In Darkness Bound by Fiondil

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Chapter 54: Mahalmacundo

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54: Mahalmacundo

Ingalaurë entered the family sitting room and stifled a sigh. His ammë was still sitting there with Findis and Indil and the other ladies of the court, some of them determinedly working on their embroidery in spite of the fitfulness of the candlelight, but most were just sitting there silently. So lost in misery were they that only one or two even looked up at his entrance. He crossed over to where the queen sat and knelt before her, placing a hand gently on her arm.

"Ammë," he whispered, "you need to put aside your grief and think of our people who are in need of a strong leadership presence. Atto would be unhappy to see you thus."

Elindis nodded. "I know, dear heart," she said in a low voice. "I guess when we returned here the enormity of what has happened finally came home to me and I became overwhelmed, but you are correct, my son, though I have little heart to do what needs to be done. How I wish Ingwë were here instead of sitting at Lord Manwë’s feet."

"Atto isn’t with Lord Manwë," Ingalaurë said without thinking and then wished he’d kept his mouth shut when he saw the surprised (and even suspicious) looks on the faces of his ammë and the others.

"How do you know?" Elindis asked. "Where is he, then? And what of Ingwion?"

"I... I think Atto and Ingwion have gone to Tirion," he replied.

"Did Valandur tell you this?" Findis asked.

Ingalaurë shook his head. "No. I don’t think he knows. It was Uncle Ingoldo, though he said it was only a rumor." He looked at Findis and his ammë doubtfully. Come to think of it, how did Ingoldo know of this when even Valandur didn’t? Where was he getting his information and from whom? Certainly not any of the Valar. A Maia? But Ingalaurë dismissed that idea at once. He could not see his uncle cultivating a friendship with any Maia. Unless it was one of Melkor’s, he thought with grim humor.

"And you believe him?" Indil commented with a disdainful look.

Ingalaurë reddened. Sometimes it was difficult for him to remember that he was the older sibling. Indil had a good way of making him feel three yéni younger than her. He ignored her scathing glare and turned back to Elindis. "There’s one way to find out the truth of the matter," he said quietly.

"You wish to return to Valmar," Elindis said, making it a statement rather than a question.

"If I may," Ingalaurë replied, implicitly letting them know that he was speaking to his sovereign rather than to his amillë, for he was certainly well beyond the age of needing her permission to do anything.

"Whether your atar has gone to Tirion or not is beside the point," Elindis said with a shake of her head. "You are needed here by my side, you and Indil both."

"Uncle Ingoldo suggested that if you were not up to leading us until Atto returned then he should," Ingalaurë said as he stood, putting out a hand to help his ammë up.

"Oh, he did, did he?" Elindis said, her eyes hardening with resolve. "Well, we’ll see about that." She turned to one of her ladies-in-waiting. "Sérendilmë, if you would begin taking an inventory of candles, torches and the like, while the rest of you take a guardsman as escort and go throughout the city to see who may need more candles and any other aid that we can render."

Sérendilmë rose and gave the queen a curtsey. "You may rely on me, your Majesty."

Elindis nodded. "Good. Now, Indil , Findis, come with me." She accepted Ingalaurë’s arm which he held out to her and the four left the room.

"Where are we going, Ammë?" Indil enquired.

"I think I should call for the Privy Council to meet," Elindis answered. "It’s past time that we did. We do not know how long this darkness will last and we must see to the welfare of the people in the meantime."

"Well, I am a member of the Privy Council, of course," Ingalaurë said, "but neither Indil nor Findis are. Do you think it wise to include them?"

"Merely as observers," Elindis replied as they swept through the corridors. While her son was acting as her escort, it was she who was leading them until they came to a certain door. Elindis nodded to Ingalaurë who reached over and knocked. When they heard a muffled voice bidding them enter, he was the one to open the door.

Inside they found Lady Lindórië sitting at a desk writing. When she saw who was there she scrambled to her feet and gave them a curtsey. "Your Majesty! How may I serve?"

Elindis smiled. "My son has reminded me that I’ve been remiss in fulfilling my duties to my lord and husband as well as to our people. I am calling a meeting of the Privy Council. Would you see that the other members are informed?"

"But of course, Majesty," the elleth said, keeping her expression neutral. "At what hour?"

"At what hour, indeed!" Elindis exclaimed. "I know not if one day has passed or many, much less what hour it might be."

"Something that we will need to address sooner than later, I suspect," Findis said with a mild snort. "However, I can tell you that it has been four days since... well since the Trees died, but beyond that I have no idea of the hour."

"That you even know it’s been four days is more than I can say for myself," Elindis said with a shake of her head. "Four days. It seems more like four yéni."

"The stars!" Ingalaurë exclaimed suddenly.

Everyone looked at him. "What do you mean, my son?" Elindis asked.

"I remember Atto telling us stories of when the Elves still resided by the shores of the Sea of Helcar and how they told time by the stars. We can do the same... er... that is, once we figure out how," he ended lamely, only just realizing that he had no idea how one told time by the stars.

Elindis smiled at him, patting his arm. "An excellent idea, Ingil," she said approvingly, "and while it’s been a long time since I’ve had to do it, I’m sure I can remember how." She stepped towards one of the windows and leaned out. After a moment she pulled herself back in, looking rueful. "I think I will have to brush up on my knowledge of Lady Varda’s stars. I seem to have forgotten...."

"Perhaps we are complicating things a bit," Lindórië suggested. "Why don’t we have someone ring a bell? I can tell everyone to listen for it."

An uneasy silence fell upon them all.

"The only bell I know of is the cloister bell," Indil said quietly.

"But we’re forbidden to go there," Ingalaurë replied, looking at the queen. "No one goes there but Atto."

Elindis nodded serenely. "However, I do not think he was anticipating this situation, and so I think we shall use the bell to summon the Council, if just this one time."

No one raised an objection, though it was clear that none were happy with the idea of invading the High King’s inner sanctum. Elindis smiled in understanding and spoke to Lindórië. "So, you will inform the other council members? Good. We’ll give you plenty of time to find everyone before I have the bell rung. I think in the meantime I will see about eating. I just realize that I cannot remember the last time I ate."

"That’s probably true for everyone," Findis said smiling wryly. "Why don’t you make the meeting less formal and invite everyone to sup instead. You can discuss matters in a more relaxed atmosphere that way."

"That’s not a bad idea, Ammë," Ingalaurë said. "I know I could do with food right now as well."

"Then that is what we will do," Elindis said. "Lindórië, please let everyone know that we will be dining together in the family dining room. I will have someone ring the cloister bell three times to let them know when they should come."

Lindórië curtsied. "As you command, your Majesty."

"Come along, dears," Elindis said to her two children and Findis. "Our next stop is the kitchens. We may have to roust the cooks from their lethargy."

"Let’s hope they haven’t eaten all the foodstuffs in their sorrow," Ingalaurë said with a sly wink, "or dinner is going to be very dull."

The others laughed and Ingalaurë felt heartened by the sound of it. He only hoped that they could continue remaining strong and focused. There was too much uncertainty with the High King away. Ingoldo might still try something, though just what that might be, he did not know. He thought to excuse himself to go find Valandur again and apprise him of what Ingoldo had told him, for he knew the Loremaster would be interested in what Ingoldo was thinking, but then the thought left him as they entered the kitchen and they all stared in shock at the mayhem before them.

The kitchen was a shambles with broken crockery flung all around. Pots and pans littered the floor and there was flour and salt and who knew what else all over the place. And in the middle of it all were two ellith both caked with flour, their arms wrapped around each other as each tried to gain mastery over the other, both screaming invectives. Where the other kitchen staff were was unknown, for they had apparently made themselves scarce.

"What is the meaning of this?" demanded Elindis in a loud voice, her eyes flashing in rare anger, but the combatants paid no attention.

Ingalaurë wasted no time with talk but strode forward and grabbed the two ellith by their hair and yanked hard enough to elicit screeches from them both.

"Enough!" he hissed as he pulled them apart. "You dare to act thus? Attend to her Majesty and crave her pardon for your unseemly behavior."

The two ellith, who, it turned out, were the head cook and her main assistant, looked wide-eyed as they suddenly noticed that they had a royal audience. Elindis stood there with imperious ease waiting for them to acknowledge her presence. Ingalaurë released his hold on them and stepped back to his ammë’s side while the two cooks gave the queen their obeisance, both looking suitably dismayed.

"What does this mean?" Elindis asked again in a calmer voice. "Have we not troubles enough that you need to add to them with your petty quarrels?"

"But, my lady...." the head cook began but Elindis cut her off with a look.

"I’m not interested in knowing what the quarrel was about. I am only interested in the fact that I am desirous of a meal for myself and the members of my lord’s Privy Council and a few others and now I wonder if we will even see it, for it looks as if most of the food has ended up on the floor, or the ceiling. Regardless, I want this mess cleared immediately. Where are the rest of the staff? Find them and get them back to work. I expect some kind of meal ready in short order. Cold meats and salads will do for now, though some soup would not go amiss. You may serve us in our private dining room." She paused for a moment before continuing. "And if this happens again, I’ll find someone else to be head cook and assistant. Is that understood?"

Without waiting for an answer, she nodded to Ingalaurë who offered his arm and the two strode out of the kitchen with Indil and Findis behind them. When they had gone about twenty feet, Elindis stopped and put a hand to her mouth in an attempt to smother a laugh. The others looked at her in surprise but then they started chuckling as well.

