Posted: September 2003
Title: Ties That Bind
Series: Lust and Devotion
Sequel to: Forbidden Bond
Author: Larien Elengasse
Type: FCS
Characters: Orophin/Legolas
Rating: NC-17
Beta: Alex
Warnings: This story is rated NC-17 and contains male slash pairings, explicit sexual content, and implied incest. If you find this offensive, or you are under-age, I strongly suggest you stop now.
Author's Notes: I do not own these characters, they are the property of Tolkien. This is a sequel to "Forbidden Bond" and part of the fic challenge "Lothlorien elves" on Library of Lorien http://www.angelfire.com/film/haldirsrealm/home.html
Summary: Orophin and Legolas explore the bounds of their new relationship and form a lasting friendship

*****

Orophin stretched and yawned, and immediately purred at the sensation of his lover's lips upon his smooth skin. Legolas stretched out against him, idly stroking his alabaster skin with his tongue, swirling around one pebbled nipple, as his strong archer's hands caressed the Galadhrim's lithe body. The young Silvan Elf sighed, "Aaahh, what a wonderful way to wake up melethron."

The Prince's body tensed for just a moment before relaxing again. The words that had flowed from his lover's tongue were too similar to those spoken by his last lover, the loss of whom he was still recovering from. He swallowed and softly whispered, "I would wake you up everyday like this, beautiful Orophin. I never tire of tasting you."

Orophin smiled as he ran his hands into his lover's flaxen locks, gently kneading his scalp, as his desire began to rise. He moaned quietly, and gently arched his back, pressing his chest into the Prince's mouth. No one made him feel the way Legolas did; no one else made his body come alive with just a touch. The young Galadhrim had many lovers in his life, but none were as seductive, as utterly irresistible as the Prince of Mirkwood. He and Legolas had established a rhythm of sorts when it came to lovemaking. It was a slow dance of seduction and foreplay, one that brought Orophin to impossible heights of want and desire, before plunging headlong into burning passion. Legolas never sought to master his lover, nor would he be mastered himself. He was proud, yet kind and gentle, and Orophin loved him for it. Orophin himself was no easy mark. For years of his young adulthood he had lured and teased his lovers before casting them aside when he was finished with them. Yet, he had never told an outright lie, he had never uttered the three fateful words that all young lovers long to hear. He had yet to speak those words to Legolas, something in his heart told him not to, something told him the Prince's heart belonged to another still.

Legolas shifted to lie on top of his lover and snaked his way down his body, as he raked his fingers down his chest. Orophin drew a ragged breath as he reached above him, taking the headboard in his hands. The Prince gazed up at his lover's darkening blue eyes and smiled wickedly as he nipped at his firm, flat stomach. Orophin whispered breathlessly, "Handle me with care, my Lord, for I give myself into your keeping."

Legolas smiled and brushed his lips through the down-like hair that grew around Orophin's arousal. He growled, "You are not as delicate as you would have me believe, melethron. But fear me not, I will not misuse you."

The Galadhrim groaned as he felt the Prince's tongue draw along the underside of his rigid desire. He moaned pitifully as Legolas' fingers massaged his tight entrance. His heart began to race in his chest as he spread his legs and shamelessly pleaded to be taken. The burning lust and desire always overrode his pride; it always reduced him to a trembling supplicant in the Prince's hands. While Legolas was one of the dearest friends he had ever known, and kind to him beyond measure, Orophin hated how he enslaved him. He hated how he always wanted and longed for the Prince, long after his body was spent; his desire for Legolas always left him wanting, left him hungry for him.

Legolas purred and teased the Galadhrim with his mouth as he slid a finger inside his strong, young body. Orophin moaned and spread his legs further, whimpering and begging for more. His engorged arousal throbbed and wept ceaselessly, and he ached for release as the Prince swirled his tongue around the tip, lapping up his essence.

Orophin gritted his teeth and groaned, rapidly losing patience. He moaned, "By Elbereth, I am going to die if you do not do something soon. Please, please, meleth nín, do not torture me this way."

Legolas withdrew his mouth as the Galadhrim whimpered and gazed up at him, "As you wish, melethron…" He withdrew his fingers and gathered Orophin's legs up in his strong arms, lifting his hips and burying his own weeping arousal deep within his lover's body.

Orophin cried out as he felt his lover sheath himself inside him. His knuckles began to turn white as he clenched the headboard in his fists and arched his powerful back. The Prince took his rigid length in his hand and began stroking it and squeezing it as he drove inside him, occasionally brushing his target and sending shock waves of pleasure through his lover's body. Orophin whimpered and bucked against him, his body glistening with sweat as he rode his lover's motion. He cried out his name as he spent himself and his body tensed; Legolas groaned as he spilled himself inside his lover's constricting passage, tossing his head back and gazing up at the bright morning sky through glazed eyes.

