Faded Light: Book II
folder
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
12,203
Reviews:
46
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › Slash - Male/Male
Rating:
Adult ++
Chapters:
43
Views:
12,203
Reviews:
46
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
Characters and places belong to JRR Tolkien and to his estate. I own only my OC's and twisted storylines.
Grudges
(For additional notes and disclaimers, please see top of Chapter 1.)
- Note: Thank you to ziggy3 for the lovely review; I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'll try to have another chapter posted by the end of the week... -
Chapter 10
Grudges
“Did you just come from Vaurna’s?”
“I just came from visiting my son in the healing rooms.” Mereniel stopped in front of her husband’s desk, who did not bother to look up from his work.
“Though I don’t expect you’ll wish to know how he is recovering from his accident,” she added when Ruthlagor remained silent.
“I’m sure I would have heard if he were not.”
The king’s advisor still did not look up at his wife, only continued with whatever he was writing. “It is only a broken leg...no doubt he will be back on patrol within a fortnight.”
“How long do you plan on continuing with this?” asked the Princess. “Another ten years, a century? Must you find yourself in Thranduil’s place before you can forgive your son for...whatever you consider his failings to be.”
“...so my eldest son impregnates Saelbeth, and I am to accept it,” he said coldly, “and this season he takes up with Tadion and I am to accept that...is this then how a prince should behave?
“It is shameful, Mereniel. Do not expect me to relent. Taking Saelbeth as his bed mate..."
“His mate. Whether you choose to accept it or not. And they have a child even if you wish to continue to shun her as well."
“Former mate, if you so insist,” he said in the same dispassionate tone, though Mereniel knew her husband well enough and they had had this conversation enough times to know he was far from calm. “Since they seem to have little in common these days besides that child....”
Slamming her hand palm down on the desk, she leaned forward in a less than royal stance, beginning to lose patience with her intransigent husband. “So he fell in love with Saelbeth...why is that such an intolerable thing...? Who has been harmed by it, except for your wounded pride?
“Is it so surprising that at least one of Oropher’s grandchildren should share his nature...?” added the princess in a lower tone.
“You should not...”
“I know you are not so naïve, husband,” she cut him off.
“It is a poorly kept secret how Oropher spent his time with a succession of male lovers once he and Naneth had done their duty and produced an heir...and still he is still considered to have been Mirkwood’s greatest ruler even by those who think as you do...
“Yet you despise your own son over such a small thing...”
“I do not despise my son...”
“Then...?
“If you are awaiting some sudden metamorphosis that will make him into a different person, you will continue to wait until after we have all reached Valinor.”
Ruthlagor’s hand had finally stopped its movement over the parchment though he still did not look at his wife.
He said nothing more for a long moment, as he finally set aside his work and leaned back in his chair, looking up at the fair Mirkwood Princess for the first time during the conversation.
“...frankly your impassioned defense of this affair surprises me, Mereniel,” he said, his eyes hard as he spoke despite his outward calm, revealing a hint of the darker side she knew he kept below the surface.
“As I recall, you were hardly among Saelbeth’s most ardent supporters when you first learned of it.
“How forgiving will our son be, do you think, when he learns it was you who persuaded his lover to remain in Rivendell all this time with their daughter?
“Yes, I know about that,” he said, coldly, “though I do not know what it was that you said to Saelbeth...
“But it was no coincidence that only a short time after your visit to Rivendell, ostensibly to see our first grandchild that Leralonde returned home, alone...so do not pretend you have been so much more tolerant and sympathetic than I...”
He studied his wife’s cool features, waiting for a reaction. But it was not what he expected.
“I will not try to justify my mistakes,” she said, quickly quelling the flash of anger in her blue eyes. “I had my reasons for asking Saelbeth to stay away; it was misguided and unwise, and I hope to make amends now that he is returning...but it is not to you to whom I must explain myself,” she added, making a conscious effort to temper her tone in the face of the unfair card her husband had played.
“...I have always known you to be an honorable man, herven nin,” she said, taking a deep weary breath before she turned away, having had enough of the same old arguments. “I only wish you would think of your duty first now before you allow your own wounded pride to bring us all to ruin...”
