Title: Rings of Power
Summary: A disappointment for Legolas turns into an unexpected pleasure...
Pairing: Rúmil/Legolas (Thranduil/Haldir implied)
Warning: Slash Sex & Piercings!
Rating: Hard R leaning towards NC-17
Archive: All archivists are welcome to use this tale with proper credit, just let me know where!
Feedback: Very, very welcome!!
Disclaimers: Characters belong to Tolkien. I just bend them to my will.

Legolas Greenleaf stared across the Great Hall of his father's palace at the stone table where his father sat dining with Haldir, Marchwarden of Lothlórien. Haldir and his two younger brothers had come as delegates from Lórien to spend the summer in Mirkwood for some reason that only Thranduil and Galadriel were privy to.

When they had been introduced, Legolas had felt an immediate attraction to Haldir and had been convinced that the Marchwarden felt the same. They had dined together that night, and Legolas had whispered directions to his bed chamber into Haldir's ear. Haldir had not shown up, and for the following two days, Legolas had seen no sign of him. Once he had asked Orophin if he knew where Haldir was, but the curious look he had received from Haldir's brother had silenced him from asking further.

As he stood there debating whether he ought to join his father and Haldir for the evening meal, Legolas was nearly knocked off his feet as another elf bumped into him. He turned indignantly to see that the offender was Haldir's youngest brother, Rúmil. Rúmil's blue eyes widened as Legolas glared at him.

"Forgive me, Prince Legolas," he said. "I was not looking where I walked."

Legolas shook his head. "Think nothing of it. Are you hungry? Come sit with me."

He steered Rúmil to a table where they had an excellent view of Thranduil and Haldir. Normally Legolas dined with his father but Thranduil did not summon him over, though he glanced up in his son’s direction.

"Is something on your mind?" Rúmil asked as plates of food were set before them and goblets of wine filled for them.

Legolas turned to look at Rúmil, unsure how to answer him, but the Galadhrim was already attacking his dinner with a gusto that Legolas envied. He had opened his mouth to reply but instead of doing so, Legolas sat there with his mouth open, watching Rúmil vigorously clean his plate. His own food sat untouched.

"This is delicious," Rúmil said. "At home, it is rare that anyone cooks for me except for Orophin, and neither he nor I have much skill in the preparation of food. But, truly, Prince--"

"Please, just Legolas. You may save the titles for more formal occasions." Perhaps, Legolas thought, his title was what had made Haldir reject him. He was still staring at the Marchwarden. Haldir lifted his eyes in Legolas' direction for a moment, and Legolas thought he caught a glimpse of some hidden emotion before Haldir turned his attention back to Thranduil.

"Legolas," Rúmil continued as if he had not been interrupted, "I assure you that if you would like to confide your troubles in someone, my tongue is not known to be loose."

Legolas turned back towards Rúmil, raising an eyebrow in his direction. "Truly, is it not?"

A pink flush kissed Rúmil's cheeks, and the blush gave Legolas a moment of selfish pleasure at the other elf's embarrassment -- but Rúmil had his own hand to play and he did.

"You are staring at my brother."

Legolas held Rúmil's gaze. "I am."

"With desire."

"Perhaps."

"So why do we not go to sit with him? Has it something to do with your father?"

"No," Legolas said, sighing. He looked away from Rúmil, back down at his plate. “It has to do with me making a fool of myself.”

“Really?” Rúmil sounded intrigued. “How so?”

“I would rather not say.”

Rúmil shrugged. “Very well, but I must say, you are a difficult elf to converse with. You say so little, Legolas, and yet your eyes speak volumes. I am known to be the opposite, of course. My brothers attempt constantly to silence me.”

“I can see why,” Legolas murmured, staring off at Haldir and Thranduil once more.

“Ah, you injure me! And here I had hoped we would be fast friends,” Rúmil said cheerfully. Legolas turned and looked at him slowly, an eyebrow raised. Rúmil grinned at him, not looking the least bit injured.

“Rúmil--”

“You desire Haldir, don’t you?”

“Rúmil!”

“Why do you not simply ask for him? You are just the sort he likes, you know -- and were you not, he would not dare disobey the order of a prince.” Rúmil’s tone remained light and sincere even though what he was suggesting was not only insulting, it was preposterous. It would have been worse if Legolas had not already once made just such an offer.

“I-- I did ask for him,” Legolas admitted, his voice falling to a whisper. “Two nights past. He did not come.”

