#telufinwe

“Nerdanel told me so before I left,” he replied, “I was looking for Ñolofinwe.”

It might have hurt if that is what he had meant by it. But always it is half-words with this one, meaning and purpose washed away with soft tone. Fëanáro sighed, it’s exhausting sometimes and he was so very tired.

“Peace,” he tutted, “He’s very fond of you and so has been keeping distance from me.”

Arafinwë had come to his side, resting his arms on the window sill. The sea breeze tugs at his golden hair and even Feanaro can’t deny how it suits him. He looked him over, wondering as he often did when he was near, if they shared any blood at all. Then something in the distance caught his eye.

Where the beach ended at the treeline began, flashes of red. He leaned across and see what could be a pair of dark figures disappear under the leaves. That fear that simmered in the back of his mind surged forward with no warning. Not tonight, surely?

“Nerdanel was with you, you say?” he said, voice steady even as his heart skipped a beat.

“Yes?”

“Who’s watching the children?“

“Maitimo was putting them to bed – “

“Maitimo is hiding under the stairs with Findekáno!” Fëanáro hissed as he stormed passed him.

The twins were put to bed in the same nursery as Artanis, only half a year older. Every step towards it felt like a running a mile. He could hear Ara’s footsteps behind him, though he had not the presence of mind to send him off. Perhaps, if he was here, they would not come. He was always alone when they come. Perhaps, he thinks desperately, he will ward them off.

He burst into the room, drawing a startled squeal for his niece. For a moment he can breath again. The little girl looked up at him with big blue eyes. Her little arm reached out of the crib in the direction of where the other two ought to have been.

His head turned almost against his own will. It is as though the ground disappeared from beneath him but still he stood, unable look away. Two empty beds and a cool, salt stained breeze pulling at the curtains by the open window. Not in all the nightmares he’d been enduring had he thought…

Ara joined them. A selfish, viscous part of him wanted to slap him for the relief on his face at the sight of his own daughter. But almost immeadialty he grew grave.

“I will gather some people to search,” he said infuriatingly calm, “they can’t be far.”

“No,” he gasped, “no, I must be alone.”

He raced through the house, paying no heed to any around him. Down the footpath at the back of the gardens and plunged into the forest. The light of the stones kept him from stumbling but he fears it shows him up like a beacon.

“Ambarussa,” he called out over and over until his voice was raw. But he could not stop. They were his children. They took his children. Soon the words lose any sort of coherency. Fëanáro ran haphazard through the trees until he couldn’t get a word passed his own ragged breaths.

He snapped around at the sound of footsteps. Arafinwë emerges from the undergrowth and he very nearly snarled. What was he doing here, why was he always here?!?

“I said to Get Away!” He cried out, though the words flailed with no bite or direction.

“You need help.”

“You can’t help me!” He backed away from him only to ram into the rough bark of a tree. The forest seemed to close in around him and he find it so hard to even breathe. Suddenly he felt warm arms wrap around him.

“I have to- I must go…” he snapped and tried to push them away to no avail, “I must find them”

“You will not find them like this!” Arafinwë shouted over his racing thoughts.

That was strange. He hadn’t known he could do that. Suddenly he was so very aware of Arafinwe’s deep soft heartbeat. He focused on nothing else until he could match in in time. The sea hummed faintly in the back of his mind and he shuddered. There was movement in the boughs above them.

“Damn you,” came a voice from the dark, “And you’re damned jewels.”

“Ambarussa,” Feanaro untangled himself and stepped forward only to be cut off by an arrow landing less than half an inch from his foot.

“No further.”

“Or what? You would maim me.”

In the shadows he saw him pass the child to his brother. Then he slipped onto the ground without a sound. The boy shyed away from the light as though it burnt but even so he would not flee.

“I shall send you to your mother in the halls so that we may all be spared the grief.” he said in a hollow voice.

“Pityo,” the other whispered but was answered with a hiss. Fëanáro’s heart lurched as he heard one of the little ones mumbling in his arms.

