Fanfic Amidst the misty glades:Evil returns

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Year 1 of the 3rd age
Mordor

Celeborn Galadhonion stared at the graves of his cousins and once,his best friends.

the beech and oak trees planted by their feet had unsurprisingly withered in the hostile environment of Mordor.

He knelt in front of the stones and took out his water skin.
he cupped some water in his hand as he slowly washed the dust away from them, gently stroking the names engraved on as he did.

Oropher son of Gilornion
King of the Woodland realm

Dorothor son of Gilornion
King of Lothlorien

his tears came unbidden as the first sob shook his body.
here lied his only family members that were not slaughtered over a thrice damned jewel.

he had not allowed himself to mourn them until now.he had to stay strong for the boys who had become kings of the destroyed armies their sires had left behind and he was too angry at Oropher to able to.

he had cursed the prideful blood of their family as he held a sobbing Amroth and when he tried to separate an unmoving Thranduil from his father's body as if he could miraculously bring him back to life if he held him a little longer.

"are you happy now?! is this also the Noldor's fault?! Ai! why did you have to be so stubborn brother!"
his tone was scornful but the tears covering his face betrayed him.

the last conversation they had as always didn't fail to remind him how they had slowly drifted apart over the centuries,to the point that he could not see his brother in the elf who spat the word traitor on his face just because he didn't want to throw himself to death like a fool, because he could not hate the Noldor like Oropher did.
he had felt the distance between them first when they finally met in Lindon when the War of Wrath ended,years after he had left Doriath and his family for the love of Galadriel.
his little cousin,once a joyful and mischievous youth,had became cold and bitter like the harshest winters of Beleriand.
this Oropher had made it out of two Kinslayings alive,spared to bury the bodies of the loved ones who were not.

and here he stood,the last of the silver trees,the sole survivor of two ages of wars and deaths.
"why did you all have to leave me behind?! what am I to do now?!our line has ended! the tree is no more!"

'not ended'

said a beloved voice in his mind.

'Oropher's spring still blooms and Dorothor's forest still thrives,our silver queen still shines,and you,my love, you're still here.as long as you remember,they will never be lost'

his Galadriel,his beloved, although miles away,never failed to calm his troubled mind.just like the first day they met under the canopies of Neldoreth.

his breathing had started to calm by the time Thranduil came after him.
"It's time to leave uncle.the hosts are ready to depart."

not caring for his disheveled appearance he slowly rose and turned to face his cousin,more like a nephew to him.
"it's been a long time since you have called me uncle."
"it had been long time since you stopped being one to me."
he looked so much like his father it physically pained Celeborn to look at him,yet he could not turn away.
Thranduil looked away for a moment,as if he was unsure of saying what he wanted to say.when he spoke his voice was so low that he did not notice at first.
"you never stopped being his older brother,you know that right?...he...he always regreted how he left things with you,he thought he hid it well but I could always see the regret in his face every single time someone mentioned your name."

'no, I didn't' he wanted to say but could not.what use was it now anyway, Oropher was gone and it will be millennias before he could see him again.
"as did I."

he took a deep breath then and said.
"if you wish to say farewell I will leave you with them."
Thranduil glanced at the graves but shook his head.
"me and mother said our goodbyes in the morning,we are ready to leave when you are."

Celeborn glanced at the dying trees one more time,closed his eyes and turned away.he squared his shoulders and then walked toward Thranduil.
"I'm ready. let's go lad."

Thranduil rolled his eyes fondly at the term but did not say more.they moved in silence, their armies awaiting them to finally leave these cursed lands behind and gaze upon their beloved forests after years of war.

they were gone now,his brothers.but as Galadriel said,he will remember them and keep them in his heart along side the others.
they will never be forgotten.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Chapter 1


Ringarë 22nd
Valinor.

Manwë gazed from the top of Taniquetil,his eyes piercing through the darkness that had descended upon the blessed lands.
He watched as the cloud of blackness moved swiftly upon the land as it headed north towards Araman, Helcaraxë and Middle Earth then without a doubt.
Eonwë had been standing behind him for a while now, silent for he did not wish to disturb his King's thoughts.
Manwë finally took pity on him and asked.
"what is it?"
Eonwë's head snapped upward,at a loss for words for a second before he spoke.
"the lords Oromë and Tulkas are back,my King.They...they have been unsuccessful in their pursuit of the culprits."
"I am aware. and you can say his name."
"my..my apologies.The lords were waylaid by some foul tricks of lord Melkor's companion, unable to reach them in time."

