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harmonizingsunsets · 4 years ago

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Polin Week Day 4: Prompt - Jealousy

Touching A Live Wire

After dragging Colin by the arm through her and Eloise's flat with one hand, Penelope slams the door behind them with the other.

She folds her arms across her chest and looks him in the eye for the first time since they left her work party early. He'd looked apologetic, following her wordlessly to the car and remaining silent during the entire drive to the flat.

"You have five seconds to apologize."

Colin sighs, rubbing his eyes with the heels of his palms. "Penelope, this is a misunderstanding."

"Five," she starts counting.

"I didn't mean to say it that loud!"

Penelope's lips curl further in anger. "Four."

"Wait, let me explain why I—."

"Three," she interrupts, tapping her foot loudly on the floor.

Colin tilts his head at her. "Pen, this is ridiculous."

"Two."

"Can't we just sit down and—." Pen opens her mouth, her lips forming the word one, but Colin looks alarmed and puts his hands out to stop her. "Fine, you're right. I'm sorry!"

Penelope breathes in relief. Despite the show she just put on, she didn't know what she would've done if she'd reached one. With Penelope's grade three students, she'd send them to the principal's office or write their names in the infraction book. But, Penelope didn't think those forms of punishment would've worked with Colin.

She moves her hands to her hips, pinning her gaze on him. "Sorry about what?"

"I'm sorry that I got a bit carried away."

"A bit carried away?" Penelope scoffs, causing him to flinch in guilt. "Colin, you yelled at my co-worker, "Penelope is too good for you," and then proceeded to knock over the punch bowl!"

"In my defense, whoever placed it there did a poor job. It was teetering on the edge of the table."

Penelope's jaw clenches. "I placed it on the table."

Colin's eyes go wide, adorably so, which she could appreciate more if she weren't so angry at him.

Well, she still does appreciate it a little. She's human, after all.

"Oh, then it was a lovely job!" Colin exclaims, trying to cover himself. "Perfect placement, angels in heaven would want you to be on punchbowl duty at every party."

"You think angels have parties?"

"No, of course not, but they host them. Can you imagine parties in heaven? Unlimited food, great entertainment, and you could dance with Pablo Picasso and Prince at the same time."

"You really think Picasso and Prince would run in the same social circles in—hey, don't distract me," she interrupts herself, pointing accusingly at him while biting back a grin. "I'm mad at you."

Colin takes a step forward, beginning to smirk. "Then why are you smiling?"

"It's an annoying side effect of being around you," Penelope explains grumpily. "But, I'm still angry."

Colin deflates. "I know. You should be angry at me." He begins to pace, making Penelope worry that he's going to slip as she and Eloise just polished the floor yesterday. "I was way out of line. I shouldn't have yelled at your co-worker. It was disrespectful."

Penelope exhales, her anger beginning to fade, but confusion still causing her head to ache.

"I don't understand. Why did you yell that at him? And why did you spend the whole evening scowling at him and steering me away from him the entire time?"

Colin doesn't respond, looking down at his shoes. His behavior worries her, as Colin's never been one to avoid telling her something. His eyes are always open, full of honesty and understanding. But lately, they've been clouded.

The clouds are unsettling. Penelope misses the sun's warmth, and she can't take the chill anymore, especially because she doesn't know what prompted the weather change.

"You've been so unlike you the past few weeks," Penelope quickly says before she loses her nerve. "You've been off ever since he started working with me at the beginning of this month."

Colin shifts his feet. "No, I haven't."

"Yes, you have! Whenever I bring him up, you completely shut me out, you've avoided my attempts for you to meet him, and I caught you rolling your eyes when I was talking to him on the phone," she lists, furrowing her eyebrows. "What do you have against him?"

"Nothing."

"Colin, tell me."

He shrugs but with tense shoulders. "There's nothing to tell."

Penelope presses on, taking a step closer. "Obviously, you have something against him."

"No, I don't," he says, taking a step back.

She steps forward, feeling a rook on a chessboard that's slowly advancing on his pawn as he moves it backward one square at a time.

"Be honest."

"I am."

"No, you're not. I know you well enough to know when you're lying."

"Penelope…"

"Please, Colin, just tell me what's really got you so—."

"He's into you!" Colin blurts out.

Penelope freezes, her rook stopping one square before her victory.

Colin grimaces at himself, taking a deep breath as if his words knocked the wind out of him.

"What?"

"He's into you," Colin repeats, his voice quieter than before. "I don't like the way he looks at you. He obviously wants something more than friendship."

Penelope knows she shouldn't, but she laughs. "That's absurd."

Colin's expression drops even further, beginning to frown. "Why is that absurd? "

"Because it's me. Why would he be interested in me?"

"Why wouldn't he be?"

Penelope narrows her eyes at him. "Colin, don't play dumb."

