12 | An Uncle & Nephew Talk

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Illyria Strange | Elemmírë Oialëa

Location: School of Engineering, Oxford, UK, Earth

Time: June 2027

What was it with elves and struggling to discuss their flawed relationships with each other?

But then again: she would be a hypocrite saying that when it took her nine months to talk to her father about the Snap. Although, she and her father did go on missions either way, so at least there was something that allowed them to talk.

Here on Earth, Elrond was in a world that was not his and Maedhros was already too invested on Earth and didn't have the time to stop despite all of her pesterings.

It was odd to think of it sometimes, how two and a half years changed him. For an elf, that amount of time should be a blink of an eye. Instead, Maedhros admitted (and rather subtly) that his time on Earth was perhaps fuller and demanding than he imagined. A world that constantly changes, faster than what anyone in Arda could comprehend.

If Maedhros found it hard to adjust, she had been worried (and still was) about how her brother and husband had coped adjusting to it.

At least they won't be here for long. Especially when she knew her daughter and sons were having to handle Imladris until Elrond returned with her. It was something that both she and Elrond spoke about, how their children were doing, and trying to remember times when she was Elemmírë with them.

There was a time when they were having dinner that Elrond spoke of how she had initiated a prank with the twins on Glorfindel – which involved several ink pots, a rope, hay, and a goat.

Let's just say after the tale: she was practically laughing on the floor, Maedhros was had for once in the year properly laughed (Maedhros laughing? Since uh when?) and Glorfindel was practically beetroot red, head in his hands and groaning in embarrassment. All while Elrond was hiding his smirk behind his drink.

Now she understood where Elladan and Elrohir got their pranking abilities. She (well technically Elemmírë) had been a sneaky mischievous little shit.

However, she had yet to remember anything past the Last Alliance and of Arwen's older years, and that was something that she stated to both her brother and Elrond one night. The last memory had been too painful that she had suppressed it again just a couple of months ago.

Especially Angmar. Illyria didn't think she'll have the guts to ever try and watch that again.

And Andrea Barnard can be pissed as she wanted at her for going against her advice, but she wasn't going to watch them die again.

Not Gil-Galad and surely not Celebrimbor again. Not even the race of men she knew from Anor and the sailing of most of the Noldor and Sindar; she didn't want to know what it felt to see Celebrían leave Middle Earth again.

Whilst she was finishing over some calculations, her phone buzzed in her pocket and immediately knew who was calling.

Well, she didn't even bother as she stopped what she had been doing and headed towards the open space in the middle of the lab. Holding her hands out, she opened another golden gateway and grinned as she noticed the familiar modern laboratory.

She peered through, noticing the city skyline of New York before spotting the tuff of light brown hair. Illyria grinned towards the young man, making a noise with the click of her tongue.

Harley Keener placed down his phone before glancing to her with an annoyed look; "There's a thing called picking up the phone, Illyria."

When they hugged, Illyria crinkled her nose and sniffed his jumper.

Oh man, her friend was going down the old Stark route if he didn't have the decency to have a shower.

"Harley, you are not Tony. Please have a shower." She gave him a look as he glared at her.

Instead, her friend brushed her off. "Ain't nobody got time for showers or sleep, Illyria." He then eyed her clothes. "Says the person with grease and tomato stains on their shirt."

Her first instinct was to hide it with her arms, covering her shirt with her jacket before she huffed, "Well at least I showered! I didn't mention washing clothes."

(Come to think of it, she literally had to wash another load. She was never going to trust elves using the washing machine.)

"If you accepted to build your goddamn portal here that wouldn't be a problem, Strange!" Harley retorted, heading to his bench to where several boxes were perched. He nudged his chin towards her, "Come give me a hand, at least."

She twitched her lips and commented, "Do you even lift, bro?"

"Shut up," He mumbled, and she couldn't help but snuffle out a laugh. "I'm the new Iron Man anyways; I have the suit to do all the work for me."

