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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 15

�What is amiss, el nín?�, Legolas asked quietly, lowering himself to sit beside his lover on the dimly lit balcony.
Elladan glanced at the prince, then returned to his perusal of the darkened wood. �Why must anything be amiss?�, he countered lightly, his legs swinging idly over the platform�s edge.
�Because you are flirting with a three-level plunge to the forest floor, and hoping- in vain, I might add- that I will go away and leave you to your brooding,� Legolas retorted, smiling wryly. �And neither of those things is normal behavior for you, �Dan. I am the one who runs to the balcony for solace.�
�I am only tired, �Las,� the dark elf sighed, passing a hand impatiently over his eyes.
The woodland prince studied Elladan closely before speaking. �Tired you may be, yet you are as tightly strung as any champion�s bow. Come inside, and have a drink and a hot soak, hmm?�
The elder twin shook his head slightly. �Nay, not just now. I would sit under the stars for a while longer.�
Legolas took hold of the single blue-dotted ebony braid that trailed down his lover�s back, twisting the silken plait around his hand. �Please, el nín,� he said softly, a note of pleading in his voice. �Tell me what troubles you so.�
Turning his silvery gaze on the prince, Elladan remained silent for a long moment. When he spoke, his words took the other by surprise. �Do you trust me, �Las?�
�Aye, of course I do,� Legolas replied immediately. �With my life. You know that, �Dan.�
�Then let it be, hmm?�, the dark elf asked, softening his words with a quick embrace. ��Tis nothing that concerns you directly, anor nín.�
�You concern me, melethen,� the prince contradicted firmly. �And I��
�Leave it, �Las,� Elrohir broke in gently, dropping to the floor beside his twin. �He is in a mood, �tis all.�
Legolas looked at the elf-knight skeptically. ��Tis more than a passing mood, I wager. You talk to him, rohir nín. I seem to be of little use this night.�
As he finished speaking, the woodland prince moved to rise, only to find his wrist gripped tightly. Turning to Elladan questioningly, he found himself pinned by a somber gaze. The elder twin loosed his grip, and threaded his fingers through loose golden locks, pulling his lover into a soft, nearly chaste kiss, breathtaking in its sweetness. �Do not say such a thing, anor nín,� he chided. �Melin chen. Always.�
Legolas pulled back, blue-green eyes welling with unexpected tears at the tenderness of the gesture. �I know,� he whispered. �Melin chen, el nín. Always.� Rising gracefully, he added, �I will leave you to �Roh, none the less. Mayhap he can ease your mind.�
The twins sat silently until the door had closed behind the archer. Lying back, Elrohir stared up at the stars, waiting. When his brother did not speak, he sighed and asked quietly, �Do you wish to unburden yourself, tôren?�
�I do not know how to proceed, rohir nín,� Elladan answered soberly, stretching out beside the elf-knight. �I would not cause pain where it can be avoided.� Sighing deeply, he continued, �And I would not lose what we have gained since your injury��
Elrohir rolled suddenly, laying a hand on his twin�s shoulder. �Surely you are not thinking of bedding Legolas� brother, �Dan.�
When the other did not answer at once, the elf-knight leaned over further, his silver-grey gaze locking with its mate. The eyes that met his were clouded, and to his horror he found himself consciously barred from his brother�s thoughts. �Elladan?�, he demanded hoarsely. �Answer me.�
The elder twin stared silently for a long moment, seeing the growing unease in the other�s face. �I do not know��, he began hesitantly.
Unable to contain himself, the elf-knight said, �Sweet Eru! You do not know? Are you insane? Legolas will cut your throat, and Anteruon�s, besides! How can you even ponder such a betrayal?� When his tirade received no reply, he added roughly, �Say something, tôren.�
Reaching up to tuck one mithril-sparked braid behind his twin�s ear, Elladan broke into a grin. �Do not be an ass, �Roh.� His smile fading, he added, �I do not know exactly how to dissuade Anteruon without damaging this fragile peace we have built.�
Elrohir, his eyes wide in exasperation, said, �By rights I should beat you senseless, �Dan. To the Last Desert with you and your diplomacy! �Tis no need to tell him anything. If he approaches you openly, rebuff him. Otherwise, ignore it�we will be leaving in but a few days.�
�Aye, but we will presumably return someday, rohir nín,� the elder twin returned soberly. �I would not leave our relationship with the crown prince of Taur-na-Fuin in ruins behind us. And Ada is determined to bring him to Imladris for instruction in the healing arts.� Shaking his head slowly, he continued, ��Twould be better addressed now than later, I deem.�
�And what exactly will you say?�, the elf-knight challenged in disbelief. ��It has come to my attention that you wish to bed me,�? �You flatter me, but I am quite satisfied with your tôr dithen�?�
�I do not know what I will say, Elrohir, � Elladan retorted with a grimace. ��Tis the cause of my foul mood. �Twould already be done, if I but knew what words to use.�
�I daresay �Las would have little trouble finding words for him,� the younger twin said darkly, one eyebrow arched expressively. �Words, among other, more painful things.�
�Aye, and that is the other reason I would speak frankly with Anteruon,� Elladan agreed grimly. �I would not be responsible for the consequences should Legolas notice anything untoward. He is not entirely reliable where the crown prince is concerned.�
Elrohir snorted rudely. �Aye, that is a polite way of putting it, I suppose.� Breaking into a grin, he added, �I, on the other hand, am completely reliable where you are concerned, tôr nín. I have but one aim.�
�Which is�?�, the elder twin queried, raising an ebony eyebrow in amusement.
�Loving you into a whimpering, boneless puddle,� the elf-knight answered, lowering his head to rub his brother�s pale cheek with his own. �As often as possible.�
Turníng his head into the caress, Elladan brushed a fleeting kiss across his lover�s lips.
A smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, he asked, �Here, or inside?�
************************************
Legolas strolled the nearly deserted courtyard idly. Determined to give Elladan space and time to discuss whatever discomfited him, the woodland prince had left his chambers to avoid overhearing a conversation not meant for his ears. There were times, he felt, when even the eerily linked twins needed to talk, rather than mindspeak�and he deemed this night to be one of those times. ��Tis likely the same benefit as talking to myself,� he mused aloud. �The words, no matter how they stumble, help arrange the thoughts.�
�I agree completely, Legolas,� a laughing voice sounded. �Though there are those who might think it strange that you speak aloud to the fountains and the trees.�
Stepping into the main path, the woodland prince found himself confronted by a smiling Elrond. Only slightly abashed, Legolas returned the smile, accompanying it with a small bow. �Híren.� Turning to the rest of the gathering, he smiled a welcome at Anteruon and Glorfindel, breaking into a grin at the sight of Galueth curled determinedly in the balrog-slayer�s arms. Thranduil sat beside them, looking vaguely amused.
�Ada, �tis unusual to see you�� he began, only to be interrupted peremptorily by his youngest sibling.
�Where are El�dan and El�hir?�, Galueth demanded accusingly. �Have you misplaced them?�
Chuckling, the prince shook his head. �Nay, th�l dithen, I have not misplaced them. They had things to discuss, and remained behind in my chambers. You will see them in the morning.�
Looking keenly at the woodland prince, Glorfindel asked, �Naught is amiss, I hope?�
Legolas shook his head. �Nay, there is no difficulty. �Dan is in something of a mood, �tis all.� Eyes twinkling, he met the balrog-slayer�s sapphire gaze, oblivious to the darkening countenance of his elder brother. �I have no doubt �Roh will straighten him out.�
Glorfindel snickered. �Indeed, ernilen. Elrohir is usually quite effective as a mood changer.�
As the woodland prince turned to his father, Elrond�s troubled grey eyes met his seneschal�s gaze, before focusing on the crown prince. �Come sit with me, ernilen,� he invited, patting the bench beside himself. �There is still much I would know about your previous training in the healing arts.�
His face lightening immediately, Anteruon perched beside the peredhel lord, and was soon deep into details of his time studying with Mirkwood�s healers.
Thranduil eyed his second-born closely. �Are you determined to go forward with this campaign, Legolas?�
�Aye, Ada,� the prince replied at once. ��Twill be of great benefit to the realm, as well as the human settlements which have fallen prey to these brigands. And our success will make trade safer and thus more profitable.�
�And your failure��, the king began soberly, shaking his head. �If you fail, ionen, what��
�We shall not fail, Ada,� Legolas returned with quiet confidence. �There are centuries of experience riding for this cause, against disordered bands of men. We shall not fail.�
�They will succeed, meldir,� Glorfindel agreed, laying a comforting hand on Thranduil�s arm. �Legolas and his guards are highly skilled, and the gwanûn have been riding against just such foes for a millennia or more. Do not fret overly about their safety.�
��Tis little more dangerous than a raid against yrch, Ada,� the prince began. �You never��

Breaking off suddenly, Legolas stood motionless, his blue-green eyes curiously blank as he focused on the gentle entreaty curling through his thoughts.

�Tis late, �Las. Are you not coming to bed?
We have saved you the best spot, anor nín.
Aye, we have, though I cannot promise it will stay open �less you hurry.
And bring a bottle of miruvor, hmm? To accompany our honey butter.

Legolas chuckled, a slight flush spreading over his fair face, pinking the tips of his ears. �Pardon me, Ada�híren. I am being recalled, I believe.�
Glorfindel grinned broadly. �And not in language suitable for elfling�s ears, I wager, if it causes you to color so.�
Blushing even more deeply, the prince shook his head. ��Tis easy to see where the gwanûn learned their craft, híren. And I have been instructed to return accompanied by a bottle of miruvor, Ada. If any remains?�
Acutely aware of the eldest prince�s rigidly expressionless face, and Elrond�s failing attempt to hold his attention, Glorfindel said quickly, �There are several bottles still in the case, ernilen. Come with me.�
Blissfully ignorant of the unease that had settled over the group, Legolas nodded. �Hannon chen, Glorfindel.� Smiling at the others, he added, �Maer dú
. Posto mae.�
As the two elves left in search of miruvor, Anteruon stood suddenly, cutting Elrond off in mid-sentence. �Pardon me, híren, but I am quite weary,� he sighed. �I will seek my bed now.�
�Will you take Galueth to her chambers, ionen?�, Thranduil prodded gently. ��Tis long past bedtime for elflings, I fear.�
�Aye �Ruon, take me to my chambers, and tell a story,� the princess ordered imperiously. �You tell good stories.�
Seeing the firm hold the crown prince had on himself begin to unravel, Elrond spoke up. �I will take her, if she will allow it. �Twould be a pleasure to tell stories again.� Smiling at Galueth he went on, �My own younglings are far too old to enjoy their ada�s stories. Do you approve, taurelen?�
�Will you carry me?�, the elfling asked suspiciously.
�I will,� the peredhel lord replied, his eyes twinkling. �On my shoulders, if you like.�
�Aye, I would,� Galueth beamed. �I will go with you.�
�I will say maer dú
, then,� Anteruon broke in tiredly. �Hannon chen, Lord Elrond.�
�Posto mae, ernilen,� the peredhel lord replied quietly.
Anteruon shook his head slightly, a rueful smile flickering across his face as he turned toward his chambers. �Mayhap, but I do not expect to, híren. Nan abarad.�

**************************

Elvish Translations:

el nín - my star

anor nín - my sun

rohir nín - my knight

melethen - my love

tôren, tôr nín - my brother

melin chen - I love you

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

híren - my lord

tôr dithen - little brother

ernilen - my prince

meldir - male friend

th�l dithen - little sister

gwanûn - twins

taurelen - my princess

hannon chen - thank you

maer dú - good night

posto mae - sleep/rest well

nan abarad - until tomorrow
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Princes Three: In the Shadows of Mirkwood