"I'm not. You're the one that's playing dumb."

"Excuse me?"

"Pen, you're intelligent, beautiful, funny, and kind," Colin describes, slowly raising his hands and placing them on her arms. There's something in his eyes as he speaks so vehemently, a gleam that sends a thrill through her body. "You're the perfect package. Who wouldn't want you?"

Something in his words causes her to pause, reassessing the entire evening. Once she does, seeing a supercut of Colin's reactions towards her co-worker and his behavior around the two of them, her mind reaches one conclusion—a conclusion which quickens her heartbeat.

However, it also inspires a newfound sense of motivation to stop tiptoeing at the edge of the cliff she's been on for years.

But, she has to make sure Colin is truly standing on the same cliff as her before jumping.

Penelope swallows nervously. "Alright, let's say you're right and that I'm the perfect package—."

"You are."

"Ok, let's say that I am," Penelope agrees, taking a deep breath before crafting her following words. "So, why shouldn't he like me?"

"It's not that he shouldn't like you because, of course, he should. But—he shouldn't," Colin blabbers, getting a cute crinkle in between his brows as he struggles to explain himself adequately, which only fuels her wonderful but terrifying theory. "Because… he's—that guy is not right for you. "

Penelope inches closer, so her chest brushes against his body. He intakes a sharp breath, and she has to restrain herself from doing the same thing, knowing the gravity of this moment—of getting this exactly right.

"But I'm the perfect package, so I'm perfect for him, right?"

"No—I mean, yes, he'd be lucky to have you. But that doesn't mean you should be with him." His eyes flicker to her chest, and back up at her eyes, and back to his shoes, his face becoming more red with each passing second. "He—he has a horrible laugh, he likes Star Trek over Star Wars, and he took way more than his share of the cheese platter—."

"Those reasons are inconsequential. You know they are."

Colin opens his mouth, but nothing comes out. So, Penelope raises one of her hands, moving up his arm and to his neck.

The path of Penelope's fingertips creates a live wire, causing his skin to brim with electricity everywhere she touches. But, it doesn't shock her. Instead, she's part of the electrical current and feels a hum of energy in her palm that his touch provides.

"So, there must be another reason you don't want me to be with him," Penelope continues, forcing her voice not to shake. "Right?"

"No," he shakes his head after a few beats.

She bites her lip, trying to hold on to hope. "Really, there's not one reason?"

"Um…no?"

Penelope sighs, dropping her hands from his neck, feeling stupid. How foolish was she to think ahead of herself like this? Clearly, Colin's answer was not what she predicted. Just like always, she got carried away in romantic notions, as she always seemed to, when Colin’s around.

"Ok," she says, clearing her throat. Colin frowns at the sudden distance, but Penelope can't see his expression as she's closing her eyes to try and banish the inclination to cry. "I know, it's been a long day, so let's forget it. I think I should—."

Penelope doesn't get to answer. Because, suddenly, Colin swoops forward, his hands cupping her cheeks and his lips crashing onto hers.

If touching his skin created a live wire, kissing Colin makes a high electricity voltage, one strong enough to power an entire city.

Colin's lips brush against her softly, but there's a desperate edge to it, one akin to the desperation she feels as she clutches the collar of his jacket and pulls him closer.

When Colin breaks apart for a breath, he rests his forehead on hers.

"I was jealous," he whispers.

Penelope pulls her head back a little so that she can meet his eyes. "What?"

"That's why I didn't want you to be with him, because I want you to be with me," Colin confesses, pursing his lips. "I know that's immature. I'm sorry. You should be with whoever you want to be with, even if it's not me. It's my fault that I was too much of a coward until—Ow!" He abruptly yelps, looking down at his arm, which Penelope just pinched. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," Penelope ducks her head, the corners of her lips twitching into a smile. "I was just checking to make sure you weren't an illusion."

Colin smiles in the incandescent way that made Penelope fall in love with him in the first place. He tips her chin up, forcing her to meet his bright eyes filled with an emotion that wraps around her heart and squeezes it.

"I'm real, I'm very much real," Colin assures, his thumb skimming her cheek. "I'll prove it to you."

He closes the distance between them again. But, Penelope is the one to deepen the kiss. She feels a wave of heat run through her at Colin's moan. Also, she experiences a surge of confidence, proud that she was the one to elicit such a glorious sound.

Penelope wraps her arms around her neck, finding it slightly annoying that he's so tall, as she has to lean up on her toes to kiss him. Colin must sense her struggle, quickly amending the issue by swiftly raising her into the air.

But, as her legs sweep up as she's taken into his arms, she accidentally kicks the bowl that holds her and Eloise's apartment keys off of the table.

It crashes loudly onto the floor, the ceramic breaking into multiple tiny pieces.

