Too Much

Disclaimer: this installment is for the sole purpose of entertainment both the author and the readers.
I do not intent to make money of it, so please don't sue me.
All characters unless noted otherwise are the property of J.R.R. Tolkien.

It's Tolkien's fault. Had he given us more female Elves to work on....
As it is we must deal with what we have - not that we care. :-))

Rating: R/NC-17

Summary: In the wake of Elrond's council solitary Erestor finds a new love ....and an old one returns unexpectedly.
Slight SM, lots of drama and some sex. Be warned and prepared...

Author's note: this is the result of an RPG, so not solely written by me but by Lady Phoenix as well.

Archieve: as long as we know: yes.

Feedback: YESSSSSS! It keeps us going!

Pairing: Erestor/Lindir, Erestor/OMC

In the morning a group of traders had arrived in the valley of Imladris, quickly setting up their stands, offering their goods from afar: food, fabrics and all kinds of baubles.

Among the mostly human entourage was a figure that looked even unusual to elven eyes: A seemingly Vanyarin elf of average size and features. Yet he caught the eyes of the passers-by with his white-blond hair, his fair skin that reminded of alabaster and eyes so pale everybody thought of mithril.

He had quickly set up a little arena with sticks rammed into the ground, connected by colorful ribbons. There he stood in the middle of it, juggling and singing with a voice like silver bells and thus attracting a throng of spectators willing to throw some small coins into the upturned cap he had put on the ground.

~~~

"No, I was thinking... I was thinking that now that this is done, now that you can heal... 'Restor, I had wanted to speak to you of it before, but the time never seemed right. Now that things are as they are, I should hate to wait longer. I want to find the one who wounded Lindir. Nay, not to confront him. Do not think me so foolish as to take on someone of that ilk alone. If I could find him, observe him, find some motive or pattern... it could do much to help this war we are a part of."

Erestor nodded quietly, unseen of Lindir who's gaze was glued to Daerdion's lips in what seemed sheer horror. It did make sense, no question, to find out more about this fiend and his motifs.

Lindir's eyes widened. "No! You cannot. He... he is too dangerous. Tell him, 'Restor, tell him that it would be folly to go alone."

Erestor gathered Lindir in his arms, his heart aching for the young one's anxiety. "Lindir, we have both done things more dangerous. It is only that you do not know so." the ancient Noldo kissed Lindir's hair. "Still, " Erestor sighed, seeking to hold Daer's gaze "Still I would prefer to accompany you if the matter were less pressing - two blades are always better than one." but Lindir had to heal and Erestor would not lightly leave the bard's side unless that was accomplished. He was confident about his older husband's abilities to spy on some enemy, no matter how clever that one was, but he would in any case prefer to go with him.

"I would welcome your blade at my side as always, 'Restor, but I would not abandon the young one." He could feel the tension in the slight body pressed against his. "Do not fear, I will not abandon you. If you truly wish me to remain... but the idea that this creature runs free, may attack anyone..."

Lindir bit his lip, feeling guilty at his selfishness. He wanted his lovers close to him, did not want so soon to give up their bond. "I understand. If... if you truly wish to go... then... then you should not go alone." The bard raised his gaze to Erestor. Though there were tears in his eyes, Lindir seemed to have resolved the matter in his own mind. "I would not wish either of you to be harmed, and together there is less chance of it."

Erestor sighed "These are hard times, my love. But you will be safe here whereas Daer -" it was illogic to stay here and let Daer go to face an unknown danger alone. They were bonded now - Lindir would draw strength from them anyway.

"We will not be gone too long, beloved. And part of us will stay with you now - you will not be alone or left behind." the ancient Noldo kissed Lindir's brow before he looked at Daer "We shall ride out at dusk and slip through the shadows unseen by possible spies."

"Then... can we stay here? Or together, at least, until it's time?" Lindir asked hopefully. He could accept that they needed to go. It was not a matter of vengeance or anything so foolish. The man could hurt someone else, could destroy other lives.

"Aye, sweet one." Erestor smiled warmly, "We shall do as you wish. Today you shall be our prince."

"We could go down to the courtyard. There are supposed to be merchants in today bringing wares. There are usually bards and storytellers among them." //And if I cannot sing again yet myself, at the very least I can listen.//

