The Prophecy.

I own nothing, everything belongs to JRRT, and I'm just borrowing a few elf-lords, Valar and the odd mortal or two and playing with them.

This story's title is inspired by Book 4 in HoME, The Shaping of Middle-earth', part 3 'The Quenta,' page 165:

'Thereafter shall the Silmarils be recovered out of sea and earth and air; for Earendil shall descend and yield up the that flame that he hath had in keeping. Then Feanor shall bear the Three and yield them up unto Yavanna Palurien; and she will break them and with their fire rekindle the Two Trees, and a great light shall come forth; and the Mountains of Valinor shall be levelled, so that the light goes out over the world. In that light the Gods will again grow young, and the Elves awake and all their dead arise, and the purpose of Illuvatar be fulfilled concerning them. But of Men in that day the prophecy speaks not, save of Turin only, and him it names among the Gods.'

The story itself in inspired by Finch's 'Fell Fire,' which I thoroughly recommend. Of course, a certain blonde elf-lord in possession of a very sharp tongue and an even sharper sword made me write it. All complaints can be addressed to: Aegnor, Son of Finarfin, Corridor 4, The Halls of Mandos, Valinor. It is not guaranteed that he will respond, although in his capacity as official Valinor Postman, Sam Gamgee says he will deliver all such mail.

Many thanks to Finch for tirelessly reading the story so far and making many suggestions and corrections, and to Klose and Ithilwen for also helping as much as their lives have allowed.

The Dagor Bragollach, it was called, or in the tongue of men, the Battle of Sudden Flame. Ard-galen perished, and many of my people with it. That was the first indication that the Siege of Angband had broken, the long peace was ended, and elf and mortal alike rode to war.

The Men of the House of Beor, long allies of my family and close friends with my brother Finrod, rode under the banners of myself, and my brother Angrod. I knew their lord, Bregolas, very well. Many times had he visited my home, both as a child and later as a young man with his father, and later yet as Lord of his people. Many times we had hunted together, and my brother Angrod still cringed with embarrassment over an incident that happened twenty years of the Sun ago. A beautiful moonlit summer's night had provided all of us with an excuse to try night fishing, for Barahir, brother to Bregolas claimed an old man told him fish would bite well on a full moon.

Not to be out done by an aged mortal, quite a group of elves had challenged the mortals to a nighttime fishing contest, which to our shame and the mortal's great delight we elves lost. Not however because we caught less fish, which was impossible because no one caught anything, but because my brother Angrod had slipped on wet mossy rock while crossing the river, something elves don't do. More embarrassing for Angrod was that it was Bregolas who rescued him as my brother had struck his head on another rock as he fell and was partly stunned. Luckily for him, Bregolas had been standing on the riverbank and was able to reach out safely and drag my brother from the water. While Angrod was very glad to have been rescued, it meant that every time an elf mentioned the superior reflexes and strength of elves, Bregolas cheerfully related that tale. I laughed softly to myself as I remembered Finrod's reaction to that tale, loud laughter, and the promise to never let Angrod forget it! Sometimes my older brother has a very wicked sense of humour.

But before long I found my mind turned to more sombre subjects, and I tarried by the fire that night, unable to sleep, unwilling to seek rest. My mind was consumed by a message, delivered by Finrod, yet I heard another voice speak it, a maiden's voice, clear and sweet, as I had heard her voice nigh on seventy years ago.

'Tell him not to be reckless. Not to seek danger beyond need,' so spoke Andreth to my brother.

Finrod had waited forty-five years to deliver the message, as he believed I would not heed it. How could a warrior avoid danger on the battlefield? But I knew what Finrod and Andreth meant. Not to seek to end my life, but the dangers of the battlefield would likely make survival difficult. I would not refuse danger to myself and sacrifice others, for a leader must not refuse to that which his followers do. Whether I lived or died was fate, a theme in the Great Music, what I did or did not do would make little difference.

