Barad-en-Elei (Fortress of Dreams)
Part Nine
Part Nine - D'râk
In the days that followed, the couple delved whole-heartedly into the life to which they had committed themselves, finding out what it meant to be mated spouses, to have every moment free to devote solely to one another. On Himling it was for them as it had been in the glade beneath the trees, only better, richer; their delight in one another enhanced by the increased intimacy. Elladan poured out his love and desired nothing less than to heal his beloved. Maglor cherished him, rejoicing in every moment spent beside him.
More quickly than anyone could have imagined, Elladan's unwavering devotion mended the shattered soul and fractured mental processes of the Noldorin Prince. Daily Maglor found his mind clearer and his heart lighter. At last the moment came when all the small differences and inconsistencies he had chosen to ignore, rationalise, and deny coalesced. He looked upon his mate and knew he was not Elros, had never been Elros in this life or any other. Such was impossible for the Gift of Men was incontrovertible. How he could have convinced himself otherwise was beyond his reason and the only answer was that he had truly been beyond reason for a very long time. Ossë, though, knew much about this and while Maglor was not displeased with the chosen substitute, it rankled that the Maia had humoured his obsession and freely lied to him, inventing the unlikely tale of Eru reversing Tar Minyatur's choice, all for the sake of the ruined minstrel preserving the Silmaril.
The epiphany happened quite unexpectedly one morning as Elladan was brushing out his glorious mane, Maglor watching in fascination as the heavy fall of locks swayed and rippled under the vigourous grooming. He smiled; like an elfling Elladan's eyes were shut and his lips moved silently as he counted the number of strokes. Every day he gave the lengthy head of hair two-hundred firm strokes.
Suddenly Elladan's eyes had opened and locked on Maglor's through the reflecting plane of the silvered glass, a gentle, questioning, absolutely endearing look he often used within them, an expression the singer could not recall ever being trained on him before by anyone. Not even his naneth had regarded him with such intensity, marking him as the centre of the universe, the brightest, most important star amid a multitude of glittering points. Elladan gazed at him checking to make sure he was happy and at peace, as though this was the most vital thing in all the world to which he could dedicate his life. It was that look and the truth behind it which finally revealed Elladan to him, for Elros had not loved him this way and now he could see this clearly. Indeed, in comparison he had to wonder if Elros had loved him at all.
Maglor felt no anger, no disappointment, no sense of betrayal or treason and marvelled over it. Instead he was overwhelmed with gratitude, amazed that anyone would do such a thing as this, for Elladan had buried his identity, assuming another's, accepting that he was but a replacement within the heart he loved so much. Deeply moved by such dedication and sacrifice, Maglor had gone to him and taken him to his bed, making love to him just as Elladan preferred, softly and sweetly yet with a dark undertone of bondage, comprehending why he needed to be tied down and punished, for now he could see the glimmer of guilt in those beguiling grey eyes. He pumped all the love his heart felt into the willing, straining, convulsing body as he came, filing his husband with his seed, recreating the moment of their bonding, renewing his commitment to this enigma he had wed.
Afterwards he'd simply watched Elladan sleep, content and peaceful, and could not really say why he'd chosen not to reveal his discovery. As he considered what to do, Maglor realised Elladan had been trying to tell him from the start. Now he smiled; he knew how to proceed. He must make it possible for his young mate to feel secure enough to share this secret, to make that effort one more time. He would demonstrate that he was well and whole again, that he adored Elladan and no other. He would wait and permit his husband to come to this decision on his own, with ample encouragement of course.
That would be the one, final test of Elladan's heart and Maglor envisioned in vivid detail the moment: the struggle to reveal who he was, the fear of being rejected for not being Elros, afraid of being despised and cast out for engaging in such trickery. His beautiful, impetuous warrior on his knees, head bowed, humbled and contrite, entreating forgiveness and prepared to accept any penalty named, indeed, eager for a whipping, if he could but stay. Then it would be his turn. He would not display surprise or anger but take his beloved to him and simply tell him that he knew, had known in his heart all along, for Maglor felt that to be true. A light flogging would surely be sufficient discipline and he would deliver it with devotion and restraint. The he would take him down to the Silmaril and fuck him there upon the altar. He smiled, imagining scene play out, sure his husband would soon unburden his soul, risking all and earning forever a true, undying love.
