#which means that even though it's nowhere near as good as Tirion and of course Fingolfin has no right to the throne

[lendmyboyfriendahand]

As High King Fingolfin came down from his orgasm, he noticed his lover was frowning.

“I’m sorry, was I too rough?”

“Don’t start that again, you were tender and careful as always.”

“Did you not come? I’m a bit worn out, but I can use my hand.”

“You saw me come quite dramatically over your abs. I’m perfectly comfortable and you were in no way neglectful of my needs.”

“Than what’s wrong?”

“I just said I’m comfortable, there’s no need to worry over me.”

"And yet I do. Obviously something is troubling you, and I would hear it even if I cannot solve it.”

Celebrimbor sighed. “You called me Curufinwe.”

“Ah. I’m sorry, I know you don’t prefer that name.”

“If you’re going to pretend that you’re screwing someone else, at least call him Feanaro so I know who I’m substituting for. I’d rather stand in for someone who is truly impossible to reach rather than someone who merely requires an inconvenient amount of effort. If you want to fuck my father, you need only send a letter to Himlad.”

“I have absolutely no interest in Curufin!”

“So call me by my grandfather’s name or my own, but not his. I’m only asking for clarity, not attraction on my own behalf.”

“Celebrimbor, you have the last already. I am picturing only you when we pleasure each other, in every detail of your own beauty. I will of course use the name you wish, but there is no reason to be bitter about a slip of the tongue.”

“And yet you don’t deny attraction to Feanaro. Even if I am not a replacement, you still desire him.”

“If Feanaro were here and willing, I would still choose you.”

“But it would be a choice, weighing two options that you want but you can only have one.”

“Feanor was bright like a fire, hot and changing but impossible to spend long near. You glitter like a jewel, always having a new angle, reflecting your own beauty and that of all around you, brilliant and clear. You’re right that fire can fascinate, but I cannot hold it and do not wish to.”

“Fine, I accept that you are not wishing for another. I still don’t want to hear my father’s name in the midst of pleasure.”

“I see your point. I am not ashamed to associate with you, but still I wouldn’t like to explain our relationship to Finwe. ”

“My father wouldn’t disown me as long as I give him a reason he can approve of.”

“Oh? And what reason would he possibly accept for you fucking your great-uncle, and your esteemed grandfather’s greatest rival?”

“Blackmail,” Celebrimbor said with a sharp grin. “I seduced you so that I could steer the political fate of the Noldor. If our relationship got out, everyone would lose their trust in you, either for screwing an evil Feanorian kinslayer or you taking advantage of my youth and naivety. So you have to advance my plans or else I’ll ruin you before the whole court. And of course with so much time around you, I will learn of the secret plots you doubtless have against my family.”

The closest Celebrimbor had come to using their relationship for political favors was asking for a room on the same hall and a private smithy. Every other agenda was argued before the whole court, never spoken of in their rooms either before or after it was resolved.

“Would Curufin really ask you to sacrifice yourself so completely to his goals, using your most intimate moments and actions to cynically further an agenda?”

“It’s less than Grandfather required of him and my uncles - it would last a few decades or centuries, rather than until the end of Arda. But he wouldn’t actually approve the plan. It would make me look weak for one, to play the victim of your unwanted lecherous advances, the young innocent gave in before the crown and the personality rather than fight back. Since this is my first time before the court, I must show them I am to be respected and feared.”

“That is a lot to ask from someone in a new situation.”

“Perhaps, but my father has always expected me to be exceptional.”

ao3

[lendmyboyfriendahand]

Headcanon: Maedhros and Finarfin grew up playing together.

Feanor never particularly loved his step mother and half siblings, but he didn’t really dislike them either until Fingolfin grew old enough to be a political rival. He mostly viewed them as "people who are also frequently at many of the same places I am", like workers in a different department of the same  business in a small town. You nod and acknowledge them, but don’t think about them the moment they leave sight.

Finarfin is 61 years younger than Feanor, and we know that Feanor married young. Given how many kids he and Nerdanel ended up with, I assume they started soon.

So when Finarfin was born, Feanor thought “Huh, this acquaintance (Indis) has a kid only a year younger than mine. If we take turns watching the babies, I can get a lot more work done.” Indis figured this was a good way to get Feanor to spend time at least near his siblings, and hopefully work up to “interacting with them on their own merits.”

By the time Fingolfin was an adult, Maedhros and Finarfin were already close friends. And it’s not like the tension appeared overnight, so there was a while where Finarfin and Maedhros just kind of ignored that their parents knew each other at all.

