The Rule: Until an Elf has reached 1500, he or she is not to take a lover, without approval from his or her guardian or parents. Guardians cannot have affairs with those they are guarding, until their charge reaches 1500. Elves who break this rule are punished; typically it is the older Elf who is singled out for punishment.
This is my rule, not J.R.R. Tolkien's creation. At least, I do believe that it is. I never heard of it in LOTR.
Note: Rated R for assault, violence, and implied rape! E/L slash! Implied slash between Kirin/Sellen! If you dislike incest, I suggest you go back. Only the unknown characters are mine! The rest are not! Elvish speech is in ''.
Decisions
Part 9
'We didn't try hard enough,' Sellen insisted, as he held his little brother close. 'We… I should have done more…'
Legolas shook his head and said firmly, 'You did try, both of you did… Very few did try to stop them…'
Elrond Half-Elven kept an impassive look on his face. 'Why don't you explain it fully, Sellen? Then Legolas and I will both understand.'
Sellen's blue eyes flickered to the Lord of Rivendell, before he looked back at his youngest brother. 'Tis not only my story to tell; it is also Kirin's,' he murmured.
Legolas turned to look at Kirin, who lay on the bed, still unconscious. 'Will he be all right, Lord Elrond?' he asked, concern in his voice.
'Yes, Legolas. He was brought in time,' Elrond answered. He took a seat next to Glorfindel, relaxing slightly.
Glorfindel hovered by his Elven lord protectively, just in case. He was still slightly suspicious of the two from Mirkwood, though he was not certain if it was justified anymore.
Sellen nodded slowly, as he stayed on the ground. He bowed his head slightly again, as he took one of Legolas' hands in his, and Kirin's limp one in the other. 'I am not sure of where to start, Lord Elrond. I suppose it is better to tell the story as I knew it, along with Kirin. Father… has always resented Legolas, because he was frail when he was born. Mother spent more time with Legolas than with Father, so he forbid it any longer. There was no peace in the household after that. He openly encouraged us to be cruel, and it was not until much later that I learned that what we were doing was wrong.' Sellen squeezed Legolas' hand for that.
Elrond narrowed his eyes slowly. Thranduil encouraging his sons to be cruel? That was easily understood, because Thranduil himself was cold and cruel to everyone. Including his own children, for it now appeared that Legolas had not been the only to suffer at Thranduil's hands.
'Kirin and I spent more time in Lothlorien, more than Mirkwood, especially after Mother died. Legolas was kept in Mirkwood, and we honestly did not know what was going on until we returned, centuries later, to find out the truth for ourselves. We had heard numerous rumors, naturally.' Sellen took a deep breath, before continuing. 'The reality was worse than the rumors; Legolas was easily the most beautiful of everyone in Mirkwood, and he was already… Gyre's consort. I argued with Father, telling him that it was wrong. He merely told me that I was being foolish, and when I persisted, he told me to keep silent, or he would do the same to Kirin, who was also protesting.'
Legolas gasped.
Sellen shrugged helplessly. 'Father told Kirin that if he didn't stop questioning how Legolas was being treated, the same would be done to me. Eventually, we confessed the truth to each other, and came up with a plan of sorts. If we kept openly protesting, Father would, no doubt, keep his promises. So that was why we started giving you chores to do, Legolas. It was the only thing we could think of to keep you away from Gyre, because we did not know what to do. Father threatened us if we tried to take you away, or we would have done so. That's why I told you to wash the floor that day when Lord Elrond came, for I hoped that he would recognize you and take you away. I remembered how kind he had been to you all those years ago, at Mother's mourning ceremony,' he explained. 'And Kirin and I tried to keep Gyre as busy as possible, taking him with us when we went hunting.' A haunted look shone in his azure eyes, before he blinked it away.
'I see,' Legolas whispered. He didn't remember having met Elrond all those years ago, but it made sense to him now. How else would Elrond have known his name, if he had not him, Legolas mused.
'Kirin and I were planning to leave Mirkwood permanently; there was no longer any reason to stay. Legolas was safe at Rivendell, and as soon as Kirin released Kalen, we planned on living together. I found Kirin, hours later, in a bloody heap near the dungeons. I can only guess that Father found out and decided to punish him,' Sellen told the quiet listeners.
Elrond questioned, 'Did Thranduil send Gyre here to assassinate me and take Legolas back?'
Sellen looked directly at the Elven lord and murmured, 'I would not be surprised. Gyre is furious and wants Legolas back.'
Legolas was surprised to see a bemused smile cross Sellen's face briefly. 'What is it?' he asked.
'I backhanded him for it,' Sellen confessed. 'Father was furious, of course…' He shrugged. 'I didn't really care, though. You weren't there to be punished any longer, Legolas, and I wanted to do that for centuries.'
An approving glint appeared in Elrond's dark eyes, along with Glorfindel's blue eyes. The two looked at each other, before turning back to the brothers.
'And what will you do now?' Elrond wondered aloud.
'Kirin and I plan to go West in a few years, to find somewhere we can get away from Father,' Sellen informed the Elven lord. 'In the meantime, I guess we will escort Kalen home and hope that the Lord and Lady of 'Lorien will allow us to stay.'
