Chapter 15
Chapter 15
Year 430 of the First Age
Familial love and Proactivity
It was a cold day outside as the snow fell and covered the high trees that surrounded the Gap. A stark contrast to the intense heat he was feeling at the moment. His hammer was raised high and "ringed" against the anvil that he now used to forge his peers armor. His carving and rune writing tools resting on a nearby stone bench. No, wood tables were not allowed in the forge for the most obvious reasons. He didn't care what dwarves said, just because you're an elf doesn't mean you ignore safety standards to prove a point by using a wood table in a fire zone. There's no point in making something nice if you just end up dying or ruining it from a house fire. Plus, he has no doubt that would be a really dumb way to meet the Doomsman.
He exhaled a heavy breath as he finished the exterior plating of the breastplate. He then stood and went over to his work desk to start carving the runes. This was his last piece for the day and found it faster to finish his work by making a set amount of armor in the morning and then adding the runes in the afternoon. Such has been his life for the past five years.
Time sure flies...
He'd be a 110 soon which for any human would be one hell of an achievement. Now, though it still seemed lacking in comparison to his obscenely old relatives. He didn't care what anyone said, there's no way Galadriel made it to third age and didn't feel her age. There's just no way! Bloody hell, how was she not bored by then (Wasn't she👀).
Speaking of his family, many might wonder why he was still in the Gap.
Well the answer was obvious. He said he was staying and that was final. Now don't misunderstand, it certainly wasn't because he didn't love his haru or uncle, well the good uncle. No, it was because he had a job to do and he was going to do it. Family feels and heartwarming meetings don't make you forget that a disaster was on the horizon. He'd call Malfoy handsome before he let this turn into some cliché finding family turned tragic story!
Oh, it had been a fight though. But he was getting ahead of himself.
It started after his grandfather and a good bit of his uncle's fainted after seeing the tent. Honestly though....what is it with them? When he read the Silmarillion he never imagined the hardened mad battle warrior Feanorians could be so.......delicate? I mean yes muggles could be a bit sensitive to magic when first seeing it but this was a bit dramatic. It was even more ridiculous when his own grandfather, the dark lord ankle stabber, fainted like a Disney princess TWICE! He'd tried to ignore the first few times it happened but by the time he met his grandfather he'd come to realize that any new introduction to anything magical had to be done in the proximity of the healers halls, a soft coach, or a rapidly transfigured mattress. He took to the habit of carrying small stones to transfigure with him just in case.
How his uncle's didn't have brain damage by now was beyond him🤷♂️. Hmmmm...maybe the Finwion stubbornness included genetically thick skulls🤔? A theory to consider for later.
Oh Cersei, don't get him started on how they reacted when he explained how Eru helped lift the doom. His uncle and grandfather had cried up a storm and passed out while holding him. Sheesh these poor relatives were going to be a handful. Anyway, after they'd finally gathered their wits he'd taken to explaining to them why he had to remain in the Gap. They did listen when it came to his reasoning but his uncle and grandfather just had to go and play on his heart strings about them wanting to get to know him. And if that wasn't enough his uncles started talking about how he could now be treated like a real prince and not the joke he experienced in Gondolin. They even went as far as saying they would make an announcement about Fingolfin having another grandchild. Needless to say, he rejected the very idea and as you can imagine that didn't go over well. His family, wow that feels weird to say, had gone totally silent the moment he said he didn't want to be treated like a prince or be known for that matter. Now don't misunderstand, they certainly didn't look angry, but rather hurt when he said he was tired of "important titles" that caused nothing but trouble. I mean could you blame him? In his previous life he was "the boy who lived" or "Lord Potter/Head Auror," all titles that caused him to have a gigantic target on his back. If there was one thing he wanted in this life or at least for as long as possible, it was quiet obscurity. Despite the love he'd gained, a part of him did miss the feeling of being independent. He'd never regret meeting all of his new relatives, relatives that actually gave a damn about his well being, but he'd never forget the human part of him that just liked doing his own thing. He'd lived longer as a human than an elf and no change of race was going to edit your foundations. The lessons he learned in his old life were ones he'd carry forever.
