Disclaimer - the canonic characters are the creation of Tolkien. I just borrow them.
This story is set in the Mornel-AU in the First Age, when Findarato returns from Mandos. Of Course, Mornel is no longer an elfling by this time.
Also posted on AO3
1. Eru's Will
Mandos
All was well, as well as Lord Namo could ask for given the circumstances. The fear kept up an endless chorus of wailing, weeping, and moaning as they drifted about his halls. Many of them did not die easily and would be lingering for a while. There were occasional quarrels which needed to be mediated. The battle-fury of some did not abate so readily even in death. His grey-hooded sister Nienna slipped in often to administer to those most in need of her healing. Lady Vaire was kept busy, as were all her maidens, recording the deeds of Arda. Who had expected how much the Noldor could achieve when they entered Beleriand? Namo hid a smile. The Finwion fire burned fiercely in Finwe's grandchildren, even those by his Vanyarin spouse. Yet all the grand cities and hidden realms had fallen in their turn to Morgoth.
Suddenly, the Doomsman looked up from his musing.
Father? He is not quite ready… He paused for a heartbeat, before slowly nodding. Thy will be done.
In a sweep of his black robes, he rose from his throne. He passed the hall where Finwe kept up a mostly one-sided conversation with Feanaro, who was still a pillar of flame. At least the fire was not as wild as it once was. He passed the hall where Nolofinwe held his court of shades. Finally he paused at a small chamber where three fear of Arafinwe's line lingered.
Aikanaro had refused to allow his grief over his mortal love be healed despite the urgings of his elder brother. He would stare endlessly at the tapestry depicting their first meeting. These two brothers the Vala ignored. The one he sought lay abed, still troubled, still healing. It has been scarcely fifty cycles of the sun since he entered his care. Most elves need a yeni or more to heal fully.
"Come, Findarato," he commanded. The pale form on the bed shimmered as if in protest before gathering up into a single ball of light – the very essence of an Elven fea. The Vala scooped the fea and cradling it tenderly in his hand, strode off to his brother's gardens.
No, not without… The fea nudged against his fingers, trying to flee back to his kin and the Halls of Waiting.
"Enough, now, Ingoldo. You will be reborn into Aman," Lord Namo admonished. "Thus Eru Iluvatar's will be done."
Formenos
"And I said to him, perhaps it is time for me to service your tool!" Tatie delivered her punchline and the young elves around the bonfire broke into titters. Mornel, Lady of Formenos, took a swallow of her spiced wine and smiled. It had been a few yeni since Formenos was resettled.
Tatie was Chieftainess of a band of Silvan and Avarin elves who had been reborn into the Undying Lands, and one of the first non-Noldor to arrive in Formenos. Most of the Noldor would have thought her wild. She bore the same tattoos she had borne in her first life. Swirling vines climbed along her cheek and down her back and arms. Her customary garb was little more than a short kilt and leather vest, though she could be persuaded to don boots and a deer-hide cloak if the weather was cold enough.
Mornel valued Tatie's common sense and unwavering support in Formenos. The Midsummer Festival they now celebrated was suggested by Tatie. In the Hither Lands, it had been a Silvan celebration honouring the Lord of the Hunt and Nature. It was also an excuse for younger elves of Formenos to get to know each other better in a night of song, dance, and merrymaking by the lake, free from the strict social mores which governed much of Noldor life. Some of the more prudish elves in her family would consider the festivities debauched, but there were certain rules to observe. Older elves like Tatie also acted as wardens and rowdy youngsters often found themselves bobbing in the lake.
As Tatie explained, they did not begrudge anyone enjoying themselves with wine and dance, so long as they did not make a pest of themselves. The wine for the festival was fermented from wild berries gathered over the previous year and notoriously strong. Two skins were more than enough to render one unconscious. Most elves would water theirs down with spring water.
Many an elf found his or her One during the festival. It was at one such festival that her good friend Surihin met his soul-mate, a dark-eyed nis of Avarin descent. The Lindar had similar Bonfire Festivals and the brothers were not shy about joining the festivities when they happened during their visit to Formenos. The happy couple now dwelt in a cottage by the lake and Surihin provided the locals with fishing nets and canoes. His brother Surialdo favoured the open water and sea breeze. He now sailed between Alqualonde and Tol Eressea, captain of his own ship.
