Chapter Text
Elladan gazed intently at the white haired man whom they had picked up, for lack of better wording he supposed, on their journey towards Ered Luin. Their expedition was interrupted by the extraordinary event of a falling star descending from the sky. Elrohir, always driven by his insatiable curiosity, had swiftly darted towards the fallen star, brimming with excitement at the prospect of finding Elang. The occurrence of a falling star was indeed a rare spectacle, and with such brilliant light and mass, leaving behind a crater that rivaled half of Imladris and scorching the surrounding trees with its intense heat.
When Elrohir, although more careful, had gone down into the crater, without horse as it had begun kicking when stirred onto the burned ground, he had not found what he had been searching for, instead, he came across a figure that resembled a human man, though it seemed to be a deliberate guise. Every other being that had experienced the impact of the falling star had perished, their forms reduced to smoldering, lifeless ash, be it plant or animal.
The man was resting on his side, his figure enveloped by his lengthy white locks, resembling a peaceful slumber. Elladan inspected him closely, noticing the absence of any injuries or marks on his body.
“A Maia?” Elrohir asked aloud, “or something lesser.”
“I doubt it would have to be lesser, but different perhaps,” Elladan answered.
"A Úmaia then?" Elrohir asked once more, "it is evident that it has faced punishment. Be reminded of the story of the Úmaia who came back to his lord and was compelled to endure one century in an Eldar guise as retribution for the harm he inflicted."
"You ever spin up tales," Elladan pondered aloud as he was reminded of one of their childhood stories, "have you ever woven tales where perhaps an entity, whether escaping or simply a shadow gathering enough power to materialize, or perhaps limited to a single form, was fleeing from the encroaching darkness?"
“You spin tales too.”
Now the being sat before them looking at his hands with pure amazement.
"Do not fret," Elrohir reassured the being, "whether it is merely a life or something you have to find, we shall help you,” he said comforting the entity. Contemplating the possibility of the entity being a Maia facing punishment, they pondered why shouldn't they offer their aid if it had already accepted its punishment?
The figure gazed up at them, a sense of pure amusement reflected in its scolding red eyes, and if it hurt looking into them, and it felt as if the being saw what he did, it was merely Elladan´s mind conjuring tales to keep him aware of danger. The danger?
“There are orcs at night,” he said as he moved forward to drown the fire and was stopped by the being´s, the man´s?, cold cold hand, “we do not want them knowing we are here, it is not safe, and not for you if you have been used to a Hröa unable to substance harm, an Eldar´s body is not that strong.”
That the being, now covered by Elladan´s cloak, as it had thrown Elrohir´s cloak away when offered and grabbed for Elladan´s, hadn´t corrected them, they had kept assuming it was a Maia being punished, yet the silence from the bing did worry them. The stillness of the entity raised concerns among them as it showed no signs of breathing. Could its voice have also been deprived of it as a form of punishment? Being of the Ainu, meant being defined by music much more than any other being or creature. The absence of its voice presented a notable absence. What cruel deed could lead to such cruel punishment?
´It has me wondering, does it understand Sindarin?´ his brother asked him over Ósanwe.
´Of course it does! … if it is of the Ainur…´
´What if it is not? What if it is a spirit? A nymph, or maybe from the void?´
“I,” he tried in Quenya, that was what was spoken in Valinor? Was it not? “I- there are orcs at night, we do not want them to find us and attack.”
As the being burst into laughter, the beautiful sound filled the space, captivating everything around and leaving only the laughter and the captivating figure in his sight. What he would not do for this being. Mesmerized, time seemed to stand still as he gazed at the being, witnessing a surreal transformation where crimson hues. Water? Blood? The color cascaded over the once pristine white locks and smooth marble skin, accentuating the laughing lips adorned with so sharp, sharp, teeth. Abruptly as it began, the enchanting moment came to an end.
Glancing towards quickly Elrohir, he observed a mix of awe and discomfort portrayed on his brother's face. Elrohir seemed simultaneously fascinated by something and yet also nauseous.
“No!” the being laughed, “no, no. I shall find my flame, father knows I miss him, I shall bring him back,” yet it had still let them put out the fire, chuckling at them, “I like you,” it said, as if talking to itself, “I like you,” and Elladan and Elrohir had smiled at it and thanked it.
“We shall get you to our father´s city, where you might find better help then, but now we shall eat,” Elladan continued in Quneya as he took the meat from the coals, and gave a piece to the stranger.
“Are you a Úmaia, or a Maia?” Elrohir asked, his question slipped out before Elladan could intervene, and the being looked surprised, “no, no.”
Chucking Elrohir persisted, clearly making an effort to uplift the mood, asked again, “are you of the Valar then?”
The being responded ´no´ once more, before stating, "you have asked twice now," it said, “and so shall I, for I have spent long in loneliness, even so that I would talk to dirt, who is Aran?”
In a state of astonishment, both of them were taken aback by the question. Eventually, Elladan took a moment before responding thoughtfully, "belonging to the Noldor? None remain, the line reached its conclusion with Ereinion's passing, but wonder you not our names?”
“No,” the being said calmly as if there was no more to that, “where am I, I can barely feel my sister,” it said with furrowed brows.
“Ered Luin,” Elladan said, “close to at least. The blue mountains.”
“Are you looking for your sister?” Elrohir asked.
“No, just my flame.”
“Of course.”
“Why wander you alone?” the being asked gulping down its food in one go, as if its mouth led directly to its stomach.
Elladan responded, "it is simpler," however, the creature bared its teeth and exclaimed, "lies, lies, lies! I know all lies, just as I know all truths. You repay my honesty with lies you do!”
Elrohir swiftly interjected, “it attracts less attention, and it is a favor for our father,” as Elladan, taken aback, retreated with his hands inadvertently sinking into the muddy ground behind him.
Back to smiling the being nodded happy, “yes, yes, now ask your question!”
“What shall we call you? It is rude not to know the name of one's guest,” Elladan said and the being laughed again.
“I myself have rarely bothered, but yes, as you will, call me Belegoros.”