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Chapter 19- Lothlórien: One Ring To Rule Them All
Elladan stood on the balcony, enjoying the cool night air and sipping the wine he had brought out with him after the meal. The conversation between his parents and him was happy and light-hearted, though he had the very certain sense that they knew exactly what it was Elladan wished to speak with his father about. His mother had not said so much, but it was obviously that her heart was joyous because of the obvious intentions in this conversation. She had promptly shooed him out of the talan after the meal to await his father to join him for a private conversation, trying to hurry this conversation along as much as she could, probably so that she could go and speak to others about it.
His father stepped out onto the balcony and stood beside him for a long while, gazing up at the evening sky. Elladan glanced to the side, finding his father deep in a reverie of some kind, a half smile on his face. His father sighed lightly then and turned to gaze at him, "What is the nature of this conversation, ionnen?"
Elladan chuckled, "It is clear to me you already know what this is to be about."
"True," said his father, walking over to a nearby bench and sitting upon it. The Elf lord was quiet again for a few long moments, until he chuckled to himself.
"What is it Ada?" Elladan asked.
"I was only remembering a time when these conversations between you and I dealt with such innocent things," he replied. "It truly only seems like yesterday you were placed in my arms with your brother fussing up a storm, not a captain who has seen a fair share of the darkness in the world, grown to be a very capable lord and an ellon who has found, and understood the purest form of love."
Elladan sipped his wine, keeping it in his mouth for a few moments before swallowing. "I know not if I understand love yet, Ada, but I know that it is there."
"You have understood it even in the smallest degree, Elladan," Elrond replied. "To understand love is an impossible feat… only Iluvatar can really grasp the true meaning of love. It is that powerful a thing."
"I suppose that is correct," Elladan nodded his head, glancing back out to the trees, and then up at the ceiling of stars above them.
The stayed in each other's company for another long silence, until his father shifted and the sound of the rustling robes found Elladan's ears. He glanced toward his father who was now standing and making his way to him. For a moment, Elrond gazed at his son, and then sighed, "You have not made your choice yet?"
"Not yet, Ada. I have not been made to," he replied. "But if I plan to plight my troth to Silaerín, my choice will be clear to me when the time comes."
"I had no doubt you would," said his father. "I am surprised that you have not chosen yet. I know that you have thought of this for many years now, Elladan, and I had thought that perhaps you had already been given the moment to choose."
Elladan shook his head, "Nay, I have not."
Elrond nodded his head, "Perhaps it will wait until the Shadow is cleared from this world."
"When the time comes, I will know my answer," Elladan smiled.
"You do know that with the threats ever increasing, it may mean you being separated from her for more long expanses of time, and you may not wed until after the Shadow is finally taken care of? Or you could change your mind after all that you see." Elrond asked. "I do not mean to lay these troubles on you now, when we should be discussing this happy occasion, but it is a thought to keep in mind."
Elladan thought about this for a few moments, before glancing again at his father, and holding his gaze. "Ada, I love her and nothing will change that, even if things occur and we may not find our paths together like I am planning for now."
His father smiled softly, placing a hand on Elladan's shoulder and squeezing it slightly, "Then all I can say is a sincere good luck to my eldest as he embarks on this new adventure in his life. I have found much happiness with your mother, and I hope you find the same with Silaerín."
"I already have, Ada," he replied and felt himself blush slightly.
"She is a fine elleth, and I know not whether I should be happier with your choice to remain Elven or your choice to betroth yourself to Silaerín," his father said with a small laugh.
Elladan chuckled, "She has not yet agreed to this… I think she will be quite surprised, actually."
"Will you wait to travel to Mithlond to discuss this with Nenvír?" Elrond asked.
"If I were to ask for his daughter's hand, he would hire someone to slay me and throw into the Sea," he said and let out a long sigh. "I had planned on speaking to Lord Círdan about it, perhaps he can give me the permission I hope to have."
Elrond nodded, "I do not blame you, Elladan, but there will come that time you will have to face him."
"Aye, I know. But Lord Círdan holds sway in Nenvír's actions, even if they are small," he replied. "I had hoped to announce the betrothal at the festivities tomorrow evening."
"Then you will need betrothal rings," his father smiled and reached into his robes, extracting a small velvet pouch and holding it out for him. Elladan took it and opened the toggled end, dropping the round circle of silver into the palm of his hand. Elrond smiled, "You are lucky I prepare adequately for all possible outcomes of journeys."