Colin and Penelope's lips break from each other's, looking down at the mess near her feet. Then, for a moment, neither of them say anything, only staring at the floor.

"Well…at least there was no punch in there this time," Colin says, sidestepping the broken pieces of the bowl.

Penelope laughs, smiling against his lips as she pulls him in for another kiss.

While she has a lot of explaining to do about the dramatic scene the two of them caused when she shows up at work tomorrow and will have to answer Eloise about the broken bowl, she can't find it in herself to care.

When he opens his eyes briefly, looking at her and moving a strand of hair behind her ear, she no longer sees clouds. Instead, she only sees the sun, and she wants to bask in its glow forever.

Penelope knows how idealistic that thought is, but as Colin begins kissing down her neck after moving them to the couch, she thinks it's quite a reasonable notion.

#polin #polinweek #polinweek2021 #colin x penelope #penelope featherington #I love flustered Colin #I’m sorry #lol #colin bridgerton #fanfiction #polin fic #Drabble #one shot #modern au #Bridgerton #bridgerton netflix #jealousy #friends to lovers

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21stcenturyhope · 6 years ago

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BTS Imagine // Royalty!AU with Taehyung

Kim Taehyung

summary: your husband felt trapped in a loveless marriage but you would give up all your worldly possessions to change his mind

genre: slight angst, fluff ending

length: 2k words

It was no secret how your husband really felt about you.

The only child of a prominent nobleman, your parents had secured you a marriage to the youngest of three princes. You had known from the start that this was no love match but you had hoped that you and your husband would grow to love each other as your parents had done.

But your husband, Kim Taehyung, seemed to hate you with every fibre in his body.

At first, you believed Taehyung felt trapped by your arrangement and that he was resentful towards you for taking away his freedom. But as he continued to show his distaste, his behaviour clearly demonstrated that his detest for you ran deeper than you could ever imagine.

Taehyung was never one to hide his thoughts and feelings. You knew he believed you were vain, spoiled and uncultured. You were hurt that he thought so little of you without giving you a chance to get to know each other.

But what hurt most were the nights he came to your chambers, clearly intoxicated.

On those nights, he whispered such beautiful words into your ears as his hands softly caressed your body. You knew his words held no sincerity but you were desperate to feel some form of affection from the man who you were supposed to spend the rest of your life with. So, you continued to let him into your bed, falling for his deceitful touch and hoping that maybe this time he would finally change his mind about you.

It was only when you woke up the next morning to an empty bed yet again that you allowed the tears to fall.

“You need to start treating your Y/N better, Taehyung.”

Taehyung was currently playing a game of chess with Namjoon in his private study. The two had settled into a peaceful silence when Namjoon suddenly spoke up. Taehyung was shocked at his older brother’s outburst.

“Our parents didn’t raise you this way. And I can see that this is starting to weigh heavily on Seokjin’s mind. He has enough stress with ruling the kingdom, Taehyung. Will you really add your own personal problems to hyung’s plate?”

“It’s exactly because of how our parents raised us that I behave this way, hyung! I can’t help myself. Every time I see Y/N’s face, I become so livid. Y/N was spoiled as a child and her vanity seems to be unending.”

“What makes you think that, Taehyung? Because you and I seem to know two very different Y/Ns.”

“I know she’s constantly asking Seokjin hyung to increase her monthly allowance. Do you know what she spends it on? Every time she returns from the market, she’s spent nearly all of her money. She buys so many clothes yet I only see her wearing the same few dresses. She buys so many hand-crafted instruments yet I have never heard her play one song. I thought that maybe she was well-educated with all the books she purchases but I have never seen her with a book in hand. She spends too frivolously.”

Namjoon let out a bitter laugh at Taehyung’s revelations.

“Do you have such little faith in our older brother, Taehyung? Do you think he would be so reckless to continue increasing Y/N’s allowance if she really were such a frivolous spender? You know as well as I do that Seokjin hyung takes his responsibility towards the kingdom very seriously.

Let me leave you with one last piece of advice, Taehyung. Speak to your wife and ask her where she really spends her money. Do it before you lose Y/N.”

Reaching over the chessboard, Namjoon moved his Queen to knock over Taehyung’s King.

“Checkmate.”

You nervously clenched the fabric of your dress underneath the table as you dined with your brother-in-law and his wife.

You had met Seokjin shortly after he had become king after the untimely death of his parents. Your father was a very trusted advisor to the late king and Seokjin had come to seek your hand for his youngest brother. Unlike their youngest brother, you got along splendidly with your brothers-in-law and you had come to love them like family.

Seokjin had been especially excited to finally have a little sister and he tended to overindulge you. You often had radical ideas which you were surprised to find out he fully supported, both morally and financially. The two of you grew close and you knew that you could ask him for anything.

Tonight, you had asked to dine with him and your sister-in-law, Hye Na, privately.

