Title: A Bond of Brothers 
Chapter Eight - A New Start
Author: Oakenshield (Oakenshield@lonelymountain.zzn.com)
Rating: NC-17
Pairing(s): Elladan/Elrohir
Warnings/Spoilers: Incest, graphic sex
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: The twins start a new life in the land of the Northmen.

-------

Chapter Eight - A New Start


Elladan flinched as a raindrop hit his cheek and he pulled the hood of his
cloak over his head with a miserable shiver. How quickly the warm summer day
had turned into a chilly evening. A cruel breeze was riding down the Vale of
the Anduin, carrying a storm upon its back. Big black clouds hid the evening
stars and the rising moon, and it felt much later than it truly was.

The Misty Mountains shadowed them on the one side while the whisper of forests
lay in the distance to their other side. Elladan shivered again. He had spent
all his life living in a valley, but there he had felt safe and protected. He
knew guards patrolled the borders and the Bruinen and Vilya kept them safe from
any unwanted visitors. Out here, they were all alone with no more than swords
and bows and arrows to defend themselves with. He tried to shrug the feeling
off, he had travelled the lands alone for centuries in his younger years and
had found no danger that he could not handle... but a threat was in the air
this night. Change was on the breeze.

Another large raindrop fell, this time splashing him on the end of the nose and
he sighed, glancing across to his twin riding at his side. They had been
walking since daybreak, on foot for most of the day to save their horses
carrying anymore weight in the heat. Now they rode, and Elrohir looked close to
nodding off in the saddle. Indeed, Elladan thought it was only the sudden
onslaught of rain that was keeping his brother awake.

"Oh, wonderful," Elrohir murmured, staring up at the sky as the rain began to
steadily fall. Turning easily in his saddle, he removed his cloak from his
baggage and fastened it tightly around himself. "Even the weather is against
us."

"It is but a summer storm, my sweet. We have been caught out in one of these
before." Elladan regarded him with a naughty wink and barely received a smile
in reply. He felt anything but light-hearted but Elrohir looked to him for
guidance and assurance so he had to stay positive.

It had been a month since they had fled from Imladris leaving their family,
friends and life behind. A month of hard travel over mountain passes, a month
of sleeping on the ground beneath the stars, snaring rabbits for food and
washing in streams. Elladan was starting to grow concerned by the dark mood
that had been shadowing his delicate twin brother over the past week. Elrohir
had never travelled further than Lórien in all his life and it was apparent
that he was not finding life in the Wild easy. Elladan did not think his
brother slept at all well upon a bed of ferns and grass, for he fidgeted in his
sleep, murmuring words about home.

They did not speak about home anymore. Elrohir chose not to, and Elladan did
not want to. Home... Imladris... It was behind them now. That life was gone.
That family was gone. It was no longer home. It no longer mattered. That life
had let them down. Feelings of hurt were long gone though anger still festered
in his heart. All that mattered to Elladan now was being with Elrohir, and he
was determined to make a new life that would be good for both of them. He just
hoped that Elrohir felt the same, but the further they got from Imladris, the
quieter Elrohir grew.

At first, he had been cheerful enough, acting as though nothing were amiss, but
Elladan had known in his heart of Elrohir's sorrow; it was a mood that only one
so close as a lover or a twin could have seen. After a week, Elrohir had taken
to falling silent with the fading of the sun and barely speaking a word until
it had risen again in the morning. He had stopped weeping after they had passed
over the mountains. But these past few days he had barely spoken at all.

Elladan glanced across at his brother again. He had to ask. He had been silent
long enough. "Elrohir, are you all right? You are quiet. What is wrong?"

"I am just tired, I'm all right," Elrohir replied wearily. "We need to find
some shelter, it's going to pour down soon." He fixed his eyes straight ahead
and tried to hide his face in the shadows of his hood. It succeeded in veiling
the moisture in his eyes, but Elladan could still feel the heaviness of his
twin's heart. Elrohir was crying.

"Elrohir?" Elladan looked at him with concern. "Why do you weep, my love?"

"Weep?" Elrohir touched his cheek. "I ... I do not. It is merely the rain upon
my face. I am fine."

"You are not," Elladan said. "I know you are not." He reached across to brush
his fingers over Elrohir's cheek and felt the heat of tears rather than the
coolness of rain. "You are thinking of Imladris, aren't you?" He caught the
reins of Elrohir's horse to pull it to a stop. "You miss our family. Oh,
Elrohir, I know how you are feeling..."

"Do you?" Elrohir said softly. "Do you care, Elladan? You are acting as though
we have already been away forever but our *old* life isn't that far behind us!"

"No," Elladan turned to look at him. "But it is getting further away every
second." He knew it was the wrong thing to say but it was all he could think.

