What Was Taken

After the battle of Helm's Deep

He was gone... dead... His eyes, - those dark, sparkling gems of pure life were closed. His red cloak had been an omen, Legolas thought. Crimson as his blood, spilled by an Uruk-Hai’s hand, wetting the stones of the fortress of Helm’s Deep. His glowing body was ripped and destroyed, no longer a sufficient carrier for his Elven soul, so the soul had moved on. Left him, Legolas, behind.

The Elf stared at the setting sun, it was red... maddening red. Red as the blood soaked soil he stood on. Red as the last glimmering light in the eyes of the Uruk-Hai...filled with madness and rage. The Uruk-Hai that tainted the earth with their mere presence. Life created to kill... spill precious Elven blood on the ground, still the elves' heartbeats, consume their victims' pain in their insane hunger for the red blood... right blood. Natural blood. Blood of earth and starlight. Not like the black fluid floating in their veins. Blood brewed in the dungeons of Isengard. Magically enchanted, forced into life. Forced to flow in his lover's killer... make his heart beat...- Animate that soulless body, make it able to lift its arm and strike... The job seemed endless. Piling up bodies. Heavy shells of Uruk-Hai, grinning mouths with sharp teeth, black eyes like beasts staring up emptily at the sky. The black smoke from the fires, the sounds from the grieving men... women... crying over their lost ones, building burial mounds and sacrificing their loved ones' bodies to the earth... sprinkling the dirt with flowers... There was blood of Uruk-Hai in that same soil. They didn't think of that...

The lithe Elven bodies were the heaviest to carry. Pale skin, not glowing anymore. Blue eyes, beautiful even in death, mirroring the morning sky from their corner of the battleground. Not piled, but lined up, open wounds still glistening with blood, broken bones reducing the children of the stars to piles of red and white. Impossible angles, limbs lost. Silvery hair cluttered with blood... Black and red together in death... And among the still white bodiesldirldir of Lorien. Not alive anymore. His fire extinguished. His marble skin, not smooth and warm but slowly graying as the ashes from the burning Uruk-Hai covered the Elven bodies in fine dust and smoke. Made them smell of burning flesh. Unholy flesh... flesh not meant to be. A golden helmet in the dirt, an arrow crafted by Elven hands, broken and bloodied nearby. Trampled down in the mud by iron heels.

"I would have you, Legolas of Mirkwood." The memory came back, haunting him. Haldir's eyes looking away from him, almost shyly. For the first and last time in the short time they had known each other Legolas felt sure he could read insecurity on the other Elf's face as he searched the river Nimrodel with his gaze. "Would you reject me?" he had continued, his fingers playing with a mallorn leaf, slowly ripping it apart.

"No..." Legolas had answered and gently touched the other's shoulder. "I would not reject you, fair one, for I have longed for this as well."

The grey-clad arms had encircled him, clutched him to Haldir's strong body, soft lips met his own - his fingers tangled in that silken, silvery hair glowing like mithril in the clear moonlight. Their shared passion had been like coming home. The marble body, possessing his own, like a gift in a time when he needed it the most. All thoughts of the Dark Lord, their quest to break his power, had fled when he gave himself to the other. He had lost all thoughts in the fire that was Haldir. Opened his heart and his soul as well as his body. Let him have every inch of him. All he wanted he could have. Legolas had lost his heart that night... to a proud Galadhrim with dark, glittering eyes. Eyes that could not see him anymore.

*********

Legolas let the carcass in his arms fall to the ground; he could not do this anymore. Not now, not with his lover's dead body so close. Not when the grief was like a bleeding wound. His heart dead and heavy, a weight that held no life, no light... Dry like autumn leaves. The feel and smell of dead flesh... Men, Uruk-Hai and Elves filled his nostrils and made him slightly ill. The black smoke annoyed his keen eyes. His clothes were filthy with blood and mud, strange fluids that poured from the dead bodies. He still had bruises and cuts that had not healed from the battle. One of his arms refused to work properly, still he had clenched his teeth and helped the Rohirrim clear the battle ground all day, taken special care of his kin\lendlender bodies... bodies that were not suppose to die, least off all like this... In a war between Men and wizards...

Why had he come? The question bothered him more and more as the numbness from the blow slowly faded in his mind. Why had Haldir of Lorien chosen to lead the Elven archers to Helm's Deep? To fight bravely in a war on the behalf of a species he loathed so... Haldir, whose strongest wish was to depart for the Undying Lands with his Lady, leave Middle-Earth and its inhabitants behind. He had asked Legolas to come with him when the time came. Come with him as his lover and friend... Instead Legolas had watched him die...

He could not believe the folly of the other Elf's decision. He could have been safe in Lorien, he didn't have to come here... Annoyance mingled with his grief, and he silently cursed the other in his mind. Accused him for his foolishness. The thought of Haldir and what they had shared, what was to come, had kept his spirits up even when they thought they had lost the two Hobbits. Been a light and a hope, something he looked forward to when this quest was over... Return to Lorien, to his lover's fierce embrace... and maybe, maybe stay there... in those arms. Cross the sea with him and build a new life. Wake up to the sight of thluscluscious, red lips, those long black lashes, those arched eyebrows - pale, glowing skin that felt so smooth under his fingers. His dark nipples like ripe berries on the muscled chest. His long, slender legs that had wrapped around Legolas’, held him in place while he loved him so tenderly. Sis lis loins on fire with his intensity...

The memory of the hungry gaze that had awoken his own desire to taste the Elf when the Fellowship had first entered the Golden Wood felt like a lie now. It had held promises Haldir had not kept - Promises of fire and life. Instead Legolas had ended up with shattered dreams and the memory of eyes that held no light.

Legolas found his bow and his cloak and turned his back to the scene of this betrayal, knowing very well how unfair and anything but noble his feelings. Yet he still thought of it as a betrayal. A betrayal of their future, a betrayal of their dreams - Dreams spun of wishes and moonlight one fair night by the shore of Nimrodel, Lorien's blood.
The dreams had ended here, in Helm's Deep. Ended in a pile of bloody flesh and bones. An empty mirror image of what had been his lover. Still draped in his red cloak but silent as the world before dawn.

Legolas walked the rocky mountainside; his Elven ears had picked up the sound of running water nearby. He wanted to clean himself. Rinse off the layer of blood and ashes. Peel the memory of what had passed from his skin if not from his mind. He found the stream surrounded by low trees and bushes and sighed with relief. He needed the privacy, this silent spot, to think... to regain his own tranquility, his balance. He needed that balance, that peace of mind, e wae was to continue this quest and survive. If he was to protect those he had sworn to protect.
He entered a small clearing, nothing more than a green square surrounded by trees and put his bow and quiver down. He drew a deep breath and unfastened the brooch of his cloak. The brooch he had been gifted by Haldir's hands... His fingers trailed the green leaf, felt the silvery outlines, the shape of it... and Haldir's dead eyes met his again.

