Celegorm awaits Mandos' judgment.
11. Journey's End
"Tyelkormo, you have slain your Elven kindred in Alqualonde and Doriath with impunity. You partook in an attempted coup against your kinsman Findarato, who had offered your people refuge in your time of need – an act of betrayal which indirectly brought about his demise. In addition, you have acted in defiance of all Eldar mores by kidnapping Luthien, daughter of Elu Thingol, with the aim of forcing her to wed you. Have you anything to say in your defence?"
"None, my Lord," I replied. I could have argued I was following the Oath but there was never any merit to that Oath we should never have sworn to start with. "My Lord, may I humbly seek your permission to apologize to my cousin for our betrayal before you pronounce your sentence?" The Vala nodded sombrely. I turned to face Finrod, who had stepped forward the crowd of watching elves.
"Cousin, I am sorry for my actions and those of my brother against you," I said. Finrod kept his face expressionless.
"Findarato, do you grant the accused your forgiveness?" the Doomsman boomed.
"Aye, my Lord," my cousin replied with a small smile. "I forgive him and hold no grudge against him and his brother. May I beseech the Valar to show them mercy?" Good, noble Finrod, how we had so wronged him and yet he had forgiven us without hesitation.
"Tyelkormo, in light of your actions in protecting and caring for the grandsons of Luthien and their speaking in your defence, it will be recorded that you have atoned for your crimes against their grandparents, both of whom have passed beyond the Circles of Arda," Lord Namo declared. A murmur ran through the crowd and two whoops of joy issued forth from the Elurussa.
"However, the sin of kinslaying still weighs against you despite your struggles against the Dark One. Hear my sentence! Turkafinwe Tyelkormo will be held within the Halls, until he has atoned for the sins of the Kinslayings. He shall not be freed into Aman until at least two Ages have passed!" Lord Namo announced.
Two Ages of not seeing the trees, feeling the wind and sun… but at least it was not the Void. I wept with both sorrow and relief. Moryo and Curvo were beside me. The other elves were starting to file away down the myriad hallways leading from the throne room.
"We will see you again someday," the Elurussa waved farewell before they were lost among the surge of fear. I wish that were true.
"Did you hear? Grandfather said Finrod is out in Valinor! All thanks to his noble action in that stupid Quest!" Curufin fumed as he punched his pillow. He was in a sore mood after having been caught in the hallway by some vengeful Sindar fea and thrashed. We tried to keep to our cell as it was too easy to run into fear from the Kinslayings outside. We were the Feanorions and Kinslayers after all, far more than any other elf. Sometimes it was still worth the possibility of being beaten to visit our grandfather. Atto was shut away in the lower levels of the Halls and he was not very communicative the only time I visited with the Ambarussa. Only Curufin still risked the long trip to Atto's cell. Irisse's fea had been taken into Lady Nienna's special care, so Fingon informed me. She was in no state to receive visitors, not even her family.
The Elurussa? I dared not ask where they were. I did not deserve to intrude on their healing with their parents. Who knows? Dior might not be feeling friendly. I did not wish to cause them any trouble.
"Good for him. Probably deserved it," I gave a token reply when I realized Curufin was expecting me to agree with him. I dodged the pillow aimed for my head. It bounced off the wall harmlessly. The Sons of Feanor were given our own large cell and I was grateful for the company of my younger brothers. There was even space for two more cots, should our remaining brothers drift into Mandos. I hoped it would never come to that.
"You gotta quit visiting Grandfather that often. Or have you something for being beaten up?" Moryo muttered from where he was working on a tapestry depicting the Woods of Orome. To pass the time, my brother had sought out Lady Vaire and her maidens to hone his skills in needlework. Moryo always had an affinity with the fabric arts.
"I am going stir-crazy stuck here…" Curufin wailed. "Three Ages! It's forever!" There was no forge or workshop for Curufin to show off his skills in. Mandos had no need for such things. All he could do was sit and reflect on his past deeds. Of course, I could suggest a visit to Durin's but I doubt Curufin would like hanging about the Naugrim. He had scoffed when I related how I had mined coal for the Naugrim in their Halls.
