Hey, everybody. Back with another chapter.

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Chapter 43- Lost Treasure

(August 14, 2021)

In the Humvee he is travelling in, General Meyer breathes a sigh of relief as the sea finally comes into view. After over a week and a half of travelling, the 1st Infantry Division has finally reached the shores of Nevrast. They'll make camp tonight and await the Wisconsin's arrival the next day.

The march to Nevrast had not been easy. The lands of Hithlum and shores of Beleriand had been broken by the power of Ulmo near the end of the great battle. However, the 1st Infantry had managed to find a relatively easy path through Hithlum to reach Nevrast.

The division's advance had been unconventional. The tanks had led the way to find the best path forward. However, the division also had to guard Corporal Gardner and the Silmarils. Gardner was kept in the Humvee assigned to transport him. Gardner's Humvee was surrounded by a special guard picked by General Meyer himself. Immediately surrounding Gardner's Humvee was half a dozen armed Humvees. Then, in a ring around the Humvees was a force of 6 M1 tanks and 8 M2 Bradleys. This honor guard was to remain with Gardner's Humvee whenever it was travelling. Whenever the division was not travelling, a special honor guard of a dozen of the best soldiers of the division would guard Gardner.

As the division moves along the coastline to a spot chosen for them to camp while waiting for the Wisconsin, General Meyer breathes a sigh of relief. At last, they've come to the end of their duty, and soon enough, they'll be back home with their families. Meyer already has tickets for his family to the Kansas City Chiefs season opener against the Cleveland Browns, and is looking forward to getting back to normal life after years of war.

All they have to do is wait one more day, and they can finally go home.

(That night)

Its been about two hours since the 1st Infantry Division finally made camp along the coast. The division is starting to settle in for the night. Some troops are still finishing setting up camp. Others are eating dinner.

In his tent, Corporal Gardner is eating his dinner with one of his friends and his guards. Dinner tonight is beef stew, and a special serving of peach cobbler for desert.

As Gardner takes a small bite of his cobbler, he smiles and says, "This cobbler is good, but has nothing on my momma's peach cobbler. Geez, I can't wait to go home and taste my mom's cooking."

"Agreed. My mother makes the best homemade pizza. I can't wait to have some again," one of the guards says.

Gardner's buddy, one of the soldiers in his company, turns to Gardner and asks, "Hey, buddy, do you think you could show us the Silmarils?"

Gardner thinks on the question. "I'm not really supposed to be doing show and tell with them. I try not to even look at them myself to avoid tempting myself to keep them for myself," he says.

"Oh, come on. Just a quick look," one of his guards says.

Gardner is quiet for a moment before he sighs and says, "Okay. Just for a moment."

Gardner sets his dinner aside and picks up the chest containing the Silmarils. After unlatching the lid, Gardner slowly opens it, and the Silmarils instantly illuminate the whole tent.

Gardner's buddy and the guards stare at the Silmarils in awe, their breath taken away. Gardner keeps the chest open only for a few seconds before closing it and latching it shut again and setting the chest aside.

"Wow. Those things are beautiful. I understand why they were stolen," one of the guards says.

"Maybe. But the sooner we can get these jewels back to Valinor, the better," Gardner says. Several of the guards mutter in agreement.

Gardner returns to his dinner and continues chatting with his guards and his buddy, putting thoughts of the Silmarils aside.

Across the camp, General Meyer is in his tent. Meyer had already eaten, and is currently going over the schedule for the next few days with going home to America. He's looking forward to a relatively easy night, as even has a poker game scheduled with a few of the senior officers during some scheduled downtime before bed.

Suddenly, one of his colonels steps into the tent. Meyer looks up, and instantly knows something is up from the expression on the colonel's face. "What is it, Colonel?" Meyer asks.

"Sir…the Elves known as Maedhros and Maglor have entered camp. They're outside now and asking for an audience," the colonel responds.

