Title: Anicroche
Author: Milly [or Milena, I tend to confuse people a little, look at the e-
mail addy, if it's ElrohiradoresElladan@gmx.net or 
ErestormelaGlorfindel@gmx.net you can be pretty sure that it's my work. 
:)]
Author's Email: ElrohiradoresElladan@gmx.net	
Pairing: Thranduil/Elrond; Glorfindel/Erestor, elf/elf 
Rating: R
Summary: This is the sequel to the main story based on the challenge 
"Thranduil and Elrond are lovers. Elrond gets Thranduil pregnant, but 
Thranduil doesn't know how to tell him. Elrond doesn't know that male 
Mirkwood elves can get pregnant as it is one of Mirkwood's most sacred 
secrets." By my friend Chey, but I have my own mind, so it might change a 
bit sooner or later. *smirks* You might want to read the prequel "Aroon" 
and "Adar" before you read Anicroche. We will deal with a few lies and 
difficulties. [Anicroche is french and means "little difficulties".]
Disclaimer: They belong to me in my dreams and in my stories, but I 
understand and accept that this is life and I don't hold any rights on them. 
I'm sorry if my playing with them offends anyone. Please show mercy 
though. It's hard enough not to have them.
Warning: mpreg, angst, h/c, au, pov [for the prologue], non-con, 
mentioning of char death and possibly bdsm and incest later on [just want 
to make sure you aren't shocked in case it appears]
Authors Note: AU still means the same as in Aroon and Adar. ;) So please 
don't complain if the chars don't act as you thought they should. Thanks to 
Chey for the nice challenge and to the sweet ones who commented on 
Aroon&Adar. *hugs* It's great to hear that you want to read more, you 
know. Cheers me a lot to hear that some people still didn't give up reading 
this... story.. *smiles*
You're still most welcome to give me feedback, there's no need to be shy. 
It's not like I'm able to write normal feedback on a story, so don't think I'ld 
mind if I only find one line. It's still great to hear that someone cares. ;) 
Oh and one thing I noticed often lately, people keep asking me for my 
other stories. Most of them can be found at LoM as I'm busily sending my 
work to Marie. :) But it's a little difficult at times, as I do not write about 
the same pairing all the time. So if you want to read all my stories -all 
those I wrote alone- please go and check 
http://millynoldorinwa.tripod.com/. You will find a link to Bedtime 
stories, my co-work with a good friend of mine is on that page.

Anicroche

Prologue [or rather; summary of Aroon&Adar]
[This is mainly written for the people who did not read the prequel and the 
main story and don't intend to do so. And yes, the beginning of the 
prologue is the same as in Adar, it's about the same story, right? *smirks*]

~Mirkwood-Lórien~

In the past weeks my life changed gravely. The war, the death... and the 
new life. When Elrond came to Mirkwood to tell me that my father had 
died in War it felt like it would be the end of the world. But it wasn't. It 
felt strange to lead a realm after being kept out of trouble for so many 
years. Still it was possible, first with Elrond's help and then with that of 
Erestor and Glorfindel. It was hard to get used to leading a realm, make no 
mistake about that. 

But I would have coped with it. I would have led my realm and coped with 
my father's death. It just wasn't enough, it seems. My bad luck had but 
started when my lover came to Mirkwood. How could I know that I would 
become pregnant, that I am one of the few Sindar who actually still carry 
the trait of fertility? Had I known, would I have denied my love the right to 
make me his again? I do not know, but it is too late to change anything 
now. 

And no matter what will happen, I will not take my child's life, I will love 
it if nobody else can. If my people will chase me from my realm and my 
lover will leave me for getting pregnant... it can still count on me. No one 
will do it any harm while I am around as I will be there to protect it. That 
knowledge is the only thing that comforts me since the day I sent Erestor 
back to Imladris and remain here alone, among people who still do not 
wish to accept the fact that my father died and I am their king now.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

As I saw my child's life threatened I decided to leave my home and run, 
which didn't seem to be my best idea as the Elves in Lórien scared me 
terribly. Luckily Erestor and one of my father's advisors arrived in time to 
explain them that I feared they would abuse and slay me and they told me 
that my lover and they had been searching for me since weeks. They are 
worried about me, it's hard to explain how much it calmed me to hear that.

Elrond wasn't mad that I didn't tell him, not really at least. He was far too 
happy that we would have a child to really care and just told me that I have 
to know that he truly loves me and that he would rather harm himself than 
do me any harm. It was so sweet, he had tears in his eyes when he 
proposed to me and asked me to come to Imladris with him. And I couldn't 
deny that I don't want to go back to Mirkwood. Not yet at least, they would 
murder me if they knew that I brought more Noldo and even human blood 
into their royal family by permitting my beloved to impregnate me, even if 
I didn't do it on purpose.

Later they might see the good points for us, as having a strong bound 
between the leaders of Imladris and Mirkwood cannot be bad for them. 
But that is the future, currently I have just become father of the two cutest 
children one can imagine and bound myself in love to their father. We 
agreed that we will wait until our children are older before we celebrate 
the binding, but we had our best friends witness the ceremony held by 
Lord Celeborn.

Chapter 1 

~Lothlórien~

Elrond and Thranduil exchanged a glance when they saw Erestor 
cheeringly praise their children and wondered whether it was a good time 
to ask him about the meaning of the words he had uttered during the birth. 
Finally Elrond sighed deeply and shrugged. If they wouldn't ever disturb 
Erestor when he was cheering and praising the children they would never 
get to speak to him as he seemed to adore his best friend's children as 
much as he would love his own.
"Erestor?" 

The Chief advisor turned around with a slightly embarassed smile. "Yes, 
Mylord?" With a little yelp he turned back immediatly to face Elrohir who 
had grabbed a strand of his hair to pull on it. "I thought I had told you that 
you can go and relax while I look after the children." 
Thranduil sighed and nodded. "Yes you did, but we decided that we have 
to speak to you. What did you mean when you said that I can do what 
Oropher did?"

Erestor ignored the question and started to hum a soft song while he tried 
to free his hair from Elrohir's fist. When Elrond repeated his lover's words 
he turned around and glared at the lovers. "I meant exactly what I said. 
Oropher sired Thranduil in the same way Thranduil sired the twins."
"So you mean to say that my mother wasn't really my mother?" Thranduil 
asked, not daring to ask what it meant as well.

"Yes it means that my sister Calenia allowed your father to announce her 
as your mother in order not to reveal the truth that he had submitted to a 
male lover and carried a child," Erestor whispered unsure whether or not 
to trust his voice. "He feared your people's reaction far more than you do, 
but it doesn't surprise me, you have always been stronger in mind than he 
was."

"You are my father, aren't you, Erestor?" Thranduil asked quietly and 
Erestor nodded, unable to answer the question more directly. It had been 
wrong not to tell his child the truth, but there were Oropher's wishes that 
needed to be honored and it had been wrong not to keep it a secret any 
longer, like he had promised. Elrond studied Erestor's features carefully. 
"That is why you do not like speaking to Glorfindel anymore lately, isn't 
it? When you started to suspect that Thranduil is pregnant it reminded you 
of Oropher."

Erestor nodded reluctantly. "There are reasons why you are named the 
Loremaster of Imladris, Mylord." He sighed when Elrond tried to convince 
him that Glorfindel wouldn't condemn him for having a child without 
telling him. "I never even thought of that, Mylord, if anyone could do that 
it is Thranduil, but I presume that Glorfindel would dislike to hear that I 
have cheated him with Oropher for almost five hundred years." 

Finally free of the baby's grap he turned around. "He told me that he would 
*never* forgive me if I chose to be with another but I couldn't just cut my 
feelings for Oropher when we had to go seperate ways." Thranduil gulped, 
trying his best not to blame Erestor for not telling him anything before. "It 
has been many years ago, Erestor, if you tell him that you are sorry and 
that you regret what you did he will surely forgive you."

"Leaves me with the problem that I do not regret one single kiss," he 
whispered before glancing apologizing first at the older Elves and then at 
the twins before tears filled his eyes and he fled from the room. 

Chapter 2

~Lothlórien~

"He does it again," Elrond complained and starred accusingly at his lover. 
Thranduil laughed warmly. "How is he supposed to see a difference 
between your chest and mine? He's hungry." The halfelf sighed deeply, 
wondering how his lover could possibly feel this cheering all day while the 
children where whinning and chewing on robes and struggling to get away. 
Only Thranduil and Erestor seemed to never get enough of them, taking 
them for long walks during which they discussed their new relationship 
and Erestor told his child more about the past and Oropher.

Elrond overtook Elladan from Thranduil's arms and handed him Elrohir in 
return and instead of complaining any longer he watched, still amazed that 
his lover had not only given birth to their children but was also able to 
nurse them on his own. Elladan started to cry and Elrond started to sing to 
him, hoping that the child would stop it's whinning as his nerves were 
growing thin since almost three weeks now. 

And though he admired Thranduil's unexplainable talent in dealing with 
their children he also envied it silently. As if to add to his trouble he knew 
that Glorfindel was wondering what was wrong with his lover, but didn't 
have the heart to speak to him. That was Erestor's task and he would rather 
talk his Chief advisor into talking to Glorfindel than to try on his own and 
risk the relationship they still had. 

If there *was* anything that still could be destroyed. Erestor left 
wordlessly and with a guilty expression on his face whenever he saw his 
lover and had moved out of his room when Glorfindel had joined him 
there. Glorfindel was clearly hurt but had obviously decided not to speak 
to his lover anymore either. 

When he looked down he noticed that Elladan was now peacefully 
sleeping in his arms and wondered if his disatraction had caused his son to 
become bored and fall sleep. He sighed once more when he found one arm 
securly grabbing the back of his robe while the other was holding his 
sleeve close to the tiny mouth to suckle on it. /Once my children got out of 
this age I will need new robes./ 

But it couldn't be denied that he looked cute like that, they were always 
sweet while they were sleeping and when he saw the loving expression in 
Thranduil's face while his son and his lover seemed to have a serious 
discussion on whether he had drunken or not he smiled and decided not to 
take the trouble the children already caused -and which, as Erestor had 
explained with an evil smirk, would only become worse- to his heart too 
much.

