Acceptance

by Elentári


The house of Rivendell was silent and not a soul could be seen, even to the eyes of the two Elves who walked towards its friendly lights; Elladan and Elrohir had returned home from a long journey in the wilderness to find their home resting in the dead of night. The waters of the Bruinen rushed merrily underneath them as they crossed its bridge. They lead their horses carefully over the narrow stone causeway in the dim light and towards the stables where the beasts would take a much deserved rest.

"I think we should put off seeing father until morning," said Elrohir as the twins wound their way through the maze of corridors leading to wing where they dwelt with their family.

"I agree, it is late and we bring no urgent news of the North to disturb him with," answered his brother, "I am tired and would welcome a soft bed rather than a long conversation!"

"I imagine father would want to dissect every day of our absence and I would barely be able to keep my eyes open; we shall see him first thing in the morning when I would be more willing to tell; the light of morning would perhaps make it easier."

Despite their weariness, the brothers crept through the candlelit passages without a sound, seeking the doors to their own chambers which lay side-by-side. They were marked out by a large stone statue of the twins that their father had commissioned upon their coming of age many years ago. In all truth, they had never liked their stone likeness but had never had the heart to tell Elrond who had seemed very pleased with the gift.

"Elladan...can I sleep in your room tonight?" Asked the younger brother, "your bed is far more comfortable than my own."

"That is a lie and you know it! You may do as you wish, any bed would be a relief after spending so long on the back of a horse and if I have to share it with you, so be it!" Elladan ended his reply with a short burst of laughter; he enjoyed the company of his brother as much as Elrohir enjoyed his and spending the night apart after being together constantly during their time in the North would have been almost unbearable.

"Thank you," whispered Elrohir and he leaned forwards to plant a delicate kiss on the other’s lips, breaking away gently to enter the room before him.

Elladan’s chamber bathed in the soft moonshine, looking exactly as it had done when he had left it months ago but he was worn out and directed his glance only towards the large bed against the furthest wall, so welcoming as he struggled to keep his eyes open.

"I am just going to get changed," said Elrohir, receiving a murmur of understanding from his brother and disappearing through a second door that led to a bathroom. Moments later he emerged to find Elladan fast asleep upon the feather blankets, still dressed in his ragged travelling clothes. "Spoilsport," Elrohir mumbled before crawling next to him and giving way to his own fatigue.

Both brothers slept soundly until the sun had risen and was high in the sky but Elrohir was first to awake.

"Elladan? Are you still asleep?" The younger twin asked the unmoving form of his brother but was given no answer; he asked his question several times in the hope that he would stir but gave up when it was clear that he was truly in a deep slumber. Accepting defeat, Elrohir climbed out of the tangle of sheets and walked over to the window; parting the heavy velvet curtains he looked over the land and took in the spectacular views he had missed so much while he was away.

"There is nowhere like home," he said to himself as he felt the sun warm his skin with her golden rays. With a backwards glance at his sleeping twin, Elrohir silently slipped out of the door and into his own chamber to change out of his nightwear.

*************

Due to their arrival in the depths of night, no one had noticed the return of Elrond’s sons, including the Lord himself. As ever, the master of the valley was sat in his study pouring over volumes of long forgotten lore with an understanding that only he possessed. He barely looked up as a gentle knock sounded on his door and Glorfindel entered, bearing a tray of food from the kitchens.

"It is a lovely day; would you care to take some dinner outside with me?" The golden haired Elf asked his friend and with little thought Elrond accepted.

"Thank you; I had no idea that so much time had passed."

"It is quite all right, I imagined that you would need a short break, you have been in your chamber all morning, have you not?"

"Indeed, I tend to get a little carried away with these things!" Elrond carefully closed the leather-bound book and stood up to follow Glorfindel into the passage. "Where shall we go?"

Glorfindel opened his mouth to speak but his answer did not come as he caught sight of Elrohir and called out his name instead. Elrond turned in disbelief to see his son walking reluctantly towards him.