'So soon?' Legolas protested.
Sellen turned to face his youngest brother, and put a hand on each of his shoulders. 'It will not be like it is impossible for us to visit, Legolas. And I won't be going anywhere until Kirin is awake and well. At least, I hope not…' He glanced over at Elrond.
Elrond sighed, 'Far be it from me to break a family apart. Stay as long as you like.'
'Kirin and I cannot; Father is already furious that Legolas is here. If we stay here, the danger is much greater for Legolas.' A solemn note was in Sellen's voice. 'He's had enough hardships in his life. And Kirin and I are past 1500, so we cannot be fostered out as Legolas has been.'
'Thranduil does not scare me,' Elrond countered. 'If you want to stay, do not be afraid to.'
Sellen nodded. 'It would be nice to spend some time with Legolas for a while.' The older blond Elf yawned slightly, as he leaned back against Kirin's bed.
Legolas murmured, 'Maybe you should get some sleep. You look really tired, Sellen.'
'I can't leave Kirin…' Sellen replied, as he yawned again. He was tired, for desperation, anger, and his own strength had been sustaining him throughout the entire ordeal, from fleeing from Mirkwood directly to Rivendell.
'Sleep in here, then,' Elrond offered. He stood and looked at Glorfindel and Legolas, raising a dark eyebrow slightly. It was a not-so-subtle hint to let Sellen be alone, to rest.
Legolas stood, pulling Sellen up with him. He inadvertently grabbed his older brother's right forearm, only to hear a slight hiss of pain. A frown marred Legolas' face, before he released his hold and pulled the sleeve up.
A large, fresh, burned brand was in the middle of it, raw and red, with a few blisters that were beginning to fade. It was very painful to even look at, let alone feel.
'What happened?' Legolas questioned, gaping at the star-shaped brand on Sellen's arm.
'I did tell you that Father punished me from striking Gyre,' Sellen said.
Elrond crossed the room and gripped the arm, above the brand, inspecting it carefully. 'A star?' he mused aloud.
Sellen muttered, 'Because Legolas, Kirin, and I all share one thing; a love of the stars at night. Father hates them, as does Gyre. Mother liked the stars as well…'
'Indeed,' Elrond slowly said. He released the arm and went over to his herbs. He grabbed what he needed and brought it over, along with a bandage. The aloe was gently spread over the burn to soothe away the pain and inflammation, before it was wrapped carefully. The half Elf's sharp eyes caught sight of smaller, nearly healed scars.
'Thank you, Lord Elrond,' Sellen said, yawning again.
'You're welcome. Now get some sleep,' Elrond told the young one.
Legolas hugged Sellen again, before he left with Elrond and Glorfindel.
Hope and relief shone in Sellen's cobalt eyes, as the second oldest son of Thranduil climbed into the bed next to Kirin's, after scooting it over so that the two touched.
Maybe he and Kirin could have a fresh start with Legolas, Sellen hoped, before he pulled a blanket over him and fell asleep. Sometime while Sellen was asleep, Kirin awoke briefly, groggily, before he saw Sellen. He inched over slowly, painfully, until he could feel Sellen's body heat. Kirin's silvery-blond head rested against his older brother's chest, before he sank back asleep, comforted in the knowledge that Sellen was here.
Elrond was returning to his room, when he realized that Legolas was still following him. The Elven lord slowed his pace, so that the younger Elf could walk beside him.
'Thank you,' Legolas whispered gratefully.
Elrond frowned a little. 'For what?'
Legolas murmured, 'For letting them stay.' He brought a hand up slowly, and touched the older half Elf's face. 'It really means a lot to me.'
Elrond had to hide his instinctive reaction to the seemingly innocent touch. Though he did want to kiss the younger Elf senseless. 'Come now, Legolas… I could not have let them just run around trying to avoid Thranduil for as long as they remain in Middle Earth,' he replied, trying to keep his dignity in tact.
Legolas licked his lips slightly, before he stood on his tip-toes and sweetly, firmly kissed Elrond for a few long moments. He pulled away a few minutes later. 'I know you are not as impassive as you seem,' he whispered.
'How would you know?' Elrond jested slightly. 'I am much older than you.' He was silenced by another sweet kiss, which sent warmth through him. The Elven lord stepped back a little, against his will. 'You are vulnerable right now, Legolas…' he began.
'Do you not like me kissing you?' Legolas finally asked, bewildered. He was confused, because he kept getting different things from Elrond. Sometimes Elrond responded, and other times he pulled away.
Elrond sighed. 'No, Legolas… I do like you kissing me. But… your age…'
Legolas frowned. 'Why does that have to matter so much?' he questioned hoarsely. He didn't care about the stupid rule.
'We can't fall in love now, Legolas… It is forbidden…' Elrond whispered. His dark eyes spoke volumes to Legolas' blue-grey eyes.
'But it's already too late,' Legolas whispered back.
Elrond whispered once more. 'I know…'
Their two faces looked at each other, and slowly, almost against their wills, they came closer together… Before they kissed again.
To be continued