"Yes! They certainly have candied fruits and maybe even chocolate from the far south. Or a juicy sweet pineapple - nay, there is the ripest, sweetest fruit right here besides me, laying besides a rough, thorny plant. " the ancient Noldo grabbed Lindir and growled as he playfully bit the bard, pretending to devour him alive, his teeth grazing the smooth skin wherever he placed a mock bite.

"Leave him be, 'Restor. Bad enough he'll probably be sore enough to last until we return as it is," Daer teased with a laugh as he rose.

"Well, I wouldn't want him to forget about us." Erestor laughed and reluctantly followed Daer's words.

Once all three were properly cleaned and attired, they made their way downstairs. Daer couldn't help smiling at the lightness of his heart, the flush he saw on Lindir's cheeks. The day seemed brighter than any he had known in a long, long while. Together they milled through the crowds despite lingering stares from those who knew Erestor or Lindir.

At last the bard let out a soft cry and hurried forward through the throng toward the sound of a whimsical voice rising above the din.

With a helpless gesture Erestor looked at his husband "There he goes - forgotten are we at the sound of one single voice. - Let's see what is happening there." Erestor slowly followed with Daer until they stopped and saw what had caught Lindir's attention.

"A Vanya!" Erestor gaped. His wife - who had died crossing the Helcaraxe with the rest of his family - had been Vanyarin and as far as he knew hardly any had ever left Valinor.

Lindir stopped in front of the pale vision that was Ivor and listened, rapt, to the song.

Ivorcheneb ended his song, bowed graciously and scanned the crowd with a bright smile.

"Honorable inhabitants of Imladris I would want to baffle you with my newest, most dangerous trick, but I know you would say that I indeed tricked you. Therefore I ask one of you, most valued spectators," his eyes grazed a very tall black-haired form besides a rugged, but no less beautiful blond warrior - easily to be determined by the broad shoulders and general demeanor. But in the end his gaze locked that of a rather young elf with the most delicious lips possible. "Is there a warrior or knight among you who would lend me his sword? I promise to return it whole and clean within a moment."

Seeing how captivated Lindir seemed by the unusual elf before them, Daer decided to indulge the showman. "Here," he offered, holding the handle out toward Ivor.

The illusionist accepted the weapon with another bow "Thank you, my Lord." he whirled it through the air and caught it easily again, causing quite a few spectators to gasp aloud.

"May it never be said," he added to Lindir quietly, "that I do not support the starving artists."

The bard smiled at him, but his gaze returned almost at once to Ivor. Magicians were few and far between. Though bards came often through their borders, more elaborate spectacles were rare enough.

"And starving he is." answered Erestor. The magician's clothes were threadbare at best and had he not been an elf the wintry could would have frozen him a long time ago. But Erestor was captivated by the vision that was Ivor himself. The elf reminded him of living moonlight or liquid mithril. "Oh!" he gasped:

Ivor had cut his thumb when he had tested the blade. Although planned he acted with great skill to make the act look like a true accident. He licked the blood off his thumb with a sensual gesture. "Indeed a very sharp weapon, Sire. I shall be careful then..." he took a deep breath and relaxed his body as he let his head fall back, lifting the blade above his open mouth and lo! Swallowed it down to the hilt. Ivorcheneb spread his arms and turned around to let everybody see that the sword was indeed fully buried inside his body.

"How can he do this?" Erestor was amazed "Each time I tried this with an orc, the beast would die!" the comment gained him quite a few stares that went unnoticed by the Counselor - he had eyes only for the almost ethereal elf in the midst of the small arena.

The crowd held its collective breath until he had - just as carefully - extracted the deadly steel again. There was a bit of blood at the edges but nothing too bad and Ivor knew he'd be healed by the end of the day.

He returned the sword and only then did the crowd applaud frantically.

"He has skill, that is sure," Daerdion commented to his lover after applauding with the rest of them. //And beauty.// Daer could not remember seeing anyone quite so striking in all his years.

"Maybe I should try to hire him. The house lacks amusement lately and with Lindir being sick...." the elf was truly talented and probably for hire at a good price - regarding his attire.

Ivor bowed and then walked the circle with his cap, collecting coins. When he stood in front of Lindir he said "The smallest coin from you shall make me sing whatever your heart desires, young Lord. Your beauty is certainly already subject of many a song."

