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Twilight Tales - An Ounce of Kindness	By : MPB Category: -Multi-Age > General Views: 26421 -:- 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.

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Chapter XX

Elrond expected it to take several weeks before his scouts located any of the Wandering Companies of High-elves. But as good fortune would have it or perhaps simply fate, they came upon Gildor Inglorion and his folk a mere three days out of Rivendell. Gildor was on his way to the elven refuge for one of his rare visits and to report what news of events in the north he had gathered to Elrond. Therefore, it was but a fortnight ere he and his band departed for the wilds once more, one sullen Sindarin prince in his custody.

Not surprisingly, Gildor was most displeased to learn of the crime Nimaras had committed, more so that it had been against one for whom he still held much fondness and respect. But though he did not trouble to hide his displeasure, he made it clear as well that he was in full accord with what Elrond and Thranduil intended for Nimaras. He assured Thranduil that his son would not be mistreated but would be disciplined for infractions as any of his folk, no more, no less. Gildor shared the opinion that while Nimaras' deed was vile, the Elven prince himself need not be and could still be redeemed.

Nimaras would abide with the High-elves and learn their ways, will he, nill he. Perhaps some day he would shed his misbegotten prejudices and atone for his wrongdoing. When that hoped for day arrived he would be welcomed back with open arms and warm hearts.

What Nimaras thought of the terms of his exile none could say for he remained tight-lipped up until the moment he hoisted his pack and slung it across his shoulders. But when Thranduil hugged him tightly and pressed a farewell kiss to his temple, his actions finally revealed his feelings. Watching him hold on to his father longer than his wont, it was easy to surmise that apprehension about his fate had played a large part in his prior reticence.

These Exiles from across the sea were beyond his ken. Their language and culture, their very appearances were more alien than even what he had seen of the Elves of Imladris. He had never felt comfortable amongst the Eldar of the valley realm. What more with these foreign Elves who seemed as heathens to a Sinda born and bred on Middle-earth's soil? And so it was with heavy hearts and the faintest flaring of hope that his father and brothers saw him off one balmy morning near the end of summer. Soon after, Thranduil and Galvreth took their leave as well but Legolas kept to his vow and prepared for an indefinite stay in Rivendell.

On the eve of his departure, Galvreth informed him that he had invited the twins for a night of convivial drink out on the garden porch. Legolas grimaced as memory of the last time they had observed the custom and its deleterious aftermath assailed him.

“You are brave considering what passed last we were here,” he said.

Galvreth shook his head. “Truth be told, I did not care to revive memories of that night,” he admitted. “I do this at Elladan's behest, for Elrohir's sake.” At Legolas' puzzled response, he continued: “It seems Elrohir desires a private moment with you but he does not wish to give you false hopes of a swift reconciliation.” He tilted his head and curiously regarded his brother. “Elladan did not enlighten me as to what that is supposed to mean. Would you care to?”

With a doleful sigh, Legolas repeated the counsel he had received pertaining to Elrohir's doubts about the resumption of their betrothal. Galvreth nodded in reluctant agreement when he finished.

“I cannot blame him,” he remarked. “Had his innocence not been proved would you have eventually softened your heart toward him?”

“I - suppose so,” Legolas haltingly said.

“Even you cannot say for certain,” Galvreth commented. “Elrohir's only gauge of your justice is the punishment you dealt him. 'Tis no easy thing to take you on once more having tasted your steel. I would be wary too were I in his shoes.” When Legolas winced, he added: “Yet I warrant he would not have you change overmuch just to ease his fears. You would not then be the Elf he came to love.”

“What should I do?” Legolas wistfully asked.

Galvreth paused then said, “Strike a balance. He is no divinity at whose altar you should worship. And I imagine he has long labored to live up to your impossibly high expectations of him. Think what a relief it would be for him to be just as he is - your Elf-knight, with all his perfections and all his flaws.”

“Sage advice,” Legolas murmured. “Would that someone had counselled me thusly then.”

“I doubt anyone thought it necessary. The twins seem so much more than their ten and hundred years. I wager even their parents can be deceived as to the extent of their maturity and their ability to cope with adversity.”

