Title: Affectus Author: Milly Author's Email: ElrohiradoresElladan@gmx.net Pairing: Glorfindel/Erestor, Elrond/Thranduil, possibly other elf/elf Rating: R Summary: It's a challenge to write a winterfic, that's exactly what I did. Though as always with my own mind taking advantage of my thoughts and my writing within a short time. Oh and, the Latin word Affectus means Love, Passion, Condition, Emotion and/or mood. So go ahead and try to guess why I picked that word. 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, a bit of angst, au, non-con Authors Note: A *lovely* challenge, Esteliel, thank you so much! :)) *hugs Esteliel* But apart from thanking the wonderful one for her challenge I'ld also like to say thanks to all my sweets for giving me feedback on Aroon/Adar/Anicroche. *smirks* I love you and your feedback my friends, and I hope you know it. Just to mention it, this is the fourth part of the A-series. There'll be one more story after this one. :) Oh and I'm really trying hard to get this back to fluff, it's just not *that* easy. -> This is finished earlier than I intended, but I'll make the next one longer in return, so please don't get angry. Maybe I'll manage to write a fluffy end to the series, but I won't promise anything. In case you don't understand elvish words I use I'm sorry, I forgot to write them beneath the chaps and do not find them anymore, but I know I used one or two. Possible words; [some of those I love the most ;)] Im mela lle = I love you melamin = my love melme = love Adar = father Nana = mother penneth = young one cunneth = princeling daro = stop suilad = hello namar/namarie = farewell Affectus Prologue [or rather; summary of Aroon&Adar&Anicroche] [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. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* My children are both well and the cutest on the face of Adar. Still that wasn't the only important thing that happened in Lórien... I have a new father. Or rather, I have had him since I was begotten, but I only found out about it a short time ago. My best friend.. I still can't believe it. He helped raising me, he is the person I always trusted the most and he didn't tell me that I am his child. There has been some trouble when Elrohir vanished, but I think we all survived the shock, he has been found by humans and taken to Imladris where he was brought back to me immediatly. I'm just happy that nothing happened to him while he was gone. The twins surely are a handful to take care of, but I love spending my time with them. However, what would live be without problems? Erestor and Glorfindel still decided that they love each other too much to break their relationship forever though they are still getting used to being together again, I think. And my Mirkwood people are upset, I heard. Elrond and I will have to go there as soon as my youngest is born. Or at least as soon as I can leave him in Erestor's care... Chapter 1 ~Imladris~ "Elladan, Elrohir you will come inside! *Now!*" Glorfindel sighed angrily as the twins seemed to have chosen to ignore him once more. It was always like that lately. Since their parents had left to visit Mirkwood and Erestor looked after their baby brother they were mad and felt unloved and Glorfindel knew exactly who would be to blame if the caught themselves colds from playing outside without proper clothes. Cursed little halfelves, one of the several mistakes of the human blood in their veins seemed to make them receive more sicknesses than any other being Glorfindel had met. Elladan turned around to throw a snowball at him and Glorfindel shook his head. They weren't just fooling around, they were behaving respectless and Glorfindel frowned before running towards them and picking up Elladan. Immediatly he felt Elrohir's little fist against his thigh and asked himself once more what he had ever done to deserve such a fate after fighting a Balrog and dwelling in Mandos. "Elrohir you will stop this and behave now. And I swear to you, to *both* of you, that the next time one of you misconducts I will have you over my knee." Elrohir looked at him with such a thoughtful expression that Glorfindel couldn't help but smirk. The younger twin was perfect at mirroring his grandfather and their poor old mentor knew he had been defeated once again. As soon as they knew that he wasn't truly mad at them they ignored his words again. "Put Elan down, please. He hates being picked up like that." Glorfindel shook his head. "Nay, I will not, Elrohir, for you two will come inside with me now." Both twins glared at him and he almost felt like apologizing to them. Instead he just took Elrohir's hand and winced when he felt how cold it was already. But of course it was logical, they had been playing in the snow for hours, had touched it, rolled in it and Elladan had thrown it at him and even tried to eat it. It was about time for them to have some warm food, a hot bath and some dry foods before he would let them outside again and he wondered just why even the little bookworm was enjoying staying outside and away from his books for hours. Some riddles however couldn't be solved, just like he had always wondered how the twins could be so alike at times and so different at others and he just entered the house and asked one of the servants to prepare him some water while he pulled both twins after him to their rooms. "But..." Glorfindel sighed and looked at Elladan. "What is wrong again *now*?" The older twin looked back at him sulkily. "I want ada..." Once again the old Elvenlord wondered whether it wouldn't have been smarter to stay in Mandos instead of taking care of two young foolish Elves. At least Elrohir seemed to know that their parents weren't around as he whispered some strange sounding words in the language the twins used when they spoke to each other and Elladan seemed pretty disappointed. "Estor?" Glorfindel wondered what he had done to deserve being the last one Elladan wanted to spend time with. Elrohir