Discussion One Man In The Shadows Discussion Thread

[WatcherWraith]

“Such a mouthful, though. Tyelkormo. I am guessing it’s your mother-name, right? Your mother wouldn’t have named you something Finwë, but your father sounds like he might have.

What does it mean? Does it have a nickname I can use? It would be exhausting to keep saying your full name all day.”

Keep on prattling, Beleg, and you just might find out what it means. 🥴 I wonder if this is a tactic to wear Tyelko down.

“Or perhaps you just can’t keep your resolve because I’m so charming. Oh, don’t blame yourself. I’m a man of many charms. No one can resist me even if they try.”

“Whoever made you believe that did you a grave injustice.”

The deadpan stare I would have sent Beleg's way 🤣🤣🤣
Aw, Tyelko is so kind to dispell the vanities 😂

He leaned against the tree, and watched half-heartedly as Beleg coated the skinned and gutted rabbit with salt, binded it to a stick and secured it over the fire. He frowned, not remembering when Beleg had found all these extra sticks to begin with, but didn’t care enough to ask. It wasn’t worth the conversation he knew would follow, nor him teasing him about whatever he found funny.

But, Tyelko, my friend, Beleg is an elf of ✨many talents✨. He can even pick up sticks while jabbering!

“My friend is called…well, I think I should ask how well you know of your granduncles. How much have Finwë and Olwë told you of their brothers?”

Not enough to realize we have an even more extended family than previously known.

“They…how could they forget us so easily?”

Honestly...while they did not forget you, they were separated from you, mostly by your peoples' own choice. There's been no contact whatsoever. And in a happy world, they were taken up with(mostly) happy things. Not until now have you and yours been relevant again.

“And when we had just given up on him, Elwë finally showed up. He called himself Elu Thingol, as it had become in our tongue, and with him he had brought us a bride and his queen. And she was …well, different than you would expect.”

“How so?"

Beleg smirked at something he found funny, and Tyelkormo felt his guard rising as it did whenever Beleg smiled like that.

“She was a Maia.”

“...What?!”

And thus began all Tyelko's future problems.

“Let me guess. Is your mother by any chance the daughter of a man with a very weird beard which doesn’t suit his age?”

“I would not call it weird. I liked petting my grandfather’s beard when I was younger. It was soft.”

“...How come you are related to every Golodh I know?”

“I think the question you should be asking is why you know so many people.”

It's because you're clearly an extrovert, Beleg. You have many friends.

Beleg was no longer alone. A figure, clouded in shadows loomed over him. They held a hand over Beleg’s face and Tyelko had an arrow notched and ready to shoot when he realized what he was doing. What if he hit Beleg? It was too dark, and Beleg was not a rabbit he could make a gambit with.

As I said, Beleg: many friends. 👹

Beleg! Oh, by Eru! He had completely forgotten about him and he was supposed to watch his back!

Tyelko, what's the Golden Rule of horror movies? Don't split up the party! Someone always dies or gets hurt.

The bloody man did not smile, but his eyes visibly softened as they fell on his.

The blood, by itself, should have been a giveaway. No self-respecting Fëanor would allow blood to coat their skin if they weren't in battle. You father made the finest jewels he ever crafted into a necklace and wore them at feasts, Tyelko, he'd never allow himself to be tainted with unnecessary blood.

The burning feeling on his chest was like coal on his skin, and all he wanted to do was claw out the offending object.

Get away from him, Tyelko!

He pulled out the necklace, and for a moment, the light of it blinded him. He heard his father scream, and then, he felt clawed hands digging into his skin.

“Curse you! Put it away! Keep it away!”

Feanaro growled next to him, and Tyelkormo shuddered at how inhumane he sounded.

Tyelkormo pulled his arm out of his grasp, hissing when the claws left their bloody marks on it.

He stumbled away from him, and watched what he had thought to be his father wail and moan in pain, the once smooth skin turning shriveled and grey before his eyes. The silver eyes turned black, and they eyed Tyelkromo with something akin to horror.

This, in the midst of everything else, is one mark of pride for Fëanor. He crafted a jewel precious enough to be hallowed(outside the Silmarils) and it frightens even those creatures who have never met a Vala, who may never have even heard of Oromë. Well done, Fëanor. Your craft and your fëa save your son from beyond the grave.

Beleg huffed as he bandaged the now clean wounds, and tied it tighter than he should have, so that Tyelko winced from the sheer pressure of it.

“Black bean for nosy kids, that’s what.”

*beleg-dad*
🤫🤭

“We didn't even have a body to bury. He just …burst into flames after he bade us to renew our oath and avenge him and our grandfather. So I thought perhaps…I don't know what I thought, but I just wanted him to be alive.”

I wonder how Beleg felt about that, hearing an elf just...burned away like that. Surely it's not considered a natural fate(given how tied elves are to the world). And how it never happens again after that.

Tyelko nodded, and put a hand over the necklace, the look on Beleg's face throwing him off a little.

“You’re not going to take it away when I'm not looking, right?”

“first of all, I'm not a thief–”

“I beg to differ–”

Beleg? Bah. Humbug.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Beleg cackled.

“Oh! So he speaks.”

Hehehe Beleg is so endearing when he's being annoying. 🤭

“Watch me.”

“Well you aren’t doing such a good job. You just responded to me. I think it’s the overflowing sass again. You just can’t contain it for long.”

H e . k e e p s . g o i n g .
😂

Instead of looking insulted, the Sinda snorted.

“You’re adorable, Little Man. Even your insults are princely and full of grace.”

For a second, Tyelko was stunned. He couldn’t believe this man’s audacity. Then, his eyes fell on Beleg’s. There was mischief there, but they looked expectant as well. Waiting for him to respond just so he could entertain himself with some banter.

Well, Tyelko was more than eager to disappoint him.

You know, I think Curvo would have given in even before this point. The lure of engaging in banter is too strong for him. (In all its forms! Witty, sarcastic, goofy, silly...)

Despite his annoying personality, the man was clearly a skilled woodsman and warrior, and his approval was not sought but appreciated nonetheless.

...hmm... sure... 🤨🙂

Beleg looked…angry. And hurt. He scoffed, looking down on his lap before his attention was taken away by the meat on the fire. He turned it around a few times before he sighed and ran a hand across his face.

“They…how could they forget us so easily?”

Tyelkormo’s frown deepened, concern evident on his face despite his best effort to hide it.

“My family is…you should not try to figure it out. It was better not to bring up sore spots, and my grandmother was one of them. I think you counted among them too.”

He looked up to find Beleg looking at him, some of his hurt masked under his surprise. Tyelkormo was also taken aback by his own words. Why had he tried to comfort Beleg? He didn’t know, and he didn’t know why he didn’t stop at that either.

🥺
Because you're a sweet lil guy, Tyelko, and it's hard for you to remain distant from others, even when you're suspicious of them.

“Let me guess. Is your mother by any chance the daughter of a man with a very weird beard which doesn’t suit his age?”

I just love the way Beleg speaks in your writings, lol. So blunt and so cheeky. So friendly, but you can feel he doesn't fit neatly into society.

Beleg was no longer alone. A figure, clouded in shadows loomed over him. They held a hand over Beleg’s face and Tyelko had an arrow notched and ready to shoot when he realized what he was doing. What if he hit Beleg? It was too dark, and Beleg was not a rabbit he could make a gambit with.

😱

He relaxed his arm. The arrow was back in his quiver, his blade unsheathed, and within seconds, his feet landed quietly on the ground. He looked up, ready to pounce upon the attacker when he found the spot empty. Beleg lay there, safe and sound, with little to no sign of the presence he had spotted only seconds ago.

Tyelkormo stood there for a moment, stunned, the grip of his hand around the blade becoming looser as his breathing came out shallow and in short gasps. He turned around once, his eyes wide as he surveyed the area, only to find…nothing.

Except that…his eyes narrowed as he spotted a movement somewhere ahead among the trees. The swish of fabrics caught his eyes and without a second to spare, Tyelkormo was following it.

...nooo Tyelko, stay where you are! What if it or something else comes back for the sleeping Beleg?

I suppose he is a hunter and not a guard, so it's not his natural instinct. But still. 😐

“And Olwe was a friend too, and you saw how in our time of need, he chose to take the side of his lords, the pathetic little thing he is. And you know how we answer those friends who hurt us, my child. We make a lesson out of them–”

Yeah... something's off with that portrayal of Fëanor any way you look at it. Fëanor could be forceful and threatening in order to get his way, but he was not violent in that calculated, vicious sort of way to assert his control. It was more born out of unchecked rage and emotion.

Tyelkromo blinked his eyes open, his wide gaze finding Beleg’s. The familiar, compassionate look was back, and Tyelkormo would never admit how much he had missed it.

...nawww... see Tyelko, you do care about his thoughts.

Beleg grimaced and took a swig of the brandy, which made Tyelko grimace in return. That brew was solely meant to be used for medical purposes. No one could dare Tyelko to actually drink that stuff, but there Beleg was, not even frowning as he swallowed it down.

Dude has a constitution of steel. 😂

“Why the hell did it do that?!”

Beleg was still cursing as he clenched and unclenched his sore fingers. Tyelko could only shrug.

“I wouldn't know. My father was never one to give away the secret of his works. And this was made just after I was born. I've had it my whole life. Never seen it react to anyone like this.

It has been acting weird for a while, though, so I doubt it has anything against you.”

Like Fëanor, the stone is suspicious of anyone outside his nearest family. 😂


I love how this chapter covers so much ground! The relationship between Tyelko & Beleg develops in a believable manner. They have meaningful discussions with each other, perceiving each other's less guarded and more warm and sincere sides. And then there is the threat of the Ōmata, which makes for a captivating bit of horror, and throws them back into conflict, a more serious one this time. But at the same time not so hostile, for there is genuine care on both sides this time. 🥺

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Chapter 6 is up, folks! I'm sorry I have yet to reply to your lovely comments. I'm insanely busy.

 

[WatcherWraith]

Lilómë didn’t understand. Huan was huge, rude and stinky. How Fluffed Hair and his brothers could like him was beyond Lilómë’s understanding.

Baby. Babygirl. Huan is a Good Dog.

She began petting him, and felt his arms circle around her. Good. He had accepted her as a mother now.

This remark never ceases to get a chuckle from me. This cat has all the ego of a Fëanorean by herself XD

Yaulë meowed loudly at him, but the kitten didn’t listen. Lilómë watched her brother for a moment before they followed the kitten together. If some cat were to ask Lilómë why she didn’t want kittens, she would show them this one as an example. They didn’t listen, and they ran into danger like a fool.

I find it so funny how Lilómë uses a human child to prove why she doesn't want kittens.

Lilómë jumped as the kitten gasped, and she stroked him with her mitten as he started wailing too. She wondered if he missed his mom, and decided to be an extra good mother to him.

On one hand(paw?) I know Lilómë understand very little of what is actually going on. On the other hand, if she can understand Huan enough to call him rude, how does she not know what is happening with Tyelko?

The adventures of Lilómë is something I hope gets brought up again at different points in the story. It makes for a very unique perspective while also telling us more about how the brothers are handling this disappearence on their end.

Also, I want to hear more about her father. Fëanor had a cat, too? How much does he understand about what happened to his master? I have questions.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

It was not like Fluffed Hair to just not have these ready for her when she came back from her nightly wanderings. He was always here, the bowl in his hand and all those soft and nice scratches she would allow him to give her.

Lilómë is such a spoiled little princess lol. In her eyes, Fluffed Hair is not only a companion, but her adoring servant. 😂

“I believe you also seek my brother, sweet girl? Has he not fed you yet?”

Lilómë meowed sadly, and Rosy Cheeks cooed and held her tighter.

Oh, the tragedy! 🙀😔

Aryon, her fluffy and wise father was sitting on the desk beside Sweet Voice. His bowl of food lay half empty in front of him, and despite the nice and considerate petting he was getting from Sweet Voice, her father still looked sad. He’d been sad since Great Father disappeared. Did he not know he was going to turn up at some point? Yaulë liked to disappear from time to time as a kitten, but father was never sad when he did it. Great Father would show up like he always did, and father needed to know that.

🥺 ...It adds an extra dimension to the sadness of Fëanor's death where you have it from the point of view of animals who don't quite understand all that has come to pass.

She jumped down, and ran until she reached Rosy Cheeks. He didn’t bend down to pick her up this time, which she appreciated. She wished for Fluffed Hair now, and would not have tolerated anyone else to touch her.

I like how you portray the fickleness of Lilómë. Many cats are indeed like that: their moods change very quickly. 😂

Yaulë was enjoying what Lilómë sniffed to be bird meat. She meowed and approached her brother and despite his annoyance, started eating from his bowl.

Also peak cat energy: they will nudge each other out of the way to get food. 😂

Lilómë was soon joined by Yaulë. Her brother cleaned the kitten’s hair a little before he, too, was engulfed in his arms.

Loving the growing cat pile on teeny tiny Tyelpë!

Lilómë then glanced at Metal Hand, and found him to have gone pale in fright. She looked around herself, unsure if there was something which had caused him to be this frightened. Yet, she found nothing. She sniffed again, but still, there was nothing. Perhaps Metal Hand had also spotted a cucumber? She often used those to make Yaulë jump when they were kittens, and mother would always scold her. Metal Hand was Yaulë's Two Leg, so it was possible for him to be afraid of cucumbers too.

This made me giggle out loud. 😂 Still just as hilarious as the first time. 😆

Lilómë turned and nuzzled Yaulë back as he bopped her head, her mitten still stroking the kitten’s back. She looked at Huan who had fallen silent and wondered if Fluffed Hair was going to be feeding her lunch to her or not.

...after all that, she still doesn't understand the seriousness of the situation. Of course Tyelko will be right back to give her food soon. >_>


An enjoyable chapter! I have to say, even if it's unusual to switch to the point of view of their pets, I think it makes things more interesting, in a way. We would have guessed, of course, that there would be disturbances in the camp, and the brothers and Huan would be upset upon discovering that Tyelko has gone. And so showing this from the POV of one of the brothers might feel a bit like telling us what we already know.

This approach, however, lets us know what happened while bringing a fresh, somewhat light-hearted perspective into it. It makes for a kind of break from the constant angst (which is to be expected during this time, in the situation the Fëanorians find themselves in). And yet it still conveys the emotions of the characters, so that this impact is not lost.

 

[Beleg_Cúthalion]

I enjoyed the new chapter very much! I especially enjoyed the beauty and humor of the cat's perspective on what happened to Tyelkormo. When they weren't fed by Tyelko, I was both sad for them and laughing at how true this can be with real cats. My cats act very similarly when it comes to food 😂. That chapter would have been darker without that detail with the cats having their own perspective and role in the story.

I felt bad for Moryo, wanting to go out and look for Tyelko, and being restrained by Maglor. The story very clearly shows how stressed and worried the characters are, and how confused and pained they are because of how fast everything is happening.

I enjoyed the former chapters as well, I love Beleg's character very much. How Beleg was acting towards Tyelko had me laughing so hard 😂, I really, really enjoyed it. When Beleg said "You are being to cold on me Tyelkormo. My heart is wounded." I just lost it, honestly. Beleg is hilarious over all in that story. I very much liked the way his personality was written in this story. His interactions with Tyelko were so perfect and are consistent with how I think they would act towards each other if he had interacted with Beleg like that in the Silmarillion.

Thank you for writing this story, I enjoyed it very much!

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

A new update. 😊

 

[WatcherWraith]

Yet, even the power of the Dark One failed to snuff out those of Iluvatar’s.

He watched mesmerized as the boy pulled off his hood, and like a star resurfaced from under stormy clouds, his glow made the darkness surrounding them a little more bearable.

I seriously love how Tyelko just naturally glows.

Beleg ignored the added dose of attitude and nodded.

“Good. Now, strip.”

Perhaps the nice thing would have been to give him a warning. Some sort of explanation for his odd order, but…where was the fun in that?

And in Beleg’s defense, he wasn’t exactly known for being nice. He was funny, though, and the look on the lad’s face was hilarious.

Beleg's last name is not Cúthalion but rather Weasely. He's just missing some flaming red hair of his own, and then he'd be set for life.

“Did I…did I make you sad?”

Every time I read this sentence, I get the absolutely adorable image of Tyelko in kitten form, gazing up at Beleg with sparkling eyes large enough to swallow him whole.
And then I blink and get elf-Tyelko back 😆

Together, they began humming. High and low, their voices mingled. At last, Tyelkormo opened his eyes to a face so hideous, he flinched away before realizing who it belonged to.

He heard a low laugh. Even the voice sounded nothing like Beleg’s. He only hoped his own disguise had been as successful.

“Don’t look at me like that. You look even uglier.”

“You haven’t seen yourself yet.”

Neither of them are wrong.

“Round them up and back in the chains. Gotta get them back inside before they drop dead.”

The black speech sounded jarring to his ears, and he had to bite the inside of his cheek to control his reaction as the orc captain pushed him harshly towards prisoners.

I wonder how it felt when Beleg learned Black Speech. Did he think of it as a shameful necessity, or an opportunity? Or perhaps both....

He watched over Tyelkormo when the thought of Elmo was too much. The kid played a fair game, even if his heart had yet to harden enough to be too rough with the slaves, he tried his best to not attract attention.

🥲
The boy's tryin' his bestest. What an ordeal, though. Aiee. And they're not through it yet.


I look forward to whenever the next chapter becomes possible to share :] I enjoyed this one, and the Many reminders of Beleg's strong streak of mischief.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

OMITS is back! 🥺 🥺 🥺

Yet, even the power of the Dark One failed to snuff out those of Iluvatar’s.

He watched mesmerized as the boy pulled off his hood, and like a star resurfaced from under stormy clouds, his glow made the darkness surrounding them a little more bearable.

He found himself stroking the soft strands which had become a habit for him and was pleased when, this time, he got no reaction beyond the boy’s shoulders relaxing.

Curvo would agree that Tyelko is a reassuring presence. ...Though he doesn't find Tyelko cute/adorable in the same way Beleg does, he appreciates his sturdy snuggly softness and admires his big bro.

Tyelkormo’s lips trembled. He closed his eyes and once he opened them, there was no trace of the earlier fear and hesitance left.

“I’m not stepping back. I need to save Timo.”

Tyelko is brave and determined, pushing through his fear of what lies ahead for the sake of his bro. 🥺

Perhaps the nice thing would have been to give him a warning. Some sort of explanation for his odd order, but…where was the fun in that?

And in Beleg’s defense, he wasn’t exactly known for being nice. He was funny, though, and the look on the lad’s face was hilarious.

Beleg you cheeky chook. 🤣
...I relate to his mischievousness for the sake of a joke. :>

Beleg didn’t need light to see those flaming cheeks only deepen in color. Tyelkormo looked away at last, and Beleg gave in and allowed himself to laugh silently just as he reached out for the jar in his pack.

😂 Noooo, the poor mortified Tyelko....!

Beleg let his armour fall down. Soon, his reddish brown boots joined them and when he turned to look at Tyelkormo, he found his fit form shining, as if he was a marble statue under the stars.

The Noldor turning up in Beleriand fresh out of Valinor like a bunch of shiny perfectly proportioned marble statues:

“Did I…did I make you sad?”

His violet eyes swimmed with emotions, and Beleg was once again struck by how young the kid was.

🥺

He shook his head and pulled his tunic over his head.

“Tis the tale of another world and another time. Whatever I have lost was the price of what I have now.”

He breathed out and watched the vapor of it swirl into nothingness.

“Put on your clothes. We have wasted enough time.”


He heard no more arguments and soon, all that remained of them by that dusty side of the road were traces of white powder and buried memories of ages ago.

I like the way you contrast Tyelko's sensitive newness to all these feelings, and Beleg's solemn and grave demeanour of one who is accustomed to and accepting of the losses that time brings. It really shows the vast difference of age between them, more than anything else in their interactions.
The images you use to convey these things (highlighted in bold above) are also very striking and moving.

He turned to look at the older man. Beleg’s cheerful demeanor had diminished the closer they had gotten to Angamandu, and now, he barely spared him his usual smiles. Yet, his eyes had remained kind and reassuring as it had been since day one, and his lingering touches and acts of affection, though unexpected and queer at first for someone he barely knew, had become a solace for him.

His gaze was as kind as he squeezed his shoulder firmly. Tyelkormo could only nod.

Beleg's kind heart shows through. :3


Your descriptions of the path into Angband and the condition of the Elven slaves are very vivid. It feels like I'm there.
At this point in the story, it becomes obvious to both Tyelko and the reader how serious, precarious and filled with danger such an expedition is. Even Beleg is not totally certain about their chances within, how they will find who they're looking for, and how they will get out again.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Another update! Hope ypu like it!

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

YAAASSS!...
(I'm sure you recall my exuberance over the appearance of my beloved favorite underrated lord of Gondolin.)

...It's ROOOOOOOOOOOG!!!!!!
(I feel like we need one of those NBA starting lineup songs as he runs out to the applause.)

This chapter just makes me very brain-happy despite some sadnesses.🥹🥺I love how Tyelko revives the spirits of the thralls by offering an alternative, and how you use him as a starting point for their escape journey. He exudes princely nobility as he speaks to them, and even when we know part of the story overall already, you're able to compel your readers in the in-between, the could-haves and all.

 

[WatcherWraith]

He was as fine as he could be there in the tunnels leading inside Angamandu, wearing a thrall’s skin and pretending to be as cruel as them by hurting his own kin.

Shouldn’t it be easy for you? You have done worse–

No! No, that was different. He hadn’t meant for that to happen. None of them had. The Teleri attacked first. They tried killing them first. Tyelkormo just fought back. He just wanted to live. He just wanted to survive–

He… he wasn’t like them, was he? He wasn’t so needlessly cruel. He didn’t enjoy the pain these poor people were in.

This scene prompts me to wonder if orcs were changed physically first, or mentally. I know Tyelkormo's not becoming an orc, but it just provoked a thought.

“The new bloods watch over the mutts. Let’s grab a bite, bastards!”

Given how orcs actually breed at this point in time, the insult might be more truthful than not.

He looked at the prisoners again, and watched as the craftsmen each picked up a piece of meat from the ground and mingled with the others, and to his surprise, he found the others welcoming them. Perhaps they were not as far gone as Beleg had thought.

That's nice. They still hold affection for their fellow slaves, even if they're receiving better treatment than the rest are.

He nodded at Tyelko and started walking away before he realized something.

“Don’t talk to anyone.”

“You told me that already.”

“Well, they think you don’t have a tongue now, so don’t even try it.”

😆 Well, that must have been an odd revelation for Tyelko! "They think you don't have a tongue now."
Tyelko: ????

“Poor kid. What was Beleg thinking, leaving him here all alone?”

There wasn't a lot of choice, really...but yeah, it's not a great situation.

A chill ran down Tyelkormo’s spine as the string of words lost their meaning inside his head. All he could imagine was his brother’s face, distorted in pain and anguish as some creature, not unlike the Ōmata he had met, slashed at him with sharp nails and sharper blades, asking him questions and dragging out information as his brother clung to his sanity.

Probably not too far off what is actually happening, wherever Maitimo is. ☹️

It sounds fair to me, sweet boy.

Whatever remnant of Fëanor is still speaking to his son is...actually rather comforting.

The lock clicked, and the chains clinked as they fell upon the ground.

✨️magic✨️

"...The Valar might be liars, but Nolofinwë is not..."

This part of Tyelko's speech cracks me up every time. "Look, you have a point about the Valar, but my uncle..." gesticulates meaningfully.

ESCAPE ATTEMPT! Time to be secret agents and revolutionaries, boys and girls!

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

The torch light was faint and barely lit a few feet in front of them, but it did little to hide the whip marks on his back.

And I pushed him. I pushed him. I pushed him–

I… I hurt him.

Poor Tyelko. 🥺
It's still hard for him to fathom the effects of cruelty, and his natural unthinking instinct is to try and help this poor soul.

Shouldn’t it be easy for you? You have done worse–

No! No, that was different. He hadn’t meant for that to happen. None of them had. The Teleri attacked first. They tried killing them first. Tyelkormo just fought back. He just wanted to live. He just wanted to survive–

He… he wasn’t like them, was he? He wasn’t so needlessly cruel. He didn’t enjoy the pain these poor people were in.

And yet it is interesting to see the thought process in his troubled mind, still shaken by the fact that he has killed other elves himself.
'They tried killing them first...' As far as I recall, the Teleri only started forcefully pushing the Noldor off their ships into the sea. No doubt this could have endangered their lives, and perhaps someone could have been killed by accident, but I doubt they were intending to kill. I guess this just shows how Tyelko sees it, or how he explained it to himself after it all happened.

The captain growled an order, and Tyelkormo watched, frozen, as Beleg stepped forward, unchained him, picked up the body, and threw it to the side of the tunnel where it would not be in their way. Where it would not be a bother.

No one checked if he still breathed. If he still lived. If he could be saved. No one cared.

The march continued, and Tyelko’s eyes remained on the unmoving body as much as the darkness let him.

This feels like the biggest shock Tyelko has had so far in this place. This is something that he has never seen or experienced before in his life. I really feel his emotion: it's like I'm there staring back at the elf's body with him...

He smirked at Beleg, which almost had him losing his composure. It was hard to pretend the idiot hadn’t just given him what he wanted and not laugh at his face, but Beleg managed to brave through it.

Ah, Beleg and his irrepressible humour, even here. 😂

He looked back at his companion. Tyelkormo, to his surprise and amusement, somehow managed to look like the nervous little bird he was, even in this ghastly form he had taken.

That expression must have been quite a sight to see on an orc's face! 😂

He was scared, and Beleg could see it. He wished he could offer him some comfort. A gentle pat to the back. A hug, perhaps. But Yrch did not hug each other. They didn’t comfort each other. They would sooner eat each other alive than do either of those things.

How thoroughly Morgoth has wrung the goodness and love out of these wretched creatures, leaving them with pretty much only the worst aspects of intelligent beings.

Beleg had been gone for a while now. He couldn’t tell if it was minutes or hours. There was no Tree light or even the faint shimmering light of the stars to help determine time here. By the sacred fire, there was not even a single torch light inside this chamber.

It was damp, it stank of urine and waste, and Tyelko was starting to struggle with his breathing because why was Beleg not back yet–

The way the tension built up here honestly feels dead accurate for someone in this situation.
....I am not at all surprised Tyelko squeaked when someone next talked to him. 😂 🫠

Tyelko gasped and took a step back. The man’s smile deepened as he took another step forward with him. The scars made him resemble one of the many drawings of spirits Laurë used to scare him with as a child.

I really like when you drop little things like this in your descriptions of people's thoughts. It really helps paint a picture of what they're seeing, in an interesting manner.

“Don’t be afraid, little bird. We are not snitches. We all know what happens to snitches. Am I right, everyone?”

It's quite funny that Rhaug calls him 'little bird', which is exactly how Beleg thought of him earlier, when he saw Tyelko looking nervous. I guess Tyelko just gives off bird vibes to them. Cute, sassy, and easily scared.

The man smiled, and something…something had changed in the way Tyelko saw him now. The smile was still creepy, but somehow, he could find beauty in it too.

🥺
Again, love the way you described this. Tyelko's perception is changing as he sees the more 'human', personable side of these slaves. They're not so alien to him anymore.

A chill ran down Tyelkormo’s spine as the string of words lost their meaning inside his head. All he could imagine was his brother’s face, distorted in pain and anguish as some creature, not unlike the Ōmata he had met, slashed at him with sharp nails and sharper blades, asking him questions and dragging out information as his brother clung to his sanity.

I like how you show how new all this is to Tyelko, throughout this chapter (and the story in general). Though he becomes more well acquainted with Morgoth's servants later on, here he knows nothing about them. It's interesting to see, as I don't think I've read a fanfiction that does this to such an extent before. The characters just react to their environment, and they aren't filling in the gaps in their knowledge with their imagination like Tyelko is here. Which is quite a natural thing to do, and it makes your portrayal of the characters feel very real.

“You all saw that man. He was your friend, and he was tossed aside like a piece of garbage. I’m sure he had not been the first to go either. You stay here, you are going to be next. They might be able to take you one by one, but together? Together, you will have a chance.”

Oh, that hit hard.

He paused, looked around himself, and he was sad to still find hesitant faces. Couldn’t they see the truth in front of them?

“I’m not going to lie. Some of you will die. But if you stay here, you will all die. At least out there, you can go while you are still yourselves! If you don’t stand united, they will take you one by one. You’ll die starving and enslaved, but if you pass braving this escape? You’ll be free. And the land you’ll wake up on? It’s… it’s beautiful. And it’s safe. No thrall shall ever touch you again.”

Tyelko is finding his persuasive and inspiring voice that he is later known for.

He looked at their terrified faces, and his heart broke all over again. If Maitimo had been there, he would have words to tell them. Reassuring words. Compassionate ones. Tyelkormo had none of those things. He was the blunt and bitter bark to his brother’s sweet fruit, though they were both rooted in the same tree.

No, I think Tyelko's words are just what is needed here. These people have no stomach for soft and reassuring words, after being accustomed to harshness and darkness for so long. I feel like it wouldn't have much effect on them. They speak to each other bluntly, and Tyelko does the same. And Tyelko has just the sort of foolish courage that might spur them to action despite overwhelming odds.

What he knew was that if Maitimo had been there, he wouldn’t have left these people alone. If he had seen what Tyelko had seen, if had watched that man die like Tyelko had, he would have done everything within his power to save them, even if the enemy he had to fight was none but the people themselves.

Tyelko looking up to his bro and taking inspiration from him, even in his absence. 🥺


Looking forward to seeing what comes of all this.

 

[Beleg_Cúthalion]

Yet Beleg still watched his back, even if far from him. He nodded, a simple question waiting to be answered.

Is everything fine?

He nodded back. He was fine. He was as fine as he could be there in the tunnels leading inside Angamandu, wearing a thrall’s skin and pretending to be as cruel as them by hurting his own kin.

I'm glad Tyelko now does seem to trust Beleg a lot more than he did before. Tyelko already knows how watchful Beleg is, and that Beleg will do his best to keep harm from coming to either of them.

He looked forward once again, just in time to see one of the prisoners fall. The group halted. The captain approached the limp body on the ground. He watched it for a while, and Tyelko almost winced as he kicked the elf so hard in the stomach, he was sure the poor thing would have thrown up anything he had eaten. If he had eaten.



Yet, seconds passed, and the prisoner did not move. He heard the barely audible whispers of others. They spoke in the same tongue Beleg first had threatened him in, and even though he could not understand them, the fear in their voices needed no shared tongue to be understood.

I feel horrible for Tyelko here, and the fact he is looking for his brother makes it even worse, knowing Maitimo could be in similar condition.

“Ashuruk got no tongue to answer w’th?”

“The Brig’ One had his tongue cause it waggled too much.”

At the mention of Gorthaur, Beleg found the first signs of fear cracking through the captain’s face. He huffed and nodded, before he called over the rest of the filthy lot.

This cracked me up, because I imagined it to be an excuse that Gandalf might use for a scared Pippin so Pippin wouldn't talk. I also admired Beleg for having that idea. I think it was the best response possible at the time.

The new bloods watch over the mutts. Let’s grab a bite, bastards!”

He smirked at Beleg, which almost had him losing his composure. It was hard to pretend the idiot hadn’t just given him what he wanted and not laugh at his face, but Beleg managed to brave through it.

I'd be struggling not to laugh to. In fact, I did laugh reading it.

He looked back at his companion. Tyelkormo, to his surprise and amusement, somehow managed to look like the nervous little bird he was, even in this ghastly form he had taken.

🥺

“I have to go.”


He watched those sickly yellow eyes widen.

“What?! You said we’ll stick together–”

“I know what I said–”

“Then why?--”

“Things have changed. I wasn’t expecting them to leave us alone with all of them. This is easier now. You’ll stay here and hold our cover while I go and snoop around. I’ll come back for you if I find anything.”

“But–”

“Listen. Someone needs to stay here or we’ll get punished for leaving our post. I’m the one who understands black speech between the two of us. You won’t be any help to me out there. Got it?”

Tyelkormo chewed his lower lip. A habit Beleg had come to know as an anxious one. He didn’t look happy at the prospect of being left alone.

This reminds me even more of Gandalf and Pippin. Especially when he decides to go because "Things have changed.". It's very Gandalf-like. Tyelkormo is far smarter than Pippin though.

“Don’t talk to anyone.”

“You told me that already.”

“Well, they think you don’t have a tongue now, so don’t even try it.”

This sounds like Gandalf. I laughed so hard at this.

Tyelko gasped and took a step back. The man’s smile deepened as he took another step forward with him. The scars made him resemble one of the many drawings of spirits Laurë used to scare him with as a child.

Sounds like Laure was not nice to little Tyelko 🤣

“How I saw through your expertly woven spell? Don’t take it to heart. Not many of them can get past my eyes. You have done a good job if you could get this far.”

“Wh…what?”

Something in his gaze softened, and he held up his shackled hands towards the others approaching. All but the woman heeded his command and halted. She walked up to him, sliding up next to him, clicking like a lock and a key. Rhaug threw her a fond glance before looking at him again.

“Poor kid. What was Beleg thinking, leaving him here all alone?”

I feel so bad for Tyelkormo right now. Rhaug is right. What was Beleg thinking?

“What…what happens to snitches?”

Rhaug’s grin broadened, and his yellowing teeth made Tyelkormo look away in disgust despite himself.

“They might fall on something sharp while working. Accidents, you know? Happens to the best of us. Can happen to all of us.”

Tyelko is just making sure nobody dares to snitch on him 🤣

“Are they…”

“Alive?” Rhaug sighed, a sound filled with sorrow that chilled Tyelko to the bone. It did not settle even as the man nodded solemnly.

“And they wish they weren’t. Gorthaur…”

Tyelkormo looked around himself at the sounds of whines and whimpers, filled with pure terror, and wondered who this Gorthaur was.

“He is cruel. And he is intelligent. A combination you would want to avoid. Balchon leaves the important slaves to him, and he knows how to make them all sing. They all have a weakness, and Gorthaur’s favorite hobby is to find them and exploit them.”

If Beleg explains who Gorthaur is (that is, if Beleg knows), this is going to scare Tyelko even more. The fact Maitimo and Elwe are being tortured by Sauron is absolutely terrifying.

A chill ran down Tyelkormo’s spine as the string of words lost their meaning inside his head. All he could imagine was his brother’s face, distorted in pain and anguish as some creature, not unlike the Ōmata he had met, slashed at him with sharp nails and sharper blades, asking him questions and dragging out information as his brother clung to his sanity.

I as well am very worried for Maitimo.

“You are going to die anyway.”

Tyelkormo muttered as his fiery gaze found the woman’s shocked ones. He then turned towards the mine workers, and could see the realization dawn upon their faces.

“You all saw that man. He was your friend, and he was tossed aside like a piece of garbage. I’m sure he had not been the first to go either. You stay here, you are going to be next. They might be able to take you one by one, but together? Together, you will have a chance.”

He paused, looked around himself, and he was sad to still find hesitant faces. Couldn’t they see the truth in front of them?

“I’m not going to lie. Some of you will die. But if you stay here, you will all die. At least out there, you can go while you are still yourselves! If you don’t stand united, they will take you one by one. You’ll die starving and enslaved, but if you pass braving this escape? You’ll be free. And the land you’ll wake up on? It’s… it’s beautiful. And it’s safe. No thrall shall ever touch you again.”

Good job Tyelko. This was the right move. If he releases them all and the prisoners remain united, then the orcs won't stand much of a chance.

“I don’t know about you, but either way sounds better to me than this crappy thing we call life.”

He kicked away his cuffs and chains and turned towards him.

“Teach me your spell. We will work faster with the two of us.”

Yes Rhaug! I can't wait to see what happens to him, I hope he survives.

I loved the new chapter! Wonderful story.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Here is the last chapter of this Arc. Hope you all enjoy it. This story will not be updated for some time, I believe. Till things get better over here for me, farewell.

 

[WatcherWraith]

This place was a labyrinth. An evil maze that was meant to drown anyone who wasn’t meant to be in it,and as much of a good swimmer as Beleg was, he still needed places to hold, and if that meant taking a small risk by leaving behind footprints, then so be it.

This metaphor is quite good, as it provides the double effect of vivid imagery and indications of danger. The reader almost panics for Beleg, sustained only by the marks the elf is leaving for himself.

“I wond’r wha’ master hides there. It’s always dark.”

“Not for our eyes, Snaga. Get on if you don’ wan’ them whips.”

Ah yes, the inherent curiosity of every living being concerning things more powerful creatures are doing. Orcs are certainly not immune to this, and sometimes they are more stupid about it. I'm very glad, in this instance, they were stopped by a sense of self-preservation.

Perhaps that was why they had to meet here, again. Beleg, clad in his hunter garb and coated in a foul hide, and Elmo…

Those empty eye sockets stared deep into his soul as Beleg heaved and fell to his knees. They judged him. They berated him. They hated him.

His mouth remained closed, but Beleg could hear his voice echoing in the chamber over and over.

Too late. Too late. Too late–

It took him a moment to realize it was his own voice.

He looked away from where his eyes were supposed to be, only to wish he had not done so.

Next to the neatly placed head of his brother lay a mangled face. His jaw hung open, the bone having been torn apart from the flesh in the most violent way which told him the cause of it had been no accident.

Yet, even if mangled and disfigured, Beleg would recognize those proud brows and that chiseled face anywhere.

His hand gripped the fabric of his shirt over his heart as the first sob broke out of his throat.

What does your brother look like? Who does he favor? Finwe or Miriel?

He is taller than me by a head and has auburn red hair, and he looks more like my grandfather than either of his sons do.

The sheer amount of loss just stabs Beleg in the heart with all the force of a broadsword wielded by a giant. And he doesn't even know Maitimo.

Knowing Maedhros is alive, I can't help but wonder who this elf really is, especially given how he apparently resembles Finwë. Theoretically, it actually might  be Finwë, since if I remember correctly Tyelko told Beleg the face was too smashed to recognize. Finwë might instead have been captured by Morgoth(or a trailing Sauron) and brought here for torture.
Still, just a theory.

His eyes widened at the scene in front of him. The Yrch were not back, but no one else was there.

Oh joy

“Slow. So slow. You gave up your gift from Ilúvatar for this, filth?”

Ah, Beleg. No elf gives up on purpose. Not even Ëol would have, if he'd been taken down here. Their gift was ripped halfway from them. Still immortal, but the beauty of their minds and bodies gone.

“The boy with snow white hair. He said he would try to find you after he freed us–”

Tyelko: Imma go find Beleg. In a dark maze. Of death.
Prisoners: ...if you insist???
Tyelko: 👻

“The boy spoke of beautiful and safe lands beyond death, captain. I don’t wish to leave him behind either, but even if this is where his path leads, it’s not a distasteful one. Come with us. I believe this is what he would wish for you to do, too.”

As much as I understand the elf's point, this part is what pissed me off with him. You guys all know death is most likely not what Tyelko will face down there! It'll be torture, it'll be pain, it may even be slavery, but it will likely not be death. Someone will want to make him suffer for intruding so far, and he'll be a pretty new toy for their sadistic desires.
I swear, that statement alone would be such a temption to just leave the slaves to shift for themselves. But they are actually incapable of that right now, so regardless of reasoning I find selfish and willfully stupid, I would still lead them out.

She pushed her body closer to his, and Tyelko recoiled as her breath blew into his face.

“Tell me, birdy… What are you doing, wandering around in Mairon’s forge? Are you spying, perhaps?”

With that, she squeezed his throat a little tighter before slackening her hold, if only a bit.

What did I say? Behold, someone who likes playing with her food!
Rhaug, I swear, you knew better.

“What… are you…going to do?”

His voice sounded hoarse and his words came out in broken bits. His fearful eyes locked into her dancing ones. He tried to keep her focus away from his hand reaching behind his back for his blade.

The woman laughed again, showing off her fangs with the sole purpose of scaring him. He didn't want to admit how much it was affecting him.

“Nothing! Nothing you wouldn’t like, little birdy.”

I beg your finest pardon?? You expect me to believe that???

His unfocused eyes looked down at what he had found, and it took him a while to realize what he was touching. His grandfather’s creation blinked innocently at him under the torch light.

A blade of Finwë. I wonder how that got down here.
 hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
I wanna stab vampire-bat-lady so bad.

Fëanáro was panting and looking at him, at his eyes, with worry, and Tyelko didn’t know what to think anymore or what to believe. What was happening? Was he real, or was it Ōmata again, dragging him out of the hold of another predator just to take him himself?

“It’s me! It’s really me! See, the jewel is not shining!”

Fëanor actually hoisted himself out of Mandos to save his boy.
I have no idea what happened, but he doesn't appear to be an illusion. Tyelko's not yet that far gone.

“You… you disgraceful, worthless thing! You just made it so much worse for yourself. I wanted to kill you quickly, but now I shall enjoy every moment of your miserable end.”

Tyelkormo exhaled, and looked up at his father as his hold tightened around him. Fëanáro pulled him fully in his arms until he was hiding him away in his embrace.

Well, she can't see Fëanor, that's for sure.
Ai, what an awful choice. I have no phobia of heights, but my fear of them is enough I might consider trying to decapitate this lady instead. Still, she is more powerful than me. And it's  just possible the drop is surviveable.


And there he goes.
Cliffhanger  and cliffdropper!
Time to wait to see if he makes it without breaking most of the bones in his body.

By the way, I think this marks the first and possibly only time this whole story Fëanor has used a tender appellation with his children. Not sure what to make of that, but it does show his affection and care in this dire moment. I wonder how Tyelko can feel him when he's not really here....

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

The more his path twisted and the more he delved into this maze, he had realized he could not possibly rely on memory alone. This place was a labyrinth. An evil maze that was meant to drown anyone who wasn’t meant to be in it,and as much of a good swimmer as Beleg was, he still needed places to hold, and if that meant taking a small risk by leaving behind footprints, then so be it.

I absolutely love this imagery. It's very poetic and vivid, and definitely gets the message across in a more interesting way than plain description. I think it also underlines how close Beleg is to danger and death as he makes his way through this place.

The first thing, perhaps, was the scent of decay. Perhaps all of Angband stank of this old, moldy stench, but there was something different about it.

This, Beleg would recognize anywhere. It smelled like the carcass of a deer left by the side of the road, half eaten and half rotten. It was sweet, sickly so, and it made him want to pull off his nose just so he would not smell it anymore.


It smelled of death, and Beleg knew this well.

Your sensory descriptions really bring home the horror of Angband. In a very real way: it's rather less common for stories to provide realistic descriptions of smells. They tend to focus on the visuals mainly. But if you were there yourself in person, smells can be more intolerable than sights, and they make up a significant proportion of your mind's experience of a place.

Yet, his eyes found nothing. He could not bring himself to believe it was a rat, if he were to be honest. The rats smelled, but this stench spoke of something bigger.

The tension builds. But this heralds nothing good. 😞

It smelled of death. It smelled of all things foul. It smelled evil. Beleg didn’t want to go in. He didn’t want to go in. He didn’t want to go in–

The gust of wind made him gag, and his feet took him inside before he could even comprehend it.

This also feels very real from a character perspective. All his senses are telling him not to enter, but he just has to, for he is dead set on finding what he came for. His underlying thoughts are determined, even if his consciousness is overwhelmed by the foulness of this place.

Perhaps that was why he spotted the silvery strands first. They were lighter, of course. They had always been a problem for him. He couldn’t hunt as easily as Beleg did. He couldn’t spy as easily as Beleg did. He couldn’t hide, either.

Perhaps that was why they had to meet here, again. Beleg, clad in his hunter garb and coated in a foul hide, and Elmo…

Those empty eye sockets stared deep into his soul as Beleg heaved and fell to his knees. They judged him. They berated him. They hated him.

His mouth remained closed, but Beleg could hear his voice echoing in the chamber over and over.

Too late. Too late. Too late–

It took him a moment to realize it was his own voice.

He looked away from where his eyes were supposed to be, only to wish he had not done so.

Poor Beleg... 😣 💔

Yet, even if mangled and disfigured, Beleg would recognize those proud brows and that chiseled face anywhere.

His hand gripped the fabric of his shirt over his heart as the first sob broke out of his throat.

What does your brother look like? Who does he favor? Finwe or Miriel?

He is taller than me by a head and has auburn red hair, and he looks more like my grandfather than either of his sons do.


He closed his eyes as Tyelkormo’s voice echoed inside his head.

He had to go. He had to let him know.

And this is as mysterious as it is horrifying. Part of me thinks this could not be Maedhros, as Morgoth did not kill him in the Silmarillion. And of course, even with Tyelko's description, Beleg has never met Maedhros and he could be mistaken. Yet who else could look like that? Some other relative left behind in Middle-earth? Or is it an illusion, something not as it seems?

The voices became clearer the closer he got, and he could finally hear what they had been chanting all along.

“Fear not! Fear not! We stand as one!”

Young voices. Old voices. Male and female. Their sounds entwined, they pushed back against the few overwhelmed guards. They held their chains in their hands, swinging them for they had nothing else in which to defend themselves with.

'There are more of us than them.' 🥺

They are reaching out to touch freedom, it is closer than it has ever been. But soon there might be reinforcements, if news of this spreads among the orcs!

“Slow. So slow. You gave up your gift from Ilúvatar for this, filth?”

He did not use black speech anymore. He knew the captain understood Sindarin just fine, and he refused to use the only word for divinity used in the tongue of the thralls. It did not refer to the God Beleg worshipped.

He watched in satisfaction as the orch winced in pain when he heard The One’s name, and in his moment of distraction, he managed to land a shallow cut on his unarmed shoulder. This one creature was not of a high enough rank to wear a full body armour of iron. He hadn’t needed one. His only duty had been to beat and scare meek slaves into submission and feed them on occasion. None of them were supposed to fight back against him. None of this was supposed to happen.

So interesting what Beleg said here. It implies some level of choice or agreement in the orc/thrall being corrupted by Morgoth... A fascinating take on the issue of orcs, if indeed this is the case.
And of course Morgoth would create a language where the only word for a god refers to him. 🙄

“Lead us out of here. The boy is one, and we are many. We need you more. I know if you close your heart and see with the eye of your mind, you can see it too.”

“If the boy had done as you just said, you would have still been in chains, woman.”

There was no heat behind his words. Both of them were stating facts. Beleg, too, knew she spoke truly. He had failed to save his best friend. He had been too late, but now, he had the chance to save and help these people he had longed to save and help every time he had scouted this area.


But that meant leaving Tyelko to his fate, whatever it was. He shut his eyes as a fresh wave of tears prickled behind his eyelids.

🥺
It's touching to see how much Beleg has grown to care for Tyelko in this short time.
Yet in the end, he feels he must help these people escape, those who he has wished to see freed for a long time.
I wonder what Tyelko would think of this decision. Would he agree? Will they see each other again?
I guess we will find out.

Now, having found what he had been told to, Tyelkormo was hesitant. There was just something about this side of the fortress that just felt more sinister than the other parts.

He wasn’t sure why he felt that way. It looked considerably cleaner and more well-kept, and perhaps this was why it made him feel off. Or perhaps it was all he had heard about the creature which owned these halls and was responsible for all the pain his brother had and was going through which made him wary and on edge.

Ah yes, neat and tidy Sauron.
Yet he is indeed very sinister, and very watchful, and you ought to be careful, Tyelko...

Then, everything came to a stop. The air was still once again, and one of the parchment pieces swayed and swayed until it fell under the table, and Tyelkromo felt it touch his foot as sharply as the tip of a needle.

I feel like I keep saying this, but your sensory descriptions of what the characters perceive are incredible. They convey the tension without needing to focus on the characters' thoughts and feelings the whole time.

“I can hear your heart beating wildly, little birdy. Come out! Don’t be so shy…”

Again with the bird comparison! Everyone perceives Tyelko as a lil bird, it seems.
And again I will say it's because he is cute and sassy.

“You have such pretty eyes. Never seen anything like it before in thralls. It’s not blue. It’s not red. It’s purple like Mairon’s favorite robes. What do you say, birdy? Should I let them go to waste when I dump you somewhere,--”

His shaking hand reached and groped blindly for the leather again. He had to do something, and do it quickly.

“-- or should I save them as gifts for Mairon? Hmmm…”

Oh, that's gross. Saving body parts as gifts? Assuming that means removing them from his body, and not just letting him keep them unharmed for now. In either case, I shudder to think what Sauron might be doing with them. 🙃 😖

The person shouted, and Tyelkormo turned sharply to look at him, only to find a pair of tearful and bright silver eyes staring at him.

Fëanáro was panting and looking at him, at his eyes, with worry, and Tyelko didn’t know what to think anymore or what to believe. What was happening? Was he real, or was it Ōmata again, dragging him out of the hold of another predator just to take him himself?


“It’s me! It’s really me! See, the jewel is not shining!”

He reached out to pull the necklace from under his shirt, and true to his words, it was only glowing softly like it did sometimes in the presence of his father. Not the wild and fiery light which he had used to push Ōmata away.

Wow, what power does this gem hold? For Fëanor to just... appear like that, in his entirety. 😮 It seems like only Tyelko can see and interact with him, though. 🤔

“I won’t let you die, baby. I promise. Just fall.”

Tyelkormo closed his eyes to the woman, the world, his bleeding and wounded body screaming for some relief, and let himself fall.

😮🥺😞
What a cliff hanger to end on...!
Fëanor and his creation will be powerful indeed if they can help Tyelko survive this. It's such a bittersweet, almost still moment, unexpected within the action and tension of Tyelko's escape attempt. And yet that makes it so effective. It touches the heart in some way. 🩶


Love you bro. Hope to see this continued soon.