Besides, how could he ever forget that chance meeting with the famous Newt Scamander at Dumbledore's funeral. The man was as sweet as a peach and a younger version of Hagrid for certain. Honestly, he was shocked the two weren't related at all given Newt's absolute love of all magical creatures. Bloody hell he would have adored the hobbits once they were created. A race of joyful souls mixed with another joyful soul that loved all things green and wild. Sigh, pity they wouldn't come about till the third age. Oh, he was so meeting Bilbo the moment he got the chance.
Unfortunately, given he couldn't exactly divulge this information or his specific experiences to the others they were left to guess at his reasoning. Though they probably figured his aversion to the title stemmed from Turgon and his lot. He wasn't deaf, he certainly heard Celegorm's teeth grinding and Caranthir squeezing the coach arm in a vice grip when he mentioned it. He was a little surprised at how his grandfather took it though. Rather than anger or apparent sadness he had a very blank look on his face that any other day or to anyone else wouldn't have indicated anything. However, 400 years of political experience showed him that there was a very turbulent fire storm brewing in there.
Sheesh, wasn't Fingolfin supposed to be the calm one? (Not anymore🤭)
They never showed him anger though. If anything his uncle Fingon and Uncle Maglor had just come up and hugged him. Hugs were certainly something he didn't complain about. He definitely never got much of them in his human childhood. Contrary to popular belief his childhood in Nan-Elmoth certainly included a lot of them. His mother had given him endless hugs and his father would carry him on his shoulders until he was too heavy. No, it was only until he became older that things started going down hill.
However, if there was one thing he didn't count on or rather didn't expect was how sneaky his relatives could be. Sweet Cersei his uncle Maedhros wasn't called a political genius and top negotiator for nothing.
Five years ago in the Healing Halls of Himring..
"So let me understand this Lómion, you don't want be known as a prince yet you wish to stay here in the Gap. In addition you just want everyone to continue thinking the House of Finwë is just being aided by a unknown patron. Have I got that right?" said his Uncle Maedhros with a quirked brow and straight voice.
"Yes" (🙂↕️)
"But you still want to spend time with all of us. Yes?" said Maedhros in an inquisitive voice that you'd never guess was up to something.
"That is correct" (🫡)
"Hmmm then I don't suppose you wouldn't be opposed to certain capitulations in this arrangement?" said Maedhros as a kind smile graced his face, a kind smile that promised you were about to be f***** over.
"Pardon?" (😳)
"Well you most certainly can remain hidden when traveling. But what if someone were to walk in the room while you were visiting. You certainly can't wear your cloak all the time, and if someone were to see your face I'm afraid you'd be caught red handed. Don't even try to say you can just change your appearance pitya. I'm afraid that would just bring more suspicion upon you. Elves have a low birth rate as it is, so a mysterious elf showing up in the High King's office will most certainly sound the alarm" said Maedhros as the grin on his face started getting bigger and bigger. His uncles now sporting small grins at the knowledge of where this was going.
"Wait I.."
"So, since it has come this I'm afraid there really is only one solution. You called them animagi right Maeglin? Well, I think we should put them to good use. Alright everyone who'd like to put in their votes?" (😈) said his uncle Maedhros as he clapped his hands together and sported a victorious look on his face that screamed "Hahahaha now it's your turn to be played little one."
"......Huh???"
Long story short, he got played.
He got absolutely played!!!
And the worst part was there was nothing he could really do about it because a part of him actually enjoyed it! Though he'd never admit that. While he was too busy trying to figure what the hell his uncle meant by votes. Everyone started saying which of his animagi were their favorites and which he should use when visiting.
By the time he'd collected himself enough to try and give a counter argument the votes had already been placed.
Falcon: Celegorm, Cururfin, Amrod, Amras (4)
Hummingbird: Caranthir, Maedhros (2)
Rabbit: Fingon, Fingolfin, Maglor (3)
Wait how did the rabbit beat the hummingbird????
