Closer Than Kin

Title: Closer Than Kin
Author: Silvertree (Megumi Takahashi)
E-mail: megumi@elfslash.zzn.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Elrond/Celeborn, Elrohir/Elladan, Haldir/Legolas
Warnings: Slash, INCEST, explicit sex
Author's notes: *THIS IS A SOLO WORK BY SILVERTREE.* Now that I've cleared that up...

I found it somewhat annoying that the last we heard of Celeborn, he had retired to Imladris, and that was that. No information was given about what happened to him later, only that he left Lórien sometime during the Fourth Age. Therefore, I decided to write my own take on things. At any rate, I've always been a fan of E/C, as well as E/E. Yes, both pairings are incestuous, so if you don't like them, don't read them. You have been warned.

I tend to use the Elvish names for places, so for your convenience I've provided a sort of glossary at the end of the story. Included are the meanings of names for Elves mentionhrouhroughout the story.


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"There is no reason for me to remain. The time of the Elves is at a close; they think me to be slow-witted and even blind to the Fates, but I see it. The days seem to be getting progressively longer, the sun brighter, and the Elven-stars, ah, the shimmering Elven-stars, are growing dimmer in the night sky.

It has been some time since my wife of countless years departed for the Grey Havens, and from there to the Undying Lands of the Elves, taking with her so many of our people. Haldir the Guardian went as part of her party, together with so many I could name. Yet I decided to remain, for reasons I do not understand even now. My time in this world is drawing to a close, I can feel it in my very bones, and yet I cannot tear myself away just yet. I received word the other day that Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood, one of my few kin still boasting ties to this land, sailed across the Sea, taking with him Gimli Elf-friend, his trusted companion of years. No doubt Haldir will be ecstatic to see his lover again; I wish I could be present for their reunion.

Confusion has lately been growing in my mind, casting a shadow over all that I do. I feel a pull, yet it is not the pull of the Sea that draws so many Elves from their homes and toward distant shores. Rather, it is a strange pull in the opposite direction, towards Hithaeglir and the sanctuary of Imladris.

And yet... perhaps it is not the mountains that call me, not the sanctuary. Perhaps this call, this pull, is directing me towards that sanctuary's master..."


-Excerpt from the journal of Celeborn of Doriath, Lord of Lórien


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For quite possibly the first time in centuries, Elrond Peredhel, master of Rivendell, was at a complete loss. The last thing he had been expecting was a visit from his father-in-law, and while it was a welcome occurrence, it was a surprise nonetheless. He hadn't heard from the other Elf in at least a century; Celeborn had been keeping to himself of late, more concerned with trying to keep hold of his own sanity than the on goings of his neighbors and family.

So, in the face of the mystery, Elrond did the only thing he could. He welcomed his kinsman with open arms and a hot bath, for Celeborn looked weary from travel. These the Elf had accepted gratefully, and he sat now with Elrond, clad in robes of pale green, a book resting across one knee. The master of Imladris raised an arched eyebrow, his gaze searching Celeborn's face.

"You feel it as well, don't you?"

Celeborn closed the leather-bound volume with a small sigh, and stared into the flames of the fire that burned before them, unblinking.

"I do, Elrond, I do. My time here has drawn to a close, and I have reached the point at which I must sail or be lost in the clutches of my own mind. I must go, before I forget who I am and who our people are."

Elrond slid gracefully from his chair, burgundy robes making barely a rustle, and poked at the fire with a long rod of iron. He himself knew that he needed to escape from the holds of Hithaeglir, as peaceful and beautiful as the land was, for the call of the Sea pounded in his ears. Rising, he turned to face Celeborn, tucking his hands into the opposing sleeves of his robe.

"I shall accompany you, if you will permit me. The company of another is often preferable to the company of oneself."

Celeborn smiled, setting the volume he was reading aside. He rose to stand facing Elrond, and he took the other Elf's hand in a firm grip.