“So Lady Celebrían said,” Legolas soberly admitted.

Galvreth clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Will you come tonight?”

“But how can we talk in your presence?”

“As to that…” Legolas lifted an eyebrow in surprise when Galvreth blushed. “Well, Elladan wishes us to make an early night of it.”

Legolas' mood lifted a bit and his eyes brightened with glee. “Ah, my felicitations then, brother!”

Galvreth wanly smiled. “It may be no more than a tussle or at best a one-night tumble. But I will take what he is willing to mete out for now.” He chuckled ruefully. “We are doomed, you and I, to have given our hearts to Peredhil. No sensible Elf can withstand them.”

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

They converged on the garden porch at the appointed time. There was some awkwardness, it could not be helped; not when Legolas and Elrohir, though faultlessly amiable, were obviously aching to be alone. After little more than an hour, Elladan caught Galvreth's gaze and signaled that it was time for them to give their brothers their privacy and seek privacy of their own. Elrohir grinned slightly when the Greenwood prince rose to his feet, his ivory cheeks stained with mild color.

“Be gentle, gwaniuar”-older twin-he cautioned Elladan humorously. “Methinks you are not the only one who has practiced restraint these many years.”

Galvreth's gasp of disbelief would have been recompense enough for his gibe but he was fulsomely rewarded when Elladan could not quite suppress his own start of surprise, which was followed swiftly by a gleam of unmistakable pleasure in his eyes.

“I am always gentle,” the older twin mildly retorted. “If 'tis demanded of me. But I am just as amenable to using brute force if that is what is desired. Or I can be both.” He looked askance at Galvreth and winked rakishly at the prince. “There is nothing like a little experimentation to discover what suits one best, don't you think, my prince?”

Legolas barely managed to stifle a guffaw when his brother glared at Elladan then at a snickering Elrohir before shaking his head in resignation. “Come away, Elladan,” Galvreth muttered. “I had best put your clever tongue to other use afore you go into more detail of your plans for the night!”

He entered the house, an unrepentant Elladan following. But when Legolas leaned forward to set his drinking cup on the porch table, he caught a glimpse of Galvreth pinned to the wall but a few feet from the door being treated to what he himself already knew something of - the inimitable amorous attention of a Peredhel. He hastily sat back, the tips of his ears turning a bright crimson at having glimpsed his brother in so intimate a pose. Elrohir noted his discomfiture and grinned.

“I take it Elladan's restraint crumbled straightly,” he softly chuckled.

Legolas rolled his eyes. “I suppose Galvreth won't object as long as Elladan finishes what he started in private,” he dryly said.

“Oh, Elladan will not make a spectacle if that is what you are worried about. He would never expose Galvreth to others lest he invite unwanted interest in what he deems his. That he would never countenance, I assure you.”

Legolas stared at him. “He truly cares about my brother then?” he interestedly pressed.

“If he did not, think you he would have stayed himself all these years?” Elrohir laid his cup on the table as well. “He would have had his ride long ago and many times since did he not fret about the perils of yielding his heart as well. It astounds me that he has chosen to chance a stab at it now of all times when he has seen me through the worst of my own ordeal.”

Legolas glanced anxiously at him, troubled by the fleeting reference to the recent rockiness of their relations. But it appeared that Elrohir had not intended any slight or recrimination judging from the way he leaned back to absently stare at the night sky.

They spoke no more for a while but sat in companionable silence, Elrohir regarding the star-studded firmament, Legolas studying his fine profile in turn. Finally the archer reached for the twin's hand where it reposed on the bench between them and wove his fingers with the latter's. Elrohir turned and looked at him with gleaming eyes.

“Forgive me,” they both said almost in unison.

They caught their breaths then laughed in hushed tones at the synchronicity of their initial overtures.

“For what?” Elrohir asked, indicating that Legolas should speak first.

“For my lack of faith in you,” Legolas said. “For passing judgment on you ere you had a chance to defend yourself.”

Elrohir bit his lip then shook his head. “Your ire and distrust were duly earned,” he replied. “I should not have kept what happened a secret from you. What else could you have thought of my silence but the wages of guilt? More than ever I wonder why you still sought me out. I am not worthy of you, Legolas.”

