Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Egalmoth/Rog, Maeglin/Salgant

Warnings: AU, canon-levels of Everything

Chapter: 57

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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When Turgon woke up that morning, he had not expected an irate Rog to be marching into his home... Yet, here he was, eating a quick snack between two piles of paperwork as his Avari Lord threw open the door gently - somehow, and it still surprised him that it was possible - to glower down on him.

"To what do I owe the... nature of your presence?" He put aside the scone he had been nibbling on, gesturing to one of the chair in the room, which the other took. That was a relief, because the few times the Lord of the Hammer of Wrath had been truly angry he had paced the room like an animal, furniture roughly shoved aside. He'd take the glare if it meant they could still talk.

"How much upward mobility is there among Noldor, barring marriage?" The white-haired elf accepted a drink from the King's secretary, who had followed him inside.

"Errr... can I get some context?" He sat up straighter a bit. "Mind, I am no lore-master."

"I come from Egalmoth's House." Rog waited until they were alone before he spoke again, sipping on the wine in his hand. "His parents have left the city again, apparently."

"Already?" He had heard from his nephew - and a bunch of other people - about the arrival of just about the only family-members of his Lords he had to yet meet. "I assumed..."

"So did he." The smith frowned out the window. "But according to him, they only came here to briefly congratulate him on his impending nuptials and no more." His auburn-red eyes leaned more into red when they turned to Gondolin's King. It gave him staring-down-an-angry-balrog-vibes, which probably was something the balrogs had felt when they faced down the former thrall. "Apparently, they are worried that he'd be dragged down in society if he became associated with them."

"Tinnuion mentioned they were commoners..." Perhaps he really should have asked some more about the matter, but he had assumed he'd meet them in person and get all his information then.

"Apparently, they are cleaners in the employ of a rich trader, or very very low-ranked noble." Putting aside the goblet, muscled arms flexed as their own leaned forward on his elbows. "Am I to understand that being a Lord of Gondolin, one of three surviving ones, who died very specifically to protect the law-granddaughter of the King... does in no way reflect on said Lord's father and mother!? In my tribe, that would at least earn them some respect, since they were - assuming - the ones to raise him to that level... barring the fact we are not that rank-based."

"I..." Turgon reached for his own drink at that. "I never knew... It might sound somewhat bad, but I only really noticed Egalmoth when I needed someone to deal with the roads in Vinyamar and he was suggested to me. I didn't know anything about his past beyond what he shared, which... I realize now, was rather little." He worried his lips. "But yes, that should certainly reflect on them..."

"I hear the coming 'but' from a mile away." The other elf sat back up, angry aura fading some.

"We are not in Beleriand anymore." Before the Lord could snarl something, the King raised his hands. "Let me finish, please. In Beleriand, basically all the Noldor I had contact with were under - shall we say - my control, or my brother's and father's, which came to about the same. Therefore, it was quite easy to hand out titles to whomever I liked with no considering to pedigree and whatnot; you and Egalmoth as good examples." He took a drink himself. "But here, the Noldor are - so to speak - under Finarfin's control ultimately, and even beyond him, there's several subgroups. Valimar as a rule is not under any kind of Fingolfin-related rulership. As such, they might not be mine, if you get what I mean. And as such, I cannot simply throw a Lordship their way, though it would be the best and quickest way to solve this debacle."

"I suggest finding someone who can, because this is upsetting my fiance." Rog softly - dangerously softly - pointed out.

"Not to mention that will upset Tinnu, which will upset Aredhel, who would annoy me to Middle Earth and back, even consider there's no more ships sailing either way..." Gondolin's King tilted his head. "I was going to visit Tirion next week anyway, do I get those few days?"