Coin of Eregion by flame_of_the_noldor  

Annatar entered Celebrimbor’s massive bedroom and workshop as daylight dimmed with the coming sunset, bathing the room in warm golden light. A long day of work had preceded them much of it focused on the Rings. 

Celebrimbor had already found his way into bed, having laid back comfortably to stare outside at the oncoming dusk. He smiled as Annatar walked inside the room, already prepared for rest, despite Annatar not requiring it as often as an elf. It made Celebrimbor feel happier and more comfortable to have Annatar lie in bed with him. 

Annatar made his way to the dark stone fireplace on the other side of the room and quickly lit a small fire with a snap of his fingers, enough to keep the room warm and comfortable as the night drew closer. He drew the curtains back and ensured that the door outside to the balcony was closed and secured.

Soon, with a smile, Annatar joined Celebrimbor in bed and quickly slipped underneath the warm fur covers to chase away the chill that had settled in the room.

Celebrimbor began to flip and turn a coin in his hand while he laid back in bed, still staring off into the distant forest that lay beyond the window.

“Tyelpë, what is that?” Annatar asked, pointing to the coin.

“Oh, this old coin?”, Celebrimbor smiled. “It was the first coin ever minted in Eregion. I keep it in my pocket for good luck.”

“Would you like to see it?”, he asked before gleefully placing the coin in Annatar’s open palm.

Annatar laid back and turned the coin over in his hand. It was a simple bronze coin engraved with an eight pointed star, the symbol of the House of Fëanor, overlaid with a holly leaf and three berries, the heraldry representing the land of Eregion. The coin was slightly misshapen on the edges as if hand forged, and the surface engraving was starting to wear away as if it was continuously rubbed by anxious fingers.

“I remember when it was first given to me, you know.”, Celebrimbor said softly. “It was long before you had come here Annatar, not long after I founded Eregion. The minter gifted it to me as a thank you for creating the realm of Eregion, where his family could finally live in peace after the War of Wrath.”

Celebrimbor sighed and continued, “When I founded Eregion and Ost-in-Edhil, I wanted it to be a sanctuary, a place where truth and creativity were valued, where everyone was protected from the evils that had plagued Beleriand, and that had followed us into Eriador. I did not wish to follow in the steps of my father and uncle, whose deception brought the ruin of Nargothrond.”

He turned back toward Annatar, “That is why I chose a holly leaf to represent Eregion, and why I still honor my ancestry, in the hopes that Tyelperinquar, son of Curufin, who is son of Fëanor, may heal this world and whose creations will be used to create, instead of destroy.”

Sauron looked at the coin one last time. A small part of him hoped that maybe he could live a happier life with Celebrimbor and set aside all that he had done and hoped to do. Perhaps he could ask for forgiveness from the Valar. Maybe he could become Mairon again, admirable and loved, not for his cruelty, but for his creativity and kindness.

The Valar would never forgive you for what you have done, another voice in his head whispered. You are beyond redemption now. And why would you seek redemption from them? Aulë did not care when you left Aman. The Valar did not care about restoring order when the light of the Two Trees was dimmed by Ungoliant the Devourer. Once the Rings are created, all power over the Earth shall be yours. Order shall be restored, and all will be as it ought to be.

He stared up at the ceiling, coin in hand, and sighed. 

“Is something wrong, Annatar?”, Celebrimbor asked softly.

“No, nothing is wrong, Tyelpë. Just considering our plans for the future. What our creations, the Rings, mean for us and our relationship. What would become of us once the Rings are complete.”, Annatar answered pensively.

He didn’t have the heart to tell Celebrimbor about the war that was being waged in his mind, about who he really was. There would come a time where he would need to reveal himself, but tonight was not the night.

He glanced over to see a smile had formed on Celebrimbor’s sweet face. 

“The Rings will help so many Annatar. Like you have told me before, we will help birth a new prosperous age across the land. Man, Elf, and Dwarf will stand together as one.”

“And what that means for us?”, His tone turned wistful. “I like to think that we’ll still be together, enjoying life and each other. Maybe, one day, perhaps we’ll be wed. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Annatar felt sick and guilty. Yes, he did want to be wed to Tyelpë, but he knew that Tyelpë would never agree with his plans now if he knew who Annatar truly was. Tyelpë would hate him, and seek his destruction, like his ancestors had before him.

Instead he forced a smile onto his face, “Yes Tyelpë, that would be wonderful.”

“I love you Annatar”, Tyelpë responded, so sweetly that Sauron could feel it grip his heart like a vice.

“I love you too Tyelpë”, Annatar responded with a soft smile that vanished as quickly as soon as Tyelpë closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep, leaving Annatar, Sauron, Mairon, whoever he was now, alone in his mind once more.

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