Second Chances.

 An alternate ending by Sulien.

Manip by SayAye.

It had been nearly two years since the destruction of the One Ring and relative peace lay at last upon Middle Earth.  Spring had come once again to the valley of Imladris after a harsher winter than any had experienced there in millennia, due to the negation of Vilya’s powers after the destruction of the One Ring.  Elrond stood on the balcony of his study overlooking the fair gardens of Imladris, unnoticing of the newly opened daffodils and crocuses spread out in a glorious carpet in the bright sunshine of late afternoon.  A worried frown wrinkled his brow as he thought of all of the dangers that lay between Imladris and Fuinglad (Mirkwood), and he was silently cursing himself for allowing his twin to persuade him to let him make the journey to Fuinglad for negotiations with King Thranduil last fall.  He had feared his brother would get stuck on the other side of the Ered Mithrim (Misty Mountains) and rightfully so, as Elros’ party had had to turn back before making it even a third of the way through the pass on their way back and wound up wintering with Thranduil and his people

 

Elrond could tell that his twin was well and in no danger, for his bond with Elros would have alerted him otherwise.  That did not mean, however, that he could cease worrying!  Considering the distance that lay between them, Elrond knew he would be as utterly unable to assist Elros as if his twin were on the opposite end of Arda.  He was at least thankful that he knew his twin to be safe with Thranduil and his folk, for the time at least; even though he knew the party would be “stuck” there until the pass cleared, which was not likely to occur until at least mid April.

 

Still silently cursing himself for giving in to Elros’ wishes, he turned to leave his study to go to the dining hall for lunch and was caught entirely off guard by the person who had crept very silently up behind him.  Before his mind could even register the fact that someone was there, he was pulled into strong arms and against a well-muscled chest.  As he was about to defend himself and show this intruder the error of sneaking up on the Lord of Imladris, a mental barrier seemed to drop and one of the intruder’s hands went to the nape of Elrond’s neck, bringing the Lord’s lips into contact with soft, warm and pliant ones in a passionate kiss. 

 

“Elros,” gasped Elrond when the other at last released him after they had both become quite breathless.  “ELROS!” Elrond’s eyes snapped open and he grabbed the front of his twin’s cold and wet tunic, unmindful that the melted snow that had clung to the other’s clothing had dampened his own robes.  He took only a moment to look into the mischievously sparkling gray depths of his twin’s eyes before pulling him into a crushing hug.  “By the Valar, you startled me!”  Then, pulling back from his twin, “Wait...How did you get here, the horses could never have made it through that pass yet!”

 

“Glorfindel, five of his troops and I came through on foot as soon as we thought it would be safe enough to do so,” Elros replied, running the backs of his fingers along his twin’s strong jaw line and continued, “the horses will be brought back by the rest of the troops when the pass is clear.”

 

“But how did you...Our bond...How did you manage to get within a hundred leagues of Imladris without my feeling your nearness?” Elrond finally finished, looking quite perplexed and more than a bit angry.  His brows lowered and he glared at his twin, at last saying “You do realize that there are still yrch (orcs) in these mountains and that you could have been killed!  And not only that, the pass is prone to avalanches from the excessive snowfall this year!”

 

Elros gently laid his fingertips against his brother’s lips before replying, “I had much time on my hands while we were in Fuinglad and I managed to teach myself to dampen the sensitivity of our bond.  I knew you would fret that we would be parted for so long and also knew that you would worry yourself even more if you knew we were coming through the pass earlier than you thought would be wise...Ah!  Let me finish,” he said as Elrond angrily started to protest.  “Glorfindel knows of a higher pass that can only be traversed on foot!  We waited until he knew that pass would be safe for us to cross the mountains.”  Noticing that Elrond looked slightly mollified, he continued, “as for the yrch, they care little for the cold and knew the pass was closed.  We were in no danger from them in the high pass.”  He leaned in and brushed his lips over his brother’s where his fingertips had been, kissing Elrond more tenderly this time.  Pulling back again, he whispered, “You know I will never willingly leave you again, Gwenneth.”