Elrohir's back stiffened. "Do you realise how much I miss Imladris?" he said
shakily. "How much I miss Mother, and Arwen? And even Father and Glorfindel and
all the ones that wronged us. Do you realise how hard I am finding this?!"

"No, I don't," Elladan said, holding the reins tightly to stop Elrohir riding
forward. "How can I know when you will not tell me? Talk to me Elrohir, please.
I want to help you. I know it is difficult. If you truly did not want to leave
then you should have spoken earlier, but now it is too late to go back. This is
the price of us being together," he said bluntly. "We knew that. We talked over
every option we had. Would you rather we were still in Imladris? I would be
married, and I would be sucking on Haldir's cock every night to keep our
secret. And you would probably be sucking on Rúmil and worse besides. We would
have been able to see each other only in silent seconds. A hug, maybe a kiss at
a time. While I played the young Lord with my beautiful wife." His stomach
tightened just to think about it. They had definitely done the right thing.

"I did want to leave! And I do want us to be together," Elrohir insisted. "You
are my heart! You are my life! I want nothing in this world but you. I want to
forget about everything else, I want to forget about what happened, I want to
forget about Imladris, and our family, and what I did with Rúmil... but I
cannot just brush it all aside like you can. I cannot be so cold. You have
changed, Elladan, since you returned from Lórien."

"I am still your twin," Elladan told him. "Yes, maybe I have changed, but I had
to. For us. I cannot make you forget it all; I would not want you to. You did
not have time to prepare yourself for this as I did. It hurts me too, but my
hurt turned to anger, then anger to nothing. The same will come for you in
time."

Elrohir nodded. "I know," he whispered. "I am sorry. I am trying to be strong,
like you."

"You don't need to be strong. Let me look after you." Elladan reached to
squeeze his brother's hand. "We will be fine."

Elrohir took his hand loosely, turning wide eyes to him. "Will we?"

"Yes, I promise." Elladan leaned over to kiss him. "We are in the land of the
Northmen now; there are many horse breeders in these parts. You just need to
charm one with your skill and we will have employment. That means money, and we
will be able to start our new life, surrounded by horses. Won't you like that?"

"I'll love it," Elrohir smiled. "But no one has treated us well yet, Elladan.
We have only been looked at with suspicious eyes, and addressed with harsh
words. I fear the folk in these parts would have no employment for Elves,
however skilled with horses we might be. They don't trust us, I can see it in
their eyes."

"We'll be fine," Elladan reassured him, trying not to cringe as he thought of
the mistrust he had seen in the eyes of the peasant farmers they had passed in
the day. 

Elrohir knew little of the race of Men, he did not know how awful they could be
to things they did not understand. Elladan had had great experience with the
mortal kind on his travels in his earlier years. He had spent time with enough
of them - and slept with enough of them - to know how to work them. The key was
charm, with the right amount of humility, and often the perfect amount of
beauty. Not many Men resisted the sight of a naked Elf... 

Sleeping with Men just to have a bed for the night... Elladan had done it
before, but that was a life long gone and one he would not subject Elrohir to,
however desperate things got. Though if he had to... he would surely do
anything to keep Elrohir safe. Even whore himself. From a Lord of Imladris, a
Prince of Lórien, to a whore in less than a season. What would Lord Elrond have
to say to *that*?! He did not like his firstborn having a reputation as such a
tart, after all. Not that Elladan thought that their father worried about them.
He was surely glad to be rid of them and their shameful, sinful relationship.
He would not care how they survived alone in the Wild. He would not care by
what means they found their money...

/'Stop it!'/ Elladan told himself. /'Stop that line of thought right now!'/

"I suppose we can always sell our arses if things get too desperate," Elrohir
said softly.

"What?!" Elladan blinked and focused quickly on his twin. Had Elrohir been
reading his mind?!

"I was teasing!" Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Must you always take me so
literally?"

Elladan grinned, relaxing with a sigh. "Your arse is for no one but me!" he
laughed. "And mine for no one but you." He stared longingly at the slim curve
of his brother's hip beneath his cloak. "Saying that, it has been so long since
I have had your arse that I have almost forgotten what it looks and feels
like."

"Likewise!" Elrohir giggled naughtily. "We must remind ourselves sometime..."
His words trailed off as his mare nickered nervously, lifting her head and
twitching her ears. "What's the matter, Giliath?" he whispered, patting her
neck.

Elladan frowned as his mare Daevorn halted and tensed beneath him, glancing at
Giliath as if some silent communication was occurring between the two horses. A
threat was definitely on the breeze this night and his blood ran cold as a
keening howl gave name to it. "Wolves."

Elrohir gave a tiny whimper, drawing his sword with a trembling hand as a
shrieking neigh of terror followed in the wake of the howl. "They are not after
us!" he cried. "They are after the foal and mare in that field!" With a wild
look in his eyes, he kicked Giliath forward.