Lindir laughed at that. "Nay, I am usually more for singing songs than being sung about... but I should like to hear your voice once more." He produced a few coins and pressed them into Ivor's hand. "Sing what your heart calls you to."

Ivor's hand closed briefly around Lindir's as he accepted the coins. "So you are an artist yourself! I feel honored, my Lord." He bowed deeply, the grin never leaving his face. Then he stood straight, hand behind his ear to make sure his voice properly intoned the song.

To Erestor's amazement the song was an ancient piece of Quenya poetry that went straight to his heart, forcing him to blink away a few tears that stole into the corners of his eyes. Aiya - the olden times!

"E-excuse me..." he whispered into Daer's ear and hastily limped out of sight where he leant against a statue, eyes closed against the lump that formed in his throat.

Ivorcheneb ended his song with a moment of silence, as if he listened to the ebbing notes carried away on the winter-breeze. He noticed the gap the missing Noldo had left in the audience yet did not know what had made the obviously ancient one leave. "Yours truly will now take a short break, but I will be back with more songs and stories and tricks 'ere the next hour starts. Thank you for your kind attention, Lords and Ladies." he looked at Lindir "I would like to discuss your art with you, young Lord?"

Lindir looked after Erestor and saw him with Daer. //He can probably help far better than I,// the bard decided after a hesitation. "Aye. Please, my name is Lindir. Call me that. There is no need for formality between us."

"Ivorcheneb, to your service, Lindir." he bowed curtly before he reached for a mug with water. He broke the thin layer of ice that had formed during his performance and drank. "I cannot offer you anything but this and certainly you have better choice back inside the house. Tell me, my friend: what exactly is your art? You said you sing yourself, yet I did not hear your voice join mine..." Ivor tilted his head.

"I have been unwell," Lindir admitted, face suddenly flush with sadness. "I fear that my voice is not yet any stronger than I." Though he felt better already, Lindir knew he was far from healed and held no expectations of a speedy recovery from such a wound. "I am a bard by trade, though. It is what brought me to Imladris."

"Then we have a lot in common, Lindir. Though I only sing what others have composed - I am not good with words myself. But I came here hoping to be able to stay until solstice. You will certainly recover soon and then I could indulge in the pleasure of your voice?" he cast a quick glance at some elflings who tried to juggle with his golden balls. He didn't mind as long as they stayed clear of the throwing knives. The his eyes widened with surprise and he reached for Lindir's hair "Ai! What is this?" he produced a small square of candied pineapple out of nowhere as if he'd just pulled it out of Lindir's silken tresses.

"I must say that you should take more care of where you lay your head." he laughed lightly, offering the fruit to the bard. "Not quite as sweet as you, but still delicious."

The bard laughed quietly and took the fruit. "Sweet indeed... but I fear that the pleasure you seek... You look to the wrong person," Lindir corrected quietly. Months, even weeks before, he would gladly have gone to bed with Ivor. He was beautiful and interesting and only passing through, after all. "I am bonded."

"Oh, what a loss for all of Elvendom!" Ivor's eyes went wide with surprise. "But pray tell who is the fool letting you stand here alone? You should be fussed over and not abandoned to kill time talking to a rogue like me." Ivor looked a bit sad now. He had immediately liked the bard and the idea of bedding him 'ere he moved on had been a promising one. But still, Lindir was wonderful company and beautiful to behold //at least my eyes can have their share. And there are others here for a warm night.//

"Ah, but they are being kind in giving me this time." Lindir's eyes soon found his lovers, and he nodded toward the pair. "T'is them." The jealousy of before gone, Lindir smiled at the sight of the pair feeding each other, the playful kisses. //I am glad that all of this worked without anyone being left behind.//

"oh, the sword!" Ivor's eyes went wide "'Tis good you warned me, I doubt he would think twice splitting me apart." for some reason he found the idea amusing. "But you say 'they'. Did the old couple take you as their consort?" ah, what a shame then! to have the young one infuse some life into two worn-out elves...

Lindir couldn't help but look mildly scandalized. //Is that what everyone will think?// As his strength grew, some of the bard's pride returned, and the idea of all of Imladris thinking him a whore... "Nay," he responded with a great deal of forced control. "We three are bonded together."

Ivorcheneb's eyes grew wide. He'd never heard anything the like! This was more than only interesting.

