In Twilight

A/N: Getting there. Nearly halfway through the story. The next two chapters are (supposed to be) a bit more humorous than those that have already taken place. Chapter 12 will start delving into book canon and the events of LoTR.
Much thanks to Ilye for beta reading, and for all you loyal readers who keep reviewing and coming back for more.

/ / denotes thoughts.
~~~~~~~~~~ denotes changes in scene or POV.

Chapter 9: Under Eärendil
Summary: The year in Imladris has passed; it is time for the Mirkwood siblings to return to their realm. Under the light of a Silmaril, Elladan and Legolas make a promise (slash).

Winter in Imladris was a magnificent affair. As the approaching cold descended upon the valley, trees turned from brilliant green to majestic red, brown and yellow before shedding their coats for the winter, littering the ground with an assortment of vibrant colors. Early snows dusted the valley lightly now and again as the elves donned their winter cloaks of rich velvets and wool, though they hardly felt the cold. It was a time of year the Firstborns enjoyed for the changing seasons and the anticipation of a new spring which would soon appear.

But this year there was one who found no joy in the season as he had done countless times before. Indeed, Elladan was feeling rather low in spirits as the end of autumn approached, early winter chills playing over the valley some nights. For this winter signified the return of the Mirkwood children to their forest home after completing their foster year as agreed between; a mere four days remained before their journey back northward. Though it had only been two full years since they met, Elladan felt he could no longer roam the lands of Middle-earth without Legolas at his side. The approaching winter distressed him as he roamed the house and grounds, his steps heavy and his eyes downcast.

Twilight began settling in just as Elladan made his way onto a balcony that overlooked the Bruinen. It was another one of his cherished spots, a place he often visited to gaze at the stars at night, seeking silent comfort and counsel in the star that his grandfather Eärendil had become. Lifting his eyes, he sought out that very same star, finding it easily in the fading light. The bright point of light flickered as if to ackedgeedge his presence. A faint smile graced his lips as he began to whisper as if the Silmaril could hear him and respond.

“Ata’da,” he whispered, gazing fondly at the flickering light far above his head. “You’re watching me tonight, as you doubtlessly have done each night since my birth. You know a lot about me, don’t you? Even though you aren’t here in physical form, you’ve always been with me, watching over us all.
“Did you know I’ve fallen in love? You must have. You’ve seen him, haven’t you? He’s like the sun, Ata’da. A sun sent down here from above, and I’ve caught him. Caught him…and I don’t want to let go.” Elladan paused for a moment, his hands on the carved railing tightening when he spoke again, voice choking ever so slightly. “He’s leaving soon, to go back to his home. I knew it was going to happen, and I can only let him go. But I don’t want him to go, Ata’da. I wish he could stay and be with me, or that I could go with him. But he can’t, and neither can I.” Tears threatened to spill from his eyes; he closed them to hold the silvery drops back. “I love him so much.” Giving into the emotions welling up inside him, Elladan leaned forward, resting his forehead against the railing as he allowed himself to cry.

He didn’t hear the light footsteps, nor did he take notice of the presence beside him until a pair of arms wrapped themselves gently about Elladan’s waist. Another body pressed against his back as a head came to rest upon his shoulder. The scent of beeches permeated around him, and he lifted his head to look at his love.

“Legolas?”

“I am here,” came the soft reply before the golden head was raised, gentle lips placing a sweet kiss on a pale, tear streaked cheek. “I am here, melme.” Elladan sighed, turning in his lover’s arms to bury his face into the creamy neck and flaxen hair. Legolas had heard the end of Elladan’s speech and offered comfort to his lover, tightening his arms around the slim form. He too felt grieved concerning his return; he didn’t want to leave Elladan behind, but he couldn’t very well stay with him either. Each had fathers who were lords of a realm, and each, as a son and a prince, had their own duties to perform. This they knew, and this was why they despaired.

“I’d ask you not to go, but I know you have to.” Legolas nodded, stroking the long raven strands. “When will I see you again?” The prince’s heart nearly broke as hearing the distress and hope intermingling in the voice he knew so well, making Elladan sound like a little lost child rather than the prince and fierce warrior he was.

“Soon, I hope. I’m come as soon as I am able.” The words and emotion behind them, as well as the gentle hand stroking his hair, seemed to appease Elladan. The pair grew silent again, listening to the rushing of the Bruinen and holding the other as close as they possibly could.

“You promise?” The prince smiled at his love’s whispered words, nodding his head before replying.