So I sat, staring into the fire, an empty cup in my hands, which I had not the wish either to fill or to put down. And my thoughts strayed to her, to Andreth, now old and frail, not long to see the Sun rise over Middle-Earth, and I had no desire to out live her. In my waking dream, she was young and fair, and we walked by the shore of a lake, our hair swept from our faces from the breeze, and she laughed with the joy of being alive.

Footsteps stirred me from my dream, a mortal approached. It was Bregolas, close kin to my lady, and like I it seemed he could find no rest this night. 'You worry over the ladies of your people too, whether they have fled to such safety as can be found,' he said as he sat down.

'I do.'

Bregolas sat, and offered to fill my cup from the wineskin he carried. I hesitated and then accepted, noting that although his cup was full he drank little.

'I know how you feel. I worry over my family; my youngest granddaughter is only ten. Still, I'm sure everyone will be well organised to move quickly, with Aunt Andreth to spur them on.'

I felt myself sag as Bregolas spoke his aunt's name, and then I heard him make a low exclamation of surprise.

'So that tale's true then?' he remarked softly.

'How do you know of this!' I snapped.

He seemed to ignore my anger, and spoke slowly, 'I was maybe five; I was sitting outside Father's council room, waiting for him. I heard my parents talking of Andreth, Father and Mother were arguing hotly over Andreth, and why she had never married. Apparently, Mother thought she should have married, and was pointing out that even now it was possible for Andreth to marry, there were older men still seeking to ally themselves to my house who would have counted it an honour to marry Aunt. Mother is a.difficult lady, and she and Andreth were never great friends. It was at this point Andreth arrived and I remember a big fight between Andreth and Mother, during which you were mentioned as the reason Andreth wouldn't marry. I forgot that for years, and only remembered when I met you. I had wondered if you returned Aunt's feelings, now I see that you do.'

I took a sip of my wine before I slowly spoke, for although it hurt me to speak of my lost love, Bregolas was one I could trust and I found I needed someone to talk to on this night before battle, 'Indeed I do.' I hesitated, 'How was Andreth when you saw her last?'

'She was well, in good spirits; busily helping organise the evacuation of our people to Hithlum. With myself and my brother and our sons away she is one of the few all our people will obey.' He looked at me, his eyes shadowed, 'but Aegnor, I don't think that's what you wanted to know. Andreth is very elderly now, but her mind is as sharp as ever, even if she is a little deaf now. In many ways I love her more than my mother. Always Andreth had time for my brother and myself when Mother was busy, she it was who soothed my childish fears at night and told me stories. The young ones know they can go to Andreth for anything, anytime, she has no children of her own, but she is like a mother to all the little ones. She is much loved, and it will not only be myself who will miss her.'

I sighed, pleased with the thought Andreth had found joy in the company of the children of her people, and looked at Bregolas, sitting still and quiet just across the fire from me. 'You wish to know why I did not marry your aunt?' I asked, my voice pitched low as I wanted none but Bregolas to hear.

'I'm sure you had good reasons.'

His face was unreadable, but I could guess the problem. 'It was not as your mother may have suggested; that I felt Andreth inferior to me in any way.' Bregolas shot me a quick, hard look and I gave him a brief smile. 'I have not been unaware of Lady Lila's dislike of all elves.'

He gave snort of laughter, 'Mother doesn't hide that well, does she? Still, I'm happy I was right, and Mother wrong this time.' He then gave me a strangely speculative look, 'I can't help but wonder what it would have been like to have some half-elven cousins!' He stood to go, and as he passed me, his hand dropped to my shoulder, and he spoke, 'I think I understand. You feared to lose Andreth, and as strange as it seems, that is something mortals understand. We live our lives losing friends and family, so your fears are perfectly reasonable.' His hand squeezed my shoulder, and I looked up surprised. 'I've checked the sentries, and I shall try to sleep for a few hours. Perhaps you should try to sleep too.' He smiled, 'I can say that to an elf lord who is almost family!'

Bregolas began to walk away, but I called him back, 'Could you give Andreth a message?'

'Why yes, I should be happy to.'

'Tell her I am happy she has many who love her near her, and,' I was unable to speak further.