...Well at least they had the decency to like his most favored Animagus, ugh. He had won against being known as a prince, well except to the residents of the Gap. To be fair he did alter their home, shoot lights into the sky, and center the barrier around their lands where it was most definitely noticed (go figure🙄). Now it was an unspoken fact that he was royalty and the savior of the thralls. Nobody said it out loud but he certainly noticed when everyone started openly smiling at him, and silently watching over him like he was a duckling. No, he did not think it was a coincidence that Erestor suddenly started adding royal etiquette and royal rights to his lessons. It was more than a shock to find out Erestor was in truth one of the thralls he had rescued and the subsequent verifier of his magic. What a world....Hermione would have socked him by now for being so obvious.
And so that was how it went for the past five years. Whenever he visited one of his uncles or grandfather in their respective territories he would always visit as their favored animagi. Aside from the Gap and Himring, no one else was aware that Fingolfin had a grandson. Okay, maybe that wasn't accurate considering all his relatives had informed their close seconds. The reason being that his sudden bouts of popping in and out of their offices would most likely be noticed by their seconds before anyone else. Letting them know insured that if they happened to see him before his intended relative then they would play dumb and pretend they didn't see anything. Such an incident did apparently happen three years ago when he got lazy about flying and apparated right into his grandfather's office only to be noticed when the door suddenly opened and a brown haired and blue eyed ner walked in. The elf stared at him for a moment in surprise, schooled his expression, introduced himself as Elvion, and quickly told him the king would be in shortly before closing the door.
That was so embarrassing......😓
Ginny would have really smacked him for giving into his impatience, AGAIN. Blimey, he really needed to work on this. His regression in age certainly didn't help. Sometimes it felt like his thoughts didn't match what his body did but what can you do. By the time, his grandfather came in he had already changed himself into a rabbit and hopped towards his grandfathers waiting arms. Any other day this would be so embarrassing but he couldn't help basking in the attention his haru and uncle gave him as a bunny. His fëa was absolutely loving it and for the first time it felt like something that was missing had finally been filled. He would never admit to purring up a storm but they were just so good at cuddling and scratching his ears in just the right spot! Many times he fell a sleep on their laps or to them stroking his back as they did their work. How nobody commented or thought it weird that the High King and prince were seen working while cuddling a strange black rabbit was beyond him (You sure? 👀). His Uncle Maglor was a complete peach whenever he spent time with him as a rabbit. The elf would take to always holding him, giving him treats, and pecking his little head. One time he caught his uncle twitching when he let out a little sneeze. Honestly, it wasn't that much of a surprise to learn the kindest Feanorian preferred his "softest" form. I mean this elf hated even hurting a fly. Why would he ever harm a bunny (👀)?
Whenever he wasn't working on making new armor and building the shield. Which by the way now extended over Himring, covered the whole Gap, and was now stretching toward Himlad and Thargelion. It really was a shame he'd have to give up covering Estolad but he soon realized a year after his stay in the gap, that it would be too much of a risk. He wasn't sure how much Melian could sense from Doriath, but he was sure it would be to risky to extend the barrier over a territory the Sindar elves were known to frequent. So, it was with great reluctance he gave it up. Though he did take the chance to enchant the twins castle with the defense wards on one of his visits as a falcon.
....He might have failed to tell them in advance. Since by the time he was done he swiftly fell a sleep on the twins couch.
He was woken to startled screaming and his twin uncles bickering at who was gonna catch the next orc and watch it.....did they say "pop?" What the devil? 🤨
Yeah, long story short the whole fortress had evacuated due the aura the wards had given off. An aura that thankfully non of the humans were sensitive enough to sense. This was further confirmed when he cast the wards on the castle in Thargelion just last year. His uncle had fought with him about it.....okay he fought with him ALOT about it. But he couldn't be stopped since Thargelion was right behind the gap and would be susceptible to the attack. Besides once he turned into his uncle's favorite hummingbird and "meeped" with seeming puppy eyes he gave in like a puppy being given a treat.
