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Chapter Text

Galadriel shot up from bed screaming, followed by someone by her side. She immediately turned her head to see her husband with the same scared expression as before. Last time they had seen each other, Tirion was crumbling to ruins around them. And Celebrian… Elladan, Elrohir… damn, Celebrían!! She bolted out of the bed and started calling her around. Suddenly, she heard crying and found a silver haired baby in a crib. A nís dressed as a wetnurse entered in that moment, grabbing the child. This one hiccuped and grabbed her.

“I´m sorry, my lady!! I didn´t wake up in time and now… I´m sorry I let the little lady wake you up” she bounced her. “Shhh, lady Celebrían. I´m here. And Nana is here too.”

“Celebrían?” Galadriel asked, without understanding. “My daughter?”

Her daughter was a full grown adult with children of her own, not a young toddler. But, after closer inspection, she could see that the elfling had the same eyes, the same hair, the same… spirit as her child. This was her daughter, her precious silver queen… the one she was going to protect with all her might. Of course, she still couldn´t tell what was happening right now, but if Celebrían was there, alive…

“Yes, lady Celebrían” the wetnurse answered without understanding. “Are you alright, Lady Galadriel? Do I need to call someone?”

“No, I… I want to hold my daughter” she said, extending her hands to hold her child. Because she wanted to feel her close to her heart. The other nís, instead, was taken aback. “Can´t a mother hug her child after a nightmare?”

“Oh, I´m sorry!! Sure, here the little lady is!!” she handed Celebrían over. Galadriel hold her over her chest, enjoying the closeness with her only child. “Are… are you ready to hand her back, my lady?”

“What?”

“That… she needs to come back to bed. She is barely learning to sleep all night and…”

“If you are worrying about her waking up, I can take care of her this night. After all, I was the one that woke her up.”

“Oh, but my lady, I could never ask you that!! I am here to take care of the little lady after all!!”

“And you think that I can´t take care of my own daughter?” the golden lady frowned. Suddenly she felt as if she should take up her daughter´s advice and retort to hands on parenting. It wasn´t such a bad idea, she only declined because it had been Elrond´s…

“Of course not, but… nobility doesn´t take care of their children, royalty much less. That´s why we wetnurses exist. Doing it yourself is… viewed badly” she then lowered her voice. “The last elf of high birth… if that could be called a high birth… to raise his children that way was mad Fëanor. And you know how that ended up.”

Galadriel was not impressed, not in the least. Specially because of the servant´s mention of Fëanor´s sons. They turned out bad because they let their mad father drag them down into a pit with his Oath, not because they were raised without wetnurses or nannies. It was Fëanor´s and Nerdanel´s issue to decide how they would raise their children. Besides, if the Feanorions had been raised that way, then Celebrimbor too and that took validity out of everything. Elrond, as much as she loathed to admit it, too. Yes, he was a menace in red as much as his adoptive grandfather had been, but he was at least reasonable. Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen, Aragorn… the list went on and on. It was all a huge idiocy. What was that mention about Fëanor´s birth status too? Had people really forgotten that he was her half-uncle? She was feeling more and more tempted to fire that wetnurse by the second.

“I doubt she is going to be much affected by a day with her mother” Galadriel glared at the woman, who cowered. “Thank you, you can retire.”

“My Lady…”

“I said you could retire”

The wetnurse apparently decided to cut her loses and left, bowing before turning out for the night. Galadriel adjusted her grip on her daughter and walked towards where her husband was. She found him near a window, admiring the scenery. She did too, after noticing the hollies around and the city that was supposed to be lost to time and the Army of the Darkness. Sauron had left a ruin in this place, where she had lived for a long time, where her daughter had been born… it would be a pity if it happened again.

“I need to tell you something” Celeborn suddenly said after a complete hour of them in silence as he watched the baby in her arms. “Elwing was the one that murdered our daughter.”

“What?!” between all things he could say… “How… why…”

“She… I don´t know, she simply… ordered her guards to kill her and her sons” the baby in her arms stirred again, but the golden lady bounced her slightly to settle her down, just as she had seen Elrond do with her grandchildren when they were that age. “I was going to confront her, but… Eärendil got to her first. He killed her…”

“Why?”

“Because she had gone too far. Just like her father and her great-grandfather before her” he sighed. “There are a lot of things I haven´t told you. Family things.”

“I doubt it´s worse than my own family problems.”

“At least your cousins didn´t start the Second Kinslaying by being a great fucking asshole” Celeborn turned to his wife and daughter. “It´s… the reason why Elrond never liked Díor and why Avranc had a homicidal grudge against him. He… ordered his knights to attack Brethil and kill every Haladin they could find. Including your cousins grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

“But… but that…”

“According to Erestor, those knights also did something very macabre… practically what… Avranc did to Thingol and his family when he destroyed Doriath?” his wife was now full blown glaring at him. “Yes, Celebrían told me that you would be angry.”

“You told Celebrian and not me?!”

“Elrond told Celebrian and she confronted me. I confirmed and… got screamed at. A lot. She also told me that I should tell you… but I thought that I would get yelled at more.” He looked away. “Should have told you.”

“Of course, you idiot” she hit him on the shoulder. “And with that being said, nothing could ever excuse what those assholes did, but I wouldn´t have blamed Moryo or even Avranc if he broke Díor´s nose with a punch” she smirked. “In fact, I would cheer them… wait a minute, did Díor got a sentence from the Valar as a kinslayer?”

“Yes, it´s the reason everyone thought he was mortal before he made his apparition” Celeborn said. “What remained of the First Age and the entire Second Age in Mandos, practically sent to a corner in timeout… not that good of a punishment, as he loved to irk Elrond with that history every time they reunited.”

“I´m starting to think Elrond was the one in the right” Galadriel said, promising herself to create a safe place where her son-in-law and his mother and father could bond VERY far away from Díor Elúchil. “Do you think… we could still change something? With the First Age already passed and the second so advanced…”

“You have never been pessimist before, my love, so don´t begin now” the silver haired lord approached and put his arms around his family. “Let´s focus on those we can still save.”

“Celebrimbor, Gil Galad… and several more than that” she yawned. “But we should get to sleep for now, husband. Tomorrow in the morning I´m going to consult the mirror for more information.”

“Yes…” he looked down at the babe in her arms. “And I guess this little lady is going to sleep with us tonight?”

“Absolutely” she answered. “And I´m going to fire her wetnurse. She has some unacceptable attitudes regarding a part of my family. I think we also should try our hands on the hands-on approach that Celebrian and Elrond advised us about.”

“I think that´s a great idea” he got up and stretched a hand towards her. “Nap?”

“Please”

They both went to bed and slept the rest of the night and the early morning. They barely woke up by hour of tea. Celebrian behaved like a little angel, sleeping along with her parents. She was all giggly when they finally got up from bed, more when she was put on a blanket to play with some of her toys while her parents sent the servants away and got some pieces of paper and writing implements. Before using the mirror as Melian taught her, Galadriel wanted to get some matters straight. She needed to be concentrated on what she was searching, so they made a list of things to avoid: First, Celebrimbor´s death; Second: Gil Galad´s death; Third: all the loses of the War of the Ring.

“I think you should begin asking for an answer to the problem of Celebrimbor” Celeborn said, circling the first item on their list. “Gil Galad and The Ring can wait… in fact, if we managed to convince Celebrimbor not to help Sauron, then the Rings won´t be able to be created and we would have changed history.”

“That´s a good point” she said, drinking her tea. “Shouldn´t we talk with him first?”

“I guess so, Annatar could already be here”

So they dressed themselves and their child and got out. The city was just as how they remembered. The craftmanship and the items sold in the stands were of a great quality and the sigil of the eight pointed star was seen. She marveled at it again… it was such a pity when it became a ruin. Her cousin had really rehabilitated the House of Fëanor, at least to some degree… him and Elrond… to some degree.

“You know, if we save Celebrimbor and Gil Galad, perhaps Elrond will not have to take it upon himself to make that stand. Everybody knows that Celebrimbor is Fëanor´s grandson…”

“They are always going to be his fathers, Galadriel. I thought you have already accepted it.”

“I never said that he should not think of them as his fathers, but…” she sighed. “Perhaps I was getting ahead of myself. Besides, it´s not my business.”

They continued walking. For the first time, Galadriel was made aware of the stares that followed them. The whispers. It was as if they had done something wrong. She wondered for a second if this has been how her half-cousins were regarded. But if that was so… why were they receiving that kind of look? And now that she thought about it, both her and Celeborn received those kinds of looks when they were in Imladrys too. Why?

“Cousin!! And little cousin!!” her worries fled her as Celebrimbor received them. He was just as before, very sweet. Very kind and acceptant… like before death stole something from his soul. “Come on, I have some tea ready.”

“We already had some of our own” the nís answered, smiling. She put Celebrian on the floor, allowing the girl to walk for a bit. “We only wanted to say hello. And ask you about that project you and Annatar are working on?”

“Who is Annatar?” he was genuinely confused.

“Did I say that? I was meaning Narvi.”

“Oh, yes, we were working on some doors for…”

Galadriel inwardly celebrated as Tyelpe went on a rant about the Doors of Moria. Sauron hadn´t yet arrived, thank the Valar, and now they had time to solve that. This time that bastard won´t get to him. So when they returned home, Galadriel prepared herself for using the mirror. Focusing on Celebrimbor, she prepared herself to look deep into the future. Whatever she needed to save her little cousin, the annoying child that was always following her when they were both younger in Aman… the righteous elf that took the most painful decision of disowning a beloved father because of justice… he deserved to be saved. She needed to…

MELYANNA WON´T TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO DO…

“Who are you?” Galadriel asked, trying to stop. But her mind was being held captive by her own mirror or whatever had taken control of it.

SOMEONE THAT WILL SHOW YOU HOW

“How do I save Celebrimbor then?”

I´M GOING TO SHOW YOU THE ANSWERS… THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF ANSWERS IN BRAND NEW WORLDS…

She was suddenly dragged under the water, feeling that she was drowning. The only thing that she could really see was the liquid and a woman in white, an eight pointed star in her dress, just over her breasts. Before he could take in her face, she let her go. Galadriel was suddenly adrift… and then she saw Celebrimbor. Celebrimbor and other person… was that Irissë? No, this elf was a male, but he looked so much like Irissë that… a screech that was pretty familiar from the First Age… was that a…

“Lómion, what are you doing?! We have to flee!!” Tyelpe yelled as the dragon came closer to them and their… wagon? “That is only a prototype!!”

“Then the hour to test it has arrived!!” Irissë´s son, because he was really her dear cousin´s only child, answered as she pointed with what looked like ballistas. Too bad they missed. “I´m sorry” he turned towards the other, his eyes full of something that could only be the deepest love she had ever seen beyond hers and Celeborn. “I love you”

She didn´t thought the one that was deemed the Evilest Elf in history could love someone that wasn´t Idril. And in such a way… this was not the dark love that destroyed Gondolin. Celebrimbor returned his look, the same feeling back at him.

“I love you” and fire enveloped them both.

She was pulled out of that scene by some force and taken by the water again. She was dragged through it towards what seemed like another bubble. Once she entered, she found herself in what looked like a military camp, with several soldiers around. Then he noticed someone known. It was her cousin Laurefindil, along with the same dark haired elf from before. Maeglin, son of Aredhel.

“Maeglin, listen to me” her cousin tried to support Maeglin. “Focus on my voice, okay? I´m here, I´m not going to allow anything to happen to you, alright? I need to focus on me and breath with me, can you do it?” Lauro put his hand over his own chest. “Here, breath with me. Slowly in… and out” they spent some time doing that. “Can you tell me five things you can see around us? Around you?”

“The ground… fabric… my banner… a… my armour… Glo… Glorf…”

“Shhhh, it´s okay, I´m not going to hurt you. Not now…”

“But I…”

“I know, but I have also seen that it could have been anyone, you only had bad luck the first time” Glorfindel continued breathing slowly to help his fellow lord calm down. Then… “But… Maeglin, I have to ask… someone of Gondolin… ever hurt you… or worse?”

Galadriel had the feeling that the answer to Laurefindil´s question was yes. And she didn´t like it. Celebrimbor… Celebrimbor loved Maeglin, she could tell those two found exactly what they were looking for in each other… could they really find it again when one of them had been so badly damaged? The scene changed again…

“Why don´t you stop lying, my lord?” Makalaurë was there this time. “You know, I should have seen it before. No composer would ever make such huge mistakes in their own work. Others might have ignored it, but I didn´t. Never mentioned it, despite all that you did to me… I should have mentioned, even if those idiots wouldn´t have believed me” he smirked. “Doesn´t that make you ashamed? That even a beginner could have done this better than you? Or perhaps you are just that shameless. After all, if you are going to steal another elf´s work, then at least master it before trying to show it to others.” He made a dramatic stop. “Or perhaps… you really hated your talented cousin that much?”

“My cousin…” Vaháyaquen´s face twisted into the one of rage that she had seen back when Tirion was crumbling.

The scene changed again, but now it was different. It was a beach, with a lot of frozen mist around a lonely figure that was slowly advancing through it. Maglor, she could tell. She tried to approach her reprobate of a cousin, but then the mist enveloping him started to hiss at her. Hiss and… sing. Many voices that sounded like anger. The cold seeped into her bones quickly, threatening to freeze her to her very core. Even her material form.

YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO… WHAT HAS TO BE DONE… IF YOU WANT TO PREVENT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENED IN THAT WORLD, SAVE MY CHILDREN. OR THE END OF THE WORLD WILL BE UPON YOU SOONER.

“Galadriel!! Galadriel!! ARTANIS!!” she coughed as her eyes opened. The lady was surprised to see her body completely covered in skins. And grateful, because she could feel the cold in her bones. “what were you doing?! You nearly froze over while using the mirror!! I had to drag you out of the room and warm you over!! I feared that you were dead!!”

“I´m sorry, but…” she tried to get up, but it was painful. Too painful. “What happened to the mirror?”

“Rest for now, I´m going to show you later”

Galadriel listened to him, but she was definitely not going to sleep all day. Celeborn went to the hearth and stirred it back to life. As soon as his wife stopped shivering, they both returned to the room. The room, it was completely frozen over, and the origin of the ice seemed to be her mirror. The strangest part was that it seemed like an eight pointed star had been formed around the mirror. In the ice.

“What happened here?”

“It was like this when I entered. And you were shivering, fainted near the mirror” her husband said, putting an arm around him. “For a second I thought you were dead, I… I thought I had lost you. Galadriel…”

“No, I got good information” she said, flexing an arm. “It turns out that to prevent whatever that was happening… we have to save Maglor…”

“What?!” Celeborn asked in disbelieve. “No way!!”

“You… aren´t really that angry after so much time, no?”

“No, but I thought you were!!”

“I was… and letting that anger take the better of me”

“No, you were righteous in your anger. And wanted to avoid the rage of the Valar.”

“I´m beginning to think that we should avoid the rage of something worse” she said as she stared at the ice. Then she thought about what they should do. “So… Maglor… any idea of where he could be?”

“Strolling by the beach?”

“Something more specific?”

“You are the one with the foresight, not me” Celeborn was being of much less help than she thought he would be. “I haven´t cared for centuries, but if you need someone who might have some interest in him, why not ask Elrond?”

“One Feanorian at the time”

-In Lindon-

“Why are you doing this? It´s ridiculous!!” Elrond said as he crossed his arms.

The King made him a gesture and continued with his search. Gil Galad subjected him periodically to this room inspections as part of his plan to exorcise the Feanorian out of him… too bad that he was ready for him to try something like that and hid everything important elsewhere. And Gil Galad himself was a bloody hypocrite. He tried to exorcise the Feanorian out of Elrond and kept Aeglos with him… yes, a hypocrite.

“Fine” the King said when he decided that he had done a through search. The only thing that he got out of that was some papers… the draft of his first work on medicine. “Diseases of the Fëa, a Treatisse by Elrond Peredhel?”

“You have always known that I wanted to be a healer. And you said that as long as I served as your herald and learn how to govern, you don´t see why I wouldn´t be able to. I am good, by the way, I´m already working on something great.”

“Fëas don´t get sick”

“According to who? Because even Lady Estë recognizes and treats some of these sicknesses.”

“Fine” he returned the papers. “So long as you don´t get behind on your paperwork.”

“I never do, so let´s stay on our sides of the DEAL for now”

Yes, the DEAL. Gil Galad and Círdan had tried for thousands of years to get rid of the side of him that was a Feanorian. Just as they had tried with Elros. Unfortunately for them, that was impossible and, to avoid the Losgann sized overreaction they got from Elros when they tried that, they stroke a Peace Treatment with Elrond. He would keep his things from Amon Ereb in boxes in the basement where they could stay buried but they wouldn´t be harmed and wear Fingolfin´s color (he utterly refused to wear Thingol´s colors and threatened to pull a Fëanor on them when they presented the garbs) and (please!!) stop using quenya with that lisp even in private, then he would be able to have some measure of freedom. A measure of Freedom that had gotten lower and lower since the sixth or seventh numenorean monarch. But on their defense, Ancalimë was a ball of temper and personality that even her own son avoided. She was so great that Círdan actually asked Elrond if Maglor hadn´t been the twins´ biological father. Ereinion went out of his way to bother him since that moment... and had a fight with Ancalimë when he criticized her that ended the help she sent to Lindon.

“Are you alright, my lord?” Erestor asked, entered the room with his dark clothing floating around him. Elrond shook his head and extended his hand. A golden choker was passed to him, which he secured at his throat with an easiness that could only get from experience. “You should stay inside for now.”

“No, this is important”

“It´s a risk”

“There are some things more important than the risks” Elrond said, putting a hood. Erestor smiled and handed over what seemed like a sword. The peredhel secured it to his waist. “Alright, I´m ready.”

“Head the way, my lord”

They walked through the streets, doing a sick sack to lose anyone that was tailing him (Gil Galad would be capable of). The two of them traversed the city until they reached a run-down bar. Elrond entered without pulling down his hood. Eärhis and his daughters were there too… and other members of the community. Members that were really disappointed and angry at the government because they let hate crimes to go unpunished. Then Eärhis got into a stand and started his speech. A speech that would send anyone into a rage in a place full of people that were so mistreated daily that were only one hair apart from going into a mutiny. Which was the reason why he was there.

“That nér is trying to spark violence here.”

“And you don´t think a little violence is needed?”

“Atto and Atya commit the mistake of believing that exactly, Haru too. If I´m going to put things right, then I´m going to do it in the right way” the healer answered. “But don´t misunderstand me, I´m not an angel. When I get mad, I get mad.”

“I know, my lord” Erestor said, smiling at him. “You are the greatest Lord. And I´m more than proud of being in your service.”

“I only want to cause a change.”

“And you will”

There was sound around them. Apparently, Gil Galad had found him after all, but they were not going to find anything. All things with the Feanorian star were hidden, Eärhis and his committee received free drinks and sat down with Elrond and Erestor. The tavern owner extended a hand and received the choker from Elrond, hiding it from their guardian. It was as always. If he had managed to keep the choker this much time, it was thanks to the community. His community.

“Ah, your majesty, a drink?” Elrond said as soon as Ereinion entered through the door. His brother could be such a bother sometimes… specially after Ancalimë told him to show his opinions up where the sun doesn´t shine. And then proceeded to actually try while Anarion and Hallacar hold her so she doesn´t run the High King with Maedhros´ own sword. “I guess the answer is no.”

“You guess right, herald” he raised an eyebrow. “What are you doing here anyway? We had the finest drinks in the whole kingdom back in the palace.”

“After your inspection, I wanted some time without you shadowing my every move. I should have known that getting out of the palace would achieve just the opposite” he took another drink. “Is there a reason why I shouldn´t share some drinks with a friend?”

“No, but why this bar? It looks like something sailors would…”

“In that you are right, King” Eärhis approached, using a telerin assent as easily as he used the Feanorias lisp. The later came so easy to him that it was difficult to believe that he also had telerin blood. Also that his eyes were exactly the same as the fallen Sons of Fëanor. It suggested a deeper bond.

“And you are?”

“Eärhis… from Alqualondë, a sailor. I come here all the time when I´m not travelling because my girls love this bar. Don´t you, girls?” the ladies in question toasted him. “My babies… I don´t see them very often with the trade. It would be better if their mother still lives, but… the First Age was dangerous, you see.”

“Their mother was a Noldo?” Ereinion asked.

“A sindar, she fell at Doriath” that tend to be misleading and it was Eärhis intention. After all, his wife hadn´t fallen IN defense of Doriath, but… “Another question?”

“No… I´m sorry for your loss” the High King bowed. “Return in time and don´t you dare to be drunk when you arrive to the palace, Elrond.”

“Noted” Ereinion was about to leave when he noticed something else. Quick as only a warrior could be, he grabbed the sword from his herald. “What?”

“What is this? I haven´t seen it before” he got into his knees and examined the thing. He seemed disappointed when he saw no eight pointed stars, but he still didn´t let it go. He grabbed the pommel and unsheathed it. Or at least the handle. “No blade? That´s suspicious. And very strange.”

“It was like that when I found it. Was thinking to ask Celebrimbor to forge a blade for it, as it is a beautiful thing. Should I go to visit him?”

“Return at a nice hour, good night”

The peredhel saw his older brother leave the bar and snickered. It was not that Gil Galad hated Celebrimbor, only that he didn´t trust him near Elrond. He could be easily tricked into talking about his uncles, after all. There was still some… fondness for them in him. It was different with Gil Galad, he simply didn´t have anything to connect him to Maedhros. And he preferred it that way, because he could hate him. And he will continue hating him if it was his choice, he didn´t want anything else. But it was because he didn´t know…

“If there is someone listening to me, please show him the truth. Please, tell him that he didn´t have to hate anymore. That he… was loved” Elrond pleaded, his eyes to the sky. “Someone please make him see that.”

-In Eregion-

“You are going to Lindon? Why?” Celebrimbor asked when Celebrian was trusted in his arms. Her parents didn´t want to leave her, but she was too young for them to take her on a trip like that. And why with Celebrimbor? Well… he was a little bit well versed in taking care of children (thanks the hands-on approach favored by the House of Fëanor, even if they didn´t know on whom he practiced) and Galadriel hadn´t picked a new wetnurse since she fired the last one.

“We have some business there” the golden lady passed a hand through her baby´s thick silver locks. The girl smiled at her mother. “Take care of our little angel while we are gone.” She looked at him. “Do you have actual experience with babies?”

“A bit, I helped with my cou…” he stopped himself before he could say more.

“You had cousins?” Galadriel was surprised. “Oh, yes, Ereinion. And Elrond and Elros… but I thought that you weren´t there when…”

“I wasn´t, but… uncle Moryo and uncle Tyelko had children too. And I helped with uncle Tyelko´s as I was an adult when they were born.”

“What?! We… we didn´t know Celegorm was a father too” she was surprised. “Are they here now? And Caranthir´s girl?”

“Elenammë is good. She is allowed in Lindon and Ereinion would want her to stay, but she loves her solitude too much to give up her wanderings. Or I think she is still mourning her brothers, thinking that she would never see them again” yes, poor girl. She lost four brothers who, thanks to their participation in the kinslaying, were probably not coming back. “And Luhte and Nella went to Aman.”

“You don´t sound reassured by that”

“No, it´s only that… the both of them were very special and I don´t… don´t think that Manwë would have liked them that much. He wouldn´t condemn them, as they weren´t kinslayers, but… he probably didn´t like them.”

“Aunt Nerdanel is going to be happy to have her grandchildren with her anyway”

“That if they are permitted to see her”

“WHAT?!”

“Nothing” Celebrimbor smiled, but it was a façade. Galadriel felt more intrigued, but he surely wasn´t going to say anything more. “Go swiftly and return soon.”

“Thank you, cousin”

They departed. The travel was quiet for a long way, at least until they arrived to an edain costal city. Before they entered, Celeborn turned to his wife…

“I know that you said that we should find and help Maglor Feanorion, but we didn´t know where he is right now. And Elrond tried for millennia, but couldn´t find a single clue about his location. How are you going to find him?”

“Because I have something that Elrond didn´t have: a clue” she smirked. “We only need to find some place where it´s cold at an abnormal time of the year.”

Chapter Text

“Are you sure this is the right way? Galadriel?” Celeborn said as they took another stroll down the beach. According to the local fishermen, there has been a strange cold wave in that zone. One that could even freeze the shores in the middle of summer. It made them both believe the that the cursed bard was there, but where exactly was he?

“It must be, look at the ice”

“Yes, ice in the middle of the summer, definitely the work of whatever is keeping the kinslayer from being found by his enemies.”

“I´m pretty sure it´s as harmful as it is beneficial for him…”

“That´s not what we are discussing. Besides, it´s beneficial for us, it lets us trace the menace quite easily” she answered as she searched for thicker patches of ice, a way to say that the musician had been there more recently. “Through here.”

“Alright”

The couple continued travelling on the shore for a week more, finding another fishing village in their way. It looked as if a snowstorm had passed recently, something that shouldn´t have happened in that time of the year not even in Ossë´s wildest dreams. It was a catastrophe for the edain living there, of course, but very good news for them. And there hadn´t been any fatalities, so they didn´t need to add to her cousin´s list of sins. But… would they really need to do that if the Feanorion wasn´t even in his right mind?

They looked around a bit, noticing the Elros-inspired architecture style and the white tree and eight pointed stars in some buildings. Apparently, this village and some of the others they had visited were colonies of Númenor in the continent, of the ones that would keep the culture alive when the motherland had sunken and before Gondor and Arnor had risen. Thinking about it made her heart ache a bit for her dear granddaughter Arwen, who had become a mortal Queen for love… a Queen for a Numenorean descendant King. In any case, it was good to see that something of Elros had survived, at least more than his blood and legend. Elrond should truly see this…

“Thank you” Celeborn said as he paid a fisherman for their lunch and put the plates in front of himself and his wife. “The cold front arrived in the night, taking them by surprised, but not completely without warning or preparation” he related as he cut the fish. “Apparently, it´s not uncommon from those sudden cold fronts to appear and disappear many times a year. The pattern is erratic, so they are always prepared… and I think I know why.”

“Me too” the golden lady said as she took a bit of her meal. It was nice, even if it was a little bit on the spicy side. These Numenóreans… how could people deny they were of Feanorian descend when they liked their food so spicy? “Maglor is the one causing them.”

“Yes, but that doesn´t tell us where he is going.” the silver haired elf sighed. “The only thing that I managed to gather was that many villages from where Númenor and particularly Armenellos is visible have the same problem.”

“Mystery solved” she smirked. “Just think about it. My cousin is probably out of his mind, but he still feels love towards the children he raised as his own. The love of a father… so he is going to keep himself as close to Elrond and Elros as he can” she ate a bit more of fish. “We only have to keep Númenor visible and we will eventually find him.”

“And what then? He might freeze us.”

“I will have to do my best to protect you, but we might need to snap him out of that daze soon. Makalaurë has always been powerful, the most powerful songsmaster the Undying Lands have produced according to some.”

“I thought he didn´t enter to the conservatory in Valimar while your brother did.”

“And I still don´t know how, because he was better than Finrod in any way I could image” Galadriel continued eating. “Apart from that, there is an old family anecdote that said that when he was born, his first wails broke all the windows and crystalluria in the palace of Tirion. They all simply shattered…”

“Was he truly that strong?”

“Don´t know, but my grandfather used to say that he was aptly named” she quickly finished eating. “Get the horses, we are going to move faster today. And not going to stop in the night. I have the feeling that if we do that, we will make some progress.”

They did and, just as Galadriel prophesized, the next morning, as the sun started to appear in the sky, they started to arrive to a place where the ground was frozen solid and snow was still descending from the sky. Celeborn shivered, he wasn´t used to such a cold climate. Galadriel also did after a time, after they got closer and closer to what looked like a small snowstorm that moved slowly, like a person. She tried not to let herself show fear, but memories of the Helcaraxë immediately swarmed her. Whatever was protecting her cousin, it had a similar sensation to that of the Brittle Ice.

“Makalaurë!!! Kannafinwë Makalaurë!! Maglor Fëanorion!!” she tried to make him snap out of it and stop the storm that his lament was generating. Because, despite the coldness and the howl of the icy wind, she could still hear his still beautiful voice singing his sorrows to the sea. “Wake up!! I´m your cousin Galadriel!! I´m here to take you to your son!!”

GO AWAY FROM HERE…

YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO HERE…

YOU HAVE ALREADY HURT HIM ENOUGH…

ALREADY HURT ENOUGH…

ALREADY HURT ENOUGH…

ALREADY HURT ENOUGH…

Eh? Was there more than one elf with her cousin. But she couldn´t see anyone… but somehow she could sense them. And she could hear their voices. She had misunderstood, then, the situation. Maglor was not the one generating this snowstorm. He was just trapped in it. These elves, these fëas without a hröa that somehow hadn´t ended in Mandos, were the ones generating it and keeping him there. But how? They weren´t supposed to have that amount of power, no elf should have.

“Who are you?” she tried to understand. “Are you his victims from Doriath? From Sirion? Is your anger and desire of revenge enough reason to scorn passage to Mandos and remain here to torment your killer?”

STUPID LITTLE GIRL, DON´T COMPARE US TO THE NELYAR. WE WOULDN´T HAVE FALLEN SO EASY. WE WERE THE FOURTH TO BE CREATED AND THE STRONGEST ONES… AND WE PROTECT OUR OWN.

YOU WON´T LAND A HAND ON HIM AGAIN, YOU WON´T HURT HIM BEYOND WHAT YOU ALREADY HAVE.

WE KNOW THAT YOU DON´T WISH HIM TO REUNITE WITH HIS SON, THAT YOU WISH FOR HIM TO PAY FOR WHATEVER CRIMES HE COMMITTED… AS IF THOSE CRIMES HADN´T BEEN COMMITTED BEFORE BY THOSE THAT CALL THEMSELVES JUST.

Was this spirit talking about Vahayaqueen? She meant… they had all trusted him and believed him an ally and a friend. Her own father had entrusted her oldest brother to him more than once to be educated… but he had always been plotting the destruction of the House of Fëanor. He had made sure that their family couldn´t understand each other, had pitted them one against another with the objective to guarantee their doom. Besides, she couldn´t say Díor and his family were completely innocent either. Not knowing what she knew now.

YOU ARE GOING TO HURT HIM AGAIN, WE WILL PREVENT THAT…

DON´T DARE YOU GET CLOSER…

DON´T DARE YOU GET CLOSER…

WE PROTECT OUR OWN!!

“I´m not looking to hurt him!!”

LIAR… LIAR… LIAR… LIAR!!!

BEGONE!!!

The snowstorm seemed to explode in that moment, nearly throwing both Galadriel and her husband far away. The wind also got so cold that she thought for a second that it would freeze her from the inside out. Celeborn covered them both with his cape, keeping them both on the floor and protected from the winds until they passed. Unfortunately, when it happened, Maglor had already disappeared. She gritted his teeth. How was she supposed to save Maglor if those wraiths (for a lack of another word) got in her way? Wasn´t there something she could use to get rid of them?

Or perhaps she was seeing this the wrong way. She didn´t need to get rid of them if she could bypass them no. But to bypass them, apparently, she had to find someone that doesn´t wish ill on her kinslaying cousin. Hah!! As if that was possible!! The golden lady was pretty sure that there wasn´t a single person in the whole of Arda that didn´t wish ill on the Bard. So many he had killed, terrorized, kidnapped… kidnapped!!!

“That´s it!!” she said with triumph.

“What… Galadriel, what are you doing?” Celeborn asked, also getting up.

“Going to Lindon!!”

“To Lindon? What for?”

“For the only person that wouldn´t wish ill on Maglor Fëanorion and thus will be able to bypass those protective spirits of his.”

“Wha… are you truly saying what I think you are saying?”

“Yes” she answered, getting into her horse. “It´s time for us to concede a wish.”

-Later-

“Lord Celeborn! Lady Galadriel! I wasn´t expecting you!!” High King Gil Galad greeted them on the doors of his city, smiling in a way that made his aunt think of his father. Well, one of them. The resemblance between him and High King Fingon was truly astonishing when he truly smiled. But he had Nelyo´s eyes and stature. “Tell me, what has brought you to Lindon?”

“We only wanted to take care of some things close to here, don´t mind us” she said, smiling at her relative (how do you call the son of your cousins?) “And where is your little protegee hiding?”

“He is not. Elrond, come here” the young peredhel approached. “Say hello to Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn.”

“Hello and be welcomed in Lindon.”

Her gaze landed on the well-known face of her son-in-law… who was not yet her son-in-law. Elrond was wearing a simply tunic of well spun material with a design that reminded her of old Doriath… certainly not something the herald would wear out of his own volition, but better than the red and golden robes that he favored once he reached Aman. Robes that she couldn´t help but think that might fit him better. It was strange for her to mention it, but Elrond didn´t held that much of a resemblance to any of those who were his closest blood relatives, but he did to Gil Galad and Celebrimbor. They all even had the same eyes… it was rare, but not unheard of for an adoption bond to change some physical characteristics in elves. Gildor Inglorion was another proof of that.

“Come inside now, we can talk all you want. I have prepared a small reception for you” the King continued, as he practically dragged his herald inside. A herald that seemed irritated for some reason.

“Can I ask where you have gotten those robes from, Lord Elrond?” Celeborn asked. “I haven´t seen a style like that since Doriath… but the robes I remembered didn´t look like someone had ripped the embroidery off in a hurry.”

“That´s because I did it myself” the peredhel answered. What did he mean by… ah. They had arrived in the middle of another of Ereinion´s plots to make Elrond less Feanorian. Which meant that they were going to be dealing with an irritated and prone to anger Feanorian when they needed his cooperation. Wonderful. “I didn´t like it.”

“It was the symbol of…”

“I know what it is and I don´t like it. I accept the other kind of clothing, but this is way too far”

“It´s your heritage on your mother´s side!!”

“And what do you care about heritages getting ignored?”

Galadriel sighed as they all settled down for tea and sweets, even if Ereinon and Elrond were fighting like cats and dogs. Frankly, this reminded him of a few of the fights Nelyo had with the Ambarussa when they were younger and the twins had done something stupid, like playing a prank on their father. If Elros had been there and the three of them were redheads, it would have been a perfect flashback. Unfortunately, this seemed to be something more serious than a little fight among cousins.

“Excuse me” Celeborn asked, making everybody in the room freeze. And that included Elrond´s silent shadow, Erestor, who always held the peredhel´s tea and food in his hands before passing it to his master. The white stone around his wrist also looked familiar… “Are you perhaps reticent to wear something related to Díor Elúchil?”

“I simply couldn´t accept to wear the symbols of such an individual” Elrond confessed. So he knew what happened, Galadriel thought. Why hadn´t he said anything? But then again, neither had her husband until lately.

“Elrond…”

“Could it be… because of what happened in Brehtil?” suddenly, Erestor´s expression turned dark as well as Elrond´s and Ereinion started to look at his relatives around the room without understanding. Celeborn only smiled sadly. “I thought so.”

“What? What happened in Brethil? What do I not know?” the High King demanded. He didn´t like to be left in the dark.

“It happened back in the First Age, shortly before the Second Kinslaying. It was discovered then that Haleth of the Haladin was the wife of Caranthir Feanorion, as you already know, and that one of their descendants was named Halad. Díor didn´t like it… so he ordered to have the Haladin remaining at Brethil to be exterminated.”

“That… that can´t be…”

“There is more”

Celeborn started telling the sinister history from the point of view of a doriathrim. He told them exactly what those sent to Brethil had done to the descendants of Caranthir, even the innocent and the children, and the reaction of the King of Doriath to that level of cruelty. One of glee. Erestor made some commentaries, as a witness of the spectacle. By the end of the dark tale, Ereinion seemed about to vomit. Elrond wasn´t shaken at all, confirming that he already knew of this.

“I´m sorry I took your clothes this morning” the High King finally said. “I… I thought that I was doing something for you, encouraging you… but I now understand your reticence towards accepting your heritage from Díor Elúchil. And I would be a hypocrite if I were to stop you from renouncing him.”

“We are not the same, Ereinion”

“No, but… never mind” he sighed. “Does Elenammë know?”

“Since when she listens to me when I try to speak about her father and brothers?”

“Point taken” the High King got up. “I will make a servant deliver your clothing in the colors of the House of Fingolfin to you. And I won´t mess with you about your appereance or anything else like that anymore.”

“That would be a nice change, thank you”

“You are welcome, cousin” the king forced himself to smile. “If your excuse me…”

They all watched Gil Galad disappear through a door, probably to his personal studio to try and digest what he had heard during this small chat. They were left alone with Elrond and his secretary, who seemed to not like them. But then again, who apart from Glrofindel could claim that Erestor liked him? The former assassin wasn´t an easy person to befriend. You had his undying loyalty once you have won his friendship, much like his Lord, but he made you work hard to earn it.

“I would like to adjourn this meeting and go change too. If you excuse me…”

“Wait, peredhel” Galadriel stopped him. she was probably being too familiar towards him when they haven´t even seen each other that often in that time, but for her he was her son-in-law and had been for a long time. “We come with a proposition for you.”

“A proposition? What kind of proposition?”

“We know that you are interested in finding Maglor Fëanorion” Elrond´s gaze sharpened with suspicion. Even if it was not a secret that he had tried in the past to find his father, that he had never succeeded was also well-know. Just as much as the fact that no one wanted him to ever succeed. “And we happen to be searching for him too.”

“You? Why would you look for someone you think aptly punished and that should remain where he is to suffer? To never come back to those that love him?” what could Galadriel say to convince him? it was true that she wished those things on her cousin… but now, to change the outcome of everything, she needed to save him. “Say that I believe that you are doing this out of the kindness of your hearts… what could you have that allowed you to find him when I never found anything?”

“That we already found him once”

“What?!”

“It´s true, we found Maglor Fëanorion once.” Celeborn supported his wife. “But we couldn´t approach because he is protected by something that wouldn´t let anyone that had wished him ill close. Something that probably wouldn´t work against someone that loves him… like his son.”

“So you need me to get close to him… to do what?”

“We don´t wish him harm”

“That´s not enough of an explanation”

“Do we need one? Aren´t you going to jump onto this opportunity? We want to save him as much as you do and that is true. Why can´t you accept our help?”

“I didn´t outright rejected it either” Elrond frowned, thinking deeply. “Give me until tomorrow, I will think on it, then deliver you an answer.”

“Thank you”

This was not what Galadriel had wanted. She wished a straight answer given in the few last minutes of their talk, an acceptance. But it seemed that Elrond didn´t trust anyone with the safety and health of his father. Perhaps Maedhros´ death had hit him hard enough to make him extra cautious. In the other side, he was also aware that he needed the help if he wanted to return Maglor to where he belonged. And that he might be running out of time, even if he didn´t want to think about it. It was fine, there was a great chance that he would say yes in that set of circumstances… but…

“Cousin” Gil Galad suddenly reappeared, it was already darkening outside, why was the High King coming to her of all people? They weren´t exactly friends. “Can we talk for a bit? It´s just that… what your husband revealed during tea time hit me hard.”

“I totally understand it” she answered. “It hit me hard too when I found out. My cousin… nothing would make what he did right, but I pity him for what happened. No one deserved that kind of pain.”

“It also made me think… there are many things that I don´t know or I have misinterpreted from the past… and I thought… perhaps you might make things clear for me. To show me…”

“You want me to let you use my mirror?” Galadriel asked directly, crossing her arms. “I indeed have it with me, just in case, but why should I…”

“Because I know what you are planning with Elrond and I promise to not get in your way if you let me use the mirror to clear my ideas.”

“And if what it shows you is not what you want to see?”

“Then I will have to learn to live with it.”

The Lady nodded and pulled her mirror and bottle from her pack. She poured the water into the basin and waited for the liquid to calm. When she was ready, she called for the High King to join her. Gil Galad approached and looked into the reflecting surface, Galadriel by his side. Suddenly, they felt dragged inside. Just as before.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SEE?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEARN?

“What?!!” Gil Galad asked the voice, a known voice for Galadriel, but suddenly they were dragged into a bubble. They both looked around, realizing that they were in the corridor of a what seemed like an ancient fortress. There were soldiers there… Ereinion suddenly realized that Erestor was one of them. And he was chatting animatedly with another that looked somewhat like himself. As their chat finished and the elf go away, the High King was about to follow, but then something happened. The elf that was left behind was suddenly grabbed, his mouth covered and his throat slit. He was not the only one… it was terrible. Both of them almost believed that they were in the middle of the Kinslayings either at Doriath or at Sirion… but then realized that the tapestries on the walls were of the eight-pointed star. And that the attackers were wearing the symbols of the House of Fingolfin.

“What is happening?”

“I don´t know, I… the mirror is showing what you need to see”

“What I need to see? And why would I need to see how the hatred the Feanorions directed at themselves explo…” a tiny figure in the middle of the knights caught his attention there. “Hey, that´s Linnedir. He had been my healer ever since I was a baby in Nargothrond.”

“Did you ever know that he was in… Himring? Amon Ereb?”

“No, I…”

The knights started to move, the healer with them some stopped in the way to battle any resistance from the Feanorians. At the end, only a few knights and the healer entered a room that… were those healers? And Maglor was there too, holding the hand of a figure which laid in the bed. The copper hair made him very recognizable. Maedhros. But it wasn´t the usual Maedhros, who seemed invincible and a great warrior. This Maedhros looked sick and unnaturally pale, his eyes yellow tinted. And he had a prominent belly. Linnedir immediately pushed the healer that was attending what Galadriel was sure was a birth while the knights with him threatened the unarmed occupants of the room. And when the baby got out…

A name was whispered with the last strength of a parent.

Blood painted white sheets red.

A heart gave up as live drained from it´s owner.

A scream in the night as a brother tried to resuscitate his brother with his hands.

And thieves stole into the night… leaving her cousin to die and her other cousin to choose between his brother and his nephew.

And he chose…

They returned to their bodies in that moment, Galadriel looking at Gil Galad. There were tears in his eyes. This was definitely not what the High King WANTED to see, but it was something that he NEEDED to see. The truth of what happened when he was separated from his birth parent. He had believed for so long that Maedhros had abandoned him, but it turned out that he had been lied to. Maedhros didn´t abandon him… he was stolen away. And now he was feeling guilty.

“Ereinion…”

“I need some time alone” he said, getting up from where he was. “Thank you for your assistance, it´s been… enlightening.”

“Do you need me to call Círdan?” she asked, worried.

“Don´t bother him over something like this.”

“Nonsense, he always says that he will be there for you. And right now, you need someone by your side” she grabbed the basin and emptied it. “I´m sure he is going to come here as fast as he can once he learns that you need him. Also think about how sad he is going to be if he learns that you were feeling bad and didn´t call him…”

“Yes… I would like for him to come, thank you” he breathed in and out. “I will head to my room for the night. Good night, my lady.”

As Gil Galad left, Galadriel cleaned the mirror and put it back in it´s place. Then she laid next to Celeborn and tried to sleep. But couldn´t. Her Feanorian cousins had been terrible curses upon this land… but they had also been victims. It made her think that perhaps she had been judging them too harshly. Maedhros and Caranthir… perhaps Maglor too… certainly had endured more pain in their lives than someone would be ablet to stand. The pain of losing one´s child or grandchild… she remembered clearly when Celebrian disappeared, when she thought she had lost her… she wouldn´t wish that upon anyone…

“Good morning” Elrond suddenly barged into the room with the first rays of sun, already dressed to go on a long trip. the couple sunk more into their covers. “I have decided that I agree with your proposition. Erestor has already made arrangements for us to go out with the sunrise. Are you ready?”

“In a bit, get out” Celeborn said. Their son-in-law obeyed. “You know, I prefer him when he is not so eager.”

“The both of us do”

-In the beach-

It had taken some time, but they had managed to find Maglor and his companions again. Galadriel and Celeborn were on the back, trying to protect their eyes from the icy winds that hurt like daggers. They couldn´t even look at it clearly, as their eyes dry. Elrond, for his parent, seemed almost unaffected. How was it possible? He should be freezing right now, but acted as if the temperatures similar to the Helcaraxë were normal ones to him. he tried to reason with the spirits, and these ones understood that he loved Maglor and wanted to see him well and take care of him, but… they were also unsure that returning to civilization was the best for the Feanorion. They wanted him to remain safe…

WE CAN´T ALLOW HIM TO SUFFER ANY LONGER

HE IS FRACTURED, HE HAD BEEN HURT ENOUGH.

WE WON´T IT!!

Elrond seemed to be losing his patience. And yes, Galadriel knew, under the wise elf lord mask that he had build for himself laid a personality with the same short fuse and explosive rage as her half-uncle. Unfortunately for those fëas, that trait of personality was closer to the surface and less restrained when he was younger. Which meant the stage of development he was currently in.

“DOWN!!” the peredhel ordered.

Celeborn and Galadriel obeyed, throwing themselves to the ground. There was a sound she couldn´t recognize and suddenly the smell of something burning… which was extinguished after a few minutes. As the winds dissipated, the elves removed their arms from their eyes and dared to look around. Elrond was in the same place as before, his hand on the pommel of the sword he had brought with himself. There was more ice around him and surprisingly some natural glass. The sinda opened his mouth to ask about it when what remained of the storm dissipated to reveal a malnourished, tired, emaciated, exhausted, battered, ragged, dirty elf with long dark hair. His face… she recognized that face. And so did Elrond.

“Atto” he said, taking a step towards Maglor, who still seemed out of it. Mumbling to himself, the bard seemed to have lost contact with reality. “Atto, it´s me, Elerondo. Do you recognize me? Can you say something?”

“Cousin?” she tried too. “I´m Gala… Artanis. Do you remember me?”

Before he could answer, Maglor suddenly collapsed on the ground. Only the fast actions of Elrond, who dashed to catch him before he could hurt himself with the glass or the ice littered around. He was relieved that he seemed not to have hurt himself with his fall… and horrified by how light the tall Noldor was. Getting him back to health was going to be a hard work.

“Pass me the brown bottle that is on my pack, please, Lord Celeborn” the silver haired elf quickly complied. Elrond opened it with his teeth and made Maglor drink a bit of it´s content before he lost consciousness. “Sugared water, helps to keep the blood pressure up and against dehydration.”

“It´s good” Galadriel said, staring at her cousin in his son´s arms. “He is going to be fine. He has survived so much… he can survive this. Specially with you by his side.”

“Thank you” Elrond answered, cradling his father against his chest. “We should head back, I´m going to need some help threating this.”

“Alright” they helped the peredhel to get the Feanorion on his horse and then mounted themselves. “Back to Lindon.”

-In Mandos-

Formenkal was screaming bloody murder. He hadn´t expected to see THAT there. Nor that it could send him to the Hall without his material body being affected. Or perhaps it had, who knows that THAT THING. But that didn´t matter to him, because he was furious. And he was not the only one. Many of his people had been caught by that thing too and landed here, including…

“Did you really have to insult him so much, Kal?” asked one of them. After he had told Námo his truths, about both the Doomsman and Manwë, he and some of his people had been locked up in the deeps of the Halls of Waiting, where they held those that would remain for a long time, punished for their deeds.

“I don´t care, I didn´t say anything that wasn´t true.” He crossed his spectral arms.

“I never said that, only that it was a stupid thing to do in our situation.”

“Talk to my hand.” He answered as he banged the walls, hoping that there was someone other than his kinsmen to talk to in this darkness.

“Don´t be childish”

“I am not…” suddenly, there was an answer. He immediately got his ear on the wall. “Hello!! Hello, can you hear me?!! I´m Formenkal and I´m trapped here with some of my kin.”

“Well met, Formenkal and company” a voice replied in the same lisped quenya that they all used. “I´m Curufinwë Fëanáro, former High King of the Noldor.”

His eyes widened. Well, this was a surprise. He hadn´t expected to be placed so close to the prison that also held his great grandson and possibly his children. Anyway, this was a good thing. It means that they were not alone. That he hadn´t failed his wife so badly. He will take care of this children… and settle some scores. But first, they have to get out of there. Piece of cake, really. He already had some ideas…

Chapter Text

“Well, it was an eventful journey. Don´t you think, nephew?” Celeborn said. He was ignored by the peredhel in favor of the kinslayer on his saddle. The Lord would be offended by that… if said kinslayer didn´t look about ready to drop dead if a wind cold enough hit him. “Do you think Gil Galad will be accommodating to our… guest?”

“I think you might be surprised.”

Galadriel ended up being right, because the High King didn´t thrown Maglor out immediately. In fact, he was unusually nice. He even set up a room near Elrond for the injured Feanorion to sleep in, much to the courtier´s horror. The peredhel had quickly excused himself to see to the ill, ever the healer. After a slight peek to make sure everything was alright, Ereinion took both her and her husband to a light meal in one of the balconies. They ate in silence… for a while. And while they did so, Galadriel took in Gil Galad once more. She had always thought that he looked just like his cousin Fingon, but as pensive as he was now, she could see some similarities to Nelyo when he was younger… much younger and unburdened. They definitely had the same eyes.

“I hope you realize the predicament you have put me in for bringing him here” the monarch started, looking deep into his tea. “I wouldn´t have allowed it, but… there are some… questions I have to make them.”

“Questions about what?” Celeborn asked. “And there is no one more than can answer any of them?”

“No one came to mind” that was a lie. “Anyway, I will interrogate him as soon as he wakes up and decide if he is to remain or…”

“That would be difficult, considering that his mind is completely lost. At least from where I was standing when we found him, my cousin seemed completely lost to whatever madness overcame him after Eonwë pronounced his final Doom.”

“This… can it be cured? I know that Elrond likes to research these afflictions of the mind, and he must not be the only one… there must be a way…”

“Ereinion…”

“I NEED TO SPEAK WITH HIM!!” the King then realized he had screamed. “I´m sorry, my Lord, my Lady, I wasn´t… I shouldn´t have screamed.”

Galadriel could tell. But she also could tell that… Gil Galad wasn´t being himself. There was something really bothering him, something that perhaps only Maglor could answer… not that he could say anything that made sense now. Whatever it was, it was important enough for Ereinion to allow him to enter Lindon despite his known opinion of the Feanorians and the Sons of Fëanor. Or perhaps that was why he needed Maglor. Because, according to the mirror, he was the only other living person who had been there when IT happened apart from… oh, she saw it now.

“Ereinion, tell me, it´s about that vision the mirror showed you right before we departed?” his silence was enough answer. “Then, why don´t you ask Linnedir?”

“Linnedir? The healer?” Celeborn asked. He had met him once, when he was in the healing tents during the Fall of Angband. “What does he has to do with this?”

“He was the one who delivered Ereinion”

“Didn´t know he was a Feanorian follower.”

“He wasn´t” she turned to the High King, who seemed to be hiding into himself. “Ereinion, I know that you probably don´t want to hear what he has to say, but if Maglor can´t answer your questions… no, even if he can, it would be good to ask him for his reasons.”

“I… he was one of the few constants in my life apart from Círdan… and before that… he has always been good to me… loyal… but if… what… I don´t want to lose him, Galadriel, and I´m sure I´m not going to like his answer.”

“But you need it, at least to be at peace with yourself.”

“I can´t ask him”

“Well then, let me be the one who asks” Galadriel said, getting up from her chair. “Come on, you two, we have a healer to interrogate.”

Ereinion followed her quickly, Celeborn too. The younger elf started telling them that this was a bad idea, but she didn´t stop. She had had it with this. Gil Galad could not get an answer by himself, fine, she was going to have to do everything by herself. Also, something told her that this was important. Like… until she had been shown that, she had believed too that Maedhros had given his son up by his own volition, thinking it was one of his few good decisions in the First Age. But seeing that… not even her kinslaying cousin deserved something like that. So she picked up her pace and, after ordering her husband and cousin to stay behind the wall of the door, she opened it.

“Lady Galadriel!! I… I wasn´t expecting you” Linnedir seemed guarded, even as he changed the places of the jars in his shelf. “You aren´t going to ask me to take care of the kinslayer, no? because I…”

“No, I wanted to ask you about something else” she crossed her arms. “I have found out recently this is not the first time you have crossed paths with my cousins.”

“I don´t recall any other time that…”

“Let me help with your memory. Amon Ereb, the night Artánaro Ereinion Gil Galad was born” he seemed to go completely still. “My mirror showed me what happened that night, Linnedir, don´t try to deceive me. I know what happened that night.”

Sighing, the healer put down the jar. He then faced the lady, his expression completely serious and with a resolve that she had only seen in the Feanorian loyalist. But this person was not one of them. No this was an elf desperately trying to tell himself he had done the right even when deep down he knew that he had done something horrible.

“It was for the greater good.”

“To steal a child from his parent? You could have asked Maedhros to send him to Círdan to keep him from being hurt by the Oath or something like that. I don´t know, at least make sure that he knew his son was fine?”

“And since when a Feanorion could make a good decision?” he said, smirking in a very dark way. “Besides, this wouldn´t have worked unless we completely erased all traces of Ereinion having come from Maedhros. It wouldn´t do if Maedhros repented later or if… if they encountered and he was a loving father…”

“Why?”

“It was the best for all of us”

“The best for whom? Obviously not for my…”

“Yes!! Even for them!!” he showed her his teeth. “Don´t you understand what was on the table with this?! What could have happened?! Do think ANYONE would have given Ereinion a chance to even be King if they knew he came from such an impure bloodline?! Be realistic, my lady, it would have happened the same that happened to Fëanor when…”

“Happened to Fëanor when?” Ereinion asked, finally getting out of his hiding spot. Galadriel was also puzzled. She had never heard that something nasty having happened to her half-uncle, at least not until he finally had to face consequences for his actions. “I made you a question, Linnedir, answer.”

“My King, it was for your own good…”

“I didn´t ask that” he stopped whatever half-baked excuse the healer was going to give him, advancing towards him in a menacing way. Linnedir took a step back. “What happened to Fëanor?”

“I don´t know, only heard rumors… that it was bad” he looked away. “But no one wanted him as Crown Prince anyway, so no one truly put it attention or cared besides Finwë. And the nobility were only waiting for Queen Indis to bear children so they could be rid of him…”

“Wait, are you saying that what happened to my uncle, it happened… when he was a child?” that didn´t make any sense. What could a child have done to be disregarded in that way? If something horrible had befallen the adult Fëanor, she would have called it his just deserve, but as a child… “Why?”

“I already told you, it was a matter of bloodline. It was one of the reasons we couldn´t let anyone know that Ereinion was Maedhros´ son on any circumstances if he was to become High King.”

“Why would his bloodline disqualify me as King? Whatever else he was, he was a son of Finwë, just as Fingolfin…”

“That is not the problem” he breathed in and out. “Everyone in Aman knew that Míriel was marred. That she was a… a…”

“A what?” Gil Galad was starting to dislike this conversation very much.

“A Gnome” he finally answered, then got defensive. “It´s not like I believe everything they say about the Avari and other people who others disregard as Gnomes, but… anyway, what we did was everyone´s good. Like I also said, no one would have ever given you the possibility to access the throne if they had known about your bloodline, so we decided to make sure that no one could find out. And we gave you to Orodreth to still keep you in the line” he turned around and picked another jar. “In the end, it was all worth it.”

“Was it?”

“Of course, just look at you now!! The best High King in the history of the Noldor and I´m sure you are going to achieve more!! You have already proved those people who disregarded those who might have a problem with your bloodline. You might even achieve Fëanor´s dream to protect those people that he tried to protect until he lost his sanity. Those Elrond is desperately trying to protect now.”

“Elrond is…” he swallowed hard. “And how do you think I was going to do that? If I hate my birth father… if I didn´t know of this… were you ever going to tell me?”

“Of course!!” that was a lie, Galadriel realized. Linnedir never intended to tell Ereinion the truth about what happened that night.

“Yes? Were you going to tell me that you stole me from my father´s womb? That you left him there without a care like a broken container because you already had what you were looking for? That he might have even loved me? Were you going to tell me that or were you just going to let me keep believing that he simply got rid of me?”

Linnedir couldn´t answer.

“I see” Gil Galad looked at the elf as if he was trash. And, in his eyes, he was. “Linnedir, I, High King Artánaro Ereinion Gil Galad of the Noldor, hereby banish you from Lindon and all Noldorin territories. You are to leave this city by the end of this day…”

“Wait, are you truly going to banish me?! After all I did for you?!!”

“And never show your face again in front of my or anyone of Noldor birth” he finished, detachedly looking at him. “Now go and never return.”

“You aren´t… being serious…”

“I am”

“But… but it was for all of our…”

“LEAVE!!”

Linnedir stared for a second longer before moving away, presumably to pack his things to leave Lindon. Ereinion deflated and sat down in one of the chairs, tears coming to his eyes. Galadriel approached, awkwardly putting a hand on his shoulders. She was never the best consoling anyone that wasn´t her own daughter. Even Celebrian looked for comfort in Celeborn most of the times, not her. But she offered it anyway and the King seemed to appreciate it.

“Do you think… he loved me?” Gil Galad asked suddenly, looking down at his hands. “Maedhros, I mean… I used to think that the answer was a firm no, considering everything, but with what I just found out… there might have been a possibility… even if he was a monster by the end… perhaps…”

“I don´t presume of knowing what crossed my cousin´s mind on those dark days, but if there was something left of the Nelyafinwë I knew from Aman, then he must have loved you very much.”

“I hated him so much… for abandoning me… cursed his name for that. Now I will probably never have a chance to apologize. Or to find out if he truly loved me.”

“Not everything is lost, Maglor is still alive, no?”

Perhaps they have all been a little harsh with each other. Maybe no one had tried to truly understand one another in her damn family. Misunderstanding after misunderstanding, they had formed a distorted image of each other that led to their dysfunctionality. She hated to see it so clearly now, how much better things could have been if only they had truly talked to one another and not just thrown accusations, not hearing the other´s attempts at defending themselves. They could have avoided so much heartbreak if they had. She was also very curious about that Event Linnedir had told them about. What could have happened to her uncle as a child that might have repercussed into his future in such a way? She was also a little bit mad at not having all the information, as she was used. First, she hadn´t known that Díor ordering a massacre in Brethil had been the catalyst for the Second Kinslaying. Then she hadn´t known about the stolen Gil Galad, about Fëanor´s… whatever… what was happening with her? Suddenly she felt as clueless as anyone else.

“What is a Gnome, anyway?” Ereinion said as he cleaned his tears from his face. “Linnedir never truly explained.”

“It´s a derogatory term to describe people of Avari or… other ethnics of elves that some believe are inferior. Or that plainly didn´t deserve to live.” Celeborn answered, getting out of his hiding place. “Laiquendi never had much of a problem, but the sindar and those from the Blessed Realm…”

“Are you saying that…”

“No… well, maybe? I… don´t know really how to explain it without…” the silver haired Lord seemed unsure. “Anyway, I think you have heard enough depressing things for a day, we should have this conversation later.”

Galadriel sent him a look, but Gil Galad seemed to agree with him.

“You are right” he cleaned his eyes. “Anyway, I needed to prepare for something else. I already sent a message telling Celebrimbor what happened and I guess he is going to come as soon as he received it…”

“But he has Celebrian!!” Galadriel was suddenly worried. Who was the idiot smith going to leave her precious baby with? The dwarf? Last time he had watched her, not that the Golden Lady gave her approval, her girl nearly burned herself on the forge!! “Who is he going to leave her with?”

“I´m sure he can find a suitable guardian until you return” he shrugged. “Or should I write to him again?”

“Yes, do that” Galadriel urged him. “And remind him that no matter what his mad grandfather said, a forge is no place for a baby!!”

“Fëanor allowed infants in his forge?” Ereinion was suddenly curious.

“He kept a crib on a corner of his forge. All his sons and Celebrimbor spent more time there than in the house, as my uncle and aunt didn´t believe in letting nannies take care of the… are you alright?”

“I´m okay, it´s just that… never pictured him that” he got up. “I… I should pass by Elrond´s room to see how he is. And his patient too. Yes, that… it´s almost time to eat and you know how he forgets to eat when he is taking care of patients. I can also order something for Maglor, if he can keep anything down…”

Still rambling, the King left the room. Galadriel and Celeborn looked at each other before following him at a respectful distance. They indeed found him in the room where their future son-in-law was taking care of the kinslayer. Maglor´s condition didn´t seem to have changed a little, but it must have, as Elrond seemed to be taking a rest, a red book in his hands. It was closed for the moment and she couldn´t read the title…

“I wasn´t going to do anything, just… wondered if you wanted something to eat” Ereinion said, nervous for some reason. His herald just watched. “I can ask for whatever you want to be brought here. And something nutritious for him?”

“He can´t have much, not until I have gotten his body accustomed to receive an adequate nutrition again. Broth would be enough. Ask Lendes for assistance if you need. It´s not her usual job, but she is one of the few healers I trust with his health.”

