For the lovely xredriverx who won a 2000 word fic for completing the Feanorian Bingo Card in the Silmarillion read-along 2014. I am very sorry that you had to wait that long but private life is sometimes rather demanding..
But yeah.. here it is. And as I can't write short things it is already longer than expected and will get another chapter at times. And I am crap at finding titles for my fics.. Sorry about that .. and all remaining mistakes are mine.
I hope you like it nonetheless <3
Prompt: Celegorm/Curufin, NO FINROD, no mention of Finrod, lots of experimentation, NC-17
Revealed - Chapter 1 (2700 words) Read it on AO3 *click*
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It was a morning like so many others.
Celegorm was free to do as he pleased, no family obligations awaited him on this start of the day with Laurelin just about to rise. Riding out into the vast fields and forests around his home never failed to calm his mind. The young Feanorian loved the feeling of how the wind caressed his face when he spurred his horse, galloping over soft grass towards the woods. The fragrance of the forest, the gentle rustling of leaves and a relaxing nap in the shades of the tree soothed his soul; often he would not return before the mingling of the light.
Celegorm had to admit that he recently ventured out into the wilds even more often than he had usually done, seeking the solitude of the forest. At times, one of his brothers joined him for a ride or hunt, but mostly it was only himself and Huan roaming the lands – and Celegorm would have lied by saying he regretted this fact as of late.
It was the time when he could sneak away into his secret reveries, those dreams which were never meant to be. Let his mind linger on the pleasant fantasies he harbored without being watched by prying eyes, afraid that his secret might be discovered. Celegorm knew all too well about the sharp minds of both his father and Curufin. He feared both equally.
But today won’t be the day that he and his weird fantasies would be discovered, he decided as he began to saddle his horse, already thinking of his journey through the lands. Celegorm was so occupied with his thoughts that he did not hear the wooden door crack open. He nearly jumped in surprise as he heard Curufin’s voice.
“Good morning, brother” Curufin said with a laugh, leaning nonchalantly against the door frame. The smile only widened as the dark haired Feanorian saw the startled expression on Celegorm’s face.
“Good morning, Curvo” he replied in surprise. Indeed, Curufin was the last person he had expected to see in the stables at such an early hour.
“You want to join me?” Celegorm continued, eying him suspiciously. Those last weeks he had hardly seen his brother, as Curufin was usually so busy in their father’s forge that he had missed more than once dinner.
Yet there he stood, already clad in his riding clothes and smiling broadly. Celegorm almost couldn’t avert his eyes, slightly enchanted by the sight his brother presented.
“Yes” was the simple answer that he received and Celegorm knew better than to further question Curufin’s reasons, but to himself he had to admit that this was a most pleasant surprise. Additionally, this exact situation – Curufin and he riding out together - has been the content of various blissful reveries recently. The nuances of fantasy varied but the outcome was always identically, yet never meant to be. Wanted or not – the mere thought made his legs go weak and he cursed himself in silence, hoping that his brother would not notice his awkward behavior.
Wheather Curfin had noticed or not – he had the grace to remain silent.
It was not long until both horses were saddled and they ventured far into the surrounding woods, chatting light-heartedly at times as they rode side by side, or pondered their own thoughts in silence. It had always been like this, it seemed as if they understood each other even without words or closed eyes. Sometimes he wondered if between his elder brothers also existed such a deep understanding, but Celegorm had never asked. He liked to believe that the deep understanding that Curvo and he shared was something special and extraordinary. It never ceased to make him smile widely. Time mattered little as they rode through grass and forest scrubs with the leaf-canopy above them, after all they have sat out very early.
“Halt” Curufin commanded suddenly, tearing Celegorm out of his silent musings. It was a small and secluded clearing, with yellow flowers blossoming amidst the green grass where the dark-haired Feanorian wanted to stop. “Just let us rest a little while, brother” was the suggestion and Celegorm had no objections to it; the place was pleasant enough, indeed.
“Aye” Celegorm simply replied already dismounting his horse. Just in the moment as he racked up the horse to the next tree, lost a little in his thoughts, his brother appeared beside him. And instantly, Curufin’s hand appeared in front of his face, waving.
“Is something amiss, dearest brother?” Curufin asked, his lips curved into a smile. Before Celegorm could decide if it was one of those mischievous smiles that were so characteristic for Curufin or not, the smirk had disappeared from his brother’s face as quickly as it came.
It was often impossible to understand his brother’s mind. Celegorm had long learned that but nevertheless it seemed as if he was the only one of the brothers who could cope with that insolent, arrogant brat. Often he wondered if he was extraordinary pliant to his brother’s moods or if Curufin simply tried to be particular ‘nice’ towards him. This riddle however remained unsolved for years now.
“This is for you” Curufin simply remarked, holding a shining dagger in his right hand.
“The very reason why I was constantly occupied the past weeks” he admitted, an almost apologetic look on his face.
