And Love Grew by polutropos

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Appendix

Summaries of all chapters and a list of the major OCs who appear in the fic.

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Original Characters

Bornval, a Noldo soldier in the company Maglor takes to search for Elrond and Elros.

Dornil (Q. Nornawen), the widow of Caranthir and Maglor's chief commander. A Noldo.

Embor, an Easterling descended of the followers of Bór. A friend of Gwereth who voluntarily joins the sons of Feanor after the sack of Sirion. His father and grandfather fought in the Nirnaeth under Maglor and Maedhros.

Gwereth, a woman of the people of Haleth who fled Brethil as a young child. Also an orphan, she was friends with Elwing from childhood and became her children's nurse.

Lisgon, a Sinda of north Beleriand and former thrall of Angband. Maedhros' High Captain.

Orfion, a Green-elf of Ossiriand who became a follower of Amrod and Amras and swore himself to the service of Maedhros and Maglor after his lords died at Sirion.

Tornel, a scout in the company Maglor takes to search for Elrond and Elros.

This list is only those who play a significant role and appear in more than one chapter.

Chapter Summaries

Summary of Chapter 1: Last and Cruellest Slaying

Dornil, widow of Caranthir and commander under Maglor, witnesses the loss of the Silmaril from the streets of Sirion. Lisgon, High Captain of Maedhros, finds her and delivers the command from their lords that the survivors are to be invited to join the Feanorian retreat. Dornil departs to carry out her orders.

At the Feanorian camp, Maglor sings to the wounded. Maedhros takes him aside and tells him that ships have been sighted coming from Balar. He tells Maglor that he intends to send him south with a group of civilians. They are interrupted by the arrival of Lisgon and a Green-elf, Orfion, who served Amrod and Amras. Orfion tells them the story of how the Silmaril was lost on the cliffs between Sirion and Cape Balar: Amrod spotted Elwing with her servant (Gwereth), her two children, and a guard (Galdor). Amrod threatened Elrond and Elros and Elwing jumped wearing the Silmaril. Orfion stopped Amrod from killing Elrond and Elros and was cast off. There is a struggle and Galdor slays Amrod. Gwereth and the twins flee, Galdor running after them.

After the story, Maedhros invites Orfion to join their company on the retreat. Maedhros commands Maglor to find Elrond and Elros and ensure they are “safe and unharmed.” He is to tell no one of his errand. Maglor departs.

This chapter title is an allusion to: And so there came to pass the last and cruellest of the slayings of Elf by Elf; and that was the third of the great wrongs achieved by the accursed oath.

Summary of Chapter 2: Taken Captive

Gwereth, Elrond, and Elros escape to the vacant home of Gwereth’s friend Embor, an Easterling, and take refuge in the cellar. Gwereth struggles to calm Elros, who is crying to return to get Elwing. She discovers meanwhile that Elrond has wet himself out of fear and replaces his soiled trousers with a rag. Elros becomes panicked and while beating on the cellar door falls backwards and hits his head, momentarily losing consciousness. It is then that Gwereth hears two elves approaching; she hides the twins in a crate.

Maglor comes into the cellar, leaving his commander Dornil to guard the entrance. He conveys to her the message that the people of Sirion are invited to join the host of the sons of Fëanor. She asks about aid from Balar, to which Maglor says he does not know. She tries to resist his questioning but eventually admits that the children are with her. Maglor goes to them and begins to tend to Elros, who vomits while he is holding him. Maglor asks her whether the children are elves or mortals, and Gwereth replies that they are mortal; but Maglor knows she is not telling the whole truth and then introduces himself to her. Gwereth lunges to attack him and Dornil is suddenly behind her, holding her back. Her hands are tied and she is led out of the cellar and onto Dornil’s horse. Maglor brings the twins with him on his horse, and they depart.

This chapter title is an allusion to: Then such few of that people as did not perish in the assault joined themselves to Gil-galad, and went with him to Balar; and they told that Elros and Elrond were taken captive

Summary of Chapter 3: They Alone Remained Thereafter

Maglor, with Elrond and Elros, and Dornil, with Gwereth, make their way back to the Fëanorian camp. Elrond struggles to understand what has happened to him and his family, and why he is being taken away. He smells and then sees a great mound of burning bodies. He overhears Maglor asking Dornil about Amras’ body, which was not recovered from the sea, and Amrod’s, which Dornil had been sent to look for and did not find.

