Nerdanel
It was several days before Mandos summoned Nerdanel. In those days, she had heard many rumours, rumours of Mandos seeing many of the Valar, including Manwe. She was also told by Maedhros that Fingon said Mandos had summoned Fingolfin and Finarfin and spoken with her brothers-in-law at great length. No one knew whether Finwe had been consulted yet or not.
The summons came at midday, delivered by an elf Nerdanel didn't know. She thanked the messenger, and offered refreshments, but the silver-haired Teleri simply shook his head, saying he was busy and had to go on, he had several more messages to deliver.
So, she had fifteen days to present herself to Mandos. Good, she thought, as she carefully packed away her paints so they wouldn't dry out and spoil. She left her canvas, bushes, pens and other tools much where they were, spending a moment looking at her most recent work. She didn't often paint these days, mostly she worked with stone and wood carving, but in light of the events several days ago she had felt compelled to paint Mandos and Aule as they had sat in Aule's halls discussing her husband. She was pleased with what she saw, but needed to change the colour used for the forge fire, it was too orange.
She went to her kitchen, and packed dried meat and fruit, a little cheese, and some bread baked only yesterday, and fresh enough to take on her journey. A water bottle, freshly filled, and after a moment's thought, a small wineskin, containing mead. Her sword, and a knife. Her sword, she looked at it again, it was one of the few things she still possessed that was of her husband's making. She'd learned to use it, her youngest sons had taught her, but she never liked using it. Still, she thought as she added a light bow to her arms, on a journey through the wilds of Valinor one didn't know what wild beasts one might encounter.
She collected a couple of blankets, and rolled a spare travelling gown into them. She then went upstairs to change, if she was to arrive at Mandos' Halls in time she needed to leave today.
Familiar voices greeted her as she walked back down the stairs, her eldest son Maedhros, and his best friend, cousin, and lover, Fingon.
'Mother,' Maedhros greeted Nerdanel, embracing her as he spoke.
'What brings you two here, at this time of day?' questioned Nerdanel.
'Aunt, we have seen Grandfather,' said Fingon, 'and he says you will be summoned to the Halls of Mandos to speak to Feanor. Is this true?' her handsome nephew asked.
'Why yes, as a matter of fact it is. I am preparing for the journey even now,' she indicated her things, ready to be picked up.
'Well, it seems we have arrived just in time.' Maedhros looked bewildered at his mother's blank look. 'Did you think to travel alone? Mother, that would folly indeed.'
'So here we are to prevent that folly,' said Fingon from Nerdanel pantry cupboard, as he removed several more food items, adding them to the pile on the table.
'You both intend to accompany me?' asked Nerdanel stunned. Yes, one of the men in her kitchen was her son, and the other become as dear to her as if he were her son, but she hadn't expected them to offer to go on a long, dull, journey in winter.
'Of course, we have horses ready, and it just remains to pack food, clothing and extra weapons,' said Maedhros. 'You forget, mother, that I've travelled that way before, many years ago with father and my brothers. I know the way, and hazards of that journey.'
'You will not be permitted inside, either of you,' said Nerdanel.
'We know, we shall make camp outside and wait,' answered Maedhros, who was watching Fingon with amusement, as he continued to pull foodstuffs from his aunt's cupboard.
'I know you greatly enjoy food, but do we really need to cart this edible mountain with us?' asked Nerdanel of Fingon.
'Oh, sorry,' said Fingon. 'I was looking for the mead, actually, and all these other things were in the way.'
'It is already on the table, ready to journey with us,' laughed Nerdanel.
'Indeed, so it is. Well, I shall go home, and collect my weapons, and some spare clothes, and come back here,' said Fingon.
'No, we shall come and collect you, we must ride past your home to go towards Mandos,' said Maedhros.
Fingon nodded agreement and left. Nerdanel and Maedhros packed gear and food on the waiting horses, and Nerdanel slipped into the forge and saw her father to say she was going away.
Mahtan swung the long spear point away from the forge's direct heat. 'I do hope you are not going alone,' he asked quietly as he examined the work, hammered it twice, and placed it back in the fire to re-heat.
'That looks to have the makings of good spear,' said Nerdanel
'Yes, it's one of set I'm making for Celegorm; daughter don't try to distract me with talk of my work,' replied Mahtan.
'Don't worry so Grandfather, Fingon and I are to be mother's escort,' said Maedhros from the doorway.
'That eases my mind,' smiled Mahtan at his grandson who was so like him in appearance.
'Is this a conspiracy?' questioned Nerdanel in a mock annoyed tone, her arms folded.
'No, just concern from those that you, my dearest, that you are not thinking rationally since you received word to travel to Mandos and might foolishly try to journey on your own,' said Mahtan, embracing Nerdanel affectionately, and covering her in dirt while doing so. Fortunately, Nerdanel was used to this, and was wearing an old gown.
'Fear, not, Fingon and I shall care for mother, and see she does get lost!' laughed Maedhros.
This earned him an affectionate punch on the arm from his mother, and crushing hug from his grandfather.
'We should be gone about a month, or a little more, father,' said Nerdanel to Mahtan, who was busy checking the spear point again.
Mahtan looked up from his work, 'Child of mine, take care. Do not rush your decision or let anyone push you into something you're not happy with, I don't know what happened between you and Feanor, but he does not deserve life again if that will bring you unhappiness'
Nerdanel nodded solemnly. 'I intend to think this through very carefully indeed, father, fear not.'
Mahtan kissed his daughter and grandson farewell and turned back to his forge.