~~~

Daerdion followed a moment later and rested a hand on his husband's back. "Are you well, love? It is rare to see you so overcome by a song..." Though he'd felt himself the power of the notes, it had not connected so firmly with Daerdion nor moved him so much.

Erestor shuddered, drew a deep breath and blinked again. "Ai, Daer! To hear those words - it all flashed up in my mind. The Kinslaying, the Helcaraxe.... it caught me off guard." he took Daer by his shoulders "My first husband - always taking care of me. I love you." he kissed Daer's brow. "When the young ones sing such songs all they know is how to make is sound best. They have no idea about what they are truly singing.... but then - there are only a few left who remember."

"They mean no harm in it. If they did not sing of the old times, they would be forgotten entirely. The young ones these days... they do not wish to remember the darkness."

"I know. Only.... Daer, he speaks Quenya like one who grew up with it, not a scholar using a dead tongue. I think that was what floored me: to hear my mother-tongue tell about things past." though it was not dead - not as long as those few ancient ones lived who called it their mother-tongue! But how many were left besides himself and Galadriel?

Daer's eyes scanned the horizon as if searching for a foe not yet spotted. "I fear they will see it soon enough in any case."

"Aye. Now that the one Ring is found... Sauron will probe and press wherever he can to find it. I'm afraid Imladris will not much longer be safe." the Counselor straightened his shoulders, shaking off those images that had so suddenly overwhelmed him and smiled grimly at his lover "Let us not darken this day by such thoughts until we part tonight. Did you ever eat what the people far south call 'fudge'? We may find some here." but his eyes only sought Lindir among the colorful shifting crowd.

"Let us try. I think that Lindir has found himself a friend. The time couldn't be better. If he is to be without us, at least he might have someone to talk to." The idea of infidelity never so much as entered into Daerdion's mind. They were bonded, after all, and there was no more sacred tie.

"Aye. 'Twill be good for him to have some distraction. Young as he is he should not spend so much time brooding. What could be a better companion than another artist?" Erestor glanced at the two young elves obviously caught up in conversation. "He seems very light-hearted, that's good. Yes, I shall employ him in any case!"

They walked two or three booths farther until they found what Erestor was looking for: A dark-skinned women from the far south selling candied fruit, dates and a dark brown concoction made of cocoa and nuts - and whatever else was needed. The counselor exchanged a few pleasantries with the owner, then bartered hard for a good selection of exotic fruits, an excessive amount of fudge and some dates. Finally they settled for an acceptable price and coins were handed over.

Erestor seemed extremely pleased with his acquisition and offered Daerdion a small sticky brown square of fudge. "Taste this. It always reminded me of you: bitter and sweet at the same time."

