The start of a beautiful friendship by Aprilertuile

Tyelkormo was with the Hunt of Oromë for the first time. He was generally enjoying himself, learning with a Hunter who has been with the Hunt since the elves arrived in Aman. The elf in question was called Yarlossë. 

Since he arrived among Oromë’s Hunters, Tyelkormo had been paired with the older elf, and the elf understood quickly that as long as Tyelkormo understood the reason why he was performing a task, then he would do it without complaint, and stay interested. 

Under the elf’s guidance, Tyelkormo learnt the rules of the Hunt, among which the rules regarding weapon handling, because as a rule, any weapon that could kill a maddened bear or a giant spider could also kill an elf. 

So it was a very real rule that anyone welcomed with the Hunt was taught how to handle their weapons and how to not become public dangers, even before they were taught to hunt. 

He also learnt to perform all the tasks that a hunter needed to do: like tracking, creating traps and dismantling them, preparing the body of a prey be it to eat or to burn in the case of the creatures of shadows, repairing one’s own kit, making arrows, preparing a campsite and dismantling it so that there was no trace of it… 

Tyelkormo was burning with curiosity and learnt everything he could with the older elf, applying himself to the tasks he was given… However he also noticed quickly some tension around the guests of the Wood. He tried to ask about that, but he understood that Yarlossë wouldn’t tell and the subject was pretty much taboo. 

So he spent his time trying to become a better hunter instead, and perhaps one day, he’d uncover that mystery. 

That day, Tyelkormo followed Yarlossë in near silence up to a deep wood that they never entered before. 

“Master Yarlossë?” Tyelkormo whispered. 

“I asked, and received the authorisation from lord Oromë to take you into his part of the Wood for a tracking exercise. We’ll track a deer that’s known to travel alone. We will not hunt or kill unless we are actually attacked by something.”

Tyelkormo looked sideways at the older elf. 

“Being actually attacked by anything is unheard of in…”

“Pull your head out of your ass, lad. You live in the protected side of Aman where nothing ever happens that anyone knows of. This? This is Oromë’s Wood. There are wolves, great cats, and far, far darker things on the other side of those woods and sometimes, those darker things bleed within this forest.”

“I see.”

“Don’t forget it. It may cost you your life.”

“For real? Or like when dad promises to dismember and cook whoever will disturb him next?”

“For real. Your father’s actually a kitten compared to whatever may find us in there.”

Yarlossë nodded in approval as Tyelkormo pulled his bow in an easier position to draw it. 

“Lead on then. And let’s see how well you’ve learnt your lessons so far.” The elf told his student.

Tyelkormo was thrilled, and entered the darker woods carefully, on his guards, but enjoying every moment of the track… Until he noticed that the sounds of the forest suddenly went silent and he froze, listening intensely. 

At his side, Yarlossë also froze, bow and arrow in hands, ready to fire at whatever could attack them. 

There was a sound of a fight nearby, animal sounds, one seemed to be feline in nature but not any sort of housecat to sound like that. Yarlossë identified it as a giant forest cat, the kind that grew tall as dogs. Unchanged if they were lucky, steeped in darkness and pushed to madness if they were Unlucky. 

Tyelkormo was careful and so silent, approaching the place he could hear the sound of fighting from, that his mentor took a while to notice his departure. 

Yarlossë swore silently promising himself to put the younger elf on a leash next time, but followed his very discreet traces, and joined him in a tree, sitting on a branch, ready to go and run or fight if necessary… Watching as a giant dog, with clear fur… Finally caught the giant cat that reeked of darkness by the throat. 

Tyelkormo’s whole focus was on the fight, looking fascinated by the giant dog. One of Oromë’s immortal hounds. 

Yarlossë grimaced. 

He however stayed silent until the end of the fight, and watched as the dog started to feast on the entrails of the Cat. 

But Tyelkormo moved a bit on the tree, and the dog looked up and saw them. Yarlossë tensed as the dog growled at them, grabbed a hold of the giant cat, and left with it. 

“That was…”

“That was one of Oromë’s Hounds.”

“I thought they were friendly to elves?” Tyelkormo answered as a question for his mentor. 

The elf sighed tiredly. 

“Fine. I guess it’s time that I explain it to you, but, and I need you to promise me that. You will NOT repeat what I’m going to tell you to anyone, not even your fellow guests, not your friends and less of all to your family when you go back home. Understood?!”

“I understand. I won’t repeat what you’ll tell me.” 

Yarlossë guided Tyelkormo to a campsite that was empty, seemingly hours away from Oromë’s lodge where the Hunt and their guests were staying. 

They didn’t bother with a campfire as the weather was warm enough and they had rations they prepared just in case, so they didn’t need to hunt and cook. 

Watching the sky, and noticing the dreadful clouds, they set up a tent, just in case, to avoid being disturbed by rain. 

Once they were ready, and sitting side by side, Tyelkormo turned toward Yarlossë:

“Alright. So…? The hound?”

“It’s an old story that predates your birth. Most people don’t want to hear about it anymore. Those in power who were told what happened, namely your grand-father king Finwë and his court have chosen to hide that information and to consider that nothing ever happened and the elf that was concerned never came with them in the first place.”

“Right...”

Yarlossë nodded. The younger elf has shown to be quite discreet when he wanted to, but he also saw some of Tyelkormo’s reaction that showed clearly to him who learnt to read him, that Tyelkormo disagreed strongly with some of the politics of the court of Tirion. 

“Alright. So… When lord Oromë brought elves on these shores… we followed. The situation was a bit of a mess and some who came were… unwell.”

“Unwell?”

“Different. The land over the sea wasn’t safe, Tyelkormo. It was dark. There were things chasing us. That shadow cat that you saw today? It’s nothing compared to the rest. Those things I’m speaking of could snatch the unwary in the dark leaving not a trace to follow… Or choosing to leave behind a path of blood. Some of the elves who were snatched this way were recovered. Sadly those who were recovered were… Different, in body or in mind.”

Yarlossë’s eyes were fixed in front of him, unseeing the world around him. 

“One of those elves was with us. He came to Tirion, settled as a hunter. He came to the Woods of Oromë, as a guest, a learner of the Ways of the Woods. We often went out, us Hunters with the guests, to learn with the Great Hunter. To better ourselves and not just hunt whatever seemed available without thoughts on consequences. More so now that we were organising in great cities instead of small hidden settlements.”

Tyelkormo nodded at that. He was always very focused on memorising what his mentor said regarding the history of their people, or hunting in general. Yarlossë knew the younger elf would be able to repeat word for word whatever he said. He was that good at memorising things that interested him. 

“Lord Oromë already had his Hounds, and sometimes he gifted them to those of his Hunters, or guests who distinguished themselves.”

Tyelkormo tilted his head at that, eyes going cold. 

“I don’t think I like where this is going.”

Yarlossë smiled bitterly:

“No one liked it when it happened either. That elf distinguished himself by his bravery fighting some shadow creatures that just popped up in Aman. You must understand, this land is blessed, created of light by the Valar, but nothing is perfect in this world. There are spots of darkness even here that infect creatures and plants around. Everything that lives in Arda Marred can be found on Valinor. Be it good, or bad.”

Tyelkormo nodded at that. He’s had this specific lesson already. 

“Those things can be deadly to us and thus the Valar managed to have them restricted around the Woods of their Hunter. Or their Hunter claimed the Woodland closest to where they mostly appeared, whichever. And that elf went after those creatures relentlessly. He was commended for his bravery, his skills, and he was offered the right to have a Hound of his own to help him.”

“Did the Hound have a right to choose to be given away too?” Tyelkormo asked with a frown. 

