Drabbles, ho!
Title: Rumors
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Denethor/Finduilas, (with Imrahil guest-starring)
Prompt: 1: "I'll be just fine, pretending I'm not; / I'm far from lonely, and it's all that I've got"
Word Count: 128
Rating: G
Summary: Brothers can be such pests when one is attempting to be dramatic.
Author's Notes: Sort of a prequel to "As Golden Leaves upon the Sea;" I can't swear I'm entirely happy with it, but, eh. The song is emo, played often on the radio, and gets stuck in my head. Everything belongs to Tolkien and the musicians.
“Perhaps you’ll get on with him…” With that cold-blooded reptile of a man? Never! She listened to more than the court gossips; she knew what to expect of this Steward’s son. Certainly, the maids reported him comely enough, but the men spoke of a dour, serious man, disposed more favorably to politics than pleasure. Most admired him grudgingly, but were quick to turn the conversation to foreign generals, or the heroes of Belfalas. What was one grim young man when there were better warriors, better lovers, and even better statesmen out there? This was hardly the type she had hoped to fall in love with.
Imrahil insisted she was being as overdramatic as a nesting seagull, but this is not something one ever admits to one’s little brother.
Title: Same Old Routine
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Denethor/Finduilas, (with Imrahil and Thorongil guest-starring)
Prompt: 4: "everyday is the same / when looking straight ahead; / caught in the safety of routine"
Word Count: 286
Rating: G
Summary: Playing second fiddle is nothing new for Denethor son of Ecthelion.
Author's Notes: I'll probably find some way to work these puppies into "As Golden Leaves upon the Sea," but for now, it's an excuse to skip ahead to Minas Tirith. Also, I seemed to have worked a lyric from an entirely different song into the fic. See my current music. Not my characters.
“Honestly, the man shows no decorum.” Denethor’s eyes unwillingly followed the expressive, lean hands of Gondor’s favorite captain as Thorongil shared the story of his latest exploits. The Steward’s son sat as straight as possible, fending off any potential accusations of sulking by attempting to make up for the other man’s lack of propriety.
At his side, the younger man nodded, his chin on his fist, as if encouraging Thorongil on. “He’s crazy, but I like him,” Imrahil said with a slightly mischievous smile. “As does my sister, apparently.” Indeed, Finduilas had been listening raptly to the captain’s stories all evening, unconsciously reaching up to smooth her hair when she thought he wasn’t looking. Her brother stole a glance at Denethor as the Dol Amrothi lady did this. Denethor’s expression never wavered, but his eyes wandered back to Finduilas during the intermittent pauses in Thorongil’s tale.
“Typical.” The brooding, solitary man shook his head fractionally. “I had thought her wiser than that.”
“You thought she was more in love with you than that,” Imrahil corrected in an undertone. He didn’t dare look his host in the eye at that moment, but he would have loved to have seen Denethor’s guilty expression. The sudden lurch at the edge of the youth’s peripheral vision would have to be enough. “You’re going to have to make the effort, if you really want her, you know,” he continued blithely. “I like you, Denethor. I don’t want you and Finduilas swallowed in these silly, prideful games. But if you hurt my big sister, man, I will kill you.”
At last, he and Denethor were able to exchange looks. “Same old routine, then, Imrahil?”
The youngster smiled, turning away. “Same old routine.”
Title: Reflection
Fandom: LotR
Characters: Denethor, mostly, but Finduilas is in there and Faramir and Boromir guest-star.
Prompt: 6: can't say I was never wrong, / but some blame rests on you
Word Count: 794
Rating: G
Summary: Denethor hadn't expected Faramir, but he had expected to be able to say this to his son... He couldn't.
Author's Notes: Dedicated to and heavily influenced by Kielle. I own none of her work, nor any of Tolkien’s, but I recommend both.
Neither of your parents were perfect, Faramir.
Lyrics chart
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Denethor/Finduilas, (with Imrahil guest-starring)
Prompt: 1: "I'll be just fine, pretending I'm not; / I'm far from lonely, and it's all that I've got"
Word Count: 128
Rating: G
Summary: Brothers can be such pests when one is attempting to be dramatic.
Author's Notes: Sort of a prequel to "As Golden Leaves upon the Sea;" I can't swear I'm entirely happy with it, but, eh. The song is emo, played often on the radio, and gets stuck in my head. Everything belongs to Tolkien and the musicians.
“Perhaps you’ll get on with him…” With that cold-blooded reptile of a man? Never! She listened to more than the court gossips; she knew what to expect of this Steward’s son. Certainly, the maids reported him comely enough, but the men spoke of a dour, serious man, disposed more favorably to politics than pleasure. Most admired him grudgingly, but were quick to turn the conversation to foreign generals, or the heroes of Belfalas. What was one grim young man when there were better warriors, better lovers, and even better statesmen out there? This was hardly the type she had hoped to fall in love with.
Imrahil insisted she was being as overdramatic as a nesting seagull, but this is not something one ever admits to one’s little brother.
Title: Same Old Routine
Fandom: Lord of the Rings
Characters: Denethor/Finduilas, (with Imrahil and Thorongil guest-starring)
Prompt: 4: "everyday is the same / when looking straight ahead; / caught in the safety of routine"
Word Count: 286
Rating: G
Summary: Playing second fiddle is nothing new for Denethor son of Ecthelion.
Author's Notes: I'll probably find some way to work these puppies into "As Golden Leaves upon the Sea," but for now, it's an excuse to skip ahead to Minas Tirith. Also, I seemed to have worked a lyric from an entirely different song into the fic. See my current music. Not my characters.
“Honestly, the man shows no decorum.” Denethor’s eyes unwillingly followed the expressive, lean hands of Gondor’s favorite captain as Thorongil shared the story of his latest exploits. The Steward’s son sat as straight as possible, fending off any potential accusations of sulking by attempting to make up for the other man’s lack of propriety.
At his side, the younger man nodded, his chin on his fist, as if encouraging Thorongil on. “He’s crazy, but I like him,” Imrahil said with a slightly mischievous smile. “As does my sister, apparently.” Indeed, Finduilas had been listening raptly to the captain’s stories all evening, unconsciously reaching up to smooth her hair when she thought he wasn’t looking. Her brother stole a glance at Denethor as the Dol Amrothi lady did this. Denethor’s expression never wavered, but his eyes wandered back to Finduilas during the intermittent pauses in Thorongil’s tale.
“Typical.” The brooding, solitary man shook his head fractionally. “I had thought her wiser than that.”
“You thought she was more in love with you than that,” Imrahil corrected in an undertone. He didn’t dare look his host in the eye at that moment, but he would have loved to have seen Denethor’s guilty expression. The sudden lurch at the edge of the youth’s peripheral vision would have to be enough. “You’re going to have to make the effort, if you really want her, you know,” he continued blithely. “I like you, Denethor. I don’t want you and Finduilas swallowed in these silly, prideful games. But if you hurt my big sister, man, I will kill you.”
At last, he and Denethor were able to exchange looks. “Same old routine, then, Imrahil?”
The youngster smiled, turning away. “Same old routine.”
Title: Reflection
Fandom: LotR
Characters: Denethor, mostly, but Finduilas is in there and Faramir and Boromir guest-star.
Prompt: 6: can't say I was never wrong, / but some blame rests on you
Word Count: 794
Rating: G
Summary: Denethor hadn't expected Faramir, but he had expected to be able to say this to his son... He couldn't.
Author's Notes: Dedicated to and heavily influenced by Kielle. I own none of her work, nor any of Tolkien’s, but I recommend both.
Neither of your parents were perfect, Faramir.
Lyrics chart