Title: The Double Sin

Author: Squirrelchaser (squirrelchaser12@yahoo.com)

Warnings: Not beta'd, slash/incest (Elladan/Elrohir), product of an mpreg, and an end that I don't want to give away

Important: Tolkien states that the Eldar (i.e.: elves like Glorfindel and Elrond) are able to tell when two elves are bonded (and sex=marriage) – I did not just make that. He also states that elf children can walk, talk, dance and sing before they are one year old (Morgoth's Ring)

AN: takes place after the War of the Ring, right before Elrond leaves for Valinor; the time line of story is slightly skewed to make events of the story make sense (i.e.: messages can't travel that fast but you need to know what's happening in Imladris)

Disclaimer: Tolkien owns these characters and I am not Tolkien. If the poor guy were alive and knew half of what we did to his characters and story lines, he'd probably kill himself.

The Double Sin

It was the quiet, damp sort of afternoon with rain pattering softly in the background that always made Elrond reflect on the past, which could make for a joyful or sad passing of time.

One week, he thought, before Celebrían and I are to see each other again for the first time in…well, a very long time. The elf lord closed his eyes, swallowing hard. There is much I need to tell her…how will she react when she learns that I will bring none of our children to her?

Slowly Elrond continued his steps down a hallway, not knowing exactly where he was going until he stopped at the corridor which ended in a vast, circular balcony which looked out toward the Misty Mountains. There were two doors on either side of the balcony, and Elrond chose the one to his right.

The bedchamber of Elrohir had remained untouched since its inhabitant had gone.

~*~

 "Elrohir has changed," Elladan complained to Glorfindel as they walked through the gardens one afternoon. "He does not eat much and is distant and silent to me!"

The golden haired elf knit his eyebrows, his mood remaining light. "I beg to differ, or perhaps we are thinking of different Elrohirs."

At this attempt at humor Elladan scowled.

"Can you not tell?" He sings more often and when he has not barricaded himself in his room he wanders around with a ridiculous melancholy expression on his face that can only mean one thing: Elrohir is love," Glorfindel said dramatically to an unconvinced and unimpressed Elladan.

"He would have told me," Elladan snapped peevishly, irritated at the very notion of his brother falling in love without his knowledge. "I would have known."

"Elrohir will come out of this or tell you before too long, I think." Glorfindel nodded and smiled down at him, but Elladan scowled again in return.

"I will rouse him out of this, or prove you wrong Glorfindel!" the dark haired elf declared, and turned to make his way to his brother's room where Elrohir had kept himself in seclusion for the past day and a half.

"Take care," Glorfindel called after him. Standing alone in the shade of a tree the golden haired elf frowned. Something did not feel right but he could not put his finger on it and Elladan's determination to change the situation made him certain that it would only lead to trouble.

Moments later, reaching his destination, Elladan tried the entrance to his brother's room but found it locked. Impatiently Elladan rattled the door handle. "Elrohir!" He yelled but there was no reply. "I know you are within. Open the door!"

For a long moment only birdsong through the open windows could be heard but at length the bolt turned and Elrohir opened the door. He licked his lips, not quite meeting his brother's identical grey eyes and said quietly, "What is it?"

"I…wanted to see you," he finished lamely realizing he had no real purpose for coming.

Still not meeting his gaze Elrohir gave a short scoff, one eyebrow raised in an expression much like his Adar as he turned and walked further into his chamber with Elladan following. Elrohir sat down at the window ledge, leaning against the frame and throwing one long leg over the side and staring pensively out at the valley.

Elladan was at a loss. To everyone else Elrohir was quiet, serious; nearly shy and Elladan took great care to watch for his brother in public situations knowing how much he loathed them. But only with his twin and his father was Elrohir verbal and expressive, and until now Elladan had been in tune with nearly every thought and emotion that had glanced through his mind through the bond they had shared since birth. But as of late his insight had grown cloudy and he did not know what to do; Elladan felt as if half his soul was slowly slipping away and he was powerless to do anything about it. "It is so beautiful, today," he began slowly, unsure of where he was going. "I thought, maybe, we could go riding and…hunt, perhaps?"

Finally Elrohir turned his head and looked into his brother's eyes for the first time in a guarded gaze.

He has never been this silent to me! Elladan thought wretchedly. "Please?" he added.

The please seemed to do the trick; Elrohir swung his leg back inside, turned, and stood, giving possibly the smallest of smiles. "As you will, my brother,"

Elladan smiled in satisfaction. That was a little more like the Elrohir he knew and loved.

The strides of their horses were matched as they flew across the narrow paths from the valley to the wide open plains beyond Imladris. Elladan watched his brother riding ahead in satisfaction; he could feel the happiness and relief emanating from his twin as it always did when they were on horseback.

The wideness of nature instead of the confines of the house seemed to bring a healing change to Elrohir's heart and soul, troubles seeming to become forgotten as the day waned on.

