The Lion and the Mouse
"Tell us a story, uncle, please!" the Ambarussa crooned adorably, pulling on Fingolfin's tunic pleadingly.
"Yes, a story would certainly be nice." Maglor yawned from where he was sprawled on the couch, recovering from last night's annual no-sleep overly competitive singing competition, where he, needless to say, had won.
Fingolfin hesitated, he had never been an especially skillful storyteller. His little brother, Finarfin, would better fit that role.
He sighed in defeat as he glanced at the boys all around him, gazing up expectantly, and he knew there would be no escape.
"Fine! But what should I tell you a story about?"
"Animals," suggested Celegorm helpfully.
"Something disturbing," mumbled Caranthir angstily.
"A love story," offered both Ambarussa simultaneously, sighing dramatically.
"This is an animal story," Fingolfin decided, thinking fast as to what animal it would be about...
Celegorm shook his golden mane in anticipation, grabbing the nearest twin and seating him in his lap before adding to his suggestion as an afterthought, "But do not make them so silly again this time, please."
"Alright. They are serious animals."
Celegorm flipped his unruly hair over one shoulder again in irritation with it. Nerdanel had resolved to have it cut to a more manageable length by the next week, an arrangement which had sadly not yet taken place.
"It is about a lion."
The Ambarussa squeaked in a mix of fear and excitement.
"And a mouse."
Curufin raised his eyebrows skeptically.
"This should be interesting..." he mumbled, before preparing to hold on for the ride.
"Once upon a time, there was a lion, a very handsome, very brave lion."
"And his name was Maitimo." the twins cried excitedly, one of them proceeding to body-slam Maedhros with a quite epic and rather painful hug.
"Right. And there was a mouse, with dark fur, and a valiant heart-"
"FINDEKANO!" the twins fairly screamed, nearly deafening poor Maedhros, whose poor ear they had fairly screamed into.
"Yes. And one day Maitimo the lion caught Findekano the mouse, and wanted to eat him-"
"Nonsense! I would never want to eat Finde!" Maedhros interrupted, trying to talk over his younger brothers' fearsome giggles as they tried to imagine that.
"Maitimo, just let me finish the bloody story!"
Needless to say, story time with the Feanorians could quickly become a rather traumatic experience.
"Was it very gruesome?" Caranthir asked with interest. By now Maglor was sound asleep with his mouth hanging open.
"What?" Fingolfin asked, confused.
"When the lion eats the mouse."
"But he does not eat the mouse, the mouse is clever, and he tells the lion that if he lets him go, someday he will repay him with his help."
"But what can a mouse do to help a lion?" Curufin asked disdainfully from where he was braiding the twins' hair together.
"That is what the lion wondered too," explained Fingolfin, thinking fast, "yet he let the mouse go."
Maedhros nodded approvingly, and Fingolfin continued, "And one day the lion, Maitimo, got caught in a trap and was going to be killed, but Finde the mouse came, and chewed through the net and freed him just in time, and they were loyal friends forever after." Fingolfin finished, pleased with himself.
He was met with blank stares from the younger boys, a thoughtful look from Maedhros, and a snore from Maglor.
"Well," remarked the younger Ambarussa cheerfully after a long and awkward silence, "at least that one was not as weird as the one about the little Vanyarin girl and the three talking bears."
Yes Fingolfin is a sort of Middle-Earthean mother-goose with his outlandish fairytales... XDXD
Maitimo-Maedhros
Findekano/Finde-Fingon
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