Request: Either Legolas/Gildor, Thranduil/Elrohir, or Glorfindel/Elladan. Do not include non-con, rape, MPREG, no abused or wimpy elves.

Summary: In the years following their mother's torment at the hands of orcs and subsequent departure to Valinor, the sons of Elrond seem determined to rid Arda of all orcs. Those who love them have become concerned that they are becoming reckless in their self-appointed duty. After a particularly bloody conflict, Glorfindel decides to attempt to reason with the elder of the twins, with unexpected results

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"Idiot! Do you wish your father to mourn you and Elrohir? It would be the death of him for certain! We very nearly lost him after your mother sailed, do you wish to be the one to finish him?" The blond warrior shouted into the dark one's face. The peredhel flinched, but did not look away. "And your sister! Did you for one moment think of what losing you would do to her? Are you even thinking at all, Elladan, or have you become as mindless as the creatures you hunt?" At that, a cold fire ignited in the dark one's eyes and he lashed out, striking the blond with his closed fist, spitting a foul curse at the warrior as he struck.

"You dare to compare me to those vile things!" He raised his fist again, but the blond recovered too quickly and the dark one found himself pinned to the ground under the reknowed warrior.

"I dare to say to you what no one else will! If you continue on this course, you will kill both yourself and your brother as well as your father. Is this what you wish? Is it?!" He flipped the half-elf onto his back, pinning him down again with the weight of his body and grasping his chin in his hand, forcing eye contact. "Answer me, you young fool! Is that what you wish?" Suddenly, the fight seemed to go out of the dark one and he closed his eyes.

"Nay, Glorfindel, you know I do not wish that," he said, softly.

"Then you had best begin using that knot above your shoulders that you call a head!" The blond snarled, rolling off him. "Had we a choice, I would send both of you back to Imladris. Since I cannot, you will do exactly as I tell you in the coming days or I will personally truss both of you up like fowl for the spit and place you in the care of the healer until after all the fighting is done. Do I make myself perfectly clear, Elrondion?"

"Aye, Glorfindel."

"Go to Elrohir. The healer should be done seeing to his wound by now."

"Aye, Glorfindel."

The blond watched Elladan leave and then heaved a great sigh, running both hands through his hair. His second in command entered the tent a moment later.

"Why is it that I feel as if we have traveled back in time and I am wasting my breath as much as I did when he and Elrohir decided to douse the delegate from the Greenwood in water and feathers immediately before the feast?" Glorfindel sighed, raking his hands through his hair again.

"Glorfindel, you can speak until your face turns blue but you cannot force him to listen. He has to come to it on his own. You are doing all you can, my friend. Like it or not, he is the only one who can save him."

"It would kill Elrond to lose either of them, Valar forbid both."

"It would kill you as well, old friend. Do not think I have not seen how you look at him." Elduin said, honest sympathy patent in his expression.

"Do not, I beg you, speak of that even to me. Elladan has expressed no interest in me or anyone else as yet. I would not have him know."

"Peace, Glorfindel. I will speak no more of it for now. Only, please remember that I have an ear willing to listen should you have need to speak." The dark haired elf gave his friend and captain a brief, sad smile. Glorfindel nodded, his attention already elsewhere.

~

"Elrohir?"

"I am awake, Brother. You need not whisper." Elladan's twin shifted, wincing as he jostled his wounded arm and meeting his twin's eyes with a tired, and grim, smile. "I am sorry that you had to face Glorfindel's wrath alone. I should have been by your side receiving my fair share."

"Oh, rot! You took an orc blade to your sword arm. Your place was right here getting it seen to. As you can see, I survived the experience yet again." He grinned sardonically before sobering. "I am sorry I was not here while the healer was working on you."

"Glorfindel hardly gave you a choice in that, Brother-mine. Worry not, Ardenion was very gentle. I will mend quickly, he says." Elrohir sighed, looking down at his hands. "Brother, are you as weary of the blood and death as I am?"

