Title: Stolen Season
Author: Tumnaloth
Author's email: tumnaloth@hotmail.com
Rating: NC-17
Pairing: Elladan/Elrohir
Warnings: Incest, Graphic Sex Scenes, Brother/Brother
Disclaimer: Nobody pays for me to write this. I use only my own 
resources, imagination and equipment. These
characters originally belong to J.R.R. Tolkien (or whoever holds the 
copyrights at the moment), but I hope he won't
mind if I borrow them for a while or two...
Author's notes: I once again thank my wonderful betas, Empy (Ruín 
Elleth) and Darkie the Hobbit. I wouldn't have
done this without my plot bunnies Bunnywise and Slashadette... may they 
happily multiply their dark creations in the
shady corners of my apartment... Any comments are always welcome, so do 
feel free to speak up. Any incest-phobic
individuals can smack my rosy-pink bottom and crawl away... I’m sorry, 
this is not for your eyes.


		*	*	*	*	*	*	*


Wind was gently swishing in through a window left ajar, sweeping into 
the room, over the bed and the sleeper. A soft
sound from the door made the one in the bed wake up with a start, push 
himself up to a sitting position and reach for
the knife that was always placed under the bed.

"Who is it? Come out of the shadows so I can see you," Elladan spoke in 
a threatening tone, poised to stab at the
intruder.

A tall, dark shape cautiously stepped out of the doorway and into the 
moonlit room. Elladan could make out the
features of an elf youth of his age, but lighter of build, more slender 
and lean. The face, however, was almost his
mirror image. Elladan relaxed as he recognized his brother.

"Elrohir, why do you sneak in like that? I could have hurt you, you 
know," Elladan scolded his twin.

"I am sorry, Elladan... I cannot get sleep. Can I share the bed with 
you?" asked Elrohir, his eyes troubled and a hint of
strain in his voice.

Elrohir was by minutes younger than his stronger and fiercer brother 
Elladan, and there was something of their
mother Celebrian in him, while Elladan resembled Elrond more.

"Of course you can. The nightmares again?"

Elladan's question was actually rather a statement. Elrohir nodded 
weakly before trodding to the bed and climbing in.
Elladan sensed the welling tears behind Elrohir's eyelids, so he just 
wrapped his arms around Elrohir and hugged
comfortingly. Elrohir cried for a while, quietly and discretely, hiding 
his face against Elladan's neck. When the tears
ceased, Elladan brushed the last ones away from his brother's cheeks, 
withdrawing slightly. Elrohir sighed and cast a
sheepish look at Elladan.

"You must think of me as a weakling who is ready to burst out weeping 
at the fall of a leaf..."

"Nonsense! I know you well enough to say you are nothing but strength, 
though it differs from mine. I have my
muscle, but your mind could dig through solid rock," consoled Elladan.

"But that is the very core of my problem! My father, who should fully 
know the value of will, has always favoured you
and left me to be content with scraps of mercy. It is true that I am a 
reflection of mother, but that is still not an
excuse!" Elrohir spoke between clenched teeth.

Elladan looked guilty. It was indeed the truth that Elrond had - 
openly, if not consciously - always spoken in favour of
his older son. With his mother's departure to Grey Havens, Elrohir had 
been deprived of the one who understood him
and was able to draw him out of his shell. His grief was therefore more 
bitter, if not more intense. The sight of
wounded Celebrian in deepest agony was a haunting that would be there 
for all their lives. Elladan battled his demons
during the day, fencing, running, riding and wrestling with his peers, 
while Elrohir usually disappeared with a scroll
or two to dive into the world of persistent studying. At night Elrohir 
could not escape his own demons by slouching
behind a book, and so he was constantly ailed by nightmares.

Elladan hugged his younger twin once again, unable to do anything else.

"Try and sleep now, you need to rest. I will be right here beside you, 
so the nightmares dare not come."

Elrohir gave a little chuckle and snuggled against the warmth of his 
brother. Suddenly the younger twin was thankful
for the darkness, as it concealed his mild blush. For a strange reason 
that Elrohir could not quite grasp, the familiar
setting now seemed awkward and even somewhat wrong. Yet he was sure 
that Elladan considered it in no way odd
that his brother came to him for comfort and security, for it had 
always been so. Soon nothing but the song of a
nightingale wrapped its notes around the serene shapes of the sleeping 
two.

