Now you gotta write a Taeglin fic. For science.
[anon you canât tempt me like this!! i have other fics to writeâŠ!!!]
The kingâs daughter smiled, and TĂșrinâs breath caught; her gaze alighted upon himâŠand rested on the man beside him. His cousin, Tuor.
It was an echo of his time in Nargothrond; only this time, something within him told him that her heart would not turn to him as Finduilasâ had. Ah, Finduilas! lost and slain! Tears sprang to his eyes unbidden at the thought, and he gripped the hilt of Gurthang with a trembling fist.
From the shadows to the right of the King crept a man. His hair was dark, his eyes sharp; he seemed to be shrouded in twilight even in the brightness of the sun. The elven lord, for surely he was of noble birth to stand so close to the King, watched the golden-haired princess with the same bitterness that pricked TĂșrinâs heart, moving to gaze upon Tuor with a cool distrustâŠonly to settle his eyes on the man beside him. TĂșrin.
They locked eyes and at the behest of some inner foreboding TĂșrin unsheathed his blade in the same moment as the elf lord; around them the guards stiffened, drew weapons of their own, but TĂșrin stood stupefied as he gazed upon the brother-blade of his own sword in the elfâs hand.
âWhy have you my fatherâs sword?â demanded the elf.
âWho are you?â the elf hissed, stepping forward. âThis man is the messenger of Ulmo, or so he claims, but you are no pawn of the Valar.â
TĂșrin drew himself up. The elder cousin from the elder son ought not to be forgotten in the glory of Tuorâs triumphant message! His father, also, had walked in Gondolin; his father, also, had broken bread with the King.
âI am TĂșrin, son of HĂșrin, cousin of Tuor,â he declared, âand this blade I carry in remembrance of my belovedââ he flinched at the memory, saw the Kingâs eyes narrowed, and added hurriedlyâ âmy beloved friend Beleg CĂșthalion, marchwarden of Doriath.â
âThingol dared not even wield the blade he wrested from my sire,â the elf lord said scornfully, but a guarded respect shone within his piercing eyes as he lowered the sword. âThat is Anglachel, mate of my sword Anguirel, forged of a star by Eöl my father. I am Maeglin, sister-son to the King, child of Aredhel Ar-Feiniel and the Lord of Nan Elmoth, and that sword is mine by right.â
TĂșrin bowed formally, his gaze steadily matching Maeglinâs own. âI have fought many a battle with this blade at my side, and have dubbed it Gurthang,â he warned, âand I will not give it up without struggle.â
âThen let us duel!â Maeglin exclaimed, and TĂșrin could not halt a smile from creeping across his face; at last, an opponent worthy of himself! The princessâs favor for Tuor over him was forgotten as he assessed Maeglinâhe was darkly handsome, swift in mind, the same height as TĂșrin himself if more lithe in the elven manner.
âStop!â exclaimed Tuor, and he rushed to stand between the warriors. âThis is a momentous meeting; surely we can reach an agreement in peace?â
âYes, cease your fighting,â spake the King, lifting his voice at last. âTuor son of Huor and TĂșrin son of HĂșrin. You are both welcome in the city of Gondolin as your fathers before you, but I ask that you reserve your quarrels for the practice court. We shall discuss the ownership of the sword at a later date.â
TĂșrin and Maeglin sheathed their blades reluctantly, but TĂșrin did not break eye contact with the elf lord. There was something about him that was familiar, akin perhaps to Gwindor in his nobility and the shadows in his heart. TĂșrin was no elf, but he was attuned to the music of the world in a way that many were not, and there was a foreboding in his mind that the fates of he and Maeglin were wound together beyond the kinship of their swords, though in harmony or discord he knew not yet.
Maeglin at last looked away, but glancing back again, TĂșrin could tell he felt it too.