Celebrimbor
He was working in the forges when he heard the news. Word had trickled in from the gates that two humans and an elf had shown up unexpectedly. Everyone in the forges had turned to the stranger in the door, but then the elf gasped out, "Rhuidhen, it's Voronwë."
All eyes turned to the owner of the forge as he dropped his tools in shock. "What," he whispered.
The elf came in closer and said quickly, "Voronwë has returned. He is leading the two humans to the city. Elemmakil sent word to the king and our lord. Ecthelion bid me to you so that I could pass the message. Voronwë has returned to us, and they will arrive in the city this afternoon."
The sound that came out of Rhuidhen's mouth would be one he would remember forever. His friend had to steady himself with the table as he clutched his chest. "My nephew…" he whispered. "My nephew has returned."
The guard that came to pass the message nodded at all of them and left. Celebrimbor shared a look with his friends as they all came over to Rhuidhen. He had now taken a seat at the table while he stared blankly at the wall. Echrodon got close to Rhuidhen and patted him warmly on the back, and offered encouraging words. Celebrimbor and Harmon started cleaning up his station and putting out the fires.
Then they finished up their own work and put out all the fires. By the time they were finished, it was midday, and they had enough time to get some food before the newcomers arrived. The group made their way to their home and took their normal spots around the table. Harmon got to work cooking as Celebrimbor, and Echrodon listened to stories about Voronwë and his parents.
When he was listening, his heart clenched in his chest about his own family. He felt an immense amount of guilt as he watched Rhuidhen's eyes lit up with the knowledge that his nephew was home. Would his own family do the same if they heard about him? He wanted to believe it more than anything, but the gagging voice in his head told him that they deserved to suffer. His family were not good people.
He was though, and continued to try and be a good person everyday. It was hard for him not to lash out at the petty elves in the city or to ignore the rumors and looks they gave him.
While he had a small group of friends here, he had lost a lot. The devastation of Nargothrond was always coming back to the forefront of his mind, and he knew it would be like that for a while. A part of him felt guilty that he had made it out of the city as it crumbled to ruin behind him. He knew that it was survivors' guilt as he fought in the battle, but was able to get away with the other survivors to Doriath. Once they arrived, he was denied entry and forced to leave. Harmon and Echrodon were the only two who came with him, but he could not fault the others for staying. Doriath was safe, and after fleeing a dragon, Celebrimbor wanted to be safe too.
It was a reckless decision to try and find the hidden passage to Gondolin. He knew vaguely where it was, but he couldn't bring himself to go south to his family. His other two companions, who were brothers, came with him without a word, and they wandered aimlessly around the mountains until they stumbled upon the pass. When the three were brought to the city, Turgon wanted to kill him on sight, but Idril managed to talk her father down from that decision. Although, it was only because the king did not want to be a kinslayer.
Yet, Celebrimbor would not back down from his family and also threatened to write to his family should any harm befall him here. It was dirty and underhanded, but part of him did not trust his relatives. And so, now he was protected here for the time being under the threat of his family coming to rescue him. His father and uncle would be proud of his cunning ways, but he had to do what he did to survive. There was a difference.
Thankfully, since his arrival, the king and his new cousin Maeglin left him alone. He spotted Maeglin's spies watching him, but he wasn't concerned. As long as they did not harm him, he would continue to do what he loved; being a craftsman. Having only been in the city for a few months, he managed to scrape by enough coins to live comfortably. He certainly wouldn't complain much, but he did wish that people would buy his works in the city.
Startled out of his musings of the past and his family, Harmon dropped off the food, and they all settled in to eat. Once finished, the four of them left the house and joined the long line of elves heading to the palace. While they walked, he heard the horns sound for the arrival of the newcomers.
"Hurry," Rhuidhen cried. "I will miss him if we don't hurry."
Their group picked up the pace, but it was futile the closer they got to the city center. Elves were clamoring over themselves to make their way toward the main square. Rhuidhen exclaimed, "please move. I need to see my nephew…ouch…stop pushing…I can not…owe that was my foot…."
Celebrimbor was assaulted on all sides as the entire city was scrambling to push their way into the city. While he was being pushed, poked, and prodded, he heard the disgusting rumors being flung around.