The sound of approaching footsteps made him spin around. He was not alarmed since the person, be it Elf or Man, did nothing to hide his or her arrival... It was neither; it was Gimli the Dwarf.

"Legolas..." The Dwarf slowly entered the clearing. "I saw you leave..." he explained. Insecurity colored his voice. "I would just see if you...- maybe you needed something." The dwarf trailed off.

"Thank you, Gimli," Legolas smiled softly at his friend." I thank you for your offer but what I most of all need now is to be alone...some time to think..."

"You have lost many of your kin..." The Dwarf's voice was compassionate. He took a couple of steps closer to the Elf: "I am so terribly sorry for your loss," he said and shed one glittery tear as he spoke.

Legolas smiled warmly at him. "I never thought I'd see a Dwarf shed tears for the Elves..." he said and stroked the rough skin of the Dwarf's cheek with his fingeLet Let them rest on the beard for a little while his blue gaze met the Dwarf's brown ones.

"Neither did I," Gimli laughed a sad laugh. " But these are strange times..." he continued and lay his hand on top of Legolas', gave it a comforting squeeze. "He was more than your friend, was he not?" he blurted out.

"Who? Haldir?" Legolas' arched his brows in surprise.

"Yes..." The Dwarf looked almost ashamed as his gaze fell to the ground.

"He was," Legolas confirmed in a calm voice, although his eyes held a mixture of pain and grief. "He was my lover."

"So I thought..." Gimli explained. "I saw it in the way he was looking at you… back then... in the Lady's realm."

Legolas' sad smile was back in place. "It was no secret Gimli, it just wasn't told. It was all so new... and now it's gone..." Legolas' voice held wonder. As if he first in this moment could fully comprehend what had happened.

"Oh, master Elf!" Gimli cried out and embraced his chest with his chubby arms. Rested his head against the Elven body. "I am so sorry for you," he continued. " He was such a fine, although rude, Elf...and I can not understand why he came here..."

Legolas shook his head. "Neither can I, Gimli... neither can I..." he said while his hand slowly stroked the rough texture of the dwarf's hair. "Go back to the others now, Gimli," he continued in his soft voice. "I will be there as soon as I have cleaned myself of the blood of his killers. I cannot bear to have it on me..."

The dwarf slowly redrew and met Legolas' eyes. "I understand," he said. "I would have felt the same way if it had been my..." he trailed off with a sigh. "I will tell the other's to leave you alone," he said at last. "Take your time, Legolas. I will make sure you will not be missed." A light squeeze of his shoulder and the dwarf turned to leave.

"Thank, you, Gimli," Legolas murmured to his back, then he turned to shed the rest of his clothes.

The sun was just a red glow in the horizon now. Legolas folded his cloak and started to work on the clasps and lacings of his tunic when he suddenly realized that another had entered the clearing. No sounds this time, just a feeling, a slight disturbance in the air. Something changed, warned him of the other's presence. With a slight annoyance he turned around, he wished that they would respect his decision and leave him alone.
At first he didn't see anyone... just the low bushes and trees bathed in the last rays of the red sun, a landscape of gold and blood. Then a slender figure appeared from the shadows of the trees. Grey-clad, silver haired, with broad chest and shoulders. His first thought was Haldir, but something wasn't right. The feel of the creature approaching him was wrong. It did not have the feel of his late lover...The figure emerged slowly from amongst the trunks. His soft, leather boots hardly touched the ground as he stepped out in the red light. His eyes, glowing dark on his marble features. Just like Haldir's had; yet this was not he.

"Orophin..." The word uttered was more an exclamation of surprise than a greeting.

"Is this how you mourn my brother, Legolas of Mirkwood, by offering yourself to a dwarf?" The voice was cold, yet held mirth. Cool eyes measured him from across the small clearing. His words caught Legolas off his guard. He had not expected the Elf, and certainly not his hostility.

"I...did not offer myself to anyone, Orophin of Lorien. Gimli is my friend... Well you know that."

The Lorien Elf gave him a smirk.
"Do you really have friends Legolas? " He smiled. "Somehow I doubt you have..."

Legolas gave him a confused smile in return. A part of him wondering if the Elf really was there, or if it was some kind of trick, an apparition of sorts... His strange behavior and disturbingds mds made him insecure.

" The Lady Galadriel foresaw it all," Orophin read his mind. "She sent us out shortly after the archers, told us to arrive on this day... this exact time... to see the red sun set. Those were her words. We have come to bring them back with us."

"You are taking Haldir to Lorien?" Legolas asked.

"Where else?" The cold arrogance was back in Orophin's face and voice. "Would you have him even in death?" he asked.

"Have him?" Legolas measured the other's face. Searched for the right answer. "Haldir belongs in Lorien," he tried at last.

"Yes, he does," the Galadhrim answered. "Yet you took him away from us... Why is that fair stranger?"

Legolas tilted his head upwards. The accusations in the other's voice were hard to accept. Even harder to understand. He swallowed hard and tried to reason. "I did not tell Haldir to come here, Orophin. I was very surprised that he did... And I certainly did not wish for him to come..."

"Why not?" the other interrupted. "Why didn't you want your lover to be here, to fight by your side... Was there something he should not know about?" Orophin arched his eyebrows and crossed his arms over his chest.

He looked so much like his brother in that moment that Legolas' breath caught in his throat. Forced him to think twice before he could sort out the words the other had just uttered.

"I didn't want him to come because this wasn't his war. Because I cared for him. I didn't... didn't want anything like this happening to him... Why are you accusing me?" he asked. "I have done nothing to harm your brother..."

Orophin stood motionless. "No..." he said slowly, his eyes trailing Legolas body with an almost sly expression. "I guess just you being you was enough..." he said at last.

"Enough for what?" Legolas shook his head in confusion.

"For him to turn his back on everything that he loved, everything he held dear... Enough for him to leave his home and come here to fight the Uruk-Hai of Isengard on the behalf of men..." he spat the last word.

Annoyance and shock mingled in Legolas. The other had just paired his own questions with an answer... But Haldir's brother could not seriously believe that he was the reason...

"No!" he exclaimed. "I had no such power over...h...he must have had other reasons... He was a noble warrior..." he tried.

"Not noble enough," Orophin smirked. "How well did you know him after just one night? How well did I know him, young prince?"

Legolas stared at him in disbelief. "Are you implying that I was the sole reason why Haldir came to Helm's Deep? - If so, I want you to know that I have never asked for such token of his love..." Bewilderment shone through in his voice now. His eyes met the other's, begged for assurance that it was not so. Orophin just smiled at him. His face a closed mask. His eyes burning with something slightly unnerving that Legolas realized was grief, - still raw and strong, not yet released.

