Title: A Bond of Brothers 
Chapter Five (b) - Good Payment
Author: Oakenshield (Oakenshield@lonelymountain.zzn.com)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Rumil/Elrohir, implied Elladan/Elrohir
Warnings/Spoilers: Incest, graphic sex, mild BDSM
Archive: Anyone who wants it is welcome to have it, just let me know first.
Disclaimer: The characters and the places all belong to J.R.R. Tolkien, and I
am making no profit from this at all.
Summary: Elrohir is seduced by Rumil.

------

Chapter Five(b) - Good Payment


"He has no claim to my heart or my body now; I swear that to you!" Elrohir
arched underneath Rúmil, staring into his eyes as though he were trying to make
him see that he spoke the truth.

The words were spoken with such forced conviction that Rúmil had to bite back a
smirk. Such love - unnatural or otherwise - could not be sundered in a second.
Even so, Elrohir seemed eager and Rúmil was more than prepared to show him the
way. He seldom came across such beauty, let alone have it unbend and open to
him willingly.

Elrohir was upset and a little tipsy on the wine. He was vulnerable and on the
rebound from a love he thought had spurned him. He needed comfort. He needed to
be shown how beautiful he was, and that would not be difficult to do. It was
proving to be all too easy.

Rúmil had wondered at his elder brother's sanity when Haldir had suggested he
take Elrohir as soon as possible on arriving in Imladris before he had a chance
to recover from the shock of the letter. Then it had become clear what the
intentions were. He would get Elrohir to trust him and wholly fall for him in
the months preceding Elladan's marriage; he would show him things that Elladan
had never let him see, make him feel more than Elladan could ever know about,
and take him to such heights of pleasure that another lover would be dull in
comparison. Then, when the truth came out - which it surely would, they did not
hope to deceive both twins long-term - Elladan would not want back the lover he
was so possessive of, not after he had been had by another in his absence. Of
course, Elladan would not go back to Haldir willingly, but the Galadhrim
brothers still had a card up their sleeves that would ensure they would have
their respective desired ones right where they wanted them.

All would be revealed to the oblivious twins just before the wedding, and the
young Lords of Imladris would be made to suffer utmost shame for ever wounding
Haldir's heart; Rúmil would see to that personally even if Haldir decided to
back out.

He had never seen his brother weep for a shunned affection until the night he
learned of Elladan's incestuous love, and it had hurt Rúmil as though his own
heart had been stabbed. Haldir had always been constant for him; he had raised
him, he had taught him, he had soothed away the guilt Rúmil felt for their
mother's passing. There was not enough in the world that Rúmil could do to
repay him, but this.

As he looked at Elrohir, far beneath his lust he felt angry that this was the
one who had claimed the only Elf that had ever made Haldir happy. But, that
aside, he certainly did lust for this delicate creature, he wanted to take his
body until Elrohir was howling beneath him, but he was clever enough not to let
his true feelings to show. He had learned long ago that a cute face and wide
eyes and pouting lips speaking sweet words could mask a multitude of dark
emotions.

"Do not comply with my desire in anger, dear Elrohir," he crooned, still
stroking Elrohir's growing erection. "I would not have you hate me after this."

"I will not hate you," Elrohir said passionately. "I hate him. I *want* you."

And at that second, Rúmil believed that Elrohir truly did hate his twin but he
felt no guilt over the lies he had spun. If he was playing a part in the
downfall of the most shameful relationship the Elves had seen since Nienor and
Túrin, then so be it. If he was breaking two hearts to prevent disgrace being
brought upon his Lord and Lady, and the Lord and Lady of Imladris, then so be
it. In doing so he was restoring some joy in the heart of his brother and that
meant the more than anything to him.

And he had to admit, his part in the deception was not a bad one at all.

"Does this feel good, Elrohir?" he whispered, smiling as he felt the firm flesh
twitch in his steadily moving hand.

"Mm..." Elrohir bit his lower lip as his deep grey eyes fluttered shut. "It is
good."

"Good..." Rúmil sat back a little to admire his prize.

