Chapter 8
Chapter 8
Year 422 of the First Age
Unusual Meetings and Decisions
The wind had stopped blowing. Well that may not have been accurate, there was still a breeze but not nearly as bad as before his little holy out of world phone call.
He was laying on his back...and he felt grass?
Ugh, he was exhausted how long was he out? His eyes opened to the barest of slits. He was still on the mountain since he could see white in the distance but he was stuck he couldn't move. He was too tired and used up almost all his magic. He was going to get caught at this rate. Unless his cousins suddenly went blind, deaf, and had a sudden altercation with Rapunzel's frying pan to the head there was no way they didn't see that light show and were charging here right now with the verocity of the Boston Tea Party. He had to do something...though Mr. Eru said he didn't need to fear(wow he was getting advice from a deity😅,that was new).......he wanted to believe that but he didn't want to meet them like this. They would ask him endless questions that he couldn't answer right now and he didn't feel ready yet.
THUMP THUMP THUMP
Uh oh..
What was that?????He could hear something. Gasp! The sound of horses and fervent shouting.
Yikes they're coming!!! Already???How fast did they ride??!!! He couldn't have been out more than 2 hrs since it was still night! Ugh it was no use, if he was gonna get caught then he'd do it on his own terms! With that thought of determination Harry/Lomion used the last of his magic to change into an animagus before promptly passing out again.
It was warm.
He was warm but a nice warm.
He was wrapped up in something soft and he wasn't outside anymore?
Oh he couldn't see! Why couldn't he see?? There was something covering his eyes but for some reason he wasn't panicking or flailing around. He could hear movement and there was a hand gently tapping his head. He then let out a startled "chirp" at the touch.
"Oh Nelyo! Look I think the bird's awake now" a voice said in a relieved tone.
"Careful Tyelko, we don't want to startle it. I was starting to worry when he wouldn't stir much these past few days" said a voice Harry/Lomion recognized as Maedhros.
Wait...a few days??!!!! He'd been out for a few days?!! How in Elsa's frost cake did he drain himself that bad?? He couldn't believe he stayed an animagus for that long and in the presence of his cousins no less. Oh goodness if he had suddenly changed back he would have had so much explaining to do. There's no questions they would have thought he was a maia or at least part maiar, which he was but he didn't want them knowing that yet! Just as soon as he'd finished his panicking he felt something gently press against his beak and it smelled like MEAT! 😍. He quickly grabbed it and ate it in one gulp. His inability to hunt from these last few weeks had left him more than craving fresh meats, curtesy of feral healers!
"Wow he's hungry, makes sense since he hasn't eaten much these last few days. Here you go Ailimbë, you've certainly earned a treat with how swift you are" said the most likely elf Maedhros had called Tyelko in a praising tone.
"You named it? I'm almost sure his master already has a name for it. Why did you cover it's eyes like that? I'm surprised the birds' been this calm" said Maedhros in a quizzical tone.
"Well until our newest member of the family comes to get him, and I learn what he's called that's his name for now. Besides I've been taking care of him these last few days so why not, plus the name suits him considering he outran our horses like it was nothing. I very much like this bird. I've never seen a falcon with this plummage before. He's a beautiful mix of dark brown with snow white spots. He's also bigger than any falcon I've ever seen before. Honestly, at first I wasn't sure he even was one but the fact he's staying calm with the hood on tells me he is. Falcons are naturally calm when their eyes are covered" said Tyelko in the tone of one teaching a class.
"Well that's at least one thing we know for certain. Can you take the hood off I want to get a good look at this chick that decided to run" said Maedhros in a tone that said "now you can't run you little sneak."
He felt gentle hands on his head that then took the thing covering his eyes off. Light flooded his vision and he had to blink a few times to clear it up. He then finally noticed why he felt so warm. He was wrapped, more like sandwiched, in a small soft blanket and he was fully resting on a soft cushion in what looked like Himring's healing halls. He turned his head and there in full view with all their glory were three of the sons of Feanor. He instantly recognized two of them from their vivid descriptions in the book. The one standing right in front of him though was clearly Maedhros and he had a shit eating smirk on his face that would have given Malfoy a run for his money.