		*	*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Elladan reached out in his sleep, surprised to feel someone lying right 
next to him, an arm thrown around his waist. A
smile tugged at the corners of Elladan's mouth as he drew his own 
conclusions and buried his fingers in the other
one's long, silken hair. He was still mostly asleep as he fumbled for 
the lips of his supposed bedmate with his mouth,
giving Elrohir a wet kiss with plenty of suction. Elrohir was sleepy 
enough to inch closer and respond willingly to the
kiss, slipping his tongue in his brother's mouth. The kiss tasted of 
honey and salt, and was enough to make the both of
them crave more. It was only when they started roaming each other's 
bodies with their hands that recollection revealed
the true identity of the other. Horrified and gasping, Elladan 
desperately explained his error.

"I did not... I thought I was... I did not think it was you!"

Elrohir was all red and wide-eyed, struggling to make the hardening in 
his breeches to go away.

"I did not remember it was you, either" Elrohir lied, stuttering "and I 
was having a quite sensual and pleasurable
dream..."

"I see... everything is all right then..." muttered Elladan, turning 
his back to Elrohir in order to gain control of
himself.

Elrohir closed his eyes and wished he could kick his own backside for 
once. "He is my BROTHER! I should not have
such feelings for him; I must not, it is FORBIDDEN... absolutely 
banned! Why then does he still have to be such an
ideal kisser?" he thought, shivering with an urge to rub up against 
Elladan from behind. It took all of Elrohir's force of
will to go back to sleep and forget his urge.

Elladan fell asleep a long time after Elrohir did, painfully aware of 
the peaceful breathing that tickled his neck and
trying to take a mental cold bath. His night-trousers were bulging at 
the groin, but there was no way he would have a
rubdown with his brother in the same bed, not after that.

			*	*	*	*	*	*	*

In the morning Elrohir woke up alone, to find Elladan had already 
dressed and gone. There was an awkward moment
of guilt when he remembered what had happened last night. Pouring water 
from a pitcher into a basin, Elrohir washed
his face and upper body. The water was cold, but not enough to wash 
away the memory or the taste upon his lips.
Elladan's towel was damp, which meant that he had also had a quick 
wash. This was not a habit of Elladan, who saw
nothing unpleasant about honest dirt, especially if it was the result 
of recreational activity. "Has my brother felt the
need for cleansing, and is it because of last night?" Elrohir thought, 
abashed.

Elrohir got dressed and borrowed a comb from the table to sort out his 
hair, loosely braiding it into a single plait
hanging down his back. Breakfast was out of the question: his stomach 
felt it would hold nothing that even bore the
resemblance to food. It was not plain nausea, though. He was wakening 
something impossible inside his soul,
something that should not have been there at all: love for a brother... 
but not as a brother, but as a lover. Elrohir swore
to himself that it would be kept secret from everyone else, especially 
Elladan. He would never understand. Oh, how
Elrohir missed his mother! She would surely have known what to say and 
she must have had the perfect advice even
for this situation, but she was gone now. Elrohir wouldn't even dream 
of turning to his father Elrond for help. The
Master of Imladris would laugh at his son, or even worse: throw Elrohir 
out of his chambers in blind fury and have
him punished severely for harbouring highly improper desires. And 
punishment would mean that the secret would
come into the daylight, which was not what Elrohir wanted.

The day soon passed in the usual manner, with both of the twins 
occupied with what they liked best, except that for
Elrohir the sun never seemed to have moved when he raised his eyes from 
the musty, old tome and glimpsed it.
Elladan poured all his frustration, self-anger and guilt into exercises 
of muscle growth. Even his young mates were
puzzled at the odd increase in his enthusiasm. Nobody knew the reason 
but Elladan himself, and he would not admit
that he had been aroused EVEN AFTER he had discovered that it was his 
brother he was kissing and carressing. If
only the day would end and he could get some rest from his troubled 
thoughts and self-accusations.

In the evening, Elladan and Elrohir went to their own beds with a 
common hope of being able to escape it all for the
night. This was not to be so, however, as they found out. Elrohir and 
Elladan were both fighting against the desire to
climb into each other's beds, dreaming of things that they never had 
imagined, seeing each other naked and soul
bared. Each secretly wished that his dream could come true, but decided 
it was impossible and, more importantly, not
allowed. So preoccupied was Elrohir that he didn't even have his usual 
nightmares with pictures of their mother
wounded, hurt - being tried to heal by Elrond - and finally leaving to 
find inner health with the Valar.