He had been a little apprehensive about how he would have the stomach do this,
knowing where Elrohir's hands had been, and where his mouth had been, knowing
that Elrohir's brother had been the last one inside him, but now he looked upon
the younger twin his body felt nothing but longing for him. Elrohir truly was
fairer than Elladan - not quite as powerfully built but there was still a
unique element to his carriage that spoke of his mixed blood. He was fairer of
face; perhaps it was the absence of Elladan's constant self-assured gleam in
the eyes.

And he was so naïve. So innocent. So submissive...

Rúmil was stunned to suddenly find himself on his back with Elrohir lying on
top of him. Perhaps not so submissive after all...

"Hello there!" He grinned widely, lifting his head to press a kiss to Elrohir's
lips."That was not expected. Never before has a guard of the Galadhrim been
pounced so unprepared."

He felt the young Lord tremble a little, a wonderful sensation over his body,
before Elrohir returned his kiss with vigour, snaking his tongue between
Rúmil's lips and into his mouth. They kissed deeply, tongues twining from one
mouth to the other before Elrohir used his heavier weight to hold Rúmil down to
suck hungrily on his lower lip. Rúmil tried to snatch another kiss from the
delicious mouth but Elrohir pulled back to shrug free of his robe.

"You have too many clothes on," Elrohir then whispered, tugging at the ties on
the side of Rúmil's tunic to free him from it. He stripped the thin silk
undershirt with fast fingers before crawling down the bed to yank Rúmil's boots
off his feet.

Rúmil watched with a smile never leaving his lips. At least, he hoped it was a
smile and not a smirk. As Elrohir divested him of his footwear, Rúmil reached
up to unbind his hair from its braid, combing through the golden strands with
his fingers. He was proud of his hair - it was a richer colour than that of
either of his brothers and he wore it a little longer than a warden should. He
was sure Elrohir would not be disappointed at it in contrast to Elladan's sable
tresses.

His hair to his satisfaction, fanned around his face and partly over one
shoulder, he stared down at the strong curve of Elrohir's buttocks, remembering
how that behind had been warm and firm within his hands and he longed to grasp
it again.

Before his lust got the better of him, he reached to the forgotten wine bottle
on the table and pulled the cork to take a sip. Haldir had given it to him
before he had departed Lórien with the letter and had curiously told him to
give some to Elrohir if he resisted. He took a generous mouthful then licked
his lips to savour the fine taste of a powdered aphrodisiac herb lingering in
the wake of the wine.

/'You sly beast, Haldir!'/ He almost laughed aloud, taking another mouthful
before putting the bottle down again.

Looking down his own body, he found Elrohir's fingers tugging at the ties of
his leggings and he lifted his hips so the restricting garment could be
removed. Cool hands slithered over his thighs as the material was pulled down
his legs and he sighed as his taut erection sprang free.

Elrohir gazed up at him, licking his lips in a motion that was half fear and
half lust. "You are lovely, Rúmil," he whispered, tracing his fingers over a
sharp hipbone before moving his hand to caress the underside of the heated
shaft with long fingers.

"I would say the same to you," Rúmil breathed heavily, arching into the touch.
He could feel the aphrodisiac starting to hum through his veins, slowly seeping
into his groin. "How do you feel, my beauty?" Elrohir's pupils were dilated so
far that his silver-grey eyes were nearly black, and a becoming flush was
developing across his cheekbones, spreading to the tips of his ears.

"I feel..." Elrohir blushed as though his pure conscience was still trying to
pull against his lust.

Rúmil reached down and brushed a fingernail lightly against the point of a pink
ear and Elrohir's lust won the battle.

"Aroused," he finished, leaning his head into the touch. "How about you?" He
gave a coy smile and ran the tip of his index finger lightly over the head of
Rúmil's arousal, teasing the weeping slit.

Rúmil groaned deep in his throat as the touch sent hot shivers up his spine. He
wondered how Elrohir was maintaining such control after several glasses of the
drugged wine when he was in a tremble after two sips.

"Elrohir..." Rúmil reluctantly stilled his hand by grasping his wrist. Though
the touch was exquisite, there was much more he would have before he became
undone by it. "I would see you naked, my pretty one."

"Then you shall." Elrohir sat back on his heels and pulled his nightshirt over
his head, stretching. "There. Is that better?"

"Much better," Rúmil nodded slowly, taking in the sight as he licked his
suddenly dry lips. "You are magnificent," he whispered with no false amount of
wonder. If Elladan looked the same he was not surprised that Haldir had not
wanted to give him up. "You have quite taken my speech away, my Lord."

