Hall Of Fire ~ Library ~ Kharessa Bloodrose's 'An Arrangement of Thorns'

Title & Chapter Number: An Arrangement of Thorns 19/36
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these settings or characters, and am making no profit from the writing and sharing of this story.
Warnings: BDSM, twincest, angst.
Betas: None
Cast: Erestor/Elladan/Elrohir
Timeline: TA AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: Elladan comes home from his first border patrol. Elladan thinks. Elrohir is up to something, and he and Elladan talk.
Notes: This was an idea that struck me a while back when I was tossing around ideas on what to do when I'd finished with Glorfie and Erestor. Seems I haven't quite gotten Erestor out of my system. This is NOT the same Erestor as the one I wrote in my previous series.

Elrohir was waiting for him when he returned with the border patrol. It had been an exciting week for him even though it had been routine for the others. Unlike them, it had been Elladan's first real experience as part of a combat force away from the immediate vicinity of the elven haven. That there had been no combat was secondary to the fact that he would have been involved if there had been, and not as an elfling or heir to protect but as one of those whose duty it is to protect others.

He held no high rank or particular status among them as the youngest and least experienced. In a peculiar way it was like his nights with Erestor during which his name and circumstances of birth were meaningless. Unlike Erestor, however, the leader of his patrol team knew that the day would come when Elladan might command him, knew that Elladan was being taught to be a leader. With Erestor, that was not considered, not relevant behind closed doors and under Ithil's silver glow.

And now here was Elrohir waiting for him, standing casually by the stable doors as the group rode in. A pleased smile lent a radiant glow to his lovely face, and Elladan responded to that welcoming smile with one of his own. The only thing needed to make the scene perfect would have been Erestor's presence, but of course the chief advisor had no reason to be here to greet the returning warriors. Elrohir had the excuse of brotherly affection, but Erestor had nothing. A cloud passed briefly over his interior sun as he considered that. Brotherly affection could be a reason rather than an excuse, even beneath all else that was between them. And Erestor had less reason than Elrohir to conceal their relationship.

Then the clouds were forgotten as he swung down from the saddle and was swept into Elrohir's embrace.

"I missed you, Elladan!" His tone was genuine. Elladan laughed, nearly lifted Elrohir from his feet. Several of the other elven fighters cast them amused glances. A groomsman came to lead his horse away, and Elladan offered him a quick, off hand greeting as he patted his horse's flank and turned back to Elrohir.

"Have I missed anything?"

"No, not really." Elrohir chuckled, tossed him a quick, sly look. Elladan smirked.

"Well, you missed a lot! I can't leave just yet, but can we meet in about two hours time? Before supper? I'll tell you everything."

"Sure."

Elladan lowered his voice, darted a quick, embarrassed look around him. "Is father still angry?"

"Yes, but he's getting over it. I think it's more between him and mother now than about us."

"Good." Elladan clapped him on the shoulder. "I'll see you in a couple of hours. My room?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you there."

~*~*~*~

The report given by the patrol leader had been standard, almost formulaic in its delivery aside from the mention of evidence of poaching they had found near the western border. Elladan had not been called upon to speak, but he had listened attentively to the final report. Later he would find himself on the other end of this report, listening to Glorfindel discuss possible responses to their findings.

He had always found such exercises tedious in the classroom. Elrohir had been the one to excel at re waging ancient wars and thinking of solutions to hypothetical situations. Elladan supposed that it had been the past tense of these discussions that had thrown him off, the superfluity of assigning imaginary roles to imaginary soldiers in order to deal with imaginary problems. Back then Erestor had often become impatient with his boredom and lack of attention. That was no longer a problem now that he could see the point in discussion and decision making, saw with his own eyes the results of the decisions reached.

How many times had he heard his father tell him that he'd regret his inattention in the classroom when he was older? Elladan didn't know, and found that now as then he did not regret it. Erestor had never been easy to get around; he had made sure that Elladan knew the material even if neither of them had particularly enjoyed the process. Elrohir had been Erestor's star, and now Elladan was Erestor's heart and Glorfindel's star. The past didn't matter, and the present… well, in the present he had two lovers who thought him incapable of deep thought, clear as window glass, in need of protection and possibly of a special helper to explain weighty matters to him. That had its advantages, though at times it could also be aggravating.