			*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Someone wise has stated that "there is never an end to torment of 
temptation until it is faced eye to eye." Since the
twins did not face their feelings, secretiveness and avoiding became an 
every-day routine. Sometimes Elrohir even
rode out with Elladan, out into the wilderness surrounding Rivendell, 
to stay more fit, but he was pining for a soft
word or a touch that he in the end would not allow himself. He wrote 
poems that he hid well from any curious eyes,
poems filled with his conflicting emotions. Elladan turned his desire 
into hate, and connected it to the only creatures
he could bear a grudge for: the orcs. With his father's involuntary 
permission, he began to plan for raiding- and
assasination-quests into the orc settlements and hideouts that he could 
find. All this in the name of the security of
Rivendell and the elves within, of course.

Elrohir found he was useful to his brother in this planning, having 
read a great deal about the orcs and their origins.
He was the one to point out that orcs had clear but distant relations 
to elves, telling Elladan the story of how they were
created. Elladan was so shocked he vomited, but it didn't stop the fury 
in his mind, especially as the presence of
Elrohir kept feeding it with futile whims of the heart. Elrohir stayed 
behind when Elladan rode off to inspect the first
target of the raids, noting how worriedly but yet proudly Master Elrond 
watched his son depart from the safe haven of
Imladris. If only he would for once look at Elrohir that way...


			*	*	*	*	*	*	*

Elladan marched out of his room, feeling the comfort of being once 
again in his snug travelling garments. His boots
made hardly any sound as he graciously made his way towards the waiting 
horse... with another one standing next to
it, carrying bundles and packs for a journey just like his own steed.

"What is this?" blurted Elladan, looking amazed.

An answer came from behind him, in an amused tone, and made him 
instantly turn around as he recognized the
familiar voice.

"I shall be riding with you this time. No, do not feel the need to 
object, it is all arranged and I have father's
permission. I *will* be joining you whatever you say," mused grinning 
Elrohir.

"WHAT? You? I thought you were not interested in this kind of 
'slaughter', as you once stated it... May I inquire what
has made you change your mind?" questioned Elladan haughtily.

Elrohir pursed his lips at his brother's hidden irony, barely noting 
that it was not his brother's business to know his
agenda, if it had no influence on the carrying out of the mission. At 
this Elladan cast a suspicious glance at his
younger twin, but was assured that Elrohir was not harbouring any ideas 
of sabotage. Elladan made one more feeble
attempt to change his brother's mind.

"But I doubt that you will last in the wilderness... you must realize 
that this is not a leisurely trip or some stroll along
the riverbank: we are going out there to fight, kill as many as we can 
and return, if they do not finish us off first. Do
you think you have enough woodsman's skills to make it? And how are 
your skills with the sword, brother? I have not
seen you practise or fight for ages..."

Elrohir snickered, patting his pockets and curving his mouth into a wry 
smile.

"I have a few surprises for you... and do not worry about me at all, 
just ride on ahead and I promise I will be right
behind the tail of your mount. I should do well enough in battle with 
this sword of mine: it is lighter than yours, but as
hard as the very foundations of Arda themselves."

Elladan sighed, mounting his horse and spurring it onward into the 
forest. If his brother would not change his mind,
then let him follow. It was not his fault if the orcs would slay 
Elrohir, though Elladan would surely do his best to
protect his more delicate twin. Elrond shouted his blessings for their 
trip and stood watching them go, wondering if
his permission to let the fragile and inexperienced Elrohir join the 
hunt would prove to be an error he would regret for
the rest of his life. The Valar knew he had nothing but time...

			*	*	*	*	*	*	*

On the road, Elladan was beginning to feel awe for his brother's 
riding. It seemed that however difficult the routes that
he chose were, Elrohir was always magically there, right behind him, 
never complaining or having any difficulties in
following him. In reality, Elrohir was cursing at the choices of his 
brother, scourging himself to the limits and beyond
as he was determined not to whine or lag behind. Branches whipped and 
lashed at Elrohir's face, and he had to stretch
his agility to the very limits not to get smacked off the horse. The 
trees reached low and the path was in some parts a
jungle of tangled roots, which made it dangerous for the horses as well 
as the riders. Just one miscalculation could
lead to the mount becoming lame.

Hours and hours later, Elladan pulled the reins and turned to shout to 
his brother that they were going to camp for the
night. The horses needed to drink, to rest and to graze, not to mention 
the riders themselves, who were tired, thirsty
and hungry just as well. They would sleep under the sky, with the 
blankets and cloaks serving as covers and the soft,
dry moss as a mattress. Elladan started gathering firewood, the kind 
that would not give off a lot of smoke, while
Elrohir tended to the mounts, taking off the bundles and checking the 
rations. Elrohir was thanking the Valar that
Elladan had decided to stop for the night, for he could already feel 
his muscles screaming for mercy. He had not been
accustomed to such harsh journeying, no matter what he had boasted to 
his older twin, and it was showing in his sore
backside and legs.