"Whose is this, and where is the other?" Elladan asked, reading the Noldorin inscriptions on the inside of the small, dainty ring, perfect for the long slender finger of an elleth's feminine hand.
"The set belonged to your grandmother and grandfather when they were betrothed, and were passed to your mother and I," Elrond replied. "This was your grandmother's Ring of Power before Nenya, so do not take it's power lightly."
Elladan chuckled, "How was it a ring of power, Ada?"
"Because it gave your grandmother the ability to rule your grandfather's life," his father laughed and sighed. "The other still is in the hands of your mother, whom will give it to Silaerín when you have finally spoken with her about this. Go speak to your mother, she has barely been able to contain herself since I told her you would come for the meal tonight, then find Círdan."
"Thank you, Ada," he said.
His father smiled, and took him into a quick embrace, "You are very welcome… now, I command you to go."
They walked for a long while in silence about the darkened city with only the starlight and moonlight that shone down onto the pathways from the sky above to guide them. It had been one of the longest afternoons and evenings of her life, trying to pass the time after he had made her the promise to visit her after his meal with his parents. At a point early in the evening, she had almost deemed it cruel of him to do what he did by making her think like she was… with no way to expend the building lustful energy. She had been lucky, though, to be invited to a meal with Arwen to discuss some things, but even at that she could barely concentrate on what Arwen was talking about, and barely picked up on the fact that Arwen had mentioned Haldir more than once. She had even fallen asleep once she returned to her talan, because it was so late into the evening, and had given up hope on him coming to her. But he had, and had awoken her in the most pleasant of ways by leaning over her and placing his lips to hers.
Reaching one of the highest flets within Caras Galadhon, in a very large mallorn tree, they each sat down beside each other. She rested against him as he encircled his arms about her and held her closely to him. Silaerín was sure she would never find anything more lovely to wrap about her than the warmth and security his body and arms provided. She sighed peacefully and closed her eyes, snuggling more closely to him, picking up the rhythmic beating of his heart and drown for a moment in his intoxicating scent of wood and leaves that was distinctly that of Imladris, though he had not been there in a long while.
"Do not fall asleep on me," he said quietly, brushing his lips over the top of her head.
"But it is quite a lovely thing to do… to fall asleep in your arms," she giggled lightly and turned her face up to his.
He glanced down at her, "I would agree it is the same to have you asleep and in my arms, but you know that I mean about not falling asleep. You will miss the sunrise."
"Aye, I know," she replied and placed a kiss to his neck where her lips were close to, instead of expending the energy to crane her neck up to reach his lips. But he seemed satisfied with as he let out a soft sigh, and she rested her head now in the crook of his neck. He readjusted his grip on her to pull her to him much more closely, if that was at all possible to do, and positioned her legs so that they lay across his lap. This allowed his hands to access her legs more easily, and he began to caress ever so lightly up and down the contours of her claves. She rested more of her weight against his solid chest, while his wonderfully dexterous fingers found her thighs and began to trace them. Stopping for a moment at the backs of her knees, he barely ran his fingers along the crease and she gasped at the sensation. Had she been standing, the strength in her legs would have surely given out from the pleasurable thing.
Elladan laughed at her and placed his lips to hers in a somewhat awkward fashion, but had some how accomplished an particularly passionate kiss. Again, he traced his fingers across the soft flesh behind her knees, and she let out another small gasp that he muted with his mouth. She pulled back from him, removing her head from the position it was resting and looked at him. "You have learned many things while we have been separated. Care to tell me how you have learned them?"
He chuckled, "I have not been unfaithful to you, if that is what you trying to implicate. I could never be when I have such an elleth waiting for me, and it would do well for you to trust me."
"I do trust you, but I cannot also help but think that eight hundred and eighty-two years have passed. Even for an Elf, that is a long time to wait for something that could so easily be supplied to someone of your standing and…" she trailed off, running her fingers down his chest, "pleasing qualities."
He smiled gently and sat up rather than resting back on one hand and pulled her to him to kiss her. There was so much intent and passion behind this kiss, that she found it quite easy to get carried away with it, and soon found herself straddling his outstretched legs. His hands snaked around her waist and lowered to her behind, where his large hands effortlessly grabbed the flesh through her gown, pushing her pelvis much more tightly against him, so that she could feel the very evident excitement protruding from his leggings. Breaking the long string of kisses, he moved his lips her ear and whispered, "I have waited every single one of those years in complete aching agony to find release, knowing that if I waited, I would be rewarded at long last with the elleth whom I desire among all other things."
