Drabbles by Alex

Drabbles

*****

All That Matters
Aragorn's Curse
Arwen's Choice
Better Than Disney
Breathless
Eldarion's Quilt
Fire and Water
Heir to the Throne
If You Are Lucky
A Last Toast
Lucky Twin
The Only Choice
Precious Jewels
Riding Lessons
Sailing Home
The Sitter
A Son's Love
The Tiny Balrogs of Imladris
The Unluckiest Elf
Who Is The Fairest?
Elladan's Quest
A Princely Gift
Sharp As An Axe
Let Sleeping Elves Lie

*****

Posted: March 28, 2008
Title: All That Matters
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Frodo, Sam
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Summary: In honor of the day, March 25, 3021, the day the One Ring was destroyed.

*****

Frodo wondered sometimes what might have happened if he had not been attacked by Gollum. Would Sam have thrown the Ring into the fire? Would he have tricked Sam and kept the Ring for himself? Would Sauron have destroyed all of Middle Earth?

When he next saw Sam, he asked him what he’d have done.

“Now, Mr. Frodo, you know there’s no need to dwell on things such as that. The Ring was thrown into the fire and that’s all that really matters, isn’t it?”

Frodo patted Sam on the hand. “Yes, Sam, I suppose it *is* all that matters.”

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Aragorn’s Curse
Author: Alex

Summary: Aragorn finds what he thinks a curse is not that at all.

*****

Aragorn felt that who he was his curse to bear, to be heir to the one who lost the ring, who allowed men to fail. He had become ashamed of his own heritage until the day that he became the King.

He looked out upon his people, the men of Gondor, and felt pride swell in his heart that these were *his* people. He considered it an honor to become their King, to bring justice and freedom back into the world of men. He wanted to build the kingdom to its former glory.

He was lucky to get that chance.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Arwen’s Choice
Author: Alex

Summary: Arwen discusses her choice with her father.

*****

“I am the lucky one.” Arwen smiled sadly at her father. “I do not have to live on and on after the ones I love pass.”

Elrond had seen her future and he knew that she would mourn her king until she finally gave up in despair and faded away. He had known this for a long time.

“I wish you would come with me, daughter, but I do understand. Man was gifted with short life and a great ability to love. Time has dulled our abilities to do that.”

She kissed him. “I have chosen well.”

Indeed she had.

*****

Posted: October 13, 2006
Title: Better Than Disney
Author: Alex
Type: RPS
Characters: Orlando/Johnny Depp
Rating: R
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.
Author's Notes: For Sildil. I still had to hit more than one interest

Summary: Johnny and Orlando both get packages.

*****

Johnny was amused when he opened the book. It was a comic book, a nicely done one too with lovely artwork. It was about Jack Sparrow. As he turned the pages, he blushed. It was about Jack Sparrow and Will Turner.

Naked Jack Sparrow and Will Turner!

His face was still pink as he turned pages more rapidly. Jack and Will were more than naked. Much more.

He almost ran into Orlando on the way out of his trailer to show it to him.

“Did you get one too?” Orlando had a copy of the same book in his hand. “Can you believe it?”

Johnny just smiled and nodded.

“Do you think someone saw us?” The younger man looked almost panicked.

“We only kissed, Orlando. You know those fangirls. They love to imagine us doing naughty things like that.”

Orlando seemed satisfied, for a moment anyway. Then his face fell.

“What is it?” Johnny sometimes couldn’t figure the younger man out.

Orlando opened the book to a particularly steamy section. He held it out to Johnny. “I love to imagine them too.”

Johnny smiled and held the door open for Orlando to enter his trailer. He locked it behind them.

*****

Posted: February 1, 2008
Title: Breathless
Fandom: The Silmarillion
Author: Alex
Type: FCHet
Characters: Nerdanel
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.

Summary: Nerdanel has had enough… or has she?

*****

Nerdanel stood in the door of his workshop and watched him. He would never change. He was always passionate about everything It was what she loved in him. It was why she could no longer live with him.

She had not yet told him that she was leaving. He would rant and yell at her, blaming her. But while she was not as volatile as he was, she was as stubborn and would not let him blame her for his own arrogance.

He turned and looked at her. Her breath caught her in throat. Leaving would wait until another day.

*****

Posted: November 3, 2006
Title: Eldarion’s Quilt
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Arwen, Eldarion
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I profit from the use of these characters.
Author's Notes: For Aglarien1! I love quilts too.

Summary: Arwen tells her son a story.

