Chapter 13

Erestor touched Glofindel’s arm, drawing his attention to the trio that had just entered the hall. Prince in blue, twins in grey - the valley’s most-watched lovers were a vision, their faces absolutely glowing. "They seem quite recovered from the apple wine," Erestor said with a grin. "Something has brought forth smiles."

"Aye, something has, indeed," Glorfindel replied. "I wonder who..."

Casting a wry glance at his captain, Elrond interrupted, "I would wager, Glorfindel, that the cause of these high spirits was found in a box or two, rather than in a bed, as you seem to presume."

Glorfindel raised an eyebrow in mock innocence, then motioned for the younger elves to join them. "The three of you are glowing brightly this evening," he teased, "and walking without aid, too."

"We are," Elrohir said, grinning broadly, "and we appreciate your timely assistance earlier, híren."

"Speak for yourself, tôren," Elladan chuckled. "I fear I have lost a goodly portion of my hair to this ruffian’s hand. My scalp still hurts. Erestor was more gentle with you, if you have kind memories of the event."

"Do not tease so, ‘Dan," Legolas said reprovingly. "Be grateful it was not Ada. We would still be standing before the throne, I wager, and likely begging to be spared night patrol for a season." Turning to Elrond, Legolas added, "I am thankful for your lenience, híren."

Smiling, Elrond inclined his head. "As I said, you have my pardon." His attention caught by the gleaming collar at Elladan’s throat, he said, "Is this a part of your parcel, Legolas?"

"Aye, it is," Legolas answered, beaming as the three elder elves examined both the neckpieces carefully.

"Are they not the most incredible things you have ever seen, Ada?" Elrohir asked proudly.

"They are mirror images," Elladan added with a huge grin.

"These are exquisite," Elrond said. "I recognize the star and the stallion, of course. They are tokens like those the twins carry on their horse-tack. But the oak leaf is new to me. Where did you come by these in Imladris?"

Legolas grinned brilliantly. "They are fastenings from one of my formal tunics. Your metalsmith adapted them for the collars."

"And what is this?" Erestor asked, looking closely at the cuff that curled around the prince’s arm. "It is stunning. The design is quite unusual."

Turning so that his companions could examine the cuff, Legolas replied, "Aye, it is perfect. I have never seen one so beautiful."

Glorfindel studied the gold and mithril spiral intently. His eyes twinkling, he turned to the twins. "It appears to be a token of the woodland realm, surrounded by the colors of Imladris. A sight we have become accustomed to lately."

"That is well," Elladan teased, slipping an arm around Legolas, "for it is a sight you will be seeing as often as Elbereth is willing."

"It is, indeed," Elrohir agreed, running one finger over the mithril cuff, the action seeming surprisingly possessive. "We look after what is ours."

Legolas glanced sharply at Elrohir, trying to be annoyed at being spoken of in such a manner, but found he was unable to raise even a spark of ire. So instead, he turned and traced both the mithril collars with a smile. "So do I," he replied.

Chimes rang out, announcing the serving of dinner, and Elrond started for the dining hall followed by most of his guests and household. Like all other nights of the feast - save that of the picnic in the glade - dinner was elaborate and varied, with many exotic dishes presented for the diners' enjoyment. In spite of the abundance, Legolas found himself not at all hungry, and picked listlessly at what little food he took onto his plate. The twins fared little better, though all three kept their conversation cheerful and light.

As the meal finally drew to a close, and groups began to head for the Hall of Fire, Elladan and Elrohir looked at their father morosely. "Ada," Elladan began, "would you..."

"Nay," Elrond interrupted, scarcely looking at his eldest son.

"You did not allow ‘Dan to finish, Ada," Elrohir said with a tiny frown. "We..."

"I do not need to hear more," Elrond said with a smile. "Nay, I will not be offended if you fail to join us in the Hall. Was that not the question, 'Adan?"

"Aye, it was," the elder twin agreed. "Thank you, Ada."

"I may have lived many millennia, but I do still have my memory, 'Rohir, and I was once young," Elrond said gently. "We will expect to see you in the morning. Rest well."

As they watched the three leave the dining hall, Erestor cast a sympathetic look at the pensive father. "It will be well, Elrond."

"I feel sure you are right, as usual," Elrond answered with a small smile. "At any cost, it is out of our hands. Come, it is time to go to the Hall."

**************

"I should like to walk in the garden for a short while, if you do not mind," Legolas said as they left the dining hall. "It is a lovely night."