Manwë slowly turned and looked upon his herald for the first time during their conversation.his face adorned with a grief that would have moved anyone to tears.
"Morgoth,not Melkor.we gave him the chance to be the Melkor Eru meant for him to be,but he did not want to.he will be known as the the enemy among all the children of Eru,we might as well get comfortable with it."
Eonwë's heart broke for his master.
"do not blame yourself my Lord.you could not have known his intentions.we all thought he had left that path behind.you were not the only who thought him changed!"
Manwë smiled but there was no warmth in it,only regret.
"but I did,dear Eonwë...I did.I chose not to believe it.It was right in front of my eyes.all those years, what happened between the Noldorin princes.it was him all along.I was so blind!"
they fell silent once again before Eonwë asked with hesitation.
"what are we to do now?shall we follow him to the hither shores?"
Manwë shook his head.
"he will not dare come back, neither he would want to.we should find a solution to rescue the trees,or if we're unable to,make another source of light.the children should not live in this darkness."
Manwë glanced towards the north one last time before turning his back to his brother.
he had other matters to worry about. Like a certain stubborn high king of the Noldor.
________________________
Girithorn 22nd,the winter solstice
Menegroth, Eglador,Middle Earth

Oropher rubbed his eyes and yawned as he went through the reports of the marchwardens.
the warmth emitting from his fireplace kept the chill of the winter at bay and made him sleepy.
he had thought by joining the army he could avoid all these stupid, boring paperworks but apparently the higher your rank got the more of them you'd get.
now as the captain of the archers,he was even busier than his father,the chief advisor of the King.
well...maybe not.
he thought as he remembered the stack of reports on Gilornion's desk when he went to pay him a visit this afternoon.
at least he had time to get out of his office,his father didn't.
prince Gilornion,as one of the important members of the council and the prince of the realm had much responsibilities on his shoulders.
he had been particularly busy these last few weeks as the whole kingdom got ready to face the upcoming winter.he and and his nephew,Celeborn, had to handle the distribution of the crops between the towns and villages.
it had been a prosperous year according to them.
they were able to supply each and every settlement and there was enough left to be used for winter solstice's feast.
the winters were harsh in Beleriand and making sure that the people underwent them without any problems was often troublesome.
he eyed the report he was holding.a scout from the northern watch had fallen from a tree and been put on bed rest for three months.
he grimaced as he imagined the state the poor elf might be in and made a note to tell his uncle Galadhon to send a substitute as soon as possible.
he put the last report on top of the ones he had already read, closed his eyes and leaned back against his chair.
the sound of the soldiers and guards laughing and talking as they passed through the halls broke the silence occasionally.
he knew he should go out and join the celebrations.It was unseemly of him as a prince not to.
but he had reasons for locking himself in this particular room that a certain lady did not have any access to.
he had noticed that lady Maeril,daughter of lord Calben and his mother's apprentice,had been giving him some especial attention as of late.
he had paid it no mind, passing it as a simple fancy that would go away eventually.
he had no plan of pursuing it for two reasons,first;the fact that he had no interest in her and didn't want to give the poor girl any false hopes and second;his little brother's affection for her.
it was Calemiriel who had noticed it first.
Amdir had started to visit their mother's workshop more and more each day, suddenly interested in lady Tinnuel's craft and wanting to learn more.but after a few months and no progress, Calemiriel being the perspective person that she was had noticed how Amdir always came back home with flushed cheeks and a dreamy smile.
she had persuaded him to tell them and he eventually gave in.
he told them about how he had first met her when he dropped off to give their mother her lunch one day, about how her smile put stars to shame and how he could never love anyone but her.
Amdir was so deep in rambling about his undying affection for Maeril that he did not notice the worried look his elder siblings shared with each other.
their brother had only turned 80 last summer and was still young.so it was natural for him to believe that every girl that smiled his way was his soulmate until the end of time.
no,that wasn't what they were worried about.
it was Maeril's relentlessness on courting Oropher even though he did not reciprocate her feelings.
he had ignored all of her advances,be it meetings for lunch or walks in the forest,hoping that she would get the message and leave him alone.
this had made his elder sister mad.
'just talk to Maeril and reject her like the man you should be' she had adviced him,like it was that easy.
Oropher was never good at speaking with women that weren't family, afraid that he might offend them in some way.
one of the reasons he was still unmarried at his age.and she expected him to verbally reject her without making her hold a grudge against him till the second music itself!
his cowardly ways had worked though.
Maeril hadn't come to greet him like she always did when he came back from one of his trips.and there were no more offers for meals in one of the romantic spots of the city.
he had said so to Calemiriel,smirking, happy that he finally had proved her wrong for once.
she had shook her head with pity, called him poor naive child as if he was an elfling of 20 years.
confused and annoyed,he had asked why.
apparently,Calemiriel had accidentally overheard Maeril telling a friend about how she was going to ask Oropher to be his partner for the winter solstice feast in front of everyone while she was visiting Tinnuel's smithies.
the shock on his face had made his sister laugh out loud as he groaned in his misery.
her plan was clever,he admitted.
there was no way for him to be able to turn her down without insulting her or lord Calben.
which resulted in him hiding in his office in the army's headquarters.
Calemiriel was right,he was a coward.
he sighed,bored now that there was no paperwork to keep him occupied.
"who would have thought that someday I'd crave paperwork to kill time!"
Amdir's feelings were nothing but a youth's fancy, something he would forget after a few years.but if Oropher accepted Maeril as his companion for the evening,he would break his brother's heart and trust.something Amdir would remember for the rest of his life.Oropher would never jeopardize his relationship with his brother for any woman.
and if it meant spending the winter solstice alone in his workplace,so be it.
"it's a shame really,I was really looking forward to the wine lord Cirdan had sent."
