The Game

The Game

Summary: Thranduil pays a visit to Elrond in Imladris, as does Celeborn. But, the nature of their business is not political. Rather, the two lords have come for a little retreat and some relaxation. What ends up happening is a round of gossip involving the three elven lords, and Elrond’s seneschals, around a fire and glasses of wine.

Disclaimers: Don’t own them, don’t claim to own them, wish I did own them but I’m not as brilliant as Tolkien was so I will settle for merely borrowing them for the purpose of my story.

A/N: Short ficlet with some humor and slashiness. Glorfindel/Erestor, Elladan/Legolas, Orophin/Elrohir, Thranduil/Elrond.
This story came to me while reading “Gavotte” by Helmboy at Melethryn Archive, as well as images drawn by the Japanese doujinshi artist, king‘s blue-green. Therefore, I dedicate this story to Gavotte’s excellent writer.
Reviews, suggestions and comments are welcome. Flames will be ignored as the content of this story should be made fairly clear seeing as where I am posting this.
Thanks to Siobhan for beta reading. ^_^

~~~~~~~~~~ denotes changes in scene.


He always found Imladris a beautiful place. His beloved Mirkwood would always be his country, his home, but Thranduil was not above visiting the other elven havens and marveling at their beauty. Many a time he had visited Lothlorien, ridden and walked beneath the famed mellryn trees. The Mirkwood king had conversed long into the night with Celeborn and Galadriel about the past, and what the future may bring for the elves who had lived through the First Age. Likewise, he found great beauty in the realm of Imladris, and in its people.

Lord Elrond was always excellent company. The Peredhel lord often paid no heed to long standing, but somewhat diminished, grudges that might still exist between the son of Oropher and the former herald to Gil-galad. Elrond was always pleasant and warm, and his two seneschals were equally pleasing to be in conversation with. Relations were greatly helped by the bonding that had occurred between one of Thranduil’s sons and Elrond’s; for one thing, it allowed Thranduil more freedom to visit Imladris to marvel at the valley dwelling.

Rounding a corner, Thranduil was pleasantly surprised to run into the Lord of Lothlorien. The king of Mirkwood had been in Imladris for nearly three days now, never realizing that Celeborn was also present. The Lord of Lorien had only arrived that morning, and had been in council with Elrond and Glorfindel during much of the day; he too was surprised to run into Thranduil.

“Lord Celeborn, whatever are you doing here?” Thranduil said, inclining his head in greeting. He swatted nonchalantly at strands of pale gold hair, which had escaped both his braids and his crown of leaves to fall into his view. Celeborn also inclined his head to his fellow elven lord.

“I came to visit Lord Elrond, and see my grandchildren,” he replied. “And you, meldir?”

“Legolas expressed a wish to come and visit Imladris. I thought I would join him, for it has been long since I have visited the valley.” The woodland king frowned slightly as Celeborn began to laugh mirthfully. “What’s so amusing?”

“I do believe Prince Legolas was more interested in visiting someone in Imladris rather than Imladris itself.” Thranduil could only sigh. He approved of Legolas’ choice for a bonded, but he sorely wished his son would state his requests to visit Elladan plainly rather than making excuses. He turned to Celeborn as the silver-haired lord patted his shoulder sympathetically. “Do not seem so down, mellon-nîn. They are still young compared to us. Forgive them if they seem a little childish in their wants and wishes.”

“Aye, I know. But, tell me. Did you ever have to deal with such a situation?” Celeborn’s laugh was hearty, and echoed down the hall as the lords roamed the corridors.

“From my daughter, no. But, from the various Galadhrim Galadriel and I have fostered over the years, yes. Why, just the other day Orophin was acting quite giddy. I barely had time to finish speaking when he agreed to accompany me to Imladris.” Lorien’s lord smiled at the confused look etched across Thranduil’s graceful features. “Orophin fancies Elrohir. He tends to lose his composure whenever my youngest grandson is mentioned.”

“Orophin?!” Thranduil was better acquainted with Elrohir than his Galadhrim lover. What the king did know was that Orophin was rather calm, stoic and sometimes tight-lipped; like all Galadhrim, Haldir’s elder brother was resourceful, an excellent marksmen and someone you could rely on in battle, especially to watch your back. It was rather difficult to imagine such a person becoming Elrohir’s lover, when the twin had a rather lively personality, like his brother. It was even more difficult to imagine Orophin becoming excited and giddy like an elfling at the mere prospect of visiting his lover. Celeborn noted the king’s thoughtfulness and nodded, before a glint appeared in his eye.