“Are you sure?” Rúmil asked incredulously.

“Yes, I believe so,” Legolas replied dryly. “I have a mind for the memory of events such as that. They do not occur so often that I forget them.”

“Forgive me, I am simply surprised.”

“Where has he been the past two days?” Legolas asked, and then he despised himself for the note of longing injected into his tone.

Rúmil shrugged. “With your father, I imagine.”

“My father!”

“Yes, discussing politics or whatever it is they do,” Rúmil said, taking another bite of his dinner. He looked sideways at Legolas. “Did you think I meant something else?”

Before Legolas could answer, he heard his father laugh at something which Haldir had said too low for them to hear. Thranduil threw his tawny head back, his merriment booming through the hall, reverberating on the stone. Legolas saw Haldir smile slightly. Thranduil grabbed the edge of Haldir’s tunic and pulled it down, exposing half of his chest. Legolas saw a flash of gold and felt bile rise in the back of his throat.

“What is that?” Rúmil said, squinting towards them.

“A ring.”

“A ring? What mean you, a ring?”

“My father likes to pierce his lovers with a small gold ring... through an ear, a nose... a nipple. They are souvenirs, and a sign that one should not trespass,” Legolas said bitterly. “Thranduil has both of his own pierced.”

“So...”

“It means your brother has lain with my father, and this is why he came not to me the other night,” Legolas explained.

“Oh? Oh!” said Rúmil.

He saw his father look up and him and wink as Haldir tugged his tunic back into place. He turned for a moment to follow Thranduil’s gaze and as his eyes met Legolas’ his expression went cold and blank. In a moment of fevered frustration, Legolas turned towards Rúmil and kissed him full on the mouth. Rúmil made a started noise, but after a moment kissed Legolas back. He opened his mouth and let Legolas slide his tongue against that of the young Galadhrim. Rúmil made a noise of pleasure low in his throat.

“Come back to my room with me, now,” Legolas hissed against Rúmil’s mouth when the kiss ended. Rúmil nodded breathlessly. Legolas jumped up from his seat, seized Rúmil’s hand, and dragged him out of the Great Hall. He did not look back to see if Thranduil or Haldir was watching. He did not want to feel what he felt when he realized that his father had taken something Legolas had wanted for himself.

Had Haldir gone with him willingly? Did it matter? After all, Legolas had hardly known him... it was no betrayal, was it? Not truly.

And still it felt like betrayal to Legolas.

When they arrived at Legolas’ bedchamber, he flung the door open and pushed Rúmil inside more roughly than he had intended. Rúmil did not seem to mind, though he stumbled and had to catch his footing. Legolas had little furniture in his room -- his large bed covered with soft blankets and many pillows, a table, a shelf to hold his books, but naught more. The lamps were set into recesses in the stone walls, and Legolas went now to light them. Rúmil looked about the room for a moment, then sprawled out over Legolas' bed.

Legolas finished with the lamps and turned to face Rúmil, who smiled at him cheerfully. He turned his head slightly, and Legolas could see his resemblance to Haldir, though Rúmil's face was more angular and his nose was not as long. Rúmil's hair was more gold than silver. His eyes were the same in shape and color, however. Legolas had been trapped by Haldir's eyes, which held a hypnotic coldness, as if there lay some mysterious cruelty in Haldir's heart. Legolas had felt that cruelty. It was absent in the eyes of his brother. There lay only a frankness, a curiosity, and a certain… willingness.

"Why did you come here?" Legolas demanded.

Rúmil looked startled. "Because you asked me to!"

"You could have refused. Or dare you not refuse a prince?"

"I did not want to refuse," Rúmil said calmly, "For I find myself very attracted to you. I am not insulted by the fact that you have brought me here as a substitute for Haldir. I am glad to have this opportunity."

"Is that how you look upon it? As an opportunity?"

"Yes," Rúmil said, "An opportunity to soothe you. You are so agitated and angry, Legolas."

"Am I?" Legolas asked, but he knew that Rúmil was correct. He went and sat down on the bed next to Rúmil, who immediately got up on his knees on the bed behind him. "What are you doing?" Legolas asked warily.

"Something you will enjoy," Rúmil promised. His hands fell on Legolas' shoulders and he squeezed them, rolling his thumbs over them in such a manner that Legolas nearly cried out with the pleasure of it. His head lolled forward as Rúmil's soothing hands caressed his back. "This will work better if you take off your tunic," Rúmil said in his ear. “And lie down, if you please.”

