By Aule's Forge.
Author's Note: If you want to know what happened between Feanor and Nerdanel as later mentioned in this chapter, please read Ithilwen's story 'Hide and Seek'. Like all her work, it is excellent!
Mandos knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie still in the freedom of Illuvatar. This was one of the times when all was shadows, even to Mandos. He had thought that Feanor was doomed to dwell forever in his Halls; now he both doubted that this fate was what Illuvatar intended for Feanor, or that such was in the best interests of Feanor.
So, he sought Aule, the Smith, one who knew Feanor well in the days before the Rebellion of the Noldor. Aule received his fellow Vala while at his forge, making the excuse he couldn't leave his current work at that time or it would spoil. Mandos watched as Aule's elven helpers moved quietly about, as they assisted their teacher and friend. Mahtan, Feanor's father-in- law was apparently the chief smith under Aule, and Mandos was glad to see him present, for Mahtan he wished to have speech with, as well as Aule.
The work was speedily completed, and samples shown to Mandos of a beautiful clear white stone which flashed green or blue or red in the sun, and sometimes yellow or pink. Lovely indeed, a work fitting for one of the Valar.
'Now, what event causes you to visit me at my forge, Namo?' asked Aule
'One that has worried me for some time now,' said Mandos
'And what would that be? I know little of doom, or dealing with the dead,' remarked Aule. 'I am a maker, not a healer of souls.'
'It concerns the one known as the Spirit of Fire.'
'How can I help,' remarked Aule, as he noticed Mahtan quietly move to where he could hear the Valar speak.
'I would know of him, as he was before the Oath, and the Kinslaying.'
Aule looked surprised, and beckoned to Mahtan lurking in the shadows. 'Here is one who knew Feanor better than I.'
Mahtan stepped forward and bowed, 'How can I help you, my Lord,' he said.
'We speak of your daughter's husband,' said Aule.
'The Spirit of Fire was named truly, his passions burned too brightly for him to control at times, but I don't believe he was evil, just misguided,' said Mahtan. Then he spoke again, thoughtfully, 'Lord, perhaps I should fetch my daughter.'
'Yes, perhaps you should,' said Mandos. Aule nodded agreement as Mahtan swiftly left to bring his daughter Nerdanel to see the Valar.
'Now, while we wait, Aule, would you support Feanor's release from my Halls?' asked Mandos.
Aule looked startled, and then thoughtful. 'Has he learned why he has been confined there so long?'
'Not yet, but he is beginning to. He still has much to learn, and he would need watching and close supervision to be assured he does not repeat his previous folly.'
'Surely you would not release him if you believed there was any chance of Feanor's causing unrest or rebellion again?'
'Of course not, but a watch on him would be wise, we know of the difficulties between he and his brothers in the past, and we would not want such to occur again. I don't seriously believe there is any chance of another rebellion.'
'I take it you wish me to be that watch? I don't deny that having Feanor work here would be a great help at times,' Aule mused. 'Very well, I agree, but only if everyone else agrees that it is best to release Feanor, and for me to watch him.' The Maker suddenly laughed, 'I do believe I can keep Feanor busy enough to be unable to make trouble even if he wished to.'
By now Mahtan had arrived with his daughter. 'Greetings, Lords,' Nerdanel bowed as she greeted the Valar. 'What do you want of me?'
'We have been speaking of your husband,' said Aule. 'Apparently, there is a belief he should be released from the Halls of Mandos.'
'How do you feel about this, Nerdanel? Once you put forward a plea to be released from your marriage bond,' said Mandos.
'Lord, I did, and I now think that was a mistake. I was angry with Feanor for rebelling, and swearing that Oath, but most of all because he took my children from me. When first I understood he was dead, I was glad, but later was pleased you didn't grant my plea, although I am still unclear why'
'The Valar see most things Nerdanel, and we knew you were angry with your husband, not truly seeking release. If Feanor is released, it will be partly conditional that you and he resume your marriage,' said Mandos.
A troubled look fleeted across Nerdanel's face, and then all expression left her features. 'I don't know I could agree to that, my Lord,' she said quietly.