He trusted Erestor. That was beyond doubt, though he suspected there was something behind the initial interest the chief advisor had shown in him that he'd be better off not knowing. Elladan was comfortable with that, too. How many times had he heard lovers argue about what had been, about perceived lies long past suddenly brought to the surface? It seemed foolish to him. The present was what mattered. That Erestor had begun their relationship out of some dimly seen and doubtless murky motivation was secondary to the fact that Erestor had fallen in love with him, and he with Erestor. What had gone before was as dead as the ancient heroes he'd learned about on those long, boring afternoons in the classroom. There was nothing even to be learned from their personal past as there was from the history books. Emotion defies logic and facts. That was something Elladan knew though Erestor with all his age and intelligence seemed not to.

And Elrohir… he considered Elrohir thoughtfully as he returned to his personal quarters, ran a bath and began to undress. Elrohir was his life and his sin, apart from what he had with Erestor though seeming not to impinge upon it. Not three together, but two and one in varying combinations. Erestor and Elrohir sharpened their claws upon each other, fought using Elladan's body as their battleground. It was disconcerting and exhilarating. Elrohir would maintain that he fought for his brother, but when he and Erestor met in anger, desire and soft want Elladan became invisible. Once Elladan had gloried in being the focus; now he felt deliriously disoriented at being disputed property, puppet and prize.

Erestor fought with soft words and cruel bondage, tender endearments and the bite of the lash. Elrohir fought with soft touches and sharp words, by appealing to his sense of logic and order. Elladan wondered how long it would go on, how long he would lie between them while Erestor made and re made his points in soft flesh, how long Elrohir would teeter on the edge of want and desire. How long Elrohir would spend in spiriting him away to kiss and touch only to deny it later. They had made love, and it had been purest ecstasy. He hoped Elrohir would not deny that. He knew Elrohir's fear because he felt it himself. He knew that fear every time the blindfold was settled over his eyes, every time he stepped into that dark valley of trust. He had felt fear since adolescence when he had first looked into his brother's eyes and felt something besides fraternal affection. Erestor did not know that emotion negates fact; Elrohir did not know that fear could not be an obstacle. Fear was the first enemy in any engagement, the only enemy that mattered. To give in to fear was to lose… everything.