"Orophin," he begged. "I cared deeply for your brother and I mourn his loss... Just as you do..." His voice softened and he reached out a hand to the other.

hin hin hesitated for a moment then he took it. Enveloped Legolas' slender, white fingers in his own. He didn't say anything but pulled Legolas closer, embraced him and held him close to his body.

Legolas enjoyed the feeling of the other Elf, his own kin, the scent of woodland and familiar features. With a sigh he relaxed in the embrace. Just stood there and savored the feel of it... maybe they both could find some comfort in this, he thought. He felt his tears, closer to the surface now... Yes if he was to cry it would be in these arms, on this shoulder. Close to someone who could truly understand his heart...

He could not see Orophin's face, but when he spoke again he heard that his voice still held the same cool distance as before and it made his own heart freeze with discomfort.

"I just wonder if you were worth it," he said and moved his hands slowly up and down Legolas' spine. "And who shall comfort you now, sweet prince? The Dwarf? The Man? Who shall have the honor?"

Legolas stiffened and tried to pull back, but Orophin's arms still held him tight and a certain respect, a compassion for his loss made him stay, although he found his words disturbing.

"Orophin," his voice shook a little when he answered the other. "I need no such comfort. What Haldir and I shared I can never have with another... If it is as you say, that Haldir camre fre for my sake... then his love and his sacrifice is something I will honor forever..." Gently, he tried to free himself again, only to meet Orophin's eyes. Dark and unreadable, dangerous... Filled with pure spite. His mouth still held that wicked smirk that made Legolas' feeling of unease increase even more.

"We saw you..." Orophin said. His eyes were unfocused, almost glassy when he spoke. "Down by Nimrodel... He was not the only Elf noticing your charms. Not the only one that was drawn to your camp that night... Who wandered the wood in search of you." Orophin paused to place a light kiss on Legolas' forehead. Made the other Elf flinch and try to pull away. "But then again," Orophin continued, "You know that."

"No, I don't!" Legolas voice was a mixture of shock and anger. "I will not have you insult me so." His voice rose and he quickly escaped the other's arms to stand in front of him. His heart racing, his breathing heavy, and his eyes dark with rage and fear.

Orophin just looked at him, the same essiessionless face as before. "You didn't have much of your precious dignity then," he said at last. "When Haldir had you by the river." Legolas' nostrils flared with anger. "What happened there was between him and m" h" he tried. Overthrown by the knowledge that they had been watched. And that the viewer could confess this so shamelessly in front of him. The last traces of compassion with the other were slowly replaced by pure unease.

"...On your fours, panting like a beast of the forest... screaming out your need..." Orophin continued as if Legolas had not spoken at all.

"Stop it, Orophin... You should rest... You are not well..." Legolas tried, somehow his heart bled at the thought of Haldir's brother thinking so lowly of him, even if his views might be colored by grief this particular day.

"Are you ashamed of what you did?" Orophin's gaze met his. Locked him to the spot. "Are you ashamed of what you let my brother do to you?"

"No..." Legolas searched for words. "It is just... it was something between the two of us...Surely you must understand?"

Orophin laughed a short, bitter laugh. "I understand that there was something about you... the sweetness between your legs, that made my brother think the peril worth . Ju. Just to see you again, to taste you..." Orophin lifted his fingers, reached towards the other. Legolas took a couple of graceful steps backwards, away from his hand.

Orophin tilted his head, his hand still frozen in motion, filling in the space between them. "I dreamed about you," he said. "About those luscious lips of yours, your body next to mine... about... having you... Now I am glad that another had the honor. Or else I might be the one lying there, still and draped in red."

"Don't say such things," Legolas voice shook a little. It was too much. All of it, too much. "You're overestimating my power a great deal, Orophin," he continued. "I am not and have never been worth dying for..." He did not like the look on the other Elf's face. Not at all. It was threatening in a subtle way... The threat was not apparent, just there. More a feeling than anything else. Something was wrong. It stirred the air. Legolas eyes caught sight of the rising moon over the other Elf's shoulder, shrouded in red as the sun before it. Veils of red mist drifted in front of the silvery mirror, made it appear unclear, unclean. Maddening red as the world itself, - this day was colored crimson.

"Don't you think you owe us something, Elf, for what you have taken?" Another voice emerged from the dark between the trunks. Legolas quickly shifted his gaze to see another grey-clad silhouette emerge, step into the moonlight. Rumil of Lorien held his bow in his hands. His eyes were pieces of black coal, dead and dark in his stony expression. The feeling of danger throbbed in Legolas heart now. His fists clenched as his body tensed. His mind slowly accepting the signs, the warnings. Danger - this time from his own kind. His eyes measured them quickly, took them in. Noticed the crooked blades of Lorien strapped to their waists, their bows and quivers, the white arrows, not grey and broken but colored by shadow and the lighom tom the red moon above, a glowing, juicy slice of red. Bleeding through the mist...
He had left his own knives by the fortress, but he still had his bow although his one arm was not good he could probably aim and fire if necessary, if he could only get to it... Foolishly enough he had left it with his cloak by the stream. His fists would do no good...these were not mere men or Orcs. They were Elves like him, just as strong and skilled as he was and the arm that was hurt would probably fail him, at least he could not trust it.

"What do you want from me?" His voice was icy cold, covering up the fear and uncertainty. His feeling of unpleasant vulnerability.

A chuckle from Orophin, a silent grin from the other as he moved slowly across the small clearing.

"What I would want most of all," Rumil said with his gaze fixed on Legolas, "is to see my brother well and alive," he continued. "But because of you that is not going to happen..." He moved in close enough that he could touch the other, yet he did not. Just stared at him with that hungry, dark gaze.

"My sword would taste your blood." Rumil told him hoarsely without passion.

"No, brother!" Orophin caught oth other's attention." Do not yield to those feelings. We are not kinslayers, neither is he..." he continued. "He can serve us better than that."

The sudden relief Legolas had felt by Orophin's outburst was quickly replaced with new unease as Orophin's eyes trailed his body with undisguised hunger.

"You just want him," Rumil accused his brother in a low, dead voice. His eyes never leaving Legolas.

"So do you," Orophin replied in a voice just as low as the other's. Rumil did not answer but a light grew in his eyes as his mind seemed to slowly accept the idea. His hand that had been curled in to a fist was slowly uncurling and his fingers found their way to the hem of Legolas' tunic. He touched the fabric gently, rubbed the texture between long fingers.

"Haldir would not have approved of this," Legolas warned them. Tried to put as much reason into his voice as possible.

"Well, Haldir is not here, is he?" Orophin moved closer as well. Came to stand by his brother. Gently stroking Legolas hair. "But you are," he said in whisper.

Legolas shrugged and clenched his jaw. His brow furrowed in frustration while his tongue darted out to wet his lips in a nervous gesture. One of them, he thought, he could maybe have taken one of them down, but two of them, Elves of the Galadhrim, that was close to impossible without his weapons. He decided to try reason on more time. They were elves after all. Brothers of his beloved.