She picked up the boxes, surprised that it was lighter than she expected. As they headed through the portal, Illyria turned to him and grinned: "Riri's going to get better than you if you don't gym it, Harley. And Morgan's already got the Stark genes to be ahead of you in tech so better watch out."

Damn, she missed her goddaughter. With her doctorate and training, Illyria hadn't seen the youngest Stark for months. There was the usual update and video call but it wasn't the same as having to hug the kid and hanging out to play and see her alpacas down in Georgia. Morgan had been perhaps the one thing that lit up the first few months of her life since Glorfindel's death.

She had also been someone who showed a different side of the redheaded Fëanorian. With elves, children were practically gifts to all since there were hardly any due to the war. Never had she seen him so calm and relaxed, listening intently to Morgan's stories about her dad's adventures whilst braiding her hair by the lake. Maedhros had sung to her as well, a Quenya song which she recognized Maglor once singing to both Elrond and Elros, whilst she and Pepper silently listened with tears in their eyes.

God, elves singing to children had to be the most emotional thing to witness.

Once they arrived through the portal, they placed the boxes down whilst Harley went to inform F.R.I.D.A.Y that he would just be out for a couple of hours. The building's A.I responded courteously, letting Pepper Stark know of his whereabouts before allowing Illyria to close the portal.

It had been Darcy by the blackboard who noticed them immediately, heading straight to them with a sincere smile. "Hey kid, didn't realise you'd turn up today."

Harley smiled tiredly to Darcy and replied, "Yeah well, just finished the prototypes so I thought we could test them out with you guys."

Everybody had stopped what they had been doing, with Finneas heading first to Harley. Though despite greeting Harley, his eyes were more focused on the boxes – which was not surprising.

"I'm impressed you've done it quickly, Mr Keener," Finneas spoke coolly. "I had yet to discuss with you the alterations."

(What was it with arrogant geniuses not being able to compliment each other?

Oh yeah...they're all too busy with their head in their asses. At some point, they're all gonna be bobbleheads after all their research.)

"We can probably alter them whilst we run the tests," Harley explained. "I know it's just the suits left plus the navigator, so I thought I'd also bring you the things you commissioned."

The boxes had to be a third of Finneas' height, opening partially before revealing several things in cases. Illyria had stood back, sensing a hand press against her back, only to find Elrond peer his head over her shoulder. She was not lying that her heart did a little barrel roll whenever he was so close to her. Gods she needed to calm herself down.

And when his breath touched her skin...holy heck.

Illyria Strange would technically be dead twice.

Anyway, Glorfindel went to linger beside Darcy who sat on a stool whilst Finneas and Harley began taking out the contents.

Harley picked up what seemed to be a sort of brace, passing it to Finneas. He then explained what it did. "I hope this is compact as you wanted it. The energy levels you designed it could only go to about the size of a watch and anything smaller than you suggested would have kind of combusted."

She glanced over to Finneas to which he hummed. From the look of his face, he was slightly annoyed that it wasn't the standard he hoped for (but then again, he was always like that) but didn't show it towards Harley.

Okay, maybe she was a little disappointed as well. She thought a watch or a cuff would easily be feasible, but the brace might as well be okay. They were technically going through time and universes.

The Doctor had an entire Tardis so at least they won't have to lug a blue police box with them to and from Rivendell and the Grey Havens. [1]

"What is it?" Elrond asked, ever curious at the silver metal contraption.

Illyria was the one to point out: "That is a suit to basically stop our atoms from reconfiguring." She continued, "It prevents external radiation, energy, to pierce through our skin."

When she glanced up, she chuckled mentally at how he was trying to analyze the small contraption. He didn't know yet how much nanotechnology could become, even better than the armour she once used.

With a glint of slyness, Harley asked the room: "Any volunteers?"

She found it nice that her brother was the one to step forward, always the first one to volunteer for anything as he strode over to Harley. Harley began to speak through the instructions, unclasping the brace in half before adjusting it onto Glorfindel's left arm. As it automatically tightened it onto him, Harley stepped back and began pressing onto the interface of the brace, allowing it to light up.

