Fire was still reflecting in their faces as Feanor proudly looked at his sons. He stepped closer to Nelyo, embracing him and murmured a quiet "thank you" into his son's ear.
A barely noticeable nod was all he got back, and after some hesitation a whisper close to his ear. "Talk to Kano, father" before Nelyafinwë moved away and slowly walked down the hill.
As the smith's eyes darted over his sons, he saw his second-born standing a bit apart, staring solemnly in the distance.
He walked over to him, not knowing why his eldest wanted him to go and talk to this one that he did not even pretend to understand. Kanafinwë. He had been able to see the fire burning in his second son once. It had been there as of the moment he was born, or he would not have given him the name he had. But the boy grew up to be different. Some said he had more of his mother's gentler temperament, but he was not sure of that. Perhaps Kano was just better in controlling the flames, keeping them in and only letting them out when playing music.
They said Feanor could make the world run backwards with his voice, they said he could influence those around him, talk them into anything. And after today's speech, they would say so even more. A smile played around his lips, he had had them in the palm of his hand. They had followed and they had sworn, there was no way back now. Funny that this son had those qualities too, even to a higher extent, for he could conjure images before the eyes of his listeners, just by using his voice. Strange that he mostly kept quiet when not on stage, well aware of his power and not wanting to use it. Though the son had tried to explain once, the father would never comprehend how one could not make use of such a talent.
Kano had left the family's house so soon, so young. And the boy's own house, built very close to his father's, had become an island of refuge to his brothers. It was a place where Moryo and Turko would go when it became too crowded, though they returned soon enough when they realized that it was no more silent there than at home, as there was endless music to be heard. Kano spent his days and nights on music, that had never changed. Sometimes, the sounds would drift out to his own house in the evenings and Nerdanel would rise from her work and stand in the door, listening to the echoes in the wind. It seemed now all so long ago.
Feanor realized once more how little he knew of the life that the boy had been leading with this wife. Had she tried to convince him to stay? To renounce his father? At least Nerdanel had had the decency to just leave to her father's home and not interfere! He became angry at the thought, it would be just something for Kano to choose a different road, while all his brothers were standing with him, their father, as they should.
But no, no, he had not seen any hesitation, not in any of his boys when they took their part of the oath. Kano had been as eager as the others to be there with him, at his side. As he moved closer, quietly a thought seeped through why he found his son now standing there, staring in the distance. Suspicion got confirmed when he looked at Kano's hands that were resting casually intertwined behind his back. A white line showed on his left hand's little finger, where a ring had been for many years.
"You will not take them with you?" resting his hand lightly on his son's shoulder, his voice was only a whisper, not meant for another's ears.
"no." Kano shook his head "I am no fool. I told her to stay here with the little one." He turned and looked his father in the eyes "Even if my brothers do not realize it yet, you know as well as I do that there will be no way back for us. This is my choice, I will not draw them into this. I told her she can do as she pleases, that I renounce all claims I might have had in the past on her. She has to be free."
And Feanor realized that with these few sentences, his son had told him that he had no hope for success on his father's quest, but that he had decided to come none the less. For his father's sake, or his own reasons, who could tell? But surely out of his own free will, not out of fear for anyone, not pushed by his peers. And he knew that Kano had given up all he had by doing so, his wife, even his son. He marveled at the young one's courage, to risk all for a dream. He had given him the right name, no doubt.
He embraced him and pulled him as close as he could, "thank you" he whispered once more, the flames in his heart leaping with pride.
Kano ~ short for Kanafinwe, Maglor's father-name / 'Kano' meaning 'Strong'
Nelyo, Moryo, Turko ~ short for Nelyafinwe (Maedhros), Morifinwe (Caranthir) , Turkafinwe (Celegorm)
I cannot imagine Feanor using other names than the ones he chose himself for his sons.
This is situated shortly after the oath has been spoken, all going back to their homes to collect what they have, before they leave and say goodbye to those that do not want to come.
I have always found it a bit foolish of for example Turgon to take his wife and child on such a journey, and considered those that had made the difficult choice of leaving their loved ones behind the real heroes...