7. Judgment

Thanks to how strong the sleeping draught had been, Rûsa remained asleep until the next evening. It was the movements under him that caused him to awake.

"Mm…"

As he slowly woke up, Rûsa realized that he was inside one of the horse-drawn carriages that the Wood clan used to transport anyone who could not ride on a horse. A tent was used as protection against sun, wind and rain, making a steady temperature remaining inside and fresh air was given from special air holes in the fabric. Glaring over, he could see Maeglin and Saira sitting a bit away, talking in soft voices so they would not wake him up by mistake. Hearing his groan, they looked up.

"How are you feeling, Rûsa?"

"T-tired…some of it might be from the sleeping draught, but my head still feels very heavy…"

His throat was rather dry, so they carefully helped him to drink a little water. Given that Rûsa had suffered a concussion from Vanë hitting his head as to prevent him from struggling against her despite already having tied his hands behind his back, it was no big surprise that Rûsa felt dizzy at any movement of his head.

"Where a-are we?"

"The main part of the Wood clan left Valmar under Atara's lead shortly after midday yesterday when Taurion told them that you had been attacked, they did not risk it to happen with someone else. Taurion and a few of the best warriors are still in Valmar but will likely catch up with us once Vanë has been given her judgment by Ingwë. Some of your half-brothers also helped her family to quickly leave Valmar yesterday," explained Saira as they put him back down on the bed of blankets and pillows so he would not exhaust himself so quickly by moving around under the blanket.

"Good…I do not blame…them for what their daughter did…do not think that they even were…aware of what she planned…"

Rûsa had seen Vanë's personality before; such persons were often the black sheep of a family and in most cases, the parents were not to blame for their child's unusual behaviour. More often than not, these persons simply could not stand having to obey all the rules and following the ideals of sociality, making them often snap in some way. In Vanë's case, her wish to catch the highest-ranking husband she could find had backfired on her horribly and would end up destroying her life. An extremely bitter fate for a young noble-born girl that was not even of age yet, given that Elves were immortal, and that Vanë very likely was that kind of girl who was used to a certain standard of living since birth and had never wondered what it was like to not be able to live like a noble family.

"Do not think about that now, Rûsa, you need to rest as much as you can for the coming days. said Maeglin in a serious voice as she checked on his pupils.

"The shamans will be pleased to hear that you woke up for a small while. Many of the clan members are worried that you might have slipped into a coma from the head wounds you were given."

Even if she had no official medicinal training, Maeglin had learned the basics of first-aid in Nan Elmoth from her parents and knew what signs she needed to look after. She was pleased to see that Rûsa showed no other signs of pain outside the expected reaction after suffering a concussion.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

In Tirion, the royal palace:

"Sire, there is a message bird from Valmar."

"From Ingwë?" wondered Finwë in slight confusion as he looked up from his paper work. This was very unusual, Ingwë sending a message so soon after the Spring Ball in Valmar. Normally it would take up to six days after the Spring Ball for him to get a message about how things had went. The Noldorin High King hoped that nothing serious had happened with his three great-grandchildren during their stay as guests in Valmar for the Spring Ball at Ingwë's royal court. He knew that many people among the Vanyar would not really feel comfortable around Maeglin and Rûsa for different reasons, but as the unofficial "problem children" in the fourth generation of his family, people needed to look past first impressions when it came to that unusual duo among his great-grandchildren.

"This is the message, my King."

Thanking the servant and requesting him to bring some tea, as he could use a break now that he had a reason for one, Finwë opened the parchment to read the message Ingwë had sent.

"W-what?!"

Finwë went pale in horror as he read the words. He could almost not understand how it had happened, but then he recalled a couple of similar events being dangerously close to happen with a young Maedhros as well, just because of that she was second-in-line to the Kingship after her father Fëanor who was the crown prince. Finwë groaned in light despair.

"For the love of the Allfather…why are all of these negative events happening in my firstborn son's family?! As if Russafinwë does not have enough problems from his first life he ends up having even more with social climbers like his mother just because of his rank in the line to the throne?"

Finwë gritted his teeth in growing anger. He was grateful that Ingwë and Taurion had managed to stop that shameless girl from taking Rûsa as her husband by force in time, otherwise there would have been a hell of an outcry from the whole House of Fëanor. And the last thing that Rûsa would need after his nightmarish life in the First Age, was an abusive wife that would make him suffer in a unhappy marriage.

"I will do as Ingwë requests, " Finwë mused, seething with contained rage, "and not telling anything of this to my firstborn! If they learn about this in Formenos, it is a risk that my hot-blooded son will cause trouble in worry over his grandson…something that I can not allow to happen!"

He started pacing agitatedly.

"We have no need of a Fourth Kinslaying; my oldest son and grandchildren's hands shall NOT be tainted with the blood from other Elves anymore; and my great-grandson shall not have to suffer anything more of this because of that he is third-in-line to the throne! As if such a untrustworthy wife would be good for him…far more likely that she would only make him return into his personality as the Warg Rider and eventually kill her in a uncontrollable fit of anger, I dare say!"