"You know I had no fault in this," he said in a low insistent voice. "I am not to blame... Take out your anger on the Wizard of Isengard and his army. I loved your brother. I did not kill him. You know this!" His eyes met Orophin's, then they moved to look into Rumil's. A long, piercing gaze that did not seem to have any effect at all on the wall of pale, blue fire in the smaller Elf's eyes.
Instinctively, he took a couple of steps backwards on the dark, mossy ground, tried to escape the forced intimacy with the other Elves. None of the others moved. Thest sst stood there like two threatening willowy shadows of silver and grey. Black eyes filled with pain. Pain, sorrow and hunger for revenge.

"You have not dealt with sorrow before, I can tell..." Legolas tried again, tried to find a breech in that hard shell of pent up grief that surrounded the brothers like thick, solid ice. "But this is not the way," he whispered.We sWe should mourn his loss together... take comfort in each other..." he trailed off. His eyes darting, begging from one brother to the other. Tried to find some sense, some sort of enlightenment in those cool, burning eyes.

"Who says we won't?" Orophin replied slyly. His mouth held that teasing smile again, it sent cold shivers down Legolas' spine. "My brother," he continued with a look in Rumil's direction, "he wants to taste your pain. He wants to hurt you..."

"And you?" Legolas whispered hoarsely. Afraid to know the answer.

Orophin's smile widened.

"I..." he said. "I am just curious... Whatever you did to Haldir - it was enough to take his sanity away... to sacrifice us all... I would like to know your secret, what it was that he found so irresistible..."

As if they had a silent agreement the brothers moved in to stand closer to Legolas again. Close enough that he could feel their breath on his skin, feel fingers running over his braid, stroking up his arm.

"Do not touch me!" he said in a demanding voice. Lifted his own arms to force the intruders off his body.

"Sweet prince." Orophin's voice was filled with silk. "Well you know you can not deny us... We are two against the one of you and you have no weapons." His fingers moved up to Legolas' hair again, continued to play with it. "So smooth," he whispered. "So soft to the touch..."

"Stop it!" Legolas had to strain himsel not not to let his fear shine through in his voice. This was worse than anything he had been through. These were not foul Orcs or deadly Uruk-Hai, they were Elves - and a part of him still refused to accept that they would truly hurt him... but if they did, if they truly were to carry out this assault, then he knew their strength as well... knew that the Galadhrim was right; he could not win this fight. He shrugged again when he felt Rumil's breath on his neck. A finger trailing his jaw.

"By everything you hold dear, let me be!" he begged in a shivering voice.

"By everything you have taken, I will not!" Rumil replied close to his ear. His voice held anger, merciless and cruel.

Suddenly, he felt a moist tongue flicker across his neck. Legolas instinctively raised his elbow and slammed it in to the other's jaw, made his head fly back, those lips to leave his skin.
Rumil's fingers rose to wipe blood from his lips. "You should not have done that," he threatened in a murmur and Legolas felt a cool blade slide against his throat. Silently Orophin had unsheathed his sword. Quick and soundlessly lifted it to rest against his skin. A light pressure and Legolas felt the edge pierce the thin surface, kiss his flesh. He felt a trickle of hot fluid run down his neck, knew it was red. Crimson as the day. He breathed heavily and felt sweat pour out of on his skin, - a salty, moist layer on top of it. He licked his lips and tasted it. It was cold. Chilled by the cool mountain air. He swallowed hard, just to feel the sharp, Elven blade cut deeper into his throat...
With a sudden movement he li his his arm and forced Orophin's armed hand away from his body, he spun around and threw himself to the ground in a desperate attempt to reach his bow. A sudden weight on top of him pierced him to the ground. Rumil had caught him, as he knew he would. There was no escape. Although he would try, he promised silently, he would not let them have this victory without a fight. If he could keep his despair at bay, keep his head cool through this, then maybe he had a chance.
His face was pressed to the ground by strong fingers, so close he could see the browns and reds of the mossy ground although his surroundings were shrouded in night now. Misty, starless darkness. Only the red moon hung above. Glowing like the Eye at the three Elves in the clearing.
Legolas measured his options. His hands were effectively trapped under his body. Rumil straddled him, pushing him down with his weight. His hand held his neck in a firm grip. Made the moist of the eareep eep into the fresh wound on his neck, it stung and burned but Legolas did not care. He closed his eyes as not to spill his tears when he felt his arms being yanked from beneath his body, he tried to resist although he knew it was in vain and his wounded hand had already given in. Let itself be lead by stronger Elven fingers.
He could not prevent a soft whimper from escaping his lips when he felt the grey Lorien rope around his wrists. He knew he could not escape them. A sense of doom fell over him, made him cry out.

"Hush," Orophin soothed close to his ear. "It will make it all so much easier. You are of noble blood, I do not expect your pride to yield so easily - " he said. The weight of his brother left Legolas' back and Orophin's hands grabbed him by his shoulders, yanked him to his feet.
"Now let us have a look at you, " the Lorien Elf murmured softly. His fingers cupped Legolas' jaw while his gaze measured him with a mixture of curiosity and something Legolas could only describe as lust. "How pretty you are, " Orophin continued. "Even prettier now that I know I can have you," he murmured and lowered his lids in an almost seductive manner.

"I do not give myself willingly," Legolas put everything he had of dignity and pride in that sentence. "You are violating me," he continued, his gaze not flinching when he met the other's. "I am not willingly at your mercy," he finished his sentence.

"Legolas," Orophin mocked him while slowly shaking his head as if he spoke to a misbehaving child. "I do not care, " he stated. "You are here," he said almost tenderly, "and that is all that matters."

Before Legolas had time to reply, Orophin took hold of the back of his head, tangled his fingers in his hair and crushed his lips with his own. Kissed them with a violent force. A slick tongue wiped the salty traces of sweat from the tender pieces of flesh and Legolas could feel the other's free hand roam his backside, caress his buttocks through the rough layer of fabric. Instinctively, his hips jerked forward, eager to escape the offending hand, the unbidden caress - only to press against Orophin's crotch, get a unpleasant feel of the hardness there. Orophin's hand followed, pulled him closer to his body. Legolas suddenly found himself being rubbed against that firm arousal while the Galadhrim's hand still caressed his buttocks... slowly trailing the cleft under the fabric.

"Yes," the Galadhrim sighed. "That is my Legolas." He pressed another kiss to the other's closed lips. Tasted them with his tongue again. Hot and moist against the other's skin.

