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Princes Three: Darkness Unforeseen	By : nuwing Category: -Multi-Age > Slash - Male/Male Views: 8756 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Only the quirks and perversions are mine. Everything else belongs to the creator-god of Middle-earth, J.R.R. Tolkien. I am awed by his gifts and humbled by his vision. No profit made or sought.

Chapter List
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Chapter 17
Anteruon lifted his head at the sound of the apothecary door opening, nodded in response to Elrond�s arched eyebrow, then returned to his work, a smile on his lips. He was crushing herbs and dried berries, a job that now required neither concentration nor extraordinary effort, so his mind was free to wander in anticipation of the coming evening.
The months that had passed since he accepted Elrond�s first tentative dinner invitation had seen their relationship evolve into something both treasured and frightening. Treasured for the pleasure it had brought to his own life and the contentment visible these days on Elrond�s face, frightening for the wedge it seemed to be driving between he and Elrohir, and the damage Anteruon feared that simmering unease might ultimately do to his own relationship with Legolas.
Elrohir�s antagonism had begun even before there was cause, taking Anteruon by complete surprise. While his involvement with Elrond was not exactly a secret, they had started so slowly and remained so circumspect that in the early days he had wondered exactly what Elrohir held him guilty of, when all he had done was offer a shoulder and a friendly ear. In fact, Anteruon wondered still just how much the elf-knight understood. It almost seemed as if Elrohir�s ire was based in nothing more definite than his belief that Anteruon was angling for a night in his departed mother�s bed.
Elrohir�s surly behavior, whatever its motive, had turned once pleasant family dinners into a torturous event, or so it seemed to Anteruon. Though Legolas and Elladan were apparently either unaware of or unfazed by the relationship itself, the obvious tension at the dinner table often left their conversation strained, as well. Galueth, showing wisdom beyond her years, remained resolutely above it all.
In response to the nightly trial, Elrond had taken to eating more often in his rooms, alone with Anteruon, which only further annoyed Elrohir. Now the day when Legolas and Galueth would leave for home loomed ever closer, and Anteruon grew anxious to have Elrohir�s scowling disapproval confronted and resolved before he lost his surest champions.
Carefully tipping the last grinding of herbs into a glass jar, Anteruon pushed back his morose thoughts along with the mortar and pestle. There was always time enough to fret, and the advancing autumn would soon do away with afternoons such as this one. He brushed the clinging leaves from his tunic, washed his hands, and headed out into the private gardens.
Anteruon closed the gate and wandered toward the far right of the garden, an affectionate smile touching his face as he caught sight of Elrond. Lying on his back on one of the stone benches that surrounded a small fountain, his usual robes traded for a simple tunic and leggings and his hair pooling on the moss-covered cobblestones, Elrond looked more a young warrior newly come from the sparring field than the lord of a large and complex community. Anteruon pressed his lips fleetingly to his companion�s forehead, then settled himself on the ground at Elrond�s side. �You look comfortable,� he said with a grin, �but you will likely have leaf mold in your hair.�
�It will brush out,� Elrond replied carelessly, rolling to face his friend. �Tell me of your day in the apothecary.�
�Long and irritating,� Anteruon said with a put-upon sigh, but he willingly complied, sharing the few new discoveries he had made along with the rather more tedious aspects of the hours spent among the weeds and seeds. The preparation of the tonics and pastes and poultices so crucial to healing was not something Anteruon especially enjoyed, but Elrond held firm, insisting that a healer needed to understand not only what was in the bottles and jars, but how it was produced, if he was to truly master his craft.
In turn, Elrond spoke of his own day, divided between the healing hall and his office, the patients less troublesome than the correspondence that told of increasing orc attacks, brigands roaming the East Road, and darker, unnamed things sighted in shadows and reported in whispers.
An onlooker might have thought them nothing more than mentor and student, were it not for the familiar way Anteruon toyed with Elrond�s hair, winding the ink-dark strands around his fingers, or the way Elrond smiled, his eyes warm and soft as he reached over to touch Anteruon�s cheek. Their words dribbled to a halt and they were silent for a long moment, enjoying the warmth of the late autumn sun, before Anteruon moved closer and drew Elrond into a lingering kiss.
Neither noticed the tight-lipped watcher who slipped silently from a distant gazebo and vanished through the garden gate.
*************
�What do you expect me to do, Roh?� Legolas repeated, more exasperated than angry. �He is my elder brother-�
�AND MY FATHER IS TUPPING HIM!� Elrohir roared, all traces of gentility vanquished in his state of indignant outrage.
