Title: A Bond of Brothers Prologue - Growing Pains 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 adolescent twins experiment with each other. ------- Prologue - Growing Pains Imladris Year 165 of the 3rd Age The wind was howling like a wild creature in pain, lashing the rain against the house like the ghosts of arrows from some long forgotten war. Lightning lit the room with a dazzling blue flare, and the thunder gave an answering yell. Somewhere an open shutter was banging. Elladan turned over with a sigh, abandoning all thoughts of sleep. Sleep seemed to be out of the question, the weather was determined of that. Perhaps he would go and see if Elrohir was awake. "Ai! Cease your wailing for a moment!" he shouted to the storm and for just a second it seemed to take notice of him, before the wind picked up again. He could hear the branches of the trees outside, creaking and straining against the force of the gusts, beating against the windows as if they were demanding to be let in to hide from the anger of the tempest. He sat up as he heard the heavy creak of a door swinging back on its hinges and then banging shut, and a few moments later his door opened and Elrohir appeared in his nightshirt. "I cannot sleep with all this thunder," Elrohir complained, looking venomously towards the window as thunder boomed again. "Nor me," Elladan replied, pulling back the quilted covers of his bed. "Get in. And close the door!" Cold air from the corridor was rapidly filling the snug room. "Thank you." Elrohir pushed the door shut and gratefully climbed into the bed, slipping his arms around Elladan's neck and nuzzling into his shoulder. Elladan wrapped his arms around him, kicking cold feet away from his bare legs and tucking the eiderdown around the both of them. The storm was still blowing outside but he didn't feel quite so alone in all the noise now. He recalled with a smile a storm like this some decades before, when he and Elrohir had lain huddled under the blankets, holding hands, as if the mere presence of each other was enough to drive away the monsters. Elrohir had believed the thunder to be a roaring Balrog, and the lightning his whip. Elladan had thought it to be a dragon and they had argued over it, until they had decided it was both and had run in to their mother, screaming in terror. From the smile on Elrohir's lips, Elladan guessed he was remembering the same thing. He often laughed, thinking back on the monsters they had created as children. He was beginning to think the demons of adulthood were a lot more frightening. They could not be banished to the backs of wardrobes, or under beds, or made to vanish in the sunlight. They were with him constantly, changing his body and his mind in ways he didn't understand or very much like, changing his moods faster than the turning of the clouds, changing innocent admiration to lust. Elrohir was pressed so close beside him it was like they were one body, so close that Elladan could feel his heartbeat, every breath, every movement in tune with his own. Their father often said they were *too* close, but it was only to be expected, he thought. They were split from the same seed, they had shared their mother's womb, entering the world within only minutes of each other. They had grown together, learned to walk together, learned to talk together, teaching and guiding each other through everything. They were as one - body and soul - and Elladan couldn't ever imagine not having his brother beside him. He wondered how acutely Elrohir was feeling the changes of adolescence. It wasn't often that they discussed things, for they always instinctively knew each other's feelings, but for once Elladan wished for some spoken reassurance that what he was experiencing wasn't wrong. He felt Elrohir's pulse pick up a pace or two and his breath hitched. Was the storm agitating his brother? As he shifted to hug him closer, he felt him tense, and something hard pressed against his leg. His eyes widened for a second as realisation sunk in, but he bit his tongue and lay still. There was no need for alarm. The contact of another was enough to set his own body off into all sorts of strange reactions these days, usually at the most inopportune moments. He doubted Elrohir was any different. He remembered with shame the thoughts that had run through his imagination when Lord Glorfindel had merely brushed his hand at the table some nights ago. Elrohir fidgeted and Elladan felt the hardness brush his thigh again. Before he could think of a way to prevent it, his body was answering. Getting aroused by Glorfindel was bad enough, by his own brother was quite another thing. But even so, he couldn't stop his hips shifting forward to seek contact with Elrohir's leg. The softest of whimpers escaped Elrohir's lips as he lay rigidly still. "Elladan..." he whispered, placing a hand against his brother's chest to push him back slightly. "Stop it... you are making me feel strange." Elladan jerked back, as sudden comprehension of what he was doing hit him about the face. "You are telling me stop it?!" he cried in defence. "You started it!" He could see the colour rise in Elrohir's cheeks. Elrohir squirmed