"Elrohir, be careful!" Elladan said firmly, chasing after his brother. It was
insane! Elrohir could not protect himself, yet he would risk life and limb for
a couple of horses! The damn animals were his world!

"We must help them!" Elrohir called back, galloping towards the far end of the
field where the mare was cornered, trying to protect her foal as the wolves
snapped at her legs. The blade of his sword decapitated the one hound in one
slash.

Elladan halted Daevorn, looking on proudly. Elrohir was fearless in the
protection of his beloved animals and Elladan realised his little brother was
more than capable of looking after himself. The guard training he had taken
with Glorfindel had clearly paid off. But not enough to give Elrohir eyes in
the back of his head...

"Elrohir, look out! Behind you!" Elladan reached for his bow as the second wolf
leapt up at Giliath. He watched in horror as the horse reared, and scared and
unprepared, Elrohir fell from his saddle, landing face down on the ground with
a cry of pain. "Stay down!" he yelled, firing one of his precious Lórien arrows
at the wolf as it advanced towards his brother.

Slowly raising his head, Elrohir stared with wide eyes at the dead wolf at his
side. "Ai..."

"Are you all right?" Elladan dismounted and helped him to his feet. "You are
bleeding." A sharp gash ran across Elrohir's left cheekbone and the blood ran
in a rivulet down his pale cheek. "Here, let me see to that..." He pulled a
handkerchief from his pocket.

"I am all right," Elrohir told him as he stood shakily, thrusting his sword
into Elladan's hand. He caught the spooked Giliath by her reins and spoke
quietly to calm her before approaching the traumatised mare and foal, who were
still shrieking and stomping. "Be still," he said softly to them. "I am not
here to hurt you. Be still. Calm down. The wolves have gone. Come here. Come to
me. My name is Elrohir." The chestnut mare eyed him suspiciously before taking
a tentative step towards him. "That's right... I'm not an enemy." He laid a
hand upon her quivering body. "Shh, it's all right now. You're safe now," he
whispered, looking deep into her wide eyes. "Shh, there... calm down. Calm...
Good girl..."

Elladan watched with a smile as the mare settled with Elrohir's soft words and
gazed trustfully at him with intelligent eyes. If no horseman wanted to employ
that then they were mad. With a nudge from his mother, the foal stepped
nervously forward on lanky legs and nuzzled into Elrohir's shoulder.

"Hello," Elrohir said softly. "How are you? Are you all right? Those horrid
animals are gone now." He scratched the foal behind the ears. "That was a nasty
scare for a baby horse, wasn't it? Yes, it was. But you're very brave."

"Are they hurt?" Elladan asked, fixing Elrohir's sword back in the baggage
strapped to Giliath's saddle. He did not release his hold on his bow and he
kept a spare arrow in his hand, just in case any more wolves came out of the
shadows. One could never be too careful in the Wild.

"They are just a little shaken," Elrohir replied. "I wonder who they belong
to."

Elladan turned suddenly as the dim light of a lantern caught his eyes, and he
saw a tall young man holding the leash of a large, rough-haired brown dog.
Behind the young man stood an older man with a pitchfork in his hand.

"I think they belong to them," Elladan said, fingering an arrow as he stepped
protectively before his unarmed twin.

"Who are you and what are you doing on my father's land?" the younger man
demanded, and the dog strained on the rope, growling with his teeth bared.

"Hush it, Fraomar!" the older man said, walking towards the twins with his hand
extended in a gesture of peace. "My name is Aldhelm. I own these horses. We
heard wolves, but I see you have already disposed of them. I thank you."

"I doubt they understand you, Father," the younger man said. "Look at their
ears, they are Elves."

Still cautiously watching the younger man, Elladan stepped forward to take the
older man's hand. "I do understand you," he replied in the common tongue. "And
I apologise for our trespassing. We were not aware that we were on private
land."

"What are you doing here?" The son, Fraomar eyed them both suspiciously,
loosening his grip a little on the dog's lead. "We do not get Elves in these
parts."

"We were looking for somewhere to bed for the night as we travel through,"
Elladan replied, glancing warily at the dog. "My brother saw that your horses
were in danger and insisted we aid them."

"The least I can do to thank you is give you shelter from the rain," Aldhelm
said, with a welcoming smile. "My cottage is near and we can stable your
horses. You are welcome, if you wish."

"Do you think it is safe to?" Elrohir whispered to Elladan in their own
language.

"I think so," Elladan replied in the same tongue. "The old man is fine, and I
think the son is all mouth. As is the dog." He smiled before turning back to
the Men. "We will accept your offer. Thank you."

