Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings Argh… God in Heaven! Why so? Why so? Galadriel's not mine sob, Celeborn's not mine double sob… Ah crap… But they are the marvellous creation of GREAT TOLKIEN! )
Author's notes: Thanks so much for reviewing, I really appreciate it!
Regarding Angrod: As written in The Silmarillion (Of the Return of the Noldor) that he was sent as a messenger by the Noldor exiles to King Thingol, and he spoke to the king of the deeds of the Noldor at the north and their numbers but spoke naught of the rape of the jewels nor the Kinslaying. King Thingol was not glad to have so many princes and princess on his lands, all eager for new realms. He was reluctant to give them lands or lift the Girdle of Melian that protected Doriath. So he turned Angrod away, saying that he would not give them lands, but would give them help (perhaps shelter, protection) and only those he called his guests could step into his halls. Fëanor's sons were offended and they left the lands of Doriath in search of unmarked lands to establish their own kingdoms. Actually 50 years had passed before Finrod and Artanis stepped into Menegroth as guests, but I decided to skip that for Tolkien himself was ambiguous with the tidings of Finrod and his siblings in that period. So I decided to let Finrod and Artanis themselves seek King Thingol for aid for they had no place to settle down. And also, they perceived that they could take advantage of the close kinship they had with King Thingol. Tolkien himself said that it was because of the kinship that King Thingol allowed their entrance into his halls.
Chapter 2: Artanis, Fairest of the Noldor
The harpers filled the golden dining hall of Menegroth with soft soothing music, its liquid like running notes floating in the air, while the singers sang of Varda, Lady of the Stars, the Valar most beloved by the elves. While they played, the hall was slowly filled with elves, who greeted each other merrily and scattered into groups, conversing.
Many speculations had been going around Menegroth regarding the two Noldor elves from Eldamar, all questioning the intentions of their arrival as well as the other Noldor elves upon Middle Earth. Some said they came as heralds of the Valar, carrying important news while others said they had come to give aid to Menegroth with their famed wisdom and craftsmanship. Many other theories followed, but none knows for sure except the royal couple and their royal kinsman.
The elves were delighted and excited to meet their brethren from the West, those who had been blessed by the wisdom and teachings of the Valar and touched by the gentle lights of Laurelin and Telperion, the Golden and Silver Trees of Valinor. They were eager to see the fair faces of Finrod and Artanis, for they had heard rumours of their grace and beauty, especially of Artanis and her legendary golden tresses.
A silhouette that gleamed silver glided into the hall, silently and unnoticed. It stopped at a secluded corner and stood by the window. Moonlight shone full on him, its silver fluid blending into his long silvery hair. Celeborn drew a deep breath, relieved that he had managed to sneak in unhindered and unharmed. He grimaced at the memory of what happened earlier in the day.
Word had gotten around of the arrival of the Noldor prince and princess and many were eager to meet them. Celeborn was the only elf other than King Thingol and Queen Melian who had conversed with them. The elves were keen to know the likeness of the Deep Elves for they had long heard of their wisdom and skilled hands. Though the elder elves were too dignified to pounce on Celeborn and implore him to tell them of the Noldor siblings, the younger elves had no qualms about it. Celeborn was horrified to find him being cornered by them and flooded with their questions.
"Ah, so there you are, dear cousin." A voice said.
Celeborn turned and his face broke into a smile at the sight of the raven-haired princess.
"Lúthien! Cormamin lindua ele lle! (My heart sings to see thee!)"
The young Elven princess chuckled, "Vendui. Mankoi naa lle sinome? (Greetings. Why are you here?)"
Celeborn sighed, "I will rather face an army of orcs then face a army of inquisitive elves, Lúthien."
Her great grey eyes sparkled as she laughed, "Indeed! Well Celeborn, I too, have many questions for you!"
"No no, little one! Not my little princess too!" He grimaced.
"Quick, tell me!" She cried, her eyes still gleaming with mischief of a young elfling. "Are the rumours about Lady Artanis true?" She looked at him with pleading eyes, begging him to speak, for her heart was filled with wonder with the Noldor princess and her tales.
"Lady Artanis?" Celeborn laughed softly and gazed at his young cousin. "Of what have you heard of her?"
"I have heard of her beautiful golden tresses, so brilliant they are, that the brightest of gold will be dimmed in comparison to hers!" She answered, with a tone of utter adoration. "She is the fairest among her people, is she not?"
