"Pretender's Mother", by Himring (Time after Time challenge)

[hhimring]

Title : Pretender's Mother
Author : Himring
Fandom/Source : Unfinished Tales
Rating : PG13
Characters : Ailinel, aunt of the future Queen Ancalime of Numenor, and her son Soronto.
Disclaimer : Tolkien's characters (no offence intended, no monetary recompense received).
Spoilers/Warnings : Tale of Aldarion and Erendis (warnings for family quarrels and ambition)
Summary : Ancalime's rival for the throne, Soronto, learns that she has married, expressly to thwart his ambitions. Sequel to "King's Sister", just posted to tolkien_weekly.

Soronto stormed into her parlour.

‘She is going to marry Hallacar, after all!’

‘What a surprise,’ commented Ailinel. ‘Have I not told you time after time that Ancalime would not easily let go of power or allow herself to be pushed? If you wished to gain influence, you should have got on a good footing with her, as your father was with mine.’

‘But she cannot rule!’ cried Soronto. ‘She is a mere girl!’

‘Take care to whom you speak!’ said Ailinel sharply. And when Soronto stared at her uncomprehendingly: ‘I may be your mother but I’m also a woman.’

A/N: Here's Oshun's bio of Ailinel, written for the April newsletter at SWG, in honour of Legendarium Ladies April.

Comments

[liadt]

Ha, Soronto is making himself into a deserving loser!

[hhimring]

Ancalime apparently knowingly plunged into an unhappy marriage, just so he wouldn't even be her heir.
I thought Soronto must have set her back up pretty badly.

[fredbassett]

Ooops, that wasn't very tactful! *g*

[hhimring]

I had the impression Soronto might not have been the tactful type!