One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by FellFireFan  

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I Found You

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HITHRIM

358 A.D

In the grand palace of Fingolfin, the High King and the princes of the Noldor assembled for a crucial meeting. The purpose was to discuss the escalating threat of Morgoth and assess his growing power in Angband. Placed in a circle, some seated while others stood as Fingolfin called Angrod into the centre. Entrusted with the task of commanding the siege, he presented to the king an extensive and insightful report on Morgoth's forces and recent developments within their realm.

"These are troubling tidings indeed," Fingolfin's countenance was marked with deep concern, "I fear that Morgoth's power has grown stronger than ever before,"

Aegnor, perceptive as ever, noticed the rhythmic tapping of the king's fingers, a tell tale sign of his profound worry. Aegnor's head bowed, his eyes filled with matching concern, mirroring the weight that burdened the king's heart.

"Even now, we cannot afford to rest upon our laurels of victory. It may be time to confront him once more and end this tyranny that threatens all our realms," Fingolfin continued, his voice resolute. "To whom can I turn for support in this perilous undertaking?"

The room circled with large lamps of fire fell into a hushed silence with only the gentle roar of flame filling its corners, every elven prince absorbed in contemplation.

"I stand with the king," Angrod declared, turning to the princes seated around

"We possess the strength to prevail against him. His power is growing, but it is still greatly weak. We can not allow our forces to dwindle while he gathers his malevolent might."

"Have you learned nothing since we departed from fair Valinor?" A gravily, coarse voice answered him, unmistakably Caranthir's. Slowly, he rose, his tall and slender frame, adorned in garments of black velvet, slithering across the room and into the spacious centre of the circle. "Morgoth is locked away in Angband, and at last, we may draw a breath of relief, and you yearn for us to cease not our strife? There is no threat that lingers still," he sneered.

"Suppose we were to persist, and in so doing, forfeit our own lives. What then of our beloved fathers' silmarils, and the oath we swore to uphold?" Celegorm's voice, far more refined and rich picked up. The room fell silent as the prince's waited for Angrod's response.

"Not my burden," he shrugged simply.

Whispered voices swelled. Caranthir's voice transformed from a snarl into a venomous hiss. "A curse on you Angrod! And all the sons of Finarfin! You speak only with a desire to please the king, yet your words lack any true conviction!"

Aegnor then rose and stepped forward, stepping in front of his brother. "Forgive me, Caranthir, but did you just call my brother a liar? Perchance I am mistaken, retract your words, ere I change my mind!" He growled.

"I will not be threatened by the youngest and lowest born of our houses!" Caranthir barked and pointed at Aegnor's face, "you are just privileged enough to be present among us, let alone be permitted to speak! Be seated and shut your mouth!"

Aegnor smirked, his eyes squinting. "Low born am I, Caranthir?" his devilish grin widened, "How can that be so? I emerged from the proper birth channel when you fell out of your mother from her other opening!" He bellowed boisterously, stepping closer. Caranthir stared him down, unable to conjure words or believe his reddened ears. "Lost for words, so suddenly?" Aegnor added quickly, "It seems your talents here are better suited among thieves and murderers than noble princes!"

"Pah!" Caranthir scoffed loudly. "The half breed is right!" He announced turning to his brothers, the other sons of Feänor, seated behind him. "His Teleri mother was not among her people when we slaughtered them like animals, what a pity! Maybe we should have run our swords through her too!"

At that, Fingon, the king's son, tore into Caranthir with heated words of his own in defence of his cousins, he flew at him like a demon from hell. His teeth clenched in fury. Aegnor acted quickly, holding Fingon back with a slight lift of his arm. Curufin and Celegorm quickly rose and joined the fury. Fingon, Aegnor, and Angrod clashed with the sons of Feänor. Their furious voices rising. The others bearing witness to this could only watch silently. Maedhros and Maglor shook their heads, burying them in their hands, while Turgon and Finrod exchanged disaproving glances. Finally, Aredhal the kings daughter, stood up and in a screech that out drowned them all.

"Be silent!" She shrieked. The high-pitched shrill cut through the wave of furious voices. Immediantly silenced, their gazes locked on the feisty Noldorin princess.

"Lo! Such fearsome warriors, squabbling like a throng of children! In your ceaseless quest for the vilest of insults, you have all lost your minds! Seek reconciliation that we may continue this unhindered! Verily, you are all of an insufferable nature! I take my leave from you and this entire assembly, for I was not brought forth to watch the prattling of such a feeble headed lot!"

