Maeglin's Choice by chrissystriped

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Chapter Six

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Maeglin looked down when Earendil rode up beside him on his pony.

“Does your mother know where you are?”

He wasn’t sure if Idril really wanted him anywhere near her son. Earendil nodded with a wide smile and Maeglin smiled back.

“She says, I can ride with you.”

“Then it’s alright.”

Maeglin frantically searched for something to say to him. He’d barely ever seen the boy in the past years.

“Uncle?”, Earendil asked with a small voice.

“Hm?”

“Am I bothering you? Do you want me to leave?” The boy looked downcast, his smile gone.

“What? No!” Maeglin rubbed his forehead. “No. I like to have you here.” He hadn’t wanted him to feel unwanted! “Hey, let’s play. Do you know any riddles?”

“Of course!” Earendil nodded, looking happy again. “You ask first!”

“Okay.” Maeglin acted as if he had to think first, although he had already something on his mind.

„Reaching stiffly for the sky,
I bare my fingers when its cold.
In warmth I wear an emerald glove
and in between I dress in gold.“

“A tree!”, Earendil said after a moment. “That was easy! My turn!”

 

Idril found them when they reached their camp for the night.

“Nana! What is that?", Earendil said excitedly.

"Six legs, two heads,
Two hands, one long nose.
Yet he uses only four legs
Wherever he goes.“

„Hmm, I don’t know.” Idril winked at Maeglin. “I hope he didn’t bother you too much.”

“Not at all! We’ve had fun. He made that riddle up himself.”

“Uncle Maeglin helped.” Earendil’s cheeks were red with excitement. Maeglin felt a warm glow of happiness because he called him uncle. “Do you want me to tell you?” Earendil bounced a little in his saddle. Idril smiled.

“Yes, tell me. I can’t think of the solution.”

“A rider!”

“Very clever, ion. Shall we ask ada after dinner?”

“Yes!” Earendil looked at Maeglin. “Are you eating with us, uncle?”

Maeglin squirmed. “I have to take care of my people, Earendil.”

“I’d be happy to have you as our guest”, Idril said and sought his gaze. “If your time allows it.”

Maeglin blushed. “I... I suppose I can eat with you.”

His captains had all under control, it had been an excuse because he hadn’t wanted to invite himself when Idril hadn’t offered. He felt fuzzy with happiness because she wanted him there.

 

Maeglin walked quietly back to his tent. It wasn’t completely dark yet, but the camp was already sleeping. Everyone was exhausted from the long marches. Dinner with Idril’s family had been surprisingly relaxed, thanks to Earendil. The boy had a sunny disposition and talked a mile a minute. Only when it had been time to go to bed for him and Idril had left to tuck him in, an uncomfortable silence had descended between Maeglin and Tuor. Maeglin simply didn’t know what to say to the man who had stolen Idril’s heart. He had seen that Tuor was as relieved as he when Idril came back and got conversation back into motion.

A hand clamped over his mound, Maeglin made a muffled shout and tried to struggle free. His attacker had come from behind, he had been too deep in thought to notice. Another attacker came from an alley between the tents and punched him in the stomach, stopping his struggles. Maeglin gasped for breath. He was vaguely aware that they were dragging him away, but all strength had left his body, he couldn’t fight back.

They dragged him away from the campfires. Maeglin tensed when hands gripped his arms and hauled him upright. He’d been wrong, there were three of them, not two.

“It is your fault we lost our home!”, the elf in front of him hissed at him. “Are you just a coward or a damned traiter?”

The elf punched him in the stomach again and Maeglin would have folded if he hadn’t been held up.

“What did Morgoth promise you?”

Even if Maeglin had had enough air in his lungs to answer, he hadn’t known what to say. Morgoth had promised him Idril, but that wasn’t why he’d talked! It had hurt so much. Much more than what these elves did to him right now, but he still felt the crippling fear he’d come to know in Angband’s dungeons. He couldn’t breathe – and not only because he’d been punched. More blows rained down on him. Blood ran from his nose into his mouth, the taste made him gag.

Before he realised that the blows had stopped, his body had already curled up on the ground. He flinched, when someone touched his shoulder.

“Lómion?”, he heard Rog’s voice say. “Lómion? It’s over. You are safe now.”

Maeglin looked up with tear-dimmed eyes. He noticed with part of his mind that some guards tied his attackers up in the background.

“Turgon is going to hear of this”, Rog said with anger in his voice as he dabbed at the blood on his upper lip. “They won’t get away with it.”

“How did you find me?”, Maeglin croaked.