Eager to bring about this confession, he began dropping subtle hints, renewing his references to the past and remarking how much Elladan differed from the ellon he recalled. Where Elros was an accomplished harpist and possessed a full, rich baritone, Elladan could barely play a simple reed flute and had difficulty singing on key. Elros delighted in swimming and sailing; for him aearon was a playground, but Elladan dreaded the endless, restless expanse of water. Elros disliked hunting and exploring the wooded heights adjacent to Himling Cove; Elladan was almost as adept in wood-craft as the Avari and was happier in the branches of a tree than the luxury of their island castle. Elros favoured his right hand, Elladan his left. Elros preferred history and lore; Elladan was a romantic who delighted in poetry and art. Elros never enjoyed submitting and endured their sexual exploits while Elladan absolutely craved their games of dominance and punishment.
In this, and so many other ways, he decided Elladan was superior to Elros and a more fitting match.
The reaction to all this was not as he'd hoped and the days of bliss gradually gave way to a vague, unsettled tension between them, a perpetual contest between the First Age and the Third that touched every aspect of their daily life. Elladan became withdrawn and wary of the constant reminders of Elros. Maglor, expecting him to own his falsehood, became suspicious, wondering why he would not. There was an answer that readily presented itself, but this he tried to reject even as each missed opportunity to divulge the truth increased his uneasiness. Elladan, needing reassurance that his lie was justified, terrified that he'd been found out but unable to face the inevitable break with his beloved, fearful of why the mighty Noldorin Lord was toying with him so, began spending more time in the shrine of the Silmaril. There he remained for hours, lost in desperate communion with the gem, avidly viewing the scenes of his future with Maglor, for these were the proof he required.
Elladan was resting in the bright bay window of Maglor's bedroom, clothed in only a loose shirt worn open. Recovering from a vigourous episode of conjugal hi-jinx, for his husband had become increasingly forceful of late, he had no plans to leave the suite soon. The warmth of the sun bathed him, the sash thrown open to admit the light and the gentle sea breeze, and he felt neither need nor desire to stir from the spot, absorbed in an engrossing tale of intrigue and betrayal among the Numenoreans. Yet he was disturbed and brought suddenly from the Second Age to the present, hearing voices murmuring in the distinctive tones of strife and conflict somewhere down below. Cautiously he listened, laying aside the book and leaning close to the open window. He smiled, Maglor and Jatmâ arguing again in the Avarin tongue. That was nothing to be concerned over and he made to retrieve the book when a third broke in, speaking unintelligible words in a voice he could not mistake: Ossë.
At once his heart rate doubled its pounding rhythm and dread coursed through his veins. What was the Maia doing here and why did Maglor's voice sound so dire? Elladan scrambled to his knees on the seat to carefully angle his head through the opening. There was no scruple strong enough to prevent him from eavesdropping on this conversation, given his darkest fears, and he didn't even bother to rationalise as he concentrated to translate the rapid speech, thankful for Asmalindë's coaching in the foreign tongue.
"You bound your soul to him?" Ossë's tone was filled with mocking scorn. "That was not part of the plan. You were just supposed to sate your compulsion, fuck him until your balls dry up, and then send him on home to Imladris."
"I could never do that, use him so," Maglor protested the crude description of his desires. "I love him."
"You had no difficulty doing so the first time," the Maia scolded. "As for love, it was never that. You lusted for him, nothing more, and now you've had him."
"No! Do you think I have carried his memory in my heart this long because of the lure of his flesh? No, this is not lust. I have never been so deeply content in all my many days."
"Bah! You kept the memory alive to punish yourself, Maglor."