Meyer's good mood is instantly shattered and replaced with anger and irritation. Meyer, like all the senior officers deployed to Middle Earth, is well aware of Feanor, his sons, and their oath, as well as the atrocities committed in the name of the oath. The two surviving sons of Feanor had not been seen since shortly before America became involved in Beleriand, and had not taken part in the fighting. Even Elrond and Elros, the sons of Earendil who had been taken in by Maglor, did not know exactly where they were. Most of the American commanders had hoped that why had vanished forever and they wouldn't have to deal with them. But now that hope has been shattered.

Meyer considers having the colonel throw them out of camp, but after a few moments, he decides to just hear what they have to say. He just makes a hand motion to signal to the colonel that the colonel is fine to bring them in.

The colonel disappears back outside the tent. A few moments later, he re-enters the tent, followed a second later by Maedhros and Maglor. Meyer does not stand up, considering them not worthy of a show of respect like that.

The two Elves step forward and bow slightly. The brothers recognize the power at Meyer's command, and know he's likely not to think of them too favorably. The two want to remain as respectful as possible to hopefully get him to agree to their request.

"General Meyer. A pleasure to meet you at last. An honor to meet one of the commanders of the mighty American army," Maedhros begins.

"Cut the bullshit and the theatrics, Maedhros. It's not doing you any extra favors. Just get to the point already before I lose my patience with you," Meyer snaps.

Maedhros and Maglor are surprised at the instant hostility, and realized that they underestimated the hostility that foreign troops would have towards them for all they've done. Now, they are wondering if they have any hope of cooperation from the Americans.

After a few moments of silence, Maedhros is the one who speaks up and says, "Very well, General. We have come to you to request that you deliver up the Silmarils to us. Those gems were created by our father, with the greatest of effort, and were his greatest work. With our father and the rest of our brothers dead, they rightfully belong to us. With the greatest respect, we ask that you return to us the heirlooms of our father and his work."

Meyer narrows his eyes as he finally gets to his feet, palms planted on the table in front of him. "If you really think I'd give up the Silmarils up to you, even if I wasn't under orders to get them to Valinor, then you're bigger morons than I thought. Those Silmarils were reclaimed not just by Elvish blood, but also by the blood of other races here in Beleriand, and the blood of several hudnred thousand Americans."

Meyer's face goes even more vindictive as he says, "Not that you care. You, your brothers, and your father have caused the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Elves due to your arrogant oath. You've killed countless members of your own kin because you arrogantly swore your oath with your father. On earth, the number of war crimes you and your people have committed would probably earn you the death penalty."

"General," Maglor begins to speak up, but Meyer snaps back at the brothers, now shouting, "No! You lost any right to the Silmarils a long, long time ago. Nothing you have tried or will try will absolve you of the crimes you've committed against your fellow Elves. You have caused the deaths of not only military, but civilians as well. If I gave you the Silmarils now, the blood of tens of thousands would stand against me!"

Meyer takes a moment to compose himself, then says a little more calmly, "You're lucky that I didn't order you placed under military arrest the moment I heard you were here. I'm not giving you the Silmarils. No chance in hell. Now, I would advise that you leave my tent and my camp at once before I order my men to manhandle you out of here and have you placed under military arrest. I'm seriously tempted even to just take my sidearm and shoot you myself, so go before I change my mind."

Maedhros and Maglor are quiet for a moment before inclinging their heads and turning around to leave the tent. Meyer takes a deep breath to calm himself as the brothers leave. After a moment, Meyer looks at the colonel who brought them in and says, "I had no idea how aggravating being in their company would be."

"I hear you, General," the colonel responds.

Outside, as Maedhros and Maglor walk away from Meyer's tent, they see the looks of disgust being thrown their way by many Americans they walk past. One American officer even spits in their direction. Despite the disrespect, the brothers do not lash back out and just make their way towards the edge of camp.

After the brothers leave the 1st Division's camp, they stop and turn to talk to each other. Maedhros is the first to speak, and he says, "We must do something. We know where they are keeping the Silmarils. We must reclaim them."

Maglor, despite the oath, fiercely believes this is suicide. "Maedhros, you saw the same things I did in that camp. If we attempt to take them, we will be surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers, all of whom hate us, and have weapons that could wipe us out in a second."

