Annamariah: It's so lovely to have you for a reviewer because your quick and faithful! I am so thrilled your enjoying Maedhros And yes I feel terrible for Fingolfin, he is one of my favorite characters.
Annie789: Oh my gosh! I am so flattered that you think my Maedhros and Fingon are like what Tolkien imagined! I really tried hard to make them friends and avoid slashyness. Which I agree with you wholeheartedly on. Blah!
Copper Arrow: Awesome name! And thank you so much for your reviews. I must tell you that they came at a time when I was felling really down about my story and thought no one liked it. Thank you also for reading Celegorm's Lament, that piece is very near to my heart and I was thrilled to hear how it moved you.
-
As Serena and Bill argued over what they should make for dinner; Ron watched as Maehsos unfolded the artist's stand and propped a piece of canvas on it.
" So when did you learn to paint?" he asked.
" I didn't, I just could from the beginning." answered Maehsos as he squeezed healthy amounts of pigment onto the palette he held.
" So are the Ainur born? Or do you just..er…begin existing?" Ron said.
" That's about right, you weren't and suddenly you are. It's that way I guess, now hold this up so I can see it better." And Maehsos handed Ron the picture of the children. Gripping the canvas Ron asked " So you married?"
Maehsos looked up and squinted at the portrait and then at Ron. " What about it?"
"Well. I mean..why if you're an angel type of guy…why bother?"
Maehsos snorted at the words and said " Ronald, didn't ever occur to you that even the Ainur get lonely? Over the years I got lonely, and so I married. Didn't you as well?"
Ron looked away saying " Yes, but she died three years ago of ovarian cancer."
"I'm sorry"
" Not as much as I am." said Ron. " but about marriage?"
"It was the best decision I ever made, because I also have my children."
" You mean you have more then Bill? I always thought he was an only lonely."
"No, he has two sisters and one brother, but they went to Valinor years ago with my wife." Maehsos said holding a brush between his teeth and covering the canvas in paint.
"I'm confused, wasn't she human?"
"Yes."
" Well how can she go to Valinor, the books said that the way was shut to men."
Maehsos looked from the canvas to Rona and back at the canvas. He was worked very fast and under his hands the children were paint new, but this time against a forest back ground.
" The way was shut for many thousands of years Ronald. But have you never read the Bible?"
" Yeah, but I fail to see what that has to do with it."
Maehsos removed the brush from between his teeth and said " For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever beliefth on him should have everlasting life. It's as simple as that Ronald."
Wait, wait, wait, you mean that Jesus was the son of Illuvatar?"
" Is that such an odd idea to you? That God would create a way for his children to reach him directly? Eru, God, Illuvatar whatever you want to call him, saw that is was wrong for the fates of the Elder and Men to be sundered and he found a way to join them."
Maehsos continued to paint and the life sprang into the children's faces and the trees seemed so real they might have swayed in the breeze. Bill and Serena entered with trays of food. Maehsos looked at the bowl Serena handed him and eyed the steaming liquid.
" What is it?"
" Just eat it, Michael." she said.
" But what is it?" he insisted.
" Food, now eat it!"
Maehsos took a sip, turned an odd shade of green, swallowed and rasped out " What is this?"
" Turtle soup!" she said happily. The Steward barely made it to the bathroom.
-
The day had ended with merrily with music and dancing and more music. Someone had challenged the two minstrels to a dual of lute playing. After the two consented the word spread through the camp like wildfire. All the people came elves, dwarves and men, everyone wished to see the two play.
Sitting around the edge of the dance floor where Maglor and Daeron were to play were Fingon, Aeroniel, Maehsos and Artanis. The Steward was engaged in trying to coax a smile from the introverted Princess and failing miserably.
Finrod was telling a wide eyed Aeroniel of some childish prank of his youth while Fingon sat back and watched her. He was enjoying her simple delight in the tale as each reaction and emotion played over her features. Her deep brown eyes were a study of open hearted listening as she drank in every word his cousin said.
" And that's when Fingon tried to take my bow and claim it as his own!" Finrod said.
