Virodeil's 100 Prompts, #90: Fountain

Appendix 1: The Fall of Gondolin

"GO INTO THE FOUNTAIN!"

"STOP! You can't push me in anymore, I killed you already!"

"The story says you drown in the fountain when I crush you so you can't just step aside that's CHEATING!"

"I don't WANT to go into the fountain!"

"You MUST!"

Two children who seemed approximately eight and ten years old were wrestling with each other next to the fountain in Minas Morgul's courtyard. Their mother came outside just in time to see them both tumble into the fountain with a big splash.

"SEE WHAT YOU DID NOW!"

"I WIN!"

"No you don't! You DIE!"

Sinistra walked with big strides to the fountain and fished the fighting children out by their collars.

"What is going on here?!

The two children immediately started accusing each other, wildly gesticulating and splattering water around.

"It's Umátimon, he was being a bad Ecthelion and he wouldn't go into the fountain when I fell on him!"

"But it's stupid, he should have just stepped aside!"

"That's not in the story! You just hate to die such a lame death!"

"And you didn't fell on me, you tried to strangle me and then bit me! Balrogs don't bite!"

"They can if they want to because they are awesome! You are just a sore loser!"

"I killed you!"

"Yeah, and I killed you even after I was dead!"

Sinistra shook her head and yelled.

"Umátimon! Melehtiel! Shut UP!"

Immediately, the children stopped bickering.

"What did I tell you about playing "Ecthelion and The Balrog"?" They stared at their shoes. "Well?"

"Err… that we're not allowed to play it in the fountain."

Melehtiel interrupted her brother.

"But that's so not fair! How can we play the fall of Gondolin properly without a fountain? I mean, we have a fountain! We should be allowed to use it!"

Sinistra shook her head again.

"If it proves impossible to play the Fall of Gondolin without drenching your brother in the fountain Melehtiel, you'll simply have to play something else."

The children pouted, at least Melehtiel did. Umátimon looked miffed because he hadn't escaped a dive into the fountain. He had inherited his father's instinctive dislike of water… He looked up at his mother, pleading.

"I can never be the dark forces, it's just not fair. I want to be the Balrog too sometimes!"

She nodded.

"Melehtiel, your brother has a pojnt. Why can't you switch roles sometimes? It's true that you are always the Balrog, maybe you should let Umátimon have a turn at it now."

The girl glared.

"Nay. Dad says I make a good Balrog, and Umátimon can't do the Glorfindel Trick with the curtain rope so he can't be one."

Sinistra closed her eyes. "The Glorfindel Trick With The Curtain Rope" was a special talent of Melehtiel that usually led to Umátimon crying with a curtain rope tightly wound into his black tresses, and his sister triumphantly cackling. And the older boy wasn't the only victim; ever since Sauron had taught the children about the fall of Gondolin, the whole court shuddered at the words "Glorfindel Trick", fearing for their hair. She didn't know how the little girl managed to pull it off each time again, but suspected it was some sort of accidental magic…

"So, what about a game without Balrogs?"

The children looked at her as if she had suggested playing Quidditch without a quaffle. Eventually, Melehtiel sighed.

"We can do Melkor and Fingolfin…" She looked at her brother. "Then you get to hit my face and stamp on my foot."

"But Fingolfin dies as well!"

Mairë shrugged.

"But you get to stamp on my foot."

"Last time you broke my rib."

"Then you'll just have to make sure you stamp harder this time!"

Sinistra watched how her children disappeared up the stairs, excited already for their new game, tracking wet puddles all over the place. She yelled after them,

"Wash up and redress first!"

In choir they responded,

"Okay mom!"

Sinistra couldn't help but laugh. She estimated it would be about thirty minutes before they would be back again, Melehtiel yelling that her brother had broken her foot or her nose, or Úmátimon crying because she had used his favourite houseplant as a battle hammer, or something else among those lines. No matter the outcome, it would include injuries and destruction; that much she already knew. She had long given up trying to distract them with less violent games; as long as they kept to re-enacting history she knew at least what kind of destruction to expect.

"Let me guess, Gondolin has fallen again?"

Sinistra turned to see her husband standing in the door opening, smirking.

"How did you know?"

"The "I am the Lord of Balrogs, you're going to die!" exclamations were quite telling. As was the big splash in the fountain, and the fact your sleeves are wet."

She smiled.

"I heard you told Melehtiel she makes a good Balrog. Do you really think it wise to encourage this?"

"They're learning their history this way, I find it most instructive. It's important that they familiarize themselves with the important events of Middle-Earth. After all, they've missed quite a bit."

"Well, then at least al the destruction serves a purpose…"

"Destruction always does, maathûn… it always does…"

(Author's Apologies)

Behold, a bit of family life!

Melehtiel has no qualms with breaking her brother's bones. Also biting, strangling, kicking, and other forms of violence are known to her, and then we're not even talking about the harm she can do with almost any object, from a houseplant to a curtain rope. Sauron must be so proud of her...

Umatimon is... well, he's the eldest. And the wisest. And for all his wisdom he still always gets dragged into the games his little sister thinks out. I think he secretly doesn't mind all that much; my guess is that he would be awfully bored without her...

Yes, Minas Morgul has a fountain. Why the hell not? Fountains are cool.

As for "The Glorfindel Trick With The Curtain Rope"... don't go to Minas Morgul (or to fight a Balrog, for that matter) with loose hair. Seriously.

This was a titbit I cut from the story; I loved this idea so much that I couldn't bring myself to not turn it into a oneshot. Hope you liked it too!

PLEASE REVIEW!

I love reviews still... And I'm still taking requests...

Also; To the guest-reviewer "Reader":

I doubt you'll be reading this, but I want to thank you for your critic. It was politely formulated, not flamey in any way and it definitely made sense. I am very aware that my action scenes are lacking severely, and even though I probably won't rewrite this story any time soon I agree with you that especially that chapter could do with an overhaul. I need more practice writing action... *deep sigh* So again, thanks. It was appreciated and I'll keep your comments in mind.