Work Text:
Larylieth yelped when a well-aimed blow by Erenion had her sword clutter to the ground again. Frustratedly, she sank to her knees.
“I’m not making any progress at all. How long did that fight last? A minute?”
“I have trained many more years than you.”, Ereinion tried to cheer her up, but his great-cousin only sent him a defeated look.
“Be frank, how bad is my fighting?”
Ereinion shuffled on his spot. “You are still a beginner, so -”
“I have been training for two years! I should be able to stand my ground.”, Larylieth groaned. “I don’t think swordsmanship is one of my talents.”
“Probably not.”, Ereinion agreed and she huffed.
“You wanted me to be honest!”, Ereinion defended himself.
Before they could start bickering, a servant interrupted.
“Your Highnesses, the king wants you all to gather in the throne room.”
“We’ll be there. We just need to freshen up a bit first.”, Ereinion said and the servant nodded.
“What do you think he wants to address?”, he asked and she shrugged.
“I have no idea. Let us hope nothing bad happened.”
It was worse than anything Larylieth could have imagined.
When she and Ereinion arrived at the throne room, most of the council was already gathered. She clenched her jaw when she laid eyes on Celegorm and Curufin, who sneered at her. Once she had taken her place alongside Ereinion a bit below the throne, her eyes fell on a human man, who was dressed in fur and clothes filthy from the road.. He seemed tired, yet his eyes were wide awake and his face was proud and determined.
“I am Beren, son of Barahir of the House of Bëor.Ten years ago, you, Your Highness King Finrod Felagund, were saved by my father and his men in the Dagor Bragollach and have sworn an oath to aid his kin. As proof of my heritage I have the Ring of Barahir with me, the very ring you have given my father.”
“I see the ring, and I see your father in your face.”, Finrod said. “You have come to me to fulfil my oath.”
“Indeed. I have been tasked to retrieve a Silmaril of Morgoth and hand it to the father of the woman I love. I need your aid, King Finrod Felagund.”
Finrod’s eyes widened and the throne room erupted into chaos. Larylieth stood there, frozen in disbelief. She looked up at her father, who did not meet her eyes. His features were emotionless and after a while, when the room did not seem to calm down, he stood up. Immediately, the room quieted.
“That is indeed my oath. I owe your father my life and you are in your right to have me fulfil what I have sworn. I will come with you to Angband and retrieve the Silmaril.”
“This is madness!”, Larylieth cried out. “What person is worth going into Angband for to get one of those stones? There are countless beautiful crystals and gems, why one of those Silmarils?”
“You have never seen them, princess.”, Celegorm said, stepping forth from the crowd with a condescending smile on his face. “How would you understand their beauty?”
“I might not have seen them, but I have heard enough tales to know I never want to.”
“The Silmarils belong to the Fëanorians.”, Celegorm said, drawing his sword. "Anyone who retrieves them is boung to return them to their rightful owners.
“Sheath your weapon, cousin.”; Finrod warned.
“You know what happens to those who keep a Silmaril. Would you offer your people for slaughter?”
"Are you threatening us?", Orordreth cooly asked.
“Just look at the past.”, Curufin spoke up. “Look at what has happened to those realms and people who were touched by a Silmaril. Is that what you want? Is that what all of you want?”, he asked, addressing the crowd. “Nargothrond will fall. Is that what you want? Destruction and bloodshed? Loss and pain? There are those among you who have seen just that. Do you want to experience it yourself?”
Great fear and uncertainty were sown into the peoples’ hearts and Finrod perceived that his power over them was for the time being vanquished. He looked at the Fëanorians’ triumphant faces and he hated them. He took the crown off his head and handed it over to Orodreth, announcing him as regent until his return and proclaimed that he and Beren would leave at sunrise. Then, he dismissed everyone and Beren was led to a room to freshen up and gather some strength. Finrod massaged his temples.
“It’s all falling apart. Now they have even turned my people against me. Galadriel was right, I should have banished them long ago. They have been beyond helping and I naively thought I could salvage our relationship to an extent. Now look at me, forsaken by my people. The coming months will not be easy. You must be careful, Orodreth.”
“I will.”
“All of you must be careful. Celegorm and Curufin are unpredictable.”
He turned to his daughter, who hadn’t said a word yet and who was looking at the floor, her golden hair covering her face. When Finrod reached out, she slapped his arms away and looked at him with red-rimmed eyes.
“You never said anything of an oath. Why did you swear one?”
“Larylieth -”
“This is madness, father. You’ll never make it back alive.”, she sobbed and Finrod’s heart ached. He took his daughter into his arms.
“I am sorry. I did not want to worry you, and did not expect it to come this early. But I am bound, and must go. Perhaps Beren and I have a higher survival chance as a small team.”, he said, trying to comfort her, but Larylieth did not react. Quietly, she sobbed against his chest and his own tears dripped on her hair.
Later, Finrod called Beren into his study to discuss a plan for the quest. It was then that Finrod was touched to see that ten were loyal to him and would accompany them. The talk stretched until late into the night until Finrod sent them all to bed. They had to rise early tomorrow and needed all the strength and sleep they could get. On his way to his room, Beren ran across the same dark-skinned, golden-haired woman he had seen standing close to the king. She must be a close family member to Felagund. Beren bowed in respect.
“My lady.”, he greeted her, but was only met with hateful, blue eyes.
“I wish you had never set foot into Nargothrond.”, she spat. “Love someone else. You are a human, you can have different partners. Forget that woman and move on.”
“My lady, I love whom I love, and she is the only love I have in this life.”, he said. “I am sorry for any pain my request brings you.”
“Save your breath. I do not want to hear it, for it changes nothing and protects no one.”, the woman hissed and after another cold look up and down his body, she left and Beren noticed her fists clenching the fabric of her dress.
Larylieth did not get much sleep that night, so she was quickly awake when someone shook her awake. Opening her eyes, she looked into her father’s sorrowful face, and wept again. Finrod moved their heads together until their foreheads touched and wiped away her tears.
“If I die, know that I fought with all my strength to survive.”, he whispered with a trembling voice. “But I promise I’ll do everything in my power to ret-”
“Don’t make promises you cannot keep.”, she choked out and Finrod clutched her hands.
“There is a probability, no matter how small, that this quest will be a success.”
“The counter probability is far higher.”, she said and Finrod kissed her brow.
“My clever, beautiful daughter, be safe. I fear my cousins have goals which endanger you, so be alert.”
“Your Highness, it is time.”, Edrahil said from the doorway and Finrod sighed.
“I’m coming. Farewell, my daughter. I love you so much.”
“I love you too, father.”, Larylieth managed to choke out and with a sorrowful smile, Finrod closed the door behind him. Larylieth heard them leave.
Then, the corridor was quiet once again.