Time Enough for Love
by Elfscribe, elfscribe5@yahoo.com
Characters: Legolas/OC (Elwin), Elrond/Glorfindel, Lindir/OC
Overall Rating: NC-17; This chapter PG13
Beta: Capella
Disclaimers, see chapter 1
First posted: May 2, 2004
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Chapter 6 - Cade

As he awoke, Elwin became aware that he had no feeling in his left arm. The
reason lay warm and solid next to him, head pillowed on his shoulder. Elwin
slowly pulled free from his lover and shook his hand to bring the blood into it.
He looked out of the window into the full light of day. They had slept long
after the exertions of the night.

Legolas murmured something and stretched his leg across Elwin's thighs. Elwin
gazed possessively over him, admiring the contours of his face, the way the
corners of his mouth formed a slight, mysterious smile, how the elegant curve of
his neck met the long fold of his collar bones. With a start, he saw the tiny
brown dot on the prince's throat, just where Elrohir had said it would be. How
curious that he had never noticed it before. What had the twin said? Where the
pulse throbs. Elwin pushed down on the mark and felt the steady beat of the
prince's heart.

An unreasoning surge of jealousy filled him. What had Elrohir been to his
beloved? He wanted Legolas to himself, forever, with no other claims on his
heart. He leaned forward and kissed the spot, then sucked on it gently, making
his own mark over it.

"What are you doing?" Legolas asked drowsily, the light of consciousness coming
into his blue eyes.

"Making you mine," Elwin murmured.

"I thought you did that already last night. Rather thoroughly."

"I would do it again, as often as possible."

Legolas chuckled deep in his chest. "Are you not sore, melethron?"

Elwin moved and winced. "Actually, yes," he admitted. "I am glad that Lord
Elrond's cure worked. As pleasurable as last night was, there is such a thing as
too much."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that," Legolas grinned.

"I do have strong powers of recovery, Sinda," Elwin replied.

"That is fortunate as I don't think I could refrain from loving you for too
long." Legolas slid a hand along Elwin's cheek. "We must think of a fitting
punishment for Elrohir when he returns."

"Mîr nîn, I confess I did not give you all of Elrohir's gift last night."

"Gods, Elwin. Don't tell me there was more. I am in no shape to take it today."

Elwin laughed and then grew serious again. "No, meleth, not like that. When he
handed me the oil, he said, ‘give him this from me.'" Elwin bent forward and
pressed a tender kiss to the prince's lips. Legolas gently returned it.

"Tell me, melethron, why would Elrohir want to give you such a gift?" Elwin
hoped his voice didn't betray him.

Legolas turned away and stared out of the window. In the distance, a long ribbon
of water poured down a cliff face. Three swallows darted and swooped in the
bright spray, emitting high pitched cries.

"Before that moment, I had no idea that you two were . . . close," Elwin
persisted.

Legolas shrugged. "I had a relationship with him. Long ago. With both him and
his brother actually. I traveled with them on a dragon hunt in the northern
wastes. My first journey away from Mirkwood. I think I felt . . . affection for
him and maybe it was that way with him too. But there is something . . . ." He
turned and looked at Elwin. "It's curious, I don't remember exactly."

Elwin searched Legolas's eyes for a hint of something hidden but the prince
seemed genuinely puzzled.

"Anyway, it was a long time ago," Legolas said, "and of no import now. Don't
tell me you are jealous?"

"Should I be?" Elwin asked, then said incredulously, "Both of them!"

"Ah yes." Legolas smiled. "Like you said, I wasn't reluctant to sample those
pleasures. And just last night you introduced me to your charming and quite
attractive former lover. I now say to you what you said then, the past is just
that."

"Forgive me, mîr nîn. It's just that I don't know how I would live if I lost
you."