"You will not speak these words to B'rônâ Kânô." Now Jatmâ's voice joined in, carefully deferential but nonetheless reproachful. "B'rônâ Kânô has paid enough. This ellon is for him; we will keep Ohtatyaro Nessa here with us."
A brusque laugh resounded through the courtyard and echoed from the tall, decaying walls, for Ossë apparently found the servant's insolent defence of his master amusing.
"Will you truly? What if he does not choose to stay on this isolated, barren bit of rock? He will tire of all this soon enough. Send him home, Maglor, and save yourself the humiliation of being abandoned by your virile young lover."
"Bâ!" Jatmâ barked in fury.
"Nay, Jatmâ, be at peace," extolled Maglor. "He is trying to upset us, nothing more. You know Ossë's ways by now." There was a short, tense pause and then the minstrel continued. "Elladan will not abandon me, Hîren. He understands the importance of what we are doing here."
"He knows? You told him?" Ossë was clearly not amused any longer.
"He knows and will stay."
"What prompted you to risk so serious an undertaking? You fool! You have placed the gem at risk, Maglor, and woe be unto you should it fall captive to Shadow once more."
"Ohtatyaro Nessa's heart is true," snapped Jatmâ. "Having no honour, you dishonour everyone else with your cold judgements."
"Jatmâ!"
"Best to teach your slave to show the proper respect, Maglor, or he might meet with an accident at sea."
"I do not take back my speech," the seneschal spoke bravely but his voice quavered. "If I must go, I will go to the Rôda Maril (Crystal Cave) and take whatever chastisement Phaja Narwâ (Fiery Spirit) deems just."
"You will do no such thing," Maglor's insistent and worried tone revealed the depth of his love for his foster-father.
"Manwë's Breath!" Ossë cursed in exasperation. "Your faith is quite touching, Jatmâ, but I assure you my powers exceed any that reside within that cave. Silence! No more. You will stay with your master and that devotion will serve as your apology to me."
"My thanks," intoned Maglor darkly. "There will be no more talk of sending Elladan away either. I called for you to ask your advice not to hear you condemn the very union you promised me would come to pass."
"I've no idea what you expect me to do about it; nothing has changed regarding your obligations to the stone. This is an unexpected turn." Now Ossë paused briefly before continuing in bitter acrimony. "Or at least not a possibility revealed to me. That would be like Hîr Ulmo."
"Be that as it may, I am concerned for he seems to be pulling away from me," said Maglor. "I try to invoke his trust yet he grows ever more reserved and spends long hours with the stone."
"You see now the folly of your weak and foolish heart," spat Ossë. "He is captured by it as surely as any fish in a net and will covet it for his own. Whatever the cost, the stone must not be removed from here."
"It will not be; Elladan would not even think to take it from me," insisted Maglor, but there was a definite edge of fear in his voice.
"You know nothing of him," sneered Ossë. "Deal with this, Maglor, or if you cannot bring yourself to do it, I will. Before the new moon."
"No! He was given to me; you said it yourself. I will not see him destroyed."
Maglor's cry sent a cold chill down Elladan's spine and he withdrew inside, hunching down against the cushions and wrapping his arms about him. There had been a note of fatalism in his husband's tone that he only employed when speaking of destiny ordained by the Powers and by Eru. A shadow fell over his heart and he passed a shaking hand over his forehead, unable to accept what had been discussed but equally unable to deny what his ears had heard. A few more muffled words passed between master and servant, Jatmâ urging Maglor to 'tell him everything', but Ossë seemed to have taken his leave and Elladan found he hadn't the stomach to listen anymore.
Suddenly a soft sound like a grunt of pain sounded from the hallway and a slight motion fluttered across his peripheral vision. He leaped up, charging to the half open door in time to catch D'râk trying to slink away.