*****

Arwen held her son in her lap and pulled the tattered quilt up over him. It was a faded patchwork quilt with depictions of the history of Arwen’s family. It had the Two Trees on one block, the Grinding Ice on another and yet another held the symbol of the Golden Wood on it.

“Mama, tell me about the quilt again.”

The Queen sighed but smiled despite herself. Her son asked to be told the tale of the quilt at least once a day every day. She never tired of telling him about his family and where they came from. She wished that her mother and father were here to see what a fine son she and Elessar had.

“A long, long time ago, in a land far to the West, my grandmother lived with her brothers in a big house....”

“What was the name of the place, Mama?”

“Aman.”

She told him of the journey across the ice, of her grandmother meeting Melian, of her marrying Celeborn. She looked down at her son and smiled. He was fast asleep, hugging the quilt close to his chest. She put him in his bed, kissing his cheek. The stories would wait.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Fire and Water
Fandom: The Silmarillion
Author: Alex

Summary: Nerdanel wants her father’s blessing to marry Fëanor.

*****

“Father, I love him and he will make a good husband.” Nerdanel knew her father would be pleased for her to marry Fëanor, but that he must give at least a token argument.

“I know you love him but I fear his temper will cost you more than you know.” Mahtan loved Fëanor also but he worried that his daughter might not find happiness with the intense young elf.

“We are a perfect match, he is fiery and I am like a cool mountain lake.”

“Take care that the fire does not burn your substance into a wisp of vapor, lost to the night breeze, my child.”

“Oh, Father, you worry too much. We will marry and have a house full of sons to please you.”

He smiled at her. “Off with you. I will consent when he asks.”

When she had gone, a single tear fell down his cheek.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Heir to the Throne
Author: Alex

Summary: Estel finds out he isn’t an elf.

*****

Young Estel was furious. He was hunting his uncle. Elrond would tell the other children the truth.

“Uncle Elrond, tell Haldir and Rúmil that I am too an elf!” He puffed out his chest.

Elrond sighed and motioned the small boy to sit on his knee. “I cannot tell them that, Estel. You are not an elf. You will grow up to be a man.”

Estel looked horrified. “I am too an elf!” He shouted, fear making his voice shrill.

“You are my nephew many, many times removed but you are not an elf. My brother and I were offered the choice and Elros chose to be a man and I chose to be an elf. He founded a great dynasty among men and you are the last of the line.”

Estel lip trembled as he looked up at Elrond. “But I’m not an elf? Now Rúmil and Haldir will laugh at me even more.”

Elrond proceeded to tell the little boy the story of Elwing and Earindil, their great love and their two sons, Elrond and Elros and the great kingdom Elros founded.

“And you are the heir to that kingdom and someday you will take the throne of Gondor and lead men as my brother did.”

“Then I am to be a king and they will still just be plain old elves?”

Elrond nodded.

The little boy slid from his lap and ran, eager to tell his friends that *he* would be king someday. Elrond almost smiled. Almost.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: If You Are Lucky
Author: Alex

Summary: Eomer is stubborn, but not very lucky.

*****

“If you are lucky, he will let you ride him.” Eomer bristled at Eowyn’s words.

“Luck has nothing to do with it, Sister. I am a Rider of Rohan. The horse has not been born that I cannot ride.”

“Very well, Brother. Do not say I didn’t warn you.” She handed him the reins to her huge black stallion. The horse was beautiful but he had not been an easy one to train. Eowyn had spent many hours working with him before he had allowed her to ride him.

Eomer hopped up fine. He looked very regal sitting atop the ebony beauty. Then the fun began. Eowyn put her hand over her mouth so Eomer would not see her laugh. The horse began bucking and leaping about as if possessed by some demon. To his credit, Eomer held on for a minute or two before landing on his bottom in a pile of horse manure, adding insult to injury.

Eowyn could not cover her laugher now. It was too loud. She walked over to her horse and leading him by the reins, moved over to help Eomer up. “Your luck ran out, dear brother.”

She rode back to the barn.

*****

Posted: October 13, 2006
Title: A Last Toast
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Cirdan, Gandalf
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I do not own them nor do I profit from their use.
Author's Notes: For Talullahred. For you, it had to be Cirdan.

Summary: A quiet chat.

*****

Cirdan sipped his wine and looked at his companion. They had known each other for many years, so many, many years.

“Do you look forward to sailing?” He had to ask. As close as he had been to Gandalf, he seldom knew what the other thought.

“I think if it were my choice, I would stay here.”

“Why, might I ask?” He shouldn’t have been surprised.

Gandalf looked out to the sea and his eyes got an even farther away look. “I have been here for so many years, helping both firstborn and secondborn. I should like to see what man does with these lands when we have sailed. I have come to love Arda. Even marred, it is more home to me than anywhere else.”