Legolas's face shadowed briefly and he reached up and brushed his breastbone
with two fingers. Elwin wished he could pull the words back into his mouth.
Legolas must not feel trapped or he might run. He laughed as if to make light of
what he'd just said. "Well, it appears to be a fine day. Would you like to take
a walk?"

"Breakfast first. I'm famished." Legolas leaned over and kissed Elwin. "And I
loved our time together last night, even with the unfortunate incident. Thank
you."

"Yes, time well spent." Elwin grinned. The pun earned him a light cuff on the
head.

Legolas got out of bed and drew on his clothes. "I need to go back to my room to
change."

"We've missed breakfast. I'll go and see what can be found in the kitchen. I
shall meet you downstairs in the dining room," Elwin said. He slid out of bed
and groaned, putting a hand to his backside. "And yes, meleth, we owe that
wicked peredhel a little gift in return."

***********************
Elwin ran into Lindir on the stairs. The elf smiled coyly up at him. "And how
was your evening, meleth?"

"I imagine as good as yours," Elwin said, smiling. "Maybe better."

"I doubt it," Lindir replied. "That Silvan warrior has endurance. However, I saw
you and your ernil velui doing something rather peculiar in the garden early
this morning. Is this a new bit of Mirkwood sensuality I should know about?" His
green eyes sparkled.

"A mishap. Oh gods, I'll tell you sometime." Elwin laughed. "You would think it
highly amusing."

"Where are you headed?"

"To the kitchen to get Legolas something to eat."

"Hungry I expect, after last night's exertions," Lindir said. "Well, I'll join
you. You can tell me of this mishap as we go."

In the distance they heard the sentinel's horn call. Then there were voices
outside. Lindir and Elwin looked at each other and went out of the main hall to
the stairway.

Coming in by the arched entrance to Imladris were three tall guards escorting a
young man with the faint suggestions of a wispy beard. He wore a stocking cap
pulled over fine curly brown hair and led a fat pony. His good natured face was
tense with fear and wonder.

"A human boy," said Lindir softly. "And from Bree by the looks of him. Now this
is a rare event."

The young man raised his head and stared at them. By Arda, Elwin thought, that's
Will Rushlight's grandson! With a cry, he ran down the stairs.

"Cade!" Elwin exclaimed. "I hardly recognized you. How you've grown since last I
saw you. What brings you to Imladris?" He stopped and a cold feeling stole over
him as he saw the youth's expression.

Cade swept the cap off his head and bent down on one knee. "Master Elwin. I am
come on behalf of my granddad. He is very ill and wishes to see you." He
paused and his chin trembled, "For the last time."

***********************
Legolas stood to the side watching Elwin make his case to a stern Elrond. The
Master of Imladris sat with his elbows propped on the arms of the chair, his
long hands steepled together. Glorfindel stood by Elrond's side with arms
folded. Legolas wondered why Elrond seemed reluctant to allow Elwin to leave
Imladris. It seemed a harmless enough request and clearly meant a lot to his
lover.

"Please, my Lord," Elwin said. "I have been a friend of this family for
generations. The boy says that when he left Bree, his grandfather was in a bad
way and it has taken him more than two fortnights to get here. He lost several
days trying to find us."

"Fortunately our scouts discovered him wandering south of Athrad Bruinen,"
Glorfindel said.

"It is dangerous to leave now. A party of orcs has been sighted north of here,"
Elrond said.

"I have never heard of orcs traveling on the Men Thrúnen," said Elwin.

"This could be such a time," said Elrond.

"I will go with or without your leave, Lord Elrond," Elwin said proudly. He
stood tall and grim, his forehead pinched tight.

There was a long pause.

"I could go with him, Lord Elrond," Legolas said. "As a guard."

Elrond glanced up at the prince and frowned. "I think it is time we had that
talk now, son of Thranduil," he said. "Elwin, I will want to speak with you
again in a while."

"But Lord Elrond, I cannot delay my departure," Elwin protested.