"Indeed? I would have never thought it of you my Lord." She said and twinkled up at the Prince.
" I was just a child Finrod; there's no need to blow it out of proportion. Besides you were too little to wield a bow and the one Grandfather gave me was bent and refused to fire straight."
" Maybe so, but it was mine! And now that I think of it, you never gave it back!" Finrod winked at Aeroniel his grey eyes full of mischief.
She shook her head sadly and said " My Lord Finrod the more I learn of Prince Fingon the more I'm inclined to think him a terrible child! I have never held such sad tales of an elfling before; certainly not one of royal birth."
" Why it is that all my relations seem bent on slurring my name I'll never know." said Fingon in mock annoyance. "You have to hear my side of those stories before you make your final judgment Aeroniel."
"Don't worry my Lord I always give you the benefit of the doubt." said Aeroniel as she looked across the floor to where Maglor and Daeron were tuning their lutes. She may have been interested in them or maybe she wished to hid the pink tint that decorated her cheek.
"Well I, for one am famished." said Finrod rising to his feet and stretching his lean frame slowly. " Will anyone accompany me to dinner?"
" Don't you wish to hear the music my brother?" Artanis's whispery voice asked as she turned away from the steward.
Finrod wrinkled his nose and said " My dear Galadriel, once you have heard Daeron you have heard them all. Besides I had enough of Dareon's melancholy ballads when we were in Doriath. Don't you think it was a bit much after a while?"
She blushed and looked at her hands as they lay lightly in her lap. " I rather enjoyed Doriath and its people."
Finrod pursed his lips and then mouthed the name "Celeborn" to Fingon and Maehsos as Galadriel watched the two musicians. A snigger came from Fingon and Maehsos kindly jabbed an elbow into his side. Watching them Aeroniel decided that Celeborn must b some elf lord who had made a good impression on Artanis.
A sharp "twinge" came from across the floor and everyone turned to see that one of the delicate cords on Maglor's lute had snapped while he was tuning it.
Well that puts an end to the evenings entertainment, I think." sighed Finrod as he helped Aeroniel to her feet. " That sill elf will spend the rest of the night looking for the right replacement string and he won't play until he does."
" Do you remember the time when Grandfather wanted him to play for Manwe, and he wouldn't because he didn't like the sound of the flute?" said Finrod.
" And when Grandfather said that he was satisfied with it and Maglor stamped his foot and declared he wouldn't play because he wasn't satisfied?" laughed Fingon.
"I'll never forget the look on Finwe's face and how Manwe laughed! I think it shook all of Valinor." said Artanis. "What shall we do now that Maglor is wandering around trying to find a string?"
"Why don't we take advantage of this rather fine night and stroll among the quiet hillocks and brood upon the finer things in life?" suggested the Steward.
Then taking Artanis's hand for himself, Maehsos lead the way and Fingon, Aeroniel and Finrod followed, each of the men claiming one of Aeroniel's arms for his own.
"What on odd trio we must make." said Aeroniel looking from one Nolderian Prince to the other.
" How so?" Finrod asked. "Are we all so bizarre looking that people would think us uncommonly weird?"
Laughing slightly she shook her head causing her nut hair to curl a little around her face. " I mean it must look odd to see an Edain girl being escorted by two Nolderian Princes. I hardly warrant such honor."
Finrod's face was a study of deep thought and he grew serious and said " You know Findekáno she is quite right. I think we had much better dump her off in a bush and continue on by ourselves. What say you?"
" Well, normally I would agree my dear cousin, but you see Aeroniel is my Atar's pet and he would not appreciate my leaving her to the wolves."
" And I declare that I would not like to be left to the wolves either! And besides I would always had protection in my dearest Steward, would I not Maehsos?"
" Correct my dear, I should cut down mountains, and valleys to protect you from these spoiled sons of Finwe." called back the Steward as Galadriel stooped to plucked a white night blossom from the ground.
" I love these flowers." she said braiding the luminous flower into her golden hair. As the moons beams struck the flower it glowed a soft silver in the backdrop of the eflleth's bright locks.