“Understood” Gil Galad even knew this Lendes nís? Maybe not, but Erestor, who was surely already in the kitchens, probably did. “Ahhhh… Elrond… I need to ask you a question that… it´s about Maedhros…”

“What about atya?” the herald was suddenly interested.

“Did he… talked about me? love me?”

“All the time and of course” the peredhel answered with sincerity. “In fact, he had a whole room dedicated to you in Amon Ereb. It was going to be your nursery, but you never used it. And every year on your begetting day he put a new gift there, things you might have wanted at that age… in fact, I have something from there” Elrond got up and went to his room for a second, returning with a white bear toy. “I was going to keep it for my children, but it´s yours so… he put it in your crib when he was still expecting you.”

She recognized that bear. In Imladrys, it was a fixture in her grandchildren’s bedrooms. She had never thought much about it, but now that she knew it´s origin, it was a true miracle that it had survived for so long. What a sturdy toy. And why was it white? Bears were black or brown. Then she noticed that Ereinion had begun to cry over the toy, holding it close to him. What a shame, she was going to have to get a new one for Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen and Elwen when they were born, but she guessed that it belonged to Gil Galad, so…

-A few days later-

Celebrimbor truly didn´t understand Galadriel. First, she hated his family… no, she had hated them since the Age of the Trees. So why in this Eä was she suddenly helping her last half-cousin? He was at loss… but he guess he was not the only one when it came to the Golden Lady. Anyway, he was somehow grateful to her for helping his uncle. Even if he tried not to think about it, he had felt very sad for him and his ultimate fate and wanted to know what became of him, but never had the courage to speak out loud, so…

“He is here again.”

“Another one?”

“Ugh, couldn´t he at least have the decency to stay away?”

He tried to ignore the looks and harsh words thrown his way. Even if he didn´t deserve them, his family had done more than enough damage for him to be mistrusted. He accepted it and bowed to change the image of the House of Fëanor, no matter what his grandfather, father or uncles might think. But for the moment, let´s just visit his uncle and make sure Elrond is not too much affected by his presence. He knows that the peredhil twins thought of the eldest sons of Fëanor as their fathers but… certainly after so long with Ereinion the memories of Eärendil and Elwing returned and…

“Welcome, Lord Celebrimbor”

“It´s a pleasure to be here, your Majesty” the smith raised his eyebrow and then noticed that something had changed in his secret cousin. There was also a red tint in his eyes, as if he had been crying.

Anyway, formalities finished and frowns from the court accepted, Tyelpe was taken to Gil Galad´s solar. It was as ever… except for the bear toy in the chair. It was weird. Weren´t bears black or brown? The strangest thing was that… he remembered having one in Aman too. It was white and it decorated his crib in Tirion. He used to love that bear, but left it behind when they boarded the ships. Was it still with Haruni? He doubted it was the same bear, his had different gems as eyes and…

“I´m surprised that is what caught your attention from all things” Ereinion said, sitting down. “It´s… a nice toy, no?”

“Atarhanno Nelyo had it made for you?” he blurted out, then felt like an asshole. “I´m sorry, I… shouldn´t have said that. I know that he…”

“I… recently found out that things were different than I believed.”

“Who told you that? Elrond? Or was it Maglor?”

“None of them. Elrond has been busy taking care of your uncle and Maglor can´t even utter a single sentence that makes sense” the High King looked down. “He is completely mad, and I don´t mean Oath mad. It´s as if his mind has completely broken in thousands of pieces. From what I gather, he is also seeing things that are not there.”

“I would want to see him” Celebrimbor said. If Artánaro said that the kinslayer was no danger to them at all in his current condition, then he believed him. He was sorry for his uncle, he truly was… even so… “Then who told you.”

“Galadriel. And she didn´t tell me, her mirror showed me the night I was born” he looked down at the bear. “You know that her mirror is capable of showing you things, no? Well, it turned out that Maedhros didn´t renounce me as I believed, but I was taken by force. Linnedir confirmed it later. He was part of the plot to take me from him.” Ereinion looked back at him. “You don´t look surprised.”

“Well, abandoning a child never sounded to me like something Atarhanno Nelyo would do” Tyelpe answered, smiling. “and… the bear?”

“Elrond had it with him. He gave it back.”

“Elrond…”

“Is still the same person as ever” answered Gil Galad. “Oh, but don´t mention Díor Elúchil in front of him. I found out that he was into kinslaying as much as your family members. He apparently ordered a small massacre in Brethil just before…”

“WHAT?!”

“I thought you were in the know, considering that some of your younger cousins died there.”

“No!! I would have said something if I had!!” he was very angry. He had always believed that his family and only his family was at fault for the Kinslayings. To know that the Second had been sparkled because some sinda king decided to kill his cousins… “Why no one told me things like this?! I deserved to know!!”

“Well… you were no longer a part of the House by then, no?”

“It was still my family!! I DESERVED to know!! Especially if someone young and innocent got terribly hurt!!” he tried to calm himself down. “Who told you about that?”

“Lord Celeborn… and I corroborated the information with several others.” Celebrimbor turned around and went towards the door. “Where are you going? Are you already off to see Maglor? I would advice you to wait some more time, it´s feeding time and it´s always messy when…”

“Perfect!! I´m going to talk to Galadriel and Celeborn!! There are some explanations they owe me before I see my uncle again!!”

He practically barged into the room where the Golden Lady and her husband were staying at. Seeing them again made him somewhat… conflicted. Yes, they had left their daughter with him and everything and he loved them for trusting him so much despite his family history, but couldn´t help but feel betrayed by how much they had hidden from him. How were they expecting him to react? To take up a sword and threaten them like his grandfather? What good would that make? Díor Elúchil was dead and gone, probably being punished by the Valar in that moment. If justice existed, then he was given a long sentence just like his family members and would never be a problem again. If even a minimum of it exists, then, if he ever exited the Halls, then he would have learned something. And his cousins… Halathor, Hisleth, Avranc, the other children were resting in peace.

“Regarding that, I am the one who must offer his deepest apologies” Celeborn said after he told them why he was so displeased with them. “Until recently, my wife was not private to this business. I kept it to myself for the sake of my family´s reputation, even if I knew that it was known between the sindar that my uncle Thingol and his family were… were…”

“Were what?”

“They… deeply disliked some kinds of elves… how to explain it?”

“I already know that Thingol disliked my grandfather and the others…”

“It´s more than that” the silver lord continued. “And older than you might believe. According to my grandfather, he began helping them flee his brother, which always would put at odds with each other…”

“I didn´t ask that” Celebrimbor crossed his arms, but Celeborn seemed incapable of explaining whatever he was trying to explain. Then sighed. “Anyway, I should go see my uncle now. Next time we talk, you better have a better explanation arranged.”

He left the room and went towards where Maglor was. Just as he expected, Elrond was there with a book in his hands, softly reading to his father in that lisped quenya that Celebrimbor had tried to forget. He was doing so in a low voice, so much that his cousin couldn´t truly understand him. The peredhel stopped when he noticed Tyelpe there, putting aside the book carefully, as if it was a precious treasure. It probably was, perhaps even from the library of Amon Ereb. Or maybe even older. He was about to ask what it was about when Maglor started humming something. Elrond turned to him, caressing his short hair.

“There, there, atto, it´s only Tyelpe”

“Only Tyelpe?”

“Yes, only Tyelpe. You scared him with your stomps, you know” he turned back to the kinslayer. “Talk to him, I´m sure he can hear you. He is going to be happy to hear you.”

“You cut his hair”

“It was unsavable how I found it” Tyelpe sat down and grabbed his uncle´s skeletal hand. “Is he going to be alright?”

“Physically, I think so. Mentally… you never know. But talking to him, hearing the voices of people beloved to him might help.”

Celebrimbor nodded and started to talk to Maglor, who didn´t show any sign of recognizing him at all. It broke his heart more than he would want to admit. And when he finally left the room, he felt the need to punch something. Was this truly necessary? His uncle had done terrible things, yes, but this was surely something no one deserved. He didn´t know how, but he ended in front of Galadriel´s room. The Golden Lady was waiting for him there.

“Celebrimbor, I know that this is hard to you, but…”

“What you did for Ereinion, could you do the same for me?” he asked, not sure of what. “The mirror, I want to look into it.”

“You… know that it might not show what you WANT to see, no?”

“I´m willing to risk it, so…”

“Alright”

The two went to the same room where Ereinion had his vision and Galadriel prepared the mirror. She offered it to Celebrimbor, who looked into it… WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SEE? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEARN? A voice asked and they suddenly found themselves in a strange place. It was dark, hidden… and someone was screaming bloody murder. Celebrimbor jumped to help, fearing the worst, when suddenly a wail crossed the air. He moved and, in a dark room, he found Curufin, a nís who was clearly a healer by how she handled the newborn babe and a nís…

“A boy, my prince”

“He is beautiful” his father commented, then looked at the female on the bed. “Do you want…”

“Ugh, take that thing away from me” she said in a clearly disgusted voice. “I only accepted to have it because someone could notice if I got rid of it before it was born and because you promised that you would take care of that. So unless you want me to throw it into the trash where it belongs…”

“It´s your son too”

“My son? That thing doesn´t even deserve to be called an elf, not with the mar on his blood.”

Curufin was the one disgusted now. He exited the room, leaving the healer to attend to the nís. He sat down with the newborn in hands, bouncing him slightly.

“I guess it´s just you and me now, little one” he mumbled, smiling down at the infant. The healer exited the other room in that moment. “How is she, Yána?”

“Nearly healed, she will be able to leave tomorrow and no one will know that she just had a child thanks to my healing” she sighed, then looked at the baby.
“My Prince… have you thought this well? You are young and if the worst come to happen… not that I think it would, but… a babe is a great responsibility… wouldn´t it be better if you let someone adopt him?”

“He is my son, my responsibility. And I don´t care if I´m disowned, I will figure…” the little one began to cry. “Ah, what did I do?!”

“He is probably just hungry.” She gave furtive look at the door, as if expecting the nís inside to come in anger. “Give him a finger to calm him down for the moment, until I return with something he can eat. And think about a name for him.”

“A name, hum?” Curufin gave his finger to the babe. “A metal perhaps… silver? Both atar and me like silver… then… Telperinquar? And I can call you Tyelpe to short it” the child suckled on the finger, attempting to find some milk but quiet. At least until he let out another distressed cry. “You like it? Then that will be your name.”

“You better shut up that thing or I will twist it´s neck and end with his misery!!”

“Don´t listen to her, Tyelpe. And don´t worry. Atar is here and he will protect you. He will protect you no matter what.”

They returned to reality in that moment. Galadriel tried to say something, but Celebrimbor was already turning and running away. He didn´t stop until his room, where he collapsed in bed to cry. Why had no one ever told him about that? Why? Curufin… he had to say sorry. He knew it was too late, but he couldn´t… couldn´t lose him forever without saying sorry…

-In Mandos-

Formenkal was trying to figure out a way to escape there while listening to the ramblings of his great grandson, who was complaining about many things, including a certain person named Vahayaqueen that apparently owned a summer house where he had experienced some of the worst times of his life. He wasn´t really paying attention until he mentioned one of the songs he used to perform during the summer festival. It sounded awfully familiar, so much that he was sure that it was one of his own. And yes, he remembered composing that song, but the only ones who new about it were Loss and…

“Can you… describe him for me?” he could feel the ire igniting in his fëa even before Fëanor did so. And even if he was described with different eyes and hair color, he knew who it was. That… damn… damn… “THAT FUCKING TRAITOROUS RAT!!!!”

Námo was thrown from his seat as spiked of ice grew everywhere in his Halls, around him, his maiar were running like mad, not understanding what in the world was happening. Some calmed down quickly and got pickaxes to try and remove the ice. Mandos looked at it strange. Had Lady Avalanche suddenly appeared in his Halls? This doesn´t make any sense!!

Chapter Text

Elrond didn´t know how things ended up like this. First, Gil Galad started asking questions about Maedhros and then he locked himself up in his dormitory for hours to do who knows what and then refused to part with a teddy bear… and yes, Elrond understood that the toy should have been his, probably a favorite even as it had been put on his crib since before he was born, but that doesn´t mean that he had to carry it in his arms everywhere. It nearly made him regret having given it over. And if Ereinion wasn´t enough, Celebrimbor also seemed to have his own gloom cloud. Frankly, it was getting too annoying, specially because the one that should be getting stopped from drinking too much was him, not his oh-so-responsible older cousins… and talking about that…

“That´s enough!!” he said as he entered Gil Galad private solar to take away whatever foul beverage those two were consuming. It wasn´t entirely foul to be honest, the palace only had the most select liquors, but… “Should I remind you as a healer that drinking too much is bad for your health?!!”

“Healers… I have had it enough with healers” the High King drunkenly spoke, still holding the damn bear to his chest. Seriously, what was going on with him? It was almost as if… no, let´s not get to conclusions too quickly. “Linnedir was my healer and he was lying to me!! Lying to me to my face!!”

“About what exactly?” the peredhel raised an eyebrow. He knew the healer in question, he had been introduced to him as a possible master to teach him the healing arts, but he had rejected the offer after a tip from Erestor. And despised him. “Surely not about something concerning your health.”

“Perhaps…”

“How perhaps?”

“I don´t know, the kind of stuff you like? Fëa health?” he somehow managed to take his cup of wine away from the peredhel trying to take it away while still keeping his bear. And talking about the bear again… “Don´t you think he looks like a Mr. White?”

“You drunken idiot…”

“Fëa health… I wish someone had cared about my fëa health” Celebrimbor said, just as drunk as their cousin. Not something unbelievable, he was a notorious lightweight that could get drunk from a single sip of ale… how he managed to befriend heavy drinkers like the dwarves was a mystery to Elrond… but even so. He should be behaving, he was the oldest of their generation. “I wish my atto had cared.”

“Idiots” the herald corrected himself. He didn´t have time for this, he already had a father to take care of, he barely had time to sleep!! He didn´t need two idiotic cousins drinking their brains off to nurse. “Come, off to bed with the both of you!!”

“No!! I want to drink more!!”

“Course not!! You already drank more than… Ereinion, stop that!! Don´t you dare to drink another sip of that!!”

“Night is still young!!”

“It´s not entirely dark out yet!!”

“Mr. Whitey says that it´s already ten somewhere else!!”

“Not here!!”

“Serve me a little more, cous…”

“NO!!!”

So, a fight, a few bottles of really expensive liquor flung out of the window (he will have to repone them later) and a right struggle to put both idiots to bed… both in the same bed so he could take care of both of them before he collapsed on the seat he was going to use as a bed tonight (didn´t have any hopes of managing to get to his own bed that night. Anyway, it was better this way. The chair was comfortable and he was reasonably close to Maglor and definitely close enough to those two so they won´t choke on their vomit). Now, if only they could stop complaining, whining, speaking to a freaking toy or crying like a damn baby, he might find some way to help them.

“Alright, what happened?” they started to talk at the same time, only managing to transmit a limited amount of information… or perhaps just one word. Galadriel. What had happened with her now? “One at the time, please.”

“Galadriel allowed me to look into her mirror” Ereinion informed. “And it showed me something… that Linnedir had been lying to me my entire life. I confirmed it myself later. It turns out that Maedhros never abandoned me, they stole me away from him. Like you said they did…”

“Yes, I already said that I happened to know”

“But have you ever seen it? In Maedhros´ mind or something like that?” the peredhel glared at him. The High King should already know that the parent-child bond didn´t work like that. And he didn´t want to intrude in his father´s private affairs. “Linnedir and those elves I didn´t saw well just… leave him like that… as if he wasn´t even… he would have died if Maglor didn´t let them escape with me!!”

“I already said that I knew…” but he was going to kick Linnedir where it hurt the most next time he saw him. And considering that Ereinion kicked him out of the city, it wouldn´t be fast enough.

“It just hit me hard. What you said after too” he drunkenly sighed. “I had a good father in Círdan, but the reason I didn´t give Maedhros the chance to even get close was because… because he abandoned me. And I hated him for that. Now finding out that it was all a lie and that he loved me… why don´t YOU give Eärendil the chance anyway?”

“Not the same reason, next” he turned to Celebrimbor, less than impressed. “What were you crying about? And please don´t tell me that it was about some other project that didn´t work again.”

“No, it was… it was about my father” now that was interesting. Since renouncing his family, Celebrimbor was careful never to call Curufin any form of the word father in any language they knew. To hear the words atto and father now… “I… I might have said something to him that I shouldn´t have… and now I don´t have the chance to apologize…”

“What could you have said that needed an apology to that cruel old elf?”

“I said something about all good in me coming from my mother. And a few other things referring to her that might have hurt him much” woow, he must be really drunk if he was sharing so much. Whatever happened with Galadriel, it must have hit him hard. “It turns out everything, good or bad, in me comes from him.”

“What? I don´t believe so”

“You better believe it. I… Galadriel let me see in the mirror and I… I saw my own birth… my mother wanted me death before I was even born, it was only the insistence of my father and his promise of taking care of me by himself that allowed me to be born. And she thought it wasn´t even worth the breath I draw… or that I was lower than the dirt under her feet for some reason…”

Elrond understand in a second. So… poor Tyelpe´s mother was one of those, eh? Poor Curufin, what he must have suffered to make sure his son was born. He was already feeling sorry for his uncle, but didn´t let that distract him from the issue at hand. Should he talk to Celebrimbor and Ereinion about the family secret? Certainly not now, wait until they were less intoxicated, maybe wait until he had a small chat with Galadriel first, but…

“I feel awful, Elrond… I feel awful because I said those cruel things without knowing what kind of woman my mother… if I could even call her my mother… truly was. He did his best to raise me, take care of me, be there for me despite the circumstances… I never said that I appreciate all his efforts… and I might never get to apologize now…”

“All around, you did what Curufin wanted.”

“What?” Celebrimbor seemed astonished.

“That you did what Curufin wanted” Elrond repeated, lifting one finger. “Let´s put it in this way. He was going Oath mad and it doesn´t take a genius to realize that you were the most important thing in that cruel old elf´s life” he made a gesture with his fingers. “so, what does he do so you don´t get dragged down with him? He does his cruel things right in front of you so you get scared away.”

“But what if he succeeds?”

“You would have been in the process of renouncing him and leaving anyway, which means that you were going to be safe.” He continued without mercy. “He raised you, surely he knew you better than you knew yourself and was aware that you wouldn´t endure someone capable of staging a coup against his own cousin as a father. You would have renounced him anyway and be safe.”

“So… he did all that to scare me away from him? For my own good?” great, now he was crying again.

“Not entirely, but it was surely one of his reasons for…”

“AND I WAS SO CRUEL TO HIM!! WHY DID I SAY ALL THOSE THINGS?! THEY WEREN´T TRUE TO BEGIN WITH!! WHY WOULD HE DO SOMETHING SO STUPID?!!”

“Why do you ask me? I´m still trying to find out why my own fathers took the decisions they took at the end?” he sighed. “Let´s just say that we are never going to understand our parents and certainly shouldn´t try.”

“Curufin should have talked to me, I could have…”

“Helped? By then, nothing we could have done could have helped them. I needed a lot of time to convince myself and Elros that there was nothing we could have done to… perhaps that´s not entirely true, but if a person sick with any kind of fëa ailment doesn´t want to help themselves, then they won´t get better. Never” there were tears in his eyes. “They have to want to help themselves…”

“Elrond, Maedhros… and Maglor…”

“Let´s stop here. If we don´t, then I´m going to start drinking myself and we can´t allow to leave you two unattended in your state” the peredhel crossed his arms. “Good night to you two.”

“But we were getting to…”

“Good night”

It took some time, but the two drunken idiots finally fell asleep. Elrond settled down for the night on his chair, finally convinced that none of them was going to vomit and choke themselves on their vomit while they slept. He wondered for one last time why he had shared that bit about Maedhros and Maglor with Ereinion and Celebrimbor… perhaps because they were finally willing to listen to him and didn´t try to push Eärendil or Elwing down his throat… or maybe because they were also thinking about parents they now wished they could have helped… or he simply needed an outlet after everything that happened in the last few days and the desperation of Maglor´s current state… he didn´t know, he wasn´t even sure that it had helped, but…

Oh, his head was spinning… he was feeling tired… he needed to take a nap… a short dreamless sleep… yes, that should help…

“Argh, my head” the voice of Gil Galad nursing a hangover was enough to make him open his eyes. Elrond cursed inwardly, it felt as if he hadn´t slept at all. But he had to get up, he needed to take care of Maglor… and the idiots. “Luckily I didn´t vomit over the bear.”

“Leave that bear in your room from now on.”

“You might steal it again.”

“I have my own” he said, putting his hands on his hips. “and the other one is in Númenor with my brother´s descendants.”

“Do everyone in this family get a bear? And why white? Bears are…”

“Not in the far north, where the snow and ice remain the entire year” he sighed. “That being said, are you alright? I can order some medicine for headache or nausea before leaving to take care of Maglor. Or talk to Galadriel, if I find her somewhere on the way.”

“Why talk to her?”

“She can´t just show you something like that and leave you to deal with it like that… it´s simply not healthy.”

“Perhaps, but… weren´t those things we needed to know?” Celebrimbor asked, also awake now. “Besides, I think it´s better this way, knowing this.”

“You were drunk out of your mind and whining half of the night…”

“Or perhaps you want to take a look at the mirror yourself?” Ereinion said, jumping up as if he didn´t have the mother of all hangovers. “Come on, it might be fun!! And give you some clarity over…”

“I have to take care of Maglor. Erestor has been covering me so I might take a nap, but…”

“He can do so for a few more minutes then, let´s go!!”

Why they wanted him to look into that mirror? Certainly not because they knew the kind of things he got up to daily to not only keep the peace in the Kingdom, but to make sure they weren´t all massacred… no, he can´t think about that right now. It might be what the mirror showed them. They wouldn´t understand, might even think that it was all the Feanorian´s fault and that wouldn´t be fair. Anyway, he couldn´t make them see reason. Not even when the golden Lady showed her surprise when they asked her to do for him what she did for them. She asked him his opinion, something she had never done before, so he decided to humor his cousin and brother. He knew that they won´t stop bothering until he did… and he was also curious.

“The mirror will show you images of what happened or what might happen” she explained. “But what it shows is up to luck.”

“I understand”

They all prepared for the ritual. Why was he allowing those two to intrude on this, he didn´t know, but he had the feeling that it would be good for them all. Or that it might give him some peace finally. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SEE? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEARN? The coldness around them didn´t bother him as they navigated the waters of the mirror towards a vision. Suddenly, they were in a place that he had the feeling Elwing would have liked. A woman, almost too beautiful to be real, was sitting down between cushions. She looked… desperate. She opened her mouth and start talking, promising that she was willing to do anything to be with her Beren. Wait, Beren? So this must be Luthien then!! Back before the quest for the Silmaril!! Suddenly she felt asleep and… they were in a different place. And were not alone.

“Why did you bring her here? Not that I don´t appreciate the opportunity to cause some pain to that coward Melyanna…” a woman with long silver hair said. And there was another person… they couldn´t see him well with how much he was shinning.

“Come on, behave. You know that is not what I brought you here for” the third person said, clearly finding the situation interesting. “Now, Luthien, you said that you were willing to do whatever to be with your lover as husband and wife. But you won´t be able to defeat Morgoth by yourself, much less to hold a Silmaril without paying the consequences. You see, darling Hríve here” he signaled the woman. “Cursed her things. You might find the curse… interesting when it starts to affect your lover and you… if you survive the quest.”

“But… but we…”

“But don´t worry, I have convinced her to make an exception… if you accept some conditions, princess.” The person continued, apparently having already think things through. “Including the return of the Silmaril to it´s rightful owners.”

“I only want Beren, I don´t need the Silmaril itself…” Luthien looked at this person. “What are the other conditions?”

“Glad you asked” he extended what seemed like an arm. “This is the contract, as bonding as an Oath in the name of the One, an unbreakable bond between Luthein Tinúviel and Hríve Fesheare until it´s fulfilled, with me, Eru Illúvatar as the broker and mediator!!”

A golden paper appeared apparently from nowhere, extending before them. Letters started to appear on the paper, the terms of the contract, of the Oath Luthien would have to take so she could have what she wanted. ONE, BEREN AND LUTHIEN WON´T BE AFFECTED BY THE CURSE OF THE SILMARIL; TWO, BEREN AND LUTHIEN WILL HAVE THEIR BLISSFUL LIFE TOGETHER; THREE, THE SILMARIL WILL BE RETURNED IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT´S ROLE IN THE TALE OF BEREN AND LUTHIEN IS FULLFILLED TO HRÍVE´S DESCENDANTS, THE HOUSE OF FËANOR; FOUR, A PART DETERMINED BY ERU OF WHAT IS ACHIEVED THROUGH THIS LOVE WILL BE RIGHTFULLY OF THE HOUSE OF FËANOR, FOUR, IN CASE OF BREAKING THIS CONTRACT, THE CONSEQUENCES SUFFERED BY THE HOUSE OF THINGOL WILL BE WORSE THAN THE ACTUAL CURSE.

“I… I can´t…”

“I guess you are backing out right now, just as your coward mother from a fight” Hríve said. “well, have fun trying to dodge my curse or living apart from your lover forever.”

“You haven´t given me your acceptance, Hríve”

“I don´t like the terms, but I can´t say no to my superior… so deal” she put her finger over the paper and an eight-pointed star, white instead of red, appeared. “But I guess that she doesn´t want that boy of hers that much. Pity, he seemed to want…”

“Shut up!! If this is the only way for me and Beren to be together then I´m willing to… to sacrifice anything!! So I agree too!!” she touched the paper, where a purple nightingale appeared.

“It´s done, princess, nothing will get in the path of your true love now. Go and claim what you always wanted” Luthien disappeared into that moment, leaving Eru and Hríve alone. “That girl… I know that love does crazy thing to people, but is she truly serious?”

“I don´t know why you are complaining” the female maia continued. “She wanted love, she will get it. As for what I gain… will they be truly happy?”

“Oh, this surely is going to make them happy. Children of their own to raise” he lifted his hands. “That´s the real price after all.”

“It´s funny. I almost wish Melyanna was here to see it. How her daughter became desperate enough for her love that she sold one of her descendants wombs to birth children of my line” she smirked. “Because that was what you mean with those rules, no?”

“Glad that at least one of you truly understood” he lifted a hand with two white flames on it. “They shouldn´t get surprised later. After all, everything happens for a reason.”

Elrond continued watching the scene, not really surprised. There has always been some weird connection between himself and Elros and Maedhros and Maglor, since the very beginning. Of course, that doesn´t mean everything was well since the start, they were terrified when they were taken and it took some time for them to warm up to them… but there was definitely some weird link between them since even before the Fall of Sirion. Something he couldn´t completely explain or understand… something he didn´t have with Eärendil or Elwing. Not that he thought he could even hope to have something with them, with how the curse must have twisted them. Had anyone even noticed it?

Then the image blurred and they were pulled forcefully from it and towards another mirror. This one showed what could only be the Halls of Mandos. Námo, or at least he thought it was Námo, was there. Escorting the soul of a little girl towards what seemed like… no. NO!! They wouldn´t do that to someone so young!! It was just a child!! But then Manwë pronounced the Doom and the girl was unceremoniously tossed into the Void. What was her crime?! Why did she deserve this?! He couldn´t think… unless…

“It can´t be…” Celebrimbor said, covering his mouth. Whoever was this girl, he knew her. Or she seemed familiar. As all those that were tossed after her, like another girl barely older and… oh, he saw now. They were getting rid of as many members of the House of Fëanor as they could, guilty or not. “No, they can´t be doing this… it´s… it´s not right…”

“No, it´s not” Gil Galad now seemed enraged. “It´s not”

“But why…”

They were suddenly pulled out of the mirror in that moment. As Elrond got up, he saw Celeborn entering the room. He stared at them, apparently trying to say something, but his wife beat him up to it.

“We need to talk” Galadriel said.

“Sure we do, but first things first” Elrond said, lifting a finger. “I need to take care of Maglor. And you better think of a way to stop the Valar from doing what I could only call a tremendous injustice.”

“Elrond…”

“He is right” Celebrimbor stated. “We can´t allow something like that to happen. I know that members of my family could be troublemakers, but from that to deserving condemnation… I can´t live with myself knowing that is going to happen and that I didn´t do anything to stop it. Also I might wonder why… why me and Ereinion…”

“We can talk about that later, for now, let´s focus on making sure the Valar do the right thing despite their uselessness” the golden Lady continued. “I can´t believe I´m quoting my half-uncle or that he was right…”

“Yes, well, wouldn´t be the first time.”

Elrond discreetly left the room, leaving them to their planning. He wished he could contribute, but he had put off his duties as a son for far too long. And Ereinion was a good planner, he surely could pull this out. Celebrimbor too, despite his innocence. With both of the fueled up, he had the feeling that everything will go alright… that he could return to work and focus on what was truly urgent.

“Ah, you are already here, my Lord” Erestor said as he got up from his chair. “Did you sleep well?”

“Not as much as I would have liked” he answered, sitting down in his place. “How was he?”

“Slept all night, but I don´t know if it´s good or bad.”

“Only time could tell, I guess” he grabbed a hand, clutching it between his. “I´m here, atar. I´m here.”

-Later-

“My Lady, I don´t want to leave ye…”

“I know that you have suffered since you lost your husband and that you haven´t found healing this side of the sea. On the other side, you might see him again” Galadriel said to the servant that she had in front of her, extending a couple of letters. “I´m offering to send you with a good sum that will help your family, so you can heal in peace. The only thing you need to do is hand over a letter to Taniquetil… and another if you don´t receive an answer. Send it to my father if it´s so.”

“My Lady…”

“If not, then you can burn it. And don´t worry, the letter has my signature, so if it´s anyone that would be in trouble, it´s me” she explained.

It took some more convincing, but the Lady agreed in the end. She departed the next week for Falas, to board one of Círdan´s ships to the Blessed Realm. The nís kept the missives from the Lady Galadriel close to her. Once she arrived in Aman, she gave the letter to a maia named Olórin, as the Lady instructed, that was working in the Gardens of Estë as many of the followers of Lady Nienna often did. He delivered it to Taniquetil…
And then the history of the maid ended… and the one of the Valar started.

“This is outrageous!!” Manwë screamed after the letter was read. “Demanding the release of someone who committed crimes like…”

“But what crimes did those indeed committed?” Nienna asked, quickly taking the same side as her servant. She never agreed with Manwë´s decision of keeping the Feanorian children who had not sinned at all locked up in Mandos… in fact, not even the Doomsman completely agreed, much less his wife or sister-in-law. Nor with the plan they all knew was forming in his mind. “It´s not their fault that their family members committed crimes. And their fëas were clean compared with even many of the elves that you have allowed to come back. Or punished with much lighter sentences.”

“Are you doubting my judgement now?!!”

“Brother, I have doubted your every judgement since you decided to set Melkor free just because he was your brother” the Valië continued. “And who here hasn´t? It was not only a mistake, it was a catastrophe. For everyone.”

“I… I understand that it was a great blow to your confidence in me, but…”

“If they truly committed a crime, then present it now” Nienna continued to bombard him with her words, something completely unlike the merciful Lady of Tears she usually was. “One big enough that the sentence is deserved. One like the one Díor Elúchil, who you ARE going to allow to return at the end of this Age, committed against them.”

“I… I…” Manwë was at lost words, then frowned. “Fine, set them free. But if…”

“It´s going to be entirely your fault, brother, because you decided to keep them confined just because of who they were related to. And that is not justice” the Lady said. “They would be righteous in their anger.”

“I said that fine.” Manwë crossed his arms like a petulant child. “Set the ones that didn´t commit a crime free, the others can wait until Díor comes back too.” With some luck, they will kill each other quickly and be done with the problem. “Someone send a letter to Nerdanel so she can find us in the entrance of the Halls.”

Námo Mandos sighed and went to the part of the Halls that were reserved for those that will be there for a long time. Or forever, if Manwë had his way. And while he might not agree with the reason behind the decision, he understood precaution enough to acquiesced with Manwë´s decision. But then again… there was one free and he has not caused mayhem… at least not yet… and perhaps he never will. Anyway, it didn´t matter now. He opened the door to the cell to reveal four fëar sitting together. They all lifted their heads when he entered. They had all shed blood, but only one had only ever done so in self-defense. Or defense of their people. He didn´t have the legal or moral bases to retain him any longer.

“What are you doing here?!!” the oldest one said, facing him himself. Brave, but foolish and completely unnecessary. Then again, he was of that bloodline. “If you want to…”

“Calm down, we are setting your brother free” Námo explained. “And you and your brothers are going to be let go when the Age finished. Be sure to be grateful for this second chance.”

“Are we to believe that? That you suddenly want to do what is right by us or to show us mercy?” he seemed to be suspicious. Smart lad. Even so…

“There are two girls that are also being set free, of your bloodline. They have been here since the attack on Brethil and we thought that an older family member there to calm and protect them… one they actually knew…” the other seemed to grit his teeth. “It´s up to you.”

“We…”

“I will go, Silma, don´t worry” the youngest said, getting up and walking towards the Vala. “I doubt they want to do anything to us, at least not bad. They are not happy enough to be planning something like that” just who did this Child think they were? “I will go and take care of the family outside until you join me.”

“If you wish” his older brother took a step down. “And Cenda?”

“Yes?”

“Give them hell”

“Don´t you ever doubt that”

The siblings smiled to one another for a final time before one was escorted out and the room´s door was closed behind him. As he escorted the boy towards where his nieces… grandnieces or something down the line were waiting, he addressed the boy´s fëa. It was as if he hadn´t done any healing, but instead gotten worse. There was a feral fire burning inside of him, much like in his grandfather´s. he was starting to doubt that letting him go was wise, but then again, he hadn´t done anything to deserve punishment. Oh, and one of the girls had a fire burning inside of her pretty much like that… and under all the fear she had inside, the youngest one had the sparks of one burning too. Problems incoming indeed.

“You better behave while you are outside, any transgression could land you back right where you were before.”

“I understand” the oldest said, offering a hand to his nieces. The youngest one took it, unsure at first, but then flung herself into her uncle´s arms, crying… or attempting to cry. “Is there… anyone that is going to be waiting for us?”

“Nerdanel and Mahtan have already come to pick you up” the Doomsman answered. He guessed that this at least would make someone happy. Besides… “I have to admit that she did a great job with the last one. He has stayed quiet since he arrived to the Blessed Realm, even if we thought that he might land himself right beside you sooner rather than later.”

“The other one? What are you talking about?”

“Your grandnephew Avranc… what? You didn´t know that he was here?”

Before he could answer, the boy was showed outside, where Nerdanel and Mahtan waited, looking doubtful and more than a bit scared, along with Nienna. Relief and surprise were obvious on the sculptress´ face… just what did SHE think about them? The boy was also surprised… and cautiously examining his grandmother and great grandfather, keeping the younger girls behind him. He thought that he at least had heard of her, or that they would trust each other immediately. He heard that they trusted each other in that family…

Anyway, that was not his problem any longer. He would work on the souls of the others, but that was up to the rest of them. He believed that they could solve it rather quickly… with hope, without bloodshed.

-Inside the Halls-

“… fucking rat… I´m going to kill him as soon as I get out of here… I´m going to put his innards on the outside and then I´m going to…”

Fëanor was now listening carefully to the monologue full of violence the one that screamed before was spewing and wondering if he sounded like that when he was mad. He meant… perhaps? There was something that told him that it would be a good image to base his assumptions on… and to make him reflect on his actions, the only thing that he had been able to do since arrived to the Halls. Specially after his boys started to arrive.

“Whatever you say, child. You can do whatever you want… but first we have to think about a way to get out of here, don´t you think?” another one said. “Also, there is the question of the little ones… because you aren´t planning to leave them here, no?”

“Of course not!! In fact, I was counting on you to take them home while I exact vengeance!!”

“Sure, but have you asked brother…”

“For me there is no problem” another answered. “You can kill my rat of a son however you want.”

“See, no problem” Fëanor could practically see the smirk. “And soon I´m going to…”

And the rant reassumed. The worst part was… he believed this person could enact it. He only hoped that everybody outside believed that, whatever happened, it was not his fault. But, as he was going to remain inside, this was impossible, no?

Chapter Text

Galadriel finally got fed up of Elrond using Maglor as an excuse not to talk when they should definitely be doing just that. Even after she had confirmed that something was being done about the Caranthir´s babies´ issue (what was done to them in the previous timeline wasn´t right under any situation, she would have done something if she had known, no matter what lineage they belonged to), he continued to avoid them all and spend all his time in Makalaurë´s room. But that ended there. The Golden Lady had had enough after Celeborn finally explained her what the real problem was… and she had to say, it was quite a big problem. She still hadn´t figured out why her spoiled brat of a half-uncle cared, but he definitely did… and Elrond did too. Also, they hadn´t addressed the issue of Luthien and her deal, Gil Galad and his new understanding of Maedhros and Celebrimbor and Curufin. All messes that could have been avoided if they only talked. Frankly, she was beginning to think that the Finwean family was screwed up simply because they didn´t talked to each other.

So, after much thinking, she pressed Erestor into taking care of Maglor for the afternoon, Yárion to take care of the High King´s duties for that time and forced Celebrimbor into a room before he got wasted (it didn´t take much for him to achieve that) along with the others and sat them all down for some serious TALKS.

“I don´t know why you are doing this, Galadriel, I already said that I was fine” Tyelpe said, already looking around for some booze.

The Golden Lady raised an eyebrow. He was obviously not alright in any sense of the word, he was letting guilt consume him. And for things he had said like an age ago to a father that probably had wanted to hear them!! To push him away!! She couldn´t let him wallow in his misery any longer, not when that put him and them all in much more danger, because that made him even more vulnerable to Sauron when he appeared. And they didn´t have much more time before that happened, not when Tar-Telperiën´s reign as Queen, when the Rings of Power were forged, was only two generations away from that of Tar-Anarion, the current one. She needed Celebrimbor in one piece and right now.

“Yes, we have suffered quite a shock, but we are quite alright”

Said the Warrior High King with a teddy bear in his arms!! When had she… where was the Gil Galad she used to know? Was his world seriously rocked up so much by the knowledge that his birth parent had loved him so much? Galadriel had already known for ages that there was no way Nelyo just abandoned his child like that. The elf had been the most maternal out of Finwë´s whole brood of Finwë´s grandchildren, so, if he had truly sent Ereinion away, it must have been for his own good… and his little cousin knew it, even if she didn´t like that part of the family. Anyway, what bothered her was that this knowledge had completely broken the High King´s whole world somehow. She meant… this was nothing like the Gil Galad she knew, the one that stood up strong against Sauron and Avranc in all his madness. She needed the old one back…

“Yes, the booze and toy clearly said that”

And there was Elrond, who seemed to have become himself again. Not himself as she knew him from Middle Earth, the wise elf lord they all thought he had become, but the younger form of the elf she had begun to know in Aman, when he showed himself up at court wearing the red and gold of the House of Fëanor. Back then, they had thought they were doing something good, that they were exorcizing the Feanorian demon from the boy… but her Celebrían had known the truth that perhaps they all had wanted to ignore. The peredhel´s identity was deeply Feanorian and… there wasn´t anything wrong with it. He knew where the limits were. Was reasonable and wasn´t going to pick up a sword to kinslay everyone around him. They had forced him to wear a mask and they all acted surprised when the mask finally shattered like all masks eventually do. Perhaps her Celebrían was right all along and they should have just accepted who he really was.

Unfortunately, it was going to take some work to make them all understand just that. Damn, it was going to take HER a lot of time to understand why Fëanor of all people, the elf who had condemned his own children over a shiny stone, had CARED for the fate of the former thralls… she was beginning to think that she hadn´t known her uncle at all. That perhaps Elrond, who hadn´t even met the smith, knew him more than she ever did.

“I thought you would be happier now that I´m actually interested in Maedhros. You have tried to talk to me about him for centuries and suddenly when I´m interested, you disappeared into a room…”

“I am taking care of my father!!”

“Who Erestor could help you…”

“Not all the time!!” Elrond sighed deeply and suddenly he seemed more tired than ever. Even during the War of the Ring. “There is… when he starts singing, without him meaning, the temperature drops and it could get bad if it spreads. Right now I have knocked him out with a sedative, but I don´t want to abuse it…”

“If it´s that bad, then perhaps it should be better to send him to the Gardens…”

“Be realistic, Celebrimbor, do you think the Valar are going to allow him to enter their territory even if he needs urgent healing?” the peredhel shook his head. “You already know what they were planning to do to our cousins.”

“Talking about them, has anyone thought about what to tell Elenammë?”

No one spoke. Not even Galadriel herself. Why? Because Caranthir´s daughter was kind of a wild card. On one side, she was pretty much like Celebrimbor himself and had renounced her father when the Second Kinslaying occurred… and she was pretty sure that the girl didn´t know what had happened in Brethil too or she would have been right besides Moryo only to give Díor Elúchil a taste of his own medicine… and was a calm one, strange when talking about Feanorian females, but she could be quite the spitfire when she was angered. And she was going to get angry.

“Another good question, are the Valar going to do that to me when I reach Aman? I mean… they wanted to put an end to the madness of the House of Fëanor” Tyelpe asked. It was a good question, but Galadriel already had an answer for…

“NO!!”

“Why?”

“Because they couldn´t get away with that?” Elrond opened his mouth. His very cutting mouth, Galadriel had already learned. “They could get away with the others because they were kinslayers and peredhels, no one would have questioned if they were thrown to the Void and the others could have died a mortal death, but you…”

“Full elf and too well known as an honest person for them to do that to me. My grandmother alone would ask questions…”

“And the House of Finwë would have too, which was too much trouble. So they will have to endure you… and Ereinion and me” Galadriel stated. She was not going to allow something like that. Never. “Probably Elenammë too, if she ever decides to go to Aman.” She would, she accompanied Celebrian in her journey. “but let´s concentrate on something else for the moment.” She stared at Celebrimbor, who used to spend lots of time with her half-uncle as a child and even more with Curufin. “Have you ever heard about why your grandfather cared about former thralls?”

“I don´t know, seriously” the future Ringmaker said, shaking his hands. “I didn´t even know that he… cared about something that was not the Silmarils…” he looked at his cousins, but Gil Galad was as much as a lost. As for Elrond…

“Because he was one of them” the youngest answered, very seriously. “A descendant, to be specific.”

“That would make the whole line of Finwë descendants of former thralls and according to Celeborn and Linnedir, that wouldn´t have…” Galadriel stopped herself when she saw the way her future in law was looking at her. “Ahh, Míriel´s line. Is that why he insisted that it was important? Because his mother was descended from that kind of bloodline?”

“More than that” Elrond smirked. “She was the daughter of the Silver Sword, the greatest hero among the community and author of the only successful massive escape from Angamando and leader of a resistance militia in the North” he had switched to quenya at some point, a very traditional quenya that was making them very nervous. “He was half raised by his grandparents before Indis came…”

“You know, despite his narrative, my grandmother wasn´t the harbinger of all his problems…”

“But she contributed” Elrond suddenly retorted. “It is well-known amongst the community that she brought troubles…”

“The Feanorian followers told you all of that? Don´t you think they were a bit… biased?”

“Biased or not, there is historical evidence that she brought some troubles. Both for him and for the community in general.”

“Like what?”

“Like banishing the pro-rights activists from court supporting the conservative faction that was bigoted in most for public posts and other government positions, including the treasury, which made it financially difficult for him if Finwë hadn´t given him money himself…”

“So… he was Crown Prince but he was poor?” Ereinion asked.

“No, Finwë made sure that he had enough money for his family, but not for many of his projects… so he used his skills as a smith to achieve that”

“I remember that my father once mentioned that he was selling his works in auction houses. He thought it was an elaborate joke and we all knew that he had a wicked sense of humor…” Galadriel mentioned. “But if he was in need of money, why didn´t he ask…”

“Would you have asked for money from your rivals?”

“They weren´t his rivals, they were his family.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes” she said with all the certainty of someone that had lived that history. And perhaps she should have known that smug smirk of Elrond´s didn´t augur anything good (but the Feanorian followers had to be biased in some way, no?). But she had to defend herself and her family.

“Even Indis?”

“She always tried to make him accept her!! She wasn´t his enemy!!”

“Then why don´t we take a look at your mirror now? It should show the truth… like it showed it before.”

She shouldn´t have accepted. Specially not after she found out so many truths that twisted the reality she believed she knew… but she wanted to much to show that her grandmother was the innocent part on that mess, more when Celebrimbor and Ereinion had certainly began to doubt it. So, despite Celeborn´s misgivings, she guided all of them towards the mirror. The Golden Lady wondered if the ice maia from before was going to interfere again or if she was going to leave her alone for a time. That woman had more than one thing that reminded her of her insufferable half-uncle and would want to avoid seeing her for a time. Anyway, she used the mirror and, for once, her wishes were answered as the maia´s voice wasn´t heard. But Galadriel could swear that she must have had a hand on where they landed, because the first thing she saw was a person so alike to her that it took a time for her to realize that the person was a male. And in whose company he was in.

“I know you have some… preconceptions about me and my husband… also that they wouldn´t be exactly inaccurate, what it´s said about us” the silver haired male said as he stared at the terrified young Queen… or was she still just a princess? “I also can´t say that I´m happy with your presence here, especially with what it means for…” the hands of another dark haired elf joined him. “But we are prepared to accept things as they are. For the sake of our grandson, we are prepared to leave whatever feeling we have on our daughter´s fate behind. So please” he bowed in front of her. “Please, work with us to secure our Fëanáro´s happiness.”

“I… I will have to think about it… excuse me” Indis practically fled the place. Her lady in waiting was right behind her, putting a hand on her shoulder when she reached her lady. “I… I didn´t thought it would go like that… I… I really thought that I would die… but they didn´t seem like bad people… at least, I think they aren´t going to kill me in my…”

“My Lady, I know that you don´t want to believe it, but they are monsters in elven disguise. Is it not known that they have shed elven blood? It was a dark day when the Valar allowed them to enter this Blessed Realm, to mar it with their deeds and blood…” Indis opened her mouth to retort. “It is not my wish to insult the prince or the late Queen Míriel and the little prince, but those two… those two are monsters and I wouldn´t want you to be subjected to them. Didn´t Lord Vaháyaqueen warned you about them? Didn´t he said that they didn´t even cry when their daughter died? Only a monster would be so insensitive as they burry a child of their own while their eyes remained dry.”

“But they care…”

“They say they care, but we both know that words can say something and thoughts another” the Vanya lady continued. “You know that if you let them remain near you, you will never be able to sleep in peace. Your children with the King will never be safe…” she grabbed her mistress´ hands. “Don´t you trust Lord Vahayaqueen? That he will always do what was best for you?” Indis nodded. “Then you know what you have to do. Not only for your sake, but for the sake of your future children.”

Galadriel wanted to murder someone. And perhaps to slap her grandmother into awareness. Because… seriously, how did Indis expected Fëanor to even like her when she expelled his beloved grandparents from court? That was an impossibility. As the events progressed and it showed Telenmacil´s leaving from court, with him and his husband being carted away without being allowed to say goodbye to their grandson, Artanis believed that her haruni was delusional. She also suspected foul play, because if that rat Vahayaqueen had been whispering into her grandmother´s ears, then there definitely was. That fucking… he was the reason her half-uncle detested her grandmother!! She was going to…

But then the scene changed again to Fëanor reading something, a letter apparently left in a hurry by his grandparents in a “secret place” he had. Galadriel shook her head as she read it over his shoulder. The letter urged him to be strong and… what kind of council was that for such a young elfling?!! Alright, she understand that they loved their grandson very much and probably wanted him to survive, but they were practically asking him to turn into a paranoid!! And people still wondered why his half-uncle was like that… but then, the scene turned much worse. As he left the “secret place”, Fëanor had been attacked by a bunch of Indis´ servants from Valimar, including that Lady in waiting from before. And by attacked, she meant… Galadriel had to cover her mouth with both hands to prevent herself from screaming from horror. It… it was a child… and this… this… on the other side, it also explained why he never removed the top side of his clothes, not even in the forge. His back must be a mess of scars, specially a big one, the word GNOME carved right on the middle. She didn´t know how it ended, perhaps because her uncle knifed the one holding him still and ran, but next thing they knew, Fëanor was in his bed, laying and bandaged, and in the next room, Finwë screamed as his new wife, more enraged than ever. And Galadriel understood. If something like that had happened to Celebrian, then she would have acted the same. They followed Indis as she announced to her household that they were all to return to Valimar and leave her service. She then handed over recommendation letters.

“I´m sorry this is the littlest I could do for you… you have been so loyal to me and my family and Vahayaqueen told me I should be thankful with those that are loyal” Indis smiled at her lady. “I´m especially sorry for my ladies, I know you were promised something else when you accompanied me here. And I´m sure you haven´t had anything to do.”

“Of course not” that same lady had been laughing when Fëanor´s back was torn to shreds. Galadriel felt her blood boil when she saw her… “Lord Vahayaqueen would be very proud of you, my… your majesty” that vermin again. “I will go now, good luck.”

“Thank you. And please thank my uncle for always having my back.”

“I will” she turned around. “I will”

The Queen turned around and exited the room, only to see Runawë there standing, his eyes showing nothing but disdain. They stared at each other, only for the knight to turn around and left the place without even acknowledging the Queen´s presence. And if Runawë had seen this, they could all be sure that Fëanor would know. His sworn shield was the most loyal dog he ever had, and he had always thought little of Indis… perhaps this was the reason.

The image banished as the mirror stopped showing images. Elrond was triumphant and Galadriel… Galadriel was livid. That vermin Vahayaqueen had surely been smart, whispering in Indis´ ear to make her the enemy, Fëanor´s enemy. He had been the one that manipulated his family into the broken thing it was. Well, perhaps not the only one, but he had played his part and Galadriel would be sure to return the favor. And she was sure that the House of Fëanor, what remained of it, would be more than happy to help her in that. Specially Elrond, who could be vicious when he wanted… or Avranc if she was feeling particularly bloodthirsty. Then they could think about what they could do with the little communication problem they had. One step at a time.

-In Aman-

When Nerdanel was called to the Halls of Mandos, she feared the worst. That her Makalaurë had died and they were going to throw her husband and children to the Void. To have a grandson and great granddaughters of hers returned was not. And now she didn´t know what to do now. She meant… the house she had shared with Fëanáro and her children was practically desolate now. Filled with statues and memories and her prayers… it had been briefly returned to life by the presence of Avranc, but returned to it´s crypt like state once he had left for Egla. It can be done again, but…

“Everything is going to be alright” Mahtan promised, grabbing her hand as they were driven through Tirion, to the House. “You know that I´m going to be there for you, no?”

“Yes, thank you, atar” she hoped that was enough. The young children that were with them were surely going to have it hard. They were pilled up in a corner, with the oldest practically standing on watch, too alert… whatever they had lived, it had marked them. Just as it marked Avranc. “Have you… kept some of my dresses from childhood? I wish I had something for the girls, but… I had only boys.”

“I might have something on the attic, but I´m not sure if it´s going to fit them. Both the girls seem to have different body types to you.” The smith moved his head. “I might have a few fabrics too. Moryo asked me to use the attic as storage for the things he couldn´t take with him to Formenos, some of his works might still be there.”

“Thank you” she answered. She stared at her grandson, who stared back but remained silent. The other two also did… all the way. Nerdanel took another breath to calm herself down. Everything was going to be alright, she just had to have faith…

When they arrived to the house, she served them a light dinner… or probably the only thing that newly returned people could stomach. Cenda seemed to take to that much better than his nieces, eating two shares and making a heroic attempt to keep the contents of his stomach down. She could tell he wanted nothing more than to vomit, even hours later, but he needed his strength for something. She only wished that with time he learned that this was a safe space… at least the House, because Eru knew how dangerous Tirion could be for someone of the House of Fëanor.

“Here, I found some sleeping wear” Mahtan announced when he returned. “It can fit the girls while we find something more permanent. Are they…”

“I offered them Ambarussa´s room and Cenda Moryo´s, but I think they might change rooms in the night. They didn´t seem very comfortable separated…”

“They are going to get used to it eventually” her father assured her. “And talking about urgent things, I also found some clothes that might fit them. Good that I never get rid of old things, no?”

It was indeed an old collection of dresses, from a time she had nearly forgotten. A childhood as happy as most of her marriage was, before the fucking Silmarils appeared and turned her husband into a madman. On another side, it was not only the dammed stones´ fault. Her dear brother-in-law Nolofinwë had his own shared of the fault, just as Fëanáro did, but she was entirely sure that the elf hadn´t acknowledged this, unlike her husband. Frankly, she should just bar the doors of her home to him. If only Anairë wouldn´t cry to her if she were to do that to him…

“Here” she handed over the clothes to the girls. “We might need to make some adjustments at the seamstress, but they should serve…”

“I can make the adjustments myself” Cenda offered. “Atar taught me how to work with fabrics, I only need the implements and thread and can make the clothes myself…”

“Sure… but I think that you should take it easy for today” she extended another bundle to him. “Moryo´s old clothes should fit you well. You seem to be a little bit smaller than him, but fixing that should be no problem.”

“Really, I can…”

“I have some of Moryo´s fabrics too, you can start working with them tomorrow. But for now, you should take it easy” she knew that newly reborn were not exactly at their most sturdy, their bodies too weak to handle too much work or nutrition. It will take some time until they were strong enough to carry on with their lives… and perhaps that was a good thing. “Come on, sleep. You need to get stronger.”

The girls did as they were told silently, even if they didn´t seem convinced. Cenda either, he seemed too alert to be able to lay down and sleep, but… there was nothing else to do for the moment. Besides, he might achieve just that. It had been a very long day for everyone, they all might be in need of some rest. Nerdanel returned to her study for some time after she left the three of them left her, to let work wash away the nervousness she was feeling. As she worked on a statue of Maitimo, she wondered what she was going to do. She had always prayed for the return of her family, of her sons, of something of them, but when the dream actually came true, she was at loss. She already knew that the Hither Shores would make them different, that any grandchild that came to her was going to come with that baggage, but she still didn´t know what she could do about that. Perhaps she should have talked to someone, some kind of expert. Like that healer that threated Fëanáro once, the one that worked in the Gardens… yes, she might have some useful counsel. She would contact her tomorrow, for now, she could focus on this…

Too bad her usual skill as a sculptress seemed to be failing her now, because she couldn´t focus enough to make the sculpture as she remembered. Her firstborn as she knew him, as the elf she might never see again, only what remained of him… she blinked the tears away and walked out. It seemed that she wasn´t going to do any work today. As she crossed the family wing, she passed Moryo´s room. She stopped herself when she noticed that her grandson was not there. Where could he have gone? The redhead started to search around, only to find him on the Ambarussa´s room, watching over his nieces.

“Cenda?” she asked as she quietly entered the room. The boy didn´t even look up from his work, the knitting needles moving in a way that was very well-known to him. And to her. “What´s the matter? Did something happen?”

“Heard them screaming in dreams… wasn´t sleepy and they asked me to stay, so I did” he continued moving his hands. “Found some yarn and knitting needles in atar´s old wardrobe, so I decided to do something. I was going to make a scarf for each of them, but…” his eyes watered. “I was a toddler when my mother died. Uncle Nelyo and atar practically raised me, they… I have never been on my own before. I mean… I was the youngest, never been without atar, or uncles or older siblings… it´s strange to be in charge in some way now.”

“You are not alone, pityo, you have me and my father… and your nieces. They are also going to have your back, just as you have theirs” Nerdanel put a hand on his shoulder. “and perhaps this might not be long? Your older siblings might join you soon.”

“Yeah, right. Eru only knows when Elenammë is going to Sail and the Valar insisted that the others remain for the rest of the Age.”

“Then you will see them again” she was eager to meet her other grandchildren. And would keep on praying to have her sons back. “Perhaps you might want to tell me something about them. Maybe… even of your mother?”

They spent the rest of the night talking over the moving of a quill over paper (in some point, she had gotten some to write everything he was telling her) and the one of two knitting needles as they worked on the yarn. Nerdanel smiled as she heard about the grandsons and granddaughter she had never known. Silma, the oldest, who by some twist of fate inherited both Tyelkormo´s charm and silver hair and Carnistir´s talent with mathematics and fabrics. The twins, her son´s twins, who were silent and dangerous, intelligent in a way that seemed dark… but that were also great at gathering of information that saved the family many times. And at operating a loom. Elenammë, the only girl, who didn´t like how good she was at fighting and wished that her talents were less warlike… even of Haleth, who Moryo had kept alive in the memory of their younger children over cups of milk, cookies and knitting right in front of the fire. It sounded so much like something she herself had done that it brought great relief. The sons she had known and raised were still there. No matter what others say, there were still there, deep down the elves they had become.

An ear-splitting scream interrupted her thought as Narië started trashing in front of her as if she was fighting an invisible opponent. Cenda acted quickly and woke her up before the other girl could be affected, but it took some time for the crying Narië to return back to sleep. She held her the entire time, as she had done for her great grandfather after a nightmare. A few minutes later, she did the same for Eteminië when she woke up. They were both talked in a strange language, but easily changed to quenya when they were awake. Their uncle seemed tired too, but unable to sleep… she had seen symptoms like this before. But what was happening here? Hadn´t they healed in Mandos?

“Not at all, the Valar didn´t think we were a priority when it comes to healing” Nerdanel wanted to have a word with Námo in that moment… or with Manwë, because he surely had a hand on that. And he was still salty over everything her husband had said about him, many of them truth. “Just like justice for us is not a priority of them… or wasn´t until someone wrote a letter, I don´t know who.”

“Hummm” she frowned. “What do you mean by that? Please, tell me the whole history.”

A few more hours later, Nerdanel could fear her anger boiling in her blood. And for once, that anger wasn´t directed towards her husband. Yes, she was still angry at Fëanáro, and, while she might stay angry at him (she still loved him, but that doesn´t mean she could be angry), the Valar were not entirely innocent on the whole mess. And, considering what they had done, they utterly deserved her wrath. They were going to feel it, oh, yes. Soon, they were going to feel the wrath of a person that was feared even by Fëanáro himself. In fact, she was pretty sure that she was the only one that could make her husband tremble like a leaf…

“You have gotten up quite early, my dear” Mahtan said, surprised to find his daughter putting breakfast so early. “Did you sleep well?”

“I didn´t sleep at all” she answered, cracking a glass vase with the strength of her hand. “You know, atar, I´m starting to believe that Fëanáro was perfectly sane when he yelled at Manwë that he was an idiot.”

“What…” he looked at her in complete astonishment. “Please, tell me you aren´t going to do that.”

“Don´t know, I have been considering it.”

“Nerdanel…”

“Tell that calling Manwë a bloody idiot would be a lie” he was silent. “Exactly”

They ate breakfast quietly. Nerdanel was pretty sure that her father thought she had turned mad now, but she was feeling pretty sane. And happy for once. She extended the fabrics for Cenda to use. He was pretty much like Moryo when he was designing clothing, much more than his nieces. Poor little Narië was just a silent shadow in a corner when he wasn´t measuring her. And Eteminië… well, she was angry. Angry and afraid, in a way that was very familiar to Nerdanel. That made her afraid too…

“I think that I should add this to the skirt, just to make it a little bit livelier. I know that we are probably not going to go anywhere any time soon, but…”

“NERDANEL!!! WE ARE HERE FOR TEA!!”

The sculptress nearly cursed. During the first few years after the loss of her husband and children, Nerdanel had become such a recluse that her sisters-in-law had taken to come unannounced to see her, take tea and made a mess… all in the name of cheering her up a bit. It was sweet of them and really annoying… but she had survived thanks to that. They had kept it up, despite of Eärwen´s tight agenda as Queen, and changed spots of reunion with time. It was great… but this certainty was not the time!! She was too busy to entertain them now!!

“Haruni…”

“Shh, I will take care of…”

“Nerdanel!! Why weren´t you… ups, we are interrupting something?” Anairë asked when she noticed the young ones and the amount of fabrics in her living room. The girls practically tried to banish into the wall, Cenda putting himself between them and his aunts. His face was hostile, especially when he saw Eär… fuck!! “Didn´t know you had guests. And guests that resemble… Who are they?”

“I was going to send you a letter cancelling tea time for the foreseeable future, but I must have forgotten with how busy I have been since yesterday…” she bit her lip. “This is Cendafinwë, my grandson by Carnistir, and Narië and Eteminië, also Carnistir´s… they got out of Mandos just yesterday and… it´s been madness.”

“Oh, I understand. When Irissë came out was…” Anairë moved a hand. “Don´t worry, we will leave you to it. Eärwen and I will find other way to entertain ourselves while you and the little ones get used to this. Eru knows that you need someone that does more than sending letters after he fucked off somewhere like Avranc did” it was not what happened. “Well, we will be going. Come, Eärwen.”

