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The cerulean mantle, fashioned from the most sumptuous velvet, draped heavily upon his shoulders. Each fold was meticulously embellished with Elvish enchantments, inscribed in shimmering silver. The Feanorian star, symbolizing his noble heritage, gleamed upon his chest, close to the heart. Sapphires adorned him; they bore the same shade as his eyes and carried the moon's ethereal light.
Even in solitude, far removed from the company of other illustrious elves, Celebrimbor emanated a regal aura.
"I am obliged to dress accordingly to the Noldor's customs during these political assemblies, even though I do not wear the crown," he explained, fingers deftly unfastening the intricate silver bracelet adorning his wrist. "At times, I find it an excess."
"It is not an excess," Annatar replied, mesmerized by the sight.
Celebrimbor responded with a soft chuckle, proceeding to delicately disentangle the sapphires woven into the strands of his hair.
"Allow me to assist," Annatar pleaded.
"There is no need to trouble yourself," came the gentle refusal, as he unclaspped the mantle.
"But I desire to," Annatar insisted, his amber eyes ablaze, their hue mingling with the soft flicker of candlelight.
"You mentioned prior commitments demanding your presence at the forge today," Celebrimbror reminded him.
"I am rescinding them," Annatar replied with lightning speed, his persistent gaze fixed ardently upon the striking beauty before him. And he completed, as if under a spell,
"Grant me the pleasure of undressing you."
And silence hung heavy in the air as his words lingered...
Noticing the prince's flushed cheeks and the faint shock in his countenance, Annatar discerned that he had lost control over his tongue and may have overstepped boundaries.
Just in time and with swift efficiency, the maids entered the princely chambers to aid their master, prompting Annatar to recognize that his departure was now necessary.
"I beg your pardon for my... persistence, my prince," he spoke with a solemn bow, retreating gracefully into the shadows.
Navigating the dimly lit corridors toward his quarters, Annatar pondered the situation:
Celebrimbor - although he found royal duties to be an "excess" - was the rightful heir to the Noldor throne, not Gil Galad. Convincing him of this truth would require finesse and strategic discourse. Recognizing the prince's keen intellect, impervious to flattery, the Maia understood that gaining his favor would demand much more than mere charm.
The easiest approach to fostering camaraderie with the prince would be in their shared workplace. Within the forge, Celebrimbor demonstrated diligence and curiosity as a pupil, however, he liked to do everything in his own way... Annatar regarded this with a smile, acknowledging the prince's proficiency as a mastersmith despite his youthful stubbornness.
In Annatar's eyes, Celebrimbor was almost perfect. Almost. The slightest adjustment would render him flawless. The challenge would be worthy, for it meant a significant step towards attaining the immortal army he coveted.
Once again, intrusive visions encircled his mind, unwelcome, yet insistent: tantalizing images of himself rising as the mighty ruler of Middle-Earth, possessing the Noldor prince as his consort, their reign imperishable, terrifying, and eternal...
This revelation was no recent epiphany for him; he had long admitted harboring an insatiable desire for the prince of silver hands. If only he could... use the prince and the promising opportunities their association could offer.
However, such thoughts were not acceptable. He despised the sensation of powerlessness, unable to resist the magnetic allure of Celebrimbor.
He condemned himself bitterly for succumbing to such impractical longings. The clash of these conflicting emotions rendered him volatile and passionate, a state he found disconcerting.
How he abhorred the feeling of losing control!
This inner torment manifested in the recklessness of his words and actions whenever he was in the prince's presence.
Yet, despite his intense endeavors, Annatar, for the second time ever, found himself seduced.