The Trial of a Dream by chrissystriped

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The Trial of a Dream

Maeglin felt something shift in the forge, when Celebrimbor entered with a stranger in tow. It was as if all of them were pieces of iron turning towards a lodestone.

“My friends”, Celebrimbor called. “Let me introduce Annatar Aulendil. The Valar have come to understand that some of us still wish to live on this side of the sea. He was sent to us bringing gifts of knowledge and he wishes to work with us and live with us. Please welcome him in our midst.”

Maeglin felt a shiver run down his spine. The Maia was smiling at them and Maeglin could see the others smiling back. Celebrimbor had an excited glint in his eyes. But he could not share their delight. Something was wrong. He could not look into the Maia’s mind, naturally, but still he sensed that he was hiding something.

Maeglin shook his head. ‘You’re seeing ghosts’, he told himself and stepped forward to greet the Maia, doing his best to push the feeling of dread away.

 

Pain was searing through his body. He was whimpering, trying to get away from the hand stroking his tear-wet cheek. “Just tell me”, a soft voice whispered. “Tell me what the King wants to know and all this can be over.”

Maeglin woke with his heart in his throat. For a moment he was too terrified to move. His hand shook when he uncovered the crystal lamp at his bedside. He wished Celebrimbor were here to hold him, but his partner had been summoned to Lindon when the High King had heard that he’d accepted Annatar in Ost-in-Edhil.

Annatar… Maeglin shuddered and pulled the blanket tighter around himself. No, not Annatar. Sauron! He was sure of it now. He’d known there was something wrong with the Maia.

He wasn’t able to see his thoughts, his walls were much too strong, but their minds had touched occasionally here as well as back there. His subconscious had recognised him from the start and now he remembered.

Maeglin curled up and lay trembling until the sun rose up. He needed to face him, he need to tell him to get out. He couldn’t wait for Celebrimbor to come back! He was so afraid.

 

Mairon knew the moment he saw Maeglin step into the forge that he’d recognised him. It had been a small shock to see him here at his arrival and he’d feared this moment from he start.

“Might I have a word with you… Annatar?”, the elf’s voice hitched at the name. “In private.”

“Of course.” At least he was not making a scene.

Would Celebrimbor believe it, if his lover had an unfortunate accident in his absence?

Mairon checked himself. No, he was trying to be different now. Good, in the eyes of the Children. He needed to solve this problem differently.

“Don’t tell anybody, please!”, he said after Maeglin had closed the door to his small office. The desk was littered with concept drawings and schemes. He was as brilliant as Celebrimbor and Mairon wished he’d met him here for the first time. It would have been so much easier this way. “I’ve put that behind me.”

“Oh, you have put it behind you, Gorthaur?” Maeglin’s eyes flashed. “And now I’m supposed to do that to and forget what you did to me? Or what do you mean by that?”

Mairon lifted his hands placatingly. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. What I did to you…” He didn’t regret it. It had been necessary to get answers. They’d been enemies. But elves had different ideas about what was allowed in war. “I apologise for the pain I caused you. What I mean is that I want to start anew. I want to help heal the hurts caused by war.”

Maeglin eyed him suspiciously. “I should throw you out”, he growled. “I should tell everyone who you are.”

He turned away and Mairon could feel the waves of inner turmoil coming from him.

Mairon jumped when Maeglin pointed a finger at him. “I’m having an eye on you, so be careful how you tread. I am going to tell Celebrimbor, I won’t keep this from him. And he’ll decide what to do with you as Lord of this city.”

Mairon knew he must not argue, though he wished Celebrimbor didn’t have to find out.

 

“No.” Maeglin saw the shock on Celebrimbor’s face. “You must be wrong!”

“I am not. I spoke to him. You told me yourself, you suspected he was hiding something. This is it. He is Sauron, Gorthaur, Lieutenant of Morgoth.”

Celebrimbor sank down on his chair and hid his face in his hands. “I’ve spent days convincing Gil-galad and Elrond that they are wrong. I insisted he's not a threat. I’m an idiot.”

Maeglin stepped behind him and rubbed his neck. “No, but idealistic to a fault. You have a dream for what this city is going to be and you are doing anything for it. What are you going to do with him?”

Celebrimbor turned his head and looked at him. “I’m surprised you didn’t already act and unmask him. You said you spoke to him?”

“I wanted to wait for you. He said he wants to help and have a fresh start into a new life. I know how much you believe in giving people a second chance and I love you for that.”

“What do you think?”

Maeglin closed his eyes and leaned against Celebrimbor when he stood up to embrace him.

“I don’t know”, he whispered. “He hurt me. He hurt me so badly. I don’t know, if I can believe he’s had a change of heart.”

“I won’t have you suffer by letting him stay”, Celebrimbor said. “Yes, I want this to be a place of second chances, but not at the cost of your happiness.”

“It’s not that. I could deal with that, if he truly meant it.” Maeglin looked up to him. “And we’d have to keep it a secret between us. I can’t see making his identity public and keeping the peace.”

“Valar, you’re right.” Celebrimbor sighed. “When I put it about, that I wanted this to be a place for everyone, I did not expect someone like him to show up. But if this is a test of my resolve, I accept it. I’m going to talk to him first, though. I need to hear it from him.”

Maeglin nodded. He hadn’t expected anything else. “I’ll be with you, whatever you decide.”

Celebrimbor kissed him gently. “Thank you. That means everything to me.”

“You mean everything to me”, Maeglin answered.

He hoped, Celebrimbor’s idealism wouldn’t blow up in their faces.

Chapter End Notes

I did this matryoshka challenge at the level "easy" with the prompts: an unexpected visitor, "don't tell anybody" and a fresh start

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