Our Most Beloved Star by Uvatha the Horseman

The Silmaril

Mother closed the door to her bedchamber, then pulled the shutters shut. She brought out a small box of polished wood like her jewelry box, but more finely made.

"You're six now, so you're old enough to know about this."

Mother lifted a massive white stone from the box. In the dim light, it glowed with a pure white light, as if lit from within.

"This is a Silmaril, the greatest treasure of our house." She gazed at it with something like infatuation. "We won it at great cost. My grandparents risked their lives to cut it from the Great Enemy's crown."

Rays of light from the Jewel danced on the table and the walls.

"it cost our family dearly to hold onto it. When I was a small, red-headed raiders attacked this house. They killed my mother and father, then carried off my brothers and abandoned them in the forest. I survived only because I was asleep in my cradle and they didn't notice me."

"Do you think they'll come back?" A chill ran up Elrond's spine.

"No. All but two of them were killed in the raid," said Mother.

"If the Jewel draws such terrible danger, why not get rid of it? Father could take it on one of his voyages and drop it in the sea," said Elros.

Mother flinched. "It came to me from my grandmother Luthien. I could never give it up."

"May I hold it?" Elrond held out his hand. His mother hesitated, then placed the Jewel in his hands. Elrond studied it from all sides. White and gleaming, it was heavier than it looked and cool to the touch.

"It's not an ordinary jewel, it's a vessel that holds starlight," said Mother.

"Is it magic? Does it confer great strength?" asked Elros.

"Does it have healing powers?" asked Elrond.

"No, it doesn't do anything. It just is." Mother looked annoyed.

Bored, Elrond passed the Jewel to his twin. Elros studied it for a moment, then returned it to its box.

"Can we go outside now?" Elros sprang to his feet. "Come on, Elrond. I want to show you a bird's nest I just found."