“A gift? For me?” Celegorm inquired. He couldn’t believe his brother’s words and felt instantly sorry for the anger he had harbored towards his brother for neglecting him the past weeks. The dagger was indeed the most beautiful thing he had seen in a long while and
“Yes, this is for you, Curvo” he said, the dagger still in his hands, his voice calm as ever.
It was just in the moment as Celegorm tried to reach for the weapon that Curufin took a step backwards, smiling broadly. Again, he offered the dagger to his brother with a smirk.
“It is yours – under one condition..” he offered meaningful, his eyes twinkling in the bright light.
Celegorm frowned – he should have known better after all those years. And still he always fell for the traps Curufin had cautiously prepared for him.
“What condition, Curvo?” he snapped, much harsher than he had intended to sound, but his words didn’t have any effect on his brother.
Harsh or not, Curufin was not impressed at all. It almost seemed as if he had half expected exactly such a question.
“It is a rather simple one, Celegorm” Curufin comment with a sly smirk, leaning casually against the nearest tree “and most certainly not the most unpleasant one for you”
“Go on, then” he pushed, finally losing his patience.
“A kiss for the dagger” Curufin breathed, his voice almost carrying a seductive note.
“Come on, don’t be silly. I am not in the mood for your little games today” he replied with a frown and rolled his eyes inwardly. Celegorm did not know what prank was played on his expenses today but he grew tired of the teasing. Anger and fear of being discovered soon mingled and his head spun.
“I am all serious, brother!” he whispered, his lips all of a sudden too close against Celegorm’s ear “I am neither naïve nor stupid, Tyelko and if you have thought I have missed your rather obvious glances across the dinner table, you are certainly mistaken”
No matter if Celegorm wanted to protest or not, the fierce blush betrayed him instantly and proved that Curufin had made a valid point. For better or worse – his secret was relieved.
Had the smile been mischievous before it was now the most arrogant and self-satisfied smirk Celegorm thought he had ever seen, even on his brother who was prone to arrogance. The blond Feanorian shook his head in shear wonder before he finally remarked, trying to steady his voice “Somebody most definitely needs to slap this arrogance off your face!”
“Why don’t you do it yourself then?” Curufin inquired with amusement “I wouldn’t mind…” he almost purred, his eyes twinkling as he turned his head to present his cheek to his brother.
Curufin did not even have to see Celegorm’s expression nor hear his words - he knew all too well that he finally had his brother cornered, that he had him exactly where he had wanted him from the very beginning.
And as expected, the blow came only seconds later. But to Curufin’s own surprise it was much less forceful than he had thought it would.
“I see” he remarked dryly “… no strength left in your hand after your nocturnal activities yesterday…”
And again, Curufin was right in what he had said, at least where his nightly activities were concerned – and Celegorm hated nothing more than being an open book to read for his brother.
What he did in the privacy of his room in the middle of the night was his thing, and his alone and he knew he should not care for what his brother said. Yet he did, maybe more than he should have.
Celegorm felt beyond humiliated by the dry remarks – certainly all Curufin wished to do that day was to mock him, torture him with the obtained knowledge. It was the very reason why he had joined him this morning, Celegorm suspected. The last comment though was the last drop in the bucket and Celegorm finally lost his patience. Within the blink of an eye he had Curufin pressed against the tree he had leant against so casually.
“What’s the meaning of all this, Curvo?” he hissed through gritted teeth, keeping his brother firmly in place with his strong hands.
“Do I really have to tell you?” Curufin replied, still smiling but the arrogance had vanished “As I have said before: I am not as stupid as you sometimes think I am. Do you think I have not noticed how you looked at me, when you thought I was occupied with something else? Do you think you’ve been so quiet that I have not heard you how you moaned my name late at night? And no, I have not spied on you but pity my rooms are next to your own”
He observed Celegorm until he thought his brother would speak again before he continued, cutting the words off.
“You never said a word nor showed your affection openly, dearest brother. Never told me about your dreams .. that you might desire me… HOW much you desire me. A pity, Turco, really.” He shook his head as good as possible in his current position, his dark hair swirling around his head “Now you have your answer for all this: I simply grew tired of your charade”
Celegorm might have not noticed it himself, but the longer Curufin spoke, the wider his eyes have become, his mouth standing agape in pure astonishment. It was impossible, he thought. Celegorm even thought that he understood what Curufin was implying, but his swirling mind refused to form a coherent thought nonetheless.
Again, before he had the change to regain his composure, Curufin spoke again “..and even more so: You would have never believed me if I would have said that your feelings might be reciprocated, you would have shrugged off my words as childish“
Briefly the dark-haired Feanorian paused, chuckling ever so slightly as he saw the puzzled expression on his brother’s face. “Do not stare at me in such a manner, I was simply a lot more cautious than you. And now I would be forever grateful if you could at least release my arms, Tyelko”
And indeed, as soon as he had said the words, Celegorm loosened the grip around his wrists still taken aback by everything Curufin had said.