Legolas yanked at the tight rope that kept his hands in place, knowing very well how useless it was. Still he had to try, he did not expect wonders, but he would be doomed if he did not try. He felt another pair of lips pressing against the pounding vein on his neck, anther slick tongue trailing it up to his ear. His earlobe was caught between strong teeth. Rumil sucked at it eagerly while his fingers found the half undone lacings of Legolas' tunic. At the same time Orophin's hand moved around his body to tug at the front his leggings, slide one finger under the fabric, cool skin met his own heated one. Made him shiver and force his head a couple of inches away from the other to cry out a muffled "No!" Then he was pulled back to that soaring mouth again. Glistening lips covered his own. Bit at his lower lip, smeared them with saliva. A hand slipped in under his tunic to move across his chest. Slowly caressing one of his nipplhat hat hardened at the feel of the cold fingers. Orophin's hand had slipped fully inside of his leggings now, slid slowly over his hip to find its target behind him again, caressing his naked buttocks. The finger trailed his cleft once more, probing it lightly while the Galadhrim moaned low against Legolas' mouth. Rumil was licking his neck, sucking his skin between his teeth. From the feel of it, Legolas knew he left purple marks on his pale skin. Tainting him as he did. His one hand was still touching Legolas' chest, the other had moved down to circle his waist. His fingers were busy looking for yet another entrance to his naked skin, this time from beneath. He tried not to feel them, not to think about them... those hands touching him. Tried not to hear the soft sounds of pleasure, the heavy breathing of the other two. Tried not to react when their searching hands found new areas to explore, his leggings being yanked down his thighs, his tunic being ripped open, revealing his flesh to the moonlit night. If he could only float above it all, he thought. Keep his senses undisturbed, he might survive this and not scar...He kept his tears at bay with an act of will. Would not let them see them, would not let him feel.
He managed to keep his defenses up until one of them spoke. The sound of the clear, Elven voice made hills lls crumble. Reminded him of the horror of the situation... How badly this had turned out.... How wrong it all was...How had it come to this?

"I remember you sweeter on all fours," Orophin spoke and withdrew his hands together with his brother. He curled one of his legs around Legolas' and pushed him violently backwards so that the usually so elegant Elf stumbled across the leg and hit the ground so hard he could feel his backside being bruised against the forest floor.

"Now I like you better," Orophin smirked and brushed the silvery mass of hair away from his shoulder. His angled face towered over Legolas, Rumil stood as a silent shadow beside his brother. His lips parted, his chest moving heavily under the grey tunic.

"Now let's see what our brother found so captivating..." Orophin continued and pulled Legolas' soft boots off his feet, Rumil helped him by lifting and holding Legolas' feet in place. Then, with a firm grip on the fabric Orn pun pulled his leggings off completely. Leaving only the partly ripped tunic to hide Legolas' body from their gazes.

He reacted without thinking. The shame of it all became too much and as soon as Orophin came within reach, his leg kicked out, hitting the other's jaw, sending him sprawling to the ground. In the next moment Rumil straddled his torso with his long blade pressed to his neck and an expression of fury on his face. Then Orophin was beside them again, rubbing his jaw with his one hand and delivered a mind shattering blow to Legolas head with the other, sent hissciosciousness spinning for a while before reality settled once more. Red, dark and cruel.

"No more of that!" Orophin's voice was still calm and undisturbed when he took hold of Legolas' legs, lifted them up in the air and gave his buttocks a hard slap that made Legolas squirm with humiliation under Rumil's sharp blade. He caught a glimpse of Orophin's smug expression behind Rumil's back, but also the redness, slowly turning purple, where his foot had hit him. It gave him a small yet sweet satisfaction to know that the other's beautiful features would be marred for days after this assault. Another blow fell to his buttock and made Legolas close his eyes and clench his jaw with the force of it. He tensed as not to let his movement bring him in closer contact with the sword resting against his throat. He was beginning to get the rules now. Humiliation for resistance. His pride would remember that - and Orophin knew it - Legolas concluded as despair once again flooded his mind.

He looked up at his other offender. Rumil's face was as expressionless as before. His eyes just as dark and merciless. His mouth twitched into a feral grin when he caught Legolas' eyes. His sword rested heavier on his throat. Legolas had no doubt that the other would harm him if he could.

"Rumil, help me..." Orophin said breathlessly and caught his brother's attention. The blade was removed from Legolas' throat and a s a sigh of relief he breathed freely again. Rumil's weight shifted on top of him as the other Elf turned to face Orophin. He was still straddling Legolas' torso, his knees resting on the mountain floor on each side of his body, his silken hair brushed Legolas' face as he turned around, the familiar scent of wood and spices caught in his nostrils and reminded him of Haldir in a sickening way. Orophin had moved inbetween Legolas' thighs. Holding his ankles in check with strong fingers. Now he lifted Legolas' legs off the ground and spread them wide. Legolas' felt himself redden with shame as his most secret parts were revealed to Orophin's curious gaze. Even more so when he saw the amused smile on his features. Orophin lowered Legolas' legs into the custody of his brother's arms. Bending them slightly backwards, opening Legolas even more to the Elf's hungry eyes.

"Look, Rumil," he said. "It's so tiny, so small... It's hardly a hole at all." He grinned and peeked around Rumil's body to catch Legolas' gaze. "Is this it?" he asked tealy wly while his eyes mocked him. "Is this all you have to offer? Is this tiny ring of flesh what made my brother yearn so?" he smiled wickedly at Legolas.

"I haven't offered you anything, Orophin of Lorien," Legolas replied between clenched teeth.

"Oh, this looks rather inviting to me!" the other Elf exclaimed and pressed the tip of his index to the puckered opening. Made Legolas' body jolt with unease and shame.

Orophin's finger continued to circle his private spot while Rumil shifted on top of him. Startled Legolas realized that the Elf was unfastening his leggings. Had let his sword fall to the ground to fondle that between his thighs, holding Legolas' legs in place in the crooks of his arms. Repulsed beyond belief by the Silvan Elves' actions, Legolas shrugged and moved his head from side to side in discomfort. The insistent finger probing his entrance was joined by another one gently stroking his sack, touching his slack member.

"What is wrong?" Orophin's voice sounded. "Don't you think us beautiful?" he asked. Rumil shook on top of Legolas, a low chuckle sounded from his lithe body. "Let's see if this can make you think differently," the Elf tempted, although his words sounded like a threat to Legolas' ears. He closed his eyes in dread of what he feared was coming. Heled led his tied up hands into fists under his back and tensed his body, expecting to feel the Galadhrim’s aroused flesh against his tight entrance. Instead, soft hair brushed the insides of his thighs; warm breath tickled his crotch and a hot, moist tongue pushed against him, quickly slipping inside of his body. The unexpected attack on his most sensitive flesh caught him by surprise. A sharp cry rose from his throat and he tried to arch his back off the ground when, to his utter horror, a dreadful, betraying and pleasurable delight made the blood stream to his center. Made his body suddenly burst into life while Orophin's tongue continued to lap at his opening, dart in to taste and swirl, force his flesh apart.