“Do you think they will care for it as we have?”

Gandalf shrugged. “Some will be good stewards. Some will not. But we have done all we can. We have taught them all we know. It is time to go home. Even for you, my friend, even for you.”

They rose and headed out to the harbor where the tall ship with pure white sails waited for them, to take them home at last.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Lucky Twin
Author: Alex

Summary: Elladan is glad he is a twin.

*****

Elladan was so lucky that he had a twin sometimes.

Like now.

He poured red dye into the pitcher his sister would use to rinse her hair. She wouldn’t look at it, grabbing it instead and pouring it over her hair. The dye would leave her with auburn colored locks for some time. He looked both ways at the door and made sure the maid saw him leave Arwen’s room.

When he was back in the room he shared with his brother, he removed Elrohir’s clothes and put his own back on.

He was so lucky he had a twin.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: The Only Choice
Author: Alex

Summary: To those of us they left behind.

*****

The brothers looked at the mound of dirt that contained the earthly remains of their sister.

“Father said she would end up this way, her heart so broken by his loss that she could not go on.” Elladan sighed as he spoke the words.

“She had many wonderful years with him. I don’t think she would have traded it even in the end.” Elrohir laid the spray of bright spring flowers on the grave.

“What about you? Would you choose to stay just because the one you love did?”

Elrohir looked up at Elladan and smiled sadly. “I already did.”

*****

Posted: October 13, 2006
Title: Precious Jewels
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Fëanor
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I do not own nor do I profit from the use of these characters.
Archive: OEAM
Author's Notes: For Zafiro_v. Fëanor is hard to resist

Summary: All Fëanor wants is the one thing he cannot have.

*****

The beautiful elf stood in front of the mirror and stared at himself. Was there something about his face that had saddened her so? How could she leave him? How could she?

He picked up one of the stones he had made, a stone more precious than anything any elf had ever made. He looked at its perfect light.

He loved Nerdanel but he could live without her, knowing she was safe and alive made it less painful, though he did miss her. She had made him more … sane.

He picked up a second stone. It’s power made him nearly faint. He had thought the Silmarils would fill in the hole inside his heart. He put one hand to his chest. The hole was still there.

He loved his father. He hated that his father had chosen a new wife to share his love. Oh, there was nothing wrong with her and her gaggle of children. It meant that his mother wasn’t coming back. Not even for him.

He lifted the third stone and rubbed it against the smooth skin of his cheek. He had wanted it to make him feel closer to her, as if making something divine would connect him to her somehow.

Why had she left? Was he such a monster that she could not live in a world that he inhabited? He turned the stone on its side and cut his cheek with the sharp edge, feeling his warm blood trickle from the thin red line. He touched his cheek and felt tears mingle with the blood.

He looked in the mirror. Was he so dark, so hopeless, that his own mother could not bear the sight of him? Was he?

He lay the last stone down sat and wept. He was alone, always alone.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Riding Lessons
Author: Alex
Author's Note: I fudged on the ages.

Summary: Eomer is learning to ride.

*****

“Lad, all men of Rohan must break and train their first horse. It is our custom.”

Young Eomer looked at his father with big fearful eyes and shook his head. Eomund’s son was afraid of horses, plain and simple, but the lad was only six so he still had time to become a rider. At least he hoped so.

“Wook, Da!” Eomund turned his head to see his three-year-old daughter tearing across the field on her tiny pony. “I wide!”

Eomer looked at his sister and frowned, then turned to his father. “Teach me to ride, Da.” So he did.

*****

Posted: February 1, 2008
Title: Sailing Home
Fandom: The Silmarillion
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Cirdan
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.

Summary: The Ringbearers leave.

*****

Cirdan knew the end was coming. He had waited many years for this day. He would go to sea with the Ringbearers, bearing them west in his white ship. Elves would walk Middle Earth no more.

He watched them board, Galadriel, Elrond, Gildor. He noted those who did not and wondered if they would follow someday. He smiled to see his dearest friend, Mithrandir, and the other two Ringbearers, Frodo and Bilbo.

He looked out from the harbor at Mithlond to the sea. He wasn’t sure that Aman was home to him but the sea was. She always would be.

*****

Posted: February 1, 2008
Title: The Sitter
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Erestor, Elladan, Elrohir
Rating: G
Author's Note: Just a bit of fluff.
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.

Summary: Erestor is babysitting.

*****

Erestor was always uneasy when he was left to care for the twins. He had never taken care of children and these two were quite the handful. He was hoping their parents returned soon.