She stormed away, leaving the council in a cloud of silence. Like chastised children, the six stood embarrassed and silent in the wake of her departure and the heat of such a scolding. Aegnor looked over at the sons of Feänor, their fragile expressions proving to tempting to resist.

"Did your red ears catch that Caranthir?" He chimed in, "Even a princess discerns your feeble head!"

Caranthirs rage burst forth, lunging at Aegnor only to be swiftly pulled back by his brothers. Caranthir's scratchy, harsh voice hurled profanities as Aegnor's unbridled laughter danced, relishing in the chaos he had wrought. The flurry of angry voices surged once more. Finally, Maedhros rose, his dizzying height towering over the rest. Seizing Caranthir in a firm grip, he dragged his brother away. Caranthirs rage still erupting in a flurry of words. Aegnor regarded him with a creeping haughty smile and fiery gaze. Fingolfin dismissed Aegnor also from their midst, and he went peacefully, his gloating, victorious grin still wide. As the council dragged on, the council of the princes determined that they would cease their attacks on Angband and focus on fortifying their kingdoms. Much to Angrod and the kings discontent.

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Dorthonion

365 A.D

The harsh morning frost blanketed the ground, transforming the muddy terrain and decaying leaves into a dense mixture resembling a frozen soup of wet, rotting wood. As autumn neared its end, the remaining leaves gently descended, painting the landscape with hues of orange, gold, and red. Aegnor and Angrod rode together along the thick forest road, heading north towards Angband. After a night of continuous riding, the early morning hour greeted them as they crossed a shallow, icy stream.

As Aegnor trailed a short distance behind, a faint glint beneath the stream's surface caught his keen eye. He brought his horse to a halt, staring curiously at the object that beckoned his capturing hand. He dismounted, his boots splashing into the icy water, his fingers curled around the object at the bed of the stream. It lay in his warm palm as he stared down at it. A silver harp broach. Small and delicate beyond measure. Aegnors attention was soon shaken by Angrod calling out to him from the edge of the stream.

"I have stumbled upon a lost treasure belonging to a small child, I fear some catastrophe has taken place here!"

Angrod dismissed his concerns, emphasizing their need to press on. Whoever the previous owner was, they were long gone. A sudden, unrelenting feeling overcame Aegnor, an overwhelming unwillingness to abandon this poor child to the hands of fate. Without a word, Aegnor flung himself back upon his horse and galloped away, leaving Angrod behind. Before long, he picked up a trail and diligently followed it for quite a distance until it abruptly stopped. Dismounting once more, Aegnor looked around. It had gone completely cold. The freezing temperature bit at his hands, and he breathed warmth into them. His breath steamed from his mouth like a white cloud.

He closed his eyes and listened. The birds in the trees and the rustling of the insects through the dirt, the dripping of melting frost from the grass. Then, a sound soon echoed in his ears, just within range. The faint drumming of a very distant heartbeat. Aegnor launched into a sprint, leaping over fallen branches and large rocks like a deer. After running a fair distance, he entered a vast clearing within the forest, surrounded by thick trees. An eerie silence enveloped the area. His hand instinctively sought solace on the hilt of his knife as he stepped out into the open.

"I know you are there!" He called out into the foggy emptiness, "Step out from your hiding place, and no harm will come to you!" His call was met with nothing but an eerie stillness. Undeterred, he tried again, his voice slicing through the silence like a sharp blade. "Reveal yourself!"

A subtle clue caught Aegnor's keen eyes—a faint foot impression frosted over in the mud and squashed weed flowers. He followed their trail, leading his gaze toward a large boulder that protruded out of the frozen ground. He picked up a pebble, his fingers curling around it.

"Surrender yourself willingly, and no harm will come to you. You have my word!" The silence persisted. He threw the pebble. It hit the boulder and bounced off its surface, landing on the other side.

"Go away, you fell beast! Leave me alone!" A shrill voice pierced through the air, emanating from the boulder. Aegnor hesitated, his initial concern replaced by a curious intrigue. With caution guiding his steps, he edged closer.

"Step out, now!" He ordered.

"Have you come to eat me at last, foul troll?" The mysterious voice quivered

Offended, he retorted. "No!"

"You are! That is what you claimed the last time before you tried to put me in your mouth!"

"How dare you insinuate such nonsense! I am a lord, not a troll! I have no intention nor desire to 'put you in my mouth'!" Aegnor barked, deeply offended. A swift pause followed, pregnant with silence.

