Title: And So the Leaf Falls. Pt. 20/20

Author: Deathangelgw

Author email: deathangelgw@hotmail.com

Disclaimer: The characters belong to Tolkien, not me. Though I wouldn’t mind them! ~_^

Warnings: AU, slight OOC, sap, angst, dark, lemon/lime, slash.

Pairings: Elrond/Legolas, hinted Erestor/Glorfindel, Ereinion/Celebrían, Elladan/Haldir, and Elrohir/Rumil

Rating: NC-17

Summary: A time to explore finds new things for a certain Mirkwood prince

Notes: It is the END! I am so happy for this to be finished and I hope everyone enjoys the end as much as I do! Thank you to everyone who have kept up with this until the end and to MA thanks for the beta! Love ya! Enjoy! Feedback is much loved and appreciated!

‘thoughts’

[Two weeks later]

The scent of flowers wafted in the warm spring breeze that floated to the party of Elves that were traveling through the still wilderness mountains of Imlothuial. Signs of snow still melting mingled with the snowdrops and croci that were pushing through the white substance.  Midnight trillium also dotted the ground among the budding trees, bringing a mystery cover to the ground. Legolas smiled as he looked around, taking in the verdant valley that was waking from its long winter sleep. He relished the feel of the wild power that was thriving around them and found that he loved it there.

He looked up as one of the others dropped back to ride next to him and noted that it was Ereinion. The former High King looked at him and then, with a smirk tilting his lips, reached over and pulled Legolas' hood up to cover the golden head. Legolas protested a bit, but only glared slightly at the elder Elf as he chuckled. His explanation wasn't long in coming either. "Let us speak first with Elrond and you are the additional surprise. Keep silent and behind us," Ereinion ordered lightly and grinned as Legolas nodded dumbly in agreement. He lightly kneed his steed to a faster pace to reach Celebrían and Legolas could only stare after him for a bit, surprised at the abrupt act.

But his surprise was answered as they went through a long passageway between two towering bluffs that were thick with bushes and some snow and opened up to a breathtaking panorama of nature before their eyes. They stopped at the cliff side so that they could all take in the magnificence that was Imlothuial.

Bluffs surrounded the river valley while mountains shot into the sky in the near distance. Several waterfalls were seen situated around the vale, throwing mist into the air even as they cascaded over moss covered rocks. Trees covered almost the entire valley, intermingling with the buildings as if they were from the same seed. The buildings were what brought tears to Legolas' eyes for they resembled Imladris so much so that it was as if they had returned to the now faded land. But the difference between the two was the amount of flowers that were scattered in the forest. Cherry, wisteria, and apple trees were in full bloom as were peach and orange trees as well as almost any type of fruit tree imaginable. Magnolias were peeking out around the largest buildings, their delicate petals a delightful contrast to the dark wood that was there. Gardens could be seen scattered about the buildings high and low, trailing vines and blooming bushes for all to see around fountains that sparkled and bubbled. To Legolas, it was paradise.

After a few minutes of admiring the view, the group of Elves moved down the wooded trail that wound down towards the central part of the valley, gazing around in wonder for many of them the entire way. Finally, they could hear trumpets announcing their arrival as they entered the main part of the city and dozens of Elves came out to watch them go by, waving and calling out in greeting. They arrived at the main building that was said to be Elrond's home and found him waiting at the top with two other Elves. Legolas recognized the one as Lindir and guessed that the second was Ecthelion with how Glorfindel called out happily and waved excitedly, much to everyone's amusement.

But Legolas' gaze was focused on Elrond in sheer despair as he saw all the changes that his beloved had gone through. While still regal and graceful in standing, Elrond was so thin that he was half the size he had been. His hands, when they came out to gesture them to come forward, were skeletal and his face was hollowed. His eyes were faded from the penetrating deep gray to a pale silver and his smile, if it could be called that, barely tilted his lips. The long chestnut hair was dull and filled with split ends that wafted in the breeze. Legolas noted the heavy robes his beloved wore even though it was a warm day and the tremble that was in the skeletal hands as they held Ereinion's hands in greeting. He wanted to cry and wail at it as well as sweep Elrond into his arms and nurse him into better health with his very faer, but he stayed where he was as Elrond greeted his family and old Advisors.