“Your Majesty?”

“Y/N, how many times do I have to tell you? We can drop the formalities when there’s no one around. Just call me oppa.”

“Oppa… do you remember the promise you made me a year ago?”

“What promise?” Hye Na was confused but judging by the way Seokjin stiffened, he remembered exactly what promise you were speaking of.

“Last year… last year, you promised me that things between Taehyung and I would change. And that if they didn’t, you would finally grant me an annulment.”

“And tell me, Y/N, where would you go if I did grant you an annulment? Do you think everyone would be so accepting of your situation? That your life would be so easy?”

You could tell by his tone of voice that Seokjin was getting angry but you didn’t take it personally or let it deter you.

“My father left behind a small property in the countryside for me. It will be nice to have a change of pace.”

“I promised your father before he passed away that I would take care of you, Y/N!”

Hye Na grabbed Seokjin’s hand in hers, trying to soothe his anger as his voice cracked.

“Oppa, please don’t worry for me any longer. You have a whole kingdom to take care of. I can take care of myself.”

“Y/N, can you try giving Taehyung a little more time? You know he’s stubborn but I really do think he’ll start coming around.” Hye Na spoke up as her husband tried to gather his thoughts.

“I don’t know how much time I have left to give him…” you trailed off.

“Just until the end of the year. And if he still hasn’t changed by then, I promise you that I will do everything in my power to get my equally as stubborn husband to grant you the annulment.”

“Really?” You looked over at Seokjin, doubtful he would agree to such terms. Finally, he let out a defeated sigh and reached over to pat your hand comfortingly.

“I just want you to be happy, Y/N, even if it means you need to leave. I’ll agree to these terms. Just don’t be in such a rush to leave oppa behind, okay?”

The truth was, Taehyung was drawn to you from the moment he met you. But the timing was terrible and his judgement was clouded by grief after the death of his parents. He wanted nothing to do with you, only wanting to wallow in his own misery.

Pained and afraid to open up his heart again, it was easy for him to assume the worst of you. It was at his lowest points when he was completely drunk that he allowed his true feelings to surface. He craved your touch and your attention which seemed to fill the void inside him that his grief had left behind.

He knew that Namjoon’s words were reasonable; he had always been the wisest brother of the three. And so, Taehyung finally squashed his pride and approached you.

“May I accompany you to the market today?”

You were speechless, to say the least. Not once in your entire marriage had Taehyung ever shown interest in spending time with you outside of your chambers, completely sober. You could only nod and allow him to escort you to the awaiting carriage.

You tried not to let your husband’s presence affect your routine. You made the usual stops at the stores you frequented. Stopping first at the tailor’s, you picked up a chest of clothing that you had ordered ahead of time. Your next stop was the bookstore where your packages were already waiting, neatly wrapped up. Stopping at the bakery, you also picked up several dozen sweet treats.

The whole time, Taehyung wordlessly followed you from store to store, only speaking to greet the shop owners and citizens passing by.

“Your Highness?” It felt too uncomfortable to address your husband so intimately by name in broad daylight. “Should I have the carriage escort you back to the palace first? I have one last place to visit before I return.”

“No, I’ll come with you.”

You informed the coachman to continue on to your last destination. When the carriage finally stopped, Taehyung was astounded to see that you had arrived at the orphanage. You had already exited the carriage yourself, too excited to wait for the coachman to give you a helping hand. Hoards of children ran out the front door to greet you excitedly, almost as if they had been waiting for your arrival.

“Your Highness! You’re here!”

“I’m so happy to see you again, Princess Y/N!”

The children all clamoured towards you, their giggles echoing through the front yard as they eagerly waited to be on the receiving end of your hugs. They were clearly on very familiar terms with you.

“Settle down, settle down!” You laughed, a bright smile lighting up your entire face. “Or else I can’t give you your presents!”

You gestured for the driver to bring out all the packages you had picked up earlier in the day as the children lined up obediently. You began to hand out the gifts according to what each child has asked for the last time you had visited.

“A new dress for Ye Seo’s doll… let’s see, a new calligraphy book for our studious Soobin…”

As you turned around to reach behind you for the next gift, you felt a small tug at your hand.

“What is it, sweetie?”

“Your Highness,” the cute little girl pointed towards the carriage. “Who’s that?”

You had completely forgotten that Taehyung had accompanied you today. Hearing the child’s question, Taehyung came next to you in a few quick strides. Bending down so that he was eye-level with her, Taehyung answered her question.

“I’m her Prince Charming,” he winked.

All the children oohed and giggled at his remark causing your face to flush completely red.

“Alright,” Taehyung called out while grabbing the box of desserts from behind you. “Who would like some cake?”

He was instantly smothered by a hoard of children.

