Part Twenty-Eight

"Thranduil," said Lord Elrond, "I think your son is sleeping with Haldir."

Thranduil chuckled. The golden-haired Elvenking lay on his side in the bed next to the Lord of Imladris. Thranduil was shameless, not even bothering to pull the sheet over himself. Elrond did not mind. He was rather enjoying the view of Thranduil's splendid body. A few moments past, he had been enjoying that body.

"I hope he is," Thranduil replied. "Legolas has needed to take a lover for a very long time. I find Haldir suits him nicely."

Elrond was slightly shocked. He scowled at Thranduil, filled to the brim with irritation. He shook his head. "I should have known you were not going to cooperate with me."

"What? What do you mean, Elrond? I think I have been…excessively cooperative." Thranduil slipped an arm around Elrond's waist and pulled him closer. Somehow he managed to move the sheet covering Elrond aside so that their nude bodies pressed together intimately.

"When you do this, I have trouble thinking," Elrond muttered.

"That is the point, my dear friend. You think entirely too much."

Thranduil stroked Elrond's shoulder, his hand trailing down the Lord of Imladris' arm to his waist, then to the curve of his rear end. Elrond took Thranduil's hand and held it in his own to stop him, giving him another stern look. Thranduil bent forward and kissed the crease between Elrond's eyebrows.

"I am going to chain you down if you do not stop, Thranduil," Elrond said.

"You know where the restraints are." Thranduil's blue eyes glittered.

"You like it too much."

"I suppose I do. No one else dares, you see."

"I know." Elrond lifted a hand to Thranduil's face, caressing the tender skin. He wished he could simply give in and tell Thranduil how lovely he was, and how he was starting to forget the entire reason he came to Mirkwood in the first place.

Guilt flooded him as Celebrían came to mind.

"Elrond, you need to learn to live in the present moment," Thranduil said softly. "I am here, at your disposal, and you are very far away."

"I did not come to Mirkwood for… for this," Elrond said softly.

"I know. You wish to see Arwen wed to Legolas and ruling over Imladris so you may have your freedom to go to Valinor. You have only been here for two weeks, Elrond. I have not forgotten."

They had spent most of this past week in Thranduil's bed, Elrond reflected, after having returned from the highly successful mission to clear out the spiders from the Eastern corner of the wood. After the embarrassing tangle in the web, Elrond had been well willing to admit that he needed a break before going after the orcs. He had seen the signs in Legolas, seen his affectionate behavior with Haldir this week when they all met for dinner in the Great Hall, but he had been so wrapped up in his lust for Thranduil that he had not permitted himself to think about the ruin of his son.

"I do not want them to be unhappy…"

"Then give up this foolishness. Let Arwen choose her own husband. Do you not trust her judgement?"

"Of course I do. But she is young."

"We have time."

"Thranduil, I fear the shadow of times past. You know the great evil of which I speak. It will not lie dormant forever. This time of peace is but a respite."

Thranduil smiled sadly. "I know, my friend. I feel it coming as well. So tell me this: are you prepared to go to Valinor and to let your children face this alone?"

"I miss Celebrían," Elrond said simply.

Thranduil nodded. "I know."

The Elvenking let go of Elrond and lay down on his back, no longer touching the Lord of Imladris. Immediately Elrond felt the loss, and he understood. He rolled over and lay on top of Thranduil, pinning the beautiful golden body against the mattress.

"Do not be jealous."

"I am not jealous."

"You are, Thranduil."

"I have a wife in Valinor as well, Elrond. She has been gone since just after Legolas was born. Yet I know that I am not meant to leave Middle-earth just yet, if ever. I know that Legolas may never be ready to leave it. Perhaps Arwen will not either. Let this folly go, Elrond, and leave them to lead their own lives. Stay and govern Rivendell, and enjoy this time of peace for as long as it lasts."

Elrond kissed him. Such a heartfelt speech was unusual from Thranduil. Elrond was used to arguing with him, not hearing him speak such earnest words. He was probably right, too.

"Will you tell me the last condition?" he asked.

"Hm?"

"The third condition for seeing our children wed."

"Oh, that. Very well. Since you persist -- the condition is that Legolas and Arwen both agree."

Elrond sighed. "I never meant to force them."

"No. You simply have suggested, very strongly, that their parents had come to the accord that they should be wed, as soon as possible."

Now Elrond felt guilty, which he did not like at all. He scowled at Thranduil again and this time rolled off of the Elvenking to his own side of the bed.

"You make me seem such a bastard."

"That you are far from," said Thranduil quietly. "You are honest, and wise and fair. You are a better King than I have ever been."

"That is not so, either," Elrond grudgingly admitted.

"Why do you not leave your sons to rule Rivendell if you are in such a hurry to leave it? Why Arwen and Legolas?"

"It is Arwen's destiny to be a great queen. Her grand-mother has seen it."

"Ah. And the boys?"

"They are the ones who are truly free. I would not force Imladris on them. Besides…ai, they are such trouble. They are not well behaved enough."

Thranduil chuckled. "I think they could handle the task. Now, do we call off this arrangement or what?"

"I still would like you to ask Legolas to do this," Elrond said after a moment.

"Very well," Thranduil said, sighing. "I will ask him after we get rid of the orcs that have been plaguing the wood."

"Fine."

"Fine."

Elrond turned back over and looked at the King of Mirkwood. As usual, he felt slightly irked and frustrated even though Thranduil was giving him what he wanted. He grabbed Thranduil's hand and forced it over Thranduil's head, snapping his wrist into the restraints. Thranduil grinned broadly as him.

Before Elrond could secure Thranduil's other wrist, a loud banging came at the bedroom door.

"Your majesty!"