The rest of the afternoon was spent tracking a promising looking buck, but Elladan had just notched an arrow to his bow and taken aim when there was a hand on his arm. He lowered his aim and turned to see Elrohir looking at him with a strange expression, one of fear and apprehension with a trace of dread. "Yes," Elladan said quickly. "He is too beautiful to slay. Besides," he smiled. "Should we bring down our query now that would bring an all too quick end to our excursion!" And an end to this reprieve from your withdraw.

"It is so peaceful here," Elrohir sighed, inhaling the scent of the greenery surrounding him and Elladan could feel the pulse of the bond between them for the first time in a great while.

He does not want to go back, Elladan sensed. "Let us spend the night out here," he suggested and Elrohir's interest peaked. "We can bring down some small game,"

"That buck is too much for the two of us anyway," Elrohir said as the graceful creature meandered away through the trees, blissfully unaware of the peril he had just escaped. "And I have some lembas in my pack. We are a little too late in our decision making to set snares in time for dinner, so we shall test our archery skill on these swift rabbits, shall we?"

Smiling back at his twin Elladan set the pace across the field and the hunt for the creatures was on. He could feel his twin's eyes on him as he drew back his bow but was too preoccupied with the prey in front of him to pay it much heed.

Night had fallen as they made camp, their small fire sending glowing sparks up into the dark star lit sky.

Lapping the last bits of juice from his fingers Elladan cast the remains of his dinner aside, and cocked his head to Elrohir, narrowing his eyes thoughtfully at the far away look in his twin's distracted gaze. At least he is eating again. "What is it, my brother?"

Elrohir blinked, eyes coming back into focus. "What is what?"

Rising and pacing a few steps forward, Elladan settled down right next to the long form spread leisurely on the ground. "You, Elrohir," he said gently but poking his brother teasingly. "Today is the first time in many days you have been yourself. Something has changed in you; you know I can feel it." Elladan leaned forward and set his chin on his brother's knee, bringing his face inches away from Elrohir's.

"Yes, I know you can feel it," Elrohir said softly. Why must you look at me so earnestly?

"Will you not tell me what is troubling you? Glorfindel thinks it is because you are in love!" Elladan opened his mouth to scoff at the idea but stopped.

Pain filled Elrohir's grey eyes, and Elladan felt a stab of hurt flash through his own heart. "What is it, what is it that makes you ache so?" Elladan immediately became serious at his brother's expression and grabbed the other's long hands in his own, alarm raising his voice a notch. "Oh, you must tell me, and we can make it go away; we must, we always have," he said desperately.

Bowing his head to their clasped hands Elrohir said in a strangled voice. "I cannot tell you. And no Elladan, we have not always been able to make it go away."

Elladan reached forward in an attempt to clasp his brother to him but Elrohir shook him off and pushed him away, standing and striding out of the circle of light.

"Please," Elrohir trembled. "Please do not touch me."

Hurt, Elladan said frantically, trying to salvage some of the relief that the day had brought, "I will not touch you or question you further tonight, if that is your wish."

I am sorry to injure you, but I must, Elrohir closed his eyes and raised his face to the sky.

"Elrohir, come back into the light where I can see you. You are frightening me,"

As he was bid Elrohir returned.

Spreading his cloak out on the ground next to him, Elladan patted it lightly and said, "Sleep. There is no need to take watch; we are still well within Adar's protection."

"What!!??" Elladan yelped, jumping out of his cushioned chair. "Adar, surely you jest!"

Elrond raised his eye brows in confusion. "Surely Elrohir spoke to you ab– "

"NO!!!" Elladan howled. "Not a word!"

Now Elrond was even more confused. Yes, he had know that Elrohir had not been himself lately but it was completely out of character for either twin to make a small decision – let alone a large one such as this – without the other knowing.

A decision quickly firming in his mind Elladan crossed the room and wrenched the door to his father's study open. "Adar, consider all of Elrohir's plans to leave for the Grey Havens on hold for now, until you hear other wise." With these parting words Elladan stepped through the door and it slammed behind him. "Elrohir!" he nearly shouted as he reached his brother's room, throwing the (thankfully) unlocked door wide and finding his brother stretched out on his bed. Crossing the room Elladan jumped onto the bed, threw one leg over Elrohir and sat on him hard, pinning his shoulders down with both hands. "I am not going to move from this spot until you tell me why exactly in all of Arda you were making plans to sail for Valinor."

Elrohir blinked. "To visit Amar?"

For the first time that he could remember Elladan felt anger at his twin rising in him. Giving his shoulders a small shake he snapped, "No jokes!"

Elrohir could feel the mounting fury in his twin and he sighed in defeat. "Close the door."

"You promise me you will take me into your confidence?" Elladan said fiercely, not relenting.

"I will tell you whatever you want to know." He was released, and he sat up against the headboard, watching Elladan close and lock the door before returning to his spot on the bed. For the first time, Elrohir felt himself at a loss for words for his brother, and he stared down at his hands clasped on his bent knee, unsure of how and where to begin.

AN: Want more? Need beta!