"Where I come from, over the sea, we have a feast every year in the winter. We call it Yule," Caranthir explained to Haleth, who was currently sitting across from him, "It's a time…for families to get together. Everyone has their own traditions," his mind wandered to his siblings strewn across Beleriand, caught up in the endless fight against Morgoth, his amillë over the sea, and his atar lost to him. Perhaps even in the void.
"Oh…I see, sounds like a waste of time," Haleth shrugged, not wishing to dwell on her now dead brother and father any longer. She had a lot to prepare before her and the rest of the Haladin left for Brethil in the spring. There was no place for grief.
"Is taking part in a small pleasure with one you care about truly a waste of time?" Caranthir asked, "I made something for you. We may be struggling but we have each other and why not take solace in that?"
"I suppose you are right, Haldad was always urging me to take care of himself. I think he would be pestering me about this all day," Haleth's laugh was bitter but there was warmth in her face.
"The day before Yule, my father would make us tamales colorados and later he taught us to make them ourselves. So now I prepare some every year for myself and my people, and, well, I also made some for you. I wanted you to be able to try them," Caranthir said, lifting out two delicious bundles wrapped tightly in palm leaves.
Haleth nodded and took one. She gently unwrapped it and then bit into it, sampling the savoury filling. As she chewed a smile crept upon her lips, "You have once again proven me wrong. Such festivities are not a waste of time if they provide food like this. Tell me, how do you make tamales colorados?"
"I hoped you would ask," Caranthir said and handed her a slip of paper with his graceful script and crude drawings which he had snickered at while making.
Haleth took it and laughed once again as she looked at his sketch of her and him with circles for heads and lines for arms. Two of the lines intersected, connecting the two figures together, "And I was told that the Eldar were gifted at everything!"
"Not everything, you are far more gifted in many ways then I will ever be! You are an esteemed and brave warrior who I would share in eternity with if I could. You are a good person, free from guilt and cruelty," Caranthir's glasses misted over as tears welled in his eyes. Memories of the kinslaying and the blood he has spilled became fresh once more. If Haleth knew of his sins her love for him would fade. And she would learn in Brethil. All he could hope is that she would still remember him fondly.
"Thank you. I would spend eternity with you as well. You make me laugh and I certainly need that. I have my own guilt to bear though. I wish I had fought just a bit harder, maybe my brother and father would be here. Also despite you trying to hide it, you have your own wounds, I can see and well, I love you regardless. Whenever it's Yule I'll think of you, for you taught me about it," Haleth reached out and took Caranthir's hand.
"I will think of you as well even once you pass beyond this world, for I love you too," Caranthir clenched Haleth's hand tightly. Tonight wasn't like the Yuletides of old but it was dear to him nonetheless.
Lanthanum here: Thank you for reading! I like Haleth x Caranthir quite a bit! This is one of the first slightly romantic things I've published. (I think it's pretty light though)
Caranthir loves tamales colorados. Fëanor would have learned how to make them from Míriel but she had to hang out with Vairë and Námo for a while so he taught himself to make them from her old cookbook. When all of the family is reembodied then they can all enjoy them together!