After a well-spent afternoon playing with the children, you and Taehyung were finally on your way back to the palace. No words had been exchanged so far as you and your husband silently sat side by side. Without a warning, Taehyung reached for your hand and brought it up to his lips.

“Y/N, words cannot describe how painfully sorry I am to you for misunderstanding you this whole time. I am going to spend the rest of my life making it up to you. You’ve shown me today what a caring and beautiful individual you are. I cannot believe how blind I was to have never seen this before.”

Tears filled your eyes and disbelief flooded your thoughts. Was this really happening? Was this really the moment you had been dreaming of all those lonely nights? It seemed like your husband was finally ready to open his heart and give your marriage a chance.

“Will you give me a chance to be a better husband, Y/N?”

Finally letting go of all self-restrain, you eagerly nodded before flinging your arms around Taehyung’s neck and pulling him in for a long-awaited kiss.

A year later, you and Taehyung announced that you were expecting your first child.

Seokjin and Namjoon silently exchanged smirks. The eldest was grateful for the well-timed lecture that finally brought Taehyung to his senses and keeping you in the family.

#bts #bangtan sonyeondan #bts imagines #bangtan #bts fanfic #bts imagine #bts fanfiction #bts masterlist #bts react #bts reactions #v #bts v #bts kim taehyung #kim taehyung #taehyung #bts taehyung #taehyung fanfic #bts royal au #bts royalty

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odium-amare · 8 years ago

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Memoirs of a King

(Finrod/Andreth One-shot)

Summary: It was not often elves were nosy and concerned themselves with the race of men, but when they do, you can bet he was a fair golden elf with one of his names being Finrod.

“Leave. And when you have quenched your thirst after exploring Ennor because Valinor alone was not enough for you, never bother coming back to me, Findaráto.”

Were the final chilling words Amarië said to him when he had announced to her that while he did not partake in the kin-slaying at Alqualondë, he will still set forth to go with his other cousins and friends to explore the new world because his hunger for knowledge would not be suppressed, even for an elleth he loved.

His last memory of Amarië was the sleeping form with her back turned to him to the far side of the bed they had both shared. It was not yet dawn and he had crept quietly out of the room to leave with the boats Fëanor and his seven sons had stolen in blood.

He was never certain if she had really been sleeping or pretending to.

oOoOoOo

Three hundred years had passed. Three hundred years had passed since he set foot upon Middle Earth from Aman. Endless war as Morgoth and his minions continue to inhabit the lands but it was not just war. During those years, he had built the city of Minas Tirith or otherwise known as Beleriand, discovered jewels caves and mountains with the help of his friendship with the dwarves and built Nargothrond.

It was eventful, tiring and worth every minute Finrod spent with his life while his brothers scattered and his sister, Artanis went off to make something of herself on her own.

That day, Fëanor’s two eldest sons had invited him to go on a fun hunt with them. They had hunted for days and didn’t seem to get bored while Finrod was losing enthusiasm for killing prey and was lagging from the group. In the end, none of them had a problem when Maitimo and Makalaurë decided to separate from him so that once again, the oldest of Arafinwë’s son could wander off on his own.

He had remembered his first encounter with the second-born. The light of the fire they had built flaring in the night first caught his attention. Men with beards and a bit shorter than him were sleeping around the campfire and next to the fire, was a harp. Curious and drowned with pure interest, Finrod stood up from his hiding spot in the trees and went over silently to the fire, picked up the harp and played music.

He sang of the intensity of Fëanor and his terrible oath. He sang of the tragic bloodshed at Alqualondë and finally, he hymned the lyrics of the vast lands of the Earth as well as the sun and moon.

Such overwhelming music mortal ears have never heard before, the men and one of them Finrod soon learns to be Bëor woke up, their faces intoxicated by sound and their large eyes glittered with unshed tears.

Finrod remininsced fondly on how cute he thought the second-born were on when he first laid eyes on them. They were so unlike elves in that they were not quite as fair by first-born standards regardless of how shallow the idea might be, they were shorter in stature, their hands were not naturally built to be as prodigiously talented to craft as the eldar were born to be… And most peculiar was that they grew hair on their faces.

Generations passed and there was one distinctive mortal Finrod had always paid attention to and grew to be fond of during his time in Ennor.

Her name was Andreth; daughter of Boromir, a descendant of Bëor.

The elves eventually gave her another name, Saelind, which meant wise-heart for Andreth was as wise and passionate as she was biting of humor.

On their first ever encounter, the little adaneth child was hiding behind her father’s legs when Boromir was gaily introducing his wife and children to Finrod on one of their friendly horse riding trips. His two other offsprings, elder Bregor and youngest Beril were more than happy to show their enthrallment and to befriend the golden elf all save for the middle child.

“Hello there, little one~” The eldest son of Finarfin flashed little Andreth one of his famous, beguiling smiles that charmed many. The little girl looked up at him with her big brown eyes and said nothing. She stared for a few minutes before going back to hiding.

