Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant

Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything

Chapter: 48

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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He staid with them for the entire rest of winter, and most of spring, reconnecting to the people of his childhood and learning to his horror that Insai's mysterious bond-partner was his brother... as in, the actual cultural child of his mothers alongside him. That he was less happy about, because it made his brother's mental wellbeing quite concerning. In fact, there might have been a wrestling-match after that statement, which he won easily.

Rog had expected the declaration of his mothers one morning, when they informed their part of the tribe that they were heading to their son's home for this travelling-season. A good subset of the listeners that day decided to follow, mostly those that were somehow related to him and their attachments. He hoped the guesthouse could hold them all.

"We'll crash at your place." Insai informed him with a big grin. "As a Lord, you should be able to house three dozen people, from what I saw when we hit the cities."

"I am crashing you in the fountain." The Lord of the Gondolindrim threatened at the prospect. He did not trust her, no matter how lovey-dovey his brother got at her. He could only hope that she wouldn't traumatize Mouse once they hit the city. He promptly had to shake her free, her sad wail nearly turning him deaf.

Surprisingly, the journey back to New Gondolin took about the same time as it had the other way, the ease of travelling on foot without snow comparing to travelling on horse in snow.

"Taking after your mother, isn't it?" Phara asked her son when they came into sight of the bright white city, though at this point it was starting to turn distinctly orange in the setting sun. They'd probably only actually reach it sometime during the night.

"Egalmoth complains about that too, yes." Dressed in some clothes in their style, he was walking beside his mothers, his poor horse having turned into something distinctly more pack-muley on the road. Despite the gracious acceptance of this fact of life - probably helped along by lots of nice snacks when they were still in the village - Rog did wonder how much sulking there'd be once they had arrived. "Heavenly Arch, and all that. I have yet to see him wear less than 5 colours at once, not counting metals and differing shades of the same colour."

Powers, he had missed the other Lord.

"Once we're in the city, go to him." Despite her frail nature, his mother kept up easily with the firm walkingspeed of the group, eons of travelling-practice coming in more than handy now. "We'll find a place to rest for the night."

"I can wait until morning." Mostly because he knew that Egalmoth was already indulging him with his Avari-levels of clinginess - or certainly, he had yet to see another couple that had sleepovers like they had as often - and he did not want to push. Appearing at his home in what might well be the middle of the night would certainly fall under 'push'.

"Snowflake, it's been two seasons." His second mother dryly pointed out. "He'll be thanking you for not making him wait any longer for your reunion."

"He's a Noldo, they don't do this level of clinginess."

"He's hooking up with you, which makes me doubt he minds." Insai leaned in, elbowing him... or probably tried to shove him, but that didn't work. "Really, just dump us at your place, we'll camp in your gardens and then go smooch your chosen one."

"Why do I feel like you're liable to follow and spy on me?" His shove worked far better, making her fall against his brother, who did manage to stay upright and caught his partner.

"Not this time." She laughed brightly at him, adjusting her travellingpack. "I'll wait until you actually do something more than kissing."

"What made you think she was a good idea?" It was a question that had been levelled at the brown-haired elf regularly by his white-haired brother. "She's annoying."

"We bonded while you were gone." Rog's brother did not actually look anything like him, save the way he carried himself. "We both missed our bullying-target."

"I can throw you in prison now, I hope you realize that." Rolling his eyes, he snorted at the memory. "Those guards are going to take my word far above yours. Especially now that my kid is next in line to the throne." He added with a grin.

"I am your mother." The only other white-haired elf in the group pointed out. "Also, give me one rock that can stand against flower-roots."

Now that was a thought, and a hilarious mental image.

"Why do you look tempted?" A auburn-haired female smirked, his sire-sister throwing a considering look up at his face.

"Because the king here takes himself far too seriously. His face if there was a sudden, unexplained garden would be so worth the trouble it might cause."

"I guess point me in the right direction?"