"You speak to me in an attempt to sway my heart to come out! I am no fool! Be gone, you vile creature! I will not be your breakfast today!" The unidentified voice screeched. Aegnor rubbed his face with his hands and snorted loudly. He couldn't believe the absolute absurdity of this situation.

"Do you not see the daylight? There are no trolls! Now stop this foolishness at once and come!" His words were halted in mid sentence by a heavy tap, accompanied by a putrid stench.

Slowly, he turned his head. On his shoulder, a greenish blob of revolting bitted slime had splattered onto his fine elven cloak. He looked up, and his wide eyes were confronted by a mouth of black and yellow teeth, remnants of a recent meal still clinging to its maw. A piercing scream erupted from the troll's throat as it lunged at Aegnor. Reacting swiftly, Aegnor ducked low and rolled away, putting much-needed distance between them. The troll came at him again with furious swipes of its massive claws. Aegnor parried each blow skilfully with his trusty blade, enduring the savage onslaught. He felt the rush of air from its claws as each time the troll would lunge forward only for Aegnor to leap out of its grasp at the last possible moment. With much of his arsenal left upon his horse, he realized he was in grave danger.

"Angrod!" He cried, his thunderous voice shaking the birds from the trees. The faint echoes of his desperate call reached Angrod, and in a moment, he spurred toward the sound.

Agility could prevail for only so long against the brute strength of the troll. In a flash of motion, the foul beast ensnared Aegnor in an iron grip. With a thunderous slam, it bashed him against the hard ground. Again and again, it pulverized him into the dirt. Gasping for air, Aegnor saw stars dance across his vision. But the troll wasn't finished. With a menacing grin, it hoisted him upward. Aegnor felt himself soar through the air before crashing into a sturdy oak with a sickening crunch. Pain erupted through his body, momentarily stunning him. As his senses reeled, the troll seized its chance. It skewered his shoulder brutally with a jagged spear, embedding the weapon deep within the wood. Trapped, Aegnor knew victory was impossible. Bur giving up was not in his nature. He mustered the strength to deliver a forceful kick to the troll's face. The blow forced the ferocious beast backwards with a loud, startled howl. It was not used to pray that fought back.

In that critical moment, the troll regained its senses and hurled once more toward Aegnor. It grabbed his arm that held the dagger and pinned it above his head. Aegnor realized that the fight was lost. The spear embedded in his shoulder stung with intense pain. The troll snarled and opened its massive, dirty clawed hand, closing around on the elf's throat. Exuding a menacing growl, its ugly face contorted with a devilish grin akin to a savage creature preparing to devour its prey.

"Come and eat me troll!" The shrill voice shrieked from behind the boulder

Surprised, the troll whirled its head around toward the source of the unexpected sound. This was Aegnor's window of escape. The quick thinking elf released the dagger from his captured hand and caught it in his other. He thrust the blade through the back of the troll's skull. The beast yelped and gurgled. The troll's body went limp and it slumped upon the ground with a heavy thud. Dark green liquid oozed from its head and mouth, pooling beneath it in a grotesque puddle.

Panting with agony, he grasped the spear in his shoulder, pinning him to the tree. With controlled breaths, he forcefully yanked it, freeing him from the troll's entrapment. He collapsed upon the ground, his voice lifting into sharp cries of searing pain. He clutched his shoulder, and it seeped with blood.

slowly, he rose to his feet. His startled grey eyes swiftly locked onto his brother's form as he finally came into view. The rhythmic gallops of his horse beating upon the ground.

"By the Valar! What in Arda happened here?!" Angrod exclaimed, his face contorted with horror.

"A troll! It attacked me from the shadows!" Aegnor winced

"In the broad daylight!?" Angrod exclaimed

The sound of a snapping twig instantly diverted their attention, causing both brothers to pivot their heads toward the source. Emerging from behind the rock was a figure clad in only a wet, dirty, pale blue dress. Her small frame clutched her chest, shivering violently. A ragged gasp of surprise echoed from Aegnor's soft lips and ran towards her. He fell to his knees before her and grasped her frozen hands.

"Child, you are freezing!" He remarked and swiftly removed his cloak, wrapping it around the shivering girl. Her small body embraced the cloaks' welcome warmth. As he worked to ensure she was tightly wrapped, she saw the outline of his pointed ears adorned with silver piercings.

"You're an elf!?" Her surprise turned to realization. "I called you a troll!" She shivered

"Hush, be still," he whispered, as if by impulse the palm of his hand immediately clasped her cheek.

