No Place of Safety by clotho123

Chapter 1

Ereinion was in the workshop putting the edges onto sword blades.  Celebrimbor stood watching him for a while, postponing the moment of speech.  The young Elf’s concentration was so fierce he had not noticed his cousin’s approach, and his mouth was holding the hard, bitter line that had been characteristic since they reached Balar. Ereinion was still a little short of his full growth, but his eyes had lost their youth.

“Ereinion.”

Ereinion looked up unwillingly, a trace of sullenness in his face.  It was evident he expected nothing good.

“Ereinion, your sister is dead.”

Already guarded the young face became completely shuttered.  But Ereinion could not hide the reaction in his eyes.

“How do you know?” he said at last.

“Two of the scouts Cirdan sent out have talked to some of the men of Brethil.  They attacked the orcs who were herding away captives of Nargothrond hoping to free them, but the orcs slew all their captives straightaway.  Finduilas lived just long enough to tell the men her name before she died.”

Ereinion was silent for a long time.  At last he said.  “My father’s mother?”

“There is no word.”  Celebrimbor wished he could give good news, but he could not raise false hopes.  “If she had escaped I believe we would have heard.”  He doubted in any case Edhellos would have tried to escape without Finduilas. 

Ereinion did not ask after his parents.  Meril had come of the North Sindar, whose women rode to battle more often that those of the Noldor.  She had been beside Orodreth in the front line.

“Why did you bring me here?”  Ereinion asked.

“What good would be served by your dying in Nargothrond?”  Celebrimbor said bluntly.  “Alive you may be a leader of our people one day.”

“One day!  Morgoth presses ever closer and you talk of a distant future!  And how much is there to lead, even if anyone was willing to follow me?”

“Far less than there was.”  Celebrimbor could not give much hope.  “But they may need someone to look to, one day.”

“Someone to fall in the front of battle, you mean,” Ereinion said bitterly.

“There are worse fates, although I would not wish that one on you.  But you will stand better against the darkness when you have your full growth.”

“You say I am too young.  As my father said before the battle.”

“He was right.”  What could be said to help one who had lost so much, so swiftly?  “You should believe you are alive for a reason, Ereinion.”

“I cannot see it.  How much time do you suppose we have here?”

“I do not know,” Celebrimbor admitted.  Ereinion turned back to the swords he had been sharpening, and took up the work again.

Chapter End Notes

Edhellos is the name of Angrod's wife, Orodreth's mother, in HOME12.  Orodreth's wife is not named, although said to come of the North Sindar. I have therefore borrowed the name Meril from Tolkien's earlier conception of Gil-galad as Finrod's son.