"All settled?"

"Yes, my lord. Eöl's tantrum has subsided; he has been put to rest, and the quarreling Secondborn as well."

"Good." And with that the Lord of Mandos vanished from his infamous halls. Morinehtar, his chief Maia, seldom saw the Doomsman of Arda so blissfully contented.

That afternoon, a tiny nook on the western edge of Tol Eressëa, which was naturally impossible to reach due to its surrounding sharp-rock cliffs, was suddenly occupied. An Elf – or one that looked like an Elf – sat on the sand-cushioned alcove equipped with a ready-to-use fishing rod and a box of baits – comprising dead old insects the… Elf… had collected earlier in Lórien. Anar – or Vasa, if it was a proud Ñoldo who spoke – shone brilliantly down on him and the tiny nook he was ensconced in, as though celebrating his being there.

"An outing, little brother?" The head and shoulders of another Elf appeared farther in the sea amidst the glittering waves. The Elf on the little beach looked up from attaching a bait to the hook of his fishing rod and grinned jovially. Chuckling, the latter drew to the island and climbed up to his side, bestowing him an affectionate kiss on the brow.

"No one bothered you, Námo?" The fishing rod was pried gently from his hands and the not-so-alike Elf found himself perched snuggly on the newcomer's lap and in the latter's arms.

"All have been sorted out," Námo answered curtly, grumbling with irritation to the sudden question, from the temporary resting place of his head on one strong, broad shoulder. Ulmo smiled down at him in understanding, drawing a rueful sigh from the more silent, reserved Vala. They stayed like that for some time, neither willing to move or break the companionable silence that had fallen between them.

But eventually the cerenity was broken, and the culprits were a group of dolphins chorusing in their crooning, whistling language in laughter. Námo scowled at the offending sea creatures and wiggled free from Ulmo's firm embrace. The Lord of the Waters chuckled at his muttered curses. "Do not take hard their jest, little brother. You are seldom seen here; they are rejoicing for you."

"Like I had never come here…" Námo grumbled. He took his fishing rod and flung its hooked string over to the water. He had no need for the fish that he might catch, yet still he enjoyed the time when a flapping hapless fish was drawn up from its salty, watery home. "You yourself seldom come here in your corporeal form. What brought you here?"

Ulmo grinned. "Morinehtar informed me, just like I instructed him to."

Námo frowned in mock displeasure. "I have a traitor among my own people. Who knows that one so faithful such as he could do so?"

Ulmo's grin widened. "But the reason of his obeying my instruction must be because he was concerned for your well-being, little brother. Come on… You take everything too seriously when there is nothing to worry about."

"Stated by one who always finds a reason or a way to worry about everything and tweak everything to his fancy."

Knock!

"Ow! What is it for?" Námo rubbed his temple with a hand. Ulmo just smirked.

Their banters continued for some time. At length, though, Námo noticed an anomaly.

The spot he was ensconced usually teemed with fish, since there were holes and small caves under the formation of rocks that were good hiding places for them. He had always found a fish hooked before long…

Why not now?

He narrowed his eyes at Ulmo's feet which were buried under the waves. "My fish fled from your feet, big brother," he half-whined. Ulmo's knuckles visited his temple again.

"They are not interested with my feet, and neither are they avoiding them. I advise you to choose better baits next time. I suppose those fish do not like the insects."

"'Tis not your doing?"

Námo scooted away, bringing the unproductive fishing rod with him, avoiding another strike from Ulmo. "You spoil the fun, brother."

Ulmo grinned enigmatically. Uinen's giggles sounded in is head, impish and gleeful. The Maia had been guiding the little sea creatures away from Námo's bait without showing up herself. Námo needed to be less serious, she had argued, and Ulmo had agreed.

"Should we not just swim, brother? The water is cool and soothing," relenting to the moody look on the younger Vala's countenance, Ulmo suggested. He did not wait for an answer. Námo found himself flying – literally – to the water not half a minute later, courtecy of Ulmo's body-flinging skill. The Lord of Waters apparently saw an opportunity in his casual attire – just a light tunic and a pair of leggings – which would indeed not hinder him while in the water. But it did not mean said Vala was pleased at all…

"ULMO!"

Splash!

Blup… Blup…

"Bah! Deranged brother," Námo cursed when his head broke the surface. Ulmo laughed merrily. In the next second, he was simply not there, leaving Námo to his own devises.

"Time for a hunt," Námo growled under his breath. He dove into the salt water, willing his body to be able to breathe underwater in the meantime, and began his intended pursuit.

One Maia… Two Maiar… Three Maiar… Four Maiar…

He swam silently behind a towering underwater plantlife-invested monolith. His target was hovering on the other side, intent on coaxing some oisters to quickly produce pearls for the Teleri's use. A shooting propelling motion to the side and around—

Fourteenth. But she had had a chance to shriek her surprise before he managed to freeze her over.

That attracted attention, as he had both feared and hoped. A Maia, his last victim's spouse, hunted him down.

That hapless Maia soon became the hunted.

Fifteenth…

Fifteen frozen Maiar trapped within a fisherman's net, which was about to be rolled up.

But in the end, only one got rolled up in the fishing net: himself. Fifteen Maiar glared at him with some measure of smugness, having just been freed by their exasperated-but-amused lord and gathered into said lord's embrace.

The Teleri in the fishing boat were surprised and bemused, seeing that they had captured an angrily-chirping dolphin in their net. Well, but they did not eat dolphins, so they set it free again. Oddly, it did not quickly shoot away from their boat, but rather went under it and… chased some unseen thing.

All the while, the waves rolled and rumbled in merriment.

Author's Rambling:

Fresh from the oven! Well, the thing had been sitting in my computer for a long, long time, slowly added up, but I got the ending only now. I wish my muse deigned to inspire me at a better time, though. I was already ensconced in my blanket and ready to struggle myself to sleep! Well, but I have got to thank her now, because without it this chapter would still be languishing in my folder. All hail my muse! *cheer*