#aikanar

Adaneth, I tell thee, Aikanár, the Sharp-flame loved thee. For thy sake now he will never take the hand of any bride of his own kindred, but live alone to the end, remembering the morning in the hills of Dorthonion. But too soon in the North-wind his flame will go out! (J.R.R. Tolkien, Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth)

- When you date Aegnor you’re going to be with someone who is going to be utterly grateful for you and head over heels for you.

- Because of what happened with Andreth, Aegnor is always going to be worried about something possibly going wrong that would take you or himself away and that his intentions are never clear enough.

- Aegnor is never a fan of when something has to pull you away from him in the name of travel for work or vice versa for those reasons.

- The whole time he wonders if he told you that he loved you enough, or if you knew how happy you made him, or how beautiful you are to him. 

- So when you two come back together it’s the first words out of his mouth, about how he has loved and missed you so much and Aegnor tells you often just how much he missed you. 

- Aegnor is also very thorough in explaining himself to you, wanting to make sure that there is nothing that leaves you feeling uncertain to what his intentions are.

- It’s not quite a poetic monologue about how much he loves you, it is more that he wants you to know he loves and cares for you deeply. Doing his best to put his feelings into words, so you don’t question how he feels about you.

- Aegnor is not very grandiose about a lot of things, and doesn’t do things that seem more dramatic but when it comes to affection Aegnor is happy to indulge.

- While his personality is more reserved, Aegnor will happily hold your hand, spare you many many kisses and embraces wanting you to feel as loved as he can possibly make you. 

- Aegnor cannot deny you anything and it is the reason why he will break the rules of propriety to be affectionate with you even in public settings, not wanting to ever waste an opportunity.

- Aegnor is surprisingly very protective over you when it comes to your safety, even despite his more calm and relaxed demeanor.

- While he isn’t one that will start a fight over someone speaking ill of you, he will make sure they are dealt with, immediately coming to your defense.

- He will reassure you that he will always be there to protect you and will always to do his best to prevent anything bad from happening to you.

- Anything that threatens to cause you any bodily harm immediately gets him riled up and angry, but still holding on to decorum Aegnor will handle it appropriately and through the means of guards.

- Now if someone makes the move to attack you, then Aegnor will absolutely subdue them and have you removed from the situation immediately not wanting to subject you further to any violence.

- After the situation he will absolutely be sure to come and check on you, thoroughly looking you over and making sure that you are unharmed and ask you if you are okay. 

Aikanar is looking at him from where he is kneeling on the edge of the window. He has one of his soft smiles over his lips, the rare ones. Usually, it is bright, it is loud, it is wild. (It is no less lovely.)

It is one of those smiles that make Fingon's heart flicker in his chest, as if butterflies bloomed there and decided to make it a nest. It is one of those smiles that makes him answer it in kind, the dimples crease over his cheeks, and the gaze they exchange to be coated in years and years of love and friendship.

More than friendship, now.

(He doesn't quite measure his luck, still. He thought, for the longest of times, that Egg would never look at him like this, would always overlook him and go see others: others that looked like him, but, never, never him.)

(It made him weep into his grandfather's hold once, after council. He had just wanted to ask Haru Finwë something and found himself sniffling, and then weeping, asking, why, why, why it was that himself was always pushed to the side, and another favoured. Why it was that Egg would look for him in each and every of his conquests, from the soft black hair to the dimples, but never look at him, who stood so close.)

But now, now... Fingon sighs, inhales. He runs his fingers into his hair, unbraided. He has to do them back, but he can not find in him the motivation. Perhaps it is that Egg is toying with the ribbons, and he is loath to take them out of his hands.

"I could do your hair, if you want," Aikanar softly says.

Fingon smiles. "Could you? I would wish to leave with my scalp still on my head."

A splutter, mixed with a laugh. "I can! I could! I'll let you know that I made hanno's hair many times! You remember that time with the shells? It was me who did it !"

"Prove it to me then," Fingon says. He is teasing only, a twinkle in his eyes.

