The Feanorions try to one-up the Vingilot in cool factor (or terror factor). Elrond meets Feanor for the first time. Enough said.
Spirit of Fire
Fourth Age 30, Tol Eressea
Dear Arwen
After months of peaceful existence on Tol Eressea – interrupted by the occasional weed-poisoning and drunken shenanigans, our quiet life was interrupted by news of the arrival of a famous historical personage. Of course, infamous will be a more accurate description of the ellon involved. Poor Mel was mightily disturbed by the tidings and has locked himself in the linen closet. Various elves were spotted fleeing for the hills with the same earnest terror one would normally associate with flight from a Balrog.
Ada Maglor loped over to our place to forewarn us. The Teleri ban on Feanor Finwion entering their city has recently been lifted by King Olwe as a further sign of goodwill to the Noldor. Ada Maglor managed to persuade His Majesty to allow his brothers into the city sometime about the end of the Third Age, chaperoning them about to ensure their good behaviour. Feanor and sons have decided to make use of this opportunity to visit Tol Eressea. Naturally, no Teleri captain would allow Feanor on his vessel but this hiccup was easily solved between Feanor and his son Curufin by building a vessel of their own. Apparently they were given access to the library in Tirion which also held several scrolls on basic shipbuilding.
Maglor confessed the fire-breathing dragon figurehead was a bit over the top. There were a few unfortunate accidents during the sea trials off Araman – some poor fishermen's boats got sunk. So we have a fire-breathing dragon ship moored in the harbour and probably terrifying the fear out of all callers to Avallone. Somehow I am not too surprised. They tried to make it fly but the contraption simply refused to take off. Feanor is working on designing something called airships with his son now. Oh, they named their fearsome vessel the Spirit of Fire. Methinks Feanor is a narcissistic prig. I hope they did not set fire to the harbourfront. We just had it rebuilt after Fin's impromptu Mettare fireworks show while high on weed.
Maglor had not finished when Feanor showed up and gave an unwanted bear-hug to his foster grandson – me. I think I might have broken a rib or two. Feanor is a large elf, just like Fingolfin. Unlike my forefather, he has arm muscles like steel bands from all that forge work. He just invited me, no, practically ordered me to visit the family at Formenos on his vessel. Seems Curufin and his team have built a tunnel for a horseless carriage system through the base of the Pelori so that they could bypass Tirion and the pass when they wish to visit the seaside. Calling on old King Olwe was only a concession to Maglor.
Then there are the rest of the Feanorions. Ada Maglor went to inform Maedhros that their adar has arrived, leaving us at the mercies of Feanor and his younger sons. I still recall their last visit to Tol Eressea with a shudder. I think it would be safe if I keep them all in my sight at all times under the pretext of writing a letter, which Feanor agreed I should. Celebrian has just gone off to the kitchen to prepare more food for our unexpected guests. Wish Fin was not locked up still for his firework stunt. Twins mucking about with a sack…
Feeling uneasy,
Elrond
P.S. Feanor just asked me to bid my wife goodbye as we are leaving now – wait, I did not agree to leave with you!
(Amras and Amrod pounce on Elrond with the sack and ropes as Curufin raps Elrond over the head with a cosh. The Feanorions hightail it out with Elrond in the sack before Celebrian returns, Celegorm pausing to pin Elrond's letter to the table with a knife as an afterthought.)
Fourth Age 30, the sea off Araman (I hope)
Dear Arwen
I am writing this letter from the deck of the Spirit of Fire off the coast of Araman. Awoke to find myself stashed in the hold with the Feanorions' other 'guests', having lost about 2 days of my eternal life. Also on board are Aredhel and her brother Fingon, both having been convinced by Celegorm and Maedhros to make the journey. The siblings are now having a game of shuffleboard with Huan and the twins.
Curufin has collared his son from his forge and is attempting to convince him to move to Formenos where his skills as a smith would be put to better use than making common farm-tools. Celebrimbor seems awfully wary of his father and uncles and is nursing a nasty bump on his head while tied to the mast. Seems he tried to dive off the side earlier to swim for shore.
Tied to the mast with Celebrimbor is a bound and gagged Finrod Felagund. Finrod looks quite battered. Feanor not happy one of his sons had been cuckolded. Ada Maglor is trying to tell Feanor he agreed to have his wife impregnated by his cousin after too many encounters with orc poisons in Ennor had rendered him hopelessly infertile. Luckily, Nana Linde and the children were visiting family in Alqualonde when Feanor came into town. Feanor might need more convincing before he frees his nephew. Do not like the plank Celegorm has hooked up over the side.
I seriously hoped the Feanorions did not cause too much alarm snatching Celebrimbor, Finrod, and me from Tol Eressea the way they did. Having Lord Ulmo and his Maiar interrupt our cruise would not be a good thing.
I must say that the vessel is remarkably steady in the water and spacious to boot. Found a heated bath in the hold and a well-stocked galley. Grabbed a few cupcakes there and surprised Caranthir in the kitchen. He was helping out with frosting the cake – while wearing a pink lacy apron. Ran into Cousin Maeglin who was the vessel's chief engineer. He showed me about. The entire thing runs on some tar-rock stuff which burns with a foul smell Maeglin confessed is reminiscent of Angband's pits. They were still working on that particular problem.
On the upside, Maeglin claimed that he built up a wonderful relationship with his father and half-siblings by Lady Aredhel before he was hired by Feanor on this project. Two of his younger brothers are just starting their basic studies with Lord Aule with Eol as their mentor. On top of it, he was recently engaged to a lovely elleth, our cook. Riniel is not exactly what I would expect as Maeglin's type. She has the physique of a Marchwarden and a shock of red hair – apparently Caranthir lost to her at arm-wrestling and the forfeit was to prepare a cake and serve it to the entire crew dressed in a lacy apron, or he could settle for concussion by rolling-pin.
Managed to get a few words with Feanor, who grudgingly admitted that he meant to invite me to Formenos to see to his lady in my capacity as a healer. A bit miffed he had to knock me unconscious in the process. He could have asked nicely. Seems Nerdanel has been showing the signs of a normal pregnancy until the eighth month, after which she had taken to her bed with exhaustion. Given her age and the interval since her last childbearing, this has caused concern to her family. I am not so petty as not to agree to see her just because she is of the House of Feanor! Still, a Maia from Lorien would have been of better help. Plus, Lorien is so much nearer, I think.
No sign of any Great Eagles or Ulmo's Maiar yet. Thank Eru. I guess I will just have to wait until we reach our destination. I hope this trip is uneventful.
Oh, Celebrimbor has just fainted. Signs indicate a possible skull fracture with bleeding in the brain. What? Curufin, you did not have to hit him with his own mallet! Untie Finrod – we will need him as my assistant as I cut a hole in the patient's head to relieve the pressure – someone get Curufin off me! I have done this operation before in Ennor. Trust me on this one!
Apologies, my skills are needed urgently.
Elrond
Author's Notes:
Feanor and his younger sons need to work on their social skills, especially how to invite people without knocking them out first.
This is an AU where everyone, including Feanor gets out of Mandos well before Dagor Dagorath. Oh, and the Formenians might have invented the first railway and tunnel system in Aman.