... then Findekáno released his friend from his chains and saved him
tagged by @grey-gazania and @last-capy-hupping to share a snippet from my fics.
Here, Aredhel is in Estolad and tells the tale of Maedhros' rescue to the children of the House of Marach. Part of To Find a Home in the Twilight
It is easiest with the children, because children are children, be they of the Noldor, the Sindar, or the Edain. She is amused by how they follow her around everywhere. The littlest ones slap their hands over their giggling mouths as Aredhel moves her ears on purpose. The older ones are fascinated by her skill with weapons, especially Marach’s young sons, Malach and Imlach, who spend afternoons on end watching Aredhel carve wooden arrows for her bow.
But the bravest among them is a girl who is often in their company. There’s something about her observant eyes and neatly braided golden tresses that summons Idril’s image as a child, so when the girl comes to join them, Aredhel wastes no time in pursuing this friendship.
‘My name is Írissë,’ she puts her hand on her heart.
‘I know. Everyone talks about you,’ the girl responds in flawless Sindarin, taking her seat between Aredhel and Marach’s boys. ‘I am Zimrahin. Mama says that if I want to become a Wise-woman, I should learn the stories of the Elves. Will you tell me a story?’
Zimrahin has no qualms about being forward about what she wants. She resembles Idril in this also.
‘It would be my honor, my lady Zimrahin. What kind of story would please you on this fine day?’
Three voices at once answer Aredhel’s question.
‘A story about friends,’ says Zimrahin.
‘An adventure!’ says Malach.
‘A scary story,’ jumps in little Imlach with twinkling eyes.
With the criteria established, Aredhel does not have to think long. She chooses everyone’s favorite.
‘This tale is very famous among the Elves,’ she begins, ‘and rightfully so, because it is a tale about the bravest Prince in Beleriand.’ The answering smiles confirm it is the right choice, and Aredhel continues. ‘Long ago, before the Sun and Moon rose in the sky, there lived a Prince across the Great Sea whose name is Findekáno.’
‘Before the Sun and the Moon? That is a long time ago!’ Zimrahin exclaims. ‘How old is Findekáno?’
‘This winter, he shall turn two thousand six hundred and sixteen years old.’ Aredhel purposefully stretches out the numbers, waiting for six little eyes to widen in astonishment. She is not disappointed. ‘But, if you were to meet him, he would look no older to you than your fathers. Anyway, Findekáno had a best friend, Maitimo, and they were rarely apart in their youth, traveling and studying together every moment they could. There was great love between them.’
Aredhel lowers her voice for this next part, ‘But one day, a very powerful Dark Lord got jealous of the friendship among the Elves and decided to ruin their joy.’
‘It must be Morgoth, the Great Enemy,’ says Malach, unperturbed. The Edain, it seems, do not spare their children from the woes of their people.
‘Yes, it was Morgoth before anyone knew him for who he was. He spread many lies, causing strife among Findekáno and Maitimo’s families. But ever more intent on evil, he also stole the Light of the World and took it to his dark fortress in Angband.’
Seeing how her audience does not blink in anticipation, Aredhel carries on, deciding what parts should be skipped in a story for children. ‘Maitimo was brave and decided to cross the Great Sea and take back the Light of the World, but Morgoth captured him and took him to his fortress also.’
‘Did he die?’ Little Imlach squeaks and Aredhel does her best to ignore the shiver that runs down her spine.
‘No, he was very strong, and when Findekáno discovered that his friend had been captured, he decided to go and rescue him. He left in the middle of the night, alone, with very few things, and went to Morgoth’s fortress.’
‘Did he carry a weapon?’ Asks Imlach again.
‘He most certainly did. A very fine bow of yew.’
‘Was he not scared?’
‘Imlach, if you do not stop asking questions, we will never hear the end,’ his older brother gently reprimands him.
‘He was scared,’ Aredhel answers the question anyway, ‘but he knew he must save his friend and reunite their people. Now, the Moon and the Sun had risen up in the sky, and all of Morgoth’s creatures were scared of the light. Findekáno used this to hide and climb high on Thangorodrim, but try as he might, he could not find Maitimo. Then, in defiance of the Orcs, he took his harp and sang a song that his grandmother had taught him in Valinor.’