Fairest among her people? Celeborn had not seen any of the Noldor women other than her, but he would not be surprised if she truly was. In her, he saw a beauty beyond measure. Her fair features, her golden tresses and her graceful stature were indeed stunning, but he perceived more than these. She had pride as fierce as any man. She was proud and self-willed, strong and resolute. These were also the beauty in her, the glowing aura around her that enchants and attracts. But he remembered her cold and haughty manner and he thought with a little contempt, too arrogant, too condescending. The lady was too strong and proud to be wielded by any man, and if any attempts, he would sing a lament for the pitiful one.
"Well?"
"Lúthien, I'll speak of nothing. You'll see it for yourself soon." He smiled.
"Celeborn-"
The blow of trumpet, announcing the arrival of the King and Queen, interrupted the princess's pleading. Celeborn offered his hand to the princess and together; they walked to the long table in the middle of the hall and sat by the royal couple.
"Ada, Nana." Greeted Luthien with a slight curtsy.
"Child, where have you been?" Queen Melian spoke and gently drew Lúthien to her side. Her gaze landed on Celeborn and he gave her weak smile of exasperation. "Will you not give Celeborn some peace!"
"Indeed, My Lady." Celeborn said in a mocking grievous tone, shaking his head, expressing dramatic vexation that triggered the King into a burst of hearty laughter.
Luthien frowned and stuck out a tongue at him before turning to her mother, pouting slightly, "But Nana… I just wished to know more about the Noldorin Princess! You and Dada had been away the entire day and Celeborn-"
Another burst of the trumpet drowned the young princess' protest. Queen Melian smiled fondly upon her daughter and drew Luthien's gaze towards the door leading to the hall, whispering, "Hush now, my child… if you wish to see Princess Artanis."
Princess Lúthien broke into a smile as she leaned forward in anticipation when the great door of the dining hall was opened. The hall seemed to light up upon the entrance of the two Noldor elves. Indeed, the elves radiated a pearly light, a soft warm glow that marvelled the elves in the hall. Now that Finrod and Artanis had shed their hood and travelling clothes, they were full-fledged in their might and glory. Finrod's soft golden hair fell neatly upon his shoulders, a stark contrast to his black mantle that flapped proudly behind him as he strode into the hall. The aqua-blue clothing on him brought out his dark sapphire eyes, and the golden band that was bound around his waist were adorned by distinct and flowery light blue embroidery.
But Celeborn's and Lúthien's gazes were on Artanis. Without the hood over her head, Artanis's golden tresses flowed freely like a river down to her knees, unbound by any hair ornaments nor plaited, and were more brilliant than last Celeborn had seen her. As though granted with a life of its own, it gleamed and shone, a river of liquid gold hinted with a subtle tinge of silvery shimmer. Her eyes though a colour of gentle sky-blue were sharp and piercing, veiled by long lashes and set beneath level golden brows. Her nose, like her temperament, was proudly arched. Her cheeks glowed a faint cerise against her ivory skin and her lips laid full and soft. In a simple white long dress that shows her tall and slender frame, unadorned in any rouge or jewels, she, Artanis of the Noldor elves, shone like a piece of rare gem.
"Celeborn! She's like a Vanyar!" Lúthien whispered in awe.
He swallowed; he would rather not speak, for fear of spilling strings of uncontrolled praises for the Noldor princess that he loathed.
"The beauty of the Vanyar and the wisdom of a Noldor, Lúthien." Queen Melian corrected. "She's blessed with both."
King Thingol and Queen Melian welcomed the guests and the feast soon began. Many of the elves were unable to stop their eyes from wondering to the lovely Noldor maiden who sat by the Queen, and Artanis herself were unperturbed by the attention that she had drawn. She was used to attention when she was in Eldamar since she was only a young elfling, because of her fabled tresses. She was proud of them too, but she wished that she would not be just a shining jewel in the eyes of others; there was something else in her to be comprehended.Fëanor had failed to look beyond the beauty of her hair and thus she refused him a single strand despite his fervent pleadings. Maybe, she thought to herself, in times to come, will come one who will see beyond and be worthy of her golden hair…
While King Thingol and Finrod were engaged in deep conversation, Queen Melian were delighted to hear from Artanis the tidings of her beloved Valarian queens, Vána and Estë as well as of her brethren, the Maia. Lúthien kept sneaking shy glances at the Noldor princess who was sitting right across the table. Celeborn, however, would look anyway but the direction of Artanis, an act most bewildering to the mind of his cousin.
