PART 2
The sound of muted singing greeted Elrond when he woke. Blinking groggily, he slowly levered himself up. He was in his tent, curled under thick blankets. Filtered light peeked in through the gap in the tent flaps. Subconsciously following the path of the light, Elrond's gaze was directed to the back of the tent where he found Oromë peacefully sitting with his legs crossed and his eyes half closed as he seemed to listen to the faint remnants of last night's music. Yet, Elrond could not help but feel that the Hunter was actually listening to him.
A slight panic overtook him, wondering why this mighty being was still with him. Did Oromë have more to tell him and he had rudely fallen asleep before he had had a chance? Or did the Vala intend to uphold the promise to his father by staying with him until he chose to go to Aman? The thought horrified the young half-elf, who felt he had already taken up too much of the great Ainu's time.
"No, Elrond," Oromë said, his deep voice rumbling like a storm. "Though I should be very glad to spend the rest of your days here with you, Manwë has other tasks for me." Elrond nervously bit his lip again, an action Oromë found charming. He had spent all night simply watching the young elf sleep, watching the steady breath of air moving through his delicate pink lips.
"Then, I should not keep you," Elrond said. "I . . . I did not mean to. Was there something else you, um, needed. . .?" He began nervously wringing his hands in his blankets, feeling a blush stain his cheeks at being the focus of such a great being. Glancing up, he took in the sun-kissed skin stretched taut over high cheekbones, the pale, full lips drawn into a gentle smile, the golden brown hair that shimmered as if each strand was lit from within, and the sparkling cat eyes, the depth of which seemed like that of the ocean, holding some emotion within that Elrond was too frightened to explore. He quickly ducked his head again, trying to rein his mind from the unsafe paths the Vala's beauty beckoned him down.
Oromë heard his thoughts, perceiving that the younger elf felt the pull of their souls as he did, but that Elrond was not yet ready to deal with it. For the moment, his life was still in upheaval and he needed some stability before he could contemplate all that their bond would mean.
"There is another matter that lies between us, but now is not the time to address it. Soon, Eönwë will call all the elves to him and much will be decided," Oromë said, rising to his feet and walking over to Elrond, who looked up at him questioningly. Gently, he caressed the half-elf's cheek, once again rewarded as Elrond leaned into the touch. "Afterwards, when darkness has fallen and your presence is not needed with your fellows, I shall find you and we will speak."
The Hunter gently pressed a kiss to Elrond's brow, though he wanted nothing so much as to kiss those enticing lips, but he refrained, slowly straightening, before bowing and leaving. Soon after, a horn of assembly rang through the encampment.
~~~
Elrond walked wearily along the shore once more. The day had been very draining and he was glad to finally be alone. The herald of Manwë had called for those elves who wished to leave to do so. Ereinion had chosen to stay, ensuring that those of his people who had not yet wearied of Middle-Earth would have a king to lead them. Then, and Elrond wasn't quite sure how it happened, Círdan had managed to convince Ereinion to accept the half-elf as his herald.
Just as this had transpired, a messenger from the two remaining sons of Fëanor had come, demanding the Silmarils. Eönwë had refused and even now the elves waited tensely to find out how Maedhros and Maglor would respond. The debate grieved Elrond, for though he had no love for the elder son of Fëanor, he had become fond of Maglor and learned much from him.
Once things had settled down, many elves prepared to leave, either for Valinor or for the new kingdom Ereinion prepared to make. The new High King had kindly sought him out, and Elrond found him to be a kind elf, though already weighed down with grief and responsibility. Elrond swore to himself he would help his distant cousin in whatever matter he could. Ereinion would have tarried longer with his cousin, but he was quickly called away and Elrond was left for a time with Círdan, who told him of his own plans to rebuild, but the Shipwright was also called away.
Before he could escape, however, Elrond was met by Galadriel and her lord Celeborn. He liked the silver-haired lord right away, though the lady made his skin crawl. Elrond saw in her eyes haughty pride and desire for power, but he foresaw that she would yet be tempered, by time and grief. Their meeting was brief, and he was not exactly sure what they had wanted, but he felt he should keep an eye on the pair.