Egg doesn't need to be told twice. He comes closer, his fingers dancing over Fingon's nape. He bends, and brushes his lips there, the faintest touch, and yet it runs the length of his whole body. Oh. How he loves him, he thinks.

Egg is chattering happily, some times to times stealing a kiss on that nape, then on the cheek, right over Fingon's dimples. He says words that Fingon does not hear, too busy biting his inner cheeks, electrified by those kisses.

A final touch, and Egg pulls back, pressing his lips over his cheeks one last time. "There," he murmurs.

Fingon looks at his braid. It is a lovely one - but a few strands are pulling out. He looks at Aikanar, whose bright smile could rivalise with Laurelin.

"Oh, can we go on that one? Please? - Irmo & Melkor

"I have sand everywhere." - Aegnor/Fingon

He loved Aikanar. This much was very little surprise. To everyone who knew them, in fact, and even before the both of them had realized it themselves. Even though signs had been there; the way Aikanar proclaimed his ever affection for Fingon, the way he told him again and again how he was the most beautiful elf in all Arda, even when he was weeping in his arms because of yet another heartbreak, the way Fingon always made himself available for Aikanar – anywhere, everywhere. The way the both of them brightened in the other’s company, the way they viewed the other as the closest to their heart. Finrod excepted, in Aikanar’s case – for nothing and no one could ever come close to the utter love Aikanar held for his brother, who in truth was more of an Atar than a Hanno.

Not that Fingon would say it. Arafinwë was a sore subject for Egg, who did not consider the elf as his Atar, not when it was Finrod who had raised him, who had helped him through his first steps, loves, victories.

Ah, anyway- back to the main point: Fingon loved Egg, he loved him with all of his heart, with every fiber of his being. He loved the bright smile of Aikanar, his easy going laughs, his ever enthusiasm for the world, his eagerness to help and make the world a brighter place; his everlasting cheer. He loved him so much it had hurt once, like a blade through his throat, to think that Aikanar had came close to forsaking his immortality for a summer crush.

He loved him, thus; but, Nienna’s sagging tits, he did not love his fondness for the sea.

Egg was busy constructing a sandcastle with elflings next to him, when Fingon was very reluctantly eyeing the beach. He was not particularly afraid, or reluctant in front of the fauna population of the beach: the seals were ever a favourite of both Egg and his; but, but, by all that was damned and the thrice-cursed smelling armpits of Tulkas, the sand.

It was rough, coarse, and got everywhere.

“Aikanar,” said Fingon, eyeing his towel. It seemed to get under an invasion of those particles; a war the towel was losing. “How long do you plan for us to stay there?”

“Huh?” Egg rose his eyes from the sandcastle he was constructing, telling the kids that every fortress needed a dungeon. “-I don’t know! Why, you’re burning? Did you put the sunscreen, Finno?”

“I put the sunscreen,” he patiently said. He had. “I’m just curious.”

“Oh! We’re not in a hurry. I was thinking of leaving when Laurelin fades?”

So a few hours still. Fingon sighed, gave him a nod. Tried not to put too much dramatic anguish in it. If some faded there nonetheless, Egg did not notice, too eager to come back to his explanation of a proper fortress to the kids – who were listening with rapt fascination.

He leaned back and closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on his skin and the gentle sea breeze ruffling his hair. As much as he disliked the sand, he couldn't deny the beauty of the ocean stretched out before him, its waves crashing against the shore in a soothing rhythm. It was a scene of tranquility that Fingon often found himself appreciating, even if he wasn't entirely enamored with the sandy surroundings.

"Fingon!" Aikanar's voice interrupted his reverie, and he opened his eyes to find his lover standing over him, grinning wide.

"What is it?" Fingon asked, raising an eyebrow.

Aikanar held out a seashell, its intricate design catching the sunlight. "I found this for you,” he said, never losing his grin. It took on a softer touch although. “ I thought you might like it. It shines in the sun! Just like the ribbons in your hair! I thought something so pretty ought to belong to you.”

