Chapter Three

A Great Debate

Below the deck of the swan ship, Eve rummaged through barrels of animal hides and furs. She had taken to sewing cloaks and clothing over the past five weeks since she'd seen Finno. Her favorite were the black and white speckled fur from snow foxes. She had almost finished Finno's cloak. She just wanted to find something special for the clasp.

After an hour, her leg hurt enough that she sat back down on a crate. These days she could walk for small lengths of time before needing to rest. It frustrated her to no end. With a sigh, Eve folded her arms across her chest. The wooden crate she sat on creaked as the ship moved. Frowning, Eve let out a huff.

"Land!" came a shout from above the deck.

Eve frowned. She needed a clasp. Suddenly her hand went to her chest where the only necklace she had brought from Valinor sat. It had a sunflower shape in bronze as the centerpiece and an amber stone in the center. She smiled and took it off, gazing down at it. With a little tweaking, her necklace would work perfectly.

Rushing as best she could back to her small workspace near the furs, she grabbed the tools she'd been using and attached the metals to the furs to form a clasp across the neck area, saving some for a second cloak clasp. By the time she'd finished, she felt the boat hitting the shore. She thanked God that they had made it; seven ships had been lost when the mists of the Oiomure had first started appearing.

Even from within the ship Eve could feel the frigid cold. As she climbed up onto the deck, her breath came in sharp clouds. With each breath her lungs protested more and more until she found herself occasionally coughing. The ground crunched beneath her boots as she followed Telvo, Pityo, and the crew onto the shore. Eve went more slowly than most of them, but Pityo circled back and offered her support.

"Your leg is healing well, but you still should be careful walking," he reminded her.

Eve frowned. She looked down at the wrapping and let out a sigh. "I know, I know."

With a smile, Pityo shook his head and urged her forward. "Come then. Our father will likely have much to say at the camp."

Eve just wanted to find Finno. She knew he would be close to Nolofinwe, though, so she stuck with Pityo as they wandered through the freezing plains filled with Noldor. With the black and white fur cloak in her hands, and Pityo beside her, she went on. She recognized Artanis first, who stood talking to Aikanaro.

"You can leave me with them," Eve told her little brother. "They'll get me to Finno."

Pityo frowned but nodded. "Find us later, Eve."

"I will," she promised.

Artanis looked at her in surprise as she hobbled over. "Eve! You can walk?"

"Sort of," admitted Eve quickly. "I could use some help finding Finno. How are you two holding up?"

"It's freezing," Aiko complained. "But we will manage as we always do."

Artanis offered Eve her arm and bid goodbye to her brother. Leading Eve through the camp, they came upon the Nolofinwions. Aro, Turvo, and Finno stood chatting in a tent, Elenwe and Itarille nearby eating a steaming soup. The tent did nothing for the cold, but it kept the snow off. When Finno caught sight of Artanis and Eve, and grinned and rushed over.

"The one good thing about Feanaro coming to our camp is that it brings you," he said smoothly. He grabbed her in a kiss and then looked down at her fur cloak. "What's that?"

"I made it for you," said Eve. She felt heat raise to her cheeks in pride when he took it. "I had a lot of free time on the ship, and I knew it'd be cold, so…"

"It's beautiful," Finno marveled. He examined it closely, smiling at the sunflower clasp. "Though there was no need to use the necklace! You should've kept it."

Eve laughed. "Please. A metal thing against my skin in the cold? That sounds terrible. In my previous life I spent plenty of time in the snow freezing myself. I think I know some tips and tricks."

"Hopefully we won't be in the cold for too long," Finno reminded her. He gestured to Turvo and Aro. "Our father is finding Findo and his house, and we expect your brothers here with Feanaro soon. Then we'll decide how best to proceed."

Eve nodded before she hissed in pain. Her leg was starting to protest being used. Finno led her over to the fire and sat her down.

"Stay there," he ordered. "I'll bring you some food."

"We'll bring the food," Elenwe corrected. She smirked at Finno as she and Itaril sat down next to Eve and handed her a bowl of steamy soup. "Go get ready for the council, Findekano."

He thanked her, and Elenwe turned to Eve with a smile. They chatted for a few minutes while Itaril and Eve both finished their food. Soon enough, Irisse, Aiko, Ango, and Artanis arrived in the massive tent and chatted together quietly.

First of Eve's brothers to arrive was Kano. He walked in as Nolofinwe and Findo arrived from the opposite side and went straight to them though he didn't engage. He sent Eve a small smile which she returned.

Feanaro arrived with Nelyo not long after, and soon the other brothers had trickled in. With everyone present, the debate could begin.

"How many ships remain?" asked Nolofinwë.

Fëanáro folded his arms across his chest. "Seventy-six."

"How many were lost?" Turvo asked in concern. He looked at the sons of Fëanáro in surprise.

Nelyo said, "About a third of what we set out with from Alqualondë."

"And how did that happen," Ango added immediately, his brow furrowed in anger. "An entire third of the fleet!"

"What help were you, Angaráto, cowering on the shore?" Moryo bit back.

Nolofinwë sighed and shook his head. "There are two courses of action. Take the ships across or walk the Helcaraxë. We meet here to decide which we shall do."

"Seventy-six ships are not enough for all of us," Arakáno pointed out.

"I will not take ships won by the blood of my mother's people willingly," added Artanis. She looked around. "Not unless all here decide to do so."