Hahahaha if they wanted cute animals then they should be prepared for his puppy eyes!
His trips to the twins and Caranthir were certainly interesting. He had finally managed to give Caranthir a gift. His gift was in fact a pair of glasses that looked like his old ones. The glasses would allow you to read and understand any language, swiftly memorize the knowledge contained in a book, and allow you to see in the dark even if it was pitch black. He also spelled the glasses to make a thief's eyes explode if someone other than a Finweion tried to read them. He could have sworn he saw his uncle's lip twitch when he told him that, but he quickly schooled himself as he just sighed and pat his little bird head with a finger. It was rather surprising to see the business like Feanorian have an office that was half filled with fresh flowers. Was he a flower person? 🤔
As for the twins. NO, he did not give them brooms. As entertaining as that would have been given Fred and George's antics in his fifth year. A pair of red haired Feanorians flying around on broomsticks would most certainly attract attention, and that was the last thing he needed right now. The battle was already going to garner a lot of attention. He knew a lot of the truth was going to come out by then...at least to his close relatives. Finrod and Finarfin's children could be left in the dark for all he cared. He probably would have been fine with Finrod but for now he was wary. Instead of broomsticks, he had taken some inspiration form the deluminator Dumbledore had given to Ron. He had made two for the twins and they looked stunned to see how candlelight could be absorbed and carried around. It would certainly be helpful if an evacuation was ever needed.
Oh Bloody hell when Curufin and Celegorm had seen it....
One year ago in the office of Curufin where Harry/Lomion and the twins were visiting...
They all stared and were stock still when Harry/Lómion showed them how to use the deluminator. A spark of candlelight flying from Curufin's desk to the device and then soaring back when he released the light.
"Lómion...how?" said Curufin as he stared right at the device with buck wide eyes.
"It's called a deluminator. It can capture light and send it of to any source that can hold it. It can also eject the light and become a sort of torch when needed. I figured it'd be pretty useful since the twins are hunters. Don't worry it has the same defenses against theft as your gifts" he said in the tone a teacher would take with his students as he stared at his twin uncle's excited faces but missed the concern in Celegorm and Curufin's faces.
"Pitya you know this is something our father looked into and you were able to just do it?" said Celegorm as though he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Well yes I know grand uncle really wanted to capture light but this is just a little thing honestly. It's not easy to make that's for sure. Transfiguring the parts needed isn't an easy walk" he said as he forgot to notice he didn't explain transfiguration. His uncles only looked confused.
"Tran... what?" said Curufin in confusion as his brows went up.
"Oh transfiguration! It let's you change the matter of objects into different things. That's how I made the ingredients for the potions. By the way, don't ask me why you've heard banging coming from my tent....trust me you don't want to know. But here's an example" he said as he grabbed a quill and the moment it was in his hand he transfigured it into an arrow.
His uncles jaws had totally dropped and Curufin looked like he was about to explode with questions before his expression swiftly turned pale as though he had realized something.
"See! you just change the matter of the object into something else. It's a pretty handy trick but of course it doesn't work for living things. The closest I've ever gotten is making emergency food but it's not as filling" he said in excitement as he explained the ability to the excited faces of the twins who had their jaws open in shock the whole time.
By time he had finished explaining he had not noticed that his uncle's were now thinking of ways to keep Aulë and the dwarves from kidnapping their nephew if they ever found out!
