Time Stands Still

Chapter 1

Fëanáro had a divide between he and his brothers. They were only half kin and Fëanáro reminded them often. His brothers Ñolofinwë and Arafinwë were much beloved among the people of Tirion upon Túna. Fëanáro wondered to himself if he resented them or their mother. A little of both, he was sure.

He was returning from the forge. He had spent the day with Mahtan like he often did to stay away from his father and Indis. Making great things from metal and jewels. Mahtan had shown him how to make crowns, how to make jewelry such as rings and necklaces, he had taught him how to cut and smooth his own stones. Fëanáro was sure that he was the greatest craftsman who had ever lived. Besides Mahtan and Aluë of course.

Today he had worked with crystal. He had made many different sizes plates and strung them together. When they caught the light you could see every color in Valinor. He had entranced himself with the colors of the plates and the sounds that they made when they tapped and clashed. It was a soft "tink".

"Fëanáro?" The Elda's head snapped up to see an elfling standing on the pathway. Ñolofinwë. He was the eldest of Indis' children. He had dark hair and eyes like the ocean.

"What." Fëanáro voice was harsh and cold. The elfling came closer and was soon right in front of Fëanáro. He pointed at the crystal, trying to grab it as well.

"What is-"

"Keep your hands off." The Elda pulled the chiming crystals away and sneered. "This is only for me to touch." Ñolofinwë looked at him with eyes filled with hurt.

"Why can't I touch it?"

"Because I said so!" Fëanáro snapped at the elfling before pushing past him and planning on going back to the main part of Tirion.

"Brother!" Ñolofinwë cried out before running after him. Fëanáro sighed, a growling sound coming from the back of his throat. "Wait!" Fëanáro, being bigger than Ñolofinwë, kept walking but picked up his place a little more. He cradled the crystals in his arms, putting them close to his chest. He watched as they changed color and he allowed himself a small smirk. They didn't make sound but they were beautiful. He had so many ideas and there was no limit to what he could make. "Fëanáro!" He was pulled from his mind to the elfling that had somehow caught up with him.

The Elda growled again before picking his pace up even faster.

"You sound like a dog." Ñolofinwë began running to keep up with his older brother. "Where are you going?"

"Home."

"Why?"

"Because I want to."

"I thought you liked the forge better than home." Fëanáro sighed again but he couldn't walk any faster. "You're never home, you're always with Mahtan." Fëanáro rolled his eyes. "Why?"

"Why what."

"Why do you always want to be with Mahtan more than Father?" Fëanáro stopped dead in his tracks and stared at Ñolofinwë with fiery eyes before turning back to his destination and continuing his walking. The two elflings had yet to understand why their brother did not call them kin. They had yet to learn of their brother's source of his hate, the source of his flames of rage.

Ñolofinwë rushed after him unsure if he heard his question. "Brother?"

Fëanáro kept his mouth closed and his eyes ahead. Indis had yelled at him before for his sharp tongue around the two younger boys. He wasn't going to he the subject of her disapproval again.

"Brother?"

Fëanáro bit his lip to keep from answering.

"Fëanáro?"