The dying afternoon light cast shadows across Elrohir's body, accentuating
every hard line. Rúmil had thought the younger twin to be rather slight of
build when he had encountered him in his nightshirt but now he saw that his
eyes had been mistaken. The slim body was well covered with strong muscles,
more prominent than would be normally be seen on an average Elf.

Elrohir stared down at Rúmil with fire in his heavy-lidded eyes. In a gesture
more suited to a flirtatious tart than an Elven princeling, he flicked his hair
back so it spilled over his shoulders before running his hands over the defined
muscles of his chest, pausing with one hand to gently tweak his own nipples
while the other hand traversed down over a slender waist, to draw Rúmil's
attention to the engorged member rising dominantly from a nest of dark curls.

Rúmil shivered deep in his bones at the sight and rose to kneel opposite
Elrohir. He ran his palms over the strong thighs of a horseman, feeling fine
hair beneath his touch; another difference to a normal Elf. The hair around the
base of his shaft was also thicker and coarser than the downy blond curls that
ringed Rúmil's own sex, but the strange sight captivated him.

"Do you like what you see?" Elrohir asked him, with a slight quaver of
uncertainty in his voice.

"Very much," Rúmil whispered, curling his hand around the base of Elrohir's
sex, slowly drawing his fist up over the silken skin, and gently pressing on
the swollen veins with his fingers. "I find you splendidly different to what I
am used to. There is something untamed about you. I know little of the race of
Men, but I hear they are unpredictable, wild and rough in their passion. I
cannot wait to find out if you carry that quality."

"I have never lain with one of full Elven blood before," Elrohir told him. "I
find you just as fascinating. The differences between us are so subtle, but
enough to intrigue us nonetheless."

Rúmil felt the weight of the tumescent column of flesh in his palm and brought
his mouth down to taste the rosy head. Even Elrohir's taste was different to
that of other Elves, strong and earthy. He tested the length against his tongue
and sucked slowly, relishing in the low moan that rose from Elrohir's lips. His
lover for the night was no small size. He had intended to screw Elrohir
senseless but now he was reconsidering who would take who. How he would love to
feel that thick length pounding into his body...

The thought of being impaled by that cock made him growl hungrily even with
Elrohir in his mouth and he felt the young Lord's thighs tremble beneath his
hands as a shuddering breath left his lungs. Rúmil could feel a clammy heat
forming over Elrohir's skin. The aphrodisiac was finally taking a full hold on
the body that had been reluctant to accept its power.

"You have a fair girth, my Lord," he commented, lifting his head to look up at
Elrohir's face.

"Man's blood." Elrohir smiled shyly with a faint blush.

Rúmil licked the tip of his erection once more. "It's beautiful," he commented.

Elrohir pulled away from him and shoved him roughly back against the pillows.
"My turn," he snarled, pulling Rúmil's thighs apart and spreading his body
between them.

Rúmil lay comfortably back against the pillows as Elrohir took him in his hand
and fondled him until he was weeping. Then he lowered his head, making an
obscene display of the act as he extended his tongue to lap at the pearly drop
of fluid.

"You look sinful," Rúmil whispered, twining a hand in Elrohir's dark hair to
hold it back from hiding his face.

"I am sinful," Elrohir told him, closing his lips around the over-sensitive
head and sliding Rúmil's member half way into his mouth, teasing with his
tongue.

Rúmil gave a shaky sigh and put his head back into the pillows, closing his
eyes as Elrohir took him all the way in, contracting his throat around him.

"I would not have thought one so inexperienced would have such a talented
mouth," he thought aloud in honest surprise.

Elrohir rose up his length, suckling and nibbling. "I may have only had one
lover and only for a short time, but you would be surprised what he taught
me," he said as he caressed him between his thumb and forefinger. "Anyway, I
may just have a naturally pliable tongue..." With that he winked naughtily and
ran the flat of said tongue slowly down the underside of Rúmil's shaft to the
heavy sac beneath.

"Ai, Elbereth!" Rúmil gasped, moving his hand from Elrohir's hair to fist it in
the sheet before he did some damage to the dark tresses.