"Did you see the looks on their faces when they saw me?" Elindis asked with a grin.

"I wonder what the argument was about, though?" Indil replied.

"It matters not," Elindis said firmly. "Honestly, are we all going insane?"

"The loss of the Light of the Trees has left us all reeling in shock," Findis pointed out. "There is a great deal of tension, uncertainty and grief all around. I’m surprised we haven’t heard of other outbreaks of violence in the city by now. Those two ellith cannot be the only ones acting in such a manner."

"Give them time," Ingalaurë said. "It’s only been four days. Once people begin to recover from the initial shock I imagine tempers will begin to flare as fear takes over."

"Ingil is correct," Elindis said, "which is why we need to address such things now before they get out of hand. Findis, find your husband. I want him present for this meal."

Findis nodded and left.

"Ingil, Indil, why don’t we go on to the dining room and discuss the agenda for the meeting while we wait for our dinner," Elindis suggested and her children nodded.

"Do you think we should invite Uncle Ingoldo to the meeting?" Ingalaurë asked. "I would prefer him to be where we can keep an eye on him and I think he needs to see that you are more than capable of leading us until Atar returns."

"I think you are correct, my dear," Elindis said with a sigh, "though I do not like the idea. Very well, go find Ingoldo and ask him if he would attend us. Make sure he understands that it is merely a request and not an order."

Ingalaurë grimaced. "Why don’t I just have a page do it?"

Elindis smiled at her son in sympathy. "I think it would sound less of a command and more of a request if it comes from you."

Ingalaurë nodded reluctantly. "Then I will go."

****

"A meeting?" Ingoldo enquired, looking at his nephew suspiciously. "Of the Privy Council? I no longer am a member of the Privy Council."

"Ammë wishes to have all the family attend. It’s not a command, Uncle. Ammë is requesting that you join us for a meal and to discuss what needs doing while Atto is away. If you wish to come, wait for the cloister bell to ring three times. That will be the signal." Ingalaurë gave Ingoldo a stiff bow and exited his uncle’s suite, glad to be done with that duty. He was reminded of his wish to speak with Valandur and headed for the Loremaster’s office, but when he got there, he found it empty and had to assume that he and Findis were already with the queen. He sighed and made his way to the family dining room, hoping he could take Valandur aside for a moment and tell him about Ingoldo.

****

Reaching the dining room he was glad to see that Valandur was indeed there, sitting beside Findis with Indil on his other side. Elindis was sitting in her usual place at the high table. Ingalaurë’s own place was waiting for him and he settled himself between his ammë and his sister.

"Will he come?" Elindis asked.

"He did not say," Ingalaurë answered. "I gave him the message and left."

"Speaking of Ingoldo," Findis said to her husband, "did you know that Ingwë has gone to Tirion?"

Valandur nodded, looking somewhat peeved. "Yes, I did. I found out only a short time ago."

"From Uncle Ingoldo?" Ingalaurë asked.

Valandur gave him a considering look and it was obvious that Ingwë’s chief Loremaster was already putting certain things together. "No. I got my information from another source. I’m assuming he spoke with you."

Ingalaurë nodded. "He intimated that I should take over the throne, with his help, of course."

Valandur hissed, his eyes flashing in anger. "He dares! And does he expect Ingwë not to return?"

Ingalaurë shrugged, looking uncomfortable. "I do not know. I had the feeling as he was talking that he believes that Atto was more concerned with the welfare of the Noldor than of the Vanyar and was unfit to rule us anymore."

"He said this?" Elindis asked, going white with barely contained fury.

"No, Ammë. That was just my impression from what he didn’t say," Ingalaurë hastened to assure her. "I have no actual proof that that is what he meant."

For a moment no one spoke. Elindis shook her head in dismay. "I probably should not have invited him to this meeting then."

"On the contrary, Elindis, I think it best that he does attend and sees that the throne is secure in your person," Valandur said.

"Valandur is correct, Ammë," Ingalaurë said fervently. "Uncle Ingoldo reminded me that you named me ‘Mahalmacundo’. Well, as long as I have breath in my hröa, I will be just that: I will guard Atto’s throne from any who threaten to take it from him." Even as he spoke, he pushed back his chair and slipped to his knees, gazing at his ammë who was also his sovereign queen and held out his hands in homage. Elindis took them in her own, her eyes shining with pride. "I will guard the High King’s throne with my life if need be," he vowed, his voice hoarse with emotions. "Ányë hlarë iValar."

"Thank you, my son," Elindis said just above a whisper, giving him a light kiss on his forehead. "Though I fervently hope it will not come to that."

Ingalaurë could only nod as he continued to kneel before the Ingatári, hoping the same.

****

Ányë hlarë iValar: ‘The Valar hear me’.

Ingatári: High Queen.