"Yes," Elladan replied softly, "But I can see no end to it. I will not allow another to fall into those beasts' clutches while I am able to do something about it." "We cannot save everyone, you know."

"I know. After all, we could not save her."

"Mother's fate was not our doing nor our fault, Elladan. It is our grief and our pain that makes us believe so. Father says she will be healed in Valinor and I believe him."

"As do I. All the more reason to choose as Father did, to see her again when our tasks and his are done here."

"We must survive in order to do that."

"I know that, too, Brother."

"Then, will you heed Father's counsel, and Glorfindel's?"

"Aye. I would not lose you as I did Mother."

"You could never lose me, Brother. Even in death, I would not leave you."

"Not even for that pretty youngest son of King Thranduil's that you have been pining for?" Elladan asked, the corner of his mouth twitching in amusement as he watched Elrohir's face flush.

"You are a fine one to talk, Elladan! You have been doing the same thing over Glorfindel for over a yen!" Elrohir retorted, slapping his twin's arm lightly.

"Oh, hush now and rest before Ardenion doses you with something foul to make you sleep," the elder twin grumbled good-naturedly, sitting down next to his brother and wrapping an arm around him, careful to avoid touching his wounded arm. Elrohir settled against him and almost immediately drifted into reverie. Elladan soon followed.

~

Glorfindel poked his head into the tent the twins shared and smiled slightly at the sight of them curled up together as they had been wont to do as children, Elladan's arm draped protectively over his brother, even in sleep. If Elladan were to heed anyone, it would be his brother and Glorfindel knew that Elrohir had grown weary of their relentless hunting of orcs. His grief had progressed until he no longer held himself responsible for Celebrian's fate. Elladan had always been the one to hold onto grief or anger long after others had dealt with it. Perhaps this was a sign that he was healing at last.

~

Or perhaps not.

Glorfindel ground his teeth as he dragged Elladan across the camp by his arm, the peredhel stumbling to keep up with the pace the Elda set. Once again, the elder son of Elrond had behaved recklessly, endangering himself and others on the battlefield. Mercifully, no one but the orcs had been killed, but Glorfindel's patience had come to an end. No sooner had they arrived back at the camp than he pulled the young offender off his mount and began manhandling him towards his tent. Elladan made no sound, evidently knowing that he richly deserved what he was about to get. The rest of the troop pointedly ignored them. Elrohir looked for a moment as if he would protest, but a glare from Glrofindel forestalled whatever he might have thought to say.

On reaching the tent, the blond elf shoved Elladan through the open flap. The peredhel stumbled halfway across the tent, recovering and turning to face his commander just in time to see the Elda close the flap. Glorfindel merely stood there, scowling fiercely at him. Elladan tried to meet the furious elf's eyes, but after a moment dropped his gaze to his own feet.

"What am I to do with you, Elladan? You do not listen to me. You do not listen to your father. You refuse even to heed your brother." The barely restrained fury in the reborn elf's voice would have sent shivers down the spine of anyone listening. "I cannot have a warrior in my troop who willfully endangers those around him as you do. Your actions today very nearly got both you and Elduin killed. Had Elrohir not acted when he did, you both would have been hewn down by that axe-wielding orc."

"I am sorr......."

"I do not want to hear any more empty words from you!" Glorfindel roared, closing the distance between them and grabbing two fistfuls of Elladan's surcoat, hauling the peredhel up onto his toes and bringing their faces mere inches apart. "Until we ride back into Imladris, you will spend your days with Ardenion as his assistant. Your nights will be spent on a pallet in this tent so that I can be certain you are not doing something stupid. You will not join in any more battles with my troop. When we arrive back in Imladris, you are your father's problem. Are my words in any way unclear?" Elladan shook his head, eyes wide as saucers. "Good. Get cleaned up and get your arse over to the healer's tent." He released his grip on the peredhel and turned his back, stalking to the opposite side of the tent.