Finally Ereinion led him towards the home as the others parted. "And we have someone special for you Elrond," he said and tugged the hood off of Legolas' head. The reaction was almost immediate as soon as they locked eyes. Elrond's eyes widened in shock as he took a step back, then his whole body shuddered before his eyes rolled back into his head and he dropped to the ground unconscious.

"Elrond!"

"Ada!"

"Hiren!" (My Lord)

Legolas pushed forward as swiftly as he could as the others knelt next to the shaking Elrond as Ecthelion held him and tried to revive him. Ecthelion looked up and glared hard at Legolas as he spat out, "You fools! He is in shock! His body and faer could not handle that!"

"Elrond, no!" Legolas cried as he knelt and cupped his beloved's cheek, and then gasped as Elrond began convulsing.

"We must stabilize him!  Take him inside!" Elladan ordered quickly and followed Ecthelion into the house as the Seneschal carried Elrond inside. Legolas was right behind them, but suddenly was held back by Elladan. "Stay here."

"Nay! I must be with him!" Legolas protested angrily, desperate to be with his lover.

"Nay! You will only be in the way!" Elladan snapped back, and then took a deep breath as he closed his eyes before focusing again on Legolas. "You can be with him once we stabilize him, but you will only be in the way as we work on him. Please Legolas...we need you strong for him. You are the only one who can save him...this is for certain just with how he reacted. He never thought he would see you again, can you not see that? He needs you and you must be strong!" he explained desperately as he placed his hands on Legolas' shoulders.

Biting his lip as tears rolled down his face, Legolas nodded once and stepped back. He was startled when he was almost instantly enfolded in a hug and looked up into Ereinion's sorrowful eyes. With a very soft sniffle, he turned in the hold and buried his face in the strong chest, taking strength from the older Elf as they waited for news on Elrond's status.

An hour later, Ecthelion came out and gazed at them steadily. "I know that you wanted to surprise him, but I think now you realize just how serious his condition is. He is stable now thankfully, but he is unconscious and may remain so for an unknown amount of time. But he needs you...all of you. I just...am not sure if he is strong enough to survive," he told them and Celebrían gasped before sobbing and moving into Ereinion's arms.

"Meldiren, is there a possible way to give him that strength?" (My dear friend) Glorfindel asked as he rubbed Legolas' back gently as the younger Elf sat next to him trembling.

"None that I know of. He has lost his will to live, meldiren. It is up to him to decide to live," Ecthelion whispered sorrowfully. He turned and gestured for them to go inside. "Come...be with him."

Numbly, Legolas stood with the others and went inside the room, feeling as if he was once more going to a funeral. He almost wept as he saw the twins sitting on either side of their father's bed holding his frail hands as the once magnificent Elf Lord lay frail and sunken within the plush pillows. Elrohir looked over from where his head rested on his hands that were cupping the skeletal hand and smiled sorrowfully. "We have been trying to give him our strength, but he does not hear us," he whispered thickly and Legolas almost wanted to drop there as well. If his own *sons* couldn't reach him, how could they possibly save him?

"Do not give up hope, ionathen. He may look to have given up, but Elrond is stubborn in his own right. And he has a group of stubborn Elves who will drag him back from Mandos' Halls if he leaves," (my sons) Celebrían said fiercely and smiled at her sons as they smiled back at her. She went over to Elladan's side and sat on the bed before leaning in and whispering softly to her former husband as she caressed his face tenderly. She leaned back a bit, and then brushed her lips over Elrond's own cracked lips in a gentle kiss before standing.

Ereinion smiled as he squeezed Legolas' shoulder encouragingly. "Let us all be here with our beloved," he said and nodded at the gathered. Legolas went over by Elrohir and sat on the bed before laying forward and resting his head on Elrond's shoulder. He smiled sadly as Elrohir leaned in as well and rested his forehead against Legolas' as the bed dipped here and there with the weight of the others gathered. Comforted, Legolas settled in for his vigil next to his beloved.