“Sure, but not without ushering an invitation for you to come introduce them at court” the Queen said, making the redhead go still. The court… no, that was a terrible idea. “In a month, maybe? That should be enough for them to be able to eat something that is not lembas diluted in water or milk.”

“That´s a great idea” Fingolfin´s wife said before Nerdanel could say something else. “We won´t take any more time, I know how busy it is when a relative returns and you are not ready. We will reschedule the tea time for later!! See you!!”

Both women left. Cenda slowly lowered the quill he was using as a weapon.

“Avranc really did that?”

“No” she would have to explain what really happened later.

“Then can I write to him to tell him about the recent events?”

“That might be a great idea” perhaps… or perhaps not. No one truly knew with that boy, not when he reacted in the most explosive ways.

-In Mandos-

Formenkal was losing his patience. He had been trying to find a way to escape that dreadful place of Námo´s with his family and people, but nothing seemed to work. No genius song or thing he could have ever… and the worst part was that he would have been able to!! If only he had Loss´s or Hríve´s help… or even just his wedding present…

“What do we have here? A genius wallowing in his misery?” that voice was known.

“Helcaraxë, I wondered how the traitors managed to do something like tormenting my descendants, but I guess the mystery is solved now” he crossed his arms. He had the gall to look guilty. “What? You thought I would never mention it? You, who were most loyal…”

“It was never my intention, but that´s not going to be enough, so… peace offering?” he produced a small metal box, which he opened. Formenkal´s eyes widened; it was… “You know what to do?”

“Yes, I do” he smirked, cradling his wedding present. “I do.”

Chapter Text

Elrond was cleaning the still cracked hands of his father when Erestor loudly opened the door to announce the Lady Elenammë had returned. From where? He wasn´t sure. She seemed content to disappear from time to time, to leave the House of Fëanor and the legacy of her father behind… and the peredhel was sure that she still believed he had been a hostage to her (previously beloved) uncles that was too traumatized to recognize it. Which wasn´t exactly a problem, as it was what everyone else believed, so long as they kept their opinions to themselves. Unfortunately, she wasn´t that kind of person. She tended to be even more annoying than Ereinion in that front… that awfully she wanted to believe that her father and probably brothers were monsters?

“I don´t want her in here, she will have to wait until I´m…”

“… what were you thinking?!! Leaving him alone with someone that caused him so much damage?!! Are you insane?!!” Elenammë just barged in. Her eyes landed on Elrond, showing concern. “Elrond!! Are you alright?!! Has he done…” she then noticed Maglor. Or better, the state he was in. “Is he…”

“No, he is not fine. His mind is completely and utterly broken, can´t even tell what is reality and what is not” he answered, grabbing her by the arm. Not that he was going to be able to move him, the girl was stronger than a Balrog. If she put her foot down… “Anyway, great to see you. If you excuse me, I have my hands more than full with taking care of my patient, so please…”

“Wait, patient?”

“Yes, I´m training to be a healer” even if he already had enough knowledge to a fully trained one, even if he lacked the practical experience. Thank you, Ereinion. “Maglor is my patient.”

“I´m sure there are more than enough qualified healers to…”

“Healers that might not left him to die out of spite?”

“Even so, you shouldn´t be exposed to…”

“Alright!!” Ereinion stopped his cousins before they could get into a fight. He had finally let his bear go… or perhaps he didn´t want it in danger around the one woman vanguard squad… a woman who hadn´t lost her touch since the First Age. “Maybe we should cool our heads a bit. Elenammë, please come. Lady Galadriel and I have some things to talk to you about.”

“What could be more important to keep him away from his kidnapper?”

“The reason why that´s not needed.”

Elenammë was confused at first, then concerned. Hadn´t they all agreed to make that the best for Elrond was to recover his identity? To have as little contact with the Feanorians as they could allow? She meant… they already knew that they will have to endure Erestor, it was part of the deal they strike with him after all and the former assassin was quiet at least… but they needed to make him remember who he was!! Not the elf her uncles´ tortures had made him into…
Which is why she was so shocked by the news delivered by her cousins and Lady Galadriel. It was just that… she couldn´t understand… that bit of information was surely not in the Leithan which everybody sung… and she found everything a little difficult to believe. She meant… she had once loved her atto and her uncles, also her brothers, sure, but… that doesn´t mean she was a Feanorian apologist like Elrond. But… at the same time… she had always believed there was some information she was missing on the Second Kinslaying. Her father had spoken against it just a week before suddenly changing his opinion, coincidentally during a time when she was out on patrol, and siding with Celegorm and Curufin. Caranthir had also looked more than a bit unhinged during those times, so… perhaps she had missed something…

“I want to see it”

“What?!”

“That mirror, I want to use it too. And Galadriel can´t deny my request. She did it for you all, even for you, Celebrimbor. She doesn´t have a reason to say no to me.”

And the Golden Lady didn´t. Elrond didn´t know she could be so cooperative. He watched as she prepared her mirror to show them something. He had sedated Maglor for the procedure, knowing full well what a disaster could there be if he sang that state, both for him and for those around him. As the minstrel slept quietly, he walked to where the mirror was. Why Celebrimbor and Ereinion interrupted whatever was in their agendas to do whatever Elenammë wanted, he didn´t know. With him was enough.

“Alright, we are ready” Galadriel said, turning towards the other woman in the room. “Are you sure you want to do this? You might see things you won´t like.”

“Do you think I don´t know that?” she asked them. “I heard from Eönwë what happened with Avranc in Aman. I actually thought that he might be as mad as my father was, that they both were monsters and that if I didn´t even see my nephew, my brother´s grandson, ever again was fine… but if he lived through something like that… perhaps there was a reason why… maybe there is something that can be done for him.”

“Healing trauma isn´t that easy, Elenammë.” Elrond mentioned. “An injury in the fëa can be even more difficult to heal than a gruesome physical one. And the consequences of one could last for the rest of one´s life, mortal or elf.”

“Elrond, if you truly consider yourself my cousin, then you will let me do this” she answered, seriously. “I need to do this.”

“Suit yourself”

“Are we ready then?” Galadriel asked, pouring the water into the basin. It stabilized and turned into the mirror like surface that she was used to. Elenammë confidently walked to the front and peered into the mirror. Suddenly they were all dragged in again.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO SEE? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW? WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LEARN?

Those words again. He wondered if the ancestress was the one manipulating the mirror. Surely, at first she wasn´t. Melian, Melyanna, was the one that taught Galadriel to use the water mirror like that, she surely wouldn´t have wanted her protegee to call for the help of a maia she distrusted or outright hated. When had the Ice Queen hijacked the mirror? How had she achieved that? He wasn´t sure what happened to her, but her power hadn´t been present in that world since Utumno was standing. Why now? How? Elrond had so many questions that weren´t answered yet and he thought that would never be truly answered. But if she was moving now… perhaps he should too?

In that moment they were thrown into the middle of a scene. A dark-haired young man was walking through a forest, covering an injury on his side. His eyes… ah, a peredhel. Avranc, if he was being concrete. He looked… young. Already an adult, but young. The usual ponytail style he wore when he donned the armor of the Caranthir Corps, like now, was half unmade. As he practically dragged himself through the woods, he heaved deeply. When had he injured himself? Or been injured by someone else?

“Oh, Avranc” Elenammë said as she followed her nephew towards a group of houses. “This is definitely Brethil, but I´m not sure the sindar…”

Her words died in her mouth when Avranc reached a very known to her. Or that had once been very known. Near the Hall of the Chieftains, in a small circle of trees, where her mother had long ago taught her the language of the Haladin… there were the corpses of several of her family members. Halathor, some of his children, even her youngest brother. Pinned to trees, pierced by arrows… it had not been a clean death. And they surely had put on a fight against their captors. A group of elves that wore armors in a clear doriathrim style. The only one alive, and barely, was Hisleth. Avranc´s mother. But even if she were to be rescued by a miracle, it was obvious that she didn´t have long. And her frozen son knew it. Or perhaps he was just paralyzed by fear. Elenammë covered her mouth in utter disbelieve and horror. The sindar… the sindar has truly murdered her family. Her father… her brothers… why had she not known? Why had she not been there?

“You don´t know what you are doing” Hisleth practically forced herself to say. Then her eyes landed on the small figure hiding behind a tree. “My boy…”

“Shut up already” one of the elves grabbed a small lance with a note on the other end and pierced her through the chest. It was pretty much like the history of Finduilas, only that Hisleth´s was never as famous. “The king will be pleased, we already finished there. Now back to…” they were suddenly on alert. “What is that?! Is there someone still alive?!!”

“Search!!!”

Avranc moved, keeping to the shadows like any good assassin would. And he was good, he was a pretty good one. But the sindar were more and fully elven. Even if he had elven blood himself, he wasn´t as quiet as an elf. As he tried to evade the detection, he was grabbed by a hand from the darkness. He was about to fight when he recognized him. Sagroth, it was Sagroth. The old Halad shook his head, looking at the sinda soldiers near. Besides… he was hurt on the leg. And as a full edain, he never could get away unde…

“Go”

“Wh…”

“Shhhh” he covered his mouth. “You are much quieter than I am. I will win as much time as I could so you can get away from this forest alive. Go to your great grandfather in Amon Ereb, he will protect you there.”

“I´m not leaving you here”

“You are much more important than I am. In you, the blood of the Chieftains, the blood of the Lady Haleth, still lives. You have to live, Avranc. Live and make sure our people survives with you.”

“There are others…”

“And they will also have to survive, just like you” the edain pushed him away. “Please, go now. Go to Caranthir and warn him of what happened him. Tell him… avenge us. That if he really loved the Lady Haleth, then he will avenge us.”

Avranc escaped as Sagroth prepared himself to fight the sindar. The vision ended with the death of the man, the loyal man, giving his lord enough time to flee. Elenammë was frozen in spot. She had… she had never been informed about this happening. Perhaps… perhaps by her own fault. When she returned from her patrol, the Kinslaying plan was already on the move and she had a screaming match on the morality of that with Caranthir. She hadn´t practically let him talk or… anything, really. As the image shifted to show the arrival of the Caranthir Corps to the site of the crime, she heard the screams of her closest family members. Why? Why hadn´t she let them explain? Why hadn´t she been there for them, at least for this moment? Such an unfilial daughter she was…

“Atar…” Lanya approached their father, tears still in his eyes, as his twin did the same to Silmafinwë. They had lowered the corpses of Halathor, Hisleth and Cenda so their parents could cradle them as they cried. But… it was still not safe. “Atar, we have to leave…”

“We need to bury them”

“Atar…”

“I´m not leaving them without a proper burial!! We need to send them off, send them all off in the proper way of the Haladin. It´s what… what your mother would have wanted.” He was still crying. “Please”

The twins didn´t seem very happy… or convinced that it was a good idea, but then complied. As they buried the corpses of their kin, Cenda and the others near the grave of Haleth, her father planted a hand over his wife´s tombstone. He gritted his teeth as he whispered his love to her again. And then the words that would doom Doriath once and for all.

“I will avenge you” he declared. “They won´t get away with this. On my honor as a prince of the Noldor and your husband, I promise it. Díor Elúchil and all of his people will pay for what was done here. I will bath in their blood before this is over.”

As he was saying this, Silma was putting the corpse of his daughter on her grave. Elenammë noticed with curiosity that her niece´s eyes were open. What…

My boy…

The voice of Hisleth sounded around, making them all look around for her. But the only thing that happened was that they were somehow dragged into her eyes. And suddenly they were standing in a beach along with a young edain woman that was wearing a simple white shift. It was Hisleth herself. She seemed pale and tired, but she was still standing. She also didn´t seem to realize where she was. But Galadriel did.

“This is Aman… I recognize it, my grandfather hosted many picnics here when we visited, so we could enjoy the sea” she said as Alqualondë also came into view. “He said that this was the first place he saw after arriving to the Blessed Realm.”

It was a beautiful place, but it soon became less beautiful when they saw Avranc there, dagger in hand and panting. His eyes seemed full of hate. As he tried to kill Elwing for something her father had done, Galadriel sighed. Elenammë wondered if her nephew was truly lost, if Díor managed to turn him into a monster just as he did with her other family members. The attempted murder was stopped soon, but it was made apparent that Elwing really thought that what her father had done in Brethil was right. The daughter of Caranthir clenched her fists. If she ever saw that spoiled little princess herself, then she was going to feel what it was to be attacked by a Feanorian truly. And this time nothing she could do would save her.

But the vision didn´t stop there. It was like a fast forward of what seemed like completely unrelated events… events that followed her son during his life in Aman. The Gardens of Estë, where he couldn´t find understanding or healing. Living with Nerdanel and Mahtan in the stifling Tirion, which only contributed to the hate he felt for Díor and those that thought like him. Being sent to some relatives on the countryside, the grandfathers of Fëanor, and travelling around some zones in Aman filled with those like himself. Finding some healing in family and those like him… until that same person came to dash it again. And then… memories over his eyes as he prepared a funeral.

“You don´t have to work so much, you know” Varilëedur, silver haired and steel eyes in the door of his forge, crossing his arms as he made yet another sword. “We have survived with what we have several Ages, we will survive more. And I would hate to see you hurt again. I already lost so much in the altar of this fight, don´t want to lose even more.”

Narétardur´s screams as Díor executed his husband in plain view in a terrible way, pining his corpse to a tree much like he did to Hisleth and stealing his silver choker, a work form Fëanáro without doubt, and showing it to them all with a twisted smile on his face. The hate that seemed to ooze from him as it was revealed that Varilëedur´s corpse was not the only one pinned to those trees.

“Sorry, I´m just not used to have people interested in my craft. Have you ever worked on medicinal herbs or the kind before?” Narétardur asked as he moved things from their placed in the shelf. “Or with poisonous ones?”

The way that elf seemed to turn dead inside after the death of his husband. And none of the present could blame him, as he had surely suffered too much. It had definitely been enough. The image changed to one of the same elf on the ground, choking on his own blood as the screams of despair and pain filled the air. But, for some reason, he didn´t strike at them as a victim of the same plague. And when they noticed the bottle on his hand, they were sure. This wasn´t an injury or a sickness, this was…

“Do you think I will see them on the other side? That I will be judged as an abominable kinslayer and be thrown with them?”

Suicide.

Nothing was clear since then. Only that… a veil of something had taken over his view. And it was not only grief, but… but…

“My citizens… no, my brothers and sisters in this pain!! You know what is like to be in fear, in pain, to lose… who has asked justice from those that should have deliver it to us but has turned their backs on us!! Aren´t you tired!! Should we always be the victims?!! No one is going to help us, the Higher Powers too busy coddling the murderers of our brothers, sisters, mothers and father!! They have killed reowned heroes… what keeps them from going after anyone else!! And more… they are demanding their victims´ fëar to be thrown into the Void!! And the Valar are considering it!!” perhaps they had already done so. “I´m only a peredhel, but I share their blood. Weak compared to them, but I share their determination to protect us. I ask here who is willing to come with me to not only avenge my family, but avenge our people. I´m willing to go alone if no one wants to come with me, but I ask you again… WHO WANTS TO JOIN ME?!!”

The cheers around were deafening. And Elrond realized. Hisleth… had the ability of foresight just like Elros had. She prophesized that this would happen. That if they continued down that path, this is where it would have ended. As Avranc entered the house that had been his ancestors´, followed by Gwindor and others that had been his commanders, he glared at the Feanorian banner that was hung there.

“I need a new banner and the golden star should be covered in the mourning of our people” he continued. “Besides, black is more my color. Just like it was my great grandfather´s.”

Black… dark…

“Morinennar” Hisleth said as cold wind that even them could feel started to blow. And that meant…

They were suddenly expelled. It was over… for now.

-In Aman-

Eärwen was enthusiastic. And more than a little bit happy. Not only because of Nerdanel finally visiting the palace again after the disaster that was Avranc´s introduction to the court. She missed her dear friend so much and hoped that having more descendants than someone that would fuck off to the wilderness never to emerge again would cheer her up. It had certainly brought more life to the house, it doesn´t feel as much like a mausoleum anymore. The Queen also hoped to get the girls integrated to her own entourage. They could become ladies in waiting to herself… or at least the older one, because Narië seemed a little young. And their uncle seemed to do good as an accountant, they could find him a place in the economy department or the Mint. Surely they would appreciate the help…

“Eärwen? Is everything ready?” Arafinwë entered her room with a smile on his face. She returned it, then dismissed her ladies in waiting and servants. He had been equally as happy to find out that some of his brother´s descendants were being released from Mandos, even if Fëanor himself would have to remain. He had always wanted to patch things up between his family. He had tried with Avranc, but he seemed hostile to everyone around him that wasn´t Nerdanel. And glared at his wife as if he hated her.

“Of course, darling” the Queen answered her husband, smiling. She grabbed his hands. “What? Nervous?”

“I… only want to avoid the mistakes from last time.”

“You and all, darling, you and all”

Last time… had been an utter disaster. Avranc had frowned the entire introduction and refused to wat even a single thing from his table. He had dressed himself in what they were booth sure was one of Fëanor´s old robes for court, repurposed for the occasion. He also spoke in the old Feanorian quenya and, when Arafinwë offered to give him a tutor so he might learn the new way, he deepened his frown in such a way that one might think they had just offended him. After some other unmentionable events, the royal couple decided that it would be better if they remained far away from him. Even so, they kind of felt sorry for Nerdanel. They knew she had hoped that he would remain with her… so this time they couldn´t make a mistake. They had even sent clothes made by the royal seamstress to them in preparation for their introduction. And prepared a schedule.

“So… everything prepared on your side?” Eärwen asked, already expecting a good day.

“Of course” he answered with a bright smile. “First the introduction, then a reception with some important nobles and a family lunch. I extended it a bit and, taking advantage that Eärendil and Elwing are in the city, I prepared a small private tea time for them, so they can know each other and talk. I think they can become friends with time…”

“I think you are rushing, my dear, but I trust you” and will be there to stop whatever disaster that brewed, she added in her mind. She wanted everything to be alright and she thought that perhaps with time both parties would be ready to leave the bloody legacy of the House of Fëanor behind, but… “I have one last thing to check before heading out for the Throne room, why don´t you go before me and get a last minute check?”

“Of course”

As the royal couple parted, Eärwen had the sensation that there was something they were ignoring. She sighed, wondering if this was going to be as much of a disaster as the one before. The Queen shook her head, she couldn´t begin this relationship with such negative thoughts. She was decided to start it with the right foot, to become their aunt… it should be easy now that Fëanáro was not there to remind them that Nolofinwë and Arafinwë were only his half-brothers… it had not worked on Avranc, but that one seemed to have inherited Moryo´s personality with a sprinkle of Fëanáro, so… she bumped into someone. A nís… perhaps even from a noble family. At least that was what her clothes suggested.

“Your Majesty!! I´m sorry, I… I didn´t…”

“No worries” Eärwen smiled at her. “It was my fault for not seeing where I was going. By the way, I don´t remember seeing you here. Tell me, don´t you come very often? Why are you here then?”

“I… no, I had barely returned from the Hither Shore… and… well… I was one of your daughter´s ladies before coming here. The Lady herself encouraged me to do so” the Queen´s eyes widened. Nerwen, this was a friend of her Nerwen. She wanted to talk to her, to know everything about the daughter she still had to recover… but now… now… “My Queen?”

“Don´t worry, I was only thinking about my daughter” she smiled again. “I don´t have time now, but perhaps… would you come have tea with me later in the week?”

“It would be my pleasure, your Majesty” she bowed, then realized something. “Oh, and before I forget, I brought with me a letter from the Lady Galadriel for her family. She said that I could decide if giving it to you or not… so I´m giving it to you.”

“Nerwen… sent a letter?”

“Yes, here”

Eärwen nearly tore it out of the nís´ hands. She didn´t care how shot of time she was, this was the first time in centuries that she had news of her daughter, less a letter written by her, so she tore the envelope open and unfolded the paper. As she read, her expression changed from one of happiness to one of horror as she assimilated the information that was put in there. Her girl hadn´t conveyed good news… but if they were true…

“Excuse me, I need to go”

Problems, they were in huge problems. If what Artanis said was true, then they couldn´t possible join the descendants of Fëanáro and the ones of Díor, at least not without a conversation with both of them. Besides, this information she had conveyed… it could explain a lot of things. Perhaps Avranc´s reaction to her was not because of… anyway, she needed to stop Finarfin´s plan before something terrible could happen.

“Ara!!!!”

“Eärwen? What…”

“You have to cancel the tea!! And keep Elwing from here!!!”

“What are you saying, Eärwen? I was only trying to mend…”

“Díor ordered his elite troops to massacre the people of Brethil!! The Haladin!! It was how Cendafinwë and the girls died!!” Arafinwë´s look of disbelieve was her only reward. She extended the letter. “Look. Artanis sent us this letter. It has all the information you need to realize that this is a bad idea.”

The King took the letter more because his wife said the name of their daughter than any other reason, but had the same reaction as them. He immediately nodded and sent orders that the tea was cancelled. He spoke to one of his servants before to keep an eye on Eärendil and Elwing in case they showed up and went to his throne, his Queen by his side. The herald announced the arrival of Lady Nerdanel and the young lord and ladies of the House of Fëanáro… they entered in that moment. And the clothes they were wearing… they weren´t the clothes that were sent to them. Definitely not with all those golden stars and the browns and greens that he didn´t know where had come.

“Welcome, nieces, nephew. We are all glad that you are here” obviously that was not something the other nobles were feeling. In fact, their faces seemed to have soured when they noticed what they were wearing. “I have to say, I didn´t expect you to arrive in such a way. Tell me, weren´t the clothes sent to you to your liking?”

“No, your majesty, but an unfortunate accident seemed to have befallen them before they reached us, as they were in rags when we opened the packages” what?! What had happened?! He himself had made sure they were in perfect condition before the seamstress sent them away. But the boy didn´t seem to be lying. “It´s okay, I was already sewing some clothes for me and my nieces, so I could make something fit for court.”

“I´m glad this incident didn´t escalate then, and I´m going to have some words with the courier that was supposed to deliver the clothes. It´s such a great disrespect towards royalty not to take good care of something we entrusted to them.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“You might call me uncle if you want”

“And I think we should show proper manners in such a public occasion, your majesty”

Finarfin seemed cut. It was one of his half brother´s word games. A way to tell him that he was not truly family to him because they had a different mother. He looked at the girls, but the younger one seemed too occupied watching Eärwen as if she was a monster and cowering behind the other, who openly glared at the Queen. Could it be… that someone told them that Díor was responsible for their deaths? His wife and the imprisoned sinda king were cousins, but that doesn´t mean… anyway, he should continue. He couldn´t let things go downhill anymore. Things couldn´t go worse, but…

PAFF!!

“Such a nice party and I wasn´t invited!! So sad!!” Avranc entered after the guard that had apparently been kicked through the door. “Hope you don´t mind me crashing in here. After all… we are all family.”

Finarfin gulped. His estranged (many times removed) nephew had clearly hurried to get here, putting more weight on the information Artanis´ letter had supplied. He also looked a bit different from the last time he had seen him, perhaps a little less awkward... and dustier. His travelling clothes and packages were dirty and with barely something to eat or drink. He probably hadn´t slept either… did he truly think that Finarfin would screw up that much? Yes, he was about to do it, but he didn´t have the right information…

“Of course we are” Eärwen smiled at the newcomer. “Avranc, dear, we would have postponed this party so you could come at a calmer pace. But no worries, you only have to freshen up a bit, no?”

“Earw…”

“Don´t worry, Nerdanel, dear. In fact, could you send someone to your house to bring something more appropriate to wear for Avranc? I´m going to escort him to the bathing house, so he could clean himself up a bit before rejoining.”

The young peredhel didn´t seem to agree with that, but he had to comply. As he bathed, Eärwen wondered if she still made him nervous. She never thought about that, but perhaps she and Díor shared some similarities. They were family members after all. Before she could ponder on that too much, Avranc walked out of the bath with the best clothes he had brought with himself. Which was strangely not bad, considering the fine quality of the fabric and the embroidery. The only downside was that it was of an old style, but… that kind of gives him an air to Fëanor, who had an easy elegance no other child of Finwë had, that she didn´t think it was a bad thing. At least, not for the moment. As he sat down in front of a mirror to arrange his hair, she approached.

“Do you want…”

“No” he pulled it into a simple ponytail, with a few hairpins adorning the knot. “It´s not to be offensive, but I would prefer it this way.”

“Is it… because of what Díor did? In Brethil?” Avranc looked at her sharply. He obviously hadn´t expected her to know, but… he wasn´t upset. “I would want to apologize for…”

“Why? It wasn´t your fault” he sighed. “Look, I´m not going to lie and say that I didn´t dislike you back then, because you did. In a way, you reminded me of the sinda knight that killed my mother in front of my eyes” she lowered her head. “But you aren´t him. I was… still too affected by that. And I needed time away from… this.”

“Fair, I guess” she answered, liking that he felt better. “And now?”

“I still despise most of the people, but you not so much” he said, sincerely. “Which is why I live on the countryside with relatives and not here. I still think that I should show those I despise a “gift of my appreciation” most of the days. Or something worse.”

“Relatives? Mahtan has relatives there? I thought…”

“Oh, so you don´t know? Anyway, that´s not my secret to tell. You should ask Indis if you want to know” he got up, caressing something that he was wearing under his robes. His pair of daggers, she guessed, the ones he never lets out of his view. “I´m ready, so let´s get back. I don´t trust your husband to keep Elwing away from my family. I would hate to have to clean the blood from that encounter, you know.”

He seemed to be awfully confident that his uncle and cousins would emerge triumphant in that encounter with the part maia peredhel woman. Or that she would try to confront them in some way. Unfortunately, he wasn´t mistaken. Before they entered the banquet hall, Eärwen found Arafinwë trying to break an argument between Elwing and Cendafinwë, who seemed to be looking at each other with strange expressions. She seemed triumphant and prideful, while the other seemed… angry, but also cold. And the air around them… it was weird… smelled weird too… as if the spring collided with something cold…

“Why should I feel ashamed? My father sent our men to get rid of an infestation, a plague that had settled near our borders” she said, completely sure of herself. Both the King and Queen realized with horror by her words that… she knew what her father had really done. And she was proud of Díor for that… Eru, what had happened there?

“Elwing, Cendafinwë, please, this is a party. Don´t talk about such delicate things here.”

All the Feanorian and Elwing´s eyes landed on the King, glaring. And all of them had… very strange eyes. Anyway, they could label this family reunion an utter disaster too. This time Avranc was not at fault… and neither were the others. Even Nerdanel had a dark look in her face now, promising that she will never come back to visit… and it was all Elwing´s fault. Eärwen wondered what in the world Eärendil saw in her. And why was this family cursed like that. Surely they weren´t still Doomed, no? Considering what Nerwen had said…

-In Mandos-

“Atar, what are you doing?”

“Trying to listen through the wall, Nelyo, the neighbors are planning something.”

“Atar, we have talked about this before, your paranoia is…”

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!! All the Feanorions and their father looked at the hole in their wall, through which a strange group of elven fëar appeared, one wearing what looked like a shinning earing in one ear.

“Alright, only one more” the earing wearing one said, smirking. Fëanáro shuddered. He didn´t know why, but he had the sensation that he was going to get blamed for this. He just wished that his boys weren´t blamed too, because if not…

Chapter Text

“There is something that I need to show you” Elrond suddenly said, gaining the attention of everybody around them.

“Alright” Ereinion said as he pushed away a pile of papers on his desk. “Do tell”

“Not now, idiot, but later. In the afternoon” he explained raising a finger. “I… normally wouldn´t do this, as I have kept it to myself for a long time… also you and Celebrimbor and Elenammë don´t seem to have the required respect for our House´s legacy” his steel cold eyes managed to make Gil Galad shudder. “But the last vision managed to show me that, perhaps, there are some things that should be addressed and explained properly” he smirked, showing all his teeth in a way that actually scared his cousin. “Today at dusk? Perfect, do bring our cousins, would you? And bring clothes fit for smallfolk, I won´t want to cause a scene.”

“What scene?” the High King answered before returning to his work. A work in which he could barely concentrate in. “Don´t tell me… you want to take us to one of those shady bars you frequent?! Why do you think we would want to go to such places?!!”

“Well… let´s just say that it´s going to be an eye-opening experience” that toothy smirk… if he didn´t know better, he would say that it was exactly the same as Celebrimbor when he thought a new invention. Perhaps it indeed was…

As Elrond left the room, Gil Galad sighed. The recent events had made him reevaluate everything he thought he knew, specially concerning the House of Fëanor. And it was just that… when he heard from Celeborn about the treatment of former thralls of Morgoth and their descendants and the like… it actually made him feel that his grandfather had an actual reason behind everything he did. Also, it made him a bit scared about what he was going to find out in Aman, because, apparently, it was the same there. Or worse, now that Thingol and his ilk were there. He also felt the sudden need to punch Finwë in the face. He meant… how could a parent, or a king, not inform his children of something like that?! Specially when it concerned one of his sons?! No wonder Fëanor eventually exploded!! If he ever saw that idiot of a former High King… well, he would have to get in line and conform, because after Galadriel finished with her idiot of a grandfather, there would scarcely be a remainder.

“At least there will be alcohol” Ereinion said as he wished he had the beverage, any beverage of the kind, with him in that moment.

Unfortunately, the end of the day couldn´t arrive soon enough. He was unable to focus on anything any of his advisors put on his desk, not even the simplest of paperwork. Yárion seemed exasperated and, for some strange reason, fond as he kicked him out of the office and told him to return with a clearer head. The High King wanted to ask, but then he realized that it was probably only him reminding the old elf of his father, Fingon. Or perhaps… as the days progressed, being compared to Maedhros or even being told that he inherited something from the redheaded kinslayer had started to perk his attention instead of sending him on a rage. He started wondering if maybe… they could meet each other someday? He meant… surely with Maglor alive, the Valar wouldn´t have thrown the Feanorions into the Void yet, no? Ereinion would be very surprised if it was so. The rage from that would be enough to send Elros back from among the dead, cursing and threatening as he did when he was alive. And, considering that he hadn´t heard any… was there something more badmouthed than a sailor?... from Númenor or around, they must still be in the Halls of Mandos… thinking about Elros made him think and worry about his twin again. Also about whatever he wanted to show him

“That peredhel surely knew how cuss” he said to himself, smiling softly.

“Elrond?” Galadriel asked as she entered the room with a paper in her hands. They were drafting some sort of letter of warning to the Valar about the Silmaril Eärendil currently held and it´s dangers… something they would have done sooner if Elrond or SOMEONE had mentioned that it was cursed before.

“No, Elros” the golden lady stopped herself for a bit. Considering she knew the peredhel in question a bit and had heard him cuss, it was a fair reaction. “I remembered him suddenly, thinking about… Maedhros…”

“Maedhros?” she said, confused. Never in all of his years (or even when he was in Aman, in the granddaughter of Finwë´s memories) had he ever expressed a desire to know more or even meet with his birth father. “Ereinion, do you want to meet him?”

“Is it that obvious? Or strange?” the High King answered, then lowered his head a bit. “It´s only that… I was always so angry at him for abandoning me. Many of my hurtful feelings for him were because of that. And since learning that he didn´t do it, but I was taken… it´s made me curious for the first time since I was a child.”

“Guess so” she sat down in front of him, then poured two glasses of wine. “I doubt you can meet him very soon though” the lady was as unreadable as ever. “Would you… want to hear some histories about when we were children in Tirion?” he lifted his head so fast that he actually hurt his neck. “I thought… you might want to hear them. Considering…”

“You know what? I want to”

They spent the rest of the afternoon talking to each other. Gil Galad couldn´t remember ever having spent so much time with Galadriel, let alone having enjoyed spending time with her. She was this ancient, unreadable old elf… but as she told him about the time he helped Fingon or one of his brothers or many cousins to steal some eggs from their aunt´s kitchen or cakes from the palace kitchen (Galadriel swore that she never did it herself, but Ereinion was sure that it was lie. Well, not completely. Finwë probably knew and allowed his grandchildren to take what they want from there), he started to see her as more like an aunt. And Maedhros… he became more real. Not the battered old warrior and kinslayer he had seen merely once in person and only heard about, but as a person. As his… parent.

“He would have been such an amazing father… if only they had given him the chance. And if he wasn´t bound by that stupid Oath…”

“To be fair to him, I think that he was. If not to me, to Elrond and Elros” Gil Galad answered, finishing his wine. “I… envy them a bit for seeing and enjoying that side of him. For being able to feel his love…”

“Ereinion, he loved you very much, that´s a given” Galadriel assured. “Never doubt that.”

“I don´t doubt that, but… I think I killed him in the end” the golden lady seemed like she didn´t understand. “I said… very hurtful things in the end, poured all the hate I felt for the last kinslaying and something that wasn´t even true in the end” he gritted his teeth. “You should have seen his face, Galadriel, I see it in my nightmares now. It was I that sent him to desperation and drove him to…”

“No” she stopped him, putting her hands on his shoulders. “Maedhros… my cousin was already too far gone. Even if you haven´t done that, he would have ended it. It was… inevitable by that point. The peredhil also wouldn´t have been able to change that…” she stared at his eyes seriously. “And he wouldn´t have wanted you to blame yourself for his suicide. It was his own hand that ended his life, he was the only one responsible for that.”

“I still…”

“It was HIS decision, only his” Galadriel finished. “You shouldn´t think like that. Elrond and Elros either, none of you were at fault.”

“Funny that you mention them” he said as he stared at the window. It was already dark outside… shit, he had to meet with Elrond and the others. “Elrond said that we need to see something. I think he meant only the cousins, but you and Lord Celeborn should come too… for some reason, I think that you might benefit of it too.”

“If Elrond wants…” there was a history there, Gil Galad could tell. When had Galadriel and Elrond even started to talk to one another? He didn´t remember any occasion they had coincided since the armies of Aman departed, let alone talk. “But I agree, we might finally find out what he has in his mind.”

The peredhel in question didn´t seem very pleased to see Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn in the group waiting for them, but didn´t say anything beyond to make sure that they kept their hoods down. As they traversed the city, Ereinion noticed that he has been here before. More than once, in fact. All those times that he went to pick up his wayward cousin from one of the places he liked to frequent.

“Please tell me you didn´t stage this all up to get drunk at that shady bar…”

“Keep your voice down, we are nearly there” the younger lord said in a form voice, making the High King obey him. Just as he expected, they ended up at the bar from before… but there was something strange about it. He could tell by the amount of security and watchers that were outside. They only managed to get in because Elrond was with them. He seemed… pretty respected around those parts. “Here”

“Are you not going to ask for some drinks?”

“No, we are here to listen. It turns out that this is a place of congregation for members of the community… community of Gnomes” he smirked. “Here you can find anything you want, from protection to healers and food. All to support yourself or your own” suddenly a stage was revealed where everyone could see.
“And it´s about to start.”

Ereinion could kind of understand why Elrond would feel he belonged to such a community or attracted to such a place. As an aspiring healer, his cousin had certainly used the skills he already learned to help this people. He wondered if more healers were into this… they should be, he doubted Elrond was enough to help everybody. Apart from that, he could see another reason why he would come here. Everywhere he could see, there were eight pointed stars and people wearing them. Which was fair, because… Fëanor, mad Fëanor, had done more for them than any other person. Before he could say something about it, an elf went into the stage. It was the same that he talked to before. He started to address the public, giving a very incendiary speech calling for violence. And he could tell that everybody around was seriously considering it. And not only considering it, but wishing it. Just how many people had been wronged just because of bigotry? Could it be… that without the House of Fëanor controlling them, things were about to get out of control?

“You already noticed, eh?” Elrond whispered, his expression smug for once. “Be grateful that I have been controlling the radical faction for you. They are not strong enough, at least not yet, but I can´t discard that they might become in the future. Specially with Eärehis doing his round through each meeting place.”

“I thought he lost his wife in the Kinslaying of Doriath…”

“That confusion is easily made. And she was indeed killed in Doriath… at least near enough to be considered those woods. She was killed by elves of Doriath” then… “She and her youngest daughter were captured on the edges by a group of idiots that tortured her near to death in front of the girl. Eärhis arrived in time to save her and kill the bigots, but by then the mother was beyond any help. She died in her husband´s arms. And the girl… all three girls, in fact… still bear the scars of that day.”

“I see” Ereinion clenched his fists. “Were they…”

“No, those kinds of things were usual when Thingol was on the throne.”

“Why are you showing us this?” Celebrimbor whispered back.

“To show you the influence that your family, your House even if you try to abandon it, still has. Also the force that they unleashed.” he continued, before his own fists tightened. “For elves like Eärhis and his followers, the Kinslayings were the most cathartic events of their lives. Finally returning that violence to those that have threated them like trash for centuries… they want more of that.”

“My grandfather would be…”

“Your grandfather would be horrified. He was the one that stopped that kind of violence until he finally lost it.”

Elrond then got up and faced Eärhis on the stage, giving a speech for peace. He also defended his cousins, who the pirate had called out for not doing anything for those like then. Ereinion lowered his head when he heard the peredhel´s words. As much as he wanted to deny it, he, the one who had the most power, had done nothing for people that had suffered so much. People that needed help. Elrond became a healer, Celebrimbor, apparently, built a safe refuge in Eregion. Damn, even the history of the Feanorions served as a show of strength of what their people could do under a capable leadership.

“… please allow me to fight for your rights the way he couldn´t. In the correct way” Elrond finished his speech, that seemed to have calmed down even the most vehement among the customers of the bar. “There is no need for more violence.”

“You certainly seem sure of that” Eärhis suddenly countered. It was something that obviously didn´t happen often, but the peredhel stood his ground. “Even when you know it´s a lost cause…”

“Nothing is lost yet, no if you continue trying. It was something that Fëanor himself knew.”

“And we all know how he ended” the sailor smirked. “But you have always believed you are way stronger than he was, no?”

“No, only that he has us to support him” Celebrimbor said, jumping from his seat as he removed his hood. This surely surprised Eärhis, he hadn´t expected the eldest grandson of Fëanor to attend such a meeting. “My grandfather was so sure that he could do this alone, but we all know that alone we are doomed to fail. So we are going to do this together.”

“Yes, together” Ereinion supported his cousin. “It has come to my attention that this matter is of utmost importance and I have been… reevaluating my family legacy. So I´m going to help my cousins in this endeavor.”

“As you say, your majesty” the pirate didn´t seem. “But you should have in mind the history of the last two Princes of the Noldor of our heritage that achieved NOMINALLY to be High King. It didn´t end well for them, did it?” his smirk widened at Gil Galad´s reaction. Elrond hold his cousin´s hands to make him stop before he could try and strangle him. “Try if you might, young ones. We all know how that´s going to end… and that, when it does, I will be there to pick up the pieces.”

He went away. Ereinion truly wanted to say that he was wrong, but at the way they were going, he couldn´t say that with a certainty. In fact, he couldn´t say that without Fëanor´s legacy and Elrond´s hard work at controlling the situation, they wouldn´t already have woken up to find themselves the victims of a kinslaying. It was a terrifying thing, to realize that they owed do much to someone that they had hated for so long. Even Galadriel, who had kept silence through the whole affair, seemed thoughtful. As the cousins settled down for the night, someone, a nís, approached them from another section of the room.

“You should really stop antagonizing Eärhis, penneth, it´s bad for you. I know that they don´t seem like much, but the radical faction IS strong. Even now” she called for a drink. “But I have to say that dragging your cousins into this was a good tactic.”

“Someone needed to put him in his place”

“Oh, he knows his place. He would have already tried to stab you if he didn´t” she smiled. “But then again, you could probably heal yourself after that. And if not you, then me.”

“Of course, Yána” he turned to the present company. “May I introduce Yána, senior apprentice of the best healer Aman has even seen and my true master at the healing arts.”

“A pleasure”

“The pleasure is all mine” she continued. “Anyway, you should avoid the enmity of any more veterans of the Militias of Angband. They are more than respected by the community and there is only this much the family heritage could do for you…”

“You were at my birth” Celebrimbor suddenly said.

“I was at the birth of nearly all of you spawns of Fëanor” she smiled fondly. “In fact, I was at the birth of your grandfather too. If only I could have done more…” her hands clenched. “I thought that my master would never forgive me for not managing to save his daughter.”

“His daughter?”

“Míriel” she sighed. “That poor little one, he was exposed to all that shit since before he was even born. He was so strong… even when he was a little squirrel holding his grandfather´s skirts and helping in any way he could with the injured… guess the kind of life that he had fueled his spirit and set him of on this Eru forsaken mission.”

“Never knew that his grandfather was a healer” Celebrimbor said, surprised. “Why didn´t he tell us anything? Or anyone at court mentioned it?”

“No one did, not since the vanya girl arrived and expelled the Lords from court” what?!! No one… no one had ever informed them of that. “She was scared of them, so she asked the King to send them away… and that was only the beginning. Indis was a catastrophe for our people. Even caused deaths… well, not as much as her son.”

“Fingolfin?” Ereinion asked, remembering exactly which brother Fëanor had tried to kill with his sword.

“Yes, that one. He passed many prejudicial laws, even tried to pass a bloodline one that would have deprived us, all of us, of any right… if the little one hadn´t pulled his sword at him, then I or any other would have. And I know people that would, beginning with Eärhis. Even back in Aman, he saved more people from makeshift execution stands than many others…”

“Tell me more”

-Later-

Galadriel tossed the cloak on her bed with annoyance and then did something that she had swore herself that she would never do. She started to throw a tantrum. One that begin with grabbing an ugly vase and throwing it with all her might against a wall. Celeborn just watched, keeping himself out of his wife´s rampage. She had a right to be angry at that moment. After all, she had just noticed how many things would have been different and how many opinions on people wouldn´t have been so wrong if her family just TALKED. Because everything she thought about any of them was wrong.

Fëanor wasn´t a spoiled brat that had everything handed to him in a silver platter, her half-uncle actually had to work hard for everything he got. Damn, the man had probably done twice than any of his siblings had for half the recognition and even more to help his people. He didn´t need a punishment or some fucking shiny cursed rocks, he needed a break and probably a vacation on the Gardens of Estë where he could consult with a healer!! She wouldn´t be surprised if he had actually caught one of those sicknesses Elrond had described in his damn book and she no longer considered that imaginary… But for once, his dammed half-uncle was not the center of her rage. Oh, no, that dubious honor went to her other, full uncle, Fingolfin. Just… how could he had been so much of an idiot?!! Specially because she was sure that he wasn´t the bastard bigot the community saw him as. No, if he had been, they would have been completely whipped up in his kingship. But that doesn´t mean he was not at fault. Oh, no, he was more than at fault. And why? Because he couldn´t separate friendship from fucking business, something that she had done since she was half a century old. It was just as haru Olwë always said in his courtly intrigue classes, never trust the nobles… was that really that hard to understand?!! And, if things were that bad, didn´t they talk to one another?!! And if Fëanor really had such suspicions about Fingolfin, why didn´t he talk to Finarfin as an alternative?!! Her father would have listened to him and confronted Fingolfin, make him doubt his friends… do something to help either or both of them…

“You are thinking too hard” Celeborn said as he put the cloaks on their place. “It´s been long past by now.”

“I know, but… why couldn´t they talk? I mean… maybe not to one another, but to my father. He would have helped Fëanor and bring some enlightening to Fingolfin…”

“Galadriel…”

“I just… need some air”

The golden Lady walked away from her husband, who stayed behind in their well-lit room. She wandered the palace, wondering exactly what else she had gotten wrong, then why her foresight hadn´t alerted her of this until now. Until this unknown maia that loved her kinslaying cousins for some weird reason had hijacked her mirror and made her see things in a different way. Why? In her wanderings, she arrived to a place she never thought she would visit on her own volition. Maglor´s room. The minstrel was awake, if that could be considered awake, just staring at the ceiling. Erestor looked after him now, Elrond was probably preparing something that the sick elf could eat now.

“How is he?” she asked, sitting down as close to the ailing Feanorion, her cousin, as she dared now.

“As well as someone could be after centuries of wandering in such a state” Erestor answered, looking up from his work. The smell of athelas and other medicinal herbs was very strong in the room… they probably used it in his treatment. “Why do you care, my lady?”

“Can´t I care for one of my few family members this side of the sea?”

“You and him hadn´t been family for a long time” it was probably true, but… she hoped they could mend that someday. Her musings were stopped by a stomach growling. “How long have you been without eating?” the former assassin looked away. “Go, I can watch over him for a few minutes while you eat.”

“My lady…”

“I won´t hurt him” she said, trying to make him see that she was not a threat to the minstrel. “Won´t let anyone hurt him either.”

They argued a bit more, but eventually Erestor left. She was alone with her cousin once more and able to asses his state. He was horrible. The golden lady hadn´t seen Maedhros when he had first escaped from Angband, but she guessed this was pretty much what he looked like, sans the missing hand. She wanted to help him in some way, but… she didn´t have any. She wasn´t a healer like Elrond or someone close to the Feanorian family… perhaps they hadn´t been family for longer than she had believed. But at least… at least something nice she could do for him. Then she remembered a lullaby she had heard Elrond singing to Elladan, Elrohir, Arwen… and Elwen. A melody in old quenya. She remembered that when she had heard him, she wanted to stop him, but the babies looked so calm that she didn´t have the heart. Galadriel started singing it, the little she remembered from it, then hummed the parts she didn´t know.

“Atar… atar…” Maglor started to say, much to her surprise. Does he really think that she was… “Atar… Nelyo… Nelyo…”

Ah, she realized. Fëanor was the one that sang that lullaby to his sons. She had always believed that Maglor had composed it for the children he kidnapped, but apparently the thing was older than she thought. And perhaps, way older. She continued humming until her cousin settled down in content sleep. He looked so frail and pale and utterly lost… couldn´t help but pity him.

“I will tell Elrond you liked this song” she whispered as it ended, still using quenya. “He might sing it to you next time. Wouldn´t you like that, Makalaurë?” he didn´t answer. “Erestor must come back soon, he could also pass the message…”

The minstrel suddenly opened his eyes and sat down. Then he proceeded to try and get out of the bed, which surprised her. From what she gathered, he hadn´t been able to even use the chamber pot without his son´s help, so to see him get to his feet and walk on his own was something unthinkable for her. She followed him, wondering if she should return him to bed. But then she had heard him mumble something about home, about Nerdanel, Nelyo, the things as they were before his father went mad. Was he hallucinating again? He was… smiling too. She was happy for a second that he was happy again, so decided to follow a bit longer before helping him return to his bed. Then she heard it. A song… a song of power… someone was luring Maglor somewhere…

“Makalaurë” she carefully got a hold of him. “Makalaurë, please listen to me. It´s not safe, we need to get back to the room…”

“There is no need for that”

She was suddenly thrown away with impressive strength. She let go of her cousin, who fall to his knees. The person she couldn´t recognize in the darkness approached Maglor. This one looked up, as if trying to recognize the person about to kill him. A knife made from a shiny, look through material was raised up. She tried to get up and help somehow, but then realized that her feet were encased in ice, frozen to the ground. And the most confusing thing was that she was not feeling the burn of the ice like in the Hellcaraxë. No, this wasn´t hurting her at all.

“I´m sorry to have used such meanings, my lady. Rest assured that once I have done the deed, I will never inopportune you and yours again” the stranger, clearly an elf and male, said as he approached the kneeling Maglor, who didn´t move. Even as the knife was held over his head. “This is something that must be done.”

“Who sent you?” Galadriel asked, trying to gather enough strength to break the ice with her Song or anything. But it was too strong… that ice was made by an incredible strong song. “Was it one of the sindar who lost his family in Doriath?! In Sirion?! Who sent you to kill my cousin after so many years of torment?!!”

“No one, I´m here of my own volition” he said, sadness in his voice as he angled the knife. “I will make sure to make it quick, don´t worry. He won´t suffer anymore.”

“Why?!!”

“Because at this point, this is mercy”

The ellon plunged his knife, which blade was directed straight to the carotid artery, but then something happened. Maglor must have known that he had been led to a trap, his battle instincts returning in a moment. Or perhaps it was just a reaction to danger. He opened his mouth and screamed a loud scream. It didn´t have words or any other kind of thing, only his Voice. But it was enough to send the stranger flying against the wall behind him… and freeze the corridor they were in. In that moment, Galadriel could sense it. A freezing power coming out of her cousin, almost as if that consumed body contained a snow storm that threatened to consume everything… a presence much like the maia Luthien had pact for the Silmaril. It clicked in her mind in that moment. The snow, the freezing, the unconditional love and care that maia called Hríve had showed for her kinslaying family members, her wish to see them happy despite everything… they were HERS.

“Galadriel!! Are you… what happened here?” Gil Galad asked as he, Elrond, and a few other guards arrived, including Erestor. This one approached Maglor, who was panting on the floor, only to be stopped by the peredhel.

“Careful, his skin must be as freezing as the Helcaraxë right now. I will deal with him in just a few moments” he approached the stranger, who was already getting up from where he had fallen. “Brave of you to have come all this way here to try and kill him. Care to tell me who sent you? Or it´s you yourself the one that had someone to avenge?”

“You should know by now that this is not about vengeance, but mercy” the ellon answered.

“Why would you talk about mercy after what you have just tried to do?”

“I don´t know how people could believe you are Melian´s get” he dodged the question. “Anyone with eyes could tell that you are one of hers. I can see it clearly in your eyes right now. Have seen it in enough ice maiar to realize that you want to fight. You want to rip it into the enemy and feel the thrill of battle… despite everything” Elrond didn´t deny it. “I already knew that that was going to give me troubles…”

Before anyone could say anything anymore, or even notice when they moved, Elrond and the stranger engaged in combat. Galadriel couldn´t believe what she was seeing. She already knew that her son-in-law knew how to fight, but this was well beyond her wildest imagination. He fought like he was born to do so, generating ice in such a natural way and turning it into a weapon with such ease… unfortunately, the stranger seemed to do just that too, if only half a second later. He didn´t seem as strong as Elrond, but he surely had the advantage of experience on his side.

“You damn…” the peredhel´s hand flew to the sword he kept on his side always. Galadriel couldn´t know why, because according to both Gil Galad and Celebrimbor it was just the handle. But it must be something more, because before he could unsheathe, the stranger lifted his arms and surrendered.

“I give up”

“What?”

“I give up. I don´t want to die yet, much less to take all this city with me if that thing goes out of control” he smirked. “I´m sorry, but I don´t trust you to keep Princess Loss´ sword from burning this place to the ground. And I dread the day your cousin learn what his spear can really do.”

“What?” Ereinion asked.

“Oh, don´t you know?” the stranger suddenly seemed very entertained. “Aicalossë, which you call Aeglos, and Kapsarenë are two of the strongest weapons ever crafted. Aicalossë was once used to fight against Lord Melkor himself. And Kapsarenë was used to slice Ungoliant´s legs more than once.”

The golden lady couldn´t help but believe him. There was something in his voice that told her that he was telling the truth. But that didn´t matter now. She saw as the guards took the stranger away while she helped Erestor and Elrond take Makalaurë to his room. She pulled away the covers as her cousin was laid down, then covered him again. The peredhel settled down near her, singing that same lullaby that she had been before. As the last notes where reached, she got up to leave, but Elrond stopped her.

“I need a favor” he explained, sighing. “I… Kapsarenë is indeed one of the most powerful weapons. But I can´t use it, I can´t even truly practice with it because I can´t control it´s power. Last time I unsheated, I nearly killed myself, my brother, Nella… something worse than you imagine could have happened.”

“And what do you want me to do?”

“I need to use your mirror again, I need to… it´s imperative that I learn how to control it. Not only for my sake, but for all of ours. What I want to say is… please, help me in this.”

“I will think about it”

-In Mandos-

Finwë was trying to listen to something through the wall. Some time before, he had heard a loud bang on the other side. For a few seconds, guilt returned to him. Supposedly, he had stayed here to make his eldest some company, but he had such a strong screaming fight with Fëanáro the first few hours of their stay together… even if his son was the only one screaming… that they hadn´t seen each other since then. He had seen his other children when they arrived and told them he was staying with Fëanáro… what a liar he was… and he wanted to be, but he felt such guilt about some of the things he said and the ways he knew he had been wrong about…

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!

He landed on the other side of the room after the explosion. If he had been alive, he would have been killed again. But he was not. And now he was surprised to see his eldest, his grandsons by him, and several elves he didn´t know pass through the hole on the wall.

“You overdid it, sweetheart” one of them said, looking at the hole.

“Well, there wasn´t any other way” the one who seemed the leader answered, looking straight at Finwë. This one shuddered under his gaze. “Normally, I would continue before resting, but I think his majesty here and I NEED to talk.”

“Shouldn´t we concerned about the Doomsman?”

“No, I have already left something for him to deal with while we do our thing” his gaze didn´t leave the trembling Finwë. “Now, how about you and I talk about how you threat women, your majesty?”

How to… was he talking about the remarriage thing? About Míriel? But… but she was… she was… he was shaking hard now. Will Námo come here soon? Unfortunately for him, the Vala had other things to worry about. It was snowing so hard in his Halls that he had to take a shovel and help his servants get rid of the snow. He wondered for a second if Lady Avalanche, wherever she was, had cursed him. Knowing the madwoman, that would be very in character for her.

Chapter Text

Galadriel knew from the beginning that it was a bad idea. She should have told Elrond from the beginning her opinion instead of saying that she would help, but frankly, she also thought that his sword and whatever Aeglos truly was would help them change the current of time. Celebrimbor had examined it and concluded that he had never seen whatever it was that the spear or the sword were made of. And that it was definitely not Mithril, as it was sturdier than it ever was. Somehow. Anyway, that could be left behind for now. Elrond was too busy with Maglor to worry about some weapon. There had been a setback to his condition after the attack, wandering around the corridors searching for his brothers or parents, and he seemed more prone to use his voice as a weapon when you shatter his delusions now, so the peredhel needed to be with him all the time. While that had brought some sort of relief to them all, they knew that it was only a temporary delay. Once Maglor was back to his former self, Elrond would return to think about the sword. And possibly Gil Galad about the spear too.
But like she said, that was a problem for another day. Right now, she was descending the stairs of the dungeon, trying to make sure her skirts didn´t touch the floor, about to talk with the elf that had nearly killed her cousin. The weirdest part was that… she recognized him once they took his hood off. And Gil Galad too. He had served as his bodyguard for several years, just as Runawë had done for the Feanorions before turning to Elrond (he had fallen protecting him during the Last Alliance, protecting the peredhel from Sauron). She also remembered him from before, surprisingly. He had been one of the elves that crossed the ice with her and the Host of Fingolfin. Why hadn´t she remembered him before? It was simple, she remembered him as a dark haired ellon. Now his hair was pure silver.

“Hello, Sûldaer” she said, using the name the High King had given them when he identified the attacker. His Tree lit eyes stared at her. He had been born in Valinor after all. “It´s been quite some time, don´t you think?”

“No… but I´m sure that´s not what you wanted to ask of my, my lady” he answered. “Ask away, and don´t worry, I´m going to answer with the ultmost truth.”

“Sûldaer…”

“Rávëion, I have been using my original name since I woke up in this world… just as I´m sure you did, my lady. After all, the last time you didn´t even bother to search for your disgraced cousin. But I guess meeting the Queen in person has that effect on people. It certainly had an eye-opening effect on me.”

“I never met this Queen in my life” she answered, sitting down on a stool. “But I have my own eye opening situation that might have made me look at things differently. Someone I thought I knew admitted he had done some things… things I never thought him capable of. Things that are reprehensible…”

“Then you have seen the true face of Lord Vahayaqueen, then. The one not even his own daughter knows is right there, hidden beneath a façade of pure hypocrisy” he sighed. “It was time someone did. Ilwen has the suspicion that there is something rotten in her father, but she has never been able to prove it.”

“I thought she thought he had abandoned her”

“It´s much more than that, I think she knows the darkness that hides under that light mask”

“And you do? Know him better than us, of course.”

“I have heard a couple of rumors… and you could say that they are older than time itself” he looked up at her, as if trying to clear any suspicions of lies. “From back when the lights of the north still shone over us and the youngest prince created a strong frontier that kept our Realm safe during the fight…”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, yes, you wanted to talk about that viper of an elf, Vahayaqueen… or as we used to talk him before he married into the Minyar, Orneldur” Galadriel´s eyes widened. So Vahayaqueen was like her. He had abandoned his old name for the one his spouse had given to him. “How about… you answer some questions first and then I will tell you a history, princess?”

“Ask then” she said, very sure that she could answer any question he could throw her way.

“Just remember that you said so”

He made a lot of cryptic questions about forgiveness, guilt, culpability, atonement, love and mercy. But specially on the concept of atonement and forgiveness. Apparently, he was trying to make someone forgive him. Surely, this person or group of persons had been very important to him, because he was terribly eager for that. Galadriel wasn´t sure if she wanted him to earn the forgiveness he craved for… she wasn´t even sure of why, but she had the feeling that it was connected to what had been done to her half-cousin and perhaps to her half-uncle when he was younger. Things that had ripped her family apart. But why, especially considering what she could have done to him… maybe he only wanted to have the advice of one of the so-called wisest elves in Middle Earth (she was sure that he was way older than her), even if he knew that she wouldn´t be of much help. She didn´t think that she could forgive her half-cousins after all, not even because she now knew that Fëanor was not that paranoid after all.

“I have answered all of your questions” she said staring at him after a long silence. “Are you going to tell me your history now?”

“It´s fair, I guess” he sighed. “I was born in the mountains, under the greenish blueish lights that protected the Fourth People… we were created the last, long after the other tribes of elves had awakened. Eru created us as warriors with a single purpose: to help his host fight against the Dark Enemy in Utumno.”

“It must have been hard, but how…”

“When the First Queen disappeared in an expedition to Utumno, everything started to go wrong. Her successor tried to do as best as she could and during a time everything was alright… until the Enemy came for us himself. He destroyed the frontier and the lights disappeared… everything turned dark and horrible from there on. We fought, they fought back… until he scattered us and started killing us in smaller groups. None survived… at least none of those who remained in their posts, standing strong against the Darkness.”

“So you survived because you escaped…”

“I´m still alive because I ran” he gritted his teeth. “I ran and left them all behind. Friends, family, parents and a betrothed. I didn´t care about anything else but to save my own, stupid skin and ran as fast as I could, abandoning them all to their fate.”

“So you were a coward.”

“I was… and I was so ashamed and angry and thought… that at least the Second Queen and her brothers had fallen too. Their entire family… gone because Morgoth decided to murder them all and surely do something terrible with their remains” he sighed. “I hid amongst the Tatyar since then, living with them as far south as I could. I thought I could forget everything, what with them gone… I had a life… then the great trip started… and in the middle of that, something that shouldn´t have happened happen.”

“What?”

“Her son appeared at the head of a group of dishelmed elves that had escaped Angband” he continued. “I know, it should have been impossible to tell that he was the Second Queen´s, after all none of us knew that she was pregnant… but we knew when we saw him. And when we felt it in him…”

“Are you sure he was the Queen´s?”

“Oh, very sure. How many half-maiar have you known apart from Luthien? Me many and I could have still pinpointed him between them all. He had that… something… in that only the Ice Queen and her brood had. And he looked a lot like both of them.”

“I´m still not sure what this has to do with my family.”

“Everything, because we hated him at first sight. The Ice Queen and her family, the Royal family, they had caused everything. What right did they have to a legacy? What right to a continuation? Why was he still alive when so many others died? When our loved ones died? It was all their fault… at least that was what I told myself… what we all told ourselves when we saw him and decided to destroy him. No matter that he was innocent or that he wasn´t even born when everything went to Utumno…”

“So you poured all the anger and hate you had for the Royal Family on him” Galadriel said. “Not only you, but several survivors, as you talked as if you were many. Did you reconnect during the Great Trip?”

“Yes, we did… and we all decided that he had to die. So we started with our plan… but he was more resilient than we thought. Before we managed to do something really harmful to him, he gave birth to a daughter. But she, unlike her father, was more delicate, more… when she married a King from a people that didn´t look favorably to Gnomes… we did something we should have never done. We used our Songs to magnify that feeling, to turn the people against them and pour more hate on her. We thought… we thought that was justified, that we could fix it after or ask for atonement after she and her father were gone…”

“You have an idea of what you did?” she asked, furious. All that pain and suffering… and all that to kill two elves? A nís and her father? Why? Specially because they could be reembodied whenever they want… wait… “Míriel? You killed Míriel?”

“Childbirth killed her, we only made sure that she wasn´t coming back” he answered, frowning. “But her son remained and he… he was as strong as his grandfather and too stubborn to die. He was so since he was a child and with him still on the play, there was no way his grandfather would leave himself to die. So we had to trust a scoundrel to try and get rid of him with a more direct approach.”

