House of the Golden Flower

I woke at midmorning, my eyes bleary and my head aching from crying. Turgon was a clingy, sweating hulk firmly attacho boo both me and the heavy pile of blankets. Remembering the events of the previous day, I sighed and tightened my lips, cuddling Turgon closer to me while he was still vulnerable in sleep.

If he’d been disposed to be merciful to Eol last night, he certainly wouldn’t be now. And thus, a dark duty awaited this day, that would surely end in death as a fitting judgment for one certain haughty dark elf. And though I was sorrowed over Aredhel, I knew that such a sentence would only be just.

Turgon woke before much time had passed as I lay there trying to collect my thoughts, contemplating endlessly. He looked at me. "Glorfindel, beloved." He rasped.
"I forgive, Turgon, I forgive." I told him, looking deep into his eyes.
"Then you do what I cannot. I must see to it. Will you stand with me?" He asked.
"I will follow you in all that you do." I assured him, and he held me close and laid many desperate kisses on my brow, as desperate as a baby’s first breath. I kissed what I could reach of him with utmost tenderness, his jaw, his neck, and his shoulder.

Then he rose and bathed and began to dress, and I took the bath after him even though it was cold, and he waited for me. When I was dressed we ate the light meal the servants brought, and then kissed once more, for courage and comfort, and then we left the room we shared as lovers and equals, and became a nobleman and his king, our social masks firmly in place.

When Eol was brought into the throne room in bonds to stand before Turgon, with Meaglin on his left and Idril on his right, Turgon sentenced him without mercy, saying, "For the murder of Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, Eol shall be cast into the precipice from the city walls on Caragdur. Is it just?" He addressed those gathered and Eol in general.

And I with the people all answered in one accord: "It is just."

And so Turgon rose and motioned that Eol be led away there, and Idril and Meaglin and I and as many of the people who would go followed them, and when we all stood on Caragdur there was silence, and Meaglin, standing aside, appeared as aloof as ever. Idril stood closer to me, and took my hand in hers, and I squeezed it in silent comfort as the guards awaited Turgon’s signal.

Turgon stood motionless, looking at Eol a long time, and Eol looked at him as proudly as ever. Turgon broke his gaze, and his hand rose from his side to give the signal. Eol spoke then, looking at Meaglin. "So you forsake your father and his kin, ill-gotten son! Here shall you fail of all your hopes, and here may you yet die the same death as I." Turgon gave the signal, and Eol was cast over the Caragdur.

Meaglin’s features seemed fixed, and Idril turned and hid her face in my chest wordlessly, as Turgon turned away form thene ane and started back to the shelter of his palace. As he passed me his eyes met mine, and I saw grief and anguish and anger and pain, but worst of all, there was no recognition in them for me or for his own daughter.

The people also scattered, and Meaglin and Idand and Ecthelion and I were the only ones soon left on Caragdur with the guards, the wind blowing at the silence between us. Seeing that Idril was exhausted by grief and loss and that she leaned heavily on me, quite unable to stand, no less walk, I picked her up and cradled her to my chest, carrying her all the distance back to the palace. Meaglin’s glare cooled my back as I turned and walked away.

I laid Idril on her bed and left her once more in the care of her maidens, and then I went to seek my grieving mate.

I found him in the throne room, curled in his seat on the dais with his cloak over his face. I walked in quietly and shut the door behind me, instructing the guards with my eyes that none was to enter. He did not look at me or move as I approached.

Sweat trickled down my back as I sat at his feet and waited.
When there was no response from him, I leaned forward against his knees and was still or a moment, before commencing with my own sorrows. His sister, so long lost, was returned to us only to be struck down with a poison dart.

And our recompense for it was surely no better than the deed itself, for as cold as Meaglin appeared, he had lost both his parents at once, and such a blow he was not deserving of. Presently, Turgon laid his hand on my head, and I clung to his legs, rising on my own knees.

Aware of how uncomfortable the position was on me, heed med me off after a moment and took me in his arms. We sat in the throne together, leaning on one another for strength, and I drew his cloak over us both despite the sweltering heat.