Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant
Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything
Chapter: 23
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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Tinnuion was somewhat unsure as to what to make from the sight on the other side of the large breakfast-table in the King's palace. By now, it was only family that ate here, the rest of the Lords having proverbially kicked out by his aunt about three days ago, but this number did not include his claimed fathers, who were clearly deeply plotting together...
The moment Rog had spotted Egalmoth this morning, he had immediately informed him of the impending wedding - nevermind that it was still early Summer. He was kind of scared what it meant that they felt the need to start this early. The only thing that kept him from some level of panic was the knowledge that Rog hated social things and would therefore not subject him to too much of them... right?
"At least they are having fun...?" Salgant offered, leaning over a bit. He clearly found this far more amusing than Tinnuion did, slicing himself some cheese to go with his eggs.
"You do realize that they are also plotting for you, right?" Turgon's nephew muttered, sitting back into his seat while taking another bite of his own scrambled eggs. The two older Lords were completely oblivious to his scrutiny.
"They haven't invited your mother in yet." The Lord of the Harp softly chuckled. "It is a well-established fact that these things get infinitely worse when mothers are involved."
"Is that an invitation...?" Aredhel had heard her future law-son, grinning over her goblet at her child.
"No." Tinnuion squeaked at the thought, before he could actually think of a more diplomatic answer than 'panic'. Luckily for him, she found it more amusing than insulting, laughing at his face.
"I'll do something else, no worries." She assured him, slapping her brother when he offered his sympathies at that statement. Fingon laughed far louder than she had, leaning away from her while Turgon looked like he wondered how those two were related to him. For once, he could agree with his uncle.
On the other side of the table, his fathers were watching the show, Egalmoth taking the break of their own plotting to reach for more toast.
It came on him almost completely unawares... the thought that he had three fathers, not two.
He had not paid much attention to what had happened to Eöl after Eönwë had taken him away all those centuries ago, but now he felt like he probably should have done so. Should he be informing his sire of his impending marriage, or...?
Excusing himself, he fled the room as slowly as he was able, hoping none of the occupants noticed that something was wrong. He knew it was almost a wasted hope, since four of them sometimes felt like they knew him better than he himself.
He had a blessed half hour of quiet worry and rumination before Salgant appeared between the plantlife of the King's Gardens. Sweeping aside his black robes, the other Lord sank down beside him without a word. In lieu of speaking, he leaned against his side, which had proved surprisingly calming over the years.
"Eöl..." Said elf's son whispered. "I... what should I do about... him?" Looking up at the sky, he trembled. His Sire had no right to make him this conflicted, after everything, but here he was... Looming like some unseeable spectre, darkening his day.
"Nothing." Salgant tartly informed him. "He lost any and all rights to you long before even getting to these shores..." He knew what the other meant; when Aredhel had been killed in his defense, when his Sire had tried to kill him for choosing different than he wanted. "So I don't think it's really his business in any form or way as to what you do with your life. You have no obligation to let him know anything."
"But..."
"I asked Egalmoth." That derailed his thoughts. Squeaking in surprise, he looked down into the face resting on his shoulder. "Back when I first started courting you. Even back then, after you were in the city for just a few months, Egalmoth was more your father than... he. I asked him for his blessing, not Eöl." He snorted softly. "Well, Glaur suggested I ask him, but mostly to see if that would explode his head." His fiancé looked up, smiling warmly. "You have two perfectly acceptable and capable fathers. You don't need that third one."
"He said you came to him for his advice..." Tinnuion whispered, surprised at this information.
"Assuming when exactly you talked to him about it, he probably did not yet want to claim you so clearly as his son as to admit that he was throwing around courtship-approvals." The warm smile turned into an amused grin. "But I guess that cat is out of the bag now, isn't it?"
It was... and right now he felt as if his heart was one, warm and fuzzy feelings filling his chest at the thought. He did not need Eöl and he probably had been very stupid to even consider needing him. Humming softly, he rested his head on that of the other elf, who obligingly cuddled closer.
