I sometimes think about Fingolfin being the sole Uncle looking after all his nephews/niece/kids. Like, thereâs 16 children. Before taking the HelcaraxĂ« he no doubt promised Finarfin that he would take care of them. And I feel like once he found out about FĂ«anor, and especially saw the state of Maedhros, he silently promised his half brother heâd do his best to look after them too. Not that he wasnât going to anyway.
But the burden that must have been, especially with how volatile and independant all these kids are. Oh they might be grown. But heâll never see them as such. Even now he remembers Nelyoâs birth and how the baby would toddle after him, crying when it was time to leave. Curvo going through all his mechanical devices, Turukano right behind him as Fingolfin explained where each came from and listened to the children tell him all about the workings. Carnistir carefully running little hands over the embroidery of his cloak, AnairĂ« laughing quietly and explaining the techniques that went into it. Ambarussa and all the chaos they caused, enough so that FĂ«anor and Nerdanel would dump them at his house for days at a time, usually a couple of brothers tagging along. Tyelko and IrissĂ« wrestling in the mud, neither group of parents knowing what to do when they trudged in, a sticky trail behind them.
FindekĂĄnoâs duets with MakalaurĂ«, the little musician quietly asking to play before his uncle and cousin to make sure it was perfect before he showed his father. Finno, Nelyo, and Findarato encouraging him with whoops, Fingolfin and AnairĂ« applauding with wide smiles at the end as he was swarmed by his cousins and brother. The fourâs âsecretâ sleepovers whenever they were in the same place. Aikanaro and AngamaitĂ« raiding his kitchens, Fingolfin joining in with a finger on his lips, helping steal pastries in the middle of the night. Artanis insisting she could join in whatever game his boys were playing, Ireth backing her with a scowl until they were let in. Little Orodreth and his own Arakano, friends since birth. The screams of delight whenever they saw each other.
Despite everything, or maybe because of everything, he doesnât know. All of them are now his children. He couldnât stop the FĂ«anorions from taking the most dangerous lands because he had no argument to give. He canât stop Turno and Ingo from making hidden kingdoms and taking Ireth and Artaresto with them. He couldnât save little Arakano. He canât stop Artanis hiding in Doriath, although heâs grateful at least one of his kids is safe⊠even if that safety comes with disowning the rest of her family.
He canât even protect little TyelpĂ« and ItarillĂ« who never asked for any of this.
So when the Dagor Bragollach comes and he hears Aegnor and Angrod are definitely dead, Curufin, Celegorm, and Celebrimbor might as well be for the trail of bodies leading to Doriath and the mass murder at the Girdle, Maglorâs land has been burned so far beyond recognition, they canât even *find* bodies, Turgon, Idril, and Aredhel he wouldnât even know if they were killed, and he hasnât heard from Finrod in months-
So he makes a last ditch attempt because maybe, just maybe, he can make their battle the slightest bit easier. Give his kids if any of them survive a weakness to exploit. A slight advantage to turn the tablesâŠ
A stab to the foot does the trick. Morgoth will be limping on that one for millennia.
He hopes his brothers can forgive him.
