Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant
Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything
Chapter: 41
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 does he have standing orders to throw me into the first ravine?" Rog looked from the horse to Glorfindel. He was about to leave New Gondolin in search of his family and a small group of people was seeing him off. Several had in fact offered to join him, but he had waved all of them off. As the last token before he actually headed off, Glorfindel had given him a new horse - well, in as much as elvish horses can be 'given' - a son of Asfaloth, equally pearly white, but heavier build than his sire. Considering the last three days since the wedding had involved a lot of teasing, he was understandably suspicious.
"No." The Lord of the Golden Flower quirked a grin, crossing his arms under his wintercloak. "Just the first five snowdrifts."
"Okay, fair, I guess." The white-haired Lord patted the horse's shoulder. He had been intending to mostly travel under his own power, but he was not going to turn down a horse that wanted to go run around with him in the middle of winter. "At least leave me enough time to dry off my clothes between drops?" The horse whinnied softly in answer, which he hoped was agreement.
"Just don't get lost." The golden-haired elf stepped back a bit. "It'd be the height of karma if you are late to your own wedding."
"Or justice, since it's dubious whether they were actually engaged for as long as they claim." Ecthelion darkly glowered, but his eyes sparkled with amusement as well. "Maybe we should kidnap Egalmoth for six months, keep up the family-tradition."
"Do you really want to do that to yourself?" Egalmoth, standing beside him, shoved him away. "I feel he might just make you regret it."
"I'd just steal Coruneth and trade her." Swinging himself on the horse, the Lord of the Hammer of Wrath inclined his head lightly in the direction of the smallest form in the group. "She'd let me."
Both Lords stared each other down for a while, before he broke their stand-off with a soft laugh and nudged the replacement for the horse he had lost in Cirith Oron out into the snow-covered landshape.
He had looked over the maps of Aman for several weeks and found a few places that were alike to the one they had dwelt back in Beleriand. He hoped his family had kept up the habits of old, because otherwise he might well never find them.
Looking back, he noted the small group that was watching him leave. Lifting one hand in farewell, he smiled warmly at the flash of light from Egalmoth's hand where the other Lord held aloft his hairclasp.
"Let's hurry, then." He leaned down, gently urging the steed below him on. "The faster we find them, the sooner we can get out of the snow." The nearest spot he suspected they might be was a mere few days ride from New Gondolin, as the maps showed. Between the snow and other things that might slow him down, it'd take him probably a week, at most two, to reach the outer boundaries of the area.
The white form took a healthy canter, throwing up small clouds of snow as he headed down the road. He just hoped that those clouds remained the only snow in the air at least for most of the time.
"Also, if you are really going to throw me off, warn me so I can save the luggage." He snorted softly, throwing one last glance over his shoulder. By now, he could no longer make out identities, so there was no telling if Glorfindel was waiting for the actual drop.
The horse snorted as well, but made no move to send him airborne, so he took that as a good sign.
"I just hope they don't actually do something to Egalmoth while I am gone, I'd rather not having to start a civil war." Though Turgon's faces would probably be hilarious, if he thought about it. "Ah, he can take care of himself." The Lord of the Heavenly Arch had been the longest survivor beside Tuor and Galdor, after all. He'd be able to deal with their friends... he hoped.