 

Elrond felt the tension, which had resided in his chest and shoulders for nearly five months, release itself upon hearing Elros’ words and realizing that his twin was actually here and unharmed.  Placing a hand on each side of Elros’ face, he replied softly, “I know that Gwenniaur.  I came to realize that before you ever left for Fuinglad, else I would never have agreed to allow you to go in my stead.”  Leaning in once again, he was about to claim Elros’ lips again when he finally noticed that they were both now quite wet from the melted snow in Elros’ clothing.  Elrond pulled back and, after giving his brother a cursory glance, sighed and teasingly said, “Aiya!  Did you have to bring all of the snow from the high pass in with you?  The servants will be miffed at me for a week after they have to dry out this carpet to keep it from mildewing.” 

 

Grinning, Elrond took Elros’ arm in his and began to lead him to their rooms in order for Elros to change out of his wet clothing and get a nice hot bath.  Stopping one of the servants along the way, he notified her of the puddle in his study and also requested lunch be brought to his quarters for he and Elros.  The servant gave a mock exasperated sigh and, still shaking her head and smiling, moved off to comply with her lord’s wishes as the two Elves continued down the hall.

 

Upon entering the suite of rooms the two Elves shared, they headed straight for the bathing room.  Elrond went directly to the water spigots to allow the flow of the natural hot springs beneath Imladris to fill the bathing pool and, looking over his shoulder, said, “I’ll draw your bath, you get out of those cold, wet cloths.  And make sure you have one of the pages come in from the armory to tend to that armor.” 

 

Grinning at his younger twin’s air of concerned command, Elros placed his right hand over his heart and answered in a mock-solemn voice, “Aye, as the Lord of Imladris commands, so shall I obey,” and bowed low from the waist.  When he rose from his bow he failed to react in time to keep the large, fluffy towel from landing across his face and over his head.  Setting the towel aside, he began to disrobe, laying the wet clothing aside and draping the armor over one of the empty towel rails.  After removing his boots, he went through a short series of stretching exercises to help relieve the stiffness of his tired muscles, looking much like a large hunting cat in the process.

 

Elrond had finished adding the oils of lavender, cedar and comfrey to the bath to help sooth his twin’s travel weary muscles and was greatly enjoying the view as Elros stretched.  Standing up from the rim of the bathing pool, he asked, “Since you have gotten me thoroughly soaked as well, do you mind if I join you?”

 

Looking at Elrond through slitted eyes as he finished stretching, Elros smiled and replied, “Oh, I think I can be persuaded to allow you to join me, especially if I can persuade you to rub my shoulders.  I have finally become accustomed to wearing armor again, but it still leaves my shoulders stiff.”  He then padded over to the bathing pool.

 

Elrond had been trying to keep the blush of desire that had risen to his cheeks at a minimum while Elros was stretching, but gave up entirely at the sight of his twin’s lithe and muscular body as Elros walked toward him.  The sun coming in through the leaded glass windows made a beautiful play of light and shadow across the smooth, alabaster skin and sent glints of copper and bronze from the dark brown locks flowing over Elros’ shoulders and back to his hips.  When Elrond returned his gaze to Elros’ face after taking in the beauty of his twin’s form, Elros licked his lips with just the tip of his tongue, making Elrond’s breath catch and his face flush crimson even to the tips of his ears.

 

“Aiya, Gwenniaur, what you do to me,” whispered Elrond as Elros cupped his chin one hand and tilted his head to place a kiss on Elrond’s lips as his other hand went to the back of Elrond’s head, removing the butterfly clip which held his braid in place. 

 

Drawing back from the kiss, Elros looked deeply into the misty gray pools of Elrond’s eyes as he undid the braid and said, “I am glad to see that you do still want me in this way, Gwenneth.”

 

Elrond replied breathlessly, “Ai, yes, melethwain nín (my most beloved).  I only wish I had dared to look past my initial reaction to your kiss all those millennia ago...”