"Well hello there little chick. No windows for you to speed out of now, are there?" he said in a tone that said it wasn't even a question.
😳..Eeeeep.....Harry/Lomion said that came out as a frightened "Squak!"
"Come on Nelyo, don't scare him. He was just the messenger (no he wasn't🤫) it's not like he knew what was gonna happen (yes he did👀) , and it's partially your fault too. Why would you think I'd even use a bird like him to send you a missive." said the elf that Harry/Lomion now identified as Celegorm on account of his silver hair, fair face, tall height, silver eyes, and clear affinity for animals.
His mother's best friend.. and someone she cared for a lot. She said he was the last one she'd seen before meeting his father.
"Because dearest toron there is nothing you do that is normal. I'd frankly already come to terms with you being an animal fanatic the day you brought Huan home with you. Not to mention all those times you drove Amille mad from all the baby rabbits you sought to "rescue" from the hunt. So it wasn't really that much of a stretch to think this bird was yours. It's as strange as you are. Didn't you say earlier you couldn't hear what he was saying?" said Maedhros in a "wasn't it obvious" and curious tone.
"It's not that I can't understand him but it's more so he doesn't speak like other birds. He's intelligent I can tell you that much. I don't think he can speak but he might be as smart as one of Manwë's eagles. That would partly explain how he's avoided our trackers so long" said Celegorm as he looked Harry/Lomion in the eye searching for something.
"Great another strange thing to add to the already growing list of oddities. I'm not sure how much more of this poor Kano can take, he's already beside himself searching the mountains right now for our mysterious family member. Who as it so happens somehow summoned a pillar of light which then coincidentally happened to coincide with the end of Mandos's curse! I'll eat my shoes before I believe they weren't responsible! Kano almost cried from fear that Mandos was going to make another appearance at our doorstep in rageful retaliation" said Maedhros in a tone that basically screamed "how is this shit my life."
Inside Harry/Lomion was cackling like a hyena. Good thing Falcons can't laugh, but he could feel his bird face was on the precipice of twitching.
"Well I would panic too considering they supposedly screwed over Manwë and the Doomsman in a flashy fashion. But I think Kano's overdoing it honestly. I have a feeling something else is at work here all things considering. I mean after said light appeared that hill top now has no snow in sight and has a perfect circle of green grass which isn't disappearing even when it snows, nevermind the Lily flowers that have started to bud! If that isn't divine intervention than orcs suddenly became pretty" said Celegorm in a tone that brokered no argument.
"Ah yes, quite a story that was when some of the scouts returned. I believe the Ambarussa dropped their jaws at that and ran out to join the rest of the scouts with Kano and Curvo" said Maedhros in a "great as if there wasn't enough madness" tone.
"Well we should be hearing back from them soon. With any luck they'll have found our mysterious family member like how Moryo found the bird. Luckily he thought to bring it back after you described what it looked like to us. This poor chick was exhausted and would have frozen if left out there. I'm guessing his master must be in a similar state. I can't imagine he'd leave this little one behind, especially since I can tell this bird is young." said Celegorm in an almost worrying tone.
Hey! he's not that young😏. Well he got the exhausted part right.
Before Harry/Lomion could finish nagging he suddenly felt a gentle hand pat his head and start stroking the feathers on his back. What he saw was Maedhros petting him with an affectionate and almost worrying look. And if that wasn't enough he was petting him with his right hand! The hand that he had helped heal. He felt warm and liked being petted. When was the last time someone had been so affectionate with him...it had been a long time indeed. That was how Lomion found himself leaning further into his hand and almost cooing at the affection.
"Well look at that, he's a strong falcon but loves attention it seems. He's almost cute really. I'm not mad at your master little chick nor you for that matter. Your master has done more for us than words can even express but regardless we are worried. I don't know if you can really understand me but know I do not mean either of you any harm in fact quite the opposite." said Maedhros as he started stroking the side of Lomion's feathery head with an affectionate and sincere tone.
