The Only Thing I Need

Title: The Only Thing I Need
Author: Silvertree (Megumi Takahashi; megumi@elfslash.zzn.com)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Elrond/Celeborn
Warnings: The usual
Disclaimers: Don't own them, wish I did. Because if I DID, there would be a long, multi-part series chronicling Elrond and Celeborn's relationship. Oh, and one for Thranduil and Legolas. *droooooooooo~l* Anyway, no money made, yada yada. 'Cept by my therapist, who has to sit and listen to all of my crazy ideas.

Notes: This was result of an IM RP that Kala-bear (she lurks around here as Kalen, and I REALLY wish she would post, or at least give me more Muted Love) and I had a while back. (I was Celeborn, she was Elrond, and it's been that way ever since.) About halfway through I decided that I would go over it and write it up as a fic. Kala agreed to do some illustrations for it, which I have yet to see. ;_; Please, Kala? *sniffle*

Anyway, this is the product of both our crazy minds. I just did the work to make it all shiny so that you could read it. Enjoy! And I'll add a "chapter" with links to the illustrations, whenever they're done.

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The night was thick and warm, and it seemed to cover the green valley, as might a blanket. It was a balm to tired souls and bodies, like the tight embrace of a warm lover. It crept through open doorways and cracks in shutters, settled upon everything it could find, and soothed all those whom it touched.

All, that was, except for two. The ones in question lay in each other's arms, still trembling with the aftershocks of passion long since spent. To ones still aflame, the night was brutally oppressive, resting too heavily upon weakened limbs and numbed minds.

"Nîn meleth," Celeborn murmured softly as he ran tender fingers over his lover's passion-slickened breast, "I do believe that we need to bathe. I cannot sleep like this, so covered with all that you have drawn from me."

The suggestion, however, roused a complaint from a pale form resting on the bed. "It's hot enough as it is," Elrond grumbled, peeling a sweat-soaked lock of raven-dark hair from his forehead. "Why do we not wait until the cool of dawn and make a trip to the river, instead of running about in the midst of night?"

Celeborn rose from the bed, long, lean limbs alabaster white in the moonlight as he stretched and glared down his nose at his son-in-law. "You, my dear Elrond," he said dryly, "may do just that. I, however, am making a trip to the baths." So saying, the Lord of Lórien picked up a silver robe from where it was draped on a nearby chair, shrugged it on, and tied the sash. Padding softly across the room, he turned to glance at Elrond and raised an eyebrow invitingly. "You're more than welcome to join me, you know. It will not seem so hot when we emerge from water warmer than this night."

It was only a matter of moments before Elrond was putting on his own robe of deep burgundy and following his elder down the hallways leading to the splendid baths of Imladris. Celeborn arrived moments before Elrond and pulled open the ornate doors, looking inside to make sure that no one else had gotten the same idea. The baths were, fortunately, completely empty, and Celeborn slipped inside, a smile curving his lips when he heard Elrond's soft footsteps behind him. He turned to one of several female elves that tended the baths at varying hours of the day. She was kneeling on the floor, but rose and bowed when Celeborn made eye contact.

"My Lords," she said, voice echoing through the empty chambers, "may I be of assistance to you?" She seemed slightly taken aback when Elrond shook his head, gesturing towards the doors.

"Nay, Lúthoniel," he said with a smile, "that will not be necessary. Rest, for you deserve it. Your service is quite admirable." Lúthoniel bowed again at the words, thick blonde hair falling about her face.

"I thank thee for thy approval, my Lord. I shall do as you request, for indeed I find myself a bit weary. I bid thee and thine a good night, and I pray that I might see thee upon the morrow." With that she turned and swept from the room, pulling the doors quietly shut behind her. Then she smiled to herself and retreated to her room, pondering. She had lived in Imladris for a long while; raised only a millennium before Elrond's sons, she knew the Elven-Lord quite well and valued him as one of her friends. She would not question his commands.

