My first Silmarillion fic. We'll see how this goes. I apologize if this is a bit rough. Translations are at the end.

Disclaimer: Tolkien's amazing world does not belong to me. I am merely playing with it for my own entertainment...


Ch. 1 Family Reunion

Maedhros grimly looked out the narrow slit of a window in his office, leaning his lithe body on the rough stonework of the surrounding wall. On a clear day like today, if he squinted, the tall Elf could just make out the top of Thangorodrim from where he stood. It stood like a constant reminder of the distant, but very real threat they faced. An uneasy worry had been growing in the back of Maedhros' mind. The peace felt too peaceful, too quiet. Morgoth was planning something, Maedhros was sure of it.

It was for that reason Maedhros had called all his brothers together. Though his impassive face didn't give it away, Maedhros was a little excited to see them all. He missed them dearly. It had been nearly ten years, ten years too long in his opinion, since he had seen any of them except for the Ambarussa, who occasionally wondered this far north in their hunts. Maedhros was unsurprised when Maglor and his entourage were the first to arrive. They had the shortest distance to cover and Maglor never passed up a chance to spend more time with his favorite brother. Maedhros was once again gazing out his window a showy fanfare announced the arrival of Maglor. The oldest son of Fëanor allowed himself a brief smile at Maglor's taste for theatrics before heading down to greet his younger brother.

Maglor was waiting for him in the great hall. Maedhros strode over and gave Maglor a hearty embrace. Maglor returned the gesture with enthusiasm, smiling broadly. At this, Maedhros did a double take. It had been years since he had seen such a genuinely happy expression on his younger brother's face. The musician had often been morose and grim since they left Valinor, a scowl more readily appearing than a smile.

"You look well. What's the occasion for the excitement?" Maedhros casually inquired, genuinely curious. Maglor pulled away from his older brother's embrace and looked up at him in confusion.

"What do you mean?" Maglor demanded. The smile had slipped away and his brow was drawn as he tried to figure out if his brother was insulting him. Maedhros gave a little laugh and ruffled Maglor's hair. Maglor cried in indignation and futilely tired to smooth out the newly frizzed hair.

"Peace, Laurë. I'm just saying you look happy."

Before Maglor could reply a little voice interrupted.

"Atto! Look! He's so tall!" Maedhros looked down to spy a small girl tugging on Maglor's sleeve and pointing up at him.

"Mhhh? Yes, he's my brother Maedhros. Don't you remember me telling you about him yenya?" Maglor distractedly shaking himself loose and patting the child on the head.

"Atto? Yenya?" Maedhros choked in surprise, "When did that happen little brother?"

"I…um...A few years ago?" Maglor's face turned red and he ducked his head a bit like a naughty child caught steeling candy.

"A few years ago? And I'm just now hearing about it?" Maedhros teased. Though he was a little surprised by this turn of events, it wasn't unexpected. Maglor had always wanted a family of his own. He was also famous for sometimes getting 'distracted' when it came to passing along information about himself when he didn't know how his brother's would react or if he was embarrassed.

"Erm…. Well… It… I…" Maglor stammered, his face now resembled a color close to Maedhros' fiery standard. Maedhros almost laughed to see Maglor so embarassed and tongue-tied. It was a rare event indeed to catch the elequent minstrel in such a state. Maglor seemed aware of Maedhros' mirth and squirmed a little, eyes dropping to the floor.

"Loosen up! I'm teasing," Maedhros slapped Maglor's back with a laugh, "Who's the lucky elleth?"

Maglor's face lit up in a way that Maedhros hadn't seen it do in years as he turned to point out his wife. Maedhros was in for his second near heart attack that day as Maglor gestured not to an elleth but to an edaneth. The woman shyly approached the Lord of Himring's forbidding figure and took her place at Maglor's side. She stood more than a full head shorter than her husband. Her black hair hung in waves down her back and framed her round, well-tanned face. She had sparkling brown eyes and a soft smile pulled her lips upwards. On her hip, she balanced a baby boy who was currently chewing on a section of her hair with great vigor.

"Maedhros, I would like to introduce my wife Calmelda, my daughter Erulissë and my son Ithalion," Maglor proudly announced, pulling his wife close.

"A pleasure, milord," Calmelda awkwardly gave a small curtsy.

"The pleasure is all mine, my Lady," Maedhros nodded his in polite acknowledgment to Calmelda while scrambling to hide his true feelings. This wasn't right. Maglor wasn't supposed to marry an Edaneth. He had to bit his tongue to keep himself from questioning his brother. Unlike his normally sensitive demeanor, Maglor did not pick up on his brother's barely disguised disapproval. Calmelda did noticed however. Her smile diminished and she hugged Ithalion tightly to her chest, all the while watching Maedhros with a wary look.

