Chapter 2

Please fasten your seatbelts and prepare for landing.

The flight intercom crackled into action, startling Maedhros from the movie he had been watching. He looked around, taking his headphones out. Fingon was still fast asleep against his shoulder where he had settled several hours earlier. Maglor had his headphones in and his eyes were closed. To anyone else he would appear to be asleep, but Maedhros knew he would never fall asleep on a plane.

Carefully, so as not to wake Fingon, Maedhros leaned forward and slid his tray table up to prepare for landing, just as the wheels descended from the wings and the plane dropped downwards.

It wasn't long before they were speeding across the tarmac, wheels screaming as they strained to keep up with the speed of the plane. The jolt as touched the ground woke Fingon and he looked up, blinking blearily as he tried to figure out what was going on. "Wha?..." he mumbled, his brows coming together in a frown of confusion.

"We just landed," Maedhros explained, grinning in amusement at Fingon's sleepy expression.

"Oh," Fingon replied and lay his head back on Maedhros' shoulder, closing his eyes again.

Maedhros chuckled softly to himself and leaned down to scoop up his backpack as the plane came to a halt.

"Time to get up sleepy head." He shoved Fingon, grinning as he received only a groan of protest.

"Valar, is the flight over already?" he asked, lifting his head and yawning widely.

"Yes. I told you that a few seconds ago...although I suspect you weren't really listening," Maedhros teased gently.

"Mmph..." Fingon said, but stood up anyway as Maedhros did, his dark hair ruffled from sleep.

Maglor followed them and the three of them filed out of their seats and down the aisle of the plane, backpacks tucked up to their chests so as not to catch them on any of the seats. At the front cabin Maglor slipped away to collect his guitar while the other two went on ahead.

He rejoined them moments later and they hurried to meet the others at the gate where Celegorm and Aredhel were in the midst of an animated conversation about a movie they had both watched on the flight.

"If you all collect the bags, I can go and see about a rental car," Maedhros suggested as they drew level with their small group of cousins.

Turgon nodded, looking around at the others. "Good idea, that way we can get out of here quicker."

"Mm yes, I want to get to our condo. I'm starved!" Aredhel said as she all but bounded over.

"You do know it's a two hour drive from here...don't you?" Celegorm said, grinning as Aredhel's face fell.

"What?! Ugh, I had forgotten...we'll have to get snacks for the road then." She turned to Finrod, who was juggling his backpack while trying to change the time on his watch. "Findaráto and I can go buy them while you guys get the bags."

"Alright, but let's all meet at the front doors in half an hour. That way no one gets lost." Maedhros looked sternly at Celegorm and Aredhel, his expression suspicious.

"Alright alright. Don't fret, Maitimo. We'll be there," Celegorm said, waving his hands in dismissal.

Maedhros sighed but let the matter drop, instead turning and heading off towards the car rental booth.

"I told you, I took the grey suitcase! You know, the one mum usually uses?" Caranthir rolled his eyes in annoyance as he fixed Celegorm with a look of great distaste.

"Why'd you take that one?" Celegorm asked, lugging his own suitcase onto the trolley and pushing it to the side.

"Well it was the only one left. And now it's gone." He scowled angrily at the now very empty conveyor belt. "All of my stuff was in there!"

"I'm sure if we talk to someone at security they would be able to call us when it arrives. It might have just gotten left back in Tirion..." Turgon suggested, frowning thoughtfully as he surveyed the bustling airport. "And in the meantime you can borrow some of my stuff."

Caranthir kicked angrily at the edge of the baggage trolley, his features set in an angry scowl. "You'd think, with a direct flight, they wouldn't have lost my bag!"

Maglor walked back from where he had been talking to a security guard in time to hear Caranthir's last remark. He sighed, running a hand through his long dark hair as he set his messenger bag down by the trolley. "They said it must have missed the flight from Tirion somehow. They're going to keep an eye out and call us if they find it," he explained to Caranthir, keeping his tone gentle as he noted his brother's scathing expression.

