Title & Chapter Number: Tale of Two Brothers 23/33
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 and explicit sexual content, and twincest. If you find this offensive, or you are under-age, I strongly suggest you stop now.
Betas: Larian Elensar
Cast: Elrohir/Glorfindel, Elladan/Legolas, Elladan/Erestor, Elladan/Elrohir, Glorfindel/Erestor, Legolas/Erestor, Elladan/Elrohir/Glorfindel
Timeline: Early Third Age
Spoilers: None
Summary: Orophin reaches out to Legolas for comfort after the battle for Helm's Deep, Erestor and Glorfindel make their way to Lothlórien.
Notes: Yet another coming of age story about the Twins… This story is part of a larger arc and runs concurrently with the Rock Stars series. The entire arc is: Forbidden Bond, Tale of Two Brothers, Rock Stars, Elves, & Smut, All That You Can't Leave Behind, Farewells and New Beginnings.
March 4, 3019, Helm's Deep
The siege of Helm's Deep had claimed the lives of many elves and men, too many. The Rohirrim and their allies were victorious but at a high cost. Aragorn sat on the floor, leaning against the wall of the Keep, his knees bent and head hung low. Legolas approached him and quietly sat beside him, placing a kind hand upon his shoulder. "You did all that you could do, Estel. It is through your leadership and the valiant efforts of the Rohirrim and their allies that we can claim as many survivors as there are. There could have been no better outcome."
Aragorn sighed and looked up at the elf. "Had I been able to convince Théoden to face this battle, to ride out and fight from Edoras, the outcome may have been different."
Legolas slowly shook his head. "I do not believe that to be true. The forces of Saruman's army were too large, too powerful; Edoras may well have been overrun and the Rohirrim would have suffered greater losses."
Aragorn sighed, "You have lost a great many friends and allies today as well, Legolas. I see the grief in your eyes at Haldir's passing."
Legolas nodded slowly. "Aye, I grieve not only for him, but for his brothers, they were very close. Orophin is very dear to me."
Aragorn smiled sadly and nodded. "I saw how close the two of you were in Lothlórien, you indeed have a special friendship."
A single tear fell from the elf's eye. "Orophin has suffered much in his life, this is a burden he should not have to bear."
Aragorn looked up to see the marchwarden standing in front of them and tapped Legolas on the knee. The Dúnadan rose and walked away, leaving the two elves alone to talk. Legolas rose to his feet and embraced his friend, holding Orophin close, as the archer buried his face in his friend's hair and quietly wept. Legolas said nothing; he merely held the elf and tried to offer his friend comfort. He was weary, it had been a long, hard journey, and it was not close to its end. He missed his father, his beloved, and he missed his home. It could have been his own kinsmen that fell at the hands of the White Wizard's Uruks; instead it was his distant kinsmen from the south.
"I am sorry, Orophin, I wish there were more adequate words to say to heal your aching heart. I would do anything within my power to ease this pain for you."
"I feel so empty. I feel adrift; Haldir was our anchor, our guardian, now we are left alone. Rúmil and I are not elflings, but Haldir was always there, always looking after us, whether we needed it or not. What will we do without him, Legolas? How will we go on without him?"
Legolas stroked his friend's hair and tugged his sleeve. "Come, meldir, let us find a place where you can grieve in private, somewhere other than this room filled with so much death."
Orophin followed the Prince from the Keep and into the caves, past the women and children that remained there, deep into the cool confines of the caverns. They came upon a secluded alcove. Cool air drifted from the cave's depths and a dim light flickered from the torches lit closer to the entrance. They sat beside one another on a smooth ledge, and Legolas held his dear friend in his arms, quietly rocking him and caressing his hair. After several moments the elf's tears diminished, and his breathing became more regular.
Orophin lifted his head to gaze into his friend's eyes, and managed a weak smile. He took a deep breath and sighed. "I dread bringing this news home to Rúmil, telling him will be so hard."
Legolas held the archer's hands in his and nodded. He had been the bearer of that sort of news to more mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters than he cared to remember in his short life. He brought one of Orophin's hands to his lips and pressed a soft kiss to his palm as he struggled to hold back his own tears. He softly stroked the archer's palm as he looked at his hands. They were always strong, but they were more muscular than he remembered, still beautiful, but more substantial now, than when they had once caressed his flesh. He felt Orophin's fingers touch the underside of his chin and lift his face so that their gazes met. He looked into the archer's silver-blue eyes and smiled weakly.
"Legolas, would you do something for me?" Orophin's voice was barely a whisper.
The Prince smiled. "Aye, meldiramin, I would do anything that you ask."
Orophin took a deep breath and continued, "Help me carry my brother's body to the funeral pyre."
Legolas nodded. "Of course, meldir, I would be honored."
The Silvan archer looked at the smooth floor of the cave. "Would you do something else for me?"
Legolas stroked his hair. "Anything, Orophin."
Orophin turned his sad gaze to his friend's. "Make love to me, Legolas. Give me something other than my brother's death to remember this day. Give me something to replace this aching in my heart with." He placed his fingers upon the Prince's lips, silencing his response. "I ask you for no promises, only for your gentle touch and warm embrace. I ask for, and expect, no more."
