Year 4 of the First Age

Winter

LAKE MITHRIM - THE ELDER HOUSE

Eve's stomach churned as she wandered past homes and forges and empty food stalls in the dead of night. Torch light splashed on the faces of dozens of elves both men and women. It reminded her all too much of the night her brothers had sworn their oath.

Some of the faces she looked into glared at her, or watched down their noses in contempt. Her impending arrival at her brothers's camp must've been common knowledge among their followers. Many had come out to see her, golden ribbons tied through her intricately braided red hair, and wearing a dress both blue and scarlet. She felt rather than saw Hyamindo behind her. He bore his sword on his belt and carried a silver birch spear one of Finno's smiths had fashioned for him. 

He had never ceased wearing the colors of Fëanáro's house. But the guards refused to even glance at him. Eve's heart continued to sink until she noticed some of the women scattered about did not look angry. Instead, they had small smiles and gave her subtle bows.

So not all hated her. This was good. She tried to nod and smile back. All around them, the followers of the Fëanorians busied themselves. She could hear metal slamming against metal and the hissing of steam to her left; the forges never slept. Doubtless she would find Curvo there. To her right, she heard the repeated whistle and thunk of arrows against targets. All training for war. Tyelko would be there, perhaps.

Though Káno had invited her to the camp, which sprawled for much further than Eve recalled from the first rising sun, she had not come to see him. 

It wasn't that she did not wish to see him. Following the scent of roasting boar, she hoped to say hello to him before dining. But she had come to see the others. 

Eve hadn't said goodbye to them. She had left without a word to any save Káno, who had followed her to the other camp. And with Finno gone for only the Valar knew how much longer, she had realized she regretted it. Pityo had died, alone. Nelyo had been stolen, alone. She would not allow any others to leave her behind like that.

Up above them, the Enemy's noxious clouds obscured the majority of the stars. Eve frowned. She turned back to the camp around her. She recognized this part. This has been present when she's been here years ago. The massive tent used for meetings lay not far ahead. 

It came into view after she walked through a large opening in one of the walls constructed of massive tree trucks. Firelight and the scent of good food spilled out from under the closed flaps. Eve paused. Giggling and tiny joyful screams sounded from inside. 

Light blinded her as the flaps opened up. She heard a dog bark and as her eyes adjusted, Eve couldn't help but grin as Huan bounded towards her, tongue and tail wagging.

"No, Huan! Huan, come back!" 

Eve barely had time to brace before the massive golden hound licked her face all over. Squealing back laughter, Eve pushed him away. Only then, when Huan sat down to give her space, did she realize who had been calling the dog back inside.

The little boy had raven black hair and pale white skin. Dressed in a neat red tunic and pants, adorned with a bronze clasp in the shape of a Fëanorian star, he stood barely halfway up the horse-sized hound's leg.

"Who are you?" he said.

Light flooded the yard again. When the flaps hid it, Eve finally looked away from the little boy. She saw the same black hair and snow white skin as her gaze fell on Nixiel. Tears clouded her vision for a moment.

"Eve!" Nixiel said.

Eve laughed, uncovering her mouth. "Nixiel. Is this—"

The woman ran up to her. They embraced, and Eve felt the tears running down her own face getting on the other woman's dress. How had she missed this? She had a nephew? 

"I cannot believe you are here!" Nixiel pulled back, wiping her own tears away. "Káno told us you were coming, of course. But I will admit, I didn't believe him." Then she turned, gesturing the boy forward. "This is my son Tyelperinquar. Tyelpë, say hello to Elmendë. She's your father's sister."

"Hello Tyelpë," Eve said. He had eyes like polished steel. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

He regarded her skeptically, one eyebrow arched. It took all her strength not to laugh, remembering the day she'd met Artanís. This little boy had as much intellect and spunk as she had, by the look of things. Not that she would've expected less from the son of Curvo and Nixiel.

"If you are my father's sister," he said, "then why have I never heard of you."

Eve's breath faltered like she'd been gut punched. He had never even heard of her? Glancing up, Nixiel refused to meet her gaze. Instead, the woman studied the grass. So Eve turned back to Tyelpë. 

"Families can be complicated," she said.

It wasn't long before the courtyard in front of the massive tent filled with elves. Nixiel guided Tyelpë to the side, but Eve stayed with Huan. His warmth and steady presence as she ran her fingers through his fur helped her rising anxiety. She did her best to ignore the increasing pressure on her chest. She'd been invited. Everyone knew she would be here. It would be fine.

"My lady, is there anything I can do for you?"

Eve turned around from where she'd buried her face in Huan's chest. Hyamindo stood resolute beside her. Eve shook her head.

"If you wish to reconnect with your friends, don't let me stop you," she said. The yard held about forty, lords and ladies and a few children of varying nobility. "I'm safe here."

Hyamindo hesitated. He didn't move, scanning the yard again. But then he turned back to her. "If it be all the same, I should prefer to remain at my post. I fear I am not well liked for leaving this camp for the other, and being alone may make things worse."

She looked at him, the youngest captain who had once served the eldest lord. She realized that beneath practiced poise lay someone deeply uncomfortable, just like her. He likely would face worse than anything she would here. Her status as royalty protected her. But Eve realized that Hyamindo had none of that, not unless she gave it to him. So she nodded.

"I would be honored for you to continue by my side."

 "There she is."

Eve glanced beyond Huan. Moryo strolled her way with a goblet of wine in one hand and the other resting on the pommel of a sword. His mouth twitched up in the barest hint of a smile. He nudged Káno, walking beside him, with his elbow. 

"Moryo!" 

