Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do not own any of Tolkien's amazing stories
Ch 6: Worries and tribulations
Nelyo tiredly rubbed his eyes as he pushed down the need to sleep. It had been a long past few days. Following their initial fight with him, Moryo, Tyelko and Curvo seemed set on making his life a waking nightmare. After repeatedly throwing insults in his face, they went and stirred up the camp which was quickly turning into a zealot army. Nelyo had harshly rebuked his three aforementioned brothers in public, but that seemed to antagonized them more. If he couldn't get them under control soon, Nelyo feared that Nolofinwë would order their banishment. Makalaurë would be heartbroken if that happened. Nelyo worried the situation would be a crippling blow to his already fragile brother. He then wondered idly if that would be a good way to guilt trip the three troublemakers. Any of them would drop what they were doing to please Makalaurë, or at least that's what he hoped.
A soft knock interrupted Nelyo's dismal chain of thought.
"Come in," he said, voice breaking a bit from exhaustion. The door creaked as it was opened. The horse-master entered the room. Nelyo noticed distractedly that the other Elf was twisting his hands in a nervous fashion and wondered what had him worked up.
"My lord, I'm sorry to interrupt," the horse-master bob down into a quick half-bow, "but I though you would like to know that lord Makalaurë's horse returned riderless this afternoon."
"I'm afraid I don't understand," Nelyo's brow crinkled in confusion and worry.
"The horse returned, but Lord Makalaurë didn't return with-"
"What?! What do you mean 'didn't return'?" Nelyo felt a sick feeling creeping up the back of his throat.
"He left a few days ago…"
"Do you know where he went?" Nelyo demanded, standing up so fast that his desk was very nearly flipped over by the suddenness of his action. All the blood had left his face. The horse-master cringed and shrunk back a bit. So apparently the oldest Fëanorion hadn't known about Makalaurë's departure.
"I don't know. He only told me that his business was secret and at your command."
By now Nelyo's face was chalk white and he was shaking slightly, though whether it was out of fear or anger was hard to say.
"MY command? MY command? Why on Arda would I send Makalaurë… he hasn't fully recovered yet… oh Eru, he could be dying or captured… We have to find him….Tyelko, where's Tyelko?" Nelyo choked out in panic, his words coming out in a jumble. He left his office in a rush, leaving the poor horse-master standing awkwardly alone in the room.
All of Nelyos' younger brothers, with the exception of Pityo and Makalaurë, were ordered to remain in the camp, so it wasn't that hard to track Tyelko down. The blond Elf was at the edge of camp throwing knives to blow off steam. Nelyo's restless brother resented being confined anywhere and though the camp was large, he felt suffocated.
"Tyelkormo!" Nelyo bellowed as he approached. He was striding fast enough it almost looked like he was running. His call startled the hunter badly, causing him to miss the target with the knife he had been throwing. Tyelko turned to growl in irritation at the interruption. He hadn't been doing anything wrong. If Nelyo was going to confine him to the camp, he would at least spend the time doing activities that he enjoyed. The snarl died on his lips he noticed the stricken look on his elder brother's face. The last time he had seen that look was when Nelyo had broken the news of what they had at the time believed to be Makalaurë's death.
"Nelyo? What is it?" Tyelko asked cautiously, returning his other knives to their sheathes.
"Where's Huan?" Nelyo asked frantically, eyes darting around for Tyelko's near constant companion who was nowhere in sight. Now Tyelko really was worried. Nelyo could care less about Tyelko's four-legged companion. As far as Tyelko could recall, Nelyo had never actively sought out the dog.
"With Pityo. Why?"
"Good, get both of them. We have to hunt him down," Nelyo started off in the direction of the stables.
"We have to hunt who down?"
"Makalaurë," Nelyo called over his shoulder as Tyelko raced to catch up.
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Makalaurë. We have to find him. Apparently he left for whatever misguided reason and he never came back. I fear something bad as befallen him," Nelyo explained. Tyelko felt like he had just been punched in the gut. All thoughts of revolting against Nolofinwë and Thingol vanished from his mind, replaced by worry for his older brother.
"Right, I'll go get Huan and Pityo," he nodded.
Quenyan names:
Nelyo/Nelyafinwë/Maitimo = Maedhros
Makaluarë/Maka/Kano/Kanafinwë = Maglor
Tyelko/Teylkormo/Turkafinwë = Celegorm
Carnister/Moryo/Morifinwë = Caranthir
Curvo = Curufin
Pityo/Pitafinwë = Amras
Nolofinwë = Fingolfin
