winterborn

Author: Az (Azmodan76@yahoo.co.uk)

Homepage: http://www.nad-no-ennas.net

4 - AN: yes... Celebrimbor is actually canonwise Curufin’s son, Tolkien never gives an explanation to his mother.. bab baby just kinda pops up as far as Iw. Aw. And I just couldent resist to add a little elfling, with all the angst going on here. More elflings to come tho’

Betaed by; Calad my darling little pet elf

Rating: R (eventually N17)

Disclaimer: none of these characters are mine, sad but true.

Summary: on ion is leaving Himring & the little family get a surprise.

Warninangsangst, AU, & elflings

Pairings: (over all) Amrod/Elured Maedhros/Fingon Maeglin/Maglor & Maeglin/Eöl implied
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Chapter 5 - I am the need you have for more

Maglor was trying to get used to the c bei being on his head; it seemed too big and uncomfortable, and as heavy as if the world was on his shoulders. He had spent all day discussing with Caranthir and Maedhros’ advisors; most of these advisors were from when their father was alive. Maglor had felt them all corner him on the matter of the prisoner. Caranthir wanted to start interrogating the elf now. But Maglor knew what Caranthir meant with interrogations, it did not involve tea and a chat in the garden, and what his brother had in mind just seemed so beastly, violent and wrong.

But all the advisors had screamed and yelled about Fëanor and his enharitage, and that he owed this to his brothers as well. And he had given in, he had signed the papers giving Caranthir free hands with the prisoner. Maglor felt a icy feeling grip his stomach; he couldn’t believe he had done just that, the poor elf, he was not even at the twins age, and Carir wir would submit him to things Maglor didn’t even want to know existed, that poor child. But on the other hand he knew it was right, they did need to know where Dior’s daughter had escaped to. He suddenly understood why Maglor loathed his title so.

He had not even heard Fingon come until the other elf laid his hands on his shoulders and started to massthe the tense muscles. “Ah, thank you dear cousin.”

“Anything for my king.” Fingon teased.

Maglor laughed, a hollow laughter, as he laid back his head to look at the other elf. “How come you seek me out here in this secluded spot? Can I help you with something?”

“No, you can’t help me.ngonngon said with a sad sigh and sat down next to the king. “I am leaving Himring.” He paused and looked away. “I’ve lingered here long enough.”

“Oh Fingon...” Maglor whispered “I- I- I am sorry...”

“Leave that to me Maglor. You have been a true friend, but... I can’t live like this.” Fingon said pulling his leg up so his chin rested on his knees. “Nothing will change his mind, I suspect.”

Maglor wrapped an arm around his distressed cousin. “I am afraid not. I really tried Fingon...” He used his free hand to take his crown off, tossing it to the ground, before leaning up against his cousin’s frame. “I have prayed that he would listen.”

“It is as I feared then...” Fingon whispered, “His heart is dead to me.”

“Don’t say that.” Maglor whispered back. “He is just hurt and confused, perhaps if we--”

“You know?” Fingon cut in, “When he smiled at me the first time, smiled that special smile, only for me... I had never seen anybody tharvelrvellous... He was grand- no he was... larger than life.”

Maglor heard the suppressed tears in Fingon’s voice angun gun to soothingly caress his cousin’s hair.

Fingon continued without looking at Maglor. “When he told me that he desired me, I thought the ground would swallow me whole. To think something this magnificent had noticed me, let alone wanted to let me kiss him. We knew it was dangerous, but we were so self-assured in our love that we did not care, until he was taken away...” Fingon’s voice shivered with sorrow as he allowed his tears to flow. “He never once promised me something, so that he is to reject me now.. Is...” He looked at Maglor for the first time. “You will never leave his side, will you?”

“No,” Maglor said, “that I promise.”

“That will be my comfort then. When I cannot stay by his side, I will be at peace knowing that you will be.” Fingon whispered.

“It should be you who is by his side, not me...” Maglor said, feeling tears of his own sting his eyes.

“No, sweet cousin, he does not wish for me to be there.” Fingon said, upon seeing the distress on his beloved’s brother’s face. He smiled sadly, and caressed Maglor’s cheek. “It’s nobody’s fault.”

Maglor smiled back. “I just wish that he was not this stubborn.” He sighed and rested his forehead against his cousins. “I guess I hoped that he would look at one of your gifts, or listen to your whispers. And as long as you stayed,re wre would be hope that he would..” Maglor drifted off, not finding the words for his feeling, but the look Fingon gave him showed him his cousin understood.

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That evening Maglor went into his brother chamber and sat down on the bed. “Maitimo?” MaedMaedhros mumbled half asleep.

“Fingon approached me today in the gardens, and he told me he is leaving for home.” Maglor said watching his brother closely. “Do you wish to see our cousin before he leaves?”

“You are the king now, there is no need for me to be present.” he said slightly annoyed at being woken.

“What if I told you he wanted you present?” Maglor said, knowing too well he was grasping at straws, but it broke his heart to see them both so miserable.

“Let me sleep...” Maedhros sneered.

“But..”

“Leave me!” Maedhros hissed, and pulled the cover over his head.

“As you wish...” the younger brother mumbled, and rose from the bed, “But you are making a big mistake Maedhros.”

“But one of many, little brother, now leave me in peace.”