“Vahayaqueen?”

“He had a terrible reputation since before our Downfall. And it was not just rumors, but… a series of coincidences that definitely couldn´t be coincidences” Rávëion said, his eyes turning hard. “He was in several squadrons and in every one of them, at least one member disappeared. A talented person.”

“What an interesting series of coincidences, I have to agree with you in that. And it could mean nothing at all, only that he is a lousy warrior even by our standards… to something darker than I wish to admit” even if she knew that it could be true, that it was definitely true. “That is supposed to…”

“Oh, Artanis, you would be surprised of the number of secrets that someone you think you know could keep. Including a dark past… or the number of songs he actually wrote” he smiled. “He made us all sick, claiming the credit for songs other people wrote… we all knew his dirty little secret, but his daughter married a king and we needed him, so we all kept our mouths shut. We shouldn´t have done it, especially with how cruel he was to the child…”

“With what child?”

“Fëanáro” he chuckled to himself. “He must have freaked out the most out of us when Varilëedur appeared during the Great Trip and for different reasons too. After all, he had been claiming the work of other people he served under when he was among the Minyar, including one that personally tutored him… grave mistake, if you asked me. He already had a reputation back then.”

“That person seemed to be important for you”

“I did much damage to that person and don´t think I would be able to fix it in any way, no matter how much I try” he sighed. “Do you understand that feeling? To know that you did so much damage to a person who didn´t deserve it? So much that the next time the people you love saw you, they considered you a monster?”

“No… but if you want understanding for that, you can talk to my Feanorian cousins.”

“Only because I made them that way”

“They took their own decisions, my cousins and my half-uncle all…”

“But I influenced them a lot”

“You didn´t make things better for them… or for many people, I will give that. And if your family members think that you are a monster like them, then you deserve it.”

“I know… I simply don´t know how I could do it” he sighed. “I mean… he was a child. Fëanáro, I mean. Varilëedur was an adult when he appeared in front of us. Míriel spent practically all her childhood sheltered in the Gardens of Estë before she was in our reach. Fëanáro… the poor thing was just a child when we begin to attack him. Orneldur was the most direct and harmful, but we all collaborated. And I felt a sick, dark, twisted pleasure by doing that. Not even the Feanorians felt pleasure killing their victims and I felt pleasure torturing a child practically since…”

“Congratulations for beating them, not everyone could… in many ways.” She actually rolled her eyes this time. “Why did you stop believing, as erroneous as that believe could be, that he this was right or justified in any way?”

“The moment that the Silmarils were stolen, when we saw them for the last time… I felt triumphant more than ever. Then Eonwë condemned them forever and I… I heard the voices of my people, my friends… my family… they called me a monster, they… said many things… I always knew that the voices of my people were still alive in the wings, but I never thought that they would attack me for… for my sins… then I heard my love calling me a monster, called me off for what I did to those children… because that´s what they were, children. So young compared with me, who had lived since before the Valar called the elves to Valinor… then I realized how much blood I have in my hands. Not only their or those that were murdered under their swords, but the ones of the thousands of innocents that were murdered because I had my sight on the goal… something that I haven´t been able to fix until the day.”

“I´m not going to feel pity for you just because you realized actions had consequences.”

“I ran as soon as I got out of my thoughts to stop Maedhros, but by the time I reached him, it was too late. He whispered apologizes to everyone who he loved, most of all his children, and threw himself into the fire. I tried to reach him but couldn´t… and when I tried to find Maglor, the voices, the spirits of my people were already protecting him and preventing me from reaching him again. I felt so empty… but then I make a promise. Atonement. I would protect the children that were left behind, the children of those I harmed the most and hope that they would be able to forgive me. That Ñaltanis would be able to forgive me…” he suddenly raised his head towards her. “You heard them too, no? You brought Maglor back, you must have heard their voices too.”

“They didn´t mention anything about you, if that´s what you are asking. But they were too busy trying to scare me off… Elrond used his sword against them to stop them.”

“He did?! He used Kapsarene against them?” he started laughing hard when he heard. “Who would have told? Perhaps there is some hope after all!!”

“What do you mean?”

“The Kapsarene wouldn´t have harmed them, but… it´s flames could be used to cleanse whatever curse that kept them trapped here. Elrond sent them off to the Halls of Mandos… or at least some of them.” he laughed again. “And I guess that they are everything but happy with what our people had done.”

“You mean… that Elrond sent troubles to Aman?”

“Oh, without a doubt” he chuckled again. “But I would want to be fly on the wall when his due came for Orneldur. I´m sure it´s going to be something worth viewing.”

Galadriel thought the same, but she couldn´t feel bad in the slightest for her grandmother´s old uncle. Yes, he had been kind of a constant in her life as a name, both as Indis practically third parent (who was definitely manipulating her) and as her grand-aunt Ilwen´s father, also as Findárato´s music teacher (she was sure that he had only accepted him and rejected Makalaurë because her brother didn´t have the same amount of talent as their cousin). She was about to leave when…

“One more thing, was Formenkal between those that Elrond sent to Mandos?”

“Is that important?”

“Yes. Formenkal is… a special case. Most talented Singer of my people, your half-cousin Makalaurë surely inherited his singing talent from him. He was Fëanáro´s great grandfather, Queen Loss´ husband. The boy got his intelligence… well, from him and the other grandfather were both geniuses” he chuckled.
“Did I forget to mention that he was Orneldur´s cousin too?”

“Rivalry inside a family?” been there, hear that. All of that.

“More than that. Formenkal was the last talented elf to be offed by that vermin… or the only one I have a confirmation of. Because he admitted it… he admitted he killed his own cousin. Or just held him down so the Balrog he was going against could have a chance at taking him, so he could rot in that pit called Angband…”

“So he was a kinslayer since a long time ago.”

“To a much closer level than you might think” he said. “And I have to say, a nér that stood between a Balrog and his pregnant wife is very protective of his family. Also had enough time to plan something very special for his cousin. I already want to see what he wants to do.”

Galadriel did not. As righteous in anger as that Formenkal was, if he was a Singer of the same level as Maglor Feanorion, then he could cause grave damage to Valimar and whoever puts him or herself between him and his goal. And she didn´t have a doubt that his vermin of a cousin would put several elves in danger to protect himself. She also had the doubt if he would care. After all, several vanyar had helped him terrorize his great grandson and his people. She didn´t have any illusions about him being less explosive than Fëanáro himself when mad. They could be headed towards a Fifth Kinslaying, one bigger than the others before. She was so lost in those thoughts that she forgot that Elenammë, Celebrimbor and Gil Galad were waiting for her outside the door.

“Did you hear everything?”

“Yes, everything” the High King sighed, suddenly looking really drained. “Have you thought about it since you knew? About the lives that could have been spared if those bigoted elves had realized what harm they were doing? Or if the idiots like the one we had here had searched for the culprit for their pain in the mirror?”

“Sometimes is harder to look at yourself and know that your suffering is your own fault”

“They were the ones that run!! And then decided that a child that wasn´t even born at the moment was at fault for their pain!!” Ereinion screamed. “I was never a fan of Fëanor, but now I realize why he was like he was. You know what happens with strength? No matter how much someone has, it has limits.”

“Those idiots might have been guilty, but we of the House of Finwë too” Galadriel said. “We all saw what was happening and never searched for an explanation. We told ourselves that it was just paranoia, that he was seeing things, but… he just had the wrong person.” She gritted her teeth. “I was proud of myself for being the best at courtly intrigue from my family… how could I have not seen this?”

“Nobody is perfect, my lady, nobody is perfect.”

-In Tirion-

“I just don´t get it” Finarfin said as he passed around the room. “How could I not have known about this?”

“Darling, none of us knew. Not even Anairë and Nolo. Not even Idril…”

“Tuor did know” the King said, putting his hands down. “Eärendil too, he told his father that his wife and her family always told that anecdote at family dinners. A private joke or something like that of the sindar royal family” he let his distaste leak into his words. “Tuor and Eärendil hadn´t talk to each other more than they need to keep polite appearance since then.”

“Oh, Meldanya…”

“And here are worse news, vanimelda, your father knew too.”

“My… my father?” Eärwen asked in disbelieve. “King Olwë of Alqualondë? How could he had known? He hadn´t been to Beleriand since the Great Trip!!”

“Apparently, he housed Elwing when she first arrived to Aman with her husband. During that stay, Avranc attacked her and accused her family of what they had done to the Haladin and their people. Olwë, Eärendil and Voronwë, along with several people, were there. Eonwë came and took them all away to Taniquetil… she admitted everything with pride. The Valar condemned Díor and all who had had anything to do with the attack to not been reembodied until the Third Age and Avranc remained here… all the others were horrified, but decided to keep the secret… for some reason or other…”

“My love… I know that you are not happy with that, I am neither, but thinking about it with a clearer and colder head, you will see that it avoided us troubles…”

“And was it worth it? The problems unresolved between our family members, our enmity with Avranc?” they looked at each other until his gaze softened. “I´m sorry, my dear, it´s only that… I can´t stop imagining it, you know? I have known Moryo since he was a newborn in Nerdanel´s arms. To imagine him there, staring at the corpses of his son, his grandchildren, his greatgrandchildren… I can hear him scream as if it was real… and I feel guilty. I feel guilty for even asking of Avranc to forget what happened.”

“That child will never be able to forget what happened to his home” Eärwen agreed with him. “Perhaps that is the reason why he feels better in the countryside. No people that would look bad at him and with reverence at Elwing and Díor… and not me.”

“What do you have to do with anything?”

“Apparently, I share some resemblance with one of the knights that slaughtered his family at Brethil”

“That explains why he always reacted in such a way when you are near” he sighed. “I just don´t want to deal with this anymore. The First Age is over, we should have some peace… but the consequences still haunt us.”

“Perhaps they should” she answered. “The Feanorians need to make some atonement… but Díor and the sindar too. Even after they come out of Mandos” he frowned. “You think they are getting off too lightly?”

“I doubt the Valar are threating Díor as the same kind of criminal as my brother or nephews… if they are even threating him like the criminal he is.”

“You mean that you would appeal a decision of the Valar?”

“I don´t know what I´m going to do, but… I´m afraid of what Avranc or Cendafinwë might do when the others get out. They might try just that or something much more extreme… or they might not do something and Díor might try something again.”

“In Aman?”

“Both sides are equally crazy, it´s just a matter of whom might do something first.”

“That…” Eärwen stopped herself. “My dear, it´s not a time to be talking about such issues. Come to bed with me and get some rest. Perhaps putting your head down for a moment and consulting with the pillow is just what you need.”

“How do I get the screams of my nephew, of my own blood out of my head?”

“I will sing to you, all night if it´s needed. It might chase away the nightmares…”

Finarfin tried to find some consolations on the arms of his wife, but he couldn´t. After tossing and turning on the bed for several hours, he got up and walked to the deserted archive rooms. Why? Well, he spent a lot of time there when he was younger. It was strange how things worked there. He always wished to be more in the spotlight like his brothers, not to feel so much like the wallpaper… he got his wish, but at what cost? And no one mentioned the kind of hard decisions he will have to make once he stopped being on the sidelines and trusted into the spotlight he wanted… he sometimes wished things returned to how they were before. Before he was king, before he made that stupid wish, simpler times when he could just fuck off to Alqualondë and spent some times sailing with Eärwen and the children… or in the archive room for hours with little Artanis, searching for courtly intrigue…

He didn´t know how, but he reached the bookshelf where the documents of the last years of his father´s reign were. And he found… a lot of sealed documents. That was weird, why had those sealed documents never been opened? He doubted it was because they had the seal of Finwë, specially because his father wasn´t coming back. He walked as far back as he could to the beginning of the sealed documents and started pulling documents from shortly before. Some did not raise any attention, others were… less. And there was one that was… it left a complete ethnic of the Noldor and their families without any sort of financial help. Or at least that is what he understood. How… how was this possible? It should be illegal, for not talking about unethical… who was behind this? He started to revise the document to search for whom was trying to make it law, only for surprise to take him again. Nolofinwë´s signature as a backer on the Royal Family. This could have been passed without any problem, not even from the King if they weren´t careful. He was careful, didn´t trust anyone with the law to sign something without reading it first, his father… he wasn´t sure. He started pulling out documents of the sealed kind before opening them and reading. He spent the whole night reading them.

“Ara? Ara, what are you doing? It´s too early for this” Eärwen said as she entered the room, dressed only in a robe over her sleeping wear. She knew him really well, also that he would feel calm there. “What happened?”

“I have opened and revised all these documents that my father sealed just before departing to Formenos… and I know why now. They are plainly abusive laws that should never been passed, targeting specific ethnics. Avari, green elves and others… these also have one main backer, Nolofinwë.”

“Nolo… darling, he would never be capable of that…”

“Right now, I don´t know what to believe. I only know that the backer of this things was Nolo and that Fëanáro wanted to keep them away from becoming law and derogate the ones that did. Which I don´t understand… why did he care?”

“I don´t know… but I can ask around today at tea with Nerdanel.”

Finarfin nodded and waited for her all day. He did his work extra carefully, not trusting anyone in the nobility… not that he did on the first place. As the hours passed and Anairë arrived to escort Eärwen to Nerdanel´s house. He watched the ladies get out from his palace, wondering what he was going to find. His wife returned not an hour later with a furious expression in her face. She practically barged into his office, a thunderous expression in her face.

“Nerdanel doesn´t have a widow´s pension. And the kids aren´t receiving anything from the palace.”

“What?!” he said. “I never said something about retiring their pensions, not even for the crimes committed by her…”

“You did not, Nolo did. And did it long before the Darkening. You see, their entire family was maintained by the fruit of Nerdanel´s and Fëanáro´s work apart from whatever Finwë could give them.”

“I was never made aware of that” Finarfin crossed his arms. “How?”

“Apparently, through Míriel, Fëanáro is descended of one of those ethnics affected by those laws” she said, grunting. “Which means…”

“That according to one of the laws I told you about, he was trying to take away Fëanáro´s right to the throne. To… usurp him” he landed a fist on the table. “He swore up and down to me that he wasn´t doing anything to give Fëanáro that idea… that he was his half brother in blood, but full brother in heart…”

“Well, that doesn´t seem to mean much to him… or we are mistaken or… he might have just trusted the wrong person, signed without reading.”

“Who could be such an idiot…”

“Well, we were all kind of naïve idiots back then, no? Didn´t you committed mistakes even after my father taught you?” he stopped himself. “My love, I´m sure this have hit you hard, but you can´t lose your cold head. You know what you need to do next.”

“I know” he sighed. “I need to confront my brother.”

-In Mandos-

Fëanaro and his sons have been dragged through so many doors that he couldn´t even keep track of how many walls have been demolished inside the Halls of Mandos without even a visit from the Doomsman. He wondered again when he was going to appear, but whatever this elf Formenkal had done to keep him from interfering, it was working. It scared him a bit, because, what elf can handle a Vala? It was fun for a while, guessing who they were going to find behind the next wall. His father, his grandsons by Moryo, some of his followers… Finally, they arrived to one place where many souls were kept. And some of them were very known to him. Yulmarion smiled at him when he arrived. He felt undeserving.

“What are you doing here?” a girl dressed as a maia from Mandos said. She wasn´t like the faceless ones before. Of course, she wore the cloak, but kept the form of a young woman, with mostly silver hair, but with red and black locks. She then stared at Turkafinwë and Curufinwë. “Atar? Uncle Curvo? What…”

“Nella? Wha… why are you here? Didn´t your father…”

“No, he has never done anything for me OR Luhte. It´s why I ended up locked in here for eternity and he in the Gardens of Estë” she smirked. “Of course, that´s what Manwë believes. I have ransacked both Mandos´s and Taniquetil´s libraries quite a few times. And done some organizational changes… along with trying to help this people after they were left to fend for themselves inside this place.”

“Fend for themselves?”

“This is a place for souls that are going to stay on a long term, either by their own volition or because they can´t heal for a long time… Mandos has given up on several of these cases and those that decided to stay have helped them more than the maiar ever did… at least in some cases.” She sighed. “I help what I could, but between that and my other activities… I sometimes wish it was as simple as what you did in Doriath or Sirion.”

“What we did there was an abomination…” Maedhros started

“Are you kidding me, General? That was bloody awesome” someone said.

“Yeah, you showed those bloody bigots what was good!! That was great!!”

“We hit them with a hammer in Doriath, avenged all of those they killed in Brethil, uncle” Silmafinwë said, crossing his arms. “My children, grandchildren and people who were murdered on Díor´s order…”

“What?!!” he turned towards his younger brother. “Moryo!! Why didn´t you tell me?!!”

As Nelyafinwë and Morifinwë got into a fight about what was personal and what was not, a soul approached him. Yulmarion. He hadn´t seen him since he was a child, but he remembered him well from all the times he visited the shop with his grandparents and Runawë. He seemed to be happy enough… which made the smith ask himself why he was still here. Perhaps it was for the souls that hadn´t found healing there.

“I´m sorry…” he was about to apologize for dragging his son into his mess, but a finger stopped him.

“Don´t apologize for my son´s choices… neither for your reasons. It was not the correct means, but what you did… child, you fought back when no one else could. Your children made our people fight back too. You all don´t know what that means for us. Or for any of the other who arrived later from other families.”

“Yulmarion…”

“Who is this?” Celegorm asked, pointing to a small soul in a corner, all huddle over itself.

“Oh, that´s one of the most severe cases here, probably never emerge again. You know, what happened to one of us when he is caught by a bigot” Nella answered. “May I present Maeglin Lómion, Traitor of Gondolin and son of aunt Irissë.”

Chapter Text

“It´s… disgusting” Celebrimbor said as he nursed a cup of wine on his hand. He, Elenammë and Gil Galad were now drinking alone in the King´s solar, trying to swallow the bitter drink that was the information they just received. “My poor grandfather… no wonder he became paranoid. All of that time being attacked…”

“I seriously doubt he was the only one under attack.” The king talked before drinking a mouthful of wine. Just how much had he ignored? All of them? And he didn´t just mean the Feanorians, but… all of the House of Finwë. How could Fingolfin or Finarfin had not seen that their brother´s paranoia had a reason?

“Which makes it all worse. I… I should have noticed something was wrong” the smith continued, taking more wine. “I was there, I… I was told it was only paranoia, that he was seeing things where there was nothing. Uncle Nelyo said that Nolofinwë wouldn´t harm us… but he was in cahoots with those that wished us dead… that nothing could harm us in Aman… but we were surrounded by enemies there” tears escaped from his eyes. “Now the one we all called mad was the only one who could clearly see… I should have known, he was always right, always so smart… should have done something for him.”

“And what exactly could you have done, Tyelpe?”

“Elenammë…” Ereinion looked at his other cousin, that until then had remained silent. He didn´t want to be in the middle of a fight between Feanorians, who were famous for their strong tempers, but he will be just in case.

“No, I have a point and you know it, let him speak” the nís crossed her arms after putting her empty cup of wine away. “What exactly could you have done, Tyelpe? I´m not saying that anyone could have could have done anything, because… please, many people could!! Finwë definitely, Fingolfin too, Finarfin perhaps, uncle Nelyo definitely, my father… I have never met someone so observant, he should have been able to spot something was wrong leagues away… your father, smartest of the lot… but, please enlighten me, what could YOU have done, dear cousin?”

“I… I don´t know… something…”

“I will tell you exactly what you could have done: NOTHING!!” she answered, raising her voice. Exactly how many cups of wine had she drank? Ereinion didn´t know, but he discreetly took the decanter away from her. “Or you think differently? You think any of us could have done something? I was not born yet, Ereinion was years away from even being conceived too, and you… you were a child, Tyelpe, a child and too young to see the world for what it was instead of the light filled utopia you were taught you lived in.”

“I could have still done something…”

“Grow up, Tyelpe, there was nothing you could have done. That responsibility falls on the adults around you and our grandfather is no innocent either.”

“Elenammë, he was the one under…”

“He had the power to tell his children if he needed help, to talk with them about what Fingolfin was doing to him and his people, to explain them the situation of the former thralls… you were a young child, you weren´t even of age to know something so… disgusting and mature. Face it, Tyelpe, you were born back then, but you couldn´t have done anything. Only the adults could and they failed. They failed you, Ereinion, me, my brother… all of us.”

The smith lowered his head in acknowledgment. Ereinion couldn´t help but think that she was right. And that she had definitely had too much to drink. He couldn´t fault her, to know the reality about what had happened… it had hit them all hard. So much that they had drunk a lot again, despite Elrond being too busy to babysit them this time. Not to worry, Elenammë could babysit them so they didn´t drown in their own vomit while they sleep. She can be a heavy drinker, he knew from the soldiers that had served with her in the last war, and had a much better head than Celebrimbor or him. The only side effect to her being drunk was that she turned into a true Caranthir when drunk, scatting tongue and everything. But it was… nice to see her like that. Specially because she was too self-deprecating usually, so… lacking in confidence that it sometimes worried even him.

“You talk about our uncles and your father as if you have known them all better than me… or our grandfather” Tyelpe retorted, showing a usual amount of poison in his voice. “If you have known anything about him, you would know that his sons were his pride and joy… and that he was very protective of them. Sane or insane, he would have endeavored to keep them safe and ignorant… and he was quite insane at the end anyway… thanks to them.”

“To the bigots or to the ones that decided a child whose grandfather wasn´t even born yet when disaster stuck them had to bear the brunt of their hate for said disaster?”

“All of them” the oldest among them drank another mouthful. “They should have been the ones thrown into the Void, not my family. They are the ones at fault… for everything.”

“First smart thing you have said in all night, cousin.”

Celebrimbor started crying after hearing that. Elenammë just growled, mumbling things under breath. Alright, the waterworks and more harsh talks… it has been enough wine for one afternoon. Ereinion carefully directed his cousins towards their rooms, then went to his own for the night. As he laid down, he wondered if he should practice the art of kinslaying as his birth-father did… on one elf. He had confessed his treason, after all, it would be legal. And the Valar were not here to determinate his punishment. If that would make him look too much like Maedhros, then he could seek the services of an edain executioner. There had been plenty of edain in the services of the House of Fëanor that might be willing to offer their services to him if he only asked as the son of the Lord of Himring…

He felt asleep as he thought about his late birth-father. As he did, he started to dream about something strange, something that hadn´t happened before. A place that was completely dark, but it was not terrifying. He was completely at peace there… and a raspy voice song something in the background, something he couldn´t understand, but it soothed him. When he woke up, he realized what had he dreamed about. Also that…

“Ereinion?” Elenammë said as she entered the room, as fresh as the day before. Like he said, she was a heavy drinker used to be among the soldiers. She knew how to keep a level head better than most of them when intoxicated and how to deal with a hangover. “I´m sorry for waking you up so early in the morning, but the Lady Galadriel has called us all. She is going to gaze into the mirror again.”

“Why?”

“Elrond petitioned her with help in taming his sword… and I think you should get help in taming yours too. Now that we know Aeglos is much more than the eye sees…”

“I think I can control a spear, special as it might be”

“But you might still learn something new.”

The High King sighed and walked towards where he was needed. Sometimes he wished none of them had ever had the idea to look into that mirror for answers or that Galadriel hadn´t allowed them to use it… but then realized that much had been answered because of that. He looked out of the window and saw the sun barely rising. Well, at least it was early in the morning, really early. It meant he would have the whole day to work and forget whatever he was going to find out. For him, he already knew what he needed to know. Maedhros hadn´t abandoned him, his hate for him was unfounded and perhaps he should pay a visit to him in Mandos before he was thrown into the Void. More, he wanted to.

Galadriel already had the mirror ready when they entered her room. Celeborn was there too, looking concerned. As the ritual started, the same words were repeated and they were practically thrown into the unknown. And what an unknown place it was. Ereinion had never seen such a verdant place, so bountiful and beautiful, bathed in a light that could only come from the Two Trees… or something alike. Was this Aman? Then he realized that not even Galadriel recognized the place. It… couldn´t be Aman then… but where? The sounds of merry made him look around. It seemed that they had arrived in the middle of a celebration. A woman dressed in white and a redheaded man presided the festivities. A wedding feast then? Of whom?

“That´s Tulkas and Nessa, I recognize them from my time in Aman” Galadriel said, her eyes surprised. “It can´t be… this is Almaren!!”

Almaren? They have ended up in Almaren, at the wedding feast of Tulkas and Nessa? Why? And what does it have to do with their weapons? He was about to ask when someone known approached the table. It was Hríve, the Ice Queen… their ancestress. She was wearing a circlet with red citrine and diamonds, with an eight-pointed star just on her brow. And many other jewels from the same material braided in her hair. They were not the most splendorous one he had seen, definitely not something her descendant Fëanor would make, but she looked splendorous anyway. And she had a warmth in her that was rarely seen… unless she was in the presence of family.

“How couldn´t I be present at my own brother´s wedding?” her words returned him to this world. Tulkas beamed at his sister. It was obvious that they had the relationship that should have existed between the Finwean siblings. “You probably remember my children. They were all eager to congratulate their uncle on his nuptials.”

Her children behind her were pretty much like her. Silver haired, steel eyes, cold… but they had something inside of them… instead of cold demeanor, they seemed to have a flame inside of them… but then again, their mother was the same. Anyway, they sat down in the same table as the Valar, honored guests of the groom, and ate and made merry. They even sang a piece for them. As the night descended upon them, bride and groom retired to their wedding bed as the others continued the merriment.

Then it happened…

There was a terrible sound and then more cracking ones. The source of the light then seemed to banish as the fires started to advance towards them like liquid. The Lamps had been shattered. Everyone screamed and run… everyone except Hríve and her children. She for some reason, seemed determinate. The younger ice maiar didn´t seem as convinced, but their mother refused to leave as everyone else.

“If I allow these fires to leave the Island, then all of Arda could be destroyed!! I can´t allow that as Eru´s personal maia and because of my own conscience!!”

The Ice Queen then sang a strange melody, but it must have been really powerful as suddenly ice began to creep and cover the fire. It contained it in Almaren, but it still burned under it´s icy confines. One of her sons tried to approach, but it was stopped by a presence made of pure light. Ereinion nearly fall on his knees as he realized who he was seeing again. Eru Illúvatar himself had landed on Arda again.

“We don´t have much time” he said quickly. “One of you must run and gather all the fragments of Aulë´s great Lamps and forge them anew.”

“I will go” Helcacilintír answered. “I will do whatever is needed to confine this fire, to help my mother…”

“In reality, we have two problems here. To control the fires, Hríve´s power had to have reached a point where it equals them. One equal to a Vala… but she is a maia. She won´t be able to handle it, not without… some of it going somewhere else.” He seemed worried. “This is my fault, part of the reason she managed that was because I named her my personal servant. And right now, it works against her… and us.”

“My Lord…”

“But there is something we could do still. We can contain those opposite forces… and return them to what they should be.”

It was like a fast forward thing, seeing Helcacilintír follow Eru´s instruction to collect, grind and then gave a new form just by singing and forcing everything together until the dust finally formed something between rock and crystal, all because of compression. It was not a magnificent work and it was perhaps only possible because Eru gave him the power to… and he knew it. Ereinion could feel it too. Feel it as his own spear and Elrond´s sword… Aicalossë and Kapsarenë were formed and sealed inside of them the power of a whole Winter Age and the Fires of Melkor.

“This is your power, mother, so it´s right for you to keep it” he said as he handed the spear to his progenitor. “Only remember that this can be the undoing of us all, just as it was a salvation. Use it with that in mind.”

Then he turned to his sister.

“And to the only one that has a coldness as great as our dear mother, the control over the very force that destroyed Almaren” he handed over the sword. “This will vanquish the darkness with a stroke of your hand.”

“Come on, Helcacilintír, the work has not yet ended” Eru signalled.

The young ice maia nodded and turned towards where the remains of the Lamps were. He used the same song to craft weapons for his siblings and, finally, two bottles to store the Lamps for himself. His siblings congratulated him to have crafted such an extraordinary weaponry for them, but he shook his head.

“This is not a test of my own talent, just something that I achieved with great help and sheer stubbornness” he said as he stared at one of the bottles. “I already want to see… what someone with true talent could do with this material.”

Ereinion could already tell what something with true talent could do with the remains of the Lamps and the power of the Ice Queen. He already saw the disaster that could be unleashed by someone that carried that trait. He wished Helcacilintír´s wish had never become true. The image changed then, arriving to the creation of the Silmarils (Light of the Trees, Shards of the Lamps, the circlet turned dust of red gems and the sheer talent and stubbornness of one hotheaded determinate prince of the Noldor) and then to a redheaded male who he could only think was Sauron…

“Grond was defective, but not through a fault of mine” he said, going from one side of his forge to the other. “Fëanor managed to make the Silmarils, why couldn´t I? Maybe, just as Eru blessed Hríve with a unique power, he blessed Helcacilintír with his own. And his only heirs, the only ones in that family line, are his sister´s descendants. Who says that it´s not what it´s needed to create something perfect? Or to manage what we already have?” his fingers traced the wood in a table. “I need some of them by my side.”

Images danced in front of them, images that foretell a horrible destiny for Celebrimbor as Sauron tricked and murdered him. Ereinion wanted to hug his cousin, knowing that it was certainly a lighter version than what truly happened. But then the image changed and showed something completely different. It was Elrond. He hadn´t changed so much, but Ereinion could tell that he was much older, much wearier… how much had he lost? He was standing over a great black thing, his sword in hand. But it wasn´t without a blade anymore, but with one made of pure fire. Or perhaps it was made of light…

“You… how…” the giant figure moved, but it was obviously in pain. Too much. “How could you have…”

“The Second Ice Queen managed, why could I not?” the peredhel answered, staring at the spider that was now at his feet. It was surely a great battle, because the lord seemed tired. And hurt. “This is your loss, Ungoliant. She was your nightmare, but I am your Doom. Even so, perhaps I should be grateful to you” he looked at his hand. “If not for you, I wouldn´t have been able to learn to control this. If only for that, I owe you a quicker death than she would ever allow you.”

“Then… what are you waiting for?”

“Nothing, I guess”

The sword was trusted to the front and the Gloomweaver was consumed by the light he so much craved. As the thing screamed in pain one last time, the peredhel stared before putting his sword back on it´s sheath. He walked away, to where a blond tall elf and Erestor waited for him with horses. The peredhel nodded and then mounted, the three of them going away. Where? He wasn´t sure.

“Did you get what we came here for, my lord?” the blond asked.

“Without a doubt” Elrond answered, looking down at his hip where the Kapsarenë laid. “I kept postponing this… How many people could have been saved if I have just done this before? I could have saved Celebrian, saved Ereinion, Celebrimbor and so many…”

“If you want to save someone, why don´t stop what is coming for Aman?” the same elf asked, to a sneer from Erestor and a smirk from Elrond.

“Why to stop all the fun?” he seemed really interested in seeing the world burn. “They did this to themselves, so, when their House of Cards falls, why should I lift a finger to stop that from happening? Besides, they never accepted who I am. Eönwë, that fucker, insisted on calling us Eärendilion when…” oh, sure way to earn the twins´ ire. “I am the one who knows who he is, I am Elrond Nelyafinwion Kannofinwion and I´m proud of it.” He patted his sword “See? I am.”

“You are” Erestor said. “I wish I could see the faces of the Valar when you said that to them, it´s surely going to be priceless.”

“You better stop saying that when you get to Aman, you could get into troubles with the…”

“The Valar can go to the Void for all I care, they are the ones that begin this mess in the first place by refusing to do their work right. They should be glad the love of a mother, a good mother, is so strong… if it wasn´t, then we could all have already face something worse than burning to death” he sighed. “Well, at least I have got a plan B now. If Aragorn and the hobbits couldn´t do it, then I have a way to fight… happens what happens.”

They were expelled on that moment. Elrond had a look on his face before he left the room… oh, no he was going to do something stupid!! He wanted to search for Ungoliant!! All because of that stupid sword!! He was no the only one there that knew that, he only had to look around himself to see the worry on their eyes. So he decided to be the first one to talk, so they could stop panicking a bit.

“He isn´t going to do it, at least not right now” Ereinion said. “Maglor is still very sick and he can´t let his care entirely on Erestor, who only follows his instructions. So long as the Feanorion stays mad and nearly starved to death, Elrond is not going to leave him alone to go on some stupid spider chase.”

“No… but he might do so after he gets better.”

“But please, how long could it take for him to recover his mind?”

“That could still happen” Galadriel intervene. “And when he is recovered, Elrond is going to search for that murderous thing and get himself killed by it, sword or not. But… there is something we can still do. First, distract him with something that could reasonably still help. I think he mentioned some books he still hadn´t have the chance to revise completely… they might work. And get you some help too.”

“I CAN use a spear.”

“Certainly not the one you currently have” the Golden Lady crossed her arms. “Returning to the problem at hand, he might eventually have the time and circumstances to go after Ungoliant. So… we might need some… heavy weaponry to stop him. Really heavy weaponry.”

“You mean…”

“So, I will go to my solar to write to him… and his husband, just in case. I know he will love to have an excuse to break him out of Mandos, if that hasn´t happened yet. So, If you excuse me…”

“No, don´t. I will do it.”

“Ereinion…”

“They are my parents, I would have to do that eventually. And I´m also the ideal person to do so, Fingon might feel the need to rip any letter you send to him before reading it.” He sighed. “I just hope… I find the words quickly…”

-In Aman-

Finarfin didn´t know why he was stalling. He meant… he was a straight forward elf, he knew what to say on any situation, he was a good politician with a good head for the court, who knew how to play with words… but it has been weeks since he and his Queen had determined that he needed to confront his brother with the new information he received and he hadn´t even find the words to say anything to Fingolfin. Why? Why couldn´t he just walk up to his brother and interrogate him? Ask him why he did half the things he did if he didn´t want to usurp their brother or ultimately why he lied to him…

“I would ask why you have been staring at me through the entire festival, but… well, I am already doing so” Nolofinwë said, approaching him with two chalices in his hands. The blond accepted his own, staring at his brother with new eyes. The King wished his brother hadn´t confronted him, much less in front of the entire court, but… “Ara, what´s the matter? You can tell me anything…”

“I certainly doubt so” his brother opened his mouth to counterargue. “Not here. Come with me.”

They couldn´t go far, not in the middle of a celebration like that. The High King needed to be seen in such occasions and if he left, he needed to return fast. Eärwen was a master at distracting people, but even she could only conceal his absence for a short time, which was why they needed to make this conversation as short as they could.

“You lied to me” he finally decided how to start.

“About what?”

“About never giving Fëanáro any reason to think that you were trying to usurp him” he had the gal of looking confused. “I know, Nolo. I found the laws signed by you as a backer. And don´t ever think about telling me that you didn´t sign anything, because I know that you backed several laws in the times of our father. You still do!! So tell me why your name was found in a law that stripped our brother, his son and his WIFE, now widow, of their pensions as members of the royal family…”

“They never really worked as part of the government, so perhaps…”

“Please, Nolo, did any of us really worked enough to justify the money we got from the government?” he raised an eyebrow, knowing that he got his brother. “Now tell me, Nolo, and don´t dare to lie because I am ready to show you the papers, why was your name as backer on a law that stripped Fëanáro´s family of their pension simply because they had the blood of a minority through Míriel?”

“Wha… what…”

“Please, don´t continue with this theater…”

“I´m… I´m not lying!!” his brother was suddenly concerned. “I didn´t even know that Fëanáro´s mother and thus him were members of a minority!! I don´t have anything against minorities!!” really? He was going to go with that? “I… I never wanted to do anything to them, much less leave them poverty…”

“Then why was your signature in such a law?”

“I… I… must have… signed it without reading it” REALLY?!! HE WAS THAT STUPID?!! “I… I only did that for my closest friends, for people with my entire trust… back then… and now too” great, it meant that he was going to have to pay more attention to his lawmaking. Not that he didn´t do that now… “I… I must have done so and… and they… I´m sure they weren´t malicious, probably just wanted to prevent someone from affecting economy or something… oh, Eru, I DID give Fëanáro a reason to suspect me, didn´t I?”

“You think?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Oh, shit… Oh, Manwë, Varda and all of the Valar!!! I´m an idiot!!” you only realized that now? “Wait, Nerdanel is without a pension because of that law too? And she talked to you, putting the fault on…” Finarfin glared at him, sending the message. “Yes, you mentioned the paper… oh, this is bad, this is really bad… Anairë is going to skin me alive if she learns this… and let´s not talk about what Finno might do!! He is still head over hills in love with Nelyo, he surely is going to murder me…”

“That´s what you are worried about?” the blond frowned as his brother stopped himself. “Fëanáro is not the only affected, Nolofinwë, he is just the closest victim to home. When you backed that law you affected THOUSANDS of people. So much that you gave him a backing. And maybe, MAYBE, that´s why our nephews had followers until the end. They were YOUR victims, brother, and Fëanáro was the one that fought you for them.”

“Ahhhh… haven´t thought it that way” the other prince answered. “I… made a mess, no?”

“One way to put it…”

“I know, I know!! I… I will do something, okay? I will fix this even if I have to go around handing out indemnities to all the Feanorian followers in Tirion and beyond. And… and I will work on taking down that law. I mean… I was the main backer, so there must be a way for me to take it down. They would be happy with it, no?”

“I doubt…”

“But please don´t tell my family.” he doubted Fingolfin was even hearing him any longer. In fact, he was sure of that. His brother was mumbling at top speed about what his wife and son would do to him if they knew, that his daughter wouldn´t speak to him again (not that she was doing that recently)… “I will have to go with my son next time to beg for Maitimo´s release. Maybe if I had him by my side…”

“Nolo, wait, there is…”

“Arafinwë” Eärwen appeared on that moment. “You have to come back, husband, the courtiers are already asking for you.”

“Wait, I…”

“Yes, don´t worry, we already finished” Nolo said before he could add something. “In fact, I will have to retire early, so if you excuse me…”

He ran away.

“And?” the Queen asked. “Did you manage to speak everything you needed?”

“No” he answered with a frown.

-In Mandos-

“Why didn´t you tell us this?!!”

“Why did you hide this from us?!!”

“We were poor?!!”

“Didn´t you trust us?!!!”

“What were you thinking, hiding this from us?!!”

“Didn´t you trust us?!!”

“I´M SORRY!!!” Fëanáro yelled at the end. If he could have cried, he would. His sons seemed to be somewhat placated because of that, but they still felt angry at what they had just found out. The issue of the former thralls… “I´m sorry for hiding this from you, but I… I thought I could do this alone. Have been doing this a lot… all my life. And I…”

“And what?” Nelyo asked, the most pissed of them all.

“When you were born and I took you in my arms, I cried and asked you to forgive me for bringing you into this world where you were going to suffer. Just as my mother did when I was in her arms… the brief time I was. I did it with each of you” they all seemed taken aback. “Then I cleaned my tears and I promised myself and you all that I would end it, end this fucking damn madness, before you had to bear the brunt of it as I did. That I would protect your happiness… and I did what I thought would do it.”

“Atar… you didn´t protect us, you made things worse. If we have known what was bothering you, what uncle Nolofinwë had done… we would have known why this was happening and found a way to help you. To protect ourselves…”

“You didn´t need to”

“I had to, I was your father…”

“We weren´t children anymore”

“But you at least had the opportunity to be ones, no? I didn´t get that much” he answered, almost snapping. Again, if he could have cried… “When I was very young, Indis got rid of the only people that ever bothered to protect me from all this bullshit, to protect our people… and then proceed to throw all their work to the trash. And who picked all the pieces? Who protected us, dammit, even if he was only a child and still needed to be taken care of? ME!! My father name gave me some protection, but not actual… I don´t know how many times I was hurt by those fuckers in his plain face and he said it was an accident just because he needed he keep his mental peace…”

“Then why didn´t you tell us?!! You definitely needed help!!”

“I already told you, I wanted you to be children…”

“And we got to be!! But we weren´t children anymore when this all exploded!!” Nelyo approached. “You should have told us and you know it. I´m grateful that you wanted us to be happy and gave us the opportunity to have the childhood you never had, but… that was long over when you started to crumble under the pressure. YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD US.”

As his sons walked away, Fëanáro felt the need to fall to the ground. Perhaps… he should have told them. Then again, he wanted his sons and their children to have the opportunities he himself never had. Starting with the childhood… he had been so unhappy and he had fought so hard to keep himself and the others alive that his blood boiled just at the sight of his siblings and their perfect lives… but he hadn´t stopped… he was the hope of his people, he just couldn´t give up or complain or… or simply look out for himself…

“Stop thinking like that, you are going to hurt yourself” Yulmarion said, approaching him. “Smile a bit more, even if it´s hard… which might be our fault.”

“It´s nothing, I… I did what I had to do…”

“No, you did much more. And for that, I want to apologize. We all want to apologize” the nér grabbed his hands. “I stayed here despite all the bitterness and hurt it would cause my son, we put so much on your shoulders… Fëanáro, you were just a child. A child that deserved a childhood as much as any other. You had a great social conscience and we are very grateful for what, you protected our people and all of us, but… we stole your childhood, this whole problem did. And then… then we continue to put all of this on your shoulders, as if it was your job and only YOUR job to fix this…”

“I was the only one protected…”

“But we should have done more. We put all our hopes on your and simply sat back to watch you fight alone for all of us, to do the most important part of the job completely alone when we knew it was going to be too much, then watch you crumble… it wasn´t fair, my boy, and we apologize for that. All of us” all the eyes in the room seemed to have concentrated on him. “And we want you to know that we are all ready to fight for you this time.”

“It´s too late for that”

“I wouldn´t say that” one of the elves from before, the one that took down the walls, said. “This is the deepest you can go in the Halls of Mandos, no? But I am sure the charming lady in here can guide us to where the Walls are thinner unnoticed. All of us.” Nella smirked. “There I can take them down and we will be free.”

“But… but we would in troubles!! YOU would be in troubles!! Why would you do… you are not even family!!”

“That´s where you are wrong, I AM family. Varilëedur, your grandfather, is my son” in the end, it all came to… “And this family has been crazy since before Arda was fucking created anyway. A bit more of craziness would be just in place for us.”

Chapter Text

Fëanor didn´t know what to say. Frankly speaking, he didn´t know much about his mother´s family past his grandfathers´ generation. Haru Náro lost his family in an orc rage when he was really young. He didn´t remember much from them himself, but Rúmil did and made sure to keep them alive in his mind. They were rather normal elves for the age… and hadn´t been returned. Haru Vari was more complicated. He had been raised by his silent, mysterious mother that disappeared as strangely as she arrived, pregnant with him, to the settlement from the north via a river. She had never revealed anything about her name, not even her true name… Rúmil had given her the name Ettelëa for outsider, but they were all sure that she had other that she liked more. She never told, as she protected it. Just as her many, many secrets. Secrets that seemed more important now than he had ever believed.

“A maia?” he asked in disbelieve. He thought that Thingol was the only one of those, but apparently there were others.

“Yes, an ice maia” Formenkal answered as he caressed the wall they were currently standing in front of, as if that could give him an idea of how thick it was. “From Eru´s own host. Which technically means they were the babysitters of the Vala and the ones that cleaned up after them when they committed mistakes. Which perhaps explains your distaste towards them?”

“My distaste…” that had brought him so many troubles.

“Yes” he continued. “Certainly they were committing a mistake or several when you started to feel the need to tell them to their faces that they sucked. Not that I blame you, they do, but you were too soft. My mother-in-law preferred to dropkick Manwë and hit the others…”

“What?!”

“Well, that only happened when they were committing a mistake… they were committing a mistake in your case, no?”

“You think? They were freeing fucking Morgoth!!”

“See? That´s what I´m talking about.”

And how was he supposed to know? That that feeling in him accompanied with a supreme desire to yell at that birdbrained idiot Manwë was the warning bell that said “the Valar are about to do something stupid, if you don´t want you and your sons paying for the consequences, better get them to change their opinion. ASAP!!”? Not that Manwë wouldn´t do something stupid because of he intervened, the idiot always managed to pick the most imbecilic thing to do. He recognized that even with his mind clouded by the Fading Disease and apparently a curse from his irrational maia ancestor…

“You know, I don´t blame you if you lost it with the old man airhead” there was a collective gasp from his children and several of the elves with them as Formenkal continued to outright insult a demean the Valar. “That´s how Loss called him, old man airhead” wasn´t she a maia? Shouldn´t she, in the Ainur´s rule book, respect the Valar? “My mother-in-law had worse names for him.”

“Course she had” that sounded like something he would do in a temper, so of course she would do it…

“Manwë and his brother took the worst out of her. One because he was an idiot, and the other an evil jerk. At one family reunion, she even told me that she dropkicked Manwë…”

“What?!”

“Yes, crazy thing” he said as he searched around the wall more, not noticing the horrified expression on his descendant´s face. “And broke Melkor´s nose… perhaps a few more things too, never asked exactly what, but he ended up hating her more than any other Ainur. I think he cursed her and her descendance then… or was it Varda?”

“What?!!!!” exactly how insane that woman was?!!

“She and Varda had a few encounters, I remember hearing something about that, but Hríve didn´t exactly pay attention to Little Miss Perfect. She said she didn´t mess with Beauty Queens much, they could break a nail…”

“Please, shut up, I don´t want to hear anymore”

Was he hyperventilating? He must be hyperventilating right now… could fëar even hyperventilate? No matter, the only thing he could focus on was that his crazy maia ancestor had probably insulted all the Powers of the World. If the Valar weren´t all for throwing him and his boys to the Void before, they were going to be as soon as they heard that. And he had been acting like that madwoman… he should have known that his health had taken a turn for the absolute worst… was it too last to get to the deepest place in here and never emerge again? He had already planned that, but he was considering it now. If only those elves from before weren´t keeping him in place.

“Atar, calm down. It´s not something you hadn´t done by yourself…”

“I was sick with the Fading Disease, she was fully conscious of her actions, there is a difference” he defended himself against Nelyafinwë´s words.

“Yes, yes, as you… wait, you were sick?” oh, there it was again. He had thrown another uncomfortable truth before he was ready. “And you didn´t tell us?” how could he had mastered that disappointed look? Ah, yes, he became a parent too. “Atar, you should have told us!! How could you keep something as important as this hidden?”

“Well… I needed to be there, no? I already mentioned that I needed to take care of my people before…”

“How? If you couldn´t even take care of yourself?” Nelyo shook his head. “What kind of disease it is? It affects the mind according to you, but what else?”

“That´s… not important for now, we aren´t going to get out of here any time soon.”

“More so, we can ask Námo assistance to heal you.”

“As if any of the Valar would lift a finger to help any of us”

“That´s one way to put it, but you don´t need them” Formenkal said, finally finding whatever he was looking for… please don´t tell him he is going to destroy a whole wall of the Halls of Mandos again!! That would certainly land all of them into the Void even before Makalaurë get there. “You better take a step back, this is going to be messy.”

Oh, Eru, he was going to do it. Before he could stop it, Fëanáro saw with horror how his great grandfather demolished the last walls. He was so out of it that he didn´t even notice the moment he was carried by another of the elves (he didn´t even want to consider what relationship he had with him) and gotten out. And suddenly they were back in corporate form… and in lots of troubles. How could he had believed he was out of troubles? His blood was nothing but troubles!! He felt the need to crawl back into the Halls and leaving that other world behind, never to emerge again, but then…

“Well, this took more out of me than I thought” Formenkal said, stretching. For a newly returned, he looked strangely healthy, but he couldn´t be not tired when he had demolished the Halls of Mandos. “Queen Hríve said that she could barge her way out of that place in less time.”

What was that madwoman doing locked up in Mandos? Wait, he didn´t want to know.

“Queen Hríve was a maia, dear, and she was much more powerful than any of us could ever be. Didn´t she face Lord Melkor face to face and deemed the greatest opponent he had ever faced?”

It almost felt as if he had disappointed his family legacy, another reason to crawl back into the Halls and never… a hand descended on his shoulder, keeping him in place easily. Apparently, someone already caught up on this and was not going to let him go so easily.

“Anyway, you need to rest.” He approached, trying to remove the shiny thing from his ear, only earning a glare. “I´m not joking, Formenkal, take it off. You just waltzed through the walls of Mandos and by now he must have at least the suspicion that you did it. If you were to die of exhaustion now…”

“Fine, fine” he did so, returning the thing to a small metal case. “I am going to have to rest for some time in a place where no one bothers me…”

“I can look for that place” another of the elves said with a smile. “And there are enough of us to guard you while you rest, nephew.”

“Thank you, uncle” he turned to the other, who still seemed unsure. “Don´t worry, atar, uncle is more than capable of taking care of me. He had been doing so since…”

“I know” he sounded sad. “But I wanted to…”

“We will have time for that later” he extended a hand. “For now, why don´t you take Fëanáro and the boys home? I think the poor boy is going to pass out any moment.”

“Shouldn´t we stay together?”

“Naltaniwë…”

“Don´t try that with me, Lasseniwë. You had more than enough time to enjoy your own son and mine too” he put his hands on his hips. “And talking about him, shouldn´t you be searching for your son?”

“Believe me, when I search for my rat of a son, it will be to enjoy his downfall” he crossed his arms with a smirk on his face. “Don´t worry, brother, go and enjoy your descendants a bit. And be thankful that you actually had ones to feel proud of!! Me instead… more useless bunch of lackwits my son couldn´t have given me. What were they doing instead of being useful? Sitting pretty in Valimar?”

“Brother…” Naltaniwë shook his head and sighed. “Alright. I´m going to take Fëanáro and the boys home. Whatever you are going to do, just tell me ahead of time to be ready to heal whoever is unfortunate enough to be on the way.”

“Don´t promise anything… at least until the rat is killed”

The man sighed and made them a signal. Apparently, he already knew the way they were going to take… or it was just to ask Yulmarion to lead the way, which he did. As they approached Tirion, the elf… his great great grandfather… started to ask questions regarding them. Nelyafinwë answered most of them… with great tact. They had already learned that strong tempers run in the family, he didn´t need anyone to become a victim to one today. His own fire… or was it ice?... seemed to be calm for now. Then the older elf started asking him some questions about his grandfathers and he couldn´t help but answer. And with a small smile in his face, as he remembered the happy days of his early childhood, before Indis showed up.

“Really, a healer? My grandson has great taste” Naltaniwë smiled softly. “I´m a healer too. My wife was too, but she was much more amazing than I was. Every day I wondered what I did for a woman as great as her to want to marry me.”

“Yeah, I wondered that too” the smith said, thinking of Nerdanel. Seriously, what did he do to deserve such an amazing, wise wife? He should have valued her more.

“Women surprise you” he looked up. “I wish she was here… and at the same time, I don´t wish her here. In our people, nissi tended to be far more terrifying than néri. And much more violent in general too. Your great grandmother specially… I saw her beat her seven brothers into the snow until they stopped moving, covered in blood” something told him that he should be grateful he didn´t have a daughter, that he wouldn´t be as lucky as his grandparent to have an exception as his mother surely was. “The female of the species and all that thing.”

“My daughter is very proficient at battle, perhaps more than her siblings” Moryo commented. “But I wouldn´t call her more violent than them, only… I don´t know…”

“My daughter is… never mind, she is just as you said” Tyelkormo said as Nella flashed a smile to him, probably proud of being a terror. “But I don´t think anyone could be more violent than your son over there.”

“Formenkal? Oh, no, he is a sweetheart in reality. More like me than his mother” he laughed a bit. “He is only so terribly pissed that he is projecting Princess Loss´ personality. Not that he is not right in being angry, only that…”

“That what?” Fëanáro asked, but then the other kept his silence. Then he realized that it had something to do with what he was talking with his brother and son before. “Where is this nephew of yours now?”

“Ummmm” he seemed to be buying time before giving up. “Valimar”

“Valimar?” understanding dawned in on Fëanáro. “Is he…”

“Yes”

“And he…”

“Probably”

“So he…”

“Most probably”

“He deserved whatever is coming his way”

“Never said that he didn´t, only that it would be a pity for people to be caught up on…” he stopped himself and his eyes suddenly turned glacial. He surely realized why. A troupe of elves, followed by a few lords he knew came their way.

“I told you, there was a pestilence coming from here” one of them said to his friends, looking in disgust at the ones in front of him. Openly, so even his sons could tell that what they had discussed before was true. “What are you doing here? We thought we had finally got rid of you for good.”

“It was not my idea…”

“What my great great grandson meant was that you should better go away and let us pass before something nasty happens here” Naltaniwë said, his hands slipping into the arms of his returned robes.

“Your… then you must be Telenmacil´s family, no?” the lord who talked smirked. “Just when I was thinking about paying that animal a visit soon. He nearly maimed my son during one of his so-called training.”

“You should know that he could have done much worse.”

“Perhaps I should do much worse to you then” he approached, very sure of himself. “I can present him with the furs of his family and then add his own… that is going to be a pretty cloak for me.”

“Have been threatened worse.”

“Me too” Nelyo said.

“Me too” Tyelko agreed, followed by the others. His poor, poor boys…

“Let me do this, guys, I got it”

“You sure?”

“They are weaponless, what could they do?”

Much, from what he could see from his boys getting into fighting stance. And even more, judging by how that elf on the back was making signals of alert to his friends. By the way, he knew him. He was some kind of big shot from the healer´s guild that always seemed to have something against his grandfather and him… allowed his subordinates´ withhold of treatment to him too. Why was he so suddenly nervous?

“This is going to end very fast…”

“Are you insane!!” the healer he didn´t know how to name yelled. “Do you really think you can last a second against a vanguard healer?!!”

“Vanguard what?”

Naltaniwë suddenly pulled his hands from his sleeves, an ice needle between each finger. What happened next was… incredible. He meant… Fëanáro was aware that not all healers, not even when they were talented, were gentle creatures. His own grandfather had created enough poisons to give all the bigots in Aman nightmares and the Valar headaches and was not afraid of using some of them, but this was in another level. In what seemed like a second, this healer had all those idiots, a veritable multitude of ones, paralyzed on the ground with needles protruding from their bodies like porcupines. When in Angband had he had time to create so many…

“I… I…” the other healer was the only one not hurt. At least something that was not his pride, because he had pissed his pants. And felt to the ground. His hair was also suddenly silver when always before it had been dark… seriously?! He had caused so much pain just to get him?!! He didn´t care about the people he hurt with that?!! “I´m sorry!!! I didn´t do anything… at least nothing without fix!! I only withheld treatment, it was Orneldur and the others that…”

“And you decided to simply follow my rat of a nephew against what you swore as a healer, Mityon? Against your people and the heirs of your rightful queen?”

“What else should I do? Loss was mad when she… I mean… there no way we would have gotten out of there alive if we didn´t run. Or did we?” he looked up at the irate elf with fear. “You look very nice after having spent so many centuries Eru knows where, very in form. How is Captain Albafairë?”

“Not here”

“Thank the Va… I mean, too bad!! Your wife was an amazing healer when she was not kicking orcs´ heads right off their shoulders!! I… I mean…” he crawled to the back. “You are not going to kill me, no? You would be thrown into a cell and who is going to take care of the younger ones after that?”

“Formenkal, my brother, several of our people that returned…” his eyes widened. “Fortunately for you, I am not in the mood for killing” he breathed out in relief. “But that doesn´t mean you are going to get out of this unscathed.”

“What… what are you going to do? Na… Naltaniwë!! Please, don´t hurt me!!”

-In Tirion-

Finarfin was trying to find out what the freak was going on. Some of his courtiers had disappeared from court, then there were news about one of the walls on the outer part of the Halls of Mandos exploding and elves coming out of the hole on the wall, and he still needed to talk to Fingolfin about the fucking laws the fucking idiot had signed without reading the small letters!! And he still had paperwork to do!!

“My King…”

“What?!” he yelled, stress showing. He regained his composure the next second. “I´m sorry, what were you saying?”

“Healer in chief Mityon is here… along with the missing courtiers. He dragged them all the way from close to the Halls. Apparently, they have been paralyzed by some needles” his herald told him, earning a look of disbelieve. Unfortunately, everything was true, as he and Fingolfin found when they saw the spectacle on court.

“Woow, what happened here?” he asked as his courtiers were put on the floor in front of him, their eyes the only thing in them that moved. In utter fear.

“Naltaniwë, that´s what happened.”

“What are…”

“And be grateful that his damn wife remained where she is!! There would have been casualties if she had been present!! Casualties I mean!! Only because I messed a few times with Fëanáro and they had… ehhh, they didn´t listened to that last part, no?”

“Yes, I did” so this was one of the bigots, the king thought as she crossed her arms.

“It wasn´t even that serious, I only… better shut up” he looked away. Yes, that would be the smartest thing to do right now, before Finarfin sent his bigoted ass straight into the Halls himself. And there will be no hole that is going to make him exit there. “But you are going to do something, no? Because if your half-brother is on the loose with all of them…”

“Wait, what were you saying about Fëanáro?”

“Oh, yes, he is out. Through that new pretty hole in Námo´s wall, I think. And he is not the only one. His children, grandchildren, descendants and several followers are back too. I also think that several of them are on the warpath…”

Arafinwë groaned as his brother sighed in utter defeat. Of fucking course, only Fëanáro would be insane or smart enough or both to blow a hole through the Halls´ wall. And now the duty fell to him to scold him, as if he was the oldest. So much for not being a spoiled brat. Anyway, he had an idea of where he could have gone. He meant… where else could he go but to his own house? He doubted there would be many places friendly towards elves like him, much less former Feanorians and their leaders. Not that Nerdanel was going to be very friendly to her husband after all he did, he was sure that she had thing to TALK to him about…

“Let´s go” he grabbed Fingolfin and went away to collect the idiot himself. He contained himself until he reached Nerdanel´s door, where he knocked. The redhead opened her door with a look on her face.

“Oh, you are already here. Come on in” she took a step apart, revealing nearly her whole family, including her husband and most of her wayward brood, sitting on the table as if they had never left. “Fëanáro, your brothers arrived.”

“Half…”

“Ahem!!”

“Never mind” he lowered his head. Apparently Nerdanel already had him in hand. Good.

“What in Utumno have you done now, Fëanáro?!!” the King yelled approaching with his brother on tow.

“Why do you think it is my fault? It wasn´t my fault!!” surprisingly, he sounded like he was about to cry. “I was planning to never emerge again, staying in that dark, dark place where nothing could hurt me and I couldn´t hurt…”

“AHEM!!”

“You know it´s true… and I already promised that my next stop if the Valar don´t throw me back to the Halls and the Void is going to be the Gardens so I deal with my illness. I promised both you and the boys that.”

“You were sick?” Finarfin asked. “Since when?!”

“Since… a long time ago, to be frank” he said, looking straight at the table. “Remember that long travel through Aman I supposedly did with Nerdanel? I… did it, but much later. At least most of it. A great part of that time I spent… in the Gardens, receiving treatment for a potentially deathly disease that affected my mind.”

“Poten… why you never told us anything about that? And if you were starting to show symptoms again and knew it, why not…”

“Nolo” Finarfin knew exactly why. “It was because the law you signed… the one you are still trying to fix before Anairë or Findékanno catches you or she might be the one you will have to be worried about, let alone your son giving you the cold shoulder.”

“Would be funny if I could feel that.”

“You are going straight to the Gardens as soon as this is over” Nerdanel glared at her oldest brother-in-law. “And care to explain all those laws you supported? I know you aren´t a bigot and certainly don’t want my husband and sons dead, because if you truly had been such a threat…”

“I… what are you talking about? I wouldn´t…”

“Nolo, I had the papers and read them, you actually did sign laws that could have potentially put their lives in danger. Also some other pretty abusive laws towards a certain sector of the population…”

“There is no way!!”

“Unfortunately, you did” Finarfin patted his back. “And that, brother, is why you read what you sign. You might consider them your friends, but nobles had their agendas, some of which wouldn´t align with yours… or might outright ruin your precarious relationship with your hot-headed half-brother.”

“I can´t believe it…”

“And talking about stupid things done by older siblings of mine” the king returned to the object of his rage. “Was it truly necessary to destroy that wall? Haven´t you angered the Valar enough for several elvish lifetimes?”

“Like I said, it was not my fault” Fëanáro bemoaned. “One second I was bothering with my own business, waiting for eternal damnation, and the next my crazy great grandfather was there destroying walls and causing snowing all over the Halls…”

“Are you seriously expecting us to believe that you met a long lost relative in the Halls that you didn´t know about?” the blond asked. “If his fëa had found it´s way to the Halls of Mandos, he would have long since returned…”

“Better believe it, because it is the truth” an elf none of them had ever seen, with a cascade of long silver bangs and dressed in one of Fëanáro´s old forging clothes and with a platter on his hands approached. “Ginger water? It´s cold.”

