Iron Stars

Chapter 9: Lady of the March

Would highly recommend listening to the song above, I feel like it really fits the Fëanorians. I included it in this chapter but I do not own it!

FA 61
Himring

Aredhel adjusted the reins in her hand, glancing over at her cousin Galadriel who rode beside her. The two cousins were traveling east to see their cousins in Himring. Both rode deep brown stallions, a pair of twins surprisingly enough, and were dressed in riding clothes.

The duo crested a hill and soon gazed upon the March of Maedhros, the land the Fëanorian siblings ruled. The wild hills seemed desolate and dull in comparison to the cities of the west such as Mithrim and Doriath. The wind blew over the rolling hills, causing the grass to ripple like if a pebble had been thrown into the sea of green. Above ravens circled, their keen eyes undoubtedly curious about the newcomers. In the distance, atop one of the larger hills was the great fortress of Himring, where their cousins ruled from.

Aredhel dug her heels into the stallion and alongside Galadriel, set off towards the fort. In truth, she was excited to see her cousin Nyx again who she often considered to be like a sister. Neither of them had seen them since their arrival in Middle-Earth. Though they had briefly seen her and Maedhros at Fingolfin's crowning, their eyes never leaving the new king. Aredhel had also seen Nyx briefly when Fingon came back with Maedhros and the siblings were healing in Mithrim.

     The siblings seemed to prefer solitude which she supposed made sense considering their oath. That oath that bound them from now till it should be fulfilled or each of them fall. She feared it would be the latter.

Coming up to the great wooden gates of the fortress, Aredhel spotted a pair of red headed figures standing on lookout, most likely Amrod and Amras. Upon seeing them, the twins vanished, going to send the news to their siblings. She studied the massive structure which was obviously built with defense in mind. Arrow-slits where located on various points of the high walls and on each corner stood a tower with hosted a crossbow. The stone looked strong and imposing, the fort's rough face seeming nigh on impenetrable. Which considering its location was not a bad thing.

     The gates swung open as they approached and the duo rode into the courtyard. Inside the siblings were either training or speaking to each other in low voices. She spotted Celegorm training Celebrimbor to use a bow while Curufin looked on with a bemused smile. Caranthir was feathering more arrows nearby though still far away, probably to avoid stray arrows. The twins stood up on the battlements just as she had expected.

     The group looked much like it had before but there was something subdued about them now, a darkness that came with each of those who had taken the oath. A shadow hung over them, altering their appearance from that of the other elves of Valinor. Like those of Valinor, they were fair and lithe but the siblings had a darkness with them, a shadow none could pierce.

     Maglor stepped up, studying them. "Have you come to visit Himring? There's not a ton to see around here quite frankly" he said.

     "No, we wanted to come visit you guys. We didn't see you at the celebration after the battle so we came here. Father expected you were unable to leave the March. However where are Maedhros and Nyx?" Aredhel told him, swinging down from her horse.

     Maglor seemed surprised when she said they had come to visit but his face soon returned to a neutral expression. "Our siblings are inside in the map room, they're heading the siege from the east," He explained, glancing between the both of them now on the ground.

     Galadriel nodded, "Could you take us to see them, we must leave soon and it would be good to see them if only briefly."

     The elf nodded and led them into the fortress. "You should know Nyx had acquired a new title after she fought in the Dagor Aglareb, Lady of the March," Maglor said, "Evidently her skill was great enough that it was known far and wide."

     They walked through twisting hallways with dark wood floors, candles lighting the dark halls. There was little decoration, rather a strange sort of emptiness and forlornness. They came to a large ebony door which Maglor opened.

     There the group walked in to a large room which was dominated by a map of Beleriand on one wall. Another wall was just windows which looked north across the March. There was also a large table in the center where another map and various smaller but more detailed ones were placed. The walls were lined with bookshelves, to the extent that Aredhel had to be impressed.

     Over the center table, two figures crouched, both with red hair and clad in maroon tunics. The elleth gently moved a compass around, drawing out a potential battle plan on the map while her brother looked on. The duo spoke in quiet voices, a companionship seen between them as they worked.

     Upon hearing them enter both Maedhros and Nyx glanced up, looking surprised to see Aredhel and Galadriel. Maedhros folded his arms then spoke, "Have you come to visit, my cousins? For unfortunately Nyx and I are quite busy."

     "Of course. We don't intend to stay long we just came to say hello and see how the March was faring," Galadriel said, glancing through the windows.

     "We do know how to keep our lands safe. We understand how crucial it is the March stands it being the entryway to Beleriand from the east. It will hold while my brothers and I defend it," Nyx shot back her eyes narrowing slightly.

     "We know you can guard this land but it is not an easy territory to defend. We only came to help if necessary," Aredhel soothed, noting the tension in Nyx. She had an idea of what Nyx went through in Angband and anticipated it would put her on edge for life.

     Galadriel however didn't seem to pick up on this. "You seem different Nyx, older somehow," she said, tilting her head ever so slightly.

     "Hard to stay the same after 30 years in the Iron Prison. You kind of have to grow up if you want a chance," Nyx retorted, her voice laced with venom. Aredhel spotted her eyes flick to a double bladed sword on the wall.

     Aredhel remembered how her brothers had brought back tales of her cousins in combat. Fingon had mentioned how Nyx had wielded a double-bladed sword with such ferocity, Orcs began to flee before her face. Yelca-o-Nár-ar-Sercë they said was in the East, the Sword of Fire and Blood.

     She was also painfully reminded how young Nyx was. Both her and Galadriel had long since passed their hundredth birthday, the year an elf was considered an adult. Nyx however had only been 45 when she'd first seen combat and her 100th had passed about 10 years ago. Her time in Angband had been entirely before she was even fully-grown. It was no wonder she seemed far older than she was.

     "We ought to get going anyway. It was good to see you if only for a time," Aredhel said, grabbing Galadriel's arm and turning away. The siblings only nodded before turning away.

     Aredhel sighed softly. The Fëanorians hadn't asked for any of this. They had simply followed their father and now stood alone in the East. Now they grappled with an oath that would kill them if they didn't not keep it and with blood on their hands they would never forget.

     As she walked, she remembered her cousin in her mind. A figure dressed in red, dressed for war. A soldier, a commander whose exterior was harsh and cold but whose heart ached, ached for someone to see she was not okay. And as she set off down the hall, she heard a voice singing softly:

"Leave it by its pain, leave it all alone
If I never turn, I will never grow
Keep the door ajar when I'm coming home
I will try
Can't you see I'm trying?
Give us a little love, give us a little love
We never had enough, we never had enough
Give us a little love
Give us a little love
We never had enough
Never had enough"

Word Count: 1220

A/N: So this chapter was intended to serve as a parallel to Chapter 2, how the Fëanorians were happy but how their oath changed them so much. I really wanted to show that, just how much these guys didn't want what happened and I thought the song above really fit that idea. Also in accordance to the age of my character, I realized how young she was in this time and felt even worse for her. So that's fun.
Also I think there's approximately one reader who has viewed all of these chapters currently. I don't know who you are but thank you! Anyways hope you enjoyed this and comment what you thought