Story: Arkenstone

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

Title: Arkenstone
Rating: General
Notes: This is an AU and despite the title most of this story is set in the Silmarillion period. Reread The Hobbit after The Silmarillion and the description of the Arkenstone sounds strangely familiar.

 

Arkenstone

 Radsvinn, Lord of Khazad-dum, was not easily over-awed, but the object that lay on the table was fit to deprive even a Dwarf of coherent speech. 

“Re.mark.able,” he managed at last. “Astonishing. And it was made, you say?”

“It was made. I should know,” his guest replied.

 Radsvinn traced the object again with his fingers, still with reverence, but this time with a more observant quality to his touch. He bent forward also, narrowing his eyes, as he studied the casing.

 “You will not be able to imitate it,” the other remarked, in a tone shaded with irony. “Even if you could recreate the casing, and none of us ever knew how it was made, even if you could do that, you could not catch the same Light. That is gone.”

 The Dwarf lord accepted the verdict with a sigh. “Astonishing,” he said again. “And you are quite sure this is what you wish? It would be a gift beyond all recompense.”

 “I am sure. It’s no use to me, and your people know how to care for treasures. As for recompense: your skill in healing burns is well worth an heirloom.” He looked down at his left hand, scarred but fully usable again. “All I ask is you keep quiet about this meeting.”

 “No-one has ever said the Dwarves cannot hold their tongues when needed,” Radsvinn said. “Besides, there is no need to court trouble. Wars have been fought for this Jewel, have they not.”

 “They have,” the Elf said grimly. “Fortunately the Oath did not say we could not give the Stones away.” Radsvinn, examining the gem again, offered no comment. By Dwarvish standards unbreakable oaths of blood-thirsty vengeance were perfectly reasonable things, so he would not have felt inclined to criticise even if his guest had not just presented him with the worth of a kingdom. “Still there might be others who feel rather strongly about where it should be bestowed, even if they have no right to a say in the matter."

 “It will be an heirloom held in secret by my line,” the Dwarf King promised, “never spoken of at large, until perhaps generation on generation has passed, and its origins are entirely forgotten.”

 The Elf smiled a little without much humour. “It’s quite a shame I’ll never know what the Valar would make of a Silmaril in the care of Dwarves.” 

 The only Vala the Dwarves felt any trust for was Aulë. As for the turbulent, and now to a large extent defunct, Elf-House to which Radsvinn’s guest belonged; their reputation was not precisely trustworthy either, but it did speak of an unusual (for Elves) degree of affinity with his own kind.

 “Where will you go?” he asked, with real interest. 

 “Somewhere far enough that Beleriand is not even a name. I have rather too much of a reputation, and I could never be mistaken by those who know the tales for anyone but myself.” 

 “A judiciously spread rumour or two will help to cover your tracks,” Radsvinn observed. “As well as concealing where this is bestowed.”

 “I leave that to your judgement – with my thanks.” He rose, lamp-light striking copper sparks on his long hair. Dwarves were fortunately fond of ceilings much higher than were needed. “May your heirs guard the Stone well. Misfortune has a way of following when one of these is mislaid.”

 

~~~~~~~~~

 

{Several millennia later}

 The being known in this part of Middle-earth as Gandalf did not return immediately to his tent, but stood a while with his eyes fixed thoughtfully on the evening star. His memory wasn’t what it used to be. In fact he couldn’t even remember what his memory had been like. So he really shouldn’t trust too much to what little he could recall of a certain Elf’s party headwear.

 He’d not seen the Arkenstone Thorin had talked so much about before.  The tale was it had been dug up in the time of Thrain I, but how much were tales truly worth?

 Air, Sea and Earth. Earth could, after all, mean a number of things. Maybe he should raise it with Elrond if he went back by Rivendell…. Or maybe not.  Elrond was still a bit touchy on the subject of Silmarils.

 No, it must be pure fancy!  A trick of aging eyes. Stay too long in Middle-earth and a mallorn started to look as fine as Laurelin.   All the same, that Arkenstone was making him uneasy. He’d be glad when the business was settled.

 

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Comments

[fanged-geranium.livejournal.com]

Great story - I particularly like the last little bit with Gandalf. I read the hobbit (for the second time) immediately after I read the silmarillion, and I did think the stone sounded familiar, especially with Thorin's attitude to it!

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

I rather like the bit with Gandalf as well. And the Arkenstone did seem familiar in the effect it had on people as well as the description!

[angelica-ramses.livejournal.com]

Yes. I had never thought about it (should reread The Hobbit). Poor Gandalf! Middle-earth is wearing him out. And the Elf who couldn't be mistaken for anybody but himself opens the way to thousands of bunnies.
Very enjoyable and original.

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

Middle-earth has turned out rather more complicated than Gandalf expected, I think! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[mithluin.livejournal.com]

Thank you for sharing!

This is a great idea, and I also have noticed that similarity. Diamonds survive in magma, though, so my plot bunny was the much more literal-minded trip of the gem from the fiery chasm it fell into to an upwelling under the Lonely Mountain ;).

But I must admit this is one of the most creative saves of Maedhros I've ever seen, and I rather like it! Poor puzzled Gandalf :).

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

I'm sure a Silmaril would survive the fiery chasm, this way though I got to write the dialogue :) I'm glad people liked the Gandalf cameo, it's the first time I've wtitten him.

[kemenkiri.livejournal.com]

There is a very interesting article about this semblance in The History of "The Hobbit" by John D. Rateliff... In the Old English texts of "Annals of Valinor" & "...of Beleriand" (v. 4) Silmarils are called "eorclastanas" which means "jewels"...

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I must read the History of The Hobbit when I get a chance.

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

Not a new idea, but cleverly and concisely done. I enjoyed this a lot. And the bit with Gandalf was nice. And I note the subtle indication that Radsvinn was pure of heart, since he could touch the Silmaril without getting burned (his interest did seem more in the skill that made the Silmaril than in the stone itself). An elegant piece of work, altogether.

[clotho123.livejournal.com]

Thank you. (I did consider a slight obstacle to this story was that a Silmaril should have burned Smaug, but I concluded either his 'armour' was enough protection or else he learned quite early on not to lie down on that part of the treasure heap).

arkenstone

[ellfine.livejournal.com]

cleverly done! I liked touchy Elrond and slightly bewildered Gandalf, too.