The air in the tent somehow seemed to grow even colder at the mention of the Falmari. Even Moryo had stayed quiet, biting his tongue. But the chill of the North did nothing to influence Fëanáro.

He gave a laugh. "You are welcome to walk. We shall not stop you." Fëanáro looked her in the eyes and neither flinched. Then he turned to Nolofinwë. "I am not entirely convinced your rabble will not turn and run home as cowards unless we force you onto the ships first."

Nolofinwë narrowed his eyes. "Do not doubt the valor of the rest of the Noldor. Besides, we cannot go back."

"We owe that to the generosity of the eldest house," Iríssë muttered.

Tyelko scoffed. "Do not hold yourselves blameless in the slaying of the Falmari! Findekáno led the charge without question."

"Indeed I did. And I shall never forgive myself for it," Finno responded immediately. With a small glanced at Nelyo, he continued, "However, though ill gotten, the ships are ours now. To not use them would be to waste them."

"The House of Nolofinwë may not be blameless in the slaying, but we are," Findo reminded them. His face was grave as he spoke. "While I wish I could say the same as my sister, I agree that now we must do what it takes to survive, and the ships are a tool."

Fëanáro rolled his eyes. "As has been established, there are two courses. Sail across the straits, or walk the Helcaraxë."

"We cannot all sail," Turvo pointed out. "Not at once."

Káno nodded. "Then we take shifts, sending back the ships as a ferry."

Aiko scoffed. "Who will go first?"

"The ships are ours," Fëanáro pointed out. "And my followers alone have learned the art of sailing."

Nolofinwë hesitated. "Perhaps some of both should stay."

"So that your folk my crash what ships do remain?" Fëanáro shook his head. He walked over to the fire and heated his hands before turning back. In the firelight, his features looked even more beautiful than normal. "Nay, Nolofinwë. I do not trust your men to keep the swan ships safe. My folk will go first to make sure the journey is safe."

"We cannot agree to that," Turvo counselled his family. "Some of us should go at least, to assure the safety of the rest."

"You do not trust us?" Nelyo asked. He glared at Turvo, his grey eyes shining in the light.

"It's a matter of security."

Nolofinwë sighed. He folded his arms across his chest. With a shake of his head, he answered them. "Perhaps tomorrow will shed some light on what to do. We will send scouts to the Helcaraxë. It may be that walking is easier than we think, and as one we could make that journey." With a frown, he continued. "I suggest we return to our resting places, calm ourselves. Tomorrow we will reevaluate. Fëanáro?"

He nodded. "Agreed. We will go see that the boats are safe." With that, he and all his sons but one left the tent.

Pityo stayed behind to speak with Eve. She had watched the whole debate from the floor with Elenwë and Itarillë. She knew what she would've chosen. They should take turns with the ships and ferry across. It made sense. Why couldn't they just trust each other.

"Eve, what is your plan?" Pityo asked quickly.

"I was hoping to go back to the ship. I have a project in progress," she explained. "I'll go with you?"

Pityo smiled. "Of course." He helped her off the ground just as Finno came over.

"Where are you going?" He asked her.

Eve laughed. "Relax. I'm working on something at the ships. I'll be back with it when it's done. Is that cool with you?"

Cracking a smile, Finno nodded. "Of course my lady."

Together with Pityo, she walked through the camp of Noldor. As soon as they left the tent, the snow began to cover their clothing and hair. She looked at the dark sky, stars obscured by cinder-grey clouds.

"Do you regret leaving, Eve?" Pityo asked quietly as they left the camp and wandered along the shore.

She looked at him in surprise. "I regret a whole lot that's happened, yeah. The murder of the Falmari… I killed people. Good people. I don't know what to think of myself now." Pityo didn't respond, so she continued, "But I think I would've regretted leaving my family if I'd stayed in Valinor."

Pityo nodded and looked down at the water as they reached it. "Leaving family is hard."

"We won't leave you, Pityo," Eve promised him. "So we'll struggle through this grief together. Would you like to see what I've been working on?"

He smiled. "Of course!"

They went aboard the ship. Eve led him down into the storage areas under the deck. She showed him the workspace. Over her space lay a white cloak in progress.

"It's for Elenwë. It needs another day's work at least. I hope it'll keep her warm."

Pityo smiled. "It is beautiful. Elenwë will love it, I'm sure."

They decided to sit there, Eve working on her cloak for Elenwë and Pityo playing a small pan flute he always carried for trips. Hours passed. The only interaction came later when Nelyo found them.

"We've made a decision," he said, coming down into the lowerdeck. His steps on the planks treaded heavily.

"Who has?" Eve asked.

"Our father. Our followers are taking the ships- now. If we don't, we'll talk in circles in coucil again tomorrow, and the day after that, and after that, until we tear ourselves to pieces. Someone has to go first, so we will." Nelyo shook his head. "Are you coming?"

Eve smiled. "It's about time someone took some action. Yes I'll come. It'll give me some time to keep working on my cloak for Elenwë."

"Good." Nelyo looked at Pityo. "Telvo will be here shortly. The two of you need to get this thing off the beach."

It turned out being relatively easy to take the boats out without alerting the rest of the Noldor. The camp was far from the frigid shores, and almost all of the followers of Fëanáro had remained with the ships anyways. Within an hour the ships were gone, taking the half a day's ride across the Narrow Sea to the other shore.

When they arrived, they rested.