"I thank you, Elrond, and I would gladly accept your company. However, surely you would prefer to travel with your sons, rather than one older and so much duller."

At this statement Elrond laughed, a deep and rich laugh that resounded throughout the large hall the pair occupied. The master of Imladris granted Celeborn one of his rare, true smiles, taking the pale Elf by the shoulders.

"Silver never grows dull, dear Celeborn. It merely develops a layer of tarnish if not cared for properly, and you, my friend, have been cared for very well. You are the same as you were when I first met you, full of life and beautiful as the morning dew." A dark look flashed across Elrond's face, and the mirth in his voice was gone in an instant. "And my sons will not be accompanying me," he finished, voice and eyes serious.

Celeborn's blue eyes widened, and his silvery hair glimmered in the firelight as he shook his head. It made no sense; Elrond and his sons were as close as anyone he knew, with what seemed to be an unbreakable bond between them. Celeborn looked at Elrond quizzically, unable to believe what his friend had told him.

"Surely you did not just say what I just heard?" he questioned the other, his heart sinking as Elrond shook his head in denial.

"My sons are Peredhil, Celeborn, as am I. My brother Elros chose the path of a mortal, and so it is with my sons. The human blood that flows within their veins overrides the Elven. They know that they live as Elves only while I remain, and that to maintain their immortality they must cross with me. Yet they are so attached to this land that they remain; at least this is true of Elladan. I believe that Elrohir may have crossed with me were he not to bound to his brother..."

Elrond trailed off, allowing Celeborn to take in his words. The Lord of Lórien gasped softly as the extent of what Elrond had told him sank in, and he looked up at the other Elf in disbelief.

"You mean..." Elrond nodded, his voice slightly defensive when he spoke. He himself had been surprised, but he approved, and he would be damned before he let another make mock of the fact that his sons were lovers and more.

"Yes, Celeborn, they are. Soulbonds are not that uncommon among kin, you know this, and certainly not among twins."

Celeborn held up his hands, as if to ward off Elrond's anger, and smiled calmingly at his friend.

"Calm thy rage, Elrond. I meant no offense; I was simply surprised that you had not told me sooner. Your sons are blessed that they have each other, though in their lives as mortals it may become a complication. The race of Men is not as accepting of these matters as are Elves, for above all else we value love, while Men value gold and power."

Elrond sighed and sank into his chair, his dark, beautiful face etched with worry.

"I know, Celeborn, and for their own sake I wish they would accompany me. Yet the choice it theirs to make, and I will not hold them back from it. I shall miss them greatly, make no mistake, and that is part of the reason I offer to accompany you. I would rather be your companion for the journey and be alone when I arrive, than be alone for it all."

Celeborn knelt before Elrond, taking his friend's hand in his. He looked severely at the other Elf, but the expression softened when he saw the anguish and agony stamped upon Elrond's face. He half expected the other to weep; indeed the dark eyes glistened with unshed tears. But the master of Imladris was strong, and no moisture graced his cheeks.

"You'll have Celebrían," Celeborn gently reminded the distraught Elf, "and I shall not abandon you once we reach the shores of the Undying Lands."

The dark-haired Elf made an attempt to smile, and succeeded in part. His lips curled upwards, but the look of happiness never reached the dark eyes.

"I healed her body, Celeborn, but I couldn't heal her mind. She is different from the daughter you remember, different from the woman I once loved. Not even ten thousand centuries could erase what happened during a few short days. And I am changed as well, more than any can fathom. Celebrían has been replaced in my heart; the matter was out of my control," Elrond said quickly, as if he expected a rebuke for being unfaithful. But instead, Celeborn was looking at him thoughtfully and earnestly.

"I know the woman my daughter was, Elrond, and she would understand. Of all the loves the Elves celebrate, the love between families is the most precious to us, for it is this love that holds us together as a people. Through her love for you as kin, she would do all within her power to ensure your happiness."