Boromir apologized to Finrod and attempted to prod Andreth out of her ice to no avail. From that day, Andreth seemed to have made it her mission to torture the elf as much as she could. Finrod later learned from Beril that Andreth was jealous of him for taking her papa’s attention constantly ever since the elf arrived to make acquaintance of their family. Finrod had laughed good-naturedly at that and brushed it off calling it one of the many woes of adolescence and growing up. Even so, Andreth’s natural talent for spite could get to alarming straits at time that could even make the elven King of caves and mountains speechless.

One example being during one of their evenings after dinner, the little adaneth had offered to give the Lord Felagund her mother’s delicious tipsy cake for dessert.

“Here you go, lord Finrod,” Her childish voice chirped. “Something nice and fresh for you.”

Finrod blinked, surprised at the sudden courteous gesture from Andreth, he could not hold himself back by refusing. Perhaps the child had decided to make peace and be friends with him after all?

“Why thank you, Andreth.” He took a bite and narrowed his eyes when the little girl scurried away a little too quickly that it looked just a tad bit suspicious. Then Finrod realized his mistake. It was one of the oldest tricks in the books. Fits and fits of coughing followed suit after he swallowed.

Their mother was panicking as she ran out to pat Finrod in the back except the golden elf was laughing to her consternation. “The cake!” He exclaimed still hacking a little. “It’s spicy!”

The face of Boromir’s wife twisted from worry into a furrowed look of annoyance.

“Annndreth!”

They grounded Andreth and assigned her not so nifty chores in the kitchen for a week.

Perhaps it was a change of heart or feelings of guilt but when on one of their horse riding trips, Beril fell off her pony and twisted her ankles, Finrod ended up being the first one to find out sharp as he was and brought the little crying girl in the healing rooms so that he could personally attend to her using one of his many gifts bestowed by Eru.

It wasn’t long before Beril was able to run and laugh again. That afternoon, Finrod heard a knocking on his chamber door. Andreth shuffled in avoiding eye contact but her cheeks had the slightest tint of blush.

“Here. My mum made me pick these strawberries for you,” She mumbled, holding out a basket. “Thank you for saving my lil sister.”

Finrod smiled. He knew that Andreth had picked them herself out of her own free will.

“Let’s see now, would there be any spices in them?” He asked casually picking a berry up. He and Andreth shared a laugh after that incident. The elf and the little mortal girl grew ever closer from that day.

Sometime during Andreth’s years of growing up to become a lovely young woman, Finrod had brought his brothers Angrod and Aegnor to Dorthonion and occupy the lands there. By chance, naturally one of his brothers would soon inevitably meet the mortals that stayed in those lands. Finrod should have known. But the valar always had a plan on their chessboard and there was nothing the children of Eru could do about it but watch it all unfold as their lives were played.

Finrod had knew the moment he saw Andreth by lake Aeluin, bathing, showing the skies herself at her most radiant with another wild blonde emerging from the shadows to her that darkness loomed overhead.

“Aegnor,” The eldest brother spoke as the other elf walked past him taking a bite from an apple.

“Yes brother?” Aegnor asked, his eyebrows raising. Aegnor felt a chill down his back. Had Finrod found out? His older sibling always had a tact for knowing things habitually with his gifts and the younger brother never really could hide anything from him since they were elflings much to Aegnor’s frustrations.

Finrod still leaned easily against the marble table in one of their lodgings, a goblet of wine twirling in one hand.

“War is approaching,” He stated. “You and Angrod had prepared everything?”

Aegnor let out an inaudible sigh of relief.

“Of course. Who do you think I am?” Aegnor huffed, puffing his chest out comically.

“Angrod has taken his troops and they are already half-way to the front lines,” Finrod continued. Aegnor nodded in acknowledgment.

“I am aware.” The two shared a few more words before their talk came to an end.

Before Finrod stepped out the door, he gave his younger brother a backward glance.

“Oh and Aegnor?”

“Yes?”

“You do remember…That she is mortal, yes?” Again was the casual tone. Aegnor jerked his head up at his brother in apprehension but Finrod disappeared. It did not take much convincing for Aegnor to soon reject Andreth as he and his brothers rode off to war never to see her again.

Andreth was left bereft and bewildered. She studied and grew to be a wise-woman but never married.

Finrod would often visit Andreth as she aged. While he was continuously entertained by their stimulating conversations, she would often be repulsed by his insensitivities and possibly him as well as she spared no kind words and he did not sugarcoat as much as before.

“You are utterly antagonizing. You’re impossible,” She often said bluntly as they both sat in front of the warm hearth. Her in her woolen shawl and him windblown and battle weary.

“Aegnor…?” Andreth cried out when he sought her out in one of his visits. His cloak was gritty and disturbingly bloody.