usually didn't complain for long. But the older prince seemed to hate him ever since the day he was born. "Erestor is busy, you know that, Elladan. He is taking care of your little brother." Elladan shook his head determindly and pointed to Elrohir. His brother was just next to him, he knew that. When Glorfindel was about to yell at Elladan for pretending to be stupid he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Are they teasing you again?" /Erestor./ He closed his eyes in relief and happily took the baby from his arms while Elladan burried himself into the Darkhaired's hug. Erestor sighed and sternly looked at his grandsons. "I have told you that you are supposed to listen to Glorfindel, haven't I? And he surely didn't tell you to play in the snow until you are becoming sick." Chapter 2 ~Mirkwood~ Thranduil leaned against his lover's shoulder. "I'm missing them already," he whispered and Elrond smiled and kissed his lover's hand. He knew the feeling very well; in fact, he felt the same. They hadn't left their children alone before, but it had been necessary to do so, in order to keep Mirkwood and Helkafin safe from those foolish young Elves that seemed to become more stupid with every passing day. But that didn't change both Thranduil's and his wish to return to Imladris and look after their children instead. Helkafin turned to them. "I am very worried about the events lately, they seem to be more annoyed then they have been before. And I do not know what is wrong with them anymore. They don't even seem to want you as their King, Thranduil, they are just angry that Oropher is gone. Perhaps they would prefer to have Erestor back, but there are reasons that make me support Glorfindel's idea not to make him King." Elrond raised his eyebrows and Helkafin immediatly began to chew his lips, pretending not to understand that the Lord of Imladris wanted to hear the reasons which made him say such things. He wouldn't, he had promised that he wouldn't and Erestor wanted him to keep to those promises, he knew that well enough. Instead he looked up to the sky. "Mylord, look it is snowing, did you ever see Mirkwood in white? Maybe you would like to show him what it looks like, my prince?" Neither Helkafin nor Thranduil noticed that he had adressed him wrongly and Elrond decided not to comment on it. He was worried, but the stubborn elf was just as bad as his own Chief advisor when it came to changing the topic and he couldn't demand an answer as he knew that Helkafin was already doing them a favour by leading a realm he didn't want to lead. Instead he allowed his lover to pull him away from the current leader of Mirkwood and to the places the younger elf had surely loved as a child. Suddenly he felt guilty for not knowing more of Thranduil's childhood. He knew his lover's parents -both of them, though he hadn't ever met Calenia-, he had been to Mirkwood several times and he knew what he had done most of the time since they had met. But still he knew almost nothing about his lover's childhood. Sometimes he picked up a word or two when Erestor and Thranduil spoke to each other, but usually they stopped speaking about the past times once they met him. Once again he wondered why he had always believed Erestor's words when his advisor had told him that he had only met Thranduil at times when he had visited Mirkwood. Thinking on it now made it impossible to see that. Erestor had seen who he was immediatly back then, long before Elrond had believed that he had met anyone else but a stunning and sweet soldiers of Mirkwood's army he had fallen in love with. As soon as his chief advisor had seen him he had pulled him close and chided him softly. Erestor had spoken to Thranduil for hours, told him that it was useless and that his father would find out where he was soon anyway. And then there had been that strange, upset expression in his face while he had written a letter to Oropher. Suddenly Elrond noticed that Thranduil was looking at him, seemingly waiting for a reply to something he had said earlier. "I am sorry, love," Elrond smiled, "what did you say?" Thranduil smirked and repeated his statement that it looked as if snow made his lover dream of past times. Chapter 3 ~Imladris~ While Erestor was aiding the twins in getting themselves cleaned, Glorfindel entered the room, sneaked to the cradle and sighed in relief. "I thought he was crying again," he whispered to Erestor who nodded knowingly. After a long time of hearing a child's cry it often seemed to him that the child was crying again even though it was sleeping clamly. Elladan whispered something to Elrohir, but the younger twin shook his head. Angered by the rejection Elladan used both his hands to splash water all over Glorfindel's robes and Erestor bit his lip in order not to smirk and was totally surprised to find his lover storm from the room immediatly. "You aren't allowed to do things like that and you know that, Elladan. Now get out of the water, you two," he turned around to fetch some clothes, and was totally surprised when he heard that Elrohir angrily chided his brother. But the younger twin was right, Elladan's behaviour had been wrong and he had been too amused to tell him to stop it. /Ai Glorfindel.../ His lover surely didn't think it amusing at all. Erestor frowned while he helped the twins to dry and cloth themselves, thinking on how he could possibly cheer his love while he was supposed to look after the twins. There wasn't much though, and he feared that it would still take some time until Thranduil and Elrond returned from Mirkwood. At least there hadn't been news of any trouble yet. And he just hoped it would stay that way. Though there were more current problems. /Glorfindel!