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silwritersguildThis is the second part of 'Blood and Darkness', my response to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tarion_anarore's AU challenge: what if Maedhros was killed by Morgoth instead of Finwë.
Blood and Darkness
Part II
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for this work.
The response from the Fëanorian camp to Maedhros's message arrived in the form of Curufin and Celebrimbor. They dismounted well away from Fingolfin's encampment, and Curufin approached warily, leaving Celebrimbor to hold their horses. When he saw Maedhros he forgot his caution, and threw himself into his eldest brother's arms. "Nelyafinwë! You live!" he cried happily.
"Obviously," said Maedhros, kissing Curufin on the forehead, "and so do you."
"We did not believe your messenger," said Curufin, "I thought it was a trap set by our uncle, but I am glad to see you. We have all missed you dreadfully, but how can you be here? We saw your body at Formenos."
"The Valar were generous enough to grant me a new body," said Maedhros, "surely you did not think that I would linger in Mandos forever?"
"I hoped you would not," said Curufin.
How is Father?" asked Maedhros, "Has he devised a way to regain the Silmarils?"
"Father is dead," said Curufin, "he died in our first battle in Middle-earth. He was separated from our main force, and we could not reach him before a Valarauko, in fact their lord, fatally wounded him. We drove off the Valaraukar, but it was too late. Before he died he made us swear the oath again. His body burned at once and the ashes that remained were scattered by the winds.
"I am grieved to hear it," said Maedhros, although in truth his sorrow was combined with relief, for he had not looked forward to confronting Fëanor. "Mandos said when I left his halls that Father would go to him soon, but I did not realise how soon he meant. What of our brothers? Do they all yet live?"
"Again I must be the bearer of evil tidings," said Curufin. "Telufinwë burned with the ships, for he desired to return to Aman and he would not come ashore, but only Pityafinwë knew. It was in part my fault, as I helped Father to set fire to the ships." (1) Curufin paused, momentarily at a loss as to how to continue. "And that is not the worst. In the hour of Father's death a messenger came from Moringotto, offering to treat with us. We had as little thought of faith as he, and Pityafinwë took some of our best swordsmen and archers to meet his ambush, but Moringotto brought a greater force, again including Valaraukar. Pityo's army was destroyed, and he was taken prisoner. We believe he lives yet, but he would be would be better off dead."
"I do not doubt that there are things worse than death," said Maedhros, "but it is not merely death that Father, Telvo and Pityo face. It is the everlasting darkness, if I understood your oath correctly."
Curufin shuddered slightly at the thought. "Only if we all fail," he said, "and now you are here to help us, Nelyo, our chances of success have surely increased."
"I will help you," said Maedhros, "though I do not know if I will be of any use. I fear that had I been here three years ago I would have fallen prey to the same trap as Ambarussa. Have you made any attempt to rescue him?"
"We could not," said Curufin, "because of the oath."
"I understand, but I cannot leave him there;" said Maedhros, "I must get Pityo out of the Iron Prison. I do not fear Moringotto," he smiled, "or death."
ooOoo
Maedhros told no one what he intended, but when he began to retrace the steps of Fingolfin's host towards Angband he found Fingon standing in his path. "Do not think I will let you slip away so easily," he said, "you would not abandon me before the ice, so I will not abandon you to walk this road alone. I will help you to find Ambarussa."
"I will gladly accept your company," said Maedhros, "but why do you carry your harp? Might it not hinder our journey?"
"I brought it in case I felt like singing," said Fingon, "you know I always sing better when I play. My fingers were to cold to play when we were crossing the ice, but I think we shall be warmer now."
"Very well," said Maedhros, "a song will be just the thing to cheer us when we are under Moringotto's shadow."
In those early days of the First Age, the Orcs and other foul creatures of Morgoth still hid in Angband during the daylight hours for fear of the sun. Had they chosen that way, Maedhros and Fingon could have marched up to Angband's gates, as Fingolfin had done so recently. Instead they approached stealthily, trying to find a path around the cliffs of Thangorodrim and reach Angband from the north.