TBC...
Elvish Translations:
Herven Nin / my husband
Naneth, Nana / Mother, mom
- Note: Thank you to ziggy3 for the lovely review; I'm glad you're enjoying it. I'll try to have another chapter posted by the end of the week... -
Grudges
“Did you just come from Vaurna’s?”
“I just came from visiting my son in the healing rooms.” Mereniel stopped in front of her husband’s desk, who did not bother to look up from his work.
“Though I don’t expect you’ll wish to know how he is recovering from his accident,” she added when Ruthlagor remained silent.
“I’m sure I would have heard if he were not.”
The king’s advisor still did not look up at his wife, only continued with whatever he was writing. “It is only a broken leg...no doubt he will be back on patrol within a fortnight.”
“How long do you plan on continuing with this?” asked the Princess. “Another ten years, a century? Must you find yourself in Thranduil’s place before you can forgive your son for...whatever you consider his failings to be.”
“...so my eldest son impregnates Saelbeth, and I am to accept it,” he said coldly, “and this season he takes up with Tadion and I am to accept that...is this then how a prince should behave?
“It is shameful, Mereniel. Do not expect me to relent. Taking Saelbeth as his bed mate..."
“His mate. Whether you choose to accept it or not. And they have a child even if you wish to continue to shun her as well."
“Former mate, if you so insist,” he said in the same dispassionate tone, though Mereniel knew her husband well enough and they had had this conversation enough times to know he was far from calm. “Since they seem to have little in common these days besides that child....”
Slamming her hand palm down on the desk, she leaned forward in a less than royal stance, beginning to lose patience with her intransigent husband. “So he fell in love with Saelbeth...why is that such an intolerable thing...? Who has been harmed by it, except for your wounded pride?
“Is it so surprising that at least one of Oropher’s grandchildren should share his nature...?” added the princess in a lower tone.
“You should not...”
“I know you are not so naïve, husband,” she cut him off.
“It is a poorly kept secret how Oropher spent his time with a succession of male lovers once he and Naneth had done their duty and produced an heir...and still he is still considered to have been Mirkwood’s greatest ruler even by those who think as you do...
“Yet you despise your own son over such a small thing...”
“I do not despise my son...”
“Then...?
“If you are awaiting some sudden metamorphosis that will make him into a different person, you will continue to wait until after we have all reached Valinor.”
Ruthlagor’s hand had finally stopped its movement over the parchment though he still did not look at his wife.
He said nothing more for a long moment, as he finally set aside his work and leaned back in his chair, looking up at the fair Mirkwood Princess for the first time during the conversation.
“...frankly your impassioned defense of this affair surprises me, Mereniel,” he said, his eyes hard as he spoke despite his outward calm, revealing a hint of the darker side she knew he kept below the surface.
“As I recall, you were hardly among Saelbeth’s most ardent supporters when you first learned of it.
“How forgiving will our son be, do you think, when he learns it was you who persuaded his lover to remain in Rivendell all this time with their daughter?
“Yes, I know about that,” he said, coldly, “though I do not know what it was that you said to Saelbeth...
“But it was no coincidence that only a short time after your visit to Rivendell, ostensibly to see our first grandchild that Leralonde returned home, alone...so do not pretend you have been so much more tolerant and sympathetic than I...”
He studied his wife’s cool features, waiting for a reaction. But it was not what he expected.
“I will not try to justify my mistakes,” she said, quickly quelling the flash of anger in her blue eyes. “I had my reasons for asking Saelbeth to stay away; it was misguided and unwise, and I hope to make amends now that he is returning...but it is not to you to whom I must explain myself,” she added, making a conscious effort to temper her tone in the face of the unfair card her husband had played.
“...I have always known you to be an honorable man, herven nin,” she said, taking a deep weary breath before she turned away, having had enough of the same old arguments. “I only wish you would think of your duty first now before you allow your own wounded pride to bring us all to ruin...”
TBC...
Elvish Translations:
Herven Nin / my husband
Naneth, Nana / Mother, mom