Elrond sighed, unconsciously leaning towards the fair Elf kneeling at his feet. His hold on the pale, slender hands tightened, and he felt a stab of heat he hadn't felt for over a thousand years. His voice was no higher than a whisper, leaving his throat almost hesitantly.

"The love between families..."

"Is valued above all others," Celeborn affirmed, rubbing his thumbs over the backs of Elrond's hands.

Elrond's kiss was soft and tentative at first, but as soon as he knew that Celeborn was not going to push him away, he pressed his lips to Celeborn's with a force that almost bruised the tender flesh. The Lord of Lórien sighed softly as he permitted Elrond's tongue to enter his mouth, and he wrapped his arms gently around the other Elf's neck, reclining on the floor and pulling Elrond down on top of him, never once lessening or breaking the contact between their mouths. Elrond, then, must have been the source of the call he had heard, the voice that had urged him to make haste to Imladris.

Celeborn raised gentle hands to Elrond's head, removing the circlet of gold and silver that was a sign of Elrond's status. He set it aside, before his long fingers swiftly undid the small braids that held Elrond's dark hair out of his eyes. Celeborn wamly mly aware of undergoing a similar treatment, before his ornamental necklace and belt were seide ide with a slight clatter. His blue sash followed soon after, but this Elrond took the time to fold neatly, setting it where it was not in danger of catching fire should some wayward coal roll onto the floor.

A hand sliding under his body and pressing at the small of his back encouraged Celeborn to sit up, and before he registered what was happening his robes and the leggings he wore underneath were sitting, neatly folded, by his sash. His erection was only marginally more bearable, rising into the warm air of the room, and Celeborn tugged at Elrond's burgundy robes urgently.

"I want to feel you next to me, Elrond."

Elrond, Celeborn noted vaguely, took far less care with his own robes, tossing them aside and quickly returning to his position atop the other Elf, pressing the full lengths of their bodies together. The stones of the floor had been made warm by the fire, and the heat penetrated deeply into Celeborn's body, soothing and relaxing him. Then Elrond's lips were claiming his, and Celeborn felt himself tense again, body responding with passion to a call he hadn't heard in years. He was almost relieved when Elrond's lips trailed over his jaw, leaving a trail of nibbling kisses down the side of his neck and in the hollow of his throat.

Elrond paused for long moments, lapping at the salty depression where Celeborn's collarbones met. He could feel the other Elf's erection pressing urgently against him, and knew that his own demanded satisfaction. He tried to ignore his own desire as he licked a path down Celeborn's chest, lips finding a nipple in the process. He sucked at the sensitive flesh, drawing it to hardness with his tongue, before repeating the process with the other nipple. Celeborn practically writhed under him, soft sounds of pleasure and encouragement spilling from the kiss-swollen lips.

A gentle tug on long, dark tresses reminded Elrond that there were other things to attend to, and the Elven-Lord continued his wet, tickling path downward, marveling at the willing body beneath him. Celeborn was large for an Elf, well-developed muscles hard under the pale, satiny skin. Even his hair was unique, more like liquid silver or platinum than jet black or the rarer spun gold. It made him perfect, Elrond decided as he approached his goal, nuzzling the fine curls at Celeborn's groin with renewed purpose.

Elrond was no stranger to men; that much became apparent as he took Celeborn into his mouth without hesitation, taking the other Elf in swiftly and smoothly until his chin rubbed against soft hair and heated skin. Celeborn gasped and thrust into Elrond's mouth involuntarily, before he forced himself to remain still while the master of Imladris went about his work. Soft moans escaped him as the darker Elf stroked and fondled the tightly drawn sac nestled among silvery hair, and Celeborn soon found his body out of his control as years of suppressed passions took over. The heat of Elrond's mouth was too much, and Celeborn bucked his hips, crying out softly with every thrust.