"There are things at work here beyond your ken, Elwin." Elrond's voice rose in
anger. Legolas felt the veiled might of the Lord of Imladris, like the growl of
an impending storm.

Elwin flinched and cast his eyes down. "Yes, my Lord."

"I understand your affection for your friend," Elrond said quietly. "I will
consider your request with all of its ramifications."

Elwin glanced sadly at Legolas and left the room.

Glorfindel sighed. "Passionate, that one."

"Loyalty to one's friends is an admirable trait," said Elrond. "I have known
Elwin since he was born. He is an elf of many fine qualities. Don't you agree,
Legolas?"

"Yes."

"Come and sit down," Elrond said. "Necessity forces a difficult discussion."
Elrond settled himself back in his large chair and Legolas sat opposite him.

"Do you know that I have the gift of foresight?" Elrond said.

"I have heard it said," Legolas replied.

"Last night a vision came to me unbidden and I sought clarity of meaning. It
concerns Elwin's future. I am reluctant to talk about this because sometimes
the act of trying to forestall an event may help bring it about. But in this
case I believe keeping the knowledge would be more harmful."

Legolas could feel heaviness settle upon his chest like a large toad. He nodded.

"In my vision I saw you bent low before the dragon, Smaug. He had a transparent
shimmering quality as if he were not flesh and blood, so I deem it occurred
after his fall, not long ago. It seemed you made a bargain with him, the nature
of which I could not discern. But I know that it is bound up with Elwin's fate."

Legolas's glance flew to Elrond's concerned face.

"Can you tell me what the bargain was, Legolas?"

The prince opened his mouth but no sound would come out. He put his hand to his
throat and looked desperately at Elrond.

Elrond turned to Glorfindel. "It appears there is a silencing cast to this
spell."

Glorfindel nodded, regarding Legolas with hawklike eyes. Legolas's chest began
to throb. He pressed his palm to it. Elrond leaned forward and placed his hand
over the prince's.

"Does it hurt, mellon nîn?" he asked.

"Yes," Legolas said. "Whenever . . ." he paused and then forced his words out,
"whenever I consider my feelings for Elwin."

"The dragon's bargain had something to do with your affection for my musician,
did it not?" Elrond asked.

Legolas was able to nod his head, slightly.

"Do you love him?"

"As much as I am able," Legolas said softly.

Elrond said, "The tragedy is bound up with his need for your love. I do not know
how these events are connected." He paused and looked at Legolas sternly. "But I
saw Elwin's death at the hands of orcs. You came to his aid too late."

Legolas felt as if the walls of the room had suddenly moved close around him.
He was having difficulty breathing.

"Actions we take could prevent or promote this outcome one way or another. Now
you see my problem in granting him leave to go on this journey. However, I do
not know when the event might occur. It could be now or hundreds of years from
now. I cannot lock him up in Imladris forever."

"What should I do?" Legolas asked. "Should I break off our . . . relationship
and return to Mirkwood?"

"I don't know," Elrond said. "What does your heart tell you?"

"My heart and I have not been on good terms lately," Legolas said bitterly.
"Curse the dragon!"

Elrond regarded him gravely for a time. "I cannot tell you what your actions
should be, Prince. However, I do know that you must not tell Elwin of this. To
know one's fate is never advisable."

"Why did you tell me?" Legolas asked angrily. "Why give me this burden, if I can
do nothing to prevent it?"

"Because I deem that your knowing may cause you to be vigilant in ways that you
might not be otherwise. It is my hope it can be prevented."

"I know Elwin," Legolas said. "He will go to see his friend in Bree whether you
allow it or not."

Elrond nodded. "I think we need to send an escort."

"As I said before, I'll go with him. I have some skill at arms, my Lord,"
Legolas said.

"So I have heard," said Elrond.

"Melda, I am thinking that I haven't been that way in many long years,"
Glorfindel said with a smile.