“They do, but you must understand they’re usually given away as young ones so they can grow with their companion and both can learn together to complete each other.”

“They didn’t have enough experience to see a threat in an elf.” Tyelkormo whispered. 

Yarlossë nodded. 

“Indeed, not until it was too late. We didn’t see this elf worsen. But somehow he did. You see, the creatures of shadows that we hunt can be mostly eradicated… To a point. A point that we reached in the past. But then the elf found himself seeking other hunts to satisfy his… Cravings. Hunted predators. Until he was warned by lord Oromë that he had to stop. He became sullen, abrasive, we mostly learnt to leave him alone or suffer his bad mood. And then one day… He turned against his hound companion.”

“Why?”

“He was craving violence, and found relief in the hunting. If he didn’t get a challenge through the dark creatures then the hound of Oromë would provide one. Or that’s what he claimed when we found out. I don’t know. I don’t understand it really. But by the time lord Oromë realised there was a problem, by the time the Hunt could intervene, the hound was injured badly. He barely survived the experience and grew… Extremely wary of us elves. Lord Oromë was absolutely out of his mind with rage and the elf disappeared and hasn’t reappeared again so far. The season ended early and lord Oromë took years before he opened his woods again to guests.”

“Is there… A possibility that this elf was puni…”

“We don’t talk about possibilities .”

“Why?”

“We just don’t. We are guests on this land, young prince. Abide by the law of the land and do like we all do. What that elf did to his companion was horrible. Whatever happened to him was deserved.”

Tyelkormo tilted his head to the side again at that, thinking. 

“Alright. And the hound?”

“Every hunter who is allowed entrance to the woods occasionally or not, knows to stay away if by case their path crosses that of the Hound. No one knows what could happen, and no one wants to know. You saw it, it’s a hunting beast. It’s powerful, like all its kind, and it’s unlikely to take kindly on our people. We stay away. Do you understand, young prince? You stay away!”

Tyelkormo didn’t answer, looking bothered. 

Miriel died, everyone started to avoid mentioning her, up to Finwë who decided to remarry. 

No one ever talked or acknowledged in any way, shape or form the constant disagreement between the sons of Finwë or the regular fights that erupted in the streets of Tirion because of said disagreement. No, the king was too happy living with his head in the cloud, never seeing problems, and the people were happy to pretend nothing ever happened, even when they were in the middle of cleaning up a mess. 

One elf was a violent mess and disappeared in Oromë’s woods without a trace after offending Oromë and no one wanted to acknowledge it either.

Tyelkormo wondered how far he’d need to dig, to find out other issues that were just kept silent for fear of showing a less than pristine picture of grating happiness. 

The next day they returned to their task, and Tyelkormo indeed tracked down the deer that Yarlossë wanted him to find successfully, avoiding, by luck perhaps, all kinds of mishap. 

He hadn’t seen again the great hound of the previous day, sadly. 

However, as they were on their way back to the Hunting Lodge, Tyelkormo couldn’t help but think back about that magnificent creature. 

The Hound had a coat of shiny silky fur, or so it had seemed under the light of Laurelin. He had looked powerful, sure of himself, clever in the way he fought that cat. 

But the look in the hound’s eyes when he noticed them.

It was unfair that such a magnificent creature lived with so much disdain for elves. 

Ah, who was he kidding?! Disdain wasn’t the right word. Perhaps it was fear. Perhaps it was hatred, wariness certainly, but disdain? No.

Once they arrived back at the lodge, Yarlossë left him as he was sent on a mission. Whatever it was, the elf didn’t tell Tyelkormo, though a quarter of the Hunt left with him, so it must have been quite something. He hoped that upon their hopefully safe return, he’d get the story. 

In the meantime, he knew his own duty, though he confirmed with the maia in charge of the guests what he would do in the absence of his teacher.  

At the end of the second day after he went back to camp, Tyelkormo went back to the maia in charge of the guests, Tilion: 

“Say, can I bother you a moment?”

“Of course, Child. I’m here for that after all.”

Tyelkormo adored Tilion, the maia was always such a cheerful and welcoming personality… 

“So, I wanted to know if I could wander the woods alone?”

Tilion frowned at that. 

“Why?”

“There are things I want to see. I promise to be careful. I can even leave most of my weapons here if you want.”

“What thing?”

“Well, animals mainly, admittedly.”

Tilion raised an eyebrow at that and Tyelkormo looked sheepish. 

“Very well. Do keep your weapon but if you do use them I want to know when and I want to know why. You will not hunt without informing the rest of us.”

“I promise.”

“Well, Yarlossë said you were shaping up to be a good hunter, so do what you will. But be careful! I don’t want to hear of any… Incident.” Tilion said quietly but in a voice that carried a world of warning. 

“I promise. No incident, just me wandering around Oromë’s woods hopefully safely enough.”

“Good. And if you find traces of something that shouldn’t be there, warn us. Don’t try to take on something on your own that you aren’t equipped to face.”

Tyelkormo nodded quietly: he would because he really didn’t want to be banned from the woods, for sheer stupidity. He knew it could happen, someone has been thrown out already earlier in the season.

So that day, as soon as his chores were done, he left the Lodge, going in a random direction. Looking for tracks, anything really, that’d give him an idea of where to go.  

He wanted to see that dog again. He wouldn’t bother it obviously but... 

He had taken food that could be shared with a dog without making them sick and if he wanted it, the magnificent creature would get its share of it. Perhaps he’d accept at least an offering? Just so he could catch a glimpse of him again. 

Tyelkormo tried his best to track the creature.

He sadly returned at night, having had no luck on his self-decided mission, though he did come back with a handful of plants that he wanted to study. 

Plants that made Tilion look at him sideways:

“You are NOT eating those.”

“Obviously not. But I want to know what they are.” Tyelkormo answered with a smile. 

Tilion sighed but called another hunter to teach Tyelkormo who… Put the leaves in his notebook, where he took notes of the plants in question. 

The hunter looked amused at his doing but…: “You know that others did the same but always the  news came that no one accepted to copy books with dangerous plants described within.”

Tyelkormo smiled at that, entirely at peace with the idea. Those elves who tried before clearly didn’t know his father. He knew that whatever notebook he took back home would be given a place in the library if he wished it. 

His father never found any knowledge useless, and welcomed everything in his library, be it at home or in Formenos. 

Some of the books his family possessed were things that would see Finwë shout of rage at him about living in the present and the necessity of letting painful experiences of the past disappear, forgotten for the peace of his people as a whole. Or about keeping dangerous knowledge at hand. Finwë was strange like that when he wanted to. He didn’t seem to grasp that his discourse on such matters was precisely why Fëanáro hoarded all sorts of knowledge. 

Anyway, Tyelkormo would certainly not be the one to enlighten him on the matter. 

But one day turned into two, into three, into four. 

He caught not a hint of the presence of the Hound. 

Until he got the idea to ask a bird. Yarlossë was teaching him the basics of communication with birds after all, it might as well serve, even if most of the birds he has talked with so far were spectacular air-heads. 

And it seemed to work. He was directed to another side of the Wood. A good couple of hours away from where he was, and he came within sight of the Hound who growled upon seeing him. 

“Wait. For you. I have this. It’s… Thanks. For killing the great cat the other day. I’ll leave that here, beautiful.” Tyelkormo called before the hound could leave. 

And indeed he put some of the dried meat on a rock at his feet before leaving in a run, happy to have found the animal again. 

He didn’t see it, but the Hound blinked at that and tilted his head, considering. 

He didn’t take the offering, but watched carefully as a fox had no such restraint, and ate it… And was fine. He followed it a while, but it seemed the dried meat had been just that, and not a trap. 

