Title & Chapter Number: Farewells and New Beginnings 17/17
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website:
Fandom: Tolkien
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, they are the property of Tolkien with the exception of an original or two, and I am sure he would be horrified if he read this…
Warnings: This story is rated NC-17 and contains male slash pairings, incest, and explicit sexual content - not to mention a boatload of angst. If you find this offensive, or you are under-age, I strongly suggest you stop now.
Betas: Alex
Cast: Legolas/Thranduil, Glorfindel/Erestor, Legolas/Erestor, Thranduil/Glorfindel
Timeline: TA
Spoilers: None
Summary:
Notes: The third and final part of my Lust and Devotion arc comes to an end. I am still wondering what to do next. Tied to "Tale of Two Brothers" and "Rock Stars, Elves, and Smut", Farewells tells the story of a son's struggle to leave behind the greatest love of his life, his father; and a beleaguered Counselor's fight to find love again. It was, in part, inspired by the music of U2.
Alienation and hope have been common themes throughout all three parts of this tale, and finally, our long-suffering elves have the happiness they deserve. Our beloved elves have been stuck in a world in which they no longer belong; trapped by their own forbidden love for one another, as they struggled to find peace. Writing this story has pushed me to develop these characters, map out the complexities in their relationships, and endeavor to put to paper who these elves have become in my own mind. I hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
My endless thanks to my beta readers, Alex Cat and Larian Elensar; and much heartfelt appreciation to those who have read and followed this story to its completion: Dawn, Di, Hawk, Jess, LK, Ninie, Sivan, Zee, and any of you I may have neglected to mention.
December 15th, sometime in the 21st Century, Alqualondë, Valinor
The sun shown bright on the day the last of the Valar's children came home. Sea birds circled overhead as a gentle breeze blew, white clouds drifting overhead. Galadriel stood upon the docks, Celeborn on one side, Celebrían and Elrond on the other. Her hands rested upon Legolas' shoulders, she could feel the anticipation in her son's body; it hummed with energy.
Legolas held Erestor's hand tight; both he and his lover waited eagerly for the white ship, for the ones they had loved and missed for so long to return. The Prince was the first to catch sight of it; the white prow of the ship as it sailed into view, rounding the isle of Tol Eressëa. All that stood near him heard the sharp intake of breath.
"There it is…" his voice was barely above a whisper.
Erestor's hands trembled and his palms sweat as he gripped his love tighter, feeling as if his knees would buckle on the spot. Glorfindel, his best friend, the object of so much love and passion, so much anger and pain, was finally home. He felt a sudden surge of fear… what if he was not on the ship? What if they had not returned? He swallowed; the lump in his throat threatening to choke him each passing second.
The ship lumbered to the dock, each second an eternity for those both on shore and those on board.
~*~*~*~
"For the love of Elbereth! Will you please dock this monstrosity and let me off?" Thranduil bellowed.
Cirdan smiled and continued his task, unfazed by the nervous ramblings of the Sindar King. Glorfindel chuckled and the twins snorted in response, Gildor patted his impatient friend on the back.
Finally the ship came to rest, the plank was lowered, and the five wayward travelers set foot upon the docks of the Undying Lands.
~*~*~*~
Galadriel released her son's shoulders and Legolas bolted, dragging Erestor with him as they ran down the docks, still hand in hand.
Thranduil was the first to set foot on shore, followed by his lover. "Greenleaf…" he sighed. The sight of his beloved son running toward him, flaxen hair flying behind him, stood in stark contrast to his last memory of his son. This time, he ran to him, not away from him, and this time he would never let him go.
Glorfindel looked up and saw Erestor, his raven-haired conscience and best friend, and smiled. He began striding toward him; arms open wide, eager to embrace him once more.
Legolas was first to reach the end of the dock. "Ada!" He leapt into his father's arms, nearly knocking Thranduil flat upon his back.
The King wrapped his arms around his son, burying his face in his silken hair, tears spilling from his eyes. "Oh, Legolas, my Greenleaf, you are really here."
Legolas pressed his lips to his father's ear and whispered, "Yes, Ada. I have been waiting for you, I missed you so much, so very much."
Thranduil choked back sobs that threatened to swallow his words. "By Elbereth, how I missed you, Iôn. I never dared to hope I would see you again." He held his son tight, refusing to let him go.
Glorfindel grabbed Erestor and hoisted him in the air, swinging him round in a large arc. "Mae Govannen, mellon nín! Gods it is so good to see you!"
Erestor laughed as he had not done in ages. "Oh, my Glorfindel, my big, beautiful Glorfindel!" His feet touched the ground again and he wrapped his arms around his friend's neck, hugging him tight. "I missed you, you maddening elf!"
Glorfindel laughed; a sound that gave flight to Erestor's soul, a sound that he once feared he would never hear again. "And I missed you, my prim Counselor," he loosened his grip and pulled back. "Heard any good dirty jokes lately?"
Erestor grabbed him round the neck again and laughed, rocking his friend back and forth.
Thranduil and Glorfindel's eyes met as they held the ones they missed, and they both smiled, each mouthing the words, "Amin mela lle…" to one another.
~*~*~*~
Elladan and Elrohir sprinted down the dock toward their parents, Alasse running after them and barking, barely stopping in time to avoid running them down. Celebrían threw her arms around her sons, placing kisses all over their faces. Elrond stepped in behind them, encompassing his family in his strong arms, his heart finally whole after so long.
"Naneth… Adar…" They whispered in unison.
"My sons, my beautiful sons…" she whispered in return, "I finally have you."
~*~*~*~
Galadriel watched the happy reunion and looked down the dock at Thranduil and Legolas. She finally had her family home, the only one missing was Arwen.
