THIRTY NINE Rumil’s jaw dropped open, and then realizing what must have happened, he began to laugh. He was still laughing when he turned back towards the door and ran straight into Siddhir, whose dark eyes seemed to be sparkling with amusement. “Looking for something, are we? Or is it some *one?”* Siddhir asked, gazing down at Rumil expectantly. Still laughing, Rumil threw up his hands. “It wasn’t me! Oro made me come here, I swear!” “We shall see. Come; let us see what has happened to your spying brother.” “How did you get dressed so quickly?” Rumil asked. Siddhir winked and tilted his head. “We are Elves, are we not?” ************************************************** Elviondel returned just as Calaglin and Dinendal arrived to relieve them. Tinion dropped to the ground with a smile and nodded to the two sentinels as they quickly took their places in the Mallorn. “Did you get the wicked one off all right?” Tinion inquired. “Oh, most definitely,” Elviondel chuckled. “I think I shall take my next leave in Rivendell this year.” Tinion laughed as they walked away together. “To that I hold no doubt, for it is quite obvious you have changed your opinion of him.” “I still think of him as somewhat wicked. However, as I am not the one in his line of sight and it is not true *evil* that drives him, it does not trouble me. What he was doing was no worse than what I have done. He saw someone he wanted and he went after him, Elviondel explained. “Yes, but does he know when he is *beaten?* Even I can admit to using such tactics from time to time, but I do know when I cannot win- and pursuing Haldir *or* Siddhir for that matter is undeniably a fruitless venture,” Tinion replied. Elviondel nodded. “He knows, although I still think he has a small ray of hope lingering in his heart for Haldir- but I fully intend to try and make him forget that.” Tinion laughed. “I would wager.” Elviondel winked. “I have learned from the best.” Both Elves roared with laughter as they entered the common. ********************************** “Forgive me brother, I was just trying to help you,” Orophin explained, while pulling himself up from the floor. Haldir raised an eyebrow. “Help me? How does spying in my bedroom window help me, pray tell? Orophin cast a wary glance at Siddhir as he entered the bedroom with Rumil in tow. “Because I-I thought you were with someone else and I wanted to stop you. You and Siddhir *belong* together brother, no matter what *he* thinks- or what he has done.” Haldir blinked and looked at Siddhir. The golden-haired Elf’s smile had faded, and he was gazing upon Orophin with a sorrowful expression. “I told him it was probably Siddhir in here with you, but he wouldn’t listen,” Rumil chimed in. “Be that as it may Oro, you were wrong to- ” “Don’t chastise him Haldir,” Siddhir interjected. “Oro, please come with me.” Orophin followed as Siddhir led him into the outer room and bade him to sit. Orophin did as he was told, and Siddhir exhaled deeply before sitting across from him and looked into the young Elf’s anxious blue eyes. “Oro, it troubles me deeply to know of the distress I have caused you. I had no idea how my actions would affect you and I wish to ask for your forgiveness. I made a terrible mistake, and it is one I do not intend to make ever again. My heart was heavy then and I was horribly confused- but I have been shown the error of my ways. I have made things right again with Haldir, and he has forgiven me. I pray that you will too. It pains me to know that we are in discord,” Siddhir explained softly. “You have my forgiveness. I am very glad to know you have returned to us,” Orophin answered. “I really did not mean to spy on you, but I had to know.” Siddhir smiled. “I understand. Now, are we friends again?” Orophin grinned. “Certainly!” Siddhir stood with a bright smile. “I am so glad that he has you and Rumil to look after him- and now I think we should all go and celebrate together. Fishing sounds very good to me, don’t you think? We can catch them and Haldir can clean and cook them.” “Yes,” Orophin chuckled. “Is that so?” Haldir asked from the doorway. “I love fishing!” Rumil remarked slipping up to Siddhir’s side. “Yes, it most definitely is so, and we shall leave forthwith- so put on your tunic and let’s go. I can marvel at your superb physique later,” Siddhir answered with a wink. Rumil turned back to gaze at Haldir. “You know Oro,” he said thoughtfully, “Our brother doesn’t look half bad for someone so old.” *“Old?* You think me *old,* *pen-neth?