"What are you doing?" he demanded, snatching hold of the ellon's arm before he could make it to the stairway. His nose wrinkled up in repugnance as the unmistakable scent of semen met his nose. He gave an inarticulate cry of disgust but kept his grip tight, using his free hand to gather the shirt over his nakedness. "Were you standing there spying on me, pleasuring yourself? Answer!" He shook the page roughly.
"Nothing! I was doing nothing, only looking, Hîren, nothing more," insisted D'râk. He tried to smile reassuringly but in truth the black look of fury on the young Lord's face frightened him. He'd already been warned to stay away from Elladan once.
"Did Maglor tell you to keep watch on me?" Elladan shook him again. "Were you running off to share your report with him?"
"Nay, Hîren!" D'râk could not understand what this talk of spying meant, but knew he couldn't endure another rebuke from B'rônâ Kânô. The last had almost killed him. "I will say nothing to him. He will not know you were listening at the window. You will also say nothing; he will not know I was watching you and… enjoying that. Yes? We will be in accord, Ell-Adan?"
Stunned, Elladan released him and stepped back, eyes narrow and lips compressed. He despised this kind of extortion and was about to say so when the faint pressure of footsteps, light and noticeable only because he loved them so, announced Maglor's return to the interior of the castle. The servant's eyes widened in unmistakable terror and he bowed, snatching up Elladan's hand and kissing it, briefly pressing it against his cheek.
"i will atone; please do not tell him," he whispered ere he fled away toward a secondary staircase, leaving Elladan to make his own hasty retreat back to the apartment; he dropped onto the sofa and tried to compose himself.
Maglor entered, his eyes fell on his beloved curled against the cushions, the open shirt having fallen away to bare one white shoulder, and a bright smile lit his features. He came at once and perched on the arm beside Elladan, kissing him, running one hand up the lean chest, brushing a soft nipple that at once gathered and rose, then pushing between the folded legs to grope the lax genitals, equally soft and responsive. He ended the kiss with a light laugh, tugging playfully at the tight red peak and the growing erection.
"Valar, to come in here and know that I will find you waiting for me like this is the greatest joy I have ever imagined," he said, licking a prominent ear-tip peaking through the ebony hair. "My Elf-man." Quickly he removed the shirt and was doing his best to cover every centimetre of his lover's ear with warm wet saliva, briskly stroking the cock filling his hand.
"Maglor, beloved, stop." Elladan squirmed under the laving tongue but could not help bending into the lips that latched onto him and sucked, reaching for the fist encircling his sex and helping it massage the aroused shaft. "Ai, you are the undoing of me," he wailed.
"I sincerely hope so for I cannot resist such a delectable invitation when it is presented with such ardent and wanton desire." He changed position and arranged his mate more to his liking, reclining length-wise, settling between Elladan's knees. While he bent his head to lick and lap the prominent erection sprouting between his husband's legs, Maglor untied his leggings, extracting his full cock with a satisfied grunt, favouring it with a few strokes as his fingers probed Elladan's tight anus. "Get you legs up on my shoulders and let me in."
"Valar!" Elladan winced and battled in a half-hearted effort to get free, certain Maglor would leave off. "I do nothing but surrender to your charms."
"I can manage without your surrender," commented Maglor, a sly smile bending his lips into a lascivious leer. He gripped one muscular calf, draped it over his shoulder and held it there, immediately positioning his cock for entry, and bored in. Elladan yelped in pain and Maglor's heart leaped. He rammed the organ home and paused, watching the tremors running over Elladan's body.
"Baw! I am not recovered from the last encounter." Elladan shouted and shoved Maglor off, a shiver running over him as he thought of what Ossë had demanded, and tucked himself tight against the corner of the sofa, knees drawn up before his chest, arms locked around them.
"Elladan?" Maglor sat back and stared. "What is wrong?"
"Wrong? How can you ask that?"
"Because you are upset and I don't know why. Tell me, Elladan." Maglor held his breath; perhaps at last the moment had arrived. He reached out to his husband and gasped aloud as Elladan cringed back from him. "Ai! What ails you? I would never hurt you."