Fingon's heart swelled with affection. He took the seashell from Aikanar's hand, tracing a finger over its smooth surface. "Thank you, Egg. It's beautiful."

Aikanar plopped down beside him, leaning in for a quick kiss. "Anything for my Finno-Finno."

“Finno-Finno?” he laughed, shaking his head. “That’s a new one.”

“You liked my sweet seal better?”

He smiled, pulling on golden curls to get himself another kiss. “I like each and every one of them, Egg.”

Aikanar made a low whiny sound. “You can’t talk like that!” he whispered, pouting. “I’m busy with the kids! Now I want to kiss you until the age fades.”

Fingon leaned back, smirking in turn. “Perhaps it is time to let them construct the thing by themselves, then.”

Hesitation crossed Aikanar’s features- He glanced at the children engrossed in their sandcastle construction.

"Don't worry,” Fingon chuckled. “They're doing great, and we can always join them again later."

Aikanar's pout deepened, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but only if they promise to save some shells for me."

“Deal, my love.”

As the children continued to work on their sandcastle, Fingon and Aikanar found a quieter spot a little farther away. They plopped with a groan onto the sand, the rhythmic sound of the ocean providing a soothing backdrop to their conversation. Fingon would never tire of those sounds.

Egg turned toward Fingon, his eyes softening. "You really don't mind being out here, do you? Even with the sand?"

He reached out, brushing a strand of golden hair away from Aikanar's face. Such a pretty face, and such pretty curls. "I hate the sand. I hate when I have it everywhere, but… I've come to realize that being with you makes any situation enjoyable, even if there's a little inconvenience involved."

A flush, and a beam. "You have a way with words, my love!”

Fingon chuckled, his fingers tracing patterns on Aikanar's arm. "I'm just speaking from the heart."

They layed there for hours, but it seemed seconds before one of the elflings came running, pointing to their creation.

"Look, Egg! Look what we made!"

Aikanar's eyes lit up with delight as he admired the sandcastle, the elfling’s efforts. Fingon couldn't help but smile at the scene before him – his sweet Egg, his heart so full of love and joy, and the elflings, basking in their accomplishments.

When Egg came back next to him,  Fingon wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close. "I'm glad we stayed, Egg."

- Aegnor has not had it easy when it comes to falling in love, so when you two meet it will probably be in Valinor.

- When Aegnor first begins to take notice of these feelings, he is incredibly wary of what it is he is feeling for you.

- The suddenness of those feelings cause him to temporarily pull away, as Aegnor never thought that he’d feel them ever again.

- Not to mention he fears if he delves any deeper, that something will always pull him away from you to where he will never really be able to confess or act on how it is he feels for you. 

- Aegnor will also be worried since everyone is aware of his love for Andreth, that, that will mean that you will thwart him because of it. 

- He finds himself confiding to Angrod about how he is feeling, needing the extra reassurance and advice on what it is he should do.

- After he gets counsel from his brother it helps settle his nerves about what to do next.

- As he readjusts to how he is feeling for you, he will be more consistent about spending time with you once again and will apologize for his absence. 

- Aegnor doesn’t exactly have a plan on how he is going to tell you how he feels about you, so it’s kind of done almost on a whim and rather quickly after seeking counsel from Angrod. 

- He will wait though until the two of you are alone not wanting any judgement from other elves, or for nosiness as Aegnor does prefer privacy especially over such sensitive subject matter.

- It will probably be when you both are wandering the lush plains or forests of Valinor together.

- He will look at you gently and a soft smile pulling at his lips, deciding that now is definitely the perfect time. 

- As reserved as he is, the proclamation of love will not be.

- Aegnor will stand close and wait until there is a moment where you both are stopped before he leans into to gently kiss you.

- It will be timid and gentle, and patient waiting to see if you reciprocate, before he finally pulls away and tells you that he loves you. 

- He will have a soft blush on his cheeks as he waits nervously for you to tell him you love him too, but when you do he smiles softly at you.

- Aegnor won’t waste any time now living in a time of peace to ask you to court him, not wanting to miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to have a second chance at true love.