Tolkien Secret Santa Advent Calendar Day 18:Â A Peaceful Moment
Elemmakil and Voronwë take a walk in the snow together.
For day 18 of the @officialtolkiensecretsanta 2020 Advent Calendar!
Rating:Â G | No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: queerplatonic Voronwë + Elemmakil
Characters: Voronwë, Elemmakil
Word count: 431
Read it (with notes!) on AO3 - or continue below :)
The mountainside is quiet, even the murmur of their voices muted by softly falling snow. VoronwĂ« slips his hand into Elemmakilâs, twining their fingers together, and earns a smile from his dearest companion.
âVorno, whatâs this?â Elemmakil teases. âYou havenât been this clingy since you got drunk at the last winter solstice.â
VoronwĂ« huffs, only squeezing his friendâs hand tighter. âYour fingers get cold,â he scolds. âHow often do I have to pester you into wearing gloves on a frosty morning?â
âIâm wearing gloves now,â Elemmakil laughs.
VoronwĂ« shrugs, his eyes reflecting the starlight above. âMaybe I just like being near you.â
Elemmakil softens. âAlright, Vorno. But donât get too sappy on me!â
They walk hand in hand for a few minutes more. The air is cold, the snow drifting down like falling feathers, gentle and calm. At last Voronwë halts, gasping.
âEl, look!â he cries. âYou can see the whole city from here! Itâs lit up in the moonlightâI wonder if even Tirion was so beautiful.â
Elemmakil had been only a child at the Darkening, one of the few children who survived the Ice, and his memories of the time before are hazy. But staring down at OndolindĂ«, gleaming in Isilâs light, he knows that nothing compares to this, his home.
âThere was no Moon when I was in Tirion,â he says softly. âNor was there snow. This, I think, is a sight for us alone.â
VoronwĂ« sighs, leaning into Elemmakilâs embrace. âI almost wish we didnât have to go back,â he admits. âItâs so peaceful up here.â
âWe must return,â Elemmakil chides. âI am a guardâif I abandon my post forever, who shall keep us safe, and this peace perfect?â
âOh, all the Lords,â VoronwĂ« dismisses, but he knows his friend is right. âStill, perhaps you have a point. The White Lady has brought down a great elk, and there will be a feast tomorrowâI would not want to miss such a celebration!â Nor, he thinks to himself, the warmth of a friend beside a fire.
He turns to descend down the mountain, but Elemmakil tugs him back. Voronwë looks up at him, asking a silent question.
âJust a moment longer?â Elemmakil asks, his voice soft as the snowflake that lands on his nose. âYouâre right. As much as I love the city, and all the bustle this time of year, I feel at peace in this moment, with you.â
âOf course,â VoronwĂ« agrees, his fĂ«a warm and bright with love for his companion of many years. âAny moment with you, El, is a good one.â