‘Why did he have a harp with him on the Dark Mountain?’ Comes from Imlach again.
‘Imlach!’ Both Malach and Zimrahin exclaim at once, shushing the little boy so he does not interrupt the story yet again, for which Aredhel is grateful because she herself still fails to understand why Fingon had decided to take a harp of all things.
‘In any case, Findekáno sang and suddenly, above him, someone answered his song. It was Maitimo, who was chained to the mountain by Morgoth. But Findekáno still couldn’t find a way to his friend, and he was very sad, so he prayed to the Vala Manwë, who is most merciful. Manwë sent Thorondor, the King of Eagles, the mightiest of all birds that have ever been.’
‘Thorondor allowed Findekáno to climb on his back and brought him up to Maitimo. Then Findekáno released his friend from his chains and saved him. Once returned, they renewed their friendship and they are now great Lords among the Elves: Fingon, Prince of Hithlum, and Maedhros, Lord of Himring. They fought Morgoth together and locked him in his fortress so that he can never leave again!’
As the story ends, many voices cry out in excitement unanimously, and Aredhel finally notices that many have gathered to hear the tale, young and old.
‘One day, I will go and fight the Morgoth with Prince Fingon,’ Malach says with determination.
‘And when I grow up, I will go and join Lord Maedhros,’ Imlach rises and swings the wooden toy sword he always carries with him.
Marach comes then to gather his young warriors and winks at Aredhel playfully. ‘But to do that, my sons, you must first sleep and grow tall and strong.’
‘What of you, Zimrahin?’ Aredhel asks the girl as they remain by themselves. ‘Would you like to see the kingdoms of the Elves?’
Zimrahin chews her lower lip as she thinks. ‘I like being home and listening to stories,’ she says at last, simply.
Someone calls Zimrahin’s name, and the girl places a wet kiss on Aredhel’s cheek before she scurries away.
I like being home. Aredhel sits with the thought for a long while, even as the people around her scatter and the village falls dark and quiet. She thinks of her brothers, her friends, and all the places she has called home.
For the first time since leaving Gondolin, Aredhel begins craving a home.
A home of her own.
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Moloch - My Experience
I call it an "Experience" but it's not really that serious.
I was doing a tarot reading for my mom that concerned her job and he came through the cards. He actually introduced himself as Malach but my mind went to Moloch immediately (fyi: I did know there was a demon named Moloch BUT I didn't know who he is exactly or what he does, I just remembered the name for some reason).
He said he was someone who watches over women in our family line since our ancestors. He "wakes up" or "activates" once every few generations or centuries when "enough pain is accumulated". He is there when the pain is unfair, unnecessary or unearned. He is someone who brings chaos and destruction to the enemies/people who did the woman wrong. He is not a creature of revenge or justice (at least that's what he said). He also specifically said his presence may bring health problems/body problems and that my mom should eat and drink despite not being hungry or thirsty.
The feeling I got was that he was grumpy and I knew he doesn't like to "wake up" for shit like that. I understood he didn't like humans and even said "do not call me, do not contact me, do not pray to me, do not talk to me". Also, I didn't feel scared, his aura wasn't menacing, just annoyed and powerful.
Before the reading, my mom actually was hearing someone walking around the house and following her and she thought it was our dead grandfather. We came to a conclusion it was Moloch. During a reading, I also saw a shadow.
One day (about 1/2 week after the reading) my mom got a big, red scratch on her clavicle and she said she didn't know how it got there. It wasn't painful. My first thought was "It's Moloch" but I didn't tell her that. Then, a day later she said it hurt like hell at work and I asked "did it hurt when those people (aka the people who were doing her dirty) at work talked to you?" and she nodded so I told her "it might be that it's the protection mark. It only hurt when they were talking to you. It absorbed something" and also, it disappeared the next day.
I've read some opinions on Moloch here on Tumblr and I realized it could be him after all. I actually didn't know he fed off of pain or hates humanity. Now I do. But, I'm, not scared of him. He's just around my mom and that's it.
My guess is he has pledged loyalty to the women of my family and now he has to go along with it. That's my theory.
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