“Come now, friend Thranduil,” he said in a teasing tone. “Do not play charades with me. The beauty of Imladris is not the only thing that drew you here. Might you also have had a longing to see someone? Imladris’ lord, perhaps?” Thranduil’s blush was furious, consuming all of his face, ears and neck. Celeborn’s laughter filled the halls once again; it took some time before he was calm enough to speak. “Do not be so embarrassed, meldir.”

“It is your fault for teasing me.” The blush faded, replaced by a saddened, somewhat regretful look. “Celeborn, your daughter, I…forgive me.” His apology was waved away, as were his next words.

“Think nothing of it, Thranduil. Celebrian was loved by her husband and children; that I do not doubt. She was loved deeply, and missed dearly. I know Elrond thinks of her day-by-day, as I believe she of him. When she sailed for Valinor, Celebrian implored Elrond to take another lover, and gave her blessing. She would have been pleased that he has chosen you. In fact, I have no doubt that, she would think the two of you are a perfect match for one another, despite some hardships and clashes in the past. You each know what the other has gone through, and can sympathize.” Celeborn gently laid a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “If it makes you feel any better, then know that Galadriel and I also approve of your match.”

“Diola lle, Celeborn.”

“Ta naa seasamin.” The two lords smiled at one another as they continued down the corridors; in the distance, Arien slowly sank past the horizon. The stars began to shine as Thranduil and Celeborn made their way towards the vast library. They were just before the great oak doors when they heard footsteps approaching; a moment later, Elrond appeared around a corner. The lord of Imladris did not seem all that surprised to see his fellow elven lords at the doors of his library.

“’Quel undome, Celeborn, Thranduil,” Elrond greeted, bowing. The two other lords returned his bow and greeting. Thranduil smiled as he felt slim fingers entwine with his; leaning over, he placed a chaste kiss upon Elrond’s crown. The affectionate move brought a warm smile to Celeborn’s face as he observed the pair. “What brings you to the library?” the Peredhel asked.

“Nothing in particular,” Celeborn replied. “Just a quiet place to discuss nothing in particular.”

“Sounds interesting. Please.” Celeborn and Thranduil allowed themselves to be escorted into the library. Elrond led his fellow lords towards the hearth, a fire already roaring and warming the place. The fireplace was set far enough away from the books and scrolls to keep from igniting them, while still giving the room a measure of warmth. It was a somewhat secluded area of the library, affording anyone some privacy if they were in need of it.

As Celeborn and Thranduil seated themselves upon the soft furs situated in front of the hearth, Elrond made his way to a nearby chest, retrieving a bottle of wine and three glasses. He made his way back, seating himself next to Thranduil before pouring a glass for each of them. After a sip or two of wine, the lords proceeded to shed their cloaks and outer robes. They remained in front of the hearth in simple robes, Elrond leaning against Thranduil as Celeborn sat opposite them.

“So, what were you speaking about?” Elrond asked, swirling the contents of his glass. “I could hear you laughing from down the corridor, Celeborn.” Thranduil began to blush at the mere mention of the previous line of conversation. The lord of Imladris took note of his lover’s embarrassment, as well as Celeborn’s smile, which the Lorien lord hid with his glass.

“We were just discussing the children, and how they act like elflings even at their age,” Celeborn replied, fingering his glass‘ rim.

“Enlighten me on the matter.”

“I was telling Thranduil how Orophin reacted when I announced I would be visiting Imladris and was in need of an escort.”

“Ah yes. Elrohir was acting particularly excited by the prospect that you would be visiting. I don’t think hed atd attention when I said it was not certain who would be accompanying you on the journey.” Elrond smiled as he thought of his sons. “Of course, Elladan was worse when it was announced a party from Mirkwood would be visiting. He just heard ‘party from Mirkwood’ before racing off in his excitement. He frightened the horses when he ran through the stables. His spirits were a little dampened when Erestor berated him for his actions later.”

