Category: Tolkien-Universe

Rating: M

Couples: Canon Ones

Warnings: AU

Chapter: 23

Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me

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Celegorm tracked through the underbrush, eyes firmly on the trail of the deer he'd shot. It had not been a clean shot, as by complete chance the beast had looked up straight at him as he'd been aiming his arrow and predictably bolted. Now he was chasing it down to give it a clean death, rather than let it die slowly and agonizingly.

"Sssh..." Someone was ahead of him, so he shifted his tread just a bit to keep from startling them. "Ah, Tyelkormo, great Hunter."

He didn't quite know the voice, though it was somewhat familiar. Someone he hadn't spoken to in a long while?

Sliding out from the underbrush, he blinked a few times. He'd come upon a small gathering of Ainur, but the woman at the center was not one he knew. In the middle of the small cluster was his deer, stretched out peacefully and no longer breathing, if he had the right of it.

"Hi dad!" Thuringwethil chirped in greeting, waving from her seat at the stranger's left. "Sorry, we stole your kill! But it was very frightened."

"And I cannot abide it." The tall shape to the stranger's right was near fully clad in covering dark robes and wraps, leaving only their mouth to be seen. Somehow, she managed to be even gloomier than her father and aunt.

"Ah, Þossaica, I apologize for my poor aim." It had been nearly a century since the birth of Thuringwethil and all the Maia of that generation had grown into their full power. "I had intended it to be a clean, quick kill. Not this mess." After a short hesitation he sank down onto the ground beside them all.

"I know." The barely visibly mouth quirked into a small smile. The younger daughter of Namó had not forgiven the House of Fëanor for the dread and fear that it had kindled in the First Age, but they were on politeness terms at least.

"Just don't be surprised if you find a crystal where it does not belong." Cilinaril patted the still form on the ground.

"I will remember it." He inclined his head, burning with the question as to who the very centrally placed person was.

"Is the Hunt near here?" Nixëlca asked softly, his slender form tucked against the far more massive one of his partner.

"It's on the move in this general direction. I decided to get dinner while waiting for them." He shrugged, looking over the deer. "Errrr... do you mind...?" He couldn't really leave it here, but to just start dressing it in front of all these guests.

"I would not keep you from what you love." The stranger chuckled, and he realized with a start that her eyes were closed. "Where's my blindfold, by the by?"

"Here." Thuringwethil passed over a red ribbon, delicately embroidered.

"Oh... Should I...?" He wasn't the most diplomatically - or socially able - but he knew enough that perhaps he should just leave if his presence meant that one of them had to be blindfolded.

"It's quite alright." Binding the ribbon across her eyes, the stranger assured him. "I can open my eyes when this is in front of them. We just can't make direct eye-contact, you and I."

"Oh, how come?" He watched her get up and move away some. Far enough that she wouldn't get blood on her clothes, but near enough they could keep conversing.

"Because to see into my eyes, is to see every love you've ever had and it might well throw open every bond you have full force. It will debilitate you for months at the least, kill you at the worst." Now he realized why she sounded and looked so familiar. Clearly he had missed the announcement that Mellissë had grown fully into her power recently, now being the Valie she'd been intended to be. "And I'd rather not explain that to Oromë and Vána."

"Much obliged." He inclined his head, before turning his attention to what had been intended as dinner, together with his daughter.