In His Eyes
By Elithien
"...and Lord Olwë of Alqualondë sends his apologies that he
cannot come next evenfall at the festivities at Valmar and asks you tell
Ingwë the same. I believe the Teleri are holding their own celebrations
at their bays."
Finwë nodded and continued to scribble a quick note in reply to the
one sent to him by Mahtan, an excellent smithy, whom he had hired to make
a piece of jewellery for his wife.
"Is that all the news for today?" He asked looking up at the dark haired
elf who had just spoken.
"Yes sire," The elf responded.
"Thank you then for your news summary. That will be all for today," Finwë
said smiling.
The elf bowed and left the Noldor King to himself.
Finwë sighed as he looked down at the note. He could not think of
what he wanted Mahtan to make. He was indisputably wonderful at creating
things of copper, hence the smiths nickname Urundil, but he wondered at if
Míriel would appreciate a pendant of silver or gold, than copper.
A small smile formed over his lips at the thought of her. Although he
had last seen her that very morn, he could not wait till he would next see
her fair face.
Míriel was the fairest of all elf maidens Finwë had ever seen,
Noldor, Vanyar or Teleri. To him no other woman is all of Aman could compare
to her, and he could not imagine himself in love with any other than Míriel.
Míriel was unique and irreplaceable and in all ways different to other
elven maidens. No other could weave or embroid fine silks and linen with
jewels like stars the way Míriel could. No other elven maid could make
him feel as though he needed not the light of the Two Trees when she was
around.
With a sigh Finwë stood up from his chair. The matter of jewellery
could wait for a later date.
He walked out of his office and began to make for their chambers where
he knew Míriel would be, in her chair working on some knew masterpiece.
Sure enough, when Finwë opened the doors carefully and walking into
the room he saw Míriel doing exactly what he thought her to be doing.
She sat at her chair, her back facing him and the door, with her head bent
to her lap, her hands working away steadily with the needles and threads
at her fingers. In the chair opposite her sat a girl who held the ends of
the cloth which on which Míriel worked on, as it were too long for
his wife to hold herself.
Finwë closed the door softly and motioned to the girl, who looked
at him, to speak naught of his presence in the room, as Míriel had
not realised herself that he had come.
He neared his wife, who still quietly worked away, occasionally looking
to the floor where there lay a quick sketch by her hand. The picture was
unmistakably the view of the bay of Eldamar looking down through Calacirya.
He was now close enough to his wife that his shadow cast upon her back, though
she still did not notice him being so enthralled. He looked over his wife's
shoulder and sure enough she sewed what was on the paper, adding much more
detail as she went along. She was nearly finished, evidently having started
in the morn. There were bright threads of all colours, including gold for
the buildings and silver for the waters. She now sewed small golden beads
to where the lighted lamps of upon the ships and quays of where Alqualondë
were, far off in the distance.
"You visited Olwë without me?" he asked his wife.
Míriel jumped from her needlework with fright at the sudden sound
of his voice and the girl laughed, as did Finwë.
"Most well-mannered it is to sneak upon your wife whilst she sews Finwë
of the Noldor. There is not a chance that she may very well drive the needle
through her finger than her cloth," Míriel said jestingly as she turned
around and looked at Finwë with
a smile.
Míriel looked at the girl warmly and took the cloth out of her
small hands.
"Thankyou for your assistances Alassë. You may return to your mother
now. We shall finish this piece tomorrow morn."
The girl nodded and bowed before leaving them.
"At last the King of the Noldor has retired from his labours as king,"
She said standing up and looking at Finwë.
"Yea he has," Finwë replied as he helped Míriel fold the cloth,
which she went and stored away in her chest. "Yea the king has retired from
his office and has returned to his wife to be a simple man in the only company
of only her this night."
Míriel turned around and smiled at Finwë, her Noldor grey
eyes glinting brighter than the very heavens that night. She sat on the
bed and rested a pillow at her lap and beckoned to Finwë to come.
"Then be a simple man and converse with your wife about your affairs this
day," She said taking his hand as he walked to her and pulling him down on
the bed. Finwë smiled and rested his head on the pillow on Míriel's
lap.
"To answer your question before, I did not go to see dear Olwë,"
She said as she kissed his forehead and began to run her fingers through
his raven hair. "I was walking and I saw the view and had the wont to capture
it."
"'Tis looking beautiful, though unfinished," He said as his eyes closed,
luxuriating in the massage the Míriel now gave him. "You are surely
on your way to capturing it, my love. Perfectly."
Míriel awarded him another kiss upon his forehead for his complement
and laughed as his nose furrowed when her hair brushed against it.
"How was your day?" she asked him.
"Good--tomorrow, should I forget, remind me to tell Ingwë of Olwë,"
Finwë said.
"What of Olwë?"
"He sends summons apologising for he cannot come tomorrow at the celebrations
at Valimar."