Without waiting for an answer, he extended a hand to each of the twins, and pulled them down the wide front stairs, toward the hillside garden. Reaching the ordered glade, they wandered aimlessly through the trees. Stars flickered above, and the quarter moon shed a faint silvery light over the grey-white bark of the great trunks. "This is my favorite of all the gardens of Imladris," Legolas offered, breaking the comfortable silence.

"Why?" Elrohir asked curiously. "There is little color here, even when all is abloom."

"Breathe," Legolas ordered, amused when he was obeyed, the twins each drawing a breath at the same instant. Taking a deep breath himself, he smiled. "It smells of Imladris. Of you. I came here to think, the day we talked. The scent calmed my spirit, though it took a moment to remember why."

The twins simply tightened their hold on Legolas' hands as they listened to the night-sounds that filled the cool air. Then an owl hooted indignantly and the breeze carried the faint rumble of other voices from the path behind.

Elrohir leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to the prince’s mouth. "Shall we return to our chambers now? We will light a fire and open a bottle of miruvor."

"And see what transpires?" Legolas asked teasingly, his eyes gleaming. "That is a good idea, I think."

They walked back to the twins' suite in silence. Elladan opened the door to enter the sitting room and was surprised to see a fire blazing cheerfully. As they entered, Elrohir went immediately to the table where a large tray sat. "’Dan, ‘Las, come see this," he said after a moment, a huge smile on his face.

Joining Elrohir at the table, Elladan and Legolas looked in awe at the spread. Savory breads with a tub of butter, chunks of cheese, and dark ginger cookies covered much of the platter. In the center was a mound of strawberries, close by a bowl of thick cream and another of honey. A bottle of miruvor stood beside the tray. "Read the note," Elrohir said, chuckling.

Picking up the small piece of parchment, Elladan grinned, holding it out for the prince to read:

‘Eat something, all of you – Ada’

Legolas popped a chunk of cheese in his mouth with a smile. "It was kind of your ada," he said, reaching for a cookie. "Mine would have stayed to make sure we ate."

"Nay," Elrohir replied with a grin, tearing apart a roll, "once he has spent a short while with us, he will be loath to expose himself, too. ‘Dan with a strawberry can be difficult to watch."

Elladan shook his head amusedly, reaching for a berry. "It is not my method of eating, tôren. It is just the direction your mind tends." Dipping the strawberry first in honey, then in the thick cream, he extended his tongue to catch a dribble before popping the whole berry in his mouth. Raising an eyebrow at his rapt audience, the elder twin sucked the sticky mixture off his fingers.

"Then my mind tends to that direction, too," Legolas snickered. "I would call that indecent in a public dining hall, el nín."

"Perhaps, but here we can eat as we wish," Elladan said smugly, offering a berry to the prince. "Have one, ‘Las. They are quite good."

"They are, at that," Legolas agreed, licking his sticky fingers. Picking up the tray, he grinned at his lovers. "I will take the tray to the fire. Suddenly I am hungry, after all."

"It is the company, anor nín," Elrohir returned with a smile. "I could eat, myself. But first we should shed these tunics and boots, I think. We will be far more comfortable without them." His eyes gleamed wickedly. "But not without the mithril, 'Las. We have yet to see your cuff against bare skin.

Stripping off his own vestments rapidly, the elf-knight kicked off his boots, then lowered himself to the floor and reached for the tray of food. Legolas and Elladan quickly followed suit, joining Elrohir on the pile of furs and cushions. Catching the elf-knight's eye, Legolas made a great show of replacing the mithril spiral on his bare arm.

Settling in front of the fireplace, the three elves soon emptied the berry plate, as well as much of the rest of the tray and a good part of the miruvor. Elrohir stood and stretched lavishly, then carried the tray back to the table. Returning to the fire, he handed his empty glass to his brother expectantly.

Elladan grinned and refilled the glass, sloshing the bottle questioningly toward the prince.

Holding out his glass to be filled, Legolas smiled slightly. "I believe this is where we began. With a bottle of miruvor and a fire."

"Aye, it is," Elladan agreed, sipping from his own glass. "But this is not an end, ‘Las. Only a change, for a while."

"I know, el nín," Legolas sighed, stretching out on the pillows. Holding up his arm, he watched firelight glint on the mithril cuff. "Still, I cannot help but feel sad."

"As do we, anor nín," Elrohir agreed, carefully unbraiding the prince's golden hair, removing the scattered beads. "There is time yet before tomorrow, though. We would not have it wasted."

