For those who are interested, I head cannon the Gap similar to Rohan and Maglor's cavalry similar to the éoreds of the Rohirrim.
I apologize beforehand. I know this is rough and I can't write great dialogue. So sorry.
Disclaimer: Tolkien's creative world is not mine, nor do I make money off of it.
Ch. 2 Rash words and consequences
"You married a mortal?" Curufin was scandalized, staring at his brother with open disgust. The other Fëanorions had been informed of Maglor's wife. To say that they were shocked was an understatement. The twins shifted uncomfortably, refusing to look at anyone but each other. Caranthir was regarding Maglor with jealousy, his dark eyes slightly narrowed in the beginnings of one his formidable glowers that he was so famous for. Celegorm's face was nearly as pale as his hair. Curufin, however, had taken the news the worst. He had laughed at first, thinking it was a joke, but upon realizing that his brother's announcement was serious had taken to sternly lecturing Maglor.
"What type of an idiot mixes the blood of the Eldar with the blood of the second born?" Curufin continued. Maglor's face darkened at the judgmental comment. He hadn't been under any impression that his brothers would support his decision, but he had at least hoped that they would keep their comments to themselves.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize I had to ask for your permission, Atar," the musician darkly spat.
"Yes, you should have," Curufin nodded in a patronizing way, not catching Maglor's anger, "You are a horrible judge of character. Plus, you tend to make decisions based on emotion, not logic. You proved that well enough when against our advice you left Maedhros to rot in Angband because you were upset and afraid. So, of course I don't trust your choice of spouse. If your emotions were played just right, you would without hesitation marry an Orc, or Eru forbid, Morgoth himself. Though, now that I think about it, I don't see how an Edaneth is much better. What do you plan on doing when she dies? I mean, you are aware that she is mortal, right? Or is that just occurring to you?"
Maglor's jaw was clenched as his face flushed. Without warning he lunged forward, trapping Curufin between his body and the wall. He pressed his knife to his younger brother's throat. Curufin gulped as he now witness Maglor's ire unmasked from a very vulnerable position.
"Take that back," Maglor growled, pressing his knife harder. Curufin whined fearfully as the cold steel drew a little blood. Before Maedhros could intervene in the quickly escalating standoff, Celegorm marched over and yanked Maglor away from Curufin.
"What were you thinking?" Celegorm demanded, knocking the knife from Maglor's hand and shaking him slightly to drive his point home.
"Let go of me Tyelkormo!" Maglor exclaimed as he pulled himself away from the hunter and lunged once again at Curufin. Celegorm caught the back of Maglor's tunic before he got far and hauled him to the other side of Maedhros' spacious office.
"Makalaurë, this is ridiculous. You're behaving like a child," Celegorm scolded, holding his older brother firmly at arm's length. Maglor's only response was to bare his teeth and turn his wicked glare from Curufin to Celegorm. Seeing that Celegorm stood almost a head taller than Maglor, the effect was hardly intimidating.
"You're just proving him even more right. You're too emotional and trusting. It effects your decisions," Celegorm's tone was exasperated, "You should have consulted us before you did anything rash, like, I don't know, tying your soul to a mortal. Did you even do any thinking before hand about how that might effect your future? I mean you're not even the same species. Edain are practically feral after all; they don't domesticate very well. Don't believe me ask Moryo. Further more she could be diseased or something. The last thing we need right now is for the Gap to fall."
Maglor's face had gone from bright red to bloodless white during Celegorm's scolding. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, but no sound came out. Maedhros closed his eyes in hope that Celegorm was done, but the blond Elf was just getting started.
"And why you decided to sire children on her is beyond me. Edain like rabbits you know, they breed then they die without much purpose in their life save to provide a meal for someone else. What type of creatures are you're children going to turn into? They certainly aren't Elven, thank Eru. They're what? Peredh….um… Peredan? Peredhel? Anyway, they'll always be half whatever and never fully-"
"How. Dare. You." Maglor choked out, his body was so tense Maedhros was surprised that he hadn't strained a muscle yet.