 

Elros stopped him from saying more by laying a fingertip against his lips and said, “Nay, do not regret the past.  What was, was destined to be and now that my fate has been fulfilled I am back at your side and will remain here always.”

 

Taking Elros’ fingertip into his mouth, Elrond gently sucked on it and then releasing it, said, “Yes, for which I will be forever grateful to Manwë.” 

 

“Come,” said Elros as he began removing Elrond’s robes, “let us get these damp robes off of you and we can continue this in the bathing pool.”  Elros slid his hands under Elrond’s outer robe and lifted the heavy velvet garment, sliding it from his twin’s shoulders as he leaned in to press feathery light kisses upon his neck.  He paused to lay the garment across the marble bench beside the bathing pool, then brought his hands up to cover Elrond’s as his twin moved to untie the sash of his inner robes.  “Nay,” Elros breathed into Elrond’s ear, “let me.”  Elros took his time removing the rest of Elrond’s garments, running his hands over silk covered flesh and kissing his twin’s lips and nibbling across his jaw line to alternately bite and suckle the sensitive area just below and behind his ear; making Elrond gasp at the sensations.  When Elros had removed all of his twin’s clothing, he stepped back and allowed his eyes to devour Elrond’s lithely muscular body.  Then, taking Elrond’s hand in his, he led him into the bathing pool.

 

When they were standing waist deep in the steaming water, Elrond took Elros’ face in his hands and said in a husky, desire hoarsened voice, “Ai, Gwenniaur, only you can make me completely speechless with desire and so willing to allow myself to be led”. 

 

“Aye, Elrond, you always were the more indepen...” Elros managed to get out before his twin claimed his lips in a bruisingly demanding kiss.  Elrond nipped at his twin’s lower lip and then suckled it, gently caressing it with his tongue to soothe the bite before again plundering Elros’ mouth.  Elros, not yet ready to concede dominion of the kiss to his twin, wound a hand into Elrond’s hair and pulled his twin’s head back, plundering Elrond’s mouth in turn as his other hand stroked up the smoothly muscled back and then back down to snake around his waist, drawing him into a very sensual, full body embrace. 

 

Breathless and panting, they broke the kiss and locked gazes for a moment before Elrond said, “Come, let me wash away the weariness and chill of your journey from your body.”

 

“Aye,” Elros breathed, closing his eyes and allowing Elrond to pull him back to recline against him as he sat down on the ledge of the bathing pool.  Elrond wetted Elros’ hair using his cupped hands, then dipped a hand into a jar of soft lavender and patchouli scented soap; and after making lather, he massaged it into Elros’ scalp and worked it down the length of the silken, dark locks.  After rinsing his twin’s hair, he lathered a coarse sponge with the soap; and with teasing strokes of it and his hands, began to gently wash and massage his twin’s body, eliciting groans of delight from Elros.  Laying the sponge aside, Elrond took more of the soap and with his hand, made slow, lazy circles down the flat plane of Elros’ abdomen, delighting in the feel of hard muscle beneath the silken softness of alabaster skin.  Elrond reached lower and gently cupped the softness of his twin’s testicles, massaging them, before he worked the soap into the soft fur above by running his fingers through it and gently scratching the sensitive area with his nails, making Elros’ breathing quicken.  Then, firmly grasping Elros’ engorged shaft, he moved his hand upward in a slow, firm stroke.  Stopping just below the crown of the shaft, he grasped it between his thumb and two fingers, gently massaging the soft area just beneath the head.

 

Elros, his eyes flying open and arching his back, cried, “Aiya, Elrond, melethwain nín!”  And then moaned, “Iquista, daro (please, stop)!  I will not last if you continue this.”

 

Elrond ceased his ministrations and whispered huskily into Elros’ ear, “Ah, so you will at last allow us to consummate our love?”

 

“Aye,” Elros breathed.  “Said I not so, that we would when I was certain you were not doing so out of guilt or to keep me here?”

 

 “I will stop, then,” answered Elrond.  ‘But only long enough to rinse you completely and bathe myself quickly”.