"Elrohir, take out the food, please. I feel hungry and so must you. I 
bet you are as ravenous as a starved werewolf..."
joked Elladan, returning to the campsite with his burden of wood.

"Ha ha ha... you are hilarious, really. I wonder, is your brain as 
active as your digestion, dear brother? If so, we will
have no difficulty in wiping a whole horde of orcs out in but a few 
minutes."

Elrohir was thankful for the chance to rest, eagerly returning his 
brother's quip. Elladan laughed without being
insulted.

"I have always confessed that you are the one with brighter reasoning, 
have I not?"

"I suppose you have. But I must admit you have been busy growing 
muscle, with quite visible and attractive results to
show for it..."

When Elrohir saw the ambiguity of his remark, it was already too late. 
Elladan looked him in the eye, caught and
amazed. Elrohir could not stop the dilating of his pupils, or the 
butterflies that started to flutter in the pit of his
stomach. Elladan watched in awe, unable to tear his eyes away from the 
sight of his brother. Elrohir finally broke the
silence and the rapture, pulling out the flint and turning to the pile 
of firewood that Elladan had put down.

"I think we should build the fire now if we intend to make one at 
all..."

Elladan registered a slight tremble in Elrohir's voice which fascinated 
him enough so that he did not offer to help in
the lighting of the fire. By the time he came to his senses, there was 
already a small flame leaping up from among the
branches. Elladan picked up a few more branches to hand them over to 
his crouching twin, when Elrohir suddenly got
up on his feet and turned, bumping into Elladan. The branches fell 
unnoticed to the ground, Elladan feeling a thread
snap inside his head and grasping Elrohir as if he were going to drown.

Elrohir was stunned with the action, not resisting as a desperate kiss 
was placed upon his surprised lips. After a brief
moment Elrohir's automatic reaction was to kiss Elladan back, letting 
his hands fall to the small of his brother's strong
back. Elladan found his hands busily and hurriedly untying the lacings 
of Elrohir's tunic, in order to gain access to
bare skin. The pulsating warmth gathering in their loins spoke of 
desire withheld, but not suppressed. Elrohir's
breathing became laboured when his brother brushed his fingers over the 
hardening nipples, and the younger twin
tugged the hem of Elladan's shirt out of the trousers to repay his 
attentions.

The kissing became slower, more thorough and sensual, each nerve 
tingling with the heat of their blood. Elrohir
withdrew his lips, moving to the nape of Elladan's neck. Elladan gasped 
at the feel of his brother's hands massaging
his buttocks:.

"What are you doing..? Mmmh...please do not stop..."

Encouraged by the words, Elrohir claimed Elladan's lips again, sliding 
his fingers into the cleft of his brother's
backside, feeling his shaft throb against his brother's. Elladan 
trembled in the heat of his blood, hands pulling Elrohir
so tight that not a ray of light could pass through between them. 
Elrohir bucked as Elladan rubbed his arousal against
his brother’s cloth-restrained shaft. Soon they were both helping each 
other out of their clothes, brushing and
sweeping their hands over revealed skin, entangling their tongues with 
giddy fervor and rejoicing in the awakened
sensuality that was now flowing freely between the two.

Elladan was bucking now in a somewhat steady rhythm against Elrohir, 
who moaned throatily at the delicious friction
of their erections sliding against each other.

”I wish that the orcs have not changed their campsite... we might 
attract some undesired attention. If they hear us,
they might be able to catch us unawares...”  Elladan gasped out, voice 
husky and heavy with lust.

Elrohir cupped his hand against the tip of Elladan’s shaft and massaged 
it with circular movements, bringing a ragged
groan from his brother.

”Who is the one attracting attention this time, pray tell me?” Elrohir 
laughed, breathless and wanton.

Elladan responded by tugging Elrohir down onto the forest ground, 
rolling on top of him. Elrohir felt his nerves sing
with fire, instinctively spreading his legs to allow Elladan better 
contact with his weeping need. Demanding lips
burned against Elrohir’s body, mapping a path from the chest to the 
groin. When Elladan reached the soft hair of the
crotch, he lifted his head to slide his lips along the length of 
Elrohir’s shaft. The younger twin groaned hushedly,
driving his fingers deep into the moss. Elladan smiled against the tip 
of the erection, lapping the drops seeping from
the slit, watching with amusement as a shiver coursed through Elrohir’s 
body. Elrohir bucked and squirmed beneath
the merciless mouth of his older twin, hardly pausing his groaning in 
time to breathe before he would moan and mewl
again.