"No!" It came out as muffled cry. "Yes," the brothers hissed back and strong fingers grabbed his half-aroused member, stroking its length with sure movements. The teasing tongue left his entrance to caress his arousal with slick velvet, wrap it in saliva and hot dampness. The mouth's owner blew across the swelling flesh, nuzzled hace ace against it, lapped at its base, sucked at its tip and all the time, burying Legolas' thighs in a mass of silken hair that slid and teased across his skin.

Rumil moaned on top of him, echoing the sounds that unconsciously fell over Legolas' lips.

"Gods, no!" he uttered hoarsely while gasping for breath, but his body seemed determined to betray him. Tears ran freely from his eyes now. Tears of humiliation and betrayal. How could this happen? And why was it that he could not prevent his body from responding? Was it because his skin could remember the feel of other Elven hands? - Another’s touch, another's lips? He desperately wished to think that it was so, yet his heart told him it was not... Instead he blamed the sudden attack, the efforts to pleasure and arouse him that the brothers had made instead of hurting him as he had expected... He had awaited painful intrusions, flesh that was ripped apart, - instead he had gotten soft lips and a slick tongue, probing fingers and firm strokes. And now... A warm mouth that wrapped around him, took him and swallowed him, all the way down. Sucking him in - hard.

"Ay!" Legolas burst ohen hen that probing finger returned to his entrance, slipping in through the tight ring of muscle to gently caress his inside. Slowly moving in and out of his body. Legolas cried and hated himself for the sweet feeling that spread through his loins. Loathed his own weakness, cursed the seeping feeling of lust... But as long as that finger moved inside of him and he had those lips embracing him, he was prey to his own body. He knew that if Orophin would stop but for a moment he would be able to regain his senses, defeat his body and stop the madness spreading in it, the building tension in his groin... But Orophin never ceased giving him pleasure. His tongue caressed Legolas' shaft as he moved his mouth up and down the length of it and his fingers conti to to play with his entrance, inserting first one, then two and three fingers in to his body, brushing his sweet spot lightly as they did, forced new red stars of desire to burst and spread that toxic feeling of want in Legolas' loins.

"No..." he murmured again, but knew in that instant that he was lost. For he didn't mean the word he had just uttered while his head tossed and turned on the moss, his damp hair cluttered to the fine film of sweat on his forehead... Hieatheathing became heavy and ragged... He wanted the Galadhrim to continue forever. Those lips to go on pleasuring him. Yet his pride squirmed and raged against it all. Made his face blush with a mixture of lust, frustration and anger.

"No!" he said it out louder. Wanted the other Elves to hear him... To understand that this was still not his will. Of course the Lorien brothers ignored his cries. He had not expected them to listen.

Rumil panted loudly on top of him, his movements increased their pace and he tossed his head backwards, causing a silvery shower of hair to hit Legolas' chest, brush across his aroused nipples with a cascade of silken strands. Legolas moaned loudly at the sensation of it, and then again in disappointment when Orophin's mouth suddenly left his aching desire to be replaced by his hand. Fast, sure strokes quickly forced him closer to the edge while the fingers inside of him increased their speed, plunged faster, deeper, into him.

" I still haven't seen you weep for my brother," the Elf's cool voice sounded hus husky whisper.

"Yes..." Rumil replied eagerly. "Let us see his tears! Weep for us, Elf!" he hissed. "Let us see you mourn!"

And Legolas wept… Salty tears the color of cream that poured out of his body in violent spurts and hit his heated skin, Orophin's fingers and the soft fabric of Rumil's clothes.

Rumil turned to him and revealed Orophin's face as he did. Legolas would not look at them. With his eyes filled with new, unshed tears and a face still flushed from the explosion in his body he stubbornly looked away. Focused on the sounds from the stream behind him, focused his gaze on his quiver, so close yet so far out of reach. Tried to still his heaving breath, slow the blood that still pounded in his veins. Still, he could not avoid noticing the feline smiles on the brothers' fair features. Avoid hearing their low chuckles as they filled the air with their mocking sounds. He dared a glance at them and saw that Orophin's face had gained a slight blush of pink, both their eyes were shiny and sparkled with something between amusement and mirth.

"Oh, but Legolas!" Orophin burst out in mock surprise. "You have enough sweetness in you to feed a whole army... Would you like that?" he continued. "A whole army just for you?" he purred and reached behind his brother to caress Legolas' cheek.
Legolas' tears ran slowly from his eyes to the soft, moist ground beneath him. He refused to answer. He would not answer, whatever the proud Silvan said to disgust him he would remain silent... For what could he say to justify himself? The pleasure he had taken in the others' attack on his body? Nothing! He could say nothing at all...

"It is your turn to give now," Orophin breathed. "I would have you," he continued in a low, husky voice. "And Rumil wants that sweet mouth of yours..." he said with his glittering gaze fixed upon the lips in question.

"He wants to feed you his hunger... I cannot blame him, those are tempting petals..." He reached forward again and caressed Legolas' lower lip with his thumb. His eyes were glazed with lust when they met the prince's. Legolas' body tensed again. But he was prepared to endure it, whatever was to come. He was a warrior at heart; he could take this, he told himself, although a strong feeling of doubt sent a spiral of sickness through his body.

For the first time he thought he could see them. Really see them. The grey-clad elves that took amusement in his misery. The confined pain ariefrief in their eyes, their marble features, cold as ice. Slender limbs and a gracefulness unmatched even by other Elves - and he realized, they were Elves yes, but not his kind. A drift of something cold and alien hit his heart and filled it with dread. Even his late lover was suddenly shrouded in this that he could not fully comprehend. The memory of him tainted by this new realization... The Elves of Lorien… always set apart from the others. Living separated from the Elven society behind the borders of their land. In the Golden Wood, where the air itself oozed with magic. A secretive people, always following their own rules, kept to their old ways... They were like him, oh yes... Still they were different. Very much so... and being at their mercy was worse than any Orc attack. He did not know what to expect. Their hearts were closed to him - and that scared him more than anything.

Orophin's hand scooped the spilled juices from his skin. Legolas knew very well what it was for, and when Rumil moved he was even allowed to watch as the Galadhrim opened his leggings and revealed a long, marble rod dripping with desire. With those blurred eyes resting on Legolas face and red lips slightly parted he began smearing Legolas' essence over his skin. With a sudden move, he grabbed Legolas' hips and pulled him into his lap. Rumil followed his brother's lead and let go of his legs that fell to rest on Orophin's shoulders. The Elf took his time to grace one of them with the tip of his fingers, trail the golden flesh from the ankle to the top of his thi
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"Such a beauty," he murmured. "So long and slender, perfectly shaped." Rumil breathed in Legolas' ear. He had come to lie beside him. His tongue slowly licking the traces of blood from Legolas' neck, probing the fresh wounds lightly with the tip of his tongue while his arousal moved against Legolas' torso. Small sounds of pleasure trailed off the other's lips and he raised his head to lick the tip of Legolas' ear. Suck it in between his teeth and nibble at it. His hand moved over Legolas' chest... Pinching the nipples, touching the flesh. Trailed every firm muscle, every pounding vein. He touched his hair as well, caught golden tresses between his fingers and tugged lightly at it. Wrapped it around his hand and pulled slightly as if to test the quality.

