Chapter 20: Challenges
The evening’s real feasting commenced once all food was consumed, but the wine continued flowing.
Rainiel took the somewhat bewildered Lenmana by the arm and led her over to where Elladan and Elrohir were twisting tales to and fro to the delight of their all female audience. Sounds of delicate laughter and visions of twinkling eyes were gifted to the twins. Such lightness and joy was a reprieve for the two orc hunters who spent most of their time out in the wilds, wreaking vengeance on the cause of their mother’s hasty departure of middle earth.
It was a widely shared opinion that the increased lightheartedness of Elrohir and Elladan and their love for outrageous pranks was a sort of pleasurable relief for the two who otherwise headed out on more dark and dangerous paths. Many also believed, and rightly so, that the loss of mothers to the dark creatures was what bound the princes of Mirkwood with the junior lords of Imladris. And on more than one occasion the young elves would together scour lands in search of the grizzly orc, exacting bloody revenge upon their common enemy.
Although Lenmana could communicate in Sindarin she missed the many intricacies and subtleties of the language; thus much of what was said at the table that night she did not quite understand, but she could feel the palpable tension that hung in the air. Although there was no air of danger there was a sense that something was going to happen, something that did not sit well in the pit of her stomach.
Rainiel glanced over to where Legolas, Aní, Erutunín, and Laurenor were again gathered talking in whispers.
“Elladan, Elrohir,” Rainiel announced as she and Lenmana arrived to disrupt the circle of maidens that had gathered around the Imladris duo.
Elrohir and Elladan quickly halted their tales and gathered Rainiel in warm embraces. Rainiel turned to stare down the elven maidens who were throwing dagger looks her way, “Do not worry ladies, you shall have your lords at your disposal when it matters, and I would dare add that my Aní and my brother Legolas appeared quite jealous that you all were gathered here around Elrohir and Elladan.”
A voice laden with a strange accent added, “I overheard them whisper how they too wished for the lavish attentions of maidens this evening. I think they do not wish to be out of the company of the fairer sex this evening.”
Some of the elven maidens looked over at Lenmana with surprise, others simply with large smiles. Regardless their reaction to the strange woman’s use of their language, the maidens looked at each other and giggled knowingly. At once the group did a round-a-bout and flocked towards where Aní and Legolas were sitting, flanked by Laurenor and Erutunín.
The look on Aní and Legolas’ face was priceless. They looked like elves who were about to be circled by ravenous orcs. Laurenor and Erutunín simply grunted and glanced over to Rainiel who was doubled over with laughter.
Standing next to her, Lenmana wore a look of satisfaction. As Laurenor and Erutunín looked over from Rainiel to the woman, Lenmana waved at them, wearing the best smile she could.
Erutunín leaned over towards Laurenor, sarcasm dripping from his tone, “It would seem that my wife’s interventions with the young mortal are beginning to bear fruit.”
Laurenor was massaging his temples with his thumb and forefinger, “We do not need another ally in my sister’s revenges.”
As Laurenor finished his sentence, the group was swarmed by a large number of very attractive wood elves who were cooing and giggling in the direction of the bachelor elves.
Although irritated at first, Legolas’ annoyance soon was taken over by his stronger desire to woo and elicit blushed cheeks. Aní too had been initially annoyed by the interference of the maidens into their well formed plans for the evening, but before he knew it, he too was holding court with his uncle.
Erutunín gasped annoyingly, “Now what! With these two so easily distracted, how do we ever expect to proceed with our plans?”
Laurenor threw his hands up in the air, “Ai, it was too easy for these two to be sidetracked.” He tried to look over to where his sister was gathered with the twins but had a hard time peering through the mass of elven bodices that were gathered around him. What he did see was his wife and daughter laughing merrily at his predicament. Lotórie was jumping up and down with excitement and waving madly at her father.
Laurenor’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his wife, and he realized too late that something was afoul this evening.
***
Elrohir and Elladan’s eyebrows perked as they heard Lenmana address the group of maidens.
Elrohir spoke aloud the duo’s thoughts, “ ‘Tis true what Mithrandir said, that you, hiril nîn , have come to speak our Sindarin tongue. We are glad this rumor is true for it would be a crime not to be able to exchange pleasantries with such a dark beauty.”
Elladan nodded in agreement and the two each took one of Lenmana’s hands and gifted her with the softest of kisses upon them. The twins released her hands and they fell limply to her side.
“Now look at what you have done,” Rainiel chided, “our mortal maiden is now rendered speechless.”
Indeed, Lenmana’s mouth hung open and her body stood as still as stone. This was the second time she had been rendered so by a pair of male elves. Finally finding her voice, she looked towards Rainiel and asked, “Do they always come in pairs?”
Rainiel laughed heartily at Lenmana’s innocent question, understanding that she had most likely been assaulted in the same manner by Legolas and Aní. “In your case Lenmana, I fear they do.”