Suddenly Elrohir made a soft sound of protest, as the lips withdrew and 
Elladan pulled up to lie beside him, eyes
darkened and glowing.

”I desire something more.... something I have only heard whispered 
among the other males of my age... would you
consent?” Elladan asked, searching his brother’s eyes for an answer.

Elrohir felt his hands begin to sweat, but grinned deviously at 
Elladan.

”I will... and I believe I know what you are implying... remember that 
I have studied the lore,” Elrohir answered.

”We will need something... to make it less painful. I have nothing that 
would work as such... Would... would you?”
Elladan whispered, a little awkward and unsure.

Elrohir sat up, brushing Elladan’s chest reassuringly, while rummaging 
around in the pockets of his outer tunic.
A while later he pulled out a clear vial of thick liquid, holding it 
out for Elladan to see.

”This is probably usable. It is a base for salves and balms, and I 
thought we should have some aid at hand, if one or
both of us are wounded or otherwise hurt. It is just grease, liquid 
grease,” Elrohir explained, casting a tempting look at
his older twin.

”It will suffice, yes... but, since you might know better what you are 
doing, you should instruct me...” admitted
Elladan, blushing with expectation and a hint of fear.

”As you wish, brother... relax and try not to tense your muscles, lest 
I cause you pain,” Elrohir smiled, squirming
closer to Elladan, opening the vial to pour some liquid onto his 
fingers. Elladan closed his eyes, breathing evenly and
slowly, ordering his muscles to relax, but still he had to open his 
eyes and gasp when Elladan snaked his lubricated
fingers into the opening between his buttocks. Elrohir kissed his twin, 
massaging Elladan’s abdomen with his free
hand, while the fingers slowly pushed inside, stretching and oiling the 
puckered opening. Elladan whimpered against
the kiss, muscles clamping against the fingers momentarily, then easing 
as he got used to the feeling.

”Fear not... I would never damage you, dear brother... beloved, 
desired, fair one...” Elrohir chanted quietly into
Elladan’s ear, now slipping a third finger in to join the others. 
Elladan could not help bucking forward when the
fingers found a secret spot within him, bringing him intense pleasure.

Elrohir pulled out his fingers, urging Elladan to roll over to lie on 
his stomach. Elrohir then poured some more
lubricant out and rubbed it along his erection. Positioning himself 
behind his brother, Elrohir raised Elladan’s hips
slightly, trying to make the action less painful for him. Slowly he 
pushed his weeping arousal against the ring of
muscle, feeling it yield. Elladan cried out briefly when his brother 
entered the heat of his body, but the pain of the
penetration soon faded to pulsing enjoyment. Elladan felt his body 
flood him with endorphins more intensely than ever
before. This was paradise, bliss, the very core of ecstasy... Elladan 
shut his eyelids tight as Elrohir withdrew a little to
time his slow thrust back inside with curling his fingers around 
Elladan’s erection. He was lost to the rhythm of their
coupling, eyes half-shut and lips parted, breath issuing in pants and 
gasps just like his brother’s.

Elladan could not decide which felt better: the thrusts that caressed 
that sweet, hidden spot that sent thrill after a thrill
through him, or the hand rubbing his shaft in thorough, varying 
strokes. His consciousness seemed to explode as a
particularly deep thrust combined with a harder caress brought him over 
the edge. He moaned out Elrohir’s name,
spilling his seed into his brother’s hand and shuddering throughout 
almost violently. Elrohir rolled his eyes, the
muscle contractions around his shaft wringing his ejaculation out of 
him. Elladan sighed at the sensation of the seed
released inside him, spurt after pulsating spurt as Elrohir pushed a 
few more times before he fell limply atop his older
twin. They lay silent, holding hands and waiting for their breathing to 
return to normal.

Elrohir snuggled to lie beside Elladan, throwing his arms around the 
slender, strong waist. Elladan gazed at the love
in his brother’s eyes, mirroring it to every depth. For a moment no 
words were said, as the two felt they had finally
found each other, released the gnawing pressure that had not given them 
peace. Now all was perfect, as it was meant
to be.

Elladan fumbled Elrohir’s neck with his lips languorously, marveling 
how alike and yet differing they were. Elrohir
sighed, squeezing Elladan lovingly.

