Prose and movies, and outtakes

[winter]

Woo. This is my first post as a citizen of the European Union. Yay for us.

Cinema today was literally a toss-up between Starsky&Hutch and Kill Bill II - but S&H won the coin toss. V. funny, v. reference-filled (Easy Rider scene cracked me up), Snoop Doggy Dog rocked and I don't think they could have made it any gayer without upping the rating.

Party yesterday, or rather a quiet night spent talking and taking photos, with occasional wine and munchies. finwion accompanied me on the bus, with results available in his journal. I need to post some of those photos when I get them - P. had a digital camera, and at least one of his pictures has me looking very Fëanorian. All red hair and death-glare.

tehta rocks, and her fics rock, too. In her honour, an outtake for her fanfic Flawed and Fair:

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"Flawed and Fair" by Tehta is the one and only inspiration for this. Some lines lifted directly. It's probably best to read F&F before reading this. Quenya names used, since the princes of the Noldor would speak Quenya between themselves. "Findo" is my own idea of Fingon's Quenya epessë, seeing as "Cano" is already taken by Maglor.

Dedicated to Tehta, Ekfelion and Glorfindel. With congratulations to Ekfelion for finally getting some.

VALOUR AND HONOUR



After a couple of centuries spent in someone's company, you start to recognize the most minute signs of their moods. For example, Maedhros knew that if Fingon was chewing the ends of his braids, it meant that something was bothering and embarrassing him.

Right now, sitting on the windowsill in the best guest room in Himring, Fingolfin's eldest son seemed in danger of biting through the golden threads that held his hair together.

Maedhros raised an eyebrow.

Fingon had spent quite a few centuries in his company, and knew what that meant. "I'm just thinking about a song I heard," he explained.

"A song?" Maedhros leaned against the wall, facing his cousin.

"I believe it's rather a popular one. Or... a series of songs. Sometimes it seems like every elf in Hithlum knows it. I asked Finrod about it on his last visit, and he told me he can provide me with lines for at least eight different versions."

The eyebrow was rising again.

"It's... Oh, Elentari, this is embarrassing."

"Findekano."

"About us. In a very, very wrong way."

Maedhros winced. "Explain, please."

"I believe the songs go into some detail about our friendship. And our, how did they put it? Dueling swords." Fingon blushed pink.

This time, Maedhros let out a loud groan. "Don't tell me. I think I can imagine."

"Some of it, you can't. The things those people describe us doing... And the way they speak of us, as if we had nothing to do but give to our base instincts!" The end of the braid was back between Fingon's teeth.

"Drunken ditties put together by lazy Sindar who have never seen an orc!" Maedhros snarled. "They have no idea what holding the Siege is like - how many valiant deeds you have done. Oh no, singing of someone that flawless... they'd probably call it boring!"

"I have more than enough of songs!" Fingon protested. "What angers me is that no-one sings of your deeds - of your honour, of the way you conduct the war and at the same time keep Noldor, Sindar, Dwarves and Men all working together!"

Maedhros chuckled roughly. "I have heard those songs, Findo. I know well I'm usually the villain. They can never believe me to be fair, considering my previous deeds."

Fingon leapt to his feet and stalked up to the other elf. He put his hands on the wall on both sides of Maedhros' head. "Tell me you're not going all self-depreciating again."

Maedhros' eyelashes dipped momentarily. "I thought we were discussing songs detailing our supposed unnatural deviations?"

Fingon graced him with a brilliant smile. "Don't remind me. I can only hope that they do not reach Turgon's ears, wherever he dwells."

Maedhros' answering grin held more than a hint of malice. "Oh, I don't know. It would be nice to know I had a part in driving the straight-laced fool mad."

"Please do not speak uncharitably of my brother." Fingon's eyes narrowed.

The eyebrow rose again. "Persuade me not to."

Fingon did.

They had to come up for air after a while, but they did not speak anymore. As they stumbled to the large bed, shedding their robes and blessing the fact they had not bothered to put on any more clothes after the last bout, nothing could have been further from their minds than songs that could never do justice to reality.

Ah well, Fingon thought as he licked the tip of his cousin's ear. At least maybe they'll inspire some guy too dumb to figure out his own feelings.

Not everyone has the benefit of falling in love with someone for whom the sternest rules of the Valar are guidelines at best.

~FINIS~

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[winter]

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