Against all odds2: Work it out

Chapter seven Playing games

Rumil glared at the door. He didn’t want to see anyone right now, least of all Glorfindel. He couldn’t stand the thought of eventually losing him to Ecthelion. He placed his hands over his ears to block out the sound.

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Ecthelion wandered the corridors aimlessly, feeling too strained to rest. He was worried for Elladan and Lindir and if his thoughts didn’t linger on them there was a large variety of lustful images coming to his mind.

He blinked his eyes when he saw the object of his desire leaning against a statue, reading. At first he wondered if he was imagining things but he shook his head to rid himself of the spell and walked forward.

“Hello there. Orophin, isn’t it?”
The elf startled and twirled round, losing his grip on the book he was reading when he saw the owner of the interrupting voice. He knew he blushed and got angry at himself. /Stop blushing. He’s clothed!/ But that thought only brought the images back to him and his colour deepened.

Ecthelion smiled knowingly. He had a pretty good idea why the other blushed so deeply, but was happy to play innocent. For now. “Rumil’s brother. And Haldir is the other one. Glorfindel told me.” He sighed. “Besides the four of you I don’t know anyone here, it seems.” He shrugged. “Makes me feel rather lost.”
Orophin couldn’t help but laugh. “But you don’t know us. We’ve only just met.”
Ecthelion smiled. “I know. I think it’s because your brother is Glorfindel’s lover.”
Orophin cocked his head. “It must pain you to find him with another.”
Ecthelion shook his head. “Nay, it makes me happy.” He smiled warmly. “For my heart has been captured by another.”

Orophin’s heart contracted painfully, but he managed to keep his face normal. He bowed when Ecthelion took his leave and Orophin instantly ran to his rooms.

His head was reeling, worse so than his heart. He plunged on his bed and allowed his tears to leave. His fear of facing an angry Glorfindel had been replaced. Another held Ecthelion’s heart. /I cannot tell anyone, not even my brothers. Ru is healing and Haldir has Thranduil to worry about as well./

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Haldir knocked and entered, frowning when he saw Rumil rocking himself back and forth. He hurried forward. “Ru?” His frown deepened when he realised Rumil had his ears covered, humming to himself to block out all sounds.

Haldir carefully moved around his rocking brother and kneeled to the floor, so Rumil could see him. The eyes widened and Rumil’s hands flew away.
Haldir smiled. “What is wrong?”

Rumil threw himself at Haldir. “I will lose Glorfindel.”
Haldir pulled back and looked at his brother in bewilderment before understanding came over him. He shook his head. “Ecthelion is his lover of old, Rumil, but he loves you now.”
Rumil shook his head. “Maybe at the moment, but seeing Ecthelion again will bring the old flame back to life and I don’t want to see that happening.”

He stood and marched to the window. “Lord Elrond will not allow me to leave, so I will stay in these rooms.” He turned and faced his brother. “It is better this way, Haldir.”

He smiled ruefully. “How’s Thranduil?” Haldir shrugged and actually allowed his brother to steer him out the room. “He must miss his playmate.”
Those words brought a blush to Haldir’s cheeks and flustered he walked the corridor in a bedazzled state.

He shook himself out of it and went to Orophin’s room. They had to do something to aid Rumil. Again he opened the door immediately after knocking and was shocked to see his brother crying on his bed.

He was besides him in an instant. “Phin, what is it?”
Orophin shook his head. “Nothing.” He shrugged. “If I were a woman, I’d say I was pregnant.” He grinned. “Or maybe I am Lindir in disguise.”
Haldir shook his head, glad his brother seemed all right. “Then Elladan would be here somewhere too. Nay, I dare say you are my brother.”

He grinned and hugged him close. “I’m worried for Ru. He says he won’t leave his room, because he fears Glorfindel will fall in love with Ecthelion all over again.”
Orophin smiled and shook his head. “His heart is already taken by another, Haldir, he told me so just now. He’s happy Glorfindel and Ru are together.”
Although these words made Haldir happy, they also made him edgy. Something was wrong with Orophin, he just knew it. He cocked his head and Orophin sighed, knowing his brother had sensed his trouble. He shrugged. “So it cannot be me.”
To this Haldir widened his eyes. When had Orophin fallen for Ecthelion?
Orophin read the question in his eyes and shrugged. “It was him under the waterfall, toron.” He drew his legs up and rested his head on his knees. “Would you leave me alone for a while. I’ll be fine.”
Haldir nodded and left, gloomier than before. How could he help his brothers?

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Elladan groaned as he awoke and had to blink his eyes repeatedly to focus them. He smiled when he recognized Lindir’s features hovering above him. Seeing the tears trail the minstrel’s cheek he shakily raised his arm to brush them away. “I’ll be fine, Cuilenya.”
Lindir nodded. “I know. I can’t help it.”

He laid himself down to feel his beloved’s body against his own and rested his head on Elladan’s shoulder. “I was just so worried, Tuilinfincundonya.”
Elladan beamed with happiness and squished his lover tight, who yelped a little at the sudden abuse. His eyes flashed angrily, but he swiftly composed himself and a look of wonder came over him instead. Elladan was stunned to see the change happen so swiftly and he blinked. Seeing Lindir’s gaze become annoyed he quickly kissed him, knowing the minstrel wanted an answer, but he felt it could wait a little. When he broke it he smiled. “You haven’t called me that for so long, Lindir, I missed hearing it.”
Lindir blushed and hid his head on Elladan’s body. “I’m sorry, but I feared it might bring back dark memories.”
Elladan frowned but then smiled, understanding his beloved. “Nay, Cuilenya, never. Aye, it does bring back the time of your apathy, but that’s overpowered by the amoun lov love and desire I feel when I hear you say it.”