"A human man, did you hear….Oh, I would love to try a mortal….There is a human woman as well….Very tall he is, while she is very short….Look at her hair and face….You can smell them all the way back here…..the woman is wearing tight clothing…..probably a harlot….Think she will be interesting in bedding an elf…."
Celebrimbor scoffed and glared at the elf closest to him. A few shot him with pointed looks, and then the rumors began of him and his family. He heard the slight rumblings of his family bedding mortals, but then he had heard enough. He found Harmon's eyes and nodded to him as he turned away from the crowd and started to push his way back out.
Once he was free of the crowd, he sighed, relieved. Harmon managed to sneak up behind him, and he jumped when he stood next to him. Harmon arched his brow and asked, "I figured you would be used to the rumors by now."
"I am," he huffed. "I don't enjoy being pushed and prodded while the city insults the newcomers. It's like they have never seen a human before."
"Most haven't," Harmon mused. "I have asked around, and most of the elves in the city came straight from Nevrast. They followed Turgon and never left. Only the soldiers left to fight in the war, and less than half came back. Besides, the last time there were humans in the city, the king let them stay for a year and kept them close to the palace. Most of the city has never seen a human before."
Celebrimbor was annoyed, "this place," he muttered.
Harmon just chuckled but added, "yes, this city. I do not mind it, though. We have a nice home, a forge to work in, friends, wine, parties, and food. We could be much worse off."
"I know," he replied.
The two friends stood outside the crowd and watched the chaos with interest. It was about an hour later that the crowd started to turn back and head to their homes. Celebrimbor waited for Rhuidhen to come out of the crowd. When he did, his face was overcome with sadness while Echrodon told them, "it is no use now. The newcomers have made their way into the palace with the lords."
Rhuidhen looked determined as he said, "I am going to Egalmoth's home. I need to see my nephew or know that he is alright." He took off without a look back at them. Echrodon sighed but followed after him quickly.
Harmon and Celebrimbor made their way home. They both spoke to people on their way and gathered as much information as they could. Rumors were flowing easily from people's mouths, and many were celebrating, hoping that the Valar would let them return him. Celebrimbor knew better, and there was no way home.
—-
The next day after dinner, he stepped into the forge to work. Harmon and Echrodon were both working, but they looked to be finishing up. Each of them worked on their projects, but the two brothers looked to be finishing up. Curious, he asked, "have either of you seen the new arrivals?"
Harmon spoke first, "no. The king has them locked up in the palace currently. Rhuidhen says that Voronwë is bringing the woman over tonight for dinner. They might stop in to buy some jewelry as the princess has given the woman some coins."
He hummed in response but then asked, "I have heard mumblings around the city about her already. People can be quite cruel with gossip, and I despise how isolated this city is. Hopefully, she is open to meeting new people. I've always wanted to befriend a mortal woman. Caranthir often spoke highly of Haleth and her people. Are the rumors true, though? This woman is from another world?"
Harmon just shrugged, "it seems to be. All of the lords were talking, and word had spread. Tuor and Kiera have the blessing of Ulmo. I can't imagine a Valar lying about the woman's past. That is if you believe the Valar or believe Tuor's tale."
It was Celebrimbor's turn to shrug. Ulmo has been more involved in this world since the Valar fenced off Valinor. He was inclined to believe it to be true, but he would wait until he spoke to the humans himself. The idle gossip of the city turned his stomach, but he used any information he could as his own safety in this city relied on it.
"Well, I am excited to meet her. I hope she hasn't heard too much about my family on her travels. It would be nice to speak to her about another world."
The brothers agreed with him, and then they focused on cleaning up their stations. He tinkered around on his bracelet for a while until they bid him goodbye. He worked a little more with the small gems before setting them aside to work on his other project. Moving to the open flames, he started to stoke the fire to get it ready for the raw material.
His back was turned when he heard the door open. Glancing around, his heart stopped in his chest. It was a strange feeling as he looked at the human woman that just entered. Her green dress fit her snugly, although it was much too long for her. While female elves were tall and slender, the human was more voluptuous. Her chest was much larger than most elves, and her hips wider, but her body was portioned, and he caught the slightly toned muscles in her arms. His eyes lingered longer than he should as his heart hammered in his chest. He shook himself out of the strange feeling and put on a large, warm smile.