He believed him he really did, especially now that he'd seen him. He wanted to just change back now and tell him who he was to them. That he was Aredhel's son and that he had it hard. He wanted to hug him and Celegorm actually. He wanted to be spoiled but 600 yrs as a powerful wizard, working in the ministry, and being the victim of near xenophobic behavior in this life had made him nervous to approach first. But he trusted the voice he heard, he didn't want to doubt them. They had been so warm and listened to him when he asked to break the curse. He knew he was being childish but he couldn't help it. No matter how old you are mentally it can oftentimes be countered by the physical shape. His thoughts were then interrupted by Celegorm.
"Hey Nelyo come on don't keep him all for yourself. I took care of him so I get to spoil him a bit." said Celegorm as he then went to carefully pick up Harry/Lomion's resting form and place him on his lap.
"Here Ailimbë I have a special treat for you. Some dried duck meat that I caught recently" said Celegorm as he held out the meat in a "I'll make sure he likes me more" tone.
Though to the Saker Falcon that was Harry/Lomion, all he could focus on with an almost drooling beak was the beautiful visage of DUCK MEAT 😍 that Celegorm held out for him. Needless to say he gulped it down eagerly and with the verocity of a starving man. There were just some bird instincts he couldn't suppress or wouldn't in this case. He cooed everytime his cousin held out a piece for him and even snuggled in his lap to show he was happy. Celegorm took it all with a kind smile on his face and seemed to enjoy giving the attention as much as Lomion loved receiving it.
It was then the door to the healing halls suddenly opened and in came what he suspected were the rest of the sons of Feanor as well as what looked like one of Maedhros' soldiers.
"You're all back I see. Roitaro what news?" said Maedhros in the tone of a true lord.
"Not much good news I'm afraid my Lord. We scoured the whole mountain and the neighboring hills but still couldn't find them. It's like they just vanished! The only indication there was anyone up there were some prints in the snow clearly left by an elf" said the brown haired elf in an almost annoyed tone.
"There is some good news though my lord. Aside from the bird Lord Carnithir found it would seem in their haste to escape our patron left behind a pouch with a strange sigil on it and their sword" said Roitaro in a tone a hunter would take when getting close to their prey.
"It is most concerning Nelyo. There were no tracks of them leaving the area only going. I am almost afraid to think why they left their sword behind. They may very well be out there defenseless or worse. Though I am hopeful given there was no sign of a struggle" said Maglor in a worried tone he no doubt took with Elrond and Elros.
This curly, dark haired, and kind elf would soon raise two of the greatest elves in history with the unbridled love of a parent. Yet here he was worrying about a total stranger. There's no way Harry/Lomion was gonna let him be a beach cryptic. He was a kind soul that deserved better.
He then took the initiative to "squak" their attention towards him as he jumped from Celegorm's lap, albeit on shaky legs, and hop towards Maglor.
"What's this little one? Are you trying to tell me not to worry? That's very kind of you. You must know your master quite well" said Maglor as he gently picked the bird up and perched him on his forearm.
"Speaking of the bird and his master. Why don't we try and use it to send him a message? You said this bird brought the letter last time so why not try to send one ourselves? We could even try to follow since this time we won't be distracted" said who must have been Curufin since he had straight dark hair, silver eyes, and a sharp face that promised deviousness if provoked.
"Or maybe we could catch them when they try to come for their stuff. The pouch had gold coins in it so I doubt they'd want to lose that, never mind their sword" said a pair of red haired twins that greatly reminded him of the twins Fred and George. They were definetly the Ambarussa.
The soldier Roitaro then took the chance to say "The princes are right my lord, there's little doubt in my mind they would leave their valuables behind, and even if they tried to sneak in there's no way we would miss them."
...Oh Dear...is that a challenge?😈
Curufin then chimed in "He's right Nelyo all the guards as well as the healers led by Milya are guarding the store rooms on constant rotations. They're also set to check on the items inside the room at least twice a day. Unless they're a ghost their not getting in."
....Ghost huh.
....Oh dear, cousin you really shouldn't be saying such things in the presence of a marauder.
I can't help what I might do next.
Another dark haired, silver eyed, and funny enough red cheeked elf that must have been Caranthir added "I admit this youngling has baffled even me but now it's time to teach them why we are known for our tenacity. I'll add my own soldiers to make sure they get taught a little lesson in not underestimating their opponent."
