Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant

Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything

Chapter: 32

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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"So what is it?" Tinnuion trailed him into his own mansion, and through that to the office.

"My Midsummer-gift for Egalmoth." Rog gestured to one of the chairs before digging up the velvet-lined box. "I want your opinion on it." And some more, but he was going to see if the youngster noted it first. Putting the box down in front of his son, he flicked the top open before moving to fetch some drinks.

By the time he returned, the boy was fully immersed in his latest creation. It was a hairdecoration, of both blue and white metals swirling over a base of silver, with small gems of all colours tucked away. A summer-sky, with colours shooting over the clouds.

Setting down the goblet of wine, he followed the fingers tracing the metal swirls. The look of intense concentration reminded him of some of Tinnuion's works. He was taking the matter of 'opinion' very seriously. "Well?"

"I... there's... something." Turgon's nephew tilted the piece into the light, eyes narrowed at something in the middle. "Can I...?"

"I'd be concerned if you'd manage to break my work with your bare hands." Rog's mouthcorner quirked up. If he was reading it right, the other smith had noticed what was going on. His suspicion was confirmed when a pincet appeared from somewhere and gently tugged on a silver curl securely in the middle of the creation.

There was a soft click of a mechanism unlocking, which left Tinnuion with raised eyebrows and a ring now detached. Then his eyes widened when he realized what kind of silver ring it was...

"Well?" The white-haired Lord started grinning. "How did I do...?" As if he expected an answer, considering the high speed of turning wheels.

"Is this...?" Tinnuion looked at him with wide eyes.

"An engagement ring." Not that he'd ever admit to it, but if he was going to have to wait a year, he wanted to start it early. "He and I are intending to marry, after a while." He was answered by a squeak, so he reached over to return the ring to its' holder. "But well... we are intending to hide it for a bit." Considering the item fondly for a moment, he then put it back in the box. "But not from you."

"Not... from me?" The Lord of the Mole echoed.

"You are our son, of course we're not going to hide it from you." He smiled gently, holding out the drink instead while setting the box aside. "Which, now that I consider it, is quite the turn-about of how normal relationships work, but whatever..."

"So... why hide to begin with?"

"Pettiness." Egalmoth entered the room, smirking a bit. Rog quirked an eyebrow at his sudden presence, but pulled up another chair without comment. "Glaur and Ecthel are always threatening the other Lords that they will make us suffer for teasing them both mercilessly about their relationships..."

"Basically, we want to see if they can make good on their threats and notice immediately when they have a chance." The Lord of the Hammer of Wrath continued, lookin on in faint amusement when the other Lord forwent the offered chair in favour of the armrest of his chair. "Hence, getting engaged with hidden rings."

Mouse looked between them, eyes wide. "Since when?" He blinked a few times. "When did you...? How long...?" He used both hands to gesture to the waist of his primary father, where the arm of his secondary father was settling. "How did I miss this!?"

"Not that long yet." The Lord of the Heavenly Arch assured him. "And we'd appreciate if you kept the secret, at least for a time." Leaning back a bit, he supported himself on the backrest of the chair. "Well, I suppose you can tell Aredhel and Salgant, as long as they keep it down. We want to see how long it'll take those two to notice."

The youngster started beaming. "Of course." He shot from his seat, throwing his arms around them both. "I'm so happy for you!"