Elladan beat a hasty retreat.

~

Four nights later, Glorfindel lay awake listening to the faint sound of Elladan's breathing. As weary as he was from four days of fighting orcs, he could not rest. They had finally managed to clear out the nests of orcs from around the pass so that messengers could once again travel between Imladris and Mirkwood, as Men were wont to call the benighted Greenwood these days. He would have to assign a patrol to check every couple of weeks or so to make certain that the pass stayed clear, but King Thranduil had pledged to do the same so he had hopes that the pass would remain open for the foreseeable future.

He shifted, trying to get comfortable enough to rest. In spite of his current circumstances, Elladan had accepted his place and duties with the healers with a great deal more grace than Glorfindel had thought he would. Undeniably, his presence there had saved the life of a couple of elves and that had done much to ease the ill-will that had arisen due to the elder twin's actions in battle. Most of the troop was at least speaking to him again, even if Glorfindel himself was not except when it could not be avoided. It was far easier to maintain his rage at the peredhel than to admit, even to himself, how terrified he had been at the thought of losing him.

A soft sound, little more than a faint whimper, cut through the fog of his introspection and Glorfindel focussed his attention on Elladan. The elder twin's face was twisted in a grimace of pain, his breath now coming in pants as the nightmare held him firmly in its grip. After four nights of sharing a tent with Elladan, Glorfindel had become well acquainted with the ill dreams that plagued Elrond's eldest child. Usually, the Balrog Slayer allowed the dreams to run their course, deeming it prudent to allow Elladan to wake on his own. Having experienced much in his two lives that was excellent nightmare-fodder, Glorfindel had more experience than most elves on the subject. This time, however, the dream seemed far more intense and Glorfindel slid from his cot, crossing the distance between his resting place and Elladan's pallet swiftly.

"Elladan. Elladan, wake. All is well, Elladan. Wake now," Glorfindel said, shaking the peredhel's shoulder gently. Elladan's hands flew up, warding off a phantom attacker, and Glorfindel quickly immobilized him, using his body to pin the younger being down and his hands to hold his arms down. He had no wish to patch up wounds caused by his friend's son in the throes of a nightmare."Elladan, wake now! You are safe!"

Awareness returned to the peredhel's gray eyes abruptly and Glorfindel slowly released him, feeling as he shifted the trembling of the body beneath him. Elladan sat up, scooting away from Glorfindel, eyes wide.

"Easy now, you are safe, pen neth," the blond elf said, his voice taking on the same tone he used when dealing with a skittish horse. He touched Elladan's arm, drawing his hand back when the peredhel flinched. "Easy, just breathe. You are safe. There are no enemies here." The gray eyes focussed on him and Glorfindel smiled reassuringly. "Easy, Elladan. You were dreaming." There was a spark of recognition and the elder twin shuddered, drawing his knees up, wrapping his arms around them and burying his face in his arms.

"Not a dream," he muttered, still shuddering.

"I know," Glorfindel said quietly, laying a hand on the younger male's dark hair. "I know." He sighed deeply. "The memories strike you when you are at your most vulnerable and will not let go." Elladan shifted, darting a one-eyed glance at him. "Think you that I do not dream of the Balrog on occasion?" the reborn elf asked, his mouth quirking humorlessly. "I assure you that I do."

"How do you bear it?"

"I bear it, pen neth, because I must." He lightly stroked the fine dark tresses under his hand. "As you will learn to in time. But, you must allow yourself that time and therein lies your error." Elladan sighed.

"You are right, I know that. My anger is just so strong! It will drown me, Glorfindel!"

"Nay, it will not. Not if the ones who love you have anything to say about it." He pulled the younger male into his lap and cradled him like a child. "It will not."

He was mildly surprised that Elladan did not resist. Instead, the peredhel wrapped his arms around the elf's shoulders, pressing his face into Glorfindel's neck. They sat thus for a long while until he felt Elladan sigh and relax a trifle.

