ACT I, SCENE I. Tirion. A public place.

Enter ANGROD and AEGNOR, young sons of Finarfin and friends of the house of Fingolfin.

Angrod: I swear, if I see Caranthir...

Aegnor: Swear? That's not a very nice thing to do.

Angrod: Caranthir is not very nice.

Aegnor: Draw your sword, then - here he comes.

Angrod: Done! Wait, aren't you going to draw your sword too?

Aegnor: I would rather let them start fighting; then it'll be their fault.

Angrod: I will stick my tongue out at them, then.

Enter CARANTHIR and CURUFIN, young sons of Fëanor.

Caranthir: Do you stick your tongue out at us, cousin?

Angrod: I do stick my tongue out, cousin.

Caranthir: Do you stick your tongue out at us, cousin?

Angrod [aside to Aegnor]: Is it still their fault if I say yes?

Aegnor: Probably not.

Angrod: No, cousin, I do not stick my tongue out at you, cousin, but I do stick my tongue out.

Aegnor: Are you picking a fight?

Curufin: Not at all, what makes you think that?

Angrod: Yes you are.

Caranthir: No I'm not.

Angrod: Yes you are.

Caranthir: No I'm not.

Angrod: Yes you are.

Caranthir: NO YOU!

They fight.

Enter MAEDHROS, oldest son of Fëanor.

Maedhros: You bloody fools, stop fighting! Stop, I said!

Beats down their swords.

Enter TURGON, son of Fingolfin.

Turgon: What, have you drawn your sword against these kids?

Maedhros, pick on someone your own size!

Maedhros: Look, I'm not fighting them, you bloody fool!

I tried to stop them. I could use some help.

Turgon: Oh yes? A child lies more convincingly,

when saying that their cat must have consumed

their homework. Lying coward, feel my blade!

They fight.

Enter supporters of Fëanor and Fingolfin, who join the fray. Enter citizens, who try to stop the fight. Enter FINGOLFIN and ANAIRË.

Fingolfin: What is this noise? My sword - where is my sword?

Anairë: In the umbrella stand - why call for it?

Fingolfin: My brother comes, and he has drawn his sword.

Enter FËANOR and NERDANEL.

Fëanor: Fingolfin! Darling, let go of my arm.

Nerdanel: I fear that doing so would cause great harm.

Enter FINWË with attendants.

Finwë: STOP FIGHTING, EVERYBODY; STOP RIGHT NOW!

[aside] Would that I'd never married. I SAID STOP!

That's better. I am tired of these brawls!

Rebellious sons, and all the rest of you,

now listen to the verdict of your king:

if ever you disturb our streets again,

you will be put in Mandos' gloomy halls.

Fingolfin, come with me. And Fëanor,

we will talk later in the afternoon.

Now, everyone, on pain of death, depart!

Exeunt all but FËANOR, NERDANEL and MAEDHROS.

Fëanor: Who started quarreling this time? My son,

you were here - tell me how it all begun.

Maedhros: Here did the sons of your half-brother fight

with my young brothers, ere I did arrive.

I cannot say who started, but I drew

my sword merely to part them. Then, alas,

came fiery Turgon, and he would not hear

my explanation. So he drew his sword,

and then we fought, and other folk joined in.

Nerdanel: Where's Celegorm? Have you seen him today?

Right glad I am he was not at this fray.

Maedhros: The hour of the mingling of the light

drew near its end, and golden Laurelin

was waxing, when I, in a troubled mind,

walked in the fields and forests round our town.

Then Celegorm I spied among the trees,

but seeing me he quickly stole away;

and since I too was seeking solitude,

I did not try to follow when he left.

Fëanor: Many an hour of the mingling lights

has he been seen thus sighing in the woods.

But once fair Laurelin is shining bright,

he locks himself up in his room, creates

an artificial night, shuts out the light.

I wish I knew the cause of this black mood.

Maedhros: Then you have asked him why he is so sad?

Fëanor: To no avail.

Maedhros: Perhaps I could find out.

Enter CELEGORM.

Maedhros: Look, here he comes. Leave me alone with him,

and I shall find out why he looks so grim.

Fëanor: Would that you could! Come madam, let's away.

Nerdanel: Let's hope one brother can the other sway.

Exeunt FËANOR and NERDANEL.

Maedhros: Well met in th'golden hour, brother mine.

Celegorm: Is Laurelin not fading?

Maedhros: No, it shines.

Celegorm: Ay me! 'Tis true. How long the sad hours seem!

Was that my father who went hence so fast?

Maedhros: It was. What sadness slows your hours down?

Celegorm: Not having that which, having, makes them short.

Maedhros: In love?

Celegorm: Out -

Maedhros: Of love?

Celegorm: Out of her favour, where I am in love.

Maedhros: Alas that love, which seems at first so sweet,

should lead you into bitterness and grief!

Celegorm: Alas that love, though blind, could find its way!

Where shall we dine? Oh, dear - what fray was here?

Don't tell me; I already know the cause.

Hate was behind it, and yet also love.

Why then, o feuding love, o gentle hate,

sweet bitterness, cold fire, blinded sight;

false truth, sane madness, darkness shining bright!

Do you laugh at me?

Maedhros: No, I rather weep.

Celegorm: Dear brother, why?

Maedhros: For your sake and your grief's.

Celegorm: And lay another burden to my own?

My heart could not bear to have caused you grief.

Maedhros: But tell me, brother, whom it is you love.

Celegorm: I love a woman.

Maedhros: That much I had guessed.

Celegorm: How well you guess! And she is fair I love,

more fair than sky and countless stars above;

she's wise, she's brave - she only has one fault,

and that fault is her lack of love for me.

Maedhros: Then I would say: forget to think of her.

Celegorm: I would, if only you could teach me how.

Maedhros: Why, look at other beauties.

Celegorm: There are none;

all others pale beside her radiance.

Farewell - you cannot teach me to forget.

Maedhros: Never say never. I'll not give up yet.