Lenmana wore a look of confusion as she looked over to Rainiel who was obviously entertained by the situation.
Rainiel, seeing her consternation, added, “Oh dearest Lenmana, I do not mean to laugh or take likely your predicament. It is just that these two,” Rainiel pointed accusatory fingers to Elrohir and Elladan, “and my brother and son are like wild beasts when they smell a young innocent creature in their wake. You my dear mortal maiden are such an innocent, for you are unawares of their histories as devourers of maidens and virtue.”
Rainiel continued, “And may I add you are too innocent for your own good. Although a warrior in your own right it seems that in your lifetime you have not come across the likes of these four.”
Elladan and Elrohir, as if on cue, bowed before Lenmana and added in unison, “At your service, Hiril nîn .”
“You mean they enjoy causing the heat to rise in one’s face,” Lenmana asked in her forthright manner, bringing her hands to clasp her cheeks.
“Indeed morn iell , it is one of our favorite goals in life,” Elrohir responded-
“To light the fires of passion and desire in the fairer sex,” Elladan continued-
“And quench these flames in the most delectable of mortal and immortal unions,” the two concluded their well rehearsed seduction.
“But you must choose carefully my little Araswen , for some are more skilled in bringing pleasure than others,” a deep and melodic voice announced from behind Lenmana.
She spun around and found herself looking up at Legolas who was sharing a look of challenge with the twins.
Rainiel cut in, “ ‘Tis enough of the male egos that are on display. Look, see how your orchestrations are causing our guest from far off lands to question the sanity of you all?”
Rainiel then whispered to Lenmana, making sure the others heard her, “Do not mind these males, they are mere birds puffing their chests and displaying their feathers. A new and exotic addition to their flock has excited them a bit too much and they wish to race to see who will be first to claim it.”
Lenmana looked at the three male elves who were trying hard to look in other directions.
Finally, Legolas was the first to respond to Lenmana’s questioning and reproachful gaze, “Dearest guest, you must not judge us too harshly. I am a simple wood elf, guided by simple tendencies. I do not wish to treat you lightly or with disrespect. Please accept my most humble apologies.”
Loud coughs and snorts were heard coming from Elladan and Elrohir’s direction, but Legolas coolly ignored them and proceeded to plant the chastest kiss he could muster on Lenmana’s cheek. As he placed the kiss on her he glanced over towards Elladan and Elrohir and if eyes could smirk, Legolas’ did so.
Lenmana announced to no one in particular, “Now I know what a dazed rabbit must feel like being pawed about by a mountain lion before he is to devour it.”
Rainiel shoved Legolas away from Lenmana and took the dazed maiden away from the pack of elves who were circling the mortal.
As they walked away, the three were caught up in what seemed a heated debate about their abilities with the fairer sex. They missed the giggles that were being shared by Lenmana and Rainiel as they approached Istawen and her daughter.
“Our plan is working perfectly,” a very pleased Istawen announced, “but let us seem more concerned for we are being spied upon by our husbands.”
“And I dare say our Lenmana could not survive another innuendo or innocent kiss. These male elves are too good for their own good,” Rainiel added.
Lenmana shook her head vigorously in agreement, “These elves certainly understand the many ways under the moon to woo a maiden. I was ready to crumble when Rainiel pushed Legolas away from me. How do they do it,” Lenmana’s voice trailed off dreamily.
Istawen had to shake Lenmana whose eyes were glossed over and was wearing a rather silly looking smile. Finally, Lenmana was jostled back to her senses.
****
“Ah I dare say I know what drives our friend.”
“Pray tell brother, what so draws Legolas to the flicker of a candle that will flicker out all too soon,” Elrohir chided.
Legolas simply rolled his eyes at the two twins who stood, arms crossed on their chest, pretending to be holding a conversation of the most serious import. But he remained to listen to the babbled theorizing of his dear friends.
“I believe,” Elladan purred, sliding slowly to stand next to Legolas, “that Legolas here is tortuously curious about the fires of mortal kind.”
Elladan moved closer to Legolas, his chest pressing into Legolas’ shoulder, his whispered words falling close to Legolas’ ears. He continued his summary, “I know this only too well.”
Legolas raised his hand to wave off Elladan’s verbal barrage, but to no avail.
Elladan insisted, “Do not deny it gwador , I know what you seek more intimately than you. You forget I am Peredhil, the blood of mortals runs in my veins, though ages in lineage have passed. I can taste the tempestuousness of mortality on my tongue, its sudden fires. In your mouth, in your being you wish to be intoxicated in it immortal friend.”
Legolas was now looking directly at Elladan. Both he and Elrohir knew him too well, had shared many adventures and tragedies that bound them in brotherhood. They knew his weaknesses, if they could be called such in elven kind, and he knew theirs. And so Legolas listened, listened intently, not because Elladan was attempting to ridicule him, but because Elladan was hitting on something that lay within him.