(Fic under the cut for length)

Maedhros and Finarfin were lying in the garden.

“So, what are you going to be when you grow up?” Maedhros asked

Finarfin replied immediately with, “The most emotionally well adjusted child of Finwe.”

“That’s not what I meant.”

”I like it as a goal.”

 “But it’s not a life path, like smith or parent or farmer or embroiderer or king.”

“Well, I’m not going to be king, that’s for sure.”

“Well I mean, of course neither of us will be. Finwe is king, and if he falls headfirst off the palace roof my dad would be king for a month or two until he returns from Mandos.”

“Don’t even joke about that!”

“Why not?”

“How would you like it if I said that if your dad died, we would all have a month or two of quiet?”

Maedhros sat up sharply and opened his mouth to yell, then carefully relaxed again. “I would be very angry, but I understand how annoying brothers can be.”

“Oh? What did Maglor do now?”

“It’s not Maglor, it’s Celegorm.”

“Isn’t he still a baby? What trouble can he be getting into?”

“He's into climbing things now. He got on top of the china cabinet the other day and pushed a plate onto my head.”

“Did he fall after he pushed the plate down?”

“No, not even when I yelled because it hurt.”

“That’s honestly impressive at his age. Maybe he’ll be an acrobat.”

“What do you know about babies? You’re the youngest brother.”

“Lots. Fingolfin has been reading all sorts of baby books since he got married, and brings up random fact every conversation. Did you know that eighty percent of infants calm down when shown the stars, and only thirty percent do if you point at the Tree-lit sky?”

“I did actually, my dad says it’s more ‘proof that the Valar are not infallible.’ He’s got a list going, you know.”

“I don’t want to the see the list, because then I’d have to get in a shouting match about my mom. I think it’s just proof that it’s a smart idea to raise babies in Aqualonde.”

“That would make it easier. Is Fingolfin going to go there?”

“No, he thinks it wouldn’t be living up to our royal titles to run away. Besides, he likes Tirion, and so does Anaire. I’m surprised your dad doesn’t go though.”

“He’s got at least as much of a royal title to live up to.”

“Yeah, but he mostly shows up to the feasts and ignores public opinion the rest of the time. If it’s better to raise kids in Alqualonde, I’m surprised you’re still in the city.”

“They said easier, not better, and my dad doesn’t do things just because they’d be easier.”

“Not usually, but I thought babies might be a different matter for him.”

“We’ll be safe and my mom will be safe; if there was any question of that he’d make the whole city move out of tree-light if he had to.” Finarfin nodded, and Maedhros continued. “Besides, he likes to think his kids are smarter than the average baby, obviously too smart to be subdued by a panacea.”

“Well, I like having you around, so I certainly don’t your dad staying here. But when I have kids, I want starlight available.”

“Taking shortcuts?”

“Not denying myself useful things for the sake of pride. Most emotionally stable child of Finwe, remember?”

“That’s still not a job.”

“Oh, like you have one either.”

“I’m going to be Duke of Formenos.”

“Isn’t your dad supposed to rule that as crown prince?”

“I mean yes, but he doesn’t want to because it’s out in the middle of nowhere. So he said he’ll give it to me when I’m grown.”

“I’m pretty sure that only the king can redistribute governance.”

“Technically yes, but he’ll give it to me if my dad asks and it keeps him nearby.”

“Thank you so much for reminding me which kid is my dad’s favorite.”

“I mean, if you wanted to give a title to someone I bet he’d do it too. You just don’t have any kids who like politics yet.”

“A title maybe, but not a real responsibility. I don’t even have any real responsibilities to fob off on future kids.”

“I bet Finwe is just out of ideas. Five kids is too many to come up with great purposes for all of them.”

“So how many would you have then?”

“I’ve got little brothers, I think I’m fine without more babies in my life.”

“Not even if your wife wants one?”

“If she is truly my other half, she know babies are annoying. What about you?”

“Four or five, I guess. Depends on what they’re like.”

“So if the first three are no good, would you try for more to make up for it, or assume you’re terrible at making kids and stop?”

“That’s not what I meant!”

“It’s what you said!”

“Even if it was, I’m not going to tell you the plan. The kids would feel terrible if they ever found out!”

“But you admit there is a plan.”

“Fine. The plan for if the first couple kids are terrible is to drop them off on you, and start fresh with the fourth Arafinwion.”

“That is a terrible baby name, you should know.”

“Oh shut up, third prettiest one in the family.”

“Make me, tall brunet.” Maedhros said, pulling Finarfin’s golden hair over his eyes.

The conversation quickly devolved into a wrestling match from there.