In the shadows of Thangorodrim the light of day was barely distinguishable from a moonlit night. Maedhros lit a fire, and Fingon began to play his harp, singing a song that Maglor had composed in Valinor. Maedhros joined in, and then a third voice far above them. They stopped singing, but the song continued; Amrod it was who sang amid his torment, for he was bound upon a high precipice by a shackle about his right arm. "Ambarussa!" called Maedhros, "It is me, Maitimo, I am here with Findekáno. We will get you down from there!"
"Then this is but a dream," said Amrod, "for Maitimo is dead, and Findekáno we left on the western shores of the Sundering Seas."
"You are not dreaming," said Fingon, "Maitimo left Mandos's Halls and we crossed the Helcaraxë. A little ice was not enough to stop us from reaching Middle-earth."
"If you are truly here," said Amrod, "I beg that you will kill me. Ambarussa my brother is dead and I would join him in the Halls of Waiting."
"No, little brother," said Maedhros, "I will not kill you. I do not intend to become a Kinslayer and call down the full extent of Mandos's curse upon myself. Not today. We will climb up and get you down; I have brought rope with me, and Findekáno his bow. Do you have the strength to secure the rope to your bond?"
"I do not know," said Amrod, "but I will try."
Fingon unravelled one of the woollen blankets from his pack, and attached one end of the strand to Maedhros's rope and the other to an arrow. He fired the arrow into the air and the wool looped over the iron that held Amrod to the precipice as the arrow fell. Maedhros retrieved the arrow and pulled on the wool so the strong and light Elvish rope went up to Amrod, who managed to tie a knot around his handcuff using his free hand. (2)
"I will climb up," said Fingon, "I am lighter than you, and while the iron band is strong, the rock may crumble under too much weight." He attached himself to the rope and began to climb. Eventually he reached Amrod, but he could not undo the lock on the iron cuff, nor cut it open, so he held Amrod tightly with one hand and with his knife cut through Amrod's right arm. Once they were both securely on the ground Maedhros applied herbs brought from Aman to stop the bleeding, and he used a strip torn off his tunic to bind Amrod's wrist.
Amrod was weak, and could not walk unaided, so their journey back to Mithrim was long and slow, and at night they had to keep a close watch for Orcs foraging out from Angband. When they reached the northern encampment of the Noldor, Fingolfin ran out of the settlement towards them. He saw that Amrod was the third of their party and he turned white, realising where his son had been. He embraced Fingon and began to berate Maedhros for taking Fingon on such a dangerous venture, but Fingon silenced him. "I chose to go," he said, "Maitimo did not compel me, nor could he. The hazards of this journey were but small in comparison with those of the ice."
"You have done well, my son" said Fingolfin, and welcomed Amrod - who he knew had no part in the burning of the ships - to his camp. There Amrod in time was healed, for despite the loss of his twin, his oath bound him to life, but the shadow of his pain was ever after in his heart.
ooOoo
Maedhros and Amrod travelled south to the dwelling place of their brothers. "I am pleased you are retuned to us," said Maglor to Maedhros, "for the sprits of our younger brothers are fell and I fear that I cannot long constrain them as you may. They will listen to you, for you are the eldest, and our father's heir."
"I will do what I can," said Maedhros, "but my influence is much weaker than Father's. His words and deeds bind you still, although he is dead and may not return until the world is broken and remade. How did you come to be swayed by the lies of Moringotto that Father repeated for the crowd in Tirion?"
"They were no longer all lies," said Maglor, "the trees were darkened, you were dead and the Silmarils gone - the Valar had indeed failed to protect us from one of their own, so what was their purpose in keeping us in Valinor?"
"But the oath!" cried Maedhros, "to swear such an oath by Eru himself was pure madness. It will pursue you to the world's end whether you keep it or break it."
"If you had been there that day," said Maglor, "you would have sworn it too. We all drew our swords and leapt to Father's side without a thought for what we did. I could no more stop myself from swearing that oath than I could move Taniquetil."