"We swore the oath with our father, and we must fulfill it if we do not wish to bring upon ourselves punishment more terrible than any ever felt by living things," Maedhros says.

"But, if Manwe, who we swore as witness to our oath, does not recognize it, does it not make our oath void?" Maglor proposes.

"But we swore it by Illuvatar, who is far above Manwe. We cannot know if our oath has been made void. And if the Silmarils are taken across to Valinor, our oath will be forever beyond our reach. We must take the Silmarils now, even if we must risk our lives," Maedhros insists.

Maglor is quiet for a long time before he sighs in defeat. "Very well," he says.

"We will sneak in after midnight, and we must take the Silmarils or die trying," Maedhros declares.

(August 15, 2021)

It's now just after midnight on August 15. Most of the 1st Infantry Division is now asleep, with the night guard shift slowly patrolling around the camp.

However, all is not right in the camp. Maedhros and Maglor entered the camp a short while ago, and are now slowly making their way to Gardner's tent. They've already killed four guards patrolling the camp to avoid the guards alerting the rest of the division.

Now, the two brothers have almost reached Gardner's tent. As they come around a corner of a row of tents, they see Gardner's tent up ahead, his guards posted outside. Four of them have left for a momentary break, with eight remaining posted around the tent.

Maedhros and Maglor look at each other and know what they have to do. The brothers each draw their bow, take careful aim, and let the first arrows fly.

Two of the guards are hit in the throat by the arrows and feel dead. The guards are quickly alerted. Whipping their heads around, they see Maedhros and maglor rushing the tent.

"Ready up!" one of the guards shouts, and all six guards are immediately alert and moving to help hold off the two brothers.

However, Maedhros and Maglor still possess the same strength they have retained through their time in Beleriand. In a matter of moments, they have slain all six remaining guards, with none of the guards able to get off a shot before being killed.

Feeling a bit of regret for having to kill the guards, the two brothers move over to the entrance to the tent and throw it open. As they enter the tent, they see Gardner scrambling to get out of bed, the chest holding the Silmarils beside his bed.

Gardner's eyes widen as he sees the two brothers. He looks afraid, but also starts reaching for his sidearm. Maedhros prepares himself to kill Gardner. However, at this point, Maglor can't bring himself to do it. Maglor raises his sword, charges Gardner, and clubs him over the head with the hilt. Gardner drops to the ground, knocked out.

Maedhros looks at his brother in confusion, but Maglor just shakes his head. Maedhros decides to move past it and walks over to the chest, opening it, revealing the Silmarils. Having confirmed the jewels are there, Maedhros closes it and picks up the chest.

"Let us be gone," Maedhros says, and the two brothers exit the tent.

However, right as they exit the tent, the other four of Gardner's guards return and see the brothers. "INTRUDERS!" one shouts, and the four guards fire their assault rifles at the brothers, who barely manage to escape.

"Sound the alarm! Intruders have stolen the Silmarils!" one of the guards shouts into his radio.

The news spreads like wildfire through the camp. The guards rush Corporal Gardner to the medical tent to get checked out as the division begins to rouse. Guards already on duty are on high alert and watching for the brothers.

It doesn't take long for several guards to spot Maedhros and Maglor fleeing north through the camp. "Stop right where you are!" one of the guards bellows, and when the brothers don't, he and his fellows start firing their weapons.

The guards give chase to Maedhros and Maglor, but quickly realize just how much they are outpaced by the Elves. Maedhros and Maglor flee north through the camp as the guards fall far behind. More guards try to intercept them, but none of their bullets hit the two, and the brothers slay two more soldiers on their way out of the camp. Eventually, the two make it out of the camp alive.

In his personal tent, General Meyer is now wide awake and aware of the situation. Meyer is listening to radio calls from the guards trying to pursue Maedhros and Maglor, and that the brothers are reaching the edge of the camp.

Meyer turns to his XO. "Scramble whatever vehicles we can. Tanks, Bradleys, Humvees, I don't care. I want those SOBs in this tent on their knees," he growls.

Roused tank and Bradley crews race to their vehicles and start powering them up. In only a few minutes, a tank, two bradleys, and two Humvees speed away from the spots where they're parked in pursuit of the brothers.