Elladan moved away from Legolas and Elrohir observed the exchange quietly.
Elladan continued, “Our immortality is gift and curse. It brings us great joy, great sorrow. We know the greatest of love, the kind a mortal could never fathom, so deep and constant the very thought of it frightens them. No mere mortal can love an elf and be loved in return. Our passions run like rivers that empty out into the vast ocean, but nothing is lost in that immensity, just gained. Legolas, you may not seek love, but you*do* seek pleasure, pleasure of the kind that only an immortal can take from mortal kind.”
Elladan began circling Legolas, speaking softly, but with the depth and passion of knowing bourn only through the line of Elrond. “I know what you can seek because the remembrance of it pulses in my veins, haunts my dreams. It is an elixir exquisite to our refined palate, but it burns young one, it burns. Mortals, their passions indeed also run like rivers, but theirs is the briefest course, like rapids that toss and tumble. One can get hurt, one can even die if the course one chooses is not wise. They will never know what it is like to find an end such as ours and flow freely in deep and open waters, that is our fate, but theirs we know not. And that my dear friend, that uncertainty, the not knowing, the tasting of it is thrilling, if only for a brief moment in our eternity. But tread carefully. ”
Legolas wore a thoughtful smile on his face as he listened to Elladan’s words, finally adding his own whispered thoughts, “Gwador , you speak seemingly in riddles and yet these words ring the clearest and truest I have heard you speak of late. And I know that you desire to taste of this stranger. Will her breath taste as those of mortal women you have come to know? Will her scent be as present and lingering as those whose lives succumb too quickly to death? I imagine not and yes for there is usualness in her mortality but strangeness as well. Not much we know of her, but know this, she is who she seems to be, nothing more- and yet… I cannot say for I have not solved that piece of the riddle.”
“Truly a diplomat and a well trained son of Thranduil you are,” Elladan purred in return. “Your words speak truths and yet other ends are suggested, and I am as curious as you dear friend, your challenge is met.”
“How can you two stand there and wager upon a maiden, a maiden whom is a guest of this kingdom, whose heart has known much pain,” an angry voice announced behind them, but it was not Elrohir.
Elladan and Legolas turned to find Aní standing with fists clenched, and eyes narrowed.
Legolas chuckled, “We do not mean her harm Aní. We will be careful with her, you need not worry.”
Elrohir who had been silent up to this point interjected, “Ai Aní, ‘tis a hard thing to understand at your young age, but you will.”
Aní replied sarcastically, “Then please help me understand.”
Elrohir glanced at Legolas and Elladan who shrugged their shoulders. He then obliged Aní’s request, “Aní you have had no experiences with mortal women, is this right?”
Aní nodded his head, affirming Elrohir’s observation.
Elrohir continued, “We do not pretend to offer to those of mortal kind that which they do not expect. What they receive is a gift of sorts, an experience that does them no harm, something they treasure for their brief breaths. They take from us as much as we take from them, though they may not conceive that at first, but it does come to them.”
“And what exactly is it they take from us,” Aní asked genuinely curious.
“A glimpse into our constancy, the feeling of agelessness, and intensity they will never again capture.”
“How can this be a good thing,” Aní snorted.
Elrohir answered quietly, and somewhat sadly, “Because they come away knowing that their mortality is not a curse, not an end to be feared. Somehow, I cannot say how for I do not know this, we gift them with sacred, almost blessed awareness.”
Legolas added, his tone tinged by the sorrow that is a ready companion of immortal kind, “My Adar has spoken of this. He once said that to love a mortal whether in spirit or in body brings us to such ends for it reminds us of our certainty and theirs. I have yet to satiate my full desires with a mortal maiden. Somehow, my father’s long hand finds its way to me, interrupting me at the *most* inopportune times,” Legolas added attempting to lighten the tone of the conversation.
“Is this why he has always discouraged us from forming too close of relations with men and warned us of dallying with mortal women,” Aní asked, realization of certain conversations with his grandfather gathering in his thoughts.
Elladan, who did not like the dark turn the conversation had taken, interrupted, “So you see Aní, your dear guest stands to gain two fold.”
“And how is that,” Aní asked incredulously, regaining some of his sarcasm.
Elladan self assuredly announced, “One which Elrohir explained, and two, the most blissful night of bodily union they will ever come to know in their short lives. So you see we mean no harm.”
“Ha, that is unless one of us falls in love,” Legolas chided.
“Now that Legolas is impossible with the likes of you, and you two also,” Aní laughed implicating the twins as well.
“ ‘Tis why we risk nothing, hênmaethor ,” Elladan teased.
Aní landed a solid punch on Elladan’s shoulder, eliciting a yelp from the older elf, “At least this laes can cause true pain.”