Glorfindel yelped at it lighting up, and she had to glare at Finneas again for his not-so-subtle rolling eyes. Darcy inhaled, not wanting to join their usual annoyance before Harley cut the silence.

"Okay, now all you have to do is just press that green button," He instructed.

Cautiously, Glorfindel pressed the button on the interface and bit back a gasp as a clicking sound filled their ears. It wasn't really important; what was more important was that the suit formed around his body, cutting just off his neck.

The suit was similar to the one the Avengers used for their time travel heist, with white, silver and blue colouring. However, there was no logo yet, something Harley will have to add once they've altered it properly.

She'll have to get to the drawing board and ask them about their heraldry symbols. Maybe make a new one like what Shuri did for their robes.

Perhaps make a new one that represented not only the Noldor but all of Arda as well.

"This is..." Glorfindel breathed, tapping his arm to feel the metal structure. "And yet it does not feel I am wearing it."

Harley answered with a grin, "Thank nanotechnology for existing here." He added, "Shuri wanted to add vibranium, but as I said, it wouldn't be worth it when you're just travelling."

"We'll run the tests on how it manages through the energy levels," Finneas informed, looking towards Harley. "Did you also bring the other thing?"

Harley gave the reincarnated elf a look and waved his hand, "Yes, yes. Don't rush it, man." He went to the other boxes and taking out several parts before showing a small hand-held contraption. In a way, it appeared to be a small phone, almost similar to one of those Samsung flip-phones they did a decade back.

The Stark prodigy pointed out to Finneas: "You and I need to work on it before we test out the portal. This navigator's percentage error is too big, and it's just might risk you in going into the wrong time."

"Did you discuss it with Jane?" Darcy piped in. "I gave all the data, but she usually knows more. Boss woman still has it even when she ain't Thor."

Illyria hummed and replied, "I talked to her about it through email. Said that we just need to use the Silmaril instead of mine." She folded her arms and huffed. "I was so sure that I got it close."

Close would be hardly a thing; Illyria was definitely sure her calculations and pre-experimenting worked well enough. Talk about the entire day with science not being up her street.

"I'm sure you did, Illyria." Harley drawled and she narrowed her eyes back at him. He then laughed along as she chucked a scrunched-up piece of paper back at him.

He just had to embarrass her intellect in front of her family.

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They continued through their discussion, with Harley showing more of the weapons he and SI had for them. Illyria had to give kudos to him but warily doubted it. It would be a big risk to use them in Middle Earth, but if they were going to be fighting against God-tiered enemies, they'll have to use better tactics to defend themselves. The weapons themselves were not harmful, just mostly knocking those out.

It was pointless to kill someone that could just easily be revived.

And if they did have to stumble upon orcs, goblins or whatever Sauron or Saruman threw at them...she was not going to introduce modern warfare in case one of them stole one and began reverse-engineering the entirety of human contraptions.

Imagine one of those orcs in the original trilogy.

Now imagine them carrying a bazooka out of all things during the Battle of Helm's Deep. Yeah, that was not a pretty sight to behold.

Glorfindel found the nanotechnology shields the most intriguing, pressing it on and off in awe that Finneas got so annoyed and snatched it off his hands. Never had she seen the Balrog Slayer look withering towards the reincarnated elf and she snorted at the sight.

They still did not get along, especially Maedhros: who did everything in his will to not be in the same room at all unless it was necessary. He had been away for the past week, resigning his place with the Dora Milaje as well as continuing to research more in Kamar-Taj for spells and enchantments they needed.

Didn't really make a difference considering Finneas still acted as himself.

And when Illyria meant himself: she meant being a dick as before. Just that this dick had thousands of more years of experience with magical technology.

To be honest, the prospect kind of excited her. In a way, Fëanor was a great inventor and already designed all these new composite materials as an engineer. He had made ways to harness energy and surprisingly recreated blue lamps, just like the ones that were written in the Silmarillion.

The last box, longer than most, had been what she had anticipated all this time. When Harley showed its contents, Illyria felt her chest flutter as she saw the silver slim object in his hands.

