Against All Odds

Title: Against All Odds (1/1)
Author: Janalynn27
Type: FPS
Pairing: Elladan/Melpomaen
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Mention of torture
Disclaimer: The characters are not mine. They belong to the estate of J.R.R. Tolkien. No disrespect is intended and no profit is being made. The lyrics for “Against All Odds” belong to Phil Collins.
Beta: Daeomae, thanks so much sweetie!!! Any other mistakes are of my making.
Summary: Can Elladan conquer his grief and guilt over his Naneth’s capture?
Timeline: 2510 TA
Feedback: It is greatly appreciated
Author's note: This is inspired by the song “Against All Odds” by Phil Collins. ** ** denotes lyrics and // // denotes flashbacks.


Against All Odds


**How can I just let you walk away, just let you leave without a trace
When I stand here taking every breath with you, ooh
You're the only one who really knew me at all**

Imladris, 2510 Third Age

Melpomaen stood at the railing and looked down into the courtyard, watching as his heart prepared to leave. No matter what he said or did, he could not persuade Elladan to stay, nor Elrohir. Not even their Adar, who pleaded, not wanting to lose another, could sway them from their course. How life had become this nightmare, Melpomaen did not know nor did he understand why such atrocious things happened to those who were so deserving of happiness. A fortnight…just a fortnight and yet it felt like an eternity since the Lady Celebrían had left the Gray Havens in hopes to reach Aman where her spirit may heal. Mel blinked back tears as the memory of Elladan and Elrohir riding into the courtyard of the Last Homely House carrying the broken body of their Naneth (Mother), traipsed through his mind…

//Elladan and Elrohir, bloodied and weary in both body and spirit, handed their Naneth over to their Adar, seeing the same anguish in his eyes that fill their soul. They had ridden quickly to their Naneth’s aid, but it had taken precious time to hunt and track the filthy beasts, and their Naneth had paid the price. Though they had not raped her body, they had raped her spirit and beaten upon her body, torturing her until by the time the twins reached her, she was nigh unrecognizable.

The twins followed their Adar as he bore his precious burden into the Healing House, guilt and rage beat in their breasts, and sorrow followed them like a shadow. They did not have time in their search or on the journey home to recriminate themselves, but when they were relieved of their Naneth’s care, all they could think of was that they were not there when she needed them most.

The days that followed their return were as if a dark shroud had blanketed Imladris, its residents had been quiet. It had seemed as if all joy had gone with the bright smile and shining blue eyes that were the Lady Celebrían’s trademark, the happiness that bubbled over and never failed to touch all that were in her presence. The Lady no longer smiled, her eyes were a faded blue, and sadness clung to her slowly healing body.//

Melpomaen came back to the present when he heard Glorfindel’s raised voice, trying in a last ditch effort to change the twins’ minds, or to at least delay their leaving. He watched as Elrohir refused to look at the Seneschal, leaving Elladan to deal with their Captain. Though Mel could not hear his beloved’s voice, he imagined the words he said, for he had pleaded his own case just the night before…


**How can you just walk away from me,
when all I can do is watch you leave
Cos we've shared the laughter and the pain and even shared the tears
You're the only one who really knew me at all**

//Elladan saes (please)…do not go! I fear if you leave now, you will never return to me,” Mel had pleaded, trying not to cry, but knowing deep down, that his meleth (love) had left him when he had rode out to find his Naneth.

Elladan had caressed Melpomaen’s face, a face that he had memorized a long time ago. He wished that he could lay the guilt and pain he felt over his Naneth’s capture aside, but he could not. It had been his choice to not journey with his Naneth. He was the one that had decided that the pass was relatively free from danger and therefore did not need a sizeable guard to accompany her, but he could not have been more wrong. His twin had tried to share in this burden, to convince him he was just as much to blame, but Elladan knew the truth, and it was slowly eating him alive. The only thing that he and Elrohir thought could console them would be to rid Arda of as many orcs as they could.

Elladan had closed his eyes to garner what strength he had left and then opened them as he cradled his melethron’s (m. lover’s) face in his hands and he said in a forlorn voice, “My dearest Mel. I wish I could give you what you seek, but I fear it is no longer mine to give.”

Mel had shaken his head as he desperately clutched the front of Elladan’s tunic, wishing he could tie this ellon (m. elf) that held his soul to him forever more, but he had known he could not. He could not add more grief to this one’s heart and he swallowed his cry, knowing that he needed to let him go and hope that he would return to him.//

**So take a look at me now, oh there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me,
just the memory of your face
Ooh take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space
And you coming back to me is against the odds and that's what I've got to face**

Melpomaen tightened his hold on the banister as Elladan and Elrohir mounted, holding himself still, knowing that at the slightest look from his beloved, he would be flying to his side and pleading with him once more to stay. He stood there, taking in the sight of his Elladan leaving, fearing that all he would have of his meleth would be memories. How he wished Elladan would turn just once, to give him just one more memory to file away and cherish, but he did not. Mel could not take it any longer, so he turned and entered the Last Homely House, unable to watch the bearer of his heart leaving Imladris and most likely his life forever. There was just too much guilt and grief in Elladan and Elrohir’s soul to find peace and Mel feared that the only way they would find it would be the call to Mandos’ Halls.

