A bit of clarification – Mornel's age is equivalent to an 8-10 year old human child, perhaps more a very sheltered 10 year old.

To be honest, in the Silmarillion, it may have been up to 50 years of the Sun or more between the Noldor's Rebellion and the Rising of the Sun. Possibly more than enough time for an elfling to reach adulthood. However, for the purposes of this fic, I have shortened the time of the Darkening to have Mornel questioning others about her father from the viewpoint of a child.

7. Festival of Friendship

The Vanyarin entourage arrived at the palace the day before the festival. The herald came to announce the arrival of Lady Indis and her daughter Findis before the nissi entered the parlour where Arafinwe was teaching his niece the harp. Mornel greeted the pair with a curtsey. A look of surprise flashed in Indis' eyes before Nixelle ushered her ward from the room to allow the Noldoran privacy to speak with his mother and sister.

"She is so much like Feanaro in her colouring, but her eyes are definitely Miriel's," Indis remarked as she took the goblet of chilled cider offered to her by her son. "What's this? Findarato's old harp?" the dowager queen picked up the elfling's abandoned harp.

"It's only fitting…" Arafinwe shrugged.

"She is not Artanis or Findarato… Don't get too fond of her, brother," Lady Findis sniffed.

"Look," Arafinwe took the small harp from his mother and pointed at a barely discernible carving of an eight-pointed star on it -the crest of Feanaro's house. "This was Makalaure's harp before he outgrew it and gave it to little Findarato. It was lying on the shelf gathering dust, so I had it re-strung for Mornel. She is a princess of my father's house, and has the right to be educated as one. After the festival, we should look at finding her a suitable pony…"

"Will you send her to be fostered and trained in court matters at King Olwe's or your uncle's court when she's older?" Indis asked.

"Perhaps…" Arafinwe's brow furrowed. He had a scheduled visit to his law-parents' realm in the spring. Should he bring his niece? Or would her presence bring back painful memories for King Olwe? The last time the Feanarions were in Alqualonde was during the Kinslaying. Perhaps it would be more prudent to leave Mornel in Tirion or send her to Mahtan's.

"Ara, I see you have kept their rooms untouched…" Indis added. "The child stays in the guest wing despite…"

"I know, amme. But I wish they would come back one day… perhaps the Valar can be moved to lift the Doom and Earwen will return for the sake of our children," Arafinwe put down the harp. Her son had yet to move on completely after losing both his children and wife. Findis has spoken often of the pall over the private chambers of the royal family. Everything in her grandchildren's rooms had been left as they were on the day they had departed from Tirion. The rooms he shared with his wife had been left unaltered since her departure. One speculated if Anaire kept her family home in a similar stasis. Until Indis' departure from Tirion, the Noldoran had spent his hours of reverie in his office. It was only recently that he had started using the rooms once occupied by his parents.


The City Festival is the celebration of the Eldar's arrival in Tirion. Master Rumil and Amarie explained it to me. Only the elves who lived in the city of Tirion and the outskirts participated in the festival. It was held every yeni. This is the first time it would be held after the Darkening of Valinor. The tower overlooking the city was built by King Ingwe, High King of the Elves. The Vanyar were the first to settle here before they moved to Valmar, under the shadow of Taniquetil. The festival is also a celebration of the friendship between the Vanyar and Noldor. Some call it the Festival of Friendship, back when both King Ingwe and his court still lived in the city. They revived the old name during the time Queen Indis was married to King Finwe.

Grandmother Indis is so very pretty, but she doesn't hug me like Grandfather Mahtan. Aunt Findis said that I danced quite well when Amarie asked me to show them what I had learnt. I helped Lady Eldalote with the flowers for the hall. She said my cousin used to help her with the festival preparations… I am so excited I do not know if I can find reverie tonight. Amarie is staying over to help with the last minute preparations for the morning ceremonies. She is given the room next door so that she need not journey across town to the house where she lives with a cousin.

The elfling yawned. She had stayed up long past her reverie. Nixelle had gone off after readying her charge for bed to make her own preparations for the festival. She had been granted the day off and was looking forward to spending time with her family and friends. Satisfied with her journal entry, Mornel put away her quill and climbed into bed. Just as she was drifting off into reverie, a sound roused her.

Someone was crying in the next room. Amarie. The elfling slipped out from under her blanket. On bare feet, she stepped out of her room. She quietly shut the door behind her. She took a deep breath before tapping on the door. "Amarie, are you alright?" There was a sniffling sound before the door swung inwards.

"I am fine, Mornel. Did I wake you? I'm so sorry…"

"I could not rest. Too excited about tomorrow. May I sit with you a while?" Mornel said. It was true that she would not be able to find reverie knowing Amarie was crying in the next room. She had been looking forward to the festival. She had not lied, she insisted to herself. Lying was bad, her aunt had taught her that back at the smithy. However, she had already learned that words could be used to skip over facts like the adults about her did every time she tried to bring up her atar's actions during the Darkening.