a little against his embarrassment, a question hanging on his lips. "Why is this happening?" he finally mumbled. "Should I be feeling this way?" Elladan shrugged. "I do not think you should about me, no," he replied, "but I feel it too. I am glad to know that I am not alone in these changes occurring in myself." He felt Elrohir press his hand into his under the sheets and he linked their fingers. Elrohir squirmed. "Sometimes, Elladan, sometimes I crave a physical touch so much - even with you - so much that..." "It nearly hurts," Elladan finished his sentence. "Yes, like I never thought possible! I yearn for fulfilment, for release, for ... something ... I am not sure what..." Elladan nodded. "I know." He was supposed to reassure, but he could do nothing more than understand. "Have you ever...?" Elrohir chewed his lip. "That is... ever shared physical pleasure with someone else?" "No," Elladan shook his head. "Have you?" "No. I have not gone as far as to kiss someone yet." Elladan reached out to touch his twin's cheek but pulled his hand back just before it reached its soft target. Surely he could not be thinking of sharing his body - his lustful urges - with Elrohir, his brother?! They had certainly shared everything before, but this was different. Still, he could not help but imagine how it would feel. They would know each other as well as they knew themselves, know what felt gratifying and what didn't. Even as Elladan's hunger was fighting his conscience, Elrohir closed the gap between them and Elladan instinctively shut his eyes as he felt soft warm lips sweep across his own. The irony touched him; usually he was the one to act, while Elrohir would still be brooding. Elrohir pulled back with a gasp, raising a hand to his mouth as if he were afraid another kiss might escape. "I am sorry!" he cried. Elladan could feel his heart begin to beat faster. "Think nothing of it," he said hoarsely, unconsciously raising his hand to his lips where Elrohir's tentative kiss still burned. He felt his twin's gaze upon him and looked into the face that was so much like his own, but different. Elrohir's eyes were slightly wider than Elladan's - making him look somewhat like a frightened rabbit, Glorfindel said - and his lashes were longer and darker, his cheekbones were slightly sharper, his lips slightly more defined, his nose was straighter where Elladan's was upturned, and he had grown leaner of body. Elladan often thought his brother to be fairer than himself, and he often envied that. Elrohir was panting, and the slightly parted lips were inviting. Elladan hesitantly raised his hand to cup the back of his neck as he leaned in for another kiss. Elrohir tensed as their lips met. "Is this right?" he whispered against the kiss. They both knew the answer, but Elladan could feel his brother's breath feather- light against his lips and he didn't want to leave the warm embrace of the kiss. "I don't know," he replied. "No. No, it is not. We must stop." With a deep breath, he forced himself to retract, immediately feeling a cold aching void open up inside himself as the contact was lost. Flouting principles, he crushed Elrohir's body back to his own, catching his lips in a rough and desperate kiss. With closed eyes, he felt Elrohir nervously return the kiss. Elladan no longer cared that it was wrong. The very same demon that had played the sordid images of Glorfindel to his mind had re-awoken and he had no control over it. He nudged at Elrohir's lips until the younger twin realised his intentions and opened his mouth enough for Elladan to slip his tongue inside, probing at Elrohir's tongue until he responded. The kiss was clumsy, not even all that pleasant, but it fuelled the fire burning in Elladan's body and he pushed Elrohir back against the pillows, moving to lie atop him. Deepening the kiss as their lips learned each other's ways, Elladan pressed his body tightly along the length of his brother's. He could feel the heat from Elrohir's groin burning into his hip and he shifted so they were perfectly aligned. Elrohir spread his legs slightly and Elladan sunk between them, groaning as he felt his brother's erect length alongside his. Breaking the kiss, he brushed a strand of hair back from Elrohir's flushed face, and pressed his hips down. Elrohir moaned at the friction, raising his hips to return the gesture, eyelashes fluttering as his half-closed eyes rolled back in pleasure. Elladan pushed down simultaneously, muffling low groans with kisses. He rolled onto his side pulling Elrohir with him and their legs entwined as they settled beside each other, grinding together in a synchronised motion. Elladan could feel that Elrohir's nightshirt had ridden up around his hips and he used this as an opportunity to run his hand up the firm thigh. Elrohir copied the action, lifting the hem of Elladan's nightshirt. "Oh goodness!" Elrohir gasped as flesh met naked flesh. Elladan merely groaned, at a loss for words. He felt Elrohir's fingers tangle in his hair, tugging gently, brushing against his ear and it sent tingles all through his body. He twisted his head to catch the pointed tip of his twin's ear between his lips and felt Elrohir