He held it out, passing it towards her. Harley smirked, "I knew you've been dying to see this."

"Of course," She sarcastically replied, feeling a grip over the engraved metal and wires. "I've practically designed this baby all by myself until you wanted to have a go and make it your own."

He argued in a mocking tone, "You were going to use wood out all things. And look what happened with the last one!"

Illyria scowled back.

Nobody – and she meant nobody - insults her first and only best staff in the world other than her.

She might have once tried out the Staff of the Living Tribunal after Mordo's death, but it didn't compare to the only one true love she had. That and Galadriel's staff as well.

Though with the vibranium staff, it was perhaps more durable and easier to travel with. Apart from the fact that it didn't imbue Eldritch magic as strongly as wood, it surprisingly held well with her own magic.

"Now twist the handles," Harley instructed, and she rose a brow.

He gave her another shoving glance before she obliged and took both of her hands at the middle and twisted it. Her mind was thrown back to the past, just when she was only ten years old: the first time the Ancient One gifted her the staff.

White glowing blades formed at each end. No patterns sadly but imitated the familiar Eldritch blades.

Wait...did they just make a ligh-

"Did you make a lightsaber?"

From across the room, Darcy had exclaimed and gaped at the sight of the staff whilst two elves looked obviously clueless from what they were talking about. Finneas had rose his brows at it before returning his eyes to his work.

Harley barked out a laugh and replied, "I thought so too when she showed me the schematics." His eyed glanced back at her.

Maybe she was a little inspired by their favourite Sci-Fi movie series. No blame from her though: she thought it was a brilliant idea. Now she could feel like Darth Maul with this staff. [2]

Illyria twisted it once more to pull them away, sending a thankful smile to her best friend.

"Don't mention it," He folded his arms and looked amused. "Just tell Shuri that we're having that Star Wars night before you go."

Rolling her eyes, she groaned: "You only want to do that because you want to tell her you discovered something first before her."

"Hey," He held his arms up in surrender. "Nothing wrong by being right."

She brought the staff into her dimensional pocket, hugging Harley tightly before he decided to skedaddle and return to his work.

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Finneas 'Fëanáro' Cuthbert was an asshole.

"What do you mean you won't share with me your work on Silima?"

She had been arguing with the engineer for literally an hour now.

Elrond, Glorfindel and Darcy had left. Her brother and husband had been kind to escort her back to have dinner and bless them for it. She should really be taking care of her very much pregnant mother considering she's six months into the whole ordeal and having her daughter create a portal that could have a slight chance of going wrong wasn't good for her mental health.

Illyria could only thank that the two understood what it was like to care for a pregnant person, albeit probably because her past self had about three children (which now when she thought about it, seems a little scary that she went through pregnancy).

Elrond was a healer and knew what to do, and bless her brother just being the loveliest and softest golden bean he could be.

But here she was arguing against her co-worker who was too stubborn to not share shit.

Finneas exasperated one more time as he answered, "I will not share something which is only for my ears and eyes only, Strange." He continued, "Perhaps I should ask you how you create Eldritch magic or your own kind then."

"Fine," She held her hands up before slapping them to the surface of the desk. 'Okay, don't share your precious 'better than diamond' material. God, you are worse than Thorin with the Arkenstone! Which was technically a Silmaril.'

'I will ignore the fact that you compared me to a dwarf, thank you very much.'

Illyria wasn't going to continue this debacle anymore because it would just be her talking to a concrete wall. Also known as the Great Wall of 'I don't want to share my silima because it's mine'.

Welp, that was one thing she'll have to put on hiatus until this entire Arda heist was done. Guess she'll have to go to the next bullet point on her list.

Illyria huffed and said, "Since you don't want to reveal your sexy diamond-based material, could I ask you about the prophecy?" She clarified, "The one that Mandos kind of gave out. Unless that's pretty sacred as well. If so, we are really going to have some problems."