Celeborn opened the doors slightly and watched after Lúthoniel, and when he was completely sure that she had left, he pulled the doors shut again and locked them. Elrond was already loosening the sash on his robe, and Celeborn immediately stilled the other's hands. He began to work at the sash with his own nimble fingers, removing it and setting it lightly on a bench. Then he placed his hands on Elrond's shoulders and kissed the Lord's cheek as he gently pushed the robe from Elrond's shoulders and arms, watching as the fine spoolpooled at slender feet. Celeborn made to pick the garment up when he found Elrond returning the favor, before picking both robes up and setting them aside with the sashes.

The pair followed a side corridor through the marble rooms of the baths, until Elrond finally decided on a private room off to one side. The baths offered both large, sunken tubs for communal bathing and sport, and secluded rooms for those who were shy, or were tired and wished to bathe in quiet. The Lord of Lothlórien gathered some towels and set them near the raised edge of the tub, while Elrond poured a large amount of liquid from a pottery jug into the steaming water. Celeborn didn't know what it was exactly; it wasn't soap, for it didn't leave one's skin sticky if not rinsed off completely, nor did it sting the eyes, but it made large amounts of bubbles when it was mixed with hot water. Elrond was currently using a long, wooden paddle to churn the water, and stopped only when the surface was completely hidden with thick, white foam.

The Master of Imladris set the paddle aside and dipped one foot into the bubbles and water, before he stepped over the edge of the large tub and sat down, sighing happily. Celeborn had been right; a bath was relaxing, and it would feel good once they had gotten out.

Celeborn gave a slight yawn as he stepped into the tub and settled down. The steam alone was beginning to make him sleepy, but he forced his eyes to remain open. He refused to fall asleep and become both a burden to Elrond and the largest sentient prune ever seen in Middle-earth. Even Círdan the Shipwright, who spent several hours a day in the sea, as Celeborn remembered from his last visit, didn't seem to have a problem. Lothlórien's Lord, on the other hand, found his hands becoming wrinkled after a mere ten minutes in the water.

A piece of soap attracted Celeborn's attention, and he picked it up, scrubbing his torso and arms. It was lightly scented, a mix of lavender and the slightest touch of mint. A few moments had passed before Celeborn realized that Elrond had apparently vanished. He didn't worry, however, and seconds later the Lord broke the surface, emerging from under the carpet of bubbles and pushing his hair back. Celeborn couldn't help but laugh.

"You have bubbles on your head," he said, pointing to the large mound that Elrond's hands had missed. The dark-haired Lord reached up and removed them, allowing them to sit in his hand for a moment before he suddenly blew them directly into Celeborn's face. The elder elf made a small, embarrassing squeak, wiping the suds from his face and glaring at his son-in-law. Elrond simply smirked and shrugged his shoulders.

"Sorry," he said, not sounding sorry in the least. He then went back to playing with the bubbles, which left Celeborn open to seize Elrond's foot and tickle it, under the pretense of washing it with a cloth and piece of soap. The younger half-elf giggled and spluttered, but found he couldn't free his foot from Celeborn's grasp. He finally gave in, and Celeborn stopped when he was satisfied that Elrond had been suitably punished for his actions. The silver Lord then pulled Elrond close, so that Elrond's back rested against his chest.

"Ai," he sighed, "this is nice..." He lifted a hand to doodle patterns in the bubbles that clung to Elrond's shoulders. The dark-haired half-elf made a small noise of agreement and nodded, leaning forward so that Celeborn could wash his back.

"Very nice," he said, eyes closing happily as Celeborn massaged his back with soapy hands. He felt quite comfortable and content, at least until Celeborn scooped a ladle-full of cold water from a bucket beside the tub and poured it on his back both to rinse away the soap and bring his lover back to the present. The half-elf gave a violent, full-body shudder at the sudden cold, and Celeborn smiled wickedly.