Elladan came to himself in a rush, realising he'd almost revealed what he'd heard. That he couldn't do, too afraid of the explanation he might receive, too terrified he would reveal something he must never admit. Frantically he scrounged for a solution.
"I know, I am sorry," he inhaled and tried to relax, permitting Maglor to take him by the arm and unwrap his knotted frame, parting his legs and delving between them.
"There is no need to be," encouraged the minstrel. His hand fell at once to Elladan's cock and fondled him, carefully cupping the heavy sac. Elladan's thighs parted and his penis lifted as if begging for attention. It was difficult to tear his eyes from it but he did. "Speak to me for it is clear there is something serious weighing on your mind." This was it. Maglor readied himself to be compassionate and forgiving and his cock hardened even more, jutting out obscenely from the gaping pants.
Elladan's heart thumped and every beat sent a surge of blood to his treasonous cock, for he could not deny the delight Maglor's touch gave him and it was so tempting just to forget, for now, and let him have his way. Maybe the pain would be worth it for his husband was sure to tend him with gentle affection afterwards. He groaned and pushed into the lazy grip, reaching out to softly pet the wet tip of Maglor's impressive erection.
"It is nothing; forget my foolishness and make love to me." He scooted down lower, lifting a leg up and around his husband to drape over the back of the sofa, exposing himself fully. "Take me."
Maglor stuck his fingers in the hole presented so blatantly offered, watching as Elladan flinched and bit back a cry, grabbing the fabric under his hands in a death grip, eyes creased shut. He frowned; he was not going to take him dry when he was already this sore. He had not drawn Elladan's blood and had no desire to, not like this anyway. He eased the fingers out and instead used them to soothe a soft cares over the tight scrotum crowded at the base of the long slender shaft. He curled over his cornered mate and kissed him deeply, working the cock faster, and again nibbled on flushed ear tips.
"I will not, for you already rejected my advances and I would not force you, for all we play at it," he whispered, nuzzling into the thick black hair. He caught his husband's eyes, wide with fear as they had never been before, and his heart ached to reassure him. Mayhap it was too much to expect him to freely own so great a sin. Mayhap he should tell him there was no secret to hide anymore. He settled his mouth over Elladan's, sighing as it opened for him at once and permitted him total access. He claimed it with gentle reassurance, letting his tongue's caressing comfort calm his mate before he retreated.
"When you give yourself to me, I want it to be something you desire more than any other thing," he said, smiling into grey eyes that held more lust now than dread. "When we play, it is only that, Elladan. It is no fun for me if you are disturbed or uncomfortable by what we do together. It is all right to tell me what you like and what you do not."
"Oh." Elladan could not think to say anything more coherent, for the stimulation his husband lavished upon his excited flesh demanded all his attention.
He lifted up into a particularly delightful stroke and moaned as the motion carried his cock into Maglor's mouth. He was sucked in and swabbed by a soft warm tongue, the fingers around the root tightening. He shut his eyes and let his head fall back, gave himself into the sensations, all his awareness reduced to the delicious friction and racing flashes of tingling pleasure spiralling up through his penis. Maglor was working hard to bring him quickly and he let it happen, giving in when his nipple was roughly tweaked just as his slit was favoured with a lavish lick. He cried out softly and arched up into the orgasm, letting his husband drain him, and fell back in limp, languid satisfaction, smiling as the ancient singer crawled atop him and kissed him, the bitter flavour of his own juices strong on his breath.
"Was that good for you?" Maglor asked, absolutely adoring the boneless heap to which he had reduced his beloved. It was almost as wondrous as wearing him out with his cock, except he was still rigid and unfulfilled.
"Aye," Elladan smiled and shifted, snips of the things Maglor had said coming back to him now, aglow with the residual pleasure granted to him and the considerate words. Whatever Ossë might have said, Maglor truly loved him and would not allow anything to happen to him. How could he have doubted a love like this? He shifted, feeling the weighty erection pressed into his belly, eager to give his mate equal delight by repaying the favour. "Valar, Maglor, you are so hard."