“Come now, let us not - ”

“Now you have something to say, Finarfin?” Amras said with more than enough venom to silence him. It was a strange comfort though, to know he saw them too. No small part of him had wondered if he was simply going mad.

“Return the children to us, Pityafinwë,” he tried to put some sterness into his tone but knew he fell short. If he could only stop shaking. Drawing near again the night is cut by the ringing of a sword. Fëanáro would laugh, it is difficult to tell in the half-light but the sword may well be one of his own.

“No further.” The boy shook his head. Tears spill across his cheeks but his expression doesn’t change, “I won’t let you near him again.”

“Pityo,” comes the voice from the shadows again.

“You will not remain here,” Fëanáro spoke softly. This is his son. “None of you have. You will strand them in the wilds, they will die.”

A pained look flickered acros Amras’ face.

“A better fate,” he said finally, and then more softly, “I, at least, would deserve it.”

“And your brother?”

He strode forward at that. Fëanáro is surprised to see Arafinwë start at his side as the blade hovered by his own neck. Pityafinwë’s face is still turned away but his eyes burn with a terrible fury.

“Don’t you dare! You killed him.”

Fëanáro looked down the blade. The boy’s hand was shaking. A strange peace settled against his chest that, suddenly, made him feel quite out of place in this dark forest. He can hear the boys argue but it is as though they are somewhere else entirely, like a memory or a dream.

“Pityo, he didn’t know,” he heard Telufinwë say. He has joined them on the ground. There are terrible burn scars that spread up one of his arms, along his neck and the side of his face. One of his eyes is a dead milky white, “You said he didn’t know”

“It doesn’t matter, It wouldn’t have mattered if he did! He - “

“No.” He said was found that it was enough to cut him off, so he continued, “I would never do anything to hurt any of you.”

He knew it. He knew it like he knew Teleprion’s light would wan soon and Laurëlin would peer just enough over the ridges of the Pelori, and bathe the sea in gold. He knew it like he knew Nõlo was less than a day from saying something stupid. Like he knew Arafinwë would hover and he snap and Nerdanel would sigh and usher him away. He knew it like he knew Maitimo was under the stairs with Findekáno right now and would sulk the entire way home. Some things just were.

“I would never hurt any of you,” he said again and sagged in relief. Whatever happened, whatever was coming he understood now, it wouldn’t be this. It simply couldn’t be, “I love you more than anything.”

“Anything?”

He heard the edge in the single word. Telvo turned to him and he did not flinch. A feral, hungry shadow seemed cast on his face, that though it pained him Fëanáro was coming to recognise. And he realised, after a moment that he was not looking at him at all. His hand moved to the gems entangled in his hair. Telvo’s gaze moved back down to him, his offer clear.

There is a moment of fear and pride and something unnamed but ugly that wrapped around his fëa and made his hands clench around his greatest creations. There would be no others like it, it whispered, if you lose it now, you will lose it forever

But it is gone as soon as it comes. He made them for his children after all. The circlet on his head was always heavy but it felt as if it bore twice it weight as he lifted it off his head.

“Arafinwë.” He asked, never taking his eyes off the boys. Arafinwë’s presence is like a steady anchor, so dependable that it is difficult to notice most of the time. Fëanaro leaned into it now as the Silmarils glow in his hand.

Arafinwë stepped forward to take the children.

“Wait.” Pityafinwë looked between the twins and the Silmaril taut as a bow string until at last he screamed. He threw his sword to the ground and strode away but could not break past the circle of light. His brother offered him not comfort or admonition. He just waited.

“I won’t hurt them, Pityo.” Fëanáro said gently, “I won’t hurt him, I swear.”

The boy shuddered. Out of the corner eye he saw Telvo return the children to Arafinwë. He took a step forward. The boy’s copper curls shiver, he knew he was crying and had long gotten used to not understanding why. When he placed his free hand on his shoulder, he froze.

“Take them, it’s alright. They are yours.”

Pityafinwë turned sharply. His hand closed around gems. He winced but no sound escaped his lips. Suddenly and with agonising clarity Fëanáro’s mind flew back to his first child. His scarred hand. His heart leapt in his mouth

“Let it go!”