A soft and affectionate expression came over her brother's face and he said " If only Celeborn was here tonight Artanis, he would say you looked like the light of Illuvatar in the worlds first morning."
"And he would be very wrong to do so my brother, for I am but a poor comparison to his glory." But she blushed and touched the flower again as they walked on.
Fingon whispered. "And who is this Celeborn of Doriath that you mentioned? Is he a suitor of Galadriel?"
Finrod shook his head and replied " I fear he is on longer a mere suitor Findekáno. I believe he has won her heart." The blond Prince sighed. " I cannot hope that she will continue on with me much further, she wishes to return already and on doubt that is where we will go after the festival."
"When will you go?" inquired Fingon as they rounded a gentle bend in the path.
"In a fortnight I believe, take my advise Fingon do not let those you care about fall in love. It is the sweetest and bitterest separator you can find in this world."
Aeroniel could feel Fingon's gaze drop from his cousins and stop on her. She turned and looked back, she had to see what he was feeling. What she saw was frightening in its intensity, pure love and fear in one glance, but then a veil fell over his eyes and he turned away. Finrod, oblivious was calling their attention to the stars rising in the sky. They were conscious only of one another until Finrod tripped over a hidden root and they all stumbled into a heap in the cool dewy grass.
" So much for the grace and elegance of the Elder." laughed Finrod as he pulled himself up. Artanis giggled like a child and said " Do you remember the time you tripped Amarie into the swimming pond and she almost drowned?"
" I didn't do it on purpose and you know it Artanis!" protested Finrod.
As the others struggled to get up Fingon helped Aeroniel to her feet saying " I say, we better quickly get away before he tries the same tactics with us, shall we?"
" Yes lets, I have a feeling that Finrod and Lady Artanis are going to argue for a while over whether or not he really did trip his friend."
" Hummm, I would guess that he didn't. He was probably trying to impress her with something. He was always madly in love with Amarie and I doubt he would have do such a thing."
" Is Amarie his wife?" asked Aeroniel glancing back to see the others finally start after them.
" No, she remained in Valinor when…when we departed. She would not have a part in our quest. And after all that it has brought us I cannot help, but think she was right."
A bitter note had crept into Fingon's voice and Aeroniel tried to dispel the mood by calling attention to the tiny lights they saw on one of the pools.
"I think I saw Cirdan teaching the children how to make little boats earlier. I'll wage that their sailing them now. Lets go down and see them."
Calling to the trio behind them they made their way back to the encampment where the children were poking at their boats with sticks, tiny flickering candles serving as somewhat waxy masts.
King Fingolfin came forward as they approached. "A beautiful night for a walk, I wish you had asked me. But then I should have known that the young people would wish to be alone."
"Not alone Sire, we had the company of Lord Finrod and his sister." answered the girl.
"And the annoying presence of the Steward." whispered Fingon as his father took Aeroniel's arm.
" What's this? Turning on me are you? Ronnie how could you allow such a slur to my name!" burst in the Steward.
" I think you have finally made yourself too obnoxious to have around Maehsos. And I think it is high time you would go away!" said Finrod as he and Galadriel came up.
They all laughed at the sight of feigned hurt and puzzlement on the Stewards face. Aeroniel pulled away from the King and said " I'll stand with you Maehsos if the others desert you. I have always found you a friend. It will not be said of me that I left a friend in need…"
Her words trailed away as she saw the horrified looks that came over the faces of the King, his son and Finrod and Galadriel. A cry from one of the elflings echoed across the water.
"The ships are burning!"
Artanis gave a straggled cry and turned away and Finrod wrapped his arms around her as she sobbed. Fingolfin's face was a blank mask devoid of feeling or emotion as he watched the efforts of the children to put the fires out. Two of the ships had collided, and the wavering flame of one of their candles had set fire to the other's sail, setting off a chain reaction among the little fleet.
Aeroniel looked up into Fingon's eyes and saw the reflection of the tiny flaming ships as they sank. He looked down at her and in an instant she stood on the shore and wind filled with ashes and the heavy smell of smoke. She heard the wail of elves all around her and saw the dead bodies of the slain Teleri.
