The Unread Vision of a Higher Dream II: The Light Under the Mountain by Prackspoor
Fanwork Notes
Part 2 of the series The Unread Visions of a Higher Dream.
Part 1: Equinox
Part 3: This Dreamcrossed Twilight
An ongoing translation of this story into 中文-普通话 國語 is available on AO3: 【授翻】【安牌安】The Light Under the Mountain 山下之光 by Aasta_Lynx
This fic was a long time in the making.
I initially started writing it because I really wanted to write a oneshot in which Celebrimbor and Annatar visit Moria. Obviously, though, the story didn't stop at once scene, or at two, or at thirty, and before long, it was a oneshot no longer and I was neck-deep into researching Second Age timelines, Dwarven culture, and Tolkienian languages on the internet, while visiting museums to give myself an idea of the origins of smithing and what mining in the ancient times was like.
In the end, the once-envisioned oneshot had turned into a long exploration of friendship and love, of faith and loyalty and different cultures, of flaws and forgiveness. It covers a definitely AU, but nonetheless very important and formative time period for both Celebrimbor and Annatar.
As for the setting, the story takes places at a point shortly before the Great Rings are made. Celebrimbor and Annatar are already very close friends at this point, but they have not yet begun their greatest creations. However, in this AU their visit to Khazad-Dûm is going to impact their later work significantly.
I certainly could not have done it without the help of the ever-wonderful RaisingCaiin. Your help in editing the story was indispensable and as a result it now has so many more good scenes that were inspired by your suggestions. Thank you so much.
I also want to thank thearrogantemu for allowing me to use “Kurfi” in my story. (He might have gained another few names on the side.)
That's it for the announcements. I hope you all enjoy the story.
- Fanwork Information
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Summary:
Celebrimbor and Annatar stopped before the steps leading up to the throne, and the steward who had brought them here bowed deeply before the king. “Greetings to you, Durin, the Wise, and Father under the Mountain – my king. As you wished, I went to the gates to welcome our old friend Celebrimbor Curufinwë, and the friend he has brought with him, tidings of whom must have reached you already.”
“They have indeed. And most curious tidings they were,” Durin said, his sharp eyes roving over Annatar. The Maia was looking up at him, standing tall and proud, and as of yet had shown no inclination to either bow or kneel before him.
Slowly, Durin descended the steps until he was at eye level with his two guests, then turned so he was facing Celebrimbor. “Á-namárië, Telperinquar Cúrufinwion,” the king said in Quenya. “It has been a long time since we last saw each other. I trust you have been well.”
Celebrimbor and Annatar visit the Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-Dûm. Memories are revisited. Bonds are broken and reforged. Friendships and loyalties are put to the test as cultures clash and worldviews waver. In the end, more than one lesson is learned by everyone, and not all of them without pain or sorrow.
Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron
Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron
Genre: Adventure, Alternate Universe, Drama
Challenges:
Rating: Teens
Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn
Chapters: 14 Word Count: 143, 392 Posted on Updated on This fanwork is complete.
Show all chapters on a single page
Table of Contents
Celebrimbor and Annatar arrive at the Kingdom Under The Mountain, and Celebrimbor meets a very old friend.
Celebrimbor and Annatar are brought before King Durin and Celebrimbor reunites with numerous other friends from his time in Khazad-Dûm as a welcoming party is held.
After the upheaval of their arrival has subsided, Celebrimbor and Annatar spend some leisure time together, exploring the city of Khazad-Dûm and a very special library. On the way they discover an enigmatic piece of literature, and Celebrimbor starts teaching his immortal friend the language of Dwarves.
In which Celebrimbor gets an invitation to a very special occasion, while Annatar discusses worldviews and cosmovisions. Also, the two friends get into an argument.
In which two friends go their separate ways.
In which a reunion of friends turns into the revelation of a vast divide.
With their unresolved argument putting a strain on his relationship with Annatar, Celebrimbor and his friends descend to the Deep Paths. Darkness and secrets liehidden in the oldest places under the mountains - more than even Celebrimbor could fathom...
In which we turn back the wheel of time.
In which two friends rise to greatness - together and apart from each other.
In which the arrival of a newcomer thoroughly changes the dynamics between two very old friends.
In which Celebrimbor descends into the abyss for a second time.
In which lost things are found, divided souls reunite, and things that have been broken come, at last, back together.
In which the story comes to a close, and a journey reaches its end.
In which both Celebrimbor and Annatar each take a leap that they did not dare take in another world.
Celebrimbor and Annatar made a lot of decisions over the course of their friendship and collaboration. Some of them were negligible in their effect and consequence; others so momentous that they shaped the future of an entire continent and changing them would have meant rewriting history. Not always was the importance of these decisions obvious; sometimes the two friends would pass one of these great crossroads without even noticing it.
Let us look at one of these points of divergence. Here is what might have happened in another version of the story.
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