By the time that conversation was done Curufin had taken to sitting down with him and explaining what was and wasn't considered normal by the standards of elven magic. Compared to his other uncles Curufin was certainly the most curious of the bunch. One perfect example being when he asked Harry/Lómion about trying to teach him how to make the runes for the armor. His uncle was relentless in learning the technique but sadly was barely able to get an unbreakable rune to work. The simple truth was that elves simply didn't have the magic core necessary to power the spell. That didn't mean he quit though, since during one particular visit he had found his broom was missing. He had just come back from hunting as a Saker falcon with his uncle Celegorm only to come home to a very loud crash coming from his uncle's forge. To put it simply his uncle Curufin had attempted to dissect the magic that powered the broom but instead ended up launching himself out the window when his smock got caught on the leg rests as it shot up. Needless to say both himself and Celegorm had laughed so hard they almost suffocated. His uncle never tried that again, nor did he attempt to dissect the spells on the gifts after his "defenses" had turned his uncle into a smurf.
Oh what he would have given to see that! 🤣
In all seriousness though, Curufin seemed to be more affectionate with him than he was expecting. Curufin would often call him "little twilight" or "mini forge master." Contrary to the coldness he expected from his father's rival, Curufin had been nearly as affectionate as Maglor with him. Every time he visited as a falcon Curufin would stroke him under his chin and pet his feathers. He was also really good when talking about forge techniques and seeking advice. This elf was definitely a seasoned parent. A pity he hadn't met Celebrimbor yet as it seems he was visiting his uncle Finrod in Nargathrond.
Now, when it came to Maedhros, Fingon and Celegorm. Needless to say they all ADORED his tent. The idea of traveling and enjoying comfort was an idea all too foreign to them. They had totally freaked when they saw the fridge and marveled at how food could be preserved. They loved the soft couches and beds that left them so rested they thought they were back at home. Whenever he visited Barad Eithel, Himring, or the Pass of Aglon he always made it a priority to go on a hunting trip with his uncles. Many a time he had cuddled on Fingon's lap as they lounged on the couch. There was even one time that he fell a sleep on Celegorm's shoulder while enjoying a hot chocolate and had woken to resting on the pale haired elf's lap while being covered in a blanket. Celegorm was such a good source of stories about his mother and it seems Huan had fallen in love with his modern bathroom. That dog LOVED having the hot water tub all to himself and the amount of dog hair he left in the tub could have been used to make a wig. Maedhros was such a good source of knowledge regarding current events and always patted him on the head whenever he got a question right. It was such a funny sight whenever he turned into a black chinned hummingbird and perched on top of his red haired uncle's head. One time he'd even fallen a sleep on top of his head and almost went red when he heard his uncle comment on how his snoring as a bird sounded like a meeping bell.
Heck, even Maglor had started forgoing his usual baths and started using his whenever he got the chance. Can't blame him though, I mean who had say no to pine scented hot tubs! He wanted to try and incorporate modern plumbing into their homes but his grandfather and Maedhros had refused saying it would spread too many rumors and even they wouldn't be able to hold back the horde that would no doubt be seeking the inventor of such an amazing creation. It was a fair enough argument but as soon as the second age started...well all bets were off. Once he was given the all clear, no elves or humans were going to smell on his watch!
In all seriousness though, he really was making a lot of progress in building the defenses. His uncles had been a huge help in ensuring the strange events happening in their territories was simply the work of a mysterious patron. They had also issued several gag orders on the armor and wards cast on their homes. Nobody was allowed to talk about what the armor did or where it came from. Luckily, they didn't have to worry about humans noticing since they couldn't sense it. Dwarves though were a different matter and an unknown variable that had yet to be tested. So until the battle hit none of the dwarves were invited to the castles and all the armor was locked up where no dwarves could see them.
Thus far he'd gotten a lot done which included:
- Spreading the barrier across nearly half the desired territories belonging to the Sons of Fëanor.
- Spreading the barrier half way across Hithlum.
- Completing armor for more than half of the territories' belonging to his uncles.
- Casting wards on all the castles belonging to his family members (They freaked in Barad Eithel too 😅
- Making a stock of 500 potions each for all the territories including Hitlum. (no one told the humans... 😏)
All this he had gotten done and there was still more to do. Unfortunately, there was only so much that could be done in their territories alone. Soon it would be time to make some visits and set the foundations for some upcoming refugees.
The rest of Beleriand was about to be in for a surprise.