Strong, like your forefathers were not by Fiamma Galathon  

Strong, like your forefeathers were not

Maitimo would always remember vividly each of his brother’s births. Malkalaurë’s wails that shook the whole building, Curufinwë’s small scrunkly face and big gray eyes, so alike to their father’s, Carnisitr’s red skin that lost the color overtime, the Ambarussar holding hands from the first moment he saw them. All of them were ingrained deep into his memory.

But Tyleko’s birth would always, always be the most vivid.

He was nearly an adult then, not like with Laurë. Their mother had exhausted herself with the birth, but not dangerously, even if Feanaro had been worried sick as always.

The midwife took the baby to wash it, before they were admitted inside, so neither of them had seen his newest brother yet. 

His mother was lying in the bed, grinning madly, fire flickering in her irises. The moment she saw them her smile had widened, and she had beckoned them closer. His father seated himself beside her head, asking a million questions a minute, pale with anxiety.

Even after two sons he still was so afraid something could go wrong. Maitimo could logically understand why, even if it didn’t phase him in the slightest. 

He remembered thinking;

Why does Atar worry so? Ammë never showed any symptoms of the weakness that befell Haruni Miriel. Huh, I wonder what the baby looks like. Laurë was a reddish potato with Atar’s hair, maybe this one will look more like me? It would be fun to have another redhead around…

-Ai, Feanaro, I’m all right, really! Little Tylekormo is too, so you needn’t worry. Ah, Maitimo, here you are! You once again have a little brother. Well. Probably more like a little bother if my amilorë is to be trusted.- his mother had laughed, his father’s face relaxing slightly.

-He is healthy, then?- he had asked, feeling a rush of relief, stomach unclenching. He hadn’t even noticed that he had been so stressed then.

-Yes, yes. I’m fine, the baby is fine, Feanaro, stop squeezing my hand so hard, I’m not going anywhere.- his parents started bickering softly, his father still a bit pale, but his Ammë

strong, proud and grinning. 

And then the midwife brought little Tyleko back, and Maitimo smiled, seeing his newest brother looking around with wide gray eyes, swaddled in the baby blanket that was once his father’s, then his and then Laurë’s, a peach fuzz of white hair on his head and a somewhat grumpy pout on his face. 

Oh, he has Haruni’s hair. Funky. And there goes my hope for another redhead I guess…

A broken intake of breath startled the thoughts out of him, as his father froze, not even breathing, staring at the baby.

He remembered the halfway worried, halfway confused expression on his mother’s face as she poked his father, and his own confusion at all of this situation. 

His father had started crying.

And then his little brother was in his father’s arms, cradled like a piece of fragile glass work. And then Feanaro began to shake like a leaf on the wind, soft prayers fumbling out of his mouth with feverency unseen, as he kissed Tyleko’s forehead, begging anyone who would listen for something.

Maitimo had blinked in great confusion hearing the muttered prayer to keep his brother alive. 

Tyleko apparently didn’t take well to being suddenly cried over, as he somewhat slipped one soft hand out of the blanket and slapped their father’s nose, face scrunched up. Feanaro started crying harder at that, giving him one finger to hold. The baby pouted, and opted to yank at his braid with the softly twinkling mithril clasp.

- Ai, Eru Almighty! - Maitimo heard his father mutter through the tears. - Turkafinwë , you will be Turkafinwë. You will be strong, you must be strong , be strong, please…- he began shaking again, and  Nerdanel looked at her husband with sudden understanding.

-Feanaro. Love. He is all right, completely healthy and strong. Love. Calm down .- she gently patted his hair, and Maitimo could only stare unblinking, seeing his father in such a state for the first time. - Náro, shh, the little one will be alright, ah , calm down for Eru’s sake.- she huffed at him, poking him in the ribs when he remained mostly unresponsive, little Tyleko blinking at him with wide eyes.

It took a long time to calm his father, and even a longer one until he let himself leave his youngest son’s side.

Maitimo could logically understand why, when his mind finally caught up. It didn’t mean he truly got it.

Chapter End Notes

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