“Please” Finarfin accepted, trying to understand what was happening here. This elf had a slight resemblance to his half-brother… they could well be relatives on the side of Míriel, considering that he was silver haired. The ginger water was also delicious and cold… how could he make it so? “It´s good… ehhh…”

“Naltaniwë” he presented himself. “My son Formenkal is Fëanáro´s great grandfather… and the source of your problem” he sighed. “You see, he was pissed when he found out that his cousin had been using the bigots to make his life really difficult. To say he wanted to slit his throat is the least.”

“That would be kinslaying…”

“And I don´t think he would mind much”

“The Valar would punish him…”

“Formenkal and his wife sent the Valar to Utumno a long time ago” he rolled his eyes. “That if Tulkas didn´t have a syncope first.”

“Why would Tulkas had a syncope?”

“Better question, did he truly demolish the walls of the Halls of Waiting?” Finarfin asked, now feeling scared at the prospect that there could be an ancient, very powerful and pissed elf on his way there. A pissed elf that could share that awful temper of Fëanáro´s. “Where is he right now?”

“I don´t know, he needed to rest for a few days before he could do something that he seems as a fitting punishment for my nephew… and I doubt the people of Valimar aren´t going to become collateral damage.”

“Valimar?! My mother is an Valimar!!” he yelled, getting up along with Fingolfin.

“I would suggest thick furs” the smith said.

“You think?” the blond grabbed his half-brother by the arm, lifting him bodily with concerning ease. “This is your fault…”

“How is any of this my fault?”

“Right, wrong choice of words” he clarified his throat. “This is because you have a fucking crazy family whose craziness you, your sons and several of your descendants inherited. I don´t even want to know what the new generation is up to in the other side of the sea… but that isn´t a concern for now. No, what is a concern here is the older generations that seemed to like paralyzing people and demolishing walls in the houses of Valar…”

“That´s only simple acupuncture, my wife was the one that could actually put the fear of herself in the hearts of orcs and trolls…”

“Great!! More crazy relatives to prepare for!!” he actually threw his hands in the air. Then turned to Fëanáro. “I don´t care how many bad memories you have of that place, we are not going to let innocent people die just because your damn ancestor lost his fucking temper like you did last time. We are going to Valimar right now…”

“Valimar?! Are you insane?!”

“Oh, do you think I was asking you? No, I was ordering you…”

“But… but I can´t go there!!”

“Don´t worry, Nolo and I are enough to keep you alive” the king continued. Had he been less worried, he would have noticed that Fëanáro was being strangely easy to handle and that he hadn´t complained about being ordered around by his younger brother… but right now the pissed ancient elf was the priority. “Now move!!”

The three brothers departed Tirion that very same moment, using the fastest horses Nerdanel had to offer to reach Valimar in time. They reached it after a few days, Finarfin sighing in relief when he saw it was still standing. Fëanáro looked around, surprised to see it unchanged. Even Tirion had suffered some changes that he could see, why hadn´t Valimar? Arafinwë then steered him towards the Findis´ house, where Indis now dwelled. She liked to be there, close to her daughter and several grandchildren… and apparently sharing tea with her parents, siblings and in-laws.

“Good to find you well!! I was so worried!!” Finarfin said as he hugged his mother. Nolo was the next, looking at either woman for injuries.

“WE were worried, ammë”

“Worried why?” then she noticed the presence on the door. “What is he doing here? I mean… he shouldn´t be here, he is…”

“Amil, I already know” she looked at her youngest, who seemed disappointed with her. “You should have told us before.”

“I know, it´s only that… Fin didn´t want to, he thought that if he ignored it, it would magically disappear… it never worked, and I´m sorry I let him handle things like that” she stared directly at her stepson. “I´m truly sorry for that.”

“I am not for my attitude and you know why” surprisingly, she didn´t seem insulted for that. Findis did, though.

“When are you…”

“I have the hot…” Vahayaqueen dropped whatever he had in his hands when he saw Fëanáro there, alive and incarnated. “What is he doing here?! I mean… it can be dangerous for him…”

“We know” Finarfin repeated for his son´s former singing teacher and his favorite uncle. “It´s only that someone waltzed through the Halls of Mandos´ Walls and, before you blame him, let me tell you that he wasn´t to blame this time. It was his crazy great grandfather that apparently decided that it was time to settle scores…”

“Wait, Formenkal was in the Halls of Mandos?” all the eyes turned to Vahayaqueen. How did he know? Finarfin hadn´t mentioned the name of… oh, shit!! “And he is truly… here?”

“Yes… how did you know?” he asked, despite already knowing the answer. The older elf sighed and passed a hand through his hair, which turned silver as the camouflage song was dispelled.

“Yes, I know him” he said as if it hurt him. “He is my cousin.”

Chapter Text

Finarfin felt that the world had become crazy. He meant… Ingwion had always told them that at least he wasn´t actually related by blood to their mad brother, but now it resulted that he was? And Fëanáro was related to the vanyar royal family through Ilwen´s birth father? Who had acted as surrogate father to Indis? Just how much of girdle this family was? He was going to need an actual genealogic study complete with a family tree to navigate it from now on, new found relatives included. He was surprised to say the least, but that was nothing to what his mother must be feeling right if he read her expressions as he should.

“You… you always said such things about Varilëedur, as if you knew him…” she started. What was she trying to get to?

“I never saw him in my life until we ran into each other in the great trip” he admitted. Finally, something that sounded sincere. “But I knew his parents. My cousin… who lived with me for most of my life… and kind of… killed lots of elves in that occasion that… Ilyon probably knows more about it, as I stayed out of the frontline in that time… much to my father´s shame, I have to add.”

“I knew that your people were…” Ilyon seemed suddenly pissed, then something came to his mind. “Wait, that was only one of your singers? I thought there were many!! I mean… how would you cause such destructions without…”

“Kanafinwë could” Fëanáro said.

“And do you see now where he got it from?” Vahayaqueen rolled his eyes. “Then again, it could be from my insane cousin´s even more insane wife or the madwoman that was her mother… I never thought how Imin could say such things to their faces, no one had ever before. It was not a surprise that he was deemed as an enemy to… my people” he said with an expression of disgust. “All of them were angered at his words.”

“So we all deserved to become the victims of a kinslaying?” Kinslaying? Was this where the term came from? This was going to cause more than one headache and Finarfin knew it, already feeling his temple aching. And what was it about descendants of the Cantear and kinslaying?… except for his aunt and her children, of course… seriously, should he expect something like that from that side of the family?

“Well… all the people there had strong tempers… at least in it´s majority. And from a society that pride itself of being warriors… we were born warriors was like a motto for them…” he sighed. It was as if he was remembering something very unpleasant. “Fighting was like a way of life for them. People that refused to fight or didn´t have what they…” he stopped himself as if he was about to say something he shouldn´t be mentioning. “they were some hard and violent bastards, that´s all you need to know. Specially the females…”

“What´s that supposed to mean?” his own daughter glared at him.

“Let´s just say that I had an actual reason to get away from you during your formative years. It was not something I actually wanted, but part of being a good parent is making sacrifices for your children” he said it, very sure of himself, as if Ilwen´s look of disbelieve wasn´t enough to tell him what she didn´t agree with him. “Just look at how well you ended up, how well your life had been… you couldn´t have been able to achieve it if I hadn´t…”

“I think my husband would still find me attractive and worth loving if I was one of those females you so hated.”

“You don´t know what you are talking about!!” he jumped at hearing his daughter say those words. “Don´t you see how they ended up?!!” he pointed at Fëanáro as if that wasn´t something rude to do. “Let´s just say that he and Nerdanel should be glad that you didn´t have a daughter… along with the rest of Aman, because no one in Alqualondë would have survived if you had.”

“That bad?”

“Worse” Vahayaqueen crossed his arms. “The Ice Queen was one of the most dangerous and violent creatures that…”

“And I still would have preferred to be like her and have both parents THAN BEING ABANDONED BY A BASTARD LIKE YOU!!!” woow, there was a temper he had never seen before, Finarfin thought. She maybe had more of those females than Vahayaqueen believed.

“YOU DON´T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT!!”

“THEN TELL ME”

“THEY WERE HORRIBLE!!! ALL OF THEM!! AND THE FEMALES WERE THE WORST AMONG THEM ALL!!! SPECIALLY THE ICE QUEEN AND HER DAUGHTER!!! THEY PICKED FIGHTS AND DIDN´T BAT AN EYELASH AT KILLING ANYTHING THAT WAS IN FRONT OF THEM!! AND MY COUSIN´S DAMN WIFE FOUGHT WITH UNGOLIANT ON DAILY BASIS!!!”

Ungoliant?!! Woow, that was mayor. If that nís had survived enough to have a son while fighting the giant spider that killed his father as often as Vahayaqueen was saying, she must have been very good at fighting, if perhaps more than a bit more violent than it was required. Well, now he saw where his half-brother and his brood had gotten that from. And she must have gotten it from her mother, the Ice… wait…

“I STILL WOULD HAVE PREFERED TO HAVE A PARENT THAT WASN´T A COMPLETELY STRANGER WHILE I WAS GROWING UP!! SPECIALLY WHEN I HAD TO SEE EVERYONE AROUND ME WITH BOTH PARENTS TO SHOW OFF!!”

“YOU GREW UP AMAZING, SPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW I GREW UP MYSELF!! WITH A FATHERE AND A MOTHER THAT WERE EMBARASSED THAT I WASN´T THE PERFECT LITTLE WARRIOR AND A GR… I ONCE SAW MY MOTHER BEAT A TROLL TO DEATH WITH HER BARE HANDS!! THAT WAS THE KIND OF WOMEN THEY PRODUCED!! AND YOU SERIOUSLY THINK YOU WANT TO BE ONE OF THEM?!!”

“OF COURSE I…”

“Wait a minute, both of you” Finarfin interrupted their argument, which had led them both to raise their voices so high that he was starting to believe that they would match Fëanáro at his worst. “Ice Queen? She was…”

“Queen Hríve… and Princess, then Queen Loss, mother and daughter.”

“And your King? Did he approve of his wife and daughter´s attitudes?” Findis asked, ever the Lady. She didn´t know how a Lady, much less a Queen or a Princess could behave in such a way, even in a warrior society.

“King? My dear, there was no King… and I doubt there was a person, male or female, that could stand her attitude. Even her own children scrambled when her or her daughter´s wrath erupted.” He could feel that this nís had a lot in common with his half-brother if not the root of his anger problems. Or his temper. “No, the Ice Queen governed in her own right, since the moment we woke up surrounded by ice and snow. She was Queen, ruler and general of the army that faced Morgoth in the darkest hours of the eldar, before the Valar even noticed our existence” he groaned. “That´s how my father put it to make it sound pretty, of course. We were just a bunch of violent elves facing something that we couldn´t possibly win against. Not even her…”

“You mean that Ice Queen” someone suddenly said. “Hríve…”

“Yes…”

“An ice maia”

“Yes”

“And Tulkas´ sister”

“Yes, she…”

Vahayaqueen suddenly went completely mute, stopping himself completely. He was so worried walking from one side to the other of the room that he hadn´t realized to whom he was answering to. It was none other than Fëanáro, that had dropped another magnesium pouch into the fire. She was what?!! Finarfin exchanged a scared look with both his brother and sister before turning towards his grandfather and uncle. They all agreed that they were in a huge problem than an ancient kinslaying without punishment and a bunch of overly violent elves on the run, including a powerful singer. A Vala´s sister… if Tulkas were to over learn whatever nonsense Imin had said… wait, does this make Fëanáro and his ilk something like Luthien or her own brood? Then why they didn´t have something special about them besides their genius or their violence or… well, Makalaurë was a powerful singer and… perhaps he should stop that train of thought and return to the biggest problem there.

“I… I´m afraid to ask, but… what did he say?” Ingwë asked. “Imin, I mean. How exactly did he offend… the Lady in question?”

“Not a Lady”

“Dearest Father-in-law…”

“Not my father”

“Ilwen, please…”

“Alright, what did that idiotic old elf say?”

It was not the first time the First Father of the elves had been called in idiot in front of someone of Finwë´s blood. And they didn´t mind, mainly because according to the family tale from both Ilyon´s and Ingwë´s point of view, the elf was quite the idiot. And arrogant one that they were all glad had been replaced by his much more level headed descendant. Now more than ever, when they realized he had insulted a maia with violent tendencies that was also a Power of the World´s sister!! Putting them all in danger, by the way, because if Tulkas were to realize… he got really pale when he listened to what he had exactly said to such a woman. He felt the need to bang his head on the table. Great!! Now they were again on a Vala´s bad list!! And it was none other than Tulkas!!

“No wonder he was declared an enemy of your people, if he insulted their Queen in such a way… but did she really had to ask for his head as a trophy?” Finarfin groaned. Even if they were better with the idiot dead… “Couldn´t she ask for him to be brought to apologize to him in person? I´m sure her daughter would have enjoyed a bouquet of flowers or a ring with diamonds more than a severed head.”

“Believe it or not, bringing the head of an enemy was an old and acceptable tradition of my people… and ladies loved the displays of violence and blood more than gemstones or dressed. It got them all… you know. And then Princess Loss loved battle more than anything, so she enjoyed a partner that… shared her feelings if not didn´t mind that about her… or perhaps was blinded by her beauty enough to forgive her… everything else.”

“Certainly, it didn´t help that she was an only child”

“Oh, no, she was the second of eight children” eight children?!! What… really, he was beginning to think that Fëanáro was Hríve come again… “But was her mother´s favorite, I believe, and she also was deemed the most powerful and war inclined, so she was made heir.”

“And your cousin married that n… maia?” Fingolfin finally managed to say something. He had been very quiet since his incredible mistake with the documents was revealed, something that he understood on some level… he also would stay quiet if it had been revealed just how incredibly stupid he was.

“Like I said, warriors. Females loved them, the more they showed up their skills in battle, the more marriageable they were.”

“The Females?”

“Everyone” he rolled his eyes. “If someone wasn´t good at battle or at… well, if you weren´t like them…” he fumed more. “My father spent his life saying I was never going to marry because I wasn´t like Formenkal” oh, he was detecting some envy there? “But look at it now. I have a wonderful husband, a great Queen as a daughter…”

“Not your daughter” Ilwen said again. Finarfin thought he heard a snort in that moment, but it must have only been a product of his imagination. His aunt was too much of a Lady to do something like that, even angry. Besides, it sounded too grave to be a female. “Parents raise their children, don´t… abandon them just like that.”

“Be glad that I did!! If not you would have ended up just like HIM” he pointed at Fëanor, who didn´t say anything.

“Another thing we would have in common, besides the lone parent and the bloodline…”

“Alright, stop there, we have gone besides the point” Finarfin finally managed to gain control of the narrative… and remember what they were supposedly to talk about before they ran out of time. “Your cousin, Formenkal, has somehow come back and broken out of Mandos in a quite literal way. That speaks of his talent as a singer, one that perhaps is comparable if not stronger than Makalaurë´s…” Vahayaqueen was the one who snorted now. “Now, Fëanáro told us about a cousin he wanted to get revenge on. And I doubt he has many cousins, let alone ones that are both alive and live in Valimar” the other looked away. He got him. “Uncle, think. Did you ever do something to warrant his wrath?”

“Hummmm”

“Spit it out” Ilwen said, glaring at her father. “What did you do to him?”

“I might have… used a song… to paralyze him once” he mentioned, slowly as if it physically hurt him to say it. “In front of a Balrog… and several orcs…” what? That sounded like… “it was just that… I had lived in his shadow for most of my life. My father also was oh so much more proud of his genius nephew than his own son, always comparing me to him… seeing him taken down a peg or two… or dragged to Angband…”

“You… kinslayed?” because it was obvious to Arafinwë that that was the way the history had ended up as. He revolved in an uncomfortable way, probably because of all the disbelieve and reprobating gazes on him. Specially the ones of Ilwen and Indis… his daughters. “How could you?! He was your cousin!! And he had a wife and a son on the way!!”

“One that shouldn´t have been born, but he was still leaving a nasty surprise for me to find out after a few centuries” he crossed his arms and pouted like a small child throwing a tantrum. “I know that this is difficult for you understand, children, but you have never lived with one of them, bloody geniuses that do everything well at the first try and can do amazing things without even putting their best effort, getting compared all the time with one of them…” he stopped as soon as he saw the LOOKS Finarfin, Fingolfin and even Findis were throwing his way. “Oh, yes… HIM”

“Yes, HIM” the Noldoaran said, pointing at Fëanáro.

“Tell me that you didn´t have the temptation to kill him at least once.”

“Not literally, much less by a throwing him in Angband” the blond son of Finwë raised an eyebrow. The most this advanced, the most he was seeing that he had been mistaken about this guy. And it made him angry to realize he had put his firstborn in the hands of the likes of him. “You deserve everything that he is going to do to you.”

“He deserved it, just as all his bloody brood deserved what they had…”

“You know, Ara, I also heard something else from Formenkal” Fëanáro said, suddenly reacting to something. And there was that, a spark of the old fire had returned to his eyes, at least for the moment. You simply don´t mess with the Fire (Ice?) Spirit´s babies. “I heard about a bloody plagiarist that stole some of his songs.”

The disbelieve returned to all of them. Vahayaqueen was a reputed composer and singer, he was one of the directors of the music conservatory too and taught most of the musicians in Valimar, it was unthinkable that he… then he noticed him twitching uncomfortably, practically reading in it as he tried to find some excuse to explain his actions.

“You did? You… you stole his songs?” Finarfin got up, enraged. Exactly how many bad things this nér had done and not responded for his actions? Too many already. And that made him even more enraged. “Eru, you are a RAT.”

“I´m not, I just thought that what use besides torturing me could a genius cousin have. Then I arrived to the minyar settlement shortly after marrying and realized that they didn´t have the same… level of singing that my people had, much less the one that Formenkal had, so… why not?”

“Because it was the work of someone else?”

“It was my opportunity to shine, to be the center!! To be the talented one!! And since Formenkal was gone... I deserved my time in the spotlight, much more than he did. The only thing he did good was pleasing a woman!!”

“Oh, please…”

“I´m not going to apologize” he pouted even harder. “I did what I had to do and I´m not apologizing for it.”

“I would say that you should, but as morals was never your strength, apparently…” his lack of moral was appalling, but at least he could trust him to value his daughter´s life… probably. But this wasn´t over yet. “Exactly how many songs of him did you steal?”

“A couple… hundreds perhaps” he admitted through his teeth. “Look, I was never truly the great composer, my own compositions were not as perfect and I needed… he taught me a few of his own compositions, enough to gain me a couple Ages in the spotlight if I used them well, so…” he sighed. “It was not like anyone could stop me, as no one knew where they came from, Not even Fëanáro, who inherited Formenkal´s partitures along with Loss´ own and Hríve´s crown realized…”

“Fëanáro had the…” FUCK!!! Finarfin truly wanted to throttle the damn envious rat in that moment. And he was not the only one when he noticed his mother´s change of expression. It was the first time in his life that he had seen soft Queen Indis so angry, she looked ready to jump over him and strangle him herself!! He breathed in and out as Findis grabbed their mother by the shoulders. First things first. “You need to get out of the city right this moment. I don´t care where, just… somewhere where no one would find you. Or to Formenkal to APOLOGIZE before he discharges his anger over you or your daughter” he snorted. “What now?”

“That you are still too naïve, my dear Arafinwë, if you believe that me going somewhere is going to stop whatever is to come” he smirked. “I´m pretty sure he is aware of what your half-brother experienced here, and my people are not the likes to easily forgive, much less when something like that happens to their children… well, unless they are like me. I could have died and my father wouldn´t have cared.”

“That´s going a bit too far, don´t you think” a voice joined the conversation. In that moment, the very air seemed to shift to reveal a silver haired elf wearing the returning clothes. Vahayaqueen turned very pale as soon as he was revealed. “Well, before. Now I pretty sure don´t care if Formenkal kills you. More, I would be cheering on him.”

“Lasseniwë?” Fëanáro asked.

“You… you can´t be here…”

“Is that how you greet your own father after so much time, Orneldur?” he raised an eyebrow. “What did I do to deserve such a son? Then again, you were never were worth of much”

“I don´t use that name any longer, I´m Vahayqueen now… atar”

“I heard” Lasseniwë said walking around. “But I am not here to talk about that. What I am here for, is to hear your explanations. How could you have been stupid enough to try and torment a child from the Ice Queen´s bloodline. Knowing how could this end up, because I´m sure you knew full well how protective we are of our own, especially our children… and how protective Formenkal and his wife could be” he glared at his son. “Knowing full well how this could end for both you and your own children if Tulkas had realized…”

“He was never going to realize…”

“You sure?”

“He looked like a black haired mirror image of his sister and he never realized!!” he pointed rudely at Fëanáro again.

“I admit, he is not the smartest Vala out there, but he would eventually had found out, I´m sure. And then, there would be much to pay for you and possible your daughter and her children” he smirked then. “And talking about protective, I would advice you to remain indoors, but I doubt that is going to save you.”

“Save us from…”

Before Ingwë could finish that sentence, there was much screaming coming from the outside. They all got up and tried to run outside, but then the roof started to suffer the impacts of something else, something big and… then a particularly sharp and big shard of ice came passed through the roof as if it was made of glass. They all looked at it in fear and amazement, then heard the beautiful voice that was in the air around. Formenkal… Formenkal was doing this… he was attacking Valimar.

“Would he stop if we were to send the rat to him.”

“I doubt it” Lasseniwë said, looking at his nails. “Valimar is the place Fëanáro suffered in the most during his childhood, at the hands of it´s people. So they deserve a good punishment and right now Formenkal is giving back all the courtesies they showed his great grandson.”

“But… but there are innocent people out there!!” the older elf didn´t seem much worried. “And then what? Are you going to keep attacking the places? Like Alqualondë or even Tirion?”

“Who said it couldn´t be done at the same time?”

The Noldoaran blanched as he heard this. Tirion… Formenkal´s ire was directed against Tirion too. And he was attacking right in that moment. And not only his city, but his wife´s birthplace of Alqualondë too, perhaps. He didn´t know how a single elf could cause so much destruction. Fëanáro and his brood could cause it only in one city at the same time, but…

“What is happening here?” Tulkas suddenly appeared, looking as though he was searching something in the room. “I… did you see a female maia with silver hair somewhere? I… I need to know if she… or someone like her…”

“You mean Hríve?” Finarfin passed a hand through his face. He wanted to cry, but he remained strong. This was not the time to cry or something like that. “She is not here, but Fëanáro is one of her descendants… and her son-in-law is somewhere around raining destruction over the mayor cities of Valinor.”

“He… what? How?!!”

“Through Loss”

“Loss?!! I… I heard the rumors, but…” his eyes widened as soon as the information sunk in. “Eru, my sister is going to kill me.”

“Why would she kill you?” Fingolfin stupidly asked.

“I promised to babysit” The Warrior admitted. “And about Loss´ husband… do you think he is going to make enough damage to make Manwë want to punish him in a… let´s just say radical way?”

“Perhaps, but this is not the time to be pondering about something like that. We need to return to Tirion and access the damage before some structures fall over the heads of people. Also to put triage centers and treatment ones for the injured…” he glared at the Vala. “Since your sister is the one that did this, you are going to give us a ride to Tirion.”

“What?” the Vala frowned.

“I know, this is not my style, but… but… please, just…”

“Alright, alright” Tulkas sighed. He better kept an eye on Fëanáro and his brood from then on. After all, he did promise to babysit or something like that. “Let´s go”

“Uncle…” Finarfin turned towards Ingwë, who just shook his head.

“Go, we will take care of the rat. He is going to face justice, this I promise you” he glared at his father-in-law, who recoiled a bit. “And of all the disaster here. It´s my people, I´m their king… just like you are the king of the Noldor. They need you. Go and take care of your people, I got this.”

“Thank you for your hospitality” he said in a rush before going towards Tulkas and Fëanáro. Fingolfin also said his goodbyes and joined them, ready to travel back to Tirion.

As they took to the road, he started noticing the last tones of the song coming to an end. He hoped that the ancient elf had run out of energy for the moment, as he doubted any of the cities would be able to take another blow of such magnitude. He had briefly seen the amount of broken down buildings and injured that were on the streets of the once beautiful Valimar and didn´t even want to see what he could have done to Tirion. It was then that he started to hear something in the air… it was the voice of a female. And a male answering her, the same voice of before. Tulkas looked around, as if trying to discern the precedence of the song. Even so, he didn´t stop. Not even when something sparkly and white started to fall from the sky.

“Is that… snow?” Nolofinwë asked. Snow? He had heard tales of it. Also seen it once, when he had gone to war in Beleriand. He extended his hand to touch it, but the Vala stopped him. Apparently, he was doing something to protect a determinate area around him.

“I wouldn´t do that if I were you, it´s primigenial snow.”

“Primigenial snow?” he asked, truly interested.

“Yes” Tulkas nodded reassuming their advance so they might arrive to Tirion fast. “Loss… when she was born, she sang a song that made shards of ice fall from the sky. It was beautiful… we named it snow, or Loss in the old quenya, and she got that name too. It looked like diamonds… it was only after that we realized that it was deathly. One could very well freeze in it… and primigenial snow is even more dangerous. It´s thousands of small shards of ice, sharp as a knife… could flay a being in minutes.”

“Lovely” and lovely niece Tulkas had.

“Indeed” the Vala sighed. They all looked at him as if he was crazy. “Can´t you heard the song? It´s filled with love. I´m glad that Loss found out someone that loved her so much.”

Finarfin could tell that there had been a lot of love there. The duet that was generating the snow could only come from a couple that loved one another deeply. Unfortunately for the rest of them, the love the couple felt for one another and for their descendants had turned against the rest of the world. Perhaps they had a good reason, but… well, he only hoped that they were satisfied with their revenge and nothing more happened. He would be dammed if something more was thrown into his plate after all of this.

-In Lindon-

Gil galad had fallen asleep on his desk after trying to write the letter he was supposed to write to his parents in Tirion. He knew he had offered this, they were his parents after all, but somehow he couldn´t find the words to do it. And it was just that… they were complete strangers for him, perhaps not out of their own volition, but that doesn´t change anything. Findékanno Astaldo Fingon the Valiant and Nelyafinwë Maitimo Maedhros Russandol the Tall… they were historical figures, completely distant for him. He didn´t know what to tell them… what was one supposed to say to one´s estranged parents? He would have passed this responsibility to Elrond, who knew Maedhros as a father, if he was not the problem…

“It seems like you had troubles” a female known voice said to him. He looked up and saw white all around him. He was dreaming? The only thing that was in that place was he and… a silver haired woman in what seemed like a throne of ice. “I think you are focusing on the wrong thing here. If your brother wants to perfect his hold over his weapon, why not let him? And, in the meantime, focus on yours?”

“And letting his kill himself against Ungoliant? No!!”

“He won´t kill himself, believe me” she smirked. “He might mask it well, but he is too much like my Loss to do something as stupid as that.”

“It´s a danger… and what´s that about Aeglos supposed to me? I dominate my own weapon, I have been using that lance since the Host of Valinor…”

“As if it was a normal weapon and not what it really is.”

“It´s my spear!!”

“And why is it that I still feel it´s connection to me?” she smirked proudly. “That is never going to disappear entirely, it´s true, but it should be becoming a thinner link as it receives and accepts a new owner. That the connection is as strong as the one that I have with the Silmarils and the Scepter means that you haven´t made it your own yet… and that means that you are not ready to fight with it.”

“I am…”

“Without making it yours, won´t grant you it´s power, my power, failing you when you need it the most…”

“It won´t”

“And so will your strength. You will die, child, if you don´t gain full control over that weapon and it´s power” she continued. “If you don´t want to listen, then having your brother at the ready with his own weapon perfected is your best chance to survive, my child” she sighed. “But you are not going to listen.”

“Aeglos is my weapon”

“Aicalosse continues to be mine” she answered. “But why telling you when I can show you? After all, my Lord already told me that I could take a more active role in the song, at least for a few moments.”

In that moment, Ereinion felt the floor disappear under his feet. His eyes opened wide. Had it all been a dream? That´s what he thought until he saw the spectral figure of a woman holding Aeglos in her hand. His lance was shinning as if it was a Silmaril, sending waves of coldness around it. She disappeared in a second, but Aeglos continued standing and shinning for a few hours. In dawn, the lance fell to the ground again. What had… happened there? He didn´t know, but he couldn´t help but believe that there were troubles coming. Not particularly for him or even this side of the world, but… Aman had the protection of the Valar, it had to be fine. No?

-In Tirion-

Finarfin felt the headache grew as he heard his collective family fighting. Surprisingly, in that state of emergency, the Feanorians and their relatives were the most useful, but he guessed they were used to treat injured from the campaigns. Besides, Naltaniwë, unlike his brother, actually made himself of help and started stabilizing injured even before he arrived with his brothers. The Feanorions also were helping around… when not responding or enduring the screams of several members of the family. Mainly Turgon (not surprising) and Idril (surprising). Well, unless you were Maitimo. The tall redhead had Findékanno practically glued to him, crying with how happy he was to recover his husband. Anyway, the both of them were screaming loud enough to compete with Manwë, who was screaming too and…

Damn this headache. Could this get any worse? It was then that she appeared. A woman made of what seemed snow appeared. She smirked and opened her mouth, a song being released from her throat. Manwë and Tulkas tried to stop her, but they somehow couldn´t. Her song invaded the air… and suddenly everything turned very cold and snow started to fall. Finarfin started to shake as temperature dropped…

“What… what is this?” he managed to say as he rubbed his arms over his thin silk robe.

“Hríve” Manwë answered, very serious. “Lady Winter has released her power on Aman. Now Winter has fallen for the first time over the Blessed Realm.”
Arafinwë shook harder, him and his big mouth.

“And… do you think my sister might forgive me after this?” Tulkas asked.

“Depends” Finarfin answered sarcastically. “Hey, Dis” he called for his own sister. “What would you do if I promise you to babysit your children and I didn´t, so they manage to condemn themselves?”

“After or before somehow keeping you alive while eviscerating you?” Findis answered.

“See? And Dis is not as violent as your sister is reputed to be.”

“Eru, I´m Doomed”

Yes… but he still had hope for the rest of them. Hríve couldn´t have condemned them all, no? He meant... surely she had some mercy for her descendants who lived in Aman. She wouldn´t let them die of cold. He looked at Fëanáro, hoping to see him shaking as the rest because of the cold clima, but the smith looked as well as ever. his sons too... don´t tell him... anyway, this couldn´t last long. After all, they all needed to eat. Winter wasn´t a particularly fertile station, so he doubted she was going to make it last long so her children didn´t starve. At least he hoped so.

Chapter Text

“You are saying that you dreamed of my half uncle´s crazy maia ancestor and suddenly your weapon was doing strange things in the middle of the night” Galadriel asked, sounding entirely not like herself. But it was just that the High King´s take sounded so crazy… “Are you sure you weren´t dreaming still?”

“Yes” Ereinion answered, drinking more wine. He had been doing so since he found the bottle that Yárion kept hidden on his office… after he got desperate because he couldn´t find out what that maia from his dream was doing with his spear… “I´m pretty sure.”

“Ereinion…” Celeborn also seemed to think he was dreaming when he saw Aeglos doing weird things in the middle of the night.

“Besides, there were some shiny inscriptions and an eight-pointed star shinning right here” the couple didn´t seem convinced. And he kind of understood. The spear hadn´t done anything like that before. “I´m pretty sure something has happened.”

“Well, it doesn´t seem like that.” The nís sharpened her gaze. “By the way, how is that letter you were supposed to write?” the High King froze as she asked. “You wrote it, no?” he looked away. “Ereinion!!”

“I… I have been trying to find the right words… after all, what can I say to my estranged parents…”

“How about, Maitimo, your other son alive is going to make a huge mistake, kind of the size of the Spider that killed your grandfather, please come immediately? Or, Findékanno, please, give a message to your husband in Mandos or outright break him out of there so he can stop the crazy peredhel from engaging a huge, murderous Spider in combat because of a stupid sword? Something like that should work.”

“I… well, I…”

“You offered yourself to do it, so do it” Galadriel´s expression softened after she saw him so distressed. “Unless you find yourself unable. If that´s truly the case, then…”

“No, I will do it. I… I have to do it.” He answered, trying to sound sure of himself. “In the meantime, you can help me with Ae…”

“Look what I found!!”

All three of them shut their mouths when Elrond´s voice came to them. The peredhel barged into the room dragging another elf by the locks. The elf was grunting in pain, trying desperately to free his silver locks from an iron like grip. At first sight, Ereinion and his companions thought that he was one of the fourth people, but then realized that the silver of his hair was more the shade of starlight than other kind of silver. Also, his eyes were a shade of green that was common in other kind of elves. The Sindar. And now that they remembered, Elrond should be on Maglor´s room at this time of the day, feeding him. Had a sinda of them tried to do something to the Fëanorion? Galadriel and Celeborn´s eyes widened in recognition after a moment.

“Daeron?” what? THIS was the legendary bard of Doriath? The only one that supposedly bested Maglor Fëanorion? One of the Three Great Bards along with the mentioned kinslayer and Tinfang Warble?

“Hello, Celeborn, Galadriel, it´s… been some time.”

“You could tell that, having been missing since Luthien left on her quest” the silver haired lord walked towards his compatriot. “What are you doing here? I thought that you might have already left for Valinor, specially because there weren´t news from you since before the War of Wrath.” His eyes widened again.
“Don´t tell me…”

“I could never!!” the loremaster shook his head as much as he could with Elrond keeping a firm grasp on his hair. “I would never harm Makalaurë…”

“We have very different definitions of harming then” the peredhel commented. The singer looked away in guilt. Ereinion already thought that he was not going to like the answer, but he just had to ask. Specially when Celebrimbor entered the room, robes stained with food. He probably had been feeding his uncle in their cousin´s stead… then maybe left the chore to Erestor as soon as he came.

“What happened?” he asked, returning to the issue at hand.

“I left Makalaurë asleep in his room to get his food. Erestor was taking some rest, so he was alone for a few… anyway, when I returned with the tray of food, I found him over the bed, all over my father, kissing him!!”

“What?!!” Galadriel now seemed angry on her cousin´s behalf. Celeborn seemed between angry and utterly in disbelieve. Celebrimbor didn´t know what to believe and Elrond was just as angry as a son could be when something like that happened. Gil Galad wanted to groan, sink in some hole and never emerge from it again.

“May… maybe I should explain myself?” the doriathrim offered, probably trying to sound normal. And by normal, he meant not a… well…

“Does this even have an explanation?” Elrond asked, raising a very threatening eyebrow.

“Please, cousin, at least hear his version of the history” they all stared at him in disbelieve. “Then you are free to do whatever you want to avenge uncle Maglor´s honor.”

“Fine” the peredhel shook his prey. “Speak”

The loremaster started to sputter, then vomiting words. Apparently, when he betrayed Luthien to Thingol, he wasn´t really in love with her, but… he had met Maglor in the Mereth Aderthad and shared a… he had fallen in love with him. But coming from a very traditional and very bigoted family, Daeron had denied his feelings for the questionable blooded prince. He had been good friends with Luthien for a long time and starting using her as sort of a detour for his feelings for Makalaurë. He knew that she didn´t love him and it was… awkward, but they got over it… or Luthien tried to make him see who the real object of his affections was and actually court him. Unfortunately, Daeron didn´t listen and thus tried to separate Beren and Luthien… then felt really guilty because deep inside he knew that he wasn´t truly in love with her. So, after leaving Doriath for Ered Luin, much wandering and more time away from the poisonous believes of his people and family, he had come to terms with everything. Finally, he decided to court the other bard, but by the time he put everything in order and got the guts, Maglor was already living with “that scary red brother of his” and the “crazy peredhil” in Amon Ereb. I resume, he was too scared to act, so he simply decided to follow him around and watch him from the corners… at least until he and Maedhros stole the Silmarils. For a second he thought that he would have Makalaurë to himself, but then those strange ice things had to envelope him in some sort of tornado and he couldn’t do anything, so he decided to follow… again.

Gil Galad and the others couldn’t believe it. The greatest elven bard in Middle Earth was… a stalker. And Elrond… was that his imagination or that peredhel had a strange likeness to Celebrimbor in that moment? Perhaps that´s how Feanorians looked like when they were about to kinslay… Wait…

“No, Elrond, put that stal… I mean, let Daeron go. I´m going to make sure that he is going to behave” the High King ordered. He couldn´t allow kinslaying to occur on his halls, not even in the first Age something like that happened. “And here I thought that you weren´t adverse to the idea of stepfathers…”

“I don´t mind stepfathers” the younger answered. “In fact, me and Elros were fully aware that we could have stepparents in the future, especially because Nelyo was married to Findékanno. It was almost guaranteed that we were going to have at least one” that pair had planned how to scare his poor father into submission. “But they are only okay so long as my fathers love them and agree with being in a relationship. A stalker doesn´t count. Especially when Makalaurë, who is his target, can´t consent to anything he does. Much worse, he isn´t even able to tell that he is no longer on that beach of his.”

“You are right on that…” or maybe he could use this in his advantage. “You are right. Why don´t you go back to Makalaurë´s room and make sure he doesn´t sneak around in there? After all, he is going to be around.” There weren´t laws against stalking, something he was going to fix after Elrond forgets about Ungoliant. “He was a gifted loremaster, so I can put him to work on those books about Aeglos and the weapons of the ice maiar…”

“Ice Maiar? You were researching ice maiar?” Daeron suddenly joined the conversation again, despite having stayed silent since finishing his history. “Maia told me and Luthien a few histories about them… and they were kind of crazy. Specially the females” he had forgotten that he was Luthien´s childhood friend... damn. “But I don´t remember hearing anything about any kind of special weaponry they used, unless you are talking about the ice swords or other blades they created from it.”

“Anything else you remember about Melian´s tales?” he was reconsidering his idea about locking the minstrel in a dungeon, very away from his beloved Maglor. “Perhaps about a sword and Ungoliant?”

“No… see, she wasn´t an expert on that… she knew the basics, though… but she knew of someone that could explain it to her in case she needed to know. Ossë” he offered. “he must know everything about ice maiar. He used to be an unmaiar, after all, and fought them more than once. Even the Ice Queen and her Children.”

“So… Melian didn´t know much about Ice Maiar, but she knew of someone that could tell her everything about them in case she NEEDED to know” which meant that probably Melian asked as soon as she saw Fëanor and his sons arrive, but then Daeron was grown and didn´t listen to any tales. “Maybe some of us should pay a visit to a certain stormy maia then.”

“Yes, I think so too” Galadriel agreed. That should at least delay Elrond a bit, if not helping them find an alternative method to help him with the sword. Having that stalker there was helping in some way... "I don´t think Ossë is going to be too happy to see me after Elros…"

“After Elros what?” he asked.

“Nothing” the peredhel quickly changed the theme. “It will give me the opportunity to bring all the books I have on the issue thought. Certainly, they might give us some additional information on all the weapons possessed by the family, also to pick up those that I have stored with them.”

“Wait, you have more weapons of the ice maiar?” Celebrimbor asked. “And Books?”

“Yes?”

“Why didn´t you mention them before? We could have used them!!” Ereinion yelled.

“Because they were technically written by the Dark Creatures? It is the same reason I couldn´t work on translating them until now, Ereinion would have made me burn them despite the useful information in them…”

“Alright, I won´t make you burn the books, but you have to keep them away from the general public, alright?” he sighed as Elrond nodded. “Celeborn, Galadriel, can I task you with speaking to Ossë if it´s possible? Celebrimbor, you go with Elrond to retrieve any weapons and books that he had on his power.”

“Where did you keep it anyway?”

“In mine and Elros´ secret place” the peredhel looked at the sinda still in the room. “The stalker also comes.”

“What?”

“No way I´m leaving Makalaurë unprotected in the same city as him while I´m away in such a vulnerable state. First I will chop him with my Kapsarene…” Daeron trembled in fear.

“Alright, he goes with you and Celebrimbor. Meanwhile, I will stay to… do official business” everyone nodded and started to leave the room. Well, everyone except Galadriel, who stared at him. “What?”

“I´m giving you an ultimatum” the golden lady said, crossing her arms. “You have until you return to write and send that letter or I will do it. And add a few things about you too, things that I´m sure my cousin would love to know of your childhood.”

Now that sounded like a threat. He didn´t want to be the target of a scolding like Elrond was going to be or even fussing from parents he didn´t know, much less one from Maedhros. He needed to write that letter immediately. Perhaps also mentioning something about passing a message to Curufin about Celebrimbor not being conscious of how important stranger danger was too? Galadriel told them that it was going to become an issue in the future, at least according to her mirror. Yes, that he should do too.

-In Aman-

Maedhros knew that his father was right as soon as the first giant ice piece impacted near their house. Followed by another and another. And, while he was a little bit glad by that… it meant Fëanáro was back to sanity as much as a disease that affected the mind could allow… but that doesn´t mean this had to happen!! He and his brothers stared out the window in utter disbelieve and even a bit of terror as their… great great grandfather utterly destroyed Tirion, causing by himself as much panic as they did in their worst, kislaying days. This was… he meant, he already knew that their family had strong tempers and that they didn´t inherit that from Finwë´s side of the family, but to see the real reach of that… dammit, atar was right, they were going to get blamed for this too!!

“I think it already stopped” Caranthis mentioned from his place near the window, his girls on each side. They were very calm, especially considering how much they were clinging to his brother since he arrived.

“You sure?”

“Nelyo, I would be sure if ice was still raining over our city”

“Great, thanks” he sighed, passing a hand through his face. “Let´s go outside, they can´t blame us from this if they see us helping.”

“Nelyo…”

“Now”

He knew that his brother was right. It didn´t matter what the truth was or that they obviously didn´t participate, when the people see the usual culprits on the streets, they are going to point their fingers at them without a thought. There was also that… he didn´t want to think about that in that moment. It would put many of his childhood memories and the ones of what he thought was better times to… like he said, this wasn´t the time. There were too many injured people on the streets, too much destruction… destruction that seemed to have evaded some of the houses. Dammit, this guy was certainly powerful enough to last in a match with Makalaurë. And skilled too.

“Nelyo…” Pityo make him come out of his thoughts as he signaled an elf there with an injured leg… no, more than injured. That bleeding needed to be staunched soon or he would die. And there were more littering the streets or being carried out of their houses. Elves injured severely… and others that were already attended along with people in small clusters with supplies. “Nelyo…”

“Carry the supplies here, we are going to attend the injured” he started ordering his brothers around, to bring things that could be used as bandages along with whatever they had that could be useful and healers. “You!! Bring the supplies you have here!! We have to attend them right now!!”

“Why… should we?” there was an ominous silence as soon as one of the elves answered that. Maedhros stared at them without understanding. And it was just… why was he asking that? Didn´t elves of Valinor help each other? “Yes, why should we? Why not only let them bleed out on the streets? They would have done that if it was us.”

“Yes, why should we?”

“They killed my wife!! And said she deserved it because she was a Gnome!!”

“Fucking bigots!!”

“They deserve this!! Just as they deserved the Kinslayings!!”

“Kill them all!!”

Shit!! Just a few hours in the known and he already realized that this fucking shit was bigger and messier than he had ever imagined. With reason his father went insane fighting it!! And it was not only fighting the bigots, but trying to make sure that things like what they said to the former thralls and their families didn´t end in violence… which they eventually did, but it kind of was because they went all insane for different reasons… but that wasn´t what was important now!! Maedhros watched as both groups screamed at each other, the ones that were considered normal and the outcasts. Both believed the other should be suffering what they suffered or were suffering now. But what the ones who considered themselves normal didn´t realize was that their supplies were limited. After all, who but the outcasts were injured in such a place as Valinor? Which meant that ones who had at hand the things that they needed to threat the injured, the ones that had everything at hand to save lives in the greatest of needs were the outcasts. And they continued…

“Fucking Animals!!”

“Bigots of…”

“ENOUGH!!!” he screamed at both groups. He just… needed to scream. They were acting worse than children!! Worse, worse than his brothers when they were kinslaying mad!! He glared at both, because… this has been enough. “It´s enough, the both of you.”

“I don´t take orders from a…”

“A what? Were you about to say Gnome?” he crossed his arms over his chest. “Because I don´t mind. I might feel ashamed because I´m a Kinslaying, but never for being born how I am. To who I was born. Much less now that I know the good things my parents did” he glared at them. “At least I wasn´t born to someone as stupid as you that hasn´t realized that he didn´t have a shit to staunch his own bleeding while they did. And healers to both!!”

“We are never…”

“I wasn´t talking to you” the redhead turned around. For Eru´s sake, he wasn´t ready to do this. He was a general, not an orator. That was his father and Curufin´s forte, not his. “But thank you for reminding me that you were there, because I needed to talk to you and those like you too. Because, are you really conscious of what were you going to do? You were going to allow people to bleed to death in front of you…”

“They would have done the same if it were us” there was a seriousness in his voice that froze the very blood in his veins. And not in the same way as everyone, it was… something weird. Something that threatened to escape from him and reach those assholes. Because he could tell that it happened before. In front of that nér´s eyes. “You father did as much as he can protect us, but it wasn´t enough. It was never enough. And it wasn´t his fault. No one could.”

“That doesn´t make everything right…”

“Are you talking about this or about the Kinslayings?” he shrugged. “Because in my books, they were their just deserve. They did… they did that our people daily, in both sides of the sea. It was time they were the ones that received the blow from our side, it was bloody time they felt what it was to live with fear…”

“You don´t know what you are talking about.”

“I don´t? Maybe you are ashamed of them, but I am not!! It was bloody time that someone gives them back everything…”

“THEY WEREN´T RIGHT!!”

“HOW COULD YOU SAY THAT?!!”

Maedhros suddenly stood face to face with someone of his own family. And it wasn´t none of his brothers, not even Celegorm and Curufin, who were cruel enough to say something like that when they were trying to ignore their pain. No, it someone too young to have ever participate on the Kinslayings. His eyes, though, identified him as someone from his family. The same steel grey eyes as his own stared back at him. Caranthir tried to pull the boy back into the fold, but he shrugged him off and advanced on Nelyo.

“Avranc…” Moryo tried to get him to return again.

“How can you say that, uncle? How can you say that when it´s the moment our family history I have been most proud of?” Avranc, Moryo´s granddaughter´s child. He was so grown up now… he hadn´t seen him since he was a little thing. He looked so… so different now. Innocence was completely known, replaced by a flame he had seen many times before, one that kept growing to become madness. “You know why he changed sides? Why he sided with uncle Curvo and uncle Tyelko in the attack on the sindar?”

“Avranc…” Maedhros would be lying if he said he wasn´t interested. After all, Caranthir had been firmly against that plan until a few weeks before. Ambarussa were neutral, and sided with the majority most of the times regarding that, so he knew why they sided with their brothers, but Caranthir…

“Díor sent his troops to Brethil, to kill everyone” the boy continued. Maedhros looked straight at his brother, trying to see any indication that it wasn´t true, but only got grief. Oh, Moryo, why didn´t he tell him? “And not just the warriors, no… EVERYONE. Men, women, children, old men… I saw my own mother getting crucified and then being killed with a knife to the heart, with a nice note from that BIGOTED BASTARD saying that he did it, WHY he did it… and if Sagroth hadn´t pulled me away, shielded me with his life, then I wouldn´t have gotten out of there alive and…”

“Avranc, it´s enough”

“No!! It´s not enough!! Why should we help them when if it had been us, then they would have let us dying on the streets!! When they didn´t even consider us better than animals!! I saw my mother killed and they consider it´s normal!! For our people that´s normal!! How many more children like me, how many others have seen…”

“BECAUSE IT´S NOT RIGHT!! NOT WHAT THEY DO, NOR WHAT WE DID!! NOTHING OF THAT IS RIGHT!!” Maedhros breathed in and out one time before advancing on his (many times) nephew and pulling him into a hug. The boy completely froze. “For Eru´s sake, nephew, I´m so sorry.”

“There is nothing…”

“There is. And it´s not because of them, it´s because of you. I´m sorry for you and for all the children like you that had to grow up, to live something like that… what happened to you robbed you of something no child should be robbed of. And I´m so sorry for that, also sorry that I wasn´t there with you to help” he extended a hand towards his brother. “I´m sorry, Moryo, also for you. No one should be robbed of his children like that.”

“Thank you, Nelyo” his brother answered in a whisper.

“But I also know, from experience, that two wrong doesn´t make one right. And what we did was wrong, what they did was wrong… but you know what the stupidest thing we did was? The Kinslayings. And you know why? Because we descended to their level” everybody looked at him without understanding.
“Returning the blow didn´t make us better, only made us equal to them in our wrongs. We descended to their level… and I´m truly sorry for that.” He released Avranc and looked around. “Which is why I ask you, don´t descend to their level too. Or if you already did, then don´t do it further. Be better than them… show them this community isn´t like them, that we are better… please, it´s what my father, when sane, would want. Still want to.”

“Sure… I guess” someone said, grabbing a medicine bag from one of the healers and passing it to someone else. This didn´t seem so sure… at least until Nelyo gave him a look.

“Only for you… and for your father”

“Yes, of course” Naltaniwë appeared, grabbing another one of the bags and kneeling down near one of the worst injured. “Let´s see… you are lucky, it didn´t touch the femoral artery, but still damaged one or two important veins. I will have to…”

“Don´t touch me, you Gno…” a translucent needle pierced his neck and he slumped, completely paralyzed.

“Like I was saying, I´m going to have to do some important work to stabilize you, so you better stay still” the healer continued, starting to do his work. The elf looked around with panicked eyes, unable to even move. Nalta sighed. “You certainly don´t believe that I was able to stabilize stupid warriors in the middle of a battlefield and do my job as a healer without knowing how to paralyze them, no? With all of them complaining and demanding to go back to the battlefield, that they are fine even when they had a nearly ripped out leg… awful.”

“Wha…”

“What did I miss?!!” Mityon arrived at the spot of the events, panicking when he saw all the destructions around. “What in this Eä did your son do now, Naltaniwë?!”

“Oh, Mityon, you arrived just in time. Come on, help me a bit, maybe you could start with the most urgent cases.” The other healer seemed to be doubting. “Or you could stay there and hear how you and a bunch of bastards manipulate those idiots to do their dirty work…”

“Alright, alright!!” he kneeled down in front of another one. “You don´t have to tell it to the winds!!”

“Maybe that´s exactly what we need to do” Curufin whispered to Celegorm. “Along with a few things.”

Maedhros heard and them a warning glare. He won´t allow them to repeat past mistakes. But frankly, he was more worried about Caranthir than them. After what he heard Avranc saying, he wouldn´t be surprised if there were a few buried emotions surfaces. Specially considering what he knew his grief could do. Not that he blamed him for wanting to burry his sword or split the guts of the bastard that ordered the murder of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, but…

“WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED HERE?!!” another known voice came. They all turned around and found Turgon coming with his daughter, son in law and grandson in tow. Dammit!! Eärendil was wearing the Silmaril. Maedhros felt some sort of pull towards it as soon as it came into view. But it was not in the usual pull, it was something more like… like… the sensation of freezing in his blood returned, stronger. He had never cared to stay much time with those things when he could and after the Oath… he was never closer, so… “WHAT DID YOU FUCKERS DO NOW?!!”

“It wasn´t us, Turno”

“Like Angband it wasn´t you, as who else could have…”

“RUSSO!!!” another voice joined. Before he could move his head towards it, Fingon collided with him. His arms were around his middle, hugging him entirely. He sobbed into his neck, crying loudly how he missed him. Nelyo returned the hug. He had missed his husband too, a lot. A snicker brought them out of their heartfelt reunion.

“Less than a day out of Mandos and you are already throwing yourself at my brother…”

“If someone is throwing himself at someone, it´s me, so fuck off, Turno” Findékanno said to his brother. “Russo, I´m so glad to see you again…”

“I´m glad to see you too, Finno” then he grasped his hands, realizing something. “Have you heard something about the children? Elrond and Elros… or Ereinion…”

“That High King of the Noldor in exile?” he seemed estranged. “I know that he claims to be my son, but we never had children…”

“We did have a son” Maedhros answered, making his husband shut up. “I gave birth to him shortly after you died in the Nirnaeth.”

“You showed up to war pregnant?” why was he getting mad at Nelyo? He was the one that didn´t ask about their son!!

“I didn´t know I was pregnant then… but surely you knew about Ereinion” Findékanno shook his head. Apparently, no one had told him. “How could you not have known? Círdan and Artaresto knew that he was ours!! Even if you didn´t reach one, surely you would have been able to reach the other!!”

“I WILL talk with Orodreth” those words promised a punishment for the former king of Nargothrond. Good. “But now I want us to enjoy the moment. Russo, I thought I would never see you again…”

“What is it to enjoy when the kidnapper of MY grandchildren gets to go scotch free?” Fingon´s niece interrupted them, advancing on them with her hands on her hips. With Eärendil… wasn´t she afraid that they might do something to obtain it? To take it from them? “Don´t you even dare to move, you monster. What you and your brother did to those children, to warp them into…”

“Neither of us would EVER have hurt Elrond or Elros”

“Just like you would have never hurt those people at Sirion?”

“We only wanted the Silmaril!! We asked and asked for it to be returned peacefully, but it was never done!! And perhaps we should have expected that, we would have definitely expected that if we knew that thing was cursed…”

“You continue lying” Idril said. “Eärendil has had that Silmaril for centuries, surely we would all know if it was cursed…”

“But it is” the redhead continued. “Or at least the object atar made them of was. After all, it was the crown of his maia ancestress, the Ice Queen…”

“What?!!” all the eyes turned towards the origin of the voice. Eönwë was there, looking very scared suddenly. “Please don´t tell me… that it was a circlet of silver and red diamonds, with a central piece of red diamond in the shape of an eight pointed star” Nelyo nodded. It was a fitting description of his ancestress´ jewel. “Take it off. NOW”

“What?” Idril was suddenly scared.

“That damn woman was very good with cursed and had a facility to make them, or keep them hidden… the Valar themselves had troubles detecting her curses too. And they tended to be pretty strong, especially when the things they were guarding were important to her” the herald looked very scared. “And that circlet… it was a gift from Eru himself, so… so…”

The next thing that happened was that Idril snatched the circlet from her son´s head and threw it towards the Feanorion´s way. Caranthir and Avranc barely managed to dodge it before it hit either of them square in the gut. Someone approached to try and take it, but Eönwë stopped them. Apparently, none but a descendant of Fëanor could. As Curufin picked it up and started analyzing it, Manwë appeared and started yelling along with Idril and Turgon. Because, apparently, that Eärendil got cursed was their fault. As if they hadn´t put it clear that keeping one of those was a bad idea.

“We are here” Finarfin announced. The High King and his brothers looked worriedly around, but everything seemed to be okay… at least for now. The bigots were accepting help and the former thralls were reluctantly helping… at least until that woman made of light appeared and everything started to get cold. The kind of cold that apparently descended over Himring in winter, not that he ever felt it. Cold… he had never felt it truly. “I´m glad that everything is going fine, but now we need to…”

“YOU!!” Manwë suddenly descended on them, no matter that Tulkas was with them, and grabbed Fëanáro´s arm in an iron grip, dragging him to the center. The former High King made an effort not to voice his pain, but he failed. His followers and sons hissed. “I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THAT YOU WERE HER BLOOD!! ONLY SOMEONE OF THAT WOMAN´S LINEAGE COULD CAUSE THAT AMOUT OF TROUBLES!!”

“Let him go, Manwë” Tulkas growled.

“Why do you suddenly care? After everything Hríve has done…”

“She is MY sister. So drop him, or the arm that´s going to end up being snapped is yours.”

“Your sister… if you haven´t realized, that madwoman you call your sister deserves to be in the same Void as them, in the same Void as my brother. Haven´t you seen what she and her brood did to this Eä? To us? It´s so bad, that I doubt she could make anything worse!!”

As he screamed, a chunk of ice the size of a small ball fell from the sky right over the King of Arda´s head. Then another and another… and all around. Everybody started screaming. Maedhros only sighed. Were you saying, Manwë? Anyway, they spent the next few hours evacuating the injured and making sure everyone was under a roof, away from harm, as ice chunks fell from the sky. Once the evacuation was over, Nelyo left his brothers watching over everything to go tend to his father. He was right when he guessed that Manwë had been gripping his arm too hard, the thing was purple right where he had been doing that. He also wouldn´t be surprised if it was broken.

"It´s not broken" Fëanáro said, allowing his son to take another look. "I have had enough broken bones to know that."

"From Valimar?"

"Yes" the smith looked away. "Nelyafinwë, I... I want to say it to all of you, but mainly to you. I´m so sorry, my boy, so very sorry for everything I did to you and your brothers. I should... I know that what you are going to say, that I was sick, but... that´s no excuse. I should... I should have known that it was a mistake and that you shouldn´t get involved."

"Atar..."

"And I also wanted to tell you another thing" he grabbed his hands. "Thank you, my boy. I know that my legacy is tainted, but... protecting our people... I have been doing that since I was very little. That is the true work of my life, not the Silmarils. The Silmarils were means to an end. And my legacy... the only legacy I truly needed was you all. But thank you, thank you for not repeating the mistakes of the past, thank you for giving my legacy another mean that wasn´t violence... it should have never been in the first place. I... I utterly ruined it. Thank you for not allowing it to continue sinking" he chuckled. "You know, at the beginning I was all against violence between us. Also believed that it would be better to solve it another way, to not sunk to their level."

"Well, I only did what I thought was right. And I´m glad to know that you had the same vission as I" and so very glad that he wasn´t the madman he remembered from his last few days. He wasn´t the same as the father he remembered from his childhood, but... he would be surprised if he was surprisingly healed, considered that Námo didn´t visit any of them in his Halls. Nor cared to heal them. "Let´s do better from now on, atar."

"Let´s..."

"Fëanáro!!" Finarfin suddenly entered in that moment with a paper in his hands. "Eärwen just told me that Alqualondë was attacked" Alqualondë? But... they were innocent this time!! They weren´t even close to Alqualondë in the few hours they were free. "And not only by the ice chunks and winter that all the other cities had been attacked by."

"Then what?"

"Well..."

Chapter Text

Maedhros still wasn´t used to have two hands at his disposition. He kept forgetting that he now could open the cabinets with one hand and keep stirring the hot chocolate with the other. Considering that he spent nearly the entire First Age with only one, it wasn´t that surprising that he wasn´t used to have both again after a few days, but he wished he could do just that to speed things up a bit. He tasted the hot beverage he prepared, a little bit more of sugar seemed to be in order. The Feanorion let go of the spoon and attempted to grab the… dammit!! He forgot he had two hands again!! He grabbed the spoon again and the container of sugar with the other, adding the ingredient. He tasted the beverage again… perfect.

He left the kitchen after serving the hot beverages, enough for his mother, aunts and uncles. The redhead wondered again why his uncle Finarfin had cacao in the storage. From what he remembered, most of the people outside his close family thought that the thing was useless… well, his father must have introduced his half-brother to chocolate at some time and the future High King loved it. The former Lord of Himring entered the room when they were discussing the situation at Alqualondë… it doesn´t sound good.

“… for some reason you are not getting blamed, by Olwë at least” Arafinwë´s voice was the first that reached his ears. Why were their names even mentioned in relation to that? They had kinslayed there before, but there was no way that they were the culprits this time. “Your name was unfortunately mentioned and for some reason he believed you should hear something, so he is coming.”

“Please don´t tell me that a Cantear was the one that rained ice over Alqualondë” his father´s voice sounded tired, so much that it actually scared him a bit. He hadn´t heard something like that since his own voice before he committed suicide. “Guess I will have to prepare to receive all his complains…”

“Don´t even think about it” Nerdanel was the next one that spoke. “The only thing you are going to do in the morning is go to the Gardens of Estë to seek treatment for that disease. You have been postponing that for far too long… in the First Age.”

“There is work to be done here. If you haven´t seen it, Nel, it´s snowing out there. Something that people still blamed me for.”

“I don´t care and most of those idiots deserved it” his mother spoke with an authority that he believed his father wouldn´t be able to disobey. “I already contacted a person you know well and she has separated a bed for you. My father has packed your things too, so we are ready to go as soon as you wake up.”

“Please, you might need me here. No one is prepared for winter in Aman…”

“Manwë said that he was already taking care of that, so don´t worry. Whatever the source of your terrible temper did, he will fix” Finarfin picked it up for his sister-in-law. “And you can focus on your recovery, which you should have done as soon as you noticed your symptoms getting out of control.” All of the family seemed to be of the same opinion… and his father didn´t have an option. “I suggest you retire to sleep and leave everything else to us, we can handle it.”

“But…”

“No buts, Curufinwë Fëanáro” the sculptress said, her voice dangerous. “You are going even if I have to break your bones and drag you there myself.”