For the rest of the day, Elrond had been busy helping as he was needed. He looked again on the wounded, perhaps lending them too much of his energy for he felt rather depleted afterwards, before he was found by a few elves that had survived the fall of Sirion and wished to see him before they left across the sea.
It was well into evening before the half-elf finally was free. His mind wandered unbidden back to the Vala supposedly waiting to speak with him. He had been too busy to think much on the upcoming meeting, though it seemed his forehead would not stop tingling where he had been kissed. Most likely the Vala was merely concerned for a child of Ilúvatar and meant nothing but comfort with his gestures of kindness, but Elrond found himself wanting so much more. He had never felt so safe or loved as he did in Tauron's strong embrace.
He was pulled from his musings by the soft whicker of a horse. Looking up, he saw again the silver stallion that had borne Tauron upon their first meeting. Leaning against the sturdy horse was his Vala. His Vala? When had Elrond started to think of the Hunter as his? Elrond ducked his head, feeling himself blush yet again.
Oromë smiled at Elrond's thoughts, more than glad to be considered his. "Good evening, Elrond," he said.
"Good evening, my lord," Elrond said shyly, carefully keeping his distance from the imposing Vala.
"Please, Elrond, there is no need for formalities. Tauron is fine." Elrond nodded absently, but had no inclination to accept the Vala's offer. "Will you walk with me?" Oromë asked, extending his hand. Hesitantly, and still not looking up, Elrond moved forward, taking the proffered hand. Slowly, Oromë took the half-elf further from the encampment, Nahar ambling after them.
The Vala waited for Elrond to calm down, sensing his confusion. Soon though, the steady beat of the waves against the shore began to soothe the half-elf. He began to enjoy his surroundings, allowing Oromë to speak when it suited him.
"The new High King has made you his herald," Oromë began softly. Elrond nodded absently. "And does this please you?" Elrond considered this for a long moment.
"Yes. It seems he considers himself my cousin and not my king. He is the closest family I have aside from my brother. If he truly intends to treat me as family, I should be very happy."
"Most likely he will for as he is your only family so are you his only family," Oromë pondered, gently rubbing Elrond's knuckles.
"Hmm, I had not thought of that. He seems very nice though, and I think he will make a good king," Elrond responded, amazed at the ease with which he could converse with the Vala.
"Especially if he listens to you," the Vala said absently. Elrond gazed sidelong at him.
"Is that why you wished to speak to me?" he asked quietly. Oromë met his gaze and solemnly shook his head.
"No. That which I wish to speak of concerns you and me alone." Elrond stopped abruptly, looking up at the Vala.
"What could we have in connection?" he asked incredulously. Oromë smiled sadly at him, but before he could answer, a horn sounded back in the encampment and loud cries could be heard. Startled, Elrond turned but could see nothing.
"What has happened?" he asked, returning his gaze to the Vala.
"The remaining sons of Fëanor have attacked the encampment in search of their father's gems," Oromë said calmly. Alarmed, the half-elf moved to return, but was restrained by the Vala's hold on his hand. He looked questioningly at his companion, seeing the sadness in his eyes. "They will be gone before you arrive."
"Should you not stop them?" Elrond questioned. Oromë turned to look in the direction of the encampment, his expression sad.
"No, this must happen, but they will have their gems back and whatever happens, they will no longer take part in the fate of Endor." Elrond did not respond, and Oromë returned his gaze to him. "Where do your thoughts lead you?" he asked quietly. The half-elf sighed.
"I have never cared for Maedhros except in that Maglor cared for him, and I felt deeply Maglor's pain. I pity them both for the oath they have taken. I have long made peace with their actions at Sirion and I wish them both peace." Oromë nodded thoughtfully.
"As do the Valar. We have ever mourned their choice and the suffering that has come from it, both for those they have hurt and for themselves." Elrond turned his head to look into the Vala's eyes and was startled by the sudden intensity therein, a look of desire he had never seen before and did not know how to respond to. Slowly, Oromë drew him into his embrace, and Elrond was too entranced by his expression to resist.
"What do you feel when you are in my arms?" Oromë asked into his mind. The mental touch was soothing and electric at the same time, and Elrond's pulse quicken.
"I know that I do not wish to leave," he thought simply, and was rewarded by the subtle tightening of the arms around him.