“Always. I shall always come back to you. There is nothing in this world that can stop me from seeing or being with you.” He kissed the dark crown of hair before leaning in to whisper. “I promise you, always. Im vesta, ithil-nîn.”

Elladan smiled before straightening and drawing away. He fumbled about in the folds of his robes for a moment; Legolas watched him in confusion but waited patiently. After a moment, the twin withdrew his arm from inside his robes and produced two thin bands of mithril rings nestled in the palm of his hand. They were beautiful for their simplicity, twin singular bands without any markings. Legolas’ eyes sparkled with the light the rings reflected from the stars. “They are beautiful.”

“My mother gave them to me, long ago. She gave another set to Elrohir and told us to keep one for ourselves and give the other to the one we wished to bind ourselves to. I know not what Elrohir has done with his, though one seems to be missing.” The twin chuckled softly, interrupting himself. “Perhaps my brother has a secret love he does not wish to share.” The two laughed softly for a moment, trying to imagine who could have stolen the heart of the other twin.

As their laughter died down, Elladan found himself gazing fondly at the golden prince. He held a ring out to Legolas before taking the prince’s other hand, returning the dazzling smile he was given, his voice a whisper as he spoke. “One day I will bind myself to you, ernil-nîn. But, until then, let these rings represent our love and our promise for an eternity.”

“Im mela lle.” With a smile of genuine love on his face, Elladan slipped the simple band of mithril upon his lover’s right ring finger, his gray eyes sparkling in the starlight. He watched with a child-like fascination as Legolas reciprocated the act with a similar mithril band on the twin’s finger. The tokens of love and symbolisms of their promise in place, each pair of eyes lifted to gaze into the other before them, as Eärendil shone from above, silvery beams of light playing over the star’s grandson and his lover.

Yet again Elladan found himself marveling at the golden beauty before him while he lifted his arms, cupping the slender face in warm palms. He sought to memorize every inch of Legolas’ face lest he forget the young prince’s features in the time they would be apart; thumbs simultaneously flicked over creamy pale skin covering high cheekbones, relishing their smoothness. Leaning forward, he planted a chaste kiss above a sapphire eye as he felt slim fingers folding over his own. Eyes half-lidded, each stared at the other, breaths mingling as they slowly drew closer into a kiss so filled with love and devotion that all others they had shared before paled in comparison.

The need to breathe nagged at them as, reluctantly, they pulled away from the other. Elladan leaned his forehead against Legolas’, each drinking in the love radiating from the other’s eyes as they steadied the rising and falling of their chests. Once calm again, the twin took the prince’s hand into his own, leading him back inside and down the hall. Together they bypassed the dining hall where Elladan’s family was sitting with Glorfindel, Erestor and Legolas’ siblings. A hearty laugh erupted within the room before Celeron made some statement of denial, eliciting more laughter. The pair of lovers resolved to join the group later, needing only each other for the moment. In silence they made their way to Elladan’s chamber, their footsteps making little sound as they slipped into the darkened room.

Not a word passed between them as, once the door was closed, they slipped into each other’s arms again, sharing another sheering kiss while blindly making their way to the bed. Fingers and hands fumbled just the slightest bit as they worked to undo intricate clasps and lacings, pushing delicate robes from equally delicate shoulders, revealing pale creamy skin in the faint moonlight that illuminated the room through fluttering curtains. For a moment all movement ceased, save for the roaming of eyes as the lovers drowned in the sight of skin, limbs and bodies they knew and loved so well. Smiles played across their faces as they slipped into the bed to begin their passionate dance.

Limbs tangled, lips brushed lips and skin, fingers twisted into silken hair undoing braids, yet still no words were uttered, no sound made except moans and gasps of ecstasy. Elladan allowed his hands to wander of their own accord as he kissed red tinted lips, bruising them slightly. Fingertips brushed against the skin of a taut abdomen, a faint hiss issuing from slightly parted teeth; the twin smiled in delight at the sounds he was creating from his lover. Experimenting, he placed his lips where his fingers had been only to be rewarded with a soft moan of pleasure.

Loving the melodic sounds of his lover’s voice while in the throes of passion, Elladan resolved to make more music, beginning by gliding his fingertips over the skin of a creamy inner thigh. The muscle beneath his fingers tensed slightly before relaxing, a groan escaping moist parted lips. Again he replaced his fingers with his tongue, the tip barely rasping against the smooth skin. Another moan sounded, cut off by a short gasp as fingers, then tongue, encircled the engorged head of his sex. Sapphire eyes fluttered closed as Legolas drank in the feel of being pleasured, twisting the sheets in one hand, dark silken hair in the other. He whimpered, imploring his lover to give him more, which Elladan did so willingly.

