beta: goodbye_sun
AN: The thick plottens, and Elurin pushes Elured to act.
Taboo had a lover many years ago
But her lover proved fickle and he left her all alone
She died in grief and took the witches curse
And she cried out in her spirit
Now I am the devil
Forever man will atone
-Gene Summers.
Chapter 7 - Devil that you are, you're the loveliest of all.
It had been two years since Erestor's horse had been killed mysteriously, and since nothing more had happened, and no foul killer had been apprehended, the merry elves of Rivendell forgot about it, all but the culprits and the victims. Admittedly, they spent more time keeping an eye on the young man child who had arrived at Rivendell, a mysterious little thing, that Estel. The twin sons of Elrond had taken it upon themselves to tumble with the playful kid, and sometimes Arwen would meddle and play along, but it would not be long before it would end in a real fight. Her brothers always seemed to team up against her, much to Arwen's frustration, not to mention their parent's frustration.
This day Elured and his twin sat outside and enjoyed a cup of tea, watching the blue skies, basking in the warm autumn sun. ”Seeing something you like?” Elurin whispered playfully in his brothers ear, as his eyes followed his brothers to the Rivendell twins playing with Estel and some wooden sticks to mock fight with the young child.
”Maybe,” Elured snickered. ”They are fair, you have to admit that.”
Elurin nodded, ”I admit to that, imagine one on each side in your bed,” he whispered suggestively, wiggling an eyebrow.
”Oh Elurin! You are wicked!” Elured exclaimed, but still his eyes smiled, as he could imagine that very well.
”Want me to get one for you?” Elurin whispered.
Elured chuckled, ”If I wanted one, I would woo one myself.”
”Is that so, Brother?” Elurin grinned knowingly. ”How many lovers have you had since we arrived here? Or better yet, since we became aware?”
Elured sighed. ”One,” he admitted.
”And how many for me?” Elurin snickered.
Elured took a sip of his tea, ”You made your point, brother,” he answered with an annoyed, strained voice.
”I know,” Elurin nodded, ”So if you want one of them, let me seduce him.” Elurin smiled against Elured's ear, ”Tell me which one you fancy.”
”Let it go, Elurin,” Elured huffed.
”I will, for now,” Elurin clucked, leaning back into his seat, but keeping his eyes on the young twins with the child. ”Did you see Erestor's ring?”
”I did,” Elured said. ”He literally pushed it in my face,” he smiled, ”He never will learn to tell us apart, will he?” When Elurin didn't answer, Elured reached for his brothers hand on the armrest next to him, squeezing it gently. ”Are you saddened that he would bond like this?”
Elurin looked thoughtful for a moment and then sighed. ”I might be,” he said, ”I really liked him.”
”I know you did,” Elured said, not needing to explain further. ”Maybe you're better off without him,” he said in a weak attempt to comfort.
”You wouldn't say that if you had bedded him,” Elurin sighed bitter-sweetly.
Elured turned his head and looked at his twin in the sun. ”Come again?”
”Well he is... eh, not without his charms,” Elurin said, ”Without any comparison of course,” he added.
”So he is hung like a horse?” Elured answered acidly.
”Must you be so vulgar?” Elurin snorted, in mock offence.
”Elurin! Elured! Look!” Elladan yelled from the other side of the grass. ”We have a horsemaster here!” He pointed at Estel who was riding on a pony, led by Elrohir.
”Keep it up horsemaster Estel!” Elured laughed. Watching as Elladan ran over to them, he withdrew his hand from Elured's and muttered to his brother, ”Behave!”
Elladan slumped down at Elured's feet on the recliner. ”Elrohir had to promise him his dessert for tonight to even get him on the pony,” he laughed. Elured shook his head amused. Elladan turned his head and looked directly at Elured, ”Will you two come with Mama and us to Lorien? I would think a little vacation would do you both good, plus we could use the company... or rather, I could.” He blushed slightly, ”Elrohir has a fair lass to see, and I have none but my grandparents, Arwen or my Mother.”
”Is there not someone waiting for you, young Elladan?” Elurin questioned.
”No,” Elladan said with a slight shake of his head, ”Grandmother does not like us mingling with her soldiers and servants, and besides, they all still see Elrohir and I as children.”
”If your Father will let us, then of course we will travel with you to Lorien,” Elured said with a reassuring smile.
Elladan's deep grey eyes widened in surprise that it had been so easy to persuade his Uncles to come along. ”Great!” He grinned, ”I am sure he will let you come!”
~*~
Elrond had not been as easy to persuade as Elured, and Elladan had to use all his powers of persuasion before his Father would even consider it. ”Glorfindel told me that there are more and more Orcs seen by main roads, Papa, we could use some skilled swordsmen with us.”
Elrond rose a brow, ”and what are you and your brother? Master knitters?”
”Papa!” Elladan exclaimed annoyed, leaning in over Elrond's desk with a slight smile, ”If you send Elured and Elurin, then between the four of us we could keep Mama and Arwen safe, and you would not have to send more soldiers, which would mean that Glorfindel would not have to change on the schedule for patrols or guards.”
Elrond groaned, ”You are not going to give up, are you son?”
”No,” Elladan said with a sweet boyish grin.
”Alright,” Elrond finally said with a deep sigh. ”You can take them, but,” He emphasized 'but' ”Only if they wish so, and do not bother them.”
”Elured already agreed they would go if I could persuade you,” Elladan said with a nod.
Elrond rolled his eyes in a most undignified manner, ”I presumed as much.”
~*~
Elurin lay on the floor in front of the warm fire watching as his brother stared into the fire. ”So we're going to Lorien,” he said, running a finger playfully over Elured's naked backside.
”Yes,” Elured just mumbled.
”Brother? Where are you at?” Elurin asked.
Elured turned his head and looked lovingly at his brother in the warm light. ”I am right here, my love,” he said sweetly.
”No you aren't,” Elurin said, shaking his head.
”Alright,” Elured admitted, ”But it is not what you think.” He rolled over to his back with feline grace, allowing his brothers gently touches. ”I was thinking that there is a scrying pool in Lorien, we could speak to Father if we could get a hold of it.”
Elurin leaned down and placed a kiss on Elured's birthmark. ”But how do you suppose we do that?”
”I don't know,” Elured admitted. ”But I would very much want to speak to Father.”
Elurin rested his head on his twin's stomach, looking up at Elured's face. ”Me too.”
~*~
As the party destined for Rivendell set out from the courtyard. Glorfindel watched them from his balcony, not liking it one bit. Turning on his heels he went to wait for his Lord to return to his office.
Elrond had not expected to see Glorfindel waiting outside his office, and just opened the door, letting Glorfindel inside. ”What is amiss my friend?” he asked.
”The Lorien party,” Glorfindel said.
”I told you to be silent with your hard words,” Elrond warned, sitting down in his chair, folding his hands under his chin.
”But my lord,” Glorfindel argued.
”Keep it to yourself if you are wise,” Elrond warned once more.
”I am just worried about their safety,” Glorfindel said, but knew his words were lost on his Lord.
”Don't be,” Elrond said, ”I am sure you have better things to do than stand around here and worry about nothing.”
Glorfindel realised he was being dismissed and nodded slowly, ”Yes my Lord,” he mumbled, leaving Elrond's study. Maybe he should redirect a patrol to follow the road that Celebrian would take to Lorien? He had an impending sense of danger, and trusted his instinct enough to know he had to act upon it.