#nothing like some elf and uruk and human cowboys

[lordgrimwing]

Silly Flirtations of the Heart #01

Fingon leaned back on his elbows and watched the low fire crackling in the middle of the small group. Stars twinkled above them, clear and bright so far away from any city. Out in the darkness, insects chirped and buzzed. A moth flew over to him, attracted by the light of the fire. It landed on his shirt for a few seconds, investigating, before taking off again. He watched it go with a little grin, listening to the idle talk of his companions. While rounding up cattle was physically demanding, he always enjoyed working on the range.  

He pulled his meandering thoughts back at a sudden commotion around the fire.

“Ugh. Really, Henry?” Azul said, shoving the uruk sitting next to him as he pulled out a harmonica. 

The others, two uruks and a human, groaned along with the first. “Every night is a little too on the nose,” One of them complained good naturedly.

They were all cousins, or related to some degree, if Fingon recalled correctly, even the human, who married one of their sisters. He knew Azul the best as he was hired to work on the ranch several years ago. When Fingolfin was expanding the operation to include more cattle out on public range land, he asked the uruk if he knew of any other good people looking for work. Azul was quick to volunteer several of his relatives, and they hired them without hesitation. So far, they’d all turned out just as hardworking and dependable as he was.

Henry polished the harmonica on the fabric of his shirt, removing any dirt it might have picked up during the day. Even in the fire light, the blue of his shirt contrasted nicely with his sun-darkened skin. He raised it to his lips and played several notes of a tune they had all heard before.

Fingon joined in the outcry at the prospect of hearing another rendition of ‘Home on the Range’. 

The harmonicists played four more notes, then raised his hands in defeat. 

Before he could put the little instrument back in his pocket, Udo said, “Hey, play us that song about the old human lady looking for her pet dragon.”

The groans changed into cheers when he obliged the request. Soon, everyone else was singing along with the music, even Fingon, though he was still learning the words. Henry winked at him when his tongue stumbled over some of the alliterative puns.