Chapter 3

~Lothlórien~

Glorfindel stepped into Erestor's new room and leaned against the wall 
next to the door. It was still calm as the other Elves hadn't returned from 
the nightmeal yet and the darkness was soothingly hiding the features of 
the blond. Erestor *would* talk to him, he could not just end a more than a 
millenia long relationship without a word of explanation. After several 
moments he heard a light step and smiled knowingly. That was obviously 
his lover as he knew no other who walked like that. 

He waited patiently for Erestor to step into the middle of the room, though 
he felt the urge to pull him close once he smelled the sweet, wellknown 
scent of his lover. As soon as Erestor had stepped into the bathroom to 
wash himself he quietly locked the door and hid the key and when Erestor 
returned and was still unaware of his presence he carefully approached 
him, knowing well enough how to move soundlessly after all the years he 
had spend training for wars and fighting in them.

To his surprise Erestor nestled to his hand as instinctly as he pulled him 
close. So it surely wasn't dying atraction that led his lover to behave that 
strange, but then suddenly the darkhaired struggled and tried to get away 
from him. "Please, my love, I cannot do this to you any longer," Erestor 
pleaded and Glorfindel frowned, pulled his lover closer and kissed his 
neck. This strange behaviour had been going on long enough, that was 
right, but why did he try to get away if he saw that now?

When Erestor tried to speak again Glorfindel impatiently sealed his lips in 
a desperate kiss. Again his lover moved into the touch as if he couldn't 
survive without it. But again Erestor pleaded him to let go as soon as he 
turned his attention to the pretty, pointy ears. He chose to ignore the 
strange words until Erestor suddenly uttered the internecine words. "I 
betrayed you."

Glorfindel let go off his lover immediatly. "With whom?" Erestor flinched 
at the angry tone, but had always known that Glorfindel wouldn't just 
smile and forgive him. His lover had told him that he would forgive him 
about anything, but that he would get into serious trouble if he dared to 
deceive him. "With Oropher," Erestor couldn't help but smirk when he saw 
Glorfindel laughing about his secret, but he became serious after a short 
moment. "I am serious, Glorfindel, we have been lovers for centuries, 
Thranduil is my child."

Erestor sighed when Glorfindel just shook his head in disbelief. "Do you 
see any reason why I could possibly want to lie about such a matter? I love 
you, why should I want to risk our relationship like this? Centuries ago I 
used to be Oropher's chief advisor and his lover. He... desired to be taken 
and one day he told me that he was pregnant. I have always wanted to have 
a child and I told him but we both knew what would happen if the 
Mirkwoodelves heard that their King had submitted to me. He married my 
sister and she claimed my child as hers. It was shortly before I fell in love 
with you, but I just couldn't keep myself from returning to his arms and his 
bed whenever I went to Mirkwood."

"You betrayed and deceived me for centuries?" Glorfindel's voice was 
calm but Erestor flinched, for the first time worried about what his lover 
might do next. He had never before seen a reason to fear what Glorfindel 
might do, but he knew that his lover had told him that he wouldn't tolerate 
any betrayal. But while he flinched back, afraid that Glorfindel might 
strike him, his former lover just shook his head. "I would have raised your 
child with you, I would have loved Thranduil like my own child, please 
know that, Erestor, but I will never forgive you that you couldn't give up 
your former lover when you were with me."

The darkhaired closed his eyes in pain, suddenly wishing that Glorfindel 
had yelled at him, that he had screamed at him and struck him. Hearing the 
disappointed tone in his voice was far, far worse, it seemed to directly 
break his heart. Slowly he knelt before the lighthaired. "I love you, 
Glorfindel, but I will not plead you to forgive me that would be too much 
to ask after what I did to you." With that he carefully kissed the right hand 
of the seneschal and then lowered his head. "Once you leave me my life 
will be worthless, even with Thranduil and the twins it will be empty. 
Please slay me instead of destroying my life like that."

Glorfindel shook his head upon Erestor's request, though he couldn't 
forgive him he couldn't just murder him. He had a family and important 
tasks, it was not like his life would become senseless. While he turned and 
left the room he heard Erestor desperatly fighting his tears and glancing at 
the darkhaired once more he saw him sunken to crying more desperatly 
then when he had feared for his child's life. But he didn't go back, instead 
he unlocked the door and left the room of his former lover. 

Chapter 4

~Lothlórien~

Elrond sighed deeply. After his best friends had fought and broken their 
relationship neither Thranduil nor he dared to ask them for any help with 
sitting the children and he didn't trust anyone but them and his lover to see 
after the twins. Now, after ten hours of screaming from either one or both 
of the twins his lover had fallen asleep and rested too peacefully to be 
disturbed. So far it had proved possible to keep both children asleep, but 
now Elrohir was moving once more and he feared that his younger son 
might wake up, wake his brother and then wake Thranduil.

"Hush, penneth, all is well, I am here," he felt frustrated as he knew that he 
couldn't feed his own child if it wanted to have food and found himself 
wondering once more why he had always wished to have children that 
much. They were cried, they screamed and they needed to be cleaned and 
cheered and carried around all day. And now that his lover had finally 
given in to sleep he could barely keep himself awake as well. Once again 
Elrohir moved, slightly pushing his little fist against Elladan. 

But if he picked him up now he would wake immediatly. And then he 
would scream and cry and wake Thranduil. /Ai, I am making a fool out of 
myself!/ Elrond sighed once more, the wise Lord of Imladris, mighty 
among Elves and Men; he had fought enemies since many centuries, but 
those children knew how to make him do whatever they wanted. 

A little eye opened slightly, as if to check if everything was alright and 
Elrond couldn't help but wonder why his almost elven children behaved 
like halfelves still. Lightly he caressed the soft skin. "Hush my little child, 
you do not have to trouble yourself. Ada is here to watch you, no harm 
will come to you," but even his sweetest voice couldn't help when the baby 
stirred in it's sleep and yawned. /Ai no.../ 

Tenderly he offered his fingers to the young child's fist and found a strong 
grasp upon it immediatly. And then something happened he had never 
thought possible. Instead of starting to cry Elrohir looked up at him and 
beamed. It reminded Elrond why he loved his children immediatly when 
he heard the sweet little cooing sound from his younger son. "You are so 
sweet my child," he whispered and carefully freed his finger before 
picking up Elrohir to make sure he wouldn't wake his brother.

Sadly it didn't have the wished effect as Elladan started trashing around in 
his sleep as soon as his twin had been removed from the cradle. "Miss 
your brother, hm? I understand what you feel, believe me." He kissed 
Elladan's forehead and started to hum softly, lost in memories of his 
beloved younger brother who had been refused his right to be counted 
among the first born and would never get the chance to meet his nephews. 
"Always look after each other, my children, never forget what you might 
lose if you don't." 

Despite the message his words carried his voice seemed to calm the older 
prince's sleep and Elrond smiled down at Elrohir who obviously wasn't 
interested at all in the attention he had just gained as his eyes were focused 
on a bookshelf, filled with scrolls and books. "Ungrateful child," Elrond 
chided, but couldn't help but smile. His children seemed obsessed with 
studying their enviroment, as they seldom looked at their parents or other 
people but instead against walls and out of windows.

He carried Elrohir to the shelf and smirked when he noticed that the child 
actually pretended to read, tilting his head in the way he had learned a few 
days ago to see better. Suddenly he felt a kiss against his shoulder. "You 
want Elrohir to become a Loremaster, hm?" Thranduil's voice was as 
serious as he could manage to sound. While they were still in Lórien it was 
so easy to forget all the trouble that awaited them in Imladris and 
Mirkwood.

penneth = young one
ada = daddy

Chapter 5

~Lothlórien~

"Erestor, do not be so sad," Thranduil tried to sound cheery, but when his 
father looked up from his scrolls, he saw that his words hadn't had any 
effect. He hadn't seen him smile ever since Glorfindel had broken the 
relationship two weeks ago, not even at the children that had made him 
sing and cheer more than anyone else Thranduil could remember. "You 
could try to apologize, he still loves you, I am sure he does."

The darkhaired sighed and shook his head. "It would be absolutly 
senseless to apologize for what I did as I already know that Glorfindel will 
not forgive me. He loves me, I presume, but he would never forgive me for 
hurting his feelings and for lying to him like that. And even if he did I 
wouldn't deserve it. I didn't even tell you that you are my child. I didn't 
even tell *you* that you are my child. You should be mad and yell at me 
instead of trying to comfort me that my lover reacted in the way I deserve 
it."

Thranduil squatted down in front of the desk and rested his hands on the 
table top. "So would you say that I would deserve it if Elrond broke our 
relationship when I didn't tell him that we were about to get children?"

"That is something entirely different. Your children were his as well and 
you didn't keep it a secret from him for centuries, only for a few months. If 
he would blame you for that I would have a serious word with him that he 
is lucky that my child chose him among everyone he could have." Erestor's 
eyes left no doubt that he seriously considered it a wonderful gift to Elrond 
to be allowed to be with Thranduil.

Once more it proved more difficult to talk to the advisor than Thranduil 
had hoped it would. "But do you not agree that it would be Elrond's right 
to know that he will become father more than it is Glorfindel's right to 
know that you had a child already when you two became lovers?"

Erestor sighed. "That is different, he heard of it before the children were 
born. And you did not cheat him, Glorfindel isn't angry because I didn't 
told him of you but because of the way I betrayed him and told him lies. 
He is right, believe me."

"No he is not, he cannot be right if he gives up your love. Do you 
remember that I even thought that Elrond would slay me, did I tell you? I 
told him and he only said that I couldn't be blamed to feel left alone and 
scared after my father had died and I didn't know whom to trust," 
Thranduil shook his head when he saw an even more helpless expression 
in Erestor's eyes. It was just impossible to talk sense into this elf. He had 
decided that he was too blame, that he didn't have the right to be happy 
and had totally given up fighting for his love.

Chapter 6

~Lothlórien~

"Glorfindel?" 

The Elvenwarrior turned around and glared at Elrond. "Thranduil sends 
you, does he not? He wants you to talk me into going back and forgive 
Erestor. But I will not, he knew what he did and he saw that it would be 
senseless to ask me to forgive him. Only because Thranduil knows that he 
is his son now that doesn't mean that I have to go and be kind towards his 
father. Actually I do not care about him at all!"