'I shall give her your love,' he replied and smiled at my startled expression. 'Your thoughts are showing so clear on your face, Aegnor,' he said as he turned away again, and this time I sat silent before finally seeking my bed, where I laid thinking. It was then I realised why I liked Bregolas so much, he reminded me of his aunt, and strangely that cheered me. As I lay down to try to get what rest I could, I made a resolve. It was unlikely that I would survive the battle to come, but if I did, I should seek out Andreth, and make my peace with her. It would not be easy, but I decided I owed her that. Somewhat easier in mind, I finally achieved a state of true rest.

Battle was joined just after dawn. The elven sentries roused the camp, and the fighting was fierce and intense. The Orcs were many, and the great Dragon, Glaurang was present, with many smaller Dragons and Balrogs. Soon enough our forces were surrounded, and escape impossible. Uncle Fingolfin and his son Fingon were fighting hard in the east, it was clear they were trying desperately to reach us, but time and again their banners of blue and silver were driven back.

I know naught of my half-cousins, the Sons of Feanor, but have no reason to believe that they were doing anything but what we were: fighting hard. We had reason to believe that Glaurang went east and assaulted Maedhros' stronghold of Himring, but the great Dragon must have met fierce resistance from the forces of Maedhros and Maglor for he was soon back to harass us.

Sweat stung my eyes, and some minor wounds hampered me, but still our forces fought on. There was no relief in sight, and from far away we had reports that Finrod was hopelessly surrounded and that mortals lead by Barahir, brother of Bregolas sought to aid him.

I think it was my worry over Finrod that killed me, a slight loss of concentration, and I never felt the orc blade that sliced into me, and I was all but dead by the time I dropped to the ground.

My fea was wrenched from my hroa, and I realised I was dead. I could see and hear the battle, and I watched in horror as my brother Angrod was slain in front of me. I tried to cry out, but I had no voice. Then I felt a presence, a huge shining presence, and I saw a Vala. It was Namo, often called Mandos, and his great rolling voice summoned me to his Halls.

I accepted, for although I knew there was an alternative, to wander Middle-Earth houseless as a wraith, watching the events of the Ages unfold. I did not want that, I wanted the darkness and solitude of the Halls of Mandos. There, I hoped I could forgive myself, and maybe as Time wore on, I could dare to hope that beyond the Circles of the World Andreth might forgive me too?

I felt a surge of something akin to humour when I realised that many were the dead that day, and that Mandos was very busy summoning the vast number of fear to his Halls. Was it possible that even a Vala might become confused in these circumstances, and accidentally call someone by the wrong name?

As I entered the Halls in the company of Mandos, I was told to wander where I wished, and to speak to whom I wished. Later, Mandos would want to speak to me, and as I was left in the darkness of the Halls it hit me: I truly was dead, and that understanding felt like the shock of cold water against my skin when as a child I would leap into the icy sea on a hot day while staying with Mother's family. Only I had no body now, so the sensation was but a memory.

I had no urge to wander, or to speak to those who filled the Halls, so I found myself a little corner and watched those who moved about. Some I knew but they did not speak, many of them were Noldor who had died in battle, or the crossing of the Helcaraxe. Some were Teleri, victims of my cousins at the Kinslaying. And some were kin, for although I avoided my brother Angrod at this time, my Grandfather Finwe proved impossible to avoid. He came soon after my arrival and refused to leave until I spoke to him.

'I would have thought Mandos or Nienna would speak to me,' I said.

'Not yet, soon though. In the meantime, I am here and we shall speak. I have heard many things of the Noldor's doings in Middle-Earth, perhaps we can speak of such.'

I realised then that most of Grandfather's family had gone to Middle-Earth to avenge him and even if he had been returned to life all his children but two were dead or far away, and all of his grandchildren were gone, too. Grandfather was likely desperate for news of what had been occurring. So I told him all, even of the Kinslaying, for my immediate family had tried to stop that. The burning of the White Ships at Losgar, the terrible journey across the Helcaraxe, and how Fingolfin came to be acknowledged King of the Noldor in Middle-Earth. Grandfather wept when he heard of Maedhros' terrible captivity, but brightened when I spoke of the realms the Noldor established in Beleriand, and I spoke also of Grandfather's old friend Thingol of Doriath, and how with my brothers and sister we had spent much time visiting. Lastly, and only at his urging, did I speak of the coming of Mortals, and three houses of the Edain who were fast in friendship with the Noldor.