Elladan extended himself beside Legolas, trailing a finger over the fair face. "We would please you this night," he whispered, planting a line of kisses on the prince’s jaw.

"Aye, we would," Elrohir agreed, snuggling close to the other side. "Lie still and enjoy."

"You always please me," Legolas gasped, turning his head encouragingly as Elladan flicked his tongue over an ear, then moved to suckle the tip, "and it is hard to be still, when you do such things."

Elrohir chuckled, moving up to press a lingering kiss to Legolas' mouth. "That kind of movement is allowed, I suppose," he murmured, so close that Legolas could feel his breath.

Looking into rapidly darkening eyes, Elrohir brushed kisses repeatedly across the prince's lips before pressing his tongue through, deepening the kiss until Legolas moaned into his mouth and tried to raise a hand to tangle in his hair.

"No hands, ‘Las," Elrohir said with a grin, catching the searching hand firmly. "Just now, we touch. You feel."

"That is torture..." Legolas began, but the thought turned to a hiss when Elladan tipped his glass and dribbled miruvor lavishly over the prince's chest and stomach. "What are you doing?" Legolas panted breathlessly, as Elladan began tracing the streams of cordial with his tongue, lapping lightly over sensitive skin.

"I am finishing my miruvor, 'Las," Elladan answered, with a final lick at the cordial-filled navel, "in a most pleasant manner, I might add."

"It appears much more enjoyable than drinking from a glass, tôren," Elrohir purred, spilling a splash from his own glass over one peaked nipple. Lowering his head, he tugged sharply on the piercing ring before licking and suckling the raised nub voraciously. "It is much better indeed," he said, moving to tease the other nipple.

Legolas groaned wordlessly, his hands gently but firmly secured in matching grips. "Too good," he managed finally, "that feels too good."

"Nay, not too good," Elladan whispered, his tongue tracing a flushed ear as his fingers wandered languidly over the straining lacings of Legolas' leggings. "Just right."

Elrohir raised his storm-dark eyes, playfully reproving. "Do not tease so, ‘Dan. It is not nice." Reaching down, he pressed his palm flat against the stretched leggings, and was rewarded with a groan as Legolas arched up to meet the light touch. "And I am the one who is not so nice, remember?"

"Aye, you are at that," Elladan retorted thoughtfully, tugging at the laces. "So I suppose I should untie these?"

"’Dan," Legolas gasped, his eyes emerald-dark, "Please, el nín..."

Suddenly contrite, Elladan kissed the prince soundly. "I am sorry, 'Las," he said softly, quickly loosing the lacings with his free hand. "I was only playing."

Elrohir peeled off Legolas' leggings, then slid his hands back up, pressing wet kisses to the prince's inner thighs. As Legolas once again reached for the dark head, Elladan pushed the errant hand back down. "No touching, remember? Keep your hands down, 'Las," he said with a wicked grin, "or I will tie them."

Eyes huge, Legolas nodded wordlessly, clenching both hands tightly in the furs. "There, that is much better," Elladan cooed, reaching down to draw soothing circles on Legolas' stomach. He lightly suckled the prince's puffy lips until they parted in invitation.

Satisfied that the unruly hands were under control, Elrohir grasped his lover’s hips firmly and took Legolas' arousal in his mouth in one swift movement. Legolas arched up sharply, nearly forgetting to keep his hands in the furs, as Elrohir stroked his aching length with tongue and lips, an occasional whisper of teeth sending shivers over his body.

Moaning helplessly into Elladan’s mouth, the prince trembled as his pleasure heightened, finally pulling away from the pillaging kiss to gasp out, "Please..."

"What, 'Las?" the elder twin asked hoarsely, his eyes black with desire. Stroking the golden hair soothingly, he laid his other hand on Elrohir’s head, causing him to pause in his efforts.

Pulling himself up, Elrohir pressed a soft kiss to Legolas' lips. Looking intently into the emerald eyes, he whispered, "Do you not wish to spill in my mouth, anor nín? I would like to taste you."

Unable to find his voice, Legolas nodded, and was rewarded with a fierce kiss before Elrohir slid back down, licking and nipping him teasingly before once more beginning in earnest.

Legolas was soon moaning incoherently. Between the sensation of his aching arousal caressed in Elrohir’s slippery mouth, and that of his ears being nipped and suckled relentlessly by Elladan, he could do little but gasp out his pleasure.

As Legolas teetered on the edge of release, Elrohir slid two fingers easily into the prince, finding his target easily. Suddenly motionless, Legolas gasped, then came with a hoarse cry.