"When did you get back? Where is your brother?" Asked Elrond apprehensively as he embraced his son in the way only a father could.

"We returned last night but thought it too late to visit you; we were weary and only wanted to sleep. Elladan is still in his bed."

"Is he injured?" Enquired the Lord with a flash of concern sweeping his face.

"No, just lazy, you know Elladan; I doubt he will wake before it is time for supper."

"We were just about to take some dinner in the gardens; would you care to join us Elrohir? You can tell us all about your little adventure." Said Glorfindel with a laugh, he enjoyed speaking down to Elrohir as he knew how much it annoyed him.

"As you wish, I am sure my ‘little adventure’ could amuse you for a short while."

The three Lords of Rivendell made their way down to a partially enclosed terrace that looked over the valley and sat down on the sweetly scented grass. They shared the provisions Glorfindel had brought with him and talked light-heartedly for many hours under the blue summer sky.

*************

"Elrohir? Are you there?" Asked Elladan as he woke from his long rest. "Elrohir?" The room was silent with the exception of his grumbling as he looked down and saw that he was still wearing the previous day's clothes and that the floor was littered with various sheets and garments. "How typical of him to leave me alone with this mess!"

Despite the many hours he had lain in bed, Elladan’s muscles still ached with the memory of his long journey; he was not as adept at travelling as his twin who rarely suffered any adverse effects. He decided to take a bath to soothe his body and found his mind wandering as he sat in the calming waters; he remembered back to one night over a month ago when his brother had declared his love for him; he had accepted and proclaimed his own. The love they shared was more than that between two brothers, even ones so close as they; it was something more - a need to be together always and share everything, including their bodies. Although it had made them both so very happy, they had decided to keep it a secret until they felt the time was right, they feared what others may think.

"I heard that you were back," said a familiar voice sometime after Elladan had climbed out of the bath and had arrayed himself in a light silken tunic and a pair of leggings.

"Mother!" He exclaimed, flinging himself into Celebrían’s arms. "I didn’t know that you were here, I though you were in Lórien with Arwen, grandmother and grandfather."

"I have only just returned and Arwen stayed behind, but I am here to talk about you! How have you been my son? I have missed you and Elrohir terribly, it has been too long."

"It has," he paused and smiled, standing contentedly in his mother’s arms, "I was just about to find father, I expect that Elrohir will be with him. Please will you come with me? I would appreciate your company."

She took his hand in her own and they left the room together, "I think that they are in the gardens, I saw Glorfindel a while ago and he told me that he was going to ask your father to sit outside for some dinner. Shall we try the west gardens? They were always his favourites."

Surely enough, as mother and son made their way around to the hidden enclosure, they caught sight of their loved ones. Elladan looked into the eyes of his brother but quickly lowered his gaze, afraid that it would betray his feelings to his parents and mentor and not without just cause; Elrohir arose intense emotions within him which were better not shown at that moment in time.

"Hello my dear," said Elrond, placing an arm around his wife’s slender waist and pulling her close to him. "Ah, you managed to awake Elladan, I am most impressed! Hello son, your brother has just been telling myself and Glorfindel what you have been up to while you were away."

"Has he? What has he told you?" Elladan said anxiously, unnecessarily worrying that his brother’s loose tongue may have got them into some unforeseen trouble. Elrohir had a misfortunate habit of confessing all under the slightest pressure that had caused a fair amount of hassle in their childhood when they had enjoyed mischeif above all else. Elladan hastily embraced his father and his close friend Glorfindel before taking a seat on the ground beside his brother with his head down.

"Did you have a pleasant sleep?" Asked Elrohir, placing an arm around his brother’s shoulder which was immediately shaken off, rousing curious glances from all about them.

"Pleasant enough, thank you."

"I think that you are still crabby, brother." Teased Elrohir, running a finger down Elladan’s nose at which point the elder of the two stood up and, giving his apologies, left the group making for the general direction of his room.