/ Erestor thought for a moment before he send Elrohir to find one of the people who were allowed to look after the children at times. Sometimes he just had to take care of his lover instead of taking care of his grandchildren. It didn't happen very often, but it did at times. When Elrohir returned with one of the younger advisors Erestor smiled. It was obvious that Elrohir liked everyone who dealt with books and he asked the younger elf to look after the children for a while. It was always possible to send one of the twins to him in case something went wrong, so none of the Elves disliked looking after the children. "Just come and find me if the twins are asleep already before I return. I will be either in my room or in the library." After Myraein had nodded and promised to take good care of the children until he returned and Erestor quickly left the room, to find his lover. It was almost certain that he had either gone to the stables, left to see the gardens or went to their room. And after he had found the stables empty apart from the horses and two stable boys he left to go to their rooms next. Chapter 4 ~Mirkwood~ Elrond needed a moment to understand that Thranduil had been joking. Once more it surprised him how quickly Thranduil's moods could change. He had been sad and scared ever since they had arrived in Mirkwood and disliked the idea of meeting those who had adored his father so much and called him the spoilt little prince. And he missed his children more than anything. But still he tried to be cheery. With a smile Elrond pulled his love close and kissed him. "Actually I only need your presence to become dreamy, my heart, I do not need snow for that," he whispered and Thranduil giggled, eager to help pretending that nothing was wrong. It was necessary if they didn't want to worry to death about the twins and the baby, who were surely safe around Erestor and much safer there than they would be if they had come to Mirkwood with them. But still, even if they were safe it was still sad to leave them alone. Thranduil poked his lover's side. "I fear that you are a bit too dreamy." He laughed, but his eyes stayed serious. And suddenly he noticed that his reaction was exactly what Elrond would have done in his place if he wanted his attention and didn't get it. Pretend to joke about it and hoping that the other understood it well enough. Luckily it worked as Elrond looked into Thranduil's eyes and raised his eyebrows. "Well my King, what do you wish to do now?" For a moment Thranduil was unsure if he had understood his lover, but when he felt one of his lover's hands stealing beneath his clothes to caress his back he smiled. "I think we could come to an agreement, my Lord," he whispered and rested his head on Elrond's shoulder, unsure if he could actually imagine to make out in the snow. But Elrond's hands continued to travel and within a few seconds Thranduil decided that he couldn't do anything *but* making love to Elrond in the snow at the very moment. He allowed his lover to undress him and push him to the floor. "It's cold," Elrond protested when Thranduil leaned up to help him to undress, but Thranduil only laughed. "It might be, but it won't be for long, I promise." The halfelf considered to point out that Elves didn't feel coldness anyway, but decided against it. After all he had started it and couldn't just complain now. He cursed silently, however when he saw Thranduil happily covering his body in the snow. It was plainly unfair that his mannish blood made him feel the cold and become sick from it at times while Thranduil could do whatever he wanted without ever getting into trouble. "Cold," he muttered again, but it didn't help him. Chapter 5 ~Imladris~ "May I come in?" Erestor softly knocked the door, feeling stupid and hoped that none of the servants would see him enter his own room as if he was a stranger. He found it dark and calm, but that didn't fool him. "Glorfindel, he didn't mean to upset you!" For several moments there was just silence but then he noticed a short, hidden movements and quickly crossed the room. "He does that to annoy me, believe me. He always challenges me," Glorfindel muttered and Erestor pulled him into his arms. Partly his lover was surely right, but he was sure that Elladan didn't mean to do anyone harm. He was merely testing Glorfindel's reactions, he didn't think that he was doing the seneschal wrong. "Glorfindel, he really doesn't mean it that way, I'm sure he doesn't. He loves you." Erestor felt his lover's reaction before he spoke or moved. Glorfindel was upset and didn't intend to stay, he was about to push away and leave the room. But Erestor didn't intend to let him. This was far too stupid to let him. Not only he hadn't done him any wrong, but also the idea that he had forgiven years of cheating after a short time and now acted up because an elfling that didn't behave in the way he wanted him to. Erestor shook his head and pulled Glorfindel closer. "Stop it now, you are behaving like a confused child when you surely should know better by now. He *is* a child, Glorfindel and he doesn't think of what he is doing. We will teach him, but we surely won't reach anything if you react in the way he wants you to react. By feeling unhappy but allowing him to do what he wants anyway. Yes, Elladan isn't behaving in the way he should, but you do neither. And now stop sulking, love, or do I have to start tucking you in?" Suddenly Glorfindel started to laugh, not happily, but bitter. "It would be nice if you would tuck me in, indeed, my love. Then I would at least get to see you before I go to bed again." Erestor froze, unsure what to reply. Sure, he had been thinking the same. Ever since Elrond and Thranduil had left they hadn't had time for themselves anymore. And partly he also understood that Glorfindel didn't enjoy thinking of himself as the children's grandfather. They weren't his grandchildren, they were Oropher's. Perhaps it even pained Glorfindel to know that they were that dear to him because they were his grandchildren. That he loved them that much because they reminded him of Oropher, of his first lover. He rested his head against Glorfindel's shoulder. "I am sorry, I know that it is unfair that