Rolling the letter shut again, Finwë threw it into the fire that was burning in the fireplace, watching the parchment quickly burn up with its secret. No need to have someone find this letter by mistake and use its horrible contents as blackmail against Rûsa in the future. There was already enough trouble in the House of Fëanor as it was, and they did not need an unwelcomed spouse to one of their most emotionally vulnerable family members that would have used domestic violence against him to take the dominant role in the marriage. And the last thing that was needed right in these times of peace was the start of a Fourth Kinslaying. Snorting, Finwë returned to his desk, determined to put it out of mind until later, and buried himself in his work.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

He looked at some of the gathered family members, his glare warning them from lying about anything. Then, Finwë said:

"If you gave birth to Russafinwë in Angband, Nelyo, why did you never tell us about it?"

"Because she was tricked into believing that I had been killed at birth. Not during the birth, not before the birth as a stillbirth, but almost straight after," answered Rûsa quickly in Maedhros' stead, seeing the pain in her eyes at the horrible memory and how she held tighter around Cúwen in reaction.

"How?" asked Fingolfin nervously, having a feeling that they would not like the answer. Rûsa looked away for a moment, feeling his old hate against Morgoth and Sauron burn like fire in his heart.

"Ammë was not the only She-elf who gave birth at that time. Just a few hours earlier, another mother had given birth too. When I was born, Sauron took me from ammë by force and went to another chamber close by, where he swapped me with the female baby that the other mother had given birth to. That baby was killed in my stead to make ammë believe that it was I who had been killed, and the other mother became my foster-mother."

There was a horrified gasp at his words, to hear him tell that another child had been killed in his stead. But Rûsa refused to hide the ugly truth; they needed to know why Maedhros never had mentioned a word about his birth back in the First Age before the end of the War of Wrath.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

At the same time, in Valmar:

Many Vanyar Elves had arrived to the front yard of the palace at having seen their king stand on the balcony, dressed in black robe and a white band around his neck along with a circlet made of black hematite, the clothes he would only wear as Chief Judge. If he wore those clothes in public, it meant that Ingwë had been informed about a grave crime among his people and wished to have his people witness the judgment of the guilty person.

"What could have happened…?"

"Could it have something to do with how fast the Wood clan left yesterday? All of suddenly, they had closed down all the market stands without any warning and packed up their camp…"

"And the three Noldorin royals left with them!"

"I did not see prince Russafinwë after the end of the Spring Ball the evening before yesterday. He was meant to meet up with the King about something that was in a trade route between Valmar and Formenos…"

"Speaking about missing people, lord Siryo, the royal treasurer, has not been seen either since yesterday forenoon. But in his case, he likely is just a bit over-worked and needs some rest, I remember hearing him worry about the cost of how much food it would be for the Spring Ball, something about a disagreement with the cooks…"

Slam!

The sound of Ingwë using his royal staff against the balcony's stone floor to order silence, was heard. Everyone quickly went silent. Then, they saw some of the palace guards drag someone towards the open space that the rest of the guards had made in front of the steps to the palace.

"Miss Vanë?!"

"What could have lord Siryo's daughter done!?"

"Where are her parents? Why are they not here to defend their youngest daughter? Surely this must be some sort of misunderstanding…"

Vanë was, to put it frankly, looking horrible. Even if the wounds in her face had been cleaned by the guards to prevent infections, the injuries from Maeglin's attack was still marring her face, her reddish-blonde hair was in a tangled mess and she had only been given a simple dress as protection against being seen in her undergarments. Her hands were tied in front of her as the guards forced her to kneel on the cold stone ground.

"Let go of me! Let go of me, I have not done anything wrong!"

Even if Vanë tried her best to look innocent, Ingwë knew that she was lying. After all, he had witnessed the crime himself and when the High King himself was witness, it was very hard to cover it up. As Vanë looked around, she did not see her parents anywhere. Their absence made her uneasy, since Vanë had been so sure on that her father would use his position to get her out of this. If they were not here, it made her hopes of getting free far less likely.

"Vanë of the House of Siryo, you have been brought here because of that you have committed a crime that greatly risks destroying the relationship between the Noldor and the Vanyar. I will not reveal what you did because of my private vow to keep the victim's identity a secret, but I will let you all know that it is a crime that goes against all the values that the Valar have decided on. Not only is it a crime that affects both the Noldor and Vanyar kindreds if the victim is revealed, but even the Avarin Elves! If I reveal the nature of the crime, then I hold no doubt that it would be seen as a very legal reason for a Fourth Kinslaying with the Vanyar as the target this time!"

Ingwë's normally calm and gentle voice was now like a powerful storm out at the sea, terrible and in great fury. Everyone could hear the wrath in his words as the High King spoke, and as people started to realize the possible consequences of what Vanë had done despite that her crime were not revealed, almost nobody dared to speak out in defence of Vanë. Not even the most pious moral guardians among the Vanyar dared to say anything despite how fast they normally were to jump forwards in defence of the Vanyarin youngsters' "innocent minds and properly behaviour" as they so often said. As High King and Chief Judge of the Vanyar, Ingwë's power was unquestionable. Pointing down the royal staff towards Vanë on the ground, Ingwë pronounced her judgment:

"Vanë of the House of Siryo, you are hereby sentenced to life-long banishment from Valmar and life-long punishment as a servant among the Avarin clans."

