Category: Tolkien-Universe
Rating: M
Couples: -
Warnings: AU, blood, mentions of torture, character death, Loss of bodily autonomy (no Non-con)
Chapter: 57
Copyright: Characters & places © By Tolkien Estate, Plot & OC´s © by me
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
There was not enough space on the ship for all the new horses, so it was agreed that the riders would follow alongside - as much as a horse could keep up with a boat. Of course, that did not count for the four newly arrived Fëanorians, who entrusted their steeds to their guards and joined the boat.
"I informed myself." Nerdanel was seated on a coil of rope on the far end of the ship, Fëanor beside her. "Talking to healers and former prisoners alike, to know what I could expect."
"I heard some... from..." He looked over his shoulder at the second-eldest redhead, who was currently facilitating the meeting between the twins and Caranthir, who looked distinctly hunted. "But if I have to believe the others, Moryo's even worse than Nelyo was."
She briefly followed his line of sight, where her fifth-born was hiding his face in his brother's neck. "Eönwë arrived a few days ago, it's how we knew to travel south when we did." She ignored his narrowed eyes. "The Valar are allowing them to travel to Lorien for their healing, further from the Marring that hurt them. I doubt Curufin will want to take the option, but..."
His nostrils flared at the thought of sending his sons to the place his mother had never left when she had done so, but tellingly, he did not vocally argue. The wonders of Eä had not yet ceased.
"I think it's up to them." He ground out, gnarled hand clinging to the railing. A fierce glare was send West. "I just..." He jumped when she reached for said hand, trailing her thumb over some of the worst scars. It was the first they'd touched since she'd hit him over a decade ago.
"I think it's safe to say that we can entrust him to the in-laws." She pointed out softly, briefly gesturing over to Finarfin and Eärwen, who seemed to be in silent conclave about something, if their intense eye-contact was anything to go by.
He made a face at that statement, before turning back to glaring at the passing ocean. She could tell that a lot of things were broiling inside him, but had to wonder if things had changed enough he'd confide in her if she asked nowadays.
"We should let him know somehow, give him time to think it over." She instead stated, despite being as unable to approach her son as Fëanor was. "Let him choose what he thinks will help him better."
The elf she'd once shared her life with gladly snarled briefly, but still did not overly object.
"It's not that long anymore, until the decision has to be made. The other two houses will soon meet up as well, and then the Arafinweon branch will return to Valinor."
Finu's eldest sank through his legs, dangling them between the spurs of the railing as he leaned against one of them. "I wish I could have done something better." He admitted, eyes closed firmly. "Something faster. Kept him safe."
"Hindsight always shows us things we could have done better." She didn't fully lean against him, but she did scoot closer. "I have no doubt that Nolo spend a lot of time beating himself up over not making a different choice. Ingo as well, both of the Ingo's in fact. Perhaps even Gorthaur himself regrets some decisions he's taken that brought us to this point."
"That last one, I doubt." Fëanor muttered darkly, eyes still closed and hand digging into the pale wood of the boat they were on. "He's hardly in a worse position as he'd otherwise have been. He is making himself an empire, after all."
She hummed softly in answer, briefly looking south. A question no one could ever answer, whether different choices would have let to better outcomes. They'd have to deal with what they'd done, in the end, and make the best of that.