"I saw - and felt - that," the Lord remarked, managing to hold back a laugh. Elrond threw a guilty look back at Celeborn over one glistening shoulder, and the silver elf couldn't help but chuckle. "I did not, however, say that I didn't like it." And indeed he had liked it. Not that a cold, wriggling elf sitting between his legs was a familiar sensation... Celeborn laughed softly to himself, and was completely unprepared for a hand to suddenly grasp his thigneatneath the water and squeeze. His eyes widened, but when he looked at Elrond, the half-elf was innocently making a mound out of the bubbles in front of him.

Celeborn was positive that neither bubbles nor water squeezed the thighs of Elven-Lords when they least expected it. He pretended to let the matter lie, and once Elrond had been given sufficient time to be lulled into thinking that Celeborn would not retaliate, the silver elf shot out a hand and squeezed Elrond's rear, hard. The dark-haired gave an indignant yelp and flipped over, glaring at Celeborn. The elf attempted to look innocent and failed completely.

"Very well," Elrond said smoothly. "Since you're a glutton for punishment..." He trailed off and let his hands speak instead, running them lightly over Celeborn's chest and stomach, stopping their motions enticingly close to the center of the Lord's hips. He grinned when Celeborn bit his lower lip and groaned softly, then moved his hands slightly lower, enough to arouse but not to satisfy.

"That's not... fair," Celeborn moaned, trying to force Elrond's hands lower. The other Lord simply smiled serenely and ran one hand over Celeborn's hip and down under his thigh. The errant appendage stopped when Celeborn's knee had been captured, and Elrond lifted upwards, effectively spreading his lover's legs farther apart.

"Who said I had to be fair?" Elrond questioned, running his tongue over his teeth as he settled against Celeborn and felt the other elf shudder. "Ai, that was very nice," he said, his smile growing broader at the pretty blush that painted his lover's face. His hands came back up to Celeborn's chest, fingers tracing toned muscles that felt like steel under satin. He was a bit taken aback when Celeborn suddenly shifted, bringing his knee up between Elrond's legs and giving the half-elf the barest of caresses.

"Ha," the Lord said, pressing his knee upwards with a little more force. Elrond looked down at Celeborn quizzically, before shifting to one side.

"Ha?" Elrond asked. "No, nîn meleth. This is 'ha.'" He slipped a hand between their bodies and cupped it over Celeborn's growing erection, squeezing lightly and making the other's eyes widen. It was just the reaction he had been hoping for, especially when Celeborn gave a shudder and lifted his hips slightly.

"You are evil, Elrond," the silver-haired elf gasped, trying to get more contact from Elrond's hand. The other Lord simply smiled and nibbled for a moment on Celeborn's lower lip.

"Am I really?" he questioned with a nip almost hard enough to draw blood. Celeborn squirmed delightfully beneath him, before he pouted and looked longingly up at Elrond.

"Perhaps not. Nay, you're not evil. Just very... trying, at times."

"Trying? Hmm..." Elrond promptly moved his hand from the spot it had previously occupied, smiling at Celeborn's exclamation of disappointment. The noise was soon cut off, however, as Elrond gently pressed his fingers into the cleft between the Lord's buttocks, prodding lightly at Celeborn's tight opening. The effect was immediate as the silver Lord collapsed against the side of the tub, gasping as Elrond's hands strayed, one cupping a buttock and the other resting near his groin again. Celeborn gave a low groan and ground out Elrond's name, sinking slightly in the water. Elrond carefully moved one arm to support him, while the other gently brushed Celeborn's erection.

The silver-haired Lord rocked in Elrond's hands and dropped his head back against the side of the tub. He moaned loudly, arching as Elrond's hands roamed over his body. Then one hand came down to stroke his erection softly and consistently, and Celeborn felt obligated to pause Elrond's hand for a moment.

"It will mess up the bath water, love," he gasped, moaning softly when Elrond kissed him lightly.