His eyes met hers for the very first time. A sudden spark ignited between their souls. Her eyes, black and mysterious, drew him in. She was equally enraptured in his. A vibrant light of molten silver and flakes of gold mirrored in their depths both the sun and the moon shone forth. Both are captivating and unnerving. Slowly, he withdrew his hand from her supple, frozen cheek, a sudden, silent enchantment that caught them both off guard. An unexpected tear spilt from his eye, rolling down his face, and it drew her eyes. Aegnor swiftly wiped it away, "I am sorry!" He said abruptly, turning his face away, 'I know not from where that came!"

"What are you doing here!?" The stern, booming voice shattered the spell between their gaze, startling them both into the present. Angrod had dismounted his horse and was swiftly making his way towards them. "These woods are full of danger!"

"Quiet Angrod!" Aegnor firmly scolded him, "this poor child has been through a terrible ordeal! Do you wish to frighten her even more!?" "Aegnor-" Angrod protested before Aegnor cut him off.

"If you wish to aid me, stand in silence or bring me my horse!"

Affronted, but unwilling to utter words, he shouldn't say in the presence of a child, Angrod turned and headed into the woods, mumbling curses under his breath. Aegnor redirected his attention back to the girl, his tone softening.

"Do not let him bother you. My brother is direct, but his concern is valid." A tense pause followed between them. "Why have you come to be out here all alone? Do you not know the danger you were in?" He asked gently

"I was separated from my father," she shivered, her jaw chattering. "I wandered alone for two days," Her sweet voice, trembling with the cold, melted him. Her guileless, storm grey eyes brimmed with innocence and youth. "By nightfall, I came to the bank to drink... and I was seized by that fell creature! Doubtless, he thought I would make a light snack, but I was too swift on my feet. His only prize was my cloak,"

"You wandered these woods alone for two entire days!?" He asked softly, amazement palpable in his calm voice.

"To find my way home, yes... " she chittered. "Although... I'm not sure of the way," she answered, her vulnerability palpable.

"From where do you hail?"

"Ladros,"

A tense sigh clouded from his nostrils, blowing gently into her face. "Well, fear no longer, your harrowing trials are behind you, now come! Put your arms around my neck." With one effortless sweep, he hoisted her small frame up and carried her just as Angrod appeared with Aegnor's reins clasped in his gloved hand.

("Aegnor! Have you lost your senses? The fumes of Angband would certainly kill her!") Angrod exclaimed in their native tongue, ensuring their words remained out of the child's understanding. Aegnor, however, paid no attention and carefully placed her on his horse, grunting loudly as his shoulder protested the effort.

("I am not bringing her to Angband!") Aegnor replied similarly, ("I am taking this girl back to her parents. You will have to proceed without me,")

("Ladros is at least a day's journey from here. It will take too long,") Angrod argued

("What do you propose Angrod!?") Aegnor snapped. ("If the wolves don't get her, then the orc's for a certainty will! If you even think we are leaving her here you -")

("I would never suggest such a thing!") Angrod interrupted ("You know, as well as I do Aegnor, that the threat we face is grave, trolls appearing in daylight! I need you in Angband! I will escort her.")

Aegnor stared silently, contemplating Angrods words with great consideration.

("Nay,") Aegnor replied with a firm shake of his head ("I am bound to this girls charge, the mantle falls on me") Without another word, he spun away and mounted up. switching to the common tongue he announced boldly. "I will join you once I have finished here. I shall not tarry long!"

With a swift motion, he urged his horse into a gallop and rode away toward the trees, the child safely nestled in front of him. Angrod bid him farewell, urging Aegnor to make haste, a complex blend of affection and pride swelled within him for his sibling. Despite their clashes, their bond ran deep. He smiled to himself and mounted his own horse, pressing onward to Angband alone.

Riding together, they crossed the river and ventured into the woods, the rhythmic thumping of galloping hooves being the only sound between them. A multitude of questions fluttered in Aegnor's mind, but only one did he desire to ask.

"What is your name child?"

Her response came in a soft, measured voice, "Andreth... what is yours?"

"Aegnor is my name, fairest girl" he replied softly, casting an enchanting smile upon her dark head.

"Aegnor..." she whispered. His name echoed within her mouth, her tone filled with wonder as she spoke it.

Together, they rode along the mountain cliffs and deep valleys. The breath taking views and chirping winter birds, their songs marking this fateful day. At last, she felt safe again, spurring onward towards home.