“My men where on guard, they heard sounds and followed them. Because they know that we are friends, one of them ran to notify me. Can you stand up?”

Maeglin nodded and Rog helped him to his feet. They walked slowly back to the camp.

“It was about Gondolin”, Maeglin whispered. “Whichever way you look at it, I’m a traitor. I have taken your home from you.”

He sobbed softly and Rog rubbed his back.

“Morgoth found us because you told him where we are, yes, but no one should condemn you because you broke under torture. I can understand that you feel guilty, but by confiding in me and your uncle, you made the right decision and that is the most important.”

Maeglin only realised that he’d been guided to Rog’s tent when his friend made him sit and filled a bowl with water.

“Do you want to wash your face yourself?”, Rog asked. “Your nose isn’t broken, I think, but it must hurt.”

Maeglin nodded cautiously. His head hurt and his nose was throbbing angrily. Rog offered him a damp rag and Maeglin gingerly dabbed at the blood on his face. His skin was sore, his eyes already started to swell shut, he closed them and gently pressed the cool rug to his lids.

“I’m so much trouble for you”, Maeglin said dejectedly. He couldn’t believe that Rog wouldn’t lose patience with him.

“Nonsense”, Rog said gruffly. “It’s not your fault that there are such idiots among the inhabitants of Gondolin."

 

Rog could see that Turgon was appalled when he informed him about the matter next morning. Maeglin had spent the night in his own tent. Rog would have let him sleep in his tent, but he’d let the boy decide, he didn’t want to patronise him. Turgon sent for him to hear his side. Maeglin’s face was swollen and starting to look colourful, there was still blood in his nostrils.

“They are right, of course”, he said with rough voice, after he’d told them what his attackers had said. “It is my fault we are in this position. I deserve this.”

“No!”, Turgon said sharply and Maeglin flinched. “No”, Turgon repeated more gently and laid his hand on Maeglin’s shoulders. “You don’t deserve this. I’d feel better, if you wouldn’t walk around alone. You have loyal followers, let them protect you.”

Maeglin grimaced and winced at the pain. “I don’t like to be followed around”, he mumbled.

“I know and I’m going to make sure everyone understands what is going to happen to people who think they can take their idea of justice in their own hands. But I’d still feel better, if I’d know you protected. Will you do this for me?”

Maeglin had a lump in his throat, Turgon looked so gently at him and for the first time he really believed that it was about him and not only Aredhel’s memory. He nodded and croaked: “Okay. What... what are you going to do to them?”

Turgon looked grim. “I won’t let them get away with this. Where are they now?”

“They are under arrest, guarded by my men”, Rog said. “They belong to Duilin’s House, but I thought it too late yesterday, to bother him with it. Not soldiers, discontent civilians.”

“I’m going to sit in judgement on them this evening”, Turgon said seriously. “I don’t want to delay our departure by doing it now. Transfer them to Duilin, Rog, they are his to guard.”

Rog bowed and left the tent, squeezing Maeglin’s shoulder.

“I’m sorry, uncle”, Maeglin said gloomily. “You have enough on your mind without me being trouble. Should we really hang a lantern on it?”

He didn’t want any more intention on himself. Turgon’s eyes flashed, Maeglin knew that his anger wasn’t directed at him, but he still felt a shiver run down his back.

“I won’t let our people think you an outcast and that I don’t care if someone tries to hurt you. You made a mistake, but you paid for it in Angband.”

Maeglin sucked in his breath, the name felt like a knife was driven through his heart. Turgon’s face became gentle again.

“I’m sorry to have reminded you of it”, he said.

Maeglin gave a humourless laugh. “You didn’t. It’s always there, the memory. And the knowledge of what He is going to do to me, if he ever catches me again.” Maeglin shuddered. “That’s why it took me so long to talk to Rog. I was so afraid. I’m still.”

“But he won’t have you”, Turgon said and embraced him slowly. Maeglin didn’t think he deserved it, but he leaned into him anyway. Turgon was so tall, he felt like a child in his arms – and it was a good feeling. “He won’t know where we go.”

“If he finds out...”

“We’ll have the water’s protection. I trust in Ulmo. I should have done so all along. I’m sorry that you had to be captured before I would see reason.” Maeglin didn’t know what to say to that, he’d advised Turgon to stay on that occasion, after all.

“I should tend to my duties now”, he said.

“Of course.” Turgon released him from his embrace. “We’ll meet after setting up camp this afternoon.”

Maeglin felt queasy when he thought of the upcoming trial but he nodded.

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Chapter End Notes

Riddles are not mine, I got them from here: https://www.brainzilla.com/brain-teasers/riddles/rhyming/