Tatie was like a mother to Mornel in her amil's absence. Nerdanel tried, but she never really liked Formenos. Too many memories, she smiled wryly. She left Tirion for Alqualonde eventually, to better cater to the growing art market there in statues. Uncle Arafinwe still ruled in Tirion. Due to politics, he and Earwen had not yet visited Formenos. Grandfather Mahtan had since returned to his own humble forge after ensuring his granddaughter's settlement was self-sufficient in terms of skilled artisans. Helwien and Amarie stayed for a year or so and had returned to Tirion. Amarie never quite took to the climate and Helwien's dyehouse in Tirion needed her.
The craftsmen and smiths who settled Formenos under Mahtan's guidance were no farmers. It was only by Yavanna's good grace the first harvests did not fail. Lady Eldalote was assigned to Formenos by Arafinwe to help manage the agricultural side of things. Eldalote never joined the Midsummer Festival although she would participate in the Harvest Fest and the Festival of Flowers. My prudish Noldorin nature, she would explain to Tatie. Moreover, despite the allowances offered by the Valar for spouses in her situation, Eldalote was adamant she would never consider another husband.
It had not been an easy road. There were still voices of dissent from Ingwe's court and Tirion about Mornel's leading Formenos. It was not proper, they would say, for a nis to lead. Tatie had taught Mornel to ignore such talk. Mornel had her supporters, among them her uncle Ara. Lord Orome took a grudging interest in Formenos after the Nandor started settling there. Sometimes, his hunts would pass near the sprawling settlement.
Life continues, Mornel mused. She never found the urge to settle down with anyone. There were a few neri she had fancied herself in love with at some point over the years, including Surialdo. However, it never worked out. How does one know the One? She had asked the older nissi she was close to.
Tatie shrugged and said she woke up next to her One, but he has been tarrying way too long in the Hither Lands or Mandos and she might consider taking another, Valar laws or not. Nerdenal had described it as being knocked off her feet when young Feanaro smiled at her in her father's house. Amarie first met Findarato in the Tirion library and something just fitted. Helwien fought with Carnistir at their first meeting over the last skein of Taniquetil wool at a market stall. It took a while to grow from grudging rivals to friends and then lovers. Eldalote confessed that her match with Angarato was likely carefully engineered by her parents from the start at her coming-of-age dance.
Eternity can be lonely without a One and children, Indis had warned Mornel when she started shunning the balls and dances in Tirion in favour of working on Formenos. That is the Vanyarin ideal – marriage, children and singing praises of the Valar, until their ears fall off, Helwien had added mischievously behind Indis' back. No doubt Amarie entertained similar thoughts involving her betrothed.
"Eldalote?" Mornel looked up as her friend patted her on the shoulder. She would expect Eldalote to be in her chamber working on her embroidery or balancing the household accounts on such nights. Eldalote's face was grim.
"Mornel, your Aunt Findis sent word from Lorien."
"I-is it Un- His Majesty Arafinwe?"
Her uncle's health had always been a concern for Mornel. Arafinwe was never trained to deal with all the politicking in Tirion unlike his elder brother. He was prone to being overwhelmed by it, though with his queen's aid…
Eldalote shook her head. With a shout, Tatie led the rest of the celebrants off in a wild whirling dance around the lake to allow her lady some privacy.
"No, but he will need us. Amarie, too. It's Prince Findarato. He has returned."
"That's great news, right? The Valar are lifting the Ban…" Mornel leapt to her feet, smiling broadly. The heady Avarin wine sang in her veins and she staggered slightly, causing Eldalote to catch her.
"Oh, Mornel, if only it were thus."
"I must call for the council at dawn, as many of them as can be roused after tonight's merrymaking," Mornel decided. As much she wanted to saddle Fearocco and ride off, she had a responsibility to her people. She could not just ride off without a word. Instructions must be left, arrangements made to ensure the settlement continued functioning without a hitch.
"Please prepare me some hangover tea. I believe I will need it," Mornel added as an afterthought. If she was going to hold council at dawn before riding non-stop off to Lorien, she did not need to feel a herd of bison stampeding through her skull.
Author's Notes:
Finrod will definitely have problems adapting to his second life in Aman after all he has been through.
Yes, Tatie is the same elf-mother Tatie of the Noldor. So in a way, if Finwe is her son, she would be related to Mornel. In my fic, she dies in Middle Earth before the Great Journey, winds up in Mandos for a long while before being re-embodied. Finrod is probably to date the elf who spent the shortest time in Mandos (barring Luthien) before returning to life.