The Middle-earth Thanksgiving Meme

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The Middle-earth Thanksgiving Meme



Prompts

1. Cooking! Mmm Lembas... Is it supposed to be smoking like that?
2. Long lost relatives! Long time no see! How were the halls this time of year?
3. THAT relative! Nobody wants them to be here. Is it you or someone else?
4. Too much wine! Go ahead and speak your mind or act ridiculous.
5. Clean up! If you didn't cook, you clean up, it's only fair.
6. Food Coma! Apparently a condition that can affect even Elves.

OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU LIKE! AU IT UP!
Doesn't have to be a Thanksgiving dinner with relatives - friends or enemies are cool too!

Comments

[beleg]

[Thanksgiving it may be but there still needs to be guards on the borders to make sure no evil attacks during the festivities. Beleg almost always volunteers for this duty so more of his men could enjoy their time off. Still, that doesn't mean the marchwardens can't have their own far smaller and quieter celebrations of their own. Deer and other birds were already being roasted over the campfire as well as a variety of other foods is being prepared.

No wine, but the food is enough to put at least some of them into a food coma. Beleg's in the corner sorting through wildberries which will be used as part of dessert.]

[itskindofmydadsfault]

[Túrin made it clear very early on that he would not return to Doriath for Thanksgiving; not if Beleg stays. He isn't sure why, at all, but it feels like he really doesn't want to leave the elf's side, especially on such a holiday, and so he's still in the camp despite an invitation from Thingol (though declining it he phrased it as duty to protect the borders and others having more need of seeing their families).

Right now, he's sitting next to Beleg, quietly lending him a hand with the berry sorting.]

...You think it safe to decimate our numbers further with too much food?

[beleg]

[Beleg is of two minds about Turin staying; on one hand he likes the fact Turin as opted to keep him company on this holiday, on the other hand he should spend it in comfort with his foster parents.

Extra stems and leaves are expertly removed and dropped into a small pile near their feet.]

It IS a holiday. And I am sure enough of us will mind ourselves not to overindulge.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

A holiday. [A nod, and his features are clouded with thought.] The date of which the enemy knows all too well; it seems like a good time for an attack, do you not think so?

[beleg]

That may be but we cannot live our lives under fear of attack; even we deserve some respite from time to time. [Beleg gives Turin a reassuring smile.]

You need not worry, I will not over-indulge and will keep watch.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

I will keep watch at your side, then.

[He brief smile, but it is one, and they are scant and far in between these days.]

[beleg]

That is appreciated.

[Turin has never been an especially merry child but his smiles are seen fewer and fewer. He's happy to seen one now, directed towards him.]

I am surprised you did not go to Menegroth for the holiday as invited by the King and Queen.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

[Very decidedly not looking at Beleg over here.]

You are staying here, too.

[beleg]

[Beleg simply shrugs. He has no family and he has no great liking for the parties that certainly is being held to celebrate the holidy.]

You are well aware I stay so that those with family can spend time together. The King and Queen will have missed you dearly.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

...

[He doesn't answer to that and instead puts his full attention to the wildberries for a good long while.]

They will be neither lonely nor idle for my absence. [And, almost defiantly.] Nor would you, perhaps, yet I still prefer to have stayed.

[beleg]

[Beleg sighs and puts down the wildberries to give Turin his full attention.]

Perhaps, but that does not erase their worry and their wish for your presence with them. And neither does that erase my own wish for your presence when you are away.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

You [yeah, very decidedly not looking at Beleg here] You are glad that I stayed?

[Staying with Beleg wasn't his only reason for not going; he also wasn't particularly keen on returning to the court, where he feels out of place and useless.]

[beleg]

Of course. [Turin was dear to him, surely that was self-evident?]

Surely I have not given you cause to think you were unwelcome! [While he has friends among the court, force socialization for the sake of politeness wasn't his preference either. And he much preferred small, quieter gatherings like these, even if they were much rougher than a party in the city.]

[itskindofmydadsfault]

You have not. [Quickly, and then he frowns and looks at his hands.] I merely thought [...he isn't sure how to finish that sentence. That you didn't want to have me with you even half as much as I want to be with you, and why do you make me feel like... this, he still isn't sure what it is, but he would name it comfort if he had to apply a name to it.]