Elrond cocked his eyebrows. "You want to speak about Erestor? An 
understandable request, my friend, though I had thought to discuss with 
you whether we shouldn't go back to Imladris soon. And you will not have 
to see my Chief advisor anytime soon as he will go and help Helkafin to 
rule Mirkwood."

"And you allowed him to do that? He belongs to Imladris, he shouldn't go 
to Mirkwood, the Elves there will hate him, even if he is half-sinda. They 
threatened him once already. If they do him any harm I will..."

"Oh?" Elrond looked directly into Glorfindel's eyes. "You do not care 
about him at all, I see, my friend, I see. But rest assured, Oropher made 
sure that none of his people would dare to doubt his will. And he can 
claim to be Thranduil's father if he wants to. They will not murder him."

Glorfindel bit his lips. "It is not like I care. He could.. who am I trying to 
fool if I cannot even fool myself. I love him, Elrond, but what he did is 
unforgiveable and he knew exactly what he was doing. My lovers do not 
just cheat me. And he didn't do it just once, he did it many times, 
whenever he was in Mirkwood. When he came back he was always a bit 
sad. I thought it was because he had to leave his dear little Thranduil 
behind and I presume it might have been that as well. But he always 
seemed different when he returned, sad and exhausted. As if he felt guilty 
for what he did."

"And you truthfully intend to hold that *against* him, Glorfindel? That he 
didn't like the idea that he had cheated you? That he felt bad about it. I 
know it was a long time, but you must see that we are immortal, my friend. 
If you were of the blood of the mankind, like some of my people, like my 
brother, I would understand that you do not want to forgive him." Elrond 
carefully placed a hand on Glorfindel's shoulder. "But you could have 
eternity if you weren't so stubborn my friend. And what use is it to both of 
you to react like that. Even if you cannot be his lover, you could at least 
speak to him again, he didn't mistreat or murder someone and though I 
know that you detest cheating it isn't such a serious crime."

"He could at least have admitted it after Oropher had died. There was no 
reason not to tell me when he was dead," Glorfindel whispered, but 
somehow he was unsure about his words as well. After the King had died 
Erestor had kept silent. But had it been because he was afraid about the 
consequenzes for himself or hadn't he wanted to dishonor his lover? Could 
someone dishonor a person who knowingly aided to betray another? 
"How.. how does he feel, Elrond, I am sure you talked to him, is he well?"

The Peredhel sighed deeply. "Well what do you expect, you are not the 
only one who is sad that your relationship is broken if you hadn't figured 
that yet. Thranduil spoke to him and he is just as stubborn as you are. He 
claims that he cannot apologize to you as you wouldn't forgive him and 
even if you would he couldn't dare to accept your apology. Just in case you 
wish to know it, he also curses himself for not telling Thranduil earlier and 
Helkafin mentioned that there is something he would like to speak with 
you about, but he wouldn't tell me."

"I cannot promise anything, Elrond, I cannot even promise that I can look 
upon again without becoming angry, but I will promise that I will try, for 
my friends' sake, for Erestor's sake and for my own sake. But please leave 
me alone for a few moments, I truly need to sort my thoughts," Glorfindel 
picked a book from one of the shelfs and studied it with great interested 
and Elrond nodded, leaving the room as silently as he had entered it.

Chapter 7

~Lothlórien~

Erestor froze and quickly covered his body when he saw Glorfindel 
walking towards him. It was still strange to him to remember that neither 
he nor Glorfindel were supposed to see each other like this anymore. But 
he didn't dare to find out if it would anger his former lover to see him like 
this. As surely he hadn't searched him out of friendship.

"Suilad Erestor," Glorfindel said and Erestor smiled politly, worried about 
what might follow. He could read in the other's eyes that he had something 
on his mind even though he tried not to take advantage of his knowledge. 
It wasn't his right to guess Glorfindel's thoughts anymore, even though he 
could do it so easily. "Suilad, Mylord, is there anything I can aid you 
with?" 

Ai why did his words sound as if he was offering himself? Or was it just 
him and Glorfindel hadn't noticed anything? The cloth he had wrapped 
around his body seemed to slip from his wet skin and he flushed furiously, 
pulling it back in place. Though it wasn't his fault that Glorfindel had 
decided to speak to him while he had left to have a bath in the river before 
he would depart to Mirkwood with Helkafin. 

"I wanted to hear if you seriously think that they would accept their King's 
former lover as their new King." Glorfindel's voice sounded hard, perhaps 
he was angered by the slip of the cloth, or perhaps he was just annoyed 
because Elrond had send him to speak to his former lover. He tried to 
sound as convincing as possible when he starred into the air, unsure if he 
could dare to look closly at the loved face without bursting into tears. "I 
am sure that they will inform me of their decision when Helkafin and I 
arrive in Mirkwood. It is not my place to make Thranduil unhappy by 
forcing him to raise his children alone in Mirkwood while Elrond has to 
rule Imladris."

Suddenly real fury showed in Glorfindel's mien. "Don't you dare to tell me 
that you are doing this for Thranduil. I'm sure you're most happy to fulfil 
your beloved Oropher's wishes by overtaking his realm for him. Or maybe 
you are involved with half of his Elves anyway. Are you in love with 
Helkafin, Erestor, is that why you decided that you should go to Mirkwood 
instead of going back to Imladris and fulfil your tasks like any normal elf 
would do it?"

Erestor flinched back, pressing himself against a tree nearby. "No please, 
do... do no harm to my child and I will do whatever you want me to do. 
But I cannot see my child suffer from my mistakes once more. Not again. I 
should never have left Mirkwood. I should never have left him to your 
mercy, allowed you to force him to become a child again. To take away his 
weapons and his freedom like that. Can you not see that it was wrong? I 
will go back and I will pray that my child finds his freedom if I give up my 
own again." Tears were running down the pale cheeks and he watched 
breathlessly while the blond elf was walking towards him. 

Chapter 8

~Lothlórien~

"Please Elrohir," Thranduil was about to cry. It had been like this for days. 
While Elladan was drinking obidiently in the way he was supposed to, 
Elrohir would drink only a sip or two and then refuse to drink any more. 
Something was wrong with his younger son and he didn't understand it. He 
was already smaller and lighter than his twin though they were only a few 
weeks old. 

And he couldn't help but wonder why they were behaving so differently 
though they always seemed to smile as soon as they saw their brother. 
Gently he caressed the ravenblack hair of the child in his arms. He had 
fallen asleep once more and trying to make him drink didn't help anything 
as he would just refuse or become sick. There were a few bad things about 
being in love with a Peredhil and trying to raise his children as they were 
obviously more than capable of becoming ill.

He sighed and placed the sleeping child back into the cradle to pick up 
Elladan who eagerly and immediatly started to suck the offered milk. 
Perhaps it was wrong to let Elrohir drink first, but Thranduil feared that if 
he made him drink after Elladan he wouldn't find enough milk if he finally 
decided to drink more again. Elrond refused to see a problem in Elrohir's 
behaviour, claiming that it was normal for a little halfelf to refuse to eat at 
times. 

When Thranduil had said that it was also normal for halfelves to be 
stubborn and foolish though, Elrond had slapped his behind him that he 
would have to have a word with Erestor about the manners of his son. But 
instead of suggesting that Elrond could try to teach him like it had tingled 
on his tongue he had just said he would try to behave. At least he would 
until their children were old enough to live in their own room, then 
however one could see to such topics again. 

Elladan had stopped drinking and starred against the wall and Thranduil 
actually sniggered despite his worry about Elrohir when he saw the older 
prince beam at a spider that was creeping along the wall he was just 
watching. "Elrond will hate us when he notices that his home will turn into 
an animalhouse once we move in, my child. But it's good that you share 
ada's love for them or we would have to cope with a cat instead of all the 
wonderful bats and spiders we can have if you two will aid me." 

His son cooed softly when he heard the loving praising words and for a 
moment Thranduil felt ashamed that he hadn't said anything friendlier, but 
why make up a reason to praise the child if he could praise it for 
something he seriously thought important? And he couldn't stop smiling 
and praising at Elladan just because he was worried about Elrohir.

ada = father

Chapter 9

~I have been listening to fluff music... don't blame me for this chap!~
~Lothlórien~

"Erestor?" Glorfindel bit his tongue, cursing himself for being so harsh. 
"Shh, love, all is well, I am here with you and noone will do you harm, I 
promise." But the darkhaired didn't calm down, he just let himself slide 
down to the ground apathetically and kept crying silently. Unsure what 
else to do Glorfindel knelt down next to him and caressed his hair. "Please 
my love, don't be so upset. I only wanted to make you go back to Imladris, 
I cannot lose you."

When Erestor had calmed down a bit Glorfindel carefully pulled him into 
his arms and kissed the wet hair. It saddened him to see Erestor crying 
once more, almost as desperatly as he had been after Thranduil's 
disappearance and the end of their relationship. Once more he felt as if he 
was a holding a frightened child, not a centuries old advisor. 

"I love you, Erestor, please.. do not cry like this, I will forgive you, you 
know me well enough to know that. It... it has just been a shock to hear 
that you cheated me and I didn't even notice it. But I didn't mean to hurt 
you, you know I never would." He decided not to add the "Unless you 
want me to..." which would usually have followed those words. Today was 
not the day to test Erestor's sense of humour. 

When Erestor turned to search his eyes his heart seemed to lose weight. 
That was the serious, stern mien he would carry when he was supposed to 
advise Elrond or discussed in negotiations. And it was much easier to 
speak to him while he was calm and serious instead of the heartbroken 
sobbing he had heard easlier. "I know that you would not willingly hurt 
me, Glorfindel. But you cannot just forgive me for what I did."

/You are stubborn!/ Glorfindel sighed and shook his head. "I can and I will 
do what I think right. And it is not like you can force me to be angry with 
you. You can tell me that you do not want my love. But you cannot force 
me not to love you like I did before you told me. You could just never 
have told me and even though you did it that late you at least told me. If I 
would have found out on my own I would have been seriously mad with 
you. But like this I can and will forgive you and I am sure that it took a lot 
of your courage to tell me." He pressed another light kiss against the dark 
hair.

"You are only feeling guilty because I have been crying. I should have 
guarded my feelings much better than that," Erestor frowned, trying not to 
trust the hope in his heart that cheered that all would be well again and that 
Glorfindel still loved him. "Please forgive me for losing control like that."

