Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant
Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything
Chapter: 16
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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Rog looked up from Tinnuion's shoulder at hearing crunching sand, noting their King closing in on them.
"Oh Powers, don't even think about it." He tartly informed the son of Fingolfin he had chosen to follow after managing to escape from Angband and being unable to find his people again. A loyalty he had kept up so much that he had not even actively searched for them now that he was reborn and they probably were around somewhere. "I do not want to hear it."
"Mhh?" Egalmoth looked up at him, then followed his line of sight to Turgon. The young Lord in their arms didn't let go just yet, but unburrowed himself just enough so he could look over his shoulder.
"Rog..." Tinnuion's uncle stopped midstride, working his jaw.
"Don't. I know what you want to say." The white-haired Lord of Gondolin muttered darkly. "You are wearing the exact same expression you did when I came out of the Halls and you spend an hour trying to apologize for me leading my people against the largest gathering of Balrogs since Morgoth needed to get his ass saved from Ungoliant..." He took a deep breath. "And predictably dying, as if no one saw that coming after that move."
"Ah..." The Lord of the Heavenly Arch sighed, dropping any pretense of formality for the moment. "Turgon, you are aware we all decided together to take the scenic route over the mountains instead of the safe tunnel, right? You didn't drag our asses up there, I can assure you. If there's someone that needs to apologize to us for that mess, it's us!"
"What!?" The form in their arms startled, looking up at them with wide and confused eyes.
"We were the ones who thought it was a good idea to remain on a collapsing road instead of... I don't know... using our horses to get off it as soon as horse-ly possible." Rog pointed out dryly, chuckling a bit. "Especially Egalmoth, who should know better considering he is the one who upkeeps roads." He grinned at the black-haired lord beside him, who glared at him. "Didn't do your job too well, did you?"
"The mountains are outside my purview, Rog." Tinnuion's second father rolled his eyes, pulling back a bit from both of them, only too hiss in pain when that caused a movement his leg did not appreciate. Before he could do much more, Elrond appeared beside him.
"And that is my cue as the present Healer to really insist we move this into the city, or at least onto a picknickblanket." The Lord of Tumfalas beckoned one of his sons closer. "Preferably the first."
"The carriage should be big enough he can rest in there." Tuor joined them, helping the two half-elves to get Egalmoth up the embankment. "I stole just about every pillow in the palace to make a nest." His grandson hummed in approval when seeing it and in short order they had the injured Lord settled. Rog managed to follow mostly on his own, but he was a distinct few shades paler once he sat down on one of the free seats with the assistance of Glorfindel and Legolas.
"C'mon." Turgon offered his sister-son his hand, climbing into the carriage. Despite the nest for Egalmoth's leg, there was still space on it for a few more people. "You can squeeze between them." Which he did, though it was less of a squeeze than one might have thought.
Down below, there were twin-chirps, causing Glorfindel to burst out in laughter. "Yeah, should have seen that one coming." With the ease of great practice, he lifted the two otters into the carriage as well. Elladan carefully planted himself in Tinnuion and Rog's laps, while Elrohir gently draped himself onto Egalmoth's healthy leg.
"I swear they are adults." Elrond briefly scratched his sons' heads before joining his great-grandfather on the other bench and starting a soft Song of pain-reduction so the two could get to the city without being in agony.
"Could be worse." Egalmoth started petting the furry form with his healthy hand. He squirmed back into the pillows in clear relief, faint smile around his lips as he leaned against them and Tinnuion, who looked like he desperately wanted to join Elrohir but obligingly held up the older Lord.
"Could be being squished by a Balrog again." Rog agreed, scratching the fluffy stomach offering itself up to a happy grumble. "I much prefer something softer and lighter." The rest of the group drew up on their horses, leaving only Paenvellon and Legolas, who offered to attend the supplies in the boats and follow after.
"Just wait until we hit the city and you'll have to deal with the parade-procession." Glaur joked, steering his horse close to the carriage, Erestor following on one of the spares they had brought. "By now, the entire city will know, so you can expect them all wanting to greet you."
"Oh for..." If there was one thing the Lord of the House of the Hammer of Wrath hated, it was social things like that. "Can I go back to that little settlement, please?"
"They told me they were normally migratory, so they are probably gone by now." Coruneth informed with with a grin. "Sorry."