Elladan looked up from the book he was trying unsuccessfully to hide behind. �Not necessarily,� he said mildly, answering Elrohir�s scathing glance with a slight grin. �It does work two ways, as you well know, t�ren.�
The elf-knight�s face blanched. �You are not helping, Elladan,� he snapped, pressing his hands to his temples before continuing in a slightly more modulated tone. �How long have you known about this...this...�
Elladan put down his book. �I know nothing, t�ren, and neither do you, unless you have taken to hiding under Ada�s bed.� He ignored the incredulous arch of Elrohir�s eyebrow.
�As to why we never broached the subject,� Legolas interjected calmly, �is it any wonder? You could hardly have been more hostile to Anteruon had you caught them rutting among the roses.� He glanced at Elladan. �You know as much as we do, rohir n�n.�
�How long has it been going on?� Elrohir ground out.
Elladan�s easy shrug did nothing to soothe his brother�s temper. �A month, perhaps? No longer, certainly.�
�How can you accept such lechery in good humor?� Elrohir demanded, his voice rising again. �He has betrayed Nana!�
Elladan came abruptly to his feet. �Do not ever say such a thing in my hearing again! Did you not see Ada�s spirit dwindling? Did you not watch the grief eat him alive, leave him little more than a shell?�
�You would see it so,� Elrohir snipped, though the shadow in his eyes proved that Elladan�s words had hit home. �From your vantage point, Ada never could do any wrong.�
�You were not outraged when Glorfindel approached my father, all those years ago,� Legolas broke in quietly, hoping to restore some level of rationality to the rapidly disintegrating conversation. �You thought that Ada chose well when he accepted the offer to join with Glorfindel and Erestor. Is your father not entitled to comfort, too?�
�Your mother is dead,� Elrohir spat, the words leaving his tongue before his reason could intercede, �mine is not!�
Legolas flinched, his face paling, and Elrohir�s gut twisted sickeningly.
�Elrohir!� Elladan barked, horrified. He reached out and gave his brother�s shoulder a sharp shake. �What in the name of El-�
�Hush, �Dan,� Legolas said, silencing Elladan in mid-rant. �Yes, she is dead,� he replied steadily, holding Elrohir�s gaze, �and I think it impossible to say which is the crueler fate � to die suddenly and leave your family behind without warning, or to survive such suffering as Lady Celebr�an endured and be forced to leave them while you yet live.� Elrohir looked away, his eyes downcast, and Legolas drew a deep breath. �What I do know is that you cannot change the past, �Roh, or alter a destiny long determined. You can only do your best to thrive in the present you have been granted. Would you deny your father what few moments of peace he has found in these dark years?�
�A destiny long determined,� Elrohir parroted, lifting his head suddenly. �You did know.�
Legolas looked at Elrohir in confusion, only to find the elf-knight staring at Elladan with a mixture of astonishment and burgeoning understanding.
�You knew,� Elrohir repeated, watching his brother closely, �and that is why you accept so easily. You foresaw this! It was not me in your vision, was it? It was Ada.� When Elladan remained silent, he frowned slightly. �Answer me, t�ren.�
Elladan nodded reluctantly. �I believe so, aye.�
Legolas looked from one twin to the other. �What vision?�
�How long have you known?� Elrohir demanded, as though Legolas had not spoken.
�I have wondered ever since that day in the library, when Anteruon confronted me with the irrationality of my own brooding,� Elladan admitted. �The thought had never occurred to me before, but something in his manner with Ada...�
�What vision?� Legolas repeated, his voice a shade louder.
�Why did you not tell me?�
�What was I supposed to say, Elrohir?� Elladan retorted in frustration, his voice becoming heavy with sarcasm. �Remember that vision I had, oh, about 400 years ago? Good news, �Roh! It was not you pounding Anteruon through the mattress, it was Ada! Now we can all sleep soundly at night.�
�You did not have to say anything at all, �Dan,� Elrohir replied, a flash of hurt visible in his eyes. �You only had to let me in.�
Elladan�s annoyance vanished. �I am sorry, rohir n�n,� he said quietly, reaching out to touch his brother�s cheek. �I never meant to keep it from you. But I was uncertain myself, and-�
�-and you had a suspicion that I would react exactly as I have,� Elrohir finished for him with a hint of a rueful smile.
Legolas resisted the urge to stomp his feet. �What vision?� he asked again.
Elladan grinned wryly. �I was almost certain what your initial reaction would be, yes.� His expression sobered. �But can you not see what a difference such companionship has made to Ada? He is alive again, �Roh, after so many years withering. Would Nana begrudge him that?�
Elrohir bit his lip. �No,� he answered at last, shaking his head slowly, �I do not believe that she would.�
�What vision?� Legolas enunciated slowly, a muscle in one cheek beginning to twitch ominously.