So it was that a short time later that the twins were seated at a table in a
cosy little cottage with steaming bowls of soup and plates of bread and cheese
placed before them. They had changed into dry clothes and their wet ones were
hanging before the stove. Aldhelm's wife Edlyn was dabbing some ointment onto
the cut on Elrohir's cheek while the dog, called Bana, lay beneath the table
with his head upon Elladan's feet. For all his size and teeth he had turned out
to be a rather soft old thing and Aldhelm said Bana's approval of the twins was
enough to tell him that they were all right.

Elrohir had said nothing to the humans, leaving Elladan to chatter idly as they
had journeyed back to the cottage and put the horses in the stables. He seemed
nervous, and had hung closer to Elladan's side than he needed to. Now he was
seated at the far end of the table, glancing at his twin with wide eyes every
other second.

"So, does he speak," Fraomar nodded towards Elrohir as he sat down opposite
him, "or does he only talk in the tongue of magic?"

Elrohir looked up quickly, swallowing hard. "I speak," he replied softly.

"Good!" Aldhelm smiled kindly at him. "Fraomar, hush it now. Stop the
interrogation, let these poor lads eat!"

"Is the food all right for you?" Edlyn asked, putting a mug of ale before each
Elf. "It's not much..."

"It's delicious," Elladan replied, taking a drink. "After weeks of Elven bread
and berries and skinny rabbits, it is perfect." He finished his soup in several
large, hungry mouthfuls, and moved onto the cheese. "Indeed, I must apologise
for my table manners, I am famished."

"Don't apologise!" the old lady laughed. "Tuck in."

"Well to do, aren't you?" Aldhelm looked long at both of them. "You come with
little, but your cloth looks rich and your horses are fine creatures to behold.
And him..." he grinned at Elrohir. "He's famished too, but he's eating with the
table manners of a prince."

Elladan looked at Elrohir with a smile as he carefully broke the hard bread and
dipped it into the soup, being careful not to make a mess of himself as he put
it to his mouth. Watching Elrohir adjust to this new way of life was certainly
going to be interesting.

"We do come from a good family, yes," Elladan replied, "but we have no
connection with them now, or them with us. Any riches we have came with us in
practical goods. We are disinherited of all else." He directed a small smile to
Elrohir as he tensed at his words.

"So, we know your names, though if Elrohir were not so silent I would be damned
if I could tell you apart," Fraomar said coolly, ignoring the glare from his
father. "You have left your home because your father wanted you to marry and
you did not wish to, but that doesn't answer why you are here. What do you want
in these parts?"

"Work," Elladan answered simply. He was not going to elaborate on the reasons
for their exile. As far as the humans were concerned he had run away because he
did not want to marry and Elrohir had followed out of loyalty. That was all
anyone needed to know. They did not need to know just where they had come from,
or who their family was. The scantest of facts would suffice. "We have been
looking for somewhere to work and stay since we left home. But so far we have
only been met with suspicion."

Aldhelm looked shrewdly at them, but without his son's mistrust. "Most folk in
these parts are scared of your kind. They fear what they don't know." He looked
pointedly at Fraomar. "I am not one of them."

"What is your trade?" Edlyn seated herself at the table, putting some meat on
Elrohir's plate. "Eat up, dear," she said.

"We don't really have a trade," Elladan replied quietly, wondering why Elrohir
got a piece of meat and he did not. Big eyes and a nervous pout must have a
positive effect on old women. "We just hoped to be employed wherever seemed
fit. I was training in lore and healing when I left my home, though my brother
perhaps has more useful skill than I. He kept the stables and was known as the
best horse master in our land."

"From what I saw in the field earlier I can believe that," Aldhelm smiled. "I
have heard of the Elven way with animals, and you my lad have some skill," he
said to Elrohir. "My business is in horse breeding, and I have not had a good
couple of years. My prize mare is refusing to breed. Edlyn's brother gave me
that chestnut mare. He bought her cheap, but she's crazy. She was carrying that
foal when he got her, and she won't let anyone near the thing, apart from you
this night."

"She does not trust people," Elrohir said. "Someone hurt a foal she had before.
She needs to know love from a human hand."

"She was ill treated by the man who had her before my uncle," Fraomar said, his
eyes widening before a frown crossed his face. "He took a foal from her too
young. My uncle could not handle her so he gave her to us."

"Just be patient with her," Elrohir advised. "Look her in the eyes and show her
you mean her no harm."

"How do you know what she went through?" Fraomar leaned over the table to look
at Elrohir. "Did she tell you?" A mocking tone was in his voice.

"Yes," Elrohir said, glancing down from the young man's stare. "Yes, she did
tell me."

Aldhelm glared his son back into his chair and clapped Elrohir across the
shoulder. "It would do me no harm to employ you! A horse whisperer, indeed!"