“No need to act so harshly towards them,” Thranduil commented. “After all, they are young and in love.”

“Come now, Thranduil!” Celeborn said, a wicked grin planted on his lips. “Do not pretend to me that you do not act any different at your age.”

“And, just what ist sut supposed to mean?” The Mirkwood king tried to pin his most severe gaze on his fellow lord. It was a gaze that made even Thranduil’s most capable and trusted captains wake in his presence. The effect seemed to be lost on lord of the Golden Wood, for Celeborn merely brushed it off. Thranduil took a sip of his wine before speaking again. “I’ll have you know that I do not race around my realm, scaring horses in my wake by just the mere thought of visiting someone I love.”

“No…but, tell me, just how many times have you lost your composure when your beloved’s name is mentioned?” Thranduil fought desperately to contain the heated blush spreading across his cheeks; it was a losing battle.

“I…that is…well…I don’t…the Valar forsake you, Celeborn!” He glared as his companions burst into fits of laughter at his expense.

“Well now, I believe you have succeeded in reducing the great king of Mirkwood to the status of an elfling again, Celeborn,” Elrond said between giggles. He bit back another round of hysterics as he weathered Thranduil’s death glare. Instead, he rested his head upon the king’s shoulder, planting a kiss upon the tip of a pointed ear. “Relax, vanimaer. It’s all in the spirit of fun.”

“Fun at my expense, you mean.” Elrond chuckled lightly. He was about to speak again when the doors to the library were thrown open. In raced Erestor, his face flushed and his robes in slight disarray. Behind him came Glorfindel, a mischievous grin on the Elda’s face. They chased each other, weaving in and out of the bookshelves.

“Ha! Caught you!” Glorfindel announced triumphantly as he tackled Erestor, the both of them falling onto the furs next to Elrond and Thranduil. They rolled around for a moment in an attempt to disentangle themselves from one another; once free, they lay side-by-side on the ground breathless. They didn’t seem to be aware of the lords’ presences until Thranduil let out a short giggle.

“My lords!” Erestor shouted, gathering his wits about him as he clamored to his feet, Glorfindel following suit. The embarrassment was evident on both of their faces as they stood awkwardly before the three elven lords, who by now were sharing another fit of hysterics.

“Forgive us, my lords,” Glorfindel said, fidgeting where he stood. “We did not realize the library would be occupied this evening.”

“There is no harm done,” Elrond replied. “Please, join us. I believe there are two more glasses in the chest over there.” The two seneschals nodded as Glorfindel went to retrieve the glasses while Erestor took a seat. Returning, the blond Elda accepted the bottle Elrond offered him, deftly pouring two glasses and handing one to Erestor. The dark-haired advisor took slow sips of his glass, still fighting a faint blush staining his cheeks. With a small smirk, Glorfindel stretched himself out on the floor upon his abdomen, arms crossed and resting over Erestor’s legs.

“Comfortable, melethron?” Erestor asked with a slight cock of an eyebrow.

“Yes, quite, thank you for asking,” Glorfindel replied lazily. Celeborn snorted, averting his eyes when Erestor pinned him with a glare. “So, what were you discussing, my lords?” Glorfindel asked, turning his attention to the three elven lords sitting about him. A sheepish grin spread across his face. “Before we so rudely burst in on you, that is.”

“We were just discussing situations which can turn us old elves into elflings again,” Thranduil replied, one finger twirling around a lock of Elrond’s dark hair. The faint motion elicited a sigh from Imladris’ lord as he leaned back further against his lover. The king eyed Erestor and Glorfindel a moment before speaking again. “Of course, I do believe the two of you proved our point quite nicely a moment ago.”

“My dear lord Thranduil, please do not tell me you’ve never had the urge to do something utter unconventional…and maybe a little inappropriate?” Glorfindel winced as his casual question made him the recipient of a sharp slap across his shoulders, courtesy of Erestor who was fighting another bout of embarrassment. Thranduil acted as if he didn’t notice, skimming the tip of his finger over his wine. The deep red liquid caught the firelight, reflecting and dancing within the king’s blue eyes.

