In Another Life

by rielstell4

Summary:

“I…” His voice faltered, but the moment was brief. He straightened, the hardness returning to his gaze. “Regret is a mortal weakness. I only regret that you couldn’t see the necessity of what I did.”

Celebrimbor shook his head slowly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of unspoken words. “Maybe,” he whispered, “just maybe, if there is a life beyond this, your soul will sing for me as mine once sang for you in this one.” He turned away, his steps heavy with grief, unable to bear looking at Annatar any longer.

Notes:

AU where Celebrimbor reunited with Annatar in Valinor and Annatar/Sauron is under supervision by Aule in his forge.

The forging hall was dimly lit, the molten glow of the fires casting flickering shadows on the walls. Celebrimbor stood rigid, his voice taut with regret as he spoke, each word trembling with emotion.

“Maybe, in another life, things could have been different,” he said, his gaze locked on Annatar. “Maybe you would have chosen the bond we shared over your insatiable hunger for control and perfection.”

Annatar’s golden eyes flickered in the light, his expression inscrutable. When he spoke, his voice was smooth, laced with a carefully crafted sorrow. “I never desired control for its own sake, Celebrimbor. Only order. Perfection is not a flaw, but a gift I wished to share with you.”

Celebrimbor’s hands curled into fists, his voice rising with bitter intensity. “A gift?” He laughed, a sound devoid of mirth. “And what did your gift leave me with? Broken dreams? Hope crushed under the weight of betrayal?” He stepped closer, his tone softening, almost pleading. “We could have created wonders together, Annatar. Without lies. Without ruin.”

For a moment, Annatar averted his gaze, his jaw tightening. “And yet,” he said, his tone measured, “would you truly deny the greatness we achieved, even now? The Rings… they are a testament to what we can accomplish.”

Celebrimbor laughed again, this time bitter and sharp. “The Rings? The Rings are cursed with your shadow. They were never ours, Annatar. They were always yours.” He paused, his voice trembling as he looked away, his grief too raw to conceal. “Maybe, in another life, we could have risen above all of this. Above the pride that blinds you. Above the hatred the world has sown between us. We could have been… more.”

Annatar’s expression darkened, his voice turning colder. “Dreams of another life are for those too weak to face the one they live in. I offered you a way to rise, to transcend the flaws of this world. You rejected me.”

“I rejected the darkness you carried with you,” Celebrimbor snapped, his voice breaking. “Not you, Annatar. Never you.” He pressed a hand against his chest as if to steady himself, his eyes searching Annatar’s face. “Do you even regret it? Every drop of my blood spilled by your hands? Every scar you etched upon me in your rage?”

For a moment, Annatar hesitated, his mask of composure slipping. His golden eyes flickered, and something vulnerable, almost human, flashed across his face. “I…” His voice faltered, but the moment was brief. He straightened, the hardness returning to his gaze. “Regret is a mortal weakness. I only regret that you couldn’t see the necessity of what I did.”

Celebrimbor shook his head slowly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of unspoken words. “Maybe,” he whispered, “just maybe, if there is a life beyond this, your soul will sing for me as mine once sang for you in this one.” He turned away, his steps heavy with grief, unable to bear looking at Annatar any longer.

As he walked toward the shadows, Annatar stood motionless, watching him go. His hand twitched at his side as though reaching for something—or someone—but he stopped himself. Turning back to the forge, his voice softened to a whisper, meant only for himself.

“Perhaps, in another life… but not this one.”

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 3 of You can’t burn fire with fire