Silaerín met his now gleaming eyes, mirroring the bright moonlight, and knew what he said was the truth. She had always known that it was true, but she just could not believe that a male being of any kind could have so much love and care for the plain, quiet Telerin elleth from the Havens. "Elladan, I know that my grandfather loves me, and now Celin cares for me, but you know that my life has not been fraught with the most healthy types of love. I do not yet know what it is like to actually have a pure, normal love from someone else."
"I had thought you knew you have been loved by many others for a long while," he said, reaching a hand to her cheek and caressing it.
"What do you mean?" she questioned.
"I have loved you from the moment Elrohir and I caught you listening into Galdor's conversation with my father," he said. "Aye, it has grown stronger as I got to know you better, and changed through the years, but make no mistake, Silaerín. I have always loved you."
She grew quiet and removed her eyes from his, letting them fall to his chest where her fingers were absently playing with one of the toggle fastenings on his tunic. Tears came to her eyes as she thought of all those times she felt so alone in Mithlond, and yet she had never been alone in those times because his love had found her. She had always felt his strength and love there in some form or another. Perhaps that was what kept her just sane enough to keep going in this world, without going mad from her sequestered life at the Havens.
He stopped her hand, making her avert her eyes up to him in question. "And besides my love, you have had my entire family's love for all these years. Silaerín, you have never been unloved, and you never will be."
She smiled through her tears and tried to brush them away, "I act like an Elfling with these tears."
"You do not," he said, taking his own hands and brushing the tears from her cheeks. He kissed her tenderly. "I love you Silaerín Dínainel."
Silaerín paused for a moment, looking into his eyes and smiling, "You have renamed me, my lord? That right is only reserved for family or life mates."
"Said whom?" he asked with a laugh. "And just know there are many other things I would like to call you, but this one sounded the best rolling off of my tongue, and it was the only socially acceptable one."
"I should like to hear what it sounds like in throes of love making," she giggled, leaning over to kiss him. "I should be glad that it is not Nad Min."
"I thought about jesting and giving you that one," he replied. "But I thought you would take it quite seriously."
"I would have," Silaerín smiled and kissed him again. She said against his mouth, "Now I must name you."
He replied, "I am perfectly happy with Elladan, but if you were to decide to give me a name, I would prefer something along the lines of 'great warrior'."
She chuckled, "We shall see, meleth."
"We shall," he murmured and pulled her to his lips again. Once he had her fully engaged in the kiss, he let his hands roam down the back of head, all the way to her behind again to hold her in place, grinding himself against her ever so slightly. His fingers found her legs, now bent and on either side of his as she straddled him. Slowly they worked their way beneath the hem of her gown, moving all the way up to her smooth thighs, caressing ever so lightly before finally moving closer to her inner thighs and displacing the undergarment easily. Shock registered throughout her body when his fingers touched her carefully and experimentally. Half of this shock was a pleasurable kind, but the other half was for being completely open to the night, making them a convenient target for others to happen upon.
"We cannot do this out here in the open," she said through a gasp as he moved his fingers again.
"And why not?" he questioned, his other arm coming around her waist to hold her hips in one place.
"Anyone could-," but she was unfairly cut off by another of his soft caresses, this time her hips bucking against his hand causing more delightful friction. Perhaps she could forget her propriety for this. It felt too lovely… nay, too spine tingling… too everything.
Elladan chuckled lowly, his lips finding her neck as her head fell back, "Doth not protest any longer, meleth?"
Unable to reply, she shook her head.
His lips trailed their way down the low neckline of her gown, and his teeth grazed across the hardened nubs from beneath the thin cloth. One thing was for certain… he was definitely more experienced than he had been the first time, and she could not wait to learn what else he could do. She made a quick note to herself that she should seek out and thank whoever taught him, or told him, about these things. They deserved a great deal of gratitude.
"Ai Elbereth!" she found herself exclaiming then, only to lose complete function of her brain as she was pushed over the edge into blessed release.
"What is the count now?" asked a curious Glorfindel as he tried to suppress a large smile.