Elrohir beamed and Elladan grinned in response. That was the first smile he had
seen on Elrohir's face in some weeks. He hoped his twin felt proud of himself.
He had just landed them a new start in life.

"So what about you?" Fraomar turned to Elladan. "Do you have his skill? Where
would my father employ you?"

"It would do me no harm to have another strong body around here," Aldhelm said.
"My back is giving up, and I only have Fraomar working for me. I'm sure you
would appreciate some help with the labour, wouldn't you, son?"

"Of course," Fraomar replied stiffly. "If you do not object to getting your
hands dirty and spending your days ankle-deep in horse shit, Elladan?"

"I do not mind in the least," Elladan flashed him a huge smile that took no
forcing. The lad looked close to spitting with anger at his father. Stupid
mortal boy, so determined to be his father's number one.

"If I were to employ you here, I would take your two mares," Aldhelm continued.
"They are young and you say from a good line. I need some new blood and I don't
have the money to buy new horses myself. This could be the pick-up my business
needs."

"You may have them." Elladan nodded in agreement, staring hard at Elrohir as he
looked like he was about to object. Poor Elrohir, it would break his heart to
give up ownership of Giliath, but it was not like they were giving the horses
up completely. They would be caring for them and helping them breed. He was
sure Aldhelm would not sell prized Elven steeds.

"And what do you propose we pay our new Elven workers with?" Fraomar demanded,
rising from his chair. "And what will the neighbours say? Who will buy from us?
Who will buy bewitched animals?" He glared at Elrohir. "I do not trust this
horse whispering, as you call it."

"The neighbours can say what they like," Edlyn snapped suddenly. "And if the
animals are as beautiful as your father says, many folk will buy from them. And
your father once worked as an apprentice for a man who could talk to the horses
and they to him, so we know there is truth in the skill. Shut your mouth,
Fraomar, if you have nothing decent to say. Change is coming, I told you it
was. Just be glad it's a change that'll save our farm, rather than a change
that will leave us in poverty!"

Fraomar sunk back into his chair with a scowl and a sigh. "How will we pay
them?" he said quietly. "I am only thinking sensibly."

"We require no more than food and board," Elladan said. "We want but a chance
to start a new life."

"Then it is decided." Aldhelm reached across the table to shake their hands. "I
will show you around the stables in the morning."

"Father..." Fraomar began to object.

"It is decided," Aldhelm repeated. "Now, I am sure the two of you would like to
rest now you've eaten. The wife will show you where you can sleep."

"Thank you very much," Elladan said graciously, carefully removing his feet
from beneath the dog's head to stand. "Your kindness is much appreciated, and I
am sure you will not regret your decision to keep us."

"Yes, thank you," Elrohir said with a smile, and picked up their packs as he
followed after Elladan. "Goodnight."

"We only have a little room in the attic to spare," Edlyn said as she led them
up a narrow stairway by the light of a candle. "It is far from grand, but it is
warm." She opened the door to a small dark loft. "I'm afraid it's a bit dusty
too, but there's clean bedding in that dresser there. I'll give it a tidy in
here tomorrow." She bustled into the room and proceeded to quickly make up the
bed with warm blankets. "And I'm afraid there's only one bed, so I hope you
won't mind sleeping back to back. It's a bit of a squeeze, I hope you'll be
comfortable enough."

"It is no problem," Elladan smiled, thinking it could not have been more
perfect. They could sleep closely side by side with a perfect excuse to do so.

"We have not slept in a bed for a month. We will sleep as soundly as we ever
have." Elrohir dumped the baggage down with a yawn. "Oh dear! Excuse me!"

"You look exhausted." Edlyn placed the candle on the table by the bed. "I'll
let you sleep now. You won't be disturbed. I won't let the men wake you too
early, rise when you are ready to." She plumped up the pillows, and bid them
goodnight before leaving the room.

"Are you all right, my brother?" Elladan walked to bolt the door as he heard
the woman descend the stairs. "That son of theirs is rather ghastly isn't he?"

"Isn't he?" Elrohir whispered, a frown pulling at his face. "Will he be
troublesome, Elladan? He hates us."

"He's just unsure of us." Elladan returned to sit on the edge of the bed and
pulled Elrohir onto his lap. "You are unsure of him, aren't you? You are merely
showing it differently. He will get used to us, and us to them, in time. Just
give it time."

"Yes." Elrohir snuggled into his arms. "It just feels so.... Oh, so sudden.
It's weird. But good. I mean, this is what we wanted."

Elladan nodded, kissing Elrohir's cheek. "I know it's not a perfect situation,
love, but it's a start. In some years, we will be able to start our own
business, and buy our own little farm somewhere. You can breed horses and I can
do the clever sides of the business like books and accounts!" he laughed. "We
will get there."