 

 “I think I shall rinse myself,” replied Elros is a somewhat breathless voice, “lest I not make it to the bedroom.”

 

“Very well, then I suppose I will bathe,” said Elrond as he lathered and washed his hair, then picked up the sponge and quickly scrubbed himself down and ducked under the water to rinse. 

 

By the time Elrond had finished, Elros had left the bathing pool and finished drying himself off.  As Elrond stepped out of the bathing pool, Elros threw a dry towel at him calling, “Last one to bed is on the bottom”, as he dashed out of the bathing room, grinning from ear to ear.

 

“Cheat!” Elrond called after him, grinning as he quickly dried himself off and followed his twin into the bedroom.

 

The servant had apparently brought in the tray with their lunch while they were bathing and had also kindled a fire in the hearth.  Beside the usual cold meats, cheeses and bread were an open bottle of chilled mead and some of the strawberries from Imladris’ hot houses.  Elrond made a mental note to thank that particular servant for her perceptiveness; as well as noting that she would do well gathering impressions and information from guests in Imladris in the future, should he need them.  Elrond took his time and rolled some of the cheeses in roast meat and laid them on a plate with bite sized chunks of bread as he glanced at his twin; who reclined on the bed on his side, propped up on an elbow, watching him; his damp hair cascading across one shoulder and onto the burgundy velvet coverlet.  He then placed the strawberries around the edge of the plate and picked up two glasses and the bottle of mead in the other hand and moved toward the bed.  Elrond stopped before he could take a step and his breath caught in his throat.  The light of the setting sun slanting in from the west facing windows had changed ever so slightly and gilded Elros’ skin and hair; making him appear to be a creature made of burnished gold and bronze, and striking sparks of silver in his grey eyes.

 

“Ai, glaur o ind nín (Oh, golden light of my heart)!”  Elrond breathed, taking in the tableau before him, unable to move.  “Manen nach bain (How beautiful you are)!”  Just a moment the light remained so, before sliding beyond the horizon and allowing Elrond to catch his breath and move.  When he reached the bed, he placed his burdens on the table beside it and lay down, gathering Elros into his arms and kissing him tenderly.

 

“Elrond, what is wrong?” asked Elros, perplexed at Elrond’s sudden change of mood and pulling back slightly in the embrace in order to see his twin’s face.

 

“Oh, everything is right and as it should be,” Elrond replied softly, looking deeply into Elros’ eyes as he kissed him again and pulled him as close as he could.  He finally realized just how much he loved his twin and how right it was that they were going to be together as life mates at last.  Elros sighed and deepened the kiss, melting into Elrond’s embrace.

 

Elros pulled himself closer still to Elrond and then, hooking a leg around his brother’s knees, rolled them over so that Elrond was beneath him.  Tangling one hand in Elrond’s dark, silken locks, he gently pulled his twin’s head to the side and traced the line of his jaw with his tongue, ending just at the juncture of jaw and throat, where he began to suckle and bite at the sensitive flesh there.  Letting all of his weight rest upon Elrond, he slid his other hand between them and grasped Elrond’s hard flesh with his own, pressing them together, and began to slowly stroke them.  As his mouth left a trail of licks and nips up the outside of Elrond’s ear, he used his thumb to stroke the heads of their erections, smearing the slickness of pre-ejaculate over them.

 

“Ai, ind nín!” Elrond gasped, “You make me feel as if my very soul were aflame!” 

 

Elros stopped and raised up slightly on his elbows to gaze searchingly into Elrond’s eyes, and said in a husky voice, “As mine has ever been aflame when you are near.  Elrond, inden, belasen (my heart, my strength), you have the chance now to stop this before we go any further.  Know that I will be with you to the end of Arda, regardless of what we do here today and that I will understand if you do wish to stop this.”

 

Elrond said not a word, but reached into the drawer of the table beside the bed and pulled out a vial of sweet almond oil, which he opened and poured some onto his fingers.  Handing the vial to Elros, he reached between them and began to coat Elros’ shaft with the fragrant, slick fluid.

