Inner vs. Outer Strength
"A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo's heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second. He trembled. And then quite suddenly in another flash, as if lifted by a new strength and resolve, he leaped." –The Hobbit
Orodreth walked through the stone corridors, trying to gather the nerve to enter Finrod's office. The king's office. His office. All this time he had avoided the true responsibility of running Nargothrond. But then the messengers came, and Orodreth could no longer ignore the fact that he was king.
Muffled voices drew him out of his melancholic thoughts. The voices were coming from the conference room.
Orodreth frowned. No one should be there. He had desired privacy, and he had certainly not called a council meeting. He ignored the guards who straightened slightly as he passed them and pushed open the doors.
If he was unsettled by the thought of company, he was outraged by the sight before him.
"Ah! Cousin! We were just going to send for you," Celegorm threw a pleasant smile at Orodreth.
The entire council was seated around the meeting table. Celegorm sat at the head, in Finrod's vacant seat. Curufin sat on his brother's right side gazing at his cousin with a slight upturn of his mouth. Orodreth could not decide if it was a grimace or a smirk.
I trust you brother. That had been Finrod's one admonishment before he left: For the love of all the Valar do not let Feanor's sons usurp your rule. Our people are not cursed by their oath, but I truly fear that would change if the Feanorians reigned in Nargothrond.
Orodreth had not cared much. He had been too caught in his own grief, in his own fear, in his own guilt. He had been grateful for the assistance his cousins had offered.
This ended now.
"Get. Up." He ordered, trying to hide his surprise at hearing the authority in his own voice.
Celegorm cocked an eyebrow to demand an explanation for this order.
Orodreth advanced toward the head of the table. He subconsciously noted Curufin resting a hand on the dagger at his hip. Celegorm remained still.
"It is customary to stand when the king enters a room. Get up," he demanded again.
The other council members slowly got to their feet, begrudgingly followed by the Feanorians.
He glared Celegorm out of the king's place and deliberately sat down. The councilers retook their seats, leaving Celegorm standing awkwardly.
The Feanorion's smile this time was not so pleasant when he addressed Orodreth. "I cannot imagine why you are so offended. I am simply here to help you. Things have been difficult recently, and now, with the death of Finrod…"
The sentence had not reached a conclusion before Celegorm lay on floor, Orodreth's dagger at his throat.
"You're going to kill me Artaresto?" the Feanorion snarled. Orodreth kept his much stronger cousin pinned beneath him by adrenaline and rage. All his attention was focused on the small trickle of blood that began to run down Celegorm's neck. Orodreth assumed Curufin was restrained by the lack of knife through his back.
The rage began to dissipate and be replaced by revulsion. Would he kill his cousin?
Celegorm caught the debate playing in Orodreth's conscience. "Do it!" he dared. "Kill me. See if you have the nerve." Orodreth drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. Celegorm laughed. "You can't do it! You should. It's your right. But you don't have the strength to carry it out. You always were the weakest of all of us."
Orodreth gritted his teeth. He was so tempted… but Celegorm was right. He wasn't strong enough. He shoved his cousin roughly into the floor as he stood. Blinking, he glanced around the room. Just as he thought, Curufin had been relieved of his knife and was being held back. Celegorm was pulled to his feet. Everyone watched Orodreth, waiting for his judgement. He glared at both his cousins.
"You have until next sunrise to gather your things and the people that would follow you. You are hereby banished from this realm. Do not let me see your faces again. Guards, see to it they have assistance packing."
Angry, exhausted, and disgusted, Orodreth spun on his heel and shoved his way out of the room. He needed air. He would never be the ruler his brother had been. He simply did not have the strength.