they are demanding that much time. But it isn't their fault, Elrond and Thranduil had to go to Mirkwood. They are missing their parents, believe me. And maybe that is why Elladan is behaving especially terribly lately. I do not know, but I promise that as soon as they are back we will find time again." It took a few moments until Glorfindel reacted, but when he did it was to pull Erestor close. "I love you, I know I'm acting foolishly, but I'm missing you." For a moment Erestor just enjoyed the feeling to be held close by his lover, before he kissed the golden hair and smiled. "I'm missing you as well, we will enjoy the time when they returned to us safely, I promise." Chapter 6 ~Mirkwood~ Elrond trailed kisses down his lover's wet and cold body and wondered once more why he took so much time with preparing Thranduil even though every minute he spend outside in the snow was threatening to give him a bad cold he couldn't use at all. "You are so beautiful, my heart," he whispered sweetly and received an amused chuckle in return. Thranduil surely was enjoying himself and Elrond smiled down, happy to see his lover without any worry clouding his eyes once more. "The snow isn't as pretty in blond hair as it is in black, my dear," Thranduil smirked and Elrond suddenly wondered just how old his lover was when was pushed into the snow and washed with it. /If my lover is like that... whatever are my children like?/ Elrond closed his eyes in distress, wondering if he really wanted to go back to Imladris before his sons were more than a thousand years old. "Daro," he chided angrily, but it didn't help anything. Instead he only got the snow that covered his face into the mouth, making him spit furiously. "Ai, little tease, you should really start behaving like a King or at least like a prince for a start." Thranduil, who had taken his place on Elrond's chest smirked down at him. "Oh but I do. I'm behaving exactly in the way I want, which is exactly what a prince does." Elrond sighed in defeat. "Well come on, little prince, what can I do to convince you to let me go?" Thranduil laughed and bend his body in order to kiss Elrond's lips. "Do you really think that there is anything in Arda that could make me let you go, dearest Elrond?" The halfelf frowned at his playful lover, to then, all of a sudden make a move to push him down and lie down on top of him. "Well my heart, I do not intend to let you go either. Will you surrender?" Thranduil seemed to consider the idea for several moments, but seemed to have pity on the older elf as he nodded. "I will surrender my heart to you without question," he said in the sweetest voice, before he pulled Elrond down. "But you will be getting a cold if I do not surrender my body to you as well. I love you, my Lord, I want you to take me, just like you did during my first time." Tears filled Elrond's eyes and he bent down to kiss his lover. "You are too sweet, cunneth-nin." However he remembered exactly how hurried they had been all those years ago and he knew well enough the implied proposistion to hurry as Thranduil seemingly remembered again that he was shuddering from cold more than from anything else at the moment. And when his lover turned around he felt a well-known desire inside of him. He smirked and took some of the snow and allowed it to melt a little on his lover's back before he slipped it inside Thranduil's body. "It won't be good, but it will at least not be as useless as the water." Thranduil turned his head to look at his lover. "Really, love, they are calling you a healer and a loremaster and you prepare my body with snow?!" Elrond shrugged and tried to stay serious even though Thranduil's body was shaken from laughter and only a light against his ass stopped him again. "You should just stop seducing me all the time, my heart, then I would be able to prepare myself," the halfelf whispered into his lover's ear and was rewarded by another fit of laughter, mocking him for trying to place the blame on Thranduil though they knew well enough who had started this. "I will be careful." True to his word he gently pushed inside his lover's body. "Are you comfortable?" Thranduil nodded impatiently and Elrond smiled. It was almost exactly like it had been back then and the mere thought threatened to drive him to ecstasy immediatly. He wrapped his arms closely around Thranduil's body and pushed deeper inside him. By now he had given up his fears to hurt his lover, knowing that Thranduil knew when and how to stop him if he felt uncomfortable. But he didn't, instead he moaned and spilled his hot seed into the cold snow beneath him before Elrond could even touch him. The halfelf smirked, relieved that he wasn't the only one who had been aroused by the thought of their first time and pushed deeper inside, soon losing himself to pleasure just like Thranduil had before him. Chapter 7 ~Imladris~ ~Glorfindel holding a crying Legolas... *blushes* ai... why ever did that make me think of Anestel?! *rereads chap 13* Um.. okay, maybe I have an idea..~ Erestor sighed when he awoke and found Legolas crying in Glorfindel's arms. Something had to be wrong with the children. There was no reason for them to dislike his lover. However, it was difficult to tell Glorfindel that he could overtake without hurting his feelings. He couldn't even ask him to look after Elrohir who seemed to like everyone he met as the younger twin didn't want to be seperated from his brother. "May I take him for a moment?" He smiled, hoping not to upset the golden haired elf. Glorfindel sighed and placed Legolas into his arms. "You could try to place your sleeve against his face, he loves cloth against his skin for some reason," Erestor smiled and waited for the child to calm down and fall asleep again. "At least it works for me." For a few moments Legolas kept blinking and trying to stay awake, but obviously he had still been too tired to wake up. "Want to have him back now?" Erestor couldn't manage not to smirk evily