Chapter Text
!!! IMPORTANT !!! The author's note for this chapter is very important, please read through the whole thing, it will explain how this book works so that everything makes sense, thank you.
*A/N* Hello, welcome to my new book, it's just some random snippets and thoughts regarding Thranduil, Elrond, and Celebrían's relationship. I'll put the prompt/inspiration, if there is one, for the writing at the beginning of each chapter along with a brief summary of what's happening if it's an AU or something. I will also list the trigger warnings for the chapter, including if it has smut or not. This might not be updated very frequently and the chapters will probably be short but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless. As with all of my books, I am not making any money off of this, I own nothing but the writing. Please feel free to translate this book or post it on other sites, I would just appreciate the credit. ESPECIALLY take inspiration from it, continue scenes or add in extra ones, that's the entire purpose of this book. Along with that, for this particular book, please feel free to put any suggestions, ideas, or prompts of your own in the comments or on my message board and I will try my best to add them in here. Now, please enjoy!
Trigger warnings: Implied death, implied smut, kissing
Summary: This basically starts where "Holding Up Impressions" left off, Thranduil wakes up in Elrond and Celebrían's rooms.
POV: Thranduil
It's a weird feeling, one that I definitely wasn't accustomed to, but that didn't at all mean it was unpleasant. Quite the opposite in fact, it felt incredible. It was a subtle feeling, the warmth of being in a bed with somebody else, but losing it had been unbearable.
It was months before I could bring myself to even set foot into mine and Elúriel's room, much less sleep in our bed. Even now, years later, I couldn't bring myself to sleep on her side, I never even found myself rolling over in my sleep onto the other side. Legolas too, if he would sit in the bed with me, would stay firmly on my side and never cross over. There was an invisible, impenetrable, unmovable wall that divided the bed, the closet, the drawers, the bathroom counter, all in two so that the other side felt cold and somehow strange and foreign.
But this was not like that at all, this felt warm, safe, just... whole, like there weren't any missing pieces. For a lack of other words, I absolutely loved it. Before I was even conscious, I was happier than I had been in what felt like more than an eternity. I don't care what the clocks and calendars said, some days, weeks, months, years, were simply longer than others. And these past years had been some of the longest in all my life, but this morning couldn't last long enough.
Even after I was awake, I kept my eyes closed. I couldn't really explain why, I suppose I was scared of having to leave, scared of being alone again and having to go back to being in a big, empty bed. I wanted to be part of a real family again, more than just me and Legolas. And I was scared that if I woke up... they would ask me to leave, that it was just a fling and it meant nothing to them. I had been starting to get the hang of it, not used to it, but being able to manage most of it, and this had just set me all the way back to square one. It all seemed so impossible again.
My thoughts were interrupted by a gentle hand carding its fingers through my hair as a strong chest pressed up against my back. "It's nearly noon, Thranduil, you should get up to eat something," murmured a smooth, deep voice with a breath that ghosted over my neck and collarbone, sending a whirl of butterflies through my stomach.
I cracked my eyes open, squinting against the harsh sunlight. Noon. Legolas would definitely be back by now, he would probably already have breakfast ready since no one would be cooking in the meal halls today. He might be worried, I had already been gone quite a while. I groaned as I sat up, my muscles aching and stiff from their abuse last night.
As I attempted to swing my legs over the side of the bed and get up, a sharp pain ran through my backside and stomach, then up my back. Wincing, I waited for the pain to dissipate. I went to try again, not bothering to hide my bare skin, they had already seen everything. Attempting to inch forward on the sheets renewed the pain between my legs tenfold and I grimaced loudly.
Elrond was at my side in a second, wrapping a long, simple robe around my shoulders to give me some privacy, which I appreciated. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern laced in every word, "Are you hurt?"
"No," I replied, a little breathless, "no, I'm okay. Just... sore."
He smiled knowingly at me before placing a soft, gentle kiss on my lips that made my knees go weak. After that, he stood and swept me up into his arms, chuckling at my squeak of surprise and carrying me, bridal style, into the adjoining bathroom of his rooms. He deposited me gently on the floor so I could support myself against the wooden counter, tucking a wayward strand of hair behind my ear before he went about preparing a bath.
It didn't take long until the large, marble tub was filled with warm, steaming water. Elrond made sure I was steady before he went to get me a towel. I slowly slipped the robe off, but stopped as soon as I saw my reflection in the mirror. "Oh, Elbereth..." I sighed as I ran a hand over the many, dark hickeys dappled all over my neck, throat, and collarbone.