'Why ever not?' asked Mandos, surprised. It was something he was still not used to, that an elf could surprise him at times.
'Something happened between Feanor and I many years ago,' Nerdanel answered looking almost scared. Was she by chance afraid of Feanor, wondered Mandos.
The Vala didn't get a chance to speak, Mahtan, his face black with rage spoke first. 'What happened, daughter?' he demanded.
'Nothing you need to know about, Father,' Nerdanel replied. 'Mother knows, and it's why she supported me leaving Feanor.' She was silent a moment, clearly turning something over in her mind.'
'My Lord,' Nerdanel turned to Mandos as she spoke, 'Before I could possibly consent to accept living with my husband as part of the conditions of his release, I should have to speak to Feanor,' she stated firmly.
'The living and the dead may not communicate,' said Mandos equally firmly.
'You make your conditions, My Lord, and I make mine. You know where to find me if you want me.' And she turned to leave, only to be confronted by her father.
'You will not so rude daughter, as to leave without being dismissed,' Mahtan had trouble speaking, he was so angry, and started to apologise to the Valar for his daughter's behaviour.
'Peace, my friend,' said Aule. He looked to Mandos for agreement; 'Nerdanel fears her husband, or rather a situation that arose between them.' He now addressed Nerdanel directly, 'You wish to assure yourself this situation would not arise again, that Feanor has learned why he was wrong, and that you could trust him again?'
'Yes, Lord,' she replied.
'A not unreasonable thing,' said Aule, to Mandos.
Reluctantly, Mandos had to agree. 'I shall send word, Nerdanel, when it is time for you to speak to Feanor,' he said.
The elves left then, but Mandos sat still, staring at the dying light of Aule's forge.
'Perhaps you'd best go,' said Aule at last. 'There is much to do, and unless I am mistaken many to speak to before making your decision. If I were you, I'd talk to Feanor's father and brothers before you proceed much further.'
Mandos nodded silent agreement, and bade Aule farewell. As he travelled back to his Halls, he again wondered how it was he thought he'd made a huge mistake.
Author's Note: If you want to know what happened between Feanor and Nerdanel as later mentioned in this chapter, please read Ithilwen's story 'Hide and Seek'. Like all her work, it is excellent!
Mandos knows all things that shall be, save only those that lie still in the freedom of Illuvatar. This was one of the times when all was shadows, even to Mandos. He had thought that Feanor was doomed to dwell forever in his Halls; now he both doubted that this fate was what Illuvatar intended for Feanor, or that such was in the best interests of Feanor.
So, he sought Aule, the Smith, one who knew Feanor well in the days before the Rebellion of the Noldor. Aule received his fellow Vala while at his forge, making the excuse he couldn't leave his current work at that time or it would spoil. Mandos watched as Aule's elven helpers moved quietly about, as they assisted their teacher and friend. Mahtan, Feanor's father-in- law was apparently the chief smith under Aule, and Mandos was glad to see him present, for Mahtan he wished to have speech with, as well as Aule.
The work was speedily completed, and samples shown to Mandos of a beautiful clear white stone which flashed green or blue or red in the sun, and sometimes yellow or pink. Lovely indeed, a work fitting for one of the Valar.
'Now, what event causes you to visit me at my forge, Namo?' asked Aule
'One that has worried me for some time now,' said Mandos
'And what would that be? I know little of doom, or dealing with the dead,' remarked Aule. 'I am a maker, not a healer of souls.'
'It concerns the one known as the Spirit of Fire.'
'How can I help,' remarked Aule, as he noticed Mahtan quietly move to where he could hear the Valar speak.
'I would know of him, as he was before the Oath, and the Kinslaying.'
Aule looked surprised, and beckoned to Mahtan lurking in the shadows. 'Here is one who knew Feanor better than I.'
Mahtan stepped forward and bowed, 'How can I help you, my Lord,' he said.
'We speak of your daughter's husband,' said Aule.
'The Spirit of Fire was named truly, his passions burned too brightly for him to control at times, but I don't believe he was evil, just misguided,' said Mahtan. Then he spoke again, thoughtfully, 'Lord, perhaps I should fetch my daughter.'