Daer smiled at that and took a bit from the square. It was indeed interesting, the taste melting slowly over his tongue. "Mmm... lovely. I do not think, love, that I am nearly so sweet." Daer leaned in and gave Erestor a quick kiss. "Though I am happy to hear that you think so."

Erestor blushed, not being used to such public display and quickly glanced around. Of course they had been seen! //so what? He is your husband, you have every right to be kissed by him!// "You are sweet! That you don't realize it makes it only the sweeter." he put his arm around Daer's shoulder, "Come, let's get back to Lindir - he wanted to be with us until we part."

"Aye, we have little enough time for the moment." Daer sighed at the idea of leaving Lindir so soon. Much as he loved the though of time alone in the field with Erestor... //There is no sense in worrying. He will be well enough, cared for here.//

~~~

Before Lindir could explain further, he saw his lover's approaching. Soon he was leaning back into the calloused touch of Daerdion's hand against his back. "Ivor, this is Daerdion and Erestor, advisor to Lord Elrond."

"Greetings, my Lords. Ivorcheneb is my name. To your service." the silvery elf bowed graciously before the elders.

"Well met, Ivorcheneb. I see you have already made the acquaintance of our young husband." Erestor's hand rested possessively on Lindir's shoulder, claiming what was his. He was all but one to share what he considered his. "I wondered if you were for hire for a while. My Lord's house would welcome the distraction and with Lindir being wounded... we would appreciate your service."

Ivor noted well the firm hold the Noldo had on Lindir's shoulder, saw the stance that reminded him of a large black cat: danger and controlled power. He stored the information for later and focused on the tempting offer.

"I would take such engagement into consideration, given that the conditions would be acceptable." he replied. No need to let the Advisor know he had wanted to stay anyway.

"Free boarding and lodging plus a small compensation. Certainly more than you would usually earn." Erestor's eyes scanned the contents of Ivor's cap - no wonder the elf had no proper attire!

"'Tis a bad day today. Still this could pique my interest." Ivor condescended.

"I would ask you to seek out my assistant, Celefin in the afternoon. He shall work out a proper contract with you." Erestor was not the one to barter with simple employees - his time was too precious for that, especially today! "I bid you a good day, Ivorcheneb." he turned toward Lindir "Now, love, what else would you want to see?"

Lindir gave Ivor a final smile as he was pulled away from the performer. "I think that I should like to see the inside of our bedchamber. It may be that I cannot walk for a week after, but the memory to stay me would be well worth it."

Erestor's eyebrows shot up and he stopped dead in his tracks for a moment. He coughed to clear his throat. "I think I have really forgotten how horny young elves are. Have we been like this, Daer?" Erestor asked with honest amazement. "When we met, Daer was only 75, yet he already was a full-fledged warrior at that time, ready to pass his last trial." he explained to Lindir. "Well, let us go back inside, although this is really VERY unbecoming for elves of our age!"

"It will be good for you," Lindir challenged. "You'll sleep soundly and set off well-rested and happy. Surely that is the proper way to begin a journey?" The youngest of the threesome pulled his lovers through the halls and felt lighter than he had in a long while. As soon as they were inside, he pulled Erestor into a lingering kiss. As Lindir turned to embrace Daer in the same way, he felt the other elf withdraw.

"I think that for this night, the two of you should be alone. Nay, do not protest, sweet one. I will return to sleep with you, but though Erestor and I have shared time together alone and will share more on this journey, the two of you have not had a moment since your recovery began." Daer kissed each of his husbands in turn. "Do you think that you can handle this wild young creature alone, 'Restor?"

Erestor laughed quietly "If all else fails, I still have my sword to fend off any ravenous fiend." he watched Daer leave the room, feeling immense gratitude for his husband's sensitivity. Once the door had closed he looked at Lindir: "Well, this is our moment now, isn't it, sweet one?" he reached for his youngest husband to kiss him deeply.

TBC...