Finneas, who had been standing across her bench where he was soldering several parts for the navigator, glanced his eyes down to her. It was crazy to wonder why he seemed so strong sometimes. His eyes really bore into her like lasers.

"I have heard of it," He answered. "More from the several pieces in which Tolkien had hinted about in The Silmarillion. To that, also his son who added some parts of it."

"Is it true though?"

Finneas gave her a look.

She questioned, trying to carefully ask it right. "I mean, if Morgoth is back then Manwë would have already descended from his mountain. But from what Elrond has told us, the sun is gone and the Noldor went away. Surely, they would have all began the battle. Scratch the fact that it's kind of a little early for the end of the world."

The sarcasm brushed off him when he continued to place the melted metal through the circuit board, and he answered properly: "None truly know the second prophecy of Mandos other than Námo himself." He hummed, "Though I may believe that Varda and Manwë know truly what is to come. They were the ones who looked the longest at the Song and what it may be."

By the Song: Finneas had meant the visions of the future which Eru Ilúvatar showed to the Ainur until he kind of turned off their TV program and told them they couldn't see a sneak preview anymore of what was to come in the Suite life of Arda.

"So, if it is true, they'll be wanting all these heroes to come back then. To fight Morgoth and his goons," Illyria thought out loud and looked up to him where he eyed her back.

Finneas gestured her to explain herself.

And considering the past two weeks had been pretty much the craziest in six months: she might as well kick the overflowing bucket.

Illyria plainly stated: "I think there are several people who are reincarnated here that we need to talk to."

The engineer had stopped and given her a dead monotone expression. "And how do you know of this?"

Making a popping sound, she slowly explained herself: "I...I may have the abilities to sense fëa." She added, "Apart from yours, which is very uncool of you, thank you."

"I hid myself knowing that you were different," He justified, returning to his work. "Not only you were close to the Avengers, but you also hold a remarkable amount of energy in you that nobody notices unless they know what spirits and magic-users tend to have. You emit energy like a sun, Miss Strange."

Illyria wryly spoke, "Aw thanks, Finneas. I'm glad I give everyone sunstroke."

He grunted in return causing her to grin.

"However, sensing fëa is another matter in itself," The engineer continued, returning to their subject at hand.

His explanation was deep. Something to do with how it depended on a fëa's control to the exposure of Arda's magic and the energy around them. How the elves were more well known for using magic as they had a long time to be exposed to the world around them, and that Earth was sadly a place that did not hold as much.

Then the Infinity Stones happened and apparently: suddenly awakened most of the powerful magical beings the planet had.

"I believe the strongest of those who could wield magical energy or ingolë, were those of Aman. As much as I hate to say it," Finneas spoke in a bitter voice that almost had her reminding again who she was talking to. "The Light of the Two Trees contained energies that could wield equally to those of the Infinity Stones. For us, we would consider them as cosmic energies."

"Which you concentrated into three jewels," Illyria pointed out. "How can they trigger memories to re-surface? Why is that?"

Finneas drew a deep exhale and, surprisingly: admitted he didn't really know. "It may be to do with the fëa you detect in them which is affected by the Silmaril. It was how I began remembering more when you showed me it in that lovely fiasco you created."

Illyria forgot they tied him up in a chair.

Must have really damaged his ego even if he didn't show it. Might even be a good piece of blackmail just in case he decides to pull a Loki and betray them.

"And if I showed it to someone who had a fëa, do you think they'll...you know." She trailed off, not really wanting to tell everything.

He narrowed his gaze and asked, "What are you trying to say, Miss Strange?"

Illyria sucked in a breath and bit the inside of her cheek.

Yeah...Maedhros, Glorfindel and Elrond were not going to like what she's about to ask him.

Not to mention the fact that the very government might come after them after this. They were already secretly having to create a portal in Oxford University out of all places.

Maybe she should have taken that offer Harley gave her.

But if they wanted to get through the impending war and save Arda and the Noldor: she might have to follow her gut and just 'yolo' it. (Kind of ironic considering she technically is in her second life.)

She began, "I need you to do me a favour..."