And as the hound had thought the matter was over with that offering, he was surprised to note that the young hunter came back, finding him almost every day throughout the rest of the season, and always leaving him something when their path crossed. At first the offerings were mostly dried meat, and then actually a mix of fresh meat, heart, which he adored, thought he wasn’t going to let the impertinent invasive brat know that, cooked meat and dried meat. 

As the end of the season approached, Tyelkormo was to meet with a member of his family to know where to go when he’d leave. 

That was the trouble of having a family that was often roaming the countryside: when you were separated, trying to find each others again in a timely manner was a bit of a game of chance and catching the right rumour unless someone coordinated things. 

Thankfully he had a sibling who excelled at coordinating things between all of them. 

Maitimo arrived two days before Tyelkormo was scheduled to leave, and so Tyelkormo stayed with him as an impromptu guide as he went through his days in the Hunting Lodge. 

“All that’s pretty interesting but… And here imagine I’m dad: What did you learn?”

“Birds are incredible snitch unable to partition something private from something asked of them and I’ll be forevermore very careful to not ever ask them anything that could be read as intimate in any way, shape or form.”

That had a couple people in the Lodge laugh despite themselves. 

“That… Is… Good to know I guess, but not what dad will want to hear.” Maitimo warned him. 

Tyelkormo rolled his eyes at that. Of course it wouldn’t be. No one who knew his father would ever think that this answer would ever be acceptable in any way, shape or form.

“Don’t do that Tyelko, you know I’m just trying to ensure peace at home.”

Tyelkormo smirked at that and put a pretty much filled by now notebook in his brother’s hands:

“An… Illustrated herbal?” Maitimo asked unimpressed. 

“Look closer.”

Maitimo blinked at that. 

“What are those…?”

“Plants growing only here, poisonous, poisonous but could be used to heal, and others that are edible or just are neutral for us elves. I tried to pick only the plants that grow in there but I might have picked up a few more common ones in the process. I don’t know all the herbs already studied in Tirion and other prim and proper places.”

“That’s nice. I think there already exist a few of those, but they’re not easily available since, you know, that’s dangerous knowledge.”

“Yeah, I know.” 

“Dad will be thrilled.”

“Yeah, I’m sure he will be.” Tyelkormo drawled.

“Do please avoid that tone of voice with dad for the next… Oh, few millennia. I do not actually want the house to explode under both your tempers.” Maitimo answered him with a frown.

“I’m not that stupid brother mine.”

“I hope so.”

The last day of their presence in the woods, Tyelkormo left his brother and went back to where he thought he’d find the Hound again. He wanted to tell him goodbye. 

He hoped he’d see him again next year if Oromë allowed him to return. 

He indeed found the hound, and this time the dog turned his head toward him with a sigh but didn’t even pretend to leave. 

“Hi, I’m glad to see you. You look well. I’ll leave that here. I’m sorry I wasn’t there the last two days, one of my brothers was here. I couldn’t leave him alone. Or, well, I could but he’s more of a politically oriented being and would have found himself quite easily lost. Or in an accident. And I like my brother too much to let that happen if I can help it, you know. More so when the solution is just for me to spend a couple days with him. He liked the plant study I did. I knew it was a good idea to have something to appease dad.”

The hound just sighed. That elven pup was a chatterbox and needed a muzzle. 

“Oh well, I’ll be going. See you later!” Tyelkormo said cheerfully, having noticed the sigh. 

As soon as he ran out of sight, the hound got up and went to investigate the young elf’s offerings. Heart and liver, pretty enjoyable cuts of meat and fresh too. As he ate, Oromë appeared at his side. 

"He's interesting, that young one."

"He's annoying and stubborn." Huan answered in a growl. 

"And yet you appreciate his offerings."

"And yet I don't understand why he bothers. The others all know to leave me in peace."

Oromë only smiled at that, tracking the young elf in the woods, and noticing him getting distracted by a bird momentarily. 

The next morning, as the two brothers were taking their bags to leave, Tilion approached them, looking slightly surprised at the order that came from Oromë:

“Tyelkormo, are you going back home today?”

“Yes. That was the plan. Maitimo said that the family would be there for once, so…”

“I see. Do you look forward to it?”

“Sure. I missed my brothers.”

“Hm… And if you had an opportunity to stay here longer? Say… a year?”

“Oh yes please!”

Maitimo at his side sighed: 

“You are NOT doing that without mom and dad’s agreement!” 

“Of course not. We however wanted to know whether it was even something Tyelkormo wanted before we presented this offer to your parents. Have fun on the way back, someone will join you in a couple of days to discuss things with your family.” Tilion answered with an easy smile. 

The two brothers started to leave the wood, riding side by side on the horses that Maitimo had brought when he came:

“So… You want to spend a year there, uh?”

“I would love to!!! I have so much to learn still and…” Tyelkormo stopped himself then with a slight grimace. 

“And?”

“And I have a very small and insignificant side project.”

“Alright, out with it. I want the truth and I want to know how much damage control I’ll have to do with our parents.”

“No damage control I think.”

Tyelkormo thought on it a moment and decided on an abridged version of the truth:

“So… One of the Hounds of Oromë is… Less than happy with us elves in general. I’ve been trying to… I don’t know. Get him to tolerate me? If you could see him, he’s beautiful. He’s the very definition of power and grace and…”

“So a creature made to hunt doesn’t like elves and you’ve been bothering it, alright, yes, that sounds like you.” Maitimo sighed. 

“Give me at least some credit here, I stayed away and just gave him little gifts from afar. And I must not have been bothering him that much or the question of whether or not I can stay a whole year wouldn’t be asked.”

Maitimo thought about that for a moment.

“Or the hound in question didn’t let it be known.”

“Nelyo… That’s Oromë’s Woods.”

“Yes. So?”

“You think he’s entirely unaware of what goes on within his woods? Particularly when something’s been going on for months, involves one of his hounds and I had to resort to asking directions to random animals several times?”

“That… Is an interesting point. I don’t know. Aulë is certainly not aware of everything that goes on in his forge.”

“OR Aulë pretends to not be aware of everything that goes on in his forge to avoid awkwardness with the elves in his entourage.”

“You know, I don’t think I want to contemplate the subject any further, thank you very much.”

Tyelkormo cackled at that. 

“Why brother? What happened in Aulë’s halls that you are blushing at the idea of Aulë knowing?”

Maitimo didn’t answer but sent his horse into a gallop, and was followed by Tyelkormo’s laughter.

Upon arrival, Tyelkormo was welcomed by… His twin brothers jumping on him, making him stumble and fall on his back. 

“I hate you and I hate everything about this. Hi Troubles.”

“Why did you stay gone so long?”

“Because I found many things of interest to study in the woods of Oromë. Also, birds are really air-heads of massive proportion which didn’t help me at all.”

“Can you take us with you next time? It’s dull here.”

“Sorry, I can’t.”

“Why not?! It’s not fair that you and Nelyo and Kano always get to have fun while we’re stuck here listening to dull teachers!”

“Because you’re very much underage and our parent’s responsibility and neither of them will agree to let you come with me and you haven’t been taught enough to come with me anyway. That’s why not.”

“Ugh. Dull. You’re dull too.” Ambarussa said before leaving in a huff. 

“Brothers. Why do people ever want to reproduce?” Tyelkormo sighed, getting back up. 

“Because children are a beautiful thing, dearest son of mine.” Fëanáro told him from the entrance, before eating a spoonful of jam. 

“I draw the line at siblings. Specifically little siblings. Also don’t let mom catch you doing that, she hates when we eat jam straight from the pot.”  

