Part Twenty-One

Saelbeth was droning on and on about Mirkwood. Elladan feigned politeness, but he was not truly listening to what the other elf was saying. He was too busy staring at the other elf's ripe lips, golden hair, and slender body.

Elladan was a master of seduction and he knew it. Despite his words of wanting only conversation, in his heart he admitted that he wanted much more than talk from Saelbeth. They sat together in Elladan's talan and the young Lord of Imladris poured wine for them both. Saelbeth looked slightly nervous about accepting his hospitality, but in the end he did.

Perhaps he had no choice, Elladan thought as he sipped his wine, his eyes half-closed as he examined the blond and delicate elf of Mirkwood. Celeborn had truly worked him over well. He had lost all his confidence, even some of the brash anger that had defined him back in Mirkwood. Who was he now? How easily would he give in? What would happen if Elladan used him in the same way his grand-father had, albeit taking him by seduction rather than rape?

Elladan felt slightly disgusted with himself. To use Saelbeth for his own gratification was wrong, and he knew it. Everything he had been doing lately, and plotting, even with Arwen, was wrong. No wonder Orophin despised him and Rúmil refused to lie with him. He had truly made a mess of things with them, and only with the help of Elrohir would he ever be able to straighten that out. Then again, what did it matter? What did it matter if Haldir and his brothers and Legolas all hated him?

"Elladan?"

Elladan looked up from his glass, slightly startled. He looked at Saelbeth, who wore an expression of concern on his face. He had finished his glass of wine already and set it down next to the bottle. Elladan knew he had had quite a bit at dinner as well and wondered if Saelbeth was drunk. Then again, he was from Mirkwood.

"Yes?" Elladan asked, his own voice sounding heavy.

Saelbeth reached over and brushed a tear from Elladan's cheek with his thumb. Elladan felt the wetness and this startled him. He had not even felt it leave his eye.

"What is wrong?"

"Such concern from you," Elladan sighed. He moved closer to Saelbeth, and refilled both of their wine glasses. He drank his own down quickly.

"Why should I not be concerned? You have been very kind to me tonight."

"And if I admitted to having a motive behind that kindness?" Why did he say that? Did he want to drive Saelbeth away, when his body was desperately in need of physical pleasures? His voice sounded hard, slightly cold. Saelbeth frowned at him.

"What sort of motive?"

"Lust."

"You lust after me?"

"Yes."

Saelbeth smiled slightly. "I wondered," he said. "But is it me, or is it simply convenience?"

Elladan tilted his head and thought about it. "Perhaps some of each," he admitted. "And yet, I thought I saw a similar desire in your eyes. The touch of my grand-father has left you wanting. Are you thinking of him, even now?"

Saelbeth's smile faded. He looked down, away from Elladan. He drew in a deep breath. "Yes, Celeborn left me with lusts that I have trouble controlling. I will, however, control them. I would not turn back to him for any price, for what he took from me was far too great."

"I can see that he changed you," Elladan said. "Yet perhaps what you endured will make you stronger instead of weaker. How bravely you fight such lusts, when I myself seek only to assuage them."

"That is not really all you want," Saelbeth said confidently.

"Is it not?"

"No. Tonight you are as a pane of glass to me, Elladan. You desire the comforts of the heart as much as anyone else does. I am not certain that you are as much in love with Legolas as you claim to be, but…"

"But you, yourself, are not either."

"No. No longer."

Saelbeth looked up again, into Elladan's eyes. The elf of Mirkwood's eyes were piercing, ripe as a wanton summer sky. Elladan licked his lips. With another elf, he might simply have pounced, but knowing what Celeborn had done to Saelbeth held him back. He did not want to be like his grand-father. He did not want to be a slave to his lust!

"Forgive me," Elladan said softly. "I should go to my chamber."

Saelbeth did not turn his head away. Elladan saw him make a decision. It was written in determination on his face. "You are not like Celeborn."

"I am just like him," Elladan said hollowly. "I would have you."

"But you would not force me."

"No."

"You did not force Legolas, either. You are winning your own battle and you do not even realize it."

"I should go to my chamber," Elladan repeated but still he did not rise.

"Elladan…" Saelbeth said. He took both wine glasses and set them aside, sliding close to the young Lord of Imladris. "I offer myself to you of my own will."

"And I meant to seduce you."

"Perhaps you did. Yet I have a certain faith that this act of lust will find itself imbued with deeper meaning."

"That is foolish," Elladan said, but he felt his heart race as Saelbeth reached up to tangle his slender fingers in Elladan's long, dark hair.

"I have been called a fool," Saelbeth admitted, "But we would both be fools not to offer each other consolation tonight."

"You said you did not want my consolation."

"I have changed my mind."

Saelbeth pressed his mouth to Elladan's. The kiss was tender, without force, without promise. Was this just for tonight? Why did that thought wound him? Why did he feel as if Saelbeth was right? Deeper meaning… he had always avoided it. Yet he sighed and gave in and let himself feel this.

Saelbeth pressed him down against the couch. His nimble hands unfastened the robe Elladan was wearing, making the elf of Imladris' head whirl. Saelbeth's hands were warm on his flesh and Elladan groaned. He was becoming unbearably aroused. Yet he tried to hold himself still, not to throw Saelbeth down and take him mercilessly as was his wont to do.

"Saelbeth…"

"You see, Elladan, this is what you need. You need to submit. Legolas and Haldir knew that. And I need… the opposite."

"So you will have me, is that it?" Elladan asked, smiling slightly.

Saelbeth bent his blond head over Elladan's chest and bit his nipple sharply. That was all the answer Elladan needed.