"That is well, for I do not wish to let you go." For a moment, both were very still as Elrond slowly processed what was going on. Then Oromë leaned forward, this time capturing Elrond's lips in a gentle kiss. The moment the Vala's warm lips descended onto his own, Elrond was lost. The half-elf had never before been kissed by a lover. Growing up in a time of such turmoil, there was little time for romance and Elrond was too shy to look for it.
Oromë was himself drowning, feeling the gentle tug on his spirit as Elrond sought to find comfort. Without hesitation, he drew the half-elf's spirit into his own, amazed at how loving and kind it was, but he refrained from letting Elrond do the same, knowing the younger elf was not yet ready to house a spirit within him as potent as that of a Vala.
Still, Elrond reveled in the warmth surrounding his insides. It seemed that some small part of himself opened up as if just waiting for this to happen, waiting for this Vala to find him. Oromë's tongue gently nudged against the half-elf's soft lips, seeking entrance, which it obtained after a moment's hesitation. Elrond moaned as his mouth was invaded. His tongue danced shyly with the intruder, yet did not grow bold enough to follow it back into the Vala's mouth.
Only when his lungs began to burn with lack of oxygen did they break apart. Elrond's head was reeling and he met Oromë's burning gaze with an uncertain one of his own.
"Why did you do that?" he asked softly. Oromë smiled softly, gently touching Elrond's soft cheek.
"What does your soul tell you?" the thought came warm into his mind.
"I do not know. I have never felt like this before and I-I . . . I am confused," Elrond admitted.
"You do not wish to leave my embrace and you enjoy my attentions," Oromë prompted, whispering softly into the half-elf's ear before bestowing a gentle kiss on its tip. A shiver ran through Elrond's body at the contact.
"Yes, but I know I should not keep you."
"Why?" Elrond looked up at the Vala in surprise.
"Because you are one of the Valar. Surely you cannot linger with me; you must have important things to look after and . . . are you not married?" Elrond questioned hesitantly. Oromë's smile widened.
"No, I am not married."
"But, Maglor said-," Elrond began, confused.
"There is something you must understand," Oromë cut in, gently stroking Elrond's silky hair. "Long ago, while we waited for rumor of the elves, we knew little of them and how they would arrange themselves. Yet however they did, we did not wish to interfere. When first I set eyes upon your people, I saw them paired by female and male, but they were young and few had yet found their partner. Still, we did not know and so we did not tell them that Vaná, my supposed wife, was actually married to Nienna, moved by her grief to comfort her if she could." Elrond's brow furrowed in thought upon hearing this.
"But why then should she have been said to marry at all? If you did not wish it known two woman had married, why could you not say that both were free? I doubt any elf would have bothered them with improper advances." Oromë chuckled, and Elrond found himself delighted with the sound.
"That is not necessarily true, but for her part, Vaná has ever had trouble hiding her love. If I remember correctly, I had just led the three leaders of elves to Valinor and they were naturally curious. They chanced to come upon Vaná in a moment of sadness and asked her the cause. She could not lie, and told them that her spouse's grief troubled her greatly. I believe it was Ingwë who asked if I was her husband, for indeed at the time I was grieved when I saw the way the elves fled in terror before me."
"And you did not correct the misconception even when you saw that elves did not care about gender when choosing their mates?" Elrond asked. The Vala slowly shook his head.
"No, there seemed to be no need. Never have we outright lied to them, but Vaná and Nienna have never found the inaccuracy to be bothersome to them, so there has been no need for your people to think different. Though," Oromë said softly, gently tightening his arms around the half-elf, "that may soon change." Elrond looked at the Vala inquisitively.
"Why?" For the first time, Oromë looked hesitant.
"You asked after my wife; does that mean you were thinking of courting?" Elrond's eyes widened impossibly at this.
"I-I, forgive me, I did not mean to offend-," he began, again attempting to leave the warm embrace surrounding him.
"You have not. Indeed, I am very honored," Oromë said softly, continuing to soothingly stroke the half-elf's raven hair.
"You are?" Elrond asked incredulously.
"I cannot think of anything I would wish for more," he breathed, his lips once more very close to Elrond's. The words fully roused the small part of him that Oromë's presence had awoken, a strong connection flowing to the Ainu's powerful spirit. As soon as the realization sunk in, the Vala closed the distance between them to taste again of those warm lips he was quickly growing addicted to.