"Elladan?" Cried his parents in unison, rising to their feet with the intention to follow their son.

"Stay here!" Commanded Elrohir, "I will go. I think I know what is troubling him and I do not think that you would be able to help him. Please give us some time without an interruption; I will do my best to amend his trouble and bring him to you when he is ready. Goodbye."

Elrond, Celebrían and Glorfindel looked on in confusion as the twins disappeared from view, Elrond strained to keep a grip on his wife as she was reluctant to let them go without her own counsel being given first.

*************

"Elladan!! Let me in! Now!"

"No!"

"Why not?"

"I don’t want to!"

"Why not?"

"I don't want to"

"Why not?"

"Elrohir! Stop it!"

"Not until you let me in!"

"But I don’t want to!"

"Why not?"

The door swung open and Elladan was stood behind it glaring angrily at his reflection in the mirror opposite him.

"What is the matter, my love?" Asked Elrohir, softly closing the door and walking towards him.

"I can’t stand it! You were there in front of me but I couldn’t touch you for the fear of our parents and friends finding out; I don’t like keeping secrets but I am so afraid of what they will say. I love you and nothing will ever change that but I don’t know what to do." He broke down into a fit of hysterical sobs with pearl tears running down his cheeks and landing heavily onto his tunic. "I was among them for no more than a few minutes and I collapsed, I won't be able to endure this secret for long."

"I understand how you feel; I could not keep my hands away from you but you need not fear this burden tonight, I asked for you to have solitude."

"I don’t want solitude! I want to be with you!"

"Then I shall be with you. I will always be by your side, don’t ever question that and I will try my hardest to help you carry our secret." He placed a soft kiss on the other’s forehead. "Don’t cry my sweet, it breaks my heart to see you hurt."

Elladan was guided surely to the bed by the hand of his brother and the two lie down together in silence, simply enjoying the opportunity to be together.

*************

"It has been hours now," Celebrían said to her husband in a worried tone.

"Do not worry, my love, no-one knows Elladan’s mind better than Elrohir, they will be fine in time, I am sure."

"Should I go see them?" She asked, her eyes lingering poignantly on the door to the couple’s chamber.

"No, my dear; they will come when they are ready." He placed a tender hand on his wife’s cheek; "trust me."

Celebrían relaxed a little at her husband’s words and leaned back against his chest. In public very few people saw how deeply Elrond loved his wife because his affection was usually masked behind a calm exterior, but behind closed doors the Lord worshiped her. He smiled as he ran his hands gently through her silver hair; watching it glimmer gently in the fading light.

"Our sons have grown up to be wonderful young Elves and have wisdom enough to make their own choices; they have an astounding mother who taught them all they need to know in life and I see no reason to worry."

"Let us not forget their father," added Celebrían with a light-hearted laugh. "Had it not been for him, things may have turned out differently for both them and their mother; you see, she needs him like no other and loves him with all her heart."

"Is that so?" Elrond teased before leaning forward and kissing her. " I love you too."

*************

"I think we have to tell them." Said Elladan. The thought had been running through his mind from the first moment he had set foot upon the soil of his homeland and even Elrohir’s loving touch had not pushed it away. He turned to face his brother and awaited the reply with a sombre expression.

"We have both known that; it was not in question; it is only the issue of when that we must face."

Elladan arose from the bed and looked down upon the body of his lover; it seemed identical in every way to his own yet the touch of that soft skin was so different. Something happened, something that he couldn’t explain, when the two made even the smallest contact and even meeting his eyes was exciting. " I think soon; I don’t want to feel guilt every time I do so much as kiss you, only the pleasure that it brings. Do you believe tonight to be too early?"

Elrohir brushed a stray hair from his twin’s face and smiled. "If it would make you happy then how could I refuse? I only hope our parents find it in themselves to understand; it would break my heart for them to deny us our fate but I will not let even them separate us. No matter what happens, eternity will be ours."