"We shall never know what I would have done," said Maedhros, "but I still say it would be better if you had not sworn the oath. It will do no good."
ooOoo
With help from Turgon and Finrod, Maedhros found those horses and other possessions that did not belong to his brothers' people, and brought them north to Fingolfin's camp. Fingolfin was delighted to have Rochallor, his horse, restored to him, but the matter of the kingship of the Noldor in Middle-earth weighed on his mind. He drew Maedhros aside and spoke to him privately. "Fëanáro took up the crown of the Noldor when Finwë the king put it aside and chose to stay in Alqualondë. Now your father is dead will you accept the kingship of the Noldor?"
"Arafinwë your brother was appointed by the Valar to be high king of the Noldor in Aman," said Maedhros, "for Finwë has decided to hold himself unkinged until Fëanáro’s exile should be ended, and that will not be until the Breaking of the World. For our people in exile I will not at this time claim the crown. There lies no grievance between us lord, though my brothers have wronged you. The kingship rightly comes to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise. You were chosen by Finwë to rule our people in Tirion when he went to Formenos with Fëanáro, not I."
"This principle of succession seems to me to be sound," said Fingolfin, "that the eldest member of our house should rule. If I should die Findekáno my son would follow me as king, and if I recall correctly you would be after him"
"That is true," said Maedhros, "for my brothers and I are all between Findekáno and Turukáno in age, but I hope that I will never be king, and head of no house but that of Fëanáro."
Fingolfin was relieved by Maedhros's decision, for it healed the rift between his people and Fëanor’s that had been cause by their abandonment in Araman and the burning of the ships at Losgar. The Noldor were united once more to pursue their self-appointed task of defeating Morgoth.
ooOoo
Seven years of the sun passed, during which Angrod son of Finarfin travelled to Doriath, where Elu Thingol, his kinsman, lived. Angrod brought messages back to the Noldor and reported them at Fingolfin's council. Thingol had granted permission for the Noldor to live in the unpopulated regions of Beleriand, claiming all the lands of Middle-earth west of the Blue Mountains as his kingdom.
At this Maedhros laughed, saying "A king he his who can hold his own, or else his title is vain. Thingollo does but grant us lands where his power does not run. Indeed Doriath alone would be his realm this day, but for the coming of the Noldor. Therefore in Doriath let him reign, and be glad that he has the sons of Finwë for his neighbours, not the Orcs of Moringotto that we found. Elsewhere it shall go as seems good to us."
"Yea more!" cried Caranthir, who spoke without thought for the effect of his words on others, "Let not the sons of Arafinwë run hither and thither to this dark elf in his caves! Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him? And though they be come indeed to Beleriand, let them not so swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor, though their mother be of other kin." (3)
Angrod jumped up and prepared to go forth, but Maedhros checked him. "Angaráto, you must not let my brother drive you from this council that was called on your account. If he offends you again, he may depart, not you." Caranthir prepared to protest, but Maedhros said "You have spoken to much already, Carnistir. We none of us wish to hear more from you on this matter."
By this Maedhros saw that his brothers would not be easily restrained, so he departed with them and their people into the eastern regions of Beleriand, for he was very willing that he should face the greatest chance of an assault by Morgoth, and he wanted vengeance for himself, his father and his youngest brothers. He built himself a fortress on the hill of Himring to guard the northern marches.
ooOoo
Notes:
(1) HoME 12, 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor'
(2) While Fingon is unquestionably extremely valiant, unlike Maedhros planning really isn't his strong point, which is why I have made the rescue-by-eagle unnecessary in this AU. Apologies to any Eagle fans out there!
(3) These two paragraphs are taken from 'The Silmarillion', with names altered to Quenya, which the Noldor would still have spoken openly at this time.
tarion_anarore's AU challenge: what if Maedhros was killed by Morgoth instead of Finwë.Blood and Darkness
Part II
Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for this work.
The response from the Fëanorian camp to Maedhros's message arrived in the form of Curufin and Celebrimbor. They dismounted well away from Fingolfin's encampment, and Curufin approached warily, leaving Celebrimbor to hold their horses. When he saw Maedhros he forgot his caution, and threw himself into his eldest brother's arms. "Nelyafinwë! You live!" he cried happily.
