ALERT- new story: Sons of Thunder II: Where the Shadows Lie.
Extract
Legolas stifled a sigh and was already bored; he knew they would go to Minas Morgul as Gandalf desired and search the ruined city to make sure the Nazgûl had truly departed with Sauron. He wondered why they even bothered discussing it.
He watched the sun catch in raven-black hair instead of listening, stared in fascinated lust at the rounded tip of Elrohir's ear and thought about running his finger along the edge. His sigh was louder this time and several men glanced his way although none said anything. Gimli nudged him and shot him a look.
'Here is the road from Osgiliath,' Aragorn stabbed his finger down onto the map. 'And here,' he ran his finger along the thick black line that marked the road, 'is Minas Morgul. Can you not see, it is the most strategic point on the river, our mainstay….'
Legolas stopped listening again and drifted around the back of the gathered lords as if he were going to peer over Aragorn's shoulder at the map, to get a better view.
It took him directly behind Elrohir's chair, and when he leaned forwards slightly as if to look at the map, he let his breath drift over the back of Elrohir's head, it lifted one or two strands of his long black-silk hair and Elrohir turned his head ever so slightly towards Legolas, standing close, too close, behind him. Elrohir's lips turned upwards slightly and then he turned back to face all the generals and lords.
'I wager we will be leaving at dawn,' Legolas whispered so quietly against Elrohir's ear, deliberately letting his breath caress it and was pleased at the shiver it brought. 'Will you miss me?'
Elrohir shifted uncomfortably and Legolas smiled and let his hand surreptitiously trace the straight spine of his beloved who was trying so hard to concentrate.
'...the bands that escaped the assault on the Morannon will have taken to the hills here...' Aragorn was pointing to an outstretched map in the middle of the table. 'And here too, in the Morgul Vale.'
'I will be glad of some rest,' Elrohir murmured below the hearing of Men, he turned his face slightly towards Legolas and smiled. 'I find myself quite worn out'
Legolas raised an eyebrow. 'Then I will find you well rested on my return,' he whispered back. Aragorn glared at them for a moment, and Legolas flashed him a brilliant smile.
'The Morgul Vale is where the Nazgûl dwelt,' Aragorn repeated Gandalf's earlier point. 'It is an evil place and I need to know if it is quite vacated or if there is some evil lingering. Are all their winged beasts dead or do they have more kept in there?'
'I will take a troop of riders to search the old city, my lord, if you wish?' Imrahil said smoothly, as if he and Aragorn had not prearranged precisely this conversation to persuade the lords and captains of the necessity. 'Twenty will suffice will it not, if it is merely to search the ruins and others search the hills, the Vale itself? Perhaps my lords Elladan and Elrohir will come. And perhaps you too, my lords?' He bowed slightly to Gimli and then Legolas who grinned excitedly at Aragorn. 'We will be sufficient.'
You can find the sequel to Sons of Thunder under the title: Sons of Thunder II: Where the Shadows Lie.
Not all the Rings were destroyed with Sauron; the Three made by Celebrimbor are free now and there are artefacts still in the ruined cities of both Mordor and Eregion that open into the Dark. And Elrohir has not expunged his own darkness as he struggles with his love and desire for Legolas Thranduillion in the aftermath of War.