It was then that Grandfather realised that I held a deep sorrow in me, and being the man he is he continued to question me until I broke and told him of Andreth. He was silent quite a while before he spoke.

'Do you regret your decision not to marry this lady?' Grandfather asked.

'Yes, I do.'

'But you feared to see her die.' That was not a question, but a statement of fact. Had we bodies, Grandfather would have hugged me, as he had many times when I was a child. 'It is a terribly hard thing to lose your spouse, but had I known that Miriel would die when Feanor was small I would still have married her.'

'But then you married Grandmother,' I pointed out. 'I should have been alone forever.'

'Are you not alone forever now?' asked Grandfather.

'I am, but surely you are not saying I should have married Andreth?'

'Why not? You should have had the years of her life to enjoy her company, and possibly some children and they are a great joy'

I was deeply shaken that there could be a different view on this matter than the one held by Finrod and myself. I remembered Bregolas, and that he had not seemed shocked at the thought of my marrying his aunt, but sad that I had not. For my sake, or for his aunt's? For if Andreth and I had married, she would not have been much in Bregolas' life as a child and he would have missed her company.

'I see you are distressed by my thoughts on this matter. It is time for you to speak to Mandos, I think, and I shall fetch him,' said Grandfather gently.

How long I sat I do not know, but I think it was only quite a short time and then Mandos arrived, alone.

'You need to speak to me?' asked Mandos. I noticed his expression and voice were quite emotionless.

'Lord, yes I do. Grandfather was right, it is time to speak to you.'

'What do you wish to say to me?'

I thought for a minute, 'was I right not to marry Andreth? Or is my grandfather right, when he says by refusing to wed her that all I did was deny us both happiness?'

Mandos spoke gently when he replied, 'do you truly believe that your love for Andreth was random? There will be marriages made between elf and mortal, each will fulfil a great doom, each will add a blindingly beautiful theme to the Music. These will not be chance, but a working of Fate, and a great doom will fall on those who kind mingles both elf and mortal.'

A great wave of grief and sorrow washed through me. 'We were meant to marry and have children? I foolishly and blindly refused to follow my fate?' I was shocked.

'You were confused and frightened, for such had never before happened: that an elf would desire to wed a mortal.' Mandos beckoned me to follow him, 'Come, there is something you must see.'

Feeling miserable beyond belief, I followed Mandos. We moved through many rooms and halls, I saw my brother Angrod speaking to Elenwe, our cousin Turgon's wife. He was telling her of Gondolin, Turgon's hidden city, and saying that Idril had grown into a gracious and beautiful lady, but no one had entered or left Gondolin since she was completed, and none knew for sure where the city lay. Elenwe seemed pleased to hear of her husband and daughter, and I realised that she could not expect to see her family while they lived. Ah, it seemed the Noldor were truly cursed!

A final room I entered in Mandos' wake, and I saw tapestries, and a silver haired lady weaving. Grandfather sat next to her, clearly awaiting me, and when he spoke, the lady answered, turning her head to look at me, and I knew without asking that she was Miriel, Feanor's mother.

'Come, and look, Aegnor, but do not touch!' said Miriel by way of greeting.

'Yes, my lady, I will take care,' I replied.

"My Lord,' said Grandfather to Mandos, 'all is in order here. I shall speak to my grandson, and return him to you.'

Mandos nodded, and left.

'This is what has happened, and what will happen. This gold figure is you,' said Grandfather, and indeed I could see the events of my life and death clearly.

'And this is Andreth,' I said looking a figure made of a dark fiery colour, that crossed the figure that was I. She seemed to go grey for a while, and then changed again and became a dark, dense steel grey colour. Sorrow, for how I hurt her, and it was after Finrod had met her that her colour changed again, it seemed she had recovered a little afterwards. By this tapestry, my lady had died only hours after I.