“’Restor, tell us a story.”

“What would like me to tell you?”

“About Nana crossing the ice.”

Erestor told them of the Noldor crossing the ice into Arda.

“I’m thirsty,” Elladan whined. Erestor got him a drink of water.

“I have to pee.” Elladan’s water had to come out now.

“I’m thirsty too!” Elrohir tugged his sleeve as he asked.

“Me too again!” Elladan chimed in.

“I need to pee now.” Of course he did!

“Can we have just one cookie? Mama lets us!”

Finally, both of them were still and in only seconds, they were asleep.

“How did they behave?” Elrond whispered beside him.

“The best behaved elflings I’ve ever taken care of.” Erestor smiled.

*****

Posted: February 1, 2008
Title: A Son’s Love
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Faramir, Mithrandir
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.
Author's Note: This was today’s draw from the drabble cup!

Summary: Faramir seeks to understand his father.

*****

Faramir thought often of his mother and wondered why she married a man like his father. He wondered even more why his father hated him so. He was unlike his father but he was an obedient son nonetheless. He tried many ways to please his father.

But nothing worked.

Mithrandir did not visit often but he did visit now and again. It was on one of these visits that he got a bit of insight into why his father was like he was.

“You are more like your mother than your father, Faramir. You always were.”

“Did he mistreat her so too?”

Mithrandir smiled sadly. “No, my son. He adored her more than any man I know.”

“Then why?”

Mithrandir took a long draw from his pipe and blew out a set of concentric smoke rings.

“It is precisely because he loved your mother that he cannot stand the sight of you sometimes. You are much like her and you are a reminder of his pain and loss. He takes out his anger at her for dying on you, my boy.”

“What can I do?”

“Be a good son and love him. There is naught else *for* you to do.”

*****

Posted: February 1, 2008
Title: The Tiny Balrogs of Imladris
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Erestor, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I don’t know them and don’t claim any of this is true.
Author's Note: I was in the mood for silly elflings.

Summary: The twins play a trick on Erestor. Again.

*****

Erestor watched as two elflings ran giggling from his office. What had the little rascals done now? He looked around the room for signs of damage but saw none readily apparent. This was worse than he feared. When he couldn’t find what they’d done, he became sure it would most assuredly surprise him as some inopportune moment during the day.

“They’ve been at it again, Elrond,” he said as he walked into Elrond’s study to inform him that this was the day that they rode out into the outlying areas to check on the residents of Imladris.

“Who would ‘they’ be?”

“Those tiny balrogs who you claim as children.”

Elrond smiled. “Ohhh. What have they done now?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then how do you know they’ve done anything at all?”

“They ran giggling from my office just as I was going in this morning.”

Elrond nodded. “That’s usually a good sign.”

“More like a bad sign,” Erestor grumped.

Days passed and Erestor still could not find anything amiss in his office. Finally he decided he’d had enough and was going to confront the tiny villains. They were in the kitchen, pestering the cook for some of her fresh cookies.

“What did you put in my office last Tuesday?”

Elladan looked very perplexed. Elrohir just giggled.

“What?” Erestor was about to explode.

“We did not put anything in your office, ‘Restor. We just went in,” Elladan supplied.

“And why did you do that?”

“Cause,” was Elrohir’s most helpful comment.

“Cause why?” Erestor’s thin patience was running thinner still.

“He told us to.”

“He?”

“Father.”

Erestor took off without a backward glance at the children and ran into Elrond’s study without even knocking.

“YOU!”

Elrond smiled, a smile just like those of his sons. “Where do you think they got it from?”

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: The Unluckiest Elf
Author: Alex
Author's Note: Is my luck running out yet?

Summary: Erestor and Elrond chat about luck.

*****

Erestor sat beside Elrond on the veranda, sipping a sweet summer wine and enjoying the cool breeze.

“I think perhaps you are the unluckiest elf on earth, my friend.” Erestor said. Perhaps it should be noted that this was their third bottle of sweet summer wine.

“Why is that?”

“Well, your parents died. Your brother left you. Gil-galad died. Your wife sailed. Your daughter is going to marry a man and become mortal. Is that unlucky enough?”

Elrond smiled. “My father carries the brightest of stars. My brother was a great and noble king. Gil-galad was the best friend I have ever known. Celebrian was the most beautiful and loving wife in the world. And Arwen is marrying a good and decent man who loves her. I ask you, Erestor, what could be luckier?”

He looked over and the elf in the other chair snored in response. Elrond just smiled.