He felt Elrohir's hair tickle the inside of his thighs as he slithered lower
down the bed to nuzzle his balls with his lips then rolled each tight globe
over his tongue. He licked at the sensitive skin behind for some seconds,
before hooking his hand beneath Rúmil's knee and lifting his leg.

"Oh, yes..." Rúmil opened his legs further to spread himself open. He felt
Elrohir hesitate, and thought this might be the first time the inexperienced
one had performed such an act. "You don't have to, Elrohir," he lied, trying to
keep up the caring gentle facade that was becoming very hard to maintain.

"I want to take you," Elrohir said softly. "I cannot let you take me. I am
sorry, but I am not ready to feel another inside me yet."

"I understand," Rúmil replied, gritting his teeth as he waited for Elrohir to
do something.

A second later he felt a warm wet tongue flickering in light circles around his
most tender orifice and a lustful moan rose from deep within his body.
Snatching the bottle from the table he took another gulp, this time feeling the
aphrodisiac flood through his aroused body to pool hotly in his groin, making
his member jerk demandingly.

He could feel the sticky trace of his own arousal against his abdomen and he
reached down to take himself in hand as Elrohir probed nervously into his body.
The uncertain hesitation of that mouth was maddening and it took every bit of
willpower Rúmil possessed for him to stop himself grinding down on the
searching little muscle.

He felt his hand be batted away from around his length and Elrohir's fingers
reached up to curl around him, not stroking, only gently clenching in barely
perceptible motions.

Rúmil cried out and swore, clutching the bed sheets tightly in both hands as
Elrohir finally pushed through the tight ring to enter his body. After a second
he pulled out and continued to lick wetly over and around the neglected hole.

Rúmil even considered begging as he writhed beneath the taunting touches.
"Elrohir..."

"You are wholly at *my* service. Do not forget it," Elrohir whispered hotly
against his skin, before inserting his tongue sharply. He moved to clutch
Rúmil's hips in both hands and buried his face into his buttocks. 

The words made Rúmil shiver from his toes to the tips of his ears. He had
expected to woo Elrohir slowly, for the gentle twin to be sweet in his
submissive surrender. This was an unexpected turn but it was certainly not a
bad one. He knew from experience that uncharacteristic behaviour was sometimes
a side effect of the aphrodisiac and hidden attributes would be dragged to the
surface of a soul through the thickest fog of shyness. It was not surprising
Elrohir was acting so after such a large dose on his first taking. If Rúmil had
known the content of the decanter earlier he never would have let his would-be
lover drink so much. But there was nothing he could do about it now, except
enjoy what he guessed to be very rare behaviour.

He would bet any amount of gold that Elladan had never experienced this side of
his twin, that he had never heard the soft voice turn hard and dangerous, that
he had never been rendered senseless by that mouth. He knew from Haldir that
Elladan would never just lie back and be taken. Dominance was so important to
him and he was certain Elrohir had always been willingly submissive. Now the
chance to step out of his gentle shell had come and Elrohir was grasping every
second of it. In just minutes Rúmil had achieved his first goal of making him
become aware of his own sexuality. Surely Elrohir had never even thought of
himself as being alluring, not up against Elladan who was so confident in his
own beauty. Strange for one who looked just the same.

Rúmil twisted on the soft sheets as his body was raped again and again by that
unrelenting tongue. The torture was too much and he tried to push down on
Elrohir's mouth to bring him further inside, cursing him under his breath.

He yelped in pain and shock as a ringing slap made contact with his left
buttock and he lifted his head to see Elrohir regarding him with dark eyes.

"What was that for?"

"Did Elladan not ask you to 'comfort' me?" Elrohir said in a heavy voice. "I
could make you take all my pain and anger if I chose to." He brought his hand
down sharply onto the back of Rúmil's thigh. "You are a whore, Rúmil, he sent
you to me as such." Another slap hit his right buttock. "I could pour all the
pain of my heart into your body, if I were so inclined."

Rúmil shuddered at the hot burning sensation on his skin, wondering when and
why such a change in mood had occurred. Surely it was the drug. Never mind, he
would not turn down an opportunity. "I think you may be so inclined," he
whispered, and silently hoped. "I could show you there is much pleasure to be
found in pain."

