The Small and Secret Things by Dawn Felagund

Exchanged Aborning

Finwë considers Míriel's sacrifice for Fëanor. This loss--a husband's loss of his wife on an occasion supposed to be joyous--has always been to me one of the most tragic tales of The Silmarillion. My stories never quite do it justice … but I keep coming back to it nonetheless.

How it must have been: an exchange of life, like pebbles passing from one hand to another. He was born. She died.

I sit beside her in the garden on the night she has chosen. I call all her names and plead to her with every last bit of the persuasion and charisma that has landed me as king. Her hand is cold in mine.

Her eyes stretch open to slits. "You would choose him over me. You know that."

I open my mouth but cannot lie. I shudder at the chill in her touch.

Her hand slides from mine.

Chapter End Notes

Today's word:

aborning uh-BOR-ning, adverb:

1. While being produced or born.
2. Being produced or born.

Aborning is derived from a-, "in the act of" + English dialect borning, "birth."