**I wish I could just make you turn around,
turn around and see me cry
There's so much I need to say to you,
so many reasons why
You're the only one who really knew me at all**

Elladan slowed his horse as he reached the gates to the courtyard and he turned, searching for Melpomaen, and just spying his melethron entering the Last Homely House. He sighed, his heart even more heavy, if it were at all possible. Elladan knew that it was selfish, but he had wished that Mel would stay and watch him leave so he could look upon his beautiful face just once more. He had longed to say so much to his meleth the night before, but words just would not come. How could he explain how unworthy he felt of the precious love that Mel gave him? How could he say that though his heart was broken, it would always be Mel’s, though it was so much less than his melethron deserved? Taking a deep breath, Elladan turned his horse forward once more and followed his twin from their home, not knowing whether they would see it ever again.

**So take a look at me now, well there's just an empty space
And there's nothing left here to remind me, just the memory of your face
Now take a look at me now, cos there's just an empty space**

Years passed, with only brief sightings of the twins from the various travelers that frequented Imladris. Slowly life went back to the normal routine for those who resided in the Hidden Vale, all but for the few that still grieved for what they had lost. The Peredhel Lord no longer smiled but did his duty and cared for those under his protection, always eager for any scrap of news about his sons. Erestor and Glorfindel did their best to lessen the burden of running the affairs of Imladris, hoping to see Elrond’s joy return, but were starting to lose hope with each passing season.

Melpomaen flung himself into his work and lived yet dreaded night time, where he would fall into reverie and dream about his beloved and happier times only to wake to a cold bed and a colder existence. Elladan had taken all the warmth with him, leaving an emptiness inside of Melpomaen that only grew bigger as time went by. It was reaching the half century mark since Elladan and Elrohir had quitted Imladris when Mel woke up screaming, knowing something was desperately wrong. He would not know what had occurred until a sennight later, when Elladan came riding into the courtyard bearing an unconscious Elrohir in his arms.

The joy of the twins’ return was marred by the fact that one was barely holding onto his life, and the other in danger of following said twin should his brother give into the call to Mandos’ Hall. Elrond spared all his energy and knowledge, refusing to lose another that he loved, until finally after a fortnight, Elrohir came out of his coma and back into consciousness.

**But to wait for you, is all I can do and that's what I've got to face
Take a good look at me now, cos I'll still be standing here
And you coming back to me is against all odds
It's the chance I've gotta take**

Melpomaen stood at the door, peering into the healing chamber to watch as a newly arrived Legolas lovingly brushed the hair from Elrohir’s brow. Soon the Scribe’s gaze fell upon Elladan and his ragged appearance. The twins had changed so much during their time away. They were thin, yet their bodies carried more muscle than when they had left. Though the rage that had filled them seemed to no longer burn brightly in their eyes, it still was evident that they had yet to find peace with the loss of their Naneth.

Melpomaen took one more look before turning and heading back to his chambers. He had yet to approach Elladan, feeling reticent about being the first one to speak. Melpomaen held a fear inside his heart, a fear that Elladan had changed too much that even a love as deep as theirs would not be able to survive. He feared that his beloved would leave once more in search of something that he did not need in the first place, forgiveness over his Naneth’s capture. Melpomaen would just have to take the chance that Elladan would come back to him, for no matter what he did or said, his beloved had to be the one to find his own peace with the past.

**Take a look at me now**

Elladan watched his brother with Legolas, and he knew that they were finally ready to come home. As if sensing his brother’s thoughts, Elrohir looked to Elladan and gave him a slight smile. His brush with death had finally made them realize that even though they had lost so much, there was so much to live for and that throwing away their lives would not atone for the mistake they had made. No, the only way to truly honor their Naneth was to live, to live and love those around them and to care for them as best as they could and help them through their grief should they need it. So it was with a remorseful heart that they pleaded forgiveness from their Adar for leaving him when he was hurting as much or even more than they were.

Elrond readily forgave them, hugging each tightly, a ghost of a smile creeping into his eyes much to the delight of his two closest friends. They visited a short while until Elrohir, who was still healing, fell into reverie. He was left in the capable hands of his meleth Legolas, while the other’s sought their beds, all but one.

Elladan made his way to Melpomaen’s chambers. Each step was like a weight being lifted from his heart. There had not been one day that he had not thought of his melethron, of his kind honey-brown eyes and engaging smile. Though he still saw the love in Melpomaen’s eyes, he knew that it was fragile after abandoning him all those years back. He should have been there, knowing how much Mel loved the Lady, but all Elladan could think of was himself and how unworthy he felt, but no more. He would never leave his beloved again, should he still be welcomed into his loving arms.

Melpomaen opened the door and found Elladan standing at the threshold. He stared long into those molten-silver eyes that he had not thought to see again, and saw a silent question. Moving out of the way, he waited until Elladan entered before closing the door once more. Talking a deep breath, Mel turned and faced his meleth and quietly waited for him to speak.

Elladan drank in the vision that was before him, and he did not miss the uncertainty in his beloved’s eyes. Wanting to see happiness instead of sadness, he came to stand before Mel and willed him to look deep into his eyes, to see that he truly was here to stay. Caressing Melpomaen’s cheek, Elladan spoke softly, “Just before I left, I told you that I could not give you what you seek, but that was a lie for you already had it. Mel…melui nín (my sweet), if you would still have me, I would be yours, for I am whether you say yea or nay. You have always held my heart. Saes tell me I can come home, for you are my home.”

Melpomaen sucked in his breath when he felt the truth of Elladan’s words rush through him, and he threw his arms about his meleth’s neck. “Yes…yes Elladan. You always have a place with me.”

Elladan wrapped his arms tightly around Mel and swung them around, happiness and hope for the future filling his heart for the first time since before his Naneth had sailed.

The End