"I know." Elrohir nodded with a smile and a sigh. "Oh, Elladan, I'm sorry for
being such a wet blanket. I should trust you to make things right for us." He
turned to kiss Elladan gently on the lips.

"I am sorry if I have been insensitive to your feelings." Elladan returned his
kiss. "What can I do to make it up to you?"

Elrohir pulled back a little and bit into his lower lip, a sure sign that he
was worrying about something. "You said you could not make me forget all that
happened," he whispered, "but there is one thing you can make me forget this
night. Make me forget Rúmil. Make me forget what he did to me, make me forget
how I betrayed you. Take it away, Elladan." Tears sprung in his eyes and
slithered slowly down his cheeks. "Make love to me. Make me yours once more."

"Shh..." Elladan tilted his head to lick away the trails of tears with a hot
tongue. "I will make you forget any thought of him." He felt a tremble of rage
at the thought of his beloved Elrohir with that... that tart, that harlot...
Rúmil... he could hardly bear to think his name. "I do not need to reclaim your
heart, it is still mine. And soon your body shall be as well." He licked a slow
path up to the point of Elrohir's ear, suckling on the tip.

"Ah... Please..." Elrohir gripped the back of Elladan's tunic. "Take it away."

"I shall." Elladan pulled back to gently lay Elrohir back against the pillows
before he divested him of his clothing. He smiled at him, kneeling over his
hips as he stripped his tunic. "We must be so quiet," he whispered, glancing
towards the locked door.

"We have done so before," Elrohir whispered back, running his fingertips over
his twin's abdomen, grinning as Elladan squirmed beneath the ticklish caress.
"I would swear you have more muscle than the last time I saw you thus."

"I developed in Lórien, of course," Elladan told him, mapping Elrohir's chest
and arms with his palms. "And I feel that your training with Glorfindel was
fruitful too. I approve." He lowered his head to trace the prominent edge of a
pectoral muscle. "You are too exquisite for words, my twin," he breathed,
drinking in the sight of the naked beauty lying beneath him.

"As you are, my twin," Elrohir replied, and his cheeks flushed.

Elladan felt his brother's arousal twitch beneath his buttocks and wriggled
over the hard column of flesh. "Do not blush, my precious one," he whispered.
"We are beautiful. As beautiful as each other, yet so different. We are a
contrast and a compliment. A pair, and one, but never to be separated. Never
again." He took Elrohir's hand, running his fingertips over the emerald ring
that graced his brother's finger once more. "Did he ever take you?" he asked
softly as he gently kissed his way to Elrohir's right nipple. "Did Rúmil ever
take your body? Truly, Elrohir. I have to know."

"Never," Elrohir told him. "I have told you that, Elladan, and I tell the
truth! I would never let him. Even as I thought you did not love me... my body
was only ever made for you, and you will be the only one to claim it. You will
feel as much when you take me again. No one has had me that way but you."

"So, you took him." Elladan pulled the erect teat between his teeth. "He hinted
that you were wild with him. You have never been so with me." He tried not to,
but he could not help but feel furious about what Rúmil had implied. He tried
to ignore it, for his own sake and for Elrohir's sake, but he could not. The
very idea of anyone else so much as touching Elrohir made his blood boil. What
had made Elrohir act so differently with Rúmil? What had made him so bold?

"Elladan..." Elrohir wiped his tears with the back of his hand and a shudder
racked his body. "Do not make me feel worse than I already do. I was wild with
him, yes... but I am not wild. The Elf who lay with Rúmil was not really me,
not in my heart. I could not let him control me in that way, I could not be
with him as I had been with you, it would have been too painful. I am not wild
with you, I do not need to be, and you do not wish me to be. I love nothing
more than for you to claim me."

"Then I shall claim you." Elladan shifted to lie flat atop Elrohir and
passionately kissed his mouth as he hugged him close. "I am sorry, love, I did
not mean to upset you." He kissed Elrohir's tears away, tasting guilt, his
brother's and his own for saying such a thing. "I just hate the thought of you
with him, it haunts my mind. I do not blame you, you were not to know. I blame
him, and if I could have done one more thing before we left, I would have
killed him. I should have killed him."

"We are not meant to be thinking about him now." Elrohir wrapped his arms
around his lover. "We are meant to be forgetting. We are meant to be moving on.
He is behind us now." He traced Elladan's lips with his tongue and arched his
hips to push his groin to Elladan's. "Make me forget. And you will forget."

With a sigh, Elladan pressed his tongue into Elrohir's mouth, exploring every
inch of the wet cavity with a hungry desperation to remember. They had barely
kissed since Elladan had returned home from Lórien. They had barely touched
since they had left Imladris. Even on mountain roads and woodland paths they
had not found contact for fear of being caught. But now they were alone. At
least alone in a room behind a closed door. No one could have guessed what they
were at. Not even the moon could spy on them. They were safe.