"You have a strange kink, it seems." Elrohir sat up and lifted Rúmil's legs to
expose his behind. He stroked the tingling flesh gently with his palm before
aiming another smack.

Rúmil watched with keen eyes as Elrohir's face flushed with a wanton glow. "I
am not alone in that, it seems."

"Elladan sent you as a whore. I should send you back to him, humiliated as he
has humiliated me!" A tear rolled down Elrohir's cheek and the bed shuddered
under the force of the next slap. "I would have him in your place now if I
could."

"Do not think of him now, my lovely one," Rúmil whispered, looking deep into
Elrohir's tearful eyes. This one was too breakable by far, but with a molten
temper bubbling slowly beneath his surface and cracks were appearing. "Do not
let the memory of him spoil this moment for us."

"I shall not!" Elrohir said through gritted teeth, the anger in his eyes fading
only slightly. "I will grant him no part in my pleasure."

Rúmil bit his lip so hard that he drew blood as a sharp finger was forced into
his body. His rear stung from the last slap and he watched Elrohir closely,
tensing to receive more pain but none came.

"Does this hurt you?" Elrohir soothed the smarting skin with his free hand,
twisting his finger inside Rúmil's body. "Or does it arouse you?"

/'Both,'/ Rúmil wanted to answer but his voice had been stolen from his body
with that penetration. He relaxed with a sigh, shuddering uncontrollably as
Elrohir inserted another finger into his saliva-slicked hole, missing his sweet
spot with every stroke. He was so tempted to move, just an inch, so Elrohir's
fingers could touch him deeper but he did not dare to for fear of more
retaliation from his lover.

He had taken part in such games of pain before, but rarely for they were deemed
sinful and shameful in Lórien. At such times he had been in Elrohir's place,
making a willingly submissive lover cry and shake beneath his cruel hands. He
thought that without the influence of Haldir's drug he would be able to do the
same to Elrohir, and something masked in Elrohir's eyes told him that the young
Lord would enjoy it. 

Though he never had before, Rúmil now began to see the appeal of being in this
position. To be claimed so completely that you became owned. To feel such
tingling shame at being called a whore. To feel the tense tremble of fear
mingling with the warm flood of lust. It gave an adrenaline rush that was
beyond description. But this was a little dangerous; Elrohir was hurt and angry
and needing something to vent his emotion on. He did not want to get injured;
he would not push Elrohir's unstable feelings any further.

"On your front now," Elrohir ordered, grabbing Rúmil by the leg and tugging him
over to lie face down.

Rúmil spread his legs invitingly, whimpering as his arousal rubbed against the
sheets. "Take me, Lord Elrohir," he whispered. "I am yours. Take me hard and
use me as you wish." He felt Elrohir lie over his body and he took a breath to
relax himself as he was penetrated in one long shove.

Elrohir cried out and lifted himself on one hand, plunged the other hand into
Rúmil's hair, and drove in again without a second for his partner to adjust to
him.

"Damn me!" Rúmil hissed into the pillow, closing his eyes tightly as he was
stretched further than he had ever been before. The burning pain spread through
his lower body in tendrils of fire coiling around his nerves and his arousal
would have wilted within a second if had not been for the aphrodisiac in his
blood.

Then Elrohir aimed his next thrust higher and stars exploded behind Rúmil's
eyelids.

"Ai! Harder!" Rúmil shouted, raising himself as much as he could so he could
slide a hand beneath his body to stroke himself in time to Elrohir's thrusts.

Giving a low groan, Elrohir pulled his hair tighter and aimed harder and
higher. "As you wish."

Rúmil keened long and loud as the gland within his body was stimulated further
with every stroke. He tightened his grip around his own flesh and tugged faster
as he felt his passion rising. The aphrodisiac was rushing up his body now,
making his face flush with heat.

His scalp stung, his behind stung, his body felt like it had been torn in two,
but Elrohir's low grunts in his ear and the hot, thick, pulsing length pounding
angrily into him was all he was aware of.

He tugged himself frantically with a numbing hand as he felt Elrohir's thrusts
get more erratic and his breath get shorter. He gasped as he felt the effect of
the drug rush from his head in a fireball down his spine to burst into flames
in his loins. Unable to hold it back even if he wanted to, he let it take him
and he shouted out Elrohir's name as he spilled himself over his hand.