“She’s the one who finished the bread and didn’t see fit to replace it.” Fëanáro answered with a careless shrug. 

Tyelkormo tilted his head to the side at that. So both his parents were passive aggressive against each other again, uh? He was NOT staying here for long. He didn’t want to be overtaken by the urge to put something or someone on fire accidentally on purpose. 

The first thing he did was to leave his bags on the floor of his room and go take a bath. 

By the time he was done, and warm water was a luxury to be thoroughly enjoyed, his bags had been pretty much emptied and his father was checking out the two notebooks he had filled during his absence. 

“Not bad at all.”

“Thank you, I try.”

“You could have gone in more depth in places though.” Fëanáro pointed out as he was reading an entry of the herbal book. 

Tyelkormo’s smile was perfectly polite as he nodded along, pulling clothing from his cupboard. He had no plan to start an argument with his father so soon. 

“Where are my clothes, dad?”

“Where you left them in the cupboard.”

“The ones I came with and the ones that were in my bag?”

“Oh, in the fireplace. Your mother, although happy at your return, took offence at the state of them.”

Tyelkormo eyed him judgmentally at that. 

“The fact that my bags are, well, mine, doesn’t actually ensure that my things stay untouched does it?”

“You know how it is in this house.”

Tyelkormo snorted at that, carefully not pointing out the sheer hypocrisy of the one who had his nose already in notebooks that might have been privates for all the elf knew before he stole them. 

“So did you do what you wanted to?”

“Not really. I mean yes? I made progress on my hunting practice and general knowledge of hunting but there’s more I want to learn. And Tilion, one of Oromë’s maiar asked if I wanted to spend a full year there, and so I’m here to ask if I could before they come to talk to you about it.”

“I see. I’ll discuss it with your mother.”

“I feel the sudden need to remind you I really want to do that, and I am an adult.” Tyelkormo answered sharply. 

“And I feel the need, my dear son, to remind you that I’m not your only parent, and your mother usually has strict rules about her unmarried sons leaving our home for a long period of time despite traditions. As I said, I’ll discuss it with your mother.”

Then, Tyelkormo thought, hopefully Nerdanel would be in good disposition, because it’d be extremely tiring to have to fight his parents for the right to go to the Hunt for a year. 

He settled to take a nap, and he woke up to find both his elder brothers in his room:

“The notion of private space in this family is interesting.” 

“Tilion and Yarlossë are here to discuss things with our parents.”

Tyelkormo grimaced: 

“How big an argument is going on?”

“Mother’s not in favour of you going “for so long”, and father is in favour of you going. He says that you’re an adult but young and even if he thinks that it’s stupid to lose a year doing who knows what in those woods, doing stupid things is something that youths are entitled to.” Makalaurë said amused.

“Yes, because older elves only have the right to be wise and responsible, never to have fun or take pleasure in what they do, ever, as shown by our own parents who absolutely hate what they’re doing of course and never do something silly for the fun of it, just in case the world would disintegrate if they did.” Tyelkormo answered deadpan.

“I mean… Have you met grand-father’s councillors? They certainly do seem to think so.” Maitimo grimaced. 

“I can still put the palace on fire next time I’m sent there if you want.”

“Do avoid us that please. I’d rather not have to deal with the fall out of having an arsonist brother.”

Tyelkormo laughed at that. 

They kept talking out of the way of the argument happening in the living-room, until they were called. 

Nerdanel looked at him straight up when they entered the room:

“I don’t want you to go there for a year, it’s far too long to be proper, your father seems to think it’s harmless to let you go.”

Tyelkormo raised an eyebrow at that. 

“Tyelkormo, going there for a year will damage your reputation. Hunters of Oromë of course are never short of work but they’re known to be solitary people. You do not want to have that sort of reputation at your age, when you should be looking to settle down.”

“Yes, actually. I really, really do.”

“Well, I see your father is right and you haven’t yet matured enough by now to know better.”

“Or, I matured enough to know I have absolutely no interest in marriage, and prefer to further my knowledge of my craft rather than to play the prim and proper prince that I’ve never been and never will be, because I’m just not interested .”

“Fine, if you’re decided to ruin your social life to this point, go! What do I care! I’m only your mother after all!”

Tyelkormo had to bite his lips to stop himself from answering that. 

“Thank you for your agreement mother, I appreciate it very much.”

She slammed the door behind her as she left. 

“Alright dad, why the fuck is she acting on the palace’s rumours now?”

“Why do you think your mother is thinking of the court’s opinion?”

“Because the Hunters of Oromë only have the reputation of being solitary people at court. The people generally speaking tend to treat it as a feast when someone joins the Hunt, or when the Hunt comes by.”

Fëanáro grimaced at that. 

“Well, she failed to convince Nelyafinwë to meet with hopeful brides to be last season. She really wanted him married or engaged before he started to work at court and started to live in a house by himself most of the year since it’s almost unheard of at court for unmarried children to leave their parents’ home, and you know we're already the target for malicious rumours for our chosen lifestyles."

"She really tried? Everyone of us know that Nelyo has no interest in courtship, or girls in general. Most of the times he doesn't even realise when people are attracted to him. I mean... Perhaps if one girl desguises herself as a really, really good book she might have a chance...?"

"Be nice with your brother, Tyelko. Anyway, after that Makalaurë decided to apply to study with a master musician in Alqualondë. We received confirmation he was accepted there, and king Olwë was nice enough to have someone help him find a house to settle there for the duration of his studies, and now… You.”

Tyelkormo winced at that. His brothers rebelled against their mother’s wishes in the pursuit of their craft of choice be it politics or music, and he just joined them in that. 

“That’s hilarious because the mother can’t stay home half the year, and is known to travel even without you despite what is prim and proper and yet she wants now for us to act like we’d never even imagine life outside of Tirion’s court’s sense of propriety?!”

Fëanáro sighed quietly at that, a sense of quiet helplessness around him, something Tyelkormo wasn't used to see about his father and he really didn't like it. 

"Nerdanel is tired. It's... Always difficult to be the target of malicious rumours and... I think she wanted to prove the courtiers wrong about their... Opinion of you by making sure you could be a better prince and courtier than they decided you would be. Which of course includes not disappearing for a year in Oromë’s woods, and seeking marriage at some point soon now that you’re of age."

"Why ever for? We never cared about rumours."

“She didn't tell me but... she must have heard some… Unpalatable rumours about your parentage. You know it affects you but also her honour as a woman, a wife and a mother. After the difficult birth of the twins... It became too much to bear I suppose. ”

“Those rumours have existed since my birth. The best way for those to disappear, along with the shadow of shame it brings mother, would be for grand-father Finwë to put back in the palace the portraits of queen Miriel. So long he refuses to do that, and hence to prove my hair is exactly the same as hers, then there will be no stopping the rumours and me playing by the rules of the courts won’t change that.”

“Only your mother is tired, and we cannot influence my father to aknowledge my mother, or that'd have been done long ago, before you were ever born, my dear, so she's trying to influence what she can influence, meaning her children.” 

“I’m sorry, I know it’s insensitive to say, but if mother is indeed that tired of the rumours, I suggest she stays away from the court, because the courtiers as a rule live off of rumours and they don’t have the decency to not cast those rumours for the fun of it, for the pleasure of a scandal animating their boring unmoving lives.”

“Don’t go and repeat that to your mother. She has a dreadfully good aim with her tools.” Fëanáro told him. 

“Also, dad? Apparently doing stupid things is something youths are entitled to?”

“I should know, I’m still young and enjoying doing stupid things now and then.” His father answered amused. 

Tyelkormo snorted in amusement at that. 

“Since when is it stupid to seek further teaching in a subject you are passionate about?”