"We're going to the river later, anyway. Don't worry about the water." Elrond licked Celeborn's lower lip and started the movements of his hand again, tantalizingly slowly. Celeborn wasn't really in a position to complain, and he grasped Elrond's hips tightly. Elrond sped up the motions of his hand slightly, leaning forward and suckling at one dusky nipple, smiling to himself as Celeborn began rocking into his hand. The half-elf rewarded his lover by stroking faster, finally wrapping his hand completely around Celeborn's erection and pumping slowly, drawing his lover to his peak.

Celeborn gasped and tossed his head, splashing the floor with water. Elrond sucked forcefully on his lover's collarbone, licking the reddened area. Celeborn moaned loudly at the sensation.

"Elrond... I... I'm sorry... I... AH!" The silver elf gave one last frantic thrust upwards with hip hips, spilling his seed into the water and Elrond's hand. The half-elf slowed his movements when he felt the warm rush from his elder, then pulled his hand away and caressed Celeborn's hip and chest, pressing a light kiss to the other's lips.

"Never be sorry, Celeborn," Elrond said softly, "about something like that." He smiled when the silver Lord pressed his face into raven-dark hair and sighed softly, wrapping strong arms around his back. A heavy sigh shook Celeborn as he relaxed, and finally he pulled back to look quizzically at Elrond.

"But you, love," he said, gently nuzzling the area behind the lobe of Elrond's ear. "How can I take without giving in return?" His tongue flickered out over the tender flesh, and he smiled with delight as Elrond shivered at the sensation and pulled him away, touching his hair fondly and kissing his cheek.

"You're the only thing I need, nîn meleth," he said softly, not wanting to demand anything from his lover. He would accept an offer, but the other was likely still tired from their previous activities of the night, both recent and earlier. It came as a surprise when Celeborn wrapped his arms loosely around Elrond's neck and slipped his leg between the half-elf's thighs, moving it gently. Warm lips suckled on the lobe of Elrond's ear, before moving to kiss the half-elf firmly. The Master of Imladris was panting lightly by the time Celeborn moved back, eyes mirroring Elrond's desire-darkened ones.

"I give you myself, then," Celeborn said softly, before he suddenly leaned forward and pressed the side of his face to Elrond's. "I would have you, Elrond," he whispered softly into the Lord's ear, "here and now." He smiled to himself as another shudder took the half-elf's body, and he began to trace patterns in the bubbles that clung to the muscled back. He covered his face when Elrond scooped up a handful of the bubbles, remembering what had happened earlier. This handful landed on top of his head, and Celeborn pouted in response, sticking his lower lip out a little more than necessary.

It took less than a second of decision-making on Elrond's part, and he ran his tongue over his lover's lip before taking the flesh into his mouth, suckling gently on it until he tore a moan from Celeborn's throat. Satisfied, he left the silver-haired elf's mouth to run his tongue over the strong jaw and down the slender throat, stopping at Celeborn's collarbones. He made a small noise of appreciation when the Lord arched upwards slightly and tilted his head to one side, granting easier access to areas unexplored within the last hour.

The half-elf smiled as the new flesh was exposed, and he swiped his tongue across a nipple, drawing it to hardness as the elf beneath him gasped and writhed. Elrond bit down lightly on the flesh, flicking it with his tongue, then captured it with his lips and suckled until Celeborn began to whimper and buck his hips. Elrond pressed himself lightly against his lover, releasing the nipple and moving to the other one, giving it the same treatment. Celeborn moaned loudly, praising and encouraging Elrond with a phrase he had created for just such occasions, one long leg coming to wrap around Elrond's waist.