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Maedhros Fëanorion | The Red Wolf

Location: Kamar -Taj, Kathmandu, Nepal, Earth

Everyone was busy with the preparation for their mission back to Arda.

Whilst Illyria, Darcy, Harley Keener, and his father worked around the clock to build the portal and their provisions, he had been improving everyone's own fighting skills to their best abilities. Luckily nobody batted an eye, especially Illyria to whom he was more concerned. Despite her being well known as the most powerful in magic, she did not possess the skills which Elemmírë once had.

It worried him from time to time that his titled sister was underprepared. She may have been in a quest and encountered dark creatures, as well as taking out an entire orc scout (which he still couldn't believe no matter how they argued about it): but she didn't know battle strategies and plans. The battles here only had a few of them to tackle the greatest foes, and they will need to work together if a war was beyond the fabrics of reality.

He wanted to test each of them separately, to know how much they know before he explained to them his plans. Maedhros couldn't predict how long they were going to be all together, but sharing all he could from reading, experience in missions with the Dora Milaje: it was better than doing nothing.

The first person he asked had been the Balrog Slayer, who was happy to train with him whilst introducing new techniques the Second and Third Age of Middle Earth had given them. Maedhros had to admit it was a key improvement to what the Union had alongside what he and Fingon planned. They then trained, using various weapons in Kamar-Taj.

Glorfindel had also trained with the Asgardians a few days before encountering Maedhros and learnt other moves and techniques to which he took note of. The newer skills and information they had, the more he could produce their future battles against Morgoth or Sauron's forces.

Not to mention the new treacherous maia they now had against them.

He knew Illyria was too busy, so the next person had been someone he was nervous to converse to.

Even if he promised the reincarnated elleth that he would discuss things with him Elrond, Maedhros was still doubtful. His brothers must be rolling in the Halls right now...or rather back in Middle Earth from what the news he was informed.

Maedhros and Elrond spent the first hours of their morning in Kamar-Taj, only it was already the afternoon at the Sanctuary. However, it didn't matter to most of the sorcerers and acolytes who were constantly moving around the world and plane. Several sorcerers he knew acknowledged him, nodding at him before walking away before he could scowl at them.

He was not exactly the most approachable sorcerer, so it was a surprise to them when Illyria Strange – a notable Master of the Mystic Arts – brought a tall elf with a scar down his face to their sacred Sanctuary.

But notably, certain peers never judged him for his appearance or his past. Master Hamir was always a constant presence and someone who could match the wisdom and patience of the strongest Eldar.

His respect to those, even with the darkest demons, had Maedhros baffled that he wondered if he was one of the Valar himself.

So, when the elder-looking sorcerer met Elrond for the first time, they had shared an equal fondness which brought him to internally smile at the too. Someone who didn't have anything special other than the dimensional magic he manipulated, had caught the attention of his foster-nephew.

It was there he realised how much Elrond had changed and grown.

Elros was always the bolder one. Steadfast and quicker to anger. He was however able to be open and respect those of others. But Elrond: he was quiet but there was a flame that burnt into him. A silent ruthlessness and the impulsiveness that his twin also had. (Evident when he had persuaded, more like dragged, them all the way to Angband to save Elemmírë.)

There was also another side of him, a softer side.

He was attentive and respectful. He shared wisdom and kindness like it was his own shield. Most importantly, he possessed compassion. The compassion to which Maedhros only witnessed when Elrond had just been a young elfling to which he continued to this day.

Not even two ages and several wars brought down the compassion and kindness he brought.

When Maedhros read the three books, he wondered how an author could understand the truth of a character he knew to be real. Did this man know Elrond perhaps? Or perhaps someone had spoken about Elrond to him?

And yet here, even when he showed the wisdom of an elder, he knew, he still had the youth and curiosity as a child. The impulsive and confidence, simply better controlled and simmering – ready to show it when needed.

They duelled and train after they met with Master Hamir out in the courtyard. Several sorcerers watched them, awed at their swordsmanship which should not be too foreign for them. Elrond was faster as before, as swift as the billowing winds upon the mountaintops of the Himalayas as he fought him and parried.