Caranthir rolled his eyes, looking upset and annoyed even as Turgon placed a hand on his shoulder and steered him towards the front doors. "Come on, Mae should have the car by now and we don't want to be late meeting him."

The two of them headed off towards the sliding front doors and Maglor turned to scoop up his guitar and steer the cart after them.

Outside, Maedhros was waiting next to a shiny black van, sunglasses pushed up on the top of his head. Next to him Aredhel and Finrod stood with several large bags of snacks, conversing quietly over something.

Maglor steered the cart up to them with only a few stumbles and Celegorm began unloading all of their bags into the back of the van.

"Alright, everyone in. I don't want to be on the roads after dark." Maedhros gestured towards the car.

They all filed in, Celegorm rolling his eyes as he passed Maedhros. "I really don't see how it's fair that Finno gets the front seat."

Maedhros glared at him, glancing sideways at Fingon. "He's my navigator. If you could read a map and give me general directions maybe I would reconsider, but until then, Fingon's sitting in the front." He crossed his arms and turned away, ignoring Caranthir's satisfied chuckle from the back seat.

It took longer than anticipated to get out of the airport and by the time they were on the road, Maedhros' patience was growing thin again. Celegorm and Aredhel were laughing raucously in the row behind him and trying to shove chips in each other's mouths. Most of the chips had ended up on the floor or in the lap of a very annoyed looking Maglor. "Would you two stop? I can't hear my music when you are yelling in my ear," he finally snapped, rounding on Celegorm and Aredhel.

"Aw...someone hasn't had enough sleep..." Celegorm teased, poking Maglor in the stomach.

Maglor glared at him, shoving Celegorm's hand away and turning around with a huff. "Well, at least we know you're not suffering from lack of sleep. If I'm stressed, it's because of you."

"Oh come on...I was only late because Hua-" Celegorm stopped, his eyes going wide with horror. "Oh my god. We forgot Huan!" He looked around in panic for a moment before thrusting his head into the front seat. "Mae, stop the car. We have to go back."

"What?" Maedhros asked, turning around in his seat and frowning at Celegorm.

"Huan! We left Huan at the airport!" Celegorm all but shrieked.

"Oh Valar why...Tyelko, we're like, almost halfway there already!" Maedhros let out a heavy, very tired sounding sigh. "Okay, we'll go back, just calm down. Huan will be fine for a few hours on his own. They will take good care of him."

Celegorm flopped back in his seat, crossing his arms and frowning dangerously.

Maglor and Aredhel exchanged glances and they both resolved not to say anything to the brooding Tyelko.

By the time they pulled up to the airport parking lot, it was already dark outside, the light of a not-quite-crescent moon dripping down onto the footpath.

Maedhros parked the car and stepped out, followed quickly by Celegorm.

They headed over to the airport doors together and made their way up to one of the security desks.

"Hello, I left my dog here..." Celegorm began, fixing the security guard with a deadly look. "Where can I find him?"

"Please..." Maedhros added, smiling apologetically at the man.

It was another three quarters of an hour before the two of them stepped outside again, an exceptionally jovial Huan in tow.

Fingon had fallen asleep again and Maglor was curled up in his seat, head resting against the window. In the back, Finrod and Turgon were engaged in a quiet conversation, while Caranthir scrolled through his phone, headphones in.

"We're back," Maedhros announced softly and stepped wearily into the drivers seat again as Celegorm settled Huan into the back at his feet.

Fingon gave a noncommittal grunt and slumped down a little further in his sleep.

"So much for my navigator," Maedhros whispered to himself, but there was a soft smile on his lips as he watched Fingon peacefully sleeping.

Huan gave a happy little whine as he jumped into the car. He looked around briefly, his long tail whipping back and worth before leaping up onto Maglor's lap. Maglor looked startled for a moment but soon had his face buried in Huan's soft fur.

Celegorm took his seat in between Maglor and Aredhel, shoving Huan out of the way, and fastened his seatbelt just as Maedhros pulled out of the parking lot.

They were on their way. Again. But this time the roads were very much darker than they had been two hours before.