10 | Duty is the Death of Love

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"...But Turgon hearkened not, and bid them fare now ere it was too late, and"Let Tuor," said he, "be your guide and your chieftain. But I, Turgon, will not leave my city, and will burn with it." "

- by J.R.R Tolkien from The Fall of Gondolin

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Location: Ondolindë, North Beleriand, Middle Earth

Time: 510 F.A

Idril and Eärendil were gladly unscathed, maybe with some cuts and bruises but not fatal. 

Unfortunately for them, most of the House of the Mole was killed, some sneaking through the pass but it won't be for long as the other end of the tunnel would be protected.

As she hobbled away from the wall, Elemmírë gently prodded her neck and winced. Her neck was going to go purple soon and talking was going to hurt in a few hours. She would have to find a time to heal it, or else it would be a struggle to move it.

However, that was not her priority as she walked over to Voronwë and Celebrimbor with what was left of the House of the Wing. 

She watched Tuor embrace both Idril and Eärendil in his arms, asking them if they were alright before pressing a kiss at their foreheads. When her gaze then turned to the Sinda and Noldo, she asked the two if they were alright and they both nodded.

Celebrimbor's eyes lingered down to her neck and a look of concern washed over him. As he asked her, Elemmírë brushed it off and assured him she was fine. She had taken both her swords back, finding them where she had dropped them before. However, what irked her were the looks people were giving her.

They had seen her magic. A different magic that they haven't witnessed before from her or from any elf in the city.

She had to thank Tuor for diverting their attention to him, ordering most of the soldiers to head to Great Gate at the West with him whilst some would stay and protect the entrance of the hidden pass. Elemmírë suggested to Tuor that she and Celebrimbor and his followers would head back to the square to gather the last of the people of the city, and the Edain agreed before they left to the west of the city. Idril, Eärendil and Voronwë would stay at the entrance and protect them.

The journey back up was harder. Orcs have already flooded the streets and they did all they can to cut them down. Elemmírë's swords slashed them down, the smell of smoke and orc blood filling her nostrils as she sent another blast of white light from her hands.

Her brothers were going to have serious questions about her new profound magic.

When they finally arrived at the King's Square, they found it to be a battlefield. A mix of what was left of the houses was fighting, barricading the roads from the west and the north.

Within the carnage, she found the familiar golden armour and golden hair along with the longsword - Soronúmë.

"Fin!" She cried.

Glorfindel had spun his head to her and quickly walked over, his face full of relief as he grasped her in his arms. Once he pulled back, he searched her eyes as he asked, "Where's Ingolmo? What happened?"

"Maeglin found out, had me bound at Salgant's home," Elemmírë answered, ending it a little bitter the moment Salgant's name left her lips.

Her brother scoffed and commented, "No wonder why Salgant didn't follow orders. The coward didn't even leave his home!"

She took this moment to control her breath, blurting out to him everything that happened, "Tyelperinquar saved me."

Her brother's eyes glanced over her shoulder to where Celebrimbor was instructing several neri and nissi to begin directing them down south. Glorfindel asked, "And Ingolmo?"

Elemmírë's heart thumped. Her mind imagined him again. He struggled before the blade sliced through his neck.

The blood.

There was so much.

Swallowing, she revealed with a trembling tone, "Dead. Killed on the way when Maeglin and his house infiltrated and burnt Idril and Tuor's house." Suddenly, she noticed the familiar figure enter behind Glorfindel's spot. "Hestondur!"

Hestondur, now garbed in armour, appeared beside her brother. He spoke in relief, "I am glad that you are alive."

"We need to escape now." She stated to the two older elves. "Take the last of the people south of the city."

Just as they agreed and nodded, she saw Glorfindel's gaze move to the corner of her sight. His eyes widened, moving to pass her.

Arriving from the King's Road was what was left of the House of the Fountain, the House of the Wing and the House of the Heavenly Arch. Amongst them, Egalmoth was guarding the back, with Tuor supporting an elf with his arms.

Elemmírë drew a breath, "Ecthelion..." She raced up to him, supporting his other side as they trudged through the square. "You're alive!"

They allowed Ecthelion to rest on the floor and he hissed in pain. His left arm was covered in blood and burns, where his shield should be. Elemmírë knelt beside him, her hands beginning to wander over to his face to brush his hair away. As his eyes met hers, he opened his mouth to speak but the pain had been too much.

"And you're hurt." Glorfindel looked over to the Edain and nodded his chin. "Thank you, Tuor."

Tuor glanced at her brother before looking back at her as he replied, "You saved my son; I save your brother."

Elemmírë held her tears, carefully soothing Ecthelion in his head whilst she tried to bring her magic through her fingers. Healing was something she had not touched up as much with her magic, but with hardly any healers here: she would have to do as much as she could.

Carefully, she allowed her magic to find his fëa: slowly assuring his mind before seeing the small glow appear in her hands. His hand clenched, grounding his teeth together as she hummed. The wound gradually closed; healing more than any other elven healer could do.

Those around her: Glorfindel, Hestondur and Tuor, were shocked at her trick. Questions were pouring out of their heads but Elemmírë didn't have the time to explain. She herself didn't know how she could even do it.

Once the wound was partially closed, Elemmírë allowed herself to breathe – feeling lightheaded the moment she let go. She had taken so much of her ingolë to Ecthelion and all she could do was stare at her hands. Ecthelion stared up at her whilst Hestondur began to wrap his arm up, a small smile on his lips.

"Thank you, nésa." He muttered to her.

Elemmírë gave him a small smile, wiping her tears away.

Glorfindel brought her up to her feet before aiding Hestondur to support Ecthelion. Her brother, despite supposing to order his followers, was staring down at her. A look of astonishment or horror? She couldn't tell.

But there was no time for anyone to question her, as Elemmírë rushed past them and marched over to where the king was.

They entered the front of the palace, where King Turgon was defending the top of the steps from orcs.

Elemmírë, still exhausted, continued to catch up to the king before she stood in front of him. Turgon noticed her presence, eyeing her with a cold look. It would seem he still did not forgive her for what she did during the council.

Nevertheless, she questioned him: "King Turukáno, now would you let the woman and children go?"

"Where?" He questioned back, gesturing with Glamdring as it glowed blue against the red flames. "As you can see, Elemmírë Fealassie. The gates are full of our enemies."

She stopped herself from snapping, calmly replying, "Your daughter. She has built a secret tunnel underneath our house. I will allow those who are injured or cannot fight to be led there."

Elemmírë hoped that this would've changed his mind. But as Turgon stared down at her, he ignored her and ordered loudly down at the square. "Keep the barricades. We will fight until our last breath!"

As Turgon gave her a solid look, he and his guards marched past her, passing Tuor who also gave the king a frustrated glance.

She then stood next to Tuor, hearing him mutter under his breath, "Stubborn elves." Elemmírë couldn't help but agree with a hum.

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Even though they knew that it wouldn't last, the remaining lords of the Gondothlim obliged and began building the barricades around the square. Lord Galdor and his followers arrived from the northern gate, with no sight of Duilin or Rog or Penlod.

Elemmírë did what she could along with Celebrimbor, sneaking those who were too injured or civilians south along with some soldiers to fight against incoming orcs. She was surprised that she was even awake, her body aching from all the magic she used from Maeglin's fight as well as Ecthelion.

Then the balrogs arrived: large dark demons as they overlooked the blood-coloured sky as the flames rose. All houses fought them, trying to force them out with the help of the barricades but they too melted by the extreme heat.

The Iron Dragons arrived, and more spurted out orcs. She and Celebrimbor kept each other's backs safe, always keeping her eyes to both Glorfindel and Ecthelion before she saw the speck of blue and silver at the Fountain of the King.

Ecthelion, fought Gothmog alone, sending both topplings into the great fountain.

"Ecthelion! No!" Glorfindel screamed, slashing the orcs in his paths as he raced towards his brother.

Elemmírë couldn't move. Just mere hours ago, he was right beside her: embracing her.

Her brother was dead.

She shook her head and realised what Glorfindel was about to do. Racing towards him, she grabbed him by the arm and pulled him away from the fountain. It was hopeless. Ecthelion would never survive under the water. As he tried to pry from her grasp, she shouted: "Findele! He's gone! We have to go!"

"Where's the king?" Egalmoth yelled, blocking another blast of fire from one of the balrogs.

Elemmírë let go of Glorfindel once she knew he would calm down. As she squeezed his hand, she then let go and went with Celebrimbor to where the House of the King was situated.

Most of the fountains and trees were gone, and the palace was already in flames as she spotted the worn figure of Turgon.

Never had she seen him look defeated. The very elven man so many had looked up to was defeated.

She strode up to him, pleading as she tried to look at him in the eyes. 'My king.'

Turgon tiredly responded to her, 'I am not your king no more, Elemmírë Fealassie. I should have listened to Ulmo's advice. To Tuor's advice...your advice.'

Forgetting propriety, she brought her hand to his and said in his mind, 'You can still lead your people.' Elemmírë implored, 'Lead them to safety.'

Turgon stared at her, his hand slipping away from her. As he took a step back, he brought his hands upon his head and lifted the crown – tossing it onto the ground. The sound of metal clattering against marble was louder than even the roars of dragons and balrogs combined.

'Ulmo will not protect us. Not when I hold this crown.' He averted his eyes from her, glancing now towards Tuor who arrived beside her.

With a bold open voice, he cried out: "I am not worthy of you now! Tuor, Son of Huor will lead you to safety! Flee the city!"

Her jaw loosened, her breath shuddering. Elemmírë called to him, "Turukáno..."

Turgon gazed down at her, a look that was not from a king: but a parental figure. "You have been a good advisor to me, young Elemmírë. As well as your brother." His voice was now weary as he pleaded to her, "Go now and protect our people. Protect my daughter. And tell her: I am sorry."

She wanted to argue, to tell him they could still come out of this alive. Though from what he implied, Elemmírë realised her kind would never step out of Ondolindë's walls. He built Ondolindë...and he would watch it be destroyed along with him.

Her thoughts were cut off as she felt Celebrimbor shake her shoulder. Blinking her tears, she found that Turgon had already entered the palace. In her mind, she wanted to stay. To protect the very foundations of her home.

However, she remembered what made Ondolindë her home – that was the people. Nodding up to Celebrimbor, she gripped her swords in her palms and joined what was left of them and began their trek towards the hidden pass.

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A/N: Gosh it's been so long. Sorry about that, I've been so busy lately which is a surprise. I thought I would have time this summer to get through so much but I've had a lot of stuff I had to do outside this.

But not to worry, I'm posting the last chapter as well as the post-credits scene straight after this. I'm really excited to get updating again and also revamping the style of covers soon. ;)

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Edited: 09/07/22