1465

Years of the Trees

"Why did you bring me down here?" Eve laughed lightly as Nelyo covered her eyes. He and Moryo had slowly led her down into their massive basement in Tirion. Now she stood at the bottom of their stairs with eyes closed and anticipation mounting. "Seriously, guys?"

"We've been working on a project for many years now," Nelyo explained. "And we decided it was time you saw it."

He uncovered her eyes and she blinked in the light of the raging fire. Before her, Moryo stood holding a sword. She gaped at it. The hilt had been crafted of tindalta metal, a metal she knew only Fëanáro and Curvo specialized in here.

"Here." Moryo handed over the sheathed blade. "It's yours."

Eve took it carefully before unsheathing it. To her surprise, it felt light in her hands. She marveled at the stone in the crossguard. A massive circular purple-pink crystal cut in thousands of ways glittered in the light of the fire. It seemed to dance like a flame itself.

Nelyo began to explain it. "It's a-"

"Sword," she finished. "I know what it is. We had them on earth, a long time before I was born. They're weapons."

"Yes," Moryo nodded. "For protection and for sport."

"This is the first time I've seen a sword in Valinor," asked Eve carefully. "It's wonderfully crafted. Who else has them?"

Nelyo paused. "Our family at the least. The Hunters of Oromë have presumably told their families. And we guess that both the House of Nolofinwë and the House of Arafinwë do as well." He tilted his head in thought. "So Finno has not told of these."

"No." Eve shook her head. "No he hasn't."

"Guess Findekáno isn't as truthful as he pretends," Moryo quipped as he polished his own sword. His had been made also of tindalta with a polished onyx stone in the hilt. "Shame."

But she shook her head "Maybe they don't have them."

"We are quite sure they do, though they refuse to admit it," Nelyo countered. "After all, we think Hrávien taught Irissë. And she definitely would've shown her brothers."

Eve stood silent for a minute. She felt sure that if Finno did have swords that he must've had a very good reason for keeping it a secret from her. They told each other everything. But she realized then that this was going to be a problem. She looked at her brothers and frowned. "I assume you want me to keep this a secret from him."

"Obviously," snorted Moryo.

Nelyo rolled his eyes at his brother. "Yes. Finno and his house are not like they used to be. They are secretive, distrustful of us-"

"Says you," bit back Eve in frustration. "All of you are like that now. You haven't gone on a trip with Finno in years, Nelyo. Why!"

The redhead glared and bristled, crossing his arms defiantly. He turned away from Eve and looked into the fire nearby. When he didn't respond, Eve continued.

"You are supposed to put on a good example," she ranted. "You, Káno too. You're just going to roll over and take this, these rumors and secrets? You're going to address them? Go talk to Finno, to Turvo. Go talk to Findo. I mean good grief!"

Nelyo grumbled angrily at her. "You think they will listen to me? No. Nolofinwë's house is as stubborn as our own. Maybe Findo would apologize, but Turvo?" He scoffed. "In what world do you live, Eve, thinking they will apologize?"

"In a world where elves are good people," she stressed. "I'm living in a world where I have seen how wonderful you all are, how deeply you guys care for each other-"

"But you have heard the things they say of us," Moryo countered furiously. He waved his own sword around. "That we are the reason behind the hatred of Nolofinwë's house, they we have inspired our followers to defile the others' names. I for one will not stand it!"

Eve sighed. "Then talk to them."

"Someday," assured Nelyo. "For now, I am going to train you to use the sword, in case something happens."

"Like what?!"

Nelyo frowned. "We don't know. Nolofinwë's followers grow more restless by the day. We may need to defend ourselves." Seeing her going to object, he continued. "Eve, do this for me. Please."

She stared at him carefully. With her heart beating faster at the thought of having to keep this secret from Finno, she was overcome by her love for Nelyo and knew he just wanted the best for her. So she nodded. "Fine. But promise me that you won't give up on Finno and Turvo and Aro. Please."

"I will do my best."

Moryo retreated back above ground, eager for lunch. He left the two auburn haired elves to train. Nelyo started her out slowly, with foot work and basic grip on the weapon. She picked it up fairly quickly like he and his brothers had. He could tell how hesitant she felt. But he pushed her to continue.

With a small smile, he reminded her later that weapons weren't just for attack. "After all, someday maybe we will be able to add swordplay to the competitions at the festivals. And then you can win!"

"Maybe," she replied with a small chuckle as the broke for water. As they headed up the stairs, leaving their swords in the basement, she shrugged. "I still think you'd have a better chance of winning than I."

Nelyo laughed but nodded as he retrieved some water for the two of them. He handed her a cup. "Probably. But that's beside the point." Then he paused and a tiny smile tugged at the edges of his mouth until he finally seemed to make up his mind. "Come on. We're going to the forge."

"Whose forge?"

"Curvo and Nixiel's."

Eve smiled. Curvo and Nixiel had married the previous winter, in a ceremony in Formenos. The ceremony had been quiet and simple.

They hooked on their cloaks, for winter raged on in full swing. A layer of snow crunched beneath their boots as they walked along the quiet streets of Tirion. Many inhabitants of the city went south or west, away from the Pelori, for the winter months. But the House of Fëanáro stayed put for the most part. Eve took a deep breath of the chilly air and smiled.

It took them about twenty-five minutes to reach Curvo's house with Nixiel in Tirion. On the side of it he had built a massive indoor forge. Nelyo went up to the front of the house and knocked on the wooden door. To his surprise, Telvo answered.

"Telvo?" said Eve curiously.

"Hello!" The twin opened the door for them, allowing them inside out of the cold. He smiled. "We're all inside."