for just a second. His lover shrugged and took the child from his arms once more. "If he wakes up and cries I'll give him back to you, I don't like to hear him scream all the time." "I should be working though, can you send the twins to my study when they wake up?" Glorfindel's mien clouded a little but he nodded. "I will do that, could you look after Legolas in two hours? I do not like the idea of discussing with Idaion while I carry him with me." The chief advisor nodded, once more wondering why Glorfindel wouldn't ask any of the servants for help with handeling the children. Suddenly Elladan yawned and streched. "Well I guess I could take him with me already, maybe Elrohir would like to stay with Legolas and you for a bit?" Glorfindel smiled at the idea. Yes, the younger twin surely wouldn't 'cause trouble if he told him that he could leave and see his grandfather and his brother as soon as he wanted to. Erestor picked up the older twin and helped him to dress. "I have to work, Elladan, so you will either play quietly in my study or stay here with Glorfindel and your brothers," he informed the child and Elladan nodded thoughtfully. Then, with a glance at Glorfindel, he informed his grandfather that he prefered the idea to play in his study. Glorfindel waited until they had closed the door behind them before he started to sing softly. No matter how often Erestor sung for the children before him and how much he liked to sing for his lover, he always felt strange about singing for the elflings while Erestor was about. Legolas cooed softly and Glorfindel smiled down at him. "I love you children dearly, all three of you, please stop hating me." Chapter 8 ~Mirkwood~ "He isn't worth to be our king." "He's no more than a whore." "He should never have come here." "We should shoot him!" Elrond quickly pushed Thranduil behind himself and finished dressing. "None of you will do anything. If you are to coward to even come near us you shouldn't speak in such a way," he challenged the Elves around them angrily. It was his fault that they were in this situation. The Mirkwood Elves were upset because they had found them barely dressed and inside each others arms. Of course they didn't like that idea. But it didn't give them the right to speak about Thranduil in such a way. One of the Elves revealed himself and Elrond looked at him with an amused expression. "You are but a child, how can you dare to challenge a Lord? How can you speak about your King in such a way?" The younger elf glared up at the halfelf. It wasn't a nice thing to tell other Elves that they were younger though they usually claimed that age didn't matter as they were immortal. "Well at least I'm fully elvish, not like certain other people around here, whose parents prefered to share their bed with people from another species." Elrond just smiled in return, wondering if the young Sinda actually believed that he could insult him by telling him that human blood ran through his veins. There was no reason to be ashamed of his forefathers. "If you seriously think about shooting Thranduil I will sadly have to slay you, though I would really prefer not to lay a hand on my own kin, that's been done before and it caused nothing but trouble, believe me, I remember that time." Elrond knew that it wasn't a good idea to speak to them as patiently as he would explain things to his children, but he couldn't help himself. They *were* children, compared to his age. Maybe two or three centuries. The brown haired aimed his bow on him. "Please, child, I have fought in Wars you didn't even hear of, do not try to do that or I will end up hurting you," Elrond whispered, unsure if the children actually understood what it meant to fight or if they had just been hunting some spiders in their youth. Then, before any of the other Elves could move he disarmed the elf before him. "Neither you nor me want this to end in a blood bath. Just rest assured that Thranduil doesn't deserve your low opinion." "How did you manage to take away my bow?" Elrond heard Thranduil chuckle behind him and poked his side. There was no need to upset the other Elves, now that he had their attention and could try to speak to them. "It wasn't difficult, you will learn to move like that in some years, don't worry, it's normal that you are able to do such things after the first millenia of living here." The younger elf starred at him and Elrond smiled back, noticing the other Elves walking towards them now. He didn't intend to tell them that the mere trick was to disatract your opponent and take his stuff as soon as he wasn't paying attention anymore. It surely was a better idea to let him believe that he just wasn't old enough to fight with someone who had witnessed the kinslaying. It took some moments until the leader of the group had decided, that he did not want to find out how powerful the elven Lord was. "Give me my bow or you will regret it," he hissed, hoping that he hadn't lost his face too much before his friends and Elrond nodded. "I will, however I have a request in return. You will not threaten my people again, or you *will* get into trouble. I remember what you look like and I will remember this." As soon as the leader of the small party had nodded, Elrond gave back the bow and pulled Thranduil away before the elf could consider his actions. Chapter 9 ~Imladris~ ~I want at least one "awwww" on this chapter!