Relaxing his throat, the twin swallowed his love’s erection slowly, allowing his teeth to scrape lightly across the heated flesh, quivers running through the lithe body prone before him. His tongue created a swirling dance around the engorged sex, making both of their minds spin at the sensations spiraling through them. For a few moments, Elladan willed his mind still, concentrating on only how to best pleasure his sun. When he felt Legolas about to release, he pulled away, smiling faintly as the groan of frustration that sounded. Gentle hands soothed the body before him, turning the prince over onto his side, allowing Elladan to spoon up behind him, arms secured about a slim waist.

Legolas’ mind was in a daze, and he loved every moment of it. He wanted to drown and never surface from the touch of Elladan’s hands and lips across his skin, the tremors they caused; just the feel of his lover was all he wanted, now and forever. The dark twin was his whole being, his whole world. It had only been two years, but the prince could no longer remember life without his Peredhel, his moon. He wanted--nay, needed--to see the smiling face in the morning, to hear the slightly alto laughter, to watch the dancing gray orbs, to experience everything Elladan could give to him, and more. The twin was his soul, his being, his heart. He was sure Elladan felt the same about him.

He felt something slick run lazy patterns along his lower back. Legolas shifted impatiently, willing the hand to move lower. But he was denied as oiled fingers, scented lightly with lavender, continued to draw grapevine patterns along his back. When his patience was about to snap, the hand complied, slipping down to his entrance, teasing just slightly before moving inside. The prince sighed in pleasure as the digit was joined by another, slowly scissoring and preparing. A smile came to him; Elladan always seemed so patient and gentle, but Legolas knew he was forcing himself to take things slowly.

A kiss was planted on the nape of his neck as the hand withdrew, replaced with something larger, harder. His body relaxed completely as Elladan’s hands came to rest on his hip, drawing him closer until he was sheathed and Legolas was filled. They lay still for a moment, relishing in the feeling of being joined; both let out a sigh of contentment. As wordlessly as they have been the entire evening, Elladan began to move, slowly at first but his pacing quickening with each moment. The twin set his lips to a delicately pointed ear, sucking gently as his rhythm built to a higher pitch; one hand, still slick, slipped from its place on an alabaster hip to the prince’s throbbing erection, pumping it gently in time to the other movements.

It was mind boggling, the pleasurable tremors and shivers running through both their forms. Gone were the worries of the nearing departure, the idea of being separated for extended periods of time. All that seemed to matter any more was each other, the night and their coupling. Reaching blindly, Legolas found Elladan’s right hand with his own, joining their fingers together. The twin mithril rings made a charming ringing sound as their fingers be loc locked, bringing smiles to both lovers, soon cut off by gasps and moans. Each was nearing his end. Near his peak, Legolas threw back his golden head until it came to rest against Elladan’s strong shoulder. The twin in turn placed his lips on the smooth curve of neck exposed to him, sucking lightly on the pale skin. Together they came, rising to the highest peaks before falling into the warm, soothing waves of being satiated.

As the stars cleared from his eyes, Legolas turned, exhausted, to the form behind him. He smiled at the arms clasped tightly about him as if never wanting to let go. He liked the feeling of being wanted as he gazed into sleepy gray eyes, a similar smile given to him in return before lips descended over his in a tender kiss.

“Im mela lle.” The prince smiled at the echo of his earlier words, whispered into his ear before a delicate, fluttering kiss was placed on the tip. He shivered slightly at the touch, sinking deeper into the warmth of his lover as Elladan pulled the sheets over them. Turning, Legolas smiled again, pulling the sheets higher until only their eyes and flowing crowns of hair could be seen.

“Im vithel,” he whispered back in a dreamy voice. “Im mela lle, a’maelamin.” Snuggling closer to one another, the lovers soon departed into sleep, forgetting their earlier thought to join their families. All they needed was one another and the promise that bound them together.

Through the curtains, Eärendil shone down, illuminating the slumbering forms. The star twinkled as if in mirth, and through the linens of the bed, two bands of mithril glowed, symbols of eternal love and a promise to be forever unbroken.

Translations:
Ata’da-Grandfather
Melme-Love
Im vest, ithil-nîn-I promise, my moon
Im mela lle-I love you
Im vithel-I also
A’maelamin-My beloved