Elrond was simply overwhelmed, and he melted into the kiss, eagerly opening his mouth this time. Without thinking, he wound his arms around the Vala's neck, pulling him even closer. While he lost himself in the kiss, he felt the gentle pull on his spirit as Oromë caressed his soul as well and Elrond began to accept that the Vala was indeed interested in him, and that might not be wrong.
Again, they parted and Elrond looked up into the tender eyes of his new lover, feeling the strong possessiveness rolling off the Vala in waves.
"What does this mean?" he asked quietly, leaning into the Hunter's embrace. Oromë bestowed butterfly kisses over Elrond's face to soothe him before responding.
"Long ago when I sang my part in Ilúvatar's Great Music, I felt within myself and those who sang beside me the creation of something new, something that changed me also, and I did not understand, but it brought me peace. Then I looked upon His creation and I wondered at its beauty; I could see no other option for me than to come here and to see how the Song played out, but before I descended, Ilúvatar Himself spoke to me. He spoke into my mind as I do to you now, but my brethren also heard His words to me. He spoke of a great love destined for me and that the other half of my soul would be born among His children."
"Am I this love?" Elrond asked hesitantly, still unsure. The Hunter looked deep into the half-elf's eyes, opening his soul to him.
"When you look within yourself, what do you see?" he asked quietly, though the intensity of his gaze seemed to burn through Elrond. "Can you doubt it?" Obediently, Elrond searched inward, feeling the warmth surrounding his soul and a joy barely suppressed within himself.
"No, no I cannot," Elrond admitted, feeling a great sense of relief wash through him for accepting the inevitable, his destiny. He smiled brilliantly, happy to have found one so loving for his mate. Oromë smiled in return, letting Elrond rest his head against his shoulder, feeling the peace washing through the half-elf. He hummed softly as he held his beloved.
They were interrupted by a sudden loud neigh and what was probably supposed to be a gentle nudge, but considering Nahar's great power, they both stumbled out of the embrace. Oromë gave his massive steed an evil look for disturbing them when Elrond had just grown comfortable, but the silver stallion paid his master no mind, moving cautiously toward the half-elf. Elrond did not seem to be offended by the intrusion, and equally cautiously held out his hand for the great horse to investigate. Nahar let his muzzle drop into the half-elf's hand, inviting to be petted, which Elrond promptly did, scratching behind his ears and petting his soft cheek.
"Your horse is beautiful," he said, glancing shyly at the Vala. Oromë shook his head in defeat, moving forward to stroke Nahar's neck.
"Yes, but unfortunately, he knows that. I fear he's grown accustomed to being praised," Oromë sighed. Elrond smiled at this.
"He has every right to be praised, but I think he interrupted us because he was jealous that I have taken up so much of your time."
"If he is jealous, it is me he is jealous of for keeping you from him. I know I would be," he said in a low voice, his eyes glowing with desire once more. Elrond caught the look and blushed, glad that he had Nahar to focus on, for he was still a little overwhelmed by all that he had discovered this night. Doubtless this was the true cause of Nahar's interference, for he had sensed the half-elf's mood. The mighty stallion was ever attuned to his master's wishes, and understood the connection between the two beings standing near him. He knew it was better for them both to maintain some distance for the moment. So Nahar separated them for their own good. Being the focus of such a radiant elf was a happy bonus.
Oromë looked up at the sky, seeing the path of the moon and he sighed again. "The hour grows late, little one and your king will set out tomorrow. He will want you at his side when he goes to seek out new land for his kingdom, which will mean hard riding. I should not keep you from your rest." Elrond nodded, but could not hide his disappointment.
"When will I see you again?" he whispered, still stroking Nahar's nose. Oromë caught his free hand, bringing it to his lips.
"The role of the Valar in this war is over, and I should not be seen lest the elves who remain fear we wish for dominion over them, as I fear some still believe. But my brethren will not come between us. I will see you again in the evening, for I wish to know you better." Elrond nodded, and feeling suddenly bold, stood on his tiptoes to give the Hunter a brief kiss.
"I shall look forward to it," he said, even as his cheeks went red from his own actions. Oromë smiled happily and then offered his arm to lead the half-elf back to camp.