........Well that settled it, now he just had to mess with them.
......Sorry boys.
Celegorm then took the chance to add with a devious grin "Let's make a bet then since you're all so confident. If this mysterious family member does some how manage to best you all then you have to clean up after Huan for the next week."
Roitaro then said with fervent determination "My Lord with all due respect Milya and the healers have been amongst the most....energetic in catching this elf. I as well am determined to catch this elf and will enjoy finally catching them in our home no less. There's no doubt they've gotten overconfident by now."
....hmm you sure about that?
Celegorm finally said "Alright but don't say I didn't warn you."
Mwahahhahahahahah😈
Oh cousin, I knew there was a reason I liked you.
Unbeknownst to all the eldest son of Feanor suddenly had a chill run down his back. He immediately knew that he would soon have another headache.
It honestly wasn't that hard.
It really only took another 3 days for him to fully recover his strength. He had managed it when Celegorm asked the Ambarussa to watch him while he went hunting. If there was anything Harry/Lomion knew about red haired twins it was that they had a tendency to skate responsibilities given by older siblings, and of course he was right when not even 2 hrs later they had scuttled off to do who knows what after telling him to stay put. The twins and that guard had bragged enough about his things that he had enough information to discern where in the fortress they were located. He had also interpreted enough to know when the guards did their physical checks inside the storage room. So it had taken him only 10 mins to apparate inside the room, grab his things, place them on his person, and then apparate back to the healing heals as an innocent Saker Falcon taking an early morning power nap.
He had pulled that off on the morning of the 4th day.
Now it was later in the afternoon and Maedhros was tying a letter to his leg. Apparently they had decided to follow Curufin's suggestion at trying to follow him or get in touch with him through said bird. It was also during these last few days that Harry/Lomion made a decision about what to do going forward. No matter how much he thought about it, the only way to move forward with his plans that still allowed pertinent events to happen while keeping as much of his family alive as possible was to be among them in some form. They didn't know what he looked like and everyone in Gondolin always said he looked like his father. The only flaw in his plan he could see would be running into Curufin since he was the last elf outside of Gondolin to see Eöl alive. He also knew they were on bad terms and the last thing he needed was another relative hating him for something out of his hands (would never happen but he didn't know that...😏yet). Then again he and Celegorm barely left the Pass of Aglon and there was never any mention of them venturing out much in the book. If worse came to worse he could always use his cloak to hide if he visited. Plus this way he could get inside the Noldor's defenses and make them impenetrable to a certain wingless butt ugly lizard while still keeping Morgoth and his forces clueless.
It was with this final thought that Maedhros finished tying the note and carried him to his office with his brothers trailing behind. After placing him on the desk near the window he sighed.
"Alright little chick time for you to send a message this time. Stay safe and try to spare our horses pride" said Maedhros in a near beseeching tone that he probably knew wouldn't get him far.
Then, as if the universe, wanted to confirm that belief there were suddenly noises and yelling coming from below them. Loud banging footsteps were then heard running towards the office. Then the door was slammed open.
BANG!!!
And standing there was a pale faced Roitaro along with a red faced blonde haired elleth Harry/Lomion suspected must have been the head healer Milya that was mentioned earlier. Roitaro was pale as a ghost while Milya looked like she was ready to kill someone!! She then screamed
"DAMN IT ALL!!! MY LORD IT HAPPENED AGAIN!!!"
"....What?" Maedhros said in a shaky voice that was almost screaming "No No No please don't be what I think it is." It was then the pale faced Roitaro practically screeched
"My Lord the sword and pouch are gone!!!!"
He could have sworn he heard Maedhros wimper. All his brother's had a gobsmacked look on their faces and their jaws dropped as they turned to him.
Oh dear....
Oh well....time to go.
Then in a movement as fast as lightening he shot out the window with the note but not before he heard Celegorm crash to the floor in what sounded like he was laughing his ass off. He could have sworn he heard Curufin screaming bloody murder and cursing in Kuzdul, Caranthir throwing a chair....and was that Maglor crying?
Sorry boys, I did warn you.
I'll make it up by sending a reply soon.
Deuces cousins.