"it really is, isn't it?"
he opened his eyes and looked around franticly only to find the owner of the voice staring at him with eyes that were glowing even in the darkness of the room.
"Lúthien! you scared me! how did you even get in here?!"
"you mean in the headquarters or your office without you noticing?"
"...both."
"well,I am the crown princess. which means I'm allowed to room my father's palace as I wish.and to answer your other question,you were pretty distracted! what were you thinking about?!"
Oropher gave her a look and Lúthien just continued watching him, feigning ignorance.
tired of the staring contest, Oropher broke the silence.
"I know Calemir tells you everything!why do you want me to repeat it?! it's embarrassing!"
Lúthien smirked but did not push anymore.
she stood up and made her way around the room easily in the dark and found a lamp and lit it with the candle he was using to read the reports.
she put the lamp and the candle back on his desk and leaned against the edge, nodding more to herself and pleased now the darkness was less suffocating.
"better."
she turned to him again.
"so are you just going to sit here for the rest of the night? that's sad!"
"what do you suggest me to do then?"
"you can always ask me to be your partner genius! it's not like I have someone to go with either."
Oropher..had not thought about that,if he was being honest.
he pondered that for a moment and asked.
"wouldn't you be bored? I'm not exactly a joy to be around,as you often remind me kindly."
Lúthien grinned.
"for that you're most welcome cousin!and I only wish to dance tonight and you're a good enough dancer. I see no problem here!also, you will not try to woo me.you're as good as a partner I can get!"
Oropher snorted and shook his head.
he stood up,bowed gracefully and held out his hand.
"I will be honored to keep you company then,fair lady."
Lúthien took his hand and bowed as well.
"why! you're so kind my Lord!"
they held each other gaze for a moment before their facades cracked and they both started giggling at their silliness.
after they had calmed down, Lúthien started staring at him as if noticing something for the first time since she arrived.
whatever it was,she was pleased with it.
she hummed approvingly.
"you have cleaned up nicely!"
oropher was inclined to agree.
he had got dressed for the feast in case his father sent after him and he had no choice but to attend.
his blue-green robes fitted his rare blue eyes and silver hair perfectly.he was also wearing the circlet his mother made for him as a gift for his last begetting day.
it was a beautiful piece of work,made out of silver and adorned with green and blue aquamarines.
Lúthien too was looking more beautiful than usual.
her midnight blue dress,the sleeves and collar decorated with silver niphredils, made her shine like a star amidst the darkness of the sky.
she was wearing her crown,a delicate golden thing fashioned in the shape of stars and flowers after her name with a perfectly cut diamond at the center.
to any other's eyes she was the epitome
of feminine grace,but Oropher knew her too well to be fooled by her false display of innocence.
he pitied the idiot that she will end up falling in love with one day.
the thought of it nearly made him laugh.
he gave her a sweet smile instead and finally replied.
"and you look more radiant than ever dear sister!"
she smiled and motioned towards the door.
"shall we go then?"
Oropher held out his arm and Lúthien took it, together they made their way out of the room and the building, passing through the halls as they headed to the great hall where the feast was being held.
they drew everyone's eyes as they entered, people started murmuring as they passed them and walked towards the king's and queen's thrones to greet them.
when they reached there, Oropher bowed low to the monarchs of their Kingdom.
"your Majesties."
King Thingol came forward and clasped his arm.
"Oropher! I see you're finally back!it has been a while since our last meeting grandnephew.you have been missed."
queen Melian also smiled gently, confirming her husband's words.
"indeed husband!"
she spoke with him then.
"and how have you been,young one?we are as always thankful for all your hard works."
Oropher had been away from Menegroth for the last two months, overseeing the distribution of the provisions for the marchwardens.
it was not his duty to do so,but he volunteered every year.he wasn't made for the behind-the-desk life,so he took all of these opportunities to be away from the capital every once in a while.he had came back two days ago but the royal couple were too preoccupied and they hadn't had the chance to meet until then.
"you're too kind my queen!I am only doing my duty to you and our people!!"
the queen's eyes twinkled with mirth as if she knew something the others didn't.
she and Lúthien both shared this mysterious trait that all of the family had passed as a Maiarin thing and stopped questioning it a long time ago.
it looked a bit intimidating on the queen but with Lúthien...it was just annoying.
the pair came forward to greet their daughter too.
"you will be the envy of all the lords tonight Oropher.you better watch your back!"
king Thingol jested which gave him a hard time to not burst out laughing.
Lúthien on the other hand,was not so successful.
they had made someone envious indeed,when they came into the room together.but she was no lord.
Oropher could feel Maeril's gaze on them from all the way here as she burned holes on Lúthien's back.
she was mad,that much was clear.
Oropher sighed but promised himself to confront her about her feelings one of these days and turn her down as gently as he could.
she was just an innocent girl who had caught feelings for the wrong person and did not deserve this,and she needed to be rejected to finally move on from him.he owed her that much.
Thingol's voice brought him back to the present.
"any news from the borders?I hope that your travels have been uneventful."
"nothing that demands the councils attention my king,the thralls move closer as the winter draws near and games grow more scarce. but they do not dare enter our forest.they are smart enough to know that."
Lúthien frowned.
"no more talk of work,you do that enough any other time.it's time for celebrating,and you had promised me a dance cousin!"
Thingol laughed and Melian smile approvingly.
"well said iel nin!well said! go on then!you would not want to spend the whole night listening to this old man!"
Oropher bowed again at the couple and Lúthien kissed her parents cheeks before joining him again.
he led them towards where he had last seen his parents,for he needed to see them too before joining the others who were dancing.
he could already spot celeborn's and Galathil's silver heads somewhere in the crowd.
it appeared his parents had the same idea because he could see them making their way to them through the crowd.
Oropher and Lúthien met them half way.
"father!mother!"
he embraced them both.
noticing Lúthien,they both bowed to her.
