A/N: Here's another part. Am I doing well? Oh, and for anyone who's been waiting or wanting a Glorfindel/Elrohir fic, check out the changes I made to Cry of the Eagle, and let me know what you think. By the way, this part comes with some warnings so….

WARNINGS: This chapter contains some definite slash, even though it is definitely not NC-17. No, it is not gratuitous, and yes, it is necessary for the story. Now, on to…..

Part 20:

Days were the easiest, Elladan thought. It was easy to pretend when Anor was shining down, warming his blood. It was easy to pretend that the soft kisses and gentle touches were welcome. It was so easy.

At night, when Ithil's cold light highlighted the valley, it was harder. Legolas would curl up next to him in bed, so careful not to frighten him with sudden contact. The tenderness was touching, almost to the point of annoyance. He was not made of starlight that would dissolve at the merest contact, after all. Still, it was hard to quiet his raging heart when he felt those strong arms wind around him. Every instinct he had told him to fight, to run, to do anything but lay there and pretend. But his heart told him that it was only Legolas, and Legolas would never hurt him.

But Elladan found that an Elf's heart was only so strong.





It was a good day. The last of the guest who had arrived for the New Year finally departed that morn, though Legolas and Elrohir noted that Thalion was one of the first to leave the fair valley of Imaldris directly after the festivities. The house was quieter now, as the remaining residents settled into the routine of spring and the warmer months of summer that the Elves so loved. The air was thick with the scent of flowers and the crisp Bruinen ran swift and full with the melting snows of the mountains.

The day was spent laughing and grooming horses in the stables. Elrohir and Legolas took their horses out to exercise, leaving Elladan alone to care for Mornel—a task he was enjoying more and more as the friendship between them grew. He still did not try to ride Mornel since that first day, but he knew the time would come soon. By the time Legolas and Elrohir returned, it was almost dark and they had to hurry to wash for dinner. Still, they arrived to the table slightly damp, earning a few quick glances from the others present.

After dinner, Legolas took Elladan's hand and led him upstairs. He noticed Legolas's quick smile and the darkness of his eyes. His own smile faded as he recognized what mood Legolas was in, but he did not fight the grip Legolas had on his hand. They arrived at Elladan's room quickly, and Legolas pushed the door open silently. Elladan's smile returned as he noticed the candles burning low, set on every available surface in the room. The bed was adorned with soft white flower petals, lending a sweet aroma to the air. Legolas still had his hand, and drew him slowly to the bed.

"I thought that tonight we could…" his voice faded off shyly.

Elladan responded by kissing Legolas soundly, receiving a soft squeak of surprise from him.

"No," Legolas said, pushing Elladan away from him. "Slowly. We go slowly, and you have to promise me that you'll say something if you become uncomfortable or if I hurt you."

"You do not have to—"

"PROMISE me," Legolas said firmly. "Or we go no further."

Elladan stepped back and sat on the edge of the bed. "I promise you that I will tell you if I become uncomfortable or you hurt me," he said clearly, though his eyes were fixed on the floor.

Legolas sat beside him. "We don't have to do this," he said quietly. "We don't ever have to do this. I will not love you less. There are many ways to make love."

Elladan nodded. "I want to you to be able to take me again, as you used to," he said. "I don't want that to be stolen from us."

"I will not be stolen from you, even if what we once shared so easily is now lost to us. That is not what matters. You are here, safe, and I am here also. That is the important part. We can still share our hearts, even if we cannot share our bodies."

Elladan licked his lips and considered his words before he spoke. "I would still like to try," he said softly, glancing sideways at Legolas. He moved to speak again, but Legolas silenced him.

"Do not make promises," he said. "We can try anything you wish, and if it fails, we will find another way."

Elladan nodded. Yes, he could do this, he promised himself. He would not run away from Legolas.

Legolas was there, then, kissing him carefully. Elladan leaned into him, deepening the kiss beyond any they had shared since his capture. He could taste the wine on Legolas's tongue, but he knew that he had not drunk much, and it would not affect his actions. He felt Legolas's smile against his mouth and his hands skimming under his tunic to reach the skin beneath. Elladan's breath hitched as Legolas traced the scars that ran across his back, but Legolas did not stop or show any signs of revulsion as Elladan expected. The strong archer's hands pulled the tunic over his head and it landed in a puddle on the floor. Legolas pulled out of the kiss, gasping for air, but smiling.