He held Orophin like that for several moments, watching the white clouds pass overhead, feeling his arousal twitch with decreasing regularity inside his lover's body. He panted heavily, tiny drops of sweat trickling down his back and chest, and he felt the warm languid rush that came with his release wash over his body. By Elbereth, how he loved it, how he loved the aftermath, almost as much as he loved the prelude. He slowly released his lover, withdrawing from him and gently placing his body back upon the bed. He was reluctant to move, still feeling the tingling sensation spreading into his limbs. He closed his eyes and concentrated all his thoughts upon it, how wonderful it felt, how he would love to feel like this every moment of every day, for the rest of his long life.

"Legolas? Are you all right, a'maelamin?"

Orophin's soft, deep voice broke him from his reverie and he looked down at his enchanting lover. His lithe body was covered in sweat and the pearly substance of his own essence. He smiled as he thought there were few sights in all of Arda that were as beautiful as that one, only one other rivaled it. He stretched out beside him and whispered, "Yes, meleth nín, I am more than all right." He drew his finger along his lover's stomach, through the warm fluid of his seed and brought it to his lips, sucking it off as Orophin whimpered at the sight. "By the Valar, you taste so good, lirimaer. How is it that you are always so sweet?"

Orophin ran his hand along the side of his lover's face, "You are so beautiful, Legolas. You make me mad for you, do you know that?"

Legolas pressed a gentle kiss to his lover's lips, "If I am beautiful, it is you who makes me so, my gentle Orophin. I would have you mad for me, as I am for you."

Orophin gathered his lover into his embrace, holding him tight and burying his face in his flaxen mane. He sighed, "And to think how I fought being sent to Mirkwood, how angry I was at Haldir for sending me. Had I not gone, I would not know the pleasure you have given me, I would not know the warmth of your embrace."

Legolas felt a lump form in his throat. Had Haldir not sent him, had Orophin not come, it would be another's arms that held him now. He was not sure how he felt about that, he missed his former lover so, but he was happy with Orophin, if not complete. He whispered, "Sleep, a'maelamin, it is early yet. We have a few hours before patrol. Take your rest in my arms."

Orophin snuggled against his lover and drifted back to sleep.

* * * *

He awoke to find the bed empty and his clothes neatly bundled at the foot of the bed. He looked up at his lover who was pulling his hair back and tying it with a ribbon. Legolas turned to him and smiled. He approached the bed and placed a soft kiss upon Orophin's lips before speaking quietly, "We must bathe before we report for duty, I fear we are both a bit of a mess." He smiled sweetly and handed Orophin his robe. "Would you care to bathe with me, melethron?"

Orophin smiled and threw the covers back, taking his robe and wrapping it loosely around him. He felt a pang in the pit of his stomach; he felt that he always wanted the Prince more than the Prince wanted him. He always felt that distance between them, no matter how loving Legolas was. He reached out and forcefully pulled Legolas to him and kissed him roughly on the mouth. The Prince gasped and moaned quietly into the kiss, reaching out and clutching Orophin tightly. Orophin gazed into his lover's eyes and smiled wickedly, "You belong to me, Legolas, you are mine."

Legolas furrowed his brow and regarded his lover with a quizzical expression before placing his hand upon his chest and gently, but forcefully, pushing him backward. He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow as he replied, "I do not know where this comes from, Orophin, but I belong to no one, I am no one's property."

Orophin's eyes widened and he felt his ire rise to the surface, "You toy with me then? You speak sweet words to me, use me as you will, then push me away?"

Legolas narrowed his gaze, "I toy with no one, Orophin. I do not play with matters of the heart or the bed. I thought we understood one another, meldir. I am here because I choose to be, not because you choose me to be. My will is my own; no one rules me."

Orophin felt his face grow hot, both from shame and anger. He knew it; that other one was still there, inserting his presence between him and Legolas. "No one rules you? No one? Are you certain? What of your other lover? What of your father?"

The color drained from Legolas' face in an instant. Did he know? How could he know? Did he mean his other lover was his father, or his other lover and his father? He quickly turned away and stammered, "I do not know what you are referring to, Orophin. I told you my affair with him was over," he hesitated before continuing, "and I am well past my majority, my father does not seek to rule me." He had not lied, not exactly, but he could never, never tell the truth, not to another single living soul.

Orophin frowned and snatched his clothes from the bed, "I am tired of playing this game with you, Legolas. I am tired of waiting for you to stop longing for the one I took you away from. I want to be with you, truly, but I will play second to no one." He stormed out of their flet, leaving Legolas to wonder exactly what Orophin knew.