The expression on Fëanor´s face was a little… ugh, that wasn´t something he wanted to know at all. And no one knew where Moryo got his weird tastes in women. Or weird proclivities. Not wanting to think about it anymore, he entered the room with the hot chocolate. All the elves there looked thankful except for his atar, who didn´t seem to understand something. And frankly, Maitimo didn´t either. All the others there were complaining about the cold, but he didn´t feel cold at all. In fact, he hadn´t felt coldness in his life, not even in the supposedly chilling winters in Himring…

“Seriously? You aren´t cold?” Fingolfin asked as he buried himself in the cloak he was using. Something that seemed to have not been used since the First Age. “How? It´s freezing out there!!”

“He never feels cold” Findékanno said. “Believe me. I spent a winter with him in Himring, buried in skins and still shaking like I was still in the Helcaraxë and he didn´t seem bothered at all. I always considered that weird, but… I guess I know now.”

“Wha… ah, I see” Finarfin drank more of his hot chocolate. They all looked thankful… really not the reaction he expected once any of them got out of Mandos, much less after what his ancestress had done. “Anyway, we should all call it a day. Everything is being handled and once Manwë clears the snow, everything is going to be settled. We also have to send Fëanáro off in the morning.”

“Ara…”

“Let´s go to sleep”

“Alright” Maedhros answered, gathering all the cups to put them in the tray. “I guess that we should return home, atar. You have a long trip in the morning and… what?”

They all stared at him a bit weirdly… oh, he had forgotten they had a lot of servants to do that. It was not as if they didn´t have servants in Himring or Amon Ereb, but they were less, so Maglor and him had to do a lot of things themselves. Luckily, in Fëanáro´s home was the same, so they knew how to take care of themselves. He left the tray by the side, a bit awkward. They continued staring… what had he done wrong now?

“Eh… Russo, do you remember that we are married, no?” Fingon said, putting his cup by the side. The redhead nodded. What was he trying to say? “And that, as a married couple, it´s normal for us to move out of the family house and live together?” oh, he understood now. “I have a nice house close to the beach, it´s already prepared for the both of us. I took some liberty to take some of the things you had in your parent´s house there and prepare some other things that you would need… also most of your belongings from Amon Ereb?”

“How…”

“Someone was nice enough to send them here” it was… strange. To think that he won´t live with his parents or his brothers. Most of his life, they had been closer and, while he loved his Finno with all his heart, they had never truly lived together for long periods of time. It was going to be strange. “Come, we can talk in the house.”

“Sure…” he looked at his mother, silently apologizing for not being able to help her keep what was going to become a nuthouse soon under control. Nerdanel shrugged it off, telling him that it was going to be alright.

Fingon and him left the palace, horses already waiting for them outside. They would travel by carriage, but with the snow it was impossible. Nelyo wished his ancestress had found some other way to punish whoever had crossed them. While the bigots deserved a bit of suffering in his books, he was sure they had done a lot of damage to innocent people and deserved their scorn. There were also innocent people they didn´t know in Aman that didn´t deserve to be buried in snow or suffer from cold, whatever it was…

Anyway, his new house looked fine. Finno truly had outdone himself when designing it. It had the classic architecture of Valinor, but also a touch of Himring. It was spartan, but comfortable at the same time, and the best, with a great kitchen in which he could cook a great dinner for his family. Maedhros liked it a lot and hoped that it somehow helped him to gain his sons´ forgiveness someday. Fingon excused himself quickly after showing him the master bedroom, to make him a meal of lembas dissolved in milk, the only thing that newly returned could stomach for the first few days. He went directly to the wardrobe, feeling the exhaustion washing over him. This body was so… it didn´t resist anything. The redhead reached for the first thing in the sleeping wear section, already wanting to get out of the Mandos robe…

“Russo? I have the…” Finno practically ate his words as he saw what his husband was holding.

“What is this?” Nelyo asked, his expression serious. He was holding what seemed like an embroidered sleeping garment, only that it was see through. It was also severely shorter than a sleeping robe should be. Anyway, he only wanted to go to bed, so he sighed and changed quickly, earning a look of surprise from his husband.

“Are you truly wearing that? I mean… I didn´t have anything against that” in fact, he was giving him an appreciating look that made him very aware of his not-so-secret thoughts. “But it´s freezing. And the hearth could give out in the night.”

“I don´t feel cold, remember?” he got into bed. Fingon pulled what seemed like a collection of cloaks made of skins and put them on his side of the bed before joining him there. In fact, he recognized some of them. “Someone truly sent my things to you, no? Did their names, for some reason, begin with El?”

“Yes, the twins sent them with their regards. They also said that your sword now belonged to Elros and you weren´t getting it back.”

“I… think that they should throw it into the ocean.”

“They also kept some other things.”

“Hummm”

Maedhros was exhausted. And the bed was so comfortable, so fluffy… it was better than anything he had slept in since his visits to Barad Eithiel. And he had Finno by his side again, hugging him. If his sons were there, everything would be perfect… the next thing he knew, he was rudely woken up by his door being thrown down by what seemed to be a group of maiar. He barely had time to snatch a blanket to cover himself before he was dragged to Taniquetil. His brothers and father were the next to arrive, all of them looking like they had been dragged out of bed just like himself. Moryo had all his descendants around and Tyelko a silver haired boy hanging from him… who was he? Curvo seemed to know him… also to be rolling his eyes at his behavior. If they weren´t in such a place, in such troubles as they obviously were, he would ask…

“Manwë!! What is the meaning of this?!!” Tulkas entered, looking angrier than ever before.

“Oh, shut up, I should have done this long ago. In fact, I should have done it before that madwoman spawned for the first time!! And it wouldn´t be anything but preventive measures. If that rebellious maiar hadn´t…”

“Please, you should be thankful that she did…”

“I shouldn´t be thankful of nothing!! And nothing you could ever say would stop me from throwing them, all of them, into the Void where they belong!! It would be nothing but sweet justice for their victims and their just deserve after…”

Before he could say something else, Manwë was kicked from behind. He felt from his throne, his face slammed into the ground as someone else stood on the back of his head. It was a nís with silver, red and black hair… Tyelko´s daughter. And now he remembered where he had heard of the boy that refused to let go from his rapidly paling brother. It must be her older brother, Farneluhte. Returning to his newfound niece, it didn´t bode well for them that she had slammed the King of Arda´s face into the ground with a kick. Specially when they already knew that their ancestress, who Manwë seemed to hate, had kicked the very same Vala before.

“Woow, this is like the third generation of that family that kicks him. At this rate, it must be a rite of passage for the females of the Ice Queen lineage. Don´t you think, Manwë?” someone spoke. It was a silver haired, steel eyed person, one who could only be a maia. But… weren´t ice maiar all dead?

“I´m going to throw them all into the damn...” Manwë was slammed again by an uninterested Nella´s foot. Fuck, they were all going to be thrown into the Void, no? Sulimo managed to raise his head after a moment. “Helcaraxë… I should have known that one of you rebels were close to them. Specially because of that bridge.”

“A good work, don´t you think?” he smiled. “I was so sad that those I build it for didn´t use it, but I had the chance to prune some bad weeds.”

Was… this maia serious? He had just admitted that he committed massive murder during Fingolfin´s trip to Beleriand!! Including Elenwë!! Turgon, who had arrived just in time to hear the confession, seemed to catch that too, because he now looked murderous. At this rate, that ice maia was going to end up along with them in the Void.

“Anyway, what is this reunion for? Surely not for the mild winter storm that it´s outside.”

“You guessed right” Manwë said as he picked himself up. Nella had finally got down from his head and allowed him to return to his seat. “As you know, the madwoman you call Ice Queen has made winter descend on Aman. And not any kind of winter, but one of the strong ones, with snow and everything her equally mad children though about to torture people during their mother´s time of the year. I have tried to lift her work, but nothing seems to work…”

“Of course, you couldn´t even win a verbal debate with her back in the day”

“As if she ever allowed me to open my mouth!!”

“My point taken” Helcaraxë looked at the Valar with a daring face. “My Lords, My Ladies, My master would like to address the Ring of Doom now.”

“Your master? Are you talking about the Ice Queen? Because she doesn´t have the authority to be anyone´s master” Manwë said, very sure of himself. By his side, Eonwë seemed to be paling more and more as the seconds passed. “Only Valar can have hosts serving them, not a maia. Whatever that madwoman said…”

Helcaraxë merely lifted his hand and a big mirror of ice appeared. Then, the image of a person… or what seemed to be a person appeared there. But it wasn´t Maitimo´s controversial ancestress. It was… hard to describe who appeared in that mirror. All the light that shone from him seemed to be deforming his or her factions, if there was even a way to describe their faction. At their appearance, even Manwë seemed to pale. There was only one person who could make the King of Arda behave like that.

“Now my master, Eru Illúvatar, will address the court” Helcaraxë announced smugly.

“My… My Lord…” Manwë said, shakily.

“Was it really that surprising? That I might have a host of my own too? A host that responds to me and only to me?” Eru´s voice wasn´t possible to describe. It was… something their ears were not designed to hear. “I also heard you slandering my chief maia, Manwë, after everything she had done to fix your mistakes.”

“My… My Lord, I apologize. And I apologize to your esteemed chief maia, the Lady Hríve” oh, so now she was a lady. “But my lord, I didn´t have an idea that she was yours, that the ice maiar were yours. We would have understood their reticence to accept any of us as their masters if we knew. Why weren´t we informed of your decision though? She never mentioned that you have taken her as your personal servant, much less that you had a host. Not even to the one she called her brother…”

“Per my request” Eru answered. “I needed to see how you acted without intervening much. But I ended up having to move my host to intervene after you made too many mistakes, including allowing Melkor to burn Almaren… do you have any idea of how much effort Hríve had to make to stop the fire from spreading out of Almaren back then?” was he imagining things or there was some frustration there? “And let´s not talk about Melkor´s first attempt at conquering. If I haven´t sent my host and given them reinforcements, there wouldn´t have remained any firstborn by the time you decided to move against him!!”

“I… I see now… it was… it was a necessity to move Hríve and her ilk towards…”

“You should apologize to them too” Eru said, referencing to the Feanorians. What… “My order to clean up your messes remained in them and they were compelled to move against something they couldn´t manage. If you had actually handled Melkor, then nothing of the horrors that had happened in the First Age would have happened. And they wouldn´t have felt the need to do your job for you.”

WHAT?!

“But… but… I admit that we committed some mistakes, but… that doesn´t mean that they could do whatever they want!! The Kinslayings…”

“For what I have heard, you can forgive kinslayings after a stay in Mandos with no other consequences than not being reborn for a long time, not even asking repentance from the perpetrators…”

“That is a mistake, one that Námo and I are going to discuss how to punish” they were obviously talking about Díor and those that participated in the Kinslaying at Brethil. “What I was trying to say is that… yes, Díor and everyone who had a hand in that… sad event deserved a punishment too, but they are already getting it…”

“And where is their repentance, pray tell? I mean, if they are being punished…”

“Námo and I were going to discuss it…”

“You only were going to discuss it because I appeared, if not, you were going to continue to ignore it and don´t try to deny it!!” Manwë seemed speechless for once. “And, if you had to know, last time you let your brother burn something to the ground without consequences and poor Hríve had to step in and contain the fire before it CONSUMED ARDA TO THE GROUND, I told my whole host that they could do whatever the hell they want to contain the damage and make you wake up. And yes, it included the descendants, because I never retracted that order, and they were allowed to commit Kinslayings, as you call them…”

There was more than one speechless person now, Maedhros between them. What… he knew that his ancestress was a bit special, but he never considered even in his wildest dreams that it was because she had that kind of privileges. They could be saved… not that he thought they should simply be let go with everything they had done. He and his brothers still deserved a punishment… some more than others.

But that didn´t seem to be the problem for Manwë.

“You… you gave immunity to that madwoman?! After knowing how she and her spawn were?! To the last one of them!!”

“And how else do you want me to get YOUR attention towards the problem? I mean… if I hadn´t sent my own host there and gave Hríve and her people all the freedom they wanted, there would have been no Children by the time you finally decided to do something about Melkor, and that I know for sure” Eru suddenly seemed really… frustrated… “And I don´t repent it. But I clarify that this is the end of their free pass, so the young ones here better don´t do something like that again or they WILL face the punishment.”

They weren´t planning to anyway.

“But… but they disobeyed us and…”

“They did it for the greater good, even if their best attempt didn´t match their ancestor´s. Or what do you think would have happened in Beleriand if they hadn´t tried so hard to stop Melkor?” Eru continued. “Something that you should have done by yourselves. After all, weren´t you the Powers of Arda?”

“I… recognized that we had an oversight regarding my brother, but that is something of the past” Manwë continued. “And you already clarified that the Lady Hríve was authorized to do many things because of the… dire situation. But that doesn´t mean her descendants should share in that, especially regarding what they did because of the Oath they swore? I mean… it wouldn´t be fair for the victims, including Melyanna´s descendants…”

“Just like it wasn´t fair for THEIR victims” that was a point, but Súlimo also had one. And just because Thingol and his brood were bastards doesn´t mean that what they did was right. “If you had to know, when Melyanna left the reunion where I named Hríve my chief maia earlier, I talked to her. I gave her two warnings, telling her that everything was going to be well for her if she followed them. One was to keep her mouth shut when things were happening that she didn´t know the full background of. She decided to ignore the first one and thanks to her words, I lost my host and the maiar remained here with you. Because apparently loyalty to a Power is more important than the thousands of souls that were lost because of that” ehhhh… that was a mistake, but… “the second was that if something clearly stolen ever arrived to someone she love´s hands, she should return it or at least insist that it was returned… for all their sakes.”

“You… you did?” Manwë´s eyes travelled somewhere, Maedhros followed his gaze until it landed on Melian, who was shrinking in shame near a furious looking Thingol. “Melian also commited a mistake, I see, but Elwing didn´t and her children were stolen…”

“Ah, you mean those twins” he could practically see the eyes of the Supreme Being being rolled. “They weren´t stolen.”

“Excuse me?”

“They weren´t stolen, Luthien sold them to the House of Fëanor in exchange for a happy ending with her lover, one even beyond death” WHAT?! That was news to him!! And apparently Turgon too, because his jaw practically touched the floor. “I know because I brokered the deal between her and Hríve myself. My chief maia accepted to lend the princess one of the stones created from her crown, a gift from me, and grant her and Beren immunity for her curse plus a gift of a life in utter happiness together from me that would never end. In exchange, Luthien accepted to grant a piece of that happiness to Hríve´s boys and return the Silmaril when she was done. You should have known it, there was no other way for a descendant of Melyanna to birth ice maiar than a deal like that.”

“I… seriously didn´t know… they are really ice maiar? I mean… we didn´t need more…” it didn´t seem that anyone liked ice maiar that much… why? “My brother is already taken care of, so there is no need for you to rebuild your host more than Fëanáro already did…”

“Is that so? Because I haven´t seen you getting any better. I mean, just look how far you have allowed things to go. Like that bigotry issue and all it´s ramifications… it makes me realize that perhaps I should intervene myself. In fact, that´s what I´m here to do” at the word from Eru Illúvatar, many of the attendants to that session dropped dead, including Elu Thingol. “Now hear me, my Children!! From now on, everyone that has committed violence in the notions that some of your own are inferior for some reason and deserve death, are hereby sentenced to remain in Mandos until I see some sincere repentance in them!! And those who hadn´t committed the act or for selfish reasons, but agreed with them are hereby banished from the Eternal Realm until their acts redeem them!! You have until the thirtieth turn of the sun to leave or you will suffer along with those in Mandos!!”

Whispers moved around. Maitimo looked at his father. He seemed calmer, the issue of bigotry seemed to be solved too. It was a drastic measure, sure, but he couldn´t deny it´s effectiveness. Eru departed without another word, leaving a smug Helcaraxë behind. They were allowed to leave, with him in complete relief.

“They should have at least let us change if they were going to make us stand judgement” Moryo was complaining. “And talking about clothes… Nelyo, why are you keeping a blanket over yourself?”

“Yes, Nelyo, why are you covering yourself with a blanket?” Turko said with a smile as big as the cat that got the canary. “Tell me, could it be that you and Finno were up to something last night and you are covering because of that? What was it? Tell, tell.”

“Tyelkormo, leave your brother alone” Nerdanel instructed, sending her thirdborn a warning look. “We should all be glad that everything went well. I was ready to use this in case something went wrong” she said, palming something she had hanging from her belt. “But I´m glad this is all solved.”

“Is that a… Warhammer?” Maedhros asked. Where did his mother got that from?

“Yes… but I like to call it your father´s idea of a courting gift” she answered, almost nostalgic for a second. “I preferred the carving hammers he made for me, but I used this little one to protect myself more than once and learned to appreciate it.”

“How your mind works scares me, brother” Finarfin suddenly gained their attention. “Nearly as much as your ancestress. Because if she is anything like you, and something tells me she is, this winter is going to be a long one” he sighed. “And we are going to have a problem.”

“What problem? Not enough winter clothes?” Fingolfin asked. “We can just raid Maitimo´s wardrobe or something like that. Even I have some winter clothes somewhere.”

“No… but that´s another problem” the High king sighed. “What I mean is… this is Aman. No one has ever stored grain or anything for winter. The people are gathering everything that is edible before it freezes or spoils, but it will only last so long. We could all end up dying from hunger… and none of the Lords has ever stored food either…”

“My grandparents did” Fëanor suddenly get their attention. “It´s how the community survived for so long when no one wanted to lend us a hand or even sell us food. They cultivate their lands and store the surplus for years, then distributed amongst those of the community who needed them. They must have enough by now to feed the community for the entire winter… perhaps more.”

“Then we will talk to them” Finarfin said, his expression firm.

“But you realize that…”

“Mother will apologize”

“Not that, but… strong tempers run in the family”

“Do you think that I don´t know that? There is a pile of snow out there showing exactly how strong the tempers in your family are. And let´s not talk about everything else your hotheads caused” the blond sighed. “Ahhh, I wonder who is worse at this point, you or her.”

“Her” his sisters, wife and sisters-in-law said at the same time, knowing exactly who he was talking about.

“How do you know?”

“She is fully blooded and powered maia” Nerdanel said. “And worse, she is a mother. Any mother that prizes herself of being one would show her teeth when someone threatens her babies.” The other mothers around nodded. “We could be much more terrifying when we are defending our babies than you could ever be.”

“Thank you, you have given me a scary picture of this winter stretching for a long, long time” he passed a hand through his face. “I will talk with your grandparents, Fëanáro, and will be careful while doing so. Especially considering the… past offences.”

“Perhaps I should be there…”

“Oh, don´t you think about it, Curufinwë Fëanáro” the redheaded nís intervened again, suddenly sounding scary. “The only place you are going to go from here is the Gardens of Estë to seek threatment. And I mean it, so move.”

“But Nel…”

“Nothing of buts, move!!”

Maitimo actually felt some pity for his father, who was being practically dragged by his wife towards the exit and his next destiny. Somewhere around the door he managed to see the big form of his grandfather, who extended a bag towards his daughter. She took it and continued to drag Fëanáro towards their destination. Mahtan then came towards his grandchildren and their brood, smiling fondly at them. Maitimo returned the smile shyly. The older smith extended an invitation for a family breakfast, and, as everyone was hungry after the eventful morning, they accepted. Him and Finno went home for a second to quickly change clothes and returned for breakfast. It was a nice time… but he ended up so tired that he started yawning even before he left Mahtan´s house.

“Awww, tired, Russo? Let´s go home to spend some time in bed… under some very heavy furs” Finno said, grabbing his hand.

“That sounds amazing” Maedhros answered. “We can cuddle under that pile of furs that you formed yesterday in your quest for warmth…”

“That sounds great… but we can also do something else…”

“Finno, are you thinking what I think you are thinking?”

“And what is it?” his expression was naughty.

“Finno!!”

-In Middle Earth-

“Come on, stalker, move quicklier” Elrond instructed as he pushed Daeron to the front. Galadriel watched her future son-in-law behaving like that… she had never seen him behaving that way. But she understood, he must want to return quickly to Makalaurë´s side to take care of him. “We still have much to go.”

“Couldn´t you and Elros have hid your secret stash somewhere closer?” Celebrimbor complained as he also walked. Galadriel raised an eyebrow at him. Where had all the stamina and physical prowess from the First Age gone? It seemed that too many of them have made themselves too comfortable in this Age of peace… well, peace until Sauron decided to knock on Celebrimbor´s door.

“Me and Elros decided to hide it where no one would find it and try to dispose of it.”

“You and Elros are assholes for doing this”

“Or perhaps you should train some more”

“Look at them, bickering like children” Celeborn spoke from near his wife, smiling. “Reminds me of how me and Galathil were when we were younger.”

“It´s different, they are cousins. You and Galathil were brothers” Galadriel answered, remembering her long gone brother-in-law. “Now that I think about it, what happened to you grandfather and father? And Galathil, of course. From what I gathered, they were still in Doriath when…”

“They weren´t victims of the kinslaying, if you are asking that” the silver haired lord sighed. “My grandfather… had a reputation as an activist. He had the believe that we were equal, no matter what misadventure fell on some. Elmo taught that to his son… and to us. He gathered those with the same believes and mounted an opposition to his brother and a network of help for former thralls in Doriath… Thingol couldn´t stand that, so he confined his brother and Galadhon in a secluded place. I… never told you, but I accepted so easily your decision to leave to search a new home because I didn´t want to end up like them. I managed to dodge the king´s attention, but it wouldn´t last long.”

“My love, I would have protected you…”

“It´s not me I was worried about, it´s Celebrian” he sighed. “Thingol took Nimloth from Galathil when he found out about our family´s… way of thinking. He said that she should be raised by a good family, for her own sake… it broke Galathil´s heart, but he couldn´t do anything. And even when they were allowed to see each other again, in the future, they never could… I would hate for Celebrian to end up like Nimloth did.”

“And here I thought that her marrying a Feanorian was the worst” Galadriel smiled impishly, something strange in her. “At least Elrond is not stupid enough to believe that shit.”

“Hummm” Celeborn frowned. “And talking about Feanorians, do you really think that it´s a good idea to invite them back on this side of the sea? After everything?”

“Yes, of course… at least Maitimo, he is… level headed when he is on his right mind. And I think that Findékanno might help him remind like that. And so long as he doesn’t do something stupid, then Elrond is going to be controlled too.”

-Back in Aman-

Nelyafinwë Maitimo, Maedhros Fëanorion, also known as Russandol, wondered again why had he done this. He meant… he only wanted to sleep! But nightmare kept awaking him and then Fingon told him he could help to get tired again. He let himself be sucked into his husband´s idea, one thing evolved into another and, before he knew, they were… but he enjoyed it. He enjoyed it a lot. As he gazed down at Findékanno, sleeping peacefully over his chest with a smile on his chest, he felt some satisfaction. He was also a bit tired again, so it worked as intended. Burying his head in the pillow, he closed his eyes. This was such a good day…

Chapter Text

“Why do I not feel surprised at all?” Galadriel asked as she stood on the shore, looking at the ruins atop Tol Himling. What remained of Himring, her infamous cousin´s first fortress did honor of it´s reputation of being ever cold, even when it was now at the level of the sea. She wondered for a second if it was because of her Feanorian cousins´ hidden maia heritage, but she decided it was no time to focus on something like that. She now had things to do. “If we are so close to the sea, perhaps we can accompany you to your hiding place?”

“Sure, why not?”

Galadriel was surprised now. Why was Elrond accepting this so easily? Wasn´t he worried that they would try to dispose of his valuable Feanorian things inside? She meant… they and Gil Galad had been rather lenient with Elrond´s… eh… Feanorian side lately, but he shouldn´t have put himself so comfortable after such a short time of that happening. Not in vain had they tried several centuries by then to remind him that Maedhros and Maglor were not his parents by blood. On the other side, she was glad that he had opened himself up to them a bit. It would work well for them when they actually become a family through Celebrian… even if she was going to have to endure Makalaurë being in her grandchildren´s lives. He was always one of her most obnoxious family members, even if he was more an annoyance than a danger back when she interacted with him. Then again, Finrod was like that too and when they were together practicing a duet or something like that… she was not looking forward to that either. Well, if he ever recovers his senses.

“Ehhhh… Elrond, don´t you and Elros considered another place to hide your valuables? I mean... I know that Amon Ereb was sunken with the rest of Beleriand and this was a place that was once held by uncle Nelyo, but… don´t you find it too unsafe?” Celebrimbor asked. “Or at least too creepy?”

Celebrimbor… had a point. Galadriel hardly could deny that the place was creepy when there were black armors around, littered around on the floor, with skeletons inside. The rests were only from orcs, both she and Celeborn could say that only by looking the type of armors and weapons they were wearing, but that doesn´t mean it wasn´t creepy. Besides, Himling had been abandoned by any elven presence since the Feanorians fled and a garrison of Angband took over the place. No one knew exactly what happened to them after that and no one had really cared… until now. And, while she didn´t weep for fallen orcs, she had the feeling that the one that had killed them was…

“This place is really cold” Celeborn said, adjusting the cloak he was wearing around his arms. “I heard from people that it was, but I never thought…”

“Elros and I choose this place for a reason… well, two reasons. First, Atya always told us that before abandoning Himring they had sealed everything of any value that they weren´t able to carry inside the vault. And until we arrived, it stood unperturbed. Of course, the orcs tried to force it, but no garrison ever lasted long here.”

“Why no garrison lasted here?”

“The second reason why this place is so good to hide things in” Elrond smirked in a truly feral way. “The power of an ice maia or more permeated the place. I don´t know if it was atto or atya or someone else, but the coldness kills anything that dares to trespass this place without permission or protection from one of us.” He started searching around a wall. “We and Nella all noticed when we arrived, so… perfect place.”

“Are you protecting us then?” Celebrimbor asked.

“You don´t need protection, you don´t even feel cold” Elrond looked at him as if he was stupid. “Think, Tyelpe, have you ever felt coldness in your life? Even in Himlad, which was cold on it´s own right?” the smith stayed in silence, with his cousin shaking his head before reassuming the search for the vault´s entrance. “this is it.”

There was a sound of clacking mechanisms, probably one of Curufin´s designs, and suddenly the wall in front of them moved and showed an opening. Elrond confidently entered through that, warning the others about the stairs inside. And what a narrow set of stairs that was, Galadriel thought as she tried to avoid comparing it with a ventilation duct from a dwarf mine… not that she had seen many. That was not the point anyway. By the time she arrived to the end of them, she was sure that her clothing was going to be ruined because of all the dust and sooth in those walls. She didn´t know who was the bright mind she had to thank for that, Maedhros or Curufin, but when she saw them again, something she was beginning to think she was definitely going to do, she was going to tell them exactly what she thought of their architectural designs. She lifted her head from her breeches to ask if they were already there… her eyes opened wide when she saw the amount of things that were there. To think that Elrond had such a BIG stash… now she understood where he got enough Feanorian jewelry to wear a different set each visit to the court and still lend Celebrian some.

“How in this bloody Eä did he manage to smuggle all of this into Aman without any of us noticing?” she whispered to her husband, who was equally as surprised.

“A better question is how did we ever think that we were going to be able to do something about his Feanorianess.”

“Yes, there was never hope in that front”

The golden Lady shook her head as she watched her future son in law walk towards a pile of old armor with the Feanorian star that surely belonged to Maedhros back in the day. Elrond, being on the smaller size for a Noldo, would not be able to use it, but she was sure that someone else would… both Elladan and Elrohir were taller than anyone in the family, she finally knew why, and certainly would be able to use them. Anyway, Elrond was tossing things aside as if they wouldn´t sustain damage… and they probably wouldn´t, if Fëanor and Curufin made them… searching for something…

“Do think that harp belonged to…” Daeron started.

“Don´t EVER think of touching anything or I will let you freeze, stalker” Elrond threatened, making the minstrel recoil. Galadriel sighed. She hadn´t heard the peredhel calling the ancient musician as anything but stalker… not that it wasn´t accurate, but he could use another.

“Elrond, I thought you now better than to leave books under a pile of armor that hasn´t been used since the...”

“Oh, they are there, near the wall. They have been treated with oils and other additives to prevent degradation and protect them from insects. I only don´t know where Elros put those… oh, found them.” He started pulling different metal cases from below the equipment. They were all of different sizes. He opened some of them. “Oh, this is not good, not good at all.”

“What?”

“See these cases? Thauron made them” Elrond explained. Galadriel was about to tell him exactly how much of an idiocy it was to have something that bastard made when he added something. “They were made to contain the power of the weapons used by the Children of Hríve. Now, these” he pointed at them. “Are not them all. And see those that are empty?”

“Are they not from the weapons you, Ereinion and the Númenoreans have? You also mentioned that one of your cousins have one.”

“Aicalossë was never in the power of Morgoth, so it didn´t have one of these. And I doubt her power could be contained in one of these. Not when her owner was so powerful as the visions showed us” he frowned. “Now, Elros weapon was Halcivea, the whip. It was passed down his line in Númenor, but from what I gathered, only Tindómiel, Silmariën and Ancalimë were able to use it…”

“Ancalimë… didn´t she try to attack Gil Galad with a whip before Hallacar and Anarion caught her last time they saw each other?”

“Yes… which was the reason I dragged him away, as I know some of the things the whip could do, even if you are not a dark thing. And it HURTS” he refused to say something else on the issue. “That one is from Kapsarene, who you already met.”

Oh, yes, the sword that Elrond kept on himself despite the possibility of it killing them all. The one that apparently contained the Fires of Melkor…

“And that´s from Runace, the one Nella has. It´s a mirror of about this size” he showed them. “But very useful and powerful. Once upon a time, it helped her shield Amon Ereb from the Enemy” he smirked. “We ended up leaving because we lacked the provisions to keep it garrisoned.”

“Runace… so Nella´s strength is defense?”

“I wouldn´t say that” Elrond said, touching that case. “I only know that about the weapons, because I have seen Elros and Nella using them. The rest…” he touched his own weapon´s case. “Nella took a set of daggers and another of knives with her. She said that one of them could fit Avranc…”

Now that she thought about it, she had heard from the retreating soldiers from Valimar that Avranc always kept a set of daggers with a white handle on himself. Her eyes wandered to where the books were supposedly held, eager to learn the secrets of the weapons that were inherited by the scions of Hríve. If they weren´t able to prevent it, then the knowledge would still save hundreds of lives.

“Now, only Runace´s, Kapsarene´s and Halcivea´s cases should be empty, so, why am I seeing four empty ones?”

“Someone stole from your secret stash that was supposed to be safe?” Celebrimbor raised an eyebrow. “Maybe it was not as safe as you thought.”

“It should be. It should be impossible to rob this place if you didn´t know where to look, much less if you or someone with you can´t stand low temperatures…”

Elrond´s eyes narrowed as he understood something. So did Galadriel. What if… the ice maiar were not as extinct as they say they were? He meant, the pure-blooded ones, because her half-uncle and cousins were of their blood. And Elrond seemed to know something else, something he was not telling them. Too bad, she thought they were already pass that. Anyway, they went to the books and started to take them to the surface. As Celeborn kept a Feanorian Lamp close to her, she selected those that they were going to take back to Lindon. The orcist letters made her want to puke, but she passed them to Daeron. She also found out that her future son-in-law kept what must be the most boring keepsake in the history: account books from Himring and Amon Ereb. All of them wrote by Maedhros or Maglor.

“You know, there are better ways of keeping your parents´ memories alive” Daeron said when they were back to the surface with the books. As Elrond sealed the vault again and Celeborn lit the fire, Galadriel sat down with one of them in her hands. Celebrimbor looked over her shoulder in real curiosity. “Haven´t you thought about ordering a portrait or making a song about their feats?”

“I think there are enough songs about the Feanorions” Celeborn said, putting the water to boil to make a stew.

“Not about the good things they did…”

“Like what?”

“I don´t know, raising me and Elros?” Elrond raised an eyebrow. “But I understand, no one here thinks they were capable of good.”

Galadriel felt a little bit guilty. Frankly, her half-cousins did evil things, but they were not evil at heart. Curufin and Celegorm were terrible, but Caranthir could hardly be called that. Grief-stricken fool, maybe, but she could hardly fault him for wanting to kill Dior after what he did to his grandchildren. The others she didn´t know, but she could understand that Maedhros lost it after losing his husband in such a horrible way and then having his baby ripped from him after such a short time. She could actually feel for him now that she knew the entire true. Perhaps she should aid him bond with Gil Galad when they met each other? She wasn´t exactly sure where Maglor lost it, except that it was in the beach, but he definitely got insane in the end and perhaps it was a gradual process, so…

“Woow, that´s an interesting” Celebrimbor said as he examined an image of a woman dressed in white. She looked a bit… like something out of a terror tale. “Is that… Hríve? From what I see, orcs were terrified of her.”

“Not only orcs” the voice made them all suddenly turn towards the edge of the water. Galadriel couldn´t believe what she was seeing. She thought they were going to have to stay on the shore a longer time to talk to Ossë. But he was here, almost as if he was… “Ulmo sent me to tell you that your least favorite relatives are back. Something about you having a right to know.”

“Really?” Elrond seemed really happy now. Ossë didn´t. Neither of seeing him. “What?”

“I´m only wondering how someone could confuse you with a get from Melian. You look a lot like that madwoman and your twin acted a lot like her freak of a firstborn, the one with the whip” he shook his head. “Uinen warned me ice maiar were crazy, I should have heard her from the start. It was definitely not worth it.”

“So, you truly knew the ice maiar?”

“Of course” he crossed his arms. “I even slept with one. Worst decision of my life, the mad block of ice nearly ripped my back into shreds. And that was before the freak with the whip caught me” he shuddered. “Talking about him, Helcaraxë was in the Máhanaxar a short time ago, defending your family´s case. Eru also made a surprise appearance, which didn´t surprise me that much. Hríve was always his favorite.”

“We already… wait, Helcaraxë? Like the bridge?” Galadriel asked, suddenly making the connection. “Don´t tell me…”

“I don´t know, haven´t even talked to him after he appeared. But I wouldn´t be surprised if he did, he was fanatically loyal to Hríve. And someone like him would consider something like speaking badly about her descendants a capital sin. Much less what some of those that died did or wanted to do to Fëanor and his children” that didn´t explain Elenwë or some others, but she could be sure now that some of the deaths in the bridge were because of this Helcaraxë. “But I guess that he too has a conscience, because he stepped out the Doors of the Night by his own volition.”

“What?”

“He said he had much to atone for, so he was going to search the way to his own kin in the darkness until they take him back… or simply wander the darkness forever to atone towards his beloved Ice Queen” he rolled his eyes. “How that woman and her insane spawn managed to inspire such loyalty on their followers, being how they were.”

“So you did know them… probably fought them during your time in the Unmaiar?”

“Met them, yes. All eight of them and their beast of a mother” he shuddered. “And Hríve… I think only Helcaraxë had more children than her, even if ice maiar had many children. He had nine of them, nine…”

“That´s not important, what do you know about their weapons?”

“The ones Helcacilinthir made?” he frowned. “Well, they were no small deal. Aicalossë shattered Melkor´s bones despite him wearing an armor. And Runace formed a barrier that couldn´t be breached by thousands of Balrogs, between some other things. Melkor had to gather power in a weapon specially made by Sauron to make it… and Halcivea… I still have nightmares about that thing, be it in the hands of that insane brother of yours and his spawn or that insane maia…”

“I heard Ancalimë had some fun with it”

“I didn´t find anything fun in that!!”

Galadriel rolled her eyes, but continued encouraging the conversation. They managed to get a very basic description of what each weapon did… and very basic, because apparently Ossë run back to the sea the first chance he had. She also felt a little bit of pity for him, because apparently Halcivea was… and it´s wearer´s were… she was suddenly very glad Elros choose mortality, because she wasn´t sure she wanted him to put ideas on Elladan or Elrohir´s heads if she was right about him. Mainly about terrorizing maiar. The true problem was that Ossë didn´t know what the last weapon did. It seemed to have been forged much later than the others, perhaps for Loss´ husband. He seemed contemplative after Celeborn offered that explanation and Galadriel had the feeling that they were missing something. Anyway, Elrond was happy now, so this must be a good night in the end.

On the morning, they were ready to leave. They crossed the sea in a boat that Ossë was gentle enough to help them get to the other shore soon. Then the group wandered a bit before reaching their wagon. Celeborn actually sighed in relief as the books were put on it and he didn´t have to carry them anymore. The trip to Lindon was uneventful enough, not even a stray pack of orcs. When they arrived back in the city, they were received by the chancellor. Galadriel raised an eyebrow. Where was Gil Galad?

“You look terrible” the Lady of the Golden Woods was very plain when she saw her cousin´s only son laying in bed, completely immobile. She and Celeborn had gone to inform him of their arrival as Celebrimbor and Elrond took care of the books and relieved Erestor. “What happened to you?”

“I asked Elenammë to train me… hurt more than I believed” he tried to move, his face contorted in pain. “But she at least told me some truths. Apparently, I´m a coddled little kid and a terrible Feanorian. According to her, even Celebrimbor was a better one. And not only because of the smithing, but because he can fight while doing acrobatics and hit harder than a troll, much like her.”

“But she was right, I was coddled. Coddled by Círdan, who protected me. Coddled by the Noldor, because I was king. Coddled by Elrond, who protected my pride by going easy on me… Elenammë told me that he can match her on the battlefield” he sighed. “I don´t know how I survived the First Age but luck…”

“We all had luck to survive that, cousin”

“She said that her training was part of the reason she survived.”

“That´s true… but we all had luck, even her” Galadriel sighed. “Why did you want to train with her anyway? I didn´t think that you would be the one to want to become more like them… unless… it has something to do with the mirror?”

“I think, but also… I wanted to feel some connection. With Maedhros, so I could write the damn letter” he groaned in pain as he tried to move. “He would be so disappointed, no? I´m terrible in comparison to his niece.”

“His niece from a line where women were more terrible than men, according to Ossë”

“I wasn´t informed of that”

“Talking about the letter, did you write it?”

“Oh, yes, and the letter to Nerdanel about Celebrimbor too. Already sent it too. And just in time for another problem to arise, because…” he tried to get up, but only managed to fall back in the mattress writing in pain. “You will have to go to the dungeon to see it. Just… don´t tell Elrond, please. We can´t have him losing his composure.”

“Wha…”

“Just go”

Galadriel and Celeborn did. Once they entered the dungeon, they realized that the elf who attacked Maglor wasn´t alone there anymore. Two other cells were occupied and by no one else but… the Golden Lady could feel a headache beginning and she could tell her husband was the same.

“Please, don´t tell me that this means what I think this means…”

-In Aman-

Finarfin was trying not to shiver too much as he stepped in front of the palace with his family there. Well, at least his wife and sons. And mother, who was scowling. He felt the need to sigh. They had an actual fight earlier because, while she recognized the need to apologize for exposing Fëanáro to Vahayaqueen´s unjust vengeance and her role in his pain, she didn´t believe her decision to kick his half-brother´s grandparents from court was a mistake. After all, she was doing that for her children´s safety. Unfortunately for her, Finarfin was unmoving in that. She was going to apologize and apologize for everything. Specially considering that Varilëedur probably had the only granary in Noldor territory… if that could even be considered Noldor territory. With his bloodline, he could easily…

“Your Majesty, they are here”

He prepared himself as he saw a carriage stop in front of him. From it emerged a silver haired nér dressed all in white, silver embroidery in the form of snowflakes shinning in the sun. He wore a circlet of diamond that could only come from the Halls of Aulë… perhaps even from Aulë himself. And that was not all. The way he moved, not like a dancer despite his elegance, but like a true warrior only expecting the slightest danger to react and disembowel the enemy, the way his hair shone like true silver and his eyes like live steel… he couldn´t believe someone had confused him with a normal elf. It was clear that he was something more. He also wondered for a second if Luthien had been like him, but something told him that the only thing the daughter of Thingol and Varilëedur had in common was their being of mixed blood.

“My Lord, it´s a pleasure…”

“Your Majesty” Varilëedur corrected him. Arafinwë didn´t understood for a moment, then his blood run cold. Wha… “I have exscinded from the Noldorin crown. With my heritage and the Valar already being on thin ice” he smirked. “after what happened to my family, they couldn´t deny my request. I´m no longer a mere Lord, but the Ice King.”

“Are you sure you want that? You have lived in Noldorin territory and been protected by…”

“Been protected by what? It has been my own strength and my armies that has protected my people, my grandson´s mind and inventive that has kept most of them alive. We would have exscinded long ago, but then, the Valar would call it a coup against their dear friend Finwë or his dear children and seek to punish me or mine. So this was the right opportunity.”

“I understand that the crown of the Noldor hadn´t been very fair towards you and your people. Believe me when I say that it´s my intention to rectify that mistake. Beginning with the one my mother did so long ago” he looked at his mother, who was biting her lip. “Ammë? Did you have something to say?”

“I… I apologize to you, your majesty” Indis bowed her head. By Varilëedur´s side, a nér who could only be his husband smirked at the Queen Dowager bowing her head to them. They seemed to be enjoying this a little bit too much. “I realize that made some mistakes while your grandson and only heir was in my care, especially considering the… situation. I also let some dangerous people to be around him.”

“That without saying, no?”

“I sincerely apologize for that. Believe me or not, I never wanted an ill fate to fall on Fëanáro, much less for him to be hurt and I am truly sorry for my role in what happened. I… I didn´t know back then that someone so close to me had such ill intentions…”

“Hummm” it was obvious not something he wasn´t aware of. “And what else?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean about your lying to make sure my husband and I couldn´t see our grandson again. Or do you not consider that a mistake?” Finarfin felt his blood run cold again and it had nothing to do with the snow.

“I am NOT going to apologize for that” Indis glared at them. “You might be less crazy than your famed ancestors, but you surely are like them in many ways, including your blood-soaked hands. And your husband is like you” she shook her head. “You are murderers, the both of you. I couldn´t allow you close where you could harm my children” his smirk turned wider. Both of theirs.
“What´s so funny?”

“You haven´t changed anything, moralistic little girl, or even learned” he crossed his arms. “Have you ever asked your children, oh wise Queen, how things were on the other side? You, who have never seen anything but the peace of Aman, dare to try to judge me on something she couldn´t even begin to understand?”

“Nothing excuses murder, Varilëedur, nothing”

“You sure?”

Finarfin stepped in.

“Maybe we should have a more private conversation, your Majesty?” he asked, wanting to defuse the tension. Besides, they still needed their granaries. He hoped they could get them, as, even if Varilëedur was claiming a crown, the Cantear were still few. Most of the population from his lands were Noldor, people who surely had families in Tirion they would want to help. “I´m sorry for that, I thought I had made it very clear to her.”

“People like her doesn´t change easily… but I give you points for at least managing to extract half an apology from her” Varilëedur said as he sat down in front of the golden-haired elf. This one poured him some hot tea. “So… aren´t you going to complain about my sudden naming as king?”

“It might cause some troubles for both, I admit it” Arafinwë sat down. “You didn´t have to do it, even if it was your mother´s legacy.”

“You think?” he raised an eyebrow. “I think otherwise” he sighed. “I don’t know what they told you of me, but I was always different from the Tatyar. My mother educated me different and now I know why. She never mentioned her people to me or my true nature, but she passed me something. The Children of Ice are prideful and they won´t bow to any but a descendant of their Queen. Definitely not a Tatyar.” It hurt to admit it, but he was right. “Besides, I´m the only grandson of Hríve, so they are my responsibility as the senior member of the royal house. Since the moment they appeared, there was no other option.”

“I see… and I hope you are successful in bringing them to heel” he drank some of the tea. “But that doesn´t mean you are completely unlinked to us. With Fëanáro so sick, your heir is Maedhros, who is married my own nephew and is also to my nephew Findékanno.”

“I´m conscious of that” the silver sword just stared at him. “But I´m no lacking heirs. From what I gather, my lineage is rather vast, and, while the Cantear might not accept an heir that hasn´t proven his worth in battle, I have plenty of those too.”

“Would you deny Maedhros his due?”

“No, I´m taking his feelings into consideration. After all, he has denied himself a crown once, why would he want another? If he doesn´t want to be my heir, then I´m not forcing him” that… made some sense. “None of them”

“But everything stays the same, even if Nelyafinwë rejects becoming your heir. All your grandson´s children are grandchildren of Finwë, of the royal blood of the Noldor. That´s not going to change. So, in the name of that blood relation, I´m asking for your help during this time of peril. If you could only share some of your food with…”

“And what am I getting in exchange of that?”

“The thankfulness of thousands of elves who wouldn´t starve to death isn´t enough for you? Even if it was your grandmother who sent this winter over us? Your mother and father who destroyed their homes?”

“And should I wish to atone for the sins of another people because I share their blood? Besides, according to Eru, all of them could do whatever they wanted” he smirked. “Also, the ones that are going to starve have never done something for me or my people. Why should I do something for them?”

“Don´t you have it in your heart…”

“You are incredible” Varilëedur rolled his eyes. “Truly, you are more naïve than your mother, a true spoiled brat of…”

“You majesty, I´m trying to…”

“No!! You are not trying!! Not at all, if you believe and apology and a heartfelt talk is going to solve anything!! Not when what I need to help you is a true negotiation, for you to sit in the negotiation table with a true proposal for me that could benefit the both of us, that I could present to my people because they wouldn´t want to help without a good cause.”

“I… I don´t understand, Eru already punished those that harmed your…”

“And he did you a favor” Varilëedur crossed his arms. “He reduced the population you have to feed without provisions in the middle of a long and harsh winter. They might not have to starve because most of them are going to be gone to the other side of the sea. He also left you with a population open to negotiation with us, but remember that hate runs deep. And not only on your side. There are plenty of people on mine that would want to let you starve only for returning the blow thousands of years of pain gave them. I only can help you if I somehow convince enough of them that this is the best. I might be a king, but I can´t ignore my people´s wishes… neither could you…”

Finarfin bit his lips. He was right, he had been stupid. It´s just that… he already had a king for a father-in-law. With Olwë, he could always resolve things as a family issue, so he tried the same for Varilëedur, as he was his half-brother´s grandfather. But the silver-haired elf was right, this was no family issue. This was a deal between kings that should be treated with diplomacy. He was about to ask more time to make a negotiation plan when scandal outside the room made them leave. In the yard, Indis was screaming as she was trying to stop Aredhel, whose bow was pointed at Turgon. This one was yelling back, flanked by Pengolodh and Egalmoth, both looking equally guilty. Behind Aredhel, Tyelkormo held a trembling young elf he had never seen before. He wanted to scream. Apparently, family problems never stopped. He turned around to get to the stairs when he noticed Nelyo and Fingon getting out of a room with their clothes and hairs all messy. For Eru´s…

“Nelyafinwë?” Varilëedur asked, approaching his surprised great grandson. He embraced him, not waiting for permission. “I waited so much for this moment, when I could finally meet you… and your brothers…”

Or this could be something good. Well, not all of this, but Nelyo and his brothers could distract Varilëedur and his husband while he made up a plan. Yes, that should work. At least he hoped it did, because if not, they were all going to starve.

-In Númenor-

Anarion opened his eyes in the middle of the night. He had the feeling that something was coming for a few days, but it was the first time it had woken him up in the middle of the night. He started walking around the room, wondering if whatever was coming involved his mother, the old Queen Tar- Ancalimë. He prayed that no. Him and Ancalimë had never had the best of relationships. He had the impression that she didn´t like him that much, unlike Hallacar, who had always been a dotting parent. Now, without him… no, even before, when their marriage ended in all but name thanks to her bitterness, they had little reason to talk unless it was administrative things. With her passing the scepter, they had no reason to keep in contact. Besides, she had always had that awful temper… Anarion lost count in his teens of the people he and his father had to save from her. Whatever that was coming best to pick up her interest, because if not…

Unknown to him, he was not the only one who was woken up in the middle of the night. In the Emerië region of the Mittalmar, an old woman was in the same situation. Her long silver tresses, which still held a bit of copper in them despite the years, felt over her shoulders as she stared at the night sky from the window. Unlike the King, she noticed the absence of a certain star in the sky. She smirked, feeling the thrill as she held a white whip, it´s own joy joining hers, extending from the tips of her fingers towards all her body. Halcivea had never acted like that before. A truly weird thing, but she was sure that whatever was happening, it was going to bring her much amusement. Something amazing was coming… and she better not lose it. Besides, it had been a long time since she had seen her beloved son and grandchildren… perhaps it was time for a visit.

“Your Majesty?” her servant, a nice girl from Zamîn´s bloodline that was okay with no marrying ever asked from the door. “Is there something you need?”

“No, thank you” Ancalimë answered with a smile. “But begin preparing for a trip in the morning. I´m going to Armenelos soon. It´s been a long time since I have seen my son or held him in my arms…”

“As you wish, your Majesty”

This was going to be fun.

Chapter Text

Finarfin woke up that morning, the day after everything had gone awfully wrong in his reunion with the new Ice King and guess what? He still wanted to cry. Everything that could have gone wrong had gone wrong, and while he blamed himself for part of that (he should have known that Varilëedur wouldn´t be as sensitive as to mix business with family issues, nor that he had any reasons to like Indis and her children after her insulting half apology), he put most of it on his crazy extended family. Irissë had tried to kill Turúkanno… not that he blamed her after hearing her reasons, but couldn´t she do that somewhere high profile guests couldn´t see? And let´s not talk about Maitimo and Findékanno not being able to keep their hands to themselves. He knew that their marital bliss was interrupted by a war and many other things, but couldn´t they reassume it in the privacy of their own room during the nights like normal couples? Weren´t they worried about traumatizing their children? And when he was counting on Maedhros to soften Varilëedur towards him!!

“Shhhh, it´s alright” Eärwen said, hugging him as they laid in bed in the early morning. He didn´t want to get out of bed or of her arms, but… “Come on. New day, new opportunity. You will solve the issues at hand now… and it couldn´t get any worse.”

“Thank you” he said, burying his head in his wife´s chest. “Just stay with me like this a bit more…” there was a knock on the door. He groaned. What now? “Yes?”

“Your majesties, the entourage of King Olwë has been seen entering the city” oh, yes, he had forgotten that he was going to come for who knows what reason. At least he was friendly to… “And the banners of High King Thingol has been seen approaching too” Thingol? What was that bitter old elf doing here? And why now? Varilëedur might want to rip his throat off with his teeth for what happened between the Feanorians and Doriath in the First Age. Fuck. “Also, your uncle High King Ingwë has sent a missive, telling you to stay all negotiations if possible. He is coming too.”

“Wha…” He immediately wanted to return to sleep and never wake up. Why? Why did this have to happen to him? The King of the Oppressed and the King of Bigots were about to meet… in his home.

“I´m sorry, my dear, but we can´t offend anyone right now. We might need their help in the close future” Eärwen reminded him. “Let´s get up, we have two kings to greet. Three, when your uncle arrives tomorrow.”

“I won´t stop the negotiations just because of him” he grumbled.

“Fair… considering that we are going to need all the advantages we need to keep our people fed during this long winter”

His queen kissed him in the forehead and got up. Arafinwë did the same, changing his sleeping wear for the formal robes of the High King. He allowed his hair to be braided in fine jewelry, then, with his wife by his side, went to greet the assorted kings. Several members of his family were there too, so he prayed that they were able to behave. That Aredhel and Celegorm were not there gave him hope… also that Findékanno and Maitimo decided to appear. Varilëedur seemed to be easier to deal with when he was in the presence a member of his grandson´s numerous brood.

The next surprise came when the banners of Olwë were approaching. He was familiar with the figure of Sareärdo, also to see him next to the teleri king, as he was one of his most important advisors. What was surprising was to find him tied up, guided like a criminal towards his holding cell… and the amount of people that were clearly not of the teleri in the entourage. They also seemed to be glaring at the teleri and be glared back. It took him a moment, but he recognized them as Cantear. And they were clearly not in the teleri´s good side… not something that surprising.

“Wel…”

“My King!!” Finarfin tried not to react to be completely ignored by the Cantear as they walked up to Varilëedur, who was also present, and went into a very deep, weird kind of bow with his head on the ground. Two more did the same, a male and a female. The others bowed too to their king, but it was a less low one. “My King, I´m so sorry. I implore your forgiveness. As the wife of a traitor who committed an unforgivable sin, mother to his children, I…”

“I´m sure it´s not your fault” the silver haired nér said, walking up to the woman.

“It´s still a great stain on the honor of our whole family, my King. To attack our liege… or worse, the innocent children of our dearly departed Queen´s blood. Innocent children… how he thought for a second that was not something reprovable in all creeds.” Well, that was true. Not even Finarfin could deny that. “The traitor Harna also committed desertion and cowardice, and by that he besmirched the whole family´s honor” the nís suddenly pulled out a blade that seemed to be made of ice. Her children did the same. As if coordinated, they all put the blades on their stomachs. “Please, allow us to restore it.”

“NO!!!!” Sareärdo screamed, struggling in his place. “It is me who committed that sin, so I have to be the one to suffer the consequences!! It´s me who should do it!! Please” he stared directly at Varilëedur. “Please, just don´t…”

“Free him” the half-maia instructed, always looking at him. “But first I have to ask, why did you do it? Why… taking it out on children?”

“Because… your mother practically asked us to sacrifice ourselves. She was at fault… for my family´s deaths. I… you were her heir and they were yours, you shoulder her faults” he then stared at Maedhros. “You should understand it, Maedhros the Kinslayer. After all, isn´t it true that Thingol and his descendants were truly at fault for the Kinslayings? Because, weren´t they the ones that refused to peacefully return the fragments of the Crown?”

“Who told you that?” Finarfin had contained his breath, expecting an explosion of temper the size of Fëanaro´s from his nephew, but the redhead seemed calm and collected. Cold. This was somehow scarier. “The Kinslayings… I never told anyone that they were Thingol´s or Elwing´s fault. It´s true that I tried to prevent them by demanding them back and some would say that they carry some of the responsibility, but… it was ultimately me who decided to attack, me who held the swords and me who spilt the blood. Those deaths were always my responsibility” he sighed. “That´s why I know that I carry no fault for your family´s death. And neither does my father. He was born several centuries later, how could he carry fault? Because he had Loss´ blood?” he stared down at him. “Sounds to me that you were desperately holding onto that just to avoid your own guilt. You ran, left them behind to die… accept it.”

Sareärdo… Harna lowered his head. It seemed like this was not something he was expecting to hear. At least not form Maedhros. Finarfin got worried when he actually moved towards his son and took the knife he was holding, but he didn´t try anything. He kneeled down on the floor, in the same fashion as his family. His eyes seemed strangely determinate, as well as carry some sadness in them.

“I see” he tested the knife on his hands with a finger. “Then I guess I could as well take responsibility for what I did, all I did… in the way of our people” without another word, he plunged the knife into his own stomach and started cutting it. There were some screams and people approached to stop him. The Cantear stopped them. His son approached, but a shaky hand was raised. “No!! I… I forfeited the right to a quick death when I turned my blade and voice against the innocent. I can´t… can´t do it to you. Honor would demand that you also take your… I must do this.”

Arafinwë was horrified, but he realized that he couldn´t interfere. Their culture was different, their punishments too… and he guessed it made sense that desertion was punished by death in a society of warriors. Or that attack on the royal family would demand a particular gruesome death. He didn´t have much time to thin about it, because the next delegation arrived as Sareärdo bleed to death in front of them all. And, another surprise, Thingol was not the one in the front of it. Now that he thought about it, he had collapsed during Eru´s surprise appearance, so it made sense that he was punished as the most violent bigots were. And perhaps the rest of his direct descendants were, because the one wearing the crown now was Elmo. It surprised Olwë too.
After the surprising early morning, they spent the rest of the day negotiating. While Varilëedur seemed more open to communication now that Arafinwë had a plan, he wasn´t very open to share his resources. Frankly, Finarfin understood him. He wouldn´t be either if the people who was asking for him to feed them were guilty or had turned a blind eye to what happened to his people. Rampant bigotry tends to do that to you. In the end, they weren´t able to convince him of anything and had to retire without a definite answer. It made the food on his table that night seem less appetizing…

“I have something to say” Finrod suddenly raised his voice as they all ate their soup, which was the only dish they had for the night. They were storing food after all. “I´m going to leave for Middle Earth with the banished when the boats are ready to go.”

“What?!” Eärwen asked.

“You are not doing this only because you want to explore some more, no?” his father asked, seemingly feeling a headache. “Because if you are…”

“No, of course no” but he clearly wanted to explore, Finarfin could tell. “But look around, father, we have more mouths than we could feed even with Eru´s little intervention. Even our family can´t feed all of our members, so… someone will have to leave. More than one.” He sighed. “I´m gathering volunteers already, people that agree to leave so their family members could survive and not die of starvation.”

“I… agree that we should reduce the population a bit more, but you don´t have to do it yourself. You are also my heir, Findárato…”

“Ango or Aiko could replace me as that.”

“Ingoldo…”

“I´m not turning back, I already promised that I will leave with the volunteers, don´t stop me” he sighed. “And if you don´t want your sons to replace me as heir, then ask Artaresto. He showed he is capable enough to lead.”

“I also have to say something” Turúkanno lifted his hand. “I´m leaving.”

“Father!!” Idril yelled.

“If this is because of Irissë…”

“No, I… I have decided to leave on my own” a hand extended towards him, his wife´s. “Elenwë has been banished” they all looked at her in disbelieve. It was a surprising thing to hear. They all knew Elenwë, there wasn´t a violent bone in her body. How could she be banished? “She never participated in… a violent way, but… her family was… I mean” he looked carefully at Maedhros, who seemed to be containing himself. “You have to understand, it was perfectly normal in Valimar…”

“That doesn´t make it correct” the redhead pronounced himself.

“Rich of you to say that” Turgon answered, glaring at him. Finarfin feared for a second that they would start to physically fight, but they remained on their seats. “I know, alright. I know that this is not good, that nothing of… what they did was good, but… Elenwë didn´t know that. And she never hurt anyone…” he looked utterly defeated. “She is my wife, I´m not going to abandon her, so… we are leaving.”

“Then let me go with…” their daughter said.

“No” he instructed, very firmly. “Itarillë, I have never forgiven myself for exposing you to the danger you faced on Beleriand. And, even if you want to leave with us, we are not the ones that matter the most. Dear, Eärendil just suffered a great loss and he is also trying to recover from the effects of a curse. He is going to need his parents much more than your mother or I will need you.”

“I don´t want this”

“I know, but it´s the right thing to do. You and Tuor… where is Tuor, by the way?”

“I don´t know, maybe… we can find him later?”

The High King didn´t reject that petition. Frankly, they all needed a little air after the awful days they were spending lately. Even then, he never expected the last surprise of the day, when they reached the main plaza of Tirion. There was music, plenty of what seemed like a weird kind of alcohol, dancing and… Feanorian lamps? There… there was a PARTY in his own city without his knowledge?! When they needed to stock on resources for the long winter?!! Also, the songs and chattering and cheers… the party was to celebrate the locking of Thingol in Mandos?!!

“Justice was finally done!!”

“The King of Bigots is dead!! CHEERS FOR THAT!!!”

“Fuck Thingol!!!”

“Throw him into the Void!!!”

“Rot in Mandos, bigot!!!”

“Justice arrived, bitch!!”

“All hail Eru!! Our one and only benefactor!!”

“HAIL!!!”

Finarfin wanted to give up. He knew that Thingol wasn´t a likeable person for many and had earned the (rightful) ire of a great part of the population, but that didn´t mean that it was right to throw a PARTY for his punishment. But apparently no one had given the former thrall and descendants community the memo, because they were all there making merry and sharing drinks over the tables empty of food. He was still trying to make sense of everything that was happening when an unknown elf bumped into him.

“Excuse me, I was trying to find…” he looked behind him, seeing something that apparently scared him. “Oh, for Eru´s sake, Herion. We can´t do this. I know how much some of you hated Thingol, after all he did it was logical, but this isn´t right.”

“Ah, cheer up, Annael” someone behind him answered. “Haven´t you heard? Justice was done!! Have some ale, those guys from Egla know how to do it right. Good northern ale, just like we had before everything went to Utumno in Beleriand.”

“No!! And gather the guys, we are leaving!!”

“Come on, they are all having fun!! Even that son of yours showed up to…”

“Lower your voice!! And what? Why would he…”

“CHEERS FOR THE JUSTICE!!! AND FUCK THINGOL!!!”

“CHEERS!!!”

All their jaws hit the ground when Tuor´s voice was heard in the middle of the crowd. Finarfin thought he had heard wrong, but then he saw the edain hero standing on one of the tables, tank of ale high over his head. He then drank it entirely on one go. What in the… why was he so cheerful when his son had just been made a widower? Then again, Tuor had never seemed to like Eärendil´s in-laws that much. Sincerely, every time Arafinwë had seen them together, the Lord of the Wing had been drinking quite heavily. Something strange, especially when he knew that the man didn´t like doriathrim wine that much.