Then with a jerk she was back at Irvin her hand tightly held by Maehsos as he supported her by the shoulders.
"Ronnie, are you alright?" he asked as she shivered at the scene of pain she had just witnessed.
" I'm fine really Maehsos, I'm fine."
Fingon had gone to his cousin and was trying to sooth away her crying. Galadriel was a strong woman and never one to give in to her feelings easily, but this memory was too much. She clung to Fingon as he smoothed her hair and patted her back as Finrod held her hands in his own.
"N..not again Finrod, please not again." she cried.
The two elves held her tightly as they mourned again the burning of the ships. Fingolfin motioned to a few maids and bid them prepare the Lady's tent. Then supporting his niece he gently lead her away all the while keeping her back to the pool, where the last boat sank into the water, with a mournful little hissing sound, accompanied by the disappointed cry of a child.
-
It was late.
The camp was silent as the people slept. The pools were quiet and devoid of people. Along the shoreline little bits of waterlogged cinders were washing onto the sandy banks. A solitary figure stands on the bank his hands tightly clenched into fists that he held close to his sides.
He gazes over the water and breaths deeply trying to clear his thoughts. Galadriel would never have slept if he had not helped her, but he now struggled with the pain he had accepted as his own. Now his own fea was at war with itself as he pulled his mind away from the memory of that terrible day.
A hand, cool and hesitant crept into his own slowly uncurling the fingers that he had clenched so hard. He didn't look down at the person, he knew who it was. Why did she always know? She was no elf and could not understand the pain that now plagued him, but she was here giving comfort, silently and without request. When he was away she was in his dreams and now she was here standing with him.
He wanted to speak, to thank her, to tell her what it meant to have her here with him. But his mouth was dry and no words would come. She spoke instead.
"It was hard for you, I'm sorry. I never knew what it was like."
"It is my burden to bear, the price of rebellion." said Fingon, he felt her hand tense and he brought it up through his arm.
"No one deserves that kind of pain Fingon, least of all you" she said moving closer to him. His eyes sought her eyes and he saw unadulterated love and admiration there. She spoke every word from her soul. He touched her cheek and she leaned into the caress lightly.
" Who are you, Meldanya?" he whispered.
"Nad dithen." she breathed. He cupped her face in his hands and brushed the wavy locks away from her ears. Like a sharp pain he realized he could not do this. He pulled away and said "Mana cáral sinomë?"
"What do you mean?" she asked. " Can I not give sympathy?"
" You should be sleeping, it's late."
" I am not a child anymore Fingon. You cannot treat me like one." She said and turned to leave. He knew he didn't want to be alone tonight and he caught her arm.
"Please Aeroniel, don't go." said he. She looked at him and he could see that she was struggling too. Tears threatened to spill over as she faced him.
"Oh Meldanya what is it?" he said.
"The stars are veiled tonight, I cannot see them." she said and wiped at the glistening drops.
He looked up at the brilliant array of heavenly bodies and back to Aeroniel. " Surely the stars are bright are enough. Why can't you see them?"
"The clouds are too thick for my eyes."
He drew her to him and laid a hand over her damp lashes saying " Then use mine." He held her thin frame and turned his eyes heaven ward while reaching from her mind. High above the stars grew brighter and more glorious as Aeroniel looked with elven eyes.
"It so beautiful!" she said her hand reaching up to cover his. He trembled at her touch and drew his hands away to see for an instant the same starlight shining in her eyes that lit his own.
Slowly, almost afraid to breathe he leant forward and pushed her lips with his own. A gentle caress of love and they parted. He gathered her into his arms and buried his face in her hair breathing in the scent of poppies and ferns.
"Aeroniel, melinyel, so much." Fingon said holding her close to his heart. " Thank Eru you came to me."
-
Translations
Meldanya: My dear
Nad dithen: Just a little thing
Mana cáral sinomë: what are you doing here?
Melinyel: I love you.