“I will not,” Pityafinwë stared down at his hand. Oh Valar, his could smell it. His expression shuddered for a moment, “I… I cannot.”

“You can,” Fëanáro insisted, grabbing ahold of his wrist, “you can put it down, they are yours, didn’t I say so.”

“You meant that.” His voice was thin and watery

“Pityo, my little one, didn’t I say so, whatever I can give you is yours,” he tried to pry his fingers away, “please ”

Pityo fell forward into his father’s arms and Fëanáro did not hesitate to pull him close.

“I want to go home.”

The coronet was dropped somewhere between them. He did not care, just nodded into his hair.

“Whatever you want.”

He did not move from where they sat, save to pull the other hanging a little away down also into his embrace. He wept and let them weep onto his shoulders. Soft apologies and comforts he whispered between the two of them, until Laurëlin light began to swell over the mountains.

And then they were gone.

Arafinwë came beside him and after a long moment he rose and took one of the children from his arms. Telvo, stirred a little, warm in a way that could have only been possible with enchantment and the last of he fear melts away. They walked in a silence Fëanáro would usually despise out of the trees and along the beach.

His brother stopped after a while and looked out at the waves. Fëanáro hung back beside him, but his impatience returned with the son. He is about to urge them on when Arafinwë speaks.

“In my dreams, my sons burn.” He said, eye fixed on the ever-dark horizon, “I don’t know how it happens, I just know I’m not there.”

Fëanáro takes a deep breath but whatever twisted thing that had made his home in his chest for Varda knows how long seems to have dislodged itself entirely. “It will not happen.”

“How can you be so sure - “

“You don’t know that.”

“Because you would not leave them alone, not knowing what you know now.”

“I know you. Well, better than I used to.” Fëanáro sighed and turned on his heel to start back toward the house, “Besides, should some time come where you cannot be there, I will watch over them.”

“Truly?”

“Yes, now stop fussing.”

“I misseded you so much!” Vanifinwë said to her Pityo before pulling away from him and leaning towards Telufinwë, who reached to take her from Pityafinwë. Her arms also came around his neck to hug him close to her, and Telufinwë rubbed her back tenderly as he held her. 

They had been gone on a hunting excursion for the last couple of weeks, missing out on a lot of the excitement that was going on in the household. So had Tyelkormo but Vanifinwë had seen her Tyelko already, who promised her that Pityo and Telvo would play with her when they got home. 

“Will you guys play with me?” Vanifinwë asked, Nelyafinwë was busy with their grandfather and Atya. Makalaure was gone for a recital today, and Carnistir was particularly in a mood now that Tyelkormo was back. And Curvo… Well Curvo never wanted to play with Vanifinwë. At least, not in the ways she wanted to play. 

“Of course we will nesa! We will have lots of fun together and everything!” Pityafinwë said not thinking about what she might have up her sleeve, and they both watched as a big and happy grin spread across her face at the idea that they were going to come and play with her. 

“YAY!” Vanifinwë squealed out, clapping her hands together and the twins began to chuckle at her reaction. The little one began to wiggle out of Telufinwë’s hold, forcing him to set her down and she was quick to grab both of their hands and begin to try and drag them along. 

“What are we going to play, Vani?” Telufinwë asked her and Vanifinwë thought for a long moment as they began their trek through the halls to her bedroom. Where there the games could begin and Vanifinwë had the perfect game in mind. She needed their help with talking to Tyelkormo and she was going to make them extra pretty for the occasion. 

“It’s a secret.” She whispered out to him, as she continued to drag them down the halls, the pair only exchanged a look between one another. They had an inkling as to where this was going and she didn’t want to get rejected. Both of them sighed out softly knowing that makeup was going to be involved undoubtedly. 

They only silently continued their trek through the hallway, both of them deciding it was best not to argue with her whims and desires seeing as she had been without them for so long. Before the finally came to her bedroom door, for it to open and there they saw chaos in her room. Stuffing was everywhere, dolls were torn apart, it looked as though her room had been ransacked, and the only thing that seemed to be safe was King Rabbit that she had Nelyo put up high when she left the room this morning. Knowing this was going to happen. 

