Title & Chapter Number: Misfits 30/30
Author(s): - Author's Index
Fandom: Middle Earth
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: I do not own these settings or characters, and am making no profit from the writing and sharing of this story.
Warnings: Haldir's in it. Need I say more? /snicker
Betas: Circe
Cast: Haldir/Melpomaen
Timeline: TA AU
Spoilers: None
Summary: One year later…
Notes: Thanks to everyone who has given commentary, feedback and support.
Steam rose in an aromatic haze, swathing the elves on the bath's ledges in wispy clouds of grayish white. Both males and females shared the hot water with a casual lack of modesty, chattering and laughing over the steady sound of rushing water. Actual washing was done behind the screens arranged at one side of the cavernous room, and those who now sat or reclined in the naturally heated pool did so for a chance at relaxation or an opportunity to catch up on the city's gossip.
"Well, I for one was shocked that Haldir decided to take up with Melpomaen again. That young one must have something going for him if Haldir's willing to live with him," one of the females said as she swiftly wrapped a towel about her long, silver-blond tresses. "I'd thought sure that he'd be too proud for that."
"Aye," another commented, her eyes rolling toward the first speaker. "Do you remember when Brielle complimented Haldir on his eyes at the festival? I swear, if looks could kill, Brielle would be trading stories with Mandos now!"
"Aye, he's a proud one. And I suppose he has a right to be, though I can't say that I'm too impressed with that `cut above' manner of his."
"Melpomaen must not mind it," one of the males said, splashing water at the girl reclining on the ledge. "But then again, I've heard Haldir has other sterling qualities of which we know nothing." He grinned wolfishly. "They are living together, after all."
The maiden with the wrapped hair giggled. "And doubtless Melpomaen is thrilled on a variety of levels. That place he was living in was simply awful."
"Well, whoever would have thought a student librarian would want his own talan!" The second female sat upright, wiping her face with the back of her hand and casting the male elf a mock glare. "I could have told him he'd not be able to afford it, and I work in a tavern!"
"Watching them move made washing windows a much more pleasurable undertaking," another female said as she idly inspected her fingernails. "Haldir took his shirt off."
"He didn't!" the second female exclaimed, leaning forward abruptly. Water sloshed, and the first female scowled.
"He did, Mara, and I saw the whole thing." Her smile turned wicked. "And there's a bit more to him than there is to the average elf, and all of it looked good from my angle, if a tad on the pale side."
"I don't believe I've ever seen Haldir less than fully dressed," the first female said, a trifle dryly, "and I'm not sure that I'd care to see him so."
"Oh, you," Mara said, rolling her eyes. "You just don't want to admit that you're curious. Fortunately, I will assuage that curiosity anyway; I can tell you that all that bulk is pure muscle."
"Well, we could have guessed that. I daresay I've never heard of a flabby March Warden."
"Even with those cheeks?" the male asked snidely. The second female giggled and splashed at him with her toes, once more upsetting the towel turbaned female.
"They're cute! Like a chipmunk's cheeks."
"Ai, Elbereth, don't let him hear you say that! You'll be reduced to a cinder along with poor Brielle!" the male retorted. Mara pouted.
"Well, at any rate, it took less time than I'd thought it would for them to wrestle all that heavy, antique furniture to their new place. You'd have thought Haldir would have sprung for new."
"He's probably broke after redecorating his old talan for Rumil and Orophin," the second female interjected. "I heard from Liiane that he paid for all of that."
The male elf shook his head perplexedly. "I just can't understand why he went to all that expense just so he could move out a year later. And not to take a bit of it with him, either!"
"Maybe he thought of it as compensation for his brothers having to put up with him," the first female said with a grin, and the second female frowned.
"Stop it, Laurelle. I know from talking to Liiane that he's not so bad. Just a bit… overbearing at times. And he's loosened up a lot here lately."
"Aye," Mara said, stretching back languorously. "He took Melpomaen dancing at the Swan. Now that was a sight; it looked like they couldn't make up their mind who was leading."
"Males." Laurelle rolled her eyes. "Though I suppose that underneath it all, one couple isn't very much different from another."
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," the solitary male elf remarked, casting Laurelle a look of mock annoyance. "I think you need to sample the company of more males to know that for sure, and I'd be happy to aid you in your research."
Laughter mingled with the rising steam, easy and companionable, identical with the laughter shared between two other elves in a talan not so far away.
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