Legolas looked at the seneschal in surprise and then approval. "I'll take one of
my guards along as well and Elwin is fairly handy with a blade himself. I think
we should be more than a match for any stray group of orcs."

Elrond hesitated. Then Glorfindel said, "Elrond, the twins went after this
particular band of orcs, did they not?"

"Yes," Elrond asserted. "They took Estel with them."

"Then I find it unlikely that any of the foul creatures will bother us,"
Glorfindel chuckled.

Elrond's shoulders relaxed slightly. "All right. You must all take care of
yourselves," he said looking significantly at his seneschal.

"We are always beset by dangers, foreseen and unforeseen. We cannot live our
lives in fear, melda. You know that," Glorfindel replied.

"It is decided, then." Elrond sighed. "I will tell Elwin he can go."

**********************
They rode far and fast that day and when night descended, made camp in the midst
of a circle of trees within sight of the road. Legolas and Thornan went to scout
their surroundings while the others unpacked. Upon their return, they dumped an
armload of wood near Glorfindel who sat with his legs folded under him, feeding
small twigs into the flame. His fair face was expressionless. His hands
appeared translucent in the firelight like parchment shielding a candle. Legolas
noticed that occasionally a white light flickered over his face that was quickly
shrouded. But when he looked up into Legolas's eyes, the prince saw it burning
in the warrior's pupils. What must it be like to return from death? the prince
wondered. It was a thought that he had never considered before.

Elwin sliced a loaf of bread into thick slabs and passed the pieces around with
a jar of honey, and a dish of hard cheese, dried apples, apricots, and shelled
walnuts. Then he rose and retrieved a large water skin. He poured it into wooden
goblets and sent those around as well.

Cade sat on a small log and watched them as he ate. He had spoken little all day
and seemed in awe of his companions. He took a sip from his goblet, then looked
surprised and guzzled down a long draught. He sighed. "I've never had simple
fare taste so wondrous," he said suddenly. "What magic do you use?"

Elwin stayed his motions."Why nothing, friend," he said in the common tongue.
"It is just what we eat when traveling."

"Ah," Cade said as if he understood something. "Then it's just regular elvish
magic."

Elwin smiled and settled down next to him. "I can't believe how quickly you've
grown. That must be the magic of mortals."

Cade snorted. "Hardly, Master Elwin. It's been nigh on ten years since you last
visited Granddad. I'm full on nineteen now."

"Well, you've grown up well," said Elwin. "It was a brave thing to come so far
alone in search of me."

"There was none else could be spared to come." He lowered his voice. "Well,
truth to tell, they didn't know I left. Granddad pleaded with my father to send
for you. Cried, he did. Said it was his dying wish. But my Dad, he said he
didn't know how to find you and wouldn't go. I couldn't bear it."

His eyes gleamed liquid in the firelight. He swiped a sleeve across his face.
"So, I went to the Prancing Pony and asked the way here. One of them rangers
told me. ‘Just take the road east,' he said, '‘til you reach the Ford, then find
the path that steers towards the Misty Mountains.' But when I reached that big
river, I couldn't find the path. I got so frightened. I didn't know which way to
go from there."

"Not everyone can find the path to Imladris," said Thornan. "It was a brave
deed. You reflect well on your people."

Cade gave him a tentative smile.

"Your grandfather was very ill when you left?" Elwin asked.

Cade nodded. "I pray we're not too late."

"You love him a great deal," Legolas stated.

The young man turned to look at him apprehensively. "Aye, that I do. He's the
most wonderful person I know. It was him as taught me to play the fiddle. Not
that I'm very good, yet." He looked at Elwin with wide eyes. "He told me you
were his master."

"Yes. But I learned from your family, Cade. Your great great grandfather. I am
ever indebted to him for that gift and so I return it as well as I can."

Cade turned to Elwin. "I saw you brought your instrument. Could you help me with
something I've been having trouble with?"

