Part Twenty-Six

"Are you ready to call off the bet, Elladan?"

Elrohir was wise enough to know when to admit defeat. He slipped his arm around Rúmil as they sat by the campfire, and the blond elf of Lórien laid his fair head on Elrohir's shoulder. He wondered if his grand-mother Galadriel would let him keep Rúmil. Surely she could spare one guard from her wood. Rúmil pleased him greatly. Elrohir might even be able to fall in love with him, if he let himself.

Besides, Rúmil's hunting skills were well-honed, and watching him take down the giant spiders made Elrohir's blood boil. For too many nights had they been denied each other's pleasant company. Tonight he was going to have Rúmil again, even if the entire party knew it. His father might be angry with him tomorrow, but that was nothing new. Casually he spread his cloak over the two of them, shielding their bodies from view, then slipped his hand between Rúmil's legs. Elrohir heard the other elf gasp and smiled slightly.

Elladan looked at him knowingly. His twin was bored with Orophin, Elrohir thought, though Orophin was not bored with him. He sat nearly on top of Elladan and was braiding a strand of his hair. Elladan ignored him. Elrohir did not see why. Orophin was a lovely elf, and as skilled a warrior as Rúmil. In fact, the four of them made an excellent team, except, unfortunately, when it came to attempting to seduce Legolas.

There had been little chance to try again this week, but in Elrohir's mind, the game was already over. The four of them sat alone around the campfire. Thranduil and Elrond were still out on patrol, as were Haldir and Legolas. Yes, right, patrol. Elrohir knew what that meant. Saelbeth had also slipped away, and Glorfindel had gone a moment after that, but Elrohir did not think they were involved. Saelbeth was too sour a creature for Glorfindel's taste.

"Are you ready to concede me your cloak?" Elladan replied, raising a dark eyebrow in a manner that reminded Elrohir of their father.

"I would, had you won the bet. Yet you did not."

"Then the bet has not ended and should go on."

"I think," said Orophin softly, "That Rúmil and I should not participate in this bet any longer."

"Why not?" snapped Elladan.

"Haldir is in love with Legolas," Rúmil sighed. Elrohir had stopped moving his fingers and Rúmil seized them and encouraged him to take up were he had left off. Elrohir chuckled and began unlacing Rúmil's leggings.

"I do not wish to win Legolas' heart, only his body," Elladan said.

"Why bother? He clearly has given his innocence to Haldir."

"Some of it, perhaps, but he is still green enough to fascinate me."

Orophin sighed and looked away. Elrohir could nearly read his thoughts -- he was just not innocent enough and far too willing for Elladan's pleasure. He let go of Elladan's hair and slid a few inches away from him. Elladan did not seem to notice.

"Haldir loves very seldom," Orophin said softly. "It would not be fair of us to try to take that from him."

"Haldir is trying to get himself promoted to Marchwarden of the Golden Wood," Elladan said with irritation in his tone. "I am surprised he does not just sleep with King Thranduil. Surely that is the more direct route."

Elrohir laughed. "Have you not guessed, brother, that the King is lying with our father?"

Elladan's grey eyes went round. "You cannot be serious."

"Have you ever heard of a King doing his own patrol before? Especially when he could easily have sent Glorfindel, or Saelbeth?"

Elladan grinned, and it made him look far less sinister than he was acting. Elrohir wished he would let go of his current attitude towards Legolas, for it was distracting him from the spider hunt and making him blind to the fact that he already had a very nice bed partner.

"I suppose I can see the attraction," Elladan conceded. "I had entertained the notion that I might lie with Thranduil myself."

"I would not try it now," Elrohir said.

"No, Father has been in far too foul a mood lately as it is -- he needs it more than I do."

"Surely, when you have something as fine as Orophin to warm you," Elrohir pointed out. "We are all wasting this precious 'patrol time,' you know…" To illustrate his point he turned and kissed Rúmil deeply. Rúmil moaned into his mouth. By now his leggings were pushed half-way down his hips and Elrohir's hand had found a rhythm that was driving the elf of Lórien slowly to madness. Rúmil looked as if he were about to pass out. He clung to Elrohir, hiding his face in his shoulder, trying to muffle his panting.

"What are you doing to him, Elrohir?" Elladan asked suspiciously.

Elrohir just chuckled. "Rúmil is about to stain the cloak you want so badly."

Elladan laughed. "All right, all right. We shall call off the bet."

"I am glad you are more sensible than you seem," Elrohir said, then he pushed Rúmil to the ground, keeping the cloak over both of them, and began to open up the rest of their clothing.

"You could let us watch, you know," Elladan said. He stood up behind his brother and untied Elrohir's cloak, exposing them to the firelight.

Rúmil gasped, but he was far too enthralled to complain or to fight. This was something Elrohir liked about him, how submissive he could become if properly stroked, and he certainly was being properly stroked now. Elrohir had successfully removed Rúmil's clothing and the elf was sprawled naked on the ground, his pale, ethereal body gleaming in the firelight. His silvery blond hair spread over the ground around his shoulders. His ripe lips were parted and his chin arched back.

"My lovely linden leaf," Elrohir sighed, kissing him again. He reached for the ties of his own leggings.

"Wait," said Elladan. Elrohir looked up at him. He was breathing hard. He stared meaningfully at Rúmil.

"No, Elladan."

"Come now, Elrohir, you have never denied me before. I would have Rúmil."

Orophin made an irritated sound from behind Elladan. Elrohir saw him slip away into the wood. He looked down at Rúmil, bending towards his ear. He licked the curve of it, bit on the pointed tip, then whispered to him.

"I would go after Orophin. He is grieving."

Rúmil looked at him with cloudy eyes. "Then go, and let Elladan take your place with me."

Elrohir felt like he had been kicked in the stomach. As identical twins, they were interchangeable, even with their lovers. He had thought more of Rúmil, but since Rúmil apparently did not care, why should he? His hands slid off of the beautiful body he had been aching to have and he stood up. He made a mocking bow and gesture towards Rúmil to Elladan, then picked up his cloak and went into the wood after Orophin.

Oro had not gone far, and sat upon a log with his knees drawn up, his fair face twisted in anguish. He looked up hopefully when he saw Elrohir coming.

"I am Elrohir, not Elladan," Elrohir said at once, wanting there to be no mistake. The hope vanished from Orophin's blue eyes.

"Why are you not lying with Rúmil?"

"He was just as happy to entertain Elladan."

"The two of you are cold."

Elrohir laughed bitterly. "Perhaps. Yet I came to you out of concern."

Orophin looked at him for a moment. "Forgive me," he said. "I take my anger out on the wrong twin."

"It is all right. You know… I thought Rúmil might love me."

"He might. But Rúmil is too young to focus his love on just one elf."

"And you, Orophin?"

"I never wanted more than one."

"So you are not willing to make the same exchange that Rúmil was?" Elrohir lifted his hand to Orophin's face.

"Do not tempt me. Please. You would have me fail my own heart."

"Let us console each other, Orophin. It does not have to mean anything." Elrohir bent and kissed Orophin's cheek.

"We both know that in the end, it will mean something," Oro replied, and he turned and kissed Elrohir on the mouth.