Glorfindel felt the ill-timed wish to ravish Erestor and bit his tongue, 
unsure how to prove that he seriously didn't codemn the darkhaired's deeds 
anymore. At least not like he had done before. "We are not discussing 
what I feel right now, Erestor, for I assure you that it would scare you how 
much I would like to do whatever is needed to make you come out of this 
selfpity again... we are discussing your feelings. Would you agree that 
there is still a chance for us? That we can try to forget what has happened 
so we can find happiness again?"

For several moments the darkhaired just looked at him with a thoughtful 
expression, obviously busily thinking and considering the options he had. 
Then he smirked, taking even Glorfindel slightly aback by the sudden 
chance of his expression. "I love you, if you are insane enough to forgive 
me for what I did I will happily accept your offer. Just one question.." He 
waited until he had Glorfindel's attention. "In which way would you make 
me give up my self pity?"

Chapter 10

~On the way to Imladris~

"Stop struggling like that, Elladan!" Elrond sighed deeply. They hadn't 
even mounted the horses yet and while Elrohir was sleeping peacefully the 
older twin was whining and kicking and trying everything to be put to the 
ground again. And somehow Elrond understood him, he had known 
nothing but Lórien for more than six months. But it was time to go back to 
Imladris and waiting for a longer time wouldn't make the children happier 
about leaving behind everything they knew. 

Thranduil finally felt pity and handing his sleeping son to Elrond, before 
carefully taking Elladan from his arms and kissing his forehead. "We will 
go to see a very beautiful realm. Do not trouble yourself, we will come and 
visit Lórien at times, I promise." Elladan eyed him with an angry and 
confused glance, but stopped struggling. Instead he started sulking and 
chewing on his lower lip. 

"So will you come with us?" Glorfindel turned around, looking back at the 
Lord and the King who were still dealing with the unwilling child. Erestor 
gently padded his horses' mane and looked back as well. Helkafin had 
been forced to return to Mirkwood alone as Glorfindel had insisted that his 
lover would come back to Imladris with them and stay there, instead of 
leaving to help ruling Mirkwood until the twins overtook the realm.

Finally the two Elves had mounted as well, each of them with one arm 
placed around a child's waist and one hand holding the reins of their 
horses. Somehow it was good to know that they had two valiant warriors 
with them, that would rather give their lives than see the children 
endangered. 

The first night of resting however proved difficult as Elrohir who had been 
sleeping during the whole trip had decided to play seek and hide with the 
older elves. He crawled away while they discussed the route for the next 
day and screamed loudly when he was picked up again. Thranduil got up, 
startled to hear his child cry out and starred at the place where the boy had 
peacefully been sitting only moments ago. "We must find him!"

Elrond nodded, trying to remain calm. "Thranduil, I want you to stay here 
and defend Elladan if needed. If both his parents are gone when he wakes 
up he'll be worried and claim that he knew that we should never have left 
Lórien. Please, sing to him, tell him a story, but make sure that he isn't 
worried." With a pained face he gently kissed his lover, who nodded 
obdiently, much too scared about his son's disappearance to fight about the 
way he was forced to stay.

Glorfindel and Erestor just nodded when they were told in which 
directions they were supposed to search and mounted their horses, while 
Elrond shot another worried glance at Thranduil, unsure if he really 
wanted to leave them alone. Not that his lover wasn't capable to defend 
himself, but defend himself and a child was more difficult and he couldn't 
see either of them harmed. But at least Thranduil was carrying a weapon 
while his little Elrohir was far too young to even understand what was 
happening. "I'll be back as soon as possible, I love you." Elrond turned and 
mounted his steed, desperatly wishing to find his younger son soon. 

Chapter 11

~On the way to Imladris~

Elrond desperatly shook his head and turned to Erestor. "I want you to 
return to Imladris with Thranduil. I know you are both worried, but I 
cannot see Elladan endangered and I want to be sure that someone who 
loves and knows him looks after him. Neither you, nor Thranduil will 
return and give me more reason to worry about those I love than just 
missing my younger son. Am I understood?" Erestor bowed his head, but 
Elrond didn't fail to see the rebellic sparkle in his eyes. 

Both Thranduil and Erestor hated the thought to return to Imladris, but he 
had managed to convince Thranduil that Elladan needed him more than 
ever. It was Erestor he was worrying about. His chief advisor had sworn to 
protect Thranduil's children just like he had sworn to protect his own son. 
And it seemed to disturb him seriously to remain in Imladris while Elrohir 
was missing. However, he had to. Elladan and Thranduil needed to be 
supported in their worry and Elrond knew that he couldn't spare Glorfindel 
for that task. 

Glorfindel wrapped his arms around his lover and whispered to him, 
telling him that he needed to stay in Imladris like Elrond had commanded, 
which of his warriors he wanted to be send to the woods as search troops 
and he told him that he loved him. With a frustrated sigh Erestor leaned 
into a short, sweet kiss before Elrond and Glorfindel departed and they 
were left with the accusing stare of the older twin who had obviously 
already noticed that his brother was missing and that the older Elves were 
upset. When Thranduil tried to pick him up Elladan shook his head and 
glared at his father. "Elir!" 

"He is far too smart for his age. Just like his father." Erestor sighed and 
looked at Thranduil. "But we will leave this place and we will leave it 
now. I will see neither Elladan nor you endangered if there is anything I 
can do to change it." He picked up Elladan and ignored his screaming and 
his struggling. "Please gather your clothes, child, he will scream and fight, 
but we will leave now though. I know how to ride while holding a 
stubborn and struggling little elfling."

Thranduil crossed his arms for a moment, but when he saw the stern and 
serious expression in his former mentor's eyes he knew that Erestor hadn't 
been teasing him, but was merely stating what he was thinking. So instead 
of commenting he obdiently gathered the remaining clothes and mounted 
his horse, wondering how Erestor had managed to mount his with the 
struggling child in his arms. 

Chapter 12

~Lórien, the way to Imladris~

Glorfindel had ridden to Lórien, to inform the Galadhrim that they needed 
their support in their search for the little elfling. There was hope yet, as 
Helkafin had immediatly left for Mirkwood to inform the elves of their 
task to search the little prince, Erestor and Thranduil had seeked help in 
Imaldris and the poor child couldn't have been carried off *that* far in the 
short time he had been gone before his disappearance had been noticed.

Still Glorfindel couldn't help but feel terrible. Not only his young prince 
but also for his friends and his lover. It was clear that they were feeling 
terrible, even worse than he felt himself. And he couldn't forget the despair 
he had seen in Elrond's eyes. Something that until now had been saved for 
the seldom times he spoke about Elros. But of course his children were as 
dear to him as his twinbrother had been. Losing one of them would be 
something worse than any of them could face. Especially not Thranduil 
who had, after all, lost his father only a few months ago.

He turned upon hearing a sound and tried to focus on the place it had come 
from. Once he had made it out, he dismounted silently and sneaked closer. 
Only to find a rabbit jumped away from him. It was becoming terrible 
lately. His ears picked up every sound the forrest made and he was too 
tired and too worried to make out which was one he actually needed to 
react on. Almost four weeks had passed since they had parted and he 
hoped that by now soldiers from all three Elven realms had ridden to find 
the little elfling.

The worry was slowly driving him insane. The sleepless nights were 
taking control over his wishes and he found himself returning to Erestor, 
finding his lover and his friends in the different elven realms, laughing and 
singing together and showing their happiness in graceful and beautiful 
dances. He didn't mind to ride to War for a long time. But searching for a 
child was something entirely different.

Once more he heard a sound, thinking it to be the light step of a horse. But 
it was nonsense, each of them was searching a certain place, none would 
waste time and energy to help searching another until they were done and 
had found the child. Suddenly he felt a hand placed upon his shoulder and 
turned around to frown. "You are supposed to be in Imladris!"

Chapter 13

~I had to cut a chap out, because it became to filling and silly... it was 
plain boring. Just so you don't wonder, there was something between this 
chap 12 and this one before.~

~The way to Imladris~

"No, I am not." Erestor smiled sweetly and dismounted, coming to stand 
next to Asfaloth. Glorfindel dismounted as well, trusting Asfaloth to take 
care of himself and pulled his lover close. But even while he felt his whole 
body reacting to the presence of his lover and filled with the crave to pull 
him closer and kiss him, tell him how much he loved him and how much 
he had missed him. Instead, though, he sombered and eyed his lover 
sternly. "Elrond told you that you are supposed to stay in Imladris. Enjoy 
the feeling that you are under his command, not under mine or you would 
feel my belt upon that fair skin of yours."

"A tempting offer, my love, we should discuss that more closly when we 
are back in Imladris. But just to calm you, I am here at Elrond's wish. 
Elrohir was found and our Lord wants you to return home with me to 
Imladris. He thought that you might like the idea to meet me instead of one 
of the soldiers," Erestor smiled at the relieved expression in Glorfindel's 
eyes and kissed him lovingly. It was obvious that he had been just as 
worried as the rest about Elrohir's well being and Erestor once again found 
himself glad that Glorfindel had forgiven him and didn't hold a grudge 
against Thranduil and his children.

Glorfindel kissed his lover hungrily, but soon rested his head against 
Erestor's shoulder and the darkhaired caressed his hair softly. "You should 
be resting first, love, I will watch your sleep, don't worry." And he 
carefully sat down and pulled his lover down into his lap, wrapping his 
arms around Glorfindel as soon as he was seated. "All is well, my love, I 
am here to watch you, you can give your mind time to rest now." With that 
he gently kissed the blond hair and leaned back again the tree to sing 
Glorfindel to sleep just like he would have done it with a child.

All senses in Glorfindel were against falling asleep. He had to be awake, 
he had to know what had happened, to hear that Elrohir was well and that 
they could go back to Imladris and see him. But Erestor was far too 
peaceful for an elf who had left a mourning family to search for his lover. 
Elrohir had to be well and he couldn't help the sleep taking over, though he 
wanted to know what had happened. Desperatly and with all his heart. Still 
he felt Irmo calling for him and the days of barely sleeping an hour or two 
made him drift into sleep before he wanted to.

Erestor smiled and rested his head against Glorfindel's, happy that he knew 
his lover to be safe and warm again now. After Elrohir had arrived in 
Imladris he had been worried about Glorfindel until Elrond had returned 
and allowed him to go and search for his lover on his own, knowing how 
desperatly the two needed to be together after their terrible fight. It was 
forgiven what had happened, more or less it was, but it was still far from 
being forgotten. 

