Part Twenty-Nine

"Come in, Elladan," Celeborn said to his grand-son as he saw the handsome figure of the young elf appear in the doorway of his private chambers. The Lord of Lórien remarked to himself how fine Elladan looked in the robes that were so similar to his own. It was a shame that Elrond was always letting the child tot around in leggings and tunics when he commanded a much deeper presence in this.

He was angry with Elladan, he reminded himself, and there would those who would say it was inappropriate to look at his own kin in the manner which he had this morning, when he had found Elladan and Saelbeth nude together, and in the manner which he was looking at the youth now. Celeborn licked his lips. Would Elladan submit to him as 'punishment' for disrespecting his elder? Would he let himself be taken easily? Or would he fight a union such as this?

It might be fun to find out.

Galadriel had released him from his bindings towards dawn, before she left to take her bath. She had shooed Glorfindel away as she came to lay with her lord, and Celeborn had rather enjoyed the dominant manner his wife had afforded him. It was rare for her to stake her claim this way. For that he was glad enough, but he had allowed himself to take pleasure in it. After all, he had had no choice.

He hated having no choice, but he had known what he was in for when he married Galadriel. All the reasons he had wanted her were all the reasons he was frustrated now.

Glorfindel had come back immediately after Galadriel had left him, offering himself again to Celeborn. Celeborn had indulged, for the War Councilor had a lovely body, well-made for bed sport. Why say no to a sweet offered on a silver platter? Glorfindel seemed to like him well enough, which Celeborn found odd, but strangely comforting. He had almost become accustomed to the golden elf's chatter.

It had felt good to get dressed again. As much as Celeborn enjoyed his bed, this once leaving it pleased him. He had told Glorfindel to find himself some other place to sleep as he had slipped out to see what Elladan was up to, and if he had indeed stolen away the sweet prize Celeborn had intended to reclaim for himself.

"You have become quite brazen of late," he told his grand-son bluntly.

"Have I?" Elladan asked, his eyes narrowed. He lifted his chin slightly in a show of defiance.

"Normally I would be quite proud of you, and even encourage this in you… but you have overstepped your bounds with me."

"Forgive me, my Lord Celeborn," Elladan said, lowering his eyes obediently. "I did not mean to anger you."

Celeborn motioned Elladan to come in from the doorway and when he did, he slipped his arms around his grand-son and drew him into an embrace that might have seemed tender to an observer, but to both parties involved, there was a tense feeling to it. Celeborn schemed how to best bend the lad to his will, and no doubt Elladan did the same, or at the outside, he was wary.

"Would you make things right with me, Elladan?"

"Yes," Elladan answered immediately, "But know, with all due respect, that it should depend upon the manner of how you would have me do this."

Celeborn rubbed Elladan's back and stroked his long, dark hair. "You look so little like your mother," he commented. "And yet you are at least as beautiful as she was."

He felt the young elf freeze, as if he knew what road this might traverse. "Thank you," he said.

"Saelbeth was my property."

"How can one elf belong to another, without giving himself? There is no slavery among our kind. That is the way of orcs, not elves."

"You are of the nobility, Elladan. Surely you have learned that we are held above most of our kind. Things are different for us."

"My father always taught me that power should not be abused."

"Is that what you think I am doing?"

"Yes."

"You always looked up to me when you were younger. When did that change?" Celeborn slid his hands onto Elladan's hips. Elladan tried to push back from him, but Celeborn held him still.

"I still look up to you. I do not want that to change. And yet, I have changed. I have learned the difference between lust and love, and how a lover should be treated."

"I, too, know how a lover should be treated," Celeborn said fiercely. "And you seem to be growing too big for your britches. Perhaps we should have them off."

Elladan flung himself backwards. "What you suggest is completely inappropriate, sir."

"Again you are naïve. Again you put yourself within common boundaries when neither you nor I is common."

"Then I am uncomfortable with it."

"There is a price to pay if you wish to keep Saelbeth."

"Why should there be? You freed Saelbeth of your own free will. You traded him for Legolas."

"And you abused my possession of Legolas."

"I did not touch him."

"Exactly. You should have forced him, shown him who his master was. You are weak, Elladan."

"I am not weak!"

"You have not the strength to make a sacrifice in order to keep Saelbeth."

"What you are asking for is monstrous. What would Galadriel think?"

"Do not drag her into this. It is between you and I," Celeborn said. "I know how lust rages inside of you. All I ask of you is one afternoon, learning the true meaning of submission. I should think you would even enjoy it."

"I will not, and you will leave Saelbeth alone," Elladan growled.

"Elladan—" Celeborn took a deep breath and began but suddenly Glorfindel appeared in the doorway from inside the bedroom. At least he was dressed, and he was carrying a tray of wine. "What are you still doing here?"

"I realized we had company so I thought I should bring refreshments."

Celeborn squinted at the War Councilor of Imladris. "You truly are mad, are you not? I thought I told you to leave, not take on the role of hostess."

"Perhaps your grand-son would be more amenable to your lessons if you offered him some wine," Glorfindel replied demurely.

"I rather think not," Elladan snarled. Glorfindel merely tilted his head.

"Are you sure?"

"Can you not be polite to anyone, Elladan?" Celeborn snapped. He took the glass of wine and thrust the other at his grand-son. "Perhaps I shall share you with Lord Glorfindel. Or have you already tasted your father's councilor?"

Elladan turned a furious shade of red, and snatched up the wine glass. Celeborn clinked his glass against Glorfindel's, then drank it down. Immediately he knew it was a mistake. As the aftertaste of the herb hit him, he fell to his knees. A great lethargy washed over him. A sleeping drug!

"Do not worry, it will wear off shortly," Glorfindel said, smiling at him. He looked up at Celeborn's grand-son. "You owe me one, Elrohir."

Elrohir laughed, albeit somewhat bitterly.