“I have, quite a few times actually. But, I always made sure the room I was wishing to use was unoccupied beforehand.” Elrond began to giggle at some unvoiced memory, perking up Glorfindel’s interest.

“What happened?”

“What do you mean?” Glorfindel wagged a finger at the king.

“Do not play games with me, Lord Thranduil. I can sense when someone is hiding something. I helped raise the twins, you know. And, let me tell you, they tried daily to hide things.” Erestor nodded in agreement, as did Elrond. “You are hiding something right now.”

“I am not!” Thranduil protested.

“Did you get caught?”

“W-what?!”

“Come now, my lord. You may be old, but I’m sure you’re hearing is still in tip top condition.” Thranduil seemed as if he were about to tackle Glorfindel, but stopped at Elrond’s gentle touch to his knee. The Elda’s smile broadened as he continued to egg the other elf on. “Let’s have it then, Lord Thranduil. I suppose whatever happened involved you and Lord Elrond.” The king of Mirkwood looked thoroughly exasperated, and on the verge of shutting Glorfindel up permanently. Celeborn found the whole exchange amusing as he sat and observed all of them; Erestor was just glad to have the topic of the discussion shifted away from himself.

“Fine fine,” Thranduil said, caving it. “Just what is it you would like to know that you cannot leave me be until it is revealed, Glorfindel?”

“I am assuming you and Lord Elrond have had a few…sexual escapades over the years, y Glo Glorfindel asked, testing the waters. Elrond tried to keep a straight face while Thranduil nodded curtly. “Then I make a proposition. You share with us one of your experiences, Lord Celeborn will share one of his, and Erestor and I will willing share one of ours.”

“A game then?”

“If you want to consider it as such, then yes.” Thranduil thought on the proposal a moment. It would certainly be an interesting way in beating Glorfindel at his own game, make the Elda the center of embarrassment for once. Of course, there was very little that embarrassed the former captain of Gondolin, but it was worth a try.

“Very well then, Glorfindel. We shall play your little game.” The grin that had planted itself on Glorfindel’s features seemed to widen. “What would you like to know?”

“Your most embarrassing moment, of course. That is, if there is one.” He was egging him on, Thranduil knew it. The elven king decided to humor the Elda. He spared Elrond a glance as his Peredhel lover gazed at him quizzically.

“Why, that’s easy.” Thranduil tried hard not to snicker at the look of utter surprise Glorfindel gave him at his sudden answer. “There was this one time in Mirkwood. I think…mid-summer, or roughly around that time. Can’t remember how many years ago it was, but I don’t think it was all that lono. o. Everyone was outside for the evening festivities after the meal had ended. I remember someone demanding a song, which the musicians gladly obliged. I, on the other hand, had other plans.
“So, I excused myself, and Elrond of course. It was too far to walk to the bedrooms, at least in my impatience, so we headed for my private library. I didn‘t think anyone would be coming that way, much to to my library.” He paused a moment to sip his wine, noting Glorfindel’s apparent displeasure in having the tale interrupted. “We didn’t get very far before we were rudely interrupted.”

“Interrupted?” Erestor asked, curious. “By whom?” Elrond picked at his sleeve before replying in a low voice.

“Elladan and Legolas.” The wide-eyed gazes he found on Celeborn, Glorfindel and Erestor’s faces made him squirm a little next to Thranduil. “That’s not the embarrassing part.”

“What’s more embarrassing then being interrupted by your own son?!” Glorfindel quipped. He was astonished to even imagine his lord frolicking about in such a manner no less hearing about it from Elrond himself.

“Try breaking the table you’re bent over as they walk in,” Thranduil said casually, as if the remark meant nothing at all. Elrond turned a furious shade of red at his words, bowing his head until strands of dark hair shielded his face from view. “I liked that table too, have many fond memories of it.” He snickered half to himself, ignoring the others’ stares.

“I very much doubt I can top that,” Celeborn remarked, clearing the silence that had momentarily settled in. “I certainly can’t remember ever being interrupted.”

“Then enlighten us on something.” Surprisingly, it was Erestor who spoke. The seneschal was slowly warming up to the game that had been initiated.

“Very well. What would you like to know?”

