... But there really is not much they are good for apart from battle on plains. He has to keep them close to the caves, for they could not survive out in the forest, not like our shaggy ponies."

Legolas opened the box and rubbed Lainiell's head in greeting. "That thick underwool has saved many a horse from spider bites," he explained. "And of course Mirkwood's winters are cold, for there is no sorcery to protect us from nature's worst. Next to your meek palfreys my Lainiell might not look particularly noble, but if spiders or a pack of wargs were to attack, you would be surprised just how well suited she is to a fight beneath trees. Shall I show you?"

Haldir raised a brow at the smiling youth before him. "So confident?" he drawled. "Why, I am surprised... Who knew you had it in you?"

Legolas froze, his smile faltering, then lowered his eyes to hide the expression of hurt that Haldir's words had caused.

Haldir sighed, his smirk gentling into a smile. "Come, prince, show me your horse's merits... It will not do to have Glorfindel wroth with me yet again, and to tell the truth, I actually do like to see you smile."

Legolas swallowed and then tried to force a more cheerful expression onto his face, although his eyes were still a little wary. "Do you, truly? I thought you liked me best--" He blushed and then stopped when his gaze fell onto Gîl.

Haldir chuckled and stepped closer. "Oh, I do!" he breathed. "As I am certain does your Lord. Still... You are quite sweet when you are happy. I think I am finally starting to understand why your Lord is acting the besotted protector of late."

Legolas' blush deepened, yet the smile had returned to his face, and when Haldir stepped back, he turned to open Lainiell's box wide.

"Come, Gîl, let us show him that Mirkwood's horses are born fighters!"

The mare was still crunching the apple Gîl had given her between her powerful jaws, and when Legolas led her outside, she kept nosing at him in search of more. Yet once Legolas leapt onto her back, a change came over her, and although she did indeed look scruffy from the beginning loss of her winter coat, and though she stood a hand smaller than the sleek Lórien mounts, she was now a picture of collected power and concentration.

Legolas looked around in search, then his eyes lit up when his gaze fell onto a fence in the middle of construction. Wooden poles had been driven into the ground, but no planks had been nailed to them yet.

"If you will watch Gîl for a moment, I shall show you just where the merits of Mirkwood's breed lies," Legolas said confidently. "I wager that there is no horse in Lórien on which you could do this faster than Lainiell and I."

Haldir smiled lazily, openly appraising the youth. "Oh, very well... If you lose, then I get a kiss as forfeit."

Legolas flushed but shook his head in resignation. "Will you not first see what my horse can do? You might decide not to take me up on that wager after all."

"Why, you truly are confident!" Haldir feigned surprise. "Go on then... I am curious now!"

"There is a game in Mirkwood called pâd e-gelaidh, the Way of Trees – I do not supppose it is played in Lórien as well?"

Haldir shook his head. "Nay... Although I have heard of it. It is some sort of competition?"

Legolas nodded. "On Midsummer morning every year, everyone gathers to take part in competitions, warriors and youths alike. Pâd e-gelaidh is the task set before those who would show how accomplished they are in fighting from horse-back among the trees. A short track is prepared, and everyone who dares enter his name into the competition will have to race his horse around the trees and back, using bow and knives to hit targets hidden in the trees and branches. Of course I do not propose to beat you in that – after all you know very well that I am not skilled yet with a blade."

Haldir smirked but otherwise stayed silent while Legolas flushed, yet determinedly continued.

"Children play at pâd e-gelaidh as well, and though you will undoubtedly laugh at me for indulging in children's games yet again, that is what I shall show you. You may laugh at me, but I wager you will not laugh at my horse's skill – or if you do, I will have you try to repeat it on a horse of your choosing."

Legolas gave Haldir a confident smile, still flushed for having spoken of the humiliating defeat he had known at Haldir's hands, yet nevertheless secure in himself and his own skills.

"Go on then, show me, so I will see whether I can demand my forfeit of you any time soon," Haldir drawled, but there was none of the usual arrogant dismissal in his expression – indeed Legolas might almost have called it amused encouragement, had he been asked to define the guard's mien.

"'Tis not truly pâd e-gelaidh, not even as children play it, but I fear it is the best I can come up with here," Legolas said in apology, then made Lainiell return to the stable's entrance to pick up four more of the wizened apples stored as treats in a large bag there.

"Do you see those posts?" he asked when he returned, pointing towards the unfinished fence to their left. "I will take them as substitutes for a proper track winding through the forest."

Lainiell turned to face the posts at his words, her ears pointing forward, the smallest change in Legolas' seat sign enough for her to understand what was expected of her. Her neck curved and her head lowered, her eyes fixed on the posts as her body seemed to shift and become more compact, the powerful haunches now carrying most of her weight and that of her rider.

There was no signal, no spoken word, but Legolas shifted forward ever so slightly and his thighs tightened, and then the mare exploded forward, the muscles of her hindlegs propelling her forward like an arrow shot from the bow. Three jumps in full gallop and they had reached the first pole, passing it while Legolas, riding without saddle or bridle, reached out and placed an apple on top of the pole – and then the horse threw herself to the left, another jump and they had reached the second pole. Again Legolas placed an apple onto it as easily as if his mount were standing or walking while in truth, the powerful body contracted and twisted beneath him when the horse threw herself to the right in midstride in order to pass between the second and third pole. Likewise, Legolas placed a third and fourth apple on poles, and then they had reached the fifth – and last – pole.

Haldir's eyes widened when instead of riding a small circle like he had expected, the mare threw herself around the pole impossibly close, somehow managing a turn so close that Legolas could have kept his hand on the pole all the time should he have desired so.

Again the mare wound her body around the poles in full gallop, changing direction in mid-stride with the quickness and agility of a cat while Legolas effortlessly picked up the apples from where he had placed them only moments earlier. And when at last they came to a spectacular halt in front of Haldir and Gîlríon – a stop from full gallop with the mare's haunches sliding through the sandy soil – Legolas leaned forward and embraced her neck, laughing with breathless joy while the apples fell from his hands to the ground, so that the horse snorted in satisfaction and took them as her due reward.

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pâd e-gelaidh - way of trees
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