“Everyone can hunt if they take a little time to learn.”

“Everyone can go in a forge and hammer at things until it takes a vague form. Does that mean that your job or mom’s are useless because anyone vaguely interested could pick up a hammer?”

“You know what I mean.”

“No I actually don’t. Do feel free to explain it.”

“Anyone can kill a beast.”

“Yeah, about the same way anyone can pick up a hammer and beat up metal to take a shape or another. The degree of skills will depend on the level of training. Funny that.”

Fëanáro snorted at that: 

“Not everyone can actually draw schematics.”

“Not everyone can draw a sustainable hunting plan.”

“Not everyone knows stones well enough to cut them into shape properly.”

“Not everyone knows how to recognize what animal can be hunted and what animal should be left alone.”

“Not everyone can just take the time to learn to do what I do.”

“And not everyone has the chance to go learn for a year to be a better hunter with the Hunt of Oromë.”

“I already said yes, nightmare child, no need to try to convince me.”

“Funny, ‘nightmare child’ is what I called my little brothers. Hm… Interesting that our common point is our parents.”

Tyelkormo stepped aside to avoid a thrown apple with a laugh, catching it in passing.

“So, when does the year in question start?”

“Whenever you come back to the woods. Now if you come back with us, later if you chose to come later. I suggest not waiting too long, but otherwise…” Yarlossë answered. 

“We aren’t opposed to taking you back with us today, but neither are we opposed to you getting to spend some time with your family before you come to the Woods again.”

“He’ll be there in a month time.” Fëanáro decided. 

“A month it is, then. Have fun during this month, little hunter.”

“Stay safe.” Tyelkormo answered. 

The two left, and Tyelkormo turned toward his father, hugging him:

“Thanks.”

“Be careful over there. Don’t hesitate to call it quit anytime if you think you need to. I will not think any less of you for it, and if they endanger you needlessly, I’ll burn those Woods to the ground.”

“I promise I’ll keep that in mind, but please, don’t actually put the Woods on fire, I like the place.” Tyelkormo answered with a smile.

Nerdanel was not happy at the news, but seemed to have decided to let it go.

Tyelkormo appreciated being the 3 rd child going through that, she’d have been far more stubborn and argumentative if he had been the first.

Being the 3rd was easier and more peaceful.

When the time came, Makalaurë and Maitimo rode with Tyelkormo to the edges of Oromë’s Woods. 

Tilion was the one who welcomed him when he crossed the border of the Woods:

“So, Tilion, what are you doing when you’re not babysitting hunter apprentices?”

“I’m hunting and following my Lord’s command. Also drinking. You’re of age right?”

“Yes I am.”

“And you’re aware that whatever happens in the Woods isn’t talked about outside the Woods right?”

“I’ve been told and so far I’ve indeed followed that rule.”

Tilion walked with him to the Hunting Lodge that was far less lively and noisy without the hustle of the baby hunters. 

“Yarlossë will still be your teacher. Be mindful of what he’s telling you. There will be times when we need to leave fast, in which case if you’re not specifically called you will stay within the Lodge.”

Tyelkormo nodded. That rule was already in place last season. 

“Everyone pulls their weight as you know so go see with Yarlossë what you need to do. I stay of course available shall you have any questions.”

Tyelkormo thanked him and went to find the older elf who saw him come with a smile. 

“Fair warning, you might not appreciate everyone’s sense of humour.”

“Most people don’t like mine either.”

“Most of us have… opinions on the baby hunters who come to learn for a season.”

“That is going to hurt.” Tyelkormo winced. 

Yarlossë laughed at that. 

“You weren’t that bad. Just… Very inexperienced.”

Tyelkormo grimaced at that: that was a way to put it. 

Oh well, there was no shame in starting out. There was no shame in starting on one’s craft, only in not giving it one’s best.

From there, Tyelkormo shadowed Yarlossë… And soon realised that he could every evening, go back to make his little offering to the beautiful hound… Hound who, at that, seemed to stay closer to the Lodge when the baby hunters weren’t there. 

The hound growled a bit seeing him, but… Tyelkormo didn’t understand it as an outward rejection. Mostly he seemed to be surprised. 

“I was invited to stay a year, to learn more. So here I am. Do you mind?”

The hound didn’t answer at first, but soon, he shook his head slowly, and Tyelkormo smiled brightly. 

“I come bearing gifts. I caught rabbits today. Here are heart, lungs, and liver. Someone said the Hounds of Oromë loved that stuff. I mean, the heart I get but the rest is beyond me.”

A huff of somewhat amusement answered him. 

“Yeah, different tastes, I know. Here, I’ll leave it to you and go back to the Lodge. Have a good night.”

From then on, every day without fail, Tyelkormo tracked down the hound to give him something, and every day he spoke to him of random subjects. How his days were going, what he liked, what he found frustrating, what question he had (and he had a lot of those apparently). 

One day out of six, the hunters had a day where they could rest if they wanted to, unless there was an emergency. All took it in turn so that there was always someone doing chores in the Lodge, but it wasn’t always the same people.

On one such day, Tyelkormo obtained the authorization to go out wandering the woods so long he was careful, and he left before dawn for a reason his mentor found inexplicable: who in their right minds got up before Laurelin on the one day they could sleep in?

Somewhere mid-afternoon, a group of 3 hunters on a hunt together found Tyelkormo… Arguing with a rabbit. 

Tyelkormo’s voice trailed off mid-sentence when he noticed his laughing audience. 

“Dare we ask?”

Tyelkormo looked at the rabbit in front of him, back at the hunters, back at the rabbit… Back at the hunters and said in a very mature attitude: “He started it!”

“Right… So?”

“He ate my lunch!”

“… Didn’t you take dried meat for lunch?”

“Well, I did but I also picked up… You know… Berries and nuts but a little furry SOMEONE decided that it belonged to him!”

“And you didn’t have time to stop him from eating it all?” One of the hunters said, raising an eyebrow.

“I was climbing up a tree to try and see if I could spot a river or something to clean the berries and nuts but by the time I got back down someone had already helped himself.”

“Need help replacing what was stolen?”

“Nah, it’s fine, don’t worry.”

The hunters soon went their own way and that evening, Tyelkormo told the hound about his encounter with the rabbit. The hound seemed particularly amused at that story.  

And by the time Tyelkormo got back to the lodge… The story had already spread, so that some of the members of the Hunt just started laughing when they saw him. 

Tyelkormo took it with good humour, entirely unbothered: he could acknowledge that it had been perhaps a bit ridiculous. 

Just a bit.

A season and a half had come and gone, with Tyelkormo integrated to the hunt. He learnt quickly, all sorts of things, from hunting methods to Songs of Power, and the hunters learnt to ignore fast the younger elf’s habit to disappear at the end of the day. It seemed to amuse Oromë and his maiar but all of them were silent about what was going on.

If it amused them, it couldn’t be dangerous, surely. 

However that day, Oromë summoned all his hunters. There was a hunt. Giant spiders found south of Aman, they would need to all go to get rid of the pests. 

The plan was simple :

Some of the hounds would play bait, and attract the spiders away from their lair. The spiders were clever enough to avoid the maiar usually, but the hounds didn’t have that presence that drove the spiders away, and they had better speed than elves to escape. Once the spiders would be dealt with, a team would go, mainly maiar, to burn down the nest. 

All the Hunt would go. Tyelkormo included. It would be the first time Tyelkormo would join the hunt for such a challenging task. 

Granted, his task was to stay behind Yarlossë and to fire his arrow at whatever he could reach without endangering the Hounds or himself. And as he was told, it was better to not fire an arrow at all, than to throw one and hit one of Oromë’s creatures. He was told that three times. By three different people. Tilion yes, and two other hunters. 

