Dedicated to LastTemptationofHomer ( Simpson that is) because she was so sweet and persistent as to make me sit down and write this for you all.
Lady Tell: I can easily solve you're problems for you. Morgoth isn't in our world. He is in the void in our day, but Sauron and he are communicating across time. When Morgoth is 'alive' we are dealing with him back in time when he was in power in ME. As for Maehsos we'll deal with him in later chapters. I can't tell you everything. Keep reading!
AnnaMariah: I know you want me to give you some hint about Ronald and Gil-Galad but I won't. I am glad you had a good time in NZ. As for the mistakes I say they are part of life. Keep reading!
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Chapter Twenty Seven
And the Tar Baby Said nothing at all…
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It was tempting to think that everything would come to a kind of peace once Fingon had married his human bride. The news traveled swiftly but discreetly all through Beleirand.
After the triumphant return to Hithlum Fingolfin had bestowed the title of princess on Aeroniel even though there were strong objections from certain Feanorians. These certain Feanorians were ignored however and the title was given. With a princess in the house the whole area seemed different. It is not to be supposed that Aeroniel made any great changes in the way things were run. In fact she did very little to any part of the house except that part she and Fingon lived in.
But it was remarked that the royal family changed just a bit. Unbridled happiness brought varying changes in each of the principle members. Fingolfin smiled more, spent more time with his family and friends and more freely then he had in the last few hundred years. Fingon grew more serious and thoughtful. Now that he had a wife to consider he became more princely and deliberate with each decision.
Aeroniel however became more at ease and more care free then she had ever been. While her ways of life and behavior became more elven she seemed to tap into an endless amount of joy that bubbled out over everything and everyone around her. She was aware with the advent of her marriage that another waiting game had begun.
Would there be an heir?
It wasn't something Aeroniel and Fingon were at all worried about at the moment because they were still enjoying one another's' company. And while no one asked about it, out of politeness, the subject was on the minds of the elves under Fingolfin's rule. A whole year passed before anything was said about it. Pregnancy in any time was something to worry about, but during war and when the mother was human….Well, the concerns were high.
"I wish they would just say it," Fingon grumbled to his father. They stood in Fingolfin's library looking down on Aeroniel and her maids in the garden, "I know they think she can't carry a child to term."
Fingolfin considered his daughter-in-law a moment before speaking, "Her extreme good health is certainly not in question." he commented, "I've never been at peace in my mind about her health when she was a girl, but Himring seems to have built up her strength. If her health were poor and if she was always sickly that would be a different matter."
"If she were then perhaps people would be a little less harsh in their exceptions of her," Fingon said, "They always say things like, "She a lovely woman to be sure…" and then they leave it as if I am going to say something disparaging about my own wife."
Fingolfin shook his head, "I hardly think they expect that Fingon. They are just worried that there be a healthy heir as soon as possible. I remember that Feanor and Nerdanel went through hell from the people before your cousin was born."
"They certainly made up for lost time," Fingon said dryly.
Fingolfin smiled and said, "I have often wondered if Feanor didn't want a large family as a sort of revenge. Of course, Maedhros was so extraordinary a child that they couldn't possibly complain."
Fingon gestured toward the garden where his wife sat and said, 'But Aeroniel is not like that. Nerdanel had that devil may care attitude to life. Once she was married to Feanor nothing else mattered."
"But…"Fingolfin encouraged. Fingon cut him off.
"I am afraid if this attitude among the people continues that she will get wind of it. You know as well as I do that not all of our people approve of her. She tries to be as…"and here Fingon smiled at some private joke, "…elvish as she can be, but she isn't. She never can be, not that I mind, of course. But I don't want another difference brought up to her. It would only be discouraging."
"Judging from her expression and appearance I would hardly worry about that," Fingolfin said, "She's the merriest among them. In fact you seem much more unhappy about this then she is." Fingolfin narrowed his eyes at his son, "Do you have some serious cause for worry?"
"No," Fingon said stubbornly.
"Oh, then .." Fingolfin began.