”This was not the first and last time, was it, my love?” Elrohir 
inquired, with a hint of doubt in his voice, ”I cannot
bear to think I have shared myself with you, yielding my body, my heart 
and my soul, and would be denied to share
again... do not shrug this off as just a whim.”

”I would not deny you anything you asked for, nin bain. I will not 
abandon you, my brother, my lover - I would stay
beside you if all of Arda tumbled down around us. I have finally 
realized the longing in my heart. You know that I
love you more than is allowed, do you not?” spoke Elladan, raising his 
head to look his younger twin tenderly in the
eyes.

”I know... I felt it as we lay together... and I do not think I could 
ever love another,” Elrohir replied, resting his head
against Elladan’s chest.

”Nor would I. How could I have eyes for anyone else, once I have 
feasted on your beauty? It would be folly,”
confirmed Elladan, wrapping his arms around the figure of his brother.

Soon sleep overcame the two, but Elladan got up after his brother was 
asleep, to rebuild the fire and cover them both
with blankets, lying down and embracing Elrohir protectively as he 
dozed off to a pleasant slumber. He would shelter
Elrohir even in his sleep.

				*	*	*	*	*	*

Morning came, covering the land with light that was filtered into gold 
through the tree-tops. Elrohir woke up to a kiss,
feeling Elladan’s pulse beneath his hand that was now resting right 
above his twin’s heart. A smile curved the lips of
the younger twin as Elladan greeted him with a softly murmured ”good 
morning, beloved.” They got up and clothed
themselves, after a quick wash in a nearby spring. The blankets were 
tucked away into the packs, breakfast prepared at
the fire lit from the coals still warm and glowing. Elrohir would steal 
a glance every now and then towards Elladan, to
be rewarded with a warm, tender smile and once even a playful, 
suggestive wink.

Elrohir kept on thinking about the happenings. Had he found hope where 
he thought there was none, as well as true
love and the comfort he had craved? Part of him found it difficult to 
believe that he had actually made love to his
brother, baring his soul to Elladan to the very essence of his being, 
and had received only acceptance and love in
return. No shame, no judgement, no reprimands, no pleading to forget 
anything ever happened... just how good a luck
did he possess?

After breakfast, the twins packed up their supplies and rode on in 
search of the small orc encampment. They had
decided to take the longer, winding route to the site, lest the orcs 
follow them to Rivendell. The ride for the day was in
no way easier than it had been the previous day, and the riders were at 
times forced to dismount and lead their horses
on through rocks and thickets that were impossible to ride through. By 
evening they had progressed slightly less than
Elladan had wished, and he was sure the orcs had started moving, in the 
darkest part of the wood where they had been
camping, to get to the next hideout before morning. The sun slowly sank 
beyond the horizon as the twins journeyed
on.

After sunset it didn’t take long before Elladan started recognizing the 
landmarks by which he had memorized the
location of the camp. The orcs had wandered further, but luckily in the 
opposite direction from the place where
Elladan and Elrohir had spent the night. It did not take them long to 
hear the orcs who were moving carefully, but still
making more than enough noise for the elves to track them down. Elladan 
approached from behind as quietly as
possible, guiding his mount around twigs and tree-roots, entangled 
above the ground. Elrohir followed as the shadow
of his brother, taking care to make his horse step in the tracks of his 
brother’s. They soon reached the foul creatures,
only to find out that there were but ten or eleven of them. Elladan 
took out his bow, soon firing an arrow at the first
one of the hideous creatures who was marching at the lead. The arrow 
hit its mark, accompanied by another of
Elrohir’s that instantly killed the second orc in the line. Confusion 
made the other orcs stop in place.

The other monsters shrieked in terror at the sight of the first two 
falling down dead. Elrohir could not help grinning at
their bewilderment, as they turned around and around to sight the 
source of the arrows. Elladan did not dawdle, but
spurred his horse forward, wielding his sharp-edged elven-made sword. 
Elrohir mimicked him, drawing his own
sword and galloping straight into the screaming chaos of foul, 
mutilated faces and limbs. The orcs attacked the riders
ferociously, their anger and hatred silencing all caution or fear, the 
twisted, evil minds thirsty for blood.

A large orc leaped at Elrohir, forcing the elf to parry with both 
hands. He struck the monster’s weapon out of its
hands, turning to the next one. Elrohir did not feel able to kill these 
monsters in cold blood, so he thought to leave the
killing to Elladan, just making it easier for him. It was not Elrohir’s 
nature to like bloodshed, and he was beginning to
question his own judgement at joining such a brutal mission.  No living 
thing deserved to be treated unfairly. Elrohir’s
conscience was still blaming him for taking part in anything like this.