"Yes, the Teleri hold festivals that night of their own for the birthing
season of the swans," Míriel said.
Finwë nodded and opened his eyes looking up at Míriel who
looked down at him with a smile which he was not sure of. It was secretive
and mirthful and he could see it playing behind her eyes as she looked at
him.
"Why have you that smile Sweet Serindë?" he asked her.
She simply shrugged, the stars in her eyes shining brighter with her lie.
"Do you braid my hair?" Finwë asked with a slight frown.
"Yes." Míriel answered.
"Why?"
"Because you interrupted me from my sewing whilst I was doing best and
now my hands are restless." She said with a smile.
Finwë laughed as he sat up kissing both of Míriel's hands.
"Perhaps then after you tell me what you hide we can find a resolution
to your hands restlessness," Finwë said with a smile.
"Walk with me so that I may think whether to tell you what it is I hide,"
Míriel said smiling.
"As you wish it," Finwë said and they stood up and walked out of
their chambers and out of his halls.
Long they walked, hand in hand, in the waning light of Laurelin down different
paths which led through the many gardens and grounds of Tirion. The great
light upon Mindon shone brightly, with beams cast through the sky and upon
them with bright colours against their raven hair as they spoke but Finwë
noticed all the while, whilst Míriel spoke, the mirth and happiness
which flickered to great extent in her grey Noldor eyes.
Many times he asked her to reveal what she hid but the crystal stars in
her eyes only illuminated more and she smiled, telling him no more than
she has the first time he asked her.
"Come," Míriel said leading Finwë down another path, "let
us walk down the path where I saw the bay of Eldamar I saw this morning."
"Will you tell me?" Finwë asked.
Míriel turned her head to her husband with a smile and kissed his
lips.
"In good time, my love. In good time," She said and laughed at the hopelessness
she saw in Finwë's eyes, for he was normally able to somehow reveal
what it was she kept shaded within her.
"Míriel-" Finwë started but was interrupted by Míriel.
"Wait till we reach the place of my inspiration, then I shall tell you,"
She said looking at him assuring.
He then walked along with her in silence his mind wondering the news which
his wife kept from him.
"Is what you are yet to tell me good news?" he asked.
"Perhaps," She answered.
"It is, is it not? Why else would be smiling as such and leading me around
Tirion in circles?"
"Here we are."
Finwë looked up from the path, from which he had been staring at
and looked filled with awe at the sight before him. He understood now why
Míriel had found such inspiration looking down here, for so did he.
They stood upon a path which was shadowed by the mound of Túna
and the light of the trees were shadowed too. The stars of Varda though
shone beautifully in the heavens above them and before them he could see
straight through Calacirya, the Pass of Light, onto the bays of Eldamar
and in the distance could be seen the graceful white lights of the swan
haven of Alqualondë, where their kin, the Teleri resided.
Many fair plants and trees there grew in Calacirya and the greens upon
it shone in the faint shadowed light of the Trees like emeralds, dim but
rich.
The fair beaches of Elendë shone too with the many opals, diamonds,
crystals and other fair jewels which the Noldor had given the wave-folk when
they had first set foot upon the shores of Eldamar, after they had journeyed
on fair swan driven boats from Tol Eressëa, The Lonely Isle, which
was could be seen in the far distance across the glimmering water.
The fresh cool sea breeze swept past them with the feel of refreshment
and ease and the cry of the white gulls could distantly
be heard, echoing through the Calacirya.
"'Tis beautiful, is it not?" he heard Míriel say at his side.
Finwë turned his head and looked to Míriel.
"Indeed it is and I see why you have brought me here to tell me whatever
it is you must. Indeed your secret must be joyous and as beautiful as this
grand view."
"It is as beautiful, if not more Finwë. Not only did I find my inspiration
for a new piece of embroidery but it is here that I first felt the secret
which I hold," She said with a small smile as she stared out over the Pass
of Light.
She looked away from the scenery and turned to Finwë. He could see
the stars in her eyes now, the glimmer in her eyes and the real reflection
from the stars above, both dancing jovially to a song which played in her
heart.
"I am with child Finwë."
Finwë looked at Míriel with an uncertain smile over his lips.
"You are with child?" he asked.
"Yes, I am with child," She repeated smiling.
"You are with child... that means you are... with child." Finwë said
his smile growing slightly bigger.
He looked out over the pass of Calacirya and his gaze stretched further
to the bays of Eldamar. A small laugh began to form in his throat at the
thought of Míriel and the child within her womb and that very second,
his child, his unborn child which would soon grown and fill Míriel's
belly.
He looked at Míriel, who looked back at him with tears of joy in
her eyes and her hands covered her mouth, but he could see the smile upon
her face.
The small laugh within his throat grew from a small one to a loud one
at the thought that Míriel was with child, she was carrying a child
which was his.