He too had the familiar techniques which Glorfindel had shown to him, but also a new kind that drew him back.

There was a slight change in his form to which he was able to block anything in his front and knew exactly the same defence move. A certain sorceress once had it.

Maedhros didn't speak openly about it, but he was proud of him. How much he had improved and yet continued to show more to developing his style. He remembered sometime that other elves of his time began to even lose their touch, keeping to their own styles of manoeuvres and never learning from what the Sindar, the Laiquendi and the men possessed. Even he had taken some tricks from the dwarves, adapting it for his size and style and did all he could.

It was something he and Fingon used to do.

Whenever they had their own time to spare, they would try and come up with different techniques. Different strategies for different situations if a battle or fight was inevitable. He had done it with Illyria as well and with Ayo and the Dora Milaje. But there was always the part where he knew it wouldn't be the same. It will always be something he and Fingon would do – which he terribly missed.

He was glad that Elrond had stopped him from diving any deeper into his thoughts about him, halting their training for the day and deciding to take rest at the library before they returned.

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Maedhros had covered half of the apprentice level books, hinted by the red robes he wore whenever he was in the Sanctuary. He explained to Elrond on the rankings of the Mystic Arts, though he knew that Illyria must have explained it to him already.

Instead, he heard from across the table as he read The Secrets of the Phoenix Force what Elrond had learnt through his wandering of the internet and his time as well. [3]

"They have a key instinct in keeping hygiene here. There are so many products. And there are so many ways in which they exchange them through transportation." Elrond spoke quietly, his voice filled with intrigue. "...Machines that could create multiple objects at a faster rate. The different ruling systems created."

Maedhros glanced over and saw Elrond continuing to read through the book which Illyria had translated for him. He would not be surprised that the Peredhel could easily read the romantic alphabet as easily as Tengwar.

He spoke to Elrond, "Humans have evolved to be able to notice issues and create solutions here." He eyed across to where Wong was situated, busy going through all the books returned from the day. "They are the sorts of beings who would continue to find solutions to previous problems or problems they've created themselves."

"I wonder why our world has not achieved as much as them. By all account with the years, we spent in Middle Earth, we have yet to achieve something like this," He wondered, his face looking to be in his mind for the past hour or so.

He indicated out in response, "You seem to have an answer, Elrond."

Freezing at his spot, the half-elven man thinned his lips and admitted quietly, "I do not wish to disturb you. Or bore you."

Maedhros stared at him.

Why would he? The very reason he was here so he could (how Illyria said it) 'bond' with his foster-nephew.

With a sigh, Maedhros assured him: "Elrond, we are in Kamar-Taj. In the Sanctuary, we have rules to keep conversations closed." He eyed the page he was and saw the boring text on the history subject and glanced back up, "And I'm not bored, better than listening to the news constantly. And I have plenty of time to get through this text once we return."

He was right at that account; they didn't need to speak in Quenya or Mannish for the sake of secrecy.

The librarian, Wong, was a respectable man to know and he knew he wouldn't judge them for being open with their conversation. And if somebody walked past them, they would merely shrug it off and probably introduce them to more of what humans got to offer.

It was a rare occasion for non-human magic-user to be in the Sanctuary.

"Our kind only lasts because we wish to preserve what is brought to our very nature. And that is the conservation of living things, to keep things as they should." Elrond discussed; his eyes fixated on him. "And yet that hinders us to come to acknowledge what is beyond such as new practices of healing or new contraptions. I admit, even as a loremaster myself, I sometimes only research my own pleasure and...perhaps to feel some way trying to improve ways for our people."

Firstly, never would he imagined hearing him say these words come from him. A young elf who had just turned of age when he last saw him.

And now: he was providing him with an entire shelf of philosophy that only the most notable loremasters could provide. Not even Elemmírë, the youngest loremistress he ever encountered, could hit you with reality so bluntly in the face.

However, he realised through the layers of his words: how much the last part had meant to Elrond.

