Part Seven

"I have brought you some dinner," Elladan said as he stepped into his grand-father's bedroom.

He could not take his eyes off of Legolas. The sight of him naked and manacled to the bed aroused the young Lord of Imladris as uncontrollably as it had the first time he had seen him chained up, in his father's dungeon. Trying to maintain some of what dignity he had left, Elladan strode further into the room and set the tray on the table beside the bed.

"Thank you," Legolas said automatically.

"You are welcome. I saw how wasted Saelbeth has become and I should hate to see the same happen to you."

Elladan sat down on the bed next to Legolas and took the cover off of the tray. Legolas inched away from him, but Elladan saw his nostrils flare when he smelled the food. It did smell wonderful. There was roast pheasant, a buttery sort of squash that Galadriel had grown in her own garden, and freshly baked bread with walnuts and raisins. If Elladan had not just stuffed himself in the dining hall, he would have been tempted by it himself.

Not many of the elves in the dining hall tonight had felt like eating, despite the excellent repast. Orophin and Rúmil did not usually dine with the family and visiting guests, but they had been invited both for Haldir's sake and at Elrohir's request. Neither of them spoke to Elladan any more than necessary, but they enjoyed the dinner. Orophin spent most of it cajoling Elrohir to eat. Elrohir had grown used to not eating while believing Elladan to be dead and looked even more starved than Saelbeth. However, Elladan knew he would be fine in a few days.

"Why are you not with your twin?" Legolas asked him now.

"I would have liked to spend this evening with Elrohir, but he chose to spend the night with his lover instead," Elladan sighed. He passed Legolas a plate, and the prince looked at it for a moment, then began eating. "Perhaps Oro will do him more good than I can, anyway."

"Did you see my father?" Legolas asked anxiously with his mouth full.

"Oh, yes. He is not pleased with this arrangement, I shall tell you that. Lord Celeborn had to give him a sedative. Slipped it into his drink before he actually got the news. Father was furious as well. He had to haul Thranduil off before he could fall out of the tree."

Legolas' face fell. Clearly he had been hoping to be rescued from his situation. "Will you not tell me what happened, Elladan?"

"It was quite a madhouse," Elladan said, stretching out on the bed beside the naked prince to watch him eat. Legolas chewed infuriatingly slowly, he thought. His eyes were wide and round and such a beautiful shade of azure. Elladan was glad he was still wearing one of Celeborn's robes, which hid his lust better than a tight pair of leggings. "Everyone had been seated, when--"

"Everyone? Who was there?"

"Myself, Elrohir, Rúmil, Orophin, Haldir, Father, Galadriel, Celeborn, Arwen, Glorfindel and Thranduil. Arwen was pouting mercilessly and Glorfindel was trying to cheer her up, to no avail. It seems she is not terribly keen on marrying you."

"I am not surprised. After all, we hardly know each other."

"Then why do you want to marry her?"

"I am not sure that I do… I just… I just want to do my duty and please my father."

Elladan grinned. "What a good little princeling you are. You may make my sister a fine husband after all. Would you prefer to be chained to her bed than to our grand-father's?"

"Elladan—"

"Very well. Let me see. Thranduil kept asking Haldir where you were, which was making him vastly annoyed as he did not know. Then Saelbeth arrived wearing your clothing, and you can imagine what sort of stir that created. He was not in a hurry to explain what he was doing there or why he was dressed in your wardrobe, so finally Celeborn let it be known that you were his new bed toy. This pleased Arwen, since she loudly proclaimed that at least she would not have to marry you. Galadriel told her to be quiet, and that she was still marrying you, no matter how many elves you have lain with before her. As usual, she flounced out in a rage."

"Wonderful."

"Galadriel then told Celeborn that she needed to speak with him privately and left. Thranduil probably would have gone for Lord Celeborn's throat but that the sedative kicked in and he could barely stand. Elrond took him away with Saelbeth's assistance. Haldir's brothers took off with Elrohir, probably so they would not have to face him in his wrath. That left myself, Celeborn, and Haldir. Haldir opened his mouth and Celeborn lifted his hand to silence him. He asked him if he truly wanted to be Marchwarden…"

"And what did he say?"

Elladan stared at Legolas for a moment. He knew the prince wanted reassurance that his lover desired him above all else. He toyed with the thought of telling him that Haldir had fallen silent and walked away. It would break Legolas, it would make him amenable to Elladan's advances. He knew Legolas desired him, and he fully intended to exploit that desire regardless.

But Elladan could not do it. He could not break the prince's heart so callously with a lie.

"He argued with Celeborn for a long time, until Celeborn told him that if he did not fall quiet, both he and his brothers would be reduced to digging trenches on the far side of the wood to bury the orcs killed along the borders. For the sake of his brothers, he closed his mouth and left the dining hall. But he is still downstairs, in the receiving room, waiting for Lady Galadriel. He will not rest until you are free."

"Can you bring him to me?"

Elladan shook his head. "No. Celeborn would flay me alive. I do not dare disobey him."

"I understand. How is it that he gave you permission to come?"

"I asked him if he would like me to bring you your dinner while he went to speak with Grand-mother. He said yes."

"Thank you."

"Then I asked him if I might spend the night with you here."

Legolas' azure eyes went large and round, making him seem all the more youthful. Elladan could not decide if the prince was intrigued or terrified. He set aside his dinner tray.

"What did he say?"

"Obviously I am here."

"Bringing dinner?"

"For the night. Celeborn will have to spend it with Galadriel anyway, to appease her anger. It always seems to work with Grand-mother. By morning she will be convincing Thranduil that having you chained to Celeborn's bed will be in everyone's best interest."

"I see. So you have permission to…"

"To do whatever I wish to you. Are you frightened?"

"No. I would far rather endure you than Lord Celeborn."

Elladan laughed. "Endure? I hardly think that is the proper word for how you will feel about anything that passes between us tonight."

Legolas blushed slightly. "Perhaps not. I admit to desiring you. But my heart—"

"I know. Your heart belongs to Haldir," Elladan said, silently vowing that this would not be so by morning. "Tonight you are free to lie with me, however. You need feel no guilt, because as Celeborn's property, you have no choice."

Elladan sat up and slid towards Legolas. He took the prince's beautiful naked body into his arms and kissed him full on his sensuous bow-shaped mouth. Elladan sighed against Legolas' lips. He was too delicious, too wonderful… and eager. He was eager.

"This is wrong," Legolas whispered.

"Very wrong," Elladan agreed, but then he laid Legolas back onto the bed and kissed him again.