* * * *

Orophin stood on his mark in the line, his head held high, as his elder brother walked the line, surveying the troops. Legolas stood beside him, his calm, self-assured demeanor radiating out of him like none Orophin had ever seen before. Legolas was the only Elf he had ever seen whom his elder brother did not intimidate; only those above their station showed that sort of calm indifference toward Haldir. Legolas was a Prince, and by birthright was superior to Haldir; but Orophin had a feeling that even Legolas knew he had a thing or two to learn from the Chief Marchwarden of the Galadhrim. Haldir stopped in front of Legolas and looked him over, this had been the almost daily ritual since their arrival in Lothlórien, and Legolas calmly looked back, not flinching, not diverting his gaze. Haldir practically undressed him with his eyes and smirked, Legolas looked back at him, unruffled.

Haldir put on his most disdainful tone and addressed the Mirkwood Prince, "Why do you not wear the garb of the Galadhrim, Legolas?"

Legolas replied calmly, "I am not of the Galadhrim, Haldir. I am of the realm of Mirkwood and will wear the garb of my own people. Must we have this conversation each time we meet?"

Haldir bristled at the Prince's tone and narrowed his eyes, "I will not have you disrespect me in front of my troops. Do you understand?"

Legolas returned his gaze with equal measure, and quietly replied, "Understood, my apologies, Haldir. Nor will I be disrespected. I trust we understand one another, yes?"

Haldir frowned and made a noise akin to a growl as he continued down the line. Orophin felt this confrontation coming since they had arrived and was relieved to see it had not been worse. Haldir did not trust the Prince, and Orophin began to understand why. The patrol that afternoon was tense beyond measure, Haldir continually sent Legolas out on point, and Orophin began to wonder if he were not trying to eliminate him.

That night they lay sleeping by the fire, Haldir and a few of the other Marchwardens took up watch. Orophin watched his beloved Prince sleeping, the blissful smile crossing his lips, his soft blue eyes glazed with sleep, and he ached inside. He knew he would never have all of Legolas, he would never have that part of his heart that he withheld; it would always belong to another. He sighed; it was not enough, nor would it ever be, and he knew it. It would be best if Legolas returned home and he could go back to the life he had once led, the life he knew before traveling to Mirkwood. He rolled to his back and stared up at the night sky. He supposed he knew he would never be the same, he could never treat his lovers so callously again, and if nothing else, that made his affair with the Prince worth it. He had become a better Elf, having known Legolas' tenderness and he would not waste that lesson. He felt his lover's soft fingers trail down one of his braids and heard his gentle voice whisper in his ear.

"Orophin, a'maelamin?"

He closed his eyes and sighed, "Yes, meldir?"

"Are you angry with me? I did not mean to hurt you, meleth nín, truly I did not."

He felt the warm, wet sting of tears form in his eyes as he answered, "I know, but you still love him, Legolas, I know that you do. I cannot fault you for being true to your heart, a'maelamin, nor can I resign myself to being second there."

"I am sorry, Orophin. I thought that being away from him would make me want him less, but it has not. I can never ask you to forgive me for what I have done. The fact that it was unintentional makes it no less wrong."

Orophin sighed and rolled away from the Prince, "Please, Legolas, if you feel any tenderness for me at all, you will leave me be. Let me find a way to stop wanting you as I do." He heard the Prince rise from his bedroll and gather his things.

"As you wish, meldiramin. I would do anything in my power to make you happy."

Orophin rolled over to find his lover gone and he quietly buried his face in his arms and cried himself to sleep.

* * * *

The next morning Orophin awoke to the sounds of the camp coming to life. He sat up and looked around, but Legolas was nowhere in sight. He rose and found Haldir, questioning him about Legolas' whereabouts and his brother responded that he had left in the night, returning home to Mirkwood, and that he had left a letter for him. Haldir handed him the letter and quietly walked away.

Orophin placed the letter to his nose, it smelled of his beloved, and he found a quiet place to read it without interruption.

As he opened it, he saw the circles that had formed when his lover's tears had dried upon the parchment and he ran his fingers across them. He blinked back his own as he read the letter:

"My Dearest Orophin,

I will always be grateful to you for your kindness and your love, I am only sorry that I could not return it in kind. You helped me though a very difficult time in my life and I will forever be in your debt. I hope you believe me when I say that I will always care for you greatly; you will always hold a special place in my heart. I never meant to deceive you, and the fact that I did will weigh heavily upon me for the rest of my days.

You were a beautiful and generous lover, Orophin. One day you will find the one you seek and they will be the luckiest soul in all of Arda to have your love. As for myself, I will hold your friendship near to my heart and always remember you with joy. If you ever find yourself in trouble, I will always hearken your call; no distance could keep me from coming to your aid.

Thank you for being my friend and my generous lover, I will never forget you.

Your friend,

Legolas"

Orophin dropped the letter in his lap and closed his eyes, tilting his head up and feeling the warm sunshine upon his face. It was a new day and the beginning of a new life for the young Galadhrim, and he would not waste one moment of it.

THE END

Go to the next story in the series: Tale of Two Brothers

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