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Princes Three: In the Shadows of Mirkwood	By : nuwing Category: -Multi-Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 4141 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Chapter 11

Mirkwood 2151 III

Elladan looked much younger than his two-millennia, his clouded grey eyes holding Thranduil�s pleadingly. "I do not understand, h�ren," the elder twin said wearily. "The fever has passed. Why does he not wake?" His voice nearly breaking, he added, "I can no longer feel him."
The king sighed, wrapping the dark elf comfortingly in his arms, as though Elladan were one of his own children. Legolas knew the answer, of course, but the golden prince was sleeping- and to ask him to explain would be cruel. "What do you know of the spiders, pen neth?", Thranduil asked, meeting the question with another, in true elvish fashion.
"Little, I suppose," the elder twin replied. "I know their poison is oft deadly. The tales say they are descended through many centuries from dark creatures of the First Age."
"The tales are true, Elladan," the king said softly. As a look of horror spread over the other�s face, he went on, "The giant spiders of Taur-na-Fuin are not true spawn of Ungoliant�s daughters, yet they are evil none the less. Their poison affects not only the body, but the soul, as well."
"Will he wake?", the dark elf asked bluntly, pulling back to watch Thranduil�s eyes.
"I�please, ernilen�wait for�", the king began, stumbling over the harsh words.

"Will he wake, h�ren?", Elladan repeated, tightening his desperate hold on the woodland ruler�s arm.
"I do not know, pen neth," Thranduil admitted, his voice defeated. "I have not seen one return from the shadows after so long. But Elrond will arrive at any time, and we must place our hope in him."
A lone tear trickled down the dark elf�s cheek as he stroked his brother�s face. Moving his hand to the golden hair spread like a gossamer blanket across Elrohir�s chest, Elladan gently tucked a braid behind Legolas� ear. "I would not have us leave this world, when we have so recently found such a treasure," he whispered softly, as though speaking thoughts aloud.
Unsure that the words were intended for his ears, and unable to speak around the lump in his throat, the king contented himself with holding the elder twin snugly, as though his embrace could prevent them all from slipping away.
************************************************
Barangolas rushed toward the gates, his shrill whistle alerting the guards to his presence. As the barrier swung silently open, the breathless elf caught sight of his eldest brother. "Anteruon!", he called, "They are here! Lord Elrond�s party approaches."
"Send some grooms for the horses, t�ren," the crown prince directed, "Then tell Ada. I will bring them to the healing hall."
As he dismounted at the gates, Elrond was astounded to see Thranduil�s eldest- arrogantly reserved at their previous meetings- racing toward him at a great pace. "Lord Elrond," the crown prince gasped, managing a slight bow before he seized the peredhel�s arm urgently. "Please, come with me, h�ren," Anteruon directed, tugging impatiently at the surprised Noldo. "I will take you to them."
The Imladrian lord motioned for Glorfindel to follow, and the woodland prince set off at nearly a run for the healing hall, dragging the others with him. "The fever has broken, but he does not wake," the Mirkwood elf offered grimly, striding into the healer�s rooms.
Elrond�s hope faltered as he entered the chamber where his son struggled to survive. Elrohir�s face was drawn and grey, his eyes dark-ringed. Legolas lay curled against the elf-knight, his fingers tangled tightly in the inky tresses, as though he could prevent his lover�s passing by physical restraint alone. Elladan sat close against Thranduil, seeming to draw strength from the woodland king�s embrace, as he clasped his brother�s hand, murmuring half-heard endearments that tore at Elrond�s heart.
"Elrond! Glorfindel�", the king said, suddenly aware of the visitors� presence. Rising to greet his friends, he embraced the peredhel warmly. "I..I am sorry, mellonen ," Thranduil said hoarsely, his proud head dropping. "I have failed to protect what you entrusted to me�"
"Nay, Thranduil," the Imladrian lord interrupted, clasping the other�s arm, "There is no need for blame here. Only healing."
"Elrond is right, meldir," Glorfindel agreed, squeezing the king�s shoulder reassuringly. "�Twas naught you did, or could have done."
Returning the touch, Thranduil smiled faintly into the sapphire eyes of the balrog-slayer. "I am glad you came, mellon vain. It has been far too long."
"It has, indeed," the ancient elf answered, holding the woodland king�s emerald gaze. "Far too long."
Sitting down beside Elladan, Elrond wrapped his eldest son in a warm embrace. Turning his head into his father�s shoulder, the elder twin finally allowed his tears to fall unchecked, sobs wracking his body. "Hush, now, pen neth," the peredhel lord crooned, as though talking to an elfling. "We must see what is to be done, hmm? I will need you, ion n�n, and Legolas, too."
Awakened by his lover�s distress, the woodland prince sat up, reaching for Elladan�s hand. "What would you have us do, h�ren?", he asked quietly.
"First I must speak with the healers," Elrond replied soberly. "Anteruon said the fever had passed."
"If I may, Lord Elrond," the chief healer offered hesitantly, moving to the bedside. At the ancient elf�s nod, he continued, "�Tis not a usual case of spider-venom illness. In most cases, the fever breaks before the body is exhausted, and they survive, or it does not, and they pass. The soul-sickness takes them ere their body can recover. Lord Elrohir�s fever lasted for nine days- a great length of time- and I held little hope. Yet now the fever has broken, but he will not wake. He seems unable to leave the shadows."
"I fear your may be right, mellon," Elrond said with a sigh. Drawing a deep breath he smiled grimly, "But �tis no profit in guessing." Laying his hands gently on the elf-knight�s head, the peredhel lord closed his eyes, reaching into his son�s mind. Long minutes passed in which Elladan and Legolas grew more and more alarmed, seeing the deepening frown on Elrond�s face.
Finally breaking the link, the Noldorin healer looked drained, his eyes clouded. "He should have passed ere this day," Elrond whispered. "The tie between rhaw and faer is nearly severed." Looking at Elladan and Legolas, he continued, "We must draw him back now, if it is not too late. I need both of you. I can not be both caller and healer. �Twill take all my strength to bind his faer once it returns." Placing their hands on Elrohir�s head, he covered them with his own, then ordered, "Call him. Use your mind, just as though he were well. I will show him your memories, that he might find his way back."

