A Bond Unbroken

Summary: What starts out as a typical orc hunt goes awry and brothers� bonds are tested.

Author's Note: Written for the �Jingle Bells in June� Slashy Santa fiction exchange. Whoever you are, I hope you like it!

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Elladan turned; he could smell the beast.� Wargs had an unmistakable odor akin to musk and rotting meat.� Scanning the trees and rocks that surrounded him, he could not see it or its rider, but he knew they were both there.� He struggled to slow his breathing as he continued to search for any sign of his prey�s hiding place.� He had run hard up the hillside in pursuit of his quarry, out of breath and fatigued after the exertion and the long battle that had preceded it.� �Where are you?� he thought, slowly turning as his eyes searched the landscape.� �None of you will escape us; we will destroy you all.��

The sound of a snapping branch caused him to turn back toward the way he had come.� He heard the raking sound of the warg�s claws on rock, but before he could turn back, the beast leapt and pinned him to the ground.�

He lay face down in the dirt and dead leaves.� At first the pain did not register; his mind was quickly devising a plan to get him out of the dangerous predicament he was in.� His fingers were still closed around the hilt of his sword, though he could not move his arm � the warg had it pinned with one of its large front paws.� Nor could he move his legs; he could bend his knees��

That was when the pain first registered.� As he struggled to break free of the beast�s grip, a sharp, searing pain shot up his left leg, causing him to cry out in surprise.� His ankle was broken; it had twisted and snapped when the warg landed on him from above.� As he cried out, the beast growled, and then sunk its fangs into his left shoulder.� It tugged once, wrenching another cry from him as his shoulder was pulled out of joint, then it released him, its foul mouth hovered over his ear, dripping a mixture of his own blood and its rank saliva on his cheek.�

A rasping, guttural laugh brought him back from the edge of consciousness, and from his position face down in the dirt, he could see an orc�s boots enter his field of vision.�

�For hundreds of years you and your cursed brother have hunted us, you and those Men of the North.� Now you die.�� �

The orc laughed again and bent down so that Elladan could see its twisted face.� �

�It is told that you and your brother are never parted.� I have heard that when one of you dies, the one that is left behind will die slowly of grief.� Know that as you die, your brother will also die, but his death will not be so bold; he will die a weak and pathetic death.� No one will sing songs of his glorious demise.��

�You will suffer for this.�� Elladan ground out the words with a clenched jaw.� The pain was becoming overwhelming.� The warg now stood on his dislocated and bleeding shoulder, digging its foul claws into his wounded flesh.� �

�Suffer!� the orc retorted.� �You do not know the meaning of suffering, elf!� You and your kind live easy lives compared to what we orcs endure.�� He laughed again and leaned in close, drawing a foul finger down Elladan�s cheek.� �But fear not, my pretty elf, I will teach you the meaning of pain and suffering, though it might take awhile for you to learn.��

The orc began to laugh again when his beady eyes grew wide and his laughter stopped.� He drew a gasping, gurgling breath, then toppled to the side, dead.�

The warg began to growl, its head turning left and right, its claws digging deeper as it moved its jaws closer to Elladan�s head, its eyes darting from one threat to another, from elf to man and back to elf again, yet it was either unwilling or unable to give up its quarry.�

�Do not move, brother,� Elrohir said softly.� �

Elladan closed his eyes and fought to stay conscious.� What would become of them if he died?� He and Elrohir had not yet made their choice; in fact, they had not even spoken of it.� If he were to die this day, in this place, where would his f�a go?� How would Elrohir�s f�a find his own when it finally gave up his twin�s body?� Would they be forever parted?� Forever doomed to suffer the pain of separation?�

�No one else is dying this day,� Elrohir said, as if he could read Elladan�s thoughts.� �No one but that warg.��

Elladan knew Elrohir�s hands were shaking slightly as his brother aimed his bow.� This was too much like what happened to their mother, and on that day, they were too late to save her from torment.� That day, it was Elladan who had fired his bow as Elrohir took their mother�s abused body in his arms.�

Fearing that death was eminent, Elladan began to whisper to Elrohir, �Seek me in�� but his voice began to fade as his field of vision grew white.�

�I will not need to seek for you,� Elrohir interrupted.� �For you are coming home with me.��

The high-pitched whine of an Elven arrow split the air just as the warg�s jaws lurched downward.� The beast yelped and gurgled, blood spraying Elladan�s face as its head jerked upward, its teeth raking the side of his head as its body lurched sideways and it fell.�

Elladan drew a deep, shuddering breath; he had not been able to fill his lungs with air as long as the weight of the beast had been upon him.� Elrohir skidded to his knees in the dirt, reaching out for his twin as Halbarad arrived with reinforcements.� Elladan fought to remain conscious; he saw Halbarad drive a spear deep into the twitching body of the half-dead warg as one of his men removed the orc�s head and set it upon a pike as a warning for any others that may venture there.�

�Steady, my brother,� Elrohir said softly as he and Halbarad slowly turned Elladan to his back.� �

�Release your sword, friend,� Halbarad said quietly, placing his hand upon Elladan�s.�

Slowly, Elladan unfurled his fingers, allowing Halbarad to take his blade, Arathorn�s blade.� The sword was his charge, and he vowed to continue to feed it orc blood until the chieftain�s only son was old enough to wield it himself.� �

�My ankle,� Elladan rasped.� The injury to his shoulder was obvious enough, as his tunic was now soaked with blood.�

�Aye, brother, I see it.� We will splint it before we carry you back; but first, I must set your shoulder and bind your wounds, you are bleeding too much for my liking.�� He looked up at Halbarad as he removed his outer tunic.� �I need your shirt, and some small branches to build a splint.��

Halbarad nodded, instructing his men to find and shear branches to make a splint for Elladan�s ankle.� Removing his leather jerkin, he then took off the shirt he wore beneath.� Elrohir did the same, to use his own undershirt to bind Elladan�s bleeding shoulder.�

�Hold him steady, here,� Elrohir instructed, pointing to Elladan�s chest.� He then slowly lowered Elladan�s hand so that it lay beside his hip.� Gritting his teeth and closing his eyes he said, �This will hurt, brother.�� He then pulled slowly, one hand on Elladan�s shoulder joint, listening to his brother�s weak cry of pain until he felt the shoulder click back into place.� �I am sorry, Elladan,� he said quietly, using his shirt to bind the bleeding wounds. He looked up at his twin when he heard no reply, and saw that Elladan�s eyes were closed and all color had drained from his face.� Listening to his breathing and his heartbeat, he could see that his brother was still among the living; the pain had finally become too much for him to bear.� �Let him be,� he said to Halbarad, who was stroking Elladan�s face.� �It will be better for him not to be awake when we set his ankle and carry him back to camp.��

Halbarad nodded and handed Elrohir another shirt to strap Elladan�s arm to his chest, in order to protect his shoulder until it healed.� �

After setting Elladan�s ankle and making a splint, Elrohir instructed Halbarad and his men to construct a litter from branches, twigs, and vines, padding it with grass and moss that grew nearby, while he went in search of plants to both ease the pain and stop infection.� They carried Elladan back to their camp, arriving before Anor rose.�

*��� *��� *��� *�

Elladan blinked slowly, his eyes beginning to focus after so long a sleep.� Anor was beginning to set, her warm light causing the roof of the tent to glow softly.� As he turned his head he frowned, then he saw his twin�s face.� �

Elrohir knelt beside him, checking his wounds.� �I should kill you myself, you stubborn, rash fool.� Never part, you told me.� Never venture off alone, you said.� And what do you do the minute my back is turned?� You take off on foot after a mounted orc, alone.� For the love of Elbereth, Elladan.� What were you thinking?� You know���

�Are you quite through?� Elladan said quietly, coughing a little.� �It was getting away.��

�So you could not take others with you?� You could not call for me, or Halbarad, or any one of the twenty-some-odd D�nedain that travel with us?��

�All right, all right,� Elladan murmured.� �I give up; you win.� I am an idiot.��

Elrohir managed a smirk.� �Yes you are.�� He sighed.� �Promise me you will never do that again.� If I had lost you���

�I promise,� Elladan answered softly, reaching out for Elrohir with his good hand.� �We need to talk about our choice.��

�I know, but not this day.� Not so close on the heels of what has just happened.� We can discuss it later.��

�If you had not arrived���

Elrohir squeezed his eyes shut.� �Stop.� I did arrive, and you are here, and right now I want to focus all my energy on making you well again.�� Elrohir turned and began straightening his bedroll.�

�What are you doing?��

�Preparing my bed.� I will be sharing your tent until you are stronger.��

�I can move, you know.� I am not an invalid.��

�You should not be moving, not for another day or so.� So, I will be here should you need anything.�� Elrohir handed his twin a cup of tea.� �Drink this, it will ease the pain and ward off infection.��

�I hate willow-bark tea.��

�Shut up and drink it.� You are being petulant.��

Elladan smirked.� �Enjoy this, brother.� For when I am stronger, you will no longer be able to lord over me.��

Elrohir snorted.� �By that time we will be home and you will have to contend with Father, Arwen, Erestor, and Glorfindel.��

�You are truly evil, do you know that?��

Elrohir laughed.� �Is that not the pot calling the kettle black?��

Elladan smirked, then closed his eyes and swallowed the tea in one gulp.� Crinkling his nose and shaking his head, he handed the cup back to Elrohir.� �By the Valar, that is foul!� Could you find no mint or rosemary to mask the taste?��

Elrohir smiled as he placed the cup down.� �I fear I did not have that luxury, brother.��

�Liar.� You are punishing me.��

�Perhaps.��

�You are going to pay, trust me.��

�Promises, promises��� Elrohir tucked a strand of hair behind Elladan�s ear.� �In truth, Elladan.� You gave me the fright of my life.��

Elladan captured Elrohir�s hand in his own.� �I will always be here for you, Elrohir.��

Elrohir laid down beside his twin, tucking one hand under his head as Elladan held his other.� �Do you remember when we were young how we would share the same bed?��

�Aye, I do.� You always had the coldest feet, and you reveled in placing them on the backs of my thighs.��

�You were like a stove, always so warm.� We had no need for a bed warmer.�� Elrohir smiled a little.� �Sometimes I miss those days, when our lives were so simple.� All we had to worry about was completing our lessons for Erestor and Glorfindel.� There were no orc hunts; there was no anger, no pain, no suffering.��

�Those days are gone, I fear.� But perhaps they will return someday.� Maybe this world will be free of those creatures, in time.��

�Elladan?��

�Yes, brother?��

There was a long pause before Elrohir continued.� �Nothing, never mind.� Go to sleep.��

Elladan frowned a little, wondering what it was that Elrohir could not say, and then he closed his eyes and drifted into reverie.�

*��� *��� *�� *�

The journey home had taken twice as long as the trip out; Elladan could only travel so many miles in one day before he succumbed to pain and fatigue.� Each night, Elrohir had lain beside his twin, his brow knitted as he watched Elladan�s fretful sleep.� They arrived in the courtyard of their home on the fourth day after departing the camp with the D�nedain.� Halbarad had sent two of his men to accompany the twins, should they encounter trouble on the way back to the Last Homely House.�

Elladan�s horse knelt slowly, allowing his rider to dismount with as little effort as possible.� Elrohir was there to steady him as he hopped upon one foot, then he climbed upon his younger brother�s back, and Elrohir began making his way toward the steps leading to their home.� �

�Sweet Elbereth!� Erestor gasped.� He had come to the courtyard to greet unexpected visitors, not knowing that those who had arrived were Elladan and Elrohir.� �Fetch Lord Elrond, and a litter,� he said to his assistant, and then he quickly descended the stairs to help Elrohir with his wounded brother.� �What happened?� he asked as he arrived, helping to steady Elladan as Elrohir set him down.� �

�We encountered a small bit of trouble in the south,� Elladan replied.� Elrohir grumbled and he shot his twin a reproachful look before continuing.� �It is not as bad as it looks � just a broken ankle and sore shoulder.��

�Blessed be the Valar,� Elrond said as he arrived.� �Each time you ride out I fear that one or both of you will not return.��

Again, Elladan gave Elrohir a menacing glance before he embraced his father.� �I am fine, Adar.� I promise.��

�And you, Elrohir?� Tell me you are not wounded as well.��

�No, Adar.� I am fine.��

Elrond smiled at his younger son and squeezed his shoulder, then helped his healer place Elladan on a litter to be carried to his quarters.� �Well, now you have no choice but to stay home for awhile,� he said with a worried smile. �

Elrohir followed his father and brother up the stairs, accompanied by Erestor.�

�Tell me truthfully, Elrohir. Is he all right?��

�Aye, Erestor.� He will be fine; he is lucky.��

Erestor nodded and placed a supportive hand upon Elrohir�s back.� �You must be exhausted.� I will see that a nice bowl of stew and some miruvor are brought to your quarters.��

Elrohir nodded and smiled.� �Right now, all I can think about is a hot bath.�� �

Erestor tried to conceal his concern as he watched Elrohir ascend the stairs toward the family�s wing of the Last Homely House.� That far away, lonely look in the peredhel�s eye was one he had seen far too many times as of late.�

*��� *��� *��� *�

Elladan woke in the middle of the night, stiff from lying for so long on one side.� Grimacing, he blinked and reached down for the pillow that propped up his injured ankle so that he could roll to his back. �

�Let me help you.��

Elladan looked up to find Elrohir rising from a chair next to his bed.� �How long have you been sitting there?� he asked groggily as Elrohir lifted his splinted ankle and moved the pillow.�

�Not long.� I could not sleep, so I thought I might as well watch you sleep as watch shadows on my ceiling.��

Elladan noted the sadness in Elrohir�s eyes and he reached out, clasping his twin�s wrist.� �Tell me what is troubling you, brother.��

�Nothing; it is nothing.� I am just tired from our journey home.��

�As well you should be; I do not think you have slept hardly at all since I was attacked.� Perhaps you are the one who should be drinking the valerian tea.�� He tugged upon Elrohir�s arm, encouraging him to sit on the edge of the bed, and then he tucked his brother�s loose hair behind his ears.� �There is something you are not telling me, Elrohir.� Have we not always told one another everything?� Have we not always entrusted one another with our f�a as well as our lives?��

Elrohir reached out and embraced Elladan tightly.� It was the first time he had done such since his twin had been so gravely wounded.� �Forgive me for being so . . . overcome.� I just cannot stop thinking about how close I came to losing you.� We have always been close; I have always felt the bond between us, but it was not until I was faced with the possibility that I might have to live without you that I realized how strong the bond is.�� Turning his lips to Elladan�s ear, he whispered, �I love you, Elladan.��

Elladan pulled back, taking Elrohir�s face in his hands and gazing into his twin�s eyes.� �I know you do, Elrohir.� And I love you, more than I could ever explain.�� Large, shimmering eyes gazed into his own.� For a long time, ever since their mother�s attack, Elladan had sensed something between them.� Being twins, they had been close since the day they were born.� Growing up together they were best friends as well as brothers, sometimes competitive, but always supportive of one another.� Since their mother�s wounding, Elrohir needed him more than he ever had, and to Elladan�s surprise, he found he needed Elrohir just as much.�

What had been a congenial, brotherly love had deepened.� When he looked at Elrohir, he saw more than just his twin � he saw an astoundingly beautiful being.� Elrohir�s voice, his touch, his assurance and affection, all warmed Elladan inside.� He lived for one of Elrohir�s smiles, for the way he tossed his head back when he laughed heartily, for the feel of his hand in his own.� He realized not long ago that he had been in love with Elrohir for longer than he cared to remember.� He never once dreamed that maybe his twin, his other half, felt the same way about him.�

Slowly, tentatively, he moved his thumb across Elrohir�s lips.� His heart skipped as they parted, as Elrohir�s eyelids fluttered closed, as he heard the soft, nearly imperceptible sigh that escaped his twin�s lips.�

�I do not understand why this is happening,� Elrohir whispered.� �I do not know why I feel this way, but when I saw you laying in the leaves, your blood soaking the ground, the pain in your eyes, I��� He opened his eyes and gazed intently into Elladan�s own.� �I do not care if it is wrong, I do not care what anyone says or thinks.� The only one who matters to me is you � you are everything to me, Elladan. Touch me, please . . . please���

Elladan slid his hand around the back of Elrohir�s neck and drew his twin�s lips to his own, moving his mouth slowly over Elrohir�s as his heart raced and his pulse quickened.� He had long dreamed of this moment, never daring to believe it might one day come. As their lips parted he whispered, �I have loved you all of my life, in many ways, brother.� You have been my best friend, my confidant, my competitor . . . what I want now, most of all, is for you to be my lover.��

A soft, quiet laugh of relief escaped Elrohir�s lips and he whispered, �I was so afraid you would turn me away.��

Elladan felt like his heart was about to leap out of his chest as he looked at the gentle smile that curved his twin�s full lips.� �Never, my love,� he whispered, and then he kissed Elrohir deeply.� As their tongues caressed and entwined, their hands explored, their bodies came together, they both felt an overwhelming sense of completeness, of relief; they felt like they were really home.�

Elrohir began to press Elladan back into the thick bedding, taking care with his healing but still sore shoulder and his ankle.� �Gods, how I want you,� Elrohir whispered.� �I want to taste you, touch you, feel your skin against my own.��

Elladan ran his hands into his twin�s heavy hair.� As Elrohir began to suckle his throat, his eyes shot open.� �Elrohir���

�Mmm� yes, my brother?�� He bestowed a nip to Elladan�s collarbone.�

�The door.��

Elrohir�s eyes widened.� �Oh, right.� The door.� I suppose this would not be a good time for unannounced visitors.�� He crossed the room and softly slid the latch closed on the door, then turned and looked back at his twin.� A smile curved his lips as he gazed at Elladan, so beautiful against the pale sheets of his bed.� He pulled the cord holding up his sleeping pants, allowing the garment to slide from his hips.� Stepping out of the pants, he tossed them upon the chair he had been sitting in and stood beside the bed.� Without a word, he reached out and grasped Elladan�s sleeping gown, pulling it over his twin�s head as Elladan sat up.� �

Mounting the bed, he looked lovingly at his elder brother, the one who was his best friend, his protector, and was now to be his lover.� �Why did we not do this sooner?� he asked softly, straddling his twin�s hips.�

Elladan smiled gently.� �I do not know, brother.� But I promise you this, I will not waste one more moment of my life not making you happy.� As long as I breathe, I will love you not just as my twin, but as my heart�s keeper and my soul�s mate.�� He caressed Elrohir�s hips and smiled.� �Many times I have seen you naked, bathing, dressing, swimming, but never once did I dream that I would touch you this way�� he closed his eyes briefly, arching into Elrohir�s hands as his twin caressed his chest. ��nor did I dream that you would ever touch me like this.��

Elrohir leaned down, running his fingers over the fading scars on his brother�s lately-wounded shoulder.� Bestowing soft kisses to the once-abraded flesh he whispered, �I promised you I would heal you and make you whole again because without you, I am broken.�� He turned his gaze back up to his twin�s eyes.� �Let me finish what I started, Elladan,� he murmured.�

Elladan looked down into Elrohir�s eyes.� �Yes, brother.� Finish it.��

Covering Elladan�s chest with kisses, exploring his brother�s body with his hands, Elrohir found all the places that made his twin sigh and moan softly.� Working his way down the length of his love�s form, he murmured �I love you,� over and over, attempting to put in to words all the feelings that welled inside him and threatened to overwhelm him.�

�Oh, my love,� Elladan murmured, his words punctuated by the deep moans that escaped his parted lips.� �Gods, that feels good, so very good��� As Elrohir�s breath fanned his swelling length, he started to move beneath his twin.� �Ahhh...� he groaned as pain flared in his still-healing ankle.�

�Ssshhh, lover,� Elrohir murmured.� �Let me do it all, do not move.��

Elladan smiled a wolfish smile.� �Easier said than done, Elrohir.��

Elrohir chuckled.� �Consider it a test of your patience.��

�It has been a long time since I have had a lover, Elrohir.� I am afraid my patience might be limited.��

Elrohir flashed a sensual smile at his twin.� �Then I shall test it no more.��

Elladan gasped and arched his back as Elrohir engulfed his turgid length.� He was drowning in desire, in the feeling of his twin�s warm, wet mouth drawing his passion from him, in the overwhelming love he felt for the one who had always known him and loved him more than anyone else in the wide world.� His eyelids fluttered closed as he choked back a cry, spilling his essence down his brother�s throat, then collapsed upon the bed, his skin damp with sweat.� �By the Valar, I love you so much,� he whispered.� He felt Elrohir�s hair brush his chest and he opened his eyes. �

�As I love you, Elladan,� Elrohir said, hovering over his twin�s face, a smile curving his lips.� �This is meant to be; it is the natural path that our love should take.��

Elladan reached up, pushing Elrohir�s heavy hair behind his ears.� �Aye, brother.� It surely is,� he answered, his smiling broadening as Elrohir pressed soft kisses to his eyelids.�

�I shall sleep with you this night, as I have slept with you so many times before.� Only this night, we will lie skin against skin, our bodies as bare as our hearts.�� He rested his head on Elladan�s uninjured shoulder.�

�And what of your satisfaction?� Elladan asked, drawing small circles on Elrohir�s back.� �

�Oh, I will demand it of you soon enough, my lover.� For now, I just want to lie in your arms.��

�You will always have a place in my arms, Elrohir.��

�I love you, Elladan.��

�As I love you, my brother.��

Elrohir closed his eyes and smiled.� Safe in his twin�s arms, it would be the first time he slept peacefully in a long time � but it would not be the last.�

The End