"Obviously," said Maedhros, kissing Curufin on the forehead, "and so do you."
"We did not believe your messenger," said Curufin, "I thought it was a trap set by our uncle, but I am glad to see you. We have all missed you dreadfully, but how can you be here? We saw your body at Formenos."
"The Valar were generous enough to grant me a new body," said Maedhros, "surely you did not think that I would linger in Mandos forever?"
"I hoped you would not," said Curufin.
How is Father?" asked Maedhros, "Has he devised a way to regain the Silmarils?"
"Father is dead," said Curufin, "he died in our first battle in Middle-earth. He was separated from our main force, and we could not reach him before a Valarauko, in fact their lord, fatally wounded him. We drove off the Valaraukar, but it was too late. Before he died he made us swear the oath again. His body burned at once and the ashes that remained were scattered by the winds.
"I am grieved to hear it," said Maedhros, although in truth his sorrow was combined with relief, for he had not looked forward to confronting Fëanor. "Mandos said when I left his halls that Father would go to him soon, but I did not realise how soon he meant. What of our brothers? Do they all yet live?"
"Again I must be the bearer of evil tidings," said Curufin. "Telufinwë burned with the ships, for he desired to return to Aman and he would not come ashore, but only Pityafinwë knew. It was in part my fault, as I helped Father to set fire to the ships." (1) Curufin paused, momentarily at a loss as to how to continue. "And that is not the worst. In the hour of Father's death a messenger came from Moringotto, offering to treat with us. We had as little thought of faith as he, and Pityafinwë took some of our best swordsmen and archers to meet his ambush, but Moringotto brought a greater force, again including Valaraukar. Pityo's army was destroyed, and he was taken prisoner. We believe he lives yet, but he would be would be better off dead."
"I do not doubt that there are things worse than death," said Maedhros, "but it is not merely death that Father, Telvo and Pityo face. It is the everlasting darkness, if I understood your oath correctly."
Curufin shuddered slightly at the thought. "Only if we all fail," he said, "and now you are here to help us, Nelyo, our chances of success have surely increased."
"I will help you," said Maedhros, "though I do not know if I will be of any use. I fear that had I been here three years ago I would have fallen prey to the same trap as Ambarussa. Have you made any attempt to rescue him?"
"We could not," said Curufin, "because of the oath."
"I understand, but I cannot leave him there;" said Maedhros, "I must get Pityo out of the Iron Prison. I do not fear Moringotto," he smiled, "or death."
Maedhros told no one what he intended, but when he began to retrace the steps of Fingolfin's host towards Angband he found Fingon standing in his path. "Do not think I will let you slip away so easily," he said, "you would not abandon me before the ice, so I will not abandon you to walk this road alone. I will help you to find Ambarussa."
"I will gladly accept your company," said Maedhros, "but why do you carry your harp? Might it not hinder our journey?"
"I brought it in case I felt like singing," said Fingon, "you know I always sing better when I play. My fingers were to cold to play when we were crossing the ice, but I think we shall be warmer now."
"Very well," said Maedhros, "a song will be just the thing to cheer us when we are under Moringotto's shadow."
In those early days of the First Age, the Orcs and other foul creatures of Morgoth still hid in Angband during the daylight hours for fear of the sun. Had they chosen that way, Maedhros and Fingon could have marched up to Angband's gates, as Fingolfin had done so recently. Instead they approached stealthily, trying to find a path around the cliffs of Thangorodrim and reach Angband from the north.
In the shadows of Thangorodrim the light of day was barely distinguishable from a moonlit night. Maedhros lit a fire, and Fingon began to play his harp, singing a song that Maglor had composed in Valinor. Maedhros joined in, and then a third voice far above them. They stopped singing, but the song continued; Amrod it was who sang amid his torment, for he was bound upon a high precipice by a shackle about his right arm. "Ambarussa!" called Maedhros, "It is me, Maitimo, I am here with Findekáno. We will get you down from there!"
