Celebrimbor watched as Kiera waved sadly to Maeglin as he rode off on his horse back to the city. The guards opened the gate behind them as he and Kiera walked through. A few of the guards waved or nodded politely at them as they passed. They walked in silence through the city with most of the residents glancing at them curiosity as they passed. Once they stepped into the main house, Alion was waiting for them in the entrance hall.
Celebrimbor handed over the letters, as Alion said, "prince Maeglin wrote me a short letter last night, informing me of what happened." Alion looked over at Kiera with a pained expression. "Please don't try to run again, as none of us want your death on our hands."
Kiera winced as she rubbed her neck awkwardly. "I'm sorry. I won't run again. Promise."
Alion nodded at them both. "Enjoy your free evening. I will read through the letters and speak with you in the morning on your work assignments." He left them then, as he headed back to this study.
Kiera started up the stairs in front of him, but he was already tense and on edge. She had forgiven him, but part of him still felt guilty and he would for some time. When they made it down the hallway, Kiera paused and turned to face him.
"Did you want to talk this afternoon?" she asked him softly as she bit her lip.
"Yes," he replied easily. "Let me put my things away and you can come into my room. We need to talk about this."
Kiera smiled as she nodded to him. Celebrimbor stepped into his room while she did the same. Feeling the need to do something, he quickly unpacked his bag and stuffed his clothes into the dresser. Grabbing his sketchbook and charcoal, he sat on his bed with his back against the headboard. He was a bundle of nerves as he waited, but he started sketching out a few things to put his mind at ease. Not in the mood to sketch difficult, he opted for the plains and the surrounding scenery.
Kiera knocked on his door as he called for her to come in. She smiled at him, but he could tell she was just a nervous as he felt. She made her way over to his bed and joined him, finding a comfortable spot beside him. Neither one of them spoke right away and Celebrimbor noticed that she was watching him draw and shade his landscape. He nearly choked when she hit him with her first words.
"This city is going to fall. Lord Ulmo gave the warning, but it will happen, and I can't stop it. Thorondor told me that the king has made his choice, and now it can't be undone."
Celebrimbor froze momentarily, his hand trembling as he gripped the charcoal. Kiera rested her head against his shoulder, and he resumed sketching, inhaling deeply to steady himself. "There is hope though," she murmured. "Maeglin is the one who betrays the city. Thorondor told me I can't change it because it is his destiny, but I can be his friend and help him make better decisions. He goes out searching for a new mine and is captured by orcs. They take him to Morgoth, and he tortures him for the location of the city. He gives it up and in the original story, he helps Morgoth in exchange for being king after and being given Idril."
Celebrimbor was enraged as he worked hard to control his emotions. He turned to face her as he asked, "how can you still befriend him. You know what he is going to do and you still try and want to be his friend?"
Kiera pulled back slightly, her eyes filled with a sadness that tugged at his heart. "He needs a friend, Cele. I am not condoning his future actions, and they are truly horrible" She shook her head slowly. "Idril is married to Tuor, and they have a son together. From what I remember, Maeglin was trying to kill their son and take Idril for himself, though I am unsure of his exact plans. I thought elves are married for life, so I don't understand that. Tuor found them before anything happened and threw him from the city walls. He is supposed to die, just like his father."
Celebrimbor felt a chill run down his spine at the mere thought of such heinous deeds. How could Maeglin be capable of such darkness? While his cousin was not the nicest elf, was he willing to do the unthinkable just to get Idril? Celebrimbor didn't know, but then he thought back to his uncle. Maedhros was nearly broken in the years he was a prisoner. Celebrimbor did not wish that torment on anyone, and he was willing to give Maeglin some leeway because of that. Still, Kiera knowing the truth and still wanting to befriend him, showed him the depths of her kindness and unwavering empathy.
He thought back to her question about Maeglin's motives for Idril and he cursed in Quenya. His hand stopped mid sketch as he closed his eyes, knowing full well what Maeglin's plans were for Idril. "I know something, but now is not the time," mumbled softly. "Keep talking, I need to hear everything you remember and know."
Kiera sighed beside him. "Idril gets some vision or dream, I think. My memory is spotty at best so I only know some of the more important and larger events that happen. However, she convinces Tuor to start building a tunnel out of the city. I think they keep it between themselves, maybe a few others, but almost no one in the city knows. During the fall, some people managed to escape, but not nearly enough." Kiera grew quiet then and Celebrimbor snapped his eyes open to look at her.
"How many?" he asked softly.
The sadness and heartache that was in her eyes, made Celebrimbor brace himself. However, that did nothing to stop the grief that ripped through him when she told him.
"1,000 maybe. I'm not really sure the exact number, but I remember the words that it was such a small amount compared to the population of the city." Kiera looked down then, unable to meet his eyes and Celebrimbor gasped out in horror. It was like Nargothrond all over again and he had he breath in and out deeply to push away the memories that were clawing to the surface.
