Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant

Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything

Chapter: 39

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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"You haven't been wearing rings though." Ecthelion darkly glowered over the table where Rog had pulled off his own glove to reveal the silver band on his hand. Tinnuion hid his smile in his winecup, joy filling his entire body.

"Not on our fingers." Egalmoth conceded, pulling the hairclip from a hidden pocket and taking his ring. In the silence, the click of the hidden mechanism was near deafening. "But you helped me put mine on when I got it... so really, you can't complain about my spot." He pulled the ring out again, returning both to their places. The second time the sound was drowned out by his son's soft laughter, which made him look over fondly.

"And I shoved mine in your face." Rog did not reveal his bracer - likely there had been no way to make a pocket large enough without affecting the fall of the fabric - but he poked the part of his arm the ring had been resting on, making most realize where his had been hidden.

The largest part of the people around the table looked surprised, but Ecthelion looked almost murderous.

"No murder on my son's wedding, please." Aredhel spoke up, her voice trembling with her suppressed mirth. "Really Ecthel, you have no right to complain about them. There's no rule about rings needing to be worn on fingers."

"And even if Noldor have them, Avari don't so Rog could just be following his tribe's rules." Coruneth happily informed her husband, completely ignoring the expression aimed at her. "Really, you should have seen this coming when they returned to New Gondolin all cuddly. Egalmoth was resting almost more on Rog than on anything else in that boat!"

"So it's really not our fault you didn't notice." The Lord of the Heavenly Arch smiled serenely, eyes sparkling as he offered his ringed hand to the Lord beside him, who gladly took it. "So much for 'eternal suffering the moment we can', no...?"

The Lord of the Fountain nearly growled at him, while the Lord of the Golden Flower still looked flabbergasted beside him. "Don't think you've won."

"No civil wars." Turgon looked only marginally less flabbergasted than their golden-haired friend and seemed to say it more out of habit than because he consciously decided to. "I like my city."

"When were you planning on telling us?" Duilin sharply demanded. He had sworn no terrible vengeances, yet had still been kept in the dark. While Ectel and Glaur's reactions were admittedly hilarious, he did feel a touch miffed, if he were honest.

Both fathers of Tinnuion looked at one another at that and Turgon's nephew nearly laughed. "Why do I feel you really would have left them to find out when the invitations hit?" He demanded, pointing at them accusingly.

"Nonsense!" The Lord of the Hammer of Wrath laughed, sound booming over the table. "We said we'd shove their faces in the cake, did we not? It would have been rude not to explain why it happened, Mouse."

"So in other words, Duilin, we were planning to tell you lot in an hour orso, depending on when the foodfight started." Tinnuion's primary father shrugged theatrically. "I suppose we'll have to change plans to allow our son to leave early."

"Eh?" He blinked a few times in confusion at that statement.

"You do recall it took Tuor and Idril almost four hours until they were allowed to leave?" Egalmoth looked over. "What made you think that you, heir to Turgon, could leave any earlier than that without shenanigans to distract everyone?"

"We could still start it..." Ecthelion glowered darkly. "I am sure I could get the cake to cross the distance between us with enough force."

"I will be taking Turgon as shield." The white-haired Lord looked over with a grin. "That'd count as treason, assaulting your Lord."

"Come again!?"

"We need a big shield and I am not about to try and reach your father on time!"