"S-sure…" Amarie dabbed at her cheeks with a billowing sleeve to wipe away the tell-tale tears. Mornel allowed herself to be led into the room and seated on the bed next to Amarie. The settee was still hidden under the dustsheets. Only the bed and a dresser had been prepared for Amarie's short overnight stay.

"You were crying. I heard you… Is it because of him?" Mornel took Amarie's hand in hers and stroked it the way her amil did with her every time she had spoken of her absent brothers to Mornel. The elfling did not understand why but the contact soothed her, just as her Uncle's hand upon her shoulder did when they pored over the family tree and annals. She did not understand yet that it was the common bond of blood, however minute, that she was responding to in her kin's touch.

"I shouldn't… I miss him so much!"

"Cousin Findarato?" Mornel ventured. Amarie nodded in reply and burst into tears. Mornel did not hesitate but hugged the weeping nis until the tears slowed.

"I thought it would be fine for me to come back here, but the memories are too much… This wing was once used by the queen's ladies… We met at the festival for the first time. My atto sent me to serve Lady Indis, as well as to seek out a suitable spouse among the Noldor in Tirion. Most of the Vanyar are too closely tied by blood to be considered suitable, since there were so few of us in the beginning. I was so alone then, and the youngest among the queen's ladies, when I met him at the festival. He had returned from a long sojourn with his mother's people. He's so kind and sweet… I almost wish I had followed him like Lady Elenwe followed her husband… but my parents would have been horrified by the scandal. We may be betrothed but we had not bound…"

"I am glad you stayed, Amarie. We would not have met otherwise," Mornel coaxed. "There are many who have bound but remained. Aunt Anaire, Lady Eldalote, my law-sisters, even my Amme…" To venture further than the mountains of Pelori in the west and the sea off Alqualonde in the east was forbidden to them, as were the lands in the east from whence they had come. Yet her father and his followers had defied the Ban and were exiled for it. Uncle Arafinwe had skipped over much of the events which led to the Noldor's flight. It had something to do with the old king's death and the Trees withering. Her atar must have been a great leader for so many to follow him.

"My atto still writes to me, to ask me to consider breaking the betrothal and finding another… but I can't! He sent word again through a cousin in the queen's entourage. He wants me to return home to meet another ner they have chosen. Despite what they say, I feel bound to my fiancé… I care not for the Doom or that we may never…"

"You will meet again. However faint that hope seems… They tell Amme the same of my atar when she's not feeling well…" Mornel felt the tears coming and it was Amarie's turn to console her. "I haven't seen my Amme since she went to Lorien to heal… I am afraid she will die like Grandmother Miriel. I am afraid my atar and brothers might be hurt or worse by the monsters in the east she wove in her tapestry. I am afraid, even though Master Rumil says Lord Namo offers rest and healing to the fea of those who died in the Great Journey until they can be re-embodied in the gardens of his brother… Grandmother Miriel did not come back…"

"But she did, Mornel. My cousin who serves Lady Este saw her. Lady Miriel now serves Lady Vaire…"

"Really?"

"Perhaps you can meet her when you visit your amil…"

Mornel nodded and stifled a yawn.

"It's late and we have a long day ahead… perhaps you should go back to your room…"

Mornel shook her head. "May I stay here tonight, please? I get scared sometimes thinking of the monsters…"

"Of course…" Amarie cuddled the elfling close to her as she pulled the covers up to their chins.

"Hm, Amarie… did my atar enjoy the Friendship Festival?"

"Oh, we have never seen Prince Feanaro attend the festival during the time I have been in Tirion," the older elf admitted. "The king and queen, your uncles and aunts, but never your atto. He must have been a busy ner with all his inventions and stuff. Your brothers did attend on occasion," Amarie smiled at the memory. "My beloved persuaded Makalaure to play while he sang for me. Then Tyelkormo's hound got loose and ruined everything. Little Aikanaro fell into the fountain and had to be fished out… Prince Nolofinwe had the water switched for wine for that day and Naro was quite drunk afterwards. Maitimo got drunk once and kissed Findekano in the street thinking he was a nis."

"What did Findekano do?" Mornel murmured sleepily. "Did he get mad?"

"Well, no. He is such a nice ner, so he helped Maitimo back to his house to rest instead…" Amarie watched as the elfling drifted off into reverie, no doubt dreaming of her brothers enjoying themselves at the party. Amarie soon drifted off into her own reverie of a golden-haired prince who ruled her heart and fea.

Author's Notes:

Mornel and Amarie have built up a rapport of sorts. Next chapter will be the festival and Mornel might find out the truth about her atto.