~ "We do not hate you." Glorfindel starred at Legolas for a second until he realized that it was Elrohir who had replied to his words. "We do not even dislike you, we are just teasing you." The Lord turned around and looked at the sincere face of the child before him. Elrohir meant his words, it was obvious that he did. And suddenly Glorfindel found himself close to the ridiculous need to cry. "But.. but Elladan is trying his best to torture me. And Legolas cries whenever he wakes up in my arms," Glorfindel whined, wondering just why he discussed his problems with a child. But Elrohir smiled in return. "Elan wants you to notice him. Don't tell him, I told you. I just don't want you to think we do not like you. Legolas always cries if he's held in that way. He did that when ada held him that way to." Glorfindel shrugged, unsure in which way he was supposed to hold him. He didn't do it any different from the others, he held them exactly like he had held the twins. "And how should I hold him? I have one arm beneath him and one arm to hold his side, just like I should." Elrohir nodded in agreement. "I know, but he hates being carried by the right arm. You should place him on your left arm and hold his side with the right." For several moments Glorfindel considered if the child was merely teasing him, but then he remembered that Erestor always carried Legolas on his left arm. "And you think that it makes a real difference to him?" Elrohir nodded and Glorfindel wondered just why the child was paying so much attention to things like that. "Thank you, Elrohir." He smiled and placed Legolas on the other arm, totally amazed when he woke the child and earned himself the sweetest smile he had gained from any of the children so far. "It really works!" He squatted down next to Elrohir and kissed his forehead. "I never knew what it was that made him cry. Thank you, penneth." Elrohir smiled and quickly hugged both Glorfindel and his baby brother close. "I love you too," he whispered in reply to Glorfindel's earlier words and then quickly left for the bathroom. Totally amazed the goldenhaired turned his attention to the smiling child in his arms and wondered just why Erestor had never told him that he held Legolas incorrectly. The baby cooed softly and studied his face as if it saw him for the very first time. And then the small hands reached out and pulled his hand towards his mouth. But as soon as he felt the wetness of the mouth against his skin he heard a voice. "Don't let him chew on your fingers, he is getting teeth." Elrohir seemed to be standing behind him and he turned to see that the younger twin had dressed just like Erestor had dressed Elladan without knowing it. In order not to lose Legolas friendship immediatly he offered his sleeve instead and heard Elrohir chuckle. "He will use that against you, you know," he smirked. Glorfindel cocked his eyebrows, but didn't comment. The younger twin smiled. "Where did Elan and grandfather go?" It took Glorfindel a moment to remember that they had gone to Erestor's study, but when he proposed that Elrohir could go there the child shook his head. "Will stay with Legolas for a bit." He smiled and Glorfindel couldn't help but wonder if Elrohir *only* stayed with Legolas. Chapter 10 ~Mirkwood - Imladris~ "We will return to Imladris tomorrow morning," Elrond told Helkafin, who was still as worried and upset as he had been when he had first heard of the earlier events. So instead of protesting that they should stay longer he just nodded in acceptance. Obviously the idea to make them see Thranduil more often hadn't improve the youths' mood at all. "Would you honor us by visiting our realm in return, chief advisor? I am sure that Erestor would like to meet you again." Helkafin seemed to consider that idea before he nodded. "Yes, I would love to meet Erestor and your children." He smiled at Thranduil and for but a moment Elrond thought whether he should feel insulted that he wasn't answered more directly. However he was glad that Helkafin liked the idea of seeing Erestor as he had often been worried how much difficulties his chief advisor seemed to have to find trusted friends. "Please be prepared and meet us at the stables." Elrond smiled at the advisor and pulled Thranduil with him. "It's time to go to bed, my heart, I dislike the thought of being threatened and I hope that none of them would be insane enough to follow us to our rooms." He decided not to look at his lover who still seemed rather nervous and quickly closed and locked the door behind them. "Do not trouble yourself such, nothing will ever happen to you, I promise," he whispered to Thranduil and pulled him into his arms as soon as they had finished taking off their robes. "They are just some stupid children who will be scared that I tell Helkafin what they looked like. And they are wrong, you are smarter than any of them by far." Thranduil nodded with a tired expression, obviously not convinced by his words, but he allowed Elrond to pull him to the bed and wrap his arms closely around him once more as soon as they lay next to each other. "Please, my heart, I really love you, I would have their hearts if that would improve your mood. And there are many more who care for you that deeply." He waited until his lover had nodded once more before he placed a kiss to his forehead. "We will need our strenght tomorrow morning," he added softly and Thranduil smiled weakly and kissed him goodnight as well. "Sweet dreams, do not trouble yourself, I.. I just dislike the thought of someone calling me a whore, it isn't nice to hear such things." Elrond wondered why he hadn't smacked some sense into the stupid sinda who had hurt his lover like that. But it wouldn't have changed the words, Thranduil surely hadn't needed something like that after all the difficulties he had gone through during the last years. "Do not think on it anymore. Nothing about you is to be compared with a whore and if they weren't foolish children they would have understood that. You are my mate, aren't you? So how can they call you a whore for making love to your boundmate?" Thranduil shrugged and snuggled against his body, obviously trying not to think upon their encounter with the Mirkwood-Elves any longer. Chapter 11 ~Imladris~ Erestor was amazed when Elrohir opened the door and pulled Glorfindel after him. It had never been a secret to him that Elrohir liked Glorfindel, but the idea that he displayed it openly to his twin amused him. What pleased him even more though, was the fact that Legolas was awake and lying peacefully