The first Spring Equinox by Aprilertuile

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The first Spring Equinox

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Maglor and Elrond had spent the whole winter in their little shelter, bartering for food and supplies once in a while with a human settlement that was about 2 days of unhurried travel from them.

Far enough to not be a bother.

Close enough to make bartering possible.

The spring equinox was only a couple of days away when Elrond and Maglor decided to join the human settlement they had bartered with all winter.

They would leave the area completely after the equinox, it was better if the people in the settlement were made aware of their departure. That way no one would go look for them in case of need.

The village was in a happy mood. Spring would soon be there, flowers were already showing up, the recent hunt had gone well, so the village was not worried for food…

Elrond and Maglor were welcomed, as usual warmly enough, even if they were clearly not a part of the settlement.

“Sirs, will you play for us tonight? We’ll provide food. And one of us agreed to let you borrow a lute if one of you knows how to play it."

"It would be our delight, I’ll borrow the lute.” Maglor answered with an exaggerated bow.

Elrond couldn’t help a smile. Maglor going as a minstrel was always a delight to see in action. He would play too, but he lacked the… Flourish, the sense of embellishment that Maglor projected when he acted as a minstrel somehow.

Elrond let Maglor pull him forward, following the man who was telling them of the preparation of the feast, and could they play something happy? Knew any equinox music and songs? Maglor was more than happy to answer the man, and Elrond just went along with them.

Elrond and Maglor were left near where they’d be to play music, and Maglor turned toward Elrond, looking manic as he gave Elrond his harp, picking up the borrowed lute himself:

“I don’t know if you remember this song…”

Maglor started playing and Elrond joined him after just a short moment.

Maglor followed with a few more and nodded satisfied as Elrond did remember them. Maglor was a damn whirlwind when he wanted to.

That’s how Elrond actually knew he’d never be a minstrel. He liked playing, he was as good as any students of Maglor that survived for a few years without giving up entirely, but he didn’t feel any pressure to play and play well even in front of a crowd, and didn’t care much actually if people didn’t like it.

But he did find Maglor’s manic enthusiasm amusing to witness at least.

As they’d play for most of the celebrations, they were given food beforehand. That’s when Maglor told the villagers they’d be leaving after the equinox. The evening was their way of saying thank you, and goodbye.

The two elves started to play when the moon rose, and Maglor’s voice resonated in the night sky, accompanying the two instruments, and encouraging people around to dance and be merry.

Perhaps a bit too literally, as Elrond noted amused, but eh, it was the first spring after the fall of Morgoth, going just a tad overboard wasn’t hurting anyone.

Elrond’s voice rose alongside that of Maglor once in a while, singing harmonies, or coming in counterpoint.

They were clearly both enjoying themselves. It was lovely. Elrond could perfectly ignore the people around him, and playing with Maglor was always such a joy. The elf could play circles around him, of course, but both of them enjoyed the music, the exchange.

The music, and songs, and laughter and discussions, the wine flowing and dances lasted long into the night, until dawn, and soon it was time to stop.

Elrond picked up the Lute from Maglor, and let him get his harp back to sing the last song alone, a song of luck, blessing and hope for the arriving spring.

Meanwhile he went to give the lute back. Or to leave it back at the door of the person who lent it to them at least.

Everyone who didn’t fall asleep somewhere, from tiredness or alcohol, seemed to be vibrating with energy and… Well, too much alcohol to be honest, when Maglor put his harp back into its protective bag.

“You know, we’ll need to make you a harp one of these days."

"That’s a project we’ll have to take up when we decide to settle for a few months next time.” Elrond answered with a smile.

He could wait.

So long he could pull Maglor to sing with him, or for him, he was happy enough, with or without a harp of his own.

As promised, they were given food and wine for their travel, and were gone from the village by midday.

Elrond was more than a bit amused at the fact that Maglor was humming when they started to walk.

“You didn’t have enough of singing tonight?

"How can someone have enough of singing? El!!!”

The rant that started almost made Elrond regret asking.

Only almost.

To be fair, the only way Maglor’s reaction could have been funnier would have been if Maedhros had been there to look just done. Or if Elros had been here to glare at Elrond for starting that.

Elros sometimes lacked a sense of humor.

“Hey, Atto, the song you wrote, the… hm… Bear and the foolish knight? Who was it for?"

"Oh it was a jab at Fingon. The idiot went with us on a hunt one day, and just entered a cave without checking the state of it. It ended up with all of us running for dear life in front of a bear enraged at being rudely awakened.”

Elrond snorted in amusement at that.

“Don’t laugh. The only reason Fingon reached adulthood is that he grew up in Valinor, I swear. He didn’t have the sense Eru gave a mouse. The valar know why Mae befriended him."

"Hm… He was loyal at least."

"Yes, loyal to Nelyo, to his friend, not his people. I’ll remind you he was a prince, he wasn’t supposed to leave the leading of his people to his father and disappear on them just to go to Nelyo." Maglor answered grumpily.

"Yes… but it saved uncle Nelyo, so I feel he should get some leeway for that alone."

"I haven’t written a single song regarding his lack of common sense since that time, I think that’s enough thanks on my part." Maglor grumbled.

"Right. Do I want to know why you dislike him that much? Also didn’t you say once that he was good for Nelyo and good at taking care of people?” Elrond asked amused and curious both.

Rare were the subjects able to raise Maglor’s ire so completely and yet harmlessly.

Just… Well, Fingon, and Finrod, pretty much.

Galadriel was Best Avoided, with capital letters.

The rest of the family was just that, and his brothers and parents were a mix bag of funny stories and endless rants, or endless tears but...

Maglor’s answer was a tale straight out of Valinor, of Fingon breaking into the home of Feanor by breaking a window, his window, by mistake as he was trying to reach Nelyo who had his window open, him, resulting in Maglor’s most recent composition flying away in a burst of wind, and Maglor running outside to get it back thereby leaving his room’s door open, and Huan destroyed what had once been a perfectly good harp, and the rest of the composition.

All that because of a single idiot who couldn’t even differentiate between his window and that of his best friend. His poor composition hadn’t been all that good but hadn’t deserved that fate! And his harp! The first harp he ever built himself at that!

Elrond was barely containing his laughter there. Speak of a childish grudge!

“It’s not even that I disliked him. I liked him just fine. When he was away from me. Or staying at Nelyo’s side. At least that way Nelyo could contain most of his bad ideas. And never, ever, leave Finrod and Fingon alone together. They just encourage each other, it’s terrible.”

The sound that escaped Elrond, a mix between a commiserating hum and laughter had Maglor look at him sharply:

“One day you’ll meet them. That day I will remind you that I told you so!”

With a huff, Maglor turned back, and started walking just a tad more quickly, clearly annoyed, even as Elrond gave up and started laughing.