However, his thoughts were cut short as bony fingers dug into his side 
and malformed but sharp teeth tore at his arm.
Elrohir cried out in pain, shaking off the orc he had just disarmed, 
looking with horror at the scratches in his side and
the ragged wound in his arm. Flaps of cloth hung around the damaged 
flesh, and Elrohir suddenly realized that his
mercy and compassion was useless against this enemy: the orcs would 
never appreciate ’fair fight’ or any
soft-mindedness. These malformed beings were incapable of good; they 
were simply mad and animalistic. Sudden
reveries of their mother Celebrian in the agony a poisoned orc-blade 
had caused her flooded through Elrohir’s mind,
drowning all the remains of pity. He yearned for revenge now, like he 
understood his brother to do. Elrohir swung his
sword with all his might, in disgust, at the sneering mongrel, cutting 
its throat and sending it to oblivion.

Elladan came to aid as soon as he heard the scream of his brother, 
finishing off the few remaining monsters with ease.
He looked worriedly at Elrohir, who just hunched over the neck of his 
horse, clutching at his left arm and grimacing
with pain. Elrohir looked at Elladan with such suffering and pleading 
that it made Elladan’s stomach knot.

”Are you hurt, my love? What happened? I must get you where aid can 
reach you, can you ride?” questioned Elladan,
guiding his horse as close to Elrohir’s as he could and laying his hand 
on the younger twin’s shoulder. Elrohir was in
so much pain he only managed to growl his reply through his teeth.

”Aghh... this pain... One of these... nightmarish things bit me. I do 
not know if I will make it to the walls of Imladris
in time.... Please, brother, help me!”

Elladan grabbed his brother, lifting Elrohir from the back of the horse 
and helping the wounded twin onto his own
mount, in front of Elladan. He spurred the horse into fast trot, racing 
through the maze of the branches and roots and
trunks, knowing that a single mistake would be fatal. Elladan gritted 
his teeth and put the full capacity of his memory
to use, finding a safe way through the woods and towards Rivendell. He 
could not afford to stop for the night, and
tried to save the mount as much as possible in spite of his fear for 
the safety of his brother, who was now also his
lover. Elladan could not bear the loss of the one who had opened his 
eyes to love and passion.

				*	*	*	*	*

The guards of Imladris were shocked to see a shabby, exhausted horse 
gallop into the grounds, bearing two riders, one
of which was unconscious. Elladan knew he had driven the horse to the 
very brink of death from exhaustion, but his
troubled heart had forced him to urge the poor animal on. Now that he 
was safely at home again, all his thoughts were
focused on getting aid for Elrohir, who had rapidly gone worse during 
the ride.

He was bleeding from his side, where the nails of the orc had raked 
him, but more seriously from the arm, and the
loss of blood had made him pass out. Elladan carefully dismounted and 
took Elrohir off the horse and carried him past
the guard, barking orders to them to go fetch Lord Elrond and healers. 
Some elves hurried to take care of the horse,
but Elladan was too driven by his desperation to notice anything. He 
marched through the hallways into the
healing-house, laying his dear burden down on one of the beds and 
turning to give a report of what had occured to
Elrond, who had just entered the room with his healers.

After that, there was nothing more he could do. He was sent away to 
rest, so that the healers could work in peace, but
he just lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, feeling his insides 
being compressed into a tight knot of anxiety. What if
Elrohir would not make it? How could he have been such a fool as to not 
take better care of Elrohir? The pain of his
death would be too much to take, it would claim Elladan’s life as well. 
He could not live on without his brother,
without the touches of those hands and the taste of those beloved 
lips.... Tears welled up in Elladan’s eyes. The last
thing he thought before fatigue conquered him was a desperate plead for 
Elbereth to save Elrohir’s life. Then there
was nothing but blank darkness.

				*	*	*	*	*

”Elladan. Elladan!” a voice commanded Elladan to return to 
consciousness.

Haltingly Elladan opened his eyes to the bright sunlight that streamed 
in through the large windows. Elrond himself
was bending over him, standing beside the bed. Elladan blinked for a 
moment, then remembering the events and
sitting up in the bed, he searched for the news that he feared most in 
his father’s mien. Elrond smiled, the wrinkle
between the eyebrows easing, and reached out to grab Elladan’s shoulder 
soothingly.