�Roh? �Tis time to come back, t�r n�n. The fever is passed.
Aye, �tis time, rohir n�n . �Dan and I are here. Come back to us.

Their words meeting with silence, Legolas and Elladan focused instead on their memories, drawing up pictures of time spent together�laughing, playing, loving.

Come back, melethen. Do not leave me, please.

Feeling the rush of the elder twin�s memories, Legolas searched desperately for anything that would lead his lover back. As more erotic scenes began to flood his mind, the woodland prince let them flow without censure. Scenes from the bathing pools at Imladris, waterfalls, black silk sheets and soft furs in firelight�all washed through his mind in waves. Briefly wondering if Elrond was actually seeing the memories, or merely channeling them, Legolas felt a flush spread over his face, and the tips of his ears begin to burn.

You are sweet when you blush, �Las.

His eyes flying open, the prince found himself staring into amused grey eyes. Tired, dark-ringed and sunken� but amused. Tears welling in his own eyes, he glanced across the bed to see Elladan smiling broadly, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"�Twas thoughtless of you, t�r n�n, to rest so long," the elder twin teased, his breath hitching as he leaned down to rub his cheek against Elrohir�s face. "Melin chen."
"�Tis good to be back," the elf-knight rasped, his voice hoarse from disuse. "How long?"
"Ten days, rohir n�n ," Legolas replied, brushing a kiss over one starkly prominent cheekbone. "You will owe us heavily when you are well, hmm?", he joked gently before burying his face in the dark elf�s neck. "Melin chen."
"Melin chen, el n�n �anor n�n �Ada," Elrohir mumbled drowsily, his eyelids already drooping as he slid into a deep healing sleep.
Elrond pressed a kiss to his son�s forehead, his own eyes shimmering. "Mae govannen, ion n�n," he said softly. "Melin chen." Rising from the bed, the Imladrian lord urged Legolas and Elladan down. "He must sleep, and you should remain close. Lie down and rest. I will keep watch."
Thranduil, his eyes suspiciously bright, came to the bed, running a gentle hand over the three tousled heads. "I will have a light meal sent up," he offered, and Elrond gratefully accepted. Looking at Glorfindel uncertainly, the king asked, "Will you remain here, or join us in the pavilion?"
"I will join you, if I may, Thranduil," the balrog-slayer answered quickly. "I would be of little use here, I deem." Moving to the bed, the golden elf laid a hand on each pale forehead in turn, before looking to Elrond. "If you do not need me, h�ren?"
Smiling slightly, Elrond waved a hand toward the door. "Nay, I do not need you, meldir. Go and relax. �Twas a hard ride."
Thranduil spared one last glance for the trio curled tightly together on the bed. Turning to his other sons, he motioned toward the door. "Come, yn n�n," he urged. "They need peace, and we have guests."
*****************************************
"How is Erestor?", Thranduil asked suddenly, fixing the balrog-slayer with his intense emerald gaze. The two sat on the ledge of a courtyard fountain, sipping miruvor- a gift from Elrond to the woodland king- and talking amicably, their conversation becoming more and more intimate. Uncomfortably intimate, as the Mirkwood royal reasoned it.
Glorfindel chuckled, his sapphire-blue eyes twinkling. "You remind me of my lover to stave off unwelcome advances, mellon n�n?"
Much to his dismay, Thranduil found himself blushing for the first time in many centuries. "I merely asked after Erestor," he said quickly. "I did not mean to imply�"
"Erestor is well," the balrog-slayer broke in, taking pity on his companion. "He very much regretted that he could not accompany us." Pausing for a moment, he added, "He very much regretted not seeing you."
"�Twould have been good to see him, also," Thranduil said, perhaps a shade too warmly, eager to change the subject. "It has been many years since we met." As Glorfindel arched his eyebrow in amused interrogation, the king went on, "Just as it has been many years since I saw you, meldir."
The balrog-slayer nodded, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Just as it has been many years since you saw me, Thranduil?"
No longer able to ignore the other elf�s gentle teasing, the woodland king raised a hand in surrender. "No, Glorfindel, not just as it has been many years since I saw you." Breaking into a reluctant grin, he said, "The last time I saw Erestor, he did not stand naked on my balcony. Nor did he leave me bruised for days."
Shaking with mirth, the balrog-slayer retorted, "What a shame. Mayhap we can remedy that."
At the king�s look of utter amazement, his companion chortled delightedly. "You could join us, mellon vain. �Twould be perfect." His eyes sparkling, Glorfindel leaned closer. "Honestly, Thranduil," he purred wickedly, "Have you not ever wondered exactly what Legolas does with his gwan�n?"
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Elvish Translations:

pen neth - young one

Taur-na-Fuin - Mirkwood (wood of nightshade)

el n�n - my star

anor n�n - my sun

rohir n�n - my knight

melethen - my love

t�ren - my brother

rhaw - body, flesh

faer - spirit, soul

melin chen - I love you

mae govannen - well met

t�r n�n - my brother (form emphasizing the possessive)

h�ren - my lord

mellon n�n, mellonen - my friend

meldir - male friend

ion n�n - my son

yn n�n - my sons

mellon vain - beautiful friend
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Princes Three: In the Shadows of Mirkwood