Kiera added, "Maeglin told me that there are close to 30,000 people in Gondolin. But when I spoke to Thronodor, he gave me some advice. I need to trust my friends and hope that together we can come up with something to save more people."
Hope blossomed in his chest at her words, but the initial shock was still there. Thankfully, Kiera must have known as she remained quiet and just laced her fingers in with his as they sat side by side.
Celebrimbor squeezed Kiera's hand tightly, trying to process everything she had told him. The thought of Gondolin falling, of so many lives being lost, twisted his stomach into knots. He had already endured the trauma of Nargothrond's ruin and he didn't know if he could bear witnessing such devastation again.
But Kiera's words about hope, about finding a way to save more people, resonated deeply within him. He thought of his father and uncles, their stubborn defiance against the darkness no matter how bleak things seemed. That same fire burned in him and he wouldn't go down without a fight.
It was then that Celebrimbor felt a burning surge of affection for this remarkable woman from another world. She had walked into his life when he least expected it, but now that she was here, he couldn't imagine his life without her. Here she was, telling him this insane story, asking him for help to save the city. The same city filled with elves who looked at her like she was the scum on the bottom of their boots.
And yet, the more he thought about it, the more he knew that she would have kept trying anyways. Regardless if she had befriended him, or Tuor, or Idril, she would have kept trying to help and save the city. Celebrimbor thought she was one of the more amazing people he had ever had the pleasure of meeting and befriending. He silently thanked the one for bringing her into his life.
He then pulled her into a tight hug, crushing her with his arms as they wrapped around her. Kiera didn't mind as she squeezed him tightly in return. For a few long moments, all they did was relax in each other's embrace. "Thank you for trusting me with," he murmured against her hair. "I swear, I will do everything in my power to help."
Kiera hugged him back fiercely. "Oh Cele," she whispered. "Your my best friend, I can't imagine my life without you. I trust you with my life."
Celebrimbor squeezed her tightly before finally letting go. Kiera had some tears in her eyes, but he brushed the ones on her cheek away easily. "Alright," he breathed out steadily. "I think I need to hear everything about the fall."
She sighed softly, but then began to speak. "It is remembered as a terrible defeat, but some people manage to survive, including you, Tuor, Idril, and their son. I think most of the lords die, but Ecthelion, Glorfindel, and the king I remember. Ecthelion battles Gothmog in the square of the king. His arms are broken or will be broken in the fight, and he runs at Gothmog with the point of his helmet, and they fall into the fountain. He drowns, but they say he killed more balrogs and goblins than anyone else. I can't remember the exact amount, but the goblins remember his sword into the third age because he killed so many during the fall. The king hides in his tower and dragons pull it down with him in it."
Celebrimbor coughed at the death of the king, but it might be possible to change it. For now, he motions her to keep talking.
"Glorfindel escapes with the others. The survivors escape into the mountain pass, the same one I took. They get to the top and then a balrog and orcs came. Glorfindel fights against the balrog and defeats it as it falls off the cliff. The balrog cracked its wipe and snatches him by the hair and pulls him with him. He dies and Thorondor told me I can't change that one, as it's his destiny. The eagles come after and kill the rest of the orcs. Thorondor said he will come again and help the survivors get to the havens, but he wouldn't help during the fall."
Kiera was quiet then, giving him time to take all of the information in. "So what do we do?" He asked as he knew she had given some thought to this already.
"I have thought about telling the king, but I don't think he will believe me," Kiera admitted sadly. Celebrimbor was inclined to agree with her as the king wouldn't listen and there was a good possibility that she would end up worse than she was.
"My original plan was to help build the tunnel and make sure that it is big enough for everyone to escape. I am sure Idril and Tuor will help, and I want to tell the rest of my friends. If we try to leave, I think we will be sitting ducks in the plains. It is a long way to the havens and even if we convince the king, Morgoth will just send his army to the havens. They are not fortified except for Ulmo's protection, but I am not sure what that entails. What do you think?"
He dropped his sketchbook and turned to face her. "I will be honest and say I don't know. We have the protection here, and you are right about the havens. I have been there, and it is nothing more than a few villages, much like the one we are in now. There are no high walls or trained soldiers. Most of the people are fishermen and farmers. The only place besides here that is protected is Doriath. We could try to get people to leave there. King Thingol will take in everyone except the Noldor."
The pit in his stomach grew as Kiera shook her head sadly as she bit her lip anxiously. "We can't rely on Doriath. It falls before Gondolin. Cele, I don't know if I should tell you this or not. I want to, but it is going to be hard for you to hear, and you might not be able to stop it."
Whatever strength he had left crumbled in an instant. "My family goes after the Silmaril? Don't they?" He asked her softly.
"Yes."
His mouth was dry and it was hard to swallow. Knowing there is a oath and it affects his family was different then hearing that his worst fears are confirmed. The oath will consume then and they will stop at nothing to get it back.
"Is there another kinslaying? Is that why Doriath falls?"
"Sort of," Kiera replied. "Thingol puts the Silmaril in some necklace from Nargothrond."
