It was their first night camping out in the wilderness away from Rivendell’s protection. They had gotten their mounts settled, watered and fed, then turned to create a camp fire and set up their tents. Dumpling quickly took advantage of the fire and laid down right in front of it, sometimes swiping her tail so close Bethrelfin had to move her away in fear of setting her little tail on fire.
Soon they were both cosied up near the fire. Malethion was lying on his back, arms behind his head as he gazed up at the night sky. Bethrelfin was staring into the flames, mesmerized by the crackling. They hadn’t stopped speaking since they left Rivendell, and were now enjoying a moment of silence, just enjoying each other’s presence. She never realized how lonely she had been feeling in her life, with no one to speak to but her parents. She looked at Malethion.
“When you spoke to me the first time, you said you felt useless in Gondor.” Malethion hummed and turned around to look at her. “What did you mean by that?” she asked. Malethion let out a chuckle.
“I have two older brothers. Whatever I tried to do, they always could do better. I love them with all my heart, but it’s difficult to live up to such expectations.” He let out a sigh and looked back up at the sky. “My father tried not to show favourites, but they were both interested in becoming guards, which had been my father’s profession. I was always stuck to my mother’s side, helping her around the house and with the cooking. Carrying things for her. Almost like a pack mule,” he let out a laugh. Bethrelfin found herself smiling sadly at him.
“And so I wanted to leave. The city wasn’t made for me. I heard talk around the city about the little folk after Aragorn was crowned king. Sturdy folk, but peaceful. I thought perhaps I’d be more useful to people who couldn’t really defend themselves. Maybe I can relive my days of being a pack mule.” Bethrelfin kicked him at the comment, and he looked at her with a chuckle.
“Stop calling yourself that,” she murmured. Malethion raised an eyebrow. “You shouldn’t put yourself down like that.” Malethion shrugged. “I don’t mind. I’d rather be a pack mule and be thanked for it than a useless guard who can’t hold his javelin properly.” Bethrelfin rolled her eyes.
“You hold a javelin just fine,” she muttered, grabbing a stick and poking at the fire. Malethion sat up, gazing at her over the fire. She looked up to see him smiling. She wondered whether anything ever made him upset. She found herself smiling back, but felt angry that he had to even go through what he went through.
“Your smile is infuriating,” she chuckled. Malethion mocked hurt, putting a hand over his heart. She found herself laughing at the gesture.
“I mean it! You’re sitting there talking about not fitting in and smiling about it! I don’t understand…” her words trailed off and she grimaced. She continued poking the fire, a flurry of emotions whirling deep inside her. How could anyone talk about it so freely, as if it was alright to be left on the side? She spent her entire life trying hard to please everyone and getting mocked for simply being too curious. She was so caught up taking her frustrations out on the fire that she didn’t realise Malethion had gotten up until he turned his back to her. She looked up, suddenly realising that she may have upset him.
“I’m sorry, I did not mean…” he put a hand up to cut her off.
“Life is too short to dwell on what ifs. I’d much rather laugh and live my life to the fullest,” he murmured. She wanted to kick herself for not realising it before. The man in front of her wasn’t blessed with a long life. His life would end when hers was just beginning. She let go of the stick and got up, approaching him and putting a hand on his arm.
“Díheno nin, I meant no disrespect,” she said. He was looking pensively out in the forest. She wished she could take back her words and bring back his smile. She let go of his arm and turned to go to her tent, thinking it best to give him some time on his own. She figured she also needed to think things over.
“Never let anyone make you believe that being different is wrong,” he told her before walking to his own tent. She looked at him, but he never looked back at her, settling down to go to sleep. Dumpling decided to walk towards him and settle down next to his legs, as if she was trying to tell her that she did indeed hurt his feelings and should be ashamed.
She went to lie down in her tent. He was right. What was so wrong with being different? Malethion not only embraced it, but he was fully fine with it as well. Throughout her entire life, she put herself down and made sure to avoid others to not be the talk of the evening, when she should have just shrugged and continued on with her life. Malethion had less years on Middle Earth, but he had learnt to live much quicker than she had. She got up and called out to him. Malethion hummed and put his head up, looking at her.
“Thank you,” she murmured. His mouth curved upwards, and she found herself smiling with him.
