This is a two parter. I need to just start a fic I think.
I own nothing
Tirion
Nerdanel stood in the corner of the room somewhat sullenly. She hated feeling like some petulant child but found she could not help herself, which made it all the more infuriating. She had come to Tirion under the guise of visiting her eldest sister, newly married to one of the sons of a minor noble house in Tirion. Her sister was pleased to see her; always happy to show how she had married above her station in life. Her new brother-in-law was pleasant enough; he even complimented much of her work, which suddenly made her sister a longtime patron of her art. But Nerdanel also knew that he was of one of the houses was not as supportive of Fëanáro and the order of succession for the throne and so she kept her other reason for visiting to herself. She had sent a letter to the palace several weeks ago, telling of her experiences as she traveled during the hiatus of their apprenticeship. She informed him that she would be stopping in Tirion and would be staying with her sister for a short period of time, if he should find himself free of obligations. She had kept it short for things had become somewhat . . . strained between them of late. Not by any fault of his for it was her choice to be too preoccupied to spend the amount of time that they had both become accustomed too. He did not understand her sudden pull back from their usual travels and time they took together and had become somewhat resentful of his unfair treatment. She did not blame him nor put up any argument when he accused her of it which only seemed to anger him all the more and their last good bye had been with some bitter and petty words on both parts. In truth she did not expect any response at all from her letter and regretted it as soon as she sent it out.
But later that afternoon, after a morning of being dragged around the streets of Tirion, entering this shop or that one, being introduced as the baby sister who has come to see the big city, they had returned to her sister's house to find her brother-in-law standing in the middle of the main room with a stunned look and a piece of parchment in hand. He looked to his wife and in-law with disbelief.
"It seems," he spoke the words slowly as if to make sure he was speaking them correctly, "we have been invited to dine at the palace tonight."
There was a moment of stunned silence before her sister squealed with delight, running to her husband and throwing her arms about his neck, chattering about all his hard work and finally getting recognized. Nerdanel was only able to look at the invite for a brief moment, recognizing the heraldic device of the house of the High King, before her sister grabbed her by the hands and led her back out the door. Apparently there was even more to do now. They had to find suitable gowns for the evening as there would be no time to have any made but alterations may still be doable and so Nerdanel found herself being sown into a gown as her sister spoke to the seamstresses of their predicament, what with being summoned to the palace and all and on such short notice. Nerdanel could not help but feel apprehensive about tonight and it must have shown for every so often her sister would walk up to her as they prepared themselves to give her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Do not fear Nerdanel," she soothed, "I will make sure you look appropriate tonight. Just look to me if you should find you do not know what to do."
Nerdanel felt very reassured.
When it was time to depart, Nerdanel stood before her sister's appraising gaze. Her hair had been pulled back and her hips felt as if they were imprisoned within her dress and planned to break free at any moment. Her sister had decided that Nerdanel needed one more thing, just a piece of jewelry around her neck to help pull focus from . . . Nerdanel did not hear the rest for her sister's voice had trailed off as she began to dig through her chest for something suitable to pull focus from, whatever it was that needed to be out of focus. As she waited, her brother-in-law approached, a small parcel in hand.
'Forgive me," he said, "but I almost forgot. This came for you today while you were out. I am sorry Nerdanel; what with all the excitement it had slipped my mind."
She thanked him and opened the parcel and froze. Inside was a single necklace of fine and delicate design. Made of pale gold and silver and adorned with only one jewel, a single luminescent pearl, that hung from the center. Nerdanel held the necklace up before her and she knew where the pearl had come from.
"What is that?" her sister cried. "It is perfect!"
Nerdanel allowed her sister to set the necklace about her shoulders and they left for the palace.
It was two weeks before festivals began and it was customary for smaller celebrations to be held all over Aman, although they were far more formal in Tirion. It appeared that this was to be no different. The table at which they sat was far in the back of the grand banquet hall with many of the other smaller noble houses. If this bothered Nerdanel's sister at all, she could not tell for her sister seemed to be quite in her element, hanging on her husband's arm as she made rounds to the other tables in their area of the room. Nerdanel had to admit she was slightly jealous of her sister and her husband. They seemed to be very happy and beautiful and her sister practically glowed with triumph at being invited to such an important royal function. Her sister had even given Nerdanel an affectionate hug and said that perhaps tonight they could make a future match for her as well for when she comes of age. Nerdanel had smiled sheepishly and glanced around for the nearest door. She had discovered long ago that it paid to know where the exit was.
The room was massive and Nerdanel was unsure she had ever seen its equal even while she was in the halls of Aulë. The tables were arranged to create a ballroom formation with a dais at the head of the great room for the royal family. The ceiling had been decorated in such a manner that it resembled a canopy of stars above her and she marveled at the hundreds of lanterns that softly lit the room. Great tall windows were opened allowing the night air to gently breeze through from the grand courtyard and soft, gauzy curtains gracefully billowed along the walls adding a whimsical touch.