Chapter 14

~"Love is in the air" is a good song to write such a scene. Hugs and kisses 
to Ava, thanks my sweet, you've been a great help once more!!!~

~The way to Imladris~

Erestor watched his lover, who was still peacefully sleeping in his arms 
and resisted the urge to tease him by telling him that he had heard 
something. Glorfindel hadn't rested for days and surely wasn't in the mood 
to be teased. And still there was his thought that having him back had to 
be enough. Though he wanted to have back his lover like he had been 
before their parting. Sweet, and so cheeky that noone could possibly be 
compared to him. 

He kissed his lover once more and found him moving in his arms this 
time. Glorfindel turned and smiled, carefully placing his hands to both 
sides of Erestor's face before he lovingly kissed it. Erestor was here, he 
hadn't just dreamed. They were neither fighting nor seperated from each 
other and he had truly been told that Elrohir was well. Questions ran 
through his head, questions about the child's return. About the well being 
of their Lord's family. 

But he didn't ask any of them, not yet. His lover came first, before all the 
others and he wanted him to know that he did. Wanted to make sure that 
he never again tried to find comfort in another's arms. And he chided 
himself, angry that he still couldn't forget what had happened, though he 
wanted him back, wanted their life to be normal again. There would be 
many days to talk. His eyes glimmed warmly and he turned in his lover's 
lap, facing him now, and drank from the love and the trust in the dark 
eyes. 

Gently but insistend Glorfindel's fingers traveled beneath the advisor's 
riding tunic and he smiled, seeing the all too innocent expression in his 
lover's face. Erestor wanted this, just as much he wanted it himself and he 
felt hands skillfully undress him like they had done so many times before. 
They hadn't made love since Erestor had told him about Oropher. Of 
course they had kissed and caressed each other, but they hadn't done more.

There was something that still worried Glorfindel about Erestor's strange 
words back then but this morning his lover wanted him and it was obvious 
that he did not intend to wait for much longer as he already eagerly aided 
in undressing himself. This would be the last confirmation for him that 
Glorfindel truthfully had forgiven him as he knew that no matter how 
much his lover lusted for another he would never share his body with 
someone he didn't love.

Glorfindel shook his head with a soft smile when he noticed that Erestor 
actually pulled out a small bottle from one of his tunic pockets. It was just 
too typical to make sure that they wouldn't get into any trouble. Not even 
when it came wetting certain parts of the body for intrusion. He ignored 
his lover's offer to take him. Though the wilds were his place just like 
Erestor was usually in charge while they were making out in his study or 
in the library he just didn't feel like making him submit. Not while he still 
needed to clear out a few things.

"No, melme, I want you to take me!" Glorfindel smiled, hoping that it 
would help his lover to adapt to their lovelife again. But to his worry 
Erestor shook his head, becoming slightly pale upon the mere suggestion 
to be dominant though he had used to enjoy that position very much. 
"There is nothing you have to be careful about, my love. I know that you 
would prefer to take me."

With a patient smile Glorfindel shook his head. "No, no, love, I want you 
to be happy. It doesn't matter what I would like to do. Please just claim 
me." Erestor frowned and shook his head. "Listen to us, it is ridiculous. 
Here we are, naked like on the day we were given birth to, sitting in the 
woods and discussing who of us will take the other. And either you will 
give in and make me yours again or we can dress and ride home and 
discuss this in our room instead."

Glorfindel managed not to sigh at the stubborn expression in his lover's 
eyes. There would indeed be much to discuss, but if he didn't claim Erestor 
now he knew the travel back would be most unpleasant. The last centuries 
had shown him how annoyed Erestor could become about such things. 
How he would remain silent for hours just because Elrond once prefered 
Glorfindel's ideas to his. He got up, giving his lover the possibility to lie 
down, before he lovingly kissed his shoulders.

"You just as stubborn as smart, my love. You knew I would give in, didn't 
you?" Only the slight shaking of Erestor's body told him that his lover was 
actually laughing at him, quietly but still. When Glorfindel lovingly, yet 
firm slapped the pretty buttock before him his lover turned around. "Oh 
mighty warrior, please do not do me any harm or I might have to run 
away." 

At least there was *no* doubt that Erestor was enjoying himself and for 
some strange reason he seemed very comfortable with submitting to his 
lover's touch. He resisted the temptation to pull his lover over his knee and 
give him what he obviously begged for. There was something else Erestor 
wanted and he had never felt comfortable with the idea to spank his lover 
openly. Making love was something that could be understood by almost 
every other creature, the foreplays however, differed far too much to be 
understood by everyone.

He carefully prepared his lover, as if he already needed to be taken 
Glorfindel at least wanted to make sure that he wouldn't become hurt in 
the act. Once again he wondered why the mere thought of taking his lover 
could make him grow hard, no matter how long Erestor spend on teasing 
and mocking him before he actually got to claim him. But he was, feeling 
his own shaft while he lubricated it as well, just to be sure.

Erestor moaned as soon as he felt the tip of his lover's shaft against his 
body and heard the pleased groan from Glorfindel's throat. It took only a 
few moments before he spilled himself, cursing that he hadn't been able to 
wait for his lover who was still regulary and far too carefully thrusting into 
his body. But he knew that telling Glorfindel such a thing at the moment 
would be folly and he just relaxed, enjoying the feeling of his lover's 
weight above him. And when Glorfindel screamed his name as he came he 
felt satisfaction, finally at ease with himself again. His lover loved and 
wanted him, so life was still worth living.

Chapter 15
~As I explained to most of you already, I heard something about a terrible 
ending kidnapping on the news and just couldn't bring myself to make it as 
angsty as it was supposed to be at first. So this is the fluff-solution.~

~On the way to Imladris~

"You still didn't tell me... who found Elrohir and how he was found," 
Glorfindel said and turned to Erestor who was riding next to him and 
pretending to be calm and serious as always though they had only dressed 
and mounted their horses about two hours ago. His lover looked at him 
and smiled teasingly for a moment before sombering. He was eager to tell 
Glorfindel, but still it was so much more fun to have him ask and plead. 
As soon as they were close to Imladris he could give up, knowing that 
Thranduil or one of the others would surely inform him. 

But for now it was different and Erestor's mien showed just how much he 
was enjoying himself. "You would like to know who did, wouldn't you?" 
He asked teasingly and smiled about the glare he received. Slowly, very 
slowly their relationship was going back to normal and though he was still 
worried about the past events Erestor tried hard not to think about it 
anymore. Of course he still felt bad, but Glorfindel had forgiven him and 
he hoped desperatly that they would go back to normal without discussing 
the past any further.

No, discussing the past was far too painful and he worried what Glorfindel 
would think if he knew the whole truth, if he would be even more angry 
and disgusted by his deeds than he had been when he had heard about the 
relationship. Erestor's thoughts returned to the present when he felt his arm 
pinched painfully and he looked at his lover, pretending to sulk. "Well I 
surely will not tell you if you hurt me." Glorfindel's mien clearly revealed 
that he didn't believe one word of what Erestor had said.

"Don't ever try to tell *me* that you dislike pain. But this isn't funny. I 
want to know what happened and it's not your place to tease me." With a 
sudden movement he pulled Erestor into his lap, causing Hómir to snort in 
distress as he hated losing his elf to Asfaloth even though he had 
experienced it several times already. His Erestor wasn't as foolish as 
Asfaloth's Glorfindel, he only held elflings while riding at times. Though 
there was a good thing about it. Whenever he lost Erestor, his elf would 
take his time while taking him to the stables on his own. 

And even while Glorfindel was already impatiently pulling on Erestor's 
hand he would still stay until he was sure that Hómir wasn't mad at him, 
until he had fed groomed and padded him and told him that he was the 
best horse ever. Once Hómer had almost kicked Glorfindel out of anger 
when Erestor had called him his precious love and Glorfindel had 
complained and whinned until they had left the stables. After all he had 
known Erestor longer than Glorfindel did.

"You are doing this to tease Hó, don't you? You know very well that he 
dislikes it if you do things like that." Erestor's voice was irritated and 
Glorfindel sighed angrily. This horse would someday be the end to his 
patience as Asfaloth and he had been through far more and still Erestor 
would behave as if he was doing another elf wrong while he was only 
teasing a horse. "Well calm down, melme, I didn't do this to do him any 
harm, I just wanted you close."

And to underline he kissed Erestor's hair and sneaked his hands beneath 
his lover's tunic, wrapping them tightly around the naked skin. Luckily 
Erestor calmed down instead of becoming more angry and leaned back 
against him. Glorfindel smiled sweetly. "I love you, Erestor, I love you 
more than anything," he mumbled and rested his head on his lover's 
shoulder, thankful that Asfaloth was more than capable to carry two riders 
and that he didn't intend to throw them to the ground.

He decided to give up asking Erestor as he didn't want him to think that he 
was merely saying such things to make him talk. It wouldn't take *that* 
long to return to Imladris and find out on his own and he surely would find 
someone to tell him there. But while they went own riding peacefully 
Erestor suddenly turned to him. "Thranduil found Elrohir, he came back 
carrying him and I was so surprised that I almost dropped Elladan when I 
saw them returning together."

~
melme = love

Chapter 16

~Don't worry, this is not going to become a happy love story between 
Glorfindel/Erestor just yet. Though I know that I'm being terrible at the 
moment. I just thought that my fav couple deserves some happiness at 
times. ;) 
Ai and I *know* that the distances between the different realms change 
everytime I write about them. Please forgive me.~

~Imladris~

Erestor jumped off Asfaloth and Glorfindel's lap some time before 
reaching Imladris. He gently padded Hómir's mane before he mounted his 
horse again. It had been such an amusing day when Thranduil had returned 
with Elrohir in his arms, followed by a small group of humans who had 
found the little prince and decided to take him to Imladris. It was almost 
ironic that after all the time the Elves had searched the woods and 
expected the worst the child had appeared healthy and almost happy in his 
own realm only a few days later than his brother. 

