Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: -
Warnings: AU, blood, mentions of torture, character death, Loss of bodily autonomy (no Non-con)
Chapter: 11
Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me
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They tightened their siege, minds focused on getting into Angband to a degree they had not even felt when the Silmarils had been in there. Not strictly because their loved ones were in there - because they were quite certain that Sauron would not return there after he'd helped steal the Silmarils - but because they needed it to have fallen so they could focus on finding wherever their family-members had been taken.
The three gems had been moved to Amon Ereb, the holding the least likely to fall under some kind of onslaught. Still, their patience was close to running out when a fleet came from the West, magnificent ships breaking the horizon-line between sky and sea. The Valar had come, but too late. Too late.
Ñolofinwë briefly abandoned Barad Eithel, riding south to Brithombar where the bulk of the white ships had landed.
"Arakáno..." He clutched his youngest child close, even as others disembarked from the flagship.
"Ñolofinwë Arakáno Finweon." Eönwë alighted from his perch on the mast.
"Lord Herald." Too late, they were too late. His little brother would be shattered by now. He would not be able to endure! The Maia merely inclined his head briefly, before stepping aside to let the law-daughters of Indis - and Indis herself - approach.
"Mom..." He wanted to hide from her face, but there was little he could hide beyond.
"The Valar warned us, darling." His mother, in looks and temperament the most alike to her youngest, assured him softly. "Of everything."
"I..." That hardly made him feel better, eyes shooting over to his silver law-sister. Eärwen was standing beside the gangplank still, face utterly unreadable. "I... had to." That was what he kept repeating to himself, over and over, no matter how hollow it sounded after learning that Sauron and his brother had been in cahoots. "I didn't know. He hadn't told me anything."
"I know, darling." She assured him, tucking him against her, though he was a good head taller than she. "I know."
"I had to hold the Leaguer." He clung to her, hiding his face in hair so alike to that of his condemned sibling. "He didn't tell me anything!"
"Ssh..." She soothed him, drawing him away from the crowd, back onto the ship so they might have some privacy. "You did what you felt you had to do to keep everyone safe. I am sure he understands."
"What I had to do was not getting him dragged to Eru knows where!" He snarled impotently, fingers digging into his own arms. "The dwarves of the Blue Mountains found some of their things in a cave-system that opened up into their most southern mines just a while ago! Who knows were they went from there!? Who knows when they were there to begin with." He trembled against her. "And we can't even search for them, as that might draw Morgoth's attention to what happened."
"The Valar are of a similar opinion." She agreed softly, taking his hands as Anairë tucked herself against him. "We'll just have to make sure that we deal with Morgoth quickly then."
He nearly bit his lip bloody as he nodded, trembling still. "Ara..."
"He knew the risks he'd have to take with this." Eärwen stood well aside of the cluster that now also involved Fëanáro's wife. "I suspect the only reason he'd be upset about all this is because of... of..." She made a face, before gesturing sharply at Nerdanel. "Hers being involved." Clearly, his half-nephews were still sore spots to her, after Alqualondë.
"Still..." He whispered in pain, pressing his free hand against his face. "How much better would things have gone had I just... taken his hand?"
"Hindsight won't help us here, Ñolo." His wife assured him softly, as their only present child joined the small huddle. "We'll have to work with what we have. Where's the rest of the family?"
"Holding the Leaguer." He answered, leaning into her for a moment. "We don't know when Morgoth will notice the theft - we do know he doesn't know yet, at least - but we are quite certain that once he does, he'll definitely try to break through the Leaguer to get after them. Assuming he doesn't realize Sauron returned the gems to the Sons of Fëanáro, then he will try to get them back first before hunting him down."
"All the more reason not to delay too much." Ingwion joined them on the ship, golden hair caught in an intricate web of braids. "Can you give us an overview of the state of affairs, High King Ñolofinwë of the Beleriandic Noldor?"
Only Beleriand. He was only king of the Noldor in Exile. They counted his brother as lord of the Amanyar still. They would help him fix his mistakes. They had to.