Elrohir swore breathlessly by his ear as Rúmil's contracting passage quickly
milked his ejaculation from him, but he did not stop driving into the ravaged
body. The aphrodisiac was in a far higher dose in his blood and kept him on the
pinnacle of pleasure for long seconds. Even after he was spent, Rúmil felt a
shivering after-tremor rush through him as Elrohir's stuttering cries rose in
pitch and volume until at last a pained scream ended it.

The Galadhrim Elf lay panting as Elrohir finally buckled against his back,
shivering and gasping. It was only an amount of seconds before he heard the
gasps turn to sobs and Elrohir pulled away from him sharply.

"I am sorry!" he whispered, quivering uncontrollably.

"Hush now." Rúmil rolled over and clasped Elrohir's shoulder, his own hand
unstable as the drug died in his body. He was surprised, and even a little
concerned to feel how violently Elrohir was shivering. It would not last long,
only a few moments, but he did not want him to be frightened by it. "Shh. Lie
back Elrohir, you are overwhelmed by emotion. Come and lie beside me."

"I should not have done that!" Elrohir cried miserably, still perching stiffly
at the edge of the bed. "I am so sorry! I do not know what came over me!"

"I do." Rúmil inclined his head to regard him. "You needed to get rid of your
anger at Elladan. It is good that you did. Heartache is not a thing to let
fester within your soul."

Elrohir stared at him with childlike uncertainty in his eyes. "We have not
betrayed Elladan in any way, have we?" he whispered.

"No, my pretty," Rúmil rose to embrace him. "You have not. It is all over
between you and Elladan, and he wanted me to have you. You have done the right
thing in moving on quickly rather than dwelling on the situation, or trying to
deny it. Of course you will not forget your feelings for him overnight, but you
have made a good start. I know Elladan would be glad that you are not too
pained." He kissed him gently on the lips. "Now I see you, I have no idea how
he could have given you up for a maid," he said, rubbing Elrohir's back as his
breath hitched at those words. "But he has made his choice for the right
reasons, and his loss is my gain. And hopefully yours too."

Elrohir sniffled and chewed on his lower lip. "You made me feel incredible." He
closed his eyes and took a slow breath. "I know it has been some time since I
last coupled with someone... with Elladan... but I did not expect to go out
like that. That was so intense I thought I would faint! I have never felt like
that before." He gave a soft laugh. "Only please swear that I did not hurt you,
I would feel awful if I had done you harm in my anger."

"I enjoyed it!" He grinned. "Like you say, I do have a strange kink. I can
withstand any amount of that sort of treatment. And you shall go out like that
again, Elrohir, I will see to it. And I will revive you if you do faint!"

"It intrigues me... how you say pleasure can be found in pain." Elrohir blinked
tearfully at him. "I would not believe it had I not seen you so stimulated by
my rough treatment." A frown tugged at his eyebrows.

Rúmil felt that it was the wrong moment to offer to show him how, and instead
he pulled Elrohir to lie down with him. "You feel better now, don't you?"

"Yes, I do feel a lot better." Elrohir nuzzled into his neck and sucked a hard
love bite that would last for some days. "I feel like I have been drained of a
poison." He placed a kiss on the bruise he had made and leaned back to inspect
it.

"Well, I really am your whore now!" Rúmil laughed, wiping the stains of their
climax from his body with the corner of the sheet. "If you would like me to be,
that is?"

"Don't call yourself a whore," Elrohir told him seriously. "I am sure you are
not. Though..." He swallowed visibly. "I admit I would not mind keeping you for
a while."

Rúmil smiled openly as Elrohir looked at him with a question in his eyes. "I am
yours for as long as you will have me," he said, softly caressing Elrohir's
cheek. "Will you flaunt me?"

"Flaunt you?" Elrohir frowned.

"Let your family and people see that we are together," he clarified.

"Oh..." Elrohir paled a little. "I had not really thought about it. Perhaps...
Would it be appropriate? I mean, to reveal how my preferences lie?"

"It matters not," Rúmil told him. "I do not mean this to sound spiteful but it
has no consequence if you prefer the male; politically speaking of course.
Elladan is the heir, and now he is getting married he will surely produce a
child in time." He saw Elrohir wince at that thought. "I think you should come
clean," he urged. "It would be a load off your mind. And I am selfish; I would
like people to know that I am with the most beautiful Elf in the land."