And when Thranduil had carefully overtaken his younger son they had 
known him to be the father immediatly. Neither Thranduil nor Erestor had 
revealed the secret of the birth to them though they had been more than 
thankful about the condition of the baby. Erestor smiled, looking forward 
to see the children again. He was thankful that Glorfindel had pleaded him 
not to, no even forbidden him to go and live in Mirkwood. As though he 
had been about to leave just to make sure that Glorfindel saw that there 
was no point in forbidding him things he felt better by far about living 
with his friends and his family.

Leaving his home would have been terrible and he felt a happy tingling in 
his stomach when he looked upon Imladris again, reaching out to take his 
lover's hand. Glorfindel smiled at his lover when he saw Thranduil and 
Elrond already waiting for them. Elrond often greeted them before they 
had taken their horses to the stables but still he always felt happy when he 
returned and found someone waiting.

But they weren't the only ones waiting for them as to both sides of 
Thranduil there stood a small elfling, tightly clasping to both the arm 
placed around him and one of the legs of his father. They still needed 
support but Erestor was more than happy to see that they were standing 
now, it was one of the important steps for a child to become independent 
and he adored the knowledge that after they had learned to walk and to run 
and had become a little more sensible he could start reading to them and 
teaching them. 

Once they had reached them Erestor dismounted and kissed Hómir's mane, 
promising him to return to him later on before allowing him to leave for 
his stable and hearing Glorfindel step behind him and telling Asfaloth to 
leave as well. Then, while he was still walking closer Erestor smirked in 
surprise, seeing Elrohir let go both his father's leg and his hand to 
unsteadily start walking towards him. Out of instinct Erestor squatted 
down immediatly, to then extend his arms to the little elfling and call him 
gently.

Elrohir immediatly snuggled into his grandfather's arms and Erestor picked 
him up, smiling as the young one tried to wrap his arms around his neck. 
"Well it seems that you have been missed greatly while you were away, 
my love," Glorfindel whispered to his lover before he hugged Elrond and 
told him just how grateful and happy he was to know that the children 
were fine. And while Erestor kissed Thranduil hello and his sleeve was 
pulled by Elladan so that he had to kneel and hug the other child as well, 
Glorfindel and Elrond started discussing what had happened while the 
seneschal had been gone.

Chapter 17

~Um, Thranduil claimed to need that talk, don't hate me. I know it's 
boring.~
~Imladris~

"Ada?" Erestor turned around, totally surprised to hear his son adress him 
such. A warm feeling spread inside his stomach, this was something he 
had always wished for, since the first time he had heard about Oropher's 
pregnancy. And still it had taken until after the birth of his grandsons for 
Thranduil to just find out about the fact that they were father and son. But 
then he saw the worried expression in the blue eyes. 

"What ails you, my ch.." Erestor's bit his tongue, "Thranduil?" The 
younger elf looked around and collected a chair from the back of the room 
to sit down next to the chief advisor. "I... I have been reading some things, 
since I guessed my state. You know. I'm a bit worried. It is so strange, 
because I read that... I do not know how to ask this. But..."

Erestor collected the shaking hands in his own and carressed them 
reassuringly. And when Thranduil lifted his head to look at him he 
couldn't help but smile. It surely had been a good idea to make sure that 
Thranduil trusted him since the day he was born. "You can take your time, 
I am almost finished with my work anyway. Just start at the beginning and 
tell me what troubles you."

Thranduil just looked at him for several moments, trying to remember 
what had upset him such. But then he licked his lips nervously. "You 
know that everyone told me that... nursing the twins would be a good idea. 
And... so far I do not mind it. I read that... they will eat different food 
sooner or later. Do.. do you remember when if..." Erestor smiled when 
Thranduil bit his lip and couldn't go on any longer.

"Yes I do remember that Oropher nursed you as well. It will take about 
one more month until you can give them other food, at least if your 
children react like you did when you were a child. You were about to start 
eating real food when we returned to Greenwood with you." A thoughtful 
expression settled in Erestor's eyes, remembering the troublesome time 
that had followed.

"Why... why did you leave Mirkwood? I... you said that father did not want 
to announce his pregnancy. But didn't you want to tell them that I am your 
child?" The hurt expression in Thranduil's eyes worried Erestor greatly. 
The thought that Thranduil could feel unloved had caused him many 
sleepless nights and to see him ask such a foolish question... He pulled the 
younger elf into his arms. 

"I *always* wanted to raise you as my child, Thranduil. I love you more 
than anyone, even more than I love Glorfindel. And I would have given up 
my pride, my love and my life for you. Never doubt that, my child. But 
Oropher had a realm to lead. He needed an heir and back then I didn't 
know what he would have done if I had taken you with me instead. I am 
still unsure if he would have allowed me to leave Greenwood with you. 
Though I must admit that I wouldn't have cared anymore if I had had the 
same possibilties some years later."

Thranduil frowned, confused by Erestor's words. "But didn't you tell me 
that you were happy with... my father, even after my birth?" Erestor looked 
up, almost scared and kissed Thranduil's hair. "Oh yes, of course we were 
happy, my dear child, do not trouble yourself. I told you, I do not regret 
one kiss, one night I shared with him. But seriously, did you not wish to 
ask me about another thing?"

"Do you... know what ada did when I started to bite him?" Thranduil 
blushed furiously and Erestor sighed, unsure why in the name of the Valar 
his child was embarassed to ask him about nursing a child. "Do they do 
that already? I fear you will have to cope with it. You can forbid them to 
do it, but it won't work for long. Oropher used to say that you do that 
because of your Noldo-blood. But I read that Sinda-children do that just 
like any other child. Tell Elrond that he has to find a healing potion for it. 
I'm sure it will drive him insane and while he works on it you can treat it 
with milk, usually it works pretty well."

Erestor smirked at the confused expression in Thranduil's eyes and didn't 
miss the moment when he understood. Torturing the children's father 
would surely be fun while he had a method to get rid of the major part of 
the pain on his own. "Thank you, ada, I will leave you to work now." He 
smiled and kissed his father's cheek before getting up to silently leave the 
room. With a pleased smile Erestor shook his head. There was surely 
something of him inside his son.

Chapter 18

~Hm... Schundersong-Opfer isn't the best combination to write this. But 
then.. it isn't the worst either.
Btw. my apology to those who do not love my fav pairing... but that's me, 
being unable to write slash scenes about fresh parents. *cough*~

~Imladris~

Glorfindel caressed his lover's arms, happy to have Erestor burried once 
more into a loving hug, in a warm, comfortable bed. He wouldn't think on 
what had happened, about nothing of it, not tonight. Tonight he would 
seduce his lover, allow him to take what he wanted and not allow him to 
submit again. No, today it would be different again, today he would submit 
to his lover and grant him any comfort he might need after he had seemed 
so strange during their last time. 

"Love?" He kissed Erestor's nose playfully, totally surprised when he saw 
the strange expression in his lover's eyes. Something was wrong and he 
didn't like the thought at all. But the sadness was hidden quickly and the 
grey eyes fixed at him with a strange mixture of love and devotion. And 
Glorfindel became even more worried, wondering just what had happened 
in the past and why Erestor had never told him. With a knowing glance he 
regarded his lover, he just wouldn't give in again, he wouldn't allow him to 
sumbit.

However they weren't close to that yet and he watched hungrily while the 
darkhaired undressed himself. Somehow he couldn't ever get enough of 
seeing him, as if he didn't grow tired but became more addicted to him 
through the years. And when Erestor returned to the bed and undressed 
him, teasingly kissing the skin he revealed he leaned back to watch him, 
enjoying the sight of the most beautiful being he had ever seen. /My love../ 
And he wouldn't share him again, he would rather... he bit his tongue when 
he saw Erestor's surprised glance, knowing that his love had surely seen 
that he was troubled.

"Just lie back and relax, melme..." Glorfindel was totally surprised by the 
demand and almost didn't understand it. Erestor actually wished to take 
him, without any discussions or protest. He rolled onto his stomach and 
waited until Erestor had retrieved the oil from their cupboard. "Do not 
trouble yourself, precious, you know I would never hurt you.." Silently, 
though a little worried, Glorfindel nodded, wondering just why Erestor 
suddenly needed to reassure him like that.

And even the often experienced touch of Erestor's hands seemed different 
today. As if it were the hands of another person... or perhaps as if his lover 
wasn't touching him. Carefully prodding a way he had prepared knowingly 
and fast many times before. But Glorfindel didn't dare to speak, fearing 
that he might scare Erestor by commenting on his strange behaviour. And 
it wasn't that terrible, it was just different from usual. Glorfindel leaned 
into the touch, not even surprised anymore when Erestor claimed him 
without any teasing. If this was the way Oropher had experienced him he 
had surely had a less fun. 

He heard a chocked cry when his lover thrust his shaft into him and 
immediatly tensed, terrified by the desperate sound in the loved voice. But 
Erestor was far away from stopping, he just thrust into him with well-
aimed, though somehow also strangely shy and even though Glorfindel's 
body reacted immediatly his mind didn't even notice what was happening 
to him. This wasn't for Erestor, this wasn't for him. It was just a strange, 
uncomfortable act, as if they were trying to pretend everything was right so 
it was wrong, more than wrong.

When his lover moaned and collapsed above him he tried hard to focus on 
their lovemaking, anxious what Erestor would think if he didn't come 
while they were together. But he just couldn't, instead he saw a terribly 
presented corpse lying before him, a corpse with long, golden hair and 
blue eyes, just like him. And he could see his lover above him, making 
love to him, before the thought struck him, how similar Oropher and he 
might have looked to someone who was in love with light hair and blue 
eyes....

"Please... Glorfindel...." He tried to focus on his lover's voice, 
unknowingly moving towards him. "Please my love... what is wrong with 
you?" Glorfindel looked at Erestor, unsure what to say but seemingly it 
was enough as a sweet kiss was placed to his lips. "Oh my love, I was so 
worried, you were talking in your sleep, I didn't know what to do when 
you wouldn't wake up. Did you have a nightmare?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
melme = love

Chapter 19

~Imladris~

Glorfindel paced the room once more, looking at Elrond with a worried 
mien. "But... he is scaring me, my friend. He; I do not know how to tell 
him, but everytime I fall asleep it seems that my dreams are about us. 
Perhaps about the past, maybe about the future. I don't know. But it scares 
me. I see him, I know he loves me, but I just do not know what to make of 
this. And I don't think I can bare it much longer. While we go to bed 
everything is fine. I feel him in my arms, I smell him, I know it's him and 
that I am I. But after I fell asleep I become insecure, I feel that he's drifting 
from him. That his heart belongs to Oropher. And I don't want to believe 
that. He should be mine, his heart and his heart should belong to me. I... I 
just do not know what to do."