Every time Tyelkormo nodded. 

At the moment they all departed, Yarlossë turned toward Tyelkormo with amusement: “Do I need to say it?”

“I will not fire an arrow if there’s a chance, however small I might think it is, that I’ll hit one of the hounds or maiar of our lord.”

“Thanks.”

“All that caution and repetition is only making me wonder what kind of idiots you lot tried to teach in the past, you realise that, right?” Tyelkormo said in a flat voice.

“One of these days, ask me to tell you the tales.”

The ‘if you’re indeed not that much of an idiot and survive this encounter’ went unsaid but well understood and Tyelkormo nodded. 

That utter lack of trust was grating but he could be patient for things that mattered to him. 

They crossed Oromë’s Woods to get to the place they’d set up the ambush. And Tyelkormo upon arrival took a good look at the place. 

It was pretty. Darker than most of Valinor, as if the light of the Trees didn’t quite reach through Oromë’s domain, though not as dark as the mountains of the north so there was that. 

The place looked to be damaged. Sharp, stone making up the landscape farther away, rather than the rich trees and vegetation Tyelkormo was used to. 

Oromë’s hounds started to run toward a point in the distance, while the hunters and maiar set up. 

Yarlossë settled at the edge of the Forest, with a couple of others, and Tyelkormo followed suit:

“Whatever happens, do not move from this place unless we’re overrun.”

“Got it.” Tyelkormo answered. 

Really, the other hunter’s endless repetitions were getting annoying here. Worse than his brother in a fit of difficult song-writing. 

He nevertheless settled in silence, willing to prove his worth instead of complaining about the lack of trust of the hunters around him. 

This being said, Tyelkormo was starting to think they had met some pretty stupid and reckless people in the past to have gotten this annoying about following commands. 

“Remember, do not attack if you don’t have a clear shot. Don’t take risks. Be here as a silent watcher if you are unsure.” Yarlossë told him. 

Oh, if he heard that one more time, he was going to do something silently, yes. Like putting sand in Yarlossë’s soap when they’ll get back to a safe area.

‘ Avoid that. Soap can be precious.’ Came into his mind, strangely with the voice of Oromë. 

Fine, he’d find something else. He had siblings, he was used to pulling harmless pranks on them, he’d find something that would be no bother to anyone but Yarlossë, and so without risking his health. 

There was a faint distracted sense of amusement against his mind, and Tyelkormo’s attention went back to the distance, trying to see. 

But of course, those things took time and there was nothing to see yet. 

Little by little an expectant silence fell into the group, no one speaking, no one moving, just waiting, breathing together, all turned toward the horizon. 

And there, Tyelkormo straightened, hands on his bow, as he saw a dark mass approach in the distance, and he could soon make over shapes. 

The hounds were looking harassed. They were fast, but he could swear they gave the impression of not being quite fast enough to avoid all trouble. Was it real or to the benefit of the spiders, to encourage them to follow, Tyelkormo wasn’t yet knowledgeable enough to know that answer. 

He saw the hunters around stay unmoving until the spiders came close enough to shoot with some success, and the first to fire were the maiar, who were on another level of skill altogether. 

Tyelkormo waited a bit. He was pretty sure he could have hit one of the spiders early on, but the fight was a mess, the spiders were faster than he’d have guessed, and he needed to see them move, to see their reaction time, before he made any sort of judgement. He’d feel too stupid firing an arrow only for his prey to avoid it and for the arrow to hit a hound. 

So he waited. 

And damn, the spiders were fast to say the largest was easily thrice the size of Nahar. And its attention seemed to be on one of the hounds that… 

That was the hound Tyelkormo met regularly. 

And the hound seemed to be not fast enough . 

There was blood on the clear fur of the dog, and considering the redness of the blood, Tyelkormo was quite sure it wasn’t the far darker blood of the spiders. Tyelkormo may not have had any experience hunting those creature, he may have fell not a single one, he may have not fired a single arrow yet, but he felt his blood freeze in his vein when he saw the hound falter and miss a step, when he saw the spider going for the kill… 

Tyelkormo straightened up, a hand thrown toward the spider, all his attention on it, all his desire to protect the hound focused on the song of power that Yarlossë had taught him. One that would connect him to any animal. 

The creature’s will felt single-minded toward killing the dog, food, and Tyelkormo pushed his own will toward it, against it. 

The spider faltered, stopped just a hand length away from the hound. 

Tyelkormo pushed, and pushed again, bow forgotten, all his attention focused on pushing the creature away . Turning its attention away. The hound was not food!

The spider took a step back. And then another. Shivered, fighting the elf’s will, and Tyelkormo felt dizzy for a moment, but he. Would. Not. Let. Go. 

Tyelkormo felt it the moment a formidable arrow pierced the giant spider’s skin and he fell back against the tree behind him, and threw up against its root, realising only when he was done throwing up that someone, not Yarlossë, was holding his hair back and helping him to stand. 

He was grateful for that. He didn't relish the idea of falling on his face. 

The maia helping Tyelkormo stand helped him sit against another tree. He knew they weren’t an elf for even him right now couldn’t miss the non-elven physical traits. Hair the colour of a deer’s fur wasn’t too startling, but deer ears and young antlers were a dead give-away. Or perhaps he was hallucinating. But he didn’t think so. 

Tyelkormo was suddenly startled to find that he was sitting too far from his weapons for comfort, but… Well if he was honest, he was so dizzy right now that if he tried to shoot a large spider standing unmoving in front of him, he’d probably miss it. If the world could just stop moving just a moment…

He closed his eyes just a moment, or so he thought, but he opened them again to find the hounds patched up, the one he usually met standing guard next to him, a very uncomfortable Yarlossë at his side, and the hunters and maiar taken in the process of building pyres to burn the spiders’ bodies before they started to decompose and affected the whole area. 

“Uh. Well, at least the world isn’t dancing too badly in front of my eyes anymore I guess.” Tyelkormo said quietly, looking quite green still. 

“Drink this, it’ll help.” Yarlossë told him, giving him a flask. 

Tyelkormo took the flask and tasted it, cautious of what was inside that flask, before he started to drink it like he had been spending days in a desert and only now met with water. 

“Slowly, don’t go and make yourself sick again.” Yarlossë told Tyelkormo, taking the flask from his hands until Tyelkormo answered him. 

“You’ll have to tell me what that thing is.”

“You probably don’t want to know. If you weren’t so sick right now you wouldn’t want to drink it.” Yarlossë answered amused. 

“It’s working, it’s all I care about right now.” Tyelkormo groaned, accepting the flask back and drinking more slowly despite his deeply rooted desire to drink it all. 

Whatever it was, the drink was sweet, refreshing, felt cool and yet warming. 

“So I was out for a while, I take it?”

“A good hour. Perhaps two.”

“Why?”

“As I told you when I taught you that spell, when you connect to an animal you can feel what happens to it as if it was happening to you. If you hadn’t been fighting against the spider’s will, you could have died when it did. It’s my fault, I should have made sure you’d know not to use this song in this sort of situation, but I didn’t think you’d… Do that! As it is the connection between the spider and you was enough that you feel a disconnect as your fëa feels your body was injured while your body obviously wasn’t injured and that’s what made you sick.” Yarlossë answered. 

“Yes, well, it was the only idea I had at the time.” 

“And firing an arrow? You know that weapon, you have several arrows. A full quiver at that. I know I taught you how to make them and how to use your bow properly.”

Tyelkormo looked at Yarlossë as if he was stupid:

“And you think my arrows could have done anything to that spider to slow it down?”

