Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant
Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything
Chapter: 10
Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate and/or mynameisjessejk, Plot & OC´s © by me
Authors note: Set in the Otter(less) Mayhem Universe of abovementioned mynameisjessejk on AO3. Unofficial sequel to 'The House of the Mole'
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Elladan and Elrond remained with their makeshift camp, both to make sure that the boat would not get swept off somehow and to regain their strength from searching for hours. Especially the older Half-elf would need his strength if the two Lords of Gondolin needed healing. Legolas and Coruneth headed into the forest as they did so, following the prints as much as they were just looking for some sign of habitation.
"The trees are not saying much." The Prince of former Lasgalen muttered. "I think they are keeping the privacy of whomever lives here."
"Definitely some Avari then." Despite having most of her recent life in various cities, Coruneth managed to get through the underbrush quite well. "Especially when they have wounded, I know many who would lock down as if they were Doriathrim."
He snorted in answer at that, keeping his eyes mostly on the tracks. In here, they had faded far more than out on the shore, probably from wildlife moving here far more than near those sharp stones.
"Legolas." She warned him and he froze at once, looking up slowly. There was no one visible, but now that he was focusing on something not tracking, he felt the eyes on him.
Straightening fully, he carefully looked around as she called something in what he was pretty certain was the Avari-language... or at least one of them. A small smile formed on her face when someone answered in kind.
"No language-barrier?" He asked under his breath. The Avari Lady of New Gondolin nodded even as she started a conversation. He relaxed some, allowing her to take the lead in this matter.
Her small smile grew into a wide grin after a while. "They have Rog and Egalmoth, or at least two elves that look like them... and I am pretty certain we'd have heard if more people got swept down the river from New Gondolin."
A weight lifted from his chest at that, even as he used his marriage-bond to inform Elladan of this fact. Elladan would pass the information on to his twin, who would probably come here with his group with all haste.
"How are they?" He passed on the question he heard Elrond ask his son.
"Recovering." She looked in a certain direction. "I'll see if they will let us enter the village. Lord Elrond would probably make quick work of whatever ails them and we'll be able to take them back as well."
"Mhmm..." Legolas hummed softly, looking back from where they had come. Voicing her suggestion to his husband, he knew the two would at least start with the arranging their supplies in the boat to accomodate the two Lords. Probably, they could then leave it to Elrohir's group to pick up what supplies they could not take along.
He tensed when noticing a dark form from the corner of his eye, a fully black wolf padding closer. One hand flew to the hunting-knife on his hip before noting the elf in the tree beside the animal catching his eyes. Dropping his hand, he kept a close eye on the animal, but it made no move to attack.
"They say I and one other may enter the village." Coruneth adressed him, causing him to look at her again.
"Mmhh... Lord Elrond would be best for healing, but that would leave us with no way to communicate." He mused, eyes returning to the wolf. "But I will assume they will mean us no harm, if they saved the two. Shall I go back to the river and send him here?"
"That will be best, yes." She nodded, only now noticing the black form. He sketched a bow in the direction she had been talking in - assuming that's where most of the locals were - and then turned to run back to the riverbank.
He was met halfway by Elrond, who had been informed by his son of the happenings in the forest. "See to helping Elladan in using our bedrolls to make a nest in the boat." He ordered softly. "Even if I manage to heal all of their injuries, they will likely be too weak from days of healing on their own."
"I will." He finished his run to the river more slowly, where his husband was emptying the boat of all their supplies.
"Elrohir says it might take them a day to get up here." The elder twin informed him. "Tuor is beside himself in joy."
"I wonder what Ecthelion and Glorfindel's ranges are?" The Sindar mused, moving to unwrap their bedrolls. "Otherwise we might have to account for them being halfway down the river by the time we leave here."
"I don't... think they can reach all the way here?" The black-haired elf muttered, frowning a bit.