“Ah, Ada, you are here too” he said, clearly intoxicated as he got down the table. He nearly broke his neck trying to get down, only for Annael to react quickly and catch him before he collided with the floor. “Here to celebrate too? Have you heard? Thingol is fucked!!”

“Shouldn´t you be sadder about it? His great granddaughter was your son´s wife, Tuor, there is nothing for you to be happy about.”

“What? The little bitch my son got me related to?” he seemed really angry about that. “Do you know the kind of things she said? About our people?”

“Tuor, your…”

“You are my family too, Ada. You raised me… I´m as northern sinda as I am hadorian… perhaps more, because I barely know something about my edain kin” he hugged him. “I hated every word that came out of her mouth…”

“I can tell… but your son and wife must also be sad, so you should…”

“I swallowed enough shit from those bigots for them, they could swallow some for me” he was slurring quite a bit. As for Idril, she seemed surprised to hear that and more than a bit hurt. “Do you know how horrible doriathrim wine is? But chugging it like it was a delicacy was the only thing I could do to force everything down and not retaliate… I have been doing that since Gondolin and it´s awful. Almost as awful as the wine Turgon served in our wedding banquet or that southern Sindarin accent you forced me to adopt because the northern dialect was dangerous…”

“It´s not that horrible…”

“It´s horrible, I wanted ale… just like I wanted to share our culture with Eärendil and never could because someone was always there to remind me it was dangerous for him, for me… for everyone around. And if it was not Rog, it was you” his ramblings continued. Exactly how much had he drank? “I wanted to share that with Eärendil, you know? The dialect, the songs… but everyone around kept reminding me how dangerous it was… that´s the reason we raised him as a Noldor…”

“Tuor, I know it´s hard, but everything I did, every warning, was so you could lead a happy life. So your children could also have a happy life” Annael continued. “And you did, just look at what you achieved…”

“You never believed in me”

“That´s not true!!”

“But, Ada, you never believed that I could do it, that I could… achieve something as equal right for our people. That´s the reason you made me promise that I would never even attempt, that I wouldn´t even help you so no one could tell we had a relationship, let alone that you were my adoptive parent…”

“Everything I did was to protect you, just remember what happened to the last person who attempted to…”

“Oh, yes, because if the great Fëanáro couldn´t, then how could poor old me achieve it, no?!! What does he have that I don´t?!”

Apart from the greatest mind, tons of talent and other things that made people feel inadequate around him… and don´t forget the mental illness… anyway, Finarfin could point a lot of things, but that wasn´t the issue there. His half-brother´s history was used as a cautelary tale to discourage future generations from even attempting to stop bigotry. Was that even right? Because if no one tried, nothing was going to change and…

“I wanted to introduce you to Idril, Ada, like I got to meet Turgon and then Elenwë” Tuor continued, clearly intoxicated. “I think you would have liked eachother, you have some things in common. And Eärendil would have loved you. It´s not fair.”

“I know, son, I know”

Finarfin sighed, deciding that he could allow that battered community a bit of celebration. So long as they stopped in the morning. Besides, he was sure that if it was backwards and it was his half-brother and nephews the ones that were condemned, which in their case means thrown into the Void, Thingol would have hosted the party and would have made a bigger one. He didn´t like it, after all no one deserved to have others celebrating their condemnation, but there wasn´t a true way to stop it, so…
The next morning he woke up with a headache. He hasn´t ingested any alcohol, so he knew that it wasn´t a hangover… but he already knew that this was going to be a terrible day. And how he knew? Because it started way too early and before he even got to eat the bread alone that was his breakfast, his nephew Curufin was already breaking into his office with a paper on his hand.

“Tell Findárato that he has to accept me in one of his boats!!! And to make haste, my baby needs me!!” he said planting the letter in front of him with a bang.

“You DO realize your baby is more than an Age old and perfectly capable of taking care of himself if he survived First Age Beleriand?” then he noticed something weird. “And why do you have a letter addressed to your mother? You shouldn´t be opening other people´s mails, even if they are from family members.”

“I didn´t, she opened it. Only forgot to put it somewhere I couldn´t find it” he crossed his arms. “According to Artanis, Tyelpe is in danger of some kind and needs his father to take care of him. And I WILL.”

“Curu…” his door was almost ripped open when another of his nephews waltzed into the room as if it was his own… was it too late to abdicate and run away himself to Middle Earth? “Maedhros, what are you…”

“I need a ship to Middle Earth really fast” the redhead explained. Finarfin raised an eyebrow. What was going on that day that all wanted to go to Middle Earth? And letters? “Ereinion wrote to Fingon. He says that Elrond is trying to do I don´t know what with a sword, but somehow to do that he needs to fight Ungoliant… Ungoliant!! Just what is he thinking?!!”

“I don´t know, what were you thinking?”

“What did you say, dear uncle?”

Finarfin realized just then that he had spoken out loud, but he somehow didn´t care. The headache was getting worse by the minute and if he didn´t get rid of the Feanorian parental overprotectiveness, then he would explode himself or pop a vein, whatever happens first. And, as much as he wanted to step down form kingship, he doubted he would enjoy an aneurysm and it´s consequences.

“Fine” he calmly set down his pen. “Haven´t you ever thought that perhaps the things that are happening to you right now is karma calling?”

“Karma? What do you…”

“Everything returns, dear nephew”

“I still don´t understand, what would be returning to…”

“Perhaps everything you made Nerdanel feel while you were gallivanting in the other side of the sea, doing one crazy thing after the other? And don´t deny that you weren´t doing crazy things, you fought in wars, with dragons, and staged four kinslayings. Your poor mother was here worried sick and receiving new about everything you did… just like you right now are receiving news from your sons.”

“We never fought Ungo…”

“You fought fucking Morgoth!! It´s not any better!!” he felt some pleasure to see them lose their speech. “Listen, I know that you worry about your children and that´s nice, but you also have to comprehend, like Nerdanel did, that they are adults and have to commit their own mistakes. That´s the way they learn.”

“It´s that why you let your children go to Beleriand? To learn?”

“We are not talking about me, we are talking about you and your particular relationship with karma” he got up from his desk. “Besides, if I have learnt something about Feanorians, it´s that even if you intervene, you are going to achieve nothing. They will do whatever they were going to do without caring for the consequences or your opinions. Now if you excuse me…”

“You aren´t going to stop us, uncle” Maedhros warned him.

“I wasn´t planning to”

He really, really wanted to abdicate. Unfortunately, it was a time where they needed stability the most, so he had to remain in his post. He went outside to greet the King of the Vanyar, only to find a nasty surprise among his retinue. Vahayaqueen was there, tied up as the criminal he was, probably to face Cantear justice. The damn elf looked smug even now, probably not planning to kill himself like Harna did. No, the bastard loved his own rat skin too much to die in that way.

“My King” a silver haired nís went to the front, followed by Naltaniwe. They were obviously close, probably even… “I come forward to apologize for what my disgrace of a son did. If it´s your order, I will remove his traitorous head from his shoulders right this moment and then both my husband and I will seek atonement.”

“There is no need for you or Naltaniwe to do something like that” Varilëedur stopped her. “As for that nér, I heard that he was at fault for several of the incidents that put my grandson´s life at risk. Also for my daughter.”

“So he is, but he refuses to end his life to remove the stain on the honor of the family.”

“Let him, Eru will decide his punishment when the time ends” he signaled. “You are?”

“I´m Silë, your majesty, captain of the infantry and royal guard to both your grandmother and mother” she explained. “I had the pleasure of serving alongside your grandmother Albafaire in the royal guard… which is the reason why the actions of my dishonorable rat of a son makes me so ashamed.”

“You don´t seem surprised”

“I know that thing, both me and my husband do” she glared at her back. “there has always been something wrong with him. And , while I don´t have proofs, I´m fairly certain that your father was not the first talented singer taken to his doom by him. The coward was always underhanded and ambitious…”

“What kind of mother speaks like that of her son?”

“One that knows exactly the kind of twisted being she brought into the world” Naltaniwe answered Vahayaqueen, while Silë only glared. “We both know, haven´t stopped for a moment of asking what exactly we did wrong.”

“Perhaps it was simply meant to be”

“Perhaps, but it ends now.” Varilëedur interrupted, glaring at the rat, who lowered his gaze a bit. “Eru´s punishment is going to be delivered, so this is the end for you. Take him to the dungeons and secure him well. He must not escape.”

As guards did so, Finarfin managed to see that no one made even a gesture to help the fallen lord. Not even his mother. Oh, well, one problem solved. Now he needed to make sure that his people were fed during the winter, convincing Varilëedur to lend them a hand. Not such a hard thing to do, right?

-In Númenor-

Anarion had heard once or twice about Tar-Minyatur´s foresight ability, but he had never shared it. Never had… visions or dreams detailing the future, not even feelings, sensations or anything suggesting that he might be able to foretell something like his ancestor. But right now… right now he could feel it very clearly. Something was coming, something that might or not be related to elves. And he could tell with a high level of certainty that it came from Aman. Which was strange, as the few ships that arrived in the last few months told them everything was normal that side of the sea.

“Atar” he turned around to see his eldest, Almarian, and second eldest, Meriliel, were there. The only one that wasn´t was Surion, but he must be busy taking care of the affairs of state in his place, as his heir. “They said that there are cold winds coming from the west, a rare occurrence. And the amount of pirate activity that side of the sea also seemed to have changed. Also decreased around Rómena. They almost see as if waiting for something.”

“Perhaps the trading ships from the elves. I heard that an elf is very high valued in the slave markets in faraway lands.”

“We have never allowed them to take one” Meriliel said.

“That doesn´t mean they haven´t caught one” Anarion continued. His loved his daughters a lot, truly, but frankly speaking, they scared him too. They had inherited a lot from his mother, old Queen Ancalimë, specially in terms of temper. Which kind of was the reason that their fights with her were so epic. “Are you still mad about her not allowing you to marry?”

“I still believe that I would have made a wonderful bride. And that love is something that it´s worth changing over.”

“She wouldn´t agree with you”

“The bitter old woman could go grippe by herself in misery. That she hadn´t been able to find love in her marriage doesn´t mean that everyone had to do the same” Almarian shrugged. “And just because she ended a cold-hearted old crone all alone like her mother doesn´t mean that all of us are condemned to that.”

“Certainly” he answered, his eyes back on the sea. “As for the pirates…”

“I´m going to order Lady Dinalagossiel to move the fleet from Andunië to here and mobilize my own set of ships” if there was something that his eldest inherited from her grandfather, late King Tar Aldarion, it was her abilities with ships. It doesn´t mean that she enjoyed them as much as he did, though. “We aren´t going to let the pirates do whatever they want in our waters. I´m also going to show them exactly why this place was called the Island of the Mermaids.”

“I´m sure the pirates are not going to like it.”

“Course not”

The three of them retired in that moment. As Anarion walked to the council room, he passed the portrait´s gallery. He took a moment to look at the impressive collections of images of the old Kings and Queen from Númenor. From Tar-Minyatur, whose portrait was painted in a rather old but still realistic style, to more recent portraits like himself and his parents. Tar-Ancaimë gave him a pause. She always looked proud, but never more than when she was posing for that portrait. The red and gold dress she was wearing should have clashed with the fierce copper red hair she still had when it was painted, but somehow it didn´t. she looked… a wrathful goddess ready to cast judgement on lesser beings.

“My King?” someone approached from behind. It was his valet, a man who had been by his side since he was born. “Everything is ready. And might I say that young prince Surion did an amazing job. He is going to be an amazing king once he is older.”

“Perhaps it´s time for me to find him a wife.”

“It would be the best, yes. A couple of grandchildren would cheer both yourself and your mother up, perhaps even mend your relationship” his eyes turned down, remembering what Ancalimë did when she found out that his daughters didn´t want to be heirs. He could have had grandchildren long ago if she hadn´t. “Or perhaps it can bring troubles on it´s own. Haven´t you thought of contacting her?”

“As much time as she spends far away from us, the better. That woman has caused only troubles since her clashes with my daughters.”

“I still would want to see you reconciled before her time on this earth is over.”

“That is not something Ancalimë is very interested in, I´m sure of that” he arranged his clothes. “Just as she wasn´t interested in a son, only did her duty.”

“Your majesty…”

“That´s all, I´m entering council now.”

The valet nodded, then opened the door for him. With a determinate face, Tar-Anarion entered the council room like it was a battlefield. But what were politics if not that? And his ministers better be grateful that this had become a less bloody battlefield since he replaced his mother as monarch. Ancalimë was more of a shark when blood or weakness was on the water than he ever was.

-In another place-

“I´m ready” Ancalimë said, the whip by her side as her luggage was loaded into the carriage. “Let´s go.”

Chapter Text

As Maedhros and Fingon said their final goodbyes to Nerdanel and the others, Finrod did the same with his parents. They had accepted that some people would need to leave, including some of their nephews and relatives, but they still didn´t want him to run straight into danger again. At least his brothers, nephews and nieces were staying. That should make it easier for them than the last time. He still felt guilty about that. Angárato and Artaresto approached in that moment, grabbing him by the arm before he could walk away. The Crown Prince (until that day at least) was about to ask what he was trying to do when Ango started to whisper something.

“I hope you realize that there are some things that you have to keep quiet, even in the other side of the ocean. We… please don´t tell Nelyo or Finno that… well… that Ereinion was in Nargothrond during the first days of his… ehhh… kidnapping…”

“Wha… Artaresto, what did you do?” Finrod put on an uncharacteristically serious expression. “What did you use my city for?”

“It wasn´t your city anymore” Orodreth said, crossing his arms.

“And he didn´t know the child was kidnapped. He thought that Maitimo would do the sensibly thing and give him up to someone that could raise him well… as unrealistic as it sound for a Feanorion” now he had an unbelievable face. And not because of expecting the sensible thing from one of his cousins from that side of the family, but because they were unbelievable themselves. Both the father and the son. “Didn´t you, Artaresto?” the younger blond just looked away. Now Angrod was looking pale too. “ARTARESTO!!”

“SHHHHHHH!!!” Findárato ordered him, then looked around to see if someone was looking at them. Because… well… if someone got even the idea that Orodreth had known about the BIG Gil Galad issue, then his nephew was dead. And his half-cousins would be the last of their problems, not when they could all wait in line behind their mother. He loved auntie Nerdanel, she was great… but she could be more terrifying than her insane husband and kinslaying sons at their worst without breaking a sweat. At least she was too busy giving Maitimo advice to notice… or so he hoped. “We better keep this secret to ourselves if we want YOU to still be breathing, Artaresto. And no, I´m not doing this for you, as you deserve a punishment.”

“Please, you can´t be like that. I took care of your city after you went off with Beren and got yourself killed by a werewolf like the irresponsible brat your truly were” they glared at each other. Finros was not amused, specially because Orodreth also lost his city to a fucking lizard by listening to someone that was CURSED and they all knew it. “Besides I only suspected, I wasn´t about to throw someone with a baby away because of a suspicion…”

“You should have thrown Túrin Turambar on his ass out of Nargothrond and you know it.”

“Yes… but we are talking about something…”

“Just be glad that I´m willing to cooperate with this” he said as he sighed. “And it´s only because you are my nephew and I´m forced to love you. Also because I don´t want another kinslaying to be blamed on that side of the family because of your idiocy.”

“Uncle…”

“Atar!! Haru!!” Finduilas appeared in that moment, wearing a winter dress reminiscent of the kind she would use in Nargothrond in better times. She looked so pretty that he almost forgot how angry he was at her father. Almost. “Uncle Findo… you are still in time to stop.”

“Ahh, you know me. I would never turn down a good adventure”

“I know… but you should. Just as you should have done with the last adventure that came your way” Finrod patted her in the head as he did when she was younger. “I´m not an elfling anymore, uncle.”

“You will always be an elfling for me, darling” he said. “I´m sorry to leave you again, but I have to do this. I have to give the example, especially now that Aman is having it´s first hard time since it became the Blessed Realm. Besides, I recruited the volunteers, explicitly giving the promise that I would leave with them. Many would desert if I don´t go… and we can´t afford it. I have to go.”

“My father said that it would have been better if someone had locked the Feanorian menaces inside of Mandos again as leverage so their crazy ancestress would lift the winter” Orodreth got pale. “Then haru said that they should just be thrown into the Void as punishment for her” Angrod did too. “Great grandfather heard, along with some of the other kings, and erased the three of us from the immediate succession, making uncle Aegnor Crown Prince.”

“You… DO cause troubles every time you open your mouth, no?” he said, practically refraining himself from hitting the idiot that was his little brother. How could he have raised his son that way? Gildor and his hobbit would never behave in such a way. He grabbed both of them by the ear. “I will keep my mouth shut if you two KEEP IT SHUT HERE. And remember, you are going to die in a very painful way, so SHHHHHHHHHHH.”

“Ri… right…” Orodreth looked at his daughter, who was staring at some other place. “What´s the matter, darling?”

“Isn´t that Gwin?” she asked. Finrod shuddered a bit. Didn´t she understand how she had broke his heart back in Nargothrond? And that she should stop using pet names after… everything? “With Avranc?”

“With whom?” his eyes widened as he stared too. Avranc was there, carrying a bag on his back. Was he going to board one of the boats again? He didn´t think the little peredhel would be interested in returning to a place he didn´t like. On another note, Telpehalda was also going and he wasn´t exiled or connected to the other side in the first place… then again, he was pretty sure both of them just wanted to fight. “Do they know each other?”

“I think they are friends, with how…” they embraced and, while Finrod thought that it was fraternal enough, Finduilas and Orodreth seemed to think otherwise. “See? Nothing to worry about.”

“Yes, darling. You see that he is found someone else, now so could…”

“I´m going to say hello” Faelivrin completely ignored her father to go towards Gwindor as Avranc left him and Gelmir on the pier. “Hello, Gwin, Gelmir, it´s been a long time” both brothers seemed surprised that they were addressed by the princess. “What? I thought we should catch up now that we are on the same place. I haven´t seen you in any of the parties celebrated by the High King despite seeing Lord Guilin…”

“Gnomes are not welcome in high society” Gelmir interjected, putting himself between Finduilas and his brother. “Shouldn´t you already know that? Isn´t that the reason why you threw my brother away?”

“Wha… ah, that. I… I´m sorry for… what happened to you, truly. I… didn´t know…” the nér´s frown got deeper. She bowed when she felt that she had gone into dangerous waters completely unaware and unarmed. “If I had known…”

“Well, there are many things we all could have done, princess, including not getting captured or throw people away when they didn´t fit your criteria of beauty anymore. Especially when you do it for bastards that don´t even like you back in the first place.”

“What happened with Túrin was a mistake.”

“Yes, Gelmir, calm down. Everything that happened with Túrin was a mistake…” Gwindor interjected, probably out of courtesy. Or perhaps some lingering feelings for her. She hoped it was that. “In more than one way.”

“That´s some way to say it” the other continued. “Anyway, we should…”

“Atar!! Uncle!!” the both of them turned around as a young looking nér approached their little group. Finrod felt his heart break a little for his grandniece. To find out in that way that Gwindor had moved on, married and had a child… she probably thought that she could reignite whatever flame that was between them. “Grandfather is calling.”

“We will go, Lómëadur” Gwindor smiled at his child. He seemed to be enjoying this trip a lot. “It was good to see you, Finduilas, hope we can catch up another day.”

“Yes… me too…” really, he was feeling it for his niece. And Gelmir seemed too smug for his own good. Was something happening there? Anyway, it was time to board. It was the last day the exiled were allowed to stay in Aman after all.

“It´s time to go, atar, ammë.” He embraced them one last time. “And don´t worry, I´m going to return in one piece this time.”

“You better”

Finrod got into the ship, covering himself with the cloak of fur he had chosen for the sent off. He felt relieved of having chosen a thick one this time, on the boat it was as cold as the Helcaraxë. As they sailed off, he oversaw the housing of everyone around. Curufin and Maedhros were in the same section, donning completely unnecessary thick cloaks obviously made by Caranthir. Completely unnecessary because they couldn´t even feel cold. The bastards…

“Captain… what are you doing here?!!” Finrod asked when he saw his uncle Hrestawë there, captaining the ship himself. Apparently, he wasn´t the only Crown Prince to ditch responsibility to pursue an adventure. “Uncle…”

“I heard that some of the Cantear were leaving in this boat, including Hyellë… I think this is my opportunity to show off my maritime skills and win his heart.”

Or simply in an idiotic quest for love. His puppy crush turned lifetime obsession with Sareärdo seemed to have transferred to his son now that he wasn´t available anymore. He doubted he was going to have more luck with that one… how he and Findékanno weren´t actually related, was beyond him. The both of them were willing to go on idiotic quests for love, the only difference was that the person who Fingon desired actually gave him the time of the day. His cousin was really lucky.

“Yes, keep on that delusion”

Finrod left him alone in that moment, hoping to keep his delusions away from him. Strangely, he found that corresponded love was worse than delusion when the night arrived and the whole ship was woken up by Maedhros and Fingon. Those two, what were they thinking? It was a fucking ship with thin walls!! He got to the deck, hoping that it was warm enough to allow him some sleep. Well, he didn´t find his much necessary dream time, but he found Curufin there, sipping some tea. Of course, he already knew that the Feanorians weren´t able to feel cold, much less die of freezing, but somehow being there all alone wasn´t something anyone would do. This was Curufin anyway.

“Shouldn´t you…”

“And listen to my brother and his husband copulating the whole night? No thank you. I´m not interested in the formation of the next generation unless I´m an active participant” he shook his head. “Guess it´s the same for you. Where is Amarië?”

“In another ship. She didn´t want to, but we needed someone to take care of the others and there is no one I trust more than her. The others were handpicked by us.”

“It must be hard to be so close to the beloved yet that far…”

“Curufin… care to tell me what happened to Tyelpe´s mother?”

“None of your business” he stated, really clear. Hummm, he wasn´t going to tell him under any circumstance, eh? “The only thing about her you need to know is that she gave me my baby, who is the best thing I could have.”

“Curvo, I´m sure you understand this better than I, but your baby is already an adult. He survived the First Age, besides, he also has ice maia blood, even if he seems too gentle for that. I´m sure he can take care of himself” the smith glared at him. “What?”

“The work of a parent never ends, no matter how old the child is. I don´t care how old Tyelpe is, if he needs me, then I will come to him. Besides… last time, I was too much of a danger for him, so I have to erase myself for his own good. It was the hardest thing I have done, so… I was a little bit happy… that he called for me.” There were real tears in those eyes. “It´s a parent thing, you will understand once you and Amarië start procreating.”

“By your information, I already have children. Something you should have known if you listened to whatever I was saying in Nargothrond.”

“I was too busy hiding and keeping my brother´s own spawn in check to listen to whatever you babbled out” Curufin sighed. “But I seem to recall about something you called a hobbit… what is a hobbit to begin with?”

“It´s a kind of humanoid being slightly smaller than a dwarf but less sturdy and with hairy legs that… that´s beyond the point.” Finrod stopped. “And I also told you about Gildor.”

“Yes, I remember that too. I was less impressed by his existence than the one of the hobbit, so I didn´t recall him as fast as the other one” the smith smirked, then crossed his arms. “You said that you adopted a sindar orphan that then left Nargothrond to pursue his own dream or something like that. Why didn´t you leave Nargothrond to him anyway? I´m quite sure that he would have done a better job than Orodreth.”

“You only said that because he dared to humiliate you and Tyelko before you left… and cut your hairs” he smirked. “By the way, didn´t you like short hair?”

“Hah, just be glad that Nella wasn´t there when that happened… and that our hairs grew enough by the time we saw each other again for her to believe that it had happened during an accident… or perhaps she believed that it was Beren and Luthien´s doing, I´m not sure. Anyway, you would have had tons of trouble if she had known it was Artaresto, she can be quite the hot-tempered young Valarindi.”

“All your family members are like that.”

“Even between us”

It was weird, but Finrod considered a first step into recovering the seemingly lost relationship to Curufin he had from the Years of the Trees. They took to talking on the deck most of the nights until Maedhros and Fingon finally decided to shut up and stop torturing the inhabitants of the ship. That routine went on for days and days without a problem until one day, barely after the first meal, ships in several states of disrepair arrived, obviously to intercept them. They were sporting banners of… pirates!!

“Quickly, call Maedhros and Fingon here, we have to…”

Before he could finish that sentence, other ships appeared, ambushing the pirates before they were able to reach the elvish vessels. How had they managed to do so in the open sea? The screams of pain and despair and… monster-women? reached his ears as the criminals were captured. The others ships had eight pointed stars in them… ah, he already knew where they came from. It was about as subtle as a fist to the face. Maedhros and Fingon arrived in that moment, only to see the big, golden eight-pointed star in the sails of the ships that were boarding the pirates and probably taking them… were they jumping overboard? There were sharks on those waters, you know. And they were too far away from the coast to make it there in those waters. But… apparently that was better than whatever was waiting for them in Númenor… well…

“Hey there” they heard a voice. Finrod and Curufin looked down from the board and saw a young woman in a raft, wearing an armor. She had a slight resemblance to Curufin, something that gave him a clue of who she was. “Maybe you could finally tell us what is going on with all these elven ships.”

“We can” Finrod answered, smiling at her. “Perhaps you might want to come on board? Maybe have some tea while we explain?”

“No, my father must already be waiting at the palace for whoever is going to explain this mess to him” she said, but still accepted the rope stairs when they sent it towards her. She then stood on the deck, her armor in a clear Feanorian design. In fact, it was the usual one that the female officers of that army used. “I´m Princess Almarian, eldest daughter of King Tar-Anarion of Númenor.”

“Princess Almarian, welcome aboard the…”

“Findo, Curvo, what happened?!!” Maedhros and Fingon appeared in that moment, both of them in their armors. “Someone told us that we were under… who is she?” he frowned. “If I didn´t know better, I would say that…”

“Maitimo, this is…”

“Maitimo?” she approached really fast, grabbing one of his cousin´s braids and pulling at it. They stood still, wondering how the old kinslayer would react. Touching the hair of an elf was a serious matter. Almarian must know it if she was… “Yes, I can see it. That bitter old woman resembles you quite a bit after all.”

“Bitter old woman?” the eldest Feanorion asked, raising an eyebrow. It was… very strange to be compared to whoever it was. “And who are you, by the…”

“Almarian!! Are you already done with introductions?!!” another ship appeared. The word Silmariën was written on the side, as it navigated itself to position itself on the side of the elven ship. Before they could see or do something, someone jumped from onboard to their deck. A middle-aged woman with an elaborate armor that reminisced of the one Maglor wore when they still saw each other.

“I was getting to that, aunt.”

“I´m Lady Dinalagossiel, ruling Lady of Anduinë” she presented herself. “And commander of the Númenorian Fleet. I´m here to manage the pirate problem that has been growing since your ships started to make the reverse voyage they should be doing. Also to get some answers as to why this is happening.” Her eyes went over them all and stopped when she saw Maedhros. “I guess you are Maedhros Feanorion. The rumors are true then, the former Queen indeed resembles you.”

“Former Queen?”

“Oh, forgive me. I received orders from my brother-in-law to bring you immediately to Armenelos so you can offer an explanation as to why so many elvish ships have been coming this way and not the other.”

“Your brother-in-law?”

“The King, Tar-Anarion” Almarian clarified. “Come, you will be guests of honor in the palace tonight. And the king will give the esteemed ancestor the items that the First King left behind for him.”

“Elros left something behind for me?”

“Yes, and it´s in the palace right about this moment.”

-In the palace-

“Frozen?”

“Yes?”

Tar-Anarion wanted to bang his head in that finely carved desk when the answer came forward. Talking about hot-tempers running in the family. Or icy tempers? Whatever, it was the same problem. He had always heard about the Ainur heritage of the House of Elros, but the tales normally mentioned Queen Melian. Of course, Elros made it clear that his heritage DID NOT come from her or her family, but he thought it was because of his loyalty to his adoptive family. He hadn´t expected another Ainur woman to be involved, one that could freeze Aman in a temper tantrum. It was almost as if all the women in the family were doomed to be hot tempered menaces. Even his Meriliel and Almarian.

Anyway, he expected his family to behave at least for one night. All of them, no matter how many generations had passed. He still had to give Maedhros what Elros left behind, and hoped that another explosion of temper was not issued… who was he kidding, of course there was going to be at least one. It was too much to ask for them all to behave. No one had behaved since he had memory. Not even himself, who much to his surprise found himself capable of throwing a true temper tantrum when his mother engaged him to one of the terror twins from the Lord of Anduinë. Don´t misunderstand him, Itilamë was the woman of his life, but then he didn´t know it and he lived on perpetual fear of both his mother and the twin ladies reputations. And… his sister-in-law still scared him. A lot. Enough for him to totally understand why those pirates jumped into the sea, more eager to face the sharks than any of those women.

“My dear, everything is ready for lunch” his wife said in that moment, intruding in the family meeting. Not that anyone would notice, she also bore quite the resemblance to some of the people the elves probably knew.

“Of course”

“Ehhh, your majesty?” Anarion turned to who had spoken, Maedhros. It must be so weird for him, calling a great great great… grandson in such a formal way. Perhaps he should simply allow him to call him Anarion when they were in private. Obviously, that would be less uncomfortable for them all. “I was told by Lady Dinalagossiel that there were some objects that Elros left for me.”

“Oh, that” he frowned. He hadn´t dared to even open the chest, as did several generations before him despite it being a family secret what they had inside. Even so… well, at least they won´t bite him. “I can give them to you right away.”

The other elves must have been interested, because they followed right away. He took them deep into the palace, where some things for old times were still kept, including the armors of several monarchs and princesses, from the times of the maiden princesses (his mother should have been one of them), ship models from Aldarion and in some corner the original white jeweled circlet of his grandmother Erendis. Or would be, if his mother hadn´t taken it with her. Knowing her, she probably had. There was also the family legend that Elros had thrown the sword of Elu Thingol somewhere in that place and it had remained lost even since; waiting for the moment to emerge, when the Doom of Númenor would start. All because some hot-headed king decided to throw the heritage away and forget it existed. Or because it had ended in his owner´s enemy´s son´s hands. Whatever, no one had found it yet and he wasn´t stupid enough to be the king that searched for it. He wasn´t suicidal.

“There are quite some things that Tar-Minyatur entrusted his descendants to take to you or Maglor if you ever showed up here” he walked up to two metallic chests, one adorned with red gems and another with blue. It was obvious whose chest was for whom. “I think it´s better if you start slowly though.”

“Start what?”

Anarion took a key from his robes and opened the red chest. It was filled with thousands of rolls of paper. It was obvious that Elros had been a prolific writer, or at least make an effort to leave his thoughts for his fathers to read. Anarion grabbed one of the rolls and, with a heavy sight, gave it up to Maedhros. It was obviously the first one. The redhead teared up, probably remembering the elfling clinging to him or sneaking into his bed he knew in Amon Ereb with the wise old king Elros was in his descendants´ minds. He then opened it… the paper rolled at the floor, even if the redhead held it over his head. His teary expression turned into a frown when he read the first few lines.

“What the… thousands of years without seeing each other and probably won´t see each other until the Second Music and he leave me a scolding?” he asks as he continued reading. “Who does he thinks he is?”

“The first king of Númenor?”

“And I am his father, how could he leave a scolding behind for me?” Maedhros continued with his frown. “This is revenge, I know it. Revenge for all those times I scolded him for trying to board down all the stairs in Amon Ereb. But what was I supposed to do? Any responsible parent would have done so!! He was going to kill himself, or someone or both with his bloody antics!!”

Anarion was of the same opinion, not that anyone cares.

“I don´t know” Finrod said, crossing his arms. “Maybe he was very upset about the you jumping into a chasm of fire in plain view of his…”

“It wasn´t where he could see, I made sure he couldn´t see!!”

“That´s not what father told me.” the blond continued. “He said that the twins disappeared behind you without anyone being able to stop them, one behind each of you… no one is sure, because they both were using osanwë when they did. When they were finally back they were hurt and raging and screaming and blaming everyone and swearing revenge on Eonwë and anyone that was in involved in that… it took hours and more than a squadron of injured guards for them to calm down. Then they turn their icy backs to everyone else and refused to talk to them until the ships departed.” Finrod sighed. “That´s how upset they were.”

“And how do you know that?”

“My father told me… he also said that Elros seemed the most upset. He kept swearing that the both of you would hear him out.”

“So, as it is impossible now, he made it sure that I would READ him up. Before listening to whatever his brothers have to say.” Maedhros apparently admired his son´s inventive. So would Anarion, not that anyone cared about his opinion. “I will read them later.”

“I wouldn´t if I were you, Nelyo” Curufin said for the first time, his smirk really wide. It seemed like the cat who got the canary.

“Why?”

“Haven´t you read what is on the other side?”

“What the…” he finally noticed that there was something written on the back too. “ELROS!!”

Maedhros turned it around and saw that on the reverse, in big, black tengwar, the phrase DON´T YOU DARE TO IGNORE ME, YOU DRAMATIC OLD ELF!!! was written. He sighed, but Anarion could tell that under all the annoyance, there was the fondness of a parent that truly loved his child. Like the one Hallacar used to give him when Anarion was younger and he held him up high…

“Definitely your son, brother”

“Yes”

“Truly”

“Finno!!”

“What, love? You can´t deny it!!”

The rest of the day was practically easy. Maedhros actually read the scolding with patience and decided that he deserved some of it because of his stupidity. And being a drama king, because the thing about the chasm of fire had been utterly dramatic. As they went down for lunch, Anarion was feeling the sense of dread lowering. Yes, Turgon of Gondolin was still utterly refusing to put a foot on his island, apparently feeling robbed of his legacy because of some deal, some ice maia or the other and other stupidities, but that was something he could leave behind on the ship. Yes, everything was going to be alright. There would be no more temper tantrums or they were left behind in Aman, where his ancestress could throw it in peace. Yes, that wouldn´t affect Númenor at all and he was going to be alright.

“So… Elros was a good king?”

“Oh, yes he was” Anarion answered Maedhros´ question. There was no way to deny it, the old king had build everything around them after all. “He loved building. Had a lovely family, including three sons and a daughter. You can see their portraits before leaving of you want, there are in the gallery.”

“I would love to” he answered. “You… mentioned something about someone that resembled me” the sense of doom came back with just that phrase. “What?”

“The bitter old…”

“My mother, former Queen Tar-Ancaimë” the king interjected before Almarian could say something else. “She was the first Ruling Queen, as the only child of King Tar-Aldarion. And… I just have to say that… she had issues. Big issues” the elves still didn´t understand. “Tar-Minyatur´s kind of issues.”

“Oh… if anything about it is my fault…”

“No, that was… how to explain it without saying anything bad about someone else?” he released his breath. “My grandfather enjoyed travelling in boats. My grandmother was bitter because he loved his seafaring more than her and practically abandoned her in Númenor with their daughter while he voyaged everywhere. My mother used to call him an Eärendil wannabe… and I think she took to heart Tar-Minyatur´s way to deal with abandonment issues.”

“I´m afraid to ask, but what did Elros do?”

“He burned boats” Almarian answered.

“Excuse me, he did WHAT?!”

“He burned boats, just as the bitter old woman did when she got the throne, starting with Aldarion´s precious three ships, with which he travelled around the world” he smiled a bit. “Not that I blame her, that´s one of the few things I agree with her in.”

Maedhros looked ready to bang his head on the table now. If he remembered correctly, there was a part in the history of the Silmarils in which the Feanorians had burned the boats they had arrived on Beleriand in. according to that passage, Maedhros hadn´t participated in that, but his brothers, including Maglor, did. He always guessed that his mother had gotten the idea from that particular part of the history if not directly from Tar- Minyatur, who definitely got it from that…

“It was quite the unusual hobby, not as much as pirate hunting…”

“Pirate hunting?” the redheaded elf raised an eyebrow.

“Yes” Lady Dinalagossiel took the word for her niece, with an eager shake from Anarion´s wife, who surely was remembering old times. “It´s an old, dignified pastime for princesses and ladies of the line of Alduinë. It´s been a tradition in our family since the time of the maiden princesses…”

“Maiden Princesses?”

“The female side of the family had a… personality problem of some sort” Almarian and her sister released a snort that was unworthy of princesses, so their mother scolded them. “In the earlier days of Númenor, it was quite unusual for a princess to get married. In fact, it didn´t happen until the eldest child of the Fourth King, Tar-Elendil, rescued her future husband of a bunch of pirates. Then Princess Silmariën became the Lady of Anduinë and started her own branch of the family… and that was good for her” she looked away. “Sometimes I believe that the women in our family are better that way.”

“Are you talking about the bitter old woman?”

“Almarian…”

“Because I agree” she continued. “And come on, it´s not as if I´m the only one who thinks that way. She didn´t even want to have atar, for Eru´s sake, don´t you think that it would have best to simply remain single? I mean… did she truly have to sacrifice her happiness for the sake of duty if it was going to bring her so much misery? And us?”

“YES!!!”

Anarion would be surprised by the amount of people around who had answered, not only him, his cousin and his wife, but several ministers and servants. He released a sigh, reminding himself that Almarian only thought like that because she hadn´t met Soronto. Or, as the ministers and nearly all the people who knew him liked to call, the Biggest Idiot in the history of Númenor. He was so bad that everyone had followed Aldarion when he proposed to change the laws of succession. They only kept the condition about the marriage because they already knew Ancalimë a bit and knew that only a threat would make her do her duty… well, that was before she met Soronto and decided that she would have to take one for Númenor. Well, her and Hallacar. Anarion was completely fine with that, it had allowed him to be created.

“Your Majesty!!” a panicked servant entered, getting everybody´s attention.

“What?” he asked.

“She… she… she…”

Only someone could get such a look of utter fear in one of his servants. Anarion blanched when he realized that. Oh, no. He quickly got up from his seat and run towards the front of the palace, where some servants were already formed into a very well-known formation and staring at a carriage which a lackey was opening, trying not to tremble. A hand got out and this one grabbed it, helping the inoccupant of the carriage to get down. She was as he remembered. Very tall, very beautiful despite of her age and with copper in her silver locks despite it too. Her steel grey eyes looked at them with all the intelligence of a genius. A bad tempered genius.

"Well, aren´t you going to welcome me?" Ancalimë asked as she smoothered her scarlet dress.

"Wel... welcome home, Ammë"

"Welcome home, your majesty former Queen Tar-Ancalimë!!" the servants said.

"It´s good to be back" she answered with a smile. "And to find such... delectable company" her gaze fell on the elves, in a way that made the ancient beings shake. "But don´t stay there, I´m starving. And I´m sure I interrupted your meal, so let´s go reassume it. Come on, dear, help your poor old mother inside. I taught you how to be a gentleman, no?"

"Yes, mother"

It has happened. The worst... Anarion cried inside as he escorted his mother inside. Almarian and Meriliel were glaring daggers at their grandmother, who answered with a smug smile. His wife and said woman´s twin were sharing complicit looks, their mother having been an old friend of Anacalimë, sent to be her lady-in-waiting and friend when she was very young. He knew he couldn´t with all those powder kegs and female complots about to explode. He only wanted to burry in his bed and sleep... more now that he had visitors. Please, someone save him... please...

Chapter Text

Maedhros could feel the tension as he took bites of his food. Anarion seemed pale, mechanically eating his food as his darted between his mother and his daughters. Suryon seemed to be doing the same, even if the boy wasn´t the target of the ire of any of the women in the table. He wanted to sight. He had always known that females of that family were difficult, but he never thought it would be this difficult. But he knew that family relations could be tempestuous, so… looking on the bright side, he had (many times over) grandchildren. And Ancalimë, despite her temper came straight from his father and her looks that reminded him uncomfortably of himself, seemed to not be actively looking for a fight.

“I… I´m grateful to you for providing us with somewhere to stay, your majesty” he started again, hoping to ease the tension between the edain reunited around the table. “But I think it´s time for us to reassume our voyage. After all, we were heading to Lindon.”

“Oh, it´s no problem” the other answered, letting his fork on the table. “And why the rush? Spend the night here. You can reassume your trip in the morning.”

“We wouldn´t want to impose ourselves on you.”

“You are not, you are family.” The king continued. “Tar-Minyatur always referred to you and your brother as his fathers, so it´s also our duty to protect you.”

“I can very well take care of myself.”

“I also know that, but I would prefer for you to stay the night”

“He is right” Almarian said before anyone could add something. “The sea has turned dangerous lately with the influx of elven ships seeking refuge in the coasts of Middle Earth. Pirate activity is skyrocketing and not only on the side that takes you to Aman.” Her eyes narrowed. "It would be very dangerous to cross the sea right now, and we can´t allow it in good conscience."

“Yes, she is right” Lady Dinalagossiel supported her niece. “You might reassume your trip tomorrow, escorted with a few of my ships. I wouldn´t put it pass that scum to try and ambush you on your way to Lindon… something that is surely not going to happen if they see the Star of Númenor in our sails. They are scared witless of me.”

“And me” the Queen added, smiling to her sister. Maedhros sweat dropped. How did this end up happening?

“Yes, reassume your trip in the morning. Then you will have more time to catch up with the children and I to load my things into one of those dammed things” Ancalimë said with a smile on her face. “As I am too headed for Lindon.”

“What?!”

“You are?”

“Since when…”

“Why are you all so surprised?” the former Queen raised an eyebrow. “It´s been such a long time since I have seen my dear cousin Gil Galad, might as well drop by to say hello now that I don´t have any official duties and a lot of free time. Catch up or something like that.”

“Didn´t you throw a golden statue at him?” the princess asked.

“Details, darling” she continued. “I would be ecstatic to be a travelling companion of yours, Lord Maedhros, and also would feel safer. After all, I don´t enjoy ships very much and tend to get awfully nervous on them… I´m afraid that ships and seafaring have been my weakness since I was a young child and I don´t trust myself on one of them.”

“Sure, join us” the older redhead admitted defeat. He couldn´t let Ancalimë travel by ship on her own if she was weak on them. “And we will love to stay the night.”

“Great, then let´s talk about something else. How are you finding the island, Lord Maedhros?”

Awfully Feanorian would have been his answer, but he politely said something about it reminding him a little bit of an elven city. Elros surely knew how to build, he had that art dominated, his city was beautiful… but for some reason he couldn´t help but be reminded by the architecture of places like Amon Ereb and Himring. Yes, the fortresses they build in the First Age were utilitarian, but somehow Elros had managed to take the bases of their designs and redo them into something that was beautiful without losing it´s practically. Of course, he had added his own details, but still…

“It´s getting late, perhaps we should get to sleep already” Anarion finally said, after the night advanced too much. “Tomorrow you have to set off too, so you should rest.” He was about to leave, but then he remembered something. “Before I forget it” he took a scroll from a servant, the same kind of scroll that was on Maedhros´ chest, and put it on Fingon´s hand. “This is for you, Lord Fingon.”

“Wha… why would he leave me a scolding? I didn´t even knew the guy!!” he opened it and started reading. Then turned paler and paler. Nelyo approached, worried for his husband. “Russo… I´m scared…” what? “You raise scary elflings.”

WHAT?!

-In Aman-

“NOLOFINWË!!!!”

Finarfin screamed, not only in frustration but in utter rage. He was starting to believe that the Valar should have let Fëanáro turn their brother into a kebab with his sword. And why? Because it was all his damn fault this time!! He couldn´t even blame Varilëedur for his negative to go into business with the Noldor or for his smugness when he agreed to offer his help for the ice problems in Alqualondë after a brief negotiation with King Olwë, but still refused to do business with Valimar and Tirion. When Finarfin finally broke and asked him why, because the terms of the deal were very generous and he would be hard pressed to get better ones, only to receive an answer that he wasn´t expecting, followed by the desire to throttle his brother. And he had never been a particularly violent elf.

“NOLOFINWË!!!!” he barged into the office the former High King was using to undo most of his screw ups from the Age of the Trees.

“What?” he asked, raising his eyes. He clearly didn´t understand what his stupidity had done, but that didn´t matter to the ACTUAL High King. He was furious.

“You!! You and your stupid head it´s what is happening!! Don´t you understand what you have done?” he growled at his brother as he grabbed him and held him by the neck, something difficult as Fingolfin was the tallest of the siblings. “Do you have any idea what your youth stupidity has done?” it was clear by his expression that he had not. “You passed down a law that heavily taxes any commercial interchange with someone considered a Gnome, especially big exchanges. To the part considered Gnome… makes it, virtually, impossible, no matter how much advantage the deal has in paper” his brother paled. “Highly discriminatory and IS FUCKING GOING TO CAUSE US ALL TO STARVE!!!”

“I… I…”

“Yes, what is your excuse now? Because apparently this was the law that made Fëanáro leave his forge and re-entry court despite his apparent aversion to it.”

“Are you blaming me for his illness?”

“No… but I think you contributed a lot. So much that I wonder why people didn´t simply let him run you through with a sword… or yell to atar or to me…” he rubbed his forehead, feeling anger disappearing. “I´m just too exhausted, Nolo, and all the time everything wrong seems to come back to you and the companies you had. Just what in the world made you want to antagonize our brother so much that you did all this disaster?”

“I thought he was just throwing a tantrum…” he pouted like a boy. “Just like he did when he ended our vacations in Valimar…”

“Ammë confessed that those ended because a group of bastards with a bigoted contact inside of Vahayaqueen´s summer house and the snake himself kidnapped him and tried to burn him alive. She said that bringing him to Valimar was a mistake from the start… you already know that too many vanyar were lost because of the bigotry issue. Almost three quarters of them.”

“Really? Shit” Fingolfin seemed perturbed, then he shook his head. “Look, I already know that I made a huge mistake. I´m already paying for it, haven´t you seen? I´m living in the palace because Anairë refuses to have me back home until I fix all of this. She put all my things in Huan´s old doghouse, the one he always used when Turkafinwë was visiting Irissë…”

“And you think that living in a palace, in a comfortable room, is punishment enough for what you have done?” Finarfin was feeling the anger again. They were going to starve soon if they didn´t get Varilëedur to give them the food and he couldn´t feed them if it was heavily taxed. And Nolo was the culprit of that. “I could put you to freeze on the fucking street, so that living in a doghouse would be the last of your problems.”

“A… Ara…”

“But that would be too hard on my poor, old big brother. Besides, I would be wasting such a good worker, who is going to fix a BIG PROBLEM for me” he continued, crossing his arms. “So I decided to change your punishment” his glare made the older elf shudder. “You are not getting out of this room until you fix that problem and allows me to get the food we need so our people won´t starve.”

“I… I… can do it…”

“Oh, and before that, you are on a diet of only lembas and water, no more luxuries for you until you actually do something about this mess.”

“But… but that´s no fair!!”

“Say something more and it´s going to be Huan´s food for you!!”

Fingolfin wisely shut up and Finarfin left the office to do his work. He stormed off, wanting to hit something because he had been trying so much to do this right, only to see his efforts sabotaged by something that his brother had done wrong like two Ages ago. It was just… frustrating, but he didn´t want to discharge all of those feelings on his wife or Aegnor, or even Angrod or Orodreth… and couldn´t go to his own training yard, because some idiots have been challenging the recently arrived Cantear and suffering humiliating defeats against them in that place. He didn´t know how, but he ended up in the kitchen section. It should be empty that time of the day… it wasn´t.

“I hope you can excuse me for making use of your kitchen without asking permission, your Majesty, but I had something to do that I couldn´t trust anyone else with” Narétardur said as he packed a jar of something and some lembas. “Or perhaps I simply didn´t want to leave anything to anyone else. Not for this.”

“Not at all… your Majesty.”

Arafinwë hadn´t interacted much with the Cantear King Consort, especially considering that they were family through Fëanáro or something like that, but he had seen him from afar. He was a silent figure, seldomly speaking in public unless it was to calm his impetuous husband, not interested in politics, but who also offered to heal any of the knights injured by his spouse´s equally impetuous people. He had also heard a lot of rumors surrounding him. Far from the warlord Varilëedur had been, Narétardur had once been a genius healer, as good as his grandson was a smith, and probably still was, but his life has been turned for worse after he had been enslaved in Angband and learned the art of poisons. After his escape, he had been more known for his skill in their manufacture, being called a Serpent by many and poisoner by the rest. Someone who killed without remorse. But he could tell, by his expression of barely hidden sadness and tense smile, that he was far from that.

“What are you doing?”

“Packing some things that are tasty, but also soft on the stomach… or that a newly returned can eat a few weeks after his or her body acclimated” he sighed. “I prepared some lembas and lavender blueberry jam. An efling I knew very well couldn´t resist them… and I thought it was a nice day to go and make a visit to the Gardens of Estë.”

“You are going to see Fëanáro?”

“Is it that surprising? He is my grandson and I worry”

“Is your husband going to accompany you?”

“No” he answered quickly, his mouth tightening. “By now, you should be used to how a marriage works. And why some things are better addressed first by the person who has the coldest blood… in a figurative way.” He bit his lip. “I don´t want him to see Fëanáro yet. If it´s as bad as I think, then Vari might do something that he regrets and I can´t allow it. Specially because he might refuse to change his decision just because he can´t back down without losing face. At least that would be his excuse.”

“I worry too… about my wife and children…” he looked at the lunch tray. Perhaps… a little trip was in order. “Would you mind if I accompany you?”

“Not at all, your majesty.”

“Thank you, your majesty”

“Please, call me Narétardur. I´m still not used to that title” he finished with his basket. “At least that shut Rúmil´s mouth regarding my marriage once and for all. He never stopped saying that I committed a mistake marrying Varilëedur, that he was too low for me.” He frowned. “Where is he, by the way? He hasn´t shown himself to us since we arrived.”

“In the Library, I guess” Finarfin answered. “Why the question? It´s obvious that you know each other, but I doubt that it´s just to catch up, especially because he didn´t mention you or your husband. Is there an issue with our loremaster or…”

“Rúmil is my father” the High King of the Noldor stopped cold. Just… what? “Surprised? I´m not surprised. He spent all his life trying to keep up the appearance, convincing the world and himself that what happened didn´t happen to him, that it´s better to keep their mouths shut… that´s his philosophy, that keeping our heads down and mouth shuts is the best. Clashed with what the rest of the family defends.”

“I guess you had your reasons” the blond said as they walked to the stalls. “But maybe this is the right time to catch up…”

“I haven´t talked to Rúmil since before we left and haven´t felt the need to since he told Fëanáro he was a freak for perfecting his beloved Sarati.”

“Right”

It was obvious that Rúmil had been erased from the family registry if not something worse. And frankly, he didn´t blame the loremaster for trying to disappear from view for a few days, considering that he had big troubles there. He had been calling his half-maia, worse his royalty born half ice maia, in-law too low for his son for years, then called their grandson a freak for petty reasons. If that wasn´t a recipe for disaster, then adding a pissed off Vala to the equation was. And Tulkas has been feeling really protective lately. He didn´t envy Narétardur, the relationship he had with his father must be…

Then he realized that the relationship he had with Finwë was less than stellar, just as he was handed the reigns of his horse. He didn´t know Rúmil, but the former High King hadn´t been such a great father either. He didn´t had the expectations the loremaster surely had for his child, obviously that involved a much different choice in partner than Narétardur had made, but he had been… delusional would be the word Fëanáro would use, always comparing them would be Nolo, the girls probably would say that he was rather spoiling and he… he almost felt invisible to him. He had a good relationship with his mother, he tried to say to himself that his father was busy, but… yes, a less Finwë was a less than stellar father. Just as he was a less than stellar King.

“Are you thinking about Finwë?” Narétardur asked as they both approached the Gardens after an intense gallop. “I heard that he didn´t come back with the other despite seeing them and I guess you are asking yourself why. And I have to say, I´m not surprised. He never liked facing his failures or was too much of a coward to do so. I never knew what Míriel saw in him, he was…”

“Delusional?” he answered before he could add something. “Sorry, I guess that Fëanáro would call him that. And here I thought he loved him.”

“He did, he was his son, it was imperative. But yes, he was delusional. His way to handle failure was making as if that didn´t happen. To close his eyes to all the bad things” he shook his head. “In the days after Míriel died, he lived as that, as if he hadn´t failed to protect her… he even neglected Fëanáro in order to keep his fantasy. Vari and I were in our abysm of grief, but we had to forcefully collect ourselves and take care of him… Varilëedur collected himself first. When our little girl died I didn´t want to live anymore… then he dragged me out of the room and put our grandson in my arms and say that I needed to get up, that he needed us because his mother was gone and his father was an idiot and he only had us two… Fëanáro saved me in some way. Thanks to his existence, I got the strength to get up and live again. The Fading Disease would have killed me that time if he hasn´t existed.”

“The Fading Disease? Isn´t that…”

“Yes” his frown deepened. “That´s why I know how it feels… and how difficult it could be to recover from it. It sucks the joy and light from your life until only emptiness is felt. You need to have a very strong reason to get up from that abyss and sometimes nothing feels to be enough, not even what you love the most.” His hands clutched the reigns harder. “I don´t want to lose him to that thing.”

“Me neither”

As they entered the place, they were greeted by a nice maia called Olniene. She took them directly to Fëanáro´s room and he had to say, he looked really sick. Narétardur smiled weakly and enticed him to eat the lembas he had prepared… apparently the only thing someone had managed to make him eat since he was reborn. It made him want to hit himself. How had he missed all the signs? Fëanáro was an adult by then, yes, and they had lived separated for a long time, but the causes of this had been laid when he was a child. How had he been so blind? And how had his parents… scratch that, he knew how Finwë could have been so blind. And his mother wouldn´t want to get much into that. It wasn´t her son after all. She might have tried to stop the most delusional plans of her husband, but Fëanáro had drawn a line from the first day she had arrived and she hadn´t been willing to cross it. Not when it could cause more problems than it prevented. She should have. Which was why he didn´t know what to say as he watched Narétardur leave with tears in his eyes.

“He was so happy the last time I saw him. He… we tried to hide the horrible part of the world from him, but he still realized it. But he was happy, with so much light in his eyes…”

“Why did you leave him then?” Finarfin faced him. “I know that my mother only demanded an apology to let you back… why not simply give it to her, even if you don´t mean it, if only to return to his side? He needed you.”

“And bow our heads in repentance to Indis? You know what would have happened to our people if that happened? To the fight for our rights?” he hadn´t thought it that far. “The Gnomes bowing their heads to the princess of the right blood, below her foot, as it had to be, as it must always be… she probably knew that as well, that we couldn´t do it if we wanted the fight to ever succeed. Fëanáro knew despite being so young…”

“You are right” and he knew that Narétardur was right. And knew that Indis knew, which was why she asked for that apology. It was the only thing that they wouldn´t give, that would keep his half-brother’s family away from her family. She would probably blame Vahayaqueen for that too, but he knew that that part must have been her own thoughts.

“On the other side, she felt guilty enough to strike that unspoken deal with Fëanáro about her not being permitted on any family occasion that involved his side of the family, including wedding and naming ceremonies, so…”

“Guilt doesn´t change anything”

He was angry at his mother, angry at his father, angry at Nolo, angry at himself and his siblings for being such a bunch of idiots… couldn´t they have done things better? Perhaps it was the sense of failure he felt, but he reunited his siblings when he got back in Fingolfin´s office. It turned out that he wasn´t the only one that felt like an idiot. Or that had issues with their mother after the huge revelations.

“I feel like such an idiot” Findis admitted, sitting down by their sister. He hasn´t seen them so united since before Lalwen got out of diapers. It wasn´t that they hated, each other, it was only that Findis was a proper princess and Lalwen was as wild as Aredhel. Too different. “There was always something strange about me having a parade for my birthday when none of you had. I should have thought that, but it just made me feel so special…”

“You ARE special, Dis”

“I was invisible most of the days, except for that one. Mother tried to convince me that not, but… Nolo tried to compete with Fëanáro, who always shone so bright, and Lalwen was always causing troubles. You and I, Ara, were the invisible ones” he couldn´t say no. “You at least were smart, I was only proper. And delusional like our father.”

“You weren´t…”

“You noticed what was happening to Fëanáro in Valimar a lot ago, Arafinwë, during our vacations in Valimar. You tried to warn everyone, but I convinced you that you had imagined it all. I did it all the time, because I had to convince myself that everything was perfect” ah, he had completely forgotten about that. “In that, I´m just like atar.”

“And now you feel bad.”

“Feeling bad or guilty doesn´t fix shit” it was strange to hear her swearing that he was actually rendered speechless. “I´m just like Nolo here, someone who made a disaster, but unlike him, I am unable to fix them. I was not even capable of convincing Ilwen´s grandparent´s to stay in Valimar…” frankly, Arafinwë thought that it had given Ingwë his mental peace back not to have that pair close. “She wanted to get to know them, but they didn´t want to stay somewhere polluted by their son” she sighed. “I guess Fëanáro wouldn´t want to stay in the same place as us either.”

“Perhaps you can´t change the past, but you can atone for it. We all can” he joined his hands. “Fëanáro is not getting better. The visit from his grandfather helped, or so I hoped, but I don´t think it´s enough. That perhaps we should rotate in visiting him periodically. And not only us, I´m going to talk to Nerdanel about it.”

“Ara, he hates us”

“I think that he doesn´t hates us as persons, he hates what we represent. What our mother represented… and what she did. Also what our father did, but I guess that being his only parent, he was less inclined to show his aggression towards him” he sighed. “What I mean is that we should put some effort in keeping him alive.”

“Do we have to?”

“Lalwendë…”

“I mean, apart from the obvious, what other reason we have? Because I doubt you are doing this only for the goodness of your heart” she crossed her arms. “that´s only a part.”

“If you mean that I have considered the political implications of his death, yes, I have. Specially because him returning to Mandos would mean that Varilëedur is going to let us die from starvation without remorse. And let´s not talk about what the crazy maia of winter might do. And believe me, I know she could do worse.” He looked at her hardly. “But I´m not doing that for those reasons. Fëanáro is our brother and we should begin to act like the family we are. The family that we should have been since the beginning.”

“Yes, it´s time we do”

His siblings left and he thought it was going to be the end of the day, but then a surprise arrived on the last hour, before he went to sleep with Eärwen.

“Uncle, do you have time?” Aredhel entered the room, looking tired.

“Sure” he said, letting her seat in his sofa. “How is Lómion? Is he still…”

“Yes” she seemed about to cry. “I have been thinking about taking him to the Gardens, to see if they could help him better, but every time I mention to seek the help of maiar, he gets into a panic attack… that monster left an impression on him. Now he couldn´t even see one of them without hyperventilating. Tyelkormo has been a great help to me, considering that he is the reason I´m not a walking corpse yet because I had to take care of him on my own” she revolved. “which is why I feel the need to talk to you.”

“What is the matter?”

“Tyelko is pregnant”

“Wha… I mean, that´s amazing!!” he said, feeling relieved. Varilëedur certainly would be more agreeable now that a new great great grandchild was on the way. Now he only had to wait until Nolofinwë derogates those laws to get what he wanted… but then his niece´s expression immediately told him that it was not such great news. “What´s wrong?”

“He told me that the other times he got pregnant, he also got sick. Like… Queen Míriel sick” his heart dropped. “Tyelko told me that it happens every time one of them expects a child. He, Nelyo, Míriel... even Hisleth, granddaughter of Moryo, Varilëedur and… Lady Loss got terribly sick when they…”

“Perhaps it would be better if he moves to the Gardens while…”

“No! He doesn´t want his father to know!” she stopped when she realized that she had raised her voice. “He is worried that he might get worse if he hears about it and thinks it´s his fault that he was in a vulnerable position. Also… he asked me not to tell the rest of his family. Apparently, it might get some volatile tempers off and make things worse for…”

“Aredhel, they are eventually going to know. You can´t hide something like that forever. And what of when the child is already here?”

“He hid the existence of two of them before”

“He had Curufin to help raise them”

“And he has me to help him now.”

“Rissi, you already had your hands full with your own son, you can overexert yourself like that” Finarfin grabbed a hand. “Just… gently convince him to tell his family. They are going to be his best support in these trying times, he should have them by his side. Even if they are going to scold him for being such an idiot again.”

“I don´t know” she continued. “He is right about them having their plates full with uncle Fëanáro´s sickness and all the other things going around. They had made a whole schedule to visit him in the Gardens from next week on, to show their support. This will throw everything out of it.”

“And still it would be best if he has their support” he patted her on the back. “Just talk to him about it, I´m sure he is going to understand eventually. Luckily before he is agonizing in bed and Nerdanel would want to kill me for not telling her per her son´s wishes when I still had time to do it.”

“So it´s about you?”