Without a second thought, Legolas complied, stripping himself to the waist, then lay face down on the bed. Rúmil's hands went to work on his bare flesh and it took all of his willpower not to moan as the Galadhrim massaged his weary muscles. Legolas closed his eyes, feeling as though he could almost fall asleep, but as he hovered on the threshold, Rúmil suddenly rolled him over onto his back. The Galadhrim loomed over him, his long hair trailing down over Legolas' bare flesh. Legolas opened his eyes wide, amazed that Rúmil had dared flip him over.

He opened his mouth to speak sharply to him, but Rúmil descended upon him. Rúmil took Legolas' mouth with his own, kissing him soundly. Legolas struggled against him, and though he was more muscular, Rúmil was lankier and held him down easily. His tongue slipped inside Legolas' mouth eagerly, and seemed to awaken Legolas' body. He stopped struggling and pressed his tongue against Rúmil's, sighing into his mouth.

"Take off your clothing," Legolas demanded when Rúmil let him up for breath.

"As you wish, my prince," Rúmil said with mock obedience.

He crawled slowly off of Legolas, who lay on the bed watching him. Without haste Rúmil removed his tunic, the shirt beneath it, his boots, and his leggings. When Rúmil had taken down the leggings Legolas beheld his excitement, and he shivered in anticipation. Rúmil slipped back into the bed, pressing against Legolas' side. He laid his hand flat on Legolas' belly and stroked his flesh softly, down to the band of his leggings.

"Go ahead," said Legolas. "Undress me."

Rúmil took his time, unlacing the leggings with a taunting tenderness, then sliding them down slowly. His eyes came to rest immediately on Legolas' swollen staff and he licked his lips. Rúmil plunged his head down, taking Legolas into his mouth almost to the base, and this time Legolas did cry out. He let Rúmil's tongue dance over his flesh until he thrashed on the bed with the sweetness of it. Rúmil's hands crept up to pinch Legolas' nipples sharply. He cried out and nearly wept with the pleasure.

Finally Rúmil drew back, sitting up on his haunches, grinning down at Legolas.

"Why do you stop?" Legolas asked hoarsely. "I was so close…"

"That is why I stopped. It is too soon for you to spill," Rúmil said in a wicked tone. "You wished so badly to lie with my brother. I will show you how he would have served you."

Again he rolled Legolas over, this time onto his belly. Legolas was too weakened with lust to resist him. The flat of Rúmil's hand came down sharply on his behind with a crack as skin met skin. Legolas jumped.

"What are you doing?"

"Up, up, on your knees, Legolas! You do not wish me to call you prince and so you will not be treated like one."

Rúmil grabbed Legolas around the waist and pulled him onto his hands and knees. Legolas' staff still throbbed eagerly and as Rúmil positioned himself behind Legolas, he reached around to stroke the tender flesh. Legolas moaned.

"Please, Rúmil…"

"Who would have ever thought I should hear the son of Thranduil begging me?" Rúmil mused, and then Legolas felt a finger slipping inside of him. He tensed and Rúmil smacked his behind again. "Relax, or it will hurt more. Have you ever been taken like this?"

"No…"

"Ha! Haldir will be jealous indeed."

A second finger slid inside of Legolas and he tried to relax, but it was painful. None too soon Rúmil stroked a spot of which Legolas had been completely unaware and pleasure shot through him like fire. He cried out and heard Rúmil chuckled softly. The fingers were withdrawn and Legolas felt Rúmil press his hard length, slicked with oil to ease his passage, into the tender area. He gasped as the Galadhrim filled him.

Legolas had never known anything like this. He bucked and writhed as Rúmil took him, nearly going mad with the sensation of being used like this. It felt so good, so right, and there was no fear in him. Had it been Haldir, he would have been afraid. Would Haldir have taken his length in hand the way Rúmil was doing? Had it been Haldir, there would not have been nearly so much tenderness, he suspected. Had it been…

"Haldir…" Legolas whispered. "Haldir…"

Rúmil smacked him on the rump again but was gasping for breath and did not correct him. The Galadhrim reached his pinnacle and exploded inside Legolas, shuddering deeply. Legolas felt his own release staining Rúmil's fingers. They collapsed upon the bed together, and Rúmil clung to him still.