“Nay, lady,” Finrod held on to the withered old woman’s arms for support.

“Did you tell him all that I told you to do so?” She asked impatiently, but there was clear desperation underneath. Finrod’s voice was as bleak as how he was feeling inside.

“Nay, lady for dearest Aegnor with his hair as wild as fire had passed away not too long ago.” His arm tightened as she grew unstable, her eyes widened in erratically in denial and disbelief. His cloaked was soaked thrice that day. Not in blood and dirt but in tears. He had made sure to not let go of her fragile body once as he watched her smaller and grey head buried into his sturdy chest.

Hours passed and Andreth was back in her seat, her body was not properly straight and her face grew even older. Her once vibrant brown eyes looked soulless. She lost the spirit of the moral woman he once knew.

“It’s not right. He was not supposed to go before me…A human. Ha!” Andreth chuckled mirthlessly.

“It was during a time of war, my lady. Perhaps now you have a glimpse as to why he did not take your hand in marriage as you wanted,” Finrod answered carefully. “You are human Andreth, it was never meant to be for the Eru dictates it to be that way, but rest assured because he always makes everything just and fine in the end. Do you believe in Eru, Andreth?”

She looked at him vaguely.

“Eru? The all mighty creator who favors the fair firstborn to the very end? No. I do not let myself believe in any higher being other than what my eyes can see,” She said firmly. Finrod frowned in concerned at what he was hearing.

“But Eru was what born the Valar who in turn worked together to shape Middle Earth. What you said just now was unwise. Saying that he favored the firstborns is folly. Are you not grateful for what you and men have, lady Andreth? Yes, our people are well taught and raised to create exquisite works of art, craftsmanship, music, literature and the such but whatever men is capable of, I foresee a miracle.”

“Well then why did this God of yours not give us an immortal life too?” The mortal woman demanded harshly. “Oh yes, we have much to be grateful for indeed; fate of darkness and death that we cannot change no matter what we do. No. If Eru were to have existed, he would have made us lived forever too. It is only because of Morgoth’s arrival and ongoing presence that has made us mortal instead!”

It was indignance. Finrod rubbed his chin at Andreth’s word in contemplation.

“Your theory is plausible I will say, but I digress. I believe Morgoth have no play in the fate of men, but Eru really do intend for mortals to live a fleeting life because…” He saw Andreth slump back in irritation not facing him. He continued:

“…Because humans are not tied to Ennor the way elves are. We eldar are bound to Middle Earth until it gets destroyed but the humans’ time in Ennor are only temporary. After your passing, there is a bigger destiny for your people beyond the circles of the world that the firstborn can never hope to enter.”

Andreth was silent and there was an uncomfortable pause as she took in his words.

“I am not sitting here for you to know of my resentment towards the mighty creator, lord Finrod. It is not something I would rather dwell on anyway,” She started in hopes of changing the subject and to not showcase her bitterness too well.

“No, you did not,” Finrod nodded in agreement. “Because there is the true cause to your anger after all is there not?”

When she did not answer, the elf’s lips quirked up.

“Have you really no hope then?” His keen ears heard her breath hitched.

“I would have given him everything. I would have thrown everything away to be with Aegnor even if it was a short amount of time. It was the fact that I was human that he rejected me. He scorns the fact that I will age and no longer have any beauty left,” Her eyes glistened and shined again as the droplets rolled down her wrinkled cheeks. “He didn’t need to worry. I would not have forced him to stay with me for him to see me grow old. I would have left since.”

“That is precisely the problem,” Finrod cut in sternly. “For the Eldar, love and bonding is forever. Did you really think that had he taken you, he would simply just leave after your prime? It was war, Andreth and we do not marry and give birth to children during war. As a human, after you die and pass the circles of the world, what does Aegnor have left?”

She sniffled, “And now I am alone and childless…”

“And as a woman and a human at that, there is a limited time for you to be able to bear offsprings. I understand that,” He nodded. “I know you are upset, but it was for the best. Coupling between the firstborn and the secondborn would…”

His eyes glazed out for a second as his gift had interrupted him with three visions.

“Happen only rarely over the course of history and each one for a specific purpose to continue events that have yet come to pass.”

“What are you talking about?” Andreth snapped him out of his musings. Finrod blinked before chuckling. His much larger and youthful hand went to her smaller ones and rubbed it fondly.

“Fear not, adaneth. I sense that Eru can do no wrong. After your kind pass the circles of the world and Arda is destroyed with the eldar along with it, there will be a new universe. It will be Arda Remade. Wait for Aegnor there. Await him…And I.”

He finished promptly and was confident in his words. Finrod’s stormy grey eyes bore into her deep browns as he smiled in that quirky way of his that he knew always peeved her. She stared at him and for a moment, he saw the child turned beautiful woman that he knew. She was and still is which was a taste he oddly acquired during his time knowing the dearest human woman.