Legolas leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the lips he once knew so well and felt Orophin sigh into them. He ran his hands into the archer's hair, letting his fingers trail down the mussed braids and along his jaw line, down his neck and to the collar of his tunic. He felt the marchwarden's hands gently knead his shoulders, as he pressed closer, quietly moaning as the Silvan's tears wet his face. His own tears began to prick the back of his eyes as he felt the love, loss, and desperation in the kiss he shared with his good friend. He pulled away, gazing into eyes that were slowly darkening with passion, eyes that conveyed so much love, and longing, and pain.
"Amin mela le, Orophin." He whispered. He knew he did not have to clarify what he said; he and the Galadhrim knew one another well enough. He loved Orophin as a friend and as a fellow warrior, and were things different, he would have loved him as a life partner. If his heart did not already belong to another, he would have willingly given it to him so long ago.
Orophin smiled and caressed the Prince's face. "My dear Legolas; so beautiful, so kind, so fiercely loyal. Were that you were mine, I would love you until the end of time; but I know you are not, and never will be. I am content to be your friend, if not your love. The gift you give me is precious, I will never take it for granted." He suddenly realized how filthy he was and smiled sheepishly. "I cannot lay with you like this. Will you help me find a place to bathe?"
Legolas smiled and kissed his friend once again. "Aye, Orophin, follow me.
~*~*~*~
March 4, 3019, The Wold, East of Fangorn Forest
Two days went by and hardly a word passed between them that was not necessary. Glorfindel rode ahead of Erestor, scouting the way through what would be the most dangerous part of their trip. If they stuck to the west banks of the Anduin, they might make it through. They were heading for Lothlórien, where they would shelter for a few days before making for the Forest Gate and the elf paths to Thranduil's caves. They were very close to Dol Guldur now, and Erestor felt the effects of his old wound once again as the Dark Lord's presence grew ever stronger.
Erestor had plenty of time to contemplate what had passed between him and Glorfindel. He finally came to the realization that he still hoped the warrior would come to him, if only he could find the strength to leave Elladan and Elrohir behind. He was not angry with Glorfindel, how could he be? The warrior had finally said the words he had so longed to hear, that he had been in love with him since they first laid eyes on one another.
They continued down the path toward the haven of Lothlórien in silence.
~*~*~*~
March 4, 3019, Helm's Deep
Orophin returned from his bath to find that Legolas had washed up as well. The Prince waited for him in the corridor that led to a small private chamber that was given to Aragorn and his companions to rest in. Orophin approached him from the direction of the makeshift baths and looked at his one time lover as he walked through the narrow corridors of the Keep. Even after everything that had passed in the many years since Orophin and Legolas had been lovers, the archer still found the Prince to be the most beautiful elf in all of Elvendom.
Legolas smiled gently at him as he reached the doorway and took his hand. Their clothing was still soiled, but Orophin managed to get most of the black blood off when he bathed. The Prince's fingers trailed through his damp, silver locks, before he turned and escorted the marchwarden into the private chamber.
"You may stow your belongings here, meldir. You will be sleeping here with me tonight." Orophin sat his small pack down next to his bow and turned into Legolas' embrace. The Prince held him tight and whispered in his ear, "It is time, dear Orophin. It is time to say namarie to your brother."
Orophin nodded, and followed the Prince from their room, down the hall, and out to the Deep. A large fire was burning, and groups of elves and men surrounded it. The Rohirrim were to give their dead over to the funeral pyre, to be committed to ash with the slain elves that gave their lives to protect them. A procession began, first man, then elf, in pairs, carrying the bodies of their fallen comrades. The ceremony was punctuated on each side of the pyre by the voices of elves singing a lament, an on the other by the voices of the Rohirrim, singing a lament of their own. Legolas held Orophin by the hand as they walked to where Haldir's body lay. He had been cleansed and wrapped in the bright crimson and gold cape he wore into battle; his silver hair gleamed still, although his spirit had long passed from the world. Orophin and Legolas bent their heads in a prayer to the Valar, to hasten the brave marchwarden's spirit from this world to the Halls of Mandos. Aragorn and Gimli joined them, and the four of them lifted the warrior's body and solemnly marched toward the fire. Haldir's was the last body to be placed upon the fire; he was the highest in rank that had fallen that day, man or elf. They lifted his body upon a large sling made of tanned leather, attached to a crane of sorts that gently lowered the warrior's body into the flames. Théoden had offered to build a separate fire for the marchwarden who had fought so bravely and saved so many that day. However, Orophin answered that Haldir would want it this way, to have his body committed to ash with those he fought and fell beside.
Legolas stood beside Orophin, his arm around his shoulders, whispering words of comfort and love to one of his dearest friends, until the fire died away, and there was nothing but smoldering ash left. The remaining elves and Rohirrim buried the ash and erected a monument to their fallen comrades where they would honor them and sing of their bravery and sacrifice for ages to come.
~*~*~*~
Meldir = Friend
Meldiramin = My Friend
Amin mela lle = I love you
Namarie = Farewell~*~*~*~
~ 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.
