Part Four

"It is nice, is it not?" Elrond said softly, laying a hand on Thranduil's shoulder.

"I do not believe this," Thranduil said, knowing he sounded irritated but unable to help himself. "I never dreamed that the two of them were hiding such a magnificent guest talan way up here in the top of their tree. And you get this every time? It is unjust! The one I use is not half as fancy!"

Elrond smiled at him, his grey eyes glinting in the dim sunlight that filtered through the branches of the golden trees that sheltered the platform they were standing on, the terrace of this talan. The inside of the talan consisted of three large rooms – a sitting room with more of those poofy white couches that Galadriel favored, a dressing room, and an enormous bedroom with a bed that rivaled the one Thranduil had at home. The bed was spread with silk sheets and velvet blankets, cream and pale green in color and embroidered with golden leaves. Tiny lights were set into the wall, the ceiling, and the posts of the bed. Thranduil never had been able to figure out how Galadriel made those lights glow. He had always figured that it had something to do with Nenya.

The bedroom opened onto the terrace balcony where they stood now. Set into the wooden floor of the platform was a large bathing tub. It had to be hand-filled, unlike the bathing chamber at his own palace, which had running water, but Thranduil excused that, knowing it was nigh impossible to get running water up in a tree. And he would not be the one who had to fill it. Other elves would take care of that. In the bottom of the tub was a trap that allowed it to be drained.

"All these years, I have had to bathe at the waterfall with every other elf in Lórien, while this little private tub has been hidden up here," Thranduil continued to grouse. "No wonder I never see Galadriel in that damn waterfall."

Elrond grinned. "Galadriel bathes in the waterfall like everyone else. This tub is hardly ever used, for getting it filled is half a day's work."

Thranduil turned around and gave Rúmil and Orophin, who had taken them up here, an imperious look. Haldir had gone off with Elladan and Elrohir, and Arwen was nowhere to be found, though some of the other Galadhrim had been sent to look for her. "You two better get to work, then. I want this tub filled so I can bathe properly after dinner tonight."

Thranduil secretly enjoyed the panicked look in the blue eyes of the two young elves which they struggled to cover up.

"Yes, King Thranduil. We will start at once," said Orophin.

"We will?" said Rúmil. "I mean, we will."

"You are no longer on vacation, boys. Welcome home," Thranduil said.

"That was a vacation?" Rúmil muttered as they turned to go.

"Rúmil, Orophin, wait," said Elrond, holding up a hand. "Thranduil, let them see to this task tomorrow. Tonight we can bathe in the waterfall. It will do neither of us any harm, and I would not have them be late to dinner."

"Elrond-"

Elrond squeezed Thranduil's shoulder. "Besides, this way we may have an hour alone before dinner."

"Rúmil, Orophin, you are dismissed."

"To talk," Elrond added, but Haldir's brothers had already disappeared as fast as they could before they could get roped into doing anything else.

"You enjoy talking far too much, when your mouth could be put to better uses," Thranduil said.

He wrapped his arms around Elrond's waist and kissed the Lord of Imladris firmly on the mouth. He wanted to kiss Elrond senseless. He wanted to wipe away every moment of pain he had caused Elrond, every instant of worry for his son and for Lord Glorfindel. Elrond kissed him back just as firmly, his hands tangling in Thranduil's long, wavy golden hair, pulling it taut. Elrond soon mastered the kiss, made Thranduil melt. For the first time in his long life he felt safe letting another elf take command of him.

"We do need to talk, however," Elrond said apologetically, letting go of the Elvenking a few minutes later.

"We can talk about why I never saw this talan before. Do you always stay in this room?"

Elrond nodded. "This was Celebrían's room. The two of us spent many happy nights here."

Understanding dawned in Thranduil, and he nodded. "I see. So then, tell me, why does Galadriel not have these tubs in every talan?"

"Because they are difficult to fill." The familiar glint of irritation sounded in Elrond's voice and it made Thranduil smile. "You will stay here with me, will you not, Thranduil? Or do you prefer to bunk with Legolas-"

"In smaller quarters? No thank you. Besides, I should rather be with you."

"Thank you."

"Not that Legolas is likely to spend much time there. I am sure he will bunk in with Haldir."

Elrond apparently did not want to think about this, as he immediately changed the subject. "Why do you not come inside and sit down? We shall have some wine."

"To that I am always agreeable," Thranduil said, following Elrond into the sitting room. He sat down in one of the overstuffed chairs and let Elrond fill the goblets. Elrond passed him one and sat down across from him. Thranduil bent forward to tap his cup against Elrond's. "To the safe return of your son."

Elrond lifted the cup to his lips and drank deeply from it. "Thank you, Thranduil."

"I should never-"

"Please," Elrond lifted a hand to stop him. "Do not apologize any more. Elladan is safe, and that is what matters, though I would Celeborn had sent word rather than just expecting us to come here."

"We did come here," Thranduil pointed out.

"Well, yes."

"And we would have come anyway, to fetch Arwen."

"I suppose. It is I who should apologize to you, for her behavior. I never thought she would flee like that."

"Perhaps the wedding of our children is not the best of ideas," Thranduil said softly.

Actually, he had never thought it was a good idea, because he did not wish to force Legolas to anything. He knew his lad was obedient and would do whatever he wished, but that was because there was trust between them. Thranduil did not wish to betray that trust, and he wanted Legolas, above all, to be happy. However, in coming to love Elrond, Thranduil had learned he had a duty to the Lord of Imladris as well as himself. It was confusing, this love business. It had never been this hard with Legolas' mother.

Elrond nodded. "I am beginning to come around to your point of view. However, Galadriel and Celeborn are thrilled with the idea, and I merit their judgement highly."

Thranduil sighed. "As do I."

"I will speak to Arwen and perhaps she can be brought to see the advantages of this union."

Thranduil grinned. "If you can find her."

Elrond grinned back. "I leave finding her to her grand-mother."

Thranduil stared into Elrond's eyes for a long moment. "So, then," he said softly, feeling awkward, which he rarely did. "Everything between us is… fine?"

"Yes," Elrond replied.

"We have no more cause to be cross with each other?"

"I certainly hope not."

Thranduil smiled, nodded. "I am glad," he said, and for once the two Elven rulers found a moment of peace.