“Vani? What happened to your room?” Pityafinwë asked as she continued to lead them in before letting go of their hands and pointing to the chairs for them to sit in. Both brothers exchanged another glance between one another and sighed out moving to pick up the knocked over chairs and sitting down in them. While Vanifinwë came over to her dresser to start pulling makeup out of it, before she came over to them with a palette in hand and stopped in front of them. 

“I needs to make you pretty, so you can talk to Tyelko.” Vanifinwë said beginning her explanation as she dug her finger into a copper shade on the palette and came to Telufinwë to smear it all over his eyelids. 

“And why do we need to talk to Tyelko? What does it have to do with your room?” Telufinwë asked her as she continued- generously- applying copper eyeshadow to his lids. Vanifinwë paused and sighed as Telufinwë opened his eyes, 

“Because his puppies keeps getting in here and tearing up my stuffs.” She said to him, before she moved over to Pityafinwë and dug her finger around in a deep chocolate brown shade and Pityo closed his eyes. 

“Have you tried talking to him about it Vani?” Pityafinwë asked her and Vanifinwë began to nod her head as she drug her finger over his eyelids and smearing the brown around wildly over his eyelids. Telufinwë only began to snort at the mess she was making on his twins face, at least now people would be able to tell them apart for a short period of time, 

“Yes, and he says I should just keeps my door closed. But Amme won’t let me close my doors ‘cause I can’ts open it by myself.” Vanifinwë said to him, and pulled away to march right back to her dresser indignantly, Pityafinwë shot Telufinwë a glare for his snorting. But it didn’t last long as he began to crack up at the copper bits all over his face too. At least he wasn’t the only one who looked crazy. 

Vanifinwë marched back over with a blush brush in hand and a palette of blush… or maybe bronzer as Amme had called it before. They knew enough about makeup now thanks to Vanifinwë and what little bit their Amme used, 

“Well that’s not very fair.” Telufinwë said with a frown as he watched Vanifinwë swirl the brush into the bronzer before she started on Pityafinwë’s cheeks, applying a heavy orangey brown to his cheeks, and jaw and temple. None of it blended in so he just had spots of “tan” applied to his face. Telufinwë grinned at the sight of him and his now orange face, oh this was just too good. Even if he knew he was next, it was hilarious to see what happened to his brother at Vanifinwë’s hands. 

“How do I look, Vani?” Pityafinwë asked her, and Vanifinwë paused to admire her work for a moment. 

“Very tan.” She said simply marching back to the dresser and pulling out a different palette of blush, this time it was absolutely a true orange. Telufinwë pulled his lips into a thin line as she dipped her brush in it and approached him and it was Pityafinwë’s turn to begin chuckling at the sight of what was about to happen. 

“Why thank you, are you going to make Telvo tan?” Pityafinwë asked, and Vanifinwë shrugged dragging the brush across his nose and cheeks. 

“No just blushes. But will you guys talk to Tyelko for me? Please?” She asked as she pulled the brush away from his face and looked up at him with big pleading eyes. Telufinwë felt his heart swell before he looked to Pityafinwë and they both began to nod. 

“Yes Vani, we will talk to Tyelko for you.” Telufinwë answered for both of them, and they both watched the way that she began to smile and jump up and down with excitement. 

“Thank you hanyo’s!” She squeaked out and they both began to laugh at her excitement, and probably relief that an adult was going to speak with him. Even if they only had eighty years on her, they were still indeed older than she. Vanifinwë hurried to go and put the blush away, before she began to dig around for jewelry in another drawer. 

Both twins held still as she attached clip on earrings and put necklaces over their head, layering so many that their necks felt heavy before she hurried off to her toy bin. Still they didn’t move, simply waiting to see what she would do, before she came out with a cape in each hand.

“Here put these on.” She directed firmly and they both took a black cape from her hands. A cape that was only Vanifinwë sized, but that didn’t stop them from doing as she said.Tying the cape around their necks and making sure the little bit of it draped down their backs. 