“Certainly if you had been lucky to shoot…”

“I don’t count on luck for anything.”

“It would still have been a normal reflex!”

“Reflex would mean I’d react without thinking. It sounded to me that you were specifically asking me to THINK before I act when you were lecturing me on the way to this Hunt. So… Why would I have lost energy and time that I clearly didn’t have on a plan I was positive would fail instead of one I thought had a chance of success?”

“You can’t have had that much time to plan.”

“I had enough time to see the situation and to know an arrow wouldn’t help me unless I had such a lucky shot I’d have exhausted my luck for a century! I grabbed the next idea I could think of, indeed.”

Yarlossë muttered something under his breath at that, and Tyelkormo decided to magnanimously let it go. 

Or more to the point he didn’t feel he had any energy left to keep arguing on the matter. 

“So I connected to the spider… Who killed it?” Tyelkormo asked his teacher.

“Our lord Oromë did. Your little trick drew his attention and so…”

“I only remember one single hit…” Tyelkormo started, voice full of curiosity. 

Could a single hit kill such a creature?

“Yes. Lord Oromë fell the spider with one hit. Your attempt to take control of the Spider’s will stopped it from noticing the danger and from evading the arrow so…”

“Ah…” Tyelkormo nodded, finally, feeling well enough that he started to look around for his weapons. 

There was a very annoyed bark at Tyelkormo’s side and the elf turned toward the dog, closing an eye to watch the magnificent creature because somehow with both eyes opened the world seemed fuzzy when he moved, which made no sense to him but made him want to throw up again for all he was feeling better. 

But seeing the dog’s body language, and the growls that he escaped, Tyelkormo understood him perfectly well:

“Oh stop your growling, I didn't endanger myself! I stayed right where the Hunt told me to stay! All I did was lay a song of power on that thing before it decided that toying with you wasn't enough and biting your head off would be more fun!" Tyelkormo snapped back. 

Yarlossë winced and wondered if he should intervene, but neither the young elf nor the dog paid him any attention. 

"You were an irresponsible pup and I have no idea why your parents let you leave their den! You have NO IDEA what harm could have befell you if your Song had failed!" Came firmly into Tyelkormo’s mind.

“If the song had failed, you reckless creature, you would have died and hence whatever happened after would have been of no concern of yours! And if you had called for help sooner, I wouldn’t have had to in the first place!”

There were more growling in answer, and Yarlossë looked toward Tilion for help as to what he was supposed to be doing there. Tilion shrugged, he had no real idea. So long the dispute didn’t turn into a fight, there wasn’t much to be done in his opinion. 

However the argument drew the eyes of every Hunter, including a somewhat amused Oromë, and yet the two kept arguing under the somewhat incredulous eyes of everyone. 

After a short moment of watching the argument, one of Oromë's maiar approached Oromë who was busy, like them all, building the pyres:

"My lord, should we stop them?"

"Why ever for? They're telling each other exactly what we were going to have to tell them anyway. Leave them to it. It sounds like the start of a beautiful friendship."

"Yes my lord."

Yarlossë was quite at a loss on what to do there. He was supposed to stay near his student to ensure he’d be fine but really that argument put him quite ill-at-ease, and the level of understanding between the hound and the young elf was baffling at best. 

And if the young elf had been taken by one of the hounds, why not one less likely to snap at an elf? Like oh, about any other hound currently living?!

The hound stayed right by Tyelkormo’s side on the way back to the Lodge. A way that seemed far longer back than it had been previously to Tyelkormo. 

Not that he was willing to say anything. 

The hound also stayed by his side whenever Tyelkormo went out of the Lodge, whether or not he was with other hunters of Oromë or alone. 

They seemed to enjoy each other’s presence, Tyelkormo willing to share his bounty with the hound whenever they hunted. 

They were both an impressive team when it came to hunting, and very able to argue with each other at the drop of a hat, to the amusement of those who could understand both the elf and the hound. 

Tyelkormo very much enjoyed the winter celebrations with the Hunt.

He learnt a lot during his year with the Hunt of Oromë. 

But as all good things come to an end, so did the year he was allowed to spend with the Hunt, and as Tyelkormo was making ready to return home, to his parents and siblings, so did Huan . 

Indeed, much to Tyelkormo’s surprise, the Maia who usually took care of the hounds unattached to a specific hunter, approached him while he was making  his bag again. 

“May I help you?” Tyelkormo asked quietly, curious at the presence of the maia. 

“Huan wishes to follow you home.”

Tyelkormo blinked at that. 

“Beg your pardon?”

“Huan wishes to accompany you out of the Woods of our lord Oromë.”

Tyelkormo blinked at that. 

“I mean, he’ll be welcome if he wishes to, of course. He’s a marvellous companion.”

And the fact his parents were probably going to have nervous breakdowns at the idea of such a creature following him around had no influence at all on his delight at the idea. 

It was going to be hilarious. 

And even better, going to the royal palace of Tirion was going to be... Interesting. Well, if Huan wanted to follow him up to the palace of Tirion. In the hound’s stead, Tyelkormo would gladly skip that. 

But then in the hound’s stead, Tyelkormo would probably never wish to leave the woods of Oromë so... 

Tyelkormo sat for a solid hour in front of the maia, listening to all the do and don’t of taking care of a hound of Oromë. 

It was both interesting and making him wonder what kind of utter idiot tried to feed a hound sugary grape cake. 

EVERYONE knew that hounds didn’t do well with those fruits and that cake in general, if made for elves, were not all that good for animals, be them pets or wild. So why? 

He shook his head but kept careful notes. One never knew when those notes would come in handy. 

And finally, after saying goodbye to everyone, Tyelkormo was gone, riding back home, with a giant hound of Oromë at his side. 

“Huan then. Is that your name?”

Huan shrugged at that and Tyelkormo rolled his eyes. 

“Way to not answer, Beautiful. Shall I call you that from now on?”

Again, the hound shrugged and Tyelkormo resolved to do just that until either the hound signified he had enough of being called dog, or gave him his name. 

Though to be fair, if the one who named him in the first place had been the elf that had treated him that badly, perhaps he didn’t want anyone to use that name. 

Oh well. It wasn’t like Tyelkormo had any other idea there. 

Upon arrival home, they crossed paths with Fëanáro first. The elf froze when he saw the hound at his son’s side and opened and closed his mouth in silence. 

Tyelkormo would wonder at the uncharacteristic silence of his father but the fact he looked like he hadn’t slept in a week may be the reason why. 

“Dare I ask?” Fëanáro asked finally in an impressive imitation of calm. 

“That’s Huan, he’s with me. You don’t mind, do you?”

“Would it change anything if I answered I did mind?” Fëanáro asked curiously. 

“Eh.”

The older of the two snorted at that and waved his hand in a ‘there you go’ attitude. 

“You can deal with your mother, I want to know nothing about it.”

Tyelkormo chuckled at that:

“Huan is lovely, as intelligent as us elves, and probably way better behaved than me, you realise.”

“I said: you can deal with your mother on that front, Turko.”

Tyelkormo rolled his eyes at the firm tone of voice of his father. 

Huan was looking amused at the exchange, sitting at Tyelkormo’s side, head tilted to the side, tail waving madly, and his tongue lolling to the side. 

Tyelkormo threw him a look but shook his head:

“Well, come on, Huan. Let’s see mom, get most of the surprise out of the way.”

“Wait, did you seriously call this poor dog ‘dog’?!” Fëanáro reacted suddenly. 

“You called your eldest son Third Finwë and the son who looked most like you, you gave him your own name. I don’t think you have any stones to throw.”