"Good evening, my lady. I heard that Rhuidhen might bring the human woman that has the city in an uproar. I'm honored to meet you. I am Telperinquar."
"Hello, I'm Kiera, and it's nice to meet you. I apologize in advance if I say your name wrong. It is quite a mouthful."
Kiera smiled at him as he chuckled. Yes, his name was definitely a mouthful for a human. He grinned with mirth, "you may call me Cele instead. My name is difficult to pronounce. I'm happy to meet another newcomer to the city. I have yet to explore all of it, and I wouldn't mind some company."
"Sure," Kiera exclaimed. "I thought this city was hidden, but you recently came here as well?"
He frowned as he replied, "yes, I came to this city a few months ago after the fall of Nargothrond. A few survivors managed to escape north. We had no provisions, but we managed to find the hidden entrance. The king let us stay, though he wasn't thrilled. Rhuidhen was one of the few who offered their workshop to me. My companions and I are all craftsmen and survivors of the fall."
"I'm sorry, that must be difficult to talk about," Kiera responded as a sad look crossed her face. He felt the sincerity in her words, and he knew that she understood the loss. "I don't really know much about the history of this world, but I'm learning. I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your home. I'm sure you lost a lot of your friends and family, and that must be hard."
He nodded numbly, "I am from Valinor, but it was my home here. Many of my friends were lost. I am glad to be welcomed into this city, though. We would not have made it very far otherwise." Eager to leave the nightmares of Nargothrond behind, Celebrimbor stepped over to the table. "Come, join me at the table. I am curious to hear about what history you know."
Kiera sat across from him as he pulled up a chair. Rhuidhen headed for a door in the back while Voronwë said, "we will go pick out some jewelry you might like. Stay here for a moment. We will be back shortly."
He smiled at her but waited till they were both in the backroom. "I'm curious to hear what you have been told so far. I have been told you are from a different world. I never get the opportunity to ask humans about elven history. Tell me, what do you know about the Feanorians?"
Kiera scrunched up her face as she pondered his question. While she did, he spent a little bit more time admiring her features. Her hair and eyes stood out the most to him, as they were unique. He had the strong urge to reach out and run his hands through her golden-brown hair, but he didn't know what brought that on. Kiera was beautiful, and while she was not an elf, her soft features and unique look set her apart. He studied her for a little longer and then reached out with his magic.
Celebrimbor wasn't expecting much, but he was shocked that he felt a soft light within her. It confused him greatly, but he wondered if that was the blessing of the Valar or perhaps something from her world. Either way, he believed her now without questions and was eager to get to know her better.
Kiera finally shrugged, "not much. I know Feanor had seven sons, and he made three silmarils. I know why everyone left Valinor, but not anything in great detail. I think all of his sons are still around, but I'm not sure."
"What do you know about his sons," Celebrimbor asked eagerly.
A deep crease formed across her brow as she replied, "Well, there's the hot one with one hand."
"What do you mean by hot?" He asked, confused. "Like fiery hot? Or perhaps hair that is the color of flames?"
She shrugged again, but a soft blush formed on her cheeks. "You know, like attractive. They say the red-haired one is very handsome and has one hand now. His cousin rescued him, I think, or his friend. He had to cut off his hand to save him. I can never remember his name, but I think it starts with an M."
"Yes, Maedhros. What else?" he replied. The fact that his uncle's attractiveness was still talked about with all the scars and injuries proved how handsome he really was.
"There's the one that is good at singing and playing. Maglor, if I remember right."
Ah, she remembered one. Celebrimbor nodded eagerly and then waved his hand for her to keep going. He was not surprised that she remembered Maglor's name. He was considered one of the greatest musicians in all of Arda. He was also the kindest and softest of his uncles.
"There are twins, I think. I don't know much about them, but I know they also have red hair."
"Amrod and Amras are the youngest, and both have red hair. What about the rest?" Celebrimbor asked with a little more uneasiness. They were getting down to his father, and he hoped that she wouldn't run away screaming.