“Good night then.” Maglor said and left the room, choosing to ignore the heart-wrenching sob he heard from behind the door.
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Before the sun rose and all of Himring was sleeping, a figure hurried over the plains outside its gates, carrying a bundle of cloths. guarguards who should have been alert were sitting in their enclosure having some warm herb tea, trying to stay awake at these grey hours just before the sun broke.

The woman with the bundle made it to the large gates and laid down the bundle. She quickly stepped away as were she reconsidering, but after a minute she turned and ran back the way she had come.

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Later the same morning, Fingon was standing in the stables together with Aegnor and Angrod. They had said they would follow the path for a short distance towards their own home. And right now they were all saddling their horses making sure all the provisions where there.

Maglor, Caranthir, Amras and Amrod had come to the stables as well to see their cousins off

“I hope that the next we we see each other it will be under happier circumstances.” Caranthir said.

“So do we all.” Angrod said with a sad smile.

“I hope everything is satisfactory...” Maglor said.

“Oh, it’s perfect.” Fingon said, and patted his friend on the shoulder. “I could feed an entire army off the lembas given to me by your mother.”

Amrod laughed. “You won’t be saying that after you have lived off them for a month.”

“You speak wisely, Pitya!” Angrod laughed, “I never liked them either.”

“I will go and make sure the gates are opened.” Amras said and left the gathering in the stables.

He went over to the gates on the other side of the main courtyard and stuck his head into the guards in the enclosure. “Are you awake in there?”

“Yes, lord Amras.” two sleepy voices replied.

“Very well,” Amras said with a merry tone. “I need the gates to open.”

“Yes lord Amras, right away.” a guard said, and went over to the lever system that would make the huge gates open wide. Amras stood and watched the gate swing open on its large iron hinches until he suddenly saw something. If the doors kept opening it would hit whatever it was. “Stop, do not open the gate further!” he yelled, but the gate was making such a noise no one heard him. He decided to run and pick up the strange bundle.

He grabbed it, and walked back into the courtyard peeling off the cloth. His eyes widened when he saw two large dark blue eyes staring back up at him. “An elfling?!” He gasped. “This cannot be!”

Just at this second, the rest of the family came out from the stables. Finrod, Aegnor and Angrod high on horses and the rest walking beside. “Maglor? I think I found something....” Amras said in an oddly stiff voice as were he about to be bitten by a viper.

Maglor walked over to his brother, and looked down in the cloths “A elfling?! Where on earth did you find this?”

“Right outside the gates.” Amras said, still mesmerised my the eyes of the infant. “Had I not grabbed it, the gates would have crushed it.”

“Who is insane enough to leave an infant there? And....” Amrod said hurrying over to his brothers.

“It seems to have a message attached...” Amras said, prying out a mashed piece of paper from the cloths.

“Go hand over this infant to mother. She has held them before, and will surely know what to do. We will see our cousins off, and then join you to read the note.” Maglor said, looking at Amras.

Amras nodded in understanding and left.

“Most strange...” said Fingon from his horse.

“Indeed.” answered Maglor.

“Write me and when you solve the mystery.”

“I promise.” Maglor said with a smile. “Farewell cousins, and let there not be too many years until we next see each other, and let there be song and dance.”

“And wine.” Aegnor chuckled.

“A plenty!” Amrod laughed.

And with that, the three elf lords set out from Himring. Only one of them looked over his shoulder, but sadly turned in his saddle again, not seeing what he had wished.
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Nerdanel starred at the child. “What a beautiful child...” she mumbled, and rocked it slowly. The baby slowly closed its eyes savouring the close human contact it had been without for hours. “Now read me the letter, my son.” Nerdanel said, and looked at Amras.

Maglor, Amrod and Caranthir came into the room that very moment, so Amras started to read.

When he stopped, everyone was looking absolutely confused. “Curufin? Curufin had a baby?” Amrod whispered, stunned.

“Well technically, it had to be his wife who had it.” Amras said, and pushed his brother playfully.

“Show off!” Amrod hissed back, and then looked up at Maglor. “But I didn’t know Curufin was married...”

“He wasn’t.” Caranthir said, and sat down with a strained sigh. “She must really have wanted a child.”

“Yes...” Maglor said, “This is most strange. She must have chosen to be impregnated without Curufin knowing it, and the Valar must have granted her that.”

“But...” Amrod mumbled looking from Caranthir to Maglor and back again.

“Why would she then leave it here?” Amras said, “I mean if she wanted it so much.”

“That, my sweet little brother, I am afraid we will never know.” Maglor said, and ruffled Amras’ hair teasingly.

“His name is Celebrimbor.” Nerdanel suddenly said “*he* is not an *it*.”

“Forgive us mother,” Caranthir said, “We are not used to wee ones.”

Maglor stood for a minute and watched Nerdanel holding the sleeping infant. “He will stay here, I see it already. He is lifting mother’s spirit.” He smiled at Nerdanel. “Would you wish to raise yet another infant?”

Nerdanel smiled back at her son. “I think Celebrimbor decided that for me.”

“Then its final, he shall stay here as one of us, in honour of his father.” Maglor said. “I will have a stone raised next to father’s memory stone, for our lost brothers, so his son will have somewhere to go and see the earthly memory of his own father.”

The three other brothers nodded in unison, and thus the household gained yet another elf.

-tbc-