*~~**~~*

The soft sounds of birds chirping woke Legolas from his brief reverie and he stretched a bit before sitting up in the chair he was sitting in. He pressed a kiss to Elrond's hand and resumed his position that had become almost permanent for him the last three days: bent over the bed with his elbows resting on the mattress, hands cupped around Elrond's hand, and forehead resting on his hands. Three days had passed since their arrival and Elrond showed no signs of waking from his coma. He was the only one who had stayed with Elrond, never leaving his side as time passed. The others visited often, but he rarely moved even to drink or eat or relieve himself. He just couldn't be parted from his beloved knowing he was the cause.

He turned his head just a bit and let his gaze wander over the pale sunken features. It broke his heart even more to see the damage his vow had caused, yet he knew he didn't look any better. He reached up a hand and cupped the frail cheek tenderly. "Please, maethoren dhae...open your eyes so I might see you. I love you...do not leave me after our unbearable parting," (my shadow warrior) he whispered for what seemed the hundredth time, yet it felt as if it were not enough. He shifted his head to rest against Elrond's shoulder and wrapped his arm around his beloved, holding him close in a weak hug. "Please," he pleaded hoarsely.

He laid that way for a minute before noticing the difference in Elrond's breathing. Shifting up, he looked at Elrond's face and felt his heart almost stop when he saw his beloved's pale gaze focused on him. Tears almost instantly rolled down his cheeks as he cupped Elrond's face tenderly. "Elrond...please, do not leave me..." he whispered shakily as he rubbed his thumb delicately over Elrond's cheek.

Eyes closing in both fatigue and pleasure at the touch, Elrond sighed. "Too late, rŷnen ‘waew. I do not have the strength to live, much less the will," (my wind chaser) he murmured tiredly as he turned his head into the gentle touch.

"N-Nay! You are stronger than this! Why do you leave us when we all want you to live!?" Legolas whispered tearfully as he leaned closer and hugged his beloved to him. But Elrond didn't answer him as he turned his head and nuzzled into Legolas' neck, the only sign of his affection as Legolas held him tightly. Legolas' thoughts raced with a way to save his love, running through what Elrond had said before he leaned back and rested his forehead against Elrond's. He gazed into Elrond's eyes as he searched his memory for a way to change this fate...a way to strengthen his bond with the Peredhel. He closed his eyes as he laced his fingers with Elrond's, thinking and remembering what he'd studied and read over the centuries. Suddenly, he remembered a very ancient ritual of binding that couples would perform along with the hand fasting during the time after they had crossed the Helcaraxë. With the weakness in their souls from all that they had been through, it had been the one way that those who were bonded could strengthen the other and keep them close. There had been side effects, yes there had been for the bond was so deep it was as if they truly became half of each other. But if it meant he could save Elrond, he would do it willingly!

Opening his eyes, he gazed at Elrond decisively. "Bind with me, melethen. A blood bond like those of the ancient times...let our souls become one and I will give you my strength and love so that you might live," (my love) he whispered firmly as he clutched Elrond's shaking hands to his chest.

"Nay Legolas...do not bind to me when I am so far gone. You would follow me..." Elrond replied weakly as he gazed at his lover sorrowfully. A shaking skeletal hand cupped Legolas’ cheek, a cold touch to remind just how close he was to fading from life.

“I will join you either way for I cannot live without you. I have been from your side for too long and I will not be able to handle life if you are not in it any longer,” Legolas sobbed out as he clutched at the hand in his own. “Please...please Elrond...trust in our love. Do you not trust me?”

“With my life...my heart...my soul...” Elrond managed to whisper as a smile tilted his lips. He closed his eyes and sighed before opening them again to gaze at him with eyes shimmering with tears. He smiled more as he tilted his head just enough to brush their lips together in a sweet kiss that had been denied them for over a century. A breathy sob left them both before their lips pressed even closer together in a delicious kiss that filled them both with love and longing.