At the camp, Maedhros and Maglor discuss his choice to take Elwing’s sons with them. Maglor’s reasons are complex and not wholly understood to him, but he gives Maedhros the rationale that they will benefit from raising the two princes sympathetic to their cause. Maedhros assents. The chapter closes with Maedhros and his captain, Lisgon, watching Maglor’s host moving towards Taur-im-Duinath.

This chapter title is an allusion to: ...but Maedhros and Maglor won the day, though they alone remained thereafter of the sons of Feanor.

Summary of Chapter 4: Sick and Weary

Dornil makes lembas for the host. Maglor comes to her with anxieties about leading the people whose home he destroyed. She tells him that he is their best hope of survival. They both realise they have heard voices in the forest. Dornil, fearful for Maglor’s mind (and her own), tries unsuccessfully to persuade him they are not real.

Gwereth attempts to entertain Elrond and Elros, who is still suffering the effects of his head injury and is too tired to play with the other children. She tells them a story about a boy and Eagles, and Elros asks if an Eagle might have saved Elwing. He says he saw he turn into a bird, but Elrond convinced him it was a dream. Maglor comes by with a yellow-root tea that is meant to relieve Elros’ pain. Gwereth is loath to take it, but when Elros refuses to eat, she decides to give it to him.

That night on her watch, Dornil notices Maglor is missing. She finds him the forest, half-mad, seemingly listening to the voices of Amras and Amrod accusing him of betraying their oath. Dornil attempts to console him.

This chapter title is an allusion to: ...but Maglor’s heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath.

Summary of Chapter 5: The Half-elven

Gwereth and Elros are very ill and confined to their carriage. Elrond is kept separate from his brother, watched over by the Green-elf in Maglor’s host, Orfion. Orfion tells him about Ents. The elves, while not physically affected by the sickness, are going mad, some becoming violent with each other. Gwereth, suspicious of the elvish medicine, refuses to take it or administer it to Elros.

Embor visits them with a herb Gwereth had requested. Embor admits that he is losing confidence in Maglor, who he would have thought capable of curing the disease. Gwereth begs him to help them.

A healer reports on the losses of life to Maglor. Many children are dying. Embor visits Maglor’s tent. He introduces himself as an Easterling descended from those who followed Maglor and Maedhros in the Nirnaeth. He confronts Maglor about his inaction. Maglor responds that he is not powerful enough to fight Morgoth, who has sent the disease in the rains. Embor challenges him, asking him if he has tried. Maglor dismisses him. Dornil arrives and reports that Elrond is missing.

Elrond explores the forest. He is found by a dark-elf named Nelpen. He learns that Nelpen is, in fact, half-elven like him, for his people (the Penni) mingled with Men in the distant past. Orfion finds Elrond with Nelpen. Elrond becomes upset and overwhelmed with emotion. He goes with Orfion back to the camp.

As Maglor is searching in another part of the forest, Dornil finds him and reprimands him for having left the camp. She tells him Elrond was found and he rushes back. Maglor embraces Elrond in his relief. He reflects on what Maedhros had truly wanted him to do with them. Elrond tells Maglor he met someone in the forest. Maglor assumes he means the voices he also hears. Orfion lies, telling him they saw no one.

This chapter title is an allusion to the opening of Chapter 24 of The Silmarillion: Bright Earendil was then lord of the people that dwelt nigh to Sirion’s mouths; and he took to wife Elwing the fair, and she bore to him Elrond and Elros, who are called the Half-elven.

Summary of Chapter 6: Put Forth All His Power

Elros has recovered from his illness, but Gwereth’s state worsens. Having given instructions to Embor to take the twins back to Balar, she falls asleep.

Embor leads the twins into Taur-im-Duinath. They hear strange sounds and see eyes in the night. Later, they are attacked by a group of wild cats. Elrond and Elros escape up a tree, but Embor fights the animals. He is taken down and dragged off by them, but a sudden music and light in the water drive them off.

Back at the camp, Maglor has sung Morgoth’s poison from the waters and is exhausted by the effort. Dornil carries him back to his tent. He despairs that he was too late to save Elrond and Elros. He insists they must find them. He sends Dornil to see to Gwereth.

Gwereth awakes to find Dornil tending her. Dornil reproachfully asks her where she has sent Elrond and Elros. Gwereth does not answer, but realises in the way Dornil tends her that she is not as hard-hearted as she seems. Later, Gwereth asks to accompany the search for the twins. Dornil refuses, but says she will be going. They discuss Dornil’s loyalty to Maglor. The conversation ends with Dornil reassuring Gwereth that they will find the twins.

This chapter title is an allusion to Finrod in the chapter 'Of Beren and Lúthien': But when the wolf came for Beren, Felagund put forth all his power, and burst his bonds.