it was good to see his father this at ease after going through the last few weeks with minimum sleep and rest.he truly missed them both after being away for that long.
lady Tinnuel had the same idea apparently,for she grasped her son's arm and held him, needing the closeness after being apart for so long.
"it has been long since I've had the chance to spend time with you properly my love,how have you been?you are not planning to leave again soon,are you?"
both father and son shook their head with fondness.
even if Oropher was actually planning to leave,he couldn't now.he was never able to say no to his mother if she asked him anything.
a trait of many he shared with his father and Tinnuel often took advantage of.
"no mother.I will stay at Menegroth until the end of Gwaeron."
Tinnuel sighed.
"that's the best I can get from you I guess.I hope Dorothor does not follow your steps and becomes a warrior as well."
Lúthien commented on that with a not so innocent smile.
"I believe there is no need for you to worry cousin.I've heard he has been spending a lot of time in your forges.he seems quite taken with your craft."
Tinnuel's rare green eyes sparked with happiness at that.
oropher shot Lúthien a disapproving look.Tinnuel though,seemed to be only one who didn't get the real meaning behind those words.even his father had some suspicions but had yet to ask any of them about it.
Oropher was not surprised.Tinnuel was not an intuitive person by any means,unlike her daughter.and it was a good thing.
oropher wanted for her to keep that illusion that at least one of her children was interested in her skills.
Calemiriel had taken after their father and became a politician and Oropher himself had always looked up to his uncle Galadhon who was the lord commander of the army.
Tinnuel had tried to sway them towards jewel smithing or any other metal works but with no success.
Gilornion opened his mouth to ask him something before Tinnuel beat him to it.
still holding his arm, she started to drag Oropher away.
"I unfortunately have to steal away your companion dear Lúthien, you can keep my husband for a while though!"
and they were gone before anyone could protest.
As they were heading outside when Oropher asked.
"is something wrong mother?"
she didn't look at him when she answered, which added to his suspicion.
"I just want to spend some quality time with my son. is that so wrong?"
"we could have stayed in the palace and have some quality time there,in the warmth of the fires.why are you taking me to the gardens mother?"
sighing,he asked again.
"you know you can tell me anything.so, what is it?"
she stopped when they reached the gardens.
they were almost alone for people preferred the indoors in this weather.
a wise decision.
he looked at Tinnuel again and he saw her ever present smile on her fair face.
he calmed down a little.what ever it was,it wasn't a bad thing.that knowledge gave him some comfort.
they sat on a bench near the rose bushes and after a few seconds,she finally spoke.
"I ask that you think about the matter I wish to discuss with an open mind.do you promise?"
"I promise."
she smiled gently at him.
"that's my boy!alright son.first answer this.are you currently involved with someone?is there anybody that holds your heart?"
Oropher hesitated but answered truthfully.
"no ..mother ..why are you asking these questions all of a sudden?"
"do you want to?if there was someone who did like you that way? would you give her a chance?"
he was rightfully confused by all these questions.
their mother never involved herself in their love lives.among the elves no one but the couples' parents had a say on their marriage and whom should they love.
Tinnuel though,had cleared up things with both Oropher and Calemiriel after they came of age, something she would also do for Amdir when he reached his 100th begetting day.
she told them that she would be happy with anyone they wish to settle with,as long as she was invited to the wedding.
Oropher always thought it had something to do with her own marriage with their father.there had always been rumors about his grandparents disowning his mother when she refused to journey west with the rest of the Golodhrim and chose to stay with Gilornion who led the search parties along side his brother,Galadhon, for their missing leader.
he never dared to ask her if it was true, afraid he might upset her needlessly.
"and who's this lady that you say holds feelings for me?"
"do you know my apprentice, Maeril? daughter of his Majesty's treasurer?"
so that was the deal.
he closed his eyes and rubbed the space between them.
"and how did you found out she...likes me that way?"
stuttering,Tinnuel avoided his eyes and said.
"w-well I am a woman myself,I cou-"
"she told you to ask me, didn't she?"
feeling a bit guilty,she ceased talking.
oropher sighed again.
"thank you for taking the time to tell me about this,and I'm sorry I hadn't shared this with you myself."
Tinnuel's eyes widened in shock.
"Calemir and I have known for a while now,and it is not her first attempt to convince me and I've already shown her subtly that I'm not interested.I see now that I should have been more forward in my rejection so you wouldn't have to be involved.I'll meet with her tomorrow and clear things up with her.you should not worry yourself over this anymore."
recovering from the earlier revelation,she spoke again.
"but don't you want to give her a chance?!she is a nice girl,kind and generous of heart.you may end up liking her too!"
Oropher shook his head.
"no mother.there is no doubt she is a worthy lady,but as I've already told you I do not see her like that.I can't pretend that I do for it wouldn't be fair to neither her nor me.and she is just a few decades older than Amdir and barely into adulthood.I'm her senior by more than a millennia!"
he purposefully left out the part about Amdir's feelings.
he wanted his brother to be the one to tell her about them.
Tinnuel was clearly not convinced but dropped the subject.
"if it is what you really think then I won't force you ion nin."
"it is.thank you naneth."
a strong wind passed by and the the snowflakes twirled in the sky and around them, almost as if they were dancing.
Tinnuel started to shiver and Oropher realized that they have spent quite some time out there in the cold.
he was wearing a tunic and a thick outer robe but his mother was only clad in a velvet dress and a thin cloak that did nothing to protect her from the weather. he took off his outer robe and put it around her shoulders before she could protest.
"here...wear this."
he took her hands and flinched at the coldness of them.
"by Eru!you're freezing!"
she held the robe around herself and smiled in gratitude.
"I am.we should leave now either way.the king and queen are going to be giving their speech any minute now."
Oropher nodded,remembering it as well.
he put his arm around her small frame to keep her warmer and together they made their way towards the great hall.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Returning to the great hall, Tinnuel took off her son's robe and passed it to him.


"I'll be joining your father now. Go and find your cousin."


Oropher nodded with a smile.


"See you at dinner."


Tinnuel stroke his cheek and left without another word, joining her husband and brother in law who were standing beside their king.


Finding Lúthien was never hard. Her striking figure and beauty aside,she tend to glow much more than any of them, except her own father perhaps. A living lantern, Oropher liked to call her.


"What did your mother want to talk about?"


She whispered in his ear the moment she felt his presence next to her.


"You won't believe it."


She smiled.


"Try me."


"Guess who has asked my mother to arrange a date for us?"


He said, partly annoyed and partly amused. Not by the actions of his admirer of course,as he himself had not been that different when he was her age so that would make him a hypocrite. But how this simple problem had gotten so out of hand,his mother was now involved in it as well.


"You are kidding right?"


"Na-ah. Telling the truth. My mother must like her a lot because she actually insisted that I change my mind about this."


"Your mother likes everyone."


"Not enough to want them as a daughter in law."


"Why are you so calm about this all of a sudden?"


"It's the shock. Let it wear out and then i'll panic about it gladly."


"Just make sure I'm there to witness it."


Lúthien hid her laugh with her palm as Oropher shoved her lightly.


"You are really mean."


"I'm not mean!"


"Yes you are!"


Somehow, their little banter had him in a better mood already.


Before Lúthien could come up with a retort though,her father's voice made them both look at him.


"Good people,my Lords and ladies,I welcome and thank you all once again for gathering here with us to celebrate another prosperous autumn by the grace of Eru Illuvatar and the Valar.


And a big thanks to my nephew,prince Gilornion who was the one responsible for organizing this grand feast!"


Everyone cheered and Gilornion smiled towards his uncle and bowed his head in thanks.


The sound of queen's silvery voice silenced the people.


"This day marks yet another year since by the grace of the Valar and Eru,we experience peace and prosperity. Something your ancestors were all deprived of under the reign of the Dark Lord.


We may not live under the light of the two trees,but the radiance of Gilthoniel's stars have ever been our guide in this darkness.


We may not live under the shades of great beeches of Valinor,but lady Kementari has ever looked over us and blessed our kingdom so we can live forever in this abundance."


Oropher's mind drowned out the rest of queen's words which seemed to be praises to lord Ulmo as his eyes came upon the scene in front of him.


There stood His little brother with a lady holding his arm. That was not of his concern. Amdir may not be an adult yet but he was no elfling either,so he could do what he wished. Oropher was not his parent.


What alarmed him was the person whom he had with him.


Maeril stood there beside Amdir as they both listened to the speech of the queen, the two of them completely immersed in her words as she continued with her prayers.


Oropher nudged Lúthien slightly, subtly pointing at them.


Lúthien, confused at first,looked at him.


But as she followed the direction he was gazing at, frowned.


"What is she up to? Hadn't she just asked your mother to talk with you? And didn't she want to ask you to be her partner?"


She whispered.


Oropher shook his head slightly.


"I do not know either. But I worry for my brother."


He didn't want to assume the worst about her,but the circumstances didn't allow Oropher to come to any conclusion but the fact that Maeril was somehow using his brother to get to him.


Unless, Amdir had confessed to her? Thinking, this made things even worse.