Kiera just smiled and replied, "the last few always confuse me as they have similar names. I know one is a craftsman, and one has a dog. Or he had a dog. I think it left him for being horrible…not really sure. Another one is friends with dwarves and is friendly to humans. I can't remember their names, though, but I know they all start with a C."
Celebrimbor sighed, "yes, they do. Celegorm had a dog named Huan, who was a gift from Lord Oromë. He left him to join Beren and Lúthien on their quest. He is known for having silver hair and for talking to animals. He is also known for being 'hot' as you say."
Kiera laughed, and he chuckled along with her. He continued, "Caranthir is called the dark. He is friendly to the dwarves and welcomes humans into his realm. He is the richest of all the brothers, as he openly trades with the dwarves."
He rubbed his chin between his fingers as he sighed. He replied softly and with a grimace, "the last one is called Curufin, and he is known for being a great craftsman."
He waited for Kiera's reaction, but she just stared at him with a questioning gaze. His heart thumped in his chest as he stared off in the distance as she asked him tentatively, "were you friends or something? Is that why you are asking me about them, or did you serve them like Voronwë's uncle?"
Wanting to avoid the question, he asked instead, "what do you think about them? Do you hate them for what they did?"
"I don't hate anyone," Kiera replied quickly. "I just got to this world, and I'm still learning. Honestly, I think their story is a sad one. I know they attacked and killed elves just for ships, but I know the oath they took also played a part. It's not really my place to judge them. They will have to live with their actions forever. If they had found me instead of Tuor and Voronwë, maybe I would feel different. I know that the king wanted to kill me just for being human, which doesn't sit right with me. If I weren't with Tuor and Voronwë, he probably would have."
Yes, Celebrimbor had to agree with her there. The king would have certainly had her killed if she showed up to the city alone. A couple of rumors floated to his ears about the lord's meeting. He was not impressed with the king or Maeglin, and he was beginning to wonder how mentally stable the king was. Losing his wife, his father, sister and brothers might be too much for him. Celebrimbor was thankful the lords were not in agreement with the king, but he vowed to watch his family more closely now.
"The king would have killed you if you showed up alone," he told her honestly. It was no use lying to her as she had already guessed the same. "As for the Feanorians, they respect and treat humans well, and many live in their halls and castles. Honestly, the king almost killed me, too, so you are not alone."
"Why, what did you do to him? Is the king that terrible of a person that he goes around killing people?" Kiera asked as her face transformed into shock.
Celebrimbor chuckled and smirked at her, "oh no, he is well deserved in his hatred for me. Although, I think his anger is misplaced. Because of my family, his wife died on the grinding ice. I am a Feanorian, and Curufin is my father."
Kiera blinked at him, and he saw all the pieces all into place in her mind. Tentatively, she bit her lip and asked, "Celebrimbor?"
It was odd that she knew his name already, but he assumed that someone must have warned her about him already. Smiling, he said, "yes, it is nice to meet you. I'm sorry for my deception. I wanted to see how you would react to my family before you found out. I like humans, and I would like to be your friend, but sometimes my family's mistakes make it hard for me to get to know anyone. I understand if you would not like to be around me, but I would appreciate your company if you do."
Kiera waved her hand dismissively at him, "it doesn't bother me. Honestly, I could use all the friends I could get. I probably won't be well-liked in the city, either. You have done nothing to me, and I won't hold your family against you. I had no idea you would be in Gondolin, though."
Her words warmed his heart, and he couldn't stop himself as his face broke out in a happy grin. "Thank you, that means a lot. I will happily be your friend. I do not believe you to be a servant of the enemy. The Valar do not give their blessings easily, and I trust Tuor and Voronwë's word. Some of these elves have lived too long in isolation and have been accustomed to the peaceful city."
Kiera's eyes shown at his words, and he knew that he said the right thing to her. He guessed that not many people believed her story, but he did. It was hard not to once he reached out with his magic. She had been blessed by a powerful being, or the light that he felt might be the residue magic that brought her here. He felt no darkness within her, and surprisingly, the warm light was comforting. It shocked him most that others had not tried to reach out and do the same. Regardless of that fact, her very appearance, speech, and mannerisms were unique. He was eager to get to know her more and learn about her world.