"Aiya, Elrond, pen ah..." the Lord gasped and then groaned, gripping Elrond's hips, "pen ah naur a rhaw o lam!" (("Hail, Elrond, one with the tongue and body of fire!")) The dark-haired Lord smirked to himself at the words and left off teasing Celeborn's chest, instead burying his nose in the other's silver hair. The lighter Lord whimpered, wrapping his arms around Elrond and hugging him tightly. "Ai, nîn meleth, telo an nin," (("Ah, my love, come to me.")) he whispered in Elrond's ear, flicking his tongue along the edge before he kissed the pointed tip. "Elrond, im boe lle..." (("Elrond, ed yed you..."))

Elrond responded willingly, grinding his hips against Celeborn's. His own arousal was burning between them and he knew Celeborn was no better off. Leaning forward, he kissed his lover gently, brushing his tongue over red and swollen lips. Strong hands slid between Celeborn and the tub, cupping firm buttocks and gently pulling the other elf forward.

"Then you shall have me," he murmured softly, parting Celeborn's legs and sliding between them. Then he slipped his fingers into the cleft and parted the full globes that hid the place that Celeborn wanted and needed him. Gently, he positioned himself, before pressing another kiss to the silver Lord's lips and smiling softly. "Ready?"

Celeborn debated for a moment. He was used to dry entries; with Elrond, they were never the painful sort of occurrence people described them as, and after some experimentation both he and his lover discovered that they enjoyed them. But Celeborn had already lain beneath the half-elf once this night, and to do it again was chancing things. Almost reluctantly, he shook his head, a wet lock of silver hair clinging to the side of his face.

"Something to... make it smoother," he said, flushing with embarrassment. But Elrond understood, for he himself knew that being taken twice in one night could be painful, unless one was properly prepared the second time. It was a lesson he had learned with Gil-galad long ago, before he even knew he had feelings for Celeborn, and it was not a lesson that he wanted the silver Lord to have to learn as well.

A quick scan of the rack sitting near the tub turned up a pot of healing salve among the soaps and scrubs, and Elrond picked it up held it tightly, softening the tallow-like substance with his body heat before he opened the jar and spread the stuff liberally over his fingers. Then the half-elf gently pulled Celeborn to his knees, moving the Lord forward until he was straddling Elrond's lap. The dark-haired Lord kissed Celeborn's chest lightly, before bringing his salve-covered fingers to prepare his lover. He smeared some of the salve around the tight opening, before sliding one finger deep into Celeborn's body. The silver elf's inner muscles clenched tightly for a moment, then relaxed as Elrond thrust slowly with his finger, spreading the salve. Another finger soon joined the first, and Celeborn moaned at the sensation, bearing down and trying to take more inside of him.

Elrond continued the motions of his fingers for a few minutes, not wanting to take any chances and end up hurting his lover. Scissoring his fingers, he watched Celeborn's face as he stretched him. The gentle features never held a look other than one of pleasure, and when Elrond felt a slickness that he knew was not the salve, he pulled his fingers from his lover's body, trying not to feel guilty at Celeborn's disappointed groan. A soft whisper soothed the elf, however, and Elrond scooped more salve from the jar, hissing as he spread it liberally over his erection. Celeborn watched Elrond hungrily, and smiled when Elrond laid a hand upon his hip.

"Now are you ready?" Elrond queried, and Celeborn nodded.

"Aye," the silver-haired Lord said, "ready and more." Elrond chuckled lightly, then gripped Celeborn's waist firmly, guiding the elf down with both hands as he lifted his own hips. The initial penetration caused them both to gasp, and then Celeborn arched slightly and moaned, hands gripping the sides of the tub, then slowly lowered himself until he was sitting in Elrond's lap, the dark-haired half-elf fully sheathed within him. They rested for long moments, and then Elrond began thrusting upwards, lifting his hips as Celeborn raised and lowered himself onto his lover. At each thrust Celeborn was once again sitting in Elrond's lap, and as their pace sped up slightly, the silver Lord leaned forward and pressed a kiss to Elrond's lips.