~*~*~*~ Elrohir let himself into Elladan's room without knocking. There had been no need to knock when they had shared a room, and now he doubted if either of them could be embarrassed no matter what act he might be caught in. The thought brought a ghost of a smile to his lips. Elladan was sprawled comfortably across his bed, his hair still wet from his bath. He had not bothered to braid it yet, and it fell in damp tendrils across the pillows. The greens and grays of Imladris' soldiers had been exchanged for midnight blue leggings and a dark red tunic. The colors suited them; Elrohir himself habitually dressed in sunset colors. "Your pillow is going to end up soaked." Elladan shrugged. "It's not like I sleep on it." "Point taken." Elrohir smiled, sank down on the bed beside his brother. "Do you ever feel sorry for the laundresses who have to wash our sheets?" "No, I feel sorry for the ones who have to wash Erestor's." Elrohir burst into laughter, and Elladan joined him. "I never thought about that," Elrohir choked out between giggle fits, "but you know they have to wonder. Are you sure he doesn't wash them himself?" Elladan doubled over at the image of Erestor crouched over a vat of hot water working sheets through a laundry wringer. "If he does, I've certainly never caught him at it. And I'd swear I've seen everything in his rooms; I'd know if he had a wash board or wringer laying around…" He dissolved into peals of laughter. "Does he ever leave the office for unexplained lengths of time on a regular basis?" "No." Elrohir settled down to the occasional snicker. "Maybe we should ask him about it." "No, I think you should. You were the one who brought up sheets and laundry." "He's your sweetheart!" "Yes, and true love makes grubby little issues irrelevant." Elladan essayed an arrogant look, and Elrohir batted him upside the head. "And I thought you had some sort of fondness for him. Aside from lust and the occasional spate of outrage, that is." Elrohir rolled his eyes. "Truthfully, Elladan, I have no clue what I feel. Can we just leave it for a change?" "Sure." Elladan closed his eyes. "Things have been a little… tense, lately." "That's one way of putting it." Elrohir said darkly. Elladan grinned. "So, what have you two been up to while I was out defending Imladris from uncounted horrors and menacing enemies?" Elrohir smirked. "Oh, you mean the poachers? I better say this first of all, so you'll know how much we appreciate you. Thank you, Elladan, for making sure raving human fur trappers or antler hunters didn't overrun the house last week." "This is the gratitude I get." He offered up a pained sigh, then laughed. "Seriously, though, I was concerned about you and Erestor while I was away. If you and he would even get along while." "I don't think this is solely about you anymore." Elrohir said softly. He reached to take Elladan's hand. "We've gotten along. I only spent one night in my room." He neglected to mention that he had not spent that night alone, but Elladan nodded unquestioningly. "I tried to tell you that there is more between us than what you wanted to see." "I know." Elrohir met his gaze steadily. "He loves you." Elladan smiled complacently, and Elrohir mentally crossed his fingers. "Do you think he'd do anything for you?" He ventured, and Elladan's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" "Well, I know you'd do anything for him. Wouldn't you?" Elladan bit his lower lip, his eyes flickered down to his hands folded on his belly. "Almost anything." He finally said. The words caught Elrohir off guard; when Elladan looked up he saw his brother regarding him quizzically. "I wouldn't give you up, even if he asked that of me." For a long moment Elrohir said nothing. The conversation had abruptly veered in an unintended direction, one that set his wheels turning. He could not ignore his brother's declaration, but neither did he want to wander too far from the conversational path he'd been leading him on. "I would not give you up, either, Elladan." He said softly. "You know I had my reservations, but you also know I love you. It takes a great weight from my heart to know that you wouldn't have that any other way." "Never, Elrohir. Not for anyone. Anything else, though, yes I'd do for Erestor. And I suppose he feels the same." "Have you ever asked him for anything?" "Well…" He glanced away, face coloring, and Elrohir smiled. "Besides me." "It truly wasn't like that, Elrohir. I mean, I didn't have to ask because he knew." "I'm not upset. I was, but not now." Elrohir scooted up beside his brother, slung an arm around his shoulders. "We talked about that this week. I don't think I would have been up front about this either, not at the beginning." He frowned over the words, and Elladan turned to kiss his cheek. "It's over now. Doesn't matter." "I suppose." He forced himself back to his subject. "Have you ever had him? As he has us?" "No." Elladan blushed. "I never thought about it, to be honest." "Oh, come on!" Elrohir's eyes widened in amazement, and he sat up to face his brother. "After all the times he has had you in every way possible you have never thought of what it would be like to have him under you?" "No, really, I have not!" Elladan's face was rapidly turning fuschia. Elrohir laughed. "I bet he'd move like the Bruinen in early spring." Elrohir said wickedly, a lascivious smile curving his lips. "And I must admit that he is beautiful… surely you'd love to look down into that face with that hair spread on the pillow around him…" Elladan licked his lips. "I just never… "Well, I do." Elrohir said. "I've been thinking about it since the day after the welts on my back healed