“About us, because she is going to want to rip both our throats off”

“The terrible thing is that it´s probably true”

-In the other side-

Ancalimë always enjoyed a bit of chaos, specially after she had spent several hours in one of those horrible wooden contraptions her father called his babies, others ships and she creations of fucking Morgoth himself. During her time as Queen, she didn´t express that, in favor of doing a good job as ruler, leaving a positive impression of herself for posterity and all that shit, even if she threw heavy things at people from time to time… but things have changed since she passed the scepter to her son. And talking about that, she wondered how long it would be until Anarion realized she had lent herself the scepter. She expected him to come running after a few days, but until then she will enjoy the chaos she caused. Oh, and the show that she was seeing in front of her. She couldn´t believe it when the elves took so long to realize what was happening here when she had realized it immediately. It was obvious, Maedhros had that glow about him that people relate to THAT. It was only the beginning, though, soon it will become the living nightmare that had happened to her.

“…. How could you be so irresponsible?!! Don´t you know that newly returned bodies are out of tune with their fëar and should be threated carefully?!!” Lord Elrond screamed as he towered over his father, despite being like a head smaller. “You should have waited at least a month to start doing bedroom activities or at least taken precautions!! It´s because people does things like that that there are unplanned pregnancies!!”

“I our defense…” Fingon tried to start.

“In your defense nothing!! This is the second time something like this happens to your two, but it seems that you learned nothing!!”

For such a heartwarming reunion the peredhel had with his atya, he turned into such a beast when he realized what Maedhros and Fingon had done. But, considering that he already had a lot of work with his insane father and didn´t need more, she could understand him. The others have taken the news rather differently. Gil Galad had practically jumped of joy at the perspective of having a little brother… or a prospective heir so his chancellor would get off his case. Galadriel, her brother and Celeborn had congratulated the couple before they watched Lord Elrond explode, not understanding why he had started screaming until he mentioned Queen Míriel´s sickness. Well, at least they weren´t…

“What is that noise?” Finrod suddenly said, making everyone go into alert. Or at least everyone that had survived the First Age. And her, of course, she was always expecting a good fight. It was the reason she brought Halcivea with her. That and that Anarion and his children weren´t capable of using it.

“It can´t be…” Galadriel ran, followed by all the others. They didn´t stop until they reached the walls of Lindon, from where they could see an army of spiders approach. Big, horrible spiders, whose leader seemed to be a bigger, fatter spider.

“Is that…” Ancalimë started, almost hoping that it was who she thought she was. And she could tell that she wasn´t the only one who hoped so.

“No, it´s too small to be Ungoliant” Maedhros said. From all of them, he was one of the few that had seen the Spider spirit up close as he fled Formenos. “I think it´s one of it´s offspring, though. One that was born directly from her.”

“Shelob” Celeborn said, almost like a curse. Surely he knew more of her than he let them believe. “We need to gather the knights right…”

“It´s not Ungoliant, but it can serve me well” Elrond said, jumping to the fight.

Ancalimë whistled as the peredhel unsheated Kapsarene. She had read about the sword of the ice maiar in Elros diaries, always imagining how it would be to hold it, to control something as powerful as light. He pierced through the first line of spiders as if they were made of butter, eliciting something from her. She was not going to be left behind. She was old, but not too much as to refrain from battle. The former Queen quickly located the biggest spider besides Shelob and used Halcivea on it. She used the thing as a weapon against the other spiders, feeling the thrill of the battle. Ancalimë barely realized that she was not the only one that joined. Several silver haired elves were confronting the spiders, demonstrating monstruous battle abilities. Woow, she had underestimated the elves. Or these ones might be special.

“Come on, you nasty creatures… come at me!!”

“ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!”

Spider blood splashed her as one of the elves ripped spider´s legs off the body of the closest one. She didn´t mind at… it was then that she heard it. It was the most beautiful voice she had ever heard. Her eyes went to the source and she saw it too. Maglor the Minstrel singing on top of the walls, the Scepter of Númenor in one hand and something that looked like a star on the other. The Silmaril he had thrown to the sea long ago… suddenly what seemed like a door appeared behind the spider. It opened and started to absorb all the fell creatures until they were gone. Shelob included.

“Seriously?” Elrond, who had been battling Shelob, said. She had to agree with him, it was quite anticlimactic end. But well, what was done was done. And Elrond would surely understand… or at least forget it. Specially because Maglor collapsed in that moment.

"Atto!!" the peredhel run towards the fallen elf. He was not the only one, Maedhros and the others also did. Maglor was cold to the touch, too cold, making them all scared. If he didn´t react quickly, they probably would all lose it. Ancalimë was worried too, even if she didn´t know the elf. She wanted just a little controlled chaos, not this much. She wondered for a second if Anarion would blame this on her too. Talking about a penchant for chaos out of control.

-In the distance-

Sauron wasn´t sure what he had been thinking when he deceived the Great Spider and her Lesser Spawn into attacking Lindon. Of course, he heard about many elven ships arriving, carrying legends from the First Age and wanted to know if that was truth, just to see how much it would affect his plans. What he had not expected was to see those ice demons there too. Weren´t they supposed to be gone forever? With their help, the spawn of Fëanor would not only be safer, but better trained than ever before. Throwing all his plans to the trash. Or perhaps not. He could still make use of Celebrimbor´s naivety to get what he wanted. He had always wondered why the proyects he made ended up so wrong. Including Grond, who could never work in the way it was intended. He was the greatest smith, why couldn´t he do the same as Helcacilinthir? The stupid ice head wasn´t even a great artisan in the first place, he lacked talent. Why had he done it and not Mairon the Great? Why had Fëanor been able to create the Silmarils and Mairon wasn´t able to correctly do one thing with the Lamp Shards? He was starting to think that what was needed was the touch of an ice maiar, of a member of the Host of Eru... and who was more talented than Celebrimbor? He had expected to put his plan in action in a few centuries, but now he will have to thread more carefully. Specially because he didn´t want to meet that she-monster again. And Maglor had showed him that those pups still have the power to banish them all...

He extended a hand, where a bat landed. One of the servants of Thuringwethil, which he still controlled.

"Continue to watch him and inform me" he instructed the bat. "And tell your brothers to keep their eyes on whom I instructed them to. I will need to know if there is a signal of weakness in any of them... or if it´s the right moment."

Genialogy was such an interesting subject after all. People might consider that blood relations or adoptive ones were not determinant in one´s future, but he couldn´t help but disagree. The relations between family members, how a family that everybody believed was reduced to a few members was instead so extended was... fascinating. And instrumental in his plan to conquer everything. To think that everything had begun with a single woman, with an enemy. Now that very same woman´s blood was going to catapult him to where Melkor never reached... but first, he had to make the central points, so he could build the instruments correctly. So keep watch for the moment, make sure nothing has changed and then...

Chapter Text

Galadriel didn´t know when she had heard the peredhel yell so much for the last time. Eru, she was beginning to think the Almighty had inflicted the twins on her cousins as a punishment for all their crimes. By how he seemed to think he had the right to yell at his parents that way. And Maedhros was only shrinking on himself as much as he could… yes, the Valar should have just handed those two over to their son… or perhaps SONS… then they would have been properly dealt with. Why Maedhros allowed Elrond to speak to him that way? She would never know, as she would have never allowed Celebrian to speak to her or Celeborn in that way, ever. On another note, her cousin actually deserved those yells, so…

Then the spider attack occurred and they were all distracted. As she and her husband tried to organize people to evacuate Lindon before Shelob could become the Ungoliant of the city and Gil Galad tried to put his armor on to follow Elrond and those mad elves from before into battle… she had heard that they were Cantear before, and she was starting to believe that her half-uncle and his sons were sane compared to their ancestors… Maglor then appeared, carrying the Scepter of Númenor and a Silmaril and somehow ripped a hole into this Eä before sending Shelob and several of her offspring through it. After that, everything had become a disaster. Between trying to organize the recent arrivals, trying to get more information about what happened in Aman, enduring a smug Ancalimë and contacting Tar-Anarion so he knew where the symbol of his power was, she was tired by the time of midday meal. Even so, she went to Maglor´s room to see if he was better, if the peredhel had been able to stabilize him and could come down to eat. She hadn´t counted on the Feanorion´s new escort.

“What business do you have here?” a male Cantear asked. She remembered him, he had fought like a wild beast, without weaponry unless you were counting the claws and teeth that he had somehow formed with ice. And he somehow looked familiar to her, despite the Golden Lady being sure that they had never seen each other before. “I hope you understand that I can´t let just anyone enter.”

“I´m not anyone, I´m Makalaurë´s cousin…”

“By one of the brats of the Vanya tool my son raised for his own designs” she didn´t understand it at first. “Orneldur, though you might have known him as Vahayaqueen” he rolled his eyes. “Watching the boys´ backs is the least me and my dear Silë could do after contributing to bringing that vermin into the world. The name is Lasseniwë, by the way.”

“I´m familiar with the vermin… and my condolences”

“Never knew what we did wrong…”

“I wonder too” Galadriel answered. That they were here must mean that the issue with Vahayaqueen was already solved, not that it was going to make that bug safe from her wrath when she went back to Tirion. “Though your great grandchildren and their children are not to blame for his actions.”

“I know that well”

“Then why…”

“Because we don´t get on with each other” Lasseniwë answered, looking at his nails. They must still hold some blood in them. “Unless you are counting Telpehalda, that one can truly understand us. Might make a warrior out of him one of these days. Oh, and I promised my brother Naltaniwë that I was going to watch over them. So, now that Albafairë is busy acting as a healer with Elrond, Silë is protecting Nelyafinwë and the others are overextended trying to protect all descendants of the Queen… we are busy right now.”

“You could…”

“Galadriel?” Celebrimbor appeared in that moment, looking as tired as before. And, surprisingly, without Curufin in sight. “I thought you were going to help with the recently arrived. Shouldn´t you be at the pier?”

“I was, but I considered it my duty to visit Makalaurë now that his health might take a turn for the worst.”

“Yes, me too…” he looked at Lasseniwë, who took a step to the side to allow him to open the door and go in. “Come on, Elrond might need a reminder that he actually needs to eat.”

Maglor was laying on the bed, his eyes closed, a pile of furs on top of him. Elrond and a Cantear female were hovering over them. That must be Albafairë, the healer captain that was ancestor to her half-uncle. She must say, the nís didn´t remind her too much of Fëanor or his Sons. Normally that would be a good thing, but somehow the Golden Lady wasn´t pretty sure in that moment. For now, the nís simply continued hovering over her great great grandson as she and Celeborn reminded Elrond that he had other duties. He didn´t seem to like it, but with Maglor out of danger, he had to return to help Gil Galad. The first place he went to after leaving the room was the dinning room… where he got a pleasant surprise.

“Ereinion and I were talking about me taking over his training” Maedhros said, smiling. Fingon was doing the same, obviously glad that they, or at least one of them, took the initiative to bond. It was… kind of endearing. And good… for both of them. “Considering that Elenammë apparently is too unexperienced a teacher and I have taught several people. I mean, light exercise might do me some good…”

“So long as you take it easy…” Elrond grunted, obviously not completely in favor. But even he knew how much it meant for his father to be able to bond with the son he thought he had lost, so he complied. “Promise you will be very careful, atya.”

“I promise”

“And you” he glared at both Gil Galad and Fingon. “Promise that you will be watching for anything unusual. If he shows pain or anything else, you are to immediately tell me.”

“Promised.” Well, that peredhel certainly had everything under control there. It meant that she had her hands free to deal with the Curufin and Celebrimbor issue. She already had something in mind for the sweet younger smith. As for the older… that might need some more planning.

“I also have something to say” Celebrimbor spoke as he cut his meat. “Atar and I have talked… after informing him that I have my own city… and we have decided that he shall come to Eregion with me.” Gil Galad looked relieved to not have to deal with another Feanorion in his city for long. And that left Galadriel free to deal with those two´s awful taste in partners as she saw fit. “So, if some of the exiles want to come too…”

“I´m sure a lot of the Cantear would be glad to go with you” The High King said. “At least that way my knights might be able to recover their confidence.”

“Do they need to?” Galadriel raised an eyebrow.

“Are you kidding me? It´s been barely more than a few hours and several of them had already taken a beating from one of them. If that hasn´t been a blow to their confidence, then I don´t know what could cause that” Gil Galad rolled his eyes. “And you two? Are you going to remain here or…”

“As much as we have enjoyed our days here, I think we have been away from Celebrian long enough” Celeborn said, looking at his wife, who smiled at him. “We shall return to Eregion along with you and… your father”

“Joy” Curufin said.

“And while you are at it, perhaps you should take some of Maglor´s stalkers with…”

Galadriel glared at Ereinion as the High King realized what he had done. Elrond reacted to the word stalker as if they had said orc, perhaps because of his previous experience with Daeron, and the other Feanorians started to demand answers. They were angry… and that was never a good sign. In the end, they escorted them to the dungeons, where the aforementioned elves were. Quite frankly, she didn´t know what those idiots saw in her cousin. Maglor was… so annoying. So was Daeron according to her memories, so she could see what the Minstrel of Doriath saw in him, but the rest of them?

“Visits!!” Tinfang Warble said, getting up from his place on the floor. He was too cheerful for someone that was in a dungeon. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”

“Who were you again and why were you stalking my brother?” Maedhros asked, looking at the prisoners. They were four in total, but the cell of the stalkers only had three of them. The last one was completely ignoring the others as he seemed to draw on the wall with a stone. Obviously, he didn´t like them.

“Stalking? Don´t throw me in the same tunic as those two” the piper threw his cellmates a dirty look. “I was only following Maglor because he was a great source of inspiration for other musicians. Never heard melodies like the ones he sang when he completely lost his mind… that´s genius. It has helped me to get out of a creative block…”

“You were only following Makalaurë like a creep because of his… music?” the redhead asked, raising an eyebrow. It was obvious that he didn´t believe the nér at all.

“Do you know how hard it is to find inspiration after an Age on the job? Even if you are a consummated artist, it´s like…” both Curufin and Celebrimbor nodded. Apparently, artistic blocks were not only a problem for musicians. Well, he guessed that Tinfang wasn´t as bad as Daeron. “I know I propositioned him before, but it was only to a one-night stand and it was in the Mereth Aderthad…”

“WHAT?!!”

Now her cousins looked ready to make him eat his damn flute. She wouldn´t mind, after all it was an insult to his family. They were all raised well… yes, there were a few that were very sexual, but that was limited to those that joined the Hunt… and yes, there was Curufin, who screwed up because he took things too far too fast with a girl he obviously barely knew and became a single father… but Galadriel knew Makalaurë was too good to have accepted such a proposition. He was not Maitimo, but definitely not a Tyelkormo either. Anyway, she couldn´t accept a kinslaying there and neither could Gil Galad, because he quickly directed their attention towards the last one, a silver haired menace called Ivárë. He apparently was between the Three Great Bards before Maglor arrived and pushed him down. For some reason he didn´t mind it. In fact, he was a little too gleeful to talk with the Sons of Fëanor. He bowed deeply to them, something he had not done for Celeborn. Wasn´t he a sindar from Doriath?

“No, I´m not” he answered when he was asked, sounding offended. “My mother was a sindar from the North and my father was descended from the Cantear. Through him, who was a grandson of the maia Helcaraxë through his firstborn” there were sour faces now between her cousins. “I know our customs. And I know that the blood of Hríve would be instrumental in the defeat of…”

“So, you stalked Maglor because he was a descendant from Hríve?”

“It wasn´t like that, I… only wanted to see if he would want to… expand the family with me.” There were some surprised expressions around. “It didn´t have to become marriage, not if he didn´t want to, but one or two children wouldn´t hurt. It was a common practice between ice maiar to have children without marriage, my ancestor had ten, each from a different parent and no one knew who the father to Hríve´s children was, or if they even had the same parent. Some say that…”

“You are insane” Maedhros said.

“Insane? No, I´m just practical… but I wouldn´t have minded if he wanted to accept my courtship in a deeper level. I would have been honored to help continuing the Ice Queen´s lineage. In fact…” he stared at Curufin. “would you want? Maglor might not be in condition to agree with this now and I´m not into that kind of thing… but you are in condition and I already could tell that you are an amazing father. Wouldn´t you be interested in…”

Oh, no, this was not going to happen. Galadriel could be searching a partner for Curufin and Celebrimbor, but this was definitely crazier than she would ever allow. And he could tell Tyelpe agreed, because he shielded his father with his own body. Great to know that his bad taste had limits. Celeborn grabbed her hand in that moment, returning her to the track of the interrogation. Right, Ilvarë had lived in Doriath for centuries before crossing paths with the Feanorians. If he was so fanatically devoted to his Cantear heritage, what was he doing there? Why had he remained there instead of joining the Feanorian forces in Himring, Himlad or Amon Ereb?

“Why were you in Doriath, Ilvarë?” Celeborn asked, very serious. She continued holding his hand, trying to keep him from strangling the thing if he said something out of line. “you might be a sinda, but we know that the northern sindar were Thingol´s favorite targets outside former thralls. But you… you walked through Doriath like it was home and…”

“Oh, it wasn´t easy. To camouflage myself like that with a Song of Power… there was Melian to considerate, you know, and Luthien” he made an awfully distasteful face. “At first, I entered the place under the assumptions that I could make Luthien something more than she was… something that could become a beacon of hope, of true hope… but she disappointed almost instantly. And Melian was weary of me… so I had to bide my time.”

“Bide your time for what?”

“For her and damn Thingol to pay, now that their daughter proved useless and him a monster. Now that Hríve´s star was the only hope and it remained in the other side of the Sea” he said with sudden anger and nostalgia. “do you know what happened to my mother´s people thanks to him? Before the final battle, Queen Loss gave the opportunity against every convention for those that didn´t want to battle to leave. The cowards abandoned their families then… but very few true Cantear made that. The ones that escaped in their majority were people that were married into or remained with the Cantear, people that were dragged north to be made slaves or worse. Like my mother… she used to have a sister, you know. Used to have, because shortly after Doriath was stablished, she went south with her family, thinking they were going to find refugee there… and Thingol ordered them to all be killed as a warning to any northerner that seek refuge in his city.”

“I… I´m sorry…” Celeborn almost seemed hit.

“Melian and Luthien were not the only reasons I went inside Doriath and stood that pit for so long. When all my people congregated at Himring and Amon Ereb to fight for the star that gave us hope… I remained there because for thousands of years we shared our knowledge, first with the northern Tatyar and then with the rest of the northern people, we mixed with them and guard the north… thousands of years of fighting. And when we finally had hope, he and his damn spawn did the best they could to squash it. Melian and that princess that everyone want to see as a heroine from some tale didn´t do a single fucking…”

“That was wrong” the former prince of Doriath admitted. “But that wasn´t only a problem of Melian and Luthien. We all, even those that were against his politics, choose to shut up most of the time…”

“I know, which is why everyone there had to pay” he smirked in really cruel and messed up way. “So I had to make sure your attack on Doriath would be a success. Dior was ready to attempt his own version of the Girdle, who do you think sabotaged that? Though I didn´t get to the necklace before the little bitch ran away with it… I wasn´t going to kill her, of course, not before she paid the debt Luthien owed to the Hríve´s blood… I would never do something against you…” his tone turned fanatic in that moment.
“NEVER”

“That Thingol was a monster doesn´t make it right” Maedhros interrupted. He obviously still felt awful about it, but the more Galadriel heard about Thingol and his ilk from the other side of the conflict, the more she felt that the dwarves of Nogrod and her cousins had done a favor to everyone by getting rid of them and raising the twins to be good people. Was this why Celebrian always humored Elrond´s Feanorianess? “And we?”

“Oh? It was really that bad? A mourning father wanting justice for the murder of his precious children?” was he talking about Caranthir? “Or another wanting to protect his own babe, despite not having him with him?” what? Galadriel turned to Nelyo, who looked as if he had caught red handed. What was going on there? “Did you really think that fucker would have warned you about anything if I hadn´t told him? He didn´t even knew back then that Thingol had a hand on your son´s kidnapping…”

“What?!” Ereinion was yelling now.

“Yes, it was his plan to destabilize the Noldor and get rid of the House of Fëanor through a civil war, all of them… though I´m certain he would have killed much more than he believed. Not that he cared, so long as he eliminated the Gnomes from his lands” he rolled his eyes. “Dior knew and he tried to continue the plan. I got to the healer and told him what was happening, then made sure his message reached you, Prince Maedhros” the redhead looked tense. “Does that sound familiar to you?”

“So it was you” her cousin said. “I would have cancelled everything if…”

“But you didn´t and your child was saved because of that” Ilvarë smirked at him. “You are welcomed.”

“Please, get me out of here, there is too much madness here” the fourth prisoner pleaded in that moment, clearly done with being there.

They too, there was too much madness in that place. And as much as Ilvarë was right in that Thingol and Dior were dangerous (Thingol probably since before the curse turned him mad) and that they should be stopped, he was clearly a devoted fanatic of Hríve. His fanatism clearly had made him lose sight of what was right and wrong, including about stalking. Between him and his fanatic devotion telling him that he should help Hríve´s family tree grow again; Tinfang, who clearly didn´t find a problem with throwing indecent propositions towards people who barely knew him and were clearly not interested; and Daeron, who clearly didn´t know how to express his feelings in a normal way, Makalaurë was in troubles. Talking about different kinds of stalkers…

STALKERS!!

“Stalkers?” Celeborn asked, looking at her in confusion. Ups, had she spoke loudly? “I know that we were visiting some of them, but your cousin is going to be fine. Between Elrond and his brothers, you don´t have to worry about…”

“No, I wasn´t speaking about it” Galadriel grabbed him and run into their room. She then pulled out a paper and feather, with some ink. She started writing at a fast pace. It was a family tree. “I was speaking about Sauron.”

“Sauron? What has Sauron to do with stalkers?”

“That Sauron IS a stalker” Celeborn looked at her as if she were crazy. “Hríve´s stalker or something like that… at least her family´s.”

“And that´s why he approached Tyelpe? I thought he needed a great smith to help with the creation of the Rings.”

“But it´s beyond that” Galadriel wrote some names on the bottom of the pages. Those were the names of the Nazgul:

Witch-king of Angmar

Khamûl

Vothmid

Votrak

Hethmur

Zamzak

Gathrig

Higrag

Bhundir

“You know that three of the Nazgul were Lords of Númenorean heritage, including the Witch-King” Galadriel continued. “Hríve has been showing me visions about the Nazgul´s past non-stop in my mirror now and it has just made sense… three more of the Ringwraiths are Easterlings, including Khamul, and the rest of them are Druedain… though the Easterlings had clear Druedain heritage, by what I saw of their shields.”

“Fascinating, but I don´t see your point”

“You clearly weren´t hearing Ancalimë when she was whining about her father after I asked her about stealing the Scepter of Númenor” he wasn´t following her. “The Druedain were old friends of the Haladin, so much that they only became part of Númenor when the remains of the House of Haleth decided to relocate there. And according to Ancalimë, Tar-Aldarion scared most of them out of the island when he decided that travelling by sea was an acceptable pastime for a king.”

“I still don´t know what… wait, did you say the House of Haleth?” the silver haired ellon raised an eyebrow. “I thought they were destroyed in the First Age.”

“No, the branch of Haldan did, which means that the one of Haleth herself was the only one which remained. And if they are descendants of Haleth, then they also are of…” realization dawned in his eyes. “Avranc confirmed that a few of his female cousins and their families left Brethil shortly before Dior´s attack along with caravans of Druedain, he didn´t know where they went to though.”

“I still don´t know why…”

“If the Druedain and the Haladin were such close friends, then there could have been some intermarriage amongst them in the late First and even Second Ages. And not only marriage, but affairs.” He was realizing it even more. “And perhaps those descendants became kings in turn… I wouldn´t be surprised with my cousins´ luck… so…”

“For Eru´s sake, Sauron is a stalker” then something seemed to distract him. “Wait, something is not right. I know we thought the Witch King was Númenorean because of his heraldry, and that Votrak was descended from Hallatan through his daughter Nessanië and Hethmur from Tar-Calmacil through Gimilzagar, but him... his heritage was still in question.”

“Not him, her”

“What?”

“It´s not a man, it´s a woman” Galadriel said, suddenly very sure. “And we couldn´t find her heritage despite it being displayed in front of us because we all thought her dead.” She started writing down in a line from the name Elros. “Tar-Míriel.”

“Eru and all of his Valar.”

“Exactly.” Galadriel crossed her arms. “What I still don´t understand is why he targeted them between all the Finweans. For some reason, I don´t think it was entirely because of Hríve, even if he craved her power. No, there is something more going on. Perhaps that is the reason he approached Celebrimbor in the first place too.” She rubbed her chin. “But I can´t put my finger on what. Maybe I should ask again.”

“You have done enough, my love.”

“But I should. If not for us, then for Celebrian, so she doesn´t have to go through the Fall of Eregion again…”

“We will solve it, meleth nin” he kissed her forehead. “We are already taking care of Celebrimbor´s and Curufin´s horrible taste in partners. And once Anarion is here, we will inform him about his future relatives´ terrible decision-making skills inherited directly from Fëanor and his Sons and he might take care of that.” He shrugged. “Or we might only have to kill Pharazon, problem solved.”

“That too.” she smiled. “Could you truly blame Míriel for becoming such an awful undead being after being subjected to that asshole?”

“No… but I would be thankful if this time she directs all her wrath towards him.”

“You and the whole Middle Earth, love”

-In another room-

Maglor opened his eyes, feeling something soft under him. What… the last he remembers; he was in the beach after throwing the Silmaril into the sea. This… this doesn´t feel like sand at all. He looked around wearily, noticing the richly decorated room and fluffy bed he was in. as he pushed the covers aside, he wondered what had happened. Has he been captured while he was unconscious? No, he couldn´t see Eonwë sticking his prisoners in bedrooms that looked fit for royalty, even if they were actual royalty. Had the peredhil pleaded for him? He wouldn´t want them to get into trouble because…

“Good day, Lord Makalaurë, it´s time for midday meal” an elf he vaguely recognized entered the room, carrying a tray in his arms. He put it on a nearby table before approaching the bed. “Let me help you sit up.”

“I… think I can do it on own, thank you” the nér got completely still when he heard his answer. Why? Was he expecting something else? “Is something wrong?”

“No, but… let me call for Lord Elrond, he will be ecstatic that you have woken up.”

Elrond? Where was Elros? And woken up? How long had he slept? Hours, days, weeks… something told him that it was for more. Had the peredhil been worrying about him the whole time? He didn´t have much time to wonder, as Elrond arrived. He launched himself at him, embracing him by the waist as soon as he noticed that he was speaking coherently. Then he explained everything before scolding him for getting mad and disappearing to the seashore for nearly an entire Age. He barely heard anything besides… Elros was dead. It was… a terrible feeling took over him. He nearly didn´t hear that he had lived well, that his descendant Ancalimë was there and that he could meet her… his son was dead and he needed time to process that. Elrond seemed to get it, because he left him alone to eat his meal, which tasted like dust, and grieve.

He would have spent the rest of the afternoon grieving if something hadn´t happened. Nelyo visited him. He looked… complete. Happier than before. His scars from Angband had disappeared and even his hand was back. He was about to ask him about what happened that day when they attacked Eonwë´s camp, about how he was there despite having thrown himself into a fiery pit, when he also saw Curvo. He teared up. He remembered finding his broken corpse in Doriath´s throne room along Tyelko´s… it had been a great trauma. He nearly launched himself at his brothers… would have done so had his body been in a better condition. They approached to embrace him one by one, as if he was delicate. Well, he guessed he was, considering the condition he had left his body in.

“Are you alright?” Maedhros finally answered as they sat down near his bed, watching him drinking his soup in a mechanical way. “Elrond said you were gaining weight in a good way and… we want to make sure that you are feeling better now that your mind has cleared up.”

“What Nelyo wants to say is that we wanted to ask you about something weird you did with the Scepter of Númenor and one of the Silmarils.” Curufin said, ever the frontal one. And as delicate as he remembered. “You sang something really weird and… suddenly a rupture in this Eä or however you want to call it appeared and swallowed Ungoliant´s spawn of evil and the rest of her spawn. Care to tell us how?”

“Wha… I don´t know what you are talking about.”

“Yes, just as Nelyo didn´t know that he was playing with death when he went to bed with Finno so shortly after returning from Mandos. Please, even the brats knew that you were at risk of conceiving again.”

“Nelyo, again?” his tone now was unbelieving.

“Curvo!!”

“No, nothing of Curvo, you two are the ones that are at fault this time” their younger brother crossed his arms. “And I have already took care of Turko when he got sick after conceiving, the two times. I don´t fancy doing it another time for another brother.”

“TYELKO has kids?!!”

“Yes, two of them” Nelyo answered. “I will introduce you to them when we go back to Aman… after this winter has passed… in an
Age or two.”

“What?”

“Which is kind of our fault for some reason or…”

“WHAT?!!”

His brothers then told him the history about their ancestry through Míriel, about the crazy ice maia that was their ancestor and how Eru had put her in charge of fixing whatever stupid thing the Valar had done, and thought that it made some sense to have someone that kept Manwë from screwing up too much, it had made him rethink everything he thought he knew about himself. Or his grandmother. Specially when he was told that Hríve was Tulkas´ sister or something like that. He was also told that there was a curse on the Silmarils and that nearly all Thingol´s family had been affected by it, becoming very dangerous to everyone that came in contact with them. In fact, they had been so dangerous for such a long time that there had been an actual party in Aman when they were condemned to stay in Mandos for a long period of time.

“Well, that´s the history” Maedhros shrugged. “I hope that you are not feeling bad about…”

“Feeling bad? Nelyo, I don´t remember nearly an Age, our son is dead and so are several descendants, descendants I didn´t have an opportunity to know… I think I have plenty of things not to feel right about.”

“If you put it that way…”

“I also don´t fancy having to take care of you as you get sick this time” he crossed his arms. “Especially as I´m not healthy and your health is sure going to take a hit too. And I don´t want Elrond seeing what is going to happen next.”

“There might not be too much of a choice, considering that he is a healer and I´m going to leave for Eregion in a few days” Curufin clarified. “Tyelpe and I have talked and he had forgiven me, so I´m going to live with him from now on. Nelyo wants to bond with Ereinion now that he is open to that, also to remain close to Elrond, so him and Finno are going to remain here with you.”

“Curvo…”

“At least I´m not the one that kept important secrets from us. No, those were you and Moryo” he frowned, looking too much like their father for Maglor´s liking. “Talking about dependable older brothers.”

“Curvo…”

“Nelyo, what is he talking about?”

In the end, he practically kicked his brothers out of his room. He didn´t feel like starting screaming at them now. Why hadn´t Caranthir told him anyway? Those were his nephews and nieces too, he would be all in favor of holding Dior down while Moryo eviscerated him. And actually been there when Gil Galad was born. He felt terrible for not recovering the babe for his brother. He would be happy to do anything for them. It took another chat with Elrond for him to actually put things into perspective. In the end, he decided it was not worth it for him to still be angry at his brothers. Or his father. After all, this might be the best opportunity he had to recover his family. And all these family secrets, including the one the ice maia from before had kept from him, had given him the twins, which were the best parts of his life.

“I think I might have exaggerated yesterday” he said as Curvo and Nelyo visited him the day after that. “It´s all in the past, but… please let´s be honest with each other from now on, okay? No more secrets.”

“Never again”

“We will be honest” the three of them hugged. “And talking about that, there are some people that you might want to know” Nelyo opened the door to let a fairly old edain woman with some red in her hair enter. “This is Ancalimë, descendant of Elros. And there is more” other people started to enter, now elves. “And this is Albafairë. She is a healer and our father´s grandfather´s grandmother… complicated, I know… and this is Lasseniwë and Silë… Alba´s husband is his brother.”

“Pleasure” he answered. “Guess our family is bigger now. I´m eager to meet you all.”

“And I should apologize” Lasseniwë bowed. “Our scum of a son made you pass a bad time. His name is Orneldur, but you might know him as Vahayaqueen.”

“Oh, so that´s why” he was sensing a father and Nolofinwë kind of family issue there. Still not reason enough to make him cry, but he could tell when an inferiority complex got out of control. “Guess he didn´t like father…”

“That and Alba´s boy, Formenkhal, being a genius composer, so he stole his songs and passed them as his own. Also tried to murder your father more than once, sometimes making use of that woman Indis” right… he was new to this thing, having a vermin in the family. “We still wonder what we did wrong.”

“Right”

Family, what would you do without it, right?

-In Aman-

“What were you thinking you were going to do?!! Hiding it until the child was here?!!”

Finarfin actually shrunk on himself, but not as much as Tyelkormo as Nerdanel yelled at him for having hidden his pregnancy from her and the rest of the family… except from Fëanáro, of course, who everyone else in the family still thought was too frail to handle something like that. How were they going to tell him something like that? That his son was expecting a child while he was away, sick while something that might get worse in that kind of situation, specially when he might link this to what happened to Míriel easily… he still didn´t know how he was going to explain this to Fëanáro yet. More when Celegorm didn´t want to return to the family house, instead of remaining with Aredhel and Lomion, who was still afraid of his own shadow… well, he might have to intervene before this turned into some kind of international crisis thanks to Varilëedur´s presence.

“Perhaps I have a solution here” he approached his sister-in-law, who had barely stopped screaming at her son. “You can remain here with your cousin, but considering both you and Lomion´s issues, a healer from the Gardens has to join you. I will ask the Lady Estë for someone and I´m sure she is going to be accommodating.”

“I don´t…”

“It´s that or going back to living with your mother or sharing a room with your father in the Gardens, your choice” by the silence he made, it was clear what Celegorm was choosing. “Splendid, I will ask for the healer immediately.”

One problem solved, thousands that remained. Well, at least he was erasing one from his list. Now, how was he going to tell Fëanáro about his grandchild on the way without spooking him? He didn´t want to cause something to go wrong in his recovery process. And at least it was only one, no? No?

Chapter Text

Galadriel had finished packing her things when she noticed her brother slipping away from the palace. What Finrod was thinking, to believe that something like a cloak over his golden hair would be enough to make him appear unlike himself. Who would confuse Finrod for anything but the notorious elf king of Nargothrond? Before their useless nephew who, it relieved her a lot, had remained behind. Just like her brother when they departed to Eregion… too bad Findo had found out about Celebrian and promised to visit after settling in on Lindon. If only he were not to bring some... undesirable visits with himself. And talking about undesirables…

“I thought you were going to remain in the palace with your brother and nephew” the Golden Lady said as she saw Turgon packing their thing. He and Elenwë had been staying at the inn, while the rest of their own had gotten rooms at the palace. Comfortable rooms. “Perhaps getting to know Elrond and Ancalimë, while she is here…”

“And watch our half-cousins celebrating their victory over me? No, thank you, Artanis”

“Are you truly going to let your pride cloud your vision so much?”

“Please, Artanis, they don´t recognize me as their ancestor and…”

“Again, pride, and it´s Galadriel”

“Why would they?” the former King of Gondolin continued as if he hadn´t heard his cousin talking. “They only needed an older Feanorian to throw a tantrum big enough to get away with Kinslaying as much as they want!! How could I, disfavored son of disfavored Fingolfin, ever compete with that?” Galadriel nearly rolled his eyes. This was one of the reasons she couldn´t stand this particular cousin. “I better give up, we are never going to be anything in their eyes. They barely acknowledged Eärendil as someone who contributed to their formation, but not a parent in their eyes. Their family helped them to get away with murder, what had mine done for me? Apart from trying to kill me, like my sister.”

Galadriel tunned out his self-pity monologue in favor of settling down with Elenwë to drink some tea. Seriously, Turgon´s pride was going to be the death of him one day, just as it was in the past. She also didn´t blame Aredhel for trying to get rid of that particular brother of hers. If that hadn´t put on the same level as her Feanorian relatives, she would have done the same with Angrod. Too bad he was not here. Elenwë passed her some cakes and she felt for the poor nís again. The poor unlucky soul had an awful taste in men, barely better than Celebrimbor´s. She was nice, so the Golden Lady really felt for her. If only she had not shackled herself to that bother of a nér… or been raised in a family of bigots… she would not be there in the first place, about to experience war.

“Well, what are you going to do now?” she asked when he finally stopped wallowing in misery. Seriously, she was beginning to think that Elrond was right when he said that the Feanorions did him and his brother a favor by taking them away from someone raised by THAT and Elwing. Hríve too. “You can´t stay in this place forever, don´t have the coin to do so, and you are categorically refusing to live under someone that has Feanorian blood, even if it´s your own nephew…”

“Anything that comes from Finno´s dear husband is bad news.”

“… and you are also refusing to come to Eregion with us…”

“I said no Feanorians!!”

“I know” Galadriel could feel anger rising in her. Nothing like her cousins to make her feel like the youngest again. Or like throttling them. “I only want to know about your plans. It would be a pity for Elenwë to end up dying in some place without experiencing the pleasures and beauties of this place.”

“And me? What about me?”

“I said Elenwë”

“I heard you” he crossed his arms like a pouting child. “Me and my lords have talked and some of them have decided to follow me as I search for a place to build a new city. I´m going to call it New Gondolin in honor of my old one. Most of the exiles are going to love it, I already have several of them wanting to join me.”

“You mean bigots who don´t want to be ruled by someone of Feanorian blood?” Turgon gave her a very nasty look. “And by nearly all your lords you mean…”

“All of them except for Glorfindel, who for some reason decided to leave my service and start following Elrond, and Salgant. The first, I think it´s part because he felt awful about the whole parade issue… it´s not his or aunt Findis´ fault, it´s just… anyway, he feels bad” Galadriel was of the opinion that they were a little bit at fault, at least Findis, but that wasn´t of importance right now. She nearly sighed in relief when she heard that Glorfindel was going to remain a loyal aid of Elrond, the peredhel was going to need him. “I also believe it´s got something to do with that secretary he keeps with himself.”

“Ah, love at first sight, how cute” Elenwë said, dreamy. How could this nís be a bigot? She was too sweet for that. “Returning to the city, Turno already showed me some sketches, it´s going to be as beautiful as the original Gondolin…”

“You mean an attempt to imitate live at Tirion?” the couple seemed to turn serious in a second at that statement. “Turúkanno… you know why you were exiled here. And if you refuse to make some changes, then that exile isn´t going to be lifted ever. I´m only warning you, after all, I´m not going to be there to babysit you all the time, neither is Findo. We can´t tell you what to do, but you should…”

“I know” he said, very serious. “I know I commit… mistakes in the past by not recognizing some wrong attitudes and actions from my subjects. In my ignorance and nostalgia, I didn´t notice or contribute to change some social inequalities that should have been addressed long ago. Rest assured that they are not going to be repeated. I already expelled Salgant and have talked to Rog about starting social programs to integrate that part of the population and change the attitude of the people towards them. Bigotry is not going to be tolerated in Gondolin anymore.”

“I´m glad, I thought that perhaps because it was our half-uncle´s crusade…”

“I´m not that petty” he sighed. “It might be our mad uncle´s crusade, but he was right in that demand. And just. So I admit my defeat on the moral ground regarding that and give him the acknowledge he deserves. I´m also not going to allow his people to be mistreated only because I dislike him.”

She nodded. At least in this she could trust Turgon not to screw it again. They had in common their dislike for Fëanor… also that either of them was petty enough to allow such a situation to continue. In that way, she trusted him more than she trusted her own brother not to get himself killed by a bear or a wolf during one of his excursions. Or Celebrian not to bring home the same rebellious, Feanorian lisped peredhel she and her husband had grown to accept as the centuries went by. Talking about that, they were probably going to have to endure Maedhros, Fingon and Maglor at that wedding… if one of the guests didn´t end up committing a kinslaying, it would be a miracle.

As she walked through the palace to the room that was being occupied by her husband and herself, the Lady of the Golden Woods got the opportunity to watch the people in the training yard. Maedhros was giving some lessons to the High King and for once it made sense, even for her. Gil Galad was a better lancer than swordsman, after all, so it made sense that Maedhros wanted to see him using his favorite weapon first. Elrond was lurking through the corners, seeing the father son pair, to make sure that his atya didn´t overexert himself in his fragile condition. On another side of the training yard were Telpehalda and Lasseniwë. She still didn´t trust the older elf, anyone that had ended up raising both that vermin Vahayaqueen and an ancestor of her half-cousin would have to prove himself before that, but she knew that it was kind of inevitable. He enjoyed fighting, it was a part of who he was and it had turned him into the odd one amongst both his family and the collective of vanyar. Galadriel hoped that his talents were more appreciated and naturally developed in Middle Earth. He deserved it. She also saw Elenammë looked to the yard as she passed. Galadriel smiled, she truly wished that pair the best. It would be one less Feanorian to pair up.

“My dear” Celeborn suddenly appeared. “Tyelpe asked us if we would mind if your cousin´s collective of stalkers can accompany us. Apparently, Elrond has already tried to permanently lock the doors of the dungeons to let them starve in the darkness, so it would be safer for them to relocate to the dungeons of Eregion. Better for Maglor too, who is scared of them.”

“Great, just great” she rolled his eyes. How was big, bad kinslayer Maglor Feanorion scared of a bunch of stalkers? Though… she would also be scared of them if she was him, most of them were crazier than her half-uncle at his worst.

“What´s great?” Curufin suddenly appeared, carrying what looked like a bunch of fabrics. He hadn´t brought much luggage, as most of his clothes even back in Valinor were more than an Age old. Why he hadn´t made Caranthir sew him more clothing when he could was beyond her… though perhaps he was too busy with his traumatized children.

“Ereinion wants us to take your brother´s stalkers with us”

“That´s not great. How could deal with a bunch of crazy elves be great?” there was silence as both Celeborn and Galadriel stared at him. “what? Did I say something weird? Because the one that did was…”

“Eru, you are talking seriously” the golden haired nís finally realized, as well as her husband. “Are you truly talking seriously?”

“Yes, why?”

“Curufinwë, dear cousin… do you realize that I just used sarcasm?”

“What´s sarcasm?”

Oh, dear, that was something she wasn´t expecting. And at the same time… it made somewhat sense. How had she not noticed before that Curufin wasn´t being offensive when he corrected them when they used sarcasm or a situation like that? He simply couldn´t recognize it like most of the people do. And if Curufin didn´t, then… now that she remembered, the Feanorian household had always been weird. She made a point of not going very often, as she disliked them, but she ended up being dragged there from time to time, and she had noticed some weird rules they had. Or not entirely rules, but… they considered normal things that others didn´t. The brutal frankness of her half-uncle or his tendency to give them lectures (more like monologues) on metals… which she was starting to believe wasn´t an attempt at being offensive, but he simply…

“Do you have a way to talk to aunt Nerdanel? Or my father?”

“We brought a Palantir with us, Findékanno knows where it is if you want to use it, but we are not sure if it works due to the distance… or for prolonged spans of time” Curufin answered, frowning. “There could be an issue with the…”

“Yes, thank you”

She interrupted her cousin before she could go on a tangent about this or that material, or worse, how they made telecommunications between continents possible and their uses in other projects. He was capable, just as much as her uncle… and she was beginning to think they didn´t realize that no one else was interested in that. Celeborn walked right after her until they found Findékanno, who lend them the Seeing Stone. She then worked on it to contact her father, who must have another of those. And yes, Curufin was right. The distance made the image of Finarfin look awful, the signal getting lost from time to time. She hoped that at least they manage to get their message across before the connection was cut for good.

“Artanis?” she felt her voice caught up in her throat at hearing her father´s voice again, along with the love he clearly had for her. Why had she never sent a letter before, let him or her mother know that she was alive and well? Arafinwë hadn´t done anything wrong. “My girl, it´s so wonderful to… you…”

“I´m sorry, atar, I can´t hear you well. The connection is too unstable” she pushed her feelings aside. It wasn´t the time to be sentimental. “I have to ask you something very quickly, have you ever noticed that your half-brother or Curufin didn´t seem to catch on sarcasm?” and Celebrimbor couldn´t tell hidden intentions to save his life, literally, and she was beginning to think it was thanks to that too. A condition that plagued that family. “I mean… you interacted with them more than me…”

“I… don´t know, but… it kind of makes sense” the older elf frowned. “I might ask Nerdanel, but I just realized that in their house, there was the rule to use old quenya. I tried to appeal to her so Fëanáro would loose up, but she told me that we should use it in her house because it was more exact” and the others wouldn´t know how to use sarcasm in that dialect. “Fëanáro didn´t give me explanations, but…”

“I have just noticed that Curufin can´t tell sarcasm… and perhaps half-uncle´s confrontational attitude is because he is being honest to a fault” she continued. “Like when he told uncle Nolo that he didn´t like him when he asked if he wasn´t his darling younger brother. A question that wasn´t meant to be answered.”

“Yes, that was weird too, but Fëanáro always had his perks…” the High King seemed to be pondering on it. “Then again, lately here we have been making quite a few discoveries about health that we have ignored for Ages before. Sicknesses like the Victim or Warrior´s disease and the Fading Disease have been recognized after the Grey Lady told us they existed and explained them to us…” Elrond´s little diagnosis book of suddenly very real diseases was apparently very accurate; he would be glad once he begins writing it. “And Eru only knows how they are going to call whatever Eärendil has…”

“Eärendil has a disease carried in the blood?” she was surprised by that. Who could have known, another thing to probably thank the Feanorions for. The twins, Celebrian´s twins either, didn´t suffer any kind of condition from what she could gather. Though… Elrohir was a little obsessed with metals for her liking.

“It´s something he inherited from his father. Apparently, every time he tries to read, letters and numbers start to float over the page until their resembles a letter soup more than the actual words they should resemble” it kind of makes sense too. Even she knew that Eärendil preferred the astrolabe and stars to guide him when captaining a ship over maps. “Tuor says that it´s something usual between his biological family. His ancestors Marach and Hador, as well as his father Huor, had the sickness too.”

“Is there something to be done about it?”

“The Grey Lady says that she had seen seldom cases amongst elves and that there are ways to get around it. Idril and Tuor have been keeping an eye on him already, you know, because of the…” silence was made in that moment. It was obvious that both of them felt guilty for what happened to Eärendil, even if it was the Valar who had handed him the Silmaril. They should have known it was a bad idea… and that the stones should be handed over to their true owners. “I will talk to the Lady Estë about what you asked, but I don´t know if I… if… eh… con… Ar…”

“Atar? Atar!! I can´t hear you!!”

“I´m sorry, connection is failing!! And before that happens I need you to know that your uncle is going to send something for his boys!! Th… it…” their time was about to be over and Galadriel still had much to say.

“What uncle!!”

“Fëanáro said he had forgot until…”

“Fëanáro?! What did half-uncle do now?!!”

“Sent it next time… wait…”

The connection was lost in that moment, making the Golden Lady huff. What had her half-uncle do now? He was supposed to be contained in some room in the Gardens, dealing with a sickness, not being able to do something stupid. Well, at least she had time to plan the counter measures… and whatever her mad uncle had done now wouldn´t reach them until the Valar sent Mithrandir and the others to Middle Earth. Thinking it practically, she still needed to prioritize Celebrimbor´s and Curufin´s pairing over whatever Fëanor was doing now… if her father didn´t manage to stop it.

She and Celeborn left the room to finish packing their things, eager to return to Celebrian. They had spent too much time away from their elfling and that hurt. As she imagined her daughter, Galadriel couldn´t help but imagine her as an adult, as she remembered before the regression… her Celebrian was a strong nís, too strong… but as her parents, they must endeavor to make sure that her suffering didn´t occur this time. She will take Varda´s stars from the heavens before allowing her to become homeless like when Eregion fell or the empty shell she had became when she was attacked by those orcs.

-A few hours before-

Maglor was merely attempting to find something to do when he escaped his room, the same one his son had forced him to share with his brother. Why did Elerondo choose to torture him in such a way? He had a front row seat to Findékanno´s and Maitimo´s romance, and while it could have sparked some ideas for songs in his head a few centuries before, it was merely annoying by now. Now that he was thinking about that, no one had ever written a lay about Fingon´s daring rescue of his brother from Angband. Perhaps this was the opportunity to do something like that. And those two would deserve it after subjecting him, a divorced nér with no prospects, to their awfully sweet romance.

“Makalaurë?” the voice nearly made him jump out of his skin. It was a known one and normally wouldn´t warrant a reaction like that… though he was already aware of what it´s owner had tried, so… “Maglor, Maglor… I know that I shouldn´t be overly familiar with you, despite how much time we have known one another.”

“More like how much time you have been following me, Daeron” he looked around, searching for an escape route or someone to protect him in case the other attempted something. It was one of the bad things about having wandered the shores of Arda in lunacy for centuries, his damaged body didn´t have the strength or readiness for battle from before. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be…”

“In the dungeon? Yes, I… your son tried to seal it with bricks this morning and the High King decided that the three of us would accompany your nephew and cousins to Eregion for our own safety” aw, his precious little boy!! Always so protective. “Being nearly buried alive puts things into perspective, so…”

“What do you want, Daeron?” he asked taking a step back as the other tried to approach. He wasn´t about to allow any of the creeps near him any time sooner.

“I… only wanted to apologize for what I did. I know it wasn´t right to… I swear I was only going to steal a kiss, nothing more. I´m not that much of a… well, I was that creepy indeed in that moment… but I swear I was only going to kiss you!! Not… taking advantage of you in some weird way or…”

“And what would have happened if you have succeeded getting your kiss? What next, Daeron? What would have kept you from taking more if Elrond hadn´t put a stop to your pretentions? Would you have been able to stop yourself from taking more?”

“I would have NEVER done anything more without your consent…”

“You wanted to take a kiss without my consent, that is something” he kept his eyes on the other musician, but also was attentive to all the escapeways in case of needing them. And prepared to scream as loud as he can. And he CAN scream loud. “Why were you following me anyway? I thought you wanted Luthien…”

“I thought so too, or wanted at least, for a time…”

“You heart must be a mess if…”

“Maglor…”

“I´m not some sort of consolation price for losing Luthien, much less…”

“It was always you!! And she knew it better than me, she tried to stir me in your direction even before… before I was ready to admit to myself that I loved you, not her” he confessed. Maglor took another step back. “I couldn´t count how many times you have haunted my dreams since that feast your uncle planned…”

“And why didn´t you tell me?” it would have been a lot less disturbing for the doriathrim bard to actually come to him and confess his love. Then again, apparently, he had an inability to catch the attention of the normal admirers. No, only the weirdoes were attracted towards him.

“I was too much of a coward to do so, and in a lot of ways” the silver haired elf continued as he started to pace. “At first it was because I was too afraid to go against my family, my king, my people, the believes I had been raised in… a marriage between a sinda and a noldo was rare then, but acceptable if the other was of the right blood, but a marriage or even courtship between someone like me, of doriathrim noble blood, and someone like…”

“A Gnome?” Maglor crossed his arms with a disgusted frown on his face. “Yes, I already know about that little detail.”

“Then you probably also know what my family and Elu Thingol would have said… or done if they realized what I felt towards you and my desire of courting you. I was also fighting against that desire… I was raised in that way and I thought that things like that were a no go. Queen Melian told me that the violent actions were bad, but… well…”

“It´s a strange way to tell someone you are so intent on courting against their will that you thought him too low for you.”

“Please, just… hear me out” he pleaded. “I don´t want to insult you, I´m just… trying to explain it to you why everything happened. I wasn´t ready to admit that everything I have been taught about your people was wrong… but like I told you, you haunted my dreams” Daeron tried to approach him again, making Maglor take another step back. “Every time I closed my eyes, that I wanted to make a new song… I had to edit several of them to fit Princess Luthien, from that everyone believed that I was in love with her, but she was only a friend and a safe cover… there were several suitors for her…” he seemed awkward. “do you want to hear them? The unedited versions, also several new ones I composed while following your through the shores, specially about the sun on your dark hair...”

“You are truly scaring me now”

“Please, I´m trying to…”

“And failing, that´s sure. The only thing you are achieving is creeping me out” Makalaurë said, wanting nothing more than to escape that place. Or outright run him through. “What did you think, Daeron? That I was going to be oh so grateful that you stalked me because you composed a few songs for me? That I was going to forgive you for trying to force yourself on me when I was defenseless?”

“I… thought that it might wake you up…”

“Please, as if you did that for anyone but yourself” he rolled his eyes. “I´m glad you and the rest of the creeps are going away. I´m going to feel a lot safer now.”

“Please, can´t you…”

“No” he answered, clearly. “Specially not now that I know what you are truly capable of. There are many ways of courting someone, but that was not one of them and it will never be. Now, if you excuse me, I´m going back to my room. Don´t you dare to follow me or I´m going to sick my brothers, or worse, my son, on you.”

That seemed to do the trick. Maglor also speed up to escape as fast as he could to the room he shared with Maitimo. Which was perhaps a good thing after all. Having his most terrifying brother at arm’s length was like a security that those three creeps were going to remain far away from him. Suddenly, having to endure his overly sweet married romance with Finno didn´t sound so bad. Besides, Elrond came later with a harp and some music sheets, pen and ink. Perhaps it was the time to start on that lay he thought about, the one about his brother and his husband. Like he said, if Beren and Luthien had one for their silly fairy tale (that didn´t mention the very important participation of his niece at all, a very important piece of information he now knew), then Nelyo and Finno deserved one too. A lot.

-Much later-

Galadriel was relieved when they reached Eregion. Celeborn too, though her husband was forced to ride with the guards, taking care of the cell carriage that currently housed the prisoners. The four of them. All of them had different reactions to their current predicament. The Cantear, she couldn´t bother to remember his name now, looked about to jump out of the moving thing if that got him away from the others, though his eyes also trailed after Celebrimbor. Ilvarë´s eyes also followed Celebrimbor and his father, but she could detect much less pure intentions from him towards both… they were going to have to keep an eye on that one before Sauron turned into the last of their problems, at least regarding stalkers. Tinfang couldn´t care less of what happened around him, distracting himself with his pipes. He still declared that he wanted to sleep at least one with her cousin, but she knew that at least he wouldn´t be as interested as to do what Daeron did to him. And talking about that one, he seemed… sad. The way he sighs almost gave her pity. Almost.

“Maglor categorically rejected him” Celeborn informed her later, as they settled down in their home. Celebrian was babbling in her lap, happy to have her mother again and willing to tell them everything they had missed. Or that she believed those babbles were. “Not that I blame him, I would have done the same in his place.”

“Me too” she put her daughter on the floor, who immediately sat herself down and reached for some toys. “Do you think…”

“Not even Celebrimbor could have that bad of a taste…” they both paled when they realized that indeed, Celebrimbor had that bad of a taste. “Perhaps we should allow that to happen, even Ilvarë the Mad Fanatic would be better than Sauron…”

“Better than Sauron, yes, but that´s not enough” she sighed. “I didn´t want to do this, but I´m going to have to drag Curufin into this.”

“Curufin? He couldn´t even get himself a date, how is he going to help us do just that and get his son one too?”

“With some help from me, obviously” she got up. “If someone can convince Curufin, it´s me. One time I managed to deny his father a bit of my hair and still made him stop pestering me.”

“I´m still not sure about that.”

“Trust me, I have Curufin in hand”

Celeborn wasn´t sure, even less when he saw her actual plan, but it probed to be the best way to deal with her supposedly cruel cousin. As she saw the smith interacting with Celebrian, she had to admit that he was good with children. Like Nelyo, but perhaps a little less experienced than him. It might come from having to raise a son as a single parent, despite his overly supporting family, and to help his most irresponsible brother to deal with his own spawn, though she didn´t see it as something necessarily bad. In fact, it can be something good. Many ladies were attracted to néri who were good with children.

“You are asking me to do what?” her half-cousin asked when she told him her plan. “I don´t know what you are thinking, Artanis, but that´s overstepping. Mine or my son´s personal lives are not your business.”

“You would be right, if your tastes in partners weren´t one of the worst I have ever seen” she answered, calmly drinking some tea while Celebrian offered the smith a toy, which he took it. She should highlight this when searching for a lady for him, that he was good with children must be one of Curufin´s only attractive qualities. “And it´s Galadriel”

“Artanis”

“Returning to the issue at hand” she completely ignored his retort. “I don´t know which one of you has a worse taste. Wasn´t your only dating experience a bigot from Alqualondë who abandoned you when she realized who you were and wanted to kill your son?”

“That was a youthful mistake…”

“And believe when I saw that as bad as your taste is, your dear Tyelpe´s can be worse” she looked at him as in daring him to ask. “You decided to bed a bigot, but according to my mirror, your son decided to bed Sauron” his mouth was opened wide along with his eyes in deep horror. “Believe me, that´s more possible than you think. And your son is definitely capable of making a choice he will regret for the rest of eternity, one even worse than you.”

“I don’t believe that…”

“You should also be especially worried because, thanks to a stupid suggestion from his dwarf friend, Celebrimbor is trying to get you a partner too.” His mouth opened more, if that was possible. “I´m going to continue dealing with Celebrimbor´s awful taste, WITH your help because you truly don´t want your son to end up like that. So, if you don´t want to get paired up with Sauron as a date, you are going to help me find yourself a spouse. Have you understood?”

“What… what do you have in mind?” she savored her triumph a bit. Finally, someone was able to one up one of her family´s geniuses. This was so great that she felt it like rubbing it on her half-uncle´s face.

“I was thinking about Haldir, Rúmil or Orophin for Tyelpe” she started with her old captain and his brothers. None of them have gotten married in the past reality, so she thought it was safe to propose them as possible matches for Celebrimbor. “They are nice, sweet and loyal ellon that would treat him well…”

“Sindar?”

“They were my suggestion for Tyelpe, not for you” she glared at him. “And, if you have to know, your son has managed to undo much of the disaster you and your brothers did in the First Age with your stupidity. Also, their father was a follower of Elmo, as are most of Celeborn´s followers. They aren´t contaminated with those stupidities about the inferiority of former thralls.”

“Glad to know”

“As for you, I know finding someone that could stand you is going to be a challenge, but I´m up to it. I was thinking to begin with… Ilvarë?” Curufin´s face of horror was totally worth it. “Easy, I´m not that cruel. Even to you. Though perhaps I would participate on a scheme for Makalaurë to give Daeron another chance. Only if he shows some improvements here.”

“You are evil” well, that explained a lot of things. Including that puppy crush Celebrimbor had on her when he was a child. “What has my brother done to you?”

“What hasn´t he done to earn most of Arda´s ire, you mean?” she shook her head. “Returning to our plans for matchmaking, now for real, I thought that perhaps a smith might be the best for you. The Gwaith-i-Mírdain has few women between them, but most of them would be willing to do Celebrimbor the favor of becoming his step-mother. They admire your son too much for their own good.”

“Of course, my baby is the greatest smith that ever graced these shores.”

“Sure” she was never going to let Celebrimbor live this down. “Returning to your options, Sílriel might be the best suited for you amongst them. She is smart as a whip and makes the most beautiful creations in silver… I thought she might end up with Celebrimbor, but neither have ever shown any indication of feeling attraction to each other. And he prefers males anyway…”

“That´s your plan? Forcing me to date some girl half my age if not younger in hopes that since she is a good jewel smith I might feel some attraction towards her?”

“Celebrimbor actually asked Narvi when we arrived in Kuzdhul what he thought of you” it was to ask him help in his matchmaking efforts, but keeping that information might do more good than evil. Specially if it scared Curufin the Crafty into compliance.

“Alright, alright!!” he crossed his arms. “You are despicable.”

“Aw, that´s the nicest thing you have ever said to me, cousin.”

Curufin glared at her, but his expression softened as Celebrian handed over another block. Galadriel smirked, it was nice to have his family under control. She had gotten Gildor to babysit Finrod while outside Eregion, where he apparently was going to stay for now; Curufin to babysit Celebrimbor so he thinks twice before letting his awful taste take the best of him… even if she had to match the both of them up with someone to make sure it was going to work… Turgon was building his own city and being another´s problem, Fingon was gushing over Nelyo, who in turn was too busy bonding with his eldest and gestating a baby, which in turn keep the peredhel busy along with Maglor´s recovery; her other problem uncles, brothers and cousins were far away… everything suddenly was looking so much better… she only needed to focus on preventing the Rings from being created and destroying Sauron some way once he comes and everything would become perfect.

Oh, and Tar Míriel. How could she forget about little Queen Nazgul and her crusade against men. She knew what had thrown her over the edge, so it could be prevented quite easily… they only need to get rid of that asshole Pharazon some way. The other Nazgul… once upon a time she would think that their Feanorian inheritance condemned them, but she was not that sure now. Feanorians could be crazy, only that… not that crazy. And for some reason, she believed that greed was not the only reason they took those rings. Perhaps… it was time to consult her mirror again. The Ice Queen could be a nightmare that froze Aman, but she was still a mother. And a mother that would fight for her very nightmarish babies.

“Please, Hríve, collaborate with me” she asked as she approached the mirror, having just put Celebrian down for a nap. “Show me what I need to see.”