it is not a sacrifice if you lose nothing in the giving
Series compiled by atlantablack
The pomegranate juice on Cain’s hands and the lamb’s blood on Abel’s are the same red. But there are tears running down Abel’s cheeks, hot and fast and guilty, because his hands were the ones that caught his animal when it tumbled out of its mother, and now they are the ones that killed it. He wipes at his face, smearing blood on his cheek by accident. He has never been more ashamed. He has never looked more like his father.
Spurned, unadored by God, with ruby pulp in his clenched fists, Cain resembles their other parent.
Prove to me your love, says the hungry God.
It is not a sacrifice if you lose nothing in the giving.
Cain puts down the fruit, breathes through the dread that washes over him, and looks at his brother
THE OFFERING - Nathaniel Orion
- Series Information
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Summary:
In which Fingolfin is tired and everyone else is just along for the ride, even if they would really rather not be.
Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Lalwen, Findis, Finarfin, Finwë, Indis
Major Relationships: Fëanor & Fingolfin, Fëanor & Finarfin & Findis & Fingolfin & Lalwen, Fingolfin & Finwë, Fingolfin & Indis, Fëanor & Finwë
Genre: Alternate Universe, Drama, Family, Hurt/Comfort
Challenges:
Fanworks in "it is not a sacrifice if you lose nothing in the giving"
you're in the wind, i'm in the water by atlantablack
Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Creator Chooses Not to Warn
Fingolfin feels like part of him is still stuck in Beleriand, blood on his teeth and an all-consuming anger splintering out of control. Like he'll blink and once again see Morgoth's foot coming down. He wants. What does he want? He does not wish to be dead. He is, he supposes, grateful for this chance to fix things as much as they can be fixed. But he wants.
He wants for Fëanor to know him. Wants to work through all the ugly words and acts of violence that had divided them and come out the other side better for it. He cannot throw all the scathing anger in his chest at a brother who does not understand. Cannot scream at this Fëanor for burning the boats, for leaving them to the ice, for Elenwë, for Arakáno, for the countless others who had followed him and paid for it. And so what is he meant to do with the anger? He cannot swallow it all down forever and also salvage his relationship with Fëanor in this new song.
He wants, he thinks, watching a potter unmake a bowl that was marred, to un-sing himself as well.
Am I My Brother's Keeper? by atlantablack
Warnings: Violence (Moderate)
Later, Fëanáro will look back on this moment, on finding Melkor bearing down on Ñolofinwë, and try to brush off the panic that had gone striking through him as irrelevant. It is a panic he would have felt no matter who was engaged in such a foolish fight and so, it does not matter.
Lies, even to oneself, work best when they are shrouded in truth. This does not make them less of a lie.
Or: Loop 4 & a glimpse into Fëanáro's thoughts at the start.
monotone heartline by atlantablack
Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn
Later, when Ñolofinwë is once more drifting off to sleep, she says to Fëanáro, “Thank you," keeping her voice carefully even. She does not know what it cost Fëanáro to reach out to her when he has never before done so. Is thankful that he paid the cost and allowed her to be present.
"Which hurts more? Losing the one who gave you life or losing the one who you gave life to?" Fëanáro asks in a low voice, eyes fixed on Ñolofinwë’s chest, on the slow comfort of his continued breathing.
"Does it matter which hurts more?” She cannot believe that it does. “Pain is not a competition, Fëanáro. Even if I did lose my son to exhaustion, I would not set my pain on a scale against yours."
Or: Loop 5 & the conversation between Indis & Fëanáro after Ñolofinwë fell asleep.