in the seneschal's arms. "A message from your parents arrived," he told the younger twin who beamed at him in return. "They will come home tomorrow morning." Erestor exchanged a short glance with Glorfindel, who seemed to remember his lover's promise pretty well and then turned his attention back to the children. "I would appreciate it if you could stay out of trouble for a day and be presentable." He smiled but kept his gaze stern in order to make sure that the children understand that he was serious. Both twins nodded and he didn't fail to see the glance they exchanged. They seriously seemed to consider that they should obey that wish and he leaned back in his chair for a moment, relaxing his eyes and his neck from looking a small letters on old paper for almost an hour. "I think they might like to come riding with me today." For a moment Erestor wondered just what Elrohir had done to Glorfindel, but then he decided that all was well and that it was just great that his grandsons finally seemed to get along with his lover. "Sure, I would love to only be disatracted by one of them if you can manage to look after the other two." Elladan turned around to protest but Elrohir quickly convinced him that the words weren't meant in an evil way. Erestor got up to take Legolas from Glorfindel's arms and watched while not only Elrohir, but also Elladan took his lover's hands while they left the room. "Children," he muttered and turned his attention to Legolas until the child fell asleep and he placed him onto the blanket he had spread on the floor. Then he returned his attention to his work once more, praying silently that they would still be good mooded when they returned from the trip. For two hours he could work without trouble and then went and prepared Legolas food for him. Elrond had told him what he thought good for a child and he just mixed what his Lord had suggested and was happy that he didn't have to pick on his own as Legolas seemed to enjoy the food he got very much. He kissed the Legolas's blond hair which so much reminded him of that of Thranduil's. "May the Valar protect you from trouble, dear child." Chapter 12 ~Imladris~ Elrond sighed happily as he caught Thranduil who had just jumped down his horse. "I'm glad we are home." His lover nodded and beamed when he found Elladan pressed into his arms immediatly. "It is good to know that you are missed if you leave for a while." Thranduil squatted down and squeezed his eldest. "I missed you a lot, my son." "I was considering to tell you the same." Thranduil looked up and smiled at Erestor who handed Legolas to Elrond. "We all missed you, it's good to have you home." Then he smiled at the current leader of Mirkwood. "It is fine to see you again, my friend. It has been a while." Helkafin nodded thoughtfully and pointed out that it had been Lord Elrond who had kindly invited him. "Well please come inside, it's cold and you look as if you were getting a cold," Glorfindel pointed out, his worried gaze resting on his Lord's tired face. "Have you been engaged in any longer outside activity?" Thranduil started to snigger and Elrond turned to Glorfindel and nodded calmly. "Yes, Thranduil showed me what Mirkwood looks like while it is snowing." Both Erestor and Glorfindel decided against asking their friends what exactly "showing Mirkwood" implied in that case before the children and they slowly walked inside. "I have to show you the library," Erestor said and pulled Helkafin away, leaving the mildly surprised other Elves alone. Elrond turned a questioning gaze at Glorfindel who shrugged as he didn't know of any trouble they had had lately. Thranduil smiled and decided to leave the friends alone, carrying away his youngest and patiently waiting for the twins to say goodbye to their other father for a while. They could greet him later, for now he wanted Elrond to have some time to talk to his friend. And some time for himself to greet his beloved little children. "What did you do while I was away?" He looked at Elladan though he expected that Elrohir would answer his question. Chapter 13 ~Imladris~ Helkafin could barely walk quick enough to catch up with Erestor and happily fell into a chair once they had reached the library. "What is wrong, my friend? You have never found such a stupid excuse if you wanted to talk to someone." Erestor paced the room in silence for several moments until he turned to meet Helkafin's eyes. "Why did he ask you to come here? Is it about Oropher? Doesn't he believe what I told him?" "What do you mean?" Erestor froze once he heard Glorfindel's voice behind him. It was useless to say that he had no idea what his lover was speaking about and that Helkafin and he had merely spoken about some political stuff. He slowly turned around and noticed that at least Thranduil wasn't with Elrond and Glorfindel. "Nothing.. nothing of importance really." Elrond and Glorfindel exchanged a glance. Then it was Elrond who spoke evenly, but sternly. "Oh yes, nothing would surely make you run from us and pull someone else after you as soon as you see him. Either you or Helkafin *will* tell me about this now, and do not tell me that it is not important, I know you well enough to see in your eyes that you would be lying." Erestor sat down and folded his arms. "It isn't important, it's been in the past, it doesn't affect the presence, so why do you care?" Elrond looked at his chief advisor wearily. It wasn't like he felt like having a discussion like this right now, but something made him *want* to know what had happened. He had wanted to know ever since he had first noticed that there had to be a secret. "He just cares for you, Erestor, he only wants to help," Helkafin said quietly and Erestor glared at him. "Why would he want to help? What did you tell him? Did you break your promise? *Noone* is to know about this, you know exactly what you promised, do you not?" The Mirkwood elf shook his head. "I did not tell him anything, but I fear that you will have to after you told him that he is right with his thoughts that there is a secret. Why would you deny them to know about it? They are your friends? Oropher is dead, he cannot care if you tell someone or not any longer. He cannot do anyone harm any longer." Erestor bit his lip when he saw Glorfindel's eyes. "If any of you tells Thranduil but a word of this I will see you death, do you understand me?" The Noldor nodded in surprise and promised not to tell the young King of his father's secret, no matter what it was about. Chapter 14 ~Imladris~ ~Let's reveal "it". Well to those who didn't figure it out yet.