Then to my great distress, I looked further into the tapestry, and saw my beloved older brother's death. A terrible death, in a dungeon belonging to one of the Morgoth's underlings, Sauron. I flinched when I saw that a werewolf would end Finrod's life, but not before he killed the beast. He will die to save a mortal? A mortal who will wed our kinswoman Luthien of Doriath? A mortal who is close kin to Andreth? And this mortal, Beren, with Luthien together will recover a Silmaril? She will become mortal for him? My mind was spinning.

Then Miriel showed me more, the descendants of Beren and Luthien, the next Kinslayings. The Sons of Feanor would kill many more innocents. Another elf woman took a mortal as spouse; Idril of Gondolin wed Tuor, Ulmo's messenger to Turgon. Finally, Earendil, Idril's half-elven son would take the Silmaril brought him by his wife Elwing, and come to Valinor to plead for aid from the Valar. It would be granted, and Morgoth defeated, and Earendil, wearing the Silmaril would sail the skies as a symbol of hope.

The second Age would bring the forging of great Rings of Power by my cousin Curufin's son Celebrimbor. Sauron, Morgoth's evil servant would trick Celebrimbor, and great evil would result. Wars, and mortal civilisations that rose to great beauty and crashed due to mortal arrogance were that Age. It would finish in a last great war of elves and men against Sauron, and his Ring of Power that should have been destroyed would survive to cause war and horror at the end of the Third Age.

'Why I am being shown this?' I asked.

'This is what will be, now see what should have been,' it was Grandfather again. He led me to where Miriel sat by another great tapestry, and she showed me.

In this tapestry, Andreth and I were wed. We had two children, a golden haired son and a daughter with her mother's midnight locks. I still died in battle, and Andreth soon after. But now things changed. My son accompanied Finrod and Beren, and he with Finrod defeated the werewolf, and both survived, badly wounded, but could not accompany Beren and Luthien to Angband. Beren and Luthien recovered the Silmaril, and again Luthien became mortal, she and Beren still had one child, Dior. My daughter was his bride. Nothing seemed much different for the rest of the First Age, except my son accompanied Earendil on his journey to Valinor to seek aid for the peoples of Middle- Earth. He chose to be an elf, but fought bravely in the War of Wrath, where he was killed.

It was in the Second Age that things changed. Finrod, and our sister Galadriel who were the last living in Middle-Earth of the Princes and Princesses of the Noldor who had encouraged our people to leave Valinor, were still banned from sailing West, but many other elves left Middle-Earth forever. Finrod knew Sauron, and was able warn Celebrimbor in time, the Nine and Seven Rings were hidden, and Sauron never found them. The three elven Rings were free of all possible influence by Sauron, for he never made the One. The Numoreans still rose and fell, but back in Middle-Earth Sauron did much less evil, countered by my brother and others at every turn he took, again he was defeated by, but it was much less evil and destructive.

The third Age was settled and peaceful. My brother wore a Ring of Power, as did our sister, and Cirdan the Shipwright. Many peoples lived happy and contented and at end of that Age, Sauron did try to rise again, but was destroyed by those bearing the Elven Rings, and the last of the great evil was gone. The remaining Orcs were hunted down, and once again the wide lands of Middle-Earth were settled and happy. For their part in resisting and destroying Sauron the last living of the House of Finwe were permitted to travel home to Valinor. Finrod and Galadriel took ship together with many other elves, for the time of the elves was gone, and Men would flourish in Middle- Earth now.

Grandfather led me from that room, to another, and deep in thought I followed without speaking. I was unable to speak or move, I was so shocked and saddened. I had gone against my fate, and now, now I would never wish to leave Mandos' Halls, it was fitting that I stayed for that fate was as close as I could get to being Mortal. Then a thought struck me, and I turned to Grandfather, who had been patiently waiting for me to speak.

'All of that horror in the Second and Third Age happened because I didn't marry Andreth? My beloved older brother dies horribly? It is all my fault!' My words seemed to stick in my throat, and it hurt to speak.

Silently, Grandfather nodded, and I fell to the floor, weeping.