"Yes," Fingon interjected. He walked away from the window and seemed to be struggling with making up his mind. Fingolfin perched on the window sill and waited, Fingon had always been this way about a confidence. He needed a few seconds before he would spill out everything he was feeling.
"It is just that we have been trying," Fingon said simply.
"Aha, I see why you're in a foul mood. You're not getting any sleep," Fingolfin deadpanned.
"Father!" Fingon said.
"Sorry," Fingolfin managed. He gave a muffled snort and composed his face seriously, "I take it that…things have been unsuccessful."
"As you see," Fingon said, 'I think Aeroniel is beginning to feel that she is failing me in some way."
Fingon leaned on the sill and watched his wife for a few moments before speaking again, "Aeroniel is nearly thirty you know father. I know that is nothing to us but to her fragile state. She has begun to fear that she may have passed her childbearing years or perhaps never had the ability in the beginning."
"If that is true then you must content yourself with a loving wife," Fingolfin said.
Fingon gazed out the window a long moment and said, "I am completely content Father, but Aeroniel feels it more and more. But if we must remain childless so be it. Besides, Turgon's daughter is prettier then I am and his heir will no doubt rule the world in a better way then I."
"But Aeroniel wants to give you a son," Fingolfin finished, "I am sure you will have children my son. You must give it time."
"Father time is just what I do not have," Fingon whispered.
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"Grade A jerk," Serena muttered. Aeroniel's brow wrinkled and she frowned at the nurse who stared back unconcerned.
"It was right for Fingon to wish for an heir. He was the high king of the Noldor, or at least he was going to be," the lady said, "I wanted a son or daughter as much or more then Fingon did. I felt it was my fault."
"But is wasn't," Maehsos said, "We all know that."
Ronald sighed, "I have no idea what on earth your talking about. Sometimes women cannot bear a child sometimes we can fix it sometimes not. I don't think it was anything either you could deal with."
"No," Maehsos said, "You don't understand. Elven women and men chose when they will conceive a child and each prepares to bring the child into the world. It is different then just being with your partner. Each spouse has to make the conscious choice to procreate."
Ronald still managed to looked oblivious and so Maehsos continued.
"You see Fingon to chose to procreate but not this dear lady," he went on delicately, "For humans it is merely a matter of luck."
"Or fate," Serena added.
"Or chance," Aeroniel concluded," Which just what it turned out to be."
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It was late when the family retired to bed. Aeroniel had let her hair down and Fingon watched lazily from the bed as she brushed it. Her hair fell long and wavy in brown waves with the stubborn red hair here and there. Fingon teased her because the humid summer weather had made it curl all around her face.
"You look as you were mediating upon the meaning of life," she said smiling bringing the brush through her hair "Something on your mind love?"
Fingon joined her by the mirror and straddling a stool took the brush from her and went to work on her hair himself, "I spoke to my father today."
"Oh," she lifted a brow, "What about?"
"You and I. Children." Fingon supplied.
Aeroniel looked down, "I see. What did he say?"
"That we must give things time and that all we could do was be as loving as we already are," he kissed her head, "Or more."
Aeroniel turned on the stool and looked into his eyes, "Are you sure that there isn't something else? You were too pensive for to be a simple as that," she took his hand between her's, "Does he think there is anything…wrong with me?"
"No, how could you think that?" Fingon said he squeezed her hand, "He never suggested such a thing. In fact he said that you were very good health, better then he'd seen in years."
They sat in a comfortable silence for some moments. The fountain outside the window was making wet sloppy sounds as the water hit the stonework and a night bird was sounding its call to the evening. Fingon wrapped his arms around his wife and leaned his head against her's.
"You will not dwell on it love," he asked, "I don't want you to think that you aren't being the most loving wife in the world because of this one thing."
Aeroniel took a deep and shuddering breath but there were no tears in her eyes, "I cannot help it. It is natural for a woman to want children and especially to give her husband a son. I love you and it makes me angry with myself for not being…normal."