If not for his mother's words, Oropher would have thought himself to be wrong in assuming she held any feelings for him. But now,he couldn't find any excuses for her actions.


He sighed. He should have talked to her. He should have. If Amdir ended up heartbroken in between this,it would be all his fault. It was ironic really. He had been trying so much to make sure this wouldn't happen and yet somehow, although unknowingly,he might as well be the cause of it.


"What are you going to do then? You can't just go tell Amdir about all of this! It will break his heart!"


Lúthien asked him,as if he knew.


Oropher was silent for a few seconds but when he spoke,the frustration could be heard in his voice.


"Do you think I Don't know this myself? May-maybe I can ask Calemiriel to talk with Mae-"


"Oh for Eru's sake! Can't you just man up and talk to her yourself? What she is doing involving Amdir into this is wrong. But she is barely out of childhood. She isn't going to let go of this if she didn't hear the words coming out of your own mouth. And I can't stress this enough. You.have.to.use.words."


Oropher sighed but nodded. Lúthien was right,as always.


"I'll do it. give me at least some time to organize my thoughts. I promise I'll speak with her after dinner is served."


Lúthien gave him a look of approval and patted his arm to offer some comfort.


He leaned into her touch,her calming presence reducing his distress a bit.


It was at that moment when people started cheering, and Oropher realized the speech had ended and the bell signaling dinner was ringing.


They both shared a guilty look because they had been so busy whispering to each other they had ceased to pay attention to the carefully crafted words their monarchs had probably spent days perfecting.


"Oropher! Lúthien!"


Celeborn called out to them cheerfully, making his way towards them.


Oropher took a step towards him,a greeting on his lips before he was crushed in his cousin's embrace.


"You little brat! Not even coming to greet me after being in the city for two days?!"


"I...had things...responsi- Celeborn I can't breathe!"


With this his cousin let go of him, taking a step back and holding his arms, looking at him.


"Don't you look handsome? Who are trying to impress?"


Oropher rolled his eyes but his smile didn't drop. Even though Celeborn was much older than him,they were still each other's best friends. Galathil, Lúthien and Calemiriel were all from the same generation of Egladorian elves and therefore,shared a bond none of the understood. Oropher though, thought he and Celeborn were just as close as those three,if not even closer. Celeborn could understand him like no other did.


So he was not surprised that even now,he had somehow sensed his anxiousness just by looking at him because his eyebrows furrowed as he shook his head slightly in question.


Galathil's presence saved him from answering (for then) as he,had finished talking with Lúthien, came forward and grasped his arm in a warrior salute,face emotionless, before grinning slowly and pulling him for a hug, just as fierce as his brother's.


"Had fun running around the kingdom? leaving me to do your work for you?"


"You did my work for me? then how come I've been slaving away in my office these last two days going through reports?"


"Don't talk back to your superior officer!"


"You're not my superior anymore!"


"Well then don't talk back to your elder cousin!"


"As much as I despise to interrupt this... insightful conversation,I believe they are awaiting us at the high table."


Celeborn said with his "council-man" tone,like the times he tried to tell some of his rather hot-headed colleagues to shut up.


Oropher did not appreciate it.


And sure enough, their parents all were looking at them, amused yet exasperated.


Galathil and him shared a sheepish look.


Lúthien came forward and got hold of his arm again before Celeborn said.


"Dear princess,do you mind if I walk with my cousin to the table? we have so much to catch up to it seems."


Before Lúthien could answer though, Oropher shook his head in mock disappointment.


"Do you not have manners Celeborn? I have to escort the lady to her seat. Truly disappointing."


Instead of being insulted though,like Oropher had hoped, Celeborn kept watching him with the same concerned look on his face before sighing an giving up. With a smile,he responded.


"Ah of course! Don't let me delay you anymore then. Go ahead."


"He isn't not fooled. Just so you know."


Lúthien whispered to him as they walked ahead,with their cousins following closely.


"I do know. And I will expect a thorough interrogation very soon."


reaching the table,he smiled back to his uncle as he greeted him.


"hello nephew. I believe you have enjoyed your return immensely. How are the reports coming on?"


"Finished them all and you can expect the briefing to be ready by tomorrow."


"Well ...that was faster than I had expected. Good to know."


The shock was evident on his uncle's face and Oropher couldn't blame him.


It wasn't that he didn't enjoy writing,but paperwork and formal letters in general bore him to death and he could never finish them without a great deal of procrastinating and whining.


So to had finished two month worth of them in two days was definitely a new record for him.


Bowing to the rest of his family present,he finally sat down with Lúthien to his right and Celeborn on his left.


Galathil too moved around the table to take his seat beside his father.


The only empty seats remaining were his grandfather's(who Oropher came to know had yet to return from Ossiriand) on the king's left side and also Amdir's and his partner.


His smile vanished from his face as he saw his brother and Maeril approaching the table, Amdir trying his best to grab her attention and Maeril barely noticing it. It was painful to watch.


Amdir's eyes lit up as they fell on him before he speed-walked( he would have ran if there were not so many people there ) and practically jumped into his arms.


"Brother! It's been so long! I have missed you!"