"Safe..." Elrohir whispered with a smile, pushing Elladan onto his back and
tugging at the ties on his leggings. "We are safe, my dearest."

"We are that." Elladan bit his lip as his brother stripped him naked. "Oh
Elrohir, it makes me burn just to feel your eyes upon my flesh. I have been
freezing these past two and a half years. I have been wilting for your touch."
He bucked his hips to draw Elrohir's attention to his need as it rose between
his legs.

"Two years, four months..." Elrohir gazed into his lover's eyes as he reached
down to wrap his fingers around the demanding shaft. "A week, and three days.
That is how long it has been since we last made love."

"An eternity," Elladan gasped, pulling Elrohir close to kiss him once more. "I
am sure I will die if I wait any longer." He rolled them sideways, twining his
legs with Elrohir's.

"Then wait no longer." Elrohir inclined his head as Elladan pulled the point of
his ear between his lips. "Ai, Elladan, my body aches to have you within it
once more. My heart yearns for us to be one again." He shifted his position and
placed his hand against his twin's buttocks to pull him closer. "I love you so
much."

"And I love you." Elladan writhed and clenched his teeth to stifle a moan as
hard heated flesh met hard heated flesh and Elrohir reached down to take both
their erections in his hand, mingling the joined fluids of their lust. He felt
his member pulse in his brother's hand and a warning twinge of desire coursed
down his spine. "Ah, Elrohir," he panted. "Ai! you will undo me! Stop!"

Elrohir stilled his hand. "So soon?" He gave the underside of the twitching
erection a playful stroke with his fingertip.

"So soon!" Elladan gasped, grabbing his wrist. "It has been too long without
you, my body can hardly take your touch, it has needed it so badly." He closed
his eyes and tears stung behind his eyelids. "I must find my release in you
tonight. It has been so long, Elrohir. Forgive me." He had never wanted to
spend so quickly in his life, and he had never felt so embarrassed.

"Shh, I know." Elrohir kissed him tenderly, removing his hand to place it on
Elladan's hip. "I do not wish to linger either."

Though the words heartened Elladan, they also worried him. "You never like it
so fast." He ran his hand down Elrohir's spine and stroked a finger between his
buttocks. "You like me to tease you and taunt you until you can take no more,
and only then do we come, together." Every other thought came back to the one
who had taken what was his and he could not stop himself asking: "Do not say
that Rúmil has changed that for you also?"

"Never!" Elrohir swore, shivering beneath the intimate touch. "But I fare like
you this night. It has been so long since my body has felt yours, that it is
desperate for you. I would feel your hands and your mouth upon every inch of my
skin another time, and I will savour it. But now... I ache Elladan, as much as
you do. I may have had physical satisfaction from Rúmil, but he was not you. He
could not touch my heart. He could not become one with me, or I with him. I
could never feel the bond... you know Elladan, that feeling we get when we
reach climax together, you within me and me around you."

"I know," Elladan gasped, shifting closer to rub himself against Elrohir's
thigh, lust threatening to take over every sense. No... it was more than
lust... it was lust of the basest kind, but also love. Pure, true, honest love.
It was possession. "But I am afraid. I am afraid he has spoiled you for me."

"Because of what he said that day?" Elrohir looked long into Elladan's eyes. "I
said so much to him of you, so much that I did not mean. He was never better
than you. No one could be." He crushed a kiss to Elladan's lips. "Believe me,
and take me, and we shall prove it is not so!"

"I believe you," Elladan told him, opening to the kiss. "I believe you
Elrohir." He fluttered the tip of his finger over the tight little hole as he
felt his lover's hot breath upon his lips. He could feel the clammy heat of
passion sliding over Elrohir's skin, and his own. His twin was wanton and
glowing in the golden candlelight, his silver eyes black pools of desire. And
love. And possession.

"Elladan, please!" Elrohir clung tightly to him. "Please, love. No more. I need
you." He barely held back a cry of disappointment as Elladan removed his hand
and got off the bed. "What are you doing?"

"I thought we might do this in comfort," Elladan said, crouching and rummaging
in his pack to remove a small bottle of salve. It would be good this night. "A
different lubrication to our usual spit and a prayer."

Elrohir rolled onto his back and watched Elladan intently as he straightened up
and walked back to the bed, the indication of his lust bobbing heavily between
his legs. "I want that," he said quietly.

Elladan shuddered at the intensity of his brother's voice. "What, this?" He
took himself in his hand and stroked himself slowly as he crawled up the bed to
kneel between Elrohir's spread thighs. His eyes rolled; provoking himself
further was not a good idea. "Oh gosh..." he gasped, shuddering as he removed
his hand from his own erection to undo the bottle, pouring some of the oil onto
his fingertips.