The feeling of the lips upon his was too much for Elrond, and he began to thrust faster, hitting the source of pleasure deep within Celeborn every time. The lighter Lord cried out sharply at the waves of pleasure that pounded him, and he slipped his hand between their bodies, wrapping it around his throbbing erection and moving it in time with his lover's thrusts. He stopped only when he felt Elrond's hand pushing his aside and taking over, and Celeborn moaned loudly at the feel of the half-elf's calloused hand against him, hands coming to clench Elrond's shoulders, giving the silver elf some leverage as he moved.

A loud gasp escaped Elrond's throat, and he began to speed up both his thrusts and the movements of his hand. He bit his lower lip, feeling himself walking the edge. Celeborn panted and forced himself down upon Elrond, and each gave a loud cry of the other's name. The half-elf's hand began to move faster than his hips, and Celeborn couldn't contain himself any longer.

"Telo ah nin!" (("Come with me!")) he cried to Elrond, driving himself down once again. The half-elf gave a final, hard pull to Celeborn's shaft and the elf was undone, arching back until his hair floated in the water and spilling himself into his lover's hand and the water with a loud cry, even as he heard Elrond's own cry of pleasure and felt the darker Lord release inside of him. They stayed locked together, ng ong out the heat and the storm in each other's arms, before Celeborn collapsed atop the younger half-elf, unwilling to move. Elrond moaned and lifted his head from where it now rested on the edge of the tub, pulling out from Celeborn and moving his hand, starting to stroke the silver Lord's back lazily.

Celeborn gave a soft murmur and cuddled against his son-in-law, hands stroking the other's sides as Elrond kissed the silver head and hugged Celeborn to his body. They were content to lie there in each other's arms for eternity, before Celeborn pulled his hand out of the water and looked at. He sighed heavily and showed it to Elrond.

"I hate to think of the idea, but we should probably get out before we start to look our age." Elrond laughed at those words and nodded, nuzzling the silver hair one final time.

"I love you," he murmured as Celeborn rose and helped him up. Elrond stood shakily, one hand against the wall for support and another around Celeborn's back. He drew the elf in for a kiss, and Celeborn readily accepted. They managed not to fall in the process, and soon had towels wrapped about their waists. Arms around each other, they walked unsteadily towards the doors of the baths. Celeborn unlocked them and looked out cautiously, and once he was sure that no one was coming, he and Elrond slipped out of the spacious room and began the long journey down the halls to their chambers.

A few moments later a loud groan echoed throughout the halls and Celeborn came stumbling back, venturing into the baths to collect their robes. He made it back to Elrond by supporting himself on the wall, and they almost forgot to lock their door before they stripped away their towels and collapsed on the large, soft bed, bodies tangled together in sleep.

But at least it didn't feel as hot.

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Lúthoniel smirked to herself, and stepped back from the wall, settling herself in a chair. Ardoniel was grinning broadly as well, and she settled herself in a chair opposite her friend. She was exceptionally glad that the other female elf had heard the noises through the wall, but she decided that she shouldn't have been surprised. Lúthoniel's room was right near one of the walls of a side corridor to the main bathing room, and the elf had exceptionally acute hearing. It had been an easy matter for the young bath maiden turned sorceress to charm two of the wall stones from their places and mask the holes with illusions that allowed those in her room to see out, but no one to see in. By the time Ardoniel had answered her friend's summons, the blonde elf was already installed by one of the holes.

"So, do you think we'll be seeing any more of that?" Ardoniel questioned, sipping at a glass of miruvor and looking over the rim at her friend. Lúthoniel nodded and selected a peach from a bowl of fruit that sat upon a nearby table, biting into it and wiping away the juice that ran down her chin.

"Highly likely," she said, before setting her peach aside and opening a large book with a worked metal cover. Lúthoniel tapped the feathered end of a quill against her lips for a long moment, before she set the cut end to a blank page.

"Dear Diary," she wrote, "you will never believe what I just saw..."

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*dies* Told you I'd do it...