"Then this is but a dream," said Amrod, "for Maitimo is dead, and Findekáno we left on the western shores of the Sundering Seas."
"You are not dreaming," said Fingon, "Maitimo left Mandos's Halls and we crossed the Helcaraxë. A little ice was not enough to stop us from reaching Middle-earth."
"If you are truly here," said Amrod, "I beg that you will kill me. Ambarussa my brother is dead and I would join him in the Halls of Waiting."
"No, little brother," said Maedhros, "I will not kill you. I do not intend to become a Kinslayer and call down the full extent of Mandos's curse upon myself. Not today. We will climb up and get you down; I have brought rope with me, and Findekáno his bow. Do you have the strength to secure the rope to your bond?"
"I do not know," said Amrod, "but I will try."
Fingon unravelled one of the woollen blankets from his pack, and attached one end of the strand to Maedhros's rope and the other to an arrow. He fired the arrow into the air and the wool looped over the iron that held Amrod to the precipice as the arrow fell. Maedhros retrieved the arrow and pulled on the wool so the strong and light Elvish rope went up to Amrod, who managed to tie a knot around his handcuff using his free hand. (2)
"I will climb up," said Fingon, "I am lighter than you, and while the iron band is strong, the rock may crumble under too much weight." He attached himself to the rope and began to climb. Eventually he reached Amrod, but he could not undo the lock on the iron cuff, nor cut it open, so he held Amrod tightly with one hand and with his knife cut through Amrod's right arm. Once they were both securely on the ground Maedhros applied herbs brought from Aman to stop the bleeding, and he used a strip torn off his tunic to bind Amrod's wrist.
Amrod was weak, and could not walk unaided, so their journey back to Mithrim was long and slow, and at night they had to keep a close watch for Orcs foraging out from Angband. When they reached the northern encampment of the Noldor, Fingolfin ran out of the settlement towards them. He saw that Amrod was the third of their party and he turned white, realising where his son had been. He embraced Fingon and began to berate Maedhros for taking Fingon on such a dangerous venture, but Fingon silenced him. "I chose to go," he said, "Maitimo did not compel me, nor could he. The hazards of this journey were but small in comparison with those of the ice."
"You have done well, my son" said Fingolfin, and welcomed Amrod - who he knew had no part in the burning of the ships - to his camp. There Amrod in time was healed, for despite the loss of his twin, his oath bound him to life, but the shadow of his pain was ever after in his heart.
Maedhros and Amrod travelled south to the dwelling place of their brothers. "I am pleased you are retuned to us," said Maglor to Maedhros, "for the sprits of our younger brothers are fell and I fear that I cannot long constrain them as you may. They will listen to you, for you are the eldest, and our father's heir."
"I will do what I can," said Maedhros, "but my influence is much weaker than Father's. His words and deeds bind you still, although he is dead and may not return until the world is broken and remade. How did you come to be swayed by the lies of Moringotto that Father repeated for the crowd in Tirion?"
"They were no longer all lies," said Maglor, "the trees were darkened, you were dead and the Silmarils gone - the Valar had indeed failed to protect us from one of their own, so what was their purpose in keeping us in Valinor?"
"But the oath!" cried Maedhros, "to swear such an oath by Eru himself was pure madness. It will pursue you to the world's end whether you keep it or break it."
"If you had been there that day," said Maglor, "you would have sworn it too. We all drew our swords and leapt to Father's side without a thought for what we did. I could no more stop myself from swearing that oath than I could move Taniquetil."
"We shall never know what I would have done," said Maedhros, "but I still say it would be better if you had not sworn the oath. It will do no good."
With help from Turgon and Finrod, Maedhros found those horses and other possessions that did not belong to his brothers' people, and brought them north to Fingolfin's camp. Fingolfin was delighted to have Rochallor, his horse, restored to him, but the matter of the kingship of the Noldor in Middle-earth weighed on his mind. He drew Maedhros aside and spoke to him privately. "Fëanáro took up the crown of the Noldor when Finwë the king put it aside and chose to stay in Alqualondë. Now your father is dead will you accept the kingship of the Noldor?"