Fëanáro snorted at that.

“Fine, that’s your problem.”

“Indeed.”

Tyelkormo skipped inside the house, Huan at his side and it’s by a newly acquired reflex that the young elf’s hand found its way to the animal’s fur, as if to reassure himself that the hound was there and fine. 

“What is that ?!” Nerdanel spluttered when she saw them. 

“ That is a hound of Oromë.”

“And what exactly is a hound of Oromë doing in our house?”

“He followed me home.”

“ Why ?!”

“Because I’m charming and he likes my company.”

Nerdanel raised an eyebrow at that, looking very much unimpressed at her son. 

“Hm... Because we get along, and he’s as clever as an elf and overall better behaved than me, if it can reassure you?”

Nerdanel sighed and looked at the hound. 

“If I tell you this dog should not be inside, will you listen?”

“... Do you want an honest answer or a diplomatic answer?” Tyelkormo answered after a short moment of weighing his options. 

Nerdanel sighed tiredly:

“It’s like the fox all over again. Fine. I want no mess inside. If this dog makes a mess inside this house, he’ll find himself unwelcome. Understood?”

Huan and Tyelkormo both nodded, before Tyelkormo pulled Huan to his room. 

“Hm... Well, that went better than I imagined it would. Did you see dad’s face?”

Huan huffed at that, amused despite himself. His elf was silly when he wanted to. 

There was soon the sound of rushed foot-steps in the corridor next to his room and his door opened on most of his siblings. 

Maitimo was probably at the palace, working, and Makalaurë would be in Alqualondë at this time, or back with Nelyo possibly. 

That left Carnistir and Curufinwë and the twins in residence:

“Wow, they didn’t lie when they said it was gigantic! Did you find nothing smaller to bring back home brother?”

Tyelkormo rolled his eyes at Carnistir’s comment. 

“Huan’s perfect as he is, brother. Also Oromë’s hounds are not generally on the small side so...”

Curufinwë shook his head at that:

“And what does dad think of that creature?”

“Dad carefully thinks nothing at all about it. Also I think he wasn’t awake enough to deal with the idea of me having a dog.” Tyelkormo answered amused. 

“... Well dad did spend the last few days and nights travelling, I guess. There’s an important council coming up that he can’t just skip, and one of his projects in Aulë's hall was not doing what dad thought it would so he left a bit too late and arrived just this morning with the face of someone who needs an emergency nap…”

“That showed. I swear I saw a raccoon with less black under their eyes than dad today.”

Huan snorted at that, amused, and the four younger elves looked at him warily. 

“Oh yes, I should probably warn you, Huan understands us all very well, all of Oromë’s hounds do.”

“Ah so between you two, the dog has the actual brain. Yes, that makes sense.”

“And here I thought you’d at least wait an hour before starting the hostilities brother.” Tyelkormo said mildly. 

“How old is that creature?” Curufinwë asked his brother. 

“Why?”

“It doesn’t look like a... What do your lot call them? Young? Child? Puppy?”

“He’s fully grown, and probably a fair bit older than me to be quite honest about that.”

“... How is that even possible?!”

“Animal companion of a Vala. I would be more surprised if he was strictly mortal and short lived.” Tyelkormo answered with a shrug. 

“So it was not like... A trap gift because the dog’s becoming too old to hunt?”

Tyelkormo blinked at that. 

“I think brother, that you’ll find that Huan wasn’t a gift, and decided himself to accompany me here. He’s free to choose to come and go.” 

“Ah. So how long will he be here?”

“However long he wishes to be here.”

“That’s not an answer.”

“That’s the only answer I can give. Huan wanted to come with me, so I invited him home, it’s all there’s to it.” 

Tyelkormo hadn’t done anything remarkable enough to deserve being given a Hound of Oromë after all. He had just been a student for a year and thought he learnt well, he hoped , he had just been a student. 

Huan had been accompanying Tyelkormo everywhere for a year when they found themselves riding back toward Oromë’s Woods with the rest of the family, his mother having decided she wanted inspiration straight from nature, and the whole family having decided to join her on at least part of her journey. 

Again. 

The presence of the hound had perturbed some of the courtiers, but it was the same ones who, once upon a time, had found Tyelkormo’s hair colour to be suspect and discussed his parentage just loudly enough to have created a rumour in Tirion, so he didn’t care much for their opinion truth be told. 

Huan was most happy when Tyelkormo went hunting, and they wandered the forests around his family’s lands. 

It was freeing to have such a steadfast hunting companion. 

Ah who was he kidding, Tyelkormo enjoyed having the dog as a companion, whether it was for hunting or just company as they travelled around. 

Tyelkormo was washing the family’s dirty laundry in the nearest river to their camp, with the help of Makalaurë, Huan lying in the shadow of a nearby tree, looking particularly at peace, when a presence that Huan and Tyelkormo knew well appeared in the area, making them both look up in the same direction, attracting Makalaurë’s attention on them. 

“Tyelko?”

“That’s... hm...”

Before Tyelkormo could finish his sentence, the sound of a galloping horse could be heard and Nahar appeared, Oromë on his back. Nahar slowed down in front of the two elves, and Makalaurë took a look at Tyelkormo:

“And you’re sure you didn’t just steal Huan right?”

Oromë’s laughter answered instead: “Good luck to anyone trying to force one of my hounds to do what they don’t want to do.”

“Oh right. So... No trouble then?”

“Not at all, worry not, young one.”

“Well, welcome lord Oromë. What may we do for you?” Tyelkormo greeted the Vala, looking mildly amused at his brother’s assumption, and itching to pet Nahar. 

To his defence, the horse was magnificent.

He was also annoyingly prickly and didn’t generally appreciate being approached by random elves. 

“I had a question for Huan and you.”

Tyelkormo looked surprised at that. 

“Uh. Well, Huan is here and so am I, I guess.”

“How do you enjoy riding together?” 

“Oh I know I certainly adore having Huan’s company. He’s a joy to travel with and everyone loves him at home.”

“That’s because your dog has more sense than you, and we know he’ll keep you safe when you go off on your own.” Makalaurë said with a snort. 

Oromë looked particularly amused at that, even as he raised an eyebrow toward Huan who was looking... Complicated, but quite pleased at that idea. 

“I wish I could protest that notion but...”

“Excuse you... Who between the dog and you went to poke at a skunk of all things!”

“It was limping! What was I supposed to do, just let it go without checking if it was fine?!”

Huan emitted a very expressive woof of approval, getting a side-eyed look from Tyelkormo for that betrayal. 

“It didn’t appreciate your help then.”

“Of course it didn’t. It had a bad bite on its leg, it hurt, and the fact I can talk to it and be understood doesn’t mean that it suppressed its instinct. When I cleaned up the wound to heal it, it hurt him so of course...”

Huan emitted a sort of mournful howl that made Oromë laugh loudly in amusement. 

That young hunter always got into situations . It was hilarious. 

“Then, Tyelkormo son of Fëanáro, little hunter prince of the noldor... I wish to give you first an open invitation to come join my hunters when you wish.”

Tyelkormo looked somewhere between pleased and excited at that invitation. 

“And I also wish to know if you and Huan would like to be partnered together from now on.”

“Wait...” Tyelkormo whispered, hesitant, looking at Huan. 

Tyelkormo looked utterly shocked at the idea even as Huan came to sit at his feet.

“Are you sure...?”

“You value your companion, and he values you. That’s all I can wish for in such a partnership.”

“Yes! Yes please! Thank you!” Tyelkormo answered hurriedly, lowering himself to the ground to hug Huan. 

Huan whose tail was waving madly, and licked his elf’s face in answer. 

“Then so be it.”