The twins leaned into a passionate kiss and when they finally broke apart, they realised that it would be then or never. Hand-in-hand they left the room and made their way slowly to their parents room, neither looking anywhere other than the path at their feet.

All too soon the dark wooden door stood in front of them like some ominous cloud casting a cruel shadow which blocked out their sun. "I love you," whispered Elladan into his brother’s ear and received an echo of his own words in reply before raising his fist to knock lightly.

"Enter." Sounded Elrond’s voice from within.

With a deep breath Elladan and Elrohir entered the room.

"Does this mean that you have solved your problem, my children?" Asked Celebrían with a warm smile as she looked upon the brothers.

"No, mother," answered Elladan. "It could not be resolved by us alone."

"Oh? Have you come for our counsel," asked Elrond, viewing his eldest children apprehensively.

"No, we wish only for you to listen." Began Elrohir and gripped the other’s hand tightly for confidence. "While we were away we discovered something important about ourselves that you must hear."

"We do not know how to reveal this to you but it must be told;" continued Elladan, "it is very important to us and cannot be hidden for much longer."

"We are in love, something beyond that which is shared by two brothers."

Elrond and Celebrían were shocked into silence and found themselves incapable of speech for a few minutes.

"Mother? Father? Will you not say anything? Elrohir and I have been worrying desperately about what you would say, please do not be angry; we cannot help the way we feel."

"What would you have me say?" Asked Elrond in a strangely detached voice. "I do not know what...," he faltered. "Please leave us alone, I need to talk to your mother alone."

Elladan and Elrohir departed from the chamber with their heads bowed. The news had not been received in a way that they did not expect but they were still disheartened. They reached the doors to their chambers but did not feel like entering them, choosing to return to the gardens instead.

By the time they had found the small enclosure of grass, night had truly fallen and the only light by which to see was that of the stars and the moon which hung lazily in the sky above.

"Elladan, please hold me." Pleaded Elrohir and his wish was automatically granted as a slender arm wrapped about his waist. "I need to be close to you, you make everything feel so much better."

Within moments the brothers had fallen asleep in each other’s arms and their dark hair spread over the ground like molten shadows. Even in their dreams they were together.

*************

It had barely taken an hour for Elrond and Celebrían to make their choice and they sought out their sons only a moment later finding them resting in the moonlight with their pale skin glowing as in some angelic vision. The Lady of Rivendell could not help but smile as she viewed the scene of her two beloved children lying among the fragrant flowers.

"Do you think we should wake them, my husband?"

"I think they need to hear this."

The Lord gently tapped both Elladan and Elrohir on the shoulder until they stirred. "It is now your turn to listen, my sons. We have decided not to stand in the way of your love; I was against it at first but your mother asked me how I would feel if our relationship was opposed by our parents and then I realised it would have broken my heart." As he spoke, the Lord lay a hand upon that of his wife’s.

"Thank you father! Thank you mother!" Cried the twins in unison, sounding as one voice in their likeness. In their relief, they found themselves kissing fervently, lost in passion until they realised that they were still being watched.

"Sorry." They murmured.

With the acceptance of their parents, Elladan and Elrohir found their love blossoming and bringing joy to all about them; they helped their family survive the tragedy of their mother’s passing into Valinor after they had saved her from certain death by the hands of the Orcs. For all of their lives the twins were never separated, even during the trials of the dark years of Sauron’s rule. Side-by-side they fought the enemy and celebrated at his downfall, overcoming their own personal ordeals together as they saw their father depart over the Sea with their grandmother and their sister give up her life for their foster-brother. Life was not easy for the beautiful sons of Elrond but all who knew them admired their bravery and the undying love they held for each other. It is not known whether the twins passed into Aman with the last of their kin but whatever their fate, the tale of their legendary devotion could never have died and would have remained in history among that of Lúthien and Beren, Idril and Tuor and Elrond and Celebrían, their forebears.


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