*****

Posted: April 18, 2008
Title: Who is the Fairest?
Author: Alex

Summary: Legolas takes a bath.

*****

Gimli watched from the shadows as the elf shed his garments and strode into the water. He was quite gorgeous with his long golden hair and his slender frame. Wouldn’t his kinsmen be scandalized that he found a tall gawky elf attractive?

He walked out into the open, laughing.

“Need some company?” He didn’t bother waiting for an answer as he stripped his clothes off and headed into the water.

“I did not think you’d be brave enough to bathe naked with me.” Legolas smirked smartly.

“Well, laddie, you’re still not as fair as the Lady Galadriel but you’ll do.”

*****

Posted: September 5, 2008
Title: A Princely Gift
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Araval
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author’s Note: For minuial_nuwing, who asked for a happy moment with the twins and Araval.

Summary: Arwen has a son.

*****

I never know what the twins will do next. That is part of the joy of living with them.

We rode all over the land, from south to north, finally heading back south to the city I called home. It would be good to see my mother and sister again after several months.

Queen Arwen had a son and we headed to see him. When word got to my lovers, they giggled like schoolboys. They were uncles and were thrilled. Elladan began fashioning a tiny bow for the babe and Elrohir set to work on arrows for the bow.

“You know that the babe will not have need of those for several years?” I reminded them.

Elladan laughed. “My sewing skills are not up to making him a blanket. We must make what we know how to make.”

I smiled, for I did have some sewing skills. In my former life, one sometimes had need of a costume and it was simpler to make it than to hire a seamstress. “Do you still have your spare cloak?” I asked Elrohir. He nodded and fetched it from his saddlebag.

When we arrived at the White City, the brothers presented their nephew with an outfit. He had tiny pants made from the dark velvet of my own extra leggings, a white linen shirt made from one of Elladan’s shirts. The last piece was a cloak made from Elrohir’s own cloak, a cloak of silver-grey.

The bow and arrows would wait a while.

*****

Posted: September 5, 2008
Title: Sharp As An Axe
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Gimli, Legolas
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author’s Note: For Keiliss

Summary: Gimli is sharpening his axe.

*****

Gimli was sharpening his axe when the elf walked in. Legolas watched intently as he worked, not saying anything.

“What are ye thinking, lad?”

“That no matter how sharp your axe is, I will still beat you.”

Gimli harrumphed loudly as he continued to sharpen his axe.

Legolas reached a hand out and touched the thick, shiny blade. “Not as elegant as an arrow but it will do, I suppose.”

Gimli harrumphed again.

Legolas ran a finger over the razor sharp edge of the axe blade. “How many have you gotten so far?” He asked, rather offhand.

Gimli just grinned.

*****

Posted: September 5, 2008
Title: Elladan’s Quest
Type: FCGen
Characters: Elladan
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author’s Note: For Miss Bee!

Summary: Elladan goes bird hunting.

*****

Elladan chased the bird for miles and miles. It seemed to know what he wanted and meant to thwart him at every turn. But the youth did not give up. He was determined.

No mortal man could ever have caught up with the blue-black raven but Elladan was not a mortal man. He finally caught the bird.

“I am sorry to do this,” he told the bird as he completed his task. The bird protested at first then was quiet. “Thank you for the sacrifice you made.”

Elladan freed the raven and he flew away quickly. And the young man had what he came for.

A solid black quill for Erestor to do his sums with.

He smiled, knowing the older elf would be pleased.

*****

September 5, 2008
Title: Let Sleeping Elves Lie
Author: Alex
Type: FCGen
Characters: Celeborn/Galadriel
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Author's Note: For ennorwen, who wanted Galadriel and Celeborn.

Summary: Galadriel watches her husband sleep.

*****

Galadriel watched Celeborn. He was sleeping. Sometimes she wondered why she married him. He was not a Noldor; he was not even a king. He was simply a kinsman of Thingol. As she watched him sleep, she pondered this.

He lay on his side. He slept with his mouth open and every now and again, he snored rather loudly and moved in his sleep. What could she have been thinking?

She lay back and closed her eyes. He had held her when she found out the fate of Finrod, when they told her Doriath was destroyed. He danced with joy at Celebrían's birth and silently held Galadriel’s hand when her only child sailed into the West; her wounds being too deep to be healed on this side of the veil.

The Ring bothered him. She knew it did but he never let it show. He was steadfast in his devotion and love. He would follow her into Mordor itself, if she asked.

She opened her eyes and looked at him again. His brow was smooth and there was a slight smile on his mouth. She leaned close, kissing his cheek gently.

She remembered why she married him. She loved him.

*****

THE END

If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Alex