The gardens glittered harsh blue and violet under the full moon, shapes softened and disguised by the thick veil of white that shrouded all of Imladris. Snow still fell heavily, dampening sounds and obscuring sight, thwarting all but the most insistent observer.
Had Elladan had been less intoxicated, he might have noticed that the stone bench was cold and Elrohir�s hands were colder, raising goose bumps where they brushed the slightly warmer skin of Elladan�s stomach.
He might also have noticed the dozen or so pairs of eyes that watched curiously from the sheltering pines.
As it was, he was blissfully unaware of all but the hot, swirling wetness of Elrohir�s tongue and the telltale pulsing of the thick shaft that filled his own mouth. The drunken, ecstatic garble of his brother�s thoughts filtered into Elladan�s mind and he pulled Elrohir closer, digging his fingers into the elf-knight�s hip, his own body tightening almost unbearably before tumbling into an explosive climax that left him giddy and boneless, prone to giggling as he nuzzled and laved Elrohir lazily. �That was rather nice,� he drawled, wriggling around to plant a sloppy kiss on his brother�s mouth.
�Just nice?� Elrohir demanded petulantly, though he could not hold back the grin that tugged at his lips. Raising himself on one arm, he looked down at his twin. �Next time I will...�
The banter ended as the elf-knight sat up abruptly, ramming his elbow into Elladan�s ribs in the process.
��Roh!�
Elrohir paid no attention to his brother�s coughing and gasping, his eyes fixed on the evergreens in the center of the garden. �Elladan...�
The elder twin followed Elrohir�s gaze, his breath catching in his throat as he slowly rose to his feet.
The heavy snow drifts at the base of the trees seemed alive, a boiling mass of shaggy fur and eyes and thrashing limbs. The twins watched, their wine-hazed senses awhirl, as the fulcrum of movement shifted further and further into the gardens, slowly becoming lost amid the swirling snow, then vanishing suddenly at the back wall.
�What was the thing,� Elrohir whispered, �or were there many of them?�
�I am not sure,� Elladan replied uneasily, �but I believe it is time we returned to the house. No one else will be out tonight, and we can search for tracks tomorrow.�
As they made their way to the door, Elrohir looked over the gardens one last time, shaking his head in confusion. �I have never seen the like.�
Huddled in their snug burrow at the base of the garden wall, the snowshoe rabbits surely agreed.