The Peredhel in front of him believed him to not be worthy of his position and his name. He didn't think he lived up to what he was known as after learning about the world that wasn't his.

His heart, may it still be beating, broke at the sight of the truth in Elrond's eyes. There was the sorrow which he wondered how long it had been there and it pained him to see it.

Closing the book gently, Maedhros sent a softened gaze and answered: "Elrond, you should not push yourself like this because you are bound to it by the judgement of others. Yes, I know you are passionate about what you do but you do not need to prove to yourself that you can be smart. You're smart in many possible ways." He then decided to add in a blunt tone, "For one thing, you're the rational one out of any of us living here."

He was relieved that Elrond caught it, mocking him with a similar expression.

"Oh, I know that." Elrond mentioned with eyes sparkling, "I tell Illyria of these things and she says the same."

Maedhros grunted, "Because she's right."

The Peredhel's expression changed to a forlorn look, his eyes growing glassy as he stared at him but not entirely.

Swallowing the bile rising from his throat, Maedhros straightened his posture and began: "I have missed two ages of your life. But it doesn't stop me from still being your foster uncle." He brought the attention back towards him, a piercing look to know that he was serious. "In a way, I think it's helpful. Because I do not see you like anyone else here. To them, you are a wise elf older than most nowadays. But to me, you are still the young elf I came to know. That I don't deserve to know."

He understood that even when he had missed so much of Elrond and Elros' life in Middle Earth, it meant that he was the one who knew them at their prime. The time when they had grown and developed the most, mostly because of the war but also to what Illyria and his brother had done. The memories and interactions when they children were fresh to him, untainted by the time given to them after his supposed death.

In a way, Maedhros was lucky he knew the Peredhil twins as just that: boys who grew up in a harsh world they never deserved – who were given a chance at least to know what love and family was.

He just wished their ending was never like that.

Elrond reached forward to place his hand over his. His real one, causing Maedhros to sharpen a breath.

He stared at him as he professed, "I forgive you; you know that Maedhros." Elrond's voice brought his heart to ache. "I have forgiven you a long time ago."

He felt tears threatening to fall, and yet all he could muster was his croaky voice.

Elrond had forgiven him.

Just like Illyria.

"And no matter what, it's going to be difficult for me to truly accept it," Maedhros whispered, his voice breaking slightly at the end. "Every moment. Every second I feel ashamed. Ashamed of what I did."

There was nothing he lied about that. Maedhros would carry it until the end, to when their end would be. They won't know until they return.

However, he added one last thing: "But I remembered what Illyria said to me and my brother. That we never lose our demons. That we should learn to be above them." Maedhros spoke, "And I'll do all I can to live every second of my life to be better than what I am as of now."

He had diverted his path away from the Oath now, and in a way: he would give himself something perhaps that wasn't so binding. A promise, to those he had wronged because of his choices because of the Oath.

He would earn the forgiveness Illyria and Elrond have given him and potentially Elros too.

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[1] - The Tardis: Time and Relative Dimensions in Space. The Doctor's time and spaceship in the hit TV series Doctor Who.
[2] - Darth Maul's lightsaber: It's not exactly like his one. This one has a sort of bladed end making it extended so the entire thing isn't just a lightsaber.
[3] - The Secrets of the Phoenix Force: This isn't a real book in the MCU but it refers to a real X-Men concept called the Phoenix Force which is an entity inhabited by Jean Grey.

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A/N: And thus we get the second tech giver, Harley Keener. I wanted him more involved this time, especially once I cover the prequel stories between Illyria and Harley. I love his relationship with Stark, especially in fics and the whole family dynamic.

Feanor and Illyria...you'll be surprised we'll be getting quite a lot of scenes with them in future instalments. And it's quite ironic as they're going to be the duo with the most mind-fudged revelations in the entire series.

As for Maedhros and Elrond: I love these two and their relationship. This is going to be quite important, especially with their love for Illyria and subsequently their relationship with Maglor and the entire Kidnapped Fam dynamic.

Edited: 07/02/2022