"You know, even Maitimo agrees with us, though he won't voice it," Curufin stated, rubbing salt in the wound. A stiff quiet descended as all present turned to look at Maedhros. Maglor sent him a pleading look while Curufin and Celegorm looked mildly smug behind their poor brother's back. Maedhros pinched the bridge of his nose, unsure how to respond without making the whole thing worse. He had felt that both Celegorm and Curufin had made some fair accusations, but he didn't agree with their tactful wording, or lack thereof. The silence stretched on for an uncomfortably long time. Seeing that his older brother wasn't going to refute the accusation, a look of hurt and betrayal stole onto Maglor's stricken face. His raw emotions were quickly covered by a cold mask of fury. Eyes blazing, Maglor whirled and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
"Was that really necessary?" Maedhros sighed after the echoes of Maglor's fury had died down.
"Some one has to tell him the truth," Celegorm shrugged, evenly meeting the redhead's gaze.
Maedhros gave his furious brother a little time to cool down before going after him. However, upon searching the whole of Himring top to bottom, Maglor, nor any of his people, were anywhere to be found. Frowning, Maedhros inquired after the minstrel with some of his guards.
"You there!"
"Yes, sir?" the Elf in question jumped to attention.
"Where is my brother?"
"I'm sorry, sir, which one?"
"Maglor," Maedhros snapped. He immediately regretted his tone when the poor guard jumped.
"Lord Maglor and all his people left less than an hour ago," the Elf answered, gesturing to the gates. Maedhros groaned before rushing off to the stables. In a matter of minutes, Maedhros was on his horse and off after Maglor.
At a full gallop, Maglor's host quickly appeared in view. Encouraged by the sight, Maedhros urged his horse on and caught up with them at the bottom of a small swell in the land. It occurred to him later that perhaps rushing up unexpectedly up to a fully armed cavalry wasn't the smartest idea. Startled by his sudden pursuit, Maglor's guards quickly came about. Maedhros reigned in his horse and found himself surrounded by a thicket of spears.
The riders seemed conflicted. They recognized Maedhros but they didn't dare break formation. Maglor ride up behind them, assessing the situation. Seeing who it was, he sheathed his weapon, signaling that Maedhros wasn't a threat. At the motion from Maglor, the spearmen relaxed their weapons. Maedhros felt marginally relieved as the wickedly sharp points turned away from his un-armored body. The horsemen with drew a little to allow the brother some privacy.
"Maedhros," Maglor nodded his head in a curt greeting. None of the joy from the previous days visible on his face.
"Maglor," Maedhros returned. They stared at each other for quiet sometime. Maedhros' worried gaze meeting Maglor's angry one.
"Please don't do that again Little One. You worry me," Maedhros said, running his hand through his wind tousled hair.
"Do what again? Marry another edaneth?" Maglor's tone was bitter. Maedhros saw that he was fingering one of his twin swords.
"Disappear without warning."
This was not the answer that Maglor was expecting. At Mardhros' words, much of Maglor's anger seemed to evaporate leaving the minstrel looking quiet forlorn and deflated.
"I'm sorry, I didn't think of that," he mumbled. He looked away and shifted uncomfortably in his saddle.
"All is forgiven toronya," Maedhros couldn't keep the small smile off his face.
"I have to know if it's true though," Maglor's voice was soft, pleading, "Do you agree with Tyelko and Curvo?"
"They have some good points," Maedhros tried to evade the question. It was the wrong thing to say though.
"So you do agree with them!" Maglor's face grew hard again.
"No, it's not like that!" Maedhros tried backtracking, "They shouldn't have said those things like that. There are more tactful ways to say what they were trying to say. They just don't...Listen...Why don't we head back to Himring and talk it over. I'm sure that we can find a solution we all can agree on."
"Ever the diplomat, Nelyo the Perfect," Maglor sneered, "I'll give you a solution! I will never see or contact either of them again."
"No, please, Laurë, we need you," Maedhros pleaded. By the look on Maglor's face, he would have had an easier time convincing Turgon giving up the location of his secret city.
"No, Nelyo, I'm not coming back, not even if you managed to get Curvo and Turko to beg," Maglor snarled, "I'm done with this family. Good bye, Nelyo."