Came Amdir's enthusiastic voice as he crushed him in his arms.


he has grown so much


That was the first thing he thought of as he embraced his brother just as tightly.


Amdir had a couple of decades before reaching his majority yet he was already taller than him.


Oropher wasn't by any means a short ellon compared to the rest of the population of Menegroth and Eglador.


Yes, he could barely see Celeborn and Galathil in the eyes but he was sure Amdir would grow to be the tallest of the king's grandnephews.


He mused as he ruffled Amdir's hair.


"As have I penneth! Or should I even be calling you that for you have outgrown me already! What does mother feed you?"


"Mother does not even have the time to eat anything herself! Why would you think she'd cook for me? Not that anyone can eat anything she cooks anyway.."


He whispered,low enough so they were the only ones who could hear it.


They both snickered, parting slowly and it was only then that Amdir realized he had left Maeril and forgotten about her completely.


The said elleth was standing awkwardly a few feet away from the table, unsure of what to do.


Amdir walked towards her, an apology already on his lips.


Calemiriel's eyes widened slowly before she schooled her features and glanced at him questionably.


Oropher could only grimace as he mouthed a later to her.


She was not pleased but dropped the subject.


Tinnuel, on the other hand, was rightfully shocked. For there stood her apprentice whom had recently told her of her affections for Tinnuel's eldest son,but she had attended the feast with her youngest.


She watched with a frown as Amdir and Maeril finally took their seats but as she went to open her mouth Gilornion subtly nudged her arm and shook his head.


She was as unhappy as her daughter about this situation but could only huff and watch silently as the servants brought the food.


Thankfully it did not take long for the food to be served.


The table was swiftly filled with different varieties of meat and roasted vegetables and the smell of sweet corn breads filled the air. But Oropher, thinking of what he had promised to do after dinner, could only fill his goblet and nurse the wine he was so looking forward too, appetite all gone.


"Is everything alright my son? You've barely touched anything."


His father's worried voice snapped him out of his thoughts, before he quickly shook his head.


"No father. everything is perfect. I am simply full at the moment. I had something to snack on while I was working at my office earlier."


Gilornion though, didn't buy his lie and continued watching him, looking troubled and Oropher noticed his father hadn't asked about the food,but him.


Thankfully,he didn't take it any further and went back to his own food,still troubled.


Just to keep the rest from picking up where his father had left,he reached for one of the dishes and barely paying attention to it's content,he served himself some of it.


"It's not nice to play with your food,is it?"


Celeborn whispered from beside him without looking up from his own plate.


"What do you mean?"


"Oropher,you hate roasted mushrooms."


"I know?... What are you talking about?"


"Then why is your plate full of them?"


He looked down at his plate and sure enough,he had filled it with the only food he probably hated. He sighed. So much for keeping quiet.


He subtly pushed it towards his cousin who swapped their plates immediately,not needed to be asked.


"Why are you so nervous?"


Celeborn asked teasingly,only half-joking.


"Can't tell."


"Why?"


"c


Can't tell you...now. but later. After the feast. I will then."


"Alright. But it's not something serious,right?"


Oropher smiled despite himself,his heart warmed.


"No..no it's not."


Well...not life threateningly serious but enough to give him anxiety and deprive him of the joy of celebrations.


What was he going to tell her? From what he had come to know of her,she was not one to give up with things like "You are too young for me" or "I don't hold you in that regard" and would try to persuade him.


Her stubbornness and determination would have been a quality he admired,if she was anyone else. Someone he was attracted too. But the moment he found out about his brother's feelings for her,he just couldn't simply picture her as someone he could marry and fall in love with.


At her lowest,she was just a noble lady,a friend of his mother. At her highest,she could only be a law sister to him one day. Nothing more.


He couldn't and wouldn't tell her this though in case he was wrong in his assumptions about Amdir having confessed to her. He would never betray his brother's trust like that.


His string of thoughts was torn when Calemiriel spoke.


"So... lady Maeril...am I right? How did come to know my brother? I had not expected Amdir to bring anyone with him to the feast. Let alone a romantic partner."


Oropher's eyes became round as he watched his sister with his mouth hanging open.


The question had been asked with such subtlety,even he had a hard time reading in between the lines for the intention behind her words and to any other listener, Calemiriel was just being a big sister,if not a bit protective.


"w-we're not ... together...like that ... just friends..."


Amdir answered hesitantly, blushing helplessly and glaring at their sister and Maeril didn't fare any better.


"Ah I see. You have a great taste in choosing your friends then little brother. I have heard many great things about you from my mother my lady.


I am happy we finally got the chance to meet."


Calemir smiled sweetly,not looking like the interrogater she was just a few seconds ago.


"As...as am I princess. Your mother has told me a great deal about you as well."


"All good things I hope."


"O-Of course!"


Oropher drowned out the rest of pleasantries (he was never a fan of them) and focused on the information Amdir gave them unknowingly.


He breathed a sigh of relief. So she was not using Amdir after all.


Once the realization hit him though,he was filled with shame. He had already held her guilty of something he was not completely sure about.


One look at his mother was enough to tell him she was feeling the same.