This last was whispered but Fingon's keen hearing caught it. He tightened his hold around her and said fiercely, "Do not ever say that again Aeroniel. I have never given you a command, but I do now. You must never say that again. I did not marry you because I thought you were the same copy of every other person in the kingdom. I wed you because you were so different and beautiful. You fitted me and loved me in a way that all the other so called 'normal' people could not. I forbid any such talk like that."
After this impassioned speech Fingon was waiting for a reply other then the one he received. Aeroniel was laughing!
"What's this?" Fingon lifted her chin and saw merriment in her eyes, "I think I deserves a little more respect than that. After all I said…really."
"No, I wasn't laughing at you," Aeroniel said, "It is just that expression on your face was so sweet and noble ad I felt such a fool for being depressed about everything."
"That still isn't the reply I excepting," Fingon groused.
Aeroniel slipped to the floor onto her knees and with a grave face and hands folded over her heart she said, "I hear and obey Lord. Never again will I dare the fire and steel of that disapproving voice."
"You may laugh but I have people who tremble when they hear," Fingon growled scooping her up.
"And I do not?" she whispered, "You may be thousands of years old lord but there are things you still yet to learn."
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Bill flipped trough the worn copy of Lost tales until he reached the passage he was looking for. Licking his thumb he pointed to a passage and handed the book to his father.
"I think this is it," he said, "But then I could be wrong."
Maehsos glanced at the passage and nodded, "You see Ronald, during the time that Lady Aeroniel and Prince Fingon were hoping to conceive another child was being born in Gondolin."
Ron read the passage and said, "Eärendil? The son of Idril and Tuor. The first half elven child to be born," he looked up and shrugged slowly, "I don't get it."
"He was the first half elven child to be born. He had to be," Bill said.
"Why?" Serena asked, "What was so special about him?"
"He…that is.." Maehsos stopped and looked at Aeroniel. She stared frankly back and he switched to elvish. They spoke rapidly back and forth for some time until she nodded and stood.
"I think I should rest. The days have been long and I find myself unaccustomed to the ways of this world. Tonight everyone," she bowed and glided from the room.
Ronald watched her go, "What was that all about?" he asked.
Maehsos heaved a sigh and tucked a few stray hairs behind his leaf shaped ears, "She doesn't know what happens to Gondolin, Ronald. You have to remember that all your knowledge comes from a book that told the whole story in a few short chapters."
"Not exactly short," he said wryly.
"It doesn't exactly matter doesn't it? You know many things that she doesn't know and have still to take place in her world. If she were to know them and go back she might change them. Then you and Serena and everyone in this room might not be here if the past changed."
"I thought that something's happen no matter what is changed," Serena said, "I saw this movie once that…"
"We all thought this stuff wasn't real either," Ronald interrupted, "Serena let him talk."
"I need to smoke anyway," she said caustically and went out on the porch.
Ronald looked back to Maehsos and said, "What about it?"
"Gondolin falls to Morgoth seven years after the birth of Earendil. He and his family then live in Havens where Eärendil learns to love the sea. From there he will goon to reach Valinor and find help and aid at the hands of the Valar."
"So what does that have to do with Aeroniel and Fingon having a child?" Ronald asked, "Eärendil could do all those things without their child stopping him."
"But Eärendil had to be the first," Bill said, "The first pure son of both worlds. Did you know that no one else ever reached Valinor without the Valar knowing or stopping them? Earendil had to be so different and so completely unexpected that he could reach the help that was needed so badly."
Ronald looked incredulous, "You mean that the fact that he was half elven and half human helped him to…fly under the radar?"
"so to speak but it doesn't really work like that either," Maehsos said, "I don't want you to think that the Valar need some heavenly surveillance system. Some Illuvatar just sees fit to keep them from knowing of something until he wishes it."
"Okay, so you have a reason that Aeroniel and Fingon couldn't have child. There was a sort of heaven stop on that, but what about after Eärendil was born?"
"Well, tow things actually," Maehsos said, "Dior was conceived by Luthien and Ereinion was conceived in Hithlum."
"Ereinion?"
Maehsos nodded and his blue eyes gleamed brighter, "Yes, Ereinion Gil-Galad, future king of all the world."