Legolas’ hands cupped Elrond’s head tenderly as they kissed hungrily and he knew his answer before they parted for air. He smiled lovingly as he nuzzled Elrond and whispered, “I will prepare everything. I want you to hold on to my love and rest and I will make you mine.” He smiled with Elrond before stealing another kiss.

A throat clearing stopped their kiss from deepening and they looked over to find a pair of smirking twins watching them. Legolas couldn’t help grinning back as he threaded his fingers through Elrond’s hair before turning to look at the elder Peredhel. “Rest...I will be back,” he said tenderly and smiled as Elrond nuzzled his wrist. He pressed a kiss to Elrond’s forehead before standing and going, leaving the twins with their father. He had work to do.

*~~**~~*

Sighing softly as he looked over the pages before him, Legolas rubbed his eyes again before turning the page. He had searched through many of the books within Imlothuial’s vast library, but none of them had spoken of the rite he was searching for. With another sigh as he still found nothing within the book he was reading, he closed it and flopped his head onto it. He was desperate to find the ritual, but it was eluding him and he wasn’t sure what to look under for his information.

“You are troubled, penneth...what are you searching for?” (young one)

Looking up, Legolas blinked then smiled a bit at Ecthelion as the Seneschal leaned over him. “I am searching for something that would save Elrond, but it is eluding me,” he explained tiredly as he sat up and pushed the book he’d been searching away from him.

“What ritual is this?” Ecthelion asked, curiosity tinting his eyes as he sat across from the younger Elf.

Considering, Legolas studied the elder Elf for a minute before coming to a decision. “It was a ritual I remember reading a long time ago where the Elves who had crossed over the Helcaraxë used blood bonds to sustain themselves through the wars.”

“I remember that. My parents had a blood bond. However it is very dangerous. When my father was killed in battle against Morgoth’s horde, my nana died not a week later. It was if she had lost half of her soul,” Ecthelion replied solemnly as he folded his hands before him.

“It was because they shared half of their souls with each other. It is this that I wish to perform with my beloved so that he will have the strength to live,” Legolas said firmly before running his hand over his face. “If I could only find the thrice damned ritual!”

Ecthelion chuckled a bit as he looked around thoughtfully. He stood up then and went down to the third aisle. After looking over the book spines, he pulled out a thin book that looked to be very ancient as he delicately held it in his hands. He returned to the table and placed it before Legolas. “This is what you seek,” he whispered softly.

Startled, Legolas stared at the book, and then very carefully opened the brittle pages. It was in Quenyan, the delicate lines decorating the yellowed pages with its information. Biting his lip, Legolas looked up at Ecthelion. “Hannon le, Ecthelion...but my Quenyan is rudimentary,” (Thank you) he whispered, almost near tears suddenly as he was stopped from finding what he needed just because of language barrier.

A hand covered Legolas’ as Ecthelion grinned. “Then it is a good thing that I am here, aye?” he said and Legolas felt his face break with his happy smile. With energy and spirits renewed, he set to deciphering what he needed for the ritual.

*~~**~~*

The moon light that filtered down through the trees fell onto Elrond’s face as he walked carefully with his sons on either side holding him up. He had indeed regained some of his strength in the last two days thanks to his family and Legolas’ ministrations, but he could still feel his spirit fading. He wasn’t sure this was going to work...in fact he was very skeptical. But for some reason, he held onto the hope and light that Legolas held for him and continued walking on. All that had happened had vanished in the light of his beloved’s love filled eyes and he wouldn’t let that go.

They went around the bend of the overgrown pathway and stopped as they came to the private garden that Elrond had created when they had first arrived there. It was a small waterfall that fell into a pond that trickled out as a stream towards the main river. The willow trees mingled with wisteria and cherry trees and the snowdrops and croci dotted the ground with little buds of color. The moonlight danced on the pool, full and brilliant, but nothing compared to the naked Elf that was waiting for him within the cool waters. Elrond felt his heart stop and his mouth go dry as he saw his beloved watching him from the pool, remembering just how beautiful his beloved truly was as the pale blue eyes watched him.

