The Sun Reaches for the Dawn

By Feanin

Chapter 1: Nessima (Youthful)

It was springtime in Aman. Small golden leaves graced the branches of her strong trees. Velvety green grass spread from dwelling to dwelling like a herald of warmer days. Flowers rose anew to clutter the gardens behind homes and in city centers. Birds sang a dulcet ballad to the elves that dwelt on her shores. Gulls soared to meet the sails of the Telerin swanboats and the waves caressed their sides in welcome. Tirion stood high and proud, shimmering like a jewel over the land. Alqualonde followed suit, glimmering white under the light of Laurelin, whose golden radiance shrouded the land with warmth.

No one who viewed this picture of paradise would know of the unrest that troubled her inhabitants. A few years before that time, Feanor, son of Finwe, had begun to speak out against the Valar. He roused the interest of the Noldor by speaking of Middle Earth and his desire to travel there.

Feanor was also the brother of Fingolfin and Finarfin. Fingolfin and Finarfin disagreed with Feanor and spoke against him. Melkor, also named Morgoth, the Vala, saw this as a chance to acquire what he desired, the Silmarils, jewels made by Feanor that held the light of Telperion and Laurelin inside them. Melkor spread lies between the brothers and tore them asunder. Rumor came to Feanor that his brothers were plotting to take the thrown from him, while his brothers thought Feanor would exile them. These rumors lead to a confrontation between Feanor and Fingolfin that ended in Feanor being exiled from Tirion for 12 years. During his exile, Feanor brought the Silmarils to Formenos, where he, his sons and Finwe dwelt for those 12 years.

Now the 12 year exile was over and Feanor had come to have audience with Manwe.

Laurelin lighted the golden fields of Yavanna as Tacalimmena and her company rode towards the Halls of Manwe. Her friend, Arnono, rode beside her and they joked and conversed gaily. For the moment, Calime sat in silence, content with her world. She glanced towards her friend who gazed in wonder at the fields around them and smiled. She had had a growing liking for him for months. Although she had no knowledge of it, the rest of their friends could clearly see that he was fond of her as well.

Arnono turned to her and grabbed her hand, "Look, Calime."

She obliged him and turned her gaze to the world surrounding them. Her mouth fell open in delighted awe. Before them stood the Two Trees of Valinor over a field of gold. Golden butterflies and dragonflies swarmed over golden wheat and blossoms. Her gaze glided up over Laurelin's trunk to her head of golden light. Beside her Telperion still glowed faintly silver.

Arnono laughed deeply at Calime's expression, "Beautiful, are they not?"

"Beyond words," she replied breathily.

"Indeed," came Calime's mother's voice.

Tacalimenna smiled at her mother, who smiled in turn. Her mother was beautiful elleth of half-noldor, half-telerin blood. She had eyes as dark as the sea and hair fair as the starlight upon its waves. Her name was Quelinde. Calime loved her mother dearly.

"Behind the Trees lies the lake we will cross to reach Lord Manwe's halls," Quelinde told her daughter.

The group swiftly reached the other side of the Tree's. As her mother had said, Manwe's halls stood white as snow upon the peeks of Taniquetil. They left their horses in Manwe's stables and climbed aboard the ferry.

The Halls of Manwe were unlike any thing Calime had seen before. Giant large white trees grew out of white rocks. Their pearly leaves sprawled out across a roof that mirrored the now fading light of Laurelin. Tacalimenna stood in Manwe's main hall beside her parents and friend. The entire hall was silent as Feanor was reconciled with Fingolfin.

Calime's eyes wandered over Feanor. She took in his dark hair and steel grey eyes. How she admired the elf. Her stomach was in flutters just being that close to him. He was fair as well as a great craftsman, one of the greatest among the Noldor. Calime's cheeks grew warm at the thought of him.

Arnono gently shook her hand to bring her back to the present. She turned her head towards him and he smiled. All thoughts of Feanor fled her mind for how could they stay when one so gentle cared for her, at least as a friend but it did not matter for she was very fond of him. He was as fair as any elf she had seen, She felt her heart warm, looking at him. His dark hair was framed by a golden halo of Laurelin's light and his grey eyes shone with amusement. There was a softness in him that could never be found in Feanor.

