Chapter Text
Celebrimbor shook his head and rubbed his ears, trying to get them to stop ringing. The band his uncle had taken him to see had indeed been an experience like nothing he had seen or heard before, but Eru, they were loud! And Maglor had insisted on being close to the stage, which made it even worse. The music was fine, better than fine, but those amplifiers were absolutely hellish.
”If I go deaf from all this, I will blame you uncle”, he said petulantly.
”It will take more to damage elven hearing”, Maglor grinned. ”Besides, I thought I saw you singing along to some of their songs. Did you like Black Ninja? It is one of their best, although I prefer Raven. It really showcases Noora’s fantastic voice.”
”You never told me you knew the band”, Celebrimbor accused.
”You never asked”, Maglor quipped. He smiled at his nephew and put his arm around his shoulders. ”I know a lot of people, some are musicians, some are not. Come on Tyelpë, let us find a pub that serves some decent beer.”
They ended up in a bar that consisted of several small rooms that were linked together, creating a cozy, if cavernous atmosphere. Maglor texted Stephane their location, and he joined them half an hour later. They spent the rest of the time until the bar closed drinking their way through the beers that were on tap. By closing time, Stephane was well and truly sloshed, and Maglor and Celebrimbor were at least tipsy.
Maglor insisted on walking Stephane home, which turned out to be a good idea, as all three of them sobered up during the hour-long walk. Stephane said goodnight and disappeared into his apartment building, and the two Noldo began their walk back towards the city centre. They had walked for perhaps ten minutes, when Maglor cleared his throat.
”Tyelpë... have you given any thought to where you want to live? I mean, will you be staying in Sweden, or would you prefer to live in a warmer climate? I have a house in Provence and another in Portugal, just outside Lisbon. I would love to have you if you want to come live with me.”
”I have not really considered staying anywhere permanently”, Celebrimbor answered. ”There is so much to see in this new world, and I think I want to travel around for a while first, then if I find a place where I feel truly at home, perhaps I can settle. But I would enjoy staying with you for a while at least. I have missed you so much, and I do not wish to part from you just yet.”
Maglor’s eyes filled with tears, and he stopped, wordlessly throwing his arms around Celebrimbor, hugging him fiercely.
”Nor do I wish to be parted from you, hinya. So, will you come with me to Portugal then? We can swim in the ocean, or the river, drink vinho verde and eat fish as much as we want. I have a live-in cook who makes the most wondrous bacalhau.”
”Yes, uncle, that sounds wonderful. Not that I know what bacalhau is, but I am sure it is delicious. I do not have anything keeping me here really, so we can leave when we want.”
*****
A week later, Celebrimbor found himself seated on the terrace of Maglor’s lovely beach house outside Lisbon, sipping a glass of port and listening to his uncle softly strumming his lap harp. He knew he still wasn’t entirely healed in spirit, but he was on the mend, and he was, he supposed, happy. Yes, that was it. He was happy for the first time since the early days of Eregion. Maybe this was what Námo had been hoping for. Celebrimbor smiled at his uncle and took another sip of the ruby port.