Several horrified gasps were heard at Ingwë's words, more than one of the Vanyarin moral guardians looked ready to faint from pure horror at hearing what Vanë just had been sentenced to. In their eyes, that was similar to a death sentence.

"Move away and clean a path to the city gate. Her new masters are about to arrive."

The sounds of hoofs were heard against the city streets' cobblestones. The palace guards quickly moved away from Vanë at the sound, falling back into line among their colleagues. Just as Vanë took a chance to stand up, ten Avarin riders arrived. In one swift movement Taurion swept down and caught Vanë, pulling her up in front of him in the saddle.

"Let go of me, you horrible savage!"

No matter how much Vanë tried to get free from his hold on her, Taurion held her in a iron-hard hold around the waist. Turning his horse around for a moment so he could face Ingwë despite the distance from the balcony, Taurion spoke:

"As much as I dislike saying it, an event similar to what this brazen little brat has caused is often a reason to make the Avarin Clans avoid the place for the event for a longer time. In other words, do not expect to see any of the Avarin clans around Valmar for the next twenty years."

This time, a horrified and exasperated outcry in anger was heard from the present Vanyarin children and youngsters, despite the parents' attempts to hush them up, as the younger generations had come to greatly enjoy the visits of the Avarin Clans around the Spring Ball every year and saw it as a much welcome break in their everyday life in Valmar. To have those visits stopped for the next twenty years was a living nightmare for them because of how strict the Vanyarin adults could be. Ingwë nodded without saying a word, understanding that Taurion meant the twenty years that remained until that Rûsa would come of age.

"We are leaving for Formenos!" ordered Taurion, taking the lead ahead of the other riders as they rode out from Valmar. He had ordered the Wood clan to take the fastest way to Formenos, so he and the other riders would soon catch up with the rest of the Wood clan in a day or so. Behind him Vanë sobbed in despair.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Back in the Wood clan, they had stopped and made up camp for the night. As Rûsa did not trust himself to stand up yet, he was moved over to a stretcher that could be taken out from the carriage that he, Maeglin and Saira had been travelling in.

"How are you feeling now, Rûsa?"

"A little better than before, but I do not think I can chew anything yet. My jaw still feels sore…ow!"

Rûsa hissed in pain when he carefully touched his face with his fingers and felt the bruises where Vanë had slapped him. In Angband, he had learned very early to never underestimate someone who was smaller than himself. One never knew what sort of unseen strength a small body would show.

"We guessed something like that, which is why it is soup for dinner tonight."

Rûsa nodded weakly, pulling the thick blanket tighter around himself. He felt strangely frozen, and Lianna confirmed that he had a fever, most likely a reaction in shock over that he nearly had been taken by force and then having his fëa outside his hröa for a small while. It was not unheard of that a serious shock or trauma that reminded them about the violence in Angband, could cause such reactions among reborn Elves.

"Thanks…"

Maeglin helped Rûsa to eat some of the soup, he did not bother to complain about being spoon-fed when he barely had strength of his own to move.

"What will happen to Vanë? I do not doubt that Ingwë will punish her by banishment, but seeing that I have one Noldorin parent and one Avarin parent…she will also be given a Avarin punishment, right?"

Rûsa knew that Vanë would be unable to escape from facing a punishment from the Wood clan as well. The Avarin Clans saw sexual assaults as the worst crimes an Elf could commit, far greater than Kinslaying because of how common it had been in Angband. Murder was unacceptable, yes, but it had not been unheard of having to silently kill a fellow slave to end his or her suffering from overworking or grave injury. But sexual assaults, the act in taking someone by force to become your wife or husband, were unforgiveable. The former breeding slaves had long since been forgiven for their deeds, seeing that they had been forced to do so in Angband and it had not happened by their own free will.

"You can count on that. She should be grateful in that we will not reveal her crime to your maternal family when we bring you back home to Formenos, or hell would break loose."

Rûsa shuddered at the mental image of how Maedhros and her family likely would react on learning about what Vanë almost had managed to do if they ever got words about it. He remembered how it was to face the Fëanorians in battle during the First Age, how his mother had struck such fear in Morgoth's Orcs that they often had fled on sight of her. After all, once Fingon had freed her and she had recovered from her time in Angband, Maedhros had been like one returned from death.

"I can see why Ingwë would not have a Fourth Kinslaying happening…" he muttered, leaning back against one stable tent pole of wood that could bear his weight.

~X~X~X~X~X~X

Author's note: Yes, Vanë's crime, even if the exact deed is not revealed, is a very harsh wake-up call for many of the Vanyarin Elves about that they are not so perfect in behaviour and free from sin as they would like to imagine. The most pious ones among them see the Avarin Elves as uncivilized because of that they did not do the Great Journey to Valinor back in the Years of the Trees, so having Vanë be forced to live with the Avari Elves is pretty much what they sees as worse than death. And as Finwë points out so clearly; there are actually female cases of domestic violence too, not all abusive spouses are men.