Legolas could not prevent a deep sigh and a sudden tightening in his loins when he felt Orophin's flesh press against his opening. The other Elf still held his hips in a grip hard enough to bruise, - leave marks of black and purple on his creamy skin. He conquered Legolas' body in one swift movement, seemingly oblivious to the utterances of pain escaping the Prince's lips as he filled him up, inch by inch with rock hard, pounding flesh. He could feel him, all of him - as hwn bwn body tightened around him, tried to reject him, - but he was held in that grip of steel. Held in place without mercy. Held there until his muscles gave in and slowly loosened up... Allowed the intruder to stay. Then the other began to move, forcing muffled sighs from Legolas' throat as the first thrusts hit is groin. Made his whole body move with the force of it. Orophin sighed as well, deep sounds of pleasure and relief as he quickly built up a rhythm. Pounded into Legolas' body with a fiery force. Flexing hips and strained muscles. The grip on his hips tightened even more as to keep him in place as he rocked. Bruised Legolas' back and shoulders against the sticks and stones scattered on the ground.
Rumil's' moutme tme to whisper in his ear. "Is this how it felt when he took you? Does he remind you of him?" Forcing the memory of the still body in the red cloak to step forward in his memory. Painfully vivid and clear. Rumil's lips came to rest on his, rubbing them against each other. His eyes looked feverish, Legolas registered, burning with an internal dark flame. A budding pain that had not yet blossomed.
Suddenly Rumil moved on top of again, straddling his chest with his thighs. His hand closed around his sword again, pulling it with him as he moved.

"You will taste my pain, fair one." Rumil had read his mind. "You will take all of my sorrow and grief in you... You will taste it all," he snarled and lifted his blade to rest against Legolas' throat again. Rumil's sudden change of mood startled him a little. Another shred of ice that pierced his heart. Filled it up with dark fear aorroorror.

"If you bite, this will bite!" Rumil exclaimed and added a slight pressure to the blade, trailed a red line from Legolas ear and down his neck. Legolas had to struggle as not to move as the violent thrusts from the other Lorien brother still made his body rock rhythmically. He feared the blade on his throat. He feared the hand that held it. Rumil reachedide ide his leggings with his free hand and pulled forward a column of hard flesh, slightly thicker than the other's but not as long. He led it to Legolas' mouth, pushed it towards his lips.

"Open up!" he demanded, and Legolas opened up. Why shouldn't he? There was no point in denying, it would only hurt him further and all dignity was already ripped from him. He had nothing left... Still he felt like a whore when he parted his lips and took him into his mouth, sucked len length down his throat. Rumil's free hand tangled in his hair and he let the other guide him and set the pace as the straining flesh slid across his lips. Slipped in and out of his willing mouth. Rumil made loud noises of satisfaction as he watched his own arousal appear glistening with moisture from between Legolas' lips only to be thrust back in, - all the way down.

"Yes..." he hissed. "Taste my pain..."

Suddenly Legolas realized that the other was crying. Warm droplets of clear liquid hit his face, dripping from the other's eyes... Rumil caught his gaze and gave him a slight smile, yet his expression held no warmth.

"It's as it should be," he said with passion. "My tears should be yours... You are the one that should be crying over him. The tears should be on your skin, not mine."

While Rumil spoke Legolas could feel Orophin's hands leave his hips. The Elf held him in place with nothing more than the force of his rapid ths, ts, the strength of his arousal. His hands first fell to his sides then one of them slid up Legolas thigh to curl around his member. To Legolas own disgust he realized that it had taken on a semi-hardness he had not expected after the previous assault. Orophin thrust faster as his hand moved and teased Legolas back to full hardness. Legolas felt new tears of shame fill his eyes when he felt the first jolts of lust in his body, but the course of nature prevented any further humiliation as Orophin suddenly twitched inside of him and spilled himself with a strangled cry. Legolas could feel the hot fluid pour out of him and fill him up. Warmth that spread in his loins. At the same time spurts of equally hot liquid hit the back of his throat and filled his mouth with a taste of salt and spices. He fulfilled his duty and swallowed it down, every last drop of it. He even cleaned his lips with his tongue when the other withdrew his member.

"Now," he thought. "Now it is over! By the Valar, I will finally be released." A feeling of relief overwhelmed him and made his body shake with the force of it. He let out a shuddering breath and sighed deeply.

Rumil tucked his spent member back inside the grey fabric and moved off Legolas' body to slump down on the ground beside him, wiping the last traces of tears from his eyes with the back of his hand. His face was flushed and his breathing still heavy. Orophin on the other hand stretched out on top of Legolas, covered his naked body with his own and rested his head on Legolas' shoulder.

"That was nice," he purred in a low voice. "You are so beautiful... taste so sweet..." His finger traced Legolas' jaw line while his eyes measured him almost tenderly.

"Now you have had what you wanted... Will you please release me now?" Legolas tried to make his voice as cold as possible. Fastened his gaze on the bleeding moon and did not look at the brothers. His body shook with the emotional turmoil that flooded his mind now that he could see the end of it.

"Are yold?old?" Orophin asked with concern in his voice and rubbed his arms with his hands, he chuckled softly when Legolas shrugged and tensed up beneath him.

"Legolas," he said with a mixture of amusement and tenderness. The latter making Legolas cringe inside. "I'm beginning to see what it was that my brother found so very tempting about you..." Orophin continued. "Give me a kiss and maybe I'll let you go."

"A kiss?" Legolas hardly recognized his own voice as it came out strangled and hoarse.
Orophin smiled at him and raised his head to hover above Legolas'.

"Yes," he said at last. "ss..ss.. Is that such a high price for your freedom? You have already given me everything else."

Legolas didn't answer. He tried not to flinch as his eyes met the other's. He kept his lips tightly pressed together, although a voice in the back of his head told him it was sheer folly... The Galadhrim was right, he had nothing left to lose. Wa sha short nod he sealed the agreement and Orophin's lips came down to search his own in a searing kiss. His tongue pushed against his lips and Legolas parted them slightly. Let the other come inside. Invade his mouth with his hot slickness. Legolas automatically answered the other's challenge and begun battling his tongue with his own, let it slide against the other's, dart out to taste Orophin's lips, curl around the intruder and caress it as it did. He tried to keep his mind blank. Not to think a single thought as the kiss continued and deepened... If he just let his body do as it pleased, he thought, he could detach himself enough to keep the feeling of vulnerability, the humiliation - at bay.
They continued to kiss each other. Their lips would meet and caress, tongues play their wicked games, small sighs and moans escape their mouths that only parted to change angles or by lack of air. Legolas had closed his eyes. Allowed his mind freedom to drift yet it stayed there. Melted into the kiss without struggle. He felt empty, empty and tired. He had no strength left, no resistance. If he could only satisfy the hungry mouth that ravaged his own with such fire. Make the other sated... That was as far as his thoughts went. The rest was blank. He dared not think any further.
The Galadhrim's hand reached down to unfasten Legolas’ belt, make the contact between their bodies complete except for a tiny piece of fabric that still held the shreds of Legolas' tunic in place over his belly. Orophin ground their hips together; let Legolas feel his renewed hardness, sticky with fluids from both of them. His mouth never left Legolas' for long. Not even when he reached for the lacings of his own tunic and opened it halfway down. Rubbed their naked chests against each other; let hard nipples meet and caress. His hands slid over Legolas' shoulders, embraced him as best as he could from their awkward position.