“What is the Lady Galadriel like as a lover? As a lady, she is regal, kind yet stern, beautiful and wise. But, what is she like as a lover?” Celeborn considered the advisor’s words and questions. He was well aware that the other three elves were probably wondering the same as Erestor. He wasn’t quite sure what he could tell them, but he was going to give it a try.

“Galadriel is a wonderful lover,” Celeborn began, gazing thoughtfully into his glass. “I had a few lovers before her, but few compare to her beauty and radiance. Galadriel really isn’t different as a lover as she is a person. She gives and takes equally, always sharing and reciprocating. Her touch is gentle, and soothing. She speaks little; her eyes convey everything she would ever need to say. Though, she is a little more adventurous than one might think. Galadriel once suggested we use a talan above the grounds where the Galadhrim were busy patrolling, when the sun was high no less.”

“She did not!” Elrond seemed more than a little amazed that the grandmother of his children would suggest such a thing. “I cannot believe she would even think of doing such a thing!”

“Oh yes, she did. We didn’t get caught, of course. But, knowing that there was a possibly we might be was very exhilarating.”

“So, you’ve done it more than once?” Glorfindel asked.

“Is there ever any doubt?” Celeborn grinned as the others began to laugh. None of them would have thought the Lady of the Wood would be fond of such endeavors if they had not heard so from her own husband. “Now, it is your turn, Glorfindel, Erestor.”

“Well, let me see…” The blond Elda folded his hands, resting his chin upon them as he wracked his brain for a memory. Erestor eyed him over the rim of his glass; he was a little frightened of what Glorfindel would reveal about them. There were some things he just didn’t want his lord to know. “There was the time in the stables…”

“No,” Erestor interrupted. Glorfindel turned to his lover, noting the stern look on Erestor’s face. He tried again.

“Ok…oh, there was the wine cellar incident…”

“No.”

“How about on the roof? We…”

“No.”

“The kitchen was an interesting moment…”

“No.” Glorfindel was becoming frustrated, and rapidly losing things to tell about. The elven lords, on the other hand, looked rather amused by the situation, as they tried to hide smiles and giggles.

“Last time we were in Lothlorien we shared a talan, and…”

“No.”

“Well then, what am I supposed to tell them about, Erestor?! You don‘t really expect me to describe the time I snuck into your room? You were asleep and, for the life of me, I couldn‘t wake you up. So, I had to resort to…”

“No!!” And with that, Erestor abandoned his composure, which he had been struggling to keep for the last few moments, and tackled his lover. He forgot about the elven lords as he and Glorfindel began wrestling on the floor again. Elrond and Celeborn reached for their wine glasses to prevent them from tipping over, and spilling the rich liquid onto the rugs. At the same moment, Thranduil plucked Elrond from his seat, shifting the Peredhel into his lap as Glorfindel and Erestor rolled onto the spot Elrond had previously occupied.

“You will NOT tell them how you woke me up!” Erestor shouted, trying to clamp his hands over Glorfindel’s mouth.

“There ’t a’t any other way to wake you! I tried *everything*!”

“That’s not something they need to know!” The wrestling match continued as the three elven lords roared in laughter, the musical sounds echoing merrily down the halls. After a time, Elrond’s seneschals composed themselves, but remained lying on the floor. Glorfindel sighed deeply, his breath stirring the plush furs as Erestor stretched out upon the Elda’s back. In time, the laughter died down to a stray chuckle before the lords calmed.

“It would seem,” Celeborn said, as Elrond settled himself more comfortably in his new seat, “that the two of you have had quite a few sexual escapades together.”

“Yes, quite,” Glorfindel replied, wincing as Erestor delivered a sharp slap to his arm.

“Certainly some I would not have expected of my trusted seneschals,” Elrond commented.

“You would be surprised, my lord.”

“Yes, you would,” Erestor said. “My dear Glorfindel has some wild fantasies racing through that golden crown of his.” The Elda grinned at his lover’s words, lifting his head to plant a kiss upon Erestor’s chin. “But, now it is your turn to relate a story, lord Elrond.”

“I have already done so.”

“Nay, that was lord Thranduil’sry. ry. You must tell another, it is the rules of the game.” Glorfindel snickered at his lover’s sudden streak of mischievousness.rondrond was beginning to feel quite embarrassed as all eyes turned on him. He choked down the heat rising to his cheeks as he cleared his throat.

“Well, there was another time in Mirkwood that involved the outdoor baths…”

