Finwe.

Nerdanel and Maedhros rode slowly though the streets on the way to collect Fingon. As they rode, many people greeted the two, as they were of the Noldorin ruling house they were well known and popular. This slowed their progress, but neither minded for this came with their position. What did surprise them was that so many appeared to know of their destination.

Fingon was waiting, and as Nerdanel and Maedhros approached, he mounted his distinctive blaze faced red roan stallion. 'I was starting to wonder if you two were ever going to arrive,' Fingon said.

'Everyone seems to know what we are doing, and where we are going,' said Maedhros, 'and the streets were full of people who wished to hear the truth from us, or to wish us well on our journey.'

Fingon nodded, and three turned their horse's heads westward, towards the Halls of Mandos, the Vala whose name was actually Namo.

As they rode on roads heavily used, the trio kept a slow pace for now, Nerdanel silent as her thoughts occupied her, and Maedhros and Fingon chatting, both between themselves and to whom ever they met on the road. It was a little while before Nerdanel's silence began to bother her son, 'Why so quiet, Mother?' Maedhros asked. 'Are you alright?'

'Oh yes, fine, I'm just thinking.'

Maedhros had slowed his horse, and now the grey stallion swung in to walk beside Nerdanel's bright chestnut mare. 'Of anything I could help you with?'

Nerdanel shook her head, 'No, my dear son. There are some things a woman cannot speak of with her son. Not many, but some.'

'But may not that woman speak of such things with her father- in-law?' came a familiar voice from just behind them.

'Finwe!' exclaimed Nerdanel. 'Grandfather' said Maedhros and Fingon, equally as startled.

'Yes, I am following you, before you ask,' said Finwe, as he asked his horse, a stallion whose coat was as black as the Noldor king's hair, to come forward and stop near the travellers. Finwe greeted his grandsons and daughter-in-law affectionately, before asking that he be left alone with Nerdanel.

'Go on ahead, and find a campsite for tonight, please?' Nerdanel's voice pleaded with her son and nephew. 'I'm quite sure I'll be fine with the King of the Noldor as my guard,' she laughed.

Fingon shrugged and looked at his cousin, who simply smiled. The cousins left their elders behind then, picking up the pace they rode off leaving Finwe and Nerdanel alone to talk.

'It is obvious you are not riding this way by random,' said Nerdanel.

'Indeed, I am not. I ride this way for several reasons,' answered Finwe.

Nerdanel's expression was one of polite inquiry, but she knew that one trait Feanor had inherited from his father was that he would speak when ready. So, Nerdanel remained quiet, knowing when Finwe had collected his thoughts, and was ready, he would speak.

'I have to see Finarfin tonight, so I ride the same way as you for a little while, that is one reason. Another is the wish to see you, my dear, and to ask why you have been avoiding me,' said Finwe after quite a pause.

'I have not been avoiding you, I just, well, I didn't think you would want to see me,' Nerdanel stammered, confused, and a little embarrassed.

'Why ever would I not want to see you, Nerdanel? You may not be my daughter by birth, but by marriage, and I do love you as if you were my daughter.' Finwe wore a worried expression on his handsome face.

'You know Feanor and I parted with great bitterness. I thought you blamed me for later actions as many did, believing that if I had been there, with Feanor that I might have restrained him from many things, the Oath included.'

Finwe looked genuinely surprised at that. 'Feanor's actions are his own, and no-one else is responsible for them, although he should not have allowed his sons to swear the Oath too.'

Now it was Nerdanel's turn to look surprised, and Finwe spoke again, 'Yes, that is surprising, that I admit a fault in my son. In my time in Mandos, I came to understand that my blind spot was my eldest son. There is a saying, not wisely, but too well, and that is how I loved my son.'

'I think that saying must be true for me too,' Nerdanel whispered.

'Is whatever that happened between you and Feanor so impossible to forgive?' asked Finwe. 'I know of the condition the Valar put on Feanor's return to life, and I ask you: it is impossible?'

'That, my lord,' said Nerdanel suddenly speaking formally, 'I do not know as yet.' She stared ahead, uncomfortable with the turn the conversation had taken, and started violently when Finwe reached over and took her hand in his.