Gildor quietly walked down the docks, pausing before the Lady of Light, covering his heart with his hand and bowing his head. "My Lady, my task is done."
Galadriel placed her hands on each side of his head, bestowing a kiss upon his sable hair. "You have served me well, Gildor. Go in peace."
He looked into her eyes and smiled. "I am home now, this is all I have ever wanted." He turned to walk away when he heard Legolas' voice.
"Gildor!"
He turned and saw the Prince jogging up to him. Legolas stopped before him and smiled. "I owe you much, Gildor. You have brought my father home."
Gildor smiled gently and answered, "I have done what anyone would have in my position, my Lord. Your father has always been a kind and good friend to me."
Legolas shook his head, his braids falling forward. "Nay, my Lord. There are few that would have sacrificed what you did. I am forever in your debt, I am forever your friend."
Gildor smiled and clasped the Prince on the shoulder. "That is just payment, Legolas Thranduillion. I am proud to count you among those I call friend." He laughed softly as the Prince pulled him into an embrace, then quietly walked away, turning to watch Legolas run back to his father.
As Gildor Inglorian walked the long road to his home, he did something he had not done in ages, he whistled.
~*~*~*~
Erestor and Legolas brought Thranduil and Glorfindel to their home, talk of plans for the future filling the journey. Glorfindel found, to his surprise, that Erestor had taken the liberty of checking up on his family home, it would be ready to move into in just a few days. They spent that evening lounging in Erestor and Legolas' living room.
Thranduil sat upon the couch, his lover in his arms and his son by his side. He watched with affection as his good friend lovingly held his son, he could see Legolas had been well cared for in his absence. For a brief moment he felt a pang of regret, he wished he had not let go of Legolas as a lover, watching as Erestor's hands touched his son as he once touched him. But it was soon gone, and all he felt was a father's joy at seeing his son so happy and content.
Legolas leaned back against Erestor, sighing as his lover's hands stroked his strong chest, reveling in the feel of Erestor's fingers brushing the silk of his tunic. He blinked sleepily at his father, who smiled wearily in return, Thranduil's fingers trailing through Glorfindel's hair. For an instant he wished it was him that lay there, his father's fingers stroking the warrior's hair as they once touched his, but then it was gone. He had his father back, his family was whole and complete, and for the first time in his life, his spirit felt light.
The four elves climbed the stairs to the sleeping quarters, Glorfindel placing a kiss to the top of Erestor's head as he said goodnight.
Thranduil embraced his son again, clasping him to his chest and holding him tight. "Good night, my little Greenleaf."
Legolas smiled, memories of his life as an elfling returning to him. "Good night, Ada."
~*~*~*~
Summer, sometime late in the 21st Century, Tirion, Valinor
Galadriel sat upon the railing of her house, enjoying the company of her family, her husband by her side. Elrond sat upon a swing, his arm around his wife as they laughed, watching the insane game the twins brought home from the world of men.
Elrohir was bent over, legs spread, one hand upon the ground and one upon the strangest ball the Peredhil had ever seen, football his son had called it. Elladan counted out a string of numbers, none of which made sense, and Elrohir pitched the ball between his legs, standing, then running around like a lunatic. Glorfindel sprinted after Elrohir, while Elladan tried to out run the Prince and throw the ball to his twin at the same time. Elrohir leapt into the air and caught the bizarre object, only to be grabbed by Glorfindel and knocked to the ground. Legolas missed knocking Elladan down by inches, and turned, jumping into the air and crying out in victory as Glorfindel pummeled the youngest Peredhil into the ground. Thranduil sat upon the step next to Erestor and Gildor, all three of them laughing heartily at the child's play that went on before them.
"And you say men play this game as a vocation?" the former Lord of Imladris asked.
Thranduil chuckled and answered, "Yes, meldir, and they get paid very well."
Elrond shook his head. "What strange creatures men are… for the life of me, I will never understand them."
The Sindar King laughed heartily and smiled at his one time rival. He turned to Erestor. "Come, meldir, let us show these ruffians how it is done." He tugged the Counselor from the stoop and dragged him out to the field.
Elrond and Gildor burst out laughing, watching the Counselor try to chase down the twins; Elrond was reminded of when they were elflings and Erestor would be charged with watching them for the day. Even the reserved Galadriel laughed audibly when her youngest son leapt upon the Counselor's back and sent him sprawling to the ground in his black robes.
Legolas laughed as he and Erestor rolled in the grass, and he thanked the Valar for his family, gazing at the blue sky over his lover's shoulder.
~*~*~*~
Gildor Inglorian sat in a large chair upon his porch, a glass of wine in one hand. Across from him sat a certain silver haired elf, one whom he had known for many a year. He raised his glass to the sunset and whispered, "To you, Craig."
Rúmil smiled and looked up from fletching his arrows. "Who is Craig, meleth nín? That is a strange name."
Gildor held out his hand to his lover and Rúmil settled himself upon the Noldo's lap. "Craig was a man I once knew, he was a good and kind friend. He had a hearty laugh, the kind that makes all around them laugh along with them."
Rúmil smiled and snuggled against his lover. "He sounds like a fine fellow."
Gildor smiled and took a sip of wine and answered, "Yes, he was a fine fellow indeed."
~*~*~*~
As the sun slowly sat in the west, Elladan and Elrohir sat upon a large rock, looking out over the vast forest. Elladan rest his head upon Elrohir's shoulder as his twin held him around the waist. "I remember his smile best, the way his eyes twinkled, his whole being smiled with him."
Elrohir nodded. "And his dark eyes, so innocent, yet they held so much wisdom for one so young."
"I hope he married and had children, he would have made a fine father." Elladan whispered.
Elrohir smiled. "Aye, that he would have."
They slowly rose from their perch, walking arm and arm back to their house, the sun setting behind them.
~ Finis ~
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