Eve froze with one foot forward. Would he tolerate a hug? Did he miss her? Had he forgiven her for leaving without saying farewell? She tried to find any clue in his expression but all she saw through blurry tears was the rosy red cheeks of a brother she hadn't seen in years.

They stood in front of her, Moryo stepping a bit away from Huan. Eve laughed through her gasping attempts at not crying. She couldn't wait any longer. Grabbing him in a hug, she felt him stiffen against her. But she couldn't let him go. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine that the scent of roast boar and the muffled crackling of a fire while biting wind brushed her cheeks was from camping at the Niquelírë festival beneath Telperion's light.

When she stepped away from him, she cleared the tears from her eyes to study him better. He looked much the same as he always had—dressed in reds and blacks, with golden accents across his tunic. A flowing red cape billowed in the wind for a moment. Reaching up, she pushed a few stray hairs back from his grey eyes. 

He nodded, half frowning. Moryo tipped his goblet back for another drink before pointing at her up and down. "You look well. I'm surprised to see you in red."

Eve signed. She had known this would not be easy. A warm weight settled atop her head and she paused. She could hear Huan's breathing and heartbeat. Eve smiled. She could do this.

"I wear both," she said. "I am Fëanorian just as I am the wife of Findekáno."

She glanced away from him to Káno. The last time she'd seen him he'd been dressed all in black, mourning for a brother he'd deemed lost. But as he stood between Huan and Moryo, he had rid himself of the black. Now he wore browns and reds, with a bronze star upon his brow clasping a scarlet cloak around his chest. That was good, at least. 

"No word?" He said.

"None. Yet."

Moryo snorted into his wine goblet. When Eve and Káno both turned his way he just held up his hands to silently protest his own innocence and turned away. Káno just signed.

"And he is the least problematic of our brothers," he said. 

"Indeed." Eve glanced at Hyamindo, though he showed no emotion in his silent vigil. "So. I met Tyelpë."

Káno turned back to her after scanning the crowd. "Thankfully, we did not end up with another Curufinwë in that boy. He got plenty of his mother's good judgment along with the stubbornness of his father."

She couldn't help but laugh. It was good to hear that. Though she had never befriended Nixiel as closely as Elenwë, she thought nothing but well of her. And indeed, in the years since the world darkened, she had come to respect Nixiel even more. 

"A word of warning, though. I fear you will not find Curvo any more welcoming than you would've found our father, if he still lived." Káno's gaze fell on a spot in the crowd beyond them, on the other side of Huan. "As far as he is concerned, you renounced your claim to us as family the moment you left camp. You are no sister in his eyes."

Eve followed his gaze. Arguing in a corner of the yard she saw Curvo and Nixiel, the latter with Tyelpë's right hand in her left. She couldn't hear them. But Curvo's crossed arms and deep frown said enough. Especially coupled with Káno's warning.

A cold heaviness settled in her stomach. To him, she was a traitor. Why would he want to dine with her? Her heart hurt to see the darkness in his face, so she turned away.

She found herself face to face, though yards apart, from Tyelko. He leaned against a large wooden pole. Still wearing the brown and green of his Hunter days, Tyelko crossed his arms over his chest and watched them. Even lit by torches, she found his expression hard to read. Anger? Regret? Sadness? Perhaps all the above. Eve had felt them all.

She excused herself from Káno who went to deal with the ever-increasing volume of Curvo's fight with Nixiel. As Tyelko watched her approach, he straightened up. But he never left the sidelines of the yard, up against the wood pole.

Huan trotted behind her. She could hear his happy panting and gentle whines as he brushed past her to go lay beside Tyelko's feet.

"Didn't think you would ever show your face here again," Tyelko said.

Eve took a deep breath. The bite in Tyelko's voice stung. "I've done a lot of thinking," she said.

Tyelko scoffed. He put a hand on his hip, gesturing with his other hand out into the darkness of the night. "Ah yes, left alone at home by the man who you swore never to be separated from again."

Eve clenched her fists. Deep breaths. Deep breaths. This was how Tyelko liked to operate—hit his opponents where it hurt. She would not do the same. 

"When Finno returns, Nelyo will be here too, and perhaps we can begin mending bridges."

Tyelko just rolled his eyes. As Huan sat up and nuzzled against him, he ran his hand through the dog's fur. "You speak with such certainty, Eve. Have you learned nothing since the Darkening of the Trees? There is no certainty but pursuit of vengeance. That alone, we control."

"That's not true." Eve rubbed her face of a moment, before sighing. "You say pursuit of vengeance is our only certainty because we control it. What we control is our actions. Perhaps Finno does not return. Perhaps Nelyo is dead. But until that day is certain, we have chosen to hope in the uncertain." She put her hand against her cheek for a moment. Then Eve straightened up. "The day we despair, thinking we know every possible outcome, is the day the Enemy wins. And what then of your pursuit of vengeance?"

Eve heard many voices as the elves mingled. She heard Huan's panting. She even heard the faintest sounds of the waves from Lake Mithrim lapping on the shore. 

But she did not hear a response from Tyelko.

She left him to pet Huan and contemplate her words. They would surely dine soon, and she desperately wanted to find Telvo beforehand. Eve found him with a few of Tyelko's hunters. But when she approached him, he turned away. She stopped.

"My lady," Hyamindo said. "Perhaps it would be best to allow Lord Telufinwë to approach you."

Eve knew he was right. More than anything, she regretted leaving Telvo so alone except for his vengeful brothers after Pityo's death. He had needed her. He had needed something beyond hate in his life after that moment. And she had turned away.

Author's note:

Just as a hobbit gives gifts out on her birthday, so also I give one to you. I hope it wasn't too painful.