Elrohir bent his knees, spread his legs further and lifted himself, whispering
breathless wordless pleas as Elladan's fingers found entry into his body. A
sensuous tremor rippled through his body, making every muscle twitch.

"You have not forgotten my touch," Elladan whispered, as Elrohir swiftly
accepted three stretching probing fingers.

Elrohir sunk his fingers into the blankets, clutching them tightly as his eyes
rolled back. "Never," he gasped. "Ah! Elladan... Elladan... Oh for the love of
Eru!" He gasped as the trembling fingers stroked the sensitive spot within his
body. "Elladan, please!"

Elladan gazed down at him with tears in his eyes, panting heavily with his own
need. "You are so beautiful, Elrohir," he said, choked by his emotion. He had
nearly lost this. He had nearly lost this beauty, this sweet soul, this that
was his life. "I can scarcely believe you are mine. I want you so badly. So
badly I am afraid I will lose myself as soon as I am within you." He removed
his fingers and moved to lie between Elrohir's legs.

"Then take me now," Elrohir whispered. "And end our want. We will find the end
together, I promise." He wrapped his legs around Elladan's waist and urged him
down. "Look at me. Do not close your eyes. Make me yours," he whispered against
Elladan's lips. "Do not look away."

Elladan gazed deep into a mirror image of silver grey as he slowly entered his
lover's body and they both sighed when he was sheathed fully inside. He could
not remember it ever feeling this good, yet it felt like their bodies had never
been apart. He had to force himself to move slowly, and he trembled and
whimpered as he reached between their bodies to take Elrohir's dripping
erection within his hand to stroke him in time with his thrusts.

"Do not wait for me." Elrohir bucked into his hand, forcing Elladan deeper
inside. "Take me with you."

Elladan broke eye contact for the briefest second to kiss his brother, before
shifting his weight onto his elbow to pull back from inside Elrohir, letting
the head of his arousal circle the slick hole, all the while stroking him
firmly within his hand. He licked his dry lips and stared deeply into Elrohir's
eyes, seeing shameless need there, and hoping Elrohir could see the same when
he looked back into his eyes.

"Oh my.... Oh, goodness, Elladan..." Elrohir gasped and Elladan felt his member
suddenly jerk and swell within his hand.

Elladan felt a surge of lust rush through him in response to his twin's state
and he swiftly thrust back inside. "Beautiful," he whispered. "So beautiful..."

"Elladan! Ai!" Elrohir raised a hand to his mouth, biting into his own fist to
silence himself.

"Shh!" Elladan hissed, pulling out and thrusting in hard again, making it very
difficult for his lover to be silent. But they could not stop... not now... He
watched Elrohir bite down into his knuckles as he felt a hot shudder from
inside his twin.

"Elladan," he gasped. "I'm going to..." his words stilled and he rose up to
meet each of the fervent thrusts, digging his fingernails sharply into
Elladan's back as he gripped him tightly.

"So am I. Don't close your eyes!" Sensing that Elrohir was now as desperate as
he was, Elladan pounded into him with no restraint. Feeling tears from the
strain, he forced his eyes to stay open, watching as Elrohir's gaze lost focus.

"Now!" Elrohir whispered, quaking as his eyes rolled back.

"Now, yes," he repeated, lowering his head to muffle his moan of completion in
Elrohir's shoulder. "You are mine!" He held his breath to stop himself
screaming out as his climax flooded Elrohir from inside and hot fluid poured
over his hand as the tight channel clenched in spasms around him.

"Yes, I am yours," Elrohir whispered breathlessly, relaxing in Elladan's arms
as they came back down to earth. "And you are mine."

"Yes, I am." Elladan lifted his head and kissed Elrohir lazily before
withdrawing from within him and wiping him clean with a rag. "Forever." Wiping
his hands, he dropped the rag to the floor and tucked the bottle of oil safely
back in his pack. The instinct was still in him to finish and clean up as soon
as possibly. They did not have their family down the hall anymore but they had
three farmers seated in the room below their floor. They had to be doubly
careful. Elladan was determined that they would not be caught this time.
Smiling tiredly he climbed back into bed by Elrohir and snuggled close to his
side.

"That felt wonderful," Elrohir murmured sleepily as Elladan pulled the covers
over their bodies. "We are complete once more, Elladan."

"Mm, yes," Elladan agreed, trying in vain to stifle a huge yawn. "Oh, forgive
me! You have exhausted me." He glanced across at Elrohir to see his brother's
eyes were peacefully closed in sleep. "And it seems that I have exhausted
you," he smiled, leaning over to press a kiss to the still-flushed cheek.
"Goodnight, my love. Sleep well. Tomorrow, we begin our new life."