Allowing the softening shaft to slip from his mouth with a final lick, Elrohir moved back up to nuzzle his lover's neck, licking and nipping, bruising the fair skin. "Now we start all over, hmm?" he murmured, tracing the hard muscles of the prince’s chest with a whisper-soft touch. "We have many hours to spend this night, anor nín."

Elladan lowered his head, nipping hard just below one perfect ear, leaving the imprint of his teeth in a rosy bruise. Eyebrow lifted in mock indignation, Legolas pulled the elder twin down and bit him sharply, just above the gleaming mithril collar. Lapping the bite soothingly with his tongue, the prince then suckled the spot until a dark red-purple bruise blossomed underneath the marks of his teeth.

Turning his attention to Elrohir, who had begun to play idly with his golden nipple rings, Legolas repeated the ritual, marking the pale throat. "I think we should shed this mithril, before someone gets hurt," he suggested, removing Elrohir's neckpiece, then slipping off his own cuff.

Elladan pulled off his own collar and reached for the other mithril jewelry, laying it out of the way in a chair. "There now, we are all safe," he said with a smile, pressing a kiss to the prince’s nose.

"Perhaps," Legolas replied, grinning broadly, tugging at the twin’s leggings, "but you two are still overdressed. Take those off."

Standing to strip off his leggings, Elrohir smiled when a question curled through his mind.

Need some help, tôren?

That would be most appreciated, ‘Dan.

Legolas watched intently, mesmerized and aroused as always by the sheer eroticism of their play. Kissing languidly, the twins each unlaced the other’s breeches, hands slipping inside to stroke and knead, before breaking apart to slip out of the leggings. Standing only a hand’s breadth apart, they then unbraided their ebony hair, midnight-dark eyes locked together in wordless communication.

As the twins sank back to the floor, both pressed close to Legolas, drawing shudders from al three as skin slid temptingly over skin. Raising his head to plant a lingering kiss on each swollen mouth, Legolas whispered, "I need you, please. Love me."

"Aye, we do," Elrohir murmured, stroking Legolas back to full hardness.

"And we will," Elladan added, pulling Legolas snugly back into the curve of his body, his fingers tracing sculpted muscle beneath passion-flushed skin. Hissing as the prince moved against him urgently, Elladan positioned himself and thrust forward, sinking into the silken heat with a groan.

Releasing a wordless moan as he was filled, Legolas raised his arm, allowing Elrohir to move back against him, the firm buttocks rubbing teasingly over his groin. "Oh, yes," he breathed, whimpering as Elrohir pushed back, impaling himself.

Breath rasping harshly, they lay still, savoring the sensation of closeness, until Legolas could bear it no longer. Rocking his hips with a growling moan, he thrust deep into the velvety heat before him, then pulled back, taking Elladan as deep as his body would allow. "Sweet Elbereth," he gasped, clamping his fingers on Elrohir’s hip for support, settling into the now-familiar rhythm.

Struggling for control, Elladan groaned and reached across the thrusting hips, closing his hand around his twin’s engorged arousal, stroking in time to Legolas' now frantic movements.

Elrohir let out a sobbing moan, his body tightening warningly. "Oh, Valar," he breathed, pressing back savagely toward the pounding thrusts, "oh, Valar..." An instant later he shouted wordlessly, his release pulsing over Elladan's still-moving hand.

Feeling the first spasms caress him, Legolas thrust forward into the throbbing channel, howling in pleasure near pain as he spilled deep inside his lover. Elladan groaned, sinking his teeth into the prince’s shoulder, as his own climax rolled over him.

Reluctant to part, the three lay motionless for long moments. "That was beyond incredible," Legolas said lazily, as Elrohir turned to face him, snuggling close.

"Aye, it was," Elladan agreed, soothing the marks of his teeth with his tongue.

"That will be hard to outdo," Elrohir teased, kissing the other two lightly. "But we will try, hmm, ‘Las?"

Legolas chuckled softly. "Aye, we will." His face turning serious, he continued, "Hold me tight while I rest, please? That is what I will miss the most."

"Always, anor nín," Elladan answered fitting his body to the prince’s drowsy form.

"Always," Elrohir agreed, curling tightly against the other side.

Surrounded by warmth and black silk, Legolas slept.

*~*~*~*~*

híren - my lord
tôren - my brother
Ada, Adar - Papa, Father
el nín - my star
anor nín - my sun
rohir nín - my knight