Lindir grinned and cuddled closer. He loved it now that Elladan was rubbing his lower back. “How is your pain? Do you need a healer? Elrond?”
Elladan dotingly kissed his lover. “It is bearable and I am sure ata will check on us soon.” He pulled his love even closer. “I am more concerned about your pain.”
Lindir looked up and smiled. “It is not so bad now. I hardly felt it.” He shrugged. “My worry stopped me from feeling it too much, I think.” He smiled at Elladan’s guilty look and kissed him. “And now that I am laying down, I don’t feel anything.”
Elladan beamed. “Then we shall spend every day in bed, beloved, and roam the valley together at night.” Lindir’s eyes sparkled and Elladan knew he had just made his lover extremely happy. “That’s it, isn’t it? The bed is lonely for you without me in it.”
Lindir nodded and sighed contented.
Together they fell into reverie.

Elrond leaned against his own lover in the door-opening and smiled. The check-up could wait and from what he had seen Elladan still had full control of his muscles, which meant the poison had left the body. He sighed, happy for Lindir and Elladan.
Erestor smiled, sensing Elrond’s extreme happiness and carefully steered him out the room. “Let’s inform Elrohir.”
Elrond nodded and rested his head on Erestor’s shoulder, not willing to let go of his lover.

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Thranduil shook his head at Legolas’ pacing and turned his eyes back to the game board. He moved a piece and smiled warmly at Elrohir. “Your turn.”
Elrohir nodded and looked guilty. “I’m sorry…”
Thranduil shook his head. “Nay, Elrohir, don’t apologize. I am honoured you came to me for company and comfort. Just ignore Legolas’ poor attempt at thinking. I do too.”
Legolas growled but smiledn hen he saw Elrohir grin.

He walked closer and embraced his mate. His eyes locked with Thranduil’s and shone with gratitude. “Diolla le, adar, you always have a way to calm my Peredhel.”
Elrohir blushed at the words but his eyes filled with affection and he leaned more into the embrace.
Thranduil grinned. “It’s a nice diversion from you two trying to find me a .” .”

His eyes turned back to the board and he managed to keep back a groan when he saw Elrohir was about to best him. Nobody has ever won a game against him. Save perhaps Aragorn, which had been extremely humiliating to Thranduil at the time. He shook his head and rubbed his forehead.
He jumped up in happy wonder when there was a knock at the door. It would give him time to hopefully think of an miraculous rescue. But as he looked at the board he realised it would only mean a delay of the inevitable.

He smiled warmly when he saw Haldir on his doorstep, though he became worried when he took in his state. Instantly he placed his arm over the other’s shoulder ste steered him inside. “Haldir, man nás?”
Haldir sighed and accepted both the chair and the drink Thranduil handed him. He lowered his head and sighed. “It’s my brothers. I don’t know what to do. I need some advice.”
Legolas was beside them instantly and kneeled before the upset warrior. “Haldir, what is wrong?”

Haldir smiled. He felt more comfortable talking to Legolas. He didn’t even kwhy why his feet had brought him here in the first place. Slowly he told everything he knew and sighed as he felt Thranduil stand behind him and massage his tense shoulders.

Elrohir left the board and joined them. “We have to do something, before they mess things up completely. Ru and Phin are too stubborn to listen and Glorfindel is too blind to notice what is wrong.” He shook his head. “And if that Ecthelion is anything like our blond he’ll be too ignorant as well.” He rubbed his nose and nodded. “Legolas, we have to find out whom Ecthelion does love, we have to make Ru and Glorfindel talk together and we have to make Orophin happy.”
Legolas nodded and grasped Haldir’s hands. “Leave it to us. And if we can’t manage it alone we’ll ask Adan and Lindir to aid us.”
Thranduil shook his head. “And Elrond can always order them to talk.”

He grinned at Legolas’ happy look as he rushed away. He swiftly stopped Elrohir from leaving. “One moment. Elrond will come here with news. Where can I find you?”
Elrohir sighed. “Legolas will alert me.”
Thranduil didn’t get the chance to ask what that meant and shook his head as Elrohir stormed off.

Haldir sighed and looked up. “I robbed you of your company.”
Thranduil laughed. “Aye, my sons are gone now, but you are here. Do you play?” He indicated to the board and smiled warmly and gratefully at Haldir. “You saved me a humiliation I wouldn’t wish to experience again.” He shuddered. “I am a sore loser.”
Haldir grinned and cocked his head. “Who did you lose from before?”
Thranduil shrugged. “Estel. And now I was about to be bested by Elrohir.” He reset the board and signalled for Haldir to join him. “Let’s see if you’ll be number three.”
Haldir shook his head. “Nay, I am not good at it. And Elrohir only thought Estel how to play this.”
Thranduil’s eyes widened and then he laughed.

He could see the trouble in Haldir’s eyes and retrieved a bottle of wine. He’d rather not serve his children, not knowing what might happen with their magic, but he felt Haldir definitely needed a drink. He smiled warmly and placed both bottle and glasses on the table besides the board. “Here, looks like you need it.”
Haldir was about to decline when Thranduil smiled so hopeful at him he could do nothing but accept. Again he wondered if there was more to Thranduil than he saw. But now he was also starting to wonder about hims For For why had his feet brought him here when he was so upset? Why was his stomach tickling him now? Could it be…?

TBC

Also Beta-read by Bettina. All remaining mistakes are mine. Sorry if I don't add that.