”Your brother survives... He has much more strength in him that we all 
believed, it seems. From what you have told
me, he is a most valiant elf. The wounds were severe, but we have done 
everything that was within our power and he
is healing. I believe he is calling for you, all the time, in his 
sleep. You had better go sit beside him, if you feel rested
enough. Yet first wash and clothe yourself - there is no sense in 
neglecting yourself. I am sure Elrohir would force you
to bathe, eat and sleep...” Elrond spoke, his expression tender and, 
yes, even apologetic. He was feeling guilt of the
accident as well, and for not having been a good enough father for 
Elrohir, who reminded his father so much of the
mother it was painful.

Elladan sighed in relief at the tidings, telling his father that he 
would see to himself, but would go see Elrohir right
after that. Elrond smiled again, informing his son in which room 
Elrohir was and then turned to tend to his duties.
Master Elrond would consult the healers and supervise the rest of the 
healing to the very end, though he knew he
could leave Elrohir in safe hands.

Elladan took a quick bath, putting on clean clothing and grabbing some 
bread and fruits to eat. A while later he was
already on his way to Elrohir’s room. There were still healers going 
about in the adjoining rooms, mixing up balms
and potions, scurrying about or fetching herbs. Elladan politely and 
gratefully greeted them, speaking a word or two of
thanks to the elder healers, who were in charge of the patient. He then 
opened the door and stepped carefully into the
room, not to disturb his brother.

Elrohir was lying in the bed, his body bare save for the bandages on 
his arm and side, and the bed-clothes that
sheltered him from the cold. The fair face was more pale than it used 
to be, but otherwise the slender, young elf looked
like he indeed was recuperating. Elladan crept closer to the bed, just 
content with watching his beloved brother.
Elrohir was murmuring something in his sleep, tossing his head slightly 
on the pillow and feeling about with his
healthy hand. Elladan too the fumbling hand in his, stroking it with 
his hardened, slender fingers. The tossing and
writhing stopped and Elrohir turned his head towards Elladan, but he 
was still repeating something. Leaning closer,
Elladan could discern his own name being repeated over and over.

Love filled Elladan’s heart as he leaned in to talk softly and 
comfortingly to his younger twin.

”Shhh... Hush now, I am here. It is me, Elladan... Rest now, do not 
waste your strenght. I want you to heal swiftly so I
can have you by my side again. I love you, Elrohir. I am here to guard 
your sleep.”

Elrohir relaxed, slowly opening his eyes to look up at Elladan.

”Elladan... you saved me... I thought I ... I could take care... of 
myself, but... I was wrong. I need you... as I love
you...”

”Hush, I said. I need you as well, my love. I was nearly dying from 
worry, and the fear of losing you was unbearable.
Father came to wake me up... I think he tries to make amends for his 
errors, Elrohir. Please try to forgive him. You
should have heard the pride in his voice as he spoke of your bravery 
and strength for enduring so long. I was also very
proud of you!” smiled Elladan.

”Stay here... and I will sleep better... please?” pleaded Elrohir, eyes 
watering and filled with emotion. Had father
finally seen how things actually were? Was he grieving his neglect of 
Elrohir?

”I will not leave even if they threaten me with the powers of Vilya. 
Now rest, and you will soon be up on your feet
again, and we can go out along the river... where no-one will disturb 
us,” Elladan mused, a playful glint in his grey
eyes that made Elrohir’s smile widen.

”There’s something... that must be said. I know now why... you hunt the 
orcs... I saw what... they are. I do not...
condemn you, melethron-nin... I understand.” Elrohir explained.

”I am aware that if the target would be any other I would be mad to act 
as I do. I am grateful that you see my point of
view, as I would not want to offend you with this slaughter, though I 
yearn to inflict as much pain as I can on the ones
who showed no mercy to our mother. If you would beg me to halt from 
killing  I would... that is how greatly I value
your word,” Elladan replied sitting down on the edge of the bed and 
leaning forward to place a gentle kiss on Elrohir’s
lips.

”Now you can rest assured that there is nothing between us that should 
trouble you. I will wait here and ask for a bed
to be arranged - if not here, then at least in one of the adjoining 
rooms so I can be there for you whenever you need
me...”

Elrohir sighed deeply and lay his head down on the pillow again, 
keeping his eyes on Elladan, so that the older twin’s
features would be the last thing he would see before he’d fall asleep.


- FINIS -
Nin bain= my beautiful one, melethron-nin should mean ’my lover’. Note: 
”woodsman’s skills”
do not imply that Elrohir would be a lumberjack...