“Do not say that,” Legolas protested. “I know no one more worthy of any Elf he should covet. And I should have realized that 'twas not guilt that drove you but fear. You were right to dread my retribution. Had I been in your place, I doubt I would have been forthcoming either. It was cruel of me to ill-treat you for one supposed indiscretion when you had never shown me aught but kindness and patience. Please, say you will forgive me.” He gently pulled the hand he held to draw the younger twin nearer.

Elrohir obliged until they were sitting shoulder to shoulder, the closer contact tingeing the very air with a different kind of tension. Elrohir drew a deep breath, as if to steady himself, then said, “There is naught to forgive. You did no wrong, Legolas, no matter what others may have told you. 'Tis I who should seek forgiveness and I dearly hope 'tis finally mine after…” He trailed off as remembrance of the past two years' bleakness assaulted him.

Elrohir looked away, unwilling to reveal his hurt to Legolas but the archer sensed his pain nonetheless. But before he could speak, the young warrior continued. “I hoped to win you back,” he said softly. “Even when you would not answer my missives, I still thought that you would permit me to address you when we met again. I did not realize how much you resented me, my actions… I should have realized it. I knew you so well, knew better than any other how terribly you would take betrayal and yet I did not see how far I had fallen in your regard. But I wanted to regain your amity at the very least. I would have been satisfied with being your friend. Or so I told myself. But then, you made it clear that even that was beyond recall. And I found I could not stay, I could not face that truth. And so, like a craven cur, I fled.”

Legolas gasped at the depth of Elrohir's self-reproach. “Nay, 'twas not craven of you at all!” he exclaimed. “What I said to you was reprehensible. I was no better than Nimaras in my-!”

“Do not compare yourself to him, Legolas!” Elrohir sharply cut him off. “There is no malice in you, no evil. What you dealt me, I deserved. 'Tis no fault of yours that I did not want the bitter harvest I reaped.” His grip on Legolas' hand tightened, thrilling the archer no end. “Still, I will dare to ask for your forgiveness. Will you give it now?”

“You know it is yours,” Legolas whispered. “And it should have been yours long before had I not been so stubborn and hard-hearted. I never stopped loving you, Elrohir, even when I believed the worst. Indeed, I yearned for you without cease.”

Elrohir gazed at him with shining eyes. “Did you?” he murmured, a small smile playing on his lips. “That comforts me.”

Legolas felt a shudder of want wrack his frame. He longed to voice his desire, to beg Elrohir to ask him to be his once more. But mindful of the Elf-knight's current fragile sense of worth, he desisted and instead leaned forward and brushed his lips against Elrohir's. It was a swift and light kiss but the sudden gush of heat between them proved in abundance that what had been was still there and as potent and forceful as ever. It buoyed Legolas' hopes even further and when he saw the undeniably hungry look on Elrohir's face however much the latter tried to conceal it, he knew with utmost certainty that the younger twin had taken no one in his stead despite the loneliness of the years of their separation.

“I thank the Powers that you are still mine alone,” he blurted out in his delight.

To his dismay, Elrohir's smile faded, the light in his eyes dimmed and an odd expression crossed the twin's face. He watched in bewilderment as Elrohir stared down nigh unseeingly at their linked hands which now rested on his lap. And then he saw the Elf-knight swallow hard and with shock realized the latter was struggling not to weep.

“Elrohir, what is wrong?” he asked alarmed. “What did I say?”

“'Tis nothing,” Elrohir managed to say but his rough voice betrayed the falsity of his reply.

Legolas let out a frustrated exhalation. “'Tis precisely because you kept silent that Nimaras found one means to hurt us so terribly! Please, Elrohir, tell me what troubles you.”

Elrohir stared at him, a slightly startled look on his face. After a moment's hesitation, he finally said: “I was only thinking that I almost wish the charge against me had been true. At least there would have been just cause for why I can no longer say the same of you.”

At first, Legolas was perplexed by his answer. And then his meaning hit him with the force of a buffet and he thought his heart would burst. Berating himself for his wicked tongue, he lifted his free hand and cupped Elrohir's face.