Soon, too soon, they slipped apart from each other and rolled over onto their backs. Rúmil put his arms around Legolas and Legolas let Rúmil hold him. Sleep was near. Before he could succumb to it, he felt a sharp set of teeth nip at the top of his pointed ear. Legolas hissed softly. He felt his body awakening again. Sleep? No, he wanted no sleep… He wanted to ride Rúmil the way the Galadhrim had done to him. Legolas pushed Rúmil's legs apart as strength returned to his staff. Rúmil looked up at his eagerly, with raised eyebrows.

"Another bout, my prince?"

"Must you keep calling me 'prince'?"

"Another bout, my Legolas?"

"I like that better."

"It is not so truthful," said Rúmil, "For I think you are Haldir's Legolas."

"Not tonight, I am not, despite what may have escaped my lips before."

Legolas thrust himself inside Rúmil with less preparation than Rúmil had given him. Rúmil gasped, but he did not scream. Legolas knew he had hurt the other elf, and he felt shame, but he continued in his thrusting. After a moment Rúmil relaxed and began to seem to be enjoying the prince's lovemaking. Roughly he rode the Galadhrim until he reached his second climax of the night.

He rolled off of Rúmil and lay still beside him. He meant to say something, but he had no words. Should he thank Rúmil, or offer him an apology? He did not know. Rúmil rolled closer and flung an arm over Legolas, falling asleep within moments. Legolas lay stiffly for a while, not used to sharing his bed, but eventually sleep took him as well.

Legolas awakened alone, and this left a bitterness in his heart. He wondered if making love with Rúmil had been a mistake, but decided that he wanted more in any event. All that day, Rúmil was nowhere to be found. He saw Haldir in the Great Hall, but they both avoided each other as if the touch of Thranduil upon the Marchwarden had cursed the attraction they had once felt for each other. Legolas spent that next night alone, and his pillow was wet with tears.

The next afternoon Legolas saw a group of elves gathering to go outside for archery practice and Rúmil was among them. He hurried to accost his lover, his heart in his throat.

"Rúmil!"

Rúmil turned towards Legolas with horror in his pale blue eyes as the prince ran towards him. A scarlet blush crept over the Galadhrim's cheeks and Legolas saw shame in his eyes. The reason was clear at once. Through Rúmil's left earlobe was a small gold ring. Legolas stood and stared at him in dismay.

"I… I am sorry," Rúmil stuttered.

"Why?" Legolas blurted out. "Was it because I said Haldir's name when we--"

"No! No, of course not," Rúmil said. "I had no choice, Legolas. Thranduil left me none -- and he did the same to Haldir. He did it on purpose. Believe me, I tried everything I could to fend him off. I would have come to you last night, but he shackled me to his…to his bed."

It was abundantly clear to Legolas in that moment. "Because of me. He did it to keep you both away from me."

Rúmil nodded slowly, sadness in his eyes. "Perhaps."

Legolas took Rúmil's hands in his own, knowing that the Galadhrim had suffered much because of him. He saw Thranduil enter the hall to lead everyone out to the archery practice. Legolas caught his father's eye and saw him smile broadly. In that moment, Legolas felt a sharp loathing for the Elvenking. He knew that his father loved him, adored him, even, but his protectiveness had gone too far.

"This time I will not let such a small thing as a ring turn me away," he said loudly, and he bent and kissed Rúmil on the mouth, not caring who saw. "You belong to me, Rúmil of Lórien, and I belong to you."

Thranduil approached them, and he put a gentle hand on Legolas' shoulder. He stood stiffly and saw Rúmil do the same. The King of Mirkwood smiled at both of them.

"It is only jewelry, Legolas," he said lightly. "He may remove it if he so desires."

"You know, Father, that no one has ever dared remove one of your gifts," Legolas said coldly. "But Rúmil is not your plaything."

"You would have him for yourself?" Thranduil said with amusement.

"Yes -- but as no toy. I will have him only if he comes to me willingly."

Thranduil turned to face the young Galadhrim. "What say you, Rúmil?" he asked gently.

Rúmil reached up slowly to his ear and toyed with the ring set through the lobe of his ear. He let go of it and shrugged. "As you said, it is only jewelry. I will keep it as a souvenir of my adventures in Mirkwood," he said. "Now, come, Legolas -- if you would have me, then take me back to your room."

Rúmil slipped his arm through Legolas', leaving him shocked once more that he would dare speak such in front of Thranduil -- yet the Elvenking only chuckled as the pair disappeared into the depths of the palace.

[end -- please send feedback]