I blushed furiously as Elrond came up behind me, pulling my curtain of hair out of the way and letting it fall down my back, revealing even more marks. I couldn't help but stare in awe, it looked beautiful. I loved the pattern that the prongs of the collar had left behind, the bruises in the shape of clear finger prints that started out in deep purples and then slowly faded out. I had forgotten how much I missed seeing the aftermath like this, how much I missed admiring the art that someone I loved had left behind on my skin, how much I missed puzzling out how I would cover it all.
The lord of Imladris slipped his hand down the robe that was hanging off my elbows, still concealing my stomach and everything after. His fingers dipping into the parting down the middle of the fabric and pulled it away slightly, showing off the bruises that encircled my hips and waist. My breath caught in my throat and the pink flush spread all the way down my neck to my chest as I clearly recalled exactly how those marks were made.
"You look stunning," he murmured, before slowly leading me over to the tub.
He let me take off the robe and then helped me into the water, making sure I was okay before leaving the room to let me bathe. I gave myself a minute to relax in the hot water, letting my sore body adjust. In the meantime, my tired brain tried to figure everything out. Elrond was confusing to me, just as Elúriel had been. I didn't know what he wanted out of this, or if he wanted it to continue, or how this would even work. Maybe he thought I was disgusting now. Maybe he would tell someone, no, he wouldn't do that... would he?
Desperately, I shook my head trying to clear away the spiral of thoughts. Right, Legolas, I had to go and see Legolas. Hurriedly, I grabbed a bar of soap, lathered it between my hands and began washing my hair and body.
I tried not to worry about it, but I couldn't stop my whirling brain. How would I explain this to my son? What would I say to Elrond when I left? What if someone saw?
I rinsed off as quickly as I could, carefully climbing out of the tub, wincing slightly as I did so, and wrapping a towel around my waist. Gripping the edges of the counter, I looked over my reflection in the mirror once more. Inhaling deeply, I tried to calm my breathing and hold back the sudden wave of tears that threatened to fall. Crying would make everything so much worse, I just had to get my stuff and make it back to my rooms as fast as possible and without drawing too much attention. I could do that.
Slowly, I pulled the door open and quickly made my way around the room, gathering my discarded shirt, leggings, cloak, belt, lingerie, handcuffs, and finally, the beloved collar. I was just about to put on my cloak and head out into the hall when a soft, light voice startled me from the doorway, "Where are you going?"
Turning, I found Celebrían looking at me fondly, a smile playing on her lips, dressed in a simple gown with her hair done up in a loose bun on the nape of her neck. She looked beautiful, so similar to my wife, yet, somehow, different. Elúriel used to look at me like that, like she loved me, I missed her looking at me like that. I wanted to look at her like that again. I wanted to look at Celebrían and Elrond like that and I wanted them to return it.
"J-Just..." my voice broke and I trailed off slightly, "going back to my quarters."
She looked sympathetic, still smiling, but this one was sad. Approaching me carefully, her hand gently came up to cup my cheek, her lovely blue eyes meeting my own. "Do not leave because you think we want you to," she whispered, her thumb stroking my face, almost making me break down all over again, "My husband has been looking for your company for half an eternity, I wish you could see how shy he is around you."
"Legolas..." I mumbled, trying to find an excuse, not because I wanted to leave ,but because they couldn't possibly want me to stay, not really.
"I'm sure that he knows," she assured, smoothing my hair, "he's your son Thranduil, he's stubborn, not stupid."
I blushed a bit at the thought that he probably already knew what happened, but smiled shyly at the comment nonetheless. "Still," I shrugged, keeping my eyes on the floor, "I don't want to bother anyone."
At that moment, Elrond entered the room hesitantly, "Don't worry, you aren't," he said quietly, making his way over, "it's a pleasure to be with you."
I didn't resist any further and let them lead me down onto a couch and be pulled into their sides. We spent the whole day like that, just cuddling. They kissed and held me carefully, not like I was fragile, but like they really cared. Everything felt real, like a real relationship and not just a quick, one-time hookup.
I tried to be in the moment, to just enjoy it as it came and savour it while it lasted. I tried not to let my mind wander and spiral downwards, tried not to overthink it too much. I wasn't sure yet, it felt too soon, but I already liked both of them, maybe even loved them. But loving people was hard. I didn't want it to be hard anymore, I wanted it to be easy, I just wanted to stop trying so much.
Being with them was beginning to feel easy.
*A/N* Alright! That's the first chapter, I hope you liked it. Let me know if you have any ideas, I'm fine with writing just about anything with these three so long as Thranduil is the bottom, that is pretty much my only condition. Please let me know immediately if there are any trigger warnings you would like me to add if you see them and I will do so!