Mairon: 30-Day Character Study by elennalore  

Realization

Prompt 19: Strong Points, Part Two. Revisit the list of strengths you’ve thought about for Prompt 3. This time, write a scene in which your character’s strong points cause them trouble.

My chosen prompt was: He cares about things and is capable of love. A Silvergifting ficlet (300+ words) where Mairon's love complicates his plans.

Celebrimbor was not his usual happy self that morning. He seemed to have lost his appetite, and there was a haunted look in his eyes when he turned to look at Annatar at the meal hall. A sudden pang of worry filled Mairon’s heart, followed by a feeling of helplessness. Something was wrong, something was making Tyelpë sad, and he just wanted to make him feel better again.

Mairon’s hand touched Celebrimbor’s shoulder lightly, as if fearing that the Elf would just squirm away from the touch, but instead, Tyelpë’s face softened and a weak smile flickered across his face as their eyes met again. Mairon’s heart was pounding in his chest; he didn’t want that moment of connection to end.

“You must wonder why I feel sad today, Annatar,” Celebrimbor said at last. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to make you worry. It’s just... today is the anniversary of my father’s death, and this day always makes me feel... conflicted, but also... sad. I wish he were here.”

Mairon didn’t answer at once. He thought he felt a part of Tyelpë’s pain inside him, which was novel, and strange. He knew who Celebrimbor’s father was, of course, and how he had met his end. They had been the enemies of his Master, and their death – or Tyelpë’s grief – should not have affected him.

Why did he want to comfort Tyelpë, then?

“Let me hug you,” he found himself saying, and when Tyelpë pressed himself against Mairon’s chest and they embraced, it was like a gentle spring had arrived in the middle of winter.

“I hope you feel better soon,” Mairon whispered, such strange words to say to an Elf in such an honest way. But this one was not just any Elf. This one he loved.

It was a silent confession, not to be spoken aloud. And with it, came the grim realization.

This complicates things.