The Ambarussa get concerned about their beloveds and cause a headache for Mornel.
Twin Chaos
Without Isilmire and Lomire, the twins were proving increasingly rambunctious as they regained their strength. Mornel sparred with them in her free time and rode with them through the nearby woods. There were scrolls and books in the library for them to read but they soon grew bored.
Nerdanel made a rare journey to Formenos after receiving a letter from Mahtan detailing the latest mischief her sons got up to involving the laundry hut and Helwien's best blue dye. The twins narrowly dodged a kinslaying when Helwien found out what happened. Mornel talked her brothers into assisting their law-sister's apprentices in making another batch of the dye so that a shipment of blue cloth could be sent to Tirion for the uniforms of their uncle's guards before their swearing-in ceremony. As for the elves of Formenos, everyone was sick of the colour blue for a quite a while afterwards.
"Whatever shall we do with you?" Nerdanel shook her head in exasperation at the chaos her sons had unleashed in the kitchens. The irate pastry cook and her assistants were being mollified by Mornel in the servants' hall while the pranksters set about cleaning up the flour coated everywhere.
"Sorry, Amme…" both twins hung their heads but exchanged winks when Nerdanel left them to their chores.
"I've not convinced Caniel to stay. So I will write a recommendation for her to work at Ingwion's…" Mornel explained when Nerdanel walked in on her writing a letter.
"Is that wise? Her skills…" Nerdanel winced.
"Oh, her meat pies are a lost cause but her fruit flans are acceptable… I do know for a fact that Ingwion's household do not eat meat pies - some Vanyar custom about not mixing pastries and meats," Mornel smiled. "Moreover, Ingwion's pastry cook has recently tendered his resignation and run off to serve Lord Orome as a hunter. How are things with Isilmire and Lomire?" Nerdanel and Mahtan had visited Valmar recently to negotiate the final details for the wedding of her sons.
"Oh," Nerdanel snorted. "Those pious Vanyar idiots took to the streets and demanded Ingwe's granddaughters undertake that fasting and prayer penance. Ingwion came out and told them all to go home because he isn't going to put his daughters through that nonsense. The High King finally had enough and ordered his guards to see them off when the protesters got a bit rowdy. The last thing we heard before leaving the city is that Ingwe has called for an urgent council meeting to pass a bill on the protection of the rights of the re-embodied. Apparently, if anyone forces their kin to go through that penance stuff now without their consent, they are looking at a term of exile from the city, not just a small fine."
"At least that is a step forward. Ingil has already assembled several top Vanyar priests to debunk a lot of their superstitious nonsense, with consultations with various Maiar of course. The Valar like to drag their feet about making an official declaration on anything since the Darkening. He actually found the ellon who wrote that Vanyar perfect conduct code – our former priest is now running about with a clan of Avari under the name 'Running Hare'. Piercings and tattoos all over," Mornel chortled. "He's their shaman. Lord Irmo gave him a major epiphany one night and he just took off into the wild living off berries and mushrooms until the tribe took him in."
"The only thing stopping Ingil from presenting the panel's conclusions is his stubborn old grandfather but this changes things," Nerdanel conceded. "I hope none of those brave Vanyar warriors have to go through the same thing as poor Elenwe…"
"Never fear, amme. I checked with Master Olorin. For those whose parents are suspected to follow that sect's beliefs, the Maiar now inform other loved ones, or notify Prince Ingwion or Lady Indis so that they might keep an eye on things. Most of the warriors are still in Mandos healing. A few were released with no major incidents…"
"Seriously? What about that poor lad whose parents were both pious fanatics? Your grandfather heard about him from the servants at Prince Ingwion's. They actually moved him away from their house when Ingwion's men came to check." There were always a few stubborn elves who clung to their cloak of pious hypocrisy.
"Oh, don't worry about him. His sister got him off their family's country estate with the aid of her warriors. She has already sent a letter to Prince Ingwion, her parents, and me, in case there is any uproar about a kidnapping." Mornel then related the tale of the pious couple's estranged daughter who had rebelled against her strict upbringing. She had taken off into the wilds as a disciple of Lady Vana before ending up wedded to a Nandor chieftain who roamed the woods near Formenos.
"The same harridan they say went dagger-to-dagger with Tatie after she smacked her husband's backside at the Midsummer Festival?" Nerdanel shook her head in disbelief. Mornel nodded. The disciples of Vana were known for their lack of inhibition and wildness. Some were said to eschew clothing entirely and feed off raw meat.
"Relax, they did not raze the manor to the ground after the raid, but a particularly tiresome steward had to be locked in the cellar."
"All these tales of the Vanyar ill-treating their re-embodied kin…" Nerdanel shuddered. It took a lot to faze her amme but Mornel knew there had been some rather shocking incidents uncovered. Just last week, Ingil wrote to her of a Vanya elfling who had died in an accident some years back. His parents apparently took it on themselves to cleanse him of his death on his return by flogging him bloody, before they were stopped by horrified neighbours. The child was now a thriving ward of Ingwion's household while his parents were undergoing some serious counselling by the Maiar in Lorien.
"The worst part is that they actually believe they were doing right by their kin," Mornel sealed the letter for her former pastry cook. Hopefully, they could find a decent replacement before the Yule Fest where meat pies were a favourite.
"Telvo, do you think Isilmire and Lomire are alright?" Pityo asked as they emptied their buckets of dirty water onto a luckless cat sleeping under the kitchen window.
"Sorry, kitty!" Telvo called out an apology after the hissing cat. "I don't know… I mean, Ingwion is alright, I guess… but His Pious Pain-in-the-Butt Ingwe?"