Elrond glanced away from the slowly lightening sky, now turning from deep blue to a shade lighter, with tinges of orange and red close on the horizon. It had become a tradition of his to always watch the rising of the sun on the new loa, and especially the new yén. It gave his wearied heart a feeling of peace and rebirth every year, and he supposed that the others also watched the sunrise for that reason. Some there had even heavier hearts than he, and seen much more sorrow; it was a wonder they still maintained some joy in Arda.
"I believe it would be one for her, one for him, and two together," said Erestor, who smirked slightly before gazing back toward the horizon.
However, they usually did not have two very passionate and vigorous Elves making love high above their heads in an open flet, and going about it in the least quiet way, though it was not too horribly bad. He had contemplated on going up and interrupting them to send them to a more private room, but he had not the heart. Elrond only wondered what would happen if they knew half of Lothlórien had heard their orchestrations.
"They are worse than rutting rabbits," Erestor complained.
That received a light chuckle from the others, and Círdan sighed mirthfully, "They are young."
"And it has been nearly nine hundred years since they last saw each other," Celeborn replied with a chuckle to himself. "But I do think it must also have to do with the Noldorin blood. I can personally attest to that."
Elrond found it slightly disturbing to hear his wife's father say that, but he almost retorted with something about Celebrían and her Noldorin blood. However, he figured that if he thought such talk about Galadriel was embarrassing, he could not imagine how awkward it would be to mention Celebrían in such a manner with her father right there.
As a matter of fact, they should have all found it slightly awkward, even wrong, to be listening to these lovers high above them in the first place. To put it into context was disconcerting… his son and the elleth he considered a daughter. Celeborn's eldest grandson; Círdan's granddaughter. And Erestor and Glorfindel who had just as much a part in raising Elladan as he did. By all means, it should have been considered exceptionally immoral, but for some reason it was nice to hear that there were still people creating new love in the once more darkening world.
"Has he spoken with Silaerín about the betrothal yet?" Círdan asked.
"I do not think so," Elrond chuckled. "He was to do it this morning when the sun rose, but I do not think he has any intention of getting to it soon."
"Betrothal?" Glorfindel asked. "I had not heard of a betrothal."
"He has told no one about it but his parents, and he only asked me for her hand this eve," Círdan said. "But I knew much before hand because I saw a glimpse of it while she was in Imladris."
Celeborn grunted, "My lady wife as well. I have never seen that elleth so excited about something in her life. I had thought she was incapable of being so incredibly giddy, except maybe for Elrond's union with Celebrían."
"I think she was more pleased with herself that her subtleties and trickery worked to finally make Celebrían and I see what we had," Elrond replied, recalling those times with a wistful sigh.
Celeborn laughed and nodded his head, "True."
There was silence among them as the sun peaked over the far trees, but Elrond smiled to himself. "I could not have asked for more lovely an elleth for Elladan. I think it would be impossible to find another."
Círdan smiled proudly, "Flattery? I thought you were above flattery Peredhel? But thank you, I could not be more proud for how my granddaughter has grown despite all odds being against her. And that is in large part due to you four, but especially Elladan."
Silence fell between them again, but this time it was different type of silence… an awkward silence. They wanted to ask the same question, but did not know how to tactfully word it. But finally it was Glorfindel's brutal frankness, "What will we do about Nenvír?"
"He will no doubt be angry about it, especially if they choose to bind n a years time. That means she will move to Imladris," Círdan said and let out a long breath from his lips. "Truthfully, I know not what to expect. My son has been a riddle to me ever since his mother gave birth to him. You could not possibly understand what it is like to have all of my power to see into the future, and be unable to figure out my own son."
"We could try, but we would fail miserably," Elrond replied. "But I must admit, sometimes it is hard to even figure out the thought process Elladan and Elrohir go through sometimes."
They let that comment hang in the air for a few moments until Glorfindel sighed, "What of Elrohir? Does he know that his twin is plighting his troth, and in so much making his choice?"
Elrond shook his head, "I believe Elrohir fully knows the intentions of his brother without them having to be spoken, though I suspect it will spur him along to trying to find his own elleth or woman before he makes his choice."
"Let us now worry about it now gentle ellyn," said Círdan. "For now we shall renew our spirits in this sunrise."
Ada- father
Ionnen- son
Meleth- love
Dinainel- Elf of beautiful silence