Mereth Aderthad by chrissystriped

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Chapter Three

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“I can’t believe this is happening”, Maedhros murmured to Findekáno from the corner of his mouth as they listened to what had quickly become a contest of skill between Makalaure and King Thingol’s famed minstrel Daeron.

Findekáno chuckled. “It was only a matter of time, wasn’t it? We all know that Makalaure can’t resist a contest.”

“He also likes to be the clear winner. He’ll be insufferable if this results in a draw”, Maedhros groaned.

His friend patted his back and took two glasses from the tablet of a server who was just moving past. “Here, drink something.” He pushed the glass at him and Maedhros took a sip. It was good wine. The north of Beleriand was too cold for vines, but Círdan had vineyards at the Falas and they traded for it.

“What do you think of the Sinda, Cousin Galadriel seems to have taken a liking to?”, Findekáno asked.

“Who? Oh, Artanis.” It was hard to keep track of the sindarinized names of his relatives, especially when they were so completely different from their Quenya names. “As he just stared at me, as if he expected me to eat him, when we were introduced, I can’t really say.” Maedhros rolled his eyes. “I like Mablung, the soldiers seem to be the only people with a little sense in that kingdom.”

“I’m sure Thingol thinks it extremely sensible to have as little contact with us as possible”, Findekáno answered cheerfully. “I’m just surprised, that Galadriel should be content to live in Doriath, when she came here to have a kingdom of her own. Even if there’s a lover involved – must be a pretty special guy.” Findekáno sighed, his cheerful mood suddenly gone.

“What’s wrong?”, Maedhros asked with a frown. “Can I help?” He didn’t want anything to weigh on Findekáno’s soul.

Findekáno shook his head. “I don’t see how, unless you find a way of providing me with an heir in another way than the usual.”

“Does your father pressure you?” He’d have a very stern word with Nolofinwe, if that was the case.

“No!” Findekáno shook his head emphatically. “He accepts that I’m not interested in sex. It’s the council, they want the line of succession to be clear. Father is supporting me. He told them, he doesn’t intend to die anytime soon and that even if it comes to the worst, there’s still Turgon after me and that should be a clear enough line of succession. But there are some council members who’ve started to wonder aloud and when I can hear it, why I’m refusing to look for a wife.”

Findekáno looked so unhappy that Maedhros pulled him into a hug. “Point them out to me”, he growled. “And they won’t do it again.” He’d punched Celegorm once, when he’d laughed at Findekáno for his lack of interest in carnal pleasures, he would not mind at all to punch a few more idiots.

“That wouldn’t help.” Findekáno blushed. “In fact, it might make matters even worse.”

Maedhros lifted his eyebrow in a silent question.

“Well... they think, as I’m not interested in women... ah...”, Findekáno stuttered and Maedhros would have laughed at him, if it weren’t so serious. “Don’t be angry... but there are rumours about us... that we are too close...”

“They think, you and I are a couple?”, Maedhros hissed, barely remembering not to shout.

Findekáno nodded, his face almost as red as the wine. “I’m sorry”, he whispered.

“It’s not your fault! And not the worst thing people are saying about me, besides. I’m angry for your sake! Can I do anything to disabuse them of that notion?”

“Snog with someone else in plain sight?”, Findekáno said with a wry smile.

“No.” Maedhros grimaced, stifling the crazy laughter that wanted to bubble up at the thought of him going over and kissing Nolofinwe in front of everyone. He was sure that was not what Findekáno had in mind – although it would give those council members something else to gossip about.

“Thought so.” Findekáno grinned and bumped his shoulder against him. “I know no one else who is as intensely private about his love life as you are. What are you hiding?” He became serious again. “Oh, it’s not because of...”

“No, you know very well I didn’t talk about it before, either. I’ve told you: With six younger brothers, you learn the value of privacy. I just... want to keep that kind of thing to myself. If I ever decide to marry someone, you’ll find out soon enough.” Which would never happen.

Maedhros realised that the music had stopped and that Makalaure and Daeron were glaring at each other. “I better make sure this doesn’t turn ugly”, he said and stood up, seeing with relief that Mablung was already moving in Daeron’s direction.

 

Later, when he’d made sure Makalaure wouldn’t go to seek out Daeron and ‘wipe that smug look off his face’, Maedhros snuk up to the back of Nolofinwe’s tent. His núro had let him know that there was a cleverly concealed entrance there, just for him. He slipped in and found Nolofinwe already in bed.

“My prince”, whispered Nolofinwe when he saw him and slipped out of bed to kneel before him.

He was naked and Maedhros felt his cock stir at the sight of the paling marks he’d left on his neck and thighs a few days ago. Maedhros threw a glance in the direction of the real entrance. There was another ‘room’ between them and the honour guard outside, but the walls were just made of fabric. He moved closer and pulled Nolofinwe’s head back by his hair.

He felt his núro shudder as he put his lips to his ear to whisper: “You’ll have to be quiet, núro. We wouldn’t want anyone to hear.”