“Hearken to me, Elrohir,” he urgently said. “It was to hurt you that I declared I had sought comfort from others. But it was only in word, never in deed. I was as true to you as you were to me.”

To his consternation, Elrohir only sadly smiled. “You need not try to assuage my feelings with falsehoods,” he quietly said. “What is done is done and cannot be changed. And you were within your rights to do as you pleased with whomever you desired. You were no longer promised to me anymore than you still considered me yours.”

He did his best to hide his sorrow but could not quite succeed and Legolas cringed at the pain he espied in the depths of his beloved's argent eyes. Letting go of Elrohir's hand, he flung his arms around the younger twin, pressing his face against the side of his neck.

“'Tis no falsehood,” he desperately insisted. “I only led you to believe that I had dallied with others. But I could not lie with another, ellon or elleth. I did tell you the truth that you set a high standard. So high that none could reach it. I could not bear to settle for less and so I settled for none. But even had there been one to match you I could not share myself when there was no love to ease my way. As there always has been with you, my Elf-knight.” He raised his head and gazed beseechingly at Elrohir. “Ask any in Eryn Galen. They will tell you I speak the truth. I have been with no one else nor have I wished to be.”

He prayed Elrohir would believe him yet feared he would not. He had not placed his faith in Elrohir, why should the Elf-knight place his in him now? He felt his heart plummet to the pit of his stomach when Elrohir compelled him to release him and drew slightly away. Yet Elrohir did not let go of his hands but trained a searching gaze on him.

Legolas could not help flinching from that piercing stare but he did not retreat and forced himself to return it. Elrohir seemed to look into his very soul and he staunchly bore the burning appraisal. And then the Elf-lord sighed and closed his eyes for a spell. Legolas thought in that instant that he had lost, that Elrohir did not trust him as wholly as before, and he felt a wave of scorching remorse and sickening despair wash over him. But Elrohir opened his eyes and they gleamed with pure and bright emotion. And the taut line of his mouth relaxed into a faint smile.

Legolas caught his breath when a strong hand curled around his nape and pulled him close until his mouth met Elrohir's. It was no incendiary kiss but passion there was aplenty. Save it was passion born of deepest love and not mere lust. Legolas half moaned, half whimpered when his lips were parted and his mouth sweetly invaded. He clung hard to Elrohir, relishing so tender and affectionate a caress, very much akin to that first kiss they'd shared years ago in a secluded Greenwood glen north of the Woodland Realm though imbued with warmth rather than heat.

When the kiss ended they were both quite breathless but not inclined to take matters a step further despite their bodily yearning for more. Not yet. They remained as they were, their foreheads touching, arms about the other.

“I missed this,” Elrohir murmured.

“So did I,” Legolas breathed.

Elrohir lifted a hand to stroke the archer's rosy cheek with his knuckles. “If you permit me, I would woo you again, Legolas,” he said.

Legolas wanted to tell him that there was no need for courtship, that he was his to the end of time, that all he need do was ask and he would bind to him at once. Now, before some other calamity befell them and they were parted once more. But upon smoothing his hand over the Elf-knight's chest, his fingers felt through the fine fabric of Elrohir's shirt the two betrothal bands that hung from the silver chain about his neck.

Reason and prudence prevailed and he comprehended that Elrohir was asking that they discover each other anew, not as predestined mates but as lovers who had consciously chosen the other for time unending. In getting to know each other all over again, they would find complete healing and gain more strength, wisdom and forbearance, all to the betterment of an eternal bond. Legolas did not care much for the delay of their full reconciliation but if delaying it won him his Elf-knight for all time, then he would wait however long it took.

“I would like that very much,” he whispered.

Elrohir drew him back into his arms and into another lengthy and loving kiss. Legolas thought with a surge of hope and bliss that he might not have to wait so very long after all.

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

Glossary:

Peredhil (sing. Peredhel) - Half-elves/Half-elven

ellon - male Elf

elleth- Elf-maid

To be continued…
- 20
- 21
- 22
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Twilight Tales - An Ounce of Kindness