Without another word, Maglor wheeled his horse and rode away leaving Maedhros in his dust. Maedhros watch in disappointment as his younger brother rode off to rejoin the rest of his people. He stayed there long after they had disappeared off into the distance, hoping against hope that Maglor would change his mind and return. With a heavy heart, Maedhros turned his steed back towards Himring. He was so distracted that he quiet forgot about his other brother's waiting for him until he was open the door to this office.
"Did you find him?" Caranthir asked before Maedhro had even fully entered the room, "You were gone for quiet a while."
"I did," Maedhros answered slowly.
"And where is he?" Curufin demanded, looking up from where he had been picking at his nails in boredom. Maedhros noticed that he had a bandage wrapped around his neck. The melodramatic Elf must have insisted that Celegorm treat the small cut Maglor had inflicted during their fight.
"He…" Maedhros paused to consider his words. Curufin was already more than willing to jump down Maglor's throat, he didn't want to give the smith more of a reason to be aggressive.
"He needs some time to cool down," Maedhros finally decided on. Caranthir narrowed his eyes slightly at the explanation. The quickly provoked Elf was well aquatinted with anger and knew there was more to the story than Maedhros was letting on. The other brothers didn't question Maedhros' answer. It seemed a reasonable explanation as they all had inherited Fëanor's temper to some extent. Though Maglor didn't often show it, he could be just as wrathful and volatile as Caranthir. They didn't voice any protests, so Caranthir let his suspicions drop.
"Where's Ambarussa?" Maedhros asked, realizing for the first time that the other redheads were now absent.
"They left," Celegorm shrugged carelessly.
"They what?"
"They left. Went back home. Good bye," Celegorm repeated in exasperation, waiving his hand towards the door, "How many other ways do you want me to say it?"
"Why?" Maedhros ignored the thinly veiled scorn.
"Dunno, but I don't think we need to call them back. Neither of them do that much, so no point in having them here anyway unless you want advice on bartering with the Laiquendi," Curufin grumbled.
"What has gotten into the two of you?" Maedhros threw his hand up. He received glowers from both Celegorm and Curufin.
"Not your problem," Curufin snapped, standing abruptly. Maedhros raised an eyebrow.
"Your problem is my problem so spill," Maedhros commanded.
"Eca!" Curufin spat. Both Caranthir and Maedhros blinked, taken back by the foul language. Even Celegorm looked slightly disturbed. The blond Elf opened his mouth but before he could say anything, Curufin was dragging him from the room. The door slammed behind them, the noise echoing loudly in the sparsely decorated room.
"I never though I'd say this Carnister, but I think you're the reasonable one today," Maedhros softly commented with a heavy sigh, staring at his heavy oaken door as though it contained the answers as to why his brothers were being difficult today.
"Mmm," Caranthir grunted noncommittally. His face was unreadable. He shifted in the sunlight. The late afternoon light turned his dark hair a deep coppery brown and made his light dusting of freckles stand out.
"I have to know, Nelyo. Why did you let Maglor marry a mortal, but you didn't let me?" Caranthir griped sourly, "Is he somehow more competent or did he bribe you?"
"I didn't 'let' either of you do anything," Maedhros replied.
"No, maybe not, but it was by your advice that I stopped pursuing Halath!" Caranthir's eyes flashed. Then for the third time that afternoon, the door to Maedhros' office was slammed closed. Maedhros sank into his chair with a groan, thinking over how spectacularly horrible this day had gone.
Translations:
Carnister - Caranthir's mother name [Quenyan]
Curufinwë [Curvo] - Curufin's father name [Quenyan]
Eca! - F*** off! [Quenyan]
Edaneth - A female human [Sindarin]
Makalaurë[Laurë] - Maglor's mother name [Quenyan]
Maitimo - Maedhros' mother name [Quenyan]
Nelyafinwë [Nelyo] - Maedhros' father name [Quenyan]
Peredan - Half Edain (My own combination of 'half' [Pere] and man [Edain]) [Sindarin]
Peredhel - Half-elven [Sindarin]
Toronya - Brother, informal [Quenyan]
Tyelkormo [Tyelko] - Celegorm's mother name [Quenyan]