"We?" asked Nelyo.

He nodded. "Pityo, Nixiel, and Curvo. And me of course."

"Why?" Eve wondered aloud as they took off their snow covered boots. "Hosting a party?"

Telvo laughed. "No! Getting measured for a shield."

"Shield?" Eve turned to Nelyo in surprise. "So not just swords!"

Nelyo merely led her into the forge section of Curvo's house. They found the homeowners measuring Pityo. They looked up upon the entrance of the others.

"Hello Eve!" Nixiel smiled at her warmly. The woman's black hair had been tied up out of her flushed face from the heat of the forge. "Are we getting her armor as well?"

"Do you want it?" asked Curvo.

Eve paused. "Not at the moment."

Curvo nodded. "Fine by me. Though you will be receiving a cloak with our house sigil on it. We've already placed the order with Nixiel's sister."

"How is Linquenis?" Eve took up a seat in a wooden chair at one of Curvo's draft tables. "I haven't seen her in awhile."

Nixiel smiled. "She is doing well! She's been trying to set up our friend with Nelyo here." The maiden winked at the redhead.

Nelyo scoffed. "I will make my own decisions on who, if anyone, I marry."

"I don't know, you might like her," Nixiel teased. "Her name is Lilótëa."

Curvo finished his measurements of Pityo and pushed his youngest brother away. Pityo, in turn, went over to Eve. He gave her a quick hug upon her insistence. She was about to say something when they heard a knock at Curvo's door. Eve volunteered to go see who it was.

When she opened the door, she grinned. "Nerdanel!" She looked at the woman before her who stood holding a steaming pot of food. "Hey!"

Nerdanel smiled. "Hello Eve! Curvo didn't tell me you were over here."

"Nelyo and I just got here." she stood aside so her surrogate mother could walk in. "What did you cook?"

They chatted for a minute in the dining room before heading back to where everyone gathered in the forge. All the sons of Fëanáro grinned when Nerdanel came in, and Nixiel smiled warmly as well.

"Hello mother!" Nelyo got up and gave her a hug. "I smelled your cooking and figured it was you."

Curvo nodded as he looked over the measurements. "I told her the Ambarussa were here."

Eve had never quite gotten over the fact that the House of Fëanáro had eight stones which basically functioned as phones. The Palantíri reminded her of something from her previous life, but she couldn't quite place it. So she just assumed they were elven phones. Each son had one, plus a master stone for the parents, though for now Pityo allowed Finwë to use his stone since he lived and travelled with his twin all the time.

"Yes he did," Nerdanel joked. "So I figured I'd bring food."

Pityo nodded. "It's much appreciated. These two might be good at smithing, but they lack cooking skills."

A chuckle came from Nixiel. "I feel like I should take offense at that but you're not wrong. That is one thing I am fairly lacking in."

Nelyo laughed. "Well Curvo is too, so it's not your fault."

Nerdanel smiled sadly at her children. She glanced around the forge, saw the stash of weapons and armor. But she seemed happy to see a large banner in the back of the forge with the crest of the House of Fëanáro. She turned to Curvo. "What is your current project?"

"A few things," he said quickly, motioning to the pile of sketches and notes on his drafting desk. "I am trying to get light armor done for all of us. Tyelko suggested in a golden-bronze metal. I also sent instructions to Nixiel's sister for ten red capes with our house sigil. Once she makes the capes themselves, I will need to create custom hooks for the armor."

Nerdanel nodded, looking over his work. "Impressive. I see inspiration here from Eönwë's own armor, and the armor of his fighters."

Nixiel came over and pointed to a specific sketch. "This is the one I like the most. I think it's the most feasible, and the least encumbering."

"I agree," said Nerdanel quickly. "And I think Tyelko is right about the bronze. It will go well with the red material of the cloaks."

Nelyo, sitting next to Eve on the draft table, turned conversation away from Curvo's projects. "How's our father?"

Nerdanel stiffened. "Oh you know. Always busy these days. He goes from one project to the next, and he's constantly taking trips to Formenos for only Manwë knows what reason." She shook her head. "I haven't seen him laugh in years."

"What have you been up to while he's away?" Nixiel asked curiously.

She shook her head. "Busying myself with my own work. Sculptures don't sculpt themselves after all. I still have plenty of commissions to get done."

"You're skill only seems to improve, which I hardly thought possible," Eve said quickly with a smile. "I saw your latest piece when it was on display in the Square a few weeks ago."

Nerdanel warmly smiled. "Thank you my dear. I do my best."

"How you managed to sculpt such a perfect image of a Lorien flower." Eve smiled and shook her head. "They're hard enough to paint!"

Nerdanel laughed. "And yet you have managed it. Though I will say your architectural paintings have always been my favorite. Your painting of the palace at Tirion in the evening is simply phenomenal."

Blushing profusely, she turned away smiling. Telvo laughed at her and shook his head. With Curvo finally finished making initial notes, they all retired in to the dining room for food. As they ate, Nelyo told the family of how he had begun training Eve.

"I've never held a sword, but I've seen and heard of people using them in my old life," she revealed to the others like she had to Nelyo. "They're dangerous."

Nerdanel nodded, frustrated. "Yes. And I'm not sure I see why my sons think them necessary."

"Defense!" Curvo argued immediately. "Sport."

"Fun," Pityo added with laughter.

Nerdanel didn't have a response. Ever since Curvo had shown Fëanáro the first attempt at swordcraft, she had felt uneasy. If it had been her choice, she would've forbidden Pityo and Eve at least. She could tell nothing good would come of the weapons. But she had decided long ago that she would not control her adult children. They had a right to make their own choices, however poorly decided those choices were.