"You have it easy, Atto's got until Arda breaks," Telvo stated matter-of-factly. "Checkmate." A groan from Pityo followed. The Ambarussa had found a chess set and were playing against each other, much to my relief. The twins had to be watched constantly to stop them from pulling pranks on the others. Chess would keep them out of trouble for a while.
"Curvo, I will wait those Ages with you," I said soothingly and hugged my weeping brother. We did not have the leisure to purview the events of Beleriand as they unfolded through Lady Vaire's tapestries. All we had were snippets of information from Grandfather or the Maiar who checked in on us occasionally. I knew Curvo was fretting about his son Tyelpe despite his declarations of disowning his son for daring to repudiate our deeds and the Oath his father had sworn to.
Maedhros came into Mandos but he was put into Lady Nienna's care without even meeting with us. The First Age had ended and one by one the Exiles were allowed release into Aman. The Ages crept along. Among my brothers, Moryo was the first to be offered re-embodiment. He took it for the sake of Amme. We asked him to tell Amme we were sorry we had followed Atto in swearing that Oath and leaving her behind alone. Telvo and Pityo were next.
"You don't have to wait for me, you know…" Curvo told me one day (or night). Time has no meaning in the Halls. I had been offered the chance to return to Aman but had declined for the sake of my younger brother and his poor son, whose tormented fea resided in Lady Nienna's care. The Halls were emptier now. I could wander the halls admiring the tapestries without being attacked. Grandfather would stay until Arda breaks or Atto was released. Grandfather told us the Eldar had left Arda. Only a handful remained on the Hither Shores, waiting to fade. The time of the Elves in Arda had passed. No more dead elves, isn't that nice?
"But how will you fare alone here? Maedhros is still healing and who knows where Maglor is?"
"I do not need babysitters, you know," my brother pouted. "I still have Grandfather and Atto… Aegnor is still mooning about somewhere. Could have gotten out in the Second Age if he wanted. It is rather peaceful…" He lay back on the bed and closed his eyes. "I hear Irisse has been healed and released. She is probably riding through Orome's woods now. I know someone would like to join her there…"
"But…"
"Go on, you dolt," my brother retorted. "I know stone walls smother you. Go hug your trees, kiss Huan or something. I think I will wait out the rest of eternity with Atto. Or I might decide to join you lot outside when I am done with my sentence. It's almost up, I think."
I awoke in Lorien. Amme was there waiting for me. Moryo too. It was as tearful reunion. I was told the Ambarussa had gone to Lord Orome's to celebrate my return with a hunt.
I wasted as little time as possible making my way to Lord Orome's Woods. My new legs were still weak. After being solely a fea for so long, I had almost forgotten how to use the limbs of a hroa. I was panting and leaning heavily upon my staff by the time I reached the border of the Woods. I could hear a hunting horn being blown. I leapt out of the way as a stag all but flew over me.
A hunting party thundered past. There were six of them, three sets of twins… The leading rider reined in his horse and motioned for the others to stop. He had a mane of flowing red-copper hair and laughing eyes. Pityo. I broke into a smile, just before a whirlwind of fur and muscle smacked into my back and knocked me flat on my face.
"Gerroff me, mangy mutt," I spat grass and mud from my mouth. Huan only licked my head and left my hair all messed up. When he had enough licking, he got off me. The riders dismounted and the raven-haired twins helped me to my feet. They seemed familiar but I did not recognize them at all. Perhaps they were the descendants of someone I knew. In Sindarin, they inquired if I was hurt. I shook my head. The Ambarussa beamed and greeted me warmly with back-slaps as our elf-hound danced circles around us barking with joy.
Finally, I turned my attention to the last pair of twins, the fair-haired pair. I had known them as children but they had long grown into maturity. The pair had grown into handsome elves, with their father's fine features and their mother's silver-pale hair. They wore the green and brown garments of hunters but their cloak-pins were of diamond and mithril. They held themselves with the poise of the princes they are. After all, they are the sons of Dior the Fair, grandson and heir of Elu Thingol.
"Elured, Elurin," I breathed. Words failed me, so choked up with emotion I was. The pair each hugged me in turn.
"Welcome back to Aman, Celegorm."
Author's Notes:
In case you are wondering, the raven-haired twins are Elladan and Elrohir, the sons of Elrond. This is the end of this fic. Hoped you enjoyed it.