Then, to Celeborn's surprise, the warm heat vanished, replaced by a soft hand. Words of protest danced for mere moments on Celeborn's tongue, but evaporated almost instantly as the Elven-Lord's back arched, his lips parting in a silent scream of pleasure. The reason for Elrond's change in tactics became apparent as soon as Celeborn felt his legs being parted and a slick finger penetrating him. A second finger soon followed, and then a third as Elrond carefully lubricated Celeborn with his own spilt seed, teasing the other Elf with gentle brushes against a spot that made Celeborn's eyes roll and his mind go blank.

A soft moan escaped Celeborn's throat as he felt the fingers removed. He felt Elrond pressing against him, and he nodded slightly, relaxing his muscles as much as he could. He still gasped as Elrond pushed slowly into him, the slight pain of penetration heightening the ecstasy of the experience. Then Elrond began moving, and Celeborn wasn't able to think at all as the Elven-Lord angled his thrusts to connect with Celeborn's prostate.

Elrond felt his breaths coming faster as the body around him tightened. Hands came to cup his buttocks, silently encouraging him to move faster with a gentle pressure. Elrond complied, wishing that he could draw the experience out forever. The soft gasps and moans spilling almost continuously from Celeborn's lips were soon replaced by louder cries, however, and Elrond knew that his lover was nearing his peak. Elrond slipped his hand between his body and Celeborn's, taking the hard shaft of the other Elf in a firm grip. He stroked the flesh in time with his thrusts, increasing the pace as the movements of his hips became more frantic.

Then the muscles around him clenched sharply, and Celeborn cried out loudly and tossed his head as he let himself go, spilling his hot seed into Elrond's hand. The Elven-Lord shuddered, finally allowing himself to release into the body underneath him. He made a few more slow thrusts before he withdrew, collapsing on top of Celeborn. He brought his hand to his mouth and licked it clean, savoring the taste he had denied himself before.

Nrds rds had been exchanged, but none had been needed. None were needed now, either, as Elrond looked into Celeborn's blue eyes and saw the undisguised love that sparkled within them. The master of Imladris closed his eyes, pillowing his head against Celeborn's shoulder.

He would not have to make his journey alone, after all, nor would he be alone at the end.

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"We remained in Imladris for perhaps a year after that night, before departing for the Sea. Elrohir and Elladan, Elrond's twin sons, came with us, and I can vividly remember them waving to us until our ship passed out of view, over the horizon. I wish they had accompanied us, those two, but they had their own unfinished agendas in the lands where they had been born and raised.

I have heard nothing of them, and have not, of course, seen them. I can only hope that their lives were both long and full of happiness.

Time seemed to lose meaning as Elrond and I crossed the Sea, although as Elves it never had much meaning to speak of. We talk of olden times, I speaking of my days in Doriath, Elrond speaking of his friend and former lover Gil-galad. Days merged together, until we saw the shape of land on the horizon. That was when we started counting not just days, but hours, and even minutes, until the ship nosed into the soft sand and small gravel of the shore.

Legolas, Haldir, Galadriel, and my daughter, Celebrían, were there to greet us upon our arrival. None of them seemed surprised when we told them what had transpired; indeed Celebrían seemed almost happy. She confessed to me that Elrond had always seemed distant to her, and she was at rest now that she knew why. She was saddened by the news that her sons would not be joining us here, but I believe she feels better for the knowledge that they were both well when we left. Elrond, in a beautiful display of eating his own words, says that she has improved so much that he can hardly believe it, and the two remain fast friends. Legolas' father, Thranduil*, is also among us, having arrived after Elrond and myself. He and his son have done little more thalk;alk; several hundred years is a lot of time to catch up on!

As for myself, I am well. The Undying Lands are beautiful, with trees such as I have never seen. The Elven-stars, too, shine with a clarity unparalleled even in Imladris. Yet one outshines even the stars, a beautiful creature of the Peredhil, dark of body and now light of spirit. Never have I felt so strongly for a being as I feel for Elrond Peredhel, nor do I believe I could ever feel this way for another.

We are more than lovers, and we are closer than kin."


-Excerpt from the journal of Celeborn of Doriath, Lord of Lórien