shiver in response. "May I?" Elrohir asked, pulling at the buttons on the collar of Elladan's nightshirt. Elladan nodded, clearing his throat and trying to find his voice as Elrohir unbuttoned the gown and peeled it back from his shoulders and down his arms before undressing himself, tossing both articles to the end of the bed. Elladan let his eyes wander over the body in front of him, as he was certain Elrohir was doing to him. They were identical, but it was not altogether like looking at himself. Like a mirror image, things never look exactly how one would imagine. He brushed his fingers across Elrohir's cheek then down his neck and over his chest where firm muscles were developing, pausing to stroke a dark nipple, marvelling at how the flesh tightened beneath his touch. "Do you like that?" he asked, lowering his head to catch the teat between his teeth before Elrohir could even answer. He was assured as he heard his brother draw a ragged breath. "Ah! How do you know how to please me so?" Elrohir asked, mimicking the action on Elladan. "Because you are like me," Elladan replied, lowering one hand to caress the inside of Elrohir's thigh. "And I know which parts of my body are screaming for attention." He felt Elrohir's hand run across his back, tickling down his spine before coming to rest on his rear, pulling him in closer. Still, he craved more to feed the insatiable need building up inside him. "Would you touch me?" Elrohir blinked at him. "I beg your pardon?" "Touch me," Elladan repeated breathlessly, wrapping his hand around Elrohir's erection, chuckling as his twin's eyes shot open wide. "Touch me like that." Pulling him in for another kiss, he could feel the heat from Elrohir's body burning against him, their sweat mingling as tongues teased and twined, and hands learned where to touch. "Can I use my mouth on you?" Elrohir suddenly asked. "Down there, I mean." Elladan gulped and he felt himself grow harder at the suggestion. "I don't see why not," he nodded, submissively lying back as Elrohir slid down the bed to settle between his legs, eyeing his engorged member with a mixture of hunger and nervousness painted on his face. Elladan closed his eyes as he felt a cool hand wrap around the base of his shaft, before something hot and wet touched the tip. Whimpering, he looked down to see Elrohir's pink tongue lapping delicately at the leaking fluid. "Is that all right, Elladan?" He gripped the sheets as Elrohir's breath tickled him. "Mmm. Not so gentle." Elrohir nodded, running his tongue around the ridge of Elladan's head. "Is that better?" Elladan clenched his teeth to stop himself crying out loud. He groaned as he felt warm wet lips close around him and slide down. Then he winced slightly as teeth caught his tender skin but didn't want to mention it. The feeling was too good to say anything to make Elrohir stop. "I want to make love to you," he murmured before he could even comprehend what he was saying. He felt Elrohir cease his movement and crawl up to lie beside him. "Do you know what to do?" Elrohir shook his head. "Do you?" "Sort of. I think so." He pushed Elrohir to lie back and moved down the bed, reversing their earlier position. "If you are certain you want this." He had to remind himself that Elrohir had given no answer to his request. Elrohir nodded. "I am sure." Elladan could see in Elrohir's heavy-lidded dilated eyes that he too had completely lost himself to lust, no longer caring about morality. In fact, they were both laughing in the face of it. He felt a warning twinge in his heart that they would eventually pay for this, but he paid no heed to it. Instead, he lifted his brother's legs, drawing his knees up. "Make my fingers wet," he said, as he pressed his first two fingers to Elrohir's lips. "What for?" Elrohir frowned but complied. "You will see." Elladan felt a shudder run through his body as he watched Elrohir suckle on his fingers, now knowing what he was imitating, and it took a great amount of effort to withdraw from between those soft, full lips. Satisfied that there was a sufficient amount of lubrication, he reached down and pressed a slicked digit against Elrohir's entrance. Elrohir gasped. "Oh, you are going to do it like *that*!" "How did you think I was going to do it?" Elladan pushed gently as he felt the first tight ring of muscle give way. "Be still, this may be a little uncomfortable." Elrohir grimaced. "You have done this to yourself, haven't you?" he realised with some amusement, tensing as Elladan's finger entered him fully, drawing a ragged breath through his teeth. "Elladan..." "Hush," Elladan told him, probing until Elrohir relaxed enough to allow another finger entry. Elrohir reached down to grasp his wrist. "Elladan, that feels odd... I don't think I like it." "You must trust me. You will like this," he promised, searching with his fingertips to find that spot he'd found on himself. Elrohir's body froze in spasm as his fingers brushed it. "Now, what were you saying?" he smiled, applying more pressure, hoping it felt as enjoyable to Elrohir as when he had found this pleasure on himself. "Oh my!" Elrohir thrashed on the bed, reaching up to clutch the headboard