“How do we look, Vani?” Telufinwë asked, and Vanifinwë looked at them for a moment and hummed, placing a hand on her chin as her finger tapped her cheek. Her frilly pink gown swaying as she did so, 

“Beautiful! You looks amazing!” Vanifinwë finally decided bouncing in place for a moment, before she ran over to grab their hands and pull them up out of the chairs. The twins got up from their seats and let her pull them along out of the room and down the hallway. Vanifinwë didn’t say anything as she stood between them, holding each of their hands as they began to try and search for Tyelkormo. 

It was no secret to those that worked on the estate that the Feanorian brothers were an absolute sucker for their littlest sister and let her draw all over their faces very… um well creatively. But all they did was smile and snicker as they passed them by, or got the occasional awe from the lady servants who found it so cute that they’d indulge their little sister. It really was an endearing sight even despite how crazy and ridiculous the makeup looks might be. 

Finally Vanifinwë could hear Tyelkormo talking to someone and she hurriedly began to pull them along with her right in his direction. There he stood talking to Curufinwë, his back to them but Curufinwë’s eyes landed on Ambarussa and began to look them up and down, biting back the sneer at their appearance. 

“Tyelko!” Vanifinwë said, bringing the ner to swivel around on the ball of his foot and look at his siblings, with a grin spreading across his face. Laughing at the sight of the “well dressed” twins, and Vanifinwë the little ring leader in the middle. Oh this had worked out better than he thought it would by talking Vanifinwë into asking them to play with her. 

After all those weeks of being at her mercy it was nice to see that someone else was at her mercy for a change. His scalp felt relief at the sight of them, as did his face without having to wear anymore makeup. 

“My oh my Vanifinwë who do you have here?” He chuckled folding his arms over his chest as Curufinwë took his place next to Tyelkormo. Vanifinwë didn’t smile though, she pursed her lips and scowled some at him. Making him quirk a brow up at her reaction. 

“These are my neragotiatorers.” She said seriously, and it made Pityafinwë and Telufinwë begin to chuckle at her words. Trying to look serious as they cleared their throats and stood tall, nodding their heads in unison and in agreement of the little lady. 

“Negotiators? For what? To talk to me?” Tyelkormo asked with some surprise, seeing that they were going along with it. They only waited for Vanifinwë to nod her head again, 

“Yes, and theys can tell you why.” She said matter-of-factly folding her arms over her chest, and the twins looked down at her before looking back to Tyelkormo. 

“Well?” He asked, 

“We have come to negotiate on behalf of the Lady Vanifinwë, and her bedroom.” Telufinwë was the first to speak up as he oh so delicately steepled his fingers together. Pointing them in Tyelkormo’s direction, but he only raised his brows and began to shrug, 

“Allow me to elaborate, your.. Creatures.. Are wreaking havoc on the young Lady’s room.” Pityafinwë said and then it clicked for Tyelkormo, they were talking about his dogs getting into her room. Tyelkormo began to shrug his shoulders at her “negotiators” words. 

“So close the door Vani.” But Vani only stamped her foot down angrily and looked up at him in anger, but Telufinwë placed a hand on her shoulder. 

“The Lady’s mother has prohibited her from shutting the bedroom door as it is too hard for the Lady to open it.” Telufinwë said and Tyelkormo sighed out as he looked down at Vanifinwë who was staring intensely back at him. 

“I see, that is a problem.” Tyelkormo said nonchalantly, which only seemed to get a rise further out of Vanifinwë, but the twins kept her calm and relaxed. There was an air of reassurance that they were going to handle everything. That she’d be okay and alright to not have to worry about whether or not Tyelkormo would agree or not. 

“Yes it is, and you should help out by agreeing to keep the creatures at bay. We don’t need to lose King Rabbit.” At the mention of Vanifinwë’s new stuffed animal that had saved him all those weeks ago from being at her mercy his face dropped. Recognizing immediately where this could go wrong, like he needed another one of his pups to destroy that Rabbit. Carnistir would kill him too if his hard work was torn up and their sister heartbroken again. 