It was his chance, Curufin decided - maybe the only one he might get in another five years, too precious to be wasted. Without a further thought he brought his hands to rest on his brother’s shoulders and straightened his body which was still resting against the massive tree trunk; with a smirk he leaned towards Celegorm who still stared at him rather absentminded. He kissed the corner of his brother’s mouth for a split second before he withdraw his lips as quickly as he had brought them towards his brother.
“That was all I have asked for, Tyelko” he whispered with a smile, his hands still resting on Celegorm’s shoulders.
“Pardon me, but I have thought you have asked for a kiss, Curvo and not for a peck” the blond elf remarked with amusement, feeling all of a sudden like himself again.
How long it had been since he had dreamt of this to happen, Celegorm did not even know anymore, but it mattered little anyhow in this very moment. Cautiously, he cupped his brother’s face with both hands like he had done at least a hundred times in his reveries, but never had he imagined that his dreams would come true. All he could do was to close his eyes and bridge the last remaining distance between them until he could feel his brother’s lips against his own, this time fully and properly.
Half to his surprise, Curufin did not flinch nor laughed right into his face because he had tricked him again but removed his hands from his shoulders. A frown almost escaped his lips before he realized that his brother had withdrawn his hands for the sole reason to weave them seconds later into his thick hair. It was certainly not what Celegorm had expected his brother would do - it was indeed a pleasant surprise and somehow just so unlike Curufin.
In principle, Celegorm knew how these things were supposed to work but with his brother finally in his arms, their lips brushing gently together his mind entirely refused to work coherently.
He couldn’t explain nor comprehend the emotions he felt in this very moment, words had long escaped his mind.
Yet he was certain that it was the most wonderful and thrilling feeling he ever had; bringing himself to completion after a heated dream about his intriguing brother was nothing compared to what he felt right now. Maybe his mind played a trick upon him, but it almost felt as if Curufin was smiling against his lips, parting them ever so slightly.
When they broke the kiss, almost simultaneously both admitted, a shy smile hushing across their lips. “I have never …” but it was Celegorm who finished the sentence with “..at least not properly”
Only seconds later, both burst out in a fit of laughter.
Apparently, each of them had thought the other would know how things were supposed to work and was the one with experience in that matter.
“Then we shall find out together…?” the younger one suggested rather shyly and Celegorm found this statement the most wonderful words his brother had spoken in many many years. Never before had he seen Curufin so .. vulnerable? He was not certain if this was the exact word to describe his brother’s current state, but it mattered little.
“Aye” the blond Feanorian nodded, a genuine smile spread across his face. Never had he felt happier in his life.
Had he hoped for a pleasant day in company of his favorite brother when they had set out this morning, now this was more than he had ever hoped in his wildest dreams. But it was not the first time Curufin had surprised him and it would be definitely not the last time, he mused as his fingertips wandered gently along his brother’s cheekbones. His brother’s skin felt so soft beneath his fingers and the emotion reflected in Curufin’s half-lid eyes made him tremble.
“Thank you .. I think I would never…” his words were swallowed when Curufin sealed his lips with his own, his eyes now entirely closed.
It seemed as nothing else mattered in the moment as they began to kiss experimentally, touching the other’s face carefully whilst their lips parted. Fueled by the pure fascination that his dreams have finally come alive, Celegorm began to explore his brother’s mouth. Where he had been hesitant at first, it only needed a few moans and the searching hands of his brother until he claimed his lips possessively, pushing Curufin back against the tree trunk, pressing their heated bodies together.
Celebrimbor for alackofghosts' and likes-drawing-elves' #ugly sweater party, and also for the Readalong bingo; I have no idea if I will finish even one card at this rate. A lot of very scientific research went into designing this handmade Eregion sweater which Celebrimbor proudly wears as he dares you to make a witty remark.
Click to enlarge. Belated birthday present for artanisnerwen. I believe the prompt was something like "Lúthien getting pissed at everyone when she should be getting pissed at everyone". Drawn @ one of my college's whiteboard, classroom #169 I think.
In the treehouse, Thingol calls for "halp". Below, Melks and Carcharoth are taking a nap to one side, and to the other, Curufin and Celegorm are trying to convince Huan to untie them (and it's not going very well). I totally forgot but should've included Daeron...
artanisnerwen asked me to do baby!Galadriel with Finrod, and since I couldn't (after several attempts) do it right I went with kid!Galadriel and teen!Finrod, and compensated by turning it into a short comic. The thing behind them in the last panel is the white tree of Tirion, wich idk if it has any light of its own but I headcanoned it as having some sort of shimmer. I apologize for any mistakes in the english conversation or the clumsy translation of "young sister" at the start!
If arta lets me, I'd like to use this for a free space in the bingo cards :) arta let me use it, so I'm adding it to my cards!