"He wouldn't hurt his granddaughters, would he?"
"I wish Lomire and Isilmire are here with us…"
"I know – let's bring them here. I am sure Mornel will not mind. I am sure she can open Curufin's old room for them to use. I know we are not supposed to see them before the wedding but to Morgoth with those tiresome Vanyar customs!"
The next morning found two swift horses missing from the stables, two empty beds, and Mornel in one of her rare tempers as she clutched a crumpled letter that had been left on her writing table.
"Pityo! Telvo!" Mornel shrieked, causing everyone in earshot to look up from their work as she threatened vengeance on her brothers. The Ambarussa have done it this time. Nerdanel stoically packed a generous lunch hamper for her daughter. Mornel's temper would cool soon but the twins would still have some serious explaining to do.
"I guess you are up now, horse," Helwien glanced over at Fearocco's stall as she brushed her pony's mane. The stallion tossed his head. The twins had taken two of the fastest horses in the stables but they were no match for Fearocco's speed and stamina. Mornel could catch up to her brothers by lunch and have them back by tomorrow if she had a mind to.
As it turned out, she caught up to them by mid-morning. A lost horseshoe had slowed them down considerably.
"Pityo, Telvo, what were you thinking?"
"We just wanted to check on Lomire and Isilmire…" Telvo fidgeted under Mornel's fierce glare. At times like this, she reminded the twins of their father. Pityo was looking similarly sheepish. Their reckless plan to snatch their beloveds away from their father's house in Valmar could easily spark off a diplomatic row between the Vanyar and Noldor royal courts. Ingwe would have a fit and it would be a mercy if there was not another kinslaying in Aman.
"Do you seriously think Ingwion will allow any of that cleansing or penance nonsense to be carried out under his roof? I think the most trying thing Isilmire and Lomire have to do is getting new gowns for their wedding fitted at the dressmaker's!"
It was more likely Lady Elsornie would ignore royal tradition and sew her daughters' gowns herself. The Crown Princess had inherited her father's talent with a needle and boasted a keen eye for colour. The twins had written regularly to Mornel. Lady Elenwe was recovering and helping the Princess in the wedding arrangements. Understandably, she was not keen on meeting her parents yet. It would be some time before reconciliation could be considered.
The trio stopped to share Mornel's lunch hamper before returning to Formenos at a walking pace. Telvo's horse had gone lame after losing its shoe. To avoid wearing out Pityo's horse, the twins both decided to walk. Mornel joined them on foot, much to Fearocco's disdain. The son of Nahar kicked his hooves and galloped off for a quick visit to Lord Orome's.
"Was it hard, looking so much like Atto?" Pityo blurted out suddenly.
"Well, I have had difficulties, but we have worked things out," Mornel replied.
"It used to bother Curufin when he was still learning at the forge," Telvo added. "We think he was so good at smithing because he had to live up to everyone's expectations of him as Atto's son."
"I am me. Curufin's Curufin and Atto's Atto," Mornel replied. "I am no smith. I know a bit about healing and music. I do some wood-carving in my spare time. I like riding and archery. I can speak with most birds."
Now that she had more time to know her brothers, she could tell them apart more readily. Telvo was more outgoing while his twin was more reserved. Pityo had a sensitive and nurturing side to him. Already he had nursed an injured ferret and fostered a brood of orphaned goslings during his convalescence. Telvo was a skilled woodworker and could turn a piece of wood into a toy for the elflings with a few deft strokes of his knife.
"I still have nightmares at times, about Alqualonde, and burning ships …" Pityo admitted. "Amme says we have to go to see her workshop at Alqualonde…"
"It's alright. I have written to King Olwe. His people no longer bear us any grudges," Mornel reassured her brothers. Although the Teleri might want to welcome the Feanorions with a prank or two.
"I get nightmares too, not only about Alqualonde, but Doriath and Sirion too…" Telvo whispered quietly, his normal cheer dampened. He touched the bracelet Isilmire had given him as their betrothal token. "We wonder if it is right to marry and…" He sounded so young and fragile, a far cry from the blood-soaked warrior many claimed he was.
"Oh, Elbereth!" Mornel rolled her eyes. "Look here, Lord Namo sent you two back so that all four of you can have a new beginning and a new life in Aman. If need be, go apologize to those you have wronged. Most of them will be forgiving…"
"Even Elwing and Earendil?" the twins asked.
"Let them have some time to think it over first. I wrote to them and they know you are back. I don't see either of them storming up to Formenos so I think that should be a good sign," Mornel interjected. There was also Earendil's Silmaril and it would be a real test of whether any remnants of the Oath still remained to blight her brothers' fear. She had been warned that not all memories from their first lives were so readily forgotten or put aside. It was noted by the healers of Lorien that many of those who had perished on the Grinding Ice were more sensitive to the cold even in their new bodies. Elenwe wore wool or linen dresses even in Valmar where others wore light cotton or airy silks. Having burnt to death in his first life, Pityo was wary of any open flame.
"I will go with you to Alqualonde and maybe Elwing's tower if she will have you visit. Arakano is expected to come to Formenos with gifts from Uncle Ara for the wedding. Whatever happens we will face it together as Finweans," Mornel promised.
Author's Notes:
A slight reversal of roles here – Mornel is acting as guardian to her older brothers.
I doubt the twins or any of the re-embodied elves could forget their first lives, the good and bad memories included. Then there are those who never went through the healing of Mandos or Lorien and might still bear grudges.
I seriously got the Ambarussa's names messed up and will be working on that.
I like to imagine Lord Orome and his lady as being similar to the more primal Hunt deities of European mythology like in the Wild Hunt.