"Better now?" he asked, rubbing the peredhel's back.

"Somewhat," Elladan replied, surprising Glorfindel further by not moving. Then, the blond elf felt the sensation of lips on his neck, causing a raw surge of desire to shoot through his body straight to his groin. Fighting down the urge to pin the younger male under him and take what was being offered, he tried to disentangle himself with no success.

"Elladan, no."

The peredhel's grip tightened, but he raised his head to look Glorfindel in the eyes.

"Glorfindel, I know you think I am a child yet despite my years and I know that you believe this to be prompted by my hurt and despair, but I swear to you that is not so. I have loved you for so very long, more than two yeni now. I simply lacked the courage to tell you so before and now I know that if I do nothing I will regret it for all eternity." He paused, taking a deep breath. "Even if you do not return my feelings." Shocked, Glorfindel searched his face with wide eyes, reading only honesty and desire in his expression. He took a deep, and ragged, breath himself before answering.

"Do not fear that I feel differently than you do, but I think it would be the gravest of mistakes to rush what should be done slowly. It will be so much sweeter for the time we take."

"I am no untried youth that must be seduced, as well you know," Elladan retorted, deliberately brushing his hip against Glorfindel's groin.

"I am aware of that," the reborn elf said, a wry grin forming on his face. "But I have never indulged in such in this body." Elladan's eyes widened.

"Truly?" he asked eagerly, a bright smile transforming his already fair face into one of breathtaking beauty. "We will go at your pace, then." And he pressed his mouth against Glorfindel's in an almost chaste kiss, which the blond deepened until they were forced to seperate for the sake of breathing. Elladan lay back onto his pallet, pulling Glorfindel with him gently. "We will do nothing more than you wish, but I would at least hold you and kiss you if you agree."

"Hmm, perhaps a bit more than that, I think." The blond elf grinned down at his dark haired lover. "Apparently, the mind remembers all too well what the body has missed all these years." Elladan laughed, a sweet sound heard all too little in the time since Celebrian's departure and Glrofindel rejoiced to hear it. Grinning, and more light-hearted than he had been in a long time, he leaned down closing the distance between them.

~

The next morning, the camp was packed up with the practiced efficiency typical of so experienced a band of warriors and they began the trek back to Imladris. Outwardly, neither Elladan nor Glorfindel gave any indication that things had changed between them, both wishing to avoid the inevitable teasing that would ensue once their comrades found out about their altered relationship. Thus far, only Elrohir and Elduin seemed to have noted the change, Elrohir merely giving Glorfindel a slight smirk and Elduin covertly giving him a punch in the arm.

Elladan remained in the company of their healer, Glorfindel's restrictions on him not having been lifted merely because they were now somewhat intimate. However, he sang as he rode beside the healer, his horse pulling a makeshift litter bearing one of the wounded who was unable to ride on his own, his fine voice soothing the wounded ones and lifting the spirits of all in the troop.

Elduin leaned over to Glorfindel at a point where they were crossing a rocky patch where the horses' hoofbeats would mask softly spoken words from all but the closest listeners. "What did you do to him last night? He's not been in this good a mood in years!" Glorfindel settled for clouting his arm and said nothing, ignoring the faint snicker that came from Elrohir, who rode close enough behind them to hear Elduin's words.

~

By stopping only briefly to rest both horses and wounded, they reached Imladris in only a few days time. Elrond welcomed them warmly, openly relieved to see both his sons returning unharmed. At Elladan's request, he and Elrond withdrew to his father's study and remained there for most of the day. What they discussed, neither ever revealed but both seemed more at ease afterwards and so no one pried.

The Hall of Fire was quiet that evening, most of the returning warriors eschewing it in favor of spending time with their families or lovers. Glorfindel himself stayed only a short time to drink a couple of goblets of wine with Elduin and sing a few songs before retiring to his chambers. He had only just removed his outer robe when there was a soft knock at his door. He opened it a crack, and upon seeing Elladan, opened it further, pulling the peredhel in by his arm and locking the door behind him before pinning him against it.