Elladan cleared his throat uneasily. �It was centuries ago, �Las. In Mirkwood.�
�During that trip when the spider attacked me,� Elrohir supplied helpfully, �just before we left on our hunt.�
Legolas arched one eyebrow, whether in encouragement or intimidation, Elladan did not dare ponder.
�There is really nothing to tell,� Elladan continued. �I had a fleeting vision of an elf that appeared to be Anteruon. The setting was obviously Imladris-� Elladan paused, deciding in the space of a heartbeat to omit the fact that the scene in question had played out in the family�s private wing, �and he was, um, intimately engaged with a dark-haired partner...�
�Whom you believed to be Elrohir.�
�Yes. No! At least, not exactly,� Elladan protested, looking pleadingly at Elrohir.
��Dan did not know who it was, �Las,� Elrohir explained, �only that it was someone other than himself.�
�That must have been reassuring,� Legolas said dryly, though there was a hint of amusement in his eyes, �but you might have warned me.�
Elladan decided to forgo an explanation of exactly how reassuring it had been, memories of the tense days immediately preceding the vision flooding his thoughts. �It was a fleeting glimpse of something that I may or may not have interpreted correctly,� he said with a tentative smile, firmly quashing a niggle of guilt that said he was not telling the whole truth. �Only instinct told me it was Anteruon, and I had no feeling of his lover�s identity, save that it was not me.� He glanced at Elrohir. ��Roh thought it could have been Glorfindel and Erestor, or any number of other couples, past, present, or future.� Elladan did not add that he had disagreed vehemently at the time. �There was nothing sure to tell, and-�
�You decided sharing your worry would do little to improve my mood or your evenings,� Legolas interrupted, forcing back the last of his annoyance to smile at Elladan. The prince was honest enough to admit that he would likely have made the same decision, given similar circumstances. �Never mind. Now that we understand the who and why of it all,� he glanced at Elrohir hopefully, �can we not let the anger go? For all of our sakes?�
Elrohir sighed deeply. �We can try,� he allowed. �I can try.�
***********
Dinner had already begun when the twins and Legolas entered the dining hall, and Elladan was relieved to see Elrond and Anteruon at the table with Galueth, chatting amiably. The conversation came to a strained halt as the three settled into their chairs, and Elladan smiled encouragingly at his brother. �Good evening,� he said cheerfully, nodding his thanks to the maid who deposited a generously filled plate before him. He smiled at Anteruon and Galueth as he reached for the basket of rolls that sat in the center of the table, then turned to Elrond. �You look well, Ada. Have you had a restful afternoon?�
Elrond could not keep himself from glancing at Anteruon. �I had quite a good afternoon, thank you,� he replied, a smile he could not contain twitching at the corners of his mouth.
�Though not terribly restful, perhaps?� Elrohir said blandly, causing Legolas and Galueth to gape at him in horrified amazement.
�Elrohir,� Elladan hissed, ending the stunned silence, �what are you-�
�Be quiet, �Dan,� Elrohir broke in, pinning Anteruon with an inscrutable stare. �It is no good pretending that the dragon in the hall is not there.�
Elrond stiffened perceptibly. �This is hardly the time or place to air your perceived grievances, �Rohir,� he said mildly.
�I have already aired my perceived grievances, Ada,� Elrohir said with a tight smile, glancing at Elladan and Legolas, �and cooler heads have convinced me that perhaps I was wrong...am wrong.� He sighed. �I have behaved atrociously toward you-� he hesitated briefly, �and toward you, as well, Anteruon.�
�That is of less consequence,� Anteruon said noncommittally.
�Nevertheless, I wish to apologize,� Elrohir replied shortly, then turned back to Elrond. �I do not like it, Ada,� he admitted frankly, �and I doubt that I ever shall. But I realize that I can be glad for the contentment you have found,� he looked toward Anteruon briefly, �and grateful to the person who has helped you gain such peace, even if the method leaves me uneasy.�
Elrond did not reply immediately, and it seemed to Legolas that the whole room went silent, the clinking of cutlery and murmur of distant conversation dampened by the tension hanging between father and son. Then Elrond reached out to clasp Elrohir�s arm, and Legolas could breathe again.
�Thank you, �Rohir,� Elrond said, smiling slightly. �Apology accepted.�

*~*~*~*~*

rohir n�n � my knight

t�ren � my brother
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Princes Three: Darkness Unforeseen