"Enough!" Legolas gasped at last when he felt the betraying lust seep into his loins once more. But his voice sounded tired and defeated. Just as he felt inside.

"Are you warm now?" Orophin asked with a smile, only inches from his face. Those pale gems that held such dark shadows looked at him with concern.

A bitter grin formed on Legolas' lips.

"You said you would let me go," he tried.

"Yes..." Orophin smiled down at him. "But first you must kiss my brother." He winked.

"What kind of child's game do you play?" Legolas' voice held anger, but the rage drowned in the sudden exhaustion that filled him like something black and draining. Surrender, he thought. Orophin had finally pushed him over the edge. There was no fire left in him. No rage, no will to fight. Just a bottomless feeling of helplessness that he dared not touch - and that overwhelming feeling of exhaustion that touched both his mind and his heart.

"Just kiss him, " Orophin said. The smile was gone, so was the twinkle in his eyes. But his hand caressed Legolas' cheek and for some reason it made him want to cry.

Obediently, he turned his head and saw the other Elf bend down towards him. A new pair of lips met his. A new tongue searched for entrance between his swollen, sore lips to play with his own - and Legolas let him in. Rumil's kiss was gentler, lighter, than his brother's. Than both his brothers', Legolas thought, and felt his cheeks flush with shame as he realized that the thoughts of Haldir and his sacrifices had nearly drowned in those of his own misery. Orophin rolled halfway off his body to let his brother have better access. His palm cupped the back of Legolas' head, steadied him as he kissed the other.
Hands slid across Legolas' chest and belly, caressed him between his legs. He didn't know whom they belonged to and was determined not to care. They would continue to touch him no matter what he said. At last Rumil let go of his mouth and Legolas gasped for air.

"Let go off me now!" he breathed and looked at Orophin "I have done everything you said... Please leave me!" he said and hated the begging sound in his own voice.

"Oh, I would," Orophin replied smugly. "But are you sure you want to be left here alone with my brother, in such a state..." His eyes trailed over Legolas, lingered on his ripped tunic, the purple marks where his skin had been marred anew by demanding fingers and lips... Complimenting the black and blue bruises from the battle the night before. His slender limbs that lay sprawled on the ground.
Legolas looked at the other brother. Rumil sat cross-legged on the ground. He had picked up his sword again and cradled it in his arms. The naked pain, the dark flames were still burning in his eyes. Legolas could see nothing but cool ice and hatred there when their eyes connected.

"No," Legolas said at last. His spoke slowly, as if every word was a challenge. "Do not leave him here alone with me," he finished, begging Orophin in a flat voice.

"I won't," Orophin replied softly and touched Legolas' face again. " I will look after you, do not worry, my fair one," he said with a smile.

A most unwanted feeling of relief and gratitude flooded Legolas and made him smile back at the other. He knew he was being played, yet the sudden feeling of safety after the threat was strong enough to make him sigh with relief and lean into the other's touch before he could prevent it. Orophin's expression changed, became more open, a hint of warmth in his eyes now as his lips parted in yet another smile, something close to awe spread on his face when he regarded Legolas.

"Now I can see it," he murmured. "Why it was that he loved you so..."

"I want him," a sudden demand from Rumil interrupted him. "I will have him now," Rumil finished. His burning gaze filled with renewed hunger lingered on Legolas' crotch.

Orophin chuckled. "I knew you would, brother," he said lovingly. "And Legolas will let you in, will you not, my fair one?" He smiled teasingly down at the other. Legolas looked away and did not answer.

Limply, he let himself be turned on the ground. He did not flinch when strong hands came to caress his buttocks, his ripped tunic being pushed up to his tied up arms to reveal as much of his flesh as possible. His backside was numb and cold after lying in the wet moss for so long. He could hardly feel his fingers, although the Elven rope did not hurt. He shrugged when his dry front hit the wet moss and his cheek pressed to the ground. Wondered how long this would continue. How long he could endure... If this night would ever end.

"Please," he whispered, well aware that they would not listen. "Not more of this," he begged.

A sudden soft whisper replied in his ear.

"Do not worry, sweet Legolas, I will help you," Orophin's eyes sparkled with something he couldn't completely grasp. "I will hold you through it," he finished his offer and moved to lift Legolas head off the ground and into his lap. His face was suddenly cradled by long fingers, rested against soft, grey fabric. The scent of woodland was back along with the unmistakable smell of spent passion. Some of it Legolas' own. The thought mhim him shrink inside.

His damp hair fell in golden tresses around his face, veiled him from the surrounding wood, the sight of the marble faces and the cool eyes. Orophin's hands were stroking his hair. Curled his braid around his finger, made it impossible to forget. Impossible to drift away from it all...
He felt Rumil's hands on his hips as he lifted them off the ground. "On your knees," the Elf demanded and settled between them as soon as Legolas had followed the order. His legs felt unusually stiff and weary. His muscles were aching and his skin was cold.

"Spread them more," a husky request from behinm acm accompanied by a grip around each thigh, pressing them apart. Legolas hissed as the cold air hit his sore, moist entrance. He wondered if he had bled or not. Probably, he guessed, by the feel of it...

Rumil entered his open body without effort. Stretched him out, filled him up once more. Legolas sobbed quietly and swallowed an outburst of pain and humiliation.

"Hush", Orophin murmured in a soothing voice and held him more firmly.

Rumil rode him in a slow pace, let out small moans as he thrust into him. Legolas tried to keep his body still. Patiently await the end. He would not give the Elf more than he had asked, no, not this time. Still small sighs escaped his lips followed by low sobs of despair and guilt because he had responded. And all the time Orophin's hands were there. Stroking him gently and maiming his heart as they did.

"That something so small can take so much," Orophin murmured at last, fascination apparent in his voice. "Youe a e a lovely body, Legolas," he continued and caused another strangled outburst of shame from the other.

"I do not... I am not... your harlot!" he protested. "Haldir would not have wanted this to happen!" he said in a muffled voice, constantly interrupted by the rhythmical thrusts that shook his body, pushed his face into contact with Orophin's musky smelling, disturbingly fast growing crotch.

Orophin laughed in reply.