Secrets on the Beach

Author: Emmess

Title: Secrets on the Beach

Genre: Slash

Rated: R

Summary: Third in a series entitled, "Secrets." Elrond discovers a secret while preparing to sail West.

"The hour draws near for the Hobbits to arrive," Elrond commented, as he strolled with the Silver Lord along the shore of the Grey Havens. "We shall depart hence once the Ring Bearer is aboard."

"Aye," Celeborn replied, "Galadriel has foreseen his arrival. Mithrandir will explain all to him. His little friends mayhap give him pause, though."

"Nay…the bearing of the Ring nearly destroyed him - he has not, nor will he ever recover fully. Surely his friends have noticed this and would not wish to talk him to his death."

They walked in companionable silence for a while, listening to the soft lapping of the waves against the shore. Looking out over the horizon, Celeborn turned to his fellow Elf Lord.

"Elrond, will you miss any of it?" he asked, his arm gesturing toward the land behind them.

"This place? Aye…I will miss my children, though my heart warms at the knowledge of my forthcoming reunion with Celebrian."

"As do I…joy fills my soul knowing that my daughter awaits us in Valinor, but still…I will miss the Golden Wood. I will miss the forest."

Elrond cast a sideways glance at Celeborn as he said this, wondering at the wistful note in the Silver Lord's voice. "There will be forests there as well, Celeborn - forests the likes of which we have never seen."

"Aye."

"What is it, my old friend…what tears at you? Your wife travels with you. Your only child awaits your arrival. But yet, there is sadness in your voice."

Celeborn looked away, unable to meet Elrond's eyes, a slight flush coloring his pale cheeks. "'Tis not only the forest, Elrond…but what lies within it that I will miss."

"Ah…someone in particular? Some doe-eyed Elleth who has caught your fancy? There will be many of them in Valinor who would be more than willing to share your company, Celeborn. Indiscretions are not bound only to these shores."

"'Tis not that, Elrond…'tis not an Elleth."

Elrond's head came up sharply at this, his deep indigo eyes staring hard at the silver haired Elf Lord beside him.

"An Ellon? Celeborn…is Galadriel aware of this?"

"Aye…she has been for many centuries. Ours is a marriage of comfort, Elrond. Forged in the heat of passion, our ardor cooled over the long millennia to a deep and lasting friendship. My interests lie elsewhere, as do hers."

"Interesting…do you think that no Ellon in Valinor would appreciate your form? You strike an imposing figure still, Celeborn," Elrond said softly, allowing his eyes to drop, sweeping Celeborn's broad shouldered torso.

Celeborn noticed Elrond's eyes drop, noting the sudden flush of the Peredhil Lord's face. "Elrond…have you ever had occasion to…to…"

"Aye. It bitters my soul that I was unable to persuade either of my sons to make the voyage."

"Elrond! Surely do you not mean to tell me that you have…with your own flesh and blood!"

"Is it any more unthinkable than you dallying with a member of your own Guard? Was it Haldir who soothed your aching muscles after a skirmish, or was it Orophin to whom you turned in the dark of night in the forest's shelter? Perhaps it was Rumil whose company you sought - or was it all three? They were as your own sons…did they not call you Adar? You raised them from Elflings."

Celeborn's face colored rapidly, his near white brows knitting together as he scowled at the Lord of Imladris. "Which Ellon I chose to share my company is not the question, Elrond. The question at hand is whether or not you chose your own sons to quench your desire!"

"Yes. Does that satisfy your morbid curiosity? I laid with my sons many times - and they with each other, as well."

Celeborn was stunned into silence at the revelation, but soon his mind began picturing the three ebony haired Elves lying together, soft lips and gentle fingers tasting and kneading firm flesh. His breath hitched in his throat as he felt himself become aroused.

His flush and quick breath was not lost on Elrond. Smirking, the Peredhil Lord cocked an eyebrow at Celeborn, his hand reaching to lift a hank of the Silver Lord's long silky hair between his elegant fingers, letting it slip through them like molten silver. "We both leave lovers on these shores, Celeborn. Perhaps we might find comfort in each other…"

Celeborn turned his head to look at Elrond, his silver blue eyes staring into Elrond's soul. "Since we are being truthful with each other, Elrond - 'twas all three. Haldir was my first…I took him the night he earned his warrior braids…fresh and young…he was more than willing to do anything I asked of him. Each of his brothers in turn I took also…beginning on the night they too earned their braids. Haldir helped me initiate them both."

Elrond nodded his understanding, his hand still stoking the Silver Lord's silky tresses, his finger slipping to touch the tip of Celeborn's ear once or twice. "Twas shortly after Celebrian sailed that I sought Elladan and Elrohir's comfort. They were so worried that I might fade…my grief was great, and I will admit freely that their comfort gave me reason to live…strength to see through my responsibilities."

Placing his hand on Elrond's cheek, Celeborn closed the distance between them, his lips finding Elrond's, pressing against them lightly.

Elrond responded in kind, his hand slipping under the weight of Celeborn's hair to cup the back of the Elf Lord's neck, pulling him deeper into the kiss. Framed against the backdrop of the beckoning sea, the two Elves tasted fully of each other, tongues dancing, hands beginning to roam. It was a shout from far down the beach where the White Ship was docked that drew them apart.

"It seems the Hobbits have arrived. We must go," Elrond said, reluctantly removing his hands from Celeborn's back where they had been caressing the strong muscles beneath the fabric of the Elf Lord's tunic.

"Aye…but in Valinor…" Celeborn whispered, his hand taking one last journey down Elrond's cheek.

"…we shall have forever…" Elrond finished.

The two Lords walked in companionable silence up the broad expanse of rocky beach toward the dock where the White Ship awaited.

THE END