Elrond regarded his friend calmly, waiting for him to finally sit down in 
the chair he had offered to him several minutes ago. He was worried as 
well, more than he wanted to admit. As telling Glorfindel about his own 
thoughts would upset him even more. The main problem was, that Erestor 
stubbornly refused to talk to him as well as to Glorfindel and even to 
Thranduil about any problem *he* might see or have. He only muttered 
that Glorfindel was foolish at times, but instead of discussing the trouble 
like he would easily do for any politcal problem he just refused to speak.

With a smile Elrond looked at the younger twin and started to hum to gain 
his attention. "Elrohir, you *know* that you aren't allowed to climb onto 
the window seat. Get down there or I will come and fetch you." The child 
was too curious for his own good and being taken away from his family 
and travel with the men hadn't scared him at all. If anything it had 
encouraged him as he had noticed that nothing had happened to him. As 
soon as his child had sulkily obeyed his wishes and returned to him he 
picked him up and pointed to the cradle. "Your brother is a good little elf. 
He's sleeping..." 

But Elrohir couldn't be fooled, just smirking at his father with the 
knowledge that he was loved far too dearly to be held responsible for his 
curiosity. "Ada nice..." he mumbled and Elrond shook his head helplessly. 
"I love you as well, my child," he kissed his son's forehead and returned 
his attention to Glorfindel. "I fear I do not know which advise I should 
offer you. If you wish I can ask Thranduil to try to speak to Erestor, but I 
know your opinion on my love's interference with your lovelife. And I 
know that you tried to speak to him already. Perhaps you should believe 
him if he says that everything is fine? You trust him, right?"

Glorfindel nodded slowly, obviously unhappy about his reply. But there 
wasn't any comfort Elrond could offer to him, nothing he could say 
without worsening his mood and scaring him even more. And even though 
he felt terrible for not telling his friend that Thranduil had tried to speak to 
Erestor twice already, he knew how much it would have upset him. Erestor 
claimed that he was fine, so maybe they should just believe him. Perhaps 
he was fine and they were just stupid, imputing the outburst and 
Glorfindel's nightmare too much meaning. 

Even the mere thought that Erestor had cried could have confused 
Glorfindel enough to talk himself into fears that were useless and perhaps 
they were actually scaring Erestor away from them by asking him what 
was wrong again and again. He looked into his friend's eyes, searching 
them to see what he would do. Of course Glorfindel would claim to act 
upon his advise, to honor his words. But there was a difference between 
his words and his deeds at times, as seemingly he rather lied instead of 
openly telling his Lord that he thought lowly of his opinion on a topic.

Sadly, though, this wasn't about dressings rules of a formal celebration or 
training the guards in bow shooting or swords fight. And he couldn't 
demand of him to act like he wished. This wasn't a matter between an elf 
and his Lord but between two friends. There were no ranks involved, and 
it wasn't sure whether his ideas were right or wrong. It wasn't difficult to 
find the doubt in the blond's eyes and he didn't think that Glorfindel had 
really tempted to hide it. But still he knew that he wouldn't speak of it 
openly. He would just not ask for advise on the topic again and do what he 
thought was right instead. Elrond sighed inwardly, but didn't comment. 

Chapter 20

~Imladris~

The climate was mild and dry and Thranduil and Elrond had decided to 
spend the day outside. It had been five days since his tasks had last 
allowed Elrond to spend the time with his family and Thranduil leaned 
against him, happily watching their children. Elrond smiled and wrapped 
his arms around his lover and suddenly wondered just why he had never 
asked Thranduil to come and live in Imladris before. 

Oropher surely would have allowed such an idea, especially with the 
knowledge that Erestor was around to take care of their child. Swiftly he 
thought that it was strange that both the chief advisor and the former king 
had never spoken privatly when they were in Imladris. Noone had ever 
noticed anything, neither that they had been lovers nor that they still were 
when Erestor had left Mirkwood, when he had become Glorfindel's lover.

"Elladan!" The older twin reculantly turned his attention to his fathers. 
"You aren't allowed to wander away that far, you know what happened 
when Elrohir tried that, stay around here where I can see you!" Elladan 
quickly lowered his gaze in order to hide a rebellic little sparkling in his 
eyes, but nodded obidiently. There was no use in arguing with his father, 
especially not as he had the feeling that Elrond wouldn't even understand 
what he was saying.

Thranduil waited until their son had turned his attention from them before 
he pulled one of Elrond's braids. "Don't be that stern, love," he whispered 
and sighed when his lover reacted in the way he had feared. It was 
impossible to explain Elrond that a child needed it's freedom since the day 
they had been 'warned' by Elrohir's disapperance. For some reason Elrond 
stubbornly muttered something about having to protect their children 
everytime he forbid them to do what they wanted to do and Thranduil felt 
like shaking him, telling him that it was terrible to be overprotected like 
that. 

But if something would happen Elrond would blame him then and even if 
he wouldn't he would blame himself. With a sigh he leaned against Elrond 
again, trying not to think on it and for a moment silence settled. "Love, I 
fear that you might make them run from you.. run from us, try to be 
rebellic, join the soldiers too early. That we might get into serious trouble 
with them if you push them too far."

Elrond nodded with a thoughtful look on his lover. "My heart, what did 
Oropher do after he had found you among the soldiers, when you told him 
that you had tried to join my guards and live in Imladris? He was really 
angry when he found out that you had actually won my heart immediatly 
after I saw you, but not because he was against our love, he was just angry 
that you disobeyed him." 

Thranduil blushed, wondering just how well his lover knew him, his eyes 
showed some deep burried emotion before he quickly shook his head and 
calmed himself. "It was worth the punishment, don't worry. Seeing Erestor 
again, meeting you for the first time. And well... I survived it." Elrond 
turned his lover's head, shocked by his words. "You... what do you mean 
by you survived it? Ai Thranduil, please tell me that he did not do you 
wrong."

Chapter 21 

~Um, it doesn't do me any good to hear certain songs. You wouldn't know 
it though, it's German. And it's terrible. But it's on a CD I like a lot. Es, in 
case you still read this, "Die traurige Ballade von Susi Spakowski"~

~Imladris~

Elrond regarded Thranduil closely, but the lighthaired shook his head. 
"Don't worry, he never mistreated me. He punished me like any other 
father would if he had been scared for his child's life for several weeks." 
The worry didn't leave Elrond's eyes, but as Thranduil seemed 
determinded not to talk about what had happened back then he decided to 
let it pass for the moment. There was something strange around Oropher, 
seemingly everyone who had dealt with him for longer didn't like speaking 
about him...

Thranduil picked up Elrohir who had crawled towards them and hugged 
him protectivly. "No one will ever harm you, my little one, I promise." 
Elrond turned around, even more worried once more. Somehow Thranduil 
sounded exactly like Erestor at times. And still he had never before 
noticed that they were father and son. Burried in thoughts he didn't notice 
Elladan until he was poked against the shoulder. "Ada!"

He heard an amused chuckle from Thranduil which confused him even 
more. Somehow it seemed that his lover had total control about himself 
again, now that their children were around. But maybe it was better if they 
didn't see the dark and confused mood of their fathers. He tried hard to 
concentrate on a cheery mien while he picked up his older son and 
flinched when he noticed how cold the little hands had become. Turning to 
Thranduil he smiled. "Let us go back inside, my heart." His lover nodded 
in agreement and took his hand while he carried his son on the other arm.

"Mylord?" Elrond turned around and looked at Erestor. His chief advisor 
smiled politly. "I would like to offer watching the children for a while as 
I'm done with my tasks and I thought we might look at a few books after 
all the fresh air they get through going on those walks with you." Elrond 
laughed, knowing that Glorfindel and Erestor teased each other on whether 
they would learn to write or to fight first and nodded, agreeing that it 
would be merely fair to give Erestor a chance. 

There wasn't much that amused his advisor that much lately and he 
enjoyed the way it seemed to give joy to both Glorfindel and Erestor at the 
same time. They were doing far too little to relax, both focused on their 
work in order to help him to work as little as possible. So it was more than 
right to give them the possibility to enjoy the children at times when they 
were still good mooded. Erestor exchanged a wink with Thranduil and 
took the children from their arms. "I will return them to you in about three 
hours." 

Both twins smirked happily and Elrond shook his head. Sometimes it 
seemed as if they prefered having Erestor around to his company. But 
then.. they were children, they liked spending their time with everyone 
they liked. Though Glorfindel sometimes seemed to have little difficulties 
with Elladan, but it wasn't that bad, he just wasn't as happy to be around 
the Seneschal, maybe something about the friendly, yet stern air around 
him confused the child.  

~I know it's short... :/~
 
Chapter 22

~I can still hardly take my eyes off the Dom/Orli-kissing pic... but don't 
worry, I won't start to suddenly write Legolas/Merry.. this is still about 
cute Elves and I wouldn't write rps or interspecies. BUT - it's YUMMY!!! 
*drools*
In other news.. we needed to ensure certain... things to make the next story 
believable. *smiles sweetly*~

~Imladris~

"Come with me love, just imagine - three hours!" Thranduil's eyes 
sparkled and Elrond smiled, longing so hard to make love to his lover, to 
press him against a wall and kiss him. But he didn't want the other Elves to 
think that Thranduil was some sort of consort he would use wherever it 
pleased him. He still smiled at the King of Mirkwood, not at some poor 
soldier. And even if Thranduil had been an Orc their love would still have 
been enough to treat him like a Valar.

As soon as they reached their rooms he quickly closed and locked the door 
behind them, totally surprised to see that Thranduil had actually prepared 
fruit and cream for them. "We do not have time to eat as well, do we?" His 
lover raised his eyebrows in a most innocent expression and smiled 
sweetly, obviously claiming not to understand what Elrond was talking 
about. Then, without any warning he quickly pushed the darkhaired elf to 
the bed.

"Foolish cunneth," Elrond chided softly, desperatly trying not to burst into 
laughter. His lover and he finally had some time for themselves again and 
he was most eager to follow Thranduil's mood and allow him to take lead. 
"You should at least behave like my consort if it's impossible for you to 
behave like a King." Thranduil just laughed and started to undress the 
older elf, absolutly unimpressed by the seemingly strict glare he received. 