"Arafinwë your brother was appointed by the Valar to be high king of the Noldor in Aman," said Maedhros, "for Finwë has decided to hold himself unkinged until Fëanáro’s exile should be ended, and that will not be until the Breaking of the World. For our people in exile I will not at this time claim the crown. There lies no grievance between us lord, though my brothers have wronged you. The kingship rightly comes to you, the eldest here of the house of Finwë, and not the least wise. You were chosen by Finwë to rule our people in Tirion when he went to Formenos with Fëanáro, not I."
"This principle of succession seems to me to be sound," said Fingolfin, "that the eldest member of our house should rule. If I should die Findekáno my son would follow me as king, and if I recall correctly you would be after him"
"That is true," said Maedhros, "for my brothers and I are all between Findekáno and Turukáno in age, but I hope that I will never be king, and head of no house but that of Fëanáro."
Fingolfin was relieved by Maedhros's decision, for it healed the rift between his people and Fëanor’s that had been cause by their abandonment in Araman and the burning of the ships at Losgar. The Noldor were united once more to pursue their self-appointed task of defeating Morgoth.
Seven years of the sun passed, during which Angrod son of Finarfin travelled to Doriath, where Elu Thingol, his kinsman, lived. Angrod brought messages back to the Noldor and reported them at Fingolfin's council. Thingol had granted permission for the Noldor to live in the unpopulated regions of Beleriand, claiming all the lands of Middle-earth west of the Blue Mountains as his kingdom.
At this Maedhros laughed, saying "A king he his who can hold his own, or else his title is vain. Thingollo does but grant us lands where his power does not run. Indeed Doriath alone would be his realm this day, but for the coming of the Noldor. Therefore in Doriath let him reign, and be glad that he has the sons of Finwë for his neighbours, not the Orcs of Moringotto that we found. Elsewhere it shall go as seems good to us."
"Yea more!" cried Caranthir, who spoke without thought for the effect of his words on others, "Let not the sons of Arafinwë run hither and thither to this dark elf in his caves! Who made them our spokesmen to deal with him? And though they be come indeed to Beleriand, let them not so swiftly forget that their father is a lord of the Noldor, though their mother be of other kin." (3)
Angrod jumped up and prepared to go forth, but Maedhros checked him. "Angaráto, you must not let my brother drive you from this council that was called on your account. If he offends you again, he may depart, not you." Caranthir prepared to protest, but Maedhros said "You have spoken to much already, Carnistir. We none of us wish to hear more from you on this matter."
By this Maedhros saw that his brothers would not be easily restrained, so he departed with them and their people into the eastern regions of Beleriand, for he was very willing that he should face the greatest chance of an assault by Morgoth, and he wanted vengeance for himself, his father and his youngest brothers. He built himself a fortress on the hill of Himring to guard the northern marches.
Notes:
(1) HoME 12, 'The Shibboleth of Fëanor'
(2) While Fingon is unquestionably extremely valiant, unlike Maedhros planning really isn't his strong point, which is why I have made the rescue-by-eagle unnecessary in this AU. Apologies to any Eagle fans out there!
(3) These two paragraphs are taken from 'The Silmarillion', with names altered to Quenya, which the Noldor would still have spoken openly at this time.
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BLOOD AND DARKNESS PART II
Date: 2005-09-28 01:29 pm (UTC)Re: BLOOD AND DARKNESS PART II
Date: 2005-09-28 01:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 03:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-09-29 09:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-11-15 08:38 pm (UTC)The bit where Maglor tells Maedhros that he also would have sworn the Oath and Maedhros claims there's no way to know was chilling and very well done. This is a wild AU, but you keep it consistent and it is believable, given the challenge.
I am really, really curious to see how it ends, so I'm going to stop here and go read more!
(See the good thing about waiting so long is that I get to read it all at once! ;D)
no subject
Date: 2005-11-16 09:53 am (UTC)