“Yes, my prince”, answered Nolofinwe softly.

Maedhros kissed him slowly, raking his hand through his hair. “But you’d enjoy to be caught, wouldn’t you?” He whispered against his lips. “If your guards came in and watched me using you, you’d still be hard.” Nolofinwe moaned softly. “The High King of the Noldor put in his place.” Maedhros gripped his hair tighter and pulled him to his feet. “But we can’t have that. So for what I have in mind, we’ll have to sneak away.”

He grabbed Nolofinwe’s cloak and wrapped it around his naked form. “Put your boots on”, he ordered.

His núro blushed furiously as he led him through the folds in the fabric. The tent was in the middle of the camp and although it was late, there were still some people about that bowed to him. Maedhros hid his smirk, sure that Nolofinwe’s cock was hard under the cloak. He’d prepared something, not too far from the camp, but far enough into the trees that he hoped no one would fall over them at night.

The forest around the pools of Ivrin were mostly birch and beeches with a few oaks in between, little undergrowth. It felt light and airy, completely in counterpoint to its Sindarin name Núath (but then, Maedhros thought, it might simply mean that it was at the foot of the mountains).

The spot where Maedhros stopped was unremarkable in every way, Nolofinwe looked around with a slight frown but Maedhros decided he wouldn’t give him too much time to wonder.

“Get out of your cloak”, he said and backed Nolofinwe up against the trunk of a tree after he’d complied. “Now”, he fondled Nolofinwe’s cock – already hard and leaking, as he’d thought – and whispered into his ear, “we are not that far from the camp, so you’ll have to be quiet. We wouldn’t want someone to come running if they hear you scream.”

Nolofinwe whimpered breathlessly as he circled the wet tip with his thumb. Maedhros rubbed his own throbbing arousal against his núro’s thigh, desire rushing through his body. He kissed Nolofinwe’s neck before stepping back and retrieving a bundle of birch twigs he’d bound together and freed of their leaves earlier. Nolofinwe’s eyes went wide.

“Ever been beaten with one of these?”, Maedhros asked.

“No, my prince”, Nolofinwe croaked.

“We’ll start slowly then”, Maedhros said in a calm tone. “You know I would not harm you.”

“Yes, my prince.” Nolofinwe gave a short nod of his head when Maedhros held his gaze. No, he did not want to stop.

“Turn around, brace yourself against the tree.”

Maedhros admired the view as Nolofinwe spread his legs slightly, searching for a firm stand, the muscles in his back moving under his pale skin. Maedhros’s cock was throbbing in the confines of his trousers. He licked his lips, stroking the birch down his núro’s back.

Nolofinwe shifted, not scared but nervous about the unknown implement. Maedhros kissed his shoulder. “Do you trust me?”, he murmured.

“Yes”, Nolofinwe answered equally softly but without hesitation.

Maedhros started with light swishes, barely more than brushing the birch over Nolofinwe’s ass, interspersing slightly harder strokes, working up to an even rhythm. The redness spreading over his núro’s buttocks and his suppressed moans made his cock strain against his trousers, pleasant shivers running down his spine. He could see that Nolofinwe was still hard.

“You’re doing so well for me, my núro. How does it feel?”, he asked with husky voice.

“It stings, my prince”, his núro whimpered. Despite the cool night air, sweat was beading on his shoulders. “Please, more.”

Maedhros grinned, holding the birch between his handless arm and his body to be able to stroke the hair away from Nolofinwe’s face. He gripped his chin turning his head a little so he could kiss him possessively.

“I like to hear you say those words, my núro”, he crooned. “And I grant your wish.”

 

Nolofinwe chocked down a scream as the twigs connected with his backside again, biting into his skin. The strokes his prince was dealing out had become steadily harder. His skin was hot and throbbing in the same rhythm as his arousal. He moaned as loudly as he dared as more strokes came down, stinging and burning on his bruised flesh. He missed being able to scream his pain and pleasure. He was so close... he almost felt like he’d be able to come just from this beating.

He whimpered, moving into the touch as his prince squeezed his buttock. “I’ve forgotten how beautifully you suffer, my lovely núro”, he said, his arousal audible in his voice.

Nolofinwe heard the clink of a buckle, a moment later his prince ground against him, his hard cock sliding up his cleft. Nolofinwe whimpered as the friction made the pain flare up.

“Open the bottle for me”, his prince said, holding a phial before his face.

Nolofinwe did as asked, his hands shaking a little with excitement when he poured the oil into Prince Nelyafinwe’s palm.

“On your hands and knees, núro.”

Nolofinwe turned around and saw that his prince had spread out his cloak on the ground. He moaned as he slowly knelt down, the muscles of his thighs protesting against the motion.

“I wouldn’t want your delicate skin be scraped by the rough bark when I pound into you”, his prince said as he stroked himself.

Nolofinwe shuddered with want at the sight of the oil slicking his prince’s arousal. Nolofinwe moaned loudly when he slid home with one hard thrust, rocking him forward.