After some moments of struggeling Elrond just surrendered to Thranduil's 
touch and even aided him in undressing them, until he saw the wicked 
sparkle in the green-blue eyes, only seconds before he felt cream upon his 
abdomen. The Lord of Imladris gasped at the feeling of the cold pulp and 
tried to get away, but for the first time he noticed that he wasn't stronger 
than Thranduil and that his lover could easily hold him in place if he 
wanted to. "Thran, please..," he tried to sound serious but failed to 
continue his sentence as Thranduil had decided to claim his lips. 

It took Elrond several moments until he had freed himself, panting softly 
to get some air. "You will be the death to me one day, my heart. I should 
really try to teach you how to behave!" Thranduil smirked, still totally 
unimpressed by his lover's words he leaned forward and against his lover's 
ear. "Would you want to take me so hard that I will pass out? You know 
that I would love that and you know that it wouldn't be the first time. 
Though I fear that we do not have the time for such a game.." Elrond 
blushed furiously when he remembered what Thranduil was talking about.

They had been so foolish when they had first spend their time together and 
he wanted to have it like that again, without any trouble and sorrows, just 
for an hour or two. And all of a sudden he felt his lover's tongue, licking 
away the cream so teasingly that he wondered if Thranduil had changed at 
all during all the time they had been a couple. "Ai cunneth... what if 
somebody comes in?" Thranduil looked at him with a patient gaze, as if to 
explain that they both knew that noone would come through a locked door. 

"You should really stop calling me cunneth, love, they might think it is a 
strange way to adress the King of Mirkwood." Thranduil's voice sounded 
so calm and serious that Elrond moved up to look into his lover's eyes. But 
luckily the young King was merely teasing him and wasn't really offended 
by the thought of being called a little prince. "Im mela lle, cunneth," 
Elrond whispered and felt his hair being tugged painfully in return. 

~Sorry this took so long. I have a real life as well. *hugs and kisses her 
friends* It should have become longer, but I thought you might think I 
forgot about the story if I never post something new on it.~

Cunneth = princeling
Im mela lle = I love you

Chapter 23

~Imladris~

"Let my hair go, Elladan, you know perfectly well that I dislike that," 
Glorfindel chided and Erestor smiled, hurrying to help his lover with the 
older twin. "He's merely playing, dear, he doesn't mean to do you any 
harm, he does that with all of us." Glorfindel muttered something and 
turned away, causing Erestor to roll his eyes. Surely, the twins became 
trouble at times, but he hadn't asked for Glorfindel's help to look after 
them. And after he had accepted his lover's offer to help he had hoped he 
wouldn't complain for once.

Somehow he suspected Glorfindel to be interested in disatracting them 
from the books they had been looking at. But he only suceeded with 
Elladan, who had never shown great interest in books. Elrohir kept trying 
to understand what the writing above the pictures was about and Erestor 
patiently explained every single letter and syllable for him before he told 
him the whole word. Both twins surely were smart children, but he kept 
wondering if he was creating himself a young version of Thranduil by the 
way he treated his grandson. 

/Ai my child, I should just have.../ He mentally slapped himself for his 
wishes and concentrated on Elrohir again. "That is a h-u-m-a-n. Hu-man." 
Elrohir smiled. "Umen." Erestor cocked his eyebrows and the child 
giggled. "They look stupid." The chief advisor of Imladris didn't miss the 
little grunt his lover made and sighed. "Mortals aren't stupid, Elrohir, in 
fact you are partly human." The younger twin looked offended but didn't 
reply and Erestor wondered if it had been a good idea to make him think 
on such a topic already.

But on the other hand Elrohir loved thinking. Only two days ago he had 
found him crying and muttering that he didn't want his Elladan to die. And 
when he had asked him whatever made him think that Elladan could die he 
had said that Elrond had mentioned Elros' death. Most certainly he hadn't 
been talking to the twins but to Thranduil, but the effect was the same and 
it had taken him hours to convince Elrohir that Elves were immortal and 
that neither Elladan nor he would die. 

They would have to deal with the fact that some Elves left for Valinor or 
Mandos later, but he just didn't believe that children that could barely walk 
had to think upon death already. "This is an Orc." Erestor nearly chocked 
when he saw the facinated expression in Elladan's face. "They are cute." 
Glorfindel looked at Erestor with a very amused, teasing smile, saying that 
he was supposed to explain to the child's parents that he had actually fallen 
in love with an Orc already. Erestor wrinkled his nose in return and 
shrugged. 

"Elladan, Orcs aren't cute and you are not supposed to go near them, do 
you understand?" Elladan pulled a face but nodded obdiently. Well at least 
he wouldn't go there just yet, maybe later, when he had learned to speak 
and walk better, they surely were too smart for young children to talk to. 
Otherwise Erestor surely wouldn't have anything against talking to them. 
The advisor smiled and nodded. "I'm happy that you understand that, dear 
child."

Suddenly Elrohir interrupted his thoughts. "If I am human..." Erestor 
turned to look at the younger twin. "Elan is human too." Glorfindel nodded 
before Erestor could reply. An even more thoughtful expression appeared 
on Elrohir's face. "Then Elan dies?" He asked, with a very sad expression 
and Erestor wondered just why the younger twin always thought about 
death. "No, child, you are immortal. You are mainly Elf and Elves do not 
die...." /Unless they are stupid enough to go to war like your grandfather./

Elladan looked confused and Erestor quickly decided that it was time to 
turn the page of the book. Glorfindel smiled. "Oh look, it's Lúthien..." 
Erestor sighed deeply and picked up the book. "I think we should pick 
another one." Elrohir sulkily looked up. "But she pretty." Glorfindel 
smiled at the younger prince. "She *is* pretty, Elrohir. And of course she 
is, she's of elvish blood." 

Erestor sighed, trying to disatract Elrohir from the subject of death. "She's 
your great-great-grandmother, your grandmother's grandmother." Elrohir 
starred at him wide-eyed and beamed. "I want meet her." Erestor looked 
helplessly at Glorfindel who shrugged in return. "She left Arda to follow 
her husband," he finally replied softly and was relieved when he saw the 
knowing expression on Elrohir's face. He knew the tales of his 
grandparents and seemed to assume that they had left for Valinor as well. 
At least that didn't mean more questions about death just yet. They would 
have to deal with that topic later on.

Chapter 24

~I am sorry, so sorry, yes I am sorry... I know I'm bad, I'm really sorry. I'll 
try to make it up to you sometime during Affectus! *feels guilty*~
~Imladris~

"Mylord?" Erestor waited patiently until Elrond had asked him to come 
inside. He tried to hide his frown and clasped his hands behind his back 
and sighed deeply before he unfolded them to open the door. "There are 
news from Mirkwood, Mylord." Elrond turned to face his chief advisor, 
worried about the slight hint of irritation in his voice. It was most unusual 
for Erestor to become that worried upon a letter as he usually knew well 
enough that political matters needed a calm and objective view.

But today it was different and Elrond rested his arms on his hands, worried 
what might have upset his trusted friend like that. "Is something wrong 
with Helkafin?" It was possible that Erestor was worried about the current 
leader of Mirkwood as they had seemingly been good friends a while ago 
and still exchanged letters at times. He frowned when he saw that Erestor 
hesitated. 

"You might want to call it that way, but he is healthy if that is what you 
mean and so far I am not worried that that will change any time soon. 
However, I fear that you and Thranduil should go there soon. Or, if you do 
not wish to travel there send Thranduil and me," Erestor's voice was calm, 
but Elrond saw that his worry hadn't become any less. There was still the 
anxious frown which told Elrond that they really needed to go there soon.

Of course they had always planned to visit Mirkwood as often as possible, 
but they hadn't found the time to leave Imladris yet. But the news seemed 
to force them, they had to go and see Helkafin, greet Thranduil's people. 
And of course they had to spend time with them if they didn't want to give 
them up totally. So far Helkafin had always pleaded them to train one of 
their heirs to become King of Mirkwood as he didn't enjoy leading the 
realm as much as he enjoyed the idea of being advisor to the leader. 

"How urgent is the trip to Mirkwood?" Elrond didn't like the idea of 
leaving at all, at least not now or during the next few months. He flinched 
at the sound of cracking bones and regarded his chief advisor with a forced 
smile. Erestor folded his hands once more. "Would you prefer the good or 
the bad news first?" The Lord bit his lips and shrugged, unsure what to 
make of such an offer.

"Well the good news are that Helkafin is supposed to become King within 
the next month." For a moment Elrond just blinked, before he pulled 
himself together. "That is the good news?" Erestor nodded calmly, though 
they both knew that Helkafin would hate such an offer and refuse to follow 
it. But that was something they could accept. Even if Helkafin overtook 
Mirkwood forever they would still have an ally there. "And the bad 
news?"

Erestor clenched his teeth. "The young Elves of Mirkwood are rebellious 
and angry, both at Thranduil and Helkafin. They dislike the idea of having 
their King's chief advisor be their leader. And they claim that Thranduil 
has to return to Mirkwood and stay there. Otherwise they threaten to come 
and abduct him. Helkafin isn't sure how serious he has to take them and 
claims that it needs some more time to see if they will calm down. But he 
wants us to know that he is worried. And... he isn't frightended if there's 
nothing wrong." 

Elrond nodded thoughtfully. "I am sure that you are right, Erestor. Sadly I 
cannot agree on visiting Mirkwood right now. Especially not if it might be 
dangerous. We wanted to tell you at a better time, but Thranduil is 
pregnant again and we just cannot leave right now." Erestor opened his 
mouth suddenly seemed to decide against speaking. He just nodded, 
accepting his Lord's words. "I wish you well then, but please bear in mind 
that you should leave for Mirkwood as soon as it is safe again."

~~~~~End of Anicroche~~~~~

*~To be continued in the main story "Affectus"~* 
[I'm really sorry, both for cutting the love scene between Thranduil and 
Elrond out and for what I will do in Affectus. But you are most welcome 
to complain about it. *hugs* Thanks a lot for all the sweet, lovely 
feedback I got on these stories so far. I love you girls, you have no idea 
what it means to me that you still read it. Though, if you are a writer you 
have. ;) Mel lle, Milly]