~~~~~~~~~~

While the elven lords occupied the library, another room nearby was also being occupied. It was one of the sitting rooms, fitted with a fireplace and furs, similar to the ones in the library. There were also plush chairs, but they remained unoccupied. A fire danced within the intricate hearth, warming the bodies of six elves gathered about it. The elves were the sons of Elrond, the son of Thranduil and three of Celeborn’s trusted Galadhrim.

Elladan sat with his back to the fire, the heat warming his skin and hair. In front of him sat Legolas, the prince’s back pressed closely against his lover’s chest. A fair flaxen head leaned back, relaxing against the smooth curve of Elladan’s shoulder as a lazy smile graced Legolas’ face. Opposite them sat Haldir, the March Warden of Lorien. He sat cross-legged upon the furs, with his brother Rumil kneeling behind him. The younger Galadhrim was busy braiding and unbraiding strands of Haldir’s silvery hair; Rumil often found his hands growing idle, and in need of something to keep them busy. Occupying the space between the two parties was Orophin’s long, lean form. The elder brother of Haldir and Rumil lay upon his back on the furs, his head pillowed in the lap of his lover. Elladan’s mirror, Elrohir, twirled a braid behind Orophin’s ear about his finger as he smiled down at his lover.

“What was that?” Haldir asked as rich laughter filled his ears. The others heard the laughter as well, falling silent as they listened.

“It sounds like Ada and lord Elrond,” Legolas commented.

“I hear lord Celeborn,” Rumil said. Elrohir nodded.

“Glorfindel and Erestor as well,” Elladan said as the laughter faded away. “It sounds like they are in the library. I wonder what they are all talking about.”

“Probably discussing politics, or memories of the past,” Orophin replied. “They all lived through the Second Age, and some of the First.”

“But, those times weren’t really something to be laughing about, melme,” Elrohir said.

“Tis true. But, I can’t think of anything else they would be discussing with such mirth.”

“Maybe they are sharing sexual experiences?” Rumil offered. He blinked in confusion as the others turned to him with incredulous looks. “What? It was just a thought. It’s possible.”

“Aye, it is,” Haldir said, patting his brother’s hand as it rested upon his shoulder. “But, it’s not something we would normally like to think our fathers and lords would be doing.” The March Warden then turned to his other brother and Elrohir, a wicked grin spread across his face. “Now then, Orophin, Elrohir. You never did finish your story. So, what did happen after Gildor interrupted you on the banks of the Bruinen?”

Translations:
Meldir-Friend
Mellon-nîn-My friend
Diola lle, Celeborn-Thank you, Celeborn
Ta naa seasamin-It is my pleasure
‘Quel undome, Celeborn, Thranduil-Good evening, Celeborn, Thranduil
Vanimaer-Beautiful one
Melethron-Lover
Ada-Father
Melme-Love