Title:  Melethen  (Chapter 18/?)
Author:  Meleth  (meleth.legolas@yahoo.com)
Type:  FPS
Cast or Paring:  Elrohir, Elladan, Elrond, Glorfindel, Erestor Thranduil, Thaladirith 
(OMC) and Legolas in this chapter. 
Rating:  R - NC-17
Disclaimer:  They aren’t mine, no matter how much I wish it.
Timeline:  Fourth Age. 
Warning:  AU.  Angst.  Adult language and situations.  At times, this story contains 
males involved in homoerotic acts, i.e. explicit sex. It may also contain twincest.  If this 
is not to your liking -- read NO further.  
Beta:  The one and only Aglarien.
A/N:  **Mind speak between the twins.**, *Emphasis*, (Thoughts)
If Thaladirith’s ravings sound like a mad man, that’s because he is. 
Feedback:  Would be wonderful!    
Summary:  The Imladris party arrives in Mirkwood.  Elladan and Elrohir find out how 
Thaladirith has been treating Legolas.  

Chapter Eighteen

Mirkwood

Legolas could not sit still on his horse as he waited with nervous eagerness for the 
Imladris party to appear on the path.  In his excitement he had the escort ready and 
waiting hours before Elrond’s party was due to arrive.  The prince could tell some of the 
guards were becoming agitated with the long wait, but if Legolas had remained in the 
palace for one moment more he would have gone mad with anticipation.  

Finally he heard a horse neigh in the distance and he allowed himself an anxious smile.  
Soon he would see his lovers for the first time in a fortnight.  As the Imladris party broke 
the line of trees, Legolas held his breath until he saw Elladan and Elrohir appear.  His 
smile grew as he saw them and his urge to rush to them was only stopped by his duty as 
the leader of the escort.  The prince slid from his horse and approached Lord Elrond, 
whom he welcomed warmly, as well as Erestor and Glorfindel.

When at last he approached Elladan and Elrohir he could not stop the joy from showing 
in his eyes.  “Well met, keepers of my heart,” Legolas said barely above a whisper.  
“Long have been the days and nights since I last saw you, but know that my love for you 
has grown with every passing day.”

“As has ours, melethen,” Elladan answered, his voice only loud enough for the three of 
them to hear.  “We have counted the days since you left and only wished our reunion was 
in a more private setting.  There is much to discuss and we have brought letters and gifts 
for you.”

“I have arranged an outing,” Legolas replied, his eyes promising more than he was able 
to speak.  “Once you are settled, we will take our leave.”

“I am looking forward to it, my Prince,” Elrohir answered, his smile brighter than any 
star in the sky.  “We have been too long apart for my liking and I intend to show you how 
much you were missed.”

“Then let us not tarry longer,” Legolas replied, returning the smile.  “To the palace where 
my father and king awaits your arrival.”

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

The welcome luncheon was served on the terrace outside the king’s private chambers 
where the scent of the flowers in bloom could waft in the breeze.  The kitchen staff 
prepared a lovely meal with a mixture of dishes from both Imladris and Mirkwood.  
Delicious cakes and cream pies were on hand for dessert if any of the elves present left 
room for them.  

Thaladirith chatted pleasantly with everyone, to the shock of both Thranduil and Legolas.  
The captain even debated with Glorfindel over the importance of abstaining from too 
much Dorwinion wine.  His jokes were appropriate and he charmed Elrond into telling 
some tales about his time as a herald for the High King.  

Elrohir and Elladan kept up with the conversation, but each were careful not to let the 
Mirkwood captain’s pleasant demeanor fool them.  Elrohir especially watched 
Thaladirith’s interaction with everyone at the table.  There were times when the captain’s 
eyes would land on Legolas and an evil gleam could be seen before he quickly looked 
away.  If Legolas hadn’t confided in him, he would have thought the captain almost 
charming.

**‘If I did not know any better I would say the captain is quite entertaining and 
friendly,’** Elladan sent his brother.

**‘Aye, but notice when he looks at Legolas, his eyes give away his true feelings.  He 
looks as though he could kill him,’** Elrohir replied.  **’I think we should watch him 
carefully.  Perhaps Legolas is in more danger than even he believes.’**

**’Did you not say we were the ones in danger if our feelings became known?’** Elladan 
asked.

**’Something must have changed,’** Elrohir reasoned.  **’We must find out from 
Legolas what has happened since he returned.’**

Elladan laughed at something Erestor said, but nodded at his brother.  “You have been 
keeping your best stories from us, Counselor.  "Why don’t we hear things like this at 
home?”

“And waste my best material on you,” Erestor asked, teasingly.

“There are many things I only share with those I am unrelated to,” Thranduil confessed, 
chuckling.  “Which are you?  I fear I don’t possess my son’s ability to tell you apart.”

“I am Elladan, sire, the better looking twin,” the elf warrior replied before being hit by 
Elrohir in the arm.  “I am also the less violent twin,” he added, laughing.

“That remains to be seen,” Elrond interrupted, chuckling.  “They are known for their 
ability to make others laugh and for their pranks, but they are good at heart.”