Erulissë had no such qualms about her uncle. She took an immediate liking to the scared Elf and spent the rest of the day clinging to his leg or trailing after him like a small shadow. Maedhros wasn't sure what to do with her. He liked children well enough, but she was entirely unlike any child he had ever dealt with. She didn't seem to mind his discomfort, insisting that Maedhros was her new best friend. And so it was that Maedhros found himself carrying the little girl on his broad shoulders while the both were bedecked with flowers and mica powder. Maedhros knew he looked ridiculous, but bore the makeover stoically while Maglor, Calmelda and a good portion of his soldiers snickered behind their hands.

Over the next few days, Maedhros observed Maglor and Calmelda. He finally retreated one night to the battlements to ponder his younger brother and sister-in-law. Their relationship was a riddle to Maedhros. It was clear that Maglor was infatuated with her and she with him. Even more unbelievable was the fact that Calmelda had somehow managed to bring back a lighthearted version of Maglor that Maedhros hadn't seen since before their banishment to Formenos. Maedhros wasn't quite sure how this fragile being had captured his brother's heart. From what he could tell, she was sweet, gentile but fiercely passionate, not unlike Maglor most days before the darkening. What Maedhros failed to understand is why Maglor would tie his soul to one who's lifespan wasn't even a blink compared to the lifespan of the Eldar. He hope that didn't bode ill for the future.

He also felt conflicted about whether or not he should confront his brother. On one hand, he didn't feel like the union of an Elf and a human would ever end well, on the other hand, Maglor deserved was little joy he could get and their children were charming. To make his choice even more difficult, Maglor had never been one with large amounts of self-confidence, always second-guessing his choices and mentally berating himself. He had practically driven himself into the ground during the time that Maedhros had been held prisoner in Angband. His self-sacrificing behavior had only gotten worse upon Meadhros' rescue. Maglor had done everything possible to attempt to atone for what he perceived to be his short falling of leaving Maedhros in Morgoth's hands. Maedhros had finally told him enough was enough after the minstrel volunteered to defend the Gap, the most dangerous section of land they had been allotted. It hurt Maedhros to see his brother willingly throw himself in the way of possible harm. With a sigh, Maedhros knew what he would have to do. For the sake of Maglor's self-worth and happiness, Maedhros would his tongue and did not voice he true opinions. It would be better that way he promised himself.

"You don't approve, do you?"

"Hmmm?" Maedhros was startled out of his train of thought. Calmelda stood behind him, she was gently rocking a sleeping Ithalion.

"You don't approve of my marriage to your brother," she clarified.

"I… I… I haven't seen him smile like that in years," Maedhros admitted ruefully, skirting around her question.

"He does tend to be a bit grim sometime. But you didn't answer my question." Calmelda gave him a pointed look.

"Please understand I mean no insult to either you or him, but are you sure it was the wisest choice?" Maedhros uncomfortably squirmed a little and refused to meet her gaze, "I mean, he's one of the Eldar and you are a mortal Edaneth. Your fëar will not even end up in the same place after death. Why would he choose you?"

"Because I slapped him."

"What?" Maedhros narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the frank answer he had not be expecting.

"He was behaving ridiculous. He wouldn't let my people ride with his cavalry, so I told exactly what I thought. I don't think I've ever seen him so shocked," Calmelda gave a small laugh, "But in all seriousness, I don't know why he chose me. I'm not anything special; I don't sing, I can't make music, I can't even pretend to understand your mother language. But he chose me anyway."

She turned away from Maedhros, looking out over the moonlit landscape.

"Might I ask, why are you so quick to begrudge your brother happiness?"

"I don't want him to get hurt," Maedhros responded. He knew that human emotions were fickle at best; steady and loyal one day, spiteful and betraying the next. He had also seen the way Caranthir had been after Halath had rejected him and Maglor was far more sensitive than Caranthir. Maedhros shuddered to think of the downward spiral of depression that Maglor was doomed to tread however this path ended.

"You can't protect him from everything. Let him chose his own fate," Calmelda answered quietly before leaving Maedhros again with his thoughts.


Translations, names and what-not:

Atto - Dad (Quenyan)

Edaneth - A female human (Sindarin)

Erulissë - Eru's Blessing (Sindarin)

Fëa(r) - Spirit(s) (Sindarin)

Ithalion - Peaceful warrior; My own combination of îdh [peace] and thalion [dauntless warrior] (Sindarin)

Makalaurë (Laurë) - Maglor's mother name (Quenyan)

Yenya - My Daughter (Quenyan)