Finwë knew not what had taken over him at that moment. Like one who
had just seen for the first time, everything seemed so new and different
to him. Everything seemed alive and wonderful. Míriel was with child,
his child and soon enough this child would no longer be inside of Míriel
but running about the halls and gardens of Tirion.
Laughing, Finwë seized Míriel by her shoulders.
"Never was I told that such joy could be found within Aman when I first
came here!" he cried before kissing his wife's lips.
He let go of Míriel and the two stood laughing.
"Míriel, my love, we shall soon have a son, strong in arms, valiant
in spirit, sharp in mind, skilled of hand and gentle of heart! We shall have
a son who may one day take my place as king," He said happily.
"And what if the child is a girl?" Míriel asked laughing.
"Then she shall be the most fairest maidens any in Aman has ever seen,
save her mother," Finwë replied smiling. "She shall be surnamed Serindë
too for she shall have the hands of her mother and weave the finest tapestries
which shall hang on the walls of the House of Finwë alongside that of
Míriel Serindë."
Míriel's laughter echoed in Finwë's mind, only adding to his
joy and excitement.
"Come!" he said taking Míriel's hand and running back towards the
city of Tirion with Míriel close behind him.
"What are you going to do?" Míriel asked laughing.
"Let us awaken all of Tirion with song and laughter and tell them of our
news!" Finwë said joyfully.
"Wait!" Míriel laughed trying to restrain her husband as he pulled
her along after him.
"Behold! People of Tirion, soon you shall have a young princeling running
about your streets, for Míriel Serindë, wife of the King is with
child!" Finwë shouted as they entered the main city.
Many of the elves immerged from their houses to see who it was that was
shouting and were at awe when they saw their king and his wife on the streets
shouting aloud with laughter and joy. Then they heard and perceived what
Finwë, the High King of the Noldor said and soon enough the city of
Tirion upon Túna was filled with the sound of fair music and laughter
which echoed through Calacirya and their songs were heard from the Vanyar
at the foot of Taniquetil and the Teleri in Alqualondë and they wondered
what it was the Noldor rejoiced for.
Again Finwë kissed Míriel Serindë.
"Soon you will not only be called the king of the Noldor but father,"
Míriel said laughing.
"Father?" Finwë repeated with a smile.
"Father!" she said again, her happiness shining forth from her and her
eyes, glistening with tears and stars.
He looked at Míriel and saw those eyes of hers, those grey eyes,
those grey Noldor eyes, grey and Noldor with glimmering stars amid them.
Those eyes he saw into which saw him too, those which he loved and which
he had fallen in love with. Those eyes which belonged to his wife and his
queen, those eyes which belonged to Míriel Serindë, the woman
he loved beyond extent, the woman who he could never replace, the woman who
was now the mother of his child.
He saw in her grey Noldor eyes, all the joy in Aman that could ever be
and that had ever existed, a mirror to the dazzling stars of Varda and a
mirror to all of the love, joy, happiness and everything else he felt at
that moment.
"Father!"
Finwë opened his eyes and he saw those grey eyes, those grey Noldor
eyes of his son, those grey Noldor eyes with bright stars within them which
belonged to his son's mother.
"She is with child?" his son asked him, his face and tone of voice clearly
expressing horror, loath and disgust.
"Yes Fëanáro, Indis is with child. You will soon have either
a brother or sister."
"Brother or sister?" Fëanáro said, his eyes narrowing. "Do
you forget father that I am not the son of Indis of the Vanyar. Míriel
Serindë, a Noldo with skill in embroider which is surpassed by none,
save Vairë of the Valar, is my mother and none you marry shall ever
replace her." He said coldly.
"I did not mean it that way my son. Never could any woman replace your
mother to you or I."
"Really? Then who is Indis father? Who is this woman you have brought
into your bed and wedded? Who is this woman who is now with child?"
"Fëanáro I have told you many a time that your insolence towards
Indis will not bring Míriel back." Finwë said sternly looking
down at his son. Although he was feeling powerless at that time to his son
he could not let it be shown to him.
"Nay father it is because of Indis that Míriel cannot come back."
"She did not want to come back Fëanáro! 'Tis because Míriel
did not want to come back that I married Indis. In her I found solace to
my grieving, grieving for my lifeless wife which you did not see, so do not
bother to tell me a tale I now well, a tale which you do not know to the full!"
Finwë said loudly.
His son stared at him insolently. Finwë could see his own arrogance
as well in his son's eyes, his own arrogance and her hurt. He could see Míriel
in his son's eyes and he saw her every time he looked at Fëanáro."
"Solace," He said softly. "Perhaps you have found solace father, but I
have not and I now that neither has Míriel Serindë for this that
you have done."
With that the first son of Finwë left him in his office and walked
briskly out of the room.
Finwë sighed and looked at the door as it slammed shut.
The house remembers the builder, though others may dwell in it long after.
Though she was not there, her shadow still had not departed from his house,
nor his heart. Her shadow had not departed from Fëanáro's heart
either.