It was several days before Mandos summoned Nerdanel. In those days, she had heard many rumours, rumours of Mandos seeing many of the Valar, including Manwe. She was also told by Maedhros that Fingon said Mandos had summoned Fingolfin and Finarfin and spoken with her brothers-in-law at great length. No one knew whether Finwe had been consulted yet or not.
The summons came at midday, delivered by an elf Nerdanel didn't know. She thanked the messenger, and offered refreshments, but the silver-haired Teleri simply shook his head, saying he was busy and had to go on, he had several more messages to deliver.
So, she had fifteen days to present herself to Mandos. Good, she thought, as she carefully packed away her paints so they wouldn't dry out and spoil. She left her canvas, bushes, pens and other tools much where they were, spending a moment looking at her most recent work. She didn't often paint these days, mostly she worked with stone and wood carving, but in light of the events several days ago she had felt compelled to paint Mandos and Aule as they had sat in Aule's halls discussing her husband. She was pleased with what she saw, but needed to change the colour used for the forge fire, it was too orange.
She went to her kitchen, and packed dried meat and fruit, a little cheese, and some bread baked only yesterday, and fresh enough to take on her journey. A water bottle, freshly filled, and after a moment's thought, a small wineskin, containing mead. Her sword, and a knife. Her sword, she looked at it again, it was one of the few things she still possessed that was of her husband's making. She'd learned to use it, her youngest sons had taught her, but she never liked using it. Still, she thought as she added a light bow to her arms, on a journey through the wilds of Valinor one didn't know what wild beasts one might encounter.
She collected a couple of blankets, and rolled a spare travelling gown into them. She then went upstairs to change, if she was to arrive at Mandos' Halls in time she needed to leave today.
Familiar voices greeted her as she walked back down the stairs, her eldest son Maedhros, and his best friend, cousin, and lover, Fingon.
'Mother,' Maedhros greeted Nerdanel, embracing her as he spoke.
'What brings you two here, at this time of day?' questioned Nerdanel.
'Aunt, we have seen Grandfather,' said Fingon, 'and he says you will be summoned to the Halls of Mandos to speak to Feanor. Is this true?' her handsome nephew asked.
'Why yes, as a matter of fact it is. I am preparing for the journey even now,' she indicated her things, ready to be picked up.
'Well, it seems we have arrived just in time.' Maedhros looked bewildered at his mother's blank look. 'Did you think to travel alone? Mother, that would folly indeed.'
'So here we are to prevent that folly,' said Fingon from Nerdanel pantry cupboard, as he removed several more food items, adding them to the pile on the table.
'You both intend to accompany me?' asked Nerdanel stunned. Yes, one of the men in her kitchen was her son, and the other become as dear to her as if he were her son, but she hadn't expected them to offer to go on a long, dull, journey in winter.
'Of course, we have horses ready, and it just remains to pack food, clothing and extra weapons,' said Maedhros. 'You forget, mother, that I've travelled that way before, many years ago with father and my brothers. I know the way, and hazards of that journey.'
'You will not be permitted inside, either of you,' said Nerdanel.
'We know, we shall make camp outside and wait,' answered Maedhros, who was watching Fingon with amusement, as he continued to pull foodstuffs from his aunt's cupboard.
'I know you greatly enjoy food, but do we really need to cart this edible mountain with us?' asked Nerdanel of Fingon.
'Oh, sorry,' said Fingon. 'I was looking for the mead, actually, and all these other things were in the way.'
'It is already on the table, ready to journey with us,' laughed Nerdanel.
'Indeed, so it is. Well, I shall go home, and collect my weapons, and some spare clothes, and come back here,' said Fingon.
'No, we shall come and collect you, we must ride past your home to go towards Mandos,' said Maedhros.
Fingon nodded agreement and left. Nerdanel and Maedhros packed gear and food on the waiting horses, and Nerdanel slipped into the forge and saw her father to say she was going away.
Mahtan swung the long spear point away from the forge's direct heat. 'I do hope you are not going alone,' he asked quietly as he examined the work, hammered it twice, and placed it back in the fire to re-heat.
'That looks to have the makings of good spear,' said Nerdanel
'Yes, it's one of set I'm making for Celegorm; daughter don't try to distract me with talk of my work,' replied Mahtan.
'Don't worry so Grandfather, Fingon and I are to be mother's escort,' said Maedhros from the doorway.
'That eases my mind,' smiled Mahtan at his grandson who was so like him in appearance.
'Is this a conspiracy?' questioned Nerdanel in a mock annoyed tone, her arms folded.
'No, just concern from those that you, my dearest, that you are not thinking rationally since you received word to travel to Mandos and might foolishly try to journey on your own,' said Mahtan, embracing Nerdanel affectionately, and covering her in dirt while doing so. Fortunately, Nerdanel was used to this, and was wearing an old gown.
'Fear, not, Fingon and I shall care for mother, and see she does get lost!' laughed Maedhros.
This earned him an affectionate punch on the arm from his mother, and crushing hug from his grandfather.
'We should be gone about a month, or a little more, father,' said Nerdanel to Mahtan, who was busy checking the spear point again.
Mahtan looked up from his work, 'Child of mine, take care. Do not rush your decision or let anyone push you into something you're not happy with, I don't know what happened between you and Feanor, but he does not deserve life again if that will bring you unhappiness'
Nerdanel nodded solemnly. 'I intend to think this through very carefully indeed, father, fear not.'
Mahtan kissed his daughter and grandson farewell and turned back to his forge.