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The news of Finrod’s death shook Nargothrond. While it barely surprised anyone - after all, the quest had been suicidal from the start - the Elves still grieved their beloved king. In her room, Larylieth clutched the paper so tightly it nearly tore. She knew its content by heart already. This letter, which had arrived by a raven, was not just a piece of paper bearing the news of her father’s death - it came from her mother, a woman she knew not and had heard only tales about.
Larylieth was queen now. Finrod had publicly declared her his heir, not Orodreth, his nephew, as was custom. It was unusual for a woman to inherit a position of power, but Larylieth had found little resistance among the people. Orodreth did not begrudge her the title.
“You are his child.”, he had said. “It is only natural that you inherit his throne.”
However, there were two who had already been Finrod’s headache, and now would become hers: her great cousins, Celegorm and Curufin. They were cunning and already she saw herself forced into a marriage with Celegorm. They would find a way, of that, she was certain. Indeed, thw two brothers were already scheming.
"Our hopes have come true, Curufin.", Celegorm said. "Finrod is dead, Orodreth has barely a grasp over the people and the princess is vulnerable."
"You are truly planning on marrying her?", Curufin laughed.
"Of course. She's a pretty little thing, but that's not important. She is crown princess - that is essential."
"How do you plan to covince her? She will not agree."
"Do not worry about that.", Celegorm replied mysteriously. "I have an ace up my sleeve. The plan with Lúthien might not have worked, but this will."
When there was a knock outside her door, Larylieth closed her eyes, knowing who it was who stood outside. The door opened.
“I did not invite you in.”, she said.
“You never would have. Be glad I knocked instead of simply barging in.”, Celegorm replied. “My condolences for your loss.”
“Thank you. However, that is not why you came here, is it?”
“Clever girl. It seems you are to be queen.”
“Naturally, since I am Finrod’s heir.”, Larylieth coolly said and Celegorm smiled at her with condescending pity and amusement.
“You are but a young girl. What do you know of leading people?”
“The people of Nargothrond are not your priority, great cousin. You desire my title, but you will not have it.”
“You do me misjustice -”
“That is enough.”, Orodreth said and closed the door behind. Celegorm looked over his shoulder.
“Ah, Orodreth. Have you come to claim your right?”
“The right is hers, I am merely the steward appointed by Finrod to rule in his absence. You will lay no hand on her.”
“She is but a bastard Finrod had with some stray whore.”
“Finrod was married by the laws of the Eldar. Thus, Larylieth is his legitimate child. Even if she were a bastard, Finrod has publicly named her his heir. Are you going against the king's will?”
Celegorm smiled.
“Oh, you mean the king who fell under the charm of one of Morgoth's servants? No one other than the Dark Sorceress herself? You know the wounds Maedhros brought with him from Angband. Finrod is a traitor. He betrayed all of us. Who knows what that witch elicited from him.”
"How do you know about her?", Orodreth asked and Celegorm shrugged.
"I followed him when he stole away from Nargothrond. Believe my surprise when I found him with his head on her lap, the expression om his face so infatuated it was almost nauseating. Finrod has always been a fool, but that he would allow himself to be caught in the sweet net of the Dark Sorceress is stupid even for him. Morgoth might ready for an attack already, thanks to his weakness for a woman."
“Be still, Celegorm.”, Orodreth snarled. “Do not pretend to care abou us, Nargothrond or Maedhros.”
“You hold no sway over the people of Nargothrond, Orodreth. Can you imagine how much it would weaken the House of Finarfin even more if ‘Lieth’s mother was revealed? However, if we can come to an agreement, no one has to know and your House would save face.”
“You are vile, Celegorm.”, Orodreth said. “Larylieth is still a child. Does your lust know no bounds?”
“You accuse me of dishonour.”, Celegorm said, narrowing his eyes in irritation. “In this case, consummation is obviously out of question due to her age. It would be a purely political marriage.”
Larylieth felt bile rise to her throat. She was backed into a corner, and Orodreth knew that. Though Orodreth was the steward, reigning in Finrod’s absence, the Feanorians were dangerously influential and unfortunately had inherited their father's silver tongue, which knew the right words to say in any situation. Should Larylieth’s mother be revealed, the people of Nargothrond would turn from Orodreth. He - and she also - would be forced to leave and escape to Cirdan on the Isle of Balar, where Ereinion was already staying. She squared her jaw.
“Alright. I will marry you, for the sake of Nargothrond and to keep the peace. We will neither consummate the marriage nor share a marriage bed.”
“As you wish. We shall be wed in a week’s time, and the coronation shall be right after.”, Celegorm said and grinned triumphantly. “A wise decision, Your Highness.”
When he had left the room, Larylieth slumped into her armchair by the bookshelves, biting her lip to suppress its quivering.
“Oh, Larylieth.”, Orodreth whispered and ran his hands over his face.
*
When news of the upcoming wedding spread through Nargothrond, the people were in an uproar. No one had seen it coming, but many were sceptical. The princess had never masked her distaste for the Feanorians, except for Celebrimbor. That she and Celegorm were to be wed did not sit right with many and rumours circled, claiming that the princess was forced into the marriage. Though, how they had managed to pressure her, no one knew.. However, something unexpected happened.
It was a few days after the betrothal that Elves and Huan arrived in Nargothrond. What they told shattered the control the Feanorians had in Nargothrond. Celegorm and Curufin watched with pale faces as the newcomers told of Lúhien’s deeds and how Finrod heroically wrestled the werewolf to save Beren, triumphing over the beast, but giving his life in the process. The people began to murmur and glare at the Feanorians as the true motives of the two brothers were revealed. Larylieth’s eyes met Orodreth’s as they realised their chance. Strengthened in power, Orodreth dissolved the betrothal between Larylieth and Celegorm, and she smugly looked at her great cousin. His former ace in his sleeve had turned useless. He’d be called a liar seeking to defame her name and reputation.
Celegorm couldn’t believe it all slipped through his hands like water. So close, he had been so close to being king of Nargothrond. He and Curufin would have had an army for their war against Morgoth, but those ragged Elves and that treacherous hound had foiled their plans. Orodreth banished Celegorm and Curufin from Nargothrond and a weight was lifted from Larylieth’s shoulders. Celebrimbor, who had distanced himself from his father long ago, was allowed to stay and he expressed his relief on the dissolved betrothal.
Larylieth was crowned queen, but she felt too young and inexperienced to rule. She and Orodreth agreed to him continuing to rule as the steward while she would watch and learn and when she was old enough, she would take over and he would step down. But Larylieth would never be the Ruling Queen of Nargothrond.
In F.A. 495, when she was 47 years old, Nargothrond fell and Orodreth perished. Larylieth, however, managed to escape to the Isle of Balar, where she reunited with Ereinion.