~ "I have been fifty when I first met Oropher and not long after that I became his advisor. Some years later I became the chief of his advisors as his former chiefadvisor had married an elven maiden in Lórien and decided to join the Lady's services. We were good friends already and one day he approached me. He declared his love and promised that we would stay together forever. I adored him, back then and considered myself lucky." Erestor smiled at the thought and only continued when Helkafin poked his arm. "And I was lucky as he loved me more than anything. No matter how hard he had worked during the day he always found time to prove that I was special to him, that he loved me and needed me near. For many years we just remained lovers in secrecy until he found the courage to tell his close friends about our relationship. He never failed to remember anything. Not the day of our first meeting, neither the day of our first kiss, nor the night of our first love making. And he always found the time to at least find me some sweet and special present. He loved me and I loved him. But then he found out that he was pregnant and became anxious. There aren't problems of having a male lover or getting pregnant in Mirkwood, but how could he tell them that their king had submitted to his chief advisor? It was impossible and we both knew it. In order to hide it he married my sister Calenia and we went to Lórien with her until the child was born. There was merely one problem. My sister loved Oropher and I had thought that they would become lovers and decided to leave for Imladris until I had given up my feelings. However when I returned I noticed that Oropher didn't intend to give up our love. In fact he had never even touched my sister apart from the few occasions where he needed to show her off as his wife to his people. I loved and still love my sister and didn't want her hurt and as I knew she loved him I had given him up. In fact that was when I got involved with Glorfindel. But Oropher didn't think highly of my ideas to start a new life in Imladris. He claimed that I should never have left Mirkwood in the first place and that he wouldn't allow his wife to raise our son. So I promised to return to him, promised that I would be there whenever I could in order to take care of Thranduil and he accepted." "You are forgetting to mention something else," Helkafin reminded him softly and received an icy glare in return. "Of course you always came to take care of Thranduil. He was your beloved little child after all. But you failed to mention.." An angry hiss stopped the brown haired elf and Erestor pushed Glorfindel's arms away when his lover tried to calm him. However, apart from his reactions he continued to speak. "He... he told me that he would hurt my sister, that he would do harm to my child if I would not return to his arms. I shared his bed, every night, whenever I was in Mirkwood because I was scared what he might do. He was angry and jealous that I wouldn't give up my lover for him, he didn't understand that it was over at the day he had decided that he couldn't tell his people that he had been pregnant with my child. But I was too weak to leave him, too scared of what he might do." Erestor burried his head in his hands and this time allowed Glorfindel to pull him near. "It isn't weakness to wish to protect those you love. You should be proud that you managed to break that relationship one day." The advisor looked up and laughed bitterly. "I broke our relationship on the day I heard that my sister had gone to Valinor because she was starting to fade from the way he treated her. He threatened me and he kept his dark promise. It was the day when he decided that my poor child would become a spoilt little prince in the eyes of everyone in Arda. But I was too disgusted with him to stop him and pretend that I was sorry and that I would keep returning to him. It was the first time when I didn't protect Thranduil, but it didn't remain the only time. I had to send my child back to him when he came to me for help, when he came to Imladris with some other guards and tried to join the training. But he had told me that he would rather murder Thranduil than he would see him in my care when I broke what was left from our relationship. And I didn't dare to see if he would stay true to his word." Glorfindel clenched his teeth, obviously angry that he couldn't go to beat the one who had hurt his lover and Elrond understood him very well. "He ruined your child's life just to hurt you. Luckily he didn't suceed. At least I hope that Thranduil likes his life in the way it is now." Suddenly Elrond felt a great need to go and see his lover, to pull him close like Glorfindel held Erestor and to make him feel as happy as he could. To make him forget about being called unworthy and a whore. He excused himself and noticed that Helkafin did the same immediatly. Seemingly he didn't like the idea to witness Glorfindel comforting Erestor very much. ~I planned this to be longer by far, but as it's already pretty late I'll stop here and write the remaining things in the new story, Abschied.~ ~Merry Christmas my sweet, beloved girls, I hope you enjoyed this as I forced myself to finish it on Christmas eve. ;) [Let's see when it'll be posted though.]~ ***~~End of Affectus~~** ~To be continued in the 5th and last part of my a-series. :) ~