completely over. "That is not fair, Elrohir. You let him do that." Elrohir shrugged. "That may be so, but I'd still like to see what it would be like to bend him over and…" Elladan clapped his hands to his mouth like a prudish old woman, and Elrohir laughed. "You're acting like I suggested we make love in the temple!" "No, it's not that… It's just that I never thought… but when you put it that way…" His words trailed away, but his flustered expression was turning thoughtful. "Well, you said you thought he'd do anything." "I think he would." Elladan frowned. "I don't think relationships are about testing one another." "I'm not saying you should test him. I'm just saying that you should feel free to make your own intimate requests from time to time." "I am free!" Elrohir cast him a sardonic look. "Well, you need to make better use of your freedom then. And besides, you owe me." Elladan's eyes widened. "You are not suggesting that I attempt to force my lover into something he's not comfortable with or doesn't want." Elrohir gaped. "Now I am certain that I have missed something." "What do you mean by that?" "Well, let us see." Elrohir retorted. All thought for his carefully laid plan disappeared as frustrated anger arose in its place. The unmitigated gall of his brother's statement, his tone of righteous indignation triggered Elrohir's temper as nothing else could have. "You did not object to manipulating me into your relationship, and you certainly didn't spare much thought for my comfort or willingness." "I did not manipulate you! You said you were not angry." "I'm not angry. Maybe feeling a little betrayed, but angry, no." He knew he was losing control of the situation rapidly, but that was no longer a primary concern. "Now let me see if I have this straight. You never asked for anything, but Erestor knew what you wanted. Next thing I know I'm having a moonlit talk by the river with you, and then I'm in my old tutor's bed, and now I don't deserve anything back for it. Dammit, Elladan, just because you didn't directly ask and collude doesn't mean your hands are clean. You can't tell yourself it's not really your doing because you were just going with the flow." "You said you didn't want to talk about this." His voice sounded small, child like. Again he was looking down at his hands, and Elrohir's feelings of frustrated hurt vanished, were replaced by a flood of guilt. "I'm sorry, Elladan." He sighed, gently stroked back his brother's hair. "I don't know where that came from." "Yes, you do." "Alright. I guess I am upset, but I don't want to ruin things… sometimes it's just a little much for me. Forgive me, Elladan?" "Do you forgive me?" He asked quietly. Inanely, Elrohir was reminded of his father's repeated lectures on manners, his specific directive on not answering questions with questions. At last he spoke. "Yes, Elladan, I do." "And Erestor, too?" "That, I don't know. It's going to take a while." It was the best he could do. Elladan nodded, seemingly willing to accept that. "I know this makes you angry, Elrohir, but I'm not going to ask something of him just because you want to hurt him." He did feel a brief upsurge of his previous fury, but it was mercifully short. "I understand that, Elladan. But, I know that hurting him would hurt you, and that I could never do." He looked away, his expression pensive. "We made love every night this past week." That caught Elladan's full attention. "And?" "And maybe what I want isn't to hurt him. Not the way you think I want to." "I didn't know there were variations." Elrohir smirked. "You of all people should know better than that." "That's not what I meant, and you know it." "Maybe I just want from him what he wants from us. Is that so terrible, Elladan?" "I don't know." Elladan pulled Elrohir back into the pillows. "I'm not scared of him, but sometimes you scare me, Elrohir. Because you think you know what's best for me, and though you accuse me of manipulation I know you would have no objection to manipulating matters for what you perceive as my own good." "I'm sorry if I seem to have been treating you like a child." Elrohir said softly. He looked deeply into Elladan's eyes. "Trust me that I'm out for my own good this time?" The words should have sounded self serving and cold, but Elladan understood what he meant. "We'll see. Is that good enough?" "It is." Elrohir leaned closer, brushed his lips across Elladan's. Again he felt that moment of oddness, that surreal quality of touching while dressed, touching outside the sacred chamber, touching in a place where they could not forget they were brothers. He closed his eyes, kissed Elladan again. "Later tonight after dinner?" "Of course. I told you I've missed you. Missed you both." "We missed you, too." And then there were no further words. Elrohir settled into Elladan's arms, felt relieved.

~ Next Chapter ~

~ Previous Chapter ~

~ Library Main ~
~ Author Index ~ Character Index ~ Title Index ~
~ Hall Of Fire ~ Gallery ~
~ Links ~ Shops ~ Map ~ News ~ Rules ~ Lists ~ ~

This page is in no way affiliated with New Line Cinema or Tolkien Enterprises, and no profit is being made.

The information contained herein is NOT to be used to spam or in any other way harrass its members. Be advised that abuse of this site will not be tolerated, and the appropriate legal action will be taken.

Hall-Of-Fire.Com v.4.0, Copyright © 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 by Cristine Cook-Fireheart. All rights reserved. This web site may not be reproduced in any form, except as occurs in normal browser caching, without express written permission from the author.

Website by Infinite Connections Design.