Nerdanel sat at the table as her sister and brother continued to walk around, her hand absently touching the piece of jewelry at her throat. There were other couples seated with them but she paid them little mind. All she could think about at the moment was the perfectly smooth pearl between her fingers. The necklace was most certainly his work for she would know it anywhere and made just to her liking. Subtle and delicate, hardly noticeable but stunningly detailed. And the pearl was exquisite. She should know for she had seen it along the coral reef but could not reach it. At some point as they traveled he had retrieved it and she had not known. And then he had worked it into the necklace and sent it along to her sister's house. What did it mean? Had he done it some time ago, before she began to spend less time with him? Or was it something he had done recently, perhaps thinking of her and hoping she may come to see him again. He had obviously put a good amount of work into it. Or maybe he had not for things that would be time consuming for some were a simple hobby for him. Perhaps she was reading too much into all of this. It could be that Fëanáro had nothing to do with her being here. Perhaps her sister's husband was to be invited all along. He knew that she would be there at that time and so sent the necklace along for her to have before she left with no intention of seeing her whatsoever.
She began to feel slightly ill at these thoughts and was grateful to see her sister and her husband return. The feast was about to start as the hall quietened and everyone stood as the royal family entered through the main doors of the room. They were quite the procession walking through the hall. The High King entered first with the Lady Indis on his arm, he in robes of deep blues and purples as she wore the pale blue and lavenders in compliment. They were beautiful and Nerdanel smiled as her sister whispered in her ear, a blow by blow description of what they were wearing the thought that went into it for it was said that the Queen was with child again. Next came the Princess Findis and her betrothed, a noble from one of the houses in Taniquetil. Her sister told her how he was some very distant relation to the Lady Findis herself but not close enough to cause some sort of scandal. They complimented each other well though and were to be married at the start of the next warm season. Suddenly the tone of her sister's voice changed when she spoke next.
"Oh," she whispered, "looks like he came after all."
Nerdanel look back and felt her heart tighten in her chest. Fëanáro walked in next, eyes straight and head high, looking regal in the colors of his father's house and with a beautiful young woman by his side. She was tall and willowy and lithe and glided alongside him as if she had been born to be there. She was the very picture of what one would assume a high prince would be seen with. Fair skin and striking eyes and long dark hair like silk pulled up and away from her graceful neck and delicate shoulders.
Nerdanel's hand dropped away from the necklace at her throat.
She is from one of the oldest and noblest of houses among the Noldor of Tirion, her sister whispered in her ear. It has been said that their betrothal has been planned since their birth. Of course they were, she thought, why wouldn't they be. Nerdanel closed her eyes and shut out her sister's voice. When she opened her eyes again, she saw that the little prince was walking in next with a nanny behind him to finish the procession as the family and guests took their seats upon the dais. Nerdanel did not touch her meal for the rest of the evening.
She sat at the table and counted the minutes till she could leave, wondering if there were any way for her to exit after the dinner. She did not think she was going to make it through the night. The streets of Tirion were safe enough and she would walk back if need be. Every so often she would look up towards the front of the room. Fëanáro sat there looking straight ahead as the porcelain doll next to him chatted with the queen. Nerdanel watched the pretty little doll smile and preen, quite comfortable next to him and most likely imagining herself in sitting in place of the Lady Indis one day. How easily she fit in and how Nerdanel resented her for it. Suddenly the minstrels began to play an introductory tune and Nerdanel watched as Fëanáro slowly rose from his seat and walked to the center of the room as the little porcelain doll followed quickly behind him.
No, Nerdanel thought, I must leave now. She began to feel warm and felt her face flush and when several of the people sitting at the tables in the hall rose to walk to the edge of the dance floor to watch she took the opportunity to go to the nearest door to the courtyard. Her sister was far too interested in getting to the front of the group at along the floor to be concerned about her at the moment and so Nerdanel fled out the door and into the night.
The mingling of the lights had long passed and Telperion had just begun to stretch out its soft, cool glow. Nerdanel ran into the courtyard and to the elaborate fountain in the center where she stopped and sat down, catching her breath. What was she doing here? What had she been thinking? She did not belong in this world. She was being a fool and should be ashamed at her behavior. He is a high prince, what in Eä could have possibly have made her think that he would ever be interested in her? Because they shared common interests? Because he made her laugh?
She reached up into her hair and furiously pulled at the pins that held it back, throwing them to the ground as her hair fell about her shoulders. This was not her. And she was not going to be anything more or anything less than who she was. High prince or no. She stood up and smoothed out her dress. She would walk back to her sister's house, she did not care. She had walked farther and through far more perilous territory than this, she could manage. She reached down and tore a large slit in the fabric of the skirt so she would be able to walk more comfortably, making a large ripping sound as she did so. But as she tore at the fabric she heard a voice.
"What are you doing?"
Nerdanel froze mid tear, hunched over with skirt in hand and slowly pushed her hair out of her face. She looked up to see Fëanáro standing at the other end of the fountain staring at her curiously, his eyes reflecting the dim lights in that peculiar way of his. They both stood there for a moment staring at the other until Nerdanel stood up straight, torn skirt in hand, and began to laugh.