"Oh, yes!" Elladan gasped, grinning before being silenced by Glorfindel's mouth on his. For several long moments, there was no sound save for soft gasps and the rustle of clothing frantically being removed. Half-clothed, they stumbled across the room to the bed, collapsing upon it still entwined. "So much for going slowly," Elladan quipped breathlessly, laughing.

"Slow is overrated," Glorfindel replied, tugging on the laces of Elladan's breeches. "I want you naked and under me, now!"

"Just so you know, Glorfindel, I take as often as I give," Elladan said, wriggling out of the offending breeches eagerly.

"Then we will be well matched," The golden elf retorted, leaning down to pay court to the puckered nipple nearest him. Elladan moaned throatily, hands traveling over Glorfindel's bare back restlessly. The small taste he had had of Elladan in his tent had only whetted his appetitie. Hands and mouths were not nearly enough, he wanted it all. Surging up to the peredhel's mouth again, his left hand slid up Elladan's thigh to his arousal. The younger male cried out, the sound muffled by Glorfindel's lips as he grasped Elladan and began to stroke firmly. Abruptly, Elladan began tugging on his wrist.

"No, I want you inside me when I come!"

"What makes you think I will allow you to come yet?" Glorfindel smirked down at him. "The night is yet young and I would have you in as many ways as possible while it lasts."

"Elbereth! The mind truly does remember what the body does not know!"

"Indeed."

~

Light streaming into the room woke Glorfindel and he stretched languidly. He was sore, but in a delightful way, and he wagered Elladan was as sore as he. Grinning, he curled around the younger male, hands running over the hard stomach down to the hard arousal below.

"Hmm, promising," he said nibbling on the nape of the neck before him while his hands moved under the covers.

"Insatiable," Elladan murmured. "Not that I am complaining."

"I should say not, since you are as bad as I am."

"Well matched, as you said," Elladan agreed, moving his leg to give Glorfindel better access. The golden elf eased into the well-used passage carefully and paused, giving his lover time to adjust before beginning to thrust. Neither lasted long.

Sighing, Glorfindel rolled onto his back. Elladan rolled also, settling against his side and propping himself up on his elbow, gazing at his lover solemnly..

"I will continue to hunt orcs, meleth, but I swear to you that I will no longer take needless chances. I wish to return to you."

"And I will do likewise," Glorfindel agreed, tracing Elladan's jaw with his fingertip. The peredhel nodded and they were quiet for awhile until Elladan's mouth quirked and his nose wrinkled.

"I think a bath is in order, else every elf with a nose will know what we have been up to these last few hours."

"They will likely know anyway from the way we both will be walking," the golden elf jibed, laughing. "You are definitely no child in your girth, Elladan!"

"Nor are you! I wonder if the Creator gifted you more fulsomely this time around to make up in part for your sacrifice," Elladan said, laughing as well. "A hot bath will help with the soreness, although I warn you that I have frequently fantasized about having you in the bath."

"Then we must hope they put it down to sadlle-soreness," Glorfindel quipped back, elbowing Elladan in the ribs and making him yelp. A tussle ensued all the way into the bathing chamber.

~

"One settled and two to go," Erestor commented to Elrond as they passed Glorfidnel's chambers.

"Elrohir will not be long in making his move, I think," Elrond replied sedately, smiling at the sounds coming through his friend's bedchamber door. "As for Arwen, there is no hurry."

"Let us hope that Legolas does not lead Elrohir too merry a chase," Erestor replied, laughing. "I thought Glorfindel would drive us all mad before he gave in to the inevitable."

Their laughter trailed down the corridor as the sounds in the bedchamber changed in tone and frequency.

"Oh, yes, well matched indeed!"

The End