Summary of Chapter 7: Guests

Dornil attempts to dissuade Maglor from leading a search party for Elrond and Elros, saying he should take time to recover after expending himself curing the contagion with Song. They have a tense conversation about Maglor’s belief that they can heal the hurts they have caused, with Dornil telling him that Elrond and Elros hate him. Maglor dismisses her and puts her in charge of leading the host onwards.

In Taur-im-Duinath, Orfion, who has joined Maglor’s search party, tells them that the trees are warning them of danger nearby. Later, he reveals his knowledge of the Penni by suggesting that Elrond and Elros may have been found by others. Just then, one of the Penni comes upon them. With Orfion helping to interpret, they learn that they do have Elrond and Elros and follow him back to the hidden caves of the Penni.

There they meet Nennel, sister of Nelpen, who is looking after Elrond and Elros. Maglor and his company dine with the Penni. Nelpen reveals to Maglor that the twins were found by his father, but that they found no trace of Embor who was likely dragged off by the cats who had attacked him when they fled at the light and music that came down the river. The Penni marvel to learn that Maglor was responsible for the Song. Maglor reveals some but not all of the details of how he came upon Elrond and Elros. He also inquires about the voices he has been hearing and learns that they are spirits of Houseless Penni and can provide counsel. Over the course of the conversation, Maglor gains the sympathy of the Penni and the interest, at least, of Elrond and Elros.

Maglor’s company remains for some time in the caves of the Penni. Maglor learns of their ways and begins to grow closer to Elrond and Elros. Realising he cannot stay with them forever and must return to Amon Ereb, in grief he nonetheless asks Nelpen to take Elrond and Elros. Nelpen tells him they cannot; they do not involve themselves in the wars of the world outside their woods.

This chapter title is an allusion to the Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth: '...To me the difference seems like that between one who visits a strange country, and abides there a while (but need not), and one who has lived in that land always (and must). To the former all things that he sees are new and strange, and in that degree lovable. To the other all things are familiar, the only things that are his own, and in that degree precious.'
'If you mean that Men are the guests,' said Andreth.
'You have said the word,' said Finrod: 'that name we have given to you.'

Summary of Chapter 8: Scattered

Dornil finds Gwereth grieving near the eaves of the forest. Gwereth questions Dornil’s convictions on doom and inevitability.

Rangers from Amon Ereb arrive and report that there are orcs patrolling the hills. They advise Dornil to travel under the cover of Taur-im-Duinath.

The host becomes lost in the mazes of the forest. Exhausted, they are attacked at night by a band of the wild cats. Dornil fights them and is nearly killed, but Gwereth saves her and is then killed herself.

Dornil wakes on a stretcher. Only a handful of her followers remain. They refuse to stay and look for Maglor, saying they are going east over the mountains to start anew. Dornil threatens their leader, and they abandon her.

This chapter title is an allusion to: ...and the sons of Feanor wandered as leaves before the wind. Their arms were scattered, and their league broken; and they took to a wild and woodland life...

Summary of Chapter 9: Burden

Orfion has his hair braided by Nennel and she allays his concerns about choosing to stay with the Penni. Elrond, Elros, and Maglor’s company prepare to depart. Elrond becomes emotional about leaving, and realises the reason Maglor did not offer them the opportunity to stay is because the Penni do want them. He wonders why Maglor would want him.

They journey through the forest and it becomes evident to Elrond that Maglor is lost, though he tries to keep this from them. Some time into their journey, Dornil finds them. She is gravely wounded. Maglor sends Elrond and Elros away with one of his company, Bornval, while he attempts to heal Dornil’s wound. In her delirium, Dornil does not know where she is. Maglor is forced to use Song to heal her.

The next day Maglor bids his company go ahead without them while he waits for Dornil to fully recover. Bornval says Maglor doesn’t have to be the one to stay, but Maglor insists. Bornval says he will also stay behind, then.

While Bornval is off seeking water, Elrond, at Elros’ prompting, asks Maglor if he was part of the army that attacked Sirion. He admits he was, and tries to explain the complicated situation to the children. Listening to him, Dornil weeps. Maglor comforts her with a song, and then Elrond asks Maglor how he knows it; Eärendil used to sing it to him and Elros. It comes out that Maglor and he share kinship, and Elrond asks if that’s why he is looking after them; Maglor says yes.

In the night, Dornil dies. The wound was not fully healed and her heart stopped. Maglor collapses in grief.

This chapter title is an allusion to: ...but Maglor’s heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath.