Love Within Sight

Love Within Sight
Pairing : Elladan and Legolas
Rating : eventually NC17 when it all dawns on Elladan !
Summary: Legolas longs for a dark haired lover
Disclaimer : I will return Elladan to Elrohir after this, and thank you to the master for the elves
Dedication : to Karen who wanted an Elladan/Legolas fic. I hope this is okay !

I

Elrohir nudged his brother. “Tis unbecoming an elf to stare brother,” he advised.

“Half elf,” Elladan corrected, not yet turning to his twin.

Elrohir snorted and shook his head. “Half of half of half is more the like, “ he countered, “there is scarce more blood of an elf in him.” At this Elrohir inclined his head to the object of Elladan’s attention.

“He will become a formidable warrior,” Elladan commented, unheeding Elrohir further snort. While Elladan watched the form of the fighter, Elrohir watched the form of the elf.

A study of concentration, the young blond elf drew back the taunt string. He steadied the bow in his hands, eye focused on the target. The arrow flew though the air with a soft whoosh, hitting the bull’s eye with a thud. Elladan smiled to his brother as they turned to walk away, their presence required by their lord and father. Arms around each other in the jovial familiarity of brothers, they did not take heed of the archer who watched them retreat.

Legolas had long watched the twins. First it had been for the unfamiliarity of seeing two so equally matched in all aspects. Along with many others he strained to tell one from the other, then with the trained eye of a hunter had seen the minute differences that marked them. Elrohir the more brash and confident, willing to speak his mind without recourse, though it rarely rankled any, so considered where his thoughts. Elladan, more likely to wait until after his brother had finished to offer his view of how the world found itself. Now he had to admit he watched to acquaint himself with their preferences in life, their habits and tastes, or he shook his head as the twins disappeared from view, he should be more honest and admit it was Elladan whom he watched with an intensity that had caused more than a trickle of comment from his Mirkwood companions.

It was weeks later that Legolas again spied the brothers. Newly returned from some venture, covered in the grime of the road, he had looked upon with fascination as they dismounted, their weapons gleaming, hair shaken loose from the helmets they had worn, silhouetted in golden light of the sun. They had bowed their respects to their father and to him, Elladan’s gaze regarding the younger elf for a moment before turning to share a word with his brother. And with that they were gone into the confines of the house to ready for the celebration that was to follow their safe return.

The twins entered the hall together, welcomed by a throng of well wishers. Occasionally Elladan would glance in the direction of the gathering of Mirkwood, seeking out Legolas with a soft smile, appraising the development of refined muscle and sun touched skin.

It was well into the evening before Legolas himself, fortified by the words of those around him and Elladan’s seemingly favourable regard, ventured to approach the lord’s son. As he made his way close he caught the softly uttered goodnights and the flash of dark hair as the elder of the twins departed. It gave Mirkwood’s prince little consolation that Imladris’ young lord left alone. Legolas stood and watched Elladan. With each sway of his slender body Legolas fell deeper under his spell. Elrohir watched too, bemused by his brother’s apparent lack of awareness of the prince’s regard, and Legolas’ more than obvious interest.

“He will need to be more bold if he has set his sights on that quarry,” the elf beside him laughed without malice.

Elrohir turned to his father’s lover with a smile and a rueful shake of his head. “That he will,” he replied to the Imladris captain, “that he will. My brother is not overly aware of the effects he has on others.”

Glorfindel laughed openly at that blatant understatement, so typical of Elrohir, who had no trouble identifying the effects he had on those around him. While the bed of the younger twin was seldom without the warmth of another, Elladan was more solitary. There were rarely even vague rumblings of those who were afforded his graces. Indeed, the time had been when Glorfindel had thought the elder twin untouched and only a chance overhearing of a hushed confidence had swayed his opinion otherwise. It seemed Elladan’s lovers were as discrete as the young lord himself and from the smiles that accompanied the discourse, possessed of a prowess and consideration so rarely found, except perhaps in his twin.

Legolas turned when a hand was laid on his shoulder. For a brief moment as he reacted to the touch he saw only the dark hair and sparkling grey eyes and thought it Elladan returned. A smile, the brilliance of which tested Elrohir’s resolve, but he shook his head as Legolas himself realised his mistake and he was not quick enough to mask the disappointment.

Elrohir shrugged off the whispered apology. It had been his mistake to approach the prince without warning.

“Go after him,” Elrohir advised to Legolas’ puzzled stare, “he goes to the library before his chambers,” the young twin whispered conspiratorially.

The smile returned to the prince’s lips as he began to walk toward the door, before returning to Elrohir’s side to embrace him.

“Thank you.”

Legolas’ swift steps had him near the library without a thought to what was his course may be. He placed his hand on the door, pushing it enough to see the pale light of the candles in the room beyond. Stopping gave him a chance to think. His mouth dried and his stomach turned. Suddenly this was not the prospect it had seemed in the great hall. Lowering his eyes and shaking his head, Legolas turned to go back to his rooms and rue his courage. But in that instance of indecision he had been heard.

“Elrohir?” came a soft voice. No other knew of this night time routine so it did not occur to Elladan to question beyond his brother’s name. Legolas pushed the door a little more to meet Elladan’s puzzled gaze. “No, not my brother,” Elladan continued.

“No, not your brother,” Legolas answered, stepping over the threshold.

“Legolas? What brings you here at this late hour? Surely you are not lacking so much for company, or….” Elladan smiled as he beckoned the prince forward, “do you seek to escape the attentions of those who would keep you from your solitude?”

“No, there is…..none I daresay who would mourn my absence.”

Elladan cocked his head in surprise at that. Legolas ran a hand over the shelving, touching a book here and there.

“Perhaps a book to keep you company then” Elladan prompted gently. Whereas he was not disinclined to company, he had come to regard this time as his own and was on the whole loathed to share it.

Legolas looked at Elladan about to shake his head, then changed his mind. “Perhaps…….perhaps you would recommend one?”

Elladan stood, spent a moment considering the choice then selected a slim volume. His fingers brushed over Legolas’ hand as he handed him the book. “You may find this of value, I have often read it when I was in need of solitary company.”

Legolas accepted the book with a nod of his head, then bade the dark haired elf a good night. As he neared the door he chanced a look back to where Elladan had once more taken up his seat. The candle light reflected in those grey eyes and cast a golden glow over the pale skin. At that moment, as Elladan felt the regard, he looked up and smiled. Returning to his reading Elladan became immersed in the words though the image of the prince did not leave his thoughts. As the candles burnt down he closed the book, resting his hand on the cover and thought once more on the blond elf.

Once back in his rooms Legolas looked at the book he had been given. He had walked with it clutched to his chest, unable to open it until he had closed the door behind him. He could still feel the warm touch of Elladan and the stirring of his senses at the Imadris’ elf closeness. Laying back on the bed, he ran his finger tips over the cover of the book and began to read.