His sons brought him to a stop at the edge and helped him strip from his thick robes before guiding him carefully over the rock lined edge and into the still icy waters. He shivered in cold, but it seemed to vanish once his hands laced with Legolas’ and the warmth his beloved radiated warmed him throughout. He smiled gently up at his love as he moved to his position in front of Legolas. He could see the twins and their lovers, Ereinion and Celebrían all around the pool, witnesses to their binding. Erestor, Lindir, Ecthelion, and Glorfindel stood just to the side, ready to help if they needed it.

With a deep breath, he focused on Legolas as the younger Elf brought up the bowl and jeweled dagger that had been resting on the ground of the pool at their feet. Legolas smiled as he placed the bowl in Elrond’s hands and brought up the dagger. “From the darkness we emerged into the light, searching for that which would make us complete. With the moon blessing us, we find that light and declare our souls one.”

“Blood to blood, heart to heart, soul to soul...we are one. My light to your light...my love to your love. My soul...to your soul,” Elrond whispered tearfully as he felt the power within the air coalesce around them as they spoke the vows that would bind them. They brought their hands up and laced them together as they continued together. “Forever we bind until death takes us beyond. Our strength is shared, our hearts are one, our souls never to be parted.”

With those words, Legolas brought up the dagger and sliced both of their hands before lacing their hands together again, pressing the wounds together. The blood dripped into the bowl of clear river water, turning it crimson before he brought it up. “We drink of each other as our blood flows into the other. Never shall we be parted,” he whispered before taking a sip of the watered down blood.

Elrond sipped from the bowl as well and closed his eyes before swaying into Legolas’ hold. He could feel Legolas’ soul blending with his own and it filled him with energy and life. He smiled as Legolas wrapped his free arm around his waist and their bodies pressed together tightly. He turned his head up and they kissed deeply, an act that seemed deeper as their souls merged together. Elrond felt as if fire was flowing through him now, igniting him into strength he hadn’t felt in years and he gasped with Legolas. Their foreheads rested together and they stared at each other and Elrond couldn’t help but note how Legolas’ eyes looked to be a blend of both their colors.

They stood that way for who knows how long and vaguely heard the shuffling of the others leaving, but they didn’t care. All they cared about were each other. Their lips brushed together here and there as they swayed together under the moonlight with nothing but Nature around them. Soon their kisses began to linger longer as the fire within them changed to passion. Their tongues teased each other as their free hands caressed over bodies long missed and soon it just wasn’t enough to touch and kiss.

Gently, Elrond backed up until they were on the grassy bank of the pool and knelt down onto the blanket that was waiting there. He chuckled when he noticed the vial of oil, but his chuckle was swallowed by Legolas’ laughing mouth. They laid out on the blanket as their kisses became hungry and heated as their bodies slid together familiarly. Elrond couldn’t fight the passion that washed over him, not that he wanted to in any way. He twined his legs with Legolas’ as a finger probed his entrance, slick with oil and he moaned with want. His mouth was released and he groaned as Legolas’ hot mouth trailed down his body before all but inhaling his hard shaft into that heated mouth as the oiled finger pushed in. He was swiftly overwhelmed with the pleasure of it all and cried out Legolas’ name as he arched sharply, pulsing his release into that teasing mouth.

He panted heavily and moaned as his body trembled in aftershocks that Legolas was prolonging with his preparation and he wanted so much more. He pleaded huskily for Legolas to fill him and was swiftly answered with a hungry kiss that distracted him from the removal of the teasing fingers. A groan tore from his throat as he was filled with something far more fulfilling and desired and he wrapped his legs around Legolas’ waist. He gasped his beloved’s name and they laced their hands together again as Legolas began moving slowly within Elrond’s body, binding them even more. It didn’t take them long to climax with the over stimulation and lack of being together and they cried out each other’s names as they arched in ecstasy. They collapsed together and wrapped their arms around each other, whispering lovingly to each other as they just cuddled.

Elrond smiled as Legolas tucked close to him and he could feel his strength returning along with his warmth and love through Legolas. He felt that the wind had returned his heart and soul in Legolas and now he knew that he could continue in life with Legolas by his side. And that was how the leaf had fallen for him...landing on the river of life with Legolas at his side.

The End!