He felt bad for Tinnuel. Unlike him, she had to deal with her apprentice on a daily basis and knowing his mother,this was going to eat at her until she finally confessed to Maeril and apologized. He just hoped Maeril would forgive her.


"We judged her too soon didn't we?"


He asked Lúthien who nodded, feeling guilty as well.


"We did...the circumstances were such that we... it's not an excuse though."


He smiled at Celeborn who having heard their conversation,was looking at them curiously.


"Part of the stuff we're going to talk about later."


He nodded, unhappy about not being included in secrets but thankfully, didn't ask anything more.


The rest of the dinner went on with him panicking a bit more and surprisingly, Calemiriel and Maeril ending up talking much more than her and Amdir, which by looking at his face,his brother was not happy about it at all.


The time for his conversation with Maeril had come much faster than he wanted but he had to do it or would end up backing out again.


"Can you distract Amdir a bit here?"


He turned to Celeborn as they both got up from their chairs,eyes pleading him not to ask anything yet.


"What is going on Oropher?"


"Nothing...life threatening. Just... Can you do this for me? I'll owe you one."


"... Alright."


He walked passed him towards his little brother, swinging his arm around his neck, already starting a conversation easily and almost dragging the unwilling but still polite Amdir away towards the dance floor where almost everyone, especially younger people like them were heading.


"Good luck."


He looked at Lúthien standing beside him and smiled nervously. She squeezed his arm lightly before joining Galathil and Calemiriel, following after Amdir and Celeborn.


Sighing,he walked towards Maeril,who unsure about following her partner or not,was still standing there.


"Lady... Lady Maeril?"


She jumped as she heard his voice, blushing vigorously.


"Y-Yes?"


"I ...I believe you and I have some unresolved matters we need to discuss. About what you said to my mother."


Her blush deepened if possible.


"What... what about it?"


Oropher wanted to look away from the hopeful face of the young girl. He didn't want to be the one to vanquish those sparks from her eyes.


But he had to.


"Not here. Perhaps somewhere more private? we can go to one of the balconies where we wouldn't be disturbed."


She nodded without hesitation and accepting the arm he offered to her, they moved through the crowd easily as most people were heading in their opposite direction and seeing him,they would move aside, giving him room to walk.


He nodded his head in thanks,trying to smile but he was not sure how successful he was.


Once out in the balcony,he closed the door behind them.


Turning to her,he took a deep breath and gave it out slowly, watching the fog form in front of him and disappear as quickly as it came.


"So...my mother told me you hold me...in some certain regards."


He didn't stutter as much as he thought he would. Maybe he could do this without making a fool out of himself after all.


She looked down at first,still too shy to face him completely. Oropher could relate to that.


"If by certain regards you mean that I love you my prince,then you are correct."


Her voice did not waver as she confessed, although it was barely audible.


"I... I'm sorry."


he could almost hear the sound of her heart breaking,like his own had once,many years ago.


She looked up at him,eyes tearful.


"What..."


it took her a few seconds to compose herself before looking away.


"What...are you sorry for,my prince?"


"I ...I'm sorry but I can not return your feelings. And...I'm sorry for not telling you sooner."


This made her glance at him again, confused as her tears finally fell. once processing his words,her eyes hardened as she took a step back.


"What do you mean sooner?... How ... How long have you known? No! Don't tell me. I don't want to know..."


She was full on crying now and Oropher cursed himself and his loose tongue. She didn't have to know about this.


"I'm so sorry...I thought I was being plain enough about this but ...but you ...I'm sorry... It's my fault. I should have cleared things up with you sooner..."


He walked towards her until he could easily reach out and hold her hands.


He took in another deep breath. why was it so hard?


"It's not that I don't think you're not a wonderful elleth..."


"Then why? Why can't you love me like I love you?"


He could say I don't know but that would be a lie. He knew exactly why. But he couldn't tell her the truth either.


"Well?"


she said, impatient.


"I...I can't tell you."


Her confusion was slowly giving way to anger and a justified one at that. If Oropher was in her shoes,he would want to know at least why he was being rejected. And this knowledge too, Oropher was unable to give her.


"Why? Is it because I'm immature? Too young? Because I can change. I swear!"


the desperation in her voice hit too close to his heart as the he heard echoes of his own saying words alike to hers.


"No no! I mean yes. You are too young for me. But that is not the main reason. And that... that I can't tell you because it's not my secret to tell."


his voice broke no argument and he could see Maeril realizing it slowly.


She let go of his hand and cupped his cheek,her touch gentle.


"So I don't have any at all?"


He shook his head, shooting down her last attempt.


It was at that moment when the door of the balcony was opened.


"Where have you been my lady? I looked everywhe-"


Amdir looked up at that moment and ceased talking,eyes wide in shock.


His eyes travelled from Maeril to her hand,still holding Oropher's face and then Oropher.


When his eyes fell on him though,they were filled with hurt, disdain, jealousy and....hate.


Oropher shook away Maeril's hand as they both took a few step away from each other.


"Amd-"


But Amdir was gone before he could even open his mouth.