 

Elros took the vial from his twin and looked once more into Elrond’s eyes, finding there, love, acceptance and determination.  “Be iest lín (as thou wish)”, he whispered as he moved to the side and placed a pillow beneath Elrond’s hips before coating his fingers with the oil.  He reached down and traced a finger around Elrond’s puckered opening, placing butterfly kisses on Elrond’s cheeks and eyelids as he did so, then gently slid the digit in.

 

Elrond’s eyes snapped open and he gasped at the intrusion, but pressed down to receive more of his twin’s finger and reached his other hand up to pull Elros down into a tender, but passionate kiss.

 

Sensing Elrond’s eagerness, Elros slid a second finger in beside the first and began a gentle scissoring motion as he deepened the kiss.  He traced the roof of Elrond’s mouth with his tongue, and then pulled it back, drawing Elrond’s tongue with it.  Elros gently suckled his twin’s tongue as he added a third finger and began to gently thrust, searching for Elrond’s sweet spot.  Elrond moaned into the kiss and pressed down harder onto his hand when he touched the gland with his fingertips.  Breaking their kiss, Elros pulled his fingers out as Elrond pulled him between his spread thighs.

 

“Look at me, melethen (my love),” whispered Elrond, as he wrapped his long legs around Elros’ waist.

 

Elros placed the head of his shaft at his twin’s opening, then lowered himself down onto his forearms and met Elrond’s gaze.  The warmth and love in the sea gray eyes welcomed him and, as he began to slowly enter Elrond’s body, it seemed as if he were falling into his twin’s eyes.

 

Panting softly, Elrond gently grasped his twin’s face between his hands and held his gaze.  When Elros had sheathed himself to the hilt, he said in a hoarse whisper, “Elros! Melon le!  Melathon le na i veth o Arda ar athan! (I love you!  I shall love you until the end of Arda and beyond!)”

 

Elros settled his weight onto his twin’s body, slipping an arm beneath Elrond’s neck and pulling him into a deeply passionate kiss as he slipped the other beneath his hips, pulling Elrond up to him.  When he was certain Elrond had adjusted to the sensation of fullness, he began to thrust.  Gently at first, and then more forcefully as Elrond arched his back up to meet the thrusts. 

 

Breaking the kiss, they gazed into each other’s eyes as the orgasmic tension in their bodies began to build.  Both had the sensation of falling into the other’s eyes and seeing themselves.  Both had the sensation of being filled and of being surrounded by hot, velvet flesh.  As the pleasure of their union crescendoed, they could feel the love in the other’s fëa (soul) for its mate; finally together as one at last.  For a mere instant, they shared consciousness of and within each other as the blood in their veins turned to liquid fire; burning all away, so that nothing else existed but one fëa.  Then the sensation of their fulfillment ebbed, leaving them panting for breath in their separate bodies, but their fëar (souls) had remained one.

 

Elros again gazed into his twin’s eyes, stroking sweat damp hair from his beloved’s face, and said in a shaking voice, “Melon le, Elrond.  Melannen le uin onnad a melathon le na i veth o Arda ar athan (I have loved you from the beginning and I shall love you to the end of Arda and beyond).”  Elros gently let his sated member slip from Elrond’s body and rolled them onto their sides, where they held each other close for a time, kissing tenderly. 

 

Finally, Elros sighed and looked down between them, and said, “It appears we have ruined your velvet coverlet, melethen.”

 

Smiling, Elrond replied, “The coverlet can be replaced.  In the mean time, I suggest we use it to clean ourselves off and slip into bed.  Surprisingly, I find I am no longer hungry but I am exhausted.” 

 

Elros nodded in agreement and both stood shakily and used the coverlet to clean each other off, then slid into bed; falling quickly into an exhausted slumber in each other’s arms.

 

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“It is done, my Lord.  The fëa split at their conception is at last whole again, as you wished,” the Vala Námo said to the wind sighing through his halls.

 

“As it should be,” the wind replied softly, “and no one shall say ill of it.  I, Manwë, have commanded it.”

 

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The end.

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