'Do you wish to speak of this, dear child?'

'No, for it is not something a father needs to hear of his son.'

Finwe's expression was of extreme surprise, and concern. 'Have you spoken to anyone?' he asked at last.

'Yes, my mother. She agreed with my decision to leave Feanor.'

'I see. Would I be right in saying that my son's temper was the cause of what happened?'

'To an extent, I may have provoked him too, but it doesn't excuse what he did, and yes, before I left he did apologise, but I was far too hurt to listen.'

'Are you doubting the wisdom of your decision?'

'Not exactly, I just don't trust Feanor anymore. I would have to make him understand that, and see if he could win my trust again before I could agree to be his wife again.' Nerdanel gave Finwe a comforting look, and squeezed his hand, 'My decision will not be quickly or lightly reached or without considering everyone involved.'

'Thank you, my dear. That is what I hoped to hear, I should have remembered you are noted for your wisdom.'

Nerdanel laughed at that. 'Wisdom! I doubt that I am wise, Finwe. Or at least in this matter.'

He gave her a long, measuring look, 'you are wiser than you know, Nerdanel.'

She shook her head, and changed the subject, 'I am glad to see you, Finwe, even though I have been wary of seeing you. For the Noldor, it is good you are back, it was confusing having two Kings, and now everyone is happy to have King Finwe back, although I had thought that you had agreed to stay in Mandos because you couldn't have two living wives.'

'True, but when the situation between Fingolfin and Finarfin's faction threatened violence, the Valar decided the only solution was to have me agree to leave Mandos, and take up the Kingship again.'

'It was fortunate that you did, but even so you may not have arrived in time if it hadn't been for Maedhros, Fingon, Turgon and Finrod.'

'Indeed, I have quick thinking and brave grandsons. They also have better sense than their elders, that they can put aside their differences in a crises.'

Nerdanel nodded, her mind thinking back to the day a little more than a year ago when open war threatened between various factions of the Noldor and the four cousins held back the warriors by nothing more than sheer willpower. But now something else intruded on her thoughts, 'Finwe, there is something I would ask you.'

Finwe's smile encouraged her, as did the thought he knew exactly what she wanted to know.

'How was the situation with Miriel and Indis resolved?'

'Ah, I was right!' The Noldor King looked pleased with himself, 'I guessed you ask that would ask that. Everyone has been wondering, but no-one has asked.'

Nerdanel was staring at her father-in-law with an eyebrow raised inquiringly.

'It's quite simple. As you know when Miriel refused to come back from Mandos, and I wished to marry Indis, Miriel released me from our marriage vows. When the Valar wished me to return for the good of the Noldor, Indis too released me from my marriage vows to her.'

'Simple!' Nerdanel gave a small smile. 'I hear you visited Indis some weeks ago, and before Miriel resumes her duties as handmaid and seamstress to Vaire she is planning to visit you.'

'Why yes, what is wrong with that? It is many years since Miriel last rested from her duties, and she has been in Lorien's gardens refreshing herself. If she wishes to see me, how is that wrong? I have maintained friendships with both my former wives, and enjoy their company on the rare occasions I see them.' The Noldorin King seemed genuinely puzzled to why anyone would think badly of him seeing the ladies, and Nerdanel didn't feel up to explaining the gossip concerning Finwe. So she asked him something else that was on her mind.

'I believe you are hoping to tell Miriel that her son will be back from Mandos soon, and that possibly Feanor might be home soon enough to greet his mother.'

Finwe looked uncomfortable, and Nerdanel noticed his ear tips turning red, a sure sign that she'd been right.

'I cannot promise you anything, Finwe except this: I will not make a hasty decision, and it will be made with the best interests of everyone in mind.'

Finwe had recovered himself, and smiled at Nerdanel, 'then that, my dear, will have to be good enough!'

The two rode on in silence, and soon came to where Maedhros and Fingon had set up camp. With little persuading, Finwe was convinced to stay and have a meal before riding back to see Finarfin.