“Hush”, Nelyafinwe admonished. “As much as I love to hear you come undone under my hands, we can’t let anyone else hear it. Keep quiet or you won’t come today.”

Nolofinwe squeezed his eyes shut. His prince set an almost punishing pace, fucking him hard and fast, his fingers digging into his hip and his belly slapping against his burning skin. Nolofinwe stifled his moans on his forearm, his cock throbbing and leaking precum on the cloak.

His prince came inside him, breathing heavily as he slid out and lay down beside him. Nolofinwe remained as he was, shuddering with arousal as he felt his prince’s release trickle out of him. Nelyafinwe caught a drop off the tip of Nolofinwe’s cock and pressed it to his lip. Nolofinwe licked it off without hesitation, the taste only stoking his arousal.

“What a lewd sight you make”, Nelyafinwe whispered. “And for everyone to see who might come this way.”

He wrapped his fingers loosely around Nolofinwe’s cock.

“You have permission to move”, he said and Nolofinwe thrust into his hand, whimpering at how good it felt and yet was not enough.

“Imagine it, someone standing among the trees. Watching the High King of the Noldor being beaten and fucked by the Lord of Himring. Watching you now, your ass red and bruised and your hole open and leaking my seed and still hard. Thrusting into my hand so desperate for release.”

Nolofinwe bit down a moan when his prince’s grip became firmer, stroking him in the rhythm of Nolofinwe’s thrusts. His words were going right to his cock.

“Hearing you trying to stifle those filthy sounds I like so much coming from your mouth. I’m sure our watcher likes it, too. He’s stroking himself, as I do you, imagining how it would be to do the things to you, I’ve done, imagining how it would feel to fuck you after I’ve opened you up...”

Nolofinwe came over his prince’s hand, biting down on his forearm to not shout his release to the stars. 

 

His prince pulled him into an embrace as he came trembling down from his orgasm, holding him and stroking his sweaty chest.

“You were wonderful”, he whispered into his ear. “Everything and more that I imagined.”

Nolofinwe leaned against him, tired and happy. He knew they couldn’t fall asleep like this, here in the middle of the forest, but his legs didn’t feel like they’d carry him right at the moment.

“I hope there isn’t really someone standing close by”, he mumbled, though he didn’t feel particularly worried about it. He was sure Maedhros wouldn’t take the risk.

“There isn’t.” Maedhros laughed. “But you said the idea of it turns you on. Did I scare you with the birch rod?”

Nolofinwe shook his head. “I was a little... unsure about it at first. It looks scary, but you’ve been so attentive. As you always are.” He turned around to press a loving kiss to Maedhros’s lips. “I liked it.”

“Good.” Maedhros stretched with a groan. “We should probably see to get you back”, he said. “Before anyone finds your tent empty.”

“I had a hunch you’d seek me out tonight, so I told my guards I don’t want to be disturbed if there isn’t an emergency threatening the peace. But yes”, Nolofinwe sat slowly up, grimacing, “we shouldn’t push our luck.”

They walked silently back to his tent. Now that he wasn’t aroused anymore, the thought that someone might notice that he didn’t wear anything under his cloak made Nolofinwe feel nervous. But it was late and they didn’t meet anyone.

Nolofinwe quickly looked around before pulling Maedhros through the ‘back door’ and stealing a kiss. Maedhros hand came up to rub his neck and Nolofinwe moaned into his mouth.

“Good night”, he whispered as they separated.

“A moment, Nolofinwe”, Maedhros said, looking nervous. “I wanted to talk about something with you.”

“What is it?”, Nolofinwe asked, motioning for him to sit down on his bed and making himself comfortable beside him, trying to keep the weight off his sore ass. “You sound like it’s something serious.”

“It’s about Findekáno.” Maedhros was fiddling with a loose piece of skin on one of the scars on his stump and Nolofinwe reached out to stop him, linking their hands.

“What about him?”

“He told me, he’s feeling pressured to produce an heir and he’s feeling upset about it. I’m… worried for him and a little indignant that you’d let it come to this.”

“Oh.” Nolofinwe rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’m not trying to force him into anything”, he said. “And I told him as much.” He looked down on their linked hands. The knowledge that he might have reacted less understanding to Findekáno’s lack of interest in sex, if he weren’t deviant from the norm himself, made him feel guilty. “I don’t expect him to find a wife against his inclinations.”

“Maybe you could also make that more clear to your council. Findekáno told me he feels harassed by them.”

“I didn’t know that.” Nolofinwe sighed. “I will bring this up at the next meeting. Thank you for telling me about this. I want him to be happy in the way that feels right to him.”

Maybe he should talk to Findekáno, too. Maybe it was just that it was easier for him to tell his friend about this instead of his father, but he didn’t want him to think that he wanted him to be any different from who he was. Maedhros smiled at him, kissing his knuckles.

“He told me you were on his side in this”, he said. “And I’m glad to hear that you really are.”