He continued, "we welcomed many humans in Nargothrond, and I befriended many of them. I opted to stay there after my father and uncle were kicked out," he paused and grimaced again. "I could not leave with them, as I found both their actions and words repulsive. They fled the city alone, and their people stayed with me."
A cough sounded from the back doorway and turned around to see Voronwë and Rhuidhen leaning in the door frame. Celebrimbor was so focused on the conversation that he had not heard them return.
"If you are done testing her," Rhuidhen said. "I have some jewelry I would like her to see." He raised up the pieces in his hands and walked over to the table.
Celebrimbor nodded sheepishly and made room for them on the table. While Rhuidhen laid out his works on the table, Voronwë scolded him, "I told you she wouldn't care who you are related to. She is kind and compassionate and would have been your friend regardless."
He shrugged, "I had to be sure. I didn't know what she had heard, but at least I can tease my uncle the next time I see him. Not many women would call Maedhros attractive anymore. Most run away screaming at the sight of him and my uncles." Celebrimbor winked at her and noticed the soft blush form across her cheeks. He laughed softly as she rolled her eyes at him and chuckled. Cupping his hands together, he grinned mischievously, "let us pick out some jewelry and spend my cousin's money. The little brat deserves it."
Kiera moved around the table and started looking at all of the pieces. There were two necklaces, four rings, and two bracelets. Both necklaces were large pieces with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires strung between silver strands. The only difference between the two was the number of jewels.
Celebrimbor watched as she looked over the jewelry. Kiera smirked softly to herself as she picked the ones with the most jewels and gems. Celebrimbor was a bit disappointed that she moved past all of the rings as those were his favorite. Kiera's eyes lit up when she picked up one of the two bracelets. It was a nature-themed one with small birds, flowers, and trees crafted in silver. He made a mental note that she liked that one the best so he could make pieces like it. Perhaps, she would purchase some from him in the future.
The last piece was another bracelet made from gold. It was a simple piece with different colored jewels wrapped around in a rainbow. Kiera's brow furrowed in confusion as she asked, "is this made for someone's house? It looks familiar."
Rhuidhen told her, "Egalmoth's house symbol is similar to the design. Many people in our house are my regular customers. If you like it, I insist you buy it. It has been sitting for a while, as I have seen many similar styles before."
She agreed, and then he helped Rhuidhen pack up the rest of the jewelry while Voronwë counted out the coins to his uncle. Deciding to be bold and honest, he asked,
"how long is my cousin paying for your expenses? I'm in need of some customers, and if you would like, I can make some expensive jewelry for you to buy."
That made her smirk as she nodded savagely, "yes, please. He is paying for our expenses until we get settled. He called me a lot of foul names, so whatever you want to create, I'll happily buy. Idril spent a lot of money today on my clothes and told me to spend his money."
Celebrimbor threw his head back and laughed. He then clapped his hands excitedly. "Perfect, I can start making some pieces tomorrow. Come by in a few days to pick what you like. If I see my cousin, I will have to tell him that I'm making jewelry for you; his face would be priceless."
They all laughed together, but then a flicker of fear crossed Kiera's face. She bit her lip and said softly, "I don't want to get you in trouble or cause problems."
He waved her worries away by smiling warmly at her and laughing. He barked out, "don't worry about Maeglin. He is terrified of me. He thinks any moment I will send a letter to my father. My father and uncles have been looking for me since the fall, but I haven't sent word yet that I am alive. He and Celegorm would be here as soon as possible."
"If they are allowed in this city, they would likely sway people to their side. Maeglin and the king know this, and that was the only reason they let me stay, on the condition I agree not to tell them." He shrugged, "I'm fine with it for now, but eventually, I would like to tell my father I am alive. I want to make sure I'm happy here, and no one in this city is treating me poorly." he smirked at her with a knowing look.
Voronwë and his uncle chuckle, and Kiera's shoulders slump in relief. She let out a soft sigh and offered him a small smile. Voronwë said it was time for them to go, so Kiera wished them both a good evening and left. Once the door closed behind him, he let out a soft sigh as Rhuidhen arched his brow at him.
He just smiled as he went back to working on his pieces. He muttered softly, "I think Kiera and I are going to be great friends."