“Ah a favor for not only Lady Vanifinwë but for King Rabbit too? Well why didn’t you say so? I suppose I can take extra care to make sure that the pups are confined to a certain part of the estate grounds and keep you and King Rabbit safe.” Tyelkormo said to Vanifinwë who seemed to heave out a heavy sigh of relief at his words to know that she’d not have to worry about the dogs anymore. 

“Thank you hanyo.” Vanifinwë said in her relieved voice making everyone smile, though Curufinwë’s eyes were on Ambarussa still and not their littlest sibling. He didn’t and couldn’t understand how Vanifinwë could manage to rope them into playing such games with her. 

“Just one more final thing for negotiations, you should have to help pick up her room with our help of course… To make up for the atrocities.” Telufinwë added, and Vanifinwë perked up tremendously and unfolded her arms to go and grab Tyelkormo’s hand. Who didn’t look enthused, 

“Yes! I need help! Please hanyo?” She asked with big blue eyes, and Tyelkormo sighed out heavily and relented. 

“Alright, alright. Fine. I’ll help.” Vanifinwë released a shriek of a yay and began to pull Tyelkormo along quickly, practically running and making him speedwalk. Ambarussa only laughed and then playfully bowed to Curufinwë who began to scoff, 

“Why do you even let her bother? You two look ridiculous.” Curufinwë asked, almost looking down his nose at Ambarussa in their ridiculous makeup and costumes. But it was there turn to wear a darker expression on their faces, always was he making some underhanded comment about Vanifinwë dressing them up. Neither understood why it mattered to him, 

“And? She’s happy and that’s what matters.” Pityafinwë responded defensively, and Curufinwë shrugged at his words. Pocketing a small book that he usually kept on his person, a frown still on his lips as he looked his twin brothers over and their ridiculous makeup and costume. 

“Well I can say with confidence she’s never going to ensnare me in these childish games you all indulge her.” He said with a snort, before he brushed past the both of them. Telufinwë ground his teeth at his words, before looking over at Pityo. 

“I say we find a way to change that.” Telvo said in a soft voice as Curufinwë grew out of earshot. Pityafinwë turned his head to look at his brother with a smile at this, oh that was a perfect idea. 

“Let’s bring it up with Tyelko. After we help clean up the room as promised.” Pityafinwë said, beginning to formulate a plan in his head. They’d have to talk to him when they were alone, if not Vanifinwë would proverbially spill the beans about the whole thing and ruin their chance to get back at Curvo. 

****

𑁍 He’ll just be casually sitting somewhere near you two as though he wasn’t stalking you guys for the past hour and a half. He’ll wear a cheeky grin on his face before asking if he could sit with you all.

𑁍 He enjoys pranking alongside you and because of this, he includes you in his prank wars with his brothers.

𑁍 He’s a lot more relaxed with physical affection but similar to his brother, he prefers to have it done behind closed doors. He doesn’t mind the occasional kiss in public, but it’ll be done chastely on the lips or on the forehead. He does enjoy having his arms wrapped around you though.

𑁍 He enjoys going on dates with you that are peaceful and quiet, this means he’ll lock his brother in a room to avoid him following and ruining the peace with you.

𑁍 He’ll take you to a field of flowers or a waterfall for a picnic and just sit next to you subtly chatting away. This does lead to him taking a small nap with you.

𑁍 Hunting with him doesn’t happen since he tends to go with his brothers for the company and he doesn’t want you around them, he’s afraid of them corrupting you, so, he keeps you away as far as possible.

𑁍 Between him and his twin, he’s the better cook. He used to hang around Caranthir more than his brother, so he was able to pick up some tips and reciprocate them for you.

𑁍 Since he’s the quiet twin, it also means he’s shy, so things that require public displays make him shrink and hide. He’s not one for public displays of affection, holding your hand is enough.

𑁍 When in private, he’ll bask you in all the kisses and hugs you want. When you do return them to him, he gets squeamish and blushes a lot.

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