"The Nauglamír?" He muses out loud. "That is the only one I can think of, but it is still in the city, none of the treasures survived the fall. We left with the clothes on our backs and nothing more."
"Yes, that one. I don't remember how it gets to Doriath, but it does. Thingol pays the dwarves to set the Silmaril in the necklace. I am not sure what happened; either he didn't pay them or they wanted to keep it for themselves. They kill Thingol and leave to the settlements in the east. Beren and Lúthien kill the dwarves and take it back. I am not sure what happens in between, but her son Dior gets it after they die and rules over Doriath. Melian left after Thingol died, so the protection faded. The sons of Feanor demanded the Silmaril and Dior refused. After, they attacked."
It was too much. All of it was too much and he was drowning from the information. Celebrimbor's mind reeled as he tried to process the enormity of what Kiera had just revealed. The thought of his family, driven by their cursed oath, unleashing such devastation upon Doriath left him feeling hollow inside. He had always known, deep down, that their vow would lead them down a dark path, but hearing it confirmed so starkly still shook him to his core.
He stood abruptly, his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he paced the room, trying to make sense of it all. How could he stand by, knowing what was to come, and do nothing? And yet, what could he do? The oath's power was absolute, binding his father and uncles to its will with an unbreakable force.
He whispered, "my father attacks, doesn't he? He had a grudge against Doriath ever since Lúthien rejected Celegorm. Do they all go, or just Celegorm and my father?"
"All of them, I think." Kiera replied quickly. Then he hit him with the words he was scared to ask. "They die. Your father, Celegorm and Caranthir. I'm sorry."
His eyes glaze over, and his body froze. Kiera reached out for him and pulled him back onto the bed. She comforted him and held him in her arms as he cried. It took him a long while to calm down, but then he whispered, "can I stop it?"
"I don't know. It might be their destiny, like Maeglin. Thorondor said I could try, but things could still happen the way they are meant to. I'm sorry I don't have the answers. I am running a little blind here, and I don't remember everything. We can try, though. I know we can't leave, but you can write a letter. Reach out to them, tell them you are alive and that you miss them. Tell them not to go after the Silmaril. I don't think the king will let you leave, but you can ask."
He shook his head into her shoulder. "He won't. He would kill me before he lets me leave. I can write a letter and try to convince them to give it up, but the oath is strong. They swore it against the One himself. They will never be free from it until they collect all of them. Maedhros told me could feel it pushing him and driving him. I fear for all of my family."
Kiera snuggled closer to him on the bed and he was so grateful for her in that moment. She rubbed softly circles across his back as she told him, "I will be here for you. I will help you write the letter, and we can work together on a plan. I accepted the punishment in the mines, so I can figure out how they build the tunnels. I could use some help, but I am a builder by trade."
Celebrimbor laughed softly, pulling back to gaze at Kiera's face. His head sank into her pillow as he placed a gentle hand on the curve of her waist. "I will help you with everything. I am so sorry for my words. I love you and I would die before I let anything happen to you. You're one of my best friends. I can't even remember the time before you came. It almost seems dull. I don't know anything about building or tunnels, but we can work on it together. I assume you are planning on telling Ecthelion and Glorfindel? They would be a great asset as lords of the guards in the city."
Kiera nodded eagerly, "yes. We have some time. I can't remember the exact date, but Idril and Tuor had a small son when the city fell. He might have been around 7 or 8, but I can't be sure. They are not even married yet, so we have time. I am also hoping to help Maeglin. He is going to come back to the city, and he will need help and a friend. Perhaps I can convince him to change for the better and protect the city. Only time will tell for that one."
He nodded and smiled as he knew that if anyone could convince Maeglin to change, it would be her. Curious, he asked, "what else do you know? Anything about my future?"
Kiera tensed beside him and he reached out to take her hand in his. "I do not want to know. Just tell me if my life will be alright for a while. You said I make it out of the fall, what then? Do I have a wife someday or children?"
Celebrimbor took it as a good sign that he would at least make it out of the city. Kiera looked like she was struggling to find the words to say, but then finally answered him. "You make it out and live in the havens for a while. I am still debating if I should tell you or anyone else the rest that I know. It is tricky because I could mess everything up big time. I will say I don't know much about you until the second age. I don't know if you had a wife and family, as the second age is hardly written about. I have hope, though, that you will find somebody."
"That is enough for me," he nodded at her as he gave her a warm smile. "Stay with me tonight. I could use a friend."
Kiera agreed and then the room to get changed. Celebrimbor put his sketchbook and supplies away and changed into his night clothes. He was under the covers and waiting for her when she returned. Kiera snuggled up to him instantly, and they both deeply out a deep sigh at being close to one another.
Feeling mentally drained, Celebrimbor lightened the mood by asking her to tell him stories about her childhood and family. They spent the remainder of the evening just sharing stories and enjoying each other's company. Eventually, Kiera fell asleep in his arms and he thanked the One for bringing her into his life as he drifted off into a restless sleep.