* [young one] I will show you old,” Haldir replied, grabbing his tunic from the back of a chair. “I think we should get a head start,” Siddhir warned, laughing as Orophin and Rumil ran past him and out the door. He winked at Haldir and followed. ************************************* Tinion wiped his mouth. “I needed that. I was most desperately hungry.” “As was I. So, what do you have planned for your upcoming begetting day? Will Galdor return to Lorien?” Elviondel asked. “I would hope- but no, probably not. I suppose I will just relax and enjoy my time off,” Tinion replied cheerfully. “You never know, mayhap he will surprise you.” “Perhaps, but I doubt it. He is very busy and is always travelling to once place or the other. I will most likely have to seek out my own pleasure,” Tinion chuckled, returning the steady gaze of an Elf seated at a table adjacent to them. ****************************** The brilliant golden rays of the late afternoon sun were blocked from view as Haldir and Siddhir sat under the thick branches of a Mallorn with Orophin and Rumil, cooking and eating their catch. A slight breeze carried the smell of cooked fish over the verdant clearing, and several birds circled overhead in anticipation of a free meal. Siddhir watched with loving eyes as Haldir placed more fish on the fire and stirred the vegetables simmering in the pot beside him, while Orophin and Rumil shared and argued about gossip from the previous day. Suddenly Haldir stopped stirring and smiled, having heard Siddhir’s quiet voice inside his head, and turned to face him. “I love you too,” he whispered. “See, Oro? I *told* you they were all lovey-dovey,” Rumil laughed. “You should listen to me more often.” Orophin frowned. “I am overjoyed for them too, but listening to you almost got me into big trouble. You told me to look in the window.” “And you wanted to do it anyway,” Rumil reminded him. “All right, enough of that. It is done and over with, so no more bickering,” Haldir reprimanded. “You both have watch in an hour. Fill your bellies and be pleasant.” “Oro knows I love him,” Rumil teased. “Don’t you, Oro?” “Yes, yes *‘ksher,* [evil one] I know,” Orophin replied, giving Rumil’s shoulder a thump. “I love you too.” “That is much better,” Haldir commented, winking at Siddhir. “Who are they relieving?” Siddhir asked. “Fereveldir and Nilfalath,” Haldir answered. “Which reminds me, Oro, please inform Fereveldir he is to deliver his report directly to Caras Galadon. I wish not to be disturbed this night.” Orophin smiled at Siddhir. “Yes, brother.” ************************************ After Orophin and Rumil left, Siddhir helped Haldir clean the area and gather their belongings, and together they strolled leisurely towards home. When they arrived, Haldir placed their things on the table and pulled Siddhir into his arms. “Thank you for your help with Orophin,” he whispered. “Your interaction with my brothers is nothing short of amazing.” “I love them, Haldir. I could do no less. It pained me to have hurt Oro like that. I am grateful he is so forgiving,” Siddhir replied. “He loves you too. They both do, and they are just as attached to you as I,” Haldir answered, smiling and kissing him. “I will always cherish their love, and yours. Being an only child, I have never witnessed such closeness before. I am thankful that meeting you gave me the opportunity to be part of such a wondrous experience.” Haldir cocked his head and considered him for a moment. “You say that like it is over. *Melamin,* [my love] the height our experience is just *beginning.”* Siddhir smiled. “Is that so?” Haldir grinned and took his hand, leading him into their bedroom. Once inside, he sat on the bed and pulled Siddhir down with him, locking the Elf’s lips with his in a gentle kiss. When the kiss was over, he began placing soft butterfly kisses along his neck and collarbone, unhindered by cloth, but slowly undoing the laces on Siddhir’s tunic as he went. Siddhir threw his head back and let Haldir relieve him of his clothing, enjoying the soft kisses as his skin tingled with excitement and desire. So removed was he in his pleasure, he had not even noticed the skill with which Haldir had managed to remove his own clothing without depriving him. He resisted the urge to forego his lover’s sweet ministrations and have him take him right at that moment, keeping in mind Celeborn’s advice to enjoying every waking moment with the one he loved. He shivered as those soft kisses made their way past his navel and down to his elfhood- quickly engulfing it in moist warmth and sending an almost electric current through his body. Absent mindedly, his hands reached out to make contact with Haldir and grasped the silky fineness of his platinum hair. Haldir smiled to himself and continued his ministrations, reveling in the moans of pleasure he elicited from his lover while he prepared himself for what was to come. *“Im anira lle, melethron nin,”* [I desire you, my lover] Siddhir whispered. Haldir removed his mouth from Siddhir’s elfhood, extracting a temporary groan of displeasure at the loss- that was quickly silenced as he shifted Siddhir onto his belly and positioned himself between the firm rounded globes of his buttocks. Without pause, he entered him with ease and moved inside him with a rhythm that made them both sigh heavily with contentment until the pinnacle of their desire warranted a swifter cadence. And with that, they succumbed together to their passion with pounding hearts and moist sheets. After ample rest, they cherished each other with reckless abandon many times throughout the night until exhaustion finally took them and they drifted off together in a peacefully satisfied, dreamless sleep. ******************************** Galadriel stood over the mirror, watching intently as the images came and went. With a heavy sigh, she slipped back up into her rooms. Celeborn, as usual, was waiting for her.