"You tend to have that effect on me, my fair young warrior."
"Then let me provide the remedy. I am hungry for the taste of you."
"Luthadron! (Tempter) Nay, I prefer to wait until you're ready for penetration. In fact," he rose with effort and drew Elladan off the sofa, leading him into the bed chamber, "I have a salve that will aid your healing. Lie down, face down, and let me take care of you." He didn't wait to see if he would be obeyed, confident of that, and continued on to the bathing chamber. He found that he was in a quandary, wanting Elladan to reveal the truth while at the same time desiring to make the confession effortless. The singer believed he had a reliable solution and returned to find Elladan naked on the bed, chin resting on his folded arms, legs parted wide beneath his tight round rear, eagerly exposing his anus. He chuckled and climbed up between the lean limbs, coated his fingers liberally with the gooey cream, and slowly inserted them past the tender, cramped ring of muscles. Elladan groaned and tensed but relaxed once Maglor's fingers began to tenderly fuck him, giving teasing little taps at his innermost core.
"Ai Valar," he whined, "that is incredible."
"Like it, do you?"
"Aye."
"Want more?"
"Much more."
"Then tell me."
"Want your cock in me."
"Hmmm, not yet."
"Don't you want to do it?"
"Do what?"
"Ram it in there. Spill inside me."
"I always want that."
"Then why don't you?"
"Because I can wait. Waiting will make it even more enjoyable. Besides, you haven't told me what I need to know."
"What is that?"
"Tell me what had you so upset when I arrived."
"What?" Elladan was jolted out of his sensual haze and peered over his shoulder at Maglor. The minstrel smiled and oh so softly stroked his prostate. Elladan pushed back on the fingers and wailed when they retreated completely. It was only to gather more of the soothing gel and then Maglor penetrated him anew, working the digits in and out as before. "Valar just fuck me."
"Tell me. I promise there is nothing to fear," urged Maglor, pressing down on the interior gland.
"It is nothing, Maglor. Ai! Take me, please. I need it."
"Just say the words, Elladan. I have all eternity to fuck you and gladly would I fuck you for all eternity. But I need to know and you will feel so relieved to just say it." An undertone of demanding insistence edged the coaxing words and he stroked across Elladan's prostate repeatedly, watching in fascination as he squirmed and bucked into the covers, no doubt thrusting his renewed erection against the resilient mattress. He eased his free hand beneath the writhing pelvis and grinned to discover he was right. The hot roll of swollen flesh twitched against his palm but he withdrew, denying the dual stimulation for he did not want to bring Elladan to another peak just yet.
"Ai! It was just…" Elladan gasped for air, stunned when the hand fondled him and then retreated, desperate for it to come back, frantic to have Maglor's cock, to accept the organ's intrusion, to feel it stretch him, filling him, moving in him, owning him. There had to be a way to make that happen but he could not tell Maglor the truth. He snatched at the first thing that crossed his mind. "I found D'râk spying on me, pleasuring himself." The fingers stopped their tender massage and withdrew.
"What? This is about D'râk?" Maglor stared at his mate, incredulous.
"I told you it was nothing."
"That is not nothing," the minstrel frowned and shook his head, disappointed and angry. He got off the bed and cleaned off his fingers, shoved his deflating cock back inside his pants and did them up. "I will deal with him." His eyes swept over his prone husband, naked and aroused and so eager for sex, and for the first time disgust tainted his desire for the glorious body spread before him. "Yet I am not surprised. He finds you alluring and when you go around wearing almost nothing, flaunting yourself, teasing him…"
"What?" Elladan scrambled up, confused and hurt by that unmistakable tone of disapproving scorn, unconsciously displaying his overt arousal. "I was not flaunting myself; I was resting here in the privacy of our rooms."
"Of course. Cover yourself with a robe next time and there will be no further difficulties," Maglor cast a cold, censorious gaze over his husband and left the suite.