Elwin nodded and went to his packs. He opened the case, took out his violin, and
brought it over to Cade, solemnly placing it in his hands. As if seeing it for
the first time, Legolas noticed how elegantly it was formed and the beauty of
its rich red-gold color.

The young man looked at it carefully. "Lovely. Was it made by elves?"

Elwin nodded. "By a master instrument maker from Imladris of hard maple and
spruce, the inlay of pearwood. The wood was aged twenty years in a special room
and the varnish is a secret recipe only he knows. I have owned it now over one
hundred years and it is just beginning to find its proper voice."

He took it back from Cade, lifted it to his shoulder, and rapidly played a three
octave scale from the mellow tone of the lowest string to the final bright high
note. Then he shifted into a slow melody, sweet and sad. Legolas couldn't take
his eyes away from his lover's strong, sensitive hands as they moved deftly over
the instrument.

When Elwin finished, they all clapped.

"I can see we shall not want for entertainment," Thornan said, smiling.

Cade's eyes shone as Elwin handed him back the violin. "Now let's see what you
can do," the elf said.

"Nay, Master Elwin, I should be embarrassed after that."

"You can't learn unless you play. Go on now."

Cade hesitated, then began to play a simple dance tune. Legolas saw him falter
in a few places, but his tone was quite good.

"Well done," Elwin said, when he'd finished. "But here, relax your hand a little
more and hold up your elbow." He moved behind the young man positioning his
hands. "Try again."

As the lesson progressed, Legolas and Thornan got up, cleared away dinner, and
pulled blankets from their packs. Legolas went a short distance away from the
fire and stared up at the stars with the feeling of comfort and awe he always
had when looking at their remote beauty.

"I will take the first watch, mellon nîn," Glorfindel said softly, coming up
behind him.

"All right. Keep sharp," the prince whispered.

"Assuredly." Glorfindel looked back at Elwin and Cade. The young man was
laughing as Elwin exaggerated a bow movement and made the violin squeak. "He
gets along well with the hên firion, doesn't he?"

Legolas sighed. "I am learning to admire him more every day. I don't think I can
lose him, Glorfindel. What shall I do?"

"Time will reveal your choices," Glorfindel said. He clapped his hand on
Legolas's shoulder, then lightly jumped up, caught the branch of a tree
overhead, and swung himself up into it. He leaned back against the trunk. "I'll
wake you in several hours," he called.

Legolas went back to sit beside the fire. Cade began yawning and Elwin said the
lesson was over for the night.

Later the prince lay in the dark under a blanket with an arm about his lover.
They chuckled softly as they listened to the young man's noisy breathing.

"You were good with that boy," Legolas whispered.

"He is a quick learner. His father never took to the instrument."

"I have not associated with many men. Most I have known were stupid or wicked or
both, like the head of the Merchant's Guild in Esgaroth. It seems I could learn
better," Legolas said.

"You could, my dear Prince. Many of the men of Bree do have a certain simple
innocence. I always thought it came from living such short lives. But William,
this boy's grandfather, was different. Very clever and full of life, he was. We
were good friends when he was a young man. I was present at his wedding and the
naming ceremonies of two of his children. But toward the end he seemed to grow
bitter. The last time I visited, over a decade ago, he would hardly talk to me.
I don't know why. I am hoping to mend that rift before it is too late."

There was a long pause. Then Legolas reached up and gently tucked one of Elwin's
braids behind his ear. "You have a good heart, meleth nîn," the prince
whispered. "I can't get my fill of you."

"Wait until we are alone again, mîr nîn. You'll get your fill of me." Elwin
moved his hips suggestively against Legolas. The prince heard the smile in his
lover's voice and tightened his arms about him.

************************************
mîr nîn - my treasure
ernil velui - sweet prince
Athrad Bruinen - the Ford of Bruinen
Men Thrúnen - eastern road or the Great East Road
mellon nîn - my friend
hên firion - child of a mortal
************************************
-tbc-