[beleg]

I am glad. There are times when I might not say so in words but you are never unwelcome. [Beleg continues to work through the berries, waiting patiently for Turin to finish his thoughts. He can wait if necessary, if Turin isn't ready or couldn't say them this moment.]

[itskindofmydadsfault]

[He isn't good with words himself, sometimes not even inside his head. Or rather, he normally is good enough when he needs to be, and he is able to have easy conversation, he just doesn't necessarily like to talk. But then lately he has found himself just completely lacking that, both the ability to speak well and the wish to just have quiet around himself.

At least not ...he's not sure. Sorry, Beleg, this will take a while.

And end with Túrin reaching over, his eyes firmly on Beleg's and very briefly taking Beleg's hand. ...squeeze it, and then pull back as if something bit him.]

[beleg]

[Beleg was many things (healer, hunter, scout, teacher) but he has never been a reader of minds. That skill he leaves for the greats of their people. But he is patience, he can wait for longer for Turin to speak his mind.

He smiles at the brief touch of their hands, taking it as a sign of Turin's fond regard of him but the quick withdrawal leaves him a bit puzzled. He's not prepared to push however instead choosing to turn aside from the topic for now. '

The berries have mostly been sorted in any case.]

Let us bring the berries to Maedor; he is in charge of the desserts.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

[Túrin nods and after picking up some of the sheets stands.

He won't bring this up again anytime soon, he's sure of that - or at least he planned on it, but late in the night too much to eat and sleepiness, and the few gulps of alcohol that he had, lead to a different picture. Or...somewhat different picture. After all, when you aren't sure what even to bring up, it is difficult to do so.

He does, however, refuse to leave Beleg's side to sleep and ends up leaning against him instead, his head at the elf's shoulder, looking at the fire from under heavy lids.]

[beleg]

[Beleg had partaken freely of the feast they had and even had a sip or two of the wine skin that had been passed around but otherwise had no over-indulged too much. Someone has to remain clear-headed after all, if only to help clean up if nothing else.

He smiled at Turin leaning up against his shoulder. It wasn't a easy life they had, constantly on guard against the force of Morgoth in the marches of Doriath and Turin does the work of three grown man so he was glad to see his friend relaxed for once.]

Time for you to seek your bed I think.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

Will you come to bed, too?

[He wouldn't normally come this close to asking Beleg to stay with him when he falls asleep, but between food coma and a bit of alcohol and being sleepy his fences are down somewhat, and while he hasn't grown much more cheerful he's grown more open about his wishes where they might imply weakness.]

[beleg]

[A slow blink was his first response to Turin's question. This was a first. In the time he'd known the boy...no...a young man now, by the Secondborn's standards, Beleg has never known Turin to ask for comfort so bluntly, though he's grown used to reading the more subtle signs.

As Captain, he should be aiding the clean up and checking the perimeter to see that all is well. But he was also loathe to deny Turin's request, which he might never hear any again if Beleg says no this time.]

If you wish.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

You don't have to, or may follow later. [The hesitation doesn't go unnoticed, and Túrin is quick to amend - he doesn't want to seem needy or unprofessional, even so, and Beleg probably does have more duties than him right now. ...Does he have duties? He can't remember, but what if he does and forgot them-] Or I can help. [Not that he would be of much help right now, but it seems prudent to offer.]

[beleg]

No, I wish to. There are no duties that are so urgent that they cannot wait. You are most definitely not on duty today! [Technically he isn't on duty himself but merely habit that would have him do another round of the camp's perimeter or to help out with other duties. It is not as if he doesn't trust his fellow marchwardens that are on duty to do their best to see to their safety or to the cleanup.] And you are more than ready for rest at this moment.

[itskindofmydadsfault]

[He pauses and then nods and stands, very slowly and carefully.

He really isn't used to drinking.] ...I suppose I am.

[beleg]

[After a moment of watching Turin wobble almost imperceptibly Beleg wrapped one arm around his fried's torso to steady him before slowly leading their way to the part of their camp where their bedrolls are set up for the night.]

You definitely are. You should sleep well tonight.