Everyone began leaving the hall and Arnono looked briefly at Calime's parents He took her hand and lead a confused Calime out on to one of Manwe's balconies. He faced her and laughed seeing her fair brow furrowed in her confusion. He brought a hand up to caress her cheek and looked deeply into her eyes. Her eyes widened and her breath caught at the emotion in his.

"Calime, I can no longer hide," he told her softly. "I…I have feelings for you. I cannot bear only being friends any longer. I…" he turned away towards Laurelin, "I think I love you."

Calime stood frozen for a moment not knowing how to reply. Hearing nothing from her, Arnono bowed his head and said nothing more. Calime felt a pain inside of her, seeing his sadness. She closed her eyes and searched deep inside herself for an answer. She smiled wistfully as she found images of him. Then she knew, her eyes flying wide open. She walked to him and put her hand on his shoulder, turning him around.

"I love you as well," she said with a smile.

Arnono's sadness fled and he swiftly swept her up into his arms. They laughed together joyously. Arnono set Calime down and kissed her. Calime felt her soul fly and she laughed again. For a moment they were caught in a world all their own. Then the ground began to shake.

Laurelin's light flickered on Calime's face and she looked past Arnono's shoulder. Her went wide and she screamed. Moving towards the two trees was a giant spider, air as black as night surrounding her and evil pervaded from her. Melkor followed beside her carrying a great spear. Calime back in fright and pointed. Arnono turned around and saw. Swiftly he turned back and drew Calime towards him as the Noldor swept onto the balcony in tides. Calime pressed to him and shook violently in fright. Tears fell from her eyes as she watched the great spider sucked the light from the wounds on the trees that Morgoth had inflicted. The Valar quickly gathered as force but they were too late. Ungoliant had fled with Melkor and the trees' light was gone. Weeping could be heard all around the Halls of Manwe.

The days that followed the death of the Trees were days of darkness and fright. Calime and her family dared not leave the safety of Manwe's Halls. Quelinde wept and her father silently mourned. All Calime could do was stare in utter sorrow at the silvery and golden sap that covered the green hill of Ezellohar, the hill that bore the dead trees. Arnono stood silently beside her and what went on in his mind, she could only guess. He gazed off into the distance, brow furrowed as if contemplation.

The Valar gave chase to Morgoth but were deterred by a gigantic cloud of darkness, darker than the deepest depths of the sea. The blackness came upon Valinor like a mourning veil, shrouding it so that no light penetrated and all hearts were lost in sorrow and fear. The Valar themselves wept for the loss of their mighty creations.

After a great time, the blackness was driven back by the Manwe's winds and Varda's stars let their light upon Valinor once again. One day a crowd of elves followed Yavanna out to Ezellohar. Calime looked upon the trees as Yavanna touched them and she knew they could not be saved. Tacalimenna hung her head and wept as Yavanna turned and told the Valar what she already knew. Hope then turned to Feanor, for he had created the Silmarils, but Feanor's love for the jewels was great and he was reluctant to part with them. Calime felt anger well inside of her. She could not understand why Feanor would not relinquish the jewels when all of Valinor was in need of light.

Nienna fell down upon Ezellohar and wept away the remnants of Ungoliant's evil. As she sang her song, Calime turned and wept upon Arnono's shoulder. He drew her in tightly to his embrace and rested his chin on her head. Even as they stood there riders came from Formenos bearing tidings that would be the downfall of the Noldor.

"Lord Feanor!" one of them cried as he dismounted from his horse.

Feanor went before him and the man knelt. Feanor's face went white for he knew there could be no good tidings.

The messenger did not look up, "A great darkness came to Formenos, my lord. Many of us fled in blind terror but King Finwe did not. Melkor came also with the darkness and slew Lord Finwe and took the Silmarils."

Feanor's head fell a moment and swiftly raised again, his eyes ablaze with fury. He turned towards Manwe, "Morgoth I name Melkor, Black foe of the world. Manwe if not for your summons I would have been in Formenos at that hour. Curse you!"

That was all he said and he turned and ran from Taniquetil.

A great lamentation was taken up among the Noldor. Calime sank into Arnono and wept a river. They lamented for both Finwe and the Trees. All knew a time of great sorrow lay before them. Yavanna feared the Silmarils would fall into darkness and fear spread through Valinor like wild fire. The Silmarils did not fall into darkness, but the Noldor would.