Elrohir smiled at him. "Then we shall let it be known."

A light knock on the door interrupted the moment, and a female voice called out
to Elrohir.

"My sister!" Elrohir gasped, blushing scarlet as he quickly retrieved his robe
from the tangled bedcovers and wrapped it around his body. "She will never wait
for permission to enter my room!" He leapt from the bed as Arwen pushed the
door open and stepped into the room.

/'So highly-strung!'/ Rúmil thought, amused at Elrohir's fluster.

He merely pulled the sheet up just high enough to cover his modesty and tried
not to laugh as Arwen froze in the door and her wide eyes took in the sight of
her brother in disarray and clothes scattered across the floor. Finally, and
somewhat reluctantly, her gaze rose to the bed and to Rúmil's obviously naked
body.

"I do beg your pardon!" she said with what sounded like forced courtesy, and
she averted her eyes.

"Good evening, my Lady." Rúmil nodded to her with a brazen smile.

"Arwen..." Elrohir led her out of the door staring back at Rúmil with shock
while simultaneously trying to hide a smile.

"What do you think you are doing?!" Rúmil heard Arwen cry from outside the
door.

"It is not your business, Arwen," Elrohir said in a disinterested tone that
wasn't fitting to his nature. "I thought you would be pleased to know that I
have decided not to die of a broken heart after all..."

"So instead you will throw yourself into the arms of a Lórien guard you have
never met before today?!" Arwen spoke in a hard whisper, but the door was
slightly ajar and Rúmil's sharp ears picked up every word.

"I will lie with who I wish!" He could imagine Elrohir pouting indignantly on
the other side of the door and he chuckled quietly at the thought.

"Even if he has the eyes of a snake?"

Rúmil's lips curled in offence at that comparison and frowned to think that
Arwen had assumed his nature so quickly.

"He says he is a friend of Elladan?" Arwen questioned. "And he would jump into
your bed before the side Elladan lies on has gone cold?!"

"It was my choice, and Elladan has lost any right to me," Elrohir told her
firmly. "I do not like how you are judging so quickly, Rúmil has been nothing
but sweet to me."

"Really?" Arwen asked coldly. "Tell me, Elrohir, how many people do you think
have swallowed poison when the taste was masked with honey?"

Perceptive she-elf... Perhaps a little too perceptive. He would have to mind
not to do anything to raise her suspicions.

/'Whatever happens, little brother, there are always folk who will not fall for
your lies,'/ Haldir had said to him. /'Elrohir must. And so must Lord Elrond.
He is a shrewd creature, it is well known.'/

It was also well known that Lady Arwen was Ada's little treasure. It would not
pay to raise her suspicions. She would have to be tested with the Rúmil charm.
Though now Elrohir had agreed to make news of their affair public, there seemed
to be little that could get in his way.

Some hushed words were spoken before Elrohir stalked back into the room,
shoving the door shut behind him with a scowl.

"Your sister does not like me, I assume?" Rúmil said.

"She is very protective of me." Elrohir crawled back into the bed. "But my
lying with you is none of her business. I will not have her say what she was
saying." He kissed Rúmil deeply as if to prove a point. "You have made me feel
so much better already. This morning I feared I would die. My heart still
aches... I miss Elladan terribly and I know this will be hard to get through
but I am sure he has made the right choice for us. I hope I can get over him
for I would very much like to be with you in his stead."

Rúmil heard the stiffness in Elrohir's voice that told him the words were being
forced. If Elladan walked through the door now, Elrohir would fall back into
his arms in a second. But he had three months to work on the younger twin. Much
could be done in that time.

"Do not worry about Arwen," Elrohir interrupted his thoughts. "She will come
around. I will speak with her properly tomorrow."

"It does not matter what she thinks or what anyone else thinks." Rúmil took his
hand, happening to glance at the emerald ring on his finger. "The only
important thing is this; do *you* trust me?"

"Of course I do." Elrohir curled up close to him, pulling the covers around
their bodies. Then as if it were a second thought he sat up again and yanked
the ring from his finger to toss it onto the floor. "You have given me no
reason not to."