in an attempt to hold himself still as Elladan unmercifully stimulated the gland. Elladan could feel that Elrohir was getting close, he could feel the muscles contracting around his fingers, he could hear his gasps getting faster, his cries more desperate, pleading, keening. He was suddenly thankful for the noise of the thunderstorm. "Elladan!" Elrohir cried in warning and he reached down to clasp a hand over the head of his erection as he spilt himself before collapsing back against the pillows, quivering and panting. "I am sorry," he whispered. "I could not hold it in." "It is no matter." Elladan took his hand, spreading his brother's seed along his length, sensing that the wet grip would be enough to bring him to climax if he wasn't careful. "I think I should have you on your hands and knees." He hauled Elrohir into a kneeling position and spread his buttocks with his fingers before pressing himself against the tight opening. "Ahh! Gently!" Elrohir hissed, gripping the headboard so tightly that his knuckles turned white. "Elladan, stop!" He cried out in pain. "It hurts!" Elladan kissed the back of his neck, gripping his hips in desperation tightly enough to bruise. "It will be all right," he panted. He eased himself in further, feeling Elrohir clamp almost painfully tight around him. "Please do not ask me to stop now, I do not think I could." "No!" Elrohir shoved him backwards and wriggled free from his grasp. "I told you to stop it!" He rose from the bed and hurried across the room to the washbasin, where he hastily rinsed the fluid of their exertions from his skin, visibly trembling. Elladan raised himself on one elbow, breathing heavily. He gripped the sheet tightly to prevent his hand from wandering between his legs to ease the painful throbbing there. Elrohir was upset, that mattered more than his own discomfort. "Did I hurt you?" He swallowed a bitter lump of guilt. "Please forgive me, Elrohir. I would not deliberately hurt you for anything." The silence hung heavy in the air, broken only by the rustle of material as Elrohir pulled his nightshirt over his head, and the cracking and popping of the logs in the fireplace. "Are you angry with me?" Elrohir walked slowly back to him and perched stiffly on the edge of the mattress, holding back tears. "Are you angry with me?" he repeated his question, sitting up to put his arm around his twin's shoulders. "Elrohir, please speak to me." He suddenly realised the storm had ended. How long ago had it ended? Had they been crying their passion with nothing to mask the sounds? What if someone had heard them? Elrohir raised an arm to push him away. "What in the world have we done?" he said in a voice little louder than a whisper. Elladan stroked his twin's hair to soothe him. He knew their coupling was unethical, but somehow it didn't seem to matter to him. The emptiness that had been growing in his heart was beginning to feel just that little bit satisfied, though his body ached for release. "Love between two males is not unheard of," he reassured himself as much as he did his brother. "But we are of the same blood!" Elrohir caught his hand. "We are twins! There is a name for what we did, Elladan, it is called *incest*! Do realise the trouble we will be in if we are found out?" The fact that Elrohir was his brother didn't have any consequence to Elladan, though he knew it should have. He felt stained, by more than just sweat, and not unpleasantly. He felt as though no other hand but Elrohir's would ever be able to touch him in the same way, no lips would be able to kiss him as well, no other body would be able to mould to him as closely. And, most worryingly, no other could compete for his heart. "I..." He didn't know any words that could calm his brother. He couldn't even hold him, for even a hug would be tainted now. "I am sorry," was all he could say. Sorry that Elrohir was upset, sorry that they hadn't been able to finish their love-making, sorry that he was feeling such despicable things towards his own twin. Elrohir buried his face in his hands. "Oh, how did I let myself be persuaded to do this?" Helpless hurt mingled with anger. "I did not *make* you! Don't you dare say I forced this upon you! I did not! I *could* not!" "No, no you did not. I wanted it as well." Elrohir sighed, turning his head to face Elladan. "We were curious, that is all, yes?" Elladan lowered his gaze. He had already seen the rejection in his brother's eyes and he could not bear it. He could feel it gnawing at his heart with icy teeth, taking away all the heat of their brief moments of passion. "Look at me!" Elrohir snapped immediately. "Don't be such a coward!" He caught his chin, forcing eye contact on him. "We must never do this again, Elladan, ever! It is not even to be spoken of again, promise me!" "If you say so," Elladan replied quietly, feeling his heart sink heavily into his stomach. "No, *promise* me Elladan!" Elrohir insisted. Elladan swallowed hard and nodded, which seemed to be enough for Elrohir as he excused himself and quietly returned to his own room, but he couldn't promise. A promise was too strong, and he was completely certain that he would not be able to keep it.