"If your sister is the Evenstar, you must be the moonrise," Legolas breathed close to his shoulder before pressing a kiss on his sensitive throat.

Elladan gasped, his world tilting in a dangerous way as he was guided to lie on the bed. Legolas sat above him, divesting himself of his own tunic before moving to lie beside the raven-haired Elf.

"Wait," Elladan said.

"What is it?" Legolas asked, slightly alarmed.

"What if Elrohir walks in on us?"

Legolas chuckled. "Does your brother not know the ways between two Elves?" he asked. "Do not worry—I have tied him to a tree where no one will find him. Besides, I locked the door."

Elladan laughed, which immediately lightened Legolas's heart. He rolled over and resumed kissing Legolas, though he noted that the prince's hands stayed discretely above his waist. Still, his hand accidentally pressed on the scar that traced Elladan's ribs and his breath hitched.

"I am sorry. Does it still pain you?" Legolas asked.

"No, just the memory of the pain. It is nothing."

The blue eyes narrowed, but Legolas let the comment pass. He continued kissing lightly along Elladan's collarbone until he felt some of the tension drain out of the Elladan. His own need was mounting quickly, but it was easy to ignore for now. Elladan reached to reciprocate, but Legolas held the hand that reached to stroke his hair.

"No, just relax," he whispered. "You'll have your turn."

Elladan's protest faded into a moan as Legolas began sucking gently on his sensitive ear tip while his hands glided smoothly across his chest. He was quickly reduced to a quivering mass of Elf sprawled bonelessly on the bed. Legolas's breathing quickened as his desire became unbearable.

"Elladan, I want you to take me tonight," Legolas said in a voice gone husky.

Elladan was taken aback. "But I thought…wouldn't you rather take me?" he asked hesitantly.

Legolas shook his head. "No. I will not do that tonight."

Elladan looked away, blushing. "I…I do not know if I can," he admitted.

Legolas had noticed the lack of heat that usually matched his own, but he shrugged and grinned wickedly. "Let me see if I can help you with that," he said, moving to undo the laces on Elladan's leggings.

Elladan allowed it, though every muscle in his body tensed in the need to get away. He almost spoke up, but chastised himself for being nothing but a coward. He gripped the sheets as Legolas took him into his mouth, suckling hard but not hard enough to elicit pain. Elladan shut his eyes and tried to still his racing pulse. It seemed as though his heart felt the need to escape his body, if his body would not escape for itself.

Legolas felt the tension in his body and the lack of reaction to his ministrations. He laid one hand against Elladan's smooth hip while the other traced soft circles on his abdomen, trying to get him to relax enough for his body to feel the pleasure instead of the fear and pain. He did not stop, as Elladan had promised to speak out when it became too much to bear, and he trusted Elladan to keep his word.

"No!" Elladan cried suddenly, almost against his will. Legolas's hands were too much. It was too close to how the orcs had pinned him down with their claws when the chains became tangled and in the way. He tried to shut his eyes to block out the memories, but all he saw was darkness of the caves. "No, no, stop! You can't!" he cried, even when Legolas moved away. He was clearly caught in a nightmarish memory, but Legolas did not know whether he should touch him to wake him or not.

Elladan's eyes snapped open and he was silent as he stared at Legolas without really seeing him. His eyes widened and he bolted out of the bed, barely pulling up his leggings before he tripped over them.

"Elladan, stop! Just wait for a moment," Legolas said as Elladan fumbled with the lock.

Elladan was scared and his instincts to run were too strong to ignore, even for Legolas. He raced out of the door without dressing. Legolas grabbed his tunic from the bed and pulled it on as he tried to follow Elladan out of the door, but he was gone from sight.





Elrohir followed his father to his chambers after dinner, giving Legolas and Elladan some privacy. He did not want to be forced to listen to their "reacquaintance" through the door anyway, he mused. The father and son opened a book of lore between them, determined to find a certain lay that Erestor had mentioned the day before, but neither of them remembered. They were torn from their perusal by furious knocking on the study door.

Elrond went to answer it and he was met with a sobbing Legolas on the other side. He caught the young Prince as he nearly collapsed in his arms.

"I'm sorry!" Legolas cried. "I did not know what I was doing…"

"What is wrong?" Elrond asked.

"Elladan is gone!"