"And what of the elves?" Queen Melian asked, after hearing the news of her mistresses and brethren. "Of what wonders had your kin established upon Eldamar as prophesised?"
Artanis smiled, "The Vanyar bonded with my kin and together, we built the first and greatest city of the Eldar, Tirion. It is set on the hill of Tuna in Calacirya, the Pass of Light. You should see it, Queen Melian. It is beautiful, with its ivory white towers and crystal stairs!" Her eyes sparkled as she continued the tale of her homeland, "The city were ever in the light of the Trees. There, you could hear the music of the seas and gazed at the wonders of the stars. On our tallest tower, Mindon Eldalióva, was set a great silver lamp and in our courtyard, the sacred White Tree, Galathilion stood."
"The Vanyar are ever the most beloved and fairest elves of the Valar, and the Noldor, blessed with the wisdom and skilled hands. In the hands of these kindred, Tirion must be of great beauty, no doubt, but what of the Teleri?" Queen Melian was concerned with the kin of her husband, for she ever had the slight remorse for denying them of their king. "Of what great deed did they have in Eldamar?"
Artanis heart pounded upon hearing the word, Teleri. A flicker of shame and sorrow in her eyes was forcefully pushed aside by her sanity and pride. "The Teleri… well, they…" She reached for her glass and sipped the sweet nectar, her eyes cast down, refusing to meet the gaze of the queen. "A great city and port they built, on the coast of the Undying Lands. They named it the Swan Haven… Alqualondë." Her heart contorted in pain when the word came from her mouth, her face paled and her throat went dry.
Artanis, go! Don't linger!
No, I am staying with you!
Leave now!
Ancalima, behind you! No!
"Artanis?" Queen Melian placed a warm hand upon Artanis' and found it cold. "Artanis? Are you all right?"
Struggling out of her thoughts, Artanis forced herself to gaze into the puzzled eyes of the Queen. "Yes… yes… the Teleri are great people." She took an anxious sip of the nectar once more to sooth her nerves. "Alqualondë is a magnificent city of marble and pearls. They are most skilled in the art of shipbuilding, and the shores of Eldamar are lined with their white Swan-like ships."
The Queen smiled in relief to hear of the Teleri's grand accomplishments, "I am most glad to hear that. The Trees… are they yet blooming in their wondrous brilliance of silver and gold?"
Artanis drew a sharp breath, "They are still yet blooming, my lady, in my heart, now and forever." I do not wish to lie…though the Darkening of Valinor had come to pass, but Telperion and Laurelin bloom eternally in my heart…
A change in the tempo of the music, pacing itself into a slow, peaceful walk indicated the commencement of a dance upon the centre in the hall. King Thingol rose and stretched out a hand to his beloved queen, who nodded to Artanis and took it. Unknowingly, Celeborn sighed as Finrod took Artanis's hand and gracefully waltzed her into the dance floor. Lúthien grinned to herself and they too, join the ring of dancers on the dance floor.
"Why don't you ask the Lady for a dance?" She asked as Celeborn twirled her around.
He looked at her, aghast. "Why should I?"
Lúthien preferred not to answer the question. A couple dancing in the middle of the hall caught her attention. "Look, there is Lord Finrod, but there is no sign of Lady Artanis." Celeborn followed the gaze of his cousin and his eyes fell upon Finrod, dancing with an elven maiden, but she was not Artanis. His eyes searched the hall for a glimpse of golden tresses, yet there was none.
"Will you not look for her?" Lúthien asked when she saw his wandering eyes, putting on a straight face. "She is our guest after all. We cannot misplace her you know."
Celeborn frowned.
"Or should we inform Ada and Nana?" The princess asked innocently.
"No, there is no need to alarm the king and queen." Celeborn shook his head. "I will look for her."
Lúthien knew this would work. Silently, she chuckled. Her cousin had so much love and loyalty to her parents; she knew that he would do it for them. Celeborn twirled Lúthien to another elf at the change of the music, who blushed at the sight of the princess, unable to believe his luck.
The princess eyes sparkled as her gaze followed Celeborn out of the hall. Tonight will be a lovely one for you, cousin…And she smiled.