As Maedhros and Maglor flee north into a very damaged area, Maedhros slows up, Maglor following quickly. Maedhros looks at his brother and says, "There are but two Silmarils left to us, and we are the last two alive. It is only right we each take one."

"Agreed," Maglor responds. Maedhros opens the chest and takes one of the Silmarils from the chest. Maglor reaches in and takes the other.

However, in just a few seconds, the brothers begin to realize their mistake as the Silmarils begin to burn their hands intensely. The brother scream in pain and inadvertently separate, Maglor moving closer to the sea, and Maedhros moving closer to the hills. The brothers try shifting the Silmarils from hand to hand or anything else they can think of to stop the pain, but the pain only continues.

Now a great distance from each other, Maedhros and Maglor realize with sorrow and despair that Maglor and General Meyer were right. Any rights they once had to the jewels had long died, and the jewels are rejecting them because of the crimes they have committed.

In agony, Maedhros casts his eyes around and sees a fissure that has opened in the earth. The seismic activity in Beleriand has been increasing ever since the end of the final battle, and geologists are concerned that Beleriand might eventually sink into the ocean. One of the seismic events that have been opening are fissures opening deep into the earth. Seeking to end his misery, Maedhros flings himself and the Silmaril he carries into the fissure, perishing as he lands in the magma below, the Silmaril carried deeper into the earth.

As Maedhros casts himself into the fissure, Maglor is faced with the same pain and desire to stop it. Seeing no other option, Maglor draws back his arm and hurls the Silmaril into the sea. The Silmaril splashes into the waves several hundred yards out and disappears into the water.

Maglor begins to cry out in sorrow and loss, mourning his father, brothers, and everything else he has lost because of that accursed oath he so foolishly swore with his father and brothers. His regret for swearing that oath has never been greater.

It doesn't take long for the search party that went out to come up on Maglor, who is now wandering along the coastline. The tank stops a few hundred yards from Maglor, training its main gun on Maglor. The two Bradleys circle around to the side before stopping, aiming their cannons at the despairing Elf. The Humvees come up last and stop. The backs of the Bradleys and Humvees opens up, and a squad of troops flows out of the vehicles.

"Get on your knees! Get on your knees now, hand on your head! Do it now or I will put a bullet in your head myself!" the lead soldier bellows angrily. Maglor looks at the soldiers surrounding him, all with their weapons aimed at him. Realizing he's surrounded and outgunned, and feeling it may be time to face his crimes, Maglor slowly gets down on his knees, hands on his head, still softly singing a lament for things lost.

The soldiers rush Maglor. Two men are on him very quickly, grabbing his arms and wrenching them painfully behind his back. Another man hurries forward and snaps cuffs around Maglor's wrists. "You're gonna pay, you SOB," the soldier says.

The soldiers haul Maglor to his feet. Their leader walks up right in front of Maglor and looks him in the face. "Where's Maedhros?" he demands.

"Gone. He threw himself in a chasm," Maglor says sadly. The squad looks around at each other, then without another word, haul Maglor over to one of the Bradleys and force him inside before they all pile into their vehicles, and they head back to camp.

When the soldiers bring Maglor before General Meyer, the general demands to know where the Silmarils are. Hearing that the Silmarils have been lost angers him, and he has to restrain himself from punching Maglor in anger. Finally, he orders Maglor be taken away.

The news spreads through the division. The entire division is extremely disheartened to hear that their final task of the war has ended in failure and with some of their men dead. After all the division has accomplished so far in the war, to come away from their final task after the end of hostilities is a very low blow.

Maglor is soon transported through the breach back to the United States, where he'll be held in US custody until he can stand trial for his crimes. However, this cannot bring back the Silmarils, nor the young Americans killed by the brothers in their theft of the jewels.

The war is over, but Morgoth's evil will continue affecting both worlds for a long time yet.

And, I'll end the chapter there.

The next few chapters will continue wrapping up. They'll be posted on the same day, either tomorrow or the day after. Until they're up, please leave a review and stay tuned!