“How do you do that?” Andreth shook her head in exasperation. “You always have this knack for agitating me but make me feel…Good at the same time. It is so manipulative and unfair.”

The words were petulant as he had known her to be, but Finrod knew that they were spoke with sincere love and affection for him.

He grinned. “Hasn’t it always been part of my charm and appeal, lady adaneth?”

Before she could retort, he chimed in again.

“You know…” The elf’s face was scrunched up in an unreadable expression as he gazed pensively at Andreth. Her appearance seemed to be getting younger as the seconds grew. Her grey and wily hair had grown out to be the same rich, dark color and surrounding her slender frame.

“Had it been in another life,” His lips looked to be getting closer to her own. “I might have fallen for you as well.”

Andreth stood unmoving as she processed the weight of his words before taking a few steps backwards. She had no expression other than lost at first but then it grew haughty as she huffed.

“And why would I trust the words of a selfish elf who is irritating, condescending, sickeningly sweet, charming, frivolous and probably the true source of having me jilted in my youth in the first place?” She mocked, but her eyes would always shift back to him with a playful light he observed.

He laughed.

“You would be correct. Unfortunately, there is someone waiting for me in Valinor and so naturally, I cannot take you as a lover even if you should wish it. After all this is done, my people will journey back to the West to reunite with ones that had been lost and those we love and cherish.”

Finrod’s lips still curved, but it did not reach his eyes.

“Andreth; I am not only a selfish elf, I am a selfish man. Grant this irritating King one last parting gift, would you?” He tilted his head. Another sniffle; her face finally let itself free and showed a soft yet enchanting smile.

This time, she let one of his strong arm hold her securely by her thin waist while his lips descended upon her hungrily like a starved man.

oOoOoOo

The last time Finrod asked of the most beloved wise-woman, he had been informed she has already passed away.

oOoOoOo

Finrod laid there on the floor while all his limbs were chained gruesomely inside the cave with Beren. The elf was naked, wounded, dirty and left in the most terrible of ways that no one would have recognized he was once a Noldorin prince turned king. Everyone else, his soldiers who had looked up and devoted themselves to him and Beren scattered around, lifeless.

“Your majesty, what do we do now?” The mortal man groaned out. He struggled to move around but was desperate to get back to the love of his life. Beren had a certain proud and spirited demeanor that was so familiar to Finrod that he found it difficult to not tag along and befriend the younger man as he did with his aunt.

Oh, how the house of Bëor would be the death of him, he thought wryly.

And now did he realized that this was among one of the three his visions had told him. He watched the snarling, foul creature that was neither quite dog nor man enter the cave again in search for a meal of its chained prisoners. Beren tensed up and squinted his eyes shut, waiting for the ugliness of his incoming death.

Finrod chuckled mirthlessly. Well if he was always making Andreth angry before, perhaps he could still do something right for her nephew.

Steadily closing his eyes, he took in a deep breath, and inhaled all that he had seen and love of the cruel and beautiful world around him. With taut muscles and a stubborn will, Finrod wrung free of his bonds.

The werewolf had no time to react and the elf took this chance to tackle the creature to the floor, mauling and clawing it with his nails, hands and teeth alone. Beren could only watch in horror and shock.

“Agh!” Finrod coughed out, blood trickling down his lips. The werewolf laid on the floor, growling in a high-pitched and unpleasant voice weakly. It abruptly stopped deathly still. Finrod looked down at his own person as he felt his own body grow cold. With the last of his strength, he slashed the love-stricken mortal man from his own chains and then collapsed back on the rough ground.

“Your majesty…” Beren spoke distraught. He crawled over to Finrod’s dying form.

“What are you doing, young one?” The golden elf’s voice was down to a raspy whisper. “I did not risk my life for you to stay here and mope and sulk.” The human Finrod had grown to love as a son wept bitterly. “This was not how it was supposed to be! No…”

“Beren son of Barahir, you still have a longer life to live and missions to accomplish. I will soon leave Ennor to see my brothers, mother and father again. Find your beloved, stay alert, be appreciative of all who have died for you and live happily.”

The younger man could only nod helplessly.

Finrod let his eyes to rest, but his expression was peaceful. There was no darkness and the light was shimmering.

Are you looking down at me from up there, dearest lady Andreth? He thought languidly.

Angrod and Aegnor were jumping and cheering once they saw him arriving at the sparkling river across from where they resided. Finrod ran towards them and in a corner, he swore he saw the lithe figure of a distinctive mortal woman smiling at him before disappearing from view.

Finrod Felagund, known as Nóm to men and King of the Noldor was glad to be home.

#finrod #andreth #finrod and andreth #athrabeth #aegnor #my fic

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