Of Oaths, Common Sense, and a Silmaril by Aiwen

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Maedhros' Response

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Then a group of three people bearing a truce banner and the banner of the house of Feanor arrived in Sirion. Celebrimbor watched from an upstairs window, leaning forward when he spotted Armiriel under the banner. That was promising; he didn't imagine Maglor would let Maedhros send her somewhere he was about to attack. It was a long time since he'd seen his cousin. Lindariel would be glad if he could report she was doing well.

Unfortunately, he was stuck indoors while the Feanorian delegation was here, and not allowed out from Nardil's watchful gaze even there. Three hours of fretful and distracted attempts at working later, Oropher and a couple of Elwing's guard arrived at the door, telling him to bring the Silmaril.

Celebrimbor and Nardil went with them to Elwing's house. The streets were oddly empty, with people peering at them out of windows as they passed.

Elwing's Great House was at the end of the street beyond the square. It was a nice place, with a garden running out towards the ocean that was carefully fenced to keep the twins out of trouble. They were running around out there now, chasing each other and squealing as a woman he didn't know watched them. The two stopped their game as the unknown Noldor came near and ran to the fence, identical small faces peering at them with interest.

The party turned and went into the house. They were shown into a large room on the upper story. Elwing stood before big windows looked out over the bay, but more importantly: "Cousin!" said Armiriel, coming towards him only to be stopped by Elwing's guards. "I'm not going to hurt him," she said in an aggrieved tone.

"Orders," said one of the guards.

"How's mother?" Armiriel asked.

"She is well enough, though not happy with Maglor," said Celebrimbor. "She has the workshop set up, though it produces as much in the way of shipboard fittings and furniture as musical instruments these days."

"Needs of the time," said Armiriel. "At least she gets to stay in one place. We're rarely in the same place from one month to the next."

"So I'd gathered."

"So, about the Silmaril… you do actually have it?"

"Yes, right here," said Celebrimbor, flapping his cloak so that light spilled out.

Armiriel's eyes widened. "You could at least show it to me properly," she scolded him. "I have to return saying that I've actually seen it with my own eyes, in your possession, and you unharmed and acting of your own free will."

"Sorry, I'm just not sure how people will react lately," said Celebrimbor, looking quickly to Elwing. She pursed her lips, but nodded. Celebrimbor removed his cloak and drew the Silmaril out from his tunic, allowing full view of the Silmaril and Nauglamir.

Armiriel stared, tears coming to her eyes. "You know, I'd never actually seen what all the fuss was about. It's even more beautiful than father sang, and I didn't think that was possible."

"I hadn't seen the Silmarils since I was a small child," said Celebrimbor.

"Just don't go like grandfather over it now you've got it, ok?" she said. "It's cost us far too much already. I'd hoped you were safely out of this mess even if the rest of us weren't!"

Celebrimbor nodded. "I'm hoping that I can prevent my uncles damning themselves even more than they already – Miri, are you saying that you killed someone?"

Everyone in the room tensed. Armiriel shook her head. "Not unless you count the odd orc. But I did make arrows by the score for the war in Doriath and I knew full well what they'd be used for." She winced at Celebrimbor's expression, not looking at Elwing. "I thought that after that we'd have the Silmaril and Maedhros would be ok again – I'm worried about him. I'm almost scared of him sometimes."

Celebrimbor sighed. "Yes, I'm doing this of my own free will. This has to stop somewhere, and it might as well be here."

She nodded. "I think so too. And so do they." She drew herself up: "As this Silmaril has been given into the hands of its rightful owners once more,"

"Rightful, my foot," Elwing muttered.

Fortunately Armiriel chose to ignore that. "the brothers Feanorion thank you, the Lady Elwing, and other leaders of this fine city. They wish you to know that you have their friendship and aid in time of need against Morgoth or other enemies. Call on us if you need help, and your cry will be answered. Maedhros regrets that we have been divided by fate in the past, but hopes that that sorry chapter of history may be closed forever. Celebrimbor," she turned to him. "Father says: I don't know how you managed this miracle, but thank you. Kindly answer your letters, please! Can you greet Lindariel for me and tell her I'm sorry?"

Celebrimbor blinked.

Elwing spoke. "Tell Maedhros that I am glad that the horror of a third Kinslaying has been avoided. I have no intention of calling on him for aid." She made a disgusted face.

"Against Morgoth, we're all going to have to stick together if we want to live," said Armiriel.

"Because that worked so well in the Nirnaith Arnoediad," said Elwing.

"Well, we didn't all stick together then, did we?" said Armiriel.

Celebrimbor facepalmed. "Can't we just agree not to kill each other, and in the event of an attack by Morgoth everyone pitches in to help get everyone to Balar alive?"

They both turned angry faces to him. "My people aren't going to share the same island as Maedhros under any circumstances," she said. "They'd kill him."

"They might try," said Armiriel. They stopped talking and glared at each other.

Celebrimbor wondered abruptly if this was how Gil-galad felt about him and Oropher. If so, he pitied him.

Armiriel looked away first. "We won't go to Balar," she said. "We'll probably go east, into the Taur im Duinath, if things get really bad. Maybe even the Blue Mountains if we truly get desperate."

Elwing nodded.

Armiriel shifted from foot to foot, then a smile flashed across her face. "Now can I hug my cousin before I leave?"

An unwilling smile graced Elwing's face for a moment before fading. "Yes, but the Silmaril stays here, with him."

"Understood," said Armiriel, and hugged Celebrimbor tightly. "Stay safe, and try not to do anything too stupid. No building a glider and crashing it into trees."

Celebrimbor sputtered, then laughed. "You too. No hunting wolves armed with a wooden sword and a flute."

"I was thirteen!" she said, looking affronted and letting go.

"and I was twenty-seven," said Celebrimbor.

Elwing gave a most unladylike snort.

Soon after, they all parted. "I think you just prevented a war," said Elwing as Celebrimbor stood in the doorway. "I and the others here will not forget it. If you need anything, or if someone starts harassing you, tell me."

"Thank you. I will." With that, Celebrimbor headed home.

This AU is Finis

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Chapter End Notes

AN1: The Feanorian women finally turn up in a story. Meet Lindariel, Maglor's estranged wife, and their daughter Armiriel. Lindariel is north Sindar, and Maglor didn't tell her about the first Kinslaying before they married. She stayed with him anyway when he promised her he would never do such a thing again.

Then Doriath happened, and she walked out, going to Balar with a group of Feanorian dissidents who thought either Gil-galad or Celebrimbor sounded like an improvement over their current leadership. OC's, obviously, although Maglor was apparently married, which implies a wife...

AN2: So, crisis averted. But without the Silmaril, will the Valar send an army? Or will Morgoth get tired of waiting and send an army against Sirion? I can't help but think Earendil's reaction to an albatross landing on his ship carrying the Silmaril and turning into Celebrimbor might be rather different than to Elwing the Swan. I can't see Celebrimbor as a swan. If he has to be a seabird, he's definitely an albatross.