'Yes, perhaps you should,' said Mandos. Aule nodded agreement as Mahtan swiftly left to bring his daughter Nerdanel to see the Valar.
'Now, while we wait, Aule, would you support Feanor's release from my Halls?' asked Mandos.
Aule looked startled, and then thoughtful. 'Has he learned why he has been confined there so long?'
'Not yet, but he is beginning to. He still has much to learn, and he would need watching and close supervision to be assured he does not repeat his previous folly.'
'Surely you would not release him if you believed there was any chance of Feanor's causing unrest or rebellion again?'
'Of course not, but a watch on him would be wise, we know of the difficulties between he and his brothers in the past, and we would not want such to occur again. I don't seriously believe there is any chance of another rebellion.'
'I take it you wish me to be that watch? I don't deny that having Feanor work here would be a great help at times,' Aule mused. 'Very well, I agree, but only if everyone else agrees that it is best to release Feanor, and for me to watch him.' The Maker suddenly laughed, 'I do believe I can keep Feanor busy enough to be unable to make trouble even if he wished to.'
By now Mahtan had arrived with his daughter. 'Greetings, Lords,' Nerdanel bowed as she greeted the Valar. 'What do you want of me?'
'We have been speaking of your husband,' said Aule. 'Apparently, there is a belief he should be released from the Halls of Mandos.'
'How do you feel about this, Nerdanel? Once you put forward a plea to be released from your marriage bond,' said Mandos.
'Lord, I did, and I now think that was a mistake. I was angry with Feanor for rebelling, and swearing that Oath, but most of all because he took my children from me. When first I understood he was dead, I was glad, but later was pleased you didn't grant my plea, although I am still unclear why'
'The Valar see most things Nerdanel, and we knew you were angry with your husband, not truly seeking release. If Feanor is released, it will be partly conditional that you and he resume your marriage,' said Mandos.
A troubled look fleeted across Nerdanel's face, and then all expression left her features. 'I don't know I could agree to that, my Lord,' she said quietly.
'Why ever not?' asked Mandos, surprised. It was something he was still not used to, that an elf could surprise him at times.
'Something happened between Feanor and I many years ago,' Nerdanel answered looking almost scared. Was she by chance afraid of Feanor, wondered Mandos.
The Vala didn't get a chance to speak, Mahtan, his face black with rage spoke first. 'What happened, daughter?' he demanded.
'Nothing you need to know about, Father,' Nerdanel replied. 'Mother knows, and it's why she supported me leaving Feanor.' She was silent a moment, clearly turning something over in her mind.'
'My Lord,' Nerdanel turned to Mandos as she spoke, 'Before I could possibly consent to accept living with my husband as part of the conditions of his release, I should have to speak to Feanor,' she stated firmly.
'The living and the dead may not communicate,' said Mandos equally firmly.
'You make your conditions, My Lord, and I make mine. You know where to find me if you want me.' And she turned to leave, only to be confronted by her father.
'You will not so rude daughter, as to leave without being dismissed,' Mahtan had trouble speaking, he was so angry, and started to apologise to the Valar for his daughter's behaviour.
'Peace, my friend,' said Aule. He looked to Mandos for agreement; 'Nerdanel fears her husband, or rather a situation that arose between them.' He now addressed Nerdanel directly, 'You wish to assure yourself this situation would not arise again, that Feanor has learned why he was wrong, and that you could trust him again?'
'Yes, Lord,' she replied.
'A not unreasonable thing,' said Aule, to Mandos.
Reluctantly, Mandos had to agree. 'I shall send word, Nerdanel, when it is time for you to speak to Feanor,' he said.
The elves left then, but Mandos sat still, staring at the dying light of Aule's forge.
'Perhaps you'd best go,' said Aule at last. 'There is much to do, and unless I am mistaken many to speak to before making your decision. If I were you, I'd talk to Feanor's father and brothers before you proceed much further.'
Mandos nodded silent agreement, and bade Aule farewell. As he travelled back to his Halls, he again wondered how it was he thought he'd made a huge mistake.