“Aye, I can see that,” Thranduil agreed, nodding with a smile.  “Would the two of you be 
interested in seeing the forest while you are here?  I am sure Legolas can find time in his 
schedule to show you some of the most beautiful parts of our home.”

“I was planning to offer my services, my King.” Thaladirith spoke before the twins or 
Legolas could reply.  “The prince has so much to do and I would hate to take him away 
from the things he enjoys.”

Legolas gave his father a pleading look, begging him silently not to accept the captain’s 
offer.  Although he confided his feelings to his father, he wasn’t sure the king truly 
accepted the relationship.

“Nay, Thal, I will need you here,” the king answered firmly.  “I am sure there are many 
things you and Glorfindel can do to improve our defenses.  We will have many meetings 
and you are a valuable part of my circle.  Legolas can show Elladan and Elrohir around.  I 
have already assigned his duties to another.”

“As you wish, sire,” Thaladirith replied with a nod of his head.  A moment later he was 
glaring daggers at Legolas who tried to ignore him.

“I apologize, Elrond,” Thranduil said, suddenly.  “I took it for granted that you did not 
need your sons to attend our meetings.  Forgive me for being presumptuous.”

“Ai, nay,” Elrond replied with a smile.  “We would get nothing accomplished.  They 
would sit and stare at the outdoors and would ask at every opportunity to be excused to 
explore.”

“Father!” Elladan said, indignantly.  “You will have them thinking we act like mere 
elflings.”

Elrohir agreed, but only looked at his father in shock.

“You are elflings compared to some of us sitting at this table,” Glorfindel reminded them 
with a chuckle.

“Before this gets out of hand, perhaps Elladan, Elrohir and I may be excused,” Legolas 
said as he stood.  “I assure you I am well trained when it comes to taking care of 
elflings.”

Everyone at the table, including Thaladirith laughed at the prince’s jest, but by the looks 
on the twins’ faces he would pay for it later.  As the twins and Legolas left the elders, 
conversation turned to more serious matters such as which dessert would be the best 
choice.

Thaladirith heard nothing after the twins and Legolas left the table.  He kept his black, 
narrowed eyes trained on the three until they disappeared out of the garden.  (Aye, they 
are going to pay for this.  Tomorrow Legolas will leave a message for Elladan and 
Elrohir to meet him…Where?…It can’t be too close to the palace…The glade by the 
waterfall…Yes, that is far enough away…They won’t suspect a thing and once I have 
Legolas as a hostage, they will do anything I ask.  I wonder if they would die for him?  
Perhaps I will offer his life for one of theirs…They are twins; if one dies, the other 
dies…but it has to be a painful death for all of them.  Very painful…*excruciating*.)

(I wonder which of the *valiant* sons of Elrond will cry out first…Legolas will die last, 
aye, he gets to watch his lovers suffer…I wonder what he would offer to me in return for 
their lives…Anything, aye, anything.  What would *I* want with Prince Legolas?  As if I 
haven’t already plucked the virginity from that one…I wonder what the king would think 
if Legolas confessed his love for me and asked that we be bound?  The prince won’t have 
that chance…I will force him to bind with me tomorrow, and he will do it to save those 
spawns of the half-elf!  Tomorrow, Legolas will be mine and no one can stop me.)

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

As soon as they were out of sight from the elves sitting at the table, Legolas stopped and 
turned to look at the twins with a smile.  “Sweet Eru, I have missed you,” he said, pulling 
Elladan into a tight embrace.  “I love you and I am sorry I spoke to you like I did, and for 
leaving without saying farewell.”

Elladan held Legolas tightly and buried his nose in the prince’s sweet smelling hair.  
“Forgive me for not treating you as I promised, my Prince.  I love you, now and always.”

Legolas pulled away from Elladan and turned to Elrohir.  Before he could pull the elf 
knight into a hug, Elladan touched his face.

“What is this?” Elladan asked.  He looked at the creamy substance on his fingers and 
rubbed them together.

Elrohir looked at Elladan’s fingers and then Legolas’ face.  The elf knight frowned as he 
noticed the bruise now showing on the prince’s face.  “*Who* hit you,” he demanded 
with barely concealed rage.

Legolas covered his cheek with his hand and looked at Elladan and Elrohir with wide 
eyes.  “Do you not know, Elrohir?  I told you he is dangerous,” he answered as evenly as 
he could.

“Thaladirith did this to you?  When?  Why?” Elladan asked, his voice rising with each 
question.

“Yesterday, because he said I was lying about our relationship,” Legolas explained, 
trying to lead the twins further away from the gardens.  “I have told him we barely know 
each other, but he says he knows I am lying.  You are in danger; he will find a way to 
make sure you both pay for touching me.”

“Nay, he is the one who will pay,” Elrohir said, starting back to the gardens.  “I will kill 
him with my bare hands!”

“Elrohir, no, please, do not cause a scene,” Legolas begged as he tried to stop him, but 
the elf knight broke away from him and headed back to the gardens. 

Elladan grabbed Legolas’ hand and followed his brother.  **Elrohir?**

TBC