Author's Note: The title of this drabble comes from another of my pieces, "Waiting, Wanting, Knowing," and was inadvertently suggested by The Bookbinder's Daughter. The prompt is "Most is said when nothing is spoken," the action is the Shipburning at Losgar, the character is Maedhros, and the dedication goes out to Maitimo of ToB.
His Tragedy
It was the smell of smoke that first awakened the Prince; still unaccustomed to that scent, he hurried out in uncomprehending dread. It was the ships, Findekáno, his brothers, his dreams -- burning, burning -- !
He stared at the white ships burning all to red and, more slowly, to black; stared until his eyes bled hot tears, which his pride choked upon and the wind soon whisked dry.
In silence he watched his father turning dreams to ash; in silence turned away. And it was this silence which shamed him most, all the years of his long exhausted life.